VICTORIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
This book is purchased from
The Schofield Fund
given in memory of
William Henry Schofield
Victoria College, B.A. 1889
Harvard University, Ph. D. 1895
Professor of Comparative Literature
Harvard University, 1906-20.
Harvard Exchange Professor at
University of Berlin, 1907
Lecturer at the Sorbonne and
University of Copenhagen, 1910.
Harvard Exchange Professor at
Western Colleges, 1918.
Cjie pisi0rir of $Hftmr,
BY
WILLIAM CAXTON.
EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY.
mt&> No. cxi. 1913 (for 1912).
PRICE 155.
THE FIGHT BETWEEN JASON AND CORPUS AND THE PREPARATIONS
or JASON AND MEDEA FOR THE CONQUEST OF THE FLEECE,
FROM THE FRENCH Fais de Jason, c. 1485.
4
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF RAOUL LE FEVRE
WILLIAM CAXTON,
c. 1477.
EDITED BY
JOHN MUNEO.
THE TEXT.
*
LONDON :
PUBLISHED FOE THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO., LTD.,
68-74 CARTER LANE, B.C.,
AND BY HUMPHREY MILFORD, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS,
AMEN CORNER, B.C. M DCCCC XIII
OXFORD ! HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
I&-V-YI
No. cxr.
TO
A. B. K. COOK. A. H. SMITH.
PREFATORY NOTE.
IN preparing this text for the press I had the advantage of William Morris's type- written copy of the Romance, a copy which, I believe, he had had prepared for his own press but never used, and which his executors very kindly handed over for the use of the Early English Text Society.
In the text itself, now reprinted for the first time, I have indulged in much less interference with the original than is usual in the case of editing a manuscript, feeling that scholars may most usefully be served by the reproduction as near as may be of Caxton's text in all possible details. The few departures made from the original seemed more or less imperative. The difficulty of following the dialogue in such talk as that between Jason and Corfus (p. 32) led me to adopt inverted commas. The initials of proper names are capitalized where Caxton has occasionally used a lower-case letter, and the few contractions whereby he sometimes effected his spacing have been expanded. In punctuation other than that mentioned above, the original has been sedulously followed, and though Caxton was not so liberal of points as the modern typographer, his own system, with which the text may easily be read, and his own occasional disregard of it, are probably more desirable here than our own lavishness.
I had hoped to have included in this volume the Intro- duction, the collation with the French original, the Notes, and the Glossary : but pressure of other affairs has forced me to postpone these for a second volume at some future time.
viii Prefatoi^y Note.
The Romance was probably the first folio printed by Caxton after he left Bruges and his colleague Colard Mansion for London and the Sign of the Red Pale in the Almonesrye at Westminster. The first book dated in England, the Dictes or Sayengis of the PhUosophres (Nov. 18, 1477), was printed in the same type as the Jason (Type No. 2). One page of the Dictes is reproduced in facsimile in Mr. Seymour de Ricci's Census of Caxtons, Biblio- graphical Society, 1909.
Caxton's Prologue to this Romance, with its account of the Order of the Golden Fleece and of the marvels of Duke Philippe's Castle, has a special interest of its own.
J. M.
E. E. T. S. EXTRA SERIES, No. CXI. CAXTON'S HISTORY OF JASON
ERRATA.
p. 2, 1. 16, for prreente, read presente. p. 33, headline, for Corpus, read Corfus.
THE HISTORY OF JASON.
[Caxton's Prologue.]
tTT^Or as moche as late by the comaundement of the right hye & [leaf 2]
JL noble princessemy right redoubted" lady/ My lady Margarete by the grace of God1 Duchesse of Bourgoyne Brabant &c. I trans- lated1 a boke out of Frensshe in to Englissh named1 Kecuyel of the histories of Troye in whiche is comprehended1 how Troye was 5 thries destroyed1 And1 also the labours & histories of SaturnusTytan / lubyter Perseus and? Hercules i & other moo therin RehersecT. but as to the historic of lason / towchyng the conqueste of the Golden Flese / myn auctor hath not sett in his boke. but breuely and? the cause is for asmoche as he hadde made before a boke of the hoole 10 lyf of lason. whyche he presented1 vnto the noble Prynce in his dayes Philippe Due of Bourgoyne f And? also the sayde boke shulde haue ben to grete. if he had1 sett the saide historic in his boke. for it conteynetft thre bokes beside thistorie of lason. Thenne for as moche as this sayd1 boke is late newe made aparte of alle thistories 15 of the sayd? lason & the historic of him whiche that Dares Frigius & Guido de Columpnys wrote in the begynnyng1 of their bokes/ touchyng1 the conqueste of the sayd? Golden Flese. by occasion wherof grewe the cause of the seconde destruccion of the sayd1 cite of Troye. is not sett in the sayd1 boke of Kecuyel of thistories 20 of Troye / Therefor vnder the proteccion & suffraunce of the most hyghe puissant & christen kyngi my most dradde naturel liege Lord? Edward1 by the grace of God? kyng^ of Englond? and? of Fraunce and1 lord1 of IrlandV I entende to translate the sayd? boke of thistories of lason. folowyng' myn auctor as nygh as I can or may 25 not chaungyng1 the sentence, ne f presumyng to adde ne mynusshe [If- 2 *] ony thing" otherwyse than myne auctor hath made in Frensshe / And? in somoche as the grettest fame & renomme standeth & resteth in the conquest of the Flese of Gold?/ where of is founded1 an ordre of knightes. wherof oure sayd? souerayne lord? is one & hath taken the 30
B
2 Caxtons Prologue.
profession therof / howe welt somwe persones afferme and saye that the sayd1 ordre hath taken his orygynal of the Flese of Gedeon. where in I wilt not dispute. But well wote I that the nohle Due Philippe firste foundeur of this sayd1 ordre / dycT doo maken
5 a chambre in the Castell of Hesdyn / where in was craftyly and1 curiously depeyntecT the conqueste of the Golden Flese by the sayd1 lason / in whiche chambre I haue ben and1 seen the sayde historic so depeynted. & in remerabrawnce of Medea & of her connyng & science, he had do make in the sayde chambreby sub til engyn
10 that whan he wolde it shuld seme that it lightend & then thondre/ snowe & rayne. And1 all within the sayde chambre as ofte tymes & whan it shuld1 please him. which was al made for his singuler pleasir . Thenwe for the honour & worship of our sayd1 moost redoubted1 liege lorde whiche hath taken the sayde ordre / 1 haue
15 vnder the shadowe of his noble proteccion enterprised taccomplish this sayd litil boke. not presumyng to prreente it vnto his higlinesse. for asmoch as I doubte not his good grace hath it in Frensh / which he wel vnderstandeth. but not displesing his most noble grace I entende by his licence & congye & by the supportaczon of our
20 most redoubted1 liege lady / most exellent princesse the Quene to pre-
sente this sayde boke vnto the most fayr. and1 my moost redoubted1
[If. 3] yong" lorde. My lord1 Prynce of Wales t our tocomyng' souerayne
lorde. whom I praye God'saue and encrease in vertue & bryng1 him
vnto as moche worship and goode Renowme as euer haoTony of his
25 noble progenytours To thentent / he may begynne to lerne rede Englissh. not for ony beaute or good1 Endyting" of our Englissh tonge that is therin. but for the nouelte of the histories whiche as I suppose hatn not be had1 bifore the translacion herof Moost humblie besekyng> my sayd1 most drad1 souerayn & naturel liege
30 lorde the kyng» and1 also the Quene to pardon me so presumyng1. And1 my saycT tocomyng' souerayne lord? / My lord1 the Prynce to receyue it in gree & thanke of me his humble subgiett & seruauwte. and1 to pardone me of this my simple and1 Rude translacion / and1 all other that luste to rede or here it / to correcte where as they shalle
35 finde defaulte
11 Here endeth the prologue of the translatour
Authors Prologue and Dedication. 3
t U The Prologue of Thauctor [If. 3 b]
THe galeye of myn engyn floting not long syn in the depnes of the sees of diuerce auwcient histories in suche wise as I wolde haue brought myn esperite vnto the porte or hauen of rest. Sodaynly apperid by me a ship conduited by one man only. This man anon behelde my regarde and contenawice. whiche gaue me tytle 5 & cause of thoughte & of abasshement. for as moch as I saw his visage triste. heuy & desolate, wherof smyton with compassion of his ennuye & greef. assone as he conceyued1 that I so beheld him by greet desir. he helde him stiff & sayde to me in this wise / ' Man of rude engyn what meruailest thou / Ancre thy galeye here & take 10 thy penwe for to write & put in memoire my faites & dedes / The king lupiter of Crete was myn olde bele fader & he engendricT Cacus king of Myrmidone / This Cacus engendrecT my fader Eson. I am lason that conquerd1 the Flees of Golde in the Yle of Colchos. And1 that dayly laboure in sorowe roted1 in tristresse for the dis- 15 honneur that somme persones hurte & empesshe my glorie. Inposing to me not to haue holden my promys anenst Medea, whereof thou hast Red1 the trou[t]h . Thence I pray the that thou do make a boke vnto them that daily speke & inpngne my gloire maye knowe their indiscrete lugement. And1 for taccomplisshe the same I haue chosen 20 the to thende / that thou presente this present writing vnto the fader of writars of histories / whiche ys vnto Phelip fader & louer of aft vertues in his time Due of Bourgoygne and1 of Brabant &c / The whiche hath ben in aft his time enclined1 and1 of grete affeccion to here and1 see red1 the auncient histories / And1 to here told1 1 the [If. 4] faytes of the worthy and1 noble somtyne flourisshing1 in vertues in valyance and1 prudence for his singuler passetemps.' Thyse wordes accomplisshioT the shippe & lason vanisshecT away and1 I abode there pensyf / But in thende desiring1 to shewe the honour and1 declare the vertues of the sayde lason I ancrecTmy galeye & put in 30 wrytyng1 hys faytes as here after shal be declared* playnly & a long1/ So than I presente my litil book vnto right hye and1 right redoubted? Due of Bourgoyne not presuming1 myn Ineloquence / but presenting1 myn right humble & indigne seruice. U Thus endeth myn Auctor his prologe / And1 how wel that hit is saycT afore this prologe that 35 Eson was sone to Cacus. Yet Bochace saitti in the Genelagye of Goddes that he was sone to Erictheus the .xxix. sone of lupiter / As ye may see more playnly in the .xiij. book of the Genelagye of Goddes the .xxiiij. Chapytre
B 2
and Childhood of Jason.
[If. 5] f A Nciently the kynges and1 Princes of hye felicite were attendaunt
XJL and1 awayted1 whan their seed1 shold1 bringe forth generacion.
But whan so was that they myghte not come therto. what prosperite
they had1 Their lyf was trauersid1 in contynueft bewailing/ and?
5 they vysited1 temples and1 oracles vnto the consummation of their
dayes. or vnto thenhaunsement of theyr oroysons. The noble kyng
Eson of Myrmydone wherof is made mencion in the prologue.
among1 alle other thinges & worldly prosperitees was right nobly
regnyng» Certes he had? his Royaume mayntened1 in pees / He had?
10 in manage a right fayr lady, but they were long1 togeder withoute hauyng1 generacion / wherof their dayes were fuft of bewaylynges and1 of lititt playsir in the goodes of fortune. But they were con- tynuelly in the temples and1 oracles. And1 no thing1 of their desire befelle vnto them vnto the tyme that the king* began to fait and1
15 wexe old1 by aage. Thenne his wyf conceyuecTof his seed1 ancTmulte- plied1 the generacion humayn of a right fayr sone At the burthe of this sone the noble quene deyde / And1 whan the king1 Eson sawe his wyf so departe from lyf to deth. he bewepte her long1 tyme and1 made her obsequye Right solempnly. And1 after he reioyed1 in his
20 sone newe born, whom he named" lason. U Tason thenne grewe in beaulte meruaillously. in so moche that his fader the kyng1 Eson toke grete playsir to nourisshe hym. The tyme passid1 lason grewe so long that he coucT goo and1 speke. And1 the noble king1 his fader becam auncient in suche manere that he myght no more helpe hym [If. 56J self/ And1 on a daye callid1 lason his sone and1 sayd1 tto him. * Fayr sone lason hyt is force that I passe out of this world1 by age whiche ledeth me to the deth / For hit is the dowaire that nature hatli endowed1 to me / & the passage whiche I muste nedes make / howe be hit I take hit weft in patience / But whan I beholde thy
30 grete yongthe / & knowe that thou art not yet pourueyed1 of dis- crecion for to gouerne thy Royaume / hit is to me a grete displeasir / For hit behoueth that I leue the tree that I haue planted1 to fore I see what fruyt he shal bringe forth / My dere sone thou art the tree. And1 the fruyt that thou shalt bringe forth shalbe thy werkes.
35 Certes my corage is right sore troublid1 fayr sone lason that I shaft departe fro this worlde and1 thou shalt abyde vnpourueyd? of witte
Talk to Jason and Pelias. 5
and? discrecion / & right yong of age / thou begynnest dayly to growe and thou shalt waxe vnto the Age of a Man. And1 than thou shalt rendre the fruyt that I desire to see. But in thende whan thou shalt haue taken thy ful growing^ thou shalt decline a litil and1 a litil. and1 after that shalt be shadowed1 with deth. like as the 5 day wexeth derke by the night / And1 for as moche as ther shal leue nothing1 in the worlde of the. but only the Renommee of thy lyf / And1 that ther is nothing so lowable as the vertues I comande the that thou be vertuous and that thou flee the vyces and1 synnes. My dere sone kepe the. that Couetise blynde the not, But In ony 10 wyse Applye the vnto alle thinges vertuous. Hyt is ouer grete domage whan a man lyueth riche of synnes. and? Ryght poure of vertues / ensiewe alway tho men that be wyse & wel renommedV Lerne whylis thou art yong / & beleue no lyars Theuis / loglers / ne deffamers of women / ne be not ydelt t ne prodigous of thy tonge. [If. 6] take hede beholde & see. and1 saye litil. blame ne hurte not thy neyghbour / do to noman ony wrong / be freendly to thy neygh- bour. and1 be good? lord? and1 fader to thy subgettis in tyme & place / Thus my fayr sone put my doctrine to effect, and if thou do thus I doubte not but thou shalst haue habondawnce of alt goodes.' 20 With this the teeris cam vnto the eyen of the atmcient & wise * king and? aualecP a douu by his visage by suche superfluite that he was constrayned? to cesse his spekyng1. and1 the damoiseau lason not- withstandyng1 that he was yet a child1, began thenne to foundre in teeris right habondantly. and there were plente of other that wepte 25 for pite-/ and? discomforted them self right pietously / Among1 aft other the broder of kyng1 Eson named? Peleus there beyng^ present / coude not holde ne kepe his mayntening / there was none but he was troblid & sory for the aunciente & age of the king & not with oute cause. Neuertheles among1 these wepinges & abasshements. 3° the king Eson becam agayn to him self & lifte vp his hede / And1 after callid? Peleus and? sayde to him
« 11 /|"Y right welbelouid1 broder and? the most nigh that I haue of IV I my blode after my right dere sone / thou art also my secrete and1 right especial frencP. And1 he aboue alt the men of the worlde 35 in whom I haue grettest affiawnce Take hede and? herkene my testament, my ordenawnce. my commandement and? the conclusion of my last wille / Fyrst I am redy and1 content to deye whan it
1 0. wise.
6 Pelias made Regent. Jason at Thebes.
shal plese the goddes to sende me the deth / Secondly I recom-
mande vnto the my dere sone lason. Thirdly I Recomwande to
the anoTdeliuere the conduyte of my peple into thy garde & pro-
[If. 6 b] tecclo[n] t And1 constytute the Regent and1 gouernour of my
5 Royaume / vnto the tyme that my sone lason shaft be of aage
And1 fynably I pray the that thenne thou wilt corone him witfc my
Corone that belongeth & apperteyneth to hym by right.' With
this the noble king1 Smashed? his testament And1 his broder Peleus
toke the charge of the gouernaunce of the royaume. And1 fro
10 thenne forthon toke the rewle of the cite / and1 lason that by space of tyme cam to the age of .xviij. yere was a goodly yong> man fay re of vysage meruaillously / & wel made in aft his membres / The noble king Eson endoctrined1 him alway. & admonested1 him euer to do vertuous werkes / sayng that the herte adourned1 with vertue
1 5 rendritn the man noble /and nothing the noble stok or progenye Tydingis cam thenwe into Minnidone that the king of Thebes sholde make a grete solempne feste in his cite for the loue of a new knight that he wolde make, and1 whan lason knew that / he required1 the king his fader that he wolde gyue him licence for to
20 go vnto this feste for to begynne & ensiewe Armes. The kyng was right wel content / & ordeyned1 that Peleus sholde go with him What shal I make you long1 compte Peleus and his neuewe putte hem to poynt in armes & of horses. & syn wente to Thebes at the daye assigned1 that the feste sholde be ordeyned1 and1 kepte. And1
25 founde there many Prynces / kynges Barons and1 knightes. of whom they were wel receyued & gretly fested! and1 Hercules him self for whom the feste was made welcomed1 hem hyely & with grete Reuerence
THapparail then was at this day in Thebes grete & sowptuoits / for the king held open court / & the kinges prmces barons t and1 knightes ladies & damoiselles ete in the halle / and1 after the dyner the tables taken vp / the ladyes & Damoyselles mounted? vpon the scaffoldes / And1 on that other side the knightes arayed them in armes & mounted1 on their horses. & drew hern vnto a place propice 35 for the ioustes / & whan the kyng1 of Thebes had1 gyuen to his sone Hercules the ordre of knighthode. then?ie one & other couched1 goode speres corageously & began to iuste in suche wise that many were born doun to the erth / & specially al they that encouwtrid1 Hercules
Prowess and Love of Hercules and Jason. 7
THe noise began right grete in this place, and1 there was grete nombre of speeres broken & goode sheldes persed / Hercules dide there grete & hye prowesses / And1 in like wise mayntened1 him Jason / for they mette wyth no knightes in recoiwtring> what they where but that they bare hem out of their arsons. And1 at this 5 time the worthy Hercules began to loue lason of so parfayt loue that fro themie forthon he named1 him his broder, and1 helde him for the moost addressid1 knight in armes that he had seen in his time. In this lourney Hercules & lason asayed1 eche other many times in the ioustes & otherwise / and1 neuer bare that one that 10 other to the ertnk wherof alt they that sawe it had1 grete meruaille. for as moche as Hercules was more in membres & hygher then lason was / but lason was so wel on horse back / that noman might vnhorse him. The ladies and1 damoiselles behelde gladly lason for his hye vaylliaitnces. and1 preysed1 and honoured1 him aboue all other 15 And1 so dide alt other beholding1 his noble faytes Reseruid1 Peleus whiche seeyng that lason was somoche recommended1 of euery man / deliberid1 and1 concluded! that by t his power he shold1 gete anone [if. a grete bruyt. And1 that by his valiance he sholcT acquire thonour of alle thassemblee. and1 conceyuyd a meruayllous enuye vpon the 20 glorie that lason gate / And1 wisshid1 that Hercules had1 persid1 his herte with his spere. U What shaft I make you longe compte / lason ouerthrewe to the grounde the kyng Fokenes The king1 of Mylicene. The king1 of Mydicque & the king of Epydanee / And .xxx. other goode knightes / he had1 no reste in him self / he neuer 2g refuseth strook of spere. he fought none but the strengest and1 the most aspre & moste expert in Armes / And in trouth as to their semyng that behelde him he semed1 aboue aft other to be right weft vsicT in the faites of Armes. & that in alle his lyff he had1 don other style / but to louste. tournoye & to sinyte with his swerd1 grete 30 strokes and1 poysamit. so fiers was his contenaunce
SO long dured1 these Ioustes that these two worthy Gentilmen. Hercules & lason ouerthrew their felaws & gate the felde In suche wise that there ne abode knight ne esquyer in the sadyl / but they fonde hem in their waye. Then whaii the Ioustes 35 failledV Ladies & Damoisells departed1 fro the scaffoldes & retourned1 vnto the palays. The lousters vnarmecP them / And1 put hem in fayr araye. & after wente them vnto the ladies in to the palays / There themie began the daunses / the carolles. & the feste right
8 Jason Knighted at Thessalonica
noble and1 loyous vnto the tyme that the tables were couerid1/ & that euery man was sette as it apperteyned to his degree & estate. As of the metes & viande that they were seruid of/ it nedeth not to make mencion. euery man was seruid solempnly & ther was [If. 8] speking of the hye valiawnces t of Hercules & of lason. And in especial of the damoyseau lason / for so moche as he was estranger. The ladyes helde their deuises apart, and1 sayd1 that they had1 neuer seen so fayr and1 so goodly a yong» man / Pyrithion of Thessayle was there among1 alt other, the whiche whan he apperceyuid1 that
jo euerich hadde weft eten and1 dronken raysonably. he stode vp and1 required1 al them that were there that on that daye a monetti folowing1 they wold1 come and be at his wedding1 51 What shal I saye. Somrae sayde that they wolde come and1 somme sayd1 nay. And1 so the soupper passid1. And1 lason was fested1 there right long1
15 and1 in especiatt of the hyghe Princes and1 princesses / And1 after con- gie and1 licence taken and1 ottroied? he retourned1 into his cou^trey. And1 thenwe whan he considerid1 that tyme was for to goo to the wedding1 of Pyrithion / by the gre & consenting of his fader / he arayecThim selfe ancTputte hym in poynt Ryght nobly / and1 thenne
20 he wente theder/ and1 his uncle Peleus with him. And1 they made suche diligence that they came in short tyme vnto the noble Cyte of Thessalonycque
WHan the king Yxion knew the comyng of lason & Peleus he went agayn them & made meruaillous chere unto 25 Peleus / but yet he made right moche more vnto lason for the good1 loos and1 hye Renomrae that he had1 goten in Thebes. And1 made him to descende in his palays / and1 after brought him vnto Her- cules that was there with in a chambre. And1 requyred? him that he wolde make ancTadoube him knight / sayng1 that hit was tyme. 3° & that his playsir was. that at the weddyng1 of his sone he sholoT [If. 8 6] t sytte among1 the knightes/ and1 that hit wel apparteyned1 to him. U The right worthy Hercules herd1 gladly the king speke & made there lason knight with grete honour/ And1 lason fuft of right good1 wille opend1 his mouth 1 & sayde in this manere 51 ' Ryght noble 35 worthy Chosen / and* right wise knight among1 alle other shyning' in alle vertues hit hath plesid1 vnto yow / for to calle me vnworthy ancTindigne to be of the hye and1 comended1 ordre of knighthode Wherof I thanke you with alle myn herte / and1 this noble kynge 1 Q. inontli.
