Destruction of Troy
Achilles hade appetite, & angardly dissiret,
9105 The
Citie for to se, and the solemne fare
9106 At the
entierment full triet of ŝe tru prinse.
9107 Ŝan
vnarmyt he entrid, euyn to ŝe citie;
9108 To Appollo
pure temple passit anon,
9109 There
the body of the bold blithly was set,
9110 Of
honerable Ector, as I ere said.
9111 There
were plenty of pepull, prise men & noble,
9112 And
worthy wemen to wale weping with teris,
9113 In
sykyng & sorow syttyng aboute.
9114 The
taburnacle titly vntild was aboue,
9115 On
yche syde, as I say, who ŝat se wold,
9116 Ŝere
the body was aboue of the bold prinse,
9117 In his
sete, as I said, sittyng full hoole,
9118 Ŝat
arayet was full richely, as I red haue,
9119 With
bame & with balsaum, ŝat brethid full swete.
9120 At the
fete of ŝat fre was his faire moder,
9121
Honerable Ecuba, oddist of ladys,
9122 And
Polexena the pert, ŝat was his prise suster,
[Page 297]
9123 With
mony worshipfull wemen to wale in ŝe towne,
9124 The
here of ŝere heddes hynging on brede,
9125 On
backe & on brest bare for to shew;
9126 With
remyng, & rauthe, & myche rife sorow,
9127 Sobbyng
& sourcher soght fro ŝere herttes.
9128
Polexena the pert pairet of hir hew,
9129 All
facid hir face with hir fell teris,
9130 Ŝat
was red as the Roses, richest of coloure,
9131 Hit
was of hew to behold with hend men aboute.
9132 The
teris ŝat trickilt on her tryet chekes,
9133 As
pure watur pouret vn polishet yerin,
9134 Ŝat
blaknet with bleryng all hir ble qwite.
9135 The
faire heris of ŝat fre flammet of gold,
9136 All
abouen on hir brest & hir bright swire,
9137 Ŝat
sho halit with hond, hade it in sonder,
9138 And
puld hit with pyn, pité to be-hold.
9139 When
the hond of ŝat hend to ŝe hede yode,
9140 Hit
semyt by sight of sitters aboute,
9141 As the
moron mylde meltid aboue,
9142 When
ho hasted with hond ŝe hore for to touche.
9143 When
Achilles the choise maidon with chere can behold,
9144 He
hade ferly of hir fairhede, & fell into thoght.
9145 To
hym-seluyn he said in his saule ŝen,
9146 Ŝat
neuer wegh in this world of woman kynd,
9147 Hade
fairnes so fele, ne so fyne shap,
9148 Ne so
pleasaund of port, ne of pure nurtur.
9149 As
Achilles this choise in chapell beheld,
9150 A fell
arow in his frunt festnet of loue,
9151
Woundit hym wickedly by will of hym-seluyn;
9152 And
lurkid doun lagher to his low brest,
9153 All
hatnet his hert, as a hote fyre,
9154 Made
hym langwys in Loue & Longynges grete.
9155 Ay the
more on ŝat maidon the mighty beheld,
[Page 298]
9156 The
sarre woundit he was, & his wille hatter.
9157 Lo, so
sodainly with sight in a sad hast,
9158 A whe
may be woundit ŝurgh wille of hym seluyn!
9159 Thus,
Achilles by chaunse is chaltrid in grym,
9160 With
loue of this lady, ŝat ledis to ŝe dethe.
9161 All
the care of his cure the kyng has forgeton,
9162 And
all meuit out of mynd saue the maidon one!
9163 When
ŝe day ouerdrogh to ŝe due tyme,
9164 Ecuba
the honerable, & hir awne doghter,
9165 Turnyt
from the temple and to toune yode;
9166
Wentton hom wightly, weppit nomore.
9167 The
lede loked hir after with a loue egh,
9168
ffolowand on fer, ŝat fre to beholde,
9169 Ŝat
was cause of his combranse & his cold dethe:
9170 Ŝan
with langur of lust, & of loue hote,
9171 He was
stithly astondid, stird into ŝoght.
9172 So he
passid the port, & his pale entrid,
9173 Turnyt
into tent, takon full hard.
