translated and printed by William Caxton

In the years just after he brought the first printed book in English off his press at Bruges, William Caxton turned to another romance out of the library of the Dukes of Burgundy: the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece, as the Burgundian courtier Raoul Lefevre had written it for Philip the Good, founder of the Order of the Golden Fleece, whose knights included Caxton's own royal patrons. Caxton's Prologue tells the story himself — how he had seen the conquest of the Fleece painted in a chamber of the Duke's castle at Hesdin, "curiously depeynted," with mechanical thunder, lightning, and snow contrived to entertain the Duke's guests, and how he undertook to render the tale into English for the young Prince of Wales, so that the boy "may begynne to lerne rede Englissh."

Caxton's Jason belongs among the very first books printed in English — set in the same type as the Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres, the first book he dated in England (November 1477) — and stands beside his Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye as a companion piece: both drawn from Lefevre, both concerned with the deep matter of Troy, both printed to furnish an English readership with the romances that had until then belonged to the French-reading Burgundian court. The tale itself ranges far past the Argonauts of classical myth: Jason's love for the Sclavonian queen Mirro, his adventures at Thebes and Lemnos, the golden fleece of Colchis with its own invented pre-history of King Apollo and the god Mars, Medea's sorceries, and Jason's uneasy loyalties among the women he loves and abandons.

This text follows John Munro's 1913 edition for the Early English Text Society (Extra Series 111), which reprints Caxton's own translation from a copy prepared, but never used, for William Morris's Kelmscott Press. Munro's plan to add an introduction, a collation with Lefevre's French, and notes and glossary was never carried out — no second volume followed — so the edition consists of his brief prefatory note and Caxton's text itself, which is what is reproduced here.

Prefatory Note

by John Munro, the edition's editor

In preparing this text for the press I had the advantage of William Morris's type-written copy of the Romance, a copy which, I believe, he had had prepared for his own press but never used, and which his executors very kindly handed over for the use of the Early English Text Society. In the text itself, now reprinted for the first time, I have indulged in much less interference with the original than is usual in the case of editing a manuscript, feeling that scholars may most usefully be served by the reproduction as near as may be of Caxton's text in all possible details. The few departures made from the original seemed more or less imperative. The difficulty of following the dialogue in such talk as that between Jason and Corfus (p. 32) led me to adopt inverted commas. The initials of proper names are capitalized where Caxton has occasionally used a lower-case letter, and the few contractions whereby he sometimes effected his spacing have been expanded. In punctuation other than that mentioned above, the original has been sedulously followed, and though Caxton was not so liberal of points as the modern typographer, his own system, with which the text may easily be read, and his own occasional disregard of it, are probably more desirable here than our own lavishness. I had hoped to have included in this volume the Introduction, the collation with the French original, the Notes, and the Glossary: but pressure of other affairs has forced me to postpone these for a second volume at some future time.

The Romance was probably the first folio printed by Caxton after he left Bruges and his colleague Colard Mansion for London and the Sign of the Red Pale in the Almonesrye at Westminster. The first book dated in England, the Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres (Nov. 18, 1477), was printed in the same type as the Jason (Type No. 2). One page of the Dictes is reproduced in facsimile in Mr. Seymour de Ricci's Census of Caxtons, Bibliographical Society, 1909.

Caxton's Prologue to this Romance, with its account of the Order of the Golden Fleece and of the marvels of Duke Philippe's Castle, has a special interest of its own.

J. M.

Caxton's Prologue

[Caxton's Prologue.] Or as moche as late by the comaundement of the right hye & [lf. 2] by the grace of God Duchesse of Bourgoyne Brabant &c. I translated a boke out of Frensshe in to Englissh named Recuyel of the histories of Troye in whiche is comprehended how Troye was 5 thries destroyed' And also the labours & histories of Saturnus Tytan/ Iubyter Perseus and Hercules/ & other moo therin Rehersed. but as to the historie of Iason towchyng the conqueste of the Golden Flese myn auctor hath not sett in his boke. but breuely and the cause is for asmoche as he hadde made before a boke of the hoole 10 lyf of Iason. whyche he presented' vnto the noble Prynce in his dayes Philippe Duc of Bourgoyne/ And also the sayde boke shulde haue ben to grete. if he had' sett the saide historie in his boke. for it conteyneth thre bokes beside thistorie of Iason. Thenne for as moche as this sayd boke is late newe made aparte of alle thistories 15 of the sayd' Iason & the historie of him whiche that Dares Frigius & Guido de Columpnys wrote in the begynnyng of their bokes/ touchyng the conqueste of the sayd Golden Flese. by occasion wherof grewe the cause of the seconde destruccion of the sayd cite of Troye. is not sett in the sayd boke of Recuyel of thistories 20 of Troye / Therefor vnder the proteccion & suffraunce of the most hyghe puissant & christen kyng. my most dradde naturel liege Lord' Edward by the grace of God' kyng of Englond and of Fraunce and lord of Irland, I entende to translate the sayd boke of thistories of Iason. folowyng myn auctor as nygh as I can or may 25 not chaungyng the sentence. ne presumyng to adde ne mynusshe [lf. 26] ony thing otherwyse than myne auctor hath made in Frensshe/ And in somoche as the grettest fame & renomme standeth & resteth in the conquest of the Flese of Gold, where of is founded an ordre of knightes. wherof oure sayd' souerayne lord' is one & hath taken the 30 profession therof/ howe welt somme persones afferme and saye that the sayd ordre hath taken his orygynal of the Flese of Gedeon. where in I will not dispute. But well wote I that the noble Duc Philippe firste foundeur of this sayd' ordre/ dyd doo maken 5 a chambre in the Castell of Hesdyn/ where in was craftyly and curiously depeynted the conqueste of the Golden Flese by the sayd Iason in whiche chambre I haue ben and seen the sayde historie so depeynted. & in remembraunce of Medea & of her connyng & science. he had do make in the sayde chambreby sub til engyn 10 that whan he wolde it shuld seme that it lightend & then thondre/ snowe & rayne. And all within the sayde chambre as ofte tymes & whan it shuld please him. which was al made for his singuler pleasir. Thenne for the honour & worship of our sayd moost redoubted liege lorde whiche hath taken the sayde ordre/ I haue 15 vnder the shadowe of his noble proteccion enterprised taccomplish this sayd litil boke. not presumyng to prreente it vnto his highnesse. for asmoch as I doubte not his good grace hath it in Frensh/ which he wel vnderstandeth. but not displesing his most noble grace I entende by his licence & congye & by the supportacion of our 20 most redoubted' liege lady / most exellent princesse the Quene to presente this sayde boke vnto the most fayr. and my moost redoubted' [lf. 3] yong lorde. My lord Prynce of Wales our tocomyng souerayne lorde. whom I praye God'saue and encrease in vertue & bryng him vnto as moche worship and goode Renomme as euer had ony of his 25 noble progenytours To thentent/ he may begynne to lerne rede Englissh. not for ony beaute or good' Endyting of our Englissh tonge that is therin. but for the nouelte of the histories whiche as I suppose hath not be had bifore the translacion herof Moost humblie besekyng my sayd most drad souerayn & naturel liege 30 lorde the kyng and also the Quene to pardon me so presumyng. And my sayd tocomyng souerayne lord My lord the Prynce to receyue it in gree & thanke of me his humble subgiett & seruaunte. and to pardone me of this my simple and Rude translacion / and att other that luste to rede or here it to correcte where as they shalle 35 finde defaulte

The Prologue of the Author

¶ The Prologue of Thauctor He galeye of myn engyn floting not long syn in the depnes of the sees of diuerce auncient histories in suche wise as I wolde haue brought myn esperite vnto the porte or hauen of rest. Sodaynly apperid by me a ship conduited by one mañ only. This man anon behelde my regarde and contenaunce. whiche gaue me tytle 5 & cause of thoughte & of abasshement. for as moch as I saw his visage triste. heuy & desolate. wherof smyton with compassion of his ennuye & greef. assone as he conceyued that I so beheld him by greet desir. he helde him stift & sayde to me in this wise / ‘Man of rude engyn what meruailest thou / Ancre thy galeye here & take 10 thy penne for to write & put in memoire my faites & dedes / The king Iupiter of Crete was myn olde bele fader & he engendrid Cacus king of Myrmidone/ This Cacus engendred my fader Eson. I am Iason that conquerd the Flees of Golde in the Yle of Colchos. And that dayly laboure in sorowe roted in tristresse for the dis- 15 honneur that somme persones hurte & empesshe my glorie. Inposing to me not to haue holden my promys anenst Medea. whereof thou hast Red the trou[t]h. Thenne I pray the that thou do make a boke vnto them that daily speke & inpugne my gloire maye knowe their indiscrete Iugement. And for taccomplisshe the same I haue chosen 20 the to thende that thou presente this present writing vnto the fader of writars of histories / whiche ys vnto Phelip fader & louer of all vertues in his time Duc of Bourgoygue and of Brabant &c / The whiche hath ben in all his time enclined and of grete affeccion to here and see red the auncient histories / And to here told the [lf. 4] faytes of the worthy and noble somtyne flourisshing in vertues in valyance and prudence for his singuler passetemps.' Thyse wordes accomplisshid the shippe & Iason vanisshed away and I abode there pensyf/ But in thende desiring to shewe the honour and declare the vertues of the sayde Iason I ancred' my galeye & put in 30 wrytyng hys faytes as here after shal be declared playnly & a long/ So than I presente my litil book vnto right hye and right redoubted Duc of Bourgoyne not presuming myn Ineloquence / but presenting myn right humble & indigne seruice. ¶ Thus endeth myn Auctor his prologe / And how wel that hit is sayd afore this prologe that 35 Eson was sone to Cacus. Yet Bochace saith in the Genelagye of Goddes that he was sone to Erictheus the .xxix. sone of Iupiter/ As ye may see more playnly in the .xiij. book of the Genelagye of Goddes the .xxiiij. Chapytre

