Zwei mittelenglische prosaromane the sege of Thebes and the sege of Troy / [ed. Friedrich Brie].

Im folgenden gebe ich den Text in unveränderter Fassung. [Für die Abschrift bin ich Herrn Dr. Fritz Jung aus Pforzheim zu Dank verpflichtet.] Nur die Abkürzungen sind aufgelöst und durch kursiven Druck kenntlich gemacht. In den Fußnoten habe ich in einzelnen Fällen auf die entsprechende Stelle bei Lydgate verwiesen.

Here bigynneth þe Sege of Thebes.

JN the tyme of the full worthi Josue, [Lydgate v. 188.] as the story reherceth by þe writing of þe noble clerke Boas, that King Alphioun founded and first bigan the famous Cite of Thebes, of whom descended lynyally King Layus, And had to wife Jocasta, and leueden togidre longe withoute issue.—Layus ful hevy, and alwey pensif in hert, thenking ever on his reme and dignite to fal into strange hondes, made ful grete rightes and sacrafices to his goddis for to sende him issue, whos praiers was admitted and herd in suche wise, that Jocasta hadde conceyued [L. v. 357.] a son, which afterward was called Edippes, a yenst whos berth, the seid Layus, lete do send thorgh euery party of his reme, for the moost famost and wisest clerkes þat might be founde, for to devyne and calke of þat childe, þat, Jocasta hadde so conceyued. The which in suche wise so labored, serching oute euery constellacioun and influens of þe heuenes, founde bi iuste inspexioun, þat hit shuld be a son, And in þe tyme of his begeting, þe heuenes weren eueryche so contrarius to oþer, and of suche nature, þat þei fonde redely, hit shuld sle þe fader; þe which infortunat destony þei oponli declared vnto þe king, as þei ouȝt to do of right. Of which, þe king right hevy and sory in hert, yaf in charge and commaundement to Jocasta his wife, that assone, as hit were borne, [L. v. 404.] þat hit were don to deth.—Jocasta þat in no wise list not to disobey þe commaundement of hir lorde, not with stonding that hit was right greuous to sle hir owne childe; Assone as hit was borne, made calle a servaunt of heris, charging him to bere hit ferre into þe fforest, and þere to sle it; Which was anone redy to obey þe commaundement of the quene; toke and bare þe childe and sey hit so faire and wel shapen, hadde pite in hert to sle hit and to late hit ben deuoured with bestes and wormes, but he made [fol. 1b] two holis þorgh his fete, and so hinge him vppon a gagg of a tre a life, and so returned home. In which fforest, that day, were knyȝtes of king Pollibon on honting, and herd crying of a childe & come ny, and fonde where hit hing on a tre, whereof they hadde grete pite, And anone, toke it downe fro þe tre, and brought hit to king Pollibon, which anone, with glad hert and chere, receyued it. And in all hast sent for norses and leches to hele his fete, purposing fulli, [L. v. 461.] þat sith hit come by þe sonde of

god, and he none issue of his body, for to make it his heyre. But euer as hit grewe in age hit grewe ful of wicked and cursed condicions, so þat no man with him myȝt dele ne accord.—Fortuned vppon a day, þat one of his felawes, that he debated with repreued and seid. Whi art þou so wicked and cursed, thou trouest that þou art þe kinges son, And þou art so, ne noȝt of his kynrede; thou were founde in þe forest as a thing forsake and cast a wey, honging by þe fete on a tre. The childe þenking gretly vppon his wordes, wox full hevy and sory in hert, and come to þe king, rehercing what his felawe had seid; beseching þe king to tel him, wheþer he were his son or no. The king told and declared to him, how þat he was founde; whereof þe childe was gretly disamayed and asstonyed, And went sodenly into þe temple, [L. v. 534.] and made ful deuoute prayers and grete sacrafices to þe goddis, to þat entent, to haue knowlache and relacioun of whens that he come; whos praiers was herd, and had answhere & verry knowlage, þat he come of þe verry blode of Thebes, wheþer in ful grete hast and yre, he toke þe wey, And at a Castel beside called Pilotes, [L. v. 561.] lay þe king, making a turney, and a grete feste wheþer þis Edyppes toke his wey in ful grete rage and oute of mesure alight a downe, and tyed his horse at þe gate bynding þe porter to open þe gate in hast; And for cause, hit was not [fol. 2] opened at þe first worde, with his swerde he smote þe porter, And slewe him. The king stonding in a windowe, seing this case, come sodenly rennyng to þe gate, rehercyng this Edippes, whi he didde þat offense within his Castell.