Neuer the grete for to grutche, ne the greke werne,
Line 9956
All his lust & his lykyng, as hyme lefe thught:
So hatnet hir hert in his hegh loue,
And all ȝomeryng for-yeton of hir yore dedes.
Agamynon the gret, and the good Nestor,
Line 9960
To the choise Achilles [chefe] on þere way; [MS. has "chose."]
And he welcomyt þo worthy on a wise faire,
As glad of thos gret as his degre wold.
With full speciall speche þai spake to þe kyng,
Line 9964
ffor to force hym to fight, & his feris help;
But his hert was so hardonet all in hote loue,
He wold not mene to his mynd, ne þe men here.
But for lewtie of longtyme, þat þe lede hade
Line 9968
To Agamynon the gret, growen of old,
He hight hym full hertely to haue at his wille
The Mirmydons, his men, þat were of mayn strenght.
Þan he þankit hym þicke in his þro hert,
Line 9972
Toke leue at the lord, lengit no more, [folio 153b]
Turnyt to his tent, talkit no ferr.
OF XVIIJ AND þE XIX BATELL.
When the dayes were don of the du pes,
Agamynon with his grekes graithed to feld.
Line 9976
All the Mirmydons men were mightyly arayed,
By charge of Achilles, þat was þere cheffe lord.
He assingnet yche Sege sekurly to haue,
As dropis of dew droppyng of Rede,
Line 9980
In hor colours to ken all ouer care wise,
As Remyng with Ruthe by right of hor hede,
Þat lappit was in luf, longit full sore:
So þai lutton þaire lord & þere leue toke,
Line 9984
ffore euyn to þe fight, & the fild entrid
With soft pas all somyn in a sop holl.