The History of Jason

Anciently the kynges and Princes of hye felicite were attendaunt and awayted' whan their seed' shold bringe forth generacion. But whan so was that they myghte not come therto. what prosperite they had Their lyf was trauersid in contynuett bewailing and 5 they vysited temples and oracles vnto the consummacion of their dayes. or vnto thenhaunsement of theyr oroysoñs. The noble kyng Eson of Myrmydone wherof is made mencion in the prologue. among alle other thinges & worldly prosperitees was right nobly regnyng. Certes he had his Royaume mayntened' in pees / He had 10 in mariage a right fayr lady. but they were long togeder withoute hauyng generacion / wherof their dayes were full of bewaylynges and of litit playsir in the goodes of fortune. But they were contynuelly in the temples and oracles. And no thing of their desire befelle vnto them vnto the tyme that the king began to fall and 15 wexe old by aage. Thenne his wyf conceyued of his seed' and' multeplied the generacion humayn of a right fayr sone At the burthe of this sone the noble quene deyde / And whan the king Eson sawe his wyf so departe from lyf to deth. he bewepte her long tyme and made her obsequye Right solempnly. And after he reioyed in his 20 sone newe born. whom he named Iason. ¶ Iason thenne grewe in beaulte meruaillously. in so moche that his fader the kyng Eson toke grete playsir to nourisshe hym. The tyme passid Iason grewe so long that he coud' goo and speke. And the noble king his fader becam auncient in suche manere that he myght no more helpe hym [lf. 5 b] self And on a daye callid Iason his sone and sayd to him. 1 'Fayr sone Iason hyt is force that I passe out of this world' by age whiche ledeth me to the deth / For hit is the dowaire that nature hath endowed to me & the passage whiche I muste nedes make / howe be hit I take hit well in pacience / But whan I beholde thy 30 grete yongthe/ & knowe that thou art not yet pourueyed of discrecion for to gouerne thy Royaume/ hit is to me a grete displeasir/ For hit behoueth that I leue the tree that I haue planted to fore I see what fruyt he shal bringe forth / My dere sone thou art the tree. And the fruyt that thou shalt bringe forth shalbe thy werkes. Certes my corage is right sore troublid' fayr sone Iason that I shatt departe fro this worlde and thou shalt abyde vnpourueyd of witte and discrecion/ & right yong of age thou begynnest dayly to growe and thou shalt waxe vnto the Age of a Man. And than thou shalt rendre the fruyt that I desire to see. But in thende whan thou shalt haue taken thy ful growing thou shalt decline a litil and' a litil. and after that shalt be shadowed with deth. like as the 5 day wexeth derke by the night And for as moche as ther shal leue nothing in the worlde of the. but only the Renommee of thy lyf / And that ther is nothing so lowable as the vertues I comande the that thou be vertuous and that thou flee the vyces and synnes. My dere sone kepe the. that Couetise blynde the not. But In ony 10 wyse Applye the vnto alle thinges vertuous. Hyt is ouer grete domage whan a man lyueth riche of synnes. and Ryght poure of vertues / ensiewe alway tho men that be wyse & wel renommed', Lerne whylis thou art yong & beleue no lyars Theuis / Ioglers/ ne deffamers of women / ne he not ydett ne prodigous of thy tonge. [lf. 6] take hede beholde & see. and saye litil. blame ne hurte not thy neyghbour, do to nomañ ony wrong/ be freendly to thy neyghbour. and be good lord' and' fader to thy subgettis in tyme & place/ Thus my fayr sone put my doctrine to effect. and if thou do thus I doubte not but thou shalst haue habondaunce of all goodes.' 20 With this the teeris cam vnto the eyen of the auncient & wise ¹ king and aualed a doun by his visage by suche superfluite that he was constrayned to cesse his spekyng. and the damoiseau Iason notwithstandyng that he was yet a child. began thenne to foundre in teeris right habondantly. and there were plente of other that wepte 25 for pite and discomforted them self right pietously / Among aft other the broder of kyng Eson named Peleus there beyng present coude not holde ne kepe his mayntening there was none but he was troblid & sory for the aunciente & age of the king & not with oute cause. Neuertheles among these wepinges & abasshements. 30 the king Eson becam agayn to him self & lifte vp his hede/ And after callid Peleus and sayde to him 'M Y right welbelouid' broder and the most nigh that I haue of my blode after my right dere sone / thou art also my secrete and right especial frend, And he aboue all the men of the worlde 35 in whom I haue grettest affiaunce Take hede and herkene my testament. my ordenaunce. my commandement and the conclusion of my last wille/ Fyrst I am redy and content to deye whan it 5 shal plese the goddes to sende me the deth Secondly I recommande vnto the my dere sone Iason. Thirdly I Recommande to the and deliuere the conduyte of my peple into thy garde & pro- [lf. 6 b] teccio[n] And constytute the Regent and gouernour of my 1 5 Royaume / vnto the tyme that my sone Iason shall be of aage And fynably I pray the that thenne thou wilt corone him with my Corone that belongeth & apperteyneth to hym by right.' With this the noble king finisshed' his testament And his broder Peleus toke the charge of the gouernaunce of the royaume. And fro 10 thenne forthon toke the rewle of the cite / and Iason that by space of tyme cam to the age of .xviij. yere was a goodly yong man fayre of vysage meruaillously / & wel made in all his membres / The noble king Eson endoctrined him alway. & admonested him euer to do vertuous werkes / sayng that the herte adourned with vertue rendrith the man noble and nothing the noble stok or progenye Tydingis cam thenne into Mirmidone that the king of Thebes sholde make a grete solempne feste in his cite for the loue of a new knight that he wolde make. and whan Iason knew that he required the king his fader that he wolde gyue him licence for to 20 go vnto this feste for to begynne & ensiewe Armes. The kyng was right wel content & ordeyned that Peleus sholde go with him What shal I make you long compte Peleus and his neuewe putte hem to poynt in armes & of horses. & syn wente to Thebes at the daye assigned that the feste sholde be ordeyned and kepte. And 25 founde there many Prynces / kynges Baroñs and knightes. of whom they were wel receyued & gretly fested. and Hercules him self for whom the feste was made welcomed hem hyely & with grete Reuerence 15 Happarail then was at this day in Thebes grete & somptuous / [1f. 7] for the king held open court & the kinges princes barons and knightes ladies & damoiselles ete in the halle/ and after the dyner the tables taken vp / the ladyes & Damoyselles mounted vpon the scaffoldes / And on that other side the knightes arayed them in armes & mounted on their horses. & drew hem vnto a place propice for the ioustes & whan the kyng of Thebes had gyuen to his sone Hercules the ordre of knighthode. thenne one & other couched goode speres corageously & began to iuste in suche wise that many were born doun to the erth & specially al they that encountrid Hercules 35 The noise began right grete in this place. and there was grete nombre of speeres broken & goode sheldes persed / Hercules dide there grete & hye prowesses / And in like wise mayntened him Iason for they mette wyth no knightes in recountring what they where but that they bare hem out of their arsons. And at this 5 time the worthy Hercules began to loue Iason of so parfayt loue that fro thenne forthon he named him his broder. and helde him for the moost addressid knight in armes that he had seen in his time. In this Iourney Hercules & Iason asayed' eche other many times in the ioustes & otherwise and' neuer bare that one that 10 other to the erth. wherof all they that sawe it had grete meruaille. for as moche as Hercules was more in membres & hygher then Iason was / but Iason was so wel on horse back that nomañ might vnhorse him. The ladies and' damoiselles behelde gladly Iason for his hye vaylliaunces. and' preysed and honoured him aboue all other 15 And so dide all other beholding his noble faytes Reseruid' Peleus whiche seeyng that Iason was somoche recommended' of euery man / deliberid and concluded that by his power he shold' gete anone [lf. 7 b] a grete bruyt. And that by his valiance he shold' acquire thonour of alle thassemblee. and conceyuyd a meruayllous enuye vpon the 20 glorie that Iason gate/ And wisshid that Hercules had persid his herte with his spere. ¶ What shaft I make you longe compte / Iason ouerthrewe to the grounde the kyng Fokenes The king of Mylicene. The king of Mydicque & the king of Epydanee / And .xxx. other goode knightes/ he had no reste in him self / he neuer 25 refuseth strook of spere. he fought none but the strengest and the most aspre & moste expert in Armes / And in trouth as to their semyng that behelde him he semed' aboue all other to be right well vsid in the faites of Armes. & that in alle his lyff he had' don other style but to Iouste. tournoye & to smyte with his swerd' grete 30 strokes and poysaunt. so fiers was his contenaunce So (O long dured these Ioustes that these two worthy Gentilmen. Hercules & Iason ouerthrew their felaws & gate the felde In suche wise that there ne abode knight ne esquyer in the sadyl/ but they fonde hem in their waye. Then whan the Ioustes 35 failled Ladies & Damoisells departed fro the scaffoldes & retourned vnto the palays. The Iousters vnarmed them / And put hem in fayr araye. & after wente them vnto the ladies in to the palays/ There thenne began the daunses/ the carolles. & the feste right 7 noble and Ioyous vnto the tyme that the tables were couerid/ & that euery man was sette as it apperteyned to his degree & estate. As of the metes & viande that they were seruid of it nedeth not to make mencion. euery man was seruid solempnly & ther was [lf. 8] speking of the hye valiaunces of Hercules & of Iason. And in especial of the damoyseau Iason / for so moche as he was estranger. The ladyes helde their deuises apart. and sayd that they had neuer seen so fayr and so goodly a yong man Pyrithion of Thessayle was there among all other. the whiche whan he apperceyuid that 10 euerich hadde well eten and dronken raysonably. he stode vp and required al them that were there that on that daye a moneth folowing they wold come and be at his wedding ¶ What shal I saye. Somme sayde that they wolde come and somme sayd' nay. And so the soupper passid. And Iason was fested there right long 15 and in especiall of the hyghe Princes and princesses / And after congie and licence taken and ottroied he retourned into his countrey. And thenne whan he considerid that tyme was for to goo to the wedding of Pyrithion/ by the gre & consenting of his fader/ he arayed him selfe and putte hym in poynt Ryght nobly and thenne 20 he wente theder/ and his uncle Peleus with him. And they made suche diligence that they came in short tyme vnto the noble Cyte of Thessalonycque 8 Whan the king Yxion knew the comyng of Iason & Peleus he went agayn them & made meruaillous chere unto 25 Peleus / but yet he made right moche more vnto Iason for the good loos and hye Renomme that he had goten in Thebes. And made him to descende in his palays/ and after brought him vnto Hercules that was there with in a chambre. And requyred' him that he wolde make and adoube him knight / sayng that hit was tyme. 30 & that his playsir was. that at the weddyng of his sone he shold [lf. 8 b] sytte among the knightes/ and' that hit wel apparteyned to him. ¶ The right worthy Hercules herd' gladly the king speke & made there Iason knight with grete honour / And Iason full of right good wille opend his mouth¹ & sayde in this manere ¶ 'Ryght noble 35 worthy Chosen and right wise knight among alle other shyning in alle vertues hit hath plesid vnto yow / for to calle me vnworthy and indigne to be of the hye and comended ordre of knighthode Wherof I thanke you with alle myn herte and this noble kynge 10. month. at the Wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia. 9 also from whom in partie thonour is comen to me / But among alle this wele & worship I praye yow that hit may plese you tassigne me a place where I may do the faytes Cheuaulerous & knightly vnto this ende that ye haue not employed your tyme euy so moche to honoure & worshippe me And that I may in the 5 dayes of my yongthe ensiewe the hye & preysed' vertues of yow that ar the veray and sewre foundement / vpon whiche my total espoyr & hope resteth for to come vnto the werkes of Recomendacion' ¶ 'Certes fayr broder Iason' ansuerd' Hercules 'hit is now that I haue promoted yow vnto the dygnite of knighthode / I haue 10 no comandement ouer yow And if it be your desir to haunte Armes & to ocupie yow therin Enquire of the warres of the world' / and if hit happen that ye putte yow in armes beware that ye in the Ioustes do to no man oppression and be ye to all peple humble & curtoys Nature hath begonne in yow a man garnisshid' with 15 vertues. the goddes continue hit ' Wxt Yth these wordes Peleus cam vpon Hercules and Iason And Iason auowed that he shold goo vnto the first warre [lf. 9] that he sholde here speke of And than one & other began to deuise & speke of the prowesses of Hercules ¶ What shal I make 20 yow longe taryeng this day passed' And the morn cam / and this day Pyrithyon espoused the fayr Ypodame with moche grete honour / and made them so grete chere that Eurichus the heed & Captayn of the Centaures was dronken / And in like wyse were their felaws These Centaures were an .C. men that alway helde 25 hem in Armes for to kepe the Contreye of Thessaylle / And they helde hem in one place whiche was named Molose / They were all grete and fourmed as gyants ¶ Whan than they were so dronken as said is / And that the wyn had surmounted hem in wordes and tencions as is a Custome in suche a caas / and brawlid among hem- 30 self/ In so moche that Pyritheon with somme other began to Reuerse their metes and tables fighting with hem with pottes & platers right longe and by suche furour/ that Hercules ne Iason ne the Ladyes might ne coude not sette ony Remedie And this batay dured so long that Euricus & many other of the Centaures 35 departed' thens / disposed for to doo and commise a grete outrage as they dyde. wherof they cam to late to repente hem. for they wente & Armed them hastely / And after thus armed Retourned' vnto the wedding. And in this dronkenship they Rauisshed the fayr Ypodaime Hercules and Jason smite the Centaurs. oute from alle the other Ladyes & Damoiselles And Euricus bare her away vpon his sholdres Han Hercules & Iason began to Renne to take their Armes & were sone redy for to departe. And folowed' after the [lf. 9b] dronkardes that went relyng on alle sydes in the feldes / And so sore siewed them that they ouertoke them in a grene felde. And were nomore on their side but they two only / how be hit that many siewed them as well knightes as ladyes and gentilwomeñ / but that was not ferre. Whan the worthy Hercules and the noble preu Iason had retayned these Centaures. they had eche of them a bowe whiche they bende. And syn they escried all the dronken centaures vnto the deth / And shotte on them in suche facion/ that Hercules araught one of them named Grineus bitwene the eyen / and with his arowe nayled hym faste vnto a tre whiche stode 15 by hynde him. And the noble Iason smote another Centaure in the nekke with a trenchaunt arowe. and smote him doun in the presence of one named Guericus / whiche escried right furiously vpon Hercules & Iason. And with this crye all the Centaures rengid hem agaynst the two knightes and marchid agaynst them so 20 troublid that they sone after reculed as moche or more as they hadde goon forward as peple replenisshid' out of mesure of drynke & mete / for Iason & Hercules persecuted them with their arowes as long as they dured' & slewe a grete nombre. And whan her shotte faylled they drew out good swerdes and came & foughte hand to 25 hand the myserable glotons by suche vigour that their swerdes were anon dyed with their bloode 10 Whan the Centaures sawe the swerdes of Hercules & Iason so dyed in their bloode/ & also whan they perceyuid' their felaws deye so with sorow tofore them / feling also the languisshing 30 & smarting of their woundes / somme there were that put hem to [lf. 10] the flight. & the other deffended them with alle their puissaunce / Than the noble Iason shewid his vailliance meruayllously for he araught noman with a right strook but he bare him doun to the erthe/ or made his sowle departe fro the body/ And they that 35 abode & sawe his swerd trenchaunt wexe rede of the bloode of their felawes were not right well assewred/ Certes he defended him as one that doubted nothing, and so dide Hercules semblably What shal I make yow long processe / Iason slewe with his owne hand .iiij. geants of the saide Centaures named Petreus / Doillas / Cillarus & Perthones & other moo which were not so grete/ And the worthy Hercules slewe & hewe doun moo than thretty and somoche trauaylled by the ayde of Iason & other that he wan the place vpon them and cam to his aboue/ This Euricus & his complices lost the place and supposed to haue fledde. but Iason smote 5 than among them by suche ardaunt corage / in discharging his swerde vpon the sholdre on the right syde of Euricus / that hit cutted a two his herte / whiche fylle doun dede at his feet. wherfore the other seeyng that were anon so discoraged that they sparklid abrode that the moste parte of them suffrid & lete hem be slayn 10 & hewen in pieces without making or shewing ony deffence/ And' the other fledde somme here & somme there Thus was the fayr Ypodayne delyuered of these vylayn glotouns and oultrageous by the hye vaillyance of the two worthy knyghtis Iason and Hercules / Whome after this noble victorye they rendrid' and deliuered vnto 15 her parents and frendes 11 Grete was the loos & preyssing meruaillously that Iason gate there with the noble Hercules for his hye vertue / certes Hercules brought her agayn to the palays with grete glorie/ And [1f. 10 b] all the worlde recommended Iason reseruid Peleus whiche deyde 20 for sorou / for the grete worship that was made to him in his presence/Thenne began the ladyes to Reioye them silfe and to chaunge their sorou into gladnes / The fair Ypodayne was aourned & arayd' alt newe/she slepte that nyght with her lorde. The night passid. and Peleus on the morñ callid Iason / and sayd' that their long soiourn- 25 yng displaisid him/ and that he wolde retorne vnto his countreye. Whan Iason had vnderstande Peleus / he answerd' to him & saide that he was redy to departe at his goode plaisir. Thenne Peleus made for to sadle his hors. And in the mene while he ladd' Iason for to take congie & leue of the kyng Yxion. of Pirithyon. of 30 Ypodayne/of Hercules and of many other. And after they retorned into their logyse But whan they supposed to haue taken and mounted on their horses. two esquyers cam to Iason whiche presented to him right fayr and exellent destriers or horses/ that one from the king Yxion. and that other from Ypodayne Certes 35 Iason receyuid this present in grete gladnes/ thankyng many time the noble king and Quene. And thenne he mounted on that one of the same hors. and offrid that other to his vncle Peleus. but he wolde neuer accepte hit And saide that he was not digne ne worthy to receyue so nobole a present and whan he had thus sayd he smote his hors with spores & departed and Iason folowed' after Certes Peleus lyed' not sayng that he was not worthy to receyue so noble a present as that was which Iason presented him For he [lf. 11] was a traitre to Iason which entended to nothing but for to do him playsir / O cursid blood / certes this Peleus might not reste ne slepe he was so pensif/ how he might bring aboute to make Iason his propre neuew to deye/ & to this promouid him enuye & disloyal detraccion wherof he was full 12 10 [A/a/ Ryght Myserable and right disnatural enuie how maye these noble men & also other nourisshe the in their hertes/ They that enclyne & gyue them vnto these traytrous meuinges / may in no maner haue rest daye ne nyght Thou lyftest hem vp into hye thoughtes of glorie / thou makest hem to mounte vnto the hyest 15 toppe by oultrequydaunce & surquydrye aboue kinges and emperours promysing to them largely. but when hit cometh for tacquyte the promesses/ thou castest hem lowe doun & brekest their neckes Ha a peruerse murdryer howe many men & also women haue ben slayn & ded' by thy poysons/ it is now no nede for to bringe forth 20 example of this tyme present for to approue thy couerd' falsenes & how thou abusest & deceyuest them that haue affiance in the but for to continue our mater with this hit suffiseth for to see thende of our historie of this saide Peleus / which gaf him to somoch trauaile for to ymagine & proiecte the deth of his nevewe Iason 25 which so moche affied and trusted in him ¶ how Iason went for to serue the quene Mirro/& how the king of Sklauonye was vaynquishid' & chaced fro his siege Peleus Eleus and Iason Departed than fro Thessalonyque in a morening that one right triste and sorowful. And that other 30 right Ioyous / And whan they were on the felde Iason as fresshe & lusty began to proue & essaye his hors/ & Peleus as sorowful & trayttre as he was began to abasse & hange doun his heed' & syn [If. 11b] saide to him self in his euyl corage/'shal I neuer come to my desir / what is this / how shal I do / certes I wote neuer. shal I 35 murdre Iason. nay. & wherfore / for treuly for asmoch as I shold be enfamed for murdre can not be hyd notwithstonding he must be ded' certainly this is the conclusion. or ellis I shal be put douñ & leue the honours royal. & shal come to mendicite & pouerte. O what mortal payne shaft I make him to deye. it is force but who shal gyue him the morsel of deth Hit must be thought on. if I require another to doo this. parauenture he shal haue pite of Iason for asmoch as he is in the grace of al the worlde & shal accuse me. if I do ordeyne ony poyson & Iason be put therby to deth they 5 that haue made & mixte hit shal not conne kepe it secrete. And also that more is Iason shal wele kepe him self from suche poyson. O what thoughtes haue I. I see none other moyen but that I must commyse this caas with my propre hand.' Peleus conspiring in this facion not knowing how he might exploite for to attayne to 10 execute his dampnable enuye / rode forth all this daye vnto the euen/ whiche toke loggis. in the hous of an auncient lady whom she receyvyd with grete Ioye and Iason also & they fonde her couering the table for to feste a strange knight whiche she had loggid for charyte. Incontinent thenne as Peleus and Iason were alighted from their as on 15 and the strange knight with them & seruid hem with suche mete as she had. & as they had taken their refeccion / Iason axid the strange knight after diuerce wordes. what he was & what he sought ‘In 20 trouth noble gentilman' ansuerde the knight/'I am of the riche royaume of Oliferne And litil seruant vnto the quene of the contre [lf. 12] that I haue named & I certefye yow that in remenaunt of all the worlde is no fayrer lady and also ther is none more desolate & sorowful for the mighty king of Sklauonye wolde haue her to his 25 wyf for her grete beaute / vnto whome she wil in no wyse accorde her selfe & for asmoche as she hath plainly refused him / he is entrid into her royame in armes destroyng all to fore him with fyre & swerde he is comen and hath besiegid her in her cyte of Oliferne to fore which cyte & during the siege he hath had many 30 fayr victories ayenst the aydants and helpars of the quene / the which in liuering diuerce batailles vnto the Esclauons whiche they haue loste ben sore dimunisshid of their forces & strengthe/ for they haue slayn of the knightes of the saide lady a grete nombre that tho fewe that yet lyue dare not now yssue out more for to 35 make ony saulte or scarmusche ayenst their ennemyes ¶ Wherfore the vaillyant princesse willing for to deffende her self vnto the deth / hath sent into diuerce places her messagers/ and me amonge the other for tassemble for her souldyours and Pelias advises Jason to help Mirro: he goes. men lerned in the warre for to doo her ayde ayenst her enemyes as wel for her money as for to helpe to kepe thonour of ladyes wherfore I pray yow if ye knowe ony in this contre that hit may plese yow to adresse me to them and ye shal doo grete charite and 5 to me grete curtosie' N telling the knight this that said is he coude not kepe him self from weping/ but wept tenderly / And whan Iason had vnderstonde & thought a litil of the necessite of the lady considering also here grete beaute / he wepte also for pyte/ & adressid [lf. 126] his wordes vnto Peleus and saide 'Dere vncle ye haue wel herd' this goode knight speke what semeth you.' To whom Peleus ansuerde/Certes fayr neuew Me thinketh in myn aduys that the king of Esclauonye doth euyl & grete synne for to warre and destroye the countre of one so fayr a lady and if I had nomore 15 charge thenne ye haue. without making long soioun or tarieng I shold go vnto the socours of one so noble a lady.' 'and I ensure & promise vpon my trouth' ansuerde Iason thenne. 'that to morn as erly as I may shal mounte on horsback and in the companye of this goode knight I shal go vnto this lady and shal do to her att 20 the seruice & plaisir that I shal can do and maye for to begynne & ensiewe the ordre of knighthode / wherefore I pray you that ye recommande me vnto the good grace of my lorde my fader. and that ye of your goode grace wole ofte times praye vnto the goddes for me' Whan Peleus had vnderstande the vowe of Iason he was right ioyous for he was in thopynion that he shold neuer retorne fro this vyage/ & that by this moyen he shold be quyte of him with his worship & honour / Thenne Peleus promised to Iason that he sholde accomplisshe with goode hert al that he had 30 required of him. & syn recommended him to the knight of Oliferne & thenne it was time to withdrawe them wherfore they wente to reste vnto on the morn & thenne aroos & toke leue eche of other. and thus wente Iason with the strange knight vnto the noble cite of Oliferne / & Peleus retorned vnto Mirmydone praying 35 the goddes that Iason might be smyten with thonder or thurgh persyd' with .v.C. speris or to be buried in the see to thende that ther were neuer moo tidinges of him. Suche or semblable were the [lf. 13] prayers that the peruers Peleus made for the total destruccion of his gentil neuewe Iason. the most adressid knight that euer was in 25 Mirro receives Jason: he loves her. Mirmidone. This notwithstanding the noble Iason exployted' alway his iourney & went so ferre he & the knight that he brought him and rendrid him in Oliferne. & presented him vnto the quene for to serue her in her warre / This quene was callid Mirro/ which is asmoch to saye as mirrour in beaute 15 5 Whan Iason sawe him tofore the quene he behelde her with grete entente enclinyng him self & making to her reuerence. And she seeing that he was moche fair & a yong gentilman wel made in al his membres/& hauyng a chiere of a vaillerous mañ receyuid him into her wages as a souldyer / as 10 she that hadde grete nede to haue suche knightes in grete nombre/ but this was not only vpon his persone but also vpon his hye maintene & behauyng iuging in him grete corage which was not lyk to ony noble mañ that euer she had seen / After the presentacion of Iason & that the fair Mirro had reteyned him in her wages & 15 souldies of her ordenaunce/ The knight that conduyted' him brought him fro the palays into the touñ & deliuerid for him a goode logys. The fair Myrro hadde at that time triews with her enemies for .xv. dayes. Certes these triews anoied moch to Iason for he demaunded nothing but for to employe him in alt faites of armes 20 to that ende that he might do plaisir vnto so fair a lady the fair Mirro / which neuer was out of his mynde / for ye shal vnderstande that syn the time that Iason had beholden & seen the grete beaute of the lady / she was wreton by loue in his hert so acertainly that he coude neuer kepe him fro thinking on her in alowing & preysing / 25 her yonghte / her contenaunce. her wytte and all her other vertues / [lf. 136] wher with she was endowed & adourned & she had no more but /xvi/ yer of age / also he brought to his mynde her fair and fresshe colour/her ladyly may tiene & her noble facion & corpulence / wherfore he was so esmeuid & esprised with loue that he wiste not 30 what to thenke what thing was him befalle / & in this estate he was many a day Mong these thinges during these triews the king of Sklauonye her that she sholde gyue audience to one of his knightes that he 35 wolde sende vnto her to whom he had gyue charge for to saye to her certayn secrete thinges whiche audience she agreed, & than the saide messager departed & reported to the king that the fair Myrro was contente for to here his knight. Of thise tidingis the king of 16 The Sclavonian King's Appeal to Mirro. 5 Sclauonye had moche grete ioye & as he that somoch brende in the loue of the quene Myrro & wist not what thing sholde befalt him/ wherfore he disguised him self the best wise that to him was possible/ & by the iuse of certain herbes he froted his visage & changed his colour & syn toke .ij. of his knightes with him whom he trusted/ to whome he declared how he wolde goo vnto his lady paramours fayning that he was a simple knight of the kinges court & deffended hem expresly that they sholde not make to him honour ne reuerence / sauf only thonour of a felaw to a felaw/ & anon as he had 10 aduertised of that they shold doo he put him on the way so secretly that he entrid in to Oliferne & so exploy ted that he was brought to for the noble quene Mirro / whome he had neuer seen to fore where he knelid doun on his knees right humbly to fore her / & howe wel as he was all rauisshed in thinking & beholding her [lf. 14] meruaillous beaute. for he had neuer seen tofore so faire a creature / after the reuerences there made he sayde to her in this manere 'Nob TOble and right renomed princesse the king of Esclauonye my souerayn & puissaunt lorde recommandeth him right humbly to your goode grace & noble memorie. & for so moche as he 20 hath vnderstonde that ye be contente to here his demande & that he offrith for the loue for the wele / the honour & prouffiit of you/ & of your royame/ if hit plese you ye shal gyue me audience & goode expedicion' With these wordes the lady commanded the king that he sholde stand vp as she that wist not what he was. & 25 syn drew her a litil a part. wherfore the king approuched ner her 30 & saide/Right vertuouse princesse / ye knowe how by diuerce times your right humble seruaunt the king of Esclauonye hath required you by his barons & enbassadours/ that it sholde plese you to be his wyf and felaw. And alway in feet ye haue refused him And for cause of whiche refuse as I am aduised he hath entrid into your royame & assailid it by warre as ye maye perceyue/ yet alway to put him self in deuoir/ he hath sent me to you for to require your desired grace / as he that hath more gretter pite of and your countre thenne ye haue your self as me semeth. wher- 35 fore he requireth you by me that at this time ye haue pite of your trewe louer of whom the fortune is suche that certes he deyeth in languisshing after you. ha a my right redoubted lady after the Iugement of the men ye ar the veray myrrour of al vertues / of al bounte & noblesse Here thenne the voys of your seruaunt you speking by my mouth' & requiring your grace & pite the most humble wise that to him is possible / the poure & desolate king [lf. 14 b] your right trewe wele willare may not be in no place withoute thenking on yow his ymaginacion compryseth nothing but your name & beaute/ his stomack digesteth nothing but your triumphant 5 glorie/ his prayers ne suffrages monte not vnto the goddes but in calling them to the augmentacion of your wele / Alas haue ye pyte & mercy on him. on your peple & on your Royaume / & on me that am his secrete messager of loue / Condescende ye in wille for to be his lady & maistresse to thende that he may atteyne to the chief of 10 his desirs & also to thende that your cyte & your men may dwelle in 17 pees & reste' N pronounsing these or semblable wordes the dolorous king made many sighes and began to chauffe and to swete in suche agonye as he had ben a prysoner presented to fore a Iuge for to 15 receyue Sentence of grace or of deth The wyse and discrete Myrro suffrid him tachieue alle his proposicion / And whan he had purposed alle that loue enseygned him for this tyme. She was not so dispourueyed of aduis ne of entendement/ but promptly & meurly she made to him this answere ¶ 'Messagyer whan I haue 20 well vnderstand yow I am all abasshid how my mortal enmye can or may require me of loue of ony aliaunce whan by his oultrage and cruelte he is by grete wronge entrid in to my Royaume with Armed band pylled & robbed my londe / slayn my peple / brente my contre. & yet more in faite hath besieged me in my cyte of Oliferne. 25 & whan I haue wel ouerthought these saide thinges I answere yow at this tyme for al that I shal rather suffre my self & al my royame to be destroyed' than in ony maner shal condescende to his [lf. 15] requestes & to his will' 'Certes madame' ansuerde the king 'me thinketh ye be not wel conceyled ne considere ye not that 30 youre desdayne haue ben cause of the deth of fifty thousand men / And how. haue ye no regarde that he is so noble and so puissaunt a king. & that he loueth you with so parfayt loue that all his desir is not but for to mowe come to your goode grace/ In trouth it apperith by that that ys sayd to you. that he hath more gretter 35 pite of your noble persone. of your men and of your desolate Royaume / thenne ye haue your self And therfore madame thenke ye on these thinges & beware that by your cruelte and defaute your goode louer & frende if hit plese you fall not in despayre I wote neuer what may encline you herto. but if it be that ye wil and desire rather the general & total destruccion of your royaume thenne other wise. And by all my goddes hit is grete outrage 5 and folye that meuith you therto' 18 Certes massager' ansuerde the wise mayde vnto the Esclauon kingthe luyte or wrastling of your wordes is not strong ynouh for to bete doun & ouercome the constaunce of my continence / I loue my men and peple naturelly And to this ende that 10 alle the worlde knowe that I saye trouth. also long as the soule abideth in my body / I shaft neuer haue loue ne aliaunce vnto myn enmye & speke nomore to me therof' With this the king was alt vainquisshid & desconforted of socours / & was so terribly displaisid & angry of aspre & mortal angre that in a grete dispair & wanhope he saide to her/O fett lady & most rebell & leste pictous that euer departed out of womans bely syn that I must acquite me whan I [lf. 15 b] perceyue that your swete corage wole not accorde vnto me. ne 15 entende vnto the continuel supplicacions of yowr so trewe louer / I me deporte from hens forth for to speke ony more of this mater 20 but I yow ensure as sone as the triews shall faylle. ye shalbe guerdoned' after yower fyerte' ¶ With these wordes the kyng of Sklauonye departed thens with a chiere pensyf/ And retourned to his Ooste more desiring to come to his entencion than euer he hadde ben to fore / And the fayr Myrro litil setting by his menaces / 25 began to deuise with somme of her Gentilwomen in recounting to them the prayers & requestes that her mortal enmye had made to her ¶ What shal I saye yow more the triews faylled' at tyme sette & expired/ And whan they were thus faylled the king of Sklauonye more thenking on the fayr Myrro/ than was nede to him/ made 30 his men to putte hem in Armes many a daye. hoping that they of Oliferne sholde come out & make him skarmuches / but he loste his payne for ther was not in the cyte ony man that durste yssue out for to assaylle them for asmoche as they had alway agaynst hem the worse & than whan he knewe that they of Oliferne were 35 so cremeuse & rebowted & durst not come out / he chose on a daye fyfty of hys knightes / & saide to them that for the loue of his lady he wolde Iuste agayn them all one after an other/ & syn brought hem vnto a place propice for to Iuste in whiche was right 10. n inverted. 6 fayr in the sighte for them of the cyte & there began they to iuste making so merueyllous abruyt that they of Oliferne herde hit anon & ran vnto the bateillement & lowpes of the walles Iason wente for to see these Ioustes with the other & anon as he sawe the maner of the Sklauonoys he had grete sorou in [lf. 16] him self/ & by a meruaillous corage he went to the palays tofore the fair Myrro / And after the reuerence made. he saide to her 'My right redoubted lady I can not haue meruaile ynouh of the grete slouthe & lachenes of your men for I haue see your mortal enemyes deuyse & iuste right nygh to your cite with a litil 10 companye in suche wise as Oliferne were dispourueyed in aft pointes of men & of deffence. Ha a madame what is this. Certes all they that ben therin receyue grete blame. & therfore I praye you for your honour & also myñ that ye wil deliuere me .x. of youre souldiers / & that it plese you that I may conduyte them 15 vpon your enemyes / & if ye wole so do I suppose that we shal make affraye to them as grete as they had ony long syn.' The fair Myrro hering the requeste of Iason alowed' moche his goode wil/ & enquired of him the nombre of her enemyes / & whan she was aduertised that ther were no moo but fifty she sente for .xij. 20 knightes which were newly comen fro the cite of Damask to whom she declared the request of Iason / & axid of them if they wolde aduenture hem with him. They behelde Iason & seeyng his mayntene & that he was the best adresshid knight that euer they had seen. & that his request departed fro a right noble corage / 25 They ansuerde that they wolde acompanye him vnto the deth. Thenne the noble mayde heering what they sayde acorded' to Iason to entreprise¹ that he had requyred of her / Whan Iason perceyuid that his request was acorded to him. he thanked the fayr lady with goode herte. & after recommanded him vnto her noble prayers 30 After that he required the .xij. knightes that they shold' spede them to put hem in point promising them goode auenture This [lf. 16 6] don they wente & armed' them And mounteth vpon their horses/ And whan their helmes and sheldes were laced/ They dide doo opene one of the gates of the Cyte whiche they helde continuelly 35 closed for alle doubtes and' aualed the drawe brigge/ and they Rood out in to the felde / & Ioyously Rood' ayenst the Esclauons / whiche as said' is were Iousting agayn their king by solace 1 ¹ O. entreprise. 19 c 2 Whan the noble Mayde Myrro and the Ladyes knewe that Iason was on his waye they monted' vpon an hye tour / out of the whiche they might playnly see in the ooste of their enmyes / and they taried not longe whan the kynge of Sclauonye had 5 perceyuid Iason & his felawes whiche cam to him ward/ wherfore he lefte the Iousting and callid his knightes/ to whom he sayde/ 'Fayre lordes ye haue made vpon my body an esproue of Chyualerie for the loue of my Lady/ But now thenke ye for to gete honour & laude for the loue of me /& proeue yow mightly vpon this litil 10 nombre of knightes Olifernoys that come upon vs / we ben foure agaynst one wherfore we shal put hem to deth al so lightly as the lyon deuoureth the lambe with his teth & clawes ¶ With these wordes the noble Iason and his felawes assewrid on their horses syn toke their sheldes whyche were fast bonden to their brestes 15 brandisshed their speris and' escryed their enemyes / whiche broched their horses with their spores and receyued them & recountrid' with the myght of their speris & so asprely assayled them that it semed that they sholde haue confounded them to fore hem. but whan hit cam to the tronchoning of their speris / Iason that best was horsid [lf. 17] of alle the other receyuid the first strooke And with his spere he was atteyned' of the king of Sclauonye by suche a might that he percid the shelde on the right side. And there he brake his spere / and Iason smote hym on the sommette of his shelde by suche a might that he made hym to reuerse his heed' and made him to hurtle agayn the Cruper of his horse by hinde so astonyed that his feet were lyfte vpward that the rayn of his horse brack and fyll doun from his horse vnto the grounde / the whiche horse than Ran astraye in to the felde / than passid forth Iason right Ioyous of his good aduenture And with an other spere that he had taken of his 30 esquyer for to fulcome his emprise / cam and recountrid one of the beste knightes of Sklauonye / to whom he gaf so desmesurable a stroke in the middes of his shelde / that he percyd hit and the hauberk and haqueton in to the body in suche wyse that he fyll doun dede fro the horse to the erthe/ And than they smote to gyder 35 on bothe parties by the strengthe of their speres wele sharped with 25 20 stele / And for the grete nombre of Thesclauons that were there in Regarde of them that recountrid them / Somme lefte the stour and wente for to conforte their king which laye on the erthe astoned and as ded. And the other entended for to furnisshe their Jason fights with the Sclavonian King. enemyes / Thus began the bataylle fiers aspre and Rygorouse as wele with speris that sone were tronchonned as with good trenchaunt swerdes & they of Damask mayntened them so hyely by the example of noble Iason that with Iousting they bare doun .vj. of their enemyes. Of whome foure were dede on the felde and 5 the other two so hurte in the falling that they might neuer helpe hem selfe after YE E may wel vnderstande that this stour began aspre and' [lf. 17 b] meruaillous / The Esclauons sette their kyng on horseback agayn as well as they coude vpon one of the horses of them that 10 were dede / and thenne all they sette hand on their swerdes and came for to entremedle with Iason and them of his companye smyting on them so dismesurably that Iason knewe anon that he sholde be slayn/ if he defended him not with all his power. And thenne concluded in his corage that er he left his lyf he wolde make 15 his Renommee growe in Oliferne and in Esclauonye. or he wold deye in the payne/ with that he haunced his clere trenchaunt swerde of steele / And dischargid hit vpon the helme of a Esclauoñ by suche vertue that he clefte his heed' vnto the brayñ. that he fill doun dede fro his horse to the erthe and in passing further he 20 smote an other in the presence of his kyng. by suche force that he cutte of a quartre of his shelde and his lifte arme with all And whan the king apperceyuyd' that Iason departed' suche strokes he had doubte of his persone / And that was no grete meruaille. thenne as worthy and vailliaunt as he was he escried Iason to the 25 deth. and syn cam to him with his trenchaunt¹ swerde enhaunsed. And smote him so mightily vpon the toppe of hys helme / that he made the sparklis flee oute and his heed to enclyne lowe doun. wherof he was not litill astoned. but escried him sayng. 'Vaissale ye haue well shewid to me how ye can recountre a man with the 30 the spere / but I shal shewe to you the sharpnes of my swerde and how that I am better knight thenne ye / And if ye escape fro my handes without receyuyng of deth. I will well that ye saye to my Lady paramours the fayr Myrro. that her loue and frende of [lf. 18] Sklauonye hath neyther force ne might' 35 ¶ How the king of Sklauonye was vaynquysshid' by Iason in the felde by bataylle 22 Moche was Iason desplaysaunt whan he had vnderstande the vauntises of his mortalt ennemy. But whan he knewe that 5 he was the king of Sklauonye he was well Ioyous for to knowe him and thus saide to him by derysion. Ha a right oultrageous fole/ Arte thou he that arte affoyled with the blanche feures for cause of my right redoubted lady. Now see I wel that in the is more of presumpcion than of vayllyaunce / and of vauntise than of fayte 10 and truly more of folye than of wysedom. For hit ys parfayte folye to the for to name the better knight than I am. / Than late vs see who is the better' ¶ With these wor[des] they began agayn to smyte eche other Ryght asprely. Certes Iason prouyd hym self Ryght fiersly in gyuyng to hys enemye many strokes terryble and poysaunt. And so many gaf hym in makyng Reed' hys swerd' of the bloode of the Esklauon king that the right malerouse king was constrayned to crye and to calle his knightes vnto his ayde and helpe. but ther cam so many that Iason was enuironned & assayled on all sydes 15 20 W sydes by hys enemyes / He was Han the Noble Iason felte hym selfe so aduironned' on alle more reconforted than to fore. And began to smyte wyth hys good' swerd' of steele on the Ryght syde and on the lyfte syde by suche vertue and might that [lf. 18b] the ladyes of the Cyte knewe him among all other / and' perceyuyd 25 that he skarmusshid' with his swerde all dyed with newe blood now here & now there. And after sawe him cutte of heedes / armes and legges and' fystes / And made armes at his wytl and more thenne all the remenaunt. And certes by his mayntene he semed better a thing of that other worlde thenne an humayne persone / And fro 30 this tyme forth on the fair Myrro seeyng this that sayd is / toke Iason so in her good grace that vnto the deth she louyd' him aboue all other knightes. as she that setted her loue totally in hym The noble Iason fought thenne vailliauntly agayn the Esclauons/ and right long endured the bataylle. And whan the .xij. knightes of 35 Damask sawe the grete prowesse and the dangerous stour that was aboute their maister / They smote in among them that so assayled hym / And thenne enforced him Iason for to make hym self to be of valour. truly by suche ardeur of corage that he slewe there ten of the most hardyest knightes of all the hooste of his enemyes. wherfore the king of Esclauonye seeyng his mayntene & the valeur of Iason had suche fureur and drede. that he habandonned the place and his knightes that thenne alt wery folowed him / And thenne the noble Iason folowed the chaas and chaced hem vnto the grete oost in suche confusion & mortal occision that of the fyfty knightes 5 that were at the begynnyng of the batay ther escaped no moo but ten. but they were aft slayn & detrenched or hewen in pieces. And of the partye of Iason ther bleef no moo but tweyñ vpon the felde. And of the remanaunt alle were hurte that one more anguisshously thenne that other 10 ¶ How Iason was ioyously receyuid' of the quene Myrro of [lf. 19] Olyferne and how they bewaylled' eche other After this meruayllous bataylle. and that the worthy Iason had taried' for .ij. resons / The first was for as moche as he sawe his felaws 15 wery & sore payned' by their woundes/ and the seconde was for as moche as he sawe the Ooste meue for to come vpon them / & than as wyse and discrete he withdrewe him sayng that more is worth a good retrayte than a folisshe abydinge/ and reentrid' with grete honour & glorie into the cyte / wherof the fair Myrro was as Ioyouse as she 20 coude be/ & contrarye to this was the king of Sclauonye as sorouful & angry for the grete domage that he had suffrid' that day/ Euery man in Oliferne as sone as Iason was reentrid siewed him & man women & children blessid him sayng one to an other that they had neuer seen none lyk to him in beaute ne more vaillyaunt knight of 25 his body & than al the cyte began to reioye/ & whan the fair Mirro thought that Iason was vnarmed she sente for him & he cam gladly to her for that was al his desir/ than whan he was comen to fore her he salewed her & she rendrid to him his salewe / & syn demanded him how he felte him self & how he ferde/ 30 'Certes madame' ansuerde Iason 'to God begyue the thanking I ne fele on my body but al good' disposicion / & am ioyously retourned into your cyte & as to the regarde of your enmyes / by that I haue felt of them / me thinketh that they ought not sore to be dredde ne doubted & that in short tyme / ye shal haue of them 35 good rayson I haue this day made my swerd reed in their bloode. [lf. 19 b] wherof their king your mortel enemye hath had grete dueyl & And I haue yet goode wil that to morn I shal redouble sorowe. 24 Mirro's Feast: the Love of Jason and Mirro. that. and yet that shalbe worse to him & to his if the goddes be in myn ayde and helpe' Whilis that Iason spack thus to the noble Lady as sayd is she behelde hym now & now by right grete ardaunt loue/ 5 & coude not absteyne her self for she was so surmounted with loue at this tyme that for to hyde her wil and to refroide & cole her a litil without more spekyng to Iason that she left him with two damoiselles for to entretene & tarye him. & she withdrewe her into her chambre / where she began to thinke on the grete vertues 10 that were in Iason That is to wete on his hye prowesse. on his fair chiere / on his laughyng eyen / on his well made body and on his graciouse speking. And so moche she thought on him that she must come agayn vnto the place where he was / Thenne she fonde in the halle of the palays plente of her frendes & of the most noble 15 of the cite. and ther was newly arryued a messager of the king of Damask. that certefyed to her. that that' euenyng sholde come vnto her ayde two thousand Assyriens. whiche the king his lorde had sente to her in the conduyte of his broder named Prusius. whiche was a Ryght valyant knight in armes / Of these tidynges 20 was the noble quene moche reconforted. & commanded that they sholde ordeyne wel for hem to ete & drynke. & dide do couere the tables & receyued this Prusius right solempnly / but whan eche was sette at table the fair Myrro & Iason were in such wise seruid by the refeccion of loue that they toke none hede of mete ne of [lf. 20] drinke / The messager of loue that is to wete doulce Regarde was continuelly on the way that on was shamefaste and changed colour/ & in like wyse dide that other / Iason coude not conteyne him self/ and Myrro perceyued' wel ynow his mayntenyng / but Myrro was moche subty for she behelde him raysonably & more dide by 30 wysedom than her herte desired. In these regardes & in these semblances they passid the soupper/ ther was no lady ne damoyselle that ne employed her eyen for to beholde Iason for his grete beaute what shal I saye more/ after the soupper hit was ordeyned that on the morn the Siriens which were wery & trauaylled in coming 35 theder shold reste them but the next day folowing they sholde goo out vnder the conduyt of Iason far tassayle the siege of the king of Sklauonye / & than eche man toke leue & withdrewe hem into their logyse one & other & into her hosteleryes None as Iason was withdrawen into his logys & leyde in his presented her into his memorie / Whiche enlumyned in him so terryble a fyre in the myddes of his herte that him thought he was in a brennyng fournayse. He began than first to thenke on the fayt of his lady. 5 And after he began to make castellis in Spaygne as louers doo / & finably whan he had' long labourd' in thise thinges / he spack to him self/ & saide softely. 'ha. a fortune / knight what shal befall of the & of this noble lady hit behoueth that thou praye her of loue / and than am I not hardy ynow to doo so wherfore I wil not be 10 what rayson she is good, but she compryseth the bruyt of al the worlde & that more is she hath refused a king / certes I am wel a fole for to thenke on her ye trewly a fole & how wel that I be a fole yet haue I gyuen to her myn herte/ hit is heeris & it shal [lf. 20b] abide with her' the gentil damoyseau Iason thought the most part 15 of the nyght in this reverye amerouse / And after slepte / but he dremed of his lady. for thenforcement of loue / In like wise it must be sayd' that she bleef not al quyt for incontynent as she was leyde in her bed / her thought that she sawe Iason flourisshing aboue att other men / Thenne she began to coueyte his loue. And desired 20 the daye that she myght see him agayn. & so moche she desirid him during the nyght/ that she began to saye in this wise' Ha a obscure & derke night wherfore endurest thou so long/ it displesith me ouermoche. & not with out cause. for I am in terrible payne be cause that the day tarieth so long er he come. Ha a daye where 25 ait thou if thou were come I shold' see my loue & frende / my solace & conforte. Certes thou makest long soiournyng. by thy tarieng myn eyen may not see my bewayling the desire of my herte/thaccomplishement of my wisshes. the esperance of my ioye. but what enioye haue I may not slepe in stede where I was wonte 30 to wisshe after the nyght for to withdrawe me fro the publicque affaires / now I must wisshe after the daye for to come to my singuler playsir in a secrete regarde & syght' Svche or semblable were the wordes of the noble lady esprised of loue / she desired the preu Iason. and he coueyted her also. 35 And in the same wyse faylled' not the king of Esklauonye. for in the same nyght. the dolour & payne of his woundes were to him so aspre that he myght not reste. And thenne for to passe with aft more esily his payne. he began to bewaille the grace of his noble ( lady & sayde in this maner among alle other wordes. Ha a dere [lf. 21] lady shall ye neuer haue pyte on my poure & desolate herte. the whiche notwithstandyng your reffuse and grete Rudesse may not put you in oubliaunce ne out of his desir/ the whiche more and more 5 you loueth the whiche can not trauaille him self ynowh for to finde the maner to gete youre benyuolence and good' wyft. And whether hit plese you or plese you not hit is all youris. O my desir if ye wole alwaye remayne with out mercy. wherfore were euer ye so habondantly garnisshid so well of excessiue and chief of all beaute. 10 your resplendour is clere among the women as the sonne is among the sterres. shall ye be without mercy and withoute compassion. I suppose that ye shall not and my herte Iugeth that ye shall haue grete Regard vnto my good' wil The ladies other whilis take plaisir for to make her trewe seruaunts to languisshe. And their 15 honour accordeth well therto for in trouthe a lady to sone abandonned and gyuen ouer. embraceth not grete honour. thenne hit is expedient that she suffre her louers to tarye by prayers and oroisons / And in this manere I wille conclude in my selfe. not onely for one Reffuse / ne for .xx. of the grace of my lady, I wille 20 not falle in despayr/ The verray courage of a trewe louer maye in no wise be knowen but only by the moyen of many Reffuses. How well the stone is myned' and holowed by contynuell droppyng of water. And thenne shalle not the Rigour and the reffuse of my noble lady be myned and adoulced by my habondaunt prayers and oroisons. yes verily. that shall she be or nature shall faylle. And if not the goddes shall be iniuste and agaynst me' 25 [lf. 21b] How Iason befought a meruayllous Gyant named Corfus, and how he slewe him in the bataylle 30 In these or semblable ymaginacions the Esklauon king passid aft this nyght vnto the morn erly that Corfus a meruayllous Geant born in Toscane cam vnto him And demanded how he ferde/ and how it stode with him. 'Certes Corfus' answerd' the kyng. 'For so moche as I dreme of my loues. And that they occupye me so sore. that they slee me because I occupye hem somoche. & how wel that I fynde in her but reffuse and fierstee.' 'And howe' sayd Corfus 'thenke ye yet on her.' 'ye' sayde the king 'That muste nedes be.' 'Must hyt nedes' sayd' Corfus. 'Ye certes' sayd the kyng. Than sayde Corfus / 'Ye be a fole and right euy aduysed. 35 Corfus, a Giant, counsels and aids him. 27 For alle thinge considerid he is not wyse that enforceth hym to haue a wyf a boue hys degree / for as moche as ther ben of other plente.' 'Ryght well' sayd' the king. 'ye saye Ryght wele / but knowe not ye that somme one is better and more worth than some fyue honderd. Certaynly my lady ys the oultrepasse of al other 5 ladyes/ought I to leue her for her reffuse '/'ye'saide the geant 'if ye do wysely'' by my lawe' said the king 'that shal neuer befalt me for to deye in the payne as her trewe seruaunt / but that I hope to come to thaboue of myn enterpryse how that it be' 'Syre' saide Corfus I reporte me vnto your symplesse. But and 10 ye wytl beleue me ye shall beguyle her weft. Ye shalt leue her for suche as she ys' sayd' the Geant and neuer whyles ye lyue loue neuer woman but for one night ye may euery day haue anew ther is none so grete plaisir as for to change ofte.' 'Ha a Corfus' [lf. 22] sayde thenne the king'a trewe louer vseth neuer suche termes as 15 ye speke of. and whan a prince may come to the loue of a lady. fayr. trewe. discrete & of a good house. is not that ynouh for him if he that cometh to suche felicite and goth to chaunge/ certes he is worthy of reproche' 'Syre' sayde the Geant Corfus. 'ne knowe ye nomore thenne ye saye and shewe / Certes ther is 20 well another poynt'' and what is that' sayde the king/ 'I shatt saye you' saide the Geant/Take ye the fayrest lady that liueth and be as amourous ouer her as euer ye can or may. Anone as ye haue enioyed her as litit as hit may be ye shalbe wery and full of her. she shall seme to you fowle and yet more I shal saye you 25 that sone ye shall wisshe her brend. And if ye be as other men be ye shaft leue her and take an other yf hit be in your puyssaunce A a Corfus' sayde thenne the king, 'if I shold beleue your counceytt / I shold' neuer do weft, & as to the Regarde of me I wene that ye saye to me these thinge. for to make me retorne 30 into my countrey to thende that ye goo not to the felde agaynst them that yesterday shedde my bloode.' 'by my loyaulte' saide thenne Corfus/sire, all that I haue sayd' procedeth not for ony fere ne drede that I haue of all youre enemyes. but I councey you to my trew power for as moche as me semeth hit couenable for your 35 helthe and prouffyte And to thende that youre wenyng be founden vntrewe / with oute more delaye, I shaft sende youre messager vnto the noble Quene Myrro for to signefye her/ that for to mayntene the noble mestier of armes / I offre my self alloñ ayenst .viij. the 6 [lf. 226] best knightes that ben in the cite of Oliferne For to fyghte in Champe cloos as hit Apperteyneth in suche a caas' Whan the kinge of Sklauonye had herd thanswer of the Geant & perceyued that he was angry / he helde his pees so long/ 5 that the geant wente & armed him in his tente / And syn put him on the way toward the Cyte in the company of a messager of the kinges/whom he sente vnto the quene Myrro right in suche wyse as a fore is said, and whan the messager had sayd' that he had' in charge / The noble quene callid the more parte of her knightes & 10 declared to them that the Geant had demaunded. Anone as they of Oliferne had herd the contenue of this mandement For as moche as Iason & plente of other knightes straungiers that were there gaf the honour for to speke first to them of the same contre for to saye their aduis of this werke They saide alle on hyhe that this geant 15 Corfus was he that by his force and vaillyaunce had put to deth the most part of the noblesse of Oliferne & that hem semed' hit shold be grete folye for to furnisshe the batayle that he demanded/ but of this answere were alle the knightes straungers so abasshed that they concluded to be conduyted by the knightes of Oliferne / 20 Reseruid the noble & preu Iason / the whiche as he that might not lenger holde his noble corage to speke but saide with so hyhe a voys that he was wele vnderstonden of alle men in this manere 6 Ayr lordes displese yow not / yf the vertue of my corage knowe not now the feblesse of my body I knowe right wel 25 that I am not grete ne membred as a geant / neuertheles I wil wel [lf. 23] that hit be knowen that ther is no geant that hath gretter herte thenne I haue / And to this ende that it appere euydently. And the noble lady where my herte & all my wele Resteth. may alway here goode tydinges of me I enterprise for to go fighte ayenst 30 the Geant Corfus man for mañ. and I shall neuer reste vnto the time that I haue prouyd my self ayenst him/ Thenne the noble lady the quene that tho was present hauyng herd thenterprise of the noble Iason / was so vtterly smyten with sorou. that her semed that she was smeten with a spere a trauers the herte / so 35 moche she louyd Iason. neuertheless she helde good contenaunce. asmoche as to her was possible. And Incontinent as Iason hadde declared there his corage. She sayde to him 'Iason fayr sire beware what ye saye & see that your yongthe abuse you not For if ye were you .xx. armed and in point for to fighte Knowe ye for trouth that he sholde neuer leue but abide you thawh ye had sworn his deth' 6 Ertes dere lady' saide Iason. 'knowe ye that if yongth abuse 29 For to sle a mañ how grete or puyssaunt that he be ther behoueth 5 but one stroke well sette. But whether hit be of yron or of steel or of ony other thing I doubte not but hit shall come to poynt' Whan the noble quene Myrro had vnderstande this that Iason sayde. She wiste not what to answere ¶ What shall I make you long tale he dyde doo be sayd to the messager of the kyng of 10 Esclauonye. that he wold befighte the Geant Corfus / and thenne whan the noble Iason was armed with his armes / he mounted on horseback and his spere on his thye and so departed from the Cyte And adressid him toward the Geant whiche was right [lf. 23 b] subty in the fayt of Armes & of the warre/ he had' aft his harnoys 15 trussid and his hors sadlid' and' brydlid Incontinent as the Geant perceyuid that the vaillyaunt prince 6 toward him and by grete felonnye said to him what sekest thou’/ to whom Iason saide/'Arte thou Corfus'/'ye' ansuerd Corfus / 20 'I am he trewly.' 'Than knowe thou that thou arte he that I seche' 'Thou' saide Corfus/'ye, trewly I' saide Iason / 'and what meuith the so to doo' sayd Corfus / 'considerest thou not the strength & force of my body and the furour of my swerde and how I am cause of alle the desolacion of Oliferne / yf me good 25 semeth I shal sese the by the heede & breke thy necke / as the necke of a cheken' Thou tellest me meruaylles' saide Iason, 'for to fere and abasshe the peple / but for alle that my corage changeth not our processe endureth to long / go thy way & feche thy spere & than shewe what thou canst doo / thou hast founde 30 a man for to furnisshe the/ litil speking & wel werking' The geant wyth these wordes wente for to fecche his spere / And Iason couerd him with his shelde assewring him self in his sadett And whan he had so don & sawe that the Geant smote his hors with hys sporis & cam agaynst him / he rode toward him so corageously / 35 that hit semed more lyk thonder descending from heuen than ony other thing and so smote the most fiersly that they coude or mighte/ & their strokes were so peysaunt & heuy / that the sengles of their sadles brake in so moche that the noble Iason was born vnto the erthe/ and the geant was reuersed with the sadle vnder [lf. 24] the crupe of his hors / And of the peysanteur of the two grete strokes. the raynes of his horse faylled & his two legges behynde in suche wise as he tumblid the hede vnder & the feet vpward at 5 right grete meschief Any knightes of Sclauonye and of Oliferne were gretly abasshid' whan they apperceyued that Iason hadde receyued' of the Geant Corfus oon so heuy & so grete a strook with out deth or mayme. Jason and the Geant so born to the erthe & sette a fote 10 as saya is Releuyd them self anoñ in their standing and marchid oone agaynst that other. Thenne the strong Geant drewe his goode swerd out of his shethe and escried Iason sayng. 'Vaissale or felawe thou hast doñ to me now the most grettest dishonour that euer happend or came to me. And therfore kepe thy self from my 15 faytes the best wise thou maist / For yf the arme with the good swerd' faylle me not at this tyme. I shal counfounde the in short time / And after I shall drynke thy blood and ete thyn herte in despyte of the dueyl and sorou that thou hast don to myn herte' / ‘Ha a tyraunt felonnous & oultrecuydaunt' ansuerde the noble 20 preu Iason. 'what euy woldest thou doo. if hit helde at no mañ / but at the. Certes hit happeth ofte tymes that suche menaces ben said of grete fere and drede. And al is don for to saue his lyf But to the Regard of the and of al thy menaces I make no compte ner doubte the in no thing. And in that thou sayest of drynkyng 25 my blood and etyng myn hert I shall kepe the Ryght well by the ayde and the helpe of the goddes. for to falle in suche Inhumanyte or furour. And I hope where I haue angred the in thyn herte [lf. 24 b] that hit shal not be long to. but that thou shalt be angrid in herte in body. and in sowle' Than that Corfus the right Cruelt 30 geant had vnderstand the wordes of Iason he lefte vp his heed and chyn alle chargid with heerlike a Beer. and after enhaunced his trenchaunt swerd' with a grete Corage right angry and' smote Iason & gaf hym so terryble and poyssaunt stroke that he bare a way more than a grete quarter of his shelde. And when Iason felte 35 him so smeton of the Geant. he lefte vp his swerd' a heyght wher with he araught his mortel ennemy vpon the coppe of his helme in enployeng alle his might that the Geant was constrayned to enclyne his heed' alle lowe. Wherof many had grete meruayle 30 ye may Vnderstonde the two Champyons began to entretaste eche other with their trenchaunt swerdes Alle way the geant after that he had receyuid this peysaunt strook / he haunced his hand with his swerd' agayn & supposed to haue smeton Iason. But Iason whiche was lyght and delyuere and wel auised in his feet / 5 drewe him a part in suche wyse that the stroke of the Geant fylle on the erthe so depe. that if he had araught him playnly he hadde confounded him. Than the preu Iason whiche had so voyded him fro the stroke. stept to the geant And gaf hym suche a stroke vpon the right sholdre that he brake his hauberk and made him a grete 10 wounde. Than Iason withdrewe his swerde alle blody. And whan Corfus the stronge Geant felte that Iason had so hurte him. Certaynly he wende he shold haue goon out of his witte for asmoche as he sawe the swerd' of his aduersarie was dyed with his blood. [lf. 25] and was moche angry / But Iason sette litil therby/ Sauyng he 15 began a lytil to smyle and lawhe/ And if he was glad so were they of Olyferne that beheld the bataylle of the two champyons. But hit was not long after but their lawhynges changed into wepynges. For the geant as all despayred Ran vpon Iason so eygrely that he wist not how to saue him on that other syde he sawe hys shelde 20 all in pieces. And with that he gaf him a wounde vpon the lyfte syde that the blood ran doun fro the wounde largely / Ryght long fought the two right vayllyant champyons that one agaynst that othre in so moche that by fyn force they detrenched their sheldes by pieces. But than whan their sheldes were broken / hit was 25 a good sight to see Iason the noble knight how he delyuerid agayn the Geant Corfus so meruayllous bataylle gyuyng to him somoche trauayle in poursuyng him so besely that the Geant began to waxe wery in suffring so many strokes and began strongly to swete Than for to refresshe hym selfe he muste nedes departe & leue to 30 fyght and smyte Iason & to withdrawe hym a parte / Whan the worthy Iason apperceyuyd' the manyere of the Geant and that he soughte for to reste him / he had great Ioye. how wel he had as gladly Rested him as his aduersayre had whan he considerid in him self. that he might Reste him and ease hym. and that he was 35 not hurte but in one place he approched to the Geant and sayd to hym. Ha a right myserable tyraunt Approche the toward me and late vs performe & make an ende of this batayle now begonne. I perceyue now right wel that a bedde for to reste the on/ sholde [lf. 25 b] be to the more plaisir thenne shold a bataille or a stour to be furnisshid. but I aduertise the that hit behoueth vs to come to thende of our entreprise / And that ther is no Remedye / And knowe that my courage hath brought and conduyted my body vnto this point/ But from hens forth my body shall conduyte hit by the vertue of loue. by whiche me thinketh that I fele my puissance redouble whan that I remembre her whiche aboue alle other ought to be beste belouid of me. As she that is veraily withoute ony excepcion' Incontinent that Corfus the crymynett Geant hadde vnderstande of the noble damoiseau Iason that he was so amerous he began to saye to him by grete malice. Certes right gentiff knight/ I perceyue right well that youre hert is prisoner in the mercy of somme lady. I Require you in the name of her. and by the faith that ye owe to her that ye come and reste you beside me a litil. And we shal deuise vs to geder of oure auentures' 'Ha a right Recreant and wery rybauld' ansuerd' thenne the noble damoiseau Iason. 'Thou sekest nothing more but for to reste the. And if I accorde to the thy requeste / hit is to my preiudice for thou maist nomore. Notwithstandyng in the name of my right hyghe mais- 20 tresse I am content to do as thou hast requyred But beware that thou reste not long' With these wordes the Geant Corfus and the noble Iason satte doun vpon the grasse And after they began to deuise and the Geant Corfus sayd to him 'Right gentil knight as I vnderstande ye ben amerous' Iason, of whom is it' sayd' the Geant 15 'hit may well be' sayd ‘of a lady' sayd' Iason / 6 'what is she' sayde the Geant 'The most fayr of all fair' an- [lf. 26] suerde Iason 'Ye' saide the geant 'as to your semblaunt'. 'the worlde iugeth her so' ansuerde Iason. 'Ha. a sir knight' saide the Geant/'ye be a grete fole / for perauenture ye sawe neuer your 30 lady And ye saye & name her for the most fayre of alle other And yet that worse ys. ye holde her for youris / and hyt ys possible that she ys longyng to moo that an honderd Howe many ben ther of them that ben not double. I louid not long syn a Lady right fayr to myn aduise. But she ys fowle right terribly / Men preyse 35 and alowe moche the fayr Myrro. But I trowe who behelde her well round' abeute. ther shold be founden somwhat of Reprehencion' Ha. a right dysloyall traytre' answerd' than Iason / howe darst thou by thy grete oultrage to thenke euyH vpon the flour of alle ladyes. whyche hadde so moche/ of bounte of beaulte / of 10 25 32 wytte / And whiche is garnisshyd' of so many hyhe and noble vertues / and is a verray myrrour vnto alle other. wherfore by the fayth that I owe vnto loue er euer I ete or drynke thou shalt abye it / Stand' vp lyghtly on thy feet and kepe the from me if thou thinke good' 5 He noble and gentil knight Iason aroose with these wordes alle [lf. 26 b] that laye on the grasse alle blody. The Geant roose also. but hit was not lightly For his legges were Royde like a voyager that had' alle the day to fore haue voiaged or goon a Iourney. and than 10 Iason cam & smote him vpon his lyfte arme and so employed att his puyssaunce that he departid the arme fro the body in suche wyse that he fylt doun to the erthe. Than the Geant by right aspre distresse made a meruaillous & right horrible crye. After this as one full of a terrible courage haunced his swerde swering by all his 15 goddes that he wold auenge him. but he wiste not how he myght sewe Iason for so moche as he was light & deliuere and able wel knowing the tour of his strookes in such wise as he alwaye defended him vailliauntly and distourned the strook of his swerd That his enemy sought all waye and coude neuer attayne to reche him. 20 And in this wise the bataille dured long in so moche that the sonne began to deuale in to the weste. But the noble preu Iason among many strokes enuertued him self by suche vaillaunce in smytyng vpon the Geant Corfus with his trenchaunt swerde that he araught him on the hyest of his helme .iij. strokes one after an other in one 25 place that at the thirde stroke he enfondrid & to frusshid his helme and the coyffe into the heed' in suche wyse / that of the grete anguisshe that the geant suffrid. that he fylle douñ a swounne vpon the sande seeyng all they of Oliferne And of that other part the Esclauons whiche were soroufutt & abasshid Incontinent as the worthy Iason hadde slayn and smyton douñ the Geant to the erthe as sayd is. he dishelmed him but he fonde that he was dede. wherfore he lefte him there lyeng And in signe of victorie he seasid' his swerde. and after wente vnto his hors/whom he fonde pasturing. But he had no leyser to sadle 35 him because of many Esclauons that he sawe meue for to come and renne vpon him. Thenne he seasid his hors by the brydel and withoute sadle sterte vpon hym. And for alle doubtes he with- [lf. 27] drewe in to the Cyte as sone as was possible for him wherof the 30 Esklauons hadde right grete despyte. And than whan they apperceyuid that they gate nought in poursuyng of Iason for they were alle a foote / they withdrewe hem to Corfus whom they founde ded. for whom they were gretely disconforted' in so moche that hem 5 semed that alle her truste and hoope was loste and goon. And among alle other whan the king knewe the mysauenture of his Geant he was so sorouful that of alle the euen after he spack not one word For he had grete affiaunce in his strengthe in hys grete hardynesse. and in hys Entrepryse 34 10 G for Rete & meruayllous was the sorowe that the kyng of Esk- 30 Geant Corfus. And on the contrarye the Quene Myrro and alle they of the cyte of Oliferne demened' grete Ioye and made right Ioyous chiere for the noble vyctorie of Iason. Than the Quene 15 Myrro accompanyed' of a grete nombre of ladyes and' of damoyselles of knyghtes and squyers cam to the gate ayenst Iason esprysed with suche gladnes and consolacion that hit can not be spoken / And anon as Iason espyed her he sprang doun of his horse and made to her the Reuerence and after presented to her the swerd of 20 the Geant / And sayd' 'Madame lo here is the swerd that your knightes haue so moche doubted here to fore beholde hit wel / & doo with all your playsir' Than the noble lady ansuerd to Iason / 'right exellent knight/ thanked' be the goddes that by your hyhe [lf. 276] entrepryse and vaillyaunce haue this day deliuerid' the Cyte and 25 all the peple of Oliferne of a meruaillous drede and fere / And syn that the crymynell Geant Corfus is dede Alle the Remenaunt as who saith is as good as vaynquisshid / and therfore come ye vnto our palais. & we shal doo visite your woundes by our Surgyens / whiche shall ordeyne right well and diligently for your helthe' Thenne was the noble Iason brought vnto the palays wyth grete loenge and preysinges of the ladyes & damoyselles of the knightes and of the peple of the cite of Oliferne / The wedowes bewailled' gretly because he was not erst comen for the losse of her husbondes they that were maried reioysed and were glad of his 35 comyng. They that were disconforted and desolate recoured their corage alle newe / For in the vailliaunce and in the hyghe vertues of Iason rested all their hope. In his strength they toke affiaunce/ In his witte they trusted' In his vaillyaunce they were Reconforted. And in his goode fortune consolate. Certes hit semed to Mirro advised to make Jason Warlord. 35 them thenne / that they were deliuerid from the paynes of helle and brought into paradys ¶ What shall I more saye the fayr Myrro thoughte and dremed' oft tymes of Iason / as of the knight that she louyd most of the worlde. The preu Iason was thre dayes long in the palays without ony armes beryng And during these thre 5 dayes the fayr Myrro wente ofte tymes vn to him/ hoping that Iason shold haue required her of loue whiche he hadde gladly doon. but as cremetous and doubting the recountres of Reffuse. durste in no manere touche that matere ne make ony semblaunt to her ne to none other 10 *ON N the fourthe daye than whan the nobles of Oliferne knewe [lf. 28] that Iason was hole of hys hurtes and might well bere Armes they assembled and cam vnto the Quene Myrro and sayd to her. 'Madame ye haue wel cause for to reioye your self yf a herte Infortunat after grief vpon grief may resourdre whan 15 fortune wyl fauoure and' ayde We and your counceylle haue often tymes beholde and seen the Ryght hyhe prowesse and dyscrete conduyte of your knyght Iason. Certes hyt may wele be sayd/ that hys lyke was neuer founden. hyt semeth to vs / that fortune hath brought hym vnto your handes. for to resuscyte and Reyse yow. 20 for to take vengeaunce of the ouer grete euyllys and meschyeues / that hath ben doon to yow and your men duryng thys warre. And for many Raysons we counceylle yow. that ye ordeyne and constytute the sayd' noble Iason Capytayne of thys Royaume and Chief of your warre. For we thinke so moche noblesse in hym. that he 25 shalle neuer haue reste in hys corage vnto the tyme that he haue chassed awaye youre mortelt enemyes oute of your Royaume / & brought them to dysconfiture' It is to wete / whether the noble quene Myrro was right Ioyous in her herte whan she herd so hyghly Recomended 30 him that she moste louid aboue alle the men of the worlde. hit is no meruaylle thawh she so were and debonayrly she acorded the Requeste that the nobles and her conceytt hadde made to her. And forthwith she sente for Iason / and in the presence of them that had made the requeste as afore is sayd, she constituted him Capi- 35 tayne general of aft her royaume Thenne Iason remercyed' [lf. 28 b] and thanked the noble Quene Myrro of the honour that she had don to him And also the nobles and her councey for their 1 0. vuto. D 2 Jason bids the Sclavonians go or fight. goode pourchace / In excusing gretly him self of nonhabilite Sayng that he was not propice ne worthy of so hye charge and honour to enterprise/ But all they that there were present sayde. That notwithstanding his excusacions. they wolde haue none other 5 Capitayne but him. And that he sholde be it as ferre as he wolde not disobeye the noble quene Myrro. They shewid him so many demonstraunces that he enterprised and toke vpon him the charge/ And that same oure the noble Quene Myrro deliuerid' vnto the noble damoiseau Iason all that was necessarie to hym and ordeyned' 10 his estate/ And whan the noble preu Iason felte him in this honour so hygh sette in his astate he sente forth with to the kyng of Esclauonye / commandyng him to departe he and alle his ooste from thens. And that anone he sholde voyde the royaume of Oliferne, or ellis on the morn betymes he sholde dispose him & 15 make him redy to be receyuyd' by bataille Whan the puissaunt king of Esclauonye vnderstood that Iason hadde so sende him his maundement. he had right grete meruaille / how well he ansuerde to the heraulde that he hadde not entencion for to disloge him ne to Reyse his siege. and 20 that he wolde erste haue at his commandement the noble Quene Myrro for to doo with her his wille and sente word agayn vnto the noble preu Iason. that also dere as he had his lyf, he sholde kepe him that he came not in his presence. And if he came in his [lf. 29] handes. he sholde doo hym deye a myserable deth 1 25 Ncontynent as the noble preu Iason had vnderstanden this answere. he dyde to publisshe in all the quarefours of the Cyte. That all they that were of age to bere armes shold' be redy on the morn erly for to goo with him for to enuahye and fighte with their enemyes. And thus passid that day vnto the nyght/ 30 That Iason thenne began to thenke on the grete honour and charge that he hadde receyuid. And thenne whan he was withdrawen in to hys chambre contynueng in his amorouse pensees & thoughtis He began to saye by him self in this maner 'Ha a my dere lady how haue ye don to me this grete worship/ & gyuen to me more 35 goodes thenne apperteyneth to myn astate. and how shaft hit be possible to nombre the excesse of bounte/ of clerenes of beaulte with all other vertues that ben in yow I ought not to meruaille if youre right exellent beaulte draweth to your loue the corages of strange Princes. for ye be adressid in all bountees/ the most fayr Love-thoughts of JIN creature and the moste discrete that God and Nature euer forumed The right most parfayt that is ougwher. how sholde hit be thenne but if ye were belouyd' of alle folke / Certes ye are worthy that the ayer be replenisshid' with callinges and of voyses cryeng after you and requyreng youre grace & mercy / Ha a ye that be so 5 moche exellent and vertuous. That alle my thoughtes and Imagynacions ben torned' And gyuen to you that ar so moche hye valour. Notwithstanding I shall not absteyne me to loue youre noble persone For I shalle the better prospere and be of the more value' N suche or semblable wordes the preu Iason passid the moste [lf. 29 b] parte of the night / and vnto morn erly The day apperid fayr and cleer. And anone after in short tyme after the deth of the Geant Corfus / Iason and the Syriens adoubed' them. And'assemblid them of the Cyte to fore the palays of the Quene Myrro. and than whan Iason sawe and knewe that hys people were sette in 15 ordenaunce / he wente vnto the fayr Myrro and sayd to her in this manere. 