[The tail of the A runs down to the last line of this page; this letter is in red and blue paint, and is six lines high (see photo).] Alle-myghty god in trinite, [folio 1a]
Line 1
Sothfaste god in persones thre,
Fadir, sone, and holi gost,
In whom is witte and myghtes most,
Line 4
Be at this tale begynny[n]g
And also at the endyng!
So ende oure tale and so bygynne,
The ioye of heuene al for to wynne,
Line 8
Aftir oure lyff at oure laste ende,
To ioye of heuene alle for to wende!
Many speken of men that romaunces rede [Erasure of two or three letters between that and romaunces, and of one letter after rede.]
That were sumtyme doughti in dede,
Line 12
The while that god hem lyff lente,
That now ben dede and hennes wente:
Off Bevis, Gy, and of Gauwayn,
Off kyng Richard, & of Owayn,
Line 16
Off Tristram, and of Percyuale,
Off Rouland Ris, and Aglauale,
Off Archeroun, and of Octouian,
Off Charles, & of Cassibaldan,
Line 20
Off Hauelok, Horne, & of Wade;—
In Romaunces that of hem ben made
That gestoures often dos of hem gestes
At Mangeres and at grete ffestes.
Line 24
Here dedis ben in remembraunce
In many fair Romaunce;
But of the worthiest wyght in wede
That euere by-strod any stede,
Line 28
Spekes no man, ne in romaunce redes
Off his batayle ne of his dedis.
Off that batayle spekes no man,
There alle prowes of knyghtes be-gan;
Line 32
The Laud Troy book.
About this Item
- Title
- The Laud Troy book.
- Publication
- London,: Pub. for the Early English text society, by K. Paul, Trench, Trübner & co., ltd.,
- 1902[-03]
- Rights/Permissions
The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact mec-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact libraryit-info@umich.edu.
DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/APE9595.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The Laud Troy book." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/APE9595.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 5, 2024.
Pages
Page 2
Line 32
That was for-sothe of the batayle [folio 1b]
Line 33
That at Troye was saunfayle.
Off swyche a fyght as ther was one,
In al this world was neuere none,
Line 36
Ne neuere schal be til domysday—
With-oute drede, I dar wel say;—
Ne neuere better men born ware,
Then were þan a-sembled thare;
Line 40
Neuere was, ne neuere schal be
So many gode men at asemble—
I dar wel say, be my ffay,—
As were at that batayle of Troy.
Line 44
¶ [This sign is in blue paint, and so they are everywhere else in this MS.] For ther were, In that on side,
Sixti kynges and dukes of pride,
And sythen mo of gret feute,
With alle thaire folk and thaire meyne;
Line 48
And ther was the beste bodi in dede
That euere ȝit wered wede,
Sithen the world was made so ferre,
That was Ector, in eche a werre,
Line 52
Ne that neuere sclow so many bodies—
Fyghtyng In feld with his enemyes—
Off worthi men that doughti were,
As duke Ector of Troye there;
Line 56
For ther was neuere man that myght stand
A strong stroke of Ectores hand,
That he ne deyed In that stounde
With his dynt and falle to grounde,
Line 60
But the strong Achilles,
That was best of alle that pres
Off the kynde of Gregeys,
As ȝe schal here how it weys.
Line 64
[This capital is in blue and red paint, and so they are everywhere else in the MS.] HErkenes now, and ȝe may here
The werre sothe alle plenere:
Page 3
What was the forme enchesoun, [folio 2a]
Line 67
The formest skyl and resoun,
Line 68
That alle the kynges of Grecis formast Inued
And the Troyens so longe pursued;
And how the batayle was first be-gunnen,
And how Troye was sithen y-wonnen;
Line 72
And—as the storie here beris recorde—
Alle the dedis of euery lorde,
And alle the dayes that thei faught there,
And alle the dedis as thei were
Line 76
Of alle the lordes that ther faught,
And whiche of hem here dethe þer laught;
¶ And how fele termes and trewes
Where take be-twene Troyens and Gruwes,
Line 80
And how longe euery trewe laste,
And how thai spedde when thei were paste;
And alle here wo and al here breste;
And how many tymes that thei reste
Line 84
With-Inne ten ȝere that thei were thore,
Er that the toun distroyed wore.
¶ Dares, the heraud of Troye, sais, [¶ Dares [The sign in blue, the name in red paint.] .]
And Dites that was of the Gregeis,—
Line 88
For thei were euery day in the feld
And alle here dedis thay be-held,—
And as thei were thei wreten hem bothe;
Thei nolde not lette, for leef ne lothe,
Line 92
The sothe to say with-oute les
Of gode Ector and Achilles,
And of alle the gode lordes echon;
And of alle here dedis schal lakke non.
Line 96
¶ And afftir hem come Maister Gy,
That was of Rome a Notary,
And fond here bokes In Athenes
Afftirwardes when it was pes, [folio 2b]
Line 100
Page 4
¶ Polleus.
¶ Thesalie [The signs in blue, the names in red paint; and so always. Here the last three stand in the left margin in MS.] .
And turned it of Grew into Latyn,
Line 101
And wrot it faire in parchemyn
In the manere as I schal telle.
Hende, now herken to my spelle!
Line 104
IN the lond of Thesalye—
As telles vs the right storie—
Was sumtyme a noble kyng,
Riche of kyn and other thyng,
Line 108
That het Polleus, whil he hadde lyff, [¶ Rex Polleus [The signs in blue, the names in red paint; and so always. Here the last three stand in the left margin in MS.] .]
And Tetes het the qwene his wyff.
On here gat he that doughti knyght
In wedlac, that Achilles hight,
Line 112
That wondir wrought and gret meruayle
Afftirward in Troye batayle.
¶ This Polleus hadde an eldur brother,
That higthe Eson, he het non other.
Line 116
Eson was so lad with elde, [¶ Rex Eson [The signs in blue, the names in red paint; and so always. Here the last three stand in the left margin in MS.] .]
That he ne myght his hondes welde:
He toke Polleus al Thesaly
With alle the Rentes and seygnory
Line 120
For to gouerne and for to ȝeme,
And bad alle him serue to queme,
For thei schulde be in his pouste;
For he was blynd and myȝt nouȝt se.
Line 124
That blynde kynge, that het Eson, [¶ Jason ffilius Eson [The signs in blue, the names in red paint; and so always. Here the last three stand in the left margin in MS.] .]
Hadde a sone, that het Iason,
Strong, sturne, stalworthe & stoute,
Off speche curtays, of contenaunce deuoute,
Line 128
Large of ȝifftes and [ryght] ffre,
Wondur fair and ryght tempere.
Alle the lordes of that lond
Seruede that child to fote & hond
Line 132
For his prowes and his noblay,
And loued him wel and quemed ay;
Page 5
¶ Insula Colkos.
Thai dede him as gret reuerence [folio 3a]
Line 135
As Polleus kyng in his presence;
Line 136
The lordis and alle the comunalte
Held that [child] [child is not in the MS., but there is no blank either.] In gret cherte.
¶ Polleus hadde wel gret envye
That men dede him suche seruagery;
Line 140
He was aferd in his herte:
If that child ȝede forth In querte,
And afftirward myȝt falle gret toyle,
And of that lond he wolde him spoyle;
Line 144
For he was gret of wasselage
And loued with alle his baronage.
Night and day the kyng then thought,
How he myȝt brynge that child to nought
Line 148
With sum sleyȝte priuily,
That he were not schent ther-by.
¶ So longe he that a-boute sought [MS. that caste a-boute sought; perhaps caste aboute was the original, and our copyist tried to amend the rhyme aboute: thought by inserting sought, but forgot to cancel the caste; sechen about occurs again l. 1687.] ,
That it come thus in his thought,
Line 152
Off a wondur selcouthe gile
To him by-traye that ilke while:
He thought sende that ilke childe
To Colkas,—that perilous Ilde,
Line 156
That was so fer out in the est,—
To wynne that schepe, that wondur best,
That neuere man In come and ȝede a-gayn
Out of that Ile for-sothe vn-sclayn.
Line 160
Therfore ther-at I most dwelle,
The manere of that Ile to telle.
BE-ȝonde the lond of Troye, gode men,—
I trowe: of Iorneys more than ten—
Line 164
Ther was an Ile that het Colkos,
That alle the fyght of Troye by ros;
As I schal schewe by what skylle,
When my matere comes ther-tille. [These 'signatures' are all by a later hand.]
Line 168
Page 6
Line 168
The comune sawe was thorow alle Grece: [folio 3b]
Line 169
Ther was a schepe that bar a flece
With-In that Ile, that was of gold,
That neuere man that was on mold
Line 172
With strengthe, myȝte, ne with gynne
That ilke schepe myght not wynne;
That schepe was y-kepid [The k altered from l; cp. l. 743.] day & nyȝt
With Marcȝ, a [MS. as.] god of mykel myȝt.
Line 176
Who-so wolde that schepe come to,
Many thinges he most do:
He most ferst fyghte with strong nete
That were hidous & wondir grete,
Line 180
And out of here mouth thei keste fir
And brende men [&] here atir;
And whan he hadde the nete ouercomen,
That thei were mate and alle be-nomen,
Line 184
Ther lay a plow [MS. aplow.] with alle þe gere,—
And make hem drawe and that lond ere,
He moste ȝoke hem in that plow,
The bestes bolde—if that he mow—
Line 188
And make hem drawe and ere that lond
And holde that plow faste with his hond,
Til it were ered thorow and thorow.
Whan he hadde turned eche [eche partly erased in MS.] a forow,
Line 192
¶ He most fyght with a dragoun
And scle him, if he may or kun;
The dragoun was gret and meruelous,
Off sight & body ful hidous;
Line 196
No man wiste non suche by north ne be southe,
He keste brondes of fir out of his mouthe,—
Ther was none suche In no land—
Ther myȝt no man his hete with-stand.
Line 200
The brennyng brondes þat from him wente
Brende men In here garnement;
Page 7
Off thei were armed neuere so wel, [folio 4a]
Line 203
He brend hem thorow Iren & stel.
Line 204
Whan he hadde sclayn that dragoun,
Out of his hede he most takoun
Alle his tethe with his owne hond
And sowe hem in that ered lond;
Line 208
Whan that thei were In that lond,
Quiklyche ther wold ther-of stond
Stalworthe men, clene armed knyȝtis,
Lyuand men at alle mennes sightis,
Line 212
And fight to-gidre with brondes bryȝt,
Til echon hadde sclayn other with her myȝt.
By these periles and other mo
Sicurly by-houes him to go,
Line 216
That wolde that schepe wynne or haue;
Ther was neuere non that myȝt him saue
From these bestes and fro here hete,
That he ne [Inserted by a later hand over the line.] scholde sone his lyf lete.
Line 220
¶ When Pelleus was be-thought of this,
He was Ioyful and glad y-wys,
He thouȝt egge Iasoun ther-tille
Thedur to go on his fre wille;
Line 224
And so myȝt he be most blameles
And of his deth be holden giltles;
For were he [Inserted by a later hand over the line.] went þidur fro home,
He hoped neuere of his gayn-come.
Line 228
PElleus kyng send fer & ner
Bothe Corour and Messanger
Thorow his lond and bad hem crie
That he wolde a Mangerie,
Line 232
A riche feste and a riale,
And thedur schulde come gret & smale;
He sente his lettres and his sond
Afftir alle the grete of the lond,—
Line 236
Page 8
Line 236
To Erle, lord, and bold baroun,— [folio 4b]
Line 237
And bad hem come to his toun,
For ther wolde he his feste holde
With ladies bryȝt and knyȝtes bolde.
Line 240
Whan thei were comyn, thei were alle glad
With moche merthe that thei mad,
Til thre dayes were fulli paast,
This Mangeri then so longe [so longe substituted for, and written (by the later hand) above atte; atte is crossed out.] laast.
Line 244
Pelleus kyng then—soth to say—
Be-fore the lordes of that contray
Spak to Iason, ther he stode
Barehed with-outen hode,—
Line 248
He spak to him with fair semblaund,
With louely chere and speche smyland;
But it was fals and foule disseite,
For he him be-thouȝte thanne wel streite.
Line 252
¶ He seide: 'Iason, my dere Cosyn,
Thow art the beste knyȝt of al my kyn,
The worthiest man, the beste knyȝt;
I loue the wel—and that is ryȝt—
Line 256
For I am douted and eke dred
Off kyng & knyȝt and less [MS. lest.] mys-bed
Be the alone and thi prowes
Then by my lond and my riches.
Line 260
I haue more Ioye of thi body
Then of alle the lond of Thesaly,
For thow art knyȝt with-outen pere—
Saue Ercules, that is thi fere.—
Line 264
I trowe that thow myȝt fulfille
Alle thyng that thow ȝaf the tille;
But if it were schepe ffelle!
That I haue herd men of telle
Line 268
That is so hard for to wynne
In that Ile ther he is Inne!
Page 9
And ȝit I hope—so haue I roo,— [folio 5a]
Line 271
If thow woldest ȝeue the ther-too
Line 272
And put ther-to thi bysynes,
Thow scholde it haue with-oute distresse.
Then were thow knyȝt of worschepe most
Off alle that wones in any cost,
Line 276
If þow that flees with prowesse hadde;
Then were I, Cosyn, of the gladde,
For gret honour then dedest thow to me,
And ther-by schuldest honoured be;
Line 280
And my lond afftir my day
Schulde be thyn—as I say,—
And also in my lyff treuly
Thow schulde be lord as wel as I,
Line 284
And haue thi wille and thi comandement
Off alle that euere to me apent.'
IAson stode In his emys halle
By-fore his Eme and lordes alle,
Line 288
He herkened alle that he euere [MS. he euere he.] sayd,
With his wordes he was wel payd;
The wordes riȝt wel to him liked,
He wist nouȝt that he was beswiked,
Line 292
He wende not the wordes that were spoken
Of him so to be a-wroken,
But for he scholde wynne gret loos
And be þe more drad of his foos.
Line 296
He wiste wel if he seide 'nay'
By-fore the lordes, that he schulde ay
Holde him for a coward [MS. acoward.]
And neuere-more of him take reward,
Line 300
But hope it were for cowardise
That he durst not take a prise [MS. aprise.] .
¶ Iason seide: 'so mote I thriue,
This feste schal neuere be don so blyue,
Line 304
Page 10
Line 304
That I ne schal be redi to go [folio 5b]
Line 305
In-to that Ile, for wele or wo,
What-so-euere schal be-tyde;
I schal not longe thenne abyde,
Line 308
If it be so ȝe wil me fynde
That nedeful is to mannes kynde:
¶ A strong schippe [MS. schiþ.] , and vitayles good,
And other thynges that me by-hood,
Line 312
And worthi knyȝtes In my companye,
That proued ben In chyualrie.
And I, my lord, to the schal brynge
That golden flece, that worthi thynge,
Line 316
If I may wynne it with doughtinesse,
Or any man with hardinesse.'
¶ When Pelleus herde his Cosyn speke,
He wiste wel his othe he wolde not breke;
Line 320
He was Ioyful in his mod,
He sais: 'Cosyn and al my blod!
As thow art, my Cosyn, thi-self alone,
Is non so strong of body ne bone;
Line 324
I schal fulfille al thy lykyng
That thow hast nede In any thyng
And nedeful is in that viage;
The worthiest of my baronage
Line 328
For-sothe, Cosyn, schal wende with the;
A strong schip schal ordeyned be,
It schal be mad that ȝow may bere,
That the see do ȝow no dere,
Line 332
That in the water ȝe ben not spilt;
Al thyng schal be as thow wilt.'
PElleus kyng was wonder blythe.
A strong schip was mad swythe,
Line 336
Strong & wyde and wondir large,
With his boot and his barge;
Page 11
The schippe that he made to Iason [folio 6a]
Line 339
Afftir the wright was cleped 'Argon.'
Line 340
Whan it was mad with seyl and mast,
Thei hyed hem to fille it fast,—
With Mete and drynke it is wel frauȝt,—
And worthi knyȝtes with him be-tauȝt;
Line 344
To wende with him in his fere,
Many a douȝti knyȝt was there.
¶ Among whiche was Ercules,
The strongest knyȝt that euere wes,
Line 348
That in that world was þanne levand;
No man myȝt his strok with-stand.
This was he that men of speke,
In erthe was non so myȝti freke,
Line 352
Kyng, ne knyȝt, ne Champioun,
In Ile, ne in regioun,
That myȝt with-stande that knyȝtes strengthe
The mountans of a dayes lengthe.
Line 356
¶ This was he that strong man
That al the world speke of can;
He caste alle men that he wrasteled with,
Were thei neuere so strong of lith.
Line 360
And Atthenes, the gode knyȝt,
He wrasteled with him with al his myȝt,
And Hercules him so hard thrist,
That alle his ribbes al to-brast.
Line 364
This was he that in his dayes
In batayles hard and gret affrayes
He sclow geauntes with-outen tale,
He wroght amonges hem gret bale;
Line 368
He sclow champiouns with-outen nombre,
So manye that no man myȝt hem vmbre.
This was he that ilke knyȝt,
That was so strong & of so moche myȝt.
Line 372
Page 12
¶ De Iasone.
What schulde I speke more of his dedis? [folio 6b]
Line 373
Eche man that of him redis
Wot wele he was with-outen pere,
Whil that he was lyuande here;
Line 376
I leue þer-fore and turne eft
A-gayn to Iason ther-as I left.
THis schippe was redi and set on-flote
With his barge & his bote;
Line 380
Iason takis his leue to wende
At Pelleus & at other frende;
Hercules schal with him go.
Ther-of schal rise al this wo,
Line 384
That Troie schal so foule be for-don,
As I schal telle ȝow sone.
Thei are schepped now eche a wyght,
The schip is ȝare & redi dight,
Line 388
Ther sail is drawe, the[i] wende forth faste,
In-to the see thei ben forth paste.
Thei sailen many a day and nyȝt
With many stormes lyght,
Line 392
Til thei were weri of the see;
Thei wolde fayn at reste be:
Vpon a day the mariner
Saw a lond that was hem ner;
Line 396
Ther schip thei turned thedir prest,
For on that lond to take here rest.
Vpon that lond thei lepe vp alle,
An[d] of ther teld thei made an halle,
Line 400
And ete & drank & made hem glad;
Thei were fayn that thei lond had.
The lond that thei were on lyght,
The lond of Troye that tyme hight;
Line 404
Troie was not that tyme so strong,
Ne so moche, ne so long,
Page 13
¶ De Rege Lamedonie Troiani.
Wyde, ne large, ne no-thyng toward, [folio 7a]
Line 407
As it was sethen afftirward
Line 408
When Priamus hit made a-ȝeyn,
When Lamedon, his fadir, was sclayn.
¶ The Greges hade seten but a stounde
And made hem merie on the grounde,
Line 412
Or hit were told to Lamedon
That men were lyght his lond vpon,
Stout, & fers, and full gay,
That wel be-semed of gret noblay;
Line 416
Thei wende thay wold hem robbe in hast,
Or brenne that lond and leue it wast;
Thei sayde: "it were good to wete here wille,
Whether thei were comen for good or ille;"—
Line 420
'And bidde hem go and rise
And voyde this lond, if thei be wyse;
Or ȝe schal hem honge and drawe,
If thei dwelle til the day dawe.
Line 424
¶ Lamedon called a gret lordyng,
Wyse of speche & of beryng,
And bed him go to hem anon,
And take with him men gret won
Line 428
And bidde hem wende out of his lond,
Or he wol reue hem foot and hond.
¶ This riche lord his hors hath hent
And to the Gregeys he is went,
Line 432
And seyde: 'lordynges, so god me mende,
Lamedon me to ȝow sende,
Oure kyng, and seys: him meruayles
What ȝe thenken and what ȝow ayles,
Line 436
Vpon his lond that ȝe aryue;
And biddes ȝow hye hennes blyue,
That ȝe be not founden here to-morwen;
For ȝif ȝe ben, ȝe be for-lorn.
Line 440
Page 14
Line 440
He wil ȝow hewe lym and lythe, [folio 7b]
Line 441
Ȝif he to-morwe may mete ȝow withe.
Voydes this lond and dos be my red,—
Or sekirly ȝe ben alle ded!'
Line 444
¶ Iason was al a-stonaid
Off that þe knyȝt thus to him said,
He turned to his felawes ward:
'This kyng sais vs an ille forward
Line 448
To voyde his lond with-outen gilt,
Or we schal elles alle be spilt;
For-sothe he nys not curtays
To vncouthe men that resten in pes
Line 452
In his lond vpon a brynke [MS. abrynke.] ,—
That non ille do, ne non harm thenke,
But reste vs here on this ryuage,—
To sende vs suche a message [MS. amessage.] .
Line 456
But I se wel he loues vs litel
That hates vs by suche a titel [MS. atitel.] ,
For we vpon his lond reste [r corrected from l.] ;
He loues litel an vncouthe geste.'
Line 460
IAson thenne with heuy chere
Turned him to the messangere;
He sayde: 'lordying, I herde wel
Al thi message euery del.
Line 464
God I drawe to oure wittenesse:
We reste here for no wickednesse,
But for to reste vs here a while [MS. awhile.] ;
For we haue sayled many a myle [MS. amyle.]
Line 468
And weri ben bothe more & lesse
And resten vs here for werinesse.
But say thi lord, my leue frende,
Out of his-lond that we schal wende;
Line 472
Say: "I se wel be his sonde,
He wil we reste not on his londe."
Page 15
Belli inter Troianum & Grecos [This—and before it: 'Caret rubrica'—written in a very fine hand.] .
And say him: "ȝit may this wel be qwyt [folio 8a]
Line 475
By some that thow sest here sit." '
Line 476
HErcules, that douȝti knyȝt,
At Lamedon hadde gret dispit,
He was Angered and alle a-rage
Off this kyng and his message;
Line 480
Him thoughte for tene his herte to-brak
That Iason then so mekely spak,
He was not payed with his sawe
'Here now,' he says, 'felawe,
Line 484
What in erthe so thow art,
Or he that sente the hidirward,
Say thi kyng: "this day thre ȝer
Or ere he schal se me her
Line 488
Vpon this place and other mo.
Out of his lond wil I not go
For his biddyng, but lye here stille
Maugre his tethe, agayn his wille;
Line 492
For he schal be so ouer-sette,
That we for him wol not lette
To do oure wille and oure lykyng."
Go and say thus to the kyng!
Line 496
Say him: "he has be-gunnen a strif,
That he and his schal rewe his lyf";
And bidde him be sekir her-of & bold,
And say that I him thus told!'
Line 500
¶ Hercules his lippes gnowe
For tene he hadde not folk y-nowe,
That he als-tide and sir Iason
Might not ffyght with Lamedon.
Line 504
But a-mong hem was no merie gale
Off alle that ther were, grete & smale,
Ther was not a schip ful of men,
And thei were mo then thousandes ten
Line 508
Page 16
De Rege Cete in Ciuitate Ieconite.
Off bold knyȝtes hardi & kene; [folio 8b]
Line 509
What wolde thei alle to hem be sene!
Thei gadered vp alle that ther lay
And to thair schip thei toke the way
Line 512
And sailed forth vpon the see,
Til thei wolde comyn ther thei wolde be
In-to that Ile that hight Colkos.
Eche a man on londe than gos,
Line 516
And leyde here sail thanne by the mast
And lefft here schip teyghte fast.—
And this þe forme skyl to schewe was,
That Troie was lorn so foule a-cas,
Line 520
Driuen doun and foule distroyed;
Ther-with were Troiens foule anyed,
For thei of Grece reste on here land
Fer fro the cete opon þat sand;
Line 524
For sir Iason and his nauee
Sette & reste vpon the see,
When thei wente out of Grece
To wynne the schepis goldyn flece.
Line 528
IN Colkos Ile a Cite was,
That men called thanne Reconitas [MS. reconitas; the r quite distinct, though the rubric has Ieconite.] ,
Fair and mekel, large and long,
With walles heye and wondir strong,
Line 532
Ful of toures and heye paleis
Off riche knyȝtes and burgeis.
A kyng that tyme, that hete Cetes,
Gouerned than that lond In pes;
Line 536
With his baronage and his meyne,
Dwelleden thanne in that Cyte.
For al aboute that riche toun
Stode wodes and parkis enviroun,
Line 540
That were replenysched wondirful
Off herte and hynde, bore and bul,
Page 17
And other many sauage bestis; [folio 9a]
Line 543
Be-twix that wode and that forestis
Line 544
Ther was large contray & playn,
Faire wodes & fair Champayn,
Ful of semely rennyng welles—
As the romaunce the sothe telles—
Line 548
With-oute the cete that ther sprong;
Ther was of briddes michel sang
Thorow alle the ȝer, and mykel cry,
Off alle Ioyes gret melody.
Line 552
¶ To that Cite & kyng Cetes
Ȝode Iason and Hercules
And alle the felawes that he hadde,
In clothes of gold as kynges be-cladde.
Line 556
When kyng Cetes his men herde say
That Gregeys come in that aray,
In his paleis he spak hem with,
Alle in pees and loue & gryth;
Line 560
He ros him vp out of his se
As curtais kyng and knyȝt so fre,
Out of his halle with mykel spede
With his men agayn hem ȝede [MS. ȝode.] ,
Line 564
And welcomed hem with louely chere
And ledde hem bothe to-gedir in-fere
And ther other ffelawes alle
With gret worschepe In-to his halle.
Line 568
He dede hem sitte opon the benk,
And bad his men bryng a drynk;
When thei hadden dronken what her wille is,
Sir Iason, the knyȝt of pris,
Line 572
Tolde the cause of his comyng
On fair manere to Cetes the kyng,
And seyde "that he was comen to wynne,—
If he myght spede,—of [of is added above the line and ought to be deleted.] the golden skynne.
Line 576
Page 18
Line 576
He prayed him ther of his gode wille, [folio 9b]
Line 577
That he scholde graunte loude and stille
Holly his landes ordenaunce [MS. ordenanaunce.] ,
If him myȝt happen suche chaunce."
Line 580
¶ The kyng graunted to fulfille
His desir and alle his wille;
The kyng bad with mylde wordes:
"Anon thei scholde sette the bordes;
Line 584
Tyme hit was to sopere go," he sayde;—
The bordes were set, the clothes layde.
He called to him a knyȝt [MS. aknyȝt.] wel hende
And him afftir his douȝter sende [MS. wende.] ,
Line 588
And seide, sche scholde comen a-doun
To glade his gestes of gret renoun.
¶ The knyȝt [Originally knyȝtes in MS.; es erased.] ȝede to the mayden ffre,
The kynges douȝter, dame Mede,
Line 592
And bad here come with-outen dwellyng
With here Maydenes to the kyng.
Sche dwelled not longe—I vndirstonde:—
Whan sche hadde herd here fadir sonde,
Line 596
Sche come doun vnto the table
With contenaunce good and stable,
And grette here fadir sikurly
And other knyȝtes that sete him by.
Line 600
He bede here go and sitte that tyde
His vncouthe gest Iason be-syde;
And Mede dede as here fadir bad,
And of his biddynge was wel glad.
Line 604
Off this Mede, this worthi may,
Sumwhat of here wol I say,
Off here wisdom and of here beryng,
Off here science & of here kunnyng:
Line 608
Sche coude the science of clergy
And mochel of Nigramauncy;
Page 19
De Medee Filia Regis Ceti.
In alle that lond [ne] was here pere [folio 10a]
Line 611
As wide as men gos fer or nere,
Line 612
Ne that was to here half so scley
Of cours of planetes and of the sky,
Ne couthe so many enchauntement
As coude Medee, that may gent.
Line 616
¶ Sche coude with coniurisouns,
With here scleyghte & oresouns,
The day that was most fair & lyght
Make as derk as any nyght;
Line 620
Sche coude also In selcouth wyse
Make the wynde bothe blowe & ryse
And make him so lowde blowe
As it scholde houses ouerthrowe;
Line 624
Sche [MS. He.] couthe turne verement
Alle wederes and the firmament,
And here liked make it reyne
And if here liked make it schyne.
Line 628
Sche coude do many selcouthe thyng:
In somer when the leues spryng
Make stormes hem to driue a-way
And make trees drye as clay;
Line 632
Sche wolde also the trees that ware
In wynter-tyde naked & bare
Make hem florische aȝeyn & bere,
That wynter hem myȝt not dere.
Line 636
In al the world was no man
So kunnyng of wit and wisdam—
As seyn these autours and these clerkes—
As was Medee In here werkes.
Line 640
MEdee sette here doun to mete
By-twene her lord and Iason to ete,
Sche cast here eye wel offte vnfold
That Ioyful knyȝt to be-hold;
Line 644
Page 20
Line 644
So fair a knyȝt at here likyng [folio 10b]
Line 645
Sche saw neuere old ne ȝyng;
Here hadde leuere than al Assye
That he hadde ben in here baylye,
Line 648
Might sche brynge to that acord
That he wolde be here lord;
Gode in erthe! that [Perhaps naught was in the original.] sche desires,
But that Iason were one of heres.
Line 652
Sche hadde here herte so on him set,
Here eye myȝt sche not fro him let;
Sche loued him so wondirly tho,
That sche wiste neuere what to do,
Line 656
But toke here leue and be-gan to go
To the chambur that sche come fro.
¶ Vnto the chambur sche is comyn,
Loue hath here so vndir-nomyn,
Line 660
That trauayles here wondir strong
With thought and sykyng euere among;
Sche thenkith bothe day & nyȝt
How sche that loue performe myȝt
Line 664
With-outen schame and vylonye,
That sche were not reproued ther-by;
Fayn sche wolde haue here wille,
But sche myȝt not come ther-tille.
Line 668
¶ And thus leued sche fourtene nyȝth
In gret wo as any wyȝth:
Til hit be-fel vpon a day
That kyng Cetes—soth to say—
Line 672
And Iason were to-gedur set
And bad here men Medee doun fet
In-to the halle of his paleis,
To talke with the knyȝtes curteis.
Line 676
Off the tydynges was Medee blithe:
To hem doun sche come swythe;
Page 21
¶ De Iasone.
And he bad here sitte be Iason,— [folio 11a]
Line 679
That al here loue was vpon,—
Line 680
And speke with him In fair manere,
As Mayden schulde to bachelere.
Medee did his comaundement;
But Cetes was ther-with ablent:
Line 684
He wist not of Medee wille
That sche loued Iason stille.
¶ When Iason saw that worthi wyght
So sitte on benche by him right,
Line 688
He was wel glad, as him gon thenk;
Ercules ros vp of the benk,
And he sat be that worthi wenche
To wete what that mayden dede thenke.
Line 692
¶ Kyng Cetes with-oute doute
Spak to the knyȝtes him aboute,
Of Ercules asked tydynges,
At other knyȝtes of other thynges;
Line 696
So to him ȝaf no man gome,
Knyȝt ne sqwyer, lord ne grome.
Medee say that sche was brouȝt
To telle Iason of here thouȝt
Line 700
¶ With-oute heryng of any wyght:
'Sir Iason,' sche seide, 'thow art a knyȝt [MS. aknyȝt.]
Off whiche I haue mochel rewthe
And gret compassioun, be my trewthe!
Line 704
For I se wel and haue in mynde
That thow art comen of gentil kynde,
And art a louely [MS. alouely.] creature,
And art hardy with-oute mesure;
Line 708
For I se wel—and sothe hit is—
That thyn heye herte and thi hardines
Hath brouȝt the fro the lond of Grece
For to wynne the golden flece,
Line 712
Page 22
¶ De Medee.
Thorow whiche—is a sothe thyng— [folio 11b]
Line 713
Thow schalt go to thyn endyng.
And I haue gret pyte
Off thi manhede and beute,
Line 716
That thow thus foule schalt be spilt
For a schepis [MS. aschepis.] skyn that is ouer-gilt.
Ther-fore I ȝeue the consayle—
The beste that the may a-vayle—
Line 720
That thow wende hom hole and sound,
A-ȝeyn to thi lond with-oute any wound.'
¶ Iason thanne with chere deuout
Vnto that lady gan lout
Line 724
And seyde louely, curtays & fre:
'A thousand tymes I thanke it the
Of thi goodnes and thi curtasye,
That thow hast reuthe of my folie;
Line 728
For ȝoure biddyng outerly
I put for-sothe al my body.'
'SWete Iason, my louely frend,'—
Saide Medee, that mayden hend,—
Line 732
'Has thow not the sothe herd telle
Off that flece and the gret perille?
Or thow knowest not the sothe
That makes the so bold of othe,
Line 736
Thow may ther-to make assay
And lese thi myȝt and thi noblay.
For sekurly ther was neuere knyȝt
That hadde that strengthe and that myȝt,
Line 740
That myȝt with his hardinesse
That flece wynne with douȝthtinesse:
For it is keped bothe nyght and day
With oure god Mars, that alle thyng may;
Line 744
For ther is no man on lyue,
Agayn oure god that may stryue.
Page 23
Ther-fore I praye ȝow for loue or awe: [folio 12a]
Line 747
Fro that perile ȝow with-drawe,
Line 748
That thow deye not thus sodenly
For a lytel foly!'
¶ Iason seyde: 'my lady dere,
Of this kepe I no more to here!
Line 752
Wene ȝe my hert so to stere,
Or with ȝoure wordes me to dere,
That I schulde this thing for-sake
That I gan ferst vndirtake?
Line 756
Me were leuere certes to deye
Than to do that vylonie!
For now I haue it be-gonne,
And I ȝede hom, or it were wonne—
Line 760
Me were leuere I were vnbore
Then suche a schame were me before!
For my deth schal I not lette,—
If that I may,—that flece to fette!'
Line 764
MEdee seide: 'my derlyng,
Is it thi wil for any thyng
To putte thi deth be-fore thi lyff
And to putte the to that stryff?
Line 768
I haue pite of thi ded,
But I schal ȝeue the suche a red [MS. ared.] ,
That thow schalt come a-ȝeyn ful rathe
And wynne that schepe with-outen skathe—
Line 772
If it be so thow wilt fulfille
Mi desire and my wille.'
'Lady,' Iason thanne sayde,
'Of that ȝe sayn I holde me payde:
Line 776
What ȝe schul in erthe ordeyne,
I schal holde it for prow or payne
The while that I am leuyng—
I drawe to witnes god, oure kyng!'
Line 780
Page 24
Line 780
¶ Medee sayde to Iason than: [folio 12b]
Line 781
'If thow wilt be so trewe a man [MS. aman.] ,
That thow wilt hete me to wedde,
And as thi spouse to brynge me to bedde,
Line 784
And leue me neuere for wele ne wo,
And graunt me home with the to go
Out of this lond that is fair,—
Off whiche I schal be qwene and ayr,—
Line 788
Vnto thi lond, to thi hous,
And wedde me there to thi spous:
I wolde make the that schepe-fel
Wynne to-morwe with-outen perel.'
Line 792
IAson sayde to Medee:
'Riche bene that thow proferest to me:
Ȝoure-self to be in my bandoun
And al in my subieccioun,
Line 796
That art the fairest that lyf beres
Or any clothe on erthe weres;
And also to saue me
Off alle perile that ther-Inne be,
Line 800
And do me wynne that flece of golde,
That no man may do that leues on molde
With-oute ȝoure help, my derlyng!
That is to me a fair proferyng!
Line 804
Body and herte to ȝow I profre,
And alle my-self to ȝow I offre:
I take ȝow here my trowthe I-plyȝt [MS. I. plyȝt.] ,
That I schal neuere by day ne nyȝt
Line 808
Do not a-ȝeyn ȝoure lykyng
Ne forthermore neuere of ȝoure byddyng!
And I schal with me ȝoure-self lede
In-to my lond—so god me rede!—
Line 812
And wedde ȝow there vnto my wyff
And leue ȝow neuere whil me last lyff!'
Page 25
Off that beheste was Medee fayn, [folio 13a]
Line 815
But ȝit sche wolde be more certayn
Line 816
That he schulde here no-wayes be-gile
Ne holde here afftir for no vile.
Sche sayde: 'Iason, be thow not wroth!
I wole that thow me make an oth,
Line 820
That thow schalt trewly & trusly holde
Of alle that thow hast sayde & tolde;
For no-wayes we may not now
Do this thyng be-twene vs two.
Line 824
I wol that thow when day is gon
Come to my chambre sone anon,
When I schal sende aff[t]ir the,
That thow alway come to me;
Line 828
And than schaltow make thi surment
Opon my god with sacrament,
And swere me ther by that god
Alle this to holde for euen or od.
Line 832
And when thow hast thus wrouȝth & don,
Al thi wil schal I graunte son.'
¶ Iason seyde: 'my ladi fre,
As ȝe haue seyd, so schal it be!
Line 836
When ȝe haue afftir me send,
Wightlyche schal I to ȝow wend.'
And thus were thei bothe at one
Vpon the benche hem-self alone
Line 840
And toke leue thenne and ros;
Vnto here Chambre faste sche gos.
MEdee is vnto here chambre gone,
And here maydenes euerychone.
Line 844
Here thought longe vnto nyght,
That sche myȝt speke with that knyȝt.
When nyȝt was comyn and day past,
And alle in bedde vpon sclepe fast,
Line 848
Page 26
Line 848
Sche cleped a mayden [MS. amayden.] that het Ane,— [folio 13b]
Line 849
So trewe a mayden [MS. amayden.] hath sche nane,—
And bad here pryuili to go
And [MS. A d.] say: "Iason schuld come here to."
Line 852
And Ane ȝede wel priuyli
And bad him come to here lady;
And he ros bothe blythe and glad
And dede as the mayden bad.
Line 856
And whan thei were to-gedur met,
Ane that him thedur fet
Ȝede here way with-oute more
And lefft hem to-gedur thore.
Line 860
¶ Whan Medee saw Iason ther-In,
Sche sperid the doris with a pyn
And bad him sitte doun vpon here bed,—
With riche clothes hit was spred.
Line 864
That faire lady, that louesom brid,
A Craffty cofre sche vn-did
And toke out an ymage, frely dyght
With fele torches and mochel lyght,
Line 868
That [MS. Ther.] sacrid was In Iouis name.
'Iason,' seide that faire dame,
'Thow schalt thin hond on this god lay
And thow schalt holde that I schal say:
Line 872
On this ymage thow schalt swere,
Faith & treuthe thow schalt me bere,
And wedde me to thy wyff,
And leue me neuere whil I haue lyff.'
Line 876
¶ Iason sayde: 'my trewthe I layd,
To do al as thow hast sayd.'
And layde his treuthe on that ymage
To [MS. And.] take here the terme of his age.
Line 880
When sche hadde take of him that oth,
Thei caste of hem euery cloth
Page 27
¶ Iason concubuit cum Medee.
And ȝede bothe in-to a bed,— [folio 14a]
Line 883
With riche clothes hit was spred.
Line 884
Alle that nyȝt to-gedur thei lay,
Til it was nere a-gayn the day.
Iason sayde: 'my derlyng dere,
It is not good to dwelle here;
Line 888
But say me now, my derlyng,
Wolt thow ordeyne for me o thyng,
That I myȝt thorow thi techyng
My purpos wele to ende bryng?
Line 892
For al the haste that I haue
Is, swetyng,—so god me saue—
Out of this Ile the to lede
In-to my lond with-outen drede.'
Line 896
¶ Sche seyde: 'Iason, I am al ȝare,
When thow art redi, With the to fare!
Rise we now vp! I schal the kenne
With the neet that the ne brenne.
Line 900
For-ȝete thow not my kennyng
For no ferdnesse of brennyng!'
¶ Iason thenne and sche vp ros;
And Medee to here forsure gos,
Line 904
And drow out relikes manye & gode,
And toke Iason ther he stode
And tauȝt him how he scholde do,
When he that Ile come to,
Line 908
That he were not with nete ybrend,
Ne with the dragoun y-schend.
¶ Ȝit of the forsure the lady rauȝte
A fair ymage and him by-tauȝte,
Line 912
And bad him sclely with him bere,—
For sorcery schuld him not dere:
For it was alle with sorcery wroght,
Alle sorcery it brouȝte to nought.
Line 916
Page 28
Line 916
And afftir that Medee out hente [folio 14b]
Line 917
A wel riche oynemente
And an-oynted alle his body,
Visage and alle witterly:
Line 920
For hit for-did al brennyng of ffire,
Off hit brende neuere so schire.
¶ And afftirward that fair swetyng
By-tauȝt Iason a riche [MS. ariche.] ryng,
Line 924
That alle venym for-dede & strued,—
That he schul not be venym-noyed
That bar that riche ryng on him:
For it fordede alle venym.
Line 928
MEdee tok with him thanne a writ,
And him bad he schuld bere it;
And when he come with-Inne that Ile,
That he schulde with herte mylde
Line 932
On his knees him doun sette,
Er he that flece ȝede to fette;
And thries he scholde hit ouer-rede;
That he ne lefft for no drede.
Line 936
¶ Sche toke him thenne a riche [MS. ariche.] licour,—
A viole ful of gode sauour,—
And bad he schulde that lycour poure,
When he come In-to the stoure,
Line 940
In the mouthes of the neete,
For hit was wondur cleuand wete;
Then scholde thei holde here mouth to-gedur
And make no more so foule a wedur:—
Line 944
'For if thow konne this in here mouthe throwe,
Thei schal no more no fir blowe!'
¶ Iason seide: 'I thonk it the,
That thow hast thus ordeyned for me!
Line 948
I hope, or it be euenyng,
That golden flece to the bryng.'
Page 29
He toke his leue at that may, [folio 15a]
Line 951
In-to his Chambre he tok the way,
Line 952
Ther-In he lay and Hercules;
Wel stille he lay doun in pes,
Til it was cler day and lyght,
That the sunne schon wel bryght:
Line 956
He ros vp and come him doun,
And alle his felawes enviroun.
OVt of his bed is Iason rysen,
To wende his way he is not grysen,
Line 960
To wynne the schepe,—if he haue grace,—
Now he these thinges of Medee has.
He is comyn in-to the halle
With Hercules and his men alle;
Line 964
To Cetes the kyng he is forth went.
He asked anon, what it be-ment,
He asked at him and at hisen,
Whi he was so erly rysen.
Line 968
'Sir,' he saide, 'be godis ore!
That I thus dwelle me rewes sore;
I wol ther-fore make asay
To wynne the flece—if I may:—
Line 972
Ȝeue me leue and lete me go,
That I no lenger be ther-fro.'
¶ Cetes saide: 'I haue gret drede,
That thow be dede and not wel spede;
Line 976
I schal therfore haue harm and schame,
For men wol rette on me the blame;
But that thow art of wil so bold,
That I may not at home the hold—
Line 980
God, that this world made round,
Brynge the aȝeyn hol and sound!'
¶ Then was Iason wondir blythe,
He toke his armure and tyred him swythe,
Line 984
Page 30
¶ Qualiter Iason fecit bellum.
And ȝede forth the schepe to wynne [folio 15b]
Line 985
To that Ile that he was Inne.
When he was comen ther it was,
Ther he schulde ouer the water pas
Line 988
In-to that Ile In-to a bote [MS. abote.] ,
He kest his armes In fote hote
And rowed ouer with an ore.
When he was ouer that watur thore,
Line 992
He armed him—as he coude wele—
Bothe in Iren and in stele,
And on his hed thanne sette
His trewe and trusti basenette,
Line 996
And kest his scheld a-boute his hals,
And bere his spere with him als;
And ȝaf aboute him ful good kepe,
If he myȝt be war of the schepe.
Line 1000
And thedirward Iason him drow,
To wynne the flece—if he mow.
IAson is now on londe lyght,
Armed wel and nobly dyght.
Line 1004
When he was comen to that stede,
Ther he saw the schepes trede,
On the first thenne was he ware,
Where the nete were standyng thare,
Line 1008
Kestyng fir with-oute sese
Of her mouthe with-oute relesse,
That alle the sky with-oute doute
Was on fire alle a-boute.
Line 1012
But he thought then on his swetyng,
Of dame Medee and her kennyng:
Ful radly thenne the boyste he hent
That was with the oynement;
Line 1016
Al his visage and his face
Anoynted ther-with sone he hase.
Page 31
He toke also that ymage bryȝt [folio 16a]
Line 1019
That was of siluer made & dyȝt,
Line 1020
And hanged it aboute his hals a-boue,—
As Medee him bad do so for here loue,—
And turned it to the fir anon,
And the nete stood and loked ther-on;
Line 1024
And sette him doun meke & wyse
And redde his writ thanne thryse,
And when it was thries red,
To go to hem was not dred.
Line 1028
His perel thanne a-wey was rauȝt,
And with this nete faste he fauȝt:
The flaume of fir thenne on him caste
And brende his gode scheld on haste,
Line 1032
And his spere to his hond
To coles hit fel vpon the sond.
HE toke thenne that licour wete
And poured qwyk into the nete;
Line 1036
And when it was with-Inne ther [r by a later hand.] lippes,
Faste to-gedur hit hem grippes,
That thei myȝt not her mouth vn-spere,
With hete Iason no more to fere.
Line 1040
When Iason hem thus discomfit
Thorow dame Medee that was perfit,
And saw a-boute that the aire
Was good and clene and ful fair,
Line 1044
And the nete myght fyght no more
Thorow here kennyng and here lore,
He toke hem be the hornes long
And here hedes a-boute wrong,
Line 1048
And loked, if thei were tame ynow,
And ladde hem thanne vnto the plow,
And ȝoked hem and dede hem drawe,
And turned that lond with-outen awe.
Line 1052
Page 32
Line 1052
When he hadde don, he toke his way [folio 16b]
Line 1053
To the dragoun ther he lay;
And the dragoun sey him ney,
He made thanne an [MS. and.] hidous cry,
Line 1056
And hissed loude, and brondes blew,
Fyr faste on Iason he threw,
And spitte venym and keste aboute;
But Iason ther-of hadde no doute:
Line 1060
Whan he herde that how loude he hissed,
Iason dede as he was wissed,
He toke the ryng that sche toke him
For drede of fir & of venym,—
Line 1064
That bare a stone [MS. astone.] , was fair and grene,—
And held hit sone hem be-twene,
And keste it doun be-fore his syght.
And whan the dragoun saw that lyght [MS. lyght, altered from syght.] ,
Line 1068
He lefte the fir and his brennyng
And al foule venym of his spittyng,
And loked stabli on that ston,
And he beheld euere ther-on,
Line 1072
And whil the dragoun ther-to ȝaff tent,
His swerd Iason out hent
And smot the hed fro the bouke,
And the ryng with him toke [MS. toke, altered from boke.]
Line 1076
And in hold he gan hit do.
And when he hadde sclayn him so,
He wente—and so he myȝt wele—
And drow his tethe out of his chavele,
Line 1080
And sewe hem thanne vpon the land
That he hadde ered on that sand.
Armed men of hem ther sprong,
And echon on other faste dong,
Line 1084
Til alle were sclayn that were thore;
On lyue leffte there none wore.
Page 33
¶ When Iason saw that ther was an ende [folio 17a]
Line 1087
Off alle that wondir enchauntemende,
Line 1088
Toward the schepe be-gan he go
With-oute drede him to sclo:
With bothe his handes the schepe he sclow,
And fro the body the skyn he drow,
Line 1092
And bare with him that schepes skyn
With mochel Ioye & mochel wyn,
Til he come to his bote;
And lepe In with a merie [MS. amerie.] note,
Line 1096
And ouer to his felawes rode,
Ther Hercules him a-bode,—
Wondir blythe, Ioyful, and glad
That thei on lyue him had.
Line 1100
¶ Iason thenne and his Gregeis
Rode to Cetes & to his paleis;
When Cetes saw that Ioyful kyng
Iason that schepes skyn bryng,
Line 1104
He hadde ther gret envy
That he raff him that drury;
But euel semblant myȝt he non make
For Hercules and Iason sake,
Line 1108
But dede hem sitte by his side
And fair semblaunt made him that tyde.
Then come ȝong and old
The schepes skyn to be-hold,
Line 1112
Thei hadde of Iason gret meruayle,
How he it wan in batayle
Aȝens thair goddis wil and myȝt;
Thei hadde meruayle of suche a knyȝt.
Line 1116
IAson now the flece hath wonne,
The tydynges thorow the Cete is ronne,
Many a man come him to see,
Ther he was set by dame Medee.
Line 1120
Page 34
Line 1120
He dwellyd ther a ful mon[i]the [Cf. ll. 1686 and 9407.] , [folio 17b]
Line 1121
And Hercules kyng Cetes withe,—
And til a tyme that he & sche,
And Hercules and his meyne,
Line 1124
Stale away with-Inne a nyȝt
And ȝede to schepe by sterre lyȝt;
And drow vp sail, and scheped sone,
And wente hom forth by the mone.
Line 1128
The wynd be-gan to rise & to blowe
And brouȝt hem home in a throwe
To the lond of Thesalye,
Iason and his companye.
Line 1132
¶ The word was told to Pelleus blyue [b perhaps altered from v.]
"That Iason was comen hom alyue,
And how he hadde brouȝt in-to Grece"—
'For-sothe' thei seyden—"the golden flece."
Line 1136
Wo was him of tho tythandis:
He wrong to-gedir bothe his handes
For sorwe and wo and care of herte,
That he was comen home in qwerte.
Line 1140
But when he saw him comande,
He wente a-ȝeyn him with fair semblande,
And welcometh him wel home,
And was glad of his come,
Line 1144
And thonked god that he ferd wele,
And ȝaf him the lond, eche a dele
Off Thesalye that lond aboute,
So he be-het him, or he wente oute.
Line 1148
¶ With this lond was he not payd;
He wolde be venged algate—he sayd—
Off Lamedone, the kyng of Troyene,
For he him dede reproue and tene.
Line 1152
To Hercules wel offte he spake:
"That he that charge wolde take;
Page 35
¶ Hic Incipit Bellum.
For elles myȝt it not come to ende;"— [folio 18a]
Line 1155
'For thow hast many a noble frende,
Line 1156
Many a knyȝt [MS. aknyȝt.] , and many a kyng,
And wil be fayn at thi byddyng.'
Hercules seyde: 'ne drede the nouȝt!
Ful wel to ende it schal be brouȝt
Line 1160
To my worschepe, if my lyf last,
Or this ȝere be ful past.
Haue thow no care, ne make no mone!
But let me here with-al alone!
Line 1164
I schal so venge oure vilonye,
That thay schal ful sore abye.'
HErcules the charge hath tane;
He thenkes to be that kynges bane,
Line 1168
He thenkes him scle with his hond,
If he may come to his lond.
At hom is he no lenger [wol he erased after lenger.] abiden,
To Sportes is that knyȝt reden,—
Line 1172
That was a lond of Romanye [altered from Romayne.] ,—
Ther two bretheren were [were ought to be struck out.] of chiualrye
Regned Inne by ther dayes.
Hercules ther the bretheren prayes
Line 1176
To wende with him ouer the see,
With armed folk a gret meyne,
To venge him on kyng Lamedon,
That kest him out and sir Iason
Line 1180
Off his lond, whan thai hem reste,
That dede him nother noye ne breste.
The bretheren bothe as knyȝtes hende
Thai were redi with him to wende,—
Line 1184
What day that he wolde assygne,—
With many worthi knyȝtes and digne.
Castor hete that on brother,
And Pollus called men that other.
Line 1188
Page 36
Line 1188
Hercules toke leue at hom [folio 18b]
Line 1189
And rode hym to Salom,
A lond that was to Grece longand,
That Thelaman thenne held [held inserted by a later hand above the line.] in his hand
Line 1192
That was kyng of gret renoun,
An hardy knyȝt, a bold [MS. abold.] baroun.
He prayed him that he wolde go
With him and other kynges mo,
Line 1196
That were of Grece, ouer the see,
Troye to brenne, that hye cete,
And venge him of that foule dispite
That Lamedon dede with gret vnriȝte—
Line 1200
Not long tyme sithen past,—
That he him of his lond cast.
¶ Thelaman seide: "hit schuld be don,
He was al redi at his bon
Line 1204
To wende with him, as good and hende,
Whan he aftir him wol sende."
Hercules thanne rode a-ȝeyn—
Off his be-heste he was ful fayn—
Line 1208
To Polleus kyng and bad that he
Schuld gader faste alle his meyne,
And alle that he myȝt [with written by a later hand over line between myȝt and purchase(s).] purchase [MS. purchases.] ,
By loue, or awe, or any manace [MS. manaces.] .
Line 1212
¶ He tok him thanne the nexte way
To Pilon lond—right as I say;—
Pylon was a lond also
That longed that tyme Grece to,
Line 1216
And duk Nestor was lord and sire [Dux Nestor [On the left side in MS.] .]
Ouer al that lond and that Empire;—
And prayed him of his ffraunchesse [ss perhaps written by the later hand.]
That he wolde wende with him and hesse [The first s added by the later hand.] ,
Line 1220
To venge him on that kyng vilayn,
And helpe that he were ded and sclayn;
Page 37
And reue al his bothe lyff and lym, [folio 19a]
Line 1223
That wolde not soffre Iason ne hym
Line 1224
On day reste to take,
Nother for prayer ne for sake.
¶ Duk Nestor seide to Hercules:
'I am al ȝare with-outen les
Line 1228
To wende with the at thy biddyng,
And knyȝtes fele with me to bryng,
To venge the of that vilonye
And do him knowe his folye.
Line 1232
I schal make me and myne ȝare
With-outen dwellyng with the to fare.'
¶ Hercules was thanne wel blythe,
Aȝayn to Pelleus ȝode he swythe.
Line 1236
A[nd] whan he come to Thesalye,
He fonde a louely [MS. alouely.] companye
Of kynges and knyȝtes to-gedur thore,
That for his help comen wore:
Line 1240
For thanne was comen Thelaman,
That douȝti kyng, that noble man;
And the bretheren bothe two,
Castor kyng and Pollus also,
Line 1244
With alle here men and here nauee
Stondyng redi on the see;
And Pelleus was al redi dyȝt
With many a bold baroun and knyȝt;
Line 1248
And here schippes were vitayled,
Ther mete and drynke schal non be fayled.
Consilium Grecorum contra Troianos [This line is in red paint.] .
Alle the kynges bene now to-gedur,
And hit was ful meri wedur:
Line 1252
That Marche was passed and Feuerer,
Hit was that tyme of the ȝere,
It was in-myddis of Averille;
Page 38
T[h]e wedir was clere, the wynd was stille. [folio 19b]
Line 1256
And alle these kynges to schip ȝede [First e indistinct in MS., might be o.]
To taken the see with-oute drede;
Thei sayled forth day and nyȝt,
Til thei hadde of Troye a syȝt [MS. asyȝt.] .
Line 1260
The sunne was set and al away doune,
Thanne thei hadde syght ferst of the toune.
Thei toke the hauen, whan it was derk,
With-outen wetyng of prest or clerk,
Line 1264
And kest here ankyr on that sond
And ȝede alle vpon the lond,
For ther was non that euere hem lette;
Hit was longe afftir the sonne sette,
Line 1268
That no man wiste of thair comyng,
Knyȝt ne sqwier, ne the kyng.
Eche man thanne his hors oute hentes,
And drow out Armure & here tentes,
Line 1272
Speres, dartes, helmys, and scheldes;
Thei sette here pauylons & here teldes,
And sette here wacche ouer-al abowte,
That thei myȝt reste with-oute dowte.
Line 1276
THe Gregeis ben londit and proud y-pyght
With gay tentis arayed aryght.
Longe ar the day be-gan to sprynge,
Pelleus sent aboute tythynge
Line 1280
To eche a kyng that there he lay
To come to him, or it were day.
Thei come echone to wete his wille;
When thei were comen and set doun stille,
Line 1284
Pelleus seide: 'my bretheren dere,
Now we ben to-gedur here,
Me thenketh it were good to speke,
How we myȝt sonest vs wreke
Line 1288
Off oure fomen and oure enemys,
Page 39
To oure worschepe and to oure pris; [folio 20a]
Line 1290
And saue vs fro perele,
How so it euere it be-fele,
Line 1292
And take the toun with myȝt and wyn,
And alle that euere is ther-In.'
HErcules, that douȝti man,
Be-fore alle other to speke he gan:
Line 1296
'Seres'—he sayde—'ȝoure skylles is good,
As ȝe haue seide, so vs be-hood.
This is myn avisement,
How thei schal sonest be schent:
Line 1300
Ȝiff ȝe wole alle that it be so,
That we parte oure men atwo—
Er it be day and sonne vp-rise,—
That we be seuered in alle wise:
Line 1304
And ȝe, sir kyng, and Thelaman,
And I also, and sir Iason,
Schal be to-gedre In that on ende;
To the toun and we schal wende,
Line 1308
Er it be day or any lyght,
That no man of vs haue a syght:
For we schal hide vs In the vynes,
And when the sonne is vppe and rises,
Line 1312
We schal holde vs stille and coy
By-side the ȝatis with-oute Troy.
And kyng Pollus, and duke Nestor,
And his brother kyng Castor,
Line 1316
Schal beleue here on the see
With alle here folk and here naue.
And Nestor schal ferst with hem dele
With alle his men and his eschele,
Line 1320
And Castor schal be my red haue
The secunde warde—so god me saue!—
And kyng Pollus schal haue the thridde
Page 40
With alle the men that are him myd. [folio 20b]
Line 1324
¶ And when the kyng hath tydandes,
That we are restid on his landes,
And he comes out with his baronage
To fyght with hem on this ryuage,
Line 1328
We schal entre in-to the toun
And breke the walles & throwe hem doun,
And scle that we ther-Inne fynde,
Honge, and brenne, and faste bynde,
Line 1332
And do dye that vs dos [MS. do dos.] dere.
Then schal we turne to were
And scle hem alle for vs & ȝow.
And thus thynketh me most for oure prow,
Line 1336
When thei may not fro vs fle
On no syde to no contre.'
¶ The kyng sayde: 'as haue I roo!'—
"That hit was good his rede to do,
Line 1340
Better red schuld thei haue non
To confounden sone here fon."
Thei parted here men In two parties;
And Hercules with his he hies
Line 1344
Vndir the toun In the greues
And hides him there in the leues;
And duk Nestor lefft stille thore
With alle that with him wore.
Line 1348
HIt is lyȝt day, the sonne is hye,
And Hercules the toun is nye
With-Inne the greues, ther leues sprynge;
And Lamedon has herd tydynge
Line 1352
That thay of Grece with gret feute
Bene in his hauene with gret naue.
He armed him with-outen any bode
With alle his men and to hem rode,
Line 1356
With scheld and spere an[d] swerd in hande;
Page 41
¶ Hic veniunt ad pugnandum.
And whan Nestor saw hem comande, [folio 21a]
Line 1358
He ordeyned him with-oute drede
With alle his men, and to hem ȝede;
Line 1360
And ther be-gan a strong cuntre,
Lamedon his dethe ther hent he;
He and his were wood opriȝt,
Or endit were that fyȝt.
Line 1364
LAmedon is armed wel,
His stede is trapped In iren & stel;
Out of the toun is he now ryden,
And his men, that he hath bydden
Line 1368
To go with him that ought were worthe,
Now are thei alle to-gedur forthe,
In-myddes the feld out of the toun
Ridyng ouer dale and doun,
Line 1372
Toward the see to the Gregeis
That he sei stonde in here harneis,
Redi dight with hem to ffyght
With scheldes brode and swerdes bryght.
Line 1376
¶ The Gregeis were not of hem dred;
Nestor that the vanwarde led,
Whan he saw hem come to him ward,
He busked to hem as hard
Line 1380
And toke the feld brod and large
With Many a scheld [MS. ascheld.] , target, and targe;
And kepe him euene in the berd,
For he was nouȝt of him aferd.
Line 1384
A dredful dyn myȝt men thenne here,
A carful noyse, a dredful [MS. adredful.] bere:
When thei were met to-gedur on hepis,
Euery man on other lepes,
Line 1388
And beris him doun, & throwys him vndur,
And leues him [him written by a later hand over line.] dede stryken asondur;
A fel batayle was ther by-gonnen,
Page 42
When thei were alle to-gedur ronnen. [folio 21b]
Line 1392
The noyse was gret, the speres brake,
Whan eche man mette with his make;
Some were ded and thorow born,
And some hondes or legges lorn,
Line 1396
Some were wounded to the dethe,
Some myȝt not drawe her brethe;
Helmes were holed, and scheldes cloven,
With grete strokes here hedes houen.
Line 1400
Knyȝtes were feld, stedis strayed;
Wel bolde barons bledde and brayed,
To ther deth then were thei dyȝth
With swerdes scharpe and brondis bryȝth.
Line 1404
Gret sclauȝter was be-twene hem there,
When Troye and Grece to-gedur were.
But Troiens with gret multitude
At the laste hadde strokes rude,
Line 1408
But ȝit a-bak thei droff alle Nestor men
Ouer mose and ouer ffen.
¶ But when that noble kyng Castor
Saw how thei ferde with the duke Nestor,
Line 1412
And saw how he a-bak was dreuen,
And his scheld with strokes reuen,—
With alle his men thedur he hyed
And hertely the Troiens defied.
Line 1416
CAstor kyng, that douȝti knyȝt,
Is comen doun to that fyȝt,
To helpe Nestor, that worthi duk,
That he se Troyens so rebuk.
Line 1420
He sclow Troyens—as he were wode,—
He bare hem doun and schedde her blode;
So bitterly ferd he with:
Agayn hem hadde thei no gryth,
Line 1424
Thay myȝt no more with-stande his myght,
Page 43
So he was fers, stalworthe, and wyght. [folio 22a]
Line 1426
And so thei fouȝten and were wery,
Off his strokes thei were sory.
Line 1428
¶ But Lamedon, that douȝti kyng,
When he saw his men fleyng,
With alle the men In his warde
He ran thedur as a lyparde,
Line 1432
And sclow Gregeis here and there
As a lyon fers and fere.
He felde doun some, and some fflow,
And of here hors doun hem drow,
Line 1436
And lete hem lye, and some storuen,
Sore woundid and al for-koruen,
Many he greued and al to-hewed;
That he was knyȝt, ful wel he schewed:
Line 1440
He ferd with hem so sorily,
That thay discomfith were wel ny.
BVt when Pollus saw that syght,
The Gregeis were so discomfyght:
Line 1444
With alle his men he thedur ran
And sclow of the Troyens many a man.
Many men was be-twene hem sclayn,
When thei were alle on the playn
Line 1448
To-gedur mette with thaire batayles;
Eche man other ther assayles.
¶ But Lamedon saw, his men fauȝt
Ouer myȝt and out of mauȝt,—
Line 1452
What with loue and what with awe,—
A litel a-bak he made hem drawe
And gedered hem alle on an hepe
As a witti kyng, myȝti, and ȝepe.
Line 1456
¶ Duke Nestor aboue his scheld
Lamedon that tyme be-held:
He saw alle men do his byddyng,
Page 44
He hoped therfore, he was here kyng. [folio 22b]
Line 1460
Alle thynges lefft—to him he ȝede,
To scle him, if he myȝt spede.
¶ But Lamedon saw him comande
Towardes him with spere In hande,
Line 1464
He smytes his stede and slakes his rayne,
And rod to him as faste a-gayne
An[d] brak his spere in many a splent [MS. asplent.]
On duk Nestor In that dynt;
Line 1468
He harmed him nouȝt worth a thong [MS. athong.] ,
For his Armes were so strong,
And elles hadde he ben sclayn
With Lamedon on the playn.
Line 1472
¶ But Nestor on an-other wyse
Smot Lamedon by-fore al hyse:
He smot him on his scheld so
That he cleue hit euen In-two,
Line 1476
And bare him doun to the grounde
And ȝaf him there an hidous wounde;
But he lepe vp with gret spede,
When he was born thus fro his stede,
Line 1480
And drow his swerd raply & smert—
As hardi man and bold of hert—
And made him romme aboute and way
To duke Nestor—the sothe to say.
Line 1484
A Newe-made knyȝt, that hyȝte Cedar,
Off Lamedon, his lord, was war
Among that prese faught on fote;
He thouȝthe to do ther-of gode bote [b altered out of u.] :
Line 1488
He smot Nestor on his gold plate,
That he ȝede doun in-myddes the gate;
He bar him fro his hors in fyght
By-fore his lord, in the kynges syght.
Line 1492
Whan Lamedon saw Nestor felde,
Page 45
He thoght his strok scholde be ȝelde [folio 23a]
Line 1494
That he ȝaf him at her Iustyng:
Lamedon, that worthi kyng,
Line 1496
He hyed him faste to Nestor tho
And ȝaf strokes y-nowe and mo,
He brak his coyfe and his ketil-hat,
That to his hed sore it sat.
Line 1500
He smot him so ryght in the face,
That he hath lorn his solace;
For he was ther so for-bled
And with that kyng so ouerled,
Line 1504
That he hadde dyed and ben for-don,
Ne hadde him come socour son.
¶ But then come to that stour
Many a Grek [MS. agrek.] to his socour
Line 1508
And fro the kyng of Troye him reffte,
And elles had he his lyff ther leffte;
Out of the pres [thei] him ladde,
For of his lyff were thei adradde.
Line 1512
And Lamedon, that douȝti man,
A noble stede the whiles wan
And lep vp qwyk with-oute fayle
And strok forth in that batayle.
Line 1516
¶ Pollus brother, kyng Castor,
Saw Cedar, that felde duke Nestor;
Wo was him for that fallyng,
He thouȝth to make of him vengyng:
Line 1520
He rode to him, as he were wode,
Vpon a stede [MS. astede.] worth mechel gode.
¶ But ther be-fel another knyȝt,
That was of Troye, Secundam hyȝt,—
Line 1524
He was of Cedar blod and kyn,
He was seker his ney cosyn,—
He saw, how Castor wolde haue him smetyn
Page 46
Sydlyng, or he hadde weten, [folio 23b]
Line 1528
That wold he for non awȝt:
Be-twene hem the strok he cawȝt
And brast on kyng Castor his spere;
But he myȝt not him doun bere,
Line 1532
Castor spere was tow and strong,—
Ther was non strenger in al that throng;—
He smot Secundam in the syde
A gret wounde and a wyde [MS. awyde.] .
Line 1536
WHen Cedar saw his Cosyn woundid,
He was for del al confounded:
With drawen sword—as a wode man—
Cedar thanne to Castor ran;
Line 1540
Cedar than in that wode brayd
On Castor so wonderly layd,
That his helm al to-roffe,
And his basenet to his hed droffe.
Line 1544
He wounded him in his visage
For his ffoly and his outrage,
That hit in alle his lyff was sene,—
And feld him doun vpon the grene;
Line 1548
And his stede from him cauȝt
And his sqwyer him by-tauȝt.
¶ Now Castor is from his hors born,
His stede was taken and fro him lorn;
Line 1552
Opon his fete he stode and fauȝt,
Many a strok [MS. astrok.] Cedar him rauȝt,
And other mo that ther dede stande.
But kyng Pollus was ner-hande
Line 1556
And saw, how Cedar & many other
Ferd with kyng Castor, his [MS. Castoris.] brother;
Kyng Pollus then come him ney
Thedur with al his company,
Line 1560
He hadde with him In his eschele
Page 47
Seuen hundrid knyȝtes gode and lele. [folio 24a]
Line 1562
He ferde as he hadde y-raued,
So fayn he wolde his brother haue saued.
Line 1564
He rod thanne al aboute
To his fomen with gret route,
And amonges hem [made] ful gret pay;
To his brother he made him way,
Line 1568
And halp him fro his foos hondes,
And felde Troyens on the sondes,
And brouȝt to Castor the Troyes stede,
And halp him vp at his gret nede.
Line 1572
POlleus kyng brende as the fyr
For gret wratthe, onde & ir [MS. hir.] ,
That he had so his brother dyght
And warisched him of his myght.
Line 1576
He saw a knyȝt agayn him—
His name was Eliachim,
The kynges sone Sartaginis,
And Lamedon Cosyn also y-wys—
Line 1580
He smot the knyȝt with al his myȝt
Ryght be-fore the kynges syȝt,
That he died be-fore his eyen
With mechel wo and mechel pyn.
Line 1584
¶ Kyng Lamedon that be-held
His cosyn dyed In the feld,
Ȝeld the gost be-fore him there,
He wepte for him ful many a tere [MS. atere.] .
Line 1588
He sette his horn to his mouthe
And blew thries, as he wel couthe;
When he hadde blowen the thridde blast,
The knyȝtes come aboute him fast,
Line 1592
Thei asked him, what him was;
Lamedon saide to hem: 'alas!
Se ȝe not my cosyn dere
Page 48
Lye be-fore me ded here, [folio 24b]
Line 1596
The kynges sone of Artage?
Pollus sclow him In his rage.
Now with alle the myght that ȝe konne
Venge now my sistir sone!'
Line 1600
¶ When Lamedon hadde thus spoken
Off his fomen to be wroken,
Among the Grues then he presed
And sclow many, or he sesed:
Line 1604
He bare kynges and lordes doun
Off gret prise and gret renoun;
The Troyens then sclow the Grues,
That thei for wo chaunged thaire hewes;
Line 1608
Thei were wounded and sore ybete,
For thei were so ouersete,
Thei fledde a-way and lefft here place;
The Troyens thanne hem gon chace
Line 1612
And droff hem to the sees bank,
And hewes of hem armes & schank.
The Gruwes for-sothe hadde deye[d] alle—
So wo that tyme hem was by-falle
Line 1616
With gret wo and encomber [MS. encombrer.] —
Ne hadde ther come a messanger [MS. amessanger.]
Out of Troye and brouȝt tydynges
To hem of Troye and to here kynges:
Line 1620
"That proude Griffons hath taken his toun
And robbed hit and caste it doun,
And sclayn alle that thei ther founde
Stark ded vpon the grounde."
Line 1624
And he him-self that brouȝth tythand
Might not wel on his feet stande
Ne on his hors wel ride,
For he was smetyn thorow the syde,
Line 1628
He myȝt not wel sitte in pese;
Page 49
Troyens clepid that man Dotes, [folio 25a]
Line 1630
That Lamedon tho tydynges brouȝt;
Ther lyues alle thei set at nouȝt.
Line 1632
WHan Lamedon these tydynges herde,
With Mechel del thenne he ferde;
Lord god! what him was wo!
For he wiste neuere wheder to go.
Line 1636
But at the laste his horn he blew,
And his good men that him knew
Come aboute him wondur blyue,
As faste as thei myȝt driue.
Line 1640
¶ As thei reden to Troye ward,
Thei saw come many a lord [MS. alord.] ,
Many Gryffons on a ffrape
With mychel spede [MS. speche.] and mychel rape.
Line 1644
Thay loked be-hynde hem to the see:
Off hem that fledde how it myȝt be?
He saw hem come be-hynde his bak
Afftir him a wel gode schak.
Line 1648
¶ Thenne hadde the Troyens wel gret awe,
For thei wist neuere whedir to drawe,
Thei were be-twene her fomen set.
Whan Hercules and thay were met,
Line 1652
Hit was gret del and pite
What martirdom he made to be;
For thai of Grece were mo than thay
The double-fold—sothe to say.
Line 1656
¶ Hercules rides oueral and rennes—
As a fulmard doth afftir the hennes—
Al forsothe that he tas he sles;
Til he haue doun, he wol not ses.
Line 1660
He makes aboute him styes and wayes,
His myȝt on hem he sayes.
¶ As he rode so aboute raykand,
Page 50
¶ Lamedon occisus est.
Lamedon sey he fyghtande, [folio 25b]
Line 1664
That many a Greu hath sclayn that day;
He rod to him—so weylaway!—
And smot [MS. smot.] in-two bothe nekke and bon,
And kest the hed fro him anon;
Line 1668
Among the horses ther thei ran.
The Troyens then no counsel can,
When thei sey here lord so dede;
Off hem-self kan thei no rede,
Line 1672
Alle ȝede to dethe that hem abode;
Ther were ffewe that thennes rode,
For thei myȝt no ferthere fle
To toure ne toun ne to cite.
Line 1676
NOw Lamedon is ded & sclayn,
And alle the knyȝtes on the playn
With-oute the toun on the wolde,
Ther ne was leefft nother ȝong ne olde.
Line 1680
And thei of Grece ben went to Troye
With mery herte and mechel Ioye:
Alle that thei mette ther-In,
Thei dede to dethe, er thei wolde blyn.
Line 1684
Thei dwelled ther a ful [MS. aful.] monithe [The MS. first had month, a later hand [?] made i out of t, put an e behind the h, and altered this e to t; so the MS. now reads moniht.]
In gode pees and in grithe,
Til thei hadde sought the toun aboute
And robbed hit with-oute doute
Line 1688
Off al the good ther-Inne was,
Er thay wolde thennes pas.
And alle the Maydenes that thei myght fynde,
That comen were of gentil kynde,
Line 1692
That louely were, ȝong, and free,
Thei ledde with hem ouer the see;
And helde hem there in gret seruage,
That were come of gret parage.
Line 1696
As thei of Grece the toun sought
Page 51
¶ Ciuitas Troieanus destructus est.
And mochel wo the Troyens wroght, [folio 26a]
Line 1698
Thei fond a fair Mayde and a curtays
In Lamedon kynges paleis,
Line 1700
That was of wonder gret beute,
The fairest may that man myȝt se:
Long, and smal, and riȝth tretis
Was that mayden schapen y-wys;
Line 1704
That blisful, that swete wyght
Dame Oxonie forsothe sche hight; [¶ Oxonia Filia L'. Regis.]
Sche was the kynges douȝter Troyene [MS. troyene; the first e written by later hand over line.] ,
Getyn in wedlak on the qwene.
Line 1708
¶ Hercules toke Oxonie,
That kynges douȝter of genterie,
And ȝaf here Thelaman to mede,
In-to the toun for he furst ȝede;
Line 1712
For he was the furst man
That toke Troye, when thei it wan.
So weylaway! that sche was born!
So fele gode men for here were lorn
Line 1716
Afftirward wel many a day,
As ȝe afftirward here may;
For bi here roos al the wo,
That sixti thousand knyȝtes and mo
Line 1720
Deyed for her, and al here kyn,
And gode Ector, here owne Cosyn,
And gode Troyle, and Dephebus,
And here brother Priamus,
Line 1724
And Hectuba the gode qwene [This line stands behind the next one in MS.] ,
And here douȝter Pollexene;
And alle that to Troye longed
For hir rape the deth ther fonged.
Line 1728
Thay of Grece haue robbed the toun,
And brend houses & throwen hem doun;
Thay lefft right nouȝt that ought was worth,
Page 52
That thei ne bar hit with hem forth [folio 26b]
Line 1732
To ther scheppis and her naue;
And sayled hom in sauete
With alle þe [Over line by later hand.] riche tresor of Troye,
And leuyd ther-on with moche Ioye,
Line 1736
For thai were riche for eueremore
The while thei on lyue wore.
¶ But Thelaman, that worthi kyng,
Dame Oxonie, that lady ȝong,
Line 1740
Held alle his lyff to his leman
And nold her not to his spouse tan;
And sche was grettere than he
Or alle his kyn by suche thre;
Line 1744
Of her so was his lykyng [A later hand has made many scrawl|ings and scribblings in this and other lines on this page.]
And mo also of his ofspryng [MS. osspryng.] .
But of here In his lechurie
Wan [MS. Whan.] he that knyȝt of chiualrie:
Line 1748
Ayax Thelamonyus,
That was so bold and vigurous,
Afftirward that at [Over line by later hand.] Troyes batayle
Wroght many a [Over line by later hand.] gret meruayle.—
Line 1752
Thus was Troye formas lorn and wonne,—
Fille the cuppe who-so konne!
TRoye is downe and al to-rent
And lyth on the pament:
Line 1756
Ther nys nouȝt stondende an hous
In al the toun to hide a mous [MS. amous.] ,
That hit is [Over line by later hand.] downe and ouerthrowen,
Ther may the wynd wel colde blowen.
Line 1760
That tyme that this chaunce be-fel
Priamus—that sothe to tel—
A noble knyȝt and a ful fair,
That was the kynges sone & his air,
Line 1764
Was not at home in that contre:
Page 53
¶ Hic Priamus venit ad patriam suam.
He was fer out of that Cite, [folio 27a]
Line 1766
A strong Castel to be-sege,
That was holden with his men lege
Line 1768
That were aȝeyn his fadir rebelle.
Off these tythandes herde he telle,
He laffte the sege that was be-gonne,—
And elles for-sothe it hadde be wonne
Line 1772
The castel certes, hadde he a-byden;
But he is thennes with his men ryden
With carful herte and sore wepyng,
Til he wiste the sothe of this tythyng.
Line 1776
¶ Toward Troye he toke the way
With alle his men, the next that lay;
Til he come ther he neuere belan.
Than was he a sori [MS. asori.] man,
Line 1780
When he saw al downe and brend,
And his frendes dede and schend.
He sorwede day and nyȝth,
Til he hadde ben a-wroken be his myȝth;
Line 1784
He leuyd euere in gret wayment,
Til he was ney-honde yblent.
¶ But at the laste his wo he leffte
And sayde, "he wolde make Troye effte
Line 1788
Wel stronger than it was ore,
Widdur, lengur, and mochel more."
¶ He dede seche ouer-al and sende
Afftir Masons fre and hende,
Line 1792
Sklatteres, Masons, and Carpenter,
And other Men of alle mister,
That schulde be-gynne to make that werk.
Priamus hath sette the merk,
Line 1796
How long, how brod it scholde be;
The wryghtes haue hewen many a tre [MS. atre.] ,
Postes, Pileres Many and grete;
Page 54
The Masons on the stones bete,— [folio 27b]
Line 1800
Bothe of Marbil white and gray,—
To make the werk as I ȝow say:
Euere was a ston [MS. aston.] of Marbil gray,
And another of white, of alle that lay.
Line 1804
Many an ymage ther was grauen,
Wel smethe were thei alle schauen,
To sette with-outen vpon the walles.
On here chambres and on here halles
Line 1808
Ther was wroght alle maner best,
That was walkynge In any forest,
Were koruen on the walles enviroun.
Many fair hous was in that toun.
Line 1812
MAny worthi paleys and heye
Ymade [MS. ymade.] was ther of Masonrye.
Sithen god made first the werld,
Off suche on haue ȝe not herd
Line 1816
That was so [By another hand over line.] mechel of strengthe:
Hit was thre dayes iornes of lengthe,
And as moche it was of brede—
As men doth on boke rede.
Line 1820
Suche a toun [MS. atoun.] was neuere ȝit non,
Ne neuere schal be—by god alon!—
As longe as this world schal stande,
In cristendome ne in hethen lande [MS. hande.] .
Line 1824
The wal fro the ground streygthe
Were thre hundred fete on heygthe;
The lowest cote with-Inne the close,
That was werst and lest of lose,—
Line 1828
Sicurly as [I erased after as in MS.] say alle men,—
Was foure-score fete of heygthe and ten.
With-oute the toun is mad a dike,
Ther was neuere toun that hadde it like!
Line 1832
Hit was diked doun plum,
Page 55
That no man myȝth ther-ouer com. [folio 28a]
Line 1834
And ȝit he dede a paleis make
With-oute the diche, of many a stake,
Line 1836
That no man schulde the diche come to
Ne no harm to the toun do.
Afftir thanne so dede he make
A paleis for his owne sake,
Line 1840
And a rennand [MS. arennand.] fair reuer.
But I wol not ther-of speke here,
For afftirward schal ȝe here and see,
How [was] that werk of gret noble.
Line 1844
PRiamus is lord and kyng—
Afftir Lamedons endyng—
Off Troie and many fair Cite
And of many other riche contre.
Line 1848
He hadde a lady to his wyff,
Hectuba, that louely lyff;
On here gat he children fyue,
The douȝtiest men that were on lyue.
Line 1852
¶ Gode Ector the furst hyght; [¶ Ector.]
God made neuere a beter [MS. abeter.] knyȝt
Off douȝtinesse and of chiualrie
In cristendome ne in paynie.
Line 1856
The secunde brother het Paris, [¶ Paris.]
The fairest knyȝt that lyued ywis.
The thridde name was Dephebus, [¶ Dephebus.]
A doughti knyȝt and vertuus;
Line 1860
He was wys to ȝeue consayl
Off alle that euere fel to batayl.
The fourthe hight Elenus; [¶ Elenus.]
The ȝongest doughti Troylus, [¶ Troylus.]
Line 1864
A doughtier man than he was on
Off hem alle was neuere non,—
Saue Ector, that was his brother,
Page 56
That neuere was goten suche another, [folio 28b]
Line 1868
And Elenus, that was the fourthe,
The wisest knyȝth a-boue erthe:
Off alle science of Clergye,
Retorike, and astronomye,
Line 1872
He was forsothe a wis man [MS. wisman.] ,
Off alle science that any clerk can.
¶ Off Hectuba also gete he
Gentyl ladyes doughtres thre:
Line 1876
The eldest, Clusa, weddid was [¶ Clusa [On the left side in MS.] .]
Vnto that traytour Eueas [The MS. has Eueas throughout, cf. also ll. 5521, 7647, 7650, &c.] ,
That afftirward trayed Troye;
God ȝeue him sorwe and neuere Ioye!
Line 1880
¶ The secunde was of mechel pris,
A witti womman and a wys;
Sche couthe alle the seuene science,
Men dede here gret reuerence
Line 1884
For here wit and here konnyng;
Cassandre thei called that may ȝyng. [¶ Cassandre [On the left side in MS.] .]
The thrydde was comely on to sene;
Men clepid here dame Pollexene; [¶ Pollexene [On the left side in MS.] .]
Line 1888
Ther lyued non so fair a wyght
In al this world to mannes syght;
Ther fayled no vertu In here body,
Saue that god made here dedly.
Line 1892
And ȝit gat he on other wymmen
Thritti other doughti men,
That were euere gode knyghtes and sekir,
Bold and strong in eche bekir.
Line 1896
Consilium inter Troyanos ad pugnandum [This line in red paint.] .
WHen Troye was wroght to the ende,
Priamus thoght In his a-tende,
That he wolde make a gret feste
With alle burgeis moste and leste:
Line 1900
Page 57
Line 1900
The day is set, the feste is made; [folio 29a]
Line 1901
When thei hadde eten and were glade,
¶ Priamus spak to hem an hey,
With sykyng herte and heuy—
Line 1904
He seyde: 'lordynges ȝe ben here alle!
The moste partie to me schal falle,
And we haue set a-ȝeyn oure toun
That thei of Grece hadde cast a-doun;
Line 1908
Thei haue don schame and vilonye
To me and to alle my progenye,
And to ȝow, gode men, also:
What schame myȝth thei vs more do
Line 1912
Then scle oure kyng In oure lond,
And bere away alle that thei fond,
And robbe [MS. roble, cf. 2675.] oure toun and brenne,
And lede a-way wymmen and men,
Line 1916
And holde hem there In foule bondage
That we held here of gret parage?
That was—lo—a foule [MS. afoule.] meschaunce!
It were now tyme to take vengaunce
Line 1920
That haue now oure frendes schent
And vs brought now in gret torment.
For we haue now a Cite strong,
Wide, brode, and wonder long,
Line 1924
To herbare men with-oute mesure.
For thei may not a-ȝeyns vs dure,
In oure owne lond to do vs dere—
Nought the value of a pere!
Line 1928
For we haue frendes gret plente,
That ben alied to ȝow and me,
That schal ben to vs in mayntenaunce
With alle her men and lyaunce,
Line 1932
And we ben riche and haue tresoure,
Siluer and gold with-oute mesure,
Page 58
To make of vitayles purueaunce [folio 29b]
Line 1935
To oure allers sustenaunce.
Line 1936
Ȝe wot wele, that alle Assye
Is vndir me, the moste partye;
Wherfore me thenke: by resoun and skyl
We may vs venge, if that we wyl.
Line 1940
But for batayles ben euere in doute,
And er that it be brouȝt aboute,
No man wote who schapis the better,
I rede that we sende oure letter
Line 1944
Or elles Message by som lordyng
To hem of Grece that dide this thyng,
To make a-mendes of thaire trespas
That thei vs dede In this plas,
Line 1948
Off that thei brende and doun threwe
That we haue made a-ȝeyn newe,
And that thei robbed so oure lond
And sclow oure frendes with here hond.
Line 1952
¶ And ȝif thei nyl amendes make,
Ne do so mochel for oure sake
With any other amende,
My sustir home that thei sende
Line 1956
That thei holde ther in hordome,
Me to vylany and to schome,—
Ȝit scholde we thole her errour
That thei haue don to vs & our,
Line 1960
That ther be no more ado
Be-twene hem & vs, if thei do so.
And thus me thinke we may sum-dele
Agayn men be excused wele.'
Line 1964
¶ Alle that euere sat and stode,
Saide, "his consail was gode;"
But thei seide, "it most be
A witti man to passe the see,
Line 1968
Page 59
Line 1968
That on this Message schuld go, [folio 30a]
Line 1969
That thei for wratthe dede him not sclo."
The wisest man that thei had
Was Antenor; the kyng him bad
Line 1972
That he schulde on that erande wende,
To wete of hem alle the ende.
¶ Antenor dede the kynges byddyng:
He dyght his schip with-oute dwellyng
Line 1976
And spedde him faste on his viage,
To do [MS. To to do.] the kynges gret message [MS. gret me message.] .
So longe he sayled day and nyght,
To Thesalye he come right,
Line 1980
Ther Pelleus kyng dwelled than
With Many a lord and many a worthi [MS. aworthi.] man.
¶ Hic Rex Troiani misit nuncium ad Regem Grecorum [These two lines in red paint.] .
ANtenor on londe is lyght,
Wel arayed and semely dyght;
Line 1984
To Pelleus kyng he is now went
And salued him faire verament.
And he ȝede faire to his gretyng
And asked of him, "what tithyng,
Line 1988
Whennes he come, and what he was,
And what made him the see to pas
In-to contrays, and what he soughte?"
And bad that he schulde gabbe noughte.
Line 1992
¶ Antenor saide: 'sir, by the rode!
To telle the sothe so me be-houede.
I schal ȝow telle ffor no Latyn,
Off I schal therfore be sclayn—
Line 1996
For I am sworen be myn othe,
To say the sothe for leeff or lothe:
¶ I come on Message fro the kyng of Troye
To ȝow, sir kyng,—so haue I ioye!
Line 2000
Page 60
Line 2000
The kyng of Troye to ȝow me sende [folio 30b]
Line 2001
And asketh, whether ȝe wol amende [In the MS. line 2001 after l. 2002!]
The harme, the schame, the vylony,
The Mansclaughter and the robbery
Line 2004
Off his fadir that ȝe sclow,
And of good that ȝe fro him drow,
And of his sustir Oxonie,
That ȝe haue here In ȝoure balye
Line 2008
And make that ladi an hore to be
That is gentelour, then ȝe or he
That holdes hir here on suche a manere [MS. amanere.] ?
Sendes him home his sustir dere,
Line 2012
And ȝit wol he alle other trespas
For-ȝeue, when he hir at home has,
And be in qwyete and in pees,
And his fader deth relese
Line 2016
And alle the good that ȝe haue of his,
That no contake be-twene ȝow ris.'
WHen Pelleus kyng had herd this,
He was angered for-sothe y-wys,
Line 2020
With Priamus was he ful wroth;
Fro Antenor a litel he goth,
His mautalent to refrayne
That dede his herte mochel payne
Line 2024
For vilens wordes of Priamus.
To Antenor thanne seyde he thus:
He seyde, "he nolde ȝeue a fecche,
He holdes him certes but a wrecche"—
Line 2028
'And thow that hast these tythynges brouȝt:
By him that al this world hath wrouȝt!
But thow go with-oute dwellynge,
In dispite of thi lord thi kynge
Line 2032
I schal do the to vyle dethe
With-oute consayle or other rede!'
Page 61
¶ Antenor for ferd schoke, [folio 31a]
Line 2035
With-oute leue his way he toke
Line 2036
Toward his schip wonder faste
And sayled forth, til he were paste
Out of his lond in-to the see
Fer fro him In his contre.
Line 2040
And sayled forth in his way
Many a nyȝth and many a day,
Til he were comen to Salenne;
A fair Cite ther was thenne,
Line 2044
Ther Thelaman dwelled In
That þat Mayden held in syn.
¶ When Antenor herde that tythand,
That Theleman was kyng of that land,
Line 2048
Out of his schip to him he soughte;
And asked, "whether he wolde oughte
With him that he aftir spired?"
With the Troye[n]s was he a-greued,
Line 2052
For he wiste wel, if that thei myȝth,
Thei wolde him reue the worthi wyȝth.
¶ Antenor sayde: 'sir, herkenes now!
The kyng of Troye send me to ȝow
Line 2056
And bad ȝow for ȝoure curtesye
Sende him home dame Oxonye,
Out of his lond that ȝe haue led,
That neuere wolde that lady wed,
Line 2060
But holde hir with ȝow here
As an hore and hores fere,
That is come of more honour
Than ȝe, sir kyng, and alle ȝour.
Line 2064
And ȝif ȝe wole this so do,
In pees may ȝe for him be so.'
THelaman stode & these wordes herde,
He swore by him that made this werlde:
Line 2068
Page 62
Line 2068
"Out of his lond but if he hied, [folio 31b]
Line 2069
If he ther-Inne myght be spyed,
He wolde him brynge In-to foule endyng
For Priamus loue, that fals kyng;"—
Line 2072
'But say thi kyng, that me meruayles—
That nyse Cokard—what him ayles,
Off loue or pees to praye me,—
And [MS. That.] alle hise, him, and the,
Line 2076
And alle that ben ȝow toward;
But say, that I make forward:
He schal neuere haue that blisful birde,
But he hir wynne with dynt of swerde;
Line 2080
[I] wan that lady Oxonye
At Troyes toun with Chiualrie.
Say thi kyng: "be no wayes
I wol not do that he me prayes."
Line 2084
But hye the faste out of my lond,
Or thow schalt deye with myn hond!'
ANtenor a-wey him spedde,
Off Thelaman was he a-dredde;
Line 2088
To his schip wel faste he ȝede
And sayled forth with gret spede,
Til he come to Acayas;
A worthi Cite thanne ther was,
Line 2092
Ther Castor dwelled and kyng Pollus.
When Antenor herde telle thus,
That these bretheren bothe were
In the toun to-gedur there,
Line 2096
He come to hem and tolde his tale
By-fore hem bothe in the sale.
But sicurly the kynges bothe,
When thei herde him speke, thei were wrothe;
Line 2100
In gret wratthe spak Castor
To the knyght sir Antenor,
Page 63
And bad him sese of his spekyng,— [folio 32a]
Line 2103
"Or he schulde deye, be heuene kyng!"
Line 2104
¶ He seyde: 'falawe, what-so thow art—
He that made the come hidirward,
I holde him a nyse [MS. anyse.] cokard,
I wot no man of him a-ferd;
Line 2108
A nyse [MS. anyse.] Iauel is he that the sendis,
That we schal make him amendis
Off alle thinges that is ydon,
Or sende him hom his suster son.
Line 2112
¶ What wrecche is he that biddis vs thus,
When we hate him and he hates vs?
Vs is leuere werre than pees;
We wol not, that he relees
Line 2116
His fader dethe ne no-thyng elles,—
As thow thi message here vs telles—
For we dede his sire neuere suche schame,
That we ne schal do to him the same!
Line 2120
Other amendis wil we not make;
But In his dispite and for his sake
We schul do the to dethe vyle,
Iff thow dwelle here any while!'
Line 2124
ANtenor for wratthe wex al pale,
With-oute leue a-way he stale,
As faste as he myȝth skippe;
He toke the way to his schippe
Line 2128
And sayled a-way to the see,
For ther durst he no lenger bee.
To wende for-sothe to ende his nedis,
To Pilon faste the knyght him spedis;
Line 2132
Ther duk Nestor the knyght be-held,
And his erand as-tyde he teld.
Duk Nestor was ful of wratthe and ire
Toward Antenor, that proudely sire,
Line 2136
Page 64
Line 2136
That for tene chaunged alle his hewe: [folio 32b]
Line 2137
He wex ȝolow, bloo, and blewe.
Antenor sees his colour meued,
That he come there ful sore him rewed;
Line 2140
He hoped neuere thenne to wende
With-outen deth and schamely ende.
Nestor sayde: 'thow seruaunt lythur,
How artow so bold these wordes wethur
Line 2144
To speke hem here in my presence,
In my wratthe and myn offence?
Certes! ne were my genterye,
My fredom, and my curtesye,
Line 2148
Thow scholdest not passe fro me on lyue:
That I schulde thi chekis on-sundir dryue,
Or I scholde In ȝoure kynges dispit
Thi bodi with hors to-drawe hit
Line 2152
Thorow-out my lond, and take vengeaunce
Off thi proude wordis and contenaunce.
But hye the faste of my sight,
Or—here my trowthe I the plight!—
Line 2156
Thow schalt deye with mechel pyne,
If thow dwelle longe in lond myne!'
Antenor stale away fro him,
He dredde to lese bothe lyff and lym;
Line 2160
He stale to schipe and sayled a-way,
For he dredde Nestor ay.
He sayled forthe on his iornay,
Til he come to Troie contray;
Line 2164
Ther he fond manye on glade,
For his come gret Ioye thei made.
ANtenor is comen to Troye,
Off his comyng thei made Ioye,
Line 2168
Al that lond and that Cite.
To Priamus as-tyde went he
Page 65
¶ Hic Rex Troianorum iratus est.
And told "what answere that he hadde, [folio 33a]
Line 2171
And how the lordis alle him badde
Line 2172
Out of here lond that he schulde ffle,
Or he scholde honge on a tre [MS. atre.] ,
Or al to-drawe him lym fro lym
In dispite forsothe of hym;"
Line 2176
'For thei seyde alle by on sawe,
Thei tolde right nauȝt of thyn awe,
For of thi loue kepe thei nought;
Thi wratthe echon thay sette at nought.
Line 2180
And thi sustir most be bought
Wyth dynt of swerd, or thow getest hir nought.'
WHen Priamus this vndir-stode,
Wel coldful tho was his blode,
Line 2184
Gret sorwe in his herte made,
Ther myght no man that day him glade.
Then was the kyng bothe wan and pale
And sat doun stille In the sale;
Line 2188
He was an-angred and greved,
That Antenor was so repreued
On his message a-monges the Grues;
That he come ther, wel sore him rewes,
Line 2192
And that thei set by him so lyght;
He thoght be wreken, if he myght,
Off here euel dedis and answeres,
And so he wol, and so he sweres.
Line 2196
Anon he dede afftir sende
The grete of Troye that were hende,
And spake thus to alle that wore
Comen then to-gedir thore;
Line 2200
He seide: 'lordynges, ȝe wot wel alle,
That ben now sembled [MS. semblent.] In this halle,
I sente message—as ȝe me consayled,
Ful wele I wende hit wolde avayled—
Line 2204
Page 66
Line 2204
To the kynges and lordes of Grece, [folio 33b]
Line 2205
That robbed ȝow and this contrece,
That Lamadon, my fader, sclow,
And ȝoure kynrade to hem drow:
Line 2208
If thei wolde amendes make
For curtesye and for oure sake,
That we myght In pes be so,
That ther were no more a-do;
Line 2212
Or if thei wold hit not amende,
That thei wolde my sustir sende,
And I and ȝe wold be In pes,
And alle oure harmes make reles.
Line 2216
But Antenor, oure Messager,
Is come home, as ȝe se her;
Ȝe haue alle herd of his tythynges,
And what answere fro hem he brynges:
Line 2220
Thei say thei haue of vs no drede,
Thei wol non amendes bede;
Ne my sustir—the sothe to say—
Fro hem wol thei not sende a-way,
Line 2224
But holde hir there in feble herues
In my dispite and my repreues.
Now schal alle men on vs wondur,
If we so foule schal be put vndur,
Line 2228
That we no-wyse dar take vengaunce
Off hem that dede vs this greuaunce,
But sendes vs word: "that hem liketh wele
Of that thei dede eche a dele [MS. adele.] ,
Line 2232
And that thei greued vs neuere so sore,
That thei wole greue vs more."
Wolde it neuere god, that it were so
Al that thei say thai myght do!
Line 2236
For I holde vs now—be my fay!—
Better and strenger than thay,
Page 67
And we ben wel kynned and fyn, [folio 34a]
Line 2239
And haue a toun [MS. atoun.] wil vs tyn.
Line 2240
¶ Wherfore, lordes, me thynketh: gode wore
That we sone strengthe kyd hem thore,
That vs so foule hath reuyled.
I wolde, that thei were be-gyled,
Line 2244
As thei dede vs here of this toun,
Whan thei brende hit & kest it doun.
I wold, we sente ouer the see
Men of Armes gret plente,
Line 2248
That myght haue ryued vn-warned thore
On some of hem, or thay were wore,
And slee and robbe, brenne and reue
Alle that thei founde, and no-thyng leue;
Line 2252
Or if thei myght som ladi wynne,
That comen were of gentil kynne,
That we may holde in oure baylie
In-stede of dame Oxonye.'
Line 2256
¶ The lordes ros vp alle that there ware,
An[d] seide trewely: "thei wold not spare
Body ne good ne non other thyng,
But al schulde be at his byddyng,
Line 2260
His comaundement and his wille
And of his fomen to fulfille."
¶ Then was Priamus wondur blythe,
And thonked hem an hundred sythe.
Line 2264
Thai toke here leue hom to go
And toke hem leue on goddis half tho;
And bad hem thenke on alle thyng
To be euere redi at his sendyng.
Line 2268
Alle the lordes ben home gone;
Priamus is left al alone,
Saue his children and his meyne
Off that contre that were pryue.
Line 2272
Page 68
¶ Consilium inter Regem Troianum et Filios suos.
He is anoyed and al agrised, [folio 34b]
Line 2273
That thay of Grece him so dispised;
The water brast out at his eyne,
So hadde his herte mochel pyne.
Line 2276
He saw his children that were him by,
And spak to hem thus al an hy;
He sais: 'lordynges, be ȝe ought,
What schame these Grues haue vs wrought!
Line 2280
How thei sclow ȝoure gode aȝel!
And ȝet ben thei of herte so fel,
That thai ȝoure aunte foule fro ȝow holde
In hordam certes, as vs is tolde,
Line 2284
In schame of ȝoures and gret dispite.
Me thynketh ther-of, that with alle ȝoure myȝte,
Whil ȝe are ȝonge at ȝoure begynnyng,
That ȝe sette ther-on alle ȝoure konnyng:
Line 2288
Off hem, that were my [fader] bane
And haue my suster fro me tane,
To venge ȝow, ȝif that ȝe mowe;
For litel prise sette thai be ȝowe.
Line 2292
ANd thow, Ector, myn eldest sone,
On my blessyng and on my benysone,
Take this charge holly on the,
I praye the for the loue of me!
Line 2296
For I am fer passed in elde,
That I may not my-selff welde,
And thow art hardi, strong, & bolde
Be-fore alle men, and most of tolde;
Line 2300
Thow passes alle men of strengthe & myght,
Men knowen nowher so hardy a knyght,
That arn vnbuxom, sterne, and stought,
Thow makest hem fayn to the to lought [2303-4. MS. stought for 'stout' and lought for 'lout.' These forms show that, to the scribe, gh was not guttural.] ;
Line 2304
Thi bretheren alle In hardinesse
Thow passes hem In doughtinesse.
Page 69
I make the ther-fore lord and sire [folio 35a]
Line 2307
Off alle my lond and myn Empire
Line 2308
And also of thi brotheres alle
And alle that euere vnto vs falle;
Prynce, knyȝt, duke, and kyng,
Alle schal be at thi byddyng.
Line 2312
And take this thyng on the be-dene,
For I make me here-of alle clene
And take hit the here In thyn hond;
For strenger than I thow art to fond
Line 2316
Suche lordschepe to vndirtake.
Say not nay, sone, for my sake!'
Ector sayde: 'be god almyght!
I am most holden by skyl and right
Line 2320
To venge the dethe of myn aȝel
In stoures stiffe and strong batayle,
For I am eldest—as ȝe haue told—
Off alle my bretheren ȝong and old;
Line 2324
Therfore schulde I be resoun be best
And al my wit ther-to kest.
But on thyng, fader, I pray ȝow, dere,
That ȝe wolde now me here
Line 2328
And haue it in gode memorie:
That ȝe be wele a-vysed and sclye,
What ende ȝe hope hit wol come to,
For if it be bygunnen so
Line 2332
And it come to no good ende,
Then be we schent and alle oure frende,
And schal haue a schame [MS. aschame.] ther-by
With-outen ende and vilony.