9174 The
buerne into bed busket anon,
9175 Seke
& vnsound, set out of hele:
9176 Mony
thoghtes full ŝro ŝrang hym within,
9177 And
was laburt full long in his lefe saule.
9178 He
feld in his fare, & his fell hert,
9179 Ŝat
the cause of his combraunse was the clere maidon.
9180 Thies
wordes, in his wo, witturly he said,
9181
Soberly to hym-selfe, ŝat no saule here:---
9182
"Now wrecche full vnworthy, wo mot I ŝole,
9183 Ŝat
mony stalworth in stoure, & stuerne men haue kyld,
9184 Might
non abate of my blysse, ne my ble chaunge.
9185 Noght
Ector of all other, oddist of knightes,
9186 Hade
no sleght me to sle, ne to slyng vnder,
[Page 299]
9187 Ne
ouercome me by course with his clene strenght.
9188 A ffrele
woman me fades, & my fas chaunges,
9189 And
has gird me to ground, & my gost feblit!
9190 Syn ho
is cause of my care, & my cold angur,
9191 Att
what leche vppon lyue might I laite hele?
9192 There
is no medcyn on mold, saue the maiden one,
9193 Ŝat my
sors might salue, ne me sound make.
9194 The
whiche ŝof I loue, & langwisshe to dethe,
9195 With
prayer, with prise, ne with pure strenght,
9196 Ne for
worthines of wer, ne of wale dedis.
9197 What wildnes,
or worship, waknet my hert
9198 ffor
to hap her in hert, ŝat hates my-seluyn?
9199 In hir
cuntre to come, & hir kyn sle,
9200 Hir
fadur & hir fryndis, fond to distroy,
9201 And
hir brother haue britnet, ŝe best vpon erthe?
9202 On
what wise in this world wilne shuld I hir,
9203 Most
exilent of other, onerable of kyn,
9204 Of
Rent, & of Riches, rankir ŝan I,
9205 And
passes of pertnes pure wemen all?
9206 Hit
semith me vnsertain, all serchyng of wayes;
9207 Ys
stokyn vp full stithly, shuld streche to my hele!"
9208 Ŝen he
turnys in his tene, & terys on his chekes
9209 Ronen
full rifely, for his ranke sorow.
9210 Ŝen he
driet vp the dropes, & dreghly can syle.
9211 On all
wise in this world he his wit cast,
9212 ffor
to wyn to his will, if werdis noght let.
9213 Ŝen he
rose fro his rest in a Rad hast,
9214 Asket
water at his weghes, wesshed hym anone,
9215
Refresshing his face for facyng of teres,
9216 And
dride vp his dropes for dymyng his ene.
[Page 300]
9217 Anon as the night passid, & neghid the
day,
9218 Yet lastoon the lell tru the lordes betwene,
9219 He ordant to Ecuba, the honerable qwene,
9220 A message for the maiden by a mene frynd,
9221 Priuely to passe to the prise lady,
9222 Ŝat worthy to wilne to his wif euyn,
9223 And mell with a mariage & matremony
hole,
9224 As a lady to liue to hir lyues end:
9225 On suche couenaund to kepe, yf ŝat dere
wold,
9226 He shuld procour the prinse, & the prise
grekes,
9227 To pas fro ŝat prouyns, payre hom nomore;
9228 And nought tary on the towne, ne no tene
wirke,
9229 Withoute condiscoun, or cause, for to come
after.
9230 The mon, ŝat this message meuit for to do,
9231 Was a seruond full sure of the same kynges.
9232 When he hade told hym ŝis tale, toght hym to
go,
9233 He made hym redy full rad, ron to the toun,
9234 Esely to Ecuba etlit he anon,
9235 And all his charge, to ŝat chefe, choisly he
said.
9236 The worthy, to ŝat wegh, ŝat was of wit
noble,
9237 Depe of discrecioun, in dole ŝof sho were,
9238 Sho herknet hym full hyndly, & with hert
gode,
9239 And onswaret hym esely, euyn on this
wise:---
9240 "ffrend, ŝou shall fairly fare to ŝi
lord,
9241 And say hym vpon sewertie thy-seluyn with
mouthe,
9242 In ŝat at menys to me, with my might hole
9243 I shall filsyn ŝis forward, in faith, ŝat I
can;
9244 But, I will say the, my son, or ŝou sew
ferre,
9245 I most wete all the wille of my wale kyng,
9246 And my sonnes, for sothe, or I say more,
9247 Yf ŝai graunt will ŝis grace, with a goode
wille.