at the Wedding of Pirithous and Hippodamia. 9
also from whom in partie thonour is comen to me / But among1 alle this wele & worship I praye yow that hit may plese you tassigne me a place where I may do the faytes Cheuaulerous & knightly / vnto this ende that y§ haue not employed1 your tyme euyft so moche to honoure & worshippe me / And1 that I may in the 5 dayes of my yongthe ensiewe the hye & preysed1 vertues of yow that ar the veray and1 sewre foundement / vpon whiche my total espoyr & hope resteth for to come vnto the werkes of Recomewda- cion ' U ' Certes fayr broder lason ' / ansuercT Hercules / ' hit is now that I haue promoted1 yow vnto the dygnite of knighthode / I haue i° no comandeinent ouer yow /And1 if it be your desir to haunte Armes & to ocupie yow therin / Enquire of the warres of the world1/ and1 if hit happen that ye putte yow in armes / beware that ye in the loustes do to no man oppression / and1 be ye to alt peple humble & curtoys/ Nature hath begonne in yow a man garnisshid1 with 15 vertues. the goddes continue hit '
WYth these wordes Peleus cam vpon Hercules and1 lason Anct lason auowed1 that he sholoT goo vnto f the first warre [If. 9] that he sholde here speke of/ And1 than one & other began to deuise & speke of the prowesses of Hercules U What shal I make 20 yow longe taryeng / this day passed1 And1 the morn cam / and1 this day Pyrithyon espoused* the fayr Ypodame with moche grete honour / and made them so grete chere that Eurichus the heed1 & Captayn of the Centaures was dronken / And1 in like wyse were their felaws These Centaures were an .0. men that alway helde 25 hem in Armes for to kepe the Contreye of Thessaylle / And"1 they helde hem in one place whiche was named1 Molose / They were aft grete and1 fourmed1 as gyants U Whan than they were so dronken as said1 is/ And1 that the wyn had? surmounted1 hem in wordes and1 tendons as is a Custome in suche a caas / and1 brawlid1 among' hem- 3° self /In so moche that Pyritheon with somme other began to Reuerse their metes and1 tables fighting1 with hem with pottes & platers right longe and1 by suche furour / that Hercules ne lason ne the Ladyes might ne coude not sette ony Remedie And1 this batayft dured1 so long / that Euricus & many other of the Centaures 35 departed1 thens / disposed1 for to doo and1 commise a grete outrage as they dyde. wherof they cam to late to repente hem. for they wente & Armed1 them hastely / And1 after thus armed1 Retourned1 vnto the wedding^. AncTin this dronkenship they RauisshecTtlie fayr Ypodaime
10 Hercules and Jason smite the Centaurs.
oute from alle the other Ladyes & Damoiselles And1 Euricus bare her away vpon his sholdres
THan Hercules & lason began to Renne to take their Armes & were sone redy for to departe. And1 folowed1 after the [If. 96] dronkardes that went relyng on alle sydes t in the feldes / And1 so sore siewecf them that they ouertoke them in a grene felde. And1 were nomore on their side but they 'two only / how be hit that many siewed1 them as welt knightes as ladyes and gentilwomen / but that was not ferre. Whan the worthy Hercules and1 the noble
10 preu lason had1 retaynecT these Centaures. they had1 eche of them a bowe whiche they beflde. And1 syn they escriect1 aft the dronken centaures vnto the detn / And1 shotte on them in suche facion / that Hercules araught one of th«m named1 Grineus bitwene the eyen / and1 witn his arowe nayl-ed1 hym faste vnto a tre whiche stode
15 by hynde him. And1 the noble lason smote another Centaure in the nekke witfi a trenchawnt arowe. and1 smote him doun in the presence of one named1 Guericus / whiche escriecT right furiously vpon Hercules & lason. And? with this crye aft the Centaures rengid hem agaynst the two knightes and1 marchid1 agaynst them so
20 troublid1 that they sone after reculed1 as moche or more as they hadde goofi forward1 as peple replenisshid1 out of mesure of drynke & mete / for lason <fe Hercules persecuted1 them witB their arowes as long* as they dure<T'& slewe a grete nombre. And1 whan her shotte fayllecT they drew out good swerdes and1 came & foughte hand1 to
25 hand1 the myserable glotons by suche vigour that their swerdes were anon dyed1 witn their bloode
"Han the Centaures sawe the swerdes of Hercules & lason so dyed1 in their bloode / & also whan they perceyuid1 their felaws deye so with sorow tofore them / feling also the languisshing
30 & smarting of their wouwdes / somrae there were that put hem to
[If. 10] the flight. & the other deffendecPthem with t alle their puissaunce /
Than the noble lason shewicT his vailliance meruayllously for he
araught noman with a right strook but he bare him doun to the
erthe/or made his sowle departe fro the body /And1 they that
35 abode & sawe his swerd trenchauwt wexe rede of the bloode of their felawes were not right weft assewred1/ Certes he defended1 him as one that doubted1 nothing' /and1 so dide Hercules semblably What shal I make yow long* processe / lason slewe witfc his owne hand\iiij. geants of the saide Centaures named1 Petrous/ Doillas/
w
Jason's Fame. He quits Tkessalonica. 11
Cillarus / & Perthones & other moo which were not so grete / And1 the worthy Hercules slewe & hewe doun moo than thretty and1 somoche trauaylled1 by the ayde of lason & other / that he wan the place vpon them and cam to his aboue / This Euricus & his com- plices lost the place and1 supposed1 to haue fledde. but lason smote 5 than among1 them by suche ardauwt corage / in discharging" his swerde vpon the sholdre on the right syde of Euricus / that hit cutted1 a two his herte / whiche fylle doun dede at his feet, wherfore the other seeyngi that / were anon so discoraged1/ that they sparklid abrode / that the moste parte of them suffrid & lete hem be slayn IP & hewen in pieces without making or shewing ony deffence / And1 the other fledde somme here & sowme there Thus was the fayr Ypodayne delyuered1 of these vylayn glotowns and oultrageous by the hye vaillyance of the two worthy knyghtis lason and Hercules / Whome after this noble victorye they rendrid1 and1 deliuered1 vnto 15 her parents and frendes
GRete was the loos & preyssing meruaillously that lason gate there with the noble Hercules for his hye vertue / certes t Hercules brought her agayn to the palays with grete glorie / And1 [If. 10 ft] aft the worlde recommended1 lason reseruicT Peleus whiche deyde 20 for sorou / for the grete worship that was made to him in his presence /Thenne began the ladyes toEeioyethem silfeancTtochatmge their sorou into gladnes / The fair Ypodayne was aourned1 & arayd1 aft newe / she slepte that nyght with her lorde. The night passid1. and1 Pelews on the morn callid1 lason / and1 sayd1 that their long1 soiourn- 25 yng displaisid1 him / and1 that he wolde retorne vnto his countreye. AVhan lason had1 vnderstande Peleus / he ansvverd1 to him & saide that he was redy to departe at his goode plaisir. Thence Peleus made for to sadle his hors. And1 in the mene while he ladcT lason for to take congie & leue of the kyng Yxion. of Pirithyon. of 3° Ypodayne / of Hercules and of many other. And1 after they retorned1 into their logyse But whan they supposed1 to haue taken and1 mounted1 on their horses, two esquyers cam to lason whiche presented1 to him right fayr and1 exellent destriers or horses / that one from the king Yxion. and1 that other from Ypodayne Certes 35 lason receyuid this present in grete gladnes / thankyng1 many time the noble king1 and1 Quene. And1 thenne he mounted1 on that one of the same hors. and1 offricT that other to his vncle Peleus. but he wolde neuer accepte hit And1 saide that he was not digne ne
12 Pelias seeks Jason's Death.
worthy to receyue so nobole a present / and1 whan he had thus sayd1 he smote his hors witn spores & departed and lason folowed1 after Certes Pelews lyecF not sayng that he was not worthy to receyue so noble a present / as that was which lason presented1 him For he [If. 11] was a traitre to lason / which entended to nothing f but for to do him playsir/ 0 cursid blood/ certes this Peleus might not reste ne slepe he was so pensif / how he might bring aboute to make lason his propre neuew to deye / & to this promouid him enuye & disloyal detraccion wherof he was full
10 TIT A / a / Ryght Myserable and right disnaturaft enuie how maye
1 1 these noble men & also other nourisshe the in their heites /
They that enclyne & gyue them vnto these traytrous meuinges/ may
in no maner haue rest daye ne nyght Thou lyftest hem vp into
hye thoughtes of glorie / thou makest hem to mour&te vnto the hyest
15 toppe by oultrequydaufice & surquydrye aboue kinges and emperours promysing to them largely, but when hit cometh for tacquyte the promesses / thou castest hem lowe doun & brekest their neckes Ha a / pmierse murdryer / howe many men & also women haue ben slayn & ded1 by thy poysons/ it is now no nede for to bringe forth
20 example of this tyme present for to approue thy couercf falsenes & how thou abusest & deceyuest them that haue affiance in the but for to continue our mater with this hit suffiseth for to see thende of our historic of this saide Peleus / which gaf him to somoch trauaile for to ymagine & proiecte the deth of his nevewe lason
25 which so moche affied1 and trusted1 in him
U how lason went for to serue the quene Mirro / & how the king of Sklauonye was vaynquishid1 & chaced fro his siege
PEleus and1 lason Departed1 than fro Thessalonyque in a moreningi that one right triste and1 sorowfutt. And1 that other 30 right loyous / And1 whan they were on the felde lason as fresshe & lusty began to proue & essaye his hors / & Peleus as sorowfutt & trayttre as he was began to abasse & hange doun his heed7/ & syn [If. lib] Baide to him t self in his euyl corage / ' shal I neuer come to my desir/what is this /how shal I do /certes I wote neuer. shal I 35 murdre lason. nay. & wherfore/ for treuly for asmoch as I sholoTbe enfamed / for murdre can not be hyd / notwithstonding he must be ded1 certainly / this is the conclusion, or ellis I shal be put doun & leuc the honours royal. & shal come to mendicitc & pouerte. O
Jason hears of Queen Mirro's Peril. 13
what mortaft payne shaft I make him to deye. it is force / but who shal gyue him the morsel of deth Hit must be thought on. if I require another to doo this, parauenture he shal haue pite of lason for asmoch as he is in the grace of al the worlde & shal accuse me. if I do ordeyne ony poyson & lason be put therby to deth / they 5 that haue made & mixte hit / shal not conne kepe it secrete. And also that more is lason shal wele kepe him self from suche poyson. O what thoughtes haue I. I see none other moyen but that I must commyse this caas with my propre hand1.' Pelews conspiring in this fac«on not knowing how he might exploite for to attayne to 10 execute his dampnable enuye / rode forth aft this daye vnto the euen / whiche toke loggis. in the hous of an auwcient lady whom she recey vyd with grete loye and lason also / & they fonde her couering the table for to feste a strange knight whiche she had1 loggicT for chary te 15
INcontinent thenwe as Pelews and lason were alighted? from their hors / the auncient lady made hem to wasshe & sytte at table, and the strange knight with them & seruid hem with suche mete as she had. & as they had taken their refecczon / lason axid the strange knight after diuerce wordes. what he was & what he sought / ' In 20 trouth noble gentilman ' ansuerde the knight / * I am of the riche royaume of Oliferne f And? litil seruant vnto the quene of the centre [lf- that I haue named1/ & I certefye yow that in remenawit of aft the worlde is no fayrer lady / and? also ther is none more desolate & sorowful/ for the mighty king of Sklauonye wolde haue her to his 25 wyf for her grete beaute / vnto whome she wil in no wyse accorde her selfe / & for asmoche as she hath plainly refused1 him / he is entrid? into her royame in armes destroyng aft to fore him with fyre & swerde he is comen and hath besiegid1 her in her cyte of Oliferne / to fore which cyte & during the siege he hath had1 many 30 fayr victories ayenst the aydawts and helpars of the quene / the which in liuering diuerce batailles vnto the Esclauons whiche they haue loste ben sore dimunisshid? of their forces & strengthe / for they haue slayn of the kuightes of the saide lady a grete nombre that tho fewe that yet lyue dare not now yssue out more for to 35 make ony saulte or scarinusche ayenst their enuemyes
U ' Wherfore the vaillyant princesse willing for to deffende her self vnto the deth / hath sent into diuerce places her messagers / and1 me amonge the other for tassemble for her souldyours and1
14 Pelias advises Jason to help Mirro : he goes.
men lerned1 in the warre for to doo her ayde ayenst her enemyes as wel for her money as for to helpe to kepe thonour of ladyes wherfore I pray yow if ye knowe ony in this contre that hit may plese yow to adresse me to them ancT ye shal doo grete charite and1 5 to me grete curtosie '
IN telling the knight this that said1 is he coude not kepe him self from weping / but wept tenderly / And" whan lason had1 vnderstonde & thought a litil of the necessite of the lady / con- sidering also here grete beaute / he wepte also for pyte / & adressicT [If. 126] his wordes vnto Peleus and1 saide t ' Dere vncle ye haue wel herd1 this goode knight speke / what semetn you/ To whom Peleus ansuerde / ' Certes fayr neuew Me thinketh in myn aduys that the king of Esclauonye doth euyl & grete synne for to warre and1 destroye the couwtre of one so fayr a lady / and1 if I had* nomore
15 charge thenwe ye haue. without making long soiourn or tarieng I ahold1 go vnto the socours of one so noble a lady.' * and I ensure & promise vpon my troutn ' ansuerde lason thenwe. ' that to morn as erly as I may shal mownte on horsback and1 in the companye of this goode knight I shal go vnto this lady / and shal do to her alt
20 the seruice & plaisir that I shal can do and maye / for to begynne & ensiewe the ordre of knighthode / wherefore I pray you that ye recommande me vnto the good1 grace of my lorde my fader, and1 that ye of your goode grace wole ofte times praye vnto the goddes for me '
25 "YTTTHan Peleus had1 vnderstande the vowe of lason /he was
? T right ioyous / for he was in thopynion that he shold1 neuer
retorne fro this vyage / & that by this moyen he shold1 be quyte
of him with his worship & honour / Thenrce Peleus promised1 to
lason that he sholde accomplisshe with goode hert al that he had
30 required of him. & syn recommended1 him to the knight of Oliferne / & thenwe it was time to withdrawe them wherfore they wente to reste vnto on the morn & thenwe aroos & toke leue eche of other, and1 thus wente lason with the strange knight vnto the noble cite of Oliferne / & Pelews retorned vnto Mirmydone praying
35 the goddes that lason might be smyten with thonder or thurgh
p^rsyofwith .v.C. speris or to be buried1 in the see to thende that
ther were neucr moo tidinges of him. Suche or semblable were the
[If. 18] prayers that the f peruers Peleus made for the total destrucczon of
his gentil neuewe lason. the most adressid knight that euer was in
Mirro receives Jaso'n : he loves her. 15
Mirmidone. This notwithstanding the noble lason exployted? alway his iourney / & went so ferre he & the knight that he brought him and1 rendrid him in Oliferne. & presented? him vnto the quene for to serue her in her warre / This quene was callid Mirro / which is asmoch to saye as mirrour in beaute 5
WHan lason sawe him tofore the quene / he behelde her with grete entente enclinyng him self & making to her reuerence. And!1 she seeing that he was moche fair & a yong gentilman wel made in al his membres/& hauyng a chiere of a vaillerows man / receyuid him into her wages as a souldyer/as 10 she that hadde grete nede to haue suche knightes in grete nombre / but this was not only vpon his persone but also vpon his hye maintene & behauyng iuging in him grete corage which was not lyk to ony noble man that eu«r she had seen / After the pmentacion of lason & that the fair Mirro bad reteyned him in her wages & 15 souldies of her ordena^nce / The knight that cowduy ted1 him brought him fro the palays into the toun & deliuerid for him a goode logys. The fair Myrro hadde at that time triews with her enemies for .xv. dayes. Certes these triews anoied mooh to lason for he demawnded nothing but for to employe him in alt faites of armes 20 to that ende that he might do plaisir vnto so fair a lady / the fair Mirro / whicli neuer was out of his mynde / for ye shal vnderstande that syn the time that lason had beholden & seen the grete beaute of the lady / she was wreton by loue in his hert so acertainly that he coude neuer kepe him fro thinking on her in alowing & preysing 725 her yonghte / her cowtenawnce. her wytte t and1 aft her other vertues / [lf- ls *] wher with she was endowed & adourned & she had no more but /xvi/ yer of age / also he brought to his mynde her fair and? fresshe colour / her ladyly maytiene & her noble facion & corpulence / wherfore he was so esmeuid & esprised1 with loue that he wiste not 3° what to thenke what thing was him befalle / & in this estate he was many a day
A Mong these thinges during these triews / the king of Sklauonye jLjL. sente his propre messager vnto the fair Mirro for to require her that she sholde gyue audience to one of his knightes that he 35 wolde^sende vnto her/ to whom he had1 gyue charge for to saye to her certayn secrete thinges whiche audience she agreed?/ & than the saide messager departed? & reported? to the king that the fair Myrro was contente for to here his knight. Of thise tidingis the king of
16 The Sclavonian King's Appeal to Mirro.
Sclauonye had moche grete ioye & as he that somocti brende in the loue of the quene Myrro & wist not what thing sholde befaft him / wherfore he disguised him self the bestVise that to him was possible/ & by the iuse of certain herbes he froted his visage & changed1 his
5 colour/ & syn toke .ij. of his knightes witli him whom he trusted1/ to whome he declared how he wolde goo vnto his lady paramours fayning that he was a simple knight of the kinges court & deffended hem expresly that they sholde not make to him honour ne reuer- ence / sauf only thonour of a felaw to a felaw / & anon as he had
joaduertised of that they shold doo/ he put him on the way so secretly that he entrid in to Oliferne & so exployted that he was brought to for the noble quene Mirro / whome he had neuer seen to fore / where he kuelid1 doun on his knees right humbly to fore her / & howe wel as he was aft rauisshed1 in thinking & beholding- her [If. 14] t meruaillous beaute. for he hacTneud/- seen tofore so faire a creature / after the reuerences there made he sayde to her in this manere
"Oble and1 right renomecT princesse the king of Esclauonye my souerayn & puissaunt lorde recomwandeth him right humbly to your goode grace & noble memorie. & for so moche as he
20 hath vnderstonde that ye be conterite to here his demande & that he offrith for the loue / for the wele / the honour & prouffiit of you / & of your royame / if hit plese you ye shal gyue me audience & goode expedicton ' / "With these wordes the lady commanded1 the king that he sholde stand1 vp as she that wist not what he was. &
25 syn drew her a litil a part, wherfore the king approuched1 ner her & saide / ' Right vertuouse princesse / ye knowe how by diuerce times your right humble seruaunt the king of Esclauonye hath required!1 you by his barons & enbassadours / that it sholde plese you to be his wyf and felaw. And1 alway in feet ye haue refused1
30 him And1 for cause of whiche refuse as I am aduisecT he hath entrid into your royame & assailicT it by warre as ye maye p^rceyue / yet alway to put him self in deuoir / he hath sent me to you for to require your desired grace / as he that hath more gretter pite of you and1 your count re thenne ye haue your self as me semeth. wher-
35 fore he requireth you by me that at this time ye haue pite of your trewe louer / of whom the fortune is suche that certes he deyeth in languisshing after you. ha a my right redoubted1 lady after the lugement of the men ye ar the veray myrrour of al vertues/ of al bounte & noblesse Here thenn« the voys of your seruaunt
Mirro rejects the Sclavonian King.
17
speking by my mouth1 & requiring your grace & pite the most humble wise that tot him is possible /the poure & desolate king Ll your right trewe wele willare may not be in no place withoute thenking on yow his ymaginacion compryseth nothing but your name & beaute / his stomack digesteth nothing but your triumphant 5 glorie / his prayers ne suffrages monte not vnto the goddes but in calling them to the augmentacion of your wele / Alas haue ye pyte & mercy on him. on your peple & on your Royaume / & on me that am his secrete messager of loue / Condesce^de ye in wille for to be his lady & maistresse to thende that he may atteyne to the chief of 10 his desirs / & also to thende that your cyte & your men may dwelle in pees & reste '
TN pronounsing these or semblable wordes the dolorous king1 made many sighes and1 began to chauffe and? to swete in suche agonye as he had? ben a prysoner presented to fore a luge for to 15 receyue Sentence of grace or of deth The wyse and1 discrete Myrro suffrid1 him tachieue alle his proposicion / And1 whan he had1 purposed? alle that loue enseygned1 him for this tyrne. She was not so dispourueyed? of aduis ne of entendement / but promptly & meurly she made to him this answere U ' Messagyer whan I haue 20 weft vnderstand1 yow I am aft abasshid? how my mortal enmye can or may require me of loue of ony aliau^ice whan by his oultrage and1 cruelte he is by grete wronge entrid1 in to my Eoyaume witn Armed? band1 pylled1 & robbed1 my londe / slayn my peple / brente my centre. & yet more in faite hath besieged" me in my cyte of Oliferne. 25 & whan I haue wel ouerthought these saide thinges I answere yow at this tyme for al / that I shal rather suffre my self & al my royame to be destroyed1 than in ony maner shal coTidescende to t his [If. 15] requestes & to his wilt'/ ' Certes madame' ansuerde the king* ' me thinketh ye be not wel conceyled! ne considere ye not that 30 youre desdayne haue ben cause of the deth of fifty thousand1 men / And how. haue ye no regarde that he is so noble and? so puissaunt a king. & that he loueth you with so parfayt loue that aft his desir is not but for to mowe come to your goode grace / In trouth it apperitt by that / that ys sayd1 to you. that he hath more gretter 35 pite of your noble persone. of your men and? of your desolate Royaume / thenne ye haue your self And1 therfore madame thenke ye on these thinges / & beware that by your cruelte and1 defaute
1 0. montb.
18 Mirro's Knights fear the Sclavonians.
your goode louer & frende if hit plese you / faft not in despayre / I wote neuer what may encline you herto. but if it be that ye wil and desire rather the general & total destrucczon of your royaume thenwe other wise. And1 by aft my goddes hit is grete outrage 5 and1 folye that meuith you therto '
' /^Ertes massager' ansuerde the wise mayde vnto the Esclauon \^J king / ' the luyte or wrastling^ of your wordes is not strong ynouTi for to bete doun & ouercome the constawnce of my con- tinence / 1 loue my men and peple naturelly And1 to this ende that
10 alle the worlde knowe that I saye trouth. also long as the soule abideth in my body / 1 shaft neuer haue loue ne aliawnce vnto myn enmye / & speke nomore to me therof ' / With this the king was aft vainquisshid1 & desconforted of socours / & was so terribly displaisid & angry of- aspre & mortal angre that in a grete dispair & wanhope
15 he saide to her/ ' O feft lady & most rebeft & leste pietows that euer
departed1 out of womans bely syn that I must acquite me whan I
[If. 15 6] perceyue that your swete corage wole not accorde vnto f me. ne
entende vnto the continuel supplicacions of yowr so trewe louer/
I me depoi te from hens forth for to speke ony more of this mater /
20 but I yow ensure as sone as the triews shaft faylle. ye shalbe guerdoned1 after yower fyerte ' U With these wordes the kyngp of Sklauonye departed" thens with a chiere pensyf / And1 retourned? to his Ooste more desiring" to come to his entencion than euer he hadde ben to fore / And1 the fayr Myrro litil setting^ by his menaces /
25 began to deuise with somme of her Gentilwomen in recounting' to them the prayers & requestes that her mortal enmye had1 made to her U What shal I saye yow more / the triews fayllecT at tyme sette & expired1/ AncTwhan they were thus faylled1 the king* of Sklauonye more thenking on the fayr Myrro /than was nede to him/ made
30 his men to putte hem in Armes many a daye. hoping* that they of Oliferne 1 sholde come out & make him skarmuches / but he loste his payne / for ther was not in the cyte ony man that durste yssue out for to assaylle them / for asmoche as they had1 alway agaynst hem the worse / & than whan he knewe that they of Oliferne were
35 so cremeuse & rebowted & durst not come out / he chose on a daye
fyfty of hys knightes- / & saide to them / that for the loue of his
lady he wolde luste agayn them aft / one after an other / & syn
brought hem vnto a place propice for to luste in / whiche was right
1 0. n inverted.