Line 2336
I haue herd say and red in boke,
That a wis man [MS. wisman.] schal not loke
Afftir a thing that is atte begynnyng,
But euere-more afftir the endyng;
Line 2340
Page 70
Line 2340
For many thynges begynnes wele [folio 35b]
Line 2341
And in the ende fares amys euery dele.
Wyte ȝe not, that alle Aufrik
And al Europe euery stik
Line 2344
Is vndirput to hem of Grece?
How riche thei ben of rentes and fece?
And how the lond is ful of knyȝtes
That doughti ben and strong of fyghtes?
Line 2348
Thay ben richer for-sothe then we,
And mo als by thousandis thre!
For Oxonye is not so good,
That ȝe, fader, and alle oure blood
Line 2352
For hir scholde to vile deth be brouȝt;
Here ramsoun were to dere bouȝt.
Sche may deye with-Inne a throwe,
And sche is old—alle men knowe;—
Line 2356
Leue therfore that ȝe haue thoght,
That ȝe ne turne ȝoure wil to noght!
Ne thenk not, fader,—I ȝow pray—
That I thes wordes vnto ȝow say
Line 2360
For drede of herte ne cowardyse!
By god of my myȝt and seynt Denyse!
But for I wold, thorow prosperite
Ȝoure gret worschepe and dignite
Line 2364
Lasted euere In reste and pes,
And that ȝoure honour schulde neuere sese.
¶ But certes, fadur, I me drede,
If ȝe folyly this werre lede,
Line 2368
That ȝe begynne a newe debate;
Ȝe schal lese for euere-more oure state
And oure worschepe and oure name,
And wynne vs schenschepe and schame.'
Line 2372
PAris sat and held his pes;
He herkenes al that Ector seys.
Page 71
Whan he saw Ector sitte in pes, [folio 36a]
Line 2375
Paris ros vp fro the des
Line 2376
And spak on hye, herande hem alle
That stode or sat In that halle;
He seyth: 'my lord, er ȝe wende,
I schal ȝow telle of a good ende
Line 2380
That we schal haue of oure batayle,
If we the Grues wol assayle.
How scholde we by skyl be a-ferd?
Suche a toun is non [on] mydlerd,
Line 2384
As is this toun is nowher non;
Ther is no man with fleche ne bon,
That in oure toun may vs confounde;
It is so strong of walle and grounde.
Line 2388
Sende ȝoure men and ȝoure naue
Boldely, sir, ouer the see!
And als god ȝow mote amende,
Loke that ȝe me with hem sende;
Line 2392
For I wot wel: it is my chaunce
To do the Gregeys gret greuaunce,
And oute of Grece to ȝow brynge
A gentil lady fair and ȝynge,
Line 2396
That is comen of gentil blode,
As fair and as gode
And as gret of genterye
As ȝoure suster Oxonye.
Line 2400
And if ȝe aske how I wot this,
I schal ȝow telle—so haue I blis:—
¶ The noble god Mercurius
In my sclepyng he told me thus;
Line 2404
How, and wenne, and in what wyse,—
I schal ȝow telle, or ȝe aryse.
This endir day, whan I was sent
At ȝoure biddyng and comaundement
Line 2408
Page 72
¶ Hic Paris Filius Regis Troiani narrauit patri suo de sompno suo.
To the lond of lytel Inde, [folio 36b]
Line 2409
I ȝede to hunte the [MS. to the.] hert & hynde.
Whan I was comen to the forest,
Off al that day fond I no best,
Line 2412
Til it was passed ouer the none.
By him that sittes in trone!
Then was I war of a gret hert,
Fair, and gret, and ful smert,
Line 2416
That ȝede on land and was to leyne;
Then was I glad and wondur fayne,
I folwed him, til hit was nyght,
And til of him I loste the syght
Line 2420
Thorow derknesse of the leues
That growed vpon the greues.
I was weri of hunted & chased,
So hadde I that proude hert trased;
Line 2424
My hors forsothe was ondeles
For rennyng and for werines;
My felawes hadde I alle lorn,
That tyme with me was no wyght born.
Line 2428
I layd me doun vpon the playn
And tyed myn hors be the rayn;
Whan I was leyd, er I toke kepe
For werinesse I fel on sclepe.
Line 2432
As I lay on my sclepyng,
Me thoght I saw a wondir thyng:
I saw a god [MS. agod.] bryghter then the glemyng
Come to me in my dremyng,
Line 2436
And in his hond brouȝt goddis thre,
And alle were faire on to se.
That on goddes of the thre was
—As he me sayde—goddesse Pallas;
Line 2440
The secunde was also
A louely lady, dame Iuno;
Page 73
The thridde goddesse was dame Venus [folio 37a]
Line 2443
That come with god Mercurius.
Line 2444
Mercurius sayde: "loke vp, Paris,
So haue thow Ioye In erthe or blis!
By-holde Right wel these thre goddesse,
For thei ben alle in gret distresse,
Line 2448
For a stryff is be-twene hem raysed;
But thorow the it schal be pesed,
For þei haue put hem in thi dome.
Loke therfore, thow ȝyue gode gome,
Line 2452
That thow ȝeue now rightful Iugement
Afftir thi sight and thin entent.
THese thre goddesse this endur day
Sat at the feste of gret noblay;
Line 2456
An Appul was to hem ybroght,
A wondur fair and qweyntly wroght.
That appul is with-oute doute
With lettres of gold wreten aboute:
Line 2460
That it scholde trewly ȝeuen be
To the ffairest of the thre.
Iff that thow wol so moche do
That thow ȝeue it dame Iuno,
Line 2464
So worthi a man In al this world
Is non leuyng—as man has herd,—
As sche treuly schal the make
For that semely appul sake.
Line 2468
And if thow ȝeue it goddes Pallas,
Sche schal the ȝeue, or thow pas,
Wit, and wisdam schaltow haue
More than thow woldest craue.
Line 2472
And ȝif thow ȝeue it to dame Venus,
Sche bad, I scholde telle the thus:
The ffairest wiff that is in Grece
To thi merite therfore sche bese.
Line 2476
Page 74
Line 2476
Now loke wele, how thow demes, [folio 37b]
Line 2477
Whiche of these best besemes."
I vysed longe these ladyes thre,
Me thoghte hem alle of gret beute;
Line 2480
But I saw hem alle In suche a poynt,
That thei were naked In ilke a Ioynt;
Thei seyde: thai nolde not for me spare;
Thei stode be-fore me naked and bare.
Line 2484
¶ To me Venus the fairest semed,
For-whi to hir the appul I demed;
And sche ther-of was fayn y-now
And smoterly on me sche low,
Line 2488
And hight me, or sche fro me ȝede,
That I scholde haue to my mede
The fairest wyff of Grece land
In my bandoun [MS. landoun.] and In my band.
Line 2492
And I am ther-of sekir and trayst,
That ȝe no-thyng be ther-of a-baist
To lete me pas the Greckis see;
For it is certes my destanee
Line 2496
To harme Gregeys & greue hem sore,
When I am come to hem thore;
For ȝe wot wele, and I wot als,
That goddis beheste is not ffals.'
Line 2500
When he hadde seyde, he spak no more,
But sette him doun as he sat ore.
BVt sir Dephebus ros vp than,
And his reson thus be-gan
Line 2504
And seide: 'lordynges, if it were so,
Off eche a thyng that men schulde do,
If thei caste that noght be-falle,
Nis no man [MS. noman.] of vs nowher, bonde ne thralle,
Line 2508
That any-thyng scholde be-gynne, fro drede
That he scholde fayle or euel spede.
Page 75
¶ Adhuc consilium inter Regem Troianum et Filios suos.
But dyght ȝoure schippes and ȝoure meyne, [folio 38a]
Line 2511
And sende Paris with hem and me;
Line 2512
And if it be so that we may wynne
Any lady of gentil kynne,
Thei schal be glad a chaunge [MS. achaunge.] to make
And qwite ȝoure suster for hir sake.
Line 2516
And so may we our chalange werke,
For alle men schame now of vs speke.'
Elenus, the brother fourthe,
Ros and stood vpon the erthe
Line 2520
And seyde: 'fader, loke ȝe be war,
And alle that in this paleis ar!
Ȝe wot wele alle, I haue ben ay
Lered wele and can sothe say
Line 2524
Off euery a thyng that is to come;
And that wot ȝe bothe alle and some,
That I seide neuere ȝit prophecie,
That it ne was sothe with-oute lye.
Line 2528
¶ And I telle ȝow that ben here,
And namely ȝow, my fader dere,
That, if ȝe sende my brother Paris
To the lond of Grece y-wis
Line 2532
To Robbe, to reue, or harme to do,
Alle we schal dye, and ȝe also,
And my Moder, ȝoure wyff, the qwene,
And alle ȝoure sones, and Pollexene;
Line 2536
And al this toun schal turne to nauȝt,
If ȝe fulfille that ȝe haue thouȝt:
For sikurly hit schal be brent,
I-throwen doun, and al to-rent.'
Line 2540
When Elenus hadde told his tale,
The kyng fro drede gan wexe pale,
Off his wordes was he a-ferd sore,
And so were alle that there wore.
Line 2544
Page 76
Line 2544
His wordes thenne alle gon a-fere, [folio 38b]
Line 2545
For thei wiste wele he lyed neuere;
Ther was no man In that paleis
Amonges hem alle ther o word seys;
Line 2548
But sat alle stille euerychon,
As who hadde schauen hem a croun [MS. acroun.] .
TRoylus saw, thei sat al stille;
That knyght thoght ther-at ille,
Line 2552
Vpon his feet he start vp blyue
And seide: 'lordynges, so mote ȝe thryue!
What may this be that ȝow now ayles?
For a caytiff herte ffayles,
Line 2556
Haue ȝe ther-of alle suche wondur?
Off men sought amonges a hundur,
A ffebler herte schulde ȝe not ffynde
Thow ȝe sought henne in-to Inde;
Line 2560
Ȝe ȝeues him alle to clergie,
For he is ferd of Chiualrie.
Lete him go, if he be aferd,
To the temple, and schaue his berd,
Line 2564
And helpe the Clerkes belles to rynge,
And make him a prest [MS. aprest.] a masse [MS. amasse.] to synge!
And that haue schame and drede
Off vilonye that men him bede,
Line 2568
Lete him go venge here mortel foos,
And fle reproues and wyn hem loos!
He is a fole [MS. afole.] that wolde trowe,
That any man on erthe knowe
Line 2572
Off thing that is to come the sothe,
For suche is non, with-outen othe!
For chiualry wel sore he hates,
He wol neuere-more were yren plates.
Line 2576
Wherfore, sir kyng, are ȝe frayed
And of his wordes euel payed?
Page 77
¶ Hic concordati sunt de consilio eorum.
Dightes ȝoure schipes and sende ȝoure men [folio 39a]
Line 2579
To gret Grece by thousandes and ten,
Line 2580
And venge ȝow on ȝoure enemys,
And turne ȝoure schame to lose and pris!'
When he hadde sayd, he sat him doun,
And alle that were of that toun
Line 2584
Blessed him for his manhede
And seide: "he was wise and good of rede."
Thai seyde echon with-outen fayle:
"Thei wolde do Troylus consayle;"
Line 2588
Thei bad the kyng: "how so it fare,
He scholde dyght his men al ȝare;
No lengur thei wolde abyde
In-to Grece alle for to ryde."
Line 2592
NOw ben thei alle at on acorde,
Kyng and prince, duke and lorde,
In-to Grece for to go,
Be hit to wele or to wo.
Line 2596
¶ Priamus called with-oute more
His sone Paris to him thore,
And Dephebus, the brother thridde,
And bad him go hem mydde.
Line 2600
He bede hem go to Pauonye
And gadur ther her gret chyualrye,
Knyghtes fele of gret feute,
To wende with hem ouer the see.
Line 2604
¶ And thei anon with-oute abode
Toke ther leue and thedur rode.
When thei were come to that prouynce,
Thai told here erand to the prynce;
Line 2608
Here askyng was not of him werned,
At his power he dede here herend.
¶ The morwe sone, whan it was day,
Priamus sente by euery a way [MS. away.]
Line 2612
Page 78
¶ Hic Rex mandauit post Magnatos Troianos.
His Messangeres of Troye to crye, [folio 39b]
Line 2613
That euery lord scholde faste hye
To his paleis with-oute dwellyng,
To here a-monges hem his tellyng.
Line 2616
Thei sped hem faste and ȝede anon;
When thei were comyn euerychon,
Kyng Priamus to hem thus sais:
'My trewe lordes, my trewe burgeis!
Line 2620
To ȝow alle it is right couthe,
How we ben in euery mannes mouthe
For the schame and vilonye,
The Mansclauȝter and the robberye,
Line 2624
That Gregeis dede sumtyme to oure.
I wolde ther-fore by consayl ȝoure
Venge vs alle, if we myght,
Off oure enemys, and that is right.
Line 2628
I thenke to sende Paris my sone,
To venge vs, if he conne.
But for I nolde noght aȝeyns ȝoure wil
Do no-thyng, and that is skyl,
Line 2632
I wol not do with-oute ȝoure assent,
And therfore afftir ȝow I sent.
Say me now ȝoure owne lykyng:
How lykes ȝow my begynnyng?'
Line 2636
Ther was a knyȝt, het Partheus,—
His fader hight Euforbius,—
He seyde: 'my lord, my dere kyng!
I am ȝoure knyght and ȝoure vndirlyng,
Line 2640
Ȝoure lordschepe to knowe and reuerence:
I hadde a fadir of gret science,
Ther was not In Europe ne in Assye
So wyse a man of Philosophye;
Line 2644
He tolde me offte—so god me spede!—
That, if Paris to Grece ȝede,
Page 79
A wyff with fors for to wynne, [folio 40a]
Line 2647
That ȝe ther-by and alle ȝoure kynne
Line 2648
Schamely schul dye, and this fair toun
Schal be brend and thrawen doun.
¶ Therfore, my lord, my kyng dere,
Venge the not In suche manere
Line 2652
That ȝe and ȝoures be alle for-don!
Leue ȝoure purpos and turne it son!
And if ȝe wol algates wende,
The Gregeis to qwelle and to schende,
Line 2656
Let another then Paris go,
Or elles we gon alle to wo,
And alle kyn and al oure lynage
Schal turne to nought; and this vilage,
Line 2660
That is so noble, strong, and gay,
Schal be brend with ffir a-way.'
GRete noyse and mochel cry
Was [MS. was.] among the lordes witterly
Line 2664
In the halle, when he thus sayde;
Thei were echon with him euel I-payde,
Thei [bad] him of his wordes sese
And holde him stille and be in pese;
Line 2668
Thei held al fals that he tolde,
Thei sayde: "he raued, for he was olde;"
Thei seyde echon by on speche,
That Paris schold go to take wreche.—
Line 2672
But when this word was told to Cassandre,
That thei wold sende Alysandre
In-to Grece to brenne and robbe,
Sche by-gan to syke and sobbe [MS. soble, cf. l. 1915.] .
Line 2676
¶ Sche seyde: 'alas, that fair Cite!
Noble Troye, thi destene
Is hard and wicke, that the schal falle!
Tour and bour and other houses alle
Line 2680
Page 80
Line 2680
With-Inne a while it schal be doun thrawen, [folio 40b]
And alle schal be brend, with ffir sclawen.'
Line 2682
¶ Afftir then seide sche thus:
'Alas, thow gode kyng Priamus!
Line 2684
What is thi synne that thow hast don,
That thow and thyne schal dye thus son?
And thow, my fadur [Read modur?] , what is thi synne,
That thow art wounden [MS. wounded.] and lapped Inne?
Line 2688
And alle that euere thow hast born,
Schaltow se before the lorn.
Whi let ȝe now Paris wende
In-to Grece, that vs schal schende?'
Line 2692
¶ Sche ran doun thenne in-to the halle,
And on her knes be-gan to falle,
And seyde: 'lord kyng, I praye the:
Rewe on thi-selff, thi wiff, and me,
Line 2696
And on thi sones faire and bolde!
For if it be—as men me tolde—
Iff that Paris to Grece schal wende,
Ther is no man [MS. noman.] that schal defende,
Line 2700
That we ne schal dye with-Inne a while [MS. awhile.]
Schenful dethe forsothe and vile.'
¶ He bad hir go to hir chambur
And folde hir kercheues of silk & lambur.
Line 2704
So weylaway that it was so,
That he nolde afftir hir do!
For hadde he don afftir hir rede,
Hadde he not so sone ben dede,
Line 2708
Ne the Cite not be brent,
Ne alle hir kyn so foule be schent.
In al the world suche a Cite [MS. In al the world was suche a Cite.]
Neuere was ne neuere schal be.
Line 2712
HIt was afftir vpon a day
In the monthe certes of May,
Page 81
Hic venit Paris ad Insulam Thitharie.
When Paris come fro [MS. to.] Pauonye [folio 41a]
Line 2715
And broght with him gret chiualrye;
Line 2716
Thre thousand knyȝtes that were assayed
Broght with him wel arayed;
And alle here schippis were redy dyght
And fraught with vitayles and wel pight.
Line 2720
¶ And Priamus bad Polimodas,
Antenor, and Eueas,
That thei with Paris to Grece schulde wende,
To brynge this thyng to an ende.
Line 2724
Thei toke leue as-tyde and ȝede
To here schippis with mechel spede.
Thei sayled euere bothe day and nyght,
Til thei hadde of Grece a syght;
Line 2728
Thei saw an Ile of Gregeis land—
Het Thitharie, I vndir-stand;—
Toward that Ile drow thei faste.
When thei come there, anker thei caste,
Line 2732
And tyed here schippis in that porte
And ȝede to londe to take disporte.
IN that Ile of Thitharie
Was a temple of Auncetrie
Line 2736
Set In honoure of Veneris,
Ther sche hadde mochel worschepe ywis;
For alle the men of that land
Make to here gret offerand
Line 2740
Off siluer, gold, and tresour;
Ther was richesse with-oute mesour.
For thei truste alle and vndirstode,
That no man myght do but gode,
Line 2744
The whil thei hadde help of here
Many a lond and many a schire.
For then held thei an hye feste-day
Off that goddesse with gret noblay:
Line 2748
Page 82
Line 2748
On here manere and there a-vise [folio 41b]
Line 2749
Thei made to here gret sacrifice
Off Bolles, Bores, and other bestes.
When Paris herde of these festes,
Line 2752
¶ He wente to that solennite,
The temple and that Ioye to se;
And his ffelawys with [him] ȝede,
Semely dyght in golden wede,
Line 2756
And offered there, as other dede,
And his felawes forth myde.
¶ He was apparayled as a kyng;
Alle men seide, bothe old and ȝyng:
Line 2760
"So fair a man saw thei neuere non,
Made in erthe of blod ne bon."
Men askede alle: "what he myght be,
And when he was, and of what contre,
Line 2764
And what he did in that lond thore?"
Men spak of him bothe lasse & more,
Off his beute spak ȝonge and olde.
At the laste the word was tolde
Line 2768
¶ To qwene Eleyne, that was fair and milde,
That dwellid a litel with-oute the Ilde
In a castel gret & strong.
The los of Paris so wide sprong
Line 2772
Off his noblay and beute,
That Elene saide: "sche wolde him se."
Sche did hir dight an hors of pris,
And toke with hir other ladies,
Line 2776
And ȝede thedir with hir comperes,
And in the temple made hir preyeres
To the goddesse that ther sat,
And made hir offryng afftir that.
Line 2780
Whan Paris herde of hir telle,
To the temple ȝede he snelle,
Page 83
Gloriously and richely dight, [folio 42a]
Line 2783
And stode euene In hir syght;
Line 2784
For he hadde many a long day
Be-fore herd telle of hir & say,
"That sche was the fairest wiff
Off alle wymmen that euere bar lyff."
Line 2788
PAris thenne with meke mode
Aȝeyn the qwene he ȝode and stode,
And loked on hir euere in on;
A bryghter brid of blod ne bon
Line 2792
Thoght him neuere that he hadde sen,
Sithe in this world he hadde ben.
Alle his hert was on hir set,
For that thei were to-gedir met;
Line 2796
And when sche hadde of him a syght,
Hir thoght him the fayrest knyght
That sche hadde sene In al hir lyue;
Sche wolde wel fayn haue ben his wyue.
Line 2800
¶ Sche loked on him, and he on hir;
Eyther other now desir,
How thei myght theire loue fulfille,
Ne how to schewe here herte wille.
Line 2804
But atte laste thei drowe hem nere
And spak to-gedir so In-fere,
That, er that thei thennes wente,
Thei were bothe at on assente.
Line 2808
He toke then leue at qwene Eleyne,
Off here spekyng he was fayne;
To his schippis he him hied,
Ther thei stode faste tied.
Line 2812
He did a-non to him calle
His felawes and his meyne alle;
When thei were comen to him thore,
He seide: 'lordynges, lesse and more!
Line 2816
Page 84
Line 2816
Ȝe wote wel whi we come hidur, [folio 42b]
Line 2817
And what ȝe wolde, and also whedur.
¶ The principal cause of oure comyng
Is to aryue on Thelamon, the kyng,
Line 2820
Our kynges suster for to wynne
With fight of sword or other gynne.
But sekirly that may we not!
We may not do that we haue thoght,
Line 2824
For he is strong and hath gode frende;
We gete hir not out of his bende,
Ne we ben not of pouste
Vnto hadde ne to take the Cite.
Line 2828
Wherfore, my dere lordynges,
That I telle ȝow now this tythynges:
IN this Ile is now a qwene,
The fairest lady that man may sene,
Line 2832
That comen is of gret kynrede,
That Menelaus kynge has wede.
And in the temple—ȝe wot wel alle—
Arne clothes fele of gold and palle,
Line 2836
Ther [is] of gold gret plente,
Off siluer also gret quantite,
Siluer vessel ther is ynow.
Hit is a stede for oure prow;
Line 2840
We may be riche, if we wille,
And if ȝe wole assente ther-tille.
¶ I rede, that we to-nyght echon,
When nyght is comen & day gon,
Line 2844
That we do on oure basynettis bryght,
And when we be armed and dight,
That we go robbe the temple sone
With-outen lyght of sonne or mone;
Line 2848
And al that we fynde ther-Inne,
Bere it away, or we be-lynne,
Page 85
¶ Hic Paris cepit Insulam cum Castello.
To oure schippis and leue it thore, [folio 43a]
Line 2851
And make vs riche for euermore;
Line 2852
And al men [MS. almen.] that we ther fynde,
And wymmen also of gentil kynde
Lede we to oure contreis—
Gret worschepe hit were by alle weyes—
Line 2856
And specially that lady fre,
Quene Eleyne, if it may be.
Iff we may hir home brynge
To oure contreis, and tythyng sprynge
Line 2860
A-monges the Grues, that sche is tan,
And Menelaus fynde hir gan,
He schal be fayn a chaunge to make
Off Oxonye, I vndirtake.
Line 2864
¶ Lete se now, what ȝe say?
Er nyght be gon and comen day,
I rede that we now take oure grace,
That god sende vs, whil we haue space.'
Line 2868
Some assented wel ther-to,
And some seyn "it is noght to do;"
But thei acorded atte laste,
When the day was gon and paste,
Line 2872
And the sonne was went adoun,
And alle men on slepe In the toun,
To harme hem, whan it was late,
And to the temple toke here gate,
Line 2876
And robbed & reued alle that thei fond,
And ledde with hem In-to the lond:
NIght is comen, and day is went,
The Troyens haue here armour hent,
Line 2880
To the temple ben thei gon,
Paris and his men echon.
Alle that thei founden thei robbed & refft;
That ought was, no thyng was [A word has been erased here, and this second was is written upon the erasure.] lefft.
Line 2884
Page 86
Line 2884
Alle that in the temple was founden, [folio 43b]
Line 2885
Was to-geder lapped and wounden
And born in coffres to the see
And herbard ther-Inne in here naue.
Line 2888
And Paris toke that lady swete
And led hir to his schippis schete,
And lefft hir there In the same kepyng
And other fele with hir wepyng.
Line 2892
¶ When Paris hadde on this wise done,
He ȝede aȝeyn thedur sone
And toke echon to his seruage,
Man and womman, wiff and Page,
Line 2896
Ther was of this a wondir cry.
Ther stode a Castel a litel ther-by,
Gret, and stiff, and ful strong,
With dyche and walles wide and long;
Line 2900
Men of armes that Castel ȝemed.
Whan that thei herd wymmen so remed,
Thei hadde meruayle what it myght be;
Thei resen vp, the sothe to se.
Line 2904
But of tythandes when thei herde,
How thei of Troie with hem ferde,
Thei armed hem with mochel haste;
But sekirly it was but waste,
Line 2908
¶ For thei of Troye were mo than thai,—
The furthe dowble, I dar wel say—
And sclow hem foule, when thei were met;
Thei were with hem so ouer-set,
Line 2912
That thei myȝth not fro hem fle
Ne at here ȝates take entre;
Thei folwed hem só, that thei myght not pas.
And al the riches that ther was,
Line 2916
That thei myght fynde, that ought was worth,
Thei of Troye bar with hem forth.
Page 87
¶ Hic Paris rapuit Elenam vxorem Menelan. [sic] Regis.
And eche man than with his god schippes [folio 44a]
Line 2919
And alle here good thedur skippes,
Line 2920
And drow vp sayl and hyed hem ffaste
In-to the see, that thei were paste.
PAris hath now Eleyne wonne;
To take the see thei haue by-gonne,
Line 2924
Thei sayled alle on a rawe,
Til thei were come ther thei were knawe,
The lond of Troye, Then were thei glad.
When thei were comen & the lond had,
Line 2928
Thei were glad ther-of echone;
Saue Eleyne thenne made moche mone,
Fro hir lond that sche hath lorn,
And hir doughter that sche hadde born,
Line 2932
And fro the kynges hir bretheren bothe.
But Paris therfore was ful wrothe,
He comforted hir and. bad hir ses,
Leue hir sorwe and be In pes.
Line 2936
He called to him his Messanger
And bad him take a good Courser
And [ride] to Priamus, the kyng,
And telle him this tydyng:
Line 2940
"That he was comen to Thenedoun
Saue and sound, with many a moun
That [MS. And that.] he hath wonnen with his hond
To be In seruage In his lond,
Line 2944
And that he hath broght so fair a lady,
To be In stede of Oxonye,
Off the gentillest kyn and blode,
That was be-ȝonde the Grekis flode."
Line 2948
The Messager as-tyde forth rode
To Priamus with-outen abode,
He tolde him tydynges of Paris:
"How he was comen home y-wys,
Line 2952
Page 88
Line 2952
And how he hadde by-ȝonde ywroght, [folio 44b]
Line 2953
And of the qwene that he hom broght."
WHen Priamus herde these tythand,
He myght vnnethe for Ioye stand
Line 2956
Opon his fete, so was he glad;
Alle the grete of Troye he bad
Come to him, tythandes to here.
And when his court was al plenere,
Line 2960
He bad him do his message
To alle the lordes that there were [Perhaps we ought to alter the last three words to: & baronage.] .
And he tolde hit al an hye,
That alle myght here that stood nye;
Line 2964
¶ Then were Ioyful the Troyens,
And gret Ioye made the citeseyns.
The morwe folwyng, whan it was lyght,
Paris dede Eleyne wel dyght
Line 2968
Richely In gay wede,
And broght to hir a noble stede,
And he sette hir ther-on
And rode thenne fro Thenedon
Line 2972
Toward Troye a wel soffte pas.
And his prisoneres he has
Sent by-fore vpon a route
With men and knyȝtes alle aboute;
Line 2976
He made hem wende a litel before,
And he him-self and Antenore,
Dephebus and Eueas,
And also Polidonias,
Line 2980
Come afftirward with qwene Eleyne,
Rydyng soffte vpon the pleyne,
Til thei come at Troye ney-hande.
But out of the toun come ridande
Line 2984
¶ Kyng Priamus with his baronage
And salute hem alle with good visage,
Page 89
¶ Hic Paris desponsauit Elenam Reginam.
And afftirward ȝede to the qwene [folio 45a]
Line 2987
And profered hir his owne to bene.
Line 2988
And so rode thay alle to Troye;
The folk ther-Inne made mochel Ioye,
Ther was gadered alle the toun
With mochel Ioye and processioun,
Line 2992
With alle Musik and menstrasye,
To kepe the qwene of genterye.
¶ Priamus lyght of his palfray
At the ȝates In-myddes the way,
Line 2996
And toke him-self qwene Eleyne
Amongis hem alle by the rayne,
And lad hir him-self alweys
Thorow the toun to his paleys.
Line 3000
¶ Then on the morwe, when thei saw tyme,
A litel while be-fore the prime,
Ȝede lady Eleyne and sir Paris
Vnto the temple Palladis
Line 3004
And weddid hem to-gedir thore.
For afftirward it rewed hem ful sore,
And alle the gladnesse that thei hadde tho,
Turned hem to sorwe and to wo.
Line 3008
NOw hath Paris weddid Eleyne;
Troyens ben ther-of wel fayne,
Mochel murthe and festes thei make
For sir Paris and Eleyn sake.
Line 3012
This riche feste lastis al-wayes
Til hit were xviij dayes,
And alle the men of the Cite
Tentid to noght but to gamen and to gle.
Line 3016
But when Cassandre herde that tale,
That thei hadde mad a newe bridale
Off qwene Eleyne and Alisaundre,
Mechel dole made thenne Cassaundre.
Line 3020
Page 90
Line 3020
Sche cried, sche wepid, and so ferde, [folio 45b]
Line 3021
That alle the Paleis here noyse herde.
To the temple sche hir hyed,
And on the Troyens loude sche cried;
Line 3024
Sche seide: 'alas, vnwitti men,
Caytiff Troyens, and wymmen!
Whi make ȝe alle this Ioye and song?
Sicurly ȝe haue gret wrong
Line 3028
To make suche Ioye of here wedlak,
For it schal greue ȝow alle the pak,
For ȝe schul se ȝoure children sclayn
For weddynge of dame Eleyn,
Line 3032
And ȝe ȝoure-self Caytyves schal dye
For mochel wo and turmentrye.
¶ A noble Troye! that art so hye,
This weddyng schaltow dere abye!
Line 3036
Thow schalt be throwen doun in haste
For this weddyng, and lefft al waste!
A Hectuba, gentil qwene!
Whi tholed thow alle that wo and tene
Line 3040
In thi noble children burthe,
When this vnsely caytyff murthe
Schal reue the alle thi sones here,
And Polexene, that is the dere;
Line 3044
And thow thi-selff schal dye ther-by,
And thi lord also witterly!
Wiste ȝe, what her-of wolde be-falle,
Ȝe wolde lette this weddyng alle
Line 3048
And sende hir home ouer the see
To him that schulde hir lord be.
A Eleyne, thow wicked best!
Wo worth thi bones and thi fair fest!
Line 3052
So mychel wo, or long be gon,
As thow schalt make to vs echon!
Page 91
Suche sorwe sche made, and many mo [folio 46a]
Line 3055
Cassandre made among hem tho.
Line 3056
But Priamus bad hir sitte stille,
For alle the toun thoght ther-of ille.
For sche nolde do his byddyng
For wele ne wo ne other thyng,
Line 3060
Then putte thei here in distresse
For here crying and hir wodnesse.
ELeyne is weddid to Paris
With mochel murthe and Ioye y-wys;
Line 3064
Eche man ther-of Ioye has,
Thei ledyn here lyff In gret solas.
But when the kyng Menelans
Herde telle of this chauns,
Line 3068
That thei of Troye hadde lad away
Quene Eleyne vnto here pray,—
That was his owne gentil wiff,
That he loued as his lyff,—
Line 3072
Suche a sorwe to him he cauȝte,
That his deth almost he lauȝte:
He lay in swone longe, or he spak ought,
So was he so ney the dethe broght;
Line 3076
But whan he reuerted and ros aȝeyn,
'Alas,' he seyde, 'thow faire Eleyn!'
He made for hir gret waymentynge,
He myȝth not se for his gretynge.
Line 3080
¶ Duke Nestor come and herde
How that Menelaus ferde,
And comforted him with al his myght,
When he saw him in suche a plyght.
Line 3084
But he no-wise myght comfort haue,
For he ferde as he scholde raue;
He toke his hors with-oute abode
And to his lond wel faste he rode;
Line 3088
Page 92
Line 3088
And duke Nestor with him ȝede,— [folio 46b]
Line 3089
He wolde not leue him In that nede;—
For whan Troyens dede this trespas,
Menelaus at home not was,
Line 3092
He was with duke Nestor, that sire,
At his Cite that men called Pire.
Whan he was to his lond y-come,
His men were glad alle and some;
Line 3096
Vn-to his brother a lettre [MS. alr¯e¯.] he lete dyght,
That Agamenon that tyme hyght,
And to Pollus, and to kyng Castor,—
That I haue spoken of be-fore,—
Line 3100
That were his wyues bretheren bothe:
He prayed hem for leue or for lothe,
That thei scholde come with-outen dwellyng
And speke with him for any-thyng.
Line 3104
TO him ȝede these thre kynges,
When thei herde telle of these tydynges.
When Agamenon kyng was ware
That his brother was so ful of care,
Line 3108
He seyde: 'brother, for heuene kyng!
Whi makestow al this waymentyng?
Iff thow haue cause suche dole to make,
Lete it passe and ouer-slake!
Line 3112
For in sorwe and dele-makyng
Lenges non honour ne wynnyng.
The more sorwe thow mase,
Thi fomen gladdur is.
Line 3116
Thow greues alle that ben thi frende;
Leue ther-fore and make an ende,
And seke vengaunce of this ilke dede!
And that is worschepe and manhede;
Line 3120
The maner is of euery good knyght,
Off wrong, of schame, and of dispite
Page 93
That him is don, vengaunce to take [folio 47a]
Line 3123
And not to wepe ne sorwe make.
Line 3124
¶ Leue brother! wostow euery dele,
That alle the kynges wele
Ben oure ffelawes and oure ffrende
And wol with vs In oure help wende,
Line 3128
Off this Mescheff and this myschaunce
Off hem of Troye to take vengaunce?
Ther nys no kyng, and we him pray
To wende with vs, wol not say 'nay';
Line 3132
To alle the kynges of that land
And we schal do hem to vndirstand,
How thei the lond haue robbed and brend,
And sclayn thi men and foule hem schend,
Line 3136
And led away Eleyn, thi wyff,
And lefft thi-selff in wo and striff,
In dispite and In gret Ire
Off alle the kynges of Grece empire,
Line 3140
For the schame that thei dede hem,
Thei haue on vs venged hem.
And when thei heere of this tythandes,
Ther is no kyng of Grece landes,
Line 3144
That thei wol come with grete meyne
And wende with vs ouer the see,
And venge vs of the vylony
That we haue for dame Oxony,
Line 3148
And wynne aȝeyn thi wiff Eleyne,
Maugre ther tethe, be thow certeyne!'
MEnelaus held his pees,
Off his sorwe he gan to sees;
Line 3152
At his biddyng and his counsayle
Thenne by-gan this clerkes to tayle
Parchemyn and lettres dite,
And many another affter to write.
Line 3156
Page 94
¶ Hic Agamenon ffrater Menelaij misit literas suas ad Reges Grecorum.
Thei made lettres to kynges and prince, [folio 47b]
Line 3157
To eche a lond and prouynce
That Gregeys [MS. Gregeyns.] hadde in seygnorye:
To venge hem of that vilonye
Line 3160
That thei haue taken of Troyens,
And foule haue sclayn ther citeseyns,
And led a-way Eleyne, the qwene,
To Menelaus gret wratthe and tene.
Line 3164
But sykurly to seye the sothe:
Bothe here bretheren were so wrothe,
¶ Whan thei herde telle of this
That here suster ferd amys,—
Line 3168
Thei nolde a-byde for no flot,
But toke ther men and schippus ful hot
And ȝede als faste In-to the see
With thaire men and here naue;
Line 3172
For thei wende wele hem ouer-tane
Paris sone, and bene his bane.
But sykurly thei sayled not longe,
On In the see the wedur spronge,
Line 3176
That thei were drowned bothe two
And alle here men with hem also.
Hit was not fully two dayes past,
That thei were drowned bothe schip and mast,
Line 3180
And leffte here lyues ther to-gedur
In that tempest and that wedur.
AGamenon and his brother
To Thelaman and many other
Line 3184
Kyng and duke ther lettres sente,
To alle that dwelled fer or hente,
To the lond of Grece that langed;
And thei here lettres gladly fanged,
Line 3188
And whan thei hadde here lettres red,
Eueryche a kyng to hem thanne sped
Page 95
¶ Hic Reges Grecorum elegerunt Agamenon Imperatorem.
And come to hem many a myle, [folio 48a]
Line 3191
So that thei were with-Inne a while
Line 3192
Mo then sixti kynges thore,
That alle to Grece langed wore.
When thei were comen alle in present,
And non of hem was absent,
Line 3196
¶ Menelaus told his cas:
"How he his wiff lorn has,
And how thei brende also his tounes
In dispite of alle the Gryffounes."
Line 3200
When alle the kynges herde this tale
How Troyens hadde don hem bale,
And hadde these grete playntes,—
Thei made a vowe to god and to his seyntes:
Line 3204
"That thei schuld gadre her naue
And wende with him ouer the see,
And with alle here men & here retenu
Wynne [MS. And wynne.] aȝen Eleyne his dru,
Line 3208
And throwe doun Troye and al to-brenne,
And venge hem on here fomene.
¶ But it was good"—the lordes seyde alle—
"For thynges that myght befalle,
Line 3212
That thei chese hem an Emperour
To be alther gouernour,
That were amonges hem most of myght,
And ouer-se hem alle with his syght;"—
Line 3216
'To rewle vs alle and to gouerne,
Erly and late, loude and derne;
And that eche man do his biddyng,
Duke and prince, lord and kyng.'
Line 3220
THei ȝede thanne to her parlement
And seide be dome and right Iugement,
That Agemenon was worthi
By-fore alle other sikurly
Line 3224
Page 96
Line 3224
To bere the state and to be Emperour, [folio 48b]
Line 3225
For he was wise and good gyour.
Thei sayden alle with-outen les,
That to the hauen of Athenes
Line 3228
Was good to do her naue come,
For ther myght thei alle stonde In romme,
To alle the lordes that there were
Were redy dyght and samed there
Line 3232
With ther meyne, to passe the flood
Toward Troye, when thei seyen good.—
And whan thei hadde ordeyned this,
Thei toke ther leue In Ioye and blis;
Line 3236
And Agamenon and his brother
And echon partyd tho fro other;
And ȝede eche a man to his contre,
And gadered men and his naue,
Line 3240
And spede hem faste to Athenes
With gret naue and moche pres.
Alle men, beth now blythe!
Herkenes now to me and lythe!
Line 3244
Herkenes now! and ȝe may here
Meruayles many In my matere:
In this talkyng may ȝe here telle
Off ferly fyght, ffele and felle,
Line 3248
Of comely kynges corouned and kene,
That Troye distroyed alle be-dene,
And brende her houses on a blase;
And how that strong knyghtes here lyff lase.
Line 3252
Ther was the worthiest wyght In wede
That euer by-strode palfray or stede,
A bolder burne [MS. burde.] was neuere non born—
Alas that he was lyghtly for-lorn!—
Line 3256
Ther was no man so strong of myght,
As was Ector, that gentil knyght.
Page 97
Was non so proud proued his pere, [folio 49a]
Line 3259
The whiles he was on lyue here;
Line 3260
For I ffynde In prose and ryme,
Was non so strong In that tyme.
He dede x thousand bakkes bende;
Men spekes of him In euery londe,
Line 3264
For he was strong In doughtynes,
Mighty in strengthe and hardynes.
Of myght I may him not discryue,
Ther lyues non suche here on lyue,
Line 3268
As Ector was, that strong knyght;
For he passed al other of myght.
Som[what] wol I of him telle
And of other knyghtes felle,
Line 3272
Off him and of Troyle, his brother,
And of strong knyghtes many other:
¶ How that batayle of Troye be-gan,
And how thai sythen the toun wan;
Line 3276
And how thei gadered here meyne
With al here store and there naue
In-to Athenes alle to-gedur,
And passed the see, when thei hadde wedur,
Line 3280
To Thenedoun, and dwelled ther lange,
Er thei durste to Troye gange,—
For drede thei hadde of gode Ectore,
Off whom I haue spoken of before;—
Line 3284
And how thei sythen thenne paste
And come to Troye atte laste,
And lay ten ȝere be-fore the toun,
Er thei it wan and keste it doun;
Line 3288
And how Gregeis and Troyens thore
Faught ten ȝere and more;
And how thei of Grece were conqueroures
And brente Troye with alle the toures.
Line 3292
Page 98
¶ Hic Greci congregati sunt.
Herkenes now, both grete and smale! [folio 49b]
Line 3293
For now be-gynnes al this tale:
How thei dede, and how thei faught,
And what and how ther dethe thei caught.
Line 3296
HIt was a day off Feuerer,
That kynges, dukes, and Mariner
With here naue vpon a res
Were Gadered alle to Athenes,
Line 3300
With honour forth right
With Priamus and hese to fyght.
So fele knyghtes of gret renoun,
Ne so fele kynges corouned with croun,
Line 3304
Were neuere ȝit at on semble,
Off on purpos, ne neuere schal be;
Ne so fele schippis In on hauen,
Ne so fele with swordes and stauen,
Line 3308
Was neuere sene for-sothe ne herde,
Sithen god made man first In this worlde.
¶ Dares telles in His scripture
Off eche a kyng and his stature,
Line 3312
And here names and her makyng,
And discreues hem in alle thyng,
And the nombre that euery kyng broght,
And the wondres that thei wroght;
Line 3316
Gret tariyng it is to telle
That Dares makes vpon his spelle.
But sicurly with-oute lesyng:
Sithen that god made al thyng,
Line 3320
Suche a peple was neuere y-sene—
Off alle the tyme that hath bene—
To-geder broght at o samyng
Off kynges and knyghtes old and ȝyng,
Line 3324
And so fele schippis on o fflete,
Sethen shippus ȝede with sail or sprete.
Page 99
¶ Hic est numerus Grecorum vz. lxviij. Reges & duces. et de militibus hominibus ad Arma. viij C. Ml.
For sicurli with-oute lye [folio 50a]
Line 3327
Ther was vpon the o partye
Line 3328
Sixti kynges and dukes also
And .viij. sikerly with-outen mo.
Fonde ȝe euere in any story
To-geder suche a company
Line 3332
Off kynges, dukes, and of princes,
That comen were fro here prouynces?
And so fele men broght on hepe,
That hardi were, doughti, and ȝepe?
Line 3336
¶ For whan thei were with-oute les
Gadered alle in Athenes,
Thei nombred—I vndirstonde—
Mo than .xviij. C. thousande,
Line 3340
And mo by hundredes .xviij. or .xix;
And so fele men—I dar wel sene—
Off men of Armes—permafay!—
To-gedre at ones [MS. atones.] sene was neuere on o day,
Line 3344
Sithen that god this world bygan,
Ne neuere, sithen that batel bylan;
Ne neuere man in erthe schal se,—
As longe as erthe sene schal be,—
Line 3348
Ne so fele schippus to-gedur y-set,
As ther were thenne to-gedur met,
¶ With doughti men gadered so.
Alas, Paris, what hastow do,
Line 3352
When thow leddest away Eleyne!
So many gode knyghtes for hir schul be sclayne,
And alle thi kyn to dethe was brought.
Alas, Ector! he rewys my thoght,
Line 3356
That he schulde dye for his disert!
So strong he was In armes apert,
Ne neuere wrong he wolde do.
Alas, that thi god Appollo
Line 3360
Page 100
Line 3360
Ne hadde [he added above line, doubtful if by same or another hand.] throwe the In the salt-flom, [folio 50b]
Line 3361
Er thow haddist broght hir hom!
By Ihesu Crist of Nazareth!
I wolde, thow haddist taken the dethe,
Line 3364
When thow wentist to Tytharie,
To here and se that melodye!
¶ Alas, me rewes of Priamus,
Off Hectuba, and gode Troylus,
Line 3368
Off Pollexene, and Andromede!
That Paris made brend In a glede,
Whan thow leddest away Eleyne
Out of the temple of dame Vyane!
Line 3372
¶ A noble Troye, that was rial,
A-doun is throwen with ston an[d] wal;
That made Paris and his euel wit.
And elles hit scholde haue stonde ȝit
Line 3376
As longe as Ierusalem,
Ne hadde Paris ben and his fals drem.
Now artow doun, and thi toures hye,
For Paris ffals a-voutrye!
Line 3380
Afftirward vpon a day,
When alle these kynges of gret noblay
And the dukes were gadered thore,
Princes and Erles that worthi wore,
Line 3384
Agamenon, the Emperour,
Bad vnto his banyour:
"Thorow the toun that he schulde crye,
That euery lord scholde faste hye
Line 3388
With-oute the toun In-to the playn;
For ther he wolde In certayn
Holde with hem a parlement."
When these lordes were afftir sent,
Line 3392
Then dwelled thei not longe,
When thei wiste whedur to gonge.
Page 101
Agamenon dede thanne fette [folio 51a]
Line 3395
Formes and stoles hem on to sette.
Line 3396
When thei were setyn alle a-doun
In that playn with-oute the toun,
AGamenon seyde: 'lordynges,
Dukes, Princes, and corouned kynges,
Line 3400
Beth alle in pes—I ȝow pray—
And herkenes me, what I say:
¶ Sithen god Adam and Eue wroght
And alle this world made of noght,
Line 3404
Saw I neuere suche peple samen—
Nother in ernest ne in gamen—
Off worthi lordis to-gedur infere,
As we ben now to-gedur here
Line 3408
Vpon o kyng to ȝeue a-saute.
Loke, what schame the deuel him augthte,
That to him-self hath suche bale brewed,
That hath vs alle aȝeyn him meued!
Line 3412
How scholde he now with-stande
Vs alle that ben here sittande,
Whan fyue of oure with lasse emprise
Sclow his fadir and alle hise,
Line 3416
Wan [MS. When.] his toun with-Inne a throwe
And sette his paleis on a lowe?
But wete ȝe wel and beth siker,
That thei of Troye wote of this byker
Line 3420
That we on hem thenke to be-gynne
And here Cite with fors wynne,
And are aboute bothe nyght and day
To gete hem help alle that thai may,
Line 3424
To withstonde alle oure myght.
Wherfore I rede, if ȝe thenke right,
That we sende som messanger
To Delos Ile that is here ner,
Line 3428
Page 102
¶ Hic Greci mandauerunt Achillem ad Appollum deum Grecorum.
—A litel fro Gregeis landes, [folio 51b]
Line 3429
Ther god Appollo ther-Inne standes—
And wete of him his gode consayl:
"What schal be-tyde of this batayl
Line 3432
Off oure proues and oure afere,
And what schal falle, whil we are there?" '
The lordes seyde also: 'so god vs spede!—
It were good Achilles ȝede
Line 3436
Vpon that erande, if it lykes him,
And Padrodus that is his cosyn.'
Thei prayed him alle that viage to take,
To do so moche for her sake;
Line 3440
And he graunted as sone here bone.
He toke a schip and wente sone
To the see and sayled faste,
Til thei were comen atte laste
Line 3444
To the temple of Apollo,
And Patrodus with him also.
When thei were comen, thei wente to lande
And made to him a riche offerande,
Line 3448
And offered to him a gret quantite
Off riche gold and of her mone,
And kneled doun and him be-soght,
That he wolde layne it noght,
Line 3452
But say the sothe: "what scholde be-tyde
Off his Gregeis, if thei ride?"
APollo sayde: 'Achilles, ffrend,
To thi Grikes [MS. grikes, altered from grues.] aȝeyn thow wend!
Line 3456
And say, that thei be not agast,
But treuly be syker and stedefast!
Or this x ȝere go fully out,
Ȝe schal Troyens with-oute dout
Line 3460
Scle echon in fyght & stoures,
And ȝe of Grece be conqueroures.'
Page 103
A wondir cas that tyme be-felle [folio 52a]
Line 3463
In the temple—soth to telle,—
Line 3464
When Achilles his answere had,
And Appollo go thenne him bad
And [MS. And his.] to the [MS. to the inserted above the line by another hand.] Grikes [MS. grikes, altered from grues.] telle his answere,
What scholde be-tyde of ther werre:
Line 3468
A noble Clerk, that het Calcas,—
Off hem of Troye bysshop was,—
In that Ile on londe lyght,
And to Appollo he him dyght
Line 3472
And ȝaff him ȝiftes grete and fele,
And bad him that he scholde not hele,
But say him soth and sicurly:
"Who scholde haue the victory,
Line 3476
And whether schulde Mayster be,
Thei of Grece or Troye Cite?"
¶ Appollo seyde: 'Calcas, be ware
That thow a-ȝeyn to Troye not ffare!
Line 3480
For sicurly I telle it the:
Or .x. ȝer passe, thou schat se
The kyng off Troye be lorn and schent,
And his toun be taken and be brent.
Line 3484
But ffelawe the with wordes mylde
With Achilles In this Il[d]e,
And wende with him to his Gregeis
And dwelle with him, ther is pais;
Line 3488
For thow schalt haue to hem gret nede.
Be my counseyl, to hem thow spede!'
CAlcas was a-Grised sore
Of these wordes that he herde thore;
Line 3492
But whan he wiste and hadde knowyng,
That it was sir Achilles ȝyng
That In the temple by-fore him stode,
Wel curtesly to him he ȝode
Line 3496
Page 104
Line 3496
And profered him to his seruise [folio 52b]
Line 3497
And euere to be on of hyse;
And seyde: "that god Appollo
Bad that he scholde do so."
Line 3500
Achilles seyde on fair manere:
"He was to him leue and dere;"
¶ He was glad of his contenaunce
And made him gret daliaunce.
Line 3504
And ȝede bothe in-fere to the see
And toke here schippis and here meyne,
And sayled faste fro the cost,
Til thei come to the Gregeys ost.
Line 3508
And broght Calcas by-fore the kyng
And tolde hem alle of tho tithyng:
"What Answere that thei bothe hadde."
Then were the Gregeis wondir gladde;
Line 3512
Euery lord his feste made,
For Ioye and murthe thei were glade.
¶ When thei herde these tithandis,
Then thei held vp bothe here handis
Line 3516
And thanked her goddis of here wille,
That thei wold hem not spille.
Thei ȝaff Calcas many a ȝiffte,
And swor alle by ther thriffte:
Line 3520
"That he scholde euere be on of thaires,
And him avaunce and alle his aires
Off riche londis, rentis, and fece,
In the londe for-sothe of Grece."
Line 3524
And alle the lordes of here ost
Loued him bothe lest and most.
ON the morwe, whan it was prime,
When Sir Achilles saw his tyme,
Line 3528
He and Calcas to-gedur wente
Vn-to Gamenouns tente.
Page 105
¶ Hic Achilles & Calcas ibant ad tentorium Imperatoris.
Ther alle the lordes of Grece were than [folio 53a]
Line 3531
To-geder there with many a man;
Line 3532
The lordis welcomed hem alle
And sette hem doun in the halle.
A-Mong the lordes and other kynges
Calcas seyde: 'herkenes, lordynges,
Line 3536
Kynges and dukes that now are here,
Princes and Erles to-gedur in-fere!
Ne was ȝoure entensioun,
When ȝe come furst to this toun,
Line 3540
With ȝoure naue to Troye to wende,
Ȝoure enemys to qwelle and to schende?
Whi lye ȝe here In pes so longe?
Hope ȝe not, here ȝow amonge
Line 3544
That Priamus has here many spies,
That ȝoure consayl to him [un-]wries
And telle hem alle that ȝe say?
Somer is passed ner-honde a-way;
Line 3548
Ȝe do not elles but makes hem bolde
The toun aȝeyn ȝow for to holde,
And steris the toun bothe nyght and day,
And geten hem help alle that thei may;
Line 3552
For thei holde ȝow so sore agast,
That ȝe dar not with hem wrast:
For it passes more than a ȝere,
Sithen alle the lordes that are here
Line 3556
Were gadered here to-gedur,
And haue had right fair wedur,
And durst neuere passe the see.
What may thei wene, but it be
Line 3560
For cowardise and gret ferdnesse,
For feblenesse and arwenesse?
Let sette ȝoure schippis forth on flote,
Dromond, Caryke, barge, and bote,
Line 3564
Page 106
¶ Hic nauigant versus Troianos.
And sayle forth with-outen dwellyng, [folio 53b]
Line 3565
So helpe ȝow god at ȝoure endyng!
Ne tarieth not In ȝoure goddys beheste!
I warne ȝow bothe most and leste,
Line 3568
That ȝoure fals hertes and faynt byleue
May ȝoure goddis so moche greue,
That thei may bothe ȝow turne and lette
Off that thei haue ȝow hette.
Line 3572
Therfore to-morwe, whan it dawes,
I rede ȝe take the wawes,
Whil ȝe haue wedur at wille,
That wyntir-wedur ȝow ne spille.'
Line 3576
Alle the lordes that were thore
A-lowed [MS. A lowel.] riȝth wel his lore:—
"And it was profitable,
And the tyme was fair and able
Line 3580
To take the tyme with-oute drede;
Hit was schame—so god me spede—
That thei hadde dwelled so longe ther."
Agamenon bad alle that ther wer,
Line 3584
Lord and prince, Duke and kyng:
"That thei made hem redy In the euenyng,
That thei were redi erly at morwen,—
When thei herde him blowe his horne,—
Line 3588
With schip and sail, spret and ore;
For ther wolde thei dwelle no more."
NIght is gon, the Cok hath crowen,
Agamenon hath his horn blowen;
Line 3592
And alle men thenne here schippis vnbonde,
And here Ankeres alle In-wonde,
And leffte the hauen and toke the see
With alle here schippis and here naue.
Line 3596
Thei drow ther sayl vnto the top;
Here schippis sayled gay and prop,
Page 107
In thei were comen in-to Troye listes.— [folio 54a]
Line 3599
A [MS. A.] , Priamus, if that thow wistes
Line 3600
The sorwe that comes to the and thine
Off noble Troye the gret ruyne!
Haddest thow don be Ectores rede,
Then haddest thow not be dede.
Line 3604
Now comes thi sorwe and thi wo,
Alas, thi Ioye schal ouer-go!—
¶ These Gregeis saylen vpon a ras
Toward Troy with gret manas;
Line 3608
The wynd was good to ther byhoue,
Thei sailed on brod and gon by-loue,
Til thei come to Troye land.
Thei saw an hauen by-fore ham stand
Line 3612
With a Castel wondir strong,
With walles hye and dikes long.
Al that flote thedur drow,
For it was gret and mochel y-now
Line 3616
To herbare alle here schippis In;
Til thei come ther, thei nolde [MS. wolde.] blyn.
¶ The men that in the castel were,
When thei saw Gregeis there,
Line 3620
Out of the Castel faste thei ran,
Armed wel euery man;
To the see thei wolde wende,
That the Gregeis wolde defende,
Line 3624
That thei nedes mot on lande lyght;
For therto dede thei al here myght.
But thei were foles—that was sene,—
For thei lefft not on of Troyene,
Line 3628
That thei ne bere doun and sclow hem alle;
Afftir mercy myght thei not calle,
For of hem hadde thei no pite,
Thei brende her toun, bothe tymber and tre,
Line 3632
Page 108
¶ Hic Greci destruxerunt Insulam Thenodonis & ceperunt Castellum.
And Toke here castel and threwe it doun [folio 54b]
Line 3633
With alle the dyches enviroun.
And when thei hadde thus y-wroght
And the castel to grounde y-broght,
Line 3636
Thei ȝode to schip euery man
And sayled forth to [MS. fro.] Thenedam
That was fro Troye but six mile.
When thei were comen In-to that Ile,
Line 3640
Thei lete doun saile and ankeres caste
And bounden here schippis ther wel faste,
And Armed hem and ȝede to londe
And sclow and robbed al that thei fonde.
Line 3644
AT Thenedoun a Castel stode,
Strong & styff, gret and gode,
With walles wroght wondir hye,
And dikes doluen depe and drye;
Line 3648
So strong was non in that contre
Saue Troye self, that riche Cite.
It was ful of gret riches
Off alle the contre more and les;
Line 3652
Thei dede here goodes thedur brynge,
When men tolde of Grues comynge,
And left hem ther for sekurnes;
And many a lady with hem is.
Line 3656
¶ The Gregeis ben alande alle went,
Thei haue the toun taken and brent;
Vnto the Castel ar thei gon
And beseged it anon:
Line 3660
Thei sette engynes al aboute,
And grete stones thei did In route,
And som sette laddres to the walle.
But thei with-Inne gert hem alle:
Line 3664
Thei brak here neckis right on-sunder,
Thei sclow of Grece mo than an hunder.
Page 109
With-Inne a while at that assaut [folio 55a]
Line 3667
That thei with-Inne so longe han faut
Line 3668
And were so chaufed In here Armure,
That thei myght not for feble dure,
Ne on ther feet on the wal stande,
Ne holde her wepen In her hande.
Line 3672
¶ Then ȝede to dethe many Troyanes;
And ȝit mo died of Gryffones,
For thei with-Inne greves hem sore,
Als feble as thei wore:
Line 3676
Thei bare Gregeis doun fro the walles
With grete speres and ledon balles,
And lefft hem lyinge in the dikes;
Echon of hem at other strykes,
Line 3680
Thei with-Inn and thei with-oute.
But then come efft a newe route
Off Gryffons felle, that hem assayled
And hem with-Inne so trauayled,
Line 3684
That thei moste dye or elles hem ȝelde;
For thei myght not hem-self welde
For long fyghtyng and werynes,
Ne hem defende for feblenes.
Line 3688
THen clombe the Gregeis on the walles,
And some ȝede In at the wyndowes;
Then were Troyens In mochel drede,
And some out ouer the walles ȝede;
Line 3692
For-sothe thei flow alle that ther ware.
Wiff ne childe nolde thei non spare,
Knyght ne squier, knaue ne boy,
Ne non that longed [vn-]to Troy.
Line 3696
Alle the goodis that there wore
Thei bare to schippis thore,
And brende the Castel and threwe it doun,
That men myght se to Troye toun
Line 3700
Page 110
Line 3700
Ouer alle the hillis that were hye, [folio 55b]
Line 3701
Off Thenedoun the Gret Cite.
¶ Thenedoun is doun and take;
It liggis doun in the lake;
Line 3704
That stod so stronge and so hye ore,
Now is it on the grounde thore.
The Gregeys were mery and glad
Off the Castel that thei had.
Line 3708
¶ Agamenon dede comaunde:
"That alle the Gregis In a laund
Schuld come and with him brynge
Catel, goodes, and alle other thynge,
Line 3712
That thei hadde wonnen at here pray
Off that Castel that ilke day;
That no thyng schulde be with-holden,
Don a-way, ne fro him stolen—
Line 3716
As thei wolde haue lyff and lym!—
But al to-gedur brynge to hym."
And so thei dyd ilke a man:
Alle the good, that euere thei wan
Line 3720
Off the castel and of the toun,
Thei broght with hem and laide adoun.
¶ And he delte hit aboute him thore
To hem that most worthi wore
Line 3724
And most hadde put her lyff In werre
And ffauȝt fastest with her powerre,
The castel for to gete and wynne
And the godis that were ther-Inne.
Line 3728
¶ "The morwe afftir at the sonne rysyng"—
He bad—"that euery lord and kyng
In that lond with him schulde be
With-oute drede, for ther wolde he
Line 3732
Holde a parlement general
With alle the lordis gret and smal."
Page 111
¶ Consilium Grecorum.
¶ The morwe afftir In the dawenynge, [folio 56a]
Line 3735
Er the sonne be-gan to sprynge,
Line 3736
Were comen to him—or it was day—
Alle the lordes that ther lay.
When thei were to-gedir met,
And echon doun by other set,
Line 3740
AGamenon seyde: 'lordynges,
Princes, dukes, and kynges!
Alle this world bothe ffer and ner
Spekes moche of oure Power
Line 3744
And wot, that we are mochel of myght,
That no man may vs greue be ryght,
But we of hem vengaunce take.
But herkenes now alle for my sake!
Line 3748
I holde that power good euery tyde
That is with-oute the vice of pride,
For offte it falles many to wo.
And oure goddis hates hit also:
Line 3752
He that loues pride, or hit haunte,
Ther-with wol thei not graunte.—
I wolde ther-fore, that no man sayde,
Ne that it come vs In vmbrayde,
Line 3756
That we pride In oure doyng,
Ne we with pride be-gon this thyng.
¶ Ȝe wot alle wel, whi we are comen
And oure way hedur has nomen:
Line 3760
To venge vs on kyng Priamus
Off the schame that he dede vs.
I wot also, how we haue brent
His castelles and his tounes schent.
Line 3764
Wherfore, if he were oure fo ore [MS. ore, altered from ere.] ,
He hatis vs now wel more
And wolde now fayner take vengaunce,
If god ȝaue him suche a chaunce.
Line 3768
Page 112
Line 3768
And thei haue geten hem gret pouste [folio 56b]
Line 3769
And wote wel, that theire Cite
Is bothe styff, stalworthe, and strong,
Gret and mochel, large and long,
Line 3772
And ful of men and gode verroures,
That bold and hardy bene in stoures.
And thei that were lesse then we,
Thei are at home In here contre,
Line 3776
And that is tyme—so mote I thryue—
A wondir gret prerogatyue:
For offte men In theire owne contre
Scholde spede ȝow, ther were les then we;
Line 3780
That is, men,—as mot I thriue—
A wonder gret prerogatyue.
But thenk not, that I say this
For drede ne ffer—so haue I blis—
Line 3784
That we may the Troyens spille
And take the toun aȝeyn ther wille:
For ther nys no kyng so strong,
Ne no toun so large ne long,
Line 3788
That we ne may hem confounde
And keste his Cite to the grounde.
¶ But sikurly and be my fay!
Herfore it is, that I say:
Line 3792
If pride be non in oure nede,
We schal be worthi mochel mede.
Ȝe wote alle wele that ben here,
That Priamus sent his messangere
Line 3796
And prayed vs alle curtesly,
To sende him home dame Oxony;
And we with pride seyde "nay."
That hem mysliked permafay!
Line 3800
And hadde we thenne his suster send
Home to him with-oute amend,
Page 113
¶ Hic miserunt nuncios suos ad Regem Troianum.
Off al the harme that we him dud [folio 57a]
Line 3803
Hadde now not this harme tud,
Line 3804
That thei dede vs in Thitarie;
Thei hadde not made suche robrie,
Ne qwene Eleyne fro thenne led
Fro the kyng that here hadde wed.
Line 3808
I wot neuere what wol be-falle;
I rede ther-fore, if ȝe rede alle,
That we sende oure Messager,
Wise and ȝepe, on fair maner,
Line 3812
And bid him wende to Troye Cite
To Priamus and his meyne,
And bidde the kyng: "sende vs a-ȝeyn
With-oute dwellyng the quene Eleyn
Line 3816
And make amendes of that Paris
In Thitarie dede amys."
And if it be that he thus do,
Oure worschepe is certis saued so;
Line 3820
And we may home with-oute more wende,
For we haue made a worthi ende:
We may no more aske by skyl,
If thei wil alle this fulfil.
Line 3824
And if it be that thei wol noght
Do that we haue hem be-soght,
And elles we wil with hem fyght
With alle oure power and oure myght;
Line 3828
And men schal blame her wodnes
And [praysen] ws ffor [MS. ws and ff on erasure; behind ffor a word like seche seems to have stood.] oure meknes.
And therfore, lordes, say me now:
Off this consail what thynke ȝow?'
Line 3832
Some assented wel ther-to
And sayde, "it was wel to do;"
And some helde it for a cowardyse,
To make a pees In suche a wyse;
Line 3836
Page 114
¶ Hic ueniunt duo Reges Grecorum ad Regem Troianum.
But atte laste thei alle assent. [folio 57b]
Line 3837
And on this erand two kynges went,
That noble kyng Diomedes,
And his felawe, sir Vlixes [V put before l by a later hand; cf. 3847.] .
Line 3840
TO Troye ben come these kynges
To Priamus with here tydynges
In-to his halle, ther he was set;
But non of hem thei ones gret,
Line 3844
But sette hem doun with semblaunt store
A-ȝeyn the kynges in-myddis the flore.
Lixes [Lixes; cf. note I.] sais: 'haue ȝe no meruayle,
That we, sir kyng, the nothyng hayle!
Line 3848
For we knowe wel the for oure enemy,
And we be thin sicurly.
But herkenes, what we wol say,
And late vs wende on oure way:
Line 3852
¶ Agamenon, oure Emperour,
That is kyng of gret fauour,
Sendes the word and biddis the
By this kyng & also by me:
Line 3856
"Sende to him Eleyne the quene,
If thow wilt be with-outen tene,
And make amendes to him holy
Off the schame and vylony,
Line 3860
That Paris dede to his brother,
To him also, and to many other."
And but if thow wil, he sendet the word:
"That thow schalt dye with spere and sword,
Line 3864
And alle thi folk and thi meyne;
And riche Troye, thi faire Cite,
Schal be brent and doun ytrowe,
And thow and thyne be broght wel lowe." '
Line 3868
PRiamus was with hem y-tened,
Whan he saw what thei mened.
Page 115
With-oute consail he answerde— [folio 58a]
Line 3871
For here wordes him sore derede—
Line 3872
He seyde: 'what deuel may this be,
That ȝe amendes aske of me,
That haue my fader fro me sclayn,
And don my-self mychel payn,
Line 3876
And my suster fro me refft,
And my men in seruage lefft?
¶ By him that al this world wroght!
Me thinketh, that ȝe ȝoure-selff ought
Line 3880
Make amendis to me and myne,
That ȝe haue do so moche pyne!
But wendes out swithe of my sight,
For of ȝoure wordes haue I dispit!
Line 3884
Ne were that ȝe come in message,
Veleyns dethe schulde be ȝoure wage;
For I am not with-oute Ire,
Whil I se ȝow, be my swyre!'
Line 3888
Dyomedes sat and smyled,
When Priamus hem so reuyled;
He seyde: 'sir kyng, so mote I the!
If thow haue tene of him and me.
Line 3892
Thow schalt be more in doute
To bere thi lyff with the aboute;
For thow schalt se vnto the come
An .C. Ml. on a throme
Line 3896
Off men of Armes wel y-dight,
With the, kyng, and thyne to fight.
For whan thow may not the defende,
And thei haue the and thi toun brende,
Line 3900
That the schal sle and thyne also,
Iff that thow anger at vs two.'
¶ Many Troien that ther stode
For tene and angur were ner wode,
Line 3904
Page 116
Line 3904
That Dyomedes, the Gregeys, [folio 58b]
Line 3905
Vn-to the kyng In his Paleys
Spake thus foule and vilously.
Many a Troien drow hem ney,
Line 3908
With drawen swordes vengaunce to take
Off him for his wordes sake.
¶ But Priamus him-self vp ros,
And to his men wel sone he gos
Line 3912
And bad hem alle on lyff and lym,
Not so hardy to greue him.
Eueas, that by the kyng sat,
Was an-angered sore for that;
Line 3916
He saide: 'sir, if it were thi wille,
Me thenke that it were gret skille,
That he his wordes dere aboght,
That ȝow and vs hath set at noght;
Line 3920
And ne were it drede of ȝow,
He scholde this wordis abye now.'
Dyomedes ȝaf no tale
Off alle that sat there In that sale,
Line 3924
He sayde to Eueas al on hye:
'Thow that sittes the kyng so neye,
God ȝif grace, that I the mete
With-oute the toun by stye or strete!
Line 3928
I schal the qwite wel thi mede
Off thi gode wordes, so god me spede!'
¶ But his felawe Vlixes
Bad him: "be stille and holde his pees
Line 3932
And leue his fare and his Iangelyng;"
Vlixes saith thenne to the kyng:
'We haue herd al that thow sais;
We wol now wende to oure Gregeis,
Line 3936
And tydynges to hem fro ȝow bere
Off thi saynge and thin answere.'
Page 117
¶ Hic Greci tenuerunt magnum consilium.
Thei toke here horses sone anon, [folio 59a]
Line 3939
And to the Gregeis gan thei gon
Line 3940
Ouer downe and ouer dike,
As faste as thei myght prike,
Til thei come to Thenedoun.
Thei sayde to Agamenoun
Line 3944
And [MS. That.] alle the lordes that ther wore,
What answere that thei ȝaff hem thore.
¶ The Gregeis were merueyled,
What myght it be that hem ayled,
Line 3948
In wham thei hadde so moche trayst,
That thei were right not a-bayst.
Many a counsayl then thei sought,
How thei myght brynge hem to noght.
Line 3952
GRet consail and parlementes
Thei made offte In her tentes:
How thei scholde do, and how to fete,
For Troye to wynne for that grete hete;
Line 3956
And how thei scholde lyue, whil thei were thore,
And w[h]ere thei scholde haue her store.—
Vpon a day that emperour
Alle [MS. And alle.] the lordes of that honour
Line 3960
In-to a playn dede clepe and calle;
When thei were comen to him alle,
¶ He seide: 'lordynges, se ȝe alle wele:
The Troyens ȝeue of vs no dele;
Line 3964
With fairnes wil thei not loute,
Thei ben of herte so stoute.
With myght and strengthe we mot conquere
Alle that in the toun are there,—
Line 3968
And long also ben ȝeres ten,—
For thei ben alle doughti men;
And we may hem not assaile,
But if vs come offte vitayle.
Line 3972
Page 118
¶ Hic incipit bellum per Grecos contra Regem Cesile.
Here is a lond with-Inne the see, [folio 59b]
Line 3973
Off alle manere of good that is plente;
I wene, men calle hit Cecyle.
If that it be ȝoure alleres wille,
Line 3976
I rede: sende thedur oure sonde
To the kyng of that londe,
And bidde him, that he wol puruay
Mete and drynke by nyght and day
Line 3980
And sende vs ouer with pees & reste;
And thus me thinket, it were beste.'
When Agamenon hadde sayde thus,
Achilles and sir Thelaphus—
Line 3984
That was Ercules owen sone—
Were chosen be eleccione,
To do this erande and wende ther way;
And nother of hem seide 'nay.'
Line 3988
Thei toke with hem, to passe the see,
Off doughti knyghtes thousandes thre,
And sayled faste vnto that land
And lete here schippus In hauen stand,
Line 3992
And drow out horses and stedes
And here strong Iren wedes.
WHen Theman kyng herd say,
That thei of Grece In suche aray
Line 3996
Were opon his lond alyght,
He made him redi with hem to fyght;
He broght with him to that batayle
Off men of Armes and other pedayle
Line 4000
Thousandes fele and hundres als,
With swerdes and scheldes aboute here hals.
And whan Gregeis saw hem comande,
To putte hem thus out of that lande,
Line 4004
Opon a res thei to him rode,
And thei to him with-outen abode.
Page 119
A gret batayle was be-twene hem tho, [folio 60a]
Line 4007
For her enemys were wel the mo,
Line 4008
For sicur thei were suche thre
Then Achilles & his meyne.
On euery side thei fel thikke doun,
Some alle dede, and som in swoun.
Line 4012
Off hem of Grece ther died gret won,
And of that other many on.
The Gregeis were of gret power,
Thei ne hadde endured in no maner,
Line 4016
Ne hadde Achilles I-bene
Agayn her foos—and that was sene.—
He saw many that him assayled
And his men wel thikke fayled;
Line 4020
He loked wel faste In here fyghtyng,
Where he myght se her kyng;
Where he faught, he was wel war,
And Gregeis faste to erthe he bar.
Line 4024
AChilles then vnto him prykes,
And many a strok to him he strikes,
And threwe him doun to the grounde
With many delful hidous wounde;
Line 4028
He thoght the kyng right ther sclo,
Or he wolde fro him go.
¶ But Thelaphus that be-held
And kept that strok vpon his scheld,
Line 4032
He seide: 'Achilles, leue sire,
For goddis loue, leue thin Ire!
I pray ȝow for goddis ore,
That ȝe to him do harme no more;
Line 4036
But ȝeues me this curtais knyght,
That ȝe haue ouercome in fyght.'
¶ Achilles sayde: 'what may this be?
Thelaphus, what eyles the,
Line 4040
Page 120
Line 4040
Off me to craue and aske mercy [folio 60b]
Line 4041
Off him that is thin enemy?'
Thelaphus seide: 'sire, be my fay!
Al the sothe I schal ȝow say,
Line 4044
Now ar ȝe hennes wende:
This man was my fadir frende,
And gret worschepe to me hath done;
By him, that made sonne & mone,
Line 4048
For him therfore mercy I craue,
The knyȝtes body of the to haue.'
¶ 'Thelaphus,' he seyde, 'take him the,
I ȝeue him the al clene fro me;
Line 4052
Do with him al thi wille,
Whether thow wil saue him or spille.'
Thelaphus toke vp thenne Theman,—
For bledynge he was blo and wan,—
Line 4056
And sente him home to his dwellyng;
Off here fyght made thei endyng.
But Theman prayed sir Achilles
And Thelaphus with-outen les:
Line 4060
"That thei wolde home with him wende,
For he was ney at his ende;
And Thelaphus wolde he kyng make
And his reme to him take,
Line 4064
For of his body hadde he non air,
To kepe that lond that was so fair."
¶ To-geder bothe with him thei wente,
Whan the batayle was thus ente.
Line 4068
Whan thei come to his forselet,
And he was layde, and thay doun set,
He sente affter his baronage,
And dede hem [MS. hem, altered from him.] make to him omage
Line 4072
And corouned him by-forn hem alle,
To be here kyng, right In that halle.
Page 121
And thus Thelaphus is mad her kyng [folio 61a]
Line 4075
And has that lond in gouernyng,
Line 4076
For Theman dyed in that stede
And beryed he was with mochel pride.
THelaphus is now lord and sire
Off al that lond and that empire
Line 4080
And alle the goodes that Theman hadde,
And alle ben hise, for so he badde;
For he is ded and richely graven.
And Achilles is In the haven,
Line 4084
And his schippus are richely fraught
With flesshe and fysche and other aught,
With corne and mele and tonnes of flour
And gentil wynes of good odour;
Line 4088
And maketh him redi forward to fare,
And Thelaphus makes him al ȝare
With him a-ȝeyn to the Gregeis go,
To Thenedoun that he come fro.
Line 4092
¶ But Achilles to him says,
"That he scholde dwelle ther In pais
And puruay vitayles and store,
That thei may lyue, whil that thei ben thore."
Line 4096
And Thelaphus dwellid stille
At his byddyng aȝeyns his wille,
And Achilles toke the see
With his vitayles and his naue;
Line 4100
And sayled forth to Thenedoun,
Ther he fond Agamenoun
And alle the lordis of that ost
Dwellynge stille in that cost.
Line 4104
¶ And when thei herde of his comyng,
To him thei ran bothe lord and kyng
And welcomed him deuotly,
Of his comyng glad were thei.
Line 4108
Page 122
Line 4108
"How he hadde sped," he tolde hem alle, [folio 61b]
Line 4109
"And of Thelaphus how it was falle,
And dwelled ther stille and be lord and kyng
And puruay hem vitayles of alle thyng;"
Line 4112
He schewed the vitayles that thei hadde brought
With him to londe, he heled it noght.
Then were the Gregeis Proude and fayn,
That thei herde the certayn,
Line 4116
That he was lord of that kyndome
Fro whethen alle that riches is come.
Thei bad god ȝeue him blis,
That so wisly him dud I-wys;
Line 4120
For now drede thei no-thyng,
Nother of mete ne of drynk,
¶ Now hath Achilles hem vitayles brought.
Agamenon is In moche thoght,
Line 4124
How thei schul Troye be-sege best;
Many a wyle and wit the[i] kest,
Whether thei wente by day or by nyght
And take the land with-oute syght,
Line 4128
Whil thei of Troye were alle on sclepe
And to hem wolde take no kepe;
But thei were ferd, if that thei went
By nyghtes tyme, lest thei were yschent
Line 4132
And breke her schippus on cragges and stones,
And lost hem selff al at ones.
And so dwelled the Gregeys thore
A ful twelue monthe and more,
Line 4136
That thei to Troye toke non hede;
So hadde thei alle of hem suche drede.
But Stace telles vs and says,
That thei lye so long in pays
Line 4140
For drede thei hadde of Ector knyght,
So mochel thei dredde of his myght.
Page 123
Then seyde Diomedes: [folio 62a]
Line 4143
'How longe schal we lye her In pes,
Line 4144
Gode men, kynges and dukes?
Drede of herte vs alle rebukes!
We ben so ferd of oure enemys,
That thei bere vs to no prys;
Line 4148
We haue now leyne and rest vs here—
Ȝe wot alle wel—more than a ȝere,
That we durst neuere be water ne londe
Se ones Troye right at honde.
Line 4152
What may they wene but cowardise
Off vs for-sothe and gret ffayntise,
That we ben so of hem a-dred,
That we for drede ben al mad?
Line 4156
¶ Alas that we so longe a-byden,
That we ne hadde rather to hem reden
And the toun myghtily assayled,
Sicurly it hadde vs a-vayled!
Line 4160
For now drede thei vs right noght,
For we haue noght to hem wroght,
But spend oure good and oure vitayle;
And that doth vs noght a-vayle.
Line 4164
And thei hem gete lordes kene,
A-ȝeyns vs hem to mayntene;
For we haue sene, sethen we come hidur,
Many kynges comen thedur
Line 4168
With gret meyne and chiualrie,
To helpe wel her partie.
¶ Gret schame it is—as hit is sene—
That we durst neuere Troye mene,
Line 4172
Ne neuere durst we hit ones se,
Kyng Priamus and his Cite!
Whi dwelle we thus In suche manere?
I rede, dwelle we no lenger here,
Line 4176
Page 124
Hic Imperator et omnes Reges Grecorum nauigant versus Troianum.
Be it to wele or to wo— [folio 62b]
Line 4177
I rede, that we hennes go,
¶ Ryse erly, when the day dawes,
Put vs forth among the wawes,
Line 4180
With alle oure schippus with mochel Ioye
Wende we to the Cite of Troye;
For we schal neuere other-wyse
Opon the Troyens lond arise.'
Line 4184
The kynges assented wel ther-to,
Thei sayde thei myght no betre do;
Thei let crie al on hye,
That euery knyght were thenne redy,
Line 4188
That thei were redy In the dawenyng
To wende forth with-oute dwellyng.
NIght is went and gon a-way,
Day is dawed and is day,
Line 4192
It was a louely morn,
And Agamenon blew his horn.
Anon the lordes of the flete
Out with here schippis thei dede schete
Line 4196
Out of the hauenes in-to the see,
With al here men and ther naue.
And ther ordeyned that Emperour
And [MS. That.] alle the lordes of gret honour,
Line 4200
Whiche of the schippis schal go by-fore,
And how fele hundres and score,
And whiche schal wende afftirward,
And whiche in the mydward.
Line 4204
So that he ordeyned thus,
That the kyng Protheselus,
That was a kyng of gret noblay,
The hauen schulde furst asay
Line 4208
With an hundred schippis grete;
And he ther byddyng wold not lete.
Page 125
¶ He gadered his schippus on a route, [folio 63a]
Line 4211
And bad hem gadere him a-boute
Line 4212
And sayle besyde him euer nye,
And drawe her sayl wel on hye,
And sette here baneres on the mast;
And sayle forth were thei not agast
Line 4216
Toward Troye a wel gode pas.
And alle these other vpon a ras,
Euery lord—as he was boden,—
Now are thei toward Troye reden
Line 4220
With gret thretyng and manas hard.
Prothesely hath the vanward,
The lond of Troye for to take;
But furst schal he and alle hese qwake
Line 4224
For drede of deth, or thei take reste;
Er schal thei suffre mochel breste,
Or thei take bank or brynke;
Thei tolde it not as thei thynke.
Line 4228
GRegeis ben alle graythed ȝare
To the toun of Troye to fare;
Thei ar comen so ney her wones,
That thei se bothe toures and stones
Line 4232
And the subbarbes al aboute;
But thei hadde so moche doute,
How thei scholde on londe lyght
For hem of Troye whan thei hadde a syght;
Line 4236
For many a Troyen sen thei stonde
Armed wel opon the londe,
To put hem fro the water bankes,
That thei ne tok lond but ther vnthankes.
Line 4240
¶ But sicurly when thei of Troye,
Kyng and quene, knyght and boye,
Say the Gregeys sayles long and large,
Eche man hente bothe sword and targe
Line 4244
Page 126
Line 4244
And drow forth hors and gret cou[r]ser, [folio 63b]
Line 4245
And rode and ran to the ryuer
With-oute heste of here kyng
Or with-outen Ectoris wetyng;
Line 4248
That Gregeys scholde no lond take
With-oute bale and mochel wrake.
¶ But Prothesaly the formast was
Off alle the schippis In that ras,
Line 4252
Saw he not no better to do
Ne on no wise to come to,
But thorow strokes and fyght.
He sayled forthe to hem streyght
Line 4256
With alle the schippis In his ledyng;
But gret foly dede ther that kyng,
For he sayled In with a feble sayl
And þat was him to wrotherhayl:
Line 4260
For the wynd was hard and store
And so faste him to the lond bore,
¶ Aȝeyns the bank hem so droff,
That many a chippe [MS. chipp.] ther al to-roff,
Line 4264
And the men fel out and sank
Dede and drowned by the bank.
And tho that on the lond dede lepe
The Troyens leyde vpon an hepe,
Line 4268
Thei bare hem doun and sclow al-weyes
Doun to grounde the Gregeis;
To scle hem the Troyens not belened,
In-to the sky the strokes dened.
Line 4272
¶ The Gregeys ȝolled and cried loude,
It was a-bouen hem lyke a cloude,
So fley the arwes to and fro
That the Gregeis dyed with mechel wo.
Line 4276
Lond and water was al rede
Off hem that were sclayn and dede.
Page 127
Sithen schippis ȝode [MS. ȝowe.] furst with sayl and wynd, [folio 64a]
Might neuere man In book fynd,
Line 4280
With so gret wo to gete land,
As the Gregeys dede, I vndirstand.
PRothesaly hath his naue
Neyhondes lorn and his meyne
Line 4284
Thorow his outrage and his vn-wit,
Opon the lond so harde he hit.
But than come sayland opon a rowe
Afftirward with sayles lowe
Line 4288
An hundrid schippis gret and stronge
With semely mastes fair and longe
In-to that hauen war and wisly,—
Ther other men were wel grisly,
Line 4292
In the water swam and flotered,
And there schippis a-boute totered;
And to the lond so sofft thei sette,
That thei were nothyng lette
Line 4296
With bank ne cragge ne with ston.
But thenne come Troiens many on
To the bank to hem ful blyue,
Fro the lond hem to dryue.
Line 4300
But in the schippis were goode archeres
With dartes and gonnes & Arb[l]asteres;
The Gregeis thenne her bowes bent
And many an arwe thei hem sent,
Line 4304
Many a darte was ther cast and schotyn,
And many a bodi ouer-floten.
The Gregeis were apert and quyk,
That arwes on londe thei dede styk,
Line 4308
That many of Troye to dethe fell
With dynt of Arwe and of qwarell;
Thei drow a-bak—so were thei hurt.—
The Gregeis on the lond sturt
Line 4312
Page 128
Line 4312
And faught boldely and at devis [folio 64b]
Line 4313
Opon the lond with here enemys;
Thei helden Troyens hard and stale,
But scholde thei neuere of bote herd bale,
Line 4316
Ne hadde ben Prothesaly,
T[h]e noble kyng of Filaundry.
HE sclow that tyme with-outen vmbre
Mo Troyens than I can numbre [MS. humbre.] ;
Line 4320
Nadde he ben and his noblay,
Hadde neuere Gregeys passed a-way;
For sicurly his doughtynes,
Alone his myȝth and his prowes,
Line 4324
Saued alle the Grwes that ther were
Fyghtyng in feld tho there.
But for alle his myth [MS. myth.] that he hadde [The last four words by another hand, myth on erasure.]
The Gregeis were so harde be-stadde,
Line 4328
That many on [MS. manyon.] on grounde lay,
For tho of Troye were mo than thay.
Hem were leuere dye than fflee,
And to be drowned in the see;
Line 4332
To theire schippis hadde thei no teynt,
Thei were so for-foghten and almost faynt.
The Troyens droff hem bak-ward
With harde strokes the see toward,
Line 4336
Than were thei dreven to the bank,
That many fel In the see and sank.
¶ But thenne come many a gret karik,
Ful of knyghtes wel ydyght;
Line 4340
Kyng Procenor and Archelaus
Come then to helpe Prothesalaus;
With alle ther men on londe thei wente,
With hardi herte and good entente
Line 4344
To socour her frendes: that was hem leff,
In dout of dethe that was In myscheff.
Page 129
¶ But alle thei were In drede of dede [MS. The last two· letters of dede by a later hand on erasure.] ; [folio 65a]
Line 4347
Schuld thei neuere haue eten brede,
Line 4348
Not for hem alle ne Procenor,
Ne hadde not come the duke Nestor:
But he come then to the batayle,
As faste as he myght sayle,
Line 4352
With many a schip and many a floyne;
For him and his schippis fil fair fortune,
And louely grace god to him sende,
That he and hise sauely des[c]ende [MS. defende.]
Line 4356
Opon that lond with-oute hurtyng,
With-oute harme or schipe [MS. schip.] brekyng.
¶ Then myght men se speres schake,
And many a man for drede qwake;
Line 4360
Here swordes [o corrected from e.] thriffly to-gedur rang,
Eche a man on other dang;
The arwes ȝede so thikke on hye,
That no man myght for hem se the skye;
Line 4364
Arwes and quareles thikke flewe,
Euery man on other hewe;
Thei fel doun ded on euery halue,
That neuere myght be heled with oyment ne salue.
Line 4368
THen come a-londe kyng Alacris,
And Askalus with alle his,
With doughti knyghtes gode and fresche,
With grete speres of Oke and asche.
Line 4372
Thei wounden the Troyens thikke,
And faught with hem wel quykke,
And thei of Troye bakward drowe;
And many fel ded In sowe.
Line 4376
¶ But fele Troyens stode be-syde,
That hadde not meved of alle that tyde,
Ne neuere ȝaff stroke of al that day,
But by-held the batayle ay.
Line 4380
Page 130
¶ Hic venit ad bellum cum magno suo vlixes.
But whan thei sey her men hadde nede, [folio 65b]
Line 4381
Thei come doun wel good spede;
Thei socoured here felawes egrely
And sclow the Gregeys bitterly;
Line 4384
Thei wounded many in that poynt,
Ther was lorn many a Ioynt,
Many a leg and many a thye,
Many an hond and many a kne;
Line 4388
Some loste his nase and his lyppis.
Thei droff hem bacward to here schippis,
For drede of dethe and myghtles
Thei were brouȝt al in distres,
Line 4392
That thei hadde dyed with swerdes orde
Or drouned vndir schippis borde,
Ne hadde Vlixes comen then
With many a knyght and doughti men.
Line 4396
THe Gregeis myght hem not defende,
But Vlixes was then ner-hende
And toke the londe, and ȝede forth streyght
With alle his men to the fyght.
Line 4400
The Grues toke herte In his comyng,
That thei that were be-fore fleyng,
Turned a-ȝeyn, and hertely ran
On her fomen, and offte hem wan
Line 4404
Off hem of Troye, be his helpyng.
Vlixes then began to spryng
¶ A-mong Troyens anon,
In many stedis bare he hem don,
Line 4408
And hurt hem sore and lefft hem bledande
With a spere he bar In hande,
And wounded many gode Troyene.
And that beheld kyng Phylomene,
Line 4412
How he bare Troyens to the grounde,
Wondir many In a stounde;
Page 131
Him thoght In-sonder his hert gnowe, [folio 66a]
Line 4415
That he dede Troyens so doun drowe;
Line 4416
He thoght to him for to ride,
To se if he him wolde abyde
And made him of his dedis sese.
Philomene rode to Vlixes
Line 4420
And ȝaff him certes suche a poppe,
That he fel ouer his hors croppe.
¶ But Vlixes anon vp ros,
And to the kyng a-ȝeyn he gos
Line 4424
Off that strok to take vengaunce;
He smot Philomene with his launce
Ryght euen In-myddis his scheld,
That it flow out In the feld;
Line 4428
He brast his Pisan and his coloret
And claff his vayn In his goriet:
Vlixes ȝaff him suche a wounde,
That he fel dede almost to grounde;
Line 4432
Alle the Troyens that ther wore
Wende, he scholde haue dyed thore.
¶ A gret wayment and hidous cry
Might men here then witterly,
Line 4436
That the Troyens made y-wys
For the wounde of Philomenys.
Thei drow him fro his hors fete
And leyde him sofftly and swete
Line 4440
Opon his scheld with gret wepyng,
As he hadde ben sclepyng,
And bare him faire of that stede,
That men ne hors scholde on him trede.
Line 4444
¶ That fel faire for men of Grece,
Thei hadde elles dyed euery pece;
For certes ne hadde ben that combraunce,
That ne hadde fallen that myschaunce,
Page 132
¶ Hic venit Imperator & omnes alij Reges Grecorum ad prelium.
The Gregeis hadde neuere passed that place, [folio 66b]
But thei had dyed,—suche was here grace.
Line 4450
PHilomene was wounded ille.
The [MS. That.] Gregeis were In poynt to spille;
Line 4452
Thei nyste what thei schulde haue don,
Ne hadde ben the kyng hurt so sone;
Thei hadde ben hewen euery a schrede,
But hem come help In that nede:
Line 4456
¶ For then come the kyng Thoas
With alle the naue that his was,
And the doughti Thelamanyous,
And with his schippis Menelaus,
Line 4460
¶ And the Emperour Agamenon;
Euery man the lond lepe on
And toke her hors and theder rode
With baneres blauwande bright and brode,
Line 4464
And the Gregeis were rescued,
And many a Troyen ther thei bowed,
And bare hem doun opon the grounde,
With speres scharpe and with hidous wounde.
Line 4468
¶ The noble kyng Prothesaly,
That alle that day so nobly
Hadde foughten ther In armes prest,
Sete be-syde to take his rest,
Line 4472
Ther the batayle was ffurst by-gunne;
He saw the place was al by-ronne,
Spred with blod and dede bodyes,
That ther lay sclayn that hadde ben hes;
Line 4476
He saw hem sclayn and ligge ther,
He wepit for hem many a ter.
¶ He toke his stede by the rayne,
To the fight he ȝede a-ȝayne,
Line 4480
Ful of woundes and of Ire;
He brende for wo as any fire
Page 133
For his gode men that were sclayn [folio 67a]
Line 4483
And al to-hewen [MS. alto hewen.] body and brayn.
Line 4484
He thoght, her dethe wolde he venge,
He sought the batayle euery renge;
Off strong ne feble toke he no kepe,
He sclow hem doun, as it were schepe,
Line 4488
Many gode Troyen that tyde
Sclow that kyng with woundes wyde
In his outrage and his wodnes;
The Troyens were then myghtles.
Line 4492
¶ Vnto her help and here refute
A worthi kyng and ful deuoute,
The noble kyng of Ethiope;
Then was ther many a blodes drope.
Line 4496
When comen Ethiopenes,
Gret hardines toke the Troyens,
Thei Turned aȝeyn on ther fomen
And sclow hem doun by nyne and ten,
Line 4500
And droff hem to the water efft.
Ther schulde no Gregeis on lyue haue lefft,
Ne hadde comen Palamydes
With many a scheld, with bond and fes;
Line 4504
With hors and man was he thanne boun,
To that batayle he come soun
And bar doun men as he were wode,
And spilled faste the Troyens blode.
Line 4508
¶ A doughti Troyen he by-helde,
That many a Gregeis In that felde
Hadde sclayn that day, sir Sygamon,
The kynges brother gode Mennon.
Line 4512
With a spere—was scharp y-grounde,
Better was non amonges hem all yfounde,—
Palamydes to him rode,
That thorow his sydes bothe it glode,
Line 4516
Page 134
¶ Hic venit Ector cum populo suo ad prelium.
That Segamon his liff for-ȝede [folio 67b]
Line 4517
And fel doun ded by his stede.
He rod forth & lefft him lygand,
To the batayle faste smytand;
Line 4520
¶ He sclow the Troyens—as he were wod—
And schedde wel mochel of here blod,
That thei myght suffre no lenger;
Tho were the Grues wel the strenger,
Line 4524
On euery a syde the Troiens flede;
Then thei were hard be-stede,
With mochel noye and wo thei fauȝt.
The Gregeis then toke a drauȝt
Line 4528
Toward the toun ney halff a myle,
Many a Troyen died that while.
¶ The noyse was moche & gret clamour;
Ector herde hem make sorow,
Line 4532
For tene his herte began to bollen,
And bothe his chekes gret swollen;
He toke his armes and his atyre,
That were as bryght as siluer wyre;
Line 4536
A better man was neuere on molde,
He bar a scheld of rede golde,
With thre lyons paynted ther-In;
A delful note he thoght be-gyn.
Line 4540
ECtor [MS. EEtor.] is armed, his stede be-strode,
He rod forth with-oute a-bode,
Toward his men gan he gange,
Him thoght he dwelled ther to longe.
Line 4544
He saw the Troyens faste fleand,
He rod to hem faste criand
And bad: "thei scholde a-ȝeyn turne,"—
'Drede ȝow not ȝoure enemys sturne!'
Line 4548
Ihesu lord! what thei were glad,
When thei here noble leder had!
Page 135
¶ Hic Ector occidit Prothesalium Regem.
Was non so feble his voyce here, [folio 68a]
Line 4551
But it amendid herte and chere,
Line 4552
And turned a-ȝeyn with hardi herte
A-ȝeyn here enemys wonder smerte.
¶ Ector rode In that batayle,
Armes myght him non a-vayle;
Line 4556
Wo was him that he ful hit,
For of his lyff was he quyt.
He partid the Gregeis host in-sundir,
Eche man of him hadde wondir;
Line 4560
Off suche a man haue ȝe non herd!
Alle that he hitte, to dethe thei ferd.
¶ As he rode [to inserted over line between rode and Gregeis.] Gregeis thus sleande,
Aȝeyns him mette he comande
Line 4564
A doughti kyng, Prothesalye,
That many of Troye that day dede dye;
He smot him offte with his swerd naked,
That many Gregeis afftir qwaked;
Line 4568
With his swerd Ector him smot,
That he fel doun anon fot hot;
He cleff the body euen In halff,
As it hadde ben a clouen calff.
Line 4572
WAs non so bold, durst by him pas;
Eche man asked, "what he was?"
Thei fled fro him as fro the ded;
Whom that he hitte, ete neuere bred.
Line 4576
The Gregeis pride Ector abasched,
He sclow so fele, er he sesed,
That alle were ferd that on him loked;
He maymed many, and made hem croked
Line 4580
Off legge, of arme, of fote, or too;
But ȝit sclow he of hem wel moo.
Alle made him way and lete him ride,
Was non so bold durst him a-byde.
Line 4584
Page 136
Line 4584
The sonne goth doun, it is ney euen, [folio 68b]
Line 4585
Many a stroke hath Ector ȝeuen,
He was weri of men scleyng,
Off ffyghtyng, and of strokes ȝeuyng,
Line 4588
For he sesid neuere with-oute fayle,—
And that was certes moche meruayle!—
Fro the tyme that he by-gan,
Off al that day he neuere belan.
Line 4592
¶ Gregeis be-gan for to fle,
And Ector rod to his Cite
And leffte that other ther ffyghtande.
Achilles cam thenne faste saylande
Line 4596
With alle his gode Mirmydanes;
With sword and spere and gret burdones
Vnto that batayle he him hyed,
The Gregeis thenne a-ȝeyn relyed;
Line 4600
Thei hadde comfort of his comyng,
On hem of Troye thei [MS. i inserted by a later hand.] gonne thryng.
AChilles be-gan Troyens to felle,
Some to wounde, and some to quelle;
Line 4604
Thei died faste on bothe parties,
He made aboutes him wayes and sties.
Achilles brouȝt with him ridand
Off men of Armes thre thousand;
Line 4608
Then hadde the Troyens ful gret doute
Thei fel doun dede ouer-al a-boute;
For then were Gregeis alle on londe,
With swordes and speres & staff in honde,
Line 4612
Fyghtand faste In that assaut;
The Troyens faste ther dethe laut,
For Achilles wodely
Sclow hem doun ful delfoly;
Line 4616
Thei myght no lenger him with-stande,
Thei turned the bak faste fleande,
Page 137
Toward Troye to saue here lyues. [folio 69a]
Line 4619
But Achilles afftir dryues,
Line 4620
He felde hem doun on euery side [The last two words of this line, and the last three of the next, by a later hand, partially on erasure.]
And lefft hem liyng with woundes wide.
¶ Thei ffolwede hem to Troyes ȝate;
Wo was hem that come to late,
Line 4624
For he was sclayn with-oute pite,
That ther by tyme hadde non entre.
It was hidous and right grisly
Off Troiens thenne to heere her cry,
Line 4628
The fadres saw here children bold
Lye ded In the strete Cold [MS. wol Cold, a letter (probably d) being erased behind wol, and Cold added by a later hand.] ,
Then was ther dele with-oute lauȝter;
The Gregeis made of hem gret slauȝter,
Line 4632
And wounded hem in here fleyng.
But thei were lettid of her entryng:
¶ For then come ride the gode Troylus,
And his brother Dephebus,
Line 4636
And droff a-ȝeyn the ffel Gregis
With strokes sadde and mechel vnpes;
Hit was derk nyght by thenne y-wys,
Achilles ȝede with mochel blys,
Line 4640
With mochel Ioye and gret preysyng,
With his Gregeis to here restyng;
And thei of Troye with barre & haspe
Spered the ȝates with many a claspe,
Line 4644
That thei with-oute come not In
With-Inne the nyght with scleyght ne with gyn.
AGamenon lokes on euery syde
A place couenable on to [MS. onto.] abyde;
Line 4648
He bad hem alle, her tentis sette;
Thei swore alle, "thei wold not lette [MS. Icche lette, Icche being crossed by a later hand, and lette added by the same.] ;"
Thei sayde, "thei wolde neuere that place let [MS. fyt, but inserted by a later hand on erasure.] ,
Or Troye were clene doune ybet."
Line 4652
Page 138
Line 4652
¶ Stedis was delyuered to euery a lord, [folio 69b]
Line 4653
Thei ran alle to reste and cord,
To sette vp tentis, Pauylons to bylde;
Thei reysed vp bothe halle and tylde,
Line 4656
That riche were and mochel preysed;
Many a tent was ther vp-reysed,
Long, and round, and eke sqware,
Semely dyght & faire to her sight thare,
Line 4660
With eglis faire and riche In syght,
Off riche gold and mechel of wyght,
With pomeles bright—with-oute fable—
Brode baneres on euery gable.
Line 4664
¶ Opon her tentis thei dede en-haunse
Euery lord his contenaunce;
And thei that hadde no teld ne tent,
Scheldes and bowes faste thei bent
Line 4668
And be-gonnen a-boute hem bygge,
That thei myght ther-Inne lygge.
To thaire schippis ffaste thei ȝede
And drow out vitayles good spede,
Line 4672
¶ Thei drow out larder of venyson,
Salt beff, and salt bacon,
And other fflesch bothe fresche and salt,
Cornes, wynes, mele, and malt,
Line 4676
Grete tonnes ful of flour;
Riche Armor of riche a-tour,
Coffres grete with stele barrelles,
That were ful of gode quarelles,
Line 4680
And other armes in gret tonnes,
Scheldes, helmes, dartes, & gonnes,
And many other grete engynes;
And tyed her schippis with ropes & lynes,
Line 4684
And Ankeres grete kest on the sond,
That non of hem scholde wond.
Page 139
Mules & hors bene put to cracche, [folio 70a]
Line 4687
And afftir that thei sette here wacche
Line 4688
With sicur men that wolde not slepe,
On euery a side that ost to kepe;
Thei dede falle bothe oke and plane
And made fir In euery a lane,
Line 4692
That men myght se bothe ner and ferre
Ouer-al a-boute In eueryche a corner;
¶ The fires ȝeuen a gret lyght,
As of hit hadde ben day-lyght.
Line 4696
Mynstralles her pipes hente
And alle other of Instrumente,
Thei nakered, piped, and blew,
Vnto that the Cokkes crew.