—Edippes holding his swerde drawen in his honde, withoute eny more, smote þe king his fader, and þere slowe him, taking his horse al sodenly, and rode fast on his wey, onespied of eny man, holding his iournay toward Thebes, where, in his wey vppon a montayne as he rode, he met with an horrible beest a monstre, called a Spinx, [L. v. 624.] And was so cruel a beest, that he had ny destroied þe contre aswel of man as of beest; the which beest, þere, of manhode, slowe And brought þe hede with him to Thebes.—Of which manfull dede, þe Cite and contre abought merveiled gretly, that hit might be in þe power of man to do so mervelouse a dede, And weren so glad and ioyful thereof, þat þey helden him as a conqueroure. And within short tyme there aftre, for as moche as þe king was dede, and þe londe stonding withoute hede or gouernour; the lordes of þe londe and Cite hadden a grete counsell And by hole assent, maden a trety with þe quene Jocasta, for to take þis worthi knyȝt to husbond, And seiden with one voice, þat he was þe moste worthi able man for to gouerne þe londe, and for to be theire protectour and shelde; To whom she answered and seid. That for asmoch as ye, that ben lordis, and gouernours in þis londe, if ye se in youre wisdomes that hit may be to þe moost profite, avayle, & worshipp of this londe, if ye se in your wisdomes þat hit be best, I woll enclyne and obey to your desire. The day of spousell anone were sette and done, þe sollempnite of þe coronacioun also; After certen dayes ended, þe lordes token hir leve, And eueryche departed to his contre. This worthi Edippes and Jocasta his wife and moder leueden togidre in lustes and likinges by yeris, so þat þey hadden to issue [fol. 2b] ij sones and ij doughteres, And not with stonding’ that þey weren innocent, and noȝt knowing’ of theire myscheues leving, yit was he punyshed and brought ful lowe, or that he deied. Whereby A man may se, that suche an errour and syn knowen, ought to be gretely eschued. Of which ij sones, þat one hight Ethiocle, And that oþer Pollymytes. Of the ij doughteres, that one hight Antigon, and that oþer Ismyne; ffortuned vppon a nyȝt, this mighty king sitting by his moder and wife barefote, going to his bedde, she biholding vppon his fete, aspied þe carectes and olde woundes in theym, ful sodenly

fill into a grete pensifnesse and sighing. The king espying hir county∣naunce asked of hir, whi she was of suche chere, she atte þe last, yaf answhere in this wise, and seid, Truly ser I had a son by king Layus, that was honged by þe fete in a fforest, vnto þe tyme that he was dede, by commaundement and charge of his ffader þe king. Wherefor the woundes in your fete putteth me nowe in remembraunce, þe which, causeth me nowe to be þe more hevy. The king conceyving well hir wordes, And anone by verri evidence, he knewe well that hit was him self; whereof, he, al so∣denly, fell into a grete affray of him self; sytting into so greuous thought, that anone Jocasta merveyled what hit myȝt be, praying him for to tel hir his grete pensifnes, To whom, he anone answhered and seid. Truly, hit was my self, þat so was founde honging in þe fforest. Of which infortunat chaunce, they fil bothe into grete hevynesse and sorowe, which myschef, was anone knowe þorgh þe Cite and londe.—The king falling alwey more and more in dispaire, vnto þe tyme, that as my Auctor writeth for sorowe, he wept oute bothe his eighen, And euer of al pepłe, his sones, had him most in dispite, putting him onder fote so, þat he died in grete myschef; After whos dethe, the seid ij breþeren maden ful grete strif for þe londe and reme.—Ethiocles seying [fol. 3] alwey, that by cause, he was þe elder broþer, he wold haue al the londe with domynacioun and regne as king. Pollymytes seid ayen that þough it were so, þat he were elder, yit shuld he not haue all, and he right noȝt.—The lordes of þe londe and Cite, seyng þe grete variaunce & discorde bitwen þeym, considering þe grete myschef that myȝt fall, maden grete ordenaunce, and ful diligent laboure, to put þeym in accorde and rest. Whereto þey condecenden as ye shal here. For asmoche as þey were hole bretheren of ffader and moder, and neuer list to obey oþer; þat one shall occupie þe crowne and dignite with hole pos∣sessioun one yere, And þat oþer in þe same wise anoþer yere. And so while þe one occupieth, þat oþer for to voyde þe londe, So þat none shuld regne vppon oþer. And for as moche as Ethiocles was þe elder he shuld regne þe first yere. The which accorde bothe condecended and was in þe moost strengest wise regestred and enrolled with þe surest bondes and oþes vppon þeire goddis þat myght be done. Ethiocles assigned and set in his estate ful rially; The oþer taking his horse and armour, and rode vppon his Auen∣ture oute of þe londe.