After the Gods had left the fight, the broile againe beganne
Among the Greekes and Troyans both, and nere so sore as than.
Many a slaying darte was seene on eche side in the fray,
That none coulde iudge the doubtfull end betweene them of that day.
In field so many corses fel, where Xanthus riuer flowes,
And Simois spreads hir bancks, where store of trees & herbage groes.
The worthy Aiax Telamon of his part was the furst,
The rampire sure of Greekishe campe, that Troyan order burst,
And to his souldiors maketh way that victors they may be:
One of the chiefe, a Thracian Prince in sight there murders he,
Hight Acamas: betweene the crest and helmet toppe, he strake
So iust, that hard vnto the braine the scull with brande he brake,
And in the forehead notchte him deepe, wherwith the grieuous paine
Of wounde so wide, with darksome death his eyes it did retaine.
And Axilus there Theuthras sonne, was slaine by the hands
Of Diomede, a souldior odde of all the Troyan bands.
His dwelling was Arisba towne, with walles wel closed rounde,
Where many a straunger he had lodgde, to whome did oft abounde
His curtesie to vse them well: but yet his vsage good
And gentle hart did not so boote, when in this plight he stoode,
That he might meete with friend or guest, to yeeld him helpe or aide:
The faithfull guider of hys horse along by him is laide,
Calesius his seruant there, yspitted through with wound,
To keepe him company, he falles flat groueling on the ground.
Euryalus bereft of life Opheltius, and eke
Dresus, and olde Bucolions sonnes he serued with the leeke.
They wist not how to saue themselues, the one Pedasus hight,
Both twinnes, the other Esopus, a well rynowmed Knight,
The gentle and the worthy Nais, called Nymph Abarbare,
Unto the saide Bucolion them secretly she bare:
At such time, when from Ilion he, vnto the mountaine came
To sporte himselfe, and to enioy the loue of beauties Dame,
Who then a simple shepehearde she, the fearney pasture on
Did keepe hir sheepe, he was the sonne of King Laomedon:
But leauing sire, and countrey both, aside their loue he laide,
Then caught with fierie sparke of loue of that so gentle maide.
In selfe same rancke Meneptoleme downe dingeth Astile deade,
Vlysses sworde doth at a blowe strike off Pidices head.
Areton is by Teucer hurte, and tumbles in his bloud:
Antilochus eke Nestors sonne, that forward souldiour good
Ful well doth knowe to do as muche to Abler, there he glides
His Iaueline, wherwith dead he dies, it shot through both his sides.
Agamemn seeyng them thus slaine, he forward thrusteth on,
And Elatus he doth fordoe, whose lyuing lay vppon
The pleasaunt bancke of Satnyon floud, whereas it was not small
In Pedase towne ciuile and riche, and stately plast withall.
And Philacus taking his flight, Leytus with death him charmes:
Euripilus seeing his friends doing suche feates of armes,
Doth shake his darte, and at the first (he needes not many blowes)
He doth Melanthius ouerretch, and dead him ouerthrowes.
Among the rest to shew himselfe desires Menelay,
He takes Adrestus there aliue, who then doth runne away:
But by ill lucke with Chariot so his horses braue did stumble
Against a stub of Iuniper, that downe it fast doth tumble:
Wherewith the beame full sore it brake, the coursers, who wel knew
Themselues at large, to Troy the towne in course amaine they flewe,
Leauing their Maister in the fielde: but Menelay, that faste
Doth follow on, steppes at an ynche, when downe he sees him caste,
To slay him with his loftie launce vpon him he doth flie,
But Troyan kissing there his knees, entreats him humblely.
Thou Atreus sonne, I you beseech, graunt vnto me I say
Pardon of this my wretched life, such raunsome wil I pay,
As you your selfe will thinke right great, if graunt my sute you wul:
My sire is riche, a house he hath with foyson stuffed full,
Of iewels, gold, yron, and brasse, which whole shall be your own,
And all he hathe me to redeeme, when well it shall be knowne
I am aliue, to gaine this wealth, your mercie graunt to me:
As captiue Menelaus then to take him did agree,
Thinking to giue him to his folke, vnto his shippe or tent
To leade him safe: A stay doth come that failes the mind he meant.
For the great Greeke Agamemnon came to the Market than
With his brother, he chast in rage, and thus to him beganne:
Thou coward great, what makes thy mind to pitie any whit
Or grieue for these false Troians here? haue they deserued it
Of thee at al? when in thy house as guests they harbourd ware,
Did they deserue so good a turne, as thus thou shouldst them spare?
It shall not boote, for all the broode in peeces shal be torne,
Yea ene the very sucking babes, and such as are not borne,
They die shall al the bitter death, by these, these handes of ours,
And passe the sworde, and in shorte time we shall enioy their toures.
