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

Here bigynneth the Sege of Troye. [fol. 11.]

As the noble and worthi clerke Guydo writeth in his boke and declareth, and so doeth þe famous clerk Dares also; How that some tyme in Thesaile, there was a king called Eson, which list not in his yonge and lusty daies to take no wife, But at þe last, was so ferre growen in age, that his wittes weren not moost profite ne right resonable, for toe rule and gouerne his reme ne his peple. But he was fall in a maner of dotage fore age, ffor which

cause, he resigned bothe crowne and septre with hole estate rial to his broþer called Pyllios. But as clerkes seyn, 1 þt after by enchauntement and craft of medecyn, he was restored ayen to youth and lustynesse, and toke to wife one Medea vppon whom he gate a son þat was called Jason, þat whan he drewe to a certen of age, was committed to þe rule and gouernaunce of his vncle Pelleus, the which, bi prosses of yeris, was holden so noble and worthi of honde, þat his name spronge so wide & ferre that euery man had grete ioye to here speke of his worthinesse & of his persone.—Pelleus aduerting and casting in his mynde, howe him self and his yssue might possede and enyoyse þe crowne and dignite perpetualli and to exclude, his nevowe Jason fore euer; compassed ful many a diuerse wey in his mynde, to þe confusioun and destruxioun of his seid cosyn, holding him vpp alwey with faire flatery, and shewed hole love outeward, where there was ful dedely hate inward; 2 saying to him vppon a day in the presence of al his Barons in this wise.—Nevowe Jason thy grete renowne and worthinesse sprongen so wide in euery contrey causeth me verry heuen and erthly ioy. But Jason for to haue thi worthinesse sprongen so wider and more largely and oponly to ben knowe, And as a conquerour for euer to ben dredde in euery contrey [fol. 11b] I haue founde a wey; Trusting fully that thorgh thi manhode hit shall well acheue within short tyme. Jason ful desirouse of manhode an worthinesse, thonked gretly his vncle, praying him to late him haue knowlage thereof, So þat by his supportacioun and labour, he might be þere at, in crece and forthering of his name. Pelleus conceyving well his corage and manhode, seid to him in this wise.—Cosyn hit is oponly knowen in many a londe, that within þe Ile of Calcos there is a Ramm that bereth a flece of golde, which is more worth then eny man can telle, And if thou; by thi myȝt and manhode mightest wyn and conquere that Ramm, thi renowne and name, shal spring, vp to heuen, And as þe worthiest for euer to ben put in remembraunce. Jason fulfilled with knightly corage and innocent of his fayre and false, compassed tresoun ayenst him by þe flatery of his vncle, withoute a vice of eny man, hath vndertake þis perlious emprise, was fully ymagened & purposed fully for his destruxioun and ende. Praying his vncle to ordeyne for him in al hast men and aray after his estate. Pelleus full ioyfull in hert, trusting fully hit shuld be his confusioun & ende lete do make in haste possible a shipp redy for him, as Guydo seith, hit was the fairest shipp that euer sailed vppon þe water fro lond to londe; Gouernour þereof was þe wise and redy Pilotes that hadde 3 redi knowlage and inspexioun of euery storme or tempest appering on þe sky, and also of sterre, ston, and nedle. Jason also havyng w^t him in his vessell as his felawe, þe stronge and mighti Ercules with many anoþer lusty and manly man of Grece with ful leve take of his vncle, was vnder saile, ful worthely taking his iournay sailing an þe salt see touard þe Ile of Calcoys, where a tempest sodenly arose, And so hurled and labored þe ship til he was dryven into þe Ile of Troye, whereof Jason and his felaship weren right [fol. 12] fayne eny succour of the londe, for to haue some ese and rest after þeire perilous laboure on the see. King La∣medon being in his Cite of Troy, was enformed of malis, þat þere was a shipp stuffed with men of werre arryved in his londe, and come oute of Grece, supposing for some malis ayenst him or his peple, And anone sent messengers to Jason and seid to him in this wise.—For asmoche as ye that ben strangers ben arryved here, in gise or werre, withoute licence or saue condite, þe king chargeth you that in al hast ye remeve his grownde. For if ye disobey, and kepe not his commaundement, ye be of to feble power, for to resist and to with stonde his wil of you.—Wherefor we counsel you

to voide in hast. Jason and Ercules, hering his message fro the king weren some dele aggreued in hert, answhering in this wise. Sirres, sith hit is þe kinges lust, þat we so sodenly shull departe, we shul not longe soiourne here. But if infortune, we ben dryven hider magre oure lust; but we had supposed that þe king of his goodnesse, wold rather haue send fore us strangers for to haue some dele refresshed vs, then in this wise to bannesh vs hens, thenking him, ne none of his harme in goode feithe, Praying you to sey to him on oure part; that sith we finde his kindenesse so strange to vs at þis tyme, And wol not suffre vs in no wise to rest on his londe, onys or this day iij yere if fortune wol suffre, we shall aryve somewhat nere him, w^thoute licence, save condite, or protexioun of him, or eny of his; ȝe and in suche wise, that hit shal not be in his might, ne power to resist ne lette oure aryvaile ne tarying, while vs best lust. Thus token þei here leve and streite to shipp, and winde at wil tyl þei come to þe hauen of Calcos 1 where anone, Sithes, king of lond come him self in right gentil wise brynging þeym into Jaconytes his Cite, where his Palis was, as for that tyme, making al þe disporte and chere that might be don, charging al maner officers, so to attende abought theim, þat þey lakke no [fol. 12b] thing’ that may be to theire plesaunce. Bidding also the faire Medea his doughter and heire, which as Guydo writeth, was passing eny other as wel of beute as of persone, as of konnyng, norture, and knowing of al the sciences, nigromancy, magyk’ sortery, and oþer enchauntementes, that nowe ben forbode, that she shuld do al þe disporte and chere to Jason and his felashipp that she coude or might in performyng of hir fader wil. Avi∣sing alwey þe persone of Jason; Considering his worthi berthe of blode rial and his grete renowne and name of worthinesse, preised in many a londe, hath take to ful purpos to finde þe menys & weyes, if fortune wol, fore to be his wife. Taking no reward to fader herifage, ne none oþer worldely richesse. But within short tyme hath founde a tyme, place, and leysoure to þe execucioun of hir entent; First enquering of him of his blode and berthe. Afterward of his causes and iourneyes into þat contrey, where∣to, he alwey made his answhere, and told hir þe trouthe of al þat she axed him, And of the emprise that he had take on honde. To whom she yaf answhere in maner as she þat had lost hir fraunchise, and in maner, stode vnder his power, And he innocent, and not knowing thereof, seying to him in þis wise.—Hit is goode, þat so noble and worthi as ye be, to be right wele avised, while ye stonde at large, to take vppon you so importable a charge, which is vnlikely and impossible for eny erthly man for to acheue, For truly in þat case, there may no manhode avayle And armour and we∣pon seruen for noȝt. For er that ye come to þe Ramm, ye most fight with ij bolis of brasse, either casting oute at þe mouthe fire and flawme, that wol bren and consume eny erthly mater, which bolys, ye most in suche wise ouercome, that ye shal take hem by the hornes, and so lede hem to þe yok; and ere þe londe with here laboure; that don and ouercome in suche wise, ye shal mete and fight with a dragon, maner of a serpent, whos venym is so contagius, þat þer [fol. 13] may no maner of metall abide þe malis thereof, the breth of hit, is worse þen eny pestilens, And þere may no wepon made of mater perish the skales. This ouercome and don, ye shal come to the Ramm, which is withoute defence or resistens; but for to atteyne so ferre, hit is impossible fore eny erthly man. Jason remembring well euery worde and perell, stode some dele asstonyed of him self, answhering ayen and seid. Truly my lady Medea of your gentil warnyng and counsell, y thonke you as your owne man in al þat I can or may; But truly sith that I haue so ferreforth take on this enprice, I shall do my full besynesse and power to

