After the Troyans troupes came forth new raunged on the soyle
With manly mindes and courage good to put their foes to foyle,
In sodain with a maiestie, they martch on Greekish hoste,
And like the Cranes they to the skies their cries and clamours tost,
Who leaue their hils and mountaines hie, great shoures knowing to fal,
And seek their foode by Neptunes shore, where they their armies cal,
For the Pygmeis, with whom ful oft war cruel they do hold,
With stroke of wing, of bil and foote, if they their force vnfold.
The Greeks againe come forward on, yeelding no noise nor crie,
Full wood with rage them to reuenge with furie they drewe nie,
With ardent minde for the desire of victors onely fame,
Eche rescuing his feere, who fought to death to gaine the same.
And as you see in winter time ful oft how fares the mist,
Which western winds scouring ye plains on moutaines hie doth kest,
As much vnto the sheapheards losse as to the robbers gaine:
For who can see a stones throw of ought thing in land or plaine?
Euen so the troupes, when they approcht, the dust was rearde on hie
That neyther Troyan, ne yet Greeke could one another spie.
And when the armies both were raundge, Greekes by the Troyans harde,
Paris with stalking pace aduauncde himself to the Greeks warde
Stoutly calling of the Greekes the valiantst to the fighte,
Body to bodie was his demaunde, to shew therby his might.
The armour which he bare that day, was of Leopardus skinne,
With bow stifbent, and with quiuer, and many a shaft therein,
His sword in hand, and two braue Dartes armed with steele at all,
Which he gan shake, when as the Greekes to combat he did call.
But Menelau his boldnesse spyde, of whom he knowledge had
To be his foe, his hart it leapes, for ioy he groweth glad,
Most Lion like meeting an Hart or Gote he seeking pray
Amid the woods, forst by the Houndes, and Hunters to the bay,
It kild, he taking his repast, is pleasd at his good chaunce:
The Greeke so choosing Paris out, for very ioy doth daunce,
Th'occasion offred to reuenge the wrong him lately done,
And armed as he was, he leapt down from his Chariot soone.
But Paris who saw Menelau this fight in hand should take,
Could not holde out, but yea almost for verie dread gan quake.
And hasting straight reculde, he dred the daunger in this case,
And did retire among his feeres to raunge him in his place,
Euen as the trauelling man ful oft passing Hils great and hie,
Not looked for right in his way finding a Serpent lye,
Doth shunne the way, and step abacke, with colour pale and wan,
With trembling limmes, more like the death than any liuing man.
With this so villanous retreate sir Hector gay was wroth,
The slaunder seeing now would grow, chid Paris for his sloth.
Unhappie Paris, bearing shew as doughtie as the best,
Yet in effect but feminate, with luxure to detest.
Oh would to God thou cowarde vile, in birth thou hadst bene lost:
Such shame to bring thy dolorous sire, and eke thy Country cost:
Seest thou the mirth the Greekes do make for this thy vile retreate,
Who thought thy corpes for braune and bones of armes to beare the feate.
And this is ech mans speech & crie, behold the Greekish sides,
Behold a Masse of flesh, wherin no sprite or strength abides.
You were of force, I know, ere now, your ships to arme and band,
And hoyse your sayles, and turne your course to fetch a strangers lad:
And like a yong man being receivde, into a Princes house
Didst steale away against all right a worthy King his spouse,
To the dishonor and reproch of all the Troyan name,
And by the same there doth redounde to King Priam a shame,
To Greekes a ioy, to thee a griefe, and yet thou wert afright
And erst for dread began to pale with Menelau to fight.
This is thy feare, thou castest thus, that he should thee of life
Depriue, whom thou vnworthy hast depriued of his wife.
Thy voice so sweete, thy pleasaunte tongue, thy lims so feately layed,
Thy bush so seemely to thy sight, thy giftes if all be wayed
Which Venus hath bestowde on thee, should serue to little end
Thy life to saue, if in the fielde with him thou shouldst contende:
Thy coward hart hath in such case now brought ech Troyan wight
Seeing in thee nought worthy praise, that they refuse to fight.
Thy deed deserues to great reproch, wherfore now hie thee hence
Out of my sight, go packe the fourth, and hide in some defence.
Hector chiding Paris thus, tricke Paris straight confest,
Oh brother deare, of right to me this speech you haue addrest.
For why, your force is of suche fauour your courage eke so hie,
That toyle and trauayle is there none it can be hurt thereby.