—Fortuned so as he rode in a strange londe, þe nyȝt come, where he no thing knewe þe contrey and in grete tempest of weder abought mydnyȝt atteyned to þe Cite of Arge; where that tyme, king Adrastus lay. And hit was so late, and þe tempest so grete, þat he myȝt no herborgh gete, but he fonde a porche [L. v. 1252.] And þerein light down and leyd beside him his spere and shelde, And so, þere, toke his rest as for þe tyme. Of Aventure bifell þe same tyme þere come riding to þe same porche, one þe worthiest on lyve, whos name was called Tydeus, And was son vnto þe king of Calydoyne, And was exiled, by cause he slogh his broþer [fol. 3b] onware of him with an Arowe at a huntyng stonding in a trister; And as he come to þe porche for to haue had succour for þe grete wheder, Pollymet sodenly stept vp, And drewe oute his swerde, as he þat was full cursed and coragious, and asked, who was so hardy for to disloge him of his herborgh which he had take. Tedeus answhered ayen in ful gentil and sobre wise, [L. v. 1312.] seying, I am not in purpos for to dislogge you, but ser as me semeth, this porche is large ynogh, for to ese us bothe as for þe tyme if hit like you. Pollymet as he þat was of berth and blode contagious and contrarious, seid playnely, but if þou voide, I shal sle þe.—Tedeus answhered ayen and seid. Truly ser for asmoche as þis porche is large ynogh for vs bothe, if ye list not þat I shal haue part with you, hit shall be tryed betwen vs two

with sharp speres, which shal haue þe hole, for in gode feithe, I þenk not to stonde withoute in grete tempest, and ye alone within, where there is rome ynogh for vs bothe. Pollymet with ful yrous corage graunted anone to þat tryall. Theire horse sadeled and brideled, lopen into the sadeles with speris in honde, and ron togidre with ful manly hertes, that here speres al to brekke. Drawing oute theire swerdes and leyden togidir so strongly, þat þorgh þe noyse, þe worthi king Adrastus lying in his bed within his palis, sodenly awoke of his slepe, And called vppon hem þat were of his chambre, charging hem to wite in hast what was al þat noyse that he herd in þe strete, his seruauntes ran oute in al hast, finding thes ij knyȝtes fighting togidre with ful grete ire, and fers corage. Whereof þe seid seruauntes had fulle grete mervaille, returnyng to the king & tolden, þat þey seyn two men fighting togidre as hit were in bataile assigned. The king anone lete calle his peple abought him withoute eny tarying And went into þe strete where he fonde hem fighting [fol. 4] togidre in ful mortall wise, whom þe king anone charged for to cese, Axing theym, who yaf hem leve for to fight so togider withoute Juge, [L. v. 1282.] and lete take anone þeire wepones fro þeym. Tedeus fulle knyghtly withoute eny more delay, light fro his horse, obeying þe kingges commaundement, And Pollymet also in like wise. The king asked of þeym of wens þei were, and of what lynage [L. v. 1400.] twey come of. Tedeus answhering first and seid, þat he was son vnto king Calydon, And shuld be his eyre, And declared vnto him þe cause of his exile, and of his metyng þere that tyme with Pollymet. Pollymet told þat he was of Thebes, son to Jocasta þe quene, but of his ffader spak he no thing. The king anone by his wordes, knewe þe grownde of his berthe, and made þeym right gode chere and ladden þeym into his palis, where he made theym ful accorded conveying, þeym to chambres, where þei were in þe best wise demened; And þe king held hem þere still with him, and hadden all þe chere and disport þat myȝt be don. Fortuned vppon a day þe king remembring him wel vppon þeire berth, and blode riall, purposed fully for to mary his ij douȝters to þeym two, which doughteres shulden be heires of his londe.—The king walking on a day in his disport, called to him þes ij knygtes, seying to hem in þis wise Truly seres, I am right sory to se yow in þis disese, þenking on your noble and worthi blode, wherefor y am in ful purpose if hit plese you for to gif you my ij doughteres to wifes, þe which after my decese, shulle enherite al my reme, with al my oþer possessions and richesse. Thes ij knightes right glad in hert of þat worthi profre, þonked þe king in þeire best wise. The day of spousell sette with grete sollempnite and array full rially was done; Tedeus wedded þe elder called Deyphille, and Pollymet þe yonger called Argyve.