Line 4700
¶ And thus was thanne the sege be-gonne,
That laste ten ȝer, or Troye was wonne;
Ȝit was it neuere wonne with fyght,
With the Gregeis, ne with ther myght;
Line 4704
Hit was be-trayed falsly—Alas!—
With Antenor and Eueas.
HIt is day, the Cok hath crowen,
Many an horn thanne was blowen,
Line 4708
Many an horn and many a pipe;
Thei be-gan her Armure gripe
Bothe In feld and In toun;
Thei rered many a gomfanoun,
Line 4712
Baneres brode of fyne asure,
Grene, and white, of purpur pure,
Some were rede as vermyloun,
With pelotes, daunse, and Cheueroun,
Line 4716
Some with sauters engrele,
And some with bastoun wouerle,
Off sable some, of siluer fyn,
And some of hem be-gan to schyn.
Line 4720
Page 140
¶ Hic Ector ordinat prelium suum.
¶ Ector bad his men ilkon, [folio 70b]
Line 4721
That his meyne schold [brynge] echon
In-myddes Troie in a playn
Be-fore the temple in a champayn.
Line 4724
His batayles ther Ector arayed,
With many gode knyȝtes wel assayed;
He ordeyned them [MS. then.] in batayles nyne
With gode knyghtes & eke fyne,
Line 4728
And set aboue hem gouernoures,
Hardy knyȝtes and gode gyoures.
THe furst ost lad sir Glauntoun,
A kyng sone of gret renoun;
Line 4732
And Theseus, kyng of Tras [MS. Tars.] ;
And Archilogo, that his sone was;
Two thousand knyȝtes gode and lele
Lad thei in that eschele.
Line 4736
'I ȝeue ȝow leue,' saide Ector, 'with this,
To go & come with mochel blis:
To ȝoure Enemys now ȝe hye,
And come a-ȝeyn with victorye!'
Line 4740
The ȝate was open on a rees,
Thei passed forth out of that prees.
The secunde batayle lede Alkan,
The kyng Antipe, that doughti man,
Line 4744
A douȝti knyȝt, a noble kyng;
The[i] hadde with hem in here ledyng
Thre thousand knyghtes gode & strong;
Thei rode alle forth In that throng,
Line 4748
With many doughti man hem myd.
He ordeyned then the batayle thrid,
Thre thousand of douȝti knyȝtes,
That were hardy at alle ryȝtes,
Line 4752
And called gode Troyle, and to him spak
And seyde: 'brother, I the be-tak
Page 141
¶ Hic Ector et alii Reges Troiani ibant ad prelium.
These gode men In thi kepyng, [folio 71a]
Line 4755
I praye oure goddis, a-ȝeyn ȝow bryng!
Line 4756
But I praye the, my broder [MS. moder.] dere,
By-fore these kyng[es] [MS. kyng.] & knyȝtes here,
That thow be wyse and not sauage;
Ȝif the not to outrage!
Line 4760
I drede me sore, thi hastines,
Thi noble herte, and thi hardines
Schal make the bold and vs schent,
But thow take gode avisement:
Line 4764
Vnto thi-self to-day take hede!
I pray oure goddis, that wel ȝow spede!'
TRoyle sayde in fair manere:
'Ȝif my god me helpe, that is me dere,
Line 4768
Ne haue ȝe of me no doute,
I schal do ȝow ther aloute,
And do alle ȝoure comaundement,
And kepe ȝoure heste in good entent.'
Line 4772
He toke his leue as curtais and hende,
To his Enemys he gan wende;
His armes were gode and newe,
His scheld was of Asure blewe,
Line 4776
With thre lyons of gold schynand;
Out of that ȝate he ȝede passand.
¶ Aboute these batayles Ector him paynes,
The fourthe batayle [MS. batayles.] he ordeynes
Line 4780
Of th[r]e thousand and hundres seuene,
Off knyȝtes gode—by god of heuene!—
With many a-nother douȝti man,
Vndir that douȝti kyng Vpan;
Line 4784
He was the strongest of that parti
Saue Ector him-self, but Dares ly.
¶ The ffyfft batayle then Ector made
Off stronge knyȝtes and eke sade,
Line 4788
Page 142
Line 4788
Off doughti men with-oute ensoygne, [folio 71b]
Line 4789
That comen were out of Cesoygne;
Thes ilke men were wonder stronge,
As geauntes mochel and longe;
Line 4792
The kynges armes were blewe and blo,
With-oute other signes mo.
¶ He called to him Polimodas,
A douȝti kyng, that hardi was;
Line 4796
He made him lord and her leder,
And prayed god be her speder.
¶ The sixte batayle with-oute les
Ledes Prosemen and Sterepes;
Line 4800
Thei fauȝt vn-armed in here atyres
With longe Arwes and scharpe vires.
He cleped Dephebus that folk to lede,
And bad to hem to take good hede.
Line 4804
He bad also to kyng Esdras,
Opon his heued his helm to las;
¶ Kyng Esdras and kyng Philon
Bothe thei dede her helmes on,
Line 4808
And wende to that batayle rude
With grete folk and multitude.
Kyng Philon a noble cart,
A wonder werk, made hade gart:
Line 4812
It was clene and al yvore
Bothe be-hynde and eke be-fore,
Siluer and gold on aythe[r] whele
Was layd aboute fair an[d] wele;
Line 4816
Al was be-gon, syde and hemmes,
Ful of riche precious gemmes;
Suche a cart ne precious
Saw neuere man, ne so gracious.
Line 4820
That batayle lad Piktagorasen,
With kyng Philon and kyng Esdrasen.
Page 143
The seuenthe batayle led Eueas, [folio 72a]
Line 4823
A strong kyng In euery plas,
Line 4824
With a noble Amerale,
That hete Eufen—so sayth the tale.—
¶ The .viii. batayle led Paris,
That Alysaundre het also y-wys,
Line 4828
With the noble kyng of Perse,
As Dares telles In his verse.
Ector sayde to Alysaundre:
'Off the come al this foule sclaundre,
Line 4832
For thi wyffes foule rape;
I rede that thow wysly scape,
That thow of hem be not dispised;
Come not among hem vn-avised,
Line 4836
Lete thyn ost be euer the by,
That thi fomen come the not ny!'
Paris seyde thenne: 'so god me rede,
I schal do, as ȝe haue seyde;
Line 4840
I schal be euere at thin heste.'
Thei ride forth with many a crest,
With many a baner by the wynde,
Some of sable, som of Inde.
Line 4844
¶ Ector called to him blyue
Off hardy knyȝtes thosandes fyue,
The stalworthest In Troye born;
When thei come him byforn
Line 4848
He made of hem the .ix. batayle.
As Ector coude, he arayes hem wele,
He bad hem be at his ledyng,
Thei were wel glad of that biddyng.
Line 4852
Ten of his brether that were hardye,
He dede In that companye;
Him-self [MS. selt.] was armed In helme & bryny,
His stede by-gan wel loude to hyny.
Line 4856
Page 144
Line 4856
Gret Ioye was of Ector ffayrnes, [folio 72b]
Line 4857
Off his strengthe and his goodnes.
Dars the heraud—I the be-hote—
Many meruayles of him he wrote.
Line 4860
ECtor sat on Galathea,
The swyfftest hors that myght ga;
To his ffader Priamus
Rode he thenne, and seyde thus:
Line 4864
'My lord, my fader leue and dere,
A thousand knyghtes I leue ȝow here
With alle the pedel better and werre,
That the Gregeis vs not sterre,
Line 4868
To take oure toun with arte and scleght,
The while we In feld feght.
Ȝe ben wyse, good, and able,
Loke ȝe be gode and defensable!
Line 4872
I schal ȝow sende with knyȝtes and knapes,
How the batayle with vs scapes;
And afftir that I sende ȝow sonde,
Wele helpe ȝe vs, if nede be-stonde.'
Line 4876
¶ Kyng Priamus aȝeyn answeres:
'I prey god, that alle thyng weres,
Saue the this day fro dedly wounde
And sende the aȝeyn hole and sounde!
Line 4880
God sende me gode tythandes & blys,
For in the now al myn hope is,
In thi wit and thi connyng,
In thi strengthe and thi gouernyng.'
Line 4884
At his fadur leue he toke,
And with his batayle forth he schoke.
ECtor rode forth In gode vertuus,
Strong knyȝt, hardy and prus,
Line 4888
So hardy knyȝt was non a-losed;
Wel offte was he harde be-closed,
Page 145
Hic veniunt Greci ad Prelium.
With the Gregeis alle vmbygon, [folio 73a]
Line 4891
That of his men hadde he not on;
Line 4892
With hundres fele and thousandes bothe
Thei swore his deth with many an othe.
And he on fote, when his hors was sclayn,—
Ȝit dar I for-sothe sayn,
Line 4896
That non durst on him hond lay,
Ne non so bold come In his way.
His armes were faire and bryȝt of hewe,
His scheld was of Asure blewe,
Line 4900
In-myddes his scheld a lyon stode,
As rede as any blode.
¶ He markys him bothe body and brest
With Appolyn that was to him trest.
Line 4904
At his wendyng þan was he last,
Alle his batayles sone he past,
Til he was formest of hem alle.
The ladyes ȝede opon the walle,
Line 4908
Ther myȝt thei se on euery syde,
How the batayle scholde betyde.
¶ Ther was Eleyne, the faire qwene,
Hectuba and Pollexene,
Line 4912
And hir sustir Cassaunder;
Opon the walles thei gan wander,
For to se and to be-holde,
How thei fauȝt opon the wolde.
Line 4916
AGame[n]on In his de-vyse [MS. de-gyse.]
Hadde ordeyned wel alle hise;
He hadde on horse, with pedales,
Six & twenti grete batayles.
Line 4920
The formast warde ledde Patrodus,
A riche duk and a glorious;
When he that batayle toke to kepe,
Him hadde be betre layn to sclepe.
Line 4924
Page 146
Line 4924
He was Achilles alyaunce, [folio 73b]
Line 4925
And dede him gret greuaunce,
For he was his sworen brother,
So was that on to that other.
Line 4928
¶ The secunde ledde Diodemes,
Kyng Menon, and Menescens.
The thridde, the furthe, and eke the fifft
Lad many a kyng that neuere hadde schrifft;
Line 4932
Alle thei were dede, bothe duk and kyng;
To telle her names were gret tariyng.
¶ Then come Nestor duk, and kyng Makaon;
The laste of alle come Agemenon,
Line 4936
Off ther ost as an Emperour
And ther alther gouernour.
¶ Achilles bar non Armes that [MS. thar.] day,
In his tent at home he lay
Line 4940
For a wounde, In strong aray
That he hadde cauȝt that other day.
¶ Now haue thei take the feld large
With helme, sword, and many targe,
Line 4944
Lased streyȝt in cote-Armures,
Y-heled [MS. y heled.] with riche covertoures,
Opon her stedes gaye trapped,
With yren and stele that were wel clapped
Line 4948
For dyntes of Arwes and schotyng;
Many man dyed at that metyng.
¶ Many a baner was displayed,
And many a stede aboute strayed
Line 4952
Among that ost Maystirles,
That ther lay ded, lyffles.
Ther were schankes al to-schiuered,
And many of his lyff delyuered,
Line 4956
Bakkes broken, bones brosten,
Many of here hors casten,
Page 147
¶ Magnum bellum.
Many a cote on erthe trayled, [folio 74a]
Line 4959
Many a wyff her lord ther wayled,
Line 4960
When thei alle to-gedir mette,
The archeres faste a-boute hem schotte,
Thei sclow and wounded many a score.
Ector rod his men be-fore
Line 4964
And Priked his stede, as he were wode,
That alle his sides ran on blode;
So ful of yre as Ector was,
When he saw so many come a-pas
Line 4968
Off so many Gregeis in his syght,
He wondred swythe, and so he myght.
PAtrodus, a kyng gaylard,
Was ledere of the vanward;
Line 4972
Ector come as a lyoun,
And Patrodus on a stede broun
Vnto Ector be-fore his men,
He strok his stede and dede him ren;
Line 4976
He bar Ector thorow the scheld,
But Ector faste his sadel held,
In-to the flesche he him smot,
And Ector to him [went] foot hot.
Line 4980
¶ He wex thenne wood and wroth I-now,
Out of his schethe his sword he drow,
He smot Patrodus on the hed,
Styff ded he him leued.
Line 4984
His strok with-stode no basenet,
His strong helme, ne his palet,
He cleff his heued atwo,
And bad him smyte no more so.
Line 4988
Doun on the grounde Patrodus fley
Off his hors, that many it sey.
¶ Ector saw his Armes schon
Off many a perle and riche ston;
Line 4992
Page 148
Line 4992
Doun of his stede Ector lyght [folio 74b]
Line 4993
That gode Armes to him dyght;
He held his stede be the rayne,
To spoyle the knyght that he hadde sclayne.
Line 4996
¶ Mennon led the ward the secunde,
He saw Patrodus on the grounde,
He saw Ector him wolde dispoyle,
But rather him thouthe with him toyle;
Line 5000
For Mennon to him ryght
With thre thousand knyghtis bryght;
Er he myght that body dispoyly,
Michel wo was sikurly!
Line 5004
MEnnon rode to Ector right euene
And him myssayd with loude steuene,
He spak to him wordes vnlede
And seyde: 'thow wolff, thow art wel grede!
Line 5008
Wenestow wynne that wyght rauyne,
Certes his harneys schal neuere be thyne;
Off this pray schaltow not tast,
For thow schalt se comande in hast
Line 5012
Fyffti thousand the to distroye,
And alle thei thenke the to noye.'
¶ When Mennon hadde him myssayde,
Alle the hepe on him layde,
Line 5016
Thei thoght his stede fro him reue,
And him to scle and ded leue;
¶ Thei ȝaff him many a stroke to holde,
Thei made his knes vndir him ffolde,
Line 5020
With fyne fors thei made him knele;
Ector tho loked as a deuele:
Maugre her tethe vp he ros
Aȝeyn the wille of alle his fos,
Line 5024
He cleue hem with his swordis egge,
As man doth the tre with wegge.
Page 149
Many a bale he al to-rit [MS. alto rit.] , [folio 75a]
Line 5027
Many aboute kyng Menon flit;
Line 5028
He toke his stede maugre her chekes,
And afftir hem he sekes,
Opon his heued a strok to wynde,
A-mong his men ȝif he him fynde;
Line 5032
In that prese hadde he him sene,
He hadde on him venged bene.
¶ But then come kyng Theseus,
And his sone Archilogus,
Line 5036
And thre thousand knyghtes with bren bryght,
And Ector thei felle on right;
But he that formast to him ran,
For-sothe he was a fey man:
Line 5040
¶ Ector sclow him hastyly,
And alle other that come him by;
The Troyens fauȝt with gret force.
Ector rod to the ded cors,
Line 5044
That he furst sclow, that het Cartays,
To reue him his harneys;
The kyng of Grece,—I vndirstonde—
Come with knyghtes two thousande
Line 5048
Aȝeyn Ector, and bad him let be:
'Thow schalt not haue his Armes with the.'
¶ Kyng Mennon come with moche route
And be-sette Ector al aboute,
Line 5052
Thei putte him certes fro his thoght,
The harneys of him nedeth him noght;
Loke afftir that, was it no bote.
Ector whan he was on fote
Line 5056
With many thousandes vmbyset,
An hondrid Gregeis on him bet,
As fele as myght him reche,
But Ector toke euere on hem wreche:
Line 5060
Page 150
Line 5060
In many syde his swerd bared, [folio 75b]
Line 5061
And many an hed he of pared,
He was so laid with armes and legges
Als thikke as mire with segges,
Line 5064
He smot of and maymed thore;
He was be-set with Gregeis sore.
¶ Mennon toke [MS. to…ke.] that ded body
And lyfft it fro the erthe an hy,
Line 5068
And bad his men be-fore him lay;
And ther-with thei ride a-way
And bare it home to his tent,
For Ector scholde not haue his garnement.
Line 5072
ECtor was strongly assayled,
But al therfore nought availed;
He wende he scholde not fro hem scape,
But of his swerd euere thei lape.
Line 5076
Ther was a knyȝt, sir Gorioun,
A stalworthe knyght, with sir Menoun;
An hundrid were at his assent,
To scle Ector, that was his entent,
Line 5080
And fro him toke with-oute ȝifft
His noble stede that was so swyfft.
But Ector sclow of hem ffyfftene
With-Inne a while with his swerd kene,
Line 5084
He defended him douȝhtily
A-ȝeyn hem alle ful myȝthly.
¶ A Troyen stode be-syde lokande,
He hadde two speres In his hande;
Line 5088
And sone he caste that on,
That hitte that kyng sir Gorioun,
That fro his body ȝede the soule;
Delfully then gan he ȝoule.
Line 5092
¶ Another was on Ector brym,
That other spere cast he at him,
Page 151
Thorow-out his Armure gert he it flye; [folio 76a]
Line 5095
Then thei of Troye be-gan to crye,
Line 5096
To held Ector he cried and grad
For that [MS. For In that.] perel that he was In stad.
¶ When Senabor, his brother, herde
That Ector thus In batayle ferde,
Line 5100
He hied faste In al his myght
With al his ost In-to that fyght;
Thorow hem alle he to hem presed
And of that perel him relesed.
Line 5104
Off his strong men that were myghti
At his comyng were sclayn thritti,
Off hem that hadde him vmbecast
Thritti were ded, er thei past.
Line 5108
¶ Then delt Ector dyntes a-riȝt,
Alle ȝede to dethe that come in his sight;
He wolde not longe dwelle In here dette,
He sclow doun right alle that he mette.
Line 5112
Alle ȝede to dethe afftir that tyde,
That were so bold his strok to abyde;
He was with Ire so chaufed and het,
His armes were al blod & al wet;
Line 5116
He dalte aboute him large lyuere,
Of his strokes was he so fre,
That alle toke part that come him ner,
Erle, duke, knyȝt, & sqwyer.
Line 5120
¶ Many a riche amerayle
Broght he that day to wrotherhayle
And al his dole, many a knyght
Toke her dethe with-oute respit.
Line 5124
He fond no man wel many sithe,
On wham he myȝt his wratthe kythe.
TRoyle was on that other syde
And ȝaf the Gregeis woundes wyde,
Line 5128
Page 152
Line 5128
He smot hem on that yren hat, [folio 76b]
Line 5129
That ney the heued ofte it sat.
¶ Then come to batayle Menescene,
The noble duk of gode Athene;
Line 5132
Thre thousand knyghtes were with him,
Sturne knyghtes and grym.
He saw Troyle fel hem of Grece,
He rafft hem hondes, legges, and nece,
Line 5136
He ȝaff hem many an euel pat,
Menescen hadde dispite of that.
¶ He rode to him and hitte him lowe,
And bare him ouer his sadel-bowe,
Line 5140
That to the grounde doun of his stede
—Nolde or wolde—Troyle ȝede,
And for-stonet and wolde swouny.
Menescen made him þo besy
Line 5144
With alle his men and his power,
Troyle to haue to his presoner;
He put ther-to suche bysynes,
That Troyle, that lay in duysenes,
Line 5148
Was drawen out of hors trede,
And Menescen forth-with him lede
With mechel folk toward his prisoun;
He wende, for him to haue raunsoun.
Line 5152
THer was a kyng—het Meseres—
Saw the duk of Athenes
Hath take Troyle, the kynges sone:
"Helpe him now, if that thei konne;
Line 5156
Ȝiff thei her leder refuse,
Iff he be taken In suche gyse."
Echon loked thedirward,
Thei saw thei ledde Troyle thenward;
Line 5160
With loude voyce thei hem a-scryed,
And duk Mescene, he hem defyed.
Page 153
He rode to him that Troyle hath sayled, [folio 77a]
Line 5163
And with his spere to him taled:
Line 5164
He bare him thorow lyuere and longe,
He spak neuere afftir with tonge.
¶ The kyng Antipe smot duk Mescene;
Nadde his armes the strenger bene,
Line 5168
Ne scholde he neuere haue spoken word,
Ne bred eten at no bord.
Thes kynges two with her power
Delyuered Troyle of that daunger,
Line 5172
Thei sclow of hem a gret parti;
And Troyle was horsed with gret hy,
He dede him horse amonges hem alle [This line follows the next one in MS.] .
Then be-gan Mescene to calle
Line 5176
Afftir help to Gregeis stale;
But ther-of Troyle ȝaff no tale,
But fro his power is he refft,
Ther to come thenk he not efft.
Line 5180
I dar sothe say with-oute borwe:
Menescen hath then gret sorwe.
When he has thus his presoner lorn,
To his mouthe he sette his horn;
Line 5184
¶ In his horn blew he a blaste,
His men assemblent aboute him faste;
He prayed hem wel hertely:
"That thei schuld him helpe stalworthly,
Line 5188
To venge him on the kyng Troyene,
He hadde don him schame and tene."
He strok forth as a dragoun
And felde Troyens be-fore him doun;
Line 5192
As he rode In his wode res,
He met aȝeyn him Meseres,
The knyght that made him Troyle tyne,
On him wodly he rolled his eyne.
Line 5196
Page 154
Line 5196
He felde him with a spere of Mapul [folio 77b]
Line 5197
Among the feet of many capul,
He preked forth and lefft him thore,
For he myght harme him no more.
Line 5200
Vnto another he tho turned,
That of his hors sone he fondred.
¶ Then come he to helpe stalward
With alle his men the toun toward,
Line 5204
With alle his feloun Oripisus;
A-ȝeyn hem come Archilaus
With the kyng Procenore—
Off wham I haue told of byfore;—
Line 5208
Hard batayle ther was sene
Off ffoure kynges hem be-twene.
POllymodas with-oute dwellyng
With alle the men of his ledyng
Line 5212
Afftir that [MS. tho that.] come out of Troye,
With mechel ffairnes and mochel Ioye,
With many an hors and on fote,
Some to sclynge and som to schote.
Line 5216
Afftir that come kyng Remus,
A-ȝeyn him come kyng Menelaus;
Kyng Remus brought thousandes thre
Knyȝtes gode to that semble,
Line 5220
¶ Menelaus brought suche two
And many man on fote also.
These kynges two to-gedur rode
With kene speres with-oute abode,
Line 5224
Vp ȝede thair feet & heued doun,
To the grounde ȝede the croun.
¶ Pollimodas rod to Merenes,
With his spere he him scles;
Line 5228
He was of elde of twenti ȝere,
And Eleyne Cosyn leue and dere,
Page 155
In his ȝouthehed and his floures, [folio 78a]
Line 5231
Hardi, styf, and strong In stoures.
Line 5232
¶ Menelaus saw that he was ded;
It was to him a carful red,
In his grete tene he smot Remus;
Opon his hed he smot him thus,
Line 5236
That thorow his helme he cleue his veyne;
His men wende, he hadde ben sclayne,
He was smeten to the eye,
His men wende, he schuld dye;
Line 5240
Thei toke here red then to fle
And wente her way and let him be.
¶ Polymodas hem made abyde,
He bad: "thei scholde aȝeynward ryde;"
Line 5244
He seyde: 'it is ȝoure vylony,
Fle ffro ȝoure lord so schamfully!'
Thei turned aȝeyn at his byddyng,
Thei wolde haue ben wel Iangelyng
Line 5248
At home with strokes seuene or eygte
Then ben there among that fighte.
A-mong the horses ther lord thei found
With mochel sorwe and hard stounde;
Line 5252
Men helde him ouerthwert,
For he was brosed hed & hert;
Some toke abouen and some benethen,
Wel seke and sore bere thei him thethen.
Line 5256
THere was a kyng—het Cilydis—
The fairest man that lyued y-wys,
So fair a man was non on lyue;
His fairnes myght no man discryue,
Line 5260
No man myght his fairnes say,
Ne with no colour hit portray.
Celidis smot Polimodas,
That Antenores sone was:
Line 5264
Page 156
¶ Adhuc magnum bellum.
He rode to him to his vnprowe [folio 78b]
Line 5265
With a spere stalwo[r]the and towe,
¶ Polidomas to the erthe he bare
Off his hors, er he were ware;
Line 5268
Polidomas ful wroth vp-sterte,
He pulled him by the skirthe,
He sette a strok vnder his choke,
That he myght neuere afftir loke;
Line 5272
For men myght se his tethe al white.
He lay ther ded as a kyte.
Ector ffel[d] the while and sclow
Alle that euere aboute him drow,
Line 5276
He felde and sclow the Gregeis euere,
Off al that day he sesed neuere;
He sesed neuere sethen he began,
He rod a-boute fro man to man.
Line 5280
If I durst say: the Gregeis blod,
That he hadde sclayn, a-boute him stod
In eche a batayle that he rod thorow,
As wynter water doth in forow.
Line 5284
¶ Ther come a kyng ridynge a-cost
In help of Grece with alle his ost,
With many a knyȝt hard & smert;
He toke Ector at discouert
Line 5288
With a spere, was not lyght,
That made his mayles vnright,
It roff In-two and brast In-sonder;
It was a strok lyke a thonder.
Line 5292
That yren was scharp and stalworthe,
With that strok Ector hurte he.
¶ Ector loked on him wrothly,
He cried afftir [MS. afftir afftir.] him hertly:
Line 5296
'A-byde, thow coward kyng Tentan,
For the love [MS. lowe.] of thi lemman!
Page 157
A-byde and stond a strok of me, [folio 79a]
Line 5299
As I haue don of the!'
Line 5300
Tentan was so sore aferd,
He nolde abyde for al mydelherd,
He prekyd away ouer the valowe
As swyfft as any swalowe.
Line 5304
¶ As he rod affter walopande,
In his way mette he comande
A riche lord, an Amerayle;
Ector him felde—the sothe to tale—
Line 5308
He cleue his bodi In parties,
That ded of his [hors] he syes.
¶ The Gregeis then sprede Ector wyde,
Fyue thousand on euery syde,
Line 5312
Thei thoght him take or to sle,
Thei Iuged him alle quyk to fle;
But he ȝaff not a flax-bete
Off alle her bost ne thaire threte;
Line 5316
With him was non that to him longed.
Many a strok thei of him fonged,
Many a body he cleff also,
And many made he hedles ther-to.
Line 5320
THeseus was a kyng of Grece,
In euery syde Ector he sece
Alle with Gregeis stoute;
He bad him: "of that presse go oute;"
Line 5324
He bad him with wordes hende:
'I warne the as thi ffrende,—
That the mys-falle non euel hap,'—
"Ne that he fel In that trap,
Line 5328
It were a los to alle that were,
Ȝiff that þat knyȝht mys-ffere."
¶ Ector him thonked with mylde mode,
For he was kyng curteis and gode,
Line 5332
Page 158
Line 5332
He thonked him of his gode wille; [folio 79b]
Line 5333
Ector loked his men tille,
He saw the kyng Menelaus
And the kyng Thelamanyus
Line 5336
A-semble to Palodomas,
That in the prese fer fro him was;
He herde mochel noyse & cry,
Ector wiste wel ther-by,
Line 5340
Polydomas was feld and taken;
He stroke his stede ouer the laken,
Er he come ther, wold he not lette.
With the Gregeis wel sone he mette,
Line 5344
Polidomas thei were a-boute,
He ȝaff hem many a sore cloute.
¶ He sclow ffyffty [MS. ffyffty.] with-Inne a throwe,
He ffelde hem ded as foules of snowe;
Line 5348
Thei ffled away that Power hadde,
For fere of him thei were al madde;
¶ Polidomas thei lete quyte go,
Off his takyng schope hem gret wo.
Line 5352
THen come the kyng Episcrepus
With alle his men, and Menelaus,—
Thelamonius before is named,—
Alle her men thei haue a-samed;
Line 5356
With harde strokes thei hem assayled,
The Troyens ther her myght fayled;
The saut was hard and so dredful,
The Troyens saw it was nedful:
Line 5360
For then thei fle and lefft the feld,
Or elles be dede ther vndir scheld.
¶ Then anon with-oute dwellyng
Thei turned a-way alle fleyng,
Line 5364
Thei ne myght with-stonde that sauȝt.
Ector him-self a-ȝeyn hem fauȝt;
Page 159
Hic Ector fecit magnum bellum [MS. This line in black, not in red; in the right corner, not in the middle; very small.] .
The Gregeis cam thenne enviroun, [folio 80a]
Line 5367
¶ Ector ffauȝt as [a] lyoun,
Line 5368
Alle the hepe to him a-croched.
For ther was non that him aproched,
For who-so come with-Inne his swerde,
Sodan deth was his werde.
Line 5372
Off alle the Gregeis that pursued first
Was non so bold, that ones durst
Ones opon him hondes lay;
Alle his men were fled a-way;
Line 5376
¶ Thei hadde sclayn his stede him vnder.
I dar wel say: he sclow an hundred,
He reffte many bothe legges and thies,
Hed and schuldres, armes & knees;
Line 5380
Ther lay aboute him hondes & knokeles
As thikke as any honysocles,
That In somer stondes In grene medes;
Many a wyff made he wedewes,
Line 5384
Many a lady lordles;
He fauȝt with more and eke with les,
¶ But he was euere liche ffresche.
Alle at ones thei on him thresche,
Line 5388
Dartes kest and put with speres,
But Ector euere his bodi weres;
Was non so bold, durst come him nere,
The whiles he myght his armes stere.
Line 5392
FAls Gregeis, to ȝow I speke:
If ȝe ben ought, now ȝow a-wreke!
Now may ȝe ȝoure strengthe kythe
On him that greues ȝow offte sithe!
Line 5396
He is on fote, his stede is sclayn,
On fote he wil not fle aȝeyn,
For al the gold of Galilee
He wol not ffro ȝow fflee.
Line 5400
Page 160
Line 5400
Ȝe ben aboute him ten thousand, [folio 80b]
Line 5401
How may ȝe for schame lete him stand?
A-ȝeyn ȝow alle on creature!
Hit is ȝowre schame, ȝe lete him endure!
Line 5404
¶ Ȝe swore his deth at Thenedoun,
Now is he amonges ȝow gon,
Fyghtyng amonges ȝow alle;
I pray god, that ȝow foule falle,
Line 5408
That may not don vnto him on!
Gret schame is, if he thus gon!
¶ Alas Achilles, that wicked dede,
That sclow him [MS. him very small over line.] so in vnmanhede!
Line 5412
It was certes non honour,
But reproue and gret clamour,
That ten thosand myȝt him not falle,
Ther he stode amonges hem alle.
Line 5416
¶ The Troyens were fro Ector fled,
His bretheren faste afftir him gred,
Among her men faste him sought,
But thei con fynde him nought.
Line 5420
A-mong the Gregeys thei him fond
Be-set with mo then .x. thousand,
That wold him take or elles qwelle;
But Alle thei myght him not felle.
Line 5424
¶ A-mong Gregeys the prese thei brake,
Many an hed ther gan thei crake;
His on brother Damaderoun
Rode to a duk Polirasoun,
Line 5428
That rod on a stede mechel & strong;
Damaderoun vnto him sprong,
He ȝaff the duk a cruste of brede,
That he fel doun and lefft his stede.
Line 5432
Damaderoun was not ydel,
He toke the stede by the brydel,
Page 161
Ther-with faste he him spede, [folio 81a]
Line 5435
And to Ector he him ledde.
Line 5436
ECtor lepe on his stede ronke,
And seyde: 'brother, I can the thonke.'
Dephebus come to that saut
With alle the men him was be-taut,
Line 5440
With arwes brode, bowe and qwyuere;
With him come many a man delyuere [MS. & delyuere.] .
To that saut thei were wel rakel,
Eche man made redi his takel,
Line 5444
Bende her bowes and set her flone;
Among the Gregeis thei gert hem gone.
¶ Many a Gregey was euel atyred,
With brode [MS. browe.] arwes al to-vired [MS. alto vired.] ;
Line 5448
Thei wounded hem with arwes brode.
The Troyens then forth rode
With gret comforth vnto that fyght,
That wel-ney before were discomfyght.
Line 5452
¶ Dephebus wounded kyng Thentan
In his visage, that it wex wan;
Dephebus wounded him so sore,
That he ther-on thought euere-more.
Line 5456
¶ Whyntelle and kyng Moderne
Theseus kyng sey fro ferre,
Woundyng Troyens and sore bete,
And many on her lyff lete;
Line 5460
Bothe thei swore with grete stryff,
Thei wolde reue Theseus his lyff.
The ton rod to him with maltalent,
That of his hors doun he went;
Line 5464
He fel doun, and thei him toke,
Thei thoght him scle with grymly loke.
But Ector bad: "thei schold late be,"—
'Lete him go qwite he dede for me!'
Line 5468
Page 162
¶ Hic Cassibalanus Filius Regis Troiani occisus est.
Theseus was neuere so glad, [folio 81b]
Line 5469
As when Ector his men bad;
He thonked him an hundred sithe,
To his Gregeis he rode blyue.
Line 5472
[T has been washed out, but is distinctly legible.] THen come thedir kyng Thoas,
I-armed bright [MS. br…ight.] as any glas;
Fyue thousande knyghtes com with him wyght
Off bolde Gregeis In-to that ffyght,
Line 5476
With sword and spere, gauelok and staff.
Many a strok Gregeis ther ȝaff;
Thoas smot Cassibalanes,
That he fel doun opon the danes.
Line 5480
¶ Ector was [right] sori than,
When he sei ded Cassibalan;
He was his brother borne abast,
He saw him lye & had lost his tast.
Line 5484
Might Ector Thoas haue reched,
Schuld neuere man haue him teched,
Not Ypocras with alle his scleyght;
But Thoas flede [MS. felde.] with al his [myght].
Line 5488
Ector sorow myght no man sclekke,
He smot In-two many a nekke.
¶ Then come Nestor with thousandes ffyue,—
As faste as he myȝt dryue,—
Line 5492
Off hardi knyȝtes gode and bolde;
Amonges hem alle was non suche holde,
His [MS. He is.] hore for elde waxen was gray;
But he come thedur In good aray.
Line 5496
¶ Aȝeyn him come kyng Esdras,
Kyng Philon, and Reconitas [MS. reconitas, r quite dis|tinct, but cp. l. 5511, and the note on l. 530 (p. 16).] ;
When thei to-gedur were then met,
Many on was to grounde bet,
Line 5500
Thei died faste on bothe sydes;
But Philon thenne a-mong hem rides
Page 163
With his swerd In honde drawen, [folio 82a]
Line 5503
Many Gregeis did he on dawen.
Line 5504
The Gregeis vmbikest his cart
With many a knyȝt hardi and smart,
Thei toke Philon, his helm vnlased,
The gold was of his cart defased
Line 5508
With grete strokes set ther-on,
Thei hasted faste to scle Philon.
¶ Iecomytas [I quite distinct in MS., but cf. l. 5498.] was ful of wo,
That Philon scholde with Gregeis go;
Line 5512
He saith: 'Esdras, for him vs wroght!
How thei of Grece—ne sese thow noght—
Haue take Philon and led a-way?
Helpe we him, if that we may!'
Line 5516
¶ The Troyens thanne at here callyng
Among Gregeis made gret hurlyng,
Thei delt strokes for her frendes
And refft Philon of her bendes.
Line 5520
EVeas come with alle his folk,
With spere and swerd and gauelok,
With alle his knyȝtes and his men,
And her leder, duke Eufren.
Line 5524
¶ Ayax rode to Eueas,
And he to him a gret pas,
As harde as thei may ride;
Wolde nother of hem lenger abide.
Line 5528
Thei stroke to-gedir with so gret myght,
That bothe vpon here pol lyght.
¶ Ector toke to Eueas hede,
And saw he hadde lorn his stede;
Line 5532
He rod to him faste prikande
With his drawen swerd in hande,
He dede Eueas his swerd take,
And sclow the Gregeis for Ayax sake.
Line 5536
Page 164
Line 5536
Here armes vayled not an hoppe, [folio 82b]
Line 5537
He smot In-two bothe chanel and choppe;
He sclow an hundrid then and mo,
Thei were so ferd, that alle tho
Line 5540
Be-gan bacward to fle,
Thei durst not ones with eye him se.
¶ Ayax thoght, he was be-swyked,
When his men a-way priked;
Line 5544
In his hert hadde he gret wo,
He wiste not what for to do;
He loked on bak toward here stale.
So mery was neuere Nightyngale
Line 5548
Syngand In no hasel-crop,
Ne no child playing with his top [MS. thop.] ,
As Ayax was that ilke tyde,
When he hadde loked him be-syde:
Line 5552
¶ He saw be-hynde him stondyng right
A ffresche Gregey, that was neuere aflyght
Out of that stede, toward that fyght
With twenti thousand rekened aryght;
Line 5556
Ther was the flour of chiualrye
Off Grece certes and Thesalye.
Vnto that batayle come thei hard
With baneres brode and here standard;
Line 5560
Ayax schewed his men that sight
And bad hem for schame fyght.
THe kyng come then of Cassedone,
To helpe Ayax with-oute essoyne;
Line 5564
He broght with him to that poyne
Off gode knyghtes thousandes tweyne.
¶ The same tyme come thedur also
With bothe her ostes kynges two,
Line 5568
With hem come thousandes seuene;
Ȝet leffte be-hynde twyes eleuene
Page 165
That al the day thenne hadde rest; [folio 83a]
Line 5571
Off hem of Grece were thei the best.
Line 5572
¶ Then were the Troyens wel weri,
Thei myght not [MS. now.] for weri hem steri,
Thei were so for-fouȝten, that hem was wo;
Thei thoght alle aweyward go.
Line 5576
¶ But Paris come thenne with his tropel [MS. torpel.] ,
With alle his knyghtes hardi and fel.
Kyng Philicais Ector a-vised,
How he Gregeis sclow & bursed;
Line 5580
He rode to him with tene & hate,
To dere Ector come he to late;
To Ector with his spere he soughte,
But Philicais that strok boughte,
Line 5584
Ector rod to him aȝeyn
And smot him thorow the bak and brayn,
That he neuere afftir grunt;
He was ded afftir that dunt.
Line 5588
THen come [to] the batayle kyng Humere [MS. humore, but cf. ll. 5705, 5709, 5718, 11391.]
With many a cheld and brod banere,
With alle his knyȝtes, and Vlixes
That alle that day hadde rest in pes,
Line 5592
So did the kyng sir Humelyne;
With him come many dredful hyne.
Kyng Pollidari and Macheroun,
With alle his ost Agamenoun,
Line 5596
¶ The kyng of Cypre, kyng Rody,
Come with many a man þat was mody;
To ffyght come kyng Henes,
With alle his men Philotenes,
Line 5600
¶ Kyng Hencus and many other,
Diodemes with his brother,—
Al that day stode as oxe in stalle,—
Now be thei comen to batayle alle.
Line 5604
Page 166
Line 5604
Agamenon he was the laste; [folio 83b]
Line 5605
Now ben thei alle to batayle paste.
But Ector helpe, the Troyens ben spilt—
I telle hem,—elles alle be kylt,
Line 5608
But doughti Ector hem rescowe;
Many of her bakkes now schal bowe,
For sixti thousand ther ben or mo [MS. or now mo.]
Off ffresche Gregeis to batayle ago.
Line 5612
PAris smot the kyng of Frese,
With alle his mayles he gan lese;
He smot him with a spere off beche,
That he fel doun with-oute speche.
Line 5616
Ther was del with-oute play,
Mechel cry and weylaway,
The Gregeis were for him ful wo;
Vlixes thrette Paris to sclo—
Line 5620
The kyng of Frese was his cosyn,
He was of Vlixes kyn,—
He rode to him with gret envye,
To take on Paris Maystrye:
Line 5624
He sclow his hors, he fel to grounde,
That was better than an hundrid pounde.
¶ Troyle saw Paris feld,
In poynt of dethe, or elles him ȝeld;
Line 5628
In his front he him smot,
The blod start out fot hot,
He set on him a foule seme;
By his face ran doun the strem
Line 5632
Off rede blode, but not-for-that
Vlixes In his sadel sat,
Of his hors fel he not doun,
He smot to Troyle with gret randoun,
Line 5636
And In his visage he him smyt,
A wicked strok—he him hit.
Page 167
Ector rode euere to and fro, [folio 84a]
Line 5639
He made Gregeis blak and blo;
Line 5640
Alle that day aboute he rode
Fro ost to ost, he neuere abode;
He loked to his owne eschele,
He saw the Gregeis with him dele,
Line 5644
¶ He saw hem dreuen out of that place.
Ector seyde tho: 'Alace!'
Al that day hadde thei ther ben,
Might thei her mayster not sen,
Line 5648
Out of the feld gan thei hem dresse,
Thei hadde so fouȝten, thei were mygh[t]les.
Whether he were wroth, myght no man aske;
He rode to hem bothe wode & thraske,
Line 5652
He spak to hem wordes mylde:
'Louely lordes, god it schilde,
Fer to ffle; what haue ȝe thoght?
Haue ȝe for-ȝete, ne thenke ȝe noght,
Line 5656
What schame the Gregeis haue ȝow don?
Helpes now alle quyk & soun [MS. som.] ,
Turnes aȝeyn boldely with me!
I schal ȝow venge, so mote I the!
Line 5660
I schal a-saye—be seynt Loye,—
Thei nede neuere so moche Ioye.'
And whan here lord was to hem come,
Thei wende wel rather to be for-nome,
Line 5664
Thei swore to him that—so helpe hem god—
Thei schal neuere [fle] for euene ne for od.
ECtor brew the Gregeys bale,
He ledde his men doun by a vale
Line 5668
A-gayn quayntly to the batayle;
Thei be-gan the Gregeis to assayle;
To þe Gregeis ffresche and so quykly,
That thei died thanne thikly;
Line 5672
Page 168
Line 5672
For Ector thenne euere hem to dethe wounded, [folio 84b]
With-outen ende he hem confounded.
Line 5674
Thoas, that sclow Cassibalan,
Among the Troyens [MS. gregeis.] he rode and ran,
Line 5676
As hundes doth vpon his pray,
He did gret harm opon hem that day.
¶ Qwyntelyne hadde him aspied,
Loude to his bretheren he cried:
Line 5680
'That is the theff, oure brother sclow,
Scle him anon amonges ȝow now!
Let him not go now al quyt
With-oute dethe or som dispyt!'
Line 5684
¶ Thei rod alle to kyng Thoas,
Hem was ful loth to lete him pas;
Thei bare him doun, his swerd was broken,
As he amonges hem was loken;
Line 5688
His hed was bare, his helme was rached,
Thei scholde for euere him haue tached,
Ne hadde ben duk Menescene;
He halp him, and that was wel y-sene:
Line 5692
¶ He smot Qwyntelyne opon the hat,
His hors bak he loste with that,
Aboute Thoas for he was most;
He [MS. A.] felde another with-oute bost.
Line 5696
PAris than be-gan to hale
A strong arwe vp to the vale,
To Menescen he drow that flot,
In-myddis his ribbes wel sore he smot.
Line 5700
Duk Menescen therfore ne lefft,
Til he hadde Thoas fro hem reff[t],
With many woundes and many a clyt
Ther the bretheres hadde him hyt.
Line 5704
¶ Kyng Humere was almost wode,
That Ector spilt so moche blode;
Page 169
¶ Hic venit Priamus Rex ad prelium.
He cleff Gregeis as men do swyn, [folio 85a]
Line 5707
He made of hem gret moryn.
Line 5708
¶ Humeres [MS. Humer.] bowe was redy bent,
Him hadde ben better, it hadde ben brent;
A scharp Arwe ther-Inne he set
And so to Ector he hit schet,
Line 5712
He hitte him euene In his visage;
But Ector quyt him his wage,
He hitte him on his helme aboue,
Hit roff to-gederes as a gloue;
Line 5716
The strok ȝede to his herte colke,
Humere fel doun a-monges his folke,
He bente neuere affter arblast ne bowe,
To schete ouer hilles ne ouer lowe.
Line 5720
¶ The Gregeis hadde gret angryng,
That thei myght not him [MS. hem.] to dethe bryng,
With her men so foule he ferd;
Thei hadde him offt amonges hem spered,
Line 5724
Ther were knyȝtes aboute him kene
Hundres mo then ffyfftene;
But he was not of hem abast,
Opon him-selff mechel he trast,
Line 5728
To make him way who-so nolde,
And wende away euere whan he wolde.
ECtor lefft ffyghtyng al to-gedur
And wente hom to his fadur,
Line 5732
And bad: "he scholde with-oute distaunce
Come with alle his puruyaunce,
That were leff[t] with-Inne the walles."
Priamus then his men calles,
Line 5736
He brought thre thousand fresch & rested,
Among the Gregeis In thei thrested;
Thei sclow ther many a gret sire,
When thei were comen In that toptyre.
Line 5740
Page 170
Line 5740
Ayax rod to Ector fast, [folio 85b]
Line 5741
That bothe his speres In-sonder brast,
Ther hors fel doun and thei ȝede ouer,
Bothe were besy up to couer.
Line 5744
¶ Menelaus sclow that tyde
An [MS. And.] Emerayl on Troyens syde;
Ector brother Celydonias
Sclow the kynges sone Thoas;
Line 5748
His half-brother Madoun of Clare
Smot kyng Ced opon the bare,
He smot him so opon the snoute,
That bothe his eyen wenten oute.
Line 5752
¶ His other half-brother, Sir Sadolle,
A riche Gregay smot In that soille,
That his harneis & his haterell
Opon the grounde al blody fell.
Line 5756
Another of hem, Margaritoun,
Felde the while sir Thelamoun;
But Thelaman at that Iustyng
Made the blode out of him spryng.
Line 5760
¶ Famel bare Procenor doune,
He hitte him sore vpon the croune.
¶ Duglas ran to Menescen
With gret envye and Mechel ten,
Line 5764
He hitte him with a stalworthe spere,
But he myȝt him not doun bere;
Menescen smot a-ȝein Duglas
With his swerd In-myddes the fas,—
Line 5768
His viser vayled not worth a pese,—
He wounded him in-myddes the nese.
¶ Diamor saw his brother blede,
He thoght quyte Menescen his mede,
Line 5772
He smot him vndir his hors bely;
Then he was ferd, hit was no ferly:
Page 171
For then come the brother thridde; [folio 86a]
Line 5775
Menescen hadde than mys-be-tydde,
Line 5776
Ne hadde Tentan come to his socouryng,
He hadde be brouȝt to his endyng.
¶ Menescen was feld, but op he ros,
He faught faste aȝeyn his fos,
Line 5780
He fauȝt aȝeyn hem alle thre,
But myght it not so longe be,
For on his scheld was many an hole,
He myȝt not longe that trauayle thole.
Line 5784
¶ Tentan saw his grete myscheue,
He was In poynt of euel preue,
Menescen myght was almost wast,
Tentan rod to him In hast
Line 5788
And halp Manascen, that fauȝt sore,
Aȝeyn Duglas and Diamore.
ECtor saw, that Tentan was
Comen to helpe a-ȝeyn Duglas,
Line 5792
He thought hem bothe to encombre;
Him hadde ben better In-myddes Humbre,
Then he hadde it at his wille,
Thei myȝt haue rongen here soule-knylle.
Line 5796
¶ Ector was with him ful wroth;
Thei hadde dyed for-sothe both,
Ne hadde y-come Ayax;
And In his hond he brouȝt an ax,
Line 5800
The schafft was bounden, long was the bit,
Many a strok smot he ther-myt.
¶ A Thousand knyghtes alle at ones
Fel on Ector as bryddes in grones [MS. groues (?).] ,
Line 5804
To saue Menescen and kyng Tentan;
For that sauyng died many a man.
¶ Ector him hew as fflesch to pot,
The Gregeis died as schep In rot.
Line 5808
Page 172
¶ Hic Ector occidit Regem Merionem.
He was Iustice, deth was her dome, [folio 86b]
Line 5809
Ector made aboute him rome,
Then fel gret encombraunce
For Tentan kyng delyueraunce.
Line 5812
¶ The Gregeis turned and fro him fledde,
Thei were so sore of him aferde,
Thei myght no-thyng a-ȝeyn him stonde;
He sclow that tyme a ful thousande.
Line 5816
Merion [Cp. l. 4997 sqq., where his name is Mennon.] kyng come In his way,
Ector him smyte he thoughte asay,
For he bar Patrodus him fro,
His lyff he dede ther for-go.
Line 5820
ECtor saw, that it was he,
He swor by his godis dygnite:
"He schuld neuere afftir him chide,
He schal a-bye his foule Pride!"
Line 5824
'Say, thow fals faytour,
Thow losenger, thow fals traytour!
Now is comen thin endyng-day,
Thow that bar Patrodus a-way!'
Line 5828
He rod to him and made him stoupe,
He bar him ouer his hors croupe.
¶ Ector lyght a-doun In hy
And smot his hed fro the body;
Line 5832
He saw his armes delytable,
Fair, and clene, and amyable,
Ector stod and hem vndid,—
Sixti thousand, & he In-myd
Line 5836
Duk Menescen ther-of was war,
How he Merioun dispoyled thar;
He rode to him and smot him depe,—
For Ector toke to him no kepe,—
Line 5840
With a spere he him trauersed,
That alle his armes thorow he persed;
Page 173
He ȝaff Ector an hidous sore, [folio 87a]
Line 5843
Menescen fley ther-fore,
Line 5844
He nolde not Ector longe abyde,
Away he gan faste ryde.
ECtor wiste him hurt he feled,
He rod on-syde and him keled;
Line 5848
So wisly his wounde he bond,
That no blode ther-of wonde.
He rode a-ȝeyn to that baret,
And many a man to dethe he bet.
Line 5852
¶ For Dares telles In his bokes,
As man may se that ther-In lokes:
Or euere he belan affter the wounde,
He sclow of knyȝtes In a stounde
Line 5856
Passyng mo than ten hunder;
Off man was neuere so moche wounder.
¶ The Gregeis were so for-dalled,
So for-fouȝten, and so for-palled,
Line 5860
Thei hadde no wil hem to defende,
To dye echon ful wel thei wende.
The Gregeis flow vnto here tentis,
Mochel sorwe and wo thei hentes,
Line 5864
For Troyens hem folwed thorow tent & hale
And bare a-wey harneys and male.
¶ Thei robbed clene al that thei founde
And sente To Troye many fair sonde
Line 5868
Off gold, siluer, & riche druri,
That thei fond In coffres and ty;
Thei leffte ther nother pot ne panne,
Dische ne dobler, cuppe ne kanne,
Line 5872
Pece ne Maser, ne riche Mesures,
Thei fond ther wel riche armures;
¶ Thei myght onethes a-wey wagge
With siluer and gold, walet & bagge,
Line 5876
Page 174
¶ Hic Greci ffugerunt Ectorem.
With riche gold and other vessel, [folio 87b]
Line 5877
A-wey thei bere hit euerydel.
Thei sette ffir In schip and fflune;
The Gregeis made a rewful dune.
Line 5880
That day the Troyens were glad,
Lord! the Ioye that thei mad!
¶ But Ector was that day vnblessed,
Off grace certes that day he myssed,
Line 5884
He myght that day the batayl haue ent
And alle the Gregeis clene haue schent,
That thei schulde neuere haue passed the see
With lyff ne lym to here contre;
Line 5888
But destene, that fortune ledes,
When he beholdis that men best spedis
With sicur traist of wel spedyng,
He makes hem leue somtyme a thyng
Line 5892
That he may haue at his wille,
That he schal neuere come ther-tille.
ME rewes of Ector namely,
That myght that day wel sicurly
Line 5896
Haue sclayn alle his enemys,
And hem scomfited at [d]euys,
And al on-hap [MS. op hap.] haue put a-way
Fro him and his, euere and ay;
Line 5900
For I haue herd offte say,
That he that wil not whan he may,
When he wolde, he getis it noght,
Then hit were ful faire be-sought,
Line 5904
Som tyme, as good hap nere,
That comes not ones In seuene ȝere.
¶ Ector forsoke this grace also,
Ne myght he neuere come ther-to;
Line 5908
But fortune is fficul and frele, [¶ Exempla [The sign in blue, the word in red paint, in MS. in the left margin.] .]
He is a fole that hath hir lele;
Page 175
Many a body hath sche a-mayed [folio 88a]
Line 5911
And many a man hath sche be-trayed.
Line 5912
I holde it certes a gret folye
To truste on here trecherie,
For sche is wonder variable,
Sche was neuere to no man stable;
Line 5916
The man that sche somtyme most likes,
Alther-sonnest sche be-swykes.
¶ With Alisaunder how dede sche, [¶ Alixander [The signs in blue, the words in red paint.] .]
Whan he was most In maieste?
Line 5920
Al this world did sche him wynne,
And alle the kynges that were ther-Inne;
Sche hated him and thoght tresoun,
And ȝaff him drynke foule poysoun;
Line 5924
And sche that kyng loued mechel,
Loke, how fals sche is and ffykel!
¶ Iulius Cesar, that so was douted, [¶ Julius Cesar [The signs in blue, the words in red paint.] .]
That al the world to him louted,—
Line 5928
When he his trust opon hir hadde,
Sche sclow him foule with a ladde.
¶ How did sche sithen with kyng Arthure? [¶ Arthure [The signs in blue, the words in red paint.] .]
Sche was to him bothe sicur and sure,
Line 5932
Sche made him wynne In-to his hand
Northway, Wales, and Scotland,
Irlond, Denmark, and al Burgoyne,
And ouercome hem of Saxsoygne,
Line 5936
Bretayne, Gaskoyne, and al Fraunce,
And al hath thorow hir gode chaunce;
Sche halpe him wel with Real & Rok,
And at the Castel of Bestok,
Line 5940
¶ When he fauȝt with douȝti Frolle,
Ther he smot on-two his polle.
And the Romayce senatore,
Tyberius, kyng of gret valoure,
Line 5944
Page 176
Line 5944
Thorow here sclow he Romayns. [folio 88b]
Line 5945
Som-tyme sche loues, & somtyme refrayns:
Off the kyng then sche filled,
Wel foule then the knyȝt sche spilled,
Line 5948
His sustersone sche made his bane,
When sche hadde a-ȝeyn him tane.
¶ Thus hath sche do with many mo,
For certeyn sothe with alle tho
Line 5952
That euere sche loued or euere schal;
Sche turnes & trendeles as doth a bal.
¶ With Ector certes fel hit right so:
He myght neuere afftir come ther-to,
Line 5956
That he that day myght haue don;
Fortune turned fro him thus son,
For he that day his hap refused;
He was afftir therfore arused.
Line 5960
AS he rode chasynge hem of Grece,
And myght haue hewen hem to pece,
And saued him fro alle perel
That him and his ther-afftir fel,
Line 5964
He met aȝeyn him comyng right
His Aunte sone, that Ayax hight.
In the tyme of Lamedon
His Aunte was rauysched with Thelamon;
Line 5968
He held here longe In payrement
And gat sir Ayax verament.
He knewe Ector, and Ector him,
He hadde elles for-gon his beste lym.
Line 5972
¶ Ector seyde: 'my dere cosyn,
Come to Troye and se thi kyn:
Kyng Priamus, that is thin em,
And his Baronage, and his barnetem.
Line 5976
Gret worschepe—so god me saue!—
Shaltow In Troye amo[n]ges hem haue.'
Page 177
¶ Hic Ector concedit Ayax [sic] peticionem suam.
Ther-with-al seyde Ayax: 'nay! [folio 89a]
Line 5979
But, dere Cosyn, I the pray,—
Line 5980
As thow me louest and art curtais,—
No more harme do thes Gregeis!
But let hem be this day in pes,
And bid thin men that thei wol ces!'
Line 5984
¶ Ector thanne with mochel vnsele
Graunted his askyng euery dele:
Ector bar a litel ruet,
Vnto his mouth his horn he set,
Line 5988
Twyes or thries ther-In he blew;
Wo were his men, when thei hit knewe,
Thei leff[t] her chase and schippis brennyng,
And come to him faste rennyng
Line 5992
With sorwe & kare and mochel wo,
That thei ne myght the Gregeis sclo.
¶ Thei rode the Cite than tille,
And sikurly this was the skille,
Line 5996
The victorie that thei for-ȝede
And myght neuere afftir so wel spede;
Ne hadde he graunted Ayax prayere,
Schuld neuere Gregeis hadde powere,
Line 6000
Off he were comen of his blod,
That euere he wolde be so wod.
TRoyens hadde here ȝates stoken,
With barre and bolt wel y-loken,
Line 6004
Wel sekur arre thei wel kept,
That, when men were In bedde and sclept,
The Gregeis scholde hem not brest
And wake hem so of her rest.
Line 6008
In here bed sclept thei not longe,
The Troyens, when the day spronge,
Were Armed alle and redy dight,
To wende aȝeyn to that fyght.
Line 6012
Page 178
Line 6012
But Gregeis hadde ther-to no nede, [folio 89b]
Line 6013
Thei sent to Troye & asked and bede,
If that her consail wolde hit loke,
Treus to haue an .viij. woke.
Line 6016
¶ Priamus and his consayl
Graunted the treus with-oute fayle,
And swor to holde hit stable and ferme
The treus in pes lastyng the terme.
Line 6020
Gregeis were fayn of that grauntyng,
For thei hadde nede of soiornyng;
When thei hadde treuse, thei sought the feld,
Ther thei hadde foughten; thei be-held
Line 6024
The bodyes [MS. boydies.] that ther ded lay,
That hadde be sclayn In fight that day;
Ther come of hem a foul sauour
And smot to hem a gret rancour.
Line 6028
But thei did wele and wrought wisly
Off the bodyes that were grisly,
Thei wroght best to here be-houe,
Tho that thei wolde thei toke and groue,
Line 6032
And alle the other with fyr thei brent;
Many a man his frend be-ment.
AChilles made both euen & morwe
For Patrodus wel mochel sorwe,
Line 6036
But it was longe, or his del sclaked;
A riche tombe for him thei maked,
And layde ther-on that cors present
With gret wepe and wayment [The last four letters added by another hand; the careless copyist saw the rhyme-words of the next lines and wrote way only.] .
Line 6040
Thei made also of Marbul gray
Another tombe, ther-on to lay
¶ The doughti kyng Prothesalye,
That Ector sclow In his folye;
Line 6044
With gret worschepe and reuerence
Thei made aboute him gret dispence.
Page 179
¶ And thei of Troye that wounded wore, [folio 90a]
Line 6047
Thei heled woundes lesse and more,
Line 6048
The while the trewe be-twene hem last,
Thei toke medecyn and heled hem fast;
By that the treus were al gon,
Thei were amended euerychon.
Line 6052
¶ But Priamus myght not drynke ne ete,
For he myght not for-gete
Off his sone Cassibalane,
He cursed faste that was his bane;
Line 6056
He dede make a tombe I-wys
In the temple of Veneris,
Crafftly coruen and wel endent [MS. ed inserted after endent, very dim and indistinct, as if blotted out at once after writing.] ,
And layd him In that monument
Line 6060
With carful herte and sore mornyng;
Hit refft him many a nyghtes sclepyng.
THe terme is gon now of treus,
Some it likes and some it reus;
Line 6064
Thei ben bothe y-dyght In feld & toun
With helm and scheld and haberioun,
To the fight a-ȝeyn to fare;
Off bothe parties thei ben thare.
Line 6068
Agamenon was gretly carked
In his office, his men he ȝarked
Euerychon vnto that fyght,
Thei ben alle armed & redy dight.
Line 6072
¶ The ffirst batayle lad Achilles,
The secunde Diodemes,
Menelaus lad the thridde
With many douȝti men him mydde,
Line 6076
The furthe batayle lad Menesenes
That was lord of riche Athenes,
And that other he wel ordeyned
And with his goddis he hem sayned,
Line 6080
Page 180
Line 6080
And bad hem gon In here name, [folio 90b]
Line 6081
Here foos to schenschip and to schame.
ECtor was besy and tentyff,
To ordeyne hise, to saue her lyff:
Line 6084
The furst batayle In kepyng hadde
Doughti Troyle, so Ector badde;
In alle that other gouernayle
Ordeyned he, as most myght avayle.
Line 6088
With his goddis he hem merked,
And alle his men he forward ferked
Out of the toun toward that place,
Ther thei scholde fight with sword & mace.
Line 6092
The Gregeis were with-oute the dikes,
With swerd and staff [&] with pikes;
Achilles led the formast warde,
As is als it were a lyparde.
Line 6096
Ayther of hem knewe other wele;
Thei rode [MS. Theirode.] to-gyder as men vnsele,
Thei were bothe mychel and strong of myȝt;
Thei rod to-gederes at all riȝt
Line 6100
With kene speres and wel y-grounde,
That bothe thei fel on the londe.
But Ector start vp anon
And to his sadel he gan gon,
Line 6104
¶ Ector lepe on his hors bak,
He hadde vertues with-oute lak;
He sclow of the Gregeis many a score,
As he hadde ydon before,
Line 6108
He woundes and sles & maymes many,
Vnnethes he leues stondyng any
In any stide ther he may mete;
Thei caste at him and arwes schete,
Line 6112
A thousand men on him smyte,
But sword on him wol non bite:
Page 181
Fro stide to stide aboute he wynces, [folio 91a]
Line 6115
He slees kynges, dukes, & princes;
Line 6116
Thei ffle fro him as ffox to hole,
No man may his strokes thole;
He is so wete with blode of men,
That no man may his armes ken.
Line 6120
AChilles ros vp afftirward,
He toke his hors & lepe vpward,
To hem of Troye gan he gange,
Him thoght gret schame he lay so lange;
Line 6124
Among Troiens did he gret harm,
He wounded hem in body and arm,
He ran amonges hem as a roo,
He sclow manye & wounded moo,
Line 6128
He hurt hem som & nolde not spare.
As he rod thus, he was ware
How E tor ferde with his Gregeis,
He wounded [MS. wonuded.] hem and sclow al weys;
Line 6132
¶ He thoght he wold efft with him Iuste,
He hadde to Ector a ful gret luste.
But Ector ȝaff him suche a but,
And fro his hors Ector him put,
Line 6136
That he fel to the grounde as a cat,
Wel euen vpon his ketil-hat.
¶ Ector wolde his hors haue sesed,
But so fele men aboute him presed,
Line 6140
Ther were so many his hors to defende,
That Ector myght not come ther hende.
¶ Achilles ros and gret dele made,
For he his hors lorn hadde;
Line 6144
His men his stede to him broght,
Ne hadde thei y-be, he ne hadde him noght;
He taketh him and on him lepes,
And sprong aȝein among the hepes
Line 6148
Page 182
¶ Hic Ector et Achilles pugnauerunt.
Off his Gregeis, ther Ector stode; [folio 91b]
Line 6149
Fauȝt so faste, that stremes of blode
Ran in forwes ther of leyes,
Many a man be-fore him dyes.
Line 6152
With alle the myght that euere he wan
Achilles smot to Ector than,
With bothe his handes, with sword naked,
He smot Ector, that his hed craked,
Line 6156
That with the strok Ector enchyned;
But Ector not his stiropes tyned,
Noght In his sadel ones Icched,
Noght for that ones he quycched.
Line 6160
¶ His hert gret angur surmounted,
That Achilles was remounted,
And suche a strok sithen him ȝaue;
He thoght he scholde another haue:
Line 6164
He turned his hors wel smartly
And smot to him wel hertly,
He smot him on his hed on hy,
The blod ran doun by his eye;
Line 6168
He brak his helm and his hed als,
The stremes of blode ran by his hals.
¶ Ayther on other began to hewe,
Here strong myght on other to schewe;
Line 6172
A delful fight was ther by-gonne,
Hadde thei hadde rome, thei hadde not belonne,
Vnto thei bothe, or that on,
Hadde ben hewed as fflesche and bon;
Line 6176
Hadde no man comen hem be-twene,
Then scholde men the better haue sene.
But then come thedur Diodemes
And saw that no man myght hem ces;
Line 6180
With alle his men he neuere bylynned,
Til he hadde hem a-twynned [MS. at twynned.] .
Page 183
Certes I holde he did synne, [folio 92a]
Line 6183
That he hem parted so atwynne,
Line 6184
Vnto the ton hadde the gre,
When thei were bothe In her pouste,
And that men myght haue sey in doute,
Whether scholde of hem to other loute.
Line 6188
¶ But Diomedes was ful sicur,
Hadde he Achilles leff[t] In that beker,
That he scholde haue had no pouste,
Ne qwik with lyff ne grace hadde be.
Line 6192
THen come thedur ridyng Troyle,
A-mong Gregeis he gan to royle,
When he com, he did meruayles.
Diomedes him assayles,
Line 6196
And Troylus him assayled also,
Litel loue was be-twene hem two;
Thei reden to-gedur with speres so faste,
That bothe were doun of hors caste;
Line 6200
Vnto Troyle faste he ȝede,
Ther he sat opon his stede.
¶ He smot to Troyle opon his fote,
But Troylus did ther-In bote,
Line 6204
He smot his stede thorow the haunche,
He myght no more afftir launche;
His stede fel doun, and he him by,
Thei fauȝt to-geder with envy,
Line 6208
But thei were horsed a-ȝeyn vp bothe;
Not-for-thi thei were so wrothe,
That eyther of hem to other sought,
When thei were on horse broght;
Line 6212
Many a strok was be-twene hem cast,
But Diomedes atte last
Troylus toke with gret violence;
But many of Troye In his defence
Line 6216
Page 184
¶ Hic Ector occidit Beotem & Archilogum.
At that tyme ful smartly stryues [folio 92b]
Line 6217
In gret aventure and drede of here lyues,
And delyuered Troyle out of his hand,
Thei come strikand on the sond.
Line 6220
¶ To that batayle come Menelaus,
Kyng Henes, and Theseus;
Aȝeyn hem come of Troye Paris
With other kynges and alle his.
Line 6224
At that batayle died mechel folk,
Eche stede stod ful, bothe plasch & polk,
Of mennes blode that died there.
Ful sicurly Ector lefft neuere
Line 6228
To sclo Gregeis, and hem confounde,
Thei fled fro him as hares fro the hounde.
That saw an hardy newe-made knyȝt
Off hem of Grece, Boetes hyȝt,
Line 6232
That no man myght make Ector leue;
This Boetes thoght, he wolde that reue
With a spere stalworthe and towe,
But [Ector] at that strok lowe
Line 6236
And seyde to him: 'what hastow don?
Wolde thow wynne on me thi schon?'
He ȝaff no more of his smytyng
Then of a fflyes bytyng,
Line 6240
But he smot him aȝeyn so sore,
That fro his heued doun to his schore
He cleue him doun by the chyn,
As it hadde ben a lard swyn;
Line 6244
¶ He sent his stede Into his In.
Archilogus was of his kyn;
When he his cosyn ded saw,
Him lyked noght with Ector plaw,
Line 6248
He thoght him venge, if he moght,
He drank ful ille, and that was noght;
Page 185
Him hadde ben better, he hadde ben than, [folio 93a]
Line 6251
When he Ector smyte be-gan,
Line 6252
For him saued not his riche croun;
He carf a-two bothe flesche and bon,
He culpunte him [h altered from b in MS.] as he [MS. here.] were an ele,
. . . . . [No gap in MS.]
Line 6256
¶ He smote euen In-two his myddel
Ryght euen at his gerdul,
That half fel doun, and half sat stille,
His armes myght not do ther-tille.
Line 6260
Hit was a wondir sight to se,
When þe hors be-gan to fle,
A-mong the prese whan he ran,
Op-on his bak with half a man.
Line 6264
PRocenor was that kynges Cosyn;
When he saw his witer-wyn
Hadde him [MS. by.] sclawe, sore him rewed,
For-sothe ther-fore his bale he brewed,—
Line 6268
The body was ther freli kut,—
And smot to Ector so ful but [b altered from h in MS.] ,—
He rode to him euen sydilyng—
Vn-til grounde he him bryng;
Line 6272
He smot him euene vndir the cheke,
That he made him the ground to seke.
Off him was not Ector perceyued,
He was of him wel sore disceyued;
Line 6276
¶ Opon his hors lepe tite Ector,
He ouer-toke kyng Procenor,
He set a strok vpon his heued,
That he ete no more bred,
Line 6280
He cleff him euene in two parties;
On eyther syde his hors he lyes,
As it hadde ben two clouen stikkes,
Or of a swyn two clouen flikkes.
Line 6284
Page 186
Hic Ector occidit Procenorem Regem [This line in red paint ought to be the head-line, cp. special note. The head-line is erased.] .
AChilles saw his strokes echon, [folio 93b]
Line 6285
In his herte made he gret mon,
Procenor was of his lynage,
A riche kyng of gret parage;
Line 6288
He saw alle dye, bothe duk and kyng,
That come or ȝede In Ector goyng.
¶ Achilles seyde: 'if he lyue longe,
Here is non of vs so stronge,
Line 6292
That euere schal wynne fro him lyue [MS. on lyue.] ;
Ther bees sat neuere so thikke on hyue,
Ne corn In lond is [MS. In his lond.] thikker sawen,
That he ne scles oure men and ouer-throwen.'
Line 6296
¶ Achilles maketh alle his men redy,
And kynges to of his contrey,
And seide: 'se ȝe [MS. ȝe se.] not, lordynges,
How Ector here to dethe brynges
Line 6300
Alle that cometh vndir his hand?
I se no man [MS. noman.] his strok with-stand!
If he laste longe In his outrage,
He sclees vs alle bothe lord and page.
Line 6304
¶ But of this world if we mowe
Deliuere him! but I not howe:
Iff we myght be so quaynte and scly,
That we vn-armed come him by.
Line 6308
For iff he take vntil vs hede,
I wot wel we schal neuere spede;
Go we alle vpon a ffrusche,
Opon the erthe we schal him crusche,
Line 6312
We schal him scle and al to-colpen;
But we do thus, we ben not holpen.'
¶ Thanne strok to Ector alle that rabel,
But he ȝaff nouȝt ther-of a babel,
Line 6316
For he was war of hem comyng
And of here malice and here thynkyng.
Page 187
¶ Hic Achilles & alij Reges Grecorum ffugierunt.
Thei smot on him, as thei were wode, [folio 94a]
Line 6319
But Ector euere here strokes stode,
Line 6320
He smot of heuedes with basenettis,
Ther is no bote, ther he his strok settis.
¶ Achilles fley with alle his ffrape,
He was ffayn that he myght scape,
Line 6324
He thoght wel longe he dwelled there,
He wolde haue ben he roght neuere where.
For Alle Achilles trecherie
Thei wolde not sen his ffisnamye,
Line 6328
But fled a-way to her tentis,
For many of hem ther her hed of-hentis;
¶ For Ector euere hem schased,
Helm and Coyffe he of-rased,
Line 6332
And sclow hem bothe ȝonge and olde,
As wolues don schep that ben In folde.
Hadde thei had dayes lyght,—
But sicurly it was nyght,—
Line 6336
That non of hem myght other chese;
Ne Ector wolde not his men lese,
¶ Affter his men he be-gan to blowe,
For non of hem myght other knowe;
Line 6340
And that fel faire for the Gregeis—
What-so-euere any man seis—
Thei hadde elles ben bounden In thral,
Or thei scholde haue dyed al.
Line 6344
¶ For witnes beres her-off Dares,
And Tites also with-oute les,
On ayther syde were thei heraudes,
In wham myȝt be no fraudes;
Line 6348
Thei were ther bothe euen & mo[r]ne.
Dares was of Troye borne,
Kyng Troyen and kyng Frigais,
Tites of Grece, and kyng Danais;
Line 6352
Page 188
Line 6352
Thei were with hem euere In the feld, [folio 94b]
Line 6353
Whan thei stode and whan thei fled.
So saith the noble Clerk Cuydo,
He fond her bokes bothe two
Line 6356
With-oute lesyng or variaunce
In siker proses and no romaunce,
And he translated wel and fyne
Bothe her bokes In-to Latyne,
Line 6360
Bothe of Gru and Troye langage;
Heuene be his heritage!
HIt was nyght, the sterres gan schyne,
The Gregeis made gret dele and dyne
Line 6364
For her ffrendes that were sclayn,
And was be-reued blode and brayn;
For her frendes that died that day
Ther was cry and weylawey.
Line 6368
Thei swore by god In firmament:
'If Ector lyue, we are alle y-schent;
Schal non of vs aȝeyn him pas,
Kyng ne knyȝt, more ne las.
Line 6372
Waried worth hem vs hedir broght!
For here we lese, and wynne noght;
Ȝit schal we lese and drye more
Oure lyues alle by goddis ore.'
Line 6376
¶ Agame[n]on herde that playnt,
He saw his men were alle ataynt,
For her frendes thei made care,
Thei seyde: "thei scholde alle to deth fare";
Line 6380
Thei cried and seyde euerychone:
"That he him-self sclow mo alone
Than alle that other of his parti";—
'Who may with-stonde suche An enemy [MS. Anenemy.] ?
Line 6384
¶ It was neuere man ȝaff [MS. thaff.] suche strokes;
Off a man were mad of okes,
Page 189
Off Marbil gray and grete stones, [folio 95a]
Line 6387
And yren and stele were alle his bones,
Line 6388
He wolde hem al to-cleue [MS. alto cleue.] —
By him that made Adam and Eue!'
¶ Agamenon with care was cold,
He wiste neuere, how Gregeis to hold,
Line 6392
That thei a-ȝeyn to Grece ne ferde;
Whan he that playnt a-monges hem herde,
In his herte he then kest,
To sle Ector, how myght he best.
Line 6396
A-non he sende his sonde
To alle the kynges vpon that stronde,
As thei loued here lyues dere,
And prayed him in alle manere,
Line 6400
That thei wolde come for his loue alle
With-oute dwellyng In-to his halle.
¶ These lordes qwyk with-oute dwellyng
Come to him In that euenyng,
Line 6404
Thei come to his pauyloun,
Duk, prince and kynges with croun;
Thei set hem doun vpon the des,
Thei hoped wel with-oute les,
Line 6408
Whi that thei were afftir send;
Hit was for-sothe right, as thei wend.
AGamenon seide: 'lordyngis,
This man Ector to schame vs brynges,
Line 6412
Ther is of him gret noyse and cry,
Ȝe here it wel, and so do I;
Iff he lyue longe and goth forth thus,
He wol scle oure men and alle vs,
Line 6416
He schal not leue with-Inne two ȝere
Off vs lyuande that now is here;
Ȝe se wel alle, how he fares,
He chases vs as hound doth hares;
Line 6420
Page 190
¶ Hic Greci tenuerunt consilium ad occidendum Ectorem.
How hath he smetyn thes kynges and schorne! [folio 95b]
But he be ded, we ben alle lorne,
Line 6422
Off we be fele, and thei ffewe;
We schal neuere no maystrye schewe
Line 6424
Off hem of Troye, ne Troye wynne,
The while that he this world is Inne.
¶ Him-selff alone hem alle saues,
Kyng and knyȝt, sqwyeres and knaues,
Line 6428
And he vs alle him ones greues.
By him that In oure god leues!
But we scle him with som quayntise,
We schal neuere In other wyse
Line 6432
Off hem of Troye oure Iornay spede,
But we myght qwyte him his mede!'
NOw are these kynges In a-visement,
And eche man seith his Iugement,
Line 6436
Many a resoun is ther y-schewed,
Bothe of lered and of lewed;
Eche man telles his reson
Afftir his beste discrecion.
Line 6440
Now sitte thei alle, and taken here rede,
Now the Emperour vnto hem sede:
¶ 'Alas, that ȝe were mad knyȝtes!
Ȝe scholde sitte and wake nyghtes,
Line 6444
As hauke on perche that sittes in mewe;
A knyȝtes deth ȝe can rewe.
Now are the knyȝtes hardi and strong,
And euery day he is ȝow among;
Line 6448
Whi ne scle ȝe him, and make him die
With som tresoun and ffelonye?'
¶ A Ector, thin ere auȝt to glowe,
For thow hast now fouȝten y-nowe;
Line 6452
Wold god, Ector, hit were the sayd
How thei haue thi deth purvayd!
Page 191
Thow scholde be saffe at devys, [folio 96a]
Line 6455
Iff that thow wolde be war and wys
Line 6456
And kepe the fro alle her gyn,
Thow woldest be war to come ther-In.
¶ Thes lordes ben alle In gret stody,
Some are pale, and some rody,
Line 6460
And some sittes in a dwale,
For pure angur thei wax al pale;
Alle haue at Ector dispyte,
That he were ded with-oute refyte.
Line 6464
¶ Thei prayed Achilles for her sake:
"That he wolde that charge take,
For ther was non so wele couthe
In al the world by northe ne southe,
Line 6468
Ne non that myght stonde strokes thre
In al this world of him but he;"
¶ 'For-thi we pray the with herte large,
On the thow woldest take that charge,
Line 6472
And the owe best this nedis to do;
For if he leue and come the to
And dele with at his layser,
Ther saues the nother kyng ne kayser,
Line 6476
That thow ne schalt thy lyff for-go,
For he the hatis and thenkes slo.
¶ Fro him ful wel war the ought,
Opon thi strengthe truste thow nought,
Line 6480
But on thi wit and on thi scleyght,
And holde the euere fro him on heyght;
Whan thow him sees in a myscheef,
Than schaltow him dedly greef
Line 6484
By thi strengthe and thi wit;
So schal we of him be qwit,
And alle these other schal we kylle,
Scle and take at oure wille.'
Line 6488
Page 192
Line 6488
And thus haue thei her consayl ent, [folio 96b]
Line 6489
And eche man is hamward went,
To ete and drynke and take her rest,
And to sclepe, whan hem likes best.
Line 6492
HIt is now day, thei haue sclepen,
The Troyens risen & tok her wepen,
Her armes al byfore hem fecched,
Some ben gode, and som ben wrecched,
Line 6496
For many an hole and many a clyfft
The day be-fore on hem was lefft;
And dede on helm and basenettes,
Plates and mayle with gode horetes,
Line 6500
Mayle of bras, and goode colers [MS. coters.] ,
Aketones and genuleres;
Thei ordeyned hem and made hem graythe,
And thret Gregeis with wordes laythe.
Line 6504
¶ Now the sonne is vp rysen,
Thei brought forth bothe Mule and Fryson,
Hoby, stede, and gode rounsi;
Thei alle ben goynge and alle redi
Line 6508
Toward the Gregeis with-oute the ȝates,
For thei wolde haue the fight al-gates.
¶ Ector was be-fore al-weyes,
He belan neuere to scle the Gregeis,
Line 6512
He cleues hem, and thorow strikes,
And throwes hem In clyf and dikes,
He makes here hedes naked and bare,
The bodyes cleue In-to the schare,
Line 6516
He drow here scheldes fro here nekkes,
Ther aketons ferd as toren sekkes;
Off his scheld made he present
To alle that wolde ȝeue strok or hent;
Line 6520
His sword was wel with alle a-kuoynt [MS. a knoynt.]
With kyng, and duke, and prince anoynt;
Page 193
Hic Greci et Troiani ffecerunt magnum bellum.
Men were alle ferd of his lokyng. [folio 97a]
Line 6523
Men wolde seye "hit were lesyng,"
Line 6524
Iff that a man the sothe sayde,
What men that day to grounde layde.
¶ Achilles holdes him euere asyde,
He maketh him redi to wayte his tyde;
Line 6528
As ffische is dreven to the bayte,
So waytes he him at som defaute;
T[h]er-vpon he euere duelles,
For he atentis to no-thyng elles,
Line 6532
For whan he may his tyme se
Opon Ector venged to be.
PAris come with hem of Perse,
With many a baner diuerse,
Line 6536
With bowys gode wel y-strenged;
A-mong Gregeis whan thei were menged,
Thei schotte many thorow bak and brest,
That neuere spak afftir with prest.
Line 6540
¶ Agamenon on syde houed,
With gode Armes and wel y-gloued;
He saw Paris was thedur y-comen,
That fro his brother his wiff hadde y-nomen;
Line 6544
He was to him wel greuous,
For he hadde wedded his brother spous,
Him were leuer than alle Lorynge,
That he myght his brother venge;
Line 6548
¶ He come to him ful wel batayled,
And with his ost Paris assayled.
Ector saw that Emperour
Was comen doun In-to that stour,
Line 6552
He lefft alle other and rod to him,
And ȝaff him certes woundes grym,
He smot him thorow his gode hauberk,
Thorow his scheld and his serke,
Line 6556
Page 194
Line 6556
In-to the body and threwe him ouer; [folio 97b]
Line 6557
Hit was gret wonder he myght couer.
¶ But Achilles was In a-gayt,
He come anon bothe stout and st[r]ayt,
Line 6560
With many a lord and many a knyȝt,
When he saw him In suche a plyȝt.
Ector was his men with-oute,
Achilles closed him al aboute,
Line 6564
That non of his scholde to him come;
But he ȝaff not ther-of a throme,
He layde opon hem dyntes grete,
That sicurly thei made him swete;
Line 6568
Thei were many and held him hote,
Wherfore he ran al on swote.
¶ Then come Troyle and Eueas
With [sword] & scheld and gode anlas,
Line 6572
Dryuand doun to helpe Ector;
Achilles was wel wroth ther-for.
¶ When Diomedes saw Eueas,
A stalworthe spere to him he tas,
Line 6576
Wel ney his flanke his strok he tecles,
And strikes him with spere and pricles,
And he ran forth as foule that flyes.
But Eueas be war, he abyes
Line 6580
The bolde wordes that dede sclyng,
'When that thow sittes by the kyng';
For he reuyled him so vylenslye,—
He thoght right wel, he scholde abye,—
Line 6584
When he was sent In message;
But he be war, he getis his wage.
So soffte sailes nother schip ne bote,
As he rod thedur and to him smote;
Line 6588
He ȝaff Eueas a grisly wounde,
And bare him doun to the grounde;
Page 195
Out of his sadel he him sclong [folio 98a]
Line 6591
Vilonsly among the throng,
Line 6592
¶ And seide vnto him his gole:
'Welcome be thow hedir to me!
Thow art the kynges conseler [Last e altered from a in MS.] ;
Iff I may mete the efft her,
Line 6596
And thow this batayle efft haunte,
I schal the teche for to chaunte,
I schal the teche bothe burdoun and mene,
Ne be thow neuere so wroth ne wrene!'
Line 6600
AChilles fauȝt with Ector ȝet
With-oute wordes & with-oute flit,
Ther were douȝti dyntes deled
With al the myght that thei weled,
Line 6604
Ayther of hem on other layd;
Ther men myȝt se wel hard brayd
Be-twene two knyȝtes of hardi mode,
Thei fauȝt to-gedur as thei were wode;
Line 6608
Strongur was neuere be-twene two knyȝtes.
Ector sore Achilles dightes,
Opon his helme is many a score,
Many an hole, and many a bore;
Line 6612
So ney the deth Ector him dryues,
That his vertu fast vnthryues,
For sorily hadde he him dight;
Ther myȝt men se bothe her myght.
Line 6616
¶ Ector was for-fouȝten al day,
And he dede not but wayted him ay,
To stele on him as a theff,
When he fond him at myscheff.
Line 6620
He wende then haue don him of dawe
And his lymes al to-drawe [MS. alto drawe.] ,
But for al his quaynt thoght
He was almost brought to nought;
Line 6624
Page 196
¶ Adhuc Bellum.
His myght was al-most y-don, [folio 98b]
Line 6625
Nadde him come help son,
Ector hadde y-taken him elles;
In many a stid his blod out quelles.
Line 6628
¶ Him to helpe come Theseus kyng,
A strong knyȝt In alle thyng
Als come thedur pricande sone;
He swore by him that sat in throne:
Line 6632
"That him were leuere be al quyk fflayn,
Then Achilles were take or sclayn."
¶ Diomedes saw also,
That Achilles myȝt not do;
Line 6636
Ector was on him so hidous,
So ful of wrathe and greuous,
That he was dryuen so ney the prikke,
That he myght not his lippis likke.
Line 6640
¶ Thes kynges thanne to Ector goth,
And swor his deth, as thei were wroth,
And layd on bothe halues tho,
And ȝaff him strokes y-nowe & mo.
Line 6644
But Theseus son to him lepe,
As knyȝt that was good and ȝepe,
And ȝaff Ector a stroke vnride,
That the blod be-gan out glide;
Line 6648
The strok was huge and gret,
Men myght ther-with haue sclayn a net;
The strok was smetyn with gret folye,
He barst of his mayle thre & thrittye,
Line 6652
¶ He barst of hem mo than an hundur,
And persed his Armure, that hit was vndur;
Al he to-rent his armure,
That it come to his fflesche pure;
Line 6656
Afftir the strok the blode out sprong,
He hadde a strok a schafftmon long.
Page 197
But Ector ȝaff ther-of but lytel: [folio 99a]
Line 6659
Diomedes he ȝaff a titel,
Line 6660
And with his swerd a comyssioun,
That of his stede he fel a-doun,
That men myȝt se his yren breche;
He ȝaff not of hem a leke.
Line 6664
¶ Then come theder Menelaus,
Vlixes kyng, and Theseus,
The duȝti kyng Palamydes,
Ermules, and Polymetes,
Line 6668
Neoptolomus, and kyng Schelene,
The noble douȝti duk Menescene,
Duk Nestor, and kyng Thoas,
With alle his men Philocoas;
Line 6672
¶ The kynges alle with here Meyne
Come doun alle to that semble,
With knyȝtes, squier, Erle and swayn,
Was non be-hynde—soth to sayn;—
Line 6676
That were tho that strong be-sted,
The blod was mochel that ther was bled.
THe Troiens saw hem come doun alle,
Opon her men then gon thei falle,
Line 6680
Than seyde the Troyens: 'go we echon,
Go we to hem, go we gon!
We schal of hem to grounde warpe [MS. wrape.]
With swordes bryght and speres scharpe.'
Line 6684
Than was ther a woful metyng:
Many a wyff made thei wepyng,
Many a gaylard knyȝt and gay—
When thei were met—dyed that day.
Line 6688
¶ I Trowe, sythen men couthe wepyn bere,
And hors bere sadel and other gere,
Herde neuere man telle In boke ne rede
So manye at ones lye dede,
Line 6692
Page 198
Line 6692
At on Iornay lye and deye. [folio 99b]
Line 6693
Some were smeten thorow the eye,
Some to the brayn vn-to the crawe,
Some In-to the body, and some In-to the mawe,
Line 6696
Some the schuldres, & som the mylte,
Off bothe the parties were many on spilte.
Eche man on other schetis,
As thikke as heryng fletis;
Line 6700
¶ Many a legge lay on that sond,
Many on loste bothe arme & hond,
Many an hed was smeten of thore;
Thei cried and ȝelled as boles rore,
Line 6704
Men myght here the cry a myle
Off hem that dyed ther that while.
The brethe thei blew stode lyke a smoke,
Hit ros ouer hem as the roke [MS. reke.] ,
Line 6708
Hit ferd a-boute hem as a myst.
Many man to grounde ther dist
With mouthe and nase, al her vnthonkes;
Ector hewes of legges and schankes,
Line 6712
Many a man doth he to dethe,
He seses neuere, whil he hath brethe.
Off alle the men that euere god wroght
I haue most meruayle In my thoght
Line 6716
Off Ector certis and of his dedes,
And so haue alle that of him redes:
Ther dar non stonde of him a box,
Thei fle fro him, as hen doth fro the fox.
Line 6720
¶ I trowe, god made neuere suche a knyȝt,
Ne ȝaf neuere man suche a myȝt,
That euere was borne In toun or port,
But it were only to Sampsoun fort,
Line 6724
For he [was] seker with-oute pere
Off alle the men that euere were.
Page 199
Off Sampson hadde ben ther that tyde [folio 100a]
Line 6727
And al that day hadde reden him be-syde,
Line 6728
He ne myȝt haue don no more then he
For al his myȝt and his pouste.
Red I neuere of knyȝt ne man,
That born was of womman [In the margin, by another hand, much faded, very indistinct: 'Driuyng hour (?) I pray the to . . . my well ordered.'] ,
Line 6732
That dede the dedis that Ector did;
Alas, that euere him mys-be-tid!
AGamenon and kyng Pandale
Thei rode to-gedur in that dale,
Line 6736
Ayther of hem made other tumble
Bothe on fyngur & on thumbe.
Menelaus saw Paris;
Off him wold he not mys;
Line 6740
His spere was strong, the hed wel steled,
He smot Paris, that he doun reled
Ouer & ouer, as were a snayl;
He bare him ouer his hors tayl.
Line 6744
¶ Paris ther-of gret schame thoght,
That he to grounde so sone was broght;
He ros vp ful pale and wan.
For schame he hadde of fair Eleyn,
Line 6748
He was ther-of wel sore aschamed,
That he of Eleyne schulde be blamed,
That sche saw so foule a falle,
Ther sche was set In castel walle.
Line 6752
¶ Vlixes rod to kyng Arastre,
Thei fauȝt to-gedur In that plastre,
Strong batayle was be-twix hem two,
But atte laste be-tyd hem so,
Line 6756
That kyng Arastre so sore was priked,
That his eres the grounde likked;
¶ Vlixes toke the stede by the rest,
And sende him hom, he dede the best.
Line 6760
Page 200
Line 6760
¶ Polidomes and kyng Hupoun [folio 100b]
Line 6761
Eyther of hem barst other vpon,
That bothe here speris [MS. stedis.] barst,
That kyng Hupoun was ded doun cast;
Line 6764
Afftir that strok his tonge neuere wawed,
Hit was with him wel euel dawed.
Hupoun was a man of elde,
Palamydes that strok be-held,
Line 6768
He saw the kyng ligge & dye
Right ther be-fore his eye.
SAyd the kyng Palamydes:
'Thow schalt abye, Palidomes!'
Line 6772
He strok him so sore sidlynge,
That of his hors fel that kynge,
As it were a clewe of thred;
Ne ete he neuere afftir bred.
Line 6776
Now lyest thow ther on thi syde,
The deuel made the a stede be-stride,
For litel myght is In thi lymes.
Palamydes Hupoun vp nymes,
Line 6780
And sent him to his Pauyloun
With mychel lamentac[i]oun.
¶ Afftir that Neoptolomus
Rod to kyng Archilogus,
Line 6784
Ayther ȝaff other suche a kayl,
That thei fflowen ouer the hors tayl
Opon that playn, as it were two rattes,
Thei lay ston-stille as two cattes.
Line 6788
¶ Carras rod to kyng Schelene [MS. schenele.] ,
Him hadde be beter at home to bene,
For Schelene ȝaff him suche a balle,
That of his stede he made him falle,
Line 6792
He ȝaff him suche a benedicite,
That he fel dede opon the ble.
Page 201
¶ Afftir that kyng Philomene [folio 101a]
Line 6795
Fel to ride to kyng Mescene,
Line 6796
But Mescene rod ouer his cropere
And lefft his stede, that was him dere;
Philomene sende him vnto hise,
For he him [wan] with valyauntise.
Line 6800
¶ Philocoas and kyng Remus
Rod to-gedur wel irus,
That to the grounde rode bothe kynges,
As euen as thei were drawen with strenges.
Line 6804
CAriolus, a kyng corouned,
And Theseus kyng to-geder routed
With speres scharpe, that men myȝt here;
When thei to-geder met In-fere,
Line 6808
Here speres brast al In-sunder,
As it were a blast of thonder;
The strokes were strong, here bakkes bent,
Ne hadde the speres a-sonder went,
Line 6812
Thei schuld haue dyed at my wenyng
Bothe to-geder at that metyng.
Here mayles barst, her aketons rofe,
The yren In-to the fflesch drofe,
Line 6816
The blod gerd out, as were a gote,
Thei tombled ouer bothe hed and throte;
Thei lay ston-stille In that plot,
As it hadde ben an erthe-clot.
Line 6820
¶ Ector bretheren were mechel to prayse,
Many a doughti man thei reyse
Out of here sadles and bere hem bak,
And lefft hem ligge as a sak
Line 6824
With grisly wounde and al ded leffte,
That thei come neuere to batayle effte.
¶ The doughti kyng sir Thelamon
Saw ther a kyng,—het sir Padon,—
Line 6828
Page 202
Line 6828
To him he wolde [faste] ride, [folio 101b]
Line 6829
He smot his hors and made him glide
Ouer forow and ouer falow
As swyff[t] as any swalow,
Line 6832
Til he him met atte speres ende;
Sir Pedoun a-ȝeyn him gan wende:
'Thow semest,'—he sayde,—'no lyuande creature,
In my god I the coniure!
Line 6836
And if thow be the deuel Sathanas,
I schal the mete In this plas.'
Thei riden to-gedur with-oute fayle,
That thei fel doun top ouer tayle;
Line 6840
Thei mette so wel, that nother fayled,
That the blod fro hem rayled;
Thei fel doun vpon the grene,
That men wende ded thei hadde bene.
Line 6844
ABoute Ector euere thei rayled;
The Gregeis euel he assayled,
He hewys hem offte alle to grotes,
He falles hem thikker, than the motes
Line 6848
In somer-tide fflyen In the sonne,
He spares nother qwik ne donne,
Lord ne lady, riche ne pore,
Strong ne feble, stiff ne store.
Line 6852
¶ Achilles clepes to him Thoas,
A douȝti kyng,—his cosyn was,—
He sayde: 'Cosyn, I haue meruayle,
We are not worth a scnayle
Line 6856
A-ȝeyn that man, that ȝonde fyghtes
Vndir vs alle with myght & scleghtes;
He sles oure men by fyue and six,
He countes hem as thei were a kex;
Line 6860
He weries not, ne belynnes nere,
But lastes euere In his wode gere,
Page 203
Ryght as it were enchauntement; [folio 102a]
Line 6863
Many a knyȝt hath he schent.
Line 6864
Go we to him on a closter,
Oure myght on him let vs now muster!
For now I hope and wot right wele,
His myght be passed som dele;
Line 6868
I trowe now wel, he be myghtles,
Or oure godis be not rightwes,
And he of myȝt is more than thay.
Go we and loke, what we do may!
Line 6872
And so schal we on him be wroken!'
When Achilles hadde thus spoken,
THese kynges two with-oute abode
As-tide thei to Ector rode,
Line 6876
And layde on him as lyther hynes [MS. lytherhynes, but the down-stroke of the second h is crossed.]
Many a strok the two cosynes,
Achilles and kyng Thoas;
Thei roffe his helme In that cas,
Line 6880
That hadde ben made of tre or lether,
Hit greued not him of a feder;
Thei brast his helme In many a stede,
And made his blode aboute him sprede.
Line 6884
¶ Thei did bothe certis ther myght,
To him sle or take In that fyght
With many a knyght bothe fat & megre.
But kyng Toas was on him egre,
Line 6888
Off Ector heued his helme he drow;
But Ector ȝaff him strokes y-now,
With tene smot he that lorer,
That he brast helme and his viser,
Line 6892
And halff his nase he did of-kerue,
Off suche a seruice he did him serue;
Thoas fel to grounde thore,
For he was wounded swythe sore.
Line 6896
Page 204
Line 6896
ECtor brether come then alle, [folio 102b]
Line 6897
Thei saw Thoas by Ector falle,
Thei ride to him and alle that other
And help right wel Ector, her brother;
Line 6900
Thei fauȝt with Gregeis meru[el]ously
And bare hem doun dispitously;
¶ Achilles wolde no lengur abyde.
Thei toke Thoas In al his pride
Line 6904
And ladde him to Troie to here prisoun,
Thei caste him In a depe dongoun,
Thei thrat him alle, tho he was tan,
For ther brother Cassibalan,
Line 6908
That he hadde sclayn with glad spede,
Thei him be-hight In alle mede.
¶ Antenor and Dephebus
Lad him to Troye ful greuous
Line 6912
Of his woundes and his takyng,
And also of his presonyng;
Thei lefft him ther In sicur warde,
And went aȝeyn to her standarde.
Line 6916
¶ Kyng Thelaman at that rescous
Was born to grounde as a mous,
The bretheren him threw to grounde tho,
For he assayled Ector also
Line 6920
With kyng Thoas and Achilles;
Him hadde ben better haue ben in pes,
For suche a wounde thei him be-tauȝt,
That he leffte bothe mayn and mauȝt.
Line 6924
Thei bare him to his Pauyloun,
Til he come ther In a ded swoun.
Menelaus kest al his wit,
How he myȝt Paris best hit;
Line 6928
¶ Paris saw wel his waytyng,
He was war of his laykyng,
Page 205
Off his euel wil was Paris war; [folio 103a]
Line 6931
His bowe he bente al redi thar,
Line 6932
He set ther-In a kene beket
And to Menelaus he hit schet;
That hed was mad with foule venym.
Paris wel euene schot at him,
Line 6936
And he fel doun, as he scholde dye,
The blod ran out of his eye.
¶ Paris at him euel taysed;
Fro the grounde his men him raysed,
Line 6940
And bare him home to his hale,
And laide him doun In-myddes the sale.
To him come sithen surgiens
And other noble ficisiens;
Line 6944
His wounde ful wisly then he soghte,
When thei were to him broghte.
¶ Thei ȝaf him drynke & gode medecynes,
And slaked him then of his pynes,
Line 6948
Thei schof aboute wel soffte his flesche,
With good wateres thei him weche,
Thei greythed him gode oynement.
When he was dyght, his stede he hent,
Line 6952
And rod aȝeyn to that stour,
And sought Paris with semblant sour;
¶ He swor by goddis dyng[ne]te,
He schuld on him wel venged be.
Line 6956
When Paris hadde with him thus toyled,
Off his Armes he him dispoyled,
He cast of al his armure,
And fauȝt with him In cors pure,
Line 6960
With bowe and arwe fedred with po,
He wroght amonges hem mechel wo.
¶ Menelaus was wel war,
That Paris thenne non armes bar,
Line 6964
Page 206
Line 6964
But was al naked In his clothes; [folio 103b]
Line 6965
He swor his dethe with gret othes,
A stalworth spere to him he kipped
With stelen hed that wel was tipped.
Line 6968
I hope wel Paris ded hadde ben,
Ne hadde Eueas gon be-twen,
That he myght not Paris come to,
For no-thyng that thei myȝt do.
Line 6972
¶ Eueas thanne hath led hom Paris
With mochel folk to Troye y-wis,
That Menelaus met him not with,
For he nas y-armed nother lym ne lyth.
Line 6976
ECtor saw al that fare,
How he was lad to Troye al bare.
To Menelaus ȝaff he tent,
To scle his brother how he hadde ment;
Line 6980
Ector therfore was sore greued,
Ther-fore his helme In-two he cleued,
Thorow his coyfe his gode swerd bot;
Menelaus ther-fore not flote,
Line 6984
Ne hadde no wordes him to speke,
Ne hadde no myȝt him-self to wreke.
¶ Ector wolde haue taken him fayn,
He put ther-to myȝt and mayn;
Line 6988
But ther come many a moder barne,
Duk and kyng,—I the warne,—
With alle her knyȝtes, him to rescowe,
For he lay stille as a sowe;
Line 6992
Ther come mo knyghtes to his defence
Than ben now In alle Tarence.
¶ On Ector alle thei gan leye,
Many a body he did ther dye,
Line 6996
Many a man to dethe gos,
For thei lette him of his purpos;
Page 207
¶ Hic Greci ffugerunt.
He sclees hem & falles that he reches, [folio 104a]
Line 6999
Delful strokes he hem be-teches,
Line 7000
He maymed hem and ouer-al slees,
That he hadde neuere more pees,
Many a man he ther spilles;
The Gregeys ffleis ouer dales & hilles,
Line 7004
As faste as thei may ride,
Toward her tentis on eche a side.
ECtor affter euere chases,
At eche a lepe his stede vnbrasis,
Line 7008
Thei fledde him as hare doth hound;
Men myȝt haue filled a gret dromound
With bodijs that he sclow chasand,
And euere he folowed manassand.
Line 7012
He swar here deth by bok and belle,
He nolde neuere sese hem to qwelle;
Scholde neuere man ne creature
Haue went fro [MS. for.] that batel sure,
Line 7016
¶ Hadde thei of Troye had day-lyght,—
So were thei ferd and discomfyght;—
But sterres ros vpon the sky,
Ector lefft his chase for-thi
Line 7020
And turned hem to his Cite,
With kyng, duk, and his meyne;
And did sone off hem her harneys
& set hem doun on benche & deys [This line written in the margin very neatly, but by the same hand.—The last line of this MS. page (not printed here) is repeated there on the back of the leaf as first line.] ,
Line 7024
And made her bones nesche and souple,
For ther was many a worthi couple,
For gret trauayle that thei hadde had
Off thaire restyng were thei glad.