No more than doth the workmans axe tourne edge, or waxeth blunt
When tymber trees, his worke to ende, the man to hew is wont.
But yet of God the giftes yee ought not thus cast in my teeth,
For Gods the same on men bestow for to reward them with:
And sith of Gods those giftes they haue, let them yeelde him ye praise,
Not metting them by their deserts, but by his wil alwayes.
Wel, if you wil with Menalau the combat I attend,
Appoint the place, that of this strife we two may make an ende.
Turne vs two lose here, in the Greeks and in the Troyans sight,
Placed about vs, let them see of vs the martiall fight.
Who victor shal be, let him haue to recompence his peine,
To make him merry, all the pray, let him possesse Heleine,
And let the Troyans vnto Troy, the Greekes to Greece repeare,
And couenant firmely for to keepe, let both the nations sweare.
Hector seeing Paris thus, buskle vnto the fray,
Maruailes with ioy, before his bands he steps out in the way,
His pike in midst aloft he beares, he wils them al to holde,
And stay theselues, which straight they did as souldiors wel cotrold:
The Greekes cease not to martch, their stones & darts at rando flye,
Gauling the Troyans, til such time Agamemnon did cry,
Cease, cease, (quoth he good Greekes I say) no more do shoote or thro,
To stay his men, out of the troupe the king doth also go:
Content yee yong and worthy lads, I yonder Hector see,
To talke with vs he by his signes doth willing seeme to bee.
The shafts they cease, & straight the Darts no ma doth see to flie,
The Campe was stil as possible might in twinckling of an eye.
Hector seeing such silence made between the hostes, began,
These were the words among them all of that most worthy man.
Heare oh yee Greekes and Troyans both what Paris doth offer
Unto you all, my brother here the author of this war.
He thinkes it good to make an ende of this so mortal fight
That yee aside your weapons laye, and to decide the right
Twixt him and Menelau, he would sharpe weapons should it try,
Faire Heleine should the victor haue him rendred by and by.
With all the pray, and that forthwith, to morrow else by day
Assurance made to keepe the pact ech one depart his way.
The worthy Hector scarse an ende had made now of this case,
But stoute and forwarde Menelau spake thus in open place:
Giue eare yee Greeks and Troyans both vnto these words of mine,
Who shall declare vnto you al my griefe and grieuous pine,
I do agree now for to end this daungerous debate,
Considering erst the trauailes great and mischiefs, which of late
And long sith by both campes sustainde, for the adulterie,
And the iust cause whiche prickes me forth to venge this miserie,
That all men rest, and that Paris against me come, whereby
All yee shall see, who ordainde is by fate to liue or dye.
And to effect that all be done, th'oblation whyche of due
The Gods in such case ought to haue, the pacte to holde more true,
It needeful is, by the Troyans two lambes there be assignde,
The one coale blacke, the other white, Male and Female by kinde,
White be the Male, the female blacke, vnto the summe most cleare
To shed their bloud, and to the earth, of all men dame so deare,
Benigne and auncient mother of man, and we a thirde wil bring,
Which shal be offred vnto Ioue that great and mighty King.
I woulde also for suretie more, one went for olde Priam,
That for this pact and couenaunt made, he ratifie the same,
For his children all Greece wel knows, are promisse breakers all,
Falsers of Faith, and vnto chaunge yong heades aire alway thral:
The olde man if he sweare the othe, if bounde he see he be,
He wil abide no treason then, nor offer iniurie.
This fight agreed, the Citizens, and souldiors strange of Troy
The Troyans all, the Greekes ech one, hereof beginne to ioy,
In hope an end shall now be made of this their wretched warre,
With busie toile they rounde about do place their horse afarre,
And keeping order, forthwith then they from their Chariots light,
Their shields, their launces down they lay, and harnesse fit for fight,
Leauing good scope betweene them both, ful fit by fight to trye.
The ioly Hector Heraults two to Troy sends by and ly,
Two Lambes to fetche, and hast Priam t'allowe all this accorde.
Talthybius eke went to the shippes, commanded by his Lord
Agamemn, to fetche the Lambe vnto the company,
Which was appointed as before, for the ceremonie.
This while from the Olympus high Iris made his repaire
To Troy, to tell these newes to hir, who fairest is affaire.
The shape she tooke of hir sister belovde, faire Laodice,
Who marryed had Elicaon, Anthenors sonne the wise.