[Page 301]
9248 ffull onsware, in faith I forme ŝe not here,
9249 But come the thrid day, full ŝroly,
withoutyn ŝrepe more,
9250 Sew to my selfe, & I the say wille
9251 Vne faithly before, as hit fare shall."
9252 When the messanger hade melit with ŝe myld
qwene,
9253 Than he lut to ŝe lady, & his leue toke,
9254 Meuit to his maistur, & the mater told.
9255 Ŝen comford he caght in his cole hert,
9256 Thus hengit in hope, & his hele mendit:
9257 More redy to rest, ricchet his chere.
9258 This honerable Ecuba, eft, when hir liked,
9259 Preset vnto Priam, and Paris hir son;
9260 Caght hom in counsell, & hir cause
told,---
9261 All the maner of the message from ŝe main
kyng.
9262 When Priam persayuit the proffer of ŝe
greke,
9263 Long he stode in a stody, or he stir wolde
9264 Doun hengond his hed, herkonyng the qwene:
9265 Mony thoghtes full ŝro ŝrang hym within!
9266 Thus onswart ŝat honerable euyn to his
wif:---
9267 "A! how hard were my hert, to hold hym
as frend,
9268 That so highly me hyndret, & my hate
seruet!
9269 All the leght has he lost fro my leue ene,
9270 Thurgh slaght of my son, ŝat my sore ekys!
9271 ffor whose dethe, vppon dayes, all the derfe
grekes
9272 Hertyn hom full hogely, my harmes to encres.
9273 But to fle all the offence, & fortune to
come,
9274 In sauyng of my selffe & my sons als;
9275 Ŝat I may lyff in my lond in my last dayes,
9276 Out of batell & baret in my bare eld,
9277 I assent to ŝi sagh, vpon soche wise,
9278 Ŝat he ŝis forward fulfille, & before
do,
9279 And with no gawdes me begile, ne to greue ferre."
[Page 302]
9280 The prise wordes of Priam Paris alowet,
9281 And demet to be don, as the duke said,
9282 So ŝat his wiffe, o nowise,---worshipfull
Elan,---
9283 Shuld be sent to hir souerain, ne seche vnto
grece,
9284 But leng in ŝat lond to hir lyues end.
9285 The ŝrid day, full ŝroly, ŝriuond Achilles
9286 Sent his message, full mekely, to ŝe myld
qwene.
9287 He past to hir priuely, and the pert fond,
9288 And asket of ŝat onerable onsware to haue.
9289 Thus said hym ŝat souerain with a softe
speche:---
9290 "I haue wetyn the wille of my wale
kyng,
9291 And of Paris, my pure son, prestly also:
9292 Bothe assenton to ŝis sound, sothely, to me,
9293 On suche couenaunt to kepe, ŝat the kyng
shall
9294 All ŝo forwardes fulfill, first, of
hym-seluyn.
9295 All ys holly in hym, hold yf hym lyst,
9296 ffor to sew hit hym-seluyn, say hyt fro me:
9297 So hit keppit be in cource, carpit no ferre,
9298 Tyll yssu be ordant, after his deuyse."
9299 Ŝen be leue of ŝe lady, the lede on his way
9300 Past at the port, & the pale entrid:
9301 To his maistur of his mater menit anon,
9302 All the truthe of the tale, tomly to end.
9303 Achilles was choise fayne, cherit hym the
bettur,
9304 And now hatnis his hert all in hote loue:
9305 Myche myndit the mater, in the mene tyme,
9306 And to bryng hit aboute besit hym sore.
9307 Hit heuet his hert of his hegh proffer,
9308 Ŝat passit his pouer, to Priam the kyng;
9309 ffor hit longis to a louer soche a light
vice,
9310 In the hete of his hert, for his hegh lust,
9311 To proffer soche prise thing, ŝat passis his
might,
9312 And festyn in forward, ŝat hym for-thinkes
after.
