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{"content": "Here begins the volume entitled and named the Recuyell of the Historyes of Troy, composed and drawn out of diverse books of Latin into French by the very reverend and worthy man, Raoul le Fevre, priest and chaplain to the right noble, glorious and mighty prince in his time, Philip duke of Burgundy of Brabant [etc], in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord God, 1466. Translated and drawn out of French into English by William Caxton, mercer of the city of London, at the commandment of the right high and valiant Princess her lady, Margaret, by the grace of God, Duchess of Burgundy of Lotharingia of Brabant [etc], which said translation and work was begun in Bruges in the county of Flanders on the first day of March the year of the Incarnation of our said Lord God, 1468, and ended and finished in the holy city of Colchester the 19th day of September the year of our said Lord God, [1471]. Thousand four hundred sixty-one and eleven. And on this other side of this leaf follows the prologue. When I remember that every man is bound by the commandment and counsel of the wise man to avoid sloth and idleness, which is the mother and nourisher of vices and ought to put myself to virtuous occupation and be mindful of it, having no great charge of occupation following the said counsel, I took a French book and read therein many strange and marvelous histories where I had great pleasure and delight, as much for the novelty of the same as for the fair language of French. Which was in prose so well and compactly written and wrought, which I thought I understood the sense and substance of every matter. And for so much as this book was new and late made and drawn into French, and never had seen it in our English tongue, I thought in myself it would be a good employment to translate it into our English, to the end that it might be had in the realm of England. In other lands and to pass through the time, I decided to begin this work, and took pen and ink and began boldly in this present work, named The Recuyell of the Historyes of Troy. And afterward, when I remembered myself of my simplicity and imperfections in both languages - that is, in French and English - for I had never been in France, and was born and learned my English in Kent in the world, where I doubt not it was spoken as broad and rude English as any place in England. I had continued for the most part in the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and Zeeland. When all these things came before me after I had made and written a few quarters, I fell into despair of this work and purposed no more to continue in it. The quarters lay fallow for two years, and I labored no more on this work. I was fully resolved to leave it, until on a time it happened that the right high and virtuous princess, my right revered lady Margaret, by the grace of God, sister to the king of England and of France, duchess of Burgundy of Lorraine, of Brabant, of Limburg, and of Luxembourg, countess of Flanders and of Artois, palatine of Hainault, of Zeeland, and of Namur, lady of Frisia, of Saluzzo, and of Mechlin, sent for me to speak with her about various matters among which she wanted me to inform her of the beginning of this work, which she commanded me to show the said 5 or 6 quarters to her, and when she had seen them, she found a defect in my English which she commanded me to correct, and moreover commanded me strictly to continue and finish the remainder, lest not translated. whose dreadful command I dared in no way disobey because I am a servant to her grace and receive her annual fee and other many other things. goode and great benefits. And I hope many more will resonate with her highness, but forthwith I went and labored in the same translation, following my simple and poor conveys as closely as I can, also beseeching the bountiful kindness of my said lady that of her benevolence she might lift to accept and take in grace this simple and rude work following. And if there is anything wrong or said to her pleasure, you shall think my labor well employed, and where there is a defect, let it be attributed to the simplicity of my conveying which is very small in this matter. And thus I end my prologue...\n\nHere follows the prologue of that worthy man Raoul le F\u00e8vre, who was the author of this present book in the French tongue:\n\nWhen you behold and know the opening of the men nourished in any singular history of Troy and see and behold also that of them to make a recollection or gathering to I. The revered gentleman has received the commandment of the right noble and right virtuous prince, Philippe by the grace of the marker of all graces, Duke of Burgundy of Lothringy, of Brabant and Limburg, Earl of Flanders of Artois and Burgundy, Palatine of Hanover of Holland and of Namur, Marquis of the holy Empire, Lord of Friesland of Salins and of Mechlin. Indeed, I find it necessary to consider the histories which I will recount. The whole world speaks of them through books translated from Latin into fresh copies in great quantity, less than I will treat. And some reply with their particular books for this reason, which makes me fear to write more than their books make mention. But when I consider the dreadful commandment of the aforementioned redoubtable prince, who is the cause of this work not for correcting the recently translated books but only for obedience and for correcting the lesser evil that I may, I shall make three books. These I shall put in. I will clean the text as follows:\n\nOne. I shall take for name the Recuyell of the Troian historyes. In the first book, I shall treat of Saturn and Jupiter. And of the beginning and coming up of Troy. And of the feasts of Perseus. In the second book, I shall treat of the labors of Hercules, recounting twice how he destroyed Troy. In the third book, I shall treat of the last and general destruction of Troy by the Greeks. Because of the ravishing of Dame Hecuba, wife of Menelaus. And I shall put the feet and great prowesses of worthy Hector and his brethren. Worthy of great memory. And I shall treat of the marvelous adventures and parallels of the Sea that came to the Greeks in their returning. And of the death of the noble king Aeneas that was duke of the East. And of the great fortunes of King Ulysses and of his marvelous death. So I require and supply him who is the cause of this work. And all those who shall read it for a reproof of idleness. The histories mentioned before have not only concerned my poor consideration, but also the obscure and dark abyss where I have gathered them, by obedience and under all right humble corrections.\n\nWhen all the Children of Noah were spread by the climates, regions, and strange habitations of the world, by the general division of tongues made at the foundation of the tower of Babel in those days when the world was of gold, and men were steadfast and posing as mountains and rude as stones and beasts. Enhancing their great courage, they foully displayed and showed their great conceits. And the Enemy of man induced maliciously to practice towns, cities, and castles to make centers and diadems and to forge and create the cursed sect of gods among the possessors of the island of Crete. Among them, there was a rich man, enchanted with covetousness, fortunate in adventurous enterprise, and richly endowed with the grace of Fortune. Some men called this man Caelion, and some men Vranus. He was a lawful son. Of Ether, son of Demorgon, the old dweller of the Causes of Arcadia and first beginner of the false pagan gods, had to his wife his own sister, called Vesca. He lived gloriously with her and had possession of the most part of the isle of Crete, prospering in worldly goods and increasing his natural appetites, first in increase and amplification of worldly lordship, and secondly in lineage. He was marvelously rich. He had two sons: Titan and Saturn, and two daughters, one named Cibelle and the other Ceres, of whom mention will be made later. He had many other sons and daughters, of whom I make no mention, for they are not part of my purpose. What more shall I recount of the glory of this Vranus? He had all things as he desired and was fortunate, and nothing went against him. His goods multiplied, his children grew and increased, but Titan, the eldest son, was foul and favored evil, and Saturn was marvelously fair and amiable. In this time, Vesta, the mother of Jupiter, loved Saturn better than Typhan because naturally mothers love their fair children more than their foul ones. Therefore, Saturn was nurtured secretly in his mother's lap, while Typhan was put out and in a manner banished. When Saturn grew great due to his beauty, wisdom, and other virtues, he gained the whole love of all the people. In his youth, by his cunning, he was the first to give instruction in sowing and reaping the earth and in cultivating and replenishing the cornes. This invention was applied to Saturn with divine reverence. With love not only towards Vesta and Jupiter and his kindred but exceedingly towards all the people of Crete and the marches and countries lying nearby and above, and thus his. In these days, Saturn, who was renamed and renowned, drew men and children, nobles and commoners, from all places to his school to learn. In these days, Saturn was eighteen years old, and his brother was forty. Their father, Vranus, had died of a sickness, leaving his wife Vesca endowed with vast possessions. His death was a sorrowful and painful experience for Vesca and caused her to weep excessively, along with her sons and daughters. They performed his obsequies with great and bitter sorrow. After the weeping and sorrow had subsided, Vesca called her elder son Titan, along with Saturn and other relatives. She declared to them that Saturn should succeed and inherit her husband Titan's possessions. Hearing his mother's will, Titan was deeply moved and wept profusely, kneeling before her in humility. \"I, Moder, am most unfortunate when you wish to take my right patrimony from me, and that which naturally should be given to me is to be taken from me, and this is grievous to me, passing. You will not be able to do this lawfully, for I am your firstborn son whom you have nourished with the substance of your blood, the child born in your womb for nine months. I was the first to dwell and inhabit your feminine chambers; no one before me took possession of them when you took me. You gave me your due love and bequeathed to me the succession of your inheritances. But when does this come about that you now subvert and destroy what nature has once joined and given to me? Every mother is bound to preserve the right of her child. Alas, mother, you will make me a bastard in the eyes of the law. I am not a bastard; I am not the one you were so glad for when you first felt the first stirrings of desire for me.\" Conceived in my father's lawful bed, am I not he who sucked your breasts and often kissed me, that is, in my tender days, when my members were soft and tender? Mother, acquit me against you as you are obligated and know that I am Titan, and for as much as I am less and not as well addressed as my brother Saturn, therefore you ought to desire my promotion and furthering.\n\nWhen Lady Vesca heard her son Titan speak so sadly and profoundly, she felt pity for him, yet her pity was not of such high virtue that it could surmount the great love that was rooted between her and Saturn. And then she said to Titan her son: \"Titan, my son, do not forsake what you took between my sides. By me, you were brought into this world, and know truly that I love you entirely and desire your well-being. But it is so clear and evident in every man's sight that, due to your unattractiveness, loathliness, and abhorrence of your members, you are not a man sufficient for.\" To defend thy father's heritage with great labor and pain, for if any man would wage war against us, we would not be able to resist him. What would you have me do about your brother? He is beloved by all the people for his beauty and virtuous manners. Every man holds him in reverence, and in derision and scorn. Be content, you shall lack nothing. And if you lack, speak to me, and I shall remedy it, but speak nevermore to me about the heritage. For Saturn shall obtain it by the favor of his wisdom and kindness. Also because the common wisdom judges him and sees that he shall one day be the man whose life shall shine gloriously.\n\nTitan was greatly troubled by his mother's words and began to change colors, suspecting Saturn of contriving this matter against him. Therefore, he drew him apart and said, Saturn, thou that hast to reign above me, has now engendered in my heart a mortal enmity whose hate shall endure unto the end. mortal separation of your life and mine, and of my children. You know well that I am the eldest son of our father Jupiter. How are you so bold and presumptuous, threatening me above myself in your imagined schemes? You surely know that, as you have conspired against me in my temporal affairs, so shall I conspire against you for your eternal harm and hurt. I name you from henceforth my mortal enemy.\n\nWhen Saturn heard these burning and inflammatory words of his brother Titan, he excused himself and answered that he had never thought in his life to come to the succession of their father, nor had he ever imagined or conspired it. Then Venus and Ceres took the words from Saturn and said to Titan that his threatening against Saturn was in vain, for he should reign and be lord and master. Titan, full of malice and more angry than before, plainly said that he would not allow it. Saturn had a great part of the people who supported him, and Titan also had others on his side. began to mur\u2223mure that oon partie agaynst that other Alle the com\u00a6panye was sore troubled and began to threste in and enployed them to sece the noyse and to acorde tytan notwythstandyng yf hit was hard to doo for alwey he wold haue ronne vpon saturne yf he had not be hold and Allewey in the ende the wyse men shewed tytan by grete reson that he was the more feble and that saturne was more in the fauour of the peple and that he wold modere hym self a lytill and sayd that he shold agree and graunte the regne to saturne by condycion That yf he maryed. he shold be bounden to putte to deth alle hys Children males that shold be begoten of hys s yf he ony had ffor the wele of bothe partyes Vesca wyth her dough\u2223ters and the Auncyent wyse peple accorded to Tytan thys condycion And laboured so to Saturne that they brought them to the temple of theyr god Mars that was in the Cyte of Oson wherof was lord a myghty man callyd Mellyseus and that a fore the ymage of god mars Saturne swore \u00fet yf hym hap\u2223pid to marye And that he Had only children, males. He should keep them all and thus was Titan content, allowing his younger brother to enjoy the land of Crete and the peace was made between them both. After the treacherous peace of Titan and Saturn, Titan saw in himself that he could not worshipfully abide and dwell being under his younger brother. He preferred to go and seek his adventures in other places rather than be a thrall to his younger brother. He took his wife, his children, and friends and departed, presumably to diverse places where he found good and happy fortune. By arms and strength, he made himself king of many diverse realms. Which he bequeathed to his children. And he commissioned and ordered certain spies to spy and wait, to see if his brother Saturn married himself and if his wife bore men children and whether he put them to death. During these said things, Saturn dwelt with his mother and his sisters Cibelle and Ceres. And began to reign with such great magnificence that the people of the country, seeing their neighbors by them, did also... do make and ordain kings to reign over them. Of such as were noble and virtuous, they assembled on a day and made Saturn king upon them and upon their sons. And Saturn accepted and received this royal honor and worship, taking the scepter in his hand and wearing the crown on his head, ruling moderately and inspiring his people to live honestly and love virtue. He bore a naked sword before him as a sign of justice. He administered justice to malefactors and enriched those who were good. He built a city which he named Crete because the island bore the same name and was its first inhabitant and dweller. And when he had founded the city, he ordained his palace and dwelling place in the middle of it, as the heart is in the middle of the body to minister to the members, so he would signify and minister to his people. After this, he chose a hundred and four wise men whom he instituted and ordained as counselors and governors of his realm. Of Crete, seeing the great wisdom of their king, assembled various times and named him a god. They even built a temple for him, with an altar and an idol. In one hand, he held a sickle, symbolizing how he destroyed vices as a sickle cuts herbs and destroys weeds. In the other hand, he held a serpent, whose tail he held to represent Saturn's warning that every man should seize the serpent's tail, that is, fear and flee the evil end. For the end often is venomous, like the tail of a serpent, and appears daily in the evil dispositions and envious men.\n\nThrough these actions, the reputation of King Saturn grew, and at that time, the world was called the Golden Age. That is, it was much better and more abundant in the fruitfulness of the earth than in any other time in the days of man's life. The poets compared the world at that time to gold, the most precious of all metals. Men often claim that Saturn was the first to discover the method of melting metal and refining gold, creating his vessels and utensils from various metals. Under this guise, they depicted the world as being made of gold. The early men, following Saturn's teachings, began to mine rocks, conquer mountains, inhabit thorny deserts, battle orcish serpents, fierce dragons, deadly griffins, and monstrous beasts, and spread their worldly engines. Through these exercises, Saturn was considered the foremost and initiator of this style, teaching men to tame all these beasts. He first discovered the technique of shooting and drawing the bow, and from this gold, Saturn made his houses, chambers, and halls to shine through marvelous workings. He was strong and fearless, having no fear or doubt of any serpent in the mountains or any monster in deserts or beasts in caves. He knew the ways of In this golden age, people could distinguish gold from silver in the earth. He defined rich things as joyous to the eye and courageous to the heart, for at that time, people's courage was fiery and contagious, inspiring them to accomplish great and lasting things. During this golden era, creatures lived and endured greatly and for a long time. All of the world was engaged in the edification of science and the cultivation of virtue. Men were more virtuous in their bodily development than ever before. Among all others, Saturn was never idle after he had once labored the fields in plowing and reaping. He smelted and refined gold and metals, and induced and taught his men to draw the bow and shoot. He discovered the bow and the method of sailing by sea and rowing with light boats by the riverbanks. He took pleasure in instructing and teaching his people in all these things. and he had great abundance of worldly goods, reserving only what he dared not marry: and that he had sworn to put to death all the male children that should come of his seed, of whom he was often annoyed and had great displays.\n\nWhen Saturn saw his palaces shining with gold and saw his people obey him, saw his goldsmiths and workers break the mountains with their picks and instruments. saw his mariners cut the waves of the sea with their oars. saw his disciples learn and labor the earth. saw his archers shoot with their arrows and strike and take the birds dwelling in the high trees and flying in the air,\n\nHe might embrace great glory and enhance himself in high on his Throne and his felicity,\n\nbut on the other side, when he remembered\n\nthe treachery made between him and his brother Titan, he was like the peacock that is proud of its fair feathers, diversely colored, which he spread around as a wheel, and with all his joy he set aside,\n\nSaturn, in like manner, by this treachery was lost. He enjoyed all his joy, glory, and pleasure. He spent his life, now joyous now sorrowful, continually expanding and ruling his kingdom. He was just and true in deed and word. Nevertheless, nature compelled him and called him to have offspring and to join the company of a woman. This desire was always refreshed and renewed by the daily sight of a passing fair maiden. That is to say, his sister Cibelle, whom he saw continually. She possessed all the good qualities of woman, being right humble in speech, wise in her works, honest in conversation, and flowing in all virtues. And so it happened that one day, as he observed her affairs and works, he cast his eyes on her virtues, which pleased him greatly. In the end, he was desirous of her love, which brought great joy and pleasure to his mother, Vesca, who perceived his desire. Saturn gave him courage and willingness to marry him, and he labored and solicited the marriage so effectively that with great worship and triumph, Saturn married and wedded Ceres, his sister. He lived with her, paying the debt of marriage in this way: nine months after their marriage, Ceres gave birth to a son, whom Saturn put to death, admitting that he had made the same oath to his brother Titan. Boccaccio makes no mention of this son. But they reconciled, and Ceres conceived another son and a daughter from Saturn's seed. In this time, when the law of nature was in its vigor and strength, men married their sisters. And especially if they were not content and had sufficient wife, they might take more without reproach. When Saturn knew that his wife was pregnant for the second time, the death of his first son appeared before him and said in itself that it would. that his wife had been barren. Though he began to be filled with diverse fantasies and sorrowful thoughts, and desired to know what should become of the fruit of Cybele's womb. He went himself forth into the isle of Delphos, unto the Oracle of the god Apollo, who gave answers to the people concerning things that were to come and happen. Then, when he had performed his sacrifice and made his prayer, the priest of the temple put him into a trance under the said idol's altar. And there he heard a great whirling wind that troubled him and all his wits and understanding, and he fell to the ground. After that, when he arose, he thought that the god Apollo appeared to him with a dreadful face and said thus to him:\n\nSaturn, what moves thee to desire to know thy evil destiny? Thou hast engendered a son who shall take away from thee the diadem of Crete and shall drown thee out of thy realm. He shall be without peer above all people, the most fortunate man. That who was born in Greece, after these words, Saturn returned to himself and remembered the evil prophecy that touched the depths of his heart and so sore annoyed and deeply pensive he went out of the oracle with a troubled heart and all bereft of joy, all oppressed and surrounded by despair, came to his people and departed thence, and went to ship. And when he was in his ship, he hung down his head, which he held not up until he came to Crete. And when he had his head so inclined, he began to think and be pensive. And after many sorrowful sighs engendered in the root of melancholy, he said in this wise:\n\nAlas, Saturn, what avails me the dignity to be the first king of Crete? What profit me the divine reverences? Nor what good does my science do me when I feel myself in the putting-back of fortune? O fortune, soon turning frail and variable, & playing to every wind like a rose, at least arrest that wheel which tears without end, may speak to me, Saturn, the inventor and finder of the common weal. And if thou wilt not lend me thy clear and laughing countenance at least, leave me thy large eyes. Thou hast given me triumph and glory of Crown, and now thou suffers me to fall from this great wave, the gods witness it. And what is this, thou hast consented my prosperity and now conspirest my miserable state, my shameful end. And intendest that thou shalt be named the unhappy Saturn, if all my life has been nourished in happiness. & the end unhappy and wretched, thou shalt be called & said unhappy. And all around shall turn more to reproach and shame than to praise or any worship. O Fortune, in what thing have I offended thee? Have I fought against thee, or have I done anything ungrateful against the magnificence of the gods? Have I rebelled or offended the aires, the worlds, the heavens, the planets, the sun, the moon, the earth, the seas, what have I done or transgressed? Tell me, O my god, where art thou. Hast thou envied me because I have been in the thoracle of the aforesaid god Apollo? He has shown me ruin. of my scepter the troubling of my diadem, the breaking of my realm's clarities. The enhancing of my child and the putting me out of my kingdom \u2013 all that shall proceed from his insurrection. Alas, what remedy for this great sorrow that I have. I have slain one of my sons, and have great and bitter sorrow, and have concluded in myself that never again will I so cruelly take the life of my children to die with them. After this conclusion, I must, by force and against my will, return and continue in my first unnatural cruelty. For if my son who is in the womb of my wife is suffered to live, he shall exile me and put me out of my kingdom and down from my throne, which shall be hard and painful for me to bear and suffer patiently. And therefore, it is better that I\nslay him. Alas, and if I slay him, it seems to me that I should resist the will of the gods, who will surely raise him again, and that would be worse for me, not only being called a homicide and man-slayer but also a traitor. A natural murderer. Not of a giant nor of a strange man from another land, but of a right little Child issued from my own bones and flesh. That after the prophecy of the goddess is elected and chosen to be the greatest lord of Greece and sovereign of all the kings in his time.\n\nSaturn, feeling himself in great sorrow and troubled, and growing paler every day, as is said, began to change his complexion and could not assuage his misfortune. His most trusted men and those closest to him were uncomfortable in his desolation, feeling sorrowful with his sorrow. Angry with his anger, he was soon greatly perturbed and impressed with such a bitter impression of sorrow that his face was like ashes or as if he had been dead all along. After many thoughts, he opened his mouth and spoke softly. \"I kill myself with melancholy, and I am a man greatly abused. I have made an oath to my brother Titan that you shall put all my...\" A male child who comes from my flesh shall not be spared, the goddesses will not allow it. I have learned this by my god Apollo. My wife has conceived a son who will cast me out of my kingdom. You should kill him, for I had concluded in my mind to break my oath and spare the lives of my children. If it happens that my son is born alive, you shall no longer spare them. He shall be put to death. It is better that he dies as a child than grows up to rebel against me and surpass me in power through his malice, insurrection, or other means.\n\nIn this will, this sorrowful Saturn returned to his house, continuing in this state of sorrow and melancholic fantasies. Cybele dared not enter his presence, nor could she obtain a joyful sight from him. Therefore, he was given the surname of sorrow and was named Saturn the Sorrowful. It was so that when he: had been in his house for certain space. And saw the day approaching that his wife should be delivered of child, for to execute his sorrowful courage, he called his wife and said, \"Dame, it is so apparent that shortly thou shalt be delivered of the fruit of thy womb. If thou art delivered of a son, I command thee on pain of death, that thou slew him and that thou send me his heart.\"\n\nWhen Cibell heard these words and this rigorous and unnatural will, she fell to the ground in a swoon. For her legs failed her. In recovering from the swoon, she knelt before the feet of Saturn and said, \"Sir, hasten, thou shalt have no shame that art husband to a woman murdering her own child. I entreat mercy and grace. Consider that I am thy wife and have the heart of a woman, not of a tyrant or a murderer.\"\n\nSaturn answered, \"Require no more of this matter from thee. It is judged by a foreseen and counterpoised sentence, that if thou hast a son, he shall die.\" promysed and sworn to my brother Titan, and above this you have an answer from the god Apollo that in your womb is a son who will cast me out of this kingdom. Therefore, said. As surely as you love your life and as you have said, send me his heart mixed with wine that I may drink it. And how, Sir Answered Ceres, you do not know that I am a woman, and by proper and singular inclination I have a true love for small children and must give them food and suck. O do you think that you have a heart so diverse as to make my hands wet with my son's blood? I pray and require you to retract your sentence and be merciful to your wife and offspring. You are wise according to the judgment of your people in this matter, you show yourself not good for, besides, you are not bound nor held to slay your son. It is a vile and contrary cause, and against honor, reason, pity, equity, and justice, it is a sin against nature. against. Thou and against all good manners, it is not right for thee to slay thy son. And thou, who art king, oughtest to annul it. And thou, on pain of death, shouldst defend thy people from making murder or homicide. By this, thou, who art a mirror and example to others, oughtest to be content and appease thyself. And it seems to me on the other side that thou interpretest and construest evil the sentence of God Apollo, saying that thou hast in my womb a son who shall put thee out of thy kingdom. This should be understood to mean that the son that thou bearest shall outlive thee and put thee out of thy kingdom. That is, in thy sepulcher, the day that thou shalt depart from this world. If this does not appease thee, if it happens that thou hast a son, thou mustest have him kept in a strong tower. And there thou shalt set such a ward upon him that he shall never be able to enhance himself against it.\n\nSaturn had great compassion in his heart. He was moved by it, and Vesta, the mother of Cybele and Ceres, wept and gave out. Cibell and her assistants wept excessively when Teres died, as did all those present. Yet their tears could not soften the harsh command of King Saturne. In conclusion, Cibell was told that she should no longer procure the resurrection of her son's life. He would be dead, and she would be as well if she disobeyed his command. With this sorrowful conclusion, Cibell departed, half dead, casting her arms and hands about in great tears that flowed like a river from her tender eyes. She entered a tower. Her desolate mother followed her, being in her chamber, distraught and overwhelmed by sorrow, began to labor immediately and was delivered of a daughter and a son. The daughter was born before the son and was sent by Ceres to be nursed in the city of Persephone and was named Juno. The son laughed as he came out of his mother's womb and was named Jupiter.\n\nWhen Cibell and Vesca saw the newborns, they... child's tears began to double. And they had not taken great regard and heed to the child. When Cibell, all angry and corrupt with despair, with a sigh and feeble spirit, said to her mother: \"Have mercy, my mother, what pitiful cause shall this be now? Give me a sharp cutting knife, and you shall murder my son by natural error against my will. And after this villain's deed for my absolution of the great sin, you shall murder myself also. And this is my opinion, for after such a cruel deed and working no excuse, I will never longer live.\n\nThe mother of Cibell was then all wept and dismayed when she heard the tender voice of her daughter resound in her ears with such hard cruelty. She, being all afraid, said to her: \"My daughter, what do you intend to do? Are you enraged out of your wits or foolish?\n\nMy daughter answered Cibelle, \"You are right, as you say. I am indeed enraged out of my wits and foolish. And yet more, I am furious and mad. Do not make me languish any longer. Give me the cursed knife.\" A mortal knife was made in an evil hour, as I had to obey the king. Saturn, my right revered son and fearsome husband, who has command over me, intends to shamefully put me to death if I do not comply and fulfill his command in the death of his son, whom he has charged me to kill.\n\nVesca, considering that her daughter spoke in error, took the child in her arms and forcibly took it from her. The child always laughed when Cibelle signed her son in her arms, and as a woman, out of her wits, she began to cry that she should kill the Child or give it back to her. Or else, she would rise from her bed and go to King Saturn.\n\nAfter these words, Vesca gave the child to a maidservant in the house who was present with them. She commanded the maidservant to kill the child in Saturn's presence or in some other place out of their sight. The poor maidservant excused herself, and Vesca gave her the command and charged her with it. Greete Messes ordered that she should go forth and take the child and the knife and slay him. Thus, by the commandment of these two ladies, she took the knife numerous times and placed it to the throat of the child to cut him asunder. And whenever the damsel saw that it was innocent, she could not find in her heart to do him harm. In this sorrow and in this pain and variation, Vesca, Cibell, and the damsel were a long time. They dragged him towards death and put the knife to his throat. And suddenly, the damsel recoiled and swore that she would never persecute such a fair child. Thus, all three began to weep and sob, greatly bewailing the child by such great affection. After this, when they had long wept and sobbed and bewailed the tender weeping and pain of Cibell, they began a little to compose themselves and returned to maternal pity. Cibell called her who held the child and entreated her earnestly that she would give her, her son. \"kiss and hold in her arms. promising that she would do him no harm The damsel, who did not know what was about to happen, delivered her tender child. And then, when Cybelle beheld her child with her face all wept and disheveled with tears, she kissed his laughing mouth more than once and came back to her senses, recognizing her sin and began to say, My child, had I taken your life from you, I would have been most unfortunate. My right sweet son, Alas, shall I persecute you after the will of your father Saturn? It is his commandment. And you owe him obedience if you obey the culprit and sin is due to him. If you disobey, you make yourself culpable of death. What is this, shall you die by my hands? By the hands of your own mother, she shall be your torturer. Will your mother be your enemy, bitter and mortal adversary, for fear of death? I do not know what to say, but I will either love or love not, you are my son. Every mother loves her child. It is much better that I die than\" You have lived long, and now you are born anew. You shall not die at this time. I shall save your life or you shall die for your health. Requiring the goddess's merciful will against me.\n\nThe sorrowful lady recovered and took her to her heart, kissing her child who always laughed. Vesca beheld her countenance, all renewed. She sat down on the bed beside her daughter. There they began to speak to each other about Saturn and the fortune of this child, who had been in great danger. They promised one to the other that they would save the child for her. After this promise, they concluded to send this child secretly to the two daughters of King Melisseus. Vesca had hidden one of these two daughters, Almachee, in her youth. This plan was fully carried out. Vesca marveled at and delivered the child to a damsel. There presented with all things and gave her charge secretly to Almachie and Mellisee. The good damsel accepted the charge and departed from Crete with the child at all adventure. She safely guided her to the city of Oson, which she delivered to Almachie and Mellisee. Rehearsing how Vesca had sent him to them for the great love and trust she had in them, and how Saturn had commanded that his mother should smother it.\n\nAnon as these two damsels saw the child and understood how Saturn had jugged it to death, they received it with pity and in favor of Vesca. They promised to nurse it in the secretest and best way they could. And forthwith the same hour they bore the child to a monastery that was near the city where their nurse dwelt in a deep hole of a cave richly furnished with Chysell and other diverse instruments. Then they sent again the damsel that brought the child in. In this manner, Almache and Mellisee nursed the child, whose life was more propitious and helpful to him than nature. When he was put in the cave as his nurses saw him weep and cry because he should not be heard, they took note of it. And with this note, they entered the cave and took hold of the child, comforting him without causing any grief or harm. They also made honey from the child's milk and nursed him from then on, which was a marvelous thing. When the damsel who had given birth to this child returned, she recalled to Dame Cybell and Vesca all her belongings and gave them great comfort regarding the child. Then, by mutual agreement, the two ladies took the precious stone and ground it into powder. After that, they mixed it with wine in a potion. A cup of gold. Dame Vesca bore it to her son Saturne, who sat there, weeping bitterly. She said to him, \"My son, know truly that your wife has sent this drink to you. She has rendered and yielded the fruit of her womb, a son and a daughter. She has sent the daughter to be nursed in the city of Parthymy. But, in obedience to your strict commandment, we have detained the son and put him to death. His body, the flesh and the little tender bones, are now turned into ashes. And she has sent here to you, the right noble heart tempered in wine, which I present to you, so that you may take pleasure and no longer be in doubt about being put out of your kingdom by your son.\"\n\nAs Saturne heard the pitiful words of his mother, understanding the new tidings she spoke, he began to frown and sigh. \"Oh, pity without pity! Should not my heart be terribly angry? And yet, when it is forced to my heart, this heart issued from his blood and...\" Roots were given in food and pasture to quell the intolerable hunger of my unhonest desire. These words accomplished Saturn, who was greatly displeased and full of renewed sorrow. He drank the drink, believing it had been as his mother had given it to him to understand. And after, he went into his chamber. There, he began to be greatly in melancholy. Afterward, he purposed and vowed to abstain from himself to pay his wife the due debt of marriage. But as there is no sorrow that ever passes. By the passage of time, he forgot this sorrow. And lying with his wife, he engendered another son. Which she said was like Jupiter. How well Saturn had charged her to put him to death. And this child was born to Apollo. Yet afterward, he lay with his wife and engendered another son and a daughter. Which at a convenient time were born and departed from their mother. But at this time she told not of her son but hid him from Saturn. This son was named Pluto. She did this to protect him. In this time, in Thessaly, which later was named Hell, Saturn kept the parties of a woman named Hecate. When she was about to give birth to these two children, she sent her daughter Glania to him. She died in her tender years. And thus, of all these generations, Saturn supposed that none had been reserved but Iuno, his daughter, to whom he often went to visit in Parthenia. There, he had her nourished with many noble virgin girls of her age. He also had many ancient gentlewomen there to encourage and teach them gentleness and virtue. I will tarry a while now and also speak of Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto. I will now show how Dardanus put his brother Iasius to death for covetousness to reign in the city of Corinth. And how he departed from Corinth and how he set the first stone in the city of Dardanus, which later was named Troy.\n\nDuring this period, when Crete began to emerge as a kingdom and was in the possession of its first king, who ruled in the city of Corinth, which stands in Naples, Corynthus, the first king, had as his wife one of King Athlas of Libya's daughters named Electra. They ruled together and prospered in their lives. They left behind two sons, one named Dardanus and the other Iasius. Some claim that Dardanus was a son of Jupiter, but Boccaccio believed he was a lawful son of Corynthus, as stated in the sixth book of the Genealogy of the Gods, Dardanus. After the death of their father Corynthus and their mother Electra, Iasius and Dardanus were to succeed to the throne. However, they could not agree. Dardanus, who was headstrong and haughty, and Iasius, who was similar in temperament, frequently argued and conspired against each other. They plotted and made secret plans in such a way that on one day Dardanus gathered all the people he could to assemble and destroy his brother Iasius and his friends, who were assembled in a secret place to discuss peace and find a way to appease each other. Please Dardanus,\nWhen Iasius saw his brother come all in arms, all his blood began to change. Seeing that his brother was enraged and full of evil intent, intending that this matter should turn to great mischief, he cried out and said, \"Alas, what avail is it for me to speak and counsel for peace between my brother and me? We have been betrayed. Behold, here is my brother who comes upon us all in arms. Let each man save himself who can.\"\n\nWith these words, Dardanus entered the consitory and struck his brother down to the death, saying, \"Iasius, you may not abstain from your machinations. You have raised yourself against me. But now you shall make an end of it. Iasius, lie down dead among the feet of your friends.\" And there, his clothes were all soaked and stained with his blood.\n\nWhen the friends of Iasius saw this tyranny, they saved themselves as well as they could to their power and fled from thence all in alarm. Then Dardanus returned to the real palaces, and the friends of Iasius gathered them and went to arms and made a noise and... The great mourning caused by the death of Iasius troubled the entire city of Corinth. Iasius, who was greatly favored by all the people of Corinth, was deeply lamented. When they heard of his death, the people took great sorrow and threatened Dardanus with death. Immediately, they assembled in the streets and cried out, \"Alas, the love of Corinthianus is dead, the one who had more affection and love for the common good than Dardanus. Let us go and avenge his death. Go and punish the wrongdoer. We shall no longer delay, we will do a meritorious deed. Whoever practices injustice and tyranny is not worthy to be chief and head of clemency or justice. If we allow a murderer to reign over us, good will never come of it. Where the head is sick, the members cannot be healthy or good. Dardanus has wrongfully killed his brother Iasius. It is true, as the heavens will witness. Take away his power from him. And let us show that we are destroyers of vices and enemies.\" To all who seek and foster tyranny in her courtes,\nSuch were the clamors of the Corynthians, by such noise and similar clamors they stirred themselves and in the end assembled in one place. And they were full of ardent appetite to correct the malefactor Dardanus and his accomplices. In this tempest and swelling fury they went to the palace where Dardanus had taken refuge, but they found the gates shut and could not enter.\nWherefore they besieged the place, making great noise and such a great tempest that Dardanus was abashed. And anon he assembled his friends and asked them for counsel. They answered and said that he and they were in great danger and peril, and that the people could not easily be appeased. And for this they advised him:\nThou hast slain thy brother. Iasius, whom the people loved cruelly for his benevolence. The trespass is great. Since it has been done, the best way to be taken is for you to: Leave this palace. Find a way out and we shall follow you and go with you, searching for our adventures in other lands, for it will be great pain by possibility ever to content and appease this people. It seems that the Corynthians are terrible to all those who hate and despise them.\n\nDardanus, hearing these words, sighed and considered that he must depart from his city due to his own misdeeds and guilt. He struck himself on the breast and said, \"Alas, fortune, unrelenting what is befalling me? My hands are foul and defiled with the blood of my dear brother. The insurrection and rebellion of my people hanging before my eyes, it is necessary that you flee to save my life. I purpose to live by raiding and theft. What harm, what evil may this bring? Since it is so, you yield me flight and shall go my way at large.\"\n\nWhen the friends of Dardanus understood that he was determined to save his life, they joined him and appointed a time to gather. next morning, they would depart from the palaces and take adventure to pass by their enemies, saying that if they could escape, they should go to the river of the sea and take the king's barge. They all swore to help and accompany each other unto death. The night passed, and Dardanus, who had not rested that night but had watched with his armed men and were ready to take adventure, issued out of the palaces and found most of his enemies asleep. He thrust his way through the villains and passed forth with little resistance. However, the waking of the Corinthians found him, and he came to his royal ship and took to the sea, saving himself. The Corinthians had great sorrow.\n\nWhen Dardanus saw that he had escaped the fury of the Corinthians, he went saying by the sea and first descended at the port of the city of Samos, being in Trachis. There he stayed and went to see again. He arrived thereafter. Asy founded a quarter of land joining to the sea of Helicon and finding this land right good and fruitful for habitation, he made it his residence. There, he began and later accomplished the building of a great city, which was then named Dardanus after his own name. But afterward, it was called Troy. Dardanus peopled and filled his city with men and women, whom he won over with sweetness and fair promises, and from the other side, he conquered by force and plunder. He made himself king of Dardanus and fortified the city with great ditches. After a long time, he passed out of this world and died. And he left a son of his wife, Canidame, who was the second king of Dardanus. This king was named Ereuthion and reigned for seventy-four years, increasing and expanding his city and people. And at last, he consumed the end of his years. And he was succeeded by Troas, his son. Troas was the third king of Dardanus and was a strong man, fierce and hardy in arms. He greatly increased his power. Seygney and his crown were enhanced more than all the kingdoms of Greece, as the Dardanians declared that there was no king but Troas. They named themselves Trojans, and Troy was exalted so highly that King Tantalus of Phrygia was filled with envy. He gave his heart and courage to annul and bring down the name of Tros, his neighbor, and began to take action as will be told later.\n\nThe wise and subtle virgin Minerva, as Saint Augustine relates, revealed herself in this time by the river or stagnant water called Triton, due to her greatness and subtlety. For she discovered the way to forge and make arms. And to this end, Ovid recounts that she fought against a giant named Polyphemus and killed him by the flood of Triton. At the same time, the sciences of Minerva were practiced by all the world, leading to a fierce descent between the Epiroans and the Pelagians, who were later called Achaeans. Boccaccio makes mention of this in the fourth book of the Genealogy. Among the Pelagians, during that time, reigned a king named Lichaon, eldest son of Tytan the Epirian. He undertook an enterprise against the Pelagians, causing a great uproar and disorder. As a result, each side assaulted the other with arms, leading to numerous cruel and savage battles. The wise men of Epirus saw this war as disgraceful. Both parties acknowledged their fault and went to King Lichaon bearing branches of olive in sign of peace and love. He demanded that they would agree to a peace treaty for both peoples. Lichaon, considering that his people had suffered as much loss as gain from this discord, and that battles were perilous, granted the peace treaty to the Pelagians. The condition was that they would deliver one of their most noble men whom he would request to serve him for a period of time as a token that they had unjustly instigated this discord. The Epirians consented to this condition and delivered to King Lychnus the most noble man among them, thus ending the war. The term and the time passed as the Epirians served King Lychnus for his due time. When the time was expired, the Epirians, appearing to gather, and by the deliberation of council, sent an embassy to Lychnus for the treatment of the delivery of their men. These embassadors departed from Epirus and came to Pella. They showed the king how their man had served as long as he was bound and requested that he would return and deliver him and ratify the peace. To ensure that they might be the more friends to each other in the future. When Lychnus, who was hard of courage, fierce and evil to all men and also to his own people, understood the words and requests of the Epirians, he felt great sorrow and anger within himself and said to them with his mouth thinking contrary with his heart, \"Tomorrow I will feast you and have you to dinner, and then I will do as you have asked.\" The Epriens departed joyfully from King Lichaon's presence with these words. The next morning they came to the festival richly prepared and adorned for them, which was beautiful at the beginning but eventually became foul and abominable. When it came time to perform the festival, King Lichaon rose from the table and went to the kitchen, where he took the body of the Eprien's servant whom he had murdered that night. He brought it in a large platter to the festival and presented it to the Epriens, saying, \"Behold, here is your servant who caused the escape and ruin of Epirus. Yesterday I said that you should deliver him to me today; take him who will discharge me of him and put your hands upon him, and I will have no more to do with him.\"\n\nAll those present, both his servants and strangers, Epriens and Pelagians, had great horror when they heard and understood King Lichaon's words. \"Great shame and disgrace beheld the men as they witnessed this dishonorable and abominable work and outrageous sin. Their faces grew pale, and they placed their hands before their eyes, as those who abhorred the sight of the martyred Epriens. No man knew what to say about the king Lycaon's infamy. When the king saw their distress and every man began to frown and grumble, he left them and went to his chamber. Every man rose from the table, abhorring and eschewing the scent and taste of the dead man. They all wished to depart and go their way in confusion. However, Iupiter, the son of Saturn, whom the Epriens had brought with them in their legation and embassy, remained among them. He was a fair, able, and gentle child. When he saw every man turning away, he placed himself in the midst of the Epriens and began his glorious enterprises, saying to them, 'What is this? Where is the blood of the Epriens? Are they not here?'\" \"When banished from Hardines, may those be exiled from valor and honor. Which Epiryens, by force, expose themselves to the vengeance of such foul and horrible deeds? This is not a time to be born, and the terror of the tyrant Lycaon is not to be doubted when it goes unpunished. Evil pays with him; he must be punished. As for me, I will not restrain myself from opposing his tyranny...\n\nWhat time the Epiryens had conceived the great courage of Jupiter, so young in age, they thanked their gods for having brought him with them. And they all spoke to him with one voice. \"Blessed be the womb that bore thee. And blessed be the gods who, foreseeing this injury and wrong done to us, have inspired us to bring thee with us. Thy words have awakened and stirred our spirits, which were dead and asleep, and passed by the infamy of the country.\"\" \"You have made us tough, Lord of Lichfield. Your hardiness has made us hardy. Your valiance has made us vainglorious and lovers of valiance, and your wisdom has enlightened us in this cause. You shall be our conduit and leader in this work, and we shall obey. I, Jupiter, answer and say, noble lords and sirs, I am not wise enough to receive the honor you do me, nor will my tender years accept it. I will humbly submit myself under all correction and say whatever seems fitting to you. If you find no better man, I will be your counsel and advise you. Take this poor Eprius in the same state that he is delivered to you, and bring him to the common place of this city. For it is today sabbat and holiday. The Pelagians are there in great numbers and multitude, passing their time with various plays and entertainments. Show this poor dead man to them, for it is said that the king is not well beloved by his own.\" The people condemn him for his unmanly deeds. This misdeed and treason are passing foul and shameful. Anyone who knows what he has done through this foul deed will clearly see their pleasure or displeasure, if pleasure. If it is displeasure, you can openly confront and provoke them to purge this crime that is so cursed. And you believe that they will readily listen to us and for no friendship between him and them, he will not dominate nor reign over them through tyranny. For he is not their natural lord but he is the son of Tytan, brother of Saturn, and is not king by election but by force.\n\nAll who heard Iupiter speak were greatly amazed by him. They agreed to his counsel in such a way that no man opposed it or spoke against it. And so suddenly they took the murdered Epriens and bore him to the common place. There they showed him openly in every way. When the pagans saw this deceased man, whose skin was scorched and flesh roasted, whose sinews had shriveled, and whose bones were apparent by the joints, they assembled around him in great numbers. With wide-eyed horror and abhorrence, they had such great fear and shame that their hearts trembled, each to the other. Many turned away for compassion, wept and trembled with anger. Others took dust and ashes and cast them into the air as a sign of sorrow, cutting their clothes and lifting their hands high, crying out, \"Oh almighty God, what people are these Heretics? Have they roasted a man's body and brought it before us? Are we to eat human flesh or do they bring it to us to show the cruelty of their courage? Or do they come to eat this dead man among us for fear?\"\n\nUpiter, waiting and watching, pondered the manner of the pagans and their expressions. Believing they had descended into contempt and disdain. enemy of him who wrought this pitiful work. When he had heard their reasons and seen their wonderings, he addressed himself among them and said thus: O ye men of Pelage, you esteem yourselves exempt from this unmanly and unnatural work? Have you not yet learned and come to know the tyrannies of your king Lichas? He has murdered this man, and this man is the epirian who was delivered to him at the treachery of the peace of you and us, to serve him. Behold, this is the reward and guerdon he has given him. He has tyrannized evil and has done evil for good. O what great Infamy is to you! That the people and folk of every other city have revered kings of noble men and virtuous, and they are crowned by elections for their virtuous deeds, you are different from them and of another nature. A Tyrant is your king, a murderer, an unjust man, a sinner worthy of infamous death, and unworthy to be left alive upon the earth. Consider, consider, under whose hand you are and how near you find yourself. When you find yourself in illness and paralyzed by death. When your head asks that all other members suffer intolerable pain. Then you may not be whole and sound. What shall we do now? Think and counsel among us. Come to you for refuge and demand of you how we ought to act against one who is such a foul king as is depicted. Tell us the truth if you confess it and are lovers of reason, justice, and equity. You shall judge and condemn him. You shall lay your hands and powers in correction of him and be freed from his malice.\n\nThe Pelagians, understanding that Jupiter their king had committed this vile crime and had presented to the Etruscan people the body of their friend who was dead, they condemned his sin and murmured against him, saying that they would no longer be governed and nourished under the rod of such a perverse and infamous tyrant. And they said to the Etruscans that they would abide by them and put themselves in their protection. With these words Iupiter joined the Epirians and, through his boldness, encouraged them to conspire against their king. With this conspiracy, all the citizens agreed, and their words and behavior towards Iupiter were so appealing that they placed the death and destruction of their king, Lycaon, in his hands. To ensure his trust and support, they summoned their arms and armor and equipped them. After they had gathered around Iupiter, they declared him their captain and commander to lead this endeavor.\n\nIupiter, elated by such great honor and respect, excused himself but his excuses were unwelcome. The Epirians and Pelagians appointed and instituted him as their leader. He then arranged his people in order and set them in motion towards the palaces. They had not gone far when they saw King Lycaon emerge from his palaces with a large retinue of friends, all armed as they had been warned. sayd conspiracy was made against Lycaon. Feeling that his enemies came to test him, he came against them presumptuously, intending to overcome them. And as they began to approach, they cried out to each other to death without other counsel. They assembled quickly for battle, which was remarkably sharp. Lycaon arranged and led his people against Jupiter. They mingled together hastily with little strife of words and great strife of horrors and strokes. The fight cost much, but in particular to Lycaon. For his people were less in courage and might than the men of Jupiter, who were strong of great enterprise and fought and smote upon the Pelagians and cast them down here and there so fiercely and so immeasurably that none could abide before them. Among all others, Jupiter did wonders and marvels by his good deeds. He put Lycaon in a passing great error and distress. And in this. In this manner, when Lychaon saw his companions and fellows in such extremity, he fled himself, not as a king but as a wretched man, devoid of comfort and hope so desolate that he dared not take any of his companions with him to help or comfort him. He doubted Jupiter as death itself. Fleeing as he was, he dared not enter Jupiter's palace but issued out of the city and went to a great forest nearby. From then on, he became a brigand and a thief. And for this reason, the poets call him that. Leoncius relates that Lycaon, who is said to have transformed into a wolf for the purpose of this metamorphosis, was supposedly pursued by Jupiter and put to death. He threw himself into a river or large lake and saved himself. Feeling that the water of that river had a singular property, that is, that those who put themselves in the water would be transformed into wolves for a term of nine years, and if they put themselves in the water again after that, they would recover their original form. So it could be done. For Lycaon threw himself into the water and was transformed into a wolf by the space of the aforementioned time. He lived as a thief and robber in the woods and forests, often waiting to see how the Pelagians governed themselves. In the end, when he had completed his penance, he returned to the river and took on his human form again, knowing that the city of Pelagia could never be. After Recored's defeat, he returned poor and miserable to his father Titan. I shall tell you how Jupiter grew amorous of Callisto, daughter of the aforementioned Lycaon.\n\nAfter Lycaon's downfall, who was transformed into a wolf and began ravaging the substance of men in the countryside. He devoured some of his children and murdered wild beasts, often assaulting them out of hunger, which compelled him to hide and keep his wretched life. When the Etruscans saw that Jupiter had vanquished their enemies and ruled supreme in the land, they brought him with great joy and glory to the palace. They searched long for Lycaon, first in the battlefield and then in the palace chambers, but they found him neither quicker dead nor could they hear any news of him.\n\nMeanwhile, as Jupiter continued his search for Lycaon, he found in the highest tower the daughter of King Lycaon named Calisto. whiche was passing fair and fresh of color, the damsel wept right sorrowfully for the loss of her father, whom she had only recently understood. When Jupiter saw her so desolate and distressed, he set himself down by her and said, \"damsel, comfort yourself and speak to me.\nAnd see your weeping. Alas, sir, said the damsel, how should I comfort myself? The Epirotes have slain the king, my father. Should I take consolation in this ruin? Should I not be angry? Should my heart be without sorrow? My stomach without sighs, and my eyes without tears? A.C. thousand misfortunes traverse my body and corrupt me. And you, see me, a gentle damsel, daughter of a king, who desires more death than life and am more in despair than in hope.\"\n\nWhen Jupiter knew by the words of this damsel that she was the daughter of King Lycaon, he had greater pity for her than before, for as much as she was the daughter of a king, and said to her, \"damsel, appease your heart. I well know that it is difficult.\" \"You are bound to mourn your father's inordinate works. He was less reasonable than a king should be. He is not dead; he has hidden himself to save himself. His sins were infamous. Who will reprove and sorrow for him? The gods and fortune have allowed the humiliation and casting down of his pride and tyrannies. It is a right thing that you take and have patience in his righteous adversity. For his demerits give you cause to be patient where nature inclines you to be unwilling. And you ought not to be impacient for his repentance and casting down. For just as it is that the loss of a tyrant brings joy to all a country, so damage yourselves neither with his outrageous sins nor his shameful deeds. Nor will anyone blame or harm you, nor touch you in any way. I assure you certainly {etc}::..\n\nSir answered the maid, \"Thank you for your words.\"\" courtoysies and of the fayr wordes / wyche ye profere and saye vnto me I wote well that my pouerte hath maad me indygne and vnwor\u2223thy / but whan I see that the Infortune of my fader is irrecouerable & that his Infelicyte hath no recourance / I renonce the world and pray yow that hit plese yow to trete for me vnto the epiriens that I myght goo yelde my self in to the relygion of dame Deane the noble vir\u2223gyne / doughter of the wise Iupiter somtyme kynge of Actyque and born in this londe / where vpon ought to be remembrid. that right auncyently yssued out of pel\u00a6lage a wyse noble man. named Iupiter / of whom bo\u2223chace maketh mencion in the first book of the genelagie of goddes / whiche Iupiter was kynge of actyque / for as moche as he Introduced the peple to honest lawes and dide first do ordeyne and halowe maryage. ffor to fore that tyme the acticyens maried hem not / but vsed women in comyn. And of this Iupiter cam a doughter named Diane. the whiche willyng tabide in thestate of virginyte maad a Cloistre in the In the wood of Archadia, this noble virgin lived, where she gathered many virgins who passed their time with hunting and chasing wild beasts. For the purpose of tearing herself away from this, the noble virgin Deianira lived during the subjugation of the kingdom of Lycos. When Jupiter learned that Calisto would yield her body to a virgin, he beheld her and said to her, \"Damsel, why are you so displeased by a little tribulation that does not touch your person? You are young and fair, among none of you who enter into religion may bear fruit of children. Advise you well, it would be better if you remained among the worldly people who enrich the world. Many women and also men enter into religion in their youth and repent in their old age. Sir, said Calisto, tempt me no more, if there is any gentleness in you, receive the prayer and request of this desolate and unfortunate gentlewoman, more desirous of the health of my soul than of temporal pleasures. During these devotions, Jupiter beheld Calisto without ceasing and could not enough. \"Comply with her beauty. For as much as she willingly entered into religion with great pain when he had heard her answers and had seen how sweetly she had accepted it and would not be turned from her will, he said that her entry should be allowed. Then he called the priests and requested that they would be content to allow this virgin to enter religion. What will you say, the priests put the request in Jupiter's will. And Jupiter did so much that she was conducted and led into the religion of virgins. After he searched all the palaces of King Lycaon. And made the priests seize his riches. And there Jupiter stayed for a certain time with such great worship that the Pelagians and the Epirians would have crowned him as their king, but they never consented to it, as he considered over his young age and the variations of fortune. And said that it was more becoming to a man, and more secure for him to be made king in his old age than in his youth, due to the various parallels that may occur. He always agreed that he would be\" Captain of the realm and a man of great justice, sweet and debonair to all manner of people. This was the first coming up of this noble child. When he had submitted to his playthings the Pelagians, he avenged the death of Lycaon, as it is said before. He performed the obsequies solemnly, and after he did, he burned in ash the Pelagians who had been slain in the aid of Lycaon. And afterwards, he sent word and did all these things to be known and shown to the Epirians who were left at home in Epirus, as to King Melliseus. Whereof all the Epirians, and King Melliseus, gave thanks to their gods. But nevertheless, he gave not his heart and courage so much to accomplish these things. But instead, he gave himself to remember and to think on the beauty that he had seen in the religious Calisto, whose sparkles of love enveloped his heart so strongly that day and night he wished her in his arms. He repented his consent for her to enter the convent and worked tirelessly, losing sleep due to her courage. His desire for the virgin grew, and he spent his days hunting in the woods with Dame Dean. Fortune favored him, and he encountered the maiden Calisto. Upon seeing her, he was enchanted and preoccupied with thoughts of her if he didn't. He couldn't linger on this matter forever. He pondered how to gain the grace of this religious Calisto. All thoughts converged, and he decided one day to disguise himself as a religious woman and enter the cloister of Dame Diana, feigning to be a woman and seeking reception with the virgins. Iupiter, after being confirmed in his decision through various deliberations over several days, had his women's clothing made by a secret workman. This man promised him to keep his secrets when the clothing was made. He gathered the priests in an evening and took his leave of them for a certain period, saying that he would go alone to do certain secret things. The priests were all dismayed and desperate when they heard of Jupiter's intention. They prayed to the goddesses that they would conduct and speed him on his journey, urging him to return to them shortly. He promised them that he would, and then he drew himself into his chamber and took the keys of the great gate. In the morning, when he was dressed and adorned in the attire and clothing of a maiden, he departed alone and entered the woods. Iupiter was yet beardless and fair and white in complexion. When he came to the convent, he knocked at the door. And yet came to him a passing fair maiden named Athalanta, who later became the wife of King Meleager of Achaea. She asked him what he wanted. Jupiter replied, \"Noble virgin, alas, I am a poor woman of a noble house. I have vowed to the goddesses my virginity. I pray you, present me to the lady of this place, so that I might serve the goddesses and be numbered among the other virgins. And if it pleases the goddesses, I shall deserve it from you.\" Athalanta, moved by compassion in the maiden, granted his request. She presented him to Dame Deane. Jupiter spoke sweetly and demurely, and made such humble and feminine gestures that he seemed properly to be a maiden. Diane beheld him well and long. And she said, \"I have never seen a fairer maiden or one greater. Then she welcomed him and received him. Then Jupiter thanked Diane for her grace and Athalanta for her courtesy. And he had good hope in his enterprise when he saw himself so soon received without knowing it. Then Jupiter He began to learn spinning and to work with silk, and performed the duties of a maiden. He became as skilled as if he had been a maiden himself. He was humble and lived a solitary life. He labored with his hands. With his eyes, he often secretly beheld the beauty of Calisto. With his heart, he imagined and contemplated how and by what means he might deceive Calisto. He frequently conversed with and shared companionship with her.\n\nHis heart was always in great pain, yet at other times he was comforted and hopeful, unsure of what to say or do. For shame and fear were stronger in him than boldness. What more can be said? He remained in this state for a long time, more doubtful and shamefast than bold. But in the end, he summoned the courage and found Calisto one day beside a well, where she had stopped to rest, weary from running long with Dame Chastity chasing and hunting a wild boar. bestow upon me your grace, my sister Calisto. I am a man, not a woman, yet your beauty has overcome my heart to bring me to this point. I have dressed myself as a woman and a maiden. Alas, I beg you to receive me into your love, and we shall live together in the same religion. A man has nothing in this world but his life. Those who have more than that are so much more wealthy and happy. You have withdrawn yourself for display, and lose your flourishing youth. Calisto, I cannot complain or bewail this damage. I have been so desirous, and it has been misrepresented. I entered into this adventure hoping that you would grant me grace and allow our youths to be used together secretly, for we may commune with one another without the knowledge of any person, not only in the chambers but also in the woods of this wood. O my sister, take heed what I say. And as I Respected and heard out late your prayer, I pray that you receive and heed my request without scorn, for he is truly a lover, and so forth.