acheue it if fortune wol assent; ffor y had leuer ende and die with worshipp, þen endure and leve in repreue and shame; ffor then might euery man sey, þat Jason had vndertake emprise, which fore couardise durst not holde ne complete; Medea seing his manful corage, reioysed gretly within her hert, seying to him in this wise.—Right worthi Jason, sith ye list in no wise to leve your yournay, for the grete worthinesse and manhode that I haue herd of you, so that ye wol be ensured to me to be ruled and gouerned after me, I trust verely to shewe you suche menys and weyes, that ye shall acheue youre purpos; And truly withoute me, ye may neuer haue your entent in that mater; To whom Jason answered and seid, that truly with hert and wil, he wold be ruled as she list to gouerne him. Whereof she right fayne and glad, founde a place and tyme at more leysoure to enforme him. The night next folowing, she having a woman of hir assent, sent priueli vnware of eny man after Jason, which was right glad and fayne, to obey hir wil, come to þe chambre of Medea þat also was fayne of his com∣myng, setting him downe on hir beddes side, 1 And anone vnclosed a litul cofre and brought bifore him a litul ymage of golde where vppon she made him to swere, that he shuld folowe hir entent and wil in al thing. Jason alwey desiring to fulfill & acheue his purpos, folowed hir wil and lust in al thing. This othe & ensurans made, she seid to him. Jason ye knowe wele that I am doughter and heire to þe king my ffader, and I desire none oþer thing for my labour in saving of your life and worship, but þat ye wold take me, before al other. Jason thenking on hir noble berthe, grete beute, and worthi estate, graunted thereto with ful glad chere and hert; And were there vppon ensured on þe newe. Then she toke him A litul ymage of golde, þat he shuld bere priuely 2 on him, þe which was a siker defence ayenst eny spirit. Also she annoynted his body over al with a precious oyment, þat was a noble defence ayenst al maner of venym. She toke him also a viol 3 with a oynement for to cast in þe þrotes of þe bolys, whan þei gape vppon him which shal englewe þeire chaulys togidre, and bireve, theym here might. Also she toke him a ringe with a stone called Achenes, which shall cause him to be invisible, so neþer bolle, ne dragoun shuld haue no sight of him. She toke to him also a charme writen that first whan he come to þe sight of þe fendis, kneling with good deuocioun, shuld sey it. All þes thinges receyued and tauȝt toke his leve of Medea, and went to hir ffader for his licens to go touard his iournay. The king seing his manly corage seid to hym; Jason beth right wele avised, er that ye procede eny ferther in yournay consider wel þat hit is impossible for eny man for to acheue that purpos, And therefor my counsel is, that ye cese þerof ffor I take al þe goddis to recorde and witnesse, that hit is not my wil, þat ye shuld so put your body in aventure to be spilt of which, truly, I am right sory, not with stonding all the sermonyng, Jason, Ercules with all þeire lusty company taken theire leve, and went streite to bote rowing forthe into a litul [fol. 14] Ile, where þe Ramm with þe ffles of gold was in keping. Jason entring into þe lond alone, leving Ercules with al his peple within the bote, charging theym to abide there stil vnto þe tyme þat he come ayen; Taking his passage ful manly vnto þe tyme that he come to the sight of the dredeful bolys, where anone kneling on his knees, seid this charme as he was taught, and arose vp, taking his paas touard þe bolis, which with horrible and grisfull gaping, cast oute fire and flawme. Jason ful wisely and manly toke his viol with his licour, and boldely cast it into þeire þrotes, wherewith; all sodenly theire chaulys englewed togidre. So þat al theire might & power failed and cesed. Jason ful boldely toke þeim by þe hornes, þey enclined and obeied his lust to þe yok and plogh, with whom he ered þe londe, as