[Page 303]
9313 Yet hopit he full hertely, for his hegh
prowes,
9314 And doghtenes of dede with his dregh
strokes,
9315 If he gright with the grekes to graunt hom
his helpe,
9316 Ŝat ŝai the lond shuld leue & lightly go
home.
9317 Ŝen Achilles did cherisshe the cheftan of
all.
9318 Palomydon, the prise, by purpos of hym,
9319 All the grete of the grekes gedrit hym
somyn,
9320 To a counsell to come for the comyn proffet.
9321 When prinses & prise kynges were in pale
somyn,
9322 Among tho mighty with mouthe menit
Achilles:---
9323 "Now, fryndes faithfull, in feliship
here!
9324 Kynges, & knightes, & other kyde
Dukes,
9325 That the charge, & the chaunse hase of
ŝis choise wer,
9326 Thurgh oure might & oure monhod maintene
to gedur!
9327 What whylenes, or wanspede, wryxles our
mynd?
9328 Ŝat for meuyng of a man,---Menelay the
kyng,---
9329 And the wille of a woman, as ye weton all,
9330 Oure londes haue leuyt, & oure lefe
godys,
9331 Our childur, oure choise folke, & chefen
fro hom
9332 Vnto a cuntre vnkynd, with care at oure
herttes:
9333 Oure godys, oure gold vngaynly dispendit,
9334 And oure persons be put vnto pale dethe.
9335 Oure kynges are kyld, & oure kyd Dukes:
9336 Oure buernes with baret britnet in feld,
9337 Ŝat might haue leuet in hor lond, as lordes
at hame.
9338 And my selfe, sothely, suffert full hard,
9339 Wickedly woundit, wasted my blode.
[Page 304]
9340 At the dethe of the derfe prince, soche a
dynt hade,
9341 I wend neuer, witturly, walked on fote.
9342 Hit greuys me full gretly, & to ground
brynges,
9343 Whethur Elan be so honerable, or of so hegh
prise,
9344 ffor hir, oure Dukes to dethe, & oure
derfe kynges.
9345 In yche lond, lelly, ŝat lithe vnder heuen,
9346 Are wemen to wale, of worship full mony,
9347 Ŝat Menelay may mightily mell hym to haue,
9348 And chose hym a choise, withouten charge
heuy;
9349 And not so mony be mard, ne on mold ded,
9350 Ne all grece for to greve, with no ground
harme.
9351 Hit is not light for vs lite, ŝis lond to
dystroy,
9352 Ŝat haue a Cité full sure, & Surffetus
mony,
9353 Bothe of kynges, & knightes, & kid
men of armes:
9354 And we, the worthiest in wer, haue wastid in
dethe,
9355 Kyld of oure kynges, and other kyd Dukes.
9356 This suffises, me semys, to ses with oure
worship;
9357 Kayre to oure cuntre, & couet no more!
9358 Ŝof Elan leue in ŝis lond, & not laght
worthe,
9359 Hit greues not full gretly, ne no ground
harme,
9360 Syn we Exiona, the suster of the sure
kynges,
9361 At hom holdyn for hir, ŝat is a hede lady,
9362 And more honerable ŝan Elan, of auncetre
grete."
9363 When the wegh hade thies wordis warpit to
end,
9364 Here he seset full sone, said he no more.
9365 Ŝan Toax, the tore kyng, talkys agayne,
9366 With Menelay & mo, mighty of astate,
9367 Gright with the gret & agayne stode:
[Page 305]
9368 All the most of ŝo mighty, with a mayn
wille,
9369 Dyssaisent to the dede, demyt hit for noght.
9370 Achilles at tho choise men cheuert for
anger,
9371 Vne wrothe at hor wordes, & wightly he
send
9372 To all the Mermydons, his men, and his mayn
pepull,
9373 That no freke to the feld fare shuld to
batell;
9374 Ne to go with ŝe grekes, to greue hom
with-in.
9375 Ŝen hit auntred in the ost of the od grekes,
9376 Ŝat hom failed the fode, and defaute hade:
9377 Hongur full hote harmyt hom ŝen,
9378 And fayntid the folk, failet ŝe strenkith.
9379 Palomydon a perlement puruait anon,
9380 And the grete of the grekes gedrit he somyn.
9381 Ŝan ordant thei all men Agamynon the kyng,
9382 With mony shippes full shene shapon ŝerfore,
9383 To fecche hom som fode, & filsyn hor
strenght.