\n\nWhen Calisto heard that Jupiter was a man, she was filled with fear and rose up intending to flee. But she could not, for Jupiter held her fast by her clothing and made her sit down beside him. Clasping her around the neck and forcing kisses upon her, so much so that Calisto cried out and said, \"O Jupiter, what folly is this? Do you truly believe that I am to be overcome by your flattering words? I would much rather that the earth open up and swallow me into its womb. My sister replied to Jupiter, \"There is no remedy that can prevent my will from being accomplished. You shall do my will and please it, whether by force or by love.\" With this, Calisto began to cry out with all her might, and Jupiter began to fulfill his pleasure. There was neither man nor woman present who heard it. The cry of Calisto was great. Notwythstondyng Iupiter dide his will of his body and knewe her flesshly and engendrid on her a sone. After he conforted her and promysed to helpe her in alle thynges. And to take her to his wyf yf she wold retourne to the world wyth hym. But his fayr spe\u2223che ne his promesses myght not conforte her Ner for no thynge that he coude do or say. he coude not come in to the grace of Calysto. And allewey she sware grete othes that she wolde complayne vnto her maystres dyane. And maad so moche that Iupiter departyd\nfrom her all desplesid for her displaisir. and so went by the woodes thynkyng what was hym befalle and also what he had to do..\nAT this tyme began to ryse in thentendement of Iupiter many thoughtes. and for the better he concluded in hym self to retorne agayn in to pel\u00a6lage fro whens he cam fro. And than how well that he was displesid for the enforsyng of his lady dame Calisto by loue. He departid fro the wood and so ex\u00a6ployted that he was on the morn among thepiriens in his first habite. Whan thepiryens Iupiter arrived. They welcomed him with great ceremony and great honor. On the same day, Iupiter pretended that he would go hunting. He then sought out Calisto and asked her to be his lover, but she refused. Displeased, Iupiter left the country four days later, having instructed those who governed the people. He returned to the house of King Melesseus, who welcomed him as his son. He stayed there for a long time, and Calisto also lived in peace for a while. However, when she learned and understood that Iupiter had left, she was distressed because she preferred him to anyone else. The fruit of her womb began to grow, and the days passed. One day, Diana and Athalanta, along with other virgins, appeared in Calisto's chapel and summoned her. They spoke to her thereafter. Calisto, daughter, you have committed formation with a man. This act is not excusable. The virgins of this place are sorry for your sin and have abhorrence for your shame. Therefore, it is necessary that you leave this house. You will no longer be their servant. You have made yourself worthy to leave by the breaking and losing of your virginity. Take your things and go your way to some place where you may be delivered of the fruit that remains within you. For you shall no longer be here within.\n\nWhen Calisto heard the goddess Dean. And knew that she spoke the truth, great tears filled her eyes. Weeping with great humility, she begged for mercy. Repeatedly, she offered herself to the punishment of the maids. This notwithstanding, she was still excused. Dean and the maids were greatly astonished by Jupiter, who had deceived them so. Calisto cried for mercy humbly. And many times she offered herself to the punishment of the maids. Despite this, she was still excused. They refused to show mercy to her. She was condemned to leave the cloister. The matter became so public that the pious woman departed from there, weeping and ashamed, refusing to go to any town but instead to a deep cave she had seen before in the wood. First, she provisioned herself with herbs and roots, as winter was approaching. After entering the cave, she stayed there for a long time, just as the bear holds its cub in its den. The archbishops feared that she had been turned into a bear. And it is worth remembering that during this time she gave birth to a son, whom she named Archas. This child was great and strong in limbs. Calisto nourished him among the wild beasts with herbs, fruits, and the proper food and provisions that the cruel and terrible beasts lived on. No beast harmed him or showed any hardiness in doing him harm. He was so cruel and fierce that by the age of [unclear] Seuyne year was troubling him with his mother Angrid. He lifted himself against her and would have slain her. So much so that Calisto was forced to flee before him through the bushes and emerge from the wood to go to Jupiter, who at that time was in the city of Pelage.\nArchas pursued Calisto, his mother, into the city. He came close enough to enter the palace and held in his two hands great round stones. When Calisto entered the palace by appearance, she encountered and met Jupiter whom she knew. She knelt down on the earth before him and begged him with an afraid spirit that he would do her justice for her son who would slay her. Jupiter, who knew nothing of Calisto except that she was poorly clothed and half wild, beheld the Child and had him taken. And after he demanded, Calisto what she was, Sire said, \"I am Calisto, who for your sin have been banished from my religion for a long time. I have had this child of your seed.\" Such as you. In this time, Calisto's son, whom I have nursed for seven years in the forest among wild beasts, threatened to kill me because I had angered him. I pray you save my life. When Jupiter heard Calisto's words, he was glad and joyful, for it was said that she was dead. He comforted her as best he could. Afterward, he called Archas and made a pact between him and his mother. He clothed him and kept him in his palaces. Archas governed him so well and wisely that at the request of the Pelagians, Archas was made king of the country.\n\nIn this time that young Archas was crowned king of Pelagia and named the city Archeia after his name. Saturn, the king, was so great and powerful that to enhance and increase the splendor of his nativity, he named himself the son of heaven and earth. But as he began to study how and by what means he might enhance the resplendence of his felicity through divine mysteries, Fortune turned her. Titan was certain that Queen Cibelle had secretly kept and saved the lives of her many children. Boccaccio recounts this story in the fourth book of the Genealogy of the Gods. Titan did not know this through anything in particular - neither by suspicion, envy of Saturn's glory, nor secret information. Under this pretext, he determined in his heart to wage war against Saturn. On one day, he summoned all his sons and asked for their aid and support, declaring that he would wage war against his brother Saturn, justly claiming that he had a right to do so. For he had not put to death the many men children that Cybell had conceived from his seed, as he had promised and sworn.\n\nOne of Titan's children was Lycaon, who no longer reigned as king of Arcadia at that time. Another named Typhon was king of Sicile and Cipres. The third was called Bryarius, king of Nericos. The fourth was named Ceon, king of the island of Cea. The fifth was named Egeon, king of the sea Egee and the deserted island. And the sixth was named Eperion, king of Plipheros.\n\nWhen they had heard their father's will that he had bequeathed all these realms that he had conquered after his departure from Crete, they, desiring to please him and recalling the memory of their ancient heritages of great renown, said to him that they were ready to accomplish his good pleasure and go to Crete with armed hands. They swore that they would join forces to pursue Saturn and bring his sons back to him and persecute them with their own hands until death.\n\nThe old Titan rejoiced greatly in his heart when he beheld the free and great courage of his sons. And there they promised and swore to gather together that they would all employ their forces for the recovery of their heritages. Afterward, They arranged a meeting in such a way that they gathered at the gate of Seycle. They sent messages to their lordships to assemble men of arms and war. They did so and thus managed to assemble great armor and war machinery and much people at the gate. And when the day came, they were so eager to deal with this matter that they departed from Seycle with a great eastern fleet and took to the sea. They made their journeys without any mishap and in a few days they sailed to Crete. There, at the gate, they landed and took possession. Entering fiercely into the land, they destroyed and wasted all before them so cruelly and continued their war so mortally that they came to the city of Crete where Saturnus dwelled and resided. Saturnus was warned of their coming and descent. And then Titan, who could go no further without battle or assault, sent a letter to Saturnus, the contents of which follow:\n\nSaturnus, consumed by worldly honor, You are the courtesan of glory. Since you occupy the signeurie that rightfully belongs to me, your lord and elder brother, and moreover, since you have been falsely accused, know that I have come to take possession of your kingdom, which is not yours but mine. Therefore, come to mercy and make amends. Or else, ensure the safety of your person. If it is possible for me, I shall come and reason with you in person.\n\nWhen Saturn had read this letter, as a man, he sent for his wife Cibelle and took her aside. He conjured and charged her to speak the truth and tell him what she had done with his children. With this charge, the poor lady changed color and, seeing that she was compelled to tell the truth, she said, \"Sir, I am a woman. The heart of a woman naturally performs acts of pity. Had I not been in nature an abominable monster, I would have devoured them.\" With my hand I have nurtured the children of my womb. Where is that mother who will murder her children? My hand has never been unclean, nor will it ever be. I have erred against your commandment in favor of nature. And since it must be said, I would rather be murdered than a murderer. And I would rather be called pitiful than cruel. For murder is a trait of unreasonable beasts and tyrants, and pity is a natural trait of women. Therefore, I confess to have borne three sons conceived of your seed. Which I have secretly nursed but demand nothing more or where they are. They shall live as long as it pleases fortune. Will Tytan or not. And there is no death from which any woman may be tormented that will reveal the places where they are hidden.\n\nSaturn, hearing these words from his wife, was so disturbed that he did not know what to answer. Nevertheless, for the better, he assembled all the wise men of his city. And to them he said, My brothers and friends, what is best to be done? Tytan, The brother has begun a war in this realm. My wife has confessed that she has received three sons from me, which she has nourished in a foreign land under the pretense that I should not know about them. Titan assails me. What shall we do? The wise sir answered wisely: where force is enhanced by excessive presumption, there must be craft to conduct oneself prudently and put up resistance. You have a strong city and well-populated. You are wise to govern them. Arm yourself and pay no heed to Titan's quarrel. A man is not worthy to be a king unless it is through his virtue and noble manners. Crete was never a kingdom except that Titan has been inclined to vices and is engulfed in sin throughout his life. In this purpose, he maintains himself, intending to come to your crown if he enhances himself. You must rebuke and put him down. This is the remedy. Help yourself, and we shall help you. He who flees causes his enemy to chase him. Therefore, it cannot be fled from now but must be withstood and given resistance. Arrest your enemy and do so courageously. For a man can do this today, do not put it off until tomorrow. Arm your men well and assault your enemies from your city. If you do this, you will greatly enhance your courage and not easily be overcome by them. You may also intimidate them if you maintain yourself otherwise and let them rest, which will encourage them and make them overconfident. This will be more harmful than beneficial, for courage and hope often inspire men to achieve great and high victories. Nevertheless, your will shall be accomplished and fulfilled.\n\nSaturn answered and said, \"Brothers and friends, it would be a great shame for us and for those who suffer if we are dispersed and destroyed. It is necessary that the war be begun and opened. Every man should dispose himself to save his life. Titan assaults my honor.\" And require my dishonor. Since this matter demands it, let us arm ourselves and pursue the right good fortune that has come to us. My heart tells me that just as our enemies have entered this land, we shall make them leave again. With this answer, all the wise and noble men of Crete took great pleasure. Saturnus gave the answer to Titan's messenger and said to him, \"If Titan does not return within two hours, he will come and fight against him.\" With this answer, the messenger returned to Titan and reported Saturnus' intention. Titan swore that he would never turn back until he had attended and remained for the battle. Saturnus was a man of great valor and high will. When the messenger of Titan had departed, he immediately armed himself. Both young and old prepared themselves and were ready in a short time. When Saturn saw that his enemies had ascended into his chariot, for at this time the kings went to battle in Charas. After he issued forth from his city and rallied his people around him, he immediately marched them against Tytan. From as far as the Titans saw the Saturnians come, they were overjoyed and made the greatest cheer in the world. They welcomed them with Ioian and a great cry. They had large shields, maces, pollaxes, and weapons of strange forms. All were on foot. The Titans reserved Tytan and his sons, who, like rings, had their currups and chariots in which they were carried, not by the force of horses but by the power of men. They approached so near that they came to fighting and began to work. Then the archers of King Saturn began to draw and shoot, making the Titans arrest and stand still as long as their arrows lasted and slow. The Titans, who had great sorrow, were hurt by the arrows when they failed. Be certain of the Saturnians / They faced each other and swore revenge, And came to fight hand to hand in which they engaged so fiercely that from the noise and din it seemed like thunder. At the countering, the battle was fierce. Lychaon, Egeon, Creon, and Typhon were in the first rank. There were many shields broken due to the weight of the clubs and poleaxes, and many heads broken. Creon and Typhon maintained themselves valiantly at the beginning and conducted their people within the battle. By the rigor of their strokes, they defeated any Saturnians they met. Through their good deeds, they were recognized and doubted by their enemies so much that Saturn made his chariot be taken out of the way due to the great clamor and noise around them. There was great shedding of blood. For the Titans urged them to endure in the fight. And the Saturnians, with Saturn, put them in pain to abate and break it. And so the coming of Saturn was the cause of prowess upon prowess and of many one deed. They intended one and other so accurately to the work that the most part of that day they made great strife without, none enjoying him for victory nor trouble for this discord. But in the end, when the Titans saw the sun decline, as covetous of glory and worship, at one cry that Titan made upon Saturn. Lycaon and Egeon, with many others, surrounded them. He being dispersecled, his char broken by the force of poleaxes, and gave him many wounds. And they took him and brought many of the Saturnians to death and overthrew them in discord. And worse yet, they were so discouraged when they understood that Saturn was taken that they lost the vigor and strength of their hearts and the might of their arms. And turned their backs and fled, all destroyed. The Titans entered with them into the city. and took it, and wanted to hit without any resistance, bringing down the people and with great murder of men, women, and small children...\nAt this time, the ladies and matrons of Crete were seen taking dust and casting it into the air, and running through the streets here and there, all despairingly dressed and their heads hanging about them, casting their garments far and their little children crying after them. The wise men of the town seemed out of their wits. The city was so troubled that they could no longer be distinguished among all other Cybele and Seres, who made great sorrow without ceasing, for Titan, who never loved them. He came into the palaces and put Saturn and his wife in prison, swearing they should never depart thence until they had put to death all her sons who were born of them. And furthermore, Titan made himself king of Crete, so that the infinite prayers and supplications that Lady Cybele made to Titan in compassion for her son Saturn and Cybele went unheeded. The fair speaking of Ceres and the tears of Charity meant nothing to him. The more fervent their prayers to Titan, the more unwelcome and malicious he became. He caused the death of all who supported Saturn's party, and in the space of four days, he plundered and shed the blood of the Cretans. He persecuted not only men but also women and children, taking their possessions and departing among those who joined his side. When Vesta saw all these things happen in the city and that her son Titan governed so maliciously and grew worse and worse without any compassion for the people, she came to the prison where Saturn and Cybele were and said to them with a mournful voice, \"Alas, my children, what shall we do? What will become of you? How shall we be saved? The land of Crete is not only drenched by the tears and weeping of your best friends, but with their blood and the blood of their children.\" The heart of Titan is so terribly hardened and enduring that you shall die here in miserable pain, or you must put your sons to death. Since it is better that they be put to death and that you send to seek them, for your life has no other remedy.\n\nThe anger of Ceres was most intense and sharp to hear the sorrowful tidings that we have kept our children and should abandon them to death. Shall I do treason to my children who begin to flourish in right clear fame? That which will never please the gods. I prefer to have regard for my semblance. Jupiter, my son, has a great name and has won the love of the Pelagians and the Thebans. All the world prays for him and holds him one of the valiant men of the world. He is my son; I shall send him to him and let him have him. I know of the mystery that I am in. The damsel who brought him to Oson's mountain will ask him for help, and I hope that he is a man of such high courage and coming so earnestly that he will help her. She has done him a deed of great merit, worthy of his help, and she saved him in his tender days. My heart tells me that he shall.\n\nThe troubling of Crete. And I thanked the damsel. After that, he turned to the king. And I said to him, \"Sire, you may now know and understand what I am and from what perils. My father and mother are in the hands of their enemies. I pray you, in their name, help me to help them. And we shall go quickly, oppressing him who has oppressed them. I have a singular hope and trust in fortune that she will help us soon.\"\n\nAnswered Melliseus, \"I have more affection for the recall of your lineage than I can show or make apparent. And in sign of this, I promise to help you as much.\" Iupiter assured the damsel and swore to her that he would put himself in arms against Titan and urged her to return to Saturn and Cybele, comforting them with hopes of swift aid. The damsel departed from there with the words of Iupiter and returned to Crete. Shortly after, Iupiter summoned Archas, his son, and the Epiriens and Parthenians, along with their men from Anlacre. These people loved Iupiter greatly and came at his command in large numbers. Iupiter welcomed them warmly and told them the reason for his summons. After these events, he made all necessary preparations for his eastward journey, and they departed from the city of Oson with a fine company.\n\nIupiter, son of Saturn, addressed them and prepared everything necessary for his eastward voyage. They departed from the city of Oson with a fine company. Firstly, hear this tale of King Saturn and Lady Cybele. Your father, Saturn as everyone knows, long ago made an oath to his brother Titan that he would kill all his male children born of his seed. On the day of your birth, he commanded that you should be put to death for this reason. But your mother had pity on you. To save your life, she secretly sent you here. You have been nurtured here every day and do not know yourself. Now you are certain that this is great joy. You ought to go joyfully to your father and mother, presenting yourself to her grace, if it were not for the tidings of joy that you must show to Jupiter. And that is this: Your mother, who saved you, is held in prison by Titan and Saturn, because she has nurtured you. The king Melesius and Jupiter were greatly marveled by the news that the maiden Meru had given them. Jupiter was extremely joyful upon learning that he was the son of Saturn, but was also deeply distressed. Receiving this news brought him great joy in knowing the place of his birth, for a greater joy he could not have come closer to him than to learn that he was the firstborn of the ancient house of Crete. This knowledge would bring him sovereign happiness when he would be required to come and make restitution to his father and mother and country.\n\nWhen Saturn and Vesca heard Cibelle speak thus, Vesca replied that her advice was good. Saturn was all in agreement. esbaied, for he thought that Jupiter, whom he had seen at various times with King Melisseus, should in no way be his son. Unable to believe it and give faith to Cybell's words, he said that if Jupiter would help him, he was the man to do so. And he was content for Cybell to send someone to seek him out as she had said. Then Cybell sent for the maiden who knew all the doings of Jupiter and gave her the charge to go to him and prepare the way. The maiden Ioyeus of this embassy departed secretly. She did not delay until she came to the house of Melisseus. Finding him there with the king, after paying her respects, she addressed her petition to Jupiter and said to him, \"Jupiter, be pleased and be glad, for I bring tidings of joy. Nevertheless, among other sorrows, fortune, which has long held the ignorant and not knowing the place of your right noble nativity, has now certainly suffered discovery and knowledge. Of an army of six thousand men.\" fighting men And so quickly that in a short time he brought them near a mile from the city of Crete:\nAnd there Jupiter remained on the top of a mountain, and called for his son Archas, who at that time was only eighteen years old but was wise and well-spoken. He gave him charge to go into Crete to give summons to King Titan to leave the city, and to Decibel, the young Archas who was bold and had his heart high exalted with his father's words, went to Crete to present himself to King Titan, to whom he said these following words:\n\nTitan, I come to you in submission to my father Jupiter, the firstborn son of Saturn. You have been informed that you have oppressed him in the person of his father and mother, and have caused the death of his sons. I come as a representative of Saturn and declare that you are an enemy to his sons, just as you are to him. as legates, twice or thrice, that you yield this city to your father Saturn; and that as hastily as you entered it, you depart, child answered Titan. You tell me tidings full of pleasures and exultation by which I know, by your words, that Saturn has a son yet living. For this reason, I clearly see, and the world also sees, that by good and just quarrel I am made king of this city. Late Jupiter, your father, know that I doubt him not, nor set anything at all against his coming. And also that I will do nothing contrary to his commandment. Titan said, \"Archas, as much as you abide in this will, I will no more at this time occupy the.\" Make good haste. Iupiter is here, he tarries for no other cause but for you to do your duty and recover your city.\n\nWith this word, Archas departed from the presence of Titan and returned again to his father. When Iupiter heard the answer of Titan, he was full of gladness, for he desired nothing else. Archas concluded with his people that on the morrow he would assault the city, provided that Tytan did not hinder them. Immediately, their tents were made of bows and shields, and their tabernacles were pitched by the Osonians, Archadians, and Epirians. They stationed their forces to the east to guard. At that time, Tytan was in Crete. It is known when Archas departed from his presence. He gathered all his sons and informed them of these tidings, which pleased and agreed with them, for they desired nothing but strife and debate. Assuring themselves of victory over Jupiter as well as Saturn, they dispatched four spies to reconnoiter the enemy's numbers. They prepared their armor. These spies went so far that they saw the eastern position of Jupiter's forces and reported back to Tytan on the location of his enemies and their numbers. After the report of the said spies, Tytan concluded that his enemies were but a mile away. Titan ordered his men to be ready and go to battle against them at dawn. The night passed quickly, and the day came on. About the sun rising, Titan mounted on his rich chariot and left a hundred behind in the city to keep it from rebellion or treason. He took all the others under his command, along with his sons and spies.\n\nJupiter, who was not idle, had also set his men in order at the same hour. He had brought all his people into a fair open space, hoping for battle. Titan had not yet ridden far when he saw the east of Jupiter. The entire plain was in disorder on all sides, and from as far as each could see, they were all full of joy and urged each other on to the coming and striking of blows. Then Jupiter placed himself at the front of the battle and, holding his bow in his hand and his arrows nearby,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Middle English. No major OCR errors were detected, so no corrections were made.) shooting began on both sides, with fierce archers and many casters of leaden stones who never failed, causing the death of many. When the shooting and casting of stones failed, they began to gather with spears, and hand-to-hand fighting began, which was so sharp that the clashing of spears and shields echoed against the walls of Crete. It reached the ears of Saturn and Cybele, and they rejoiced, for they had arrived in time to witness the battle. Jupiter held his gleaming shield in one hand and his sword in the other. With one stroke of his sword, he severed the body of Enceladus, one of Titan's sons, and cast him at the feet of the Titans, who were deeply sorrowful for the death of their comrade. Jupiter assaulted them next. This battle was fierce and hard at the beginning for both parties. There were many Titanians and Pirians hurt, dead, and trampled underfoot. Archas was accompanied by fifty archers commissioned to guard his body because he was young. Yet he made and put him to good use.\n\nThe noise and clamor doubled and redoubled around him. The Titanians began to overthrow him by great routes, one on his shoulders, another on his shield. He charged so fiercely upon them that his strokes could not be sustained by men. They were so strong and powerful.\n\nThis battle was felonious and hard at the beginning for both sides. There were many Titanians and Pirians hurt, dead, and trampled underfoot. Archas was accompanied by fifty archers commissioned to guard his body because he was young. Yet he made good use of them.\n\nThe noise and clamor doubled and redoubled around him. The Titanians began to overthrow him by great routes, one on his shoulders, another on his shield. He charged so fiercely upon them that his strokes could not be sustained by men. They were so strong and powerful. I myself was right to employ him [Melisseus] to the arms. Meleager failed not. On both sides, each man did his best. I cannot say how many men were dead on the ground nor how often one gate met another. But you shall understand that there was none to compare to Jupiter in strength or prowess. There was nothing impossible to him. He overcame the opponents. He slowed the chariots. He struck down the smiths. He put himself in so many places in the battle of the Titans that in a disarray he came upon Titan in his chariot. That confounded the Epirians with stones and round projectiles that he cast upon them. And cried, \"Titan, Titan,\" as much as he thought he was fighting well. When Jupiter knew that Titan was there, he drew toward him. And as Titan raised his arm to strike one Epirian, Jupiter unsheathed his sword and dealt such a blow upon his arm that he severed it from his body. He had great joy from this and cried out \"Iupiter, Iupiter!\" Titan was greatly distressed and fell down from his chariot. At this point, the Epicians rallied and the Titans were demoralized. Lycaon and Egeon were there, seeing their father's arm enter the fray. They begged for mercy from Jupiter, and a new battle ensued where much blood was shed. But the first of Lycaon, who had long hated Jupiter, was not immediately slain. Jupiter intended to put Titan under a truce and, with the help of the Epicians, broke his chariot into pieces. Using the sword that he had struck from his arm, he took the life of the unfortunate Titan with a mortal blow to the heart. Then, turning his intent and prowess against Lycaon and Egeon, who had given him many wounds and insults, he raised his sword against Lycaon's head. The sword pierced his heart. Egeon had great sorrow and fear because of the tempest that rampaged upon Titan so unmeasurably, causing the death and flight of all. Some here and some there reserved one of Titan's sons named Typhon. Seeing the chaos, Typhon came to Jupiter and said, \"Jupiter, see here your enemy. Do not flee from those who flee. It is more honorable to fight against me if I defy you. I have never been found fleeing before my enemies, nor will I be in the future. You have slain my father, Titan, and my brother has been killed and conquered by force and strength. Therefore, this kingdom must be yours or mine. Now let us see which of us shall do best. If I may, I will vanquish you. And if I overcome you, you shall not die by the sword or the glaive, but by the flood that flows through all reeds and died by the blood of my kin. Drink of the blood that you have spilled.\" Maad Rea emerges from her bodies, causing me great annoyance, as I should be pleased and comforted by nature. I am also deeply distressed by the displeasure you have caused me. This Typhon was great and full of fury and pride when he had finished speaking. Jupiter, who had observed and understood, responded to him: \"Vain one, what reason or right do the gods and fortune grant you? You are strong in limbs and act from the heart. I made Jupiter stumble with his right leg. There were many Greeks present who, seeing Jupiter stumble, came to help him. But Jupiter would not allow them to aid him in any way. Instead, he commanded Melisseus and Archas to follow the fleeing crowd. Then he began to assault Typhon with great power and force, inflicting many wounds on his body. Thus began the battle between Typhon and Jupiter. Both strong and able in the art of arms, they fiercely charged one upon the other, dolorously and eagerly. It is unnecessary for me to declare how many strokes one gave to the other. But I must tell how Jupiter fought and struck down his enemy. When he was in a position to do so, he charged him upon his shoulders with the force of his arms. And he bore him to the river, which was dyed with the blood of the dead. There he caused him to die miserably, casting him into the flood: the head underwater, as much as he had threatened Jupiter with such a death.\n\nAfter the death of Typhon, Jupiter turned again to the pursuit of his enemies. The sun began to wane in the west, and he proceeded by great slaughter. But in the course of time, when he saw that Typhon and most of his sons were dead. And that the remainder of their people were so weak and so dispersed by the fields, that they could never rise again. He swore the retreat and reassembled his forces. Folke, the wisest I could be, took the right way to the city that rejoiced and exulted greatly in my victory. And I had not tarried long when four citizens of Crete came to me and told me that all of Titan's party had fled and that they had taken my father from prison.\nJupiter received these citizens and their news with great gladness, and with all his heart desiring to be with his father and mother, he entered Crete. Saturn and Cibell, with Vesca, were at the gate and received him honorably, bringing him to the palaces. There he was feasted by King Melleseus and Archas in such a way that it could not be better. At Jupiter's coming, many tears were wept for joy by Dame Cibell and Vesca. Cibell kissed and embraced her son often. And all the people of the country came to the palaces to feast and worship Jupiter, and they gave him many great gifts. It is not to be forgotten how Saturn reconciled himself. vnto hym and gaf hym astate as to his sone. Duryng these thynges the body of titan was serched amonge the dede bodyes by comandement of saturne. and ther was maad for hym his obsequie so\u00a6lempne as hit apperteyneth to a kyng / semblably and vnto hys sones that were found dede in the batayle Alle the sones of tytan were not perisshid and ded in the batayle ffor amonge alle other Iopetus and bry\u00a6areus were left a lyue and flede That is to wete bry\u2223areus in to an yle of grece named Nericos And Iape\u2223tus fled in to a partye of libye / wher he enhabited hym self And brought with hym thre sones that he had by his wyf. wherof the eldest was named Athlas the se\u00a6cond had his name Hesperus And the thirde named hym self Prometheus. Athlas dwellid in Libye. and hesperus regned in spaigne. And were bothe vaynquys\u00a6shid by hercules as hit shall be said in the second book\nFOR to holde on our purpose. whan Saturne and Iupiter had doon the obsequyes of the tita\u00a6noys. Tydynges cam to Iupiter that Appollo kyng of Paphes had This party that fled from the battle of Tytannus: Apollo, who was an ally of Saturn and son of Iupiter of Actique, had made alliances with Saturn. When Iupiter and Saturn heard this news, Saturn demanded that Iupiter help him take revenge against Apollo, his ally, and destroy his enemies. At Saturn's request, Iupiter initiated the war and, in haste, besieged the city of Paphos and took it with assault. He put to utterance and destruction all the fugitives he could find, and even deprived Apollo of all his riches and lordships, leaving Paphos not as a king but as a poor beggar. In this Paschal time, some men say that when Jupiter began to mount his reign and embrace honor, Esculapius, son of Apollo, who was skilled in medicine, was searching for something one day. As he went by a wood side, he saw from a distance an herdsman fighting against a basilisk. This creature, of its nature, killed people with its sight. When Esculapius saw this, he was greatly astonished and stayed. He had not long waited before the herdsman had overcome the basilisk and forced it to withdraw onto a rock nearby. Esculapius was amazed by this thing, for he saw that the herdsman had on his head a chaplet or garland made of various herbs and flowers. He judged that in this said chaplet was an herb of such virtue that kept him from death and also from the subtle venom of the basilisk. Then he did so much that the herdsman or shepherd gave him the chaplet or garland as a gift. And then the said herdsman went again to deal with the basilisk. Esculapius, from a single sight of his eyes, the poor shepherd fell to the earth, and so, assured that in the chaplet was an herb that could withstand the malicious intoxication of the serpent's eyes, he went to the rock. There, he fought against the basilisk and slew it, finding great joy in doing so. Having pity on the herdsman, he took each herb individually from the chaplet and put them in his mouth. Finally, he touched only the leaves of the virtuous herb and, suddenly, he rose from death to life. O marvelous virtue of herb! Men read that by this same herb, Ipolytus, who was falsely accused of a crime by his stepmother, was raised to life again. That he had lain long hidden among bushes and thorns, where his body was found, they who found him laid him in a meadow upon a plant of herbs like that of which his wounds were healed and his life was given back to him. When Esculapius had raised the shepherd or herdsman, he took the herb and the basil and carried them to the city of Cumes, telling his adventure. From then on, he raised men from death to life through the power of the herb and fought and overcame the basilisk. For this reason, he gained such a high name that Jupiter grew jealous of his glory and went to war against him. Whereof his father Apollo took great sorrow upon himself and entered the war against Jupiter, but Jupiter overcame him and forced him into such extremity that, to hide his name, he went and served King Amatus of Cumes, as is said before. And thus When Jupiter had vanquished Apollo by one means or another, he returned to Crete with great glory. There he found Neptune and Pluto, his brothers, and Juno, his sister, who made him very welcome. This Juno was the most beautiful woman and fairest maiden in all the land, after the return of Jupiter. For a certain period of time, she conversed with him. At this time, neither of them revealed their feelings. And after this, Juno returned to live among the other virgins with whom she had been nursed, and remained in many thoughts and desires. She made no other prayers to the goddesses, but only asked them to grant her the grace to be wife to her brother. It is not to be forgotten that if Juno was strongly set in the love of her brother Jupiter, then Jupiter was just as firmly set in the love of her. For after sending all his men of war back to her own lands, and establishing his father Saturn in his place, he longed to see her alone. Seygney and his lordship. Under the guise of devotion, he frequently visited the city of Parthenia. He took pleasure in being with her {etc}.\n\nJust as Jupiter was eager to woo the virgin Parthenia in the city of Parthenia for a better opportunity to reside there, he defiled a temple. He had it dedicated to his mother Ceres. And in the end, he created an image or statue of a woman in rich attire, which gave food to many small images of little children, as a reminder that she had saved the lives of her children. And when this temple was completed and ready for consecration, Saturn and Ceres came together with all the nobles of the country. They held a great celebration that lasted fifteen days in open joy. And during this grand festival, neither Jupiter nor Juno were absent. However, at the end of this solemnity, the nobles of the country betrayed their marriage. The priest of the temple of Ceres assured and calmed them, and immediately after in the same temple. In these days, when Saturn saw himself free from Titan and his offspring, and saw his children rise from lowly places,\n\nTheir espousals were made and celebrated with great glory, joy, and triumph. Jupiter and Juno laid together and engendered a daughter whom they named Hebe. The people, in memory of this marriage, founded a temple there, where they set up the similacrum of Juno beside a maiden who married her. After these things, on the same day that Jupiter wedded Juno, Saturn returned to Crete. Pluto returned to a part of Thessaly where he founded the city of Helle, which will be spoken of in the second book. Neptune returned to Athens, where the Athenians made him king, not only for his virtues but also because he was the son of Saturn. At this time, the most renowned king of the world was:\n\nIn these days, when Saturn saw himself free from Titan and his descendants, and saw his children rise from humble beginnings, their espousals were made and celebrated with great glory, joy, and triumph. Jupiter and Juno lay together and engendered a daughter whom they named Hebe. The people, in memory of this marriage, founded a temple there, where they set up the image of Juno beside a maiden who married her. After these things, on the same day that Jupiter wedded Juno, Saturn returned to Crete. Pluto returned to a part of Thessaly where he founded the city of Helle, which will be spoken of in the second book. Neptune returned to Athens, where the Athenians made him king, not only for his virtues but also because he was the son of Saturn. At this time, the most renowned king of the world was: Reigns and high chairs / Certainly, all his sorrows vanished a way / and then began the clarities of his reign to be payable / All doubts, fears, suspicions were put away / he had of the goods of fortune as much as he would / None was then so bold that dared to conspire against his dominion / he found himself in peace in general / and it is to be supposed and left considered the reigns of his time and that he was in such great peace and tranquility. that he might have finished and ended his days in the same / if he had not put himself to the war / for he had Jupiter his son unto his help / at that time the most able in arms that was in all the world / And long time when Saturn saw him thus in peace / it happened on a day when it came to his mind / that his god Apollo had prophesied that this Jupiter should put him out of his kingdom / Suddenly, there began to engender in him a mortal hate against Jupiter who had done so many good deeds / And also seeing that every man. He held him in love and was busy pleasing him. He adjusted his faith and gave credence to his curious predictions. And so he suffered himself to be enveloped with such great folly that he could never draw it out again. Then he returned to his ancient sorrows and fantasies in such a way that they appeared outwardly.\n\nWhen they of Crete saw Saturn so troubled, the most private of his secret counsel employed them to comfort him. But it helped nothing, nor could they get the cause of such melancholy from his mouth. Until he had determined in his heart that he would persecute to death his son Jupiter, and then he did assemble his princes and counselors. And said to them, \"I charge and adjure you all by the names of all our glorious gods that you tell me the truth and always, what thing should or ought a king to do with a man whom he doubts, by a divine answer given to him, that this man will put him out of his reign and kingdom?\" Crete understood the king's charge and oath. They assembled themselves at a council and ordained one to deliver this response: \"My lord, the council knows that long since Jupiter had an answer from your god containing that you had fathered a son who would overthrow you. At that time, Dame Cibelle desired Iupiter. The council prays that you heed this: how long you were deprived of your crown and had lost it, he delivered you and made you quit of all your enemies. If the cause of your charge and oath does not touch upon this matter, the council is of the opinion that if the king has power and might over him and has cause evident, a king ought to keep himself safe from that man for the dangers.\"\n\nCretes said, \"Saturnus of the council is reasonable indeed. And since I must declare to you and tell you what I mean, I am the king that I speak of.\" A man whom I doubt is Jupiter, my son, whom I fear and dread much more than death. In so much that I cannot endure or take rest for him. For sleeping, I dream that he rises against me and assails me with a great multitude of Arcadians and Epirians. And it is in vain for me to quake and victorious over me. Waking, I have all ways my eyes open to hear and see if he is about to come upon me with armed men, and thus I can have no peace. Playr nor Rest, and I am a lost man. Having considered this, I will that he be dead. I take the guilt and sin upon myself, and I command you that you know that I am your king and that you to me owe obedience. And for this I command you upon pain of death, that there not be one man so bold as to say anything contrary to my will. And each of you be found ready in arms to fore this palace for support and service to me in this work, which is the greatest thing that will ever come to me:\n\nWhen they of Crete had heard the resolution of saturne they were gretly abasshed. ffor they knewe well that saturne toke this mater gret\u00a6ly to his herte. and that he was a terryble man to of\u2223fende. And so they knewe that wrongfully he wyl\u2223lyd the deth of his sone Iupiter that had restored hym to his lordship by his prowesse & vailliance / Many ther were that went in to an other kyngedom because they wold not be with the fader ayenst the sone ner with the sone ayenst the fader / but ther was noman that durste be so hardy to replie agayn saturne ner saie that he dide euyll / for they dredde more his yre than to offende Iustyce. what shall I saye after the comande\u2223ment of saturne / eche man withdrewe hym vnto his hous full of grete and bitter sorowe in herte. And ther was not oon man but he had his face charged with grete greef and pesaunt anoyau\u0304ce {etc}::.\nThe day than drewe ouer / And on the morn Sa\u00a6turne armed hym self & sowned Trompettis vnto armes. They of crete aroos this mornyng And many ther were of them that knewe thentenco\u0304n of saturne. And allso There were many who marveled that the king would make this army. For all of Crete was at peace, and all the tyrants were disparkled and put into destruction perpetual. Among all others, Cybell could not think. Seeing that Saturn sent not after Jupiter, she demanded him often why he would not take Iupiter with him in his company. Iupiter was at that time in partheny with his wife Juno.\n\nWhen Saturn had heard Cybell's demand, all his blood began to change. He said to her that she should always know the place where he would go. Cybell was wise and subtle. When she heard the king's answer and saw Incontenance in the face of her heart, she had suspicion that he would do harm to Jupiter. Therefore, she went into her chamber right away and sent hastily to Partheny, signifying to Jupiter that he should depart hastily then. And she imagined that Saturn, her father, would show favor, for he had gathered a great assembly of armed men. And there was no man who could tell the cause why:.\n\nIt is to suppose that Jupiter had a displeased heart when he had received these tidings from his mother Cyphell. And indeed, she had warned him, not knowing the king's true will. Whenever he considered that he had not been sent before this army, he doubted himself and departed thence. He said to his wife Juno, \"I will go to Arcadia, concluding in myself that by this action I shall see the conduct of my father and to what place he has deployed his army.\" But he was not far on his way when he stopped upon a mountain and looked behind him. He saw the city of Parthenope, which was surrounded and filled with armed men of King Saturn. It gave him a great proof of his mother's treachery and showed him her intentions. He remained still on the mountain, holding himself in readiness. His eyes were always fixed on the citadel. And suddenly he saw his father Saturn enter his chariot, and all his arms issued from the same gate where he had come from and took the same way. This gave him a clear understanding and knowledge that his father was seeking him. He then departed from this campaign and went to Archadia. He told his son and the Archadians the reason for his coming and asked them to prepare good armor for him and the citizens to defend their city if necessary.\n\nThe Archadians, at the request of Jupiter, made ready their arms and their city and sent out spies on the way. Shortly after they had left the palace, the spies reported to Jupiter and Archas that they had seen the enemy and the roads of Archadia filled with armed men.\n\nImmediately, a cry was raised in the city in the name of their sovereign lord Jupiter, that every man should make a good watch and keep his guard. With this cry, the Archadians armed them with helmets and leather armor and went out to fight. Upon the walls and towers holding axes, swords, guyasnes, and maces. They had not long tarried there when they saw come from far two men of Crete who asked the porters if Jupiter was with Juno. The porter, when he understood what they asked, answered them that Jupiter was in the city and if they had to deal with him, they should find him in the palaces. Where he passed the time with his son Arisas, and had recently come into the town to visit him. When they of Crete heard this, they were greatly troubled, for they sought him whom they would not find. Nevertheless, they went in and passed forth up to the palaces. And there finding Jupiter with the nobles of Arcadia, after the reverences were paid, one of them spoke and said, \"Sir, we seek him, and we have no will to find him, for we come against our will to execute a commission by which may sooner come ruin and trouble than peace. Saturn, your father, commands that you alone come speak with us.\" When Jupiter had retained and well put in mind the adjournment with his eyes filled with tears, he made his answer and said thus: \"I marvel at my father's right strange conduct, and perhaps it is not without great cause that his realm is in peace. And I have put him back in his realm. Now he has put himself in arms without my knowledge. And since he sends for me to come alone and speak with him, that is a strange thing to me. He governs himself not as he ought, for I ought to praise those who have deserved it and be of value to them. I have appeased him as much as I could.\" as his realm is worth, he has otherwise sent for me to make war; I never knew what evil he may have or will have for me. But here he is come with his army where he has nothing to do. Nevertheless, he is come and demanded nothing but me alone. I have considered and debated, I have no intention of obeying his command. But if he intends to do with me to serve him and come to him on condition that I am accompanied by all my friends and none otherwise.\n\nThe two commissioners returned to Saturn and reported to him Iupiter's intention. Saturn took the answer of Iupiter impatiently and approached Archades, and with great oaths made an oath to his gods. If he may have Iupiter, he would sacrifice himself with his own hands. Then he sent for his most wise men and said to them, in dire circumstances, they should go and summon the king. Archas and the archpriests were to yield and deliver him to Jupiter, declaring openly that he was more his enemy than his son. The wise men departed from the East at Saturn's command and did as they were required to do for someone - the archpriests. They spoke to the king and people of Archadia, saying, \"We have come to you because you sustain Jupiter, whom Saturn holds as his enemy. And if not, let it be known that you keep yourselves with good watch and ward, for he has no greater enemies in the world than you.\"\n\nBy this mandate, Jupiter knew that he was himself for whom Saturn was raising his army. The Archidians assembled to counsel without Jupiter and spoke of this matter. They made answers to the wise men of Crete, explaining how they were bound to serve Jupiter and how they would keep him and live and die with him against all men above all others. When the wise men's answer was returned to Saturn, he was immediately and greatly enflamed. He ordered that the city should be assaulted, and immediately the people of Crete armed themselves in such a way and approached the walls and fortifications. The Tarquinians saw their enemies approaching and swore to arm and join the battle, putting up a brave defense of their walls. Though arrows were drawn and shot, and many stones were cast and many were struck and injured both within and without the walls, there was no artillery in those days in the realms. The people of the city, however, had the skill to hurl burning brands, oils, and boiling waters upon their enemies. Iupiter had induced and taught the Tarquinians this craft, and when their enemies were thought to be at their strongest and on the verge of entering the city, they were confronted with fire, oils, and scalding waters, which forced them to retreat with great loss of people. They sounded the retreat. Saturn then took the greatest sorrow of the world upon himself because he could not prevent it. The Furious one took pleasure as there were more than four hundred of his men dead by the walls. He returned to his tent mournfully and desolately after the assault, passing through such great anguish in his heart that he could neither eat nor drink. But this did not deter him, and he thought carefully about his wounded men and went to their tents to administer medicines to them.\n\nThe Arcadians were passing joyfully when they saw and heard how the men of Crete ceased with shame after the assault and the retreat of both sides. All the while, Saturn intended to heal and give medicines to his wounded men. The Arcadians convened a council and, after great deliberation, they sent seven of their honorable councilors as ambassadors to Saturn. One of them spoke and said, \"Saturn, you know and ought to know that every king ought to live in peace. For the most fair thing in the world is peace. Peace nourishes profit through peaceful men and children.\" Towns and cities are united and connected by charity and communal association. The kingdoms profit from this in decoration and building fine houses through labor and tilling the earth and prolonging life. The human body is also kept healthy and quiet by this thing, which causes a man to desire sovereignty. O Saturn, it seems that you disregard this good virtue, for in peace and tranquility there is no king or prince who dares to oppose you. You have not only troubled your realm, but you are an abuser of war, for a man ought to prepare and dispose himself for war in this way. Do you not see that your son Jupiter has delivered you from the bonds of your other enemies? And has placed your diadem in a secure position where you cannot act without him? Do you not see that you cannot make war without him? Do you not see that you are destroying and breaking this peace? Do you not see that this is your son? Do you not see that you are this son? You are a monster in nature / The natural father loves his children / The same way, rude and brutish beasts keep and hold this condition of nature / You ask and want to destroy the blood of your son / And from where comes this unnatural appetite / Could it not satisfy your appetite and your senses were recently aroused / Will your interior rancor be permanent, and will your fantasies never cease / Will you be less wise and simpler in old age than a child / The more men grow older, the wiser they become / You have less knowledge now than you had in your perilous youth, and from where does this deficiency come / Is this by the heavenly Influence, if it is so / Where is reason, where is equity / Where is the love of the father for the son / Do you not know that I, Jupiter, was your son, and you would still have been in great darkness, languishing / I see you as an advocate for Jupiter, that he loves you as his own father / And furthermore, I pray that / you will be at peace. And if you will do him no good yet. at the least will he do me no harm or encumbrance: I should soon quell Answered Saturne, if the experience of Jupiter's life did not come to my sight. I see not how he enhances himself the most. I see not how the people owe him more favor than me, or that he flees from me. If he is not culpable, why does he flee? He shall say to the people that he has done nothing against me. I never knew how Archarians understand. But if I may once seize them, there was never such mischief as shall come upon Arcadia. And I have no intention to depart from this place till I have put in perpetual rebellion against me and my commands. Sir Answered the Archarians since fair speech may not restrain your passing great irritation from us and us from the other party. God speed the right and fortune. We shall not long draw out the feast. It is concluded that the Archarians and Jupiter shall. Issue emerges from the city. And if they find anyone assaulting them, they will defend their lives. This was accomplished. Saturn turned his back to the Sythians, shaking his head. The Sythians returned to their city and reported, from the beginning to the end, all that they had found. By their report, it was confirmed that the following day they should issue out of the city in the same way they had planned among themselves.\n\nJupiter was greatly displeased with himself at what he saw, that his father was so distressed and would not be content. Yet, notwithstanding, he did not doubt so much that he took courage in himself. He declared that he was more bound to preserve his life than to obey the evil will of his father, who hated him at his birth. This night passed over. The very moment the sun clarified and lit the air, about the third hour of the day, Archas Ipiter and the men of war of the city went out into the field in good order. They were not long in issuing from the gates. And they were not seen by the Saturnians who waited for them by Saturn's command. And so each began a great uproar and noise that echoed against the mountains and walls. Then they began to harass the Titans with arrows and stones. When Jupiter saw that there was no other remedy but to fight, he stepped forward first into the front and began to strike those who came at him, crying out with a high voice. \"Here is Jupiter; do to him what you will.\"\n\nThus began the dreadful battle between Saturn and Jupiter; father against son and son against father. Nature herself did not spare her fair aspects and recommended proper respect. The father sought the blood he had engendered. And Promises made great gifts to those who could seize him. The battle was fierce and harsh. And Jupiter and Archas fought valiantly. And Jupiter, the noble one, employed his sword, tempered with steel, so skillfully that he shattered shields and helmets. I. Jupiter, unyielding in combat, struck down heads and arms, and no man could resist his power. He intimidated the bravest and forced those who had boasted more than they could deliver to retreat. He broke the ranks of the battle and entered their midst, repeatedly confronting and subduing his father, Saturn. Saturn, in turn, struck back with great force and inflicted grievous wounds. Yet Iupiter never retaliated, instead pleading with him: \"Alas, my father, why do you seek to shed my blood? I am your son and your servant. You have no reason to persecute me. I will not raise my hand against you. But beware and beware of the archons, for if they seize you, you will find neither pity nor mercy.\"\n\nSaturn, unmoved by these fair words, continued his assault on Jupiter, striking him fiercely as he could. Jupiter, of all his foes, was the most formidable. strokes took no heed and set little there by, and how well that he had conscience to fight and strike his father, yet always he turned his strokes and had no conscience to occupy his sharp sword upon them of Crete. So firmly that every stroke without fault was dyed with new blood. And in order to show this to Saturn, he enforced himself to demonstrate that he fought against him in vain. And that to him was nothing impossible. In all these things Saturn took no regard nor example. The cry was great about Jupiter; the arms were greatly exercised. The ground was all covered with the effusion of blood. And the dead bodies lay one upon another beheaded and smitten in pieces. O right hard and sore battle, Saturn was so enraged in his obstinacy that the blood of his men wetting his arms by the course of the large wounds that Jupiter made unto them might not moderate his ire nor heart, and his eyes were so blinded in his ire that he saw naught his right evident damage. Where he sought the proper Mean by. whiche he was put out of his Royame that he dowbtyd and ayenst whiche he entendid to resiste and eschewe with his myght:.\nIN this batayll Iupiter sauved often tymes Saturne among the glaiues of tharchadiens / & dide good ayenst euyll / many of them of crete fought against herte know\u00a6yng that saturne had meuid & was cause of the warre And howe well they put their handes to werke / yet alleway the variaco\u0304n that they had amonge them was cause of the losse of right grete nombre of peple / & they doubtyd Iupiter & they had no power to withstande & fight / in suche wise as they wold haue don yf they had had or felte her querele good / And by this maner was the bataill demenyd to the grete preiudyce of the satur\u00a6nyens / Iupiter put hym self in deuoyr vnto his fader / And ofte tymes Cryed in his ere that he shold wyth\u2223drawe hym er the batayll went worse or be lost\u25aa And wythstood hys strokes a grete whyle / Awaytyng that he wold conforme and conuerte hym self fro his euyll oppynyon. But than at last whan Iupiter toke He opened and deployed his virtue and the great might of his arms and sword, making such an attack against his adversaries. Breaking their helmets and hewing their harness. Not in the manner of a man who had always sustained the feet, but in the manner of a Champion fresh and new, from whom the strokes were rebounding:..\n\nThus it seemed to the Saturnians that in multiplying horns and strokes, Jupiter's strength and power were beginning to nourish and grow. His valiant deeds and courage gave strength to the Theban ranks, and to his enemies great loss of blood and also of life. The ground was bedewed with new blood. The dead bodies were covered with new dead men. The Chariot of Saturn was smitten into pieces. Saturn remained on the battlefield for a long time. Also for as long as his might would endure, and in no way would he flee:..\n\nBut in conclusion, when his men saw that the thing went against them continually. From evil to worse, they began to flee and turned the back and fled also Saturn. Though they were pursued in the chase so fiercely and deadly that some were slain in the way and some saved themselves here and there. Among all others, Saturn was so closely pursued by Archas and some of his Thracians that he had no leisure to return to Crete, but was driven by force until he came to a seaport. There he saved himself by means of a ship that he found, and there he went to the sea with some of those who had fled so sorely grieved and unable to speak.\n\nThus this battle ended between father and son. When Archas saw that Saturn was saved in the sea, he returned to Jupiter, his father, who gathered his people again and told him these happenings. And he also convened his council to know what Jupiter should do, and they of the council were all of the opinion that Jupiter should go. I. went to Crete, and the people there declared that they would make him king, claiming that the gods had clearly indicated they wanted him to succeed to the throne in the realm from which his father had fled. Jupiter, with no opposition from this council, went to Crete to become king. The citizens were too afraid to oppose this, as they had no idea where Saturn had gone. Cibele and Vesta mourned greatly for Saturn's misfortune, but their sorrow turned to joy at Jupiter's coronation. They sent for Juno, and Jupiter began to reign, desiring and departing from the Arcadians, who rejoiced greatly over the treasures of his father. Poets say that Jupiter seized his father's treasures and cast his genitals into the sea, from which Venus was born. That is, he distributed his father's treasures among his men, resulting in the birth of all [the gods]. In these days, when Jupiter of Crete flourished in honor, strength, and prowess, the mighty king Acrisius ruled in Argos. It is worth noting that Acrisius' daughter Danaus gave birth to a son named Epaphus, who was born of Jupiter and a damsel named Erisyche. Epaphus fathered a son and a daughter; the son was named Belus and ruled in a part of Egypt. His daughter was named Libya and lived in Africa, where she conceived a son named Busiris, an uncivilized tyrant. As will be mentioned later in the deeds of Hercules, Belus then fathered two sons, Danaus and Amphitryon. Danaus had fifty daughters, and Amphitryon had as many sons. These sons and daughters were joined by marriage, with Egistus expecting to marry his sons. However, he was deceived by Danaus. For Danaus, instead, married the daughters to the Danaids. Envy and covetousness led him to have the succession. He made his daughters traitorously plan to murder all fifty sons of the said Egistus the first night of their espousals as they slept. And all of them conspired in this foul, horrible crime, except one alone named Ypermestra. She, who should have persecuted her husband Linus, spared his life mercifully. And she conceived of his seed a son named Abas, who later became king of Argos. Abas engendered King Acrisius, of whom mention is made at the beginning of this chapter. These were the parents and progenitors of King Acrisius. He was very powerful in riches, but he named himself poor. For he had only one daughter, named Danae, but in order to have a son, he went daily into the temples and oracles of the gods. There he made many prayers and sacrifices, fasting, alms-giving, and other acts of devotion. All these things could not help or bring about exaudiation: the accomplishment of his desire / His wife came to her childbearing years, and then he was past all hope to have any child male / and then he comforted him in Danes his daughter / And set his love so greatly in her / that he had no pleasure but only to behold her / and that he purposed that no man should have her near him or wed her, except he were the most noble and valiant man in the world / but for as much as in this world there is nothing enduring / This love was of little durability. And that by the purchase of King Acrisius, for as the love that he had in Danes grew in natural increase / he went to the oracle of God Apollo his old grant-father / And seeking what should be the destiny of his daughter / he did himself be answered that from her should come a Son that should tear him in pieces.\n\nBy this answer, Acrisius began to fall from the great love that he had in his daughter / he turned sorrowful and pensive into his house and became all melancholic. The king Acrisius, without taking joy or pleasure in anything he saw, had a young daughter. He saw her often. At times, in cruelty, and at other times, in pity, the thought that he believed would be transformed into stone by the one who was to be born of his daughter, incited him to such cruelty that he often determined he would put her to death. And so, to remedy his misfortune, he would raise his hand with the sword he intended to use to kill her. But nature intervened, and he was moved between both. From this cruelty, he was made to descend into pity, and to put away his sword. And the shedding of her blood, which was to come from his own blood and which would come to the succession of his crown, which his ancient progenitors had ordained beforehand, was stayed.\n\nFrom then on, this king Acrisius took his rest, troubled by many signs. He could not be assured. His daughter grew and became a woman, passing fair. And right well addressed to her, many kings and great earthly lords desired to have her in marriage and would endow her with noble crowns. But King Acrisius refused all who asked for her, fearing that for her great beauty, she might be taken away and ravished. By which she might, by chance, have a son who would turn him to stone. To avoid this particular and dangerous situation, he thought he would make a journey to the strongest place in the world, and that in this place, his daughter would live, shut up and secluded from any man, for he was so jealous of her that he did not leave her well when he saw her. In the end, he sent for workmen and foreigners of stone and copper from all sides. And when they had all arrived, he said to them that he wanted a tower made entirely of copper with a gate separated from the tower to put in four. Twenty men of arms were to keep the tower if it was necessary. The workmen, bargained with King Acrisius, began the tower and the gate. They set to work on the tower, and when it was completed, Acrisius brought his daughter there without delaying her knowledge. And as soon as she was in the tower, he said to her, \"My only daughter, it has come to my knowledge that there will come a son who will convert and turn me into stone and desire to live in his life. I love this passing well, and nothing in the world is more precious to me than my life. But my life touches me closer to my heart than your love. Therefore, seeking and requiring remedies against my predestined misfortune, I would not give you in marriage to any man who has asked or desired you. Also, that generation should not descend from your body, and you should have no knowledge.\" During my life, I have asked that this copper tour be made for you and I request that you remain in it and keep still. I ask my daughter to comply with my wishes and take patience in this place while I accompany you with many noble virgins. I will give to you all that you can think of.\n\nWhen the noble damsel Danes understood her father's will, she beheld the copper tour to keep her confined within it. Furthermore, she considered that she should never marry during the life of her father, the king. She was greatly troubled by these matters. And with great bitterness and sorrowful heart, she began to weep and said, \"Alas, my father, am I born under such an unhappy constellation to be a maid of honor and prisoner, not in the end of my years but in my young time. Not in a prison of stone or of iron but in a copper and laton tour in such a way that I should dwell there perpetually. My father, what have you done?