the Prologue and Books I–II — edited by Henry Bergen

John Lydgate (c. 1370–1449) was a monk of the Benedictine abbey of Bury St Edmunds and, by the sheer bulk of what survives under his name, the most prolific poet writing in English in the fifteenth century — tens of thousands of lines across saints' lives, mummings, mirrors for princes, and one enormous verse history of the fall of Troy. That history is the Troy Book, begun in the autumn of 1412 at the commission of Henry, Prince of Wales — the future Henry V — and finished in 1420, shortly before the prince became king. Lydgate translated and vastly amplified the Latin prose Historia destructionis Troiae of Guido delle Colonne (itself built on Benoît de Sainte-Maure's Old French Roman de Troie), turning a compact Latin chronicle into some 30,000 lines of English decasyllabic couplets: the Trojan War told as English royal ancestry, sponsored by the dynasty that had just claimed the French throne and needed a foundation myth to match. For much of the fifteenth century this was England's official Troy — the version a Lancastrian prince asked for and a Lancastrian court read.

The text below follows Henry Bergen's edition for the Early English Text Society (Extra Series 97, 1906), the first part of Bergen's four-volume edition of the whole poem. This first part carries the Prologue and Books I and II — roughly the poem's first third — edited chiefly from British Library MS. Cotton Augustus A. iv, collated against three further manuscripts, with running side-notes and headlines contributed by F. J. Furnivall. Bergen's own page-by-page textual footnotes, recording where the collated manuscripts disagree, are preserved alongside the verse. Middle English þ (thorn) and ȝ (yogh) are kept, restored where a twentieth-century library scan's optical character recognition had flattened them into Latin letters — method and limits are set out in the colophon below.

Contents

• Book I
• Book II

(The Prologue precedes Book I below.)

Prologue

O MYGHTY Mars, that wyth thy sterne lyght
In armys hast the power & þe myȝt,
And named art from est til Occident
The myghty lorde, the god armypotent, 4
That, wyth schynyng of thy stremes rede,
By influence dost the brydel lede
Of cheualry, as souereyn and patrown,
Ful hoot and drye of complexions, 8
Irows and wood and malencolyk,
And of nature brent and coleryk,
Of colour schewyng lyche the fyry* glede,
Whos feerce lokes ben as ful of drede 12
As the levene that alyȝteth lowe
Down by the skye from lubiteris bowe
Thy stremes ben so passyng despitous,
To loke vp-on, inly furious, 16
And causer art wyth thy fery bemys
Of werre and stryf in many sondry rewmys
Whos lordschype is most in Caprycorn,
But in the bole is thy power lorn ; 20
And causer art of contek and of strif,
Now, for the loue of Wlcanus wyf,
Wyth whom whylom j>ou wer at meschef take,
So helpe me now, only for hyr sake, 24
And for the loue of thy Bellona,
That wyth the dwellyth byȝownd Cirrea
In Lebye-londe vp-on the sondes rede ;
So be niyn helpe in this grete nede 28
TROY BOOK.
To do socour my stile to directe,
And of my penne the tracys to correcte,
Whyche bareyn is of aureat lycour,
But in thi grace I fynde som fauour 32
For to conveye it \vyth thyn influence,
That stumbleth ay for faute of eloquence
For to reherse or writen any word
Now help, o Mars, 36
And hast of manhod the magnificence
And Othea, goddesse of prudence,
This wirke texsplyte that 36 nat refuse,
But maketh Clyo for to ben my muse, 40
Wyth hir sustren that 011 Pernaso* dwelle
In Cirrea by Elicon the welle,
Kennyng ful clere wyth st[r]emys cristallyn,
And callyd is the welle Caballyn 44
That sprang by touche of the Pegasee.
And helpe also,
That were moder vn-to Orpheus,
Whos dites wern so mellodyus, 48
That the werbles of his resownyng harpe
Appese dyde the bitter wyrdys scharpe,
Bothe of parchas and furies infernal,
And Cerberus so cruel fouwde at al 52
He coyede also best[e], foule, and tree.
Now of thy grace be helpyng vn-to me,
And of thy golde dewe lat the lycour wete
My dulled brest, that wyth thyn hony swete 56
Sugrest tongis of rethoricyens,
And maistresse art to Musicyens
Now be myn help tenlumyne with
Whyche am beset with cloudis dym and dirk 60
Of ygnoraiwce, in makyng to procede,
To be lusty to hem that schal it rede.
Also in hert I am so ful of drede,
Whan prudent lysters her-to schal take hede, 64
That in makyng more skylle can than I,
To whom I preie, ful benignely
Of her goodnesse to haue compassioim
Wlier as I erre in my translations 68
For God I take hyȝly to wyttenesse
That I this wirk of hertly lowe huwblesse
Toke vp-on me of entenciou?,
Devoyde of pride and presumption?,
For to obeie with-oute variaunce
My ]ordes byddyng fully and plesaunce,
Whiche hath desire, sothly for to seyn,
Of verray knyȝthod to remembre ageyn 76
The worthynes,
And the prowesse of olde chiualrie,
By-cause he hath loye and gret deynte
To rede in bokys of antiquite, 80
To fyn* only, vertu for to s\ve
Be example of hem, and also for to eschewe
The cursyd vice of sl-uthe and ydelnesse.
So he enioyeth in vertuous besynesse, 84
In al that longeth to manhood, dar I seyn,
He besyeth euere, and ther-to is so fayn
To hawnte his body in pleies marcyal,
Thorny excersice texclude slouthe at al,
After the doctrine of Vygecius.
Tims is he bothe manful and vertuous,
More passyngly jran I can of hym write
I wante connyng his hiȝe renou?ȝ tendite,
So moche of manhood men may in hym sen.
And for to witen whom I wolde mene,
The eldest sone of the noble kvnȝ
Henri the firj>e, of kuyȝthood welle & spryng, 96
In whom is schewed of what stok he grewe
The rotys vertu Jnis can the frute renewe
In euery part the tarage is the same,
Lyche his fader of maueris and of name, 100
In sothefastnesse, this no tale is,
Callid Henry ek, the worthy prynce of Walys,
To whom schal longe by successions
For to gouerne Brutys Albyowi 104
Whyche me comaunded the drery pitus fate
Of hem of Trove in englysche to translate,
The sege also and the destrucciouw,
Lyche as the latyn maketh menciouw, 108
For to compyle, and after Guydo make,
So as I coude, and write it for his sake,
By-cause he wolde that to hyȝe and lowe
The noble story openly \ver knowe 112
In oure tonge, aboute in euery age,
And y-writen as wel in oure langage
As in latyn and in frensche it is
That of the story 116
No more than doth eche other naeiouw
This was the fyn of his entencioura.
The whyche emprise anoon I gynne schal
In his worschip for a memorial. 120
And of the tyme to make menciouw,
Whan I be-gan of this translaciouw,
It was the ȝere, sothely for to seyne,
Fourtene complete of his fadris regne, 124
The tyrne of ȝere, schortly to conclude,
Whan twenty grees was Phebws altitude,
The hour whan he made his stedis drawe
His rosen chariet lowe vnder the wawe 128
To bathe his bemys in the wawy see,
Tressed lyche gold, as men myȝtfe] see,
Passyng the bordure of oure occian
And Lucyna, of colour pale and wan, 132
ii
Hir cold* arysyng in Octobre gan to dyȝt,
Tenchace the dirknesse of the frosty nyȝt,
In the myddes of the scorpion ;
And Esperus gan to wester dovn, 136
To haste hir cours ageyn þe morwe graye
And Lucifer, the nyȝt to voyde a-waye,
Is callyd than, messanger of day,
Our emysperye to put out of affraye 140
Wyth briȝt kalendis of Pliebus vpryst* schene
Out of the bouttdis Proserpina the quene,
Wher Pluto dwelleth, the dirk[e] regioun,
And the furies haue her mansions 144
Til after sone Appollo lyst nat tarie
To take soiour in the Sagittarie.
Whyche tyme I gan the prolog to beholde
Of Troye Boke, I-made be dayes olde, 148
Wher was remeinbrid, of auctours* vs be-forn,
Of the dede the* verreie trewe corn,
So as it
For in her honde they hilde for a staf 152
The trouthe only, whyche thei han compyled
Vn-to this fyn, that we wer nat begyled
Of necligence thoruȝ forȝetilnesse.
The which e serpent of age by processe 156
Engendered is fersly vs tassaille,
Of the trouth to make vs for to faille
For ner[e] writers, al wer out of mynde,
Nat story only, but of nature and kynde 160
The trewe knowyng schulde haue gon to wrak,
And from science oure wittes put a-bak,
Ne hadde oure elderis cerched out and souȝt
The sothefast pyth, to ympe it in oure thouȝt, 164
Of thinges passed, for-dirked of her hewe,
But thoruȝ writyng þei be refresched newe,
Of oure auncetrys left to vs by-hynde
To make a merour only to oure mynde, 168
To seen eche thing trewly as it was,
More bryȝt and clere fan in any glas.
For ner her writyng nowe memorial,
Dethe \ith his swerde schulde haue slay[e]n al, 172
And y-dymmed wat/i his sodeyn schoures
The gret[e] prowes of thise conquerouris,
And dirk[ed] eke the bnȝtnesse of her fame,
That schyneth ȝet by report of her name 176
For vn-to vs her bokes represent
With-out[e] feynynge
In her dales, whan thei wer alyue.
Ageyn the trouthe who so euere stryue, 180
Or coiwterplete or make any debate,
The sothe is rad of hiȝe or lowe estate,
With-oute fauour, who so list take hede
For after deth clerkis lityl drede 184
After desert for to bere witnesse,
Nor of a tyrauwt the trouthe to expresse,
As men disserue, with-oute excepciotw
With lak or prys 188
Wherfore me semeth eue?y maner man
Schulde be his live in al that euer he can
For vertu only eschewe to don amys ;
For after dethe, pleynly as it is, 192
Clerkis wil write, and excepte noon,
The pleynfe] trouthe whan a man is goon.
And by olde tyme for her writing trewe
Thei cherisched werne of lordes þat hem knewe, 196
And honoured gretly in tho dawes ;
For they enacted and gilte with her sawes
Her hyȝe renoun, her manhood and prowes,
Her knyȝthood eke and her worthynes, 200
Her tryvmphes also and victories,
Her famous conquest and her songe glories,
From poynt to poynt rehersyng al þe trouthe,
With-out[e] fraude, necligence, or slowthe 204
Thei dide her labour and her besynesse.
For elles certeyn the grete worthynesse
Of her dedis hadde ben in veyn ;
For-dirked age elles wolde haue slayn 208
By lenthe of ȝeris þe noble worthi fame
Of conquerours, and pleynly of her name
For-dymmed eke the lettris aureat,
And diffaced the palme laureat, 212
Whiche fat þei wan by knyȝthod in her dayes,
Whos fretyng rust newe and nevve assayes
For to eclipse the honour and the glorie
Of Inȝe prowes, whiche clerkis in memorie 216
Han trewly set thoruj diligent labour,
And enlumyned with many corious flour
Of rethorik, to make vs comprehende
The trouthe of al, as 220
Besied hem and feythfully travaylled
Agayn al that fat age wolde assaylied,
In her bokes euery thyng I-set,
And vrith the keye of remembrauwce it schet, 224
Whiche lasteth ȝet, and duretli euer in oon.
Eecorde of Thebes, fat was so long a-goon,
Of whiche the rueyne and* distruccioura
ȝe may beholde by gode inspeccioiw, 228
Crop and rote, ri$t as it was in dede,
On Stace loketh, and fer $e may it rede
How Polynece and Ethiocles,
The brether two, ne kowde nat lyue in pees 232
Til Thebes was brouȝt vn-to ruyne,
And al the maner how thei dide fyne ;
The deth also of worth! Tydeus,
And how Edippus, with teris ful pytous, 236
Wepte oute his eyne, and al his drery peyen,
And how the smokys departid wer in tweyen,
At the fest of fires funeral
In gret[e] Stace 36 may reden al 240
The fyre engendered by brotherly hatrede,
Wher-thoru} fat deth was þe cruel mede,
In verray sothe, of many worth! man,
Lyche as myn auctor wel reherse can. 244
Of Troye also, fat was of latter $eres,
By dillygence of cronyc[u]leris
ȝe may beholde in her wrytyng wel
The stryfe, the werre, þe sege and euerydel, 248
as it was, so many ȝeres passyd.
Whos story $it age hath nou$t dift'aced,
]STor cruel deth, with his mortal strokys;
For maugre deth, 36 may beholde in bokys 252
The story fully rehersed new and newe,
And freschely floure of colour and of hewe
From day to day, quyk & no thyng feynt.
For clerkys han this story so depeynt, 256
That deth nor age, by no maner weye,
The trouthe may not maken for to deye
Al-be that so???me han the trouth[e] spared
In her writyng, and pleynly not declared 260
So as it was, nor tolde out feithfully,
But it transformed in her poysy
Thoru} veyn[e] fables, whiche of entenciouw
They han contreved by false transumpciou?! 264
To hyde trouthe falsely vnder cloude,
And the sothe of malys for to schroude,
As Omer dide, the whiche in his writyng
I-feyned hathe ful many diuers thyng 268
That neuer was, as Guydo lyst deuise,
And thingys done in a-nother wyse
He hathe transformed than þe troupe was,
And feyned falsly that goddis in þis caas 272
The worthi Grekis holpen to werreye
Ageyn Troyens, and howe þat pei wer seye
Lyche lyfly men arnonge hem day by day.
And in his dites, þat wer so fresche & gay 276
With sugred wordes vnder hony soote,
His galle is hidde lowe by the rote,
That it may nouȝt outewarde ben espied.
And al for he with Grekis was allied, 280
Ther-for he was to hem fauourable
In rnyche thing, whiche is nou}t co??imendable
Of hem þat lyst to demen after ry$t ;
For in makyng, loue hath lost his sy$t, 284
To ȝeue a pris wher noon is disserued,
Cupide [is] blynde, whos domys ben obseruyd
More after lust than after equite,
Or after resoim how the trouthfe] be. 288
For singulerte and false affeeefOUM
Reyseth * ful ofte by veyn[e] lausiouw 512
A man to worschip þat disserueth noon,
By false reporte, and jws ful many oon 292
With-oute merit hath his fame blowe
Wher of another j>e renoiw is vnknowe,
That in armys hath meruelles wrouȝt,
Of whom par-aunter speketh no man nouȝt 296
For fauour only is fostered more than ryȝt,
That hyndered hath many [a] worjn knyȝt.
Ovide also poetycally hath closyd
Falshede with trouthe, fat makeþ men ennosed
To whiche parte
His mysty speche so hard is to vnfolde,
That it* entriketh rederis that it se.
Virgile also, for loue of Enee, 304
In Eneydos rehersyth moche thyng,
And was in party trewe of his writyng,
Exsepte only that hym lyst som whyle
The tracys folwe of Omeris stile ;
And of þis sege wrot eke Lollius,
But to-forn alle, Dares Frigius
Wrot rnoste trewly after fat he fonde,
And Dytes eke of the Grekys lond. 312
They were p?-esent and seyen euerydel,
And as it fel they write trewe and wel,
Eche in his tonge, by swyche consonaunce,
That in her bokys was no variaunce, 316
Whiche after wern vn-to Athenes brou$t,
And by processe serched oute and souȝt
By dillygence of oon Cornelius,
Whyche was nevewe vn-to Salustius, 320
Of Rome y-born, whiche dide his dever dewe
Hem to translate, and the tracys sewe
Of thise auctours by good avisement.
But by-cause he sette 324
For to be brefe, he lefte moche be-hynde
Of the story, as men in bokys fynde,
The nrste mevyng and cause original,
What was the gynnyng and rote in special, 328
Ne how thei come by lond or by navie,
How firste the sparke was kyndeled ofȝenvie
A-twyxe Grekis and hern of Troye town,
Of whiche Cornelye maketh no mentions, 332
Of her schippes nor of her vitaille,
Nor how fat Grece is called Gret Ytaille,
And the lasse, as bokys verrefye,
Is named now the londe of Romany e, 336
lowarde the sege. al of oon assent,
To wynne worschip & for excersise
Of armys only, in ful knyȝtly wyse, 340
Abydyng there to sen the versiou?i
Of the cite and noble Yllyourc,
Nor what the maner was of her armure,
Nor at the sege who lengest dide * endure, 344
In what wyse eche other dide assaile,
Nor how often thei metten in bataille,
In al the story a worcle as in sentence,
But folweth hem by swyche convenience,
That in effecte the substaiwce is the same
And of Columpna Guydo was his name, 360
Whiche had in writyng passyng excellence.
For lie enlvmyneth by crafte & cadence
This noble story with many fresche colour
Of rethorik, and many riche flour 364
Of eloquence to make it sownde bet
He in the story hath ymped in and set,
That in good feythe I trowe he hath no pere,
To rekne alle þat write of this matere, 368
As in his boke }e may beholde and se.
To whom I seie, knelyng on my knee
Laude and honour & excellence of fame,
Guydo maister, be vn-to thi name, 372
That excellest * by souereinte of stile
Alle that writen this mater to compile.
Whom I schal folwe as nyȝe as euer I may,
That God me grau?it it be vn-to the pay 376
Of hym for whom I haue vndertake
So as I can this story for to make,
Preynge to alle þat schal it rede or se,
Wher as I erre for to amendera me, 380
Of humble herte and lowe entenciou?i
Commyttyng al to her correcciouw,
And ther-of thanke; my wille is þat þei wyraie,
For thorny her support jms I wil begynne. 384
Textual notes (Bergen's manuscript-variant apparatus, by printed page):

• p. ?: 1-163 are missing in D 1.; 28. So be myn helpe] So helpe A.
• p. ?: 41. Pernaso] Pernasa C.; 53. coyede] cowde A.
• p. 3: 81. fyn] fynde C.; 97. stok] >at D; frute] sent A, fent D 2 -renewe] reme\v D 2.; 98; 101. sothefastnesse] sothnesse A.
• p. ?: 107. 2nd the] om. A, D 2,
• p. ?: 141. vpryst] vprijt C.; 149. auctours] auntowrs C.; 152. hilde] holde A.; 169. trewly] nowe trewly D
• p. ?: 182. hiȝe or lowe] lowe or hi$e D; 196. Thei] The D 1.; 201. victories] victorious D 1.; 208. For-dirked] For derke D 1.
• p. 7: 218. many] many a D 1.; 222. assaylled] have failed D 1.; 233. vn-to] in to A.; 215. dillygence of] dilligence grete of wyse D 1.
• p. 8: 254. And] Of D.'l.; 267. the] om. B 1.
• p. ?: 288. how] how bat D; 293. blowe] y-blowe D 1.; 296. speketh] wirkeb D; 299. poetycally] Poete ytally A.; it] he C.; 303.; 313. They] For they A.
• p. ?: Thorouȝ olde hatrede wrouȝt vp with newe st[r]if,; Nor of her dethe he dateth nat the ȝere,; For his writyng was particuler ;; With-oute frute he was compendious,; This forseyde Romeyne, this Cornelius.; Wherfore but late in comparisons,; Ther was an auctour of ful hiȝe renouft; That besied hym the tracys for to swe; Of Dite and Dares, & cast hym nat transmwe; 328. What was the gynnyng] That was bigynnynge D 1.; 329. 2nd by] om. D 2.; 344. lengest dide] dide lengest C.; 347. loste ther his] there loste here D; 348. Thorouj] pogh D 2.; 353. in] as in D
• p. ?: 365. bet] >e bette D 1.; 368. of] in A, on D 2.; 371. &] with D 1.; 375. nyȝe] moche D; 380. for] om. D 2, D 1.; 1 The above rubric occurs in both D 2 and D 1.

Book I

Here bigynneth þe first boke of Troy: howe Esone resygned þe Crowne of Thesaly to Pellee.

IN þe regne & lond of Thesalye, 1
The whiche is now y-named Salonye,
Ther was a kyng callyd Pelleus,
Wys & discrete & also vertuous. 4
The whiche, as Guydo lyst to specefie,
Helde the lordschipe and the regallye
Of this yle, as gouernour and kyng,
Of whiche [þe] pepil, by record of writyng, 8
Myrundones were called in tho dawes,
Of whom Ovyde feyneth in his sawes,
Methamorphoseos, where as ȝe may rede
How þis peple sothfastly in dede, 12
So as myn auctor maketh mencioun,
Were brouȝt echon to destruccioun
With sodeyn tempest and with fery levene
By the goddys sent down from þe heuene; 16
For they of Ire, with-oute more offence,
With the swerde & stroke of pestilence
On this yle whylom toke vengaunce,
Lyche as it is putte in remembraunce. 20
For this peple distroied were serteyn
With thonder dent and with haiel and reyn,
Ful unwarly, as Guydo list discryve;
For ther was noon of hem lefte a-lyue 24
In al the lond, that the violence
Escape myȝte of this pestilence
Excepte the kyng, þe whiche went allone