9384 Agamynon, full goodly, by grement of all,
9385 Meuyt vnto Missam with mayn shippes fele,
9386 & rofe ŝere full radly, raiket to the
kyng.
9387 And Thelaphon hym toke with a triet chere;
9388 ffylde all his fyne shippes, & his
fraght made;
9389 Stuffit hym with store, ŝat hom strenght
might.
9390 Toke leue at ŝe lord, and the land past;
9391 Sailet hom soundly to the sure tenttes;
9392 Was welcom I-wis to the weghes all.
9393 ffayne were ŝo freikes of ŝe fre kyng!
9394 Palomydon, the prise kyng, prestly gart
ordan
9395 All the shippes full shene shapyn to rode;
9396 And all the navy full noble, naitly aray,
9397 Atyrit with takell, & trussyng of Ropes,
9398 To be Redy for the Rode, yf ŝai Red toke.
9399 And so ŝai lyue ŝere in legh: oure lord gyf
us Ioye!
Laud Troy Book
In-to the toun wente he blyue,
11959 And to the temple
Apolynys
11960 Yede he to se,
what Ioye & blis
11961 Aboute Ector
Troyens made:
11962 He fond ther non
that was glade,
11963 But makyng dele
& gret wepyng;
11964 Be-fore Ector saw
he sittyng
[Page 353]
11965 Ectuba, the
semely quene,
11966 And hir douyter
Pollexene;
11967 And fele ladies
of gret genterie
11968 Here ther In that
companye.
11969 Thair heer faire
a-boute hem spred,
11970 On eyther halff
hit was fair sched,
11971 Hit henged doun
by-nethe her pappes,
11972 By-nethe here
mydeles, by-nethe here lappes.
11973 Thei made gret
del & sykyng,
11974 Thei were echon
In euel lykyng,
11975 Mechel del &
mechel mone
11976 A-boute Ector
made thei echone.
11977 Ector yit sat als
entere
11978 And so fair In
his solere,
11979 As he was furst
ther ordeyned;
11980 The baume so his
body susteyned
11981 Fro al appayryng
& alle sauour,
11982 And ffro
chaungyng of his colour.
11983 The
tabernacle on eche a syde
11984 Was vn-done and
opened wyde,
11985 That eche man,
bothe yong & old,
11986 On eche a syde
Ector behold.
11987 Achilles loked on
that werk faste;
11988 As he his eyen
aboute him caste,
11989 So was he war of
Pollexene
11990 Faste sittynge by
the quene,
11991 He loked vpon the
damysele
11992 And saw the teres
fro hir fele.
11993 But thoow that
lady fair & swete
11994 Wonder sore &
hertly grete,
11995 Not-for-thi for
alle hir payne
11996 Sche wex nother
pale ne wayne,
11997 Sche lost not of
her fayrnesse,
11998 Off hir beaute ne
hir swetnesse.
[Page 354]
11999 Al hir wo ne al
hir pyne
12000 Made hir not hur
fayrnes tyne,
12001 The teres that so
fro hur ran
12002 Made hir nother
blo ne wan;
12003 Hit for-did
no-thyng hir sight,
12004 Hir eyen were
euere clere and bryght,
12005 For alle here
wepyng were thei not dym,
12006 Ne sche not
apayred In neuere a lym.
12007 Ther is no man
that is on lyue,
12008 Hir fairnesse
that myght discryue---
12009 For siker sche
was as fair a woman
12010 As man scholde
sette his eyen vpan.
12011 Achilles
loked euere In on;
12012 So ffair a thyng
as sche was on
12013 Saw he neuere In
al his lyue---
12014 Widwe, ne mayden,
ne non wyue.
12015 As he loked In
hir vysage,
12016 His herte torned
& his corage,
12017 Him hadde leuere
than any thyng
12018 He hadde ben
siker of that swetyng:
12019 Alle his herte
and his delite
12020 Was to haue of
hure a sight,
12021 He loked on hir
as he were mad.
12022 The more lokyng
to hir he had,
12023 His long lokyng
hir louely sight
12024 Be-rafft him
clene of his myght;
12025 But he myght not
his lokyng leue,
12026 That thoght myght
no man him byreue:
12027 He loked to hir
the while he myght,
12028 Til the day was
gon, & hit was nyght.