paciently as eny oþer beest. That emprise don, toke his wey streite to þe dragoun, which anone cast oute suche an eire with venym, that wold enfecte al a contrey. Jason holdyng his ring on his honde, went streite to him, And anone þe dragoun lost sight, power, and might, where Jason toke his swerd, And be good leysour smote of his hede, And anone rased oute al þe tethe oute of his hede, and cast hem on þe londe that he had plowed w^t þe bolys. Of which cursed sede spronge vp anone þorgh might of þe deuell men armed, which eueryche slewe oþer anone in þ^t tyde. That so don, he went streite to þe Ramm, which made no defence ayenst him, which he toke by þe hornes, and with a knyfe kutte his throte, And so at his owne, leysour, flowe of his riche skyn taking hit with him, and went to his bote, where Ercules with his meyne was abiding vppon his commyng, þe which were right glad and ioyful of his commyng, seying him save of body, during al which tyme, Medea being in an hie toure, sawe him fro pointe to poynte, howe he performed his emprise; Alwey praying [fol. 14b] to his goddis fore his goode spede. Jason entring his bote with his flece and felaship returned ayen to king Sithes, þe which was right sory þ^t Jason hadde won so þe flees, but alwey, made him faire chere outeward. But some clerkes seyn, þat king Sithes lete make þat bolles & dragoun in so horrible wise, by craft of nigromancy, to kepe his grete tresour. But for that worthi conquest, Jason was renowned and named as for þe worthiest conquerour in eny londe, by cause thereof specially: vppon which gilden flece, al þe courte and peple come reunyng fore to mervaile and wonder there vppon, euery man seying his avice þere vppon; the night folowing after his com∣myng ayen; Medea being in hir chambre alone, sent priuely after Jason, which with ful hert and will, come to hir vnware of eny persone, telling hir euery dele of his iourney. Of which, she was right glad and ioyfull, so þat he last with in hir chambre al þat night, where, bitwen hem two, they founde a tyme and leysour, fore to stele awey be night into Grece with the flece of golde and al þe tresour of þe king hir ffader, which was to þe confusioun of Medea, ffor afterward, he left hir in grete myschef, And toke anoþer lady; And he hadde by Medea ij sones, And by cause they were so like Jason, Medea slewe hem bothe. But of hir I speke no more at this tyme. And whan Jason and Ercules were come to Grece, Pelleus, to al mennys sight made hem þe grettest cheere that euer man might, but in hert, hat was þe contrary. Jason telling Pelleus his oncle of al his aventures whereof, he made him full ioyfull, and told him also, howe he was in a tempest dreven into Troy where Lamedon king, sent anone, charging vs to voide his londe on peyn of deth, which was to vs a ful grete disconfort after oure grete labour in þe see. Where vppon we made oure grete othes, And by his messengers sent him worde, þat er thre yere were passed, we wold aryve a litul nere him to his disese and harme if that we might; wherefor [fol. 15] we pray you oncle of your goode help and succour in this mater. Pelleus anone with good hert graunted theire desire, saying þat he wold go him self with þem in þat iournay; sending Ercules to his Cosyne Thalamon king of Messene with certen lettres and tokenes, that he shuld come, with al þat he might gete, sending him also to the two worthi kingges and bretheren Castor and Pollux, king of Sparrus and breþeren to Elyne quene of Tyndarus; And also to Duke Philon that was lorde of the grete prouince of Grece, And al, with goode will graunted euery chone at Pelleus desire, to go with him to Troy. Pelleus in al hast possible made his retenue, And with al þes worthi lordes moustred in a faire grene playne, which was an houge multitude of peple taking theire shippes, and had wedur and winde at will, til þey come to þe riall haven called Symeont or Tenadoune right nygh þe noble Cite of Troy which haven þey toke within þe nyght. Pelleus anone assembled his lordes togidre, and seid to theym in this wise: Sirres

ye knowe þe cause of oure commyng hidre, and for what purpos, And þenk well, þ^t Lamedon is right manly, and wise and cruel of honde, wherefor but we preve wel oure manhode, oure name is lost fore euer. Ercules answhering ayen seid; yif ye wol be ruled be myn avice and counsel, I trust fully to acheue oure purpos. To whom þei graunted euery chone to ben ruled. Then my counsell is that king Castor take with him a suffisant felaship and be putte oute bifore, shewing him oponly bifore þe Cite w^t baners displaied; king Thalamon with anoþer felashipp priuely as hit were in a busshement, if nede be to soccour. Pelleus with al his peple abiding here still, And if hit nede to be succour and rescue to theym bothe; Jason and I, with anoþer meyne all priuely, er the day spring, ley vs all priuely vnder the vynes vnder þe wallis of þe Cite; So that whan Lamedon skarmeshith with you, we shal fal bitwen theym and þe towne, And so bitwen you and vs, for to take and sle hem, And [fol. 15b] parauenture, wyn the towne also that is so richely stuffed with al maner of tresour, where with, we may freight al oure shippes and lede into Grece; Al þe lordes thenking his counsell goode, folowed his entent.—Castor in þe mornyng, shewing him oponly bifore þe Cite with baners displaied in the felde in the sight of Lamedon and al þe Cite, Anone Lamedon assembled his peple, and with manly corage yssed oute at þe yates, meting with Castor, And in suche wise skarmeshed w^t him that he slewe grete parte of of his peple; And had not Thalamon come the rather with succour, hadde slayne Castor. But Thalamon brak so sodenly vppon Lamedon, þat he slewe grete peple of Troy; but alwey; þei of þe Cite yssed oute, And at þe last, put Thalamon & Castor to disconfite. Then Pel∣leus brak oute with a fers company skarmeshing ful longe tyme with þe Troians, sleying ful moche peple on bothe parties. Then brak oute Jason and Ercules and were sodenly in þe bak of þe Troians, that so, bitwen Ercules and þe Grekes, þe Troians weren slayn and disconfite. Jason keping still the yatis of þe Cite, where þey smeten of the hede of Lamedon and cast hit vnder horse fete, sleing al þe remenaunt, and so passeden into þe Cite, where they left on lyve noþer man, woman, ne childe, dispoyling al þe Cite of theire richesse and tresoure stuffing ful here shippes therwith, preseruyng Exeona doughter of king Lamedon on lyve, by cause of hir beute, but they casten downe þe Cite, and last no stone stonding vppon other, but made hit playne euen with the soyle. This vengeaunce so cruelli don, token theire shippes, ledyng Exeona with al oþer tresoure with theym into Grece. At which tyme, was Priamus son and eire to king Lamedon lying at þe sege bifor A Castell, whether tydinges come to him of al þis strong vengeance; he al distroubled and mased of al thes sorowful tydingges, sodenly last þe sege and come home, where he fonde no stone stondyng [fol. 16] vppon other, but al was playn leyde with the erthe, for sorowe of which, as wel for ffader, suster, and oþer ffrende and fore all the other harme, despite, and shame, he toke suche an hevinesse that longe tyme he was oute of him self. But by prosses of tyme, w^t confort of frendes, he was drawen to sadnesse ayen; And anone there aftre he toke to ful purpose to reedefy and bilde þe Cite of newe, And in suche wise, that hit shuld not so lightly ben lost. And in al hast sende into many a contrey and diuerse londe, for þe moost prudent and wisest men of craft, that might be founde and gete, sparing for no cost ne expense, purposing fully to make suche a Cite and so strong, that he wold neuer drede fore none enemy, noþer for werre ne pees. To which, there came ful many a crafty masoun, 1 Carpenter, smyth, and al oþer þat lengeth to suche occupacioun, that hadden ful redy knowlache and konnyng as wel in gemetry as in oþer sotel insight of werkes, where they toke here markes and mesures of lengthe and compasse of the Cite, the which was made so