—Thes two knightes by alliaunce, loued so truly togidre [fol. 4b] alwey during theire lyves, þat þere was neuer truer love founde bitwixt two breþeren. But ye shull white, that worde & knowlage of this worthi and stronge mariage, was sone sprong and ran, into many a strange londe, so þat hit come to þe eris of his broþer Ethiocles, which þereof, was right sory in hert, stonding þe more in doute of þat mighti alliaunce, lest Pollymet at his next commyng for to receyve his dignite of Thebes, wold by strength exclude and disherite him for euermore. Wherefor he toke fully to purpose, & conclude within him self, that while he stode in ful myȝt & power and possessed within þe myȝti Cite, for to kepe it with strengthe And to holde oute his broþer for euer. Not withstonding, þe grete suertees and oþes made bifor tyme, afore al his lordes in playn parlement. Where vppon, he in al hast, sent for all his lordes, where he oponly declared to þeym his ful entent and wyl, saying to hem in þis wise.—

Sirres ye knowe wel þat al þe while þe rewle and gouernaunce of þis reme stonde in þis wise transitory, and euery yere to change newe, there may neuer be tranquyllyte vnite ne rest in þe reme amonge you. Wherefor in eschuyng of al myscheues and perelles þat myȝt folowe, I am fully pur∣posed and avised to occupie and contynue in my domnacioun And to holde oute and exclude for euer my broþer, And to kepe that he shal neuer regne vppon you. To which purpose grete party of his lordes assented and accorded. And in affermyng of þe kinges entent, seiden playnely, þat þere as þe soueraynte shulde regne in suche wise by course vppon hem, hit shulde within short tyme pele and destroy hem. For eyþer souerayne for his tyme wold for his owne lucre and avayle take what that he myȝt. Oþer party of þe seid lordes answhering in this wise, seiden playnely. The hiest thing partaynyng to a king’ [fol. 5] were alwey preserue and kepe his feith and trouth above all oþer þinges, considering þe strong bondes and oþes made in so hie places of recorde to his broþer breking; of which shulde turne to grete displesaunce to oure goddis. Whereby grete venge∣aunce myght folowe vnto you and your reme. Wherefor, oure ful consel is and avise that ye kepe and afferme þe bondes and covenauntes made vnto youre broþer.—The seid Ethiocles hering and wel conceyving þe ententes of his lordes, toke fulli to purpos to withholde al þat he might gete according to his purpos, And al, þat held þe contrary opyneoun, were anone exiled and banshed oute of his reme; which in short tyme after, he founde most cruel ayenst him. Ethiocles þenking also, þat if his broþer come for to clayme or to chalange eny dignite þere, þat he wold sle him, so þat he might hold it still in pesable possessioun.—Within short tyme after þe terme of Ethiocles was termyned and ended as fore that yere. Pollymet enformyng Adrastus and Tedeus holy his cause, right, and title, which he had to þe crowne of Thebes, as for þe next yere, Praying þe seid king of counsell & succour in þat mater, wheþer he shuld go him self to Thebes for to receyve crowne and septre, or ellis to sende his messenger to haue redy knowlage of þe entent and wil of his broþer Ethiocles. To which, Adrastus yaf ful counsell, þat he shuld not go him self ne put him in aventure, but þat he shuld send thider his broþer Tedeus, for þe ful knowlage of his entent. Tedeus with ful good hert and will toke þe iournay vppon him, to þat entent, that þei þe better might procede to þeire purpos. Tedeus arraied in the best wise, rode forthe on his iournay to Thebes, where he fonde Ethiocles, holding ful proudely his estate; To whom Tedeus spak in þis wise.