Jason attacks Mirro's Enemies.
19
fayr in the sighte for them of the cyte / & there began they to iuste making so merueyllous abruyt that they of Oliferne herde hit anon & ran vnto the bateillement & lowpes of the walles
IAson wente for to see these loustes with the other & anon as he sawe the maner of the Sklauonoys he t had grete sorou in [If. 16] him self/ & by a meruaillous corage he went to the palays tofore the fair Myrro / And1 after the reuerence made, he saide to her / ' My right redoubted lady I can not haue meruaile ynouh of the grete slouthe & lachenes of your men / for I haue see your mortal enemyes deuyse & iuste right nygh to your cite with a litil 10 companye / in suche wise as Oliferne were dispourueyed? in att pointes of men & of deffence. Ha a madame what is this. Ceites aft they that ben therin receyue grete blame. & therfore I praye you for your honour & also myn that ye wil deliuere me .x. of youre souldiers / & that it plese you that I may conduyte them 15 vpon your enemyes / & if ye wole so do I suppose that we shal make affraye to them as grete as they had ony long syn.' The fair Myrro her ing the requeste of lason alowecT moche his goode wil / & enquired1 of him the nombre of her enemyes / & whan she was adu^rtised that ther were no moo but fifty/ she sente for .xij. 20 knightes which were newly comen fro the cite of Damask to whom she declared? the request of lason / & axioT of them if they wolde aduenture hem with him. They behelde lason & seeyng his mayntene & that he was the best adresshid1 knight that euer they had1 seen. & that his request departed1 fro a right noble corage/ 25 They ansuerde that they wolde acompanye him vnto the deth. Thenwe the noble mayde heering' what they sayde acorded1 to lason to entreprise l that he had? requyred1 of her / Whan lason perceyuid1 that his request was acorded1 to him. he thanked the fayr lady witfi goode herte. & after recommanded him vnto her noble prayers 30 After that he required the .xij. knightes that they sholcT spede them to put hem in point promising them goode auenture fThis [If. 16J] don they wente & armed? them And? mourcteth vpon their horses / And1 whan their helmes and? sheldes were laced1/ They dide doo opene one of the gates of the Cyte whiche they helde continuelly 35 closed1 for alle doubtes and? aualed1 the drawe brigge / and1 they Rood1 out in to the felde / & Joyously Rood1 ayenst the Esclauons / whiche as said1 is were lousting^agayn their king1 by solace 1 0. enteeprise. C 2
20 Jason fights with Mirros Enemies.
WHau the noble Mayde Myrro and1 the Ladyes knewe that lason was on his waye they monted1 vpon an hye tour / out of the whiche they might playnly see in the ooste of their enmyes / and1 they taried1 not longe whan the kynge of Sclauonye had1
5 perceyuid1 lasou & his felawes whiche cam to him ward1/ wherfore he lefte the lousting1 and callid? his knightes / to whom he sayde / ' Fayre lordes ye haue made vpon my body an esproue of Chyualerie for the loue of rny Lady / But now thenke ye for to gete honour & laude for the loue of me / & proeue yow mightly vpon this litil
10 nombre of knightes Olifernoys that come upon vs / we ben foure agaynst one / wherfore we shal put hem to detn al so lightly as the lyon deuoureth the lambe with his teth & clawes U With these wordes the noble lason and1 his felawes assewrid1 on their horses syn toke their sheldes whyche were fast bonden to their brestes
15 brandisshecTtheir speris and1 escryed? their enemyes / whiche brochecT their horses with their spores and? receyued1 them & recountrioTwitn the myght of their speris & so asprely assayled? them that it semed1 that they sholde haue confounded1 them to fore hem. but whan hit cam to the tronchoning of their speris / lason that best was horsicT [If. 17] of alle the other receyuid? the first strooke t And1 with his spere he was atteyned? of the king of Sclauonye by suche a might that he pgrcid1 the shelde on the right side. And? there he brake his spere / and1 lason smote hym on the sommette of his shelde by suche a might/ that he made hym to reuerse his heed1 and? made him to
25 hurtle agayn the Cruper of his horse by hinde so astonyed1 that his feet were lyfte vpwarcT that the rayn of his horse brack and1 fytt doun from his horse vnto the grounde / the whiche horse than Ran astraye in to the felde / than passid? forth lason right loyous of his good1 aduenture / And1 with an other spere that he had1 taken of his
30 esquyer for to fulcome his emprise / cam and1 recourctrid1 one of the beste knightes of Sklauonye/to whom he gaf so desmesurable a stroke in the middes of his shelde / that he percycT hit and1 the hauberk and1 haqueton in to the body in suche wyse that he fytt doun dede fro the horse to the erthe / And? than they smote to gyder
35 on bothe parties by the strengthe of their speres wele sharped1 with stele / And? for the grete nombre of Thesolauons that were there in Regarde of them that recountrid1 them / Somme lefte the stour and? wente for to conforte their king> which laye on the erthe astoned? and1 as ded1. Ai;cT the other entended1 for to furnisshe their
Jason fights with the Sclavonian King.
21
enemyes / Thus began the bataylle fiers aspre and" Rygorouse as wele with speris that sone were tronchonnecT as with good1 trenchaunt swerdes / & they of Damask mayntened1 them so hyely by the example of noble lason that with lousting1 they bare doun .vj. of their enemyes. Of whome foure were dede on the felde and1 5 the other two so hurte in the falling- that they might neuer helpe hem selfe after fVT E may wel vnderstande that this stour began aspre and1 [If. 176]
1 meruaillous / The Esclauons sette their kyngi on horseback agayn as welt as they coude vpon one of the horses of them that 10 were dede / and1 thence aft they sette hand on their swerdes and1 came for to entremedle with lason and" them of his companye / smyting1 on them so dismesurably that lason knewe anon that ho sholde be slayn / if he defended1 him not with aft his power. And1 thenne concluded1 in his corage that er he left his lyf he wolde make 15 his Renowimee growe in Oliferne and in Esclauonye. or he wold deye in the payne / with that he haunced1 his clere trenchaunt swerde of steele / And1 dischargid1 hit vpon the helme of a Esclauon by suche vertue that he clefte his heed1 vnto the brayn. that he fift doun dede fro his horse to the erthe / and1 in passing' further he 20 smote an other in the presence of his kyngi by suche force that he cutte of a quartre of his shelde and1 his lifte arme witn all/ And1 whan the king apperceyuyd1 that lason departed1 suche strokes he had1 doubte of his persone/And1 that was no grete meruaille. thenrae as worthy and1 vailliawit as he was he escried1 lason to the 25 detn. and1 syn cam to him with his trenchaunt * swerde enhauwsed1. And1 smote him so mightily vpon the toppe of hys helme / that he made the sparklis flee oute / and1 his heed1 to enclyne lowe doun. wherof he was not litift astoned! but escried1 him sayng1. ' Vaissale ye haue weft shewid1 to me how ye can recouwtre a man with the 3° the spere / but I shal shewe to you the sharpnes of my swerde and how that I am better knight thenne ye / And1 if ye escape fro my handes without receyuyng- of deth. I wift weft that ye saye to my Lady f paramours the fayr Myrro. that her loue and1 frende of [lf- 18J Sklauonye hath neyther force ne might ' 35
1 trenchut.
22 Jason vanquishes Mirro's Foes.
11 How the king' of Sklauonye was vaynquysshid1 by lason in the felcle by bataylle
MOche was lason desplaysauwt whan he hacT vnderstande the vauntises of his mortaft ennemy. But whan he knewe that
5 he was the kmg> of Sklauonye he was weft loyous for to knowe him and1 thus saide to him by derysion. ' Ha a / right oultrageous fole / Arte thou he that arte affoyled with the blanche feures for cause of my right redoubted1 lady. Now see I wel that in the is more of presumpcion than of vayllyaunce / and1 of vauwtise than of fayte
10 and1 truly more of folye than of wysedom. For hit ys parfayte folye to the for to name the better knight than I am. / Than late vs see who is the better ' H With these wor[des] they began agayn to smyte eche other Ryght asprely. Certes lason prouyd1 hym self Ryght fiersly in gyuyng* to hys enemye many strokes terryble
15 and1 poysaunt. And1 so many gaf hym in makyng' Reed1 hys swerd1 of the bloode of the Esklauon king that the right malerouse king was constrayned1 to crye and1 to calle his knightes vnto his ayde and1 helpe. but ther cam so many that lason was enuiroraied1 & assayled1 on all sydes
"Han the Noble lason felte hym selfe so aduironned1 on alle sydes by hys enemyes / He was more reconforted1 than to fore. And1 began to smyte wytn hys good1 swerd1 of steele on the Ryght syde and1 on the lyfte syde by suche vertue and1 might / that [If. 18 b] the ladyes of the Cyte t knewe him among' alt other / and1 perceyuyd1
25 that he skarmusshid1 with his swerde alt dyed1 with newe blood now here / & now there. And1 after sawe him cutte of heedes / armes and1 legges and1 fystes / And1 made armes at his wyft and1 more thence aft the remenawnt. And1 certes by his mayntene he semed1 better a thing of that other worlde thence an humayne persone / And1 fro
30 this tyme forth on the fair Myrro seeyng1 this that sayd1 is / toke lason so in her good1 grace that vnto the deth she louyd1 him aboue aft other knightes. as she that setted1 her loue totally in hym The noble lason fought thenne vailliauwtly agayn the Esclauons / and1 right long endured1 the bataylle. And1 whan the .xij. knightes of
35 Damask sawe the grete prowesse and1 the dangerous stour that was aboute their maister / They smote in among- them that so assayled1 hym / And1 thenwe enforced1 him lason for to make hym self to be of valour, truly by suche ardeur of corage that he slewe there ten of the most hardyest knightes of aft the hooste of his enemyes.
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Mirro's Love for Jason. 23
wherfore the king of Esclauonye seeyng his mayntene & the valeur of lason hacTsuche fureur and1 drede. that he habandormecTthe place and1 his knightes / that thenwe aft wery folowed1 him / And1 theime the noble lason folowed1 the chaas and* chaced1 hem vnto the grete cost in suche confusion & mortal occision / that of the fyfty knightes 5 that were at the begynnyng of the batayft ther escaped1 no moo but ten. but they were alt slayn & detrenchecT or hewen in pieces. And1 of the partye of lason ther bleef no moo but tweyn vpon the felde. And1 of the remanaunt alle were hurte that one more anguisshously theime that other 10
t H How lason was ioyously receyuid1 of the quene Myrro of [if. 19] Olyferne and1 how they bewayllecT eche other
A Fter this meruayllous bataylle. and1 that the worthy lason had1 JLJL rechaced1 his enmyes vnto nyghe by the ooste as said1 is he tariecTfor .ij. resons / The first was for as moche as he sawe his felaws 15 wery & sore payned1 by their wouwdes / and1 the seconde was for as moche as he sawe the Ooste meue for to come vpon them / & than as wyse and discrete he withdrewe him sayng that more is worth a good retrayte / than a folisshe abydinge/ and reentricPwith grete honour & glorie into the cyte / wherof the fair Myrro was as loyouse as she 20 coude be / & contrarye to this was the king of Sclauonye as sorouful & angry for the grete domage that he had suffrid1 that day / Euery man in Oliferne as sone as lason was reentrid siewed him & man women & children blessid him sayrig one to an other that they had neuer seen none lyk to him in beaute ne more vaillyaunt knight of 25 his body/& than al the cyte began to reioye/& whan the fair Mirro thought that lason was vnarmed / she sente for him / & he cam gladly to her / for that was al his desir / than whan he was comen to fore her he salewed1 her / & she rendrid to him his salewe / & syn demanded him how he felte him self & how he ferde / 30 ' Certes madame ' ansuerde lason ' to God1 begyue the thanking I ne fele on my body but al good1 disposicion / & am ioyously retourned into your cyte & as to the regarde of your enmyes / by that I haue felt of them / me thinketfi that they ought not sore to be dredde ne doubted1 & that in short tyme / ye shal haue of them 35 good rayson I haue this day made my swerd reed t in their bloode. fif. 19 &] wherof their king1 your mortel enemye hatfi had? grete dueyl & sorowe. And1 1 haue yet goocle wil that to morn I shal redouble
24 Mirros Feast : the Love of Jason and Mirro.
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that, and1 yet that shalbe worse to him & to his / if the goddes be in myn ayde and1 helpe '
"Hilis that lason spack thus to the noble Lady as sayd1 is / she behelde hym now & now by right grete ardaunt loue / 5 & coude not absteyne her self / for she was so surmounted with loue at this tyme / that for to hyde her wil and1 to refroide & cole her a litil without more spekyng- to lason / that she left him witti two damoiselles for to entretene & tarye him. & she withdrewe her into her chambre / where she began to thinke on the grete vertues
10 that were in lason That is to wete on his hye prowesse. on his fair chiere / on his laughyng1 eyen / on his weft made body / and1 on his graciouse speking. AncT so moche she thought on him that she must come agayn vnto the place where he was / Thenne she fonde in the halle of the palays plente of her frendes & of the most noble
15 of the cite. ancTther was newly arryuecFa messager of the king of Damask, that certefyecT to her. that that 1 euenyng sholde come vnto her ayde two thousand Assyriens. whiche the king his lorde had1 sente to her in the conduyte of his broder named1 Prusiws. whiche was a Ryght valyant knight in armes / Of these tidynges
ao was the noble quene moche reconfortecT. & commanded that they eholde ordeyne wel for hem to ete & drynke. & dide do couere the tables & receyued1 this Prusms right solempnly / but whan eche was sette at table / the fair Myrro & lason were in sucn wise seruid by the refeccion of loue / that they toke none hede of mete ne of [If. 20] drinke / The messager of loue that is to wete doulce Regarde f was continuelly on the way/ that on was shamefaste and changed1 colour / & in like wyse dide that other/ lason coude not conteyne him self/ and Myrro p«rceyue<T wel ynow his mayntenyng / but Myrro was moche subtyft / for she behelde him raysonably / & more dide by
30 wysedom than her herte desired1. / In these regardes & in these semblances they passid the soupper / ther was no lady ne damoyselle that ne employed her eyen for to beholde lason for his grete beaute what shal I saye more /after the soupper hit was ordeyned that on the morn the Siriens which were wery & trauaylled1 in coming
35 theder shold reste them / but the next day folowing they sholde goo out vnder the conduyt of lason far tassayle the siege of the king of Sklauonye / & than eche man toke leue & withdrewe hem into their logyse one & other & into her hosteleryes
1 0. taht.
The .Love-thoughts of Jason and Mirro. 25
A None as lason was withdrawen into his logys & leyde in his JL\. bedde for to reste / The souenaunce of his lady presented? her into his memorie / "Whiche enlumyned in him so terryble a fyre in the myddes of his herte that him thought he was in a brennyng fournayse. He began than first to thenke on the fayt of his lady. 5 And? after he began to make castellis in Spaygne as louers doo / & finably whan he had7 long labourd? in thise thinges / he spack to him self / & saide softely. 'ha. a fortune / knight what shal befaft of the & of this noble lady hit behoueth that thou praye her of lone / and1 than am I not hardy ynow to doo BO / wherfore I wil not / be 10 what rayson she is good1/ but she compryseth the bruyt of al the worlde / & that more is she hath refused1 a king / certes I am wel a fole for to thenke on her / ye trewly a fole / & how wel that I be a fole yet haue I gyuen to f her myn herte / hit is heeris / & it shal [If- 20 6] abide with her '/ the gentil damoyseau lason thought the most part J5 of the nyght in this reverye amerouse / And1 after slepte / but he dremed of his lady, for thenforcement of loue / In like wise it must be saycTthat she bleef not al quyt / for incontynent as she was leyde in her bed / her thought that she sawe lason flourisshing aboue all other men / Thenne she began to coueyte his loue. And1 desired1 20 the daye that she myght see him agayn. & so moche she desiricT him during1 the nyght / that she began to saye in this wise / ' Ha a obscure & derke night wherfore endurest thou so long / it displesith me ouermoche. & not with out cause, for I am in terrible payne be cause that the day tarieth so long er he come. Ha a daye where 25 ait thou / if thou were come I shold? see my loue & frende / my solace & corcforte. Ceites thou makest long soiournyng. by thy tarieng myn eyen may not see my bewayling the desire of my herte / thaccomplishement of my wisshes. the esperance of my ioye. but what enioye haue I / 1 may not slepe in stede where I was wonte 30 to wisshe after the nyght for to withdrawe me fro the publicque affaires/ now I must wisshe after the daye for to come to my singuler playsir in a secrete regarde & syght '
SVche or semblable were the wordes of the noble lady esprised1 of loue / she desired? the preu lason. and? he coueyted? her also. 35 And? in the same wyse faylled? not the king- of Esklauonye. for in the same nyght. the dolour & payne of his woundes were to him so aspre that he myght not reste. And1 thenwe for to passe with aft more esily his payne. he began to bewaille the grace of his noble
26 Plaint of the Sclavonian King.
lady / & sayde in this maner among- alle other wordes. ' Ha a dere
[If. 21] t lady shaft ye neuer haue pyte on my poure & desolate herte. the
whiche notwithstanding' your reffuse anoTgreteRudesse may not put
you in oubliawnce ne out of his desir / the whiche more and1 more
5 you loueth / the whiche can not trauaille him self ynowh for to finde the maner to gete youre henyuolence and1 good? wyft. And1 whether hit plese you or plese you not hit is alt youris. O my desir if ye wole alwaye remayne witli out mercy, wherfore were euer ye so habondantly garnisshid? so welt of excessiue and1 chief of alt beaute.
10 your resplendour is clere among the women as the sonne is among1 the sterres. shall ye be without mercy anoTwithoute compassion. I suppose that ye shaft not / and my herte lugeth that ye shaft haue grete Regard1 vnto my good" wil/ The ladies other whilis take plaisir for to make her trewe seruawnts to languisshe. And1 their
15 honour accordeth weft therto / for in trouthe a lady to sone abandonned1 and1 gyuen ouer. embraceth not grete honour, thenwe hit is expedient that she suffre her louers to tarye by prayers and* oroisons / And1 in this manere I wille conclude in my selfe. not onely for one Reffuse / ne for .xx. of the grace of my lady / 1 wille
20 not falle in despayr / The verray courage of a trewe louer maye in no wise be knowen but only by the moyen of many Reffuses. How weft the stone is mynecT and1 holowed1 by contynueft droppyng* of water. And? thenwe shalle not the Rigour and1 the reffuse of my noble lady be myned1 and1 adoulced1 by my habondawnt prayers and?
25 oroisons. yes verily, that shaft she be or nature shaft faylle. And? if not / the goddes shaft be iniuste and1 agaynst me '
[If. 21 b] f 51 How lason befought a meruayllous Gyant named1 Corfus, and1 how he slewe him in the bataylle
IN these or semblable ymaginacions the Esklauon king passid1 aft this nyght vnto the morn erly / that Corfus a meruayllous Geant born in Toscane cam vnto him And1 demanded7 how he ferde / and how it stode with him. ' Certes Corfus ' answercT the kyng*. ' For so moche as I dreme of my loues. And1 that they occupye me BO sore, that they slee me because I occupye hem somoche. & how 35 wel that I fynde in her but reffuse and fierstee.' * AncThowe ' sayd? Corfus ' thenke ye yet on her.' c ye ' sayde the king / ' That muste nedes be.' ' Must hyt nedes ' sayd? Corfus. ' Ye certes ' sayd1 the kyng. Than sayde Corfus / ' Ye be a fole and1 right euytt aduysed1.
Corf us, a Giant, counsels and aids him. 27
For alle thinge considerid1 he is not wyse that enforceth hym to haue a wyf a boue hys degree / for as inoche as ther ben of other plente.' * Ryght weft ' saycT the king. ' ye saye Ryght wele / but knowe not ye that somme one is better and more worth than some fyue honderd1. Ceitaynly my lady ys the oultrepasse of al other 5 ladyes / ought I to leue her for her reffuse ' / ' ye ' saide the geant ' if ye do wysely ' / '• by my la we ' said the king ' that shal neuer befaft me for to deye in the payne as her trewe seruauwt / but that I hope to come to thaboue of myn enterpryse how that it be ' / * Syre ' saide Corfus ' I reporte me vnto your symplesse. But and1 10 ye wyft beleue me ye shaft beguyle her weft. Ye shaft leue her for suche as she ys ' saycF the Geant / * and1 neuer whyles ye lyue loue neuer woman but for one night ye may euery day haue anew / ther is none so grete plaisir as for to change t ofte.' ' Ha a / Corfus ' [If. sayde thenne the king/ 'a trewe louer vseth neuer suche termes as 15 ye speke of. and1 whan a prince may come to the loue of a lady, fayr. trewe. discrete & of a good house, is not that ynoun for him / if he that cometh to suche felicite and1 goth to chauwge / certes he is worthy of reproche ' * Syre ' sayde the Geant Corfus. ' ne knowe ye nomore thenne ye saye and1 shewe / Certes ther is 20 weft another poynt '/ ' and what is that ' sayde the king1/ * I shaft saye you ' saide the Geant / ' Take ye the fayrest lady that liueth and be as amourous ouer her as euer ye can or may. Anone as ye haue enioyed7 her as litift as hit may be / ye shalbe wery and1 fuft of her. she shaft seme to you fowle / and yet more I shal saye you 35 that sone ye shaft wisshe her brend1. And? if ye be as other men be ye shaft leue her and1 take an other yf hit be in your puyssauwce ' < TTA a / Corfus ' sayde thence the king1/ ' if I sholcT beleue your J-l counceyft / 1 shold1 neuer do weft / & as to the Eegarde of me I wene that ye saye to me these thinge. for to make me retorne 3° into my couwtrey to thende that ye goo not to the felde agaynst them that yesterday shedde my bloode.' ' by my loyaulte ' saide thenwe Corfus / ' sire, aft that I haue sayd1 procedeth not for ony fere ne drede that I haue of aft youre enemyes. but I counceyft you to my trew power / for as moche as me semeth hit couenable for your 35 h el the and1 prouffyte And1 to thende that youre wenyng be founden vntrewe / with oute more delaye / 1 shaft sende youre messager vnto the noble Quene Myrro for to signefye her / that for to mayntene the noble mestier of armes / 1 offre my self allon ayenst .viij. the
28 Jason accepts Corfus s Challenge.
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[If. 226] best knightes that ben in the cite of Oliferne fFor to fyghte in Champe cloos as hit Apperteynetn in suche a caas '
'Han the kinge of Sklauonye had herd? thanswer of the Geant & perceyued1 that he was angry / he helde his pees so long /
5 that the geant wente & armed1 him in his tente/ AncTsyn put him on the way toward? the Cyte in the company of a messager of the kinges / whom he sente vnto the quene Myrro right in suche wyse as a fore is said1/ and whan the messager had" sayd1 that he had1 in charge / The noble quene callid1 the more parte of her knightes &
10 declared? to them that the Geant had demaunded1. Anone as they of Oliferne had1 herd1 the contenue of this mandement For as moche as lason & plente of other knightes straungiers that were there gaf the honour for to speke first to them of the same centre for to saye their aduis of this werke / They saide alle on hyhe that this geant
15 Corfus was he that by his force and vaillyawzce had? put to detti the most part of the noblesse of Oliferne / & that hem seined1 hit shold1 be grete folye for to furnisshe the batayle that he demanded / but of this answere / were alle the knightes straungers so abasshed1 that they concluded1 to be conduyted? by the knightes of Oliferne /
20 Reseruid? the noble & preu lason / the whiche as he that might not lenger holde his noble corage to speke but saide witn so hyhe a voys that he was wele vnderstonden of alle men in this manere
(Ayr lordes displese yow not / yf the vertue of my corage knowe not now the feblesse of my body / I knowe right wel
25 that I am not grete ne mewbred as a geant / neu^rtheles I wil wel
[If. 23] that hit be knowen that ther is no geawt that hath gretter f herte
theime I haue /And1 to this ende that it appere euydently. And?
the noble lady where my herte & aft my wele Resteth. may alway
here goode tydinges of me / 1 enterprise for to go fighte ayenst
30 the Geant Corfus man for man. and" I shaft neuer reste vnto the time that I haue prouyd1 my self ayenst him / Thenne the noble lady the quene that tho was present hauyng^ herd1 thenterprise of the noble lason / was so vtterly smyten with sorou. that her semed1 that she was smeten with a spere a trauers the herte / so
35 moche she louyd? lason. neuertheless she helde good contenawnce. asmoche as to her was possible. And? Incontinent as lason hadde declared1 there his corage. She sayde to him / * lason fayr sire beware what ye saye / & see that your yongthe abuse you not For if ye were you .xx. armed? and1 in point for to fighte Knowe ye for
F- I
Jason fights with Giant Corf us.