She founde the faire not idle tho, but working busilie,
She in hir chamber made a peece of worthy Chiualrie,
Wherin was wrought of Troyans and of Greekes the worthy Acts,
Most cunningly in portrature, their sallies and their facts,
Their chargings oft, their cruel fight, their meetings one to one,
Which both the Campes continually, made for hir loue alone.
Arise quoth Iris, come Heleine, and in the plaine hard by,
The Citie here, thou straight shalt see things wondrous to thine eye:
Those whom thou hast ech day beheld, in wont deale doleful blowes,
In daungerous war, thou shalt see rest, togither in sundry rowes.
And some there leaning on their shields, wel wearie of their toyles,
And Menelau with Paris shal (to end these wars and broyles)
Fight hand to hand, and he who shall the better part obtaine,
Thee shall he haue by one consent, as glorie of his gaine.
These newes declarde, with a desire this Heleines minde is sped
Of hir first spouse, and countrey towne, wherein she first was bred,
Of hir parents, to see them once, a time this Heleine prayes
With them to leade hir life againe, and furnish forth hir dayes.
She riseth vp, and deckes hir selfe with gorgeous attire,
And out she goes, distilling teares, as they wel saw stoode by hir.
And not alone, she with hir led Climean and Aethrea,
And goes vnto the greatest port that named is Sciea.
Where on the Bulwarkes they might see at ease the fields so wide,
There king Priam with Lordes of state was set on euery side,
To shrowde them in the shade within the pentus of the Wal,
Tymets, Lampus, Clytus, Panthus, in vertues famous all.
Hicetaon renoumde in warre, also Vcalegon
Of late that was of boysteous braine, and eke Anthenor one,
As good a man of warre as they, but now for councel out,
The aged dads there closely sit, the scortching heate they dout.
As Grashoppers the olde men chat, when two or three are founde
In Sommer time amid the Grasse, and make a charming sounde.
They loking on the heauenly Greeke, good cause confessed, why
Both campes should make such toile & stirre, and eke so long shold try,
Hir beautie, wayed that was more than any earthly worke,
Which in hir Goddesse visage there did shine and seeme to lurke:
Yet they auoucht, it better were to yeelde hir home to goe,
Without abode, for to eschew the mischiefes, which might grow
By keeping hir stil as they did: as she arriued than
Wheras they sat, the king hir callde, and thus to hir began.
Come thou to me my daughter faire, here down by me do sit,
Leaue off thy mone, leaue off thy tears, which from thine eyes do flit.
Do not consume lamenting thus, come see thy husband here,
And all the Greekes thy kinsmen eke, and coosins all so deere.
Oh Ioues wil is not that in thee I should th'occasion lay
Of my mishaps, which yeeldes my griefe, no, no, the gods are they
Who for the better to reuenge themselues of me and mine,
Desire by this wretched warre t'afflict vs all with pine.
Come neere, and leaue your bashfulnesse, and of the Greekes declare
Your neighbours kindred and alies and who you neerest are.
What, who is he is formost there, of middle pitch and bone,
With countenaunce graue, as I forethinke, I neuer saw yet one
Since I was borne, so wel beseene as he in euery thing,
And sure he beares the port and shew, and grace of some great king.
Then answerde Heleine thus the King with humble voyce & saide,
My most deare Lord, thy reuerent state doeth yeelde me wel afraide,
When to thy presence I resort, but would to God by death
Before the turmoyles of this warre I yeelded had my breath:
And chiefely when to follow with thy sonne, I was so mad,
Leauing my husband, many a Dame and gentle pheere I had,
My brethren, and my daughter both, then both we free from wo
Had bene as now, but what helpe when il lucke wil haue it so?
Sent for to do your graces will, who doth commaunde the same:
For him you aske, that prince he hath Agamemnon to name.
A King both wise and stoute in warre, of Atreus eke the heire,
To whom the Campe in all obeyes, and their alliegance beare.
Who now long sith, when we in peace and suretie al did swim,
Was vnto me brother in law, and I sister to him.
The peerelesse faire holding hir peace, Priam with maruel mazde,
Hearing Agamemnons honor thus declarde, set forth, and blazde,
Could not himselfe then hold his peace, but gan his prayse to crie,
O fortune good, thou Agamemn art more than twice happie
Sith worthy Prince of chilualrie, the hie Gods in thy hands
To thy good hap do put the Greekes, to leade and rule their bands.