—Right worthi Lorde, as yit regning in youre see, [fol. 5b] your worthi broþer Pollymet bade, that ye shuld haue in remembraunce þe grete and strong bondes, suerteis, oþes, and couen∣auntes, made by a vice of al þe lordes of Thebes, with your consent, which is of so hie recorde, that hit may in no wise be repeled. Considering þat the tyme is come, that ye of right most nedis resigne bothe crowne & septre with al þe hole possessioun and dignite to your said broþer as for þis next yere. Remembring also, that by þe same suertees and statutes, ye may not bothe, be in Thebes at onys. Wherefor he wold that ye voide þis reme, as for this yere; So þat he may come, his crowne and septre of Thebes for to receyve as þe poyntement is, ffor he hath truly leved in exile, during his terme; Ethiocles hering this message, was sore chaufed in his corrupt blode, axing him, howe he durst be so hardy for to entre into his reme withoute his licence or protexioun with eny suche message. Tedeus answhering ayen and seid. Myn Auctorite is of him, þat of riȝt hath moost power, ffor your power is ceded as ye wel knowe; Ethiocles having grete dispite at his wordes, yaf in commaundement to his seruauntes for to put him into strong prisoun, And anone he made his othe, that he shuld dye in ensaumple of all oþer to be ware of eny suche mesage; And

also in his entent to put his broþer in þe more drede, þat he shuld not dare clayme ne chalange eny title there. Tedeus seing þe peple abought to ley hondes vppon him, ful manly drewe oute his swerd, and made þeym to voide his wey, And goeth streite to þe gate of þe palis where his mighty horse stode sadeled and brideled, where vppon he lept and rode forth his wey; Ethiocles sore meved that he was so gon fro him, charged al his meyne fast to ride aftre him, And to sle him, or he passed his londe. His seruauntes were sone redy and on horse, toke nere pathes, And so at a streite encowntred him [fol. 6] where he might not eskape vnder þe montayne, where Edyppes slewe þe Spinx. Tedeus seing þat he myȝt in no wise passe that streyte light fro his horse, And there ful manfully faught with hem so longe, þat he slogh hem euery chone, saue one, which he preserued a life, for to make relacioun to Ethiocles, howe his felawes weren slayne. But Tedeus is gone on his iournay sore wounded touarđ Arge, where he fonde Adrastus and Pollymet, which were right sory for his woundes and hurtes. Tedeus there making ful report of þe answhere and purpose taken ayenst him by Ethiocles. This mighti king Adrastus, having redy knowlage of þe grete wronge and dispite don to Tedeus, And also of þe grete wronge purposed ayenst þe title and right, þat Pollymet onght to haue in Thebes, take fully to purpos to ben avenged in þe vttemost wise if fortune wold assent, and that in al hast possible, sending oute his sompnes into euery partie of his reme, for to make al his lordes fore to appere bifore him vppon assigned. Which ful redy, kept hir day of apparence, where Adrastus, by avice of his said lordes, toke þere purpos fore to ride to Tebes with all þe might and power that he might reyse, fore to depose Ethiocles of his dignite, or ellis for to ley sege thereto vnto þe tyme hit were destroied for euer. Where vppon he sent oute his messengers to euery coost to make his retenue, þe which was don within short tyme And as Boas writeth, þe moost worthiest retenue that euer was made bifor that day; In þe which, þere were of estates as ye shall here right ferre geten in diuerse regiones. First there come to him Protholome, [L. v. 2598.] which was son to þe king of Archades with ful grete power of right worthi men and of werre, A full prudent man at al tymes proued. There come also þe king of Sylmetheus a fulle worthi and a famous man as clerkes writeth with full grete and myghti power at his retenue. There was also þe king Ypamedon [fol. 6b] a passing man proued in kniȝthode, leding an houge and myȝty power with him at his retenue. There was also þe worthi king Cappaneus, þat often tyme had ben proued a worthi werreour. There was also þe worþi king Mebeagar, whos name of knighthode is nowe ful wyde, bringing with him a ful grete ooste in his retenue. There come also þe worthi famous king Cauor with ful moche multitude at his gouernaunce; Thider come also þe mighty king Ladres and þe king Purreus that weren right victorious and of grete might, hawing at theire gouernaunce a ful grete ooste and many a worthi werreour. There was also Palameon a ful grete renowned werreour with an houge multitude of peple in his retenue, And also þe worthi knight Tedeus sending into Calidoyne, where of he was right heire, [L. v. 2625.] where, al þe worthiest of þat reme, were fayne to come at his desire; In which retenue, was ful many a worthi lorde & werreour that I write not of; And as I fynde writen, thider come many of þe lordes of Thebes to Pollymet, þe which were preued right worthy and ful cruell ayenst Ethiocles, by cause he exiled þeym for þeyre record of trouthe, And ful violently proued her malis vppon him.