29
trouth that he sholde neuer leue but abide you thawh ye had1 sworn his detft '
' /~"1Ertes dere lady ' saide lason. ' knowe ye that if yongtft abuse V-^ me / oultrequydance and presumpcion deceyueth the Geant / For to sle a man how grete or puyssaunt that he be ther behouetft 5 but one stroke weft sette. / But whether hit be of yron or of steeft or of ony other thing? I doubte not but hit shaft come to poynt ' / Whan the noble quene Myrro had1 vnderstande this that lason sayde. She wiste not what to answere U What shaft I make you long* tale / he dyde doo be saycT to the messager of the kyng- of 10 Esclauonye. that he wold befighte the Geant Corfus/and themie whan the noble lason was armed? with his armes / he mounted on horseback and1 his spere on his thye and1 so departed1 from the Cyte / And? adressicT him toward1 the Geant f whiche was right [If. 23 &] subtyft in the fayt of Armes & of the warre / he had1 aft his harnoys 15 trussioT and1 his hors sadlid? and1 brydlid?
INcontinent as the Geant perceyuid1 that the vaillyauwt prince lason cam riding vnto him / he sterte vpon his hors & cam to ward1 him / and1 by grete felonuye said to him / ' what sekest thou'/ to whom lason saide / * Arte thou Corfus ' / c ye ' ansuerd Corfus / 20 ' I am he trewly.' ' Than knowe thou that thou arte he that I seche ' / ' Thou ' saide Corfus / ' ye, trewly I ' saide lason / ' and1 what meuith the so to doo ' saycT Corfus / ' considerest thou not the strength & force of my body and1 the furour of my swerde / and1 how I am cause of alle the desolacion of Oliferne / yf me good1 25 semeth I shal sese the by the heede & breke thy necke/as the necke of a cheken ' * Thou tellest me meruaylles ' saide lason, 1 for to fere and abasshe the peple / but for alle that my corage changett not / our processe endureth to long / go thy way & feche thy spere / & than she we what thou canst doo / thou hast founde 30 a man for to furnisshe the / litil speking & wel werking ' / The geant wytn these wordes wente for to fecche his spere / And1 lason couerd1 him with his shelde assewring him self in his sadeft And1 whan he had1 so don & sawe that the Geant smote his hors witn hys sporis & cam agaynst him / he rode toward1 him so corageously / 35 that hit semed? more lyk thonder descending" from heuen than ony other thingv and? so smote the most fiersly that they coude or mighte / & their strokes were so peysaimt & heuy / that the sengles of their sadles brake in so moche that the noble lason was born
M
30 The Fight between Jason and Corfus.
vnto the erthe / and the geant was reuersed1 with the sadle vnder [If. 24] the crupe of his t hors / And1 of the peysanteur of the two grete strokes, the raynes of his horse faylled? & his two legges behynde in suche wise as he tumblicT the hede vnder & the feet vpward1 at 5 right grete meschief
I Any knightes of Sclauonye and1 of Oliferne were gretly abasshid? whan they apperceyuecTthat lason hadde receyuecT of the Geant Corfus oon so heuy & so grete a strook with out deth or nmyme. Jason and1 the Geant so born to the erthe & sette a fote
10 as saycT is ReleuycT them self anon in their standing^ and1 marchid1 oone agaynst that other. Thenne the strong- Geant drewe his goode swerd out of his shethe and1 escried1 lason sayngi ' Vaissale or felawe thou hast don to me now the most grettest dishonour that euer happend? or came to me. And1 therfore kepe thy self from my
15 faytes the best wise thou maist/For yf the arine with the good? swerd1 faylle me not at this tyme. I shal counfounde the in short time / And1 after I shaft drynke thy blood1 and1 ete thyn herte in despyte of the dueyl and1 sorou that thou hast don to myn herte ' / 'Ha a tyrawnt felonnous & oultrecuydawnt ' ansuerde the noble
20 preu lason. ' what euytt woldest thou doo. if hit helde at no man / but at the. Certes hit happeth ofte tymes that suche menaces ben said of grete fere and1 drede. And1 al is don for to saue his lyf But to the Regard1 of the and1 of al thy menaces I make no compte ner doubte the in no tiling1. And1 in that thou sayest / of drynkyng>
25 my blood1/ and1 etyng myn hert I shaft kepe the Ryght welt by the
ayde and? the helpe of the goddes. for to falle in suche Inhumanyte
or furour. And1 I hope where I haue angred? the in thyn herte
[If. 24 6] f that hit shal not be longp to. but that thou shalt be angrid1 in
herte in body, and1 in sowle ' / Than that Corfus the right Cruelt
30 geant had1 vnder stand1 the wordes of lason he lefte vp his heecTand1 chyn alle chargicT with heer / like a Beer, and1 after enharnicecT his trenchauwt swerd1 with a grete Corage right angry and1 smote lason & gaf hym so terryble and1 poyssaunt stroke that he bare a way more than a grete quarter of his shelde. And1 when lason felte
35 him so smeton of the Geant. he lefte vp his swerd1 a heyght wher with he araught his mortel enneiny vpon the coppe of his helme in enployeng1 alle his might /that the Geant was constrayned1 to enclyne his heed1 alle lowe. Wherof many had1 grete meruayle
The Fight between Jason and Gorfus.
31
AS ye may Vnderstonde the two Champyons began to entretaste -£X eche other with their trenchaunt swerdes Alle way the geant after that he had" receyuid1 this peysaur&t strook / he haimced1 his hand1 with his swercT agayn & supposed1 to haue smeton lason. But lason whiche was lyght and delyuere and1 wel auisecT in his feet / 5 drewe him a part in suche wyse that the stroke of the Geant fylle on the erthe so depe. that if he had1 araught him playnly he hadde confounded1 him. Than the preu lason whiche had1 so voyded1 him fro the stroke, stept to the geant And1 gaf hym suche a stroke vpon the right sholdre that he brake his hauberk and1 made him a grete ib wounde. Than lason withdrewe his swerde alle blody. Anct whan Corfus the stronge Geant felte that lason h#cT so hurte him. Certaynly he wende he sholcThaue goon out of his witte for asmoche as he sawe the swerd1 of his aduersarie was dyed1 with his t blood". [If. 25] and1 was moche angry /But lason sette litil therby/ Sauyng- he 15 began a lytil to smyle and1 lawhe / And1 if he was glad1 so were they of Olyferne that beheld1 the bataylle of the two champyons. But hit was not long after but their lawhynges changed1 into wepynges. For the geant as att despayred1 Ran vpon lason so eygrely that he wist not how to saue him / on that other syde he sawe hys shelde 20 aft in pieces. And1 with that he gaf him a wounde vpon the lyfte syde that the bloooT ran doun fro the wounde largely / Ryght long fought the two right vayllyant champyons that one agaynst that othre in so moche that by fyn force they detrenched1 their sheldes by pieces. But than whan their sheldes were broken / hit was 25 a good1 sight to see lason the noble knight how he delyuerid1 agayn the Geant Corfus so meruayllous bataylle gyuyng1 to him somoche trauayle in poursuyng' him so besely that the Geant began to waxe wery in suffring^ so many strokes / and1 began strongly to swete / Than for to refresshe hym selfe he muste nedes departe & leue to 30 fyght and1 smyte lason / & to withdrawe hym a parte / Whan the worthy lason apperceyuycTthe manyere of the Geant and1 that he soughte for to reste him / he had1 great loye. how wel he had as gladly Rested1 him as his aduersayre had1, whan he considerid in him self, that he might Reste him and1 ease hym. and1 that he was 35 not hurte but in one place / he approched1 to the Geant and1 sayd" to hym. 'Ha /a right myserable tyrauwt Approche the toward1 me and1 late vs performe & make an ende of this batayle now begonne. I perceyue now right wel that a bedde for to reste the on / sholde
i
32 Corfus disparages and insults Mirro.
[If. 25 b] be to the more plaisir t thenwe shold1 a bataille or a stour to be fur- nisshicT. but I aduertise the that hit behoueth vs to come to thende of our entreprise / And1 that ther is no Remedy e / And1 knowe that my courage hatti brought and1 condu} ted1 my body vnto this point / 5 But from hens forth my body shaft conduyte hit by the vertue of loue. by whiche me thinketh that I fele my puissance redouble whan that I remembre her / whiche aboue alle other ought to be beste belouid1 of me. As she that is veraily withoute ony excepcion ' Ncontinent that Corfus the crymyneft Geant hadde vnderstande of the noble damoiseau lason that he was so amerous he began to saye to him by grete malice. 'Certes right gentift knight/ I perceyue right weft that youre hert is prisoner in the mercy of somwe lady. I Require you in the name of her. and1 by the faith that ye owe to her/ that ye come and1 reste you beside rne a litift.
15 And1 we shal deuise vs to geder of oure auentures '/ ' Ha a right Recreant and1 wery rybauld" ansuerd1 thenne the noble damoiseau lason. ' Thou sekest nothing- more but for to reste the. And1 if I accorde to the thy requeste / hit is to my preiudice for thou maist nomore. Notwithstandyng in the name of my right hyghe mais-
20 tresse I am content to do as thou hast requyred1 But beware that thou reste not long' / With these wordes the Geant Corfus and1 the noble lason satte doun vpon the grasse / And1 after they began to deuise / and1 the Geant Corfus sayd to him / * Right gentil knight as I vnderstande ye ben amerous ' / * hit may weft be ' sayd1
25 lason / ' of whom is it ' sayd1 the Geant / ' of a lady ' saycT lason /
' what is she ' sayde the Geant / ' The most fayr of aft fair ' an-
[If. 26] suerde lason t ' Ye ' saide the geant ' as to your semblauwt '. ' the
worlde iugeth her so ' ansuerde lason. ' Ha. a sir knight ' saide
the Geant / ' ye be a grete fole / for perauenture ye sawe neuer your
30 lady And1 ye saye & name her for the most fayre of alle other And1 yet that worse ys. ye holde her for youris / and1 hyt ys possible that she ys longyng" to moo that an honderd? Howe many ben ther of them that ben not double. I louid? not long1 syn a Lady right fayr to myn aduise. But she ys fowle right terribly / Men preyse
35 and1 alowe moche the fayr Myrro. But I trowe who behelde her weft round? abeute. ther shold1 be founden somwhat of Reprehen- cion ' Ha. a right dysloyaft traytre ' answerd1 than lason / ' howe darst thou by thy grete oultrage to thenke euytt vpon the flour of alle ladyes. whyche hadde so moche / of bounte of beaulte / of
Jason slays Corpus. 33
wytte / And1 whiche is garnisshyd1 of so many hyhe and1 noble vertues / and1 is a verray myrrour vnto alle other, wherfore by the fayth that I owe vnto loue er euer I etc or drynke thou shalt abye it / Stand1 vp lyghtly on thy feet and kepe the from me if thou thinke good?' 5
THe noble and1 gentil knight lason aroose with these wordes alle enflamed1 of Ire and7 maltalent / And" toke forthwith his swerd1 that laye on the grasse alle blody. The Geant roose also, but hit was not lightly / For his legges were Royde like a voyager that had1 alle the day to fore / haue voiaged or goon a lourney. ancT than 10 lason cam & smote him vpon his lyfte arme and1 so employed1 aft his puyssauwce that he departid1 the arme fro the body in suche wyse that he fyft doun to the erthe. Than the f Geant by right aspre Llf- 26 &1 distresse made a meruailkms & right horrible crye. After this as one fuft of a terrible courage hau^ced1 his swerde swering1 by aft his 15 goddes that he wold auenge him. but he wiste not how he myght sewe lason for so moche as he was light & deliuere and able wel knowing the tour of his strookes in such wise as he alwaye defended him vailliawntly and distourned1 the strook of his swerd1 That his enemy sought aft waye and1 coude neuer attayne to reche him. 20 And1 in this wise the bataille durecT long1 in so moche that the sonne began to deuale in to the weste. But the noble preu lason among" many strokes enuertued1 him self by suche vaillaunce in smytyng1 vpon the Geant Corfus with his trenchauwt swerde that he araught him on the hyest of his helme .iij. strokes one after an other in one 25 place that at the thirde stroke he enfondrid & to frusshid his helme and1 the coyffe into the heed1/ in suche wyse / that of the grete anguisshe that the geant suffrid1. that he fylle doun a swouraie vpon the sande seeyng" aft they of Oliferne And" of that other part the Esclauons whiche were soroufuft & abasshid1 30
»~1" Ncontinent as the worthy lason hadde slayn and1 smyton doun JL the Geant to the erthe as sayd1 is. he dishelmed1 him / but he fonde that he was dede. wherfore he lefte him there lyeng / And1 in signe of victorie he seasid1 his swerde. and" after wente vnto his hors / whom he fonde pasturing1. But he had1 no leyser to sadle 35 him because of many Esclauons that he sawe meue for to come and1 renne vpon him. Thenwe he seasid1 his hors by the brydel and1 withoute sadle sterte vpon hym. And1 for alle doubtes he f with- [If. 27] drewe in to the Cyte as sone as was possible for him wherof the
D
*~>
G1
34 Mirro thanks Jason.
Esklauons hadde right grete despyte. And1 than whan they ap- perceyuid1 that they gate nought in poursuyng- of lason for they were alle a foote / they withdrewe hem to Corfus whom they foiwde deoT. for whom they were gretely disconfortecT in so inoche that hem 5 semed1 that alle her truste and1 hoope was loste and1 goon. And1 among alle other whan the king- knewe the mysauenture of his Geant / he was so sorouful that of alle the euen after he spack not one word?/ For he had grete affiaimce in his strengthe / in hys grete hardynesse. and1 in hys Entrepryse
Rete & meruayllous was the sorowe that the kyng' of Esk- lauonye and1 his men demendecT for the deth of the stronge Geant Corfus. And1 on the contrarye the Quene Myrro and1 alle they of the cyte of Oliferne demened1 grete loye and1 made right loyous chiere for the nohle vyctorie of lason. Than the Quene
15 Myrro accompanyed1 of a grete nombre of ladyes and1 of damoyselles of knyghtes and1 squyers cam to the gate ayenst lason esprysed1 with suche gladnes and? consolacion that hit can not be spoken / And? anon as lason espyed1 her/ he sprang do an of his horse and1 made to her the Eeuerence / ancP after presented? to her the swerd1 of
20 the Geant / And1 saycT ' Madame lo here is the swerd1 that your
knightes haue so moche doubted1 here to fore / beholde hit wel / &
doo with att your playsir ' / Than the noble lady ansuerd1 to lason /
' right exellent knight / thanked? be the goddes that by your hyhe
[If. 27 6] entrepryse and1 vaillyaunce haue this day deliuerid1 the Cyte t and1
25 att the peple of Oliferne of a meruaillous drede and1 fere / And1 syn that the crymyneft Geant Corfus is dede / Alle the Remenaunt as who saith is as good1 as vaynquisshict / and1 therfore come ye vnto our palais. & we shal doo visite your woundes by our Surgyens / whiche shaft ordeyne right wett and diligently for your helthe '
30 T I iHenne was the noble lason brought vnto the palays wyth grete JL loenge and1 preysinges of the ladyes & damoyselles of the knightes and" of the peple of the cite of Oliferne / The wedowes bewailled1 gre.tly because he was not erst comen for the losse of her husbondes / they that were maried? reioysed1 and1 were glad1 of his
35 comyngi They that were disconforted? and1 desolate recoured1 their corage alle newe / For in the vailliaurc.ee and? in the hyghe vertues of lason rested1 att their hope. In his strength they toke affiawnce / In his witte they trusted1 / In his vaillyaunce they were Recon- forted! And1 in his goode fortune consolate. Certes hit semecT to
Mirro advised to make Jason Warlord. 35
them thenne / that they were deliuerid1 from the paynes of helle and1 brought into paradys U What shaft I more saye the fayr Myrro thoughte and1 dremed1 oft tymes of lason/ as of the knight that she louycT most of the worlde. The preu lason was thre dayes long1 in the palays without ony armes beryng / And1 during! these thre 5 dayes the fayr Myrro wente ofte tymes vn to him / hoping- that lason sholcT haue required1 her of loue / whiche he hadde gladly doon. but as cremetous and1 doubting1 the recountres of Reffuse. durste in no manere touche that matere ne make ony semblaunt to her ne to none other I0
N the fourthe daye than whan the nobles of Oliferne knewe [If. 28] that lason was hole of hys hurtes / and1 might wett bere Armes / they assembled1 and1 cam vnto * the Quene Myrro and1 sayd1 to her. ' Madame ye haue wel cause for to reioye your self / yf a herte Infortunat after grief vpon grief may resourdre whan 15 fortune wytt fauoure and1 ayde / We and1 your couwceylle haue often tymes beholde and1 seen the E-yght hyhe prowesse and1 dyscrete conduyte of your knyght lason. Certes hyt may wele be sayd1/ that hys lyke was neuer founden. hyt semeth to vs / that fortune hath brought hym vnto your handes. for to resuscyte and1 Reyse yow. 20 for to take vengeaunce of the ouer grete euyllys and? meschyeues / that hatli ben doon to yow and1 your men duryng'thys warre. And1 for many Raysons we counceylle yow. that ye ordeyne and1 con- sty tute the sayd1 noble lason Capytayne of thys Royaume and1 Chief of your warre. For we thinke so moche noblesse in hym. that he 25 shalle neuer haue reste in hys corage vnto the tyme / that he haue chassed1 awaye youre mortett enemyes oute of your Royaume/ & brought them to dysconfiture '
Hit is to wete / whether the noble quene Myrro was right loyous in her herte / whan she herd1 so hyghly Recomended1 30 him that she moste louict aboue alle the men of the worlde. hit is no meruaylle thawh she so were and debonayrly she acorded1 the Requeste that the nobles and? her conceyft hadde made to her. And? forthwith she sente for lason / and1 in the presence of them that had? made the requeste as afore is sayd1/ she constituted1 him Capi- 35 tayne t general! of att her royaume / Thenne lason remercyed1 [lf- 28 b] and thanked1 the noble Quene Myrro of the honour that she had don to him / And1 also the nobles and her counceyft for their
1 O. vnto. D 3
36 Jason bids the Sdavonians go or fight.
goode pourchace / In excusing gretly him self of nonhabilite Sayng that he was not propice ne worthy of so hye charge and1 honour to enterprise / But aft they that there were present sayde. That notwithstanding1 his excusacions. they wolde haue none other
5 Capitayne but him. And!1 that he sholde be it / as ferre as he wolde not disobeye the noble quene Myrro. They shewid1 him so many demonstrawnces that he enterprisecT and toke vpon him the charge / And? that same oure the noble Quene Myrro deliuerid1 vnto the noble damoiseau lason aft that was necessarie to hym and1 ordeyned1
10 his estate / And1 whan the noble preu lason felte him in this honour so hygh sette in his astate / he sente forth with to the kyng1 of Esclauonye / commandyng1 him to departe he and1 alle his ooste from thens. And1 that anone he sholde voyde the royaume of Oliferne. or ellis on the morn betymes he sholde dispose him &
15 make him redy to be receyuycTby bataille
WHan the puissaunt king of Esclauonye vnderstood1 that lason hadde so sende him his mawndement. he had1 right grete meruaille / how weft he ansuerde to the heraulde that he hadde not entencion for to disloge him ne to Reyse his siege, and1
20 that he wolde erste haue at his commandement the noble Quene
Myrro for to doo with her his wille / and7 sente word1 agayn vnto
the noble preu lason. that also dere as he had1 his lyf / he sholde
kepe him that he came not in his presence. And1 if he came in his
[If. 29] handes. he sholde doo hym f deye a myserable detn
25 TNcontynent as the noble preu lason had1 vnderstanden this JL answere. he dyde to publisshe in aft the quarefours of the Cyte. That aft they that were of age to bere armes shold1 be redy on the morn erly for to goo with him for to enuahye and" fighte with their enemyes. And thus passicT that day vnto the nyght /
30 That lasoii thenne began to thenke on the grete honour and1 charge that he hadde receyiiicT. And1 thenne whan he was withdrawen in to hys chambre contynueng- in his aniorouse pensees & thoughtis He began to saye by him self in this maner / ' Ha a my dere lady how haue ye don to me this grete worship / & gyuen to me more
35 goodes theime apperteynetfc to myn astate. and1 how shaft hit be possible to nombre the excesse of bounte / of clerenes of beaulte with aft other vertues that ben in yow I ought not to meruaille if youre right exellent beaulte draweth to your loue the corages of strange Princes, for ye be adressicT in aft bountees / the most fayr
Love-thoughts of Jason : he goes to Battle. 37
creature and1 the moste discrete that God1 and Nature euer forumed1 The right most parfayt that is ougwher. how sholde hit be thenne but if ye were belouyd1 of alle folke / Certes ye are worthy that the ayer be replemsshid1 with callinges and1 of voyses cryeng1 after you and1 requyreng* youre grace & mercy / Ha a ye that be so 5 moche exellent and1 vertuous. That alle my thoughtes and Imagy- nacions ben torned1 And1 gyuen to you that ar so moche hye valour. Notwithstanding' I shaft not absteyne me to loue youre noble persone / For I shalle the better prospere and1 be of the more value ' t~¥~N suche or semblable wordes the preu lason passioT the moste [If. 29 6]
JL parte of the night / and1 vnto morn erly The day apperid1 fayr and1 cleer. And1 anone after in short tyme after the deth of the Geant Corfus / lason and1 the Syriens adoubed'them. AncTassemblid1 them of the Cyte to fore the palays of the Quene Myrro. and1 than whan Tason sawe and1 knewe that hys people were sette in 15 ordenaunce / he wente vnto the fayr Myrro and1 sayd1 to her in this manere. ' Madame praye ye for your knight / the whiche aboue alle thing- desireth. that he myght doo that thing*, that might be yow right agreable. ancTproumtable to yow ancTyour Cyte ' / ' Certes right excellent and1 vayllyaurat knight ' answerde the Quene Myrro / 20 * ye ar moche preysed1 and1 hyghly recommended1 of my men. And1 for so moche I praye yow / that in this lourneye ye haue goode corage for to defende my quarele whiche is goode and luste / And1 as to the Regarde of my selfe. I put myn Armee and1 my men vnder the conduyte of youre preudhommye and1 your wysedom. 25 Prayng-vnto the goddes That they wille make your fortune to shino clere. and1 tenhaunse my goode quarele '
H how by the hye vailliaimce of lason / the king of Sklauonye & his ooste were desconfited & him self slain tofore Oliferne
T^Hus as the noble quene spack & admonestid the worthy knight 30 lason & his men to do wel & fighte vayliantly in defending her iuste & good quarele / lason began to beholde her so ardantly that she was ashamed how wel that she as wyse & discrete helde honeste manere / & than the noble t lason after the leue and1 congie [if. 30] taken as wel of her as of the ladyes and1 damoiselles departed1 from 35 the palays with grete bewailinges. and1 mounted1 on his hors. But there were many of the ladyes and1 Damoiselles of the court that
38 An evil Omen for the Sdavonians.
began to bewepe him / Piayng7 vnto the goddes to gyue him goo<T auenture / And1 they saycP one vnto an ot er that hit sholde be grete doramage if to him came ony fortune other thenne goode / And1 that they had1 neuer seen none so courtoys ne so gracious. 5 And1 that he was the veray sotirdre and1 welle of noblesse. Anone thenwe as the noble preu lason was on hors back he sette his men in right fayr ordenaurace. and1 after sette hem on the waye toward1 the felde And1 the peple by aft the waye that he passed1 knelid1 doun tofore him and1 prouoqued1 the goddes vnto his ayde and1 helpe.