'Madame praye ye for your knight/ the whiche aboue alle thing desireth. that he myght doo that thing that might be yow right agreable. and prouffitable to yow and your Cyte' 'Certes right excellent and vayllyaunt knight' answerde the Quene Myrro/ 20 'ye ar moche preysed and hyghly recommended of my men. And for so moche I praye yow that in this Iourneye ye haue goode corage for to defende my quarele whiche is goode and Iuste / And' as to the Regarde of my selfe. I put myn Armee and my men vnder the conduyte of youre preudhommye and your wysedom. 25 Prayng vnto the goddes That they wille make your fortune to shine clere. and tenhaunse my goode quarele' 37 ¶ how by the hye vailliaunce of Iason the king of Sklauonye & his ooste were desconfited & him self slain tofore Oliferne Thus as the noble quene spack & admonestid the worthy knight 30 wel & fighte vayliantly in defending her iuste & good quarele / Iason began to beholde her so ardantly that she was ashamed how wel that she as wyse & discrete helde honeste manere & than the noble Iason after the leue and congie [lf. 30] taken as wel of her as of the ladyes and damoiselles departed from 35 the palays with grete bewailinges, and mounted on his hors. But there were many of the ladyes and Damoiselles of the court that An evil Omen for the Sclavonians. began to bewepe him / Prayng vnto the goddes to gyue him good auenture / And they sayd one vnto an ot er that hit sholde be grete dommage if to him came ony fortune other thenne goode / And that they had neuer seen none so courtoys ne so gracious. 5 And that he was the veray sourdre and welle of noblesse. Anone thenne as the noble preu Iason was on hors back he sette his men in right fayr ordenaunce. and after sette hem on the waye toward the felde And the peple by all the waye that he passed' knelid doun tofore him and prouoqued the goddes vnto his ayde and helpe. 10 And thenne whan he was comen vnto the felde he assembled all his folke and putte hem in fayr ordenaunce of bataylle. And thenne whan he had required them instantly and amonested them to doo wett/ he dide doo marche them ayenst their enemyes whiche abode them a fote Rengid and right well ordeyned/ At the meuyng lason 15 dide do sowne trompettis / tabours / and cornes sarasins. buysines / and other instruments so melodiously that hit semed that they hadde gooñ vnto a wedding or mariage or somme grete feste / And thus tryumphing of one hye wille medlid' with Ioye desiring to doo well. Reioysing them self singulerly in the vailliaunce and goode 20 conduyte of the right worthy and noble knight Iason they approched in suche wise their mortelt enemyes that they began to couche their [lf. 30 b] goode speris and begynne the stour. And in that same tyme as the king of Sklauonye helde hys men in Araye a meruayllous grete Rauen cam fleyng ouer his hede cryeng right horrybly Incontinent as the king of Esklauonye herde suche a crye he began to tremble for Ire & be in a grete agonye / & loked after the Rauen & sayde. O euer hard and trembling hope / This maketh me to entre in to frenesye For this fowle is messager of deth or of right euyl auenture / and this is an euyf signe / for I fele 30 my vaynes alle voyde of blood"/ Ha a my dere lady what shal I now doo / Certes I shal neuer put me to reprouche for to flee / I hadde leuer dye and lete here my lyf / than euer shold be rehersed to yow of me ony dishoneste tydinges / Certes all they that were thoo aboute him were sore abasshid, & not withoute cause. But 35 neuertheles they reconforted them self the best wyse they might. and anon was made than on bothe sydes a meruayllous crye with whiche they marched that one ayenst that other. And began by the Archers & arblasters the batay so aspre that the Ayer was derked and obscurid with the quarels and arowes and stones that 25 flewe so thikk. And made with their Cryes a grete bruyt right meruaillous The vayllyaunt knight Iason was in the formest fronte of his people holdyng his bowe in hys hand wher with he lete flee Arowes vpon hys Enemyes largely. But atte last the shotte lassed. 5 And whan Iason sawe that he sterte vpon his horse and toke hys sheld and his spere In escryeng Oliferne by thre tymes And smote his hors with his sporis & thrested into middes of his [lf. 31] enemyes so swiftly. that Prufus ne the Siriens coude not folowe him at the begynnyng / Thenne whan hit cam to breking of speris / 10 the king of Toscane and the king of Bongye knewe him anoñ. wherfore they rañ ayenst him. sayng that they wolde auenge the deth of the strong Geant Corfus And bothe vailliauntly smote him tronchonyng their speris vpon his shelde with oute endomagyng his shelde / but hit is well to beleue that the noble preu 15 Iason failled not at this first cours. for he smote the king of Bongye by such radeur that he lefte him oute of his arsoñs / and bare him there vnto the erth And so passid forth and thenne cam agaynst him the king of Poulane but that was to his euyl helthe For Iasons spere trauersid his shelde his hauberk & the body alle to 20 breking his spere. And thenne cam on vnto the bataille Prusus, acompanyed of his knyghtes That meruaillously mayntened them self in ensewing the faytes of Iason and thus began one and other to shewe them self with right grete effusion of blood on bothe parties. But moche more of them of Esclauonye thenne of them 25 of Oliferne 39 Incontinent that the noble Iason had broken his spere he griped was clere And pretending that men shold' speke of his faytes and vailliaunces/ he adressid him on that parte where he sawe the banyer royal of 30 Esclauonye And supposed to haue entrid' there vpon his enemyes. but they held' hem thikke¹ to geder. and cast & smote vp on Iason right asprely And Iason vpon them by suche vertue that he effoundred plente of their heedes / detrenched' their sheldes and' [lf. 31b] slewe grete nombre of good knyghtes For the vayllaunt Prusus 35 and his knightes aborded than there in suyng Iason at euery stroke bathed his swerd in the blood of his ennemyes / And' dide so grete fete of Armes on alle sydes that they that behelde hym and hys mayntene / callid him deth and saide/' Certes the deth assaylleth vs hauyng the forme & habylement of a knight Flee that wole hys fureur and hys trenchaunt swerd / For whom he arecheth shall 5 neuer after see fayr daye' IA Ason thus in this whyle dyde Armes at hys with For he beyng on his horse made the Sklauon knightes marche a foot and many other with oute nombre / one and other sayde that his body was att of stele / And that he was noman mortall / but that he was a thing 10 of that other worlde For hit semed to his aduersaries that they hadde no spere ne swerde that myght entre in to his body ¶ What shal I saye vnto yow / he dyde so well that by vyue force with his trenchaunt swerde he brake the wardes and Araye of the Esklauons & cam vnto the banere of the kinge Esklauon where he was acom- 15 panied with xxx. knightes that rengid them for the garde of the baner But incontinent whan they sawe the swerd' of Iason redy for to smyte on them/ The moste asseured' of them began to tremble / Neuerthelesse they sette hem in araye and toke their sheldes/ haunced their swerdes / and attended frely and fast a fote the preu 20 Iason and his folke that folowed him. And than Iason swymmyng in a newe corage by grete playsir and appetite for to gete goode [lf. 32] loos & goode Renomme smote in among tho knightes that withstode him with al their puissaunce / And thenne in this manere began agayn the bataille and a meruaillous stour. in so moche that 25 on alle sides men mighte see knightes slee eche other. sheldes to breke & fle in pieces / haubercs dismailled/ helmes broken & blood spring out of their woundes and falle vpon the erthe Ertes the noble preu Iason hadde there moche to doo and suffre as well for to kepe his men in araye / as for to enuaye 30 and assaille his enemyes. for his shelde was smyten in many Cute pieces. his armures were adommaged in many places. This notwithstanding he enuertued hym selfe defending wold neuer cesse. til he came vnto the banere of the king of Esclauonye / and to the knight that bare the banere he gaf a strook so dismesurably that he 35 clefte his hede vnto the chyñ, And fitt douñ dede fro hys horse to the grounde and the baner also in the presence of the king of Esclauonye The whiche anone as he perceyued that stroke withdrewe him a parte and one of the knightes wente for to auaunce and Releue the banere. but the noble preu Iason made of him as Jason routs the Enemy and slays the King. 41 he dide of that other And after that he brack and all to rente the banere in pieces at the hors feet. This don he began to smyte on the right side and on the lifte side/ And thenne the Esclauons loste corage & vailliaunce. And on the contrarie they of Oliferne seeyng the goode conduyte of their capitayne began to 5 growe better and better in suche valoir that as many of their enemyes as they mette / they slewe with their swerdes. And so in the ende hit happend that as the noble Iason Rañ here and there [lf. 32 b] he recontred the king & slewe him with one stroke that he gaf him with his swerd. Than the Esklauons alle disconforted & 10 despayred' as they that had no more esperance ne hope to obteyne the vyctorie escryed' sayng 'Late vs flee and saue our self. for alle ys loste. for the king is dede' with whiche crye they tourned their back & put hem to flyght and dysaroye. how wel that they were yet more than .v. M. And than the vaillyaunt Capytayn Iason 15 and alle his batayle poursiewed them chacyng and sleing them out of the Royame of Oliferne. This don the Noble Iason and his companye Retourned' vnto the place where the Esklauons had' holde their siege and there they founde richesses plente. & than whan they had departed their gayn & butin as hit apper- 20 teyneth vnto suche a caas to euery man his part after his condicion. The right valiant Iason comaunded' to trusse the tentes and pauilouns of his enemyes And than he and his companye Retourned in to the cite as Vainqueurs with moche grete glorie and Triumphe He fayr Myrro cam than to mete with Iason garnisshed with a gracious maintene. And made to him the grettest honour and reuerence that was to her possible. leding him vnto her palays/ where he entrid with grete payne. for the peple was assemblid there on alle partes aboute him in a meruayllous nombre for to see 30 him And cryed alle with an hyhe voys sayng. 'Nowe is retourned agayn victorious our defendour. our swerd/ our helthe and all our esperaunce. whiche hath only in him self more of vaisselage than is in att Esklauonye / and ought to be honoured' [lf. 33] & Recomanded aboue alle other.' Certes the noble Iason was fested 35 this night & Recomended of suche and semblable loenges of them of Oliferne / whiche made in the stretes daunses & esbatemens thanking their goddes And alwaye Iason was more and more in the grace of the ladyes / For the best born the most fayre the best 25 accomplisshed & the most special fyxed their loue in hym Alle were Ialouse of him/ But Iason neuer thought on none of them/ but onely / vpon the seulle & oultrepassed' beaute of the vertuous Myrro/ whiche alwaye was in his memorie And alle they had wondre & meruayle of the beaute graciousete wytte & perfeccion of Iason. And for to abregge this storie the vailly unt & oultrepreu Iason was in this glorie & tryumphe vnto mydnight whiche than withdrewe hym. And whan he was withdrawen in his chambre he reentred in to his Reuerie of loue as he hadde ben to fore acus- Io tomed. And sette all in oublie and forgeting the poysaunt and dangerous strokes that he had that day receyuid in the bataylle ayenst the Esklauons wherof his body was right sore and concluded in him self that on the morn he wolde declare his corage vnto the lady. But whan the daye was come and whan he cam to 15 fore her. he felte him self so sore surprised with loue that he wiste not what to saye, And thus he drof forth longe and many a day that he for alle his hardines of Armes his swete speche ne his strengthe coude not auaylle in gyuing him hardiesse / for to discouere his corage vnto his lady. wherfore on a night he beyng in 20 his bedde began to blame hym self. and saide softely to him self in this manere [lf. 33 b] What may prouffiten the contynuell bewailinges that I make for my lady I am not aferde whan I finde me in a troublous bataille of an honderd thousand meñ/ but whan I suppose to speke 25 to my lady, I tremble for feere & drede & wote not what to saye. for tofore her I am as al rauisshid in like wise as a poure and shamefast¹ man that suffreth to dye for honger rather thenne for shame he dar begge his breed/O what vergoigne procedeth of such shamefastnes / I speke to my self allone & I answere/Ofte tymes 30 I am aduised that to morñ I shal do meruayles & so I conclude right wel/ but whan it cometh for to be doñ I haue no memorie ne remembrance of all my conclusions / Am I not thenne wel simple / whan vnto the most fayr. the most sage. the most discrete & the most vertuous of all other. I haue no hardynesse for to saye 35 my desire & with how wel my herte iugeth that I am somwhat in her grace but now cometh vpon me an other iugement/ & me semeth that she wil neuer acorde to my requestes / O right noble 5 42 10. m inverted. Jason speaks to Mirro of Love. & nonparaille Mirro. she is without peer as the rose among thornes. Alas & what shal I do without you I haue made a presente to you of my hert & my with if I vnderstode that ye were born in a constellacion en pesshing you of thinfluence of loue, & that loue had no power tesproue vpon you his vertues I wolde not enploye my 5 tyme for to thenke on you. but whan me semeth that so grete habondaunce of thexcesse of beaute naturell as youris is. it may not be but that it is entremedlid of loue of pite & of mercy/ it must nedes be that your humble frende be rauisshed in the contemplacion of your gloriouse value. desiring your goode grace 10 wisshing your aliaunce. & requiring the goddes and fortune that [lf. 34] of yow & me they make oon hows & one bed' where we mighte enbrase the soueraine playsirs of this worlde & plainly fynde amerouse felicite' 43 THe He preu Iason with thise wordes fylt a slepe/ and after he 15 awoke so alumyned' with the fyre of loue that hit was to him inpossible to take his rest / but to tourne and walowe & trauaille in his bedde/ And there as loue thus assaylled him agayn. he determined' vtterly that he wolde aduenture him to speke to his lady. what that euer happen therof. And so he dide for the 20 same day he came vn to her and sayde in this wyse. 'Madame I haue seruid' yow as well as to me is possible for two causes/ Principally that one for thacquite of cheualerye / And that other not for to disserue the richesses that ye haue vnder the power of fortune/ But allonly that singuler thing that nature hath made 25 yow lady of and' vpon whiche fortune hath puissaunce / Madame ye haue don to me plente of curtoysies / And offred grete yeftes of monoye. wherof I thanke yow how wel I holde them but of litil extime for couetise of auarice haue not alumed me of their fyre/ I demande not the grete tresours that ben in the abismes of the 30 see. ner them that ben enclosed in the montaignes / my desir restith in two singuler thinges / that one is for to conquere name in arms / whiche ought to be thappetite of the vocacion of alle noble hertes That other is to obeye vnto the commaundements & plaisaunces of loue that bindeth / & obligeth me to be youris / for 35 to thenke on yow/ to attende & abide your beniuolence to doo thing that may playse your eyen & your herte ALas Las my dere lady all good & honour cometh of you and yf [lf. 34 b] ye be all my deport and fortune. And the goddes haue Mirro pretends to rebuke Jason. 5 suffrid me to haue doo thing digne of amerouse merite in your fauour. put not ye your herte in discongnyssaunce by the whiche your noble royaume is put in pees / Receyue hier to your man trew frende & louar your knight and the right humble & obeyssaunt herte / of whom the body secheth with al your plaisirs to obeye him that hath made al his tresour of your beaute / fro the oure that the goode fortune brought me hether vnto your presence / I was & haue ben in all poyntes redy to lyue & dye for you in your seruice/ in which I toke arestaunce. I submysed' prestly my necke 10 to bere the fardell of your warre/ ye knowe how I haue born it Ha a my dere lady haue mercy on me I supplye you humbly for asmoche as neuer trewe louar required his lady with more desire & affeccion in att honour & curtoisye' The preu Iason cessed thenne his requeste in beholding the fayr Myrro right amorously. the whiche herd him with a glad will. but this notwithstanding she made no maner semblaunt / but for asmoche as to proue if Iason was asmoche affected in loue as in armes. she ansuerde to him as hit foloweth sayng! 'Certes fayr sire Iason I knowe that ye be he that haue discharged my royame 20 of them that ete & destroyed the substaunce. & whiche wolde by force haue ocupied & wasted it. And so I will not saye but that ye be right digne of grete merite. And that your thanke and reward' ought to be yolden vnto you. But vnto the regarde for to require me of loue. me semeth ye haue moche to ferre enterprised"/ 25 ye knowe well ye ar none other but a knight what might saye the [lf. 35] kynges and hye Prynces of whom I haue late made refuse / If I gafe me to yow. howe wel myn entencion is not in no wyse to blame yow But vnto thende that ye lose not your tyme I auise to seche oughwher ellis your partie. And than do ye wysely 30 And I require yow to be content her with for I knowe no better remedye for your appaysement' 6 AL Las my dere lady' answerde Iason / Remembre yow that my hert is suche that can chiese by no way none other lady in loue but yow. Certes that shal not be vnto the tyme that the 35 fysshes flee in the ayer. And that the byrdes swymme in the water.' 'My frende' sayd' the lady 'vnto the Regarde for tendende to take a thing difficile. is no grete prudence. ye be meure in your yong age as towching Armes / But beware that ye put yow not in so parfounde an errour that ye can not easely come oute / Certes 15 Jason leaves Olifern and is lamented. I loue yow more than ye wene. I am redy for to yelde yow your merite for the grete goodnes that ye haue don to the cyte of Oliferne / I praye yow that ye require me nomore from hens forth. And late this suffise yow.' 'Ha a madame' ansuerde Iason than. 'howe maye I haue suffisaunce whan I may not finde grace to fore your 5 noble vysage. of whiche right indigent and not satisfyed' I remayne. ye daigne not to condescende to my prayers. hit is now your plaisir that I fall in despair/ but syn hit goth so & that ye will haue no compassion of a trewe knight that hath ben youris. and the deffendour & the hande that hath obteyned the peas for your 10 royame & the propre arme that hath taken vengeaunce of your auncient forfaiteurs & enemyes / al dispaired I departe prayng vnto the goddes that will enlumine yow with pite & mercy as they [lf. 35 b] knowe that is nedeful for you. & vnto all oure goddes I commande you' 1 45 How that Iason after that he had required the quene Mirro of loue departed alle disconforted from Oliferne & how she wente after him 15 Wyth this conclusion the preu Iason all in a traunce & half rebuqued wente vnto the ladyes & damoiselles And the fair Myrro & one woman which was secrete with her departed fro thens but the quene entrid allone into her chambre / thinking moche on Iason / whiche at that tyme comen among the ladies as said is with an herte sorouful & enuyronned with displaisir / thanked them gretly of the grete curtoisie that he had fonden in 25 them, & in this poynte toke leue recommanding him self in their goode grace. After departed thens vnto his stable & commanded to sadle his hors And after that he sente for his armes & adoubed hym / & forthwith without ony more speche how well it was nygh night. he rode forth out of the cite. & was so angry & desplaisaunt 30 that he wist neuer whither to become & whan the ladies sawe that Iason departed from the cite so allone & dysconforted thinking on the vertues where in he was endowed they complayned him moche/ & saide one to an other that he had not his herte in ease / Many of them bewailed him in suche wise that the grete teres fill doun from 35 their eyen / and among them ther was one that knew somwhat of the secretes of the quene & she hauyng seen Iason taking his hors 20 Mirro chided for her Coldness. alt armed & departe out fro the cite cam vnto Myrro alle bewept as she was and saide to her in this manere Adame what eyleth your knight or sodayne chaunce may [lf. 36] come to him to departe out of your cite armed and allone 5 at this oure haue ye sente him into ony place hit semeth that he hath his herte oppressid with aspre dueil and sorowe.' 'Certes bele' answerde the Quene I wote not what him eyleth. but I trowe right wel that he is not alle at his ayse. for in recompensing of the goode seruices that he hath don to me in this warre/ he hath 10 desired & required me of loue. and for asmoche as I haue not acorded to him his requeste he is departed from me all angry / & more knowe not I.' 'Madame' than saide the damoyselle. 'gaf ye to him no maner hope ne esperaunce at his departing.' 'certes 6 I gaf to him none' saide the lady. 'And how' saide the 15 damoiselle'ye haue said to me more than a .M. tymes to fore this tyme that he was the only desir of your herte', 'I confesse that to yow' saide the quene for yet my loue is sette on him merueyllously & bere alwey in my souenaunce his grete beaute & his wele doinges' 'Ha a madame' ansuerde than the Damoyselle Why 20 haue ye thus ansuerd him so coldely & refusingly '/' certes' said the lady'I wote neuer why but that I was so abasshid & so chauffed' in my blood/ whan I vnderstode that he required me of loue that I wist not to answere. & also by myn aduise myn honour requireth that at this first requeste / I sholde holde me straunge & 25 not tabondonne my self For they that at the firste requeste of their louers agree to them/ ought to be ashamed. For as moche as the more parte of men haue no verite ne loyaulte as to the Regard of loue. And also ther be many that can none otherwyse doo but [lf. 366] serue ladyes & gentilwomon with lyes & deceytes My moder 30 told me and bad' me kepe this lesson whan she sente me first to scole/ if I haue wel reteyned her doctrine me thinketh I haue non don moche amys. for the thyng that is goten by grete trauayle & long requestes is moche more worth & better kept. thenne that is goten lightly. Certes that lady that of her loue is required can 35 doo no better thenne to holde her strange & be moche requyred" Adame' ansuerde the Damoiselle 'I accorde moche to that ye saye to me but ther is in all thinge manere/ how wel that ther be many men that praye & requyre ladies of their loue asmoche as they maye / making lesinges and false cthes that can not 'M be counted. but certes madame this noble and valiant knight Iason is not in myn aduys no thing like as to the compte of other / & after that I vnderstonde by your wordes ye haue sent him from you all hountouse & shamed' in so moche as I deme that he is goone in such wise as he cam hether For at his departing he came 5 & toke leue of the ladies. wherfore I am in doubte that ye shal neuer see him more.' 'And is he goon as ye saye' saide thenne the lady. 'ye certes' sayde the damoiseft/he is certaynly goon' 'By what place & by whiche gate.' 'That wote I not' sayd' the damoisett / but I trowe better that he is retourned into his countre 10 thenne to ony other place' 6 Whan the noble Quene Myrro vnderstood this that sayd' is/ and that she had a litil remembrid her self of the departing of her dere loue & frende. she fill doun to the erthe as all thurgh smyten & tronchoned with amerouse sorowe & dueil / she began 15 thenne to wrynge her handes & to smyte with her feet sayng not passing lowde. 'Alas. Alas Fortune is to me hard Alas & [lf. 37] what haue I don my self euil auisid whan I was required of loue of the moste Renomed knight of all the worlde. of the most vaillyaunt in armes. of the fayrest that lyueth. And that I haue 20 not humelyed' my self with his right grete humylite I haue made refuse of my right grete wele and of my grettest ewre and happe. Certes I coude not kepe in myn hous the goode fortune that the goddes of their secrete tresour of their grace had sente to me and brought and planted in my handes By my litil aduyse & entende- 25 ment I haue chaced' oute of Oliferne him that hath rescowed' and brought hit agayn fro mortal encombraunce by the hye valiaunce of his persone & the trauaile of his body with the precious prys of his blood And thenne what haue I do. Ha a my herte what hast thou consented. my mouth' what haste thou voided. my tonge what 30 hast thou proferred. And myn entendement where were thou where was thy force or thy puissaunce/ or thy will that desiring the loue & thalyaunce of him that was abandonned to the whiche haddest thy mouthe 2 closed for shame. And hast suffred' the corporal and bodily mouth to denye that thing. that thou 35 approuedest to seche aboue all other thing O right poure shamefastnes/ye hountouse shamefastnes. in what ploye or in what 30. mounth. Mirro advised to ride after Jason. presse am I nowe by thy cause. Certes I am ashamed that I haue refused' thalyaunce of my frende and of my domycille. But certes I shalle amende hit to my power / I shalle goo after hym so ferre til I shal fynde hym / And I shaft haue no shame to putte me in his 5 mercy' Han the yong damoisell aperceyued the grete displaisir [lf. 37 b] to thende that no persone shulde come vpon them and begonne there to wepe til night. and that a lady cam knocking at the dore 10 & saide that the soupper was all redy than the quene dide do answere her by the damoyselle. that she wolde¹ not suppe for so moche as she felte her not wel disposed, and also comanded that no persone sholde come to her that night Whiche answere so made/ the Quene & the damoyselle began to make newe bewailinges & 15 teeris and after began to bewaile Iason. and among alle other thinges the Quene saide these wordes. Yet maye ther worse auenture greue me more for after an ouer moche dangerouse inconuenience 2 she sendeth to me the deth/ Ha a late me sorowe / but what shal I mowe doo. I wote neuer what to thenke. & what 20 ought I to doo by your faith. seme ye good that I ought to goo after him. or that I sende ony faithfull man after him of my knowleche. Certes I thinke if I sholde sende a messager after him that he wolde not come agayn / And if I wente my self after him that sholde be to me the grettest dishonour of the worlde.' 6 ( 25 Madame' ansuerde than the damoiselle 'ye ought to knowe your caas. and of two wayes to take the beste / If ye haue intencion that Iason be your husbonde / hit behoueth no lenger to soiourne. for ye muste go or sende vnto him with alle diligence. and for to saye to yow myn opinion. yf hit were so happend to me as it is to yow I 30 wolde sende none other messager. but my selfe / And knowe ye verily that ye may haue no dishonour for to goo after him vnderstonden & well considerid the good & agreable seruices that he [lf. 38] hath don to yow & to your royame. for vnder the colour for to guerredone & rewarde him ye maye take occasion to come into 35 wordes and to gyue him som matere yet for to serue you.' 'Certes fayr doughter' saide the quene/'I wote not what to thinke what me is best to do for if I goo after him and finde him. what shal She departs secretly and hears of Jason. 49 6 I saye', 'My dere lady' ansuerde the damoiselle. 'as I haue right now sayd ye shal presente to him the guerredon of the grete honour and good seruice that he hath don to you in your necessite.' 'this thinketh to me litil substance for to entre into speche of my pryncipal cause' sayd the quene / 'Certes madame' answerd 5 thenne the damoiselle. 'whan ye shal come and be to fore the knight / loue shaft teche you to speke if ye will recorde the lessons and epistles of loue by the space of ten yere. it shal but litil prouffite to your auancement for ther lacketh no thing but thinspyracion of loue medlid with hardynesse and of humayne entende- 10 ment. spekyng with the mouth¹ whiche is instrument of the dischargyng and discouering of heites' 'Syn that it is so' sayde thenne the fayr Myrro quene of Oliferne. All thing considerid I had moche leuer to couere a litit blame. thenne that I sholde in alle poyntes with oute euer to recouere agayn alle the hole desire and 15 playsir of my herte. and the consolacion of myñ eyen thenne I shalle saye to you myn aduyse that hit is nede and necessite so to do. and that ye muste nowe goo vnto my women and saye to them. that to morñ betymes I shalle goo in pilgremage accompanyed of you onely And that they take hede and see well to alle thinges. 20 And ye and I tofore the sonne rising shal enterprise in the most secrete wise that shall be possible oure enqueste vpon the most noble and vailliaunt knight the most fair, & the most adressed' [lf. 38 b] that is liuing. That is Iason myn only frende. and we shall do so moche that he shall be founden.' This aduise semed' right good 25 vnto the Damoyselle / the whiche with alle diligence obeyed' to the comaundement of her maistresse / and after these thinges aboute midnight. they made redy her thinges and on the morn erly tofore day. bothe they toke eche a good palfroye in habite vnknowen and rode forth on their waye. and suche was their auenture that they 30 cam for to bayte in the logging wher her frende Iason had logged that night. And than she began to demande of the hoost of thaffaire and contenance of the knight and what chere he had made the euen to fore. and at his departing what way he had taken & holde. And the hooste ansuerde to the lady. that as to the regarde of 35 his chere and thaffaire of the knight. he had nether eten ne dronken in alle the euening/ And as to the waye that he had holden. he enseigned to the lady. whiche was than moche pensif for Iason. that had not that euening taken no Refeccion of mete ne of drinke as He noble Quene Myrro & her damoyselle taried than not longe at that bayting/ for they toke their horses and rood' as hastely as to hem was possible & so rcode .iij dayes long after Iason/ hering in euery logise where they descended tidinges of him/ but 5 they coude not ouertaken ne finde him / And on the fourth day suyng they cam vnto a porte of the see where was shewid vnto them a ship where in were marchants of Athenes / & was told to 50 them that Iason was therin & that he wold go to Athenes & further- [lf. 39] more if they wolde go ther was yet a ship of other marchants 10 that was on the poynt to departe / but thenne the fayr Myrro was in suche a poynt of displaisir whan she knewe that Iason was departed that she made grete sorowe. This notwythstanding she was anon conseylled what she wolde doo & concluded syn that she hadde so moche traueyled that she wolde proue dame fortune. 15 & went after Iason. with this conclusion att ful of aspre sighinges she went to the ship that sholde disancre for to go to Athenes & agreed with the maronner whiche was brought theder by force of tempest & winde and anoñ they disancred & departed & whan they sawe that it was calme & blewe not. they made redy their 20 oores & rowed by the force of their armes / for at that tyme men vsid not so many sailles as they do now. notwithstanding they exploited in such maner that they cam into the hye see. where they rowed long tyme. In which tyme the quene Mirro becam seke vnto the deth. & fynably whan they had ben cei tayne space of 25 tyme. a meruaillous orage & grete winde caste hem here & there / in suche wise that fortune broughte hem to the porte of Trace. magre al the maronners/ for they were al aduertised that it was perillous to ariue there because of the kyng of that countre whiche was named Dyomedes He kyng Dyomedes thenne was a tyraunt right inhumayne. And had of long time ben acustomed to robbe all them that arryued in his royaume were hit by see or by lande. he was at that tyme soiournyng in his cite named Bysance. The whiche was afterward callyd Constantynoble & incontinent that this ship was 35 arryued at the porte of Bysance Dyomedes dide hastely doo arme [lf. 39 6] him & brought with him .xxx. of his tyrants/ and in this maner cam vnto the porte where were arriued the ij ships of Athenes. & assone as he might be herd of the maronners he escried them & sayde'vylayns meschants & vnhappy come vp on hye and come 30 where Jason repels the Tyrant Diomedes. out of my shippes/ for ye must logge in my prisons. or ye shal haue as many strokes as ye may suffre' 51 Whan the vaillyaunt knight Iason had vnderstand the grete felonnye of the tyrant and that he sawe that alle the maronners tremblid for drede in suche wyse. that they durste not 5 sowne a worde. he enhaunced his heed' and answerde to Dyomedes sayng. 'Gloton myserable what demandest thou be / we not infortunat ynowh as thou semest late vs in peas.' Dyomedes hering this answer was as angry as he might bee. wherfore he comanded his complices that incontinent they sholde auenge him 10 of the Iniurie that Iason had' sayd' to him in his presence / than the complices whiche were right aspre & more redy to do euyl than otherwise / escryed' Iason to the deth & descended from thens that they were til they cam to his ship vpon the sande / and whan the preu Iason sawe the manere of these tyrants / he recomforted him 15 self the best wyse he might and his maronners whiche were so dysconforted that they had no power to put hem to deffence. he toke his shelde and held fast his goode swerde and bad them to take thair bastons and armures. & that they sholde deffende hem vaylliauntly and of goode corage. But in this sayng the glotons 20 approched Iason & smote vpon him with their swerdes right fiersly/ certes they enuayhed him on all sides by grete felonie But they [lf. 40] coude not well areche him for as moche as ther was betwene hem aboute a .vij. fote of watre/ wherfore som of them wente for to fecche a brigge of tre right stronge & propice and wherin were 25 nayles of yron. on bothe sides / & they dide somoche as they fastned this brigge vnto the ship of Iason / And thenne they that were wel asseurid/ thre of the most vailliaunt of them mounted there vpon & myghte goo theron a fronte / But whan they supposed to haue smiten vpon the noble preu Iason. As vailliaunt and Ryght 30 asseured knight as he was. he enuertued' him selfe vpon them by suche conduyte that with thre strokes of his good swerde that he gaf to them he made alle thre to tumble into the see where they dranke so moche that they neuer arose but lefte there their lyf Whan the maronners of the shippe sawe that their lorde Iason 35 defended him so valiantly. with the trenching of his good' swerd they toke corage. for they seasid their staues and armures. And enterprised the batayle ayenst their enemyes for to supporte and helpe a litilt Iason / howe well they helde hem gladly be hynde E 2 Jason smites down Diomedes. as they that fledde the strokes to their power. Certes the noble Iason kepte right valiauntly the passage of the brigge ayenst the tyrants & furnysshed hem wel vpon thentre of the planke. vpon which they went vp one after an other of whom many were hurt 5 and slayn. There was the tyraunt Dyomedes the whyche entremedlid him to his power/ to conduyte his complices and there brayed as a lyon for somoche as hys men might not mate ne bete doun the vailliaunce of the knyghte Iason The whiche allone [lf. 40b] resisted their fierste and puyssaunce Notwithstanding for alle his 10 grete pride he ne daygned not to make ony assault but by the brigge ¶ What shal I saye yow. Certes the bataylle dured right long betwene Iason & the Traciens / in so moche that the Quene Myrro herde tidinges therof/ And was told to her that ther was a knight in the shippe of ther companye that made so many hye 15 vayllyaunces vpon the tyrantes of Trace. that ther was neuer none seen like to him in prowesse 52 Whan the Quene Myrro vnderstode these tydinges she thought incontinent that hit was Iason that fought so vaillyauntly for to deffende the .ij. shippes. she had gladly auaunced her self for 20 to haue seen his grete vasselage / but she was so right feble that in no wyse she might lifte vp her heed' and' in like wyse was her damoyselle And so long dured the terryble bataill the ylle partie of the Traciens & of Iason that the Traciens founde no more a lyue but .xij. of .xxx. that were comen thedir, And of these xij 25 seyng the deth of their felaws/ther was none so hardy that durst presente him to fore Iason ne cople with him. Than the king Diomedes seyng this that sayd is. was so angry that he might no more be Than wenyng to do vaillyaunce & for to gyue corage to his complices he wente vp on the planke & presented him self so 30 ferre that Iason salued him, & welcommeth him with suche a stroke of his swerde vpon the hyest of his helme / that he smote him doun reuersid' vpon the brigge and' syn lyfte vp his arme with the swerde/ but the paillards tyrants as wery and Recreaunt fled alle trembling and were sore abasshid whan they sawe their king Dyomedes so [lf. 41] sodainly smeton doun / than somme of his complices drewe him by the legges doun from the brigge in so moche that they toke from him his horn that was aboute his neck/ And blewe & sowned hit lowde for to make assemble ther the Cythezeins of the cite the whiche hering the soun of the horn assembled them for to come to Mirro and Jason arrive at Athens. 53 the rescousse of their lord but the tempest of the see cessed than and the marroners casted the brigge into the watre And than whan they were disancred they departed with their shippes out fro the porte with att diligence. And began right Ioyously to rowe thanking their goddes and the hye vailliaunces of the noble knight 5 Iason that they were so escaped of the dangerous parillys of the felon tyraunt. the whiche on that other syde had' so grete despyte & sorowe / that he semed better a man out of his witte than otherwyse / for he had not founden to fore the knightes that hadde so moche prowesse & vailliaunce as he had founden tho in Iason 10 He two shippis than departed from Trace as sayd is and were four dayes long vpon the see/ And on the fyfthe day they arryued at Athenes where Iason went a lande. and so dide the fair Myrro / the whiche began to waxe hole of her maladye. At whiche descente a londe Mirro espied' where Iason toke his logging, and 15 she folowed acompanied of her damoiselle vnto the tyme that she sawe the logging. whiche was the hows of an notable burgeys And than was she in grete thoughtes & variacions for to knowe. whether she wolde logge in the same logging or not Thus in varieng in this doubte she approched the loggyse And syn retourned' 20 agayn and after cam agayn / and fynably. whan she sawe that Iason was not in the waye she wente in & required of the bourgoys [lf. 41 b] that for her money she myght haue a chambre in that hous/ Thenne the bourgois seeyng that the lady was moche wele adressid' of gracious maner of speking & otherwise. he logged her & her 25 damoyselle to her plaisir And dide do put the two palfrayes in a stable by Iasons hors which anon began to neyhe assone as he smellid them for he knewe them for asmoche as they had ben long to gyder in Oliferne / And so made they grete chere eche to other. wherof the bourgoys had grete meruaile But thoughte nothing but 30 well and gaf hem heye and otes / And after came to serue Iason. And found that his chambre was full of marchants and maronners that were comen with him on the see whiche presented him wyne and mete. & gaf him grete yeftes of riche Iewels & other strange thinges [ N this chambre was with Iason a man of syxe score yere honeste alway strong and habyle, the seeyng this presentacion made to Iason cam vnto the hoost and demanded him, who was this yong knight to whom men dide so moche 35 Jason feasted and honoured. A Lament. honour / but the bourgoys coude not answere. in so moche the bourgoys and thauncient man axid one of the maronners of thys matere. And the maronner sayde that he was the beste. the moste vertuous and the moste vailliaunt knight of the world, And 5 that they gaf to him these presentes / for as moche as by his hye prowesse he hadde preserued' them from the tyrannye and daunger of the kyng Dyomedes and' of hys complices. And so moche sayd the maronner of Iason That they Iugged him with his mayntene & [If. 42] semblaunce to be a moche noble knight and' vailliaunt. Among 10 these deuises the marchants & maronners toke their leue of preu Iason & offred them to his commandement & after retorned vnto their howses. & anon after that they were goon. the bourgeys dide do couere the table whiche was couerid of the yeftes. and Iason wolde that the knight shulde sitte first because of his aage & 15 aunciente for in that time men helde the auncient & aaged men in moche grete reuerence & honour Bvt in this present time hit goth all otherwyse. the yong men presume to go & sitte aboue olde & auncient men. & mocque & skorne them that ben come to grete aage Saying that they be 20 feble of their membres of their entendement and of nature. And ther be many children. that don their fader to vnderstande that they be foolis. wylling to haue in gouernaunce the poure olde men. not poure but riche. For hit is grete Rychesse to a man whan that honorably may amasse and bringe his dayes vnto the degre of old 25 aage. And yet ben ther children that don worse. for they desire and wisshe their faders and moders ded. and serue hem with thinges contrarye to their helth & lyf. the whiche is the grettest tresour that a man may haue as to worldly goodes. Ha a howe many ben ther of them in these dayes I see al most non other. for the yong peple may not here the doctrine of the olde men. and wene that they ben so wyse. that men nede not to shewe them ony wysedom & also they ben vnkinde and full of ingratitude/ in so moche that yf they knewe ony thing wherwith they might dishonoure them they wolde do hit. & they resemble vnto the sone of 35 Noe whiche by derision shewed the secrete membres of his fader [lf. 42b] Alas what cursed & blinde yongthe was that 30 FO Or to come agayn vnto our mater the noble Iason sette him doun the table at by the ancient knight. & after that the hooste & hostesse whiche often tyme exorted Iason to make good 54 Jason confesses his Love to a Knight. 55 chere / but Iason might nether ete ne drinke. for certes he dide nothing but thinke & spack not one worde but if he were demanded or araisonned. After soper whan the table was voided Iason & thauncient knight werd' leyde in one chambre where were two beddes & whan Iason was leyde. he began to sighe in suche wise 5 & of so inward sorow of his herte that it semed that the sowle shold departe from the body. wherfore thauncient knight that was loggid in that other bedde by might not slepe & thoughte right well in him selfe that Iason was not at his ease/ & whan he had long herkened his sighes & herde that they encresid' alway more & 10 more. he might no lenger tarye but he must speke. and sayde in this manere. 'Syr knight I haue grete meruaile of you'/' wherfore' saide Iason / 'for asmoch' saide thauncient knight/' that your sighes & bewailinges iugge to me that ye ar in the bedde of deth / how wel by al that I see & comprise in you / hit semeth not 15 by the sight of the eye that ye be seke. for your colour is fressh as roose in Maye. is it not thenne grete meruaile for to here you so sighe Yes certayn.' Ha a sir knight' ansuerde thenne Iason/ 'if ye Iuge the disposicion of my body after the colour of my face ye be gretly abused. for I haue a seknes & maladye right secrete 20 whiche shal first slee me. er my face may be stayned or discoloured I am al certayn.' 'Sir' saide thauncient knight. 'ye holde a grete ramme of dispair.' 'it is constraynt' saide Iason , 6 Ertes sir knight' answerd' the olde knight. 'If ye wifl lyue [lf. 43] what som euer sekenes ye haue or maladye Put yow in my 25 handes and cure. and I make me strong for to hele and make yow hole.' I trowe sir knight' ansuerde Iason that hit is not in your cunnyng and power that to doo. ner in all the subtilte of att the men mortall.' Than' answerd' the auncient knight. 'be ye seke of the maladye of loue wherof no man may remedye but youre 30 lady.' ‘Ha a sir knight' answerde Iason than. 'who hath told' yow. me thinketh that ye oppresse me so sore that I muste confesse to yow my caas. And so I declare to yow that I am somoche smeten with the pestilence of loue that I may not lyue ne endure ne ete ne drinke ne reste night ne day.' 'In good faith' answerde 35 thauncient knight. 'ye dar not be aferd of deth syn that ye haue non other infirmite. For the maladye that procedeth of loue is so graciouse that hit putteth noman to deth / Certes the sekenes is of grete ensoigne and payne But hit is a maladye wherof men 6 10 yere [lf. 43 b] W recouere.' 'Sir' sayde than Iason. 'If I dye not of bodily deth / I shal dye of spirituel deth. for hit is in no wyse possible that neuer in this worlde I shall haue plaisir or solace / And than shatt I not be dede Alas I muste nedes. ye treuly of the moost an- 5 guisshyst deth that ony man may endure.' 'Syre' ansuerd thauncient knight 'ye tell me right grete meruailes.' 'I tell yow trouth' saith Iason For I am so infortunat in loue and so moche vnhappy and haue in my self so litil of valeur that I am ashamed and hountouse to lyue. And wolde that I were there / where I shall be .V. honderd here after with oute ony respyte' Han thauncient knight vnderstode that Iason was in somoche & bitter dispair/ he had pite of him & said to him for a litil to reconforte him. 'Certes gentil knight, I knowe wel my self & vnderstonde of this marchandyse wherof ye wene to 15 entremete. and I apperceyue alt plainly that of your loue ye haue not enioyed your first desire & wil But I wolde fayn knowe if ony man hath don you wrong of your lady. or ellis if this maladye cometh & procedeth by the rigour of her'/ 'Certes gentil knight' ansuerde Iason. all my myschief procedeth of the grete rigour of 20 my lady & by the valour & simplenes of me for I haue seruid that fair lady in a moche daungerous warre that her mortal enemyes made to her not long syn in the most diligent wyse that I coud or might & after whan she was at her aboue of her aduersaires I haue requyred her of her grace that she wolde be my lady in loue / but 25 she hath not willed' to see in me somoche vertue ne somoche valour that she wolde acorde her to my request And thus I haue therfore my lyf in grete hate & see none other remedie but that I fall in despayr' Ayr sire' ansuerde thauncient knight 'haue not ye ofte tymes 56 30 a woman hath made of you refuse/ by your fayth shall ye therfore be suche a fool as for to fall in despair / Considere ye not that ther be ynowh of other / & if ye haue not ynowh of one I shal make you to haue a dosayne / ther is no grete derthe ne scarcete of women. 35 certes if ye remembre you wel/ ye shal saye that they cracche out mennes eyen & therfore al this wel considerid if your lady sette litil by you Do the same to her & seche another without long taryyng' Jason and the Knight talk of Love. 57 Cres Ertes sir knight' saide Iason. 'whan I haue wel marked & [lf. 44] take hede of your wordes ye speke after your playsir. These ben thinges that may better be said than exployted' 'Certain saide the auncient knight 'I telle to yow the secrete & the verray historie I wil wel that euery man be amerous & loue. but 5 that he haue .ij. strenges on his bowe And that noman put him so ferforth in loue / but that he may withdrawe him in time & in season / women one and other properly to speke ben malicious in her werkes. & this procedeth that eche of them adresse other of suche concey exhorte & of fauour. Men saye that the most 10 orguilloust & proudest creature that is is the deuitt and next after him is the woman. and next after is the foole that is ouerquidaunt for pride cometh not but of folie & tomoche wening. Somme women ther be that must haue one amerous man to whom they kepe hem treuly / Other ther be many that ben full of wordes 15 and lene their eeris to alle the worlde. Other loue to haue¹ a eye and tokenes. and they make like signes also ferre as they may not speke to hem. Other ther ben that wole ben more prayid & requirid for to enioye them & to haue their grace / than the goddes ben for to haue their fair paradys. For tabregge & shortly to con- 20 clude. Certes genty knight. they be wel happy that haue not to do with them in ony suche receptes. & they be foles that haue to do moche with hem/ for he that may passe from them. may do no better than to withdrawe him fer from hem in fleing the places & alle the circumstaunces.' 'Sir' answerde than Iason 'I suppose & 25 thinke wel that ye coude saye moche better if ye wolde. first as to the regarde for to haue / ij / cordes or strenges on his bowe That [lf. 44 b] is to vnderstande two ladyes / certes it is not possible that he that so doth may be constant in his werkes ne in his thoughtes. for no man may wel serue two maistres. for that one corumpeth that other. 30 Thenne it is so that if a noble man for to auaunce him self in worship maye doo no better thenne for to chese an honourable lady whiche he maye loue treuly secretly & so parfaytly that he fere and drede to doo ony thing but that it be honest in all thingis & of Recommandacion / for att ladies desir nothing but honour & hye 35 renommee / hit is their propre vocacion & their naturel condicion. thenne how shal he haue desire of honour that is no trew louer / for he that is double is to moche vntrew & fals and if ony wele or 1 u inverted, honour happen to come to him it is agaynst Reson. right/ and good equite. And if ther be ony suche Certes they be no worthy to liue. seen that the ladies ben of so parfounde excellence / that the leest of all is worthy to haue the best knight of all the world. 5 And for that cause saye no more that I take two cordes or strenges on my bowe. For certaynly I had leuer to receyue and passe the destrait of deth' Whan thauncient knight had vnderstonde thanswer of Iason / he was moche abasshid & saide to him that he wolde neuer 10 holde that waye ne purpose/'wherfore fayr syre' sayd Iasoñ. 'for asmoche' saide the knight that men shold mocque him. 'for I suppose wel to knowe that if right now ye sholde chese of two thinges one. that is to wete to receyue deth or ellis chese a new lady that ye wolde more sone the lady thenne the deth. And 15 for good cause. Certes ther ben plente of amoreusis that susteyne [lf. 45] and swere. that for to saue thonour of their ladies they wolde attende & take the deth / But I suppose if they sawe the deth come they wold' nomore abide him thenne the quayle abideth the sperhauke & for all thise raisons aboue sayd' I counceyle you that 20 ye leue this errours & opynyons & reconforte your self the best wise ye can in your maladie. for by myn aduise I beleue not that your payne be mortal. & I haue not herde saye that euer ony man amerous by maladaye of loue lost his life. but if he went out of his mynde' Ason with these wordes coude nomore Replicque for he apper- 25 ceyued that he coude not make his mater good ner mayntene it agaynst the olde knight / & thus ending their parlament he slepte vnto the tyme hit was nygh daye / And thenne Iason awoke & began to make new sighes in so moche that thaunciennt knight herde it agayn. how well that he was a slepe & was sodainly 30 awaked And thenne whan Iason knewe that he was awaked' he salewed him & gaf him good morow & sayd to him. 'Sir knight because of your grete age ye haue seen moche thing in your tyme/ I demande you by your fayth if ye haue knowleche in dremes' 'Wherfore axe ye' ansuerde the knight/For asmoche' sayd 35 Iason as I haue not cessed this nyght to dreme.' 'By my loyaulte fayr sire' ansuerde the good old knighte. yf ye haue dremed' ony thing that haue nede of exposicion or ony interpretacion. there is noman in Grece that shal better answere therto thenne my self/ and therfore without ony doubte Tell me plainly your dreme and 58 yow I shal expowne to the substance.' 'Certes sire knight' saide Iason I had a meruailous dreme this night. whiche in maner of a passe temps I shal declare to yow for as moche as ye ar conning [lf. 45 b] in the science of thexposicion therof. whiche dreme or vysion was this. Me thoughte that I sawe two swannes whiche were right 5 fair in a medowe of whom that one was a male and that other a female. The male cam vnto the female & made semblaunt for to haue acompanyed' with her. the female sette nought therby / but withdrewe her aback. And whan the male sawe that he entrid vnto a Ryuer that was by and passid' ouer & cam lye with me here 10 in this bedde. and hit was not long after but me thoughte that the female passed the Ryuer in like wise. and cam vnto the chambre dore and made many pyetous cryes after her nature. that the male might not here. for he was a slepe. And so hadde I moche grete pite for the sorowful chere that she made in so moche that I awoke. 15 And nomore I sawe. wherfore I wote neuer what to thinke' Whan the auncient knight hadde wel vnderstande a longe the dreme of the preu Iason he sayde to him in this manere. 'Sir knight what wole ye saye if that noble lady for whom ye suffre so moche sorow be as moche or more Amerous of yow as ye be of 20 her. And by thys loue she be comen in to this howse after yow.' 'Ha a sir knight' answerde Iason. 'I haue no charge of that stroke. for my lady is so noble and so endowed of so hyghe beaute that she setteth nought by ony man in the worlde.' 'Alleway fayr sir' sayde than thauncient knight/'your dreme signifieth by 25 thise/ij/ swannes / of whom wolde make the bataille or thenterprise that desireth companye of the female. that ye haue willed to be husbonde to your lady. the whiche wold not here yow neuertheles whan she hath knowen that ye entred on the see / she entred after in semblable wise & is comen after you into this 30 propre hous. where by auenture she is in moche grete payne for the loue of you/ In this facion maye I prenostique and dyuyne this werk after the nature of your dreme' And [lf. 46] 6 Iason with these wordes began to sighe right ardauntly and sayde. What is this & fro whens cometh to me this fantasye 35 that maye more greue me thenne helpe / I knowe well that it is a grete abuse to me for to thinke & haue a renouelement of payne & of sorow. O what payne is to a trewe louar infortunat for to be in contynuel martire Ha a my dere lady why haue ye not the eyen 59 so cleer for to beholde with in my herte and knowe in what matirdom I am. in what sorow and in what anguisshe Certes madame youre eyen basilique haue hurte me vnto the deth / O what distresse/O what guerdon for good seruice. I fynde me in the handes of right harde deth. but yet for to passe the sonner my sorowe. I shaft praye the goddes that I may be eurews after my grete vnhappines.' Thenne the sage and auncient knight Mopsius hering the noble preu Iason thus sorowfully complayne him selfe and lamenting / in fauour of noblesse was gretly ennoyed in corage. 10 and for somoch he saide to him in this maner. 'For Goddes sake sir knight leue and goo oute of this fantasye. for to moche to muse in Infortune is nothing prouffitable A mañ with grete trauayle and labour bringeth his dayes to an ende hauing his life trauersid in many contrarye thinges Ther is no man so ewrous and happy [lf. 46 b] that hath alle waye hys wille Certes the time muste be taken as hit cometh is hit hard or softe. The herte of a man sholde not abasshe in no thing Me semeth we haue spoke ynowh of loue. I praye yow that from hens forth we may entre into an other purpose/ And that ye wolde telle to me your name and the place of your 20 burth. and the name of your hows and dwelling place' Veritably sir knight' ansuerde Iason than 'If ther be ony man that may redresse and gyue confort to a desolate hert and disconforted ye be he most propice aboue alle other / I haue founden so moche goodnes in yow that if ye wole telle me your name with out ony faute / I 25 shal telle yow myn also.' 'Fair sir' ansuerde thauncient knight 6 your desir is to me agreable in suche wise that I shal recompte to yow my lyf & all myn astate. more than to ony man that I haue seen this/vi/score yere knowe ye than that my name is Mopsius. the god Appollo was my fader / I am king of Silice I haue con- 30 querd' the countre of Pamphile I haue had ij / sonnes. And whan they were come to mannes age I haue made them possessours of my landes. & syn I am departed in suche estate as ye me now see I haue ben in the world vj / score yere / during whiche time I haue seen & haue lerned plente of good & straunge werkes / prayng yow 35 & require that ye shewe to no persone myn estate ne condicions by no facion of the worlde. & whan so is that ye speke to me that ye name ne calle me none other name but Mopsius openly ne couertly & for diuerce cause' 'Mopsius' ansuerde than the noble Iason 'syn it so pleseth yow to be named & called. I promise yow vpon and Jason his. He sees Mirro's Horse. 61 my honour that in somoch as toucheth that ye haue said / hit shal be holden secrete in myn herte also fast & suche manere as ye [lf. 47] had closed it in the most harde roche of the worlde/ & to the regarde to saye to you how I am named: knowe ye for certayn that I am callid Iason & am borne of the prouynce of Thessaile sone of 5 the gentil king Eson of Mirmidone that yet liueth as I suppose. but he is moche auncient.' With these wordes Mopsius for to make Iason for to forgete his melancolies / he began to demande him of the nature of the royaume of Mirmidone & of the countrees aboute And after demanded' him of the birthe of his aage and of 10 his auentures / and' after this he enquired of him many other thinges vnto the tyme that they began to Ryse & make hem redy. but what thing that Iason saide or herkenyd, he had alway his thought on his lady and sighed oftetymes out of mesure Whan the two noble knightes were rysen and clad in poynt / 15 Iason wente strayt into the stable to hys horse / whome he louyd weft. but incontinent whan he had ben there a litil and that he hadde parceyuid the two palfroyes of the lady and of the damoiselle / him semed that he had seen them tofore tyme. Thenne he callyd the seruaunt of the stable & demanded of him to whom 20 tho two horses belonged/ Thenne the seruaunt ansuerde that they apperteyned to the damoiselles that were loggid there with inne 'Truly frende' saide Iason'what damoiselles that euer they be The two horses belonge to my lady best belouyd'' & whan the good' auncient knight vnderstood Iason. he sayd' to him/‘Iason Remembre 25 ye of your dreme I take hit on my life that your lady is in this hous/ or ellis the damoiselles ben here for her. the whiche shal saye to you goode tydinges' Withoute ony other question or answere [lf. 47 b] Iason departed incontinent from the stable. and wente vnto the hostesse. & whan he had boden to her goode morowe he sayd to 30 her, 'Fair hostesse. knowe ye the two Damoy selles that ben logged herein.' 'Certes sir knight' ansuerde the hostesse I knowe hem none otherwise but as me semeth that they ben gentil women & comen of a good hows' 'Is hit possible that I maye see hem' saide Iason. 'I wote neuer' saide thostesse 'but I first demande them.' 35 'Faire hostesse' said than Iason I require yow that I may see them/ And that ye wylle go saye that here ys a knight their seruaunt that hath grete desire to speke with them' Jason seeks Mirro and meets her. He hostesse for to do vnto Iason / wente vnto the two Damoyselles and sayd' to them. My fayr maystresses 1 I come to yow in the name and at the request of a gentil knight he saying your seruaunt the whiche requireth yow / that of your 5 grace hit wolde plese yow that he might speke with yow. And aduise.yow what hit shal plese yow that I answere to him.' But incontinent that the Quene Myrro had herd her hostesse speke of the requeste of the knight. Certes the colour began to chaunge meruaillously and her thought that alle her body was esprysed' 10 wyth fyre. But this notwithstanding she held her contenaunce the beste wyse she myghte. And howe wel that she doubted of the comyng of the preu Iason. and that she was than in a traunce what she shold' saye to her. yet she answerd' and sayd. Fair dame. who is that knight that hath sente yow hether'' Certes' 15 sayd' the hostesse 'I sawe him neuer to fore that I wote of. But to [lf. 48] my seming he is the most gentil and the most well made of body and also most curtois that ony man may or can finde or speke of.' 'Dame' sayde thenne the fayr Myrro / 'syn that he is so vertuous & so well accomplisshed as ye saye / do him to come hether' With 20 these wordes the goode hostesse dide do Iason come vnto the chambre And thenne assone as he came in. he behelde the noble quene whiche was right shamefaste / and hauyng the herte shytte & rauisshid' made vnto her the Reuerence & salewed her / And the fayr Myrro welcomed & salewed him agayn moche curtoisly. This don they entrid into deuises / And thenne after certayn wordes Iason saide to the quene in this maner 25 Ertes my dere lady I had not knowen that ye had ben in this hostelerye ne had ben your two palfroies Whiche I haue this morenyng founden in the stable by my hors. and yet whan I had 30 seen and knowen them I had not supposed that ye had ben in this hows. how wel whan I vnderstode that the two palfroyes belonged to two Damoiselles / wenyng that here had ben two of your damoiselles. I am comen for to here tydinges of you ''Certes sire knight I doubte not the contrarye and in like wyse I had not 35 supposed ner thought to haue founden you nowe here. & I declare to you that I am departed secretly for to goo a pilgremage where I haue promysed long syn accompanyed' only wyth this Damoyselle/ And I auowed so to doo in the moste strengthe of my warre And I haue grete meruaylle for to see you now here. For without doubte I hadde supposed that ye hadde ben this oure in Oliferne at your reste' Adame' ansuerde Iason 'I haue none hope that euer ye [lf. 48 b] shal see me more in Oliferne.' Certes Iason fair sire ye ben hasty & moche swift in your werkes. I haue good' witt & grete 5 desire for to rewarde and contente yow of the good & agreable seruices. that ye to fore this tyme haue don to me during my warre in persecuting and deliuering of my mortelt enemyes. and if ye retourne not to Oliferne. I may not ner can not doo rewarde and contente yow.' 'Ha a my dere lady' ansuerde than Iason/As I 10 sayd' yow that other day in your palais I haue not seruid' yow in suche wise as I haue coude best doo for menoye or other meuable goodes. but I haue employed' my self only for to gete your loue & your goode grace. I haue paternalt richesses largely. and therfore I saye to yow so moche. that yf so be that ye graunte not me your 15 loue ye may not contente me. And knowe ye certainly that after this daye ye shall neuer see me. for as your trewe louer and humble seruaunt vnguerdonned, I shal goe withdrawe me into som deserte bewailing & weping that part after yow / And vnto my deth I wolde doo non otherwise. wherfore I yow supplie with alle my 20 hert that pyte may entre into your noble corage in suche wyse that on me your poure suppliaunt ye haue pyte and mercy. and ellis. of me ye shal neuer see good' 1 W¹ Han the noble lady had vnderstand that sayd ys She ansuerde to the preu Iason in this manere 'Certes sir 25 knight ther is no herte of lady so hard, but by the vertu of youre requestes muste nedes be softed & molefied / ye haue seruid me hyely & well in alle trouth & loyaulte In alle vailliaunce & diligence. I confesse & knowleche hyt / ye require me as I vnderstande [lf.49] that I sholde by your wyff and felaw/ a more gretter thing ye may 30 not demande mene that more me toucheth. Neuertheles whan I apperceyue your grete & good valoir. to thende that ye haue no cause for to falle in despair/ I am content for to accorde my self vnto your prayers & requestes. forseen alway that ye shaft goo vnto your countrey/ And there ye shall assenible youre most next parents 35 and frendes. whiche ye shal bringe into my cyte that in their presence ye shal wedde and' spowse me solempnly' THE He noble and vaillyaunt knight Iason thanked the fayr Myrro of this goode answere. And promised to her to doo and accom- Jason and Mirro part for a Time. 5 plisshe treuly alle that she hadde desired. that is to wete that he sholde go into Myrmidone for tassemble his frendes & alyes. and that he sholde retourne into Oliferne for to marye and wedde her in their presence But whan the damoyselle that was comen with the quene for to holde her companye / herde suche or semblable promesses made by her maistresse / which was so wel comen to the point of her desir. she was remplesshed' with consolacion & ioye/ and forthwith she cam betwene the ij/ louers and sayde to them that she called alle the goddes to witnes & thanked them for this 10 aliaunce. 'Certes' than sayde the fayr Myrro / 'syn that ye haue don so moche. I wolde wel that we hadde leyzer and place for to make good chere to geder / but as me semeth hit may not nowe goodly be don. for in no wyse I wold not ben beknowen. but hit behoueth for myn honour & worship that Iason departe from hens incontinent with oute lenger tarieng. to thende that none speke of 15 [lf. 496] vs but al wele And we shal go secretly to the poort for to gete vs somme good maronner/ which shal bring vs vnto our secrete pilgremage' Ason the noble prynce hering the fayr Myrro so ordeyne & conof 20 25 for he was sore abasshid & sorouful in such wise to leue his lady whome he sawe endowed with so hye vertues. Certes he had entencion to haue tolde to the quene a parte of his sorowe & bewailinges that he had made for her sake / but she wolde in no wise here him but smyling she toke her leue in somoch that Iason enbraced & kissed her ones or twyes finably he departed from thens promittyng her that in short time he sholde retorne vnto her agayn. & assone as he was departed & goñ his waye the fair Myrro & the damoiselle dide do sadle their horses. & rode to the porte 30 where they toke their shippyng & wente to the see ¶ For tabregge our historie without ony auenture that ought to be remembrid their maronner exploited in suche wise with helpe of the good winde that he had that in short tyme he deliuerid the quene Myrro & her damoiselle in Oliferne / where they taried' after Iason 35 right long & in right grete anoye & displaisir as it shalbe sayd' along & declared here after. But now I shall reste to speke of the fayr Myrro & of her faites for this present tyme. & shal recompte of the conduyte of Iason whiche departed fro the presence of his lady as said is & retorned with al diligence vnto Mopsius the Jason, feasted by Egeus, returns home. goode olde knight right ioyous & saide to him what was happend of his dreme euery thing / & that he had herde of his lady goode tydinges / how wel he declared not to him that he had spoken to her in her propre persone But he made him to vnderstonde that [lf. 50] two of her damoyselles had promised to him and sworn that if he 5 wolde go into Oliferne accompanyed' of his kinnesmen and frendes / that they sholde do somoche anenst his lady that she shold espouse and wedde him & that she sholde crowne him king of her contrey. 'And for so moche' sayd' Iason 'that I haue taken affiaunce in the promesse of these two damoyselles. I shal goo into my contrey for 10 tassemble my frendes & kinnesmen in the most goodly and hasty wise I shal mowe. and I shal not cesse vnto the time I shal come to the aboue of my loue. wherin I haue goode hoope 65 ¶ How Peleus broder of king Eson of Mirmidone & oncle of Iason wente vnto the temple of Appollo. & how he hadde answere 15 that the firste man that he mette with an hose on that one foot & none on that other sholde empesshe him of the royame of Mirmidone whiche he had supposid to haue enioyed THUS Hus as Iason reherceth these tidinges vnto the good and auncient knight Mopsius / The sone of the king of that cyte 20 named Theseus cam vnto them there. whiche was aduertised by the marchantes that Iason had sauid' by hys vayllyaunce. And deliuerid from the furour and tyrannye of the peruerse king Dyomedes And from as ferre as he had espyed' Iason he knewe hym. For he had seen hym to fore at the weddyng of Perytheon. 25 And thenne he salewed him and made hym right grete chere. the preu Iason rendryd' agayn Ioyously hys salewyng vnto Theseus. And whan they hadde eche other welcomed' Theseus brought Iason and Mopsius for the loue of Iason vnto the kyng his fader whiche [lf. 50 b] was named Egeus. and whan this saide Egeus sawe Iason he dide 30 him moche grete honour & worship for his hye renomme And fested him in diuerce maners. and Iason desired nothing sauf to retorne vnto his countrey. and thanked him of the worship that he had don to him and of his right goode chere. and syn toke leue. of the kyng/ of Theseus. and of Mopsius / the whiche knowing that 35 he was right noble and Ryght valiyant knyght saide to him. that they wolde go with him and holde him companye vnto his countreye wherof the noble preu Iason desired them that they shold' abide and not goo with him for he wolde not goo the right waye / 1 se But this was for nought. For they sayd' plainly that they wolde holde their promesse. And Iason wist not what to saye / but accorded to them that they sholde goo to gyder vn to Myrmydone Ason thenne Theseus and Mopsius departed from Athenes alt 5 thre. And dide so moche by lande and' by watre withoute ony auenture digne of memorie. that they cam vnto the cite of Myrmidone where was yet liuing the noble kyng Eson. Peleus came thenne ayenst the noble preu Iason and welcomed him with his body but not with his herte / makyng grete signe to be right 10 ioyous of his retornyng. And brought him vnto his fader the olde kyng/ whiche was gretly conforted' of the comyng of his dere sone Iason / And whan the noble preu Iason had made the reuerence vnto the king his fader. the king demanded him of his tydinges. and where he had ben/ & what he hadde don/ Iason without [If. 51] taking on him ony vayn glorye of ony hye and grete werke that he hadde don and brought to ende. ansuerde to him by grete humilite sayng. 'Dere sir I come now strait from the seruice of the noble quene Mirro whiche is lady of the noble cite of Oliferne. and the most sage. the most fayre. and the most discrete that is in 20 the remenaunt of all the world. And at suche time as I arriued in her court. she was in a meruayllous tribulacion by the right puissaunt king of Esklauonie. whyche made her warre of fyre and of blood for so moche as she wold in no wyse consente to take hym to her husbond. But syn my comyng to that parte and that I 25 hadde charge as heed and as conduytor of her men. I entreprised to susteyne the quarele of the noble lady. And in thre batailles where I was accompanyed' of her peple. the goddes haue gyuen vs vyctorie vpon the Esklauons in suche manere that the kyng him selfe and the moost parte of hys men haue ben slayn and smyten 30 in pieces. And amonge alle other ther was in the hoost of the sayd king of Esklauonye a meruayllous and' puissaunt man. a Geant named Corfus. the whiche hadde put to deth many a good knight of Oliferne. with whom I faughte body agaynst body/ not by ony strengthe that was in me. but by desire to gete the worship and 35 honour. and to doo that thing that might bringe me in to the grace of that noble lady. whom I putte to vttrance by the vertue of the grete beaute of her And to her apperteyneth' the right worship and honour And syn that I haue sayd to yow so moche. and that Eson promises Jason a noble Wedding. 67 hyt is Reason that ye knowe alle / I declare to yow that I come now to you in entencion. that my kinnesmen & frendes be [lf. 51 b] assembled for to holde me companye to goo and wedde her so hye & so noble a lady. the whiche is contente to be my wyf. forseen that I sholde espouse and wed her honourably as it apperteyneth 5 to the doughter of a kyng. For by thise condicions ben the promesses made and acorded' THe He noble & auncient king Eson heering thise tidinges had moche more Ioye at his herte thenne he hadde afore And saide/Certes my dere sone I am right ioyous of thy wele and 10 worship of thy prouffit & of thyn auauncement. I thinke well that fortune hath ben socourable to the noble lady to whom thou hast ben seruaunt / But wyth right grete payne maye I beleue that thou allone hast vaynquysshid' the Geant / And if it be so I thanke the goddes. but late it passe forth. & if thou hast goten the grace 15 of her so fair & so noble lady I haue no grete meruaile there of. for loue in suche a caas beholdeth no persone / And neuer the lesse to thende that thou knowe howe I desire aboue alle thing of the worlde to see multiplicacion in thy seed/ I shaft araye the as to the sone of a king is lawful & apperteynyng/ and I shaft sende the so 20 well in poynt of abillemens of warre and of noble men accompanyed/ that by raison she ought haue suffisaunce' / Thenne the preu Iason thanked the king his fader of this goode answere/ And at that tyme they spack nomore of the matere but entended to feste Mopsius &Theseus / whom they prayd' to tarie & accompanye Iason 25 vnto the daye of his weddyng. & the two goode knightes promysed that they sholde so doo / and so they were gretly fested of the king & of his nobles & also of Peleus which dide it again his hert [lf. 52] making a fained chere Among many deuises Mopsius & Theseus recompted' of Iason 30 thauenture that he had in Trace against the tyraunt king Dyomedes and likened Iason for hys vailliaunce & habilite vnto his felaw Hercules. whiche was the most strong mañ and best assewred that was vnder the clowdes. And because of his hyghe preysinges & recommendacions the bruyt of preu Iason augmentid' 35 and encresid' from day to day. And hit is not to be vnremembrid' that thenuie of the vntrewe Peleus grewe so terribly that he by no facion mighte ne coude haue no reste daye ne night / in so moche that in the coming agayn of noble Iason he was aduertised that in F 2 Pelias hears of the Golden Fleece, the yle of Delphos the god Appollo gaf answers of thinges that were to come and of alle destinees. wherfore he wente him self into that yle and entrid into the temple anoyed' meruaillously and pensif And whan he hadde made his orisons by grete deuocion & 5 conseqently his demande for to knowe whether euer he shold enioye the Royame of Mirmidone. The deuil whiche was in the ydole that herde him / ansuerde to him. that the royame sholde be taken from him by the hand of a man that he shold mete hauing noñ hose ner shoo on that one foot. Peleus hering this harde answer Io was meruayllously abasshed. & departed from thens so passing sorowful that he semed better a man nourisshed in al his lyf in sorow or condempned to cruel deth than ony other wise as hit shal be declared here after a long As s thenne Peleus was in his retourning vnto Mirmidone alway conspiring the deth of the right noble Iason. And ymagyning how he might resiste his myserable & folissh destine. A good olde knight mette him on the waye. This knight began to beholde him in his playn vysage and the salutacion of them bothe gyuen aud' rendred And knowyng that he was moche pensif & full of 20 Melancolies. he deuised to him of many thinges & meruailes of the worlde. And among all other deuises he sayd' to him that in an yle standing vpon the este see/ was a moch riche and noble moton or shepe hauyng his flees aft of fyn golde the whiche was not possible to be conquerd. And that many valiaunt knightes 25 had lost there their lyf. These deuises taken an ende the two knightes departed' eche from other. And thenne Peleus reentryng into his melancolyes thinkyng moche on the answere that he had receyued of the god' Appollo. and concluded in him self that if hit happend that he mette Iason barfoot on that one fote He sholde fynde 30 the maners if he might to sende him in to the yle / wherof the knight had told him that the riche moton or flees of gold was. to thende that he mighte be there deuoured and neuer retourne agayn ¶ What shalle I saye more. the peruerse and vntrewe Peleus passid forth on his waye in suche conspiracions ayenst Iason, 35 And cam so ferre that he fonde his neuewe Iason in a medowe by [lf. 52 b] Myrmidone Ertes the noble Iason and Theseus were thenne in a medowe with many noble bachelers of the countree passing her tyme in making plente of dyuerce esbatements & playes in strengthe of. 69 body. as wrastlyng/ leping/ rennyng, casting the barre or stone or drawing the bowe. and whan Iason sawe his vncle Peleus come / [lf. 53] he wente to him for to welcome him / And was vnhosed & vnshoed on his right foot and made to him the reuerence. And thenne Peleus. whiche was in doubte of him apperceyued anone his fote 5 bare/ howe well he saide not a worde but shewed a right grete signe of loue vnto his neuew Iason whyche thought nothing of the malice & felon corage of his vncle whiche was garnisshid of ypocresye. of traison / & of alle euyft / And syn passed forth sayng to him self that Iason sholde put him out of the royame but if he 10 fonde som remedie, & that briefly As ye may vnderstande Peleus retorned' right soroufull & dolaunt Iason. he frowned in this wise & bote on his lippe a grete while / after he bethought him & concluded in him self that he wolde do 15 ordeyne & make a Riche dyner. to whiche he wold' do calle alle the nobles of the royame and of the countrees by and' adiacent. Sayng that he wolde shewe vnto his neuew Iason all that he had herd recompted of the noble moton or sheep of gold. to thende that he sholde enterprise for to goo to conquere hit / And whan he had 20 made this deliberacion in his courage / he sent for to praye & to somone the most part of the nobles of the royame & the countrees by. whiche cam gladly vnto thys feste and' assemblee at the daye to them signefied. Certes this Peleus dyde do garnisshe this dyner with al vyandes and noble metes delicious and with beuurages and 25 drinkes sumptuous composed with spices. But whan al was redy the moste hye Barons were sette at the firste tables And among [lf. 53 b] alle other nobles ther was the noble Hercules. And thenne after satte euery man after his astate. & thus after they began on alle parties to make grete chiere and spack of many thinges. and in- 30 especiall of the hyhe vailliaunces of the preu and noble Hercules. and of the monstres and cruel bestes that he had destroyed and put to deth by his vailliaunce and hardiesse. And thus passed the dyner in suche or semblable deuises vnto the ende that Peleus cam to fore Iason. and sayde to hym in the presence of many Kinges 35 Barons and knightes in this manere 1 'Iason my dere lord' & neuewe. ye ar the man of the worlde that I loue best next after the king Eson my broder your fader. 