And as Boas telleth, thider come al þe chivalry of Grece. This excellent retenue ful made and comyn, Assembled and mostred vppon a faire playne in a faire day bifor the Cite of Arge which was right faire and mervelouse to be holde; For as my Auctor seith, sith þe world first bigon into þat day, was never seyn so faire a felde of peple And labour ynogh for many a herode for to distreve and blase þe Cates and baners of lordes, þe brightnesse of which shone vp to heven. This worthi king Adrastus ordeynyng ful worþely for þe said peple and principally for hem þat come thider at theire owne cost and charge, And gouerned him in suche wise þat euery man of þe said retenue, held him wel content and plesed. Ethiocles having knowlacche of this mighty purpose taken a yenst him; In al soden hast stuffed his [fol. 7] Cite with vitaile and peple, waged fro many a contrey, purposingg’ fully to resist and withstond al þeire malice. Repairing strongely his Cite in casting of diches, Enforcyng his wallis, contre∣munyng his depe diches, machecollyng his hie toures, Enbrayng his wacches abought the Cite, fortefying his bruges and barreris with many a mighty cheyne, purveying ful wisely his ordenaunce for his defence with bowes and balesteres, springaltes and tegrettes And many a mighty bowe of brake and wyndeles, and many oþer cast of stone and of fire, sparing for no cost. Assignyng euery man fore the werre to his warde, where vppon, þeire lyves most be plegge. Which grete and mighty ordenaunce on bothe sides turned afterward to grete myschef on bothe parties, ffore hit preued well þere of þeym two, that weren so horribly goten ayenst all nature & orden∣aunce, for as clerkes seyn, blode to touche blode, bringeth forthe corrupt frute. Resorting nowe ayen to king Adrastus, having his houge peple in assemble redy to take theire iournay, send forth a notable and a ffamous man a bisshopp called Amphiorax, [Lydgate v. 2798.] the moost wisest man holden of all þe world amonge þe peple of Grece, as hit were a prophet. For what by calculacioun, what by þe answere of his goddis, [L. v. 2808.] he wold alwey tell in maner as hit shuld fall; for þe which cause, Adrastus hath sent for him to be his counseler in al his iourney; Amphiorax having suche experience in calculacioun, founde redely by þe influence of heuen that if he went with Adrastus in þat iourney, that he shuld be quyk deuoured of þe erthe; [L. v. 2830.] Wherefor he purposed him fully to eschue þat iourney; praying and charging his wife, that if eny man come to seche him, þat she shuld not discouer him, for he wold go and hide him in savyng of his life. Anone messengers constreyned hir by othe to tele wher he was; To whom she said in saving of hir trouth. Goeth and secheth him in þe toure, where ye may finde him; [fol. 7b] To which place þey went And fonde him and brought him byforne Adrastus. To whom Adrastus yaf anone in charge on peyne of his dethe to go and be wel avised fore to yeue him true counsel of his iournay and purpose to Thebes ward. Amphiorax making his calculacioun serching oute euery constellacioun and influence of þe heuenes of þe tyme, that purpose taken; Abiding also þe answhere of his goddis, fonde verely and truly, that if Adrastus held forthe his iornay to Thebes, þat al þe chef blode of Grece shuld be destroied & lost And him self deuoured of þe erthe, And come ayen to þe kyng and seid.

Truly ser if ye hold forth your iournay, þat ye haue purposed to Thebes, al þe blode rial of Grece shal be destroied and lost; ffor in taking of your purpos, al þe heuenesse aboue were so disposed; wherefor my counsel is þat ye be right wel avised; And as for þis iournay, sendeth to Thebes, assaying by oþer weyes and menes to haue your wronges amended and reformed. To whom Adrastus, Tedeus, Pollymet and many oþer estates answhered and seiden; Amphiorax thou toke not thi tyme of calculacioun a right, ne vnderstode, noȝt well thy goddis; ffor suche a peple as we haue, may not be overcome for al þe world after. Amphorax seid truly, that hit shuld turne to grete myschef and vengeaunce to al þe noble blode of Grece as he said bifore; Notwithstonding his saying and counselyng; Adrastus ordeynyng forth al his peple, ledyng with him Amphiorax yn a chare to geve him counsaile; So holding forth theire iournay, spreding al þe contrey abought with bright baners and harneys, that hit was mervelouse to se, making þeyre wey by þe worthi king Ligurgius the which receyued Adrastus and al his ooste ful worthely, In whos lond, Adrastus and al his houge ooste were wel refresshed holding forth þat iourney til þey come bifore þat worthi Cite of Thebes; where þey ful proudely lighten downe, settyng vp full [fol. 8] many a riall pavilon and tent on euery side þe Cite, closing þe Cite all abought, making þeire logges, [L. v. 3583.] and many a myghty warde on euery side; So þat þere might no man yssue oute of þe Cite vnslayne or taken, A rering vp many a big bulwerk’ on euery side, setting mynours to þe walles in full ferse wise. Ethiocles seing al þis mortal ordenaunce, purposed ayenst him, was gretly abasshed, and purveyed strong resistence ayenst theym and defence for him self. Ordeined ful many a siker warde and wacche on þe walles, making redy al þeire Artelery and cast of stone. And of many anoþer defence with ful siker serchercherours of wardes, pur∣posing fully, that er he wold eny þing obey for to haue a ful sufficiant and profitable enpoyntement.