10 And1 thenne whan he was comen vnto the felde he assembled1 aft his folke and1 putte hem in fayr ordenauwce of bataylle. And1 thenne whan he hacT required1 them instantly and1 amonestecT them to doo weft / he dide doo marche them ayenst their enemyes whiche abode them a fote Rengid1 and1 right weft ordeynedV At the meuyng- lason
15 dide do sowne trompettis / tabours / ancTcornes sarasins. buysines/ and1 other instruments so melodiously that hit semed1 that they hadde goon vnto a wedding or mariage or somme grete feste / And* thus tryumphing1 of one hye wille medlid1 witfi loye desiring1 to doo well. Reioysing" them self singulerly in the vailliaunce and1 goode
20 conduyte of the right worthy and1 noble knight lason they approched?
in suche wise their morteft enemyes that they began to couche their
[If. 30 6] goode speris and1 begynne the stour. And1 in that same t tyme as
the king- of Sklauonye helde hys men in Araye a meruayllous grete
Bauen cam fleyng* ouer his hede cryeng1 right horrybly
35 TNcontinent as the king1 of Esklauonye herde suche a crye he JL began to tremble for Ire & be in a grete agonye / & lokecT after the Rauen & sayde. ' O euer hard1 and1 trembling hope / This maketn me to eijtre in to frenesye For this fowle is messager of detft or of right euyft auenture / and1 this is an euyft signe / for I fele
3° my vaynes alle voyde of blood1/ Ha / a my dere lady what shal I now doo / Ceites I shal neuer put me to reprouche for to flee / I hadde leuer dye and1 lete here my lyf / than euer shold1 be rehersed1 to yow of me ony dishoneste tydinges / Ceites aft they that were thoo aboute him were sore abasshid1/ & not withoute cause. But
35 neuertheles they reconfoited1 them self the best wyse they might. and anon was made than on bothe sydes a meruayllous crye witti whiche they marched1 that one ayenst that other. And? began by the Archers & arblasters the batayft so aspre that the Ayer was derked1 and1 obscurid1 with the quarels and1 arowes and: stones that
The Battle: the Deeds of Jason.
39
flewe so tbikk. And1 made with their Cryes a grete bruyt right meruaillous
THe vayllyauwt knight lason was in the formest fronte of his people holdyng1 his bowe in hys hand1 wher with he lete flee Arowes vpon hys Enemyes largely. But atte la^t the shotte lassedl 5 And1 whan lason sawe that/ lie steite vpon his horse and1 toke hys shelct1 and1 his spere In escryeng Oliferne by thre tymes / And1 smote his hors with his sporis & thrested1 into middes of t his [If. 31] enemyes so swiftly, that Prufus ne the Siriens coude not folowe him at the begynnyng/ Tbeime whan hit cam to breking-of speris/ J0 the king of Toscane and1 the king of Bongye knewe him anon, wherfore they ran ayenst him. sayng that they wolde auenge the deth of the strong^ Geant Corfws And1 bothe vailliaimtly smote him tronchonyng1 their speris vpon his shelde / with oute en- domagyng' his shelde / but hit is wefi to beleue that the noble preu 1.5 lason faillecT not at this first cours. for he smote the king of Bongye by such radeur that he lefte him oute of his arsons / and1 bare him there vnto the erth And1 so passid1 forth / and1 them^e cam agaynst him the king1 of Poulane / but that was to his euyl helthe / For lasons spere trauersicT his shelde his hauberk & the body alle to 20 breking his spere. And1 thence cam on vnto the bataille Prusus, acompanyed of his knyghtes That rneruaillously mayntened them self in ensewing the faytes of lason / and1 thus began one and1 other to she we them self with right grete effusion of blood1 on bothe parties. But moche more of them of Esclauonye / thenrae of them 25 of Oliferne
INcontinent that the noble lason had broken his spere he griped1 in his hand1 his good1 swerd1 that was clere and1 trenchattnt/ And1 pretending! that men sholoTspeke of his faytes ancTvailliawnces / he adressid1 him on that parte where he sawe the banyer royafi of 30 Esclauonye And1 supposed"1 to haue entrid1 there vpon his enemyes. but they held1 hem thikke * to geder. and1 cast & smote vp on lason right asprely / And1 lason vpon them by suche veitue that he effoimdred1 plente of their heedes / detrenched1 t their sheldes and1 [if. 31 &] slewe grete nombre of good1 knyghtes For the vayllaunt Prusus 35 and1 his knightes aborded1 than there in suyng lason at euery stroke bathed1 his swerd in the blood1 of his ennemyes/ And1 did e so grete
1 O. ihikke.
40 Jason takes the Sclavonian Banner.
fete of Armes on alle sydes that they that behelde hym and1 hys mayntene / callicThim detfi and1 saide / * Certes the detn assaylletn vs hauyngi the forme & habylenient of a knight Flee that wole hys fureur and1 hys trenchatmt swercT / For whom he arechetft shaft 5 neuer after see fayr daye '
IAson thus in this whyle dyde Armes at hys wift For he beyng- on his horse made the Sklauon knightes marche a foot and1 many other with oute nombre/ one and1 other sayde that his body was aft of stele / And1 that he was noman mortaft / but that he was a thing-
10 of that other worlde / For hit semed1 to his aduersaries that they hadde no spere ne swerde that myght entre in to his body H What shal I saye vnto yow / he dyde so weft that by vyue force witfi his trenchauwt swerde he brake the wardes and? Araye of the Esklauons & cam vnto the banere of the kinge Esklauon where he was acom-
15 paniecT with xxx. knightes that rengid1 them for the garde of the baner But incontinent whan they sawe the swercT of lason redy for to smyte on them / The moste asseured1 of them began to tremble / Neuerthelesse they sette hem in araye and1 toke their sheldes / haunced1 their swerdes / and? attended1 frely and1 fast a fote / the preu
30 lason and1 his folke that folowed1 him. And? than lason swymwyng-
in a newe corage by grete play sir and1 appetite for to gete goode
[If. 32] loos & goode t Renomme smote in among tho knightes that with-
stode him witft al their puissaunce / And1 thenwe in this manere
began agayn the bataille and1 a meruaillous stour. in so moche that
25 on alle sides men mighte see knightes slee eche other, sheldes to breke & fle in pieces / haubercs dismailled1/ helmes broken & blood? spring' out of their wourcdes and? falle vpon the erthe
[Ertes the noble preu lason hadde there moche to doo and? sufFre as weft for to kepe his men in araye / as for to enuaye
30 and1 assaifte his enemyes. for his shelde was smyten in many pieces, his armures were adornmagecT in many places. This not- withstanding- he enuertued1 hym selfe defending^ wold1 neuer cesse. til he came vnto the banere of the king of Esclauonye / and1 to the knight that bare the banere he gaf a strook so dismesurably that he
35 clefte his hede vnto the chyn. And? fitt doun dede fro hys horse to the grounde and1 the baner also in the presence of the king- of Esclauonye / The whiche anone as he perceyued? that stroke with- clrewe him a parte / and1 one of the knightes wente for to auawnce and1 Releue the banere. but the noble preu lason made of him as
c1
Jason routs the Enemy and slays the King. 41
he dide of that other / And1 after that he brack and1 all to rente the banere in pieces at the hors feet. This don he began to sinyte on the right side and1 on the lifte side/ And1 thence the Esclauons loste corage & vailliaurcce. And1 on the contrarie they of Oliferne seeyng- the goode cowduyte of their capitayne began to 5 growe better and1 better in suche valoir that as many of their enemyes as they mette / they slewe witn their swerdes. And1 so in the ende hit happend1 that as the noble lason Ran here t ana? there [If. 32 6] he recowtreaT the king & slewe him with one stroke that he gaf him with his swerd! Than the Esklauons alle disconfortecP & 10 despayred1 as they that had1 no more esperance ne hope to obteyne the vyctorie escryed1 sayng^ ' Late vs flee and1 saue our self, for alle ys loste. for the king1 is dede ' / with whiche crye they tourned1 their back & put hem to flyght and? dysaroye. how wel that they were yet more than .v. M. And1 than the vaillyaunt Capytayn lason 15 and1 alle his batayle poursiewed1 them chacyng1 and sleing> them out of the Royame of Oliferne. This don the Noble lason and1 his companye Retourned? vnto the place where the Esklauons had!1 holde their siege / and1 there they fouwde richesses plente. & than whan they had1 departed1 their gayn & butin as hit apper- 20 teyneth vnto suche a caas to euery man his part after his con- dicion. The right valiant lason comauwded? to trusse the tentes and1 pauilouws of his enemyes And1 than he and" his companye RetournecT in to the cite as Vainqueurs with moche grete glorie and1 Triu mphe 25
nnHe fayr Myrro cam than to mete with lason garnisshed1 with JL a gracious maintene. And1 made to him the grettest honour and? reuerence that was to her possible, leding- him vnto her palays / where he entrid1 with grete payne. for the peple was assemblid1 there on alle partes aboute him in a meruayllous nombre for to see 30 him And? cryect1 alle witn an hyhe voys sayng-. ' Nowe is retournecT agayn victorious our defendour. our swerd1/ our helthe and1 aft our esperauwce. whiche hatfi only in him self more of vaisselage than is in aft Esklauonye / and1 ought f to be honoured1 [if. 33] & RecomandecT aboue alle other.' Certes the noble lason was fested? 35 this night & RecomendedT of suche and1 semblable loenges of them of Oliferne / whiche made in the stretes daunses & esbatemens thank- ing1 their goddes And1 alwaye lason was more and1 more in the grace of the ladyes/ For the best born the most fayre the best
42 More Love-thoughts of Jason.
accompli ssliecT & the most special! fyxecT their loue in hym / Alle were lalouse of him / But lason neuer thought on none of them / but onely / vpon the seulle & oultrepassed1 beaute of the vertuous Myrro/whiche alwaye was in his memorie And1 alle they had1
5 wondre & meruayle of the beaute graciousete wytte & perfeccion of lason. And1 for to abregge this storie the vailly iwit & oultrepreu lason was in this glorie & tryumphe vnto mydnight whiche than withdrewe hym. And1 whan he was withdrawen in his chambre he reentred1 in to his Reuerie of loue as he hadde ben to fore acus-
10 tornecT. And1 sette aS in oublie and1 forgeting1 the poysaunt and1 dangerous strokes that he had1 that day recejuid1 in the bataylle ayenst the Esklauons wherof his body was right sore / and1 con- cluded in him self that on the morn he wolde declare his corage vnto the lady. But whan the daye was come and1 whan he cam to
15 fore her. he felte him self so sore surprised1 with loue that he wiste not what to saye / And1 thus he drof forth longe and1 many a day that he for alle his hardines of Armes/his swete speche ne his strengthe coude not auaylle in gyuing1 him hardiesse / for to dis- couere his corage vnto his lady, wherfore on a night he beyng- in
20 his bedde began to blame hym self, and1 saide softely to him self in
this manere
[If. 33 6] f* "Y~YT"Hat may prouffiten the contynueft bewailinges that I make
V f for my lady / 1 am notaferde whan I finde me in a troublous
bataille of an honderd1 thousand1 men / but whan I suppose to speke
25 to my lady/ 1 tremble for feere & drede & wote not what to saye. for tofore her I am as al rauisshid1/ in like wise as a poure and shamefast l man that suffreth to dye for honger rather thenne for shame he dar begge his breed / O what vergoigne procedeth of such shamefastnes / 1 speke to my self allone & I answere / Ofte tymes
30 I am aduised that to morn I shal do meruayles & so I conclude right wel / but whan it cometh for to be don I haue no memorie ne remembrawnce of all my conclusions / Am I not thenne wel simple / whan vnto the most fayr. the most sage, the most discrete & the most vertuows of aft other. I haue no hardynesse for to saye
35 my desire & wift / how wel my herte iugeth that I am somwhat in her grace / but now cometh vpon me an other iugement / & me semeth that she wil neuer acorde to my requestes/ O right noble
1 0. m inverted.
Jason speaks to Mirro of Love.
43
& nonparaille Mirro. she is without peer / as the rose among thornes. Alas & what shal I do without you / 1 haue made a presente to you of my hert & rny wilt / if I vnderstode that ye were horn in a ctmstellacion enpessliing you of thinfluence of loue / & that loue had no power tesproue vpon you his vertues I wolde not enploye my 5 tyme for to thenke on you. but whan me semeth that so grete habondawnce of thexcesse of beaute natureft as youris is. it may not be but that it is entremedlid of loue of pite & of mercy /it must nedes be that your humble frende be rauisshed in the con- templaczon of your gloriouse value, desiring1 your goode grace 10 wisshing your aliaunce. & requiring the goddes fancT fortune that [If. 34] of yow & me they make oon hows & one bed? where we mighte enbrase the soueraine playsirs of this worlde & plainly fynde amerouse felicite'
THe preu lason with thise wordes fyft a slepe/and1 after he J5 awoke so alumyned1 with the fyre of loue that hit was to him inpossible to take his rest / but to tourne and1 walowe & trauaille in his bedde / And1 there as loue thus assayllecT him agayn. he determined1 vtterly that he wolde aduenture him to speke to his lady, what that euer happen therof. And1 so he dide / for the 20 same day he came vn to her and1 sayde in this wyse. ' Madame I haue seruid1 yow as weft as to me is possible for two causes/ Principally that one for thacquite of cheualerye / And1 that other not for to disserue the richesses that ye haue vnder the power of fortune /But allonly that singuler thing that nature hath made 25 yow lady of and1 vpon whiche fortune hath puissaunce / Madame ye haue don to me plente of curtoysies / And? offred? grete yeftes of moiioye. wherof I thanke yow / how wel I holde them but of litil extime / for couetise of auarice haue not alurned1 me of their fyre/ I demande not the grete tresours that ben in the abismes of the 30 see. ner them that ben enclosed in the montaignes / my desir restith in two singuler thinges / that one is for to conquere name in arms / whiche ought to be thappetite of the vocacion of alle noble hertes That other is to obeye vnto the comwaundements & plaisauraces of loue that bindeth / & obligeth me to be youris / for 35 to thenke on yow / to attende & abide your beniuolence to doo thing1 that may playse your eyen & your herte
1 A Las my dere lady aft good & honour cometh of you / and t yf [lf« JLJL ye be aft niy deport and? fortune. And1 the goddes haue
44 Mirro pretends to rebuke Jason.
suffrid1 me to haue doo thing digne of amerouse merite in your fauour. put not ye your herte in discowgnyssaurcce / by the whiche your noble royaume is put in pees / Receyue hier to your man trew frende & louar your knight / and1 the right humble & obeyssaunt 5 herte / of whom the body sechetli with al your plaisirs to obeye him that hath made al his tresour of your beaute / fro the oure that the goode fortune brought me hether vnto your presence / 1 was & haue ben in aft poyntes redy to lyue & dye for you in your seruice / in which I toke aresta-wnce. I submysecTprestly my necke 10 to bere the fardeft of your warre / ye knowe how I haue born it / Ha a my dere lady haue mercy on me / 1 supplye you humbly for asmoche as neuer trewe louar required1 his lady witfi more desire & affecczon in aft honour & curtoisye '
THe preu lason cessecF thenwe his requeste in beholding the fayr Myrro right amorously, the whiche herd him witli a glad1 wift. but this notwithstanding she made no maner sernblauwt / but for asmoche as to proue if lason was asmoche affected1 in loue as in armes. she ansuerde to him as hit foloweth sayngi ( Certes fayr sire lason I knowe that ye be he that haue discharged? my royame
20 of them that ete & destroyed1 the substawnce. & whiche wolde by force haue ocupied1 & wasted1 it. And1 so I wift not saye but that ye be right digne of grete merite. And1 that your thanke and? reward1 ought to be yolden vnto you. But vnto the regarde for to require me of loue. me semeth ye haue moche to ferre enterprised1/
25 ye knowe weft ye ar none other but a knight / what might saye the
[If. 35] kynges and1 hye Prynces t of whom I haue late made refuse / If
I gafe me to yow. howe wel myn entencion is not in no wyse to
blame yow But vnto thende that ye lose not your tyme / 1 auise
to seche oughwher ellis your partie. And1 than do ye wysely
3° And1 1 require yow to be content her witn / for I knowe no better remedye for your appaysement '
* A Las my dere lady ' answerde lason / ' Remembre yow that my -L\. hert is suche that can chiese by no way none other lady in loue but yow. Certes that shal not be vnto the tyme that the
35 fysshes flee in the ayer. And? that the byrdes swymwe in the water/ < My frende ' sayd1 the lady ' vnto the Regarde for tendende to take a thing1 difficile, is no grete prudence, ye be meure in your yong age as towelling^ Armes / But beware that ye put yow not in so parfouwde an errour that ye can not easely come oute / Certes
Jason leaves Olifern and is lamented.
45
I loue yow more than ye wene. I am redy for to yelde yow your merite for the grete goodnes that ye haue don to the cyte of Oliferne / I praye yow that ye require me nomore from hens forth. And1 late this suffise yow.' ' Ha / a madame ' ansuerde lason than. * howe maye I haue suffisaunce whan I may not finde grace to fore your 5 noble vysage. of whiche right indigent and1 not satisfy ecT I remayne. ye daigne not to condescende to my prayers, hit is now your plaisir that I faft in despair / but syn hit goth so & that ye wift haue no compassion of a trewe knight that hath ben youris. and1 the deffendour & the hande that hath obteyned1 the peas for your 10 royame / & the propre arme that hath taken vengeauwce of your auncient forfaiteurs & enemyes / al dispaired I departe prayng vnto the goddes that wift enlumine yow t with pite & mercy as they [If. 35 &] knowe that is nedeful for you. & vnto aft oure goddes I comwande you' 15
How that lason after that he had required the quene Mirro of loue departed1 alle disconfortecT from Oliferne / & how she wente after him
WYth this conclusion the preu lason aft in a traurcce & half rebuqued? wente vnto the ladyes & damoiselles And the 20 fair Myrro & one woman which was secrete with her departed1 fro thens / but the quene entricT allone into her chambre / thinking moche on lason / whiche at that tyme comen among the ladies as said1 is with an herte sorouful & enuyronned with displaisir/ thanked" them gretly of the grete curtoisie that he had? fonden in 25 them / & in this poynte toke leue recommanding him self in their goode grace. After departed1 thens vnto his stable & commanded to sadle his hors And1 after that he sente for his armes & adoubed1 hym / & forthwith without ony more speche how weft it was nygh night, he rode forth out of the cite. & was so angry & desplaisauwt 30 that he wist neuer whither to become / & whan the ladies sawe that lason departed1 from the cite so allone & dysconforted1 thinking on the vertues where in he was endowed they complayned? him moche / & saide one to an other that he had? not his herte in ease / Many of them bewailed? him in suche wise that the grete teres fift doun from 35 their eyen / and among them ther was one that knew somwhat of the secretes of the quene / & she hauyng seen lason taking1 his hors
46 Mirro cJiided for her Coldness.
aft armed1 & departe out fro the cite cam vnto Myrro alle bewept as she was and1 saide to her in this manere
[If. 36] t'll /TAdame what eyleth your knight or sodayne chauwce may
-IrJL come to him to departe out of your cite armed1 and1 allone
5 at this oure haue ye sente him into ony place hit semeth that he
hath his herte oppressid1 with aspre dueil and1 sorowe.' ' Certes
bele ' answerde the Quene / * I wote not what him eyleth. but I trowe
right wel that he is not alle at his ayse. for in recompensing of
the goode seruices that he hath don to me in this warre / he hath
10 desired1 & required1 me of loue. and1 for asmoche as I haue not acorded to him his requeste / he is departed1 from me aft angry / & more knowe not I/ ' Madame ' than saide the damoyselle. ' gaf ye to him no maner hope ne esperau?ice at his departing.' ' certes I gaf to him none ' saide the lady. * And how ' saide the
15 damoiselle/ ' ye haue said1 to me more than a .M. tymes to fore this tyrne that he was the only desir of your herte ' I ' I confesse that to yow ' saide the quene / * for yet my loue is sette on him merueyl- lously / & bere alwey in my souenau^ce his grete beaute & his wele doinges ' / ' Ha / a madame ' ansuerde than the Damoyselle ' Why
20 haue ye thus ansuerd1 him so coldely & refusingly ' / ' certes ' said1 the lady / * I wote neuer why / but that I was so abasshid1 & so chauffecTin my blood1/ whan I vnderstode that he required1 me of loue that I wist not to answere. & also by myn aduise myn honour requireth that at this first requeste / I sholde holde me straunge &
25 not tabondonne my self For they that at the firste requeste of
their louers agree to them / ought to be ashamed1. For as moche as
the more parte of men haue no verite ne loyaulte as to the Regard1
of loue. And1 also ther be many that can none otherwyse doo but
[If. 36 4] serue ladyes & gentilwomon with lyes & deceytes f My moder
30 told me and1 bad1 me kepe this lesson whan she sente me first to scole / if I haue wel reteyned1 her doctrine me thinketh I haue non don moche amys. for the thyng1 that is goten by grete trauayle & long- requestes is moche more worth & better kept, thenne that is goten lightly. Certes that lady that of her loue is required1/ can
35 doo no better thenne to holde her strange & be moche requyred1' A dame ' ansuerde the Damoiselle ' I accorde moche to that ye saye to me/ but ther is in aft thinge manere/ how wel that ther be many men that praye & requyre ladies of their loue asmoche as they mnye / making lesinges and1 false othes that can not
M
The Lament of Mirro.