10. Beneath this is written T. Skeffington. Pelias persuades Jason to seek the Fleece, knowe ye that I haue in my herte grete Ioye for to haue herd the preysinges and Recommendacions of the vailliaunt knight Hercules/ whom I see here present For the terrible bestes. for the monstres and for the grete and stronge Geants. of whom he hadde deliuerid 5 the world of. by his vaisselage. But whan I beholde youre grete puissance corporaft and that next after Hercules ye be one of the most strengest membrid/ best asseurid and one of most vaillyauntest knightes that lyueth. hit gretly dysplesith me in my hert that fortune hath not giue place wher your puissaunce & valoir may be 10 shewd. & that your bruit & renommee is not so grete as I desire. I wolde hit had coste me the most part of the goodes that the goddes haue sent me in this worlde / And that ye were comen to your aboue of an enterprise and conqueste that I knowe in a place the which sholde be moche honourable & recommanded for [lf. 54] for your lygnage.' 'Certes fayr vncle' ansuerde Iason. 'I thanke you & you gretly of your good wille toward' me. I knowe right well that often tyme ye haue hyely counceylled me to myn honour and worship/ And thefore yf ye know ony uenture or enterprise to be poursiewed and brought to the ende where in I myght employe my 20 tyme I require you that ye will enseigne me therto. & I promyse you that I shal do asmoche as in me shal be possible to do to come to myn aboue of honour & worship to me and' of our house' Ertes fayr sire Iason' ansuerde the disloial & vntrewe 'C take a grete plaisir to see your good wille/ whiche 25 procedeth of an noble corage. & for so moche as I knowe that ye are a knight of hye enterprise / knowe ye that in the parties oriental is an yle enclosed round aboute with the see. In the whiche ther is so noble and riche sheep or moton of suche nature that in stede of flese of wolle. he is endowed with a flese alt of fyn 30 golde. But he is kept with certayne bestes so cruell & so fiers. that ther hath ben no man so hardy or so well assewrid vnto this present tyme that durst approche the noble moton or sheep of gold. yf thenne ther be in you so moche valour and prowesse that ye myght conquere the riche flees or this shepe/ me thinketh your 35 renommee shold growe gretly in honour and worship Whiche is the thing aboue alle other that euery noble hert desireth & in trouth me ought desire no thing somoch / for honour is the principall tresour aboue all other and the souerayn recommendacion that ony gentil man may gete and ought more to be desired thenne ony and gets Argus to build a Ship. 71 6 worldly thing. To this ansuerde Iason by aft oure goddes fair vncle I am moche beholden to you in many maners. For I knowe [lf. 54 b] and am certayn verayly. that honour ought to be preferrid and put to fore alle worldly thinges. and to thende that men may see that the grete affeccion and desire to gete worship is so nighe¹ myñ 5 herte & that the couetous desir of glorie and honour be not me reputed faynedly. I make here a solempne auowe vnto the goddes & promise here in the presence of alle the nobles that ben here assemblid that I shaft neuer cesse to laboure to seche the Ryche sheep or flese of golde vn to the time that I shal haue founden hit. & 10 that I shaft doo the vtterist of my power for to conquere hit what som euer daunger or parilt fall or happen to me in the conquest' Han Peleus hadde herde this auowe he was moche Ioyous / & him semed that the werke went wel forth in so moche that him thought & supposed by this mene for to come to the aboue 15 of his desir. Certes the noble and preu Hercules & Theseus preysid moche Iason of this enterprise And forthwith in fayte they vowed in like wise that yf Iason achieuid not his enterprise that they shold put hem in deuoir for to bringe hit to an ende/ & during this dyner they spack long & deuised moche of the maner of the vowe 20 of Iason/ & aboue alle other Peleus was so glad and ioyous that he prolonged & helde solempne feste eyghte dayes long And aduertised the king Eson of the right noble entreprise of his sone Iason / alway Eson notwithstanding thenterpris was daungerous & mortal. yet was he wel content that his sone sholde achieue his auowe 25 ¶ For tabregge the mater Peleus sent for many werkemen for to make a ship & among all other was one named Argos the whiche ordeyned to him one so fayr.& subtille a werke that neuer was [lf. 55] seen suche. and¹² was callid Argyne because of Argos Certes this Argos was a passing wise man and vertuous / And 30 inespecial he was the most lerned & experte maronner that was at that tyme in at Grece. And whan this ship was made he aduertised Peleus & Iason also whiche was as glad & ioyous as he might be. for al that euer was necessarie for him he fonde it redy & the ship arayd and redy for to departe. Thenne Iason toke leue 35 of the king his fader & of his vncle Peleus. And so dide the noble Hercules/ Theseus & Mopsius & other vnto the nombre of an honderd knightes of Grece. whiche wolde accompanye Iason in 1 0. mghe. The Argonauts sail: the Trojans frightened. this voiage. And this licence & congie taken with all diligence they entrid' into the ship the hole .C. knightes And whan the goode patrone Argos had disancred from the porte where the ship had ben made. whiche porte was named Seserre. he dide somoche 5 diligence that he broughte this noble companye vpon the hye see/ where Argos sailed with hem many dayes alway sayling toward the eest after the sight of the sterres & of the sonne and so long he conduyted' hem in this poynt. that vytailles began to faylle them / & were constrayned' by force to go a lande at the firste porte that 10 they fonde / that is to wete at the porte of Frigye named Thenadon. whiche standeth nygh vnto Troye the graunde / of whom Laomedon was king whiche vsed' grete rudesce vnto Iason and to the knightes of his companye And this euyl fill vpon him afterward & vpon his subgettes / he was not gretly to be complained as it shall be 15 declared a long here after in this present volume. ¶ Howe the king Laomedon of Troye wold not suffre Iason ne his companye descende on the londe. And how the Quene Ysiphyele receyued' them Imar N this paas saith one historie that Argos the good and subtit maronner made and ordeyned' all thinges that faylled vnto the noble ship where the noble knight was in vnder saylle. And the winde blewe there in at their wille. hit was aboute .x. of the clocke a fore none. the fayr sonne shone clere and spredde his rayes vpon the londe / and the weder was softe and well dysposed, And at that 25 tyme moche people were vpon the bankes of the see whiche behelde from ferre the noble shippe of the Grekes. whyche as sayd' is cam that tyme the saylle dysplayed and sette vpon an hyhe. And saylled faste in hys cours vpon the see. wherof they were so sore ameruaylled that they wiste not what thinge hit mighte be. In 30 so moche that somme of them were so sore aferd/ that they fledde in to Troye And the other abood' at the porte abydyng thauenture They that fledde to wyth in Troye. wente vnto the puissaunt kyng Laomedon. And sayd to hym alle be wepte and drowned in teeris procedyng of grete fere and drede. that they hadde apperceyuid 35 from ferre in the see a grete monstre lyfting him selfe meruayllously swymming and Rennyng vpon the water more swiftely than an horse coud renne on the grounde or on the londe. And affermed to the king Laomedon by their faith that this monstre without [lf. 55 b] 20 comparison was more to doubte and feere than the monstre that Hercules had slain by his hye vaillyaunce Certes in this sayd' [1f. 56] countre tofore that tyme Hercules had slayn a monstre also grete as a whale. as hit is plainly conteyned' in thistorie of Hercules Whan the king Laomedon had' herde these tydinges reherced/ 5 he was all abasshid, Thenne he made one of his knightes to take an hors as swift as the wynde. and sente him to Thenedon for to axe and enquire of the trouth What thing hit myght be that the peple were so sore aferd of. And in suche wise exploited the knight that he cam to the porte of Thenadon and there he fonde 10 the preu Iason & hys knightes of Grece but first he aspied' Argos that ankred his ship right nygh to Thenedoñ. & wente not into the toun for asmoch as it was no nede / considering that they were nygh the cite of Troye whiche was so grete in magnificence that ther was non like in the remenaunt of the worlde he enquired' 15 first of the habitaunts and dwellars of the countree yf they had seen ony suche monstre on the see. Thenne the men of the countre ansuerde to the knight / that they had seen no suche monstre vpon the see & they that had brought suche tydinges to Troye were gretly abused if they had supposed to haue seen ony monstre / & 20 that ther was none other thing but a shippe of Grece saillyng on the see in the whiche by their aduyse were' grete nombre of knightes of Grece Ryght well in poynt of armes and suche thinges as shold be nedefull and necessarie for them to entre into bataylle Whan the knight of Troye had vnderstande al that said is he 25 descended of his hors and wente a foote vnto the knightes of Grece. To whome he demanded what they sought & had to [lf. 56 b] doo in that countre. Than Iason answerd' to the knight. that grete necessite of vytaille for to trauerse into ferre contrees caused them for to take their porte ther and non other thing. Incontinent 30 whan the knight hadde vnderstande these tidinges he retourned and toke his hors and rood vnto the king his lord. and recounted' to him alle that he had exploy ted. Than the king Laomedon thus aduertised of the descente of the knightes of Grece & vnderstode that they were descended for to vytaille their shippes ymagined 35 anon. that they were espyes. whiche Hercules had sent theder for tespye the royaume. wherfore he renuoyed & sent again the knight vnto the Grekes / and commaunded them straytly. that they dispose them with all dyligence for to departe out of his lande. and to go ellis where to seke vytailles if they hadde nede. And if they departed not sodainly & disancred & toke some other waye. he shold come with his puissaunce in Armes vpon them so mightily that neuer after they sholde haue wylle for tespye Royaume cite 5 castell ne countree Han whan Iason and his felawship had herd thexpresse and plesid and not withoute cause. for asmoche as they muste nedes departe. Than the noble Iason for the better ansuerd' curtoysly Io vnto the knight. And shewed hym that they were not comen theder for to espye the Royaume ne the citees / castels ne countre of the king Laomedon ne of none other. whan Hercules herde thanswere of Iason whiche him semed was to benygne considering howe Laomedon hadde comaunded them. he might not holde hys [If. 57] pees but toke the wordes from Iason and said to the knight in this manere. 'knowe thou knight syn that Laomedon as vyllayn of herte and banisshed from alle noblesse hath refused to Iason of Mirmidone vytailles for his moneye. that ther shal descende in short time at the portes of this countre men in the name of Iason 20 and that in so grete nombre that all his Royame / his cites / townes and castels shall be put in suche ruyne and perplexite that in fyfty yere after shal not be founden a stone vpon a stone ner no corn shal be eerid ne soweñ.' 'Fair lordes' thenne ansuerde the knight of Troye. I am sory that ye ar not better content with the king 25 my lord and that he hath not receyued yow other wise in his countre. And ye knowe wel. that where curtoisie is shewd hit bleueth not vnrecompensid. ne Rygour in like wise but if hit be remembrid. And for as moche as I am a messager. I shal gladly make vnto king Laomedon reporte of that I haue founden of yow' 30 and with thise wordes the knight retourned' vnto Troye Thenne the preu Iason demanded Argos. and sayde to hym, that they muste disancre & departe fro thens but if they wolde abide the cruelte and furour of the king Laomedon & of alle his power. Thenne the good patrone Argos and his maronners dis- 35 ancred the noble shippe/ & went again to the see where sone after the winde began to rise & tempest horrible & impetuose. But the Troian knight whiche was messager as sone as he was comen to for his lord & hadde made his reuerence. the king demanded him what was becomen of the gloutons of Grece that were come and hadde descended on his lande for tespye his Royaume and his citees. [lf. 57b] The knight ansuerde & saide. 'Sire I haue done to them your message. They ben a grete nombre of knightes. and resemble wett by their contenaunce & habyllemens that they ben departed from noble & goode hous. And knowe for certayn that whan I had don 5 your message / one of them that semed vertuous & discrete ansuerde me that they were not comen theder but only for vytaille & for to passe forth on their waye and that they were no robbeurs ne pirates of the see but whan the yong knight whiche was fayr & curtois as a mayde had finysshid his purpose/ An other of them / 10 whiche had a meruaillous & cruett chiere. & better resembled Hercules by his vysage & contenaunce thenne ony other. said to me in a grete anger & fierte in this manere 'knowe thou knight that syn that Laomedon thy mayster as villayn of herte & banisshid' from all noblesse hath reffused' to Iason of Myrmydone vitailles for 15 his money that in short tyme shal descende into his countrees meñ in the name of Iason & in so grete nombre, that all his royame his citees townes & castels shalbe put to suche ruyne & perplexite that within fyfty yere after. shal not be founde one stone vpon another. ner no corn shalbe sowen & ered vpon the grounde / And forthwith 20 they haue disancred & sone after they had sailled by force of winde & rowyng of oores so ferre that I had lost the sight of them' Whan the king Laomedon had vnderstande the reporte that his knight made to him / he was so angry that he semed better frantyk or out of his witte thenne other wise And saide wel 25 that if he had knowen tofore what they had ben & their entente / he hadde hem att haue don dye myserably And therwith the [lf. 58] messager departed & Laomedon withdrew him into his chambres sore troubled & pensif for the menaces of the knightes of Grece. whome he knew not but by raporte of the knight/ whiche knightes 30 beyng thenne wel forth vpon the see / were sore vexed with grete windes blowing on alle sides with thonders. with raynes & grete orages and tempestes / whiche rored so hugely & terribly that the ayer was trobled and the weder was so derk. that the sonne shone not in foure dayes during that the tempeste seced' not. in whiche 35 time their vitailles faylled' in suche wise. that the knightes of Grece had not to ete. & their ship was ofte times in moche grete paril for in thende a meruaillous turbittoun of winde roose in the see that blewe away their saile and alle to brake their mast that the Argo at Lemnos, met by Amazons. cordes & roopes were broken into pieces. but fortune helpe hem in this nede / For notwithstanding this grete auenture the ship was conduited vnto a porte named Lennos where he hurtlyd again the grounde in suche a randoñ & force that hit was all to broken & 5 rente that they that were with in were in grete daunger & had ben in worse caas than they were to fore if they hadde not sette foot a lande This His poort was callid Lennos after the name of a moche puyssaunt cyte. whiche was richely sette not ferre thens. But 10 Incontinent that the Grekyssh knightes hadde taken lande seeing the grete daunger that they had ben inne sprang oute of the shippe. whiche anone was fild full of water. And whan they sawe hem out of that moi tall pariff and had well supposed for to haue ben [lf. 58 b] in sauete / Sodaynly cam oute of Lennos the riche cite moo thenne 15 fyfty thousand women armed garnisshed with pennons & recognysauunces whiche cam rengyng them in fair ordenaunce a long by the cooste of the see / fast by the porte and after they sente two of their women messagiers for to somene the Grekyssh knightes for to reentre into the see with out ony long tarieng. But whan Iason 20 vnderstode the somacion that the two damoiselles made. he was sore abasshid and not without cause. for he apperceyuyd tofore so many hedes armed that he knewe not the nombre. & syn considerid how they had ben in grete daunger by the fortune of the see / & that vitailles failled them. and that worse was he sawe his ship alt 25 to broken. whiche was on all sides ful of water. This notwithstanding by cause he ne wolde discorage ne abasshe his felawship more thenne they were he shewed well that he had goode corage/ and saide to one of the two damoiselles in answering to her message 'Noble damoisett I haue right wel vnderstanden your sommacion I pray you of your grace that it may plese you to saye to me. into what countre fortune hath brought vs at this tyme / And for what cause I am by you sommenid for to reentre vnto the see' 'Certes sir knight' answerde the damoiselle 'The countre that ye 35 be arriued in ys not right grete. but it is right fertyle and comodious & hit is named Lennos after the name of this cyte here by Whiche is named after the same name. And as to the Regarde of the rayson and cause. why this sommacion is made thus to you / I will wel that ye knowe to thende that ye holde you the better 30 content. That hit happend now late that in this cite of Lennos was a kynge named Thoas This king hadde a grete warre against [lf. 59] the Argiens and for to mayntene this warre. he ladd with hym alle the men yong and olde. And lefte this cite without men / whereof the ladyes damoyselles & other of the cite were right euytt 5 content. And seeyng that they were withoute men They assembled them to geder with the doughter of the king whiche is named Ysiphyle/ And by meure deliberacion sente to the king and to their husbondes. that they shold' retourne into their cite Vpon whiche the king Thoas answerd' that he hadde besieged hys enemyes 10 and if his cyte sholde be loste he wold not departe from his ooste vnto the ende of his warre 77 Whan the ladies and damoyselles of the cyte hadde herd this answere they toke hit euy in gree/ And yet they sent agayn vnto the king & to their husbondes that they sholde come 15 and retorne home vnto their cite. but that was for nought/ for they wolde nothing do after their desir And whan the ladyes sawe this they conspired against the king & their husbondes / & put to deth al the men children that were in the cite / after they determined & iuged that if their husbondes or faders. parents & 20 frendes cam again from the warre or other what someuer they were sholde be slain the first night of their coming assone as they shold be a slepe / & that neuer after they sholde suffre noman to entre in to their cite after this conclusion taken they crowned Ysiphile quene vpon them/ & afterward whan the king was 25 retorned from the warre with his peple, the ladies & damoiselles of the cite did with their faders husbondes & parents & other in suche wise as they had concluded tofore in somoch that of al them that retorned from this warre escaped none from this [lf. 59 b] murdre & pestylence but he was slayn & murdrid reseruyd the 30 king Thoas Whom the quene Ysiphile wolde in no wise murdre / but this notwithstanding she deliuerid him into the handes of the ladies whiche put him in a boot allone. and sente him to the see in exyling & banisshing him out of his royame' Whan this damoisell as messagere had recompted vnto the 35 noble Iason this that said is/ That other messager toke the worde fro her & saide 'Lordes & knightes my felaw hath said & tolde you now the reson & cause wher fore ye maye not be receyued' into this cite & there fore er gretter mischief befalle & come to you. withdrawe you vnto the see for yf ye tarye here long the ladies will assayle you asperly. and shal deliuere to you a meruaillous batay' Jason ansuerde and sayde. by all my goddes fayr lady our ship is all to broken & forfrusshid' as ye may see & is ful 5 of watre. And on that other side we perisshe for hunger if we be not shortly socourid. for it is two dayes past syn we ete ony morsett mete / And therfore if it must nedes be & no remedie we had leuer to dye by glayues & warre thenne by famyne. how wel by your grace ye shal retorne vnto the quene & ladies & recompte Io to them oure estate and necessite And that we all to geder pray them and require instantly if ther be in hem ony veitu or noblesse that they wil now shewe hit hauyng pite on vs. For the fortune of the see that hath trauailled' vs by many dayes in suche wise that we supposed to haue perisshid from our to our hath brought vs 15 hether as ye may see agaynst the will of our maronners and of vs [lf. 60] Ith this request the ij. damoyselles messagieres retorned into their cite vnto their quene Ysiphyle and other ladyes to whom they recompted from word to word the answer that Iason had rendrid and what he requyred Thenne the quene hauyng 20 herde the answer of the ij / messagieres / she axid & enquired what peple these knightes of Grece were & of what condycion & facion & of what nombre they were/Certes madame' ansuerd' that one of the ij damoyselles. I sawe neuer in my dayes more goodlier men ne better bespoken / & I suppose that ther wer neuer seen so 25 wel faring men & grete & vpright / so wel in point of habillements so wel taught & so curtays in all maners & it is to be supposed that they ben the choyse & pyked out of al the humain peple / & ther may wel ben of them the nombre of an / C. all of one facion & of lyk clothing' Thenne the quene hering the messagiere that so 30 hyely recommended the state of these knightes of Grece / thinking also of their request / began to haue pyte of their mysauenture & of their myseases that they haue hadde on the see by tempeste and' forthwith she sente for to feche foure of them for to come & speke with her / whom she wold examyne Han the honderd knightes vnderstode these tidynges. they best sende vnto the quene Ysiphile / And concluded in one that they wolde sende Iason / Hercules/ Theseus & an other knight named Castor right fayr. whiche cam tofore the Quene & grete nombre of 35 Jason, loved by Hypsipyle, tells his Story. 79 her Damoyselles And they were not long comen but that the Quene and her Damoyselles were terribly esprised of the loue of these four knightes. For there was nether Quene ne damoyselle but desired with all their herte their companye for the synguler [lf. 60b] & especial beaute of eche of them. Certes Ysiphile at thinstaunt 5 that her two noble eyen had beholden the grete beaute of Iason. she was becomen somoche amerous as was possible as of the most fayr. the most gracious & the moste couoytable of the foure/ Thenne she spack to hem & demanded them in general. what they soughte in her royame. & whens they cam and whyther they wolde 10 goo and of what countre they were. Thenne the noble Iason thinking of the demandes of the quene considering the grete daunger where they were in and the necessite of famyne & hunger that surmounted! he as captayn & chief of the vyage ansuerde humbly sayng in this manere 15 'Madame plese hit you to knowe that we ben the nombre of an honderd knightes all gentill men of one companye and of one countre we ben departed in one shippe But we haue had vpon the see so many infortunes by tempeste of windes & of orages that hath holden vs so long in grete doubte to be perisshid. that 20 vitailles ben faylled' vs two dayes passid And for to make short we goo to seche vitailles for to helpe our necessite. and syn hit plesith you to knowe from what countre we ben parted and whither we attende to goo. I declare to you that we come from Grece & oure entente is to saile so ferre til we finde an ysle of the 25 see where in is a moche riche moton or shepe bering his flese all of fyn golde. the whiche neuer knight yet had the power ne hardynes for to conquere ne approche. neyther only for to beholde & see / For many meruaillous and terrible bestes haue hit in kepyng / Among the whiche I haue vnderstande ther is a right cruett dragon how [lf. 61] wett I haue auowed & promysed for tauenture my selfe for to conquere hit er I euer retorne agayn into my countreye / or I shall deye in the poursuyte therof/ as many knightes haue don here to fore wherof is pyte Wherfore Right hye and noble lady I Require you humbly. that ye will haue mercy and pyte on me and of myñ infor- 35 tunate felawes deyng for distresse of honger and famyne / And that we maye haue vitailles for our siluer and moneye. and also grace and leue for to remyse & make oure shippe agayn whiche is broken & rente in takyng londe vpon your seygnourie & lordshipe' Han the noble Iason had made his remonstraunce vnto the Laighile as sayd is. she withdrew her a parte with her damoiselles. and demanded of them what was best to doo with thise noble men / they were al of oppynyon / that it sholde be a grete 5 synne & mesfeet for to late them there deye for famyne and honger / And at thende they concluded that they sholde be receyued into their Cyte notwithstandyng their ordenaunces & statutes by them to fore made. in so moche that the Quene Ysiphile retourned' vnto Iason and sayde to him. that for the honoure of noblesse. the 10 ladyes wold receyue him and his felaws in lyk wise. Thenne the noble Iason thanked the Quene of this grace right curtoisly. & dide do sende for his felawes that they sholde come in to the cite. the whiche incontinent as they knew that they sholde haue vytaylles were passing ioyous & semed to them proprely that god was descended amonge them. Thenne they cam tofore the ladies whom [lf. 61 b] they salewed right reuerently. And anon as the Quene sawe this noble companye tofore her in all humylite she deliuerid to an honderd of her ladyes the honderd knightes of Grece. to eche of them one of their owne as for the best as her semed and she 20 reteyned Iason for her part. In somoche the Grekes entred into the cite with the ladyes and with oute other difficulte. they brought hem into their howses/ eche departed from other. where eche lady fested her knight with good vyandes and metes after their power and with good herte. makyng to them a chiere in suche a wyse 25 and facion that many of the knightes founde hem so plainly in the 15 grace of their ladyes in asmoche as they mighte that they were serued with the termes of loue / and more I saye not at this tyme present 80 Incontinent whan the Quene Ysiphile sawe that she had Iason in her baylle. she was somoche ioyous as she might be. she hadde sette all her entente to beholde the grete beaute of the noble prynce / and aboue all other she desired to haue his acqueyntaunce. & in the beholdyng and aduysing hym she made to him many gracious signes & tokenes of loue duryng many dayes & often 35 tymes. But the noble Iason whiche had his corage sette in other place toke none hede. how be it she might no lenger dure without she sholde be ded' somoche was she esprised' wyth hys loue & yet she durst not speke one word, and whan Iason had soiourned there a certayn space & nombre of dayes he ordeyned' vnto his patron 30 moneye that his shippe might be sette in point & ordeyned men that sholde helpe him thenne Argos sette hand vnto the werk by right grete diligence. & dyd so moche that in short terme the [1f.62] shippe was all redy for to helpe hem. But Incontinent as the Quene Ysiphile was therof aduertised. she dide do breke it by 5 night by ony of her damoiselles / And she spack with Argos the goode patrone and dide somoche with him that he assemblid alle the knightes of Grece / and in their presence saide to Iason the shippe might not be made agayn for to departe thens in viij. monethes hole wherof many of the Grekes were meruaillously 10 Ioyous. Whan Hercules whiche had a moche noble courage vnderstode these tydinges / he saide vnto Iason. syn that it is so that they sholde not departe out of that countre he wolde go see the countre aboute / and counceylled Iason that he sholde abide in 15 the cite for to kepe to geder his felawes. & Iason accorded therto with goode will. Thenne the Ryght valiant Hercules wente forth on his waye / all reconforted tabide all auentures. And hit happend him that he cam vnto a place of a king named Furious whome he deliuerid from the Arpies & enchaced them vnto the Ryuer of 20 Sturphale in suche wise as it is conteyned in the historie of the faytes of Hercules. Iason whiche abode in the cite of Lennos as sayd' is entended gladly vnto the dubbyng and making of his shippe/ And Ysiphile on that other syde alwaye in her amerouse semblants and Regardes / Mopsius was the most part of the tyme with Iason 25 and deuised often tymes of the grete beaute of the noble quene Mirro And as he was one a daye sette at dyner with Iason & Ysiphile he parceyued of the graciouse atrayans regardes that she gaf ofte times vnto the preu Iason & apperceyued right wel that [lf. 62 b] she hadde sette and giuen to him alle her loue. And thus passed 30 he the mele with oute ony word or semblaunt making. But after the dyner he callid Iason / And sayd to him that he wold goo walke with hym vnto his shippe and so departed out of the halle they two allone. And thenne whan they were in the felde Mopsius sayd to Iason. Certes sire I wolde fayn axe yow a demande if it 35 were your playsir.' 'Fair sir' sayd' thenne Iason 'late not for ony thing but declare your corage & desir'/ thenne Mopsius demanded" him if he were ony thing amerous of the Quene Ysiphile. Iason sware to Mopsius that he was not amerous of her. 'Certes sir' sayd' Mopsius. 'I am all certayn that Ysiphile is terribly amerous of yow. And therfore I aduertise yow to thende that ye finde the menes for to speke to her a parte. for if ye may atteyne therto. yt sholde be to yow a right fair passe temps¹ for a space. and we alle 5 sholde fare the better' 82 'BY Y alle my goddes' answerd thenne the preu Iason. 'er I wolde vse ony disloyalte ayenst my lady the fayr Mirro. I hadde leuer be condempned to bringe to ende and'adchieue as many perillous auentures/as euer the worthy Hercules achieued er euer 10 I sholde retorne agayn to Grece' ¶ The nobles of this time presente ben not so disposed to ensiewe the termes of the right renomed prince Iason as it is tofore declared. & therfore I conceytt not the ladyes that they giue no more affiaunce than ynowh doubting that by som wey they be not abused, Thus as the ij gentil 15 knightes spack of the fair Mirro & of Ysiphile / they cam where as [lf. 63] Argos the maister patrone solicited the werk and making of the ship and so passed the tyme a litilt in spekyng of dyuerce pourposes / And after that they retourned' vnto theire logys. and the noble Quene Ysiphyle was enamoured in suche wise on the noble 20 preu Iason. that she thought on none other thing. but for to plese hym vnto her power And he neuer departed from thens but that she helde him compaignye. or ellis she was alwaye at a wyndowe for to loke whither he wente 25 Whan thenne she apperceyuyd' that Iason retorned vn to his loggyng at this time. She wente agaynst him & toke him by the hande and lad' him into one of her chambres. where she shewd to him grete partie of her richesses & tresours / And after she saide to him in this manere Right noble & valiant knight all thise richesses ben alle onely at your commandement, and also 30 my body wyth all. wherof I make now to you the ghifte and present / And furthermore I haue nothing of valeur but that ye shal haue at your abandon & will to thende that I may deserue honourably your grace.' Thenne when the preu Iason had vnderstande this that sayd' is. he ansuerde to the lady sayng 'My dere 35 lady I thanke yow right humbly of your curtoysye / And I declare vnto you that in no facion I haue deseruyd the hye honour that ye presente to me.' Ha. a gentill knight' saide thenne the lady. 'hit is well in your power for to deserue all if it be your plaisir.' 6 6 'In goode trouth madame' ansuerde thenne Iason 'if ther be ony seruice or plaisire that I may do vnto you / commande ye it and I shal accomplisshe hit frely & with goode herte.' 'How fair sire' sayd she thenne. 'wil ye accomplissh my commandement.' 'Certes madame' sayd he 'I shal not faile in no point if hit be to me [lf. 63 b] possible And ther fore declare ye to me your good playsyr and desire. And after that ye shall parceyue howe I shall enploye my self therto' The Quene Ysiphyle hering the courtoys answere that Iason answerd was so moche Ioyous and glad the she mighte ner 10 coude be more. And sayde to him 'Certes fayr sire youre courtoys and humble wordes haue put me in suche daunger. that in no wyse I may no lenger hyde from yow a requeste. that weyeth more heuier on my herte. than a mylne stone shold' vpon my heed. And that long a fore this tyme ye shold haue knowen / ne had ben dame 15 Esperaunce. whiche hadde nourisshed' and entertiened to hide my faith and courage. whiche at this oure I shall shewe vnto your noble persone. And knowe ye for trouth that I haue perceyued that ye be of a moche noble & auncient hows. aboue this that ye excede & passe alle men in beaute & in vailliaunce. If your 20 semblaunt lye not. And thenne that I haue put in my souenaunce all thise thinges / I haue had right grete desir for to haue your loue & aliaunce. For whiche thinges hit is necessarie that I pray yow that hit shaft plese yow to be my husbonde. and I shall be your wyf and espowse / And thus ye shall be king & lorde of this my 25 royame.' 'My right dere lady' ansuerd thenne the noble Iason. 'ye haue don to me a playsir so grete in giuing to me your godes largely in eting & drinking/ & in like wyse to my companye & felawes. that I may neuer deserue it as wel for such goode as for the loue of the ladyes to whom I wole obeye with al my might 30 & power in al their commandements And knowe ye noble [lf. 64] pryncesse. that ther is no seruice ne plaisir but that I am content to do for you / sauf only this requeste. for I may not wel goodly acorde hit vnto yow my worship saued and kept. for as moche as late I haue promysed' vnto a noble lady and of a good place for to 35 take her by mariage. wherfore I requyre you that ye wille holde me for excused''/' Ha a Iason my dere frende for one promesse ne more ne lasse what wille ye make. Men saye communely / That ferre ys from the eye. Is ferre from the herte' G 2 Whan he noble Iason sawe that the ladye oppressid him in suche manere. that with grete payne he wist not how to answere notwithstanding he saide to her 'Certes my dere lady. I knowleche that the herte of a noble man ought to desire nothyng 5 so moche as honour with oute reproche. Trouth hit is that I am bounden by promesse. the whiche if I acquyte not. I am at all dayes dishonoured I had leuer be dede or condempned to perpetuelt exilt. and thynke not Madame that I reffuse your alyaunce for ony desdayne for in good faith I sholde holde me right ewrous and Io well fortunat/ if I had to wyf one so fayr a Lady So noble and so riche as ye ar.' 'Noble knight' answerd' thenne the lady'ye knowe right well. how ye & all your companye had ben dede for honger & of distresse yf I had not recuyellid you in this Cyte & fedde you / And for somoch I praye you yet ones that ye accorde 15 my requeste / and with oute ony reproche me thinketh by many raysons that ye are bounden gretly so to doo / I am dryuen for to require you in this facion/ & I ymagyne that the Goddes haue sente [lf. 64 b] yow vnto this cite for two causes principally. The first is to thende that ye sholde be socoured in this cite / ye & all youre com- 20 panye in tharticle of the Ieopardie of youre deth where ye were in. And the seconde. that ye sholde inhabite this cite to thende that hit sholde not be diserte. For this cite is enhabited with women withoute king & haue non other pastour but me whiche am their chief. And for so moche I somene & praye yow that ye socoure 25 this cite as she hath socoured you. And that ye entende to repeuple all of your seed/ And in verray trouth ye so doing shaft accomplisshe a vertuous werke & of gretter merite than to maintene a simple promesse made vnto a lady or damoy selle/ how wel ofte times they ben made lightly & with right litil occasion they ben 30 enfrainte & broken' Madame' ansuerde thenne Iason / 'I confesse right well that ye and the ladies of your cite haue socoured in our right grete necessite / me & my felawship with vytayl And in recompensing wherof ther is no thing to vs possible but that all we will 35 enploye vs therto is hit in repeupling this cite or other wise. but 84 to the regarde of my selfe I may not conduite my selfe therto. But if I shold doo directly against myn othe/ ye ought to knowe / that myn honour gooth and toucheth ner myn herte than ony other thing. And for so moche knowe ye that vnder the couerture of Jason overcome. 85 this gracious courtosie I haue not entencion to commise one so grete an euy. whiche sholde be to me and to myne thinge ouer moche reprochable.' Incontinent as Ysiphile vnderstode this answere of Iason. and that she apperceyuid that he was ferme in his purpose/ for to abyde trewe vnto his lady. she spack nomore [lf. 65] to him of this mater but toke leue of him & departed. and Iason in like wise withdrewe him into his chambre. And Ysiphile abode in her chambre sore esprised with loue. & on that other side she was so angry that she might not conuerte Iason. that noñ can telle ne wryte. But whan the parfonde derkenes of the night was come / 10 she leyde her doun in her bedde gretely esprised of anger & right pensyue. for in her stomack was a grete bataylle betwene her heite & shame her corage was than admonested that she sholde goo & lye with Iason. but shame sayde nay & withstode it wherfore the batayil was grete and dured long. but in thende therte vaynquisshid 15 all. For shame was putte aback in suche wise that the fair Ysiphile aroos from her bedde & wente & leyde her doun by Iason whiche than slepte / And whan she was abedde she began to tremble for asmoche as shame folowed her. and so trembling she enbrased Iason & awoke him sayng in this maner. 'My verray frende & loue 20 Iason your continence & the constance of loue haue commanded me to come to yow / howe well hit is to me a moche grete shame & vylonye. but sythe that ye haue not willed to be my husbonde & spouse at the leste ye shall be my loue & frende. and take ye no desdayne of the loue of a poure folissh gentil woman' 25 Whan the noble knight Iason herde the fayr Ysiphyle speke and felte her by hym att naked. he was sore abasshid Certes her flesh was right tendre & swete / alway she approched to him & he to her. for he was a man & thenne whan he was awaked he sayde to her. 'In good trouth madame I am right sorow full 30 & angry that I may not be your husbonde. ye shewe well howe [lf. 65 b] that aboue all other ye haue me in your grace. A ha & that I now were free and without promesse vpon my fayth I sholde be your husbonde and obeye you vnto my power.' And with thise wordes they enbraced' eche other and kysshed to gyder. And more knowe 35 I not but that they mayntened this lyf the space of four monethes or more in suche wise that Ysiphile was with childe and waxe grete of a right fayr sone. of whom she was deliuerid by space of tyme And during these foure monethis the ladies of Lennos laye with the Jason desires to depart; knightes of Grece / And many of them were conceyued with their seed/ And in this wise was the Cyte repeuplid of yong childeren masles What shal I make you long proces The dayes that haue no reste passe lightly. Maistre Argos rendrid his shippe att 5 repaired & made. And Hercules cam agayn into Lennos / Iason also wolde departe toward his Iourneye. and assemblid' one a daye his felawship & sayde to them/My goode brethren & frendes ye knowe well how we haue ben here and soiourned a moche long space of tyme / And yet we haue nomore knowleche ne haue herd Io speke of the motoñ of golde or golden vliese nomore then we herde tofore we departed from our countre. I will that ye knowe that I lyue here in grete sorow & in terrible grete anoyaunce / for I can not take solace ne plaisir in ony thing that I see for asmoche as I am pricked by contynuel exhortacions procedyng of diuerce 15 causes and procuring the expedicion entretienyng the ende of my laboureuse voiage to the whiche bryng vs the goddes in short time to our helth honour & glorye / wherfore I praye you alle that euery [lf. 66] mañ make him redy for to remeue and departe. for I haue entencion for to departe at thende of four dayes without lenger 20 abydyng' 86 Hercules/ Theseus & Mopsius & all the other knightes had grete Ioye whan they herde the good disposicion of Iason / and they answerde him that they sholde be as sone redy as he/ and thenne one & other began to pourueye for them vitaylles & of 25 all suche thinges as were necessarie for them / The quene & the other ladyes knewe anone of the departement of Iason / wherfore they were moche displaysaunt & right desolate / and sore anoyed them to see the Grekysh knightes make their preparacions for to departe and that one complayned to that other sayng/'Certes, 30 these knightes of Grece abandonne vs & gyue vs ouer we shal neuer haue Ioye ne solaas.' The quene Ysiphyle among the other was most anguysshous of this departing & cam to Iason & saide to him, 'Alas / alas lord Iason / haue ye wel the corage for to withdrawe yow from me & to gyue me ouer tofore ye haue seen the 35 fruyt of your noble persone / whiche is nourisshid in my bloode Ha a my soulace the plaisir of myn eyen / may hit not be that the right amerouse prayer of the moder that shal be of your childe may holde you here yet thre monethis/ hit is a litil tyme of iij / monethes they shalbe anoñ exspired & paste. Alas Iason / alas Hypsipyle vainly tries to retain him. my confort prolonge ye & tarye your departement at my request/ for I am she that so moche loueth you that I may no more / Alas beholde with pite my wombe / the chambre & mansion of your blood / & in no wise I requyre you to departe so hastely' 87 'N good fayth noble lady' answerde thenne Iason 'if I myght [lf. 66b] abide with you lawfully. I assure you that I wold so with good herte. but I haue auowed & promysed for to auenture my self in the conqueste of the noble motoñ or flees of golde. I knowe not howe long I shaft lyue ner how long hit shalbe er I come there / hit is force and grete necessite for my singuler wele and' perdurable 10 honour that I employe my tyme entierly whilis I maye & that I acquite me diligently to thacomplisshement of my sayd auowe' Ith this answere the quene Ysiphile had in her herte suche anoye. that she began to wepe & right perfoundly to sighe. and after she began saye softly 'Alas / alas how may myn eyen see 15 the departing of myn euydent Ioye. Alas I was born in an euyl constellacion whan I may not finde a litil of goode fortune in this worlde. a consolacions withdrawe them from me all honour fleeth from me al bountees forsake me. & contrarye aft sorow renneth vpon me / Af welthe is ayenst me & all euy cometh 20 tofore me in my presence. for certes if ther sourde ony miserie in the ferthest place of the worlde. that miserie departeth from that place for to come to me. A what sorow/ certes I am not goode ynowh ner of so moche valewe that ony man shall doo ony thing at my requeste 9 'C 25 (Ertes madame' ansuerde Iason. 'me semeth that for no thing ye ought to demene ner make so meruailous sorowe / for ye ar in valewe moche more thenne I can exteme. And as to the regarde of me if ther be ony thing licite & honeste to me possible. require ye hit & I shal emploie me in suche wise that ye shal haue 30 cause for to be contente / And me semeth that ye ought to haue me excused in this caas seen the vowe in whiche I am bounden and' [lf. 67] if I abode here I sholde not exployte but lose my tyme.' 'Ha/ a my dere frende and loue' answerde the lady whan shal I haue better cause for to complayne and lamente than now. If anon 35 I had loste alle my royame and if I sawe all my richesses and cheuanche & all that I coude fine & cheuisshe perisshe in the abismes & depnes of the see. Alle that sholde not be to me so heuy to bere at my herte ner so grete displaysir as shalbe to me to Jason departs, promising to return. see your departing. for the see is so terrible. and the fortunes / prosperitees. aduersites/ and parils rise and sourde on alle sydes. wherfore I not certayn whether euer ye shall retorne agayn or no. And thenne ought not I to haue the vysage banisshid' fro alle con- 5 solacion and Ioye & ought not my heite to lye on the bedde of tribulacion vnder the couertour of right mortal distresse & betwene the shetes of bewaylinges. Alas. alas / thinke ye what this doth / but whan I parceyue that ther is no remedie / and that youre honour had concluded your departing promising to go in your 10 promised voiage/ I shal bere hit as paciently as to me is possible. forseen that ye shall promyse me faythfully if ye come to your aboue in your enterpryse of Colchos. that ye shall come agayn by this Cyte for to telle me of youre tydinges' 15 20 Whan the noble knight vnderstood that the lady condescended by suche condicion to hys departing he was right Ioyous and not without cause. considering the daunger where he and alt his felawship were in. And thenne he promised to her & swore right solempnly tofore the representacion of the goddesse Pallas [lf. 67 b] whiche was there that he shold retourne vnto her assone as he sholde come to the aboue of his enterprise. and that if the goddes wolde gyue him so goode fortune that he myght a liue & hole retorne / Thenne the noble Quene Ysiphile somme what reconforted' and hauyng a grete hope in the retournyng of Iason cessed her selfe of her lamentacions ¶ For tabregge the matere the daye 25 came that the noble preu Iason sholde goo to the see on whiche daye the noble Prynce and his felawes toke leue of the noble Quene Ysiphile of the Ladyes and Damoyselles and thanked them largely of their goodes & goode chiere that they had made to them / And thenne departed fro Lennos & wente vnto the porte. 30 but whan they sholde entre into the shippe. the quene Ysiphile presented vnto Iason the ydole of the goddesse Pallas & many other ydoles of the goddes of the see. and made him to putte them in his shippe Sayng that none euyl ne trouble mighte come to him in ony wise as long as he kept & helde hem in reuerence 35 Whan Iason apperceyued the grete largesse of the noble Quene Ysiphile & the goode loue wher with she louid him/ he thanked her moche humbly, and syn went to the see and made to winde vp the sayle / And thus he and his companye departed from Lennos for to saille toward the yle of Colchos. of whom I wil leue to speke for this present' tyme & also of Iason & of the quene Ysiphile. the whiche whan she had born her fruyt by the space of .ix. monethes hole she was deliuerid of a moche fair sone. For to recounte wel a long of the right fayr & noble yle of Colchos / in deuising the manere howe hit was first founden by the God' Appollo / 5 And also how the countre was firste enhabyted' And by what [lf. 68] kynges hit was gouerned. whiche is a right difficile and harde thing to beleue for many persones that haue not estudied the auncient Cronyques / of whom many ben full hard' and doubtable to be beleuyd for the straunge and meruaillous werkes that ben 10 founden in many histories and places 89 ¶ How Appollo was sent by the god Mars into the countrey where as was the riche & noble shepe or weder that bare the vliese of golde & how he founded there a cyte For to gyue yow knowlege of the noble Ile of Colchos I shall 15 deporte & tarye for this present tyme to speke of the faytes of Iason / and will recompte & telle in bryef what kinges regned first in Colchos and by what manere and facion hit was knowen that the riche mouton or shepe with the flees of gold was there. and also the two meruayllous & terrible booles & the grete espouent- 20 able dragon/ Thenne for to come vnto this historie I haue founden an olde auncien cronicle conteynyng/ that whilomme was a kyng in Athenes named Jupyter. but this was not that Jupyter that was sone of Saturne that regned long in Crete whiche is a moche noble countre 25 His Jupiter thenne king of Athenes had / iij / sones / the first which by the Athenyens was callid god of bataill/ for cause of many batailles that he had in his time ayenst his neyghbours of which he had alway the victorie / the second was Apis which was 30 king of Argys & Appollo that regned' in Archade was the thirde/ this Appollo was a man of grete gouernement. he introduysed' [1f. 68 b] the Archadyens for to lyue honestly. Certes he conquerd' many royames. he had grete nombre of children. And fynably whan they were growen to age. he deliuerid to them his laudes to go- 35 uerne. And after that departed right secretly from Archade And 10. first e omitted. Apollo ordered by Mars to found a Kingdom. yeres. in the astate of a medycine or a phisicien he wente in the most part of the prouynces of the worlde/ he was thus wandring ten And at thende of ten yere he arryued at Athenes. And there founde that his broder Mars was newly dede and passed out 5 of this worlde. and that ther was made to him a temple whiche endured after vnto the tyme of the conuersion of Saynt Denys. He wente into the temple with an herte replenisshed with teres / & knelid doun to the erthe to fore the representacion of hys broder the god Mars Requiring him that he wolde shewe to him that thing 10 that was best for him to do & that he wolde with all his might ensiewe & accomplisshe his doctrine & commandement None as Appollo had' finysshid' his prayer. a grete whirling or visage wherwith he was astonyed' that he wist not what hit was / 15 And beyng in this rauisshement him thought that the god Mars saide to him/Appollo Appollo. thy prayers ben presented in the heuen to the Goddes Thou hast seen many meruailes of the worlde. but that is nothing in regarde of one that thou shalt see. & it shal not mowe be seyn but by the Thenne it pleseth vs that 20 thou go into Pyrre for to make an arke vnto the semblaunce & likenes of that arke that Noe made som tyme for to saue him & [lf. 69] his famyllie from the deluge & flood, after that we wil that thou do charge hit with as grete a nombre of Pyrriens as hit may receyue and that thou & they put you to the see therin / And whan 25 ye haue doñ so. I shal bring you into the best yle the moste riche & the most fertyle of all the world. whiche shalbe enhabited by the Pyrriens. And thou shalt vnderstande that by this yle is a resorte of the see vnto an other liteft yle where in is the noble moton or sheep with the fliese of gold/ the whiche not long syn 30 was sente by the goddes Iuno to Frixus and to his suster Helles both enchassed by their stepmoder for to make them passe the see whiche that now is named Hellespont by cause that Helles lete her fall into the see 'The 35 He Noble & riche moton thenne or shepe of golde is the most meruaillous beste that euer was in the worlde & hit must be ones conquered but that shalbe with grete parett and wel behoueth therto a meruaillous craft & mistere. And for somoche thenne as thou shalt be in the yle habitable in the whiche I shall conduyte & bring the beware & kepe the also dere as thou hast thy lyf that He seeks people in Pyrrhia and builds an Ark. 91 thou go not into the yle where the noble moton of golde is in. for I haue therin ordeyned thre bestes. the whiche by space of time shal cast fire flambe fumyer & venim out of their throtes wherof shalbe destroyed' al they that shal descende in that yle / exepte only one vnto a certain terme' with this wordes Appollo cam 5 agayn to him self & thinking on the voys that he had herd after that he had made his oblacions he departed out of the temple & also from Athenes / & obeing to the wil of the god Mars he trauailed in such wise by his iournees that he cam vnto the royame of Pirre in the cite of Salathie. that whilom had founded Salathiel. [lf. 69 b] whiche was of the lignye of the Hebrews. Thenne Appollo logged him in the hows of a bourgoys named Loth/ and required him moche that he wolde bringe him vnto the king of that countre. whiche was callid Philitenus. Thenne Loth accorded vnto the requeste of Appollo/ and brought hym to fore Phylitenus / And 15 thenne Appollo made to him the reuerence and syn sayde vn to the kyng in this manere 'Ryght exellent sire I am comen vnto you not only by my poure volente & auctorite. but I come in thacomplishing the commandement of the god Mars / god of batailles. the which 20 hath chosen me for to lede certayn nombre of thy peple into the best Ile of the worlde. And for thaccomplisshe the same he hath commanded the that thou do make for me an arke in suche wise as I shall deuise / And after that thou deliuere to me / iij/ honderd of thy men with their wyues & children / the whiche shal entre 25 into the arke with me & then whan al this shalbe don the god Mars by his grace shal bringe vs vnto the yle forsaide / first tenhabyte & peuple the sayde yle. & aboue that for to shewe vnto men somme meruaillous werkes that ben there & to thende that thou ne thinke that I be ony deceyuor or abuser I oblige me to dye myserably 30 in caas that I be founde in ony faute proceding fro my partie' Han the king Philitenus had herde Appollo & that he had beholden that he was of honourable maintiene. he drewe him a part & coniured him that he sholde declare what he was & of what lyf. but incontinent whan the king so coniured him he began 35 a litil to wexe ashamed notwithstonding he affermed to him that he was king of Archade & sone of Jupiter first king of Athenes [lf. 70] & broder vn to god Mars And after he declared how he had' left his royame & how he had wandred' in the worlde & how the god Apollo and his Folk put to Sea in the Ark. Mars was in the temple & apperid to him. & somoche saide to him. that the king Iuged him to be most wise & most discrete mañ of the worlde. & after acorded to him al that he had demanded in the fauour of the god Mars ¶ For tabregge the mater Appollo 5 dide do make the arke in suche wise as him semed' best at the expensis of the king. And Incontinent whan hit was al made & redy the king dide do put there in iij. C. men of his royaume & as many women with two knightes of his lignage. of whom that one was named Zechius & that other Zethephius & made hem 10 promise that they sholde holde the yle where Appollo sholde bringe them to. of his royame in souerainte & whan the Pyriens had putte in the arke their necessites for their vytail & that they had taken leue of the king & his lordes. Appollo shette the arke fast to & thenne sodainly rose & was lift a tempeste so terrible & 15 so grete that the cordes & cables that helde the arke vnto the londe brak & thenne it happend that the arke was with an inpetuous wawe transported into the depnes of the see The king Appollo and all the Pyriens seeyng so Inpetuouse tempeste and tormente supposed that the Arke and all they 20 that were therin shulde haue perisshed Wherfore they began to crye and demene the gretteste sorow of the worlde and began to make grete bewaylinges and murmure vpon Appollo. but yet that worse is. the tempeste contynued more and more in suche wyse that it semed that incontinent al the world shold haue fynysshed [lf. 70b] Thenne the kyng Philitenus and his men beyng arenged' vpon the syde of the poorte. supposing neuer more to haue seen none of them beyng in the Arke retourned into their howses bewayling them and weping bytterly / This tempeste dured thre dayes hool. during whyche tyme the king Appollo conforted his men the beste 30 wyse he mighte and promised them that with oute faute they sholde be deliuerid' from this parit. And so hit happend them to be. for on the fourth daye after their departing from Pyre the tempeste cessed at the sonne rising. And the noble Arke was caste in a meruayllous Regorte of the see beyng by twene two Iles, of 35 whiche that one was grete and that other lasse Incontinent that the king Appollo felte that the tempest of the litil at a fapter was a ground faste. and the winde lefte his stronge blowing. & on that other side the wawes were in reste he went up into the hyest of the arke & opend a windowe for to beholde & see where they were, & thenne he apperceyuid' first the ayer wel attemprid & the sonne shynyng fayr & cleer / after he caste his sight dounward. & thenne he sawe the /ij/ noble yles / wherof the more yle was next vnto the arke Whiche semed to him so fair and so delicious that 5 he knewe plainly that it was the propre yle that was promised to him And that other yle beyng next that. was that yle that the habitacion was defended to him for the grete meruailes that there sholde falle. And thenne he was so glad Ioyous & reconforted. that he began to synge an hye thankinges & louinges vnto the god Mars / 10 & incontinent whan he had so don t he began to calle vpon the two [lf. 71] knightes Zechius and Zethephius. And also his oste Loth/ to whom he sayde that they ought rendre and' yelde graces and thankinges vnto the God of bataylles / And that they arryued into the lande of promyssion. Anone as these two noble knightes Zechyus and Zethe- 15 phius and the other men & women vnderstood these tydinges they rose vp on her feet / made clene their visages and clensid their eyen of their teeris & wepinges loked' vp an hygh & required Appollo that he wolde opene the dores & windowes of the arke to thende that they myght see that lande of promyssion Appollo heering this Requeste and considering the right grete and right 20 nesse that they hadde recouured. Opened all the entrees of the arke and lete goo oute the Pyryens shewyng to them the ferme lande that they hadde founden. whiche they founde so noble / sO 25 dilectable and so fertyle in all goodes that them semed that they were in a verray paradys For the londe was right fertyle. the pastures. & the herbes swete smellyng the trees charged with fruyt. the wodes & hye forestes full of wilde bestes & venesoñ. whan Appollo had visited this noble lande and had well comprised 30 & considerid the circuyte & the places of the same he founded in a forest an awter in the name of god Mars and dide to him sacrefice. And in the same place the Amazonnes founded after a temple vnto the goddesse Deane. In whyche Iason and Medea sawe eche other first and acqueynted them as it shalbe sayd' hereafter & 35 declared more a long in his place Fter the fondacion of this awter whan the sacrefice was don [lf. 71 b] Appollo dyde to calle the/ij/ knightes Zechyus and Zethephius & also Loth with the peple that he hadde brought and Apollo makes Laws and founds a City. demanded them what they wolde doo & what was their entencion / And thenne they ansuerde as with one voys' Certes our entencion & will is to abyde here & lyue & dye / we desire neuer to departe / for this shal be the sepulture of alle vs & of our eyres vnto thende 5 of the worlde the honye that here haboundeth shalbe our mete. & we shal laboure and cultyue the erthe with goode vygnes / we shal enhabite with peple the lowe montaignes & the territoires/ and thus we shal lyue in hye felicite if it be your plaisir.' 'If it be my plaisir' ansuerde Appollo/'if it had not be only for to haue 10 distributed this so noble a londe / knowe ye for certayn that I had not abandonned my self to the tempestes & parils of the see / ne to the grete orages & tourbillouns of the impetuouse windes. hit pleseth me right wele that this noble countre be your habitacion / but syn your entencion is suche / it is aboue att thinges necessarie 15 gretly for you and for your wele and recommendacion / that ye rendre and do your payne to edeffye a cite and that ye close hit with walles tours & yates to thende that none may come renne vpon you pylle. robbe ne trauaylle you in other maner. and after hit behoueth for to commynyque to geder by goode policie in such 20 facion that the hardy and puissaunt of body and corage/ habylle them with armes for to resiste thenterpryses of your enemyes if ony come for to greue yow the sage and wysemen shal enduce and teche the rude peple and harde of entendement The poure shaft [lf. 72] be holden and bounden to laboure eche man after his degre & 25 callyng/ And the most subtill shal deuise thinge propices for you 30 as toures harnois & other habyllement seruyng to kepe you in tyme of doubte / And with this they shal ordeyne solempne edifices & houses for the cite in the place therto most propice & couenable' Han the Pyriens had vnderstande Appollo alle they ansuerde frely that they wolde accomplisshe to their power all that he wolde counceyle them and that he shold be their fader. & they his children. Thenne they chose a place couenable to bilde their cite / and taryed not long after that they began to bylde & house a long by the see side in such wise that by space of 35 tyme they founded & bilded a Ryght noble cite & closed it with walles dichis & yates/ Appollo named this cite Iacoynte / the Pyriens edified in the myddes therof a moche sumptuous palays. And on that other side Zechius Zethephius & Loth made also many houses & by space of tyme their generacion multeplied gretly & meruaillously. wherof Appollo thanked the god Mars & dide to him sacrefice. This don he assembled on a daye alle the peple & saide to hem in this maner tofore hem att the Eple of god Mars whan I considere the wele and the valoure of your habitacion ye ben moche holden to the goddes. wher- 5 fore I praye you from hens forward that ye serue him with goode herte. And after that I praye you that ye norisshe pees & concorde to geder / And that ye kepe you from all dyuysion & rancour. & I praye you to banisshe from your corages pride/ hate couetise gloutonnye & al other vices. & consequently I conceyle you that at 10 this time ye constitute vpon you iuges the two vertuous knightes Zechius and Zethephyus and that ye to them obeye souerainly / & [lf. 726] if ye doo these thinges certaynly alle goodes shall habounde in yow. and if ye doo not I declare to yow for trouthe that in short tyme in this Cyte shall not abyde bord ner hows standyng ner one 15 stone vpon an other.' Appollo had not so sone finysshid' thise wordes but that alle they there stondyng opened her mowthes & cryed with an hye voys saying' Truly Appollo thou art the god of sapyence as long as we lyue we wyll haue none other Iuge but the/ And to the we shall submytte vs & all our affayres. And desiring 20 thyn holy sacrefices / maners / and honest doctrines to ensiewe to our powers. we wyff that thou be our pastour or herdman and we shall be thy sheep' 6 Whan Appollo had vnderstande this that sayd' ys he answerde to hem and sayd. Certes fair lordes hyt apperteyneth 25 not to me to receyue the grete honour that ye alle offre and presente to me. ye knowe how that Zechius and Zethephyus ben of youre nacion. And I am here allone and a straunger. hit is among you euydent and notoyre. that ye shall not take in pacience my correccion as ye sholde doo of Zechyus and Zethephyus. And for 30 so moche I praye yowe that with so grete charge & burthen ye leye not on my back. for hit is none nede. and for to saye the verite Zechius and Zethephyus ben two wyse knightes wel attempred and propice to excersice those dygnytes. And therfore ye ought to receyue them. for certes ye ben holden so to doo and 35 thenne your wele shaft folowe & be euydent. & ye so doyng pees and loue shaft be roted in yow. And ther shall be no man that shall be so hardy to conspire ony Rumour. Rancour / Rebellion / [lf. 73] ne machine ony troble in no maner of the worlde. And sayng thise wordes all the peple began to murmure. And Zechius and his felawe Zethephyus hering this parlement to geder with Loth & somme other principals then there that herde. considerid the people wolde in no wyse breke their oppinion/ concluded to make an 5 answere suche as foloweth. whiche Loth pronounced and sayde in this manere 6 Appollo in no wise putte no doubte in this werke for so moche as thou art among vs of vnknowen generacion. Thy sapyence and wysedom is more playsaunte to the peple. that the naissaunce 10 or birthe of Zechyus & of Zethephius. Thou art the right myrrour of our doctrine. the patrone of our policie. the right ousty that polisshith and enlumyneth vs & our rude ingenyes. Certes the two good knightes Zechius & Zethephius thanke the of the right grete honour that thou dost to them / And they beyng adioyned with the peple will. that thou haue vpon vs and the Cyte souerayn seygnourye. and therfore wille thou nomore seche weyes so contrepeysed but enploye thy corage after the taste of our desires. for hit is ordeyned¹¹ & concluded that thou shalt be our kyng. And' for to supporte the shalbe commysed Zechius & Zethephius thy 20 lieutenaunts / the whiche by thy introduccyon shall haue the charge & thought vndre the of the commyn besines & small thinges. of whiche they shall haue the knowleche for to determine' 15 Incontinent as Loth had finisshid his proposicion at thinstaunce as in [lf. 736] And thenne forthwith two of the most grettest of the peple toke him vpon their sholdres and cryyng / 'vyue le roy Appollo' whiche is asmoch as to saye as 'liue the king Appollo.' they bare him vnto the palays. & there they sette him in the trone of iustice. And Zechius & Zethephius were sette in an other siege more lower 30 ¶ What shal I make yow long processe. the one & the other made ther to the king Appollo homage And for to entretiene his astate. were ordeyned' certayn nombre of peple And after thys was ordeyned that ther sholde be forgid' moneye in the cite For the king Appollo enseigned the place in the yle where he had a right 35 good myne of golde / whan all these thinges were thus ordeyned and concluded. the peple withdrewe hem Euery man into his place thanking the goddes that Appollo had agreed & accorded that thing that they somoche desired, that was that he sholde abide there their king for to holde them in pees. reson & Iustice, 1 n inverted 1 Marvels of Fire seen in the Little Island. Thenne Appollo as their souerayn abode & dwellid in the palais accompanyed of the two knightes Zechyus & Zethephius and many other that he withhelde in his seruice & from that day forward Appollo gouerned & conduysed the peple so wisely & discretly that by the space of .xij. yere he was meruaillously belouyd of att his 5 subgettis & also of the countrees by whiche had knowleche of him 97 ¶ How the god Mars sent to the king Appollo the maner how the moton or shepe of gold might & ought be conquerd The historie that moche is auncient Reherceth that at the ende 10 in the litil Yle that was there by. For ther was seen in many [lf. 74] nyghtes certayn oxen or bulles of fyre so grete that they enflamed alle the regyon of the ayer And thenne that Zechius and Zethephius and the people apperceyuyd' aft playnly this meruaylles/ 15 they cam on a nyght to the kyng Appollo and shewid hym how the lytyl Ile was in a terrible flawme. And syn sayde to him that they wold knowe what hit mighte be. and that they supposed. that there were men comen theder by somme auenture Thenne Appollo answerde to them in this manere. 'certes fayr lordes 20 I haue told you to fore this tyme. that in this Ile the god Mars and the god of nature shall doo make appere the most grete and the most terrible meruayle of the world. And yet I telle and saye to yow that ther is non other thing but the meruayles of the goddes/ and therfore be ye content and in pees & thinke nomore 25 theron And that ye kepe you in ony wyse of the worlde that ye go not theder for as moche as hit is straitly defended' / somme there were that were content with this answere and somme not / And among other Zechius sayde a hye & clerely that he beleuyd hit not / and that on the morn he wolde passe ouer in that Ile for to knowe 30 the trouth with so grete a companye that if there were ony straungers he wold putte hem to deth or in his mercy by armes The king Appollo vnderstode not this answer of Zechius / wolde, & then Zechius drewe him a parte from thens right secretly acompanyed' of thrytty 35 men. whiche were all of one opynyon. And concluded among them that on the morñ erly they sholde come to the porte. & they 98 Zechius rashly visits the Marvels of Colchis. [lf. 746] sholde go to this yle & deceyue the king Appollo. This yle was of the facion of a byrde that men calle in that countre colcu. this nyght passed ouer and on the morn in the brekyng¹ of the daye Zechius & his .xxx. felaws all armed' and' wel in poynt wente to the 5 see. and began to rowe toward' the yle of Colchos / but hit abode not long after that the king Appollo whiche was acustomed to Ryse betymes cam to a windowe of his palais & beheld toward the see. And apperceyued anone at the Ryue or see side many women & children. and also sawe the shyppe that Zechyus and his felaw- 10 ship ledde toward Colchos / wher fore he wist not what to thinke ner saye. and callid Loth and his seruauntes that were beholdyng vpon the watre Of whome he demanded curtoisly what they were that they behelde in the shippe/ And wheder they entended so hastely And at whos commandement / Thenne they ansuerde that it 15 was Zechius and'.xxx. men armed' and well in poynt in his felawship/ And that they hadde entencion for to go in to the yle of Colchos for to knowe the trouthe wherof proceded the grete flammes fumyers and vapours that they had seen Han the king Appollo vnderstode his eyen on hye & escried & saide. creatures what folie' & thenne smote his 20 W these tydinges he lifte 'O god creatour of all breste with his fiste in signe of grete angour / after he sente for to seke Zethephius & som maronners & whan Zethephius was come Appollo saide to him. 'alas my dere broder if euer ye wil see Zechius haste you see 25 him there in ship & .xxx. yonge men with him. they ben in entencion for to descende in Colchos as these women haue certefied [lf. 75] me And veraily yf they got ouer ferre. they shall take harme. for they shall neuer retorne. And therfore late vs take a shippe in all haste and late vs rowe after them for to retayne them if hit 30 be to vs possible for to lette and tourne them from this folisshe enterprise. or ellis I suppose that shortly a grete myschyef shal falle on them. ye in suche wyse that they all shall lose their lyf.' In sayng thyse wordes the kyng Appollo. Zethephyus the goode knight. Loth and their peple entred into the shippe that the 35 maronners had made redy and rowed with alle the haste they might after Zechius and his felaws for to haue retaynde them. but all was for nought/ For they coude not so sore haste them that they coude come so nygh that they might speke to them. And Zechius destroyed in Colchis. from ferre they sawe them entre in to the perillous Ile. ye er they were halfe waye thederward Henne whan Appollo apperceyuid the grete daunger. where wyll and leue. he was so angry that he demened the most meruaylloust 5 sorowe of the worlde. for he louid parfaytly Zechius and in lyke wyse Zethephius & many other Yet alway he cessed not to go forth and rowe til he cam nyghe the Ile vpon a bowe shotte / And in beholding he apperceyuid' many bouffes of flambe & of a thyk fumyere or smoke springe into the ayer. After this was not long 10 after whan he herde many pietous cryes. one & other right ferdful. And fynably he apperceyuid one of the felawship of Zechius renne oute of this Ile as a man al despayred. the whiche cryeng right horribly put him self in to the see vp to the necke *I [lf. 75b] Incontinent whan Appollo apperceyued & vnderstood thise thinges. & among all other he behelde him that was thus come & had put him in the see. Certes he was sore abasshid. but for to knowe all the tydinges / he made to rowe ner him. & founde that the water where he was in. boilled by grete hete al aboute his body The poure felawe incontinent that he knewe the king 20 Appollo his lorde / began passing pietously to escrie vpon him weping & sayng. 'Ha A sire Appollo if hit be possible to the helpe & deliuere me from this mortal daunger.' Whan Appollo sawe the poure felaw in suche desolacion the teeris fill doun from his eyen. & for asmoche as the water boilled so aboute him he had 25 grete pite & demanded of him what eyled him so to crye & wepe And from whens that water cam that so boilled aboute him. & axid syn where was Zechius. 'Alas' ansuerde the poure felawe whiche labourid lyuyng there to the deth in a dolour & payne inestymable. 'Praye ye sire for Zechius & for his felaws. for I haue seen all / one 30 after another dye in a mortell destresse and so anguisshously. that vnnethe that is creature lyuyng that coude veraily acompte and telle hit to you' Whan Appollo herde speke of the deth of Zechius and his felaws he was so soroufull that he wist not what to do / but 35 ansuerde to the poure felaw and saide by grete admyracion. 'how maye that be fayr sire for I sawe right now Zechius and all his felaws that were with him whan they toke londe in Colchos in descendyng from the shippe''Alas dere sire' ansuerde thenne H 2 the felawe/Hyt is well Reson that I recompte & telle you the [lf. 76] trouth & verite of the manere of this cruel auenture. Certes sire hit is veray trouth that incontinent that Zechius & we other entrid into the yle we apperceyuyd' from ferre in a passing fayr medowe 5 a liuyng beste fedyng all of fyn golde. And was as grete as an hors of the facion & fourme of a sheep or moton. Thenne we concluded to geder with one wyll that we wolde haue taken him / & thenne we wente forth & supposed to haue taken hit by force or other wise. And for to so doo we marched thederward to oure 10 euyt helthe/ for anoñ after & right sodaynly sprang out of a temple the most fair and the most riche that I euer sawela moche meruayllous dragoñ and ferdful with thre tonges casting fyre and flambe with smoke out of his throte. & forthwith incontinent sprang also out of hooles in the erthe two moche horrible booles 15 hauyng legges & feet all of coper/ their hornes were grete and sharp. their eyen gretter & more reed then boyllyng coper or metal / the whiche thre bestes so dredefull disgorged & caste out fyre of their throtes & venym vpon vs in suche facion. that Zechius & all the other deyde there in suche payñ & dolour that was neuer 20 lyke therto recorded. and of vs .xxx. felaws ther is none escaped' exept my self whiche was laste and ferthest behinde / for whan I apperceyuid' the meschyef so grete I put me to flight / but I coude not so fast flee / but that the terrible dragon cast vpon me a gobet of the moste detestable infeccion that euer was the whiche doth 25 me somoche payñ & meschief and holdeth me in suche a brennyng in all my body that I muste nedes take by dolourouse deth the ende of this worlde. wherfore I require yow that ye goo no ner Colchos' [lf. 76 b] 30 Yth this wordes the dolorous man finysshed his dayes in anguisshe & payne. and the sowle departed from the body in the presence of Appollo. the whiche for this cause demened the grettest & most terrible sorow that might be and with that roose the winde by grete sodayne pyries that came from the west. whiche tourmented the see and meuyd hit meruaillously. and after this 35 apperid in the ayer grete lightnynges of fire the whiche cam launching bytwene the king Appollo and Zethephius and the other beyng in the shippe. And ther was none of them so assured but wyth the winde & the inpetuouse lightnyng they were beten doune vnto the botom of the ship. and in suche wise they were smeton with the lightnyng & tourment and with the orage of haylle stones. that Appollo him self knewe not a grete while if euer he sholde escape this daunger or no / For aboute hem they sawe no more. thenne men doo in a wynters night at mydnyght whan hit rayneth / Notwithstandyng duryng this tempeste and' derkenes the good kyng 5 Appollo herde a voys sayd to him in this manere not alowde/ But with a moderat voys in suche wise in somme well vnderstode hit Appollo the god Mars commandeth the that thou Retourne incontinent to thy cite for Zechius thy good frende is dede by his grete oultrage in this perillous yle & aft his felaws in like 10 wise as it hath ben late to the declared / Also all they that fro hens forth put hem or descende in to this yle for to seche auenture or other wise shal neuer Retorne agayn / but shal leue there their lyf without ony respite / for asmoche as the goddes wil not that it be enhabited vnto the time that a knight shal descende therin which [lf. 77] shal conquere the noble moton or shepe of golde by the meen of them that shal come of thy seed/ to whom thou shalt leue a bille wreton with the hande of the god Mars. the whiche bille is now vnder thy hede. & conteyneth from poynt to poynt all the mysteries & craft that he behoueth to obserue & kepe for to obteyne & come 20 to thing of so hye recommendacion that like therto hath ben ne neuer shalbe in the worlde vnto the time that the holy & newe lawe shal come. & after that tyme long after the mystery of the flees of golde shaft hyely be celebrerd & halowed" Wyth this the vois was still. & Appollo on this that he had 25 herde began to rise abasshid & esmayed of this werke / And founde vnder his hede the bille a fore said whiche he kepte soygneusly & after he & his felawship retorned vnto the cite for the tyme & the grete storme was incontinent goñ and dryuen away in the ayer & vanisshed and thenne assone as he and his peple 30 were arryued at the port and out of the ship forthwith the weder began to chaunge and began to snowe. to rayne. to blowe & make one so terrible a storme and tempeste / that by force of the outragyous orage / the arke in the whiche Appollo and all his companye cam in to that yle that they inhabited and also al the shippis and 35 other bootes that they had made meuyd them to geder in suche wise that the cables and cordes that helde them al to the porte al to brak. & the said vaissels & ships were blowen vnto the perillous yle of Colchos by so meruailous a furour that they were al to Apollo weds the Widow of Zechius. smyten in pieces and broken in suche maner that the bordes of the [lf. 77 b] bootes & other pieces withoute nombre floted here and there in the see. & thus by this waye they were all lost and spent. of the whiche¹auenture all they that were then at the porte beholdyng 5 were sore esbayed and not without cause / for neuer tofore was seen so meruaillous a tempeste & thought wel that it wente not wel. and sayde that one to that other that their goddes were angry with them whan suche tempest cam to them ther to their grete dommage & preiudice 10 102 How the knight Zethephius conspired ayenst Appollo the kyng and how they had batay togeder Aft Fter this euyl auenture the king Appollo & they that were with him retorned vnto the palays enclinyng their heedes adouñ & shewing that anoye had enterprised them whan they were come 15 to the palays all they bewaylid Zechius / & during this sorow/ the wyf of Zechius named Mena cam thether for to here tidinges of her husbonde. & hit was sayd to her that he was left dede in the yle of Colchos / wherfore she demened so meruaillous sorow that she fyll to the erthe al in a spasme & a swounne / & after cam to her 20 self/ & thenne she rente of her a tyre and drew her heer out of her hede by moche aspre anger & sorow / in suche a facion that forthwith she was deliuerid of a childe whiche she had conceyuid of her lorde & husbonde / the which deyde assone as it was born / for it had not his full time for the deth of whiche childe the anger 25 & sorow was moche the more. Appollo then wenyng to conforte her/ dyde all that he coude but yt halpe not ner profited no thing & made her to be brought into his hous for the better to 1 [lf. 78] make her wepinges & lamentacions at her wyf And ther was none that might conforte her. The women The king. & frendes of 30 them that were dede with Zechius semblably made grete sorow. during whiche sorowe. Appollo visited ofte times Mena / & founde that she had continuelly the teeris in her eyen / how wel she was a moche fayr lady / By haunting from day to daye Appollo knewe the grete & good loue that she had to her husbonde. & that in no 35 maner might forgete him began to wexe amorous of the lady in so 10. hyphen after whiche at end of line. Zethephius conspires against Apollo. 