In-to a wode for to make his mone, 28
Sool by hym silfe, al disconsolate,
In a place that stood al discolat,
Wher this kyng, rooming to and fro,
Compleynynge ay of his fatal woo 32
And the harmys J)at he dide endure
Til at the laste, of caas or aventure,
Besyde an holt he sawe wher stode a tre
Of ful gret he$t and large of quantite, 36
Holwe by the rote, as he kowde knowe,
Wher as he sawe, by the erthe lowe,
Of amptis crepe passyng gret plente,
With whiche sy$te he felle dovn on his kne 40
And made his preyer in his paynym wyse
To the goddes with humble sacrifyse,
Vp-on his wo and gret aduersite
Only of mercy for to haue pyte, 44
To turne thise amptis in-to forme of man.
Thus gan he praye, wit/i colour pale and wan,
His lond tenhabite whiche stondeth disolat,
And he alone, awaped and amaat, 48
Comfortles of any creature,
Hym to releue of that he dide endure.
And, as Ovide maketh menciouw,
That lubiter herde his orisouw,
And hath swiche rowth on hym at
That he anoon fulfilled his requeste,
And of his myȝte, whiche )>at is devine,
His grace he made from heuene for * to schyne 56
Benyngnely vn-to the erthe dovn,
That a sodeyn transmutaciouw
Was made of amptis to forme of men anon,
Whiche on her feet gorane street to goon 60
To Thesalye and salue ther the kyng,
And lyche his liges token her dwellynge
With-Inne a cite called tho Egee,
As in Ovide 30 may beholde and see. 64
The whiche people for her worthines,
For her strenthe and gret[e] hardynes
Myrundones so longe haue boor the name
As in the lyfe ȝe reden may the same 68
Of seynt Mathe we, how thei be called soo,
Where the apostel so mochel hadde a-doo
Whiche for wisdam & prudent adue?'tence,
Besy labour and wilful dilligence, 72
By for-seynge and discreciouw,
As I suppose* in myn opiniouw,
That this fable of amptis was contreved,
Whiche by her wysdani han so myche achevid 76
Thoruȝ her knyȝthod, who so list to loke
Her manly dedis thoruȝ-out Troie boke.
In al meschef so wel thei hau hem born
That þei ful wysly ppouided wern to-forn 80
Or that it
For of no slouthe þei wer nat rek[e]les,
But as the arnpte teschewen ydelnesse
In somer is so ful of besynesse 84
Or wynter com, to sauen hir fro colde
Sche to-forne astored hath hir holde.
But in this mater I holde no sermouw,
I wil no longer make digression?ȝ 88
Nor in fables no more as now soiourne,
But there I lefte I wyl agayn retourne,
Of Pelleus ferther to precede
Wiche kyng, forsothe, in story as I rede, 92
And as myn auctor lysteth to endyte,
Had a wyf that called was Tedite
Of which e two, platly this no les,
The manly man, the hardy Achilles,* 96
So as Guydo lesteth to termyne,
Descended was, sothly as by lyne,
Most renomed of manhood and of myȝt
Amonges Grekis, and the beste knyȝt 100
7narked
I-holde in sothe, thoruȝ-oute al her lond,
In worthines preued of his hond.
Whos cruelte Troiens sore abouȝt,
So passynge Merueilles in armys ber he wrou[$]t 104
Duryng the sege, as $e schal after lere,*
Paciently $if 36 liste to here.*
But Pelleus, that I spak of a-forne,
A brother hadde of o moder born, 108
That hyȝte Eson, so fer y-ronne in $eris,
That he of luste hath lost al his desyris,
So fer he was y-cropen in-to age,
]ȝat al his witte was turned to dotage 112
For bothe mynde and memorial
For-dulled wern and dirked so at al,
That verrailly his discrecioiw
Was hym birafte, in conclusions. 116
Wherfor the regne and lond of Thesalye,
Crovne and septre with al the regalye,
He hath resygned his brother for to queme,
Estate royal and also diademe 120
he was croked, lame, & blynde,
And to gouerne loste bobe wit & nrymle,
By-cause
So febled was his celle retentif
And fordirked his ymaginatif, 124
That lost were bothe memorie and resouw
For whiche he made a resygnacȝ'on
To his brother, next heyr by degre,
And next allye of his affinite.
But as so??zme auctours in her bokys seyn,
.
.
lo aoutne he was restored new aseyn
By crafte of Medee, the gret sorceresse,
And renewed to his lustynesse 132
For with hyr herbes and hir pocioiws,*
Sotyl wyrchyng[es] of confeccȝouws,
By que[i]ntyse eke of hir instrumentys,
With hir charmys and enchauntementys,* 136
Sche made a drynke, in bokys as is * tolde,
In whiche a ȝerde that was drye and olde
"Withoute abod anoon as she it * caste
To blosme and budde it be-gan as faste, 140
Turne grene and fresell e for to beholde.
And pom}
Eson restored vn-to lusty age,
And was of witte & resoiw eke as sage 144
As euer he had his lyve ben a-forn.
The whiche Eson, of his wyfe y-born,
Hadde a son, and lason was his name,
In wirk of whom Nature nas to blame; 148
For sche hir crafte platly and konnyng
Spent vp-on hyin hooly in wirkyng,
Whan sche hym made, with hert[e], wil, & pouȝt,
That of hir crafte behynde was ryȝt nouȝt. 152
To rekne his schap and also his fayrnes,
His strenthe, his bewte, and his lyflynes,
His gentilles and wyse gouȝrnaimce,
How large he was, and of dalliaunce 156
The mostfe] goodly
In al his port bothe to hyȝe and lowe
And with al þis avise and tretable
That of konnyng God wot I am nat able 160
For to discryve * his vertues by and by.
For as myn auctor telleth feithefully,
He was beloued so of old and ȝonge,
That thoruȝ þe londe is his * honour spronge ; 164
But for þat he was but ȝonge and sklender,
Of age also inly grene and tender,
He was committed to the gouernaille
Of Pelleus, to whom with-oute faille 168
In euery thyng he was as servisable,
As diligent in chambre and at table,
As euere was any childe or man
Vn-to his lorde, in al þat euer he can 172
Devise in herte of feithful obeyschaunce
So Jjat in chere nor in cowntenaunce,
Inwarde in herte nor outwarde in schewyng,
To his vncle ne was he nat grucchyng 176
Al-be he had holly in his hande
The worthi kyngdam and
Of this lason, and the eritage,
Only for he was to ȝoiige of age. 180
Vn-to whom Pelleus dide his peyne
Ageyn[es] herte falsely for to feyne,
To schewen other þan he mente in herte,
And kepte hym cloos, 184
Lyche an addre vnder flouris fayre,
For to his herte his tonge was contrarie
Benyngne of speche, of menyng a serpente,
For vnder colour was the tresoiw blente, 188
To schewe hym goodly vn-to his allye ;
But inwarde brent of hate and of envie
The hoote fyre, & }it ther was no smeke,
So couertly the malys was y-reke, 192
That no man myȝt as by sygne espie
Toward lason in herte he bare envie.
And merveil noon, for hit was canseles,
Saue he dradde þat he for his encres 196
And for * his manhood likly was tateyne
For to succede in his faders reigne,
Whiche Pelleus uniustly ocupieth
And day be day cast and fantasieth 200
How his venym may be som pursute
Vppon lason be fully execute.
Her-on he museth euery hour and tyme,
As he fat dradde to sen an hasty pryme 204
Folowen a chaurcge, as it is wont to done,
TROY BOOK.
Sodeynly after a newe moone ;
He caste weyes and compasseth sore,
And vnder colour alwey more and more 208
His felle malys lie gan to close and hide,
Lyche a snake that is wont to glyde
With his venym vnder fresche floures ;
And as the sonne is hoot a-fore 212
So of envie hattere bran the glede.
Vp-on a tyme he Jjoiȝte * to precede
To execute his menynge euery del,
In porte a lambe, in herte a lyoun fel, 216
Dowble as a tygre sliȝly to compasse,
Galle in his breste and sugre in his face,
That no man hath to hym suspecioutt,
Howe he purveieth the destrucciourc 220
Of his nevewe, and fat wtt/i-Inne a whyle,
Pretendyng loue, al-be the fyn was gyle.
His malys was I-schette so vnder keye,
ftat his entent [ther] can no man be-vvreye 224
It was conceled & closed in secre,*
Ynder the lok of pryve Enmyte,
And that in soth greued hym
Vp-on hym 228
Abydyng ay til [vn-to] his entent
He fynde may leyser conuenient
Vp-on his purpos platly to precede
For to parforme it fully vp in dede. 232
Wher-of lason hath ful lytel rouȝt
His vncle and he [ne] wer not in o thouȝt
Of whos menyng was no conuenience,
For malys was coupled with Innocence ; 236
And grownde of al,
Was the Ethik of false couetise,
Whiche fret so sore, falsly for to wynne,
As crop and rote of euery sorowe and synne, 240
And cause hath ben, syth[en] goo ful ȝore,
That many a rewme hath a-bouȝt ful sore
The dredful venym of couetyse, alias
Lat hem be war, fat stonden in this caas, 244
To thinke a-forne & for to haue in mynde
That al falshed draweth to an ende
For thouȝe it bide and last a $er or two,
The ende in soth schal be sorwe and wo 248
Of alle fat ben false and envious.
Here-of no more, but forthe of Pelleus
I wil }ow telle, þat hath so longfe] souȝt
Vp-on Jus thing, 252
Tidynges newe, & fat so merveillous,
That he astonyed was and alle his hous,
Of a mervaille that new[e]ly was fal
Besyde Troye, the plage oriental 256
How in Colchos, as the tydyng cam,
With-Inne an He enclosed was a Earn
Whiche bare his flees ful richely of golde ;
And for the richesse, it was kepte in holde 260
With gret avis and gretfe] diligence,
That no man myȝt ther-to doon offence.
And in this He ther was a gouernour,
A noble kynge, a worthi weriour, 264
That Cethes hiȝt
Whiche was also [y-]ronne fer in age,
That in his* tyme, as bokys can deuise,
Had vnder-fonged many gret emprise 268
In pes and werre, & moche worschip wonne ;
And he was sone also to the sonne,
That $af hym eure to honowr to atteyne,
So as poetis lusteth for to feyne. 272
Touching his line, I leue as now
And of this Ram my purpos is tentrete,
That was ccwimytted, I dar $ow wel assure,
To the kepyng and the besy cure
Of cruel Mars, the myȝty god of werre,
Whiche with þe stremes of his rede sterre
And influence of his deite,
Ordeyned hath, by ful gret cruelte,
This Ram to kepe, bolys ful vnmylde,
With brasen feet, ramegous and wylde,
And ther-wȝt/i-al ful fel and dispitous,
And of nature wood and furious, 284
To hurte and sleen euere of o desyre.
Out of whos mouthe leuene & wylde fire,
Lyche a flawme euere blasid oute
To brenne al hem fat stode* ny$ aboute;
Eke of her eyen f e lokys moste orible
To
[a] furneis the stremys wer visible.
And who that* wolde, [to] encrese his glorie,
This Earn of golde wynnen by victorie,
Firste he moste of verray force and myȝt
Vn-to outraunce with thise bolys
And hem venquysche, aldirfirst of alle,
And make hem humble as any oxe in stalle
Yn-to the ȝoke, and do hem ere þe londe ;
Of verray manhood, þis most he take on ho?d.
And after fat he moste also endure
With a serpent of huge and gret stature,
With-out[e] fauour, pleynly haue a-do,
To outraunce eke, witft-oute wordis mo.
þe wiche serpent, schortly for to telle,
Was lyche a fende comen out of helle, 304
Ful of venym and of cruel hate ;
And wiih skalys hard as any plate
He armyd was, to sto[n]den at drffence ;
And his breth wers than pestilence 308
Infecten wolde environ al þe eyre
In iche place wher was his repeire.
He was so ful of corrupcioiw,
And so dredful of infecciouw, 312
That deth in sothe, schortly to deuise,
Was the fyn of this hiȝe emprise
To swyche as wolde þis querel take on hond,
I-lyche in oon, bothe to fre and bonde, 316
But if he koude þe bet hym silf diffende.
And of his conquest Jns was eke the ende
]ȝat whan he had
He most anoon, by custom and by lawe, 320
Out of his hed his tethe echon arace,
And thane sowe hem in the silf[e] place
Where the oxes herid hadde aforn ;
Of whiche sede ther sprang a wonder corn 324
Knyȝtes armyd, passyng of gret myȝte,
Eueryche with other redy for to fyjte
Til eche his brother hadde brouȝt to grouwde
By mortail fate & 30110 his dejns wounde. 328
This was the ende of hem euerychon ;
For in sothnesse of al j>er was noon
That lyue myȝt by that fatal lawe
Any lenger in soth than his felawe. 332
And by Jris weye, dredful and perillous,
Who desyreth to be victorious,
He moste passe and manly it endure,
And how so falle take his auenture. 336
Of noon estat was noon excepciouw,
Chese who so wele ;
He may not skape for fauour ne for mede,
Who euer gynne, avise hym wel I rede 340
For by the statute of the kyng he may,
Who so that wele, entren and assay ;
But after fat he onys hath by-gonne
He may nat chese til he haue lost or wonne. 344
ȝet, as somme of j>is Earn expresse,
And of þis flees also here witnesse,
It was no thyng but golde & gret tresour,
That Cethes kyng, with ful hyje labour, 348
Made kepe it by incantacioiws,
By sorserye and false illucions,
))at was spoke of in rewmys fer aboute ;
For whyche many put her lyf * in doute, 352
Of hyȝe desyr thei hadde for to wynne
)Q gret[e] tresour fat was shette we't/i-Inne
Colchos lond, as $e haue herde deuise ;
"Whos pursute roos oute of couetise, 356
Grouwde & rote of wo and al meschauwce,
By veyn reporte hem silf[e] to avaunce ;
For whiche bei put hem silf * in lupartye,
With-out[e] reskuse likly for to dye. 360
þer was noon helpe, ne noon sleyȝt of armys
Jpat vaille myȝt ageyn be cursed charmys
þei wer so strong and supersticious,
|ȝat many worthi, in knyȝthood ful famous, 364
Enhasted werne vn-to her dethe, alias,
feat list euparten her lyues in bis cas.
And bis lasteth til afterwarde be-fel
J)at Pelleus platly herde tel 368
}2e gret[e] meschefes and destrucciouws
In Colchos wroujt on sondry naciouws,
J)at pursued be au[n]tres to conquere
Til Pelleus so ferforthe gan enquere, 372
Jȝat he knewe holly how be treuthe was
And in his herte anoon he gan compas,
How he myȝt by any sleyȝtfe] make
His nevewe lason for to vndirtake 376
Jjis hiȝe emprise in Colchos for to wende,
By whiche weye best he myȝt hym schende
And [gan] pretend a colour fresche of hewe,
silf] siluen C
I-gilt outward so lusty and so newe, 380
As fer wer no tresourc hydde with-Inne ;
And sawe it was tyme to begynne
On his purpos, þei first he made it queynte,
And gan with asour & with golde to peynte 384
His gay wordys in sownynge glorious,
Knowyng lason was ȝonge and desyrous
Vn-to swyche thing, and lyȝtly wolde enclyne.
Therfor he thouȝt fat he nolde fyne 388
Pleynly to wirke to his confusioun,
And made anoon a conuocacioura
Of his lordys and his baronye,
Aboute envirouw the londe of Thesalye, 392
For tassemble estates of degre
Of al his rewme wit/i-In þe chefe cite.
For to holde a counseil outterly he caste,
J)er-by tacheve his desire as faste ; 396
And so his court contwneth daies thre ;
Til at þe laste his hidde iniquyte
He gan out rake, f
For he ne myȝte no lenger forthe prolonge 400
))& venym hid, fat frat so at his herte,
In so slyȝe wyse fat no man myȝt aduerte
Vp-on no syde but fat he mente wel.
For þe tresowi was cured eue?ydel 404
And curteyned vnder trecherye ;
For he this thing so slyȝly gan to guye
At pr[i]me face fat no man myȝtfe] deme
By any worde, as it wolde seme, 408
Tn cher, in port, by signe or* daliaunce,
But fat he cast knyȝtly for tavaunce
His $onge nevewe, as by lyklynesse,
To hiȝe honour of manhood and prowesse. 412
For of þe entent, of whiche he gan pwrpose,
þat] al D 1
)?e tixte was hyd, but no thing j>e glose,
Whiche was ccwueied so with flaterye,
Jpat the peple cowde not espye 416
Lytel or nouȝt of his entent with-Inne.
For whiche anoon to preyse hvm bei be-gynne.
Jjat he suche honour to his nevewe wolde
For vrith swyche cher he be-gan vnfolde 420
To-forn hem al his entencioun,
Jpat he hath voided al suspecioiw
From al fat wern assemblid in þe place
And toward lason he torne gan his face 424
Ful lovyngly in countenance and chere,
And to hym seide,
Thoruȝ-out þe courte, wharc maked was silence,
Jpus word by worde platly in sentence 428
syn lason, take hed what I schal seyn,
For þe I am so inly glad and feyn
And supprised with myrthfe] foru} myn herte,
That it enchaseth & voideth al my smerte, 432
For to considere in myn inspecciou?z
Of þi ȝowthe þe disposiciourc,
J)e whiche, schortly for to comprehende,
Saue to* vertu to no thyng doth entende, 436
-,
.
.
vn-to worschip and to gentilnesse,
.
To manly fredam and to hyȝe largesse,
þat verraily, wher I wake or wynke,
My loye is only ther-on for to thinke. 440
My silf I holde so passynge fortunat,
And al my londe, of hiȝe and lowe estat,
J5at lykly arn in honour for to flete,
And to lyuen in reste and in quiete 444
Thoru$ thi support and
Whos manhod may so mochel vs availle,
By lyklyhed, and so moche amende,
In verray sothe to saue vs and diffende 448
Agayn al tho, as I can descryue,
Jpat of malys wolde ageyn vs stryue
Or rebelle in any maner weye,
Of surqued[r]ye or pride to werreye 452
Our worthines, assured in tranquille,
From al assaut of hem þat wolde vs ille,
For to perturbe oure noble estat rial,
Ageynfels whom, whan þou art oure wal, 456
Our myjty schelde, and protecciourc
þus deme I fully in myii oppiniouw,
For of fin age,
])\ knyȝtly hert, þi manly excellence, 460
Reported ben, and pin hyȝe renou?z,
In many londe and many regiouw
J2is rouTzde worlde aboute in circuyt ;
How myȝt I [panne] stonde in better plyȝt, 464
For pin honowr, lyche as
To my worschip so hiȝly doth rebouwde,
þat I wolde plcynly and uat cesse,
ȝiffe I koude, helpe to encresse 468
'
pm hiȝe renoutt y-wis in euery hour,
.
And ther-vppon spendyn my tresour.
þis hiȝe desyre, with-outen any faille,
Of enteer lone me doth so sore assaille, 472
Jpat nyȝt nor day I may haue no reste ;
And al schal turne I hope for the beste,
For to enhaunce pin honour to þe heuene,
Aboue þe pole and þe sterres seuene. 476
To whiche ping I haue a weye espied,
As I my witte per-to haue applied,
})is is to mene, what schulde I lenge?
My dere cosyn, as I schal the telle 480
ȝif it so wer by manhood souereyne,
Of þi knyȝthood þat [þou] durst atteyne
þe flees of gold to conquere be þi strenthe,
Whiche is spoke of so fer in brede and lenthe, 484
And retourne hom in body safe and sounde
ȝif þis conquest myȝt in the* be founde,
þat þou durstest acheuen þis emprise,
More hertes loye koude I nat deuise 488
In al þis worlde
My rewme and I set wer pan in rest
For, For þi manhod alle wolde vs drede.
Wherfore, cosyn, of knyȝthood and manhed 492
Take vp-on þe my prayer and requeste,
And here my trouthe, & take it for beheste.
What euer nedeth in meyne or costage,
I wil my silf toward þis viage 496
Ordeyne I-nowȝ in harneys and array,
}5at nouȝt schal faylen þat is to þi pay
And, more-ouer, I pleynly the ensure,
Jjat jif I se þou do þi besy cure, 500
J)is hiȝe emprise for to bringe aboute,
j)ou schalt nat fere nor [I-]be in doute,
After my day, by succession?,
For to be kyng of this regiourc, 504
And holy han septre and regalie.
Wherfor, lason, lyfte vp pin hertis eye,
Thenke þi name schal longe be recorded
Thoruȝ-oute þe worlde 508
With-in þi silf, and pleynly nat ne spare
Of pin entent þe somme to declare."
Whan lason had his vncle vndirstonde,
He reioyseth for to take on honde 512
J)is dredful labour, wit/i-out avisement
He nouȝt aduerteth þe menyng fraudelent,
)Q prevy poysourc vnder sugre cured,
Nor how to galle with hony he was lured, 516
J)e dirke deceyt, þe cloudy fals engyn,
I-now$] yow A
I-gilt -mt/t-oute, but vnder was venym,
Wher-to lason hath noon aduertence
])e kyng, he wende, of clene conscience, 520
With-out[e] fraude, had al þis ping I-ment
Wher-for anoon he ȝeveth ful assent
At wordis fewe, and pleynly gan to seie
His vncles wyl þat he wolde obeye 524
He was accorded, in conclusions,
With humble herte and hool intenciou?.
Wher-of þe kyng resseyueth swyche gladnesse,
ftat he vnnethe myȝt it out expresse 528
But ryat as fast dide his besy peyne
For þis lorney in hast for to ordeyne.
And for as moche as Colchos, þe cuntre,
Enclosed was aboute with a see, 532
And þat no man, how longe þat he striue,
With-out[e] schip theder may ariue,
To his presence anoon he dide calle
Famous Argus, þat koude most of alle 536
To make a schip, & first þat art y-foiwde
To seille with by see* fro lond to londe,
fee whiche hath wroiȝt a schip by sotil craft,
Which was þe first þat eue?' wawe raujt, 540
To haue entre ; and Argon bar þe name.
Gramariens recorde }it the same,
])at eche gret schip, firste for þat mervail,
Is called so, whiche proudly bare hir seil, 544
As þis boke doth vs specifye,
How it be-fel forth of þis navie.
Whan al was redi, meyne and vitaille,
))ei bide nouȝt but wynde for to saille 548
And many worthi was in þat companye,
Of noble byrth, and of gret allye,
In þat viage redy for to goon,
Bothe for loue and worschip of lason. 552
firste]
545-548 are repeated after 548 in D 1
in the margin.
Amonges whiche þe grete Hercules,
Of force, of myȝt, of strenthe pereles ;
And he begete was vppon Almene,
So inly fayr and wommanly to sene, 556
Of lubiter, and þat fill long a-gon,
Takyng lyknesse of Amphytrion
Down fro heuene, for al his deyete,
He was ravisched Jjoruȝ lust of hir bewte 560
For he hir loued with hert and hool entent.
And of hem two, sothly by discent,
Cam Hercules, þe worthi famus knyȝte,
Most renomed of manhood and of myȝte, 564
"Whiche in his tyme was so merveillous,
So excellent, and so victoryous,
þat Ouyde lyst recorde hym silue,
Methamorphoseos, his famws dedis twelue, 568
Whiche ben remembrid ther in special,
:
In his honour for a memorial.
And to reherse hem in order by and by,
ȝif 36 list here, I purpose outterly 572
He slouȝe Antheon in )>e eyr on heyȝt,
And many geant, what with my$t & sleiȝte,
He outraide, for al her lymes rude
þe serpent Ydre he slou$ eke in Palude, 576
And Cerberus þe hownde he bond so sore,
At helle ȝatis fat he barke no more,
And made hym voide his venym in fat strif ,
And vpwarde $af hym suche a laxatyf, 580
ftat al þe worlde his brethe contagyous
Infected hath ;
And with o wynde he wolde rewne a stadye
He fledde arpies, briddes of Archadye, 584
And slou$ centauris,
þe feerse lyon he byrafte his hous ;
þis [is] to seyen, whan þat he was slawe,
Out of his skyn he hath hym stripte & flawe, 588
With cruel herte, foruȝ his hiȝe renoura ;
)Q goldene applys he bare fro
J9e fyry cat he slouȝ with-out[e] more
And of Archadye, þe cruel tuschy boor ; 592
And at the last, on his schulders square,
Of verray niyȝt þe firmament he bare.
But for þat I may not rekne[n] al
His passyng dedis, whiche ben historial, 596
Redeth Ovide, and þer ȝe schal hem fynde ;
Of his trivmphes how he maketh mynde,
J5oruȝ-out j>e worlde how he hyra honour fette,
And of >Q pelers at Gades* bat he sette, 600
Whiche Alysaundre of Macedonye kyng,
]ȝat was so worthi her in his lyvyng,
Rood in his conqueste, as Guydo lyst to write,
With al his hooste proudly to visite ; 604
Ee-ȝownde whiche no land is* habitable,
Nor see to saille sothly couenable
So fer it is by-ȝonde be occian,
Jpat schipman noon ferber [no] sky][le] can; 608
Sibellys streytes Maryners it calle,
And be bourcdes,
Of Hercules, for he hym silf hem sette,
As for markys alle other for to lette 612
Ferther to passe, as Guydo maketh mynde ;
And be place is callyd, as I fynde,
Syracenyca, as fyn of his labour,
Or Longa Saphi, recorde of myn auctour. 616
Of bis mater more what schulde I seyn;
For vnto lason I wil retourne a-geyn,
Jȝat in al haste dothe hym redy make,
Of his vncle whan he hath leue take, 620
Toward be see, and Hercules y-fere,
With alle his men, anoon as 36 schal here.
tyme of ȝer, whan be schene sowne
The
In his spere was so fer vp ronne, 624
And had his chare whirled vp so hy$,
Thoru$ þe draiȝt of Pirous so rede,
þat he had made in þe crabbis hede 628
His mansioiw, and his see ryal,
Wher halowed is þe standyng estyval
Of fresche Appollo with his golden wayn ;
Whan heerdemen in hert[e] ben so fayn
For [þe] hete to shroude hem in þe schade,
Vnder þis braunchis and pise bowis glade ;
Whan Phebus bemys, þat so bry$t[e] schyne,
Descended ben ry$t as any lyne, 636
And cause þe eyre be refleccioiw
To ben ful hoot, þat lusty fresche sesouw,
Whan cornys gynne in þe felde to sede ;
And þe grasys in the grene niede 640
From $er to $er ben of custom mowe,
And on þe pleyn cast and leide ful lowe,
Til þe moystour consumed be a-way,
On holt and heth þe mery somerys day 644
At whiche tyme þis ȝong[e] knyȝt lason
With Hercules is to schip[pe] goon ;
And with hem eke, as I reherse can,
Of Grekys eke [ful] many a lusty man, 648
Schiped echon with ryal apparaille.
And whan pei wer crossed vnder saille,
With-Inne þe schip, whiche þat Argus made,
Whiche was so stawnche it my$t no water lade, 652
pei gan to seille and had[de] wynd at wille ;
þe schip gan breke þe sturdy wawys ille
Vppon þe see, and so bothe day and nyȝte
To Colchos-ward pei helde þe weye ryȝt, 656
Guying her cours by the lode sterre,
Wher pei seille by costys ne$e or ferre.
For Philotetes was her alder guyde,
þat koude a-forn so prudently prouide, 660
Of verray insist to cast a-forn and se
Tempest or wynd, bothe on lond and* see,
Or whan ther schulde trouble of stormys fal ;
For he was mayster pleynly of hem alle 664
In schipman crafte, and chose her gouernour,
And koude hem warne aforn of euery shour
That schulde falle, whan sterrys dide apere.
And specialy, as Guydo doth vs lere, 668
JMs Philotetes, whiche was no fool,
Hadde moste his sy$t erect vn-to þe pool,
His aduertence and clere inspections,
To 672
j>e sterrys and constellaciourc,
Which þe axtre rounde aboute goon,
Jpat clerkis calle þe Septemtryon.
For as þe pool y-called Arthicus
Euere in on appereth vn-to vs, 676
Jvyȝt so in sothe, who can loke aryȝt,
Antharticus is schrouded from our syȝt.
But to schipmen fat ben discrete and wyse,
Jpat list her cours prudently deuise 680
Vp-on þe see, haue suffisaunce y-nowe
To guye her passage by Arthouris Plowe ;
For it to hem is direcciouw
Vn-to þe costis of euery regiouw, 684
With help only of nedle and of stoon,
J)ei may nat erre what costys fat þei gon.
For maryners fat ben discrete and sage,
And expert ben of her loodmanage 688
By straunge costys for to seille ferre,
Guyen her cours only by þe sterre
Whiche fat Arthour compasseth environs ;
jpe whiche cercle and constellaciouw
I-called is the cercle Artofilax
column in D 2, and marked b
Who knoweth it nedeth no more to axe.
For it to schipmen on þe sterry nyjt
lis suffisaimt, whan þei sen his lyjt. 696
And as poetis of Jns poolis tweyne
In her bokys lyketh for to feyne,
And in her dytees declaren vn-to vs
Calixtone and Archadius, 700
Hir oune sone, wern y-stellefied
þe heuene and y-deified ;
In
For that luno to hir hadde envie,
With lubiter whan sche dide hir espie. 704
For whiche sche was in-to a here turned,
And for hir gilt sche hath in erthe morned,
Til in-to heuene, Naso can jow telle,
Sche was translated, etmially to dwelle 708
Amongis sterrys, wher as sche is stallyd,
And Vrsa Maior is of clerkys callyd ;
So as hir sone, for his* worthi fame,
Of Vrsa Mynor bereth jet be name. 712
Of whiche be course myjtfe] nat asterte
Philotetes, bat was be niooste experte
Of alle schipmen bat euer I herde telle
For of konyng he myjt bere be belle. 716
And whan be Grekys had[de] long[e] be
Fordryue and cast, seilyng in be se,
For-weried after [her] trauaille,
J)ei cast [tjarive, 3 if it wolde availle, 720
Hem to refresche and disporte in loye,
Vp-on be bouwdys of be lond of Troye.
Howe lason arryved bysyde Troy withe Hercules for
to refresshe him and his menye. 1
"~WThan Hercules and lasoura on his hond,
Out of her schip taken han be lond, 724
701, 702. D 1 omits the y in the participle.
And with hem eke her knyȝtes euerychon,
þat fro þe see ben to lond[e] goon,
For-weried after her trauaille
And þei in sothe come to arivaille 728
At Symeonte, an hauene of gret renoim,
ftat was a lyte* by-syde Troye town
And þei wer glad to ben in sikirnesse
From storm and tempest after werynesse ; 732
For f ei ne ment tresouw, harm, nor gyle,
But on þe stronde to resten hem a while ;
To hynder no wy$t, of no maner age,
Nor in fat He for to do damage 736
To man [n]or beste, wher-euere fat j)ei goo,
But for to abyde fer a day or two
Hem to refresche, and repeire a-noon
Whan fat þe rage of þe see wer goon. 740
And whiles þei [vp-]on þe stronde leye,
)}ei no thyng dide but disporte and playe,
And bathe & wasche hem in þe fresche ryuer,
And drank watrys fat were swote & clere, 744
þat sprange lyche cristal in þe colde welle,
And toke riȝt nouȝt, but it were to selle.
It was no fing in her entenciourc
Vn-to no wy}te to done offencioura, 748
For to moleste or greuen ony wjȝt ;
But þe ordre of Fortunys myȝt
Hath eue?e envy fat men lyue in ese,
Whos cours enhasteth vnwarly to dissese. 752
For sche was cause, God wotte, causeles,
))is gery Fortune, f is lady reccheles,
þe blynde goddesse of transmutaciou?,
To turne her whele by reuoluciou?i 756
To make Troyens vniustly for to wene
Jȝat Grekys werne arived hem to tene.
So fat þe cause of þis suspeciourc
Hath many brouȝt vn-to destrucciou;?. 760
TROY BOOK.
Ful many worth! of kynges and of princes
Jȝoru$-oute þe worlde, rekned in provinces,
Werne by þis sclawnder vn-to myschief *
For thing, alias, fat was neuer thouȝt. 764
For it was cause and occasions
))is cite and þis royal town
þat
Distroied was, as it is pleynly fownde,
Whos walles hiȝe were bete down to groumle. 768
And many [a] man and many [a] worpi knyȝte
Were slawe per, and many lady bryȝte
Was wydowe made by duresse of þis werre,
As it is kouthe and reported ferre 772
And many mayde in grene & tender age
Be-lefte wer sool, in þat grete rage,
Behynd her fadris, alias, it falle sclmlde
And for no ping but þat Fortune wolde 776
Schewen her myȝt and her cruelte,
In vengauwce takyng vp-on þis cite.
Alias, þat euere so worpi of estate
Schulde for lytel fallen at debate 780
Whan it is gonwe it is not lyȝt to staunche
For of griffyng of a lytel braunche,
Ful sturdy trees growe[n] vp ful ofte ;
Who clymbeth hyȝe may not falle softe ; 784
And of sparky s þat ben of sy$t[e] smale,
Is fire engendered þat devoureth al ;
And a quarel, first of lytel hate,
Encauseth flawme of contek and debate, 788
And of envie to sprede a-brod ful ferre.
And þus, alias, in rewmys mortal werre
[Is] First be-gonne, as men may rede and see,
Of a sparke of lytel enmyte, 792
þat was not staurcchid
For whan þe fyre is so fer y-ronne,
J)at it enbraseth hertis by hatrede
To make hem brenne, hoot as any glede,
On ouper party foru} his cruel tene,
})er is no stauwche but scharpfe] swerdys kene,
e whiche, alias, consumeth al and sleth ;
And þus þe fyne of enmyte is deth. 800
þe gynnyng be but casuel,
Jȝou}
þe fret abydyng is passyngfly] cruel
To voide rewmys of reste, pees, and loye,
As it fil whilom of þis worthi Troye. 804
It doth me wepe of þis case sodeyne ;
For euery wyȝt ouȝte to compleyne,
J)at lytel gylte schulde haue swyche vercgauwce,
Except parcas poruȝ goddys puruyaunce, 808
J)at þis mescheffe schulde after be
Folwyng per-chaunse of gret felicite.
For Troyfe] brouȝt vn-to destrucciouw.
Was þe gynnyng and occasions 2
In myn auctor as it is specified
|?at worthi Rome was after edefied
By þe of-spryng of worpi Eneas,
Whilom fro Troye whan he exiled was. 816
Jpe whiche Rome, rede and 36 may se,
Of al þe worlde was hed and chef cite,
For þe passyng famous worthinesse.
And eke whan Troye was brouȝt in distresse, 820
And þe wallis cast and broke down,
It was in cause þat many regioun
Be-gonne was, and many gret cite
For þis Troyan, þis manly man Enee, 824
By sondri sees gan so longe saille,
Til of fortune he com in-to Ytaille,
And wan þat lond, as bookes tellen vs.
With whom was eke his sone Askanius, 828
þat after Enee next be-gan succede
The lond of Ytaille iustly to possede
And after hym his sone Silvius,
Of whom cam Brute, so passyngly famws.
After whom, $if I schal nat feyne,
Whilom þis lond called was Breteyne
For he of geauwtys poruȝ his manhood wan
þis noble yle, and it first be-gan. 836
From Troye also, with þis ilke Enee,
Cam worthi Francus, a lord of hiȝe degre,
Whiche vp-on Kone, tencressen his renouw,
Bilt in his tyme a ful royal tovn, 840
þe whiche sothly, his honour to avaunce,
After his name he made calle Fraunce ;
And þus be-gan, as I vnderstond,
þe name first of þat worthi lond. 844
And Anthenor, departyng from Troyens,
Gan first þe cite of Yenycyens
And Sycanus, witMnne a lytel while,
Gan enhabite þe lond of Cecyle. 848
And after partyng of
His worthi brother, called Syculus,
So as I fynde, regned in þat yle ;
And after hym it called was Cecille. 852
But Eneas is to Tuscy goon,
It tenhabite with peple ri$t anoon ;
And in Cecille he Naplis first be-gan,
To whiche ful many Neopolitan 856
Longeth þis day, ful riche & of gret myȝt.
And Diomedes, þe noble worpi knyȝt,
Whan Troye was falle with his toures faire,
As to his regne he cast[e] to repaire, 860
His leges gan to feynen a querele
A-geyn[e]s hym, and schop hem to rebelle
And of malys and conspiraciou?z,
þei hym with-hilde bothe septer & crovn, 864
Her duete and her olde lygaiwce,
And hym denye troupe and obeissance.
Wher-for a-noon, so as bokes telle,
With al his folke he went[e] for to dwelle 868
Yn-to Callabre, and gan it to possede.
And [per] þe knyȝtes of þis Dyomede,
þat fro Troye han him* pider swed,
To forme of briddes wern anon transmwed 872
By Cyrces crafte, doubter of þe sonne,
And in þe eyr to fleen anoon pei go?me,
And called ben, in Ysidre as I rede,
Amonges Grekys briddes of Dyomede. 876
But as som bokys of hem her witnesse,
J)is chaurcge was made be Venus þe goddesse,
Of wrath sche had to þis worthi knyȝte
Only for sche sawe hym onys fyȝte 880
With Eneas, hir owne sone dere.
At whiche tyme, as pei fauȝt I-fere,
And Diomede with a darte I-grouwde
Gan hame at hyrn a dedly mortal wouwde, 884
His moder Venws gan anoon hym schroude
Vnder a skye and a mysty cloude,
To sauen hym fat tyme fro meschaurcce.
And for þis skyl Venws took vengauwce 888
In-to briddes to turne his meyne.
And in þat forme fro ȝer to ȝer pei fle
Vn-to his towmbe, wher as* he is graue.
"So vp-on hym a mynde* $it pei haue, 892
ftat of custom for a remembrauwce,
A rite pei holde and an observauttce
At his exequies, pise briddes euerychon,
A dayes space, and pe?mys nouȝt ne gon. 896
And ouer-more, as it to hem is dwe,
þei loue Grekis, and platly pei eschewe
Latyns alle, for ouȝt þat may be-tyde
S98.
For pei present, a-noon pei flen aside
And eche from other, as bokys vs assure,
Jjis briddes knowe, only of nature,
Grekys and Latyns kyndely assonder,
Whan pei hem seen 904
Yn-to my witte, þat I can nouȝt espie
Jje causys hid of swiche sorcerye
But wel I wot, þou$ my wit be blent,
}þat rote of al was fals enchauTitement. 908
But of our feithe we ouȝte to defye
Swiche apparencis schewed to þe eye,
Whiche of þe fende is but illusiouw
Her-of no more. 912
Euersed was, and I-brouȝt to nouȝt,
Ful many cite was I-bilt and wrouȝt,
And many lond and many riche tovn
Was edified by thocasiourc 916
Of þis werre, as $e han herde me telle.
Whiche to declare now I may not dwelle
From point to point, lyche as bokis seyn,
For to lason I wil resorte ageyn, 920
feat londed is with worthi Hercules
At Symeonte, þe hauene þat he* ches,
As I haue tolde, to reste hem & couwforte,
And for not elles but only to disporte. 924
But to þe kyng, regnyng in Troye town,
J)at was þat tyrne called Lamedown,
Of fals envy reported was and tolde,
Or safcondyte, ban þe stronde y-take
And swiche maistries on 936
As in her power wer alle mane?' thyng,
Havyng no rewarde pleynly to
Of his estat take
Of swyche straungeris gretly is to drede, 940
ȝiffe men be laches outlier necligent
Fully to wit what is her entent,
But furthe prolong, & no pereil caste
Swiche sodeyn þmg wolde be wist as faste, 944
And nat differrid
It wer wisdam fat it were seie to
Men may to long suffryn and abyde
Of necligence for to lete slyde 948
For to enqueren of her gouernaunce.
J)is was þe speche and
Eueryche to other by relacioiw,
In euery strete thoruȝ-oute Troye tovn. 952
Sowme rovnyng & so??zme spak a-brood
And
þis speche so longe fer a-bood
From on to a-nother, sothly, þat
Reported was to kyng Lamedovn, 956
As 36 ban herde,
With-out[e] couMsail or avisenesse,
To hast[i]ly maked hath his sonde,
To wit how pei wern hardy for to londe 960
Be-syde his leue, of presumpciourc.
Wher-fore he bad, in conclusions,
With-oute abood sone to remwe,
Or finally 964
þei schulde nat eschewe
To be compellid, mavgre who seith nay.
And so
þe kyng, vp-on a certeyn day,
In haste hath sent his embassatour
Vn-to lason, of Grekys gouernour, 968
Jjat novther thouȝt harme nor vylonye,
But Innocent, with his companye,
Disported hym endelong þe stronde,
And euer hath do sethen he cam to londe. 972
And of þe charge fat he on hym leyde,
And word by word to lason how he seide,
As in effecte with euery circumstaurcce,
j)is was þe somme pleiiily in substauwce 976
Howe Kenge
his messenger to lason
" rflhe wise, worthi, moste fanms of renourc,
fte myȝty kyng, þe noble Lamedourc,
JL
Hath vn-to ȝow his message sent,
Of whiche theffect, as in sentement, 980
Is þis in sothe
In-to his* londe of ȝour ariuaille,
Bryngyng ȝiih ȝow Grekys nat a fewe,
And haue no condyte with* ȝow [for] to schewe, 984
Protecciouw, pleynly, nor lycence,
In preiudise of his magnificence.
Wherfore he hath on me þe charge leyde,
And wil to ȝow fat it be platly seyde, 988
))at 36 anoon, with-oute more delay,
With-out[e] noyse, or any more affray,
Of Troye lond þe bowndis fat 36 leve ;
Or 30w and ȝoures he casteth for to greve. 992
And bet it is with ese to departe,
}ȝan of foly ȝour lyues to luparte,
In any wyse, for lak of prouidence,
Ageyns his wille to make resistence, 996
Outher of pride or of wilfulnesse,
For to be bolde wM-oute avisenesse
To interrupte his felicite
For he desyreth in tranquillite 1000
To holde his regne, w't/-oute parturbauwce.
In whos persone is made swyche aliaunce
Atwen his manhood & royal mageste,
Jjei nyl suffre noon of no degre 1004
ftat
Tenpugne his quiete in any maner wyse,
Wherfore I consaille, ag 36 seme wyse,
To taken hede vn-to
And his byddyng noȝt to disobeie, 1008
Liste 36 offende his kyngly excellence.
For 36 schal fynde in experience,
With-oute feynyng, sothe al
Take hede perfor, I may no lenger dwelle 1012
From poynt to poynt, syth 30 be wis and sage,
])is is hool jjeffecte of my massage."
For
Whan lason herd of
J)ise wordes alle, he gan chaunge cher, 1016
And kepte hym cloos,
And was nat hasty for Ire nor greuauwce
For no rancour he caiȝte of his tale,
Saue in his face he gan to wexe pale, 1020
Long abydyng or ouȝt he wolde seyn.
And or he spak any worde ageyn
Vn-to hym þat from J)e kyng was sent,
He gan disclose be sorame of his entent 1024
Vn-to his foolke stondyng ronde aboute ;
For vn-to hem he discurede oute
Jpe message hool, firste whan he abreide,
And worde by worde jms to hem he seyde 1028
Off the Answer of lason to the messenger of
And axeth how we vp-on þe stronde
For to arive hadden hardinesse,
With-oute leue 1036
And his fredam, þe whiche is nat a lite
How lyche a kyng fat he can hym, quite
Vn-to strauwgerys fat entren in his He
For nou$t, God wot, but for a litel while 1040
Hem to refresche, and departe anoon,
Lyche as $e can recorder euerychon,
And here witnes, bothe alle and sorame.
Alias, fredam, wher is it now be-com 1 1044
Where is manhood, and gentilnesse also,
Whiche in a kyng to-gidre bothe two
Schulde of custom han her restyng place ?
And wher is honour, fat schulde also enbrace
A lordis hert, whiche of knyȝtly ry$t,
Of manly fredam, with alle his fulle my$t,
Schulde straurageris refresche and reconforte,
})at aftir-ward þei myȝt of hym reporte 1052
Largesse expert, manhood, and gentillesse,
J)at þei han fourcden in his worthinesse.
For ȝiffe noblesse wer of his allye,
And fredam eke knyt with his regalye,
So as longeth to honour of a kyng,
He schulde haue chargid, first of al[le] thing,
His worthi liges, with al fat myȝtfe] plese,
To haue schewed þe comfort and þe ese, 1060
With al hir my$t and her besy cure,
Vn-to strauwgeris fat of aventure
Wern in þe see dryuen and dismaied,
And of our comfort nat ben euel [a]payed. 1064
For ȝif fat he in any cas semblable,
Outher. by fortune fat is variable,
By sort or happe, fat may not be wif-stonde,
Arived had in-to Grekys londe, 1068
More honestly, lyche to his degre,
He schulde of vs haue resseived be,
Lyche as it longeth vn-to gentene.
But syth fat he, for ouȝt I can espie, 1072
Hath fredam, honour, and humanite
Atonys made oute of his courte to fle,
Chose dishonour and late worschip goon
ber is no more, but we schal euerychon, 1076
ftat he hath chosen help[e] to fulfille,
Whan power schal nat be lyke his wille
[is] to seyne, and sothe it schal be founde,
jjis
jpat his dede schal on hym silfe* rebounde 1080
Sith of malys he hath f is werke be-gonrce
Paraventure or þe somer sonne
))e sodiak hath thnes gon aboute.
For late hym trust, & no fing bera in doute, 1084
We schal hym serue with swyche as he hath souȝt
For $if I lyue it schal be dere abouȝt,
Al-be fer-of I sette as now no tyde.
And in his* lond I nyl no lenger byde 1088
Til I haue leiser better to soiorne."
.
And with fat worde he gan anoon to turne
.. ,
,
With manly face and a sterne chere
Sodeynly vn-to þe massangere, 1092
J)at fro þe kyng was vn-to hym * sent ;
And in bis wyse he scheweth his entent
now vnwarly
I haue his menyng euerydel
From point to point, & vnderstonde it wel 1100
For word by worde I haue it plein cowseived,
And þe siftes fat we han resseived
On his by-halue in our gret[e] nede,
I wil remembre, and take ri$t gode hede 1104
To euery fing fat fou hast vs broȝt.
For trust[e] wel fat I forȝete it nouȝt,
But enprente it surly in my mynde ;
And with al f is, how goodly fat we fynde 1108
fee gret[e] bourcte in al maner thing,
With-in þis lond of Lamedourc fi* kyng
His wolcomyng and his gret[e] cher,
And goodly* sond fat j>ou bryngist her, 1112
Nat accordyng [vn-]to oure entent ;
For God wel wot, fat we neuer ment
Harine vn-to hym, nor pleinly no damage
To noon of his of no maner age. 1116
And her-vppon þe goddis inmortal,
ftat of kynde ben celestial,
Vn-to recorde vfith al myn hert I take ;
And touchyng þis my borwys I hem make, 1120
In witnessyng we ment[e] noon offence,
Ne toke nat? as by violence,
With-in his rewme of wommarc, child, nor man ;
And so fou maist reporte $if fou can 1124
But for fat we, fordriuen in þe se,
Compellid wern of necessite
For to ariue, as fou haste herd me seyn,
Only to reste vs her vp-on þe pleyn, 1128
With-oute more, vn-to a certeyn day,
And after-ward to holde furfe our way
Vp-on our lorneye, & make no tariyng,
Liche as fou maist recorde to 1132
And seye hym eke he schal þe tyme se
}ȝat he par-avnter schal mow Ranked be,
Whan tyme cornyth, by vs or by som other
Go furthe 1136
And þan anoon, as lason was in pes,
Jȝe manly knyȝt, þe worfi Hercules,
Whan he had herd
TT 1140
He was anoon brouȝt in swyche disiomt
Of hasty rancour and of sodeyn Ire,
Jpe whiche his hert almost set afire,
Jȝat sodeynly, as he abreyde abak,
Of hi} disdeyn euen jms he spak, 1144
With cher askoyn vn-to þe messanger,
And seide, " felaw, be no fing in wer
Of our abidyng, but be riȝt wel certeyn,
)}at or Tytan his bemys reise ageyn, 1148
We schal depart and to schipfpel goon
þat of oure men fer schal nat leuen oon
WitA-Inne
And her-vp-on haue her my feith to borwe
For we no lenger schal holden her soiour,
For elles-wher we schal make our retour
To-morwe erly in þe daw[e]nyng,
Yp peyne of repref ; and so go seie þi* kyng.
And or thre ȝere,
Maugre who grucche]) or make)) any strif,
Vn-to Jns lond we schal a-geyn retourne,
And caste anker a while to soiourne 1160
Take hede, þerfore, and note wel þe tyme
A newe chaimge schal folwen of j>is pryme
And fawne his power schal not so large strecche
Of his saufconduit lytel schal we recche. 1164
I seie be platly, as is oure entent,
We wil not haue [vn-]to his maundement
But lytel reward, and we fat day abide ;
For takyng leue schal be set a-syde, 1168
Be-cause he hath now be-gowne a play
Which we schal quite
þat torne schal in-to his owne schame ;
And spare nouȝt to seie 1172
]9is massanger fan gan ageyn replye,
syr, 36 may me not denye
And seide,

• '
  Of honeste my massage to declare ;
  A-vise 50w, for I wil not spare 1176
  Jpe kynges sonde pleynly for to telle.
  And wher-so be 36* lyst to goon or dwelle,
  ȝe may ȝit chese, who so be lefe or lothe
  $e haue no cause with me to be wroth; 1180
  For it sit not vn-to ȝour worthines,
  Y,ffe 36 take hede be weye of gentilnes,
  Of manassyng swiche arwes for to schete ;
  For more honest it were ȝoure fretyng lete, 1184
  And kepe secrete til 36 ben at ȝour large.
  For certeinly no parcel of my charge
  Is to * striue with $ow or debate.
  But bet it is by-tymes fan to late, 1188
  ftat 36 be war for harme fat myȝtfe]
  And for my parte, I saie vn-to ȝow alle,
  It were pite fat 36 distroied were,
  Or any man hyndre schulde or dere 1192
  So worfi persones, in any maner wise,
  Whiche ben so likly to be discret & wise ;
  And list with wordis as now I do ȝou greue,
  I saye no more, I take of 30w my leue." 1196
  Howe lason
  bowndes of Troy towarde Calcos londe. 1
  ny$t ypassed, at springyng of þe day,
  The
  Whan frtt þe larke with a blissed* lay
  Oan to salue the lusty rowes rede
  Of Phebus char, fat so freschely sprede 1200
  Vp-on þe bordure of þe orient ;
  And Aurora, of hert and hool entent,
  With þe swetnes of hir siluer schoures
  Bedewed had þe fresche somer floures, 1204
  And made þe rose with new[e] bawme flete,
  ))e sote lillye and þe margarete
  For to vnclose her tender leuys white,
  Oppressed hertes vrith gladnes to delyte 1208
  þat drery wern aforn of nyȝtes tene ;
  And hony-souklis amonge þe buschis grene
  Enbamed hadde envirouw al f e Eyr ;
  Longe or Titan gan maken his repeire, 1212
  With þe briȝtnes of his bemys merye
  For to reioische al oure Emysperye
  For longe a-forn, or he dide arise,
  J)is worthi lason in ful hasty wyse, 1216
  And his felawe Hercules also,
  I-charged nan hir scnipmen naue a-do
  To hale vp anker and hem redy make
  And bad in haste euery man to take 1220
  ))e riȝt[e] weye vn-to schippe a-iioon.
  For in sothnes,
  Jpouȝt he was not stuffid of meyne
  To gynne a werre on Troye 1224
  For he was not, schortly to conclude,
  Esral in nouwbre nor in multitude,
  As for fat tyme, a werre to be-gynne.
  It was not likly fat he schulde wynne 1228
  Dl. 1
  Victorie as tho, for f ei wer but a fewe
  And it is not holsom a man to hewe
  Abouen his bed, whan it is ouere hije,
  List f e chippis wil fallen in his eye. 1232
  Wherfore of Frygye þei leue þe costis blyue;
  þei lifte vp sail
  J)e wynde was good
  Fortune her frende, fouj sche be variable. 1236
  And J)us to Colchos safe þei ben y-come,
  And vn-to londe, bofen al and some,
  jjei ben arived in a lytel space;
  For in þe see þei haue fou?iden grace 1240
  Of Neptunws, fat caused hem as blive,
  As I seide her, at Colchos for tarive.
  Now in f is He, and þis * litel londe,
  }ȝat Colchos hiȝt, $e schal vnderstonde, 1244
  How fat fer was a rial * chef cite,
  In al fat reigne moste of dignyte,
  Of worthines, of ryches, and of fame,
  And lachonytos fat tyme bar þe name 1248
  Chevest of alle, to spekyn of bildyng,
  And stretes large and corious howsyng,
  And fer-wzt/i-al dyched wel with-oute,
  Strongfe] wallid & toured rourade aboute, 1252
  Of huge heiȝte and aboue *
  Maskued also, lyst j>ei wer assailed,
  With many palys, staatly and royal,
  For [per] 1256
  fte kyng to abide bet fan elles-wher ;
  And fat tyme it happed hym be fere.
  And he was callyd Cethes, as I rede,
  Ful renomed of knyȝthood and manhede, 1260
  And had aboute hym a wel beseyn meyne,
  Lyche as was sytting vn-to his degre
  And euery-wher, londys eiiviroim,
  jpe fame spradde of his hiȝe renou?. 1264
  And al aboute
  Wher as Cethes helde his royal se,
  Wer fresche ryuers, of whiche þe water clene
  Liche cristal schon ageyn 1268
  Fair[e] playnes, as Guydo bereth witnes,
  And holsom hylles ful of lustines,
  And many laye and many lusty welle.
  And 1272
  j>er wer eke, my awctor can 3011 telle,
  Ful many a parke, ful feir and fresche to sene,
  And many wode & many medowe grene,
  With sondri floures amonge
  Whiche on her stalke nature hath depeynt 1276
  With sondri hewes, wz't/i-Innen and wȝt/i-oute,
  After þe sesowa of * somer cam aboute.
  For fyschyng, foulyng, & haukyng eke also,
  For venerie and huntyng bothe two, 1280
  ))e place was inly delittable
  Of corn and greyne passyngly greable,
  And plenteuous in al maner thing.
  For þer men herde þe briddes freschely syng 1284
  In tyme of ȝere in her armonye,
  þe noyse and soote melodye
  ))at
  On fresche braunches, ful delicious,
  Eeioische wolde 1288
  Whom louys brond hath fired to þe hert,
  And adawen of her peynes smert,
  þat certeinly whan fat * grene ver
  I-passed were, ay fro $er to ȝer, 1292
  And May was com,
  And fresche Flora, of flouris emperes,
  Hadde clad
  TROY BOOK.
  Jjis noble place was like a paradyse. 1296
  Swyche plente ȝ vn-to fat regioun,
  Of flesche, fische, vyn, vitaille, and come,
  at þe licour of her ful[le] home 1300
  Vp-on fat lond so gan reine and snowe,
  jpat alle estatis, bothe hiȝe and lowe,
  Ladden her lyf in souereyn suffisaunce,
  With al bat Nature coude or myȝt avaunce 1304
  Jpis litel He with her giftes grete,
  Lyche as to-forn 36 haue herde me trete.
  For ber was plente, & ber was aburcdaunce,
  And ber was al fat myȝt[e] do plesaunce 1308
  To any herte, and al cowmodite.
  And so bifel, that to bis cite
  lason is come, and with hym Hercules,
  And after hem * foloweth al be pres, 1312
  Ful wel arraied and rially beseyn,