Line 7028
NOw is Ector comen to halle,
And the stedis stabeled alle,
Thei ar vndight and set In stable;
Then was reysed many a table,
Line 7032
Page 208
Line 7032
The bordes were layd, the clothes spred [This line is in the MS. a repetition of the last line of the preceding page, where only leyd is written instead of layd. See footnote 2 on preceding page.] , [folio 104b]
Line 7033
And thei are set and richely fed
With mete and drynke, gret plente,
With vernage, Cret, and clarre,
Line 7036
With other drynkes and riche metes.
¶ But Priamus no-thyng for-ȝetes
To make thaire ȝates fast—
He was of the Gregeis so sore agast,—
Line 7040
With many bare and many a croke,
And men y-nowe the ȝates to loke,
That alle men that were trauayled
Schulde, when Gregeis hem assayled
Line 7044
With noyse or cry or any affray,
In thaire bed [be] ther thei lay.
¶ The ȝates he keped, and thei ben sere
To ete and drynke and make gode chere,
Line 7048
To ete & drynke can thei not sese,
Thei were serued with many a messe,
With many noble diuers rost,
With mete bakyn, sothen, and tost.
Line 7052
THe clothes were drawen, when þei had eten;
Kyng and duk and alle that ther seten,
Layd [MS. layd.] be-side hem bothe gerdel and pouche,
And wente than alle to thaire couche,
Line 7056
And held hem vnder couertoure,
And sclepte wel a gode mesure,—
Til nyght was gon, and sonne schon wyde,
That men myȝt se on eche a syde.
Line 7060
¶ With mechel noyse thei hem atyred,
Thei hadde long sclept and were en-yred,
And as thei her armure held In hande,
Kyng Priamus sente his tithande,
Line 7064
That thei schulde be that day In pees
And make hem alle wele at es.
Page 209
¶ Priamus sende his messageres, [folio 105a]
Line 7067
And afftir his priue counseleres,
Line 7068
To kyng and duk and to Ector,
And afftir Troyle and Antenor,
Til Dephebus and Eueas,
Paris and Polamydes,
Line 7072
That thei scholde come to his Paleis,
To here his consayl ther alweis.
¶ Thei spedde hem faste euerychon:
Thedir is comen kyng Monnon,
Line 7076
Gode Ector, and many another,
Troylus, and Dephebus his brother,
To Priamus that were priue,
What he wolde, to here and se.
Line 7080
When thei were y-comen alle
To Ylion In-to the halle,
Thei sat hem doun on that days,
Thei were stille and held her pays;
Line 7084
Saue Priamus, that kyng corouned,
Was non of hem that o word souned.
HE spak to hem with glad chere
And seyde: 'lordynges, ȝe are me dere;
Line 7088
With-oute ȝoure wil and ȝoure assent
Wol I not do, so haue I ment.
I schal ȝow telle myn herte wille,
What is my resoun and my skylle,
Line 7092
Whi I haue sent afftir ȝow;
Sittes stille and herkenes now!
¶ Me thinketh oure goddis speciale
And haue vs ȝeuen gret riale,
Line 7096
For vs haue thei mechel wrought;
To honour hem ful wel we ought.
Thei loue vs wel specially,
And worchin for vs rially,
Line 7100
Page 210
Line 7100
Ther-fore schal we on alle wyse [folio 105b]
Line 7101
Do to oure goddis sacrifise
With riche offerand and gret dispense,
And hem worschepe and do reuerence.
Line 7104
¶ We mot nede hem glorifye,
That hath vs sent oure enemye
And schamely lyght In oure prisoun,
That vs hath don gret tresoun
Line 7108
With force and armes and cruelte,
That wolde sle bothe ȝow and me,
To robbe oure goddis, and oure Cite brenne,
And oure wyues ledde henne,
Line 7112
And make oure childer thral and cherles,
That schulde be kynges, dukes, and Erles;
And we hem ones greued,
By alle the gode non ther leued!
Line 7116
¶ Me thinketh by resoun, and ȝow thynk als,
That this freke and traytour fals
Be ȝoure consayl and Iugement
With-oute the toun be ybrent,
Line 7120
Or fle him quyk al by the lawe,
Or with wilde hors him to-drawe,
Or elles hong him on galowe-tre,
That wolde distroye ȝoure Cite;
Line 7124
And so schal alle these other drede.
What sey ȝe now, what ȝe rede?
¶ Lete se now, what dethe demes,
Wheche deth of thes him best semes?
Line 7128
Schal he be qwartered [MS. qwarteler.] with a knyff?
To se him ded, were al my lyff!'
Ther was no kyng that croune bered,
That Priamus that tyme answered
Line 7132
With word, whan he was demand;
But sat stille as dere on the land,
Page 211
But were of that strong stonayd, [folio 106a]
Line 7135
Of hem alle no word thei sayd.
Line 7136
Eueas was wis, witti, and lered,
To speke than was he not fered,
He saw the kyng hadde wratthe I-tane
For the dethe of Cassibalane,
Line 7140
The kynges sone, he loued best;
For wratthe him thoght his herte brast.
¶ By-fore the kyng Eueas stode,
And spak to him with milde mode,
Line 7144
And sayde to him as the wyse:
'Nolde god, that any of thise
Schamful dethe that to him deme!
Hit is wel better that ȝe him ȝeme
Line 7148
Hole and sound In gode sauete,
For we wot neuere,—no more wot ȝe,—
What may be-falle som tyme to ȝoure,
How it wol schape to vs and oure.
Line 7152
¶ The doughtiest man that euere was born
May falle, be tan, or elles lorn
Among his fos be chaunce and happe.
God made neuere so douȝti a schappe,
Line 7156
That was so michel of strengthe & myght,
Geaunt, champioun, ne other knyght,
He mot be take In batayle;
Al day we sene it, no meruayle!
Line 7160
¶ Ther-fore, sire, I do not rede
That ȝe do thus Thoas to dede,
For ȝe wot wel, my lord the kyng,
That kyng Toas and his ospryng
Line 7164
Is comen of alle the beste lynage
Off hem of Grece that ben of age;
Alle the gret blod of Grece
Ben some his Emes, and some his nece,
Line 7168
Page 212
Line 7168
Alle of his kyn, and to him longe, [folio 106b]
Line 7169
Ther is non gretter hem amonge.
So thei wolde do to oure frende,
Iff any come In here bende,
Line 7172
And ȝiff vs the same Iugement,
The beste of vs if thei mowe hent;
Off som of oure hit myght be-tyde,
Ȝe wold not for al the world wyde
Line 7176
Se him haue suche a chaunce
For al þe lond of Spayne & Fraunce [This line inserted in the margin, like l. 7024.] .
¶ I rede therfore, kyng Thoas saue;
The same a-ȝeyn ȝe mowe it haue,
Line 7180
Ȝe may ȝit kyng Thoas chaunge
For on of oure or for som strange.
Ther-fore, lord, if I durst it say,
I wolde ȝow rede and also pray,
Line 7184
That ȝe wolde kepe kyng Thoas wele;
Hit may be-quyt ȝow euery dele.
¶ Gode Ector, assente ther-to
And rede thi fader, to do right so!'
Line 7188
He radde his ffader "that consail holde
That Eueas hadde ther tolde";—
'I holde his consail gode and trewe.
Iff ȝe him scle, hit may ȝow rewe;
Line 7192
For if any of ȝoure be y-take,
We may him chaunge and so pees make.'
PRiamus held him not payde,
That Ector thus to him sayde;
Line 7196
In his entent ȝet he leffte
And sayde to Ector wrothely effte:
'And if we do with Thoas thus,—
What schal oure enemys saye of vs,
Line 7200
That we haue of hem suche awe,
That we dar not do the lawe?
. . . . . [No gap in MS.]
And therto amonges hem be wel ffawe [The last word, ffawe, on erasure.] ;
Line 7204
Page 213
Line 7204
Thei schal drede vs the lesse [folio 107a]
Line 7205
And holde vs ferd and hertlesse.
But not-for-thi! a-ȝeyn my wille,
I schal assente ȝoure consail tille."
Line 7208
And so was Thoas saued fro ded
Thorow gode Ector and Eueas red.
And Eueas ȝede to Eleyne, to se
That curtays quene of gret bewte.
Line 7212
Kyng Thoas herte be-gan to qwake,
He wende to be hanged al nake;
But Ector wolde he were saued.
Priamus wolde that Troye hadde be paued
Line 7216
With hethen hond and euery a membre;
That he hadde bended or Septembre,
If he myȝt haue had his wille;
But Ector wold not lete him spille,
Line 7220
And thus hadde thei that conseil ent.
The nyght is comen, the day is went,
¶ Euery man to his In owe,
The wayte be-gan nyght to blowe.
Line 7224
Mone ne sterre saw man non,
The cloudes haue hem ouer-gon;
It wex al dym with derk cloude,
The wynde be-gan to blowe loude,
Line 7228
The wynd turned In-to the west,
Hit made a wonder gret tempest.
Among Gregeis blew many a blast
And alle ther tentis to grounde cast;
Line 7232
So wonderly the wynd it blewe,
That alle here tentis ouer-threwe;
Al ȝede to grounde bothe tent and hale,
Here ropes vayled not of a schale.
Line 7236
Wo is hem In here [MS. hem.] sclepes,
The wynd brast bothe tre and ropes,
Page 214
Ther was no stake that fast held, [folio 107b]
Line 7239
Nother of Pauyloun ne of teld.
Line 7240
Hit was as derk as helle,
Might no man se—the sothe to telle,—
To set a-ȝeyn teld ne tent;
Thei were almost with wedir schent.
Line 7244
¶ It be-gan dredly to thunder;
Thei hadde nouȝt to hele hem vnder.
Hit blew, it rayned, and eke snewe,
Thei turned for cold bothe hide & hewe;
Line 7248
It thundred loude, it ffres, hit hayled,
Michel wo that nyght hem ayled;
It lygthned vp In the firmament,
As al the world hadde y-brent;
Line 7252
Hem thought, the sky had y-brend al opon,
In-to the erthe thei wolde haue cropon
For sorwe, and wo, and gret turmentes
That thei hadde of the elementes.
Line 7256
Affter that be-gan it rayne,
As al the world scholde be sclayne;
As water rennes In a goute,
The sky gan falle hem aboute.
Line 7260
Vp In the sky thei it hadde lade,
Men myght with-Inne a wyle wade
A-mong the hors vp to the hamme,
Than lefte no man synge his gamme;
Line 7264
¶ Thei were a-ferd of Noye flode
Hadde comen a-ȝeyn, thei vndirstode.
Al was fir in the firmament,
As it scholde the world haue brent;
Line 7268
The stedes starte out of here stalle
And ran aboute faste with-alle,
Men wende, that thei hadden ben wode;
The sky was as red as any blode.
Line 7272
Page 215
Line 7272
Hem selff to helpe thai ne myȝt, [folio 108a]
Line 7273
I-wis thei hadde a vile nyȝt;
It myȝt haue ben no worse wedur,
Off heuene & erthe hadde gon to-gedur.
Line 7276
¶ Thei banned & cursed alle tho,
That made thedur hem for to go
Fro thayre gode and fro ther wiff,
To lede ther so karful lyff.
Line 7280
Lord, the sorwe that hem was with!
That nyȝt hadde thei non other grith,
Thei quok for cold, thei were al wete,
Thei longed sore afftir hete.
Line 7284
IN sorwe and wo the Gregeis are,
For drede of dethe thei droupe & dare;
That thei come ther ful ofte thei playn,
Thei hopeth ful wel to be a-tayn
Line 7288
To neuere se thing that thei owe,
Wiff ne child, moder ne mowe.
Thei sorwe thus, til hit be day;
"And her ffrendes"— thei seyde ay—
Line 7292
"That lay ther dede, and som were roten,
Some smetyn, & some were schoten;"—
¶ 'Alas!' thei seyde, 'this foul vnwit,
We were with sorwe so combred and knyt!
Line 7296
Whan that we passed the Grekysche see,
We knewe ful lytel Ector poustee;
Hadde we knowen,—as we do now,—
Than hadde we wrought afftir oure prow,
Line 7300
And saued vs, and we dispende;
For now may vs no man amende,
Thes wederes done vs mechel tene.
What wonder is, of we vs mene?
Line 7304
We leue oure lord and oure frende,
And we ligge here in stormes and schende;
Page 216
Er we wende hen, we schal be sclayn; [folio 108b]
Line 7307
Litel wondir is, of we vs playn.
Line 7308
A, Ector, that we ne hadde knowen
Thi douȝtines, er we hadde sowen!
Schulde neuere kyng ne Emperour,
Duke ne knyȝt, ne vauesour,
Line 7312
Haue made vs passe the salte strem
For alle the gode of Ierusalem!'
Thei made gret del and playnyng;
But it be-gan to leue raynyng,
Line 7316
¶ The wynd sesid the gret blast,
The snewyng then no lenger last,
The tempest then be-gan to sese,
The thonder slaked & held her pese.
Line 7320
Thei were glad of the sesed tempest,
Thei were ful glad to cacche rest.
¶ The nyȝt is gon, the cloudes with-drawe,
The day be-gan for to dawe,
Line 7324
The sonne schon, the wedir cleres;
The Troyens then with brode baneres
¶ Were redi armed In the feld,
On stedes stronge, with spere and scheld;
Line 7328
The ȝates were open, and thei rod out.
The Gregeis of hem hadde gret dout,
But not-for-thi thei hadde no nede,
Thei armed hem with mechel spede,
Line 7332
And made hem redi to the fight—
With alle her power and here myght—
¶ A-ȝeyn Ector, that thei drede sore,
With alle here men bothe lasse and more
Line 7336
Here strengthe to kythe, her myȝt to proue
Off hem of Troye that thei saw houe
In-myddes the feld, and hem abode.
When bothe parties to-gedur rode,
Line 7340
Page 217
¶ Hic Rex Hupon Troianus mortuus est.
Delful dyntes thei deled and dalt; [folio 109a]
Line 7341
Many in his armes swalt,
Er euen come and day was gon.
Suche batayle was ther neuere non
Line 7344
Betwene two kynges on lande ne se,
Neuere was, ne neuere schal be.
BOthe parties ben y-dyght,
With scheld and spere and brynes bryȝt,
Line 7348
In playn feld on gode aray;
Ther is no speche of no loue-day,
For eche man wol on other be wreke,—
What bote is than of loue to speke?
Line 7352
Achilles with his Murmindones
Passed ouer dales and dounes;
He rides ouer dounes and dales
With alle his men out of his hales,
Line 7356
With baneres brode and many a sygne,
With many a worthi knyȝt and digne.
¶ The furst batayle sir Achilles
To lede that day for-sothe ches;
Line 7360
Out of his tent he is now yssed,
To kyng Hupoun was he wel wyssed,
A douȝti knyȝt of gret a-fere;
But him thoght euel that he come there:
Line 7364
Hupoun was michel and long,
Hey and brod, mechel & strong,
He was mechel as a geaunt;
But him hadde ben better to haue ben at Gaunt
Line 7368
Or haue leyn seke in his bed,
Then he that day batayle hadde led.
¶ Achilles smot him with a spere,
That al his Armes gan to-tere,
Line 7372
He smot him thorow bothe flesch & bone
And thorow his armes euerychone;
Page 218
Thoow he were mechel and long, [folio 109b]
Line 7375
Out of his sadel he him sclong.
Line 7376
¶ To Ector rod kyng Octomene
With hate and moche tene,
He come to Ector faste fleande
With a stalworthe spere In hande,
Line 7380
He smot Ector, that his spere barst.
'The deuel the honge hard and fast!'
Seide Ector, 'what eyles the?
Whi hastow thus smetyn me?'
Line 7384
¶ Ector was with him ful wrothe,
He drow his swerd and to him gothe,
And smytes him on a-nother manere;
Of his scheld a ful quartere
Line 7388
He carff a-wey at that strikyng;
The stroke was smyten at his lykyng,
He smote him doun vnto his chyn,
That men myȝt se the tethe with-In.
Line 7392
DIodemes and kyng Antipe,
With-oute trompe or pipe
Or any other Melodye,
Thei redyn to-geder with gret envye;
Line 7396
Here speres brast In splentes,
But thei fel not with here dentes,
With that Iustyng ne that Iornay.
But thei ȝede not quyte a-way:
Line 7400
¶ Thei drow here swerdes of here scauberkis
And smot on scheldes and hauberkes,
The rynges barst, the nayles out,
Thei were strawed al a-bout;
Line 7404
Her woundes bledde, her flesch was tamet,
The holest of hem ful sore was lamet.
But at the laste be-tydde it so,
That Diodemes smot In-two
Line 7408
Page 219
Line 7408
Thorow douȝtines duk Antipe gorge, [folio 110a]
Line 7409
With his swerd—was fair of forge,—
That he fel ded on gresse and rote,
Off that wounde he hadde no bote.
Line 7412
GLorious kyng lord Ihesu!
Who-so hadde sen Ector vertu,
How he the Gregeis ther reuerced [MS. reuerted.] ,
Helmes and hauberk how he persed,
Line 7416
How he hem sclow by two and on,—
He wolde haue sworn by Peter and Ion,
By Marie bryȝt and persones thre:
That god that is In vnite
Line 7420
Made neuere man that was so goode,
Ne so many schedde of mannes blode,
Ne non so strong as Ector was.
By him myȝt no man pas,
Line 7424
That he myȝt take or hent,
That the lyff a-way ne went.
Ector slees the men of Grece,
Thei dyed thikkere then men dryues gece
Line 7428
To chepyng-toun for to selle;
It is a wondur for to telle,
What men he sclow In felde,
A-mong his foos how he him welde.
Line 7432
THer come two kynges In that batayle,
That saw Ector aboute rayle,
As faucoun flees afftir drake,
A-mong Gregeis gret murdir make;
Line 7436
He made hem fle for drede a-ferd,
As hound dos dere of his herd.
That on was kyng Episcropus,
That other his brother Cedyus;
Line 7440
Thei rod to Ector bothe at ones,
For to cleue him bothe flesch and bones.
Page 220
But Ector ȝaff off hem riȝt nouȝt, [folio 110b]
Line 7443
Thei fond bothe that thei hadde souȝt;
Line 7444
Episcropus, that ape and owle,
Spak to Ector wordes foule,
He called him "fitz-a-putayn [MS. fitz aputayn.] ,"
And seyth: "he was a cherl velayn."
Line 7448
¶ Than seide Ector: 'as I am knyȝt,
Thow schalt of me haue a foul dispit,
Of me, thow kyng Episcropus,—
Thow hast defouled me thus!'
Line 7452
EPiscropus Ector defies.
'Fals ataynted traytour, thow lyes;'
Saide Ector, 'I was neuere thral,
I am fre, and my kynde al;
Line 7456
In al my kyn is no throle,
But kyng and duk, knyȝt & erle;
My ffader is a gentil kyng,
Suche is non In thyn ospreyng!
Line 7460
¶ Fyfftene kynges, genteler than thow,
Doth him omage and fewte now;
And I, his sone, knyȝt, and Air,
Vndir me is man and mair,
Line 7464
Duke and Prince, and knyȝtes strong,
And alle that euere to him long.
My moder is a gentil quene,
A trewe lady, and euere hath bene;
Line 7468
¶ Sche did her lord neuere falshede,
But euere was trewe In word and dede.
It semes wel thanne, that I am fre,
I may be skyl no cherl be!
Line 7472
And that thow schalt wite, if I the take,
Thi proude wordes schal I slake.
I drede neuere man of thi nacioun,
Whi scholde I now fle a glotoun,
Line 7476
Page 221
¶ Hic Ector occidit Episcropum Regem et Cedium Regem.
Suche a caytyff, suche a wrecche! [folio 111a]
Line 7477
I holde the not worth a fecche!'
¶ Then was wroth Episcropus
That Ector spake to him so spitous;
Line 7480
Dispitusly Ector he myssayde,
And sadly to him he layde
With al his strengthe and al his myght,
With Ector sone he gan to fyght.
Line 7484
Episcropus that schrewe vnorne
Might not his word performe;
¶ Ector sone to him gan take,
He thoght him venge of that wrake;
Line 7488
Ector bare his sword on hye,—
For he hadde no spere him bye,—
He ȝaff the kyng Episcropus
Suche a recumbentibus,
Line 7492
He smot In-two bothe helme & mayle,
Coleret and the ventayle;
He carff him doun In-to his vent,
That to the deth sone he went.
Line 7496
¶ 'Thow art now dede and ouer-throwen,
Thi bostful wordes that thow blowen,
Velenly thow hast thi mede;
To myssay thow efft take hede!'
Line 7500
CEdius saw his brother sclayn,
The swot ran doun—so doth the rayn—
And of his eye doun by his lere,
For his brother that was him dere.
Line 7504
'Alas,' seide he, 'that euere I was born!
I se my brother In-sonder schorn,
I schal him venge—what-so be-tydes—
Thoow my hert brest out at my sydes.'
Line 7508
A thousand knyghtes that douȝti were
Cedius hadde with him there;
Page 222
Alle he called to him tho, [folio 111b]
Line 7511
And many other Gregeis mo;
Line 7512
And asked him: "what was his wille?
Whi he so called and cried him tille?"
¶ Thei asked of him: "what him ayled?"
And he seide: "his lyff him ffayled,
Line 7516
No-thyng In erthe myght do him bote,
Er he saw Ector on his fote,"—
'For he hath sclayn my dere brother,
Episcropus, and many other;
Line 7520
And him folwe I thus aboute,
To seche Ector among the route,
And leue him not, vnto he be founde,
Ded or sclayn, or cast to grounde.'
Line 7524
¶ Cedius then with-oute lesyng
Souȝt Ector faste with gret sikyng;
A thousand knyȝtes rod with him than
With many another douȝti man,
Line 7528
To scle Ector and him wounde.
Thei ȝede him to seke & sone him founde,
And of his stede thei bare him doun,
And ȝede to Ector alle en-viroun;
Line 7532
And that me thenke no meruayle,
For he wist not of here consayle.
ECtor was to grounde I-bet,
A thousand knyȝtes thei on him set,
Line 7536
To scle him ther thei all hadde thoght,
For her euel wil ful thei boght.
Cedius strok to him wel offte;
Ector saw his arme on loffte
Line 7540
Al redi him for to strike,
Then gan Ector sore myslyke;
¶ Than seide Ector to Cedyus:
'Wenestow to sle me thus?
Line 7544
Page 223
Line 7544
I sette at nouȝt alle thi Coueye, [folio 112a]
Line 7545
Whil I may se ȝow with myn eye!'
¶ Ector ȝaff kyng Cedius on
And cleff a-two his schuldir-bon,
Line 7548
That hond & arme bothe fley a-way;
The kyng fel a-doun, and ther he lay.
THen come thedir Menelaus,
And also the stronge Archilaus,
Line 7552
And also the stronge Thelamon
With many a knyȝt, & kyng Makaron,
The noble kyng Diodemes
With many a thousand, & Vlixes;
Line 7556
Ther come also the riche Athene,
The noble man Duk Mescene.
The riche kyng ther Emperour,
That was her alther gouernour,
Line 7560
He come doun with the rerwarde
Strong and yrus as any lyparde.
¶ These kynges comes with here batayles,
Eche man thanne Ector assayles;
Line 7564
Thei died faste on euery syde.
Alas now! how schal Ector abyde
These kynges alle and her power,
Whan hem come socour fer and ner?
Line 7568
¶ Prime was past, hit was Midday,
And ney-honde none—as I ȝow say.
Whan alle that armes bere myght—
Off hem of Grece thei fayled lyght—
Line 7572
Were comen doun to that batayle
With men & hors and pedayle,
With bowe and Arwe and alblast;
Then were the Troyens sore agast,
Line 7576
For thei hadde fouȝten for the best
Al the day with-outen rest.
Page 224
¶ Hic Achilles interficit Phillum Regem.
For then were comen the kynges alle [folio 112b]
Line 7579
And begonne on hem to falle,
Line 7580
Thei were ffresch, these other wery.
Then were the Troyens al sory;
Thei keped the Gregeys not-for-thi
And stode a-ȝeyn strongfully;
Line 7584
But thei myȝt not endure so longe,
The Gregeis were that tyme so stronge,
That thei be-gan so to fle.
It myght with hem no better be,
Line 7588
So weri thei ben and ouer-charged,
Here socour foule fro hem targed.
¶ Achilles folwed and alle hise,
He ouer-toke the kyng Philluse;
Line 7592
Phillus turned and with him fauȝt,
But suche a stroke Achilles him rauȝt
With his hondes sicurly,
That he fel dede ther sodanly.
Line 7596
ECtor saw that Phillus was ded,
'Alas'—seide he—'that I ete bred
That euere was mad of corn of whete,
That I schulde se my men so bete!
Line 7600
I may not longe it suffry
Off that Achilles with his sculkery.'
He turned and loked his men toward:
Thei flowe the while faste a-weyward,
Line 7604
Thei wolde not bide be doune ne dale,
For that the Gregeis were so fale.
¶ Then myȝt men se the Gregeis ride,
Thei closed Ector on eche a side,
Line 7608
Some be-hynde and some be-fore.
Ther was a kyng—het Alpenore—
Another also het Doryus,
Line 7611
Thei were to Ector envyous;
Page 225
On eche a side Doryus him strikes, [folio 113a]
Line 7613
With his spere ful harde he prikes;
Ector deled aboute lyueray
To alle that euere come In his way.
Line 7616
¶ Then men myȝt se swordes drawe—
Thikkere then trees by wode-schawe—
A-boute Ector, to bere him doun;
Thei thoght he scholde neuere come to toun,
Line 7620
But leue ther as a caytyff
Clene ded with-oute lyff.
A Thousand swerdes aboute him clatered,—
As Masons hadde on stones batered,—
Line 7624
But al was nouȝt thei were aboute,
For hem alle hadde he no doute:
He deled a-boute him suche strokes,
That he carf bothe hed and chokes,
Line 7628
Hond and foot & haterelle;
Many on ded to grounde felle.
He sclow for-sothe the kynges two,
And many a-nother knyȝt also.
Line 7632
¶ To scle the Gregeis hadde he neuere pees;
He cried and seyde to Achilles:
'Thow sclow long er a kyng of myne,
Now haue I sclawe two of thyne.
Line 7636
Come thi-selff to venge hem;
I ȝeue of the right nouȝt certeyn!'
¶ The Troiens thanne that were fled,
When thei sey how Ector sped,
Line 7640
How he him-self that stour mayntened,
With hem-selff ful sore thei tened;
When he hadde sclayn the kynges bothe,
With hem-selff thei were wrothe,
Line 7644
Thei turned a-ȝeyn on thaire enemys,
And died faste on bothe parties [Below the last line, upside down and very badly written, are the words: 'paphylun was an vter man bothe of leȝing & dissiuing' [? desseiesing].] .
Page 226
¶ Hic Amphimates Rex Interfectus est.
AVeas thanne his sword out-drow, [folio 113b]
Line 7647
A kyng of Grece ther-with he sclow;
Line 7648
Amphimates his name was kyd
That Eveas ther to dethe dyd.
¶ The Troiens keuered a-ȝeyn the feld,
Aȝeyn the Gregeis fast thei held.
Line 7652
Ther was a duk of gret emprise,
That saw Ector hem alle to-brise
Alle tho of Grece that he myȝt reche;
Ful ffayn wold he take wreche.
Line 7656
¶ He swore by him that sit in trone
And made bothe sonne and Mone:
"He wolde him lette of his doyng,
Off his slawȝt and his quellyng."
Line 7660
Wel boldely to him he Ioyned,
And with his spere faste ffoyned,
That his mayles barst in-sonder,—
That thoght Ector moche wonder;—
Line 7664
He drow his sword and hoved stille
And fauȝt with Ector al his fille.
¶ Gret myȝt the duke schewed thore,
He layde on Ector strokes sore,
Line 7668
He lettid him moche of his prowes,
Off his scleyng and his rebelnes.
¶ Ector was with-al anoyed:
'Now is my myȝt strongly distroyed,'
Line 7672
Ector sayde, 'whan I schal thole
Off on that is not worth a cole
Suche vilony and suche repruse.
I may wel say, I am refuyse
Line 7676
Off alle the kynges sones of Troye,
When that I suffre of suche a boye
Suche vilonye to me be done,—
Ne se I neuere sonne ne mone!
Line 7680
Page 227
¶ Hic venit sagittarius.
But thow schalt dere thi strokes a-bye, [folio 114a]
Line 7681
Thi hardines and thi folye!
I schal kembe [MS. kemble.] thi ȝelowe lokke!'
He ȝaff the duk suche a knokke,
Line 7684
That helm and coyfe In-sunder ȝede;
He cleue him doun vnto his stede,
That he fel doun on that other side.
'Now wil thow ȝiff me leue for to ride,
Line 7688
Where that I loue & thow not me lette!
Now hastow that I the be-hette!'
NOw cometh a-nother kyng Episcropus
With many a knyȝt a-venterus,
Line 7692
Out of Troie comes he ridande
With men of Armes thre thousande.
¶ With him come A quaynte Archer,
That mad is on suche a maner:
Line 7696
He is halff hors and halff man.
With hem of Troye thedir he ran;
This archer ran to fight al naked.
Herkenes now, how he was maked!
Line 7700
Fro his nauel dounward
He was hors, and man vpward;
As a hors hadde he foure fete
That he ran on, whan he schete;
Line 7704
Bak and bely of hors & tayle,
Thus was he maked saunfayle;
¶ His [s]kyn was hard and no-thyng thenne,
His pyntel was of hors-kynne.
Line 7708
And al that was fro the nauel aboue,
Al was man—for goddis loue:—
Sides and ribbes, hed and hals,
Bak and brest, & visage als,
Line 7712
Armes, scholdres, chekes, & eres,—
Al was of man that he op weres.
Page 228
Saue that he hadde of man no voyce,— [folio 114b]
Line 7715
As an hors made he the noyce,
Line 7716
As it were an hors—for-sothe—he neyed.—
Many a man thorow him ther dyed!—
Tethe and gomes and mannes mouth—
Now lyues no man by north ne south,
Line 7720
That euere saw suche a best
In feld ne toun ne in no forest!
¶ Al was of man bothe nese & throte,
And fyngres als for his schote;
Line 7724
But alle his membris lasse and more
Were al be-growen with hors-hore,
Bak and bely, & legge and nase,
Brest, Armes, & his visage;
Line 7728
As he were a hors, he neyes & ondes [Line 7729 after 7730 in MS.] .
His eyen were lyke to brennande brondes;
He fferd, as he scholde men haue brent
With spark of fire that fro him glent;
Line 7732
His vice was red as any fir.
Bowe and arwe was his atir.
WHan he was comen, he bent his bowe;
Alle that euere him sawe
Line 7736
Were ferd of him and strongly wondred;
The horses snored, as it hadde thondred—
So were thei of him agrysed,
So brend his eyen and dredful glysed.
Line 7740
Ther durst not on loke to him ward,
Here hors turned aweyward;
¶ Thei wolde haue fled out of the feld,
But eche a man his hors held:
Line 7744
With mochel wo thei hem resteyed,
To make hem dwelle thei offte assayed;
Thei held hem stille with bridel & reyne,
With mechel wo and mechel peyne.
Line 7748
Page 229
Line 7748
THis Archer schotes & sendes Arwes, [folio 115a]
Line 7749
He slees the Gregeis, as men take sparwes
With lym or net or lymȝerdes,
Hors & man that Archer ferdes;
Line 7752
And Ector slees al that he hittes.
Ther is no man that on hors sittes
Off hem of Grece, that may restay
Ther hors lenger, but fled a-way;
Line 7756
Ther is no man that ther abydes,
But eche man aweyward rydes
To here tentis & Pauelons.
Achilles with his Murmondons [MS. Murmondous.]
Line 7760
Vnto his strengthe a-weyward prikes;
Ector faste afftir him strikes
With hem of Troie; and that archer,
He schet aboute him fer & ner
Line 7764
With arwes that were wel I-heded [Line 7765 after 7766 in MS.] ;
The Gregeis offte In-sunder hem scheded.
¶ A wonder chaunce he did hem thore:
When thei of Grece discomfited wore
Line 7768
And to ther tentis a-weyward fledde,
Her Archer faste Afftir hem spedde;
The Archer hadde so smartly ronnen,
That he hadde lond of hem wonnen.
Line 7772
As he thus ran aboute schetande,
He saw aȝein him come prikande
Diomedes vnto his tentis;
The archer thenne an Arwe out-hentis,
Line 7776
He smot at him—so was he thare—
Diomedes was wel ware,
¶ To schote at him so was he prest;
He wiste neuere, whedir he myȝt best
Line 7780
To his pauyloun for to ride,
For he most ride that Archer be-side,—
Page 230
¶ Hic Diomedes occidit sagittarium.
Or if he turned a-weyward, [folio 115b] —
Line 7783
His enemys come on him bakward:
Line 7784
For if he come a-monges her hondes,
For al the godis of Gregeis londes
Wold thei not lette the kyng quyk go,
With lyff and lym hem go fro.
Line 7788
¶ He was In gret a-visement,
How he myght passe and be not schent;
He saw be-fore him that foule best,
The Troyens afftir him with many a crest.
Line 7792
¶ The Archer was the kyng so hende,
To scle that kyng wel he wende:
To that kyng he gan to hale,
And drow an Arwe vp to the vale;
Line 7796
And as he was In his losyng,
Diomedes, that douȝti kyng,
Hadde his sword al redi drawe,
That many of Troie hadde done of dawe.
Line 7800
¶ He strok his stede & to him rode,
Ar euere arwe fro him glode:
He smot the best vpon the bak
And ȝaff him right an euel knak;
Line 7804
He smot his bak [right] in-sunder,
That he fel doun his hors fete vnder.
NOw are the Gregeis fayn and bolde,
The Archer lyes vpon the wolde
Line 7808
Sclayn and dede, as men telles;
None is ther that langer dwelles,
Thei turned a-ȝeyn and toke the feld,
Thei droff Troians fro tent to teld.
Line 7812
¶ To Ector rennes Achilles,—
But [of] him ȝeues he not two strees,
He kepte him and not for-soke.
A stalworthe spere to him he toke
Line 7816
Page 231
Line 7816
And smot Ector with myght and mayn, [folio 116a]
Line 7817
And he smot him for-sothe a-ȝeyn,
That eyther fel doun, er euere thei wiste,
That bothe her eres the grounde kiste.
Line 7820
¶ But Ector was hurt the sorrour,
For he come doun fro the fferour
As he had ben a man [a-]rage.
He toke Ector at his a-vauntage,
Line 7824
Wher-by Ector In his ffallynge
Toke wel more the brussynge,
And lenger lay his hors beside
Then Achilles dede that tide.
Line 7828
¶ Achilles ros op witterly
And lepe on hors sicurly,
He layde his hond on Ector stede
And went a-way wel gode spede.
Line 7832
ECtor was risen and vp-stode,
He loked aboute as he were wode,
And swor I-tened [MS. & tened.] and he sporles,
The blod ran out at his nase-throlles;
Line 7836
When he fro him his hors saw lede,
Mouthe & nase began to blede,
For tene & wo his hew chaunged.
Ector afftir Achilles sewed,
Line 7840
¶ Opon his feet faste he hyes,—
To his men faste he cryes:
'Se ȝe not, how myn enemy
Ledes a-way my hors ȝow by?
Line 7844
Iff he him lede thus fro ȝow alle,
Foule reproues ȝow schal be-falle!
But ȝe him sonner ouertake,
Ȝe bene not alle worthi an hake!'
Line 7848
¶ Eche man than afftir rides,
Is none lengur that then a-bydes,
Page 232
¶ Hic Greci tenuerunt Antynorem Regem.
Eche man afftir rides & rennes. [folio 116b]
Line 7851
Achilles [MS. Ector.] thenne for tene brennes,
Line 7852
Maugre his tethe the stede he lefft,
For Ector brother ffro him it refft;
He myȝt no ferther for him go,
Therfore for-sothe he was ful wo.
Line 7856
¶ Lord! so Ector thanne was fayn,
Whan he his gode stede hadde aȝeyn,
He wold not for his weyȝht of gold,
That Achilles it hadde hold.
Line 7860
Many of Grece bowte his takyng,
Men myȝt se thenne speres schakyng:
¶ Ector sclees and Ector felles;
His hors takyng dere he selles;
Line 7864
He riues helmes and cleues hedes;
Ther is no Gregeis that him [MS. that thei him.] [ne] dredes.
Ther died for him on that sond
Sixti that neuere layde on him hond.
Line 7868
ANtenor rode aboute strikande,—
Fro Ector was he fer fyghtande
On that other half of that batayle,
And that was him to wrothe-haile:
Line 7872
For thei of Grece opon him throng
And him be-closed hem among;
His men bacward fro him frusched,
And many of hem to grounde crusched.
Line 7876
¶ Antenor did that In him was,
But he myght not fro hem pas,
For thei of Grece were more then he:
Thei toke him at that semble
Line 7880
And sent him to her [MS. his.] pauylons
With-outen any hauylons,
And held him In her prisoun.
Polydomas of gret renoun
Line 7884
Page 233
Line 7884
Therfore was he ful sori,— [folio 117a] [At the head of this page, not very distinctly: Aynesworth.]
Line 7885
That was his sone, was him bi:
His hert forsothe wex al cold,
When the tydandes were y-told.
Line 7888
¶ Gret meruayles tho in hem he wrouȝt,
Off his lyff as he nad rouȝt,
But he ne hade no space at his lykyng,
For it was thenne ney euenyng;
Line 7892
¶ The day was gon, thei hadde no lyght,
For it was wel with-Inne nyght.
To dwelle lenger [was erased between lenger and thenne.] thenne was not gode,
The[i] leue ffyghtyng, as hem be-hode,
Line 7896
And turned hom with weri bones,—
Eche man to his owne wones,—
Vn-Armed hem, and wente to reste;
To house come many a weri geste.
Line 7900
¶ Thei layde borde & clothe & ȝede to mete.
Polidomas myȝt not for-ȝete
Off al that nyȝt for no thyng
His dere fader takyng:
Line 7904
Ful litel he drank and les ete,
The teres fel to his fete.
¶ Off alle that nyȝt myȝt he not slepe,
Al that nyȝt he lay and wepe,
Line 7908
Til hit was day, the sonne gan schyne,
Euermore dured his pyne.
Then he ros vp, as most nede,
To arme him, his men to lede,
Line 7912
Aȝeyn Gregais to fight to-morn.
Wo was him, that he was born,
For sorwe and care and mornyng
That he toke for his lordis takyng.
Line 7916
¶ The nyght is passed, hit is day,
The sonne hath dreuen the sterres away,
Page 234
Ther is no sterre opon the sky; [folio 117b]
Line 7919
The sonne is resen & schynes on hy,
Line 7920
Fair & bryȝt he schewes his bemes.
Thei risen vp of here dremes,
Off Troie and Grece [the knyȝtes] bothe;
Many of hem schal be wrothe:
Line 7924
¶ Hadde thei of here sweuen taken tent,
That thei hade wyten, what it hade ment,
When hardi thynges thei did mete,
Tho that schold her lyf for-lete!
Line 7928
But ther-of toke thei kepe no-thyng,
But busked hem In the dawyng,
And Armed hem In sail & schip;
And than thei ȝede and toke a sop,
Line 7932
Thei ete a sop, and afftir dranke,
For In batayle thei wolde be strang.
¶ When thei wente out of here hale,
Many drank nother wyn ne ale
Line 7936
Affter that, ne ete, ne drank,
But layen ded & foule stank!
Eche man sclow other & felle doun,
Many of hem come neuere to toun
Line 7940
Hole aȝeyn, as thei ȝede out;
Some lefft his hed, and som his snout,
Some to-hewen and foule ferd with;
Some les his lyff, and som his lyth.
Line 7944
WHan bothe parties to-gedir wore,
Thei smetyn to-gedur strokys sore:
When thei were comen out of her hales,
And thei of Troye out of here sales
Line 7948
And passed her ȝates & here dikes,
Eche man at other strikes;
He drow his swerd, and he his bowe,
Mechel sorwe ther was y-sowe:
Line 7952
Page 235
Line 7952
He anon, his knyff he drawes, [folio 118a]
Line 7953
—And he is ded,—and ouer-thrawes,
He schakes his spere, he rides owerre,
And he fel doun I-hurt [MS. and hurt.] wel sorre,
Line 7956
He is ded, and he is sclayn,
And he is born thorow the brayn,
He ses his lyuer and his entrelles;
Michel is the wo that hem ayles.
Line 7960
ANd thus ferde thei fro that thei ros
Til the day a-weyward gos,
And nyght was comen, and lyght was fayled.
Ector euere aboute rayled,
Line 7964
As [MS. And.] faucoun doth opon his pray;
The bodyes thikke aboute him lay,
That ther lay with dethis wounde;
Many a knyȝt fel to the grounde.
Line 7968
Ful sorily he hem ransaked
Fro that morwe that he waked
Til euen-tide that home he ȝede,
For he hadde neuere so moche nede
Line 7972
To help and socour his meygne,
As he hadde at that Iorne.
¶ For Gregeis were so styff and stronge,
That thei his men doun sclow & sclonge,
Line 7976
As thei of hem hadde ȝeue right nouȝt;
But euere among thei it dere bouȝt:
For Ector sclow hem al a-boute,
Many Gregeis made he loute;
Line 7980
¶ Ector hem sclow, as it were mys,
Thei died faste on bothe parties
Off hem of Troye & of Gregeis,
Thei lefft liggyng many karkeis.
Line 7984
Echon wolde other sclo,
Off Grece died fele, of Troye wel mo.
Page 236
Glad was he that ther ascaped. [folio 118b]
Line 7987
The better side the Gregeis schaped
Line 7988
As for that day—as I herde telle.
With hem of Troye so it be-felle:
Ne hadde douȝti Ector ben,
Thei hadde not lefft a cyteseyn
Line 7992
With him In the feld, that thei nad fled;
So were the Troiens sore adred,
For thei of Grece were so strongful,
That thei vnnethe stode hem a pul [MS. apul.] .
Line 7996
BVt Ector mayntened his syde
For al here strengthe and here pride,
He brekes her hedes, her helmes & scheldes,
Ful nobly his men he ledes.
Line 8000
And thus he heldis with gret labour
Aȝeyn Gregeis al day that stour,
Til nyȝt was comen and day gon,
And thei departid euerychon
Line 8004
On bothe parties more and les,
For it was so gret derknes.
¶ Thei ȝede euen home to her hous,
Thei fond ther many a sori spous,
Line 8008
That sori were for here husbondis;
Some lay dede on the sondes:
¶ The wyues of Troye made gret mornyng;
Amonges the Gregeis was gret roryng,
Line 8012
Thei blew and cried—as wilde bere brayes—
For her frendes that died tho dayes;
Thei wende neuere that day abyde,
That thei scholde hom with her lyff ride,
Line 8016
To passe ouer the Grekissh wawes.
Thei hadde In honde wel carful sawes
A-mong the grete and the smale,
Al nyȝt ther-of thei hadde here tale.
Line 8020
Page 237
Line 8020
¶ That Agamenon was vp rysen, [folio 119a]
Line 8021
That hadde Antenor In his prison;
When he saw it was day cler,
He sent out his Messanger
Line 8024
To Priamus and to his baronage,
Trewes to aske and trewes to wage,—
Off thre monthes thei him besought,
Til the ded [MS. he did.] to erthe was brought.
Line 8028
DIomedes and Vlixes
To Priamus were sent in pees,
To aske this trewe, and make it stable
On bothe parties with-oute fable:
Line 8032
That non of hem schuld other dere
With non harm In maner of were
Lastyng the terme of that trewe,
And who-so did, it scholde him rewe;
Line 8036
Thei be Iugement const[r]eyned
To suffre therfore that men ordeyned.
¶ These kynges to here hors take,—
Wel richely dyght ffor worschepe sake:
Line 8040
Thei dede on robes that hem best payes,
Off riche gold were alle the rayes,
Off riche scarlet were bothe here champes,
Poudred ful of golden lampes,
Line 8044
With lilye-leues and fflour-delys;
The robes were of mochel prys,
¶ Thei were parted with riche palle.
The knyghtes were fair & clene with-alle,
Line 8048
Here hodes dyght with gold ribanes,—
Better weres non among the Danes;—
Thei were with gold wel I-fret,
The ffloures of gold on hem set,
Line 8052
With wilde bestes and fflyande ffoules,
Liouns, lipardes, ernes, and owles
Page 238
Off riche gold that louely schon; [folio 119b]
Line 8055
In hem stode many a riche ston,
Line 8056
Saphur riche, and selidone,
Erbe-de-bothe, & Cassidone,
And euere among the dyamaund,
Sewed wel with gode orfoyle-suand;
Line 8060
¶ The frette of gold was like a belle,
So were thei gret & horrible;
Worth michel gode thei were apraysed,
Thei were so couched and hye vp-raysed.
Line 8064
¶ Thei rode to-geder with-oute debate;
Thei are now comen to Troye ȝate,
In forme of pes thei aske entre:
"To lete hem In for charite,
Line 8068
That thei myȝt wende with-out outrage
To Priamus on here message."
THe ȝates are opened and vndon,
The kyng[es] were leten In son,
Line 8072
Thei were I-kept with curtesye.
Ther was a knyȝt of genterye,
A riche man, that het Delon,
A gret courser sat he vpon;
Line 8076
He was In Troye bothe geten & born,
He saw the kynges come him be-forn.
¶ On his hors that he be-strode
Aȝeyn tho kynges he thenne rode,
Line 8080
And kept hem faire as knyȝt curtays,
And led hem In-to the kynges palays;
He led hem bothe In-to the halle:
The kynges were at the mete alle,
Line 8084
¶ Priamus and his knyȝtes of myȝt;
Ther-Inne was a louely sight.
When Delon broght thes messageres
To the kyng and his consaleres,
Line 8088
Page 239
Line 8088
To speke with him, her erand to schewe,— [folio 120a]
Off his consayl were ther but fewe.
Line 8090
¶ Delon broght hem to the bordis,
Thei gret the kyng with louely wordis,
Line 8092
Thei told her erand and asked respit:
"That alle myȝt reste, bothe knaue & knyȝt,
On bothe parties monthes thre
By siker hostage & gode surte."
Line 8096
With louely wordes and faire spekynges
Kyng Priamus answered the kynges:
¶ 'I holde him certes with-oute manhede,
That loueth wrong or any falshede;
Line 8100
I dar of trewe make myn avaunt:
I schal helde siker that I graunt,
I schal holde trewes I vndirtake;
I schal hem helde and siker make,
Line 8104
That non of myne schal do ȝow skathe,
Nother late, erly, ne rathe
Lastyng the trewe; and ȝe also
The same a-ȝeyn to me schal ȝe do.
Line 8108
¶ But ȝe wot wel: It is not skylle,
That I assente the trewes tille
With-oute red of my consayle,
Off my baronage, & myn avayle
Line 8112
That ar with me In myn enprise.
But I for ȝow now schal arise
And herkyn, what my consayl sais;
So longe ȝe schal dwelle In peis.
Line 8116
Iff thei assent, I graunt for me:
What thei wol say, ȝe schal sone se.'
PRiamus wol no lengur ete,
He settis a-way drynke & mete,
Line 8120
For curtasie of his two gestis
He settis a-way borde and trestis.
Page 240
He wolde thei were sone answerd, [folio 120b]
Line 8123
That ther drecchyng hem not dered.
Line 8124
¶ Priamus did to him calle
Kynges and dukes and lordes alle;
Thei stode aboute him on a rowe,
He spak to hem with wordes lowe:
Line 8128
'Wol ȝe thus longe trewes fulfille?'
Sayde Priamus—'say me ȝoure wille:
What schal I tille [MS. telle.] hem now say?
Schal I seye: "ȝe," or: "nay"?
Line 8132
¶ Avise ȝow now alle In-fere,
Now ȝe ben to-geder here:
What is ȝoure wit? how thenke ȝow?
Hope ȝe hit be for oure prow
Line 8136
To graunt this trewe? wol ȝe assente?
Telle me ȝoure best a-visemente!'
THe kyng[es] sayde by on name:
"To graunt trewe, it was no schame,"—
Line 8140
'Sithen thei it aske at oure request,
Hit is worschepe to oure behest;
And we may reste vs the whiles,
For we ben ful of woundes and biles,
Line 8144
That ben ful of quytour & wores;
We may the while hele oure sores.
We wol the trewe graunte and hauen,
Sithen thei comen hit to crauen.'
Line 8148
¶ Ther was no lordyng In that halle,
That thei ne graunte the trewes alle
And wel apayed—saue Ector one;
Ther-to spak he wordes none;
Line 8152
He saw what thei alle thought,
Therfore wolde he say right nought;
He saw it was al ther [MS. alther.] lykyng
Line 8155
To be In pes and haue restyng;
Page 241
¶ Hic Greci pecierunt pacem.
And not-for-thi hit liked him ille, [folio 121a]
Line 8157
That thei schuld ligge so longe stille,
And for he was not al wel payd,
To hem thus mechel Ector sayd:
Line 8160
¶ 'The Gregeis haue the trewes craue,
For thei wolde her ded men graue;
I dar wel say: hit is not so.
But I wol not the trewes vndo,
Line 8164
Sethen ȝe alle the trewes wol holde;
I wole it be as ȝe haue tolde;
But I dar say that thei thenke falsnesse [MS. salsnesse distinctly.] ,
Thei are purvayd of gret queyntenesse.
Line 8168
¶ I wot ful wel, her mete hem fayles,
Thei haue defaut of here vitayles;
Thei may not fyght, for strengthe hem fayles.
Thei schal the whiles puruay vitayles,
Line 8172
Off corn, wyne, and other store,
And be better thanne thei were ore.
And we that while oure good schal waste,
Hit wol vs faile now In haste;
Line 8176
Thei wol mis-lede [MS. vs lede.] vs with a trayn.
What good be-houes vs to sustayn
¶ The folk that is with vs her-In?
Where schul we the godis wyn,
Line 8180
To mayntene vs and holde oure lyues?
I trowe that roste schal oure knyues,
When we haue no bred for to kerue;
I not wher-of thei schal vs serue,
Line 8184
We may be serued with-outen brede.
But now ȝe haue graunted to take hede
THis trewes to holde, I say for me:
I wole right wel thei holden be;
Line 8188
For I schal neuere aȝeyn calle
That thyng that ȝe assenten alle.
Page 242
I wol ȝoure hele and ȝoure wel-fare; [folio 121b]
Line 8191
Ȝif ȝe mys-ferde, it were my care;
Line 8192
I wole right wel that we vs reste,
Then may we be bothe tacte & preste
Aȝeyns the terme the trewe comes out,
We may be thenne bothe styff and stout.
Line 8196
I holde me payd of ȝoure Iugement,
I wol not fro ȝow disasent.'
¶ Then were the [MS. we.] Troiens mury & glad,
When thei leue of Ector had,
Line 8200
That thei scholde reste so longe;
Many man for Ioye songe.
Hit was gret murthe & Ioye
To hem of Grece and eke of Troye,
Line 8204
That trewe is tane and last so longe;
That thei myght bothe ride & gonge
To take her murthe and her solace,
Eche man is glad In that place.
Line 8208
THese lordes toke leue of the kyng
And wente hom al hying;
And to the Gregais hom he brynges
Off his trewis gode tydynges,
Line 8212
That thei of Troie hath graunt the trewes.
Then myȝt men here many glewes,
Pipe and Trompe, and many nakeres,
Synfan, lute, and Citoleres;
Line 8216
Ther was so many a daunce.
Thei made tho gret puruyaunce
Off corn and hay, of wyn and otes,
And thei songen wel merie notes;
Line 8220
Thei hele her woundes In gret quiete,
With mochel Ioye thei dronke and ete.
And thei of Troye were as fayn
Off here reste, bothe knyȝt & swayn,
Line 8224
Page 243
Line 8224
And hele her woundes at here layser, [folio 122a] —
Line 8225
Kyng[es] and knyȝt[es] & kayser.
And al the while the trewes held,
The[i] speke to-geder In toune & ffeld;
Line 8228
And that riche kyng Thoas,
That with Ector takyn was,
Scholde go quyte to his Pauyloun,
And Antenor home to Troye toun.
Line 8232
¶ Ayther of hem the prisons hom sendes
With-oute raunsoun & with-oute amendes,
For that on that other is gre;
And so schal thei quyte be.
Line 8236
THe trewes is graunt & schal be holden:
Riche robes were then vnfolden:
Many a coffre was vnstoken,
To drawe out robes that were y-loken;
Line 8240
Eche man his coffer vnsperes
And takes gerdeles of riche barres
With bokeles of gold and fair pendaunt,
Wel anamayled with the mordaunt;
Line 8244
¶ Many a broche and many an oche,
To stike on hede and on pouche.
Thei toke out rynges and made hem gay,
Thei leued In Ioye & mechel play,
Line 8248
The whiles the trewes last;
But al was lefft, when that past.
Whil it was trewes, was many hode
Gayli wered with mochel gode;
Line 8252
¶ When thei were gon, thei layde hem doun
And toke the stelen haberioun,
The ketil-hattes and stelen hure,
And layd away the gay pelure;
Line 8256
Thei toke her spores with kene roweles,
And leyde a-way the riche jeueles [MS. reueles.] .
Page 244
¶ Hic. Ector ibat ad Reges Grecorum in tempore pacis.
HIt was a day lastyng the trewes, [folio 122b]
Line 8259
And eche a lord his clothyng newes;
Line 8260
Ector was ffair and semely dyght.
The day was fair, the sonne was bryght,
Merye synges the nyghtyngale,
The throstil, and the wilde wode-wale;
Line 8264
It is gret Ioye to here the larke
In toun and feld, fforest and parke.
¶ Ector sayde: "that he wolde go
Achilles to se and other mo;
Line 8268
He wolde with him haue daliaunce,
To se her hertes and her contenaunce."
He rod him out of his Cite,
The lordes of Grece for to se;
Line 8272
¶ With him ȝede many a riche lordyng,
Many a duke, and many a kyng.
He was welcomed with gret honour
To Agamenoun her Emperhour,
Line 8276
The kynges did him worschepe alle;
Achilles bed him to his halle,
Ful Inwardly he him be-sought:
"That he fro him departid noght,
Line 8280
Til thei to-gedir In his tent
Hadde dronken vernage and pyment,
And that thei myȝt to-gedur carpe;—
Hit were him leuere then note of harpe."
Line 8284
¶ Ector graunted alle his prayeres,
He ȝede with him and alle his feres.
When thei were comen and alle doun set,
The wyn was asked and forth y-fet;
Line 8288
At here comyng thei made fair wedur
And spak of many thynges to-gedur.
Achilles euere Ector be-holdes,
His legges anon on crosse he foldes,
Line 8292
Page 245
Line 8292
For he was naked, he was fayn. [folio 123a]
Line 8293
He myȝt not his tong constrayn,
He most nedes say out his wille, [folio 132a] [For the disorder of the MS. from here to line 9124 consult the Intro|duction, and my paper in the Engl. Stud. 29, p. 390 sqq.]
Line 8295
He myȝt not holde his tonge stille;
Line 8296
And that was mochel his vilony,
He sayde to Ector al an hy:
¶ 'Sithen I se the, I haue desired
To se the, Ector, vn-atired;
Line 8300
And now hastow me Ioyful maked,
Now I se the vn-dight and naked.
And I hadde sclayn the,
Then wolde I fayn be;
Line 8304
And I haue offte assayed my myȝt,
When we haue met to-gedur In fight;
Ful sorefully hastow me gret,
When that thow with me has met [R iiij below this line in the right corner of the page.] ,
Line 8308
Mi blod thow [MS. that thow.] hast offte y-tamed, [folio 132b]
Line 8309
I haue of the wel offte be lamed,
Many a strok has thow me payed;
By thi strokes haue I assayed
Line 8312
That thow art stalworth and strong;
Thoow I the hate, I do the no wrong,
¶ I am ȝit hurt of thi strykyng.
Hit were therfore al my lykyng,
Line 8316
That I myȝt scle the with my hond:
I hate the mochel, for my frend [e might be o.]
That thow sclow the formast day
In thi wodenes and thi deray.
Line 8320
Patrodus kyng I loued wele;
Many sore mete and mele
Hastow made me for to ete,
¶ His dethe may I not ffor-ȝete.
Line 8324
But if I leue fully a ȝere,
His dethe schaltow bye wel dere,
Page 246
With my hond schal I the sclo,
Line 8327
That hath brouȝt me In this wo;
Line 8328
For me to sclo euere thow thenkes,
And ther-a-boute faste thow swynkes.'
ECtor sat & held his pes,
That herkenes alle that he seis,
Line 8332
Til he hadde saide his gret gole:
'Hastow no more to say to me?
Hastow sayde what thow wilt?
Thow puttist vpon me gret gilt
Line 8336
But me thynke it is no curtesye,
But vnmanhede & vylonye!
Thow bad me come to thi pauylons,
To drynke with the Murmindons;
Line 8340
Thow prayes my knyȝtes and my burgeis,
To drynke here with thi Gregeis;
[folio 133a] ¶ Hic Ector respondit Achillem [This rubric is head-line of lf. 133.] .
For vylonye I trowe thow lettes,
Line 8343
That me among thy men thow threttes.
Line 8344
Sicurly I schal thurste sore,
Or I drynke with the efft more!
Thow schalt here me no more chide,
I ȝeue [riȝt] not of thi pride:
Line 8348
¶ By him that made al mydelerd!
I am of the no-thyng aferd,
I ȝeue not a threden lace
Off thyn euel wil and thi manace!
Line 8352
Wel I wot and am certayn,
Thow wolde be glad, hadde thow me sclayn;
Offt hastow me assayled,
When thi wille hath not a-vayled.
Line 8356
¶ Ther was neuere theff In no hostage,
That wayted better his a-vauntage,
To do his stelthe and his robrye,
Than thow waytest me In skolkerye;
Line 8360
Page 247
Line 8360
But thow hast ben glad al-wey, to ride
Line 8361
With broken hede and blody syde.
SIr Achilles, thow art wilful'
—Sayde Ector—'and vnskylful;
Line 8364
No meruayle is—so god me saue!—
Thoow I to the gret herte haue.
Sicurly I haue no wrong,
Afftir thi dethe thoow me long;
Line 8368
¶ Thow hates me with-oute desert,
And that is knowen and apert.
Me & myne thow wolde distroye,
And art aboute me to noye
Line 8372
In al that euere thow mayt,
And waytes me with dissait
With alle thi men bothe day & nyȝt,
For to scle me, ȝiff thow myȝt.
Line 8376
It were therfore a-ȝeyns kynde, [folio 133b]
Line 8377
In my herte if thow schold fynde
In any wyse to loue the,
That to the dethe hates me:
Line 8380
And if I may, I schal not sclepe
For thi proude wordes, or many wepe;
Iff I may leue two ȝer to the ende,
Wel ffewe of ȝow schal hennes wende.
Line 8384
¶ I hope riȝt wel and me affye,
That thorow my strengthe alle ȝe schal dye,
Thow and alle the lordes of Grece;
I schal ȝow hewe al to pece.
Line 8388
¶ And sythen thow [be] of such mode
That thow fyndis thyn herte gode,
That thow thi-selff [MS. thi felff distinctly.] wil with me fight
And ther thow wolde do thi myght,—
Line 8392
Do, that vche a kyng and lord
Off hem of Grece to this a-cord:
Page 248
That thow and I to-geder don be
Line 8395
To-morwe erly, that men may se,
Line 8396
In feld ffyghtyng with-outen respite,
Til thow or I be discomfite.
¶ And if I falle In thi daungere
With any vn-hap or noun-powere,
Line 8400
That thi god suche grace the sende
That I fro the not defende:
I schal the swere good sothnesse
Opon my goddis more and lesse;
Line 8404
And ȝit schal I the borwes ffynde,
That fader and Moder and al my kynde
Schal go a-way with-oute dwellynge
Or with-oute godis sellynge,
Line 8408
And leue the al with thyne and the,
And thei and I schal hennes fle.
And ȝit may thow almes the wynne, [folio 134a] —
Line 8411
For we do euel and mychel synne,
Line 8412
Off mannes blod that we don spille,—
Iff that thow wol holde ther-tille.
¶ Iff happe so with me schape
That thow may no wyse askape
Line 8416
Fro me with-oute discomfiture,
Make thi Gregeis make me sure
By borow and book and sikur band [MS. sikurband.] ,
That thei schal wende out of this land,
Line 8420
And vs be her In gode quyete.
And but thow do, so thow be-hete,
I prayse the lasse than I dede ore;
Iff that oure men schal fyght more.
Line 8424
But lete it be on vs y-done
To-morwe be tyme, or hit be none!
And wyn worschepe who that may!
God for-bede that thow say "nay"!'
Line 8428
Page 249
Line 8428
AChilles was gretly aschamed
Line 8429
That Ector thus foule him defamed,
He was a-schamed many-folde
That he so litel by him tolde
Line 8432
Among his men ther In his halle,
That he asked him fight amonges hem alle
Be-twene hem two with-outen mo.
He was Angwysched so for wo,
Line 8436
That of his forhede barst the swote,
That al his face ther-of was wote;
He ferde as he hadde ben araged,
That Ector him that batayle waged,
Line 8440
And seyde to him as man that yred:
'Thow schalt haue that thow hast desired!
I se riȝt wel thi couetise:
Thow settes on me In alle wyse,
Line 8444
[folio 134b] ¶ Hic Achilles iurauit & optulit cirotecas suas ad pugnandum cum Ectore [This rubric is head-line of lf. 134, bk.] .
To fight with me In feld alone;
Line 8445
I ȝeue not of the a bone!
¶ But here my trowthe to the I plyght
To-morwe erly with the to fight,
Line 8448
And therto here I ȝeue the þe gloue,
Be-twene vs two alone to proue
With strengthe or myȝt, whether thow or I
In fight schal haue the victory;
Line 8452
And therto here my gloue I bede,
In trewe forward to holde this dede.'
'And I hit take,' gode Ector sayde;
'For I was neuere so wele apayde,
Line 8456
In-to this world sithen I was brouȝt—
By him that al this world hath wrouȝt!'
¶ Ther is no man that spekes with tonge
In al this world, old ne ȝonge,
Line 8460
Lered ne lewed [MS. lewel, cf. l. 3578.] , lord ne lad,
May telle the Ioye that Ector had,
Page 250
Ne foule with his mury song,
Line 8463
As Ector hath his gloue to fong.
Line 8464
But that thyng myȝt not be hid:
Among the Gregeis it was kyd,
That Achilles hadde take on hande,
The next day afftir ffolwande
Line 8468
¶ To ffight with Ector man for man.
This thing wel swithe a-boute ran
Fro kyng to kyng, fro halle to boure:
So it was seyde to the Emperoure
Line 8472
And alle that other kynges be-dene,
How ffight was taken hem be-twene,
¶ And no man myȝt here ire a-swage
And thei hadde ȝeuen to-gedur wage:
Line 8476
And if it schape be-twene hem thore
That Ector discomfit wore,
Catel, godes, and the land [folio 135a]
Line 8479
Schal be-leue In Gregeis hand;
Line 8480
And if it happe with Ector so
That Achilles he myȝt sclo,
That he and his schul dwelle in pees,
And alle the Gregeis on a res
Line 8484
Out of that lond thei schul wende,
And ther no lenger schold thei lende.
THes thinges were y-told and brouȝt,
The Gregeis wondred In here thouȝt,
Line 8488
Hem wondred of Achilles,
That he on that wyse graunted pes,
To ffight with Ector al alone;
Ther-fore thei maked moche mone,
Line 8492
Off that couenaund that hem was told;
The kynges seyde: "thei wolde not hold";
¶ Kynges and dukes and lordes alle [folio 126a] [For the disorder of the MS. at this place cf. Introduction.]
Line 8495
Seide: "thei wolde aȝeyn that calle,
Line 8496
Page 251
Line 8496
Thei wolde for-sake it euery a dele,
Line 8497
Thei nold not so put her quarele
In a-venture ne In Iopardie."
Thei seyde: "it was but folye";
Line 8500
Thei seyde: "it was not so done."
Thei made hem redi alle & some,
¶ Alle the lordes that ther ware,
To Achilles for to fare;
Line 8504
Thei hyed faste, wold thei not blynne,
Er thei come to his Inne,
Ther thei bothe to-geder stode.
These lordes alle to hem ȝode,
Line 8508
¶ Achilles his wordis alle with-sayde,
Ther-with were thei euel ypayde
Off his profre ne of his a-vaunt;
That he hem bad, wold thei not graunt:
Line 8512
Thei wolde neyther putte lyff ne lym
A-ȝeyn Ector for-sothe In hym;
Thei seyde: "it was not equyte,
That lyff & lym schuld so put be"—
Line 8516
'Off so fele kynges as are now here
Be-twene ȝow In such manere.'
TRoiens come thedir gret won,
The lordes of Grece ben ther echon;
Line 8520
Ther standes a-boute hem many hundre
To parte the knyȝtes two In-sundre;
Thei seyde echon at on assent: [folio 126b]
Line 8523
"Thei wolde not holde that Iugement."
Line 8524
¶ Ector myȝt not the batayle haue,
He myȝt no more ther-of craue,
For thei of Grece with-sayd it alle,
Kyng & knyȝt, bothe fre and thralle.
Line 8528
Hit was no bote hem to greue,
Off hem of Grece toke he his leue,
Page 252
¶ Opon his hors vpward he lyghtes
Line 8531
And wente to Troie with alle his knyȝtes,
Line 8532
An-angered sore and alle his.
Thei of Grece toke ther-of no pris,
Hem angered sore that he come thore;
Achilles schold abye hit sore.
Line 8536
Thei wolde his hond were an harowe-tynde,
His herte a mylleston for to grynde,
His flesche & bon as assches smale,
Ther-of wolde thei ȝeue no tale.
Line 8540
ALas Ector, what was the schaped,
When he fro the so skaped!
Fals fortune was not thi ffrend,
Whan sche delyuered him fro hir bend;
Line 8544
Sche made the Gregais alle say "nay,"
For sche hadde cast his endyng-day.
Kyng Priamus, where was thi grace?
Thi happe was take fro the, alas!—
Line 8548
When thei of Grece that feyth vndid;
Hit hadde the vayled, hadde it be-tid,
And [MS. That.] Hectuba, thi worthi quene,
And thi douȝter Pollexene,
Line 8552
And also to Andromede,
Nadde no man no fight for-bede.
Alas! that it was so for-bed!
Elles schold ȝe ful wele haue sped.
Line 8556
[folio 127a] ¶ Hic Ector ibat ad Troianum [This rubric is head-line of lf. 127.] .
A noble Troye, thow fair Cite,
Line 8557
Hit hadde a-vayled alle thin and the,
¶ Thi toures hye and thi faire walles,
Thi ladyes alle with golden palles,
Line 8560
And alle that woned with-Inne the,
Iff that batayle hadde y-be!
Fortune hated the so sore
And alle that In thi Cite wore,
Line 8564
Page 253
Line 8564
That he wolde not lette it be so,
Line 8565
But sche wolde the and thine for-do;
And ther-fore letted sche that batayle,
And elles not, I say saunce-ffayle.
Line 8568
ECtor is comen to Ilyoune,
Fro hem of Grece vnto his toune;
In-to that worthly halle he gose,
The ladyes alle a-ȝeyn him rose,
Line 8572
Thei kept him alle with gret honour,
Lord and lady and vauesour;
Thei loued him alle with herte and mouth,
That any good or loue couth.
Line 8576
For he on defendet hem alle,
That no harm hem did be-falle:
¶ The while that he was lyuande,
Thei were sicur of his hande,
Line 8580
Thei hadde gret trist In his dede;
The while he leued [First e corrected from o by the scribe himself.] , thei hadde no drede.
When he was ded, than ros here bale;
Alle thei died by oure tale,
Line 8584
¶ Alle were dede and put to prisons
And put In gret subieccions,—
Saue Eueas and Antenor,
Goddis curs haue thei ther-for!
Line 8588
Thei were saued and alle theires,
Seruaunt, mayden, wiff, and Ayres.
For thei dissayued her lige lord, [folio 127b]
Line 8591
The deuel hem honge vpon a cord!
Line 8592
Haue thei neuere so good pardoun,
For thei wrouȝt suche a gret tresoun!
HIt drawes faste toward the day,
The trewes wendes faste a-way;
Line 8596
Ther is no man that lengur lotes
Off these gay golden cotes;
Page 254
Thei garnysched here swerdes, speres, & clubbes,
Line 8599
Eche man now his harneis rubbes,
Line 8600
That thei be clene and Parisaunt;
Now is besy eche good seruaunt,
Ther is no man that now is ydel:
Some make redi sadel & bridel,
Line 8604
Some her horses thei let scho;
Eche man lokes what is to do.
¶ Now eche man to fyght him ȝares,
Now euery wiff ffor hir lord cares
Line 8608
A-ȝeyn that nexte semble,
For no man wot how it schal be,—
When thei gon out at morwen-tyde,
Who schal dye, and who schal abyde?
Line 8612
Alle curses that ilke man,
On hem the werre furst by-gan,
Fader and Moder and alle his kyn
For sorwe and wo that thei ben In.
Line 8616
¶ Thre monthes the trewes was tan,
Now are thei passed, and no day wan;
And thei of Troye ben ȝarked ȝare
Out of Troye for to fare;
Line 8620
What folk he hath Ector assays,
With-Inne the walles he hem arays;
Thei were arayed, er hit were prime.
Dares says: he hadde that tyme
Line 8624
¶ Hic ordinant prelium Magnum.
Off knyȝtes strong an hundred thousand [folio 128a]
Line 8625
That douȝti were and wel fightand,
With-outen ȝemen and sqwyeres,
With-outen bribours and arblasteres,
Line 8628
With-outen men that were on fote—
So god do my soule bote!
ECtor then partied his men:
To Troyle he tauȝt thousandes ten
Line 8632
Off douȝti knyȝtes In his ledyng;
Page 255
He prayed: 'his god be his spedyng,
Line 8634
And be his help and his gouernayle,
And spede hem wel in that batayle,
Line 8636
That him that day be-tyd not mys!'
¶ He called to him then Paris,
With louely wordes he him be-tauȝt
Alle that coude on bowe-drauȝt,
Line 8640
And alle that bare arwe or bire
Be-tauȝt he hem In here A-tire;
Thre thousand knyȝtes that mechel were worth
Off douȝti men called he forth,
Line 8644
Armed wel opon here stedes,
To be with hem In al here nedes,
Fro men of armes hem to rescouere,
For thei were most with-oute Armure.
Line 8648
¶ Then come Dephebus and Eueas,
Ayther of hem her batayle has:
Thre thousand knyȝtes Dephebus ledis,
Armed wele In iren wedes;
Line 8652
But Eueas brynges with him wel mo;
Than be-gan thei for to go.
¶ Ector has with him ffyftene
Thousandes knyȝtes gode and clene,
Line 8656
To him-seluen that were reserued;
Euery an ost is dight and serued;
With his batayle passed the ȝates, [folio 128b]
Line 8659
Assayle he[m] furst he wole algates.
Line 8660
AWorthi kyng of Grece, Phillus,
Was In the feld redy by this,
With many a man on horse and fote,—
To telle the nombre it is no bote;—
Line 8664
The fferste [MS. ferthe.] batayle that day he ledde,
Him hadde be better that he ne hadde.
Page 256
Menelaus come afftir that
Line 8667
With spere & scheld and many a bat,
Line 8668
Douȝti knyȝtes thousandes seuene—
Here names alle can I not neuene:
¶ Thei toke the feld and passed the boundes
On stedes that were worth many poundes.
Line 8672
Diomedes with as fele
Knyȝtes of worschepe and of wele
Ȝede forth afftir to that stour;
Hem liked wel her gouernour.
Line 8676
¶ Now goth to ffyght Diomedes,
And afftir him comes sir Achilles
With douȝti knyȝtes seuen thousand,
With briȝt bryneis fair schynand.
Line 8680
Thei rode to-gedur wel sare,
Many a stalworthe knyȝt thare.
Affter him come Xancipus,
And Ayax Thelamanyus,
Line 8684
Agamenon with alle his ost,
With many a knyȝt ridande a-cost;
The nombre was gret that come with him
Off hardy knyȝtes stoute and grym;
Line 8688
Ther was many on that Ector thret,
That bouȝt thei sore, when thei met.
¶ The sonne schynes on euery a tre,
Line 8691
Hit is a fair matyne:
ECtor is out of Troie reden, [folio 129a]
Line 8693
The Gregeis longe hath he a-byden,
Affter hem on horse he houe:
Who-so-euer come furst, he wolde aproue.
Line 8696
Many an ost saw he comyng,
Rydande faste whil thei may fflyng,
With baneres brode and gold-be-gon;
The sonne on hem wel faire schon.
Line 8700
Page 257
Line 8700
And many an armes was ther reuersed;
Line 8701
Iff on bare sable hit was diuersed:
¶ He bar of gold and of goules,
He bare bestes and he bare foules,
Line 8704
He bare apes and he bar cheuronne [MS. chueronne.] ,
And he of siluer with a cloue chestone,
He bare a bend and he an horne,
He bare his corneres gerone,
Line 8708
He beres grene and he asure,
Engreled with a fair bordure,
¶ He beres an egle and he merelettis [MS. more lectis; but it seems to be the earlier form of 'martlets.'] ,
And he a daunce and he pelettis [MS. perelectis; the stroke through the tail of p seems to be a scribal error.] ,
Line 8712
And he hath rose & he has molettis,
And he hermyn and he croselettis.
And thus haue thei her armes schiffted,
Ther baneres are wel hye lyffted;
Line 8716
Euery a lord his baneroure
Biddis him go be-fore the stoure.
NOw are the Gregeis and alle of Troye
Arayed In the feld and haldes hem coye;
Line 8720
The formast ost assembled ner
A wonder noyse that men may her
Off staves & swordes and speres brekyng
With-oute wordes or any spekyng.
Line 8724
A-ȝeyn Ector and his Troiance
Ther were In the feld that tyme of Danes [Signature in the right corner: R.] ,
[folio 129b] ¶ Hic Ector occidit Phillum Regem [This rubric is the head-line of lf. 129, bk.] .
Off men of Grece knyȝtes bold
Line 8727
Horsed mo then the double-fold.
Line 8728
Phillis spredis bank and hirste,
With mochel folk come he doun ffirste:
¶ The Troiens first Phillus assayled,
But with Ector euel he was hayled:
Line 8732
Ector loked and saw Phillis
Come ridande before alle his,
Page 258
Armed wel and gloriosly;
Line 8735
He rod to him dispitosly,
Line 8736
He smot him thorow his doublet,
Ryght as it hadde ben an net;
He hadde non Armes non so gode,
That his stroke that tyme with-stode:
Line 8740
He bare him thorow bak and bely,
Ther-of hadde many a man sely;
Phillis fel to grounde al flat
As a ded body, when he hadde that.
Line 8744
¶ Off Phillis deth was michel cry,
Many a sword was houen an hy,
Off Phillis deth thei toke veniaunce:
Ther was broken many a launce,
Line 8748
Many an hed was thanne y-craked,
And many a scheld al to-schaked,
Schankes to-schyuered, bones y-broken,
On Ector wolde thei fayn be wroken.
Line 8752
¶ When Xancipus that noyse herde,
He wist wel that som mysferde
Off hem of Grece that were fyghtand,
With alle his men thedir drawand
Line 8756
. . . . . [A line is wanting here, but no room left; but see note 2.]
And as he come thedirward,
A wounded knyȝ brouȝt him tythand,
That Phillus was ded of Ector hand [Hic caret… (i.e. hic caret versus) is inserted under this line in the margin by another hand; cf. note 1. Space is left for a line.] .
Line 8760
¶ Hic Ector occidit Xancipum Regem.
¶ Phillus was that kynges Eme: [folio 130a]
Line 8761
He stode as he hadde ben In dreme,
He honged his heued as he hadde dremed,
As he hadde died for sorwe hit semed;
Line 8764
He made for him gret wayment,
He rod forth ful of mautalent
To that batayle on his stede,
To venge his deth, if he myght spede.
Line 8768
Page 259
Line 8768
¶ He felde Troyens at his comyng
Line 8769
And sclow hem doun old and ȝyng,
He ferde as man that hadde ben wode,
So he distroyed the Troyens blode;
Line 8772
To seche Ector wold he not blynne,
Til he him fond, he is vnwynne;
He fond Ector among the pres:
To scle the Gregais wold he not ses,
Line 8776
As hongre [MS. honger.] lyoun bestes vories;
Ther nis no tre so thikke of chiries,
As Gregeis ligge aboute him couched,
All ȝede to grounde that he out touched.
Line 8780
WHen Xancipus of him hadde sight,
He wende he scholde haue made him lyght:
He toke to him a stalworthe spere,
Ector vnwarned doun to bere;
Line 8784
But sicurliche he myȝt nouȝt:
Xancipus that strok a-bouȝt.
¶ Ector to him was wrothe y-now,
To Xancipus a strok he drow
Line 8788
In his wodenes & In his wratthe,
That he fel ded doun In that patthe;
His hed ȝede doun, & vp his breke,
The grounde sone gan he seke.
Line 8792
Thei toke him vp & went homward
With gret care and sikyng hard [Signature in the right corner: R.] .
¶ Achilles come thenne ffast ridande [folio 130b]
Line 8795
As a deuel with foule semblande,
Line 8796
With alle the knyȝtes that he ledde
A-boute Ector he hem spredde:
Ther was gret noyse and clamour,
The Gregeis for tene turned colour,
Line 8800
That he was ded so reufully;
Thei sclow thenne Troyens carefully.
Page 260
¶ Troyens be-gan to faile faste,
Line 8803
Thei myȝt not wel lengur laste,
Line 8804
So were Gregeis manye and stronge,
The Troyens than a-bacward thei thronge.
BVt Ector stode a-mong hem alle:
He sclow Gregeis and made hem to falle,
Line 8808
He droff a-bak bothe ȝonge & olde,
And made the Troiens her place to holde.
Troiens abode In gret perel,
In many stedis to dethe thei fel,
Line 8812
So thei werei thei be-gan to go.
Achilles thanne be-gan to sclo
The Troiens, faste he hem rebukes,
He sclow of Troiens two gode dukes:
Line 8816
¶ That on was duke Euforbius,
A noble knyȝt and a vertuus;
That other hight duk Lataoun,
A gentil lord, a stalworth man.
Line 8820
Thei were men of gret vertuse,
Doughti, strong, and [of] prouese.
It was wonder thei myȝt a-byde,
The Troiens were so fewe that tyde,
Line 8824
That thei nade ben alle quelled,
Hit was gret wonder how thei dwelled.
¶ But Ector held euere the felde,
He ȝaff of hem alle nouȝt a nelde [MS. nouȝt alle anelde.] ;
Line 8828
The while that he hadde his hele, [folio 131a]
Line 8829
Ther he sclow Gregeys as vn-vele,
And Mayntend wel that stour
With gret trauayle and labour.
Line 8832
THe stour was strong, thei blew & blustred,
A-boute Ector the Gregeis clustred
Ryght as thei drow aboute a swarm,
He toke of hem that tyme gret harm:
Line 8836
Page 261
Line 8836
Some dartes at him sclong,
Line 8837
Some with swordes at him flong,
Thei ȝede him a-boute and made hote,
Many a man on him ther smot;
Line 8840
And he ȝaff hem aȝeyn suche pattis,
That thei fel doun as dede cattis.
¶ But not-for-thi so it be-fell,
That he was hurt at that turpell,
Line 8844
But he wiste neuere vnnethe of wham,
Ne how, ne whenne that it cam?
In his visage was he smetyn—
As I fynde of him ywreten,—
Line 8848
That blod ran out gret plente,
That hit was meruayle for to se:
It bled faste as it were wode,
Vnto the ground ran the blode,
Line 8852
Ouer his eyen the blod so ran,
That he myȝt knowe wel no man.
¶ The Troiens then that gan se,
A-weyward faste gan thei fle;
Line 8856
Thei were a-ferd and discomfit,
When thei saw Ector so dyght.
Ector was ful lothe to fle,
Iff it myȝt any other be;
Line 8860
But he was dreven bacward streght,
For he myȝt not se to ffyght [In the right corner the signature: R.] :
Hadde not his visage ben reuen, [folio 131b]
Line 8863
He nad not ben bakward dreuen;
Line 8864
He fauȝt a-ȝeyn with mychel pyne,
But whan he lyfft vpward his eyne
Toward Troye and se ther stande
Opon the walles to hem lokande
Line 8868
¶ Hectuba that gentil quene,
And his suster Pollexene,
Page 262
And his wiff dame Andromede,
Line 8871
And hende Eleyn so fair In wede,
Line 8872
And saw Gregeis him bakward dryue:
'Alas!' he sayde, 'I am on lyue!
I wolde I were with-outen lyff!
I se be-fore me stonde my wiff
Line 8876
And alle these other faire ladyes,
And beholden bothe parties
And haue be-holded alle oure dedes;
And for my visage a littil bledes,
Line 8880
¶ Thei se now me on bak be-set,
Mi vylony it wol be ret.
What may thei wene but I be faynt,
Fals of herte, and a-taynt,
Line 8884
Or of the dethe that I haue drede,
That I thus fle for that I blede?
But be him that made alle thyng,
Tre to growe and gras to spryng!
Line 8888
I schal hem quyte her trauayle,
Iff that I be hole and hayle.
¶ Out of this ffeld I schal not wende,
Or I be venged with my hende [MS. honde.]
Line 8892
Off this schame and vilonye,
For therfore schal many dye.'
Ther is no man that euere was wroght
May say that schame that Ector thoght,
Line 8896
When he vpon the ladyes loked; [folio 132a]
Line 8897
It was meruayle so his body croked,
He swat for tene, for wratthe he schoke,
That he that schame be-fore hem toke;
Line 8900
Some of hem her deth schal take,
Er it be nyȝt, for that wounde sake.
¶ Ector be-held how kyng Mennon
How the Troiens fast vpon,
Line 8904
Page 263
Line 8904
As man that were out of his wit;
Line 8905
He vowed to god: "it scholde be quyt
Alle the harm that he hadde don
To him and his, er it were non."
Line 8908
'Thow hast,' he seide, 'my men defouled,
Me and myne bakward retroyled;
¶ Sithen thow dos harm, thow schalt haue some:
Were the fro me, for now I come!'
Line 8912
Ector rod to Mennon than
And brake his hede and his pan,
That of [his] hede ran blod y-wys,—
That were euel for Mennon this:
Line 8916
A man schuld not so sone say "trayse," [folio 123a] [For disorder of MS. at this place of. Introduction.]
Line 8917
As he fel ded & held his payse,
That neuere so moche that he ones quycched
Ne his lymes ones clecched.
Line 8920
¶ Achilles hadde than sorwe y-now,
When he saw how Ector sclow
The kyng Mennon, his cosyn dere;
A lothely cry men myȝt then here
Line 8924
That thei of Grece among hem made,
When thei saw Mennon ded & fade.
His tethe for tene Achilles gnastrid:
'Many a gode,' he sayde, 'hastow maystrid
Line 8928
And ouercomen with thi prowesse,
And sclayn fele In thi wodenesse.
¶ Ther may no-thyng me to Ioye brynge,
Til I se the at thyn endynge.'
Line 8932
A stalworth spere off wonder tre—
That was gretter than other thre—
Achilles toke to him tho,
For he thoght Ector to sclo:
Line 8936
¶ He smot Ector with al his mayn,
For he wolde him fayn haue slayn;
Page 264
Thorow his scheld his spere droff [MS. to roff.] ,
Line 8939
That his hauberk al to-roff,
Line 8940
And depe In-to his fflesch it ran,
That the blod fast out span.
¶ But ȝet he bar not Ector doun
For his prise and his renoun,
Line 8944
Ȝet he hadde no spere that tyde
That he myght aȝeyn him ride.
Achilles spere in-sonder barst,
But Ector was not doun cast [In the right corner the signature: Q.] :
Line 8948
[folio 123b] ¶ Hic Ector & Achilles pugnauerunt [This rubric is head-line of lf. 123, bk.] .
He held his hors & sat ston-stille,—
Line 8949
Achilles myȝt [him] not kylle,—
That strok abode he hertly
And smot to him a-ȝeyn smartly:
Line 8952
¶ Opon his hed he leyde suche dyntes,
That helm and Coyfe brast al In splyntes,
The blod brast out at his eris.
Hadde he laste longe In his wode geris,
Line 8956
Achilles hadde ȝeuen vp his dische,
Hadde he neuere eten flesche ne fische
He myȝt not the strokes susteyne,
But held his hors with mechel payne,
Line 8960
That he fel not doun at ilke a braid,
With euery strok that Ector layd
Opon his hede, so sete thai sore,
With mechel strengthe his myȝt thai wore.
Line 8964
¶ On euery a side Achilles schakes
With euery a strok that he ther takes,
Now be-fore and now be-hynde,
As levis wagges with the wynde.
Line 8968
ECtor saw Achilles wagge
As with the wynd doth the flagge,
On euery a side he louted lowe,
He was In poynt to ouer-throwe
Line 8972
Page 265
Line 8972
With eche a strok that he ther toke,
Line 8973
Out of his sadel almost he schoke,
He myȝt not sitte stille In pes.
Then seyde Ector: 'Achilles! [MS. Achilles Achilles.]
Line 8976
Achilles!' Ector seyde he,
¶ 'Whi coueytes thow to fight with me?
When thow sese tyme, on me thow sekes.
I trowe right wel that thi hed akes;
Line 8980
I schal the sclo, hadde I layser;
Ne scholde of thin ost kyng ne Cayser
[folio 124a] ¶ Ad huc bellum [This rubric is head-line of lf. 124.] .
By heuen tyde thi lyff scholde saue,
Line 8983
That thow of me thi deth schuld haue.'
Line 8984
¶ Achilles myght him not answere,
For thenne come Troyle with many spere,
With many spere and many a darte,
And made him and Ector departe:
Line 8988
Troyle rod euen be-twene hem two,
For he Achilles thought for-do.
A wonder stoure ther was by-gonnen,
Er man myȝt a forlong haue ronnen,
Line 8992
¶ Ther were ffyue hundred knyȝtes sclayn
Off hem of Grece opon the playn;
Thei hadde but litel to-geder streuen,
Er thei of Grece were bacward dreuen.
Line 8996
But Menelaus, when he beheld
How thei of Grece had lorn the feld,
Opon his stede the kyng him dresses,
To Troiens euen he him gesses;
Line 9000
He lased his helm, his spere he riȝtes,
And rides thedir with alle his knyȝtes.
HE halp hem wel and wan hem erthe,
He felde the thridde & sclow the ferthe;
Line 9004
He and his bare Troiens ouer,
And hem of Grece made hem couer
Page 266
And tok the feld the Troiens opon.
Line 9007
But then come thedir kyng Odemon
Line 9008
Out of Troye with mechel ffolk,
He spared neyther the appul ne the colk,
Vn-til he come to [the] Melle:
Many a man then myȝt thei se
Line 9012
¶ Set vp the fet and doun the hed,
And many lefft among hem ded.
To Menelaus Odomoun rode,
And Menelaus him abode [In the right corner of this page is the signature: Q iiij.] ;
Line 9016
But Odemoun, that doughti kyng, [folio 124b]
Line 9017
Toke Menelaus In that swyng
And him bare ouer his hors tayl:
He ȝaff him there suche a wassail,
Line 9020
That he lay longe In colde swot;
Odemoun on his face smot
And wounded him among alle hyse,
That he myȝt not wel vp aryse.
Line 9024
ODemoun ffelle Menelaus,
And that be-held douȝti Troylus:
He saw the kyng on grounde lyand,
Troyle come faste thedur ridand,
Line 9028
He wolde him take wonder ffayn,
That he myȝt haue lad him to Elayn;
He departid alle the route,
He and Odemoun were aboute
Line 9032
To take the kyng, and so the[i] did.
But not[-for-]thi it so be-tid,
That thei that tyme so wel not sped,
Out of that pres thei him not led:
Line 9036
¶ For ther was then so mychel pres—
For-thi be-gan than to encres,—
So fele batayles a-boute him spred,
That thei were sone with hem so sted,
Line 9040
Page 267
Line 9040
Thei myȝt not lede fro hem not ferre
Line 9041
For al here myȝt and her powere.
¶ For than come Diomedes doun
With many a worthi bold baroun
Line 9044
And many a knyȝt douȝti In dede:
When thei saw Troyle a-weyward lede
Menelaus her ost outward,
Thei hyed hem faste thedirward.
Line 9048
Whan he come ner, he stroke his stede,
That he made bothe his sides blede:
I trowe ther was neuere wilde ro [folio 125a]
Line 9051
That ran faster then his stede tho.
Line 9052
¶ He strok Troilus [lus on erasure.] so wonder sore,
That fro his hors fel he doun thore;
And ther-fore was it no pris:
He hadde a spere at his deuys,
Line 9056
And Troyle that tyme hadde non;
Thoow he hadde broke bak and bon,
Me thynke it hadde ben litel wonder,
Off Troyle lay his hors fete vnder.
Line 9060
He toke his hors and lad a-way,
He sente it to the semely may,
¶ Vn-til Cresseide, þat [Vn—þat on erasure by another hand.] fair womman,
That sumtyme was Troyle lemman:
Line 9064
A bischopis douȝter that het Calcas,
That sumtyme byschop In Troye was,
Her mayster-byschop of the lawe;
But he was ferd of that sawe,
Line 9068
That ther god saynt Appollo
In Delos yle had sayd him to [MS. so.] :
HE sayde: "that Troye scholde be distroyed."
He was therfore ful sore [MS. fulsore.] anoyed,
Line 9072
He durst not wende to Troye aȝeyn
For fferd he scholde haue ben sclayn:
Page 268
He dwelled stille with the Gregeis
Line 9075
A-mong her ost—as Dares sais,—
Line 9076
Or elles to lese his lyff he wende.
Afftir his doughter theder he sende:
¶ He prayed the kyng Diomedes
In here Message and Vlixes,
Line 9080
When thei delyuered the kyng Thoas
For the ffader of Polydamas,
That thei wolde preye kyng Priamus
To sende hir him ffro sir Troylus:
Line 9084
¶ Priamus graunted her prayeres [folio 125b]
Line 9085
And sent hir hom with-oute dangeres.
And Diomedes loued here sithen;
In hir loue was he so writhen,
Line 9088
That he myght not his wille refrayn
And suffred for hir sithen payn.
To hir therfore Troylus stede he send
In token of loue and to presend.
Line 9092
OPon the grounde ther he lay,
His stede was taken & lad away;
Wo was him that it was so!
But he ne myȝt not do ther-to:
Line 9096
But he ros vp and drow his blade
And rome aboute him he made,
¶ He sclow Gregeis with al his myȝt.
Ector ȝaff to him wel gode syȝt,
Line 9100
He saw him wel to grounde go,
His stede ytaken and lad him fro;
He was ney wod for ire and tene:
He wolde meruayle, that had sene
Line 9104
What wonder that Ector wroght!
Many a man that stede dere boght;
¶ He drow hem doun, as men doth dere
In wilde wodis to lordis lardere:
Line 9108
Page 269
Line 9108
Thei fled away, as thei were wode;
Line 9109
Ther was no man that lenger stode,
Off here lyues hadde thei [MS. thei no.] gret doute.
Achilles fledde with alle his route,
Line 9112
And so did alle these other Gregais,
Than folued Ector and his Frigais:
¶ But Ector euere afftir dryues,
Many of hem he reues the lyues,
Line 9116
He droff hem home riȝt to here hales
And sclow hem ther riȝt In her sales;
He smot of bothe hondes & nayles, [folio 126a]
Line 9119
Ne durst no man aske "what him ayles,"
Line 9120
Ne speke with him In that Ire
For al the gode of here Empire!
He hadde be ded and vndoyng,
Hadde thei sayd any thyng.
Line 9124
The Grekes were in point of vndoyng [This whole line by another hand on erasure.] : [folio 135a] [For disorder of MS. cf. Introduction.]
Line 9125
Ne hadde ther comen ther riche kyng,
That riche kyng her Emperour,
Agamenon, to here socour,—
Line 9128
Schuld neuere haue passed no Dane,
Ne haue ben lengur in þat [in þat inserted over line by another hand.] wane.
The peple was gret he with him brouȝt,
On hem of Troye ful harde thei souȝt;
Line 9132
¶ Thei were ffresche and al day rested,
Thei drow here swerdes; whan thei brested
Here stalworthe speres opon the Troians,
Thei droff a-bak [MS. a blak.] the Dordanes
Line 9136
With strengthe of men vnto her dikes.
Ector thenne aboute ffrikes,
Ther were thikkere aboute him men
Then bestis In somer liggis In fen;
Line 9140
He smytes of legges and lendis.
Vnnethe ther is any man [MS. men.] defendis,
Page 270
That thei nere sclayn and ouercomen [folio 135b]
Line 9143
For Gregeis that ouer hem were ronnen.
Line 9144
But then come thedur Polydomas,
That ȝit In Troye al ffresch was,
With wonder mychel quantite
Off knyȝtes, of men of gret surte.
Line 9148
POlydomas a spere hath lauȝt
With al the ost him was be-tauȝt
Out of Troye is he no ryden:
His men hath he prayed & bidden
Line 9152
To help wel Ector In that stoure,
That thei myȝt haue for here labour
Off Ector bothe loue and thonk;
He rides forth by brynke & bonk
Line 9156
To assaut with that abuschement.
Now are thei alle out of Troye went
And comen alle to that semble
With stour sembland & gret ferte:
Line 9160
Thei bresten here speres and drow her swerdes
And beten on hem, as don herdes
On weri bestis that drow In the plow;
Ther was amonges hem sorwe ynow.
Line 9164
¶ But Diomedes he beholdes
Polydomas, how that he boldes [The last four letters by another hand on erasure.]
Them [MS. Then.] of Troye with his sokeryng,
And deres Gregeis with his fyghtyng
Line 9168
And the feld make hem lese:
A stalworth spere to him doth chese
Polydomas ouer to bere,
That the Gregeis schuld not dere.
Line 9172
¶ Polydomas was wel perceyued
Off his comyng, he him wayued
And toke a spere stalworth & strong
And met him so In that forlong,
Line 9176
Page 271
¶ Ad huc magnum bellum.
That he ȝede doun & his hors bothe, [folio 136a]
Line 9177
Were he ther-of neuere so wrothe.
¶ Diomedes ful sore was hurt,
But his stede ros, and he vp stert;
Line 9180
Polydomas ther-of was fayn,
He toke the stede by the rayn,
A-boute his hand the brydel he knyt
And ȝaff him Troyle, ther he fauȝt ȝit
Line 9184
Opon his feet with his enmys;
Ther was no foule so merye on ris,
¶ Then Troilus was when he hors hadde;
Lord In heuene, what he was gladde!
Line 9188
He takes that stede and sone on lepes,
And sclow the Gregeis doun on hepes.
BVt Achilles loked to Troyle,
And saw how he be-gan to royle,
Line 9192
When he hadde hors, a-monges Gregeis:
'This is no gamen,' Achilles seis;
Achilles rod to him sone,
For he wende wele he hadde done.
Line 9196
¶ But Troyle was war of his comyng,
He ȝaff riȝt not of his thretyng:
A stalworthe spere he to him sesed,
And smot his hors and him so fesed,
Line 9200
He bar Achilles quyte and clene
Out of his sadel vpon the grene;
He made Achilles to reste thore,
So was he wounded wonder sore,
Line 9204
¶ He made his eres the grounde likke.
But he ros vp stoutly and quykke,
As he no harm hadde y-lacched;
Troyle wold with more haue macched,
Line 9208
He wolde haue hurt him fayn sarror,
But the Gregeis held him then forror,
Page 272
To Achilles he myȝt come noght, [folio 136b]
Line 9211
For-sothe to him, as he hadde thoght.
Line 9212
AChilles is vpward cropen,
Opon his hors he is lopen:
Him were leuere than al Lubik,
That he myȝt Troyle to dethe strike;
Line 9216
He and his smot at him alle,
As men smeten atte balle.
¶ But Ector was ther-of war,
How thei be-gan with Troyle to fare;
Line 9220
He hied him thedir wonder swythe,
When Troyle saw him, he was blythe:
He ȝaff Achilles suche a dasche,
That al his helm be-gan to crasche,
Line 9224
He smot In-to his serkelet.
Now are thei to-geder met
Among her men hem two alone,
Thei delen dyntis wel gode wone;
Line 9228
Be-twene hem two was gret hate,
Thei haue be-gonnen a gret bate:
¶ Eyther on other be-gan to hewe,
Here strengthe to kythe, her myȝt to schewe,
Line 9232
Dredful dyntis be-twene hem dele;
He is a fole, with hem wol mele!
Thei are now bothe on hors-backis,
Ether of hem on other hackis
Line 9236
With swerdes scharpe opon her scheld;
A strong batayle was ther In feld.
¶ Here Aketouns roff as hadde ben pokes,
Ayther of hem on other strokis,
Line 9240
And tar here armes that were newe,
A wicked brotthe thei ther brewe;
With swerdes gode that were trenchaunt
Line 9243
Fauȝt thei to-gedur by that hil pendaunt. [The E in blue paint.]
Page 273
ECtor fightes with Achilles, [folio 137a]
Line 9245
He hewys his mayles res by res,
He hewys hem alle In taterwagges,
His hauberk heng alle In ragges;
Line 9248
And he ȝeues him a-ȝeyn good pay,
The grettest strokes that he may.
¶ But Ector ȝaff Achilles one
And claff his flesch on-to the bone,
Line 9252
Hit barst his helme & his coyfe eke,
And it made him the grounde seke:
The stroke was gret—as I ȝow tolde,—
Achilles myȝt not his sadel holde,
Line 9256
Opon his hors myȝt he not sitte,
When sir Ector hadde him so hitte.
¶ He lefft his hors and fel to grounde
And swoned sore In that stounde;
Line 9260
Top ouer tayl he gan loute.
The Gregeis gadered him aboute,
His Murmidones were alle agast
He hadde be sclayn, for he was cast;
Line 9264
Thei stode aboute him alle fyghtande,
For Ector scholde not come him hande,
Til he were rysen & vpward couered:
Many a man aboute him houered,
Line 9268
His body al for to fende,
That Ector schold not come him hende.
¶ Then myȝt men se strokes ride,
Gregeis feld on eche a syde
Line 9272
That thedir come In his defence,
For thei made ther thanne resistence
A-ȝeyns Ector & his Troians:
He sclow that tyme a thousand Danes
Line 9276
That then defended sir Achilles,
Many on swalt In his owne gres.
Page 274
¶ Ector wolde Achilles take, [folio 137b]
Line 9279
And the Gregeis defence did make:
Line 9280
Thei wolde rather dye right ther,
Then Achilles I-take wer.
Achilles stode on fote & fauȝt,
Til he was almost out of mauȝt:
Line 9284
¶ He was careful and wel drery,
For that he was so wery,
He myȝt not wel his scheld vp bere,
He myȝt not him fro Ector were,
Line 9288
He myȝt not wel his breth blowe,
He was In poynt to ouer-throwe;
His vertu hadde he clene lore,
But Ector wolde not lette ther-fore.
Line 9292
¶ But than come thedir Thelamon,
With alle his men Agamenon,
And the douȝti Menescens:
That halp him wel a-ȝeyn Troyens,
Line 9296
With mychel wo and gret trauayle
Halp thei him In that batayle.
¶ Thei brouȝt him hors, and brouȝt him vp,
He hadde lauȝt many a pop,
Line 9300
For ther was many a strok ȝeuen;—
But it was welney euen.
ECtor was sori that it was nyȝt,
Er thei of Grece were discomfit:
Line 9304
For hadde thei had the lyght of day,
Achilles hadde not went a-way
To [be] taken then vnto his teld,
But hadde died In that feld.
Line 9308
Thei departid on bothe side—
For it was nyȝt and derk that tyde,—
¶ Ector to Troye ouer the downes,
And Gregeis to here Pauylones.
Line 9312
Page 275
Line 9312
The clothis were layd, and thei doun lyght: [folio 138a]
Line 9313
To soper were thei alle dyght,
Thei sette hem doun and ete & drank;
Many hadde his clothis al blank
Line 9316
Off blod that thei hadde bled.
Thei ete and drank & ȝede to bed,
And rested hem, til the sonne vp ros:
To Arme him there eche man gos,
Line 9320
¶ The stour a-ȝeyn wolde thei be-gynne,
For good on erthe wol thei not blynne;
Her hors are brouȝt, and thei vp lepe,
Thei ren to-gedre on an hepe,
Line 9324
As thei hadde don that day be-fore;
Ther died be-twene hem many a score.