large, that a grete ryver ran þorgh the myddes. Where on was sette many a mylle, and stuff of fissh ynogh within þe same. Al maner of cornes and frutes growing within þe Cite, pastures, wede, and medewe, so that þey shuld neuer nede of no thing with oute. For as Guydo seith, hit was iij daies iourney abought the wallis which wallis were reysed of iiiixx cubites of heȝt And toured so thik’ that euery toure might succour other; And euery toure lx cubites hier þen þe wallis; And bothe wallis and toures ful bigely mascolde with depe diche and double ful mighty contre∣mured; so that if eny man were within, he might neuer oute w^toute help. [fol. 16b] On which Cite was sette vj yates, of which, þe first hight Dardanydes, The second Tymbria, The third Elias, The iiii^th Sethas, The fift Tamydes, The vj. Troianaan; And before euery of thes, was set a strong bulwerk as mighti as eny castell with barres and heps for a sure defence. There were also many smale posternes with planchettes if nede were to issue oute as wel in tyme of pes, as of werre.—He lete make also bi the one side of the towne an houge and a miȝti dongeoun 1 a toure that was hie and thick’, þat no ordenaunce shuld hurt him, diched and countremured strongely; within which, Priamus held his palis, and was called Ilyon. He lete make also his worþi temple of his goddis ful richely arraied, where he made his rightes and sacrafices. This cite fully made and performed; Pria∣mus sending into many a londe and towne for the moost subtile men of all maner of craftes that might be gete and founde, yeving theym bothe house and londe fre, as fore þeire owne lyves, setting euery craft by þeym self; Stuffing the Cite also with laborers And comeners, for to labour and plogh; Sending also into many a contrey for the manlyest men of werre þat might be goten, stuffing euery toure abought þe Cite with theym, to defende the Cite if nede were, Assignyng to euery toure a certen of lyvelode for theire wages eternaly to endure, within which cite, there was al maner of commoditees so that theym nede no thing to seche withoute, while þe worlde may endure, neþer for man ne beest. This Cite so worthely made and stuffed, Priamus ful rialli dwelling in his walis w^t Ecuba his quene, having abought theym here childeren, Ector, Parys, Deyphebus, Elacyus, that was a noble clerk’, Troylus, Palliodorus [fol. 17] and Gamenede, that died. Of doughteres Granthia that was maried to Eneas; Cassandra a ful grete dyueneras and Pollixene, and also of oþer sones goten on purchas xxx^ti ful worthi knightes. Priamus thus being in his grete ese and welthe, remem∣bring him vppon a day on þe grete cruelte don to him, his lordis euery chone, saying to þeim in this wise.—Sirres ye knowen well of þe grete vengeaunce and cruelte don to oure Auncetors and destruxioun of oure Cite and tresoure by þe Grekes, And of þe taking and ravesshing of my suster Exeona þat is yit holden and vsed of king Talamon to hir opon and grete disclaundre and shame, and oures also, the which greueth me more then al þe oþer harmes. Wherefor be your goode avise and counsell I am fully purposed for to sende vnto þe Grekes to wite, whether they woll reforme and amende eny of þes grete wronges other no; To which purpose, al the lordes consented and saiden, hit were wel don to assay there wil therein.—Then for asmoche as Antenor was named and knowen for the moost prudent and wisest man of al þat contrey and in many anoþer londe also; Priamus sent him vppon his message, ad enbasset into Grece vnto Pilleus. saying in this wise.—Priamus king of Troy, wold þat ye remembre on þe grete wronge & vengeable cruelte don to king Lamedon his ffader, and to his Cite of Troy, And praied some dele to amende and reforme his grete wrong and distruxioun, And taking awey of al þeire tresoure, And in especyall þe withholding so longe of his suster Exeona to his grete shame