A peple chose as it wer ior be nonys
And ber-with-al of brawnys & of bonys, 1316
Eueryche of hem of makyng and fasiouw
Ful wel complete by proporciourt,
ȝong of age and of good stature,
Of couwtenaurcce sad and ful demwre, 1320
j)at euery wyȝt had[de] gret plesaunce
To sen )>e maner of her gouernaunce
So ȝong, so fresche, hardy [and] meke also.
And al attonys Jjei to 1324
With swiche a cher,
To sen þe maner of her noble port.
So gentilmanly
J)at f>e peple gan presen euery-vvhere 1328
To sen þis * strauwgeris, lyche
Demene hem silfe in so thrifty wyse ;
And of desyre þe peple nolde cesse
Abouten hem to gadren and empresse, 1332
And to enquere what pei nmtfe] be,
toat of newe with swiche nalte
Ben sodeynly entred in-to towne.
Jȝus eueryche wolde vfith his felawe* rowne; 1336
bei wern so rude to staren and to ease,
To gape & loke,* as it wer on a mase ;
}}is townysche folk do so comownly
On euery ping þat falleth sodeinly.
But how fat Cethes, liche a worthi kyng,
Whawne fat he herde first of her comyng,
Keceyveth hem and hooly
ȝiffe þat 36 liste, anoon $e schal 1344
Howe Kenge Cethes of Calcos wirshipffully ressavith
lason and Hercules into his Cytee Called lacony-
thes, wher þe Flees of golde was. 1
þat þe kyng hath sothly vnderstonde
Wharc
How þe Grekis comen wer to* londe,
And how lason was also per-with-al,
Borne by discent of þe blood roial 1348
Of Thessalye, and likly to ben eyr,
If he by grace haue ageyn repeyr,
fee aventures acheved of Colchos,
J)e kyng anoon out of his se a-roos 1352
Of gentilnes, in al þe haste he may,
In godely wyse to mete hem on þe way,
And hem receyveth with chere ful benyngne
And vn-to hem anoon he doth assigne 1356
His offyceris tawayte hem ny$t and day,
Chargyng hem in al maner way,
J)at what-so-euer may to hem don ese,
Or any fircg fat may hem queme or plese, 1360
þat þei it haue in foysoiw and plente,
Eueryche of hem, lyche to his degre.
))us he comaiwdeth in al maner fing.
And fan anoon þis noble worthi kyng, 1364
As he fat was of fredam a * merour,
Thoru} many halle and many riche tour,
By many tourn and many diuerse way,
By many gre made of marbil grey,
Hath hem conveied a ful esy pas,
Til he hem brouȝt fer his chambre was,
Wher he vriih hem helde his daliauwce.
And fer anoon wzt/i Query circumstaunce
Of manly fredam, he made to hem chere ;
And in his chambre, englasid briȝt and clere,
))at schon ful schene w*t7i golde & with asure
Of many ymage fat was fer in picture,
He hath commauraled to his officeris,
Only in honour of hem fat were *
Spicys and wyn, and after fat anoon,
]ȝe ȝonge fresche, 1380
As faste gan be lycens of þe kyng
For to declare
But first
>e kyng, with gret rialte,
Ascendid is in-to his royal se, 1384
Cloth is of gold hanged environs
þe custom of fat regiouw,
After
J)at to be-holde it was a noble syȝte,
Stondyng aboute many [a] worthi knyȝte 1388
And many squier and many gentil man
Ful wel be-seyn ; and
Yn-to lason, stondyng in presence,
ComauTzded hath of his magnificence, 1392
'"With Hercules to sitte dovn by-syde,

j
And lason pan no lenger liste abyde
.
Of his comyn
be cause for to scbewe,
o
J
i 1396
þeffecte of whiche was þis in wordis fewe
Saue lason, or he his tale gan,
Ful wel avised, and cherid lyche a man,
Conceyved hath and noted wonder wel
From point to point his mater euerydel, 1400
And nat for-gat a word in al his speche ;
[leaf 9 &]
But evene lik as rethorik doth teche,
He gan his tale so by crafte conveie
To make þe kyng, to þat he wolde seie, 1404
Condescende, and rather to encline
For tassent fat he myȝtfe] fyne
Of his comyng þe knyȝtly hi$e emprise,
jjus worde by worde as I schal her deuise 1408
:
Howe lason purposede his instance in þe presence of
of Colcos to gra?zte him licence
Kenge Cethes
darreyn batel for þe flees of golde.
1
yȝt worthi prince, present in þis place,
Only with support of ȝour hiȝe grace,
And $our goodnes, most excellent and digne,
With pacience of $our fauour benigne, 1412
it not þat I may seyn and schewe,
Disple[se]
And declare with wordys but a fewe
jpe fynal grouwde and cause of my comyng
; 1416
So þat $e
list, whiche ben so noble* a kyng,
T
. ,
In goodly wyse, with-oute more onence,
.
tt,
Benygnely to ȝeven audience
To my request, and [þat] 36 nat disdeyne
Goodly to grauwte þat I may atteyne 1420
In þis He, }if it may availe,
|)e flees of gold frely for tassaile,
As
)>e goddys in þis auenture
List to ordeyne for my fatal ewere. 1424
In whom lyth al, pleynly, and fortune,
For to gouerne thinges in comowne,
In werre and pees, conquest and victorie,
And of armys þe renoura and þe glorie,
Discomfeture & bringyng to outrauwce
Al lyth in hem to hyndren or avaunce
Ageynes whos myȝt no mortal man may chese.
But for al þis, wheper I wynne or lese, 1432
Or life or dethe be fyn * of my labour,
ȝiffe þat $e list to done me þis fauour,
To geve me leue and no more delaie,
I am acorded fully for to assaye, 1436
Liche as þe statut maketh menciouw.
Me liste to make noon excepciourc,
Vp-on no syde fauour for to fynde
But as þe Eytys pleynly make mynde, 1440
What euer falle, I schal hem vnderfonge,
Lawly besechyng þat $e nat prolonge
My purpos now, and maketh no delay,
But of ȝour grace setteth me a day 1444
Myn emprise þat I may acheve
For myn abood stant vp-on $our leue
Seith but a worde of grauwtyng at þe leste,
And pan I haue þe fyn of my requeste." 1448
And whan þe kyng had herd * ceryously
Jjentent of lason, seide* so manfully,
He atynt a litel, and kepte hym clos a while ;
Til at be laste he goodly gan to smyle 1452
Toward lason, and seydf e 1 to hym bus
"lason," quod he, "þou$ þou be desyrous
To vnderfonge þis passyng hiȝe emprise,
Mi counsail is, liche as I schal deuise, 1456
Ful pruden[t]ly for to caste a-forne
Jȝe mortal pereyl, or þat þou be lorne
For in þis ping per is a lawe set
Be enchauwtement, þat may nat be let
Nor remedied, for fauour nor for mede.
For deth in soth. who so taketh hede,
Is þe guerdouw platly or pei twynne,
Of all þat caste hem þe flees of gold to wyrme. 1464
For help is noon in manhod nor fortune
þe streyte weye is so importune,
So dredful eke, and so ful of rage,
j)at saue dethe, per is no passage, 1468
Of victorie j>e palme to conquere.
For sothly, lason, as I schal þe lere,
FouTided of old by merueillous wyrkyng
Ben þe statutes of þis mortal ping 1472
So sore bouwde vnder my regalye
ftat þe rigour I may nat modefye.
Wherfore, lason, or þou *
Liste afterward on me wer laide þe blame 1476
Of þi lesyng or destructions,
Of feythful hert and trewe entenciouw
I warne þe, my siluen for to quite
So þat no man iustly schal me wyte, 1480
Jȝouȝe þou of $oupe & of wilfulnes
þi silfe distroye, with-out avisenes,
Syth I aforne, of þis perillous cas,
J
From point to point haue tolde þe al þe cas. 1484
Be now avised, and put no faute in me,
For þe surplus frely lyth * in þe,
Of al þis ping, sipen þou maist cliese
And wher-so [be], þat þou wymie or lese, 1488
No man to me it iustly * may arrette
For þe lawe pt Mars liym silfe sette,
No mortal man of due ri$t may passe ;
For hiȝe nor lowe get noon other grace, 1492
}?an * þe goddys list for hym ordeyne,
What euere he be fat cast hym to darreyne
j)is diuerse ping, moste furious of drede.
Wherfore, lason, how-euer þat þou spede, 1496
I haue to þe openly declared
Holly þe pereil, and for no fauour spared,
As fer in sothe as resou?, wil, and riȝt ;
For þou wost wel, it lyth nat in my my$t 1500
For to debarre, or any man to lette,
J)at of manhood knyȝtly cast to sette
Vp-on þis ping, as þou hast herde me telle.
What schulde I lenger in þis mater dwelle, 1504
lit wer but vayn, for now þou knowest al.
Be war of hir þat turneth as a bal ;
For at þis tyme þou gest no more of me
Do as þou list, I putte þe choyse in the." 1508
And \ith þat word the kyng ros vp anoon,
Vp-on þe tyme whan he schulde goon
Vn-to his mete, and lason by his syde,
As $e schal here, ȝif ȝe liste abide.* 1512
For by þe clyal þe hour f ei gan to marke,
])nt Phebwa southward was reised in his arke
So hii,e alofte fat it drowe to noon,
þat it was tyme for þe kyng to goon 1520
Yn-to his mete and entren in-to halle.
And Cethes fanne, \viih his lordis alle,
And wit/i his knyȝtes aboute hym eue?'ecchon,
With Hercules, and also with lason, 1524
Is set to mete in his roial se,
And euerych lord, lyche to his degre.
But firste of alle, f is worf i man lason
Assigned was, by þe kynge anoon, 1528
For to sitten at his owne borde ;
And Hercules, fat was so gret a lorde,
Was set also faste by his syde.
And f e marchal no lenger list abide 1532
Tassigne estatis wher þei schulde be,
Liche as þei wern of hi 30 or * low degre
And after bat, on scafold hiae a-lofte,
Jpe noyse gan, lowde & no (ring soi'te, 1536
Both of trompetis and of clariotmeris.
And fer-wit/i-alle þe noble officeris
Ful friftely serued han þe halle,
Liche as þe sesouw fat tyme dide falle, 1540
With alle deintes fat may rekned be
Jjat sothfastly þe foysouw and plente
Of knyjtly fredam vn-to hiȝe and lowe,
So fulsomly gan to reyne and snowe, 1544
Jjjit foruȝ þe halle was þe manhod preised
Of þe k[i]ng, and his renouw reysed,
at can his gestis, sothly for to seye,
Whan fat hym liste, cheren and festeye 1548
So liche a kyng, and in so frifty wyse,
1527] tfor to wasshen &
With al deinte )>at man can deuise.
þis feste and solempnite,
For at
þe grete nobley se 1552
fee Grekis myȝt
Of kyng Cethes, and
j>e worthines,
And by reporte fer-of here witnes
j>ei com, after al her lyue.
Wher-so
I \vant[e] cownynge, by ordre to discrive 1556
Of euery cours þe diue?-sytes,
fee straunge sewes and þe sotiltes
feat wer fat day seruid in fat place.
Hath me excused, þouȝ I liȝtly passe, 1560
feou$ I can not al in ordre seyn
;
Myn englische is to rude and eke to pleyn
For to enditen of so hiȝe a ping.
But forthe I wil reherse how Jje kyng 1564
To schewe his gestis his nobley oue?* al,
Hath for his dorter sent in special,
And bad sche schulde forth anon be brouȝt.
fee whiche in soth, þou} men had[de] souȝt
feis world foruȝ-out, I do $ou plein assure,*
Men myȝt haue fouwde no fairer creature,
More wowmanly of port nor of mane re,
NOT more demwr, nor sadder of hir chere, 1572
Whos bewte was not likly for to fade.
And whan sche cam
þe Grekis for to glade,
fee halle in soth sche walkyth vp and down,
Of wommanhed and pure affecciourc 1576
To make chere vn-to J)e[se] gestis newe.
And Jras Medea wit/t hir rosene he we,
And vrith freschenes of þe lyle white,
So entermedled of kynde be delite, 1580
feat Nature made in hir face sprede
So egally þe whyte with
þe rede,
þat þe medelyng, in conclusions,
So was ennewed by proporciou?, 1584
feat finally excesse was fer noon,
Of neuer * noufer ;
So loyned wer, longe to endure,
By thempres fat callyd is Nature. 1588
For sche hir made lyke to hir deuise,
þat to biholde it was a paradys,
In verray soth, bothe to oon and alle,
Of olde and $ong syttyng in the halle. 1592
J)er-to sche was, as by successions,
Born to be eyr of fat regions,
After hir fader, by discent of lyne,
ȝif sche abide and dure after his fyne 1596
Syth he ne hadde by ri$t[e] to succede
Non eyr male fat I can of rede.
Sche was also, þe bok maketh menciou??,
"Wexe vn-to ȝeris of discrecious, 1600
Able for age inaried for to be
And not-wM-standyng also ek fat sche
Was of bewte and of wo??imanhede,
On þe faireste fat I can of rede, 1604
ȝit [n]oon of bothe han * hir ȝouthe let,
Jjat to clergye hir desire was set
So passyngly, fat in special,
In alle þe artis called liberal 1608
Sche was expert & knowyng at þe beste
It was hir ewre to konse what hir liste.
Of swyche a woraman herde I neuer telle.
At Elicon sche drank so of þe welle, 1612
feat in hir tyme was fer noon semblable
I-fousde in soth, ne noon fat was so able
To conceyve by studie and doctrine.
And of naturis disputen and temiyne 1616
Sche koude also, and þe causis fynde
Of alle finges formed as by kynde ;
Sche hadde in lernyng so hir tyme spent,
})at sche knewe of 1620
])Q trewe cours, and of j>e stems alle,
And by her mevyng what fat schulde fa lie,
So expert sche was in astrouomye.
But most sche wroiȝt by nygromauwcye, 1624
With exorjismes and comurisons ;
And vsed also to make illusions'
With hir charmys seide in sondri wyse
And with rytis of diuerse sacrifice, 1628
Encens and rikelis cast in-to
To schewe Binges liche to hir desyre
Wtt/i gotis hornys and wit/i mylke and blod,
Whan 1632
þe mone was equat and stood
þe fifjje or þe * seuenfe hous,
In
And was fortuned with lokyng gracious,
To chese an hour )>at were comienient
And fortunat, by enchauntement, 1636
To make and werke sondry apparences
So wel sche knewe
And aspectis, bothe wroj>e and glade ;
For sche by hem alle her Jringis made 1640
Jjat appartene to swyche experiments.
For whan hir list, by hir enchauntementis,
Sche koude make þe wyndes for to blowe,
To thondre and lijte & to hayle and snowe, 1644
And frese also, to greue men with peyne ;
And sodeinly sche coude make it reyne,
Schewe what wedir þat hir liste to haue,
And gasten men wM sodein erthe-quave,*
And turne þe day vnwarly vn-to nyȝt ;
And fanne anoon make
Schewe his bemys, ful persyng and ful schene,
With goldene hornys, to voyde nyȝtes tene ; 1652
And reyse floodis, with many dredful wowe ;
And whan hir list sche koude hem eft wit/i-drawe.
Eke ȝonge trees to sere, rote and rinde,
And afterward make hem, agein[es] kynde, 1656
With lusty brauwchis blosnie and budde newe ;
Also in wynte?' with flouris fresche of hewe
Araye be erbe and tapite hym * in grene,
þat to beholde a loye it was to sene 1660
With many colour schewyng ful diuerse,
Of white and rede, grene, ynde, and pers,
)?e day[e]s[y]e with hir riche croune,
And ober floures, bat wynter made froune, 1664
Vp-on her stalke freschely for tapere.
And sodeinly, with a dedly chere,
Sche koude sorner in-to wynte?' torne,
Causyng be day with mystes [for] to morne * 1668
And olde men sche koude make ȝong,
And eft ageyn, or any her * was sprong,
Sche koude hem schew bobe in hed & herd
Ful hor and grey, in craft sche was so lered. 1672
And trees with frute sche koude make bare
Of rynde and lef, to do men on hem stare
Clipse be mone and be bri$t[e] sonne,
Or naturally bei hadde her cours y-roraie 1676
To hem approprid, whiche bei may not passe
For }if bat Titan his cours by kynde trace,
Whan he meveth vnder be cliptik lyne,
fee clips mote folowe, as auctours list diffyne 1680
So bat ber be, by hir discripciourc,
Of bothe tweyne ful ccmiunccioun,
And bat be sonne with his bemys rede
Haue his dwellyng in þe dragoim hede, 1684
And þe mone be * set eke in þe tail,
As by nature, fan it may nat feil
J)at per mote falle Eclips of verray nede,
In sondri bokys liche as 36 may rede, 1688
Be-cause of certein intersecaciourcs
Of diuerse cercles, and reuolucioims,*
Jjat maked ben in þe heuene alofte,
Which e causen vs for to faylen ofte 1692
Of þe fresche comfortable stremys
Jjat ben to vs yschad fro Phebus bemys.
For þe mone hath made deuisioiw
By hir sodeyn interposiciowi, 1696
))at of oure siȝt þe stremys visual
May nat be-holde, nor I-sen at al,
Nor to oure lust fully comp?ehende,
How Appollo is in his chare schynende, 1700
As we wer wont a-fornhand for to se.
But of al
Kyng of Egypte, telleth þe cause why,
With-Inne his boke ful compendyously, 1704
Bothe of Eclips and coiiiuraccioura,
And whi pei falle by natural mocioim.
But of Medee, þou$ þis clerke Ouide,
Tencrese hir name vp-on euery syde, 1708
List in his fables swyche pinges telle,
0113 he of poetis was þe spring & welle
Yit God forbede we schulde }if credence
To swyche feynyng, or do so hiȝe offence j 1712
Syth of nature muste be denyed
Al swyche affermyng, and also loen diffied
Of euery cristen * stedefast in bileue.
For certeinly it wolde hiȝly greue 1716
C after 1692
1703 is omitted in D 2
Our conscience, in any wise wene,
Ageyn[e]s kynd, whiche is so hi$e a quene,
Jjat any wy$t or lyvyng creature
Scholde haue power, I do $ow pleyn assure, 1720
So cursede finges supersticious
To do or worche, to kynde contrarious.
For God almyȝti, luge of luges alle,
[|>e] whiche may nat falle,
Hath sette a lawe,
Amonge planetis perpetuelly tendure,
A-forn ordeyned in his eternal cure,
e whiche may nat, as clerkys list termyne,
Yp-on no syde bowe nor decline 1728
;
þei wern from discord or debat
But as
Eternally yformed and creat,
þe fynger of his sapience,
Thoruȝ
Alwey to meve in her intelligence 1732
þei ben to his lordschip bovnde.
Lyche as
For neuer $it ne was eclips y-fovnde,
|5e mone not beynge in coniuTicciourc,
As I haue tolde, saue in 1736
þe passiouw
;
J)e whiche eclips was ageyn[e]s kynde;
Nature her knot bat tyme dide vnbynde,
"VVhan Goddis sone starfe vp-on þe rode.
fte sowne of life was dirked for oure goode, 1740
Whan heuene and erfe wit/i hiȝe compiwcciourc
Han signes schewed of lamentaciou?z,
By erjjequaves li$t turned to * dyrknes,
And dede bodies vpward gan hem dresse 1744
From her tombis ageyn fro deth to lyue ;
Stoon and roche a-sonder gonne * riue ;
In
)?e veil was kut oa two ;
j>e temple
And signes many wern I-schewed tho 1748
Jpat for wonder and tokenes merveilous,
])e grete worf i Dionisius,
Whiche at Athens, as clerkis of hym wryte,
Was called in scolis Arfyjopagite, 1752
þat whan he sawe
J)e briȝtfe] day sodeynly so derke
Al-fei he were a paynym in fo dawes,
And was infecte wilh rytys of her lawes, 1756
As * he fat was most chef and principal
Of philisophres, for to rekne al
Yet *
fat tyme, astonyed in his mynde,
Seide platly 1760
Suffreth þe dethe, ouþer
jjis rouwde worlde whiche is so large aboute
Schal be dissoluid and y-brouȝt to nouȝt
By sodeyn chawnge, hasty as a thoujt." 1764
By his clergie he knewe no better skylle.
For God fat may al chauragen at his wille,
And hath power of swiche coacciouȝ,
Ynder whos my$t and disposiciouw * 1768
Is lawe of kynde corcstreyned, soth to seie,
From point to point lowly to obeye
In euery fing fat hym list ordeyne
Of elementis he may þe cours restreyne, 1772
As holy writ witnessef
How at þe requests of worfi losue,
])Q briȝt[e] sorane stood at Gabaon
A dayes space in 1776
Schewyng þis tokne to his trewe knyȝt,
Fynally for to ȝeue hym lyȝt,
þat he my$t by his hi$e prowes
His cruel foon manfully oppresse, 1780
]ȝis] Or ellis bis D 1
Whan fat he fauȝt, f is kny$t,
With kingges fyve, reignyng in Amorre
So longe laste f e pursute and þe chas,
Til þei were take, and for her trespas 1784
Dempft] to be ded, þe bible can 3011 telle.
Now syth fat God fus hiȝly list fulfille
Of his knyȝt requeste and orisoim,
What wonder wast fOUȝ in þe * 1788
Of Criste lesu, incarnat for onre sake,
}5e sowne bemys fouȝ þei wexe blake
Sith he hath lordscliipe of planetis alle,
And as hym list nedis it mote falle. 1792
For of Medea thoȝe Ovidius
In his fables rehersyth and writ fus,
As he fat liste hir name to exalte,
ȝet from þe troufe somwhile he doth halte, 1796
Al-be sche were a passyng sorceresse,
And ferfest named of any chanteresse
I wil passe ouer ageyn to my matere,
And how sche cam to mete 30 schal here. 1800
Whan hir fader hadde * for hir sent,
Sche cam anoon at his comaundement ;
But or sche cam, I fynde fat to-fore,
For to make hir bewte semyn more, 1804
In hir closet sche toke hir beste array,
For to encrese al fat [euer] sche may
Natures wirke with royal apparaille.
For f is wommen gladly wil nat feylie, 1808
Whan þei of bewte haue plewtevous largesse,
To make it more þei don her besynesse,
With richB attire vppon eue?y syde
D
After 1800, D 1 inserts:
3 if oiiȝt be mysse, þei can it close and hide, 1812
For al þe foule schal couertly be wried,
ftat no defaute outward be espied.
But sche was bothe fayre & wel beseyn,
And in hir port [so] wommanly certeyn, 1816
}þat hir comynge gladeth al be halle ;
For it was loye vn-to oon and alle
To sen be maner tho of hir entre.
To whom hir fader bad to take hir see 1820
Be-syde lason, hym for to disporte
Of wommanhede, and to recomforte.
Howe Medea
But o, alias, ber lakked hiȝ prudence,
Discret avis of inward prouidence, 1824
Wisdam also, wz't/i pereil caste a-fore,
To trust a maide of tendre ȝeris bore,
Of vnhappy fonned wilfulnes
For bis kyng, of his gentelnes, 1828
Comaunded hath to his confusiouw,
To his dishonour and destruccioiw,
His owne dorter, born to be his eyr,
þat was also so wommanly and fair, 1832
So sodeynly doune to descende
Considered nat be meschef of be ende.
Alias, why durst he in hir ȝouthe affie,
To make hir sytten of his cortesie, 1836
Wher sche myȝt by casuel mociou?ȝ
Ful 113% cacche or han occasiouw
To don amys
Why list hym nat taken hede ber-to, 1840
Nor to aduerte in his discresiouw,
Wysly to caste a-forn in his resoim
)?e viiwar chaunge fat is in wcwimonhed,
"VVhiche euery [wise] man 0113 t[e] for to drede 1844
For who was euer *
Jpat ou$t of resoura co?me ariȝt his good,
To }eue* feith or hastily credence
To any womman, wit/t-oute experience, 1848
J
In whom is nouther trust ne sikernesse.
Jpei ben so double &
ftat it is harde in hem to assure
For vn-to hem it longeth of nature, 1852
From her birth to hauen alliaunce
With doubilnes and with variaunce.
Her hertes ben so freel and vnstable,
Nanily in ȝouthe, so mevynge and mutable, 1856
J)at so as clerkis of hem liste endite
{Al-be fat I am sori it to write)
J)ei seyn bat chawng and mutabilite
*
J
Appropred ben to femyn[yn]yte 1860
ftis is affermed of hem þat were ful sage.
And speciali while þei be tender of age,
In her wexyng, and whan fat þei be ȝonge
Whos herte acordeth ful selde vrith her tonge. 1864
For if
þe trouthe inwardly be souȝte,
With
þe surpluse and remau?ite of her fouȝte,
Men may þer þe trewe patron fynde
Of Inconstauwce, whos naskisable kynde 1868
Is to and fro mevyng as a wynde,
þat Hercules wer nat strong to bynde,
Nouther Sampson, so as I bileue,
Wowmannes herte to make it nat remeve. 1872
For as þe blase whirleth of a fire, 01
So to and fro
Til þei acomplische fulli her delite.
For as matere by naturel appetit,
1876-
Kynd[e]ly desyreth after forme,
Til he his course by p?'0cesse may parforme,
So Jns wommen restreyn[en] hem ne can
To sue her lust ay fro man to man.
1 880
Howe women be nevere content in
lustes Abitite
til
And
j>ai han
of
assaiede
abitite
Eye.
fere
þe
is, fro man
to man. 1
þat
til al be assaied
ftei wil not cesse
;
But wolde God, as mater is apaied
With o forme, and holdeth him * content,
Whan of his bouwdys he hath þe tenne went,
1884
And not desyreth ferther to precede,
But stille abitte and wil it nat excede,
þat by ensa[m]ple alle wowme[n] wolde
Resten in on, as duelly thei schulde,
1888
And holde hem peyde and stille ber abide.
But vnsure fotyng doth hem ofte slide
;
For bei be nat content with vnite
[leaf 11 a]
:
1892
])ei pursue ay for pluralite,
1
So of nature to mevyng þei be thewed
;
Al-bouȝ amonge, by signes outward schewed,
J)ei pretende a maner stabilnes
;
But vnder bat is hid be dowbilnes
1896>
So secretly, fat outward at be eye
Ful harde it is be tresoim to espie.
Vnder curteyn and veil of honeste,
Is closed chauwge and mutabilite ;
1900
For her desyr is kepte ful cloos in mewe
;
And bing bei hadde leuest for to sowe,
Only outward for to haue a laude,
))ei can decline with feynyng and -with fraude.
1904
þe] his D
it] om D 1
18*7. þat by] By >at D 1
duelly thei] thei dwely D 1
Wherfore, Cethes, bi wit was to bareyne,
Jjat þou aforne by prudence naddist seyne
What schulde folwe of
)>is vnhappy caas.
Whi wer þou bolde for to suffre, alias, 1908
Jpin owne doubter, so fair and fresche of hewe,
With straiwge gestis entred but of newe,
So folily for to lete hir dele
!
þi worschip, & pin hele 1912
)>in honour,
Wher-poru}
Was lost in haste, and sche to meschef brouat,
In strauttge londe, wttfc sorwe and myche pouȝt.
Wher as sche to grete sclaunder of pȝ
In gret miserie and aduersite 1916
An ende made
; and j>ou wer lefte al sool.
J9ou myȝtest wel compleyne and make dool.
Alias þe while,
31!' in þi prudent syȝt
þou haddest grace to remembre ariȝt, 1920
And to haue cast by discret p?rvyaunce,
And weied wysely by mesour in balaunce
])Q fraude of wommon, and þe fre[e]lte
;
In whom ful selde is any sikerte, 1924
As in [his] latyn Guydo dothe expresse.
Wherfor, þou Cethes, of verray reklesnesse
J5ou hast attonys, in augment of
)>i woo,
With-out recure bothe two for-goo 1928
:
Firste bi tresour, and bi douater dere,
þat was to
þe so passyngly entere,
And eke j)in ayre
for whan þat sche was goon,
;
As seithe myn auctor, other was þer noon, 1932
After
J)i day for to occupie
])\ royal septre, nor
þi lond to guye.
But what was worj> *
)>e gret[e] prouidence,
þe wakir kepyng, or besy diligence 1936
Of myjti Mars, bat sod is of bataile
What myȝt it help, diffende, or availe
þe wit of wo?man, or þe sleiȝte
Ageyn
; 1940
Whos fraudes arn of so huge a weiȝte,
fcat as hem list ay
Her purpos halt, who so be lefe or lothe
Jpei ben so sli$e, so prudent, and so wyse
For as þis story plainly doth devise, 1944
J)is Medea by hir engyne and crafte,
From hir fader his tresour hath berafte
Jje werchyng of hir sleety gyle,
þoruȝ 1948
As 36 schal her with-Inne a lityl while.
For as sche sat at mete in fat tyde,
Next hir fader, and lason by hir syde,
Al sodeinly hir fresche rosen hewe
Ful ofte tyme gan chaurcge and renewe, 1952
An hondrid sythe in a litel space.
For now þe blood from hir goodly face
Vn-to hir hert vnwaiiy gan avale,
And pere-with-al sche wexe ded and pale 1956
And efte anoon, who þat can take lied,
Hir hewe chaungeth in-to a goodly red.
But euere amonge tennwen hir colour,
J)e rose was meynt with the lillie flour ; 1960
And þouȝ þe rose stouwdemele gan pase,
3 it þe lillie abideth in his place
Til nature made hem efte to mete.
And þus with colde and with sodein hete 1964
"Was Medea in hir silfe assailled,
And passyngly vexed and trauailed.
For now sche brent, and now sche gan to colde,
And ay þe more þat sche gan * beholde 1968
ftis ȝong lason, þe more sche gan desyre
To loke on hym, so was sche sette a-fire
With his bewte and his semlynesse ;
And euery ping sche inly gan enpresse, 1972
What þat sche sawe, bothe in mynde & pouȝt,
Sche al enp?ente[t]h, and for-gat riȝt nouȝt
For sche considereth eue?y circu??zstaunce
Bothe of his port, and his gouernaunce 1976
His sonnysshe * here, crisped liche gold wyre,
His knyȝtly loke and his manly chere,
His contenaunce vritli many noble signe,
His face also, most gracious and benigne, 1980
Most acceptable vn-to hir plesaunce
For, as sche pouȝt,
With-outew more, vn-to hir allone,
To considre and loke on his persone. 1984
For in þat tyme, wȝ-outen any drede,
Of mete or drink e sche toke but litel hede
For sche of food hath loste hir appetit,
To loke on hym sche hath -so gret delite, 1988
He was so prented in hir remembraunce.
Loue hath hir cau$t so newli in a traunce,
And y-marked vrilli his firy brond,
feat sche may nouȝt eskapen fro his hond, 1992
Nor eschewe his strok in special
For sche was ȝolde body, herte, and
Vn-to lason, platly for to seye,
And euere among on hym sche cast hir eye, 1996
Whan þat sche fonde a leyser oportune.
But of wisdam sche wolde nat contvne
Hir loke to longe,
But as þe maner of þis wommen is, 2000
Sche kepte hir cloos and wonderly secree,
feat by hir chere no man myȝt[e] see
What þat sche ment, by noon occasiouw.
Sche put hem out of al suspecciou/i 2004
For openly per was no tokne sene.
Sche cast[e] rather fat men schulde wene
feat penchesourc of hir abstinence,
And why þat sche satte so in silence 2008
How þat it was only of wo?mnanhede,
Of honest schame, and of chaste drede,
feat to-gidre in hir hert[e] mette
fee whiche tweyn so þis maide lette 2012
Fro mete and drink, as it wolde seme.
þus of wisdam sclie made hem for to deme,
And so to cast in hir opinioiw
And þus sche blent hem by discreciouw 2016
For hir chere koude Query ping excuse.
Sche $af no * mater folis for to muse,
No * cher vnbridled fat tyme hir asterte
For per was oon enclosed in hir herte, 2020
And another in her chere declared.
For maidenes hau ofte sythes spared
To schewen oute þat pei desyre in dede,
As it falleth, who so can take hede 2024
J)at whil pei flouren in virginite,
And for ȝouthe haue no liberte
To specific þat her hert[e] wolde,
))ei kepe hem cloos, for pei be nat bolde 2028
To schewen out þe so???me of her sentence.
And þus Medea, kepyng ay silence,
Ne lete no worde by hir lippis passe,
But couertly with sobre chere and face, 2032
What sche ment schewep with hir Eye
So secretly þat no man koude espie
])Q hoote fire in hir breste y-reke ;
And in hir self riȝt þus sche gan to speke, 2036
As sche in sothe þat so moche can