BOthe parties In the feld were prest,
In pees wol thei neuere rest;
Line 9328
Eche man rides vnto his macche,
Many a man here deth there lacche.
Whan thei to-gedre were met with speres,
Many on other ouer beres;
Line 9332
Thei drow here swerdes of good metal;
Er it be nyȝt, manye dye schal.
Echon on [MS. or.] other ffaste doth bete,
Ryght as threscheres doth on whete;
Line 9336
On smytes his felawe thorow the pap,
And he ȝeues him a sori wap.
¶ Thei sclow or euen a thousand knyghtes,
Men saw neuere suche other fyghtes—
Line 9340
Sithen In erthe god made man,—
That of so litel thing be-gan!
Ne so fele lordes with-outen fayle
Were neuere sclayn at on batayle,
Line 9344
Ne men of Armes and also naked,
As were at Troye—sithen man was maked!
Page 276
¶ Hic pugnant .xxx. dies absque respectu.
Some were smyten of by the knes, [folio 138b]
Line 9347
Some thorow-out bothe thies,
Line 9348
Some lay dede, & som cast doun,
And some lay wounded and brostoun;
Some In his body bar a tronchoun,
As it were put In with a ponchoun.
Line 9352
The while thei myghten endure,
Thei threw doun men—I telle ȝow sure,—
Thei smyten hors and helmes barst,
The while the brethe wold hem last.
Line 9356
MIchel sorwe hem was a-mong;
Sicurly hit were to long
Me to telle, and ȝow to here,
How thei ffauȝt echon In-fere,
Line 9360
I may not al the dedis devyse;
Ther wolde no boke it al suffise
Alle here dedis for to holde,
Iff thai schulde alle be y-tolde,
Line 9364
And I schulde alle here dedis say,
How thei fauȝt to-geder euery day.
The bible ne no Missale,
The legende ne no Iornale,
Line 9368
The Grael ne the Tropere,
Schold not holde here dedis plenere.
¶ For .xxx.ti dayes with-outen pes
Thei fauȝt to-gedur with-outen ses,
Line 9372
Al was sprad bothe diche and bank
With dede bodies that lay & stank.
Men redes In gestes of douȝti men,
How thei fouȝten to-geder dayes ten,—
Line 9376
Euery day with-outen rest,—
To se whiche of hem were best;
Men tellen of Ywayn and Wade
In gestes that of hem ben made,
Line 9380
Page 277
Line 9380
How thei fauȝt a day or two, [folio 139a]
Line 9381
And afftir that more than so:
Thei ffauȝt ffourtene nyght,
And that was kampiouns right.
Line 9384
¶ But I say: Ector and his feris,
Achilles als & his comperis,
Thei fauȝt to-geder dayes thre,
And wold thei not in pes be;
Line 9388
Thei fauȝt to-gedir fourtene nyght,
And that was the Troiens right;
With-outen rest thei fauȝt al-weyes,
Til thei hadden fouȝten .xxx.ti dayes—
Line 9392
Euery day til it was nyȝt,
That neuere be-lan whil thei hadde lyght.
¶ Now wol I of this thing telle,
I may not alle here dedis melle;
Line 9396
For mochel wo be-twene hem wex:
Off Ector brethere were sclayn sex
With-In the dayes that thei so fauȝt,
And Ector also a sore wounde lauȝt
Line 9400
In his visage on of that day,
Wherby Ector In his bed lay
In Ylion a ful gret stounde,
Er he were hol of that wounde.
Line 9404
THretti dayes when he hadde foughten
With-outen reste bothe euen & oughten,
Priamus sente to the Gregeis
Kynges two that were curtays,
Line 9408
And other lordes mo wente hem with,
Trewe to aske a six monyth.
And thei it graunte al at her wille,
Thei were fayn to holde hem stille
Line 9412
And rest In pes al that terme;
The trewes is graunt and holden ferme,
Page 278
¶ Hic ceperunt pacem ad inuicem per vj. Menses.
And therto haue thei trowthes plyght: [folio 139b]
Line 9415
"That nother of hem be dayes ne nyght
Line 9416
Lastynge the trewes schal other wayte
With vilonye ne other desayte;
And if any man be gylti founden,
Hand and fote schal he be bounden,
Line 9420
On galowe-tre to honge hye
For his ffalshede and his folye."
¶ The trewes be graunt a ful half ȝere
Be-twene kynges, dukes, & bachelere,
Line 9424
Alle that on bothe sides wore:
Now euery man helis his sore,
Alle taken medycine that myster hade,
To reste that while alle were glade.
Line 9428
And Ector is to Ilion brouȝt,
A riche bed ffor him was wrouȝt,
He was leyd In that paleis,
That was of riche werk Sarsaneis;
Line 9432
¶ His bed was made In that riche halle
And y-couered with many riche palle:
To him come fycisiens,
The beste of alle Troyens,
Line 9436
And soughte his woundes on eche halue,
And leyde ther-to plastres & salue,
And ȝaff him herbes & gode raysyns,
And heled him vp with gode medysyns.
Line 9440
IN Ilyon Ector was layd
In that riche halle—as I sayd;—
For alle these lordes & the ladyes,
That were of worschepe and of pris,
Line 9444
Scholde him comforte In his penaunce
And with the speche do him legaunce
And of his Angwis and his sekenesse,
To come to him bothe more & lesse.
Line 9448
Page 279
Line 9448
Hit was an halle of gret noblay, Aula [In red paint.] . [folio 140a]
Line 9449
The halle ther-as Ector lay;
The toures were of out-done hight,
I-made with wonder art and slight.
Line 9452
If thow wolt that halle discryue,
Sicurly ȝe wolde not leue
The wonder werk of the Pyleres;
Men wolde holde hem grete lyeres,
Line 9456
Man wolde wene that men did lye,
And holde it alle for fairie.
¶ But man wolde wene In his thoght,
That suche werk myght neuere be wroght;
Line 9460
For now is non so glorious,
Ne non In this world so vertuous,
As Ilion was the while it stode,
I-set ful of stones and perles gode;
Line 9464
Rofe and wal and euery a gable,
Dore and wyndowe, trestles and table,
Courbel, beme, and euery a ston,
With riche gold was vmbygon.
Line 9468
¶ Alle the walles of that wones
Were thikke y-set with precious stones;
A thousand rubies on a rowe
Were set a-bouen on the wowe.
Line 9472
Ther stode a-long & eke a-crois
Many a riche erbe-debois;
The matistre and a riche saphur,
And other stones many & sur;
Line 9476
Ther stode many a charbocle-ston,
That as bryȝt aboute hem schon
In that halle aboute mydnyght,
As doth the somerday lyght.
Line 9480
That halle was brode & long,
Off semely werk sicur & strong,
Page 280
¶ Qualiter palacium Regis Troiani factum est.
Two hundred fet was it be-met. [folio 140b]
Line 9483
On stones twelue was hit al set
Line 9484
Off Alabaster that wele were wrouȝt,
It was gret meruayle how thei were bouȝt
Vnto that werk to rayse that ground,
It was meruayle where men thei found.
Line 9488
¶ He was worthi be called a clerk,
That of twelue stones made suche a werk.
The halle flore was paued al
Thorowout with clene cristal;
Line 9492
In euery a hirne was set a post
Off worthi werk with mychel cost;
On euery a post stode an ymage
As he hadde ben In fauntel-age;
Line 9496
Alle were wrouȝt of gold ffyn,
Hede, body, visage, and eyn.
¶ Ther was no man [MS. noman.] In al that land
That he ne wende thei hadde ben lyuand:
Line 9500
So vereili thei loked and smyled,
Many a man ther-with was giled;
Off here makyng and of here lokes
Many meruayles In his bokis.
Line 9504
DAres wrot—I telle it ȝow,—
That I wol not speke of now:
"The walles of that halle streyȝt
Line 9507
Were two thousand fet of heyȝt, [¶ Altitudo Murorum [In one line, sign blue, words red; but on the left side in MS.] .]
And ȝit ther-to ffyue hundrid als,"—
As Dares seis that neuere was fals.
¶ Dares seis: "the toures were so hy,
That thei wente to the sky,
Line 9512
So ney were thei the firmament
A-boue the cloudes verament,
A man that stode with-oute doute
On hem, myȝt se al the lond aboute,
Line 9516
Page 281
Line 9516
And other londes a-cost also [folio 141a]
Line 9517
On euery a side, that marches ther-to."
¶ Then were thei hye verament,
Thei hadde nede of a good fundement;
Line 9520
Euery a ston of Marbil was
As smethe as any glas,
Euery a ston was smethe schauen.
The walles were with bestes grauen,
Line 9524
Ther was no best In wildernes,
Forest, ne feld, more ne les,
That thei ne were ther wele entayled,
Wilde ne tame non ther fayled.
Line 9528
BEfore the dore was set a tre, [¶ Arbor ad hostium [Sign in blue, words in red (in two lines thus).] .]
That fair and semely was to se:
The tre was al of riche gold
Fro the grounde vnto the mold,
Line 9532
And alle the bowes of that erberye
Were siluer & gold with-outen lye;
For euere was on of siluer bryȝt,
A-nother of gold that was so lyȝt.
Line 9536
¶ Ther was neuere fruyt that euere grewe
That thei ne hongen ther In here hewe,
But al was [MS. But al that was.] siluer and gold with-Inne.
This werk was mad with quaynte gynne.
Line 9540
In that halle ende was mad his dese,
Richeli made it was alweyes:
¶ Ther was a bord of gret richesse,
In al this world such another ther nesse [MS. wesse.] .
Line 9544
In that other ende of that riche halle,
Wel fair vpright aȝeyn the walle,
He let make a riche auter,
But ther-on was neuere seid no sauter.
Line 9548
And afftir that he sette In that ende
His god Iouys, he held his frende;
Page 282
For whan he wolde his help craued, [folio 141b]
Line 9551
He wende he myȝt him haue saued.
Line 9552
¶ A ffair ymage that kyng did make
Off ffyn gold ffor his goddis sake;
On that auter did he sette hit,
Off pure gold was hit I-bet;
Line 9556
Hit was .xv. cubitis long.
He sette hit there with mochel song,
With ffythel, harpe, and mynstrasie,
With mychel merthe and melodye.
Line 9560
¶ He spende on him gret tresoure,
Certes he loste al his laboure.
He made to him a redy way
Off twenti grecis of marbil gray,
Line 9564
That he & other myȝt come him to,
When that thei wolde him worschepe do.
And thus was maked that riche halle,
As I haue told to ȝow alle.
Line 9568
ECtor liggis In Ilioun;
At his hed sat kyng Menoun
And Hectuba, his Moder, the quene,
So did Eleyne and Pollexene;
Line 9572
That louely lyff dame Andromede
To Ector takes sche gode hede:
Wel tenderly the knyȝt sche ȝemed,
That fair lady that wel be-semed.
Line 9576
¶ Kynges fele a-boute come
And comfort him alle & some
Off his hurtyng & malady,
For his sorwe were thei drery.
Line 9580
Kyng Priamus let bery
With careful herte and no-thyng mury
His sixe sones that died tho dayes,
Euerychon be-sydes other he layes.
Line 9584
Page 283
¶ Hic Ector sanatus est.
He bad that echon schuld haue [folio 142a]
Line 9585
By him-self a riche graue:
Here graues were sone y-made
Bothe with schouele & with spade;
Line 9588
And leyd hem ther-In bothe body & bones,
And heled a-bouen with riche stones.
And so was grauen eche a brother,
A litel echon fro other.
Line 9592
¶ Thei of Grece her riche kynges
Graued also, here lordynges;
And tho that were of lasse renoun
Thei gadered to hepes with-oute the toun
Line 9596
And brende her bodyes alle by-dene,
And made the feld of hem ful clene,
That no stynk of hem schulde rise,
Hem to dere on no wyse.
Line 9600
ECtor heles and coueres faste,
His Angwys almost a-way is paste,
He may bothe go & stande,
In that halle is he walkande;
Line 9604
And alle these other ben ner-honde heled.
Delful dyntis were ther deled,
When thei were heled and comen samen;
Ther by-gynne a grisly gamen:
Line 9608
Many on schal to the dethe wende,
Er thei efft-sones make an ende.
¶ For Ector was fful sore a-greued
That his visage was so cleued;
Line 9612
He het his men for euene or od,
That ther hors be faste y-schod,
And her harneis redi dight,
Her aketoun strong, her brynys bryght;
Line 9616
'That hors ne harneis ȝow not faile
A-ȝeyn the tyme of oure batayle.'
Page 284
WInter is went—as I wene— [folio 142b]
Line 9619
The leues growen In greues grene,
Line 9620
The ffloures sprede & spedly sprynge,
The thrustil sittes & mury synge,
The sonne is hote, the terme goth out.
The Troiens are bothe stiff & stout,
Line 9624
And so ar Danes and eke Gregeis:
Alle ȝare thei ben In here harneis
For to fare & that stoure mayntene,
But thei schal passe with moche tene.
Line 9628
¶ The trewes is passed and alle termened,
And alle ben redy & haue dyned,
Many an helme is set on hede
That long er nyght schal ligge dede;
Line 9632
The ladyes for her lordes caren,
For thei wot neuere how thei schal faren;
Thei made gret mornyng a-mong,
Thei tare hir heer, hir handis wrong.
Line 9636
¶ The lordes hem busked & toke here caples,
Men brynge hem speres of gode maples,
And scheldes stronge thei brynge als,
To honge semely a-boute her hals.
Line 9640
¶ Ector bad thei schulde ride,
Thei wol not lenger here abyde:
Thei riden forth out of the toun
With scheld and spere & gonfanoun.
Line 9644
And thei of Grece were gadered alle
With-oute the diche be-fore the walle,
In-myddis the feld ther standis her stale.
And thei of Troye riden doun a dale,
Line 9648
Til thei mete to-geder bothe;
Two hundred thousand schal be wrothe
Er thei do parte fro her frende,
That schal be sclayn, er thei thennes wende.
Line 9652
Page 285
Line 9652
NOw are thei bothe In the feld arayed, [folio 143a] [Adhuc bellum [In the top right corner, in a very fine hand.] .]
Baneres brode ther ben displayed;
Line 9654
On nother side was non so bold
That thei ne be-gynne sone to cold,
Line 9656
Whan thei schal mete thore:
The beste of hem a-bached wore,
Saue Ector on that neuere was ferd;
He ȝeues of hem not a ȝerd,
Line 9660
Off alle her fare, of thai were mo,
For he blan neuere to wende and sclo
¶ Alle he myght mete with & ouer-take;
He be-gynnes a-boute him to make
Line 9664
Wayes to driue In bothe cart & wayn.
Many Gregeis other gan frayn:
"How thei myȝt sclo him ther he rode?"
But ther was non that him a-bode:
Line 9668
He ȝede doun or lost his lyff.
He sclow a thousand In that stryff,
When bothe parties to-gedur were;
Many a man died there.
Line 9672
¶ Ther was gret del to se hem mete,
So fele fel doun vndir hors fete,
That neuere myȝt afftirward arise,
Thei made a schrewed marchaundise:
Line 9676
Eche slo other, as thei were wode,
Thei made no ruthe of mannes blode;
Some is cloven In-to the shere,
Some has lorn bothe cheke & ere,
Line 9680
Some hath lorn lyuer & gut,
Was many man ded doun put,
Many hath lorn eye & browe;
Euerychon wolde his frend rescowe,
Line 9684
Than comes he & he also
And girdes his bak euen a-two.
Page 286
And thus ferd thei fro that thei met, [folio 143b]
Line 9687
Til the sonne was doun set [MS. pet.] ;
Line 9688
Thei blan neuere to smyte ne slo,
Many a bak thei made al blo.
ECtor fyghtes with his enemys,
Thorow here ost he rod thris,
Line 9692
Fro man to man a-boute he skyppis,
Thei fel afftir him as hit were shepis:
For siker, sithe erthe by-gan,
Was not made a better man,
Line 9696
That so stronge dedes In Armes did;
Alas that euere him mys-be-tid!
¶ Off man was neuere so moche reuthe,
For he was good & loued trewthe;
Line 9700
Ther was no man that did suche dedis
Off alle the knyȝtes that men of redis,
Ther was neuere man his strok myȝt stande,
That toke a ful stroke of his hande,—
Line 9704
Saue Achilles that strong knyȝt,
For he was man of moche myȝt.—
Ther was no side of al that ost
That he ne rode thorow ffor alle her bost.
Line 9708
¶ He sclow to grounde al that he toke,
The beste of hem for drede quoke,
Thei were alle aferd of that on knyȝt,
For he was man of moche myȝt.
Line 9712
The Gregeis alle his sword knewe,
Many a man to grounde he hewe;
And tho he bar doun or ouer,
Ful ffewe a-ȝeyn ne myght couer,—
Line 9716
Vn-til that lyff so sore he smot.
The sonne schon bryȝt, the day was hot.
¶ Hit greued hem sore of Grece,
Thei sat toterynge as it were gece—
Line 9720
Page 287
Line 9720
What for the strokes & the hete! [folio 144a]
Line 9721
The Gregeis wel sore he gan bete,
He made of hem gret martirdam:
I trowe, sithen god made Adam,
Line 9724
Dud neuere man so gret meruayles,
In fightes fele and gret batayles
He sclow so many grete of renoun,
Armed with helme and hauberioun,
Line 9728
As Ector did his owne hand,
The while he was In erthe lyvand.
¶ Gret voyce was tho hem among,
Swerdis ther on helmes rong,
Line 9732
Many an helme was ther clatered,
And many hede al to-batered [MS. alto batered.] .
Ector makes of hem grete hepes,
Fro man to man a-boute he lepis;
Line 9736
As thik as leue on the tre
He sles hem doun by two or thre.
Thorow the feld hit is wel sene
In euery stede ther he hath bene,
Line 9740
For it is layd with dede bodies
Thikkere than trees ar set In ris.
¶ He makes a-boute him roume & way.
Achilles wot not what to say,
Line 9744
Offte hath he that day him met,
But he myȝt neuere his proues bet,
Ne he durst not for ferd of gyle
Dele with him that ilke whyle,
Line 9748
And if he scholde not haue grace,
To parte with him out of that place.
THe Gregeis saw this fare was nouȝt
A-ȝeyn the dedis that Ector wrouȝt,
Line 9752
Thei myȝt not y-wis lenger endure,
Thei swalt almost In her Armure;
Page 288
¶ Hic Greci ffugerunt.
Thei fled euerychon, and that was best,— [folio 144b]
The sonne was drawen to his rest,
Line 9756
And that was fair to here be-houe,—
For thei hadde elles euel proue.
The Gregeis fled with michel hast;
Wo was hem that was the last,—
Line 9760
Ector sclow hem In that chace.
Men myȝt ffolwe hem by the trace
Off dede bodyes he lefft ligande,
The Gregeis he sclow fleande.
Line 9764
¶ Achilles was not then the laste,
That he were then he hyed faste;
And Ector faste afftir him prikes,
He drof him home vn-to his dikes
Line 9768
And turned a-ȝeyn—for it was nyȝt,—
He fauȝt lenger than he hadde syȝt:
He rod to Troye with his prisonnes
And lefft hem In her pauylonnes.
Line 9772
ECtor is to Troy riden,
Priamus him hath abiden.
Off his mete and his sopere,
Thei are now set to-geder In-fere,
Line 9776
Thei are wel serued with many metis,
With murthe & play thei sitte In setis:
His fader him makes mochel Ioye,
And so did alle that were In Troye.
Line 9780
¶ The fader blessed offte his sone;
He hadde ther many a benysone
Off lordis faire & fre ladyse,
Of knyȝtes kene and men of pryse.
Line 9784
For ther died mo at that semble,
That Ector sclow at that Iorne
With his hand—as thei seyde alle—
Line 9787
Then alle that euere fre and thralle.
Page 289
So fele men died then In o day [folio 145a]
Line 9789
Off no mannes hond—I dar wel say—
In hard batayle that Armed. were,
As Ector sclow with his hand there;—
Line 9792
He was wel serued, honourd & kepe.
When thei hadde souped, thei wente to slepe
And rest hem, til the sonne vp rose:
Eche man then to arme him gose,
Line 9796
¶ Thei toke her horses & here a-tyre
With swerdes gode aboute here swire,
And ryden forth vpon a res.
Ȝit wol thai not be In pes,
Line 9800
Ten thousand schal her lyff for-sake,
Er thei thenke reste to take.
NOw haue thei taken the feld bothe,
Ful Irrous & Inly wrothe.
Line 9804
Thei are now [MS. not.] to-geder met,
Her speres ar broken, and arwes schet,
Thei drowe her swordes of here scauberkes,
Ther cleue scheldes & hauberkes,
Line 9808
The riche armure thei al to-kerue;
Ther schal a thousand er euen sterue:
Echon other al to-drawes,
Thei cutte In-two bothe lyuer & mawes,
Line 9812
¶ Hand & hede, lunge & mylte;
Many a gode man was ther spilte.
Whil thei hadde day & myȝt out se,
Wolde thei neuere In pes be.
Line 9816
Thei fauȝt thus clene dayes twelue,
Til thei hadde nede here dede men delue,
And thei of Grece mouth not ordayn
To fyght for-sothe no more sustayn;
Line 9820
So were thei ouercomen & taken
And with Ector holden waken [At the foot of the page are some scribblings upside down.] ,
Page 290
That thei most rest or elles dye. [folio 145b]
Line 9823
It was past afftir the Maye,
Line 9824
The weder was hot, the sonne schon,
The Gregeis made ther-fore gret mone:
For thorow ffight and the hete
Many on lefft that day the swete.
Line 9828
TWelff dayes fauȝt thei to-geder
With-outen rest In that hote weder;
Be-twene hem died many a lord,
Whil thei were at that discord;
Line 9832
Many a lord on ayther syde
Were ded In tho twelue dayes tyde.
The Gregeis myȝt fyght no more,
Thei asked trewes with sikyng sore,
Line 9836
¶ Off xxxti dayes thei faire be-souȝt,
Til the dede were In the erthe brouȝt,
And til that hete were al doun;
For elles hadde thei ben ded echoun:
Line 9840
So gret was thanne the hete In feld,
Thei myȝt not lyue In tent & teld
That wounded were or hurtyng hadde.
A, Priamus! that thow was madde,
Line 9844
When thow the trewes so lyȝtly graunted!
For haddes thow thenne that batayle haunted,
Thei schulde haue died with gret vilte,
With swerd at that gret mortalite!
Line 9848
¶ But ffortune was thi foo mortel
And schop thi wo perpetuel;
And for sche wolde thi blysse were doun,
Sche made the graunte the trewes soun.
Line 9852
For sicur I wot with-outen drede:
The formast day the trewes out ȝede,
That thei to-geder In feld were met,
Her blis & Ioye for euere was let.
Line 9856
Page 291
¶ Hic Priamus concedit pacem xxx. dies.
PRiamus hath graunted the trewe: [folio 146a]
Line 9857
The Gregeis maken murthe & glewe,
Thei were neuere of trewe so blythe;
Thei thanked her god fele sithe,
Line 9860
For thei saued hem by her pauste
Fro that gret mortalite;
Thei maken to him gret offeryng
With many broche & many ryng,
Line 9864
And thanked hem of here dede,
For thei wende efft better spede.
¶ Thei were ful fayn thei were at rest,
For thei ther-of hadde mychel brest,
Line 9868
Thei heled her woundes lesse & more,
That woundes haue or any sore.
So were thei hole or thritti day,
For thenne was the grette hete away,
Line 9872
And thei were styff & stout
To renne & ride al a-bout,
And do al thyng that mister was,
Thei dredde not the Troyens a gras.
Line 9876
¶ Thritti dayes are now ful-filled,
Alas! noble Troye, thow schalt be spilled,
Thrawen doun & ligge al wast,
For thow schalt lese thi lord In hast!
Line 9880
This is the day of thin vnwyn,
Alle may wepe that the ben In,
Kyng and quene that to the longe;
Wele may thow wepe & leue thi songe!
Line 9884
Alle Troiens may say: weylaway!
That euere come this Ilke day!
¶ Alas thi chambres & thi boures,
Thi faire hall and thi toures,
Line 9888
Thi semely ȝates & thi faire walles,
And alle thi crafftly corven balles!
Page 292
¶ Lamentacio super Troianos.
¶ Fair Ilyon that stondes so hye, [folio 146b]
Line 9891
So lowe as thow schalt sone lye!
Line 9892
Suche a Cite was neuere non wrouȝt,
Al schal sone turne to nouȝt;
But thow may say as gode Iob sayde,
When he with sorwe was be-layde:
Line 9896
He cursed the day that he was borne
For wo that was leyd him be-forne,
He bad it turne to derknes
And euere be as thesternes.
Line 9900
¶ And so may thow that day banne,
That the batayle furst be-ganne,
Afftir the trewes was y-past:
Alas, that ne hit hadde lenger last
Line 9904
For Troye that was wel mayntened!
Hadde he that day him abstened,
He scholde haue ben conquerour
Off his enemys with gret honour!
Line 9908
PRiamus, this is the day
That thow schalt lese thi noblay,
Thi mayntenaunce and thi defence,
Thyn honour & thi reuerence!
Line 9912
This day thow leses thi seygnorie,
For gode Ector this day schal dye,
That the defended and thi kynrede,
Thi landes & thi manhede.
Line 9916
¶ Now artow lord of thi landis,
Many a duk byfore the standis,
The hodes offe [MS. offte.] & bare the heued,—
Sone schal it fro the be reued!
Line 9920
That now bene thyne be trouthe y-plyȝt,
Schal lete of the wel sone ful lyȝt!
The auȝt euere to curse that day,
That fals god now the helpe ne may;
Line 9924
Page 293
Line 9924
At this nede may he not helpe [folio 147a]
Line 9925
No more then may a dogge whelpe [MS. wlelpe.] .
Mochel sorwe was the toward,
When thei of Troye ride out-ward;
Line 9928
And so was also thi faire wyff,
Wherfore scho afftir lase hir lyff;
And Pollexene with-outen gilt
Afftirward therfore was spilt.
Line 9932
¶ A, douȝti Troyle, at euery a dede,
Vn-to that day that thow take hede!
What harme that day to the be-felle!
Thow may telle of thi tenselle,
Line 9936
And say, if thow be riȝt be halwed,
Alas, that euere that day be-dawed—
For to lese that the was leue & dere!
For if he hadde lyued thre ȝere,
Line 9940
Thow haddest ben kyng of many a land
Thorow strengthe of thi brother hand;
For whan he died, ȝe died alle;
Suche hap was to ȝow be-falle.
Line 9944
Allas, lady dame Andromede,
This is the day that thow may drede,
This is the day of thi gret wo,
For thow schal now thi lord for-go!
Line 9948
Thow schal lese the worthiest knyȝt
That euere was wedded to any wyȝt;
For hadde he lyued, thow hadde be quene
Off many a land—& that was sene,—
Line 9952
Thow haddest ben quene of Troye & dame.
But now schal it turne al to schame,
For thow scha[l]t falle In suche maystry,
That the schal lede In vylony,
Line 9956
In sclaunder and In foule schendyng,
Al thi lyff to thyn endyng.
Page 294
Knyȝtes kene that ben of Troye, [folio 147b]
Line 9959
Now make murthe and mochel Ioye;
Line 9960
¶ Alle Are ȝe bold for Ector sake,
Gret is the murthe that ȝe may make,
Ȝe drede no leuynge creature,
So ar ȝe sicur of him & sure.
Line 9964
But ȝit schal ȝe, or sonne go doun,
Alle that are In feld & toun
Sey "alas!" for sorwe & care,
"That day that euere ȝoure moder ȝow bare!"
Line 9968
A, Curteis Citeseyns,
Trewe & triste gode Troiens,
Herde I neuere of no burgeis
That were so hende & so curteis.
Line 9972
Alas! me rewes ȝoure destene,—
That were of ȝoure ȝifftes so fre,
Off noble blod & genterye,
Off gret manhede & curtesye,—
Line 9976
¶ That ȝoure noblay & ȝoure largesse,
Ȝoure curtesye & ȝoure richesse
Schal turne to nouȝt, and ȝe also!
Fals fortune wol ȝow for-do,
Line 9980
For deth has sche y-schaped,
Sche wil no wyse that he be skaped.
And he be ded & fro ȝow gon,
Ȝe ben dede euerychon!
Line 9984
Ȝoure brochis brode & al ȝoure byes
That now ligges In ȝoure tyes,
¶ Ȝoure tresoure & ȝoure florayns
Wol sche dele to knyȝtis & swayns
Line 9988
Off hem of Grece that are ȝoure foos.
This is the day that all goos,
Ȝoure gret noblay & ȝoure seygnorye
Schal turne to dele & waymentrye.
Line 9992
Page 295
¶ Hic Andromeda vxor Ectoris sompniauit de morte ipsius.
THat louely lyff dame Andromede [folio 148a]
Line 9993
The laste nyȝt the trewes out-ȝede,—
That thei schulde ffight afftir the day,—
By her lord In hir bed sche lay:
Line 9996
A dredful dreme that lady dremed,
That In hir sclepe sche cried & scremed.
¶ The while sche was In hir sclepe,
Ector ȝaff to hir good kepe,
Line 10000
Sche was sore & sche was dredful,
To wakyn hir it was nedful;
He waked hir & seide: 'swetyng,
Thow art ful ferd In thi sclepyng.
Line 10004
Whi fares thow thus? what ayles the?
Whi art thow ferd? what may this be?'
'Alas!' seyde sche, 'my gentil lord!
But thow wil do be myn acord,
Line 10008
Sicurly thow ne art but dede,—
But thow wil do afftir my rede,—
And I am lorn for euere also,
And thi louely children two!
Line 10012
For I am sicur be my dreme,
That I am lorn, and thi barne-teme;
And thow art ded with-outen fayle,
If thow this day go to batayle.
Line 10016
¶ For I wot be my drem to-nyȝt:
If thow to-morne gos to fyȝt,
With-oute the deth may thow not passe;
Then may I say for the "alas!
Line 10020
That I was borne!" for care & sorwe.
Be-leue at hom, my lord, to-morwe
And come not there,—I the be-seche!—
To my prayeres thow be my leche,
Line 10024
Be at home, til al be done!
For goddis loue here my bone!'
Page 296
'FI a debles [MS. b, distinctly, not v; cf. l. 10746.] !' seyde the knyȝt, [folio 148b]
Line 10027
'Thow art drecched with som euel wyȝt;
Line 10028
Hit is foly and vnsemyng
A man to leue on [MS. or.] fals dremyng:
Offt are men thorow hem be-swiked,
And so was thow, whan thow scryked.
Line 10032
A man that liggis In sclepe & dremes,
It is not as hit thenne semes
Off alle that euere he sclepande thought;
When he is wakyng, it is nought.
Line 10036
He is a fole that In hem leues
Or any faith vnto hem ȝeues.
¶ Leue thi wordes & thy wepyng
And holde thi pes, hit was sclepyng!
Line 10040
A thousand dremes men may dreme,
And ȝiff he ȝeue to hem gode ȝeme,
He schal not fynde what on be-menes,
For no-thyng falles as it schewes.'
Line 10044
¶ The nyȝt is went, the day dawes:
Ector is wroth with his wyues sawes,
His wyues wordes Ector dispises;
He toke his clothes and vpward rises,
Line 10048
He is wel wroth toward his wiff,
He biddis here vpon hir lyff
"Hir wepyng leue, hir wordes holde,
That sche no more be so bolde
Line 10052
To crye ne wepe ne tales telle
Off thynges that is not worth a schelle."
¶ Gret is the sorwe that sche makes,
Sche wrynges hir hondes, hir hede schakes,
Line 10056
As wyght that was with wo y-wounden
And In bales was sche bounden;
Sche drow hir heer & scratte hir face,
Sche weped & cried and seyde "alace!
Line 10060
Page 297
Line 10060
That euere schuld sche abide the day!" [folio 149a]
Line 10061
Sche wente as sche were wod a-way.
¶ To Hectuba, his moder, sche ran,—
As sche hadde ben a wod womman,—
Line 10064
And to hir suster Pollexene;
Thei wende that sche wod hadde bene,
Thei asked "whi that sche so ferde?"
'For tydandes that I haue herde
Line 10068
And sene also slepyng to-nyȝt,'
Saide Andromede, that bridde bryȝt,
'A dreme for-sothe that not lyes,
That thus mechel signifies:
Line 10072
That, If my lord this day out gange,
On lyue lyues he not lange;
If he this day to batayle go,
His enemys schal or euen him sclo.
Line 10076
A-ȝeyn comes he on lyue no more,
If he go out—be goddis ore!
¶ But thow that bare him of thi sidis
And has for-don the Gregeis pridis—
Line 10080
Off Chiualrie he is the flour,
And thi defence & thi socour,
That saues the & thi housbonde,
Thi tounes, thi toures, & thi londe,
Line 10084
Thi sones & alle thi doughtres als,—
Let him neuere dye of no wyk-hals!
Make him at hom this day to be,
That he come not at that semble!
Line 10088
For be he ded & fro vs went,—
That we were borne schal vs repent!'
HEctuba for ferd & drede
Was ner wod, when Andromede
Line 10092
These tydandes whan sche hir tolde,
For sche wiste neuere, how him to holde,
Page 298
¶ Hic Andromeda narrauit Regi & Regine.
That he come not at that assaut; [folio 149b]
Line 10095
Sche hadde for him ful mychel aut,
Line 10096
Gret sorwe then made the quene;
And so hadde als dame Pollexene.
¶ 'Go we,' sche sayde, 'to the kyng
And telle we him of this tythyng!
Line 10100
For ther is non that so wel may
Make him to be at home to-day.'
These ladyes thenne fair and fre
To Priamus ȝede then alle thre
Line 10104
And grete the kyng—as thei wel couthe—
With louely wordes of thaire mouthe:
'HErkene, sir,' seyde Andromede,
'Mi louely lord, my dreme thow rede!
Line 10108
As I to-nyȝt by my lord lay,
A litel be-fore the spryng of the day
A wonder drem gan I mete,
That doth me thus to me to wete,—
Line 10112
I se qwat it sygnifie [th erased after the last word of this line.] ,—
And do ther-to som remedie,
To make my lord that he go noght
To that stede that he hath thoght.
Line 10116
¶ For sikur! if that he go,
He is lorne, and we also!
Thow schalt [him] neuere with eyen se
Come a-ȝeyn on lyue to the,
Line 10120
For my drem—that is hidous—
Openly be-menes thus:
That if he to-day to batayle ride,
He schal be ded by euen-tyde.'
Line 10124
¶ When Priamus that drem hadde herd,
As he schulde dye, for-sothe he ferd;
The water brast out at his eyen,
Him thoght he myȝt for sorwe dyen,
Line 10128
Page 299
Line 10128
Him thoght his herte gan to breke; [folio 150a]
Line 10129
He stode longe, or he myght speke,
For sorwe & care that he hadde hent,
When he wiste what the dreme ment.
Line 10132
'Whether I schal,' he sayde, 'alas!
Lese my Ioye & my solas,
Mi defence & my socour,
And lede my liff In dishonour,
Line 10136
In wo, & drede, & paynes strong,
And alle that euere vn-to me long,
¶ Scholde I now lese my gode sone?
I schal him helpe, if I cone,
Line 10140
That he this day go not to fyght
On hors ne fote,—by god al-myght!—
That he die neuere for vnhap.
For if he may this on day sckap,
Line 10144
Wele wot I that he schal schende
Alle his fos & saue his frende.
¶ For may he passe his destane,
Conquerour then schal he be
Line 10148
Off his fo-men, thei schal hem ȝelde
To him & his and fle the felde.'
THe sonne be-gynnes on hye to schyne,
Troiens ar alle set to dyne,
Line 10152
Thei ben serued with many a coupe;
Euel schal thei or euen droupe,
For thei schal se or euen ded
The beste body that euere ete bred.
Line 10156
¶ Ector ordeynes his batayles alle,
He biddis hem Troyle to him calle;
And he come to him faste ridande,
With helme on hed & spere In hande,
Line 10160
Armed wel In iren wede.
Ector bad that he scholde lede
Page 300
¶ Hic incipit Bellum in quo Ector Interfectus fuit.
The formast warde, the furste eschele, [folio 150b]
Line 10163
And come a-ȝeyn with Ioye and hele.
Line 10164
¶ He called to him Paris, his brother,
And bad that he scholde lede that other.
Afftir that he called Eueas,—
And he come a ful gode pas,—
Line 10168
He seis: 'Eueas, I the bidde
That thow lede the batayle thridde;
And thow the ferthe, Polydomas,
To helpe him when he nede has.'
Line 10172
¶ The ffiffthe batayle Ector be-tauȝt—
With alle the men that he ther auȝt—
To Sarpedoun, that douȝti kyng,
And other mo In his ledyng.
Line 10176
¶ The sixte ledde kyng Episcropus,
A noble kyng and curtayus,
With many a douȝti bacheler.
Ector bad hem come him ner
Line 10180
A douȝti kyng with visage grym.
The eyght batayle be-tauȝt he him:
He hete Forcius—I vndirstande,—
He bad him lede the ward eyghtande.
Line 10184
¶ The ix. batayle—as I wene—
Be-tauȝt Ector to Philomene [MS. Pollexene.] .
A douȝti kyng of gret pouste,
Hardi of hert and gret bounte,
Line 10188
And other kynges that comen wore
In help of Troye, that were thore.
PRyamus the kyng [hem] seygned,
When Ector hadde hem thus ordeyned;
Line 10192
He ȝaff echon to that batayle
Leue to wende, her fos to assayle;
For thei of Grece were comen be than
With-oute her diches, eueryche man,
Line 10196
Page 301
Line 10196
And redi dight, & hem abode; [folio 151a]
Line 10197
And thei of Troye vnto hem rode.
But he bad Ector al on hye,
Heryng alle [MS. a…lle, probably meant for Alle.] that were him nye:
Line 10200
"That he ne scholde that day armes bere
Ne entermete him of that were,
But be at hom with him that day—
On his blessyng, & say not nay."
Line 10204
¶ Lord! so he wex wod wroth
Toward his wyff, purful & loth!
When his ffader Priamus
Be-fore hem Alle hadde bidden him thus:
Line 10208
Ful vilensly his wyff he chidde
For that schame that sche him didde;
But he wold not do his biddyng,
He bade his men vnto him bryng
Line 10212
His hauberioun and his target,
His Aketoun and his basenet.
¶ His men did as he hem bad.
When Andromede saw hir lord had
Line 10216
His Armure In hand to Arme him with,
Sche cried out on kyn & kyth,
That sche was brouȝt In-to this world.
When Hectuba this word herd,
Line 10220
¶ Sche ran thedir as sche were wod
Be-ffore Ector ther he stod;
Vpon hir knes tho fel the quene,
And his suster Pollexene,
Line 10224
And Andromede kneled also
And broght with hir hir childur two:
That on of hem was ȝit so ȝong [MS. ȝoug.]
That he ne coude speke with tong,
Line 10228
He coude ete no bred of whete,
He soukede then his moder tete.
Page 302
¶ Hic rogauerunt Ectorem quod non ibat ad prelium illo die.
¶ The Moder spak to hir child [folio 151b]
Line 10231
With herte fre & wordes my[l]d:
Line 10232
'Sone,' sche seyde, 'loke the be-forn!
I am thi Moder that the hath born;
Fourty wekes ȝede I with the
With paynes stronge, rewe now on me
Line 10236
For alle that wo & al that pyne
I suffred for the and brether thyne.
With-say not here my beheste,
My comaundement, ne my requeste!
Line 10240
Vn-Arme the at my prayere,
As thow louest me & thi wyff here!'
POllexene & quene Elayne
Prayed him also,—al was In vayne.
Line 10244
When Andromede saw al that,
How his Moder ther on knes sat,
Vpon hir knes sore wepande,
And quene Eleyne loude cryande,
Line 10248
His sustres alle with sore chere,
And [he] wolde hem not here:—
¶ Sche toke the child In her lap
That was soukyng at her pap,
Line 10252
By-fore his feet fel sche doun
For sorwe & care In a ded sowne.
When sche was rysen & sat on knes:
'This is thi sone that thow here ses,'
Line 10256
Seyde Andromede, '& I thi wiff.
For him that made bothe deth and lyff!
Beleue at hom this day with me
And go not out to this semble!
Line 10260
¶ And if thin [mod] be now so hard
That thow of me haue no reward,
Rewe opon this ȝonge thyng,
Thi sones bothe that I here bryng!
Line 10264
Page 303
Line 10264
That I ne dye neuere ne thei euel ded, [folio 152a]
Line 10265
Ne go so pore to begge oure bred
In straunge land & In exile,
Saue me & hem fro deth vile!
Line 10268
And lete vs now thin Armes of take
For thi louely childer sake!
And leue her-Inne this day alone
That thow this day bere Armes none!'
Line 10272
¶ The ladies hadde gret pyne,
The water ran out of here eyȝene,
That it wet that louely lere;
Ȝit wolde he not hir prayeres here.
Line 10276
His wiff wepes with reuful chere,
The teres fallen on hir lere,
Off hir eyen hit rennes out,
Thei wete hir chekes al a-bout,
Line 10280
Sche ffalles offte In ded sownyng:
But he ȝaff of hem no thyng,
¶ But Armed him & toke his stede,
And lep vp sone & fro hem ȝede;
Line 10284
Toward the feld he hyed him faste
Fro the ladies, that he were paste.
WHen Andromede saw hir lord go,
Lord god! what hir was wo!
Line 10288
Sche skrat hir face—as sche were wod—
Til it was ronnen al on blod,
Sche rente hir clothes & hir heer tare;
Mechel sorwe made sche thare,
Line 10292
Sche was almost of hir wit.
The lady thanne hir clothes vp knyt,
¶ Sche ran to kyng Priamus,
As sche that was ful angwisus [MS. ful of angwisus.] .
Line 10296
So was sche blod and al for-scrat,
That kyng ne none that by him sat
Page 304
Wiste In erthe what sche was. [folio 152b]
Line 10299
When thei hir knew, thei seyde: 'alas!'—
Line 10300
'What ayles the, my derlyng?'
To hir seyde Priamus, the kyng.
Er sche myȝt speke, sche swoned ther,
Alle hadde reuthe aboute hir wer;
Line 10304
¶ Thei were alle so sore meruayled,
What that louely lady ayled.
When sche was rysen, sche sat on knes,
Hir heer was rent & torne In pes;
Line 10308
Sche cried loude and seide alweyes,
"Sche myght for no thyng be In pes."
Sche seyde: 'sir kyng, whi sittes thow here?
Wol thow now lese thi sone dere?
Line 10312
Thow scholde haue ȝeuen to him entent!
For riȝt to batayle he is went;
Now is he gon & fforward reden;
His stede Armed he is be-striden,
Line 10316
Vn-to the batayle for to gange;
Iff thow fro him dwelle out lange,
That he fro the thedir may wende,
Thow art for-done, & alle thi frende;
Line 10320
¶ Thow schalt him neuere se more on lyue,
But thow ouertake him swythe.
For be it so that he come thore,
On lyue ne sese thow him no more!'
Line 10324
The kyng anon with-oute abode
To his hors that he on rode,
And lepe vp sone with-outen tariyng
And rod afftir him with herte sikyng:
Line 10328
¶ He priked his hors on the pament,
That afftir his feet the fir out glent;
For no thyng wolde the kyng abide,
Line 10331
Or he sey him where he gan ride.
Page 305
¶ Adhuc Magnum bellum.
He rode and toke him by the rayne, [folio 153a]
Line 10333
And pulled his stede wrothely a-ȝayne,
And seyde: 'Ector, thow art to blame!
I comaunde the In my goddis name,—
Line 10336
In him that is so ful of myȝt
And maked bothe day & nyȝt,—
That thow no further go fro me,
But turne a-ȝeyn to thi Cite!
Line 10340
As thow art treuly my sone,
In my blessyng & benysone!'
ECtor offte his fader with-sayd,
But he his stede to him brayd,
Line 10344
And brouȝt him thanne a-ȝeyns his wille,
With his praieres, the Cite tille.
In the paleys Ector doun lyght,
But he wolde not him vndyght
Line 10348
¶ Off his armure & his a-tire;
He lefft at home with moche ire,
That he was not at that sauȝt.
The Gregeis with the Troyens fauȝt
Line 10352
With hardi herte and gret reddure:
Ther was be-twene hem a grisly stoure,
Many a knyȝt on grounde ther lay,
And many an hors ther wente a-way,—
Line 10356
Her guttes trayled on the grounde,—
That neuere afftir her maystres founde.
¶ Troylus woundes Gregeis and sles,
And he by-holdes wel Diomedes,
Line 10360
He hadde to him wel gret envy:
He thought to do with him Maystry,—
That him were leuere then gret catel,—
That he myght scle him In that batel;
Line 10364
He hated him for his lemman,
Cresseida [Cress, possibly by same hand, on erasure.] , that fair womman.
Page 306
He toke a spere stalworth and strong, [folio 153b]
Line 10367
To bere doun Troyle a-mong the throng;
Line 10368
But Troyle saw him come ridande
And toke a stalworth spere In hande,
And rode to him with myȝt and mayn,
[And Diomedes him aȝeyn,] [No gap in MS.]
Line 10372
That thei fel bothe opon the grene:
And toke here stedis as knyȝtes kene,
¶ And bothe her swordis out thei drow
And ffauȝt to-geder long y-now,
Line 10376
Til thei were stoned hede and brayn.
That on that other wolde haue sclayn,
Ne hadde than comen Menelaus
With al his ost opon Troylus;
Line 10380
For he come thenne with gret meyne
And made these knyȝtes departye.
And elles I trowe with-outen les
Troyle hadde sclayn Diomedes!
Line 10384
MEnelaus is comen doun
With many knyȝt and bold baroun:
When his men with here Ioyned,
Many a man was ther assoyned
Line 10388
Off ther lyff ther at her mote,
That neuere afftirward come to bote.
¶ When Menelaus was In that presse,
He saw a kyng—het Messeres,—
Line 10392
He smot that kyng vpon the scheld,
That he fel doun opon the feld.
When the Gregeis saw him falle,
Thei gadered a-boute him alle:
Line 10396
¶ Messeres wolde defende his cors,
But sicurly he hadde no fors;
Thei made a serkel al a-boute,
That he myȝt not go with-oute.
Line 10400
Thei toke that kyng a-mong hem a-none
Page 307
And with him gan a-wey gone, [folio 154a]
Line 10402
To lede him to here pauylouns
And put him with ther other prisouns.
Line 10404
But Troyle by-gan theder to loke
And say, how thay of Grece him toke:
He vowed to god, "he scholde be wo,
Or thei that kyng with hem lete go."
Line 10408
¶ He rode thedir with-oute dwellyng
And be-lan neuere of men fellyng,
Til he hadde take him fro her hondis
And delyuered him out of his bondis.
Line 10412
The Gregeis saw that thei mowȝt nouȝt
Lede him a-way, as thei hadde thouȝt:
Thei thoght his hede of for to strike
And leue him liggand vpon the dike,
Line 10416
¶ But come Troyle, the douȝti knyȝt,
And many of hem sclow In here fyȝt
And made that kyng a-way to scape
For al that ost & alle that frape;
Line 10420
Then [MS. But then.] were Troyens bold and Ioyus.
But than come doun Thelamanyus
With thre thousand of douȝti knyȝtes,
To helpe Gregeis with al her myȝtes;
Line 10424
On that side come he doun ridande,
Ther Polidomas was ffyghtande.
¶ Thelamanyus with a spere
To Polidomas rode with were
Line 10428
And bar him doun, er he was war,
And with that Iustus he smot him sar
And threw him doun ouer his hors ers,
That long afftirward he was the wers.
Line 10432
He was In poynt tho him to ȝelde,
But then come Troyle to that felde
And Thelamon myȝtily assayled
Page 308
And so hertly on him trauayled, [folio 154b]
Line 10436
That on hors brouȝt he Polidomas
Swyfliche as he rather was.
PAris hath his men araied,
His baner is before disp[l]ayed,
Line 10440
He gaderes his men aboute him nowe
And biddis that thei schal him folowe:
To that assaut wil he now wende,
His men echon her bowes thei bende,
Line 10444
And sette In takel long and brode;
To that assaut thei with him rode
And schotte Gregeis & did him skathe.
But Achilles was al to rathe,—
Line 10448
Armed wel & redi dight,—
To come then with many a knyȝt:
With al his ost come he doun tho,
The Troiens faste be-gan to sclo.
Line 10452
¶ He hem sles & doun hem kest,
Scheldes ryued, & helmes berst;
His men were euere more him ner
And halp him wel at his mestier:
Line 10456
Thei leyd on Troiens strokes large,
And so thei gan hem ouer-charge
With stalworth strokes of her hand,
That thei myȝt no lenger stand.
Line 10460
¶ The Troiens thanne be-gan to fle,
Faste ridande to here Cite,
As faste as thei myght prike;
Thei spared nother doun ne dike,
Line 10464
Til thei come at here cite ȝates.
Achilles folwed hem algates
Ouer dales & ouer dounes
With his Gregeis & Murmidounes;
Line 10468
He sclow of hem that tyme gret won,
Page 309
Thei fled a-way fro him echon. [folio 155a]
Line 10470
[This line in red paint at this very place.] Hic Achilles occidit Margariton filius [sic!] Regis Troiani.
THe kynges sone Margariton
Line 10471
Saw he come hem vpon,
Line 10472
And sclow his men—as lyoun bestis
That is for-hungred In wilde forestis;—
He myȝt him no lenger suffer In no wyse
For al the gode that was In prise:
Line 10476
He turned his stede vn-to him son,
To fyght with him was he bon,
He smot vnto him strokes thore
As breme as any bore.
Line 10480
¶ He made Achilles leue his chace,
That he no lenger mordur mace;
Off his chasyng he him restayed:
Many a strok ther was payed,
Line 10484
He lent him fele and him qwyt;
But Margaritoun was so hit,
Er he partid fro his handes,
That he fel ded vpon the sandis.
Line 10488
The Troiens made an hidous cri,
When he was ded so sodanly.
The douȝti Thelamanyus
To hem of Troye was envious,
Line 10492
He chased the Troiens & thret
And many of hem to grounde bet.
¶ But Paris harde his men defendis,
Many an arwe he hem sendis;
Line 10496
But for auȝt that he myȝt do,
And al his ost with also,
Thei were put vnto flyȝt,
Wenkyst foule, & discomfiȝt.
Line 10500
Thei token the toun with mychel spede— [¶ Troiani fugerunt [In one line in MS.; the sign in blue, the words in red paint.] .]
To saue her lyues for thei hadde nede,—
Page 310
And brouȝt with hem that ded body, [folio 155b]
Line 10503
And ȝede ther-with by strete & sty,
Line 10504
Til thei come at Ilion
And leyde ther doun Margariton
Vpon the grounde al bledande:
Many on for him was wepande.
Line 10508
ECtor saw his brother slayn,—
And for him wepes knyȝt & swayn,—
His colour chaunged, his herte ros,
For tene Ector he wode gos:
Line 10512
He rolled his eyen as best ramage,
As he hadde fallen In a rage;
He lased his helme & toke his stede,
'Tel me,' he sayde, 'who dede that dede?
Line 10516
¶ What is he that my brother sclow?
I schal him venge, if I mow!'
Thei seide: 'it was sir Achilles
That sclow him with-oute les,
Line 10520
And put vs to discomfiture,
For we myȝt him not endure;
A-ȝeyn him may we make no defence
With-oute ȝoure help & ȝoure presence.'
Line 10524
¶ Ector thanne with wrothful herte
Vpon his hors lepe vp smerte,
He strok his stede so with his spores
That he lepe ouer lond & forwes;
Line 10528
He spared no ston ne cause,
Til he mette with his meyne.
¶ Right at the ȝatis met he his men,
Fleande be twelue & ten;
Line 10532
To hem wold he speke wordis non,
But to his enemys ȝede he alon:
His fomen were sone of him dred,
And thei wex bold that furst were fled,
Line 10536
Page 311
¶ Hic Ector ibat ad prelium.
For whan thei hadde of him a syght, [folio 156a]
Line 10537
Thei were not ferd of kyng ne knyȝt.
ECtor is of Troye y-went,
He brak his fader comaundement,
Line 10540
He thoght not on his benysoun
That douȝti knyȝt of gret renoun:
He schal lese his lyff or euen [MS. euel.] -tyde,
Aȝeyn to Troie schal he not ride.
Line 10544
With his lyff hit rewes me sore,
That he that day come thore!
¶ Allas! that day he hadde no grace
To be at home, as him radde wace;
Line 10548
But sicurly he myght not fle
On no manere his destane:
His ffader wist not of his wendyng,
He ȝede ther-fore to his endyng.
Line 10552
He sclow Gregeis and kest hem doun
And droff hem alle out of the toun;
¶ The rayn fel neuere so thike on rise
As Ector sclow his enemys;
Line 10556
Was non so stiff hem among
That he ne sclow hem or doun sclong,
That he myȝt take or ouer-reche.
Off Margaritoun toke he wreche,
Line 10560
He venged him with dynt of sword,
He sclow that day many a lord.
Alle that feld was vmbesprade
Off dede knyȝtes that lay & bledde:
Line 10564
For sicurly he was so wroth,
That wham he hit to dethe he goth;
¶ Among Gregeis he rayked, treled,
With his swerd that wel was steled,
Line 10568
Was non so strong that him sittis
The strong strokes that he hem hittis.
Page 312
He sclow alle tho & fellde [MS. fell do.] riȝt [folio 156b]
Line 10571
With dynt of sword that he reche myȝt.
Line 10572
¶ Achilles then, that lordly sire,
Wolde not abide him In his Ire,
But euere [held] fro him alone,
Euere til Ector were gone.
Line 10576
Hadde he a-biden him In his wratthe,
He scholde haue had an euel batthe,
He scholde haue bathed In his blode.
Was none so strong that him with-stode,
Line 10580
That he ne lay ded vpon the sondes
With stalworth strokes of his hondes.
If a man hadde with him ben
A-mong Troiens, and hadde sen
Line 10584
Alle the meruayles that he wrouȝt,
He wolde euere haue In his thouȝt
Off his endyng and his myschaunce,
And of his foule encombraunce
Line 10588
As he hadde of his lyue.
He sclow of hem hundres fyue
And ten ther-to [MS. ȝer to.] , er he wolde sese;
He droff a-ȝeyn-ward alle the prese,
Line 10592
He droff hem alle a-ȝeyn bacward
For drede of dethe her tentis toward.
ECtor fightes vpon that hethe,
Many a man doth he to dethe:
Line 10596
Was non so bold that durst him mete,
That he ne fel doun In the strete;
He deled a-boute him euel knockis,
Her armure ferde as it were frockis.
Line 10600
Al that euere stode In his way
He felde hem doun as clottis of clay,
He smot a man som-tyme on-two,
And som-tyme man & hors also;
Line 10604
Page 313
Line 10604
He sclow and wounded ȝong and olde, [folio 157a]
Line 10605
Aȝeyn his strok myȝt no stel holde.
¶ Hit was a wonder for to se,
What men he sclow at that Iorne;
Line 10608
To se the syght hit was delful,
How euery plud of blod stode ful [MS. stodeful.]
Off men that he ther slees & felles,
The blod ran doun as water of welles.
Line 10612
¶ He barst her mayles and al to-tatred,
The scheldis of hem he al to-clatered.
Thei knewe wel sone that it was he,
And fro his strokes gan [t]he[i] fle;
Line 10616
He sclow of hem many a score.
His men that were y-fled [MS. yfeld.] be-fore,
He turned a-ȝeyn In that assaut,
And bitterly with hem he faut.
Line 10620
ADouȝti duke, Euripolus,
An[d] an other, Hastidius,
He saw how Ector scheldes roff
And al that ost a-ȝeyn-ward droff:
Line 10624
He ffauȝt his on a-ȝeyn alle,
He sclow her men and made hem falle,
The blod of men a-boute him flowed.
Vnto her goddis thei bothe a-vowed
Line 10628
"For al his fare he scholde be [b altered from h.] met,
And of his dedis he scholde be let."
¶ When these dukes hadde bothe y-sworn,
With alle her men thei wente be-forn
Line 10632
And layd opon him strokes faste,
And al a-boute him thei be-caste.
But I wot neuere, what it a-vayled?
For whan he was with hem assayled,
Line 10636
He sclow hem bothe In-myddes the ost
For al here Iangelynge and her bost;
Page 314
And many an-other moder sone [folio 157b]
Line 10639
He brak of bothe the scheltrone:
Line 10640
Thei fled a-way as thei myȝt go,—
For thei saw he [MS. he saw thei.] wolde hem [MS. him.] slo,—
Thei durst therfore no lenger dwelle,
But fled fro him—the sothe to telle.
Line 10644
¶ The stoure was gret and perilous,
The noyse was gret & hidous:
Troiens were than a-ȝeyn turned,
That furst for drede her fomen scorned;
Line 10648
Opon her foos ȝede thei hedelynge
And wounded sore bothe knyȝtes & kynge.
But thei of Grece Polidomas toke
And faste a-weyward with him schoke,
Line 10652
¶ Thei wende haue had him prisoner,
But thei be-fel foule encomber [MS. encombranser. The scribe first wrote encombranse, and then forgot to strike out the rans, when he altered it to encomber; cf. l. 1617.]
Off his takyng & his ledyng:
Thei myȝt him not to her tentis bryng,
Line 10656
As thei wende to haue y-done,
For Ector come to hem sone.
¶ Whan he was war of his takyng,
He come to him faste schakyng;
Line 10660
Among that hepe strok he his stede
Polidomas that then wolde lede,
And dalt ther strokes on eche a side
To his fomen that were vnride.
Line 10664
He bar here feet ouer thaire hede,
Many of hem did he to dede;
He sclow that tyme two hundred & mo
With his hond for-sothe tho.
Line 10668
POlidomas that thenne led,
Thei lete him go, and fro him fled.
He made a-mong hem suche debate,
That thei were ferd of him & mate;
Line 10672
Page 315
Line 10672
Thei lete go quyte Polidomas, [folio 158a]
Line 10673
And seide euerychon that while 'alas!'
Hem Angered sore, whan he was tan.
For he was two hundred mennes ban
Line 10676
Or it was passed myd-ouer-none;
Hadde him last lyff, he hadde for-done
The Gregeis alle with-oute lye,
But he most nede that day dye;
Line 10680
For destane ches his chaunce so,
That he most nede that day go to,
That day forsothe, or it were euen—
As Andromede saw In here sweuen.
Line 10684
¶ Herkenes! as ȝe schal here,
How he died & In what manere:
For ther byfore long y-gon
He fauȝt with Gregeis many on,
Line 10688
He fauȝt somtyme with ten thousand,
Ȝit myȝt thei not his strokes with-stand;
Was non so strong on Gregeis side,
That durst him In his yre a-byde.
Line 10692
Achilles met neuere with him ȝit,
That he ne ȝaf him an euel fit;
For al his myȝt & his prowes
He partied neuere fro him harmles,
Line 10696
That he ne was wounded & euel dyght
For all that he was so hardy a knyght.
ECtor hath quyt Polidomas
And brouȝt him out of al that cas,
Line 10700
He rightes his helm & wele amendes,
And to his meyne he him sendes,
And askes of hem: "whether that thei slepe,
Whi thei the lord no better kepe?"
Line 10704
¶ He turned him then to hem of Grece
And hewes her bodies al to pece;
Page 316
Thei falle afftir him as doth the leues [folio 158b]
Line 10707
In wynter-tyme that growes on greues;
Line 10708
He layde hem doun alle be-dene
And made the way of hem ful clene.
Ther myȝt non stande that he smot;
The Gregeis made a sore lot
Line 10712
And seyde: "but god did bote,
Thei were euerychon vndir his fote."
¶ Ther was o Grece an Ameral,
That saw how Ector wrouȝt bale
Line 10716
A-mong Gregeis, how he hem ȝeled,
And with his swerd he hem steked:
He felde hem doun as hadde ben tres.
The duk men cleped Leochynes;
Line 10720
Him thoght for sorwe his herte bledis,
Ful faste to Ector he him spedis
And stroke him with al his myȝt,
For he him fond In suche a plyȝt
Line 10724
That he wende for-sothe certayn
That he scholde him haue sclayn.
¶ But hit was noght as he supposed,
Thow he were duk & knyȝt a-losed,
Line 10728
Thow he were duk & knyȝt a-pert
And fond him thenne at discouert:
He sclow him not, but hurt him so
That helm & coyfe cleue In-two,
Line 10732
And carf of him bothe heer & hide,
And ȝaff Ector a wounde vnride.
¶ But Ector stille on his hors sat,
That he fel not to grounde with that;
Line 10736
But whan he felte that he was smetyn,—
As men fynde of him y-wreten,—
He was so wroth, & wex ner wode,
That he of him hadde so rauȝt blode:
Line 10740
Page 317
¶ Hic Ector occidit leochiden.
¶ Then he smot him vpon the hede, [folio 159a]
Line 10741
That he ete neuere afftir brede;
He smot him vpon his croune,
That to his hors he cleue him doune;
Line 10744
He cleue him euen in-two amyddes—
'Go on deblis [Cf. note to l. 10027, p. 296.] !' he him biddes,
'Ho made the,' he sayde, 'so bold
To smyte me thus, and not me told?'
Line 10748
¶ The duk hade of him suche houselle,
On bothe the sides his hors he felle;
As he hadde ben a clouen hogge,
The duke hanged as a frogge.
Line 10752
For wratthe & tene that Ector was hirt,
Many ffro her lyues sterst;
He made suche hepes of dede bodies
Off douȝti knyȝtes that were of pris,
Line 10756
That non durst him than a-byde
Ne In his way not ones ryde.
AChilles houes euere atrayn
And saw what lordes he hadde sclayn,
Line 10760
Lordes and knyȝtes In his wodnesse,
Mo then he coude nombre or gesse.
Achilles than In his herte thoght:
"But if Ector were to dethe broght
Line 10764
Hastily with som qweyntyse,
Or scleght, by som skynnes wyse,
The Gregeis scholde neuere day y-se
That thei of Troye schuld Maystered be;
Line 10768
For no strengthe myȝt a-vayle,
For nouȝt that he coude assayle."
He ceste therfore In his wit,
How thei myȝt of him be qwit
Line 10772
With som quayntyse that he myȝt do,
That he were the deth sone brouȝt to.
Page 318
Many a sleght & many a compas [folio 159b]
Line 10775
Achilles In his hert cast,
Line 10776
How he myȝt Ector ful-fille
His strong compas & alle his wille.
Whil Achilles him be-thoght
How Ector scholde to dethe be brouȝt,
Line 10780
¶ Ector saw a duk ridande
Among that prese with sword In hande,
He felde Troiens In many stedes,
And on her bodies rides & tredes.
Line 10784
The duk was cleped Polynetes,
He come thedir for Achilles
At him his sustur for to craue,
For he wolde hir to his wiff haue;
Line 10788
¶ He was a man of moche hauyng,
Ther was non richer knyȝt ne kyng
A-mong hem alle In that route
Then was that duk with-oute doute;
Line 10792
Fro the ferthest side of Inde
Come he thedir, so was he kynde
To Achilles for his suster sake,
For he wolde hir haue to his make.
Line 10796
As he rode thus a-boute r[a]ykande,
With hem of Troye thus laykande,
He met Ector right In his way;
That Angred him sone—I dar wel say:
Line 10800
Ector saw how that he sclow
His men of Troye wel y-now,
He felde hem doun & hurt hem ofte:
He spake to him nother loude ne soffte,
Line 10804
¶ He layd at him with gret dispite,
He asked not ones what he hite,
But lete a strok to him fle
Opon his hed a-bouen his eye;
Line 10808
Page 319
¶ Hic Ector occidit Polyneten.
He cleue his helm & scheld eke, [folio 160a]
Line 10809
He cleue him doun In-to the breke.
The Gregeis than be-gan to daren,
When thei the duk say so faren;
Line 10812
Ther were none armes that him with-stode,—
Were thei maked neuere so gode,—
A-ȝeyn the strok that he smot,
That thei [ne brast] a-none fot hot.
Line 10816
¶ Thei seyde: "he was the deuel of helle,
And thei were foles ther lengur to dwelle,
Aȝeyn him fight lengur to holde;
Ne were thei knyȝtes neuere so bolde"—
Line 10820
'He cleues oure men as him-self lykes,
He kylles oure men & to dethe strikes.'
Thei seyde: "the deuel of helle pit!
Out of here land myght thei not flit,
Line 10824
Aȝeyn Ector batayle to rayse,
So wele as thei were alle at ayse
At home vche-on [on over line, but by the same hand.] In thaire contre;
The deuel hem made to passe the se,
Line 10828
To ligge ther ded vpon the sondes
I-sclawe [MS. I. sclawe.] with the Troyens handes."
THat [MS. W Hat.] duk was clouen In two parties,
On eyther halff his hors he lyes;
Line 10832
Hit was ruthe se how he honged,
A-boute the sadel the hors him flonged,
Til he him ouer his sadel cast
Vndir hors feet at the last.
Line 10836
¶ To se that duke was it lothely;
Achilles loked then wrothely
Vpon Ector with-outen les,
For he hadde sclayn Polynetes.
Line 10840
He swere "he scholde venge that knyȝt,
If his god wolde, with al his myȝt."
Page 320
¶ Achilles than to Ector rennes,— [folio 160b]
Line 10843
As lyoun doth out of her dennes,
Line 10844
When thei are hungred, afftir bestes
That thei se walke In wilde forestes:—
He wende haue smeten Ector sore;
But he was hurt, or he come thore,
Line 10848
For Ector was war of him wel,
He wiste his purpos euery del,
He wiste wel al that he ment.
A darte to him Ector sent,
Line 10852
And at Achilles he it threw,
That he hit wele, he knew;
Thorow his scheld a dart he droff,
That scheld and hauberk al to-roff;
Line 10856
Thorow his Aketoun & his hide
He smot him eueli thorow his side.
¶ Achilles saw that he was hurt,
Off his purpos was he lurt;
Line 10860
He saw he hadde euere the werre,
He held his hors & wolde no ferre,
But rod him to his Pauyloun,
And kest of helme and aketoun,
Line 10864
And bond his hed & wel stopped;
His herte for Anger ffaste hopped,
That he toke of him suche dispit.
He byndes his woundes & wel dit [Cf. note to ll. 2303-4.] ,
Line 10868
And kest vpon him newe a-tire,
And rides a-ȝeyn In mochel Ire
And thenkes that he schal Ector sclo,
Thoow he ther to dethe go.
Line 10872
AChilles now his stede be-strides,
To fight a-ȝeyn faste he rides;
His wounde is wel & wisly boundoun,
Line 10875
He [MS. To.] take a spere was kyndely groundoun.
Page 321
The spere was tow & long, [folio 161a]
Line 10877
Gret, & styff, & wonder strong,
Off two thousand was hit the best,
For it scholde not on him berst
Line 10880
By no manere In his strikynge,
Hit was a spere at his lykynge;
He thouthe to sle Ector with-al—
Alas the while! for he so schal!
Line 10884
ECtor rides & raykes a-boute,
Off no man hadde he no doute,
Off no mannes pride he ne thouȝte,
Off no mannes leuyng told he nouȝt,
Line 10888
To kyng ne knyȝt ȝaff he no tent;
That gode body ther-fore was schent,
He fauȝt euere-more In one,
He leues stondyng be-fore him none,
Line 10892
He is to hem an euel gest,
He fightes euere with-outen rest:
He sclow two thousand, er he be-lan;
Thei seyde he was non erthely man.
Line 10896
¶ Ther was a duk of gret astate,
Aȝeyn Ector held debate,
Among Troiens faste he skayred,
And hurt him sore, & euel hem payed.
Line 10900
Ector loked toward that duke
And saw his men of him rebuke,
He hied him thedur with mychel hast,
And quyk be-gan him for to cast:
Line 10904
¶ Ector him droff so with his myȝt,
That he defende him ne myȝt,
He ȝeld his swerd & his knyff
And bad Ector saue his lyff.
Line 10908
And Ector sayde: "he wolde him saue,
But he wolde him prisoner haue."
Page 322
¶ Hic Achilles occidit Ectorem.
¶ Ector was thanne faste a-boute [folio 161b]
Line 10911
Off that prece to haue him oute [MS. sute.] ;
Line 10912
But men stode so on euery a side,
That he myȝt not out with him ride:
To haue him out was he not ethe,
He put his swerd In his schethe,
Line 10916
He kest his scheld on his bak,
To saue the kyng fro alle his pak;
To other ȝaf he no tent,
But he were with-oute, as he hadde ment.
Line 10920
AChilles held him euere a-rome,
And saw that Ector ȝaff no gome
To no man thenne but for to bryng
Out of that prece that riche kyng:
Line 10924
He hadde that tyme no spere In hand
Ther-with to dere no man lyuand,
His swerd was put In his skauberke,
He was al bare but his hauberke
Line 10928
On his brest & his stomak,
His scheld was casten on his bak.
¶ Achilles ther-to toke good hede
And thoght, "but he that tyme spede,
Line 10932
That he scholde neuere to dethe him do,
But he myȝt that tyme come ther-to."
He stroke his stede & helde him faste,
And to[k] his spere that wel wolde laste,
Line 10936
And rod to him, er he were war,
And thorow the bodi he him bar:
¶ Thorow the bodi he him thrist,
Er he were war & er he wyst;
Line 10940
He bar him doun vpon the grounde
Fro his hors with dethes wounde.
ODemon saw Ector was dede,
He saw his blod aboute sprede;
Line 10944
Page 323
Line 10944
The deth of him sore he rewed. [folio 162a]
Line 10945
Whan that he saw he not remeued,
Whan he saw him ligge so In pees,
He stale be-hynde Achilles
Line 10948
And smot him with a pollax sore,
That of his hors he fel thore:
He fel ouer his sadel bowe
And lay In swoun a long throwe.
Line 10952
And Odemoun flees a-weyward faste,
Many a dart thei afftir him caste;
To the Troyens he gan him spede,
That was his best, for he hadde nede.
Line 10956
¶ Thei toke Achilles of that throng,
That he died not here hors a-mong,
And layde him soffte vpon his scheld
And lad him hom to his teld;
Line 10960
And he myȝt nother ride ne go,
So was he sore smyten tho.
And thei of Troye Ector out drow
For drede of hors, with sorwe y-now,
Line 10964
And lad him hom to his paleis.
And thus died Ector—as Dares sais.
¶ That batayle that day thus gan to ende,
Bothe the ostes hamward gan wende:
Line 10968
Thei of Grece with Achilles,
Ioyful and glad for his res;
And thei of Troie with Ector the gode,
Al ded In his owne blode.
Line 10972
LOrd, the Ioye that Gregeis made!
Thei ete & drank & made him glade
With pipes & daunces & Iolyffte;
Gret Ioye it was her murthe to se.
Line 10976
Achilles thei dede alle glade,
Mechel murthe thei him made,
Page 324
And dight him gode fisiciens, [folio 162b]
Line 10979
With leche-crafft thes surgiens;
Line 10980
Alle the helpe that thei myght
Thei it dede be day & nyght.
And thonked here godis In that place
That hadde sent hem som grace,
Line 10984
To scle him that hadde hem most anoyed
And her Gregeis so foule distroied.
NOw is he ded, that gode knyȝt,
That no man myȝt with-stande In fight!
Line 10988
Now is sclay[n] that gode body
That men tolde so moche by!
That was so moche with alle men dred,
Now liggis he ded and for-bled!
Line 10992
In Troie was neuere so gode knyȝt born,
As thei of Troie hadde than for-lorn!
A better knyȝt of chiualrie
Was neuere born In Asye!
Line 10996
Ne neuere was, ne neuere schal be
A better knyȝt In armes than was he!
¶ A dethe! that thow art quaynt!
Thi myght may no man speke ne playnt!
Line 11000
So doughti a knyȝt was neuere none
In erthe made of flesch ne bone,
That euere myght stonde of the a brayde,
Whan thow thi hand on him has layde.
Line 11004
Thow art scharp as any bristeles,—
Wo is him that with the wrasteles!
For sicurly he goth the with,
Or thow him brekes lym or lyth,
Line 11008
That he may not a-ȝeyn vp-rise
For myȝt ne strengthe In no wyse;
For he schal dye In this world,—
So did this knyȝt, that ȝe haue herd.
Line 11012
Page 325
¶ Lamentacio Troianorum pro morte Ectoris.
Be he neuere so strong ne bold, [folio 163a]
Line 11013
He is for-ȝeten & nouȝt of told,
When he is ded & hennes past;
In erthe is none that euere may last.
Line 11016
ECtor is ded & brouȝt to Troye,
With sore wepyng & no Ioye
Eche man ouer other cryed;
Wiff and man to hem thei hyed,
Line 11020
To wete what sorwe was.
Euery man thanne cried 'alas!'
Alle come thedir, ȝong and old,
That ded bodi to be-hold:
Line 11024
Ouer-al then [MS. thei.] myȝt men here
An [MS. And.] hidous noyse, a delful bere,
That ther was made of man & wyff,
Whan thei saw him with-outen lyff.
Line 11028
¶ Ther was many 'weylaway,'
'Harrow,' 'alas,' and 'out ay'—
"That euere were thei of moder born!
For now schal thei be schent & lorn,
Line 11032
Sithe he was ded that hem Alle saued."
Thei ferde alle as thei hadde raued
For dele that thei a-boute him made,
Thei wepe alle and were fade:
Line 11036
Ther was wryngynge of handes,
When thei herde of that tythandes,
For thei sette nouȝt by here lyues.
¶ The sorwe was gret among wyues,
Line 11040
The maydenes wepe with reuful teres,
Thei rent here clothes and tar her heres;
The burgeis & the Citeseyns,
The gentil men of riche Troiens,
Line 11044
Thei wepe wel sore & gredde,
Many dayes suche lyff ledde.
Page 326
The kynges rente here clothes & tare, [folio 163b]
Line 11047
And cracched her hedes naked & bare;
Line 11048
¶ Alle the kynges that ther ware,
And alle the ladies lasse & mare
That were of Troye [MS. of Troye of Troie.] with-Inne the toun,
In here Manere made processioun
Line 11052
And brouȝt him to the kynges halle
And leyde him on a clothe of palle
With careful herte & sore wepynge.
Ther was sone a delful metynge
Line 11056
Be-twene the fader and the sone,
Whan he was brouȝte to Ileone;
The fader fel the sone vpon,
And almost wod gan he gon.
Line 11060
WHen Priamus saw Ector was ded
And be-spred with blod so red,
His visage was blak & wan,
Suche a sorwe toke he him than
Line 11064
That he lese al his myȝt & fors
And fel on swoun opon the cors:
And lay ther ded al In a swow,
Til men him fro the bodi drow;
Line 11068
And nade thei him drawen a-way,
He hadde mad ther his endyng-day.
¶ Lord! what sorwe [made] Troyle his brother,
Dephebus, & alle these other,
Line 11072
And his sistur Cassandur,
And his [MS. And of his.] brother Alysandur!
Sicurly thei hadde suche care,
That thei wolde that thei dede ware.
Line 11076
What may I say thanne by the quene,
And by his suster Pollexene?
By Andromede, that frely fode,
Whan sche saw ded Ector the gode
Line 11080
Page 327
Line 11080
That was hir lord & hir husband, [folio 164a]
Line 11081
The duȝhtiest knyȝt that lyued In land?
No man myȝt that sorwe telle,
Ther-a-boute wol I not dwelle;
Line 11084
But sicurly with-outen doute
It were longe to be ther-a-boute:
Ther was neuere erthely creature
That myȝt more sorwe endure,
Line 11088
For sche hadde as moche wo
And peynes stronge In herte tho,
As herte may thenke & tonge speke,
And hit made nere hir herte breke.
Line 11092
NOw is he ded—as I tolde;—
Men myȝt not longe his bodi holde
A-boue erthe with-oute sauour,
Thoow he were man of gret honour.
Line 11096
For ȝe wot wele—as alle men fynde,—
Hit is thing a-ȝeyns man kynde
A man to holde saue & sound,
When he is ded & a-boue ground.
Line 11100
But not-for-thi kyng Priamus
[Thought] "wher [MS. Wher.] hit myght wele be thus,
Where he myght saue Ector his sone
Vngrauen with-oute corrupcione."
Line 11104
¶ He sente afftir with reuerence
The maystres of alle the science,
And alle that couthe of barberie
Or knew vertu of spicerie;
Line 11108
Afftir alle the grametenes,
Dioletikes and Astronomynes;
And asked hem wel curtesly:
"Whether thei were alle so sly
Line 11112
To saue Ector with-oute poudre,
With-oute sauour or foule odoure,
Page 328
¶ Qualiter faciunt Ectorem quando mortuus fuerat.
That he were not grauen In the molde." [folio 164b]
Line 11115
Thei seyde "thei hoped that thei scholde."
Line 11116
Thei told a-monges hem consayle,
How thei myȝt best this entayle.
Thei Asked him "where he scholde ligge?
Where thei scholde his berying bigge?"
Line 11120
¶ He says "he scholde ligge y-wys
In the temple of Appolynys."
The maystres thanne In-myddis the quere,
Ryght be-fore the hey autere,
Line 11124
A tabernacle ther thei wrouȝte,
A crafftly werk, when it was brouȝte
Til ende and to perfeccioun.
Clene it was al enviroun,
Line 11128
¶ Ther werk was al of gold pure,
Ther thei made his sepulture.
But he was mad, he schold not greue a grot,
He was mad so he myȝt not rot,
Line 11132
Thei held him hole & alle entere
In his colour fair & clere,
As he hadde ben a lyues man.
Thei were wise that suche skyl can,
Line 11136
A dede body that so gan dyght.
As he lyued—til alle mennes sight—
In hide, In hew, In flesch, In fel
Sat Ector ther with-oute smel,
Line 11140
As I schal say ȝow blyue—
But I schal furst the werk discryue.
THese Maystres and these riche clerkes
That witti were of craffty werkes,
Line 11144
That this thyng schold vndirtake
And that crafft-werk to make,
Off brede [&] lengthe toke thei met,
Or it were raysed or vp-set.
Line 11148
Page 329
Line 11148
Thei set it alle In foure pilers [folio 165a]
Line 11149
Off pure gold at foure corneres,
The pilers alle of red gold
From a-boue to the mold;
Line 11152
On eche a pilere stod an ymage
With louely chere & fair visage,
With fair semblaunt & louely eyen,
That alle were wroght of gold fyne,
Line 11156
As euerychon hadde ben an aungel bryȝt
Lokande faire on euery a wyght.
¶ And certes so was alle the rove
Off massi gold alle a-bove;
Line 11160
And it was fair a-boute entent
With precious stones verament,
Hit stode ful of precious stones
That were ther set for the nones;
Line 11164
Alle manere stones that euere men knew,
That were of force or any vertu,
On that roff aboue were set,—
Were thei neuere so fer y-fet:
Line 11168
THer were stones of alle kynde,
Grene, rede, blewe, and Inde;
Ther stood many a riche ston
That as bryȝt a-boute hem schon,
Line 11172
As doth In somer the sonne bem;
A man may se to sowe a sem
¶ In the furthest of the chirche
A-boute mydnyght that thanne wold wirche.
Line 11176
Al was wrought of balewerie
Opon the erthe al vpon hye,
And men clombe op on greces smale
That were wroght of clene cristale.
Line 11180
The maystres that were wise & slye
Thei sette an y-mage al vp on [MS. vpon.] hye
Page 330
¶ Qualiter faciunt [MS. faciut, the stroke over the u is erased.] tabernaculum Ectoris.
Off gold fair, of his gretnesse, [folio 165b]
Line 11183
Off his entayl and his liknesse,
Line 11184
With Ector sword y-drawe In hande
The Gregeis alle manassande.
The ymage was maked at de-vyce:
To hem of Grece he turned his vyce
Line 11188
As he hadde stonden hem thretand
With wrothely loke & fair semblaunt.
¶ Many a proude pight pynacle
Stode a-boute that tabernacle;
Line 11192
And many crafft[l]y coruen croket [MS. croked.]
Off massi gold that were y-bet
Were grauen ther with leues diuerse:
Al can I not reherse,—
Line 11196
But ther was corue & semeli schorn
The leues of Oke & of hawethorn,
The louely leues of the vyne,
And many then I can not devyne:
Line 11200
¶ The vyne-braunche with alle here grapes,
And many other skynnes Iapes,
Many a pomel wel enbosed,
Hit was wroght & wel engrosed
Line 11204
With ffloures & leues wel en-leued.
Now haue I [MS. I. In.] this werk discreued,
Off that tabernacle that riche bothe;
Now wol I telle ȝow al the sothe,
Line 11208
How it was dight wel & fair,
That he myght neuere rote ne pair:
WHen thei haue maked this al,—
This Tabernacle that was rial,—
Line 11212
Off gold made thei a riche cheyere
And sette it In that faire celere,
The tabernacle stode hit y-myd,
And gode Ector ther-In thei did.
Line 11216
Page 331
Line 11216
Ector sat vpon that dese [folio 166a]
Line 11217
As he hadde lyued—with-oute les,—
He sat pertly bolde vp-right
As man that hadde ben In his myght;
Line 11220
So priueli was he ther tyed,
That he toward no syde wryed.
He hadde vpon him his garnement
That he In erthe on lyue [In] went,
Line 11224
In his owne clothes was he clad—
For Priamus the kyng so bad.
BVt herkenes now her ordinaunce:
What was the Maystres puruyaunce,
Line 11228
What was her sleyght and her cure,
That thei [MS. thei thei.] him saued with-oute blemure
Off fflesch or bon, of hyde or hewe,
But held him euere y-liche newe?
Line 11232
Thei made an hole In his haterel
& set [MS. Y set.] ther-In a fair vessel
That was ful of riche bavme,—
The some ther-of can I not avme;—
Line 11236
And other thyng ther was with melled,
That was noble & wel smelled.
Hit ran so doun to his foreheued,
That no colour him was by-reued;
Line 11240
For thanne ran it doun to his eyen
And saued the liddis and [the] brien [MS. vrien, distinctly.] ,
And so be-gan him for to lese
Vnto his thrillis of his nese;
Line 11244
And afftirward faste it sekes,
Til it come doun to his chekes,
And kepes his gomes & rennes so lite [MS. solite.] ,
And his tethe makes faire & white,
Line 11248
And al the face with the her
Was hole and sound, whil he sette ther.
Page 332
That licour ran so to his hals, [folio 166b]
Line 11251
To his scholdres and his brest als;
Line 11252
¶ Ther is no Ioynt aboute his tharmes,
It rennes so doun by his Armes,
And by his hond it so doun wendes,
Til it come at his ffyngur endes.
Line 11256
And gret ffusoun ther doun rides
Ful wonderly by bothe his sydes,
So ffaste that licour dounward droppes,
That no thyng his rennyng stoppes,
Line 11260
Til it were comen In-to his theis
And so ȝede doun In-to his kneis;
So it ran wonder schete,
Til it come doun to his fete.
Line 11264
¶ Another vessel thenne ther stode,
Ful of baume ffresche [MS. ff'resche.] & gode,
And kest vpward his gode reles
And keped him so In flesche & gres.
Line 11268
That on ȝede vp, that other doun,
Fro his ffete to the croun;
When it aboue with that was met,
Bothe his feet ther-Inne was set.
Line 11272
Thei ȝaff In him suche odour,
That he was saff with-oute sauour:
Thus thei him made with here myȝt
And keped him bothe day & nyȝt.
Line 11276
WHen this werk was thus be-went,
Thei made foure morteres þat euere brent;
Thei brenned nyght, thei brenned day,
With-outen sese thei brenned ay.
Line 11280
Thei were alle mad of gold schire,
On hem stode euere a flaume of fire,
That neyther water of broke ne of bek
Ne nothyng In erthe thei myȝt slek.
Line 11284
Page 333
Line 11284
Thei made afftir a parclos [folio 167a]
Line 11285
That al a-boute that fair werk gos,
With Gemewes folden on euery a side
That bothe myȝt spere and open wyde,
Line 11288
That Ector schewed & seen myȝt be
To euery man that him wolde se.
NOw of Ector lete we be,
And of Achilles speke we!
Line 11292
Off that strong knyght—as I sayde,
How Gregeis In his bed him layde;
His woundes greues him so sore,
That al his myȝt hath he for-lore;
Line 11296
He may wel euel ete or drynke,
Off merthe ne play may he non thinke.
¶ His grete woundes him greues sore,
That he dredde to lyue no more.
Line 11300
The leches him comfortes wonder wele
And leues that he lyue schele,
And makes him couere more & more
And by her power heled his sore,
Line 11304
So that he may somdel ete
And haue sauour vnto his mete.
AGamenon the Emperour
Sendes Messanger & corour,
Line 11308
That thei scholde bidde the kynges alle
To [MS. And.] speke with him In his halle,
And alle the lordes grete & smale
To holde a counsel generale.
Line 11312
¶ The Messangeres also swythe
Thei fond the lordes glad and blithe
Off Ector and his myschaunce,—
Thei were so fayn of his lyueraunce,—
Line 11316
The Messageres bad alle & some:
"To Agamenon thei scholde come;
Page 334
¶ Hic Greci tenuerunt consilium.
Schold non be-leue that corovne beres, [folio 167b]
Line 11319
Ne sercle of gold that on hede weres,
Line 11320
That thei ne schul come to his hale,
Kyng & duk and Amerale."
AGamenoun ful hendeli
Kepis hem alle ful curtaysli,
Line 11324
And did hem sitte more and lesse,
Euerychon afftir his state[l]i[ne]sse.
Agamenoun the Emperour
Spake to him with honour,
Line 11328
He sette his speche fair & hende
And seyde: 'lordynges, my dere frende,
Wel auȝt vs to glorifie
Oure goddis that ȝeuen vs the Maystrie
Line 11332
Off oure enemy that we haue sclayn;
Ther-of we ben alle fayn
And gret worschepe & honour do,
For elles hadde we neuere comen ther-to,
Line 11336
¶ Whil he hadde leued, to oure purpos.
But now may we wel suppos,
Sithen he is ded that hem defende,
That thei haue alle theire endyng ende,
Line 11340
And we schal lordis & maystres be
Off here godis & here Cite.
For whil he leued, myȝt we not spede,
So was he douȝti In his dede;
Line 11344
Vs myȝt no grace for him by-falle,
For he on vndid vs alle.
¶ We hadde no let but him alone,
But now is he ded & from vs gone,
Line 11348
We schal that Cite lyghtly wynne
And alle that ben hit with-Inne;
For thei are now of no power
To kepe hem fro oure daunger,
Line 11352
Page 335
Line 11352
Sithen he is ded & fro hem went [folio 168a]
Line 11353
That vs al day so foule schent.
It is to vs wel more a-vauntage
That he is ded & loken In cage,
Line 11356
Then we hadde sclayn In fight felle
Halff the men that with him dwelle.
¶ For he sclow mo him-selff alone
Then alle that other did euerychone,
Line 11360
And we ben now—I vnderstande—
Mo then sixti [ti over the line, inserted by another hand.] hundred thousande
Off Mennes bodies gode and able,
That ben a-pert and defendable.
Line 11364
THe dedis of Ector ben wide y-kyd,
That thei may not wel be hid:
How fele kynges sclow he of oure
With his myȝt & his vigoure!
Line 11368
How he sclow In his reuery
The douȝti kyng Prothesaly!
¶ Patrodus also, Achilles cosyn,
In his strengthe sclow he him!
Line 11372
¶ How sclow he In his gret Ire
Kyng Mennon, that lordly sire!
We were echon of him a-dred.
How sclow he the gode kyng Ced!
Line 11376
So did he kyng Polenete.
He fond no man that to him was mete.
He sclow also kyng Alphynor,
And so he did kyng Prouenor
Line 11380
That was a kyng of gret genterie,
Off douȝtines and chiualrie.
¶ How sclow he with his force
The myghti kyng of douȝti Corce!
Line 11384
He died with dynt: so he gart
The noble kyng Piloȝenart.
Page 336
¶ He sclow also the kyng Yside. [folio 168b]
Line 11387
No man durst him a-byde.
Line 11388
He did also to dethe sone
The douȝti kyng Letabone.
Ne sclow he not the kyng Humere?
I wist neuere man that was his pere.
Line 11392
¶ He sclow oure kyng Archilogus,
And the kyng also Episcropus;
And so he did kyng Archomene,
And the hardy kyng Palymene.
Line 11396
Ne sclow he not the kyng Antipe?
And so he did kyng Sanxipe.
¶ He did vs moche sorwe and tene:
He sclow the gode kyng Philoxene;
Line 11400
He smot to dethe vndir his fete
The noble kyng Polibete,
Kyng Phiebete, and kyng Leankes,
Alle he sclow oure gret vnthankes,
Line 11404
He smot her bodyes euen In-two;
So did he other mo also.
We auȝt wele his bodi wary!
¶ He sclow kyng Fume & kyng Dary,
Line 11408
And Many duk and Amerelles;
He sclow oure lordes & robbed oure halles,
And bar a-wey coffre & chest.
He that him sclow mot be blest!
Line 11412
For now—I hope—he is ded
That did vs schame and qued,
That oure men so foule sclow,
And we hem alle schal Maystre now
Line 11416
With-Inne a while at oure wille.
But herkenes now! this is my skylle:
¶ Thoow it be so that he be slayn,
Hap of ffyght is no certayn; [n is struck out after ma.]
Line 11420
Page 337
Line 11420
¶ No man wot how it schal schape, [folio 169a]
Line 11421
Who schal dye & who schal skape.
Wherfore I say: sithe it so is
That by Achilles douȝtines
Line 11424
We are now brouȝt to oure aboue,
Me thinke it were to oure behoue
That we In feld fight no more,
Vn-til Achilles heled wore;
Line 11428
For we ar noght alle sure & sekir
With-oute him to wynne this bekir.
With-oute him & his pouste
In certayn hope we may not be
Line 11432
To haue of hem the victorie,
Thoow thei for Ector be sorie.
¶ Wherfore this is my menyng:
That it were good, at my wetyng,
Line 11436
That we sende by kyng or knyȝt
To Priamus, to aske respit,
That we .viij. wekes the pees may haunte,
If thei the trewes so longe wol graunte,
Line 11440
And the dedes were enseled.
By than may Achilles be heled,
And we may make oure-self clene
Off sore woundes that doth vs tene.'
Line 11444
WHen Agamenoun thus hadde sayd,
The lordis were alle wel a-payd:
Thei held his conseyl good & lele,
To haue the pees til he hadde hele;
Line 11448
Thei held it alle wel y-do,
Thei graunted echon his conseyl to;
This lordes alle ȝaue ther assent
To his counseyl & Iugement:
Line 11452
That with-oute him and his absence
Wold thei not fight in ther presence.
Page 338
¶ Hic Greci pecierunt pacem Troianorum [MS. Troian.] per .viij. septimanas.
¶ The messageres were rapely dyght [folio 169b]
Line 11455
Opon her erande to wende right,
Line 11456
Thei busked hem & maked ȝare
Opon her erande for to fare:
Riche robes on hem are done,
Thei toke her hors & ȝede sone—
Line 11460
As kynges gode, kene, and wraske—
The treus of hem of Troye to aske.
¶ When thei were comen to her Cite,
In forme of pes thei asked entre;
Line 11464
Thei fond no man that hem werned.
To Priamus told thei that erand:
"Two Monthes to haue [respit] ent[e]re [MS. . . .to haue entre; entre from l. 11464.] —
For thei were comen as Messangere—
Line 11468
Pees & trues, that thei myȝt reste;
For thei ther-of hadde gret breste,
For thei myȝt not the stenche sustayn
Off dede bodies that were ther selayn;
Line 11472
Thei wolde haue space ther bodyes brenne."
Priamus the treus graunt thenne
By assent of his consayl;
Thei hadde no wil to haue batayl
Line 11476
So sone afftir his sones ded;
For he was heuyer then the led,
For Ector was so sclayn him fro,
That he sayde not to hem ones 'no.'
Line 11480
THese Messageres haue sone y-sped,
Off no man [MS. noman.] ar thei now a-dred;
Thei ride hamward muri siggande [MS. sigg…ande.]
And tolde her men of this tydande:
Line 11484
"How thei haue graunted thair grithe
To be In pes two monethe."
Thei were alle glad of her sawes,
Thei ȝaff hem alle to gamen & playes.
Line 11488
Page 339
¶ Hic Palamides Rex iratus fuit cum Imperatore [The sign in blue, the words in red.] .
Saue the kyng Palamides— [folio 170a]
Line 11489
He was neuere no tyme In pes,
He playned him of his Emperour
That was her alther gouernour,
Line 11492
And seyde: "he was not worthi
To haue of hem suche seruageri;
Ther were other better then he
To haue forsothe that dignite."
Line 11496
¶ Vpon a day it so befel:
Agamenoun—the sothe to tel—
Hadde sent afftir the lordes alle
"Thei scholde come In-to his halle";
Line 11500
And as thei sete at most spekyng
"How thei scholde to ende bryng
Ther purpos & her gode espleyt,"
Palamides be-thouȝt him streyt
Line 11504
To put him out of his office:
And ther-of did he as the vn-wyse.
¶ Hit was aȝeyn his genterie
To haue to him so foule envye
Line 11508
With-oute disert [MS. dishert.] or any mysdede;
But not-for-thi so longe he ȝede:
At the laste was he remeued,
And another mad & newed.
Line 11512
PAlamydes as he sat there,
Off his spekyng coude blynne neuere,
To Agamenoun offte he flote
And made to him wordes hote;
Line 11516
He seyde: "it was a-ȝeyn resoun
That he hadde ben alle sesoun
So longe vndir his gouernayle;
Ther were other that coude more a-vayle
Line 11520
And were more profitable,
For he was not—he sayde—able
Page 340
Suche a state to reioye." [folio 170b]
Line 11523
Agamenoun sat wel stille & coye,
Line 11524
When he hadde sayd his gret gole;
Agamenoun ful entempre
Answered him soburly,—
For he was euere wis & sly,—
Line 11528
¶ He seyde: 'Palamides,
I haue gret wondir thow can not sese
Off thi wordes & thi carpyng,
Whan we be thus In oure gaderyng.
Line 11532
Hopes thow, sire, I haue desire
To be ouer ȝow other lord or sire?
Nay certes, I desire it not!
Ne neuere with word ther-fore be-souȝt
Line 11536
To kyng ne knyȝt, sir, by my thrift!—
Ne neuere ther-fore ȝit ȝaff ȝift.
¶ For I hadde neuere vauntage ther-In,
But gret trauayle & mychel vn-wyn,
Line 11540
And of my body mychel vnrest
To ordayne ȝow wel, & kest
That alle thes folk were saueli led,
And how we myȝt sonnest be-sped.
Line 11544
I was chosen by comune assent,
By playn counseyl In parlement
Off alle the lordes that ther were,
Saue ȝe alone that was not there.
Line 11548
¶ We hadde ben ȝit In Athenes,
Hadde we not a-biden the, Palamydes;
For we dwelled ther two ȝer and more,
Or thow to vs comen wore.
Line 11552
I hadde ther-fore not thin acord,
When I was chosen ȝoure Aleres lord;
For thow was not tho present,
But afftir longe fro vs absent.
Line 11556
Page 341
Line 11556
¶ But, Palamydes, thow myȝt not say [folio 171a]
Line 11557
That euere fel vs by nyȝt or day
—I thanked it god—oure spedyng
By myn vn-wit or mysledyng;
Line 11560
And also I am redi now & ay,
For-whi it be,—ȝow to pay—
Off myn office to be deposed,
For I wold not ȝe supposed
Line 11564
No pride In me—nother sibbe ne frende,—
I wold fayn of this office wende.
And chese another—where ȝe lyke—
To haue my state—by heuene ryke!—
Line 11568
And I wol be vndir his byddyng
As other kynges of this gaderyng.'
THese lordes were alle gretly dered,
Ther was non that answered;
Line 11572
But bad hem: "be In pees bothe,
For thei wold not that thei were wrothe";
Thei bad hem alle: "thei scholde not greue,"
And ros vp alle and toke here leue;
Line 11576
Thei wente alle hamward [MS. hamward.] sone,
Off that was ther no more to done.
But sone aȝeyn euen-tyde
Agamenoun wold not abyde,
Line 11580
¶ Thorow alle that ost he did him crye:
"That eche a man,—bothe lowe and hye,
Kyng & duk and amerale,
And alle the lordes gret & smale,
Line 11584
And alle that hadde tent or teld,
Or any that was knyȝt of any scheld,—
Schuld be at morwe next folwande,—
When it was day, the sonne schynande,—
Line 11588
At Agamenoun riche tent
To holde a solenne parlement,
Page 342
Off certayn thynges to entrete; [folio 171b]
Line 11591
And that thei scholde on no wise lete,
Line 11592
For thei most nede hit alle I-here—
Kyng, duk, & bachelere,
And that were of that ost
Bothe the leste & the most."
Line 11596
THe day is comen, the nyght is gon;
The lordes arysen euerychon,
To Agamenoun Ar thei went,
To wete whi he afftir hem sent.
Line 11600
When thei were comen & set doun alle
By Agamenoun In his halle,
¶ Agamenoun to hem sayde
"Off Palamydes and his vpbrayde,
Line 11604
That be-gan so vpon him playne
That he was made her souerayne,"—
'And is ful wroth with my persone
And for my rial eleccione,
Line 11608
And says "that I can not ȝow lede."
That dignite ther-fore I bede
To him or other, whan ȝe wol chese,
For I wol fayn this honour lese.
Line 11612
¶ And not-for-thi, my bretheren [Altered from brotheren.] dere,
Kynges & dukes that now be here,—
Sithen we come fro Athenes,
That ȝe ȝoure souerayne ther me ches,
Line 11616
And come thenne hidur In bote & barge,
Haue I among ȝow born charge
Off alle oure ost & oure meygne
In mechel thoght—and that wot ȝe.
Line 11620
¶ Gret besynes of ȝoure kepyng
Hath refft me many nyȝt slepyng,
To saue this ost fro perelle,
That scathe ne harm to ȝow non felle.
Line 11624
Page 343
¶ Hic Agamenoun mutatur de officio suo. & Palamides electus est ad officium Imperatoris.
And ȝet haue ȝe so wele be kept, [folio 172a]
Line 11625
Whether that ȝe woke or slept,
That we ar comen to oure aboue;
¶ Suche a chaunce is fallen to oure byhoue
Line 11628
Vndir me & my ledyng.
But I wol, som other kyng,
Duk, prince, whether thei wil,
Haue now the charge—& that is skyl:
Line 11632
For I haue nede to be In pes.
I wol therfore this state reles
And be with other an vndirlyng,
To haue my reste and my likyng.'
Line 11636
Alle that were there In the halle,
Kynges & dukes and Ameralle,
Drow hem out vpon a rowe
By-side the tent vnder the wowe,
Line 11640
To take her avisement:
Thei haue alle ȝeuen here Iugement,
That thei wole him remewe
And haue another of hem newe.
Line 11644
¶ The Iugement is ȝeuen & taken:
Agamenoun is for-saken,
He is put out of his office;
Palamydes is chosen y-wys
Line 11648
To be here alther emperour
And here alther comaundour.
¶ This conseil is fully ent,
And euery lord is home went
Line 11652
To here tentis & pauylounes.
Her-of spake the Murmidones
And told this tydynges to Achilles
Off that newe lord Palamydes:
Line 11656
"How he was chosen here alther lord
By the lordis comune acorde."
Page 344
When Achilles herde this tydandis, [folio 172b]
Line 11659
Out of his bed sclong he his handes,
Line 11660
As he that was euel payde
Off these tythandis that him were sayde;
His woundes bledde for-sothe & brake.
With so gret herte Achilles spak
Line 11664
To alle that stode aboute his bed,
And seyde: "that this was euel y-red
To make among hem suche a chaunge"—
'Now hope I that alle thei caunge!
Line 11668
¶ For of vs alle—so mot I the!—
Was ther non so wys as he,
Ne non that coude so lede oure ost
With witt and skylle, with-outen bost.
Line 11672
But I wol not be occasioun
To vndo ȝoure eleccioun;
Sithe he is chosen, I holde it gode.'
And her eleccioun thus so stode,
Line 11676
And he belefft here Emperour
As he was chosen with honour.