So that by thee is gouernde now, conducted at thy wyll,
So great an host arriued here, whiche doth al Phrigie fil.
When I was yong, and valiance had, and prowesse, I do minde,
That on this land the Amazones did warre, women in kind,
Yet folke in warre of great exploites, whose force for to withstand,
We driuen were to call such strength, as nere was in this lande.
Then Otrus and Migdon marching againste them in their way,
Their footemen and their horsemen both did in a valley stay,
Nie Sangar floude with streame so long, to their succors I came,
They made me chief, yet our gay bands ye Greeks now passe ye same.
After he castes his sight aside on Vlysses, and sayes,
Ah gods, daughter mine yet once againe come on your wayes,
Tel me what Greeke is that I see, with shoulders, breast, and wast
So well beset, and not so high as Agamemnon last,
Who wt so good a grace, and armd goes round about the Greekes,
As doth the mightie Belweather with hairie cote and cheekes,
Who for the better keeping in the goodly flockes of sheepe,
Goes by them stil, and rounde about, and from them doth not keepe.
It is (quoth she) Vlysses of a good and seemely shape,
Yet wiser in his fetchers, who, although he had the hap
To be brought vp in Countrie rude among the countrie clownes,
Yet he in head and witte doth passe the Greekish Kings renownes.
Worthy Princesse, thou sayest most true bespake Anthenor then,
My selfe doth know it very wel: for I remember when
Both he and Menelaus did Embassadors come hither,
They wer then lodgde at my pore house, whom I receivde togither,
And made them suche cheere as I could, as they my sons had beene,
Where I their counsel, mind, and gifts do think my selfe haue seene.
Or my coniecture thought them great, and chiefly when to vs
In counsell they themselues were calld, their message to discusse.
Menelaus standing vp was taller for his height,
But being set, Vlisses seemde more graue in things of weight,
And abler to maintaine the case, for Menelaus was
A man of fewe words, and in vaine from him did nothing passe.
His speech was pithie, wise and apt, and ful of gentlenesse,
And though Vlisses had more yeares, he vsed no excesse
Of words, but when it came to point that speake Vlisses should,
Wert neere so little, in the ayre cast vp his head he would.
And would a while cast down his sight most like a senselesse loute,
As one by rage and choller were from reason cleane put out.
Which well was shewed by his Mace, which he vnhansome bare,
But when he spake, he eloquence most heauenly did declare.
His words came forth like winter snow, such store he did vnfolde,
As hauing done, none with him durst any contention holde,
Nor yet of any thing he sayde did any doubt at all,
Nor question aske, his talke was such, as to the Gods befall.
King Priam curious more to know, had cast aside his eyes,
And finding Aiax of Heleine enquired in this wise:
Who is that goodly Prince, (to aske the old man doth begin)
Who is a Giaunt to the rest, none of them retch his chin.
She vnto this made aunswere thus: It is Aiax the strong,
Who is best hope, defence and wall, that to the Greekes belong.
And he, who stands hard by him there, is the good king of Creete
Idomene, among his folke obeyed with honor great,
As if some mightie God he were, whom often I haue seene
(He passing by) with Menelau at our house to haue bene.
And many moe, as wel as he, whose names I wel do know,
But not to see my brethren here, doth cause my griefe to grow.
The Castor gay that worthy knight with Pollux without Peere
In feats of armes, in they in this war haue not vouchsaft I feare
To take a part, but if they did arriue here with the rest,
The irksome sorrow, grief and care, which hath their minds opprest,
To see my wants and my mishaps, and chaunce, yea very filth,
Hath sent them home, & they abasht, with cares their harts it kilth.
Thus saide the faire, but hir brethren long ere these things befel
Were dead, and in the towne of Sparte they were intombed wel.
This while the two Heraults they did prepare all things at ful,
That best shuld serue, they from the flocke two labes of choyce did cull
And with good wine that licour likt, of Goate a ful great hide
They fild top vp, the which was brought by th'Arault called Ide
They for the misterie most meete a massie basen brought
Of polisht gold, and eke of gold two cups most finely wrought.
Thus furnisht, to king Priam they shewed their Embassaide
They willing him to come himself, these were the words they sayde:
O peerelesse king of all renowme, we feare we haue bene sloe,
The chiefest of thy subiects all in field attend thee loe,
The Greekes will now make such accorde, in mind that ay shall last,
Your sonne Paris his right to trie, with Menelau doth cast,
By hand to hand and force of fight, who victor shall arise,
Shal in reward haue faire Helene, and gifts of worthy price.