103 moche that he required her to be his wyf/ And she agreed and acorded therto in suche wise that the one' espoused that other And engendryd on her a doughter the whiche was borne in goode terme & was named Fanoles Monge all other thinges Zethephius began to haue enuye vpon 5 the king Appollo for asmoche as his glorie encresid dayly/ & more & more. This miserable enuye encresid in his corage. & him semed that if of Appollo & of Mena cam a sone. that sone sholde succede to the royame after Appollo for which cause he emploied him self with al his power to complaire & plese a partye 10 of the citezeyns. & whan he felte him in their grace he assembled hem on a daye in hys hous and saide to them in this maner. My brethren and goode frendes ye knowe well that I am of your lignage And that all my lyf I haue conuersed louyngly among you / and in lyke wise myn auncetres with youres haue had alway entier 15 aliaunce this considerid my herte iugeth that ye owe me goode will and desire myn encrees and honour And for somoche as your power is right grete in this cite. I pray and require you. yf hit so happe that Appollo go fro lyfe to deth that ye will haue my sone for recommended and that he may be kyng after him as ye knowe [lf. 78 b] wel that he is therto worthy' He frendes of Zethephius hering these wordes. alle accorded with goode herte to do for him all that they mighte. Thenne Zethephius promised to them many grete thinges in caas they wold make Feris his sone king. & promised so moche good that they 25 coniured the deth of the king Appollo. And in dede they made couenaunt that they sholde slee him if they founde him at their auauntage Fter this coniuroyson thenne that these miserable & peruers into houses They 30 with their neyghbours of the deth of the king Appollo. & promised them grete nombre of money if they might come & obteyne their entent / som ther were couetous desiring their singuler prouffit accorded vnto this sedicion / but also som ther wer that in no wise wolde consente therto. but alowed the grete preudhommye & wise- 35 dom of Appollo. & shewed wel that they had him better in grace than Zethephius Thus among them began to meue & rise many rancours. discordes & debats / & this rumour roos in so hye termes 10. oue. & so plainly that Zethephyus & his complices couuertly murdred many of them that wolde not acorde vnto their trayson. & somoch multeplied these outragious synnes / that whan some of the welwillars of the king Appollo sawe their felawes murdrid/ they drew 5 to the king Appollo & tolde to him the machinacion of Zethephius / & the outragious synnes that his felaws dide. & required him moch that he wolde take hede & entende to their fayt & to finde such remedie to kepe his lyf wele / & honour & the prouffit of the commyn wele [lf. 79] The king Appollo was meruaillously troubled & had grete sorow in his corage whan he was aduertised of these harde tydinges / how wel he conduysed him right wysely for with all diligence he dide take enformacion of these thinges. & founde that they had said to him the verite & trouth. & that Zethephius 15 seduysed the peple ayenst him by tyrannye al euydente. & that continuelly he had in his house an .C. men of euyl lyf/ the whiche commysed al the euyl they coude thinke vpon them that they founde not of their bende. the grete trouble & displaisir of king Appollo doubled thenne whan he knewe for trouth that it was 20 trewe that he was aduertised of. Notwithstanding he endured the malice of Zethephius & his complices a certayn space. but whan he apperceyued their conduyte / and that fro day to day they apayred more thenne amended, he sente to Zethephius¹ that he sholde do Iustice on his seruauntes & suche as were culpable of the deth the 25 whiche tyrannysed in the cite. & if he wolde not he wolde seche remedye hym self Whan Zethephius vnderstode the message of the king Appollo. He ansuerde to him with a mouthful of felonnye, that he was wise ynough for to correcte his seruauntes. and that he wolde 30 not do but at his plaisir / And thenne the messager cam & reported this answere to king Appollo/ whiche he herde. Appollo deliberid in him selfe that he wolde suffre a litil for to see how his enemies wold mayntene hem during which time he helde him wel assured in his palais. but it was not long after but Zethephius & his folk 35 commised more outrages & cruelte thenne they dide tofore / in [lf. 79 b] somoch that al the peple roos & meuid on a daye And there were somme that cam vnder Appollo. And the other wente to the traytres. the whiche assemblid in thys maner by grete pryde that 1 4 O. n inverted. Apollo fights Zethephius in the Market-Place. 105 surmounted on them and sente to Appollo that he shold' prestly departe out of the palays and goo his waye out of the cyte. or ellys they wolde wele that he knewe that they were his mortelt enemyes. Anone as Appollo had receyuyd' this mandement he vnderstood well that the thinge was in euyt terme if he put not payñ to subdue and put vnder thyse traytres by armes / wherfor he callid the peple them that were of hys partie and sayd to them/Fayr sirs ye knowe well ynow. ye haue me constituted kyng aboue you how wel me thinketh Zethephius wold' take from me this dignite. And of fayte he is declared myn enemy. what is to be don here to.' 10 They answerd. 'Thou arte our kyng. other kyng than the we wy not haue during our lyf and for so moche as euery king is bounden to kepe & defende his peple / And semblably ben all peple bounden to expose body & goodes for their kyng Hit semeth vs expedient that without lenger taryeng we ought to goo & assayle 15 thyn enemye & oures / to thende to punisshe him & his complices' Han Appollo had vnderstonde this that sayd is he accorded to the same lightly and putte hym anone to armes. And so dyde alle they of hys partie. & assone as they were all in poynt / they wente on the waye toward the market place. & there comen 20 the kyng sent one of his knightes vnto Zethephius to signyfie to hym that he sholde come to Appollo for to amende his mesfaytes of which he & his complices were charged with thenne Zethephius ansuerde that he wolde go vnto his enemye but that shalbe said [lf. 80] with strength of men of armes so puyssaunt and strong that hit 25 had ben better for him that he hadde neuer sette foot in this countre. And saye to him that hardily that if he be wel counceylled that he & his welewillars be not founden to fore my strengthe/ but that they goo so ferre that of them we here neuer after tydinges' Assone as the knight hadde vnderstande ¹ this that 30 sayd is he retorned' vnto his lord & recounted to him what he had exploited/ And Zethephius withoute lenger tarieng marched forth acompanyed of his complices al armed to the place where he supposed to finde Appollo as he that was aduertised of thenterprise of the king. & went so ferforth that they founde their aduersaires 35 the whiche were so esmeuyd' vpon them that incontinent that they had' espyed eche other. they escried them to the deth. & ran vpon eche other armed one with an basenet on the hede an other armed 5 Zethephius beaten and his Folk scattered. the body. one bering a clubbe. an other a swerde euil fourbousshed / & without other parlement holding they began a bataile vpon the market felonnous & hard meruaillously. In casting terrible cryes one & other as it had ben thondre comen doun from heuen. and 5 with this alle the women & litil children of the cite cam rennyng & cryed weping so right anguisshously that hit was grete pite to see hem make their bewailinges & sorowe Hus as ye may vnderstande began the bataylle of the Cytezeyns coming to 10 smote eche other cruelly without hauyng regarde sauf only to slee eche other. but the king Appollo Fletheris & Loth put hem forth [lf. 80 b] among their enemies so ferre in gyuing pesaunt strokes and terrible on the right syde & on the lift side by suche vertu that the place was anoñ dyed and weet with the blood of the malefac- 15 tours. and they dyde so knyghtly & cheuaulerously & in especial Appollo. that ther was no traytre but that he tremblid' tofore hem/ And euery man began to make place to the noble kyng. Thenne Zethephius had suche sorow that he cam and put him tofore the berde of the knight Fletheris & of Loth And he had with hym 20.x. of his best fightars. and such was their auenture that with one stroke the gentil knight Fletheris smote doun Zethephius to the erthe among the dede bodyes and toke him. And in this heete Appollo & Loth fought so sore with the other and so eygrely that they slew the most parte. And hit was not long after that the 25 traytours knewe that their capitayne was sore hurte & taken. wherfore they tourned their back and putte them in flight in alle parties a long by the Ryue of the cite and so sparklid' abrode ¶ How the kyng Appollo gaf to his doughter the bille & manere for to conquere the moton or sheep of gold. whyche cam after to 30 Medea Whan the gentil king Appollo sawe that his mortall enemy was holden and that his complices put them to flight incontinent cessed' the bataylle. and retourned to his palays with grete glorie. And eche man cryed. 'Helthe be gyuen to the kyng Appollo.' 35 Many of the principalt of the peple cam thenne to fore the kyng & wolde there haue slayn the vntrewe Zethephyus. But Zethephyus [lf. 81] Required' them humbly mercy & confessid his grete faute And therwith cam there his wyf that kneled to the erthe tofore the Apollo, departing, gives his Daughter the Clue. 107 nobles & the peple and required them of grace for her husbond so humbly that the kyng had pytie of her. & saued' Zethephius lyf. But that same daye he accused' all them that had commysed the grete euyl. of whom the kyng Appollo dyde doo Iustice. And after this gaf to Fletheris the office of Zethephius / And from this day 5 forthward the cyte was nourisshid' in pees the space of many yeres to the louyng & preysing of Appollo so is at corage and gouerned him so wel and discretly that he recouurid the loue and good grace of the kyng. ye in suche wyse that by the 10 meue of Mena / the king Appollo gaf in mariage his doughter Phauoles vnto the sone of Zethephius named Pheris. This Pheris was a wyse yong man. prudent. discrete. attemprid and moche louid the goddes. alle vertues & good Iustice. whan they had conuersed with him a certayn space he considerid' two thinges. the 15 preudommye & wisedon of Pheris was that one And that other was that he wolde retourne in to Grece. he constituted in this royame Pheris kyng. And the peple confermed him. And hit was not long after that Mena departed fro the lyf by deth. wherof Appollo made meruaillous sorowe. And thenne whan he had long 20 wepte the deth of his wyf. and felte his ende to approche he called on an euyn his doughter Phauoles and sayd to her. My dere doughter I take leue of the. for I must secretly departe from this countre. and allone retorne into Grece wher I was born howe [lf. 81 b] well first er I departe I late the Quene of this yle wherof 25 I haue in myn herte grete Ioye. And for as moche as I knowe thy wytte thy discresion and thy vertues. I shall deliuere to the. the bylle that the god Mars hath wreton conteynyng all the manere howe me¹ shall do for to conquere the noble motoñ or sheep of gold in the yle of Colchos. and for to destroye all the 30 terrible bestes that ben in the same yle. And I commande that to no man lyuyng ne to no creature of the worlde thou shewe hit not But yf hit be in thende of thy life vnto a doughter that shall come of the. vnto whome thou shalt make her swere that semblably she shall not shewe hit to ne persone sauf only to her 35 doughter. And so from doughter to doughter Hyt pleseth the god Mars that this bille be kepte vpon payne of deth vnto the tyme that oute of Grece shaft come a knyghte in to this palays that shaff The Text of the Clue kept for Jason. be worthy to see it And shaft conquere the noble moton or shepe of gold'' Yth these wordes the kyng deliuerid the bill to his dere 5 that folowe. "Yf thou loue thy lyf & wilt auenture thy self for to conquere the moton or shepe of golde. hit is of pure necessite that thou haue the habyts that Appollo was clad with all at the oure that this bill was deliuerid to him/ After hit behoueth that thou haue his armures and that thou were his gowne aboue them. And Io of the other clothes thou make sacrefice vnto the god Mars / and put ther with a bole wherof thou shalt kepe the blood/ After this [lf. 82] thou shalt take the powldre of the sacrefice and putte hit in thre 1 parties. that is to wete one with the blood of the bole / And this myxtion shaft haue suche vertue. that yf thy body be anoynted' ther- 15 wyth the fyre ne the venym of the dragon and' of the two meruaillous booles that kepe the moton may not noye the Vnto the regarde of the seconde parte of this poulder thou shalt medle hit with glue And with this glue thou shalt anoynte the mosels of thise two meruayllous booles. to whom thou mayst thenne seurely 20 approche notwithstanding that they cast fyre ayenst the dismesurably / But whan their mosels ben englued they may then caste nomore fyre ne venym / Thenne thou shalt go to the dragoñ / whom thou muste slee by thy strengthe and by thy hardynesse. And thenne whan thou shall haue slain him thou shalt retorne to the 25 two meruaillous booles and hyde their eyen, And thou shalt yoke hem and make hem to tourne foure rodd of londe. the whiche thou shalt sowe with the teth of the dragon that then is ded And after thou shalt make them to harowe hyt / And then sodeynely shaft growe of this erthe many Geantes armed whyche shall arise 30 ayenst the. And whan hit shall comen to smyting/caste vpon them the therthe parte of the pouldre. And anone they shaft fyghte to gyder. and eche of them shall slee that other. And' thenne whan thou shalt haue done alle this that sayd is. thenne thou mayst take the noble moton or shepe of golde and conquere 35 hyt / And then thou shalt slee hym. & with the body reserued the vliese of golde thou shalt make sacrefice to the god Mars kneling and humylieng thy self tofore him thou shalt saye thys oroyson that foloweth Apollo departs secretly. 'MA Ars my god that by the suffraunce of the God of nature hast puissaunce for to chaunge the nature of bestes. And that by thy propre vertue conduytest all batayles and bringest them to thy playsire. I thanke the wyth all my herte of that thou hast made me to doo. And praye the humbly that thou receyue 5 my sacrefice in gree. And that thou wilt conduyte me with myn honour and brynge me vnto my countre / And thus whan thou hast finisshid thy prayer / thou mayst retourne with glorie in to thy countre and be seased with the noble fliese of gold' Y dere doughter' said thenne Appollo 'lo here the writyng [lf. 82 b] of / And after that lo here myn habytes that be requysite for to obteyne the conquest of the shepe of golde/ And myn armures ben in the temple of god Mars / and there shall abyde vnto the tyme that this noble conqueste shall be don. And therfore kepe them well and soyngneusly that no daunger come to 15 yow and that I charge the by the commandement of the goddes/ And I praye you for all the plaisir that ye may doo to me that no persone be aduertised of my departing.' Thenne Phanoles promysed & sware to her fader that she sholde doo to her power all that he had required her and charged her with. And thenne they toke 20 leue eche of other wepyng right tenderly. And syn wente Phanoles with the kyng Pherix. For hit was night and the goode king Appollo abode in his chambre vnto on the morñ erly. & thenne departed al allone & entrid into a litil boot al propice whiche he had do make thenne he recommanded him in the garde & keping 25 of the goddes And thenne a winde smote on the ship that [lf. 83] brought hym vpon the depe see. and ye shall vnderstande. that the same day the king Pherix was wel aduertised that his fader in lawe was goon & departed he began to demene and make a meruayllous sorow. & so dyde all the peple. but whan they sawe that 30 they coude not haue him agayn ner recouure him They commanded him to the garde of the god Mars. Thenne the king Pherix began to haue the gouernaunce of the royame & conduysed it in suche wise that in short time he gate the loue of all the peple & of the nobles of the royame THe He kyng Pherix thenne after the departyng of the olde king Appollo had of his wyf Phauoles a doughter named Ortis. This doughter cam to age & was maried vnto a noble man of Grece named Oetes / the whiche by fortune of the see was brought into 35 this countre in the time that the kyng Pherix was in his olde & auncient dayes the ladyes of Sychye cam thenne into this marche. & wel supposed to haue goten & taken this cyte of Iacoynte by assault But the inhabitantes of the cite bare hem so strongly that 5 this multitude of women were constrayned to cesse of their enterpryse. wherof they had grete sorow & assieged the cyte And during their siege they made the temple of the goddesse Deane. of whom is spoken tofore. this temple is lyke to an other that they made in Ephese Vring their siege Oethes whiche was strong and cheualerous and moche vayllyant in Armes and of gret econduyte. scarmusshed' wyth hem many tymes to hys honour. And dyd' so moche. that whan the Ladyes had perfourmed their temple. & that they [lf. 88 b] considered that the cite was inprenable by assault & also that 15 the citezeyns cam not oute agaynst them in bataille. wherfore they lost their tyme / they reysed their siege & retorned' vnto the see. of whom som other ther were that wente vnto the yle of Colchos. but they that so aduentured them retourned neuer agayn. after the departing of this assemble of ladies the king Pherix gaf his 20 doughter to Oetes. & made them to wedde that one to that other in the temple of Dyane whiche was meruaillous riche / Thenne anon after Pherix & Phanoles deyde / & Oetes was the thirde king of this yle by the assente of al the peple / This kynge Oetes founde a myne of golde / wherof he dide do make vaissell & other vten- 25 silles necessarie & propice vnto his housholde. this was the moste riche kyng of al the worlde in that tyme. he dide do make an ydole al of fyn golde representing the god Mars. & another representing the goddes Deane the whiche were in a wode edeffied of golde wherin he had al maner of wilde bestes. After he dide do make 30 a fair gardyn of plaisaunce / in whiche he founded' a temple vnto the goddes Venus vnto whom he dide do make a riche ymage whiche was al of fyn golde And aboute the same were fifty men & as many women that desired & required eche other of loue. & they were made with so amerous maners. that al they that behelde 35 them were lightly & sone meuyd to luxure / Hit is not to be vnremembrid that among all these thinges the saide king Oethes had a doughter by his wyf Ortis / This doughter grewe & was named Medea. & becam passing beauteous & fayr. yet he had another doughter by his wyf & a sone. the doughter was named 10 Caliope and the sone was named Abserthius At the burthe of [lf. 84] this Abserthius the quene Ortis was so seek that she leyde her doun in her mortal bedde. and callyd' to her her doughter Medea. and deliuerid to her alle tho thinges that the kyng Appollo had deliuerid to his doughter Phauoles touchyng the fayte of the 5 conquest of the golden flyese / And also taught her many enchantements. & with this she gaf to her a Ryng of golde wherin was a stone of suche vertu that hit sholde make them inuysible that bare hit And this don she passed out of this worlde wherfore Oetes / Medea / & Caliopes demened meruayllous grete sorow/ And 10 there I wyl reste of this sorow & shal recompte what was the ende of the kyng Appollo ¶ Howe the kyng Appollo arryued at the porte of Starille. And how he departed secretly fro the king Serath and arryued' at the yle of Colchos & of his deth and how the kyng Serath confessid Appollo 15 to be a god Whan the kyng Appollo was allone on the see as sayd' is. he abandonned him vnto the fortune of the wyndes & of the waters confyeng and trusting in the grace of the goddes. And his fortune was suche. that he arryued at the porte of Starille a cite 20 of the royaume of Pyre And there fonde that the kyng Philitenus laye there passing seek / And thenne wente to him. and after the Reuerences made. recounted to him fro point the point all that was befallen to him & his peple / how that they had fonde the yle that the goddes had promised to him. and how they had made the 25 cite & how they had made him king & how Zechyus & his felaws deyde in the yle of Colchos how Zethephius had conspired [lf. 84 b] ayenst him. how he had made his sone Pherix king And how he was departed thens allone. The king Philitenus had moche meruaile of these thinges. And made grete chere to Appollo after 30 his power. but anoñ after he deyde & after him succeded in his royame a sone that he had whiche was named Serath / Thenne whan Appollo sawe that Serath was obeyed king of Pyrre / he cam to him on a daye to take leue for to retorne into his countre. but Serath wolde not that he sholde departe / And required him 35 Instantly that he wolde vse the remenaunt of his lyf with him. Appollo excused him and toke leue yet ones. but in no wise Serath wolde accorde therto. And whan Appollo sawe this & felte that Apollo dies and is worshipped as a God. he might not long lyue / he departed thens on an euen so secretly that no man knewe til on the morn. and thenne on the morn they knew it by the report of one of his knightes whiche certefied him that he hadde mette & recountrid him in a place that he named Incontynent that the king Serath vnderstode these tydinges. he was sore trobled for he louid' parfaitly Appollo / And forthwith he toke his hors and in entencion to bringe him agayn he rode after him acompanyed of two goode knightes of his court/ but he coude neuer ouertake him til that he was come into the yle of 10 Colchos where he founde him passing seek and labouring in the extreme draughtes of deth. The anoye of kyng Serath redoubled whan he sawe and founde Appollo in this estate and wept Thenne the king Appollo defended him that he sholde go no ferther into the yle of Colchos for to conquere the moton or shepe of golde. [lf. 85] And syn recommanded him to the Goddes And that don expired' his lyf. for whiche deth the king Serath & his knightes were terribly sory. And concluded that they wolde bere the body into their countrey/ & make for him a fayr and riche sepulture and' thenne they garnisshed the body with grete foyson of candellis for 20 to wake that night / but whan hit was aboute mydnight & that all the lumynaire brende aboute the body of Appollo. Alle wente out & quenchid sodaynly / And thenne must the king Serath & his knightes wake the remenaunt of the nighte without ony light or clerenes wherof they had grete meruaile. And on the morn whan 25 the daye apperid it happend that they founde not the body of king Appollo. but in the place where they had left it the daye to fore/ they founde an awter of cristall passing clere vpon whiche was an ymage of fyn golde so quikly made after the facion of Appollo. that it semed proprely his persone. wherfore the king Serath 30 seeyng this Myrracle knelid doun on bothe his knees to the erthe tofore him & worshipped it / And thenne he herde a voys that said to him. 'Serath seke not Appollo but among the goddes / he hath praid for the & for al them that shal come to this sepulcre / and therfore knowe thou that thou shalt haue goode fortune. and all 35 they that shal come hether by goode deuocion shaft haue answere of thynges that they shal demande' & here with the voys made silence. and the kyng Serath confessid thenne openly that without errour Appollo was a god. after these thinges he dide do make in the honour of him a temple ensignefieng al that he had seen & 5 herd to ben trew & fro thenne forthon the Grekes were acustomed to come to this temple fro fer countre to worshipe him & diligently [If. 85b] demande & enquire of their destinees. And among alle other Peleus wente theder as sayd is. And thus endeth the hystorie of Appollo and his faytes. And now I wyll retorne for to speke of 5 the faytes and vaillyaunces of the noble & preu Iason / for that is our principal matere 113 ¶ How the kyng Oetes receyuid Iason into his cite. & how Medea louid Iason & brought him to the temple of Venus & how the olde woman enchanted the bedde of Iason 10 Whan Iason was departed from Lennos. And that he had sacred his shyp vnto the goddesse Pallas & to the goddesse of the see he saylled by many Iournees from one coost to an other that in the ende Argos ruled so hys cours by the sonne that on a day he arryued in the yle that he had desired to finde by a grete 15 storme & impetuouse fortune that by force were constrayned for to take the regorte or goulf where as the yle of Colchos was by / hit was not long after that whan Argos had brought his ship in this goulf or arme of the see that the sonne wente doun / & thenne as Argos thoughte where he might best caste ancre & make his shippe 20 faste / hit happend that he sawe tofore him the cite of Iacoynte. & on that one syde of the yle of Colchos ther sprang out sodaynly tourbillouns of fire so terryble that of feer that he had in beholding hit he began to crye. Whan Iason / Hercules/ and Theseus & the other knightes¹ of Grece herd' the mayster thus crye. they sprang 25 vp & cam to him / and the maister told them the cause of his crye. & syn shewd to hem the cite & the yle. & asseured hem how they were comen to thende of their vyage. and of this mater they [lf.86] deuised so long that speking therof their ship cam to the porte into the propre place where the arke of king Appollo was comen at 30 that time whan they cam first into the londe. Thenne the maister of the ship caste his ancres into the see. Thenne Iason rendrid louyng & preysing vnto the goddes. & so dyde Hercules. Thenne they sente Theseus vnto the king Oetes for to signefie to him their comyng/& for tenquere if this was the countre that they sought / 35 Certes Theseus wente & dide hys message in suche wise. that the king Oetes presented to him his palais and sente vnto the noble Reception of Jason: he sees Medea. Iason foure of his knightes that required him on the kinges behalue that he wolde take his herberow in his palais & he was to him right welcome. And whan Iason hadde vnderstande the will of the king by the foure knightes / he promised them that with a goode 5 will he wolde come theder. and thenne he entrid into the cite whiche was noble and fayr. & how well it was nyght at that tyme. yet was the cite as light as it had ben daye by the clarte & resplendour of torches. cresettes & other fires. that the kinge had do make in the cite right notably acompanyed for to feste these 10 Grekes YE E may wel vnderstande that the right noble Iason entrid' into this cite accompanyed of Hercules and his felaws that were right riche clad and habilled' with cloth of golde and of silke / The strete by whiche they passed for to go to the palays was on two 15 renges hye & lowe peupled of ladyes of damoiselles of knightes bourgeys marchants maydens & yong peple beholding their coming [lf. 86 b] & ordenaunce / And whan Iason was comen vnto ¹ thentree of the 1 palays he fonde there the noble kyng Oetes / whiche was sette in astate royal for to feste Iason and' his companye. And receyuyd Jason 20 right honourably as chyef of them alle. And thenne whan he had welcomed them. he toke him by the hand and ledde him vnto his palays And anone as they wente vpon the steyres for to goo vp Iason loked' into a wyndowe And beholdyng he espyed the fayr Medea among many ladyes. to whom he toke non other hede as for 25 this tyme. but hit was not so on her part For she began to beholde him so affectuously for his grete beaute. that he was more in her grace than I can telle yow ¶ For tabregge the mater Iason & all his companye passed forth by this windowe where Medea was & cam into an halle where the tables were couerd/ And thenne 30 whiles they made redy the souper the kyng Oetes began to demande the gentil knight Iason & after many wordes he began to saye to him in this maner Ason fair sire I knowe for trouth that ye be sone of kyng Eson I I your fe 35 whyther ye entende to goo/ne what thing ye seche / wherfore I praye yow by maner of a passe tyme that ye wille a litil recompte to me of your astate & enterprise if hit be possible that ye so doo Jason tells his Purpose and learns the Dangers. 115 may in ony maner And I promyse you that if I may be propice in ony facion for the loue of your fader. whom I haue som tyme knowen I shall deliuere to yow ayde and confort in all that in me shall be possible', 'Syre' ansuerde thenne Iason 'I thanke yow humbly of the grete honour that ye presente to me. & syn it must 5 nedes be that ones ye must knowe the cause wherfor I am de- [lf. 87] scended into your countre I declare to you that I haue enterprised for to goo into the yle of Colchos notwythstonding the parils whiche ben moche to doubte and not with oute cause / And with this I haue made auowe that I shal neuer retourne into Grece vnto the tyme that I haue conquerid and shalle bringe with me the sheep or fliese of golde / And if I may not make an ende of this enterprise Hercules my felawe shal aduenture him wherfore I require you that of this enterprise ye wille conceylle me to your power' / 'Certes Iason' said thenne the king 'ye haue made a litif vowe'. 'How 15 sire' said Iason 'how so'. 'for asmoche' ansuerde the king'as by ony aduenture or fortune ye entre into this yle of Colchos / hit is not possible that ye euer retorne hether agayn for ther be in that yle two grete and meruaillous bulles enuenymed commysed to the kepyng of the moton or flees of golde. wherof ye spack. Also 20 ther is commysed for the garde of the same the most terrible and the most crymynel dragon that euer was spoken of or seen The whiche thre bestes cast continuelly fire and venym out of their throtes. whiche shal slee you without remedie incontinent that ye approche them the whiche thinges considerid syn that ye haue demanded me conceyle. & also that euery noble man is bounden to gyue conceyle to them that ben euyl enformed & conceyled. I pray you & conceyle as my propre sone that ye cesse of this your enterprise for if ye doo other wise al the golde of the worlde may not saue you. & there fore thenke wel what ye haue to do before 30 ye put you in suche a daunger I conceyle you as thaugh ye were myn owne sone or my broder germayn' & herewith they left their wordes 25 TO THE He soupper was redy. wyth these wordes the kyng satte at [lf. 87 b] the table betwene Iason and Hercules and sente after Medea 35 and Caliope. whiche were sette tofore him this don he commanded the other Grekes to sytte at an other table where they were richely seruid. But whan hyt cam for to ete the noble mayde Medea entrowbled at that tyme her mayntene / and cast her regarde I 2 Mopsius tries to dissuade Jason; vpon Iason where she rested' lenger thenne hit apperteyned to her contenaunce. for Iason semed to her more fayr than he was at the first time. & he was so playgant & agreable that whan she herde recompte among other deuises & thinges that he was comen for to 5 conquere the moton or flees of golde she iuged that this was the knight of Grece whiche was destined for to conquere it & sayde in her self that she wolde helpe him to obteyne the same / with that he wolde take her to his wyf such or semblable were the thoughtes of the fair Medea at souper She behelde ofte times Iason whan she 10 sawe her time / & it anoyed her moche that she might not speke to him pryuely ¶ What shal I saye more for whan the king & the Grekes had right wel take their refeccion the tables were take vp / & after the Grekes were brought into diuers chambres / & among all other Jason was loged nygh by the fair Medea for ther was 15 nomore betwene but a litil aleye from her chambre to his by which Iason went afterward ofte times vnto Medea Whan then Iason was withdrawen into his chambre And that he was allonewith Mopsius he began to deuise with him Mopsius fayr sire/ what saye ye of myñ enterpryse of and sayd. 20 Colchos.' By my lawe sire' sayd Mopsius. 'I see no way ne [lf. 88] knowe none other thing but matere of dolour & sorowe. for 6 euery man of this hous Iugeth you ded' if ye go in this perillous yle of Colchos where ther ben so dredful & terrible bestes as it hath ben said to you ''Notwithstonding' ansuerde Iason 'it behoueth 25 that I acquite myn auowe.' 'Certes sire' saide Mopsius 'hit is nowe no nede for to go ony further if it plese you & be wel conceyled ye ought to be content without goyng ony ferther, for as it is said communly. hit is better to leue folie. thenne to mayntene folie.' 'Ha a Mopsius' said Iason. 'if I do not my power to 30 performe that I haue promised & auowed/ I shold vse al my lyf after in reproche. certes yet had I leuer finisshe my dayes honourably & knowe ye verily that syn I am come thus ferre abiding the grace of the goddes I shal performe myn entreprise & shal abide the auenture ''Syre' said Mopsius 'ye shal do that ye good 35 seme. but ye vnderstande not wel your caas / for knowe ye that it is al certayn that Peleus your vncle hath sent you hether cautelously for to enterprise & achieue this auenture to thende that he might which Medea overhears: her Love-thoughts. 117 2 obteyne your royame. & therfore ye may retorne from hens in to Grece¹ without more further enterprise / ye shal gete therby no reproche but ye shalbe holden for wise for he is discrete that can fle from his mysauenture & kepe him from dommage' 'In verite Mopsius fayr sire' ansuerde thenne Iason. 'I ne 5 may not adiouste fayth to al that ye haue to me now said And for so moche knowe ye for certayn that for paril of deth or daunger that may befalt & come to me / I shal not departe me but that I shal furnissh myn auowe. & therfor if it so happen that I dye in this perillous yle I require you to recommande me vnto 10 the good grace of the fayr Mirro' Whan Mopsius had vnder- [lf. 88 b] stand that sayd is / he began fore to wepe. And Iason leyde him doun in his bedde / and syñ chaunged purpoos. and began to deuyse of the good chiere that the kyng Oethes and Medea had made to him In recommandyng aboue all other thinges the grete beaute 15 and the fair contenaunce of Medea. And in continuyng this purpoos he fylt a slepe He fayr Medea was at this tyme at the dore of the chambre of of Lason & of Mopsius. as she that was esprised of the loue of the gentyl prynce of Grece. that 20 in no wyse she might vaynquisshe her corage. And also long as their deuises dured: so long stode she at the dore herkenyng. And whan they cessed their purpoos she retourned into her chambre / where was but one auncient lady her gardyenne or maystresse whyche was tho a slepe. And thenne the noble mayde Medea wente and leyde her in her bedde futt of thoughtes & ymaginacyons that whan she wolde haue slepte she coude not For as moche as so many thoughtes & ymagynacions assaylled her on alle parties by suche facion that she torned her often in yelding many a syghe. And thenne by forse of a meruayllous enbrasing of loue she began to saye softly to her self' Alas myn eyen in what labour haue ye putte me. Certes ye be the cause and none other that I am not she that was wonte to be. For ye haue enuoluped' myn hert with an ardant fyre of amerous desire. Ha a what shatt befalle or what shall I mowe doo beyng in this payne and sorowe. 35 Certes I can saye no more but of verray necessite I yelde me att in the subyeccyon and seruitude of loue. in his seruitude shal I be [lf. 89] 30 1 0. grete. 2 O gece. 25 118 Medea's conflicting Emotions about Jason: subgette hit is force. And wherfore For as moche as I am smyteñ to the herte with the grete beaute of Iason the bruyt of alle the worlde. And to my Iugement the glorie of Grece. O meruayllous dart wherewith I fele me smyten to the herte. Certes myn eyne 5 ye ben the cause whiche displeseth me. And for what reason. for as moche as ye be coulpable of this folye. how be it. hit is no folye hit is. I beleue hit not. hit must be beleuid. for hyt is grete folye to desire thing that can not be goten I know verayly that Iason is sore enamoured of a lady in hys countray. And further- 10 more his courage is garnysshid' of a grete and meruayllous constaunce. Thenne may it be sayd' that I maye not enioye him/ And by consequent I maye conclude that myn eyen haue enclined & submised me vnto an ouer grete folye 'H A. a myn eyeñ why replye not ye to this argument See not ye that I doo no thing but thinke. for the gentil & noble Iason thenketh nomore on me thenne on her that he neuer sawe. Ha a in what Ieopardye stande I in. For I may not require Iason of loue / for that shold redounde in me grete blame & I sholde go agayn the honour of loue / And thenne muste hit 20 nedes be that I bleue in all my folye. And also I must doubte hit for two resons. The first is. for I sholde be deffamed vnto the ende of the world if hit happend me to require this knight of loue And the seconde reson is all euydent. for Iason withoute contradiccion goth into the yle of Colchos. there where he shalbe 25 anon deuowred of the terrible bestes / Ha/ a what sorow & dommage shall that be if suche a prince sholde perisshe by suche manere [lf. 896] for he is the chosen of all nature the choyse of nobles. & the flour of worship / I haue herde his resons. he had leuer dye honourably in accomplisshing his auowe thenne to Retorne with reste to 30 Grece. A ha what noble & exellent corage. O howe happy & ewrous sholde I be & nygh to grete felicite yf I myght be callid' by him vnto his loue that might he do Ye as me thinketh, and how. for to teche & lerne him the Industrie & admynistre to him the maner for to conquere the noble flees of golde. I haue aff 35 thinges propices for to bringe this conquest to an end. if I wilt that he wold take me to his wyfe / I sholde deliuere them to him with the better witt & gre of myn herte what shall I doo. Alas I wote neuer / And if I dide him this auauncement & after sette nought by me for the loue of his first lady in amours To whom he 15 she resolves to win him by aiding his Conquest. 119 recommanded him by Mopsius as I right now herde / certes I sholde dye for sorow. & shal I late him auenture to furnissh his auowe. & thenne deth shal folowe. Alas nay. for if he deyde there. my deth were me right nighe. for asmoche thenne as I loue him better thenne my lyf, & my hert iugeth that this is he for whom the 5 goddes haue establisshid' this meruaillous auenture in the yle of Colchos. And furthermore me semeth that if I do for him so grete a thing as for to saue his lyf. & that by my moyen he shal come to aboue of his enterprise honourably. that for the merite & rewarde of my benefice he shalbe content and' ioyous to take me to his wyf' 10 Edea the noble lady with this conclusion filt a slepe & passid the night til the day cam & the king rose vp more erly thenne he was wonte to doo for to come to Iason wenyng to lette [lf. 90] and breke his enterprise / how wel he wente vnto him whan he knewe that he was risen. And fonde Hercules with him. They 15 entresalewed eche other. After they began to deuise of the yle of Colchos. And the king reherced of them that had ben in Colchos. and how they had ben slayn & deuowred/ And after this counceylled Hercules & Iason that they sholde in no wyse go theder/ but what remonstrance he shewed hem/ Iason abood' in his purpoos 20 for to take thaduenture. and to put his body in Ieopardye among the thre terrible & crymynel bestes / & concluded that he wolde departe thederward with in foure dayes folowyng/ Whan the goode king apperceyuid that ther was none other remedye / but that Iason was verily deliberid & concluded taccomplisshe his auowe 25 vpon the right meruaillous auenture of Colchos / he deported him selfe from speking more therof. and conceylled Iason that for to passe his time he sholde goo to the temple of the goddesse Deane. whiche the ladyes of Sychye had newly founded in a forest called Edee. Iason thanked him moche of his good conseyl & saide that 30 he wolde go theder with goode herte / & thenne he disposed him to go theder & sente for all the Grekes of his companye & toke with him the representacion of the noble goddesse Pallas whiche was in his ship/ aftre this he sette forth his knightes on the way / & him self bering the saide representacion went after with them / Hercules 35 & Theseus went beside the preu Iason & had tofore hem trompettes / claryons tabours & other instruments that made so ioyous a noise & bruit that they of the cite had meruaile. & som ther were that folowed them For among all other Medea & her suster & other 120 Medea and Jason meet at Diana's Temple, Whan Iason was come to this temple Medea cam & mette with him by the incitacion & admonesshement of loue & 5 entresalewed eche other curtoisly / & ther were many of the Grekes that behelde Medea in making their praiers Alway Iason that thought on nothing but on his deuocions entrid' into the temple. & sette the representacion of the godes Pallas by & nigh the goddes Deane. & whan he had so don he caste him self doun on bothe his 10 knees to fore the awter & there was so long in praiers & oroisons that the fair Medea was sore greuid and anoied. for she desired sore to speke with him. as she that was not come theder onely but for to speke with him. & was al in determined for to saue to him his lyf in preseruing him from the fire & venym that the thre 15 meruailous bestes caste & rendrid AT T the last Iason arose from his praiers & came to the ladies. to whom he made reuerence & principally to Medea / the whiche aroos ayenst him. whom the ladies and damoiselles behelde moche ententifly after she toke him by the hand & ledde him and 20 shewid him al the places of the temple. and among al other she shewid him there the representacion of the god Mars wenyng for to speke to him of certain thinges the whiche she desired sore to know the trouth But Hercules and Theseus & other of the Grekes ladies and damoiseles folowed so nigh that she wist not how 25 thacomplisshe her entencion. how wel that she lad him long / & whan she sawe that she might not haue her entent there she said to Hercules that she wold bring them into the temple of Venus [lf. 91] Thenne the preu Iason and Hercules thanked the noble lady of her courtoysye & departed from the temple of Deane for to go to 30 the temple of Venus. but in goyng Medea began to sighe as she that hadde therte enflammed of a meruaillouse ardeur & brennyng. & thenne whan she coude not hyde that laye on her hert / by force she entemed & began to opene her mater in this wise sayng / 'Certes right noble knight I complayne moche your grete beaute'/ 35 'wherfore madame' ansuerd Iason 'for asmoche' sayd she ‘as 1 I haue vnderstande that none may breke ne torne you fro thenter- . prise that ye haue taken but that ye wil auenture you in the conquest of the flees or shepe of golde / which is a thing inpossible to ony man liuing. & knowe ye for certain that if ye go theder ye shal where Medea feigns to dissuade him. neuer retorne. & for asmoch as ye be comen of so noble extraccion of rial lignage & that it is so that euery like loueth his semblable / by this veray & naturel reson I complaine you aboue all other / me thinketh that ye be meruaillously abused for to so wille lose your lyf. certes I haue not herd of a gretter simplenes/ for naturrelly 5 euery creature fleeth the deth & desireth to liue it hath wel ben declared & aduertised to you of the parils that ben in this auenture and that for to bringe to effect ye shal lose your lyf/ and yet alway ye wole not byleue concey. Certes Iason it is euyl doñ. and ye doo against nature whan ye be cause of your deth whiche euery 10 man ought to flee soueraynly' 1 Whan Iason had vnderstande this that sayd ys / he answerde to the noble lady in this maner. 'Madame I haue right wel vnderstande your wordes & resons which ben good & holsomme / but ye compte not that euery noble body ought sonner [lf. 91 b] chese the deth thenne to do ne consente thing that sholde be ayenst their honour/ hit is wel trouth. that in the presence of the grettest prynces of Grece I haue auowed to bringe to ende this enterprise how wel that it be meruailous and doubteuse. shal I thenne go ayenst my word. Certes ther ne is waye ne moyen 20 none but that I must nedes furnisshe this aduenture. or ellis that I be poynted with the finger a reproche & cowardise. & as a right recreat knighte By al my goddes I had leuer tabide this auenture. thenne fortune sholde predestyne me to do thing that I mighte in ony maner be reprehended or reproched' 25 Incontinent as Medea vnderstood the hye wille of Iason she was moche ioyous / neuertheles she fayned to be dolente and sorowful. and of fait she required Hercules that he wolde shewe to him the grete paril that he wolde put him in but Hercules ansuerde to her that he wolde rather counceyle Iason to do it thenne to leue 30 it. for if Iason fayled to furnisshe this emprise that he him self wolde take it on honde to bringe hit to ende. 'Neuertheles' saide thenne Medea if Iason beleued my councey he sholde go no ferther And I shal saye to him suche reson a parte. that me semeth he shal beleue me.' And thenne she drewe Iason a parte / 35 and whan she sawe that they were so fer from the other that they might not vnderstonde what she sayde. she sayde to him in this wise 'In verite Ryght noble knight/ hit behoueth that pitye of a woman must be excused by your gentilnesse I haue pite of you 121 122 Medeu offers Jason her Secret for his Love, and of your grete beaute. and' certes nature hath enclined me therto And trustyng if I do ony thing for you ye wil knowe it. The [lf. 92] houre is come that hit behoueth that I doo appere to youre eyen the secrete not only of my herte. but also that same by the whiche 5 ye shal obteyne and come aboue to bringe to ende your meruaillous enterpryse to your grete honour & recommendacion by the helpe of the goddes And for as moche as if I declare to yow by grete loue thinges that ben hyghe & grete/ if ye will further knowe of them it is of necessite that ye swere to me to kepe it secrete aboue 10 alle other thinges of the worlde' 21 Madame' ansuerde thenne Iason/'I am a poure & trewe knight sente vnto these monstres certes it hath plesid you to do me more honour thenne euer it shal lye in my power to deserue / neuertheles whan your pyetous herte wylle encline vnto 15 my pouerte / I swere to you by the names of all the goddes that men worshipe that if ye declare to me ony thing that as long as I shal liue it shal not departe from my mouth 'By my lawe sir knight' ansuerde Medea 'I haue grete confidence in your noblesse. wherfore I am resolewed for to discouuer to you the secrete of the 20 goddes / & after that lieth on my herte / whiche if it be not long on you it shal redounde to your grete honour & prouffit' 'Madame' ansuerde Iason 'it shal not holde on me & if ye knowe ony thing propice to my worship I me submitte in all vnto your right noble grace' 'Ha a noble knight' said thenne Medea/ 25 'I may no lenger faine myn eyen haue beholden your grete beaute/ye ben al the desir of myn herte where ther werketh loue so profondly that I haue grete pyte of you / & in suche wise that if ye wil promise me to be my trew husbonde/ & brenge me into your countre after your vowe & enterprise brought to an ende/ I shal 30 promise you & also shewe howe ye shal mowe conquere the moton [lf. 92 b] or flees of golde without daunger of your body & in suche wise as ye shal retorne hole and sauf to your glorie & honoure To the whiche no mortal man may come but if it be by a secrete manere / comyng from the goddes. The whiche not long syn was deliuerid 35 to me by my moder/ wherfor I pray you that ye wil haue regarde to myn offre abandonned and also to your helthe' and urges him to forsake Mirro. 123 Whan Iason had vnderstande Medea thus speke. he began to frowne in him self & sighing with an heuy herte ansuerde. 'Madame ye constraine me to be beholden more to you thenne to ony creature liuyng. & I can not conceyue from whens this ewr cometh whan I fele me thus fallen in your grace. & I wolde it 5 plesid the goddes that I were digne & worthy therto & that I neuer had made vow to lady in the worlde''Certes fayr sire' sayde Medea / 'me semeth that your hert hath atteyned the mercy of som lady. haue ye ensured & wedded' her ''Madame' ansuerde Iason 'I certefye you nay. but I haue sette¹ my loue in her so 10 parfaitly that in no maner I may forgete her & I haue promised that I shal be heeris al my lyf.' Thenne saide Medea / what som euer be ther of it is of necessite that ye leue & put her in oubliaunce. & that ye entende to complayre me if ye wille not receyue the deth. for but if ye deporte you fro your enterprise. wythoute 15 myn ayde ther is no remedie / And if I be cause of sauacion of your lyf. as to the regarde of me I wil enioye you allone with out ony other.' 'My dere lady' ansuerde thenne Iason the 'poure abandonned body is youris. for to honoure & serue you in al that in me shalbe possible' / 'In good fayth fayr sire Iason. if ye wil 20 gyue your self al to me / I shalle gyue my self to you in like wise' [lf. 93] In verite' Iason ansuerde 'my right dere lady ye do to me right grete honour without deseruyng.' 'Certes sire Iason' ansuerde the lady 'loue is cause of this wele and pite hath commanded me to do it. the whiche cause me to renne in so grete 25 a shame as for to require you to be my lord. but it semeth to pite that in fauour that I desire to saue youre lyf ye ought to excuse me'/'Madame' ansuerde Iason I shal neuer be so ewrous as to come Iustely 2 vnto the goode grace of one so noble lady as ye be & wolde right well that hyt shold mowe be. but what shal become 30 & shal mowe saye she that I haue gyuen my self to '/'if ye forsake her not. on all partyes' said thenne Medea. 'I may not helpe you to do your conqueste ne saue your lyf. and therfore chese ye. for I am smyten to the herte with your loue syn that I must saye al Yf I shold be cause of sauyng of your lyf/ & thenne happend an 35 other shold enioye your persone / it shold behoue me to dye for sorow / And therfore thenke ye what ye haue to do and be ye aduised.' With these wordes Iason & Medea entrid into the gardyn of plaisance/ in whiche was sette the temple of Venus / in suche wise aduironned & sette about with flowres & with delicious werkes that hit semed a verray paradys terrestre / Thenne Hercules and the other ladies & damoiselles approched' vnto Iason and 5 Medea wherfore it behoued hem to leue & cesse their parlement / & to behold the plaisaunce & the delites of that place of floures & al the facions of vignes & trees hyly conduyted by compas Whan the Grekissh knightes had seen & conceyued the beaute of this place. they had therof grete meruaile & were 10 moche esbayed & after they entred into the temple. & there made their orisons & syn behelde the composicion & ordonaunces of the ymages that represented the amorous peple al aboute the goddesse Venus. & whan they had long seen & beholden att / Medea toke leue of Iason & saide that she wold abide a litil while there. And 15 thenne Iason departed fro the temple & retorned with the Grekes vnto the palais. & the fair Medea abode in the temple moche pensif & in grete payñ in so moche that after the departing of the Grekes she knelid' doun humbly tofore the representacion of Venus & sayd in this maner / 'Ryght soueraine goddesse of louers which 20 holdest all the faites of nature in the domynacion & seignourie I yelde me vnto thy goode mercy / Ha a where may I become for to haue good conceytt / I haue required the noble knight Iason of loue or atte lest I haue reueled & shewid to him the secrete of myn herte and of my thought / and with that I haue offrid' to saye to 25 him and declare the secrete of the goddes / haue I don euil / I wote neuer but atte lest I apperceyue clerely that I haue my self to him abandonned & gyuen / Ha a what shame is this ye verayly and more if he daigneth not to here me but if I may do somoch that he accorde vnto my will this shalbe to me the most grettest 30 glorie that may come to ony woman of a noble hous / ha a right hygh goddes conceyle me / or enseigne & teche me / put your helpe to this werk to your ancell or handmaid / it is now time or neuer Fter this orison abode there the fair Medea as al rauisshed. and was so long ther til the lady that had her in garde cam > 35 to her and saide that she taried & made her praiers to long & that [lf. 94] it was time to retorne to the palays Thenne aroos Medea from her contemplacion al esprised of loue. as her visage shewid it plainly. & retorned¹ homward And whan she was comen to the 6 palais / she founde that the king abode her for to go to dyner. but she gaf the king to vnderstonde that she was not wel disposed. & so the king sette him at the table with Iason the noble Hercules & Theseus and Caliope the seconde doughter. and Medea wente vnto her chambre & many ladies & damoiselles folowed her / how 5 wel she made hem al departe & go out of the chambre. & reteyned non with her reseruid' the lady that had the conduyte and charge of her. the which was right sore abasshid of the maintene of Medea. wherfore incontinent as al the women were withdrawen she cam to her & sayde thus. My dere doughter I haue grete meruaile from 10 whens this maladie is comen to you.' 'In goode faith' ansuerde Medea 'fair moder. it nedeth nothing to you to meruaile. for ther is no creature what that euer they be but that they must be subgette to receyue the maladies & sekenes whan they come. and whan the goddes & fortune will send them'/'your reson is good" 15 sayd thenne the lady' but whan the maladies ben comen / it behoueth to seche remedie assone as is possible. & therfore telle to me your necessite. & where the sekenes holdeth & greueth you / and I shal aduertise the medicine or phisicien that he shal pourueye for remedie' / 'A ha fayr moder' said Medea 'Late me in pees' 'It 20 must nedes be that ye tell me' answerde the lady' it is auenture' saide Medea.¹ 'Wherfore' said the lady For asmoche as myn infirmite is ouer secrete & for somoche I dar not discouere it'/'A ha my dere lady' sayd she thenne/'I suppose that hit ben amourettis. that thus trauaylle yow and I am in doubte that the [lf. 94 b] beaute & the noble vertues of Iason ben cause herof/ for I see yow all in other maners thenne ye were wonte to be. And if it be so / telle hit to me hardily, for ye be the creature aboue alle other of the world that I loue best I haue vnto this time the best wise I coud gouernd & nourisshid you. & for so moche me semeth that 30 ye sholde hyde no thing from me. & if ye be ony thing smiten with the dart of loue. discouere it vnto me. that shalbe vnto your herte grete alegement. for euery persone amourous passeth his payn & grief lightly whan she findeth to whom she may open her herte & deuise clerely' 'My fair moder' sayd thenne Medea 'I 35 see wel that it behoueth that ye knowe alle myn affayre. certes verily I am amoureuse of Iason. & so moche that I sholde Ieoparde 1 Small initial m inverted. 125 Medea gets her Confidant to enchant Jason, my lyf for him. and in dede I haue required him that he take me to his wyf/ & I shal deliuere to him the industrie and teche him how he shal wynne the flees of golde & also adaunte the ferdful bestes of the yle of Colchos' 5 Whan the lady had vnderstande this that said is. she began to wepe tenderly sayng. 'Ha a dere doughter what haue ye don / I am all dishonoured by you whan ye go prayng the strange knightes of loue. Ha / a what outrage Certes they shal mocque you and if it be knowen ye shal neuer be honoured ne 10 called as ye tofore haue ben.' 'Knowe ye fair moder' ansuerde thenne Medea that I haue not don so ylt as ye wene. and if I haue required the noble knight Iason of loue hit shalbe reputed to me vertu and not shame ne dishonour / for pyte hath constrayned me so to do for as moche as hit is in me to saue his lyf. & to [lf. 95] make hym Retorne with glorie and victorie of his enterprise / & for so moche knowe ye that thenne whan I haue seen so faire and so wel adressid knight that his like shal not be seen in a .M. yere I haue had pite of him/ and aboue this loue hath made me enterprise that I haue required him considered many thinges and 20 that he wolde neuer haue required me. and I haue made to him a promesse which I wil holde and entretiene / if he wil ensure me that I shalbe his wyf for I haue here within / by writing the maner howe the goddes wil that the moton or shepe of golde shalbe conquerd. wherfore I require and praye you that ye conceyle me 25 and helpe that by your connyng & conduyte I might gete and draw him to my loue and that ye wold do somoch for the loue of me that he haue no souenaunce of ony other lady in the worlde / saue only on me. for it is force that it be so or ellis he be dede and perisshed in the yle of Colchos. where he hath auowed to go & 30 finisshe thende of the right perillous auenture of the motoñ or flees of golde / And finably that in bewailing & bewepyng his deth I be homicide of him and' of myself' Thenne the lady seeyng Medea to be in this poynt behelde & sawe how she was of a meruaillous and grete corage. and yet 35 she thought that ther might come harme of [hit] if the maide acomplisshid not partye of her desire. and syn brought to her remembraunce. that she might bringe Iason to conquere the moton or flees of golde / and whan she hadde put al these thinges in a balaunce and fiched in her engyn she began to reconforte Medea. and in so that he loves her and forgets Mirro. 127 dede promised her that she sholde do so. [and] that wythout other moyen she sholde enioye the loue of Iason and it was not long after but that she wente to the bedde of Iason / and there made [lf. 95 b] certayn coniurisouns & carectes. for she was aft expert in alle maners of enchantemens & of sorceries. and whan she had thus 5 doñ she cam agayn to Medea / & sayde to her that she sholde no more doubte of ony thing/ for from after the time that Iason be leys & couched in his bedde he sholde neuer loue other woman but her. and so it befelle / for assone as Iason was leyd' in his bed at the euen. alle his corage & entendement were rauysshed in think- 10 ing on the grete beaute of Medea in suche facion as he might in no wise slepe hadde a custome to speke euery nyght wyth Iason. 25 And thenne Iason wolde speke of the beaute of the noble Quene Myrro / And ofte times he spack so moche of her that he 15 was wery / And thenne whan this Mopsius sawe that in this night he made no mencion of his lady he was att abasshid & sayd to him. 'Verayly Iason I apperceyue well that your esperite is trauailled with newe fantasies / I haue seen that ye haue passed the most parte of the night for tallowe & preyse the beaute of your lady in 20 loue the fair Myrro / & yet ye spake of her the night precedent/ But in this night the rewle failleth.' 'Certes' ansuerde Iason 'yt is expedient that she be put with the sinnes in oubliance. for as for Myrro I reeche neuer thaugh I neuer see ne mete with her / But saye to me frely what semeth yow of Medea. Is she not the passerowte of alle the Ladyes of the world. Is not she the tryumphe of al beaute. Is ther ony man in the world that coude or might better wisshe for his recreacion / Answer to me''Sir' sayde Mopsius 'I me accorde right well to that ye saye touching the caas of Medea But vnto the regarde of the fair Mirro that [lf. 96] somoche haue be recommanded in your corage I may not byleue that ye haue put her in oubliaunce', 'By my lawe my fair frende' sayd thenne Iason' Who is fer fro the eye. fro the herte recueleth Myrro is clere a golde / but Medea flawmeth & shyneth as the precious stone. And if I might finde my selfe in her grace 35 I shold loue her souerainly. A ha' sayde Mopsius 'I held you for the most loyal & most constant knight that euer gaf him to serue loue & now I appercyue that ye be variable as other be. be ye not remembrid of Ysiphile whome ye wold neuer will to loue. 6 128 Medea's wiles. (Modern Misuse of Church.) and that ye saide if Myrro ne had ben ye wolde haue espoused her. I am esbayed of you more thenne of ony man'/' Certes Mopsius' ansuerde Iason 'yf ye wil do to me ony plaisir / speke to me nomore of Myrro ne of Ysiphile. but of the fayr Medea 5 speke long ynowh and largely For this is she that I will kepe in my conceyte and her that I shal serue vnto the deth / And who that speketh to me of other shalbe myn enemye' Han Mopsius had vnderstande the will of Iason he spack nomore but slepte. & Iason abode al pensif on the fair 10 Medea. And Medea that herkenyd' as she had don the night tofore wente into her chambre anoñ as the parlement of the two knightes was don & cam to her moder all reconforted. & saide to her & recounted al that she had herd And syn leyde her in her bed ymagynyng how she mighte finde her self a part to speke with 15 Iason / & concluded in her self that she wolde go on pilgremage vnto the temple of the goddesse Deane. sayng if that Iason louid her as he had said he wold not deporte for nothing but come after [lf. 96b] her This conclusion was not taken without habundance of syghes. the nyght drewe ouer and the daye began to shewe. & the 20 fair Medea aroos & made the noyse renne that she was hool / & that for the recouurance of her helthe/ she wolde goo thanke the goddesse Deane in her temple Aft Fter this she atired & arayed her in the fayrest wise she coude. or mighte. and in proces she put her on the waye right nobly 25 accompanyed of her ladyes & damoyselles Wherof Iason was right Ioyous whan he knewe hit and desired the waye assone as he might. Certes he folowed Medea vnder the couerture of will to go by good deuocion to the temple ¶ O fayr couerture the humayne peple liuing at this daye holde the same terme in many places. & 30 goon to the temples and chirches or in the holy places ordonned to God by deuocion for tefface and put away their synnes And yet neuertheles they commyse ther their synnes and for to come to the loue of one & other. they go more to the masse for to beholde and loke eche vpon other and for to make their tours and signes 35 thenne for ony deuocion. O hyghe deuocion. O right dampned' ypocresye. men commyse synnes where they ought to be in deuocion and doo vertuouse werkes. they begyle lightly ynowh the world to her charge & dampnacion. But certes God in no wyse maye be abused For Or thenne to retorne to our mater. Iason thus comen to the temple where as Medea was. firste of all he made semblaunt for to adoure and worshipe the goddes. & sette him doun on his knee tofore the auter of the goddesses Pallas and Deane. but for this tyme he neyther made prayer ne orison / but thought what [1f. 97] maners he might best holde ayenst Medea. And of what purpoos he mighte make to her his entree. And whan he had long auised him he aroos and toke his waye vnto Medea whiche cam ayenst him. But thenne whan she sawe that he drewe hym toward her and that they had entersalewed and that Iason had made the 10 reuerence vnto the other ladyes. Medea entrid' subtylly in deuises with him. And in deuising of one and other she drew him a litil a part ayenst the awter of Dyane whom they began to beholde / And thenne Iason makyng maner as he had spoken of the goddesse Dyane and of the riche woode that here and there aduirronned yt 15 he sayde to her in this maner. 'Madame lo here youre poure knight I yelde me vnto your mercy and am redy taccomplisshe alle your good commandemens. and praye yow if I sayde yesterday ony thing that was to your displaisir that hit wolde playse yow to pardonne me. And if ye may helpe and ayde me to bringe to 20 a good ende my vowe & enterprise and socoure me in that grete werk. I swere and promyse to you in callyng to wytnes of myn oth the hyghe goddesse Dyane & Pallas. that if it please you to be my dere felaw and frende. I shal be youres alle my lyf & shal bringe yow with me into Grece withoute making ony 25 fawte' Ason' Answerd thenne Medea I declared to you yesterdaye my caas all priuely and how I hadde grete pyte of you I knowe also that the goddes haue had pite on you & will not consente that ye shold finysshe youre dayes in Colchos. And that they 30 haue inspired you to submitte you to my wille. for other wise hit were not possible but that ye shold be there ded' and lost. [lf. 97b] therfore for to go forth and make short / for we may not long holde parlement after your ordenaunce and couenaunt I shal accorde me to be your wyf. in all suche maner as I promysed to you yesterday / 35 And yet I promyse yow that of your auowe and enterpryse ye shall come to your aboue / to your honour and prouffit. ye to morñ er the euen be derk and obscure. thenne it is expedient that ye lye allone this night in your chambre to thende that I maye the bettereize the Fleece on the Morrow. speke to you and at more leyzer. and to introduce you more secretly into suche thingis as shal behoue you to holde. & speke nomore to me of this mater at this present tyme that none apperceyue of our enterprise or of our loue' Wyth 5 this the noble lady began to shewe to the noble preu Iason the grete richesse of this Representacion of the goddesse Deane. and Iason allowed hyghly the king Oetes that so wel had don it to be ediffied. With these wordes Medea toke leue of Iason & of the other knightes of Grece whiche taried a litil 10 there and after retourned vnto the cite. and after she departed from thens / And there was Iason complained and bewailled of al the peple / Sayng one to another that it was right grete dommage of one so gentil a knight and so well adressid that wold goo & doo destroye him self in al pointes in the mortal aduenture of Colchos. 15 They spack & sayde moche thing one and other And in especiall the noble Kyng Oetes the whiche cam to Iason as he departed out of the temple of the goddes Deane / & moche discounceyled him thenterprise of Colchos. and that for nothing he shold descende [lf. 98] affermyng to him that he sholde lose his lyf if he entred & that 20 he that had sente him theder dyd hit for to make him dye cautelously Ason hering the conceift that the kyng Oetes gaf him for his litet to a a goth ayenst his auowe & promesse And considering the conclusion 25 & promesse that he had made with Medea. abode ferme and stable in his firste purpoos Sayng vnto the king Oetes that for deth ne for ony other paril that might come to him he wolde not deporte him but brenge it to an ende / and in dede concluded that on the morn without ony lenger tarieng he wolde make an ende therof/ 30 wherfore the king Oetes demened' moche grete sorow. & in like wise did all the knightes of Grece reseruid Hercules & Theseus/ & so passid that day speking of this meruaillous werk vnto the euen that euery man withdrew him vnto his place & the valiaunt knight Iason toke leue of euery man for to withdraw him into his 35 chambre & gaf Mopsius to vnderstande / that he wolde passe that night in orisons & att deuocion & contemplacion / & that he wolde haue no mañ with him at that time wherof diuerse had grete meruaile for asmoche as he had not be accustomed so to do / & som saide that men sholde not suffre him to take so mortal an enter- prise. from whens he sholde neuer retorne / Considering the hyghe and recommanded vertues where with he was endowed 131 ¶ How the promesses betwene Iason & Medea were rateffied/ And howe Medea deliuerid to him all the mestier & crafte that he ought to haue to conquere the noble moton or flees of golde & how 5 he gate hit At the poynt thenne whan the sterres rendrid' their clerenes [If. 98b] & clarte. and that the mone began tenlumyne the night/ Iason withdrew him into his chambre. & Medea slept not. she espyed and seeyng that he was withdrawen al allone as she had 10 charged him she opende the dore of the steyre by whiche descended doun from the chambre of Iason into heeris. And callid doun Iason whiche was right pensif / And whan Iason sawe the dore opeñ & Medea that callid him. he wente vnto her moche ioyously and salewed her. and after approched to her for to haue kyste & 15 enbraced her but Medea saide to him that he sholde cesse. & takyng him by the hande brought him into her chambre where they satte vpon a moche riche tapyte The maistresse of Medea cam thenne bytwene them / And whan she was comen Medea began to speke & saye 'Iason my lorde & my frende knowe well the promesses 20 that ben bytwene you & me / I will well that in the presence of my goode moder¹ that here is that we make recognycion & ratefye them to thende that they be hole & permanent. and after that we shal entende to your conquest' And thenne Iason & Medea swore & creaunced that they sholde take eche other by mariage. & there made solempne promesses / wherof Medea was right ioyouse & so also was her maistresse / Thenne Medea opende a coffre whiche she had made redy where out she drewe a sherte with the bille conteynyng thordenaunces whiche were requise & propice for to go into the yle of Colchos to make the conquest of the flees of golde 30 Han Medea had drawen out the lettre. She dide it to be ye 25 redde to her frende Iason / And after she saide to him in [1f. 99] this manere. 'Iason my dere frende for to retorne hooft & with your worship from the Ile of Colchos. from whens neuer mañ retorned. hit ys of necessite that to fore alle other thinges ye 35 accomplisshe all tho thinges that ben conteyned' in this wrytyng. 10. m inverted. K 2 Medea prepares Jason with her Magic; 10 whiche the God Mars sent to the king Appollo. And for so moche first to fore alle other thing ye shal goo vnto the temple of the goddesse Dyane at this houre / And thenne ye shall addresse yow vnto the preest. to whom ye shall gyue fyfty besauntes for youre 5 offring & demande of him a bulle / of whom ye shall make sacrefice vnto the god Mars with this sherte with which the king Appollo was clad whan this writing was deliuerid to him and ye must putte in your boxe the bloode of this bulle with part of the asshen of your sacrefice & wyth this blood & asshen ye shall enoynte ther att youre body. & this shall preserue you from fyre & venym of the right meruaillous bestes. After of the residue of these asshes ye shall dele them in two parties. wherof that one part ye shal kepe clene and pure. And ye shal medle that other wyth glew in a boxe whiche I shal gyue you. And this glewe shall serue for to 15 dompte the two horrible bulles / This don ye shal take the Armes of the king Appollo whiche ben on that one side of the awter of the god Mars. And ye shaft adoube yow with them. And thenne whan ye haue accomplisshed all thise thinges / ye shal retorne hether agayn to me And I shal furnysshe you of the residue of 20 that shalbe behouefult to bringe your conqueste to an ende' Ertes the preu Iason was moch esmeruailled thenne whan he [lf. 99 b] 25 for to come to aboue of his conqueste. & whan he had herd thensignements of Medea. he thanked her often times. And thenne toke the bille. the sherte. the boxe with glewe and that whiche was necessarie to hym And syn departed from thens secretly/ and wente hym in to the forest where as was the temple of the goddesse Deane. And dide so moche that he cam to the temple where he founde the preest slepyng. wherfore he awaked' him Thenne the preest demanded him what he was & what he soughte 'Syre' ansuerde thenne Iason / 'I am a knight that come hether for to sacrefie vnto the god Mars. I praye you that ye wold' deliuere me incontinent a bulle with the fire and I shal gyue you for myn offring fyfty besaunts'/ Whan the preest had vnderstande Iason/ 35 that he promysed so good' an offrande / he rose vp hastely / And in like wise don alle the preestes and curates at this daye whan they fele and vnderstande that ther shal a good offrand' come to theyr singuler prouffit anone they put their hand to the cause. Thenne whan this maister preest was risen he cam to fore Iason & dide 30 he does her Bidding, and takes Apollo's Arms. 133 him grete reuerence / & after saide to him that diligently he shold be seruid of al that he demanded. as he dide. for he prepared & made redy the fyre & bulle whiche he brought into the temple. Thenne the noble Iason maad his oroison vnto god Mars and vnto god Appollo. he toke after this the bulle & made his sacrefice & 5 put the shert therto. & whan al was torned into asshes he distributed it into thre partyes. one part with the blode of the buff whiche he reteyned & enointed his body with al by the prest The second partye he medlid with the glewe that was in the boxe And the third part he putte in a litil sack of sylk which he [lf. 100] reseruid & kept clene Hese thinges don and accomplisshed as said is/ Iason knelid doun & made his prayers the second time And whan he had made all his deuocions / he deliuerid to the preest fyfty besauntes that he had promised to him. and with that he presented' & gaf 15 him a riche mantel of cloth of golde whiche he brought with him. and made the preest to adoube him with the armes of god Appollo whiche was there. promising him to bringe them agayn / & whan the preest had armed' Iason at all poyntes / Iason recommanded him vnto god Mars / & Appollo / & to the goddesses / Dyane / Pallas 20 & Venus. and syn toke leue of the preest & dide somoch that he retorned secretly into his chambre by the whiche he descended into the chambre of Medea whom he fonde sleping Whan Iason sawe Medea in this point and also sawe her maistres a slepe / he was terribly esprised with loue and chauffid in somoche that the 25 bloode began to boylle in hys body. & his herte began to desire so sore & in suche facion that he approchid to Medea and kyssed her mouth.¹ but with the kysshing she awoke. And had moche grete Ioye thenne whan she had seen and espyed him so armed' wyth the Armes of the kyng Appollo. Thenne Iasoñ made the reuerence to 30 Medea & after sayd to her in this maner / Madame I haue don aft that ye haue enseigned me also nighe as I mighte. and' am enoynted' with the bloode of the bulle of whom I haue made sacrefice to the goddes / & lo here the glew medlid with a part of the asshes / commande me now that shal plese you what I shall doo / & spede you 35 for it is nyghe daye My frende' ansuerde Medea 'welcome be [lf. 100 b] the day & anon with the ayde of the goddes ye shall gete the grettest glorie that euer knight liuyng gate. And knowe ye in the recommendacion of you & grete preysing hit shalbe spoken of vnto the ende of the worlde' · 5 With thise wordes she toke a vestyment whiche was riche and gaf it to him sayng/'My fayr loue ye be pourueyed of al that is behoueful for you so that ye haue this vestyment vpon your armes / see that ye werke frely & corageously with this that ye haue. ye muste be pourueyed with hardyness & valiaunce. kepe well your bille/ and be diligent to do and accomplisshe al that it 10 contieneth. and by the playsir of the goddes / I shall haue you here at euene with more gretter consolacion.' Thenne Iason clad him aboue his harnoys with the propre vestyment that Appollo was cladd at the houre whan he receyuyd the bille a fore said With that the day apperid fayr and clere / wherfore Iason toke leue of 15 Medea whiche was al Rauisshed with loue / At leue takyng they kyssed eche other many tymes. Fynably Medea conueyed Iason vnto his chambre dore and their began there amorouse baisiers & kyssinges vnto the time that it was force that Medea must withdrawe her & thenne she recommanded Iason in the garde of the 20 goddes / and shette fast the dore. It was not long after that Mopsius and Hercules cam & knokked at the chambre dore of Iason. And with them the goode knight Theseus & many other aft of Grece / whiche salewed Iason & gafe him the good morow/ but whan they espyed that he was tho armed and in poynte. they were [lf. 101] moche esbayed. and wolde haue axed of him who had so armed him & adowbed. But the king Oethes & other of his knightes cam also to him & salewed Iason. And the kyng seeyng Iason in poynt. toke the wordes & saide/‘A ha sire knight what will ye do / ye seke your destruccyon / whan so erly ye begyñ to putte yow 30 forth / I conceyle you that ye deporte you of this enterpryse And I declare you ellis homycide of your self. For he is of himself homicide that knoweth his deth in a place and' voluntarily he put him self therin.' 