12029 Off alle thinges
that euere was wroght
12030 Was non so mochel
In his thoght;
12031 Him thoght it
yede thorow his hert,
12032 So sore sche made
him ake and smert.
[Page 355]
12033 When
it was nyyt, the quene vp ros,
12034 And Pollexene
home with here gos;
12035 Achilles loked
afftir that wenche
12036 With more longyng
than man may thenche,
12037 Til sche out of
the temple was went.
12038 Achilles In hir
loue then brent;
12039 And this was al
the bygynnyng
12040 Off his sekenes
and his lyggyng,
12041 That he afftir In
his bed lay
12042 For loue &
longyng of that may.
12043 When he myght hir
no lenger se,
12044 His herte for
sorwe brast on thre,
12045 He turned him hom
to his tent
12046 And In his bed
as-tite he went.
12047 That nyght
for-sothe litel he scleped,
12048 He turned him
offte & sore weped;
12049 Hir loue hade
wounded him so depe,
12050 That he myght not
that nyght slepe.
12051 He saw hir loue
on him was gret,
12052 Al his body brast
on swete,
12053 He tholed for hir
gret penaunce,
12054 He waried thanne
that foule myschaunce:
12055 'Alas,' seide he,
'that I was born!
12056 That I am now
thus foule lorn
12057 Thorow a mayden
that is so tendre,
12058 With-oute myyt,
feble, & sklendre.
12059 And he that was
so mychel of myght,
12060 The strengest
that was In any fyght,
12061 Ector of Troye,
that doughti man,
12062 That price &
honour of alle men wan,---
12063 That alle the men
that stalworthe wore
12064 He ouercome with
strokes sore,
12065 Alle that were
styff & strong
12066 That doughti
knyyt to dethe throng;
[Page 356]
12067 I knewe neuere
non that hadde that myght,---
12068 That was so
strong ne douyti wyght,---
12069 Ayeyn him that
myyt stonde,
12070 Whil he leued In
this londe---
12071 And yit he with
alle his fforce
12072 Ne myyt ouercome
my carful corse!
12073 And now am I thus
ouercomen,
12074 That al my myght
is fro me nomen
12075 Thorow a mayden
feble & frele!
12076 How schal I come
to my hele?
12077 Ho schal do me
any medecyn?
12078 Sche hatis me
& al my kyn
12079 For hir brother
that I slow;
12080 I may not
keuere,---I wot neuere how?
12081 For I may not
vnto me drawe
12082 Her hert
for-sothe for loue ne awe!
12083 Ne with prayeres
may I not spede;
12084 I may not to hir
my loue bede,
12085 I may not so of
loue hir pray,
12086 I may not so that
lady assay.
12087 Ne my richesse ne
my gret yiffte
12088 May not hir hert
to me lyffte,
12089 For sche is
richer for-sothe then I;
12090 I wot neuere how
to come hir by?
12091 Ne---I wote
wele---I may not spede
12092 Thorow my
strengthe & my kynrede,
12093 For thoow my kyn
be gentil & gode,
12094 Sche is comen of
genteler blode
12095 Then I or any of
my lynage.
12096 How schal I my
sorwe aswage,
12097 When I no wise,
no way can fynde
12098 By strengthe,
richesse, ne by kynde,
12099 Ne with prayers
hir loue to wynne?
12100 The wo is gret
that I am Inne
[Page 357]
12101 In gret wodnes am
I now broght!
12102 Alas! how com I
in-to this thoght!
12103 I can not
wete---so god me saue!---
12104 How that I here
loue schal haue?'
12105 He leued that
nyyt In that gret sorwe;
12106 The sonne was
risen faire at morwe,
12107 A carful nyyt he
thenne hadde lede,
12108 Til he was risen
vp of his bede.
12109 At
morwe whan he was rysen,
12110 Off him selff was
he a-grysen,
12111 Off his sorwe so
strong In myyt
12112 That he hadde al
that long nyyt.
12113 He called to him
a siker man,
12114 Al his consayl
him telle bygan
12115 And sayde: 'if
thow wol trewe be,
12116 Ful riche yifftes
yeue I the;
12117 For-sothe schal I
faile the neuere,
12118 I schal the make
riche for euere.