The chieftaine Greeke with these his words turnd Menelaus so,
As to his councell he consents, this prisoner he doth go,
And thrusts and chases him away, Agamemn was not stanche,
He falles on him, and with a stripe he slayes him in the panche.
But for to plucke his Iaueline out, he forced was to stride
Upon the carcasse: in the while there Nestor hard beside,
Tending the fight, exhortes the Greekes, and thus to them he spoke:
O valiant friends you Mars his impes, couragious charging foke,
To gaine this victorie at hand sticke not to take some toile,
Giue once a lustie charge, set not your mindes vpon the spoile,
Til that you see them murdred al, your darts and launces file
Their corpses in before the pray, that yee after a while
The glorie had, them at your ease and pleasure ye may strippe,
Then shall we in our roomie keeles their wealthy treasure shippe.
These wordes enflamed so their harts, that victors they were than:
The Troyans put vnto the worse, vnto their Citie ranne,
And had forsaken cleane the field, but that King Priams sonne
Sage Helenus did keepe them backe, as they away did runne.
Who viewing well this cruel chase, to Hector there he hies,
And to Æneas, vnto whome, sith in you two it lies
(Quoth he) the leading and the charge of all our men and bands,
As two the expertst princes here, that with our faction stands:
My friends, in this defecte you ought this day some meanes prouide,
That it be easd, stay this reproche: what, stande and doe abide,
And shew your selues now diligent, do you our souldiors call
Togither here before the gates, and do exhort them all
Againe the battel to beginne, if so they loue their liues,
And will not be in peeces cut before their dolefull wiues,
Yea in their bosomes and their lappes, who seeing so their flight
Shall be ashamde, we in the while wil trauaile all our might
To stay them, though our forces are diminished too much,
It yet will boote, we thus constrainde, bycause our neede is such,
And as for thee O Hector thou, according to my reede,
Thou shalt to Troy to Hecuba our gentle mother speede,
And will hir for to call to hir the womens troupe eche one,
The chastest and the worthiest, and she with them to gone
Unto the Temple reuerent of sage and wise Minerue
Inuincible, with such habites, as beste she doth reserue
In all hir Courte, the richest stuffe, and chiefe elabourd geare
With simple and with lowly heart deuoutly let hir beare,
Them on the Goddesse heauenly knees with humble mind to lay,
With Orisons to promise hir with crouched vow to pay
Eche yeare a solempne sacrifice, hir fauour so to get,
Of Beeues twelue, or Bulles that yet to yoke were neuer set.
Which also let them bring with them, that it may please hir bend
To take in hand our babes and wiues, and people to defend,
As far as may be, keeping off from this Citie of ours,
The cruel dreadful Diomede: not al the Greekish powers
Togither set, as I beleeue, can do so much in fight
As he alone, I neuer sawe our folke in suche a plight
Forsake their ranckes, and so afeard, no for Achilles hee
Namde Thetis sonne, as I beheld them here away to flee,
By furie and by dreadfull actes of this redoubted Greeke,
Who to no other mortall man but to himselfe is leeke.
This was the prudent Helens minde, seeing before his eyes
The daunger that his friends were in: Hector to him agrees,
And downe he commeth from his chare, two gallant dartes he held,
Among the stoutest souldiors then forthwith himselfe he weld,
And like a stout and worthy head he willes them weld their swordes
Yet once: The Troyans fiercily stand at those his onely wordes.
The Grecians were constrained then to stay and leaue the chace,
And to recule, seeing them thus to shewe suche fearlesse face.
For they did feare some God fro skies was come down in their aide,
And made them turne eft to the fight in suche a sodaine braide:
Where with their courage Hector lauds, and gentelly them cheeres:
O forraine Knights and Citizens, my valiant friendly feeres,
(Quoth he) to shew your selues like men the present time it bindes,
To helpe the peril we are in, put to your warlike mindes:
Now shew the prowesse oft to me you promist to employ,
March on with hardie countnaunce nowe, while I do go to Troy
Our Ladies al, and our good Queene, and antient Dames t'entreat
To make their prayers to the Gods, and solempne vowes beheat,
That from this daunger it wil please their Godheads vs to shield.
The Prince of prowesse ending thus, there left them in the fielde,
To Troy he goes, his targe ytackte, with sable leather thong
Well hapte him rounde, from shoulders his vnto his heeles it hong.