and al hir kyn and frendes. To whom Pelleus answhered and seid: If that Priamus hold him greued or displesed of eny thing don by vs bifor this tyme, sey to him that he take amendis therefor where that he may, ffor truly of vs gete he nouȝt. Antenor seing that hit was no bote to tary there no lenger, he went streite to king Thalamon and on Priamus bihalf, praied him to restore ayen, his suster Exeona [fol. 17b] that he had so longe bothe vsed and occupied, taking no reward of hir berth ne of þe goddis, To whom he yaf answhere and seid: Sey to Priamus, þat ayenst his wil and lust, I brought hir hider, And at his desire, y wol neuer sende hir ayen, and for his sake, she shal fare the worse. Antenor having his answhere, went streite to Castor and Pollux, praying theym on Priamus bihalf, some what for to make restitutioun of the grete wronges and harmes don to theym, to his fader and oþer of Troy, which yauen answhere and seiden, that if Priamus held him mysplesed for oure dedis don at Troy bifor this tyme, byd him hold him wel there to, lest he take more hereaftre if he noyse it to moche. Antenor having thes finel answheres, toke his shipp, and returned to Troy, and made ful report of al þeire answhere. Priamus right gretly meued of þes answheres, called bifor him Ector, and al his sones with all his oþer lordes, making Antenor declare to hem al þe croked answheres, whereof they were al graued sore. Priamus calling his son Ector, seying to him: That for asmoche as þe Grekes haue don vs þes grete wronges and harmes and also eternal shame, And taking and yit with holding of thi Aunte Exeona, And for all this, haue y but short answhere. I am avised to ordeyne a retenue of manly and worthli men, and to send the thider with theym as hir Capten, for to be avenged vppon the Grekes, and bring fro thens Exeona thyne Aunte; Ector answhering his ffader seid: Hit is well don to be well avised or ye sende in suche thidre, and to take so grete a purpos and emprise into suche a londe as grece is, hit were gode to thenk on the ende, ffor þe shame of my Aunte is moche lesse, þen þe losse of many a thousand lyves. His brother Paris hering him sey þes wordes seid vnto his fader: If hit lust you to lete me haue a retenue, I wol vndertake to fecche home my Aunte, oþer I wol do theym as grete shame or that I departe fro thens; Ector answhering his brother seid: [fol 18] Broþer hit is goode to be wele avised, for al þe might of Europ and Aufrik, ben allied and vnder subieccioun to Grece and many anoþer mighti regioun, And to vs, is noþer help nor succour longing, saue only þe province of Assie, which is right simple ayenst al oure enemyes. Paris taking no reward to þe wordes of Ector, ne to no thing þat foloweth, but hath fully taken his purpos þe iournay vppon him, praying his fader, that peple and shipping might be redy in hast with suche stuff that nedeth there for parteyning and longing for his estate. Of which enprise and coragious wil, his ffader þe king was right glad and fayne, And in al hast, sent into al þe parties of his londe for þe best and manliest men that he might finde, And made vpp his retenue, ordeynyng shippes and al oþer stuff, that shuld long to him, so þat hit was al redy, as wel stuff of vitaile as oþer orden∣aunce for þe werre bothe for water and for lond. Paris mostring his peple, toke leve and blessing of ffader and moder, and went to shipp, and hadde weder and winde at wyll, arryved in an Ile of Grece called Citheron, of which þe worthi king Menelaus was lord of; And of fortune at that tyme, was from home, for a title that he claymed in Tesaile. Paris with his felashipp being in this Ile in which, there was a temple of Diane the grete goddes, At þe which tyme, þe grete sollempnite and vigil of þe seid goddes was holden, To which sacrafices and offering, Al þe peple of þe contrey abought was come thider fore to do þeire olde costumes and dewtees. To which temple, Paris, with a certen of his felashipp, come for to se þe vsages of þat contrey. Fayre Elyne quene and wife to kyng Menelay, hering of þe

commyng of Paris into þe temple, come with a certen of hir maidones pryveli to haue a sight of that yonge lusty Paris, Taking hir place on þe one side of the temple, where Paris, with one suche as him lust of his felaship, made his walke and stacions, casting alwey his eye and sight priuely touard the fayre [fol. 18b] Elyne, which sodenly was so planted in his hert, þat al oþer besynesse was for yete, and leide a side. Elyne being in here closet, seing this fressh lusty Paris, so wel demenyng in his array, walking alwey beside to and fro, sodenly was so sette in hir hert, þat al oþer thinges she foryete; stryving with hir self, how to finde a mene for to be in speche with him. Parys in like wise turmentyng in his mynde, howe to finde a wey to come to hir presence, Amonge which brennyng thoughtes, sodenly hi last his felawe, and went streite into þe closet of Elyne; whereof she þe gladdest woman an live, having him in hir presence, They two holding þeym so longe togider in the temple, þat either hadde ful knowlache of oþeris hert; where there was no ioy to seche. Alle which tyme, hit was fully appoynted and accorded bitwen þeim two, þ^t she shuld go with Parys to Troy. They sette hir tyme and houre of þeire going; Parys taking his leve of hir, went streyte vnto his shipp, charging al his peple in her best array, to wayte vppon him, and also his shipmen, that his ship were vnder saile, in þe poynte, of þe day; Paris with his felashipp taking his wey ayen to þe temple, taking Elyne by the honde dispoiling þe temple of all þe Jewelles & relikes founden there in, holdyng his wey streite vnto þe palis of king Melany, robbing, dispoiling, and taking awey with him all þe richesse and tresoure founden there within, caryng hit to shippes with all hole oþer richesse and goodes founde within þe Ile. Elyne and he, with all þeire felashipp entring theire vesselles, drowen vp saile with winde at wyll went þeire wey, holding þe hie see, til they come to þe lordes of Troye, into an Ile, called Tededon, where they londed and rested theym, sending to his ffader king Priamus, certefying him holy as hit was fortuned. Priamus ful glad in hert fore þe taking of Elyne, trusting by hir, to haue hadde ayen his suster, but hit turned afterward to moche more myschef on bothe parties. Priamus taking with him Ector, Troylus; & all his oþer childeren and lordes, and come to þe Ile of Teledon, where Paris [fol. 19] Elyne and al here oþer felashipp was abiding þe wil of Priamus. The which anone lete array and ordeine þe mariage bitwen Paris and Elyn. After which, they anone conveied hir ful rially into Troy where they begon hir ful lusty lyfe. After which ravesshing of Elyne, þe grete noyse arose sodenly thorgh oute þe Ile of Sitheren, and so thorgh al þe londe of Grece vnto þe tyme that hit come to þe eris of king Menelay where he was in strange contrey. For sorowe of which, he fell in suche a soden rage, that he had ny destroied him self, but assoue as he myȝt apese his mortal sorowe, he returned home into Sitheron, where be fonde his palis, the themple, and al þe Ile abought clene dispoyled of al þe richesse, tresour, and oþer goodis that was within. Þe which in suche wise, renewed his sorowes, that he was ny fal into dispaire; But by prosses of tyme with grete confort and labour of frendes, he was repaired to his wisdom and sadnesse. Sending in all hast vnto Castor and Pollux bretheren of quene Elyne, þat must be chef fore the pursute of Elyne; Sending also vnto al þe frendes that they might gete in eny contre to ben venged on þe Troians.—The Grekes holding hem self so rial and worthi, had ful grete despite, þ^t eny Troiane shuld be so hardy to do eny so grete outerage and shame w^t in theire londes. Where vppon, they holy, toke fully to purpose euery lorde at his owne cost and charge to be avenged of that grete despite in al þe hast possible, commyng to king Menelay in this wise.—First þe worthi Achilles Dyomede; king Tendalus; The worthi king Agamenon, that was made gouernour of þe grekes oost; king Patroclus, king Cylyus; king