• So wolde God, þis ȝonge lusty man,
  Which e is so faire and semly in my 513 te,
  Assured were to be myri owne knyȝte. 2040
  Whiche is to me most plesaunt and entere,
  With berd y-sprong, schy[n]ing liche gold were,
  So wel I-lemed, and compact by mesure,
  Wei growe on heiȝte, and of gode stature ; 2044
  And lyketh me in euery part so wel,
  ))at by assent of Fortune and hir whele,
  I ewred were to stonden in his grace.
  For as me semeth, on his knyȝtly face 2048
  It is to me an heuene to by-holde,
  Al-be j)er-\vith myn hert I fele colde
  And $it in soth it may noon other be.
  ! whi nadde he vp-on my wo pite, 2052
  Alias
  Or, at þe leste, he knewe in his entente,
  How moche trowth to hym fat I mente
  Of whiche, alias, he taketh no nianer hede,
  Al-be for hym I brewne as doth be glede, 2056
  And to be ded I dar me not * discure.
  ! my pitous and woful aventure
  Alas
  Is to rewful, and my mortal pcyne,
  So to be mordred, and dar me not cowpleyne 2060
  To frende nor foo of my chaurace, alias
  To finden help or socour in
  And trew[e]ly, ȝit as I schal denise,
  1 no f ing merie but in honest wise, 2064
  Liche as it schal openly be fownde ;
  For I desire to be knet and bounde
  hym in wedlok, & neue>- fro hym twy?me
  For my menyng is with-owten synne, 2068
  j
  ,
  Grounded and set vp-on al clennes,
  ,
  With-oute fraude or any doubilnes
  So clene and pure is myn entenciouw
  Loo, ay þe maner and condiciourc 2072
  Of þis wowimen, fat so wel can feyne,
  And schewen on, fou$ fe[i] finkfe] tweyne
  And couertly, fat no fing be seyn,
  With humble chere and Avith face pleyn, 2076
  Enclose her lustis by swyche sotilte,
  Vnder [þe] bowndis of al honeste
  Of hir entent, fou$ *
  With al þe surplus vnder be y-wrye. 2080
  And f0113 fat f ei feith a-forn p?etende,
  And can her fraude with florissyng wel diffewde,
  r And flaterie, only þe worlde to blende,
  en
  With dowbilnes * enclosed in the ende, 2084
  3 it ay deceyt is * benethe ment,
  Vndre þe sugre of feyned clene entent,
  As it were soth, in verray existence
  But, trust me wel, al is but apparence.
  })&( can schewe on, and another mene,
  Whos blewe is ȝtly died in-to grene
  For vnder floures depeint of st-abilnes,
  þe serpent dareth of newfongilnes. 2092
  So pleyne pei seme with wordis fair[e] glosed,
  But vnder-nethe her couert wil is closed
  For what ping be most vn-to per pay,
  j)ei wil denye and rathest per swere nay. 2096
  ftus liketh Guydo of wommen for tendite.
  Alias, whi wolde he so cursedly write
  Ageyn[e]s hem, or with hem debate
  I am riȝt sory in englische to translate 2100
  Eeprefe of hem, or any euel to seye
  Leuer me wer for her loue deye.
  Where-fore I preye hem to take in pacience
  My purpos is nat hem to done offence 2104
  þei ben so gode and parfyte * euerechon,
  To rekne alle, I trowe per be nat on,
  But þat pei ben in wille and hertfe] trewe.
  For þouȝ amonge pei chese hem lovis newe, 2108
  Who considreth, pei be no ping to blame ;
  For ofte tyrne pei se men do þe same,
  jpei most hem purveie wha?z men hem refuse
  And }if I koude I wolde hem * excuse. 2112
  It sitteth nat a wo??iman lyue alone ;
  It is no stor but þei haue more þan oon.
  Preying to hem for to do me grace,
  For as I hope, to hem is no trespas 2116
  Jpou} my * makyng be þe same in
  As Guydo wryt in his original
  Where he mysseyth, late hym bere þe wyte
  For it sit wel, fat þe vengaunce byte 2120
  On hym fat so þis wo??mien haf offendid
  And ȝif I myȝt it schul[de] ben amendid.
  He schulde reseyue duely his penaunce
  For }if he died with-oute repentaimce, 2124
  I am dispeired of his sauacioun,
  Howe he schulde euer haue remissions,
  But he were contrite his synne to redresse
  It may not ben, as clerkys bere wytnesse. 2128
  And be my trouthe, and he were alyue
  I mene Guydo
  So bitter penauwce pleynly he schulde haue,
  at to þe tyme fat he were I-graue, 2132
  He schulde reme??ibre, and platly not asterte
  For to repente hym with al his hol[e] herte,
  þat he so spake to his confusiouw.
  I wil no lenger make cligressiou?ȝ 2136
  Fro my matere, but let Guydo be,
  And telle forfe þe worching of Medee,
  Jȝat hath licence of hir fader nome,
  And to hir chaumbre is allone y-come, 2140
  Whan oute of halle * wat7i-drawen was
  And whan lason, and also Hercules,
  Liche as þe kyng after mete bad,
  To her chaurabres conveied wern and lad, 2144
  Fill rially arrayed and beseyn
  For eue?y wal was cured in certeyn
  With clothe of golde, in ful statly wyse.
  And in þis while, as 30 han herde deuise, 2148
  Was Medea to hir chaumbre goon,
  Wher by hir silf, cowpleynyng euer in oon,
  Sche $af issu to hir peynis smerte,
  })at hir so sore ban wounded to 2152
  For Loue hap brouȝt hir in a sodeyn rage,
  J)at was not likly sone for taswage
  For in sothenes, þe furious god Cupide
  Hath swiche a fir kyndeled in her side, 2156
  Jjat it was neuer likly hir to lete,
  So violent and fervent was þe hete,
  Jjat mor an[d] mor encresen gan hir peyne.
  For in hir breste per was atwixe tweyne 2160
  A gret debate, and a stronge bataille,
  So feruently eche other dide assaile
  And þis contek, in ernes and no game,
  luparted was betwixe Loue and Schame, 2164
  Metyng to-gidre per at vn-set stevene,
  Al-be þe felde was nat parted evene.
  For Loue in* soth, ful of hiȝe renouw,
  Was bolde and hardy, liche a fers lyoiw, 2168
  And was nat ferful of spere, swerde, nor knyf,
  But hoot and hasty for to awnter his
  Eke surquedous, stout, and ful of pride,
  Chefe champiourc of þe god Cupide, 2172
  )þat causeth ofte, bothe fre and bonde,
  Ful many pereil for to take on honde.
  And caused hath ful many maranes dethe,
  And many on to ȝelden vp þe brethe, 2176
  And made her wouwdes largely to blede ;
  For of pereil Loue taketh noon hede,
  To gete hym honour by excellence of fame.
  But in contraire * his enmy called * Schame, 2180
  Liche a coward, feynt and hert[e]les,
  As he þat neuer dar put hym self in pres,
  For lak of manhod drawip hym euer a-bak ;
  marked b.
  He 2184
  is so dredful and ferful of
  Lyche a childe, ȝong and tender of age
  For he hath nouthur herte nor corage
  For to assaille, he is so feble of myȝte
  And $it ful ofte he hath stonde in 2188
  Of many louer, to let hym for to specie,
  Jjoruȝ fals conspiring of his broker Drede.
  For Drede and Schame, whaw
  Of on assent haue pitously denyed 2192
  Vn-to Loue, herte and hardines,
  þat he ne durst out a worde expres
  For whan þat Loue of manhod wolde speke,
  þe wode fire out of his brest to vnreke, 2196
  j>e point whan he schulde assey,
  Vp-on
  Cometh Schame anoon, & outterly seith nay,
  And causeth Loue hornys for to schrynke,
  To [a]baische his chere & pitously to * wynke, 2200
  Cowardly his cause to appeire.
  And ]ms is Schame froward and contrayre,
  þoruȝ help of Drede, Lovis folk to fere.
  For dowt[e]les ȝif * Schame nouȝt ne were 2204
  As it is kouj>e, bofe niȝ and ferre
  Love in his lawes often schulde erre,
  And wynden out of honeste[e]s cheyne,
  Of his bou?zdis bridel breke a reyne, 2208
  Ryȝt as an hors out of þe traise at large
  For lite or nou}t louers wolde charge
  To folwe her wille, and her lust to sewe ;
  But al þe while [fat] Schame is kept in mewe, 2212
  Outward in porte Loue bereth hym lowe
  Recorde of wo?miien, for þei
  For ne were Schame, as clerkys han compiled,
  Out of her hertis dauuger were exiled, 2216
  Al straungenes and feyned fals disdeyne.
  For ne were Schame pleinly
  Of )>is women, by writyng of þis olde,
  AVith-out assaut þe castel were y-jolde 2220
  It were no nede a sege for to leyn
  For in swyche case longe trete were in veyne ;
  Tor of nature pei lone no processe.*
  But now, alias, Drede & Schamefastnesse 2224
  Han daunted Lone, in ful lowe manere,
  And maked hym ful humble of port & chere
  And pei han eke by her violence,
  Tor al his nianhod, put hym in silence, 2228
  And ben gret cause of moring of his peyne.
  And amyddes of þis ilke tweyne,
  Of Loue and Schame even vp-on þe point,
  Stood Medea in ful gret disioynt, 2232
  Jjat sche ne may þe peyne nat endure,
  So hoot sche brent, þis woful creature,
  By-twyxe bothe
  For whan þat Loue wolde eny ping attarne 2236
  Of his desires to declare hem oute,
  Cam Schame anoon, and put him * in [a] doute ;
  And Drede was redy his lust for to denye.
  And þus sche stood in a lupardye 2240
  Of Loue and Schame, in maner of a traunce,
  Vn-euenly hanged * in balaunce
  For Schame was gret, & Loue $it was more,
  As sche wel knewe, by hir siȝes sore, 2244
  And by hir stormy cruel aventure.
  For Drede and Schame durstfe] not discure
  j)e fire þat Loue had in hir brest enclosed,
  Whiche was ful harde for to be deposed. 2248
  And þus sche henge euen atwixe two,
  ))at sche ne wist what was best to do ;
  Til þat Fortune with hir double face
  Vnhappily hath wrou$t to gete hir grace, 2252
  With þe whirlyng of hir whele aboute,
  þat causeth * wrecches ful lowe dou?i to loute,
  "NYhan þei best wene to sitter hiȝe alofte
  Be experience, as men may sen ful ofte, 2256
  By hir gery reuolucioun.
  For þis lady of transmvtacioun,
  Ful ofte tyme fals and ful vnstable,
  Enhasteth finges to foolis ful greable, 2260
  Whiche in þe ende, to her confusioun,
  Can vnder sugre schrowden her poysou?.
  For ay Fortune, as hir maner is,
  To wrechis scheweth ofir fan it is; 2264
  For with fayr chere and face of flaterie
  As sche fat can with a benigne eye
  Fully of folis par-forme the entent,
  Wher-foruȝ þei be in gret meschef schent 2268
  At þe ende, and can no * crafte [tjeschewe
  jje vnwar harme fat at hir * tail dof sewe
  Ryjt as it fel, whilom of Medee,
  Gynnyng and grounde of hir aduersite 2272
  For Jns lady, fat called is Fortune,
  I-graunted hath a leiser opportune
  To schewe lason hooly al hir herte,
  Whiche made hir after ful sore wepe and smerte. 2276
  For on a day, after meridien,
  Whan Appollo with his bemys schene
  Frow þe southe plage gan to wester faste,
  Cethes, hir fader, hath y-sent in haste 2280
  To Medea to com to hym anoon,
  And bad to hir fat sche schulde goon
  Vn-to lason and [to] Hercules,
  To make hem chere amongis al þe pres. 2284
  And whan sche cauȝte opportune space
  To hir desire, and sawe eke in þe place,
  þat hir fader was most occupied,
  As sche fat foiȝte * not to ben espied,
  Apparseyuynge his grete besynesse,
  Toward lason anoori sche gan hir dresse
  In curteys wyse gan to drawe nere 2292
  Towardis hir, & sawe fer was no lette.
  And whan fat þei were to-gidre sette,
  J5is Medea with syȝing first abreyde,
  And to lason even fus sche seide 2296
  Howe Medea exorted lason not
  iopardy
  delyverde him thre fenges
  ordynaunce. 1
  " lason," qttod. sche,
  Of fi manhood and f i *
  Bothe assembled in f i persone y-fere,
  And of knyȝthod, first I the requere 2300
  In f i conceyte and oppiniouwe
  Nat to arette to presumpcioiw,
  To doubilnesse nor to inconstauwce
  Of wo??ȝmanhed, nor to variaimce, 2304
  þat I am bold & can for no fing spare
  My menyng clerly to ȝow to declare,
  With-oute feynyng, in wordis plat & pleyn,
  Beseching firste, to fat fat I schal seyn, 2308
  With-out[e] more, of ȝoure goodlyhede
  Benyng[e]ly for to taken hede,
  And paciently to my wordes leste,
  jjis to seyne, loue and gentillesse,
  What þat I mene clerly to expresse 2316
  To ȝour persone, and no ping to concele
  Or we parte, liche as 30 schal fele.
  For me serneth, first of curtesye,
  In sothefastnes, and of gent[e]rye, 2320
  bat to straungeris euery maner wyat
  Is bou?ide and holde of verray due riȝt
  To make chere, and trewly as for me,
  Be-cause, lason, þat I in ȝow se 2324
  So moche manhod, & so gret worpinesse,
  I wil not feyne \iih al my besynesse
  To helpe and forther in al þat may ȝou like."
  And \ith þat word of herte sche gan to sykc, 2328
  For his sake, and seide hym ouermore
  " For aou I fele ful gret anoy and sore,
  frat meved am with-oute avisenesse,
  Only of ȝouthe and wilful hardinesse 2332
  J}e flees of gold to geten ȝif 36 may ;
  }ȝe whiche emprise, who-so-euer assay,
  More perillous is pleynly to acheue,
  In verray soth, pan 30 koude leue 2336
  For dout[e]les, I do ȝow wel assure,
  be final mede of bis auenture
  Is nat but deth, saue report of schame ;
  For per 36 wene to gete ȝow a name, 2340
  fte ende pleinly schal turnen in contrarie,
  Fro þe gynnyng so þe fyn schal varie.
  For wit of man, nouper engyn nor myat,
  Jȝouȝ he be neuer so wel expert in fyȝt, 2344
  Or haue in armys passynge excercise,
  With alle þe sleȝtes of olde or newe emprise,
  Or þouȝ he be best breped * to endure,
  Or what deuis per be of his armvre, 2348
  Or what wepne also þat he brynge,
  Harded vtith stele, trenchaunde or persynge,
  TROY BOOK.
  $it at þe last, whan he hath al *
  WM-out[e] me it vaille may riȝt nouȝt. 2352
  Wherefore, lason, I haue compassioiw
  On* ȝour southe, of* pure affecciouw:
  Of wilfulnes 30 schuld[e] þus be lorn,
  j)at ben of blood and * lyne so hiȝe born 2356
  For certeynly it may noon other be,
  Eut sif bat 20 sour conseil take of me,
  For noon but I may do ȝow help or ese.
  Alias, lason, whi wil 30 not appese 2360
  ȝour manly corage, in þis caas I-blent,
  And to my (ȝmseil ben obedient
  pan durst 1 swerne 36 scnulde naue victone,
  ,
  Ben remembred and put in memorie 2364
  Perpetuelly, and pouruȝ ȝozȝr knyȝthod wy?me
  J5e flees of gold, þe whiche is ȝond wtt/i-Inne,
  In þe He fat stant here be-syde,
  Of whiche þat Mars is gouernour & guyde. 2368
  Wherfore attonis in ȝour silfe assent,
  To my conseil fully to consent,
  At fewe wordis, ȝif 36 list to spede,
  And leue $our lust and wirke after my rede." 2372
  Answered and seide, "myn owne lady dere,
  I thanke ȝow in al my best[e] wise,
  Riȝt as ferforth as I may suffise, 2376
  And as my power platly may atteyne,
  Myn hertis quene and lady soue?eyne ;
  Whom þat 36 may hooly, I ensure,
  Al be while bat my life may dure, 2380
  T
  Trustej) n'ȝt wel, me list not for to feyne,
  To Hue or dye, at ȝour lust restreyne,
  As hym fat is ȝour owne trewe man,
  for tobeye in al þat euer I can, 2384
  With-oute change or any doubilnes,
  While fat I lyve, in verray sothfastnes.
  J9at 30w list of trewe affecciou/i,
  Vp-on my life to haue compassiouw, 2388
  Of gentilnes, and [ft] 36 list to haue
  Swiche cherte my body for to saue,
  ftat in good feith, of verray due 113 1,
  I am y-bou7de to be $our owne knyȝt* 2392
  Vn-to myn ende ; and fat more specially
  Jpat of $our grace so benygnely
  ȝe liste $our silfe of my conseil be,
  Jjat neuer aforn to ȝow in no degre 2396
  N"e dide seruise to ȝoure wowmanhed
  And -with ȝoure wordis ful of goodlyhed,
  lour owne man listeth recomforte.
  J2e whiche in soth, so as I can reporte, 2400
  A fousand folde be f e more plesaurit,
  ftat neuer a-forn no merit gat him * graunt,
  Ne no decert, requeste, nor prayere
  But more frely, with hert[e] ful entere, 2404
  Liste vnrequered on my wo to rewe,
  And vndeserued ben to me so trewe,
  þat I ensure vp-on my feith as faste,
  In ȝour seruise I schal vn-to my laste 2408
  Perseuere, sothly, fat
  Nor variaunce, and pe[r]-to here my troufe
  For finally with-outen [any] wene,
  At fewe-wordes, I seie riȝt as I mene, 2412
  Me list not feyne, flatre, nor delude,
  For my behest with deth I schal conclude,
  Whan fat parchas my lyves thred to-rende
  )}is al and som, and jms I make an ende." 2416
  "jfcmne," quod sche,
  ȝe moste a-forn consideren and aduerte
  ])& * auenture, fat 36 take on honde,
  Your Quest
  And prudently þe pereil vnderstonde, 2420
  And ful warly caste and haue in mynde
  Jje mortal harme at þe taiel be-hynde,
  J)at is wel more fan it is credible ;
  For leue me wel, it is an impossible 2424
  is impossible,
  To gynne [iu] honour, & also for to fyne.
  For filke flees be hiȝe power devyne
  for the Fleece
  y ȝ
  D
  e
  Preseruyd
  ow"r 2428
  b
  vvȝ'so entreþ
  bSi7'breath
  ft wer fui
  ing flame.
  þe firy flame, whan þe bolis gape,
  ftat ben of bras, trapped al in leuene,
  More for to drede fan liȝtnyng of þe heuene 2432
  To-fore þe dent of þe grete thonder,
  þat seuered hath many tour assondre ;
  For to assches þei moste * a man consume.
  Wherfor I rede bat 2e nat presume 2436
  DO not*
  attempt it.
  )Q Earn tassaile, lest 36 ȝour labour lese ;
  "WVtA-drawe * ȝour foot ȝit sithe?i 36 * may chese,
  By good avise and discrecciouw,
  ȝour honour saue, and ȝour hiȝe renou?z. 2440
  Wher-so 30 list of ȝour wilfullnes,
  Only of foly and of hastines
  To þis emprise of heed to precede,
  Or wher 30 list, liche as I ȝow rede, 2444
  save yourself Sauen lour silfe from wo & al meschaunce,
  from woe.
  T
  i_
  Licne as 36 schal,
  ȝe ȝow co??imitte, and lowly list obeye
  With-oute fraude 2448
  And lason fan, sittyng at þe borde,
  Of Medea enprentyng euery worde,
  Wexe for Ire almost inpacient,
  And 2452
  seide, "alias, [and]
  Me to cownseile to leue þis emprise ?
  Certis it were to fowle a cowardyse,
  To gynne a thing I myȝtfe] nouȝt acheue
  For euery man wolde me repreue, 2456
  And report to my confusioiw,
  })at I of pride and presumpcioim
  Toke on me, whan I was at my large,
  So hiȝe a ping, and so gret a charge, 2460
  þat I ne durst for drede of meschef
  Acomplisch it, whan it cam to
  Leuere me were, myn owne lady dere,
  For to luparte and to putte in were 2464
  My life attonys, and, at wordes few,
  On smale peces to ben al to-hewe,
  ftan I schulde cowardely for-sake
  jjilke emprise þat I haue vnder-take, 2468
  As 36 wel knowe, and leue it þus, alias
  Let be $oure couwseile pleynly in þis cas
  For what-so-euer happe or falle of me,
  Trustep riȝt wel, 2472
  For }if þat I, of my covvarde herte,
  Fro my purpos schulde nowe diuerte,
  With-oute laude my life I schulde lede,
  And schame eternal schulde be my mede 2476
  ftoruȝ-oute þe worlde noted oueral,
  In euery lond spoke of in special,
  ftat lason hath so Inȝly vndirtake,
  ftat he for fere dar noon ende make. 2480
  Jjinketh riȝt wel,
  For life nor dethe what meschef I abide
  And per-vpon my trouthe
  J)at as ferforthe as my life may dure, 2484
  I schal parforme fat I haue begcwne
  And fou} so be,
  But fat I moste v?ith my clethe it bye,
  I wil not leue, for leuer I haue to dye 2488
  fran lyue aschamed of cowardyse & slouthe.
  For me semeth,
  A man to apere or dore schewe his hede
  After tyme whan his worschip is ded, 2492
  Or to lyue whan his name is slayn ;
  For eue?y man schulde be rather * fayn
  To dye in honowr, fan lyuen as a wreche ;
  And fou} þis fing to my deth now streche, 2496
  It is welcom, I schal it wel abide
  Jȝis al and som, what so of me betide."
  J}an," quod sche, " sythen
  "
  ))at 30 algatis desyre to haue a-do, 2500
  þer is no more by ou$t I can espie,
  But 36 haue leuer schortly for to dye,
  Rather fan lyue and to haue a schame ;
  And ȝit it is an ernes and no game, 2504
  With suche monstres vnwarly for to dele,
  Lyche as in dede her-after 36 schal fele.
  Wherfor I am meved of pite,
  And gretly stered, fat 36 of volunte, 2508
  With-out avis or discreciourc,
  Counseil or good deliberations,
  List take on ȝow þis merveillous viage
  For $our ȝouthe and also ȝour corage 2512
  Gouerned ben, as in þis matere,
  Al after luste ;
  luparted ben, $if 30 ȝour purpos swe
  For impossible is * to ȝow teschewe 2516
  A sodeyn deth, for noufer fre nor bonde
  By craft of man hath power to wz't/i-stonde.
  Wherfor I finke of herte and good entent
  To cast a weye, }it or 30 be schent, 2520
  And to $our lorney schape a remedie,
  Swiche rauthe I haue fat 30 shulde * dye
  For my fader, whom I loue moste,
  Rather fan 36 schulde fus be loste, 2524
  I schal ofFende, and outerly displese
  My frendes alle, so it may do 30w * ese.
  For I schal fynde svvyche a mene weye,
  At þe leste fat 30 schal nat deye ; 2528
  For in þis cas, I thinke be 30111' giiyde,
  So fat for ȝow I schal sette a-syde
  My birthfe]
  And ouermore myn heritage with-al, 2532
  And myn honour schal be putte a-bak
  ȝow for to helpe, fat fer schal be no lak
  Fourcden in me, so *
  And fat 30 liste for to haue in mynde 2536
  As I disserue goodly me to quite,
  Consyderyng firste fat it is not a lite
  To saue ȝour life, fat stant in iupartye
  More perlously fan 36 can espie. 2540
  But for al f is, I schal it so ordeyne,
  þoruȝ my crafte, only atwixe vs tweyn,
  j)at or we parte I hope al schal be wel
  Yp-on þis point so fat I may fele,
  Feithfully for loye, wo, or snierte,
  With ful acorde of body, wille, and herte,
  To my desire fat 30 condiscende,
  I vndirtake to maken a good ende." 2548
  "
  ȝis, sothly, lady," seide lason tho,
  " I am assented, with-oute wordes moo,
  For to fulfille vfiih euery circumstaunce
  What fat euer may be to 30w plesaunce." 2552
  ftaraie," quod sche, "
  "
  But first of al, with feith & herte pleyn,
  With al ȝour myjt, and 30111- besy cure,
  And menynge hool, fat 30 me assure 2556
  Jjat 30 her-after schal take me to wyve,
  To holde and kepen after al ȝour lyve,
  So fat ȝour dede acorde with ȝour heste
  Jtis is þe fyn and sorame of my requeste 2560
  Excepte only fat 36 shal * ordeyne,
  In ȝour repeire to ȝour fadres reigne,
  feat feithfully 36 schal me with ȝow lede
  And after fat, whan fat 36 succede 2564
  After his day in-to ȝour heretage,
  With herte ay oon, and with o corage,
  ȝe schal to me ben y-lyche trewe,
  And cherische me for chau??ge of any newe, 2568
  Liche myn estate, wit/i-oute variaunce,
  And while 30 liue han in remembraunce
  My kyndenes in ȝour grete nede.
  For fer is noon alyue fat may spede, 2572
  Creature fat is here mortal,
  For to assaille þe forcys marcial
  Of þe dragoune and bolis, bothe I-fere
  But it so be of me fat he lere 2576
  Hooly þe maner how he schal hym guye,
  Liche as to ȝow I thenke specific,
  "Whan it happeth fat we mete ageyn ;
  For noon but I may helpen, in certeyn, 2580
  In þis cas, as platly 30 schal fynde,
  And I not aske but fat 30 be kynde."
  Sothly," quod lason, " al þis schal be do
  "
  As 30 deuise, I wil fat it be so 2584
  And here my faith, fer-on I ȝow assure,
  goodlieste of any creature
  J)at euere ȝet I saie vn-to my paye,
  And fairest eke, in soth it is no nay 2588
  And of bou?ite 30 ben incomperable
  For of my deth 30 ben so merciable,
  bat while I live, I seie :ow be my feith,
  Myn hert[e] menyth as my tong[e] seitn, 2592
  I wil be founde ȝour owne tre\v[e] man
  For life or deth, in al þat cue?- I can
  So fat of grace it be $ow plesaunt
  For to parforme $our hestis and jour graunt, 2596
  And werche fully to my sauaciourc,
  As ȝe han seide, in ful concluciouw.
  For trewly 30, of alle fat bere life, 6
  In bewte han a prerogatyfe, 2600
  Passyng echon, me liste not for to glose,
  Amongis flouris as doth þe rede rose, 86
  Which in somer amyd þe herbes swote,
  After fat ver hath made oute of þe rote 2604
  Jje humydyte kyndely tascende,
  þe bareyn soyl to clothen and amende,
  And þe braunchis, fat wynter made bare,
  With soote blosmys freschly to repare, 2608
  And þe medwes, of many sondri hewe,
  Tapited * ben with diuerse flouris newe,
  Of sondry motles, most lusti for to sene,
  And holsonm bawme is schad among þe grene 2612
  as þe rose is fairest of echon,
  so Nature sette ȝow allon,
  Whan sche ȝow made,
  Above alle other for to haue a pris, 2616
  As 36 fat be of bewte spring and welle.
  ]ȝer-to in bownte sothly 36 excelle
  Alle bat lyven, for no comparysown
  i

2620
N"e may be made
ȝe passen alle, as euery man may se.
And vfith al þis I fynde ȝow [vn-]to me
jpe most goodly fat euer
With-out whom I were as now but lorn, 2624
Of helpe and socour fully destitut,
it be $ow plesaunt] wi> al
]N"e were fat I fou/zde in 30w refute.
Fro whom al fredam to-me-ward doþ abounde,
In so moche fat I am euer bounde 2628
As ferforthe as my lyfe jnay streche,
þat for ȝour sake of deth I ne reeche,
ȝif fer-with-al I myȝt[e] ȝow agreen,
J}at to my helpe so goodly list to seen. 2632
For ȝif fat I of necligence schulde
Any fing refusen fat 36 wolde,
I rnyȝt of rescue ful wel marked be,
And noted eke, of wilful nycete 2636
So folily to voyde away my grace.
It were a rage a man from hym to chase
Welful Fortune, whan sche is benigne ;
Wherfor as now hooly I * resigne 2640
Herte, body, my life, and eke my deth
life
In-to ȝour hond, while me lasteth brethe,
With alle þe othes fat I afferme may,
For to perseuere to myn endyng day 2644
ȝour trewfe] spouse, as I haue said and sworne,
And ȝou behested pleynly her-to-forne
And her-vppon, euery fing obeie
þat may ȝou plese, 2648
is al and som
From þis byheste I schal neuer varie."
And whan sche sawe his grete stedfastnes,
Sche was supprised with so hiȝe gladnes, 2652
With so gret loye, pleynly in hir herte,
þat sche was voide of euery wo and snierte
For he so lowly to hir luste obeyde.
And or sche went fus to hym sche seyde 2656
"
lason," quod sche, "fan I schal ordeyne
A mene weye fat we bothe tweyne
May efte ageyn at leyser mete sone,
For to parforme al fat is to done 2660
In þis mater, liche to oure entent,
Wher schal be made a fynal sacrament
Of oure desire, þat no man schal vnbynde,
ftou$ now per-to we may * no leyser fynde. 2664
Toward euen, It schal me not eskape,
Trust me ry$t wel, a tyme for to schape,
Secrely þat we [may] mete y-fere ;
For I schal sende a privy chaumberere 2668
To aou of myn, whyche schal sou conveye
__
Vn-to my chambre by a privy weye,
,
A certeyn hour, with-outen any fable,
To oure entent þat be moste greable 2672
Vp-on þe point whan Phebws with his liȝt
I-westrid
Hath with þe dy??mes of his schadowes blake
Our Emysperie fully ouertake, 2676
þat ofte ȝeueth by fauow of fortune
Vn-to louers a leyser oportune
For to parforme her lustis * and acheve.
And riȝt anoon, 2680
I schal for sow to my closet sende,
Ut euery ping ior to make an ende
Wher as we schal at good leyser speke
Eueryche with oper, and our hertis breke, 2684
And declare þe sownie of al oure wille.
And whan we han spoken al our fille,
By good leyser, I fully $ou behete,
We schal ordeyn whan so vs list to mete, 2688
To sette a tyme, who-euer þat seye nay,
Alweye be niȝt, whan passed is þe day.
For myȝti love as wysly me socoure,
As hens-forthe I wil ben hoolly 2oure, 11
-ITTT
While þat I live, wakyng and a-slepe,
-T
ȝif it so be þat 36 }our hestis kepe."
To whom lason lowly gan tencline,
And seide, 2696
Or any wit may clerly comprehende,
I wil to ȝou, to my lyves ende,
As a seruaurct feithfully me quyte
And þou$ þat I can nat seyn but lite, 2700
My trew[e] herte wilnep neuer-pe-lesse
And þouȝ I can not paynt[e] nor compasse
No gay prosses, my souereyn hertis quene,
Til I be ded, trewly I schal mene 2704
Hath her my troupe whil I haue life & mywde,
As in þe ende trewly 36 schal fynde."
And of her speche an ende þus pei make.
And Medea schope hir for to take 2708
Hir leue anoon amonges al þe pres,
First of hir fader and pan of Hercules,
And bod no lenger, but furpe-wM anoon
Vn-to hir chambre in hast[e] sche is goon, 2712
Where vp and down sche made many went,
Noon of hir meyne wetyng what sche ment,
Castynge weyes hir purpos to acheve,
And in hir wittes gan besely to meve, 2716
As sche rometh in hir habitacle,
On any syde $if per were obstacle
Or any lettyng, whiche wolde hir sore greue.
J)is was hir studie til it drowe to cue, 2720
Where I hir leue compleynyng in her wo,
With many a thouȝt, walkynge to and fro.
Jpe mydday hour is goon and ouerslide,
Titan so fast hath * in his chare I-ride, 2724
)e dayes arke from est to west compassid,
His fery stedis han almost I-passed
Our oriȝonte, and drawe dou?ȝ ful lowe
His golden wayn, þat no man myȝtfe] knowe 2728
Where as he hidde his fyry * bemys briȝt,
In his discence ful fer out of oure *
2i( 2io,
And Herynes, with hir copis inyrke,
jpe heueuyng be-gonne for to dirke, 2732
In þe twyli$t whan
And Esperus, with hir stremes glade,
)?at bene so freschȝ
Gan recou?rforte al our emesperie 2736
Whan Medea by hir silf allone,
Of hiȝe der.e gan to make hir mone,
Jjat sche so longe abood after hir kny$t,
Alweye acourctyng þe houres of j>e nyjt, 2740
So ful of trouble and so ful of Jjouȝt,
Which hath ful streytly cerched out & souȝt
A redy weye vn-to hir purpos,
Al-be þat sche kept it in ful cloos 2744
Amyd hir herte, quappyng as a wawe
For drede and fere, til hope gan a-dawe,
And bad sche schulde be ri$t mery and glad,
Til drede a-geyn-warde made hir sober & sad 2748
Liste hir desire troubled were or let.
And Jms sche was at a-bay I-set
Amyd of hope and of drede also,
J5at sche ne wyste what was best to do 2752
For hiȝe desire and affeccioiw
So sore brent in hir oppiniouw,
Of lust sche hadde to meten vritft lason,
And per ageyn[e]s drede cam in anoon, 2756
And made hir ferful list sche were espied.
But al hir sorowe was holp and remedyed
Only by Fortune and þe dirke nyȝt,
By whiche sche was made ful glad & lijt. 2760
For recou/zforted only with pise two,
And with good hope fat made hir glad also,
Sche gan anoon to casten and deuise,
Whawne þat j>e mone on heuen wolde aryse, 2764
And wha?me fat sche, with hir hornys pale,
Wolde schede hir liȝt vp-on hil and vale,
Sche gan acounte and castfe] wel þe tyme,
And fonde a quarter was passid after pryme, 2768
As sche fat was wel knowyng in fat arte,
And sawe in soth fat f e ferf e parte
Of þe mone was schad with new[e]
And passed was in hir cours ful riȝt, 2772
After þe tyme of conkmcciouw,
Thre signes ful by computaciouw,
And complete was seuen daies of hir age.
At whiche tyme sche, bryrcnyng in hir rage, 2776
And foruȝ-darted with Cupides arowe,
Gan to loke and beholde narwe
At eue?y dore, and listen besily
ȝif any wyȝt fat sche myjt espie 2780
Of al f e courte oufer walke or goo,
Or any man romyng to and froo,
So sore sche dradde, goyng vp and dovn,
Whan sche herde oufer noyse or sown, 2784
Or whan sche heryth wispring eny-where ;
It was venym sothly in hir ere
Sche wisched al hadde ben a-bedde.
þis pitous life þe longe nyȝt sche ledde, 2788
With-out respit, fou$ no wy$t koude it knowe,
Til hiȝe mydnyȝt fat þe cokkes crowe ;
At whiche tyme, w[h]an al was hust and stille,
For to [ajcomplische þe remnau?t of hir wille, 2792
And euery-where maked was silence,
Sche cleped anoon vn-to hir presence
An aged vekke, fer in ȝeris ronne,
2767 and 2768 are repeated after 2768, as follows, in D 1
þat in swyche crafte mochel help[e] kowne, 2796
Thriftely to bring a ping a-boute.
For pei a-forne can casten euery doute
Of ȝeris passed olde experience
Hath 30110 to hem so passyng hiȝe prudence, 2800
bat pei in loue alle be sleiates knowe
And sche was made as dogge for þe bowe.
To whom Medea discureth al hir poiȝt
From point to point, & for-gat riȝt nouȝt, 2804
And charged hir, in reles of hir smert,
And recomfort of hir troubled hert,
To hasten hir anoon vp-on hir weye
Vn-to hir chambre lason to conveye. 2808
And sche anon, not rekles in þis cas,
Is goon for hym a ful softe pas,
As sche þat was of nesve nat to lere,
And brouȝt hym forth anoo?a as 36 schal here. 2812
Howe Medea sent for lason to com to Here in þe night,
And howe he was sworn to wed
lawe of his panym rite. 1
þat þe cok, comoiw astrologer,
Whan
])Q mydnyȝt hour with his vois ful clere
Be-gan to sowne, and dide his besy peyne
To bete his brest with his wyngys tweyne, 2816
And of þe tyme a mynute wil not passe
To warnen hem þat weren * in þe place
Of þe tydes and sesou? of þe nyȝt,
Medea to awayte * vp-on hir knyȝt 2820
Ful redy was þe entre for to kepe,
As sche þat list ful litel for to slepe,
For þat ne was no parcel of hir pouȝt.
And whan lason was to hir cha??zbre broȝt, 2824
With-out espying of eny maner
)?an sche anoon conveyeth hym ful riȝt
In-to hir closet, in al þe hast sche may,
Ful wel beseyn with gret and riche araye, 2828
Where by hir side sche made hym take his se.
And first of alle, þis ilke lees of thre,
By hir þat was moste expert in þis cas,
Was sodeynly turned to a bras ; 2832
For þe vekke to stare vp-on þe mone
Is walked out, and [hap] hem lefte allone.
And whan Medea þe dores hadde schet,
Down by lason anoon sche hath hir set. 2836
But first I fynde, with al hir besy myȝt,
Aboute þe chamber þat sche sette vp liȝt
Of grete torches and cyrges ful royal,
Aboute on pilers and on euery wal, 2840
Whiche }af a liȝt, liche þe soime schene.
And to a cheste, wrouȝt of cristal clene,
First of al, sche taketh hir passage,
Out of þe wiche sche toke a rich * ymage 2844
Of pured gold, ful lusty to beholde,
Jpat by custom of þis rytes olde
To myȝti love, eterne and increat,
I-halwed was, and also consecrat. 2848
þe whiche ymage, deuoutly as sche ouȝte,
With humble herte to lason first sche brouȝte,
And made hym lowly per-on take * his othe
Vn-to his laste, ouper for lefe or lothe, 2852
ftat he hir schulde take vn-to his wife
Fro þat day forth duryng al his life,
With hert vnfeyned and feith inviolat,
And cherischen hir liche to hir estat. 2856
For to þat tyme, I fynde how þat sche
Hadde euer floured in virginite
And as myn auctor wel reherse can,
Ay kepte hir clene from touche of any man, 2860
In poiȝte and dede, and neuer dide amys
For sche of herte so hoolfy] ȝouen is
Vn-to lason, and þat for euer-mo.
And he anoon hath put his honde per-to, 2864
And sworne fully, as 36 han herde me say,
i
Al hir requestes, wit/i-oute more delay,
To kepen hem whil his life may laste.
! how sone he ouer-caste 2868
But, o alias
His heste, his feith, wtt/i whiche he was assured,
And hadde his frauds wit/i flaterie y-cured
So couertly þat hir Innocence,
Hir trewe menyng and hir diligence, 2872
And al þat euer sche deuise can,
Deseyved was by falshed of þis man
And þou} þat trouthe was apparent above,
,
.
,
Doubilnes so slijly was in schoue, 2876
As þou} he hadde sothly ben allied
With trewe menyng, & so no ping espied
Vnder faire chore was feynyng & fallas.
For what myȝt sche ha wrouȝt more in þis cas, 2880
u.
pan for þi sake, septre and regalye,
,
i
/?
And alle þe lordis eke of hir allye
For-soke attonys, and toke of hem noon hede ;
And of pite and verray goodlyhede 2884
Loste hir frondos and hir good[e] fame,
Only, lason, to sane þe fro schame
And $it, more-ouere, forsoke hir heritage
Sche þat was born of so hiȝe parage, 2888
,
And schiilue haue ben by successiou?a
,
,
,
,
.
Eyre by dissent of þat regipun.
But wommanly for sche wolde hir quite,
Of al y-fere sche sette nouȝt a myte, 2892
But at oon hour al sche hath forsake,
And vn-to þe sche hath hir hooly take
Only for truste þou schuldefst] haue be kynde,
TROY BOOK.
Kiclies and honour sche hath y-left by-hynde, 2896
And ches in exil with þe for to goon,
From al hir kyn, þis cely maide allone.
Alias, I wepe for fin vnkyndenes
What, hath sche nat fro deth and fro distresse 2900
Preserued þe, and jit þou takest noon hede,
jjat schust a deyed, nadde sche ben pin rede
Of þi conqueste sche was þe verray cause
Jpat I may nat, schortly in a clause, 2904
Writen hir boiwte nor brefly comprehend*,
Effectuelly parformed to the ende,
At wordes fewe it may nat be tolde.
}?oruj whom þou hast þe riche flees of golde 2908
Manly conquered, whiche wttȝ-oute doute
Vnlikly was the to haue broujt aboute
For whan þou were of helpe destitut,
Sche was þi couwfort and singuler refut. 2912
And wit/i al þis, þou maist it nat deneye,
Al erthly honour how sche gan defye
])& to conserue out of heuenes ;
And hir fader sche hath of his riches 2916
So emporisched, þat pite is to here
Be exavmple of whiche, wommen myjt[e] lere
How pei schulde truste on any man.
! Medea, þat so moche can 2920
Alias
Bothe of sterris and of astronomy e
ȝet sawe sche nat aforn hir destenye
Loue hadde hir put out of gouernaille,
J5at al hir crafte ne mijt her not availle. 2924
Sche was to slowe by calculaciou'M
To cast a-forn the constellaciouw
Of hir birthe, and hir woful fate ;
For rekleshed sche sawe it al to late. 2928
But I suppose hir konraynge was fallible
For dout[e]les, me semeth nat credible,
J)at jif sche hadde wist of it to-fore,
i]
So pitously sche hadde nat be lore 2932
As 30 schal seen here-after hastely,
So as þe story reherseth by and by,
Howe it be-fel of lason and Medee.
But first $e schul þe ordre & mane?- * se 2936
How sche wrouȝt after he was swore
Jpe same nyȝt, alias, sche hathe forbore
Hir maidenhed, and fat was grete pite.
And }et sche ment nat but honeste 2940
As I suppose, sche wende haue be?a his wyfe
But touching frtt, I holde as now no strife.
And }it o fing I dar afferme and seyne,
J2at þe menyng of f is ilke tweyne 2944
Ne was nat on, but wonder fer atwene
For
,il fat sche trew[e]ly gan mene,
Of honeste
Liche a maide Innocent of age,
He to a-complische his fleschely fals delite
And to parforme .his foule appetite,
Wrouȝt every fing to hir entent contra?*ie.
Alias, fat sche was so debonaire 2952
For to trust vppon his curtesye,
Or to quite hir of hir genterie,
So hastely to rewe vp-on his smerte
But woHimen ben of so tender hert, 2956
Jjat þei wil gladly of routhe * and pite,
Whan fat a man
Sauen his life, rather fan he deye.
And so Medea, schortly for to seye, 2960
Castyng no pereil after fat schal falle,
His desyris and his lustis alle
Hooly obeyeth, with al hir f ul[le] niyȝt ;
And fat so longe almost fat þe nyȝt 2964
Hath his cours rourcde aboute goon.
At which e tyme to hir spake lason,
And lowly seide, " my lady,
þat we arise, for sone it wil be pryme 2968
ȝe may se wel
For we may here how þe briddes singe.
Preying to $ow in al my bestfe] wyse,
How I schal wirke fat 36 list deuise, 2972
And ceryously euery fing dispose,
I 30w beseche,
Myu emprise to bringen to an ende
And farcne at erst, hen[ne]s wil I wende 2976
Sane fat I fhike first vrith 3011 to trete
In what wyse f is contre 36 schal lete,
And in-to Grece repeire ageyn vrith me,
Whiche is a londe of gret felicite. 2980
For trusteth wel, & beth no fing in drede,
In-to fat regne \ith me I schal ȝon lede,
After my conquest, ȝif so be fat I wyraie.
Wherfore, I praye 3011 goodly to begywne, 2984
How I schal werke, in al f e hast 30 may,
For in good feith anoon it wil be day."
To whom sche spake, seying as 36 schal here
Howe Medea declarede
Whiche sothly was of merueillous entaille,
Whos power was and vertu to availle, 3000
Effectually to her bothe entent,
Ageyn magyk and al enchaiwt[e]ment,
And to with-sitte þe force of sorcerye.
For it was made be astronomye, 3004
In houre chose * & equat for þe nonys,
By clerkis olde
Whilom whan þei were flouryng in her ages,
feat f ei vsede to make suche ymages, 3008
As dide þe kyng called Tholome.
And so to lason cowmauwded hath Medee
To here þis ymage on hym pryuely,
As $e han herd, to werche effectuelly 3012
In euery fing, as sche dide assygne.
And ban sche toke to hym * a medecyne
.
Made in maner of an oyntement,
.
To enoynte hym vriilt, fat he be nat brent, 3016
feat was more riche & p?-ecious fan bame
Ageyn þe malis of euery fire and flame.
And after fat sche toke to hym anoon
A riche ring, where-in was sette a stoon 3020
feat vertu hadde al venym to distroye,
feat on no syde it my$t hym nat anoye.
fee whiche stoon hadde also þis myȝt,
feat 3 if a man coude it bere a-riȝt, 3024
WftA-Inne his honde next
fee strengfe of siȝt schulde be deposed
Of hem fat wolde gasen or biholde
For who-so-eue?- in his hond hit holde, 3028
By þe vertu fat was infallible,
fee story seith, he schulde be invisible.
fee whiche stoon wyse clerkis calle
Achates, moost vertuous of alle 3032
And it is fouwde sothly in Cecile.
Of whiche stoon whilom wrot Virgile,
How þat Venus to Eneas it sent
First whan [þat] he in-to Cartage went. 3036
And after þis, sche to lason toke
A certeyn bille, writen liche a boke,
Jȝat to his lornay my$t[e] moche availle ;
And bad hym wisly þat he nat ne faille, 3040
ȝif he cast hym graciously to spede,
Firste of alle, þe scripture þat he rede,
Or he þe Earn touche in any wyse ;
Hym chargyng eke, a-fore þis hiȝe emprise, 3044
With humble herte and deuociou?2,
)?at he knelyng seye þat orisouw,
ftat vp and dowi was writen on f>e bille,
Preying þe goddys lowly to fulfille 3048
His request, and mercy for to haue,
Of verray pite from meschef hym to sane.
And after þat, for his chefe socour,
Sche toke to hym a viol with licour, 3052
And bad hym manly w/t/i-oute fere or drede,
Whan he come vn-to þe boles rede,
ȝif he hym schape knyȝtely to eskape,
)?at as faste as he seth hem gape, 3056
In-to her goles þat he þe licour caste.
))an dar hym not but litel of hem gaste ;
For her lowes to-gidre it schal glewe,
)?at on no syde pei schal not eschewe 3060
Tobeye his luste in what hym list constreyne.
For, dout[e]les, maugre al her peyne,
He schal hem so dauwte & make * tame,
ftat wher hym liste, in ernest or in game, 3064
He myȝt hem make tauten and encline,
And don hem bowe hope bak and chyne
þe licour schal her chawlys so coharte,
þat asonder þei schal nat departe, 3068
For to offende or noyen any wyȝt.
And whan sche hadde bus vn-to hir knyat
;
.
In euery Jnng 30110 instruccioim,
Pleyn doctrine, and inforrnacioiw 3072
])& daiwgeris by & by,
How he schal skape
3 if he tak hede and werke avisely,
And panne acorded, þei þouȝt[e] for
For to parte, or men out of hir reste 3076
A-waked werne, for it drow to day,
þe morwe graye.
As
Jiei wel seie by
Arid list men hadde to hem suspeciourc,
Of hyje prudence and discrecioiw, 3080
Atwen j>e tvveyliȝt and \e rody morwe
Jpe[i] toke her leue, with seynt[e] lohfi to borwe,
With ofte kyssyng, as louers whan þei twywne ;
And so he went, and sche 3084
[is] lefte with-Inne,
Beyng in hope to mete ageyn som day.
And lason bamie, as faste as euer he may,
'
'
Gan ordeyn hym his lorney to acheue,
_
And fouȝt he wolde anon go take his leue. 3088
And in what wyse, wit/A-in a litel while,
After þe maner of my rude stile,
Mi purpos is, sothly, and nat spare,
With ȝour support pleinly to declare. 3092
I mene Aurora, þe whiche a-for þe sonne
Is wont tenchase þe blake skies donne, 3100
And þe dirknes of þe dymme nyȝt
And fresche Phebzȝs, with comfort of his
And the briȝtnes of his bemys schene,
Hadde ouer-gilt þe hiȝe hilles grene 3104
And floures eke ageyn þe morwe-tyde
Vp-on her stalke gaw splaie her levis wyde,
Toward þe kyng ful fast[e] gan hym hyȝe. 3108
Whom fat he fonde, liche to his estate,
With septer in hond, ful pompus and elate,
Hiȝe in [þe] se of his regallie,
Sittyng ful kyngly amyd his chiualrie, 3112
And his lordys abouten environ??.
At whiche tyme þis ȝong[e] champiouw,
Vnder a vowe stondyng of þe Earn,
With sterne face to-fore þe kyng in cam, 3116
BeS6Cnino nym of LlS magnificence
Jpe same day to graunten hym licence
To don his armys, and make no delaies,
Concludyng playnly, þat at al assaies 3120
He wil þat day in þe felde be fouwde
ȝOT to acneue > ȝJGȝQ as ne was bouwde