Glaucus aduanced forth himselfe these things a doing thus,
Th'illustre and the worthy sonne of good Hippolochus,
There man to man to try himselfe, and shewe some deede of worth,
To whome the mightie warlike knight Diomede commeth forth:
But valiant Diomede at hand and wel disposd to fight,
Before they ioyne, dothe speake him thus: Thou worthy champion Knight
Among the rest a warlike one, a stout and sturdie sire,
That here wil come to deale with me, thy name I do desire,
(If so thou wilt) ful muche to knowe, for why, I haue not seene
Thee in the warre so forward erst, thou hardie art I weene,
And armed wel with hope I see, and surely thinkes to stand,
And to sustaine the waightie blowe of this my mightie hand:
Unhappy fathers I haue made ynow, their sonnes can tell,
Who hazarding with me the fight, their soules haue sent to Hel.
But seeing this thy haute attempte, I forst am to suppose
Thou art a God from hie come downe, or else, himselfe to loose
Some mortall man with simple sense: if so thou art a God,
Declare thy selfe, I wil giue place, and thou shalt haue the rod.
I wil not purchase to my selfe Licurgus danger so,
Who for hys rashnesse to the Gods, reward receiued tho
Of wretched life and paineful death. On the mountaine of Nyse,
It happened that Licurgus there the women did aduise
To doe to Bacchus seruice due, his festalls when they were
With slippes of Uine their heads vpon: but so he dothe them feare.
He following on, that eche constrainde the sacred Crowne they fall,
Whereat (good God) he doth reioyce and pleasures therewithall.
For why, the murderer with goade so sore them on did pricke,
And scoft his fil, and worse than that, he rashly doth not sticke
To minde disgrace, yea, to the God, whome rudely he dothe chace,
And thunders out aloude his threats, but Bacchus flies apace,
And hardly scapeth from his clawes, and forth he goes his wayes
To marine Thetis, who receiues him gently in the seas,
Yea trembling yet for feare to fall into the cruel powre
Of suche a gripe. At this offence ful sore the Gods do lowre,
And forthwith did reuenge the same, reauing Licurgus sight,
But for a time: not so content, to punish him aright
His life they ended wretchedly: If so thou please, this while
Tel me thy name, who was thy sire, and vse therein no guile.
And if thou art no God, but one that feedes with wine and bread,
Drawe nie, if thy desire it be here to be tumbled dead.
Then Glaucus boldly answerde him, and with a comely grace,
Dost thou enquire of my descent? quoth he, mankinde the race
Is fraile, and fading like the leaues, and hath no longer time:
For as we see the braunches greene, alway when happes the Prime,
Yclad with leaues, which Autumn winds down tumbles off the trees
With hard and hoarie frostes, wherewith their verdure they do leese,
And when the colde hath played his part, their hue againe they haue:
Ene so mankind to day aliue, to morrowe in his graue.
And if to day one yeelde his life, another commes as faste,
One dead, one borne, and so it commes the store it stil doth last.
But if you long to vnderstand my house, my stocke, and kinne,
Though almost al men knowe the same, and worthy it hath bin:
Yet harke, and I will tel the same. In Argos goodly land,
The whiche for feeding beares the name, there Ephyra doth stand,
A Citie of so great reporte whereas their Court they held
My parents good, and sceptres eke in Princely state did weld.
Of Eolus the first was sonne, the mightie Sisyphus,
Who did enioy such masse of wealth, and he begat Glaucus:
Of Glaucus came Bellerophon, such honor great that got,
To whome the Gods as singular, with liberall loue did lot
Beside the fauour and the shape, which happes to him alone,
Such force and strength, as to the like arriued neuer none.
That time a King Proetus hight in Greece did sceptre holde,
Whose wealth was great, vnder whose raigne th'immortal Gods so would
Bellerophon his tender yeares and youth with him he spends,
Who had his linage much in price: but there the King pretends
Gainst him, and to procure his death he after doth conspire:
Not willingly, but woode thereto by the wicked desire
Of Andia his wife, who then enflamde with whorish loue,
Could finde no meanes to haue hir will, nor yong mans fancie moue:
No, though she sued earnestly, lamented, whinde, and howlde,
Wherefore in moode she turnd to spite, when nothing gaine she could.
So that the vehement liking turnd to hate, yea, by and by,
One day she commes hir husband to with countnance like to die,
And spake him thus: choose of these two and thinke to do the one.
Either to die thy selfe, or else to slay Bellerophon.
Who gone about hath to assault thy honor, it to blot,
Meaning by force to rauish me, when as preuailed not
His fawning toyes and sewing tales, to end his fonde desire
Thus sets the trayterous iade the king with griefe and wroth a fire,
Who straight doth thinke to be reuengde, yet deemes not he it wel
Bycause he was one of his house, in house him there to quell,
He likes of treason in the case, to treason then he goes:
Malicious, false, and ful of guile he letters doth compose,
Which he vnto his father in law king Rheon sends away
The Lycian prince to deale herein, he doth king Rheon pray
And that without returne of word he cause the bearer die.