THe two Monthes are past,
Bothe the parties dight hem fast,
Line 11680
Bothe the Troyens and the Grues;
Her day is comen out of her trues.
Kyng Priamus wolde be venged fayn
His sones deth that was sclayn,
Line 11684
He seide: "he wolde him go
To fight that day to venge his fo."
¶ His batayles alle him-self ordeynes,
With his right hond he hem ensaynes
Line 11688
And ȝeuet hem leue forth to wende;
He prayes hem alle to venge her frende,
Her Prince that was & gouernour,
That som tyme was ther sauyour.
Line 11692
Page 345
¶ Hic Incipit bellum.
Twenti thousandis knyȝtis fre [folio 173a]
Line 11693
In his batayle than hadde he,
I dar right wel & boldely say
That ȝede to fyȝt with him that day
Line 11696
An hundrid & ffyffti thousand
Off myghti men on hors ridand.
DEphebus ferst with his batayle
Ȝede the Grekys [MS. grekys on erasure, by another hand.] for to Assayle;
Line 11700
Afftir him ȝede thanne Paris,
With the kyng of Perce y-wys,
And alle his men that he loued wele—
With-outen Iren, with-outen stele,—
Line 11704
Bowes & arwes the Persays hadde,
Thei wente forth sore a-dradde.
Priamus lad him-selff the thridde
With xxti thousand knyȝtis him amydde;
Line 11708
He bad Eueas scholde lede the fourthe
And leue him not for gode In erthe.
¶ The ffyffthe lad kyng Mennon;
And thus were thei In-sunder gon.
Line 11712
The sixte lad Polidomas.
And other lordes, as her wille was,
Ladd all that other, as he hem bad.
Thei rode forth with semblaunt sad
Line 11716
To hem of Grece that thei aȝeyn stand
Al redy dight with spere In hand
That thanne abode and here comyng:
Hit was gret at her metyng.
Line 11720
¶ Euerychon of hem on other renne,
Thei ferde as it had ben wod menne,
Thei thrilled scheldes & speres brast,
Some were sclayn, & som doun cast
Line 11724
Opon the grounde & lay flat,
Thei ȝaff be-twene hem many a sqwat.
Page 346
Hic Priamus. Rex. et Palamides pugnauerunt r.
PRiamus saw Palamydes [folio 173b]
Line 11727
The Gregeis to her newe lord ches;
Line 11728
He rod to him with mychel strengthe
And bare him ouer his speres lengthe:
So Priamus bar Palamydes
And bad him reste ther In pes.
Line 11732
Among Gregeis stroke he his stede,
The strongest of hem to grounde ȝede
That he mette with In his gret Ire.
The Gregeis alle be-gan to spire
Line 11736
What he was that him so bare,
Among hem alle that made suche fare:
¶ He sclow hem so & bare hem doun,
He wan that day ful gret renoun;
Line 11740
Moche prise & mochel los
Wan he that day among his fos.
To eche a man his scheld he bedis,
Alle men spake ther of his dedis:
Line 11744
He bare him so at that semble
That alle the los of that iourne [MS. ion…e.]
Be-lefft with him of more [&] lesse,
Off his gode dedis and his prowesse.
Line 11748
For Achilles myȝt not ȝit ride,
Therfore at home he most abide;
But hadde he ben ther with-oute drede,
He wolde haue tauȝt him for to rede
Line 11752
And to synge a sori sang,
Hadde he ben hem among.
¶ Dephebus folwes his fader,
He sclow doun Gregeis al to-gader;
Line 11756
And then come Paris with his bowes
And castes men doun and ouer-throwes,
With hem of Perce and her Turkes,
And schot Arwes among the Grues.
Line 11760
Page 347
Line 11760
But thanne come thedir sikerly [folio 174a]
Line 11761
The stalworthest man of Grece party,
¶ Neoptolamus was his name;
Kyng Sarpedoun thoght he to lame:
Line 11764
He ȝaff him certes suche a dynt
That Sarpedoun his stiropes tynt,
He made him bacward so stoupe
That he fel ouer his hors croupe.
Line 11768
But Sarpedoun was not sore hurt,
But hastly vpward stirt,
As wroghe [The e on erasure.] as he myȝt be,
And smot the kyng vpon the ye,
Line 11772
¶ That he cleue his nase In two pese.
Then come thedur many of Grece
And leyde on him on euery a side;
He most nede on fote abyde,
Line 11776
For he myȝt not his hors come to
For no thyng that he myȝt do,
He was for-sothe In gret perel,
For ffele Gregeis opon him ffel.
Line 11780
THe kyng of Perse, when he was war
How Sarpedoun on fote fauȝt thar,
And thei of Grece stode enviroun,—
With alle his men come he thanne doun,
Line 11784
And Sarpedoun his hors did take
For al that euere thei coude make.
¶ And that saw duk Athenes,
And the noble knyȝt Menescenes,
Line 11788
He bad his men him folwe than,
An hard werre he ther by-gan.
Menelaus als aboute his hals
Kest his scheld and ȝede doun als,
Line 11792
And bad that al his retenaunce
Schold him sewe with spere & launce.
Page 348
Euery a burne him busked ȝare [folio 174b]
Line 11795
To that assaut for to fare,
Line 11796
To that torpel [MS. terpel.] come alle that route
And be-kest that place aboute:
¶ The kyng of Perce stode & fauȝt,
Thei slow him certes at that assaut,
Line 11800
And al his men on bak thei schoff,
And with force aȝeyn hem droff.
But Sarpedoun hem with-stode
The proude Gregeis with hardi mode,
Line 11804
¶ Him was ful loth thenne to fle,
Gret meruayle that tyme did he.
But thei of Grece were so assamed,
That thei of Troie no-thyng gamed:
Line 11808
Wolde or nolde, on bak thei ȝede,
For sikerli thei most nede.
BVt Priamus, that kyng of age,
As wood was as a best sauage:
Line 11812
When his men hadde lorn that place,
The swot brast out at his face;
He rod thedur with-oute dwellyng,
Ther was noyse & gret ȝellyng.
Line 11816
¶ Priamus rod to and fro,
He thoght on hem to venge his wo;
Off slauȝter certis neuere he blynnes,
He cleues hem doun by the chynnes.
Line 11820
But the Gregeis euere stille stode
And fauȝt aȝeyn as thei were wode,
Many of Troie that tyme thei perced,
And many man to grounde reuersed.
Line 11824
¶ The Gregeis then aboute be-held,
Ther thei fauȝt In the feld;
Thei saw hem fro the toun proloigned,
And thei with hem so foule regroyned.
Line 11828
Page 349
¶ Magnum Bellum.
Thei toke conseil hem be-twene, [folio 175a]
Line 11829
How thei myȝt hem traye and tene;
Thei were be-thoght of sleght & art,
Thei seyde: "thei wolde here folk depart
Line 11832
Be-twene the toun & hem to wende,
And so schold thei hem sonest schende."
Thei rode ouer dale and doune
To go be-twene hem & the toune.
Line 11836
¶ But Priamus fful wel perceued
How thei wolde haue him disceyued,
With his men sclely he turned
And that way ful sone he werned.
Line 11840
With-outen dwellyng or any abode
With his ffolk he thedur rode,
Ther thei wolde haue had entre
Be-twene hem & her Cite.
Line 11844
He brouȝt with him gret multitude
And laide vpon him strokes vnrude;
He droff hem doun a-ȝeyns her wille,
Maugre her tethe be-twene the hille.
Line 11848
¶ Gret defence the kyng made hath,
Thei toke not of him that path;
The Gregeis wolde the pase haue had.
The Troiens lente hem strokes sad,
Line 11852
The Gregeis laid on faste ynow,
Many of Troye ther thei sclow.
A thousand were with blode be-ronnen,
For thei that pase wolde haue wonnen;
Line 11856
Thei defende & thei assayle,
Ther was be-twene hem a strong batayle.
BVt Paris com thanne on trauerse
With men of Armes and hem of Perse,
Line 11860
He come thedur with his buschement,
With bolde bowes redy bent [Some indistinct scribblings at the foot of the page.] :
Page 350
Thei come sidelynge & ouer-twert, [folio 175b]
Line 11863
The Gregeis so foule offte thei hert.
Line 11864
But then come thedur Menelaus,
With alle his folk he come thus:
Gret was the sauȝt ther was be-gunnen,
But tho thei lakked lyght of sonne.
Line 11868
Many dede bodies lay ther on grounde
And lite went ther hole & sounde;
¶ For hadde thei had lyght of sonne,
The Gregeis the pase thenne had wonne.
Line 11872
But thei departed for faute of lyght
And riden home with al her myght;
The Troiens riden to the toun,
And the Gregeis to ther pauyloun.
Line 11876
THe Troiens now her sorwe reherse
For the kynges deth of Perse:
Ther was non that longed to Troie,
Kyng ne knyȝt, sqwyer ne boye,
Line 11880
That thei [ne] made gret del & sorwe
Bothe an euen and on morwe.
Was non that made such wayment
As did Paris verament:
Line 11884
He sorwed day & also nyght,
For he him loued with al his myght.
¶ This was ther-fore Paris rede:
"To boyle him and put him In lede,
Line 11888
And lede him hom to his contre
With taper & torche & gret rialte,
With gret plente of fele candeles;
That he myght haue his burieles
Line 11892
And ligge among his antecessoures,
The riche kynges, his predecessoures,
And be ther grauen honorably
By-fore his sones that dwelles ther-by,
Line 11896
Page 351
¶ Hic pecierunt pacem ad inuicem per magnum tempus.
In his londis that kynges schal be [folio 176a]
Line 11897
Afftir him In gret pouste."
NIght is comen, & day is gon,
The[i] gon to bedde & slepen euerychon.
Line 11900
On morwe when it was day lyght,
The sonne was resen & schon bryght,
Kyng Priamus sente doun his sonde
To alle the Gregeis liggand on the stronde,
Line 11904
To Aske the trues—as Dares sais—
A certeyn tyme to ben In pais.
But it is In his bokes wane
How longe the trues were tane;
Line 11908
How long that thei schold holde,
Dites ne Dares non ther tolde.
But thei haue graunt & surte founden [This line on erasure, but by the same hand.] ,
Many a rop was thanne vn-wounden,
Line 11912
Many a cope & many an hode
That were praysed worthe mechel gode,
Off gold, of silk, and som of say,
For then was Ector put a-way,
Line 11916
That thei scholde holde riche festis—
As I fynde In here gestes.
NOw Ector Menyng-day schal be holden:
In Troye bene robis riche vnfolden
Line 11920
That were layd vp be-fore the dayes,
With silke y-filed and riche arais,
And other newe lordis did make
For honour of that festis sake.
Line 11924
Thorow the toun was hit done cry:
"That riche & poure, lowe & hy,
That euere longed In-to Troye,
Off ffyftene dayes schuld make no ioye,
Line 11928
But lyue In wepyng & gret sorwe
The .xv. dayes euen & morwe,
Page 352
With-oute karole, with-oute daunce, [folio 176b]
Line 11931
In gode Ector remembraunce."
Line 11932
¶ In his remembraunce & his mynde
Ther was that heuynesse—as I fynde—
Off Priamus and of riche kynges
And of other grete lordynges;—
Line 11936
"And whan the ffyfftene dayes of wo
Were fulfilled and a-go,
Thei scholde make rialte,
Mechel daunce & mechel gle."
Line 11940
THe while the festes thus endured,
And eueryche were to other ensured,
Thei of Troye hadde here comyng
To hem of Grece & here spekyng;
Line 11944
And Gregeis come In-to the toun
And where thei wolde vp & doun,
Saue & sound where so hem liked;
Thei fond no man that hem be-swiked.
Line 11948
¶ Achilles wolde that tyme gange
To se her festes and here sange,
He thoght algates he wolde se
In Troye gret solennite.
Line 11952
Here contenaunce & here porture,
Here myght, here sorwe, & here voysure,
Here doyng of there chere deuout,
And how thei did Ector about.
Line 11956
¶ Achilles made him redi swithe,
In-to the toun wente he blyue,
And to the temple Apolynys
Ȝede he to se, what Ioye & blis
Line 11960
Aboute Ector Troyens made:
He fond ther non that was glade,
But makyng dele & gret wepyng;
Be-fore Ector saw he sittyng
Line 11964
Page 353
Line 11964
¶ Ectuba, the semely quene, [folio 177a]
Line 11965
And hir douȝter Pollexene;
And fele ladies of gret genterie
Here ther In that companye.
Line 11968
Thair heer faire a-boute hem spred,
On eyther halff hit was fair sched,
Hit henged doun by-nethe her pappes,
By-nethe here mydeles, by-nethe here lappes.
Line 11972
¶ Thei made gret del & sykyng,
Thei were echon In euel lykyng,
Mechel del & mechel mone
A-boute Ector made thei echone.
Line 11976
Ector ȝit sat als entere
And so fair In his solere,
As he was furst ther ordeyned;
The baume so his body susteyned
Line 11980
Fro al appayryng & alle sauour,
And ffro chaungyng of his colour.
THe tabernacle on eche a syde
Was vn-done and opened wyde,
Line 11984
That eche man, bothe ȝong & old,
On eche a syde Ector behold.
¶ Achilles loked on that werk faste;
As he his eyen aboute him caste,
Line 11988
So was he war of Pollexene
Faste sittynge by the quene,
He loked vpon the damysele
And saw the teres fro hir fele.
Line 11992
But thoow that lady fair & swete
Wonder sore & hertly grete,
¶ Not-for-thi for alle hir payne
Sche wex nother pale ne wayne,
Line 11996
Sche lost not of her fayrnesse,
Off hir beaute ne hir swetnesse.
Page 354
¶ Hic Achilles Amat Pollexenam Filiam Regis Troiani [MS. Troian.] .
Al hir wo ne al hir pyne [folio 177b]
Line 11999
Made hir not hur fayrnes tyne,
Line 12000
The teres that so fro hur ran
Made hir nother blo ne wan;
Hit for-did no-thyng hir sight,
Hir eyen were euere clere and bryght,
Line 12004
For alle here wepyng were thei not dym,
Ne sche not apayred In neuere [MS. neuere y.] a lym.
Ther is no man that is on lyue,
Hir fairnesse that myght discryue—
Line 12008
For siker sche was as fair a woman
As man scholde sette his eyen vpan.
AChilles loked euere In on;
So ffair a thyng as sche was on
Line 12012
Saw he neuere In al his lyue—
Widwe, ne mayden, ne non wyue.
As he loked In hir vysage,
His herte torned & his corage,
Line 12016
Him hadde leuere than any thyng
He hadde ben siker of that swetyng:
Alle his herte and his delite
Was to haue of hure a sight,
Line 12020
He loked on hir as he were mad.
The more lokyng to hir he had,
¶ His long lokyng hir louely sight
Be-rafft him clene of his myght;
Line 12024
But he myght not his lokyng leue,
That thoght myght no man him byreue:
He loked to hir the while he myght,
Til the day was gon, & hit was nyght.
Line 12028
Off alle thinges that euere was wroght
Was non so mochel In his thoght;
Him thoght it ȝede thorow his hert,
So sore sche made him ake and smert.
Line 12032
Page 355
Line 12032
WHen it was nyȝt, the quene vp ros, [folio 178a]
Line 12033
And Pollexene home with here gos;
Achilles loked afftir that wenche
With more longyng than man may thenche,
Line 12036
Til sche out of the temple was went.
Achilles In hir loue then brent;
And this was al the bygynnyng
Off his sekenes and his lyggyng,
Line 12040
That he afftir In his bed lay
For loue & longyng of that may.
¶ When he myght hir no lenger se,
His herte for sorwe brast on thre,
Line 12044
He turned him hom to his tent
And In his bed as-tite he went.
That nyght for-sothe litel he scleped,
He turned him offte & sore weped;
Line 12048
Hir loue hade wounded him so depe,
That he myght not that nyght slepe.
He saw hir loue on him was gret,
Al his body brast on swete,
Line 12052
He tholed for hir gret penaunce,
He waried thanne that foule myschaunce:
¶ 'Alas,' seide he, 'that I was born!
That I am now thus foule lorn
Line 12056
Thorow a mayden that is so tendre,
With-oute myȝt, feble, & sklendre.
And he that was so mychel of myght,
The strengest that was In any fyght,
Line 12060
Ector of Troye, that doughti man,
That price & honour of alle men wan,—
That alle the men that stalworthe wore
He ouercome with strokes sore,
Line 12064
Alle that were styff & strong
That doughti knyȝt to dethe throng;
Page 356
¶ Lamentacio amoris Achillis.
I knewe neuere non that hadde that myght,— [folio 178b]
That was so strong ne douȝti [MS. strong douȝti ne.] wyght,—
Line 12068
Aȝeyn him that myȝt stonde,
Whil he leued In this londe—
And ȝit he with alle his fforce
Ne myȝt ouercome my carful corse!
Line 12072
And now am I thus ouercomen,
That al my myght is fro me nomen
¶ Thorow a mayden feble & frele!
How schal I come to my hele?
Line 12076
Ho schal do me any medecyn?
Sche hatis me & al my kyn
For hir brother that I slow;
I may not keuere,—I wot neuere how?
Line 12080
For I may not vnto me drawe
Her hert for-sothe for loue ne awe!
Ne with prayeres may I not spede;
I may not to [MS. so.] hir my loue bede,
Line 12084
¶ I may not so of loue hir pray,
I may not so that lady assay.
Ne my richesse ne my gret ȝiffte
May not hir hert to me lyffte,
Line 12088
For sche is richer for-sothe then I;
I wot neuere how to come hir by?
Ne—I wote wele—I may not spede
Thorow my strengthe & my kynrede,
Line 12092
¶ For thoow my kyn be gentil & gode,
Sche is comen of genteler blode
Then I or any of my lynage.
How schal I my sorwe aswage,
Line 12096
When I no wise, no way can fynde
By strengthe, richesse, ne by kynde,
Ne with prayers hir loue to wynne?
The wo is gret that I am Inne
Line 12100
Page 357
¶ Hic Achilles mandat nuncium ad Reginam.
In gret wodnes am I now broght! [folio 179a]
Line 12101
Alas! how com I in-to this thoght!
I can not wete—so god me saue!—
How that I here loue schal haue?'
Line 12104
He leued that nyȝt In that gret sorwe;
The sonne was risen faire at morwe,
A carful nyȝt he thenne hadde lede,
Til he was risen vp of his bede.
Line 12108
AT morwe whan he was rysen,
Off him selff was he a-grysen,
Off his sorwe so strong In myȝt
That he hadde al that long nyȝt.
Line 12112
He called to him a siker man,
Al his consayl him telle bygan
And sayde: 'if thow wol trewe be,
Ful riche ȝifftes ȝeue I the;
Line 12116
For-sothe schal I faile the neuere,
I schal the make riche for euere.
¶ Go to Hectuba, the quene,
And say: "I loue so Pollexene,
Line 12120
That I schal falle for-sothe In rage,
But I haue hir In mariage."
Bid hir sicurly my wordes byleue,
And if sche wol me hir doghter ȝeue
Line 12124
To me hastly In wedlak,
That I schal remewe al this pak:
The Gregeis alle schal I make go
To the lond that I come fro.
Line 12128
¶ Al this ost schal I remewe—
As I am a knyȝt trewe!—
Kynges & dukes, lord & sires,—
To gret honour to hire & hires
Line 12132
With couenaunt & condicioune,
Iff sche wol haue me to hir sone.
Page 358
Ne thei schal neuere amendes make, [folio 179b]
Line 12135
Harme ne schame ne sclaunder take,
Line 12136
For alle the harme & vylony,
Slauȝt of men, ne robry [Some indistinct scribblings under br.]
To hem of Grece that thei haue done—
By him that made sonne & mone!—
Line 12140
Ne for the quene dame Eleyne rape—
If my couenaunt wille skape,—
But Paris schal hir stille holde
Vnto his wyff, be he right bolde.'
Line 12144
¶ This man was trewe as any stele,
He vndirstode his erand wele,
He wiste wel what he scholde say:
He hyed him faste vpon his way,
Line 12148
As faste as he myȝt gone;
To Hectuba he come anone,
He tolde hir al his mayster thoght,
Word by word for-ȝate he noght.
Line 12152
HEctuba, the quene of pris,
Was ful witti & ful wis,
Sche seyde to him as lufly hende:
'Abyde me here, my louely frende!
Line 12156
This thyng may not be ent
With-outen my lord kyng assent.
I schal ther-fore vn-til him gange,
Sicurly I dwelle not lange.
Line 12160
What he wol say, I wol the telle;
Ful longe schal I not fro the dwelle.'
¶ Vnto the kyng the quene hir hyed,
To him this consayl sche discryed:
Line 12164
"What Achilles to him bed,
For-whi his doughter he most wed;
How he scholde alle the Gregeis gare
In-to ther contre for to fare,
Line 12168
Page 359
¶ Hic Priamus miratus est.
And remewe & leue the sege, [folio 180a]
Line 12169
And be-come his man lege,
And Elayn leue with Alysaundre
With-outen amendis, with-oute slaundre."
Line 12172
PRyamus chaunged al his blod,
When he al this vndirstod;
Al his blod be-gan to colde,
When Hectuba thes wordes tolde;
Line 12176
In his herte ran many a thoght,
That he the quene hadde be-soght.
An hundrid sithe sore he siked,
When he thoght how he be-swiked
Line 12180
His sone Ector that he sclow;
At his herte was care y-now,
He thoght on his deth so fast,
The water of his eyen out-brast.
Line 12184
'Alas, the while!'—the kyng seyde tho—
'To graunte this thyng that me is wo!
How scholde I fynde In my wil
His askyng now to fulfil?
Line 12188
How scholde I loue In body or gost
Thing In erthe I hate most?
That refft me al my worldis Ioye,
That slow my sone, Ector of Troye!—
Line 12192
But for to eschewe al other perrel,
That more harm not to vs fel,
Aȝeyn this thyng may I not stryue;
That I may haue myne other on lyue,
Line 12196
Myne other sones to haue lyuand,
I graunt his bone myn vn-willand:
So that he do furst alle these thynges
That he sente hidur In tydynges,
Line 12200
That we be [be-]trayed noght,
When we haue graunted al his thoght.'
Page 360
¶ Hic Priamus concedit Pollexenam Achilli.
Hectuba, worthi In wede, [folio 180b]
Line 12203
To the Messanger a-ȝeyn ȝede:
Line 12204
'I haue'—sche seide—'thin erand sayd
To Priamus, that wel is payd
Off his askyng; so is Paris:
Bothe are thei payde of his y-wys.
Line 12208
And I for-sothe anendis me
¶ Schal do his wille, that schal he se;
So that no thyng be broght to ende,
Or euere my doghter fro me wende.'
Line 12212
The Messager held vp his hondes
And thonked hir of tho tythandes;
When he hadde graunt of his askyng,
On his way ȝede he syngyng:
Line 12216
He toke his leue, for he was blythe.
Ham-ward wente he thanne swithe,
He made his lord bothe blythe & glad,
He tolde him what answere he had
Line 12220
Off Priamus, and of Hectuba,
And of Paris; he seyde alsa:
"How thei hadde alle graunt his bone"—
'Alle thi wille for-sothe schal be done;
Line 12224
Iff ȝe wol do that ȝe haue hete,
Al schal be done with-oute lete.'
IN somer was neuere no nyghtyngale,
The throstel ne no wodewale,
Line 12228
The throche ne the lauerok,
The papeiay ne the throstel-cok
So mery syngand In thaire note,
As he be-gan thanne to lote;
Line 12232
When that he was of here assured,
Ne hadde not elles his wo endured.
But than be-gan he for to kest,
How he myght do this thing best.
Line 12236
Page 361
¶ Hic Achilles mandauit post Reges Grecorum.
That he be-het to the quene [folio 181a]
Line 12237
For hir douȝter Pollexene
By his man, his Messager;
For hit was not In his power
Line 12240
To remewe that company.
He thoght he hadde done foly,
That he hadde hight hem suche a thyng
That he myght not to ende bryng.
Line 12244
¶ But not-for-thi, what vp so doun,
He traist so mechel In his renoun,
In his grete dedes & his chyua[l]rie
That he hadde done be-fore here eye,
Line 12248
That if [if inserted over line.] he leffte hem In that byker,
In his herte was he sekir
That thei scholde leue al her querel,
For drede of harm & perel
Line 12252
That hem schulde falle In that stour,
Iff thei for-ȝede his socour.
HIt was a day whil trewes last,
Achilles In his hert cast
Line 12256
That he wolde make the lordes alle
That were of Grece come to his halle:
His Messager anon he sende
To alle the lordes that were him hende,
Line 12260
And bad hem come al at ones
To speke with him In his wones.
¶ Ther was no lord that with-stode,
That ne thei als sone to him ȝode.
Line 12264
When thei were comen thedur euerychon,
Thei sat as stille as any ston;
Achilles sayde: 'lordynges, my peres,
Herkenes now to me and heres,
Line 12268
Why that I sende afftir ȝow
For thing that is for ȝowre prow.
Page 362
I haue meruayle what vs ayled [folio 181b]
Line 12271
That we the kyng of Troye [MS. Troyl, the l only badly altered to e.] assayled,
Line 12272
Whi that we this werre be-gan
For the loue of a womman?
We haue by-gonne folily this striff
For Menelaus the kynges wiff.
Line 12276
¶ What deuel ayled us to leue oure londes
In other straunge mennes hondes?
As thoght we roght not of oure lyues [In the MS. l. 12279 is following l. 12280.]
Off oure childryn & oure wyues
Line 12280
At home that we behynde vs leffte;
An aunter were we schal se hem effte.
And we ar here at gret dispence
To make of this werre defence;
Line 12284
Oure goodis fast begynnes to waste,
We may be beggeres alle In haste.
¶ We suffur wo of oure bodyes
As men—me thynke—that are vn-wyse;
Line 12288
We take here not but woundes
And ligge In dikes as dede houndes.
Ne here is non a-monges vs alle
That wot w[h]at wol him by-falle;
Line 12292
For the beste of vs echon
May haue harm, and thei non,
In woundes sore & gret brosures.
He is a fole that him ensures
Line 12296
In his strengthe & In his myght,
For I my-selff haue ben euel dyght:
¶ Many a wounde haue I here tholed,
My body hath ben y-holed.
Line 12300
Was I not hurt so sore now last
That I wende neuere to haue I-past?
I was for-sothe the deth so hende,
That non of ȝow my lyff ne wende.
Line 12304
Page 363
¶ Hic consiluit eos ad reuertendum ad patriam.
— — [No gap in MS., but the copyist seems to have dropt some lines.] With sorwe but ligge and dethe a-bide— [folio 182a]
Off oure liggyng may not be-tyde
Line 12306
But gret periles & drede of deth.
We take to vs an euel breth,
Line 12308
¶ When we be-gonne furst this batayle,
And lefft oure contre euery dele,
And come her to gete batayle
On stronge men & hem assayle;
Line 12312
So fele gode as we ther-by
Haue lorn of oures dispitously
That haue here ben a-mong vs slayn,
And al for the loue of dame Elayn!
Line 12316
By him that me to man has wroght!
We haue to dere hir lyff aboght,
And many good men has sche mad sterue.
Another womman may we serue
Line 12320
Menelaus for to haue
To his wyff,—so god me saue!—
That schal be genteler than was sche,
In many landes & many contre.
Line 12324
¶ And we may remewe by skyl
With-oute blame, when so we wil;
For we haue take shenful vengaunce
Off the wrong and of the greuaunce,
Line 12328
Off the schame & of the slaunder
That to vs did Alysaunder:
For we haue sclayn the douȝtiest man
That lyued In erthe, sithen we be-gan—
Line 12332
¶ Ector that we haue don to dede,
He was alther lord and hede,
He was alther mayntenour.
Off his dedis with gret honour
Line 12336
Now haue we wonne suche worschepe,
That we may wel with-oute schenchipe
Page 364
¶ Hic omnes Reges contradixerunt eum.
And with-outen any schame, [folio 182b]
Line 12339
With-oute reproues or any blame,
Line 12340
When so we wil, hamward wende
To oure contre & oure frende.
And sicurly I rede also
With-oute dwellyng that we go.'
Line 12344
ANon that riche kyng Thoas,
That Achilles Cosyn was,
And the duk Menescene
With-sayde him with mychel tene
Line 12348
And seyde: 'Achilles, wold neuere god
That we scholde now for euene or od
Leue the sege we haue by-gonnen,
Er we this Cite hadde y-wonnen,
Line 12352
Sithen he is ded, roten & graven
That the toun & hem did sauen!
Iff we leue it In suche a wyse,
Hit scholde be holden for cowardise;
Line 12356
Men wolde holde vs recreaunt.
God for-bede we to this graunt!'
¶ Achilles was wonder wrothe;
Be-fore hem alle he made his othe:
Line 12360
"That he scholde neuere day ne nyȝt
Helpe hem more with his myȝt;
He nolde no thyng do for hem alle
For no thing that myȝt be-falle!
Line 12364
¶ But thei wolde saue thaire lyf or lym;
And as thei loued derly him,
That thei scholde helpe no more Gregeis,
But holde hem stille & be In pays,
Line 12368
And let hem do echon her best,
For he & alle his wolde be In rest."
¶ And thus partid thei ful hirously,
Thei hadde meruayle how-gatis & whi
Line 12372
Page 365
Line 12372
That he was broght In suche a wille; [folio 183a]
Line 12373
But thei sayde not, but helde hem stille.
Achilles was euel apayed
That thei his wille so with-sayd,
Line 12376
To helpe hem more has he not ment,
He sayde: "thei schal sore repent
That thei haue aȝeyn him spoken";
He thoght on hem wel be wroken,
Line 12380
He wolde no more ȝiff tent to thaym
Thenne he hadde [MS. halde.] neuere ben on of hem.
¶ In this tyme her mete hem fayles,
Thei haue gret faute of her vitayles:
Line 12384
Hem [MS. Thei.] fayles fiche, hem lakkes fflesche,
Thei haue no corn for to thresche,
Thei haue but litel mete or drynke,
Ne other vitayles but litel thinke.
Line 12388
¶ Palamydes, her Emperour,
Hadde ther-of gret hydour;
He toke consayl among his peres:
"Who scholde be here messageres
Line 12392
To wende to feche hem drynk or mete,
That thei hadde somdel to ete,
That thei died not for defaute?
Vnnethe myȝt thei for feble maute."
Line 12396
¶ Kyng & duk & euery a lord
Were echon at his acord,
That Agamenon thei wolde charge
Ther-fore to wende with bote & barge,
Line 12400
To brynge hem som refeccioun,
Corn, & wyn, & venysoun,
Mele, & salt, & other store,
And vitayle hem—as thei were ore—
Line 12404
Vn-to the kyng sir Thelaphus,
For his land was plenteuous
Page 366
¶ Hic Imperator misit Agamenon ad Thelaphum Regem.
Off corn, of best, of alle manere goode [folio 183b]
Line 12407
That was to mannes note & foode.
Line 12408
AGamenon with gode entent
Did his Princes comaundement,
With many schippes forth he ȝede;
Thei sayled forth with gode spede,
Line 12412
The wynde was good & eke schrille,
Hit blew wel sone the lond vn-tille.
When thei hadde the lond y-lauȝt,
Her schippes were sone vitayled & frauȝt.
Line 12416
¶ Thelapus was of hem ful glad:
What-so thei wolde of him thei had,
He frauȝt he[r] schippes & here Coggis
With salt beffe & fat hoggis,
Line 12420
With many a bole & wilde bore,
Vnto her schippes myȝt holde no more
Off corn, of flour, & gentil wynes,
Off seynt-pro-seynt, and maluesynes
Line 12424
As gode as come of grapes.
Agamenoun faste him rapes
With alle his schippis to take the se,
For he was frauȝt as he wolde be;
Line 12428
¶ The wynd was to hem good y-now,
Thei turned ster, and sail vp drow,
And sayled forth all by the wynde—
Some be-fore & some be-hynde—
Line 12432
With alle her schippes & dromondes
To Troy aȝeyn to here bondes.
With mychel Ioye were thei keped ther,
Ful fayn the Gregais of hem were,
Line 12436
For thei haue ben ful euel at ese,
For honger thei were ful mys-ese.
Thei grond the corn as sone & boke;
Tho myȝt thei speke & eke loke,
Line 12440
Page 367
Line 12440
When thei were sikur of gode vitayle. [folio 184a]
Line 12441
Palamydes lete reparayle
Alle the schippes that ther stode
With-Inne the hauen In the flode;
Line 12444
He did hem alle ful wel amende,
When thei hadde nede efft to wende,
When thei of vitayles hadde nede [In the MS. l. 12447 is following l. 12448.] ,
Off corn & wyn hem al to fede.
Line 12448
PAlamydes arayes his naue,
Off vitayles haue thei plente;
The lowest of hem was fat & strong,
Thei ben echon bothe wilde & wlong.
Line 12452
And day is went out of her trewes,
Michel bale among hem brewes;
Eche man lokes now al his gere,
That it be stiff & strong to were,
Line 12456
That no thyng wante of hem ne fayle,
That thei may helpe with clowe or mayle.
¶ Thei are now redi In her armures
And heled aboute with couertoures
Line 12460
Off siluer & gold, riche & dere,
Eche a man In his armure,
Thei of Troye & Grefounes.
But thei hadde the Murondones;
Line 12464
But thei therfore leuen now In pes
With hem that tyme with Achilles.
Troiens thoght hem ded & foy,
Sithen thei hadde sclayn Ector of Troy;
Line 12468
But ȝit fond thei, when thei were met,
Off her purpos wo that hem let,
And did gret schame & vylony
To alle the grete company.
Line 12472
IN fel[d] ben thei now prest & proude,
Thei blew her hornes schrille & loude,
Page 368
¶ Incipit Bellum.
The batayles faste to-gedir drow, [folio 184b]
Line 12475
The baneres with the wynd blew.
Line 12476
These ostes were bothe long & brod:
When thei with spere to-gedir rod,
On ayther syde faste thei die;
Her horses [MS. sorses.] snoure wel faste & nye,
Line 12480
On eche a syde thei strike & wynse.
Thei sclow ther many a prinse,
Many a gentil Erl & knyȝt,
Kynges, dukes of mechel myȝt.
Line 12484
¶ The furst batayle led Dephebus,
Aȝeyn him come kyng Croseus;
The two men to-gedur samen—
Al on ernest & not on gamen—
Line 12488
Thei lete her brideles alle a-bandoun
And ran to-gedir with gret randoun,
That bothe her speres In-sunder brast.
But Croseus was to grounde cast,
Line 12492
That he myght neuere vp arise;
He died anon In that ilke wyse.
¶ Ther was noyse and eke cry
Amonges the Gregeis witterly,
Line 12496
When thei saw him his lymes out-streke,
And that he myȝt no more speke.
Tho layd thei on as thei were wode:
Many walowed In his blode,
Line 1250
Thei sclow ther Troyens that it was wonder;
Ther was sclayn many an hunder
For the deth [deth inserted by another hand over line.] of the riche kyng,
Many a Troyen toke ther his endyng.
Line 12504
BVt then come thedir Palamydes,
Her Emperour, & Diamedes,
With twenti thousand gode knyȝtes
Armed wel at alle riȝtes.
Line 12508
Page 369
¶ Hic Palamides occidit Dephebum.
Thelamaneus come with him [This word in the MS. is very indistinctly written, and looks more like han than him.] als, [folio 185a]
Line 12509
With his sword aboute his hals,
With alle his men of gode assise
Come he doun to that porprise.
Line 12512
Thelaman rode to sir Sisene,
A noble knyȝt, a good Troyene,
The kynges sone y-bore on bast:
Thelamon rod to him In hast
Line 12516
He smot him so—with-oute fable,—
To fyght was he euere vn-able;
Afftirward In al his lyff
Might sir Cisene neuere thriff.
Line 12520
¶ When Dephebus saw the wounde,
And his brother falle to grounde,
Wel sore him greued In his red blod:
He rod to Thelaman as he were wod,
Line 12524
He smot him with so gret affray,
He bar him fro his hors a-way;
Wel sore he fel vpon the grounde
With a wide grysly wounde.
Line 12528
PAlamydes saw that he was doune [MS. done, the v inserted by another hand.] ,
His feet hiere than his croune;
He swor he scholde that strok venge,
Er that he went out of that renge.
Line 12532
He toke to him a stalworthe spere,
To Dephebus he gan it bere;
To Iuste with him he him biddes,
He bare him thorow the scheld ymyddes,
Line 12536
Thorow his plates In-to his brest;
Opon the grounde ful stille he rest,
For In his body lefft the stompe,
That he fel doun as it were a lompe.
Line 12540
¶ Sir Paris saw Dephebus falland,
For he was him ner-hand;
Page 370
He weped for him with bothe his eye, [folio 185b]
Line 12543
He wiste wel he scholde deye:
Line 12544
He drow him fro [MS. for.] the horses fete
With michel care & herte grete,
He bare him ney vn-to the toun
Liggande ther In a ded swoun;
Line 12548
Thei leyde him doun vnder the walles,
And Paris fast opoun him [MS. his.] falles:
¶ His eyen be-gan he than to open
That were faste to-geder stoken,
Line 12552
He loked vp vpon Paris,
He sayde: 'Paris, thow art not wys.'
He seyde: 'Paris, my brother dere,
Whi stondis thow by me here?
Line 12556
Wolde thow suffer me to tyne
My lyff, Paris, my brother myne,
Er I be venged on my bane?
Out of my brest schal neuere be tane
Line 12560
The spere, til I haue herd tythandes
That he be ded of thy two handes.
As I haue loued the, Paris, brother,
In al my lyff be-fore alle other—
Line 12564
Go aȝeyn & worche wisly,
That he be ded rather than I!'
PAris sone did him to gone
With carful herte & mochel mone,
Line 12568
He hadde of him gret compassioun,
That al-most he fel a-doun:
In-to that fight ȝede he wepande,
And lefft his brother ther lygande.
Line 12572
When he come ther, a bowe he hente
That was strong & wel y-bente;
He kest aboute In al his wit
Where he myȝt that kyng best hit,
Line 12576
Page 371
¶ Hic Paris occidit Palamidem Imperatorem.
So that he myȝt him sone sclo, [folio 186a]
Line 12577
That he on lyff went him not fro.
He soght afftir Palamydes,
Were he myght fynde him In that pres;
Line 12580
He was war, where he stode
Fyghtand fast as he were wode
A-ȝeyn the gode kyng Sarpedoun [MS. Sarpedon.] ,
And he toke gode kepe ther-on.
Line 12584
¶ Sarpedon hadde he assayled,
That the blod fro him doun rayled;
But that kyng Palamydes
Lefft Sarpedoun not so In pes:
Line 12588
Opon his hede smote he him so,
That he cleue it euen at-two;
And he fel doun vpon the grounde
And died with-Inne a litel stounde.
Line 12592
When Paris saw what harm he did,
What gret sorwe ther was be-tid,
He toke an arwe that was entouched
With foule venym—as alle men souched:—
Line 12596
¶ His bowe was bent, his takel redy,
And of his schot he was spedy:
Paris neuere be-lan for to wayte,
Til he hadde dreuen him to a bayte:
Line 12600
When he saw him, at him he schet
And hitte him In his gorget,
That it ȝede thorow his pesayn
And cut In-two his mayster-veyn,
Line 12604
And smot him thorow-out his gorge
That he fel ded—by seynt Iorge!
DElful cri & hidous,
A gret noyse & a meruelous
Line 12608
Among Gregais was vp raysed;
He myȝt not a-monges hem be pesed.
Page 372
Thei hadde suche del of here gyour, [folio 186b]
Line 12611
That he was dede so In that stour:
Line 12612
Afftir Paris thei folowed faste;
But he was tho ful sore a-gaste,
He smot his stede and hamward rode,
For drede of hem no lenger a-bode.
Line 12616
¶ The Gregeis turned to her tent,
The Emperour was sore bement.
The Troyens sone that aspied,
And to the Gregeis thei sone [MS. fone.] relied:
Line 12620
Thei folwed hem with bryght swordis,
As bestis gone be-fore the herdis—
For-sothe at my discrecioun:
The Gregeis fley to her pauyloun.
Line 12624
But whan thei come to here hales,
Ther the Gregeis made here stales,
Off her hors thei gon descende
And here dikes thei gan defende.
Line 12628
¶ When thei of Troye were y-war
What arest thei made thar,
Doun of her hors echone thei lyght,—
Kyng & squyer, duk & knyȝt,—
Line 12632
And sette her fet aȝeyn the dykes,
And euery man at other strikes.
Thei entred In at the laste;
Tho were the Gregeis sore a-gaste,
Line 12636
For her dikes thei hadde wonne
And In here Pauylons thei were ronne.
Thei robbed & refft alle that thei founde,
Thei sente to Troye many a fair sonde:
Line 12640
Coupes of gold, siluer vesseles,
Clothes of gold, and other Iuweles,
And al other thing that thei myght lacche:
Broches, rynges, what thei myght cacche.
Line 12644
Page 373
Line 12644
PAris thenne & [MS. to.] Troylus ȝede [folio 187a]
Line 12645
To the se with mochel spede
With xxxti thousand strong men,
The Gregeis schippes for to bren;
Line 12648
Thei kest wildfir In here schippes,
Fro schip to schip aboute it hippes.
The schippes were sone on a blase,
Thei brende bothe mast & wynlase,
Line 12652
Sterne & stere, ore & spretes,
The schipmen In the water fletes.
Ther ros a-boute hem many a spark,
For the wynd was sumdel stark
Line 12656
And made the lowe rise on hey,
That it be-fflaumed al the sky;
Thei myght it se wel In-to Troye,
Thei hadde ther-fore mychel Ioye.
Line 12660
¶ But then come Thelamanyus,
That noble knyȝt & vigorous,
And duk Nestor, that noble knyght,
With Men of Grece, with mochel myght:
Line 12664
When thei come to-gedir & met,
Troyle bad faste the fir be bet,
But Thelamon bad his men hit slek
With water of broke or of bek.
Line 12668
Gret was the assaut that thei be-gonne,
Euery man on other ronne;
¶ Hedes reled aboute ouer-al,
As men playe at the fote-bal;
Line 12672
Thei lay a-boute hem wonder thikke.
The fight was lyther & eke wikke,
Hit was gret ruthe for to se
What men died at that medle!
Line 12676
Sicurly the sothe it is:
Ne hadde it be Ayax prowes,
Page 374
And Nestor, the duk, that with him went— [folio 187b]
Alle her schippes hadde ben brent,
Line 12680
That thei made brenne al to coles,
With mochel wo that day thei tholes.
¶ The Gregeis were wel foule to-hewe,
Off hem vn-hurt were ther but fewe,
Line 12684
For al the gras that was so grene
It was for-bled with knyghtes kene;
For thei myght not endure
For gret hete In thaire armure:
Line 12688
Many drow out of that batayle
And kest of helm & her ventayle;
To cacche the wynd thei were fayn,
And went to batayle sone a-ȝeyn.
Line 12692
THe kynges sone of Trase, Heber,
He rod doun by her tentes ther,
He was wounded with a spere
Thorow his body In that were,
Line 12696
Hede & tre lefft bothe In him;
His eyen be-gan to waxe dym,
For sicurly his lyff was ent.
Vntil Achilles Heber went,
Line 12700
That [MS. Thei.] dwelled at home with mochel tene
For the loue of Pollexene;
He In his herte Gregeis defied,
To wende with hem he denyed.
Line 12704
¶ The kynges sone that so was lamed,
Achilles strongly he tho blamed:
"That he that day at hom him held
With alle his men—so hit is teld,—
Line 12708
And lete ther naue so be brend,
And Gregays foule slayn & schend";
'And thow myght saue hem fro this wo,
Iff thow wolde to fight go,
Line 12712
Page 375
¶ Hic Heber mortuus est.
With thi strengthe & thi myght, [folio 188a]
Line 12713
Iff thow hadde ben to-day at fight.
Hit comes the of euel wil,
That thow schalt holde the thus stil
Line 12716
And wol not helpe thi contre-men,
Thow hast lorn of hem M ten.'
¶ Thus Heber foule Achilles myssayd
And of vnkyndenes him foule vmbrayd;
Line 12720
'How myght thow'—he sayde—'In herte fynde
To thi peple be so vn-kynde,
And wold not haue of hem mercy?
It is so sothe thi vilony!
Line 12724
Men wol say opon the tresoun,
Sithen thow leuest with-oute resoun.'
¶ Heber bad that men scholde drawe
The spere that sat thorow his mawe;
Line 12728
Achilles men that spere out-drow,
And he fel doun ther In a swow:
He died by-fore Achilles eyene
With mochel wo & mychel pyne.
Line 12732
Alitel while—as I ȝow telle—
Herkenes now, how it be-felle!
Achilles cleped him to a seruant,
A strong man, a gode seriaunt,—
Line 12736
At that batayle hadde y-bene,
That hadde the slauȝt of Gregeis sene,
How thei died & how thei fore;—
He come then ridand In at the dore,
Line 12740
Ther his lord Achilles standes.
Achilles asked: 'what tydandes?
How done the Gregeis, by thi fayth?
What was that noyse that was so layth?
Line 12744
Is any lord of oures sclayn?
Loke the sothe thow not layn!'
Page 376
¶ Hic vnus homo narrauit Achillem de prelio.
The seriaunt seide: 'I was, lord, thare; [folio 188b]
I schal ȝow telle how thei fare:
Line 12748
Thei may say the wrother-hayle
That thei this day ȝede to batayle;
For sicurly: but better schape,
I trowe non of hem skape
Line 12752
With-oute deth or dethes woundes.
Thei haue brent many of oure dromondes
And many schippes & cogges,
And sclayn oure men as frogges;
Line 12756
¶ Some are ded, & some home fle.
Ther is suche novmbre & plente,
My lord, for-sothe of hem of Troye:
I trowe forsothe, not a boye,
Line 12760
Ne man that may his heued were,
Swerd or staff to batayle bere
For-sothe with-Inne the Cite walle,
That thei ne are come to batayle alle.
Line 12764
And Palamydes, oure Emperour,
He is sclayn In that stour;
For that he sclow Dephebus,
Paris hath him sclayn thus.
Line 12768
But wold ȝe, lord, do my rede,
Ȝe scholde do a worschip-dede,
¶ Iff I durst hit to ȝow speke:
Ȝe myȝt now on hem be wreke,
Line 12772
Ȝe myght now take suche vengaunce,
For euere ȝe scholde ȝoure los enhaunce;
The Troiens alle ȝe may now schende
And wynne ȝowre los with-outen ende.
Line 12776
I can ȝow schewe to batayle nowe,
Ȝe may se In batayle, howe
The Troyens ar so for-fouȝten & weri;
Thei schal be ferd and so dreri,
Line 12780
Page 377
Line 12780
And thei saw ȝow thedur ride, [folio 189a]
Line 12781
Thei durst not on of hem abide
For al the good of mydelerd;
Thei scholde of ȝow be so aferd,
Line 12784
And thei hadde ones of the a sight.
For thei ben now al out of myght,
Thei may hem not defende longe;
And thei dreden ȝow, for ȝe ben stronge.
Line 12788
¶ Thorow al this world scholde it be spoken,
How ȝe haue ȝow of hem wroken,—
And say that ȝoure selff alone
Discomfited hem of Troye euerychone,
Line 12792
And that ȝoure selff In ȝoure persone
Did more then kynges and kynges sone,
And more than al the men of Grece;
To ȝoure honour gretly it lyse.
Line 12796
Ȝe [MS. ȝe.] schal sle hem as ratons and mys,
And wyn gret los for euere & prys.'
AChilles stode as he were founden;
Wel stronge he was In loue bounden,
Line 12800
That maketh a man to morne & pyne,
And makes hem offte his worschipe tyne,
Hit makes men leue her honour,
And makes hem take gret dishonour.
Line 12804
And so ferd it with-oute les
By the lord sir Achilles:
He herkenes al that euere this man
Off the batayle telle can,
Line 12808
¶ But he wolde not for his prechyng,
Ne for al his sermonyng,
Ne for no gode knyghtes dede
Turne his herte & do his rede;
Line 12812
For he loued so dame Pollex[e]ne,
And he was ferd he scholde her tene;
Page 378
And leuere him was his los for-go [folio 189b]
Line 12815
Then for to falle In suche a wo.
Line 12816
Loue hath broght him In hir chare,
On his bak derne loue he bare;
Fals fortune of him now filles,
He put him riȝt In hir thilles,
Line 12820
And sche be-lan neuere that knyȝt to chase,
Til he by hir his lyff lase.
¶ The fight was sesed of that day,
Thei wente homward In aray;
Line 12824
It was nyȝt, the sonne wente doun,
Troyle & Paris ȝede to toun,
And thei of Grece went al at ones [MS. atones.]
To her tentis with weri bones.
Line 12828
¶ Dephebus was ȝit on lyue,
When Paris come be-fore him blyue,
And Troyle, his brother, sore wepand;
Dephebus was ȝit lyuand.
Line 12832
Thei wepe & crye as bestes braye,
Thei wolde her lyff hadde ben a-waye;
For his deth were thei so wrothe,
Thei wolde ther die with him bothe.
Line 12836
DEphebus lyfft vp his eye-lid,
And asked his brether what thei did;
Than Dephebus to Paris saythe:
'Telle me, Paris, by thi faythe,
Line 12840
My dere brother, if that thow wot:
Where he be ded that me thus smot?'
¶ Paris saide: 'my brother hende,
God let me neuere my bowe bende
Line 12844
Ne drawe tacle of Aspyn wandis,
But I sclow him with my handis!'
He bad hem than that stode him next,
Draw the spere out of his brest;
Line 12848
Page 379
¶ Dephebus mortuus est.
Thei drow hit out byfore his eyen, [folio 190a]
Line 12849
Anon Dephebus gan to dyen.
Thei wepe In Troye for his deth,
Thei spilled for him meche breth.
Line 12852
Bothe Priamus and Hectuba,
Polexene & Cassandra,
¶ Paris als and douȝti Troyle,
Thei prayed her god his soule assoyle;
Line 12856
And the Citesens & ladies alle
That were tho In that halle.
But what scholde I longer dwelle,
What del thei made ȝow to telle?
Line 12860
I myȝt not to-day ne to-morwe
Telle for-sothe her grete sorwe!
PRiamus let make a molde
Off Iasper-stones & riche golde,
Line 12864
And layd ther-In his sone so dere
With sore wepyng & heuy chere.
Another tombe dede he also make
For Sarpedoun the kynges sake,
Line 12868
And led him by his sone there
With wepyng sore of many a tere.
For sicurly kyng Sarpedoun
Was In his tyme a stalworth man,
Line 12872
A noble knyȝt of vasselage,
Hardi, & bold, and right sauage.
¶ Among the Gregeis with-oute wenyng
Was mychel del & mornyng
Line 12876
For that kyng Palamydes.
A newe leder the Gregeis ches,
For thei myght not be with-oute
An Emperour for that were doute.
Line 12880
Thei toke consayle, wham thei wolde haue
That best coude ordeyne hem & saue;
Page 380
¶ Hic Agamenoun electus est ad officium Imperatoris.
Agamenon aȝeyn thei chase; [folio 190b]
Line 12883
The eleccioun [The second c may be a t.] of hem alle he hase;
Line 12884
And that was most by duk Nestor,
For he spak most ther-for.
AGamenoun is now Emperour
I-mad a-ȝeyn with honour;
Line 12888
Alle the lordes he comaundes,
That thei be redy In the landes
Erly at morwe, whan it was day;
For ȝit wol thei efft assay,
Line 12892
How thei may spede a-ȝeyn Dardanes,
And venge hem on tho fel Troianes
That haue thus slayn the douȝhti kyng
Dispitously with thair schotyng.
Line 12896
¶ The sterres passen and alle the cloudes,
The day dawes, the Crowe croudes,
The larkis synge, the cokkes crowe,
The waytes faste her pipes blowe:
Line 12900
The Gregeis risen vp of her couches
With many woundes & many bocches,
But thei let not ther-fore to go
Vnto the fyght that thei come fro.
Line 12904
The sqwyers toke her harneis,
Her knaues ordeyned her palfreys,
Thei[r] sadel-stedis & her cou[r]seres;
And rides forth knyȝtes & sqwyers.
Line 12908
¶ Agamenoun In that matyne
Ordaynet hem as thei schold bene.
And thei of Troye by than were ȝare
Toward Gregeis for to fare.
Line 12912
With-Inne a while come thei to-gedur;
But it made tho a lothely wedur,
Hit raynes faste, thondres, & blowes,
That wel was him that was with-Inne wowes.
Line 12916
Page 381
Line 12916
But for al that wedur & the rayn [folio 191a]
Line 12917
Many a gode man ther was sclayn,
Many a knyȝt was ouer-throwen,
Her bodies lay thik sawen.
Line 12920
¶ Off Troye died many, but mo Griffons.
Troyle come ouer the dounes,
With hardy hert & gret fferte
Come he thedur to that poygne.
Line 12924
When he was comen a-mong that pres,
The Gregeis faste to dethe he sles;
Thei were In poynt to lese the plase;
But then come—as thei hadde grace—
Line 12928
The gode douȝti Diomedes
With his felawe Vlixes,
With twenti thousand doughti In place;
The proude Troyens [MS. Gregeis.] thei gone to chace.
Line 12932
¶ Gret slauȝt was on bothe side;
But thei myȝt not longe abide,
The thonder & lyghtyng was so strong,
That gret sorwe hit wrouȝt hem among:
Line 12936
Thei with-drow hem sone for that wedur,
And toke her conseyl al to-gedur
To go home for that gret tempest,
For hem thoght hit was the best;
Line 12940
For so faste doun the water ȝet,
That thei were alle thorow wet.
NOw are thei alle herbared & housed
Al be-rayned and be-toused,
Line 12944
Thei did of armes & ded on clothes;
Many of hem her lyff loses
For the wo that thei are Inne.
I holde: he hadde gret synne
Line 12948
That furst the were of hem by-gan,
For he was bane of many a man.
Page 382
¶ When thei were comen, thei ȝede & souped, [folio 191b]
And many on for his frend drouped
Line 12952
And for hem-selff thei seide 'alas'
Thei wende neuere to passe that plas;
And ȝit were thei so envious,
So ful of Pride and meruelous,
Line 12956
That hem was leuere echon to dye
Than any of other mercy to crye.
When thei hadde souped, thei ȝede & sleped,
And many a wydwe thanne weped,
Line 12960
And made gret del & sikyng sore
For her ffrendes thei hadde lore.
WHen thei hadde scleped & saw tyme,
Thei ros vp be-fore the prime
Line 12964
And tok her hors & her atyres,
Swerd, bowes, and heded vires,
And ȝede aȝeyn In-to the ffeldes
Out of her toun & here teldis,
Line 12968
And mete to-gedur with strokes hard.
Amonges hem alle was no coward,
Echon other to sle coueytes,
And alle men to sle waytes:
Line 12972
Many a man to grounde was feld;
But ther was non that euere him ȝeld,
Whil thei myght hold swerd In honde,
Or on her feet whil thei myȝt stonde.
Line 12976
¶ But Troile come thanne with his couyne;
He bar a scheld of asure fyne,
A lyoun of gold ther-on was paynt.
When he was comen to that prasaynt
Line 12980
Ther Troye [MS. Troyl.] & Grece to-gedur ware,
Many a man to grounde he bare,
Many a lord that day he slow
And fro her horsis doun hem drow.
Line 12984
Page 383
Line 12984
¶ Then come thedir Diomedes, [folio 192a]
Line 12985
And his falawe Vlixes,
And the gode Thelamanyus,
A strong knyȝt & a vigorous,
Line 12988
Duk Menescene, and kyng Thoas;
Thei made ther sone a ferly chas.
And Agamenoun, her Emperour,
Come to that peple In that stour.
Line 12992
Lord! the Peple that ther was ded!
Thei smot of many Troyen hed,
¶ The Peple lay as thikke as strawe,
Or the corn whan it was sawe.
Line 12996
Thei held to-gedur fight mortel
Seuen dayes continuel;
They fauȝt to-gedir seuen dayes
With-outen rest, with-oute delayes,
Line 13000
Til al the feld ouer-al a-boute
Was be-sprad—euery a cloute—
Off gode bodies that lay ded
Off Troye & Grece—so god me red!
Line 13004
Seuen dayes to-gedir thei fauȝt,
That thei rest neuere but the nauȝt.
When thei hadde fouȝten a ful seuen nyght,
The Gregeis asked then respit,
Line 13008
Thei asked trewes & gryt[h]e
To haue reste a two monethe,
Til the dede men were leyd in graue;
No ·lenger wolde thei then craue.
Line 13012
THei sent her men to Priamus,
Ful witti men, & seyde thus:
"That al the feld lay be-throng
With dede bodyes with sauour strong";
Line 13016
Thei asked the trewes wekes eyȝte,
For elles myght thei not fyȝte;
Page 384
¶ Hic ceperunt pacem ad inuicem .viijto. septimanas.
Til alle the bodyes were y-graue, [folio 192b]
Line 13019
So long wolde thei the trewes haue.
Line 13020
The kyng hem graunted by a-visement
And ther-to made he his surment
To holde hem stable, and thei also,
And no dissait ther-In do.
Line 13024
THe while that the trues last,
Agamenon In his herte cast,
How he myȝt best Achilles brynge
With hem aȝeyn to here fyghtynge.
Line 13028
He sente afftir Diomedes,
Duk Nestor, and Vlixes;
When thei were comen, he bad hem tho:
"That thei scholde to Achilles go,
Line 13032
And thei scholde him by-seke
With faire wordes and with meke,
That he wolde come with hem to fyght";
'Now,' seyde he, 'kythe ȝoure slyght!
Line 13036
¶ Let se now ȝoure qwayntyse,
That he ne late vs In no wyse!'
Thei did her princes comaundement, [¶ Hic miserunt ad Achillem [On the left side in MS.] .]
To Achilles alle thei went;
Off her comyng was he glad,
Line 13041
The lordis to sitte by him he bad;
Thei sette hem doun—as he hem bade,—
Thei dronken the wyn and made hem glade.
Line 13044
ULixes, that most was wis,—
Coude non so wel say his devys,—
He seyde: 'Achilles, be ȝoure leue!
That I schal say, take it not on greue:
Line 13048
I haue meruayle with-oute any othe,
Whi ȝe be with vs so wrothe?
That ȝe of vs on this wise fille,
And haue turned ȝoure hert & wille
Line 13052
Page 385
Line 13052
Aȝeyn vs alle and ȝoure owne dede, [folio 193a]
Line 13053
And ȝe ben not with vs at rede.
That ȝe of vs on wyse ffille,
And haue turned ȝoure herte & wille
Line 13056
Aȝeyn vs alle & ȝoure oune dede,
That ȝe ben not with vs a rede [ll. 13055-8 are an almost word-by-word repetition of ll. 13051-4.] .
Lete vs not dye In deth cruel!
For-sothe ȝe may helpe vs wel!
Line 13060
¶ [This sign almost blotted away.] Was it not furst ȝoure oune entent,
And alle the lordes that with ȝow went,
Kynges, & princes off gret power,
And alle the lordes that now ligge her,—
Line 13064
Oure owne londis for to leue
And Priamus his landis be-reue?
To sle alle his and exile,
And do him-self to dethe vile?
Line 13068
This riche Cite to ouerthrowe,
The gaye toures to ligge lowe?
How may this be ȝe ben thus straunge
That aȝeyn vs thi hert chaunge?
Line 13072
That ȝe haue now on newe taken,
And ȝoure furst wil forsaken
Afftir the grete harme that thei haue done,
And ȝit are redi to do alsone?
Line 13076
Thei haue sclayn many kynges of oures,
And wounded ȝow, & sclayn of ȝoures;
¶ Thei haue vs offte foule y-toyled,
Oure Pauylons foule dispoyled,
Line 13080
Robbed oure godis & fro vs refft,
Litel haue thei with vs lefft;
Oure schippis haue thei many brent
And many tyme In poynt to be schent.
Line 13084
For ȝe haue with ȝoure strengthe & myght
Slayn that stalworth man In fyght,
Page 386
That al her socour & trust was In; [folio 193b]
Line 13087
We are now hem In poynt to wyn
Line 13088
And for to sle eueryche a man,
Iff ȝe helpe vs, as ȝe by-gan.
And also Dephebus is now ded,
And thei are alle with-outen red;
Line 13092
Were ȝe sen Armed In the felde,
Thei schal for drede of ȝow hem ȝelde.
AChilles sir, for him ȝow wroght!
Haue ȝe for-ȝeten, ne thenke ȝe noght,
Line 13096
What los & worschepe ȝe haue wonne
With dedes that ȝe haue her bygonne?
Ȝe haue done dedis In this stour,
Ȝe haue wonne ȝow gret honour;
Line 13100
In al the world, brode ne lang,
Is non so douȝti ne so strang—
I holde certes—as ȝe are now,
Sithen ȝe doghti Ector sclow!
Line 13104
¶ Haue ȝe no thoght, sir, & mynde
That ȝoure los thus schal be tyned?
And suffre ȝoure kynges and ȝoure Gregeis
Be sclayn & storuen In this mareis,
Line 13108
That ȝe haue saued noble & kept
With myȝt & strengthe eueryche a step?
Michel blode haue ȝe dispende,
To saue vs alle and to defende.
Line 13112
¶ We pray ȝow, sir, for goddis sake,
That ȝe to ȝowre furst wil take?
That ȝe lese not thus sone ȝoure los,
Ne lete vs not dye of oure fos,
Line 13116
And help vs & saue vs also!
For we may not with-oute ȝow do.
Oure Emperour—the sothe to say—
Sente vs hidur ȝow to pray,
Line 13120
Page 387
¶ Hic Achilles contradixerunt eos.
That ȝe scholde vs In no wise ffayle, [folio 194a]
Line 13121
But be with vs at the nexte batayle
To ffyght aȝeyn oure wicked enemys;
That we by ȝow may wynne the pris,
Line 13124
And than schal we haue the victori,
And but thow do thus, we ben sori.'
AChilles seyde to Ulixes:
'Certis, sir, it is no les!
Line 13128
Alle that ȝe say, I knowe it wel;
But that was foly euery a del:
That when we were In suche a-tent,
I say that we were fouly blent.
Line 13132
Hit was open surfetrie,
And on gret pride & folye,
¶ When alle these kynges scholde leue here londis
For-sothe In vncouthe mennes hondis—
Line 13136
Her rentes faire & gret Cites,—
To com & werre In straunge contres.
And al for loue of a womman
This perelous werre we by-gan,
Line 13140
And alle these kynges haue [ben] sclayn
For the loue of dame Elayn.
¶ Say me now, sir Vlixes,
The noble kyng, Palamydes,
Line 13144
Hadde him not better [MS. be better.] ben—I say—
Died at hom In his contray,
Then haue died In this prouince?
Him and euery another prince
Line 13148
That haue died here thus wickedly?
And al for loue of that lady!
¶ Also the man that most was bold
Off stalworthnes, & most of told,—
Line 13152
Ector of Troie with-oute pere—
Died he not In foule manere?
Page 388
I se therfore: so mote I [folio 194b]
Line 13155
Lese my lyff so witterly!
Line 13156
I warne ȝow ther-fore, lordynges,
To me speke ȝe not of suche thynges,
No more therfore ȝe me say!
Off suche thynges ȝe may not pray,
Line 13160
Aȝeyn Troyens to ȝeue batayle—
For hit is but lorn trauayle!
ME is leuere lese my name,
Alle my los, & my gode fame,
Line 13164
Then here to dye In wo & pyne
And lye here stynkyng as a swyne.'
¶ Nestor duk and Diomedes
Thei prayed bothe sir Achilles
Line 13168
And seyde: "her Emperour him be-soght,
That he wolde leue that wil & thoght
That he was In, and Armes bere,
And help hem to mayntene the werre."
Line 13172
But alle her prayer and her sawe
Were not that tyme worth an hawe.
¶ Her fair speche myȝt him not brynge,
Ne prayer nother of duk ne of kynge
Line 13176
Put of his herte & his purpos,
For noght that euere thei myght glos,
Ne her alther Emperour.
But sayde "that it was more honour
Line 13180
At Priamus to aske the pes,
Then be to-hewen as other wes."
¶ The kynges saw thei myght not spede,
Thei toke her leue and home ȝede;
Line 13184
Thei fond her Emperour In his halle,
Wel curteysly thei gret him alle.
He asked hem: "how thei hadde sped"—
'What hath Achilles to ȝow seyd?
Line 13188
Page 389
¶ Consilium Grecorum ad reuertendum ad patriam suam.
Haue ȝe geten any grace?' [folio 195a]
Line 13189
Thei seyde be-fore godis face,
Thei tolde him al her answere:
"How he nolde Troiens dere,
Line 13192
Ne come "—he sayde—" In batayle mortel";
But seyde: "if that we wold do wel,
We scholde aske pes at Priamus,
And schold we neuere saue vs."
Line 13196
'GOd that made bothe lond & se,'— [¶ Hic Agamenon timuit.]
Seide Agamenoun—'what may this be,
That this gode knyȝt sir Achilles
Longeth thus sore afftir the pees?
Line 13200
I wot neuere what it may be-mene.'
He bad the kynges alle be-dene,
All that euere were In that ost
Schold come bothe lest & most,
Line 13204
And alle these other lordes also,
For thynges he wolde say hem to.
With-Inne a while were thei alle met
Ther to-geder and doun set.
Line 13208
¶ Agamenoun tolde his tale
To alle the lordis In that sale:
"How he hadde sent Diomedes,
Duk Nestor, and Vlixes,
Line 13212
To pray Achilles for charite,"—
'And for the loue of ȝow and me,
That he wolde vs helpe In oure werre.
And we of him be neuere the nerre,
Line 13216
For he swore gret othes to hem thore,
He scholde bere armes neuere more
¶ Kyng Priamus to distroye,
Ne non of his to anoye,—
Line 13220
For nouȝt that we may do or bidde.
He wold not die as other didde.
Page 390
And this [is] al the skyl whi [folio 195b]
Line 13223
That I for ȝow sende witterly,
Line 13224
To here ȝoure alther a-visement,
Of [MS. To.] euer[y]che a man his Iugement.
Telles here now ȝoure best consayl:
What schal we do of this batayl?'
Line 13228
MEnelaus rose vp now anon
And seyde: "he held him no wyse man
Vn-to that pes that wolde assent;
For the batayle was as good as ent,
Line 13232
Sithen thei hadde sclayn the knyght vigorous,
Sir Ector, and Dephebus";
'Thes other are ether to ouercome,
Thei schal alle dye on a throme.
Line 13236
And thoow it be that Achilles
Help vs not, but holde his pees,—
With-oute his help & his vertu
We schal these other sone vencu.'
Line 13240
¶ But then ros vp Duk Nestor
That I spak of right now be-for [After this last word n is erased.] ,
And the wise knyȝt sir Vlixes
That sat to-gedir on the des;
Line 13244
Thei seyde: 'it is no wonder, sir,
Thoow thow batayle more desir.
Al ffor the & for thi wiff
These gode lordes haue lost her lyff,
Line 13248
And so may we lyghtly do,
But we wil not that it [MS. is.] be so.
¶ For thi wyff this werre be-gan,
We ȝeue it vp here euery a man;
Line 13252
For hir haue we done here gret perel,
But we forsake here oure querel; [¶ Hic nolunt pug|nare vlterius [In the left margin in MS.] .]
We wol haue the pes euerychon,
Ther-aȝeyn of vs is non;
Line 13256
Page 391
¶ Consilium Grecorum ad reuertendum ad patriam suam [This rubric is just the same as that on lf. 195.] .
For we haue lyued her many ȝeres.' [folio 196a]
Line 13257
When sir Calcas that conseil heres,—
When these kynges were at that acorde,
And dukes also and many a lorde,
Line 13260
To lete the werre and haue the pees,—
He bad hem alle lete that res;
¶ He cried loude as he were wod
Among the Gregeis ther thei stod,
Line 13264
He sayde: 'alas, that ȝe ben mased!
Ȝoure [MS. ȝoure.] wit is lorn and ful dased!
Hope ȝe, lordynges, it is not ille
To do aȝeyn ȝoure godis wille,
Line 13268
That he wol do ȝow alle him dispise?
God· for-sakes him & hise.
God hath ȝow for-sothe be-hight
The victorye—my treuthe I plyght!—
Line 13272
Off alle ȝoure enemys & ȝoure fos;
My-selff hit herde of god·In Delos
That he the mastry ȝow be-het.
Ȝoure [MS. ȝoure.] herte crafftly ther-on ȝe set,
Line 13276
¶ Traystes wel In his prowesse!
For I herd it & bere witnesse,
For I it herde In that Il[d]e:
"That ȝe scholde be lordes with herte mylde,
Line 13280
And that ȝe scholde haue al the maystrye."
Loke ȝe be bold ther-fore for-thi,
Beth right bold, & trust In god!
And leues hem not for euen ne od,
Line 13284
Til ȝe haue wonnen the victory—
As god be-het ȝow trustely!'
WHen this Clerk, sir Calcas,—
In Troye sumtyme bysshop was—
Line 13288
Hadde sayde these wordes amonges hem alle,
Fro her purpos be-gan thei falle
Page 392
And toke aȝeyn her herte & wille, [folio 196b]
Line 13291
And made a vow her god vn-tille:
Line 13292
"Thei wold neuere passe of ther marches,
Til proud Ilyon and alle his arches
Were cast doun, and Priamus,
And that douȝti knyȝt Troylus,
Line 13296
And fair Paris that was his sone,
Were foule slayn with-oute raunsone.
¶ Thoow Achilles helpe hem noght,
Thei vowed to god that thei ne roght;
Line 13300
Thow Achilles hem for-soke,
Her godis scholde vn-to hem loke.
Iff he be ferd of any chaunce,
Lete him sitte & rede romaunce!"
Line 13304
¶ Now are the kynges all at red:
Out of the place, for drede of ded,
To her contres wil thei not wende,
Til thei haue broght that fyght to ende.
Line 13308
Off no thyng are thei a-bayst,
In her goddis haue thei suche traist;
With-oute Achilles ar thei bold
The fyght aȝeyn to take & hold.
Line 13312
He is for-ȝeten with feble & strong,
As thoow he hadde not ben hem among.
Thei wente alle hom to here ostel,
Thei daunsed & sang & made revel.
Line 13316
The terme is went & passed a-way,
The morwe next schal be her day
That thei schal fyght to-gedur In feld,
Ther schal be reuen many a scheld,
Line 13320
Many a bryght basenet
Schal be with blod foule y-wet.
DAy is went out of the trewes,
Ther is gret noyse among the Grwes,
Line 13324
Page 393
¶ Hic faciebant Magnum Bellum.
Thei Arme hem faste at that tyde, [folio 197a]
Line 13325
To hem of Troye thei faste ride,
Armed wel In her harneis.
Now gon to-gedur Troiens & Gregeis:
Line 13328
The vanwardis met with gret hidoure,
Thei rod to-gedur with gret vigoure;
¶ A thousand speres brast In-sonder,
Ther died knyȝtes many hunder.
Line 13332
When thei to-gedir with speres rides,
Many on the dethe ther abydes;
Thei toke ther many an euel garter,
Some loste al his on quarter,
Line 13336
Some his hede, & som his guttis;
Eche man other doun puttis.
¶ The stour was strong & perilous,
The day was hote, the men yrous:
Line 13340
Thei schotte arwes & keste gauelokkis,
Thei dyght foule her paltokkis;
Knyghtes falle, and stedis stray,
The dede bodyes on hepe lay.
Line 13344
BVt then come theder douȝti Troyle
And be-gan amonges hem royle,
Among Gregeis be-gan he pugne,
That thei made many a lothely groyne.
Line 13348
For his brother that thei sclow
He did hem sorwe & wo y-now;
His brother deth he hadde In mynde,—
As thei of Grece fforsothe fynde,—
Line 13352
Ful shrewedly hem dyghtes,
He slow that day many knyghtes.
¶ Then come Menelaus ride
With men of Armes And mychel pride,
Line 13356
And the doghti Diomedes
With mychel peple to that pres,
Page 394
With many knyghtes stronge & gode; [folio 197b]
Line 13359
Thei sclow Troiens as thei were wode,
Line 13360
And felde hem thikke vpon the grounde.
Ther died of hem many thousonde,
On bothe halff thei scle men faste
Al the day, til euen laste.
Line 13364
For hit was nyght, the sonne goth west,
Thei drow hem homward to her rest,
Thei parted so fro that fyght
And ȝede hom alle, for it was nyght.
Line 13368
THei of Troie are In the toun,
And Gregeis In her pauyloun;
Euery man goth to his rescet,
Her mete is dyght and to hem fet,
Line 13372
Thei sitte alle for to soupe
With many a lyuer, longe, & croupe;
Many a man among hem drouped
And ȝede to bedde, whan thei hadde souped,
Line 13376
And rest hem til hit was day,
That thei myȝt make a foule deray.
¶ For thei of Grece were sore a-gramed
And gretly tened and sore a-schamed
Line 13380
Off hem of Troye for that day be-forn,
For her gode men thei hadde lorn:
Thei samed hem alle on an hepe,
Thei toke her hors & vpward lepe,
Line 13384
Thei rod so forth vpon a renge,
For thei wolde hem fayn venge;
¶ Thei alle are went of here hales,
Thei passe her piles & her pales.
Line 13388
Wel hard thei to-geder rode
With baneres faire & eke brode,
Som of sandel, som of ynde,
To-geder betande with the wynde.
Line 13392
Page 395
Line 13392
The Gregeis toke thenne the feld; [folio 198a]
Line 13393
And thei of Troye that be-held
That thei were so to hem comande,
Thei ȝede a-ȝeyns hem faste ridande
Line 13396
Off gode aray & gode manere,
With many a spere and brod banere.
When thei come ner, to-gedur thei ran,
And sclow be-twene hem many a man;
Line 13400
Scheldes and helmes ȝede al to dust,
Thei toke ther many a sori crust.
BVt the douȝti Diomedes
Ful wondirly the Troiens sles:
Line 13404
He smot of hondis with alle the nayles,
He made hem greued—it was meruayles,—
He pared her chekes al aboute,
That al here tethe fellen oute.
Line 13408
He sclow and woundid & bar to erthe
Two & thre and so the fferthe,
¶ He smot of hedes, leg, & arme;
That day did he moche harme
Line 13412
To hem of Troye & her meygne.
Troyle knewe, that it was he
That did his men that vilony;
He vowed to god: "he scholde a-by;
Line 13416
Iff he myȝt ride as he hath ment,
On of hem scholde haue a dent."
¶ Diomedes he ascried,
And afftirward he him defied:
Line 13420
'War the wel'—seyde he—'fro me!
For thi dedis I defye the!'
'And I the!' seyde the knyght,
'Her my treuthe to the I plyght:
Line 13424
I wol the not certis refuse,
Ne thow schalt the fro me ascuse.'
Page 396
Thei to-gedur as ffaucouns fflyes, [folio 198b]
Line 13427
For-sothe that on of hem a-byes:
Line 13428
Diomedes brast his spere,
But he did Troyle no-thyng dere;
¶ But Troyle smot him with al his mayn
That ney-hande he hadde ben sclayn,
Line 13432
He fel him fro his hors swonande
Among her hors ded neyhande.
When he was thus on grounde y-layd [MS. A second thus between grounde and y-layd in MS.] ,
Troyle ful foule him missayd
Line 13436
For Brixaida that was his leff,
He reuyled him as he were a theff.
But his men were for him dred:
Thei drow him fro her hors tred,
Line 14440
Thei leyd him on his scheld soffte
And led him hom vn-to his loffte;
Wel sore y-hurt, In a swone,
Thei bare him to his Pauylone.
Line 13444
¶ When Menelaus that was him by
Saw Troyle that knyght so sturdy
For that wounde that Diomedes laught,
He hadde ther-fore wel mechel aught,
Line 13448
He wyste ful wel that he was hurt.
Menelaus to Troyle sturt,
He by-gan sir Troyle ban[n]e
For him & rode to him thanne
Line 13452
To venge the kyng Diomedes;
For or thei parted, he bouȝt that res:
¶ Troylus spere was with-outen brekyng
As he felde with that other kyng;
Line 13456
To Menelaus Troylus whirled
That scheld and hauberk bothe thrilled,
He bare him vndir his hors fete,
Off his blod he was al wete.
Line 13460
Page 397
Line 13460
His men then qwyk him drow,— [folio 199a]
Line 13461
For him thei hadde sorwe y-now,—
Thei toke & layde him on his scheld
And bare him home vn-to his teld.
Line 13464
WHan Agamenoun, her Emperour,
Saw his men so fare In that stour,—
Thei were almost with-oute myght,
Thei were ney-hande put to flyght,—
Line 13468
He gadered his men to-gedur samen,
And than be-gan a newe gamen;
Then come thedur Vlixes [Something erased after 'Vlixes.']
With men of armes, a huge pres,
Line 13472
¶ And the gode kyng Thoas
That sori was ffor that kynges cas,
And the gode kyng Thelamaneus,
And the gode kyng Menesceus.
Line 13476
Lord, the sorwe that ther by-gan!
Ther was slayn many a man,
Many a man and many a knyght
Was sclayn that day In that fight.
Line 13480
Thei sclow Troyens doun to grounde,
And many flowe with hidous wounde.
¶ Thelameneus tok a spere
And to Troyle began it bere:
Line 13484
He ȝaff Troyle suche a weshayle
That he flow ouer his hors tayle,
And ȝaff him a wounde bitter and sore
That on his scheld he was hom bore;
Line 13488
His hors was eke tho y-slawe,
Out of that batayle he was drawe.
¶ Paris ferd as he were wod,
Many a Grew ther lost his blod;
Line 13492
Thei leyde hem faste to grounde
With many an hidous wounde.
Page 398
Gret was the slauȝt and the wo [folio 199b]
Line 13495
That among the Gregeis was tho.
Line 13496
¶ Agamenoun, her Emperour,
Was sore hurt In that stour,
And so was many a gode knyȝt
Dede & wounded In that fyght.
Line 13500
The stour was gret, the fyght plener,
But Gregeis were of non [MS. nom.] power
Aȝeyn hem lengur to holde fight;
And eke it was ney the nyght,
Line 13504
For to her Pauyloun anon he went;
For hadde thei abeden, thei hadde ben schent.
¶ Thei fledde echone with-Inne the diches
With gret sorwe and sore sikes,
Line 13508
The Troyens ffolwed with her myght;
But it was tho al at nyght:
Thei wente hom to her Cite
With her knyȝtes & her meygne.
Line 13512
AGamenoun coude no gale,
He hadde y-bled, he was pale;
He saw what wo & perel
To him & his that day befel,
Line 13516
How Diomedes, that doughti kyng,
Was hurt so sore at that Iustyng,
And he myȝt not him selff helpe;
His sorwe coude he to no man ȝelpe.
Line 13520
And Menelaus [MS. Meñelaus.] , his brother, eke
He was so hurt that he lay seke.
Bothe thes kynges In bed lay
For harm thei toke of Troyle that day;
Line 13524
Wonder sore and delfully
He was hurt & greuously,
He dredde him sore to ffyght lengur,
Til thei & he myght be strengur;
Line 13528
Page 399
¶ Hic ceperunt Pacem ad inuicem per .vj. menses.
For if he did, he hoped wele [folio 200a]
Line 13529
Off his men to lese gret dele.
He sente ther-fore to Priamus,
To Paris, and to sir Troylus,
Line 13532
To haue a trewe a six moneth,
That thei myght rest In pes & grith.
¶ Priamus and his consayle
Graunte trewes with-oute fayle.
Line 13536
And that was certis aȝeyn her wille
Off many of tho that longed him tille;
Thei seyde: "it was foly strong
To graunte Gregeis a trewe so long."
Line 13540
But wham it likes & wam it rewes,
On bothe parties ben graunted trewes.
BRyxeida that louely was,—
The Biscop[es] doghter Calcas,
Line 13544
That fair louely womman,
That sumtyme was sir Troyle lemman,—
When the tydandes to hir was seyde
That Diomedes In bed was layde,
Line 13548
Aȝeyn hir fadur comaundement
To vysite him ful offte sche went;
For sche wiste he toke the falle
Off Troyle that was hir specialle.
Line 13552
¶ Sche wiste wel In hir thoght
Off Troyle scholde sche neuere haue noght;
Sche hoped neuere of him mariage;
Sche chaunged her wil & corage:
Line 13556
Doghti Troyle sche gan forsake,
To Diomedes sche gan hir take:
Sche sayde sche wolde with him dele
For any man, whan he hadde hele;
Line 13560
For to him sche ȝaff al hir talent,
For he hadde mechel on hir y-spent,
Page 400
And loued hir wel, and sche him als— [folio 200b]
Line 13563
As wymmen doth that offten ben fals.
Line 13564
hAlf [h inserted by later hand, erasure of some three or four letters after lf; the first writing seems to have been Affter.] a ȝer may thei now reste,
The trewe is so be-twene hem feste;
Thei may hele wele the whiles
Alle her bocchis & her biles,
Line 13568
Thei may hem hele In here soiornyng.
But it be In mys-kepyng,
Thei are mury In alle her woundes,
Thei go & hunte with her grehoundes,
Line 13572
With hauke, brache, & with kenetes [Alteredffrom kenetf for the sake of the rhyme.] ,
Thei hunte conynges with here ffirettes.
¶ But Agamenoun hadde gret care
That the Gregeis scholde In fyght mysfare,
Line 13576
But if thei myght Achilles pray
That he wolde helpe another Iornay.
He sent affter by a knyght
Afftir duk Nestor, that man of myght;
Line 13580
He come to him at his sendyng,
And he was fayn of his comyng.
To Achilles bothe thai ȝede
To loke if that thei may spede;
Line 13584
¶ Agamenoun his wil assayed,
Ful ffaire Achilles he ther prayed:
"That he wolde turne his herte & wil
And let the Gregeis so not spil,
Line 13588
And come with hem In her batayle
And at her nede no more hem fayle."
But for al that thei be-souȝt,
Ne myȝt thei him chaunge right nouȝt;
Line 13592
He swore his othe & made a vow;
'I wol no more helpe ȝow!
But this wol I for thi loue do,
And for thin, Nestor, also:
Line 13596
Page 401
Line 13596
Alle my men I wol ȝow graunte [folio 201a]
Line 13597
That ben so stronge and vaylaunte,
I wol that ȝe tho with ȝow haue
For ȝoure loue—so god me saue!
Line 13600
But non Armes my-selff wil bere,
Non of Troye to do no dere.'
Thei were bothe fayn—by seynt Cristofore!—
Off his gode wil & profre,
Line 13604
¶ Thei thonked him an hundred sithe:
"That he hadde mad hem so blythe,
That thei myght haue the Murmidones
To go to fyght with here Gryffones,
Line 13608
For thei were styff & eke stalworth."
Thei toke her leue and went forth
Bothe to-gedur In to her hales,
Thei tolde the kynges this Ioyful tales:
Line 13612
"How of his men thei hadde grauntise
But thei myght not gete him in no wyse."
¶ The kynges were fayn and wonder glad
That thei graunt of his men had,
Line 13616
But hem were leuere haue had him-selff
Then of his men hundres twelff.
WHen [The capital W is somewhat blotted.] it come ner the half ȝere [Between the and ȝere, laste is cancelled, and half inserted over line by another hand.] ende
That the trues scholde out-wende,
Line 13620
And it nyed ner the day
That the trewes passed away,
The Gregeis made her harneis clene
And grond her speres scharp & kene;
Line 13624
And thei of Troye did the same,
For ayther thoght do other schame.
¶ When day was comen out of her trewes,
Agamenoun [MS. Agamenon.] bad the Grwes:
Line 13628
"To Arme hem and dight hem faste,
For it was tyme that thei were paste
Page 402
¶ Aliud Bellum.
In-to the feld a-ȝeyn her fos." [folio 201b]
Line 13631
Eche man to Arme him gos.
Line 13632
Ther was thanne a semely syght
Off many a gentil man & knyght
That semely set vpon her stedis;
. . . . . [No gap in MS.]
Line 13636
Many a sadel was ouergiltis,
Many a sword with golden hiltis.
Many baner blew a-boute,
Ful loude the wynd hem made route.
Line 13640
¶ Achilles gadered his knyghtes alle
Aboute him thanne In-to his halle,
He bad thei scholde her Armes take
For Agamenoun loue [MS. lone.] and his sake;
Line 13644
To alle his men worthi & digne
Delyuered he a newe signe
As red as any blod,
And ȝaff hem leue with heuy mode
Line 13648
To wende forthe to her batayle,
Here foos boldly to assayle.
AChilles weped an hundred teres
At her wendyng vpon his leres;
Line 13652
His men echon forthe stalked;
Vnto the folk ful soffte thei walked.
Ther was by-gonne wel that tyme,
For it was thanne half way Prime:
Line 13656
¶ The Troyens felde & slow Gregeis
Ful wonderly—as Dares says;—
Troyle falles al that he hittes,
Many of hem her hert-blod spittes.
Line 13660
And thei of Troye died faste
As thikke as men myght caste
. . . . . [No gap in MS.]
The Gregeis hem cleuen alle doun
Line 13664
And bere hem ouer her hors arsoun
That men myght here a perlusoun.
Page 403
¶ Duk Menescene defendis his folk, [folio 202a]
Line 13667
He smot many In the nekke holk;
Line 13668
And duk Nestor him wele halpe:
Thei ȝaff the Troyens many a talpe;
On ayther syde thei fel to grounde
With many a grym hidous wounde.
Line 13672
¶ Thei fauȝt al day whil the sonne schyned,
Fro the morwe that thei hadde dyned
Vntil thei hadde of day no lyght;
Thei ȝede home for defaute of syght,
Line 13676
And euery man wente to his Inne—
Til thei myȝt efft her note by-gynne.
DAy is comen, & nyght is gone,
The Gregeis are vppe & dyght echone,
Line 13680
And thei of Troye are comen doun,
Armed wel, out of the toun.
Thei ran to-geder as wode thinges,
Echon other al to-diggis;
Line 13684
Many of hem ligge In a dwale,
May no man make acorde fynale.
¶ In erthe was neuere suche a semble:
And that may alle men here & se
Line 13688
That romaunce may vndirstonde & rede,
Other therto wol take hede.
In alle the bokes that men haue sene
Off douȝti men that haue bene,
Line 13692
When thei are thorow soght,
Sicurly ne fynde men noght
That suche a fyght In erthe befel,
Sithe Eue bare Caym and gode Abel;
Line 13696
¶ That so fele kynges, dukes, and lordes
Were gadered to-gedur for on discordes.
Hit was neuere, lord! In geste ne sang
Off werre In erthe that last so lang,
Line 13700
Page 404
Line 13700
Ne that so many men to dethe wente [folio 202b]
Line 13701
As did ther, or the batayle ente;—
Ne neuere of sege that so longe lay,
Ne neuere schal to domysday;—
Line 13704
Ne men that myght so longe endure
To fight euery day In her Armure
With-oute reste and with-oute sese,
That thei toke neuere trewe ne pese.
Line 13708
¶ Ne held thei not sumtyme assaut,
Day be day to-gedur thei faut,
That thei rest neuere ful doughtyly
A ful monethe contynuely.
Line 13712
But men may se ther-by that can,
What strengthe & myȝt ther hadde a man;
¶ For now lyues nother man ne knyȝt
That if thei were put to that fyȝt,
Line 13716
That thei ne scholde be for-done,
Long tyme or it were none;
And thei be-gan at sonne rysyng.
But that liggis not In my spekyng,
Line 13720
I wol speke ther-of no more,
But turne a-ȝeyn ther I was ore.
THe stoure haue thei of Troye be-gonne,
And thei of Grece ben to hem ronne
Line 13724
And made In her armure many a brek,
Many a man lay slawe ded sterk.
A riche kyng was called Philomene,
A worthi knyȝt, a kynde Troiene,
Line 13728
And also sir Palidomas,—
Thei two to-gedir met kyng Thoas:
¶ Thei layd vpon him bothe at ones,
Thei brosed his flesch and eke his bones;
Line 13732
His myght vayled him not of two lekes,
Thei toke him maugre his chekes.
Page 405
Off that prese drow thei him out, [folio 203a]
Line 13735
And drow him forth fro alle his rout.
Line 13736
¶ But that saw thenne the Murmydones,
How he was lad ffro his Gryffones;
But thei wolde him not so lete passe,
Thei gadered alle a-boute Thoas:
Line 13740
Thei tere for him many a ribbe
Off many lord & many sibbe,
And many an hed thei al to-schyuered,
And fro her hand thei him delyuered.
Line 13744
THo was Troyle ful sore tened:
That he was so dyght sore he mened,
He swor by god & by his swyre:
"Thei scholde abye that dyntes dere."
Line 13748
He strok his stede amonges hem alle,
Some he sclow & some mad falle,
He brak her hedes vnder her hode.
But thei manly a-ȝeyn him stode,
Line 13752
¶ Thei sclow vndir him his stede
That Troylus doun to grounde ȝede—
As he most nede—when his hors fayled.
But he lepe vp & hem assayled,
Line 13756
Gret defence gan he make;
But thei were besy him to take,
But he was closed him-self alone
Amonges hem on fote echone.
Line 13760
¶ But Paris thanne—whan he it wiste—
Amonges the Gregeis In he thriste;
His halff-brother with-al him with,
And many another of that kyth:
Line 13764
Thei brak with force her scheltroun,
And sclow ther many a Murmidoun.
Another hors to Troyle was broght,
And he lepe vp—as he neuere roght
Line 13768
Page 406
Line 13768
Off no lyues man that was his foo— [folio 203b]
Line 13769
He lepe vp sone as a roo.
For sir Troyle delyueraunce
An hard batayle & gret distaunce
Line 13772
Be-gan Paris & hem be-twene,
For Murimdones hadde mochel tene,
Gret Angwys, & mochel wo
That Troylus scholde so qwit go:
Line 13776
Thei leyde thanne Troiens hard vpon,
Thei sclow that tyme Margariton,
That was sir Troylus half-brother;
Ther died of Troyens many an [MS. &.] other
Line 13780
For the delyueraunce of sir Troyle,
Many a Troien to dethe did royle.
TRoyle was horsed atte devise
Vpon a stede of moche prise.
Line 13784
He thoght thei scholde not pas qwite;
He thoght to venge that foule dispite
And vilony that thei hadde tan,
Off hem that were his brothr ban:
Line 13788
He wounded hem, he felde & sclow,
And of her horses doun hem drow;
But thei were wyse of werre & sclye,
Styff & strong, & ful douȝtye:
Line 13792
¶ Thei saw thei were In gret perel,
Thei drow hem alle on a roundel
And of hem-selff made thei castel.
But that vayled hem not a wastel—
Line 13796
For Troyle was euere on hem so asper,
That many a riche ston of Iasper
Smot he a-way vpon her crestes,
And sclow hem as thei hadde ben bestes;
Line 13800
Thei lafft the feld & fledde hamward.
Then was comynge thedirward
Page 407
The Emperour Agamenon [folio 204a]
Line 13803
And The duk Thelamon,
Line 13804
With alle here men Vlixes,
So did the gentil Diomedes;
Menelaus come with hem thanne
With many a thousand armed menne:
Line 13808
The Murimdones thanne wel reschewed,
To the Troyens than no game growed,
For thei were some I-bore to grounde,
And many ther dede In that stounde.
Line 13812
But when Troyle saw hem come socour
And sclow his men so In that stour,
¶ No lenger thanne sir Troyle abode ['Hic deficit' written in the margin by another hand.] ,
In-to that Cite sone he rode
Line 13816
Ther his men were most trauayled,
And he the lordis alle assayled:
He sclow her men & fouly fouled,
With hem so Troylus toyled,
Line 13820
That only thorow sir Troylus myght
So were the Gregeis al discomfyght
And flende faste as thei were wod,
That Troyle reved many his blod.
Line 13824
BVt [MS. BVut.] Ayax Thelamaneus,
That noble knyȝt & vigorous,
Come than doun with many a spere
The Troyens alle for to dere.
Line 13828
Duk Nestor with alle his myȝt
Come theder tho with many a knyȝt,
And the noble kyng Thoas.
Tho by-gan a grisly cas:
Line 13832
Thei that fledde turned aȝeyn,
Thei sclow the Troyens with myȝt & mayn;
¶ The Gregeis wan a-ȝeyn the feld
And droff hem than fro her tent & teld,
Line 13836
Page 408
¶ Hic Achilles Interrogauit de hominibus suisque nouA.
And droff hem thanne a-ȝeyn her wil [folio 204b]
Line 13837
With gret sorwe that place vn-til.
But for Troyle & al his myght
The Troyens were y-put to flyght,
Line 13840
The Gregeys folewes & made hem falle,
Thei flow to Troye the Troyens alle.
The day was gon, the nyght was comen,
The Gregeis went hom al & somen,
Line 13844
Thei wente home al vpon a rase
With her prisouns & her purchase.
THe Gregeis were fayn that it was nyȝt,
For thei hadde trauayled a-ȝeyn her myȝt;
Line 13848
For if the sonne had lenger schyned,
Off her folk schold thei haue tyned.
The Murimdones to-gedur alle
Ȝede to her lordes halle,
Line 13852
Alle for-wounded & for-bled.
He asked hem: "how thei hadde sped."
¶ Thei made to him a lothely playnt
And seyde: "thei were alle a-taynt
Line 13856
For gret angwys of that Iornay
That thei hadde suffred In fight that day."
Thei seyde also: "that many of his
Were sclayn at that gret appris."
Line 13860
He made hem come before him than
And tolde the bodyes of euery a man:
¶ When thei were rekened & told be tale
Be-fore Achilles In his hale,
Line 13864
He fond a thousand of hem fayled
Off knyȝtes that were y-rolled & tayled.
When thei were soght & alle ded founden,
He seyde: 'alas, that I was bounden
Line 13868
In womannes loue & womannes bounde!'
Whan so many were ded founde,
Page 409
He siked sore for hem & drouped. [folio 205a]
Line 13871
Ful litel mete that nyght he souped,
Line 13872
To his bed Achilles went
With carful herte & gret torment:
He wolde him-self hadde ben ded,
He wist neuere what was his red,
Line 13876
Whether he myght to batayle wende
To venge his men or eke his frende,
Or he scholde ȝit abyde
To wete wat grace myȝt be-tyde.
Line 13880
He thoght al nyght so faste & wepe,
That he myght for no thyng slepe:
¶ He thoght he wolde go at morne
And venge his men that were y-lorne,
Line 13884
That thei of Troye hadde foule sclayn;
But then thoght he aȝeyn
That if he [to] batayle ȝede,
Off his erand he scholde not spede,
Line 13888
Ne haue that louely to his wiff
That he loued more than his lyff:
That kynges douȝter Pollexene—
For he hadde het trewely the quene
Line 13892
¶ That he scholde neuere helpe Gregeis,
But lete hem worthe & holde his pays.
And if he ȝede tho & bikerd
Aȝeyn the trouthe that he hadde sikerd,
Line 13896
He myght lyghtly that louely [greue],
And thei scholde him no more leue,
But sey it were a fals couyne—
And so scholde he that lady tyne;
Line 13900
And leuer were him his lyff to-gang,
Er he for-ȝede hir loue out lang.
MAny dayes lyued he so lange
In these paynes styff & strange,
Line 13904
Page 410
Line 13904
With-oute murthe and eke Ioye, [folio 205b]
Line 13905
Til thei of Grece & thei of Troye
Scholde assemble to-gedur efft,
For that wolde thei for no thyng were lefft.
Line 13908
Til that on part Maystres were,
Wold thei not leue her werre there.
¶ But it were ouer-gret takyng,
And wel gret the makyng,—
Line 13912
To telle the fightis that thei fauȝt
And alle her dedis at alle her sauȝt,
To telle here dedis and here fyght
Be-twene Troy & Grece—by goddis myght!
Line 13916
Alle her dedis may I not telle,
For ther-vpon I wol not dwelle.
THe day is comen thei schul mete;
That foule baret wolde thei not lete,
Line 13920
Thei hadde to-geder so gret envy
That thei wold not leue her foly.
Bothe [Bothe over But inserted by another hand.] parties were redi dight,
Thei wente to-geder with al her myght:
Line 13924
And whan thei were to-geder met,
Echon of hem on other schet—
As thei hadde ben wode & mad.
Ther died many a lord & lad,
Line 13928
Many knyght & eke baroun,
And many other proude Gryffoun.
¶ Many a lord & gentil man
Was ded ther, er thei be-lan,
Line 13932
Many a kynges sone of kynde—
I may not make of alle mynde.
But seuen dayes with-oute les
Fauȝt thei to-geder with outen pes,
Line 13936
Day be day with-oute trewes,
Til thei hadde lorn many of the Grwes.
Page 411
¶ Achilles euere In pes him held, [folio 206a]
Line 13939
That he bar neuere helme ne scheld
Line 13940
Off al that while a-ȝeyn Troiens,
To dere none of here Citesens.
The Grewes by-gan faste to fayle,
The Emperour seyde thanne: 'hylhayle!
Line 13944
We may now sone be al for-done,
But if this lord helpe vs sone;
But Achilles on vs rewe,
Ther schal not skape of vs a Grewe!'
Line 13948
WHen thei hadde fouȝten seuen dayes,
Agamenon Priamus prayes
To graunte a trewes by othe & treuthe;
For it to se hit was moche reuthe,
Line 13952
How alle the feld lay ful of men
And lay & stank In that fen.
Trewes longe wolde thei haue had,
For Agamenon was sore a-drad
Line 13956
That he scholde many of his men lese
With hem of Troye & of Frese,
Iff thei mayntened lenger that stour;
Thei asked therfore a long soiour.
Line 13960
¶ But the Troyens seyde: "thei scholde non haue
But that thei myght her dede men graue;"
Thei wold no lenger the trewes graunte,
Thei held hem alle recreaunt.
Line 13964
And that rewed Agamenon sore
And alle the Gregeis that with him wore,
Thei myȝt no lenger the trewes haue;
That rewed hem sore—so god me saue!—
Line 13968
For thei were wounded and al to-bete,
And hadde biles and bocches grete
For strokes thei ȝaff & eke toke,
Whil thei to-gedur ffauȝt that woke.
Line 13972
Page 412
Line 13972
But ȝit were thei of that trewe fayn [folio 206b]
Line 13973
That thei myȝt bery that thei hadde sclayn,
Thei gadered alle the bodyes colde
That lay ther ded vpon the wolde;
Line 13976
And did alle the bodyes be brende,
Or the trewes was fully ende,—
Longe or the trewes was comen to ende,
That thei scholde efft to batayle wende.
Line 13980
THe trewes ar went that thei had set,
The day is comen of her baret:
Thei toke ther many a strok & ffylche,
Thei tare her plates and her pilche,
Line 13984
When bothe the parties to-geder were comen;
Many Ane [MS. Aue.] his lyff was him be-nomen,
When bothe parties were met thare,
And to that batayle were alle ȝare.
Line 13988
¶ Sir Menelaus Paris sawe,
To him he thoght for to drawe;
He hadde gret wil & couetyse
To se sir Paris feet a-ryse.
Line 13992
He strok his stede & to him ran
For the loue of his lemman,
To grounde were thei y-bore bothe,—
The knyȝtes were that tyme so wrothe.
Line 13996
¶ Polidamas, Antenor sone,
With gret envy & gret raundone
For alle the men and al the pres
With his swerd he smot Vlixes;
Line 14000
But he ȝaff not ther-of an hawe,
For he him held with swerd y-drawe.
The noble vaylaunt Menescene
Smot Antenor—& that was sene,—
Line 14004
He ȝaff him suche a romelowe,
That he wente ouer his sadil-bowe;
Page 413
¶ Hic Archilogus interfecit Gryme Gwynel.
He layde him as brod & flat [folio 207a]
Line 14007
As is a pike when he is splat.
Line 14008
¶ Then come ridande Philomene,
A doghti kyng, a knyght Troyene:
Agamenon he assayled
That the blod of him doun rayled.
Line 14012
Philomene, of so gret myght,
Wolde ful euel haue him dyght,—
But that him come socour sone,
I trowe his dayes hadde ben done.
Line 14016
¶ But Thelameus to him toke hede
And saw that he of help hadde nede,
He toke a spere that was stalworthe,
And turned his hors & rod forthe:
Line 14020
To Agamenon he him hyed
And smot Philomene that he doun syed
Fro [MS. ffor.] his hors for his labour,
For he wolde for to her Emperour.