12119 Go to Hectuba,
the quene,
12120 And say: "I
loue so Pollexene,
12121 That I schal
falle for-sothe In rage,
12122 But I haue hir In
mariage."
12123 Bid hir sicurly
my wordes byleue,
12124 And if sche wol
me hir doghter yeue
12125 To me hastly In
wedlak,
12126 That I schal
remewe al this pak:
12127 The Gregeis alle
schal I make go
12128 To the lond that
I come fro.
12129 Al this ost schal
I remewe---
12130 As I am a knyyt
trewe!---
12131 Kynges &
dukes, lord & sires,---
12132 To gret honour to
hire & hires
12133 With couenaunt
& condicioune,
12134 Iff sche wol haue
me to hir sone.
[Page 358]
12135 Ne thei schal
neuere amendes make,
12136 Harme ne schame
ne sclaunder take,
12137 For alle the harme
& vylony,
12138 Slauyt of men, ne
robry
12139 To hem of Grece
that thei haue done---
12140 By him that made
sonne & mone!---
12141 Ne for the quene
dame Eleyne rape---
12142 If my couenaunt
wille skape,---
12143 But Paris schal hir
stille holde
12144 Vnto his wyff, be
he right bolde.'
12145 This man was
trewe as any stele,
12146 He vndirstode his
erand wele,
12147 He wiste wel what
he scholde say:
12148 He hyed him faste
vpon his way,
12149 As faste as he myyt
gone;
12150 To Hectuba he
come anone,
12151 He tolde hir al
his mayster thoght,
12152 Word by word
for-yate he noght.
12153 Hectuba,
the quene of pris,
12154 Was ful witti
& ful wis,
12155 Sche seyde to him
as lufly hende:
12156 'Abyde me here,
my louely frende!
12157 This thyng may
not be ent
12158 With-outen my
lord kyng assent.
12159 I schal ther-fore
vn-til him gange,
12160 Sicurly I dwelle
not lange.
12161 What he wol say,
I wol the telle;
12162 Ful longe schal I
not fro the dwelle.'
12163 Vnto the kyng the
quene hir hyed,
12164 To him this
consayl sche discryed:
12165 "What
Achilles to him bed,
12166 For-whi his
doughter he most wed;
12167 How he scholde
alle the Gregeis gare
12168 In-to ther contre
for to fare,
[Page 359]
12169 And remewe &
leue the sege,
12170 And be-come his
man lege,
12171 And Elayn leue
with Alysaundre
12172 With-outen
amendis, with-oute slaundre."
12173 Pryamus
chaunged al his blod,
12174 When he al this
vndirstod;
12175 Al his blod
be-gan to colde,
12176 When Hectuba thes
wordes tolde;
12177 In his herte ran
many a thoght,
12178 That he the quene
hadde be-soght.
12179 An hundrid sithe
sore he siked,
12180 When he thoght
how he be-swiked
12181 His sone Ector
that he sclow;
12182 At his herte was
care y-now,
12183 He thoght on his
deth so fast,
12184 The water of his
eyen out-brast.
12185 'Alas, the while!'---the
kyng seyde tho---
12186 'To graunte this
thyng that me is wo!
12187 How scholde I
fynde In my wil
12188 His askyng now to
fulfil?
12189 How scholde I
loue In body or gost
12190 Thing In erthe I
hate most?
12191 That refft me al
my worldis Ioye,
12192 That slow my
sone, Ector of Troye!---
12193 But for to
eschewe al other perrel,
12194 That more harm
not to vs fel,
12195 Ayeyn this thyng
may I not stryue;
12196 That I may haue
myne other on lyue,
12197 Myne other sones
to haue lyuand,
12198 I graunt his bone
myn vn-willand:
12199 So that he do
furst alle these thynges
12200 That he sente
hidur In tydynges,
12201 That we be
[be-]trayed noght,
12202 When we haue
graunted al his thoght.'
[Page 360]
12203 Hectuba, worthi
In wede,
12204 To the Messanger
a-yeyn yede:
12205 'I haue'---sche
seide---'thin erand sayd
12206 To Priamus, that
wel is payd
12207 Off his askyng;
so is Paris:
12208 Bothe are thei
payde of his y-wys.