\" Interprets the sentence of God Belus, saying that of me shall be born a son who will reign after me and turn them to stone. For by this sentence, nothing else should be understood but that I will have a son who will rule after me and turn them to stone. That is, he will put you in your sepulcher. Behold, what simplicity it will be for you to keep me thus afflicted and shut up in this tower. My daughter answered, \"Acrisius, you interpret the prophecy of our god Belus as it pleases you, and it lies heavy on my heart. If you have a son, he will put me to death, and that is my judgment. I am your father, lord and master over you. You shall remain here either by love or otherwise. At this conclusion, when Danes saw that she could not satisfy her headstrong father, as wise and sagacious as she was, she agreed and consented to do his will. Saying it with her mouth and not with her heart. Then the king sent for her. Virgins and old matrons throughout the realm delivered his daughter to them for accompanying service and keeping. He commanded them all to be shut and sealed. After taking leave of them on pain of death, he returned to the city of Argos. He assembled forty strong women, whom he gave wages and sent to guard the gate and entrance of the tower. The news of these things spread so greatly and loudly that all of Greece was filled with marvels. No king or prince complained about the loss of Fair Danes' youth, but instead held and named the most fair of all the Greeks, the daughter of the king, {etc}\n\nBy this tour and this means, Acrisius thought to overcome his destined misfortune. He was well pleased that his daughter was in such a secure place. All the world spoke of her and her tower. By compassion, they [were moved]. Iupiter was so enamored of this damsel Danes that his eyes and heart were filled with longing for her. Hearing the recommendation of her excessive perfection from the gods, he was greatly enamored of her and desired her intensely, as much as his marriage with Juno had been consumed. He began to ponder and think deeply about how and when and in what manner he might see this damsel Danes. He thought and studied this matter so much that there was nothing else he wanted to hear about, except for those who spoke of Danes' imprisonment. He spoke gladly and conspired with good will, determined to be with her both in the presence of Juno and otherwise. Juno expressed her concern and felt the first sparks of jealousy, casting infinite doubt. curses and maledictions were upon Danes, and upon all those who had sown these tidings before her husband, not only in secret and in her stomach, but more openly in his presence, she showed evidently that she had an affair with Iupiter. Iupiter, however, was no less eager to see Danes than he was to forestall the maledictions and curses. These could not hinder or withdraw his affections, which grew more and more intense. In the end, he found himself so overcome that no more self-control could be found. And in order to devise intentions and conclusions, he decided to go to the gardeners and keepers of Danes' damsel and promised them so generously and many oches of gold and jewels with much gold money that he would tear them with his gifts to agree to him and let him enter the tower of Danes. Then he sent for the jewellers who were accustomed to serve his father Saturn and had them make the most rich bags and oches that had ever been seen or heard of. Iupiter had taken men apart and charged him, appearing as a servant alone, to depart from Crete and draw him secretly to Arges. He went and came, seeing the tour of Darian. Which he found in an evening and saw the walls shining and came to the gate where he found many matrons sitting for recreation.\n\nWhen Iupiter came, he greeted the Matrons and said to them, \"Noble dames, good night comes to you. What is this noble tour of such strong appearance? Fair son spoke the eldest of them, \"You are not from this land, for you do not know the name of this tour. But certainly you know that it is called the tour of Darian. And this is the proper place that King Acrisius has had made to keep his virgin daughter Danae, who is accomplished in all virtues and honorable manners, unlike any in this world. But the poor maid is so unfortunate, that\" Her father, Acrisius, keeps her here in this secluded place because he received a prophecy from his goddess that his daughter Danae would give birth to a child who would destroy him. We keep her secluded so no man may speak to her. Her father is King Acrisius, who is so distraught with jealousy that if he knew of your presence, he would send men to destroy you. Therefore, withdraw and continue on your way. Jupiter, hearing the woman's words, paid no heed to them. Instead, he focused his eyes on the secluded place. Seeing that it was impregnable for any assault, both because of the strength of the place where it was founded and its proximity to the city of Argos, which was strong, he considered that the only way he could see this maiden was by the means of these women. And thus, he answered the old woman, \"I thank you for your good advice. I am much obliged.\" I am obliged to you, but I have more to tell you if it pleases you. I have been sent to the damsels of this place by the mighty king Jupiter of Crete to deliver to them certain presents on his behalf. Therefore, I ask for your assistance when I present them to them. When the old matron understood that it was Jupiter and that he brought presents for the damsels, she answered him, \"You are most welcome.\" And she made him enter into a little chamber near the gate to speak with her friends when they came to visit them. Then she went into the chamber of the Danes. And there she gathered all the women of the place and said to them, \"My friends, the king Jupiter of Crete greets you. One of his servants told me that he has brought certain presents. See now whether you will receive them or not, and what I shall answer to the messenger.\"\n\nThe damsels were very joyous and glad when they heard these tidings and took counsel together. The messengers concluded that they would take and receive the king Jupiter's presents. They descended into the chamber and feasted the messenger, who paid them reverence. The ladies and damsels, your renown is so great that it has moved king Jupiter to desire your love. In sign of which, he has sent you his jewels, and prays that you receive them in thanks. He recommends himself to the right noble grace of your master, the king's daughter. With these words, Jupiter opened his leather pouch, from which he delivered the jewels to the damsels once they had received and seen them. They were all abashed to see such precious things and said they would go and show them to their mistress. Immediately, they went up to the tower and showed their present to Danae, signifying that king Jupiter recommended himself to her noble grace. As soon as this noble virgin had seen these jewels, she said that they must be... I. King Iupiter was rich and generous, and the gifts he bestowed were more valuable than all the realm of Argos. It was also important that the messenger who brought these jewels be honored and thanked in the queen's name. Then, at the command of the damsels, they feasted the messenger of King Iupiter as well as they could for most of the night in food and drink. And then came the old woman who had first spoken with him and said to him, \"My son, the maidens, Danaus, thank King Iupiter for the courtesy he has shown them. I am greatly indebted to him and to you for taking the trouble to bring them these gifts. If there is anything you need here, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be pleased to serve you with good will.\"\n\nII. Iupiter replied, \"You do me too much honor. If there is anything in Crete that pleases you, ask for it, and I will certainly serve you willingly.\" And they spoke for a long time. Iupiter took leave of the damsels and decided to return to his country early in the morning. Iupiter took as much rest as he could that night, and his heart was so captivated that he woke up earlier than necessary. He returned secretly to Crete and made new jewels, even more rich and precious than the others, to give as gifts to the damsels. As soon as it was possible, he gathered as many as would mount a horse. The next morning, early, he loaded a horse with these jewels and, without anyone knowing, he labored so hard that he reached the tower without any mishap. There he assembled the damsels and paid them respect, saying, \"Ladies and damsels, the king Iupiter has shown such favor to you that, having heard of the festivity and joy you made with his jewels, he has sent them to you.\" This is the name I present to you of the jewels that I have now brought. I pray that the presentation may be acceptable and pleasing to your mistress, charged by Jupiter:\n\nWhen Jupiter had accomplished his purpose, he displayed his merchandise. And when the matrons had learned that Jupiter desired to have grace to speak with Danes, they went to the maiden, accompanied by the old woman, to have her ready. The old woman spoke to them and said, \"Daughter, the king Jupiter has sent the burden of a horse of the fairest jewels that you have ever seen. Indeed, it is a triumph to see them, notwithstanding we dared not receive them because the messenger requires speech with you, which we are forbidden by your father. What shall we do? When the maiden Danes...\" The old woman had heard the words and tidings. She was right persistent, but not sparingly so, in saying that her heart urged her. Her answer was: \"My mother, you know well and it need not be told to you. He who shows love and courtesy ought to be treated similarly. Jupiter, as you have told me, has often done good for us. Under all corrections, I believe we can endure him speaking with me. It is a small thing for his servant or varlet to know. The king, my father, shall never know it. It is not necessary that he knows all that will happen. But first, show him how it is defended for you, that no man speaks with me. Make him promise and swear to keep this thing secret.\"\n\nThe damoisels and the old woman, delighted with the maiden's answer, went down from the tower to the gate. Finding Jupiter busy deploying and unbinding his jewels, the old woman said to him: \"Fair soon, King Jupiter\" \"this place has shown me more grace than all the men in the world before the Maid of Denmark. However, you should know that on pain of death, it is forbidden for any living man to speak with her, including us. The king Acrisius has also forbidden us on the same pain of death. We shall not bring you to her, considering all the circumstances. For if it were known without fault, we would all be put in the fire. And perhaps if you were found here by the coming king, he would put you to death. Therefore, we ask you to excuse us before your master. Jupiter found nothing in his search, and then he was more displeased than hopeful. But he remembered that a beggar should not leave without a warning. And the old woman began her answer to him, \"Dame, you do well to fear and\" The king, who is not a marvel to me, has not issued such strict commands that you cannot expand upon them if you wish. He has forbidden anyone from speaking with her. Jupiter the king requests that his servant may say certain secret things to her regarding her honor. You may do as you please, but if you grant his request, the accord will not harm you in any way. For Jupiter the king is not a fool and knows much about the world. He would not have sent me to you if he had not found you secret. If you would please him, you have no reasonable excuse. None knows of this except you and I. If I speak to the maiden with your consent, who will accuse us? It will not be you for the matter does not concern you. Nor will it be I or Jupiter, for truly we would rather die in sorrowful death and endure shameful pain.\n\nThe old woman answered soon: \"You speak so sweetly that we may not, nor can you give.\" I grant your request, and I trust in you. Alas, Iupiter doubted when I would fail against you or anyone else. I am struck by thunder and tempest, I would truly assure the maiden, by your judgment, that she would not suffer any inconvenience because of me. With these words, Iupiter won over the old woman and all the maidens not only with his subtle language but also with his riches. For a short process, the old woman agreed that he would have the grace to speak with the maiden. He brought him before her with all his presents. Iupiter had more joy than I can write. And when he was thus above in the tower of Danae, beholding the ample beauty of Danae, his joy doubled, and he knew her lightly by her beauty. And he made to her reverence, saying, \"Right noble and right accomplished damsel, the king Iupiter salutes you by me. And sends\" The women of this house, if it pleases you, shall receive your goods. I will then tell you certain secret things that King Jupiter, your servant, has instructed me to tell you. My friend answered, \"Safe your honor. King Jupiter is not my servant, but I am his. I thank him for the generous gifts that seem to have come from him here. It pleases me greatly that the women of this tour receive your present. I am also pleased to hear your charge.\"\n\nThe Matrons and damsels were present at this answer. King Jupiter delivered to them his jewels, which they received with great joy. Then Danes took the messenger by the hand and led him aside to the bedside. When King Jupiter found him alone with Danes, he said to her, \"Noble damsel.\" I shall no longer call you damoiselle, but lady. For you are my lady and my only mistress who has mastered my heart, and also overcome me under the shadow and brilliance of your glorious loos and name. In truth, it is not long since I was in my realm to hear reported the manner in which your father detained you in this tour with little good that may accord with your honor, as well as to obtain your thanks and grace. As for pity wherewith I was made, I have deliberated in my heart to employ myself for your deliverance and also for your grace. And for executing this deliberation, I have taken party in my treasures and come here to present them to your ladies. I departed and have now come again in hope to have your love. And of this I am well contented and thank mercy and fortune. Alas, madame, if I am so bold as to have put myself\n\n(Note: The text appears to be written in Early Modern English. No major OCR errors were detected, but there are some minor spelling inconsistencies and missing letters that have been corrected in the text above.) In the adventure of my life to show the great love that I have for you, I ask for your forgiveness. If I have dared to undertake something so high that I am not worthy to touch it except in the favor of fortune, madam,\nin the consideration of my words, you may see my life as my death. You alone can lightly make the judgment if your humility condescends to the knowledge of pity that I have had for you. Disposing myself in danger, I am now near the peril which you may save, and if not, I yield myself your prisoner. Indeed, the shining resplendence of your renowned beauty. Whose deed surpasses the renown and the triumph of your incomparable excellence has enchained my heart and brought me here into the prison of your will. Alas, madam, behold and see with your eyes full of sweetness and clemency me, who at this time do not see but languish in continual trouble, in redoubled furies, and in sighs upon sighs which cannot be. \"At the beginning of the first recommendation made of you in my presence, and when I endeavored to deliver you from this tour, I held myself eager and happy because of such a lofty enterprise. But seeing the pearls where I found only myself, I knew not what to say of myself. For month after month, week after week, and day after day, your name had dominion over me. And often it had compelled me to be roused and yet more in a trance through the desire to speak to you and to imagine how I would come to the point where I now am. And not only this, but also to find mercy in you. I humbly pray and request that the amorous gift of mercy you will grant me. And thus, doing so, you will do mercy to yourself and have pity on your youth, which you have consented to waste through the foolish fantasies of your father the king.\" be married to only one man. It is possible that your father shall live as long as you, for he is strong of body and boisterous. Also, you ought to understand if I believe me that your life has no worth or pleasure except in the sight and beholding of diverse things. Women particularly have their principal pleasures in their husbands and generation. You cannot come here but if you have mercy on yourself. Is it not in your conscience and knowledge that no man has but his life in this world? For as much as you obey and comply with the foolish commandment of your father, King Acrisius, you shall be a lost woman being in this place. It is not possible to take and have patience. This is too hard a thing for a young heart to be put in prison without merit. I know the human affections and understand that naturally every creature loves its profit before the profit of another. This is against your prosperity and utility that you be. \"Here is a situation where one may have love for him who is the cause of two evils. The lesser evil is to choose rather than feel condemned here until the end of your father's days. Doubt not that his end is often desired to his misfortune for your sake. And his misfortune may not be ended without great conscience burden. I think it would be better for you in various ways to find a means to leave this place and take a noble and powerful husband, one who would undertake to carry you away secretly to be his wife in his country. By this means, you shall be delivered from the pain where you are, and you should avoid the death of your father and do less evil in fleeing his foolish commandment than to remain in the place where he has put you. Madame, I implore you, consider this for your honor and health, as I have told you. And if it pleases you to depart from this place, you shall find no one readier than I am to keep you.\" I give myself to your noble commandments to fulfill your will to the best of my power, as one who constantly keeps you in the deepest recesses of my mind. In sleep I see you and in wakefulness I think of you. I have never had rest in myself nor ever will, unless it pleases you. If you take me under your mercy and find grace in you, I shall be the happiest of all, and if you do otherwise, among all the unhappy, none may go before me. But when such fortune comes to me through your rigor, I shall take it in patience for the nobleness that I see in you always. I require that my heart not be prized nor turned away from yours. For as much as it concerns me, all the tongues of men cannot express nor quantify the love that I have for you. By this love, I am always in thoughtful labor. And,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be written in Early Modern English, which can be translated to Modern English as follows:\n\nI give myself to your noble commandments to fulfill your will to the best of my power, as one who constantly keeps you in the deepest recesses of my mind. In sleep I see you and in wakefulness I think of you. I have never had rest in myself nor ever will, unless it pleases you. If you take me under your mercy and find grace in you, I shall be the happiest of all, and if you do otherwise, among all the unhappy, none may go before me. But when such fortune comes to me through your rigor, I shall take it in patience for the nobleness that I see in you always. I require that my heart not be prized nor turned away from yours. For as much as it concerns me, all the tongues of men cannot express nor quantify the love that I have for you. By this love, I am always in thoughtful labor.)\n\nTherefore, I, who am in your debt for your nobleness, request that my heart not be prized nor turned away from yours. For as much as it pertains to me, no tongue can express or quantify the love that I bear for you. By this love, I am always in thoughtful labor. sighis anguysshous and ofte tymes in grete fere and doubte And at this oure I wote\nneuer whether I lyue or not / how wel me thinketh I am here for to resseyue absolucion or mortal\u0304 sentence Thise thinges co\u0304sidered alas will not ye haue hym in your grace That for to deserue your loue & mercy hath abandouned and auentured his lyf as ye maye see / leuyng his ryall astate for the better to kepe his caas secrete / vnto an herte well vnderstanding fewe wordes suffisen / For conclu\u00a6sion I pray yow to gyue your herte vnto him. that hath gy\u00a6uen his vnto yow. and that ye pourueye from hens forth for \u00fee losse where ye now be Inne after \u00fee comyn Iugeme\u0304t\nWIth this Iupiter helde his pees and kept scilence and entended his eeres for to here what shold be thanswere of danes / The right noble damoysell whan she had herd his purpono\u00a6ted And whan she sawe that he had gyuen her place to speke / how wel\u0304 she was right assewred. she changed colour & said to hym / Syre kynge alas knowe ye well what shold be the renome that shold If I believe you, and I should follow your counsel, what would the people say? Madame answered Iupiter, the worst they may say is that you disobey your father's frivolous commandment, which, as all the world knows, he is indeed the hand of. If you wish to help yourself and steal yourself away, they would say Danes, you think to deceive me with your fair and sweet words. I know the arguments of the Argives, and I also know that I am bound to obey my father. Furthermore, I am not so ignorant that I would not welcome some nobleman as my husband, but my honor would be saved. And also, I am greatly indebted to him who has departed here with a large portion of his treasures and jewels. And to you, if it is true that you are who you say you are. But when I have learned and understood all this, and seen visibly that the Argives should defame me to perpetuate, and that my father should have sent me where my honor would be strongly defiled and put... And I have no other knowledge of you, except for your own declaration. I will not abuse you in any way, nor will you experience any disturbance on my account. I ask that you consider my request and allow me to be with my fellowship and friends.\n\nMadame replied, \"Iupiter, have no doubt that I am not Iupiter, king of Crete, if I am not all the gods confound me and thunder falls on me; the swallow of the sea receives me. Do not suspect my feet, as I have told you. I have come to you not in royal attire, but in simple clothing, to conduct my affairs more secretly. At least, at this first meeting, grant my request. Take your time to consider, and I will speak with you tomorrow. You will counsel well tonight.\"\n\nThe noble maiden Danes was greatly alarmed, and she did not know what to do. She dared not look at Iupiter. (For shame) She struck him in the eyes. Despite this, her heart commanded her to see who the man was and whether he was a nobleman or a king. At last she took the day to speak to him again the next morning. After this, she had the tables covered by the damsels and said that she would entertain the messenger of Jupiter. The damsels heard this and answered that they were all bound to entertain him and make him great cheer. They showed her their riches, which filled the chamber, the walls of which shone and were bright. What more can I say? The damsels adorned themselves with Jupiter's jewels. Garments were spread with food, Jupiter and Danes were set opposite each other. The service was great and rich, and I had nothing to eat. How little Jupiter and Danes gave in eating! Jupiter ate less bodily than spiritually. He was in a trance, doubtful and fearful. He had an answer by which he could be reassured. The king Iupiter hoped that the damoiselles would discover this to the young maidens in such a way that they were accustomed to discover one to another. And whenever any required their love, they should be more favorable to him for his gifts. In this state, Iupiter was present for his part. The damoiselles beheld him and said that he did not have the manner of a yeoman or a servant, but of a man of right noble and great appearance. Among other Danes to whom Iupiter had given cause to be pleased, they cast their eyes upon Iupiter, considering his countenance, his beauty. Then it seemed to them that he had spoken truthfully, as well as on the following night she began to feel the sparks of love and see his riches that he had given in the house. She varied to give to him her heart and her love of this variation, to which her heart was inclined. She was quite certain and firmly resolved. Many noble men had requested her love before she was shut away in the tower, and could not turn her heart nor sigh and think for their requests. The only words of Jupiter were so enchanting and happy that they compelled her to grant audience and perfect pensiveness, banishing all doubts and contrary opinions. So long did the feasting of Jupiter last that it was our turn and time to withdraw. Then the Danes took leave of Jupiter and conveyed him into a secret chamber by her damsels. When Jupiter was departed, she entered her chamber accompanied only by the old woman who had charge over her, as the malicious one had said to her, \"Daughter, tell me of your tidings. I must needs know what this messenger has said to you.\" The old woman answered Danes, \"He must come himself and make it known.\" The man has told me so many things that the tenth part is not in my mind. My daughter said the old woman thinks he has not come here without cause, what he has said. If you have not all in mind, tell me at least what remains and stays in your mind. Dame answered, \"You know well that I have never mistrusted you. And the secrets of my heart have always been open to you. I will now make no new customs. For the sake of brevity, he who names himself servant of Jupiter is Jupiter himself, by his report, and has made great oaths that he has done these present acts and gifts to speak to me. In truth, he has shown me how I am wasting my time. And he has required me to be his wife, to which I have not yet consented, but I have taken a day to give an answer in the morning, hoping to take your counsel. Therefore, I pray you, counsel me in what I have to do and what answer I shall give him. You know how I have suffered his gifts to be received. This old woman had been in the house of King Melliseus and had seen Jupiter during his return from his conquest of Ares. She recognized him from the first day he arrived there, and she doubted not his identity due to his person, as men are often alike. She kept her eye on him when she understood from Danes that he was Jupiter, and she was certain it was he in person. She took great joy in saying, \"My daughter, I certainly know him whom we have spoken and made deals with for a long time past. I assure you, it is he who has made you understand this, but as for counseling you, if you take him as your husband, I can say no other way to you except that he is one of the most valiant men in the world, and his enterprises are lofty.\" If I had a daughter, the most suitable man for her would be him. A man leaving, who I would give my son to, pleases him to take her. You see that, despite his simple appearance, he is a goodly man, noble, rich, wise, a king. Feel in yourself your courage. If you will use and observe your father's commandment, you may not hold a consistent or parliamentary relationship with him. If you will absent yourself from this place by good means, there is no one but Jupiter who can help you. I counsel you neither one nor the other. Choose and take the best way.\n\nMy mother said, \"Danes, how should I choose for myself? There is neither wit nor understanding in me to choose what I should choose. Nor can I discern the good from the evil.\" And with this, all the damsels of the house came to her and said to her that they had made good cheer for their guest. The secret devices of the Danes and the old woman failed. The damsels went and fetched their jewels, newly presented to them, and departed, each one after her portion. They said that to King Jupiter, he was among all others the most large and the most honorable king.\n\nThe Danish maids took great pleasure in all these things. When the damsels had distributed among them their jewels of gold with great joy, they led Danes to bed and departed from her chamber, leaving it open by forgetfulness. As they had set all her mind and intentions on her riches, they went to their bedchambers. Iupiter, lying in his bed at this hour, found himself overwhelmed by the desire of love. He was compelled to arise and look out at a window to behold if the day was approaching, lifting his eyes again against the stars of heaven. He was ravished in his heart by the memory of fair Danes and said, \"O noble Danes, who have more beauty.\" than the star shining, and that you shine by sovereign clarities, alas, where are you this hour, the pain that I endure for your sake, you knew not the great jeopardy and the perilous passes that I have undergone to gain your love, unknowns. May she have a place in you, with disdain, rigor, and fierceness, which are my enemies, envenomed with mortal venom, O Danes, remember yourself of me, and thou fortune that has so hurried me in all my affairs, so hurry me in this present need.\nWith this word his complaint ceased, and gave his intent to many sharp thoughts that pierced his heart right pensively. This thought was great and touching a right adventurous enterprise, all accomplished and abated, he determined in himself to attempt if he might\ncome to the end of his thought, and armed and clothed himself and went out of his chamber to the tower, where he saw the door open to his sight, and finding truth that it was open, he went up as softly as he could, so as he should not be heard. Iupiter came so far that he entered the chamber where the door was open. In this chamber, a lamp was burning, and Jupiter, full of joy, put his head inside to see if the damsels were with Danes. When he had seen that there were none but Danes in the bed, he urged himself to go to her. He found her sleeping and awakened her with a kiss.\n\nDanes was so shocked when she felt herself being kissed that she crept into the bed. Iupiter drew near so that he could speak to her. When she opened her eyes and recognized that it was Jupiter, and that he was alone by her bedside, she made a great shriek and cried out.\n\nWhen Jupiter heard this cry, he was not entirely certain. Nevertheless, he pursued his adventure, reassuring and comforting her with his sweet words. In the end, he declared to her that it was necessary that she become his wife, promising to come and fetch her soon. And so long he held her in such devices that he unclothed himself and, speaking to her, sprang into the bed and lay by her side. She said and endured it all with all her might. Then the maid said that she was betrayed, and weeping tenderly, she intended to flee and go away. But Jupiter took good heed, and at the leap she supposed to make, he caught and held her by the arm, and made her lie down again. He appeased her in such a way that she left her weeping, and on the morning when he rose up from her, he left her with a young son. What more can I say? Jupiter, through his boldness, achieved his will and made amends for his offense. The night passed, and the day came that Jupiter had to arise and depart from her. And, by necessity, he arose and gathered his belongings to go. I. returned to his chamber where he went to bed and slept so soundly that he awakened not until the hour and time for dinner.\n\nAt this hour Danes asked where was the messenger of Jupiter and said that she would eat with him, and that they should bring him up to the secret tower quietly. With the words of Danes' two damsels went down from the tower into Jupiter's chamber. Finding him asleep, they awoke him. He was ashamed and embarrassed, for the sun was then high. Then he rose and dressed quickly when he knew that Danes had sent for him to come speak with her. And so he came to her, who began to grow red and lose her majesty and composure when she saw him. After the reverence was made, they went and ate together, and made great cheer. Danes was ashamed and strongly reproved for the incident that had happened to her, and she could not restrain her eyes from the beauty of Jupiter, who also could not help but look at her. Her desire for him was so ardent that the eyes of one and the other pierced each other frequently during this encounter. They spent part of the dinner time in this regard. After they had finished eating, Danaans drew them apart and held a long debate about their work. This conclusion was reached between them: Jupiter should go to his country and return there with a certain number of people to take away the fair Danains. With this conclusion, Jupiter departed and returned to Crete, leaving Danains in the tower. I will stay with these Danains for the time being and return later to speak of how Tantalus, king of Phrygia, fought against the Trojans and had the first battle in Troy.\n\nWhen King Tros had named his city Troy and was mounted and enhanced in such high renown, the kings his neighbors, out of reverence for him, were put in little regard and less glory. Many, out of great respect for his worship, began to murmur against him. hym in feet and in thought / and amonge alle other the kynge tantalus of ffrigye sone of tharchaden Iupiter kynge of actyque took in ryght grete despyte thercellence of troos and conspyred ayenst hym and made a grete assemble of men of armes / and so departed out of his\nroyame in entencion to destroye and spille the kynge Troos and his Cyte of Troye / This tantalus had a sone in his compaygnye named pelops / And also he left a sone at home named thiestes for as moche as he was yong / And this thiestes had a sone sins named philistenes the fader of menelaus that regned in the tyme of the thirde destruction of Troye / For to retorne to our purpoos / Than Tantalus exployted in suche wyse that he conduytyd and brought his ooste vpon the terrytorye of Troye / And dide do smyte doun and destroye alle thinge that was in theyr puyssance vnto playne destruction / Wherof the Crye and clamours of them that fledde was so grete / that in short tyme the kynge Troos was aduertysid / wherof he was not affrayed For he had the King Tros, well fortified with people, made preparations to resist his adversaries with such diligence that within four hours after leaving Troy, he marched with 30,000 fighting men to the place where the Trojans had entered. This noble king Tros had in his company two sons, the eldest named Aeneas, to whom descended from heaven the Palladium, and the younger named Ascanius. These two sons, valiant and hardy, came into the field and asked their father Tros to divide his army, and to grant them his vanguard to prove their might against their enemies. Tros, considering that by the separation of his people, those who were faltering or hesitant might be encouraged when the time came for battle, acceded to their request and gave them 12,000 fighting men. Aeneas and Ascanius thanked their father, took leave of him, and went forth with their fighting men. suche wise, they were a mile ahead of the king's battalion. And so the king trusted the battalions of his two sons, I lion and Gammes, and rode between them to report to the king when his sons had found the enemy, Tantalus, and their two noble sons had gone forward with their diverse spies and scouts that were sent out to different places to learn and discover the state, power, and order of their enemies, who were found about evening. And immediately after they returned to I lion and Gammes, they bid them make ready, and told them that they had seen the enemies of Troy in a certain place that they named, and that there they had seen them encamped. They could be estimated to number about thirty thousand fighting men.\n\nOf these tidings, the Trojans had great joy. It was about midnight, and they were encamped in the end of a valley. I lion and Gammes assembled all the noble men of their company at once and told them this. The spies reported and sought their counsel. All were of the opinion that they should endure their rest for a good hour longer. After that, they should break their fast a little and lighten themselves, to have the better and longer breath, and also to be more courageous. This was what they should do before departing to go and assault their enemies. This opinion seemed good to the five sons of the king. They signaled their intention to their father, Troos. After this, they withdrew to take a little rest and gave charge to those keeping watch. They had scarcely rested when they were awakened and called. Each man was ordered to take up his arms and follow on. The Trojans obeyed, knowing it was time to make ready quickly. They were never so joyous as when they knew they were going to battle. They ate and drank, tempering themselves with one good will. They armed themselves. They armed themselves and showed one another how they would fight in the battle and confuse their enemies, and threatened them with a bad account. At this hour the sun shone clearly. By its shining and light, Ilion and Gametes prepared their people in fair order. When they had taken a short rest, they began to march towards them and took up positions in front of all others. They came so near by the light of the moon that those who kept watch for their enemies heard them and fled to the tents of King Tantalus, awakening him and telling him that the Trojans were coming to challenge him. They had seen them in great numbers, but Tantalus did not believe his watchmen readily and delayed his rising more than was necessary. He had not long been awake when the Trojans arrived and attacked the Phrygians so devastatingly that the echoes of their blows reached the ears of Tantalus. He arose and sprang up. The Frygians, terrified by this affray, were awakened in general, some from mortal wounds and some from their cries, and some were struck anguishedly unto death. In coming on thus, the Trojans caused great damage to their enemies, and the more so because many of them were not armed. Those who were struck down by the gleams of the Trojans were beaten down, laboring aglow with their blood. Notwithstanding, the coming of the Trojans was sharp, and Ilium and Gametes approached them fiercely in their work. Tantalus and his son Pelops rallied their people, gathering them around their tent, and when they found them in sufficient numbers to enter into battle, Tantalus cried, \"Frygians, Frygians!\" and after he died, his people marched against the Trojans, and they all beat down those who came before them in the place where they had arrived, and then began the great noise. On all sides, cries were made, and at the joining of the battles. The tempest was so horrible that it seemed the world would end in the same place. Gammes and Pelops encountered each other, filled with great courage. They fought so fiercely and intensely that they seemed to be slaying one another. Tantalus and Lyion were present. Tantalus struck Gammes, and Lyion struck Pelops. The Trojans and Phrygians intervened, joining in the fight. And there began the slaughter and carnage. Fighting was shown as champions did, each man displaying his valor and prowess so strongly that, as much as they saw the moon wane and decline, it was not yet the day when they found on the morning the place covered with blood. Heads, arms, and men lay dead, but the name of the Phrygians was much greater in number against one than of the Trojans. What shall I say, as long as the moon gave its light? There was... After the aforementioned battle, when Tantalus had been withdrawn, he began to cast his eyes upon his people, who were all on a hill to determine their number and how they had fared; how much people he had lost. He had lost [number] and went about among them with his son Pelops. His power seemed less than he had hoped, and in his heart, he felt a great and sharp disappointment. The day began to rise, and in the dawning, two things appeared and came to the knowledge of Tantalus' people: one was the great loss of his people. The other was the battle itself. When King Tantalus understood this counsel and knew that his profit stood in his shameful end and flight, and above that, that he could not endure and subdue the name of Troy, he took hold of his beard, which was long with impatience, and said bitterly to himself, \"O accursed envy, you promised me late to put Troy under my feet. And have made me presumptuously rise against it.\" Her. Now I see the contrary, and by me Troy will flourish, and her name will grow and be enhanced. And all kings shall tremble before her on my account. O false traitress Fortune, accursed be thou, whom I ever believed. These words he spoke to his son and to other counselors, and he commanded his people to withdraw a little, finely. He commanded each man to save himself. And they all put to flight Ilion and Gamanes. They took charge and chased them out of the territory of Troy with great fear and slaughter of the Frigians' people. After they had chased them, they said that they had done them shame. And they left the work and returned and came upon the king Tros, her father, who had sued them. He took great joy when he saw that they had quit them so well on his enemies' account, through the good conduct of his two sons. The joy that Tros made to Ilion and Gamanes after the battle. In these days, when Troy showed the rays of its power and nobility to the world, Saturn, late king of Crete, sailed by the seas with a little company, not as king and possessor of the realm, but as banished and despised by all land and country. He had no place to withdraw himself to, nor knew nor ever knew where to go except by deserts and the abysses of the sea. When he had reached this point, The man pondered endlessly on how to pursue his son Iupiter. Fortune led him to the shores of Hellespont, where he beheld and saw Troy, a city passing fair and rich, of marvelous greatness. Seeking a brief respite from his melancholy and to reward his ship and crew, he set sail and rowed towards the city. When the Trojans saw the ship of Saturn, which was more valuable than all the ships they had ever seen, the master of Trojan ships went hastily to King Priam and said, \"Prepare your house. I assure you that the most rich ship has arrived at your doorstep. In such a noble ship, I believe that a noble or great earthly lord comes to you.\"\n\nKing Priam, upon hearing these tidings from the mariner master, desired to see the fair ship and went with his two sons. The king was courteous and honorable when he reached the gate. Upon reaching the gate, he found Saturnus had prepared his ship and was ready to depart for the city. Seeing the ship, he was greatly marveled by its richly made decorations. Furthermore, Saturnus and his companions were armed and had no mariners. He initially considered arming himself and sending for the Trojans. However, upon seeing their small number and that no other ship followed or beckoned these strangers, he changed his plans and approached the ship. He called out to Saturnus, who was best dressed among them, and asked him what he and his companions sought and from what nation they came. Saturnus replied, \"Sir, I do not know at what gate I have arrived. For as much as my heart tells me.\" that you be courteous of your nature, I will conceal nothing concerning your inquiry. I was once King of Crete, named Saturn. Now I have nothing left of my temporal goods but this one ship that you see. Therefore, I pray and request that you address me to some lord of this country, so that I may request license and permission to enter into his lordship and take that which is necessary for the life of me and my fellowship.\n\nKing Troy heard the case of Saturn, briefly summarized. He said to him, \"King Saturn, you are welcome to the house of Troy. In truth, I have great distress within myself regarding your initial distress. For I have often heard it recounted, but with this distress, two things delight and bring joy to my heart: one is the fulfillment of desire, for I have desired for many days to see you, and this desire is now realized.\" I have cleaned the text as follows:\n\nThe king completed his task with me, and in this matter, I tell you that the king of this land intends to comfort and counsel you to my power, and also to give you such good aid that you will correct your son and punish his person according to his offense. Saturnus began to sigh and take a little comfort from the great proof and good cheer that the king showed him. He thanked him for such high and ample offers. And as he was leaving his ship, he embraced him and kissed his hand. The king brought him into his palaces with all his men and feasted them as was fitting for the love of Saturnus. In the same way, the people, being informed that it was Saturnus who had discovered the method of working the earth, melting metals, and sailing and rowing by the sea, made such great and open festivities at his coming that they could do no more at that time. During this festivity, when Saturnus felt: \"In the grace of the Trojans, on a day called King Tros and his two sons, the king addressed his words, saying, \"Lords of Troy, you have done so much for me that I can never deserve it, as I have said to you. My son is exalted and lifted up above me, and has taken my kingdom from me. I ask you as much as I may, to consider what is most convenient for me and how I should endure and bear the injury done to me.\n\nMy brother answered the king Tros, \"It is against nature for a son to rebel against his father. The sin and crime is foul and worthy of reproof. Every son is bound by all laws to serve, worship, and obey his father. It is no reason that any man should approve or support a disobedient son. Your son is in this condition, cursed and evil. I am of the opinion that you will not act well unless you have the power to master and overcome his evil ways. And to the end that you will not...\" I. Apologies for your grievous harm and losses. When you are ready, I shall deliver to you my son, Gamelles, accompanied by twenty thousand Trojans, who will support you. Saturn was comforted when he knew the king Tros' love for him. After expressing many thanks, he agreed to return to Crete with Gamelles and begin the pitiful war between him and his son once more. Following this agreement, he appointed the shipping of Troy, as well as all related matters, and gathered men with great pomp by the introduction of Gamelles. When all had assembled and were gathered, he took leave of King Tros and Ilius, and went to the sea and shipped all his men. Knowing the situations of the lands by the sea, he addressed his east towards the Aegean Sea, where was Egegus, son of Titan the great. A pirate who dared not deal with them in any way/and from this sea of Eg\u00e9e, he did so much during various journeys that he arrived at the first port and harbor of Crete. When Saturn arrived in Crete, the sun was turning to the west, and on the heavenly sphere, the stars began to appear. Saturn knew the port and landed, hoping to enter the country secretly, and went a little way. There, he lodged his people in a convenient place and made them rest, eat, and drink for five hours. Then he woke the east and ordered the Trojans to arm and enter the kingdom, but they had not gone far when, after the sun rose and approached a narrow passage, the spies and scouts came to Saturn and reported that they had seen Jupiter strongly accompanied, keeping the passage. Upon this, it is known that when Jupiter had departed from Denmark and the tour de Danain and had come to Crete, desiring to accomplish his plans, Promesse before Danes, he assembled his men of war, intending faithfully to fetch the fair Danes and bring them to his country by force of arms. What more shall I say, his army was ready, and they came the same night he hoped to have departed. But as he was in his bed that night in his city of Partheney, tidings came to him of the arrival of the Trojans. Therefore, he was compelled by force to change his plans, which he was truly sorry and deeply grieved for. This unexpected news, freshly brought to him, he arose and took his armed men whom he had assembled and hastily brought them to the strait where above is written, and there remained his enemies, wise and well prepared. And it is not to be forgotten that in this army among his men was the king of Molossus, who had recently discovered the industry and craft to tame and break horses to ride. He and his men had come to. I. Serving Jupiter, the king, was known for his renown, accompanied by a hundred men who ran swiftly, like the wind. These men were called Centaurs. Centaurs were not only powerful like Jupiter, but also terrible and cruel. They had no doubt of Jupiter's power or that of any other being.\n\nII. Returning to the matter at hand, when Saturn learned that the passage was guarded and that Jupiter was alerted to his approach, he delayed his eastward journey. Addressing his children, Saturn said, \"It is necessary that you, my children, carry out this task in Crete, not only in mustering and displaying your forms, but also in being fearsome and dreadful, like thunder. Trust in our quarrel, Jupiter, my enemy is here, awaiting our coming to the battle. If we are to succeed in our enterprise, it is necessary that we draw near. What do you say? Then Gametes answered, \"We have come to Crete to correct your son and to set you back in your siege. We shall do this.\" may do by our power and freely fight without doubt or fear, and to the end that no reproach be imposed upon us. I shall send someone your son first or draw or strike him down, to the point that he yields himself to your obedience and comes to amend his misdeeds. And then, by the consent of Saturn, let his Trojans come and take their positions for battle. When he had done this, he sent one of his ancient knights, a noble man, to Jupiter, and gave him charge to make the summons as follows:\n\nThe Trojan department, at Saturn's command, separated from the east, and did so much that they were presented before Jupiter and said to him: Iupiter, you ought to know that every son owes obedience to his father. You act contrary to these things and show that you are not a king's son but a source of destruction. For you despise your father. In place of reverence, you hold him in hate, and you make him war where you should hold him in peace. If you put him to great dishonor and yourself are held and bound to do him worship, O Jupiter, who shall grant you absolution of your life dwelling in venom? Who shall excuse your sin? You are an enemy of your father. The case is so grave that there is no mercy or excusation, unless it departs from the natural clemency of your father. Behold, Jupiter, behold the end of your insurrection. All law and every written decree condemned you to death and cursed and anathematized you. It is a great pity you are a goodly young man. Know that your reign may not last long, and that you will be punished more shortly than you think at this time. One of the sons of Troy is here by, in the help of Saturn, your father, with twenty thousand fighting men, who mean by me that you restore yourself to the mercy of your father and yield him his kingdom, all excusations set aside.\n\nMessenger answered: If I were such as you say, with just reason, you would\n\nTherefore, the cleaned text is: If you put him to great dishonor and yourself are held and bound to do him worship, O Jupiter, who shall grant you absolution of your life dwelling in venom? Who shall excuse your sin? You are an enemy of your father. The case is so grave that there is no mercy or excusation, unless it departs from the natural clemency of your father. Behold, Jupiter, behold the end of your insurrection. All law and every written decree condemned you to death and cursed and anathematized you. It is a great pity you are a goodly young man. Know that your reign may not last long, and that you will be punished more shortly than you think at this time. One of the sons of Troy is here by, in the help of Saturn, your father, with twenty thousand fighting men, who mean by me that you restore yourself to the mercy of your father and yield him his kingdom, all excusations set aside.\n\nMessenger answered: If I were such as you say, with just reason, you would... And I would give you sentences and condemnations against me. I ought to respond to both parts. I believe if gamblers, whom you have spoken of, had heard my excuse, he would not be my enemy. I answer you that I love my father Saturn in as much as he is my father. But on the other hand, he has often willed to put me to death, showing himself my mortal adversary and nothing a father. For every father naturally loves his son. After that, I will keep myself from him as from my enemy, and I will be glad if the Trojans know that if they come and assault me, I will defend myself with all my power.\n\nWith this answer returned, the Trojan went to Saturn and reported what he had found. Saturn and the Trojans swore the death of Jupiter, and approached so near the strait that they came within bowshot distance of each other. And from as far as they saw each other, they made great cries and displays. Jupiter had set his power in two wings. Iupiter was chief in the first formation, and Xion and his centaurs governed the second. When Jupiter saw that there was no other way but to intervene, he declared that he would begin the battle. After encouraging his people, he spurred his horse on. A marvelous thing then happened: from the high clouds above descended an eagle upon his head, and it flew around him, making him feel festive and cheerful, and it did not depart from him during the battle.\n\nThe flying eagle gave Iupiter and his people hope for a good outcome. Saturn and the Trojans fell into fear and doubt, which they could not shake off. What more can I say when Jupiter, seeing the eagle's courage, experienced great joy in his heart? And, as a man fully confident in his body, he entered the ranks of the Trojan warriors who shot thickly at him. Running like a tempest, he did not wait for resistance from their arrows until he reached the men of arms. The Trojans had never seen a man on horseback before, and when they saw Jupiter, he had been half man and half horse. Some fled at his coming and others stayed and fought bravely against him. The battle of that day began. The Trojans from Crete followed Jupiter with great noise of tabors, trumpets, and clarions. They intervened on both sides. Jupiter laid low many Trojans and skillfully employed his horse, which he rode. Gamymedes and Saturnus on the other side did not fail. Jupiter constantly provided himself with weapons, the most expert among all others. He abandoned his body and life to the fiercest attacks of his enemies, but no man dared to face him or remain near him. He was slain and put under foot by the thrusting and striking of his sword.\n\nThis battle was cruel and fierce. The Trojans were fearless and made great and manly efforts, thanks to the guidance of Saturnus and Gamymedes. Saturnus often met Jupiter in combat. Times when he who sought great strokes, Iupiter, who knew him well, would never endure him, saying that he would never lay a hand on his person, but fled his death to his powers. However, he sought the death of his servants and made no sparing of their harness nor their leather arms, nor of their heads nor their young nor old, neither of the faint-hearted nor the hardy. It was all one to him; he bowed neither to one side nor the other for the stroke of the javelin nor the mace. He often remembered the fair Danes and, desiring to be free of his enemies to attend to their deliverance, as he had promised to them. He struck off heads and arms. To him, nothing was impossible. At every stroke, he died his glory with new blood, and the eagle flew around him now low now high, which the Trojans greatly despised in themselves [etc].\n\nGamedes, the noble Trojan, was of little stature, yet always notwithstanding, he was of greater courage than any other, and he fought vigorously. Against the Cretans, as one who sought nothing but worship and honor, what can I say? They fought together in this regard from morning till evening, without either party gaining any victory or loss. And Saturn withdrew his people to one side. Jupiter returned with King Xion and the centaurs, and the eagle always followed him and perched upon his tent. This tent was made of bows and green rushes, for at that time tents and pavilions of cloth were not yet had or used. How was the making of linen cloth and cloth of gold and silk discovered before this time?\n\nIn this night, the Trojans and the Cretans made great cheer in their tents and lodgings. They disposed themselves to begin again on the morrow the labor of arms, hoping all to have the better and victory. The wounded were dressed, and the broken harness was made anew and repaired. They spoke of the prowess of one and another, but above all they kept their vows to the eagle. And Jupiter spoke so much of him that on that night Jupiter took a piece of crimson clay and shaped it into a square of one and a half, and made therefrom the image of a golden eagle and set it on a spear. He declared that he would carry this banner in all battles henceforth. And he understood by the eagle that it was a sign to him that he would remain victorious over his enemies and be sovereign king of Crete, just as the eagle is king of all birds.\nSuch were the deeds of King Jupiter that night, which he passed most joyously. And he visited the wounded and comforted them. He made a truce with Ixion that the Centaurs should fight the battle the following day, and those who had fought the day before should rest. After this, he slept on the green and remained until the Centaurs put themselves in array and mounted their horses. And Jupiter did so, for he would rather have died than be idle.\nAt this time Saturn slept not, nor was there any more slackness found. hym and gamynedes than was in Iupiter / they were seur that they shold be met with alle and assayled of theyr enemyes agayn. They adoubid & arayed them the beste wise they couthe And aboute the sonne rysing they rengyd and wente vnto the Oost of Iupiter / encouragyng eche other to smyte and fyghte and assaylle theyr mortell enemyes hardyly for to auenge the blood of theyr felaws that were dede in the bataylle the day before.\nFOr to make shorte / than the Troians were strongly achanffid by Appetyte of vengeance / And were the firste on the felde / wherof they had grete Ioye in her hertes And maad a right grete cry\nBut thys Ioye was anon vnto hem abaysshid and doon. For sodeynly as Iupiter and the centaures herd theyr crye they toke the banyer wyth the egle of gold theyr speres and theyr sheldes / and wyth a Ioyous soune of trompes clarions and tabours prickyd forth theyr hors whiche redounded in to the ayer and reimyng as they that helde not of heuen ne of erthe vpon theyr enemyes began to fighte / certes whan The Trojans saw the centaurs mount on horseback, racing like the wind. They were so frightened and terrified that they thought they would never see the light of day. Yet they rallied and faced them. The centaurs fought fiercely among them, each one killing a Trojan with the tip of his spear. Among the chaos, some were wounded, some escaped injury, and some were trampled when they felt themselves among the hooves. In his heart, the one trampled was filled with terror and anger. He vowed revenge. Instantly, he rose lightly, took up his sword, and seeing the centaur who had struck him down, wielding marvelous arms among a great throng of his people who fiercely resisted his unmeasured blows, he dealt him such a great blow that he was leaning to the right to strike a Trojan, inflicting a grievous wound upon him. The centaur was so astonished that he fell from his horse. The trampled man leapt up. This centaur was named Eson, young, and later father of Jason, who conquered the golden fleece. When Eson received the wound inflicted by the Centaur Chiron, he made a great cry. Ten centaurs came rushing and defended him from the crowd. They threw down some Trojans and beat them mercilessly. The place was stained red with their blood. Eson and Chiron were found, and the Trojans, seeing Chiron in control of Eson's horse and their comrades being thrown off, were greatly surprised. By mortal fear, they cried out for Chiron to death, and the Trojans approached to fight the centaurs. They fought manfully against the centaurs, and the centaurs, striking and wounding the Trojans, did their best to defend Eson. Many of them were slain, and many were severely hurt.\n\nThese centaurs were strong, huge, great, and ugly. The Troians had more courage than body here. Gamymedes showed his prowess and valor, defending him for a while. But in the end, Fortune turned against him in such a way that after he had endured many assaults and had seen more than a thousand Troians put to the ground, he beheld the other side and saw Saturn torn in open defeat. His Troians let him be put back and put to death without turning or fighting again. All fled, and those around him gave it up and followed. Knowing this disheartening situation, he realized he had no remedy or recovery. Alone, he could not bear or endure the battle. He put himself to flight and fled after the others, sustaining as well as he could the pursuit the Centaurs made on his men. Saturn then entered his ship with great loss of Troians, and Gamymedes entered as well. I. They were extremely angry, the other party of the Troians being perished in the sea, and the other perished by the sword. Iupiter and Xion rejoiced greatly in this victory and decided to pursue their enemies by sea. Since they were still numerous, Xion thought it expedient to bring them to a decisive battle, and so that they would never confront them again. Iupiter agreed to this pursuit, but was greatly annoyed, for it seemed to him that he was delaying too long. He feared that he would still have to delay more if he entered the sea, and thus would not be with the Danes on the day he had promised her. Hoping always to excuse himself to her, he made ready to leave hastily for the pursuit of his enemies and summoned his sailors. Afterward, he went into a temple dedicated to: Iupiter entered the temple of Mars before Egle. When Iupiter saw Egle, he sat him on the altar. After much thought, Iupiter took Egle and performed a sacrifice. Then, Tydines arrived, indicating that his sailors were ready. Iupiter left the temple and commended him to Mars. He then went to his sailors who had made everything ready and set sail. Accompanied by two thousand men from Crete, Iupiter pursued his enemies, the Trojans, who had fled in fear and made all the sail they could. For two days, Iupiter was often seen with the fair Danes, and he thought his prolonged stay would be harmful to them. When the two days had passed, at three o'clock on the following day, the Greeks and Trojans began to engage in battle on the sea. The Trojans were filled with great sorrow, while the Greeks were filled with great joy. At this time, Saturn was not with the Trojans, as he dared not return with them due to his shame that had befallen him. And he was discomfited in himself and in despair. And passed by the waves of the sea drawing in to the east. When Gametes had espied the ships of Crete from afar, he had first supposed it was Saturn. And tarried a while at Aure. But in the process of time, when he saw the banner of Jupiter appear, by which he understood clearly that it was Jupiter and his enemies, and not Saturn that he faced.\n\nWhen Gametes was sore troubled and called his fellowship together and showed them the banner with the golden eagle, and asked them what was best to do. They answered him and said that Saturn had abandoned them and given it over, and that they ought not to remain and tarry, but each man should save himself. Gametes wanted to remain and test, to prove if they were as fortunate and happy on the sea as they were on land. But when he knew the will of the Trojans, who desired nothing but rest, he drew up anchors and sailed forth, fleeing and withdrawing from the Cretans also, as much as possible. Iupiter and his centaurs found the Trojans at anchor. They began to arm and prepare themselves. When they saw their enemies taking up their anchors, they showed themselves and followed. The pursuit was strong and lasted for three days and three nights. In the middle of the fourth day, Gammes and his companions spotted land, which was Troy. They drew near the gate with great joy. But soon they were met with sorrow. For when they had landed, they saw that their enemies had followed them and were at the gate, fully armed and ready to battle. This shame and loss struck Gammes in such a way that he cried out to his men:\n\n\"My brothers and my companions, fortune has granted us this grace, by which we have been brought and conducted here. But this grace is of little profit to us, as we can clearly see. Behold, here is King Iupiter, who has brought us such great shame as to chase us unto this place.\" Our territory and shame is now to him who will now flee, and moreover, who is he that now refuses to hold the reins? It is not becoming to flee now, but rather to fight. This is a matter of force and necessity to avenge losses and shed blood and to recover worship. We are in our own country; if we do not avenge ourselves, we shall turn into perpetual dishonor. For help we shall not lack; for now the Trojans are upon the walls and are climbing up on the high buildings of the city. They behold our land. And some are making themselves ready to come to us. And he who is not well courageous, farewell. Let every man exert the virtue of his strength. For as for me, I shall no longer flee. I pray you, take courage and stay with me.\n\nTwo things happened while he spoke and showed these remonstrances to his fellows. The Trojans were warned of the coming of their enemies. And of the descent and landing of their adversaries. Iupiter and his men approached the port. Gamydas left warring his fellows and ran to the gate, holding a strong spear. His fellows took example in his high courage and followed him. Then both parties began to make their cries that rose up into the air. Iupiter and his Centaurs enforced them to take land. Gamydas and the Trojans enforced them to defend and keep them from the land. Great and sore strokes were given. Many of them were perished in the sea. And many there were whose blood was shed on the land. But Iupiter, who had no comrade in the place, gained land in a little space. And he sustained the feet of the skirmish by help of some of the Centaurs. That he made Gamydas and his men retreat back to their fellowship. And so, by the hewing of his trenchant sword, he made all his men take land. And had almost put Gamydas and his men to rout. If not for the coming of Trojans from Troy. King Tros and Ialion, with a great multitude of people, rushed to the rescue and aid of the valiant Greeks, who were striving to save their men and place Tros' body in an impossible position for labor.\n\nTros and Ialion then set out from Troy in good order, exposing themselves to face part of the struggle. Jupiter, with Ixion and the Centaurs, let those whom they considered vainquished and overcome address themselves against Tros and Ialion and their followers. The Centaurs were great and strong, as elephants, hard as lions, and aggressive as tigers. At this time, the weather was fair and clear. The sun shone brightly when they began to engage in battle. It was a fair sight to see the accounts, and a good noise to hear the cries. There were many a spear thrust, many an arrow shot, and many a staff and javelin broken. Helmets were dented and many were injured. The lions' skins of bears and horses were torn and shattered into pieces. This trojan and the lion were very close and fierce in the midst of the battlefield. Jupiter and Xion were eager and desirous to gain honor, so they fought and struck the Trojans on both sides, and before them there was no resistance or ray held. The banner of the Golden Eagle was always in the strongest part of the battle. The king Troos, who had never seen a banner used in battle before, was greatly astonished by it. He often dared to fight against those who held it and wanted to put it down and shatter it into pieces. But he always found there such great blows and well-set ones that he was forced to go as far back as he had come near. He was courageous in body and well-versed in the art of war. Jupiter approved him many times and fought with him in many places, and he noted him in his mind as a notable man. There was no fear or dread in him, nor in his son Xion. And Gamymedes yielded to Arms their gods. They performed worship to their bodies and their power. With endless energy, they wrought and fought against their enemies, making their gladies red in the blood of the Trojans. They followed with great force, engaging in battle both beforehand and at times from behind. In the end, when the sun began to set, Gamymedes, feeling the weight of his great loss and desiring to recover his worship, took a terrible and mighty axe and, filled with noble courage, fought on the banner of the Golden Eagle where the greatest strength was. He struck down on one side and the other so disproportionately that his axe changed color lightly and cried out with a high-pitched voice, \"Trojans, Trojans!\"\n\nJupiter had kept an eye on the banner all along. When he heard Gamymedes' cry and saw his exploits, he knew him and was filled with great joy, for he sought no one but him. He gave over the place where he was and joyfully addressed him, saying, \"O valiant Trojan.\" \"hast thou shown thy prowess all this day, and now thou manifestest thyself by great feats of arms and of great noise? Thou art the only one I seek among the idlers of Troy. Not only do I presume to be more valiant in arms than thou, but since thou hast assailed Crete, and I have pursued thee hither, thou hast assailed and fought with me, strength against strength, and now late we fight body against body, and he who takes it gets it.\nAjax lifted up his axe with this word. And casting his eyes on Jupiter, and having heard him make this reply, he answered, 'Happy art thou, and thou art wiser than strong. Thou seest that fortune is with thee. Nevertheless, thou enhancest not thyself above me; I allow and praise them as much as thou dost worship and honor thine enemy, and disdain him not; but imagine that he has courage in his heart. Know thou that thou dost honor and worship thyself.'\" A man should announce himself / I would that it pleased the god Saturn, who is left on the sea, be here now / for it is my intent that by his help we should have reason to discuss the And I shall come there if it is possible for me / for I should be recovered from all my hurts and losses if I might advance and overcome the enemy. And without further words, Gamymedes late fled his axe and struck Iupiter. Iupiter covered him with his shield / which was split in two pieces by the cutting of his axe. Then Iupiter assumed control of himself all that day, having spared the boys and the feasts of arms. And he commanded his people to let him be alone with games / In this place he proved himself against the axe of Gamymedes / and engaging the steel of his sword in the best way possible within him.\n\nThus began the battle of the two champions of Crete and Troy. They were both right expert to do the deeds of arms. Their cries. They were high and fierce; they struck each other fiercely and angrily. The fire sprang out of their helmets by the might of their strokes. But when fortune was on Jupiter's side, what could Gamedes do? His strokes were great, and they gave many wounds to Gamedes. In truth, he took Gamedes' axe from him by the means of a great wound in his right arm. He could have put him to death if he had wished. But, to make a short story, when he had taken his weapon from him, he had pity on him and saved his life. And so, he took him to be taken by four centaurs. And immediately after that, it began to grow dark; for the night took from the day its light. Therefore, it was necessary for them to take rest and leave the battlefield. And so, the Trojans withdrew into their city, and they of Crete went to the seaport.