Line 14024
STrong was the stour, perelous, & fel;
Ther was a knyȝt, het Gryme Gwynel,
He was on of Priamus sones—
As I fynde In thes Canones—
Line 14028
That he hadde geten In his purchase,
In his murthe & his solace.
Duk Nestor hadde a sone also,
A doghti knyght, Archilogo;
Line 14032
Thei mette to-geder, he & Gryme,—
A gret vn-hap! a foule fortune!
¶ Archilogus bare sir Gryme thorowe,
And lefft him ded In a forwe.
Line 14036
The Troyens made gret del ther-fore,
Ther died for him mo thenne foure score;
For when that tale to Troyle was told,
He myȝt not for him fro wepyng hold,
Line 14040
Page 414
Line 14040
For he loued him with al his myght [folio 207b]
Line 14041
For that he was so doghti a knyght.
Troylus eyen be-gan to slyse,
The Gregeis sone he gan dispyse:
Line 14044
Many for him he be-hedit,
Echon fro other he sone schedit;
Thei fled echon sir Troylus fro,
Thei made him way & lete him go;
Line 14048
He droff hem faste ouer doune & dale,
Among hem wroght he suche bale.
¶ Thei were ney dreven to her Pauylons,
Ne hadde thanne comen the Murondons;
Line 14052
But the[i] styffly aȝeyn him stode,
But Troylus ferd as he were wode:
Whan he saw hem aȝeyn him stande,
He rod to hem faste manassande;
Line 14056
Vpon her hedes sette he suche dyntes,
The fyr fley out as it were of fflyntes.
¶ He was so sore with hem greued,
That many an hed he ther to-cleued,
Line 14060
Here scheldes fro her scho[l]dres racched;
Ful many a Gregeis he ther atacched,
He bete hem so and so defouled,
That thei with blod were al be-stouled,
Line 14064
As thei were paynt with rede coloures;
He made hem like tormentoures,
Thei toke of him many a cloute.
Tho with al the haste that thei moute
Line 14068
¶ Thei turned the bak and fro him ȝede,—
On rounsi prekand, and on stede,—
Til thei were comen to her hales,
To saue her lyff ther In her sales.
Line 14072
But Troyle & his afftir hem sted,
Thei sclow many of hem that fled;
Page 415
¶ Hic fugerunt ad tentorias suas.
To her tentis he hem droff. [folio 208a]
Line 14075
But ther turned thei a-ȝeyn & stroff,
Line 14076
For thei of Troye her dyche wolde wynne,
But thei wolde not that thei come Inne:
¶ Thei gadered alle vpon a route,
To holde the Troyens tho with-oute;
Line 14080
But Troyens doun of her hors lyght,
And than be-gan the perilous fyght:
For Troyens be-gan foule to fare;
Than by-gan Gregeis kare,
Line 14084
The Troyens felde hem In her dike;
Tho by-gan thei sore to sike;
¶ Her myȝt was nouȝt a-ȝeyn Troiens.
Troylus then, & Philomens,
Line 14088
And kyng Mennon made thanne entre
And made hem fro her men to fle;
Thei flowe alle In-to her tentis,
Many of the Gregeis her deth hentes:
Line 14092
THei made of hem gret tormentry,
Ther was an hidous noyse & cry,
Thei sclow hem In her pauylons;
Wel delful was of hem the sounes,
Line 14096
So wonderful and meruelous
That hit was dredful & hidous:
Hit ferde as hit hadde thondrid,
Achilles was ther-of a-wondrid
Line 14100
¶ Off wham he herde that delful cry,
He saw men come prikande him by
That flede fro that scomfiture,
Makynge sorwe with-oute mesure.
Line 14104
Thei seyde: "alas that thei come thore,
For thei were lorn for euere-more!"
With-out his tent smartly sterte he,
To se what dele that myght be.
Line 14108
Page 416
Line 14108
AChilles was gretly meruayled [folio 208b]
Line 14109
What hem of Grece ayled.
He asked hem: "whi thei so ferde?
And what was the noyse that he herde?"—
Line 14112
'How dos oure kynges, and oure Gregeis?
How bere thei hem a-ȝeyn the Frigais?'
¶ 'Louely lord'—sayde thei that ffledde—
'We are so hurt and so for-bledde,
Line 14116
That we Are alle of nompower
Aȝeyn hem to fyght any lenger.
Iff ȝe wol off vs tydandis here,
Carful tydandes may ȝe lere;
Line 14120
¶ Herkenes now of oure tythandes!
Sicurly, lord, now vndirstandes:
Ȝe schal neuere on lyue se Gryffons,
Ne non of alle ȝoure Murimdons.
Line 14124
We telle ȝow, lord, that thei of Grece
Schal sone be hewen al to pece,
For thei are alle discomfit
And alle haue taken the flyt;
Line 14128
¶ Thei are alle fled In-to her tentis,
Ther many of hem the dethe hentis.
Thei defended here entres,
But thei felde doun bothe cordes & tres,
Line 14132
And sclow oure Gregeis cruelly,
Woundes & stikes with-oute mercy.
Hem fayles now the grete socour,
And this is, lord, the grete clamour
Line 14136
Off hem that dye, that grysly bray,—
That ȝe haue herd and ȝit may.
¶ Thei schal alle dye, er that thei sese;
And ȝe that wene to stonde In pese,
Line 14140
Ȝe schal se sone on ȝow comande
Mo then ffyue & ffyffty thousande
Page 417
Hic Achilles Iratus est.
Off armed men & armed knyȝtes [folio 209a]
Line 14143
That haue sclayn ȝoure men now rightes,—
Line 14144
For thei haue slayn of ȝoure gode men,
Er we come thedir, thousandes ten,
¶ And ȝet to scle thei not be-lyn;—
And iff thai fynde the her-In
Line 14148
In ȝoure tent naked stondande,
Thei leue the not on lyue lyuande;
For al the gold of hethen Spayne
Leue ȝe not here vnsclayne,
Line 14152
For thei hate ȝow ouer alle thyng.
For Ector deth—by heuene kyng!—
That were, lord, her herte wil,
Might thei, lord, thi body spil.'
Line 14156
AChilles chaunged al his mode,
He loked aboute as he were wode
When he herde this tydynges:
He clapped his hondes, and alle his rynges
Line 14160
Sicurly In-sonder brast;
To and fro his armes he cast,
As he hadde ben a wod man;
Wel harde to swete he be-gan.
Line 14164
¶ Achilles seyde on that wolde
To him that these tydandes tolde:
'Is ouȝt Troyle In that place,
That makes oure men thus to chase?'
Line 14168
He sayde: 'lord, ther he is,
And alle oure men he dos amys;
For his wodnesse & his deray
Alle oure men ben fled a-way;
Line 14172
¶ For he is so strong In his myght,
Ther may non a-byde him In fight.'
'Alas!' he seyde, 'that euere Moder me bar!
Whi ne were I right now thar?
Line 14176
Page 418
¶ Hic Achilles Iratus est.
Alas that euere me Moder bounde [folio 209b]
Line 14177
Or euere In [MS. Or euere me In.] cradel me be-wounde!
That I scholde for a wommanes sake
Let my enemys suche murther make
Line 14180
Off my Men and of my kyn,
And do ther-of no medicyn!'
¶ He was so ful [MS. sul.] of tene & ire
That he bad fecche his atire;
Line 14184
He for-ȝate ther Polexene
And al that he be-het the qwene.
His stede was sone j [MS. ….] -dight
With clene harneis & bridel bryght,
Line 14188
He lepe vp anon vpon his stede
And sprang forth as spark of glede.
AChilles rides as a man mad,
For his men was he not glad;
Line 14192
He myght that tene no lenger thole,
He brende In yre as any cole;
When he herde hem so grysly grone,
For hem he made moche mone:
Line 14196
As lyoun rampyng forth he went,
Wel Armed, out of his tent,
To socoure his men and helpe his Danes.
When he hem mette a-mong the Troyanes,
Line 14200
He sclow hem faste as a tyraunt,
Many a man made he criaunt;
¶ He slees & felles al that he metes,
Thei falle thikkere than heryng fletes
Line 14204
In-myddes the se In here scole.
Alle men, thei knewe by his tole:
His sword was other halff fote brode;
Thorow the Troyens bodyis it glode.
Line 14208
Thei knewe him that smot so sore,
Alle were a-drad that were thore,
Page 419
¶ Hic Achilles pugnauit cum Troianis.
Whan thei saw that he cam. [folio 210a]
Line 14211
Off hem made he gret Marterdam:
Line 14212
Euery forow Achilles filled,
With dede bodies the erthe he hilled
That he hadde sclayn In that stour,
Sithe he was comen, In litel hour.
Line 14216
¶ Ther was kyng ne knyȝt so gode,
That thei ne fled as thei were wode;
His noble sword, his bryght bronde,
Was blody doun to his honde
Line 14220
For men that he hadde ther sclawe,
Off many a knyght broght he of dawe.
He fferde as it were a deuel of helle,
Lord! the peple that he gan qwelle!
Line 14224
Thei flow tho ffro her tent & hale,
In the diches thei hadde mochel bale.
The Murimdones come anon,
Now many Troyen to dethe gon;
Line 14228
Thei sorwed & cried as thei were wode,
Many walwes In his blode.
THe Gregeis tho were glad & blythe
And thonked her goddis offte sythe,
Line 14232
That he was comen to that batayl.
Troylus then gan him meruayl:
"What deuel In helle hit myȝt be
That made the Troyens so to fle?"
Line 14236
By his swerd he him ches,
He wiste ther-by hit was Achilles
That made his Troyens so to fle;
Wod & wrothe thanne gan he be,
Line 14240
Durste no man aske whi he were wroth,
When he bare armes aȝeyn his oth.
¶ As a lyoun rores, to him he cried,
With hardy herte he him defied:
Line 14244
Page 420
¶ Hic Achilles wlneratus est.
'In helle'—seyde he—'mot thow be loken! [folio 210b]
Hastow now thin owne othe broken?
Line 14246
Thow hast euere ben a fals faytour,
A losenger, a fals traytour!
Were the fro me, I the defy,
For if I may, thow schalt a-by!'
Line 14250
He let his stede to him flyng
Als harde as he myght slyng;
And he to him with al his myght,
For he at him hadde gret dispit
Line 14254
¶ For his wordes & his reueri
Bothe of falsnes & losengeri
That he on him bare; that he wolde proue:
And ther-to he profered forth his gloue.
Line 14258
Him hadde leuere than al that I can telle,
That he myȝt Troyle qwelle.
STrong & stiff & hardi bothe
Were the knyghtes that were wrothe:
Line 14262
Eyther on other her speres poygned,
Wel hard to-geder tho thei Ioyned,
Her scheldis roff, here speres brast,
The knyghtes bothe to grounde were cast,
Line 14266
That nother of hem with-oute wounde
Thei myght not rise nother hol ne sounde.
¶ Achilles for-sothe was euel hurt,
Vpon his feet wel sone he sturt
Line 14270
And drow his swerd as man of myght,
And wolde haue sclawe that gentil knyght.
But alle the Troyens on an hepe
By-fore him than wel sone gan lepe,
Line 14274
And doghti Troyle so thei defende
That Achilles myght not come him hende,
And ladde him home out of that place.
Tho was it tyme to leue the chace,
Line 14278
Page 421
Line 14278
For hit was al atte nyght, [folio 211a]
Line 14279
And thei were weri of that fyght,
Line 14280
That hem lust to take her rest;
For that were thanne alther best.
Achilles gan faste hamward gange;
Many day afftir & lange
Line 14284
Lay he seke In his bed;
Off his wounde was he sore dred,
For hit greued him so sore,
He thoght to venge him efft ther-fore.
Line 14288
THe Troyens thanne to [MS. of.] Troye ȝede alle
And Troylus to his fader halle,
He tolde him of the deth of Brunes;
Then were mad hidus tuynes
Line 14292
Off many a gentil damysel
For the deth of Gryme Gwynel.
He tolde him also of the Iornay:
"How thei hadde fouȝten to-gedur that day,
Line 14296
And how Gregeis were discomfith
And foule put to the flyȝt;
And how thei felde her Pauylons,
And scholde haue sclayn alle the Gryffons
Line 14300
¶ Er euen-tyde at his hopyng,
Hadde thei had no socoryng
Off doghti sir Achilles,
That foule ferde among her pres;"—
Line 14304
'That Ilke knyght him-selff alone
Maked oure men to fle echone
For any thyng that we coude do,
And made vs lese oure worschepe so.'
Line 14308
¶ When Priamus herde these tydandis—
That Achilles aȝeyn couenandis
That he hadde made & hem be-het
At that [MS. And at that. Cf. l. 14313 & note.] Iorne hem hadde let
Line 14312
Page 422
Line 14312
And at that [MS. At that. Cf. l. 14312 & note.] semble sclayn his folk,— [folio 211b]
Line 14313
His herte for tene be-gan to bolk;
Off tho tythandes was he not payde,
His wiff ful foule he myssayde:
Line 14316
'Certis, I was'—he seyde—'ful wrecched
That I scholde by the so be drecched,
Vn-to thi wordes that I ȝaff ffayth!'—
Priamus to his wiff sayth—
Line 14320
¶ 'This fals [MS. sals.] traytour has vs by-swyked,
For my doghter vnto him lyked;
He dede it certes for oure ille,
For he of here wolde haue his wille
Line 14324
And holde hir In lecherie
With his scleyȝt & trecherie,
And do vs alle a foule repreue
As a fals for-sworen theffe.
Line 14328
¶ And that semes by his falshede:
For [MS. for.] now he may not of hir spede
At his wille by his dissayte;
He be-thenkes him now ful strayte,
Line 14332
How he may best schende me & myne;
That myght thow se with thin eyne.
And elles hadde he holde couenaunt,—
But he is fals & euel thynkand
Line 14336
And doth alle thyng with gylerye,
With no manhed ne chyualrie.'
HEctuba was sore aschamed
Off here lord that sche was blamed,
Line 14340
Hir Angred sore that euere spak sche
Ther-of wordes two or thre;
Sche cursed offte his wickednesse,
His gylrie and his falsnesse.
Line 14344
And that mayden Pollexene
Ther-of was offte blo & grene,
Page 423
Hit Angerd hir sore & displesed, [folio 212a]
Line 14347
Whan that hir loue hade so [MS. hade him so.] spysed
Line 14348
That he be-het hir moder & here;
Gret othes he made & by god swere,
That he ne scholde helpe Gregeis more
The while that thei dwelled thore.
Line 14352
¶ Sche chaunged chere & eke corage,
For sche wolde fayn the mariage.
The kyng & quene were euel lykyng
For that dede,—by heuene kyng!
Line 14356
Thei sette trestles & layde bordes
With litel Ioye of any wordes;
When thei hadde souped, thei wente to bedde,
Thei swor he scholde hir neuere wedde.
Line 14360
THe Gregeis hem Armed, when it was day;
Saue Achilles In his bed lay,
For his woundes he myȝt not ryse
For alle the gode In that emprise.
Line 14364
When Troyens herde the waytes horn,
Thei ros vp erly on the morn;
¶ Eche man thanne his armes craues,
Thei bad her ȝomen and her knaues
Line 14368
Dight her hors & sadel hem faste.
The [MS. Thei.] sadeles on hem sone were caste
With double gerth as thei most nede,
To make hem strong thei toke hede;
Line 14372
Many a stede broght thei forthe
That gret tresour & mechel were worthe;
¶ Her helmes were on her ventayles sperde.
Thei lepe vp & forward ferde
Line 14376
With-oute the toun vpon a renge.
By dere god! hit was elenge
Eche a day se hem so fare,
How echon other al to-tare!
Line 14380
Page 424
¶ Hic ibant ad prelium & pugnauerunt .vijtem. dies.
When thei were met, ther was no laughter, [folio 212b]
Line 14381
But moche wo & gret sclaughter.
THe Troyens had take the Champayn,
Thei are batayled In-myddis the playn.
Line 14384
And thei of Grece when thei beheld
How thei of Troy hadde taken the feld,
Thei sente to hem her vanwarde
With brode baneres & hye standarde;
Line 14388
And thei come afftir with many a knyȝt,
With kynges & dukes of moche myȝt,
With many a louely fair pensel
Off gold, of Inde, of fair sandel.
Line 14392
Thei ran to-gedir, when thei a-proched,
Euery man thorow-out other broched;
With speres, swerdes, & knyues
Echon [MS. Echon on.] other al to-ryues.
Line 14396
¶ But I may not her dedis alle sigge,
Therfore mote I my boke a-bregge;
For to telle al that thei did there [MS. thore.]
Til ende scholde I com nere.
Line 14400
But .vij. dayes fro thei be-gan,
Thei fauȝt to-geder & neuere blan,
Til thei myȝt for wery no more,—
Her bodyes & bones were so sore,
Line 14404
And alle her bones ful sore aked,
And thei were wery & for-waked;
And al the feld was be-sprad
With dede bodyes,—who myght be glad?
Line 14408
Off bothe parties were many dede,
The nombre of hem coude I not rede.
¶ Seuen dayes fauȝt thei to-gedre,
And al that while was mury wedre.
Line 14412
For whan thei hadde fouȝten .vij. dayes
With-oute rest to-gedur al-weyes,
Page 425
¶ Hic Greci miserunt nuncios suos ad Troianum.
¶ Agamenoun thenne assayed, [folio 213a]
Line 14415
Wh[er]e that fight myȝt be delayed,
Line 14416
Vntil Achilles couered wore [o altered from e.]
Off his sekenesse & of his sore;
For th[e]i were not at no defence,
But he were ther In presence.
Line 14420
He sente to Troye his messageres,
That were wel gode latymeres,
That coude wele say her Message
And vndirstande many langage.
Line 14424
¶ He bad hem wende to Priamus,
To Paris, & to gode Troylus,
And pray hem ffor her goddis sake:
"Be-twene vs a trewe to make
Line 14428
A six monethe & no day wane,—
For dede men are oure alther bane,
We may for hem be lyghtly schent,
But if thei be the sonner brent.
Line 14432
Ȝeue vs leue her bodies brenne,
And hele the while oure seke menne,—
And thei may haue the same merit
Thorow the trewe & this respit."
Line 14436
THe gode kyng Vlixes,
And his felawe Diomedes,
To do this erande thei ben chosed:
Thei did on robes wel a-losed
Line 14440
And furred wel with riche Ermyn,
As kynges that were of gentil kyn;
Thei were richly apparayled
With riche gerdeles wel Anamayled,
Line 14444
Thei drow riche hodes of ther pile
That alle were sewed with riche orivile;
Thei wente to Troye In gode aray,—
How richeli dyght, can I not say.
Line 14448
Page 426
Line 14448
When thei of Troye sei hem come naked, [folio 213b]
Line 14449
Thei hoped a trewe scholde be maked
Be-twene hem and Grece kyng;
Glad were thei In here thingkyng.
Line 14452
¶ Aȝeyns the kynges was done vp the ȝate,
The kynges reden In ther-ate;
Thei ride hem forth hand In hand
With louely chere & fair semblaunt:
Line 14456
Thei wente In-to that riche palais
And grete the kyng with wordes curteis;
And he ȝeld sone her metyng
And thanked sone her wel-comyng,
Line 14460
And sayde "thei were wel-come him to,"
And asked "what thei wolde haue do?"
ULixes kyng & his ffelawe
By-fore the kyng a gode thrawe
Line 14464
Stode spekand & told her tale
Be-fore the Troyens In that sale;
He seyse: 'sir, and ȝoure wille were,
Herkenes now vnto me here!
Line 14468
And I schal telle, sir kyng, to ȝow
Whi we are comen hidur now:
¶ Agamenoun, oure Emperour,
That is oure a[l]ther gouernour,
Line 14472
Bad vs two hedur go
To ȝow, sir kyng, with-outen mo
To aske a trewe, if ȝe assent
With ȝoure consail & parlement.
Line 14476
It is long tyme sithen we vs rest,
Off medecyne haue we mechel brest;
¶ We haue fouȝten dayes many,
That vnnethes of vs is any
Line 14480
That we [n]are wounded or vnhesed,
Strongly hurt or envysed,
Page 427
¶ Hic pecierunt pacem per .vj. Menses.
Or bitterly beten with bitter strokes; [folio 214a]
Line 14483
We wolde ther-fore haue help of leches
Line 14484
To hele oure woundes, er we fauȝt efft.
We may wilne that it were lefft,
Til we [MS. he.] be hole-he bad vs say,—
A six moneth euery day.
Line 14488
¶ He wolde the trewe were be-twene vs fest,
Til we were heled In the best,
And ȝe ȝoure-selff to reste haue nede
To hele ȝoure sores—so god me spede!
Line 14492
For I trowe ȝe haue som part—
Off spere or sword or of dart—
Off som brysure or som wounde,
Ȝe are not al hol ne sounde.
Line 14496
I wil therfore ȝow not fode,
We mot be-twene vs bere euen lode:
Ȝiff ȝe the trewes assente to,
Ȝe may hele ȝow, and we also.'
Line 14500
PRiamus seyde: 'iff my consayle
These couenandes wil entayle,
I schal acorde to here Iugement
By gode a-surte and sacrament.'
Line 14504
He wente fro hem out of that halle
And called his men abouten him alle.
¶ He seide: 'lordynges, ȝe ben alle here,
Ȝe are of my counseyl al plenere,
Line 14508
And ȝe haue herd what these men aske.
Telles me now sone In haste:
Hope ȝe hit be oure profite
To take suche trewe & respit?
Line 14512
What schal I say to thes lordynges,
These Messageres, these riche kynges?
Wol ȝe the trewe? what is ȝoure wit?
Are ȝe wele avised ȝit?
Line 14516
Page 428
Line 14516
Avise ȝow wel, ar ȝe hem graunt, [folio 214b]
Line 14517
That ȝe be not afftir repentaunt.'
Thei seyde alle: 'sir, we be a-vysed:
Thei haue the trewe wel devysed,
Line 14520
We graunte the trewes aȝeyns vs.'
'And I for me'—seyde Priamus.
¶ Priamus ran to halle a-valed,
Ther these kynges to-gedur taled;
Line 14524
He sayde: "that he and his baronage
Wolde graunte the terme by gode ostage
A six monethe til thei were heled,
By siker dedes wel asseled."
Line 14528
He bad hem go sauely aȝeyn
And holde the trewes for-sothe certayn,—
¶ "For he & his scholde by her othe
Holde hem stable for leue or lothe;"
Line 14532
And bad: "that thei scholde do so als,
That thei were not founden fals;
And that euery man with-oute debate
Scholde gon & come erly and late
Line 14536
With-outen robbyng or reuyng,
With-oute any debate-makyng."
These kynges swor bothe this—
"So god ȝeue hem Ioye and blis."
Line 14540
Priamus ȝaff hem gode conge,
To wende her way and wel be.
NOw ride these kynges murily,
To-gedir rydande Ioyfully;
Line 14544
Thei are ful fayn that thei haue sped,
Off no-thyng now are thei adrad.
Vnto her tentis are thei reden;
Thei haue ther not longe abyden,
Line 14548
Thei hied hem to her Emperour,
Ther he sat vndir his couertour.
Page 429
In his teldis thei him fond, [folio 215a]
Line 14551
Thei seyde: "thei hadde ben on his sond,
Line 14552
And that thei hadde wele done his nedis."
And [he] hem blessed for her dedis;
He asked: "whether thei treweus hadde
A six monethe, as he hem badde?"
Line 14556
And thei sayde: 'ȝe, sir, sicurly!
Thei schal be holden treuly
¶ The trewes stable a six monethe,
On payne to lese bothe lym & lythe;
Line 14560
And ther-to haue we hondes holden
And truthis [MS. thruthis.] plyȝt & fyngres folden.'
The tydandes ran fro halle to halle,
Eche man tolde other this tale:
Line 14564
"How here kynges haue ben at Troye
And brouȝt tydandes of moche Ioye,
How thei scholde reste a wel gode while."
Eche man thanne be-gan to smyle.
Line 14568
AGamenoun than was wel glad,
And so was euery lord & lad,
And euery a knyght that vndirstandis
The right sothe of these tythandes.
Line 14572
Now euery man helis his soris,
Euery man his tentis restoris
Off mete & drynke & other store,
Wel better than thei were ore.
Line 14576
¶ Thei were fayn of that grace
Off her trewe so long a space,
Vntil Achilles were y-couered.
Many a lord ouer him houered
Line 14580
Eche day him to solace;
He gan Troyle faste manace.
¶ He seyde: "when he hadde hele,
That he wolde with Troy[l]e dele,
Line 14584
Page 430
Line 14584
He wolde not lette for al Fraunce [folio 215b]
Line 14585
But he tok of him vengaunce."
Thei sayde: "that Troyens were dissayued,
And that thei nere not persayued
Line 14588
To graunte the trewes when thei it asked,
For thei scholde now be euel a-tasted,
Thei graunt the trewes In the dismole.
For were it so that he were hole,
Line 14592
He scholde scle Troyle and alle thos other,
As he hadde done Ector, his brother."
WEle was hem thei scholde soiorne,
It was for hem a noble turne:
Line 14596
Thei gadered grases on eche halue,
And made plastres & eke salue,
Thei dyght here woundes that sore gored.
Off mete & drynke thei ben wel stored,
Line 14600
Thei played at the chesse & tables,
And ete & drank and tolde fables.
And alle the leches that crafftly were
In al the ost that tyme there,
Line 14604
¶ Alle that coude of surgerye,
Off Plasteres and of herberye,—
Hadde Achilles In that cure
To hele his woundes & his visure:
Line 14608
Thei ȝaff to him wel gode kepyng
To brynge him to his right slepyng,
Thei made him drynkes of gode licour
And broght a-ȝeyn his fair colour;
Line 14612
¶ Thei ȝaff him drynke many skyns,
And heled him vp with medycyns,
That he was hole, stalworthe, & fere
In his strengthe & playn power,
Line 14616
Er euere the trewes come fully out.
Then were the Gregeis bolde & stout,
Page 431
¶ Hic Troiani ordinauerunt magnum Bellum.
Whan he was hole & ȝede on fete. [folio 216a]
Line 14619
For tene his herte wex grete,
Line 14620
That Troyle did him the vilony;
He hadde to him gret envy,
He swore by god that dwelled In heuene
He scholde him scle for odde or euene.
Line 14624
AChilles is hol & clene In myȝt,
Bold and strong, semely In syȝt,
For he is hol In flesch & fel,
And as hole as any pykerel.
Line 14628
Hit drawes faste vnto that day,
That thei most nede leue her play
And bygynne aȝeyn the werre,
For no man may ther-fro hem sterre;
Line 14632
Vntil that on for ay & euere
Be al for-done, thei blyn neuere.
¶ Euery man ordeynes now his gere,
Sadel, & bridel, & stalworthe spere,
Line 14636
Fresche atyre, wel gode newe helmes,
And made hem gode staues of oke & elmes
Ful of warres and of knottis,
Piked staues with heuy bottis.
Line 14640
Achilles thinkes day & nyghtis,
How he may sle douȝti knyȝtis;
He nolde it lette for non auȝt
That any man him ȝeue mauȝt.
Line 14644
WHen the trewes were alle gone,
And th[e]i were heled euerychone,
And day was comen thei scholde fyght,
And thei were rysen & redy dight,—
Line 14648
Eche man In his armure
On gode stedis, be ȝe sure!—
The Troyens ride to Ilyon;
Kyng Philomene & Mennon,
Line 14652
Page 432
Line 14652
Odeman & Eueas, [folio 216b]
Line 14653
Antenor and Palamydas,
And eche a lord ȝede with his ost;
And alle men houed then a-cost
Line 14656
¶ Aboute Ilyon, that riche palais,
To here what Troyle to hem says:
"How he here batayles wolde devise,
In what manere and what wyse;
Line 14660
Ho schal haue the vaunwarde,
Who the myddel, and ho the rerewarde?"
So were thei redi In that mornyng,
Al redi dyght by sone rysyng.
Line 14664
DOghti Troyle faste him payned
That thei were wel ordeyned;
When thei were ordeyned wele & clene,
He bad hem go forth al be-dene,
Line 14668
Euery lord with his Eschele,
And come aȝeyn with Ioye & hele.
The ȝate was than vndone & opone
That we by-fore hadde of y-spoken,
Line 14672
That ȝate was cleped Dardanydes:
Ther was of knyȝtes mechel pres,
¶ At the ȝates thei outward issed,
As doughti Troyle hem hadde wissed;
Line 14676
Thei ride to-gedir vpon a rase
Toward Gregeis a gode pase,
Til thei were comen nye here lystes.
Thei houed stille at here tristes,
Line 14680
Til thei se Gregeis oute comande
With brode baneres a-boute wayvande.
¶ Troyle now rides and his Troyanes
With his burgeis & Citeȝaynes
Line 14684
Out off Troye—alas the wo!
For he schal dye, er he then come ffro.
Page 433
Alas Troye! what is thi grace? [folio 217a]
Line 14687
To the fel neuere gode trace,
Line 14688
To the fel neuere gode chaunce,
Ne non of alle thi retenaunce!
Thoow thow be gay & glorious,
Thow were euere [Some letters erased between were and euere.] on-gracious!
Line 14692
Off thow hede of Cites were,
Blysful hap to the fel neuere!
For better men were neuere lyuand,
Than were that tyme to the longand;
Line 14696
And ȝit was it here alther schap,
That thei died alle by myshap.
¶ Ther-fore I trowe In my thoght:
Aȝens godis wille so were thei [MS. we.] wroght.
Line 14700
Hadde destyne ben Ector frende,
Or doghti Troylus that was so hende,
The Gregeis nad not hem sclayn;
But destene turned hem aȝeyn,
Line 14704
Destyne was here enemy
And sclow hem bothe vnhappily.
And also died alle that other kynde
Off gode men that were In mynde.
Line 14708
THe Gregeis saw the Troiens come
Out of Troye alle on a throme,
Armed wel In her maneres,
With faire penseles & brode baneres.
Line 14712
The wannward than to hem thei sende,
The Middelward [MS. Mildelward.] come afterhende [MS. asterhende.] ,
The rerwarde dwelled lange.
But when Achilles scholde out gange,
Line 14716
¶ He gart his men vnto him calle;
And when thei stode aboute him alle,
He sayde to hem with glad chere:
'Ȝe ar my frendes leue & dere,
Line 14720
Page 434
¶ Hic ibant ad prelium.
I wot wel ȝe loue me mechel [folio 217b]
Line 14721
With trewe herte & no-thyng fikel,
And to do my byddyng are ȝe meke;
Now for my loue I ȝow be-seke:
Line 14724
To my sawe ȝe ȝeue good tent,
And beth to me obedient.
¶ Ȝe wot wel what affray
I toke of Troyle that other day,
Line 14728
Wiche an harm and a wounde;
And how I fel vpon the grounde;
Bode I neuere scuche a dispit.
Now helpis me that it were qwit;
Line 14732
But I be venged of that boy,
In myn herte gete I neuere Ioy.
THer-fore for my loue I ȝow pray
That ȝe do as I ȝow say:
Line 14736
That ȝe this day ȝeue no gome
To kyng ne knyȝt [MS. knytt, but the scribe has tried to alter the first t to ȝ.] ne to grome,
Man to sle ne to take,
Ne non assaut to non make,—
Line 14740
But beth besi on alle thing,
How ȝe may him among ȝow bryng!
¶ When ȝe thedir comen are
And ȝe of him may be ware,
Line 14744
Be-closes him al a-boute
That he fro ȝow go not oute,
And stondis a-boute him on a throme
That non of his may to him come
Line 14748
Him to defende fro myn hond.
Ful stille aboute ȝit ȝe stond,
And lete vs two oure myght schewe;
And I schal that boy al to-hewe.
Line 14752
But loke that no man to vs come,
That fro my hand that he be nome;
Page 435
¶ Hic preliauerunt.
I schal him ful wel qwite [folio 218a]
Line 14755
That his spere did on me bite,
Line 14756
And thus may I haue my wille
That foule boy for to spille.
¶ Ther-fore I pray ȝow alle—
For any thyng that may be-falle,
Line 14760
And as I am ȝoure a[l]ther lord—
That ȝe be alle at this acord
And ȝif to no-thyng elles kepe.'
And with that word Achilles wepe,—
Line 14764
So wolde he fayn on him be venged.
The batayles ben to-gedir renged,
Thei of Troye & thei of Grece;
Thei hewe here bodies al to pece,
Line 14768
Thei did gret sorwe & mechel wo,
Whan thei gan to-gedir go.
THe stoure is styff & strong be-gonnen,
Euery man on other is ronnen,
Line 14772
Thei haue her speres brosten & broken,
Ful ffewe wordes ther were spoken;
At that tyme were many kastoun
A-ȝeyn the grounde that al to-brastoun,
Line 14776
Ther died many at that torpel.
But then come Troyle, y-armed wel,
With mechel peple of Armed knyȝtes
Come he thedir at that riȝtes;
Line 14780
With scheld enbrased & spere enbossed
A-mong the Gregeis he ran & pressed:
That he to ran, dethe was his dome;
Wel euel was he thedir wel-come.
Line 14784
¶ When Troyle hadde broken his spere,
He toke his swerd that wel coude schere,
It was trenchaund & wel poynted,
With Gregeis blod it was anoynted
Line 14788
Page 436
Line 14788
Fro the poynt to the hilte, [folio 218b]
Line 14789
Ful many Gregeis hadde it spilte.
He rased scheldes ffro here neckes,
He teres the mayles as it were sekkes,
Line 14792
¶ He bare hem doun to grounde al fflat,
He ȝaff hem many a sori sqwat [MS. sq…wat.] ;
He droff doun alle that come him by,
As doth bestes that ben hungry.
Line 14796
Thei were noght to him worth a schelle,
He blan neuere to scle & felle
Fro he come thedir to the mydday,
That thei fro him ffled a-way;
Line 14800
Thei fled echon by on red,
And elles thei hadde ben alle ded.
HIt was a litel be-fore the none,
A-boute mydday, that this was done
Line 14804
That thei of Grece ffro Troyle fled,
So were thei of his strokes dred.
But Achilles ne none of hese
Were comen not to that purprese;
Line 14808
But when he herde hem criande,
He loked & sey hem fleande,
He saw hem flee fro that purprise,
He bad his men be war & wyse.
Line 14812
He was y-armed at alle rightes,
Strong & hole In alle his myghtes;
¶ He tok his swerd that was so gode,
Hit wolde bite as it were wode,
Line 14816
Ther was none suche hard ne towe;
Many a Troyen ther-with he sclowe.
He bad his men: "so mote thei thee"—
'Socoures now hem that now dothe fle!
Line 14820
Helpis now, for thei haue nede!'
Achilles than to hem ȝede,
Page 437
¶ He bad his men thenk on his spellis [folio 219a]
Line 14823
And attende to [no] man ellis;
Line 14824
And thei bad him be not abayst,—
"But on him he scholde trayst."
He passed forth with his meyne
And socoured hem that he saw fle,
Line 14828
Thei mette the Troyens In her wyse
Thei bare hem doun at the burdise.
¶ Achilles and his Murimdones
Socoured alle her Gryffones;
Line 14832
For by her help and her comyng
Thei were tho lettid In her chasyng,
And Gregis keuered a-ȝeyn the feld
And made good visage with spere & scheld
Line 14836
To her enemys ful boldely
And fauȝt with hem apertly [t very indistinctly inserted over line.] .
GRegais turned and gete the place,
For Troyens were let of here chace.
Line 14840
The Murimdones for-ȝete no-thyng
What was her lordes faire praying:
Among Troyens bothe ner & fer
Thei loked aboute In euery corner
Line 14844
Off that batayle afftir sir Troyle,
Iff thei saw owqher that knyȝt royle.
So were Thei war where he stode
Scleande Gregeis as he were wode:
Line 14848
¶ He was that tyme hi[m]-selff alone,
Off hyse that tyme with him were none;
Him faste ffyghtand alone thei founde
Opon the Gregais In that stounde.
Line 14852
Thanne wente aboute him alle that frape,
That he myȝt no-wayes skape,
And made a scheltrone him aboute
And spered him fro alle his route.
Line 14856
Page 438
¶ Hic Achilles occidit Troylum.
Off Gryffons come ther many a knyȝt [folio 219b]
Line 14857
And halp the Murimdones with her myȝt.
¶ Achilles—lord! that he was glad!
Off alle the world no more he bad!
Line 14860
He come ridande on his stede,
Off sir Troyle toke he gode hede
How he sclow doun right his men
That thei lay dede In the fen.
Line 14864
'Turne the'—he seyde—'fals gadelyng!
Thow schalt now dye—by heuene kyng!
My dispite schaltow sore abigge!
Kepe the fro me! I the sigge.'
Line 14868
¶ Thei drow her swerdes that were gode
And hew to-gedir as thei were wode,
The rede blod ran by here side,
Thei made hem woundes longe & wyde:
Line 14872
Achilles hewys In-two his mayles,
The rede blod afftir rayles;
He hew the helme al of his hede,
His scheld sone he him be-reued.
Line 14876
But Troyle defendis him by his myȝt
With al his strengthe, that gentil knyȝt.
BVt Achilles was so strong
That he myȝt not endure long,—
Line 14880
No man myght to him come
For Murimdones that stode athrome,
The Gregeis also with al here myght[es]
Passyng twenty thousand knyghtes.
Line 14884
¶ Troyle was wery [y seems to be corrected from i.] , he myght not sitte,
He was al faynt & out of witte
For the blod that he gan blede,
Tho fel he doun of his stede.
Line 14888
Achilles tho lyght glad ynow
And his noble swerd out-drow
Page 439
¶ Lamentacio Troianorum.
And smot his hed fro the body [folio 220a]
Line 14891
And throw [MS. drow.] it away dispitously;
Line 14892
He tyed his body at his hors tayl
And drow him tho thorow the batayl.
¶ Achilles has sir Troyle sclayn,
And ther-of he is wonder fayn;
Line 14896
Michel schame & vylony
Did he tho that dede body:
He tied him at his hors ers
And drow him ouer myre & Mers,
Line 14900
Thorow her ost & her batayle
He drow him at his hors tayle—
As he hadde ben a cut-purs,
Ne myȝt he him haue don no wors.
Line 14904
¶ When it was told sir Palidomas [idomas written by another hand on erasure.] ,
Antenor, & sir Eueas,—
And his brother sir Paris
When he herde telle of this,
Line 14908
He myght not speke no [MS. speken o.] word, but swoun,
Among hem alle tho fel he doun.
¶ The Troyens than hadde sorwe y-now,
When thei saw how he him drow,
Line 14912
Thei ran on the Grues alle on a res
To reue sir Troyle ffro Achilles.
But thei of Grece so with-stode
With egre wil & sturdy mode,
Line 14916
That thei myght not the Gregeis twyn
Ne that body fro hem wyn.
A wonder stoure and a cruel
Be-gan thei thanne & a mortel,
Line 14920
For alle the Troyens ther-aboute
Gadered hem vpon a route,
The ded body fro him to reue;
But Gregeis wolde it not leue.
Line 14924
Page 440
Line 14924
Achilles cleues alle her bones, [folio 220b]
Line 14925
For sorwe thei crye & bitterly grones.
¶ But when Mennon, that noble kyng,
Off Troyle herde this tydyng,
Line 14928
Whan he wyste that he was sclayn
And thorow that ost so foule drawyn,—
An hundrid sithe he seyde 'alas!'
So was him wo that he ded was:
Line 14932
"Alas!"—seyde he that tyme & tyde—
"That euere scholde he that day a-byde
To se so noble a doghti knyght
Be so distroyed & foule dyght!'
Line 14936
With sore herte thorow alle that prese
Cried Mennon to Achilles,
¶ When he was comyn to him neye;
He sayde: 'traytour, I the defye!
Line 14940
To thi [MS. his.] hors tayl that knyght to bynde,
In thi foule herte how myght thow fynde?
And drawe him thorow bekke & broke
That gentil knyȝt that thow so toke,
Line 14944
That was so gode of vasselage [MS. basselage.] ,
Off douȝtines & of corage!
Ware the, traytour, now for me!
By him that made leff on tre:
Line 14948
Thow schalt him no further drawe
With-oute harm for loue ne awe!'
LOrd, that Achilles was wode!
That alle tho chaunged his blode!
Line 14952
That he sette him so at noght,
He thoght it scholde be dere a-boght;
He smot tho kyng Mennon a-ȝeyn
With al his power & his mayn,
Line 14956
And kyng Mennon to him with that;
But Achilles In his sadel sat.
Page 441
But thorow his scheld & Aketoun [folio 221a]
Line 14959
He smot Achilles In that raundoun;
Line 14960
¶ Achilles was sore aschamed
And of that dede foule a-gramed,
Opon his swerd his hond he layde
And swere by othe and seyde:
Line 14964
"That he scholde doun for leue or lothe!"—
And therto Achilles swor his othe.
¶ Achilles smot that knyȝt sore,
That he fel doun of his hors thore
Line 14968
Opon the grounde In a ded swone,
And of his hors he fel a-doune.
The Troyens than fro him wan;
But ȝit ther died many a man
Line 14972
With dynt of sword In that batayle,
Thei suffred ther ful mechel trauayle.
THe while thei were at this fight,
The Troyens with strengthe & myght
Line 14976
Troylus body a-way thei stale
As faste as thei myght hale,
Til it was stolen out of that ost,
Vndir a dike layde a-cost.
Line 14980
Than gan these ostis parte atwynne,
For of that fyghtyng wold thei blynne [MS. thei not blynne.] ;
And kyng Mennon a hors was brouȝt,
But arst with Troyens was hit ful touȝt.
Line 14984
¶ But it was euen, they myȝt not dwelle,
Thei departed, as I ȝow telle:
Hit was ney the euenyng,
The sonne was ney at his settyng;
Line 14988
And bothe parties hamward drow,
For thei hadde foghten long y-now.
The Gregeis ȝede to here tentis;
And Paris vp that body hentes,
Line 14992
Page 442
Line 14992
And a-none hamward gan royle, [folio 221b]
Line 14993
And ledde with him the body of Troyle.
THei haue her fyght for this day ent;
And thei of Troy hamward went,
Line 14996
The dede body with hem thei ledde,
Al of blod it is be-bled.
At euery temple the belles ronge,
Euery man wepe, and no man songe;
Line 15000
And ther-by wiste alle tho of Troye
That some of heres were dede & foye.
Philomene & kyng Mennon
That body bar to Ylion,
Line 15004
And alle the Troyens on a rowe
With loude criyng and moche harrowe.
¶ When thei of Troye hadde herd that cry,
Thei asked "how?"—the chesoun whi
Line 15008
Thei cried so and wepe so sore—
"And what he was that thei bare thore?
Iff he were lord of gret renoun?
Or any kyng of any regioun?"
Line 15012
And thei answered & seyde a-ȝeyn:
"That it was Troyle that ther was sclayn."
¶ When thei of Troye the sothe wiste,
Ther was wrongen many a ffiste.
Line 15016
'Alas'—thei seide—'now he is ded,
Now are we alle with-outen red!'
Thei wyste tho to lese her lyues,
Bothe here children & here wyues,
Line 15020
And alle the godis euere thei aught;
Off here lyues tho rouȝte thei naught.
¶ The sorwe that the fadir made!
Ther was no man that him myght glade.
Line 15024
Out off sorwe was not the quene,
Ne his suster Pollexene.
Page 443
Sche made for him sorwe y-now, [folio 222a]
Line 15027
For dele hir body al to-drow,
Line 15028
Hir louely heer sche al to-rent,
Sche cracched hir face & al to-schent,—
That it was ruthe & gret pite
So fair a lyff so dyght to se.
Line 15032
¶ In gret mornyng was dame Heleyn,
When sche wiste sir Troyle sclayn;
And his brother, sir Paris,
Gret sorwe made he y-wis:
Line 15036
He sorwed bothe day & nyȝt.
And so did euery lord & knyȝt,
And alle that euere were In the toun;
For thei seide alle: "thei were a-doun,"—
Line 15040
And al the nyght til the morwe
Lyued thei In gret sorwe.
¶ But the Gregeis were wel glad;
Lord, the Ioye that thei mad
Line 15044
That her strong fo was sclayn!
Lord, that thei therfore were fayn!
Thei sclepe al nyȝt and made blythe,
And thonked her god offte sithe,
Line 15048
And solaced Achilles thei also
For that prowesse that he hadde y-do.
¶ When day was comen, and nyȝt gon,
Thei toke her hors euerychon [chon on erasure, but by the same hand.]
Line 15052
And rod aȝeyn In-to the feldis,
Out of the toun & of the teldis;
And be-gan a newe assaut,
Til hit was fer with-Inne the naut.
Line 15056
WHen it was day, & thei sei lyght,
And thei were armed & redi dyght,
Out of Troye rod the Troyanes;
A-ȝeyn hem come alle the Danes,
Line 15060
Page 444
¶ Hic Pugnabant per vijtem dies.
Wel arayed on horse rydande, [folio 222b]
Line 15061
With fair scheld & spere In hande.
Many a man ther strokes toke,
That many of hem her lyff for-soke;
Line 15064
Many a body was ther to-koruen,
And many gode knyȝt was ther storuen.
¶ And thus ferde thay til it was nyght,
That thei of sonne had no syght,
Line 15068
That thei most nede take her rest.
On morwe were thei al prest
That ffyght aȝeyn to be-gynne;
For that wolde thei neuere blynne,
Line 15072
Vnto that on were for-done,—
And that scholde now be sone.
¶ And thus ffauȝt thei to-gedur samen—
Alle on ernest & not on gamen—
Line 15076
With-oute rest dayes seuene;
But alle her dedis may no man neuene,
For that wolde be to longe dwellyng,
To moche werk of my tellyng:
Line 15080
For who-so wolde aboute that dwelle
Alle her dedis for to telle,
Many bokes myght men make;
I wol not now vndirtake.—
Line 15084
¶ But seuene dayes with-outen pes,
With-oute rest—so saith Dares—
Fauȝt thei to-gedir day for day,
Saue Achilles In his bed lay
Line 15088
To hele the woundes that he hadde cauȝt,
When he & Mennon to-gedir fauȝt
Off that fyght that thei hadde meled.
The seuenthe day whan he was heled
Line 15092
Off his woundes wel & fyn,
Off his Angwys & his pyn,
Page 445
¶ Incipit bellum In die septimo.
He Armed him as other did, [folio 223a]
Line 15095
To go & fyght the Gregeis myd.
Line 15096
¶ Then were the Gregeis bold & glad;
Alle his men tho faire he bad [Some letters erased after bad.] ,
That when thei come to that batayle,
That thei scholde alle Mennon assayle
Line 15100
And close him alle envyroun,
That him myght helpe no man;
And ȝiff to no man elles entent,
But that he were amonges hem hent,
Line 15104
That he myght do hem wreche,
And sle him for his [s on erasure.] last speche,
And for he woundid him so sore—
He swore: "he scholde do so na more [MS. namore.] ."
Line 15108
¶ And therfore he bad his men not fayle
To helpe him wele In that batayle;
Thei bad him holde him stille,
Hit scholde be done at his wille.
Line 15112
HIT was opon the day seuend,
Achilles thoght he wolde be euend
Vpon the doghti kyng Mennoun.
He bad her kynges & Agamenoun:
Line 15116
"That he scholde the Gregeis aray,
To se that day qwat thei do may?"—
'For I my-selff that day schal lede
The formast warde, so god me spede!'
Line 15120
¶ Agamenoun tho hem arayed,—
With baneres brode alle displayed,—
And bad echon thei scholde hem hye
Forward with her companye,
Line 15124
For thei of Troye were comen alle
And with-outen her Cite walle
In-to the feld, to take her stale,
With many riche amerale.
Line 15128
Page 446
Line 15128
¶ Kyng Mennoun the vamwarde ledis, [folio 223b]
Line 15129
Vnto Achilles he him spedis;
When he saw him be-fore comande,
He hied to him faste ridande:
Line 15132
Rode thei to-gedir with gret envy
As faste as thei myght fly,
Ayther smot other In-myddes the scheld,
That bothe fley on the feld
Line 15136
Fro her horses to the grounde,
That nother was with-outen wounde.
¶ But thei lepe vp & fauȝt on fote,
For tho was hem no more bote:
Line 15140
But Mennon was his men with-oute,
Here horses ran fro hem a-boute;
Ther was no man to him ȝaff gome,
Kyng ne sqwyer, knyȝt ne grome.
Line 15144
TRoyens mette & the Gryffons
With sword & spere & gret burdons,
With piked staues wel y-wrythen.
Ther was a fyght strong y-ȝeuen:
Line 15148
On bothe parties thei died thikke,
But thei schal leue non qwyk,
Many a schanke brake thei In-sonder,
And many lay his hors fet vnder;
Line 15152
Ech-on other smot & quelled
That thikke to grounde ded thei felled.
¶ Many an hed was al to-squat [MS. alto squat.] ,
And many ded on his hors sat;
Line 15156
Some loste nose, & some her tonges,
Som her lyuer, & som her longes.
The Murimdones when thei were ware
Off kyng Mennon & his fare
Line 15160
A-ȝeyn her lord, thei hadde gret tene,
Thei closed him tho hem by-twene
Page 447
¶ Hic Achilles occidit Mennonem Regem.
That no help myght he haue [folio 224a]
Line 15163
Off no Troiene—so god me saue!
Line 15164
Thei holde hem oute with gret fyght
And sclow the Troiens doun right.
¶ Achilles and Mennoun fauȝt In-fere,
The strokes myght men fer here;
Line 15168
The knyghtes were bothe gode & strong,
But her fyght myght not dure long:
But Mennoun woundes Achilles sore,
But Achilles did him wel more,
Line 15172
Thei fauȝt to-gedir as thei were wode,
Bothe thei ran al on blode.
¶ Mennon scheld is al to-hewe,
He cutte his mayles rewe on rewe,
Line 15176
With his blod-brode bronde
He hewe his scheld to his honde:
Mennon was faynt for many wounde,
Achilles smot him doun to grounde,
Line 15180
He cleue his hede to his brest,
He bad him lye ther & rest.
MEnnoun is ded, and that is harm;
He lithe ded In his blod warm.
Line 15184
Troyens bere him a-way thore,
Thei were tho agast sore.
But then come doun to that semble
Menelaus with his meyne;
Line 15188
And so did duk Menescenes,
And Ayax Thelamens,
And Diomedes with his peres,
With his gode men & comperes:
Line 15192
And hem of [of inserted by the same hand over line.] Troye so schent & donge
And so stoutly among hem thronge,
That thei made hem the feld for-sake
And to the flyght for-sothe hem take.
Line 15196
Page 448
Line 15196
¶ The Troyens fledde, for thei hadde nede; [folio 224b]
Line 15197
Thei were echon In gret drede
For tho that Gregeis ouer-toke,
Afftir lyff myght thei not loke.
Line 15200
Thei sclow the Troyens many on
And wounded also gret won;
But alle that hadde space to fle
Flow In-to Troye, the strong Cite,
Line 15204
And spered the ȝates with keye & lokke
To kepe out the Gregeis folke.
¶ The Cite ȝates are sperd & stoken,
That thei be not on hem broken;
Line 15208
And thei wente alle In-to her Innes.
But Hectuba, the quene, not blynnes
Reuful sorwe & dele to make
For doghti Troyle, her sones, sake;
Line 15212
For ȝit he liggis vpon molde,
I-buried In clothes of golde.
PRiamus wepis and makes mone,
And so do alle the lordes echone,
Line 15216
Paris wepis for him sore,
And so did his suster wel more,
That faire mayden Pollexene,
And Eche burgeis & Citeȝene.
Line 15220
For eche man cares now for his lyff,
For his children, & for his wiff.
For Mennoun kyng were thei sori,
Ther was non that he ne was drery.
Line 15224
¶ Now is Ector ded, and Dephebus,
Troyle also the vigorous,
And sir Mennoun, the doghti kyng.
"Alas, Alas!" thei gan to syng,
Line 15228
For hem is lefft none but Paris,
Now of Troye is litel Prys. [The rubricator forgot to paint over the small p.]
Page 449
¶ Hic Troiani pecierunt pacem ad sepiliendum Troyllum & Mennonem Reges [One line in MS.] .
PRyamus calles his conseleres, [folio 225a]
Line 15231
And biddes hem chese two Messageres
Line 15232
That ben witti and curtays,
That may wende on Message to the Gregays;
He bede hem riche robis done on
And wende to kyng Agamenoun [MS. Agamenon.] .
Line 15236
¶ The Messageres to Gregays wende,
The knyȝtes curteys, gode, and hende,
A trewe to aske—as here kyng sayde;—
And thei hem graunt and are wel payde.
Line 15240
And thei come a-ȝeyn ridande
To telle him of her tydande,
And seyde: 'the trewes are ferme & stable,
Sicurly with-outen ffable.'
Line 15244
¶ The Troyens haue at Gregays ben,
And trewe is taken hem be-twen.
A precious tombe for Troyle was wroght,
And his body ther-In was broght;
Line 15248
And leyde him ther-In bischopis thre
With wonder gret solempnite:
Ther was for him a riche offerynges
Off Erles, Dukes, and of kynges.
Line 15252
¶ [In the MS. the next line (15254) is standing here, after this sign.] And Priamus made also
Another tombe Menoun vnto,
And did his men ther-Inne him brynge
With fair seruice & gret offrynge.
Line 15256
And whan that seruice was al y-done,
To her mete thei wente sone,
Thei dight hem to her mete.
But Hectuba has not for-ȝete
Line 15260
Off Troyle deth, that doughti knyȝt,
That sche loued with al her myȝt:
Many a way that lady soght
And wel narwe sche hir be-thoght,
Line 15264
Page 450
¶ Lamentacio Hectube.
How sche myght venge hir on that swayn [folio 225b]
Line 15265
That hadde hir two sones sclayn.
Sche called to hire hur sone Paris
And seyde to him wepande y-wys:
Line 15268
¶ 'Paris'—sche seyde—'thow wost wele
Off this Achilles euery dele.
This wicked theff Achilles
Thi bretheren hath sclayn with-oute les
Line 15272
With his falshede & his quayntise,
Ther-fore I wolde on alle wise
Be venged on that wicked fode;
Me were it leuer than any gode!
Line 15276
I pray the: do thing that I bidde,
That my consayl be not kidde.'
Paris swor bothe loude & stille:
"Alle her wil he wolde fulfille;
Line 15280
What thyng that sche wolde haue done [MS. dou; the scribe is very inconsistent in the endings on and ou, he even rhymes on and ou sometimes, as here, and leaves the reader to decide which is right.] ,
Hit scholde be done swithe sone."
HEctuba with drery mode
Seide to Paris ther he stode:
Line 15284
'This wicked man, this losengere
In al this batayle hath no pere;
He wol vs alle distroye,
But we the rather may him anoye.
Line 15288
This Achilles, wham I mene,
Loues thi suster Pollexene,
And has offte sent his message
Hir to haue In mariage;
Line 15292
¶ He wolde neuere of sendyng blyn,
Til he of me answere myȝt wyn.
I wol therfore—so god me a-mende!—
To-morwe erly afftir him sende
Line 15296
And bid him derely: "come me tille,
And he of hir schal haue his wille."
Page 451
And than wol I—so haue I blis!— [folio 226a]
Line 15299
In the temple of Apolynys
Line 15300
That thow be hid with certayn knyȝtis,
Armed wel at alle rightes;
And when he comes a-mong ȝow alle,
That he be sclayn,—what so be-falle!—
Line 15304
That he no wyse passe quyk,
For that were then to vs ful wik.'
PAris than answered & sayde:
'Mi dere Moder, I holde me payde
Line 15308
Off ȝoure biddyng & ȝoure consayl;
Hit schal be done with-oute fayl.'
On morwe erly, whan it was day,
Paris thanne with-oute delay
Line 15312
Wente to the temple, and ther him hid
With twenti armed knyȝtes myd
That were hardy & wondir strong,
To scle Achilles hem among.
Line 15316
¶ The sonne schon, the day was cler,
Hectuba sente hir Messanger
Afftir that knyȝt, sir Achilles,
And bad him faire: "whil it was pes,
Line 15320
Come swithe home to hir house,
And he scholde haue to his spouse
Pollexene, that semely may,
That he so moche loued ay."
Line 15324
¶ When Achilles these tydynges herde,
With mochel Ioye & murthe he ferde,
For he was so with hir loue bounden:
Thoow he hadde of rede gold founden
Line 15328
An hundrid thousand pounde,
He hadde not ben so glad that stounde
As he was thanne—I vndirstande,—
When he herde this tythande.
Line 15332
Page 452
¶ Qualiter Achilles fuit occisus.
¶ He called as sone vnto him tho [folio 226b]
Line 15333
Duk Nestor sone [MS. Nestorsone.] with-outen mo,
A doghti knyȝt, sir Archilogus,
And seide anon to him thus:
Line 15336
'Archilogus, my trusti frend,
I pray the now: with me thow wende;
On the is now my most trayst,
Ther-fore I am not a-bayst
Line 15340
The to telle my priuete:
I wol wende to that Cite,
I schal haste me thedir now;
Schal no man wyte but only thow.
Line 15344
¶ For I haue then suche tythandes had
That I am bothe mury & glad:
For I schal wende vn-to my wyff
That I loue more than my lyff;
Line 15348
I schal wedde that mayden clene,
The kynges doghter, Pollexene,
That is whitter then Blauncheflour;
And I haue loued hir per amour
Line 15352
And suffred for hir moche pyne,
But now is sche on of myne.
¶ I wol therfore to hir me spede,
That sche delaye no more this dede.'
Line 15356
AChilles than & his ffelawe
Rode so forth with mochel plawe,
With mury herte & mochel Ioye
Rode Achilles In-to Troye.
Line 15360
¶ When thei were comen to Troye ȝate,
The porter was redi ther-ate,
And lete hem In with fair semblaunt,
And thei to Ylion rod syggand
Line 15364
With mury herte & louely chere,
And that aboute thei ful dere:
Page 453
For whan thei comen at that palays, [folio 227a]
Line 15367
Thei fonde ther knyȝtes curtays
Line 15368
Vnto the temple that hem ledde,
Ther thei leide [The MS. has leff, but crossed out, and leide inserted by another hand over line.] her lyff to wedde.
In-to the chirche when thei were gon,
Thei spered the dores euerychon;
Line 15372
And Paris thanne & his comperes
Come walkyng out of here soleres
Ther thei hadde ben In a-wayt,
To brynge Achilles to his dissait.
Line 15376
¶ Achilles thei alle tho discried,
And he hem alle boldely defied:
Tho twenti knyghtes on a rowte
By-sette Achilles al abowte,
Line 15380
And euery man his sword out-drowe
And seyde: 'Achilles, defende the nowe!
For thow schalt for thi vilonye,
For thi falshede & cowardye
Line 15384
That thow sir Troyle so foule slowe,
Die this day, yff that we mowe.'
AChilles saw he was dissayued:
Fro his necke his mantel he wayued,
Line 15388
And a-boute his Arme he caste,
And with his hond he held it faste;
And smot a knyght amonges hem alle
And made him his swerd to falle.
Line 15392
His felawe was sclayn lyghtly,
But Achilles tho fauȝt myghtly,
And ten of tho that him assayled
He sclow, er his herte fayled.
Line 15396
¶ But Paris stod fro his meyne,
And In his hond held dartes thre
And kest hem at Achilles
Ther he fauȝt In-myddes the pres,
Line 15400
Page 454
¶ Hic Achilles Interfectus fuit.
And wounded him, as he fauȝt thore, [folio 227b]
Line 15401
In his body with hem ful sore.
And nad Paris so him wounded,
Alle his knyghtes hadde he comfonded
Line 15404
With his manhoud [With on erasure, but by the same hand; in manhoud something has been altered, it seems to have been like . . . hond.] , & thorow his myȝtes
He hadde sclayn the .xxti. knyȝtes.
But he hadde than many a wounde,
Tho fel he ded vpon the grounde.
Line 15408
¶ Whan he was ded, thei him to-coruen;
When Paris saw that he was storuen,
He bad hem take him by the leggis
And throwe him ouer In-to the seggis
Line 15412
And let him ligge to roke & rauen;
He swor: "he scholde neuere be grauen,
But he scholde to houndes mete,
And rokis & rauenys him scholde ete."
Line 15416
BVt when that the quene Helayn
Wyste that thei were so slayn,
Sche come rennande thedir blyue
And sir Paris sche gan to schryue;
Line 15420
Sche prayed for loue & curtasye:
"He scholde not do that vylonye
To that knyȝt that was alosed."
So sche spak & so sche glosed,
Line 15424
That he bad men scholde him lay
Somwhere In Troye In an hye way,
That euery man that likyng hadde
Might hem be-holden & be gladde,
Line 15428
¶ Whan thei saw ded that ilke body
That was that mortel enemy.
In Troye tho was mochel Ioye
Among alle burgeis of Troye,
Line 15432
When thei saw him ded & sclayn thore
That thei be-fore hadde dred so sore.
Page 455
Thei sayde tho: "thei hadde no drede [folio 228a]
Line 15435
Off the Gregays ne of her dede,
Line 15436
For thei scholde neuere the Cite wynne,
Sithe he was ded her trust was Inne."
¶ And thus was Achilles done to ded
Thorow a wicked woman red,
Line 15440
Thorow her sleght & consayl
Died the knyght with-oute fayl.
And so hath many a-nother man
Died thorow red of a womman:
Line 15444
That neuere were so gode knyghtes
Off ffairnes, of connyng, ne of myghtes,
¶ The beste body that euere ete bred
Thorow fals wymmen haue ben ded.
Line 15448
And so did Achilles, the strong knyght,
Thorow a womman lost al his myght;
And sche ther-afftir sclayn was
For the deth of Achilles.
Line 15452
AChilles ligges In gret wondryng
Ded In Troye In gret wowenyng;
Among the burgeis of the toun [MS. ton . . . dou, see note on p. 450.]
The word goth bothe vp & doun [MS. ton . . . dou, see note on p. 450.] .
Line 15456
So fer the tythandis were told,
That duk Nestor, the knyȝt so old,
And alle the Gruwes gret & smale
Hadde yherd that sori tale.
Line 15460
¶ T[h]er was tho a delful cry & gale [& gale inserted later, but by the same hand.]
Among the Gregeis gret & smale,
Thei wepyn for him more & les;
Thei seyde: "thei were al redeles,
Line 15464
Tho thei coude no more red,"—
But seyde echon: 'now he is ded
That al oure los & worschip wan!'
Ther wepte for him many a man.
Line 15468
Page 456
¶ Hic Imperator Grecorum pecijt corpora Militum.
Thei swor alle by her god lege, [folio 228b]
Line 15469
That thei wolde alle byleue that sege,
Thei wolde no lenger holde it forth;
Thei held hem no-thyng worth:
Line 15472
Gret sorwe made thei al day,
That he was ded—I dar wel say.
AGamenoun, her Emperour,
He sente to Troye a procuratour,
Line 15476
Lordis, knyȝtis, & squyeres,
And bad the kyng, for her prayeres,
And also to sir Paris,
To graunte hem tho two bodyes
Line 15480
To grauen hem the moldes vndir,
That men on hem no more wondir.
¶ Priamus graunt the kynges bone
And seyde: "her wil scholde be done,"
Line 15484
And escused him of that dede,
Bothe of assent and of rede;
He bad thei scholde hem hom lede.
Thei toke hem tho bothe In [MS. In bothe.] her wede [de by another hand on erasure.]
Line 15488
As blody as thei wore;
For Achilles thei wepyn sore
And ledes hem home to here Grues,
But euery a man his sorwe newes,
Line 15492
Off no Ioye thei ne rought,
When he was so ded hom [o altered from e.] brought.
AChilles is to Gregais broght;
Priamus then thei be-soght:
Line 15496
"That he wolde to hem graunte
That knyȝt that was vayllaunte
In that toun to grauen somwher,
Wher he ordaynet for hem ther."
Line 15500
¶ Priamus wolde not werne,
He bad hem graue them In an herne
Page 457
In som ȝate of that Cite, [folio 229a]
Line 15503
As hem thoght best, In that entre.
Line 15504
The Gregais than a-non did make
A tombe of Marbil gray & blake,
Off Alabaster as white as mylke;
¶ In al this world is non silke,
Line 15508
So noble werk, ne so riche;
Ther is no tombe In erthe it lyche,
So craffteli coruen, ne so precious,
With gold be-gon, ne so glorious,
Line 15512
With gold & gemmes so y-dyght,
And schon a-nyȝt as bryght;
That ȝaff so bryght a gleme,
As it hadde ben the sonne beme;
Line 15516
Men seide: "ther was non suche y-wroght
As wyde as men hadde erthe y-soght."
THese knyȝtes are layd In monument,
And alle these lordes hom ben went
Line 15520
Vnto her tentis & here hales.
Ther were amonges hem many tales:
Some bad pul vp rope & stake,
For thei wolde hamward schake;
Line 15524
And some bad dyght schip & ore,
For thei wolde dwelle ther no more.
"Thei wolde wende"—thei sayde—"In hast,
To dwelle lengur it were but wast,
Line 15528
When he was ded, that gentil knyȝt,
That hadde her strengthe & her myȝt."
¶ Agamenoun, her Emperour,
Herde this cry and clamour;
Line 15532
He made anon a bedel crye
Thorow that ost al on hye:
"That eche a lord by on assent
Scholde come to a parlement."
Line 15536
Page 458
¶ Consilium inter Reges Grecorum.
Ther was no lord that herde that word, [folio 229b]
Line 15537
That thei ne ros fro table & bord
And come to him ridande alle,
And sette hem doun In his halle
Line 15540
To wete of him: "what he be-ment
That thei were alle afftir sent?
And whi he afftir hem sent so sone?"
'To wete'—he sayde—'what is to done,
Line 15544
NOw are ȝe alle to-gedir here,
Kyng & duk alle In-fere:
Hit is me told a newe tythyng,
That In this ost is gret gronyng
Line 15548
For this knyȝt that thus is ded;
Here are manye at suche a red—
As I here say—to leue this place
And take the see opoun a race,
Line 15552
To wende hamward to here contre,—
For here wol thei no lenger be,
Sithe he is ded that thei on traist,—
To dwelle lenger thei ben a-baist.
Line 15556
Tel me ther-fore ȝoure Iugement—
Whil ȝe are here alle in present [This line, signed +, inserted by another hand in the left margin; cf. note 3.] —
Whether wil ȝe duelle or wende?
Telle me the sothe, let here an ende!'
Line 15560
¶ When Agamenoun his tale hath ent
Be-fore the lordes that were present,
Eche man telles his resoun [MS. reson. . .discreciou, see note on p. 450.]
Afftir his owne discrecioun [MS. reson. . .discreciou, see note on p. 450.] ;
Line 15564
Some sayde: "thei held it best
To make hem redi & prest
To passe the see to here contre,"—
'For ȝonder Cite neuere gete we
Line 15568
With non of vs that here are now,
Now he is ded & lith In throw [The last line of this page, following this one, runs thus: Therfore to wende henne is for oure prow; it is struck out by the same hand probably which wrote line 15558, and put 'vacat' before pointing to line 15558.]
Page 459
By wham we oure worschip wan; [folio 230a]
Line 15571
To dwelle lenger is no wis-dam.'
Line 15572
And some seyde: 'nay, it is not gode
To leue the sege & passe the flode,
For we are ner now oure honour,
We schal scle hem In fight, In stour,
Line 15576
Or thei schal fayn this Cite ȝelde,
Er we haue holden a ȝer this felde.
¶ To wynne the toun is now but hende:
Ther nys no man may hem defende,
Line 15580
Sithen thei Ector for-ȝede,
And Troyle that was doughti In dede,
And Dephebus, & kyng Mennoun.
Hit were schame to take so vpoun
Line 15584
To leue the toun In suche a plyt,
When thei ben so ney discomfyt.'
Eche man afftir his herte wille
Seide his resoun & his skylle,
Line 15588
¶ Some wolde hom, & some dwelle:
But at the laste—the sothe to telle—
Thei were alle at this acord,
Kynges, duk, and euery a lord,
Line 15592
Þat þey [These two first words on erasure.] the sege wolde holde stille
Til thei myȝt hem of Troye [l seems to be erased between y and e.] spille.
Thei swor echon that place to holde,
And not remewe for hote ne colde,
Line 15596
Til thei of Troye were alle sclayn,
And wonne a-ȝeyn quene Helayn.
¶ For thei seide alle: "thoow it so were
That thei Achilles hadde not there,
Line 15600
Thoow thei for-ȝede him & his help,
Off her goddis myȝt made thei ȝelp."
Alle here hertis were trustely set
In here goddis that hem be-het [A later hand made two lines full of scrib|blings, quite indistinct, and blotted out at once by the finger.] :
Line 15604
Page 460
Line 15604
'The Cite'—he sayde—'ȝe schal gete';— [folio 230b]
Ther-fore the sege wolde thei not lete.
Line 15606
Off here godis thei toke hede
That hem be-het: "thei scholde spede
Line 15608
That thei scholde wynne hit In a throwe
And alle toures doun throwe,"
As here goddes by-fore hadde told.
"Thei myȝt ther-fore be sur & bold
Line 15612
To scle the kyng & brenne Ilyoun,"—
'As oure eldres did Lamedoun.'
Alouely knyght, that het Ayax,—
With lokkis faire, ȝelow as wax,
Line 15616
Hongyng side aboute his swyre—
A kyng of Grece, a wel gret sire,—
Stode vp thenne & tolde this tale
To alle the lordes In that sale,
Line 15620
And seyde: 'sithe he is take vs fro
In wham oure help is thus for-go,
Off this gode kyng, sir Achilles,—
Sende we to kyng Lycomedes
Line 15624
Afftir Achilles sone, sir Pirrus,
And bid him: "that he come now to vs
To venge him on his fader bane,
When he the ordre of knyȝt hath tane."
Line 15628
¶ For I haue herd offten say
That we schal neuere by nyȝt ne day
With-oute him wynne this Cite,
For thus say thay of oure destane;
Line 15632
And he schal venge his fader dede
And gete the toun & do hem quede.
I rede therfore: do be my consayle,
I trowe it schal vs alle a-vayle!'
Line 15636
Thei seyde tho alle: "thei vndirstode
That his consayl was to hem gode."
Page 461
¶ Thei saide echon: "it was to done." [folio 231a]
Line 15639
Thei toke consayl among hem sone:
Line 15640
"Wo scholde afftir Pirrus sende?
And who myȝt best Afftir him wende
Off kynges alle of that baronage,
To wende for him In this message?"
Line 15644
¶ Menelaus thei chese tho
Afftir Pirrus for to go
Ther Lycomedes dwelled at,—
To fecche that child that Pirrus hat
Line 15648
To helpe hem to wynne the toun
And gete him los and gret renoun,
As his fader be-fore him did,
And be a knyȝt of worschepe kid.
Line 15652
Off this is now no more to carpe,
For now ben speres grounden scharpe,
And euery man lokes his atyres,
Some to arwes, som to vires.
Line 15656
Some now ben went al out of the trewes
Be-twix the Troyens & the Gruwes;
And day of fyght now is taken,—
Nother side wol it for-saken,—
Line 15660
¶ The sixte day for-sothe of Iune,
As chaunce hem schop & fals fortune:
When the day is alther lengest,
And the hete of the sonne is strengest,
Line 15664
Aboute mydsomer—as ȝe wele wote—
The day is long, the sonne is hote:—
The Gregays were alle arayed In the feld,
Couered with helm & with scheld,
Line 15668
¶ To begynne al newe the stour;
Eche lord with his baneour,
Armed wel with alle her myȝt,
Wel y-harneyst & wel y-dyȝt,—
Line 15672
Page 462
Line 15672
Saue Ayax that dud folye, [folio 231b]
Line 15673
Gret out-rage, & surfetrye:
Armes wold he bere none
To saue him fro woundis flesche ne bone,
Line 15676
But al vn-armed on his stede
With-oute scheld to batayle he ȝede [MS. ȝode.] ,
Vpon his hede bare he no helme,
Ne spere of asche ne of Elme,
Line 15680
Ne on his bak non haberioun,
Platis, pysane, ne aketoun;
But al naked saue his sword
Went forth that douȝti burd.
Line 15684
PRyamus also made his men
Hye hem ouer more & fen,
With her enemys for to mete.
The Archeres alle that wel coude schete
Line 15688
To sir Paris were thei be-tauȝt,
To wende with him In that assauȝt;
The furst batayle that day he ledde,
Sore wepyng & sore adredde:
Line 15692
¶ He wepis ful sore vndir his hatir
Many a tere of salt watir
For alle his brether that hadde ben souerayn,
Be-fore him were thei alle sclayn.
Line 15696
Afftir him wente Polidomas
With his batayle, and then Esdras,
And then come afftir him [&] alle his
The noble kyng Philomenys;
Line 15700
Eueas then with his batayle,—
The leste ost hadde he saunfayle.
¶ When thei were alle with-oute the ȝatis,
And sey that thei most fyght algatis,
Line 15704
And thei ned nother one nor other,
Gode Ector, ne Troyle his brother,
Page 463
¶ Hic Incipit Bellum Magnum.
Ne Dephebus that was so wys, [folio 232a]
Line 15707
Thei tolde of hem but litel pris:
Line 15708
'Alas!'—thei seide—'that we were born!
Oure gode lordes that we haue lorn!'
¶ The Troyens then to batayle ȝede
With sori herte & mochel drede,
Line 15712
And bende her alblastes & her bowes,
And rayed hem on renge & rowes,
With baneres brode blawande a-boute.
Ther was tho an hidous schoute:
Line 15716
When thei were met with speres,
Eche man other ouer-beres.
Many a Grew to dethe was schet,
When Paris men & thei were met;
Line 15720
¶ For Paris & his gode Archeres,
His bowemen, & his Alblasteres
Sclow hem thikkere with her arwes
Than tyndes of tre stondis In harwes.
Line 15724
The stour was strong, the cry was gret,
Thei rored grisly as it hadde ben net.
Many a man with moche stryff
Loste that day bothe child & wyff,
Line 15728
A thousand died for-sothe & mo
Er euen-tyde with moche wo.
¶ The day was hote, the wedur warme,
On bothe parties was gret harme:
Line 15732
The fyght was sterne and wyk,
The peple died wondir thik;
When thei were alle to-gedir samed,
Many a man ther was lamed,
Line 15736
And some be-gan donward to loute.
And Diomedes loked aboute
And saw kyng Philomenys
Play with the Gregays al on mys:
Line 15740
Page 464
Line 15740
He toke a spere & ran him to, [folio 232b]
Line 15741
And Philomene another also;
Thei brak here speres & drow her brondis
And fauȝt to-gedir on the sondis;
Line 15744
Thei smot to-gedir many a dynt
And sturdy strokes, er thei wolde stynt.
¶ But Philomenys & his men
Hadde slaw of Gregais sixti & ten,
Line 15748
Thei ferde the Gregais so foule with
That thei droff hem out of the frith;
Diomedes made he fle
For drede of him & his meyne,
Line 15752
For he myght not In no manere
With-stonde that kyng & his power.
PHilomene hath the better syde:
He made the Gregays on-bak to ride,
Line 15756
Thei [MS. And.] ȝede bacward a gode space,
And thei of Troye Grewes chace.
And that be-held duk Menescene,
And therfore hadde he gret tene:
Line 15760
¶ He rode to sir Palidamas
With a spere that stalworthe was [was inserted with another paint.] ,
And smot him so that he ȝede doun,
Op his fet & doun his croun,
Line 15764
And lay ther vndir his hors fete
Sore wounded opon the grete.
Menescene drow his sword tho,
Polidamas thoght he to sclo;
Line 15768
And sicurly so he hadde done,
Ne hadde come him socour sone:
¶ But when that doghti Philomene
Polidamas so falle hadde sene,
Line 15772
And Menescene, that noble duk,
So vilensly him rebuk,
Page 465
He wente ridande to him anon [folio 233a]
Line 15775
As faste as he myght gon,
Line 15776
And socoured him In that gret nede
And made him lepe opon his stede;
And he fyghtande for him standes,
Til he was brouȝt out of her handes.
Line 15780
And elles for-sothe he hadde ben ded,
Menescene elles had hadde his hed.
THe stour is styff, the ffight mortel,
The knyghtes are kene & cruel.
Line 15784
Ayax—that I be-fore of told—
Was fol-hardi, & ouer-bold:
He rod al day with-oute Armure,
And neuere tok harm ne blemure
Line 15788
Off his bodi In that batayle;
And that—thinketh me—was meruayle,
That he vnarmed scholde so ride
Fro morwe erly vn-to that tyde
Line 15792
With-oute harm of his body;
Hit was a wonder sicurly.
¶ He rod the batayle thorow-out
And ȝaff that tyme many a clout,
Line 15796
Vntil he come to Paris ffolk:
Many made he here [here inserted over line.] blod to bolk,
Many of hem reffte he the lyue,
He sclow of hem .xx. & fyue;
Line 15800
Thoow he vn-armed were & naked,
Gret martirdom of hem he maked.
¶ But sir Paris ther-with was wrothe
And with gret tene swore his othe:
Line 15804
That [he] or euen scholde him sclo,
On lyue scholde he not fro him go.
The stalwortheste bowe that Paris hadde,
Off noble tre sicur & sadde,
Line 15808
Page 466
Line 15808
He toke to him that rapely bent, [folio 233b]
Line 15809
And an Arowe to him sent
That [was] venymed hede & vale,
That was forsothe that knyghtes bale:
Line 15812
In-myddes the ribbes he him hit,
That his herte blod he spit. [¶ Hic Paris occidit Ayax [On the left side in MS.; signs blue, words red.] ]
Ayax hadde his deth than;
To chaunge colour he be-gan,
Line 15816
He wiste ther was non other red,
He saw that he was tho but ded.
He thoght ther was no other bane
Off wham the deth he hade tane;
Line 15820
¶ He called loude & saide: 'Paris,
Thow hast me rafft this worldis blis!
Sicurli thow hast me sclayn
With thin Arowe & thi flayn!
Line 15824
And I schal on the be a-wreke,
The wile I may go & speke;
It is gode skyl that thow for-gange
That loue that thow hast loued so lange
Line 15828
With mochel wrong & gret vn-right.
Many a doghti kyng & knyȝt
Hath ben sclayn In this ten ȝere,
And that schalt thow bye so dere!
Line 15832
I telle the, Paris, witterly
That thow schalt dye ere then I!'
Ayax smot thanne Paris so,
That bothe his chekes he cleue atwo;
Line 15836
In-to the baly the gode sword sprong,
And he fel dede among the throng. [¶ Hic Ayax occi|dit Paris [On the left side in MS.; signs blue, words red.] ]
And Ayax fer not fro him ȝede,
Er he fel ded doun of his stede;
Line 15840
And so lay ded vpon the sand
Side by syde, of aytheres hand.
Page 467
THe Troyens saw Paris ded falle; [folio 234a]
Line 15843
Sori men than were thei alle,
Line 15844
Whan he was ded of that wounde.
Thei lyfft him vp opon the grounde
And fled away to that Cite
As faste as thei myght fle.
Line 15848
The Gregeis folewed afftir faste,
Wo was hem that was the laste!
I wote thei sclow at that flyghtes
Mo then a thousand knyghtes,
Line 15852
With-outen squyeres & fotemen
That leffte dede ther In the fen.
¶ Thei bare that day ded & foy
Fro strete to strete thorow-out Troy,
Line 15856
Vntil thei come to Ilyoun;
Kyng Philomene & Odemoun
Thei leyde Paris In that fair hous
By-fore Helayne, the quene, his spous;
Line 15860
Whan sche saw him ded ligge ther [This line inserted by another hand in the right margin, a cross standing in the left one between ll. 15860 and 15862. Cf. note 3.] ,
Sche scratte her face & tare hir heer
As wight that was with wo by-gon,
For him sche siked & sore gan [gan inserted by another hand over line.] gron;
Line 15864
Sche was so ful of sorwe & care,
Sche seyde: 'alas, that moder me bare,
Or fader me get In this world!'
Hit was del se, how sche ferd
Line 15868
Whan sche saw him ded In his blod,
Sche ferde as womman that were wod.
¶ His fader als for him weped sore;
And so did alle that In Troy wore,
Line 15872
Euery man of his lyff dispaires [Between ll. 15873 and 15874 the following line is standing which is crossed out (cf. note 1): 'Off his catel & sore payres.']
And sori is of his wiff & his ayres,
Thei leue to lese here heritage,
Here godis, & alle here lynage.
Line 15876
Page 468
¶ Hic Paris sepultus est.
Off hem-selff coude thei no rede, [folio 234b]
Line 15877
Now alle the kynges sones be dede.
But In that sorwe & that wepyng,
The while he was In kepyng,
Line 15880
A tombe was made of precious stones,—
To lay him In, bothe body & bones,—
Off riche werk, of fair facture:
Off saphires, gold, & riche asure;
Line 15884
¶ Hit was richer then other fyue;
I may not al the werk discryue,
Ne halff the richesse that ther was on
Off riche gold & precious ston;
Line 15888
Hit were long tellyng,
Ther-on make I no dwellyng.
But when that seruice for him was seyde,
And his body In tombe layd,
Line 15892
Euery man wente to his In,
For sorwe coude thei neuere blyn.
PAris is dede & doluen depe,
Night & day for him thei wepe,
Line 15896
With-outen reste thei wepe ay,
Thei are In mornyng nyght & day:
Echon to other of sorwe telles,
Thei tende to sorwe & nothyng elles,
Line 15900
Ther is non for wele ne wo
That dar with-oute the ȝatis go.
¶ Agamenon remues his place
And ner the toun his stede he tace,
Line 15904
He bad euery lord with tent & hale
With-oute dwellyng remue here sale,
And bad hem sette ner the toun
Hale & tent and Pauyloun.
Line 15908
To Priamus, the kyng, he sende
And bad "that he scholde him defende
Page 469
¶ Hic Troiani clauserunt Ianua sua per .ij. menses.
Aȝeyns the Gregeis, his enemys, [folio 235a]
Line 15911
As a kyng of mochel pris";
Line 15912
And bad him "come with his meygne
With-oute the ȝates of that Cite,
That he the batayle to him nome
Til that on of hem be ouercome,
Line 15916
¶ As he was man of gret renoun
Or kyng worthi to bere croun;
For suche a kyng schulde euere dispice,
For that was token of cowardise;
Line 15920
And ligge not ther as an hog In sty,
For that was to him a vilony."
BVt Priamus with that seyde "nay,"
Hem thurt no more of that play;
Line 15924
That wolde he no wyse graunte,
To sende out knyȝt ne sergaunte
To fight with hem with-oute the walles,
For no-thing that ther be-falles.
Line 15928
With-Inne the toun whil thei dwelle stille
For fferd of more perel & ille,
For he was ferd his men to tyne
And die him-selff with moche pyne.
Line 15932
¶ To fight with hem the Gregais assayed
Aud therto wel offte thei prayed;
But al was noght that thei coude do,
For he wolde not assente ther-to,
Line 15936
Thei dwelled so forthe In the toun,
And walked vp the toun & doun,
And kepte the ȝates and the walles
With alblasteres, bowes, & qwarelles,
Line 15940
With many an armed knyght & man,
That thei with-outen the toun not wan.
Thei helde so Troye a ful .ij. monethe,
That thei fauȝt neuere her fomen with,
Line 15944
Page 470
Line 15944
But kepte the toun so al aboute [folio 235b]
Line 15945
For ferd of hem that were with-oute.
Two Monethes the ȝates were stoken
That thei were neuere vnloken,
Line 15948
Vntil a quene gentil & ffre
Come hem to helpe fro fer contre.
The quene was called Pantasaley,
A noble womman of Chyualry,
Line 15952
Sche was quene of Amazone;
For hir was furst the ȝates vndone:
Sche come thedir with a thousande
Off hardi maydenes wel fyghtande,
Line 15956
To helpe Troyens, tho hir was tolde
That the Gryffons proude & bolde
With mechel ffolk & gret aray
Aboute the toun of Troye lay
Line 15960
And seged hem that were with-Inne,
To scle the kyng, the toun to wynne.
BVt herkenes now of the quene,
And of hir maydenes bolde & kene!
Line 15964
I wol ȝow telle, if ȝe wol here,
Off here lond the right manere;
Where it is, and what lande,
The manere schal ȝe vndirstande.
Line 15968
And elles wol ȝe haue meruayle—
That wommen scholde go to batayle,
Armed as men vpon her stedes,
And be so doghti In her dedes.
Line 15972
IN the est-ende of alle the world— [¶ De Insula Amazone [On the left side in MS.] .]
As I In bokes haue I-herd—
Is a lond, a louely Ilde,
That wymmen dwelle In, wonder wilde,
Line 15976
Off grete renoun and prowesse,
That Amazone y-called is;
Page 471
Wymmen dwelle ther-Inne alone, [folio 236a]
Line 15979
Men with hem wol thei haue none.
Line 15980
¶ Off these wymmen the stori spekes
And seythe: thei are strong frekes,
Styff, & strong, stalworthe In werre
Strokes to ȝeue and to berre,
Line 15984
Armes to bere In many a stoure,
To wynne hem los and gret honoure;
For alle here herte & couetyse
Is to be of gret empryse.
Line 15988
¶ Be-syde that Ile another Ile was,
Long & large, brode In compas,
Wonder fayr and delitable,
Plenteuous and amyable,—
Line 15992
And telles vs the right story,
That men with-oute company
Off womman-kynde dwelles ther-In.
To telle ȝow wol I begyn:
Line 15996
What vse thei haue, & what custome,
And how thei to-gedir come?
THese wyse clerkes for-sothe telle,
That these wommen that so alon dwelle
Line 16000
In the lond of Amazone,
Comen to the lond ther men In wone
Sicurly thries In the ȝere,
And dwellen to-geder ther In-fere
Line 16004
To haue her murthes & delite
And do here wille day & nyȝte.
¶ These clerkes say and Philoȝoferus:
The womman to the man hir proferus,
Line 16008
For thei are also styff & strong
That no man dar come hem among
In-to her lond aȝeyn here leue,
For men hem schulde no-thyng greue
Line 16012
Page 472
Line 16012
Ne nothyng done aȝeyn her wille. [folio 236b]
Line 16013
In her lond holde thei hem stille,
Til tyme of ȝer that thei come doun
And dwelled with hem In tour & toun,
Line 16016
And take her solace & here play—
That is In Iune, Aueril, & May [MS. That is Jn. June. Aueril. & May.] .
¶ Euery ȝer these thre Monethe
Come thei to dwelle ther-In withe,
Line 16020
And wende aȝeyn than to her Il[d]e.
Iff it be so thei be with childe,
And it be ought of womman-kynde,
Among the wymmen—thei it fynde—
Line 16024
In her lond ther stille it dwelles
Among hem euere—as my boke telles.
¶ Iff it be man, thei brynge it forth
Til it be so moche worth,
Line 16028
That it can go and be so bold
That it be fully thre ȝer old;
And whan it is of thre ȝer elde
That it may it-selff welde,
Line 16032
To that Ilde that is hem hende
Ther men dwelle, the childer thei sende
To the fader and to his kyn,
To dwelle with hem the lond with-In.
Line 16036
THat tyme—godemen!—of that prouynce [¶ De Pantasa|lia Regina [On the left side in MS.] .]
Pantasalye was quene & prince,
A doghti Mayden & sterne,
That loued Ector wel longe derne
Line 16040
For his prowesse & his noblay
That sche herde of him offten say.
When that quene, that frely fode
Off Amazone, so vndirstode
Line 16044
That thei of Grece were passed the see
And Priamus and his Cite
Page 473
Hadde be-seged him & his londes wasted, [folio 237a]
Line 16047
Pantasalye to him sche hasted
Line 16048
And toke with here Maydenes x. hundre
That echon were hir baner vndre,
To helpe the kyng for Ector sake
And do the Gregais mochel wrake.
Line 16052
But sche wiste not of Ector ded,
To wende to Troye tho sche toke red;
Sche wiste right not, til sche come thore.
When that sche wiste, sche weped wel sore;
Line 16056
Sche hadde for him gret wo & payn,
When sche wiste that he was sclayn.
PAntasalye, that worthi wyght,
Is comen to Troye with-oute knyght,
Line 16060
With-outen knyȝtes or any men,
But fair companye of hir wymmen
That are hardi as men In dede,
Off lyues man haue thei no drede.
Line 16064
But than hadde sche care In thoght,
When Ector was to dethe y-brought;
¶ At hem of Grece hadde sche gret Ire,
Sche prayed the kyng for the loue of hire,
Line 16068
That he wolde then the ȝates vndo
That sche myȝt wende the Gregais to,
For sche scholde so do,—sche him be-hight,—
That a mayden was worth a knyght
Line 16072
And as strong and as ȝepe,
When thei were met on an hepe.
¶ So longe prayed sche, he graunt hir bone;
He bad a ȝate scholde be vn-done,
Line 16076
He bad opon Dardanides;
But him hadde leuere haue ben In pes,
For he was ferd what scholde be-tyde,
When he saw hem of Troye out-ride.
Line 16080
Page 474
¶ Hic Priamus ordinat Prelium magnum.
¶ Dardanides that ȝate dos opon, [folio 237b]
Line 16081
Pantasalye on horse is lopon
With hem of Troye and with alle hires,
Armed wel In al here tyres.
Line 16084
PRiamus his men araied
As that lady him praied;
Sche was that day here souerayn,
Here ledere, & here cheuayntayn.
Line 16088
Pantasalye that ȝate rod oute
With-outen fere [fere inserted by another hand over line.] & with-oute doute
Off hir enemys or of hir fos,
Ful hardeli to hem sche gos,
Line 16092
With hir Maydenes ridande be-syde
That wolde with hir In stour abyde.
¶ Kyng Philomene and Eueas,
And afftir that Polidomas,
Line 16096
Come with here batayles on a rowe,
And thei of Perse with qwyuer & bowe—
That Paris was wont to lede—
Forth to ffyght with hem thai [MS. that.] ȝede.
Line 16100
¶ When thei of Grece saw hem come out
So proudely praunsande & so stout,
Thei were echon gretly meruayled
What it myght be that hem ayled
Line 16104
That thei come out so proude & gay,
And ther-byfore not many a day
With-oute her ȝates durst thei not passe?
Thei hadde meruayle how it was?
Line 16108
But when thei saw hem out comande,
Eche man toke his harneis In hande
And hyed hem that thei were clad,
For of here werre [werre inserted over line by another hand.] were thei glad.
Line 16112
¶ Thei lepe on horse with moche rape
And rod out vpon a frape,
Page 475
¶ Hic venerunt omnes ad Bellum.
With manye brode gomfanoun, [folio 238a]
Line 16115
As lordis of gret renoun.
Line 16116
When thei were comen to-gedir there,
A wonder noyse men myȝt here
Off speres that thei brak & barst,
Off knyȝtes that were to grounde cast.
Line 16120
Echon on other wolde be wroken,
Ther were many bones broken,
Hedis corven, heeres schorne,
Scheldes reven, armes torne.
Line 16124
¶ But herkenes now, my louely frende,
Off Pantasalye, that mayden hende,
And hire hardi damyseles
That come with hure & with hure penseles
Line 16128
How sche bare hir In that pres
With hir Maydenes that sche ches;
How sche bare that day the pris
Off alle that fauȝt In that [emp]ris;
Line 16132
How sche made hem to flee,
And how sche hem droff In-to the see;
How sche hem felled & wounded,
And scholde hem alle [haue] confounded,
Line 16136
Ne hadde y-ben withouten les
The doghti kyng Diomedes.
NOw ar thei alle to-gedere on hepis,
Now euery man on other lepis,
Line 16140
Scheldis ryue, & speres crake,
Eche man fightis with his make,
Fotemen falle, stedis straye,
Knyȝtes wounded ligge & braye.
Line 16144
The dust ros so thikke on hye,
That men myȝt not se the skye.
¶ Pantasalye, that douȝti quene,
Hatis Gregais—and that is sene:—
Line 16148
Page 476
¶ Hic Pantasalia Regina pugnauit cum Regibus Grecorum.
That douȝti quene ful wel hem knowes, [folio 238b]
Line 16149
Sche keste hem doun & ouerthrowes;
With-Inne a while so fele sche hath sclawe,
That thei fro hir a-weyward drawe;
Line 16152
Thei knewe ful sone al hir strengthe,
Thei fled fro hir on brede & lengthe.
MEnelaus hadde grete envy
Off that quene Pantasaly,
Line 16156
That sche the Gregais so defouled [o corrected from e.] ;
On hir that tyme ful foule he schouled
And seyde: "that he wolde to hir ride
To se whether sche wolde him abyde."
Line 16160
He rode to hir with mochel Ire,
And sche was war & keped that sire
And smot him euene In-myddes the scheld,
That he fley out In-myddes that feld;
Line 16164
Among her horses stille he lay,
Til that he was drawen a-way.
By the rayne his stede sche cauȝt
And to a mayden sche him be-tauȝt.
Line 16168
¶ Diomedes, that douȝti kyng,
By-held that tyme that Iustyng,
He saw the kyng falle a-doun,
Vp the fete & doun the croun;
Line 16172
His hors was lorn, & he on fote,
He seyde: "ther-on he scholde do bote,
That sturdy strok scholde sche abye."
He rode thanne to Pantasalye
Line 16176
With al the myght that euere he hadde,
But sche was not of him a-dradde:
Sche cauȝt a spere, when sche was war
That þat kyng to hir was war;
Line 16180
A sterne strok was hem by-twene,
But on hir hors sat the quene
Page 477
That bridel ne stirop sche ne tynt, [folio 239a]
Line 16183
But he was feld doun at that dynt;
Line 16184
Fro his nekke toke she his scheld
And toke hir mayden for to weld,
And bad: "that sche scholde it bere
Euery day ther In that were,
Line 16188
In vilonye and In dispit
Off him that it auȝt, what so he hit."
Kyng Thelaman stode euere alone
And saw the dedis that sche had done,
Line 16192
He saw hir felle that douȝti kyng,
And his scheld take with-oute lesyng
Fro his nekke his vnthankes,
And felde him doun at his hors schankes;
Line 16196
And he was feld opon the grounde,
And sche sat stille hol and sounde [ll. 16197-8 are following ll. 16201-2 in MS., and are crossed out several times.] .
He herde neuere speke of suche a woman
That feld In fyght so gode a man.
Line 16200
¶ Gret envy hadde he ther-ate,
Opon hys [y and s on erasure.] hors ther he [s seems to be erased before he.] sate;
He wex for tene blak as Cole,
That schame myght he no lengur thole
Line 16204
That sche hadde done the kynges two,
He wolde assaye what he myght do:
¶ He toke a spere of stalworthe tre,—
For he on hir wolde venged be,—
Line 16208
And rode to hir with gret herte;
And sche him kepis rapely & smerte,
Sche smot him euen In-myddis the scheld
That he fley out In-myddes the feld.
Line 16212
So sore to grounde the knyght sche puttis,
That he wende he hadde to-brosten his guttis;
And sche gurd forth among the Grewes [MS. gregais.]
And mochel bale among hem brewes [MS. brennes.] :
Line 16216
Page 478
Line 16216
Sche turned a-ȝeyn to Thelaman [folio 239b]
Line 16217
And sturdi strokes laid him an,
Sche bete that kyng for-sothe so sore
That sche of force toke him thore;
Line 16220
With the help of Philomene
Sche did to him that day gret tene,
Sche toke the kyng to hir meygne
To lede him to Troye Cite.
Line 16224
¶ But Diomedes, when he was resen,
Saw Thelaman was taken to prison,
Toward the toun he saw him go,—
Lord god, that him was wo!
Line 16228
He blewe his horn & samed his men,
Ther come aboute him thousand ten
Off doughti knyȝtes swithe proude,
And asked: "whi he blew so loude?
Line 16232
What it be-mente? what it myght be?"
He seyde: 'felawes, may ȝe not se
How Thelaman, that doghti knyȝt,
With hem of Troye is discomfyȝt?
Line 16236
¶ Lo! where thei lede him toward toun
Ouer dale and ouer doun!
But sicurly, if I may spede,
Thei schal him not to Troye lede.
Line 16240
I ȝow be-seke, falawes myne alle,
For any-thing that may be-falle:
In this gret nede fayle me not,
Til I haue him fro hem y-brouȝt!'
Line 16244
WHen he these wordes to hem hadde sayd,
On his scholdur his spere he layd:
He ran to hem that Thelaman ledde,
And thei of him were sore a-dredde,—
Line 16248
Some he [MS. by.] hurt & some by-heded,
With stalworthe strokes he hem schedid.
Page 479
To lete him go thei were fayn, [folio 240a]
Line 16251
That thei of him were not sclayn.
Line 16252
¶ Thelaman [MS. Diomedes.] fro hem he toke
And faste aweyward with him schoke.
When the quene herde it say
How he from hem was led away,
Line 16256
For wratthe sche wax ner wode,—
So sterne sche was In hir mode.
That ladi thanne, Pantasalye,
To hir Maydenes by-gan to crye
Line 16260
And gadered hem vpon a route;
When thei were comen hir aboute,
Sche bad that thei scholde kythe here myght
Bothe on kyng & eke on knyght.
Line 16264
PAntasalye, that Damysele,
When sche herde telle how it felle
That Thelaman was fro hem twyght
Thorow Diomedes, that gentil knyȝt,
Line 16268
Sche swor an othe ther: "for his sake
Sche wolde scle that sche myght take."
Hir maydenes to-geder tho samed,
Sche seyde: 'are ȝe not aschamed
Line 16272
That this kyng is take fro ȝow?
Felawes myn, I pray ȝow now:
For so haue I euere gode chaunce,
Thei schal bye his lyueraunce.'
Line 16276
¶ Sche strok hir stede with hir spores,
Ouer falow & ouer forwes
Among the Gregais sche ther rennes—
As dos the fulmard among the hennes.—
Line 16280
Many a scheld that lady rofe,
And many a basenet sche al to-drofe [MS. alto drofe.] ,
Many a bak that day sche bowed,
For Thelaman was so rescowed.
Line 16284
Page 480
Line 16284
Sche wounded & sclow & droff doun [folio 240b]
Line 16285
The men that most were of renoun,
Sche barst gerthes, paytrel, & pole;
The gentil quene delis hir dole
Line 16288
Here & thore as sche hem takes,
Gret ma[r]tirdome of hem sche makes;
Vn-til here tentis sche hem reuersed,
In euery a side that ost sche persed.
Line 16292
WAs non of hem that tyme so bolde
Durst fyght with hir opon the wolde,
Not Diomedes, that vigorus,
Ne Ayax Thelamanyus,
Line 16296
Ne that sturne knyȝt Menescene
Durst not byde hir In here tene,
Ne Agamenon, here Emperour,
Ne thei that were of most valour
Line 16300
Not ones loke to hir ward [MS. hirward.] ;
But alle thei flow aweyward,
Vntil thei come to her tentis.
Many a man her dethe ther hentis,
Line 16304
¶ For sche hem chased with swerd In hande,
With loude vois hem manassande,
And droff hem ouer doune & dale,
And fro her tentis & fro here hale,
Line 16308
Vntil thei come vnto the see
That thei no wyse myght fer flee.
Tho turned thei aȝeyn and fauȝt,
As thei that tyme nede mauȝt,
Line 16312
Or haue ben draynt In the see.
So that quene by-gan to slee,
¶ Thei hadde died tho with gret trosture,
Ne hadde tho y-comen socoure:
Line 16316
For tho come than with-oute les
The noble kyng Diomedes
Page 481
And made of the Greces resistens [folio 241a]
Line 16319
A-ȝeyn the quene & hir defens,
Line 16320
And mayntened the fight tho
Aȝeyn Troyens with mochel wo,
Til it was nyght & day gone.
Thei departed sone anone,
Line 16324
For hadde thei had day at wille,
Many a Grew hadde thei don spille.
¶ Thei of Troye rode to the toun,
And Gregais to here Pauyloun;
Line 16328
And set hem doun In tent and hale,
Wel sore & dreri, wan & pale
For werinesse of that Iornay,
That it myght no better be that day.
Line 16332
To dight here mete her men thei bad,
To comforte hem for nede thei had,
And ete & drank as thei myght,
And sone to reste thei hem dight;
Line 16336
For werinesse off that Iornee
Nede to reste tho haued hee.
