xiij Boke. How the Grekys sent Achilles and Thelefon for bitaill for the Ost into Messam.
KYNGYS and knyghtes and other kyde Dukes, [folio 80b]
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All the souerayns hade selly, as I said ere,
Of priam, the price Kyng, þat prudly hade saide.
Than gedrit were the grekes on a ground faire,
Besyde tenydon truly, to talke of hor dedis.
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Ordant by the emperour opunly to holde
A counsell in the case, with knowyng to all,
And procede on hor purpos, as prise men of wer.
When the souerayns assemblit were, as I said first,
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Agamynon, the gouernour, graithit hym to speike,
To þo worthy thieȝ wordis warpit anone:—
"Noble sirs, in this note hit nedis vs to haue
ffode till our folke, the formast of other,
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Þat no hongur vs happyn to harme in our werre,
While our buernes in batell abiden here stille:
Þat we faint not in fight, ne feble of strenght.
And mykyll is the mete so mony bus haue,
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If we shall proffet with proues, or any fose wyn:
ffor þere as failes the fode, faint is the pepull;
And þere hongur is hote, hertis ben febill.
Þerfore, highly in hast, I hold for þe best,
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