—Jocasta the quene and moder to Etheocles, and to Pollymet, seing þe grete myschef folowing, set hir self on horse, [L. v. 3740.] taking with hir Antigon and Imyne hir doughters with oþer of hir seruaunteȝ. And by licence of Adrastus come riding to his pavilioun. To whom he did ful grete reuerence. Hir son Pollymet going a yenst hir, did to hir lowly obeysaunce, and to his susteres also.—Jocasta praying Adrastus, þat þere might some trety of pes taken and behad bitwen þe two breþeren, so that þere were no blode lost fo theire cause. Praying Adrastus and al þe lordes that were þere, þat she myȝt sey for þe part of Etheocles, þe which Adrastus graunted with right gode will. Jocasta desiryng þat hir son Ethiocles myȝt regne in Thebes durying his lyf with oute interrupcioun of eny man. His Brother Pollymet taking a part suffisaunt for to leve vppon, And to be vnder þe obeciens of Etheocle by cause he is þe elder brother. The Grekes sodenly maden answhere þere, and namely Tedeus, seying playnly, þey wold in no wise entrete with him, but if he wold resigne crowne, septre, and all þe dignite aftre þe covenaunt and statutes made bifor tyme, of which þey had þe copies redy to shewe. To which Jocasta coude in no wise [fol. 8b] make Ethiocles to enclyne. Then she returnyng ayen to the Cite leting the mor∣tall werre haue his course, whervppon þe fers proude sowdeoures of þe Cite, come yssing oute at þe gates, skarmysshing aswel on horse as on fote with þe Grekes, At þe which, full many a doughti man was slayn on bothe par∣ties, And full many wounden and take on bothe partyes. Aftre which scarmyssh so moche feruent yre and envy rose on bothe sides þat for þe deth none spared daiely to mete oþer in þe berde. And Tedeus alwey bare him so manly, that he was dred as þe deth. Fortuned vppon a day as þe story telleth, that Amphiorax in his chare beyng yn the felde amonge þe

lordes, yeving þem his counsel, sodenly þe erth clef vnder his chare so wide, þat his chare and he there yn fel þorgh downe into helle, þe which sodenly closed ayen [L. v. 4036.] as no thing as there ben; by whom ye may se, þat his merite for his Idolatry and mysbileue, and sey al befor, that he myȝt not voide but þat þe deuell [L. v. 4039.] had his domnacioun of him. Adrastus with all his oþer lordes, seing þis vengeaunce, mervailed gretly, having grete drede, purposing to returne home ayen. The yonge lordes ful douȝti and auentures to þe werre, seiden playnely, that hit were a grete cowardise and shame infinite, for to leve so grete a purpos for þe myschef of one mysviled wrecche. Considering also that þe Grekes neuer into þis day was neuer in no repreue of no nacioun, ne shamed in no wise, seying proudely, þat þey wold neuer go thens while þere were one left on lyve within þe towne, or stone, ston∣dyng on þe wallis, but if hit were yolden at þeire wil. Adrastus with all oþer lordes seing and conceyving þe coragious desires of þe yonge lordis, token ful purpos to abide þe vtmost ende, howe that euer fortune wold gouerne þeim. Charging al maner of men to be redi in aray, ordeynyng ladders, picos, and many oþer wepon, full [fol. 9] cruelly assailing þe Cite on euery side with skaling, mynyng þe wallys foynyng and sheting, hewyng downe of bruges and barreris. They of within, in right manly wise, made þeire defence in casting of stone & wilde fire with brem stone, lede, picche molton, casting on þeir hedes, beting of bassenettis with axes, with ful many a mighty shotte outeward, foyned hem fro þe walles, filling ful her diches with slayn men. At þe which tyme, the worthiest werreours of Grece that preced ny þe walles were slayn, þe towne ful wel defended as fore that day. Adrastus thus disconfite, and beten fro þe walles, was gretly meved in hert, purposed fulli to mete better; with hem of within, ordeynyng of þe newe al maner of ordenaunce and aray; he charged euery man for to come in here best wise eft [?] sones to assaile þe Cite. Ethiocles having knowlage of theire purpose and commyng touard þe Cite, awaited ful redely and ful proudely, issed oute, and met with theim in þeire commyng in the felde. At which tyme, as hit fortuned, Pollymet asspying his broþer Ethiocles, ariued on horse, And with spere in honde metyng him ful manly, And with his spere bare Ethiocles þorgh þe body, of which stroke