THat worthi wyght, that fair lady,
That doghti quene, Pantasaly,
Line 16340
With hir Maydenes is comen to Troye
With mochel murthe & mochel Ioye,
For gret worschepe & los sche wan
Off many knyȝt & many man
Line 16344
For dedis that day that sche hadde done.
The tydandes come to Priamus sone,
At hure Innes that sche was lyght
With hir Maydenes stalworthe & wyght.
Line 16348
¶ When Priamus, the kyng, herde say
That the worthi gentil may
Was I-comen to hir Inne,—
Til he come ther wolde he not blynne,
Line 16352
Page 482
Line 16352
That noble quene to [MS. he to.] thanke & se [folio 241b]
Line 16353
That so hadde meyntened that melle
For him al day [MS. alday.] to his honour;
Ȝit hoped he to be conquerour
Line 16356
By that quene of alle his foos.
Kyng Priamus to hir vp goos
With mury herte & glad chere,
And thanked hir on his manere
Line 16360
Off hir godenesse & noblay
That sche for him hadde done that day.
KYng Priamus to hir him profered
And al his goodis to hir he offred,
Line 16364
And ȝaff hir ȝifftis many & fele,
Many worthi riche Iuele;
Many a noble riche present
The kyng to hir that euenyng sent:
Line 16368
Clothes of gold of mochel pride,
And stedes stronge vpon to ride,
And gode Armure of gode a-tyre
Sent Priamus that nyght to hire.
Line 16372
¶ He was so fayn of hir prowesse,
That he wende by hir doghtinesse
Off al his bale to haue bote.
But he was—lord!—ȝit vndirfote,
Line 16376
Er that ȝer was al out-paste;
That fair Palais was ouercaste
And distroyed, and al his kyn,—
Wyff, & child, & cosyn,—
Line 16380
And alle the kynrede that he hadde;
And that was ruthe, by seynt Chadde!
¶ Ther was gret Ioye & solace
That euery a burgeis now hace
Line 16384
Off that noble doghti quene
And of hir Maydenes gode & kene.
Page 483
Thei lyued ere In sykyng sore [folio 242a]
Line 16387
And In gret mornyng wore,
Line 16388
Thei make gret Ioye & melody
That thei haue hir In company,
On euery part In that Cite,
When thei herde of hir pouste.
Line 16392
For ȝit hope thei sche schal relesse
Hem of that wo, and sitte In pece
Thorow hir gret myȝt & hir dede,
Iff sche may leue & rightfully spede.
Line 16396
¶ Sche called styward and boteler,
Sergaunt, coke, & hir sqwyer,
And bad thei scholde her soper dyght,
For it was wel with-Inne nyght.
Line 16400
The bordes were layd, the clothes spred,
And thei were set & richely fed.
Than afftirward thei gon to rest,
Eche bodi his clothes of-kest,
Line 16404
And ȝede to bedde & wele [The first e altered from o.] hem wrapped;
When thei were layd, sone thei napped
AL the nyȝt, til it was morn.
Than was blowen many an horn,
Line 16408
Many an horn & many a beme,—
Iff thei of Grece to hem toke ȝeme.
Thei ride al forth with-oute the ȝatis,
The quene by-fore rydyng algatis
Line 16412
Opon a stede strong & store,
With spere In hande & gilden spore.
And thei of Grece be that were ȝare
Aȝeyn Troyens for to fare,
Line 16416
That thei se comande on a route [MS. aroute.] ;
And not-for-thi thei were In doute
To mete with hem an hundrid score
For that day that was be-fore;
Line 16420
Page 484
Line 16420
But ther lay non other amende, [folio 242b]
Line 16421
But [The capital B is altered from V by the same hand.] nedes most thei here lyff defende.
NOw thei mete with spere & scheld,
Bothe parties In-mydde the feld
Line 16424
By-twene the hales and the toun;
Thei ride to-gedir with gret randoun,
Euery man now hath of other envy;
Ther was a carful company,
Line 16428
When thei were to-gedre met:
Echon other al to-bet,
Sclow, & wounded, & thorow-bare;
Non of hem wolde other spare.
Line 16432
And thus ferde thei that neuere blonne
Al that day, whil thei hadde sonne,—
That thei most part fro that fyght
For wantyng of that dayes lyght.
Line 16436
¶ And thus mette thei to-gedre efft
Many a day or thei lefft,
Til thei most the feld make clene
Off men that were sclayn hem be-twene,
Line 16440
And thei hem-selff so weri wore [o altered from e.]
That thei myght fyght no more.
Tho toke thei be-twene hem grithe
To be In pes a two monethe,
Line 16444
To reste her bones that were weri
By assent of bothe parti.
¶ The trewes was take monethes two,
That non of hem schal other mysdo
Line 16448
Lastande the trewes a nedle worth:
The relykes are y-broght forth,
And thei are sworne & made ther othe,
Thei schal hem hadde for leue or lothe.
Line 16452
¶ The Gregais alle toke consayl to wende,
That thei wolde afftir Pirrus sende
Page 485
¶ Hic Greci mandauerunt post Pirrum ffilium Achillis.
To the kyng sir Lycomede, [folio 243a]
Line 16455
To help hem In that gret nede,—
Line 16456
That was so tyff & strong In stoure.
Agamenoun, here Emperoure,
Bad than his brother Menelaus
With his meygne wende afftir Pirrus;
Line 16460
And he as sone wente to the see
With his men & his naue,
And sayled forth with mochel spede
Vn-to that lord Lycomede.
Line 16464
¶ When he was comen In-to that hauen,
He bad sqwyeres, ȝomen, & knauen
Lede out here hors opon the sonde;
And he lepe vp & rode to londe,
Line 16468
With Lycomede til he was met:
With curtais wordis he him gret
And welcomed him with loueli chere,
And sette hem doun to-gedir In-fere
Line 16472
In his hye halle opon the dese.
Then seyde the kyng Lycomedes:
'SIr kyng, to me welcome thow art!
But me meruayles what [t]he has gart
Line 16476
Come fro thi Grues thus fer to me?
And what thow wole In this contre?
What tydandes haue ȝe broght hidur?
And what thow wol with the haue thidur?
Line 16480
For wele I wot: with-oute skille
Art thow not comen this lond tille.'
¶ Menelaus to him then sayde:
'Sir Licomede, so thow be payde!
Line 16484
I schal the telle myn erande, whi
That I come hedir sicurly:
The kynges of Grece alle In-fere
The gretes wele, as thow seis here,
Line 16488
Page 486
Line 16488
Bothe by mouthe & eke by letter, [folio 243b]
Line 16489
And sayn that it were moche better,
Child Pirrus, that thow holdest here
In vn-manhed & foule manere,
Line 16492
To send to hem & to his kyn [MS. And to hem & to his kyn.] ,
And loos & worschipe to wyn,
¶ To venge his fader on his Enemys,
When he were man of loos & pris;
Line 16496
And be his fader fomen bane,
The order of knyȝt when he hadde tane,
And not to ligge thus In scolcurye.
Hit is, sir kyng, a vylonye
Line 16500
To the, sir, and to him bothe,
The kynges of Grece with the are wrothe;
And thow him holdis as brid In cage,
That he wynnes him no vasselage,
Line 16504
But leses his time & his loos,
And helpis hem not aȝeyn here foos,
As him by skyl auȝt for to do.
And thus bad thei me say the to.'
Line 16508
LIcomede wex blo of blod,
When he these wordes vndirstod;
'Off god'—sayde he—'I take witnesse,
On no wise long on me non isse
Line 16512
That he hath dwelled so longe fro ȝow:
For I wiste neuere whi ne how
I myght him sende, ne by what man;
Ne he him-selff the way ne can.
Line 16516
¶ But sithen the kynges for him haue sent,
And thow thi-selff [art] here present,
Child Pirrus, I the be-teche
Thi fader deth to gete wreche.
Line 16520
He[r] by the hand I the him bede,
Ouer the see with the to lede
Page 487
¶ Hic venit Pirrus ad Grecos.
Vnto the lordis & kynges alle. [folio 244a]
Line 16523
I pray to god, that fair mot ȝow falle.'
Line 16524
MEnelaus when he herde that,
He was Ioyful ther he sat;
Him thoght his herte wel hesed,
Whan he of him was feffed & sesed.
Line 16528
He thoght no lenger ther to dwelle,
He hadde no tale lenger to telle;
He toke his leue at him to go
To hem of Grece that he come fro.
Line 16532
¶ He bad god that made sonne & mone,
Brynge hem thedir sound & sone;
And thei to-gedir verament
Vn-to the see thei ben y-went.
Line 16536
When thei were comen to her schippis,
Eche man afftir other In hippis;
And drow vp Anker & her ropes,
And caste on hem cloke & copes
Line 16540
To saue hem fro the salt water,
That it be-sprenged not her hater.
¶ Thei sayled bothe day & nyght
With spede & haste that thei myght
Line 16544
Ouer strem & ouer wawe,
Vn-til thei stonde before hem sawe
Off trusti Troye the hye walles,
Here gaye toures, & her halles;
Line 16548
On hem schon the sonne bem.
Thei sayled forth ouer that strem,
Til thei were come to here flote;
Thei wente to londe tho by her bote,
Line 16552
¶ Thei leue her schippis & gon to londe
And riden to-gedir hond In honde,
Til thei come to here Pauylons
Among the Grues and the Gryffons.
Line 16556
Page 488
Line 16556
AMong the Gregais Pirrus is lyght [folio 244b]
Line 16557
A fair man, hardi, & wyght;
Many a lord Pirrus by-held,
Whan he was broght to that teld:
Line 16560
Thei were echon for him ful glad,
Hem thoght that thei his fader had
With hem a-ȝeyn, so was he lyche
To his fader—by heuene ryche!
Line 16564
¶ Agamenoun, her Emperour,
And alle the lordis did him honour,
And did him worschepe ther he stode,
And welcomed him with chere gode.
Line 16568
The Murundones come to him than,
And welcomed him, euery man;
Ioyful & glad thei with him wore,
That he hem was comen thore.
Line 16572
¶ Agamenoun as sone gan brynge
Al his fader richesse & rynge:
Pauelons, tentis, & his teldis,
Stedis, speres, helmys, & scheldis,
Line 16576
And al his gode fair Armure,
And clothes of gold, fyne & pure,
Off say, of silk, bothe red & grene,—
And ȝaff hem Pirrus al be-dene.
Line 16580
The morwe Afftir thei made him knyȝt,
Richely was he dubbed & dyȝt.
¶ Ayax Thelamaneus
Off hem was most glorious,
Line 16584
He gyrd his sword aboute his swire
And sayde to him: 'Pirrus, leue sire!
I gird the with thi sword, take hede
To venge thi fader as thow most nede.
Line 16588
And moche Ioye haue thow of thin ordur of knyȝt,
As thi fader hadde that venged vs In fyȝt.'
Page 489
Two lordes of Grece, princes, skete [folio 245a]
Line 16591
Set his spores on his fete,
Line 16592
That were of gold, pure & ffyn.
Then myȝt men here a mechel dyn
Off Trompes, pipes, & other glues
Among the Gregais & the Grues.
Line 16596
Gret was the murthe & the melody
That ther was of Menstralcy;
¶ The Grues held gret feste & strong
Many dayes afftir and long,
Line 16600
And made gret Ioye & solace [ce very small on erasure.]
In worschipe of him that newe knyȝt was.
PIrrus is knyght gode & gay,
Off ffair porture, of gode aray,
Line 16604
Off wel riche apparayle,
Off gentil blod, of fair entayle;
He prayes tho his Murundones
That thei go sette here Pauylones,
Line 16608
As thei were wont to stande
The while his fader was lyuande.
And thei on to-geder went
And did her lordes comandement;
Line 16612
And his tentis tho thei maked,
Faste & sekirly thei hem staked
In-to the erthe with lyne & cordes;
And sette his tentis by other lordes.
Line 16616
¶ And whiles the trues last
A-qwynted with the knyȝtes fast,
In fair manere & gode beryng
He was a-qweynt with euery kyng,
Line 16620
Er euere the trewes was fully ent;
But it is ney verament,
Ȝe that thei be-twene hem set
The trewes to holde as thei be-het.
Line 16624
Page 490
Line 16624
THe trewes are past with-oute faile, [folio 245b]
And day is comen of here batayle:
Line 16626
Thei buske hem faste & bowes bende,
Vnto the fyght aȝeyn to wende.
Line 16628
Pirrus In his fader wede
That vaunwarde that day he dos lede,
¶ He hath his batayle wel arayed
Off men byfore offte assayed;
Line 16632
He is wel dight & horsed als,
His fader scheld aboute his hals
And Achilles swerd also,—
Many man to dethe ther-with was do,—
Line 16636
¶ His armes Are stronge & sicur.
And he with that rides In-to that bicur,
He passes forth ouer the dikes
With his men that wel him likes,
Line 16640
And takes the fel[d] brod & large
Couered vndir helm [MS. him.] & targe.
And euery a-nother kyng
With alle her men In her ledyng,
Line 16644
Knyght & sqwyer, erle & swayn,
Rode & ȝede vn-to that playn
Ther thei were wont for to fyght,
With thosandes sixti two & eyght.
Line 16648
¶ Ther was the duk Menescene
With alle his men, & kyng Chelene,
So was the kyng Menelaus,
And Ayax Thelemaneus,
Line 16652
Dux Nestor, & Vlixes,
And the doghti Diomedes,
Theseus kyng, & Thelamon,
And the Emperour Agameon,
Line 16656
Polinytes, & kyng Thoas:
Tho rod thei forth on a pas,
Page 491
Euery a lord with his ost, [folio 246a]
Line 16659
Proudly pyght lest and most.
Line 16660
¶ And thei of Troye were comen out
With-oute drede or any dout,
Off here enemys hadde thei no drede.
Bothe the parties to-gedur ȝede,
Line 16664
A wicked werre thei ther by-gan,
Thei sclow ten thousand, er thei blan.
NOw are thei to-gedir samen,
Alle on ernest & not on gamen;
Line 16668
Now are thei to-gedir broght,
A woful day schal ther be wroght:
The speremen ride, the bowemen schote,
Thei fel faste ded at horses fote,
Line 16672
The swordmen smyte & strokes ȝeue,
Helmes breke, & scheldes cleue.
¶ Lordes & laddes lesen her lyues,
Echon other rendis & ryues;
Line 16676
A bitter bale haue thei be-gonne,
Now this folk to-gedir is ronne.
Ther were bowes al to-broken [MS. alto broken.] ,
Stedis stiked & thorow-stoken,
Line 16680
Helmes holed, & heuedis houen,
Knees & cropes with knyues clouen,
Schonkes schyuered, schuldres schorne,
Blodi burnes In bostis borne;
Line 16684
With ferli fare tho freykes ferde,
Off suche an hepe neuere I herde.
¶ Pirrus prikes aboute & praunses,
Fro man to man aboute he launses
Line 16688
Al his strengthe for to assay,
He dud gret harm on hem that day;
His fader Armes that day he bare.
Off Palamides so was he ware
Line 16692
Page 492
Line 16692
A-ȝeyn the Gryffons fyghtyng faste, [folio 246b]
Line 16693
Grues & Gregais doun he caste.
¶ He turned his stede to him sone,
He thoght on him to wynne his schone:
Line 16696
He rode to him with so gret haste
That al his spere In-sunder braste,
That he fel doun opon the grounde
And hadde a wel greuous wounde.
Line 16700
His gode sword sone he drow,
He wol him take if he mow,
Or of his hand ther be sclayn;
Ther-to putte he al his mayn.
Line 16704
¶ But that be-held kyng Philomene,
He saw the fyght hem be-twene;
He saw the knyȝt Palamydes [e seems to be altered to a.]
In gret perel of Pirrus was,
Line 16708
For that newe knyȝt Pirrus
Was with him ful noyus,
For he thoght him so mate & make,
That he scholde scle him or take.
Line 16712
But Philomene hit myght not thole:
To Pirrus turned he his fole,
And led with him al his meyne—
Two thousandes knyȝtes & hundres thre,—
Line 16716
And put Pirrus fro his euel wille,
That he ne scholde his falawe spille
Ne that tyme him not dere,
For no-thyng that he myght swere.
Line 16720
PIrrus for-sothe hadde gret dispit
That he fro him scholde be quyt,
With Philomene was he wrothe:
He leues that other and to him gothe,
Line 16724
With tene of herte kepte he that kyng,
And toke him thanne In suche a swyng
Page 493
That he bar him tayl ouer top, [folio 247a]
Line 16727
That he lay ther as a sop.
Line 16728
¶ Then myȝt men here a wondir cry
Off alle his men stode him by,
For Pirrus wolde her lord haue,
And thei wolde him fayn saue:
Line 16732
Thei wol ther her lyues stende,
But thei may here lord defende;
Thei put hem certes In gret perel
To saue her lord In that torpel.
Line 16736
But al was not that thei coude do,
For thei no-wyse myght come him to,
For Murundones were so wode
That thei her strengthe styffly with-stode.
Line 16740
PAlidomas come thanne rennande,
And al his ost with wepen in hande,
To socoure & helpe kyng Philomene,
As he did him In his gret tene;
Line 16744
But he myght not ffor that he couthe,
For al that he was knyȝt In his ȝouthe,
He myght not saue him fro her handis,
That thei ne him toke & putte In bandis
Line 16748
To lede him to Pirrus tent.
But of her purpos were thei rent,
For that louely lady fre
Qwit him out of here pouste.
Line 16752
¶ The stour was fel & strong,
The hilles of here strokes rong:
Pantasalye come thedur than
With many hardy kene womman,
Line 16756
A sterne stede the quene be-strode,
Among the Gregays that lady rode;
Sche sclow & felde many & fele,—
The sothe to say and not to hele.
Line 16760
Page 494
Line 16760
Hir armes were white as swannes flawe; [folio 247b]
Line 16761
The Grues hir dredde whan thei hir sawe,
For sche on hem gret Angur did
And sche to hem hir strengthe so kid.
Line 16764
¶ Thelamanyus Ayax was war
That sche to grounde Gregais bar,
In his herte hadde he gret Ire:
He toke a spere & rode to hire
Line 16768
And bar that ladi fro hur stede,
Vn-warned or sche toke hede.
But sche lepe vp as myghti quene,
Hardi & bold, doghti & kene,
Line 16772
Opon hir feet with-oute dwellyng,
And swor that he schold that [MS. bye that.] fellyng
In that day wel sore a-bye:
Sche lete a stroke vpon him flye,
Line 16776
¶ Sche ȝaff him certis suche a pat
That doun to grounde he fel flat;
Sche toke hir hors & lepe vp tite—
Maugre hir foos that stode be-syde—
Line 16780
And rod hir thanne among the Grues
And mechel bale amonges hem breues,
Sche wroght hem wo In hir wode res,
And many sche slees er sche hadde pes.
Line 16784
PAntasalye hir stede by-strides,
Among Gregais & Grues rides;
Tydynges were that ladi tolde
That sir Pirrus, that newe knyȝt bolde,
Line 16788
Hadde Philomene, that kyng, tan
And swor that he [MS. she.] scholde be his ban.
That bold mayden meved hir blod,
When sche tho tydandes vndirstode;
Line 16792
¶ Sche vowes to god & alle his halowes:
"He scholde not lede him ouer the ffalowes
Page 495
To tent ne Pauyloun that he hadde." [folio 248a]
Line 16795
Alle hir Maydenes than sche badde
Line 16796
To folwe hir where sche ȝede,
And leue hir not for no nede.
¶ With-oute mo wordes went sche forth,
With alle hir maydenes that mechel were worth,
Line 16800
To Pirrus & to his Murundones
That with the help of her Gryffones
Hadde taken that kyng Philomene.
Harde strokes gan sche hem lene,
Line 16804
¶ The Murundones sche sondres & schedes,
And fele of hem sche maymes & hedes;
Many a baly scho ther rittes
And many a scheld sche al to-sclittes [MS. alto sclittes.] ;
Line 16808
Many a knyȝt les his entrayles.
So harde the quene hem assayles.
UHen Pirrus saw that mescheff—
Sche felde his men at gret repreue,
Line 16812
How thei were hurt and euel dyght,
Wounded euele and discomfyght
With that quene Pantasalye,—
Opon his men be-gan he crye
Line 16816
And sayde: 'men, for him ȝow boght!
What do ȝe? ne schame ȝe noght
To dye so foule of feble thinges?
A few wommen to dethe ȝow brynges?
Line 16820
¶ But turnes aȝeyn & folowes me,
And thei schal sone discomfit be!
Ther schal but fewe—so mote I thryue!—
Off hem passe away on lyue!'
Line 16824
He let thenne go kyng Philomene
From him & hise qwite and clene
With-oute ramsoun or any mede,
For he myght him not thennes lede.
Line 16828
Page 496
Line 16828
PAntasalye herde his speche, [folio 248b]
Line 16829
On him sche thoght to take wreche:
Sche drow toward him ner
And seyde to him, that he myght her:
Line 16832
'Off thi proude wordes ne of thi sawe
Ne of thi-selff I ȝeue not an hawe!
By him that made al mydelerde!
Off the am I not a-ferde,
Line 16836
But now and euere I the dispise
For thi fader cowardise,
That he falsly sclow that knyght
That passed al other In strengthe & myght,
Line 16840
¶ In doghtinesse & In valoure,—
Off Chiualrie he was the floure,—
The worthi knyȝt Ector the gode!
Alle the men of gentil blode
Line 16844
Aught to venge his deth by skylle
On the & alle that longeth the tille!
And not only al gentil men,
But we that are here wymmen
Line 16848
Are comen to venge with oure myght
The deth of that gentil knyght!
¶ For ȝit I hope that I & myne
Schal venge his dethe on the & thine,
Line 16852
For that fals traytour coward, thi sire!
His soule mot brenne In helle fire!'
At hir wordes Pirrus not smyled,
When he herde him so reuyled:
Line 16856
With-oute worde & mochel tene
Rode sir Pirrus to the quene,
To venge him if that he myght;
And whan sche saw come that knyght,
Line 16860
Sche slaked hir bridel & rayne
And ran to him with al hir mayne,
Page 497
¶ Hic Pirrus pugnauit cum Pantasalie Regina.
And [And, though the catch-word on lf. 248, bk. is Sche.] kept that knyght In hir rennyng. [folio 249a]
Line 16863
In his grete tene and herte-brennyng
Line 16864
¶ Pirrus smot Pantasalye
Opon the scheld so an hye,
That al his spere In-sunder brast;
But sche was not doun cast.
Line 16868
But sche smot him wers than so,
Sche brast hir spere on him In-two
And bare him ouer the sadel y-wis,
That he hadde leue the grounde to kys.
Line 16872
But sicurli he ros vp sone,
To venge that schame that sche had done
Vn to him by-fore his folke,
For tene his herte began to bolke:
Line 16876
¶ Stalworthe strokes sadde & sore
Pirrus strok at hir thore,
Thei made tho so gode pay
That al her harneis was of blod ray;
Line 16880
Al on blod was her harneis.
But thenne come many proude Gregeis
And partid hem sone a-twynne,
And of her baret made hem blynne,
Line 16884
And broght Pirrus a stede strong
And horsed him hem among.
PIrrus now & Pantasalie
Bene partid with gret envie;
Line 16888
Pan[ta]salye hir men relies,
Philomene to hir he hyes
And thanked hir of his lyueraunce,
And prayes god: "ȝeue hir gode chaunce;
Line 16892
For sicurly nadde sche bene,
His lyff hadde ben lorn clene."
¶ Agamenoun, her Emperour,
Come then doun vnto that stour,
Line 16896
Page 498
Line 16896
With Alle his men Diomedes; [folio 249b]
Line 16897
So did the duk of Athenes,
And alle thes other kynges euerychone
With bowe, alblaster, and flone.
Line 16900
¶ The quene with hir men asamed,
With the Gregeis was sche gramed,
And the gode kyng Philomenys
Relyed aȝeyn to hir al his;
Line 16904
And then come thedir a gode pas
Kyng Remus, & Eueas,
To socour hem with her meyne.
Sicurly then myght men se
Line 16908
A wonder stour a-ȝeyn be-gynne,
To se who scholde the felde wynne.
¶ When ayther of hem were so refresched,
Echon on other dong & thresched,
Line 16912
That thei fel doun as water fro yse;
Many a worthi man of prise
Be-twene hem tho her liff thei tynte,
Off that assaut er thei wolde stynte.
Line 16916
Pirrus rode among the Troiens,
He bete doun of her Citesens
And sclow right fele,—as Dares sais,—
He halp wel that day Gregais.
Line 16920
PIrrus rode to sir Glamicoun [MS. . . . ou . . . son; see note on p. 450.] ,
A knyght that was Antenor sone [MS. . . . ou . . . son; see note on p. 450.] ,
Palidomas was his half-brother,
On lyue that tyme hadde he non other,—
Line 16924
Off Another moder born;
His lyff for-sothe has he lorn:
For sir Pirrus In his wode layke,
In his rydynge & In his rayke,
Line 16928
With his sword smot he so sore,
That he among hem died thore.
Page 499
¶ Hic Pirrus occidit Glamiconem.
¶ Pantasalye by-fore hir eyne [folio 250a]
Line 16931
Saw Glamicoun die with pyne,
Line 16932
Sche saw him die bothe blak & blo;
For him sche was In herte wo,
And for-fouȝten as sche was
Sche come fro hir meygne a-pas
Line 16936
And rod to him ouer-twert.
And Pirrus it saw with Irus hert,
And saw that quene to him ride
As faste as sche myȝt glide:
Line 16940
He cauȝte a spere—I the be-hete—
Strong & styff, that quene to mete;
¶ He stroke his stede & mette the quene,
And so did sche him, & that was sene!
Line 16944
Ayther other so assayled,
That neyther of other fayled;
Thei mette so that bothe ȝede doun
Fro her hors opoun [MS. perhaps opon.] her croun.
Line 16948
¶ But sone & smert bothe vp ros,
And ayther of hem to hors gos,
And lepe vp with mochel spede;
And eyther of hem to other ȝede,
Line 16952
And fauȝt to-gedur harde & longe,
Til thei were partid with that thronge.
Or elles longe or it hadde be nyght,
That on hadde be foule discomfight.
Line 16956
POlidomas when he herde say
His brother had mad his endyng-day,
Wo was him whan he hit wiste:
Among the Gregais he him thruste,
Line 16960
He sclow & faste leyde to grounde,
He ȝaff the Gregais many a wounde,
And sclow hem doun as he were wood;
Thei lay & sprauled In her blood.
Line 16964
Page 500
Line 16964
And the quene Pantasalye— [folio 250b]
Line 16965
Thorow hir many doth dye:
So thorow here bothe myght [MS. myghtes.]
The Gregais were sone discomfight [MS. discomfightes.]
Line 16968
And fledde away & lefft her place,
And thei hem folwed a long pace.
¶ But Diomedes, and sir Pirrus,
And the doghti Thelamenyus,
Line 16972
These thre thanne hur chase with-stode
And thei no further bacward ȝode,
But turned aȝeyn & lefft here fyght,
For it was ner-hond the nyght:
Line 16976
The sonne was went In-to the west,
Hit was ney set & gon to rest [Scribblings in the margin, but blotted and therefore indistinct.] ;
And thei departed with weri bones
And ȝede alle hom to her wones,—
Line 16980
¶ Some to tentis & some to toun,—
Did of her Armes & set hem doun,
Ete & drank and ȝede to bedde,
Whan thei were alle wel y-fedde,—
Line 16984
And ros a-ȝeyn when thei myght se,
For thei wol not lete it so be,
Vn-to that on were vndirlyng,
And that other lord & [MS. α.] kyng.
Line 16988
NIght is went with his merke cloude,
The waites blew, the Cokkes croude,
The sonne is rysen & schynes bryght,
And thei are vppe & redi dyght
Line 16992
Vnto her note aȝeyn to go,
Ther thei the nyght be-fore come fro.
Thei are horsed & Armed redi to fare,
Thei are aȝeyn to-gedir thare,
Line 16996
Ther are thei to-gedir met;
Iff any lefft In other det,
Page 501
Thei thenke hit schal be wel quyt. [folio 251a]
Line 16999
Thei fare as thei [thei twice in MS.] were out of wyt,
Line 17000
¶ So betis & lais echon on other
Stalworth strokes as a ffother,
Ryues, & rendes, and doun beres,
Woundes, & slees, & al to-teres,—
Line 17004
Fro morwe erly that thei hadde sonne
Til it was nyght thei neuere blonne,
And thus ferde thei with-outen les
Many a day, er thei hadde pes.
Line 17008
¶ But by him that schope book & belle!
Alle here dedis may I not telle,
How thei fauȝt to-geder euery day;
Alle here dedis may I not say.
Line 17012
For sicurly with-oute fayle—
As was wreten of that batayle:—
THei fauȝt to-geder a ful foure woke
That thei neuere reste ne toke,
Line 17016
Day by day to lande & forow;
And alle the fold [MS. folk.] thorow & thorow
Lay sprad with dede bodies,
As it hadde ben rattis or mys.
Line 17020
For sicurly by-twene hem was sclayn
With-Inne the dayes In that champayn
¶ —As Dares seis—thousandes ten
Off men of Armes & doghti men,
Line 17024
With-oute comune & other pedale,—
That was wel mo with-oute fayle.
And the quene Pantasalie
Off hir Maydenes a gret partie
Line 17028
Hadde tynt with-Inne a while & [& is somewhat blotted.] lorn,
That lay ther ded al to-schorn.
Viij & xxti dayes plener
Held thei the fight al entier [MS. entrer.]
Line 17032
Page 502
¶ Hic ceperunt pacem inter e os ad sepelliendum corpora mortuorum.
Day by day vpon the wold, [folio 251b]
Line 17033
That thei reste neuere—as I ȝow told—
Til al that place & al that feld,
Ther the fyght [was] be-twene hem held,
Line 17036
Was spred ful of dede bodies
As thei myght ligge y-wis.
And than was take another trewes
Be-twix the Troyens & the Grwes,
Line 17040
That thei myȝt make clene the feld;
That ligge so ded vndir her scheld,
That thei with hem efft were not let,
When thei were efft-sones y-met.
Line 17044
THe trewes ar take & almost past,
And sicurly these arn the last
That euere schal Troyens or Grues take;
For now schal thei an ende make;
Line 17048
The next batayle schal be her ende;
For than schal Troye to schame wende,
And so schal alle the riche Troyens,
For thei schal lese that hem mayntens.
Line 17052
¶ Schal neuere the kyng ne non of hise
For al his noble & his vpprise
A-ȝeyn Gregeis mayntene more stoure,
For now lesen thei her mayntenoure
Line 17056
And alle the gode that thei owe,
And here houses brende on a lowe;
And thei schal go to dethe vile,
Euerychon with-Inne a while.
Line 17060
¶ But that schal be by fals tresoun;
God ȝeue hem his malesoun
That [MS. And.] the tresoun schope & wroght
And that hit so aboute broght!
Line 17064
That was Antenor & Eueas—
God ȝeue hem an euel gras!
Page 503
Come thei neuere In heuene riche, [folio 252a]
Line 17067
That thei wolde so her lord be-swyke
Line 17068
And al that gentil nacioun!
Schal be put In-to dampnacioun!
TErme is went out of the trewe,
And that may men of Troye rewe:
Line 17072
For if thei wiste what wolde be-tyde,
Thei wolde not out of Troye ride.
But now ben thei of Troye out-gon,
Wel on horse is euerychone;
Line 17076
¶ In-to the feld are thei alle went,
With scharp sword & bowe bent
For to schete & smyte In haste;
And thei of Grece ben comyng faste.
Line 17080
Ful wel are thei now batayled,
And echon other faste assayled
With swordes & speres scharpe;
Off alle her dedis may I not carpe.
Line 17084
¶ But Pirrus saw Pantasaly;
Be-twene hem two was gret envy:
He rode to hir, & sche to him,
Ayther was on other brym;
Line 17088
Pirrus smot that ladi so,
That he to-barst his spere In-two
And thrilled thorow-out hir scheld.
But that quene hir sadel held
Line 17092
That sche fel not with his smytyng,
But sche smot him with-oute flytyng
And ȝaff him on vn-to his mede,
That hir spere In-sunder ȝede;
Line 17096
But he fel not ther-with to grounde,
But sche ȝaff him an hidous wounde
That of hir spere a gret parti
Lefft stone-stille In his bodi.
Line 17100
Page 504
¶ Hic Pirrus occidit Pantasaliam Reginam.
PIrrus is smeten & euel dyght, [folio 252b]
Line 17101
His blod ran out with mochel myght;
For him was made a gret cry
Off alle the Grues that were him by;
Line 17104
For thei were alle In mochel doute
How the spere-hed scholde gon oute
With-oute lesyng of his lyff.
Then be-gan a delful stryff
Line 17108
To hem of Troye ther thei stode:
For alle the Grues were ney wode
That sche smot him so greuously;
Thei cried on hir dispitously,
Line 17112
¶ Thei vowed to god thei scholde hir sclo.
Many a Grewe & Gregais tho
Ȝede aboute that douȝti quene
And did hir mochel wo & tene,
Line 17116
Thei brak hir helm & hir hauberk
And made al blod hir white scherk,
Thei brast on-sonder many a mayle,
The stalworthe lace of hir ventayle,
Line 17120
Sicurly In-to her hare
Thei maken hir hed naked & bare.
¶ When Pirrus saw hir hed al naked,
In his body thoow he were staked
Line 17124
With his spere-hede, to hir he soght
As he of his lyff not roght;
Off lyff ne deth ȝaff he no tale,
But that he myȝt brewe hir bale
Line 17128
When he saw hir In suche a poynt:
He smot hir euene In the Ioynt
Be-twene the sholder & the scheld,
That hir lefft arme fflow In the feld,
Line 17132
And sche fel ded & stille lay
Among hir horses as clot of [MS. In.] clay;
Page 505
And Pirrus In his greuaunce [folio 253a]
Line 17135
Toke on hir a foule vengaunce,
Line 17136
For he lefft not of hir a spot
That he ne hit hewe as flesch to pot.
And he him-selff wex than so wan
For blod that out of his wounde ran,
Line 17140
That he amonges hem fel ther doun
Fro his hors In a dede swoun;
¶ But his gode men [MS. godemen.] lyff[t] him on loffte
And on his scheld laide him soffte
Line 17144
And bare him hom to his tentis,
And did of alle his garnementis
And laide him faire vpon his bed,
For he was feble and al by-bled.
Line 17148
PAntasalie is ded & sclayn,
And thei of Grece are ther-of ffayn;
But hir maydenes haue sorwe y-now,
Many a Grewe that tyme thei sclow.
Line 17152
Thei were so for the quene en-yred,
To dye ther thei desired:
Troyens thanne & tho wymmen
Sclow two thousand doghti men.
Line 17156
¶ But what myght that a-vayle,
Whil ther were ȝit with-oute fayle
Thre hundrid thousand of Gregais knyghtes,
Off bold men & stronge In fyghtes,
Line 17160
And of sqwyers gret multitude?
And ȝaff thanne strokes wel vnrude,
And sclow the Troyens as thei were wode,
That men myght haue bathed In here blode:
Line 17164
¶ Dares seith "thei sclow that tyde
Ten thousand men of Troians [Troians by another hand on erasure.] syde."
Wherfore alle that myght ffle
Fled away to hir Cite
Line 17168
Page 506
Line 17168
And spered the ȝates wel and faste [folio 253b]
Line 17169
With many a spire that wel wolde laste,
With lokke & keye, haspe & pyn;
And held hem alle the toun with-In,
Line 17172
For of the Gregais hadde thei suche doute
That thei wolde no more passe oute:
¶ The Troyens wol no more out-wende,
For now is broght the fight to ende;
Line 17176
Thei ȝeue no tent to no-thyng elles—
Non that In the toun dwelles—
But her walles for to wayte,
That thei with-oute with no dissayte,
Line 17180
With no qwayntise [MS. qwanytise.] , ne with no wile
By day ne nyȝt hem t[h]o by-gyle.
For thei are sicur y-now & traist,
That thei ne thar no-thyng be a-baist;
Line 17184
For thei wot wel thei are so hye,
That no-thyng In erthe but foule that flye
May come hem to, for out thei do eyȝt,
But if it were with tresoun or sleȝt.
Line 17188
THe waytes is set, the toun kept,
That thei wele & sicurly slept.
But thei of Grece haue hem be-cast
With the sege wele & faste
Line 17192
On euery a side ouer-al aboute,
That thei may not for hem come oute.
But ther-of haue thei no drede,
But if thei haue of vitayles nede;
Line 17196
¶ For thei may leue & wele fare
With-Inne the toun for euer-mare,
But it be so that hem fayle
Corn, or wyn, or other vytayle.
Line 17200
The Troyens make gret del echone,
Gret mornyng, & mochel mone;
Page 507
Alle that euere to Troye out long [folio 254a]
Line 17203
Maken gret dele and sorwe strong,—
Line 17204
¶ Kyng & knyȝt,—whan thei hem thenche
Off that worthi doughti wenche,
That noble quene Pantasalie,
That hem defended so nobly.
Line 17208
The sorwe is gret that thei alle make
For hir dethe & for hir sake,
That thei may not hir bodi haue—
As hem wel auȝt—In erthe to graue.
Line 17212
¶ The Gregais wol not hir bodi grauen,
But let hit ligge to roke & rauen;
But sir Pirrus with that seyde: 'nay!
Hit is no skyl'—he sayde—'parfay!
Line 17216
That so douȝti a body as sche
A-bouen erthe vn-grauen be,
Ne be with best ne foule y-schent!
But fair be layd In monument!'
Line 17220
¶ But Diomedes verament
With-sayde sir Pirrus Iugement,
He seyde for-sothe "that hir bodi
To ligge In erthe is not worthi."
Line 17224
But ther-to come it at the laste
That In a lake that quene was caste,
For thei seyde "thei wolde hir not brynge
To sepulcre ne to bureyng."
Line 17228
PAntasalye liggis In a pole;
The Troyens make moche dole [MS. dele, but the first e seems to be corrected to o.] ,
Thei make sorwe that sche is ded;
For now are thei with-outen red,
Line 17232
Thei haue no hope to no [MS. to no so.] socour;
With-Inne the toun make thei soiour,
For thei se wel: hem is no bote
A-ȝeyn Gregays more to mote.
Line 17236
Page 508
Line 17236
Anchises, that waried wyght, [folio 254b]
Line 17237
That Ancien [MS. Amicien; cf. l. 17838.] schrewe, that olde knyght,—
And his sone, fals Eueas,—
And Antenor—thes thre, alas!—
Line 17240
And his sone Palidamas—
These foure be-gan the compas:
How thei myght best saue her lyues
And alle her godis & here wyues:
Line 17244
¶ Thei toke amonges hem many consayle,
What myght best to hem a-vayle?
But at the laste, thus thei ent,
That thei were alle at this assent:
Line 17248
"That if thei were dryuen ther-to
That thei myght no more do,
Thei scholde the kyng & his be-swyke,
To saue hem foure and that hem lyke,
Line 17252
Alle here kynrede & here frende,—
And Priamus & his to schende."
¶ So sayde thei be-twene hem thore:
To consayle the kyng that it gode wore
Line 17256
A fynal pees of Grues to craue,
For so myght he his lyff saue;
And that he wolde take a-ȝeyn
To Menelaus the quene Eleyn,
Line 17260
And make amendes of that Paris
Hadde done to hem & heris amys,
And do restore that he & hise
Hadde born fro hem In any wyse.
Line 17264
¶ But who myght leue that any lord
Off hem of Grece that wold acord?
To graunte the pees to hem so sone
Afftir the harm that thei hadde done,
Line 17268
And greued hem sore & offte anoyed,
And so fele lordes of hem distroyed;
Page 509
¶ Qualiter Priamus & omnes alij. Troiani decepti fuerunt.
And thei haue hope the toun to wynne, [folio 255a]
Line 17271
And alle the godis that ben ther-Inne;
Line 17272
For In the toun so bold none was,
With-oute the ȝates that durst pas.
But sicurly ther myght men se
That it myȝt not but tresoun be,
Line 17276
Openly & discouert,
And it was tresoun riȝt apert.
But thei myght speke of a pees,
Thei myght not elles speke with Gregais,
Line 17280
For to telle hem of here wille,
How the toun wolde thei tresoun & spille.
THese traytoures that this toun wol traye,
Thei are went her erande to saye
Line 17284
To the kyng In the sale:
Boldely thei telle bothe her tale
Be-fore the kyng & lordes fele;
But her tresoun thei wol slely hele,
Line 17288
Thei wil not telle what thei thenke—
The deuel hem mot In helle senke!
¶ When Priamus saw of pees thei touched,
Off here wordes no gode he souched:
Line 17292
Him thoght it was no gode tokenyng
That thei of pes made procuryng
Afftir the harm that he hadde tan
Off hem that were his sones ban,
Line 17296
Him thoght it souned to no gode
That thei of pees hadde turned her mode;
¶ He saw right wele here two assent,
To traye the toun that thei haue ment,
Line 17300
And not-for-thi he held him stille
And lete him speke & say here wille,
For he wolde not lette hem perceyue
That he saw thei wolde him disceyue.
Line 17304
Page 510
¶ Hic Antenor & Eueas loquitur de pace In decepcione Regis.
He spak to hem & seide: 'lordynges! [folio 255b]
Line 17305
I wil a-vise me of thes thynges;
I wol not ȝeue her-of Iugement
With-oute consayl & avisement.'
Line 17308
¶ Fals Eueas scornfulli be-gan
Vn-to the kyng speke than,
He seyde: 'and thow wol consayle take,
I rede that thow oures not for-sake.
Line 17312
If the hit like, the ne thar non other;
Iff thow dost not, thow may take other.'
¶ The kyng answered with wordes meke·:
'Lordynges!'—he sais—'I ȝow be-seke
Line 17316
That with my wordes ȝe wrathe ȝow not!
For ȝe wot wele—by him vs bouȝt!—
That I haue done ȝoure consayl here,
In al my lyff I wayved hit neuere.
Line 17320
And ȝe say now: "I holde it gode."
But if it were I vndirstode
A-nother were more vn-to oure prow,
Me thenke it scholde not greue ȝow
Line 17324
Thoow I lefft ȝoure & let it be,
And toke that wolde helpe ȝow & me.'
ANtenor ros fro the des
And seide: 'sir kyng! to speke of pes
Line 17328
It is not euel—I vndirstonde,—
But good to ȝow and alle ȝoure londe;
For ȝe wot wel what noye & care
That ȝe & ȝoures now Inne are:
Line 17332
¶ Be-fore ȝoure ȝatis ligge ffyffty kynges
That wil not parte for no thynges,
Til thei may this toun ouer-throwe
And alle the houses sette on a lowe,
Line 17336
And sle, sir kyng, ȝow & ȝoure
And vs also and alle oure.
Page 511
Ne ȝe may not with-stonde her myȝt, [folio 256a]
Line 17339
Ne ȝe dar not with hem fyȝt,
Line 17340
And ȝe ar now of nom-power,
Ne vs comes no help fer ne ner.
¶ For-whi I say: better hit is
Off two harmes to chose the les:
Line 17344
Better is vs & ȝow also
That ȝe sende the Gregais to,
To loke if thei wil graunt ȝow grith
Off a ffynal pes, lyff and lyth;—
Line 17348
And ȝeue a-ȝeyn Eleyne, the quene,
For wham fele lordis haue ded bene;—
And alle the godis a-ȝeyn restore—
And, if thei wil, ȝet somdel more,—
Line 17352
That Paris In his robbery
Toke fro hem In Thesaly.'
AMphimacus to speke hadde haste,
On of the kynges sones a-baste;
Line 17356
He ros vp thanne with teneful herte
And seide to him wordes smerte,
Herynge alle that [that twice in MS.] set on benche:
'Thi wyles ben wicked, so ben thi wrenche!'
Line 17360
He seide: 'gode men [MS. godemen.] , opon my treuthe!
Thow art fals, and that is reuthe!
Thi herte is turned, & so it semes,
That thi kyng & vs thus demes!
Line 17364
In the for-sothe is now no trayst,
When thow these wordes vn-to vs sayst!
¶ For thi kyng scholde thow suffre mescheff,
Er thow saw him falle In any repreff,
Line 17368
And thow now procurest him vylonye!
Erst scholdestow with him die!
Wele may men se: thi herte is chaunged!
For we are not ȝit so mys-kannged,
Line 17372
Page 512
Line 17372
That er schal twenti thousand men [folio 256b]
Line 17373
Die ther-to and thousandes ten.'
Ful wylusly he him with-sayde,
For he was no-thyng with him payde.
Line 17376
¶ But Eueas thanne his wordes pesed,
With faire wordes his herte he sesed;
He [MS. Thei.] seyde vnto him at the laste:
'The Gregeis haue vs vmbe-caste,
Line 17380
That we dar no more fyght with hem,
Ne open oure ȝates for drede of hem;
A-nother way—if we be sly—
By-houes vs seke to haue vs by,
Line 17384
And sicurly it is non other
Then bye the pes, my leue brother!'
FOr alle the good of hethen Spayne
Myght the kyng him [not] refrayne,
Line 17388
He was so ful of care & wo;
Vnto the traytoures seide he tho:
'Certes'—he seyde—'ȝe are to blame!
Ȝe were worthi to suffre schame!
Line 17392
In ȝoure herte how myght ȝe ffynde
A-ȝeyn me now to be vnkynde?
In my gret elde to waxe vn-trewe
That euere ȝit haue ben me drewe?
Line 17396
¶ And nother of ȝow may certes say
That I did neuere be nyght ne day
Any-thyng a-ȝeyn Gregays
In tyme of werre ne of pays
Line 17400
That harmed hem an heryng-tayle,
That it ne was by ȝoure consayle.
And thow, Eueas, was cheff consaylour
To Paris, my sone, In his labour
Line 17400
To rawische Heleyne & lede hir away;
Thow may not say ther-of "nay":
Page 513
Ne hadde, Eueas, thi conseyl bene, [folio 257a]
Line 17407
Eleyne ne hadde this toun sene.
Line 17408
And now afftir my sones ded
I se ȝow two at otheres red
To consail me, to lese my name
And falle for euere In foule schame,
Line 17412
That I scholde now me meke
The Gregais mercy to be-seke
That haue alle my sones sclayn
And done me wo & mechel payn;
Line 17416
And ȝit scholde I hem merci crye
And pes & loue of hem bye [Order in MS., 17418, 17417.] ?
¶ Hit were a schame to alle my kynde
That I scholde me to hem bynde,—
Line 17420
So haue I of my bodi hele!
This consayl is nother good ne lele,
But waried worthe the tonge it tolde!
For I drede we ben alle solde,
Line 17424
For we ben lorn maugre oure tethe,
Ryght noght it is—& that we sethe.'
¶ Eueas thanne was wonder wrothe,
He ros vp & thenne gothe;
Line 17428
He was Angred with that sawe,
Off his kyng stode him none awe.
Wordes fele of gret outrage,—
Herande alle the baronage,—
Line 17432
SPake he thanne vn-to the kyng,
That were veleyns wordes & vn-sittyng.
He gos hamward vnto his halle
With-oute leue of hem alle,
Line 17436
He wolde no leue at hem nym.
But Antenor ȝede home with hym;
Thei are bothe hom to-gedur went.
By him that made bothe Twede & Trent!
Line 17440
Page 514
¶ Hic Priamus flebat.
Iff the kyng hadde wist here consayl, [folio 257b]
Line 17441
It hadde ben to hem to wrother-hayl!
PRyamus ryses and sore wepis
That al his brest the water wetis,
Line 17444
For he parseyued apertly
That his deth for-sothe is ney;
The kynges herte ful sore tendres.
The kyng thanne sone sendes
Line 17448
Afftir his soone Amphimacus,
And seis ful rewfully to him thus,
Sore wepyng and bitterly:
'I am thi fader, sone, witterly;
Line 17452
We are bothe of on blod & flesche,
Holde we to-gedur for hard or nesche!
¶ Lete vs with-stonde whil that we may
The two traitoures, sone, I the pray!
Line 17456
I se thei haue to-gedir spoken
That thei myȝt on vs be wroken;
Thei thenke the Grues schal sle me
And to haue this riche Cite.
Line 17460
I wolde fayn do bote ther-In,
Iff that I myght with any gyn:
¶ To-morwe next I wol thow be
With priue folk of oure meygne
Line 17464
Armed wele, when ȝe haue dyne;
That no man wite of ȝoure couyne,
Vn-til we haue al fully ent
Oure consayl & oure parlement.
Line 17468
And whan it is comen to euen-tyde
That thei bothe schal hamwardis ride,
I wol that thow & thine out-wende
And bothe the traytours al to-rende.'
Line 17472
¶ Amphimacus seide: "it scholde be done,
By him that made bothe sonne & mone!"
Page 515
But al this myght not hem a-vayle: [folio 258a]
Line 17475
I wot neuere how that here consayle
Line 17476
Was told [anon] to Eueas,
That he scholde dye for his trespas
That he hadde wratthed that day the kyng
And Antenor with his spekyng.
Line 17480
ENeas [N altered from U by another hand.] thanne was wroth y-now:
To alle his goddis he made a vow
That he wolde on him be wreke,
Iff that he myȝt go or speke.
Line 17484
He sente as sone his messager
Afftir Antenor, his comper;
And he come sone at his sonde
And him al redi ther he fonde.
Line 17488
Eneas [n by another hand on erasure.] told him tydande
Off the kyng & his couenande,
And "how he wolde sle hem bothe,
So was he to hem wrothe."
Line 17492
¶ Thes two to-gedir swere:
"That thei scholde fight to-geder there,
The toun to traye and tho ther-In,
And do sle hem & alle her kyn;
Line 17496
Thei schal not lette for leue ne lothe."
And ther-to haue thei sworn her othe:—
'And if so to-morwe [to by another hand on erasure.] it [it inserted by another hand over line.] be-tide
Þat [And crossed out at this place in the MS., þ t inserted by another hand in the margin.] he wol vs at home abide,
Line 17500
We schal come on suche parayle
That if he thenke vs assayle,
¶ Off his purpos schal he be rent:
He schal not do as he hath ment.
Line 17504
I ȝeue right not of alle his tene,
Not the value of a bene;
For I wot wele: we schal be war
Off him, er we come thar.'
Line 17508
Page 516
Line 17508
ERly on morwe whan it was tyme— [folio 258b]
Line 17509
I trowe a litel afftir the Prime—
Priamus kyng sent his message
To alle the lordes of his vilage,
Line 17512
To Antenor & Eueas,
And bad hem come an hasti pas
To Ylion vn-to that kyng,
That thei ne made no dwellyng;
Line 17516
¶ And thei bad hem aȝeyn gone,
For thei wolde come a-none.
Thei armed hem at alle rightes
And toke with hem noble knyghtes,
Line 17520
And come for-sothe to the palais,
Armed wel In her harneis.
The kyng of hem was sore affrayed,
For he saw thanne he was be-wrayed;
Line 17524
The kyng thanne to his sone gos
And biddis him lette of his purpos,
He seyde: 'sone, leue this thyng!
We ben be-wreyed—by heuene kyng!'
Line 17528
¶ When these lordes were comen alle,
Thei sette hem doun In that halle,
And thei be-gan to-geder trete.
Eueas wolde his wil not lete,
Line 17532
He stode vp thanne & boldely spak
To hem of Troye, & bad hem mak
Be-twene hem of Grece—iff thei moste [e inserted later, but by the same hand.] —
A fynal pes, what-so it coste;—
Line 17536
¶ 'But ȝe done, ȝe bene alle lorn
For defaute of wyn & corn;
Ȝoure vitayles may not longe laste
That ne som-tyme thei wil be paste,
Line 17540
Then schal ȝe be wel euel at ayse [MS. atayse.]
And dye afftir that gret myssayse.
Page 517
¶ Therfore lettes for no man [folio 259a]
Line 17543
To make a pees—if ȝe can,—
Line 17544
And come at one sone with the Grues!'
But Priamus that saiyng refuces,
He him with-sais In fair manere;
But ther was non that wold him here,
Line 17548
Thei seyde echon: "thei vndirstode
The pees ffor hem was fair & gode
At suche a plyght as thei were at."
And thus sayde alle that ther sat;
Line 17552
¶ Saue Priamus with-seide it ay,
For he was ferd thei wolde him tray.
But Eueas In his wickednesse
Seide to him In gret felnesse:
Line 17556
'Wherto, sir kyng, makestow it so?
Wenes thow oure wille for-do
By thi Powere & thi maystrie?
Wil thow, nele thow—the pees schal be!'
Line 17560
PRyamus tho held him stille,
For he most nede suffre her wille;
He seyde: 'lordynges, now ȝe it say
That it is gode the Grues to pray
Line 17564
That thei wol graunte vs, for of oure,
A fynal pees to here honoure,—
Sithen ȝe it say, I wol also
Aȝeyn my wille—so haue I ro!
Line 17568
For I am ferd hit schal vs rewe
A pees to praye of any Grewe!'
The Troyens then Antenor chese
To do her erande to gete hem pese,
Line 17572
Off a fynal pes if thei myght spede
For siluer, gold, or any mede.
THei ȝede with braunches of Olyue-tre
Opon the walles, that thei myȝt se,
Line 17576
Page 518
¶ Hic miserunt nuncios ad Grecos.
In tokene of pees & saue condit. [folio 259b]
Line 17577
Whan thei of Grece hadde sen that sight,
The same tokene made thei a-ȝeyn.
The Troyens ther-of were ful fayn,
Line 17580
Thei lete Antenor a-non doun
By the wal out of the toun;
And whan he was on grounde set,
He ȝede to Grues with-oute let.
Line 17584
Whan he was comen to here hales,
Her Emperour told he his tales:
"How he was comen fro her kyng
To make by-twene hem sauȝtlyng."
Line 17588
¶ The Emperour sente afftir other kynges,
To here the sothe of these tydynges;
When thei were alle to-gedere thore,
He saide "that thre men, if it wore,
Line 17592
That wolde be trewe & trusti frende,
To brynge this thyng to an ende."
Thei chose thre men tho for hem alle:
"That what-so-euere scholde ther-of be-falle,
Line 17596
Thei scholde holde her ordinaunce
With tresoun or with disceyuaunce"
¶ And ther made [made twice in MS., the second one crossed out.] thei alle her othes
By boke & belle & holy clothes
Line 17600
That longed to her sacrament:
"Thei scholde holde her surment."
THat one of hem was kyng of Grete,
The Gregais all by him wel lete;
Line 17604
That other was Diomedes,
The thridde of hem was Vlixes.
These thre the Gregais for hem toke
That what-soeuere thei wolde loke,
Line 17608
Thei wolde holde ferme & stable
With-oute dissayte or any fable.
Page 519
¶ Consilium inter Antenorem. & Reges Grecorum.
¶ Thei asked him: "what was the thynges [folio 260a]
Line 17611
That he to hem tydandes brynges?"
Line 17612
He seyde: 'lordynges, I wol ȝow telle:
My thinges that I wol ȝow of melle,
I wolde that no man here but I
And ȝe thre kynges witterly
Line 17616
That chosen were of euery lord,
To loke if we foure may a-cord.
¶ For if I tolde hit al on hye
That men myȝt here it openlye,
Line 17620
Hit myȝt be wist In other place,
And I be schent ther-by by cace
And lese my trauayle & lese my way
And gete me harm ther-by parfay.
Line 17624
I wol therfore that ȝe thre
Come here by-syde and speke with me,
That this thing may be priuay,
Iff that it be vnto ȝoure pay.'
Line 17628
THese thre kynges And Antenore
Fro the ffolk thei ȝede a-fore;
Antenor thanne, that lyther schrewe,
Be-gan his falshede to hem schewe:
Line 17632
He tolde hem of his tresoun
That he wolde do In schort sesoun,
"How he wolde by-traye the toun
And putte it al In her bandoun. . . .
Line 17636
Thus mechel to say to this couenande,
That thei alle thre holde vp her hande
And swere by him In heuene was:
'Thei scholde saue him & Eueas,
Line 17640
And alle her godis & her houses,
Here kynrede & al here spouses,
And her frendes that thei wolde chese
That thei of [of inserted over line.] heres scholde not lese."'
Line 17644
Page 520
Line 17644
¶ The sothe to say the kynges were glad, [folio 260b]
Line 17645
Whan thei of him this tydandes had
That thei the toun so sone myght wynne
And haue the godis that were ther-Inne,
Line 17648
Kyng, & quene, and al his fe.
The kynges swore all thre
By him that made bothe erthe & heuene:
"Thei scholde hem saue, thoow ther were suche seuene";
Line 17652
And ther-to her trewthes thei plyght.
And he hem treuly be-hight
That he wolde couenande holde
To be-traye Troye, that Cite bolde,
Line 17656
For-whi that thei [hit] holde priue,
That non it wiste but thei & he.
NOw hath this traytour be-trayed Troye,—
These kynges maken moche Ioye,—
Line 17660
For him & Eueas it is solde.
God wolde it were the burgeis tolde!
For he wolde his tresoun hide:
He bad a kyng scholde with him ride
Line 17664
In-to the toun out of the feld,
Taltibeus, a kyng of eld;
And that thei myght credence of him ȝeue
And the more him leue.
Line 17668
¶ He asked eke for curtesye
Ȝeue him the quene Pantasalye,
That thei myght that cors entere.
But that with-sayde alle that were there,
Line 17672
For thei hir hated In certayn;
For afftir thei graunted [hit] with [MS. with him.] payn.
¶ He toke his leue & went his way,
And Taltibyus with him parfay;
Line 17676
And thei of Troye opened the ȝatis,
And thei rode In ful faire al-gatis
Page 521
And sente the kyng word of her come, [folio 261a]
Line 17679
And rod forth vn-to him home.
Line 17680
THe morwe afftir the kyng did sende
Afftir his burgeis gode & hende,
Alle that euere were In the toun.
When thei were come, thei sete doun;
Line 17684
He bad Antenor by his Omage:
"How he hadde sped In his message,
That he scholde ther sey [sey inserted by another hand over line.] In presence
And In here alther Audience."
Line 17688
¶ The fals traytour—the deuel him cheke!—
To hem gan he sclely speke,
He schewed to hem but flaterye,
For he wolde hele his traytourie,
Line 17692
But tolde a prologe mochel & long;
He seide: 'gode men, the Grues are strong,
Off gret power and wasselage,
Off curtesie & gret parage
Line 17696
Off kynges & lordes & of her men lege,
Longe y-now to holde the sege,
Hardy y-now to fyght & bekir,
Knyghtes trewe & wondir sekir.
Line 17700
¶ By-holdes now a-boute & loke:
Thei breke neuere trewes that euere thei toke;
And we are so dryuen to noght,
Al to wrecches we are broght,
Line 17704
To care & wo & mochel sorwe,
Night & day, euen & morwe.
Wherfore, gode men, hit were wisdam
That ȝe consayl amonges ȝow nam:
Line 17708
By what way that ȝoure wayment
Might come to ende & best be ent?
¶ But therto certis schal ȝe not come
With-oute tresor a gret somme:
Line 17712
Page 522
Line 17712
I rede euery man bothe more & lesse [folio 261b]
Line 17713
That is of myȝt and of richesse,
And specially vnto oure kyng,
That he be helpande vn-to this thyng;
Line 17716
For we no-wyse In pes may be.
With-oute tresor gret quantite.
For better is vs oure gode for-go
Thanne euere to leue In noye & wo!'
Line 17720
Lo! how slely he hem blente
With his sleyght & his Argument!
¶ Then did the traytour more quayntise,
For he wolde In no wyse
Line 17724
His ffals tresoun that thei perceyue,
And for he wolde hem clene disceyue;
He sayde also In that throwe:
'The Gregais wil may I not knowe;
Line 17728
I rede that Eueas with me wende
To brynge this thyng better to ende.'
¶ The Troyens alle his sawe alowed,
Thei seyde: "he scholde be wele aprowed
Line 17732
By Eueas [u might be n; cf. note to l. 17489.] —so haue thei reste!;—
That he with ȝede that was beste."
Wherfore thei Iugged euerychone
That thei two to Grues scholde gone.
Line 17736
THei haue now done her parlement,
And alle the lordes ben [ben inserted over line by the same hand, hom crossed out before it, and repeated behind it.] hom went,
Priamus, the Troyane kyng,
In-to his Chambre goth wepyng,
Line 17740
He scrat his hede & tare his heer,
Out of his eyen fel many a teer;
He saw wele here sotilnesse,
Here ffalshede, & her lithernesse,
Line 17744
He cursed that tyme that he was born,
So doghty sones as he hadde lorn!
Page 523
"And now to leue of her batayle, [folio 262a]
Line 17747
Most he ȝeue al his catayle
Line 17748
That he hadde geten by olde dayes!
And ende his lyff In gret affrayes";—
'Wolde god I were now certayn
To haue my lyff & be not sclayn!
Line 17752
Ȝet wolde I thanne haue some Ioye.
But er y trowe the toun of Troye
Schal be by-traied & go to pyne,
And I schal dye & alle myne.'
Line 17756
ANtenor and fals Eueas [u might be n; cf. note to 17489.] —
Se thei neuere god In the fas!—
Thei are bothe went to hem of Grece,
To saue her bodyes & here fece,
Line 17760
And priueli to traye the toun,
To brenne Ylioun & caste it doun.
When thei hadde spoken a ful gode while
How thei myght Troyens best by-gyle,
Line 17764
¶ The Gregais bad "that Vlixes
And his felawe Diomedes
With Antenor and his comperes
To Troye scholde wende alle In-feres,
Line 17768
To wite of hem what thei wolde ȝeue
That thei scholde hem no lenger greue,
And for to telle hem what thei craue
Iff thei scholde hem let pes haue."
Line 17772
Thei ȝede alle forth here way snel
To the toun with-oute dwel;
¶ To Priamus when thei were comen,
He did his men as sone somen
Line 17776
Bidde his lordis & his burgeis,
To-morwe to come to his paleis.
When thei were comen & al doun [MS. aldoun.] set
And thei were alle to-gedir y-met,
Line 17780
Page 524
Line 17780
Vlixes stode & tolde his erande: [folio 262b]
Line 17781
'This thyng may not be wernade;
Iff ȝe wil haue the sauȝtlyng,
Ȝe most graunte her askyng.'
Line 17784
¶ He saide: 'the Grues asken thynges two:
That on is that ȝe most do
Out of this toun & this Ile
Amphimacus vntil exile,
Line 17788
That he come neuere a-ȝeyn on lyue';—
And this the Troyens graunte blyue;—
¶ 'That other is that ȝe do fet—
For to ȝeue hem to here profet—
Line 17792
Off gold & corn so gret porcioun
Vnto here a[l]ther reffeccioun,
That euery a man haue so gode store
To haue y-now for euere more.'
Line 17796
GRet meruayle among hem alle
In his spekyng fel In that halle:
A wonder noyse amonges hem thore
Was tho y-herd of hem that wore.
Line 17800
What that myȝt be thei were ameruayled;
The kynges wende men hadde hem assayled;
Some men wende the noyce thei herde
Hadde ben the kynges childres so ferde
Line 17804
For her brother Amphimacus,
For her [MS. his.] fadir Priamus
And for her [MS. his.] brother schulde be exiled,
With Antenor that so was be-gyled.
Line 17808
¶ Eche man loked what hit was,
But ther was non In al that plas
Ne in that hye Cite
That coude wete what it myȝt be,
Line 17812
Ne whethen that it come, ne how.
Eueryche a lord hamward hem drow,
Page 525
¶ Hic Antenor narrauit Regibus Grecorum de reliqu[i]o Palladij.
And ent here consayl tho alle sone, [folio 263a]
Line 17815
And went home when thei hadde done.
Line 17816
ANtenor him hamward spedde,
The kynges two with him ledde
In-to a wondir priue place,
Ther thei to speke hadde good space.
Line 17820
¶ To Antenor seyde Vlixes
That sat by him vpon the des:
'I haue meruayle whi thow delayes
These thynges for vs so many dayes,
Line 17824
That thow ne brynges hit to no purpos.
Loke that thow vs no-thyng glos
And brynge vs slely In a bek,
For thow brynges hit to non affek.'
Line 17828
¶ Antenor swor & sayde "nay,
Bothe he & Eueas nyȝt and day,
So helpe him god"—'we were ther-aboute';—
"But on [MS. no.] thing broght hem In doute";—
Line 17832
'I wol ȝow telle, what thing hit is
That bryngis vs In gret gastnes:
¶ The sothe is this: that kyng Ylus,—
As oure bokes telles vs,—
Line 17836
A worthi knyȝt, a kyng Troyen,
Off long tyme and Ancien [MS. Amycien; cf. l. 17238.] ,
That Ilyon did sette & dyght—
And Ilyon afftir him hit hight,— —
Line 17840
With-Inne this toun this kyng did make
For her goddis Pallus sake
A riche temple, fair & long,
Brod & wide & wonder strong.
Line 17844
¶ When it was made al, aboute the roue
That scholde be set the temple aboue
A wonder thing out of the sky
Off goddis grace fel fro an hy,
Line 17848
Page 526
Line 17848
That did the harde wow cleue [MS. clene.] & bende [folio 263b]
Line 17849
Ryght at the hye-auter ende;
And In the wow him-selff hit sette,
As faste as hit were ȝette
Line 17852
With sement or with any glewe,
That no man may hit thenne remewe [The second e altered to o in MS.]
Saue the prestes that hit kepe,
Be thei wakyng or a-slepe,—
Line 17856
And thei hit kepe & al day [MS. alday.] se.
Men say that hit is most of tre,
¶ But "what tre" can no man knowe
Off alle the kernes [MS. kerues.] that it owe,
Line 17860
Ne what forme, ne what hewe;
But hit is thyng of suche vertue:
The while hit is the toun with-Inne,
May non the toun with tresoun wynne.
Line 17864
¶ Palladin that thing called is
Afftir Pallas—the sothe hit is;—
Fro hir It come also, I wene.
Now haue I told ȝow al be dene—
Line 17868
So helpe me god & my long way!
That maketh al oure let & oure delay.'
DIomedes thanne answered:
'Sithen we ther-with so moche are dered [MS. dared.]
Line 17872
That hit one the toun may saue,
That we ne may by no way haue
For no thyng that may be-falle,
The while hit is with-Inne the walle—
Line 17876
¶ Then thenkes me, sir, witterly,
That we do alle a gret foly
That we do noght with-oute fayle,
But lese oure speche & oure trauayle.'
Line 17880
Antenor seyde: 'by heuene kyng!
Iff ȝe haue wonder of oure tarying,
Page 527
This is the cause & the resoun [folio 264a]
Line 17883
And alle the verray enchesoun,
Line 17884
That ȝe & we are thus delayed.
But al this while haue I assayed,
And offte haue I be-soght the prest
That kepis this thyng & hit is next,
Line 17888
And haue by-het him gret tresour
To haue certis for his labour—
¶ And so haue I the prest be-soght,
That In certayn haue I him broght
Line 17892
That he som nyght schal go with me
For gret tresor & mychel fe,
And then schal I sende to ȝow
And ende this thing to ȝoure prow.'
Line 17896
And thanne thei partid & toke her leue;
That god him ȝeue an euel preue!
NOw haue thei lefft alle her tales,
And the kynges gon to her sales.
Line 17900
And Antenor anon he wente
To Priamus that he hadde blente;
He bad him anon sende vp & doun
To alle the burgeis of the toun
Line 17904
That were with-Inne the Cite ȝatis,
That thei scholde come to him al-gatis.
¶ And whan thei herde of this tydandes,
Is non that lenger sittis ne standes,
Line 17908
That thei ne ȝede alle or rode
To his Palais with-oute abode:
When thei were comen & set on rowe,
Echon by other—as hem owe,—
Line 17912
Antenor ros & seyde: 'lordyngis!
I wol telle ȝow of oure spekyngis,
What the Grues & I haue spokyn,
What thei wol haue, or elles be wroken.
Line 17916
Page 528
Line 17916
This is the somme that Gregays aske, [folio 264b]
Line 17917
That thei wole haue vnto her taske:
Ten hundrid thousand pound of golde;—
Ther is no man is maked of molde
Line 17920
That may ther-of vs alegge,
For thei wol not ther-of abregge;—
And as moche of siluer bryghte [e added afterwards.]
Ȝe mot hem ȝeue with-oute respite;
Line 17924
An hundrid charge also of whete.
And tho bad thei me with hem trete,
¶ For sicurly thei wol no lasse.
Therfore, gode men [MS. godemen.] , if [be] ȝoure ese
Line 17928
To haue the lyff & fle the ded,
Than is this forsothe my red:
That ȝe ȝeue hem this two her wage
And let go caste a taylage
Line 17932
A-mong the riche & the pore,—
To pese her wratthe for euere more,—
And gadir hit faste on gret hepis,
For thei wol haue shippes ȝepis.'
Line 17936
NOw is the taylage cast & layde,
That somme was sone y-puruayde,
The while it was In gaderyng.
Antenor, that lyther thyng,
Line 17940
Spake to the prest of the lawe
That what with ȝefftis & with awe,
What for drede, what for mede,
That he the prest so ouer ȝede,
Line 17944
That he bad him at euen come,
And he scholde haue Palladone.
¶ Antenor come thenne on a nyght,
And that prest, that wicked wyght,
Line 17948
Ȝaff him that relike that was so riche,—
In al Assye was ther non liche;
Page 529
And he sende it to Vlixes, [folio 265a]
Line 17951
And to his felawe Diomedes.
Line 17952
The Troyens gadered the gold & corn
Erly at euen and on morn;
Thei leyde that good & that fee
In the temple of Menerue.
Line 17956
¶ Then seyde the riche Citesenes
And alle these other pore Troyenes,
That thei wolde make a sacrifice
To her godis of gret aprice,
Line 17960
To thanke hem of grace that thei sende
That her batayle is thus at ende.
THei broght tho many boles & bores,
With lowyng & with loude rores;
Line 17964
But ther be-tydde tho two miracles
That were to hem gret obstacles:
When be-fore the Auteres were layd the bestis,—
As was that tyme that lawe hestis—
Line 17968
That were doun come thedir, & renne
To sette In fir, and do hit brenne,
Thei did brynge the kiddis drye—
For hit scholde brenne clere & hye,—
Line 17972
And colis also In bollis & wyndel:
Thei myght no fir make ther-on kyndel,
For noght that thei coude blowe
Not ones sette hit on a lowe.
Line 17976
¶ The Troyens were tho vn-blythe,
Thei tende hire fir more than ten sithe,
But it ȝede out by on & on,
That sacrifice myght thei make non.
Line 17980
¶ That other wonder, gode men, y-wis
That hem be-fel that tyme, was this:
Ther come fleynge that tyme an Erne
Vn-to the temple, fleande sterne,
Line 17984
Page 530
Line 17984
And al the entrayle, as hit lay [folio 265b]
Line 17985
Off her bestis, bare he hit a-way;
Be-twene here clauwes sche hem kyppis,
And beres hem to the Gregais schippis.
Line 17988
Alle the Troyens that ther wore,
Off this two thinges abaist hem sore,
For thei se by here tokenynges bothe
That here godis with hem were wrothe;
Line 17992
But whi it was, wiste thei neuere,
But alle ther-of affrayed were.
THe Gregais were slely by-thoght,
A wonder werk hadde thei wroght:
Line 17996
Thei did make an hors of bras,
Suche a-nother neuere sene was;
A thousand knyghtes myght ther-Inne;
Ther-on was many a selcouthe gynne:
Line 18000
Dores brode that opened wyde,
A thousand men ther myght a-byde,
But no man was of eye so bryght
That myght with-oute of hem se sight.
Line 18004
¶ The kynges alle that comen wore
To Priamus to socoure thore,
When hit was done hem to vndirstonde
That Priamus so foule a couenande
Line 18008
Hadde mad to Grues to ben at one,
Thei toke her leue at him echone,
To wende hom to her contrese,
And leffte him ther, & hem of Grece.
Line 18012
¶ Kyng Philomene had two thousand knyghtes
That come with him, thei worthi wyghtes
Ledde hem aȝeyn to his lande
But two hundrid & ffyffti of hem lyuande;
Line 18016
He ledde with him Pantasalye,
The worthi body of that ladye,
Page 531
¶ Hic rogauit ad pacem & concordiam.
And foure hundrid of damyseles [folio 266a]
Line 18019
That lyued afftir that turpeles,
Line 18020
Vn-to the land of Amazone,
To berye hir ther sche bar croune.
HIt was a day, that lyther fende,
Antenor, wolde his tresoun ende,
Line 18024
Whan Palladin was y-stolne;
And ȝit was hit fro Troyens holne;
And thei of Grece her hors hadde ent.
To sette a day was here entent,
Line 18028
That Priamus & his Troyanes,
Alle the Grues & the Danes,
With-oute the toun, opoun the wolde,
Be-twene hem that loueday schal holde.
Line 18032
¶ Priamus is comen oute,
And mechel folk him aboute;
And thei of Grece sicurly,
Lordes & kynges ther redi.
Line 18036
Thei did the relikes brynge,
Her messe-bok that thei on synge,
Here saynteuarius [MS. sayntenarius.] with al her gere,
That bothe the parties on scholde swere.
Line 18040
¶ Diomedes was ffurst that swore,
And made his othe vpon the flore;
He swor by al here sayntwaries,
And by him that al this world gyes,
Line 18044
Off heuene & erthe al-myghti god:
That he scholde neuere, for euene ne od,
Breke the couenandes that he made
With Antenor, so worth he glade.
Line 18048
¶ And so swor alle these other kynges
That were of Grece gret lordynges.
Off thai that toun afftir did for-lorn,
Ȝit thei seyde thei were not for-sworn,
Line 18052
Page 532
Line 18052
For thei swore bothe to traye the toun [folio 266b]
Line 18053
With-oute mercy or any pardoun.
But Priamus & alle hyes
Made her othe on an-other wyes:
Line 18056
¶ Thei swor to holde the pees treuly,
With-oute desert, parfitly;
Thei were ther-with foule by-gyled
And afftirward foule dispoyled,
Line 18060
For thei wiste not of here fallas;
Therfore here lyff thei lore, allas!
WHan thei hadde sworn & mad surte,
Kyng Priamus with herte fre
Line 18064
Made men go afftir quene Helayne;
And he ȝaff hem that lady aȝeyne,
And prayed hem for his loue sake:
That sche of hem non harm scholde take,
Line 18068
Vilony, ne no maugre,
For that sche was In that contre;
And thei seyde "nay" with ficul thoght.
But Priamus thei hadde be-soght:
Line 18072
"That he wol graunte hem alle a bone,
That for here loue it myght be done."
¶ Thei saide: "thei hadde an hors done make
For her godes Pallas sake,
Line 18076
For that thei stale out of here chirche
Palladine [Or Palladium? MS. . . .in or . . . iu.] , whan it was derke;"—
'And we are ferd alle for hir vengaunce;
Hit is therfore oure ordinaunce,
Line 18080
In hir cherche-ȝerd to do hit sette
An hors of bras that we haue gette
In hir honour—we telle it ȝow—
For that is, sir, oure alther a-vow.
Line 18084
¶ We praye ȝow therfore: werne vs not
That it may now to hir be broght.'
Page 533
Priamus stode as he were dased, [folio 267a]
Line 18087
He was for meruayle al a-mased,
Line 18088
When he herde the Gregays say
That thei that relike hadde away;
He hadde meruayle how hit myght be,
Who hadde done him that blynde bounte?
Line 18092
But sicurly the blame was layde
On Vlixes, for it was seyde
"That he stale hit with Nigramancye,
Fo[r] he was connynge of gret fayrye."
Line 18096
PRyamus stode as stille as ston,
Word to hem spake he non,
He Answered not to here askyng,
Better ne wors, ne non skynnes thyng.
Line 18100
But Antenor & Eueas
That bothe were ther In that plas,
Thei seide: "It was wel to do,
Thei did the toun a worschepe tho,
Line 18104
It was a presaunt fair & hende
Vn-to the toun with-outen ende."
¶ Priamus graunt hem tho her wille,
For he saw nede he moste ther-tille.
Line 18108
The Gregeis thanne, bothe gret & smale
And alle that dwelled In tent & hale,
Ȝede with gret processioun
And with mochel deuoc[i]oun
Line 18112
This brasen hors for to hale
Ouer doune & ouer dale;
Thei drow hit ouer leye & falowe,
To offer hit to that carful halowe.
Line 18116
¶ When thei were comen to Troye ȝate,
Tho wolde it not In ther-ate:
Hit was so brod, gret, and hye,
It myght not In ther sicurly.
Line 18120
Page 534
Line 18120
Tho most thei the walles breke, [folio 267b]
Line 18121
Iff that hors scholde ther-In reke;
Thei breke ther-of a gret pece
Off brede, of heyghte, that thei of Grece
Line 18124
That her hors thei myght In-drawe;
The Troyens lowe, whan thei it sawe.
¶ Thei halpe hit In with mochel sang,
Sicurly tho did thei wrang
Line 18128
To make ther-fore Ioye & play,
Hem oght better sey: "waylaway!
That euere it come with-Inne the diches!"
But euery a Troyen now it lykes,
Line 18132
But hit schal turne to mochel care
To alle the Troyens that ther ware.
THe hors is now with-Inne the toun.
Ther was a knyght that het Symoun
Line 18136
That thei of Grece hadde put ther-In,
A worthi knyȝt of gentil kyn;
A thousand knyghtes were put with him [The order in MS. is 18139, 18138.]
And was charged on lyff and lym
Line 18140
That thei scholde holde hem stille & coy,
That thei perceyued not of Troy;
Til hit be wele with-Inne the nyght,
That thei of Troye to bedde be dyght.
Line 18144
¶ Thei bad thanne his dores vn-do
And come than out, & his also,
And of stre gete him a wase
And make on the walles ther-of a blase,
Line 18148
That thei myght wele & worldly kenne
By that fir that so scholde brenne,
Whan thei scholde come In that euenyng,
And knowe also by that tokenyng,
Line 18152
When thei of Troye were alle on slepe
That thei ȝaff to hem no kepe,
Page 535
¶ Hic Greci receperunt pecuniam.
That thei myght sle hem In her bed, [folio 268a]
Line 18155
That thei no wise fro hem fled.
Line 18156
¶ The Gregeis asked thanne her fret,
The somme of corn that hem was het,
The somme of siluer & of gold
That thei of hem haue schold;
Line 18160
Priamus badde [MS. hadde.] tho his meygne
That it scholde quyk delyuered be.
The Gregais toke that riche tresore
And drowe it alle with-oute dore
Line 18164
Off the temple of Menerue,
And by her men sende hom that fe
Vn-to her tentis & Pauylons,
To dele amonges the riche Gryffons;
Line 18168
The corn bare thei vnto the see
And charged ther-with alle her nauee.
And when thei hadde al this ent,
To Priamus thei message sent
Line 18172
And seyde "that thei wolde hamward wende
Out of his lond vnto here frende";
He bad hem "go In godis name
And god schilde hem fro schame!"
Line 18176
THei losed bothe Anker & cordes, [¶ Hic Greci vadunt ad Mare.]
And drow vp tentis of kynges & lordes,
Thei gone to schippes & to bote
That longe hadde stonden ther In flote;
Line 18180
Thei drow here sayles that alle myght se
That were In Troye, that riche Cite.
Thei were wel fayn when thei saw go
That hadde done hem so mochel wo,
Line 18184
Thei wende thei hadde ben al quyt;
But hem scholde falle gret wo ȝit,
For thei schal dye In gret affray,
Twenti thousand, er hit be day.
Line 18188
Page 536
¶ Hic Greci exierunt de Caballo & occiderunt Troianos.
¶ Pryamus wendes to Ilioun, [folio 268b]
Line 18189
And Gregais sayles to Thenedoun;
The wynd is swyfft, the schippis dryued,
At Thenadoun were thei aryued;
Line 18192
Er the sonne was go to reste,
Thei hadde souped of the beste,
With mochel murthe, play, & Ioye,
For thei were siker tho of Troye.
Line 18196
HIt is forth nyghtes, the sterres ben rysen,
The sely caytyues Troyens not wysen,
Thei ȝede to sclepe alle In bedde,
Off no-thing were thei a-dredde;
Line 18200
Thei wende thei hadde ben saue & sure,
With-oute dissait or foule aventure.
¶ The knyghtes that were In that hors stopped,
Thei were nother mased ne mopped;
Line 18204
When Troyens were In bed on sclepe,
Out of the hors echon thei crepe,
Thei gete than a gret wase,
Opon the walles thei made a blase:
Line 18208
Alle the Gregeis tho come to toun
And ther thei hadde the wal cast doun
That day be-fore, a wel gret gappe,
Thei come alle In to gret vn-happe.
Line 18212
¶ Thei brast vp dores with Iren y-bounde,
Thei sclow al that thei ther founde,
Man & womman & also childe,
Stoute & sterne, meke and mylde,
Line 18216
Wiff & mayden, ȝong & old;
On lyue wolde thei non hold.
Thei hadde no mercy ne no pite
Off ȝonge [MS. ȝouge.] children, ne ladijs fre;
Line 18220
Thei robbed & rafft alle that thei founde,
To lede with hem In-to her londe.
Page 537
Mochel blod that nyght thei schedde, [folio 269a]
Line 18223
It was no wonder of thei dredde,
Line 18224
To crye mercy was hem no bote,
Thoow thei fellen vnto here fote;
The cry was gret & fer herd
Off hem that thus to dethe ferd.
Line 18228
PRyamus herde In-to his toure
That delful noyse & clamoure,
He was sori & eke a-baist,
He wiste wele thanne he was be-traist
Line 18232
With Antenor and Eueas;
Gret was the sorwe that he thanne mas:
Out of his bed anon he ros
And to his temple faste he gos
Line 18236
By-fore his god Appolynes,
Thedir he dight him faste y-wys;
By-fore his god vpon the grees
He sette him doun on [on inserted over line.] his knees,
Line 18240
His deth bodily to a-byde;
For he ne myght him fro hem hide,
For he was man with-oute drede—
In eche a romaunce as I rede.—
Line 18244
¶ Temple & chirche, boure and halle,
The Gregeis dispoyled and robbed alle;
The riche vessel of gold y-wroght,
Off siluer also, for-ȝate thei noght.
Line 18248
Prest, ne clerk, ne sextayn
Leffte the Gregais non vn-sclayn;
Twenti thosand Citeseyns,
Off knyghtes & lordis, gode Troiens,
Line 18252
Were sclayn ther, er day spronge,
With hidous cry & sorwe stronge.
¶ The kynges doghter, wise Cassandre,
Sche nyst In erthe whedir to wandre,
Line 18256
Page 538
Line 18256
But at the laste alone fled sche [folio 269b]
Line 18257
In-to the temple of Menerue,
And seide wel offte: 'alas, alas!
That euere that fight be-gonne was!'
Line 18260
¶ Ector wyff, dame Andromede,
Sche ran faste fro strete to strete
With hir two children In hir armes;
For drede of here gret harmes
Line 18264
Sche nyste In erthe whedir to fare,
But as scho ran, so was sche ware
Where Cassandre be-fore hir ȝede
In-to the temple with gode spede,
Line 18268
And sche afftir hir gan go
In-to the temple with mechel wo.
Mechel was the sorwe thei two made,
Ther was no thyng that hem myght glade.
Line 18272
TOward the day faste it drawes,
The nyght is gon, the day dawes;
Antenor and Eueas—
In helle thei wone with Sathanas!—
Line 18276
Thai ledde tho sir Pirrus
To the Castel of Priamus.
Whan Pirrus with the Gregais
Was y-comen to that Palais,
Line 18280
Thei brast vp dores with gret engyn,
And afftirward thei wente In.
¶ Alle that thei fond doun thei sclow
With-oute mercy, with sorwe y-now;
Line 18284
Many a curtais ladi swete
In that Palais to dethe thai bete
That comen were of hye lynage,
Off kynges blod In mariage;
Line 18288
Thei lefft nother lowe ne hye.
Thei robbed al his tresor that thei sye;
Page 539
¶ Hic ffugarunt bona palacii Regis.
Thei smot alle that for-set, [folio 270a]
Line 18291
Halle, & boure, & hye toret.
Line 18292
¶ Pirrus soght afftir the kyng,
Fro hous to hous, In his byggyng;
And afftir that to the temple he ran,
And ther fond he that carful man:
Line 18296
Pirrus tho was glad y-now,
His swerd sone out he drow
And al to-hewe him euery bone, [¶ Rex occi|ditur.]
Ryght be-fore the auter-stone,
That al the Auter was al by-bled
Line 18301
With his blod that ther was sched.
HEctuba, that louely quene,
And hir doghter Pollexene,
Line 18304
Thei were so frayed & ferd, [¶ Regina]
That thei ran out of that ȝerd; [¶ ffugit.]
Thei were aferd the Gregais to mete,
Thei ran aboute fro strete to strete.
Line 18308
As thei ran, wiste thei not whedir,
Thei mette Eueas bothe to-gedir:
¶ When Hectuba on him hath sight,
Sche myssayde him anon right,
Line 18312
Off tresoun sche him sone vmbraide:
'Fals traytour!'—to him sche sayde,—
'How myght thow, for soule synne,
So ffals a tresoun to be-gynne?
Line 18316
How myght thow In thi fals herte fynde,
Fals traytour, to be so vnkynde
To do thi lord suche schenschip,
That hadde done alle thi worschip?
Line 18320
¶ He ȝaff the his doghter to wyue
Be-ffore alle men that were on lyue,
He worschepid the & loued the ay,
In the was al his trust & ffay,
Line 18324
Page 540
Line 18324
And thow hast made him sclayn & hise [folio 270b]
Line 18325
For his godenesse & ffraunchise!
How myght thow, man, this tresoun thenke,
For ferd In helle leste thow synke?
Line 18328
But sithen thow hast done [MS. dou.] al this wrake,
Do on me mercy for goddis sake,
That thow myght take sum merite:
Saue vs two to-day fro dispite
Line 18332
Fro alle Gregais on godis name,
That thei do vs two no schame!'
¶ Eueas hadde of hir pite,
He seyde: 'comes bothe & folewes me!'
Line 18336
He ledde hem to an old place,
An old tour that for-saken was
Off long tyme, that hadde ben wast;
He hyed hem with mechel hast
Line 18340
For drede lest thei were y-wraied,
And lefft hem there sore affrayed.
¶ As thei the toun thus a-boght soght,
Ayax Thelamenyus was broght
Line 18344
In-to the temple of Menerue,
With many Gregais comen is he:
Ther fond he sitte Ector wyff
That was ful sori of hir lyff,
Line 18348
And wise Cassandre that mochel was worth;
He broght hem bothe to-gedir forth,
The ladyes bothe with him he ledde
Ful sore wepyng & sore a-dredde.
Line 18352
Kyng Priamus is ded & sclayn,
Lord & lady, knyght & swayn,
And al that euere In Ilyon was,
By these fals traytoures compas,
Line 18356
By Antenor and Eueas;
In helle mot be her wonyng-plas!
Page 541
¶ Hic villa Troiani destruitur.
¶ When thei had sclayn al that ther wore, [folio 271a]
Line 18359
Ȝit wolde thei do malice more:
Line 18360
Thei caste al doun thes worthi wones,
Led & tyle, sclat & stones,
Halles, Chamberes, & toures,
Vowes, walles, & alle her boures;
Line 18364
The glorious halle so richely dyght
Thei threwe it doun In gret dispit;
¶ The Pilers pight with marbil gray
Thei pulled doun & caste a-way,
Line 18368
Thei caste doun chambres hye & base.
Tho by-gan many a blase
To sette fir on that Cite,
That many a myle men myght hit se.
Line 18372
The toures brennen, the reke vp ros,
The toun of tounes to noght gos;
The sparkes sprongen In-to the aire,
Thei brenned the schireues & the mayre
Line 18376
And eche a lordes riche tenement,
Til al the toun was lorn & brent;
¶ Alle saue the traytoures mansions
And alle her kynnes possessions
Line 18380
That the toun so foule be-swyked,—
For on her houses thei hadde stiked
Certayn signes that wele were knowen;
Thei were not therfore ouer-throwen,
Line 18384
As couenand was be-twixen hem ent,
Therfore her houses was not brent.
TRoye is doune & ouer-throwen,
Tour & bour, walle & wowen;
Line 18388
Thei are alle dede & foule schent,
And the toun is doune & brent.
¶ Agamenoun [MS. . . . on.] did do then crye,
That euery a kyng scholde hem hye
Line 18392
Page 542
¶ Hic partita sunt bona inter Reges.
In-to the temple of Menerue, [folio 271b]
Line 18393
And euery a lord with his meyne;
And brynge with hem al that thei wan
With-Inne the toun of any man,
Line 18396
To dele as best wolde by-falle
In comune sight be-fore hem alle.
And thei did alle as he hem bad,
Thei broght with hem that thei had;
Line 18400
And so was hit deled verament
By gode resoun & Iugement
To euery a lord & knyght
Afftir his state & his myght.
Line 18404
AGamenoun, here Emperour, [¶ Hic Agamenon petit Cassandram pro labore suo [On the left side in MS.] .]
By-soght hem, for his labour
For to ȝeue him to his mede,
For al his trauayle & his dele,
Line 18408
The kynges doghter, Cassandre the wyse,
That sche myght be on of hise.
¶ The tonge of no man may telle,
What godis to euery lord felle;
Line 18412
For sicur ther ne was no kyng,
That he ne hadde as moche thing
Off riche gold & precious stones
To lede with hem to her wones,
Line 18416
As thei wolde desire & haue
Or with her tonge on any wyse craue;
And so hadde dukes & eke knyȝtes,
Sqwyeres, ȝemen, & other wyghtes.
Line 18420
¶ Here schippes myght not lede her tresour
That euery man hadde for his labour,
And ȝit thei lefft mochel more,
Gold, & siluer, & other tresore,
Line 18424
That no man wolde hond ther-on set,
Ne here schippes no more ffret,
Page 543
For thei hadde filled bothe schip & barge [folio 272a]
Line 18427
Al the while thei durst hem charge.
Line 18428
ANtenor & Eueas
Be-soght the lordes of her grace:
"To graunte Heleyne hir lyff
And Andromede, Ectoris wyff,
Line 18432
For thei hadde ben al-weys
To hem bothe hende & curteys;"
'And whan Paris hadde Achilles sclayn
And let him ligge so foule be-sclayn
Line 18436
In-myddes the strete to rauen & rokes,—
Scholde haue to-drawen him with her crokes,—
¶ These two ffor him thei be-soght
That he myght to burieles be broght.
Line 18440
Wherfore it is worthi,
That ȝe here lyues to hem graunty.'
The kynges it graunt by comune assent,
And seyde it was gode Iugement.
Line 18444
Heleyne [MS. Helenus.] & Andromede
Bede tho alle those lordes swete
Off here mercy and thaire good wille,
That thei wolde not hir children spille.
Line 18448
¶ The kynges hadde of hem gret ruthe,
Thei swor alle by her treuthe
That thei scholde hem non harm do;
And thus saued thei the childryn two:
Line 18452
And sithen was on a kyng In Grece,
Off riche londes & riche fece,
Off alle the londes kyng Pirrus
And of the londes of kyng Pelleus.
Line 18456
¶ Thei ordeyned a-monges hem as blyue,
That alle that were lefft on lyue
Off ladyes, comen of genterye,
With-oute schame or vylonye
Line 18460
Page 544
Line 18460
Scholde go & come & no-thing lese, [folio 272b]
Line 18461
Or dwelle ther stille, whether thei wolde chese.
¶ Thei ordeyned also thei wolde hom wende,
Euery man vnto his frende.
Line 18464
But that myght not that tyme be
For gret tempest on the see;
Thei dwelled so ther alle to-gedir
A ful Monethe for that euel wedir,
Line 18468
Thei were echon ther-of euel tened,
Thei asked Calcas: "what it be-mened
That thei no wyse the see myght pas
In-to here londes, as here wille was?"
Line 18472
¶ That gret Clerk Calcas tho seyde:
'For thei of helle are with ȝow euel payde;
It is the wodenesse'—he sayde—'of helle
That makes vs here so longe dwelle,
Line 18476
For ȝe forsothe haue venged noght
Achilles deth, as ȝe wel oght;
Ȝit haue ȝe lefft on lyue & vn-tane
Sche that was Achilles bane,—
Line 18480
And yff ȝe wol passe of londe,
Off hir ȝe mot make him offrande
For sicur: but sche to dethe gange,
Ȝe may dwelle here wel lange.'
Line 18484
PIrrus was of this an-yred,
Afftir Pollexene he enspired
And asked what was of hir be-tyd;
He seide for-sothe that sche was hid,
Line 18488
For sche was nowher ded ne tane,
And al men wiste, that sche was wane;
And al that ost seyde sicurly,
That sche was lyuande witterly.
Line 18492
¶ The kynges alle were wroth ther-fore
And sent afftir sir Antenore,
Page 545
And asked at him: "where sche was done?" [folio 273a]
Thei bad "that he scholde telle sone,
Line 18496
Where thei hadde hid Dame Pollexene
And Hectuba, the qwene?"
¶ He swor by god & by his face:
"That he ne wiste where sche wace;
Line 18500
He wyst neuere, where thei were be-comen
Sithen the tyme that thei were y-nomen."
But thei bare him stiffly an hande,
That he wiste where thei were dwellande.
Line 18504
ANtenor was sore a-greued
That the Gregais him not leued,
He sette his wit and al his tent
To wete than where the ladies lent.
Line 18508
So longe he soght fro day to day,
Strete by strete, & way be way,
And sente a-boute oueral his sonde,
That at the laste thei hem fonde:
Line 18512
Bothe were In a depe bour,
That was vnder an old tour.
¶ When he of hir hadde a sight,
He drow out thanne that worthi wyght,
Line 18516
And to Agamenoun [The MS. has ou very distinctly here, not on.] with hir he wente
And made to him of hir a presente;
And he sent hir to sir Pirrus,
That of hir comyng was Ioyus.
Line 18520
¶ Pollexene is taken & founden,
As a theff thei haue hir bounden:
Pirrus bad "sche scholde be sent
To his ffadres monument,
Line 18524
For he wolde that sche scholde haue
Hir deth vpon his fader graue."
Thei ledde hir forth by the hand
To hir deth, wel sore wepand.
Line 18528
Page 546
Line 18528
¶ The kynges of Grece herd say [folio 273b]
Line 18529
"That thei hadde take that worthi may
Thorow Calcas the prestes rede,
And that thei haue hir to the dede";
Line 18532
The kynges ran hir to se,
And alle that other comunalte.
¶ When thei saw hir, thei seyde: "alas!
That suche a ladi as sche was
Line 18536
Off schap, of hede, & of bewte,
Scholde so vile ther ded be
With-oute desert or any gilt,
That suche a bodi scholde be spilt."
Line 18540
Many a lord & many a kyng
Wepe wel so[re] for that swetyng.
BE-fore that tombe that mayden stondes [The abbreviations here are not es, but es.] ,
Wryngyng bother hir white hondes [The abbreviations here are not es, but es.] ,
Line 18544
Wel reufully that lady gretis,
That al hir brest that water wetis.
Sche seide: 'lordynges, by god al-myght!
Ȝe do me scle with mochel vn-right!
Line 18548
For—by that god that maked pes!—
Off that knyghtes deth am I giltles;
For I was neuere occasioun
Off his dethe ne enchesoun,
Line 18552
Ne neuere ȝit was at that assent
That he that tyme to dethe went;
¶ But Angured me sore of his schedyng,—
So helpe me god at myn endyng!
Line 18556
Not-for-thi the [In the MS. to is crossed out here, and the inserted over line.] deth I ne drede,
Thus carefully, so Crist me spede!
For me is leuere In my contre
Be sclayn In my virginite,
Line 18560
That I falle not In ȝoure handis,
Þan [Þan inserted by another hand to the left, And being crossed out.] go with ȝow In-to ȝoure landis
Page 547
¶ Hic Pirrus Interfecit Pollexenam.
And be ther defouled & for-layn [folio 274a]
Line 18563
With ȝow that haue my fader sclayn.
Line 18564
Lette come the deth when ȝe wille,
For I am redi now ther-tille!'
¶ Pirrus thanne his swerd out-drow
And that ladi sone he sclow,
Line 18568
And hewe to gobetis al hir flesch,
And with hir blod the tombe wesch.
When Hectuba, that gentil quene,
Saw ded hir doghter Pollexene,
Line 18572
And saw hir spraulen In hir blode,
¶ The quene for-sothe wex ner wode,
And felde men with stones & smot,
And as an hound hem gnow & bot,
Line 18576
And tare here clothes & on hem spit,—
So was sche wode & out of wit.
When thei saw hir for wode so wilde,
Thei did lede hir to an Ilde [¶ Hic Regina mortua est.]
Line 18580
With-oute the toun—het Aulidis,—
And stoned hir to dethe y-wis.
¶ And made ther a tombe fair & hye,
And leyde ther-Inne that quenes bodye;
Line 18584
That standes ȝit vnto this day,
As sais tho men that wenden that way;
And beres that stede ȝit the name,
That thei for hir ȝaff the name.
Line 18588
THe quene is ded by these traytours fals [MS. has a small cross at this place; cf. note on p. 548.] ,
And Pollexene, hir doghter, als,
And alle hir sones that oght were worth
Are sclayn & dede & passed forth;
Line 18592
And Priamus, hir lord, the kyng,
Is ded also, & his hous gyng;
He is ded and his kynred,
And alle his frendis & his manred;
Line 18596
Page 548
Line 18596
Is non on lyue lyuande ffre [folio 274b]
Line 18597
Saue thes traytours & her meyne.
¶ And ȝit afftirward hit schop so
That the traytoures bothe two
Line 18600
For here ffalsnesse were afftir demed
To be exiled & afftir flemed—
With al here kyn & here lynage—
For her wickednesse & her outrage;
Line 18604
Afftir the Gregais were I-went,
Wel foule were thei afftir schent.
¶ But al the while that thei were thare,
Thei did the Cite moche care
Line 18608
And halp the Gregeis to distroye
And alle the folk foule annoye.
NOw ben the Grues wonder bolde
And bene alle lordes,—as I ȝow tolde;—
Line 18612
And al this is at here wille
That thei wolde haue, bothe loude & stille.
Agamenoun let crye
Thorow alle that companye,
Line 18616
In tour & toun, by way & strete:
"That no man scholde for no man lete,
That thei alle at morwe be tyme,
Be-twix sonne risyng & the prime,
Line 18620
Were al redi at here naue
To passe forth ouer the see,
With alle her godis & her thing
That thei wole to schipe bryng [The MS. has another small cross at this place; cf. note on p. 547.] ."
Line 18624
¶ The nyght was gon, the sonne a-ros,
Fro the lond the schippes gos;
With alle her meyne that with hem was
To schipe thei wente a gode pas,
Line 18628
And drow vp sayl to the top;
And sayled homward alle on a throp,
Page 549
Euery lord to his contre, [folio 275a]
Line 18631
With Ioye & blysse & mechel gle,
Line 18632
And tresour I-now [MS. I. now.] for euere-mo:
Kyngis & knyghtes, & sqwyers also,
And alle other hadde gret store,
Gold & siluer for euere-more.
Line 18636
¶ And thus was Troye dryuen doun
And y-lore thorow strong tresoun,
And alle the gode lordis dede,—
As In this romaunce men may rede;
Line 18640
And thus the Grues were conquerours
And wel riche with here tresoures,
And hadde y-now for euere-more
Alle that at that batayle wore.
Line 18644
¶ And thus endis this strong batayle
That was of Troye saunfayle,
That dured ten ȝere euery day,—
As the romaunce ther-of doth say,—
Line 18648
Off Troye batayle, that fair cyte.
Now god that died vpon the tre,
That schede ther his swete blode
Opon that blisful croys, that rode,
Line 18652
For synful mannes saluacioun,
Graunt vs alle his benysoun,
Gode lyff and gode endyng,
A gode soule to heuene bryng,
Line 18656
And graunte vs of his swete grace
Ther-In to haue a swete place!
¶ And he that this romaunce wroght & made,
Lord In heuene, thow him glade,
Line 18660
And gode lyff In erthe to lede,
And heuene blysse vnto his mede;
And graunte hit mot so be!
Sayeth alle Amen, for charite! [On lf. 275, bk. is written by the same hand the rubric: Hic Bellum de Troye ffinit Et Greci tran|sierunt versus Patriam suam. Some scribbling follows. See description of MS. in the Introduction.]
Line 18664