All discordes by this meane shall end, for Greekes to Greece shall hie,
Troyans shall haue for war sustaind, their peace wishte earnestly.
Without your Grace nought can be done, for it is meete you sweare
For full suretie of this combate which is agreed on there.
The good olde man was fearfull straight, for wel he knew, in hand
Fondly was tane this enterprise, whereto they meane to stande:
Yet he commaundes his Chariot, and for his horsses calles,
They ioinde to it, all things were done, which in such case befalles.
With him he tooke Antenor olde, and to the field they haste,
Who scouring with a sweeping pace, came to the campe at laste,
And in the midst presente themselues: and lighted when they were,
Vlysses graue, and Agamemn, did come and meete them there.
The Heraults there eke shewde themselues, right gay and richly clad
With ornaments whych longs them to, and no delay was had,
But straight proceedes before them all to the ceremonie:
And first with good and pleasant wine, they skinke the cuppes on hie
To the chiefe Lords, this pacte t'allowe, to wash one water beares:
The gret Greek then doth draw his knife, ye which he always weares
By his left side, and of the Lambes the wooll he doth cut out
From twixt the browes, for the Heraults to part amids the rout
To the Princes, that hereafter repent none of them can.
The wooll receivde, his handes eke washt, Agamemn thus began,
With ioyned hands, and lifted vp, his prayer thus did make:
O mightie Ioue, who dost vouchsafe thy dwelling for to take
On Ida hil, and there to rule, O Sunne most bright I call,
Who sees this plaine, and knowes all things: O earth and riuers all,
I you beseech my prayers heare, you God infernall eake
So full of power, who al mischiefe so egerly do wreake,
Of fondling folke, who cal the Gods their witnes when they sweare,
And straight to be moste false forsworne they neither care nor feare,
Be Testes here, cause this accorde so sacred be fulfilld:
If it so be, that by Paris, or Menelau be killd,
Without repining we agree faire Helene shall be his,
The goods he shall enioy, the whiche he rauend once amisse,
Here promising to raise the siege, and straight to Greece returne,
If Menelau my brother like (if hap so serue his turne)
With hand this Paris do subdue, that then this Gretian faire
With worthy mends for wrong sustaind to vs forthwith repaire,
And yearly that there be some rent, or tribute for the same
Assignde our heires for our renowme, to shew their fault and shame.
And if that he shoulde vanquish thus, and Priams sonnes refuse
To keepe their othe and promise made, and so the Gods abuse,
If King Priam shall also hap for lacke and want of harte
To fault the same: I here protest I wil not hence departe
This countrey fro, nor turne elsewhere, vntil I see it wast,
The Troyans slaine, their Citie burnt, and therein fiers plast.
Thus hauing sayd, then with his knife the two yong lambs he slue,
And weakly sprawling in their bloud, on groud from him he threw,
And many present in that place, the same did also vowe,
And powring wine vppon the earth thereof they did allowe.
Among the which some Troyan Knight, or Onea souldior Greeke
Nowe spent and worne with the warres, thus made his prayer eke:
O Gods of mercie, who wel sees, what here is done alway,
O graunt that he for whose default now this accord shal stay,
(As rebel vnto your decrees) with brayning be he sped,
And for his gilte, let of his ympes the braines be also shed.
And let an other haue his wife their prayer thus did go.
But for al this their iust request, the Gods yet would not so.
Againe Priam perceiuing well, that thus this geare woulde fodge,
Said to the Greekes and Troyans both, I thinke it best I trodge,
If you my Lordes so thinke it good, my grief will not, in sight
That I this quarrell for to end, should see my sonne to fight.
The mightie Gods agree, that death for one shall be his gaine,
And haue appointed whych of both with conquest shal remaine.
Forthwith with him he tooke the Labs, & mounteth on his chaire,
And Antenor, and from the preasse to Troy they straight repaire.
The lustie Hector and Vlysse this while do go about
To mette the place, most fit for fight, the which they measure out
In mids betweene the armies both: and then for proofe they craue,
Of the first stroke for t'assaile who shall the honor haue:
Two lots they make, as in suche case the custome is to trie,
And in an helmet they do put two billets by and by,
For eche of the Combatants one: who first was drawne by lot,
Of first assailing of his feere the licence thereby got.
