¶ 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