Ajax, king Telamus; Vlixes, king Partheselaus, Neptolomys; king Palla∣mydes; king Pollydamus; Makary þe king of Perce; þe king of Daymes; Amphmacus; king Pollibete; Mathaon and Pollidrus; Duke Antiphis of Esida and of Eriale; Polliphebus, Carpenor, king of Capady, Trearius king of Beysa; þe king of Barbary [fol. 19b] Cariac, þe king of Coloson; þe king Philex of Trace; Duke Ampheus, Duke Forcunus of þe Ile of Bosy; king Philanyme of Tigre; king Porces, king Sygamon with his two bretheren of Ethiope; Teneres king of Dares; Archiligus: king Epistrophus. All which kinges euerych brouȝt a grete nombre of shippes stuffed sufficiently in þe moost mighti wise as wel of man as of vitayle; beside many a noþer lorde that come at þe desire of þes said lordes to ben avenged vppon þe Troians.—The king Priamus having knowlage of þis grete purpos taken ayenst him in so feruent wise, ordeined full manly and wisely by þe counsell of Ector to resist þeire malis in stuffing þe Cite with vitaile; þen ordeynyng so grete a nombre of men of werre; so that he hadde of kingges, Dukes and oþer grete lordes of name iiic and xiij bringing with theym vc þousand and xxiiij thousand beside al oþer stuff of þe Cite. Repayring ful strongly al þe defence of þe Cite—The Grekes assembling and mostring al þeire miȝti & houge power; in A day vppon a faire playne, which was ful mervelouse to be holde; when anone was ordeined euery man to bere harneys to shipp, And euery capten their vasselles assigned; drawing vp Ancre and sayle, having weder and winde at will, on an hole flete sayling togidre vnto þe tyme that they come within þe londis of Troy into the haven of Symeont. Of which arryvale Anone king Priamus having ful knowlage, purposed fully to lette þeire arryvale, ordeynyng Ector, Paris, and Troilus, with grete nombre of peple to lette þeire aryvale if they moght.—The Grekes having knowlage of þeir purpos ayenst theym, purveied theire londing in ful wise aray and gode ordenaunce in saluacioun of theym self. Not with stonding, which Ector with his felashipp yaf þem suche batayle at þeire londing, that there was slayne on þe Grekes part xxiijM & iiijc men, And Ector himself there slewe king Protheselay and mo þen a thousand men with [fol. 20] his owne honde; After which, Ector returned ayen to Troy. The Grekes al þat niȝt commyng to londe; and in þe poynte of þe day, come in hole batail bifore the Cite with so grete multitude of peple, that they made xvij grete wardes with ful mighti ordenaunce in euery warde, And chef capten and cheften of al þe Grekes part, during þe sege, was king Agamenon, And on þe Troians part, was Ector chosen, having ful grete aspies of theire commyng that mornyng befor Troy; ordeynyng a certen of peple with him, met þeim in þe felde, scarmeshing togider til derk nyȝt, where Ector himself slewe ij kinges And grete parte slayne on bothe parties, but þe more part on þe Grekes side. After which day, þere was daiely sharmeshing during viij month and grete slaughter on bothe parties, and nameli on þe grekes part; Aftre which feruent werre was taken a trete during xl dayes for to releve men hurt on bothe sides. . . .

[fol. 21] Atte which trety, Ector ordeined vppon on day with him his bretheren, Paris, Troilus And Deyphebus with a grete nombre of peple to fight with hem, Atte which skarmyssh was slayn xxxM and vijc on bothe parties, And there was Deyphebus slayn, And on þe Grekes part, king Ar∣chiligus, Potroclus, and king Amphimacus. But alwey the Grekes turned home at nyght with the worse; which skarmeshing engendred so grete hate & envy on bothe parties, that þey skarmeshed and fought dayely togidre with oute eny speche of trety ij yere and iij monthe. Within which terme was grete multitude slayn on bothe sides, and principally on þe Grekes side. King Agamenon seing þe grete myschef and losse of peple, sending into Troy to Priamus for a trety that endured vj monthe, within þe which either party had her disporte with other, aswell þe Grekes into þe Cite as þe