\n\nWhen Tros and Ilium were withdrawn, they remained at the gate until all the Trojans had returned to the city, not knowing where Gamedes had become; whom they sorely missed. The text describes King Tros' despair after the Battle of Troy, as he could not find his son and did not know if he was alive or dead. After realizing he had no men left in the field, Tros returned to his palaces, sorrowful and annoyed. He sent for those returning from Crete and inquired about his son and the news from Crete. They reported that his son was among the enemies but they did not know his fate. Regarding the news from Crete, they shared their experiences against them and how the eagle appeared to Jupiter, how they were overcome by the strength of the centaurs, and how they were uncertain about Saturn's whereabouts. These tidings brought great sorrow to King Tros and Ion, and they both wept profusely, especially Ion mourning his brother. Many rejoice. Alas, my brother, where is the glory of Troy left, bereft by the malevolent and unhappy Saturn, who failed them in their need? If you had come again, we would have been in a position to avenge your loss. We would have tried to recover your honor through fraternal love. How is it that you have perished, Parolles? What grievous sorrow has befallen you? To speak the truth, your misfortune and disgrace are detrimental to the house of Troy. Ilion answered Troos for one adversity need not be ashamed in war for any misfortune but should have firm courage. War grants victory to one today and takes it away tomorrow and grants it to another. A manly man, put in his singular death, ought not to be afraid, if Gamelles are dead in battle or if he is taken. What remedy is there then but to avenge his death or to succor him? But our enemies are in little number. We, I shall face the enemy in the morning and let the gods have their way with us. A lion and the nobles of Troy encouraged them with the words of King Troas, confirming his will to go on the morning to assault their enemies. While these things were beginning in the city, Jupiter was in the field and made great cheer with Lycaon and the centaurs. Sitting on the ground around a great stone, Jupiter summoned games and dined with them. Games was greatly distressed and had great trouble in his heart, wondering how lightly he could take refreshment with them, for he felt great pain and suffering in his wounds. There, Games recommended Jupiter, saying that he was the bravest man ever seen among the bravest of Troy, and since he is in my mercy, and he it is who, with my father, descended in Crete, where he would have gladly planted his name in worship if fortune had allowed him. I shall no longer wage war before Troy; instead, I will enter the sea again and carry out a matter that lies heavily on my heart. I intend to go to the kingdom of Argos, to the tower of Darrian, to deliver, in accordance with my promises, the fair Danes whom King Acrisius keeps imprisoned without reason. This decision pleased King Ixion and the Centaurs, for they had heard of the strength of the tower Darrian. They believed the Argans could not hold it against their strength, once they had eaten. Afterward, they lay down on the straw to sleep, and about two hours before dawn they abandoned their ships and departed so secretly that the Trojans had no knowledge of it. At dawn, King Tros and others... The lion issued out of Troyes to battle, well-equipped. They found no man to contend with them. Neither could they see or perceive their enemies on any cost of the sea. They had traveled so far from the port by that time that they were out of sight. Thus they had great sorrow and marvel.\n\nThey came to the place where the battle had been and buried the dead. But now I will leave them and Jupiter. I will return to the history of the Danes.\n\nThe noble damsel Danes dwelt with the child of Jupiter's seed, as it is said before. After Jupiter had returned to his country, she remained, hoping that he would return with the strength of the people and lead her into his realm as he had promised to her. In this hope, she often mounted the high windows of the tower. Casting her eyes now here and now there upon the mountains, ways, and streets to await him or see his men of arms and his people of war. And without end, she always kept her eyes. \"But when even came the day that he had set, and he had not come near, and she saw that he was not coming and heard no news of him, and the fruit of her belly appeared, she went down from the window of the high tower, and all disheartened entered alone into her chamber. There she began to behold her belly and said, \"Poor belly, I can no longer hide you; I have covered you up until now, hoping for the coming of Jupiter. The day is come and past that he should have come. There is no news of him. Alas, and he has also forgotten me. Where art thou, Jupiter? Art thou dead or alive? If thou art dead, speak to me in spirit and excuse thyself for thy delay. Tell me what I shall do with thy seed. And if thou art alive, what evil adventure holds thee back? Art thou weary of me?\"\" her that you enforce with reigning gold. of her that you so much desired. Alas, you promised me your love and gave it to me. And I received it in good faith, and gave my heart to you in the same case, and yet more than you think. And what will this be, Jupiter, my love and friend. Are you of the nature of false men, like hypocrites, who deceive poor women and leave them in dishonor? Alas, you are truly one, you have brought me into shameful disgrace and have abandoned and given me over. O wretched man. O false liar, be cursed with your riches / And accursed be the hour that ever I saw the / / I am always put to shame / And by the end, I may no longer hide your deeds. Where shall my child go? Every man shall see and know my transgression. Alas, my father shall put me to death I may not fail of it / for as for death, it shall not grieve, save for the fruit that I bear / yet shall I keep it as well as myself at all adventure come what may come thereof. In these and similar words, Danes passed this night without sleeping or rest, from thenceforth on she became extremely melancholic. This grieved her so deeply that when the maidens, who knew nothing of this matter, saw her in such a state, they signaled it to King Acrisius. Then the king came to visit his daughter and entrusted her to the care of his physicians and medicines. He asked them what ailment she had. They answered him, in the presence of Danes, that she was pregnant and would soon be delivered. Danes replied that they failed to tell the truth and that she had never known a man. They concealed her condition as much as possible, hoping always to live. She knew well that her father would condemn her to death if he knew that she was pregnant. All the maidens of the house opposed the masters, saying that they had strictly guarded the tower so that no man entered. The king had spoken to her, but if he had been invisible, she would have been received into her governance before this. The king was greatly embarrassed and wonderingly surprised by this.\n\nWhen the king heard these debates and saw the state of his daughter, he was troubled. For by experience he saw well, and it seemed to him that Danes was with child. He trusted and believed more in the physicians' words than in the excuses of the maids and of his daughter. To know the truth, he sent all the maids of the place to argument and committed Danes to the keeping of other women. He commanded them, on pain of death, to tell him if she was or happened to be delivered of a child or not, in a certain time. When Danes saw her in these terms, she began to fall into weeping. The king, Accius from this day forth, came every day to inquire how she did. She wept without ceasing, spoke not but to her heart, and bewailed her love and complained sorrowfully about fortune. But when she had labored long in these conditions. Fifteen days before the time of her childbirth, her eyes grew large and red. She began to remember the reason she had been imprisoned. The gods had foretold that she would have a son who would be king of Argos. In this remembrance, she was comforted a little. And when the time came for the eighth month, she gave birth to a very fair son, whom the ladies and women received and named him Perseus. After the birth, she signified it to the king, but at the birth of this child, she excused herself and cleared the damsels of any blame. She said they were all innocent of her cause.\n\nOnce the king, Acrisius, knew the truth of his daughter's condition and that she had a fair son, he felt more sorrow than joy in his heart. He condemned her to death. He commanded two of his mariners to take the mother and her child, put them both alone in a small boat, and carry them far out to sea, so that neither should ever be found by man. The marauders dared not refuse the king's command. By his command, they went to the tower darian and took Damsel and her son Perseus. They said to the damsel, \"Do all that we have been charged to do. We humbly ask for your pardon.\" This occurred around midnight. When Damsel understood that she was to be cast into the sea with her son, she had hope to escape this parryl by the means of her son's fortune. However, the treasurer kept her in custody. She was carried upon the sea, making complaints and pitiful lamentations.\n\nThe marauders brought her onto the sea in a little boat and put Perseus, her fair son, in her lap. They hastily conducted her into the high sea without food or drink and without rudder or sail. Many a tear was wept among the marauders and Danes, and Perseus, the young child, the marauders bewailed. verray compassion that they had to see such a damsel abandoned to certain death, Danes wept in concealing the rigor of her father's wrath and the fate Jupiter had inflicted upon her, as well as the peril she could not resist. Perseus wept for the blowing wind and the heavy air of the sea, his tenderness unable to endure. In this manner, the marauders returned to Argos, and the deeply distressed Danish damsel went forth upon the waves of the sea at the behest of the winds. The waves were right fearful and left them at the mercy of the air, as mountains. The little boat was overturned and cast upon the waves. And often times Danes went and supposed they had perished, but she always had hope in fortune. And so it happened that in this adversity, she was cast into the sea of Apollo or Naples. There, she was discovered by chance by a fisherman. Out of pity and charity, he took her into his ship and her son, and brought her ashore. At this time, the noble Danes were almost dead and half gone when the mariner brought her to a land. She took a ring of gold that she wore on her finger and gave it to the good man, asking him to bring her into some house where she might warm and chase her child's cold and near-death condition with her own. The mariner took the gold ring and brought the damsel and the little child into his house. He made a good fire for them and brought them food and drink. As she saw this, all her sorrows vanished, and she took hope for her fortune. Her color returned, and she ate and drank. The fisherman beheld her, and seeing in her such beauty that he had never seen before, he went to the king of Naples' court and told him his adventure, praising her beauty so highly that the king sent for her immediately. This king Pilonius, the son of Ancient Jupiter, was smitten with desire for her the moment Danes appeared before him. He asked for her name, country, and reason for her presence at sea. Initially, she refused to disclose these things and began to weep. When the king saw her distress, he comforted her and proposed marriage for her beauty. He spoke so kindly and graciously to her that she revealed her entire life story: how she was the daughter of, how she had been imprisoned in a tower, and how Jupiter had deceived her; how her father had put her in the sea. Moved by her tale, King Pilonius wedded her with great honor and granted Perseus victory. They had a son named Danus. I shall return to the story of Jupiter [sic].\n\nWhen Jupiter departed from Troy, as previously stated, he made his way to... (continued elsewhere) Marauders sail and row with all diligence to withdraw from the port and approach Crete, for he knew well that the time of his promise made to the Danes had expired and it greatly displeased him that he could not amend it. His marauders did all that they could do within the span of a natural day, but the day before that, a tempest in the sea was so terrible and out of measure that it sank many ships with their apparatus underwater, breaking their sterns and helms, and drowned all the reserved ships except the one where Jupiter was, causing him to weep outrageously. This tempest lasted for two days and two nights, during which time they saw neither sun, moon nor stars. Iupiter and those with him fared no better, they might as well have died, had they not miraculously escaped death. They took land on the third day when the tempest had ceased, neither in Crete nor in the European sea was anything to be seen. However, in the ocean so far that they did not know the language of those who inhabited the port. They came to Ancre. When Jupiter and his people saw the diversity of the people dwelling in this place and their greater number, they knew they were far from their region. Then Jupiter was displeased in such a way that he wished he had not come near the sea, for he knew well that he could not fulfill his promise to Danes, his love. He made many great lamentations concerning this matter and more than I can say. He also complained to his men about the losses in the storm and turmoil, as well as the failure of his promise. However, when his companions, that is, Xion and the Centaurs, had refreshed and supplied them and had put all things in order and taken all necessary things for their ship, they disbelieved and departed from this port and took their way into the east. They sailed day by day and month upon month until they entered the Aegean Sea, but they had not sailed long when Egeon appeared. Greet thief and rogue. Who held at his will all this sea, disgraced from the portal of the isle of Desert, and accompanied with six galleys and a thousand armed men came forth, appearing to them in battle intent, intending to have destroyed them.\n\nWhen Iupiter and the Centaurs saw the conduct of the thief, they knew lightly that they might not fail in battle. And saying each to other that they should defend them unto death, they had not long held parley among them but they garnished themselves with their arms and displayed their banner with the eagle of gold. In the displaying, they made a great joy as if they had been in paradise. At this time Gamynedes had his wound healed. When he saw that each man acclaimed him to fight, save he who was a prisoner, he came and knelt down on his knees before Iupiter and humbly requested him to command to deliver him his harness to help his worship and also to defend his life, promising to do his true duty. Iupiter took up Gamymedes when he saw him being so meek and began to set his love on him in such a way that it endured until death. And he made him his harbors and arms be yielded to him, saying that from then on they should be brothers and companions in arms. Among these gods, Egeon and his galleys boarded the ship of Jupiter and cried out to death. Egeon was in the forefront as captain. Jupiter beheld him and knew him by his arms. And before any stroke was struck, he cried out and said, \"Thief and very rogue and pirate! How dare you cry out to death him who made you tremble and flee before him at the battle of Crete under the regard of his sword, died and made red with the blood of the unhappy Titans!\" Behold and see me, I am Jupiter, the mortal enemy of all your lineage. You are likewise my enemy. And now come to battle against me. It may be well. When Egeon understood that Jupiter had spoken thus to him, and that he was the destroyer of his lineage, he was so overwhelmed with grief and impatience that he could not answer a word. Grimning with teeth, he began to strike so fiercely toward Jupiter that if the stroke of the axe he held had been addressed, there would have been no remedy for his life. But Jupiter knew the intent of the war, and when he saw the stroke come, he avoided it and struck upon Egeon so severely that he could not evade the stroke that was so painful. He was so astonished that he fell down upon the planks of the galley. Then the pirates and thieves made a great cry and fell upon Jupiter and his companions. Gamynedes held his axe in his hands and was not idle. He died and worked valiantly according to his power. And so did the Centaurs, the skirmish was great,\nAnd many were slain, not of Iupiter's party,\nBut of the pirates'. And so the Centaurs labored,\nThey died from exhaustion, their eyes stained with their enemies' blood,\nAnd the pirates, unable to withstand them.\nThus began the mortal battle between the pirates and the Centaurs,\nWhen one galley had fought as long as it could,\nAnother came on. Iupiter and Gamymedes had to contend,\nAnd they did not fail. The more they struck, the more desperate the pirates became.\nEach of their strokes was the death of a pirate.\nIn the course of time, Egon arrived in the midst, dismayed and filled with impatience,\nHe put himself in the thick of the fight,\nAll were discouraged to win all or lose all.\nAt this point, the battle was so terrible and mortal,\nThat all the galleys closed the ship of Iupiter.\nBut this was to her misfortune and woe. For the most part, they were slain. Then Gamymedes and Jupiter entered the galley of King Egeon. They fought so fiercely on one side and the other, out of envy, that not one man was left unscathed; he was either slain or thrown into the sea. Reserved was only Egeon, whom Jupiter took by the hand and bound with iron chains.\n\nOf these iron chains, Egeon had a custom for binding his prisoners until they had done his will. When the pirates saw the misfortune that befall them and their master was overcome and bound with the chains he used to torment his prisoners with, they intended to save themselves and withdraw from Jupiter's ship. They said they had fought bravely, were no men but devils, and were unhappy to have fallen into his hands.\n\nJupiter had but one ship. The pirates sparked here and there, and when the Centaurs saw them say this, Iupiter, having secured victory over his enemy, had no need to pursue the unfortunate Theus. Iupiter came to an agreement and re-entered his ship with Gamdes and Egeon. Afterward, he ordered his men to set sail again. He kept in mind the dances and other adventures, but there was no need for lengthy descriptions of these. He had sailed by the sea for a year, and at the end of the year he arrived in his kingdom and found four hundred horses presented to him by the people of Crete.\n\nThe queen Juno, his wife, welcomed him warmly, as she loved him deeply. She feasted him and those who presented the horses to him. Egeon was put in prison, while Gamdes was allowed to go wherever he pleased, rather than being forced to remain as two brothers. After three days, Iupiter chose four hundred of his most powerful men and made them nobles, then knighted them, giving a knighthood to each one. Iupiter heard the news and the misfortune of Danes, and he began to sorrow and sigh deeply. Sweet tears came into his face, and he called for Gamymedes. yxion told them that his journey was disrupted, and that King Acrisius had thrown her into the sea for this reason. He had comforted Hermes and Hermes had brought him back to Crete. Hermes and Hermes kept him there alone for a while, and he lay with Hera. Hera and her aunt Semele visited him frequently, and Semele asked him about his sorrow many times. He beheld her beauty and saw that she was alone. He did so much for her that he had to deal with her, and he knew her carnally. She conceived a daughter from his seed. Afterward, he determined in his will that he would go to Sicily and conquer the land, always intending to engage in any exercises and took leave of King Lycaon and the centaurs. His ship was ready, and he went to the sea and conquered Sicily with the help of Delos. After he had accomplished this, he went to Italy and descended into the house of King Janus, who received him. made hym grete chyer / and told hym that his fader saturne was come newly for to dwelle therby / And that he was souerainly louyd of alle the peple for as moche as he taughte hem to laboure the vynes & cornes\nALle the blode changed in Iupiter whan he herde that Ianus spak to hym of his fader satu\u0304rne. how well he wente for to see hym / and sawe hym and fonde his fader makyng and foundyng a newe cyte in the place where now stante the capytole of rome / And in suche wyse he submyttyd hym to his fader / that saturne toke hym to his grace / and made pees wyth hym / And also acorded to hym that he shold enioye fro than forth on hys royame of crete at the acorde and makyng of this pees were the kynge Ianus and the kynge euander / and they dwellyd that on nyhe that other / that is to wete Ianus in a cyte callyd lau\u2223rence / And euander in a cyte beyng nyhe the mount. auentyn And so was the kynge ytalus of cyracuse that made in this tyme a newe cyte named albe vpon the ryuer of tybre / Alle thyse kynges made grete I. Jupiter, at the peace feast of his father Saturn and his son, made the acquaintance of King Euander's wife, named Nyghtstrate, who was skilled in necromancy and charms. Thus, Jupiter learned this art. Afterward, Jupiter left Saturn, who had remarried to a woman named Philiris, by whom he had a son named Picus, father of King Faunus, husband of Queen Fatua, from whom Hercules was amorous, as will be recounted in the second book. And Jupiter returned to Crete. There, his wife Juno was delivered of their son Vulcan, and his beloved mistress, Seres, was delivered of their daughter Proserpine. Juno was greatly displeased and complained to Jupiter about the dishonor he had brought upon her. But Jupiter paid no heed to her complaints and was instead more joyful about his daughter than his son. For his daughter Proserpine was: In this time, when Jupiter dwelled peacefully as king of Crete, and his son Vulcan grew and learned the craft of necromancy, in the land of Ephyra, a man named Porrus, of great stature, passed from this world.\n\nMercilessly fair and wicked was Jupiter's son; well it was for him to live in peace with Juno. He married Seres, a nobleman, and gave them the kingdom of Sicily and the city of Syracuse. He sent them to dwell there with Proserpina. It was not long after that he sent his wicked son to the island of Lemnos, whom he entrusted to govern three men named Berotus, Scropes, and Pyramon. These three men kept him so well that he came to power and became a man of right enhanced courage, learning all sciences, especially necromancy, geomancy, and prophecy.\n\nI will now treat of his son Perseus, as much as concerns him and Alcmena.\n\nIn this time, when Jupiter dwelt peacefully as king of Crete, and his son Vulcan grew and learned the craft of necromancy, a man of great stature named Porrus passed from this world in the land of Ephyra. This enterprise was called the god of the sea of Spain, anciently named Neptune. This king left three daughters who had but one eye, as the poets say. That is to say, their principal charge was to the vanities of the world. And therefore they were called Gorgons, that is, cultivators or laborers of the earth, as much as they intended unto vices that beheld earthly things. Of these daughters, one was named Medusa, another Euryale, and the third Scylla. Medusa, who was the eldest of these, succeeded in the temple and in the kingdom. And the poets say that she had a head of a serpent, giving by this to understand that she was sovereignly wise and subtle. After the death of King Porus, this Medusa governed her realm and held pirates and men of war. In her beginning, she took and haunted the sea of Europe in feet, and with great triumph descended on Aegean shores, and sent unto King Neptune to request him. She would grant her permission to enter his city to worship in the temple of Athena, whom Neptune had greatly honored. The messengers of Medusa reported this to her, and he granted her entry into his city and temple. He foresaw that she would be alone, except for her handmaidens. When Medusa heard Neptune's response, she decided to enter the temple, renowned for its great company of richly adorned damsels. She entered the temple and the city, and there she turned the men who beheld her, as well as the women, into stones. Among them was a queen named Idia.\n\nThis is to be understood that Medusa was of extraordinary beauty and wealth. Those who beheld her were completely captivated by her beauty and riches, and the poets wrote that they were turned to stones. They that dispose them and give them to the delights of this world are likened and compared to hard stones, from which no good can come. This Medusa, entering Athens, converted and turned many men to stones, so much so that Neptune heard these tidings. Desiring to see this queen, he went to the temple where she was in contemplation. He had not long beheld her when he felt himself so enamored of her and her love that he said to himself that she should be his wife. She should never escape him.\n\nThis Medusa was long in contemplation, during which Neptune desired her beauty more and more. His heart judged in him that he should come to his intention, but immediately after that his heart had made this judgment, he hesitated, considering the excellence of her. In his intention, he was constrained to say the following words: Alas, in what matter, in what sorrow, and in what great and inflaming pain are they who are burning in love. I have found myself in a long time, in so many sighs and pain, that I don't know how I may come to this lady to ask her to be my wife. She shines in all beauty and right habiliment, in richnesses. This is what I lack. She beholds me among others while in her prayers. It may happen well that love may turn her heart to make an alliance with me and me. And what is this? Men say that love hurts no man, but if it is in his eyes, if the eyes are not made to see, I shall say that my desire will be fulfilled. Where am I? Where am I? Put me out of the way. Where is my heart? Where is my desire? I don't know what I think. And my thought may be an illusion. My abuse may well be reversed. My eyes imagine they see, but they do not. My ears imagine they hear and yet they are deaf. I find myself in a great plain and vain endeavor, and yet more in a superfluous error than any man may have. For when I see this lady more excellent than I. When the other, in beauty and riches, reveals to me that she has not come here for me, and I see that she is alone without men in my city, I shall ask her to be my wife after she has completed her devotions. If she accedes to my request, my work will prosper, and if she consents and stands firm, I must use force and royal authority.\n\nThus, when Neptune came to this conclusion, Medusa withdrew from her contemplation, and Neptune approached her and paid her respects. After praying that she would go to his royal palaces to refresh herself, Medusa thanked him for his courtesy and replied that she could not stay there at that time. When Neptune understood that she was willing to return with him to Arethusa in his house or city, he was greatly displeased in his heart. He held her back and said to her, changing color:\n\nLady, I am sorry that you refuse to take patience in my house,\nI am king of the sea. this city / The goddesses have not given me such happiness / that I have yet any wife, lady, or damsel / it has happened now that your high beauty, which surpassed the sight of my heart, / and made me so desirous of you that I give to you my heart, body, and goods, / and all that a lover may give to his love or any king may give / therefore I pray you that you will descend to my palaces, / to the end that I may have communication more secretly there, / and tell you the great love that I have for you.\n\nAnone, as Medusa understood the king's requests, she began to frown and unwilling to be otherwise, / she answered him: \"Sir king, if it were true that my heart desired acquaintance and communication with one man more than another, / I would consider myself happy, finding myself in the grace of your eyes. / But the matter goes otherwise with me. / I love...\" The men are as one as another, I intend to remain and continue in my virginity, you are a king, you have given me safe-conduct to achieve my pilgrimage. I request that you remain pleased and act in such a way as you have never seen me. Dame said, Neptune, how shall I do that you say? When my heart is entirely given to you? King answered, Medusa, it is first necessary to know and then to love. I have told you this, that I intend to remain a virgin. What profit is it to you to say that you have given me your heart? These are but empty words. Dame said, Neptune, the diamond does not shine until it is polished. You were never before desired or required in love more than now. Therefore, you have no more love for one man than for another. And you must understand that the haunting makes love. If you come with me, I have no doubts and I swear that your will shall change, and that you shall take an alliance with me. King answered, Medusa, my will is unchangeable. Neptune said, \"I must change my mind, and you must not, Lady Answered. Medusa, I see nothing that stirs me to jealousy. For I feel my heart firm and stable in its operations. You are a king and have given me safe conduct to fulfill my devotion at the temple of the goddess of your city. Reason and honor should govern your courage. Lady Neptune, if your beauty surpassed that of other women, I would consent to your return at once. But when I perceive that you are formed in such a high degree of nature, that nothing is lacking in you, and further when I see that the great goddess Pallas has inspired you to come to this my city, Reason may have no place, and you shall be my wife. For I would rather die and run into all the dishonors of the world than fail to have your alliance.\"\n\nWhen Medusa, who was wise, had understood Neptune's words and saw well that he was outraged by her amorous desire and that she could not escape his power for her life, she... \"beauty/but if it were only an adventure that she changed her appearance into colors - that is, where force ruled, she acted with cunning. And she said to the king, Sir, I know that you are a great and powerful lord, and that love has compelled you to take me as your wife since your pleasure is such. I am content to do all in the way you have demanded, and let this day be made the marriage of you and me. But for a more solemn ceremony to sanctify the feet of our espousals, I ask of you two things: first, that I may return to the gate to my people to array and adorn myself with my triumphant riches; for I cannot employ myself in greater or more glorious things than this day of my marriage. And secondly, that you will arrange and address the ladies of this city to receive me fittingly. For I will have you know that in all the remaining ladies of the world, you will not find one who possesses more movable goods or riches than I do. Neptune was then as one all carried away in joy.\" Medusa heard this answer from me / She thanked me for my sweet words and agreed to return to me as she had planned / But when she, by the cunning of her wit, was rendered back at the portal where Neptune had no power, she dispersed all her ships and let their sails fall, and in haste withdrew them from the portal. Instead of returning to the city to marry me, she took her bridal attire and armed all her men. In this way, she escaped Neptune, who was greatly sorrowful and marveling. And in great anger, she said that she had heard of a serpent / And that her hair had been turned into snakes to the end to hide more gracefully the malice of her and the many ways she had deceived and beguiled him.\n\nThus, Medusa escaped Neptune's hands with her serpentine head / And Neptune, converted and turned to stone, remained so. In the earthly desires of Medusa's riches, he did not pursue her, as her power exceeded that of Athens greatly. Her renown spread throughout Greece, and her beauty was so highly recommended. Many knights, day after day, ventured their lives, and many were turned to stone and lost countless treasures. Encouraged by arms, they attempted to conquer this lady, who withstood all their assaults and attacks. She remained invincible, and Medusa paid no heed to king or prince who sought her as wife. She was determined to gather the treasures of the world. If her father had been greedy, she was even more so. After returning from Athens, where she had subjected the Greeks as mentioned before, she mounted her power into great wealth and made war against all her neighbors. She intimidated them and compelled them to pay tribute. In this time, her yearly great tributes, by which her estate and name rose and were so great that the news of them ran into many far regions, including Naples, where reigned King Pylon. At this time, the renown of Medusa was in the news. Perseus, son of Jupiter and Danae, was in the beginning of his youth and tempered strength. He daily requested of his mother and the king that they would give him leave to seek his adventures. When Pylon heard speak of the haughtiness of Medusa, her rapines, and her avenging, he saw that his son, in law, should do a virtuous deed if he could subdue her. He told Perseus that he would send him there. Perseus thanked him and said he would employ all his power.\n\nThen King Pylon sent for armed men and prepared thirty galleys for Perseus's expedition. When all was ready, he called for him one day. Perseus. And he dubbed him knight for the order of chivalry, which began to be used in the world at that time. The decree was issued that same day for Perseus to go to the sea. After the king had completed all the ceremonies required by the ransom, Perseus took leave of King Polyneices and his mother Danae, and of the damsels. He joyfully entered his galley. After they had sailed and departed from the port of Naples with great fanfare and trumpet sounds, they spread sails and headed out to the open sea. It was a good and fair sight to see his departure; many tears were shed. Everybody loved Perseus because of his humility and debonair manner. The Apulians did not depart until they could still see him. And when they returned home, they prayed to the gods that Perseus would have good and righteous fortune.\n\nThe noble knight continued by sea and through the gates without any mishap. What shall I say? He reached Africa, which was named thus at that time. There, he would have been stopped at a port near the Strait of Gibraltar. King Athlas, who was a great astrologer, stood at this portal, but this king stepped back from landing there. He came against him with arms, showing from afar signs that he would defend his country with the sword. Perseus, who did not want to engage his army outside the portal with the intention of avenging himself another time if fortune helped him, passed through the strait and sought the realm of Medusa for a long time. After he found it and received reliable information from certain merchants, he learned that she and her sisters were encamped in a city that stood on the river.\n\nGreat was Perseus' joy when he understood these tidings. His men were in dire need of provisions. He called them all and said that they should prepare and arm themselves, for they were near the place they sought. And as they sailed away about three hours before evening, they saw the city where Medusa was. They saw Medusa and her sisters. With a great number of men of war ready and brilliantly arrayed at the gate, Perses divided his army into three equal battalions, each consisting of ten galleys. He appointed commanders for each battalion and instructed them on how to hear and approach the gate. Perses took command of the first battalion. The poets say that at this time the goddess Athena gave him a shield of crystal, signifying that he approached the gate on the great sea of Spain wisely and with such prudence that it was like crystal. He came and fought hand to hand with the power of Medusa. Shining the clear shield of his prudence in receiving and returning infinite strokes, he gained land and compelled Medusa to return to her city by force. Through the power of arms and prowess, and with great discipline and fighting of his soldiers, at that time the head of Medusa's serpent could not withstand it. At this time, she, who was accustomed to putting under foot and overcoming all those who opposed her, found herself in an extreme predicament, where she had put others before. What was the cause of the war between Perseus and Medusa, where Fortune's favorites, whom Medusa had cherished in high degree, fell from the wheel of fortune? Fortune had consented that Perseus' prudence should be the cause of her humiliation and meekness. This unexpected turn of events gave Medusa courage and she re-entered her city. She ordered one of her men to go to her enemies and inquire of them who was their chief and commander, and what they sought in her country. The Hesperians, at Medusa's command, departed from the city and came to the east of the Apulians, who intended to log them that night. He did so much that he reached Perseus, who was taking his repast on a table made of a great stone of marble. Perseus said to him in these words. The messenger, sent by the goddess of love, has come to you to ask what you will do in her name, so that she may know what action to take. You answered, \"I have the intention to free the men from your servitude and prevent you from turning men to stone again. I will also ensure that your riches no longer cause the loss and destruction of knights who wish to marry you. Against your malice, I will be armed with prudence, and I will give assault to your city without further delay if you do not come against me in battle.\"\n\nThe messenger then returned to Medusa and reported all that he had heard. Medusa gathered all her men of war and said, \"It is no wonder that my heart is anguished when I have vanquished great companies of armed men.\" That shamefully we have been driven back into this city by the prowess of a handful of men. O what miseries this is for those who have been accustomed to overcoming and triumphing in all manner of wars. Where are the high enterprises by which we have made all the western seas fear and tremble before us? Where are the tributes that have been paid to us by the kings? Where are the arms and strengths that have made the mountains and rocks of Libya tremble? Where are those who today have taken flight from us in fear, dreading our prowess? At least, since this thing is so governed, it is best that we pass the night as wisely as possible. But now it also behooves every man to encourage himself and his virtue. And let us recover by morning what we have lost today. The enemies of this city have made it clear to us that they will give us battle tomorrow. And also, they have been troubled by the air of the sea. hit is moche better that we furnyssh them of bataylle at this tyme than we sholde abyde len\u2223ger Oure enemyes ben straungers. here heth our triu\u0304phe or our mortall mysaduenture / yf we ouercome them hit shall be a memorye of vs ferre and nyghe in all ho\u00a6nour / yf the caas goo contrarye we shall renne wyth the losse of our lyues in to derision and mocquerye of alle peples / And what is this shall the blood be spred a brood of them / that haue made the ground rede of the blood of other. shalle the honour be wastyd and loste And also the name that we haue goten wyth so grete labour / Alle the world taketh courage and hope / these two thynges ben also couenable in warre / as the armes And wyth oute them shall neuer man attayne to the crowne of victorye / A than take herte to yow / and dis\u00a6pose your harnoys and armes / to morn shall be the day that ye muste nede do shyne your dedes the beste wyse ye may and for to kepe your renomees and your tytles of honourable prowesse.\nDAme answerd oon of ther capitayns it is \"It is a great shame/that you were not a man. If it had been so, it is apparent that you should have subjected yourself and placed yourself under all monarchs, as you say. We must keep our reputation; if fortune has been unfavorable to us thus far, it will turn to profit in the morning. The wounds and injuries inflicted upon us in the name of our worship and blood, we must bear and endure. Our prowess and honor will put us before the shame; we shall not let you rise so early that we may not be well armed and prepared for the labor of your request. When Medusa heard the good will of her captain, to whom all the others consented, she was greatly joyful and agreed with them that she, with all her power, should surprise and assault her enemies at midnight in the hope of catching them unawares. This conclusion was agreeable to all, and each man withdrew to take his rest and prepare his armor. Medusa slept little that night.\" She, who always had a heart greatly and bitterly charged with a desire for revenge, armed herself and her men at midnight. Her men were diligent, eager to arm themselves, for they were well accustomed to this craft. When they were ready and assembled before the royal palace, Medusa and her sisters emerged from the gate in rich attire, bidding farewell to their people with as little noise as possible. She divided them into two companies, leading one herself through one of the city gates and the other through the gate facing the port.\n\nAt this time, the air was clear and serene, and the stars twinkled. The moon shone, dispelling the darkness of the night according to its celestial duty. When Medusa was in the fields, she pursued the seaborne route, believing she had captured Perseus and his people. But as soon as she stepped out of the city, she failed. In this battle, Perseus was attacked by the watchmen of the east. They signaled their approach to Perseus and his men, who were sleeping in their harnesses. When they approached and were supposed to have surprised them, they found the enemy prepared and well-ordered for battle. A great cry arose from both sides, which engendered a fierce and bitter struggle. Many men fell dead on the sand, and many swords were red with blood. The second battle of Medusa ensued, causing great commotion in joining the battle. At this time, the party from Naples was determined to take control.\n\nIn this tempest, Perseus gave himself no rest. He kept his eyes open, his ears strained to hear, and his arms enhanced to strike. He was quick and in his green youth, his sword slashed and cut despairingly. He struck no man or shield, but he terrified all. Medusa, who always put her in the most strength and fray, with great courage, faced Perseus, seeing often the appearances and noble feats of arms of her enemy. She had great sorrow, for Perseus held the Apulians in check and array, and there was none who could resist his strength or at least resist him. This turned into great disdain for Medusa, who used her prowess in the best way she could. She did great damage to her enemies and struck down here and there so valiantly that she seemed much better to be a man than a woman. It pleased her more to brandish a sword than to spin or tear a spindle. This struggle lasted long with great weariness of the men of arms and knights who served Medusa. Perseus' good deeds gave her arms more force and strength than nature had given her. She was full of. And she could keep herself well from Perseus' sword, and was surrounded by the best men she had. Which side should I declare the longer victory to, as neither side knew to whom it should be given, until the sun began to spread and show its beams and rays? In a similar manner, Perseus began to display the rays of his prudence and brandished his sword. Seeing this, he charged towards the royal banner, striking into the press and casting men down dead on the sand in great numbers. This banner was square, four feet high, made of crimson satin, and in the middle was painted an image. The figure and face of the woman's body, while the head was of a serpent.\n\nMedusa was never far from this banner, as she drew herself there continually for rescue. When Perseus arrived with a great retinue, he cried out, \"Perseus, Perseus!\" Lifting his sword, which was tempered with blood from one end to the other. other. It happened that the first stroke he gave in this place struck one of Medusa's sisters on the head so terribly that she confounded with a great wound beginning on her head down to her stomach. Then the Naples men struck the Hesperians with all their might. Perses struck long and overpoweringly on the right side and on the left side. His strokes were so mortal that they frightened not only the most feeble of his enemies but all the strongest, and even assured Medusa.\n\nThe occasion was this: Medusa here enforced her power to withstand the great force of Perses. This notwithstanding, she, who at other times had overcome men, was now overcome. Having late the courage lifted up and the heart more fierce than any man, she was vanquished by despair. For the only reckless conduct of Perses that had broken her armor, that had smitten her men in pieces, party slain with his sword and party fled. And that he had not only drawn his sword and right hand. hand with her blood, but the sea by small gushes was made red of the warm blood, in which Medusa lost her ferocity. All her presumption, all her strength and all her vigor so evil went, and all the work on her side was undone. When she had seen her banner destroyed, when she had seen the most victorious of her knights confounded by a tempest of death, when she saw her men-at-arms leave the battle and flee before Perseus as before the image of death, finally she saw all her pomp torn into general destruction. The end was that each man gave it up, and every man who could save himself did so, by flight and bushes. Here and there a man was saved in the city and many were slain in the flight of Perseus and his men.\n\nPerseus, at this disconfiture, pursued Medusa, fleeing into her city, and entered with her and the most part of his people with him. He failed to put to death all of them. Men found that they encountered no insurrection against them, except that they spared the lives of women and little children by the command of Perseus. Among the other things Perseus had found was Medusa, who was put in a cistern. He had pity for her, but in striking off her head, the blood that flowed out produced Pegasus, the flying horse. From Medusa's head, where Perseus struck, is understood that he took away her kingdom and deprived her of it. He banished her poor and naked. And from the riches issuing from that kingdom, he founded and built a ship named Pegasus, which means \"good reputation.\" This ship was likened to a flying horse, for just as Perseus' good reputation spread from region to region, so it was said that upon a flying horse.\n\nAnd since Perseus traveled in this ship to diverse countries where he gained: Perseus, having conquered the head of Medusa, made Pegasus the swiftest ship in the world. He remained there for a certain number of days, seeking and searching the treasures of Medusa and the riches she and her sisters had intended. There, he found precious stones and valuable things. When his ship was built, he filled it with precious bags and jewels. Leaving men behind to govern and manage it, he went to the sea and took for his arms the arms of Medusa. He did not rest until he reached the gate of the city, where reigned Athlas. Saying that he would put him under his rule before returning to his country.\n\nThis city was called Septe. Athlas knew well the arms of Medusa, and as soon as he saw Pegasus the ship, he knew the arms that were in it. Then he thought that Medusa had been vanquished by these strangers and doubted their coming. Despite this, he did not show it. Put his men in arms and bemoaned Phylotes, his brother also named Esperus, who kept the garden with apples of gold and his daughters. When his folk were armed, he arranged them in good order at the gate. Shortly after, Perseus and his men arrived and launched a full-scale assault, filled with diverse and sharp-edged weapons. Athlas was young, strong of body, and powerful among his people. He defended himself valiantly and kept the gate with the point of his sword so effectively that Perseus conquered nothing from him during the two-day assault, not because of the strength of Athlas' sword but because of the strong nature of the gate.\n\nThen, when Perseus saw that he could not take this gate with his men, he withdrew to the high sea and sent to Naples to King Pilonus half of the treasures of Medusa's head as a sign of his great adventure. He requested that he send him a thousand soldiers. The king and Danes rejoiced at these tidings and, at Perseus' request, granted his request. Assembled were five hundred fighting men whom they dispatched to Libya with their own son Danus, whom they appointed chief and captain of that army. When Perses saw come these five hundred fighting men, from as far as he had spotted them at sea, he knew that it was his support that came to him. And he took his swift horse Volant and went to meet them. And found there Danus his brother. To whom he made the greatest cheer of the world. And entered into his ship. And there he remained feasting him all that day. And after that, when it came to night, he commanded his sailors to row and sail towards Septa. And they said to him that on the morrow they would deliver him at the gate. With that, the marauders put out to sea to do their business so well that after the night was past, about sunrise, they showed Perses the haven and gate of Septa.\n\nPerses was full of great joy and called Danus and said to him, \"We have now come to the gate where you shall gain this day.\" honor and worship the goddesses if it pleases them. If good fortune helps us, the honor will belong to you before me, for I dare not enrich myself alone by my power. I here employ in the name of all our goddesses the head of Medusa. It is my advice at this time that she shall turn to stones all those of this region. That is to understand that by the men of Medusa's riches, those of this city who set themselves before us shall be compelled to abandon and give over their poor, and flee between the walls of stones of their city. My brother Answerd Danus, I have good hope and trust in fortune that she will be your help. But for the honor and worship of this work, it shall not bring profit to me but to you, who are worthy of this honorable deed. I desire nothing in this matter but the name of a soldier. For at your soldiers' envy, only surrounded by the love of our fraternity, I come to serve. And if the riches of Medusa's men are the reason why they have come here, they shall not be able to keep them, but will lose them all. Medusa had not come to Naples / with thy right good fame, these warriors had not come to Libya / unless for conclusion, it is to conceive / if in this work be honor that it tears into thy glory and length / but this unwelcome news I shall not fail to share / but for thy love & worship I shall expose to the assault all that I may and hold of nature. And I pray thee to dub me knight.\n\nWith this word, Perseus drew out his sword and then gave the order of knighthood to Danaus. And after that, he commanded each man to garnish himself with his armor. And then he made a display of banners, standards, and other recognitions and knowledges. After that, he sounded his trumpets, clarions, and tabors. And then, after ranging all his eyes, he set them in right fair and good order. He came to the gate / which was all full and surrounded by Libyans who were ready to cast on them spears, darts, and stones. For they of that country were right experienced in the war. Abord this porth there was a right great bruit and a right grievous assembly. Perseus was in Pegasus and assaulted the Libyans at one end. And Danus was in another galley and assaulted. They both put them in the most danger of the assault they had great shields and large wherewith they covered them. They feared no stroke of javelin, sword, or stones. They put themselves in the midst of the porth. And there they gave the assault, where many were slain on one party and a plente of fighters in such a way that there were many apples confounded and put to rout. For they were then hot and fierce, but after this, when they had gained land, Perseus and Danus began to strike so devastatingly upon the Libyans that they beat them down without mercy. Now here and there, at right side and left, all made ready with their blood. Also Perseus gave such a great stroke with his javelin against Athlas, who had intended to come and break the passage, that never after Athlas had any hope. Perseus and Danus of Naples, so eager for victory, were not accustomed to encounter such fierce and deadly weapons as those of Perseus. King Athlas could not decide how to encourage his people best. Despite this, he saw them routing their enemies without number and measure. The people of Naples had always won, and when he had witnessed their victory over Medusa's queen, Athlas judged that he was not strong enough to resist their strength. The hardness of this battle would do him more harm than good, so he ordered retreat and fled not to his city but to a high mountain nearby. And so the poets say that Athlas, upon seeing Medusa's head, was turned into a mountain. From then on, this hill was called Athlas and still stands. The name of this place, and since Atlas said he was there among the stones, he founded a castle where he dwelt until the time of Hercules. When Perseus and Danaus saw Atlas and all his people in flight, first he chased them up to the mountain, where they were turned into stones, dying with their blood causing bushy ways and paths. Secondly, when he had put them to utterance as much as they could, they drew towards the city. The gates were not shut nor kept by anyone, and entering therein, they found only a little number of matrons and young children who made a terrible great sorrow. All the young men and women had fled to the fields and had abandoned their city with their folk and goods. When Perseus and Danaus were within, and saw that it was all abandoned to them and their people, all that they found, they spent the night with great joy and gladness, making great cheer and thanking their gods for their victory. On the morrow. Perseus made the city's gates yield. After he commanded that every man should take his booty and when they were loaded with all, Perseus and Danaus went to the sea in their galleys. Leaving Atlas in the mountains, Perseus devoted himself to the study of astronomy.\n\nIn this time Jupiter formed an alliance with King Tros of Trojan origin. And in sign of love and friendship, he gave Lion a golden vine which was set in the palace of Lion, as will be said in the third book. It was not long after King Tros consumed the course and end of his reign. His obsequy was solemnized and held at Troy in great pomp and tears. Then Lion was crowned king of this city. He lived peacefully in expansion and increasing of seigniorage and lordship. And he wedded a noble lady of the city from whom he received a son named Laomedon. And as I find no further deeds of Lion after his coronation nor any other things, he achieved. And I shall speak henceforth of Laomedon, son of Priam, and leave the tales of Troy. But before I write of Laomedon, I will pursue my topic of Perseus. To begin, I will relate an story that follows Perseus after he transformed King Athamas into a mountain.\n\nIn this time, Perseus began to dedicate his life to worthy causes and noble deeds. Acrisius, father of Perseus and ancestor of the Danes, was driven out of his kingdom and realm. All that was left to Acrisius of his realm was the citadel of Darius, to which he fled for refuge. Acrisius and Prias were natural sons of Abas, the lawful son of Linus, who was the only one left alive of the fifty sons of Egestus, spared by his wife Danae, daughter of Danaus.\n\nPrias then, having usurped the lordship of the realm of Argos from his brother Acrisius, had a wife named Aurea. She was so well-nourished that it was customary for her to:\n\nAnd I shall speak henceforth of Laomedon, son of Priam, and leave the tales of Troy. Before I write about Laomedon, I will discuss Perseus and the topic that follows his transformation of King Athamas into a mountain.\n\nIn this period, Perseus devoted his life to righteous causes and deeds of noble renown. Acrisius, Perseus' father and ancestor of the Danes, was deposed from his kingdom and realm. All that remained of Acrisius' realm was the citadel of Darius, where he sought refuge. Acrisius and Prias were natural sons of Abas, the lawful son of Linus, who was the sole survivor of the fifty sons of Egestus, spared by his wife Danae, daughter of Danaus.\n\nPrias then seized the lordship of the realm of Argos from his brother Acrisius. He had a wife named Aurea, who was so well-nourished that it was customary for her: A woman gave no charge but to indulge in delights, and on a day she beheld among her servants one so well accomplished a knight. Nature had forgotten nothing concerning his body. Of him she was enamored. She was young, and her husband Pricus was ancient in his works and conditions. He desired the carnal desires less than his wife did. How well they were both near in age, this beloved knight had the name Bellorophon.\n\nWhen Aurea had directed her study to love this knight, she solicited him with her eyes and, through semblances, drew him to delight and voluptuousness. But the true knight, who had a firm and stable heart, discerned her countenance. In the end, when the lady saw that by semblance or sign she showed herself amorous, he employed him not once to please her, but fled her company.\n\nThe most evil thing she could intend was to turn her love into hate, and her fair countenances into fiery ones. Enymed claimed that she had accused him, her husband the king Pricus, for intending to enforce her and require justice immediately. At this accusation, Bellorophon was present and was greatly abashed and surprised at the beginning. But in hearing the lady speak at length, he assured himself and excused himself, saying, \"Lady, never please it unto the gods that I should cover my honor by discovering the disrespect and fault of another. Never has any man advanced himself to defame another in my presence, knowing I shall say the truth. And if there is any man who can truly prove it against me and overcome the little nobleness of my heart, I shall remit judgment of all noble men the remainder of my days. Alas, lady, when has this abuse begun for me to be willing to enforce you? In what place was this done, or where are the witnesses of the cry you made at the affray? Where are the proofs that I have ever been alone with you in my life?\" You are asking for the cleaned version of the given text. Here is the text with unnecessary elements removed and modernized spelling:\n\n\"You marvel at what departed from my heart that you note in me, and for what reason it is imagined against me. I will well make known to all the world that I have served you truly and loyally. And I never thought dishonor upon you or the king, to whom I pray that he will take and understand, in the same way, your [complaint]. If it can be proven and appears that I have transgressed, I may be punished. But I also pray, if I am found innocent, that I may have a swift resolution.\n\nThe lady was strongly obstinate in her error. I make myself a party against him. If I accuse him, it is the truth. He ought not to demand witnesses for his folly. In this case, I am worth two witnesses. For all the world knows that when any evil man wishes to dishonor a woman, he calls for no witnesses nor proof, and does his damnable will as secretly as possible. And so Bellerophon intended to do with me \u2013 whether I require a sentence.\" And Judgment of him, with this word Pricus, assembled his council. It was Judged that the lady should be believed, and Bellorophon should be held accountable for death. Then spoke Pricus to Bellorophon and said, \"Fairly, you know and feel that I have loved and nurtured the one you unfairly accuse. The case is so foul that it cannot be purged by denial. For if it were so, the evil boys and youths would always dishonor as many of our women as they could find. In this case, ladies have a prerogative to be believed, and need not bring forth witnesses. And since your mistress has yielded and requested judgment of your transgression, you are condemned to die. But since, before this time, I have had great love for the one of your body, and I know him to be a valiant man, I shall remit and commute this sentence in this way: you shall go and fight against the Chimera of Cumae, and if you can overcome and master her.\" I give you your life and give the plain solution to all problems that never after you reply or repeat this transgression.\nSir answered Bellorophon that fortune sent that I be attained by any misfortune / And that the prejudice of the lady's domain and go above reason I had much rather be vanquished by wrong cause & evil / than by just and good cause. And I thank you for the moderation of your judgment. And I vow here in your presence that in all haste I shall go to Sicily to prove myself against the chimera. And I shall see if fortune shall help me to regain the life which she had made me lose by your judgment. Then the noble knight departed and took leave of the king / of ladies and damsels / Also took his armor and goods. And made a contract and bargained with certain mariners to bring him to Sicily / When they were prepared, he went to the sea with little company / And he was uneasy at heart when he saw that fortune was so diverse / how well he Comforted himself in his good quarrel, and sailing one day on the Hellespont's sea, his mariners looked towards the west and saw come a great fleet of warships which disconcerted them so sorrowfully that it was wonderful. And they awakened Bellorophon, who at that time slept. And they said that they were dead and lost.\n\nBellorophon comforted his mariners as best he could and told them that discomfort could not help them. And speaking thus, a galley of fortune went out before his companions and, flying on the sea like a bird, addressed itself to the ship where Bellorophon was. And whoever will ask what the name of the galley was and what men were in it, I shall tell him that this was Pegasus, and Perseus was with them. Seeing that he might speak to the mariners carrying Bellorphon to Sicily, he asked and demanded of them what they were and into what region they would go. When Bellorophon heard Perseus speak, he beheld his might and countenance. I have determined that I am from a good house. I said to him, \"Indeed, sir, I have great joy in seeing that the ship and mariners are so well addressed and in such good condition as yours are. You seem to be a knight of noble feet. I will tell you my case after you have finished making yours. First, regarding what you have inquired about us, know that we are Argives. As for the second, I answer you that we have the intention to go straight to Syccille. I am compelled by the rigorous judgment of a mortal woman named Aurea, who unjustly and falsely has accused me, saying that I would force her. This woman I speak of is the wife of King Prius, who recently and freshly has banished and exiled his brother Acrisius from his kingdom. In order to please and satisfy the accusation of his wife, this king has condemned me to death, leaving me no hope.\" For the good and the agreeable. services that I have done for him he had agreed that I may live, if it pleases the gods that I may be able to vanquish and overcome a chimera that is in secrecy. To this, the valiant knight answered Persues, as it is true that the heart of a noble man takes pity and compassion in the distress and passion of his fellow man. The record of your case has moved my charitable heart and pity. By which you may surely understand that there will be no impediment upon your unfortunate life from us. And since the hearts of those who would be endured at calling to the craft of Arms delight in adventures of great poise and weight to enhance them, I shall accompany you for two reasons: the first is to expose myself to the dissipation and destruction of the chimera if it encounters me, and the second is for after the chimera is vanquished, I may be guided by you to the kingdom of Argos. From now on, I will be an enemy to King Procrustes in the favor of the father of my mother. King Acrisius, although you have greater knowledge of this matter from the one who conceived it in the womb of Iupiter's seed, and although the person whom King Acrisius cast into the sea was responsible for this, I shall take no vengeance on his demerits. Instead, for the honor of the blood and of the womb from which I am issued, I shall offer him aid and support. I ask that you join me as a fellow and brother in arms. Come into my galley, and send your mariners back to their countries if it pleases you.\n\nWhen Bellorophon heard the good words and answer of Perseus, he formed an alliance with him and entered his galley. He granted leave to his mariners and accompanied him with Perseus and Danaus, who, out of love for him, took their way to Sycelle. They arrived there by the passage of time and disembarked. On that same day, Bellorophon, desiring to find the Chimera and having taken leave of Perseus in such a way as he who had put him in peril of death had done, the poets write that this... Chymere had the head of a lion, the body of a chimera, and the tail of a serpent, but in truth, it was a mountain inhabited by a lion-headed monster and filled with chimeras. At its height, above a great cave of lion-headed monsters, the mountain was covered and surrounded with serpents. These chimeras and serpents caused damage and harm to the surrounding countryside. When Bellorophon saw the mountain, he went there, and Perseus and Danus followed him. They had not marched far when they saw and were confronted by more than a thousand little serpents and many great dragons. Some of these serpents attacked Bellorophon and sprayed their venom at him, while others passed by and attacked Perseus and Danus. These three brave knights, upon seeing these cursed beasts, took up their swords and fought. And many of them were killed, but with this they had great pain and trouble. For these beasts were cruel and full of arrogance, and they harassed them severely. And if they had not been well armed with war equipment, they would have found death rather than life. Bellorophon went on ahead and struck down right and left, beheading and cutting them into pieces. Perseus and his brother Danaus fought only against the beasts that came upon them. When Bellorophon had held the struggle and battle against this vermin for a little while and had found them to be more aggressive and biting, the point and edge of his sword became terribly blunt and struck against their hard scales and skins. Then leaped down and out of their holes the chieftains and lions and came down upon the knight in such great numbers that he was completely surrounded by them. Some of these beasts escaped from him and went to Perseus, giving him a new occupation to employ his strength and prowess. The lions leaped about him. The neck of Bellorophon, once called so that in no part he could be seen, could save himself only by his ability, but he had never escaped when such a swarm of vermin assailed and beset him. Danaus, who rode and assailed them, saved him if he had not obtained a rock upon which he could mount with great pain and great effort of his body to go upon this rock. There was only one straight way, and he saw the lions and with them the other beasts. They held him on the way to the rock and at its foot roaring and making great noise about him so terribly that Perseus and Danaus had no other hope for the knight but that it was his last day. For he had so many beasts about him that it was likely that the edge and cutting of his sword might not last long without being worn or broken. The lions could not touch his body, but the stones and serpents were goaded by them with their claws. The serpents flew up into the air and lifted up their bodies. They threw their tales and cast fire and smoke out of their throats onto the rock, and the most hardy of the lions, one after another, engaged him in battle again, showing their teeth receiving his blows sorely. And they did not flee but remained as familiar beasts and extremely covetous of human blood, in whom reigned sovereign ferocity as much as in any wild beast of the world at that time.\n\nThis battle was hard and marvelous, as Perseus and Danaus beheld and considered in what way they might aid Bellerophon; the noble knight defended himself to his power, and beheld how he might save himself from this parry. He cast his eyes upon a great stone that hung over the way of the rock where he was besieged, and then he thought if he might make that stone fall down, he would slay the most part of these beasts. He began to shake it slightly and seek the joints that held it, and so laboriously that in the end he made it fall upon the lions. serpents and chickens in such a way that in the falling he made all the rocks tremble and fear in general, these unhappy beasts that they were there startled, as though thunder had run upon them / And yet more of the tumbling down / it made the rock that Bellorophon stood on shake so violently that he tumbled down on it / And was so astonished that he knew not whether it was day or night.\n\nThe stone was great / And brought down many stones with it.\n\nPerseus and Danaus at the beginning doubted that all the mountains had fallen / And were not well assured of themselves. However, they clearly saw the end. And after the noise and tempest had passed, they saw their father's weapons lying upright on the top of the rock. They had supposed that he had died / Then they made great sorrow and were dismayed. Approaching the rock, they found the beasts lying dead under the fallen stones. They went up the mountain / And then knew that Bellorophon was not dead. Recovered, they found great joy and ceased their sorrow. They took the knight between their arms, and Perseus asked him how he fared and how he felt. Perses and Danus avoided Bellorophon's answer gladly. They considered him the best accomplished knight they had ever seen. Perseus and Danus searched this mountain and went into the caverns of the beasts, but they found none. Bellorophon remained on the rock, unable to go because of the painful and bruised foot. And as the two knights had circled and gone about the hill, they returned to Bellorophon. Then Perseus said to him, \"My brother, how well you are now worthy to have praising and longing from me. You have done a good and holy work today through your worthy conduct. You have obtained the crown of glorious fame. You have passed the narrow way and passage of Fortune from which you have issued, clear as the sun.\" You have asked for the cleaned text without any comments or explanations. Here is the text with the specified requirements met:\n\nonly thou hast labored for thy welfare and profit, not for that of the region. For thou hast slain the wardens of the serpents and the porters of the lions who kept this country uninhabitable. From now on, it will be inhabited and occupied by people. Bellorophon was ashamed when he heard the glory that Perseus gave him through meekness and humility that was in him. And he answered, \"If there is any worship in this deed, it shall be shared with them as well as with me.\" And they began to praise each other. And they ate upon this hill that same night after they had made sacrifice to their gods. And there came the Apulians, who made great cheer. Since they took all the skins of the lions and the heads of the serpents that were slain in sign of victory, and they charged them in their galleys. And they took Bellorophon with them, who could not go. Finally, they went to the sea and sailed and rowed toward the port of Athames, which was nearby. But when they approached this port, suddenly a tempest arose on the sea so great and terrifying that they were compelled to abandon their ships to the wind. Passing by the haven, their fortune was such that they were brought to Sirius, on the Sea of Palestine. They were brought into the port and haven of Joppa, where Ammon reigned in Palestine, and Ceasar and Phyncus {etc}.