Ethiocles fel to þe erth, þe tron∣choun of þe spere abiding in his body. Pollymet sodenly having pite of his broþer so myscheued, light downe anone, and toke him in his armes And leid honde on þe tronchoun [L. v. 4286.] to drawe it oute. Ethiocles ful of envy pulled oute his dagger And vnder his armes, bare him to þe hert, And so bothe of infortune, fel downe dede, At the which skarmyssh many a thousand was slayn on bothe parties, And as Boas writeth al þe chef blode of Grece was slayne there and best in þe felde, saving only Adrastus and Campaneus, [L. v. 4347.] And in like [fol. 9b] wise, al þe cheualry of þe Cite, of þe which iourney was ful grete heuynesse and sorowe on bothe parties. Thei of þe Cite stonding withoute hede or gouernour assembled hem togidre, and chosen theim a newe king to rule & gouerne theym in that nede, þe which king was called Creon a ful cruel tyrant and a ful manly man. Adrastus ful hevy and sory of hert, send into Grece, lating þeim wite and knowe of þe grete infortune and myschef don at his sege. Of which tidinges, hit were to grete hevinesse to tel of þe sorowe þat was made of ful many a worthi quene [L. v. 4413.] & Ladyes of grete estate, þat with ful sorowe chere, eueryche enquered of other of þeire lordes, purposing þeym eueryche fore to go togidre to Thebes, fore to seche þeire lordes, Arraying þeim al in mantelles of blak barbed and all barfote with þe grettest sorowe and hevynesse that euer was sayne of one company. [L. v. 4451.] So holding þeire iournay til þei come to þe Cite of Thebes where þei pur∣poseden to fetche þe bodyes of hir lordes home for to bury. Adrastus and

Campaneus, seing so grete a multitude of ladies come in suche array, mer∣veling gretly, Arysing vpp and went ayenst hem making theym suche chere, as he in his mortall sorowe might. But for to se þe sownyng’ and dedely sorowes, þat þe ladies maden, hit were to hevy to here, eueryche sech∣ing oute hir lorde martred in þe feld; The cruel king Creon alwey keping þe bodies, not sufring one to be remeued, but þat þey shuld be þere deuoured of wilde bestes, and wormes, which encresed gretly þe sorowe of al þe said ladyes, where they dwelled still in þe felde abought þe said bodies in suche dedely sorowe xv dayes vnto þe tyme þat of fortune, þe worthi Duke Teseus of Athenes repayring home oute of þe Ile of Femyne fro his worthi conquest, bringing with him his newe wife Ypolita þe quene wt hir [fol. 10] faire suster Emely, holding his iournay to Thebes with ful grete chevalry ful like a con∣queroure. Al þes ladies seing him come, went al togidre ayenst him, falling al on knees bifore him; Praying and besechyng him to haue pite vppon þeym, And to help, þat þey might haue awey þe bodies of þeire lordes, lying slayn bifore þe Cite. Enformyng him howe cruelli þe king Creon wold not suffre þeym to cary þe bodyes awey. Teseus having pite of þe ladies, ful knightly light fro his horse, taking theym vp in his armes euery chone, [L. v. 4530.] And bade þey shuld be of better cheere and confort; And seid that he wold do that were in his power to confort theym. Adrastus, and Campaneus going also ayenst him with ful disconfite and sory hertes, enformyng him holy of al theire myschaunce. Teseus seing þe grete myschef and sorowe as wel of al þe ladies, as of Adrastus and Campaneus, went streyt to þe bodies lying in þe felde, And lete gader þeym togidre for to cary theym þens. Creon seing þat, come proudely with his peple issing oute fore to lette þeym; Teseus with his manly company brakyn amonge þeym, and won þe yates of þe Cite, sleing in þe felde, al þat he might sette honde on. Campaneus won vp to the walles, where he faught ful manly, beting theym downe fro the walles, where at þe last Campaneus was slayn of infortune. Teseus with al his peple toke Creon and slewe al that was with oute, entring þe Cite, and slewe all that he founde within; Then he late smyte of þe hede of Creon, taking oute Jocasta and hir two doughteres lete cast downe euery house of þe Cite, And last no stone stond on the walles, but made hit playne, and euen with the soyle, [L. v. 4459.] holdyng forth his iourney to Athenes. Taking with him þe ij yong knyȝtes of Thebes, Arcet and Palamon breþeren of Armes, þat were of þe blode rial, but þei were sore wounded, deliuering to the ladies all þe bodies of þeire lordes, þe which weren ful rially brent there w^t many [fol. 10b] A worthi relik and Jewelles with cloþes of gold, encense, mylke Bawme, and many oþer swete sauered spicery, And grete parte of þeym caried home into Grece with many a rial obseqims and sacrafice don abought þeym, which shul be þere in remembraunce vnto þe worldisende. Adrastus also dressing him into Arge where he leued but short tyme aftre, the which myscheues iournay and sege was iiijc yere bifore Remus and Remulus bigan the fundacioun [L. v. 4624.] of Rome.

Here endeth the Sege of Thebes.