Troians amonge þe Grekes. Vnder which trete, Calcas of Troy a Bisshopp a grete clerk, a devinour, founde by his calculacioun, and by þe answhere of his goddis, that Troy shuld be destroied within short tyme. Taking fulli to purpos to leve þe Troians, and to go to þe Grekes, which was ful wortheli and nobely receyued of þe Grekes for his gret name and fame. The Grekes purposing to gif him a rule and gouernaunce among theym; Trusting within short tyme by his wisdom to acheue here purpose ayenst Troy ffor what by his hie wisdom and answhere of his goddis, And also by cause, he knewe al þe counsell of Troy, he wold the rather bring hit to confusioun, And so by his false sleghtes and vntrue wyles did and performed; After which trety ended, þere bigan a newe feruent werre, skarmeshing daiely togider, þat peple was slayn on both parties ful grete and houge nombre.—Fortuned vppon a day, Ector come proudely skarmeshing with theim fro morow til derk nyght At which day, the Troians had þe worse, ffor there was slayn king Epistrophis and king Eros And Antenor a ful famous lorde and chef counseloure of Troy taken with many anoþer worthi lorde; by cause of which þei resort daily to so feruent and mortall werre, that hit endured [fol. 21b] xviij monthe withoute eny speche of trety. So þat þe peple on both parties were gretely amenesed and lost; but on þe Grekes part, þey weren oft refresshed, And on Troy part, no succour but euer wasted. Fortuned that at þe Grekes request, there was anoþer trety taken, þat endured iij monthe, during which, either partie come to and fro to oþer, disporting and pleying with oþer, vnder which trety, þe false trai∣tour, Calcas that was made chef counselour on þe Grekes part, come into þeire counsell amonge þe lordes praying þeym that for asmoche, that he was of his owne volunte come to theym leving behinde him al þe goodis and namely his childe and doughter Criseide, þat þey wold geve him some prisoner of Troy, by þe which, he might haue oute his doughter fro þe Troians. To whom þe Grekes graunted anone, and yaf him þe famous man Antenor, that was one of þe chef counselours of Troy bifore, by whom afterward, was the Cite destroied and lost. For where that Priamus sende oute Cresside to fecche home Antenor, he was after Traitour to him and to þe Cite. The tyme of trety ended, Ector purposing him to made a proude iourney vppon the Grekes, ordeined him v wardes, eueryche to succour other. The nyght bifor, the wife of Ector lying in hir bedde, hadde a visioun in hir slepe by þe which, she vnderstode wel, that if Ector held his purpos the morowe in þe feld, that he shuld be slayn; where, she come rennyng to him, praying him as þat day to absteyn him fro þe felde, telling him hir avisioun; whereof, he seid, hit was but false bileue & Idolatri and set noȝt thereby, bidding hir to speke no more thereof, ffor he wold not breke his purpos for no thing. She rennyng to Priamus, praying him to restrayne his purpos, enformyng him what shuld folowe if he went oute that day, And to lete Paris and Troilus hold his purpos, which with grete peyne, obeyed his charge. Paris and Troilus skarmeshing in þe felde, which in short tyme were dryven a bakke touard þe Cite, but right grete nombre slayn on bothe partie. Ector in a maner seing theym disconfite, armed him in hast, taking his horse [fol. 22] and rode oute at þe yate returnyng the Troians ayen into þe feld encowntering king Philex, whom he slewe with his spere. Then come king Pallamydes with a grete multitude of peple, and fil vppon Ector To whom he returned and put at disconfiture, And smote him downe fro his horse, lighting downe for to rase fro him his cote, as hit was his vsage whan he had slayn eny lorde And as at that tyme, having none of his peple aboȝt him, vnware behinde him, come Achilles, and bare him thorgh with a spere, where þe floure of knighthode fel downe dede to þe grownde. Of whom anon þe noyse sprong thorgh the feld that Ector was slayn, ffor sorowe of which, þe Troians ful of sorowe

and care anone returned ayen to þe Cite, carying þe body of Ector with theym. For whom, Priamus, Ecuba, Pollicene, Paris, Troilus, and al þe Cite after maden þe grettest lamentacioun and dedely sorowe, that with the lyves might be made ffalling fulli in dispaire, trusting none oþer, but in short tyme to lese the Cite, And all; for Ector was so noble of gouern∣aunce and so doughti of honde, that he had slaine with his owne honde xv kinges beside many a noþer lorde; And neuer feld, put disconfit; where he hadde þe gouernaunce vnto that tyme, which, he might not escape, eschue, ne voide, not w^t stonding that he was warned bifore. Where vppon, the Troyans sent oute for a trety of vj monthe, during which, Priamus ordeynyng for þe sepulture, of Ector, full rially held þe obseqims and vigiles, brannyng therein the riche Jewellis, cloþes of golde encense, bawmes, milke, with many a nother riche thing; so that þe sauour was made swete vp to heuen; Alwey conseruyng þe body hole by craft of man for to endure bodely right as he did bifor, saving that he was withoute life, ffor whom there was made a towmbe the moost rial and riche that might be ordeined. Ector stonding, there vppon flesshly, holding his swerd drawen in his honde, And by craft, there were ordeined smale pipes of golde put thorgh his hede strecching þorgh euery veyne and lym of his body; þorgh [fol. 22b] which pipes was rennyng by craft a licour into euery part of his body, þat alwey kept þe body like fressh and grene and wel colored. Setting also vnder his fete a basoun with a certen of bawme, which made his breth as swete as euer hit was, And a winde by craft fro vnder his fete blowing thorgh him as he had ben quyk and brething, so that none stranger shuld well knowe, but þat he were on life. And of hys array hit were to longe to tell. But vnder þis trety taken bitwen þe Troians And þe Grekes After this rial tombe made and don eyther parte come entre, disporting with oþer. Amonge which vppon a day Achilles entred the Cite with oþer Grekes in A poer sowdiours array vnknowe of the Troians, for to se the gise and vsage of theym, holding his wey streite into þe temple, where þe obseqims and vigilis were in doing. Priamus, Ecuba, Paris, Troilus, with many A noþer lorde and lady, doing theire sacrafices and obseruaunce, as þeire gise was for Ector; Ector alwey biholding fresshly and sternely on þeym, And namely as him semed on Achilles, with swerd drawe in honde; whereof Achilles was asstonyed and abasshed, stonding in doute wheþer he was quik or dede. Saving he conforted him self with þe mortall hevinesse, that he sey there made for him, Amonge which prece, Achilles cast his sight a side, And sey þe faire Pollicene suster of Ector and Troilus, whos love anone pershed his hard cursed hert in so strong a wise, that he might not wele endure his hard peines returnyng ayen to þe Grekes with the grettest peyne that might be suffred, praying a seruaunt of his a well avised knight for to go vnto Ecuba vppon his behalf, desiring hir doughter Pollicene in mariage Ecuba anone remembring on his worthinesse, and also of þe myschef that was like to folowe if she denyed his desire, she seid that she wold speke there of vnto Priamus. Whereto Priamus answhered and seid: If that Achilles woll take vppon him to make the Grekes cese theire werre [fol. 23] And also that he wold be ful frende to him and to al þe Troians as alliaunce axeth, he wold graunte his wil therein. Of which answhere, Achilles was þe ioyfullest on lyve, promising fully to performe his desire; Taking his wey streite vnto þe king Agamenon, where he was in counsell amonge his lordes, yeving theym his avice and counsell, that for asmoche, as grete part of þe peple is destroied, and howe that their goddis weren displesed for þe dethe of so houge a nombre that were slayn on bothe parties, and þe quarel of þe Grekes noȝt goode, but of pride don, he coude not sey, but yaf hem his counsell, to returne ayen to Grece er fortune turned fully ayenst theym, To whom they yaue answhere and seiden; Sithen