47
be counted1, but certes madame this noble and valiant knight lason is not in myn aduys no thing like as to the compte of other/ & after that I vnderstonde by your wordes ye haue sent him from you aft hountouse & shamed1 in so moche as I deme that he is goone in such wise as he cam hether / For at his departing he came 5 & toke leue of the ladies, wherfore I am in doubte that ye shal neuer see him more.' ' And1 is he goon as ye saye ' saide thenwe the lady. ' ye certes ' sayde the damoiseft / ' he is certaynly goon ' ' By what place & by whiche gate.' ' That wote I not ' sayd1 the damoisett / ' but I trowe better that he is retourned1 into his countre 10 thenne to ony other place '
WHan the noble Quene Myrro vnderstood1 this that sayd1 is/ and1 that she had1 a litil remembrid her self of the departing of her dere loue & frende. she fift doun to the erthe as aft thurgn smyten & tronchoned7 with amerouse sorowe & dueil / she began 15 thenne to wrynge her handes & to smyte with her feet sayng not passing lowde. ' Alas. Alas f Fortune is to me hard1 Alas & Llf- what haue I don my self euil auisid1 whan I was required1 of loue of the moste Kenomed1 knight of aft the worlde. of the most vaillyaunt in arines. of the fayrest that lyueth. And1 that I haue 20 not humelyecTmy self with his right grete humylite / 1 haue made refuse of my right grete wele and of my grettest ewre and1 happe. Certes I coude not kepe in myn hous the goode fortune that the goddes of their secrete tresour of their grace had1 sente to me and1 brought and1 planted in my handes By my litil aduyse & entende- 25 ment I haue chaced1 oute of Oliferne him that hath rescowed1 and1 brought hit agayn fro mortal encombrawnce by the bye valiaunce of his persone & the trauaile of his body with the precious prys of his blood And? thenne what haue I do. Ha a my herte what hast thou consented1, my mouth * what haste thou voided1, my tonge what 3° hast thou preferred1. And" myn entendement where were thou / where was thy force or thy puissaimce / or thy wift / that desiring the loue & thalyaimce of him that was abandoimed1 to the whiche haddest thy mouthe2 closed1 for shame. And1 hast suffrecP the corporaft and1 bodily mouth 3 to denye that thing-, that thou 35 approuedest to seche aboue aft other thing- O right poure shame- fastnes / ye houwtouse shamefastnes. in what ploye or in what
1 0. month.
O. monthe.
0. modftth.
48 Mirro advised to ride after Jason.
presse am I no we by thy cause. Certes I am ashamed1 that I haue refused1 thalyawnce of my frende and1 of my domycille. But certes I shalle amende hit to my power / 1 shalle goo after hym so ferre til I shal fyude hym / And1 1 shaft haue no shame to putte me in his 5 mercy '
WHan the yong damoiseft aperceyuecl the grete displaisir t where in her maistresse was / she shitte the chambre dore to thende that no persone shulde come vpon them / and1 begonne there to wepe til night, and1 that a lady cam knocking at the dore
10 & saide that the soupper was aft redy/than the quene dide do answere her by the damoyselle. that she wolde l hot suppe / for so moche as she felte her not wel disposed1/ and1 also comanded1 that no p^rsone sholde come to her that night Whiche answere so made / the Quene & the damoyselle began to make newe bewailinges &
15 teeris and1 after began to bewaile lason. and1 among- alle other thinges the Quene saide these wordes. { Yet maye ther worse auenture greue me more / for after an ouer moche dangerouse inconuenience 2 she sendeth to me the delft / Ha a late me sorowe / but what shal I mowe doo. I wote neuer what to thenke. & what
20 ought I to doo by your faith, seme ye good1 that I ought to goo after him. or that I sende ony faithful! man after him of my knowleche. Certes I thinke if I sholde sende a messager after him that he wolde not come agayn / And1 if I wente my self after him / that sholde be to me the grettest dishonour of the worlde.'
25 « Madame ' ansuerde than the damoiselle ' ye ought to knowe your caas. and1 of two wayes to take the beste / If ye haue intencion that lason be your husbonde / hit behoueth no lenger to soiourne. for ye muste go or sende vnto him with alle diligence, and for to saye to yow myn opinion, yf hit were so happend1 to me as it is to yow I
30 wolde sende none s other messager. but my selfe / And1 knowe ye
verily that ye may haue no dishonour for to goo after him vnder-
etonden & weft considerid1 the good & agreable seruices that he
[If. 38] hath don to yow & to your royame. for f vnder the colour for to
guerredone & rewarde him / ye maye take occasion to come into
35 wordes and to gyue him soin matere yet for to serue you/ ' Certes fayr doughter ' saide the quene / * I wote not what to thinke what me is best to do / for if I goo after him and1 finde him. what shal
1 0. wide. a 0. inconuemence. 8 0. first n inverted.
She departs secretly and hears of Jason. 49
I saye ' / ' My dere lady ' ansuerde the damoiselle. ' as I haue right now saycT ye shal presente to him the guerredon of the grete honour and1 good seruice that he hath don to you in your necessite/ ' this thinketh to me litil substance for to entre into speche of my pryncipal cause ' sayd1 the quene / ' Cei tes madame ' answercT 5 thenwe the damoiselle. ' whan ye shal come and1 be to fore the knight / loue shall teche you to speke / if ye will recorde the lessons and1 epistles of loue by the space of ten yere. it shal but litil prouffite to your auancement / for ther lacketh no thing^ but thin- spyracion of loue medlicT with hardynesse and1 of humayne entende- 10 ment. spekyng- with the mouth1 whiche is instrument of the dischargyng and1 discouering of hertes ' / ' Syn that it is so ' sayde then?ie the fayr Myrro quene of Oliferne. ' All thing" considerid1 1 had? moche leuer to couere a litift blame, thence that I sholde in alle poyntes with oute euer to recouere agayn alle the hole desire and1 15 playsir of my herte. and1 the consolacion of myn eyen/ theime I shalle saye to you myn aduyse / that hit is nede and? necessite so to do. and1 that ye muste nowe goo vnto my women and1 saye to them, that to morn betymes I shalle goo in pilgremage accompanyecT of you onely / And1 that they take hede and? see weft to alle thinges. ao And1 ye and1 I tofore the sonne rising shal enterprise in the most secrete wise that shaft be possible oure enqueste vpon the most noble and1 1 vailliauwt knight / the most fair / & the most adressed1 [if. 38 b] that is lining1. That is lason myn only frende. and1 we shaft do so moche that he shaft be founden.' This aduise seraed1 right good1 25 vnto the Damoyselle /the whiche with alle diligence obeyed1 to the comaimdemewt of her maistresse / and? after these thinges aboute midnight, they made redyher thinges and1 on the morn erly tofore day. bothe they toke eche a good1 palfroye in habite vnknowen and1 rode forth on their waye. and1 suche was their auenture that they 30 cam for to bayte in the logging1 wher her frende lason had1 logged1 that night. And1 than she began to demande of the hoost of thaffaire and1 contenance of the knight and what chere he had? made the euen to fore, and? at his departing- what way he had? taken & holde. And? the hooste ansuerde to the lady, that as to the regarde of 35 his chere and1 thaffaire of the knight, he hacFnether eten ne dronken in alle the euening1/ And? as to the waye that he had1 holden. he enseigned1 to the lady, whiche was than moche pensif for lason. that had? not that euening- taken no Refeccion of mete ne of drinke
1 0. montb.
50 Mirro takes Ship to Byzantium,
THe noble Quene Myrro & her damoyselle tailed1 than not longe at that baytiug1/ for they toke their horses and1 rood? as hastely as to hem was possible / & so roode .iij dayes long after lason / hering1 in euery logise where they descended" tidinges of him /but 5 they coude not ouertaken ne finde him / And1 on the fourth day suyng they cam vnto a porte of the see / where was shewid1 vnto them a ship where in were marchants of Athenes / & was told to them that lason was therin & that he wold go to Athenes & further- [If. 89] more if f they wolde go ther was yet a ship of other marchants
10 that was on the poynt to departe / but thenwe the fayr Myrro was in suche a poynt of displaisir whan she knewe that lason was departed1 that she made grete sorowe. This notwytfistanding she was anon conseylled1 what she wolde doo/ & concluded1 syn that she hadde so moche traueyled1 that she wolde proue dame fortune.
15 & went after lason. with this conclusion alt ful of aspre sighinges she went to the ship that sholde disancre for to go to Athenes & agreed with the maronner whiche was brought theder by force of tempest & winde and1 anon they disancreoT & departed1/ & whan they sawe that it was calme & blewe not. they made redy their
20 oores & rowed by the force of their armes / for at that tyme men vsid1 not so many sailles as they do now. notwithstanding they exploited in such maner that they cam into the hye see. where they rowed long tyme. In whicfi tyme the quene Mirro becam seke vnto the deth. & fynably whan they had? ben ceitayne space of
25 tyme. a meruaillo^s orage & grete winde caste hem here & there / in suche wise / that fortune broughte hem to the porte of Trace, magre al the maronners / for they were al aduertised that it was perilkms to ariue there because of the kyng of that couwtre whiche was named1 Dyomedes
30 nriHe kyngp Dyomedes thence was a tyrawnt right inhumayne. JL And1 had1 of long time ben acustomed1 to robbe aft them that arryued1 in his royaume were hit by see or by lande. he was at that tyme soiournyug- in his cite named1 Bysance. The whiche was afterward1 callycT Constantynoble / & incontinent that this ship was
35 arryued at the porte of Bysance Dyomedes dide hastely doo arme
[If. 895] f him & brought with him .xxx. of his tyrants/ and in this rnaner
cam vnto the porte where were arriuecT the / ij / ships of Athenes.
& assone as he might be herd1 of the maronners he escried1 them &
eayde / ' vylayns meschants & vnhappy come vp on hye and1 come
where Jason repels the Tyrant Diomedes. 51
out of my shippes / for ye must logge in my prisons, or ye shal haue as many strokes as ye may suffre '
WHan the vaillyaurat knight lason had1 vnderstand1 the grete felonnye of the tyrant and1 that he sawe that alle the maronners tremblid1 for drede in suche wyse. that they durste not 5 sowne a worde. he enhaunced1 his heed1 and1 answerde to Dyomedes sayng. ' Gloton myserable what demandest thou / be we not infortunat ynowfi as thou semest late vs in peas.' Dyomedes hering1 this answer was as angry as he might bee. wherfore he comanded1 his complices that incontinent they sholde auenge him TO of the Iniurie that lason had1 sayoT to him in his presence / than the complices whiche were right aspre & more redy to do euyl than otherwise / escryecT lason to the deth & descended1 from thens that they were til they cam to his ship vpon the sande / and1 whan the preu lason sawe the manere of these tyrants /he recomfortecf him 15 self the best wyse he might and1 his maronners whiche were so dysconforted1/ that they had1 no power to put hem to deffence. he toke his shelde and1 held1 fast his goode swerde / ancT bad1 them to take thair bastons ancFarmures. & that they sholde deffende hem vaylliawitly and1 of goode corage. But in this sayng- the glotons 20 approched? lason & smote vpon him with their swerdes right fiersly / cei tes they enuayhed him on aft sides by grete felonie f But they [If. 40] coude not weft areche him for as moche as ther was betwene hem aboute a .vij. fote of watre / wherfore som of them wente for to fecche a brigge of tre right stronge & propice and1 wherin were 25 nayles of yron. on bothe sides / & they dide somoche as they fastned this brigge vnto the ship of Tason / And7 theiwe they that were wel asseurioT/ thre of the most vailliauwt of them mounted"1 there vpon & myghte goo theron a fronte / But whan they supposed1 to haue smiten vpon the noble preu lason. As vailliaunt and1 Ryght 3° asseured1 knight as he was. he enuertued1 him selfe vpon them by suchc conduyte that witft thre strokes of his good swerde that he gaf to them he made alle thre to tumble into the see /where they dranke so moche that they neuer arose but lefte there their lyf
WHan the maronners of the shippe sawe that their lorde lason 35 defended1 him so valiantly, witli the trenching of his good7 swerd1 they toke corage. for they seasid1 their staues and1 armures. And1 enterprisecf the batayle ayenst their enemyes for to supporte and1 helpe a litift lason / howe weft they helde hem gladly be hynde
w;
52 Jason smites down Diomedes.
us they that fledde the strokes to their power. Certes the noble
lason kepte right valiauwtly the passage of the brigge ayenst the
tyrants & furnysshed hem wel vpon thentre of the planke. vpon
whicli they went vp one after an other of whom many were hurt
5 and1 slayn. There was the tyraunt Dyomedes the whyche entre-
medlid1 him to his power /to conduyte his complices and1 there
brayed1 as a lyon for somoche as hys men might not mate ne bete
doun the vailliaimce of the knyghte lason The whiche allone
[If. 40 &] resisted1 their fierste and1 puyssaunce t Notwithstanding- for alle his
10 grete pride he ne daygned1 not to make ony assault but by the brigge U What shal I saye yow. Certes the bataylle dured1 right long betwene lason & the Traciens / in so moche that the Quene Myrro herde tidinges therof / And1 was told1 to her that ther was a knight in the shippe of ther companye that made so many hye
15 vayllyauwces vpon the tyrantes of Trace, that ther was neuer none seen like to him in prowesse
"Han the Quene Myrro vnderstode these tydinges she thought incontinent that hit was lason that fought so vaillyauntly for to deffende the .ij. shippes. she had gladly auaunceoTher self for
20 to haue seen his grete vasselage / but she was so right feble that in no wyse she might lifte vp her heed1/ and1 in like wyse was her damoyselle / And1 so long dured1 the terryble bataitt the ylle partie of the Traciens / & of lason / that the Traciens founde no more a lyue but .xij. of .xxx. that were comen thedir / And1 of these / xij
25 seyng the detti of their felaws / ther was none so hardy that durst presente him to fore lason ne cople witn him. Than the king> Diomedes seyng1 this that sayd" is. was so angry that he might no more be / Than wenyng1 to do vaillyauwce & for to gyue corage to his complices he wente vp on the planke & presented1 him self so
30 ferre that lason salued1 him/ & welcommeth him with suche a stroke of his swerde vpon the hyest of his heline / that he smote him doun reuersid1 vpon the brigge ancTsyn lyfte vp his arme with the swerde / but the paillards tyrants as wery and1 Kecreaunt fled* alle trembling* and1 were sore abasshicT whan they sawe their king' Dyomedes so [If. 41] sodainly smeton doun/ than fsomme of his complices drewe him by the legges doun from the brigge in so moche that they toke from him his horn that was aboute his neck / And1 blewe & sowned1 hit lowde for to make assemble ther the Cythezeins of the cite / the whiche hering' the soun of the horn assembled1 them for to come to
Mirro and Jason arrive at Athens.
53
the rescousse of their lord1 / but the tempest of the see cessecT than and1 the marroners castecT the brigge into the watre And1 than whan they were disancrecT they departed1 with their shippes out fro the porte with aft diligence. And1 began right loyously to rowe thanking their goddes and the hye vailliauwces of the noble knight 5 lason that they were so escaped1 of the dangerous parillys of the felon tyraunt. the whiche on that other syde had1 so grete despyte & sorowe / that he semed1 better a man out of his witte than other- wyse / for he had1 not fouwden to fore the knightes that hadde so moche prowesse & vailliauwce as he had'founden tho in lason 10
THe two shippis than departed1 from Trace as sayd1 is and1 were four dayes long- vpon the see/ And1 on the fyfthe day they arryued1 at Athenes where lason went a lande. and1 so dide the fair Myrro / the whiche began to waxe hole of her maladye. At whiche descente a londe Mirro espied1 where lason toke his logging; and1 15 she folowed acompanied1 of her damoiselle vnto the tyme that she sawe the logging; whiche was the hows of an notable burgeys And1 than was she in grete thoughtes & variacions for to knowe. whether she wolde logge in the same logging" or not Thus in varieng in this doubte she approched1 the loggyse AncTsyn retourned1 20 agayn and1 after cam agayn / and1 fynably. whan she sawe that lason was not in the waye t she wente in / & required1 of the bourgoys [If. 416] that for her money she myght haue a chambre in that hous/ Thenwe the bourgois seeyng that the lady was moche wele adressid1 of gracious maner of speking & otherwise, he logged1 her & her 25 damoyselle to her plaisir / And1 dide do put the two palfrayes in a stable by lasons hors which anon began to neyhe assone as he smellicT them / for he knewe them for asmoche as they had1 ben long to gyder in Oliferne / And1 so made they grete chere eche to other, wherof the bourgoys had1 grete meruaile But thoughte nothing1 but 30 weft and1 gaf hem heye and1 otes / And1 after came to serue lason. And1 found1 that his chambre was fuft of marchantfs and1 maronners that were comen with him on the see / whiche presented him wyne and1 mete. & gaf him grete yeftes of riche Jewels & other strange thinges 35
IN this chambre was with lason a man of syxe score yere honeste of his persone and1 alway strong and1 habyle. the whiche seeyng- this presentacion made to lason cam vnto the hoost and1 demanded1 him. who was this yong knight to whom men dide so moche
B
54 Jason feasted and honoured. A Lament.
honour / but the bourgoys coude not answere. in so moche the
bourgoys and1 thauncient man axid? one of the maronners of thys
inatere. And1 the maronner sayde / that he was / the beste. the
moste vertuous and1 the moste vailliaunt knight of the world?/ AnoT
5 that they gaf to him these presentes / for as moche as by his bye
prowesse he hadde preserued1 them, from the tyrannye and1 daunger
of the kyng- Dyomedes and1 of hys complices. And1 so moche sayd1
the maronwer of lason That they lugged* him with his mayntene &
[If. 42] semblaunce t to be a moche noble knight and" vailliaiwt. Among
10 these deuises the marchants & maronners toke their leue of preu lason & offied1 them to his commandement & after retorned vnto their bowses. & anon after that they were goon, the bourgeys dide do couere the table whiche was couerid1 of the yeftes. and1 lason wolde that the knight shulde sitte first because of his aage £
15 aunciente/ for in that time men helde the auncient & aaged men in moche grete reuerewce & honour
Vt in this present time hit goth alt otherwyse. the yong men presume to go & sitte aboue olde & auncient men. & mocque & skorne them that ben come to grete aage Saying'/ that they be
20 feble of their membres of their entendement and1 of nature. And1 ther be many children, that don their fader to vnderstande that they be foolis. wylling1 to haue in gouernauwce the poure olde men. not poure but riche. For hit is grete Rychesse to a man whan that honorably may amasse and? bringe his dayes vnto the degre-of old1
25 aage. And? yet ben ther children that don worse, for they desire and1 wisshe their faders and? moders ded! and1 serue hem with thinges contrarye to their heltli & lyf. the whiche is the grettest tresour that a man may haue as to worldly gocdes. Ha a howe many ben ther of them in these dayes I see al most non other, for
30 the yong peple may not here the doctrine of the olde men. and1 wene that they ben so wyse. that men nede not to shewe them ony wysedom / & also they ben vnkinde and1 futt of ingratitude / in so moche that yf they kuewe ony thing wherwitft they might dis- honoure them they wolde do hit. & they resemble vnto the sone of
35 Noe whiche by derision shewed" the secrete membres of his fader [If. 42 b] f Alas what cursed1 & blinde yongthe was that
I Or to come agayn vnto our mater the noble lason sette him doun at the table by the auncient knight. & after that the hooste & hostesse whiche often tyine exoited1 lason to make good1
F
Jason confesses his Love to a Knight. 55
chere / but lason might nether etc ne drinke. for certes he ilide nothing but thinke & spack not one worde but if he were demanded1 or araisonned1. After soper whan the table was voided1 lason & thawicient knight wercT leyde in one chambre where were two beddes / & whan lason was leyde. he began to sighe in suche wise 5 & of so inward1 sorow of his herte that it semed1 that the sowle shold departe from the body, wherfore fchautzcient knight that was loggicT in that other bedde by might not slepe / & thoughte right weft in him selfe that lason was not at his ease / & whan he had1 long herkenecThis sighes & herde that they encresicT alway more & 10 more, he might no lenger tarye but he must speke. and1 sayde in this manere. * Syr knight I haue grete meruaile of you ' / ' wher- fore ' saide lason / ' for asmoch ' saide thaurccient knight / ' that your sighes & bewailinges iugge to me that ye ar in the bedde of deth / how wel by al that I see & comprise in you / hit semeth not 15 by the sight of the eye that ye be seke. for your colour is fressft as roose in Maye. is it not thenrae grete meruaile for to here you so sighe / Yes certayn.' ' Ha a sir knight ' ansuerde thenrae lason / ' if ye luge the disposic^on of my body after the colour of my face ye be gretly abused, for I haue a seknes & maladye right secrete 20 whiche shal first slee me. er my face may be stayned or discoloured I am al certayn.' ' Sir ' saide thauwcient knight. ' ye holde a grete ramme of dispair.' ' it is corastraynt ' saide lason f c /^Ertes sir knight ' answerd? the olde knight. ' If ye wift lyue [If. 43]
V_y what som euer sekenes ye haue or maladye Put yow in my 25 handes and1 cure, and1 1 make me strong for to hele and1 make yow hole.' ' I trowe sir knight ' ansuerde lason ' that hit is not in your cunnyng' and1 power that to doo. ner in aft the subtilte of aft the men mortaft/ ' Than ' answerd? the auncient knight. ' be ye seke of the maladye of loue wherof no man may remedye but youre 30 lady.' ' Ha / a sir knight ' answerde lason than. ' who hatn told"1 yow. me thinketti that ye oppresse me so sore that I muste confesse to yow my caas. And1 so I declare to yow / that I am somoche smeten with the pestilence of loue that I may not lyue ne endure ne ete ne drinke ne reste night ne day/ ' In good? faith ' answerde 35 thauncient knight. ' ye dar not be aferd1 of deth syn that ye haue non other infirmite. For the maladye that procedeth of loue is so graciouse / that hit putteth noman to deth / Certes the sekenes is of grete ensoigne and? payne But hit is a maladye wherof men