The souldiors all carefull to see, did fixe their minds and eyes
On this helmet, and to the Gods with heart thus sent their cryes:
O Ioue thou God of Gods, of men high king, and king most chief,
Grant thou that grace this day, that he, who causeth this mischiefe,
May downe to the infernall shades descend, and there arest,
And that the Greekes and Troyans free, may liue in peace and rest.
Hector from his helmet then his countnance hauing wried,
To parte the lots did turne them oft, them better to diuide.
He putteth in his hand, and out the lot of Paris drewe,
And forthwith straight to voide the place himself ech man withdrew,
And glad eche one sits round about: and Paris who assaile
Must Menelau, at all points wel to arme him doth not faile.
Then firste his gallant greues he tooke which customly he ware,
His Cuysses which were fastened to by art and mickle care,
With buttons gay, and buckles great of siluer therevppon,
And of Lycaon strong and sure he put the Curets on.
One would haue thought (they seemd so fit) it moulded was for him:
A massie sword he girt, which hong with siluer nailes ful trimme.
And on his shoulder he doth cast a strong and mightie targe,
His head to hap an helmet rych, with crest right long and large,
Gastful to see, made of the taile of some horse very great,
As oft as he cast vp his head, it also seemd to threat.
In fine, an armed Darte with steele to his right hand doth yeeld,
And thus with porte, and visage fierce, he commes into the fielde.
There was no souldior, no so stout, for feare who did not quake,
To see the hazarde of the case, when they beganne to shake
Their Darts at their approch, & more, their marks & gestures bold.
Paris stoutly stalking out, first there the fielde doth holde,
He manly first assailes, and forth his dart doth strongly launce,
The which in mids of the Greekes shield did stifly hit by chaunce,
But onely saue the vtter skin, no force it had to sturre,
The shields defence so put it backe, that pierce it coulde not furre.
For this yet was not Menelau one whit appalld at all,
He bid the blowe, and stepping forth, to prayer thus doth fall:
O mightie Ioue, who knowes the right, the man do thou me make,
Who of his foe for his offence nowe iuste reuenge may take.
Direct good Lorde, that he may dye, as his deserts do craue,
That babes not born, may heare & know what stroke his fault should haue,
To make them feare their friendly Ius, as wretches to defile,
Where strangers are with ciuiltie well vsed euery while.
Forthwith he shooke his speare, when as these words he did rehearse,
And with such force at Paris threwe, that it his shielde did pierce,
His Curets eke it thirled throwe, and al the cloutes he ware
Hard to his shirte, and eft the steele had kist his carcasse bare,
But then that Paris wried at last, and so the blowe did shunne.
After the stroke, then Menelau his gorgeous blade begunne
Out of his siluer sheath to drawe, which heauing vp he takes,
And striking him vpon his helme, his foe amazed makes.
Still laying on, at the thirde stroke his sworde in peeces flue,
Wherewith, as one distraught he cryed: O Ioue, thou God vntrue,
I now well see you can doe naught, Of al the Gods you are
The most malitious, yea of all, who in the skies repaire:
Alas I thought the time was come my foe I should confound,
But now my Iauelin I haue sent, not causing any wounde,
My sword in two: yet raging wood vpon him he doth fly,
And by the Crest he caught him fast, enforcing mightily
To driue and thrust him out of field, as one had conquest wonne,
By meanes his chin band chokte him so: the same then had he done,
But Venus who his safetie would, did cause it breake in twaine,
So saue his morreyne, Menelau had naught else for his gaine:
Which he among his mates doth throw, and meaning for to pay
His bared pate, the Goddesse tho, forthwith conueyed away
The Carpet Knight, bewrapping him in cloude of mistie aire,
She brought to town, wher she pluckte off the armor which he ware,
His bones to rest, she plaste him in, one of his Chambers all,
Which most did smoke wyth pleasant smels, and Helene went to cal,
Who in a Towre past the time, about hir many moe,
Both Troyan Dames and gentle folke deuising to and fro.
Venus not willing to be knowne, in humaine shape appeares
In Greas forme, the good handmaid, nowe wel ystept in yeares,
In broiderie worke a minion odde, no lesse in spinning eake,
Who pulling Helen by the skirte, did thus the silence breake.
Madame, your Paris doth commaunde, that I should will you hie
His lodging to, where in such ray, you shal there find him lie,
You will not trow he lookes so fresh, he commes now from the fight,
Youle iudge he coms fro dauncing sport, he seems so tricke a wight.