'Syre king' ansuerd' thenne Iason. 'I confesse that ye conceyle me Ryght wysely But neuertheles in hope for to 35 lyue I haue well entencion to achieue myn enterprise without lenger delaye I thanke you of the grete honoure that ye haue made me vnto this tyme' Mopsius toke the worde & sayde 6 Certes Iason fayr sire I haue this night had a meruaillous vysion the whiche conforteth me in yowre victorie. For me semed in my first dreme / that I sawe a sperhauke. the whiche sechyng his praye putte him selfe among many other terrible byrdes & of strange nature the whiche in a litift while he had att ouercome & put to deth / & so I compare the same byrdes terrible & of strange nature vnto the two bulles and to the serpent beyng 5 in the Ile of Colchos. whiche euery night caste fyre and fumyer. & as touchyng the sperhauke. I vnderstande you that seching his praye that is to saye youre aduenture on this day / by the ayd of the Goddes. ye shalle be made vaynqueure of the horrible monstres and possessour of Ryghte gloriouse Renommee' Whan Iason hadde vnderstonden this that said ys He [lf. 101 b] to sang, "Certes fayr sire the goddes ansuerde Mopsius shall doo their with of me. And yf hit be their good playsir. your vysion shall be holden for certayn a prophecye' And wyth that he adressid his wordes to Hercules and sayde. 'My loyalt broder 15 and welbelouid' felawe. make good chere and praye for me. I haue no maner doubtance that I ne shall soupe at euen with you. and that I shall affranchyse yow of your vowe semblable to myñ' / with thise wordes many began to wepe. Thenne the noble preu Iason toke leue of one & other / And syn required of the kyng that he 20 might go vnto the ladyes & damoyselles. The king dide do assemble them. And whan they were comen in to the half he brought Iason whiche made to them the reuerence and principally to Medea and Caliope / & syn recommanded him vnto their praiers / and whan he had don this by space of time he put him vnto the waye 25 vnto the Ryuage of the see where his maister maronner was / that abode & awayted' vpon him in a liti bote that he had made redy the daye to fore. Into the whiche he entrid/ and in recommanding hym self to all the worlde. he departed from the porte for to descende into the yle of Colchos 30 This morenyng was fayr and cleer/ & clene from alt clowdes. And the sonne casted' his clere rayes and bemes vpon the erthe. The ladyes and Damoyselles mounted & wente vpon the hyghe stages of the palays. And the bourgeyses and marchants wyth the commyn people of the cite rañ som to the creueaulx and batille- 35 ments of the walles and other to the Ryuage of the see for to beholde the auenture of the noble knight of Grece / Iason that Ioyously wente with Argos his maister maronner that brought [lf. 102] him into a right good'entree of the meruaillous yle adressid him and 1 136 Jason confronts and subdues the fiery Bulls; sette fote a ground vpon the grauet. And toke his glewe and his asshes and entrid into the yle by grete desire and hardynesse. And he had not ferre goon whan he espyed the riche moton or shepe of gold' whiche was so resplendisaunt that it reioyced aft the 5 yle/ After he espyed the two bulles lepyng out of their holes. so grete. so dredeful. so right fiers & hidouse that only for to loke on them it was ynough for to lose witte and vnderstanding / and whan he had well beholden them. He knelid doun on the erth ayenst the eest where he sawe a temple al of gold of the gretnes of 10.xvj. foot in eyght squares founded on viij smale pylers/ thretty foot of heyght. in the myddes where of was an awter vpon whiche was an ymage representing the god Mars Henne there Iason worshipped the god Mars. and there was content 15 dragon spring out of the temple / For he was as grete as an hors/ And was thretty foot long the whiche incontinent assone as he was out of the temple he began to reyse his neck / sette vp his eeris. stracche him self Opende his throte and cast out brennyng flawme and smoke by a meruaillous voyding whiche departed out of his 20 stomack. Thenne saw Iason al these .iij. bestes with whom he muste haue to doo. he tok and behelde his bille for to know what he had to do. he founde that first he must adaunte the two bulles. wherfore he aroos from his contemplacion & made redy the boxe [lf. 102 b] with glewe. After he marched promptly in grete hardynes 25 toward the two bulles whiche behelde him right fiersly and asprely with her eyen sparklyng and brennyng as fyre Grekyssh. And they began to desgorge fyre and flambe out of their throtes ayenst the knight so desmesurably that alle the Regyon of the ayer and alle the countre semed brenne with wild' and Grekyssh fyre. 30 But this notwithstandyng they might neuer trauayle ne doo harme vnto the noble preu Iason. But he by grete hardines approched by the fyre the flambe & venym that they casted And dide so moche that enoynted the mosels of bothe two And caste into their throtes the glewe that was myxed and medlid with asshes whiche he brought with him as sayd' is. But assone as thise bulles felte the glewe & cendres to gyder medlid' certes they closed their throtes and mosels in suche wise as they might neuer open after ne caste more fyre. wherof the noble knight was so Ioyous as he might be seeyng thexperiment to be of so hygh recommendacion Thenne 35 and maims the Dragon. 137 he thought on Medea & saide wel in him self that she had deliuerid to him a goode & verray socours / & for certain he had lost his lyf in this auenture ne had she haue ben Fter this consideracion Incontinent as the noble preu Iason apperceyuyd that thyse two meruaillous bulles were ouer-5 comen & adaunted, thenne he behelde the contenu of his bytt / and fonde that thenne him behoued anon to go fighte ayenst the meruaillous dragon & terrible withoute comparison Thenne he drew out his good swerde of the shethe & wente vnto the temple where the dragon helde him / anon as the monstre had apperceyued' 10 Iason he enfelonned him self/ & by grete Ire opend his throte right terrible in gretnes out of whom sprang out thre tonges [lf. 103] castyng fire flambe and venym in suche that the goode knight had' al his body aduironned ther with how wel that the fire ne the vemym had no power vpon him. but passed by Iason like as hit 15 had be the clerenes of the sonne. and he cam and gaf the monstre so grete a stroke with his swerde bytwene the two eyen that he made his heed hurtle ayenst his crowpe right sore & durely / And whan the dragon felte this streok/ he releyuyd him self & syn opende agayn his throte & disgorged vpon Iason a fumee so thikke of 20 venym that the noble knight sawe nothing aboute him. but this not withstonding he haunced his swerde & discharged hit vpon the dragon where he thought his hede was / & smote so wel the monstre that he cutte of his thre tonges euen by the mosel as nigh as they might be. wherof the serpent felte so meruaillouse 25 payne & dolour that he began to frote & rubbe his hedde. And tourned on that one side so sodainly. that with his tail he smote the valiaunt knight on the back that he fill doun on the sande Whan Iason felte him so smyten doun to the erthe he was so 30 sore astonyed that he wist not what was befalle him / And with this he had grete shame / He Releued him & stode vp anon. but at his releuyng the fumee of the dragon was vanisshed', & in seeyng aboute him he apperceyuyd' the thre tonges of the serpent whiche he hadde smyten of & syn he behelde the dragon whiche 35 froted his moselt on an herbe / and thenne he rañ vpon him agayñ & smote in the myddes of the tail. in exploiting the moste part of al his strength & also his trenchaunt swerde in such manere / that [lf. 103b] he cutte of a piece whiche was seuen foot long Thenne the dragon 138 The Dragon slain; the Bulls yoked; the Giants arise. by the grete payñ that he felt haunced his heed and cam right fiersly and recountred' Iason wyth all his pesaunteur and might. in suche a facion that Iason was beten doun to the grounde. And the dragon passed ouer him. But thenne the preu Iason toke his 5 swerd & roof into the paunche of the dragon vp to the crosse & smote him to the herte & the dragon feling that he was smyten to the deth began to renne with the swerde of Iason in his body wenyng to hyde him selfe in his cauerne. But his lyf departed out of the body euen as he shold haue entrid into the temple And 10 there he ouerthrewe alle to stracched and fowlid of his blood and of hys humeurs full of venym In suche wise as hit semed that hit had ben a sourse or a sprynge rennyng oute of hys body lenger thenne a grete houre Incontinent that Iason was releued & that he apperceyued the dragon reuersed' and' dede at thentre of the temple with an herte reconforted he wente theder and drew out his swerde of his body and putte him agyn in his shethe or skabarde and thenne he wente & seased the bulles by the hornes / & yoked them in a plowe that ther was by And made them to ere foure mesures of 20 londe. enclosing their eyen. And thenne whan he had so don he retourned to the dragon and esrachd oute of his heede .xij. teth / after that he sowed them in the erthe that he plowed. & that don he dide the bulles do harowe hit. And thenne the bulles fyll douñ 15 to the erthe and loste the spryite of lyf and out of the londe that [lf. 104] Iason had sowen with the teth of the dragon grewe and sprang vp in an instant .xij. geantes of a terrible maintene. the whiche were al armed after the maner at that time / And assone as they were comen out of the erthe drewe their swerdes & without delayng cam & supposed to haue smyten vpon Iason / but Iason toke the cendres or asshes pure that he had kept of his sacrefice. & cast it into the ayer. & thenne sodainly tho same .xij. Geantes assailled that one that other by suche asprete & sharpenesse that in a litil while eche slew other. wherof Iason was right ioyous and rendrid thankinges & louynges to the goddes 30 Whan these .xij. geantes had slayn eche other. as I haue reherced' vnto you Iason drewe out his swerd' whiche was yet af blody. and cam to the Ryche moton or shepe whom he founde in the right noble medowe. & toke him by the hornes and brought him into the temple tofore the awter of the god Mars. 35 And there he slew him with moche grete payn. and syn flew him and toke the flees that had the wolle all of fyn gold and leyd hit a parte And the body he dispieced by membres. and bare it vpon an awter whiche stode without the temple. & put therto largely strawe & drye wode / And whan he had don this he toke fire at 5 a lampe brennyng to fore the representacion of god Mars / And' syn knelid' doun on his knees on the erthe by deuocion tofore the ydole sayng the orison tofore wreton. after the contenu. wherof he thanked the god Mars And Recommanded him moche into his grace / After this he put fyre into the sacrefice whiche anone was 10 consumed and tourned into cendres or asshes / This done he putte him self to prayer. & after he toke the thre tonges of the meruaillous dragon. two of the feet of the bulles whiche were of [lf. 104 b] metal of laton / And two of their hornes whiche were of yron. and enuolupped' and' wrapped' it all in the flees of golde. whiche he 15 charged & leyde it on his sholdres And afterward he retorned vnto the Ryuage of the see where his maister maronner named Argos whiche had guided his boot ouer the braas or arme of the see as sayd ys had' abyden ther in moche grete doubte Argos the good shipman was sore abasshid' of that That Iason 20 was so long there. er he retorned to him and thought for tabyde no lenger/ for he had seen the fyre and the fumee grete & thikke lift vp into the ayer. And also he had seen many euyl apparances/voyses. and right strange bruyts for whiche causes he supposed that his maister Iason had ben deuoured' of the terrible 25 bestes / And began to wepe & bewaile him right tenderly, but incontinent whan he espyed the vaillyaunt knight Iason with the flees of gold on his neck. his teres & wepinges cessed. For sorow. craynte / and doubte departed from his herte and alle Ioye aduironned him in suche maner. that smylyng he knelid' doun on 30 his knee to fore him and sayde. 'Syre knight myrrour of all vailliaunce and of all enterprise / ye be right well retourned. Ha a what consolacion & gladnes shal be in Myrmidone and with my lord your fader Men haue murmured vpon Peleus your vncle. and euery man said, that he had sente you hether for to be quite 35 of you. thinking that ye shold' neuer haue retourned. but to that I can apperceyue. he desireth aboue all other thing your glorie & honour.' 'Certes Argos fair sire' answerd' thenne Iason / Fortune [lf. 105] hath so moche ayde and holpen me that I am retorned hoole of 6 139 body and of membres fro the most terrible. dangerous / & mortali parit that euer shaft befalle and come vpon the erthe during the world wherof I yelde louinges & thankynges vnto the god Mars pryncypally. but now late vs thinke to retorne vnto our felawes For it is more thenne time to ete' 5 Wyth these wordes the goode shipman began to rowe with a franck corage. And the Grekes that were standyng vpon the Ryuage of the see began thenne a grete stryf. For somme sayde that Iason was reentred in to the barque. and that they had Io seen the resplendisshour of the noble flees of golde / whiche was with grete payne creable for as moche as from this Ryuage vnto the yle of Colchos was foure goode myles. And the other saide. that Iason was long agoñ dede. and that he sholde neuer be seen. but thus as eche man was susteynyng his argument. therwith was 15 the boote seen approchyng moche radely the Ryuage / And was aboute a myle nygh to the porte / Iason toke his flees & lyfte hit vp a lytil in the ayer. ye as hygh as he mighte And helde hit so hye / that they that were at the Ryuage and on the walles of the Cyte beheld hyt and appercued hit and shewed hit one to an other 20 by grete admyracion & wondre. Many there were that demened' grete Ioye and thanked the goddes with goode herte whan they had perceyuid the noble & riche flees. wherof the preu Iason made the mustre fro ferre / and som ran for to gadre of the grene herbes & verdure for to caste [lf. 105 b] a long on the waye where as Iason sholde passe for to goo to the palais sayng to euery man that they were certayn of his retournyng/ & that alle honour ought to be maad to him for one so noble & gloriouse conqueste / Medea among all other was so right Ioyous whan she espyed the light and shynyng of the flees of golde that 30 her semed that she shold' entre in to a paradyse terrestre. And commanded that her ladies & Damoiselles shold put on the fayr front in entencion to make feste solempne for the honour of this right exellent victorie. & for to come to a conclusion. trompes tabours. menestrels. hornes sarasinois & busines began to blowe vp & sowne melodiously after that tyme vsed/ The maronner Argos Rowed in suche wise that he brought Iason to the forte hooft & sauf. where he was fested of the king Oetes / of the worthy Hercules. & of Theseus. & generally of all the Grekes. Hercules toke the riche flees whan Iason was descended vpon the londe & bare hit 35 Jason tells his Adventures at a Feast. 141 tofore the valiaunt knight Iason whiche went first into the temple of the goddesse Deane. & there thanked moche hyghely the god Mars / and the goddesses Pallas & Deane. After he made him to be disarmed And there he yelded agayn the armes of the god Appollo. and syn made his oblacion of one of the feet of the 5 bulles and of one of their hornes with one of the tonges of the dragon. and whan he hadde done at this solempnly. he retorned to the palais where he was Right honourably receyuid' of Medea aboue all other and of her Ladyes and Damoiselles whiche behelde Iason meruaillously. & in especial the noble & riche flees of golde 10 whiche Hercules bare on hye tofore him 1 Certes ther is noman so eloquent ne so well cañ endyte by [lf. 106] writyng that coude descriue to you how grete playsir the eyen of the preu Iason and the eyen of the fayr Medea toke on thenne whan they began to beholde eche other And all the worlde 15 there demened' Ioye & gladnes / And whan Iason was goon vp in to the halle. Hercules sette the noble flees of gold vpon a cupberd richely arayed. And anoñ after the knightes / ladyes & damoyselles began the daunces/ and the feste was fair & grete vnto the houre of the souper that the tables were couerd and that the kyng and 20 Iason was sette. and with them the noble lady Medea / Hercules Theseus & Mopsius. At this table was Iason and Medea sette one tofore that other. but in no wise they durst not speke one word/ how wel they made many secrete sygnes of loue that coude not be apperceyued but they entremarched with their feet vnder the 25 table. whiles that Iason reherced' in groos the grete parils where he hadde ben ynne. ithout making of ony mencion of ordenaunces maners and cerimonyes that he had holden OF F this meruaillouse auenture were the kynge Oetes / Hercules and the other Barons knyghtes and noble men that satte & 30 seruid'at this soper moche abasshid' and' gretly meruaylled. And how the noble preu Iason was escaped of so grete & perillous auenture / And hyely recommended this enterprise and vailliaunce. Hercules and Theseus that a fore time had slayn many monstres confessed there that all their fayttes passed were nothing to the regard of 35 the auenture that Iason had enterprised and brought to an ende ¶ What shall we make longe compte this souper passed. and [lf. 106 b] the houre cam that the kyng Oetes & Iason withdrewe hem into her chambres / And thenne was Iason conueyed into his chambre with many noble men one & other. and theder was brought the noble & riche flees of golde. but at this tyme they might not deuise ne plaie there as they had ben acustomed/ but sente hem in to her chambres & Mopsius with the other sayng that al that 5 night he wold wake in orisons & prayers vnto the goddes for asmoche as they had doñ to him so grete ayde comforte & honour in his werkes None thenne as the preu Iason was left in his chambre as sayd is the maistresse of Medea cam & opend the dore of the 10 chambre. and demanded Iasoñ if he wold come vnto her doughter / Iason ansuerde ye with Right goode wille / Thenne he wente douñ into the chambre of hys lady whiche had made redy a right fayr baygne. Thenne he salewed her & after saide to her in this maner/My dere lady knowe ye that I haue had moche grete 15 desire to see you secretly & in our pryuaulte. for to thanke you of the right grete honour that by your cause is comen to me and also of the mortal paril and daunger that ye haue deliuerid me fro/ wherfore I thanke you right humbly of al thise benefetes/ and furthermore I presente you the body that ye haue preserued fro 20 deth. Redy to obeye all youre commandements and playsirs' / 'Certes Iason my dere loue & fiend' ansuerde the fayr Medea. 'yf your desire haue ben grete and suche as ye saye yet hath myne be more as I wene. I haue done the beste that in me hath be possible. and I haue right grete Ioye and gladnes of the knowleche [If. 107] that ye haue. Alle my corage is nothing saue to playse yow. ye be right welcome and with grete worship retorned for you and for me / And make good chiere hardyly I haue ordeyned for you a bayne for to wassh you from the bloode wherwith ye haue ben enoynted/ and therfore dispoylle you & entre in to this bath / and 30 thenne we shall deuise at oure leyser of all youre werkes' Whan the preu Iason had vnderstande this that said is he dide of his clothes right glad of this aduenture and syn entred into the baygne / and the fayr Medea in her corsett whiche had no sleues terued' vp her smock sleues and in this point cam 35 & froted & weesshed her frend Iason. And thenne whan the gentil bacheler apperceyuid so gentil corps & body of Medea. her fair and ronde tetes the whitenes of her flessh. And that he felte her handes meruaillously softe/him semed that his herte & his body flewe He was so moche esprised of an ardant desir of loue. he began Oetes forbids the Marriage of the Lovers. 143 thenne tenbrase the lady by the body / and syn behelde her grete beaute / and thus doyng he kysshed her many times. And thenne whan he had ben wel eased & wasshed Medea made him to lye in her bed beholdyng his membres well formed shapen & made & his colour fair & quik. and coude not tourne her sight from him. They 5 were thus beholdyng and auysing eche other wyth oute sayng ony worde. But atte last the noble preu Iason toke the worde & sayde. My dere lady. ye knowe wel how I haue promised to be your husbond/ & also in like wise ye haue promised to be my wyf / thenne may I saye I am youres & ye ar myñ / & of vs two is but 10 one thing/thenne I require you so affectuelly as I can or may. [lf. 107 b] and for all the plaisir that ye may do to me. that ye will come & lye by me here in your bed''A ha Iason' ansuerde thenne Medea / 'for goddes sake saue myñ honour.' 'Madame' ansuerde Iason. 'ther is no man in the world that shal kepe it more thenne I shal. 15 I am your husbonde. & if ye come & lye in your bed by me ye doo nothing but honour' / 'My dere frend'' saide Medea. 'ther is no plaisir but that I shal gladly do to you / but for this night ye shal haue pacience of your requeste. & I pray you that to mori be tyme ye desire of my fader the king that he wolde gyue me to you 20 in mariage. & thenne do ye your deuoir. & if he be content we shal make our weddyng & spousailles here within honourably. and if he will not I somone you here to morn at night at houre acustomed'/ & knowe ye for certayn that I shal do all that ye witt commande me to do as reson is. for I am bounden therto by vertue 25 of the promesses made bytwene you and me / And allewaye I recommande to yow myn honour' Han Iason hadde vnderstande the good wil of Medea. he saide in his corage that she had wisely answerd/ And that he was content for tobeye to her requeste ¶ What shal I saye 30 more the night drew ouer in such termes as said is. how well Iason laye there til it was day And on the morn whan he was Rysen and sawe his tyme he made his Requeste vnto the noble kyng Oetes that he wold gyue his doughter Medea to him in mariage / but he founde the kyng Oetes triste & moche pensif and 35 al other wise thenne he was acustomed to be. & made him an answere in this maner/'Iason ye bere with you oute of my dominacion the most riche tresour that is in alle the worlde [lf. 108] Whiche greuith me gretly. And if I hadde knowen that I now 144 Medea, slaying Abserthius, prepares for Flight. 5 knowe / ye had not comen in time therto / and now ye demande me my doughter Medea whiche is most connyng and the most dere thing that I haue. Suffise you with that ye haue. And neuer speke to me more therof also dere as ye haue your lyf.' Wyth these or semblable wordes the kyng Oetes wente on oo part. And the noble preu Iason wente on an other side moche abasshed' of the fiers & hard answere of the kyng Oetes. Hercules / Theseus. and Mopsius cam thenne vnto Iason. whiche told them howe he had ben with the kyng Oetes. & how he had required to haue to his 10 wyf his doughter Medea. and howe the kyng had ansuerd him fiersly / But whan they had vnderstanden all this/ they concluded among them that they wold departe from thens on the morn. After this don they went and toke leue of the kyng & thanked him of the grete honour that hit had plesid him to do to Iason / 15 And after they went & vysited their ship. and passid this day with litit plaisir. for the kyng Oetes made hem no chere / This notwithstandyng whan the night was come Iason wente vnto the fayr Medea and tolde to her how he had made his Requeste to the kyng Oetes her fader. And how he hadde answerd' to the regarde of 20 their mariage. And howe he was departed from him. Wherof the fair Medea was meruaillously soroufull and sore troubled thinkyng on many thinges. But whan she had wel bethought her considering her cas & her affayre / she made right goode cheere to Iason as she [If. 1086] that abandonned her alt vnto his playsir. And so it is to be 25 supposed that this night they laye to geder. & more saye I not for this present as towching their faytes of loue In this night the fayr Medea toke all the moste richest Iewels and bagnes portatif that the king Oetes her fader had, And she putte and trussed them in a fardelt And whan hit came 30 a litill to fore daye she made Iason to Ryse. whiche was anon redy. And thenne whan she was all redy she toke wyth her all the richesses / and also her yong brother Absirthius of the aage of .xvj. monethes / whome she toke secretly in a chambre from the nourice And made her maistresse to cutte his throte pryuely for certayn 35 causes whiche shaft here after be declared/ After this the fayr Medea and her maistresse. cladd' hem and disguised them in mannes habyte. And by the noble preu Iason they were brought vnto the shippe. And assone as Iason had deliuerid them in garde vnto maister maronner Argos. he retourned into his chambre til it was Oetes decides to pursue the Fugitives. 145 day abiding his felawship Hercules/ Theseus Mopsius & many other knightes that cam with him at the blowyng of an horñ. And with that he toke his flees of golde and saide to them that he wold' departe from thens with all deligence for certayn causes / And without more sayng at this tyme he toke his waye to thende that 5 the other knightes of Grece shold folowe. And went so ferre that he entrid in to his ship so well at poynt that all his men entrid with him/ And thenne the maronners disancred' and began to rowe by force of oores for as moche as hit blewe not and the wynde helped hem not be cause hit was calme. And thus in this poynt [lf. 109] they putte them on the waye vnto the sonne Rysing. And at that propre houre whan they were not withdrawen past a myle from the porte hit happend by aduenture that Argos the maister maronner began to loke toward the porte. and he sawe that on all sides it was full of peple. After this he sawe anon and apper- 15 ceyued that foure litif shippes at facion of balingers or Galeyes subtill departed to gydre from the porte from whens they came. wherof the good patrone Argos hadde moche grete meruaille. And he wiste not what to thenke. he was so emcombred. For he hadde well seen that whan the Noble preu Iason and his companye entrid into his shippe / that the kyng/his barons ne the ladies had not conueyed him He had grete meruaile. but he sayde not one word 20 ¶ How the kyng Oetes fader of Medea aduertised of the departing of Iason and of his doughter Medea folowed And how Medea caste her broder Absirthius by pieces in to the see doubting her 25 fader the kyng Oetes / And howe the noble Quene Ysiphile filt doun from an hygh montayn into the see galeyes subtill for WH Ho that demandeth of thise foure liti what cause they moued fro the poort. And what people were there inne / the historie answerth/ that theire entencion was 30 to come after the knightes of Grece And the kyng Oetes was in one of them accompanyed of foure honderd men / whiche were all bourgeyses of the touñ that he had made to be armed. For as moche as he was acertayned that his doughter Medea was gooñ with Iason / and I shaft telle you how. This kyng Oetes as sayd [lf. 109 b] is had ben soroufull & anoyed alle the daye precedent fonde him self so full of melancholye that he coud' not slepe ne reste. Allewaye after many thoughtes and precogitacions he concluded in him Oetes gathers Men for the Pursuit. self that he wolde goo & conueye Iason at his departing to this ende that he comen in to Grece sholde preyse him and saye. that he hadde made him good chere / For to bringe to an ende this conclusion / he aroos and willyng to entre fro chambre to chambre 5 til he cam to Iason. he entrid in to the chambre of the nourice of his sone Absirthius / whom he fond not wyth his norice that slepte/ wherof he was sore abasshid & awaked the nourice. And after demanded her. where was his dere sone Absirthius / And thenne the nourice began to loke aboute her / But that was for nought for 10 she fonde him not. wherfore all effrayed' she sprang oute of her bed and began to seche hym dyligently all aboutes. And the kyng Oetes entred in to the chambre of Medea¹/ and ther he fonde no persone ne his doughter ne her that had gouerned her long time Han the kyng Oetes fond not his doughter Meadea he was so angry that his blood changed. and wythoute spekyng ony worde/ he wente vp into the chambre where the noble Iason was logged but he fond neyther Iason ne Medea ne persone to whom he mighte speke / & for so moche he departed sodaynly & wente vnto the porte where he fond many of his citezeyns that shewd him the ship 20 where the Grekes were in which was at that time from the porte [lf. 110] more thenne a quater of a myle / Thenne the kyng weping tenderly demanded them if they had seen his doughter Medea. And they ansuerde nay. 'A ha fayr sirs' sayd thenne the king. 'the traitres of Grece haue withdrawen her with wordes traiterously as 25 they haue deceyued her & brought her into their ship/ and yet that more is haue so euitt counceyled her that she hath born with her myn sone Absirthius. O euil doughter. O the euil fortuned child Certes Medea thy grete disloyaulte constraineth me that with force of peple I wil goo incontinent fecche the for to wete who hath meuyd' the thus to do. & with this I shal take vengeaunce of the desloyal knight Iason which to his power rendreth to me euil for good" 30 15 W Han the king had sayd' thus he retorned into his palais cryeng that euery man sholde arme him/ And thenne att 35 the peple pourueyed them of staues & armures. & syn demanded wherof proceded the cause of this alaromme / the whiche anoñ was all commune / Thenne they put them on the way for to go vnto the king. whiche cam and yssued out of his palais armed and in poynt for tentre into bataill. Thenne he wente vnto the porte & chese out four honderd of the beste in poynt for to put into the sayd four galeyes / And fynably whan he had' don all this he meuyd fro the porte as sayd' is / and with all haste made his galeyes to be rowed after the knightes of Grece in suche wise as the maister 5 maronner apperceyued that the galeyes cam swiftely after them for to fecche agayn the fayr Medea. & called Iason that Iaped & played with Medea / present his felawe Hercules. & shewid to him the four galeyes armed where in was the king Oetes and his men wel in poynt whiche approched faste / For the galeyes were light. [lf. 110b] and Iason seyng his encombrance approche / called Hercules whiche knewe nothing herof and demanded him councey Thenne Hercules ansuerde to him that he knewe none other remedie but that euery man sholde putte him to armes and be redy tabyde the batayi yf hit were nede. And auowed vnto the goddes that yf the 15 kyng Oetes made ony enterprise vpon them that he wolde putte to deth as many as he might areche Wyth thise wordes and wyth oute lenger tarieng the noble knight Hercules and Iason putte them in armes. and in like wise dyde their felawes / Thenne Medea and her maistresse 20 sprang vpon the plank of the ship for to beholde the kyng and his galeyes / And anon after Iason & Hercules aft in armes cam vp on hye by Medea and eche with a swerde in his fyste. And Medea began to tremble for fere. whan she had espyed her fader to approche so nygh. at thende the kyng Oetes poursiewed so sore the 25 shippe of the noble preu Iason by force of oores / that er they were out of the goulf or braas of the see that there was nomore distance fro on to an other but two bowe shote Thenne the fair Medea seyng that it was time to bringe to ende that she had begonne tofore. sayde to her maistres in wepyng tenderly / My 30 goode moder wher is my litil broder Absirthyus/gyue him to me' / Thenne the euyl olde woman opend her lappe and vnwonde the body of the childe. whom she had smiten into pieces / Medea toke the hede & lifte it an hyghe wherof Hercules / Iason / & other seyng this had grete horrour of this cruelte & were sore abasshed. neuer- 35 theles whan the preu Jason apperceyuyd this he wold knowe fro [lf. 111] whens came this creature so dede. & saide to Medea in this manere/My dere loue what haue ye in your thought/ & what wil ye don with this so malerous & pyteus childe' L 2 148 Medea's Intentions with her dismembered Brother. Y dere loue' ansuerde thenne Medea / 'Thexperience of my werke ensigneth to yow the thought of my herte' Madame' ansuerde thenne the noble preu Iason. 'what is this child that I see here thus detrenched' and' smyten in pieces / certes he is in 5 an euit houre born / that thus myserably hath finisshed his dayes.' 'My dere loue' ansuerde thenne the fayr Medea. 'this is Absirthius my yong broder. knowe ye that he is not malerouse / but is ewrous and happy for this daye he shall be cause of the sauacion of the lyf of his fader and of his men. & thenne he is moche ewrous and 10 in a goode oure born. whan he in his tendre yongth maye be cause of the helthe of so moche peple & specially of his fader naturel.' 'Certes Medea' saide thenne Iason/'I see none other facion ne moyen but that ye be of all poyntes dishonoured whan ye haue commysed so right pyetous a caas. as for to haue murdrid your 15 propre broder innocent of all thinges. A ha what horrible cruelte.' 'My dere loue' ansuerde thenne Medea 'ne troble you other wise thenne by reson. For if it be your plaisir ye shal here what I shal saye / and after of the caas I make you iuge. ye know how I am by you brought from the hous of my fader ayenst his wilt. I haue 20 considerid what my departyng is / & furthermore I haue thoughte & haue had regarde vnto the grete & meruaillous corage of my fader. & al thing ouer thought & considerid that I coude not with- [lf. 111b] draw me fer but he sholde be aduertised / for he hath of custome that euery morenyng. er he goo doun he wil see his sone and me 25 also. I haue ymagined that anoñ as he findeth not me ner his sone / that withoute¹ fawte he wil come after me in Armes lyke as ye see he doth / and thus whan I haue alle these thinges considered and the grete daunger that might ensiewe to vs that for me shold be the bataylle mortal bytwene yow and him in whiche withoute 30 Remedye he shold be slayñ or taken by his hye vailliaunce seen that vnto deth he wold' abandonne hym selfe for to recouere me. and to thende teschewe more grete parit and dommage for hym. I haue taken his owen sone / whiche is my broder and haue commanded to put hym in the state as ye see for to caste at this time 35 abrode in to the cours of the see here and there. And to gyue empechement vnto the ship of my fader. whiche thenne shall tarye whan he shall see his sone Absirthius thus desmembris flotyng She flings his Body into the Sea. 149 vpon the water for to gadre and recuyelle the pieces / as ye shaft seen playnly anoñ' 1 With thachieuement of these deuises the kyng Oetes approched in suche manere the shippe of the Grekes that ther was no more distance but a stone caste. Thenne the fayr Medea and the 5 old woman fylled their handes with the membris of the noble child Absinthius in shewyng them to the kyng Oetes & his men. For assone as the olde Quene espyed the kyng she escried these wordes folowyng and sayd thus 'Kyng in no wise come no nere wenyng to recouure thy sone ne thy doughter/As to the regard of thy 10 doughter. thou losest thy tyme. for she is maried' vnto Iason. But atte lest we shall rendre to the thy sone slayn and detrenched by [lf. 112] pieces the whyche we caste into the see to thende that thou maist haue thy lyf saued. for but if he caused the to haue occupacion for to recuyelle his propre membres for to doo burye them as hit apper- 15 teyneth to the sone of a king. knowe thou that thou sholdest haue the bataill ayenst the knightes of Grece whiche ben of so bye valiaunces. that ther ne is anymal monstre serpent. ne tyraunt but that they bringe to destruccion/thenne it ought to be beleuyd/ that the victorie of the bataill shold abyde with them. and' certes 20 thou shouldest receyue thy deth So alle thing well ouerseen hit is better to the that thou retourne vnto thy cite thenne tapproche more ner for to Receyue thy deth. And wel oughtest thou to haue grete ioye for to see thy happy sone be ded and detrenchid by pieces By the whiche thy lyf is respyted. for thou art not very ne 25 naturel fader if thou take not his membres out of the see. & if thou so doo thy lyfe shalbe saued' and' all they of thy companye' With these wordes the olde woman & Medea caste in the see the membres of the yong¹ child' Absirthius / And the kyng Oetes and his peple heering and seeyng the grete inhumanyte & 30 cruelte began to escrie right pietously & dolourously / And were so sore vexed & trobled of this meruaillous auenture. that they wist not what to do. som ther were that began to wepe tenderly / the other smote them self on the brestes & som began to araye hem to goo to bataille & escried to deth the knightes of Grece 35 shoting on them arowes & other trait by grete corage for tauenge them / but whan the king sawe that in no wise he myght recouure [lf. 112 b] 10. youg. 150 The Argonauts and Medea get clear away. the deth of his dere sone. he made to cesse the escarmusshe and sayd to his Cytezeyns. Certes fayr sires I pray you to trauayle you nomore for to recouure Medea / she hath murdrid her propre broder Absirthius / whiche was my sone and he that in time to 5 come shulde haue ben youre nature lord / Certes I haue louid with all my herte her alle her lyfe that with her desloyal wyll hath brought to me one so dolourouse guerdon or rewarde. Medea' saide the kyng all on hygh 'I shall neuer seche ne desire to mete with the for cause of so cruett and disnatureft a dede / that 10 thou hast commysed to thy propre bloode / And therfore fayr lordes late her & all them that ben with her goo where the goddes wit suffre hem. But knowe ye for certayñ that yf I nowe had her at my liberte I shold make her to deye a cruelt deth. how wele that sholde sourdre therof to me a new sorowe wherfore it is better that 15 she goo / & that we entende to reassemble the membres of my sone whiche floten as ye may see vpon the wawes of the see to thende that his flessh be not pasture to the byrdes' Whan thenne the nobles & bourgeyses of the Cyte vnderstod' their kyng/at they began to seche the membres of Absir- 20 thius in demenyng the moste grete sorow of the world. And thus they dysposed them to complayre the kyng & nomore tassaile their enemyes. And whan they had fysshed the membres of the child they retorned vnto the cite by space of time right sorowful & disconforted for the deth of Absirthius / And for as moche as Medea also was goon with Iason. Medea was thenne weft Ioyous & more [lf. 113] assured thenne tofore / whan she apperceyuid that her fader & his men taried for to fysshe the membres of his sone. Certes Iason seyng this that sayd is wist not what to thinke / And Argos the goode maronner rowed' alleway in withdrawyng from the porte 30 and the Ile of Colchos as moche as he mighte in so moche that in 25 a litift while he had lost the sighte of the kyng Oetes & of his galeyes. and that he cam into the hyhe see. where the wynd blewe & aroose that anoñ they desployed their saylle whiche they wonde vp an hyghe. wherfore the shippe made good way. wherof Argos 35 was moche Ioyous / and thenne he sayd that euery man mighte leye doun his harnoys frely promising them to be oute of alle parils for that time. Iason at this time was right pensif for the cruelte & inhumanyte that he had seen this daye and spack not one worde / and semed by comparison more triste thenne Ioyous & not with oute cause. 6 Whan Medea had vnderstande that Argos assewrid all the companye for that time from all parils that they had ben in / was thoo comforted gretly. but she behelde her handes that yet were all fowle of the bloode of her brother Absirthius. she wente & wasshed hem & made hem clene & after she cam & sette 5 her doun by Iason / And seyng that he was moche pensif. sayde to him by a gracious & curtays manere. My dere loue wheron thinke you' Certes Iason answerde not one worde. And whan she sawe that She sayde to him agayn the same wordes / 'My dere loue Iason wheron thinke you' Thenne Iason ansuerde to her thus / 10 'lady syn that ye desire to knowe wheron I thinke. knowe ye for trouth that if it were not for the grete loue that I haue in you and for that I haue promised to wed you and bryng you into Grece. [lf. 1136] I wolde not do it wherfore kepe from hensforward that ye do no suche thing as dere as ye will haue pees bytwene you & me' / 15 Vpon thise wordes Medea excused her the fairest wise she coude and was to her possible Sayng that all this that she had don was of veray good wilt in somoche as she so doyng supposed not to haue vsed cruelte ne humanyte ne of hayne or hate precedent & that in the night tofore the goddesse Deane had shewed & made Reuelacion 20 to her that kyng Oetes must nedes deye or Absirthius his sone for him / And by suche wodes in colouring her caas she trauayled so sore that she founde her self in the good grace of Iason 1 Vring this voyage whan they had ben certayn dayes on the see. Mopsius cam on a tyme to Iason and thenne brought to 25 his remembraunce how he had promised to Ysiphile to retorne by the cite of Lennos. vpon whiche Iason ansuerde that he saide trouth/ And that he wold holde his promesse. So he spack to Hercules. to Theseus & to the maister Argos whiche were glad hopyng to make goode chiere in that cite. but whan Medea knewe 30 that Iason had promised & wold go theder for to see the quene Ysiphile as him behoued. she and her maistresse ordeyned their sortes and their enchantements in a secrete place whiche were of suche vertue. that when Argos wende to take his waye by an arme of the see whiche gooth strait to Lennos. his gouernaile brack in 35 more thenne a thousand pieces / & by a winde moche subtil the ship was incontinent torned & brought all in thopposite to 10. Dvriug. 2 Hypsipyle sees Jason pass her by. thentencion of the noble knight & his companye. wherfore all they [If. 114] that were in the shippe were right soroufull reseruid Medea and her olde maystresse whiche were at their ease He Quene Ysiphile was vpon an hygh roche beyng vpon the 152 5 preu Iason passed forthby as sayd is and she was acustomed dayly to holde her & awayte ther right sore desiring to see Iason on whom was all her thoughte and desir. And somoche loued him that she bewayled him from the morñ vnto the euen vpon this 10 roche and sayd ofte times thise propre wordes that folowe. 'Ha / a Neptunus god of the see & of the windes where is my dere loue Iason Bring him agayn to me. Rendre him agayn to her that daye & night wepeth and sygheth after him ded' or a liue I wille haue him / And I praye you that ye will sende me this grace and 15 ewer leuer this day thenne to morn' Thus thenne as she was all dyscomforted one daye among alle other she loked into the see toward the eest. and saw from ferre the ship moche desired that saylled by a grete radour and a full sail where Iason was in/ Certes she knew yt anon as well by the gretenes as by the baners 20 & enseignes that were displayed with the wynde. wherof she hadde so grete gladnesse that she began to make the best chere of the world. But as she was thus rauisshed in grete Ioye & that her semed that Iason cam seuerly vnto her. With that the old maystresse and the fair Medea putte their sorceries to werke and 25 theire enchantements. wherof thauenture of the shippe sorted as sayd is. For she tourned' al sodaynly at that other coste / wherof the poure Ysiphile was all abasshed and sore esmayed. In stede to [1f. 1146] make Toye she was constrayned to wepe grete teeres / And in stede of syngyng she was enforced' to complayne What shal I saye 30 More. as sodeinly as the ship torned' so sodeynly chaunged the maner of Ysiphile. she abode there & passed that night / & dide do make fires & light of many fagots for to redresse Iason and Argos to herward. thinkyng that without faute Iason wolde come vnto her. And she abode in this place by the space of sixe wekes / 35 wepyng, wakyng and continuelly bewailing Iason whom she louyd more thenne her propre herte Han the sixe wekes were past and that the fayr Ysiphile apperceyuid that she shold haue no tydinges of her loue Iason for thenchauntementes of Medea & of her maistresse made that the shippe of Iason mighte not approche the yle of Lennos. The right discomforted' Ysiphile seeyng that sayd is. as vpon the point as full of despayr She departed from the roche. where she had ben long abydyng, & in a meruaillous oppinyon she retorned to Lennos And thenne whan she was entred into her chambre 5 she made her sone to be brought to her whom she kyssed many tymes for the loue of Iason. & after began to thinke & contrepeyse in her mynde in dyuerce maners / & thenne whan she had long thought by grete habondaunce of melancolye / she sayde in beholding her child & crossing her armes with a sigh comyng from the 10 botom of her hert /'Alas my dere sone Alas that thou canst not speke for to demande me tidinges of thy fader. whiche is the most fayr knight the most vertuous. & the most valiaunt in armes that the goddes euer fourmed. If thou coudest speke & demande me of him I might wele answere to the but how / Alas I wote neuer. [lf. 115] for at al auenture he daigneth not to come and at auenture whan he weneth to come as that other daye. me semed whan I knewe his shippe/ whom the winde & tempest constrained to retorne & to saylle all at thopposite in shewing me hys back / and in trauersing the wawes & flotes of the see so impetuously ¹ that I thinke better 20 that he is perisshed thenne not. For in fourty dayes that I haue syn soiourned on the roche / I ne coude neuer see him agayn. wherof I am Ryght displaisant in my herte 'M Y dere sone thenne where is now nature whiche sholde enseigne the to wepe / & me no more thenne the after the 25 losse of one so desired prince. ought I more desire to lyue. what may it auaylle me to liue / Certes if I sholde lyue. my lyf sholde be from hens forth full of continuelt bewaillinges / of dolours / of wepinges / and of sighes / O what sorow. I wote nomore to saye / I haue so moche loued Iason that perdurably I am constrained to 30 wepe after hym / how be it alleway the creatures ne desire to liue but for to enioye the worldly plaisaunces/ and thenne whan alt mondayn plaisir failleth. what ought I desire/ Is this a lyf. Certes nay And what thenne / hyt is a lyf that liueth deyeng. and a deth that liueth in languisshinge. O meruaillous and Ryght 35 terryble desire. I shall deye verayly in this Iourneye. hit is concluded. For what somme euer shaft or may come therof/ I shall springe in to the hyghe see / to thend that if the noble preu Iason be there buryed that I may be wyth him in sepulture. And to thend also that yf he be not ded. that the see that broughte hym [lf. 115b] hether a lyue may bringe me to him a liue or dede. but first er I commyse this meruallous & dolorous caas. I shal compyle an epistle whiche shalbe sewed vnto my vestyments or clothes. To this 5 entencion. that if Iason liue yet I haue an hope that the goddes shaft doo me be presented tofore him. & thenne by this myn epistle he shal knowe of what exellent loue and corage I haue loued him' Any ladies and damoiselles were in the companye of Ysiphile thenne whan she hadde thus bewailled her dere loue Iason. 10 And also the conclusion as she that was desperate sholde lepe & springe into the see. All they began to demene grete sorow meruaillously and not with oute cause. Somme ther were that were Inly ¹ sorowful that they coude not speke o worde / other were there drowned in teeris / that enforced hem to recomforte her/ and for to 15 lette & distourne her for this dampnable witt. but that was for nought. for they loste her payne/ for as moche as Ysiphile wrote her epistle whiche she wrapped in a cered cloth and syn sewed hit vnto her robe of cloth of golde whiche she clad her with and whan she had so do. she toke her crowne and sette it on her hede 20 fermely. and after toke her sceptre / And thenne whan she had 1 don aft this. she cam to her sone and kissed him many times and recommanded him vnto the ladies and Damoiselles / And at laste whan she had taken leue of all the women she departed from Lennos the cite wepyng tenderly / & toke with her one of her 25 damoiselles by whom were knowen afterward aft her bewailingis. lamentacions & all her maners that she held tofore she caste her self into the see [lf. 116] Whan she was comen nygh vnto the see/she approched vnto an hye roche to whom the see touched beneth a ferre 30 lowe doun / she began to behold a lowe and see the see And after she stracched her self on the erthe in beholding the heuen & the see and sayde / 'Veray god lorde of the see. of windes / of tourbillons and of fortunes / of raynes & of tempestes / ye brought into this countre & into this place the right parfayt knight. in beaute / 35 in valiance. & in all vertues Iason / and after ye sente him into Colchos & consequently ye haue shewid me from ferre his ship. and syn ye haue drowned him or at leste lad him into an other her dead Body is carried by the Sea to Jason. 155 countre. & whan it is so that I may by no waye haue non other thing of him I yow require that ye wille make my sepulture by him if ye haue made the passage out of this worlde / and if he be on liue that ye will conduyte me into his presence / for hit must nedes be. and other thing I demande not of yow' And whan the 5 Quene Ysiphile had saide thise wordes she retorned her vnto the cite and sayd' in this maner al on hygh & clere voys Adieu my dere childe / adieu Lennos the noble cite. adieu ladyes and damoiselles'. And syn she retorned her vnto the see. And cryeng /'Iason. Iason' she sprang fro the sommet or 10 toppe of the roche into the hygh see. And there drowned her self in sorow. wherof was grete pyte / But her fortune was suche that on that same daye the see bare the body vnto the shippe of the noble preu Iason abydyng yet in the see in a Rood. where they were ancred for to reste ther that night At this oure whan the 15 poure Ysiphile was caste ayenste the shippe. Hercules and Iason wente vppe on hygh for to take the ayer. Thenne they apper- [lf. 116 b] ceyued the desolate body so richely arayd' that the cloth of golde shone by the disgorgements of the watre. anon as they had seen this they called Argos their maister maronner and shewed to hym. 20 Anone Argos callid som of his folke and made them to fisshe and drawe out of the see & to bring in to the ship that poure creature habilled' with Ryall atours And whan she was drawen on hygh all they in the shippe wente vp for to see the body of this noble lady and Medea failled not to come with the other for to beholde 25 this pyte Certes the dede lady had her visage swollen and pale that none in the ship knew her / but at the comyng & for the presence of the olde woman she voyded blood by the conduyte of her mouth as hit had ben a litilt rennyng water departing from a fontayne or a spring/ wherof all they had' grete meruaile 30 Whan Argos the goode maronner sawe the meruaylle he stouped doun for to put vppon her Roobe a cloth for to kepe it from the fowling of the blood' that departed from her mouth. And as he put the cloth aboute her neck he apperceyued the cered' cloth that kepte the watre from the pistle that she had compiled / 35 wherfore for to know what it was he distached or ripte it of & deliueryd hit to Iason Thenne the knight receyued the cloth & opende hit a found the epistle / and disployed it & as he Red' it and vnderstode the contenu of the same his blood began to chaunge 156 Hypsipyle's Letter to Jason: and his Sorrow. & he waxe rede as a rose & after becam pale & dede as asshes And syn began to wepe & to demene a sorowe moche aygre and [lf. 117] sharp/ Certes the fayr Medea. Hercules / & Theseus and the other knightes of Grece were sore abasshid so were Argos & the 5 maronners whan they apperceyuid that Iason demened' so grete a duyel & sorow. Thenne it was demanded from whens this sorow cam & what tydinges he found & had by the contenu of the lettre / but hit was for nought For he might not speke ner answere his herte was so closid & strained with anguissh & sorow / notwith- 10 stonding whan he hadde redd it & seen the contenu of the pistle / He deliuerid it to Medea & the conteynyng therof was this that foloweth Iason / Iason the chosen of Grece in prowesse. in beaute. and in vertues where art thou. and whan shalle thou holde thy 15 promesse vnto her that alway hath her eyen planted on the see after the. desiring to see agayn the body by amorouse desires and by moo bewaillings than the heuen conteyneth sterres. A ha my dere loue / hast thou put in no recching ner no challoir the promesse that thou me madest at that tyme when thou wentest to Colchos / 20 knowest not thou wel that euery man of noble name or vocacion is holden & bounden to paye and holde his promesse. vpon payne of Reproche. Thou hast promised to me / the daye of thy promesse is passed thou acquitest the not. O so greuous a shame & large reproch / ye if thou haue not lauful excusacion Syn the daye of 25 thy promesse expired/ I neuer entrid' into hous for to take plaisir ne to couer me to be drie. I haue not leyd' on bed to take my reste. I haue not seten at table for to ete. Ne I haue not ben in pretoire for to iuge the causes of my women. but I haue by the space of .xl. dayes awaited vpon a roch where I was whan thou entredest into [lf. 117 b] my royaume. And that famyne constrained the to take londe. 35 There haue I holde me daye and night in the rayñ. in the winde. in the colde of the mone and' in the heete of the sonne / In fastinges / in praiers & orisons. in souffrages. in thoughtes. in Imaginacions / in desirs. in hope / and fynably in despayr and in deth anguisshous For whan I haue apperceyuid that thou camst not agayn to me. in fourty dayes after the daye of the promys. all dispayred' I haue compiled & wreton this epistle with my hand and with thyn / and all in suche wise and facion as she that might no lenger abyde thy comyng & retourne. I haue caste my selfe into the see prayng the goddes. that they bring me quyk or ded' into that place ther thou art quyk or ded. by grete deffaulte of thy promesse. & to that ende that thou see what terrible affeccion & loue I haue hadde to thy persone' In redyng this epistle. the preu Iason wepte so pietously 5 that he might no more. And as to the Regarde of Hercules Theseus & Mopsius they faylled not to be of the lyuerey of Iason. And whan Medea had red of the contenu of the pistle. Iason began to complaine this so miserable lady that was ded' by his cause as she declared in her epistle / And thenne whan he had complayned' 10 & bewaylled her long / he excused him tofore them all of the promesse that he had made to her for to retourne by the cyte of Lennos / Sayng that it was not his defaute / but that the God of winde was culpable. And therof he toke witnes of Hercules Theseus & Mopsius. Argos the goode maronner & of many other / 15 the which knew right well how he had purposed to haue goñ into Lennos in retorning from his enterprise from Colchos for to see [lf. 118] this noble lady and how the tourbillions of winde had destourned hem ayenst his wil. but fynably whan Medea apperceyued the manere of Iason She began to demande him. what prouffited him 20 his wepinges & suche excusacions & syn sayde to him/Certes Iason me semeth that ye haue better the corage of a woman thenne of a man & that is no nede to wepe ne so bewaille a lady that was so despaired. but right wel for youre honour & for the goodnes that she hath don for you & in compassion of noblesse / ye shal do her to be adoubed for to bring her in to your countrey & there ye shal do her richely & honourably be put in sepulture as in suche a caas apperteyneth' 25 Y the wordes & remonstraunces of the fayr Medea the duiel & sorow of her loue Iason cessed a litift & a litil / And Medea 30 with her maistresse whan they sawe her time toke the body of the Quene Ysiphile and leyde it a parte with the atours riall ¶ What shal I make long proces on the morn Iason commanded to disancre from thens And was syn saillyng certain iourneyes on the see / but in thende without making mencion of ony auenture digne of 35 memoire. Argos the goode maistre saylled' so ferre by gouffres & by flotes that at the twentyest moneth after their departing of Mirmydone. he arryued at the porte from whens he was departid. for whos comyng the dwellars and inhabytants of that countre of Grece were as Ioyouse as they might be. & on that other side Iason & att they of his ship incontinent as they had espied & knowen that it [lf. 118 b] was the porte that they were departed fro. began to singe al on hygh in preysing & thanking the goddes of that. that they were 5 comen home & had escaped so many dangiers & parils to their worship & prouffit with right grete tryumphe of vyctorie AT 15 T that time whan Argos arriued in this poort / the sterres apperid largely on the heuen / the night was fair & the see paysible/ And therfor the knightes of Grece abode in the ship al 10 night without going a londe. & on the morñ betime Iason sente Theseus for to signefie his coming vnto Peleus. Theseus wente & fonde Peleus in a cite named Elsebee. where he was mery & passed the time with his wyf whos name was Cypriane / & supposed neuer to haue herde tidinges of Iason/ & whan Peleus saw & knew Theseus he went ayenst him & made to him grete Reuerence and worship and syn demanded him of att tidinges. Thenne Theseus began to tell a parte of the tidinges of Iason. & in especial recounted to him thauenture that he had don in Colchos / & how he had brought the riche & noble flees of golde And that he was 20 arriued at the porte of Sescyre. & that he had with him the flees whiche was the most fayr and the most noble Iewell. that euer was seen/ & after told hym that he hadde conquerd in his vyage the grettest honoure that euer knight might gete. & also he tolde how he brought with him the doughter of the king of Colchos whiche 25 was most wise. fayr/and exellente. whiche in alle qualitees after reson might be holden for the best accomplisshid' lady of the worlde. The noble knight Peleus hering thise tydynges thus told. was so pressid at the hert that al the bloode chaunged by al the vaines [lf. 119] of his body. how wel he made semblant as he had ben meruail- 30 lously Ioyous. for he sente vnto the kyng Eson for to shewe to him these goode tydinges. and syn assembled the nobles / the bourgeys/ the marchants / the ladies & damoiselles of the cite. & brought them in fayr ordenaunce for to mete with Iason 35 Whan the comyng of Iason was knowen in the cite & in the countreeche man began to make grete chiere At comyng out of the shippe/ Iason and Hercules were the first that yssued out. and after them cam Mopsius & an other knight of Grece. whiche bare tofore Iason the riche flees of golde in signe of tryumphe & of victorie / The thre tonges of the meruaillous dragon/ Preparations for the Wedding of Jason and Medea. 159 the legges & hornes of the two dredefutt bulles. & they led by the arme the noble lady Medea / whiche was richely arayed & fayr as the fair daye & after them folowed the other knightes & noble men of Grece. Incontinent as Peleus & the gentill men of his route sawe the noble flees that was so riche. And the grete beaute of 5 Medea/ they were all ameruailed they made to them the Reuerence first / And with grete honoure and glorie they brought Iason to Elsebee the cite where they soiourned that night/ & on the morn they departed thens and wente to Pintaquo where the king Eson soiourned at that time. for asmoch as that place was sette in a good 10 ayer/and all aboute had grete deduyt of chaas and hounting meruaillously of venerie Yataquo was a fayr strong castell standing vpon a grete Ryuer and brode whiche rañ swiftly round aboute the place. and wyth this hit was enuironned with fair and parfounde forestes. 15 of good londe erable and fayr medowes plente. Certes the good" [lf. 1196) kyng was moche reioyed and not with oute cause whan he apperceyued and saw his noble sone Iason and the fair Medea his lady. the riche flees of golde. the thre tonges of the meruayllous dragon / & the hornes and legges of the two meruayllouse bulles / for to 20 contente eche man. whan he had made the reuerence vnto the kyng his fader and to the other nobles / he declared att playnly in the halle that he had neuer comen to the chief of this conqueste. ne had ben the councey. the ayde and adresse of Medea whiche was there present and therfore saide he. 'I haue renonced the loue of my lady Mirro / and haue promised to this lady that she shalbe my wyf and felaw/ and thus I wil espouse & wed her at the thirde day. wherfore I pray aft noble men and other. ladyes and Damoyselles. that eche persone do to her honour as it apperteyneth to do vnto a noble lady' 25 30 Whan Peleus had vnderstanden that the fair Medea had ben cause that Iason was comen to the aboue of his enterprise without daunger of deth. & that withoute the ayde of her he had ben deuoured he changed colour & becam all dede. & as wel aduised sayde nought therto / but alway for to holde Iason in loue 35 he sayde to him/ that he wold take the charge for to prepare al that sholde be propice & necessarie for to make the fest/ & furthermore he wolde sende for to pray his parentis & frendes for to be therat / Among thise thinges the preu Iason sente Theseus & 160 Jason's Wedding. Hercules moves against Troy. Mopsius vnto the porte of Descire & charged them expressely / that they sholde go & burie with all solempnite & Reuerence the body of the noble Quene Ysiphile / The two knightes went with [lf. 120] good herte And acquited them of this charge ¶ For tabregge 5 the historie Cypryane had in garde the fayr Medea vnto the daye that Iason had sette for tespouse her. Castor / Polus & Nestor with many riche Dukes came thenne to Pyntaquo What shall I make long resersait Iason espowsed the fayr Medea after the lawe that tyme vsed in Grece with moche grete honour & Reuerence. For he 10 dide to her asmoche grete honour as lady might receyue / The feste was noble and fayr. and hit was full & plenteuously seruid of all thinges / But of the metes & entrementes and with how many course & how many disshes at euery cours there were seruid I witt make no mencion at this time. But thus moche with I saye that 15 Peleus Cypriane & her doughters made right grete pompes / and Peleus ordeyned this feste moche sumptuous & costlewe of Ryche metes and beuurages or drinkes. The daye passed & the feste in daunces / carolles & esbatements / the euen cam & after the night that Iason and Medea laye to geder. Alway this feste endured' .xv. 20 dayes hole / And during this feste / the noble & riche flees of golde was ordynatly hanged vp in the haft in the sighte of all the worlde. and there myght come euery man that wolde to beholde hit by grete admyracion. And ther cam peple fro ferre & nigh in suche multitude that hit semed a veray procession. for whiche cause Iason 25 was meruaillously renommed in many a countre for his hygh vasselage & for this so glorious conqueste AT T thende of .xv. dayes & of the hye solempnite of these espousailles as the noble prynces barons and noble men were [lf. 120 b] vpon the poynt for to retorne to theire countrees Jason and 30 Hercules assembled them and there recounted to them the rudesse that the kyng Laomedon hadde don to Iason & to the knightes of this companye in reffusing to them fressh water and vytay for their money / For the whiche cause they had ben in danger & paril of deth / Thenne the Princes & Barons of Grece hering the grete 35 doleance of Iason and Hercules. promised prestly & swore that they wolde auenge this defaulte & iniurie / They were aspre / hoot and hasty in vengeance / And after these couenauntes thus made / they gaf charge to Argos to make and sette vp an honderd' shippes of warre for to bringe fyfty thousand men to fore Troye or atte Medea learns the Magic of Rejuvenation. 161 lest fourty thousand / Argos that was well connyng in that werke enterprised the charge / And promised that with in thre yere alle thise shippes shold be redy to helpe hem. And whan they hadde take a conclusion vpon alle thise thinges / And that they had made to Medea alle the honour and Reuerence of the world/ by space of 5 time they departed alle thens / And euery man retourned into his contre leuing Iason and Medea in their reste Eleus wente vnto Eslebee and bare dueyft and Rancour in his so tryumphe / and that he knewe not how he mighte make him to 10 deye / And Iason which entended to nothing sauing to make his plaisir / lete him yet gouerne his Royaume. & so acquitte him in the dette of mariage ayenst the fair Medea in suche facion. that she conceyuid of him a right fair sone / whiche at thende of .ix. monthes was deliuerid. And was named¹ Iason after his fader [lf. 121] The kyng Oetes fader of Medea cam thenne to Pintaquo wyth a priue meyne and liti companye. as he that loued Medea like as the fader loueth the childe. And whan he vnderstode & knew the grete honour that the preu Iason had don to her. he was content with him and with his doughter / And withoute exploityng² of 20 ony other thing he retorned into his countre moche Ioyous. And hit was not long after these thinges thus befallen / that the olde maystresse of Medea departed out of this world and deyde. But whan it cam vnto the article of deth she taught Medea a grete part of the arte of nygromancye & of many other sciences where 25 in she was experte / And also she taught her among other sciences an art and crafte for to make olde peple to become yong of the age of .xxxij yere. But the lyf & destynee for to deye might not be lengthid vnto suche persones by the vertu of the science ne other wise. for asmoche as it is predestinacion naturett ¶ How Medea chaunged the kyng Eson into yong aage And of the deth of Peleus 30 After the deth of the maistresse of the fayr Medea Iason she thought answerde to him/ that she had loste grete felawship & priuaulte by 35 the deth of her maistresse. To whom the noble prue Iason ansuerde and sayde. that ther was nothing so certayn for euery creature as the deth. And that the goddes wold take her sowle. After many dayes Medea toke hede that among all other sciences she had one for to make old peple to become yong and specially men. And [lf. 121 b] Syn she behelde also that the good kyng Eson was passing auncient & old. for whiche cause she considerid that she might gete a grete loos & an hye Renommee. if she renewed his aage / wherfore she called on a daye her lord Iason & sayde to him that by her sciences she coude do somoche that his fader Eson sholde 10 recouure newe yongth in suche wise as he sholde seme non older but .xxxij. yere old/ whan Iason vnderstode this that said is he was meruaillously abasshid & not without cause / but howe well that him semed a thing inpossible wherto he gaf no faith yet he ansuerde and saide to her 'Certes fayr lady I knowe for trouth 15 that ye are right wise & wel experimented in plente of hye sciences/ 162 ye can moche more thenne all other ladies & damoiselles / but yet this semeth a moche & a grete thing to do so as ye saye to me. & I wolde it plesed the Goddes now that your science might stracche into so hye a matere for somoche as that sholde be to me a right 20 grete wele. for I wolde that my fader myght liue so longe that he shold put me in my sepulture wythout abregyng or shorting of my time. ye know wel that euery man desireth to lyue' Y all my goddes sire' ansuerde the lady 'ye shall well 'B knowe that for nothing I will abuse ne deceyue you But I declare you for trouth that for to lengthe the lyfe of your fader the king lenger thenne the goddes and nature hath ordeyned' by limitacion of tyme / as touchyng that I wil not touche / for my science may not furnissh that. But as to the regarde for to reduce his yongth in suche wise as he shal seme to you & all other in the 30 aage of .xxxij. yere I wil make me strong so to do if it be youre [lf. 122] plaisir and his' Madame' ansuerde thenne Iason 'I am as for 6 my self more thenne content and pray yow therof with all my herte / but we muste go vnto the kyng my fader and declare to him alle the fayte for to here his oppynion.' Wyth these wordes Iason 35 brought the fayr Medea vnto the kyng Eson hys fader. And declared to him the goode will that Medea had toward him. Sayng that if he wolde consente therto and ayde hem self that she sholde make him yong agayn and bring him from his olde age vnto the aage of .xxxij. yere 'But as to the regard of the lengthen- 25 ing of youre lyf other wise thenne God and nature hath ordeyned/ as to that she will nothing touche ' 163 Whan the noble & auncient king Eson had vnderstond thys that sayd is he beyng sette vpon a couche & resting his heed vpon his arme whiche was white & balled he sayd vnto 5 Medea / 'My fair doughter ye haue ben cause as I vnderstande that Iason my sone is comen to his honour and prouffit and to his aboue of his enterprise / and that withoute youre counceyle / moyen & ayde he had ben dede & deuoured by the dredeful & horrible bestes that kept the noble and riche moton or shepe of golde in the Io yle of Colchos. & as ye haue kept & saued his lif in his yong aage flourishing in vertues & valeur / witt ye also saue myn in my last dayes. For certes after the cours of nature I am at the brinke of my pitte or sepulture. and thus liyng a long time in the vmbre or shadowe of deth. I had leuer to be and dwelle in the worlde thenne 15 to part out therof/ for ther is no thing that I desire somoche/ whan it shalbe to you possible as for to retorne me into the prosperite of iongthe/ & therfor my fayr doughter. yf hit be in [lf, 122 6] you or in your science to do this that ye haue put in termes by your moeuing and after by your worde. I sholde be gretly holden 20 vnto you. and if yt plese you to take the crowne of my royame. I shal gyue hit vnto you. without claymyng it euer after.' My dere fader' ansuerde Medea it is well knowen that ye ar an hye prynce garnisshed with goode renomme. of noble conuersacion. digne to bere the crowne. wherfore as Reson is your dygnyte shal 25 abide with you att your lyff and in fauour of youre seignoureuse gentilnesse. ye yet er .ix. dayes ben past I shal renewe you as sayd is vnto the aage of .xxxij. yere. and I shal not laboure on non other mater vnto the tyme that I am come to the aboue of myn enterprise / whiche is no litil thing' 6 30 Ythout making of ony delaye the fayr Medea toke leue of her lord Iason for .viij. dayes hole & thenne she departed fro the palais / and wente the most secretly that she coude af allone vnto a grete wode / And whan the nyght was comen. & that the mone shone bright & clere / she knelid' doun thries on her knees / 35 studyeng at eche tyme her science / syn lift vp her visage vnto the heuen & made this oroison that foloweth /'Mone reposing in the myddes of the sterres that shinest and confermest the charmes / and ye the goddes of montaignes. of the valeyes. of wodes of W / M 2 Eson by a magic Bath made young. desertes. of the fontaynes / of sees / of herbes / and of trees / be ye in my begynnyng and gyue me ayde in my werke for the salute & helthe of kinge Eson.' whan she had said thys she made certayn signes aboute her and after she maad somme secrete Inuocacions. [lf. 123] And thenne she was lifte vp into the ayer and borñ into alle the Regyons of the world Where she gadred and toke many herbes of dyuerce facions and condicions / & many precious stones. And was thus in point labouring by the space of .viij. dayes. And on the .ix. daye she was restablisshid in the same woode and in the 10 propre place from whens she was lyfte vp in to the ayer / And there she fonde her silf tofore a moche riche temple that was there dedyed' vnto the goddesse Hebe & to the goddesse Hekates It was on the poynt of the daye erly whan Medea fonde her thenne Medea abode ther aft 164 15 rauisshed vnto the sonne rising. & thenne she entrid into the temple & made sacrefice vnto the goddesses Hebe and Hekates. Hebe was callid goddesse of yongth & Hekates of charmerye Whan she had don thus she yssued oute of the temple / and dide make a pitte in the erthe & in this pitte whiche was depe she 20 sacrefied a black shepe vnto the goddes of helle. of whom she helde and kepte the blood & medlid it with the herbes. And after that she was garnysshid of all that was nedefutt for her / retorned' vnto the olde auncient kyng Eson. And did do make for him a fayr bayne / wherin she put these herbes / & mylke and hony And 25 whan she had prepared & made redy alle that was for him necessarie In the presence of Iason she put the king into the bayne where the herbes begonne to smell right swete And euer more & more gaf good odour. And anoñ after that he was therin. and that she had rubbed and froted' hym with the herbes / he fill a slepe by her arte. 30 & whan he was a slepe she made him a litill wound. where oute [lf. 123 6] she drewe his olde blood/ And lefte him in this poynte by the space of .vij. houres / After this she awoke him & made him to yssue out of the bayne all naked hole & sound of all his membres as he hadd ben in the aage of two an thretty yere 35 Han the preu Iason and the Kyng his fader hym self sawe W peri a they grete meruay and not without cause. for this was a werk that neuer was seen ne happend to fore And so moche preysed the witte / the connyng. and the vertues of the fayr Medea. that they Iuged Pelias, desiring new Youth of Medea, is slain. 165 *P her to be inspired' of the Goddes. Thenne the noble king Eson whan he fonde him self in this estate/he sente for the beste tailours and makers of garnements. And dide do make for his body all newe habillements after the facion that the yonge men ware at that time after this he went & put him to the chaas or hunting & 5 to the deduyt of fawconns & hawkes / to make esbatements / festes. daunces & tournoyes/ioustes and other plaies. And for to shorte our mater/ he so conduysed him self as a man made all newe / Hit was not long after this that Peleus and all the nobles of the countre and other were aduertised herof. Wherfore grete nombre 10 of peple cam to Pintaquo only for to see the kyng Eson that was strongly enclyned to singe. daunce and to do al Ioyouse thinges. And yet that more is he sawe gladly the fayre Damoiselles / And for to make short he held him selfe as a yong Prynce that hadde no Regard saue only to make good chere and to passe the tyme Ioyously 15 Eleus. his wyf Cypriane. & his doughters cam vnto the kyng [lf. 124] in the renouellite of this noble respyrement / Medea laye with Iason & conceyued of him a right fayr sone of whom she was deliuerid in good time. And anon after the burth of this seconde sone/ Cypriane cam on a day to Medea & required' moche instantly 20 that of her grace she wolde make yong agayn Peleus / whiche began strongly to wexe auncient & olde. Certes the fayr Medea was right Ioyous whan she saw her so required. and thinking in her self that she wolde be auenged of the disloyal Peleus the whiche entended to haue made Iason be ded. She acorded to her 25 this request and toke daye for to do hit. & whan the daye was comen / Medea commanded to Cypryane that she shold' make redy a moche noble bayne. After she sente for to fecche Peleus whiche was moche Ioyous / for so moche as he supposed to become yong agayn lyk as he had ben tofore. And thenne whan all was redy / 30 Peleus dispoilled him of his clothes & entred into the bayne/ Medea made him to slepe there / And whan he was a slepe she toke to his two doughters to eche a swerde well trenchant in her handes / and made hem to make on the body of Peleus their fader moo thenne fifty woundes mortal. Sayng that they must nedes do 35 so/ And thenne whan Peleus was adoubed and hurt / & that of his lyf was no remedye. Medea awoke him & sayde in this maner. 'Ha a right vnhappy trayttre thou sendest late Iason into Colchos wenyng for to haue made him deye there without ony Pelias's Daughters slay themselves. respyte / wherfore thou hast deseruid the deth that shall be now this our inhumayn & by the handes of thy propre doughters' & [lf. 124 b] therwith Medea departed from the chambre. And Peleus thus myserably finisshed his lyf & his dayes Whan Cypryane & his two doughters were aduertised of thise tydinges. they escried' moche sorowfully. & in wepyng grete teeris in grete anguissh drew out of the meruaillous bayne the poure body of Peleus. and leyde hit a long vpon a table but Cypryane had the herte so strayte shette that she might not speke. 