Of olde beheste, and nat a poynt declyne,
For lif nor deth, 3124
Hooly þe auwtres, vn-to þe fles þat longe,
j)e kyng requeryng no lenger hym prolonge,
But goodly grauwt þe fyn of his emprise.
And pawne þe kyng, in ful sobre wyse, 3128
Consideryng þe somwe of his demauwde,
To lason spak and seide * he schal commauwde
ȝat nis re(llleste parformed be in haste
"
Al-be,' 3132
Of wilfulnes þou schust distroied be,
List men þi deth arretten vn-to me,
And per-vppon wolde a blame sette,
Of royal power þat I nat no lette 3136
])\ manly ȝouthe from swiche iupartie
Whiche were in soth a gret vilonye
And preiudise to myn estat and name,
JOat afterwarde men putte me in blame 3140
JX>ru} false reporte & wrong oppinioim,
þat I withstod not þi destrnccioiw.
Wherefore, I rede }it þou be avised,
And my coimseil lat nat be dispised; 3144
For bet it is, with honour in certeyn
In-to þi centre to repeire ageyn,
fean wilfully for to take on honde
A mortal ping þat no man may wM-stonde. 3148
)is is my rede, and fully myn avis,
Take hede per-to, sith [þat] þou art wys,
List þou repente whan it is to late
And $if so be þat þou wilt algate 3152
Jpi purpos holde, and nat don as I rede,
Almyȝti Mars I prayfe] þe to spede,
fie for to guye, what-so-eue?-e falle ;
And eke I pray to þe goddis alle, 3156
Saffe and soiwde þi body to restore
þis al and som, of me þou gest no more."
And whan lason had[de] herde þe kyng,
Nat dismaied nor stonyed in no ping, 3160
In knyȝtly wise dide hym reuerence,
Jjankyng hyȝly his royal excellence,
þat of his grace and benignite
Vp-on his deth hym list to haue pite; 3164
Fully co?cludyng, touching his bataille,
})at nouper red nor couwseil may auayle,
In no wyse his purpos to withdraw
But liche þe statute, pleynly, & þe lawe, 3168
Riȝt as ferforth as Fortune wil hyra Ewre,
What so be-tide of his aventure,
Settyng a-side euery fere and drede,
Seide platly þat he wil procede 3172
For to parforme þat lie hath vndertake
It wer in ydel mo skeles for to make,
Or to allege more per ageyn.
And lason fan, ful opunly and pleyn, 3176
Touching þe surplus of þis dredful ping,
At his departyng seid[e] to þe kyng,
In audience of his lordis alle
" What-so-euer of me now be-falle, 3180
Or who-so-euer of malis per-on mvse,
To alle þe worlde,
And to þe goddis platly }ow to quite,
Thouȝ I deye, 36 be no ping to wyte, 3184
Ne no man schal [ajrette it ȝow of skele
For þat I wirke is frely at my wille,
Ageyn þe avise of jour hyȝe prudence,
And lif and deth, here in ȝour presence, 3188
Holy of herte, and neuer for to flitte,
To þe goddys and Fortune I committe,
So as hem list for me to ordeyne,
Ageyns whos wille I schal neuer pleyne, 3192
Noi hem nor ȝou putten in no blame
What so betide, honour, loy, or schame,
And of þis ping þus an ende I make,
And for þis tyme of 3011 my leue I take, 3196
And of all tho þat aboute ȝou stonde."
And on by on he toke hem by þe honde.
And [in] what wise forthe he gan hym dresse,
To ȝou anoon I pinke to expresse. 3200
Howe lason, aftire his leve take of þe Kenge, enterde
w
Toward mydmorwe, as I can ditfyne,
Vpon þe hour whau þe cloke is nyne, 3204
lason fnl manly and
Armed in steel, of chere ful glad & lyjt,
Gan dresse him forth, what hap þat euer falle,
And seide adieu vn-to his feris alle, 3208
He in þe bot and pei vp-on þe stronde.
And al allone, whan he cam to londe,
And in þe water had his vessel lafte,
He first of al remembring on 3212
Of Medea,
And how he schulde kepe his ohseruauracos
In euery ping, and had it wel in mynde
And pa?me anoon ful manly, as I fynde, 3216
He schope him forpe & wente a knyjtly pas
Toward þe bolis, þat forged * wer of bras.
But at þe point wha
For hym Medea wexe ful pale & wan, 3220
So sore agast þat no ping myȝt hir glade
A routh it was to se wat wo sche made
For þe teris on hir chekis tweyne,
Ful pitously douw distille and reyne, 3224
Jjat al for-dewed wern hir wedis blake.
And ay þis sorwe sche made for his sake,
Liche a womman ferful and in doute,
While he his armys ful manly brouȝt aboute. 3228
To sobbe & syȝe * sche can not ben in pees,
List he for hast were ou$t rek[e]les,
From point to point to don liche as sche bad.-*
ftis was þe life þat sche for hym hath lad. 3232
And for to seen how he schulde hym defende,
Sche gan anoon by greces to ascende,
Of a tour in-to a hiȝe pynacle,
Wher * as sche myȝt haue noon obstacle, 3236
Nor lettyng nouther, for to ban a sijte
Of bym fat was hir owne cbose knyȝte.
And euer among with wordis out sche brak,
And stouttdemel fus to hir silf sche spake 3240
"
fou lason, my souereyn hertis hele,
ȝif fou knewe what wo for þe I fele,
Sothly, I trowe, it schulfd]
For to be trewe with al fin hoolfe] herte, 3244
And God, I praye, þis lourne at þe leste
May þis tyme tornen for f e * beste,
And kepe þe sauf & soimde in euery membre,
And ȝif þe myȝt ffulli to remembre, 3248
As I f e tauȝt, and in þe same forme,
Euery fing fully to parforme,
Only þis day fin honour to avauwce,
Whiche for to sen wer al myn hool plesance 3252
For certis,* lason,
Fare-wel myn helfe & al my worldly blis,
And fare-wel fawne my myrthe & my solace,*
And my welfare, my fortune, and my grace,* 3256
And al attonys, myn hertly sufficiance
Lo, þis for him was hir gouernaunce,
From þe tyme fat he þe lond hath nome.
And first of al, whan fat he was come 3260
Where as þe bolis, fel and dispitous,
Out caste her fire & flawme furious
At her mowfes, wonder large and huge,
Ageyn [þe] whiche, for his chefe refuge, 3264
Hym to saue fat he wer nat brent,
He was enoynt with an oignement
On his body, fat kepte hym fro damage
Of filke fire, fat was so fill of rage, 3268
And þe smokys, dirke and ful horrible,
Whiche to eskape was almost impossible
For any man, of what estat he be,
With-oute comfort and conseil of Medco 3272
By whos doctrine lason can so wirke,
|ȝat he is skapid horn þe mystis dirke
Of þe
fire with his biases blake,
J2at al þe eyre so cloudy dide make. 3276
Sche had hym made so discrete & sage,
Only by vertu of filke ymage,
Which
þat he aboute his nek[ke] bare,
Wher-by he was so prudent & so war, 3280
)}at whan þe bolis han most fersly gaped,
He hath her malis avisely eskapid.
For thenfecciouw of hir troubled eyr
He hath venquesched & was in no dispeire 3284
For in effecte, ageyn þe foule fvme,
j}at wolde a man vn-to
)Q ymage was a preseruatif,
Hym to defende and to saue his life. 3288
And more surly to kepe hym oute of drede,
Ful ofte sythe
þe writ he dide rede
For þe vertu of fat orisons
Was vn-to hym ful protecciourc, 3292
J)at he nat
fil in-to no distresse.
And after fat, for more sikernesse,
Hym to preserue in þis mortal caas,
He toke þe licour fat in þe viol was, 3296
And fer-witȝ-al, ful like a manly man,
Al attonis, he to þe bolys ran,
And for-gat nat so warly it to caste
And fer-wit/i-al her chaules wer made faste, 3300
And by þe vertu so myȝtely englewed,
þat lie fer-foruȝ hath outte?-ly eschewed
Jpenfecciou?ȝ of þe smoky leuene.
And whan þe eyr gan cleryn, 3304
And þe mystis wern waftid hym to-forn,
With manly hert he rauȝtfe] by f e horn
Jȝe sterne bolis, and by violence
He drowe hew forfe, in whom was no diffence, 3308
And joketh hem, so as þe maner was,
And with þe plowe he made hem gon a pas,
Nowe vp, now doiua, and to ere þe lond.
And at his lust so buxvm he hem fonde, 3312
}ȝat þe soil, smof e, bare, and pleyn,
ftei maked han redy to here greyn,
And on rengis it torned vp-so-dovn
For fo in hem was no rebellioim, 3316
But humble and meke & redy at his wille,
Alle his desires pleynly to fulfille.
And lason faime, liche a champiouw,
Gan hym enhaste* towarde þe dragouw, 3320
Jjat was a beste gret and monstruous,
Foule and horrible & riȝt venymous,
And was enarmed in skalis large and fikke,
Of whom þe brethe more perillous and wikke 3324
"Was fan þe eyr of any pestelence
For his venym was of swiche violence,
J5at it was ful dedly and mortal.
And at his frote fer issed o-ute wft/z-al 3328
A flawme of fire, as of a fournes mouthe,
Or liche þe leuene fat dovn by
Out of þe est is wont in tempest smyte
Eiȝt so þe dragouw, sothly for to write, 3332
Out of his mouthe had a flawme blasid.
Wher-of lason first a litel masid *
Was in his hert of fat dredful fing,
But whan fat he rernembrid on his ring, 3336
Al fer and drede was leide a-syde & goon
For in fat ring fe[r] was sette a stoon,
i]
Ful riche and noble and ri$t vertuous,
þe whiche, as techith* gret Ysydorus,
And * myn auctor also, as I fynde,
Most comovnly cometh out of Ynde,
And mot be kepte chast & wonder clene,
And of colour surmou?teth euery grene. 3344
Whos vertu is al venyin to distroye,
And to \w't/?stonde fat it may nat [a]noye,
Of dragons, serpent, adder & of snake.
And specialy, $if fat it be take 3348
And yholdeu in be opposyt
Of any werm, even ageyn þe syjt,
With-oute abood, in sothe, he may not chese,
Of his venym þe force he mostfe] lese, 3352
How strong it be or violent of rage.
But to be stoon it doth ful gret damage
For whan he hath his vertu don, as blyue
On pecis smale it gynnyth al to rive, 3356
And in
it silf hool a-bit no while.
For in þe londe þat called is Cecyle,
Jjer is a worme þat Bufo bereth þe name
And whan men wil of mails make him tame, 3360
And his venym outerly represse,
})ei take a squille, myn auctor bereth witnes,
Whan pel wil wirke, or a large canne,
And in þe ende þis * ston pei sette panne, 3364
And lyne rht a-geyn be wormes hod
J
bei holden it,
For þat is sothly his vertu of nature,
Jjat no venym may lasten nor endure 3368
In þe presence of þis rich[e] stoon.
And as I fynde, þis Bufo riȝt a-noon,
jȝoru} myȝt fer-of bresteth even on tweyne,
Only by kynde, whiche 110 maw may restreyne. 3372
For þe goddesse fat called
Whiche nexte Mr lord hath al fing in cure,
Hath vertu $oue to herbe, gras, and stoon,
Whiche no man knoweth but hir silf allon 3376
)Q causis hid ben closed in hir honde,
þat wit of man can not vnderstonde
Openly þe myȝt of hir wirkynge.
And so lason, by vertu of þis ring, 3380
And foru} his ston, fat myȝt him most avaunce,
Hath þe dragouw brouȝt vn-to vttraunce.
In whom he fonde no maner insistence *
Hym to wit[h]stonde, force nor diffence, 3384
Nouther be venym nor noon ofer strif ;
Wherfor he hath berefte hym of hys life
In manly wise, & in þe felde outraied.
And lason fan, ful glad & wel apaied, 3388
Hath with his swerd spent on him many [a] stroke,
And leied on him as men hewe on an oke
His briȝtfe] squamys wern so harde & dure,
Jȝat wel onethe he ne myȝt endure 3392
Hym to dismembre & smyten of his bed.
And fan anoon, in þe stede of sed,
He gan his teth out of his hed arrace,
And riȝt forfe-wM, in þe silfe place, 3396
He gan hem sowe, liche as men do corn,
Vp-on þe lond fat ered was aȝforn.
Of whiche sede fer sprang a wonder greyn,
Briȝt armed knyȝtes stondyng on f e pleyn, 3400
Jpe whiche anon, wtt/i scharp[e] swerdis grou?ide,
Eueryche gan ofer for to hurte and wouwde,
Til eche his felawe hath cruelly y-slawe
ftis of hir fate was þe fynal lawe, 3404
}ȝat noon of hem schulde be victorie
fie deth reioische of other by memorie ;
For alle y-fere fus þei made an ende.
And after þis, lason gan to wende 3408
Vn-to þe Earn viith al his dilligence,
In whiche he fonde no power nor diffence,
No maner strife nor rebellioun,
And myȝtely þe Ram he dra\veth dovn, 3412
And sette on hond [vp-]on euery horn,
And slowe it first, and fan he hath it scliorn
Out of his flees of gold so passyng riche,
)}at in þis world fer was no tresour liche. 3416
And after fat he made no delay
To take his bote in al þe hast he may,
And roweth forthe in-to be tother vie,
Wher Hercules, al þe mene while, 3420
Vp-on þe brinke, wiih many another mo,
Abod lason til he hadde do.
And euerychon I fynde fat as blive,
Only for loye whan he dide aryve, 3424
)2ei gan to fanke to her goddes alle,
So graciously fat it hath y-falle,
And fat þe flees he hath so knyȝtly wo?ine,
feat schon as clere as þe somer sonne, 3428
Whiche fat he brouȝt with hym vn-to londe,
His feris alle abyding on þe stronde.
lason is cowine with many a manly man 3436
Of his feris to þe presence of þe kyng,
As he fat had acheved euery fing
Whiche fat longeth to conquest of þe Ram.
And Cethes fan, as sone as euer he cam, 3440
To make hym chere outward haf him payned,
Al-be in herte fat it was but feyned
For he was sori, wat/t-outen any drede,
Of þe expleyt and þe goodfe] spede 3444
Of f is lason,
But liche in soth as fees feyners conne,
Whan fat hem list craftely compace
To schewe outward a feithful trewe face, 3448
And þe venym enclosen * hool wtt/i-Inne,
As in menyng fere wer no maner synne,
Ri$t so þe kyng with looke & forhed clere
Made vn-to lason outward riȝt good chere, 3452
And gan to hym speke in wordis fewe,
Of frendlyhed many signefs] schewe,
As þei he had his conqueste euerydel
From point to point liked wonder wel, 3456
And ben ful glad fat he was so fortuned,
Vn-to þe ende fat he hath contuned,
And reioiseth in speche and countenauwce,
J)at Fortune list hym so avaunce, 3460
And to his paleis gan goodly hym cowveye,
And day be day ful richely festeye
Al-be fat it was no fing do of* herte.
For þis no lees, he felt[e] ful gret smerte, 3464
ftat of his tresour he was dispoiled so,
And fat he hath þe riche flees for-go
To his damage and confusions.
And fus fer was a gret diuisiouw 3468
A-twexe his chere and menyng of his fouȝt,
As it fareth ofte }if it be wel soiȝt,
))at many man, in menyng fals and double,
Can wit/i þe calme curen so þe trouble 3472
Of hiȝe malis hid in his desire,
And rake falsly þe wikked couert fire,
Ful hoot[e] brennyng inward of envye.
So wel wer him fat coude hem oute espie, 3476
And knewe her menyng false & fraudelent,
Wher-foru}, alias, ful many an Innocent
Deseyved
And namly swiche fat nat but troufe wene 3480
And euery chere fat men to hem make,
Of Innocence for þe beste take,
And in no wise fenke nouȝt but wel
Riȝt so certeyn þis lason euerydel 3484
Hath take in gre what þe kyng hath wroiȝt,
Not aduertyng þe grucching of his fouȝt
For dout[e]les it sat þe kyng ful sore,
ftat he þe Ram hath lost for euere-more. 3488
But whan fat he hath outterly yseyn,
))ouȝ he gruche, fat fer was no geyn,
But finally, of necessite,
At fat tyme it myȝt noon other be, 3492
And pleynly sawe fat he may* not chese,
But fat algate þe flees he mot[e] lese,
Whefer it were fat he were lefe or lothe,
He feyneth chere, as he wer not wrothe ; 3496
For only he, of his gentilnes,
No signe outward of gruchiwg dide expresse,
But day be day of verray curtesye
He cherith lason and his companye. 3500
At whiche tyme, abouten environ
From euery party of his regioun,
])Q peple cam to staren and to gase
Vp-on þe Ram, as it were a mase 3504
|)ei loke & wondre & deme what hem liste,
On whos domys is but litel triste
Jpey ofte varie and torne to and fro,
feat, who fat wisly taketh hede fer-to, 3508
fee comouw peple chauwgeth as a phane,
To-day þei wexe and to-morwe wane,
As doth þe mone, f ei be so flaskysable,
Who trusteth hem schal fynd he??i ful vnstable. 3512
For sorame wer glad fat lason hath sped wel,
And some sory, and like it neuer a del,
And sowrne seide þei wonder how he myȝt
Ageyn þe dragouw or þe bolis 3516
Or how fat he ageyn þe force of Marte
Out of þe yle alyue myȝt[e] parte.
A-nother seide fat parauenture
By crafte was wrouȝt þis discoinfeture, 3520
Outher by charme or som sorserye
feus eche of hem after her fantasie
Gran deme of hym al þe longe day.
But at þe last, makyng no delay, 3524
Ful glad and liȝt Medea dou?* descendeth
From hir chambre, & outwarde pretendeth
Sadnes of chere, as sche no fing ne knewe.
Men koude nat conseyve* by hir hewe 3528
Hir secre menyng, for sche so wo??imanly
Demened hir, and so prudently,
feat sche avoyded by discrecioun
Al fantasye and suspecioun, 3532
feat no man koude of hir wirkyng deme
No fing but wel ;
By port & chere fer was no cause why.
And so by processe sche drowe hir priuely 3536
Toward lason, for sche was not to lere,
And secrely bad hym in hys ere,
In al wyse fat he not ne leue
To hir chambre for to come at cue ; 3540
For maters þei hadde for to trete,
i]
Whiche he schal know at leiser wharc pei mete.
And so anoon, whan entred was þe niȝt,
Sool by hym silfe, wit/i-oute torche or 3544
To Medea he hath þe weye take,
And sche abood sleples for his sake,
Wonder deuoutly desyryng, as I gesse,
With hym to trete of som holynes, 3548
Touching maters of contemplacioura
For sche was smete with a deuociouw
Of fresche Venus to holden a memorie
With hym allone in hir oratorie 3552
Not openly as ypocrites preye
In diuers angles loynyng on þe weye,
Of þe peple [for] to be comendid
But pei not so han þe nyȝt dispendid 3556
For veynglorie nor noon ydel laude,
But by hem silfe, pinkyng on no fraude,
Secrely þis ilke tweyne allone,
Wit/i-oute li$t ouper of sonne or mone, 3560
])Q long[e] nyȝt han lad wȝt/j-oute reste
For as hem pouȝt it was not for þe beste
To speke of slepe til þat it was prime,
For pei hem cast to lose as þo* no tyme. 3564
And þus þe nyȝt to-gidre pei dispende,
]ȝat I am dul for to comprehende
J)Q obseruauwce of swiche religious,
Prolix in werkyng & not compendious 3568
Demeth }our silfe, 30 gete no more of me,
For wel 36 wote, in euery faculte
Who hath knowyng and experience,
Men wil to hym rapest }if credence. 3572
Wherfore I seie, 39 þat be wyse and can,
Axeth not me, whiche am so rude a man,
To deme a ping, & namly whan þat it
Passyth my knowyng also and my witte ; 3576
For-dullid is myn ymagynatif,
To deme in practik or in speculatif,
Where-fore I passe and late it ouer slyde,
And forfe I fink, ȝif 36 list abide, 3580
Pleynly tellen of lason and Medee.
Jje whiche acorded and assented be,
þat sche with hyni schal in-to Grece wende
Whan fat he goth, schortly þis þe ende, 3584
Vnwist hir fader & euery other wyȝt
Sane he allone, fat hath his trouf e plijt
For to be trewe, bofe in wele and wo,
Yn-to his laste, to hir and to no mo. 3588
stalle away by nyght withe Medea and
Howe lason
here Faderes tresure & Richees. 1
whan lason after his lourne,
And
Ful richely, liche to his degre,
Kefresched was in Colchos of þe kyng
With al fat my$t[e] ben to his likyng,* 3592
And a moneth passed was and goon,
He with his Grekys assented in-to oon,
Purposed hath, schortly $if he myȝt,
With Medea to stele a-weye be nyȝt, 3596
With moche tresour and þe riche flees,
And ful acorde also of Hercules.
But o Medea
fou hastest al to faste,
! 3600
ftou wer to slowe wysly for to caste
What schulde falle, whan fou fi lowme toke
For how fat he in meschefe þe forsoke,
And how fat he was false and eke vnkynde,
For alle his othes to f e, as I fynde, 3604
correct reading apparently erased).
And how fat fou, bothe at eve and morwe,
þi fatal chaunce * and fi pitous sorowe
By-weptisfc after, & gan f i silf to rende,
Til deth of al made a woful ende 3608
It wer but veyn to makyn rehersaille
I wote no þing fat it myȝt availle,
NOT how lason vnkynde for þe nonys,
Eesseived hath penam tallionis 3612
Of þe goddis for his disnaturesse ;
For he in meschef and in wrechednesse
Made eke an ende foru} f e cruel hate
Of fel[le] Mars 3616
Of þis tweyn fat made her ende so
But as I trowe, liche as write Guydo,
For her gynnyng was nat vertuous,
An ende folweth ful contagious. 3620
f ei hadde take hedde a-forne,
Alias
!
ftan had þei nat in meschef ben so lorne.
But who wil not a-forn his meschef se,
May not eschewe to haue aduersite 3624
In þe ende, platly to devyne
For euene liche as a medicine
Availeth nat, whan þe seke is ded
For what may helpen þe stomak or þe hed 3628
Letuarie, emplastre, or pociouw,
Or any receyt or confecciouw,
Herbe or stoon, or al fat leches knowe,
Whan fat þe * cors is leied in erfe lowe, 3632
Or whan a beest is torned to carein
Myn auctor seif,
For his recure, vp-on any halve,
To his ere for to leyn a salve 3636
For verraily, after his fantasye,
It helpeth nat, nor doth no remedie
For ping parformed in his due date
More vertu ha]) pan wharc it commep late. 3640
Ki$t so in cas, verraily semblable,
Of worldly trust, fals & ful mutable,
Who cast no pereil
In-stede of sugre ofte * tasteth galle 3644
Blendid with lust, whiche þat is present,
Of þe future slouth and necligent
J)at hem ne liste a-forn no * meschef caste,
Til in þe snare pei ben englued faste 3648
For to provide pei ben graceles,
Ful vnprudent and wilful rek[e]les,
To caste pereil or þat it be-tyde
þei swe her luste, her reson goth a-syde, 3652
As it be-fil whilom of þis two,
Of Medea and [of] lason also.
But how-so-euere of lason þat it be,
I fynde pleynly þe * harme allone had sche, 3656
$Q grete damage and þe final smerte,
For lak of wisdam þat sche nolde aduerte
What schul[de] falle, wharc sche her lowne toke,
And hir fadir folily forsoke ; 3660
But sith sche wrouȝt only of wilfulnes,
With-outQ conseil or avysenes,
Me list no more hir harmes to be-wayle,
For lite or nou$t it myȝtfe] now avayle. 3664
Late hir allone complayne hir damage
For wel I wote touching hir passage,
It was not take in good plite of þe mone,
Of hastines sche began to sone, 3668
Chesyng an hour þat was nat fortunat
For sche allone of frendys desolat
Colchos forsoke, and is to schypfpe] goon ;
And in al haste be byddyng of lason, 3672
Hercules and al his companye,
ftat with him com oute of Thesalye,
Wit/i-oute tariynge, at onys at a worde,
I-entred ben wz'tA-Inne [þe] schippes borde, 3676
Only for cause fat þe wynd was good
And euery fing at her lust tho stood.
And so be assent, f ei stele a-wey be nyȝt
WM al þe tresour fat þei cache myȝt,
And with hem had plente of vitaille ;
And forthe anoon þei be-go?me to seile
By many coste & many sondry He,
Toward [es] Grece; and al þis mene while 3684
Was Medea glad and of good chere,
Sche and lason sittyng bothe I-fere.
And Hercules, of verray gentilnes,
Hir to comfort dide his besynes, 3688
Al feyni[n]gly, for þe maner sake,
As þis louerys ful queynt can it make,
Til þei han had hooly her plesauwce
Her lust fulfilled, fan entref variaurace, 3692
As it was preved by lason outerly,
þat hathe for-sake ful vnkyndely
þis Medea, in peyne, sorwe, and wo.
Of hir Guydo writ no wordis mo, 3696
N"e maketh of hir now other menciouw,
By-cause, I trow in myn opiniouw,
J)at hir sorwes, ende and euerydel,
Rehersed ben ful openly and wel 3700
Methamorphoseos, & wryte fer ful pleyn
Wher as Naso recordeth in certeyn
Hir deth nat only, nor hir heuynes,
But parcel eke of þe vnkyndenes 3704
Of f is lason, and telleth pleynli how
Medea hir bothe sonys slowe,
For þei wer like her fader of visage
And telleth eke, fat put hir moste in rage, 3708
Loued another þat called was Ceruse ;
Eke in his pistles, who so taketh hede,
Hir dedly sorwe he may beholde & rede, 3712
And how fat sche hir troup abouȝtfe] sore.
Of Medea $e gete of me no more
In al þis boke, nor of hir auenture.
But I wil now do my besy cure 3716
Hooly to turne my stile to lason,
And of þe werre he made on Lamedouw,
Liche as in Guydo is openly discrived,
After þat he in Grece was arived. 3720
Howe Kenge Pellee ressavide lason 'with faire visage,
bot inwardly he was
in Calchos,
for a navye to destroy þe Cyte of Troy. 1
whan lason & Hercules also
First
I-londed werne, with many anoper mo,
In þe regne and lond of Thesalye,
Kyng Pelleus, with al his cheualr[i]e, 3724
Caste hym pleynly þat he wil nat faille
To mete his nevew at his arivaille.
And whan pei mette, in corctenauwce & chere,
Made it outward as hool & as entere 3728
As he had hadde souereynpy] gladnes
Of his knyȝthood & his hyȝe prowes,
Of his renouw and his manlyhede,
Of his exspleyt and his good[e] spede, 3732
And þat Fortune to encrese his name
Hap causid hym, with so noble a fame,
Out of Colchos with honour to repaire
Al-be his chere was outerly contrarye 3736
To his entent, þat euer he cam ageyn.
But for al þat, with face hool and pleyn,
He welcomed hym, al ageynes herte,
Ful sore astonyed þat he euer a-sterte 3740
])Q auentures of Colchos perillous,
And is retourned so victorious.
But couertly his tresowi for to hyde,
Al delay he gan to sette a-syde, 3744
And to lason with chere ful benigne,
His heritage first he gan resigne,
Septre & crovne & kengdam at þe leste,
For to parforme þe sorwme of his beheste, 3748
Liche as he was assured by his bonde.
And lason toke al in-to his honde,
And gan his vncle in ful lowe maner
First to panke, with al his herte entere, 3752
And after þat ful knyȝtly gan hym preye
Goodly to here what þat he wil seie
Of a mater þat fret his herte sore,
From day to day encresyng euer more 3756
Besechyng hym to grauwte hym audience
Touching a wrong and a violence
Don vn-to hym, whan he now harm [ne] mercte,
In Troy[e] lond to Colchos as he went 3760
"
ftis [is] to seyn, þe kyng of Troy[e] tovn,
With-in þe bourcdis of his regiouw,
Whan I and myne in gret aduersite,
With wynd and wedir fordrivew in þe see, 3764
Vs to refresche to londe dide arive,
STot in purpos with hym for to strive,
But for to reste vs after al oure wo
A litel while, and forthe anoon to go 3768
For we in sope no maner harm ne pou$t
But he vnkyngly of verray malys souȝt
Ageyn[e]s vs firste occasioun,
Byddyng in haste to voyde his regioutt, 3772
Kot-withstondynge þat we com in pes,
Vn-to no wyȝt doyng no distresse.
Wherfore, we praye to $oure hyȝe noblesse, 3776
To oure purpos for to condescende,
Of whiche platly þis þe fynal ende
J)at we be sette, in ful conclusioun,
Holy to werke to his distruccioiw, 3780
Liche owre avov, whan we pen[ne]s went
ȝif so be ȝe goodly list assent
And al attonys, strongly and not spare,
Maugrey his * 3784
So þat we may fynde in $ow fauour
Ys to refresche with golde and with tresour,
And only eke, of ȝour curtesye,
Ys strenthe also with $our cheualrie." 3788
And Pelleus, with-oute more abode,
Anoon as he þis mater vnderstode,
Assented is of herte and wil al-so,
In þis viage with hem for to goo. 3792
And alle þe worpi of þat regioun,
Kynges, dukes, and lordes of renoun,
Ben acorded, per is not on seyth nay,
To gon with hem and helpen what pei may. 3796
And of þis lourne chefe solicytour
Was Hercules, þe worthi conquerour,
And he in haste, his retenu to make,
Toward Sparthos hath þe weye take, 3800
Whiche is an He to Grekys pertinent,
Fully obeying to her coramaundement.
In which Pollux and Castor eke also,
þe worpi kynges, þe myȝti breper two, 3804
Wern, as I fynde, þat tyme gouernours,
And bare her crowne liche noble werryours ;
And brepern wern also to El[e]yne,
And as poetis liketh for to feyne, 3808
at lubiter, for al his deite,
Vp-on Dane bygat hem alle thre,
þat in bewte alle other dide excelle.
And for Eleyne, liche as bokys telle, 3812
Conseyved was in Tyndaris þe yle,
Vn-to þe lond loinyng of Cecyle,
Jȝerfor of somme I fynde *
After þe yle callid Tyndarys. 3816
Of hir birth me list no more endite,
But furthe I fhike of Hercules to write,
)þat haf besouȝt þis worfi kynges tveyne,
Wit/i myȝty hond to don her besy peyne, 3820
Only to graunte wz't/i him * for to wende
To-Troye-ward, schortly Jris þe ende.
And to assenten f>ei sei not onys nay,
With al þe power fat þei cache may, 3824
Ageyn what tyme fat hym list assigne.
And Hercules, with chere ful benygne,
Ranked he?7i of fat þei hym behyȝt ;
And forthe he went in al þe hast he niyȝt 3828
To-ward Messene, þe strong [e] myȝti londe,
Wzt/i-Inne whiche þe noble kyng he fonde,
þe kny}tly man, þe worfi Thelamouw,
Lorde and prince of fat regioun, 3832
þat in armys was on þe * manlyest
J)at was alive, and egal with þe best.
And whaw he knewe fat Hercules was come,
For loie he hath hym in his armys nome, 3836
An[d] reseived in alle maner fing,
Liche as it sat to a worfi kyng.
And whan he wist sothly what he ment,
With-oute more anoon he dide assent 3840
With hym to goon, Troyans for to greue ;
And Hercules goodly toke his leue,
To Pelleus, and telleth hym certeyn, 3844
In al þe haste fat it may be do,
To send[e] lettris and hys lordes calle,
And tassemble his worbi knystes alle, 3848
Thoniȝ-oute his londe, bofe ne$e and ferre,
Suche as he knewe fat wer experte in werre,
And hem also fat werne of courcseyl sage
" For wit of hem fat be ronwe in age, 3852
Is more fan force witft-oute experience,
But whan monhod is meynt with sapience,
Who considereth, it may double avayle ;
And fay fat longe han vsed [to] trauayle, 3856
Lyche as it is pleynly to suppose,
May help[e] moste oure lowrne to dispose
For vn-to age experience and witte,
To southe force and hardinesfsel sitte. 3860
Fully acorded to werke by assent,*
With [a] quarel grounded vppon ryȝte,
au> 3864
Thoruȝ help of grace fat hath treble myȝte,
Hem dare nat drede, with spere nor with schelde
In knyȝtly wyse for to holde a felde
For of knysthood þe fame nor* þe glorie,
Nor in armys conquest nor victorie, 3868
Ben not assured vp-on multitude,
But on manhod, so grace list conclude.
fter-fore lat vs, for tavenge oure wrong,
First with riȝt make oure self[e] strong ; 3872
And oure force manly for to schewe,
Of knystis chose piken out a fewe,
And devoide encombrauwce of nombre ;
,
-,
And so we schal oure foos best encombre." 3876
And of al bat, bat Hercules hath seide,
Kyng Pelleus was ri$t wel apaide,
For hym bouȝt his conseil was riȝt good.
And Hercules, with-oute more abode, 3880
Is in gret haste with his meyne goon
To a province bat callid is Pinion,
In whiche ber was a duke of noble fame,
And as I fynde, Nestor was his name, 3884
Ful renomed and strong of chiualrie
And he was eke ful nyȝe of allye
To Hercules, and of be same blood.
And whan fat he pleynly vnderstood 3888
The purpos hool & cause of his commyng,
He grawitid hym, wit/i-oute more tariyng,
To goon hym silfe wit/* him in this* viage,
With alle be worbi of his baronage, 3892
And to be redy a-ȝeyn a certen day.
And Hercules, as fast as [euere] he may,
Repayred
Wher gadred was holy be nauye 3896
Of be lordis, ful redy appara[i]led,
Wel enarmed and richelly vitailled.
And Pelleus hath takyn fyrste be see,
And euery lorde, liche to his degree, 3900
I-schiped is and redi for to goon
With Hercules and also with lason,
Her behestes manly to fulfille,
Towardis Troye, be cite for to spille. 3904
And after þat,* sothly as I fynde,
þei nat abyde but vp-on be wynde.
Howe Kynge Pelleus with
Grece landyde at Byrne onte afor þe Cite of Troye. 1
Whan
His lusty licowr, with many holsom schour,
To reise þe vertu vp in-to þe flour ;
And Phebus was ascendyng in his spere,
And on þe brest smote his bemys clere 3912
Of þe Earn, ful colerik at al,
Halvynge in ver þe equinnoccial ;
Whan May kalendis entre in for-sothe,
And Zephirus, ful agreable and smof e, 3916
))Q tendre brauwchis enspiref & dofe springe,
And euery busche is lusty blossumynge,
And from þe hil þe water is revolvid
Of snowys white, fat Phebws hath dissoluyd, 3920
And þe bawme vapoureth vp a-lofte
In-to þe eyre of þe erbes softe,
Jpe Eotis vertu, with colde of wynter hid,
Hath hool his myȝt and his force kyd, 3924
Oute of þe erfe in erbe and euery tree
Schad in þe brauwchis his humydite,
Areised only with
And with þe moysture of þe reynes swete ; 3928
Whan siluer welles schederc oute her stremys
In þe ryuers, gilt with þe sonne bcmys,
And Flora had with newe grene ageyne
Hir lyuere schad vp-on euery playn, 3932
And nyȝtyngales, fat al þe wode rong,
Ful amorously welcomed in hir song
þe lusty sesouw, fresche and desyrous,
Namly to hertis fat ben amerous, 3936
And þe* see is calme and blauwdisching
From trouble of wynde or wawy boilyng,
And from tempest is smofe to eskape
The same sesoiw Grekys furth hem schape 3940
17
Towardis Troye
erlys, dukys, kyngis,
:
Her schippis stoffid with al maner fingis,
þat to werre myȝt hem* moste avayle.
And riȝt anoon 3944
])ei be-gan to saile,
Whan al was redy, wit/t-oute more abode,
Eche schip by ofer on
þe water rood
And whan
j>e wynde at her lust gaw blowe,
A loie it was to sen hem go by rowe, 3948
Whiche made hem faste to hastew in her woye,
j)at in schorte tyme þei com[e] be to Troye,
And in
)>e hauene callid Symeonte.
Whan Phebws fer vnder her orizonte 3952
j>at men ne myȝt hym see,
I-westrid was,
Grekys, eschapid alle pereils of be see,
Caste her ankres and þou$t[e] for be beste,
In her schippes be same nyȝte to reste. 3956
The noble kynge Pelle in his Tente declarede
of his landynge, for be sege to be layde. 1
in be morwe, whan be larke song,
And
Jȝe worbi Grekys, so manly & so strong,
Be-gan to lond, in al
J)e haste bei my;te,
On Troye groiiTzde, and her tentis pyȝte
A-fore þe toune, with gret diligence ;
For þei ne fouwde no maner resistence.*
And al
þis while þei sette good awaite
On euery syde, list fer wer disceite, 3964
Til on
j>e hour fat j>e sonne briȝte
Had in
j)e morwe schad his rody liȝte
Amyd be felde, vppoii euery tent,
At whiche tyme, alle of oon assent, 3968
fte Grekis wern assemblid euerychon,
And by be byddyng of be kyng anon,
Tason firste, and with hym Hercules,
With many worjn being in bat pres, 3972
þe tent of Pelleus come.
Ben to
And whan be lordis, bobe alle & some,
Wern to-gedre in bat place mette,
And eche of hem in his degre was sette, 3976
))an Pelleus, whan al [was] huscht & stille,
Be-gan ri$t bus to declare his wille
noble & worbi, of hi$e estate & lowe,
"
Whos knyȝtly fame boruȝ be worlde Is knowe, 3980
Reported is as fer as schineth sonne,
þat Grekis $it neuer* bing be-gonne
jpat bei ne had victori at þe ende
For with þe laurer, as fer as man may wende, 3984
J)ei haue be crowned of what * bei toke on honde
Suche is her hap, bofe on se and londe
Wherfore, ȝe lordis, moste worbi of renouw,
ȝe can remembre of kyng Latnedoun, 3988
And of be wrong fat he vp-on $ow wrouȝte,
Whan harme to hym noon of 30w ne thouȝte,
Whiche mot be quytte, schortly bis be ende,
For we be come to stroye hym * and to schende ; 3992
Wherfor anon, in al þe haste we may,
Late vs sette on wȝt/i-oute more delay.
But firste I rede bat we taken hede,
To binges bre, most helping in bis nede 3996
First, be avis and gode discrescioura,
For oure diifence and sauacioun,
So prudently oure wardis for to make,
Jjat non of ours be at meschefe take, 4000
jjis ilke day, for lak of prouidence
om. D 1
)e seciwde is, to do oure diligence
With al oure my$t and hool entenciouw,
For to labour to ful distruccioun 4004
Of oure foon, for oure owne glorie ;
And be bridde, f
Reioische of hem, platly at þe laste.
And after þis, 30 may afore wel caste, 4008
ȝiffe we of knyȝthood, foru$ our hardines,
May venquische he??i, we schal so hiȝe riches
Conquere of hem to oure pocessioun
For it is knovve how bat Trove town, 4012
Of al plente, as it schal be founde,
Of gold and tresowr is passyngly habourcde
J2at oure schippis, sothly as I wene,
For to reseiue schal nat mow sustene 4016
)Q habundaurcce fat is $onde wzt/z-Inne,
ȝif it so be fat we þe cite wynne,
As * God vs graurcte,
And also faste as þe kyng was stille, 4020
Jje noble knyȝte, þe strongfe] Hercules,
In þe presence of fat worfi pres,
Seide his couwseil was heȝly to commende,
For wis becjywiyng is preysed be þe ende 4024
"But to effecte our pwpos for to bryng,
My coimseil is, in þe morwenyng,
To-forne or we discured ben be day,
þat we vs arme in al haste we may, 4028
And on þis felde fat we do oure peyne
For to deuyde oure meyne in-to tweyne
And of þe ton, schal kyng Thelamouw
Be goue?'nowr, for his hiȝe renoun, 4032
And of f e tofer, kyng Pelleus schal haue
|)e gouernau/zce, wysly hem to * saue ;
Schal secrely go vfith alle 4036
Vnder þe cite, or
And in )>e bruschail and þe pikke vynes
We schal vs hyde, & kepe vs
For Lamedouw, fat is kyng of Troye, 4040
Anon as he may heren and espie
Of þe Grekis, with his cheualrye
Out of þe cite wele issen oute anoon
With ȝow to fiȝte, & venge him on * his foon 4044
But whan he cometh to-our-schippis-ward,
Nestor j>e duke schal in
Metyn with hym, and Castor schal also,
Whan he seth tyme, knyȝtly haue ado 4048
To help[e] Nestor, ȝif þat it be nede.
J5e fridde warde Pelleus schal lede ;
And whiles 36 Jms hym occupie,
lason and I schal vs faste hye 4052
þe cite, vnwiste of hem echon,
To
I dout[e] nat we schal it wy/me anoon.
Doth be couwseil, and it wil ȝow availe
And her my troufe, 30 ne may not fayle 4056
For to conquere þe cite $onde a-fore ;
))is al and some
Jjei acorde wit/i al her strenthe &
And
And armen hem in stele þat schon ful briȝte 4060
Ageyn þe son?ie amorwe whan he riseth,"ȝ
And wrouȝt fully as Hercules deuiseth.
But out he went with many a [noble] knyȝte,
Fkmrryng in ȝouthe & desirous to fy$te,
And alle j>o þat my}t armes bere,
Or koude schete or durste handle a spere. 4068
And whan þei were assemblid in
Eueryche his armes depeynt vppon his scheld,
Brouded or bete vpon his cote armvre,
þan Lamedoura with al his besy cure 4072
Set hem in ordre, & his wardes maketh,
And in
þe felde furthe his weye he taketh
Towardis þe Grekis, as eny lyue riȝte,
Fully pwrposyng to abide and fiȝte. 4076
He was nat war of hem fat were behynde,
He nat adue?teth nor caste]) in his mynde
þe grete sleiȝte nor
þe trechery,
þat hym was schape, he koude it nat espie ; 4080
But furþe he went with his wardis set.
f>e Grekis anoon with hym han met,
And
With herte bolde, astonyed nat at al
Duke Nestor firste, sturdy as a wal, 4084
In whos manhod was neuer founde lake,
Ful knyȝ% fan vppon hors[e] bake,
To hert his men & his knyȝtes eke,
Gaw presen in with many worjri Greke, 4088
With Lamedouw sturdely to mete.
At whiche tyme
þei felt[e] ful vnswete,
And in
Jje frouwtel, ful many manly man
"With scharpe speris first to-gidre ran 4092
And with swerdis, scharpe & kene grounde,
Was filke day }ouen many [a] wounde,
Wher * as
þei mette, vp-on euery syde,
þoruȝ plate & mayle her wouwdis bledde wyde. 4096
And basenettis
)>ei riuen to
])e noise of strokis in þe eyr gan sowne ;
And of j>e blood þat was schad of newe,
For it was died playnly in-to red,
þe whiche ful many man lay ded,
Vp-on
And many worjn loste fer his
And certeynly, in þis mortal strif, 4104
þe Grekis had discomfeted ben echon,
Nadfde] Castor socored hem anoon ;
þei of Troye so manly han hem bore,
)}at many kny$t of Grekis were I-lore 4108
But whan Castor entreþ in batail
With his knyȝtes, so sore he dide assayl
jje worfi Troyans, fat with spere and scheld
Grekis ageyn recured han þe felde, 4112
ftat many oon lyf slay[e]n on þe grene,
Girt foruȝ þe body with scharp speris kene,
þat *
fai of Troye, in f is mortal stour,
Were driue a-bak, til fer cam socour 4116
To hem in hast of worfi Lamedoura,
Whiche entred [in] liche a wood ]you?ȝ,
And made weye vp-on euery syde.
And where as he made his swerde to glide, 4120
J)er was but deth, so manly * he hym bare,
J)at wel vnnefe was fer [n]on fat dar
Abide his stroke
He made weye aboute hym envirouw. 4124
In þe rengis he hath his foon oute souȝt
þat day in armys merveiles he haf wrouȝt,
J)at by his manhod and his worfmes
He Grekis hath brouȝt in swiche distres, 4128
ftat þei his swerde fledden as þe deth,
Merciles so many of hem he sleth.
Of whiche slauȝter þe Grekis wer confus,
f>e] These D 1
4105
.
4106
f>at] om. D 1
Til Pelleus cam to her rescue, 4132
T 11
.
Iros and wood, as he wer talle in rage,
He thouȝt he wolde þe grete pompe aswage
Of hem of Troye, and so he dide anoon ;
For he vnhorseth of hem many oon, 4136
And felly slowe al J)at stood hym aforne,
And many harnes he hath J)at day to-torne,
And made scheldes for to rive a-souwdre,
)?at to be-holde it was a verray wonder, 4140
A
Til Lamedou??, his peple sawe goo bake,
-n n
For Pelleus brouȝt hem so to wrake.
17
i.
Wher-of in hert he felte * ful gret peyne,
Besechyng hem to repeyre ageyne, 4144
And kybe her myȝt & lyche as men endure
And so þe felde he made hem to recure,
Til duke Nestor knewe j>at Lamedourc,
þe felde, was kyng of Troye town. 4148
Amyd
And ri$t anoon, wat/i-oute more abood,
A-geyn[e]s hym a ful gret pas he rood
And whan
j>e kyng dide hym first espie,
Of hiȝe dispit, of ranco?ȝr and envie, 4152
In knyȝtly wyse gan to tome ageyn,
No J)ing agast, but of hiȝe disdeyn,
With Irons hert embollid al with pride,
His hors fersly gan takyn in 4156
þer ran out be verray redfe] blood
Til
And to Nestor, liche as he were wood,
He rood anoon, and his spere brake ;
But he ful knyȝtly kepte his hors[e] bak, 4160
And ful delhwly, hym ageyn to quyte,
With a spere, ful scharp[e] [whet] to byte,
þoruȝ schelde & breste $af hy??i swiche a wouwde,
bat from his hors he felde him dovn to grovnde 4164
,
Of which e fal,
þe kyng no Jnng a-ferde,
.
But ros hym vp & pulled out a swerde,
þat he vnhorsed feȝte muste ou fote 4168
Wher-of he was in parti ful confus,
Til oon Cedar cam to his reskus,
þat was made knyȝte
$ong, fresche, and lusty, and of noble chere, 4172
Sitting þat tyme on a noble stede.
And whan fat he gan to taken hede,
And sawe
þe kyng on fote at meschef fiȝte,
Gan to prike, in al 4176
Toward Nestor, & with a spere hym hitte.
From his sadel
Down to
Jȝe grovnde a-fore kyng Lamedourc.
But he anon, liche a champioun,
Secured vp, and hym silfe diffendeth ;
And many strok eche on other spendeth,
With scharp[e] swerdis, kene for to bite,
Eueryche at other gan to foyne & smyte, 4184
Til Lamedoura, with a despitous chere,
From his face raced his visere,
And by force, al at onys smet
A riche cercle from his basenet, 4188
Of large perle goyng enviroun
With creste and al, he fersly bette adovn
j)at whiles Nestor þus aforn him stood,
His face was al depeynt with blood, 4192
J5at certeynly, þe sothe to conclude,
Had nat Grekis with gret multitude
Eeskewed hym, he hadde of Lamedouw
Be slaye as faste ; 4196
Vn-to
þe erpe a-mong þe hors[e] feet.
But Castor Jjoȝte þat he nolde leet
To be his helpe, as he behelde a-feer ;
And Irously he toke a myȝty speer, 4200
And to Cedar,
He gan to ride and priken in gret hate
But or he cam to hym, dout[e]les,
A Troyan knyȝt, callid Segnerides, 4204
Cosyn to Cedar, whan he ha)) þis seen,
On a courser rood anoon be-tvveen
And with a spere he smete Castor so,
}?at with þe stroke he brake evene atwo. 4208
To whom Castor, w?t/-oute more areste,
Hath with a spere, amyddes of
Segnerides $oue a mortal wounde,
)þat likly was neuer for to sounde. 4212
Wher-of Cedar cauȝte swiche envie,
Jpat he anoon, of malencolye
And of dispit boilyng in his herte,
Segnerides whan he sawe so smerte, 4216
Maugre who grucchef, amyddes of
Of verray myȝt from Castor toke his scheld,
And foru} viser, of rancour & of rage,
He wounded hym amyddes the visage, 4220
And his hors from hym also he cauȝte,
And to his squier manfully it rauȝte
þat certeynly he stood in swiche disioynt,
jjis worfi Castor, fat he was in poynt 4224
To haue ben take of hem of Troye tho ;
For he on fote with hem moste [haue] go,
Nadde Pollux, with many manly knyȝt,
Mo fan seuene huwdrid in stele armyd briȝt, 4228
])Q rafer com Castor to reskewe
Whiche after hem so sore gan to sewe,
þat maugre hem, Castor whan he fond,
Of force he toke hym fre out of her bond, 4232
And to his hors restorid hym ageyn.
And after [fat], þis Pollux in certeyn,
Of verray angre and of fervent Ire,
Agein Troyens with rancour set a-fire, 4236
feat al attonis he vppon hem set ;
4207-12 are omitted in D 2.
A Troyan kny}t, called Eliatus,
In armys ȝong, fresche, and desirous, 4240
Wonder sernly and but tender of age,
jpe kynges sone, also, of Cartage,
And nevewe eke vn-to Lamedoim,
Whom Pollux hath, lyche a ferse lyoura, 4244
WM-oute routhe, pite, or mercy,
In
þe rengis slawen cruelly
feat Lamedouȝ, whan he gan take hede,
Of inward dool felte his herte blede, 4248
Whan he hyrn sawe, euene vppon þe deth,
Ful pitously $elden vp be brethe,
Vp-on be playn, as he lay hym be-forn.
For whiche anoon he made sowne an horn, 4252
At whiche ber cam, in* ful riche array,
Seuene thowsand knyȝtes, in al [be] hast bei may,
Vp-on his deth avenged* for to be.
Whiche mercyles, of gret[e] cruelte, 4256
fee Grekis han here & þer I-grouwded
Here litb on ded, ber a-nober wouwded,
So fat þei nryȝt vtiih hem haue * no tak.
So mortally bei made hem gon abak, 4260
feat al gan turne to her confusiou?ȝ
And finaly bat day* with Lamedoura
fee tryvmphe had & be felde y-goon,
Saue )>at, alias, oute of be touw anoon 4264
Vn-to be kyng ber cam a messager,
feat hath hym tolde with a ful pitous chere,
How
J)e Grekis han be cite take.
fean for to se þe wo he* dide make, 4268
It wolde haue made a pitws hert as blyue
Of verray dool asondre for to rive,
So sore he gan with-in. hym silfe to morne.
He wiste nat what party he myȝt turne 4272
But in a were* he abydynge longe,
Aforn hym- sawe
And in þe cyte anoj>er host behynde
Almost for wo he went out of his mynde 4276
And sodenly, bacward as he behilde
Toward
First Hercules and with hym lason,
])'dt by her sleyȝt wonen ban 4280
And in al hast,
)e niyȝty geau?jt of force per[e]les,
Liche a lyouw, wood and dispitous,
Or a tigre in rage furious, 4284
Gan of newe hem of Troye assaile,
And with [his] swerde perce plate and mail,
Whiche of labour wer ful mate and feynt,
And of long fiȝte with werynes atteynt. 4288
And he cam in,* lusty, fresche, and grene,
ftat þei his force myȝt[e] nat sustene
For as he rod among hew here & Bonder,
In cruel wyse he s[e]uered hem asonder, 4292
And put he/71 holy in
Oute of rewle and of gouernauwce
So fat
Of his wardis destitute and sool, 4296
At meschef lefte, and al infortunat,
And of comfort fully disconsolat
))is Hercules, with a dispitous look,
With scharp[e] spors his stede felly toke, 4300
And cruelly rod to* Lamedouw,
And to þe erthe fersly bare hym douw,
And vp-on hym, in al þe haste he myȝte,
Downe of his hors sodeinly alyjte,* 4304
And myȝtely rent of his basenet,
Smot of his hede, per was noon oper g?ace,
And caste it furthe in þe silue place 4308
Among þe hors, by cruel violence,
With-oute pite or any reuerence.
And in a rage raȝte his hors aȝeyn,
And lyche a lyowi rengyng on þe playn 4312
Bar downe & slowe what cam in his weye
And many Troyan þat day made he deye,
þat liche to schepe wer forskatered wyde,
Al destitute of gouernour or guyde, 4316
Ne can no* rede, schortly to conclude;
For þe Grekis \vidh double multitude
Gan hem enchace to þe deth ful blyve,
þat wel vnnepe per left noon alyue. 4320
Jpe feld pei han, and ben þat day victours
And with tryvmphe, liche as conquerours,
To þe cite pei take her weye after,
And rende dovn hope sparre & rafter 4324
And al þe tresour & riches of þe tovn,
j)ei toke anoon to* her pocessiou?z,
Who euer gmcche or be lef or lothe,
What pei fouwde, pleynly with hem gothe. 4328
In þe temples pei dide gret offence,
To þe goddis doyng no reuerence
For al pei spoyle, with-oute drede or fere,
And vn-to schip euery ping pei here ; 4332
And merciles on croked, olde, and lame,
Her swerde pei made cruelly atame
And children soukyng at her* moder brest,
))ei mordre & sle wM-oute more arest ; 4336
And ȝongfe] maydenes, wepyng in distresse,
Ful gentil born, and of gret fayrnesse,
With hem pel ladde, & may hem nat excuse,
Hir fresche bewte falsly to mysvse. 4340
þei waste & brercne and consumen al
And wz't/i-oute j>ei brake a-dovn þe wal.
And Exione,
Jpat was to hym passyngly entere 4344
By his lyve
Meke and benyng of condicioim,
Hercules hath anoon hir take,
Jpat for drede pitously gan quake, 4348
And hir deliuered vn-to Thelamou?*,
For he entrede first in-to
And he his }ifte reseyued hath at gre,
Be-cause sche was surmoimtyng of bewte, 4352
And tretid hir after as he wolde,
Nat lyche as he a kynges doubter schulde.
For syth he gat hir þat day be victorie,
For his worschip and his owne glorie, 4356
Havyng rewarde to hir hiȝe degre,
He schulde rather of kyngly honeste,
And of knyȝthood, haue weddid hir Jjerfore,
Syth þat sche was of blood so gentil bore, 4360
þan of fals lust, ageyn al godlyhede,
Vsed hir bewte and hir womanhede
Dishonestly, and in synful wyse
Of royal blood nat liche þe hi$e emprise, 4364
Nor
þe doctrine of naturis ri$t,
Nor liche
Considered first hir [bir)?e] and hir kynrede,
Hir grene ȝoujje, and hir maydenhed, 4368
So gode, so fayre, so womanly þer-to.
A kynges dou}ter of birth sche was also
To haue wedded hir, it had[de] be no schame.
Now, Thelamoura, in soth þou wer to blame 4372
2nd hir] om. A, D
For Jjoruȝ
}per kyndled was, of ful hy$e vengaunce,
So hoot a sparke after of envye,
þat þomȝ 4376
Whiche was nat li$t * to quenchyra of his hete.
For hatred olde to brenwe can nat lete
With newfe] flawme, who so taketh hede
ȝif it nat smeke, it is 4380
As in
And whan
Boþe tour & wal with
And no Jring stood, alias, þat may be seyn, 4384
So outterly
Makyng al waste liche a wyldernesse
For good & tresour & riches infinyt,
With many lowel, ful pleysyng of delyt, 4388
To her schippis out of
And in schort tyme homward þei hem spede,
With tresour stuffid, & habou?idance of good.
And whan þei seye fat 4392
])Q wynde also, at her lust þei hadde,
]ȝei gan to saille, & with hem horn
Exyona and many a mayde mo,
]ȝat out of Troye in-to Grece goo. 4396
And seyling forj>e, with-in a lytel space,
ftei ben eskapid [fro]
And vn-to lond aryued merily.
At whos co?ttrnyng 4400
So loyful ben of her good[e] spede
And specialy, in Guydo as I rede,
Her schippes wern with golde & tresour lade
Wher-of in herte 4404
And for þei hadde out so wel hem born,
To conquere Troye, and so fewe lorne
Of her meine,
þei jjanke her goddes alle,
And of
j)at to hem is falle.
4408
þe grace
þe tresour bat bei ban horn brouȝt,
For vfilh
Ful many pore was made vp of nouȝt ;
þere was swiche aboiwdawce,
Jjoruȝ-out be loud
Greece
So moche good and so gret sufficauwce,
4412
the plunder
þat no wi$t had amo?zg[es] hem no nede.
And many day bis blisful lyfe bei lede,
From $er to }er by reuoluciouw ;
And for her manhood & her Ime renoiw,
4416
and the
fighters win
Her honour ran roiwde be worlde aboute,
high renown.
þat hem toffende euery londe hath doute,
For her knyȝthod, & for bei wer so wyse.
And
til be story liste ageyn deuyse,
4420
bis mater ferjjer to precede,
In
With be fauour of 2oure ȝoodlvhed,
i'U now, by
your favour,
I wil me reste for a litel space
takeareat
;
And þan vp-born with support of $our grace,
4424
Forfe a-complische, as I vndertook.
And here an ende of þe first[e] book
I make now, with quakyng hond * for drede,
Only for fer of $ow þat schal it rede,
4428
Liste ȝe, alias, of hasty mocyoiw,
Ne wil not haue no compassioim,
Pyte nor roufe vp-on my rud[e]nesse
;
4432
Lowly beseching to ȝour gentilnes,
Of mercy only, boj>e neȝe and ferre,
r Ver8e
P
Where ȝe fynde fat I fayle or erre,
For to correcte, or 30 fer)>er flitte,
For to }our grace I holy al commytte.
4436
liber Primus
[Explicit
liber Secundus.
1
INcipit
]
hath] had D
)>e]
Textual notes (Bergen's manuscript-variant apparatus, by printed page):