\n\nAt the same time that Perseus arrived there by this tempest, the port was so full of men, women, and children that it seemed that the whole world had assembled. Perseus came there alone, for his people were scattered on the sea here and there in their galley. When the Syrians saw him arrive, forced by the wind, they assembled a great number around his horse Volant. King Ammon, seeing that it was charged with the heads of lions, was greatly alarmed. To find out from whence this gallant rider came, he inquired who was the master.\n\nAt this inquiry, the answer came. Perseus asked the king courteously in which country he had arrived. The king replied that he was in Syria. When Perseus knew he spoke to the king, he said, \"Sir, I am descended here by the dispositions of fortune. My men have been severely troubled by the tempestuous sea, which has long been troublesome to them. I request and pray that you allow us to come to land here to refresh ourselves. If it happens in the future that you or any of yours have need of seemly courtesy in Naples, which is our domain, I promise by the parole and word of a nobleman that the merit and thanks will be rendered to you. The king answered, \"Noble knight, there are so many explorers sailing through these regions and countries nowadays that a man cannot well know to whom he may affiance and trust. Nevertheless, I see well by your countenance that I believe you will not give us trouble.\" Understood other than truth, I abandon to you all my counsel, and pray you come and take patience in my house. Furthermore, I counsel you to depart and come out of your ship, for if you abide there long, you will be in great peril. We know certainly that a monster of the sea will soon come to this port, which holds here a fair virgin and maiden, bound upon a stone for the crime of her mother, by my sentence. Boccaccio, in the genealogy of the gods, touches on this matter no further, so I pass over it. Who demands the name of this maiden? Boccaccio says that she was named Andromeda.\n\nWhen Perseus had understood that this maiden was bound, he desired to see her for the marvelous judgment given upon her, and arrayed himself with rich vestments. And from the gaze of Medusa issued clothes and Bellorophon, who could not yet sustain himself. Afterward, he went to Andromeda. Her parents and cousins, in great numbers, labored in sorrow and an abundance of tears. When Perseus saw this maiden, who was passing fair in her degree, whom he had never seen before and could not find her equal, he had pity on her and said to himself, \"If I could, I would deliver her from this peril.\" Then he called her friends and said to them in the presence of Ammon, \"I have great pity and compassion for this so fair damsel. I am also astonished that the gods allow and endure that she is thus afflicted in her tender years. If it happens that she might find any knight or nobleman who would unbind her and for charity expose his body against the monster for her love, she would be free.\" They replied, \"A knight, Perseus, if you would do this for her sake and undertake this task, and if it should happen that I have the means...\" With this word, Perseus sent to fetch his arms. And after, he went to the damsel and unbound her from the stone. He delivered her to her friends and kin. St. Augustine in the book of The City of God recounts that in the same port is the stone upon which Andromeda was bound, which the people of Joppa keep as a sign and memory of Perseus' victory over the monster. All who were there marveled greatly at the knight's enterprise and, knowing the monster, they allowed it to live, seeming its defiance too great. One and another spoke of this matter. Perseus armed himself joyously. When he was armed, he came to Andromeda and kissed her, taking leave of her. And said. fair maiden, pray to the goddesses for your champion,\nwho submits himself to the peril of death for your love,\nso that by your only suffragies, I may come to the right place of love,\nand we may be joined in marriage, which I buy at the price of my life.\nNoble knight answered the maiden,\nI am more beholden to you than to all my kinsmen and friends,\nknow that if my suffragies can obtain an answer from the goddesses,\nyou shall return safely from this enterprise.\nThen Perseus went before the stone,\nAndromeda knelt with great humility, with both her knees on the earth,\nin provoking her goddesses to help her champion.\nAnd there were many matrons on the bank of the sea,\nwho for compassion joined her in contemplation,\nand by this example, all the Syrens began to pray for the prosperity of the knight,\nexcept for the king Phineus, who prayed for his death,\nand for this reason, he was excluded from praying before the judgment given to Andromeda. had fianced and taken a truth pledge with her; so had he, willing that the monster had consumed Perseus, that the marriage of him and her might have ended. What more shall I say, when Perseus had put himself forth by the stone? He beheld toward the sea and held in his hand a good sword and passing strong. He had not long seen the situation and taken leisure to observe the place, when there sprang out of a swell or an abyss of the sea a monster so great and so horrible, and so dreadful that it seemed that he had been made to destroy all the world. He roared and went on four feet like a beast. And his form was so misshapen that none knew to what he might be likened. Then the Syrians saw him put out his head from the swell. There was none so well assured but he trembled with fear. And many were so afraid that they fled into their houses and entered into their city. This notwithstanding, Perseus, as soon as he saw him surge. He ran to him boldly and right well. Assyrid struck him with the point of his glove on the right eye, making him blind on that side. The monster felt great pain and came out of the sea with open mouth, intending to swallow Perseus. But Perseus stepped back a little and placed his glove between his jaws in his throat so far that he could not draw it out again. The monster continually assaulted Perseus, intending to swallow him in his throat, and Perseus continually parried with his sword and struck at his throat and near his other eye. He skillfully carried out the task, inflicting him with many wounds, and eventually made him blind in his left eye, just as he had done with the right eye. Then, as the monster went here and there, And they went out in great numbers to see and know where Perseus went, pursuing his adventure. Perseus gave him many wounds in his search for his heart, and at last he found it and addressed it so that he struck the one who had struck him, making him fall down dead.\n\nThe Sirens rejoiced and were joyous when they saw Perseus' good fortune. One of them said to another, \"Such a knight should be praised above all other men.\" The king Ammon took great pleasure in seeing his conduct. Seeing the monster laboring in his death, he went down to him, embracing him, and said, \"Sir, may the gods govern your fortune. Since they have received you in their favor and grace, there is none who can annoy you. In a good hour were you here, ask what you will, and I shall grant it to you.\"\n\n\"Sir,\" answered Perseus, \"I have preserved the damsel from death. I desire nothing else but her.\"\n\n\"Valiant knight,\" said Phineus, who was waiting there, \"you think to glorify yourself by having\" \"You have gained more honor in half a day than any other knight will in a hundred years. You are greatly to be recommended. Be warned that the beauty of this maiden may deceive you. Know that I have taken a truth pledge from her, and by right she ought to be my wife. Many days have passed since, in the presence of our bishop, we promised to take each other in marriage. This misfortune has befallen her. You have relieved her, and therefore you want her. The beginning is fair, but the end is foul. If it happens that you do me wrong, I let it be known that I will not endure it. In this country, I am a king and have great power. All the glory that you have gained shall be quenched. Therefore, I implore you, in this case, to refrain. And take that which is mine. Perseus beheld these words and, from afar, saw two eyes approaching them, addressing them directly.\" Ioye said to Phineus, \"Your power is great in this country, but know well that I know no man living who can make me leave what is mine. When I arrived here, I found this maid condemned to death. At that time, she was entirely abandoned to death. I have saved her. I tell you that she is mine, and you ought to have no regard for any promise she has made to you or to anyone else. I intend that she shall be my wife. If you wish to debate and fight for her, assemble your power and make it ready for battle. Behold, my galleys are ready to receive [them]. And if I don't have people I now have in my coffers the largest part of Medusa's treasures to send for armed men in all places where I can get them.\"\n\nPhineus, considering this answer and knowing that he was the knight who had vanquished Medusa, whose renown was great and ran throughout the world, could answer in no other way. Perseus managed to do as he pleased. All the kinship of Andromeda were angry with Phineus for his folly and made him so ashamed that he left thence and went into the city. After they went to behold the monster, the Apuliens came sailing and rowing to the port, and they brought Perseus and Andromeda into Ioppa with great triumph. And yet more than this, Perseus and Andromeda espoused each other that same day and laid the foundation for their wedding. During this time, the Syrians came to the port daily to see and behold this monster. Pliny relates that from this monster was born to Rome a boy of forty feet long, also as great as an elephant. Late then, if one reads this history, search how great and huge this monster was, for even one of its bones was so great. The Romans, for a great marvel, have and keep that bone. Perseus. Perseus left the Sirens and equipped his eyes with vituals taken from Joppa. He sailed with his wife Andromeda, and fortune was kind to him, allowing him to pass the Syrian seas in a short time. He landed at Thebes' port and was received courteously by King Creon, who ruled as a young child at the time.\n\nIn Thebes, the Apulians received them and formed an alliance with the king. After leaving Thebes, they traveled by land towards Argos, guided by Bellerophon, who was then lame and knew the terrain well. When Bellerophon had brought them close to Argos, Perseus signaled to them that they were near, and Perseus stayed in a valley and sent Danaus to King Priam of Argos to ask for the kingdom on his behalf. Danaus went to Argos and completed the negotiation. King Priam answered Danaus that he was indeed the king and that he would consider the request. Hold that he held. And Manesced Perseus unto death if he depart not from the country quickly / Danus returned to the east of Perseus with this answer and made to him the report, hoping that King Pryrus would come to him and give him battle. He took great joy and pleasure in this, for he desired nothing in the world more than to be in arms and to attend and oversee his works. He ordered that night that he should depart his battle in three parts. Whereof he gave charge of the first battle to Bellerophon, who required and requested of him the vanguard with great insistence. And he himself held the second battle. And to Danus he entrusted the third.\n\nAnd when he began to set forth Bellerophon on his way, he had not gone far when he saw from afar King Pryrus, who knew of their coming by his spies and had arranged his battle by good order.\n\nBellerophon had with him but two thousand fighting men / when King Pryrus saw him come with so little a company. He supposed that he had bested Hades and was about to have won before the hand by advantage, and Marathon and a hard battle ensued. Pricus was right joyous at the assembly, and well employed his arms and sword, performing marvels. But at the time that he supposed, by force, that he had to remain victorious and vanquisher of his enemies, he cast his eyes toward Thebes and saw Perseus and his battle, which revealed and showed themselves. His fortune was such that, in the sight of the Medusa's head which he bore painted on his crystal shield, he and all his men were turned to stone in an instant. That is, he and all his men had lost their strengths and courage, and they could no longer lift their swords than statues or images. Pricus did not intend to follow the chase because of their poor conduct. Thus, Pricus. escaped the death and abandoned the country, and went with those who fled to Calidonia. There, he was later put to death by Hercules. Perseus then went into the city of Argos, whose gates were open. He made an edict within the city on capital punishment, forbidding any to use force or violence. After that, he sent word to seek out his giant father, Acrisius. Perseus told him who he was and was therefore received back into his city and kingdom.\n\nAcrisius held himself greatly in Perseus' debt and asked about his mother Danae and their adventures. Perseus told him all he knew. Acrisius was greatly displeased by Perseus' rudeness and sought to make amends. He adopted Perseus as his son and gave him full power to govern the city. Perseus, in turn, withdrew Acrisius into the tower of Darius, and then sent his brother Danaus back to Naples. Bellorophon gave them and their company great treasures at their departure. Perseus sent many Argonauts into the land and settled them in the country. And thus Perseus remained in Argos with his wife Andromeda, from whom he had many children: Selenenus, Blacheus Demeterus, and Gorgophon. All of these became men and took wives, among whom Gorgophon had one wife from whom he had two sons, Alceus and Electron. Alceus fathered Amphitron, and Electron fathered Alcmene, from whom came Hercules. Perseus governed the kingdom well and loved the king Acrisius much. But he had a hard fate in the end. For as he went alone at night to the tower of Darius, intending to visit the king, the guards and keepers did not know him and attacked him, wounding him. When he felt himself struck, he defended himself. The noise grew great. The king hears the news and rushes down to intervene, but Perseus is hidden among the crowd in such a way that he is not recognized. Perseus strikes him with his sword, killing him and all his supporters. Afterward, when he enters and finds him dead, he remembers and realizes he had fulfilled the goddesses' prophecy. He makes solemn arrangements for the funeral. At the funeral, Jupiter and Vulcan were present. At that time, Vulcan was practicing the arts of magic and necromancy.\n\nVulcan, at that time, forged and summoned the thunderbolts for Jupiter. That is, he assumed the role by striking and tempestuously conjuring the realms of their neighbors through fire and sword. Poets tell many stories about him, which need not be mentioned at this time. Perseus then paid great honor and respect to his father Jupiter, and Jupiter did the same for Perseus. Each praised the other and recounted their deeds. Of their adventures, but when the obsequies were done for King Acrisius. And Jupiter beheld and saw Perseus looking sad, unable to rejoice. He returned to Crete to his wife Juno, and there he practiced magic. And when Perseus found himself alone in Argos and saw that he could find no joy there, he departed from thence and went to the city of Mycenae, but he reigned there not long, for the death of Acrisius renewed all ways and could not put it out of his mind. So he departed from there and withdrew with a great eastern army towards the Orient, where he gained and conquered a great enemy, which he named Perses after his name. And there he founded the city called Persepolis, after he had avenged and put to death Liber Pater, who had made him war. Then, when he had done this, he provided for his children in such a way that his two sons Alcaeus and Electryon, with Amphitron, reigned in Perseus' place: Erechtheus on the red sea and Cecrops in Attica. In this time, I will speak only of Amphitryon and Alcmene, who loved each other so much that they took the same day to wed one another. The reason I write about this is because Alcmene gave birth to Hercules, who first destroyed Troy and so on. In this time, when Jupiter returned to Crete, and he, with Vulcan his son and Juno, practiced the art of magic after Vulcan had forgotten the thunder of Jupiter; Amphitryon married the fair Alcmene in the city of the king of Crete. And Juno was there during the festivities. Jupiter continually beheld Alcmene because of her great beauty. Alcmene was the fairest woman who ever was seen, the object of all his delight, and all his care was in beholding the ladies. He desired nothing but to be among them, and he kept his eye upon them, but in truth, he beheld Alcmene most of all. In her, he had supreme pleasure in the sight of her, and he fixed his eyes on her so intently. excel\u00a6lence / that his herte began to medle in suche wyse that he was Amorous and couetous of her loue / In this co\u2223uoytise and desire he lete passe the solempnyte of the wed\u00a6ding And retorned in to crete / but he had not longe so\u2223iourned there whan the said couoytise meued so certainly in hym / That on a day he began to speke of Alcumena in the presence of Iuno. And sayde vnto gamynedes his squyer. Gamynedes what semeth yow of the beaute of Alcumena. Syre sayd the squyer me thinketh she shy\u2223neth in alle maner excellence of a lady. And that for to comprise alle her vertues / ther is no kynge so grete / but that he might well seme to be of Allyance of oon that is of lasse beaulte than she is.\nWHan the quene Iuno vnderstood \u00fet Iupiter helde his deuises of Alcumena / At that same tyme she was sore meuyd with newe Ialousye For she had often tymes ben Ialous of Iupiter. And thought in her self that yf she myght she wold do sle and put to deth Alcumena After these deuises Iupiter felte hym self sore susprised and A knight, overcome with the allure of love, took his bow and arrows with the intention of going into the wood to hunt wild beasts. But as soon as he had stepped out of the gate, one of Thebes' knights approached him, paying homage to the king and informing him that Creon, king of Thebes, had sent for him and requested his aid and assistance in the war against the king of Thessaly, who had trespassed against him. Upon hearing the messenger's message, Jupiter was pleased with the request from the king of Thebes and took the knight by the hand, bringing him to his palaces. There, he feasted him and made him comfortable. Afterward, Jupiter assured the knight with sincere heart and intent that he would help and support King Creon in his war. The knight of Thebes, in response, took his leave of King Jupiter and returned to Thebes. The apparition and. order was made for the Theban army. The king Jupiter did not delay and hastened as much as he could to reach the outskirts of Thebes, where he hoped to find Alcmena. When all was ready, he set out and traveled at great speed, reaching Thebes where he was received honorably and respectfully by the king, the queen, and the ladies.\n\nUpon his arrival, Jupiter did not forget to look for Alcmena. But he could not see her. In his distress, he looked for Amphitryon but could not find him. More abashed than before, he approached King Creon and asked where Amphitron was.\n\nKing Creon answered him that he should come quickly and that he had gathered his army at the castle of Ariciancie, which he had given him. This castle was between Thebes and Athens on the river and was a very beautiful place. Strong Anon, as Jupiter had understood that King Creon had given Arciacia to Amphitron, he imagined that Alcmene was in that place and was determined to go there, lest he be unable to quell the gossip of the people and risk making Amphitron jealous. The king Jupiter remained displeased in Thebes for this reason and spent his time there as wisely as possible until Amphitron's arrival.\n\nLater, King Creon departed from Thebes to lay siege to the city of Thespiae, accompanied by Jupiter and many others. During the siege, the defenders of the city frequently assaulted their enemies by battering ram, but the Thebans always had good fortune and in the end, they forced the surrender of all points in accordance with King Creon's will. And thus, when King of Thebes had conquered and subjugated the city, he returned to his country with great joy.\n\nWhen Amphitron saw that his enemies had been conquered Overcome, and there was no more peril. He had great desire to go see his wife Alcumena, and to dispose himself the sooner to be with her, he departed from the east with the leave of the king, accompanied only by a squire. But when King Jupiter saw Amphitron so depart on his way, he began to think and devise a subtle plan to come to his intent. And he departed from the east with only gamesomes accompanied. And as soon as he was in the field on the way, the two of them met. Jupiter entered into a conspiracy with gamesomes, and said to him, \"Gamesomes, I have great trust in you and more than in any man who lives, therefore I will tell you privately a secret thing which I will accomplish as it seems to me. You must hold and keep secret. Truth it is that I am terribly in love with lady Alcumena. By no means can I forget her or put her from my desire. How well she knows the pain that I have borne for her love, I never dared to reveal to her my cause, nor I never dared to show her, for as much as I know she is wise, chaste, and virtuous. Considering this, I find myself abused, and confess my folly. I am in a manner despairing now, for I had supposed to have found the faith of love in Alcumena, not having been the sudden departing of Amphitron, which yet brings me a hope in a way. For at the time that I saw him depart from the east to go see his wife in the company of his squire, I imagined that in all haste I would go to Arcadia by a nearer and shorter way. I knew the passage to be long since. And I intended to transform myself into the form of Amphitron, and you into the form of his squire, to go to Alcumena and make her understand that I was Amphitron. Gamed on this intention and purposes, I have come on the way to go there with you. We must necessarily win over Amphitron on this way a night and a day, and therefore let us go merrily now. I think that love will help me. And when Alcumena shall see me transformed into the form of Amphitron. You, as his squire, she shall not be wise enough to perceive my enchantment. Gamymedes listened diligently to Iupiter's will and purpose and promised him that he would employ him in this task as much as possible. They rode together with good will and great desire, the more short way. In riding and going, Iupiter disposed him in his enchantments. He sped him so that he arrived at the castle of Alcantis at an evening. When he arrived there, he transformed himself and Gamymedes in such a way as he had before purposed. And then, at the same hour that Alcumena slept and each man was in bed, they came to the castle and knocked at the gate. The porter awoke and came to the window. Looking down below, he saw Iupiter and Gamymedes by the moonlight. He thought and seemed that it was Amphitron and his squire. Therefore, he opened the gate and received them in such a way he should have. Amphitryon brought his lord to Alcumena's chamber door and awakened her, saying that Amphitryon had returned and was keeping guard at Jupiter's command. Alcumena opened the chamber to Jupiter, who entered with great joy. In the chamber, Jupiter and Alcumena took each other in arms and kissed each other, Alcumena thinking it was Amphitryon. When they were deeply embraced, Alcumena asked Jupiter when he had returned. Jupiter answered and said he had come from Thebes, having taken the town and yielded the enemies, and had departed from the east for the love of her, accompanied only by his squire, to come more quickly to her. Alcumena was well pleased with Jupiter's words and asked if he would eat or drink. Jupiter answered that he wanted nothing but to go to bed with her. He lay with her and had what he desired. King Jupiter had never experienced greater joy. Iupiter approached Alcumena at the chamber door and waited there until the bad gamynedes had departed. Iupiter approached Alcumena in love, extending his power as much as he could in this way and by this method. He seemed to find it necessary to enchant all those present to prevent them from awakening as he came to Alcumena in secret and for the joy of love. Afterward, Iupiter arose and went to the chamber door where the gamynedes kept watch. He instructed them to enchant everyone in the place so they would not awaken when Amphitrion arrived. He asked them to wait at the gate and to alert him if Amphitrion came, especially if it was during daylight. I will give you a powder that you should cast into the air against him. This powder has the power to keep Amphitrion from approaching. place also longe as the day en\u00a6dureth And than whan hit is nyght And he knokke at the gate. ye shall come to me And than we shall opene the gate and brynge hym to his wyf / And after that we shall retorne fro hens {etc}.\nTHe kynge Iupiter with these wordes wrought in his science and made his charmes and sortes in suche wyse that all they that were in \u00fee place myghte not awake / with oute deffetyng of his chante\u2223ment / whan he had so do he transumed gamynedes in to the liknes of the porter and comysed hym to kepe the yate / After he retorned in to the chambre of Alcumena And shette faste the wyndowes / that no light might co\u00a6me in. And after he wente to bedde and laye wyth the lady and awoke her and there made alle the residue of the nyght & alle the day folowyng takyng his playsir with her / so acertainly that he engendrid on her a right fayr sone conceyuyd vnder the regne of the beste constel\u2223lacion of heuen / / In the ende whan kynge Iupiter had be with her a nyght and a day / aboute the hour whan the sonne Go down into the west / And it seemed that Amphitron should come / He made Alcmena sleep with his magic. After he rose up and made himself like one of the servants of the place / And he had not long tarried there / That Amphitron and his squire came knocking at the gate / It was then night. When Alcmena heard him knock / He came to the gate and opened it / Amphitron thought it was his porter / He greeted him and asked where his wife was / The valiant porter said to him that she slept / And so he brought him to her chamber / Jupiter, going incognito, charmed him so that he had no desire to eat or drink / When he came into the chamber, he awakened Alcmena / She was greatly frightened when she saw Amphitron / She had supposed for truth that she had seen him a long time ago / And she groped about in the bed. When she had groped and tasted about in the bed and found no one there / She was even more frightened. She hadn't seen him before, but she arose and came to Amphitron, thinking to herself that she had supposed she would see him and that he had come. She made great cheer to her husband, telling him that she had dreamed of his coming all night. After they had discussed various things, he went to bed with her that very hour. She conceived a son of Amphitron, and Jupiter and Gamantes departed from the castle then, leaving all those who were there sleeping. No one awoke until it was morning. They had thought they had slept only one night. However, they had slept for a day and two nights. This deed was accomplished so secretly that no one could see it. In this way, she conceived two sons, one of Jupiter and the other of Amphitron. With the passage of time, the fruit of her womb began to show. News spread everywhere, and it reached the ears of King Jupiter and Queen Juno in Crete. Iupiter was joyously and gladly passing his time in the presence of Juno. He beheld Gamymedes and began to grow red. After showing a good countenance and praising the goddesses, he spoke highly of Alcmene. This renewed the jealousy of the old queen Juno, and she plotted in her heart to kill Alcmene through the enchantment of sorcery. For in that craft she was an experienced mistress. \"Old, cursed woman,\" she mused in her heart, her cursed jealousy growing. She kept her eyes on Iupiter as he spoke of Alcmene without responding. But finally, when she knew that the time for Alcmene's childbirth approached, she departed from Crete secretly alone. She told Iupiter and swore to him that she would go on certain secret pilgrimages. The queen went forth to Arcadia, where stood a temple near the castle, dedicated to the goddess Diana. This old queen entered the temple not for devotion but to see if anyone came from the castle concerning Alcumenas state. She was disguised by her craft, a method used by Simon Magus in the time of Saint Peter and Emperor Nero. Galantyse, who governed Alcumenas, was there in long orisons and prayers before the goddesses representation. When she had finished, she rose from her contemplation and intended to return. However, the old queen appeared before her and greeted her. To come to her purpose, the old queen said to her, \"I am abashed,\" to which Galantyse replied, \"I am not certain where I am.\" The old queen said, \"You are at the castle of Arcadia. For this temple is of its appurtenances and belongs to the castle.\" Between Thebes and Athens, Dame Juno said, \"I believe this is the place where Amphitron and Lady Alcmene dwell. You speak truth, Galantyse. And how is it with them, Juno asked. Right well, Galantyse replied, my lord Amphitron is in good health, and my lady Alcmene is ready to give birth. She is not far along any longer, day or term. Therefore, I can no longer tarry. It is time that I return to her. I commit you to the goddesses.\"\n\nGalantyse spoke these words and went to Alcmene, who began to labor and feel the pain of childbirth. The false old queen remained in the temple, intending to kill Alcmene in the way she had planned. Instead of saying orisons, she began to perform certain foul and demonic works. She crossed her legs over each other and sat in that position. At the very same moment and time that she did this, Alcmene, by the power of the sorcery, began to cross her legs in the same way and sat down. Many a time as the old Juno did, In such a way that no man or woman could make her do otherwise, the poor Alcmena felt the most bitter and sharp pains of the world. For her fruit would ripen, and she could not in any way, because her legs were so crossed over each other, she cried and lamented pitifully, and was in right bitter torment. The midwives could not help her; she was held in this position for three days straight. During these three days, gallants came to the temple of Diana, and the ladies and women came after one another to pray for the deliverance of Alcmena. And they always found the old queen sitting with her legs crossed, one over the other, but they found her never in one semblance or likeness. For at each time she transformed herself into diverse likenesses and figures of beasts or women, so that they should not perceive her or her craft. However, she could not transform herself so well that the gallants were not aware of it. Ofs often came to the temple and observed a best or woman sitting in the manner in which Alcumena sat in her chamber. Alcumena had been in labor for three days. On the fourth day, when the gallants grew melancholic and angry at what they saw in the temple, Alcumena gathered the women and said to them, \"It must be that the pain my lady Alcumena endures comes from some sorcery or witchcraft. All the pain she experiences prevents her from unfolding her legs. This is my belief. And I am determined to investigate it soon. For I have seen in the temple, every time I have been there for more than three days, a woman or beast with legs crossed or folded, as my lady has here. It seems to me that it is some evil creature which wishes harm to my lady and which compels her to sit in this way.\" If it is so, I will deceive her. One of you and I will go into the temple. \"Fanning right, I bring joyous and glad cheer, and will thank the goddess Diana, saying all's well, that my lady is delivered of a fair son. And when that creature which is always there and changes her in various forms has heard our praises, if she will grant it to my lady. I doubt not but she will lose composure, and all troubled, she will depart, thinking she has failed in her charm. And if it is true what I suppose, my lady may have some manner of consolation for her pain.\"\n\nThe women, during these words, remembered what they had seen in the temple - the woman and beasts that Galantis spoke of. They were of the opinion that Galantis should do as she had proposed. Then Galantis and one of the women departed from the chamber and went to the temple. Entering therein, they saw, on one side where the false old queen sat as was her wont, and had transformed herself into the guise and form of a cow. They passed by, assured without making any noise.\" Semblant of sorrow or other thing, save only of joy, and when they came before the Altar, they knelt down and joined hands, and said: \"Diana, sovereign goddess, thy name be praised in heaven and on earth. For thou hast given this to my lady Alcumena and suffered her to bring forth into this world the fairest child of the world. With these words they rose up and returned again. And as they went, they saw the cow suddenly depart from the temple and run onto the fields. At the same time and instant, Alcumena arose and was delivered of two fair sons, Erigone and her companion.\n\nWhen Galantis came to Alcumena and found there the two fair sons whom she had brought forth, she was full of joy that she had beguiled and deceived the false old Juno. She told this to the ladies and to Alcumena how she had seen the cow and how it had been driven from the temple, and assured them that it was some evil person.\" Had Alcmena held in danger by sorcery, the ladies went to see the cow, but they heard nothing more of her. Born were these two sons, one great and very fair by great excellence, and the other little and feeble. The first-born was Hercules, named after Jupiter, and resembled him. The other was named Typhon or Amphitryon's son, Hercules being, as some say, the son of Jupiter, and Typhon the son of Amphitryon. News of this birth spread quickly, and all who heard were joyful. Reserved was Juno, for she had never rejoiced in her heart since she heard in the temple that Alcmena had given birth to a son. She left the temple then, disguised as a cow, filled with pity in her heart, and deeply troubled. She had neither wit nor understanding, and thus sorrowfully, when she was still a little girl. withdrew from the temple she took again her own form of a woman. And went upon the mount of Olympus; there she became pensive and began to think of her adventure after she struck herself on the breast with her fist and said, \"What is the value of me to be born of the royal blood of Saturn? What value is my patrimony of the world of gold? What value is the diadem of Crete? Or what values do these things give me the sciences of the world that I have learned through great study and labor?\n\nWhen the goddesses are against and contrary to me in all things. The king, my husband, pays no heed to me, nor sets any value on me in my old age any more than he did in my youth. He has a new lady every day. O what destiny, fortune, will you never turn your wheel? Shall I always suffer my tribulations and this pain?\n\nIndeed, when you do not favor me, and I behold that of all my desires, there is not one that can be achieved. All shame and disgrace overwhelm me. And I am so put in despair that my misfortune. I must necessarily be caused by shortening and lessening the natural course of my days / with these words she beheld the earth and not the heavens. She thought for a while and then said, \"Am I not unfortunate, born in an evil hour? My craft and kindred avail me not against my enemy Alcumena. I have failed against her, but certainly. I shall prove myself against her son, so that his mother may be my companion and keep me company to mourn. For I shall kill her son. And by this means, because she is a woman and a mother, I shall give her cause for anger and defiance.\"\n\nAn accursed old woman, conspiring against the innocent, imagined that she should take two serpents charmed and conjured in the death of the son of her enemy. She would put them into her chamber that night, so that they would strangle him. With this conclusion, she departed from the mountain and returned to Crete. There, she labored by her art. She died on a secret day. the serpentes of the contrey.\nshe was allone and well vnderstood and knewe this marchandyse / Whan she had assemblid them alle / she chasse two the most felonst and moste enuenemyd / and put hem in her lappe and bare hem home / and after away\u00a6ted aday whan kynge Iupiter was goon in a ferre vo\u2223yage / and than faynyng yet that she wolde goo on some pilgremage / she departid allone fro crete / And dyde so moche that in disguysed figure she cam in to the castell of Arcyancye / The kyng Egeus of Athenes and the kynge Eristeus of Athique were at that tyme comen in the castell to make good chere / hit was in the euenyng whan Iuno entryd / whan she was with in she made her self Inuysible by her craft / And soughte fast aboute to finde the chambre where as was the sone of alcume\u2223na / she sought so longe that she came to the dore of the chambre / where ther was a wyndowe open / she wente to the wyndow and loked in / And in the beholdyng she sawe two noryces and two sones / wherof she was all abasshid and began to Then Alcumena, being thoughtful, came to see her sons. She rejoiced and delighted in them so much that old Juno, who knew both were her sons, was filled with great joy. For Juno, in her false and evil-intending heart, planned to strangle both boys with serpents.\n\nAlcumena left the chamber after some time. Juno let the night grow dark. The nurses put the children in their cradles to sleep. They slept, and after they had laid themselves down, she opened her lap and prepared to let the two charmed and enchanted serpents out. When they were within, they lifted their heads and, smelling the children, addressed them, making their first assault on Iphicles in such a way that they strangled him and murdered him.\n\nAfter Iphicles' death, these two serpents went to Hercules' cradle, which awakened at the same time. When the serpents came to the cradle, they placed one on this side and the other on that side and mounted upon it. However, this was to their detriment, for as soon as they went up, Hercules perceived them and was afraid because they were fierce and dreadful. He then struggled and managed to free himself, breaking the bonds in which he was wrapped and swaddled. In doing so, he regained his arms and hands. And when the serpents attacked him, he pushed them back with natural strength and force many times. He fought with them with his fists for a long time but eventually, when Hercules saw that the serpents were overwhelming him more and more and would not cease their assault, he took each one in each hand, making a great cry, and held them so tightly that he strangled both of them.\n\nThe nurses awoke at the cry that Hercules made and quickly rose up to see their children. They found Iphicles dead. They found that Hercules held the two serpents in his hands. Suddenly, as they saw this marvel, they cried out pitifully. With that, Juno, the false witch and sorceress, who had all seen her, fled in fear and anger that the serpents had not wrought and accomplished her purposes in Hercules as they had in Ipicleus. Amphitron and Alcmene woke up and entered the chamber where the maids were, who made sorrowful and pitiful cries. Upon entering, they saw Hercules on one side, still holding the serpents, and on the other side, they beheld Ipicleus, all swollen with venom and dead. Then profound sorrow overcame them all, and Alcmene began to cry and weep naturally. Amphitron was terrified. Many damsels and other people came into the chamber, who were all afraid to take away the serpents for fear of Anguish. None was so bold who dared approach Hercules because of the serpents he held. Hercules, whose hands were swollen from the venom of Allewaye, made no heavy or grim face, but laughed at one and another. He remained in this state for a long time, so long that medicines and surgeons came and, by their science, took venomous beasts from his hands. When Amphitrion saw Hercules delivered from the serpents, he comforted Alcmene, who was near death from sorrow, and made Iphicles burn and bury the slain. All those who were there were greatly astonished by the power and strength of Hercules, who was still a young child. They marveled that he had fought against the serpents and, by excessive strength and might, had strangled them.\n\nThe night passed in this manner, and on the morning, Amphition intended to display and manifest this marvelous and glorious victory. He took Hercules and had him born in Athens, in the temple of the god Mars, accompanied by King Eristeus. The false old witch, Juno, followed far behind. When Amphitron arrived at the temple, he summoned King Egeus and gathered the people. After taking Hercules before the god Mars and thanking him for the victory he had sent against the serpents, Amphitron lifted him up and presented him to the people, recounting and telling them his marvelous adventure. And when Hercules was displayed and placed in the common view and sight of the people, every man gave him honor and praise. But the false old Juno, being in the crowd after long seeing the noble child, resembling and like King Jupiter in all his limbs, said to those around her, \"Indeed, Amphitron is a fool when he believes and thinks that Hercules is his son. Observe the limbs of King Jupiter and those of this child; you will find no difference.\" This child and Iupiter are of one appearance,\nAnd have similar figures and shapes.\nAny man who says this child is the son of Jupiter and none other,\nWhen old Juno had spoken these cursed words.\nShe withdrew apart from the crowd and took another form,\nTo avoid being recognized. Then these words were sown and spread by those who heard them,\nCausing a great murmur and rumors to arise against Amphitron.\nIt was reported to him that men said Hercules was the son of King Jupiter.\nEach man spoke this by the instigation of the old Juno.\nWhen Amphitron heard these new tidings,\nHe began to scrutinize the child.\nIn scrutinizing him, he thought truly that this child bore the holy likeness of King Jupiter.\nThen a great sorrow and jealousy entered into his heart.\nHe concealed his feelings as much as he could,\nMaintaining a calm demeanor. Eschew the slander. And soon after that, the people were withdrawn, he called King Eristeus and prayed him to be reconciled with Hercules, saying that never after would he see him and that he firmly believed him to be the son of Jupiter. Eristeus comforted Amphitron as best he could, intending to help him put this jealousy out of his mind, but he could not. What shall I make long to relate about Eristeus' efforts to keep and nourish Hercules? He made him born into his household. Amphitron returned to Alcmena's sight where he found her greatly distressed by these tidings which she had received. She excused herself against Amphitron and the false old queen Juno went to Crete, which I shall delay and will come to speak of the first adventures of Hercules.\n\nThese tidings of this first adventure of Hercules were soon spread by all the provinces of Greece. Some said he was a bastard and the son of Jupiter, and so Plantus recounted in his first comedy. And others. Sustains that he was the true son of Amphitrion, and so Boceaccio in his book of the goddesses' genealogy states, howsoever his son may have been. Eristeus kept him, and made him be nursed harshly and without tenderness, outside the city of Atycca. In this time, the kings and citizens and dwellers in towns made their children be nursed outside of good towns, and made them lie upon the bare earth, all naked, to be stronger without entering cities until they had power and strength to wield arms. Ligurgis instituted this law and many others. First, he instituted that the people should obey their prince, and that the prince should be firm in justice and live soberly. Merchants should do their merchandise fairly for one another without any money. And each man should avenge himself openly. A young man should have but one gown in a year, and one man should not be more gallant or wanton than another. other / and that no man should renew wrong passed things And that men of arms should have no wives to tend to them, so they might be sharper and fiercer in war, and to appease their fragile humanity.\n\nHe ordered that near the camps were certain women, common in places called brothels, from which comes fornication. These were the laws that the Greeks used in the time of the beginning and coming of Hercules.\n\nFor now, returning to my purpose, Hercules was nurtured in a house that stood in the open fields, and was often times put out into the rain and wind. He spent most of that time on the earth without any other bed, often lying on high or dry straw. In this nurturing, he grew and thrived in all beauty, strength, and prudence. He was humble, courteous, and gentle. All good qualities began to emerge in him. He was sober in eating and drinking, he gladly slept on the fields, he shot and drew the bow daily.\n\nWhen King Egeus of Athens had heard this, He was accompanied by his son, named Hercules and Theseus, who were of the same age. They got along well. Theseus was strong, mighty, and handsome, and had wit. But Hercules surpassed him and shone as far above him as the sun does above the stars, when he was seven years old. He practiced wrestling and overthrew the strongest and most numerous opponents. He did such great feats of strength that men, women, and children from Thebes and Attica came daily to see him. The older and stronger he grew, the more his strength increased. When he was ten years old, he began to use weapons. Of his own accord, he thought he would go to Mount Olympus and stay there, answering all men who came for the space of fifteen years. And I will receive them, in arms or otherwise, at any proof or trial of strength. I postponed a day when Eristeus came to see me, and he said to me, \"Sir, you have nurtured me up to this time as if I were your own son. If fortune were contrary to me as nature, I know I would be the most unfortunate child ever born. Some say I am Jupiter's son, and others say Amphitryon's. Regardless, you are the only one who has nourished me, so I draw near to you as to my father. I am determined to be on Mount Olympus in as short a time as possible, and there I shall remain for fifteen days, providing for them at spear, sword, wrestling, and readiness. It pleases your court to give a prize to him who does best, to move the hearts of noble men towards valor. myghty Attain, I reply, Hercules, you may request of me nothing that is honest and respectful, and I shall be agreeable, for you are young and strong. Indeed, there is no man who can withstand you, since you have the will. I am content that you demonstrate your strength and bring this enterprise to your worship.\n\nAs for conducting and bringing this enterprise to your service, I shall array you as richly as if you were my own son. My father answered Hercules, I thank you for this grace and kindness, for it becomes you to choose a man of great understanding and authority to go to all the realms of these Marches and show the kings, princes, and gentlemen the will and enterprise that I have taken. Fairly said Eristeus, you speak the truth, you shall make your letters containing your intention and send them to me. Then, when I have received them, I shall do good. After these devotions and many other things, King Eristeus returned home, and Hercules took ink and parchment and began to write the letters of the form of his pasch, which he would make. It contained the following greeting to all kings, princes, knights, gentlemen, ladies, and damsels, from the esquire unknown and well-fortuned:\n\nWe have recently informed you that the first day of the month of May next following, the esquire unknown will be on Mount Olympus to dispose himself in suitable attire for arms, at the pleasure of the goddesses and Fortune. He will receive all those of noble house and name who come in the following manner:\n\nIn the beginning, the first three days he will hold a wrestling match. And he who does best, according to the judgment of the appointed judges, will win an elephant of sin gold. On the fourth day, he will run a long race or a stade against all those who wish to run. He who runs best will win a courser at the fifteenth and sixtieth days. He shall shoot with the hand bow first at the most strait and near, and afterward at the most far. The one who shoots most strait and near will win a glove of gold, and he who is best at far will have a bow and a sheet of arrows. At the seventh day he shall cast the stone against all men. And he who does best there shall have a rich diamond. At the eighth day and following, up to the fifteenth, he shall do arms. And if anyone dares to prove himself alone against him, he shall be received, provided that during the first six days he comes and presents himself to the judges. The one who does best shall have a rich sword. If it happens that those who come to this feast wish to gather in a manner of a battle in jousting with courtesans, rochettis, and fighting with rapiers, the judges shall appoint Captains as they seem fit. And he who excels in this: Excerise shall win a chaplet of laurel. All these things preceding, the said esquire unknown promises to accomplish, and prays unto all noble men, ladies, and damsels that they will pledge themselves to come and see the assembly of nobles, which shall be performed by the pleasure of the Immortal goddesses. Who will give to the receivers of this mandate manifold increase of honor and enhancement of good fortune [etc].\n\nWhen Hercules had read this mandate and sealed it, he sent it to Eristeus, who read it and found the invention of the author and maker to be good and rightly worthy of remembrance. He called one of his knights and gave him the charge and office to publish this mandate in the courts of all the kings of Greece. The knight, inspired with a right good heart to do the said office, went to Athens, Thebes, Argos, Lacedaemon, Arcadia, Achaea, Perplyes, Magnesia, Crete, Ephesus, Pepos, Triopolis, and Thessaly. And around him, he published the mandate without declaring who should keep the pass. Those who heard spoke of the squire unknown and understood his high enterprise, judging him to be of noble character and unable to fail in obtaining honor and worship. The knight, to further this voyage, had a term of four months. During this time, Hercules disposed him to further his pass, and so did kings and noblemen come there. What shall I make of a long procession. When the very first day of the pass was coming, King Eristeus brought Hercules up to Mount Olympus. And from all sides came so many noblemen, ladies, and damsels that their number could not be estimated. The mountain was full on all sides. In this night, there was great bustle and noise from one and another to make their tents and lodgings and loggings, and it ought not to be forgotten when the evening had come. The knight that The assembly had published the mandate, gathering all the kings who had arrived. The noble esquire requested that they choose judges among themselves and set the prize. After the kings present had heard and understood the esquire's request, they thanked him. They selected three kings to be their judges: King Creon of Thebes, King Gorgophon of Argos, and King Eson of Mycenae, who was the father of Jason. Wise and capable, they accepted the office with good hearts. That night passed with great joy. They assembled in a tent made for dancing, and the kings, along with the young and old knights, went there. The festival began and lasted until midnight with dancing and songs.\n\nKing Jupiter and Amphitron were not present at this assembly, having been kept informed secretly by King Eristeus. Hercules was to keep and guard the pass, avoiding all words and language that might provoke or arise from the nobles, lest they question that he was not his son. Jupiter on the other side said he did not belong to him, and urged them to do no better than abstain from attending this solemnity, which was a most special and newest thing spoken of at that time.\n\nThe first day of May, at what hour the sun cast its heat upon the earth, Hercules made a trumpet sound to summon the ladies to the scaffolds and places. Immediately after, they were moved and set. Hercules then leaped out of his tent in wrestling attire and came into the midst of the place or field. Making reverence to the Judges, kings, and ladies, he was then forty-four years old and had completed his tasks.\n\nAs soon as he had finished the reverence, the knight officer of arms cried out and said, \"Hail and excellent Judges, we have long known you with all kings, knights!\" gentlemen of Arms, ladies and maids, here is the unknown esquire presented to you on Mount Olympus. He offers to demonstrate the content of his challenge according to the chapters' instructions. If any man wishes to test him at wrestling, let him come forward and he will be welcomed.\n\nAt the end of this cry, Thesesus of Athens entered the field, at the command of his father King Egeus. He was a handsome and noble child. Upon his arrival, he greeted Hercules and said, \"Master of all corporeal abilities, I have come here with no presumption but to learn. I have need of your teachings, and therefore I submit myself to your grace.\"\n\nHercules replied, \"I can learn more from you than you from me. Let us put ourselves to the test to determine the prize. It must begin at once.\"\n\nThese words were spoken, and the two noble esquires approached each other. Thesesus. Hercules used his power to enable Theseus to do as much as he could or dared, without showing or using his own strength against him. They wrestled and pulled at each other, but eventually Hercules cast Theseus aside, the softest and most favorably of all. This pleased the ladies and damsels greatly. Theseus then departed from the place. He prayed the ladies and damsels to accept his deed. Then came many young squires, whose names I do not know, and they labored and toiled earnestly to gain honor and respect. But their labor brought them little reward in terms of the prizes. For Hercules cast and put to the earth all who came. The wrestling continued for four hours. At the request of the ladies, the judges finally stopped the wrestling for that day, as they thought Hercules was young and had already accomplished a great feat. When Hercules understood that the judges had ceased their wrestling, he was deeply sorrowful. In his wrestling, he had found great pleasure. The judges, with Eristeus, came to him and made him put on his clothes and arrange himself. Afterward, they brought him into the common hall where the ladies were dancing and singing joyously. They told him that he must dance and sing like the others. Hercules excused himself sorrowfully, but his excuse could not prevail. He was set to dance in the hand of a very fair damsel named Megere, young of age. But she was well-addressed in wit and understanding. She was the daughter of King Creon.\n\nWhen Hercules saw himself in the hand of such a noble damsel, he was greatly abashed and ashamed. The damsel, on the other hand, was also shy. For as she had seen Hercules wrestle, she had set all her love on him.\n\nThey knew not what to say to each other. Instead, they used coy and furtive glances. Hercules caught a singular one. In the presence of the damsel, Hercules' heart grew fonder, the closer she was to him. Love subdued and captivated them without the need for speech. Their beauty was the cause, for no fairer or more accomplished children had been found in all of Greece. Hercules, in particular, was admired for his prowess, and every man marveled at him and his conduct.\n\nA space of time passed, and Hercules was escorted from the feast to his tent. The tents of the kings and ladies were not made of cloth or silk but of woven leaves and fragrant herbs. It was not known to make tents of anything else. Hercules spent the night more engrossed in contemplating Megara's beauty than sleeping. The following day, Hercules approached the pass, and there were many strong and valiant young men of Greece. But Hercules, with one arm, was the strongest of all. He threw and cast them (the wrestlers) and that day he cast and put more than three hundred to the earth. And there could not come so many to him but he cast them down and put them under, without any challenging or showing himself in the least. At that time he gained a great glory and honor there. Megere often beheld him. And in the same way did the ladies and damsels, and many set their love in him. And thus he passed the wrestling match to his worship. For three days he did this. On the fourth day he assembled all those who had come there to run. And he made the weakest ride on the best coursemen in Greece. Afterward, he showed them the long or steady course. And made them move and run. He ran after the horse and men, but passed all of them. And without taking anyone's breath, he ran the long course. And came to the forefront of all the riders and runners. Of whom he was greatly praised and received a great reward. And some men say that he ran. Hercules swiftly won the world's wonder, as a heart,\nOf this course that Hercules made. He recorded it in his books,\nAmong other things worthy to be remembered.\n\nFive and six days following,\nHercules took his bow and arrows,\nAnd went to the place designated for archery.\nThe ladies and damsels were there.\nHercules and many others shot,\nStraying and missing the mark the most,\nBut Hercules shot in a little ring of gold,\nAnd for shooting far, he outdistanced all.\nHis bow was so great that it was a man's charge and burden,\nNo man could bend it but himself.\nIt was a pleasure to see him,\nHe gained great loot and bruised the two days.\nYet he demanded more the following day,\nWhich was the seventh day of the pas,\nFor when it came to casting the stone far,\nOne after another, he cast it in. Such was he who passed beyond five passes further than any man who at that time employed him in the exercise. Those who came to this feast cried out with a loud voice. The squire unknown is neither the son of Amphitron nor the son of Jupiter, but he is the son of the god of nature, who has endowed him with double strength and redoubled a hundredfold. In his innocence, he tamed the serpents, and in his youth, he surmounted all the world in wit, strength, and valor. Blessed be the womb that conceived him and bore him to glorify Greece. For truly, the time will come when he will be the glory of the Greeks and their triumph, and he will help them well if they need it.\n\nThese were the words of the kings and ladies, and of the damsels and valets. Each man praised him in his guise. The fair Megera listened gladly to the lofty words and the praises men gave him. But yet she saw him more gladly do his feet and valor. It is no marvel that she saw him thus. In Hercules, there was none equal to his beauty, surpassing the measure and quantity of his strength and force. Each man who cast a stone wished he could be like him. He entered the common tent, where many a merry man was with his lady. There he began to show himself a little, and joke with one and another. He was well received, for he was tall and had a clear understanding. Megere and Hercules often exchanged glances and struck each other, causing a change in color. In this change of color, there was no lack of arousing amorous desires with profound sighs, which were nourished in the depths and bottoms of their hearts. Among other things to expedite the matter, the kings and ancient knights, as they appeared in council, since they had many young knights. Those who had come and had abandoned their posts from the beginning of the festival to do battle against Hercules / The power and strength of Hercules was well considered in this council / Since it was truly apparent that no man could withstand him / It was decreed that he should do no particular battles / And that the remaining days of the festival from two days to two days they should engage in a manner of battle / whose captains were to be two kings who were present: Tantalus, father of Menelaus, husband of the fair Helene, and Lycus, king of the Thessalians. These two kings undertook this task with good will, and it was decreed that Hercules should engage them until one party was at a disadvantage, and then he might aid that party / This arrangement was displayed in the tent by the officer of arms / What shall I make long account? Those named before. for to fight and do arms man for man against Hercules were right joyous of this new ordinance / The feast then ceased, and one and other withdrew themselves to the morning, until they came to the fields to begin the first tournament / And there were well five hundred squires / And three hundred knights, all armed as for going into battle.\n\nReserved that her swords were rabatines and not sharp, and that her spears had rochettes of tree or of wood. The king Tandarus and the king Ixion were richly arrayed and well horsed, and armed well with quiver bouilly / and ran in the most hardest place of this assembly / there were no more but an hundred knights on horseback. For the horse at that time were but little known or used. All they on horseback and they afoot were partitioned into two companies, like in number / that one of these companies was delivered to Tandarus / And that other to Ixion / And when Tandarus and Ixion had all that they ought to have, they that had horses at the sound ran one against another so. The knights courageously threw dust and powder in the air with their horses' feet at each encounter, often overthrowing some under the horses and causing others to fall and get up again at the coping. Some broke their spears knightly and fiercely. There were plenty of valiant knights, but when the knights on horseback had dismounted and placed their hands on their swords, the pikemen or footmen renewed the tournament with great clamor and noise, causing the ground to shake on both sides. Many spears were broken and shields shattered. They fought fiercely with their spears, their strokes and blows were great, each man displaying the strength of his force. The spears flew in the air in pieces, there were great cries, no one spared the other, ancient or young. The ancient fought and were fought against by the young, the young men, through great courage, learned and saw. old men, when their spears were broken, they took their swords. Beginning a new battle, they joyously and playfully fashioned their helmets and fastened them on, wielding their shields so courageously. In particular, those of the party of Bacchus were compelled to cry out to Hercules for help {etc.}.\n\nWhen Hercules heard them cry out to him, he was passing by, observing those who were doing well. He had his sword in his hand, at the cry of those who were faring poorly. He went to their aid and joined the fray on the side where the greatest blows were being struck. He fought so pleasantly that his companions held their ranks together. However, to his great displeasure, Hercules struck him on the shield in such a way that the man was stunned and fell to the earth, off his horse. A great show of laughter and amusement ensued, not only from those who were intending to rescue King Lycaon. Hercules placed himself in the press and made great rejoices on all sides, so large that Tandarus and his people recovered and entered the battle of their country-side. At that time, the tournament began again, sharp and strong. Those who had fled took heart, found force and courage again through Hercules' wielding. Hercules took charge of all those who were there; his strokes surpassed all others without measure. He brought Tandarus back to his above position with little effort. In the following days, he was recommended above all men in the world. What lengthy process shall I make of the tournament and the passing times of this feast? There were three great tournaments and notable ones. As soon as one party was put back and to the worse, Hercules, through his good deeds, recovered them and put them above again. No one paid heed but to his glory. Every man spoke well of him at dances and feasts. Every man loved him; each man worshipped him. There was no tongue of noble or of villain but that gave him homage and praises. The conclusion was such that all the prices remained with him. Also, many gifts were given to him by the kings that were there. The days of this solemnity drew over the last night. The kings and the ladies and nobles assembled in the common tent. And from one common accord, they decided that from year to year they and their eyes should hold and renew the feast that Hercules had begun and established. For they said that it was the most honorable pastime that ever was made in Greece, and named the feast Olympiad, because of Mount Olympus. And they had it so recommended that from then on, they noted their men and their letters durable of the year of the first Olympiad. In such a way, we say the year of your carnation. These things ordered, given, and promised, the officer of Hercules' arms thanked all those who had come to this Olympiad. After that, each took leave of the other. departed in the morning. And thus finished and ended this festival. At the departure, Hercules passed lightly through the withdrawing and departure of all those who were there. He knew not the sickness of love until he saw her depart to her country. Megera went to Thebes, and Hercules drew himself to Athens. Deeply pensive and thinking much of his lady, he went in the company of Eristeus to Athens, where they feasted for four days. On the fourth day, tidings came that to the poor and haven were come strange people by chance. Who were clothed in pleasant robes and garments. When King Eristeus heard these tidings, he sent at once to fetch these strangers to him, and asked them whence they were. They answered him that they were from the west and from the region of Hesperia. Where is the region of Hesperia, said Eristeus. And what kind of country is it, replied one of them truly, that in all the world there is no equal to it. In the places of our conversation and habitation, there are many isles lying about the farthest parties of Mauritania beyond Ampolesya. These isles produce all things necessary for human life, and there is a king named Philotes, the fair son of King Athlas. Both are of Greek descent, and it is not to be forgotten that King Philotes, accompanied by the daughters of King Athlas, discovered a delightful isle. This isle is entirely flat without mountains or valleys, resembling a garden in every way. There are countless sheep and sheep there, which are kept and cherished as if they were of fine gold. Of these sheep, we have our robes and gowns made, and those who may have them must buy them at great prices in gold. We eat their flesh and clothe ourselves with their wool. \"Know that only one entrance exists to this island, and he who enters it does so while Philotes and another giant, wise, subtle, and mercilessly strong, keep guard. One always wakes while the other sleeps. Certes, speaking of the island you mention, said that this Philotes is of great excellence. Regarding the Philotes you speak of, who is this king? The stranger answered, \"He is the most revered and fearsome king of the western parties. He is a giant who has conquered the island with his sheep. He inhabited it beforehand. He is so strong that he would never have borne arms for battle during the other's life if he had found a man stronger and more powerful than himself.\"\n\nKing Egeus then gave leave to the strangers to depart from his presence and commanded that no one should\" \"Gift Hermes empathy in her reception towards them. And they went and departed. Eristeus remained with Egeus. And Eristeus went to Hercules and Theseus, and with great desire he asked them for the two goats, saying that it would cost him as much gold as the weight of a goat and that he had a ram and a ewe to breed in his country. In that time, there were no sheep in Greece. When Hercules had heard the desire of King Eristeus, he suddenly said to him, \"Sir, you have asked this of me, by the conquest and arms of the strong giant Philotes I promise you truly, by my gentility, that within three weeks I will depart, either by water or by land, to fetch and get them. And I shall never return to Greece until I have found the isle, and I will oppose myself against the giants who keep it, and I will attempt to get the isle from them, just as Philotes has taken it from others.\"\" King Eristeus understood Hercules' enterprise, and he was deeply sorry. He loved Hercules as much as if he were his own son. He tried to dissuade him from this great undertaking, intending to prevent it, but Hercules answered so wisely and so persuasively that Eristeus was content to let him go. Theseus went with him.\n\nThe news of this voyage spread quickly throughout the land. Egeus and Eristeus prepared a fine galley and well equipped it with all necessary supplies. The galley and all other provisions were ready on time. After three weeks, they set sail and took with them many noble Greeks. They rowed for many days without encountering any adventure, for at that time the sea was hardly used by either thieves or merchants. Their patron in due course brought them to Spain, which was later named after them. The giant, who kept the entrance and ward of the isle, did not sleep at that time when the Greeks arrived. Instead, he emerged from his house and came out, fully armed, to the narrow passage where only one person could pass at a time. The giant asked the Greeks, \"What brings you here?\" Hercules answered, \"We seek the sheep that are in this isle to carry some of them back to Greece.\" The giant replied, \"Have you money? If you do, you shall have the sheep.\" Hercules said, \"We will not take them otherwise.\" The giant then said, \"The king Phylotes has conquered the isle and the sheep with his sword.\" Hercules replied, \"My intention is likewise to conquer the isle from him. If you will defend it, prepare for battle against me. Otherwise, let me have the isle so that I may do there as I please.\" Wille. When Hercules had concluded his plan, the giant prepared to defend the pass. He blew a great horn that was hanging on a tree. At the sounding of the horn, the daughters of Atlas awoke Philotes. They told him that some were there to take the prize that the giant had blown the horn for. Philotes, armed and spurred on by their words, went to the pass and found that Hercules had subdued his giant. The one who had remained hidden was the most skillful warrior of all Hispania. He was greatly dismayed and began to see, but this did not prevent him from lingering long. Hercules struck the giant on the right shoulder with such strength and power that the giant's shield fell from him and his arms were all paralyzed. The javelin entered his body so deeply that it struck him down dead at his feet.\n\nWhen Philotes saw his giant dead, he came to Hercules to defend the pass, vowing to avenge his giant if he could. Hercules rejoiced when he saw Philotes approach and said, \"Thou art welcome, king. I am glad in my heart now that I will have the opportunity to prove myself against the men who say, 'There is no stroke but from the master.' Well and happily it will go for him who does well and proves himself.