When as Proetus thus had writ, the yong man presently
He sendeth forth, he takes his way, with gods his guides he goes,
In Lyce they cause him to arriue, where head of Xanthus flowes,
Which floud the prouince watereth: At his first lighting there
The prince receivde him curteously, with ioy and ioyly cheare.
Nine days throughout right braue they feast, ye baquets were not bad,
Nine chosen Beeues on th'alters layde, th'immortall Gods they had.
And all to welcome this new guest: And now when comth ye tenth,
The king then of Bellerophon to know the message menth:
And whether that he letters brought had from his son in law:
The packet false he toke the king, which hauing red, he saw
The treason and the deede deuisde, he faines and holds him stil,
Minding the letters whole effect at ful for to fulfil,
And for to kil the messenger, his force yet wil he say,
Against Chimere he him imployes that monster dire to slay,
The gastfulst thing that ere was seene: which beast ye Gods on hie,
To see reuengde the hateful facts of humaine trecherie,
Had formde by nature of such shape, ful hidious and ful rare.
The head and breast right Lion like, the midst the forme it bare
Of Goate, behind like Dragon broode, and more, from him there gone
Right terrible flames which forth he breathes. And yet Bellerophon
(Though fel he were as fel might be) the beast he doth assayle,
With fauour of the Gods, and of his wil he doth not fayle.
For after wearie toyle, in fielde the beast he stoutely slue,
That done, the Solymes down he hacks, and quite them ouerthrew.
Report so goes, him much it pleasde the Solymes to haue slaine,
And yet beside all this, the king commaundeth him agayne
To try with maine an Amazon, but stil he was so steelde
With heart so good, as victor he dead left them in the field.
At length to make an end of him, a bushment doth prouide
Of Lycians to set on him, harde by a fountaine side.
But al in vaine, for no not one of all the packed craft
Did once returne vnto their home, for murdered them he left.
Wherwith the King repents the guile, he stands amazed dum
And knoweth wel that from the Gods, the victorie did come,
Who knew him innocent, himself his deedes doth disalow,
With him for his own quiet he doth minde to keepe him now.
For his preferment him to giue his daughter wife to bee,
And halfe the whole of al his raigne, to ioyne sure amitie
The curteous virgin giuen him was, and for his place to dwel
The fertilst soyle, two sons he had of this faire Damosel,
A daughter eke, Isander first, the next a warlike knight
Hippolochus, Laodomie his daughter fayre she hight,
Whom Ioue did wish to haue to friend: with brand of loue did sweate
Diuine Sarpedon in hir wombe, himself he left hir great
But after this it was not long, but that Bellerophon
Did lose the fauour of the Gods and stirrde them euery one:
He hates himself, he companie flyes, he corners eke doth seeke
He wanders vp and down his grounds most mad and frantike like,
Therfore his fields are wandring calld, againe of very spight
God Mars his son Isander stayes a man of haughty might
To weelde in war both club and sword, the Solymes force him dye.
Againe, Diane as ruthlesly doth slay Laodomie.
Of al the three there rested but my sire Hippolochus,
Who Glaucus gaue me vnto name and hither sent me thus
In Troyan war with many a band here of his Countrey broode,
And willd me for to purchase price and prayse among the good,
Wherby not to degenerate mine auntient parents fro,
Whose great renowne Epira wals and Licie land doth know.
At your request now haue I tolde my name, my stocke, and race,
And what occasions any way haue brought me to this place.
Diomede at stoute Glaucus words long tentife care doth hold,
He doth reioyce and maruayle much at things that then he told.
His iaueline right he sticketh down with words ful curteously,
And friendly cheere he thus begins: redoubted sire quoth he,
Betweene your friends and mine long sith I see by your report
Was friendship deare, and great welcome, the which in euery sort
Posteritie we ought to keepe: Oeneus my grandsire
Lodgde twentie dayes Bellerophon, who styrrde not from his fire,
He vsing him in al respects like perfect friend and guest:
And at the time he shoulde depart, that friendship stil might last,
One friend vnto the other then a Princely present gaue,
Of the aliaunce to remaine as witnesse for to haue.
Oeneus gaue a girdle braue enricht with broydery,
Ipickt out of his arming house, of crimson purple die.
Bellerophon a gobblet round of gold ful bright he bare
To him againe, (which comming forth to war, wher now we are)
I left at home. As for my sire and also for your owne,
What proofe of friendship since they had, to me it is vnknowen,
I lost him in my childhoode I, when he with mightie power
In Thebes town did lose his life, where then he had the scoure
With many a Gretia knights he brought. Sith so long time doth lay
The roote of friendship, I do iudge to let it not decay.