• p. 12: I. &] of the D; 2. y-named] named D 2, enamed D; 1.; 16. >e] om. D 2, D 1.; II. where] here D; 1.; 19. whylom toke] toke somme tyme D 1.; þe] om. D 1.; 27.; 1 Royal MS. 18. D.
• p. 13: 31. this] >e D; 56. for] so for C, so D
• p. ?: 70. a-doo] to do D; 74. suppose] schal suppose C.; 88. wil] iiyl D 2, uel D; 94. called] clepid D 1; 95. this] >is; 96. misplaced
• p. 15: 101. I-holde] Holden D; 106. here] lere C.; 107. spak of] of spak D 2, of speke D 1; beforn D 1.; 122. bo>e] hath D 1.; 133. pocioiws] porciouws C.
• p. 16: 136. enchauntementys] hir enchauntementys C, D 1.; is] it is C, D 1.; 137.; for] on D 1.; 141.; 150. hooly] only D 1.; 161. discryve] discreye C.; 170. and] as D
• p. 17: 173. Devise] Demvre A.; 176. To] om. A, Toward D 2.; 182. falsely] fully D; 190. 2nd of] om. D 1.; 195. hit] >i D 2.; for] for for C.; 197.
• p. 18: 207. caste] castith D; 212. a-fore] aftir A; 213. bran] brermyth D; 219. to hym] om. D 1.; 222. al-be] al Jxm? D 1; 223. I-schette] shitte D 1.; 231. platly] pleinly D; 234. ne wer not] were not bo)>e D; 236. coupled] encoupled D 1.
• p. 19: 242. a-boujt] boujt D 1.; 257. tydyng] tidinges D 1.; 262. doon] doon noon A.; 267. That] And A; 274. tentrete] to trete D
• p. 20: 275. assure] ensure D; 278. his] >e D; 288. stode] stonde C, stondew D 1.; 291. that] so C.; 306. skalys] his scales D
• p. 21: 312. infeccioim] foule inspeccioim D 1.; 320. 2nd by] the A.; 323. oxes] oxen D 1; 330. was] nas D 1.; 334. Who] Who >at D; 342. so] om. D 1.
• p. 22: þis] his A.; 346.; 352. lyf] lyues C; 359.; 366. euparten] to iuparte D 1; 367. lasteth] lasted D 1.; 371. pursued] pursute C.; 374. And] As D 1; 379. gan] bigan D 1.
• p. 23: 383. >ei] >ou$ D 1.; 392. londe] londes D 1.; 395. he] am. A.; 399. hath ben] he haj> D 1.; 403.; 405. curteyned] contrened D 1.; 409. 2nd in] or D 1; 412. and] & of D 1.
• p. 24: 421. his] this A.; 431. þoruȝ] |>oruȝ out D 1.; 432. smerte] hert D 2.; 445. sowpoaille] supposaylle A.; 446. may so mochel vs] vs may so moche D 1.
• p. 25: 456. whan] om. D 2.; 462. and] in D; 467. wolde] wolde fayne D 1.; 471. faille] fable D 2.; I] om. A.; 473.; 480. the telle] be ful feyn D
• p. 26: 485. in] om. D 1.; 490. set] om. A; 494. beheste] the best A, be beste D; 496. >is] þat D 1.; 497.; is] shal D 1.; 498.; 507. longe be] be longe D 1; 508. Thoruȝ-oute] Thorn? D 1.; 511. new IF A, D 1.
• p. 27: I-gilt] Engilte D 1.; 518.; 524. vncles] vncle D 1.; 530. 2nd for] om. D 1.; 538. see]; >e see C.; t D 1.; 543.
• p. ?: 558. of] of the D 1.; 572. here] to here D 1.; 584. fledde] kacchyd A, chasid D 1
• p. 29: 591. cat] Chat D 2, D 1.; 599. f>oruȝ-out] Thoru} D I; 600. Gades] Gates C.; 608. no] am. D; þei named ben] be they namyd ek A.; 610.; 614. callyd] clepid D; 621. y-fere] in fere D
• p. 30: 625. sygne of] om. A.; 632. herte] her to A.; 640. grasys] graces D 1.; 646. goon] so goon D; 648. a] om. A, D 2.
• p. 31: 662. or] & D 1; 663. of stormys] or tempest D; 673. Which] With A, D 2; 675. y-called] called D 1.; is] is trewe D 1.; 683.; 686. >at] om. D 2.; 692. misplaced at bottom of column in D 2.; 693. I-called is] The whiche D 2.
• p. 32: 703. luno to hir hadde] love had to hir D 1.; 704. With] Whiche D 1.; 709. as] þat D 1; 714. mooste] more D 1.; 719. after] moche after here D 1; 720. tarive] arive D 2.
• p. ?: 727. her] here grete D 1.; 728. in] for D 2; 730. a lyte] alyte C.; 736. damage] outrage D; 743. bathe & wasche] ba>ed he?n & freisshid D 1.
• p. 34: 761. 2nd of] om. D; 765. and] of D; 772. As] And D 1.; 778. >is] bat D 1.; 787. And a quarel] Also of wrath D 1; 790. alias in rewmys] in rewmes alias D; 792. sparke] sparkle D 1.; 794. y-ronne] ronne D 1.
• p. 35: 801. gynnyng] begynnywg D 1.; 802. fret abydyng] abidinge hete D 1.; 804. whilom] so/ratine D; 812. gynnyng and] begynnynge &; 814. after] aftwarde D 1.; 819. passyng famous] famous passnge A, farmw? passinge D 1.; 820. was brouȝt] brought was A.; 827. wan] whan D 2, D
• p. 36: 829. next be-gan] dooth by lyne A, doth the lyne D 1.; 834. Whilom] Sommetyme D 1.; 839. Rone] Rome A, Seyne D 1.; 846. Gan] Bigan D 1.; 849. partyng] >e departinge D 1.; 857. of gret] moche of D 1.
• p. 37: 871. him] hem C.; I-fere] in fere D 1, D 2.; 882.; 890. >at] the A.; 897. ouer-more] over that D 1; 1st >ei] To A.
• p. 38: To entre his lond, þe whiche pei nat knewe,; Wel arrayed in a vessel newe.; Whiche to arryve had[de] no lycence,; And hem purpose [for] to doon offence,; Be liklyhed, and his lond to greue; For pei of pryde, with-outerc any leue; 904. a wonder] awowder C.; 909. But] And D 1.; 915. many] many a (twice) D 1.; 919. bokis] my bookes D 1.; 922. he] bei C.; 931. arryve] arrive tyre D 1.
• p. ?: 940. gretly] greet A.; 943. furthe] for to D; 945. be] were D; 952. thoruȝ-oute] thorugh A.; 955. a-nother] othir D 1.; 960. for] om. D
• p. 40: 972. sethen] sith D 2, D 1.; 974. to lason how he] howe he to lason D 1.; 975. in effecte] infecte D 1.; 982. his] bis C.; 985. nor] or D 2, ne no D; 986. his] his hiȝe D 1.
• p. 41: "; Sirs," he seyth, " to ȝow be it knowe; Taketh hede, I praye, both hyȝ and lowe; How Lamedoiw, fat is kyng of Troye,; Hath sent to vs a wonderful envoye,; Chargynge in haste to hyȝe oute of his lond; 1003. Atwen] Bitwene D; berfor] her of D; 1012.; 1020. pale] al pale D; 1028. hem he] him D 1.; 1 Royal MS.
• p. 42: 1036. here] hir C.; 1038. can] gan D 1.; 1043. here] om. A; 1047. of custom han] haue of custome D; 1053. manhood] fredom D 1.; 1060. 2nd be] om.. A.
• p. 43: HoW lason and Hercules toke displeasure with Kyng; Lamedowne of Troye, gyuyng his messanger know-; lege of their next cowmynge to gyue hym batayle; For his vndiscreet co?maundeme?it. 1; " My frende," qwod he, " I haue wel vnderstande; þe massage hool, fat fou toke on honde,; Of fi kyng to bryng[en] vn-to vs; 1069. honestly] honestlyche C.; 1076. per] That D 1.; 1080. schal on hym silfe] on hym silfe schal C.; 1085. he] om. D; 2.; 1092. Sodeynly] Al sodeinly D; 1093. was vn-to hym] vn-to hym was C.; 1 Royal MS.
• p. 44: it] om. D 2.; 1100.; 1106. truste] truste me D 2; 1107. surly] sothly D 1.; 1112. And] om. D 1; 1118. ben] bene ay D 1.; 1123. his] þis D 1.; 1131. make] to make D 2.
• p. 45: 1132. recorde] reporte D; 1144. euen] anoon D; 1154. retour] retourne D; 1159. retourne] tetowrne D; 1161. >erfore] therof A.; 1166. haue vn-to] haste fyanne for D
• p. 46: 1167. reward] rewarde $eve þer of D; 1169. Be-cause] For; play D; 1.; 1171. in-to] vnto D 2, to D 1.; 1172. >i] >e C, D 1.; 1178. be ȝe] }e be C; liste goo D; 1.; 1179. ȝit]itD 1.; 1184. For] om. D 1; 1185. secrete] secre D 2, D 1.; 1189. fale] befalle D; 1192. hyndre schulde] shulde hyndir A.
• p. 47: 1197. ypassed] passid D 1.; ablissed C.; 1205. newe]; 1218. I-charged] Charged D 1; 1224. gynne] begynne D
• p. 48: 1234.; 1243. new H D 2, D 1; 1246. >at] be A; 1249. 2nd of] of in D; 1253. aboue] aboute C; 1254. Maskued] Magecold A, Maskewed D 2, D; 1261. aboute hym] om. D 2.
• p. 49: 1263. londys] in londes D 1.; 1267. Wer] Where D; 1272. wer] wher D 2.; 1274. many] many a (twice) D 1.; 1275. amonge )>e] & wiþ D 1.; 1280. two] &m. D 2.; 1283. in] of D 1.; 1287. On] Of D 1.; 1292. I-passed] Epassid D 1.
• p. 50: 1299. fische] of fisshe D 2, & fisshe D 1.; 1301. gan] coude D 1.; 1310. cite] faire citee D 1.; 1312. hem] him C, hem two D 1.; 1320. Of] And of D 2.; 1329. >is] >e C.
• p. 51: 1331. nolde] nolde not D 1.; 1335. towne] the tourc D 1.; 1338. loke] to loke C; 1345. kyng hath sothly] kiwg Cethes ha> D; 1346. to] on C.; 1351. aventures] auenture D; 1357. tawayte] to wayte D 2, to waite D; 1358. maner way] >t euere he may D 1.; 1 Royal MS.
• p. 52: 1359. may to hem] to hem may D 1.; 1st many] many an D 1.; 1366.; 1367. many] many a (twice) D 1.; 1372. ber] Jwrone D 1.; 1376. many] many an D 1.; 1385. Clothisj Wi> clo>es D 1.; 1389. many] many a (twice) D 1.
• p. 53: 1393. dovn] dou?i there D; 1.; 1397. gan] bigan D 1.; 1399. wonder wel] eucry dele D 1.; 1400. euerydel] wonder wele D; 1.; After 1402, D 1 inserts two lines; :; fful benignely & in humble wise; As men may leren writen of the wise.; 1403. He gan] Bigan D 1.; 1405. Condescende] To coudessende D 1.; 1408. her] am. D 1.; 1409. Ryȝt worthi] Myjty D; 1416. noble] worþi C.; 1.; 1418. $even] ȝeue me D; 1.; 1 Royal MS.; 18. D.; ii. leaf 14; .
• p. 54: 1420. bat] & bat D 1.; 1422. for] ora. D 1.; 1424. List] For me D 1; 1425, 26 are omitted in D 2.; 1430. Al] As D 1; 1431. Ageynes] Ageyn D 2.; 1432. wheber] where A, wher D 2.; 1434. ȝe] ȝou D 1.; 1441. vnderfonge] vnderstoimde D 2.; 1447. Seith] Set A; 1449. herd] hcrkned C.
• p. 55: 1453. Toward] Towardes D 2, D 1; 1460. >at] wiche D; 1464. hem] om. A.; 1483.; 1486. frely lyth] lyth frely C.
• p. 56: Howe Kenge Cethes sent for his doughtire Medea to; chere his strawngers, to his owne damage,; tyme aprochep, & gan to neiȝerc faste,; The; ))at officeris ful besely hem caste; To make redy, with al her fulle cure,; And in þe halle þe bordis for to cure ;; 1488. wher-so] whe>er D; 1493. pan] f>at C.; 1501. 2nd to] om. D 1.; 1512. 2nd $e] 3011 D 1; After 1512, D 1 inserts two lines:; I shal reherse >ori\3 my sirnplenesse; Howe lason dide his knyjtly besinesse.; 1513. No neio H in D 2; 1 Royal MS.
• p. 57: 1517. gan] bigan A..; 1524. also with] worthi D; 1528. was] eke weren D 1.; 1532. no lenger list abide] list no lenger bide D 1.; 1533. Tassigne] To signe D; 1534. hije or low] lowe or hill A; 1535. a-lofte] on lofte D; 1544. fulsomly] foisounly D
• p. 58: 1550. deinte] deintees D 1; man] men D; 1562. 1st to] so D 1; eke] al D; 1.; 1565. nobley] nobles D 2, nobilte D 1.; 1566. secial; Especial A.; 1569. plein] pleynly A, om. D 1; assure] ensure C, D; liche D 1.; 1573. likly]; þese] his A.; 1577.; 1579. with] with >e D; 1578. hir] om. A.; 1580. be] with D; 1581. sprede] spede D 2.; 1.
• p. ?: 1583.; 1591. alle] to alle C.; 1614. I-founde] Founden D
• p. 60: 1620. of] eke of D 1.; 1633. 2nd þe] in )>e C; 1634. lokyng] lookes D 1.; 1637. and werke] a werke of D 1; 1638. influences] influens A.; 1645. frese] to frese D 1.; 1647. Schewe] And shewe D 1.; 1648. gasten] castyn A; 1649. vn-to] to be D 1; 1651. Schewe] To shewe D
• p. 61: 1652. to] and D 1.; 1660. a loye it was] it was a loie D; 1668. morne] morme C.; 1670. her] hor C; 1671. hed] here D 1.; 1674. Of] On D 1; 1676. y-rowne] romie D 1.; 1678. his] by D 1; 1679.; 1681. be] om, D 1.
• p. 62: 1685. be] by C.; 1690. reuolucioiws] reuelaciouws D 1; 1696. hir] his A.; 1705. and] and of >e D 1.; 1710. be] bo>e D 1; 1713. muste] it moste D 1; 1715. cristen] cristen maw C.
• p. 63: 1717. wene] to wene D; 1720. pleyn] pleywly D; 1.; 1722. To do] That done D 1.; 1724. whiche] whiche hat D; 1728. nor] nouther (one stroke of the u missing) D 1.; 1729. debat] bate D 1.; 1730. yformed and] formed or D; 1733. to] vn to D 1.; 1734. ne] om. D 1; y-fovnde] founde D; 1.; 1738. knot] kinde D; 1743. to] in to C, D; 1.; 1746. gonne] gan C, D; riue] to rive D; 1; 1.; 1747. on] a D; 1.
• p. 64: 1750. Dionisius] daun Dionisius D 1.; 1752. Aryopagite] the Ariapogite D; 1755. Al-þei] Al be D 1; 1757. As] And C.; 1760. ou>er] þat ouj>er D 1.; 1761. ou>er out of] with oute any D; 1762.; 1763. and] ou>er D 1; 1766. may al] al may D 1.; 1768. disposicioun] disposicioims C.; 1772. restreyne] co?isti-eine D 1.; 1777. Hf] his A.
• p. ?: 1781. 2nd >is] om. D 1.; 1786. syth] sithen D 1; 1.; 1789. oure] his D 1.; 1796. somwhile] somtyme D 2, som tynie D; 1801. hir fader] be kyng D; D 1.; 1810. To make it more] It to embelisshe A.; TROY BOOK.
• p. 66: 1816. port] part D 1.; 1819. To] Tharcne to D 1-tho] om. D 1.; 1820. take] om. D 2.; 1825. with pereil caste a-fore] >at he shulde haue cast a forn D 1.; 1826. bore] born D; 1832. and] & so D 2, D 1.; 1840. taken] to take D 1.
• p. 67: 1845. euer] euery C; 1847. ȝeue] ȝif C, A; 1850. double] dulle D 1; 1857. of hem liste] list of hem D 1.; 1860. ben] is D 1; 1861. ful] om D; 1869. a] >e D; 1872. nat] to D 1.
• p. ?: 1876. matere] nature D 1.; 1877. forme] his fowrme D; 1.; 1882. mater] nature D; 1883. him] hem C.; 1.; 1884. bowidys] bonde D 1; 1886.; 1.; ensample] example D 2.; 1888. on] o place D 1; 1893. to] of Dl.; 1897. secretly] secrely D 1.; 1902. >ing] thynk A.; 1 Royal MS. 18. D.; ii. leaf 17 c.
• p. 69: [leaf 12 a]; 1916. and] and grete D; 1918. wel] wepe D 1.; 1.; 1919. while] whiche D 2.; 1921. discret] prudent D 1.; 1925. his] myn A.; 1935. \vor>] worbi C.; 1940. avn] ben D; 1.
• p. ?: 1942. halt] holde> D 1.; 1956. wexe] wexeb D; 1963. efte] efte sone D; 1968. gan] be gan C.
• p. 71: 1977. sonnysshe] sonnelyche C; 1982. suffisaimce] sufficiaunce C.; 1986. or] and D 1; 2009.
• p. 72: 2014. f>us] And )ms D 1.; 2016. And >us sche blent] For to blende D 1; 2018. no] to C; 2026. haue] hath D; 2033. What] What bat D; 2044. on] of D 2, D
• p. ?: 2048. on] vpon A, D 2.; I fele] om. D 2.; 2050.; ȝit] om. D 2.; 2051.; 2057. me not] not me C.; 2061. nor] or D 2; fro hym] for to D; 2067.; 2079.; Jwraj] bony C.
• p. 74: 2082. wel] om. D 1.; 2085. is] it C; 2094. wil] wel D 2, D; 2096. rathest her] þere ra>est D 1; 2097. liketh] lusteth D 1; 2098. write] I wryte A.; 2102. deye] to deie D 1.; 2104. hem to done] to do hem D 1.; 2105. parfyte] so parfyte C.; 2112. hem] heie C.
• p. ?: 2117. my] >e C.; 2132. I-graue] in his graue D 1.; 2141. halle] >e halle C, D 1.; 2147. clothe! clothis A.
• p. 76: 2150. euer] ay D 1.; 2154. not] om. A; 2157. neuer likly] likly iieuere D 1.; 2163. misplaced; 2164. luparted] In partyd A.; 2180. in contraire] >e contrarie C
• p. 77: 2199. Loue] louis A.; ȝif ] ne C.; 2204.; 2208. Of] And of D 1; 2214. of] on D 2.
• p. 78: 2223.; 2227. han] kan A.; 2229. gret] om. D 1; 2235. By-twyxe] Betwene D; 2238. him] hem C; 2242. hanged] hanget C; 2243.; 2245. by] for D 1.
• p. ?: 2254. causeth] caused C.; 2264. scheweth] schewen C.; 2269. no] by no C.; 2270. at hir tail doj>] do>e at hir tail D 1; 2271. whilom] somtyrae D 1.; 2272. Gynnyng] Begynimige D 1.; 2284. amongis] aniOHge D
• p. 80: In ȝour entent, and no fing 3011 to greue.; For finges two myn hert[e] sore meve,; 2288. >ouȝte] ȝouȝt C.; 2289. Apparseyuynge] And parceyuynge D 1.; 2292. drawe] drawe him D 1.; 2294. And] But D 1; 2298. 2nd >i] of; 2305. no] om. D 2.; 1st þat] it D 1.; 2308.; 2311. paciently; liste D; 1.
• p. ?: þis] This is D 2, That is D 1.; 2315.; 2323. as] om. D 1.; ful] om. D 1.; 2330.; 2346. or] & D; 2350. trenchauude] trenchauiit A, D 2, D
• p. ?: 2351. hath al] al hath C.; 2352. vaille may] may availle D 1.; 2354. On] Of C, In D 1; 2356. and] of C; 2364. Ben] And be D; 2377. my] om. A.; 2382. restreyne] to restreyne A.
• p. 83: 2392. Y-bounde] bounde D 1; 2397. Ne dide seruise] No seruice dide D 1.; 2399. recomforte] to recomforte D 1.; 2402. no] of D 1; 2403. no] of no D 1.; 2411. any] om. A, D 2, more to D; 2412. seie] seye as A.; 2417. newH D
• p. 84: 2419. J)e] t>is C.; 2425. gynne] begynne D 1.; 2431. of] in D 1.; 2434. many] many a D 2, D 1.; 2435. moste] al moste C.; 2438. WitA-drawe] WitA drawi> C; may chese] for the more ese D 1.; 2441. Wher-so 30] Or whej>r ȝou D 1.; 2444. wher] whe>er D 1.; 2448. With together with the initial A of 2449 cut out in D 1.; 2449. ne
• p. 85: >is] >is nowe D 1.; 2452.; 2455. gynne] begynne D 1; 2458. of] haue D 2.; þe] om. D 1.; 2462.; 2480. he] om. D 2.; 2484. dure] Endure A.
• p. 86: 2486.; 2488. leuer I haue to] I hadde leuere D; 2490. hiȝe] greet D 1.; 2494. be rather] rather be 0.; 2499. new IF D 1; 2500. algatis desyre] desire algates D 1.; 2504. an] om. A; 2506. Lyche] Rijt D; 2514. Al] om. D
• p. 87: 2522. shulde] schal C.; 2529. be] to be D 1.; 2549. new IT D 1.
• p. 88: 2560. fyn and s<mme] sowme & fyn D; 2561; 2576. he] ȝe D 1.; 2589. boimte] beaute D 1.
• p. 89: 2595.; to D 2, be to A.; 2610. Tapited] Tappid C, Depeinted D 1; first at hir] at hir owne D 1.; 2615.; 2618. bownte] bewtee A.; 2624. but lorn] forlorn D
• p. 90: 2631. >er-with-al I] I ther with al D; 2634. wolde] haue done wolde D 1.; 2639. Welful] Wylful A-is] om. D 2.; 2640. hooly I] I hooly C.; 2651. new f D 1.; 2656. jms to hym sche seyde] to hym Jras gan. she seye D 1.; 2657.
• p. 91: 2664.' may] schal C.; 2667. y-fere] in fere D 1.; 2688. so] hat D 2.; 2692. hoolly] hole D 1.; 2695. new II D 1
• p. 92: 2697. wit] wyght A, wi$t D 1.; 2713. many] many a D 1.; 2724. so fast hath] hath so fast C; 2729. fyry] fyre C.; 2730. discence] diffence D 1
• p. 93: 2731. Herynes] lieryvs A.; 2732. be-gonne] haþ bigwine D 1.; 2738. hije] Mr D 1; 2749. or] and D 1.; 2754. So sore] Of sorwe D 1.; 2756. fer ageynes] ther with al D 1.; 2764. on] of D
• p. 94: 2767. tyme] mone D 1.; 2772. hir] his D 1.; 2775. complete] countyd D 1.; 2778. narwe] ful narwe D 1.; 2781. Of] Or D 1.; 2784. herde ou>er noyse] eny noise herde D 1; 2787. al] þat alle D; 2789. koude] om. D 1 .
• p. 95: 2796. crafte] helpe D 1; 2797. Thriftely] Trustely D 1; 2806. troubled] trouble D 2.; 2818. weren] ben C; 2820. Medea] And Medea D 1; 2822. ful] om. A.; 1 Royal MS.
• p. 96: 2830. ilke] firste D 1.; 2844. rich] rial C.; 2851. take] to take C.; 2854. >at day] day to day D 1.; 2857. to] om. A.
• p. ?: 2864. per- to] vn to A, D 2, to D; 2870. y-cured] cured D; 2875. was apparent] apparent was D 1.; 2876. Doubilnes] }it doubilnes D 1.; 2892. sche sette] I sette D
• p. 98: 2896. hath] ora. D 2; 2884-2901 are repeated after 2901 in D 1.; 2905. brefly] shortly D; 2931. to-fore] a forn A.
• p. 99: 2932. lore] lorn A.; 2938. forbore] forlore D 1.; 2941. haue] to have D 1.; 2947. Of] On D; 2952. was] euere was D 1.; 2957. wil] wolde D 1
• p. ?: " Myn owne lason, vn-to me more dere; }5an is my silfe, as in conclusion,; I am assented, with ful affeccwmn; Of my wittes, and [al] myn hool[e] herte,; ȝou to enforme how 36 schal asterte; Euery dauwger of þe litel He,; ȝif it so be 30 list abide a while." *; And vp sche ros, in al þe hast sche may,; And to a cofre where hir tresour ley; Sche went anoon, & broȝt him in her honde; A riche ymage of siluer fat sche fonde,; 2970. here] see D 1.; 2987. schal] om. D; 2993. >e] this D 1.
• p. ?: 3001. to] in D; 3006. for] om. D; 3007. Whilom] Somme tyme D; 3014. toke to hym] to hym toke C.; it here] bere it D 1.; 3024.
• p. 102: 3034. whilom wrot] wrote som tyme D 1.; 3035] To Eneas howe >at Verms it sente D 1.; 3036. >at] om. D; 3044. a-fore; 3047. on] in A.; 3055. to] for to D 1.; 3063. make] make hem C.
• p. 103: Howe lason requirede; Jje Kenge Cethes withoute delay; to g/-aunt hym to do his Armes in vinqwesshinge,; þe Flees of golde wrought by Martis; if he myght,; 1; ordynaunce.; þe rowes and þe raies rede; fat; Whan; Estward to vs ful erly go?zne sprede,; Evene at þe tweyliȝt in; þe daw[e]nyng,; Whan þe larke of custom gynneth syng,; For to salue in hir heuenly lay; Jpe lusty goddesse of þe morwe gray; 3070. >us vn-to hir knyȝt] vrith al hir myȝt D; 3075. for] it for A, D 1.; 3073. skape] escape D; 1.; 3091. nat] not to D 1.; 3094. gomie] gan D; 1 Royal MS. 18. D.
• p. ?: 3122. acheue] ache D 2.; 130. spak and seide] seide and telleth C; 3134. arretten] arrettyd A.
• p. ?: 3144. lat] let it D 1.; 3158. new 11 D
• p. ?: 3174. for] om. D 2.; 3178. to] vn to D 1.; 3181. who-so-euer] who ever A.; 3196. of 3011 my leue] my leue of $ow D 2.; 3197. aboute }ou] yow a bowte A. ȝow a boute D 2.; 3201. Whan] Whan that A.; 3202. levis wete] om. excepting two letters, " ve" A.
• p. 107: 3203. can] om. A; 3209. vp-on] on D 1.; 3217. knyȝtly] lusty D 1.; 3219] But wbanne >at he his lorne first bi gan D 1.; 3224. distille] gan stille D; 3225. þat] For D; 3229. sy$e] to sy$e 0,; 3232. hath] om. D 1.; 3235. Of] On D
• p. 108: 3236. Wher] f>er C.; 3240. bus to hir silf] to hir silf bus D 1.; 3242. for be I] I for be D 1.; 3243. be nat asterte] not fro >e sterte D 1.; 3246. be] bi C.; 3255, 56 are transposed in C.; 3255. lare-wel] fare D 2; 3258. for him was] was for hym A.; 3268. Of] And D 1.
• p. ?: 3273. can] ga?i D 1.; 3274. skapid] escaped D 1; Jjilke] þat riche D 1.; 3278.; 3287. ymage] faire Image D 1.; 3288. and] and so A; 3299. so] ful D 1.
• p. ?: 3307. bolis] loue D 2.; 314. maked han redy to bere] haue made redy for to her D; 3315. on] on the A.; 3320. enhaste] in hast C.; 332. Þe] þis D 2, this D 1.; 3334. masid] amasid C.
• p. ?: f>e] Of A; 3340.; gret D; 1.; 3341. And] And in C, A; 3347. adder] of adder A, D 2, D 1.; 3349. opposyt] opene sijt D 1.; 3355. his vertu don] done his vertue D 1.; it] hym D 2; 3357.; 3358. >e] this D; 3364. >is] he C, D; 3366. he] it D 1.
• p. 112: 3371. on tweyne] a tweyne A, atweyne D 2, atweiwe D 1.; 3375. herbe gras] gras herbe D 1.; 3383. resistence] ot resistence C, D; 3389. swerd] stroke D 1; 3395. arrace] race D 1.; 3402. for] o?. D 1; 3403. y-slawe] slawe D 1,
• p. 113: Howe,; aftire; Kenge Cethes with feynide chere into his Cyte.; whan Appollo of his daies arke; And; Had in the west almost ronwe his marke,; And fast[e] gan downward to declyne,; And on þe wawes ful watery gan to schyne ;; ȝet or he was passed the Occian,; 3411. nor] ne no D 1.; 3422. Abod] Boode D 1; 3429. vn-to] in to A.; 3435. he] she D 2; TROY BOOK.
• p. ?: 3437. 1st KI om. D 1.; 3447. hem] hym A.; 3460. so] so to D 1.; 3463. of] in C.; 3469. A-twexe] Betwene D
• p. 115: 3474. couert] couered D 1.; 3476. him] hem D 1.; 3480. nat] om. D 1; 3482. take] it take D 1.; 3486. )>ouȝt] woo D; 3489. hath outterly yseyn] outterly haj> seyn D 1.; 3493. may] myȝt C, D 1.
• p. 116: 3508. fat] so D 2.; 3510. wane] >ei wane D 1.; 3521. or] or by D 1.; 3528. conseyve] perseyne C.
• p. 117: 3544. or] am. D 1.; 3546. abood] aloone D 1.; 3557. nor] or D 2, ne for D 1; 3563. was] were D 1.; 3567. obseruan?ice] obseruaunces D 2, observaunces A.; 3570. wote] wite D 2, wete D 1.; 3572. rabest] rather A, ful rathe D 2.
• p. 118: 3577. For-dullid] For dulle it D 1.; 3581. tellen] to telle D 1.; 3590. liche to] aftir D 1.; 3598. acorde] accorded D 1.; 3603. was false and eke vnkynde] in meschef >e forsoke D 1 (the; 3604. marked b D 1; 1 Royal MS. 18. D.
• p. 119: 3606. chaunce] chaunge C.; 3613. disnaturesse] disanentcresse D 1.; 3622. ben so] so be D 1.; 3626. as] right as A, ri$t as D 2.; be] a C.; 3632.; is torned] tourned is D 1; 3633.; it] om. D 1.; 3634.
• p. 120: 3644. ofte] he C.; 3653. whilom] somme tyme D 1.; 3655. how-so-euere] how sorn euer D 1.; 3656. pleynly] oonly D Ibe] bat C, that the A.; 3660. And] And eke D 1.; 3665. complayne] compleinynge D 1.
• p. 121: 3676. I-entred] Entred D 1.; 3681. had] ladde A, D 2.; 3686.; 3692. >an] >at D 2.; 3701. Methamorphoseos] In Methamorphoseos D 1.
• p. 122: 3709. hym not] nat hym A.; 3722. I-londed] Londed D 1.; 3723. regne and lond] londe and regne D 1.
• p. 123: 3754. wil] wolde A.; 3759. vn-to] to D 1.; 3760. to] In to A.; 3771.
• p. ?: 3778. >is] >is is D 1.; 3782. assent] to assent D 1.; 3789. new IT D 1.; 3797. chefe solicytour] >e cheef solitour D 1.; 3800. >e] his D 1.; 3803. Pollux and Castor eke] Castor and Pollux D; 3804. 2nd þe] & D
• p. 125: 3808. liketh] liken D 1.; 3815. of somme I fynde] I fynde of somme C.; 3817. endite] to endite D 1.; 3822. >is] >is is D 1.; 3833. >e] of >e C.; 3837. in] hii in D 1.
• p. 126: 3844. hym] him in D 1.; 3850. >at] om. D 1; 3855. Who] Who so D 1.; 3856. vsed] vsed in werre D 1; 3860. To] And vn to D 1.; 3862. by assent] to oon entent C.; 3864. Thorn?] With D 1.; 3865. Hem] Hym D 1; 3867. nor] and C.
• p. ?: 3876. oure foos best] best oure foos D 1.; 3879. rijt] om. D; 3886. eke] also D 1; 3880-86 are repeated after 3885 in D; 3891. hym silfe vrith him] with hym hym silf D 1; 3893. a-ȝeyn] ajeyns D 1.; 3895. to] vn to D; 3896. was] is A.; 3905. after þat] afterwarde C.; 3906. abyde] aboode D 1.
• p. 128: 3910. vp] om. A; 3911. ascendyng] ascendid A.; 3912. his] the A; 3922. In-to] In A; 3937. >e] in >e C.
• p. ?: 3939. And] Lynge D 2; tempest] tempestys A; is D 1; to] and A.; 3941. Towardis] Toward D 1; kyngis] and kywges D 2.; 3943. to werre myjt hem] to hem myȝt C; moste myjt hem D 1.; 3948. go] seille D 1.; 3953. I-westrid] Westred D 1; hym] hem D; 3954. Grekys eschapid] And grekes passed D 1; 3957. iw] on D 1.; 3962. resistence] of resistence C.; 1 Royal MS.; 18. D.; ii. leaf 28 a.; TROY BOOK.
• p. 130: 3973. come] y come D 1.; 3980. boruj >e worlde Is] wich is not D 1.; ȝit neuer] neuer ȝit C.; 3982.; 3985. what] bat C, D 1.; 3992. be] om. A; 1.
• p. ?: 4006. may] may ha A.; 4014. tresowr] siluer D 2, D 1.; 4016. schal] ne shal A, D 2.; 4018.; 4020. also] as D; 4023. his] þis D 2.; 4026. in >e] in this A, in; 4028. arme] enarme D; 4034. to] for to C.
• p. 132: Howe Lamedon; with; þere was sclayn.; And Lamedouw, whan he herd[e] telle; Of her comyng, hym lyst no lenger dwelle,; 4042. his] >is D 1.; 4044. on] of A, C.; 4051. And] om. D 1; 4053. vnwiste] vnwetiwg D 1.; 4060. armen] enarmen D
• p. 133: 4069. new IF D 1.; 4075. Towardis] Toward A, D 2.; 4086. vppon] vppon his A.; 4088. many] many a D 1.; bilke] >at D 1.; 4094.; 4097. to] on D 1.
• p. ?: 4102. ful many] many a D 1.; 4103. many] many a D 1; . hem] hym D 1.; 4107. so manly han hem] han hem so mawly D 1.; 4108. many] many a A, D 1; 4109. in] on D 1.; 4115. f>at] f>an C.; 4121. manly] manfully C.; 4128. Grekis] >e grekes D 1; 4129.
• p. 135: 4134. aswage] swage D 1.; 4139, 40 are transposed in D 2.; 4143. in hert he felte] he felt in hert C; 4148. Amyd] þat amid D 1.; 4163. schelde & breste] brest and shelde D 1.; 4166. a] his D 1.
• p. 136: 4170. to] at D 2.; 4184. smyte] to smyte C.; 4190. creste] breste D 2; 4194. Had] Ne had D 1.; 4202. ride and priken] prike & ride D 1.
• p. 137: 4205.; 4213. Wher-of] Wherfore A.; 4221. from hywi also] also fro hym D; 4226. haue go] agoo A.; 4228. armyd] armes D 2.
• p. 138: 4239. Eliatus] Eliacus D 1.; 4243. vn-to] to D; 4247. þat] Than D 1.; 4255. his] the A; 4258. >er] & >ere D 1.; 4259. with hem haue] haue with hem C.; 4262. finaly þat day] )>at day finaly C.; 4266. hath] had D 1; 4267. 2nd >e] his A, D 2.
• p. 139: 4272. He wiste] panne wist he D 1; 4273. a were] awere C; 4284. in] in his A.; 4294. 2nd of] al goode D 1.; 4300. spors] speris D 2; 4304. alyȝte] he Iyȝte C.
• p. 140: 4311. a] om. D 1.; 4314. many] many a D 1.; 4315. wer] þat wer C.; 4317. no] nat C.; 4320. >er left] left >ere D 1.; 4321.; 4324. rende] rente D 1; 4327. grucche or] grucched who D 2.; 4328. >ei] the A; 4334. swerde] swerdes D 1; 4335. her] be C.
• p. 141: 4342. a-dovn] doun D 1.; 4367. Considered] Considrynge D 2; 4370. of birth sche was] she was of birjre D 1.; 4371. To haue] That A.
• p. ?: 4374. vengaunce] meschaunce D 2.; 4380. nat] may A; 4382. lowe] so lowe A, D 2.; 4387. & tresour] om. D 2; 4392.; 4395. a mayde] maiden D; 4404. wexe] were A.; 4405. out] hem oute D 1
• p. 143: 4409. horn] hem D 2.; 4414. many] many a D; 1.; 4418. euery] om. D 2, eche D 1; 1.; 4424. ȝow] his D 2.; )>is D 2.; 4426.; 4427. now with quakyng hond] witA quakyng hond now C.; following; were apparently included by the scribe in Book; for, beyond an; I. ,; illuminated; no; break; between; there; the; of; line; is; last; initial,; Book; I. and the first line of Book II.