\" Philotes, upon hearing these words, came forward and held up a great mace, striking it hard against Hercules' shield. Philotes intended to strike Hercules again with the mace, which was a source of shame for the other blow. Hercules kept himself composed and, in the midst of the striking, caught the mace and pulled it out of his opponent's hands. He then threw it into the sea. Philotes was disheartened when he had lost his mace and took up his sword to fight Hercules. Philotes had the advantage, as Hercules was beneath him. They attacked each other fiercely and well. They kept them both / In this day they fought without ceasing, long as the day ended / The night came on that they had to rest / They lay both two upon the pass They slept nothing / for it was not time / but both kept watch / They endured it well, for they were accustomed to waking Thus waking Philotes had many words to Hercules and demanded from whence he was. And Hercules told him the truth After they spoke of their battle And at the seeking and pursuit of Philotes They promised each other That if one of them were vanquished / he that was vanquished and overcome for to save his life / should be held to serve truly the conqueror all his life. During these devises and promises. The day star, that the poets call Aurora, began to rise in his realm. The air was clear and neat. The stars shone At this hour Hercules cast his eyes among the stars. And seeing there Aurora shine above all others / he began to remember his lady Megere. Alas. Lady, where are you now? I would be pleased if you remembered me as I remember you. In truth, the light of this star warms the amorous fire within me, which was recently fanned by your admiration of my beauty. You shine far above the maidens of Greece, just as Aurora shines above all other stars. The name of whom is so great that no man can tell. O noble lady, your clear remembrance enlightens my heart, just as this star enlightens the heavens. And I believe that by this remembrance, when I go to battle, I will prevail. Therefore, I promise you that if fortune helps me, you shall have your share of all that I conquer.\n\nThe night drew over the day when the sun began to rise. Hercules was fully satisfied by the nourishment and remembrance he had received from his lady. He took up his sword and said to Philotes: \"We have camped long enough, my friend. Look, it is day, and the sun is rising.\" Philotes was joyous when he heard Hercules, for he thought Hercules would soon and in little time accomplish his task. And he said to him, \"Hercules, I am ready. I was ready yesterday to achieve this battle. Keep yourself as well as you can. You have slain my giant, the most subtle man in all the Orient. I have great respect for that. But since his death cannot be recovered by the death of a man, I will put myself in pain and trouble to have a new soldier. You will be that, or else my sword and fortune will fail me. Hercules replied, \"And if your sword and fortune fail you, what news? By my gentleness, I said Philotes, that such things have never befallen me.\" empres is not of any other kind during your life, nor for you nor for others. I shall not speak of anything else. The two champions approached each other and struck so fiercely and severely that the place echoed with the sound of their blows. In a little while they had drawn their shields close to each other. Philotes could not fail to strike Hercules, but his blows were not so great that Hercules could not bear them without pain or suffering great damage.\n\nThus began the battle again of the two giants. Hercules was as tall as a giant. He was rightly armed. He did much labor to get past. But yet he could never quite manage to strike Philotes with a plain blow, for as much as Philotes was above on the pass, which is two cubits in height. When Hercules saw and knew that Philotes kept his pass without yielding or advancing to come down, he thought cunningly that he would pretend to tire and little by little he began to strike more feebly than before. After that. He recoiled and struck far off, as if he had fallen and been weary. The Greeks were afraid and thought he could do no more. But Philotes sprang down from the pas trying to have put him to utterance. But when Hercules saw him before him, and one was no more here than the other Hercules came to his place again and gave such a great stroke to Philotes that he made him recoil and go back more than four feet. Philotes was then utterly abashed and repented his descent from the pas. But that was of no avail for his repentance could not undo it. Then he took courage and enhanced his sword and struck Hercules on the left arm so hard that he caused him a wound and the blood sprang out. When Hercules saw the arms of Philotes besprent with his blood, he made no other countenance but that he would soon avenge the stroke. In giving to Philotes three strokes, of the first he broke his helmet and struck him on the head, and of the second he gave him a great wound. Hercules struck Philotes three times, and with the third stroke, his sword flew from his fists. Then he caught him in his arms, and after long wrestling, he cast him to the ground. In this way, Philotes yielded himself a servant to Hercules, and promised to serve him faithfully for the remainder of his life, bearing his arms before him in all places where he went. Hercules received Philotes with mercy. Then he called Theseus and his companions. They came and were glad and joyous about the victory Hercules had achieved. Hercules, Philotes, and all the others went to the isle where they found the daughters of Athamas greatly distressed because of the giant's death. Since Hercules had also conquered Philotes, their warden, Hercules and Philotes comforted the daughters as best they could. The Greeks refreshed them for three days. Hercules took thirty rams and thirty ewes and brought them aboard their ship. After that, they set sail to the sea. harme do\u00a6yng in the yle for the loue of \u00fee damoyselles / they departid thens and wente to the see / Accompanyed of phylotes Whiche was conquerd by hercules as sayd is / and after loued well hercules & trwly seruyd hym euer after / but of theyr Iournees I shall tarye for this tyme / And shall speke of a monstre of the see \u00fet the goddes sente to troye for to deuoure the fayr exione doughter to kyng laomedon\nIN that tyme as bochace reherceth in his genelo\u2223gye of goddes in the thyrde chapitre of the sixte booke / Laomedon the kynge of Troye was besy to walle and mure his cyte with mures and towres to the ende to make hit more stronge / he was not well gar\u00a6nysshid of tresors ne of monoye for to accomplisshe his desire / he wente vnto the temple of the god of the sonne & of the see That were passing riche And took all the mo\u00a6ney that he cowde finde / promettyng to paye hit agayn at a certayn day & tyme sette / by the moyen of this moneye he closid and fortefied the Cyte of Troye with mures & towrs / The warke was Laomedon, having acquired the castle in little time, was not long after the work was finished when the day came for him to pay and render to the temples of the gods the money he had taken and borrowed. The priests of the temples came to Laomedon and demanded that he return the offerings and sacrifices he had taken from the temple. Laomedon dared not speak to the priests but sent them shamefully away, telling them to keep their temples. For this, he was later severely punished. In the same night, after he would not listen to the priests, great winds arose and blew against each other, causing the sea to rise so high that it entered and followed into the town so far that the streets were filled with water and a great part of the town was drowned. Within eight days following, the sun shone so intensely and gave such great heat that the people dared not go out in the air during daytime. This dried up the water. superfluidity of the abundance of the water of the sea that was left. From which rose a corrupt and mortal vapor that infected all the city, engendering such a pestilence that the most part of the Trojans were struck down by the great influence of the corrupt air.\n\nIn this pestilence, the Trojans were filled with great desolation. Men and women, young and old, died suddenly without speaking. The father could not help his child in need, nor the child the father at that time rule in Troy. Love and charity were abandoned by each man who could save himself. Fleeing in fear of this mortality, they all gave up and left the city. And among all others, King Laomedon, seeing the destruction of his realm, went to the isle of Delphos to the temple of the god Apollo, seeking the god's counsel regarding the health of his city. With Laomedon went the most noble and the most powerful men of Troy. When they had come They put the idols in contemplation and devotion before the temple. The devil, who was there, answered them and said, \"The money taken from the temples and not returned and paid again is the cause of the disease and vengeance of Troy. I tell all the Trojans that Troy will never be free from this disease until the said city pours offerings to appease the goddesses. In this way, every month they must choose one virgin or maiden who must be set aside for a monster that the goddesses will send, and the said virgins will be chosen by lot or augury. And in this way, the city must do this perpetually until they find one man who, by his arms and might, can overcome the said monster.\"\n\nAfter these words and answer, Laomedon and the Trojans assembled to counsel on this matter. They concluded that, for the common welfare and health of Troy, they would put this into practice. Virgins, in the peril and adventure, went to the servitude of the monster without exception or reservation, except they returned to Troy. They took their virgins and cast lots among them. The lot fell on one, and she was taken and brought to the seashore. Immediately after, a great tempest came out of the abyss or swell of the sea, troubling the sea. The sea brought forth this monster and a great flood of water lifted the monster out of the sea by turns. He was as great as a balena or a hulk. Then he took the virgin and swallowed her. He went away again into the sea. From then on, the pestilence ceased. Thus, Troy was delivered from their sicknesses and maladies by the offerings of their virgins, who were sacrificed monthly. And so it is said. In the end of the month, the lot fell on one of King Laomedon's daughters named Exiona. This daughter was young and The noble virgin was fair and well-loved by all the people. When this lot was fallen on her, she was not only bemoaned and sorrowed by King Laomedon her father, and his son Prinetes and her sister Antigone and her cousins and allies, but by all the people, men, women, and children, notwithstanding their weeping and the good repute of her conduct. However, it could not save her. For the common welfare and health of them all, she was put in the monster's care. The noble virgin was ready to be sacrificed. King Laomedon brought her to the seashore accompanied by noble and damsels with a great retinue of Trojans, all of whom mourned for her and bemoaned Exioan in casting flowers. At the very point that she was being taken there, Hercules by chance arrived at this gate of Troy with his cattle. Intending to refresh himself there, he cast his anchors out and went ashore, where he saw on one side the Trojans weeping and bemoaning Exioan as they cast flowers over her arms and wringing their hands. Had pity to see her / And desiring to know what ailed her, he put himself in the press, and there saw where they bound the fair Exiona in the route, attired in rich adornments, all discolored and full of tears, as she who endured nothing but death. He addressed his language to King Laomedon, for he seemed to be a man of authority among all those present, and demanded of him why the maiden was there bound. Laomedon cast his eyes upon him, all abashed to see his greatness and beauty, nevertheless he answered him, \"What are you that are so bold to demand of me my misfortune, which is common to all in Troy?\"\n\nSir said Hercules, \"I am a stranger,\" and I love the worship and honor of ladies. And there is nothing that I might do for them but I would do it to my power, and since I see this maiden thus entreated, in the favor of all ladies, I have asked of you the cause. I will know it or put myself in adventure to die with her, and therefore I ask again what transgression or sin she has committed that these men have bound her. My son answered, \"Laomedon, I see well that you are ignorant and do not understand the terms and the cause. Therefore, this damsel, my daughter, is here abandoned. There is no man but he may well know it. For she will die for the salvation and health of Troy, and I will tell you how we came to this. The gods of the sea and of the sun have afflicted Troy with a great pestilence. This began with an overabundance of the sea, whereof the shores of Troy were full in every place of water. After this deluge and flood, the time was marvelously hot and outragiously. By the great heat of the sun, this sea was dried up. Of this drought, a vapor arose, and from this vapor ensued a pestilence. And for to resist this pestilence, I have been in the oracle of the god Apollo, where I have had answer that for this reason... The gods of the sun and sea require virgins from Troy, monthly, chosen by sort or lot, to be exposed and offered to a sea monster in this place / The Trojans agreed to fulfill the will of the gods, and I with them / We have cast lots upon our virgins; many have been swallowed and engulfed by the monster / Now the sort or lot falls upon my daughter; she must obey and appease the gods / After her comes another / There is no remedy / And this shall continue perpetually upon the virgins of Troy / For it is the destiny that Troy shall never be free from this harsh servitude and thralldom / until they have found a man who alone can vanquish and overcome the aforementioned monster through his power and prowess / which shall be impossible. / It is true that all the men of the greatest city in the world cannot find many more. Vainquish he is so great and dreadful. Considering these things, ask me no more. My daughter shall die for the common weal of the place of her birth. She was born in a good hour, when the gods willed it. By lot and this fortune, she is offered to them. Sir answered Hercules, \"Thrall as you are. It is not to be understood that the gods will not allow this malediction to hold and endure permanently. You must live in hope, if fortune and the gods grant me the grace to vanquish and overcome the monster and make Troy free of this servitude. What reward would you give me? Truly said Laomedon, \"I do not think it is possible that you should vanquish the monster. Who is he that will expose himself to such great folly?\" Hercules answered, \"To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible. If I triumph over the monster and save your daughter, what reward shall I have?\" Laomedon answered, \"If you do that which you say, I have two horses, the best that exist.\" Ben in all the world, whom I love as well as half my kingdom, I shall give them to as the best knight and the most hardy. The king said Hercules. It is mine, and it suffices to have the two horses. Leave me alone with your daughter. I have a trust and hope that this day I shall labor for the welfare of Troy, and that I shall free and protect the virgins and maidens of that city. But if there is in your city any great bar of iron or metal, send for it to be fetched for me to defend myself with all.\n\nThe king Laomedon and the Trojans were all abashed when they saw Hercules' exploits. And at Hercules' words, the king remembered him of a great club of iron that lay at the entrance of his palace in Ilion, which was so heavy that the strongest man of Troy had need of help to lift it onto his shoulder. He sent for it and presented it to Hercules. Hercules lifted it up as if it had been a little ball. Philotes. and theseus were present at alle these thinges Hercules toke leue at them and at the presse and recom\u2223manded hym vnto theyr prayers / and forth with all the see began to rore terrybly Laomedon and the ladyes and they that were there toke leue of exione and at hercules. And recomanded them vnto the mercy of the goddes / and wente vpon the downes for to see the ende / Thus abode exione allone and all dispayred vpon the grauell with hercules / Than hercules knelid doun on his knees vpon the grauell tornyng his face vnto the Oryent. and made\nhis prayers vnto the godde that made the monstres & ter\u2223rible bestes requyryng hym that he wold gyue hym force strength and vertue of power for to delyuer exione from her Infortune of the monstre / This oryson accomplisshid hercules entryd in to a lityll boot / where exione was in. And anone after the see roryng more and more grewe & aroose in suche wise that the boote floted and was lyfte vp & born by dyuerse wawes Folowyng this in a grete trowblyng of wynde whan the see was Hercules and the Trojans beheld the great, horrible and unmeasurable monster approaching, bringing with him a terrible tempest. The waves redoubled at Hercules' shoulders, and from the monster's swallowing in the water, great floods of the sea emerged, mounting so high they seemed to have pierced the clouds. To tell the truth about this monster, he was so horrible and fearsome that even the hardiest and bravest of the Trojans trembled in fear, their hearts pounding like leaves on a tree. Hercules, however, was undaunted. He comforted Exione, who was filling with fear. He took up his club. The monster came at Exione, intending to swallow her, as he had done to the other virgins before. Hercules kept her from harm, striking the monster's muzzle so forcefully that he gave it a great wound. Hercules and Jason were wounded so severely and heavily that they both retreated and hid at the bottom of the sea during the monster's fall into the water. The waves rose high into the air, drenching Hercules and Jason with seawater as they were stranded on a sandbank where the water was shallow. The monster continued to swim and came close enough to lift its head, causing a great abundance of water to gush out of its throat. The boat was filled with water and began to sink, submerging Hercules up to his thighs and leaving Jason standing in the water up to his midsection. Hercules was more distraught by Jason's plight than by his own fear. King Laomedon, Theseus, Philotes, and all the others were supposedly farther away than Hercules and Jason. A damsel, without rescue, had been terrified of the monster. The monster, seeking its prey, leaped against her with a terrible wave. Hercules had his club raised on his neck, ready for action. He made no hesitation, but the monster, desiring to avenge itself, lunged at Hercules instead. Each time the monster lifted its head out of the water, it spouted great floods of the sea at the valiant champion. However, it could not do much harm to Hercules, who retaliated with his club, forcing the monster back into the depths with the weighty impact of his blows.\n\nThe battle between Hercules and the monster lasted long. If the monster had once touched Hercules, it would have swallowed him in one gulp. Engulfed or swallowed him in, he had a wide and great throat out of measure, he made great noise and roared. He was ardent in exercising his office. Hercules fought with him boisterously and held the virgin by him. Whatever thing that the monster did, he could not suddenly lift up his head out of the water, but with one stroke of his club, he was thrown back to the bottom of the sea. Hercules was often in peril of being drowned. The danger was great and more than I can recount. Fortune was with him and the damsel. He fought and beat the monster valiantly and continued to strike at its muzzle and its head, causing the sea to withdraw and take from him the spirit of life, leaving him faint and sluggish. And after the sea had withdrawn and receded far, he took the damsel by the hand and brought her onto the dock and delivered her to her father, King Laomedon.\n\nWhen King Laomedon saw his\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Old English, but it is not significantly different from Middle English, so no translation is necessary. The text is mostly readable, but there are some minor errors and inconsistencies in the transcription that need to be corrected. The text appears to be a retelling of the myth of Hercules and the Hydra, with some variations. The text is also incomplete, as it ends abruptly.)\n\nHere is the cleaned text:\n\nEngulfed or swallowed him in, he had a wide and great throat out of measure, making great noise and roaring. Ardent in exercising his office, Hercules fought with the monster boisterously, holding the virgin by him. Whatever the monster did, he could not lift up his head suddenly from the water without being struck back to the bottom by the monster with one stroke of his club. Hercules was often in peril of being drowned, as the danger was great and more than can be recounted. Fortune was with him and the damsel. He fought and beat the monster valiantly, striking at its muzzle and head, causing the sea to withdraw and take from him the spirit of life, leaving him faint and sluggish. After the sea had withdrawn and receded far, he took the damsel by the hand and brought her onto the dock, delivering her to her father, King Laomedon.\n\nWhen King Laomedon saw his daughter. Daughter thus delivered from the monster and Trojans made quit of the pestilence, Hercules thanked her profoundly. After he descended to the sea side, accompanied by Hercules, these (us), Philotes, and Trojans, we went to see and behold the monster that was so great, a monster that three hundred horses could not move from the place where he was. One and another took turns to see the strokes Hercules gave him, and they could not see all, but in what they saw they marveled. For Hercules had broken bones that seemed not possible to break, and they had found the head hurt in so many places. With great pain they could not tell whether he had a head or not. Of this high and incredible victory, the Trojans rejoiced marvelously and held Hercules in greater grace than any man in the world. When they had seen and beheld the monster, they departed thence and brought Hercules into Troy. They did not come so soon to the ditch but they found Exione new-clothed. King Laomedon wanted new attire for Hercules, who was wet and not dry. Laomedon proposed changing Hercules' clothes and giving him new ones, but the valiant squire refused, saying he had grown accustomed to his current state and preferred it over being constantly in a better situation. In this state, Laomedon brought Hercules and his Greeks to Troy and its castle of Ilium, feasting them as was fitting. Hercules and the Greeks were triumphant in Ilium for four days. During these four days, the Trojans went out in great processions to see the monster and gave him such great praise and offerings that Laomedon grew envious. He sent Hercules and his men out of the town to hunt. As soon as they were outside Troy, Laomedon drew up the bridge and shut the gates against him. When Hercules thought he would enter, Laomedon spoke to him from afar, saying he had meant to... conspiracy against him, and he would no longer receive him into the city. Hercules was angry when he understood the accusation from Laomedon. And he answered him, that in his life he had never thought any wickedness towards him, in which he charged and offered himself to prove by battle in the field and to risk his body against thirty others who would say or maintain the contrary. Laomedon made no response to this offer. Then Hercules demanded of him, that at the very least he would deliver him his horses that he had promised him for the victory over the monster Laomedon answered that he would not deliver them. Wherefore Hercules said to him, \"You are a false and unfaithful king.\" Hercules swore to him by the power of all his gods, \"Just as I have delivered Troy from the monster of the sea and consequently from...\" Hercules, filled with great anger, departed with these words and left King Laomedon, who placed little value on what he had said to him. Laomedon trusted and put all his faith in the strength of his city's walls, believing that no man could harm or disturb him. Then Hercules went back to his ship, mounted into the sea with his club, his sheep, and his companion Theseus. Philotes was glad to have been vanquished by such a valiant man as Hercules and took on the role of carrying his armor in all the places he went. I shall say nothing worthy of remembrance from Troy to Thebes. In the end. Arrived in Greece and learned from a certain man there that King Eristeus was in Thebes, which filled him with great joy, as he longed to see his lady Megere. He went to Thebes, where he was warmly received by King Creon, who welcomed him with great pleasure due to his valor. Philotes, one of the men who had come, told Eristes about Hercules' conquests and how he had slain the giant at the pass. Upon hearing these tidings, King Eristeus was passing in great joy, and so were all those present or who heard about it. Every man glorified Hercules' ladies, and damsels came to welcome him. Among all others, Megere did not fail to come. She welcomed him warmly and made him cheerful. For she was wise and of good disposition, and her coming gave Hercules more comfort than all the praises and adorations given to him at that time. This voyage brought great praise and exaltation to him above all the Greeks. The sheep were so valued that kings bought them for the weight of gold. Historians and poets commemorated this conquest in perpetuity. In his deeds, it is written: \"He bore away the golden sheep.\" This is equivalent to \"he carried off the sheep of gold.\" The value of the sheep was estimated at the weight of gold. \"Mala\" in Greek means \"sheep,\" and in English it is \"sheep\" or \"muttons\" in French. Boccaccio relates this in his \"Genealogy of the Gods,\" and Varro writes similarly in his \"De Agricultura.\"\n\nThrough this conquest, the name of Hercules rose in height and excellence. Poets have fashioned a tale upon this history: The daughters of Atlas kept a garden day and night, guarded by a serpent, in which grew apples of gold. Hercules slew this serpent and gathered and carried away the apples.\n\nBy this garden is understood the isle. The serpent wakes / the subtle giant comes to keep it always looking towards the past\nAnd by the Apples of gold understand the sheep / Estimated to the value of the weight of fine gold\nAfter this presentation was made to Eristeus of this sheep or sheepherd, as each man marveled at Hercules' prowess. Philotes bid farewell and gave to his victor Hercules, praising above praise and longing and land honor above honor. For hearing kings and princes. Ladies and damsels seeing that Hercules kept his peace, which he ought and could, declined from point to point his Adventure, not believable, of the monster of Troy.\n\nAnd he showed the club where he had put him to death. After that he recalled the honor and grace that he had received in Troy and the wrong that Laomedon had done to him. And he spoke so much of it that they were all inspired to go and wage war upon King Laomedon for revenge for the wrong that he had done to Hercules.\n\nIt is not possible that my pen can write the grace and excellent reputation Hercules earned at Hergate in Greece upon his coming from Troy. The kings and princes regarded themselves as happy and honored to have their reign during his time. Amphittrion's father, Putas, began to favor him and came to Thebes. Her mother, Alcmena, also came. And indeed, she failed to lack joy when she could set her eyes upon her son, who was so renowned. The noble lady had not seen him in a long time. She saw him triumph in honor in warfare and prowess. All the sorrows and disappointments she had for him, because he was named the son of Jupiter, were forgotten and put aside. The feast was great in Thebes for the love of Hercules. Men spoke not but of him and his prowess. Creon, Eristus, Egeus, Amphittrion, and many others gathered and prepared to go to Troy. Over time, their exercises were held. Hercules and his army were ready. He set sail for the sea with the kings mentioned above and ten thousand chosen men. At an appropriate time, the sailors disembarked and went to their ships. They sailed for a long time without encountering any adventure or delay. During their voyage, they reached a port of a city named Laris, which was under the domain of Troy. For this reason, the Greeks attacked it and took it by force. After plundering it, they went to Tenedos. Tenedos was a gentlemanly city, which they also attacked and took, just as they had done with Laris. They put it to the fire and burned it so severely that the smoke was visible in Troy. The assault on Tenedos did not last long because the Trojans were not warned of its coming when they saw the smoke. They saw from where the flame emerged. They mounted and went up on the high edifices of Ilium, and seeing toward Tenedos, saw that the city was all on fire. Those who saw it were deeply sorrowful and greatly abashed. Above this, they looked into the sea and saw there the Greek fleet, causing them to be even more abashed than before. And without further delay, they descended and went down into the hall of King Laomedon. They said to him, \"Alas, sir, what should be done? The Greeks approach us with a great fleet. We have seen them and know them.\nThe strong Hercules intends to destroy your city. I truly believe it is he. For at the beginning of the festival, he burned Tenedos. And that is the cause that the air is full of fire.\"\nKing Laomedon, hearing this news, began to sigh and to taste the punishment and transgression that he had inflicted and committed against Hercules. Nevertheless, he gave courage to his men and to his people. A prince, who was then twenty years old, armed himself and showed a fierce and hardy countenance. He armed his son, who had never been in battle before, and dubbed him knight. Afterward, he took him by the hand and issued out of Ilium. Upon issuing out, he met many Trojans who told him that many Greeks had been defeated at his gate and that he should hurry if he wanted to take Landemar without speaking a word. Passing by those who had brought him this news, he came to a place near Ilium where he found more than twenty thousand Trojans, ready armed. Seeing them, he began to rejoice in himself and called the princes to him. He said to them, \"Lords, you are renowned in all the world for the high prowess of your ancestors before Troy was sacked. You defended it with the sword against your enemies. The renowned King Iupiter of Crete could not take this city, nor the Thesalians by their warfare.\" myghty never subdued this city. It has happened today that a new assembly of enemies has come upon this city, as men say. They have set fire to it. Late we received them courageously and made them like our fathers did with others.\n\nWhen the Trojans heard these words from their king, they all answered that they would live and die with him for the welfare of the city and that they had the intention to keep it in his honor and to grow their ancient glory without holding long processes.\n\nThe king Laomedon then did this display of all his baniers. After setting out from Troy, he arranged and stationed his men in good order. And then, as he began to conduct and lead them forth, suddenly he heard at the gate a great loud noise and clamor of trumpets, clarions, and tabors of the Greeks. His blood began to boil. Then the hair on the top of his head stood up. He knew that they were his enemies. And as soon as they knew the Greeks, without any order,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Early Modern English. No major corrections were necessary, but some minor punctuation and capitalization have been added for clarity.) They measured [them] and began to run towards the gate one after another. When they approached the gate, they saw the Greeks descending with great power. They cried out to the death and ran upon them fiercely. The Greeks were well-armed and went on the defensive. They began to clash swords against each other so violently that in the melee and pressing together, there were many dead and wounded. Hercules was among the Greeks. He became involved sharply among the Trojans. He had his club. Indeed, he subdued them so effectively that the strongest of his enemies dared not face him. He fought fiercely in desire for vengeance, in the guise of worship, and to gain a name for himself. In raising his hand, he showed the Trojans his club and made them feel its weight and the strength of his arm. He worked so valiantly and acted so courageously that those who saw him doubted him more than the death itself. They said to one another, \"Behold Hercules. Approach him not.\" \"were folly all who opposed him, we do evil to fight against him. This is the beginning of the frightful servitude and thralldom of Troy, how shall we resist his club, when the mortal monsters are put to utter rout? Such were the words of the Trojans. Hercules fought fiercely against them. He was firm and steadfast. He went before all. The Greeks followed him and took pleasure in beholding him. The cry was great around him and never ceased until the going down of the sun. And the Trojans swore that on the morrow they would furnish their enemies with battle. And the Greeks encamped in the plain and made good cheer. For they had lost but little of their people in the landing on this land. This night passed over, when the day\" The Troians and Greeks appeared, each making ready for battle. Many Troians wished to break the battle then and prayed to King Laomedon to return the horses they believed Hercules was owed. Laomedon refused, expressing no doubt of his enemies' strength, as he had fifty thousand fighting men at the ready. He divided these into two battalions: one led by himself with twenty thousand, and the other by Priantaprince, with thirty thousand.\n\nLeaving Troy with his twenty thousand fighting men, Laomedon encountered the Greeks. When the Greeks spotted him, they were filled with joy, preparing to receive him at the points of their spears and brandishing their swords. They had formed four battalions: the first, led by Hercules; the second, by Amphittrion and Theseus; the third, by King Creon; and the fourth, unnamed in the text. Hercules had the first battle marched when it was time against King Laomedon. He had four ancient knights well-equipped in the art of arms, who set and conducted his people in array and ordinance. They marched so near that one to the other with great noise of trumpets and tabors. The Archers and Arbalists began the battle. After Hercules had summoned Laomedon to pay him what he had promised and Laomedon had refused, the Greeks were armed with stronger bows and arrows than the Trojans. By this means, they inflicted heavy losses on their enemies. Hercules bore himself so valiantly that of every twenty arrows he shot, he killed twenty of his enemies, choosing his targets without failure.\n\nAt that time, Hercules was the best archer and the most just man in all Greece, and indeed in the whole world. He and his men, as is said, cast the Trojans to the ground with their arrows when the arrows missed. Hercules delivered his bow to Philotes, who bore his harness. Taking a strong and sure glaive, when it came to the encounter and clashing, and engaging with javelins, Hercules stood in the front line against King Laomedon, who had departed from the east before all others. For as much as he rode upon one of the horses that he had promised to Hercules, and racing one against the other as swiftly as they had flown in the air, they met and struck each other so hard that their spears broke in pieces, which flew around them. Hercules passed on and fought among the Trojans. Laomedon entered the east of the Greeks in the same way. They began to wield their swords and strike each other. A marvelous noise arose. Those with spears and shields employed them to join the fight. The battle was great. The strokes were hard. The engagement was general, for on one side and the other, many men were distressed and beaten. The Greeks were most boisterous and hard. in Armes And more vaylliant than the troians And better helde hem to gyder than they of the ba\u00a6taylle of kynge laomedon / Hercules wrought and be\u2223soyngnerd fast with the swerde that he had conquerd philotes. At euery strook and euery paas. He deffeted a Troian And smote of her heedes & Armes in grete ha\u00a6bondance / That hit semed that they that he towchyd had not be Armed. Laomedon was on that other syde That fayned not / but bare hym right well vpon his hors And ran fro renge to renge among the grekes. He had no reste / he conduysed his peple knyghtly / his peple\nwere grete in nombre / he approuched theyr enemyes so asp rely that they enclosed them And than was the tuy\u2223sion and slaghter so grete that on alle sides a man shold not haue seen but blood & hedes & armes flee in the place and the felde {etc}.\nTHan theseus and amphitrion behelde the batayll of hercules so enclosed with the troians they me\u00a6uyd them and cam to his helpe er he had nede At theyr comyng they made a right grete bruyt / They thres\u2223sted & They laid their glaives upon the Trojans, who were far advanced / and joined forces with them, displaying such prowess that they brought down the most stable and strongest among them, forcing those who had come from afar to retreat and turn back by force and strength. In this retreat and recovery, the eastern part of Laomedon was filled with fear and dismay. The three swords of Hercules, Theseus, and Amphitron shone above all others in their valiant deeds. In a short time, they began to vanquish and overcome their enemies, bringing them to the brink of defeat and shame. However, just as they were about to inflict utter defeat, the young Priam with his thirty thousand appeared, making a great noise that caused the ground to tremble. He gave a marvelous omen, and those on the walls and buildings of Troy made a great cry. Hercules, Theseus, and Amphitron, beholding Priam approaching and the power of Troy rallied, set their people in array and went out against them with a great force of Greeks. to sousteyne her faytes / Theseus was the firste and as\u2223pied priant that sette and cowched his speer ayenst hym And that he cam wyth a grete corage mounted vpon\nthe second hors of kynge laomedon his fader And seasid with so grete myghte vpon theseus that he bare hym to the ground torned vp so doun brosing hym vpon his shelde Theseus releuyd hym right angry of this falle en\u00a6tryd among the troians smytyng and hewyng on hem with his swerde in suche fureur that he smote of the hee\u00a6des of moo than of .xxx. troians / er he cessed / the bruyt and noyse was grete aboute hym / The troians wold haue vengid them of his swerd. But ther power was not so grete they had werke ynowh to saue hem self. many grekes cam in to the Ayde and helpe of Theseus. And than they began to renewe the bataylle.\nAT this tyme and at this recountre Hercules and Amphitrion were nothing ydle They were on o side / and theseus on an other At metyng ther was many a man hurte and slayn. Pryant dyde meruaylles vnto the grekes at the begynnyng / he He bore himself so valiantly among his enemies that he found no man who did anything displeasing to him. He made his sword to taste strongly the blood of his adversaries. At this point, he heard a loud and persistent cry from Hercules, \"Troy! Troy!\" in despair for having probably prevailed. Then, praying to help and strike down those before him, he ran to their rescue. As soon as he came before Hercules and Hercules saw him on horseback, he remembered that it was he who had overthrown Theseus to the ground. He vowed to avenge him and drew his sword, striking Princth so brutally upon his helmet that he was astonished. His sword sliced down on the horse's neck and entered so deeply that both Princth and the horse fell.\n\nWhen Princth was thus overthrown, horse and man, and also so astonished that he knew not where he was, Hercules was informed that it was: Prince Pryant, son of King Laomedon, showed mercy and took him prisoner. He sent him out of the battle. The Trojans, seeing this, were greatly distressed and encouraged each other so fiercely that even Hercules could not withstand the fighting. The Greeks were forced to give ground. King Creon and Eristeus led their forces, each on one wing. They charged towards the Trojans with great noise and turmoil. At this point, Laomedon was no longer in the fray. He withdrew and heard that his son Pryant had been taken. Overwhelmed with sorrow, he wept. Greet Payne that the sweet came to his heart and thence into all his memories, and went again to battle half out of his mind; the battle was then falling and intense, with hard fighting. But to increase and enhance the overwhelming sorrow of Laomedon, he found that his men had the worse and less fought. On the other side, he saw the horrors and strokes of the Greeks so great and so dreadful that his men were disheartened and their ranks broken. They were charged with such heavy blows from the heavy shields that they turned and fled. And when it came to their disr rout, Laomedon did not remain with the last but entered again into his city as quickly as he could. The Greeks followed the Trojans closely and entered with them, with great effusion of blood. Hercules was the first to win the gate, and as for the Greeks, he was the porter and let in all those he knew. Many Trojans passed by the cutting of his sword. Many fled away through the fields and bushes. What shall I say when Laomedon saw that by force his city was taken and placed in the hands and governance of the Greeks? Right sore discomforted and all in despair, he took his daughters, Hesione and Antigone, and his most precious jewels and bags, and fled away. Thinking that his enemies would make a great destruction and plundering as they did. For when Hercules had put his men within the city, he abandoned it to rob and plunder. Thus the Trojans were persecuted. The citizens were tempted with their blood. The houses were beaten down. And the great riches were put into the hands of the Greeks. Of all the goods in the city, there was left nothing whole but the palaces of Ilium where the ladies and maidens were withdrawn. Hercules in no way destroyed this palace. For as much as the ladies made a request to him to spare it. Hercules sought long in the palaces of Ilium and all places of the city, but he could hear no response. tidyngis of hym / wherfore he was sore desplaysant And whan he had beten down the walles. that had ben made wyth the moneye of the goddes / he de\u2223parted thens and retorned in to grece wyth grete glorye And in this wyse was Troye destroyed the first tyme. Wherfore I shall thus now make an ende of this firste booke / And shall begynne the seconde booke / where shall be shewyd how troye was reedyfyed / And how hit was destroyed the seconde tyme. And how Pryant areysed hit and made hit agayn / In contynuyng the no\u2223ble labours of hercules now newe begonne {etc}.\nThus endeth the first book of the re or gadryng to geder of the historyes of Troye.\nIN the fyrste booke is begonnen the faytes & prowesse of the stronge and puyssau\u0304t geant hercules. And how he destroyed fyrste the cyte of Troye vpon kynge Lao\u00a6medon after whiche feet and conqueste he retorned in to Grece. where he helde hym a certayn space of time with out doyng of ony thynge that is founde by writyng / But than as the olde Iuno by her euyll & cursid enuye Iuna imagined and thought of a way to make Hercules be destroyed and die. In Crete, tidings came that in the forest of Nemee, many lions had appeared, among them one that was sixteen palms high, destroying and ravaging the land. Iuna was at war with Erishten. To gain his acquaintance, and under the guise of good love, she made peace with Erishten. She sent for Hercules and he came to Crete to confirm the peace. Erishten believed that all was well in Crete and brought Hercules with him. Iuna feigned peace with him and spoke to Hercules about the lions in the forest of Nemee. So much did Iuna speak and discuss with them that she told Hercules it was fitting for him to gain honor and worship by going to the forest of Nemee and employing himself in conquering the lions. Hercules, believing Iuna had advised him to do so, went to the forest of Nemee to assault them. Hercules, intending to go into the forest for his worship and profitable enterprise, was required by Juno that if he killed the lions, he should return to her. Hercules promised her he would. After departing from Crete, he first went to Thebes to see Megera and prepare his harness and arms.\n\nWhen the ladies of Thebes learned that Hercules would go against the lions of Nemea, they all complained of his youth and believed he would die there. Megera, above all others, was extremely sorrowful and requested the ladies to plead with Eurystheus to keep Hercules from such a dangerous voyage. The ladies accomplished Megera's request, intending to prevent Hercules' voyage through Eurystheus. However, they could not deter his purpose.\n\nHercules answered Eurystheus and the ladies, stating that it was the first enterprise he had undertaken at their request. A lady had commanded him, as Juno the queen had requested, to fulfill her wish through plays. Hercules was great in heart and courage, with honor exalted. He would have preferred to die than to do anything that would follow any misfortune. With his arms ready, he bade farewell to King Creon, Eurystheus, Amphitryon, the ladies, and the damsels. Accompanied only by Philotes, who would never leave him, he departed from Thebes. He traveled so swiftly that he reached the forest of Nemea, which was not far from Arges. Approaching this forest, he went two days without finding either beasts or men, until he entered the forest and encountered a shepherd or herdsman named Melicertes. This herdsman was perched on a large tree. When he saw Hercules enter the wood, he cried out, \"Sir, you will be dead if you go any further. Return lightly. The fierce lions will devour you, or else come back.\" The pastor spoke to Hercules as he stood before the tree. Hercules asked him what he was. \"Alas,\" the pastor replied, \"I am the poorest man of all others. The lions of this forest, upon their arrival, have eaten a great herd of beasts that I had nourished here. Besides that, they have consumed my entire family and household. Only I have been saved, by chance, and have managed to save myself upon this tree where I eat nothing but leaves and acorns. I dare not descend and come down for fear of the three lions that are here, who will soon attack you if you depart and flee.\"\n\nThe pastor finished speaking, and from a bush emerged the three lions. They marched towards Hercules, roaring and opening their eyes wide, as if they would pierce him with their fierce gaze. The largest lion came first, standing tall. He was as high as an elephant and great in size according to the ancient tales, and his... Hercules saw two heads as large as that of Apollo. Hercules, seeing them approach, took his club and his lion's pelt. Philotes did not stand in his way, but was so afraid of his prowess that she climbed up to the herdsman. Hercules placed his club against a tree and took his club firmly between his fists. The lions approached roaring in their throats. Hercules struck down one between the eyes and brought it to the ground, sitting on its haunches. The great lion intended to spring upon Hercules and seize him with its claws, making a terrible leap. When Hercules saw and recognized its intent, he turned away and struck at the third lion, which was light and agile. Hercules conducted his club so skillfully and fiercely into its throat that it jerked violently and died, despite its resistance in biting the club, and left it within its body. When the two lions saw their companion thus slain, they set their claws on Hercules. The earth shook and howled so loudly that it seemed the thunder had sprung from her depths / All the forest denizens quivered thereof / Hercules took his sword. The two lions approached anew / and ran upon him with their paws, hurting him so severely that they lost his armor and their claws entered his flesh / they drew them out, all dead with his blood.\n\nHercules was greatly troubled in his heart when he felt the wounds the lions had inflicted / he heaved his sword and struck one and another / but the great lion's hide was so hard / that his sword could no more enter it than it could a large stone. Thus began the battle of the lions and Hercules / the little lion, passing by, often launched himself against Hercules. And always intended to harm him with his claws that cut like a razor, but he launched himself so often that it was to his own evil health and ease that Hercules, after many strokes, made to depart from his body the right leg nearly. When Hercules saw that he had been delivered from the two evil beasts, and had no more to do but with the great lion, he began to have hope of good fortune. He rejoiced in himself for the battle, which was strong enough to endure, for the great lion gave him great blows with his paws and put him in danger of death often. Hercules' sword could not enter the lion's skin, it was so hard. The lion took his sword between its teeth and nails, and with great effort, pulled and wrenched it from him. Finally, after long fighting with his sword, Hercules knew that he could raise no blood from the lion with it. He decided to try if his club would be more effective. The first stroke the lion came up to him, he gave it a stroke with his club so great on its mouth that all its teeth broke and fell out before it. The lion, feeling the blow, made a noise. Hercules greeted and marveled at the lion's howling. He raised his paws to pull down Hercules, but the lion recoiled at his coming and fell to the ground, trembling with great fear. When Hercules saw that he had fallen, he leapt upon him, bit him, and held him around the throat so tightly that he tore his jaws from their sockets or joints, and made his eyes flee from his head. He strangled him and thus killed him.\n\nIn doing this, Hercules displayed a singular hardiness and incredible strength. He strangled the lion with his bare hands, so hard that no glove or sword could enter or do any harm. He put him to death by excessive valor. And when he had done this, he went to the other one that was still alive and, intending to break and tear him as if it were a little lamb, called Philotes and the shepherd or herdsman who were marvelously joyous and glad of such a victory. Hercules found the lion's den. And he took off her skins, with the help of the herdsman, when they had flayed them. Hercules demanded of the herdsman if there was any house or lodging there, where he might have food and drink. The herdsman brought him to his house, where they found provisions of food and drink. The good man feasted Hercules to his ability, and he seemed to be in paradise. Hercules spent the day and night there, scarcely thinking of his wounds that were fell and painful, or sleeping at all that night. However, when the day appeared, he took leave of the herdsman and departed. He took his journey to go to Crete to show the queen Juno the three lion skins and to thank her for her good advice.\n\nIn this time, in Egypt, reigned the king Busiris, the son of the queen Libya. The land of Egypt was dry and unproductive. Busiris, to remedy this, called upon his scholars who held the science of Zoroaster. He asked them what he might do. for the health of his kingdom, they counseled him with the gods and received the answer that they must sacrifice human blood. When this naturally was evil and had never done good, he began to tyrannize over himself, who was a tyrant before. He first began with his people, taking and plucking from mothers their little children and from men their wives, and from wives their husbands, in burning and drowning the temples of Egypt with their blood. For these crimes and slaughter, the drought did not abate. But it increased and grew worse. The clerks blamed their gods for the lack of dew or rain from above. They answered that they would not have the just and true blood of Egypt, but the strange blood which they should take and make sacrifice of. The gods, by this answer, would have in sacrifice the blood of Ramses. For he was strange in virtuous policy and far from all good. And the clerks understood that they would have the blood of strangers. Buysir announced an end to his pursuit of the blood of Egypt and turned his gaze upon the blood of strangers. He issued an edict and statute that no stranger should enter his city but be sacrificed to his goddesses. He intended to kill all the foreigners he could get. By this edict and this detestable custom, many foreigners, including nobles, were sacrificed and had their blood shed in Egypt. Among them was a nobleman from Crete of the lineage of Juno, who perished in this misfortune by Buysir's sword. The news reached Crete, and there was great sorrow for him. At that time, there were one hundred cities in Crete. King Jupiter no longer kept Iuno company for many reasons and causes. When Hercules returned to this lady Iuno, his stepmother, he paid her respects. After showing her respect, he revealed to her: Her the skins of the lions that he had slain, and thanked her for the high heavenly vision that she had granted him: The cursed stepmother, increasing her sorrow with new sorrow upon Hercules' return, received and feasted him. She made the greatest cheerful countenance she could, it was on the point of going to dinner, she made him dine and eat with her. In thinking after various devices of the lions, she remembered how she might make Hercules die; she could do no better than to send him into Egypt. At that time she determined in herself that she would send him there if she could. For this reason, she changed the design of the lions and said to Hercules: \"Your coming again in safety is so commendable to me that your name shall be put in perpetual praise and glory among the most worthy and best of the world. For you have done many fair enterprises and deeds. In your young childhood, you made the whole world wonder and marvel at the victory over the serpents. by you, after you have sharpened your sword in the occident in Frygia and newly in Nemea, the inhabitants of these places have given you great honor and worship. For each person ought to be glad and enjoy the good deeds of another, and especially a nobleman. And especially when he puts himself in danger for valor. Every person is bound and obligated to counsel him to his worship and well-being. Therefore, since you endeavor yourself from day to day and seek the perils of the sea and the false dangers of the earth to surmount all of them, I advise you that in Egypt there is a tyrant who sacrifices all strangers who come into his country without rescinding, whether nobleman or villain. So it seems to me if fortune helps you to conquer him, you will gain great honor and worship for yourself and yours, and health and profit for all the nations of the world. Madame answered Hercules: I am I shall never in my life be of such recommendation as you say and report. However, I have great desire to do works for the pleasure of the people and for their health and well-being. I promise you, and swear, that by tomorrow, without any other delay, I will put myself in your service on the way to Egypt. And I shall never return to my country until I have seen the wonders. If he lays a hand on me to sacrifice me, I have the intention that he shall not do it without striking blows.\n\nHercules, hearing this, took great joy in his heart. That day they passed through many labors. Hercules took the hides of the lions and delivered them to certain workmen to make into a garment in the form of armor for him. On the morrow, he took leave of his stepmother and departed from Crete. And so long did he journey with Philotes without finding any adventure of which any memory is recorded, that on one day Hercules arrived at the gate of the city of Menphis in Egypt, where the tyrant Busiris resided. When Hercules approached the gate, he took his club that Philotes bore for him. He left Philotes there and entered the city. He had not been there long when Busiris, who had been warned of his coming by his spies, returned against him with many accomplices. Busiris attacked Hercules without speaking a word. Hercules was well prepared; he recognized the tyrant by his mannerisms and the reports he had received. Hercules lifted his club when he saw him come, and before Busiris could strike him with his glaive, Hercules struck the tyrant on the right side so forcefully that he knocked him to the ground and broke all the ribs of his body. The Egyptians, seeing Busiris overthrown, some ran to him to help, but they could not. Hercules defeated Busiris and the city was filled with joy. Hercules began to teach the Egyptians his craft. He killed many of them, and the remainder he forced to flee. His blows were heavy and relentless, causing the accomplices of Busiris, accustomed to shedding human blood, to have their own blood shed and be unable to remedy their misfortune. The place was filled with dead bodies. After a long battle, Hercules found himself alone, for no one dared to face him. The people and the Egyptian commune gave no charge for the rescue of their king when they saw him defeating. All they hated him and watched the battle from afar with great crowds, when Hercules had done so much. He set down his club and addressed a large company of Egyptians standing there, assuring them that he meant no harm. They told him who had assaulted him and kneeling on their knees, they identified themselves as Manslears' men and people of vicious and evil living. Their king, the worst among them, had first beaten him down and intended to put him to death as a stranger, to sacrifice to the goddesses. They begged him to sacrifice their said king. Hercules granted their petition and agreed to it. Immediately, they took the cursed tyrant who still lived and bore him on his shoulder to the temple, which the Egyptians showed to him. The cursed tyrant cried out terribly for help, but his cry availed him not. The Egyptians cried out to Hercules, \"Sacrifice, sacrifice him!\"\n\nWhen Hercules entered the temple, he sacrificed him after he had shown him his cursed and evil life. And then, when the fire was put to the sacrifice, it began to rain. The great drought also began to fail, of which the Egyptians were so relieved. I am happy that no one could specify who they sang lounging and praising to Hercules. They brought him to the palace, and Philotes, who had all seen him, also came. They ordered and constituted Hercules as king over them, which he refused. But he ordered judges to govern them after he departed and returned to Queen Juno. She had great sorrow, and King Creon, who had great joy, was told and recounted his prowesses. In such a way as the young wine, by the labor and toils of the laborer, grows in height and its boughs spread, full of fruit, similarly Hercules, by laboring in virtue, grew in verdure of good deeds and in the fruit of nobility. His works, his boughs, his branches began to spread and mount and rise from kingdom to kingdom. The secret conspiracies of Juno and her cursed envy could not harm nor touch the virtue of Hercules. The more she intended to abash and hurt him, the more she was the cause of his enhancement. If he were powerful and strong enough. He was even stronger in virtue, for it was set in him like a precious stone in gold, and like odor in flowers, and like rays in the sun. He was beloved of kings, princes, ladies, damsels, nobles, and even villains. In particular, Megara, the daughter of King Creon, loved him. She was not deceived, for Hercules also loved her and thought of her constantly. None of them dared to speak to one another about this matter. They were ashamed and kept silent, hoping for honor and worship. They gazed at one another and often lamented to themselves. They longed for the day when they could take each other by marriage. Their desire for that day grew so strong that eventually it came to pass. One morning, as Hercules went into the woods to hunt a wild beast, he remembered his lady. He began to speak softly to himself, \"Shall I always be in pain? Will my heart never be eased?\" but alway languyss\u2223hyng in loue / I see oon and other In grete Ioye wyth her loues and ladyes. And I wote neuer how to come to the poynte of oon only that I haue chosen aboue all other / And how to achyeue my purpoos I wote ne\u2223uer how to begynne. I dar not speke to her / ner I haue not yet requyred her of loue. ner I haue not assayed yf she wold condescende. Shall I speke to her / I wote ne\u00a6uer / yf I speke to her and than she reffuse me / I shall fall in dispayre. I shall dye for sorowe of melancolye and desplaisir I shall neuer dar come after in noble as\u2223semblee a foot. Alas what payne. all considerid oon ty\u2223me must come that I speke to her. yf all her frendes were of oon acorde for to gyue her to me in maryage. And she were not contente ner pleased alle were lost / the moste Ieopardye is to haue her good will and grace ffor with out her grace I may nought doo. Than hyt\nis necessite I seke and requyre yf I may haue her good wyll / syn hit so is / ffor yf I slepe thus and speke not I shall neuer achyue ner Hercules, filled with great desire, left the wood and abandoned the wild beast. Thinking of how to approach her, he went to Megera's garden, where she was with many ladies and damsels. He paid them respects. When he saw an opportune moment, he drew aside into the garden. The ladies noticed his pensive demeanor and some approached him to distract him. But they could not. At last, Megera came to him. As soon as Hercules saw her approach, he signed and came to her. She asked, \"Hercules, why are you so pensive? Put away such melancholy and tell me of your tidings.\" The lady replied. Hercules, I thank you for your kind visit. I am pleased that you wish to hear of my news and know that the memory of your right noble beauty continually being in my imagination came to me, leading me into a secret deliberation. That is, whether I should always live unrequited and unwanted in love. And also, whether I dare tell you that I have set my heart and love in you. Madame, this deliberation was great, but in the end I concluded to come to you to know the conclusion of my fortune, whether it be death or life. In this deliberation, I pondered how I might reach you. I am now at a point and in a position where your coming has put me out of a great thought and contemplation. For I never knew how to come to the point to speak with you alone as I can now. Therefore, for the time being, I tell you truthfully, since the time of my Olympiad, I have desired you night and day. And at that time, I put my heart in your service. Concluding my love for you, Madame. I know and well that I have undertaken something unworthy of you. Nevertheless, I submit to your mercy and request that you receive me into your grace, so that I may soon see the day of our marriage.\n\nWhen Megara understood the words of her love Hercules, she was rejoiced in her heart with great solace. Notwithstanding, she was ashamed. And in a shamefast manner, she answered, \"Alas, Hercules, by what fortune have I found myself in the grace of such a nobleman as you are? Your excessive prowess, your glorious labors, your resplendent virtues are so valuable that you are worthy to have as wife the flower of ladies and the choicest.\" With these words, many damsels came to them, who caused them to see their gods of love. And they said to Megara that it was time for her to withdraw and go dine. Megara, sorrowful for such hasty parting, and having no more time to devote to her love, could not achieve it. Purposively, she left Hercules and entered the hall, all refreshed with love. Hercules remained in the garden, glad and joyful from the sweet answer he had received. When the ladies had departed from Hercules in the garden, they soon went. Hercules then assembled Eurystus and Amphitron and told them of his great desire and will to be married, and asked them to go to King Creon to ask if he would give him his daughter Megara. They spoke to King Creon about this marriage, and the king heard them gladly, for the matter pleased him. He answered that he could not better bestow his daughter than on the most noble man in the world, Hercules, whom he loved as his own son. Hercules was so valiant and noble, and had no equal, and he was content to give him his daughter and all that he would ask. Eurystus and Amphitron thanked the king for his courteous answer. Megara and Hercules were sent for, and the king himself accompanied them. They made a pledge to each other with great joy on both sides. After this, in the course of time, the day of the espousals and marriage was hallowed with glory, triumph, honor, and joy. What shall I say, they lived together righteously:\n\nImmediately after the solemnity of this marriage, Hercules came to King Creon and prayed him to endorse and make him a knight. For the people of the kingdom of Ionia had come to him, and had chosen him to be their king for his good reputation. King Creon, pleased with this, answered that he would fulfill his desire. But he demanded that this should be done on a certain assigned day. He said that then he would make a right noble feast where men should rejoice and make merry. And that he would come there himself, and bring all the kings and princes of Greece. Hercules agreed and consented to the king's counsel. Then the king sent his messengers to all the kings of Greece. They were urged to attend the chivalry and dubbing ceremony of a nobleman, who would preside at a designated day to provide for all those arriving at the tournaments. The renown of this tournament was well-known throughout all the kingdoms of Greece. The apparel and organization were grand in Thebes; some were eagerly anticipating the event. The time passed, and the day arrived. Many kings and knights had come to Thebes at that time. Theseus and Iason, the son of King Aegeus, were among them. The kings made great displays and pomp around ten o'clock before none. King Creon entered the designated area for the tournaments. At a corner in the same place was a tent. Inside this tent was Hercules alone. At the same time, the ladies and damsels went up onto the scaffolds. The knights entered the area. No one knew or suspected who this new knight was. What should I say when King Creon saw that the knights had arrived. all sides and the ladies were gone up on the scaffolds / he sent for Hercules and made him a knight according to their statutes / and then Hercules mounted upon his horse / took his spear and shield / and cried out to those who were there that each man should do his duty / And one and other who desired to have worship took her spears and ran against Hercules / Beginning a hot and sharp jousting match / Their spears were strong and did not break easily / but they met often / and some were overthrown and smitten down from her horses / Those who could not joust against Hercules attempted to joust against each other / Iason and Theseus jousted often against Hercules / and Pirithous, son of King Lycaon, did the same / All those I name maintained themselves valiantly / Nevertheless, above all others Hercules endured all men / and no man could withstand his strokes but he bore them all down / Reserved Iason / / who encountered him various times and gave him many great strokes / Hercules bore down Theseus. To the earth and Perithous, there were over fifty strong knights. He did so much that no man remained at the place but Jason and he. Then he left and sought out the Ioustes for the valor that Hercules found in Jason. And ever after, he had a special love for him. He took him in and entertained him, making him great cheer.\n\nAt the end of this Ioustes, knights, ladies, and damsels went to the palaces. Hercules was made king of Iconium. The feast was great and rich beyond what I can recount. The strangers were greatly feasted and highly thanked in common. What shall I make a long procession for, when all the feast was passed with honor and glory of Hercules? And there was no more to do for which any memory is worth recording. Perithous prayed all those who were there to be at his wedding in Thessalonica at a certain day. Each man promised him to go there and be there. Each man took leave of Hercules when it was time to depart. And each man returned to his country and place. Could not behold the glory and appearance of Hercules, who was so courteous and humble. He grew flourishing and fruitful, and for the grace that he had in temporal honor and worship, he was so virtuous that he was not more proud nor enhanced himself, but the more meek and lowly he became.\n\nWhen our matter continues, Hercules saw the approaching day of Perithous' wedding. He disposed himself to go there, and by a certain time he set out on his way, taking Philotes with him, and in all likelihood, his armor of the lion's skin. When Megera saw him depart, she was greatly troubled by his departure, and for that reason, she thought if Hercules had heard any news, he would go there and put himself in danger to test himself again with great sighs. She looked after him as far as she could, praying to the goddesses that they would bring him back soon. Hercules and Philotes went forth into the distance. The country exploited them as much as they could. During their journey, they arrived in Thessalonica, where they were received with great joy by Pirothus and his friends. They found there a great assembly of noble men, ladies, and damsels. Theseus and Jason were present. His friends wanted Jason to be made a knight, and to accomplish this, they presented him to Hercules, who granted him knighthood. Hercules said that he had seen in him the beginning of a noble man, and if he lived, he would achieve great and noble things. Among other things, the day of the wedding approached. The city was filled with nobles. The centaurs were there, a hundred giants whom King Lycaon had ordered in this fleet. Some of them lived in Molossus and the other in Aphytte, a city of Epirus. Queen Eurydice, the bride of the wedding, was there, along with many kings and princes, of whom I have not the names. Queen Ipodamia and Pirothus were married to Gyas according to the law. When the time for dinner came, they seated the lady in the hall, where a grand feast was prepared. In this feast, the whole world was amply served with various good wines and dishes. In particular, the Centaurs made excellent cheer and drank so much of the strong wines that the principal captain of them all, named Euricus, and some of the others spoke words to Gyas, causing trouble at the feast. In this trouble, they fought each other, throwing pots, plates, wines, and meats so terribly that many of them were hurt and dead. Then immediately, the hall was filled with noise. Euricus and fifty of his men issued out of the armed ranks. They entered the hall and, not content with the trouble they had caused, they took Queen Ipodamia and carried her off, along with her. When the ladies saw this great outrage, they... Hercules saw all affraid, for the centaurs were so great that Hercules, Jason, Pirothus, and Theseus ran to them. When they knew that the centaures had ravished the lady, at few words they went and armed themselves at once.