they hat bidden so longe, And as þei trusten nowe atte the poynte of wynnyng of the Cite, they wold not leve it so, but made al thing redy for the feld ayenst þe morowe, be cause þe trety was don that day. On þe mo∣rowe the Grekes rennyng bifore the Cite; Troilus, & Paris encountring hem in þe felde, slewe on þe Grekes part grete nombre and drove þeym home into þeire tenteȝ dispoiling and brennyng their logges, Achilles holding him still and wold in no wise fight ayenst þe Troians for þe loue of faire Pollicene. On þe next day folowing Troiles with his company come oute proudely skarmeshing with theym and slogh grete nombre of theym, so that they flowen into þe Tent of Achilles, which stode at defence ayenst Troilus. The Grekes so releued on Troilus that of fortune, Troilus slowe king Polli∣bete and kingg’ Mathaon, and wounded Diomede thorgh þe body, folowing theym so, þ^t his horse was slayn, his peple returned ayen, where Achilles with A grete peple fel on him and smote of his hede, And drewe the body after him at his horse taile, in þe moost shamefull wise, that euer eny worþi man had with oute cause. Wherefor Achilles, was gretely repreued as wel of þe Grekes as of þe Troians, ffor sorowe of which, Priamus, Ecuba, And al þe Troians were gretly in dispaire, ffor after Ector he was þeir protec∣tour. Ecuba thonking on this grete cruelte & fals tresoun [fol. 23b] of Achilles, purposed fully be some tresoun to bring him to his ende, where∣vppon she send to hir son Paris, and bade ordeine him a felashipp redy for to sle Achilles, for she wold send for him as for þe trety of þe mariage and to mete with hir in þe temple, where she shuld kepe him in secret wise vnto þe tyme þat he sey best tyme to fall on him and to sle him. Achilles the gladdest man on þe erthe whan he was sent fore, trusting to haue a ful ende of his mariage, he toke with him but one knight or two, come yn to þe temple, And as he kneled, one smote him vnder the fote, whereof he died anone, And then they lete smyte of his hede, And cast the body into the canel, where dogges and crowes shuld deuoure him. Aftre which tresoun so don to Achilles, the Grekes so feruently werred vppon þe Troians dayly, that grete party was destroied on bothe sides, and namely on the Troians party.—Vppon a day Paris making him redy for to make a iournay on þe Grekes, which in like wise, made þeym redy to ren bifor þe Cite, where, at þe yatis, they melle so feruently, that þere was grete slaȝt but þe Troians had þe worse, ffor Paris was þere slayn and grete parte of his peple, which renued þe sorowe of Priamus, ffore þen had he no cheften last on life to gouerne his peple. Where Priamus toke to purpos to kepe the Cite, and no more to issue oute, ne to skarmyssh with theym; Antenor and Eneas pur∣posing fully to haue the Cite destroied come to Priamus seying in this wise: hit were nedeful fore to make a trety for a pes, and to restore ayen Elyne to hir lorde with tresoure for his damage, suche as might be accorded fore; Priamus hering þeire desirours, denied hir axing, they seing this, wenten to al þe comons of þe Cite And with þeire speche so deceyued þeym, þat they made al þeym come byfor the king saying, but if ye wol consent to þeire desires, þey wold depose him, and chese þem suche a king as shuld make a finell pes for al þeir profit. Priamus seying howe they had bent þe comyns with false flateryng that he might not be of might to with stond al þeir malis, consented to a trety for vi [fol. 24] monthe, vnder þe which trety, the false traitoure seid, þat al þe couenauntes shuld be engrosed and enrolled, and Elyne deliuered, and Exeona brought ayen with deliueraunce of al þe prisoners of eiþer party, And so to haue eternal pees, bitwen þe Grekes and Troians; In þe mene tyme, Antenor and Eneas with the consent of þe false traitour Calcas lete meke an horse of Bras so large and moche, þat hit was mervaile to speke thereof, which horse the Grekes desired to offre to the goddes Mynerva within þe temple of Troy, like as þey had made here avowes bifore tyme. Priamus graunting as fore their offering

and sacrafice þeir entent; which horse whan he was by craft brought vnto the yate, he was so houge, þat vnto þe tyme, þat þe walles weren broke to make þe yate larger, hit myȝt not entre; within which horse was hidde a þousand men armed; The Grekes also euery man redy in hir best aray, so þat whan þe horse were past þorgh þe brosten yate, þen men to lepe oute of his bely, And þere þei slewe al þat þey fonde aboute þe Cite, as porters and kepers thereof. The Grekes awayting wel vppon þeym, ren yn at onys, and so won þe Cite; Priamus seing this myschef, fled into þe temple, where þei fonde him and slowe him, dispoiling þe temple of all þe richesse and tresoure saving that was þe two traitours, Taking oute Elyne and þe son of Achilles, sleing Pollicene, leving no pece with oþer of hir body, leding Ecuba into Grece for to stone hir there to dethe, breking downe þe wallis of þe Cite And slewe al þe peple found þerin And brent euery house, but for to tell of þe debate & discord of þe Grekes for þe tresour in þeire going homward, And howe euery lord slewe oþer, And some exiled for euer oute of Grece, as Dares & Guydo writen hit wold make alonge prosses; but fro þe lying of þe sege into þ ende, were slayn on þe Grekes party viijcM vijcxvj men, And on þe Troians party were slayn vjcM & ixc men, And so as I suppose neþer party won gretly at the ende [fol. 24b] ffor afterward Eneas slewe Antenor, for he shuld not haue gretter rule þen he amonge theym that askope oute of Troy, And þe frendis of Antenor basshed and exiled Eneas for euer, where he lost all that euer he oþer aunceters gate, And alwey the ende of euery tresoun and falsenes to sorowe and myschef at the last.

Amen.

Freiburg i. B.

Friedrich Brie.

Notes

• 1

  Lydgate, Book of Troy, 1. Buch, v. 129.
• 2

  L. v. 190.
• 3

  L. v. 660.
• 1

  L. v. 1198.
• 1

  L. v. 2829.
• 2

  L. v. 3011.
• 3

  L. v. 3052.
• 1

  L. 2. Buch v. 496.
• 1

  L. 2. Buch v. 933.