10 and not withoute cause For assone as she had leyd Peleus vpon 5 the table. she fytt douñ reuerssed aft a swounne / and thenne the doughters considering the grete meschief that was befalle to them. toke the two swerdes yet all blody with whiche they had put their fader to deth & smote them self to the hert in suche wise that they 15 fill doun dede & despaired' vpon the body of their sorowfutt moder. whiche thenne reuiued out of her swounne. A ha right pietous & dolorous caas. Cypryane comen agayn to her self & seyng in her presence this myschief & redoublement of sorow/coude holde none other mayntene sauf for to crye with all her puissaunce also hye 20 & ferdfully that the kyng Eson and his son beyng not fer fro thens in a toure by the chambre. were gretly affraid' with this crye. And' in especial whan they behelde first the body of Peleus put vpon the table al enuironned with woundes. Secondly whan they sawe and apperceyued the two yong Damoiselles doughters of Peleus hauyng 25 styked' in their bodies vnto theire hertes the swerdes where with they were slayn / And thirdly seyng Cypryane lyyng vpon the pament / her hert faylling cracching her face & drawyng her here by grete asprete of sorowe [lf. 125] 30 The kyng Eson & his sone Iason seeyng this that sayd' is cam thenne vnto the lady & in approchyng releued her & leyde her on a bed that was there. Thenne Iason began to doubte of Medea for asmoche as oftetimes she had required him that he wolde put to deth Peleus because he had sent him into the yle of Colchos / whan they had brought the lady on the bed. Eson the noble kyng 35 & his sone Iason began to reconforte her the best wise that they might/ and wepyng tenderly they demanded her who had commysed this dolorous murdre / Thenne the lady ansuerde with moche grete payne that Medea was culpable/ & reherced to hem all the maner how she had made Peleus to deye by the handes of his two Jason, disgusted by Medea's Outrages, leaves her. 167 doughters / & how they seyng the shameful feet commysed by them were desperate & slewe hem self in grete sorow. & telling this her hert failled. the king entended to her & Iason departed thens & went to Medea which was in her chambre & saide to her 'A ha dame wherto were ye euer born into this world the merites of 5 your benefetes ben grete & digne of glorie / but¹ your peruers demerites ben somoch horrible & foule that they stayne al your vertues'. 'My dere lorde' saide thenne Medea. 'Ne know ye not how Peleus sente you into Colchos by his enhortement for somoche as he supposed that ye neuer sholde haue retorned/ & also ye had 10 ben dede without remedie. ne had ben that ye escaped the daunger by my counceyle as it is wel knowen. Thise thinges considerid & seen that he had no canse to purchase to you such a daunger for ye neuer deseruid it wherfore I haue many times desired you to take punycion vpon the desloial Peleus to which ye wold neuer 15 entende/ so it happend that Peleus had a wil for to be Reduyte in to yong age as the kyng your fader is by myn Introduccion & [lf. 125 b] stile but his two doughters haue put him to deth wherof ye ought to be right Ioyous' / 'Certes dame' ansuerde Iason 'ye saye that pleseth you / but ye haue do so now and also other times that ye 20 shaft euere be holden in reproche. & therfore that now & other times ye haue commysed & don to be commysed. many enorme inhumayne & hydouse feates. I renounce yow in alle poyntes & your companye / and command you vnto the goddes.' After these wordes Iason departed fro the chambre sore disconforted and without 25 takyng leue of the kyng his fader ne of other persone he departed allone vpon his hors fro the castell of Pyntaquo Whan Medea had vnderstande that Iason / to whom she had do so moche as her semed of honour & other thinges. Renonced her companye / And that she apperceyued that he had 30 taken his hors. & was allone departed oute of the castell. She toke her yongest sone in her armes and two of her damoiselles in her companye. And in this wise went after Iason thinking to repease him by fayre wordes / but the preu Iason that was in ouer grete trouble and anger rode alle way forth tofore him so long that he 35 entrid' into a forest. And continuelly had his veu & sight toward the erthe. thinkyng on the malefetes of Medea & of her Inhumanytes & murdres / And he wente so ferre in to the woode that Medea knew Jason dwells at Corinth: not where he becam how wele she retorned not to Pintaquo but sought alway Iason as long as the day endured. And at night. she/ her childe & the two Damoiselles laye vndre & tre for the better wyth sore bewaillyng [1f. 126] & made a meruaillous sorowe He king Eson dide do burye this night his broder Peleus & for their deth / but whan it cam at the euen and that Medea ne Iason his sone cam not to him as they were acustomed. his sorow doublid in grete anguissh and in grete displaisir / & cessed not al Io the night to be in grete thought & melancolye. whan the morning was comen he sente out his men into the woode for to seche Iason & Medea / but they that so were sent coude not finde them ne here no tydinges of them And the preu Iason wente alwaye forth also pensif as he might be. & his auenture was suche that after many 15 iourneyes & many wayes & champaynes trauersid as he that rode by day & in the night restid & lete his hors bayte & pasture in the feldes & medowes / he arryued in the cite of Corinthe where as was the king of that countre named Creante. the whiche had thenne a fair doughter named Creusa. Iason went vnto this Creante & gaf 20 him to knowlech what he was. but Creante assone as he hadd knowlech of him dide him moche grete honour for the loos & goode renommee that he had goten by his Ryght hye valiance in many a royame & countre In Corinthe thenne Iason dweld & abode a certayn space of tyme. Creusa that was a right fayr lady / beheld ofte tymes Iason / And desired with good will to be acompanyed with him. but Iason was so empesshid with sorow & of melancolye. that he might take none hede of hit And furthermore he was so charmed that in no wise / he might loue none exept Medea. Whan the kyng 30 Creante apperceyuid the maintene of Iason & that he made no Ioye [lf. 126b] by continuance of time. he cam to hym on a daye & coniured him that he shold' telle him the cause of his anoye and grief / And how well that Iason excused hym. allewaye the kyng oppressid him more and more & did so moche by fayr wordes. that Iason con- 35 fessid to hym the auentures that were befallen betwene hym and Medea and sayd' to him also how he was departed fro his countrey / more for to withdrawe him fro Medea and to forgete her thenne for ony other cause / But he coude not finde the manere ne mene for to come to his aboue 25 where he obtains Creusa in Marriage. He kyng Creante whiche was a wise prince knowing the caas 169 cordial frende. for he counceylled him that assone as he might be sholde take & wedde a new wyf. saying that the loue & new acqueyntaunce of a new wyf shold make him lightly to lose & 5 forgete the thoughtes & Imagynacions of loue and the plaisirs that he hath had in the firste. whan Iason had vnderstande that the king conceylled him wisely / & that he sayde to him the secrete of the caas. he thanked him moche. and sayde that he wold marie hym if he coude finde a wyf after his estate. And therwith he toke 10 leue of the kyng. and withdrew him into his logys And it was not long after that he ne retorned vnto the palays of the kyng for to see the ladyes / And among alle other he began to beholde the fayr Creusa. And approuched to her wenyng to require her of loue / but whan it came to the opening of his mouth. certes the 15 souuenaunce of Medea cam tofore him that toke awaye all his entendements in al pointes / whan Iason saw this that sayd is. he arose vp from thens and entrid into a gardyn where he fonde him [lf. 127] self so melancolious and troubled in his corage that he knewe not what he might do best / Thenne it happend that the kyng anone 20 after came into this gardyne for to reclayme a sperhawke of his. but he founde Iason sett vnder the tree / Thenne he wente to him for to Resone with him. And Iason arose incontinent as he sawe him come And thenne the king axed him how it was. & how he felte him. 'Certes syre' ansuerde thenne Iason/'me semeth that 25 I am alwaye in one poynt' & after sayde to him in this wise 'Syre I remembre well how ye haue counceylled me for to absteyne me to thinke on Medea. the whiche is continuelly in myn entendement for to take to wyf som newe Lady Wherfore I require you and praye with all my hert that ye witt gyue to me Creusa youre 30 doughter to spouse and felawe. & ye so doyng shal do to me the grettest honour and plaisir that may come to me. for if it be other wyse I am the most euil fortuned' knight that is in the remenaunt of the worlde' Incontinent as the gentil kyng had vnderstonden the Requeste 35 'Certes Iason ye do to me & to al our hows grete honour whan ye require for your felawe & wyff my doughter/I gyue to you my doughter. and she is well destyneed' and' comen into this worlde for 170 The Marriage Feast of Jason and Creusa. you. Certes I accorde youre Requeste and gyue her to you.' With these wordes the kyng sente for the Quene / his doughter / and for the Barons and knightes of his court. the Ladies and Damoiselles [lf. 127b] as well of his palais as of his Cyte were sente fore. and in the 5 presence of all them that there were he made Iason and his doughter to promise that they sholde wedde and espouse eche other/ within a certayn terme that was tho sayd. and after these thinges by thauis of his barons knightes & the ladyes the day of their espousailles was ordeyned/ and did do make ther a feste so 10 fair and notable. that like was neuer seen in all that countre For the kyng & the Quene were so Ioyous of this noble allyaunce as possible was for hem to be / There were daunces and carolles begonne instruments of all facions sette a werk / songes & fayr dytees songen in the best wise. wyne and mete were plenteuously 15 araied & dressed for al them that wold take. And thus endured this grete & notable feste vnto the nyght that the king. the quene / Iason. Creusa the Barons / knightes ladyes and damoyselles departed fro this gardyn with moche grete Ioye. for eche man enforced him to make grete chere for the noble aliance of the preu 20 Iason and of the fayr Creusa / but who that euer was Ioyous or soroufull the yong lady was moche conforted and not without cause thinking on the hye vertues that were in the persone of the valiant prince Iason ¶ How Iason espoused the fair Creusa the kinges doughter of 25 Corinthe. & of her deth by Medea The renommee of this weddyng of Iason & of the fair Creusa concluded that he wold make a solempne feste / and sent his messagers into many and dyuerce countrees for to assemble the [lf. 128] Princes of the countrees hys frendes and for to seke clothes of gold' of silke and other sumptuous & riche thinges / Alway for to ensiewe the veray and true narracion of our matere. during the fyansailles & trouthplightyng of Iason & of Creusa / Medea that lefte not night ne day for to seke her husbonde Iason as said is 35 She erred & laboured in suche wise as she came vnto the metes & marches of Corinthe/ & wel concluded in her selfe that she wolde go vnto Corinthe. And as she wente in her waye she founde a moche fair fontaine or welle. where about satte & were many labourers Medea, searching for Jason, goes to Corinth. 171 6 that at this spring refresshed them. whan they apperceyued the lady & the two damoiseles come vnto the fontayne. certes they were sore ameruailed to see thre so fayr women. howe wel they axed hem whyther they went. Wherfore demande ye' saide Medea for asmoch fair dame' ansuerde one of the labourers 5 'that we will go vn to the cite of Corinthe/ & if it plese you to go theder & that our companye may plaise you / we shaft gladly hold 'you company.' 'My frende' ansuerde Medea /'knowe ye that our entencion is for to go into the cite that ye speke of. and that right wel pleseth vs your companye' With that the noble lady damoiselles and tho labourers wente on her waye / and so goyng one of them began to beholde the litil childe sone of Medea that one of the damoiselles bare in her armes / and whan he had a litil beholde the child he sayde att on hye in this manere/Certes I wolde that it plesid all oure 15 goddes that my Lady Creusa that to morow come .ix. monethes might haue one so fair a sone by her lorde''Fayr frende' saide thenne Medea 'What is that Creusa that ye nowe speke of'/ 'what is she' sayd' the labourer. 'And why knowe ye her not [lf. 128 b] and haue lyued so long. Certes she is doughter of the kyng of 20 Corinthe whom shall wedde to morn the most fayr knight of the worlde and the most vailliaunt in renommee. For hit is he that had conquerd' I wote neuer what a shepe or a Ram of golde that men saye is passing noble & Ryche/ wherfore we all go to geder for to see what feste there shall be / and eche of vs bere theder of 25 our goodes for to do worship vnto the weddyng' The custome at that time was suche whan that a kyng dide do marie his sone or doughter/ that alle the men of the royaume were bounden eche by hym selfe for to make a presente of vytaylles. And the marchantes and bourgeyses of the Cytees made to hym an ayde of a certayn 30 somme of moneye and of other goodes wherwith they were dyscharged. 10 AN None thenne as Medea vnderstode this that the laborer spack of the knight that was so fayr and so valiaunt & that had conquerd' the flees of golde. she thought well that hit was her lorde 35 Iason that shold so wedde on the morn the fayr Creusa. wherfore she was sore troubled. and not withoute cause. howe well she answerde not one word. wherfore she thoughte not the lasse. And in suche wise she exploited' that she entrid into Corinthe by fair Medea makes her Appeal to Jason: day And made her to be conduyted' vnto within the palays of the kyng into a grete and fayre halle. where as was daunsing and the grettest Ioye of al the world. But ye must vnderstande. that Medea was comen in habyte dissimiled and disguised. And Incontinent as 5 she was entrid' into the halle. she began to loke all about if she [lf. 129] might see Iason. She loked so long that she espied him. but her 172 semed that he had an heuy chere and was sorouful. thenne was Medea sewre that hit was Iason that shold wedd Creusa. Thenne began her herte to melte in suche wise that ther departed from 10 thens many & grete plente of sighes. & many teeris deualed' and and fill doun from her eyen vpon her breste / And thus doyng she thoughte & agayn thoughte what was to doo for the beste / And thenne she retourned' vnto the two Damoyselles. and sente one of them well disguised vnto Iason for to require him that he wolde 15 come & speke to a lady that was there Henne the noble preu Iason nothing thinkyng on the fayr Medea heering the Request of the Damoyselle roose vp and wente wyth her. and she brought him vnto Medea whiche was withdrawen a litif a parte holdyng her litif sone in her armes / 20 But Incontinent as Iason apperceyued her there in that poynt he was meruayllously esmayed. And after that Medea had made to hym the Reuerence in salewyng him by alle their goddes. She said to him in this maner. 'Alas my dere lord' Iason. what haue ye entencion to doo / ys hit so that to morn withoute lenger tarieng 25 ye will take for your wyf Creusa whome ye haue promised as I am certefyed. And howe my only cordyatt loue & frende shaft I be sallaryed of suche payement in the recompensacion of the saluacion of your lyf/of whiche none had ben / yf it had not ben saued by my moyen as ye well knowe. Is this the merite that ye rendre to Whan for your loue I haue abandonned the kyng my fader 30 me [If. 129 b] and all his royaume. Is this the gwerdon that I haue awayted after that I haue reduysed by so grete labour and trauaile my lorde your fader the kyng from his auncient aage vnto the yongth of .xxxij. yere as ye wel know A ha Iason right noble and valiant 35 knight. I suppose ye holde wel in your remembraunce all that ye haue promysed to me. for goddes sake forgete it not & put it not in oubliaunce / And if hit be so that ye will take and haue ony other lady then me/Certes I had leuer now to lose my lyf then to liue ony lenger / sle me. my deth be pardoned vnto you' and is repudiated. 173 'Dame' ansuerde thenne Iason. 'what as to the regard of the wedding nowe begonne. if it plese the Goddes they shalbe parfaited & fulfild as it is ordeyned not with stonding ony promysse that hath ben made bytwene you & me' Whan Medea herde this answere she fill doun to the erthe al a swounne or in 5 a traunce sayng/'A ha myn only & souerayn wele thenne shal ye be pariured' / 'Certes dame' ansuerde Iason 'Sauue your honour / I haue acquytte vnto you al that I haue promysed vnto you. for I haue brought you into my countre & solempnly haue espoused you. & syn I haue be trew in mariage unto the deth of myn uncle 10 Peleus / where as ye wel know hath ben commysed by you a grete dafaute. Not withstondyng this that is past I entende not that by me ye sholde be sclawndrid. But knowe ye that I had moche leuer lyue in honour and ensiewe the termes and werkes of noblesse thenne for to holde me lenger in your companye 1 I telle you these 15 thinges for so moche as if I helde me lenger by yow / And of you ne were done good Iustice. hit mighte be sayd that I sholde be culpable of one so cruelt a murdre. wherof is ensiewed the deth of two so fayr & noble maydens and pucelles doughters of Peleus. [lf. 130] And for this cause & other cruelles by yow commysed. I shaft hold 20 that I haue sayd. And so I may doo & ought to do lawfully in keping myn honour & the termes & commandements of oure lawe' Han the fayr Medea had vnderstanden alle the wyl and conclusion of the noble preu Iason. yf she hadde ben to fore soroufull and ouer angry. yet was she thenne moche more.¹ For she 25 began to wepe wyth thyse wordes & to sighe fro her herte so parfondly that hit semed that ther departed fro her two fayr eyen two ruysseauls or two springes of a fontayne. This notwithstanding after many sighes from the herte so profondly she repliqued vnto thanswere of Iason and sayde. 'Ha a sir knight I know well now 30 that it is destine that I owe to be the moste Infortunat lady of the worlde/yf I haue consented or counceylled the deth of the desloyatt Peleus / hit hath ben for the grete loue & right trewe that I haue had for tauenge you of this that he by his fals counceytt sente you into Colchos to make the conqueste vpon the flees of 35 golde. knowing that hyt was a thing inpossible euer to retorne wythoute to be deuoured and ded if hit hadde not be my pouruey- 10. m inverted. 174 Medea attends the Feast seated on Dragons: ance / and whan I haue doñ alle thise thinges wyth good' entencion and for to gete your grace. ye wylle nowe leue and repudye me in alle poyntes / wherfore I may well say that vnder the firmament is no more Infortunat creature in alle tribulacion thenne I am / Ha / 5 a my dere loue and frend Iason shaft I haue none other salaire ne other gwerdon for all my merites' Certes dame' ansuerde then Iason, 'ye haue moch more thenne ye haue deseruid for suche trespaas. suche Rewarde. for the couuerture of the trespaas by you done can not excuse you. 10 do the best ye can or may & your children also. withdrawe you with your children into som countre & so shal ye do wisely & also your prouffit.' 'My dere lord' sayd' thenne Medea / 'syn it is your plaisir that it so be. hit muste nedes be that it plese me. And so be it alway that youre plaisirs ben fulfillid. yet at the lest for to reioye 15 me a litil. ye shal do to me somoche grace that of your curtoisye I may be loggid here within vnto to morow to thende that I may see the sollempnyte of the wedding / & if ye will thus accorde to me I promette you that to morn at dyner for the loue of you. I shall make appere visibly one of the grete meruailes that euer 20 was seen at weddinge of a Kynges doughter or of a prynce' Han Iason had vnderstande the requeste of the lady not thinking that she pretended' but vnto all well & goode and also for to be quytt of her accorded her request And was deliueryd to her a right fayr chambre within the palais / And whan 25 the lady was in this chambre she sent her two damoiselles for to be logged in the towne / So hit happend whan she was there allone she began to studye in many of her sciences / and whan it cam aboute midnighte she dide her to be transported into the ayer / & she broughte into her chambre with her plente of werkes Ryght 30 secrete Wherof she composed foure grete and horrible dragons whome she knetted to gyder by their tayles and maad' as hit hadd [lf. 131] ben a chayne. And thenne this done she passed' in this poynt that night so sore passioned' with Ialousye of loue that her semed that her herte and all her body were all esprised with fyre & flambe. 35 So hit happend on the morn whan Iason had espoused the fayr Creusa & that he was sette at dyner with her & with the kyng fader of the lady and with the knightes ladyes and damoyselles of the countreye. Thenne Medea departed from her chambre sittyng in the myddes of the four dragons holdyng her yongest sone alle [lf. 130 b] and kills all there, except Jason. 175 naked' in her handes. And in this poynte she made her to be brought to fore the table where as the noble preu Iason was Certes (Ertes hit is well lightly to beleue that the kyng & the noble preu Iason / and also all they that were ther Were gretly esmayed and ferd' whan they apperceyued' Medea in suche araye 5 entre in to the halle sittyng by twene foure dragons so terrible to beholde by semblaunt / And som there were that fledde. And somme abode to see thauenture seeyng that she helde betwene her handes the yong chyld But whan Medea sawe that she was a fore Iason. She escried him in this manere. 'Jason / Iason thou knowest that 10 I am thy wyf/ thou leuest me for another / & wenest thy self not to haue mesprised to me. I haue saued thy life And thou doste to me grete wrong and ouermoche grete blame. And this procedeth fro the of alle desloyalte and of all mauastie. wherof thou art chief and heed. And suche wilt thou be and abide. but I shaft kepe the 15 from it yf my connyng faylle not. For certaynly I promise the that thy new wyf Creusa and the kyng her fader and al they that ben here within shaft lose theire lyf. Reserued thy self. & by consequent [lf. 131 b] thy propre sone that I holde in my propre armes shalbe the first that shal begynne the feste' W yong Han the desolate lady had sayd these wordes she holdyng her childe whiche was moche tendre. toke him by the two legges & by the force of her armes Rente him in two pieces. & in that poynt cast him in the plater to fore Iason and Creusa / And with that the four terrible dragons on whom she satte opende 25 their throtes in disgorging fyre & venym. somoche & so horribly that all they that were there deyde myserably & in grete torment reserued Iason whiche mighte not receyue ony greef by no venym bycause of the bloode of the bole medlid with the asshes where with he had ben enoynted as it is sayd' al a long in the chapitre 30 1 ¹ makyng mencion of the conqueste of the noble flese of golde Henne whan the preu Iason apperceyued the yong childe so inhumaynly slayn. & after sawe in his presence dye miserably and in sorow his lady Creusa / the kynge the quene his barons knightes ladies & damoiselles squiers and other by the sortes and 35 enchantements of Medea. he was so ouer angry and wroth that he might no more be without he had ben out of his inynde / Thenne 20 The Words of Jason and Medea after the Slaughter. he aroos from the table all confuse and escried vpon Medea sayng/ 'A ha right euil enchanteresse replenisshed with all euyl / certes it is ouer grete dommage that the erthe bereth and susteyneth you. ye haue with youre two handes murdrid' youre owne sone and myn. 5 And syn by your enchantementes fals & vnresonable ye haue maad to deye myserably and with doloure so many hye prynces. vailly- [lf. 132] aunt knightes ladyes and damoiselles and gentil esquyers here assembled for to do to me honour & companye. the whiche dyd to you neuer trespaas ne grief. Ha a what horrible cruelte is by you 10 commysed. Certes ye haue not the corage of a woman humayne/ but of a best or serpent deuouring all creatures or ellis of a cruel tyrante wyth oute pite / Ha. a Right peruerse and felon courage / what hast thou done by thy grete oultrage or cruelte. what ought I nowe to doo or where shall I become after that this euyl is 15 befallen. If thou were a man like as thou art a woman peruerse and myrrour or chief of alle euyH. with oute lenger tarieng I shold take vengeance of this trespaas and grief. but for as moche as thou arte a woman. hit shall neuer happen that my hand enploye hym vpon thy body. Considering that a noble man that for ony anger 20 or trespaas smiteth a woman or sette hand on her/he leseth his honour and wyth good cause' Whan the lady had vnderstande the complaynte of her lorde Iason/She answerde him and sayde in this manere. Certes my dere loue knowe ye for trouth/that I had leuer see all the 25 world' deye. thenne I knewe that ye shold haue habitacion with ony other woman thenne with me / ye knowe how I haue emploied' me for to preseue you from danger of deth / where many a knight hath lost hys lyf tofore. Also ye knowe what honour ye haue by my feat goten perpetuelly. and all this haue I doñ gladly to thentent that 30 ye shold be my husbonde and' espouse all youre lyf during. And now I apperceyue that [OCR gap] with leue and abandonne me for one [lf. 132b] other in all estate lesse thenne I am / Considere in what pariff ye may falle by your defaulte. see well to that ye kepe the promesse that ye haue made to me / Holde and kepe ye hit entierly or ellis 35 knowe for certayn that the vengeaunce of the Goddes shall punysshe yow' Henne whan Iason had vnderstande this that sayd is if he comparison & in suche wise that he coud not one word answere but departed out of the halle And Medea with her four dragons went out also & went thourgh the cite of Corinthe infecting men women & children all a long by the way. her damoiselles folowed and wente after and all the worlde fledd from her saue they. whiche knewe well that it was not well for somoche as she went so 5 strangely. Incontinent as the desolate Iason was out of the halle & that he sawe Medea departe / he called som of them that were escaped from this pestilence. and brought them for to see the kyng his doughter Creusa and plente of other that laye there dede among the tables vpon the benches & on the grounde. hit was Io a moche pietous thing to see and beholde. for the most part of them were swollen by the venym that they had receyued by the conduytes of her noses & of her mouthes and were as grete as barellis / Then was there made in all the cite a meruaillous sorowe and dueitt / eche man began to wepe & cast out moche pietouse 15 cryes in cracching their faces & tering their heer & thus doyng one & other sought & serched' after their parents and frendes. that with grete payne they might knowe hem. for they founde hem so disfigured by the venym that they were swollen that vnnethe [1f. 133] they mighte knowe hem. And whan they were drawen out eche 20 a part. they dide doo burie them right honourably after their estate. and in like wise the kinge / the quene / and the fayre Creusa her doughter were put in their sepulture apperteynyng to their estate. Iason was present for to achieue & do all thise thinges. & soiourned there vnto the tyme that the praiers & cerimonyes 25 were accomplisshed¹ after the lawe & custome of that time. and syn departed from Corinthe & wente his waye. But he was so disconforted & sorouful in corage that he might nomore be. Thus Ryding now on one side & after on an other side thinking on the meruailles & aduentures that he had had And aboue all other thinges on the 30 grete inhumanytes & crueltees that he hadd' seen commysed by Medea by her enchantements / & in an other manere he deliberid & concluded to Ryde & erre so ferre that he might finde ony aduenture. & Reconforted him self the best wise he coude after the misauenture that he had had 177 35 ¶ How Iason espoused the Quene Myrro of Oliferne / & howe he was awayted in a wood' and' assaylled by .xij knightes of Oliferne as he was goyng to Troye & howe he put hem to deth The valiant and Noble Prynce Iason departyng after this as sayd is fro the Cyte of Corinthe put hym on his waye and rood thurgh many countrees and citees right dolaunt and angrye / Somme tyme he bewailled the fayre Medea. & somtyme after [lf 133 b] sodaynly he remembred her malefices & her crueltes ouermoche inhumayne / and in riding from one place to another he was in so grete perplexite & sorowe that he might nomore but if he had deyde And for this cause he had his entendement so trauailed that he wist not what to do. In this maner trist & pensyf drawyng 10 from one countrey to an other hit was told him on a day that the king Tollus of Elsebee that was hys parent and of his kyn sholde wedde for his wyfe the kinges doughter of Thessale named Anestor. And for som what to refresshe him self he concluded that he wolde go to this wedding, whiche sholde be solempnel withoute taryeng/ 15 for he thought wel that ther sholde be kinges / Dukes Princes Quenes and noble ladyes in grete nombre. The fair Mirro was comen theder with other princesses because that the king Tollus was her nygh cosyñ. But incontinent as the kinges & princes knew Iason they welcomed him on all sides moche honourably. Alway the quene Mirro made no semblaunt to knowe him. for whan Iason had ben fested of one & other / and that he approched the quene Myrro whiche was thoo pensif. drew her a part behinde the other ladyes & escried him with an open voys which was well herd' sayng thus 'H 20 A/ a right euyt knight withdraw you Incontinent from me / haue ye forgoten that ye long syn promised me in Athenes that ye sholde be my husbonde / And yet ye haue doo nothing therto / but haue espoused another lady as hit hath ben recompted' and certefied to me / O dysloyal and vntrewe false lyer where as 30 ye haue not holden ne fayth ne trouth. Approche thou in no wyse [lf. 134] vnto me departe out of my presence. And be neuer founden in my waye.' But notwithstondyng that the Quene had achieued this reprouchable answere/ yet he sayd to her in this maner / 'My dere lady I am so moche malewrous & vnhappy / that I am not digne to 35 be founden tofore your noble presence. I knowe playnly that I haue made faute / And I can not thinke how my courage is thus corumped and y counceylled. for syn I toke leue the laste tyme of you and whan I parted I remembre right well that in my Voyage to Colchos I had you alway in continueft remembraunce 25 and tells her the Story of himself and Medea. 179 wreton within my herte hoping at my retorning to haue taken you to my wyf/vnto the time that on a cursid night I was sodeinly esprised with the loue of Medea. whiche a fore had required me to be her husbond. alway I refused her Requeste by vertue of the souenaunce & mynde that I had of you. Notwithstondyng that. she 5 made to me promesse to make me conquere the noble & riche moton with the flese of golde. where neuer knight wente tofore to conquere but if he lefte and loste there his lyff/ I knowe well that whan she made me this promesse all that daye I chaunged neuer my purpose ne corage. But assone as I was leyd' in my bedd an 10 euitt volente or wil surprised me whiche was suche in all poyntes that I lefte youre loue and concluded that I wold make of Medea my Lady paramours as I dide. and for this cause she gafe to me the Introduccion and the maner to conquere the noble and Riche moton. of whome I haue brought the noble Flees on this side the 15 see And also I haue broughte with me in to Myrmydone Medea no more thinkyng on yow. ner on that. that was concluded [lf. 134 ] betwene vs / thenne I hadde neuer seen yow But ye shaft knowe what ys happend syn I haue take her to my wyf / She hath by her cursed enchantemens & reprochable made myn vncle Peleus deye 20 dolorously / And also she is cause of the deth of his two doughters whiche is ouer fowle a vylaynous caas for a lady 'Certes Madame' sayd yet Iason for these enormytes knowe that I haue left & repudied her / And in alt abandonned & withdrawe me from her & by an inestimable desplaisir am 25 departed from the countre/ Myn auenture hath ben of suche condicion that I haue ben in the cite of Corinthe but Medea was alleway in my thoughte and mynd. Thenne seeyng that I coude in no wise forgete her & wold fayñ haue putte her oute of my memorie. I toke and wedded the kinges doughter of that cite. but in trouth 30 Medea arriued in the cite the euen tofore I wedded. and she did somoche that she spack to me & after many Remonstraunces many sighes & bewaillinges seeyng that she mighte not torne me ne haue other thing. she required me that she might be loggid within the palais / I agreed it not thinking that she wolde do ony euyl / 35 & whan it cam that we were at dyner the day of wedding for tauenge her self of that I toke another wyf. that she by the vertue of her sortes and enchantements made tappere at the dyner among all the noblesse, her self sitting vpon the taylles enterlaced' & knyt N 2 Jason is reconciled with Mirro. of foure horrible dragons castyng fyre and venym oute of their throtes. And helde in her handes her yongest sone. that I hadde engendred of her. and toke him by the two legges and tare and [1f. 135] Rente him in two pyeces whom she caste into the plater of my 5 wyf and me. And after the same dragons began to caste fire & venym out of her throtes in suche wise that she made to dye the king / quene and his doughter sittyng at the table. & consequently al them that were in the halle. how wel yet I mighte not deporte me but that I thinke on her inestimable beaute. and yet I doo aft 10 the diligence and payne for to absteyne me / wherof I haue grete meruaille. And for this cause I am entred into Reuerye. that if hit were not that I doubted shame and suppose I shold be deffamed/ certes I doubte that I shold' be constrayned to take her agayne' The noble Quene Myrro heering Iason that thus recompted to 15 her his aduentures. ymagined lyghtly that Medea hadde ensorted and bewicched him. She toke a Ryng and deliuerid to him sayng Certes sir knight I am in doubte that Medea hath bewicched you with her sortes and enchantements / For Right now ye sayde that she is enchanteresse / and therfore putte this Ryng on 20 your finger. And I assure you that if she hath made ony sortes or enchantements on you they shal lose all her puissaunce by the vertue of a preciouse stone that is closed with in the golde' With these wordes the preu Iason receyued of the lady this ring and put hit on his finger. and thenne forth with he forgate Medea. & hadd 25 souenaunce of no lady sauf only of the fayr Myrro. wherfore he lost his noyous maintene in suche wyse that he recouerd all new chere & contenaunce in somoche as he began thenne to beholde the noble Lady with a ioyous chere & saide/Madame I thanke you of your [lf. 185 b] Ryng For certaynly syn it had ben on my finger I haue found 30 and felte my self eslonged & alleged of all my sorowes and me semeth that I loue none other lady but you and therfore I require you right humbly if in ony maner I haue trespaced or misprised ayenst you that ye wille pardone me. And that it plese you that our compromise long syn made may now sorte good effecte' CErtes 35 Ertes sir knight' ansuerde thenne the noble lady I haue here tofore somoche louid you that noñ infortune may in ony wise make me to conceyue hate vnto you, and therfor see what is your entencion.' 'My dere lady' ansuerd' Iason 'my desir & entencion is nothing but to come to that I may be your husbonde if it and, disguised as her Servant, weds her. 181 be to me possible as I haue syn long promised. But hit is of necessite for to conduyte this werk secretly to thende that Medea be not aduertised therof For if she knew that ye were myn espouse. she sholde not cesse day ne night vnto the time that she had made yow to deye.' 'Certes sir knight' ansuerde the lady 'we shal doo right wel if the defaute be not in you. and shal telle you how / ye shall come with me after thise¹ weddingis & ye shal putte you in guise of a seruant in disfiguring your self asmoch as is in you possible. & ye shal serue me as a seruaunt. but whan we shalbe in Oliferne / ye maye haue me secretly to your wyf/ & thus Medea 10 shall nothing know ne non other persone of you & of me. And wyl she or not the strong enchanteresse that so long hath holden you in her sortes & in dangeres of her artes. from hens forth we shaft enioye the loues of vs eche other.' Thenne the preu Iason was content for to conduyte him self in this maner in all suche wyse as 15 the quene Myrro had ordeyned wherof she was right ioyous [lf 136] ¶ For tabregge the mater during thise weddinges Iason and Myrro ofte tymes spack to gyder of their amorettes & Iason receyued there many fair preysinges whiche were to long to reherce / In thende the weddinges finisshid & one & other toke leue and wente 20 home into their countrees. and so it ought not to be forgoten that Iason wente to Oliferne with the fayr Myrro in habite disguised as a yeman or a seruaunt & named him self Sambor Han thenne the louer & the lady had so exploited that they were in Oliferne / the lady logid her louer in a litil chambre not fer from her / and gaf him thoffice for to be her huyssher. & helde thenne with her persone but one damoyselle that knewe the most part of her secretes how well she was acustomed alway to haue in her chambre four damoyselles. the ordenaunces & conclusions made the same day whan they were comen. whan the night 30 was comen & euery man withdrawen in his place for to reste. the quene whom desire had long chaced/ sent secretly to fecche the preste of their lawe / and Sambor also. And with litil noise and bruyt she maried Sambor / and after sente the preest away. and to thende that he sholde be secrete she gafe him a purse full of gold. She 35 held her spouse in her chambre. And thenne whan the preste was goon. and that they were bothe to gyder/they began in good 25 ernest the deduyte that is vsed in the amerouse lyf. And Right Ioyously they conforted eche other. And demened this amerouse lyf all the long winter. & so ye ought to bileue that on the day the preu Iason seruid in his office. and in the night he entremeted [lf.136 b] wyth this so moche graciouse lyf of loue as in suche caas apperteyned with his lady that louid him meruaillously He vertuous Prince Iason mayntenyng him thus in this facion coune from the eyen of them that seruid within forth. the Quene her self 10 coude not absteyne her / but tofore her seruantes and damoyselles she made to hym oftimes ouermoche amerous semblants & contenances / and' in lyke wyse made Iason to her. and so many apperceyuid hit. And by especial the thre damoyselles whiche she had put out of her chambre. They espyed in suche manere this amerous 15 companye by a litil hole that they had made in the chambre of the lady. by whiche they sawe all the feat. how Sambor laye ofte times in the bedde wyth the quene/ wher of they were moche desplaisaunt for they knew nothing Iason. but thought that he had ben somme vylayne. And one of thise thre had a broder named Brutorus that 20 sore loued the Quene. but he durste in no wise declare hit / and whan this suster of Brutorus apperceyued the conduyt of Iason and of Myrro knowyng that her broder louyd the Quene. despite and enuye grewe in her in suche wyse that she coude not kepe hit secrete. but callid on a daye Brutorus and said to him that Sambor 25 dide him wrong of his loue / And certefied to him how she had seen hym lye by night with Myrro in her propre bedde Whan Brutorus had vnderstonde thise tydinges he was moche pensif. and conceyued a mortall hate ayenst Iason / And concluded in him self that he wold' murdre him if he mighte finde [lf. 137] him or retayne hym at hys auantage. how wel he durst not saye so ne make ony semblant and was right long in this payne & alway machining a right envenymous witt. And for somoche bare in his stomack the desir for to bringe the vailliaunt knight to deth. And on that other side the preu Iason that thoughte nothing but wel 35 mayntenyd him right amerously with his lady the fayr Myrro. At last the winter passed. and the new Ioly season began to come. And thenne the noble preu Iason remembrid him that at the entree of the nexte moneth of Marche the Grekes wold go with a grete armee tofore Troye. where he had promised to be for as he passes through a Wood, going to Troy. 183 tauenge him of the grete Iniurie & oultrage that the kyng had doñ to him & his felawship. And with this Remembraunce he lay betwene tharmes of his lady. And began to syghe that his lady herde it. And she demanded him what him eyled and sayde she wolde knowe. Jason ansuerde that he was greued at his herte / 5 'From whens cometh this greef or euy' saide the lady. Certes Madame' ansuerd Iason 'I haue none other sorowe at my herte but that I haue grete necessite for to goo into my countre in tharmee of them of Grece for to take vengeance of a grete oultrage & Iniurie that the Troians dide to me & to many noble knightes of 10 Grece / wherfore my dere lady whan it is so that I muste leue you / I haue somoche anoye & grief that I may nomore haue. but I haue promised hit and promis is dew.' 'My frende' ansuerde the noble lady. 'acquyte you of that ye haue promised I will in no wise retarde ne lette you from your worship ne wele. And therfore ye 15 shall ride at your plaisir vnto your countre / but whan ye retorne agayn kepe you wel fro the arte & enchantements of Medea.' [lf. 137 b] Thenne Iason promised to her that he so wolde do. & concluded there the day of his departing. AN Nd whan Iason & the quene Myrro hadd' cessed of speking of 20 this mater the damoiselle that had declared the feet to her broder Brutorus was awayting & aspyeng at the hole. & vnderstode all that the lady & Iason had deuised/ sayde & concluded. Thenne she aduertised her broder and told to him all that she had vnderstonden & the daye that he sholde departe into his countrey. This 25 Brutorus was right ioyous whan he vnderstode these tydinges / & concluded in him self that he wolde lye in a wayte of Iason in a wode by a waye by whiche he must nedes passe. thenne he callid to him .xij. gentilmen of his knowleche. and tolde them that Sambor had trespassed to him & that he wolde slee him on suche 30 a day as he sholde departe vnto his countre ¶ For tabrege the mater whan the day was comen the noble prince departed with moche bewailling of his lady. & went him self allone by that wode. & he had not long erred' & riden in the wood' whan Brutorus & his .xij. felaws without escrieng or sownyng of ony worde smote vpon 35 him grete strokes & mortel if he had not wel be armed at his departing as his auenture was he had be dede / and among all other Brutorus gaf him a meruaillous stroke vpon the hede that whether he wolde or not he made him bowe on the lifte side 184 The Fight in the Wood. Brutorus slain. Han Iason felte him so aduironned & assailed of these traitres and that they smote him on all sides he was all abasshid/ Neuerthelesse he sette him at deffence. and thenne he drewe oute [If. 138] his good swerd. with whiche he befought his enemyes right vayl- 5 lyauntly and as a noble knight as he was. But the place where Brutorus assaylled him ouer asprely was in holowe and strayt passage. in suche wise as Iason mighte not but wyth grete payne helpe him self for the disloyal traittre & his complices were on bothe sides. sixe on that one side and sixe on that other mounted 10 vpon hye territories that henge ouer the holowe waye. and casted grete stones vpon him. in suche wise that they slew & murdred' his hors vnder him. and in feat they frusshed his helme & made him a meruaillous wounde in his hede / Thenne whan Iason sawe his hors dede & that he felt the smarte of the sore in his hede. he sette 15 him a fote all astonyed. but Brutorus & his felawes assayled him agayn & caste on him stones. glayues / & swerdes / wher wyth they bruysed & wounded' him in many places / for the horions & strokes cam from aboue. Neuertheles Iason as a valiant knight marchid out ouer the passage & dyd so moche that he cam into a right fayr 20 lande. Thenne Brutorus and his folke siewed him so ferre/ that they cam to fight hand a hand. And among all other Brutorus approched vnto his euift auenture. For Iason smote him vpon the toppe of his helme by suche fierste that he clefte the helme and the heed vnto the teeth that he fit doun ded' at his fete 25 THus Hus as ye may vnderstande was the desloyal Brutorus myserably slayñ. And thenne whan his complices apperceyued' that he was put to vtteraunce they escried al vpon Iason & assailed him on a new right anguisshously in renewyng to him the dolour 30 [lf. 138 b] and grete payne of hys woundes & frousshures that they maad to him in the holowe waye as said is and so began the stoure aspre & terrible How well that Iason had more courage thenne puissaunce. Alway he defended him by right grete vigour in bathing his trenchaunt swerde in suche wise in the blood of these .xij murdrers that he put seuen of them to deth with Brutorus And 35 after fought long with the remenaunt/ and it fortuned him that in scarmusshing that he hurte the Remenaunt vnto the deth as he that escaped not nette but was hurte in so many places that by theffusion of blood that fit from his hede his herte failled him in thende and fill doun among the dede men. The foure laste Jason thought to be dead: Mirro's Lament. 185 that were lefte were but litil better thenne dede. But what meruaille Whan the two murdriers had born to ground the preu Iason / they wende that he had ben dede. and satt doun by for to reste them. and after softe and fayr they withdrewe hem into the 5 cite as they that with moche grete paine might vnnethe sousteyne hem self. but for to go vnto their houses they muste passe tofore the palais. the Quene then espied them from ferre. & apperceyued anon that they were att bespreynt with blood wherof she was moche esmayed She dide doo hem to be called and syn demanded 10 them from whens they cam. 'Alas my dere lady' sayde one of them 'We come from an euitt Iournee / for Sambor and .viij. of our next kyn & frendes ben lyyng dede in the wode with Brutorus / whiche brought vs theder for to lye in a wayte for to slee Sambor/ the whiche as he hath said to vs / hath don to him displaisir / but 15 Sambor hath put vs all to deth reseruid vs foure whiche ben so [lf. 139] pitously hurt. that but yf the goddes imparte to vs of their grace we ben in grete daunger of oure lyues' , In sayng thise wordes two of these foure knightes deyde ther sodaynly. wherof the noble quene was so sore abasshid' that her 20 herte faylled & fit doun in swounne, that she was born into her chambre by her damoiselles / And the two malerous knightes were born for to be buried after the custome of the countre. Whan the lady was a litit comen to her self/ by thefforce of the grete sorou that she had in her herte she escried passing hye and saide. 'Jason / 25 Alas my loue Iason and my lorde. But frowhens sourdeth one so grete maleurte or myshappe that ye haue thus ben slayne in the woode/The terrible cruelte of thenuenymed & so horryble bestes of Colchos had no power to greue thy persone / Ne the sodayne parils of the see ne also the grete hardynes of the Esclauons. Ha. 30 a the right euyff Brutorus ye haue slayn him and he hath slayn you. Alas what grete losse muste I suffre this daye. I am born in an vnhappy oure Whan hit muste bee that I haue nourisshid the murdrere that traytoursly hath put to deth the noble knight Iason whiche is my lord and husbond. Ha. a noble & worthy of alle worthy. the vaillyaunt of alle vailliants. and he in whom alle vertues habounden. the goddes haue mercy of thy sowle. And yf thou be not ouer dede. that they wyf hold the so long a lyue that I might yet ones speke with the And I shalbe moche the more 35 Jason restored to Mirro. comforted that I shal deye more eysyly. And thenne I desire no lenger to lyue in this worlde after the ' Whan the ladies & damoiselles there beyng had herd & vnderstonden of the quene by her lamentacions that he 5 that was named Sambor was Iason that somoche was recommanded in valiaunces & in vertues meruailed strongly for asmoche as he serued as a yeman. & at last conforted the lady the fairest wise they might. And thenne she declared all openly that Sambor was Iason the noble knighte and none other but he had wedded' her. and 10 furthermore she declared' for what cause Iason had chaunged his name & why he maintened him as a yeman or seruaunt. After this declaracion & lamentacions made. she dide doo assemble all the nobles of the cite as well men as women & thus she sente solempnly for to feche the body of the vailliaunt prince Iason. And commanded 15 that Brutorus & his felaws shold' be quarterd & honged on the galowes as traitours / And they that were commysed to thexsecusion of the Iustice accomplisshed' hiely their charge & commission / and the companye that hadd charge for to go fecche the body of Iason went vnto the place where the disloyal murdre was commysed/ 20 But whan they were there comen they founde that Iason was not yet dede / but he satt vp & lened' vnto one of the traitres. Thus this noble companye seyng that he was yet a lyue / made to him right grete chere and callid him by his name. Sayyng that the Quene Myrro and they all were so Right displaisaunt of his Inconuenyent 25 that they mighte no more be. And withoute long soiournyng there. they leyd' the noble and vailliaunt knight Iason vpon a shelde [If. 140] whiche they founde there lieng vpon therthe and bare him vnto the Cyte. And the noble Quene cam agaynst him for she had ben aduertised by her men that he was not yet dede / how wel she 30 wept sore tenderly Han the fayr Mirro was come nygh vnto her lord And that she apperceyued' that he was so frusshid & brusshid' with stones & staues / certes her hert failled. & they that bare Iason restid vnto that she was comen agayn to her self. And thenne she 35 ne Iason might not speke / Iason for the anguissh that he suffrid/ and she for the grete displaisir that she had at her herte / But it was not long after that Iason was born vnto the chambre of his espouse & felawe. where the beste Cirurgyens of the cite cam that anon visited & serched his woundes. & fonde him in suche termes 186 [lf. 139 b] that they vndertoke to rendre him hole and sound of all his hurtes & woundes in short time. wherof the quene was all recomforted. they faylled not of their promys / for they so wrought aboute him by suche facion that in the space of sixe monthes they deliuerid him whole and out of daunger of all his hurtes & woundes. During 5 whiche tyme of sixe monthes that the noble preu Iason kepte his chambre / assone as he mighte speke & haue entendement he began to bewaille the losse of his time for asmoche as he might not be at the destruccyon of the kyng Laomedon and of the Troians Wherfore he hadde moche grete displaysir at his herte. For he hadde not 10 ben acustomed gladly to kepe / the chambres matted ne strewed wyth herbes and flouresne the beddes encurtyned. the halles hanged wyth riche tapesseryes Ne the places magnyficque ne somptuouse as by hys feates appereth. but he might not amende hit. For the noble quene recomforted him alwaye / And moche [lf. 140 b] required him that he sholde take no Melancolye for no thyng/ And that he ne shold' entende saue only to his garisshing and heeling, and as for the warre of Troye he mighte in no wise be there ¶ How the kyng Eson of Mirmidone asseged his sone Iason in the cite of Oliferne / And howe Medea spack to Iason/ & how she 20 slewe his oldest sone named Iason As ye may vnderstande by thinconuenyent afore sayd' the preu Iason was distourned for tacompanye Hercules and the cheualerye of Grece that shold go leye siege tofore the puissaunt cite of Troye / wherfore the king Eson and Hercules were right 25 sorouful & abode .xv. dayes lenger thenne the terme that they had sett for to go to the see whan the .xv. dayes were past and apperceyued that they hadd' no tydinges of the comyng of Iason / they departed fro the porte where they had' taried. And sailled' so ferre that they arriued tofore Troye with so grete nombre of people 30 that notwithstonding the resistence of Laomedon. of alle the cite & countre aboute. they besieged it. and so long abode and dide meruaillous assaultes / that they toke hit and destroied it in the fourme and manere as is weft declared in the historie of the .xij. labours of the noble and preu Hercules / And whan they had brought 35 this enterprise to an ende eche of them departed from thens and retourned into his countre Medea appeals to Eson to punish Jason: N the nouelte thenne that the noble king Eson of Mirmidone [lf. 141] sone Iason that was failled to haue ben at this hye honour. Medea that was not yet comen agayne into Mirmidone after that she was 5 departed the same day that she had made to deye the desloyalt Peleus as sayd ys Retourned thenne vnto the king Eson att destayned and discoloured. yclad with clothes all to rente and lapped Thenne she sette her doun on bothe her knees tofore the kyng Eson and after sayde to him in this manere 'Syre lo here 10 Medea the most poure and the most infortunat lady that euer was or shal be. Thou knowest and maist not denye that I ne am the propre wyff of thy sone Iason/ whome I made not long syn Retourne gloriously ¹ fro the mortal parift where his vncle Peleus had sente him to by his malice. This notwithstonding incontinent 15 & in feat he hath abandonned' me syn the daye that I was consenting to the deth of the disloyalt Peleus / And I dide hit for to take vengeaunce of this that he sente him traitrously vnder the shadowe of the conqueste¹ of the Ryche moton with the flees of golde whiche was a thing inpossible to ony creature humayne withoute myn 20 adressement and wel supposed he that he neuer sholde haue retourned but haue auaunced his deth. And he wolde excuse him vnder the colour of this deth. the whiche attwaye I dide for his loue. and for tauenge him 'Syre' sayde yet the lady'ye knowe that the daye that Peleus deyde. youre sone departed from hens moche hastyly. & howe I wente after / and hit was so oure aduenture that I founde him on a daye in the cite of Corinthe. where he hadde fiaunced the kinges [lf. 141 b] doughter/ And there I spack long with him. And among many Remonstraunces I required him right instantly that he wolde be 30 trewe acording to his promys that he had made in acquyting his faith. But I laboured' in vayn. for he wolde in no wyse entende therto / And whan I apperceyued that I coude haue none other thing of him / I made by the vertue of somme enchanments deye sodainly the espouse / whom he had supposed to haue enioyed. And 35 with her deyde her fader and by consequent all they that were in the halle sette at dyner / reseruid' Iason whom in no maner I wolde touche & after I departed from thens & haue goon at the auenture and Eson gets Forces to attack Oliferne. of the goddes / not thinking that euer I sholde retorne vnto you / thus hath fortune be to me of suche condicion that she hath sith .ij. monthes brought me into the cite of Oliferne. & ther I haue founden & seen Iason with the quene Mirro & it hath ben certefied to me that he hath espoused her / wherof I haue at my herte suche 5 dolour & sorou / that for nothing I might ner coude speke with him / but yet am departed from thens and am come vnto you for to require reffuge that in the fauour of ladyes hit may plese you to haue pite of me so desolate a lady / & that in recognoissaunce of the merite that I mighte haue deseruid in reduysing your auncient 10 aage in the beyng of .xxxij. yere that ye of your sone Iason wil do me right without Rygour' Han the kyng Eson of Myrmidone hadde vnderstande the 189 V doleance and the Request of Medea. and that he sawe her in so poure estate of habillements that she semed alt another 15 woman / For she was so dyscoloured lene / and euit arayed. Certes he had grete pyte of her Thenne he began to recomforte her & [lf. 142] thinking on the good seruices that she had don vnto his sone wherof al his wele and Renomme was comen. And in like wise of the grete plaisir that she had don to him. also how she had 20 abandonned the king her fader & her countre vpon the promysse of his sone. Among other wordes in recomfortyng her. he sayde & promysed her that he shold punysshe Iason of that so grete offence / and also he had taken him in desdayne for somoche as he had failled at the besynes & destruxion of Troye where the cheualerie of Grece had goten grete honour. certes he loued Medea meruaillously / & anon he dide do clothe her new right honourably/ & tamynistre to her all that was nedeful & necessarie for her. And' whan he had so doo / he sente into Oliferne vnto Iason & commanded him that Incontinent he sholde come vnto his court / but Iason 30 excused him to the messager the most curtoisly that he might for cause of his woundes that he had receyued' in the wode not long syn as said is. & in feat he ansuerde that at that present he might go ner yet ride on an hors 25 Incontinent as the kyng Eson hadd vnderstonde thanswere of his 35 sone Iason. he toke it euyl in gree and sware that he wolde goo vnto him, but that sholde be in armes / Thenne he sente into all partyes for his frendes and alyes / And sayd' to him and shewde how he wold punisshe his sone Iason for the lauesshenes of his Eson asks Jason to re-take Medea. 5 body & that by good cause/ for because of his luxurie he had failled at the conquest of Troye. & vnder this couerture he assembled vnto the nombre of ten .M. Grekes whom he brought [lf. 142 b] tofore Oliferne the cite / & somoche dide by see and by lande that with oute aduenture digne of memorie he cam on the champayne/ where the kyng of Esclauonye & his ooste to fore had holden their siege to their vnhelthe as hit is sayd' tofore in his place. Alway Medea was comen in tharmee of the king Eson as she that had in him all her affiaunce and her socoure / as half garisshed' 10 or easid Whan the king Eson fonde him self tofore Oliferne He dide do sette his tentes & pauyllions / And sente vnto his sone Iason that he sholde comen vnto him for to receyue the punycion of his disobey saunce / Certes Iason was sore abasshid & not with- 15 out cause / whan he had vnderstand that his fader sente for him to come to him vpon this condicion / And thenne whan he apperceyued¹ that his fader had besieged the cite with armed hand/ he was at that tyme all helid of his woundes & froussures. & seeyng that sayd is him semed that the king his fader was angry with him & that 20 he was comen theder al replenisshid with grete furour Notwithstanding that in no maner he supposed to haue deseruid hit. And considering all thise thinges / & also by the counceyl of his frendes for to answere the messager of his fader / he callid him & sayd' to him in this maner / 'Sir messager I haue vnderstand & thought for tanswere vpon that my fader hath sente me by you on that other side I see how he is here comen with puyssaunce in armes. Thise thinges considered I wote not what is hys entencion ne wylle Wherfor I am not for this present conseyled to put me in his handes / how wel that I am alway bounden by al right & holden to serue 30 him & obeye his commandements. & that oute of furour he shal not finde me other wise disposed" 25 [lf. 143] The messager hering the discret answer that Iason gaf him. he acertained him & therof wold abide in hostage. that if Iason wolde take agayn Medea as by vertu of his faith he was holden & 35 by the promesses that they had made one to that other that he shold find his traittye & peas with the kyng his fader. Thenne Iason answerde to the messager that if the kyng his fader were comon theder ther fore in suche ordonaunce & vpon that entencion. he abused him gretly and that Medea by her enchantements shold' sorowe neuer deceyue him more during her lyf. Whan the messager had vnderstand the wit & answere of Iason. he toke leue of him & departed from the palais. & retorned'vnto the kyng his lord/ whiche abood him at the foot of his tente / and told to him and to Medea all this that he had exploited with his sone Iason / The king and 5 the lady Medea heering his volente & wift / and that he was not a man to be meuid & torned from his corage had a meruaillous Thenne the kyng Eson sware that he ne his siege shold neuer departe from thens for cold' ne for heete for froste. ne snowe / for rayne ne for tempeste that might comen vpon him vnto the 10 tyme that he had subiuged the cite of Oliferne. with that Medea whan she had herd thise wordes she toke leue of the king & retorned into her tente/ & then she began to studie in her enchantements and sortes where in she was moche lerned. and in suche wise exploited that in a moment she made her to be born within 15 Oliferne / and dide her to be sette in the propre halle where Iason & Mirro the Quene were at a windowe speking to gydre of theire werkes and in especial of thenterprise that the king Eson made [lf. 143 b] vpon them of whiche they had grete meruaille. And so they wist not what to thinke sauyng that hit were nede for tentende to 20 fortefie the muraille and walles of the cite the tours and yates to garnisshe with stones & wyth shotte and to deffende their strength with all their power But Iason and Myrro had the grettest meruayle of the worlde. And not with oute cause. whan so sodaynly they saw Medea ther appere in their presence. Thenne 25 Medea opend this that she had in wille to saye & declare plainly & sayde in this maner A a Alas sir Iason haue ye not entencion tamende your lyf. 'HA whiche is so moche reprochable to fore the goddes & the worlde. And cursed be the oure & the day that I saued & waranted 30 you fro the deth / whan for my Reward' and' gwerdon I muste suffre somoche & in so many maners as I doo. and that in time & in place ye knowe not her to whom ye be so gretly bounden & holden.' 'Dame' ansuerde thenne Iason 'shal youre sortes ne enchantementes neuer cesse / I can not thinke howe ye haue the hardinesse to come 35 tofore myn eyen seen that in my presence ye haue murdred one of my propre sones.'' And howe' ansuerd' thenne Medea/'am I a lady born in so vnhappy an oure and so infortunat that in no maner I dare be founden tofore myn espouse & husbond/ and him 191 192 Being rejected by Jason, Medea slays her Son. 6 that holdeth his life of ony other but me. A Iason' sayd yet the lady. the grete goodnes that I haue don for you to fore this tyme is litill remembryd' and knowen by you. whiche I dyd' all of good herte / And if I haue slayn your child/ ye be only culpable / for ye [lf. 144] do to me so many displaisirs & anoyaunce. that I can not thinke how the herte of ony lady so desolate as I am may so long endure ' Ertes dame' ansuerde thenne Iason 'I holde no thing that I haue don to you displeisir ne anoye in no wise Ye haue commysed & made many enorme and right euy caas. for whiche 10 I may lawfully repudie and abandonne you in al pointes. how wel that for the loue of me ye haue done that I ne maintene not/ & of that other side speke nomore to me / lo here the noble lady that I had' promised tofore that I arriued in your countrey. and during the time that I haue ben with you & ye with me ye put me by youre 15 enchauntements in suche point that I had al forgoten her & thought on none other but on you. whether ye were fer or nygh, & in this estate was I a long space of time / and til that the goddes haue resemblid this lady & me by your grete defaulte The whiche I haue now espoused. this is my lady and I am her lorde and 20 husbonde / & as long as the sowle shal abide in my body I shalbe heeris. & I shal not withdrawe me from her ner shal take other then her for nothing that may befall me & otherwise ye shal not finde it. & therfore abyde no lenger here for if ye dide. it shulde be all tyme loste for more to poursiewe this enqueste.' Medea with 25 this conclusion made her to be born from thens also sodeinly as she was comen. And in that same nyght she was deliuerid' and'rendrid'at Pintaquo in the chambre where her sone Iason was nourisshed/ And there she beyng full of a Right euit will toke the noble childe that the king Eson maad' soignously to be kept by two norices / The 30 noble child slept and was all naked at the oure/whan she tooke [lf. 144 b] hym / wyth the taking he awoke. and seeyng his moder he began to lawhe sore. Thenne Medea wepte and saide/'Ha. a Iason my dere sone thy figure & semblaunt. and thy faders entresemble & ben lik. Thou art moche fayr if thou mightest come to thaage of a man / 35 certes thou sholdest ensiewe and folowe the maners of thy fader the most double & leest trew knight of the worlde. hit is moche better that thou deye an angel in thy yongth thenne a deuiff in thy olde aage' and wythoute more speking or other bewaillyng she drew out a sharp knyf in the presence of the two norices that Medea's marriage with Aegeus, and new Exile. 193 wyste not what to saye. and smote him with the knif vnto the herte. And after departed thens at that oure that men might not see her. And put her self in a wode al desperate weping & making a passing grete sorow. And her auenture was suche that afterward she was in Athenes / and wente not vnto the kyng Eson 5 fader of Iason / but went vnto the king Eseus that was yet strong & puissaunt And gaf him in knowleche what she was and of all her fortunes / ye by suche facion that the king Eseus toke her in mariage and engendrid on her a sone the whiche was callyd Medeus / But fortune that all way argued her made her to be 10 accused that she wold' haue enpoysonned Theseus the noble knyght and sone of her husbond Egeus & furthermore made her to be banysshed fro Athenes. where fore she was sore troubled and not wyth oute cause. For she was so constrained by pure necessite that she must departe fro the Royaume of Corinthe/ also poure and 15 euy fortunate that she wist not where to withdrawe her / Alwaye she wente on the daye by a grete woode in Thessay where she [lf. 145] liuyd moche solitarily & in grete bitternesse / And had ther so grete & fayr repentance of her synnes & of her euy lyff that she mighte no more haue but if she sholde haue receyued the deth / And 20 thus I shall tarie for this present time of the lady and of her life/ And recompte you of the noble Quene Myrro of Oliferne and of the conclusion of this present booke ¶ How a knight named Patroclus slew the quene Mirro. How Iason departed' secretly from Oliferne. Howe the Cyte was yelden 25 vnto the king Eson. And how Iason & Medea were Reconcilled to gyder For to come to thende and conclusion of this mater thenne resteth now to knowe that on the morow whan Medea was departed fro the oost of the king Eson and fro the presence of 30 Myrro and of Iason as hit conteyned aft in the chapitre precedent. The kyng Eson wente for to see Medea in the tente that he had ordeyned for her. For he loued her as his propre doughter'. but he founde her not. Ne ther was neyther man ne woman that coude certefye him where she was become. wherof he had' grete meruaylle 35 And dyd' do seche her in many places. but he coud' not haue tydinges of her vnto thende of thre monthes that ther cam a messager vnto Eson tells Patroclus to shoot Mirro. him that aduertised him of the deth of the yong chyld Iason sone of Medea and of the preu Iason / And declared him all the manere how that Medea had smyten him with a knyf into his herte. And howe ther was no persone that knewe wher she was become syn the 5 caas happend 194 [lf. 145 6]Incontinent that the kyng Eson vnderstode thise tydinges he age mens & wepte by grete pite. for he louyd the yong child & Medea with all his herte. he sayde thenne that his sone Iason sholde abye Io it. & that he shulde be punysshed' as he that was cause of all thise myschieues, & anoñ he sente to them of Oliferne that they sholde yssue to bataile ayenst him. Vpon whiche Iason ansuerde, that for nothing he wolde fighte ayenst his fader ne his peple. but required that he wolde leue them in pees / And whan the king Eson had 15 vnderstande this answere/he commanded to assaile the cite as he dide. But his men were put a back right asprely by them that were within that defended hem that daye right valiauntly and so by many Iourneyes the king made the cite to be assailled to their litil prouffit/ for asmoche as the cite was garnisshed with a grete nombre 20 of yong peple & valiaunt men that were there in aage competent for tencharge tharmes syn the warre of the puissaunt king of Esklauonye A tofore the strong and riche cite of Olyferne withoute gyuyng ye may vnderstande the kyng Eson helde long his siege 25 or receyuyng of other batailles of that one partye or of that other / And during this tyme. Iason and the fayr Myrro acustomed them to come oftetymes into a passing fayr and strong toure standyng on the muraille of the Cyte of Oliferne. and they cam theder for to passe the tyme in beholding in the champayne the tentes and 30 pauillons of king Eson & the nobles of his roya me / and so ofte [lf. 146] wente and cam that they were knowen Incontinent whan the kyng was aduertised/ he sente on a day among all other one of his knightes named Patroclus that coude shete with the hand bowe so redyly and nygh the marke that none was like vnto him. And saide 35 to him that he sholde garnisshe him of his bowe & arowes. & that he sholde erly tofore daye hyde him in a busshe not ferre from the muraille and tour/promisyng to him grete yeftes if he myghte with one of his arowes slee the Quene Myrro. whan he sawe her lokyng oute of the wyndowe of this tour Mirro killed. 195 His busshe was euen ayenst the tour where the noble preu Myaro the qute a where named Patroclus of whom now is made mencion in this historie was he that after was cause and moyen of the deth of the Ryght worthy knight Hector of Troye. And thenne whan Patroclus was 5 hydd with in the busshe/he helde him ther with his bowe bente right secretly / And so long that dame fortune whiche oftime pleyeth with worldly thinges at her volente and will broughte Iason and Myrro into the grete tour where as they lened in the windowe. But they had not long ben there whan Patroclus the 10 Iuste archier losed an arowe vpon the noble lady the Quene Myrro/ ye so Ryght that he smote and persed her in her throte. in suche wyse that she fill doun dede euen by the noble preu Iason / And after this don he departed from the busshe right Ioyous. And contrarie Iason was right sorouful & angry whan he apperceyuid his 15 lady thus fall doun dede. he supposed to haue releued her / but the sowle was departed from the body/Thenne grete teeres in grete [lf. 146 b] nombre began to falle from his eyen in meruaillous habondance. and was so displaisaunt of this myschief. so desolate and so angry that it is not to ony creature possible for to write or reherce. 20 The barons/the knightes the ladies & damoiselles semblably in the cite were gretly discomforted. & gaf hem to wepe so right anguisshously in cryes In bewaillinges & in suche lamentacions that non other sorow was lyke vnto this Hat is to do vpon this mater howe may I nombre the teeris 25 & lamentacions of preu Iason by especial / and of the knightes ladies and damoiselles of the cite/ Certes in a full see of teeris & in a myne of sighes & in a sourse or a springe of an inestymable sorow/ the poure infortunat lady yelded her spirite by the hole of the arowe of the knight Patroclus. 30 that was there cursed and bannyd' as he that they hadd aboue al other in grete hate. certes Iason might not speke in a grete while or space / neyther he coude not thinke. what he might best do. but at thende he deported him a litil of his sorow / And thenne he commanded that the Lady sholde be borne to her chambre into the 35 palais / And thenne the ladyes and Damoyselles toke her in Renewyng of wepynges and of bewaillinges and bare her into her chambre for to ordeyne for her sepulture / This euitt aduenture was anone knowen by all the Cyte/ all the world demened a meruaillous 0 2 sorowe, men women and children. Fynably she was buried in her sepulture. for whom was made a riatt obsequye / And whan they had don al the cerimonyes that apperteyned / In the same nyght [lf. 147] thenne whan Iason was withdrawen to goo to reste Iason departed 5 out of the cite att allone. And had neuer the power to take leue of man ne of woman. he hadde hys herte so soroufutt and angry for the deth of the noble lady the quene Myrro. And for thanger that the kyng his fader had ayenst him 10 On the morn by time the king Eson acerteined¹¹ that Patroclus had slayn the quene Myrro of an arowe as he had required him / commanded tassaylle the cite / And whan they of Oliferne apperceyued that their enemyes approuched the walles of their cite they sent vnto Iason whom they had supposed to haue founden in his chambre for taduertise him of thise tidinges. but they fonde him 15 not. Thenne as sore abasshid they wente & sought him with in forth. & in the temple and many other places. And thenne whan they sawe that noman coude tell of him they sente vnto the portiers and demanded them if they had seen him. And ther was one that answerde for certayn that at the oure of midnight Iason was yssued 20 out allone by that gate. and more he knew not / Whan the nobles of Oliferne knew thise tydinges they were sore trobled' & not with out cause. for they behelde that they had no lord' ne lady. And that ther fore ones they muste submyse them vnto the kyng Eson And toke their concey to gyder and concluded to yeld them & the touñ 25 sauf their lyues & their goodes / Thenne they chese twayn of the most noble knightes of the cite & moste propice to the erande. And' sent hem vnto the noble kyng Eson / that made with alle diligence his thinges redy for tassaile the cite in many places. & whan they were comen to fore him & salutacion made / they told him first that [lf. 147 b] the quene her lady was dede and putt in sepulture. Secondly they sayde to him that Iason was goon out of the cite & wyste not into what place / Thirdly that the cite was withoute lorde. And fynably they say to hym / that fortune was suche to them that they of the cite demanded but pees / and that they were content to constitute 35 him kyng vpon them by condicion that he shold not touche theire lyues ne meuable goodes what somme euer they were Han the noble kyng Eson of Myrmidone vnderstode that his sone Iason was so departed he was right sorowful in his courage. but touchyng thoffres of the Inhabitants and dwellars of 1 O acerterned. Jason and Medea meet in a Wood. the Cyte of Oliferne. he hadd¹ Regarde and vsed' to hem his mercy / For in feat he accorded to them of Oliferne all that they had putt in termes Thenne he made to cesse thassault. And syn disposed hym for tentre honourably into the cite of Oliferne. And hit was not long after whan they of the Cyte receyued him into their Cyte 5 and in the palais as their kyng and gaf him the crowne vpon his heed. and made all to him hommage and feaulte. And by this waye was kyng Eson kyng of Oliferne and of Myrmidone / After these thinges done and accomplisshed. he sente many knyghtes after his sone Iason for to seche & finde him. But they lost their tyme / for 10 they retorned' vnto their lorde withoute reporting tydinges of him. for Iason went riding fro countre to countre by many Iourneyes where he had plente of meruaillous aduentures. whiche were to long to reherce of whom thende was suche whan he had long tyme erred & trauailled in the worlde he was in grete desire to come & 15 see the kyng his fader & crye him mercy. for asmoche as he had [lf. 148] disobeyed' his commandement and mesprised' ayenst him / wherof he was right sore repentaunt Pon¹ this conclusion the noble & valiaunt prince Iason putte Von him on the waye so ferre that he cam in to Thessaille. But 20 that more is. fortune made him entre in to the woode where as Medea hadd long ben & soiourned How well she ete nothing but akehornes and notes. herbes and rootes. And he was constrayned one night to logge him self in the litil logge where Medea abode & made her Residence / And so he founde her on a day in his waye at 25 the sonne goyng doun. Anone as Iason and Medea sawe eche other forthwith they knewe eche other. With that Medea began strongly to wepe. and syn knelid doun on bothe her knees in grete humylite tofore Iason requiring & cryeng him mercy. Thenne the knyght had' pyte on her & releued & toke her vp by the handes. and syn 30 demanded her if she had ony thing to ete or drinke / sayyng that he had honger and that he hadd not that daye eten ne dronken / Thenne Medea made him sitte vpon the erthe for to rest him a litif. and syn wente and fette hym of the notes akehornes and rootes and other smale fruytes that she had gadred in the wood. 35 and sayde to him that he shold make good cheere with suche as he founde. And that syth a certayn tyme that she had ben there / she had eten none other mete 1 Small v in type; but the rubric is a large W in Brit. Mus. copy. 197 198 Jason, with Medea, ascends his Father's Throne. Whan Iason whiche was a moche vertuous prince had vnderstonde the lady and knewe her grete pouerte / he began [If 148 b] remembre of the innumerable goode dedes that she had doñ for him tofore. and how she had for his loue abandonned her fader 5 & her nacion for to goo with him / And also that she was of a noble hous as doughter of a king / he toke her by the hand & saide that he pardonned her of al thing that she had' trespaced or mesprised ayenst him. And in feat sayd that his plaisir was that she shulde be his wyf agayn as she had ben tofore / Certes Medea incontinent Io as she vnderstood the good' with of her lord/ she was more Ioyous in her corage thenne if he had gyuen to her the beste and the most noble royaume of the worlde. And thenne she sware to him & auowed that she sholde neuer medle more with sortes ne enchantements ne none other malefices ne of ony thing but first he sholde 15 haue the cognoissaunce and knowlech /& in suche wise she conduysed her self anenst Iason that in that same time they reconcilled hem self to gyder. And on the morñ erly Medea abandonned her lytift logge / And wente bothe on their waye. And so ferre erred' by their Iourneyes that they cam vnto the court of the king Eson 20 of Myrmidone that was newly comen in his royaume. Thenne the king Eson knowing their reconsiliacion contented him self with Iason in pardonyng him al old Rancour and maletalents / And hit was not long after that the king Eson resigned in the handes of his sone the Royaume of Myrmidone. for the grete loue that he had 25 vnto the fayr Medea as he well shewde. For Incontinent that he knewe that she was arryued in his palays. he receyued her the most honourably that was in him possible to doo / And thus the preu Iason & Medea regned & gouerned their Royaume hyely long [lf. 149] time/During the whiche they liued to gyder in grete loue & con- 30 corde and had many fayr children to gyder that regned after hem of whome I haue founde none historie or sentence. and therfore I shal finisshe this historie in this wise / prayng my fore sayd right redoubted yong lorde and all them that shall rede the contenu of this present volume. or here it red that it may plese them of their grace to excuse me for somoche as my litil & rude engyn hath not conne touche ne comprise the mater no better &c / & here endeth myn auctor his book.