Thus spake the amorous Goddesse tho, inspiring in hir sprite,
The mighty flame, who knowing wel, hir breast and necke so white,
Beholding wel the flaming eye there of the heauenly stocke.
What mean you quoth she by this trade me this wise for to mocke:
What, nowe yet once againe as wife to giue me do you meane
In Phrigie townes or Meonie, or in some further realme,
For to rewarde some seruant thine, sith he, who by strong hand
Tooke me away, thou vanquisht seest, and I to Greekish lande
Yet once againe must make returne? and wherefore do you vse
This fained talke, and hyde your shape me onely to abuse?
I do beleeue the blinde desire of this thy Paris loue
Which holds thee now, hath causd thee leaue the skies & Gods aboue,
To be the slaue and Concubine of him thy darling dere,
Sith it is so, then plie him well, stir not but tarry here.
Ile couche no more with thee good Knight, within a paire of sheetes,
(I force no deale) I promise him, with me he nener meetes.
The Dames of state and Troyan wiues might scorn at me their fil,
With fleering tauts & slinting sleights, for spite which wold me kill.
When as the Goddesse heard these words, which forth in heat she flog,
She spake hir thus: yu wretched else I reade thee hold thy tong,
Striue not with me if thou beest wise, least if thou stirre mine ire,
And that I kindly courst thee to, little to thy desire.
And least that as I haue bin friend I do become thy foe,
And seeke suche meanes as Goddesse nowe to moue againste thee so:
The Greekish hearts & Troyans both, yea al thy hope cleane gone,
The death with one consent they shall bestowe on thee anone.
The faire was mated by this rage, she with a countnance sowre,
Couering hir face with hir riche robe coms down straighte from the towre,
And softly followed Venus there, who hir to chaber brought,
The traine to talke, and some to weaue, and some the distaffe caught.
The place was trickly decked vp, the place where Helene sat
By Venus wil was placed there before hir husband flat,
Who did him earnestly behold, and swelling yea with wrath,
The very botome of hir minde she doth declare, and saith:
Then you are come you sorie sir, and luckie carpet knight
From this combat so daungerous, and eke fierce warlike fight.
O would to God my first husband had hapt thy life to daunt,
In field with thee he durst not cope thou wonted wert to vaunt,
You would haue eate him at the first, and now you run away:
Leaue him, and be no more so brag his force for to assay,
If that you loue your selfe: the Greeke brast out these words in rage,
But Paris curteously desires hir furie to assuage.
Sweet heart (quoth he) this passion leaue, and with me be not greued,
Though that the Greeke haue warde me nowe, for ye he was releued
By Minerua, the time will be, that I shall be his rod,
And vanquish him, when as I shal be fauourd by some God:
I knowe I am not so farre gone out of their fauors cleane,
But in my great affaires somewhat to aide me they do meane.
I pray thee now mine own sweet hart some better countnance showe,
Be mery once, and vnto rest let vs togither goe.
For (as me thinke) greater desire I had not any while,
No, when with thee I eabband first within Crance the Ile.
After these words, the faire was broght to bed so gorgeous drest,
Where without further doe they both two louers went to rest.
This while Menelau raging wood, more furious than the wilde
And sauage beast, doth nought but seeke his foe about the fielde,
To ridde him quite, but no Troyan, nor of themselues not one
Could him descrie, for they wist not, nowe whether he was gone,
And if they had, to keepe him close, there serue no friendship could,
But to the campe to shewe him forth they meant and surely woulde.
For now th'aduoutrie broad and knowne, & laid thus in their dishe
For sodaine end & fearful death with hate the souldiours wish.
Agamemnon then seeing plaine that there to ech mans sight
The famous conquest did belong to Menelau of right,
If so that they would rightly iudge, stept forth, and thus he spake,
Ye Troyan crues, and forraines, who their quarrell good to make,
Come vnder their ensignes to war, I peale vnto you all,
You Menelau haue seene by force (your faith and truths I call)
And martiall fight to ouercome your Paris, who is fled.
Restore the Greeke, and wealth wherewith once theefe away he yed,
Cause that we nowe be satisfied, and more for honor due
Which is deservd, do ye to Greeks a certaine rent renue,
To vs and our posteritie by Troyans to be payed.
Herewith his souldiors praise him much, and lo the wordes he sayed.

Finis tertij Libri