56 Jason advised to seek another Woman.
recouere.' * Sir ' sayde than lason. ' If I dye not of bodily deth /
I shal dye of spirituel deth. for hit is in no wyse possible that
neuer in this worlde I shaft haue plaisir or solace / AnoT than shaft
I not be dede Alas I muste nedes. ye treuly of the moost an-
5 guisshyst detn that ony man may endure/ ' Syre ' ansuerd1
. thauncient knight ' ye teft me right grete meruailes/ ' I teft yow
troutn ' saitn lason / ' For I am so infortunat in loue and1 so moche
vnhappy and1 haue in my self so litil of valeur / that I am ashamed1
and1 hountouse to lyue. And1 wolde that I were there / where
10 I shall be .v. hondercTyere here after with oute ony respyte'
[If. 436] ^^YA7^an thauncient knight vnderstode that lason was in so-
» T moche & bitter dispair / he hacTpite of him & said to him
for a litil to reconforte him. ' Certes gentil knight / I knowe wel
my self & vnderstonde of this marchandyse wherof ye wene to
15 entremete. and? I apperceyue aft plainly that of your loue ye haue
not enioyed your first desire & wil But I wolde fayn knowe if
ony man hatt don you wrong of your lady, or ellis if this maladye
cometh & procedeth by the rigour of her ' / ' Certes gentil knight '
ansuerde lason. ' aft my myschief procedeth of the grete rigour of
20 my lady & by the valour & simplenes of me / for I haue seruid that
fair lady in a moche daungerows warre that her mortal enemyes
made to her not long syn in the most diligent wyse that I coucT or
might / & after whan she was at her aboue of her aduersaires I haue
requyred? her of her grace that she wolde be my lady in loue / but
25 she hatH not willed1 to see in me somoche vertue ne somoche valour
that she wolde acorde her to my request And1 thus I haue thei fore
my lyf in grete hate & see none other remedie but that I faft in
despayr '
* 1/1 Ayr sire ' ansuerde thauncient knight ' haue not ye ofte tymes 30 JL? herd1 saye. that one lost and1 two recouerid1. yf hit be so that a woman hatft made of you refuse / by your fay tti shaft ye therfore be suche a fooft as for to faft in despair / Considere ye not that ther be ynowh of other / & if ye haue not ynowli of one I shal make you to haue a dosayne / ther is no grete derthe ne scarcete of women. 35 certes if ye remerabre you wel / ye shal saye that they cracche out mennes eyen / & therfore al this wel considerid if your lady sette litil by you Do the same to her & seche another without long taryyng '
I
Jason and the Knight talk of Love* 57
t '/^lErtes sir knight' saide lason. 'whan I haue wel marked1 & [If. 44]
Vy take hede of your wordes / ye speke after your pi ay sir. These ben thinges that may better be said1 than exploy ted? ' / ' Certain ' saide the auncient knight ' I telle to yow the secrete & the verray historic / 1 wil wel that euery man be amerous & loue. but 5 that he haue .ij. strenges on his bo we And1 that noman put him so ferfortn in loue / but that he may withdrawe him in time & in season / women one and1 other properly to speke ben malicious in her werkes. & this procedeth that eche of them adresse other of suche conceyft exhorte & of fauour. Men saye / that the most 10 orguilloust & proudest creature that is / is the deuift / and7 next after him is the woman, and1 next after is the foole that is ouer- quidaunt / for pride cometh not but of folie & tomoche wening: Somme women ther be that must haue one amerous man to whom they kepe hem treuly / Other ther be many that ben fuft of wordes 15 and1 lene their eeris to alle the worlde. Other loue to haue l a eye and1 tokenes. and1 they make like signes also ferre as they may not speke to hem. Other ther ben that wole ben more prayid1 & requirid for to enioye them & to haue their grace / than the goddes ben for to haue their fair paradys. For tabregge & shortly to con- 20 elude. Certes gentyft knight, they be wel happy that haue not to do with them in ony suche receptes. & they be foles that haue to do moche with hem / for he that may passe from them, may do no better than to witndrawe him fer from hem in fleing the places & alle the circumstaunces/ ' Sir ' answerde than lason * I suppose & 25 thinke wel that ye coude saye moche better if ye wolde. first as to the regard e for to haue / ij / cordes or strenges on his bowe t That [if. 44 6] is to vnderstande two ladyes / certes it is not possible that he that so doth may be constant in his werkes ne in his thoughtes. for no man may wel serue two maistres. for that one corumpeth that other. 30 Theiwe it is so that if a noble man for to auaunce him self in worship maye cloo no better thenne for to chese an honourable lady whiche he maye loue treuly secretly & so parfaytly that he fere and1 drede to doo ony thing but that it be honest in aft thingis & of Recommandacion / for aft ladies desir nothing but honour & hye 35 renowmee /hit is their propre vocacion & their natureft condicion. thenne how shal he haue desire of honour that is no trew louer / for he that is double is to moche vntrew & fals / and1 if ony wele or
1 u inverted.
58 More talk on Love. Jason's Dream.
honour happen to come to him /it is agaynst Reson. right /and1 good1 equite. And1 if ther be ony suche Certes they be no worthy to Hue. seen that the ladies ben of so parfo-wnde excellence / that the leest of alt is worthy to haue the best knight of aft the world. 5 And1 for that cause saye no more / that I take two cordes or strenges on my bo we. For certaynly I had1 leuer to receyue and1 passe the destrait of deth'
WHan thauncient knight had" vnderstonde thanswer of lason / he was moche abasshid1 & saide to him / that he wolde neuer
loholde that waye ne purpose /' wherfore fayr syre' sayd1 lason. ' for asmoche ' saide the knight that men sholcT mocque him. ' for I suppose wel to knowe that if right now ye sholde chese of two thinges one. that is to wete to receyue deth or ellis chese a new lady / that ye wolde more sone the lady thenne the deth. AncT
15 for goocT cause. Certes ther ben plente of amoreusis that susteyne
[If. 45] and1 swere. that for to f saue thonour of their ladies they wolde
attende & take the deth / But I suppose if they sawe the deth
come they wold1 nomore abide him thence the quayle abidetn the
sperhauke/ & for all thise raisons aboue sayd1 1 counceyle you that
20 ye leue this errours & opynyons & reconforte your self the best wise ye can in your maladie. for by myn aduise I beleue not that your payne be mortal. & I haue not herde saye that euer ony man amerous by maladaye of loue lost his life, but if he went out of his mynde '
IAson with these wordes coude nomore Replicque for he apper- ceyued that he coude not make his mater good ner mayntene it agaynst the olde knight / & thus ending1 their parlament he slepte vnto the tyme hit was nygft daye / And1 thenwe lason awoke & began to make new sighes in so moche that thaunciennt knight herde it agayn. how weft that he was a slepe & was sodainly
30 awaked1/ And1 thenne whan lason knewe that he was awaked1 he salewed1 him & gaf him good morow & sayd1 to him. « Sir knight because of your grete age ye haue seen moche thing in your tyme / I demande you by your fayth if ye haue knowleche in dremes ' ' Wherfore axe ye ' ansuerde the knight / ' For asmoche ' sayd
35 lason ' as I haue not cessed1 this nyght to dreme.' ' By ray loyaulte fayr sire ' ansuerde the good1 old1 knighte. ' yf ye haue dremed1 ony thing1 that haue nede of exposicion or ony interpretacion. there is noman in Grece that shal better answere therto thenne my self/ and therfore without ony doubte Teft me plainly your dreme / and1
The Dream expounded. 59
I shal expowne to yow the substance/ ' Certes sire knight ' saide lason ' I had a ineruailows dreme this night, whiche in maner of a passe temps 1 1 shal declare to yow for as moche as ye ar conning- [If. 45 J] in the science of thexposicion therof. whiche dreme or vysion was this. Me thoughte that I sawe two swannes whiche were right 5 fair in a medowe / of whom that one was a male and1 that other a female. The male cam vnto the female & made semblaimt for to haue acompanyed1 with her. the female sette nought therby / but withdrewe her aback. And" whan the male sawe that / he entricT vnto a Kyuer that was by and1 passid1 ouer & cam lye with me here 10 in this bedde. and1 hit was not long after but me thoughte that the female passed the Ryuer in like wise, and1 cam vnto the chambre dore and made many pyetous cryes after her nature, that the male might not here, for he was a slepe. And1 so hadde I moche grete pite for the sorowful chere that she made in so moche that I awoke. 15 And1 nomore I sawe. wherfore I wote neuer what to thinke '
WHan the auncient knight hadde wel vnderstande a longe the dreme of the preu lason he sayde to him in this manere. 1 Sir knight what wole ye saye if that noble lady for whom ye suffre so moche sorow be as moche or more Amerous of yow as ye be of 20 her. And1 by thys loue she be comen in to this howse after yow.' ' Ha / a sir knight ' answerde lason. ' I haue no charge of that stroke, for my lady is so noble and1 so endowed1 of so hyghe beaute that she setteth nought by ony man in the worlde.' * Alleway fayr sir' sayde than thauncient knight /'your dreme signified by 25 thise/ ij / swannes / of whom wolde make the bataille or thenterprise that desiretli companye of the female, that ye haue willed to be husbonde to your lady, the whiche wold1 not here yow f And1 [If. 46] neuei theles whan she hath knowen that ye entred on the see / she eutred1 after in semblable wise & is comen after you into this 3° propre hous. where by auenture she is in moche grete payne for the loue of you / In this facton maye I prenostique and1 dyuyne this werk after the nature of your dreme '
IAson with these wordes began to sighe right ardawntly and1 sayde. ' What is this & fro whens cometh to me this fantasye 35 that maye more greue me thence helpe / 1 knowe weft that it is a grete abuse to me for to thinke & haue a renouelement of payne & of sorow. O what payne is to a trewe louar infortunat for to be in contynuel martire Ha a my dere lady why haue ye not the eyen
60 The Knight Mopsius tells his Lineage,
so cleer for to beholde with in ray herte and1 knowe in what matir- dom I am. in what sorow and1 in what anguisshe / Certes madame youre eyen basilique haue hurte me vnto the deth / O what dis- tresse / 0 what guerdon for good? seruice. I fynde me in the 5 handes of right harde deth. but yet for to passe the sonner my sorowe. I shaft praye the goddes that I may be eurews after my grete vnhappines.' Thenne the sage and1 auncient knight Mopsius hering the noble preu lason thus sorowfully complayne him selfe and1 lamenting / in fauour of noblesse was gretly ernioyecT in corage.
10 and" for soinoch he saide to him in this maner. ' For Goddes sake sir knight leue and1 goo oute of this fantasye. for to moche to muse in Infortune is nothing prouffitable / A man with grete trauayle and1 labour bringeth his dayes to an ende hauing his life trauersid1 in many contrarye thinges / Ther is no man so ewrous and? happy [If. 46 b] that hath alle waye hys wille f Certes the time muste be taken as hit cometh / is hit hard1 or softe. The herte of a man sholde not abasshe in no thing Me semeth we haue spoke ynowh of loue. I praye yow that from hens forth we may entre into an other purpose / And1 that ye wolde telle to me your name and1 the place of your
20 burth. and1 the name of your hows and? dwelling place ' ' Veritably sir knight' ansuerde lason than/ 'If ther be ony man that may redresse and5 gyue confort to a desolate hert and7 disconforted1 ye be he most propice aboue alle other/ 1 haue founden so moche goodnes in yow / that if ye wole telle me your name with out ony faute / 1
25 shal telle yow myn also.' ' Fair sir ' ansuerde thauwcient knight / ' your desir is to me agreable / in suche wise that I shal recompte to yow my lyf & alt myn astate. more than to ony man that I haue seen this / vi / score yere / knowe ye than that my name is Mopsius. the god1 Appollo was my fader / 1 am king of Silice I haue con-
30 querd1 the countre of Pamphile I haue had / ij / sonnes. And1 whan they were come to mannes age / 1 haue made them possessours of my landes. & syn I am departed1 in suche estate as ye me now see / I haue ben in the world1 vj / score yere / during whiche time I haue seen & haue lerned plente of good & strauwge werkes / prayng yow
35 & require that ye shewe to no p^rsone myn estate ne condicions by no facton of the worlde. & whan so is that ye speke to me / that ye name ne calle me none other name but Mopsius openly ne couertly & for diuerce cause '/< Mopsius ' ansuerde than the noble lason ' syn it so plcsetli yow to be named & called. I promise yow vpon
and Jason his. He sees Mirro's Horse. 61
my honour that in somoch as toucheth that ye haue said / hit shal be holden secrete in myn herte also fast & suche f manere as ye [If. 47] had1 closed1 it in the most harde roche of the worlde / & to the regarde to saye to you how I am named1, knowe ye for certayn that I am callicT lason & am borne of the prouynce of Thessaile sone of 5 the gentil king Eson of Mirmidone that yet liueth as I suppose. but he is moche auwcientf/ With these wordes Mopsiws for to make lason for to forgete his melancolies / he began to demande him of the nature of the royaume of Mirmidone & of the couwtrees aboute And1 after demanded1 him of the birthe of his aage and1 of 10 his auentures / and1 after this he enquired1 of him many other thinges vnto the tyrne that they began to Ryse & make hem redy. but what thing that lason saide or herkenyd1/ he had1 alway his thought on his lady and1 sighed1 oftetymes out of mesure
WHan the two noble knightes were rysen and1 clad1 in poynt/ 15 lason wente stray t into the stable to hys horse / whome he louyd? well, but incontinent whan he had1 ben there a litil and1 that he hadde parceyuid1 the two palfroyes of the lady and1 of the damoiselle / him seined? that he had1 seen them tofore tyme. Thenne he callyd1 the seruauwt of the stable & demanded1 of him to whom 20 tho two horses belonged1/ Thenwe the seruauwt ansuerde that they apperteynecT to the damoiselles that were loggid1 there with inne ' Truly frende ' saide lason ' what damoiselles that euer they be The two horses belonge to my lady best belouyd" / & whan the good1 auncient knight viiderstoocT lason. he sayd1 to him/ ' lason Eemembre 25 ye of your dreme I take hit on my life that your lady is in this hous / or ellis the damoiselles ben here for her. the whiche shal saye to you goode tydinges ' t Withoute ony other question or answere [If. 47 6] lason departed1 incontinent from the stable, and? wente vnto the . hostesse. & whan he had boden to her goode morowe he sayd? to 30 her / ' Fair hostesse. knowe ye the two Damoyselles that ben logged? herein.' ' Certes sir knight ' ansuerde the hostesse / ' I knowe hem none otherwise but as me semeth that they ben gentil wromen & comen of a good1 hows ' / ' Is hit possible that I maye see hem ' saide lason. ' I wote neuer ' saide thostesse ' but I first demande them.' 35 * Faire hostesse ' said1 than lason ' I require yow that I may see them / And? that ye wylle go saye that here ys a knight their seruauwt / that hath grete desire to speke with them '
62 Jason seeks Mirro and meets her.
THe goode hostesee for to do plaisir vnto lason / wente vnto the two Damoyselles and1 sayd1 to them. ' My fayr rnaystresses I come to yow in the name and1 at the request of a gentil knight he saying your seruauwt / the whiche requiretn yow / that of your
5 grace hit wolde plese yow that he might speke with yow. And1 adnise yow what hit shal plese yow that I answere to him/ But incontinent that the Quene Myrro had1 herd1 her hostesse speke of the requeste of the knight. Certes the colour began to chaunge meruaillously and1 her thought / that alle her body was esprysed1
10 wytn fyre. But this notwithstanding1 she held1 her ccntenaunce the beste wyse she myghte. And1 howe wel that she doubted1 of the comyng1 of the preu lason. and1 that she was than in a traunce what she shold1 saye to her. yet she answerd1 an? sayd! 'Fair dame, who is that knight that hath sente yow hether'/ * Certes'
I5 sayd1 the hostesse ' I sawe him neuer to fore that I wote of. But to
[If. 48] my seming^ t he is the most gentil and1 the most weft made of body
and also most curtois that ony man may or can finde or speke of.'
' Dame ' sayde thenrae the fayr Myrro / ' syn that he is so vertuous
& so weft accomplisshed1 as ye saye / do him to come hether ' "With
20 these wordes the goode hostesse dide do lason come vnto the chambre / And1 themie assone as he came in. he behelde the noble quene whiche was right shamefaste / and1 hauyng1 the herte shytte & rauisshid1 made vnto her the Reuerence & sale wed1 her / And1 the fayr Myrro welcomed1 & salewed1 him agayn moche curtoisly. This
25 don they entrid into deuises/ And1 thenne after certayn wordes lason saitle to the quene in this maner
Eites my dere lady I had1 not knowen that ye had1 ben in this hostelerye ne had1 ben your two palfroies Whiche I haue this morenyng fourcden in the stable by my hors. and1 yet whan I had1
30 seen and1 knowen them I had1 not supposed1 that ye had1 ben in this hows, how wel whan I vnderstode that the two palfroyes belonged1 to two Damoiselles / wenyng1 that here had1 ben two of your damoiselles. I am comen for to here tydinges of you ' / ' Certes sire knight I doubte not the contrarye / and in like wyse I had not
35 supposed1 ner thought to haue founden you nowe here. & I declare to you that I am departed1 secretly for to goo a pilgremage where I haue promysed1 lon^syn accompanyecTonly wyth this Damoyselle / And? I auowed1 so to doo in the moste strengthe of my warre / And1 I haue grete meruaylle for to see you now here. For without
His Love-plea accorded on Condition. 63
doubte I hadde supposed1 that ye hadde ben this oure in Oliferne at
your reste '
t i~\ /TAdame ' ansuerde lason 'I haue none hope that euer ye [if. 48 b]
J^TjL shal see me more in Oliferne/ ' Certes lason fair sire ye ben hasty & moche swift in your werkes. I haue good1 wift & grete 5 desire for to rewarde and1 contente yow of the good" & agreable seruices. that ye to fore this tyme haue don to me during- my warre in persecuting1 and1 delivering' of my morteft enemyes. and1 if ye retourne not to Oliferne. I may not ner can not doo rewarde and contente yow/ ' Ha a my dere lady' ansuerde than lason/ ' As I 10 saycT yow that other day in your palais / I haue not seruid7 yow in suche wise as I haue coude best doo / for menoye or other meuable goodes. but I haue employed1 my self only for to gete your loue & your goode grace. I haue paternaft richesses largely, and? therfore I saye to yow so moche. that yf so be that ye graunte not me your 15 loue / ye may not contente me. And1 knowe ye certainly that after this daye ye shall neuer see me. for as your trewe louer and1 humble seruaunt vnguerdonnedV I shal goe withdrawe me into som deserte bewailing- & weping- that part after yow / And1 vnto my detli I wolde doo non otherwise, wherfore I yow supplie with alle my 20 hert / that pyte may entre into your noble corage in suche wyse that on me your poure suppliaunt / ye haue pyte and1 mercy, and1 ellis of me ye shal neuer see good"
WHan the noble lady had1 vnderstancT that sayd1 ys She ansuerde to the preu lason in this manere /' Certes sir 25 knight ther is no herte of lady so hard1/ but by the vertu of youre requestes muste nedes be softecT & molefied / ye haue seruid1 me hyely & weft in alle trouth & loyaulte In alle vailliauwce & dili- gence. I confesse & knowleche hyt / f ye require me as I vnderstande [If. 49] that I sholde by your wyff and1 felaw / a more gretter thing1 ye may 3° not demande me / ne that more me toucheth. Neuertheles whan I apperceyue your grete & good1 valoir. to thende that ye haue no cause for to falle in despair / 1 am content for to accorde my self vnto your prayers & requestes. forseen alway that ye shaft goo vnto your countrey / And1 there ye shaft assemble youre most next parents 35 and1 frendes. whiche ye shal bringe into nry cyte that in their presence ye shal wedde and1 spowse me solempnly '
THe noble and1 vaillyaunt knight lason thanked1 the fayr Myrro of this goode answere. And1 promised1 to her to doo and1 accom-
64 Jason and Mirro part for a Time.
plisshe treuly alle that she hadde desired1, that is to wete that he sholde go into Myrmidone for tassemble his frendes & alyes. and1 that he sholde retourne into Oliferne for to marye and1 wedde her in their presence But whan the damoyselle that was comen with 5 the quene for to holde her companye / herde suche or semblable promesses made by her maistresse/ which was so wel comen to the point of her desir. she was remplesshecT with consolacion & ioye / and forthwith she cam betwene the / ij / louers and1 sayde to them / that she called1 alle the goddes to witnes & thanked1 them for this
10 aliaunce. ' Certes ' than sayde the fayr Myrro / ' syn that ye haue don so moche. I wolde wel that we hadde leyzer and place for to make good1 ehere to geder / but as me semeth hit may not nowe goodly be don, for in no wyse I wold1 not ben beknowen. but hit behoueth for myn honour & worship / that lason departe from hens
15 incontinent with oute lenger tarieng: to thende that none speke of [If. 496] vs but al wele t And1 we shal go secretly to the poort for to gete vs somwe good* maronner / which shal bring vs vnto our secrete pilgremage '
IAson the noble prynce hering the fayr Myrro so ordeyne & con- clude of their sodayn departing began to make simple chere. for he was sore abasshid1 & sorouful in such wise to leue his lady whome he sawe endowed1 with so hye vertues. Certes he haoT entencton to haue tolde to the quene a parte of his sorowe & bewailinges that he had1 made for her sake / but she wolde in no
25 wise here him/ but smyling she toke her leue in somoch that lason enbraced & kissed her ones or twyes / finably he departed from thens promittyng her that in short time he sholde retorne vnto her agayn. & assone as he was departed & gon his waye the fair Myrro & the damoiselle dide do sadle their horses. & rode to the porte
30 where they toke their shippyng & wente to the see H For tabregge our historic without ony auenture that ought to be remembrid their maronTier exploited in suche wise with helpe of the good winde that he had1 / that in short tyme he deliuerid the quene Myrro & her damoiselle in Oliferne / where they taried1 after lason
35 right long & in right grete anoye & displaisir as it shalbe saycT along & declared here after. But now I shaft reste to speke of the fayr Myrro & of her faites for this present tyme. & shal recompte of the conduyte of lason whiche departed fro the presence of his lady as said is & retorned with al diligence vnto Mopsms the
I
Jason, feasted by sEgeus, returns home. 65
goode olde Imight right ioyows & saide to him what was happend of his dreme every thing / & that he had1 herde of his lady goode tydinges / how wel he declared not to him that he had spoken to her in her propre persone t But he made him to vnderstonde that [If. 50] two of her damoyselles had* promised1 to him and1 sworn that if he 5 wolde go into Oliferne accompanyed1 of his kinnesmen and1 frendes / that they sholde do somoche anenst his lady that she shold espouse and1 wedde him & that she sholde crowne him king^ of her contrey. ' And1 for so moche ' saycT Jason ' that I haue taken affiaimce in the promesse of these two damoyselles. I shal goo into my contrey for 10 tassemble my frendes & kinnesmen in the most goodly and1 hasty wise I shal mowe. and1 I shal not cesse vnto the time I shal come to the aboue of my loue. wherin I haue goode hoope
U How Peleus broder of king Eson of Mirmidone & oncle of lason wente vnto the temple of Appollo. & how he hadde answere 15 that the firste man that he mette with an hose on that one foot & none on that other sholde empesshe him of the royame of Mirmi- done whiche he had supposid to haue enioyed
THus as lason reherceth these tidinges vnto the good anoT auncient knight Mopsius / The sone of the king of that cyte 20 named1 Theseus cam vnto them there, whiche was aduertisect by the marchantes that lason had sauid1 by hys vayllyauTice. And? deliuerict from the furour and1 tyrannye of the peruerse king" Dyomedes / And1 from as ferre as he had espyecT lason he knewe hym. For he had1 seen hym to fore at the weddyng1 of Perytheon. 25 AndMhenwe he salewed1 him and1 made hym right grete chere. the preu lason rendryd1 agayn Joyously hys salewyng vnto Theseus. And1 whan they hadde eche other welcomed1 Theseus brought lason and1 Mopsius for the loue of lason f vnto the kyng' his fader whiche [If. 50 6] was named1 Egews. and1 whan this saide Egeus sawe lason / he dide 30 him moche grete honour & worship for his hye renomme / And1 festecT him in diuerce maners. and1 lason desired1 nothing1 sauf to retorne vnto his countrey. and1 thanked1 him of the worship that he had1 don to him and1 of his right goode chere. and1 syn toke leue. of the kyng1/ of Theseus, and1 of Mopsius / the whiche knowing1 that 35 he was right noble and1 Ryght valiyant knyght saide to him. that they wolde go with him and1 holde him companye vnto his coun- treye / wherof the noble preu lason desired1 them that they shold? abide and? not goo with him / for he wolde not goo the right waye /
P
66 Jason tells jEson his Adventures.
But this was for nought. For they sayd1 plainly that they wolde holde their promesse. And1 lason wist not what to saye/but accorded1 to them that they sholde goo to gyder vn to Myrmydone
IAson thenrae Theseus and1 Mopsius departed1 from Athents aft thre. And1 dide so moche by lande and1 by watre withoute ony auenture digne of memorie. that they earn vnto the cite of Myrmi- done where was yet liuing the noble kyng1 Eson. Peleus came thenne ayenst the noble preu lason and1 welcomed1 him with his body / but not witft his herte / makyng1 grete signe to be righc
10 ioyous of his retornyng. And1 brought him vnto his fader the olde kyng-/ whiche was gretly conforted1 of the comyng^of his dere sone lason / And1 whan the noble preu lason had made the reuerence vnto the king- his fader, the king1 demanded1 him of his tydinges. and? where he had? ben / & what he hadde don / lason without [If. 51] taking- on him ony vayn glorye f of ony hye and1 grete werke that he hadde don and brought to ende. ansuerde to him by grete humilite sayng1. ' Dere sir I come now strait from the seruice of the noble quene Mirro whiche is lady of the noble cite of Oliferne. and? the most sage, the most fayre. and? the most discrete that is in
20 the remenaur&t of aft the world1. And? at suche time as I arriued? in her court, she was in a meruayllous tribulacion by the right puissaurz-t king- of Esklauonie. whyche made her warre of fyre and? of blood1/ for so moche as she wold in no wyse consente to take hym to her husboncT. But syn my comyng1 to that parte and1 that I
25 hadde charge as heed and1 as coriduytor of her men. I entreprised? to susteyne the quarele of the noble lady. And1 in thre batailles where I was accompanyecT of her peple. the goddes haue gyuen vs vyctorie vpon the Esklauons in suche manere that the kyng- him selfe and1 the moost paite of hys men haue ben slayn and? smyten
30 in pieces. And1 amonge alle other ther was in the hoost of the sayd1 king1 of Esklauonye a meruayllous ancFpuissaunt man. a Geant named1 Corfus. the whiche hadde put to deth many a good1 knight of Oliferne. witn whom I faughte body agaynst body / not by ony strengthe that was in me. but by desire to gete the worship and?