Wherby, if you should hap to come to Greekish pleasant coast,
You might your lodging take with me your faithful friende and host
For euermore. And I also passing your Countrey by,
Wil take your house, and you as host and friend assuredly.
And for a perfect token now of this accorde to smite,
If in this war we hap to meet, let vs two leaue the fight,
And turne elsewhere, for why me thinkes the neede it is not so,
We two to deale in doubtful marte hauing so many a foe
On euery side, with whom to ioyne: to cause the standers by
Hereafter not to thinke it much of this our amitie,
It good is we do make a chaunge, giue me (if so you please)
Your armour, and you shal haue mine, ful tough at al assayes,
With this they lighted and tooke hands, Diomede off him fro
His brasen Armour tooke, and it on Glaucus did bestowe.
Who straight gaue him his harneys braue of gold so riche and fine:
To make such chaunge al iudgement Ioue tooke from ye Lycians eyne.
For why, his sumptuous furniture was great, of value much,
It well was worth an hundred beeues, the price of it was such.
But, that which he receyude againe, to make a iust accompte,
And to esteeme it, to the worthe of bullockes nine did mount.
This while vnto the Citie comes the iollie Hector he,
Where at the gates in numbers great the women swarming be,
Demaunding diuers things of him, she asketh for her sonne,
She for her father deare, she what is with her brother done.
Another how her husbande fares: but he to all their call
To satisfies them any whit, doth aunswere nought at all,
But willes them pray vnto the Gods with sacrifice and teare
Now for the safetie of the towne, which greatly was to feare.
Fro thence to Priams sumptuous court, ye vertuous prince doth hie,
The pallace gaie with marble blacke is built full gorgeouslie.
In midst therof king Priamus did fiftie lodgings reare,
Unto his children and their wiues which onely lodgings were.
Twelue more against them he had built, which giue away he would
To great and loftie Lordes, the which his daughters marrie should.
Dame Hecuba his mother olde at th'entrie he doth meete
Going most courteous Laodice her daughter for to greete.
She staies, and takes him by the hand, and gently thus begunne:
Why leaue you thus your tired folke my Hector deerest sonne?
Goes our affaires now backward still? I feare it so alacke,
The Greekes are sure here at our walles, & Troyans goe to wracke,
Which makes you thus in hast to come, the mightie Ioue to pray
For their safegard: with me a while yet deerest sonne doe stay,
That I to you some pleasaunt wine may bring, and readie make,
Before you sacrifice shall doe, refreshing for to take
Unto your ouerhaled limmes, with toile and trauaile torne:
Good wine can much to strength ye wight, that wearie is and worne.
For feare I feeble waxe, no wine bring me quoth Hector he,
By to much drinke least of my selfe forgetfull I might be.
And ill it were a smered knight with bloud, with dust, and sweate
Not washt before, with prayers his the Gods for to entreate:
But mother mine, the dames of state in Troy assemble yee,
And other Citizens also, you first example bee.
Unto Mineruas temple goe, hir fauour do implore,
Bestow on hir the costliest roabe you haue in all your store.
Deuoutly lay it on hir knees, on prayers set your care,
Yearely behight twelue Buls of grease, that neuer yoked were.
That she these wretched people here in hyr tuition haue,
That she Diomede (of our folke in slaughter who doth raue)
Do keepe far off, and far aloufe our sacred turrets fro:
My brother Paris I will seeke, and wil him that he go
Unto the Campe, but of my word God knowes what wil betide.
Oh would to God, wheras he standes, the ground would open wide
To swallow him in deapth therof, the Gods haue giuen him life,
Sure to king Priams vtter ruine, or to his endlesse griefe,
And of vs all his children too, who else in fame and blisse
Might haue triumphed with the rest, my only wish it is
That of his latter end I here the carke it would me leaue,
That forceth now my heauie thought, and makes my hart to heaue.
With this the noble prince doth part, and Hecuba she bends
Unto hir lodging backe againe, and thence hir women sends
To go entreate the worthy dames, that they come to hir thyther.
She all bewept to chamber comes, wel sweete and deckt togither.
To wardrobe then, wheras were pilde of roabes no number smal,
Bewrought with needle Imagrie, of pretious stuffe them al
Which hyr tricke sonne sir Paris he, had brought from Sidon tho
With the faire Greeke, on Hecuba the same he did bestow:
Among them all the Queene chose one, for worke, the best yt might,
The balme in odour it did match, the star eke in his light
No brighter was then it of hue. Also she kept it layde
In bottome of hir coffer coucht, aboue most gorgeous wayde.
With heart deuoute than wayted on with numbers in a row,
Unto the Goddesse temple large wyth others she doth go.