Book II

The envious ordre of Fortunas* meving, 1
In worldly þing, fals and flekeryng,
Ne will not suffre vs in þis present lyf
To lyue in reste with-oute werre or striffe; 4
For sche is blinde, fikel, and vnstable,
And of her cours, fals & ful mutable.
Who sit hiȝest, sche can doun hym enclyne
Whan he leest wenep bring hym to ruyne, 8
With awaites þat gladly ben sodeyne,
And with hir face þat partid is on tweyne
Schewen most hool, whan sche is leste to triste;
þat wel wer hym þat hir deceytes wiste, 12
And hir engynes & hir trappis knewe,
þat euery day in hir courte be newe.
Of whiche, in soth, I wel afferme dar,
No mortal man may in þis lyf be war: 16
For sche vn-evene peisyng in balaunce,
With conterfet and feyned contenaunce,
With lokyng pleyn & chere of flaterye,
Vnwarly can blere a mannys eye, 20
And hym be-gyle—þis þe verray soth—
With a face blaundissching and smoþe,
Whan sche hath hym from hiȝe degre brouȝt lowe,
Ful falsly smyle & make hym þe mowe. 24
And ȝit som while, most varriant of hewe,
Sche vn-to somme pretendeth to be trewe;
For sche whilom to somme is fauourable,
And to somme fals and deceyvable. 28
Sche can reise* on, & bryng another doun,
þis fals[e] lady of transmutacioim
To somme sche ȝeueth renouw and victorie,
And doth hem floure in honour & glorie 32
And so?wne sche can apeiren with fals fame,
And gilt[e]les put a man in blame.
To somme sche is goodly and benyngne ;
And of disdeyn sche can also maligne 36
Ageyn anojjer, & make hyw loute lowe
And from her sees sche can kynges þrowe,
And hem avale, for al her 11130 toures.
And sclie can plonge worjn emperoures 40
From
þe hille of hiȝe prospmte
In-to þe vale of aduersite
])& riche emporische, of rancour & disdeyn,
And þe pore sche can enhau?ce ageyn, 44
]ȝis fals[e] goddes * vrith hir eyen blynde,
Set on aforn, a-noper goth be-hynde
And doth on re?me, and another halte
And on sche can in rychesse * 48
And anoþer plonge in pouerte,
In whom no man may haue no sikerte.
To somme sugre and hony sche distilleth
And of so?rcme sche
With bitter galle, myrre, and aloes.
And Jms
þis lady, wilful recheles,
As sche fat is froward and peruers,
Hath in hir celer drinkes ful diuers 56
For sche to so?rcme, of fraude and of fallas,
Mynystreth pyment, bawme, & ypocras
And sodeynly, whan )>e sote is past,
Sche of custom can ȝeuen hem a tast, 60
For to conclude falsely in )>e fyn,
Of bitter eysel and of egre wyn,
And corosyues fat fret and perce depe,
And narkotykes þat cause men to slepe. 64
))us sche to hem, þat hir tonne aproche,
After soote,* þe bitter can * abroche
In her regne, þis quene of variaurcce,
Whos loye fyneth alwey with meschauwce. 68
Who trustep hir, sche wil hym ouercaste,
And hym deseyue pleynly at þe laste,
Of what estat euer þat he be,
))is double lady of mutabilite. 72
Sethe here example of kyng Lamedourc,
Whom sche hap brouȝt to confusioura
For litel cause, and for a ping of noiȝt
Hir cruel te he hape to dere a-bouȝt. 76
Wherfore, I rede, eue?'y man take hede
To gynne a quarel where as is no nede
For litel fire vnder asches reke
So may be kyndled þat it wil oute breke 80
Iri-to swyche flawme, mew may it nat apese
Who best can suffre most schal haue his ese.
j)erfor, 36 kynges and lordis euerychon,
Make $ow a merour of þis Lamedoun, 84
And bep wel war to do no violence
Yn-to strawngers, whaw pei do noon offence,
Whan pei com fer in-to ȝoure regions
Ne suffre hem nat, by noon oppressions, 88
In ȝoure bouwdis for to haue no wrong
For in $oure owne, pouȝe þat 30 be strong,
And my$ty eke among ȝoure legys alle,
A-noper day paniunter may be-falle, 92
þat whan þat 30 ful litel penke on hit,
Of sodeyn cas þat 36 * may be quyte
And I-thanked in a-noper place,
Of auenture ȝif 30 happe passe, 96
feerfore, whan 36 may eny swyche espie,
Doth hem good chere of ȝour curtesye,
And prudently cowsydereth in
þat to a lorde of gentilnes hit sit, 100
To euery strauwger goodly hym to haue
frer is no Jnng may more his honour saue,
Jjjin to refresche hem frely & disport.
an may pei after good of hym reporte 104
Be whos contrarie haj> moche wo be wrotiȝt
A-fore
)>is tyme,
})G first[e] Troye vtterly distroyed,
And þe peple in sorwe & wo acloied, 108
Lad in-to exil, fer from her cite,
Lyvyng in þraldom and captiuite
And Exyone, as 36 haue herde me telle,
Lad in-to Grece with Thelamoiw to dwelle. 112
For whom
[þer was], as Guydo can $ow teche,
After take * so gret vengauwce & wreche
On ouþer parte, þat in verray trouthe
For to here 116
it is to moche routhe,
As in
þis boke 36 may after rede,
Ceryously ȝif 36 liste take hede.
For gladly ay þe reuolucioim
Of fatal ping, by disposiciou?ȝ,
Is so envious, and alwey meynt with wo,
þis world, wher-so fat we go,
Jpat in
We trewly may aduerten in oure þouȝt,
))at for þe valu of a þing of nouȝt, 124
Mortal causes and werris first by-gonne ;
Strif and debate, here vnder )?e sonne,
Wer meved first of smal occasions,
)a,t caused after gret confusioim 128
Jȝat no man can )>e harmys half endite.
For, for a cause dere y-nowȝe a myte,
Eche is redy to distroien other ;
A man for litel wil strive with his brofer ;
Blood
is vnkynde, whiche gretly is to drede.
! win nyl þei * taken better hede 1
Alias
For olde Troye & afterward þe newe,
þoruȝe smal enchesourc, who þe troupe knewe, 136
Wer finally broiȝt to distruccioim,
As olde bokes maken mencioiw ;
And many worpi and many noble knyȝt
Slayn in þe feld by dures of þat fiȝt
Kynges, pn'nces at þe * sege ded,
Whan Antropos to-brak hir lyves thred,
at for to telle
I want[e] cownynge, and I fele also 144
My penne quake & tremble in my bond,
List þat my lord, dredde on see and lond,
Whos worpines poruȝ þe world dop sprede,
My makyng rude schal beholde & rede, 148
Whiche of colour ful nakyd is and bare
Jpat but ȝif he of his grace spare
For to disdeyne, and list to haue pite,
For fere I tremble fat he schuld it se. 152
But only mercy, fat dope his hert embrace,
Byt me pi-eswrne fully in his grace ;
Seynge in hym, most vertuous and good,
Mercy anexid vn-to royal blood,
As to a prince longep ny$e and ferre,
Ay to-fore ryȝt, pite to preferre.
For ponȝe þe support of his 11136 noblesse
Sowpowailled, I wil my stile dresse 160
To write forj>e þe story by and by
Of newe Troye in ordre Ceriously,
As myn auctor in latyn, Guydo, writ.
Preying þe reder, wher any word myssit, 164
Causyng )>e metre to be halte or lame,
For to correcte, to saue me fro blame
Late hym nat wayte after coryouste,
Syth þat in ryme ynglysch hath skarsete. 168
I am so dulle, certeyn, þat I ne can
Folwen Guydo, þat clerke, þat coryous man,
Whiche in latyn hath be rethorik
Set so his wordis, þat I can nat be lyke. 172
To sewe* his stile in my translacioun,*
Word by word, lyche þe construcciouw,
After þe maner of gramariens,
Nor lyke )>e stile of rethoricyens, 176
I toke nat on me þis story to translate
For me to forther Clyo com to late,
)}at in swyche craft hath gret experience
I leue þe wordis and folwe þe sentence.
And troup of metre I sette also a-syde,
For of fat arte I hadde as þo no guyde
Me to reducyn, whan I went a-wrong ;
I toke non hede nouper of schort nor long, 184
But to
þe troupe, and lefte coryouste
Bope of makyng and of metre be,
Nat purposyng to moche for to varie,
Nor for to be dyuerse nor contrarie 188
Vn-to Guydo, as by discordauwce
But me conforme fully in substauwce,
Only in menyng, to conclude al on
Al-bepat I ne can 192
To swe þe floures of his eloquence ;
Nor of peyntyng I haue noon excellence
Wi'tft sondry hewes noble, iresche, and gay
So riche colours biggen I ne may 196
I mote procede with sable and with blake.
And [in] enewyng wher 30 fynde a lak,
I axe mercy or I fro $ow twynne ;
And with ȝour fauowr I wil a-non* begyraie,
And in al haste my style furthe directe
And where I erre, I praye $ow to correcte.
Of
Priamus,
destruceyown of Troye, was
Castel.
that Priamus had. 1
same tyme whan fat Troye touw
The 204
Destroyed was, and kyiig Lamedoiw
Was also slayn, foru} þe cruelte
Of Hercules, vnder his *
He hadde a sone, þe story tellef vs,
Whiche was his eyr, I-called Priamus, 208
Wonder manly, discret, and ful prudent,
Whiche fat tyme from Troye was absent, *
Whan his fader loste fus his lyf ;
For he fat tyme with Eccuba his wyfe, 212
And with his sonys, aboute a .castel lay,
And alle his knyȝtes, to gete it ȝif he may,
Jpat hath on hem myȝtely werreyed
For þei his fader han* falsely disobeyed, 216
And vn-to hym be rebel wonder long ;
Al-be Priam, with savvtis huge and strong,
Hem hadde assayled ofte & many sythe ;
His strengfe on hem liche a knyȝt to kythe, 220
To gete in arrays worschip and honowr,
And hem to dauwte liche a conquerour,
He caste hym fully or fat he departe.
For day by* day his lyf he gan iuparte, 224
At her wallis for to preve his myȝt,
With many barouw and many worfi kny$t
For he $it had his $ong[e] lusty blood,
And was of age flouryng in knyȝthod, 228
And at assautis & swiche maner strife,
On with be first [for] to auntre his lyf.
To hert Ms men, hym list nat be behynde
For drede of deth, sothly as I fynde, 232
A-fore be castel hiȝe and )>ikke wallyd.
And be his wyfe bat Eccuba was callyd,
þis Priam had, ful worj>i of degre,
Fyve sonys and $ong[e] doiȝtres thre, 236
Of whiche be eldest Hector callid was.
Whiche also fer as Phebz<& in corapas
A natural day goth his cercle aboute,
So fer of hym, with-outen any doute, 240
Reported was be renourc and be name,
)þe worbines, and be noble fame.
For liche as bokis of hym specefye,
He was be Rote and stok of cheualrie, 244
And of knyȝthod verray souereyn flour,
]ȝe sowrs and welle of worschip & honour ;
And of manhod, I dar it wel expresse,
Example and merour ; & of hiȝe prowesse, 248
Gynyng & ground e ; & with al bis *
Wonder benigne & lavvly of his chere,
Discret also, prudent and vertuous.
Of whom be dedis & actis merveillous 252
Remembrid ben of so long a-goon
For he allone excelled euerychon,
In olde auctours rede & 30 may fynde,
Of his knyȝthood how }it bei make mynde. 256
l)e> nexte brober callid was Paris,
To whom Nature $af at hir deuyse
Of schap & forme, bewte, and semlynes,
J)at to remembre his excellent fairnes, 260
In his tyme, wit/i-outen any drede,
He passed alle þat I can of rede
And he was eke a ful manly knyȝte ;
But most he vsed, whan he schulde fiȝt, 264
In his bond for to bere * a bowe
for to auntre] to auenture D
þei] >e D
For swiche an archer no man koude knowe,
For to seken* bothe fer and nere,
ftat of schetyng myȝtfe] ben his pere, 268
As it was foiwde, whan he had ado ;
And Alisauwdre he callyd was also.
)De pridde sone hi$t[e] Dephebus,
A worj>i knyȝt and a chiualrous, 272
And had in armys a ful gret renoun,
And was a man of hiȝe discreciouw,
And wyse of cowiseil, myw auctow telleþ Jms.
])Q firthe brother, called Elenus, 276
Sadde and discret, and of hiȝe prudence,
And was also a man of greet science,
And renomed, Jjer-wet/i in special,
In alle 280
þe artis called liberal,
For he in hem was expert ariȝt.
J)e fyfte sone was a worjji knyȝte,
Fresche and lusty, and Congest of hem alle,
And, as seith Guydo, Troylus men hym calle 284
A manly man fouwden in bataille,
And desyrous his fomen for tassaille ;
Oon
þe best in his tyme founde ;
And called was Hector þe secourcde 288
For his manhood, poruȝ-oute Troye bok
Whiche in be werre ful ofte vp-on hy??i tok
Of his knyȝthod many hiȝe emprise,
As þe story here after schal deuyse. 292
And in his bok liche as writ Virgile,
þe poete olde, by ful souereyn stile,
How þat )>e kyng Priam had also
By Eccuba other sonys two ; 296
And by record of jns Virgilius,
)e ton was called Pollyodorus,
Whom Priamws, in his grene* ȝouthe,
Whan ])e comynge was of Grekis kouthe 300
To-Troye-ward, in alle haste anoon,
With gold, tresour, and many riche stoon,
Sent hym forth besyde vn-to a kyng,
Of ful gret trust, to haue hy?ft in kepyng 304
Til tyme he seye what conclusion??
þer schulde falle, after of j>e toun,
And eke what fyn
jpat vp-on hem 308
But j>ilke kyng for fals[e] couetyse
Of
f>is tresour,
Whan þat he sawe Fortunys variawjce
Toward Priam, & his vnhappy clmwce, 312
Like a tirauwt and murderere* also,
)& childes throte made kutte a-two.
And after þat, he ful cruelly
Made his men to hurye hym priuely, 316
)2at no man myȝt his tresoun vnderstonde,
Be-syde a see depe vnder þe* stronde.
þe tober sone, also as I rede
In Virgile, was callyd Ganymede, 320
Whom lubiter in a forest hent
Vp-on a day as he on huntyng went,
And bare hym vp aboue þe sterres clere,
And maked hym in heuene his botelere, 324
Eternaly with luno for to wone,
In stede of Hebes, hir owne dere sone.
Jje first[e] doubter of kyng Priamus
Hiȝte Creusa, as seith Virgilius 328
In his Eneydos, sothly as it was
And sche was weddid vn-to Eneas,
As seith
Was wonderful in his natiuite 332
Of whom þe fader, I fynde dout[e]les,
Was in his tyme callid Anchyses,
þat hym begat on Yenus
For after hir he hadde such fairnes, 336
þat neuere wyht* ne kowde $et yse
A man þat was more passyng of* bewte,
Of whom þis story, touchyng his werchiwg,
Schal $ow declare many wonder J)ing. 340
For it is he to whom so greet a loos
Virgil e $af in his Eneydos
For he fat boke in worschip of Enee
Compiled hath, liche as $e may se, 344
Of his knyȝthod & many strong batail
Be hym achevid or he wan Ytaille,
After ful long fat þe royal touro
Of Troye was broȝt to confusioim. 348
And his conquest, $if $e list take hede,
In þis poete $e may be ordre rede,
And þe armys wrouȝt in al his age,
And his commyng also to Cartage 352
Fro Troye-ward, in a litel while
Al þis 36 may beholde[n] in Virgile.
A-nother doubter also, it is fouwde,
Kyng Priam had, of birthe þe secunde, 356
Callid Cassandra, of ful gret sadnes,
And was in maner a diuyneresse,
And in eche art had experience,
Of fingis future fully prescience 360
To telle a-forn what [fat] schal betyde
Of whom þe fame sprang in costys wyde
Whiche kepte hir chaste in virginite,
And ay in prayer* and in honeste 364
Sche ladde hir lyf, and in deuociowz,
After þe ritys and religious *
Of paganysme vsed in fo dawes,
þe obseruauwcys kepyng of her lawes. 368
e fridde doubter hyȝt[e] Polycene,
Congest of al ; and euer a maide clene
it] as it A, D
Sche kepte hir silf, and honest in hir lawe,
In-to be hour fat Pirrus haþ hir slawe 372
Of schap, of forme was neuer be Nature
Wroujt nor schape a fairer creature.
Eke as I fynde, bis noble kyng also
Haclde britty sonys, be boke seith, & no moo,
Hardy in armys and noble fourade at al,
Jjat caliyd wern his sonys natural.
And bei wern alle, I excepte noon,
Worjji knyȝtes and manly men echon; 380
And her names who so list to knowe,
He sclial fynde hem * write vp-on a rowe
After bis story, eueryche after other,
Begymiygne first at the eldest brother. 384
Howe tydengys kame to kynge Priamws howe his Cite
was distroyede, and his Fadire sclayn. 1
And whiles Priam at be sege laye
To-fore be castel, to gete it ȝif he may,
And ber aboute hab many way[e] souȝt,
Jȝe woful tydyngys ben vn-to hyin brouȝt, 388
How be Grekis han take Troye toun.
And slawe his fader, worbi Lamedou?z
And how be cite, of olde fundaciou?,
Ful pitously was turned vp so douw ; 392
þe worbi lordys and gentil-men echon
Take and slawe, and I-left nat on
Of hem alyve, borage Grekis cruelte,
After be ruyne, alias, of her cyte ; 396
And Exyouw, his owne suster dere,
Lad in-to exile with hir eyne clere.
Wher-of be kyng in hert is stonyed so,
For verray sorwe he nyste what to do, 400
'
His sodeyn wo gan hym so constreyne.
r.
He sobbeth, wepeth, fat of mortal peyne
He fou}t his hert wolde a-sondre breste,
Of hiȝe distres, for he my$t haue no 404
And in[-to] tens he gaii hym silf distille,
)}at for to dye was fynally his wille
And Fortune, fat can so falsly varie,
With dreri hert he be-gan to warie, 408
Jpat sche to hym was so deseyuable,
So inly cruel and * vnmerciable,
So dispitous, and so sterne of face,
So vengable and deuoyde of grace 412
For of envye, with a rage thouȝt,
Sche haf Mr werst of malis on hym wroujt,
And felly schewed what sche myȝtfe] do ;
þat in þis world was neuer wi$t so wo, 416
As I suppose, of no maner age,
To rekne al his harmes and damage.
For whiche anon, in al fat euer he may,
First he chau??gef all his riche array, 420
Trist and hevy, with dedly face pale,*
So astoned with þis mortal tale,
Jpat his desyre was to haue ben ded
With countenance enclyned and his hed, 424
J)is lyf he ladde, & clad hym al in blak.
And sodeynly he f e sege brak,
And wolde as fo no lenger fer abyde
But with his folke anon he gan to ride, 428
ftat pytously gan with hym* to morne,
And toward Troye attonys
And whan fat he haf þe cite fouwde,
Pleyn with þe soil & evene with þe grouwde, 432
}ȝe hiȝe wallys, whilom fik and longe,
I-bete douw, fat wer made so strong,
And his towres and paleys principal,
þat was in byldyng * so excellent royal, 436
So famows riche, and of gret noblesse,
He fynt al turned in-to wildernesse
TT- 11
His peple slayn, his suster lad a-way
i
i
For verray wo he nyst[e] what to say, 440
For þe constreynt of his aduersite,
And for his harmys þat nyl recured be.
For in fat tyme he was fully sure,
Vp-on no syde per was no recure; 444
Wherfore he can not but sobbe & wepe,
And from his brest, with siȝes souȝt ful depe,
Breken oute, with a ded visage.
And þus, alias, in þis furious rage, 448
Ful pitously al his hoste and he
We't/i-oute respite contwne dayes thre.
Til at þe last þe myrke skyes blake
Gan of her wo in party for to slake, 452
And þe tempest somdel gan with-drawe,
And of her wepyng blaimdische gaw þe waw ;
As whan þe flood of wo is ouerpassed,
)Q ebbe of loye folwen most in haste. 456
To sorwen euer, it wolde her hertis schewde
And at a terme Query wo mote ende
For þou$ for frend is men ay wepe & weyle,
After her deth per may no recure vaile. 460
Wherfore þe kyng, after al [t]his care,
Hath souȝt a weye þe cite to repare ;
And cast hym fully, $if it wolde be,
To make vertu of necessite; 464
And manfully, alter al his tene,
p
11
i
Whan þat
f>e eyr gan to wexe clene
Of þe mystis of his cloudy sorwe,
And þat somdel adawe gan þe morwe, 468
Of heuynes after
Chased aweye vfith a sonne bryȝt
Of new[e] loye
Mote be * gladnes whan þat sorwe is go 472
And so Priam after a certeyn space,
Whan his sorwe gan lite & lite pace,
And of wysdam in al his pitous smerte
Gan prudently to plukkyn vp his herte, 476
And of his eyne þe wawes gon[ne] clere,
A-noon he wroȝt, riȝt * as 36 schal here.
Howe Kynge Priamus, aftire his sorowe was asswagede,
Edefyede nowe Troye, and
where
tofore ne siche was nevere none it lyke. 1
sorwe aswaged, & þe syȝes olde,
The 480
By longe processe/liche as I $ow tolde,
ftis \vor)>i kyng, callyd Priaravs,
Is in his herte nowe so desyrous,
Vp-on þe pleyn, þai was so waste & wylde,
So strong a toim of newe for to bilde, 484
At his devyse a cite edefye,
at schal thassautys outterly defye
Of alle enmyes, and his mortal foon,
With riche tourys & wallys of hard stoon. 488
And al aboute þe centres envirouw,
He made seke in euery regioiw
For swiche werkemen as were corious,
Of wyt inventyf, of castyng merveilous 492
Or * swyche as coude crafte of gemetrye,
Or wer sotyle in her fantasye ;
And for eueryche fat was good devysour,
Mason, hewer, or crafty quareour; 496
For euery wriȝt and passyng carpenter,
ftat may be fourade, ow)>er fer or nere ;
For swyche as koude graue, grope, or kerue,
Or swiche as werne able for to serue 500
With lym or stoon, for to reise a wal,
With bataillyng and crestis marcial ;
Or swiche as had konyng in her lied,
Alabastre, owfer white or reddc, 504
Or marbil graye for to pulsche
To make it smofe of veynes & of greyn.
He sent also for euery ymagour,
Bofe in entaille, & euery purtreyour 508
}ȝat coude drawe, or with colour peynt
With hewes fresche, fat þe werke nat feynt
And swiche as coude with couwlenauttces glade
Make an ymage fat wil neuere fade 512
To couttterfet in metal, tre, or stoon
j)e sotil werke of Pigmaleoura,
Or of Appollo, þe whiche as bokis telle,
In ymagerye alle ofer dide excelle ; 516
For by his crafty werkyng corious,
}?e townibe he made of kyng Daryus,
Whiche Alysaumlre dide on heyȝtfe] reise,
Only for men schuld his fame preise, 520
In his conquest by Perce wha?ȝ he went.
And fus Priam for euery maister sent,
For eche keruer & passynge loignour,
To make knottis with many corious flour, 524
To sette on crestis with-Inne and with-ovte
Vp-on f e wal f e cite roivrade aboute ;
Or who fat wer excellyng in practik
Of* any art callyd mekanyk, 528
Or hadde a name flouryng or famws,
Was after sent to come to Prianms.
For he pwrposeth, þis noble worf i kyng,
To make a cite most royal in byldyng, 532
Brod, large, & wyde, & lest it were assailled,
For werre proudly about[en] enbatailled.
And first þe grouwde he made to be souȝt,
Ful depe and lowe, fat it faille nouȝt 536
To make sure f e fundaciou/j
In
þe place where þe olde tow*
Was first ybilt, he
And he of lond many myle out mette, 540
Aboute in compas, for to make it large,
As
þe maysters
Devysed han þe settyng and
for holsom eyr to be more of delyt. 544
And whan þe soille, defouled * with ruyne
Of walles old, was made pleyn as lyne,
)?e werkmen gan
Ful myȝtely with stonys square & rouwde, 548
J)is world was to it noon lyche
þat in
Of werkmanschip, nor of bildyng riche,
Nor of crafte of coryous masoimry.
I can no termys to speke of gemetrye, 552
Wherfore as now I muste hem sette a-syde ;
For dout[e]les I radde neuer Euclide,
þat þe maister and þe fourcdour was
Of alle þat werkyn by squyre or compas, 556
Or kepe her mesour by leuel or by lyne ;
I am to rude clerly to difiyne
Or to discrive
For lak of termys longyng to þat arte. 560
But* I dar wel of troufe affermyn here,
In al
Jjis world ne was fer neuer pere
jris cite, and write it for a sofe,
Vn-to
As in his* boke my mayster Guydo doth. 564
And fat it myȝt in prosperite,
In hyȝe honour and felicite,
From al assaut perpetuelly contune,
It reysed was in worschip of Neptune, 568
And namyd Troye, as it was to-forn,*
Lyche j>e firste fat was foru} Grekis lorn.
þe lenthe was, schortly to conclude,
Thre day[es] lourne, lyche þe latitude, 572
)?at neuer I herd make menciou?ȝ
Of swiche another of fundacioura,
So huge in compas nor of swiche larges,
Nor to courate so passyng of fayrnes, 576
So edyfied or lusty to þe sy$t.
And, as I rede, þe walles wern on hiȝte
Two huwdrid cubites, al of marbil gray,
Maskowed wt/j-oute for sautis and assay 580
And it to make more plesauȝt of delyt,
A-mong þe marbil was alabaster white
Meynt in þe walles, roimde þe tou?i aboute,
To make it schewe wM-Iniie and with-outo 584
So fresche, so riche, and so delitable,
}?at it alone was incomperable
Of alle cites þat any mortal man
Sawe euer $it, sithe þe world began. 588
And at the corner of euery wal was set
A crowne of golde with riche stonys fret,
jpat schone ful bȝt ageyn þe sonȝe schene
And euery tour bretexed was so clene 592
Of chose stoon, þat wer nat fer a-sondre,
þat to beholde it was a verray wonder.
frer-to þis cite compassed enviroiui,
Hadde sexe gatis to entre in-to þe touw 596
l)& first of al & strongest eke with al,
Largest also and most principal,
Of myȝty bildynge allone peer[e]les,
Was by þe kyng callyd Dardanydes 600
And in story, lyche as it is fownde,
Tymbria was named þe secounde
And þe pridde callyd Helyas
þe fourte gate hiȝt also Cethas ; 604
þe fyfte Troiana
Strong and myȝty bope in werre & pes,
With square toures set on euery syde.
At whos corners, of verray pompe & pride, 608
)}e workmen han, with sterne & fel visages,
Of riche entaille, set vp gi-et yniages,
TROY BOOK.
Wrouȝt out of ston,
Ful coriously enarmed for batayle. 612
And foru}
þe wal, her fomen for to lette,
At euery tour wer grete gu?mys sette,
For assaut and sodeyn aventurys
And on* tourettis wer reysed vp figurys 616
Of wylde bestis, as beris and lyou??s,
Of tigers, bores, of serpentis and dragoufts
And hertis eke, with her brode homes,
Olyfautttes and large vnicornes, 620
Buglis, bolys, and many grete grifouw,
Forged of brasse, of copur and latouw,
J)at cruelly by sygnes of her facys
Vp-on her foon made fel manacys. 624
Barbykans and bolewerkys huge,
þe tou7ȝ made for hi 36 refuge,
A-fore
ȝiffe nede were, erly and eke late
A[nd] portecolys stronge at euery gate, 628
])at liem par nat noon assailyng charge
And þe lowkis fikke, brode, and large,
Of þe gatys al of $oten bras.
And with-Inne þe myȝty schittywg was 632
Of strong yrne barres square and rourade,
And gret barre[r]ys picched in
With huge cheynes forged for diffence,
Whiche nolde breke for no violence, 636
))at hard it was forii} hem for to wy?ine.
And euery hous, fat was bilt wȝt/i-Inne,
'Euery paleys* & euery manciouȝ,
Of marbil werne jjoruȝf-out] al þe touri, 640
Of crafty bildyng & werkyng most roial.
And
þe he$t was of euery wal
Sixty cubites from þe grou?fcde acou?ztid ;
And 644
þer was non fat ofer haþ surmou?2tid
In þe cite, but of on heȝt alyche,
In verray sofe, hope of pore and riche,
Jȝat it was harde of hi$e estat or lowe
Hous or palys asoiwder for to knowe, 648
So egaly of tymbre and of stoon
Her housis wern reysed euerychon.
And if I sclmlde reherseu by and by
e korvo knottes by crafte of masouȝry, 652
þe frescUe enbowyng, \ri\Ji vergis riȝt as linys,
And
þe vowsyng ful of babewynes,*
þe riche koynyng,*
þe lusty tablemewtis,
Yynnettis rewnywge in 656
j>e caseraentis
þe termys in englisch wolde ryme,
#0113
To rekne hem alle I haue as now no tyme,
Ne no langage pyked for
|>e nonys,
J5e sotil loynyng to teller of þe stonys, 660
Nor how þei putten in stede of morter,
In
J)e loynturys copur gilt ful clere,
To make hem loyne by leuel & by lyne,
Among 664
)>e marbil freschely for to schyne
þe sowne, whan his schene ly$t
Agein
Smote in
þat was bornyd briȝt,
])e gold,
To make
þe werke gletere on euery syde.
And of þis* toim )?e stretis large & wyde 668
Wer by crafte so prudently prouided,
And by werkemen sette so and deuided,
}ȝat holsom eyr amyddis myȝt enspire
Erly on* morwe to hem fat it desyre; 672
And ȝephirus,
)?at is so comfortable
For to norysche Jnnges vegetable,
In tyme of ȝere, foruȝ-oute euery slrete,
With sugred flavour, so lusty & so swete, 676
Most plesantly in þe eyr gan smyte,
))e Cyteȝeyns only to delyte ;
And \vith his brethe hem to recomfort,
Whan 680
þei list walke he?/i siluew to disport.
And Jx>ru$
)>e touw, by crafty purviau/zce,
liousyng A
babewynes] bakewynes
vynys D 1.
By gret avys and discret ordynauwce,
By compas cast, & squared out by squires,
Of pulsched marbil vp-on strong pilleris, 684
Deuised wern, longfe], large, and wyde,
In
þe frowjtel of eue?y stretis syde,
Fresche alures
And moustryng outward riche tabernacles, 688
Yowted a-boue like reclinatories,
J)at called werne deambulatories,
Men to walke to-gydre tweine & tweyne,
To kepe hem drie whan it dide reyne, 692
Or hem to sane horn tempest, wynde, or fonder,
ȝif \at hem list schrowde hem silue þe?'-vnder.
And euery hous cured was with led
And many gargoyl & many hidous hed 696
With spoutis foru}, & pipes as pei ouȝt,
From
þe ston-werke to
Voyding filjjes low in-to
jjoruȝ gratis percid of yre?i percid rou?de ; 700
þe stretis paued bo)?e in lengjje & brede,
In cheker wyse with stonys white & rede.
And euery craft, þat any maner man
In any lond deuise or rekene can, 704
Kyng Priamus, of hiȝe discreciouw,
Ordeyned hath to dwellyn in
And in stretis, seueryd her and Bonder,
Eueryche from ofer to be sette a-sonder, 708
þat ))ei myȝt, for more comodite,
Eche be hym silfe werke at liberte