35 honour, and1 to doo that thing^ that might bringe me in to the grace of that noble lady, whom I putte to vttrance by the vertue of the grete beaute of her / And? to her apperteyneth * the right worship and1 honour And? syn that I haue sayd? to yow so moche. and? that
1 O. u/er n.
promises Jason a noble Wedding. 67
hyt is Reason that ye knowe alle / 1 declare to yow that I come now to you in entencion. that my kinnesmen & frendes t be [If. 516] assembled1 for to liolde me companye to goo and1 wedde her so hye & so noble a lady, the whiche is contente to be my wyf. forseen that I sholde espouse and1 wed1 her honourably as it apperteyneth 5 to the doughter of a kyngi For by thise condicions ben the promesees made anePacordecT'
THe noble & auncient king1 Eson hearing* thise tidinges had1 moche more loye at his herte thenne he hadde afore / And1 saide / ' Certes my dere sone I am right ioyous of thy wele and1 10 worship / of thy prouffit & of thyn auauracement. I thinke weft that fortune hath ben socourable to the noble lady to whom thou hast ben seruaimt / But wytn right grete payne maye I beleue that thou allone hast vaynquysshid1 the Geant / And1 if it be so I thanke the goddes. but late it passe forth. & if thou hast goten the grace 15 of her so fair & so noble lady I haue no grete meruaile there of. for loue in suche a caas beholdeth no persone / AncTneu^r the lesse to thende that thou knowe howe I desire aboue alle thing1 of the worlde to see multiplicacion in thy seed1/ 1 shaft araye the as to the sone of a king- is lawfuft & apperteynyng/ and" I shaft sende the so 20 weft in poynt of abillemens of warre and1 of noble men accompanyed?/ that by raison she ought haue suffisa-wnce ' / Thence the preu lason thanked1 the king1 his fader of this goode answere/ And1 at that tyme they spack nomore of the matere / but entended1 to feste Mopsius & Theseus / whom they prayd"1 to tarie & accompanye lason 25 vnto the daye of his weddyng1. & the two goode knightes promysed? that they sholde so doo / and1 so they were gretly fested of the king & of his nobles & also of t Peleus which dide it again his hert [If. 52] making a fained chere
AMong1 many deuises Mopsius & Theseus recomptecf of Tason 30 J_JL thauenture that he had in Trace against the tyrauwt king1 Dyomedes and? likened? lason for hys vailliauwce & habilite vnto his felaw Hercules, whiche was the most strong1 man and1 best assewred? that was vnder the clowdes. And1 because of his hyghe preysinges & recommendacions the bruyt of preu lason augmentid1 35 and1 encresid1 from day to day. And? hit is not to be vnremembrid1 that thenuie of the vntrewe Peleus grewe so terribly that he by no facz'on mighte ne coude haue no reste daye ne night / in so moche that in the coming agayn of noble lason he was aduertisecTthat in
F 2
68 Pelias hears of the Golden Fleece,
the yle of Delphos the god1 Appollo gaf answers of thinges that were to come and1 of alle destinees. wherfore he wente him self into that yle and entrid1 into the temple anoyecT meruaillously and pensif / And* whan he hadde made his orisons by grete deuocion & 5 conseqently his demande for to knowe whether euer he shold enioye the Royame of Mirmidone. The deuil whiche was in the ydole that herde him / ansuerde to him. that the royarne sholde be taken from him by the hand of a man that he shold mete hauing non hose ner shoo on that one foot. Peleus hering this harde answer 10 was meruayllously abasshecF. & departed1 from thens so passing sorowfutt that he seined? better a man nourisshed1 in al his lyf in sorow or condempned' to cruel deth than ony other wi^e as hit shal be declared1 here after a long-
Athenrce Peleus was in his retouruing- vnto Mirmidone alway L j conspiring1 the deth of the right noble flason. And1 ymagyn-
ing how he might resiste his myserable & folissh destine. A good olde knight mette him on the waye. This knight began to beholde him in his playn vysage anoTthe salutacion of them bothe gyuen and1 rendred And1 knowyrg1 that he was moche pensif & fuft 'of
20 Melancolies. he deuised1 to him of many thinges & meruailes of the worlde. And1 among1 aft other deuises he sayd1 to him / that in an yle standing vpon the este see / was a moch riche and1 noble moton or shepe hauyng his flees aft of fyn golde / the whiche was not possible to be conquerd1. And1 that many valia^nt knightes
25 had1 lost there their lyf. These deuises taken an ende / the two knightes departed1 eche from other. And1 thenwe Peleus reentryng into his melancolyes thinkyngi moche on the answere that he haoT receyued? of the god1 Appollo. and1 concluded1 in him self that if hit happend that he mette lason barfoot on that one fote He sholde fynde
30 the maners if he might to sende him in to the yle / wherof the knight had" told1 him that the riche motofi or flees of gold was. to thende that he mighte be there deuoured" and1 neuer retourne agayn U What shalle I saye more, the peruerse and1 vntrewe Peleus passid1 forth on his waye in suche conspiracions ayenst lason.
35 And1 cam so ferre that he fonde his neuewe lason in a medowe by Myrmidone
|Ertes the noble lason and1 Theseus were thenwe in a medowe with many noble bachelers of the countree passing1 her tyme in making- plente of dyuerce esbatements & playes in strengthe of
C1
and, as an Oracle foretold, meets Jason. 69
body, as wrastlyngv lepingv rennyng1. casting the barre or stone or drawing the bowe. and1 f whan Tason sawe his vncle Peleus come / [If. 53] he wente to him for to welcome him / And? was vnhosed1 & vnshoed1 on his right foot / and? made to him the reuerence. And1 thenwe Peleus. whiche was in doubte of him apperceyued1 anone his fote 5 bare / howe weft he saide not a worde but shewed1 a right grete signe of loue vnto his neuew lason / whyche thought nothing1 of the malice & felon corage of his vncle whiche was garnisshid1 of ypocresye. of traison / & of alle euyft / And1 syn passed? forth sayng1 to him self that lason sholde put him out of the royame but if he 10 fonde som remedie / & that briefly
Aye may vnderstande Peleus retorned1 right soroufuft & dolamit & right desirous for to destroye and1 do to detfi his neuew lason. he frowned1 in this wise & bote on his lippe a grete while / after he bethought him & concluded1 in him self that he wolde do 15 ordeyne & make a Eiche dyner. to whiche he wolcTdo.calle alle the nobles of the royame and? of the countrees by and7 adiacent. Sayng1 that he wolde she we vnto his neuew lason aft that he had1 herd1 recompted1 of the noble moton or sheep of gold1, to thende that he sholde enterprise for to goo to conquere hit / And? whan he had1 20 made this deliberacion in his courage / he sent for to praye & to somone the most part of the nobles of the royame & the countrees by. whiche cam gladly vnto thys feste and1 assemblee at the daye to them signefiecT. Certes this Peleus dyde do garnisshe this dyner with al vyandes and1 noble metes delicious and1 with beuurages and 25 drinkes sumptuous composed1 with spices. But whan al was redy the moste hye Barons were sette at the firste tables f And1 among1 [If. 53 6] alle other nobles ther was the noble Hercules. And1 thence after satte euery man after his astate. & thus after they began on alle parties to make grete chiere and1 spack of many thinges. and? in- 30 especiaft of the hyhe vailliaunces of the preu and1 noble Hercules, and? of the monstres and1 crueft bestes that he had? destroyed? and put to detli by his vailliaunce and? hardiesse. And? thus passed the dyner in suche or semblable deuises vnto the ende that Peleus cam to fore lason. and1 sayde to hym in the presence of many Kinges 35 Barons and1 knightes in this manere l
<• nr Ason my dere lord1 & neuewe. ye ar the man of the worlde \_ that I loue best next after the king1 Eson my broder your fader. 1 0. Beneath this is written T. Skeffington.
70 Pelias persuades Jason to seek the Fleece,
knowe ye that I haue in my herte grete loye for to liaue herd1 the preysinges anoTRecommendacions of the vailliawnt knight Hercules / whom I see here present For the terrible bestes. for the monstres and1 for the grete and1 stronge Geauts. of whom he hadde deliuerid 5 the world of. by his vaisselage. But whan I beholde youre grete puissaurace corporal! and1 that next after Hercules ye be one of the most strongest membrid1/ best asseurid1 and1 one of most vaillyaun£- est knightes that lyueth. hit gretly dysplesith me in my hert that fortune hath not giue place wher your puissauwse & valoir may be
10 shewd1. & that your bruit & renommee is not so grete as I desire. I wolde hit had1 coste me the most part of the goodes that the godcles haue sent me in this worlde / And1 that ye were comen to your aboue of an enterprise and1 conqueste that I knowe in a place / the which sholde be moche honourable & recommanded for you & [If. 54] for f your lygnage/ * Certes fayr vncle ' ansuerde lason. ' I thanke you gretly of your good1 wille toward1 me. I knowe right welt that often tyme ye haue hyely couwceylled1 me to myn honour and1 worship / And1 thefore yf ye know ony uenture or enterprise to be poursiewed1 and1 brought to the ende where in I myght employe my
20 tyme / 1 require you that ye wilt enseigne nie thei to. & I promyse you that I shal do asmoche as in me shal be possible to do to come to myn aboue of honour & worship to me and1 of our house '
IErtes fayr sire lason' ansuerde the disloialt & vntrewe Peleus * I take a grete plaisir to see your good wille / whiche
25 procedeth of an noble corage. & for so moche as I knowe that ye are a knight of hye enterprise / knowe ye that in the parties oriental! is an yle enclosed1 rouwd1 aboute with the see. In the whiche ther is so noble and1 riche sheep or moton of suche nature that in stede of flese of wolle. he is endowed" with a flese aft of fyn
30 golde. But he is kept with certayne bestes so cruelt & so fiers. that ther hath ben no man so hardy or so welt assewricT vnto this present tyme that durst approche the noble moton or sheep of gold, yf theime ther be in you so moche valour and* prowesse / that ye myght conquere the riche flees or this shepe / me thinketh your
35 renommee shold1 growe gretly in honour and1 worship Whiche is the thing^ aboue alle other that euery noble hert desiretti / & in trouth me ought desire no thingi somoch / for honour is the princi- pal! tresour aboue alt other and1 the souerayn recommendacion that ony gentil man may gete and1 ought more to be desired thenne ony
•c
and gets Argus to build a Ship. 71
worldly thing/ To this ansuerde lason ' by aft oure goddes fair vncle I am moche f beholden to you in many maners. For I knowe [If. 54 &] and1 am certayn verayly. that honour ought to be preferricT and1 put to fore alle worldly thinges. and1 to thende that men may see that the grete afFeccion and? desire to gete worship is so nighe * myn 5 herte & that the couetous desir of glorie and honour be not me reputed1 faynedly. I make here a solempne auowe vnto the goddes & promise here in the presence of alle the nobles that ben here assemblicT. that I shaft neuer cesse to laboure to seche the Ryche sheep or flese of golde vn to the time that I shal haue fouwden hit. & 10 that I shaft doo the vtterist of my power for to conquere hit / what som euer daunger or parift faft or happen to me in the conquest '
W'Han Peleus hadde herde this auowe he was moche loyous / & him semed that the werke went wel forth in so moche that him thought & supposed by this mene for to come to the aboue 15 of his desir. Certes the noble and1 j>reu Hercules & Theseus preysid1 moche lason of this enterprise And1 forthwith in fayte they vowed1 in like wise that yf lason achieuid1 not his enterprise that they sholcTput hem in deuoir for to bringe hit to an ende / & during1 this dyner they spack long & deuised1 rnoche of the maner of the vowe 20 of lason / & aboue alle other Peleus was so glad1 and ioyous that he prolonged1 & helde solempne feste eyghte dayes long And? aduertised1 the king Eson of the right noble entreprise of his sone lason / alway Eson notwithstanding thenterpris was damigerous & mortal, yet was he wel content that his soue sholde achieue his auowe 25 U For tabregge the mater Peleus sent for many werkemen for to make a ship / & among aft other was one named Argos the whiche ordeyned1 t to him one so fayr & subtille a werke that neuer was [if. 55] seen suche. and12 was callicT Argyne because of Argos
CErtes this Argos was a passing wise man and1 vertuous / And1 30 inespecial he was the most lerned1 & experte maronwer that was at that tyme in aft Grece. And whan this ship was made he aduertised1 Peleus & lason also whiche was as glad1 & ioyous as he might be. for al that euer was necessarie for him he fonde it redy & the ship arayd and1 redy for to departe. Thenwe lason toke leue 35 of the king" his fader & of his vncle Peleus. And1 so dide the noble Hercules/ Theseus & Mopsius & other vnto the nombre of an honderd1 knightes of Grece. whiche wolde accompanye lason in 1 0. mghe. 2 O. \\for n.
72 The Argonauts sail: the Trojans frightened.
this voiage. And1 this licence & congie taken / with aft diligence they entricT into the ship the hole .0. knightes And1 whan the goode patrone Argos had1 disancred1 from the porte where the ship had1 ben made, whiche porte was named1 Seserre. he dide somoche 5 diligence that he broughte this noble companye vpon the hye see / where Argos sailed1 with hem many dayes alway sayling toward the eest after the sight of the sterres & of the sonne / and so long he conduyted1 hem in-this poynt. that vytailles began to faylle them / & were constraynecT by force to go a laude at the firste porte that
10 they fonde / that is to wete at the porfce of Frigye named1 Thenadon. whiche standeth nygh vnto Troye the grawnde/ of whom Laomedon was king / whiche vsecTgrete rudesce vnto lason and1 to the knightes of his companye And1 this euyl fift vpon him afterward1 & vpon his subgettes / he was not gretly to be complained1 as it shaft be
15 declared1 a long here after in this present volume.
I
[If. 55 6] t U Howe the king- Laoniedou of Troye wold1 not suffre lason ne his companye descende on the londe. And1 how the Quene Ysiphyele receyued1 them
'N this paas saith one historic that Argos the good ancTsubtift maronner made and1 ordeyiied1 aft thinges that faylled vnto the noble ship where the noble knight was in vnder saylle. And1 the \vinde blewe there in at their wille. hit was aboute .x. of the clocke a fore none, the fayr sonne shone clere and1 spredde his rayes vpon the londe / and the weder was softe and1 weft dysposed1/ And1 at that
25 tyme moche people were vpon the bankes of the see whiche behelde from ferre the noble shippe of the Grekes. whyche as sayd1 is cam that tyme the saylle dysplayed1 and1 sette vpon an hyhe. And1 eayllecT faste in hys cours vpon the see. wherof they were so sore ameruaylled1/ that they wiste not what thinge hit mighte be. In
30 so moche that somme of them were so sore aferct1/ that they fledde in to Troye And1 the other abood1 at the porte abydyng- thauenture They that fledde to wyth in Troye. wente vnto the puissaunt kyng- Laomedon. And1 sayd? to hyin alle be wepte and1 drowned1 in teeris procedyngi of grete fere and1 drede. that they hadde apperceyuid1
35 from ferre in the see a grete monstre lyfting^ him selfe meruayl- lously swymming1 and" Rennyng1 vpon the water more swiftely than an horse coucT renne on the grounde or on the londe. And1 affermed to the king Luomedon by their faith that this monstre without
I
Argo at Tcnedos. Laomedon inhospitable. 73
comparison was more to double and1 feere than the monstre that Hercules had1 slain by his hye vaillyaurc.ce t Certes in this sayd1 [If. 56] coiwtre tofore that tyme Hercules had1 slayn a monstre also grete as a whale, as hit is plainly conteyned1 in thistorie of Hercules
WHan the king1 Laomedon hacTherde these tydinges rehercedV 5 he was alt abasshid1/ Thenwe he made one of his knightes to take an hors as swift as the wynde. and1 sente him to Thenedon for to axe and enquire of the trouth What thing- hit myght be that the peple were so sore aferd of. And1 in suche wise exploited1 the knight that he cam to the porte of Thenadon/ and there he fonde 10 the preu lason & hys knightes of Grece / but first he aspied1 Argos that ankred1 his ship right nygh to Thenedon. & wente not into the toun for asmoch as it was no nede/ co?isidering that they were nygh the cite of Troye whiche was so grete in magnificence that ther was non like in the remenaimt of the worlde / he enquired1 15 first of the habitants and1 dwellars of the coimtree yf they had1 seen ony suche monstre on the see. Thenne the men of the couwtre ansuerde to the knight / that they had1 seen no suche monstre vpon the see / & they that had1 brought suche tydinges to Troye were gretly abused1 if they had1 supposed1 to haue seen ony monstre / & 20 that ther was none other thing but a shippe of Grece saillyng> on the see in the whiche by their aduyse were grete nombre of knightes of Grece Kyght wett in poynt of armes and1 suche thinges as shold1 be nedefutt and1 necessarie for them to entre into bataylle
WHan the knight of Troye had vnderstande al that said is he 25 descended1 of his hors and1 wente a foote vnto the kuightes of Grece. To whome he demanded1 what they f sought & had1 to Llf- 56 *] doo in that cou?itre. Than lason answerd1 to the knight, that grete necessite of vytaille for to trauerse into ferre contrees caused them for to take their porte ther and1 non other thing. Incontinent 3° whan the knight hadde vnderstande these tidinges he retourned1 and1 toke his hors and1 rood1 vnto the king> his lord1, and1 recounted1 to him alle that he had exployted1. Than the king Laomedon thus aduertised1 of the descente of the knightes of Grece & vnderstode that they were descended1 for to vytaille their shippes ymagined1 35 anon, that they were espyes. whiche Hercules had1 sent theder for tespye the royaume. wherfore he renuoyed1& sent again the knight vnto the Grekes / and1 comwaunded1 them straytly. that they dispose them with att dyligence for to departe out of his laude. and1 to go
74 Hercules threatens Vengeance on Troy.
ellis where to seke vytailles if they hadde nede. And1 if they departed1 not sodainly & disancred? & toke some other waye. he shold1 come with his puissaimce in Armes vpon them so mightily that neuer after they sholde haue wylle for tespye Royaume cite 5 casteft ne countree
THan whan lason and1 his felawship had1 herd thexpresse and1 rude comaimdement of the Troian king / they were sore dis- plesicT and" not withoute cause, for asmoche as they muste nedes departe. Than the noble lason for the better / ansuerd1 curtoysly
jo vnto the knight. And" shewed1 hym that they were not comen theder for to espye the Royaume ne the citees / castels ne countre of the king Laoinedon ne of none other, whan Hercules herde thanswere of lason whiche him semecT was to benygne considering- howe Laomedoii hadde comaunded them, he might not holde hys [If. 57] pees f but toke the wordes from lason and1 said1 to the knight in this manere. * knowe thou knight syn that Laomedoii as vyllayn of herte and1 banisshed1 from alle noblesse hath refused1 to lason of Mirmidone vytailles for his moneye. that ther shal descende in short time at the portes of this countre men in the name of lason
20 and that in so grete nombre that alt his Royame / his cites / townes and1 castels shaft be put in suche ruyne and perplexite that in fyfty yere after shal not be ftnmden a stone vpon a stone ner no corn shal be eerioT ne sowen.' ' Fair lordes ' thenne ansuerde the knight of Troye. ' I am sory that ye ar not better content with the king*
25 my lord1/ and1 that he hath not receyued1 yow other wise in his countre. And1 ye knowe wel. that where curtoisie is shewd1 hit bleueth not vnrecompensidl ne Rygour in like wise but if hit be remembrid1. And1 for as moche as I am a messager. I shal gladly make vnto king Laomedon reporte of that I haue fowiden of yow ' /
3° and1 with thise wordes the knight retournecT vnto Troye
THenne the preu lason demanded? Argos. and1 sayde to hym / that they muste disancre & departe fro thens but if they wolde abide the cruelte and1 furour of the kingn Laomedon & of alle his power. Thenne the good1 patrone Argos and1 his maronwers dis- 35 ancred1 the noble shippe / & went again to the see / where sone after the winde began to rise & tempest horrible & impetuose. But the Troian knight whiche was messager as sone as he was comen to for his lord1 & hadde made his reuerence. the king1 demanded1 him what was becomen of the gloutons of Grece that were come ancT hadde
I
Argo in Tempest and Peril. 75
descended1 on his lande for tespye his Royaume t and1 his citees. [If. 57 6] The knigtit ansuerde & saide. ' Sire I haue done to them your message. They ben a grete nombre of knightes. and1 resemble welt by their contenau-nce £ habyllemens that they ben departed from noble & goode hous. AncTknowe for certayn that whan I had don 5 your message / one of them that semed vertuo^s & discrete ansuerde me that they were not comen theder but only for vytaille / & for to passe forth on their waye / and1 that they were no robbeurs ne pirates of the see / but whan the yong knight whiche was fayr & curtois as a mayde had? finysshioT his purpose / An other of them / 10 whiche had1 a meruaillous & cruett chiere. & better