\n\nHercules took the lion's pelt and took his sword, his bow, and his arrows. Then he went after the giants without delaying any other company or person. The giants had withdrawn under a tree, and there they prepared themselves for battle. They hated Hercules secretly and envied his glory. They swore the death of Hercules, and then, when they were in these terms and devising, Euricus spied Hercules from afar and showed him to his companions. Hercules was alone and could not pass softly as a man. But he came running as lightly and also swiftly as the heart runs in the valley. And it seemed to the centaurs that he flew in the air. The swiftness of Hercules neither abashed nor afraid them. And there were forty-six. They all had great courage. They took their weapons and other equipment of war. Some of the strongest among them went against Hercules. On the other side, as soon as Hercules approached close enough to shoot at them, he bent his bow and with an arrow he struck a centaur named Chiron in such a way that the arrow entered his head, going through his face and nailed his head to a tree that stood behind him. With the second arrow, he struck another giant named Petrus in the chest, going through his armor and his body. With the third, he injured Dorilas, a terrible giant, and nailed his hand to his face, for when the giant saw the stroke come, he held up his hand in front of his face, and the arrow entered with such great force as before said and made the hand attach to his face, from which stroke he was dead. He shot many more arrows as long as he had any, and he shot none unless he hurt or killed one of the giants. When his shot was failed, the gates strongly Emmaued, that they had seen her fellows die by Hercules' shot, they cried out upon Hercules and surrounded him on all sides: Cilarus, Phaeton, Nessus, Mycnus, and Pision were the first to strike upon Hercules with their javelins. Hercules took his sword and came again against Phaeton, who had a great axe so large that it was a man's burden. Phaeton immediately lifted up his great axe and intended to deal a mighty blow upon Hercules. But Hercules, who knew of the war, turned him from the blow. And so the great axe fell down to the ground. Then suddenly Hercules caught that great axe and plucked it out of his hands. And forthwith gave him a stroke with all his might, striking off his right arm at the shoulder. Such was the beginning of the battle between Hercules and the Centaurs. Cilarus struck him behind with all his might, Pision and Lodeum struck him also at once. Hercules, not stopping there, but in returning to Cilarus, gave him a strike with the axe so forcefully on his helmet that it entered his body, confounding the giant to the earth. In the same way, he served those before him: Psyches and Leades. Iason and Theseus put them in the battle then. And they proved themselves well in their youth, at their coming to give them heart and courage. Hercules thrust himself into the greatest fray and wrought with the axe. He struck down Phytons and all those who had brought it there and forged it. In their beating and smiting before them, Hercules began then to seek out Iypodame. He found her weeping right beside Euricus. Then he spoke to Euricus and said to him, thou evil glutton, thou hast today troubled the feast and the lady of my friend Pirithous. And now immediately I shall trouble thy spirit. With this word, he discharged the axe and struck Euricus on the head in such a way that he fell down dead, to the great dismay of the others. Hercules beheld the axe stained with the blood of Cacus, their captain. The giants were all dismayed. Then Hercules attacked the giants more fiercely, none could withstand him. But he was not afraid of any, not even those who fought back fiercely. He put his enemies out of commission and drove them into flight. With the help of Jason, Theseus, and Pirithous, who were remarkably valiant, they defeated and chased them to a river. Twelve of them saved themselves by passing and swimming over. The remaining giants were all put to death. Lycnus, whom Hercules had kept prisoner, was reserved. Since he had spared him at the defeat, he begged for mercy and surrendered to him. Thus, the centaurs were destroyed more by the strength and hand of Hercules than by any other. When Hercules had done this, there were no more centaurs left on the scene. He and his companions returned to Iphodame and brought her back to them. In this time, a little before the wedding of Pirithous, as Pluto, the king of Hades, son of Saturn and brother of Jupiter, said and went by sea, seeing his adventures. He sailed so long that he arrived in Sicily. And there, near the river, he found a great assembly of Sicilians celebrating the festival of their goddesses. When Pluto saw this festival, he armed twenty of his companions under their robes and disguises and went to see the festival to find any prey. Pluto was the greatest thief and the most lecherous man in the world, and he had with him a giant named Cerberus. Cerberus was similar to Pluto in condition and temperament, but he was much stronger and more powerful in body. All the others were giants. And had learned to do nothing else but harm and evil. Could do nothing else. When the Sicilians saw Pluto come and his companions, they supposed that it had been some of their neighbors who had come to see their plays and revelries, since they came dressed in their garments and saw none of their armor or harness. They forced them to sing and dance. But their songs and dances were not enduring or lasted not long. For as they approached them, the king Pluto cast his eyes aside and saw there the queen of that land who was watching the festival. And by her, her daughter who made a chaplet of flowers. The mother was named Serah, and the daughter was called Proserpine, and was married to a nobleman named Orpheus, who sat beside her and played on the harp. This Proserpine was passing marvelous fair. Immediately as Pluto had seen her, he desired and coveted her. He instructed his people secretly about her. And after came near and felt himself. So Surmonted by her beauty, he placed his hands on her and lifted her onto his back, bearing her away. When Orpheus and Seraphine saw Proserpine so roused, they cried pitifully and anxiously upon Pluto. With this cry, the Cyprians left their feast and ran after Pluto in great numbers, men and women alike, hoping to rescue Proserpine. But when Cerberus and his companions saw the commotion, they drew their swords and showed their arms, striking down those who approached them. They killed many of the Cyprians and drove the rest back, seizing Proserpine and Orpheus. They guided Pluto into his ship and, once aboard, they disarmed and carried Proserpine away. The Cyprians were then disarmed and could not withstand Proserpine's rage. At their departure from the gate, the most bitter sorrow and weeping ensued. Proserpine wept bitterly on one side, and Seraphine on the other side with the Cyprians. made no scarcity of tears / and certainly Orpheus failed not to furnish his tears with profound sighs / for he loved Proserpine / And she loved him also / At their parting, their hearts were put in a hard and grievous distress / so hard anguish that Proserpine fainted / and Orpheus was so enraged / that he returned to his palace when he had lost sight of Proserpine / And he kept himself closed in his chamber without speech for two days.\n\nAt the end of two days, Serena came to visit Orpheus, who would neither eat nor drink, and said to him that she knew well the cause of her sister's abduction / it was Pluto, the king of Hades / and that he dwelt part of his kingdom in a low and base city that was called Hades because the island was named so. King Pluto and his companions did so much harm and evil / that they were compared and likened to devils / and their city was named Hades. When Orpheus understood that Proserpine was in Hades, he took a little hope in himself and ate and drank. And he made a vow that he would never remain in one place until he had been in Hades to see Proserpine. After he had eaten, he sent for his mariners and ordered them to prepare a ship. When the ship was fitted out with all that was required, after the queen's leave and farewell taken, he entered alone into his ship with his harp. His mariners were instructed to wait for him at a certain time in the same place. After he departed and went from country to country for so long to speed his mother, he came to the gates of Hades which Cerberus guarded. And there he began to play on his harp most sweetly and melodiously.\n\nWhen Cerberus heard the sound of the harp, he lifted up his head high and came out of the gate to know who was playing so melodiously. By the sound of the harp, he identified him. Orpheus, thinking Pluto would be pleased to see him and comfort Proserpine, who always wept, allowed him entry into the city. He brought him before the king. Orpheus then began to play his harp again. When Pluto heard him, he took great pleasure in it, and so did all those present. Then Pluto sent for Proserpine. When she arrived and heard him play his harp near his throne, she recognized her husband and was greatly embarrassed. If she had wept before, she wept even more now. Pluto was sorry for Proserpine's sorrow and said to Orpheus, \"If you can play your harp in such a way that the lady can see her tears cease, I will give you whatever you ask.\" Orpheus promised and assured him he would do it. Pluto swore to him that he would keep his promise if Orpheus succeeded. Then Orpheus sat down and tuned his harp, playing various songs that put everyone to sleep, including Proserpine. Of certain tokens and signs that Orpheus made with his eyes to cease her weeping:\n\nWhen Pluto saw Proserpine ceasing her weeping, he was passing joyous. He then awoke Cerberus and the others who slept. After he spoke to Orpheus and said to him that he had well handled the situation, that no man could do better, and that he would grant him something without fault. Orpheus, hearing Pluto's words, had a great debate within himself to know what thing he might best ask for. In the end, he said to him, \"Sir, I am Orpheus, the husband of this lady. For her love, I have entered into this adventure. I pray and request of you that you will give and render her again to me. That I may bring her again unto her mother who dies for sorrow.\" When Pluto had heard Orpheus' request, he was passing angry and also amazed by Orpheus' boldness. How so, he answered him. Orpheus, you have demanded of me: Orpheus, the woman I love most in the world, I give to you under the condition that you take her out of this city without looking or beholding back, and if you once look back, you will lose her. Orpheus was content with this answer. And he seemed to think that his wife Proserpine was as good as won or recalled to him. They passed the night in hope. But when the morning came, Pluto delivered Proserpine to Orpheus according to the condition previously stated. Orpheus and Proserpine took leave of King Pluto and thanked him. However, Orpheus had not gone half way to the gate when he privately looked behind him. There, at his heels, he found Cerberus, who had taken Proserpine away from him and yielded and delivered her again to King Pluto.\n\nOrpheus, upon seeing that his misfortunes had caused him to lose his wife, began to curse the day he was born. And he came. After following Proserpine, Orpheus began again to harp and to offer great sacrifices to win her back, but it was said to him that he would never have her again. It was also added that if he had used the strength of his arms as he had the strings of his harp, he would have died by arms. With this conclusion, Orpheus departed from hell, filled with sorrow and anguish, and returned to the underworld to tell the queen of his adventure. The queen, certain that her daughter was in hell, as she had been informed that the festival of the wedding of Persephone would take place, and that there were many knights of great name, she went to the sea and came to Thessalonica, where the festival still continued. Approaching the city, on an afternoon as Persephone and Theseus were in the fields, they met her. Her joy was great; Theseus and Persephone greeted her, and after asking about the state of the wedding, they told and recounted it to her. Lady Seres of Cecyll asked the knights if there were any of great name and high enterprises present. When they understood she inquired so extensively, they revealed that there were indeed some. She then asked why she was being questioned in the feast, and Theseus replied that there were indeed knights of enterprise, but he could not guarantee their assistance without knowing the reason for her request.\n\nThe lady explained that she had made her demand of them because Pluto, king of hell, had abducted her daughter Proserpine, causing her great distress. She desired to find a knight who would use his courtesy to attempt to retrieve her daughter and return her to her. She also wished to avenge herself on the cruel tyrant, may the gods condemn and confound him. Persistently, for his misdeeds, I implore you, if you know anyone who can help me, to introduce me to him. Madam, Answered Thusius, be no longer troubled to find such a knight as you seek. In the name of all ladies, I shall be your knight in this endeavor, and promise you upon my honor that I will transport myself into hell. And the king Pluto shall never have peace with me until he has restored your daughter {etc}.\n\nWhen Pirothus heard of our enterprise, he began to renege on his words and said to him, \"My brother, what do you intend to do, when you enter to go into hell? You do not know the terms or the situation of that place. Hell stands behind the Inner Sea between mountains and rocks so high that the citizens who dwell there are in continual darkness and shadow. And the entrance is so strong that it is impossible to come within the city, but if the porter consents, for formerly in time many have gone thither.\" \"left and blue, there is no man there who ever comes again. It is truly hell, and each man names it hell as much for the situation thereof in so dark and tenebrous a place as for the Inhumanity and terror of the inhabitants and Indwellers. They always watch and wait to do evil and display it to all the world. Theseus answered Pirothus and said, 'there is no thing impossible for a valiant heart. The king Pluto is cruel and strong, his people and subjects tyrannize. His city stands in a country surrounded by mortal equals. Notwithstanding, certainly the doubt and fear of these things shall never rebuke nor withdraw my courage, but that I shall do my duty to achieve this enterprise, and shall die in the pain or shall have reproach, showing to all manner knights that a man to keep his honor and worship ought not to doubt any parry what it bee: {etc}. When Pirothus had heard the noble answer of Theseus, he was greatly pleased and said to him that\" His words were to him agreeable and acceptable, and he was willing to join him in this adventure. The queen of Seres thanked the two knights and brought her into the city and into the palaces. She was received and feasted as fitting. The news of her daughter and the exploits of the two knights, Theseus and Pirithous, were told. By the report of this adventure and of their enterprise, all the feast was joyfully turned anew. Among all others, Iphedame considered it remarkable that her husband, so newly married to her, would go on this perilous voyage to Hades. Her heart began to give out weeping of tears. And might give no comfort or solace to her eyes. The feast ended in great sorrow. Iason and Hercules wished to go with Theseus and Pirithous, and spoke of it to them, but they would not allow it. Then Hercules entered into a ship as he would have gone to his country. Each man departed in turn. theseus and pi\u2223rothus toke theyr way for to goo vnto helle / / & than aboute their departing wherof hercules was aduertised hercules made for to conduyte his shippe vnto the mar\u2223ches of hell / And ther descended a lande allone. Con\u2223cludyng in hym self that he wold goo after pirothus and theseus his loyall and true felawe. And betoke to philotes the charge for to brynge lyncus vnto thebes And for to put hym there in prison vnto his retornyng and comyng agayn. after he departed / And philotes shipped in the see. where he had a dolorous auenture. as hit shall be said here after / but at this tyme I muste ta\u2223rye of that mater / And shall recounte of hercules how he wente in to hell {etc}::.\nIN this paas hit ought be sayd that whan the\u2223seus and pirothus were departed fro thessalo\u00a6nyque for to goo and assaie yf they myght re\u2223coure the fayr proserpyne they did so moche that by their diligence in shorte tyme they aryued in the valeye where was proserpyne / In the valeye full of synnes and cursidnesse. Pirothus that I. Knew the straight way to the city and entered it first. This way was so narrow that only one man could go alone, neither on the right side nor on the left, for the rocks were so high. When they had passed this way, they found a rock inscribed and cut into steps or grooves and hewed out with chisels. Then they saw below, low Helle as a strong city surrounded by waters that filled in incessantly and seemed far removed from the rocks and made a terrible noise and roaring. For they filled from right high into a low swallow or abyss in the earth. This city was entirely enclosed by mountains. To speak properly, it was a real hell. And it had no more than one entrance and one gate. For to come down to the gate, Perithous and Theseus descended by the steps carved in the rock. Then, in the descent, suddenly they saw a great giant emerge from the gate, out of proportion: he had a head. meruayllously mys\u2223schapen / fyers blacke and owggly / He had his nose hyhe and wyde / hys Chyn longe / his teth grete as hors teth / His eyen grete lyke vnto an oxe / His eeres hangyng lyke as an hound / His sholdres large and brood. Hys bely swollyn and grete bolned. his legges and his Thyes were passyng strongly boned and myghty. Thys terryble geant was Cerberus. wherof is touched and rehersed aboue. The poettes named hym the hound with thre heedes. Concideryng his right greuous and vnhappy lyuyng whiche is replyed and lyckende vnto thre synguler vyces. That is to wete to pryde. to auaryce. And to luxurye or lecherye. by pryde he gloryfied hym self and enhaunced hym aboue all the men of the worlde for hys force and strengthe ffor he was so stronge that no man myght wystande hym: By Auaryce and Couetyse he had an apetyte\nInsacyable for to gadre to gyder tresours. And toke and bare away all that he myghte haue or coude fynde By luxurye ther was noman lyuyng of more fowle lyff than he was. ffor he had neuer In his entire life, he did nothing but pursue and ravish women and maidens. Therefore, poets named him a hound with three heads. He was as foul as a hound that lives in the multiplication of sins and finds his felicity / O wretched felicity / when Theseus and Pirithous had seen this enemy, Cerberus, approach them, all armed, striding proudly towards them. Pirithus spoke to Theseus, \"Behold, my brother, what enemy this is / he who sets such perils for the love of ladies places but little value on his life / we must now live or die.\" Let us joyously accomplish our enterprise, lest you think that I would rather die than bear reproach. I shall be the first to begin the battle. Theseus had no time or opportunity to respond / for Cerberus came to them and asked, \"What do these ruffians seek in hell? We came,\" said Theseus, \"to seek Proserpine. She has been taken away by Pluto from the queen, Serena. We shall never return.\" When you return to your country, you will have to render and yield Proserpine back to me. But I will defend you. Today I will present to Proserpine my glove, which was dipped in your blood. Here you shall be buried. You shall never see Proserpine again. Nor come any closer than you are now. With these words, he enchanted his glove and gave it so great a blow that he struck Theseus on his shield. When Pirithous saw his companion struck, he took his glove and struck Cerberus on the other side. Theseus struck him on the other side, and they gave him two great blows so powerful that they made Cerberus so enraged that he began the battle so furiously that he broke their shields and their harness, and also made their gloves die with their noble blood, as he had before said. The battle was hard and mortal at the beginning; Theseus and Pirithous received many wounds. / by ASpre strokes / their arms were all to hew and broken / The battlement endured long / And Perithous did right well in avenging himself / but Cerberus smote upon him so disproportionately / that after many wounds given to him he all to burst his helm and cleaved his head into two pieces into the stomach:.\nThan Theseus saw his friend die / he enraged his glove by great anger and struck Cerberus so fiercely that he made him retreat and go back two paces. Cerberus sought revenge for this stroke and struck upon Theseus a stroke by such great force. If the noble knight had not turned away, Cerberus would have borne him down and smitten him to the earth. This stroke of Cerberus fell upon the earth and entered therein / and Theseus struck again upon his enemy who had the heart so great / that he began to roar as an old lion / And struck Theseus so fiercely with his sword that he all to broke his shield / and all to frustrated his helm / that he was all astonished by the stroke / But always Theseus remained in his place\nand then Cerberus should have brought him (Pirothus) to utter destruction after the evil adventure of Pirithous. If fortune had not brought them there, Hercules, who was appointed to his rescue, would have been unknown to Theseus. At this point, when Theseus was so astonished, Hercules having departed from the sea, came to the oars that were cut and made in the rock. And beholding Theseus, all covered with blood, and Pirithous dead, he began to descend, crying to Theseus not to be afraid or take fear. When Cerberus saw and heard Hercules, he began to rage and assault Theseus fiercely to be rid of him. Theseus could no longer be comforted by Hercules' voices. He began to run here and there, avoiding Cerberus:...\n\nHercules hurried so much to go down the oars or degrees in entering the place as quickly as he could, he cried out to Cerberus and said to him, \"Tyrant cruel, let the knight come to me. You have put him to death.\" Upon the earth, my good friend Perithous, of whom I am certain sorry. And if I may, I shall take vengeance on him, for Cerberus heard the sentence of Hercules. Ran no more after Theseus. But Tarius stayed and beheld Hercules with an angry look, and answered him, so it seems, to avenge his shame. I have consumed your law into death. And unless you exceed him in bodily strength a hundredfold, it is folly for you to come here. For I am Cerberus, the porter of Hades. The whole world trembles at the mention of my name. Thus ending his answer, Hercules was at the foot of the rock. He had his club on his shoulder. Cerberus approached him. They struck each other roughly, and thus they began a fierce battle. Theseus, weary, sat on one side, out of the way, and rested himself, tending and cleaning his wounds, where the blood had flowed out of them. Hercules saw him on that side and, seeing Theseus tending and cleaning his painful and great wounds, said: Hercules began to use his excess strength and might with such marvel that from a stroke he gave him on the right side of his helmet, he made him bow and kneel beneath his club and to the ground with his left knee. At the second stroke, pursuing him hastily, he made his sword fly out of his hands and caused him to fall on his arms to the ground. Relieved him and took his sword. Hercules struck him on the body, making his head strike against a large stone that was there. After that, he sprang upon him and bound his legs with the strength and force of his hands. Maulgre the giant. Hercules tore the helmet from his head and would have slain him, but Theseus prayed him not to put him to death there. He promised him that he would bring him to Thessalonica to die by the sentence of Queen Iphodame.\n\nCerberus was not put to death at Theseus' request. Notwithstanding, Hercules bound his hands behind his back. After he made him arise and took him by the beard, leading him up onto a high rock. There he laid him down and bound his feet, hands, and neck in such a way that he could not or dared not remove them. Once he had done so, he went down and entered the gate of hell, leaving Theseus behind. He went so far that he found the palace of King Pluto and entered the same hall where Pluto was with Proserpine. All those who were there marveled at him when they saw him enter, for they knew nothing of the overcoming of Cerberus. Those who had left all the charge and keeping of their city with Cerberus, without any doubt or suspicion, were so far from the gate that they could not hear of the battle. Nor did they know anything of what had befallen their porter. Then, when Hercules had found Pluto and Proserpine, he had great joy and knew by tokens and signs that it was they he addressed. Pluto, by thy... Mostly Secille weeps profusely for this lady who has refused to yield and return to her husband Orpheus. I tell you, you will receive great displeasure by following the evil adventure of Cerberus, whom I have vanquished and overcome.\n\nWith this word, Hercules lifted up his club and gave such a stroke to Pluto that he overthrew him to the earth, rendering him motionless, neither moving hand nor foot. Thinking he was dead, Hercules assailed all those present who made great murmurs and put them all to death lightly with his club in the presence of Proserpine, who trembled in fear. Then he comforted Proserpine and said to her, \"I have come to this place to deliver you and to bring you back to your mother. You shall follow me obediently.\" Proserpine was reassured and comforted by Hercules' words, and followed him. Hercules opened the hall and went out, encountering Proserpine. After addressing her at the palace gate, he found a large company of citizens alerted to the affair, who attacked him relentlessly, screaming for his death. When Hercules saw this, he told Proserpine to step aside. He then enhanced his strength and fiercely engaged his enemies, covering the entire palace entrance with the miserable wretches he slew, slaying more than four hundred. Finally, he managed to subdue the others and took Proserpine by the hand, leading her out of the city gate.\n\nTheesus, who remained and waited at the gate as stated, was greatly rejoiced when he saw Hercules return with Proserpine. He approached and greeted them. And presented to Hercules a chain of adamant iron, which he had found at the gate, and many prisoners bound by Cerberus. Hercules unbound the prisoners and took the Chain and bound Cerberus with it. When he had buried Pyrrhus, he departed from this hell and took his way with Proserpine. Theseus and Cerberus. Having made the journey without great adventure, he arrived in Thessaly and delivered Proserpine to Queen Sersei. And to Iypodamus he presented Cerberus, recounting to her and the ladies how he had slain Pyrrhus. Iypodamus expressed such great sorrow for Pyrrhus's death that it is not possible to recount or tell. All of them on the ship seemed to make great mourning and sorrowfully bewailed their lord. What shall I say to counteract his death? Iypodamus had Cerberus bound to a stake in the theater of the city. And there, young and old, they noised and pined him for three days continuously, drawing him by the beard. When Hercules and Theseus, Seraphus and Proserpine, had stayed there for a certain period of time comforting Iphodame, they then took leave of Cydon and Hercules went, accompanied by Theseus, towards the city of Thebes. But I will now stay and speak of the adventures of Lynceus.\n\nWhen Philotes had received Lynceus into his care and Hercules had gone to aid Theseus and Pirithous as previously mentioned, the mariners took their ship and sailed to the sea. They sailed all that day without encountering any adventure. But in the morning, by the time it was growing light, Fortune, who never rests, brought them a great ship that was heading towards the same place they had come from. The captain and chief of this ship or galley was Andromadas, king of Calcis. This Andromadas was a cousin of Lynceus. When he had seen the ship where Lynceus was, he made his galley approach. Andromadas spoke and asked the mariners to whom the ship belonged. Upon seeing and hearing Andromadas, Lynceus broke free from the mariners and exclaimed to him, \"Andromeda, behold your friend Lynceus! If you do not help me, you may lose a great friend in me. I am a prisoner. Hercules has sent me to Thebes.\"\n\nAndromeda, upon hearing Lynceus, was filled with anger because she loved Lynceus dearly. She turned to those who had brought him and said to him, \"You are all coming to your deaths. You are under my protection. Philotes and his people were armed and prepared to defend themselves. With little speech, the men of Calydon attacked Philotes. Philotes and his people engaged them. The battle was great and hard. But Andromadas, the brave leader, had two companies of men with him. All robbers and thieves of the sea, these thieves and robbers struck hard and fiercely upon Philotes and all to hew his arms. Working and giving him many wounds, he buried many of them in the sea. But their strong resistance profited them little. In the end, he was taken and bound. And Lycinus was delivered and unbound from the bonds of Hercules.\n\nLycinus had great joy of his deliverance. He thanked his good friend Andromadas. After this, he told him how he was taken and how Hercules had disciplined and destroyed the Centaurs. Among other things, he named many of his friends who were dead. Andromadas was filled with great anger and displeasure over this, swearing incessantly that he would avenge it. And just as Hercules had slain his friends, he would destroy his cousins and kindred. Lycinus took great pleasure in understanding Andromadas' oath, which would avenge Andromadas, upon learning of the deaths of his kin, spoke to him about avenging Hercules against the enemies of Hercules. They pondered this for a long time. In the end, Andromadas decided that he would sail to Thebes. If he could take the city by assault, he would kill King Creon and all his bloodline.\n\nWith this decision, all of Andromadas' eyes, numbering eight thousand fighting men, turned towards Thebes. Andromadas ordered them to head in that direction. He entered the kingdom as quickly as possible, wreaking havoc with fire and sword. The news reached King Creon when he knew of Andromadas' approaching army. Without hesitation, he declared war. He swore to arm himself and gather a great force. Knowing that Andromadas had come to a certain place, he marched out of Thebes, fully armed. People upon his enemies / who had great joy of their coming / And then they set themselves in order against them in such a way that they came to striking of blows. The cries and noise were great on both sides. Glaves, swords, darts, javelins, and poleaxes were put forth and set to work. Many nobles were beaten down and dead. Lyncus and Andromadas inflicted mortal wounds. The king Creon and Amphitrion did not fail. There was much bloodshed on one side and on the other. And the battle was so felonious and fierce that in little while after Andromadas and his people had gained and conquered those of Thebes, and had compelled them to retreat, the king Creon had great sorrow. And intending to put his men back in array, he put himself into the thickest press of the battle where he inflicted mortal wounds and made great slaughter and beating down of his enemies. Lyncus and Andromadas heard the uproar. And then they came there. And as Lyncus saw. The king Creon performed wonders with his arms. He gave him three strokes with his sword, one after another. With the fourth stroke, he shattered his helmet from his head and killed him. This caused the Thebans to be so terrified and demoralized that they were put in disarray and fled, which flying Amphitron could not stop. Why was he strong and of great courage?\n\nThe evil turn of events quickly alerted Thebes. Megera went up to one of the high towers of the palace and saw and beheld the battle from that place. From there, she saw the Thebans being slaughtered without mercy and their backs being torn. The token of the defeat of her father, the king, and the recognition of the slaughter of others made her cry out and say, \"Fortune, fortune, what misfortune, where is Hercules? Alas, where have you brought him? Alas, that he is not here to defend the lands of his birth and keep his wife in peace. Alas, that he is not here to put his hand and shoulders to bear.\" Andromadas and Linus followed Theban forces hastily and entered the city with them. Since the Thebans were unprepared and Amphitron was severely wounded, they took the city and slaughtered all who could bear arms. They found Amphitron unconscious and spared him. Afterward, they went up to the palaces and found Megara and Amphitron in great despair with many ladies and damsels.\n\nAs soon as Linus had seen Megara, she was so fair and pleasing that he became amorous of her. He approached her and said, \"Lady, weep no more. Hercules, the bastard son of Jupiter, has gone to hell and is dead. From now on, you shall be wife and wife of a legitimate man, born in lawful marriage.\" I shall wed you. I will do you more good and pleasure than you have ever had. Megara answered, \"False traitor, do you think that I am so foolish as to give faith and believe the words of my father's murderer and the enemy of my lord Hercules? Know that I am his wife, and that I shall never have another husband but him. He is no bastard, but the son of my lord Amphitron, and the most noble man in all the world.\n\nLady (Megara), answered Linus, \"I am king of this city. You are now under my commandment. Will you or will you not do my will? But I will put it in reserve and in my suffering until morning.\n\nAfter these words, Linus sent Megara into a tower and had her kept there. He sent Philotes into a low prison, and Amphitron into another prison. Finding there in servitude and misery, he pitied the son of King Laomedon and sent him back to Troy, where he was received with great joy by the Trojans.\n\nBy the glory of Linus and Andromeda. Thebes was troubled deeply. Lycius exercised tyranny and wickedness there. In this misfortune, Andromeda departed and went to do her things. Leaving there Lycius with four hundred men of war to keep the city and hold it in submission. Thus was taken the vengeance of the centaurs. In the time of this vengeance, the queen Juno came to Thebes and had great joy when she found it in desolation and full of widows and orphans. And at that time were great tears and lamentations of Megaera. Amphitryon was near her, understanding all her sorrows, and comforted her. Lyncus came often to her in the prison and pleaded sweetly for her love. And in the most fair manner, his sweet and fair words availed not. He found her constant and firm, and always keeping her chastity. And gave her many virtuous answers, one of which was the last:\n\nLyncus, you have now the strong hand. And have bruised the city. Fortune and ill have given to thee, the tyrant, of which thou hast enriched thyself with vices. Thou hast furthermore the power to commit murder, but thy power and sins are not strong enough to make my virtue bow or fold. Megera always bewailed Hercules. She bewailed him so much on one day that she became all rageful and in a trance. And on that same day, Hercules, having been away from Thessalonica for a long time, began his journeys and entered the realm of Thebes accompanied by many noblemen. Entering into these marches, he found the country all destroyed. He had not gone far when it was told to him how Linus was lord of Thebes, and how he had killed in battle the king Creon, and how he had imprisoned Megara.\n\nWhen Hercules had received these tidings, he was filled with great anger, and said that he would avenge himself if he could. Then he clad himself above his armor with a mantle and disguised himself as much as possible. as he had finished, he left his companions behind and entered Thebes in the same way he entered the palace. At the entrance of the palace, a soldier appeared before Hercules and demanded to know what he sought. Hercules threw off his cloak and took his strong sword. Without uttering a word, he gave such a great strike to the unarmed soldier that he cleaved his head from the highest part to the ground. Seeing the strike, other soldiers present were alarmed and rushed to their axes and clubs. Some among them boasted they would take Hercules, but Hercules struck off their heads and beat them down. A great uproar and noise ensued, which Linus heard and, thinking it was his parents being attacked, he came running down unarmed to make peace. As soon as Hercules saw Linus coming out of the hall, he drew his sword and charged at him, crying out, \"Hercules!\" Hercules struck him, severing his right arm and causing him to fall to the ground. After striking down one who had no helmet on his head or shield, the people knew it was Hercules. He slew them so abundantly that the ground was awash with blood, as if it had been a river. Among these things, the damsels of Megera emerged from the palaces and went to the shore, where they heard the cries. The old men, young men, widows, and maidens ran to arms with great courage and assaulted all around the men of Linus. A terrible battle was gathered against their enemies. In a little while, the city was thrown into turmoil when Hercules had put to death all those he found in the palace closets, reserving Linus, whom he placed in the guard and keeping of the queen Juno and many damsels who came to him. He rushed into the streets and displayed himself. Hercules wielded his sword, striking down men of Lynceus from all sides in fierce combat, enabling them to pass through the trenches and cutting them down with his sword. The Thebans rejoiced, and Hercules returned to the palace to find the ladies keeping Lynceus. He summoned the guards to break open the chamber door. Megera, filled with joy, came to her lord Hercules. He arose to embrace and kiss her, but Evil, through Juno's secret introduction, prevented him, saying, \"Hercules, be late, my concubine. I have already satisfied my fleshly desires with her. She is one of my acquaintances and the most luxurious lady I have ever been acquainted with.\"\n\nMegera, upon hearing the great injury and wrong the traitor accused her of, retreated in anger, saying not a word. Hercules was filled with anger and hot with passion. Greetings, I hereby record that Linus spoke truthfully. Hercules beheaded Linus with the same sword he used to kill the traitor. Megera, who was with child, was also put to death. The chronicles report that this was the first religion in Thebes. These events transpired in one way or another. Hercules freed Amphitron and Alcmena from prison and departed from there, deeply grieving and silent. The Thebans, who later crowned Lycurgus, the son of King Agenor of Assyria, in his place because he had married the daughter of King Creon named Iocasta.\n\nHercules, Theseus, and Philotes departed from Thebes and traveled to various lands, seeking adventures. Passing by Licia, they arrived at Mycenae, to the palaces of King Eumedes, where Iason was present. was, who had determined to sail to the isle of Colchos. He made his preparations. Hercules had already reconciled with Jason and Duc Pelleus, and knew of Jason's intention to conquer the Golden Fleece. Hercules vowed and promised to accompany him. And if fortune was with him, he would undertake the journey to bring his ambition to an end. What shall I make this lengthy process about? Jason and Hercules prepared a fine ship and set sail for the sea. They did not renew their supplies until they reached the gates of Troy. But they did not renew them at this gate, for King Laomedon was then in Troy, who had fortified the city marvelously. And knowing that a ship full of Greeks had arrived at his gate, he sent down a man named Rudeli, commanding them to depart and declaring himself an enemy of the Greeks. Jason, as captain of the army, answered courteously the messenger of King Laomedon, and begged him for provisions for his men. Hercules answered that only those who came with swords should remain in Troy, and Hercules could no longer delay. He swore to the Trojans that if he could return from his journey, he would destroy Troy once more and leave no stone upon another. With this, Hercules and Jason departed from Troy. By fortune, they arrived at the gate of Lenhos. In this gate of Lenhos was a woman, queen and lady named Isiphyle, who became infatuated with Jason, as contained in the history of Jason. At the gate of Lenhos, Hercules was adversed by a king named Phineus, who allowed him to be ruled by an avaricious woman. Phineus had been married to another woman before, and had by her two sons. These two sons were unjustly put in exile by their stepmother, for truth be told, this second wife was corrupted by avarice. She took the king's riches and held a greater estate than he. When Hercules learned of this, Hercules went to King Phineus and Queen to reveal their wrongdoings, so extensively that the children were repelled from their exile, and the king maintained his royal status. Hercules then returned to Lennos, sailed with Jason to the island of Colchos. There, Jason, through the learning and industry of Medgold he bore in Greece, recommended Hercules strongly among his parents and friends. He told them of King Laomedon's great unkindnesses and how he had sworn to destroy Troy for the rude actions Laomedon had inflicted upon them. They all swore to join Hercules in the destruction of Troy and set a departure date. After preparing their ships and all necessary supplies, Hercules led them firmly, and at the agreed-upon time, they entered the sea and accomplished much. Iason and his companions, led by Hercules, arrived at the gates of Troyes with such a great force that Laomedon dared not defend the gate. At that time, Iason was in a far-off land. Among Hercules' noble men were King Thelamomax, Duke Nestor, Castor, Pollux, and many kings and dukes. When they approached this gate, which was strongly fortified, Hercules, without any doubt of his enemies, ordered the trumpets and drums to be sounded and blown. The walls of Troyes and the palaces echoed with the noise. Laomedon, seeing his enemies' host from one of his windows, was deeply contemplating whether to go to battle against them or not. It happened that as he was still pondering this, he saw, in the marketplace, more than thirty thousand armed men. This sight inflamed his heart so much that he armed himself and all his men and urged them to do their duty. And after trusting in fortune, he issued out into the field in battle formation. He supposed that Hercules was in the army, and he marched towards his enemies, who rejoiced at his coming. Then began the battle between Troy and the Greeks in a fierce skirmish, with great occasion and much slaughter. Hercules did not fail to strike and trouble his enemies. He looked up and saw the royal banner of Troy. He fought and brought down one side and the other, and with his club he brought down innumerable enemies. Finding there the man Lamenus who performed wonders with his arms, he struck him repeatedly on the helmet, unable to save himself. He embedded his club in his head and brain, and with the blow he killed him among a great number of Greeks lying dead on the sand. Slowe them and rent the banquer. Then were the Trojans all discomforted and cried, \"Late, us, late, us.\" With this cry that was impetuous, they began to recoil and go back to the city, intending to save themselves. But the Greeks conveyed them with the points of their swords and cuttings of their sharp glaives so mortally that in slaying and killing, the most part seemed as if the tempest had run among them. They took the city so treacherously with the death of the king Laomedon that there was none or right little defense among them. In entering into the gate of Troy, Aeneas was the first man. Hercules was the second. And then Hercules found that he did right high Chevalry. Priam was not at that time in Troy. But he was gone to the Orient, by the commandment of King Laomedon after his return from Thebes. What shall I say? Fortune, having cast down the king Laomedon as said is, by the strong hand of Hercules. Above that, she put in Troy... Hercules and his people, who brought them all to the hearing of Hercules' sword-entry into Ilion and pillaged it. They also took Exiona, the daughter of the king. Hercules gave her to Iolaus, asking him to take her because he was the first to enter the city. After they had taken all that they found good in Troy, for fine vengeance Hercules battered down the towers and edifices and put fire to them in such a way that there was not one stone upon another.\n\nAfter this general destruction of Troy, when the Greeks had returned to Greece with great glory, Hercules went by the sea, accompanied by Theseus and Peisistratus. It happened that he arrived at the gate of Alexandria. There he found a great army, and he had heard of him recommended above all other men, whatever they might be. So he went to him, fully armed. I, Joye, addressed him as \"Lord of nobility and treasure of virtue,\" among the most powerful people and among the kings most resplendent in all glorious virtues. I offer you my service and friendship, and I was on my knees before Hercules in a sign of humility, kissing the earth. When Hercules saw my salutation and the reason for this man's actions, he took him by the hand, lifting him up from the ground, and asked him his name and to whom that army belonged. He answered him that he was named Afer, the son of Madian, the son of Abraham. In that army, there was no other captain or leader but him, and the Egyptians had appointed him duke and leader to go to Libya to destroy the country in vengeance for the evil and harm that the tyrant Busiris of Libya had inflicted upon them in such a way as he well knew.\n\nWhen Hercules had received his name and the affairs... Hercules took him as his friend and said he would accompany him to conquer Libya. After thanking him, he brought him onto a rich ship where he feasted him as much as possible. They didn't stay long there, but went to the sea with great joy, for the Egyptians were so happy and glad to have Hercules with them that they believed nothing bad could happen to them. In the same ship was Affer's wife, whose name was Echee. She was one of the most beautiful damsels in the world, young and fresh. By the daily sight of her, Hercules became amorous of her and asked for her hand in marriage. Echee answered that she couldn't grant his request of her own accord, but if fortune granted her such grace to be his wife, she would introduce him to Affer. And he required her that she would give to him his daughter to be his wife. After Hercules had thanked Hercules for offering to ask for his daughter, the most excellent nobleman said to him that he should take her and do with her as he will and pleasure. Hercules espoused and wedded each other by the consent of Arete. He agreed to pay the due debt of marriage in such a way that each conceived of Hercules' seed.\n\nWhat shall I make a long process? Hercules and Arete spoke for so long that they found the gate of Libya. There, Carthage now stands, and they arrived and took land. In a night which was clear, and after they entered hastily into the country, they besieged the city of Libya without resistance or gainsaying.\n\nIn this city was then a great giant named Antheon, greater in measure than other giants. The strongest and most conquering one in all the parties of Europe and Libya, Cyrene, Tyre, Montaigne, and all the isles inhabited in this country. Iyles fortunate, this king was warned of the coming of the Egyptians and was passing angry. He swore that none of them should return to Egypt. As soon as he could, he armed his men and issued out of the city with a great company of Libyans. He had such haste to run upon the Egyptians that he set no order among his people, which caused him great harm. For when he came to the battle, he found that Hercules had arranged his people and set them in two battles. He led and conducted the first battle. It happened that the comrades of Hercules, through the force of their arrows and strokes, killed more than five hundred Libyans. When the arrows failed, Antheon charged into the thickest press as the most valiant and supposed he would have routed his enemies. But as soon as Hercules saw him come, he shouted \"Hercules!\" and threw his club, striking Antheon's head. Antheon lifted his sword to strike Hercules when he received the blow that shattered his own; yet he declared his intention to avenge himself. He raised his sword again and dealt Hercules a disproportionate blow, breaking his shield in the process. Hercules recognized Antaeus as a man of great strength, and retaliated with his club. The two engaged in a fierce battle, with the clanging of swords, the ringing of shattered shields and helmets, and the quartered shelters and broken gisarms. The battlefield was awash in blood. Hercules and Antaeus were eventually separated by the press of the crowd. Antaeus, enraged, continued to attack the Egyptians without relent, while Hercules battered their helmets with his club. The Libyans all delighted in his pleasure and brought so many to death with his club that in little time he passed through the power of King Antheon multiple times, covering the earth and the way with dead Libyans. This first skirmish was strong and challenging to Antheon. For one Egyptian that he killed with his javelin, Hercules made ten Libyans die with his club. Around Hercules, there was nothing but blood. Hercules made the mountains resound with cries, the ranges tremble, the Libyans flee and go back, and win little gain. As long as the day lasted, he kept the battle in vigor, and around evening, as well as Theseus came to the fray. He engaged himself against Antheon in such a way that he made him flee, pursued by Hera's horses and strokes, and in the same way, all the Libyans fled.\n\nWhen Hercules saw the Libyans tearing in flight, he quickly pursued the retreat. and with great glory returned to the place he had chosen for his siege. His wife Echee came towards him with open arms and embraced and kissed him. She helped to disarm him and brought him fresh water to refresh his face. There was great joy among the Egyptians. At the opposite of this joy, the Libyans were in their city and made great sorrow, for they had lost thirty thousand men. Antheon feigned simple joy, for he had been beaten so badly with his club that he could not sustain himself but went to bed with great pain. And with sorrow, he sent for his medicines and surgeons. Who came and visited him and found him broken. They told him it would be well if they could heal him in a month. Antheon considering his condition sent and requested true truce from the Egyptians for a month. Offering to send them daily a certain number of livestock and a great quantity of fodder. Hercules agreed and granted it. This is because of the trouble that had arisen. Then he issued his mandates to all the kings and princes who were his tributaries, and also to his neighbors, asking them to come and support him with all their armed men as soon as possible. Hercules, having made this appeal, began to remember an old tale. He had once heard Philotes speak of a king who ruled there, named Athlas, who was the wisest and most knowledgeable man in the world. Furthermore, he dwelt in a castle standing on the top of a high mountain named after the same king, Athlas. In this remembrance, Hercules, being eager for the science of Athlas, called for Philotes and said to him that he would go to the kingdom of King Athlas to seek his adventure. Philotes replied that he could easily lead and bring him there, for he knew the country. Then Hercules called for Theseus and charged them to follow. all we make good watch and after took leave of them and of his wife, saying that he would hastily return. This he and three mariners with Philotes did in a subtle and light galley proceed to the Mediterranean Sea. They had good wind and were ready, and fortune was good to them. In little while they came to the strait of Gibraltar. Then Philotes showed to Hercules the mountain and castle where Athlas was dwelling.\n\nWhen Hercules saw the mountain and the castle, he went ashore joyfully. After he took his club and commanded Philotes and his mariners to stay there. After that, he went toward the mountain. It happened that he met a man coming down from the hill, and he addressed himself to the man to hear some tidings, and demanded him whence he came. He said, \"I come from the castle that you may see yonder on the height.\" Why go there, said Hercules. To the city of Marcellus answered the stranger. The king Athlas, to whom I am. A servant has sent me to deliver the king's commandment to the citizens. They are required to be armed and ready within six days to accompany him to the war against the great king of Libya, who urgently requests his support. If you wish to serve him in this army and become his soldier, go up and you will find him in his castle studying astronomy.\n\nThe servant of King Athlas spoke these words and set out on his journey. Hercules went up to the mountain and reached the castle gate, where he encountered four knights who asked him what he wanted. Hercules replied that he wished to speak to the king about certain matters concerning him. The four knights, not suspecting any harm, brought Hercules into a large hall where all of King Athlas' men were testing them with swords and axes, as they had heard that they were to go to war. And they were all armed.\n\nWhen these knights had brought Hercules into the hall,... Athlas found Hercules armed with the lion's skin and asked him what he was. Hercules replied, \"I am Hercules, who has conquered Philotes and the garden with the sheep of your daughters. I have come here to conquer you with your sciences. Therefore, you must obey me and give aid to Antheon, my enemy, and come with me. If you will not do this, arm yourself quickly and defend yourself, for if you do not assent to this by love, I will make you agree by force. Athlas was strongly discouraged when he learned from Hercules' mouth that it was he who had recently conquered Philotes and had slain his giant enemy, his companion. He had promised to give aid to Antheon, who was newly assaulted by war, and considered that he would demand help from him. Should he yield to him, the heart within him began to swell with anger and pride. And with great felony, he said to him, \"O thou presumptuous Hercules, how darest thou come alone before me? I cannot know if I can love thee, for Philotes was my great friend. And now thou art come to renew this displeasure and dost wish that I should yield to thee. That is not my intention.\"\n\nAtlas spoke these words and went into a chamber where he commanded every man to arm himself. Hercules had his eye on him the whole time, so that he should not escape. When he was armed, he faced Hercules and cried out to him to die. After giving him a fierce strike with his club, all the men of the fortress attacked Hercules. Then Hercules put himself in a strong defensive position with the rigor of his club and slew twelve of his enemies with twelve strokes. He injured and wounded many others. Spare long the blood of Athlas, but in the end, for as much as Athlas gave great strokes to Hercules, Hercules struck him on the helmet without employing all his strength and gave him a wound in the head, stunning him, causing him to fall to the earth. From then on, those in the fortress dared not assault Hercules nor attempted to rescue or relieve Athlas. Instead, they fled from the castle, and Hercules remained alone with Athlas and the dead bodies. In the end, when Hercules saw that they had given up, he took Athlas and made him cry for mercy. Afterward, he went into his study, took all his books which he placed on a camel, and returned to Athlas, compelling him to follow. And when Hercules had finished all his pleasure in the castle, he departed, accompanied by Athlas and his books, and brought him down to the seashore to the place where Philotes dwelt.\n\nWhen Philotes saw Hercules come with Athlas and his books, he had... Greet Ioye/ and comforted Athlas, who was so sorrowful that he could not speak. They entered her galley and set sail for the sea. Athlas was sorrowful and wept due to the wound in his head. Hercules urged him to teach him his sciences, but Athlas refused at first, in the beginning of his sorrow. However, after considering and staying with Hercules, he was moved by Hercules' kindness and the introduction of Philotes, who affirmed that Hercules was the most noble and virtuous man she had ever seen. Athlas began to teach him all his sciences, and he learned and profited greatly from Hercules' quick and sharp intellect in such a way that he mastered them all. Later, he became the best philosopher and the most perfect astronomer in the world. Thus, studying with Hercules, Hercules returned with great joy to find that his wife had given birth to a fair son. The Egyptians had crowned him king of Egypt, where he ruled afterward. callid dedoum:\nThen after seeing Athlas and knowing how Hercules had vanquished and conquered him, Hercules marveled much at his prowess, which was so great, and his wisdom that reached such lofty things. Hercules put all his engineering and study into commerce. In the meantime, a little time passed, and Antheon assembled a great eastern host, and was all healed of his wounds. And then the truces failed and expired. The Egyptians had great joy over this, for they still hoped to have victory over their enemies. And the Libyans hoped to avenge themselves of the shame that Hercules had caused them when the truces were expired. The day following, Hercules made his battle lines ready on one side, and Antheon ordered his on the other side. Antheon made three battles. The first consisted of 12,000 fighting men, the second of 20,000, and the third of 30,000. He appointed himself king and chief of the first battle, and in the second he appointed the king of [an unclear word]. In the third year, the king of Cotys. And when he had arranged them properly and formed them into ranks in the morning, he marched against his enemies, demanding nothing but their coming out to face him. Hercules had divided his people into two battalions, leading the first himself. After Hercules saw the Libyans advancing, making the greatest clamor and uproar in the world, he went out before his company. The trumpets sounded and tabors made great noise, the cry was loud. They began the battle, where Hercules and Antaeus made the initial assault with a swift charge. They struck each other sharply with their sharp swords, and Antaeon's shield was pierced by the iron of Hercules' shield, and his arms on his right side were wounded, leaving a gushing wound. Antaeon thought he was going to die from sorrow. He felt the stroke and saw that his glove had little effect on Hercules. He took out his sword, and Hercules did the same. They struck each other so hard that Antaeus was thrown to the earth with one blow, on the verge of death. The Libyans, who had surrounded Hercules on all sides, delivered such a great assault that he could not attend to any one foe. Then Hercules employed his sword against the Libyans. The Egyptians rallied around their enemy. Antaeus relieved himself, ashamed of his fall. He applied all his power and strength to avenge himself, not against Hercules but against his own party. Thus Antaeus fought on one side, and Hercules on the other. Antaeus fought with great fury and anger. Hercules, however, fought with such prowess that the Libyans fled from him as if he were death itself. Where they saw him, they trembled in great fear. At this battle, the sword of Hercules shone brightly. Hercules killed all the Libyans. Then the great rout of the Libyans were greatly afraid and kept none away. He struck off heads and laid them down on the earth. His people, who were dispersed by Antheon, he gathered together again. He wrought such havoc that the Libyans had the worse, and Antheon sent hastily to the king of Cotyle that he should come to his aid.\n\nThe king of Cotyle, on receiving Antheon's message, intended to come to the fray. But when After and Theseus saw him moving, they went against him. They let him pass and began the battle so great and so mortal that Theseus and After killed the king of Cotyle, beat down his banners, his recognition signs, and his Cotylians. They struck so hard on their bodies that they retreated and were compelled to cry out for help. The king of Getulia, seeing this evil turn of events, came to their rescue and found the Cotylians all disheartened. At his coming, the cries, the noise, the tempest, and the blows began to subside. Many valor and prowess were displayed there. They showed their virtue and strength, and many were slain there. Theseus performed marvels. However, the Getulians held them together and fought against Theseus for three hours. Few of their people escaped until Hercules brought them to the point of defeat in the battle of King Antheus. He made them flee, saving himself with the Getulians. After seeing the defeat and breakdown of King Antheus' battle, they could not lift their arms to defend themselves but were killed a little at a time. Finally, they were brought to such strait measures and bounds that they did not know where to save themselves. Then they fled from the place. Spurred on by the fields and camps. Without leaders, conductors, or captains. Hercules went before them among the first to flee of the Libyans, reaching the city gate. And there he began to fight so fiercely that he killed the Libyans flying there and the porters and those who resisted him. Also, he made the Egyptians enter the town. Antheon, seeing fortune against him in every way, fled not to his palaces but into the fields, accompanied only by four moors. By this means, Hercules and the Egyptians entered Lybia and subdued it by the force of arms. Antheon was driven into Mauritania. There he assembled new people hastily. The people of Lybia put them all in the mercy of Hercules. When Hercules had thus subdued Lybia, Ander became king and named it after himself, calling it Mauretania. He said that he did not fight for his own profit and covetousness but for liberalism and to promote virtue. O most valiant and noble Hercules. There was never a man born among the painites more generous, more noble, or more virtuous. He would not be king of the entire world. He was generous and effectively managed his conquests. He also gave his gifts willingly. After becoming king, he inquired about their laws and established among them the sacrament of marriage. At that time, women were common, and when it happened that women had children, they gave them to the men according to their physical appearances. Aristotle relates this in his Politics. Hercules ordained that the Africans should hold Greek laws. He made them live reasonably and virtuously through measured and right conduct. Above all other things, he made them observe the order of marriage with great reverence. When Hercules had ordained all this, news reached him that Antheon had returned to chase him with many Morians who followed him. He then returned to Antheon and to the Morians, and there he struck them down so mortally with his club that it became red with their blood and slew them. Hercules brutally drove them all away, leaving Antaeus alone to face him. They fought fiercely, body to body, with great strength, and Antaeus gave Hercules numerous hard blows. But Hercules retaliated with such force and volume that Antaeus could not defend himself. He attempted to flee, but Hercules, running swiftly like a horse, caught up to him. Hercules embraced him with all his might, lifted him up into the air, and carried him to the eastern part of the Mediterranean. When he approached the Mauretanians, he contemptuously threw Antaeus down to the earth, leaving him severely bruised and chilled. Antaeus died there. His death brought such great shame to the Moors that they lost all their strength and power, and were slaughtered in great numbers. They lost their king Antaeus, the king of Moritane, the king of Tingis, and many other kings, as well as the honor of the battle. In the end, they fled, and the city was taken and subjugated to the lordship of Africa. Mauritanie:\n\nIn remembrance of this victory, Hercules made a statue or image of a man sleeping in the place where he had put Antheon to death. And beneath it, he buried Antheon's body. As soon as the image, made from the ivory of an elephant, was set up there, the neck of the image began to weep, as if it were a sleeping man. Therefore, the Moors showed great reverence and worshiped the idol. After this statue was accomplished by Hercules, he went on to conquer Tingis and Ampliscae, and all the country now called Africa. He gave it all to his brother, Afrer, and returned to Libya. There he found Eches his wife dead from a grievous sickness. He took her body and mourned so greatly that it was marveled at. Then, to forget his sorrow, he took leave of King Afrer and the Egyptians. But as he was taking leave, a damsel strangely attired came to him and said, \"Lord of...\" Libya conquered the said countries in taking revenge for the misfortune of their husbands, now deceased. And abandoned their country due to the great outrage inflicted by the king of Egypt in Fifee. And since you are of the lineage of the Egyptians, they send this message to you, requesting your submission to their obedience, to do with you as they please, or else to engage them in battle, or else to avoid shedding blood, which they have previously informed you about. They have good right to subjugate you, and if among you there are two knights who will do battle with two of them, they will deliver to you two ladies in a suitable place by condition, that if the ladies overcome you, you will be considered vanquished and subject to their command. And if your men overcome the ladies, they will be reputed as overcome and will be subjects to you.\n\nHercules, upon hearing this mandate and message from the ladies, answered the messenger, A damsel, who is one of the ladies of Fithia, has conquered the great realms of Egypt, Capadocia, and Asia. They are hesitant, but they will not avoid the shedding of blood and defending the Africans from their servitude. You should return to them and tell them that the battle between the two knights against two ladies is agreed upon and will take place tomorrow, under the condition you have stated. Then Hercules and many others swore and promised to uphold these matters, and they showed great honor and reverence to the damsel.\n\nThe damsel, having delivered her message as instructed, returned to the ladies, who were deeply engaged in Africa, and told them word for word the answer of Hercules. The eldest or mistress of all these ladies was named Synope. She had two sisters, both expert and strong in arms, whom no knight in the world feared. One was named Menealipe, and the other Ipolite. As soon as these ladies received these tidings, The Africans rejoiced and believed that Africa had been won by the strength of Hippolytus and Menalippe, who performed marvels in battle. They ordered that they should fight against the two knights. Ready accordingly, Hippolytus and Menalipes were on the fields in the morning.\n\nAt the hour that was appointed, Hercules and Theseus, sitting on two strong horses, rode into the place where the ladies had chosen to fight. The two damsels were there, waiting in a fair place, well mounted on good horses. And by them were many ladies. As soon as Hercules and Theseus had seen the two damsels, they made those who followed them stand back and come no near. They sent word to the damsels to know what they would do. The damsels answered that they would face the two knights and were ready to do battle against them under the conditions of their quarrel. And if they came, they would come forth.\n\nHercules and Theseus... Theseus took their spears and mounted his horse, making a sign to the damsels. They donned shields and charged back at them so fiercely that it seemed they held neither heaven nor earth. The strikes of their sharp spears were immense and great on both sides, causing Polydeuces and Theseus to fall to the earth. Likewise, Menalippe and Hercules did the same. The Africans marveled greatly at the sight of the two princes being brought down. Yet, the ladies of Sythia marveled even more at the damsels.\n\nWhen the knights of one side and the damsels of the other found themselves lying on the ground, shame and embarrassment struck their hearts. Nevertheless, each one relieved themselves lightly and, with great courage, took up their swords. Approaching each other, they charged and struck so rapidly that the arms of the ladies and knights felt the blows. Polydeuce watched her man Theseus. Menalype clung to Hercules. The strokes of Ypolite were great and caused great grief to Theseus. Theseus tried to avenge himself but could not come to his purpose. Hercules easily overcame Menalype with his sword and showed mercy, but Ypolite maintained her strength so fiercely against Theseus that she prevented him from speaking or had Hercules not intervened.\n\nBrother, what is this? Where is the prowess of Theseus? Will that be daunted by the chivalry of a damsel? If so, certainly all men will have shame for your dishonor.\n\nThese words quieted and awakened the sleeping anger in Theseus, kindling his courage anew. He regained his strength and put himself forth, striking with such prowess that the damsel recanted and surrendered her sword. Overpowering her, the ladies were deeply saddened and grieved, especially the queen. SiNOPHE, having been vanquished by Hercules, sent him her arms as a sign of surrender, praying that he would give back the two damsels and make peace with Menalippe for the Africans. By condition, she agreed to give Ipolyte in marriage to Theseus, whom Ipolyte admired. So, the wedding was held in Africa with great honor and worship. The ladies, hearing of Hercules' marvelous deeds and feats, prayed to him and were happy and eager to be vanquished by him.\n\nAfter the conquest of these ladies, Theseus took leave of Hercules and Afers and returned to his country to bring his lady home. Hercules went to the sea to go to Caledonia, which lies opposite Achaea and Arcadia, to see a fair lady, highly recommended by a Caledonian who was in his company. He did so much by sea and by land that he arrived there. The king of Calcedony named his sons Oeneus and had two daughters, one named Deianira and the other Gorge. Deianira was the fairest. It was she whom Hercules came to see. When Oeneus learned that Hercules had entered his country, he was filled with great joy and went out to meet him, receiving him honorably as was possible. Upon Hercules' entry into his palaces, the queen and his two daughters, Gorge and Deianira, welcomed him. Hercules, upon casting his eyes upon Deianira, who was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, was deeply enchanted and infatuated, and this desire entered into his heart suddenly, like the rays of the sun passing through glass.