In midst of all the pallace great no sooner there they came,
But that Theane Antenors wife did open them the same.
The dores of gold she doth vndoe, vnfolded, rich, and large
Of this gay Church by Troyans all as priest she had the charge.
Now thither come, the Dames in troupe with reared hands on hie
They make their vowes, they strike their brests, & howle wt piteous crye
And then the worthy Theano the royall roabe she laide
On Pallas knees with humble grace, and forthwith thus she prayde:
O chast Minerua, o clemencie diuine and sacred seene,
Of this fortresse and Troyan folke who gardaine sure hath bene,
The prayers I beseech thee heare, which we to thee commende,
In this thy house, that of our woes we once may haue an ende.
We pray thee that the stoutest Greeke (Diomedes is he)
Be beaten down at Scea gate, his launce eke broken be.
That done, vpon the aultar we our sacrifice wil do
Of oxen twelue, in thy seruice as many yearely too,
If so thou helpe vs at this plundge: this prayre she did addresse,
But Pallas to accept the same in sooth thought nothing lesse.
This while comes Hector to the place, where tricke sir Paris lay,
A cunning piece of building, yea both costly, rich, and gay,
Which Troyan maister builders had made vp in point deuise,
A court it had, where Kitchin, Hal, and Chambers round do rise.
Unto king Priams mansion chiefe it ioyned was at hand.
This valiaunt Prince with steeled launce he holding in his hand
Sixe foote in length with golden poynt, vnto the place doth draw
So sumptuous, where his brother he Alexander saw
Wel occupyed in deede of praise, his targe and armour bright
He furbushes his bow himselfe he rubs, and seemely dight.
Heleine sits by, amidst hir maydes, that they may cunning be
She studies, and forethinks some workes, that pretiest shew may she.
Then Hector thus his talke began frowning with moodie cheare:
What cause is there oh cursed thou that keepes thee idle here?
What tetishnesse thus to thy house doth make thee draw aback,
Sith wel thou knowst that for thy sake the Troyas go to wracke,
And sackt must needes this Citie be, who haue this war begun
Only for thee? thou seeing one, who from the field should run,
Oughtst to crie open shame on him, but now thou hidst thy head,
As ringleader and coward chiefe of all that ere was bred.
Go quickly now and do thy best, if so thou do desire
To saue the towne from spoyle and wast, and from the Greekish fire.
Tall Paris tho, hearing him chide so roughly in his moode,
O brother Hector answerde straight, sith of your meaning good
You moued are, yet please it you my scuse for to allow.
No pet nor wrath with any one retire doth make me now,
It is but only my mishap, to ease by time I thought
My griefe, & curteous Heleine here with me al means now wrought,
Perswading me with milde exhortes mine armour on to pul,
And for to leaue this idle fit, and surely so I wil,
It giues me this day should be mine, for victorie is so,
To day a friend it is to some, and yet to morrow foe.
Stay here a while til I be armde, or else go forward yee,
Straight at this geare, hard at their heeles you shal me busie see.
The valiant Hector these his words seemde nothing to regard,
Wherfore with milde and humble grace Heleine drew to him-ward:
Oh brother mine in law quoth she so worthy of the same,
(If I a wretched woman may of sister haue the name,
Who am no better than a dogge) when life I was assignde,
Unto some desart mountaine top would God some whirlewinde
Had cast me vp, or in the sea my carcase throwen would,
By ending life, this mischiefe all auoyded then I should:
But though that by the whole consent of all the Gods on hie,
The instrument of al the ils, must needes be none but I:
Yet ought I haue a better spouse of wisedome and of sight
To looke vnto his own affaires, that vnderstand he might
When one doth speake to his reproch, that to his blame doth fal,
But for to know his wealth or want this hath no sense at al.
And what so he shal take in hande, know wel shal end as il.
O noble, deare, and brother mine beseech you now I wil
Come in, sit downe here in this chaire, oh thorough grieued wight,
I wel perceyue and see in you the dolour of your spright,
For vs two caytiues you sustaine, for that we did offend:
The gods it calling to their mindes, do ordain wretched end,
Which shal be soong in euery rime, and roong in euery raigne.
Unto dame Heleins curteous words bold Hector sayth againe:
Though this proceede all of good wil, it cannot force me stay,
For things I haue now in my heade, call me another way,
And that I hast vnto the Campe to comfort and to cheere
Good Troyans all, who greatly wish (I know) to see me there.
And lady mine, you shal do wel to wil him arme apace,
And if he present follow me, he wisely in thys case
Shal do: or take me going forth: for now to see I go
My house, my sonne, my gentle spouse, for little do I know
Whether at wil another day it please the Gods on hie,
That I may see them once againe, or else this day I dye.