12209 And I for-sothe
anendis me
12210 Schal do his
wille, that schal he se;
12211 So that no thyng
be broght to ende,
12212 Or euere my
doghter fro me wende.'
12213 The Messager held
vp his hondes
12214 And thonked hir
of tho tythandes;
12215 When he hadde
graunt of his askyng,
12216 On his way yede
he syngyng:
12217 He toke his leue,
for he was blythe.
12218 Ham-ward wente he
thanne swithe,
12219 He made his lord bothe
blythe & glad,
12220 He tolde him what
answere he had
12221 Off Priamus, and
of Hectuba,
12222 And of Paris; he
seyde alsa:
12223 "How thei
hadde alle graunt his bone"---
12224 'Alle thi wille
for-sothe schal be done;
12225 Iff ye wol do
that ye haue hete,
12226 Al schal be done
with-oute lete.'
12227 In
somer was neuere no nyghtyngale,
12228 The throstel ne
no wodewale,
12229 The throche ne
the lauerok,
12230 The papeiay ne
the throstel-cok
12231 So mery syngand
In thaire note,
12232 As he be-gan
thanne to lote;
12233 When that he was
of here assured,
12234 Ne hadde not
elles his wo endured.
12235 But than be-gan
he for to kest,
12236 How he myght do
this thing best.
[Page 361]
12237 That he be-het to the quene
12238 For hir douyter Pollexene
12239 By his man, his Messager;
12240 For hit was not In his power
12241 To remewe that company.
12242 He thoght he hadde done foly,
12243 That he hadde hight hem suche a thyng
12244 That he myght not to ende bryng.
12245 But not-for-thi, what vp so doun,
12246 He traist so mechel In his renoun,
12247 In his grete dedes & his chyua[l]rie
12248 That he hadde done be-fore here eye,
12249 That if he leffte hem In that byker,
12250 In his herte was he sekir
12251 That thei scholde leue al her querel,
12252 For drede of harm & perel
12253 That hem schulde falle In that stour,
12254 Iff thei for-yede his socour.
12255 Hit was a day whil trewes last,
12256 Achilles In his hert cast
12257 That he wolde make the lordes alle
12258 That were of Grece come to his halle:
12259 His Messager anon he sende
12260 To alle the lordes that were him hende,
12261 And bad hem come al at ones
12262 To speke with him In his wones.
12263 Ther was no lord that with-stode,
12264 That ne thei als sone to him yode.
12265 When thei were comen thedur euerychon,
12266 Thei sat as stille as any ston;
12267 Achilles sayde: 'lordynges, my peres,
12268 Herkenes now to me and heres,
12269 Why that I sende afftir yow
12270 For thing that is for yowre prow.
[Page 362]
12271 I haue meruayle what vs ayled
12272 That we the kyng of Troye assayled,
12273 Whi that we this werre be-gan
12274 For the loue of a womman?
12275 We haue by-gonne folily this striff
12276 For Menelaus the kynges wiff.
12277 What deuel ayled us to leue oure londes
12278 In other straunge mennes hondes?
12279 As thoght we roght not of oure lyues
12280 Off oure childryn & oure wyues
12281 At home that we behynde vs leffte;
12282 An aunter were we schal se hem effte.
12283 And we ar here at gret dispence
12284 To make of this werre defence;
12285 Oure goodis fast begynnes to waste,
12286 We may be beggeres alle In haste.
12287 We suffur wo of oure bodyes
12288 As men---me thynke---that are vn-wyse;
12289 We take here not but woundes
12290 And ligge In dikes as dede houndes.
12291 Ne here is non a-monges vs alle
12292 That wot w[h]at wol him by-falle;
12293 For the beste of vs echon
12294 May haue harm, and thei non,
12295 In woundes sore & gret brosures.
12296 He is a fole that him ensures
12297 In his strengthe & In his myght,
12298 For I my-selff haue ben euel dyght:
12299 Many a wounde haue I here tholed,
12300 My body hath ben y-holed.
12301 Was I not hurt so sore now last
12302 That I wende neuere to haue I-past?
12303 I was for-sothe the deth so hende,
12304 That non of yow my lyff ne wende.
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