Of welwet, cendel, & double samyt eke,
And euery clothe þat men list to seke 716
Smypes also, fat koude forge wele
Swerdis, pollex, and speris scharp of stele,
Dartis, daggeris, for to mayme & wowide,
And quarel hedis scharp and square [y-]grou?ide. 720
Jper \ver also crafty armoureris,
Bow[y]ers, and fast[e] by fleccheris,
And swyche as koude make schaftes pleyn,
And other eke þat dide her besy peyn 724
For þe werre to make
Bete baners and royal cote armvris,
And by devise, stondardis & penowns,
And for þe felde fresche & gay gytowzs. 728
And euery crafte þat may rekiied be,
To telle schortly, was in þis cite.
Howe by grete crafft ther was a E-yvere called Zanctus
conveyede thorough þe Cyte. 1
And poruȝ þis tonn, so riche & excellent,
In þe myddes a large riuer went, 732
Causyng to hem ful gret co?nmodite ;
])Q whiche on tweyne hap partid þe cite,
Of cours ful swyft, wit/i fresche stremys clere,
And hiȝt[e] Xanctus, as Guydo dop vs lere. 736
And as I rede, þat vp-on þis* flood,
On eche-asyde many mylle stood,
Whan nede was her grayn & corn to grinde,
Hem to sustene, in story as I fynde. 740
ftis riuer eke, of fysche ful plenteuous,
Devided was by werkmen corious
So craftely, poru$ castyng souereyne,
first four letters.
Jjat in his course þe stremys myȝt atteyn 744
For to areche, as Guydo doth comecte,
By archis strong his cours for to reflecte
þoruȝ condut pipis, large & wyde wzt/i-al,
By certeyn meatis artificial, 748
Jpat it made a ful purgaciouw
Of al ordure & fylpes in þe tourc,
Waschyng þe stretys as pei stod a rowe,
And þe goteris in þe erpe lowe, 752
Jpat in þe cite was no filpe sene ;
For the can el skoured was so clene,
And deuoyded in so secre wyse,
ftat no man myȝt espien nor deuyse
By what engyn þe filpes, fer nor ner,
Wern born a-wey by cours of þe ryuer
So couertly euery ping was cured.
Wher-by þe toun was outterly assured 760
From engenderyng of al corrupciouw,
From wikked eyr & from infecciourc,
þat causyn ofte by her violence
Mortalite and gret pestilence. 764
And by example of
Made Tibre at Eome, and wrouȝt by Eneas,
þe which also departeth Eome on two,
Myn auctor seith, I not wher it be so. 768
Howe kynge Pryam made
[gaf]
vpone. 1
And to enhabite þis royal chef cite,
Kyng Priam hap aboute in þe centre
Made for to serche,
And in provinces þat werne adiacent, 772
In borwys, townys, and in smale villages,
I-gadred out of al maner ages,
And of thropis folkys ful diuers,
And swiche as wern vacaimt & dispers, 776
Aboute Troye in any *
He maked hath to entre iw-to f e tou
Gret multitude, what of 3<>ng & olde,
It to enhabite, as $e han herde me tolde. 780
And hem fat wern afore to hym foreyns,
He hath in Troye maked citfejȝeyns,
Ful discretly, liche as it
And whan þei gan wit/i peple [to] abouftde, 784
Kyng PriamMS, of hiȝe affecciou??,
After þe bildyng of f is myjty toiw,
Haf in his hert cauȝt a fantasye
His newe cite for to magnyfye. 788
And it to put þe more in remembrau??ce,
He cast fully to do some obseruau/zce*
To myȝty Mars, sterne & ferse of hewe
And specialy wit/i certeyn plei[e]s newe, 792
On horse and fote, in many sondry wyse,
To ȝeiie his men in knyȝthod excersyse,
Eueryche to putten ofer at assaye
In iustis, bordis, and also in tornay, 796
To p?'eve her force whan þei happe mete.
})e whiche pleies wer fondid first in Crete
And in fat lond, of hiȝe & lowe estat,
In Marty s honour þei wer dedicate. 800
And in palestre, at wakys on þe nyȝt,
Wern [o]þer pleies men tassay her myȝt,
Only on fote wit/i many sotil poynt ;
And some of hem wer nakyd & anoynt 804
To wywne a prys* þei dide her ful entent.
And fer was fou?zde, by clerkys ful prudent,
Of þe dies þe pleye most glorious,
Whiche is so sotil and so meruelous, 808
}5at it wer harde þe mater to discryue ;
For fouȝe a man stodied al his lyve,
He schal ay fynde dyvers fantasyes
Of wardys makyng, & newe iuparties,* 812
))er is ber-in so gret diuersite.
And it was first fouwde in bis cite,
Duryng be sege, liche as seyth Guydo
But lacobus de Vitnaco
Jg contrarie of oppvniowi
For, like as he makyth mencioufj,
And affermeth fully in his avys,
How Philometer, a philysofre wys, 820
Vn-to a kyng, to stynte his cruel te,
Fond first bis pleie & made it in Calde ;
And in_to Grece frow& bense it was sent.
Also in Troye, by gret avysement, 824
þe pleye was first fou?ide of dees & tables,
And of castyng be chauraces deceyvables,
þat han be cause ofte of gret debat
For }if bat on be nowe fortunat 828
To wy?zne a while be favour of his chance,
Or he be war, with* sodeyn variaimce,
Vnhappely he is putte abak,
And anober, bat stood vp-on be wrak, 832
And of losse was ploimged* in distresse,
}5ei reysed han vn-to hyȝe ryches
Gladnes of on is to another rage
Adevauwte, hasard, and passage 836
ȝif on haue loye, anober suffereb wo,
Liche as be bonys rewne to and fro ;
An hu?zdrid sythe in a day þei varie,
Now blauwdisschyng, & now þei be contrarie ; 840
No man with hem assured
And first also, I rede,
Wer song & rad lusty fresche comedies,
ȝn(ȝ 844
fer ȝȝ tes 5
And to declare, schortly in sentence,
Of bofe two
A cornedie hath in his srvnnvn"
At prime face, a maner compleynyng, 848
.
And afterward endeth in gladnes
And it þe dedis only doth expres
Of swiche as ben in pouert ploiwged lowe
But trasndie. who so list to knowe. 852
It begynneth in prosperite,
And endeth euer in aduersite
And it also doth þe conquest trete
Of riche kynges and of lordys grete, 856
Of myȝty men and olde conquerou[ri]s,
Whiche by fraude of Fortunys schowris
Ben ouercast & whelmed from her glorie.
Of a Theatyre stondynge
Troye, declarenge the falle of Pryncys & othere. 1
And whilom þus was halwed þe memorie 860
Of tragedies, as bokis make mynde,
Whan þei wer rad or songyn, as I fynde,
In þe theatre per was a smal auter
Amyddes set, þat was half circuler, 864
Whiche in-to þe Est of custom was directe ;
Vp-on þe whiche a pulpet was erecte,
And per-in stod an aw[n]cien poete,
For to reherse by rethorikes swete 868
þe noble dedis, þat wer historial,
Of kynges, princes for a memorial,
And of pes olde, worpi Emperours,
])Q grete emprises eke of conquerours, 872
And how pei gat in Martis hiȝe honour
])Q laurer greue for fyn of her labour,
fie palme of knyȝthod disservid by [old] date,
Or Parchas made hem passyn in-to fate. 876
And after þat, irith chere and face pale,
With stile enclyned gan to twne his tale,
And for to synge, after al her loos,
Ful mortally þe stroke of Antropos, 880
And telle also, for al her worpihede,
})e sodeyn brekyng of her lives threde
How pitously þei made her mortal ende
Jjoruj fals Fortune, 884
And howe þe fyn of al her worjrines
En did in sorwe and [in] lȝe tristesse,*
By compassyng of fraude or* fals tresouw,
By sodeyn mordre or vengaimce of poysou??,
Or cowspiringe of fretyng fals envye,
How vnwarly [jjat] þei dide dye ;
And how her renouw and her 11136 fame
Was of hatrede sodeynly made lame 892
And how her honour duowe vn-to decline
And þe meschef of her vnhappy fyne ;
And how Fortune was to hem vnswete
Al þis was tolde and rad of 896
And whil fat he in þe pulpit stood,
With dedly face al devoide of blood,
Singinge his dites, with muses al to-rent,
Amydde 900
J)er cam out men gastful of her cheris,
Disfigurid her facis with viseris,
Pleying by signes in f>e peples siȝt,
jpat þe poete songon hath on hiȝt ; 904
So fat fer was no maner discordauwce
Atwen his dites and her contenau?ice
For lik as he aloft[e] dide expresse
Wordes of loye or* of heuynes, 908
Meving & cher, bynefe of hem pleying,
Fro??z point to point was alwey answering
Now trist, now glad, now hevy, & [now]
And face chauwged with a sodeyn siȝt,
So craftily þei koude hem t?ansfigure,
Conformyng hem to þe chau7ȝt[e]plure,
Now to synge & sodeinly to wepe,
So wel þei koude her observances kepe ; 016
And þis was doon in April & in May,
Whan blosmys new, bobe on busche & hay.
r
'
And nouns fresche gyȝne ior to springe ;
.
,
.
.
And þe briddis in þe wode synge 920
With lust supprised of þe somer sonne,
Whan pe[se] pleies in Troye wer begonne,
And in theatre halowed and y-holde.
And þus þe ryyt [of] tragedies olde, 924
Prianms þe worpi kyng began.
Of þis mater no more telle I can.
Howe kenge
Cite was
his
aftire
Priam,
ordeynede his paleys princypal, callyd Yllyown. 1
But I wil furthe of ))is story wryte,
And on my maner boistusly endyte, 928
How Prianitttf was passyng dilligent,
Riȝt desyrous, and inwardly fervent,
ȝif he myȝt, among his werkes* alle,
To bilde a paleys and a riche halle, 932
Whiche schuldfe] ben his chose chef dongon,
His royal se and souereyn mansiou?i.
Aad whan he gan to þis werke aproche,
He made it bilde hiȝe vp-on a roche, 936
It for tassure in his fundacioim,
And callyd it
þe noble Ylyovn.
})e siȝt of whiche, iustly circuler,
By compas cast, rou?zde as any spere 940
And who )>#t wold
þe cowtent of þe groude
Trewly acouTiten of þis place rouwde,
In þe theatre first he moste* entre,
Takyng þe lyne þat keruep poruȝ þe centre, 944
By gemetrie, as longeth to þat art,
And treblid
it, with þe sevenpe part,
He fynde niyȝt, by experience,
þe mesour hool of þe circu??iference, 948
What lond also, pleynly eke with al,*
Contened was wft/i-Inne þe strong[e] wal*
])Q creste of whiche, wher it lowest was,
Hadde in hiȝt ful sixe hundred pas, 952
Bilt of marbil, ful royal & ful strong,
And many other riche stoon a-mong
Whos touris wern reysed* vp so hiȝe,
Jpat þei raȝt almost to * 956
])Q werk of whiche no man rnyȝt ame?zde.
And who fat list by grecis vp ascende,
He myȝtfe] seen in his inspecciouw
To þe bou?idis of many regions 960
And provincys fat stoode rouwde* aboute.
And þe wallys, with-Inne and \vith-oute,
Endelong with knottis graue clene,
Depeynt with aȝour, gold, ȝinopre, & grene, 964
])at verraily, whan þe son?ze schon,
Vp-on þe gold meynt among þe stoon,
jpei ȝaf a liȝt, with-outen any were,
As Phebws dof in his mydday spere 968
þe werke of wyndowe, and [eche] fenestral,
Wrouȝt of berel and of clere cristal.
And amyddys of þis Ylyouw,
So fresche, so riche of fundaciourc, 972
Whiche clerkys jit in her bokis preyse,
Kyng Pryam made an halle for to reyse,
Excellyng alle in bewte & in strenthe
)?e latitude acordyng with þe lengthe. 976
And of marbil outeward was þe wal ;
And þe tymbre, most nobil in special,
Was halfe of cedre, as I reherse can,
And þe remenant of þe riche eban, 980
Whiche most is able, as I dar specefye,
With stoon to loyne by craft of carpentrie ;
For þei of tymbre haue þe souereynte.
949, 950. pleynly eke with al transposed with witft-Inne >e stronge
walC.
And for to telle of j>is Eban tre, 984
Liche in bokys sothly as I fynde,
It cometh out of Ethiope and Ynde,
; and it \vil wexe anoon,
Blak as is get
Whan it is korve, harde as any stoon, 988
And euermore last[en] and endure,
And nat corrupte wz't/i water nor moysture.
And of [t]his halle_ferþer to difFyne,
Wiih stonys square by leuel and by lyne 992
It pavid was, with gret diligence
Of masownry and passyng excellence.
And al aboue, reysed was a se,
Eul coriously of stonys and perre, 996
þat callid was, as chefe and principal,
þe sete moste royal.
Of
þe regne
To fore whiche was set by gret delyt
A borde of Eban and of yvor whyt, 1000
So egaly loyned and so clene,
Jje werk per was no rifte sene
þat in
And sessions wer made on euery syde,
þe statis by ordre to deuyde. 1004
Only
Eke in
e halle, as it was couenable,
On eche party was a dormant * table
Of evor eke, and
J)is eban tre
And euen ageyn þe kynges royal see,
j>e party þt was J)er-to contrarie,
In
I-reised was by many crafty stayre,
)>e tother syyt,
in
j>e halle, in
as* lyne in )>e opposyt,* 1012
Of pured metal and of stonys clere
In brede & lengthe, a
fill rich auter.
On whiche þer stood, of figure & visage
Of masse gold, a wonderful ymage, 1016
To ben honoured in
j>at hiȝe sete,
Only in honour of lubiter
And
Jje statue, for al his huge wejgte,
Fiftene cubites complet was of heiȝgte, 1020
its
A crowne of gold hi$e vp-on his hed,
With* heuenly saphirs & many rube red
Fret enviroim, with other stonys of Ynde ;
And among wer medled, as I fynde, 1024
Whyte perils massyf, large, & rounde
And for most chefe al dirkenes to cowfoimde,
Was a charbocle, kyng of stonys alle,
To recoimfort & gladyn al 1028
And it tenlumyn in þe blake ny$t
With þe freschenes of his rody lijt.
þe valu was fer-of in-estimable,
And þe riches pleynly incomparable ; 1032
For jris ymage, by diuisiouw,
Was of schap and* proporciouw
From hed to foot so maisterly entayled,
))at, in a point, þe werkemarc haþ nat failed 1036
It to parforme by crafty excellence.*
Whom Priamws, wzt7i drede and reuerence,
Honoured hath aboue )>e goddys alle,
In al meschef to hym to clepe & calle ; 1040
For in hym was his hool affecciouw,
His souereyn trust and deuocioim,
His hope also, and his affyaimce,
His heile, his loye, and his assurau?ice; 1044
And his welfare and prosperite
He hath commytted to his deite,
Wenyng in hert wonder sekerly,
To ben assured from al meschef Jjer-by, 1048
And diffended in eche adue?
And hold his regne in hiȝe Felicite,
And in honowr continuelly to schyne,
Whil lubiter, poruȝ his power diuyne, 1052
Hym and his hath in proteccioiw
])is was his trust and ful oppinioim.
And þus þis werke finally acbeved,
Wher-of Priam, vrith loye ful releued, 1056
Jȝat he his cite and noble Ylyoiw
Hath fully brou:t vn-to nerfecciotm.
*
Liche his entent, whan þat he began.
.
And þus Priam, þis kyng, þis worjri man, 1060
Fnl many day in [t]his newe Troye,
With his liges lad his lyf in loye,
Wher I hym leue in his royal sete
Souereynly regnynge in quiete, 1064
Procedyng forpe, }if ȝe liste to here,
Vn-to þe effect anoon of my matere.
Howe kynge
that he
Priamus,
aftire
parformede and ymade his Cyte, by þe serpente Of
Envye was
stirede and Inwardly mevede
gyne A newe werre vpone the Grekes. 1
O
hatful harm, whiche most is for to drede
Kyrcdled so long, o spark of old hatred, 1068
Rote of debate, grouwde of envie and Ire,
With* new[e] flawme hertis for to fyre
Þi
p
,
,
grayn of malys, causer of al offence
rancour rustid of inpacience, 1072
Whiche hast of new made festrid soris smerte
Whan þou art onys rakid in a herte,
Whiche for disdeyn of mercy maist nat lete
A man no while to lyuen in quiete, 1076
But delvist vp by malis many-fold
Debatis new, þat biried wern of olde,
And falsely quikest strives to restore
Jpenvious serpent þat was slaw of 30ȝ, 1080
Whiche felly hath, þis addre envyous,
Out of his rest awakyd Priamus,
And wȝt7i his venym, so persyng & so ille,
., 7
.
.
i
-,
And mevid hym, of his iniquite,
!
Vp-on Grekis avenged for to be.
For wher-as he in pes held his reigne,
With his legis in loye souereigne, 1088
Wit/i-oute* anoy or any perturbauwce,
)}is serpent hath with ne\v[e] remembraurace,
With-out avis, or discret arest,
So hoot a flawme kyndeled in his brest 1092
Of old envie with fresche rancowr nieynt,
þat likly is netie?- to be queynte.
For Priam now in his entencioim
Cast & compaseth, revolvyng vp & dovw,
How strong he was of riches & meyne,
How noble & myjty was also his cite,
And abundaumte, schortly to conclude,
Bo])e of plente and of multitude, 1100
Of men of arrays and of chevalrye.
Whiche sterid hym to han a fantasye,
Alias þe while, to his vnhappy chaimce,
Jpat to be ded he take wil vengaunce 1104
Vp-on his foon
So brent hym inward by mallencolye,
Stondyrcg in purpos,
Of his damages avenged be som day,* 1108
And of Iniuries Ipat )>ei on hym han wrouȝt.
And whan þt he had a tyme souȝt
To his pwrpos moste conuenient,
A-noon he hath for alle his lordis sent,
And his knyȝtes callyd euerychon
To com in hast, excused was nat on,
Namly, of hem bat wern of hiȝe degre.
And
Jjei obeying, with alle humilite,
His biddyng holly, & made no delaye,
To com echon ageyn a certeyn day ;
And his sones wern also* present,
Ector except, fat was fat tyrae absent 1120
J)e strong and myȝty regions
In
Of Panonye,* whiche in subieccioiw
Kyng Priam holde, foruȝ his worfines
And to amende finges and redres, 1124
Ector was goon in-to þis Panonye,
Certeyn causys for to iustefye,
As in his resoim he fou$t[e] for þe best,
To setten hem in quiete and in rest. 1128
For he was ay so iust and so prudent,
So wel avised and so pacient,
And so demenyd in his gouernauwce,
}5at hym was loth for to do vengance, 1132
Wher-as he myȝt in esy wyse trete
For to reforme finges smale & grete ;
For lothe he was, f is noble worfi knyȝt,*
For any haste to execute ryȝt,* 1136
Or causeles by rigour to condempne.
And in f is while, ful worfi and solempne,
Kyng Priamws, of lordis grete and smale,
"With-Inne Troye helde a courte royal, 1140
As* he fat list for no cost to spare ;
And ceryously his menyng to declare,
He in his see, his lordis envirourc,
Gan fus to schewe his hertis mociouw 1144
Howe kynge Priam?/s in opyne declarethe þe harmes
done to his progenye & hym by the Grekes. 1
"
worfi lordis, fat ben [now] here present,
Feithful and trew of hert & of entent,
Is nat vnknowe to ȝour discreciouw
])Q grete damagis and oppressions
Whiche fat Grekis han vp-on vs wrouȝt,
Wtt/i-oute cause, for a f ing of nouȝt,
TROY BOOK.
]2at, as I trowe, so new is $it þe date, 1152
þat it is fresche remembrid in 30111* mynde,
Vn-to ȝour blood $if fat $e be kynde.
For I suppose, no forȝetilnes
May put a-way þe mortal hevines 1156
Of harmys olde, whiche ay renew e ageyn
In my memorie, I seie $ow in certeyn
:
And as I trow, pleynly in $oure ])ouȝt,
þat euer is grene, and ne dieth noiȝt, 1160
How pei haue slayn oure progenytours
)?at whilom wern so noble werreours,
Oure cite brent and brouȝt vn-to ruyne,
And robbid 1164
And turned al in-to wyldernes,
And in-to Grece caried oure riches,
My fader slayn,
With-out[e] cause or occasions, 1168
And rauȝt from hym his gold & his tresour,
Whiche me semeth is a foul* errour.
We myȝt of riȝt amendis wel chalenge,*
And desyren vs iustly to revenge 1172
A-fors þe goddis of so hiȝe offence,
Only of resou?i and of conscience.
And passyng alle her mortal cruelte,
fter is o fing most inly greveth me, 1176
feat pei vngodly, ageyn [e]s gentilnes,
No rewarde havyng to
To
þe birth, nor þe royal blood
Of hir þat is so fayr and eke so gode 1180
I mene my suster, callyd Exyoura
Whom
jjei, alias, to her confusiourc,
Disuse and kepe nat lik hir degre,
From day to day in dishoneste; 1184
Wher-Jjoru} hir honowr & hir name is lorn,
Considryng nat of what stook sche was born.
For þei ar blynde for to taken hede,
Or to aduerte þe rote of hir kynred, 1188
Of surquidye þei be so indurat.
And sith fat sche, of* so hiȝe estat,
I-tretid is, liche as 30 may se,
I suppose other, fat ben of low degre, 1192
Gouerned ben ful dishonestly
For ȝe may finke and deme trew[e]ly
How wyvis, maidenes, in fat companye,
With ofer eke fat ben of 30111- alye, 8
I-haunted ben and vsed at her lust ;
On be Grekis I haue no better trust,
For þei ne spare nouther blood nor age.
And fus þei lyue in torment & seruage, 1200
With-out routhe, mercy, or pite,
])e whiche touchef ȝou as wel as me ;
And as me semeth, of equite and riȝt,
ȝe ouȝt echon with al $our ful[le] myȝt, 1204
Of þe wronges with whiche 30 ben offendid,
To seke a weye
And fat we werke, alle be on assent,
And procede, liche to oure entent, 1208
On her malis and cursed cruelte,
Alle attonys avengid for to be ;
And fat we be in hert[e], wille, and foiȝt
Of on acorde, and ne varie nouȝt, 1212
For fan our force is doublid & pouste.
For riȝt and resou?* & good equite
Require vengauwce on hym fat dof þe wro?ig,
it so be* fat it abyde longe. 1216
I trust also on goddis riȝtwisnes,
þat þei schal help oure harmes to redres,
And fauour us in oure Innocence,
To chastyse hem fat wrouȝt[e] þis offence. 1220
Also 30 knowe howe fat oure cite
Is strong and myȝty,* & of gret surte,
1st it] oui. A
With touris hi$e and walles for þe werre,
])at also fer as schynep soime or sterre, 1224
])er is noon lyk, for to rekne al,
Jpat may in force ben per-to perigal.
$e knowe also, as it schal be fouwde,
With cheualrie how fat we abowzde, 1228
Expert in armys and of olde assaied,
þat for drede neuer wer dismayed ;
And we haue plente also of vitaille,
Of frendschip eke, þat ne wol not faile 1232
With al her myȝt to don to vs socour.
Wherfore I rede, vrith-out& more soiour,
To sette vp-on, sithen we be able,
And tyme is now, me semeth, couenable 1236
For manhod bit make no delaye
To venge a wrong, hap what hapfpe] may.
For in differryng is ofte gret damage,
To werke in tyme is double avauwtage; 1240
For to oure purpos lakketh neuer adel,
And poruȝ oure manhod we ben assured wel.
But list we ben [not] h olden to hasty,
Or to rakil to werke wilfully 1244
And werre also stant in aventure,
For ay of Marte dotous is þe Ewre
I rede, first to Grekis þat we sende
To wit }if pei our harmys wil* amende,
With-out[e] strif, werre, or more debat
))an may we sayn þat we ben fortunat ;
And $if pei be contrarie to resourc,
To condiscende to þis conclusions, 1252
To graunte oure askyng of equite & ri$t,
]pan haue we cause for to preve our myȝt.
But or þat we procede by rigour,
We schal to hem offeren al mesour,
As fer as riȝt and rescue eke require
And of disdeyn ȝif hem list nat here,
)pan oure qwarel, devoide of wilfullenes,
I-roted is vp-on sik ernes. 1260
And }if þat we of her gret offence
Axe amendis first in pacience,
God and Fortune, I hope, wilne assent,
In þe ende we schal vs nat repente ; 1264
And it is bet by pes to han redresse,
J)an gyraie a werre wȝt/i-out avisenesse.
fter-fore, lat vs our woful aventure
Paciently suffren and endure, 1268
And in our port be but humble & pleyn,
Vp-on answer what þat pei wil seyn.
For þou} so be, in myn entenciou?&,
I meved am by iust occasions 1272
To precede of ire to vengance,
I wil al put out of remembrance,
And lete slyde be forȝetilnes
Jpe wrongis don, & voide al hevines 1276
To-ward Grekis, and of hem axe no more,
But þat pei wil Exyona restore
To vs ageyn, whiche is to me most derre,
Only to stint al debat and werre. 1280
For þe surpluse of our mortal Ewre
We schal dissymvle, & prudently endure
Our harmys olde forpe in pacience,
ȝif ȝe acorde [vn-]to my sentence 1284
Seythe her-vp-on, as $e ben avised
For $if þis sond be of hem despised,*
And þat hem list to resourc nat obeye,
þan we may iustly seke anoper weye 1288
To han redres, for now per is no more,
Sane I purpose to sendyn Anthenor,
Whiche is a man* discrete and avisee,
And specialy in mater of trete, 1292
For he is bothe wyse and eloquent,
As $e wel knowe, & passyngly prudent."
Howe kynge P?iam, by the advyce of his lordes, sente
Anthenore into Grece for restitucyown of Exiown. 1
And whan þe kyng had told his tale anon
To his couwseyl pei consent euerychon, 1296
þat* Anthenor þis lourne vndirtake.
And he in hast gan hym redy make,
WM-oute abode, and nolde nat denye
To take on hym þis embassetrye, 1300
Wei avysed in his discresiouw,
Toke or he went informacioim
From poynt to poynt of þis gret[e] charge
For he hym cast to stondyn at his large, 1304
Wit/i-oute emwr, as he þat koude his gode ;
For he þe effect ful pleynly vndirstode ;
For euery ping he prented in his pou$t
Or þat he went, and forgat riȝt nouȝt; 1308
For of a word he cast hyra nat to faile.
To schip he goth and began to sayle,
And in schort tyme, he & his companye,
Arived ben vp in Thesalye, 1312
At a cite callyd Mynusyus,
Wher by fortune was kyng Pelleus
þe same tyme ; & Anthenor anoon
Vn-to þe kyng þe riȝtfe] weye is goon. 1316
Of whom he was, as Guydo hap cowseived,
At prime face benignely receyved
But whaw he knew þe cause of his * commyng,
He bad in hast, wit/i-oute mor tariyng, 1320
To Anthenor, with a fel visage,
Schortly to seyn þe effecte of his message.
Troyan knyȝt, astonyed neuer-adel,
This 1324
But ful demvr and avised wel,
Nat to hasty nor rakel for to seyn,
But abidynge with loke and face pleyn,
To Pelleus, with a manly chere,
Seide in effect riȝt þus as 30 schal here 1328
)2e worpi kyng, callid Priamws,
1 '
So wyse, so noble, so manly, and fanms,*
And of knyȝthod passyng excellent,
Hath first to 3011 in goodly wyse sent, 1332
Out of Troye, his royal chefe cite,
His ful entent & message her by me,
As I schal seyn to $ou in wordis pleyn,
ȝif it so be þat 36 nat disdeyne 1336
Paciently to ȝeven audience.
Remeinbryng first in ȝour aduertence
Of þe harmys nat ful longe a-go,
And þe wrongis þat 36 wrouȝt also, 1340
Ful cruelly, wȝtft oper eke of ȝours,
In Troye lond on his progenitours,
What Iniuries and distrucciouw,
Causeles, with-oute occasyouw, 1344
ȝe schewed haue of verray cruelte,
And merciles distroyed his cite,
Slayn his fader, named Lamedoura,
And his cite brent and bete doim, 1348
And nouper left paleis, hous, nor tour,
And lad a-wey his riches and tresour,
And nouper spared, as I reherse can,
In 30w slauȝter wo?mnan, child, nor man,
))er myȝtfe] non from ȝour swerd astert.
And ȝit o ping þat most he hap* at hert,
}ȝat his suster, called Exyoura,
Is hold and kepte of kyng Thelamoura, 1356
Dishonestly, ageyn al genterye,
To gret dishonour & gret velenye
Of her kynred, liche as 36 may se,
Tretid nor cheresschid lyk to hir degre 1360
Wherfor, sith* 30 be so wyse a knyȝt,
ȝe ouȝt adue?-te and to haue a syȝt
To swyche pinges, of iust afFecciou?z,
And considre in 1364
Of geiitilnes and of equite,
How swiche wrongis myȝt* amendid be.
Wherfor Priam, of gret avisenes,
As he þat fully wet/i al his besynes 1368
Of hert and wille desire)? pes & rest,
Sendeth to 3011, besechyng for þe best,
J)at 36 wil don jour besy diligence,
To make to hym þis litel recompense, 1372
jpat he may haue restituciou?,
Jjoruj jour knyj[t]ly medyaciouw,
Of his s uster, with-oute lenger space
And þe remenau?zt he wil lete pace, 1376
Strif and werre only to eschewe.
For he desyreth fully for to sewe
Pees and quiete, of hool affeccioim,
And to pursew mesour and resouw, 1380
And finally, liche as 36 may se,
Al occasions of werre for to fle;
Consydereth þis, þat hold[e] ben so sage,
For þis þe fyn fully of my massage." 1384
Whan Pelleus hym pleynly * vnderstod,
Of sodeyn Ire he wexe in hert[e] wood,
Of cher and loke fel and furious,
And of rancour riȝt melencolyous, 1388
J)at he ne myȝt [a]tempre nor apese
J)e hasty fir þat gan his hert[e] sese
For he anoon, in fill dispitous wyse,
Gan Priamws threten and dispise, 1392
And of malis sette* his sond at nouȝt,
With all þe menys þat Anthenor hap souȝt,
And gan also þis Troyan knyȝt manace,
And bad in hast he schuld[e] voide his place, 1396
Yp-on peril þat after falle
And he anoon went out of his syȝt ;
And in al hast, he and his meyne,
Wz't/i-oute abood, taken han 1400
And gan to sailen oute of Thesalye,
And in her weye so fast[e] þei hem hyȝe,
J)at in schort* tyme þei arived be
Vp at Salempne, a myȝty strong cite, 1404
Wher be fortune in þis royal tourc,
))is Anthenor fond kyng Thelamoiro,
And to his palys he hap þe wey[e] nome.
And first, I fynde, whan þat* he was come, 1408
He was accepte[d] vn-to liis presence,
Benyng[e]ly with-oute[n] al offence
For Exion was present in bat tvde,
Of auenture stondyng by his syde. 1412
And at reuerence of hir womanhede,
Of Antenor he toke þe better hede,
Al-be of custom þat kyng Thelamoura
Had hiȝe dispit and indignacioim 1416
Of euery Troyan fat he coude espie ;
For specialy to hem he had en vie,
Of* rancour only, foru$ þe bitter rage,
Whiche in his hert myȝt[e] neuer asswage. 1420
But for al þat, he in pacience
<n
lo Anthenor nap ȝeven audience;
þe whiche anoon, in ful sobre wyse
His tale gan, as I schal deuyse 1424
Sir," quod, he, " with support of ȝour grace,