Ending his talke, his lodging to with pace he stalketh on,
Andromacha the princesse great he found that she was gone
Unto a tower with hir son, a nurse, and wayting mayde,
Where thinking on hir husbands broyles, forth tears amain she layd.
Unto the Maides quoth Hector then your mistresse where is she?
What, is not she now gone abroade some sister hirs to see,
Or to my good sisters there hir griefe to put away,
And so to passe the time with them? now sirs do quickly say,
Or with my mother at the vowes in that deuoutful crue,
Presenting Pallas sacrifice with them doth she ensue?
With Hecuba she is not gone, quoth one, sith you wil knowe,
Nor to hir iolly sisters she, alas she tenders so
Your (state oh Hector) that she swelts (she is to careful plaine)
For frantike like with hir sweete son she ran with might and maine,
Into the keepe, supposing that the Troyans lost the fight,
Eke in the iourney you had quaylde, and life had ended quite.
With this sir Hector tournes his steps, & then the streets he threeds,
And lanes, that faire and ample were, and forth apace he speedes
To Scea gate where bode the Campe, Andromacha by hap
Doth meete him right, hir deerest sonne, and eldest in hir lap,
Whom Hector cleapt Scamandrius, but Troyans otherwise
Astianax, as son to him, from whom their health did rise,
For so did right his name import, the Hector stoute this while
Doth herewith very pleasaunt ware, and smothly gan to smile.
Uiewing his son as cleare as star that cloudlesse heauen beares.
But then his wife with wayling great, and store of gushing teares,
With humble cheere drew to him nie, and thus hir tale began,
Clasping his hand: O to thine owne most hard vncurteous man,
Thy forwarde minde shall thee vndo in midst of flouring life:
Hast thou no pitie of this childe, ne yet of me thy wife?
Dost thou not see the dolefull end, that I pore wretche shall gaine,
If thou go aide now thy consorts, a widow to remaine?
The Greekes conspire against thee all, and trauel all they may,
They most do gape to haue thy bloud, but yet before that day,
O mercilesse deuide thou earth, and me deuoure aliue,
What ioy to me when thou art gone, or which way may I thriue?
What, is ther loue, or wiuely care with mine that match may make?
Shall I hereafter be content another spouse to take?
No, no, I that defie, no mirth can chaunce me so,
The whiche of thee can cause me let the sweete remembraunce go:
What, shall I to my parents trudge, of them to seeke reliefe?
What, out alas they all are dead: O hel and heauie griefe.
Diuine Achilles in his deedes, after that he had pilld
And borne away their treasures great, and had the ditches filld
Of Thebes, with the walles thereof, whose fame far strangers knew,
His warlike hands right cruelly in bloud he did imbrue
Both of my sire, and of his sonnes, who strong and valiant were,
The King my fathers armor yet he woulde not off him tere,
To cindres both he them consumde, and off he did not drawe
The furniture, for why, he stoode of mightie Gods in awe.
A Tombe to him he rearde, whereas vnder the braunches greene
To pleasure take and sporte themselues the Nimphs Orestiads beene,
Delighting there great store of Elmes be-planted they haue made
About the same, where they at ease may play them in the shade.
The father dead, his bow did force the seauen sonnes to yeelde,
He slue them downe in Cicilie encamped in the field.
My mother Queene with pensiuenesse and sorrow fully frought
Was captiue made, who foud such means, & so by ransome wrought,
That she deliuered was at length, with manner fullie rare
Diana wrought against hir then, with bowe down dead hir bare.
O Hector deere, do nowe behold Andromacha hir case,
Of sire, of dame, of brother eke, and spouse thou haste the place,
I thee beseech this one request of mine may graunted be,
Haue pitie on this pretie boy, an orphane, if thou die,
Haue some regarde, and call to minde the wretched creature I,
Who life and widohoode maye not haue, into this towre ascende
To keepe the same, and round about call souldiors to defend
The wall whereas it lyeth low: for foure times we haue seene
The Aiax twaine with many a Greeke, and also I do meene
With bold and doubtie Diomede, to force al what they can
To mount the same by hautie heart or Augure some set an.
These words dere wife, quoth Hector tho, which wil me thus to care,
Both day and night, such mind and thought still my companions are,
My head long sith hereon I set, yet nothing can I frame
That profite wil, I greatly feare that ay reprochful shame,
The which on me this wretched folke with open throate will cry
When absent from this warre I am, where I so wel do try:
My heart to alter from his wont it also doth disdaine,
It prickes me forth to purchase fame, that euer shal remaine.