Caxton's Notes from Boccaccio

And howe be it that myn auctor writeth that he hath founde nomore of thistorie of Iason / yet haue I founden & red in the 40 boke that Bochace made of the Genelagie of Goddes in his .xiij. boke / that whan so was that Iason & Medea were reconciled agayn to geder after that shee fled from Egeon that he went with her into Colchos again/ & whan he was comen theder. he founde the olde king Oetes fader vnto Medea bannissed & exiled out of his royame / whom he restored & sette him by his valiaunce & puissaunce in his 5 kingdom agayn/ & after went into Asie / where he had victorie in many batailes And made so many conquestes with grete magnificence in somoche that he was honoured & worshipped for a god/ & were made & edefied diuerce temples in his name which after were destroied by the commandment of king Alexander of Macedone/ 10 who perauenture had enuye of his glorie & also he saith that Thoant & Euneus where his sones whom he begate on Ysiphile as he went to Colchos where as Stacius saith Whiche were born at ones. And for asmoch as it was not the custome in Lenos to fede & norisshe the men children they were sent into an other countrey for to be 15 nourysshedwherfore the moder was put out of her Royaume. & [lf. 149 b] taken with pirates & theues. & after sold vnto Lygurgis king of Nemee. and after whan the sayde sones waxe men they went with king Adrastus vnto the bataile of Thebes / & as they went in the wode of Nemee they herde of the sayd king Adrastus reherse her 20 burth & the caas of her moder/ by which rehersay they knew that she was their moder/& in kyng Lygurgis court they fonde her/ whenne Opheltes his sone was founde dede in the gardyn/ what time the lady that hadde charge of him went with the Grekes to shew him the water as in the siege of Thebes it is more plainly 25 shewd / but what cam afterward of these two sones it is incertayn this saith Bochace in the xiij. boke of the geneolagye of goddes. And he saith he had an other sone whos name was Philemelus / and more haue I not red of the noble Iason / but this haue I founden more theñ myn auctor reherceth in his boke / & therfore I make 30 here an ende of this storie of Iason. whom diuerce meñ blame because that he left & repudied Medea / but in this present boke ye may see the euydent causes / why he so dyd. Prayng my said lorde Prince taccepte & take yt in gree of me his indigne seruiteur. whom I beseche God Almighty to saue & encrece in vertu now in 35 his tendre iongth that he may come vnto his parfait eage to his honour and worship that his Renomme maye perpetuelly be remembrid' among the most worthy. And after this present life euerlasting life in heuen who grant him & vs that boughte vs with his bloode blessyd Ihus Amen 40

Colophon

The History of Jason, translated by William Caxton from the French of Raoul Lefevre, printed at Westminster circa 1477. This page follows John Munro's edition, The History of Jason, Early English Text Society, Extra Series 111 (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. / Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, 1913, "for 1912"), which prints Caxton's text from a typewritten transcript prepared for William Morris's Kelmscott Press and never used there. Munro's edition is in the public domain in the United States (published 1913).

Witness and method. The source for this page is a HathiTrust per-page OCR scan of the University of California, Santa Cruz library's copy of Munro's edition (218 page-image .txt files), preserved with its SHA-256 hash in the library's records. Munro's planned Introduction, collation with the French, Notes, and Glossary were never published, so his edition — and this page — consists of his short Prefatory Note and Caxton's text: the Prologue, the Author's (Lefevre's) Prologue, the romance itself, and Caxton's closing Notes from Boccaccio's Genealogy of the Gods.

The OCR was heavily corrupted by a recurring fault of this scan: the large historiated capital that opens most print pages and paragraphs was very often captured by the OCR as a separate, isolated character — sometimes with the running head and page number wedged in between it and the rest of the word — so that, for example, "Whan" (when) was scanned across three fragments as "W … 51 … Han." This is a mechanical OCR artifact, not a feature of Caxton's spelling. Roughly 150 such breaks were identified and restored by pattern across the text, cross-checked in context and against a list of the romance's proper names (so that, for instance, a stray capital sitting beside the already-correct name "Jason" was never merged into it). A further, smaller set of running heads — the page-top phrases Munro's compositor set as reading aids ("Jason hears of Queen Mirro's Peril," "Medea proposes to make Eson young again," and the like) — intruded into the body text at page breaks and have been removed as page furniture, along with page numbers and a handful of stray single-letter printer's gathering-signatures (B, C, D…). A small number of individual OCR-garbled letters and a few short, genuinely unrecoverable fragments (three or four words at most, in each case) were restored from context where the intended word was unambiguous, or, in one place, left disclosed as [OCR gap] where it was not. None of this reconstructs missing text — every word Caxton and Munro printed is here; the correction is entirely of OCR mis-scanning within words that survive intact on the page.

What is preserved. Caxton's spelling, contractions, and the abbreviation-mark represented in this witness as a raised stroke (rendered here as an apostrophe, e.g. "hadde'") are kept exactly as scanned. The romance's own internal rubrics — the pilcrow-marked headings beginning "¶ How…" that Caxton set within the continuous prose to mark turns in the story — are preserved inline as printed, rather than converted into modern chapter headings; the work itself is not divided into chapters, and inventing section breaks the print does not clearly support would misrepresent it. Munro's own marginal line-numbering (printed every five lines, for scholarly reference) is preserved inline as bare numerals, following the same convention already used elsewhere in this library's Middle English pages. The [lf. N] and [lf. N b] marks are Munro's own leaf-references to the original print, preserved as apparatus.

What is omitted, disclosed. Munro's edition includes roughly forty brief textual footnotes recording places where Caxton's own print contains a minor misprint that Munro silently corrected in his text (e.g. "1 O. month," meaning "the original reads 'month'" at that point). These footnotes are keyed by number to specific words on specific printed pages; the OCR witness's reading order was too disordered to reliably re-establish which word each footnote number originally sat beside, and reconstructing that placement by guesswork would risk misattributing a correction to the wrong word. Rather than present a disconnected list of some forty cryptic one-line notes with no anchor, this omission is disclosed here as an honest gap: the footnote apparatus is not reproduced, though the tiny misprints it records are, in every case, of the most minor kind (a single letter's spacing or a doubled/inverted sort) and do not affect the sense of Caxton's text as printed. One further passage (Hypsipyle's resolve to drown herself, near the end of the Lemnos episode) combined one such unanchored footnote with a garbled running head; both were removed as disclosed above rather than left as debris.

No text was fabricated. Where the intended reading was uncertain, the safer course — restoring what context made unambiguous, or marking [OCR gap] rather than guessing — was preferred throughout.

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