I know right wel the time shal come, the Greeks wil take this town,
Priam, my parents, kinne and friends to death ybeaten downe,
My brothers al must passe the sworde: To see them so to dye
My sire, my dame, my brothren all, and nearest friendes them by,
I shal not grieue for them so much, as griefe for thee I haue,
And most, to thinke, that of some Greeke thou shalt become the slaue,
Who to his country shal thee leade to tease and tosse his wul,
He shal thee put from day to day to spinne, to picke and pull.
And in the midst of al the heat, from spring his water drawe,
Which needes must pinch thee at the heart, but Neede it hath no law.
And often shal the passers by say, Looke who yonder is,
The wife of valiant Hector loe, who in the field with his
Such fame and great renoume did get, whe Grecians compast round
The great and mightie town of Troy, and tare it to the grounde.
How great to heare my name rehearst shal then thy dolors be,
And that my helpe thou canst not haue eft to recouer thee,
But ere the waylings I wil heare of thee my captiue wife,
The earth shall hap this corpse of mine, and I wil lose my life.
With this the valiant prince doth hide his carke and inwarde griefe,
And out doth put his handes to take his sonne the pretie leefe,
A little pretie bulchion fat, seeing the dreadfull crest
And armor, cries and calls his nurse, and nouzels in hir breast.
With this the curteous parents they smile at the preatie grace
Of that the babe, and Hector he his sonne for to embrace,
Doth set aside his loftie helme, he him doth coll and kus,
With pleasant mind he holds him softe and formd his praiers thus.
O mightie Gods, ye soueraigne Lords, request this grant to me,
That once this boy triumphantly a doubtie man may be,
Among his folke as nowe I am: Also when I am dead,
Giue him the honor, that he may the Troyans guide and leade:
That men may say, when they shall see him prosper in such case,
Howe farre the sonne the father doth in deedes of armes surpasse.
And when the spoiles as conquerour from forraine foes he pull,
His mother she may see the same, hir ioy it may be full.
The child he giues his mother nowe, who takes it in hir hand,
She smiles therewith, yet in hir eyes the water ful doth stand.
He rues thereat, to hir he drawes hir sorowe to delay,
About the necke he takes hir fast, and thus beganne to say.
My dearest spouse these waylings leaue, and take not thus at heart
My death, thou knowest well ynough we al must hence departe.
No man can boast that he is free from death and from his blow,
For from the first day of our byrth to death we subiects goe.
And as for me, this body, who, and life shal part in twaine,
Shall pay full deare, and haue no cause to glorie of his gaine.
I shal not die before my time: Good wife for Gods sake goe
Home to thy house, be of good cheare, and leaue to greeue thee so,
Do passe the time to winde and reele, & with your maids to spinne,
Commaunde, and order take, that they good workewomen may bin.
And let vs men see to the fielde, and looke what needfull is,
And I (as alwayes) now to be the formost wil not misse.
With this from ground his helme he takes, & on his head it weares
Home goes Andromacha with sighes, and seas of sobbing teares.
When she vnto hir douse doth come she findeth weeping eyes,
The seruants al do sobbe and howle with shril and heauy cryes,
Be weeping Hector thus they say: On this odde knight alacke
We neuer shall set eyes againe, this day wil be his wracke.
Some fel and cruel Greeke this day shall worke his death & harme.
Paris againe makes no abode, he hasteth fast to arme,
He after Hector runneth nowe, he trusteth in his force,
And eke in his agilitie. And like vnto the horse,
That in the stable halter doth and headstall cracke in twaine,
And slippeth out the house apace into the fields amaine,
With many frisks and yerks behinde, his head doth cast aloft,
At last vnto some pleasant streame doth pace, and trotteth soft,
Therein to wash and play himselfe, and haply there doth finde
Some lustie Mare vpon the bancke t'assuage his raging minde:
Ene so sir Paris tall and tricke, in citie shewes ful braue,
Unto the sunne his Armes and targe the like for brightnesse haue.
As Hector left Andromacha, he meetes him in the teeth,
He going forth, he greeteth him, and thus beganne therewith:
O brother deare and eldest borne, m'abode deserueth blame
In staying nowe thus long, sith that you willd me haste the same.
All in good time quoth Hector then that doubtie Troyan he,
None can thee iustly giue reproch how worthy that he be,
When to the field thou setst thy mind, thou lustie art and light,
A vauntage great, but slowly oft thou drawest to the fight,
Ne wil not mend thy pace one whit, nor leaue one iote of will,
It grieues me most that so thou givst thy selfe to pleasure still.
And chiefly, when the Troyans they I see thy doings blame,
They byding many deadly brunts, do babble to thy shame.
Well, let vs go against these Greekes, our forces for to lay,
These brutes ful wel we may appease, if happly come the day.
Hauing our enimies put to flight, the condigne sacrifice
Unto the hie immortall Gods on Aultars they may rise.

Finis sexti Libri