\n\nDeianira was so beautiful and accomplished, and so renowned among the ladies, that to her could be made a comparison. no comparison/ not only in beauty/ but with that in wisdom and bounty. She was the most precious treasure of Calcedonye/ and there came many ladies and damosels and other/ his neighbors were all enamored of her/ and sovereignly the king Achelous, who was strong and powerful/ This king had great seigniory and marched on the realm of Calcedonye/ when Hercules had been there a space in passing the time joyously and in beholding the conduct of Deianira/ it happened on a day that the messenger of King Achelous came to Oeneus and said to him/ that Achelous demanded of him if he would give him his daughter/ and if he would not give her to him at this time/ he would molest and grieve his country & would make war/ Of this mandate Oeneus was strongly troubled and answered the messenger that on the morrow he would give him an answer/ All that day Oeneus was pensyf and simple and abode alone/ and to pass his melancholy he came to Hercules/ when Hercules saw him so pensyf/ he conjured him. A neighboring king named Achelous, great and proud, has repeatedly requested that I give my daughter Deianira to him for marriage. I have not been willing to comply, as I know him to be a man of evil life. Consequently, I have received many threats from him. His messenger has come to me once again today and has warned me that if I do not give him my daughter at this time, he will declare war against me. Hercules, if you notice me looking thoughtful, it is due to this matter. I have not yet given him my answer, but I must do so tomorrow. However, I have decided within myself that I will not give my daughter to him, and when I realize that the refusal of my daughter will inevitably lead to war. Between King Achelous and me I know well that I am displeased, for war is the eternal exile and destruction of the country/perdition and waste of the people and of goods [etc].\nSir Hercules said it is fate for a man to take and bear all that fortune wills. As you say, war is not an encouragement of people but a diminishment always, it is expedient that a man rejoice in his right. Right comforts the courage of a man. And also the courage of a man, comforted, brings him often to glorious victory. A best rural, disgraced man of reasonable engineering, fights for his life and nest with his claws, with his feet, teeth, and with his back. What shall a man, sensible and endowed with understanding and reason, do if any assault, especially in his own land and territory, comes? Nature itself wills and signifies that where corporal force fails, the vigor and virtue of courage work, and they fight for their country. Take courage then in you, and late say yours. entente (to your enemies). You have received me respectfully, and in receiving this news, I will help you if it is needed. If the jealous one attacks you, he will repent.\n\nBy these words, King Oeneus was greatly comforted. The day passed. On the morning, Oeneus called the messenger of Achelous and said to him, \"Come no more to demand my daughter, and I forbid you to take her to your master. Furthermore, if you make war against me because of this cause, I have the intention to defend myself unto the death of the last man of all my people.\" The messenger returned with these words and told them to Achelous and all that he found. Achelous was ill-pleased with King Oeneus, and as one who was excessively struck by the love of Deianira. He began to assemble his men of arms in the intention to make war on King Oeneus. Hercules was then in Calydon and often was with Deianira in gracious acts. He found her well. Addressing you in all honesty, many a man would attest that I was the most part with her. All day I was with her, and in the night I did not but dream and think of her. I said nothing to her that stirred my amorous desires, first desiring to show her my power in arms. It happened on a day that I opened a window that was in the garden of Deianira. Casting my eyes down, I saw Deianira sitting on a green place, accompanied by many ladies and damsels. Then I set all my intention to contemplate her excessive beauty. After desiring her, in courting and desiring, I said, \"O Deianira, who have not the prerogative to know the hearts and thoughts of men, if I should tell you the tenth part of the love and desires I have for you, you might not believe it. I have gone many a contest and seen many a kingdom. I have desired many a treasure and many a thing. But of all things, I have never been in such great thought as I am to obtain your grace.\" The same our that Hercules. Spack by herself, Deyanira was not yielding. She, who had Hercules in her mind and remembrance in her heart rather than being rich with the points of love sown between variations of hope and despair, was inspired in all her ways with the heat of a fire that burns ardent hearts. The fire was strong and hard to quench, the spark and began to say in her mind, \"Alas, Hercules, what shall Deianira do? She may not come and attain your love. I was not long since not day not seen men. And then she said, 'No prince or king should have my love. Now I am all of another nature, and I desire nothing but that I might be your wife. I had supposed to remain and continue a stable virgin, and only disdainful of the men against their requests and amorous advances of the ladies. These are now well other tidings.' With these words she ceased a little and began to think on many other things. At this point, as she thought on Hercules, Hercules himself came with the tidings. The god Achelous came to the city by land and sea, and was near at hand for these reasons, causing great murmur among the courtesans of Ceres and Hercules, and Demeter and Hercules were deeply distressed in such a way that Hercules left to attend to Demeter, and the maiden was left to ponder Hercules. Both went to King Oeneus.\n\nWhen Hercules arrived before the king and the king saw him, he went against him and said to him that his enemies were near the city. Hercules replied joyfully that it was fitting to go and meet them. And he ordered his people to arm. At Hercules' answer, the king did the same, and Calydonian was made ready, and each man was addressed. Hercules and his Greeks were ready in a little while. The Calydonians assembled in great numbers in the palace. When they were assembled, the king and Hercules brought them out to the field, and Hercules put them in order. doon he died they marched and so expelled the Caledonians and Greeks, finding them after dinner, and approaching so near that there was nothing to do but to strike and engage. Hercules made two battles: one with his people, and the other with the Caledonians, when they came to the point of meeting. Hercules went to the Caledonians and in the presence of the king said to them: \"Behold, here you may see your enemies who set little by you, for they have come into your lordship to assault you. I pray you that the great outrage of them abate, neither let your courage be diminished. You ought here to have the first of a lion, the power of an elephant, and the gentleness of a griffin, to deliver you without end from the enmity of King Achelous. In keeping your country. your domain. your honor. your treasures. your wives. your children, and that more is your lives. Be you not envious to do well. Be you not agitated with a desire for vengeance. Be you not covetous to get worship.\" And glory if you do not assert yourself at this time, you may not have but misery or servitude or death, for your enemies will do all the evil in the world to you if they have victory over you. These words filled the hearts of the Caledonians and gave them courage marvelously. All full of one right good will, they desired the medley. When Hercules had achieved his exortation, he went to the battle, for it was at the point to fight. Then there were great cries on one side and on the other. Tabors, trumpets, clarions, horns, and buskins began to sound. Knights began to move at the beginning of the battle. Hercules and the Greeks shot and drew heavily upon their enemies. Achelous was made abashed because he had not hoped to find such great resistance with the Caledonians. Then they cast their eyes upon the banner of Hercules, and seeing the great lion that was painted there, they began to imagine that there might be a Hercules of whom was spoken throughout the land. When they were imagining the shot, it failed with great occasion for the party of Achelous. When the shot failed, Hercules took his sword and charged among the Achaeans in the first front of the battle of Achelus. He made a huge hole, and the Calcedonians and Ionians rushed upon them at the first joining, and ordered them to retreat. Achelous was filled with great sorrow, and he took twenty knights whom he had chosen and came and routed the Achaean army. There he displayed his amorous, strong giant, and his chivalry so valiantly that the Greeks hesitated and remained. And Hercules did the same. For they plunged their swords into the earth and the ground with their blood. And there was such a struggle that men could see nothing else but heads and arms fleeing into the field. Hercules struck no blow but it cost Achelous the life of a man. Achelus, in turn, wyse strokes struck down one of his enemies. The remainder of their people did the best they could before us. And yet they could never overcome and disconcert their adversaries, for they were always four against one and pressed upon the adversaries. And they had always fresh people and new. In this manner, the two powers fought against each other for more than four hours. Love wrought sorely there in Hercules and Achelous. Both made their swords flourish, covered with blood. They met often and struck each other, but Achelous never dared to face the sword of Hercules because of the terrible strokes he saw Hercules give. But he put himself in the press as soon as he had struck him or wounded him.\n\nIn this battle, Hercules performed wonders and marvels. Oneus took great pleasure in watching him. And then there was discord among them, for those who saw him were no more assured of escaping death than he who felt the sword in his neck in the hand of a stranger. King Oeneus and his Caledonians arrived at the battlefield. In his approach, the Achaeans suffered heavy losses on both sides. King Oeneus killed many of his enemies. Hercules displayed his prowess more and more. By his valiant actions, he put all the Thebans out of formation and drove them into flight. The loss of the field turned greatly against King Achilles. For Hercules chased him relentlessly into his ship and made him lose twelve thousand Achaeans.\n\nAfter this victory, when Hercules saw that King Achilles had saved himself by the sea, he called the king and said to him that he would pursue his enemy and avenge the world of him. He took two hundred of his chosen men and took leave of King Oeneus, then went to the sea, following after Achilles, urging him to engage in battle with Gorgon and Deianira. This night, Oeneus returned to Calcedony and told his wife and daughters of Hercules' great deeds in battle, how he had driven out his enemies, and how he went on with two hundred men. The ladies Gorge and Deyanira rejoiced at the victory, but they were displeased that Hercules, with so small a company, pursued Achelous. Above all, Deyanira was greatly displeased and grieved by Hercules' triumph to the point that she went into her chamber and wept, unable to find joy in her heart. Hercules entered his kingdom and saw him so near that he was compelled to withdraw him to a strong castle by the sea. Hercules besieged Achelous in this castle. When Achelous saw that Hercules pursued him with so small a company, only two hundred men, he called upon his friends and confidants. Among other things, he told them it was shameful for them to allow themselves to be besieged with such a small force. A little group of people answered that he had spoken the truth and concluded that they would issue out and raise and break the siege. With short counsel, they swore to arms. It was not long after that they issued out of the castle. Hercules saw them and knew that they came to battle. He set his men in array. Afterward, he went alone before his enemies, doubtting of nothing. When Achelous saw him come, he began to make a great sigh and cried out to his people, saying that it was he with the club who had chased him out of Calydon. He promised great rewards to those who best furnished him with strokes. But when his men knew that it was Hercules, they made courtesies to each other, forgoing their places, and trembling like leaves on a tree, they dared not abide the weight of the club but without striking a blow turned their backs and fled to the castle. Achelous, seeing the poor conduct of his men and their fear, Hercules feared that they had underestimated Deianira. He thought Hercules himself might have perished from her sorrow. They entered the castle with her. Hercules laughed at the pitiful sight of his enemies. Hercules then began to consider Deianera. Achelous began to devise ways to harm the Caledonians. One of his captains said to him, \"Sir, you know well that your strength cannot compare to that of your enemies. We are ten against one, but that will not help us. The mighty giant's club alone with them is enough to bury us all and destroy your kingdom. Consider, since open power and plain discovered strength cannot be used at this time. It is expedient to imagine some subtlety to harm the Caledonians. I, your advisor, will make a great flaming light appear in the sea, which I will well contrive, by which means those who have besieged us may be deceived. This flaming light must be by night, and it shall be great and intense. We shall make it secretly as soon as our enemies see it. They shall go to the sea to see that marvel, probably without any arms, for they fear us not. Then we shall spring on them and find them disgraced and unarmed of their arms. Consequently, it may reveal that we shall make a notable deliverance.\n\nWhen Achelous heard this counsel, it seemed good to him, and he wanted it to be put into effect in the way he had devised. The deserter made a hundred torches. Which were achieved in five days. During these five days, Hercules assaulted the castle many times where Achelous was, but he could do nothing about it, for the castle stood on the sea and in a strong position. Achelous could have no help from any side, for between this castle and Achaea was a great country. when the fifteen days had passed and the torches were made on a night when it was peaceful of wind and of storm, they that conducted the torches went out of the castle four of them to the haven where only one little boat remained, which was grounded. And if you ask where the ships were that Achelous had brought to this port, I say that Hercules had taken them and sent them to the sea to prevent Achelous from escaping or taking away the ships by night. The Achaeans then came to this little boat lying on the ground. They did so much that they brought it a float on the sea also secretly as they could. And they entered therein with all that was necessary. And King Achelous put himself in a hiding place with a thousand of his men Near where it seemed to him that the Calydonians would go out to see the light that was to be made. Then, when those in the sand had set themselves around about it. The knights on the eastern watchtower of Hercules saw where many holes were made, just as they had imagined, and did so. The sight and clarity of the torches amazed them, awakening Hercules and his companions. When Hercules saw the resplendent torches, he knew what it was and approached the river's edge with his companions. He had not been there long when King Achelous lit a hundred torches and emerged from his hiding place with a thousand men, charging Hercules and his men fiercely. But when Hercules discovered this, he arranged his people in the best order he could by the light of the stars and received his enemies willingly. A fierce battle ensued, for one struck the other right in the face, and there were many wounds and deaths. The scene was gruesome. Achelous thought,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Old English or a similar dialect, but it is still largely readable. No major corrections were necessary.) To Escamousse / but he was escarmoushed himself to the fusion of his blood / for Hercules among all others struck him on the helmet / that he found and gave him a wound on his head, causing the blood to rush out / and moreover took him. And he delivered him to twelve of his men to keep / there were great cries and great tumult of sword strokes / The torches were quenched and put out by the intense heat of the fighting against the Achaeans, who strongly desired to rescue their king / they abandoned their lives in the heat / But when their torches were quenched little and a little, they began to cool them and withdraw them, for they saw not a drop / when they were withdrawn, Hercules assembled his people and said to them that he would try if he could take the castle in this turmoil / And that they should follow him hard and fiercely / and immediately after he saw his enemies returning to the castle / he ran after and retained them / And put himself in the thickest of them. In this battle and in the battle that had taken place in Caledony, all the men of Achaea were slain. Reserved were about four hundred who saved themselves by fleeing. For Achelous had taken all his men with him. His court and city of Patrace were completely destroyed. After he had taken the castle, Hercules entered the country and the city of Patrace, facing no resistance. He translated this realm into the hands of King Oeneus. Hercules did not stay long after subduing this realm but he departed and returned to Caledome as hastily as he could to see Deianira. glory. I joy and triumph that no man can recall or write. The poets describe and write this conquest that Hercules made against Achelous, feigning that Achelous fought first in the guise of a man. And that then he was vanquished, After he changed himself in the guise of a serpent, This is to understand in subtlety and in malice, as he did in assaulting Hercules by night. Finally, he fought in the guise of a bull, And Hercules broke his own horn, That is to understand that at last Achelous was fierce as a bull, For he died well-nigh for pride and sorrow that he was taken, And that Hercules broke his horn, That is to understand that he broke his realm and destroyed it.\n\nGreat was the feast then that King Oeneus made for the victories that Hercules had achieved against King Achelous. Doubted he was passing sore, Hercules at his coming presented to him Achelous and his realm and said to him that he should have it without any refuse. King Oeneus sent King Achelus into exile. He held her in great bondage and gratitude towards Hercules, whom he honored marvelously. In the same way, Hercules took her to heart again the amorous glances. And similarly, Deianira. She had sovereign joy to see Hercules, and desired nothing else but to see him. What shall I make a long process about? When Hercules had stayed there for a while, he asked King Oeneus to give him his daughter in marriage. Oeneus, with good will, agreed and consented to him. And Deianira consented with greater willingness. The wedding was solemnized pompously and grandly. They went to bed and lay together. And soon after, when Hercules saw that his father-in-law's realm was in peace, he took leave of King Oeneus and departed from Calydon with Deianira and his people, to go by land to his kingdom of Icaria. Hercules always had Deianira with him on his journey. He loved her deeply and found great solace in her beauty. If he had not been restrained by Atlas, he could not have kept himself from looking at her. Hercules reached a quarter where the River of Hebenus flows, and arrived at this deep and rapidly running river. He had neither bridge nor plank to cross over, but there was a centaur named Nessus who lived there with a little boat. When Hercules found this passage, he approached Nessus and asked him how he and his people could cross the river. Nessus, who knew Hercules since the time he had vanquished his lawless brothers at the wedding of Pyrohus, answered him that he could not cross the river except by his little boat. If Hercules wanted to cross, Nessus would willingly set him over. Hercules thanked Nessus. Seeing that the boat was small and that the time was favorable for rain, he decided to cross. Her damselss passed first / Deianira and her maidens entered the boat / when they were in it / Nessus rowed. In the rowing, he beheld Deianira and saw her beauty, which deceived him. As soon as he had come over to that other side, he said she should be his wife. Then, in the tumult, he took her on his shoulders and carried her away. Deianira and her damselss made great cries. Hercules, seeing that the old god bore away Deianira, whom he intended to resist with his power, bent his bow and shot an arrow at the god with great might and skill. It struck him on the right side into the heart. Hercules' bow was so great and strong that no man could bend it but himself. However, Nessus, by the wound that Hercules gave him, began to feel the approaching death and suffered sharp anguish. He ran a great while after to a valley, where he overthrew himself. Considering that his end was near. Life had no regrets / he devoted the end of his life to imagining how he might displease Hercules, and remembered\nthat he had terrible poisons prepared for him and mortal ones. He said to Deianira with great malice, Lady, the love of you has caused me to receive death, which does not displease me as much as does that cruel Hercules will rejoice in you, who are worthy to have a worthy husband. Hercules is no true husband, but the untruest to his wife who ever was. And since I have singular pity for you, and your beauty constrains me to do you pleasure, I will give you here a precious thing, and having such virtue that if you boil it with one of Hercules' shirts with the blood that flows out of my wound, and if then you give the shirt to Hercules and he is hit, he shall never after love another woman or lady but you.\n\nAnd with these words, the giant took the poison and tempered it with his blood and wrapped it in a linen cloth and gave it to Deianira. The foolish Deyanira gave credence to the giant who took the poison. The giant warned her that no man should touch it, saying that he would lose his potency after being touched. And with that, he gave up his ghost and died pitifully. Deyanira escaped from his hands, intending to keep the poison secretly for her own use if needed. In the meantime, these events transpired between Deyanira and the giant, and Hercules was uneasy about Deyanira. He was greatly distressed when he saw Nessus carrying his wife away. As soon as he had struck him on the right side with his arrow, as is said, he unclothed and deprived himself of his garments and armor. With great strength, he swam across the water. After he reached the other side, he began to don his armor again. Deyanira, accompanied by her damsels, approached the river, garbed in the cursed poison, when Hercules saw her. deyanira retorne / he ymagyned anone that he had slayn the geant / And wente ayenst her and demanded where the traytre was / Deyanira answerd not at the fyrst to thys demande / but sayd to hym / Alas my lord in what parill haue I ben. what oppression what destruc\u00a6cion of Ioye hath destrayned myn herte / The traches of myn armes where yet is seen the prynte of the handes of the geant shewe in what displaisir I haue been. The cur\u00a6sed glouton geant bare me vnto the depthe of a depe va\u2223leye. where the deth procedyng of the strook of your arowe made hym to falle doun. And he wold neuer late me goo vnto the laste syghe of deth. Certes I haue suffrid a grete Ieoparde / but thankyng be to the goddes / syn I haue found yow agayn. And knowe ye veryly that I am auenged of myn enemye. whom I haue seen depe miserably / wherof I am all reioyed & glad agayn:.\nDeyanira & hercules kyssid eche other by right grete loue / After hercules wente in to the place where the geant laye ded. and for as moche as he fond hym priued of his If this text is from the 15th century, it appears to be written in Middle English. I will translate it into Modern English while maintaining the original content as much as possible.\n\nlyf he let him lie there among the bestes and the birds and took his arrow that lay by him. This was the arrow that Achilles was slain with, after in the temple of Apollo in Troy, for the love of Polyxena. Then Hercules and Deianira came again to the river. Hercules set over his men and went from that place into the city of Lerna. The king of this city did great honor to Hercules and received him honorably as he could. Among various gods, Hercules demanded news from him. The king answered and said that he knew none other but that in a great palace there dwelt and abode a monster half man and half serpent, who wasted and destroyed all his realm by common murder. For he said that all the men, women, and children that this monster could find, he slew with his tail, which is envenomed, and with his hand armed. He devoured and destroyed them with his teeth. And there escaped none. So it behooves that this land be deserted. For laborers and merchants dare not. Hercules was passing glad and joyous of these tidings and said to the king, \"Sir, I have labored hitherto for the common weal of many realms, yet I have the will to persevere and to do the works of virtue. Since I am here arrived, I shall do something for the welfare of this country, as I have done for many others. I have intention to put myself in devotion to morrow on the way to the monster and to await him for vanquishing him or being vanquished by him.\" This monster was called Idmon, as he dwelt in the waters. When Deyanira heard then of Hercules' intention to go alone and abandon himself in such great peril, she began to weep and make such great sorrow that no man might peace her or make her stop weeping. Hercules comforted her the best way he could. Athlas and Philotes comforted her in the same way. They showed her the right and glorious deeds of Hercules to give her hope in his adventure. All who could not help or hinder, she loved Hercules with all her heart, might, and power. She begged him with her eyes filled with tears that he would abstain from such a dangerous enterprise. She thought it was unwise for a man to expose himself to such evident and terrible dangers. She believed that the gods had sent the monster to the country to correct and chastise the people. Yet Hercules was deeply in love with her, but her tears, prayers, and remonstrances could not make him change his purpose to achieve his adventure. But on the morning early, he prepared himself and departed from Lerne, taking his way toward the Palus where the monster was:\n\nThis Palus was long and three miles in compass, as the chronicles of Spain record. And all surrounded by fontaines that sprang out of the water. hyhe mon\u2223taygnes / In myddis of this palus was a grete lake or ponde / wherin dwellyd the ydre on drye lande / whan than hercules was come to this palus / The ydre \u00fet neuer slepte wyth bothe eyen and that had alewey the nekke stracchid on hihe & the eeres open. had anone aspied hym and sodainl\nand had grete playsir to see hym / he was ten foote of heyghte / and as longe a taylle / he was fowle & couerd with heer / he had the body armed / & in his right hande helde a naked glayue / and in the lyfte hand he bare a shelde / hercules thus beholdyng hym suffryd hym to come to hym. Than the monstre spack to hym and sayd Poure geant whyder goste thou / behold this glayue sharp on bothe sydes cuttyng / yet was ther neuer man that herde me speke / but he dyed by the poynt of thys glayue / ffor as moche as I am the moste wyse creature that euer nature maad / and that I am acustomed to make a questyon to suche men as I fynde / and them des\u00a6troye yf they can not answer therto. and for as moche as I ne fynde in my royame / But people as beasts, and without understanding, I have therefore destroyed their blood, and I shall do the same to you, if you say Hercules, your eloquence, your prudence, your cruel glove, and your infinite homicides make me nothing abashed or discouraged. I seek you and have come here to destroy you. And I shall not only condemn one of your sophisms, but as many as you can think of. And know that if by the force of your sophisms and fallacious arguments you make me innocent, I shall do to them as you would do to me. And if it happens that your science cannot overcome me, I still want you to defend them with arms and keep your life as well as you can.\n\nWith these words, the monster presented seven sophisms to Hercules, one after another, so fallacious and subtle that when Hercules had given a solution to one, the monster replied with seven arguments. Hercules, who was full of philosophy and expert in all sciences, answered so. Simply outputting the cleaned text:\n\nHercules spoke solemnly to all his fallacious arguments. And for this reason, the poets claim that this head had seven heads, as it appears in the first tragedy of Seneca. They say that when Hercules had struck off one of his heads, seven other heads came back in the same place. In the end, when Hercules had so defeated the serpent that it yielded to him in such a way that he did not know what to say, Hercules said to it: \"Serpent, inhuman, we have fought long enough with your tongue. Take your life. I can no longer withhold my hand from striking you. Try if you are as subtle in arms as you are in language.\" The foolish serpent, full of pride, replied, \"Do you not know that by my serpentine part I have infected all this blood and will devour your body? Therefore make good your wounds and keep the well:\"\n\nWith no more words, Hercules enchanted his sword to strike his adversary. But he could not. Not too sore hesitant was he, but the serpent gave him first two strokes with his venom and the other with his tail. With these, he had almost struck him down to the ground. Hercules always stood there, and with the sword he had enhanced, he struck the monster on the helmet with such strength that he frightened the helmet and made a wound in his head. In response to this blow, the serpent, filled with fury, struck Hercules a second time with his venom with great might. The sparks and fire flew out. Hercules, who had never before received such a great blow, cried out for revenge and struck him righteously. Their strokes were great and mortal; they struck each other long and hard, and they were both of great courage. But when fortune had favored them both, she turned against the serpent so certainly that after many strokes, Hercules plunged his sharp sword into the helmet into his head and defeated him. Hercules rejoiced when he saw the monster subdued. He went to fetch King Learnes, Deyanira, and his people, bringing them to see the monster. After showing them the monster, he made a great fire and lit it, offering sacrifices to the gods. By the fire, he consumed the monster's remains. Therefore, they gave him great and heartfelt thanks and rejoicing. He was brought into the city of Lerne with great glory, accompanied by ladies and damsels who conveyed him to the king's palaces, singing melodiously. Deyanira rejoiced greatly in her husband's triumphant victory. After staying there for a while, Hercules departed and went to Athens, where Theseus welcomed him with glory. Hercules and Atlas taught in Athens because the Athenians were quick in engineering and wit, and they gave them all to learn. There they stayed for a long time, introducing and informing them about Athens in philosophy and other sciences. In astronomy, Hercules excelled to such an extent that students referred to him as the one who held up the heavens on his shoulders. This noble and virtuous man, after studying for a long time and enlightening the Athenians with his teachings, departed from there with great farewells and brought his wife to the city of Lycia. His renown was so great that from all the realms of Greece, noblemen and others came daily to him to profit in virtue, nobility, honor, arms, philosophy, and astronomy, among other things.\n\nDuring the time that Hercules flourished in virtue and his name spread from realm to realm through glorious renown, as the chronicles of Spain recount, there was a king in the city of Megara, which stands on the river Gadhian. This tyrant began to make his name notorious through many wicked deeds and tyranny, and no one could tell the third part. This tyrant was named Gerion. He was a king. Andolosy and Destremadure, of the Galician mountains and Portyngale. The poetes feign this tyrant to have three heads; for he had two great giants as brothers, all of one nature and complexion. They were so united that one would not disagree with the other, and they were never in discord. Geryon was the worst of them all; he built a temple in the city of Megida and ordained that all who were not noble should have his image and burial. He ordered that men should make there the remembrances of all men of note whom he would slay, so that there should be a memory of them in coming times. What shall I say of his deeds? He and his brothers tyrannized not only over strangers but also over their neighbors. They showed pity on no one, earning them an evil name. The Africans, whom they persecuted more than any other, went to Hercules for help. the comandement of affer / as to the souerayn destroyar of tyrantes and of monstres / And prayde & requyred hym gretly / that he wolde de\u2223lyuere hem of this trybulacion.\nWHan hercules vnderstood the complaynte of the affricans / and was aduertysed of the ty\u2223rannyes that geryon and his brethern made / he enterprysed for to go in esperye / and promysed to the affrycans that they shold haue right shortly tydynges of hym And after axed them of the astate of kynge affer / And whan they had told alle that they knewe they retorned wyht grete Ioye in to theyr contrey. Her\u00a6cules fro than forth on disposed hym for to goo in to esperye wherfore his wif deyanira made grete sorowe The renomee of this vyage was anone spredde in alle the contre. In shorte tyme ther cam moo men of armes in to lycye for to serue hercules than he sente fore / he was so good large and wyse. And also so vayllyant and\nso free that he gaf allway all his conquestes / wherfore euery man wold folowe hym And good cause why / ffor no man folowed hym ne Seruy him, but he rewarded and amended him in every high manner and fashion. When his exercise was ready, he took leave of his wife Deyanira and departed from the kingdom of Lycia. Many a tear was made at his departing, as well from Deyanira as from his esquires who had learned from him. Theseus and Hippolyta were with him. During this voyage, he often traveled with Athlas and was never idle, without any adventure that ought to be remembered. He arrived in Africa and was received worshipfully by the Africans. From Africa, Hercules passed by the Strait of Gibraltar and went into Gades. That is now called Gaul, and he peopleed the country. Since he found good land there and delivered this people to govern unto a nobleman named Philistines, this Philistines, as Boccaccio recounts in the genealogy of the gods, was the son of Phenice's king Phenice, and Phenice was the son of Belus's son Belus, Philistines then reigned in Gaul and was afterward named the priest of Hercules, for as much as. When Hercules had vanquished the tyrants of Esperia, he found there a temple which he held in great reverence. He always populated and inhabited this land, and he did make pillars or columns high and marvelously great. He set them upon the sea, and on every pillar or column he made an image of hard stone in the semblance and likeness of a knight, like unto Hercules, all clad with the skin of a lion.\n\nOne of the images held a table on which was written with letters of gold: \"Pass no further to seek land or conquer any more realms in the west, for you shall find no more land there.\"\n\nThe noble Hercules then went into the country where now stands the City of Seville, which was not yet founded. And he discovered through his science that there should be founded a city of great renown. In memory of this, he erected in that place a pillar of hard stones, and upon it set an image holding in his hand an inscription that said: There should be made one of the greatest cities of the world / This land of Galys belonged to Gerion / But when Hercules had made this pillar above, said and set it where it now stands, he had great will to begin to build the City / for the country was passing good and commodious / But Atlas, by the science of Astronomy, counseled him contrary / showing him by certain signs that it was destined that another should make the City / And therefore near the pillar / he did make a column of white marble / upon which stood the image of Hercules great and rich / that held one hand against the Orient where the inscription was: \"Here has been Hercules / And with the other hand he showed the writing that. Another image held:\n\nThese things accomplished, Hercules departed from thence / And left to inhabit and keep the country eighty men of his, strong and expert in arms / And with good will abode there for the bounty of the country. Then went Hercules. Hercules reached the farthest edge of Europe, near the river Guadiana. There, Terantus Geryon dwelt in the city of Megida. At the same time, Hercules entered the river. Geryon climbed to the top of a high tower to survey the land and see if anyone approached whom he could oppress. He had not been there long when he saw Hercules' army on the river. Delighted, he thought he could quickly subdue and overcome them. Without further delay, he summoned his companions and swore to arms. In a little while, all his men were ready and armed, coming to him to know his intentions. Geryon then armed himself and, as hastily as possible, left Megida. Approaching the Greeks, he encountered a little boat. From as far as he saw it come, he went towards it and arrested it. In this boat were no more than two sailors and Hercules, who was called Hesperides or Herion by them. He asked them why they were going and what their business was. The knight replied, \"Sir, I am a Greek and have an appointment with King Gerion, who is now in his city of Macedonia, to accomplish a certain matter. If you seek Gerion, you need not go any further. I am he to whom you speak.\" Hercules answered Hesperides, \"Since you are he to whom my message pertains, I grant you knowledge and warning, in the name of the virtuous Hercules, who is your enemy of your vices and sins. Correct your great and abominable transgressions and sins.\" Messenger to Gerion, \"How is Hercules so presumptuous as to come upon me to correct my vices? He knows little with whom he has to deal.\" Go and tell him. He would not find me late, but it would be too soon for his health, and I would keep him in such a way until he escaped me, as I have been accustomed to do with strangers. Hesperides departed with these words and hurriedly returned to Hercules. He told Hercules word for word what Gerion had said to him, and added that he would meet him soon, fully prepared to begin the battle. When Hesperides had finished delivering his message, the galleys of King Gerion appeared and were seen from afar. Hercules and the Greeks had great joy and began a great shouting, sounding trumpets and tabors. Gerion and his people, seeing and hearing their enemies, seemingly began to shout and make a marvelous clamor. The air was then struck with a great and joyful noise. In this clamor and this noise, the two sides approached each other. At their approach, no arrows, darts, or stones were spared. The Greeks had an abundance of arrows. Dartes, which they threw and cast upon the Greeks, as if it had been rain / The cries redoubled on one side and on the other / there were many dead and injured. They were all men of war. Each man bore himself valiantly\nAnd among all others, Hercules, always bearing the bow in hand, slew as many of his enemies as he shot arrows. The arrows lasted long / When they failed, they fought hand to hand. The battle began fiercely and harshly / Gerion showed himself a man. Boisterous and well experienced in arms, he put many Greeks to death, but against one that he slew, Hercules slew ten of the experts.\nAt the joining of the galleys, there were many injuries and blows given / Hercules took his club. And in striking one of the galleys, which intended to harm and board his, he struck with such great force that it sank, and the water came in suddenly. The most part of those in that galley were drowned and perished without a stroke striking them. After this, Hercules came to an end. He wielded marvels of arms, striking down all whom he reached with his club. Some he killed, and others he broke legs and arms. It seemed thunder was with him, as he did so much that each man fled from him, and none could withstand or endure his presence.\n\nWhen he saw this, he went out to seek the great battles. He leapt from battle to battle. And he made such great occurrences that his people, by his good example, were filled with valor, courage, and power. The experienced ones were diminished and weakened, and they suffered so much damage that everything went against them.\n\nThen Hercules, seeing his enemies beginning to withdraw, also decided to retreat. But he did so near evenings and because he had enclosed the eyes of Gerion in such a way that they could not return to his city without him. Hercules, passing by, came upon the scene when the two gates had been drawn back. Geryon sailed into the sea in the darkest night and went to the city of Valeryte, where one of his brothers was king. He put Geryon in safekeeping there, intending to raise the largest army he could to confront Hercules. After the retreat, Hercules anchored his galleys on the River Gaudiana and passed through that night.\n\nThe following morning, when Hercules saw that Geryon and his people had fled and were not in sight, he rowed up to the city of Megida. He landed and fiercely assaulted the city. The Megidans defended themselves aggressively and sharply, but, demoralized by the absence of warriors, they could not hold out and opened the town to the Greeks, surrendering to them in the will of Hercules. Thus, Hercules became lord and master of the principal city that Geryon had ruled. He entered the city, and the Greeks followed him. The city was well fortified. They departed from Greece. They found nowhere such good fortune. Hercules stayed there for a while, searching for Gerion's place. During this time, he went to the temple to thank the gods. In this temple were many sepulchers adorned with wonderful histories. Among all others, there was one particularly rich one. For the memory of Gerion, it was made of fine gold and surrounded by thirty kings, whose heads were struck off. Hercules stayed at this sepulcher and asked the citizens who served it where the statues and images were so rich. A citizen told him that these were the sepulchers of the noblemen of their kingdom. Gerion had instituted this custom to make these sepulchers, to have remembrance of those who were valiant in arms. Furthermore, the same man said that as soon as a man put any nobleman to death in this country, then he made a remembrance of that deceased man on his sepulcher. For as long as King Geryon in his time had slain thirty kings, he had made this sepulcher intending to be buried here at the end of his days. When the Citizens had told Hercules this, he answered that he considered himself fortunate. He had escaped the sword of such a tyrant who had put so many kings to death. And made his Orpheus and prayers to the gods. After this, he returned to the palaces. And there came to him the messenger of King Geryon, who by the authority and power of his master commanded him to widen the city and the realm. Or else to make good wages. Hercules answered that he had entered the realm and also the city with the strength of arms. And that he would not go out of it until one had taken his sword and arms from him by the force of arms. Or until he had put all the country under his obedience.\n\nThe messenger returned from Megida with this answer to Geryon. And told him that Hercules had answered thus. Geryon and his two brothers listened patiently to Hercules' words and swore to avenge themselves. They made haste and set out with a great army of men to Megida, rowing and sailing with all their strength. The wind and fortune favored them, and they reached Megida's gates in a few days. Hercules, who had been informed of their arrival, allowed them to land and rest that day. There were about fifty thousand men in their army. When they arrived and saw that the Greeks made no defense at their landing, they hesitated and considered that they could gain an advantage by attacking the city early the next morning. Geryon and his brothers prepared themselves for the assault and urged Hercules and the Greeks to surrender villainously. Hercules and his Greeks were thinking in Megida about their affairs, not only for defending them from their enemy but for issuing out the next day following and engaging them in battle as soon as the night had passed. A little before the sun rising on the morrow, Hercules made two battles. In the first, he put a thousand fighting men and took command of them. In the second, he put the remainder of his army and made Theseus captain of them. After this, when he had well rallied his people and set them in good order, he intended to say certain things to them. But he could not supply them, for at that very time Gerion and his brothers and their people approached to assault the city and made such a great clamor and uproar that it echoed everywhere.\n\nWhen Hercules heard this clamor, he opened the gate. To behold and see what new thing was there. And at the issue of the gate, he saw his enemies. Hercules hastened them to come to the murrill and walls with ladders and other equipment, and he stationed his men to follow him. He went forward to begin the battle. As soon as the porter had opened the gates, Hercules marched to the Hesperians, bringing his club with him. Gerion saw Hercules coming from afar. He knew him by his lion skin and his club. Gerion showed him to his brothers. \"Behold our mortal adversary,\" Gerion said. \"He is full of overmuch pride and little regards us. Let us all three assault him and destroy him. It is time. All the gold in the world shall not save him. Hercules spoke to them with these words as he approached the three giants: \"Evil tyrants, lay down your engines for assault. It is no longer time to assault the city, but it is fitting for you to dispose yourselves for entry into battle. The battle is ready. Begin with me, and I with you.\" yow And late they fought to gather till more came / / with these words he enhanced his club and discharged the stroke so sore upon one of the three brothers that cast his shield to fore the stroke / that all astonied he bore him to the earth. When Geryon and his other brother saw their brother so knocked down and beaten, they struck with their clubs upon Hercules with great violence. And so employed his strength that they broke part of his arms with these two strokes of the clubs. Hercules received more than a hundred darts upon his body. Yet the clubs nor the darts were not so tempered that they might pierce or hurt the arms of Hercules. Nor did Hercules leave off to work with his club / but he lifted it up on high at that time And employed it upon the second brother of Geryon so accurately that coming down from the copper of the helmet, he was all frustrated and bruised him and struck him down to the ground right as an hard and great rock had fallen on his head.\n\nGeryon was all. affraid to see such a great stroke with a wood. Hercules' fierce heart he aroused, and gave him a great stroke upon his helmet with his sword. But the helmet was so hard that the sword could not enter. Then Hercules was surrounded by his enemies. He was struck in many places upon his body. The Hisperians eagerly desired to see Hercules' swords and clubs red with his blood. But Hercules put himself to defense, joyous that he might employ his strength upon them. And when he proved himself and a thousand others, and would suffer none near, his arm and club could reach. And that his enemies continued to come about him in greater numbers. Thousands of men from the battle of Hercules were there and addressed them, bringing such a great burden and setting it down so valiantly that they broke down all before them. They found Hercules there, who had slain more than six hundred of his enemies, and that he was marching up. They that bore ladders and other engines were compelled to cast them down to the ground and go to the battle. The battle was there felonious and hard. And there were knights yonder slain. Geryon displayed himself terribly. His brother, who was the first struck down, emerged from the press and came again to the field. In his coming, he made a great impression among the Greeks. He was strong and powerful. And bore a right heavy weapon, the length of which was three great feet. He performed marvels with this weapon. And beat down so many of the Greeks that a great noise arose around him. This noise reached the ears of Hercules. Then Hercules left those he had fought with. And drew towards the noise that proceeded from the cause of the giant. As soon as he saw the giant, who fought with the Greeks as he would, he was not well pleased with that weapon. And he enhanced his club and struck the giant on the shoulder, employing his strength in such various ways that the shoulder: The side he all too badly break and bare him down to the ground, not fully dead but in worse estate than dead, for he might not relieve him. And must needs die miserably under the feet of the men at arms.\n\nAt this time Theseus and Hercules, with the residue of the Greeks, came to the battlefield rightiously. They found their enemies without array and without conduct. They routed among them plainly. They slew so many that the whole place was converted. Hercules and Theseus cleft the heads of many knights unto their teeth. They were right expert in the use of arms.\n\nAt their coming, they made their enemies recoil, and won upon them with such good fortune that Gerion lost more than thirty thousand men. In short time, the battle was such a rout for Hercules that his enemies knew not where to save themselves. And Gerion, having been warned of the death of his second brother, turned his back and flew unto the sea, blowing his horn.\n\nWhen the Hesperians heard the horn: They intended suddenly to put them to flight, those who could save themselves did so without delay. Hercules, Theseus, and Hispan with about twelve hundred Greeks followed them swiftly and entered some of their ships. But they did not have ready mariners as the others did, so they were slightly delayed. As far as they could see, Hercules pursued them only with his twelve hundred men.\n\nThus finished the battle for that day to the great damage and dishonor of Gerion, and all to the honor and profit of Hercules. Malion remained in Megara by Hercules' command to keep the Greeks who remained there and to take the spoils of their enemies. Hercules, on the other side, sailed and rowed after Gerion. Gerion perceived him and was greatly afraid and fled as far as he could. The pursuit lasted for three days. Gerion had good mariners; they kept them safely from the approaching of Hercules' ship, and they sailed by the Mediterranean Sea. They rowed from flood to flood. Before and after, but the end was such that on the fourth day, they were forced to wait for Hercules at battle upon the sea or descend to land at the Corongne in Galicia. To flee continually the death of which they were in doubt, they left the sea and took the land at a port imagining they would well defend themselves against Hercules, for they were ten against one. As soon as they had taken land at the Corongne's port, they took and fortified themselves around the port to defend the river, which was strong to take. Then Geryon warned his men, saying, \"Lo, now is here the hour or the day that we must die or overcome our enemies. Fortune has done the worst she can to us. She was accustomed to make all strangers tremble before our glories. Now she makes us tremble before a right little number of people. Alas, what shame is this? Truly, the shame is great, and we ought to have great reproach for doing so, since we are in this position where there is no other way. In the meantime, Geron encouraged his people thus. Hercules and his companions rowed so near the port that they were coming to blows. The Hisperians cast round stones, darts with sharp irons at the end, spears and javelins against them. But the Greeks took up their shields and hid within them to win the port. However, the casting of the Hisperians was so deadly that it compelled their enemies to wait and not approach the port. They had a great abundance of stones at this port. The Hisperians guarded the entrance for more than three hours. Hercules found no way or means to remedy it. At the end of three hours, Hercules, deeply concerned to see his men delayed, thought he would enter a small boat alone to win the port. No man dared enter the small boat before him. He maneuvered it with the help of the wind at his advantage and pulled it up to the port as quickly as possible. However, this was at a time when he received more than a thousand stones thrown at him. His sail, which stood over the end due to the wind's force, was struck full of holes, and the ropes were broken, the mast overthrown. The boat was nearly filled with stones. Nevertheless, these things did not deter Hercules from his enterprise; he passed through all the blows of his enemies. He accomplished so much that he reached the land and came among the Hesperians. There he began to. Theseus, armed with his club on both sides, wielded it so profusely and overpoweringly that the entire place was filled with their blood and brains. He and fifty of the best-armed Greeks, inspired by Hercules, took a light boat and dared to win the port. Hercules was at the mouth of the port, and when he saw Theseus coming, he ran here and there to prevent him from passing. Hercules caused such great harm to the Hisperians that they were forced to land, and they sprang out of the boat. Then began the assault and the boiling. Geryon came to the descent of Theseus with over two hundred of his men. All of them attacked the Greeks. Of the fifty, they killed ten. When Theseus and his companion saw that their hearts were swelling, they encouraged themselves and attacked Geryon's assembly. Against one man that they had slain, they killed fifty of the Hisperians, and there they used such savage retaliation. There the greatest marvels of the world occurred through arms:\nGeryon died from sorrow that he could not reach his above the Greeks. He and his men were fierce as tigers enraged. The Greeks were resolute and strong as oliphants.\nTheir strokes were great; they did not doubt death or sword, but plunged into adventure. The battle was strong; the Greeks received many wounds. Always Theseus and Hercules saved them from death with their marvelous prowesses. And made them pass through the great press where Hercules had been. Hercules, who left no enemy unharmed, had great joy in himself when he saw Theseus, Hercules, and their forty companions. Their coming cost Gerion the death of a thousand men and more. For Hercules, to encourage his men and to be an example of good deeds, he joined strength to strength and prowess to prowess, confounding his enemies so dreadfully and terribly, drawing them toward the sea. Those who saw him wished they had been among them. Their mothers' wombs, and in their haste they distressed each other at sea. In the process, they struck each other. Geryon, struck by great sorrow and impatience, threw himself into the fray. He did not only attack Hercules but also the companions of Theseus. He struck the first one on the helmet, splitting his head open to the teeth. After assaulting another, he left him so stunned that he didn't know where he was. Consequently, he delivered a great assault suddenly to the Greeks. He killed them with his sword, and the Greeks were compelled to make a great cry for help.\n\nAt this point, the Greeks who were left in the galleys entered the harbor and landed lightly. When Hercules and his men heard the cry, they ran there to their rescue. Hercules knew at once that the noise came from the Greeks because of him. He saw him come and strike in the thickest of the press / for to save himself, then he took his folk and encouraged them, and there he had such great pain / that for one stroke that Hercules gave him with his club by chance, he was compelled to depart from the press. And to withdraw himself with those who were weary / for to take his brethren: Gerion was brought to his extremity. Cast his eyes upon the middle and saw the Greeks mount upon the gate and expose them to battle. After he saw how they brought many of his men to utterance. And that he might not resist it, all his losses came before his eyes. Then he began to sigh and said with a dolorous heart, alas what is the mutability of fortune. and what shall be the end of my days / flatterer fortune what have you thought / All the honors that you have given to me before / redouble now to my shame. when you have sent and parted from me so many goods / Why have you sent to me Hercules, this is the enemy of mine. all my glory quenched, and from a shining name brought to one full of darkness. If you have given him sufficient reason, let him not come after me with his horrible deeds. My vains are filled with features. My heart murders me in the boiling of iron. O what great unhappiness it must be that I am Infortunatus. I shall verily die by the club that I have seen my brethren die by, or I shall take vengeance. Gerion, with these words put him in the press, crying \"Gerion.\" For to make his men courageous.\n\nThus crying and seeking Hercules, he put to death many Greeks. He was all furious; his glory was died with the blood of his enemies. In the end, he came upon Hercules and with his sword struck him sorely. Hercules was all weary. For without ceasing, he had held the battle by the space of four hours, and had received upon his arms so many strokes that no man could tell. This notwithstanding, he fled not at all from Gerion but came to him. Hercules joyously fought against him with great force, and all who saw it were amazed. After many strokes inflicted upon Gerion and Hercules, Hercules struck him once so great a blow that Gerion was utterly frightened and struck out his brain with the stroke, shattering his helmet on his shoulders. In such a way Gerion the tyrant perished. The Hesperians saw him brought to such sorrow as to taste the bitter morsel of death. All left their arms and mourned the death of Gerion sorrowfully. In despair, one let him be slain, and the other fled by mountains, rivers, and the sea. When Hercules had espied them in such disarray, he thanked the gods and began to pursue his enemies. The pursuit continued until evening. The Greeks filled the field. The fields and mountains, and the rush of the sea with the blood of those who fled; when the night came, Hercules and the Greeks withdrew into their galleys. They ate and drank such as they had, and made joyous cheer. The wounded were remembered and comforted in their victory. The weary men forgot the labor they had done. They rested after their travel and passed the night over. When it was day on the morrow, Hercules issued out of his galley. Beholding the port, it seemed to him that a city should stand there. He decided to begin it there. He sent to all places where he knew any people were nearby. He gave to each man in knowledge that he was intending to make a city there, and that the first person who would come to put hand to it would have the dominion. This thing was known in Gaul. Many came there. But a woman named Coroigne was the first who came, and therefore Hercules gave the dominion to her. made to begin the city and named it Corinth / In remembrance of the victory that he had there / upon the body of Gerion, he founded a tower / And by his art, composed and made a lamp burning continuously day and night without putting anything thereto. Which burned afterward by the space of three hundred years / more upon the summit or top of the tower / he made an image of copper looking into the sea and gave him in his hand a mirror having such virtue. That if it happened that any men of war were on the sea in intention to do any harm to the City / suddenly their east and they coming should appear in this said mirror / And that lasted until the time of Nebuchadnezzar\nwho was warned of the mirror's property / filled his eyes with white things and green bows and leaves / that it seemed a wood and that in the mirror nothing else but a wood appeared. Wherefore the Corinthians, not knowing that their mirror showed them otherwise, were not alarmed by men of arms. Like as they had been. Hercules was accustomed to acting when enemies approached. Nabugodonosor took the city in this manner and destroyed the mirror and lamp. After this conquest, Hercules summoned all the maidens of the country and made them hold a solemn feast in memory of Gerion's death. Then he departed from there and went to Megida, where a hundred of the fairest oxen were presented to him.\n\nAfter this conquest, as Hercules intended to please and inhabit this new country, news reached him. In the city of Cartagena, a king and giant named Cacus reigned, who was passing evil and full of tyranny. He had killed, through his wickedness, the kings of Aragon and Naverre, their wives and children, and held their territories. He also ruled over all the country up to Italy. Hercules received this news joyfully and said that, by the pleasure of the gods, he would try to take revenge for the deaths of the kings of Aragon. of Nauarus, he disposed him to these works. Having an appetite to correct King Cacus, as soon as his exercise could be ready, he went to the kingdom of Castille. Where King Cacus was in the city of Cartagena, standing beside a mountain named Monchao. And he passed by many realms that did obey him because of his virtuous reputation. But when he approached Cartagena, King Cacus came against him with disobedience and in arms, for he had been warned of his coming. And as he entered the frontiers, he sent one of his knights to him who said these words: \"Hercules, open tyrant, who hastens the heart greater than thy body, and thou wouldst assault the heavens to conquer: if the gods had given wings to flee like birds, if thou seek peace and love unto King Cacus, thy counterpart in complexion and fortune. I sell myself in his name. And if thou come otherwise to him as his enemy, I defend in his name.\" And in no other way. You shall be very bold to enter his country. And if you do, know that you will find in Cacus and in the castellans such a hard encounter that none of your company will be spared from the evil adventure. A night answered Hercules, \"Whatever you may be, show not that you have the heart of a nobleman, for it is disgraceful to all men. And especially to a nobleman to misspeak or speak evil of another man: you have called me an open and a tyrant, public and comparable to the tyrant Cacus. I answer you regarding this article. I am no tyrant, but a destroyer of tyrants. Therefore, return to Cacus and signify to him that I have the intention to show what hatred we have for tyrants. In a few days, he may prove upon us the hard encounter of which I have now received threats. With this answer, the Castilian departed from Hercules' presence and returned to King Cacus. He told him word for word what Hercules had said to him. When Cacus had heard all this, he was dismayed. Despite being a strong giant and the most powerful among men, and never having found anyone stronger than himself, the renown of Hercules was so great in the world that even the strongest and most assured were doubtful and trembled at speaking of his deeds. Yet Cacus took courage in himself, and in the presence of his nobles he said, \"Blessed be these coming days that nature and fortune will bring to us, for we shall prove our force and strength. Castile and Sicily, show the extent of your arms to defend King Cacus from the claws of his enemies. It is necessary, it seems, that the king Cacus, for his people, deploy and put forth the full extent of his strength. Now, my brothers and friends, we have come to war. The Greeks come against Castile without any quarrel; let us go against them.\" fighters fight for our cause: the birds fight one against another for their nests, and domestic animals for their dens; nature introduces them to do so if we have the same nature. The time has come for us to do the same {etc}.\n\nWhen the Castilians and the Aragonese, who were there, heard Cacus speak in this way, they greatly encouraged his courage, and answered all in one voice that they were ready to attack their enemies. With this answer, King Cacus opened his eastern gate that he had there on the fields, and went forth against Hercules the swiftest way he could. King Cacus then put on his armor, eager to find Hercules. Hercules, on the other side, came against Cacus. They went so long that they soon saw each other near a place where Hercules had founded a city, which was named Terracena. As soon as they saw each other, they began to make great joy and to show themselves and cry out. After they had arranged themselves in battle order, they marched against one another. Against that other side, the Greeks fiercely and sharply. They filled the air suddenly with arrows, stones, and javelins. At the beginning of this battle, the castle defenders fought bravely. Many of their party were slain, more by courage than fear. For they pressed forward and did not doubt the Greek shots, which rained down on them so heavily and thickly that the ground was soaked with their blood. And those castle defenders who were far off and badly wounded had to retreat back to their comrades.\n\nWhen King Cacus saw his people so badly beaten and hard-pressed, he felt great sorrow in his heart and did not know where to intend to enter and hold his battle. Some fled, and others recoiled and retreated. Others fell to the earth dead or severely wounded. The battle lasted long in this way, to the sorrow of King Cacus, but in the end, the Greek shots failed. The castle defenders withstood them. Cacus recovered new strength in this battle, enabling them to fight hand to hand with swords, and they shed and spread the blood of the Tyrians and Anbatyllus of Hercules extensively. A great noise arose there; many shields were broken and many Lybian skins were cut into pieces. As Cacus approached, it seemed that the tempest was upon him; he was great, strong, and fierce in his striking, each of his blows the death of a Greek. In the end, he did so much that the cries of those around him rose so high in the air that the castle dwellers had well thought to have won. They began to make joy for their good fortune in seeing the Greeks to their deaths. But just as a clear day is suddenly troubled by an unexpected black cloud, similarly, by the sole coming of Hercules, all their joy was troubled and turned into mortal loss. For the mortal arm of Hercules encountered them so terribly that he beat them down. Castelians like a monster with a sight beheaded the grass in a meadow, when Cacus saw Hercules foundering and beheading his men. All the blood in him changed. Then his blood seemed to boil, and as a courageous man, he presented himself before Hercules' front and struck him with his sword so sore and hard that he cleft his shield in two parts. The Castelians, seeing Hercules' shield flee in pieces, thought at once that Cacus had slain and put to death Hercules. They made a cry for joy, but it did not last long. For Hercules lifted up his arms with his club and struck Cacus upon the comb of his helmet with such strength that it seemed to Cacus that he saw a thousand candles. Or that he had been struck down with the greatest rock of Spain. Nevertheless, Cacus remained standing in his place and called out to Hercules, striking him with all his might. At this assault, the Castelians, hoping in the fortune of Cacus, all attacked Hercules. Hercules was going so far. Among his enemies, he was alone, abandoned by all his company. When he heard that Cacus called for his death and saw that the castle inhabitants assaulted him from all sides, he was filled with solace and abandoned the toughness and hardness of his lion's skin to their swords, saving only against Cacus. Thus began the battle between Hercules and Cacus. Their strokes were great and fearsome without measure. Cacus fought in the spirit of a tyrant, eager to overcome Hercules to tyrannize and triumph over him. Hercules fought with a virtuous heart, founded and nourished in virtue, and as an enemy of vices, he assailed this vicious king. Both were great and fierce, with strong courage. But certainly, when they had both tasted each other's strength at length, Hercules' strokes were so great and so powerful that Cacus' shoulders and head could not bear or sustain them. Therefore, the outcome was such that. after their battle had lasted two hours. Cacus left, unable to endure him any longer and fled. Hercules did not pursue, intending to secure the victory of this journey. He began to attack the Castilians, along with Aragonnoys and others he could find. He left no man alive before him, young or old, weak or strong. Hyspan and the others on his side made their feet arms flourish and shine. The battle was fierce; the Greeks redoubled their strokes and slew many of their enemies. In the end, when Cacus had taken his brother. He put him again in the midst of the battle on one side where his men fled and made them stay. Smiting and beating the Greeks more terribly than he had done before. The cries rose so high there that Hercules, fighting on another side, heard them and ran there by chance. Upon seeing Cacus, he went forward and broke through the press and struck him down. Cacus knew Hercules but dared not face him. Instead, he fled with ill fortune. The Greeks made a cry and a joyous noise. All the Castilians fled, some here and some there, to great harm and loss for Cacus. For all his people, only fifty remained, who saved themselves on the mountain of Monchayo, which stood nearby. But this was with great loss of blood from the Castilians. Those who were to have joined them seemed to have been struck down. The caverns in the valley were filled with blood. Cacus saved himself and fifty of his men on the mountain as the Spanish chronicles record. When he was above and in a secure place, he returned and saw at the foot of the hill, a vast number of Castilians. With out a name were those who were dead or in danger of dying. He felt great sorrow, not for pity, but for spite, and for the danger he saw imminent for himself. must pass. Anyone who saw him from far in the champagne and each quarter and place there were all covered by his party and their blood. He also saw those who fled taken and brought to the pestilence of the other. These terms considered, the desolation of his dominion and the punishment of his tyranny were evidently to him should lightly conquer the country. For they obeyed him by tyranny and not by natural love. However, he did not despair. He saw all the power of his men destroyed by the club of Hercules and knew that he might no longer reign in that country, for all were dead in the battle. But then he returned to his science. And thus, as sorrowful as he was, he entered into a house that he had there. But first, he commanded twelve of his men to keep the passage of this mountain, which was also narrow and straight, so that only one man could go up at a time.\n\nWhen Hercules and his men had put to death all their enemies, Hercules would assault the rock. And Hercules began to mount and go up the degrees or steep slopes, but suddenly those who kept the pass cast great stones upon him. In such great haste, he was compelled to descend. When Hercules saw that he must withdraw, he obeyed fortune. However, he made a vow that he would never depart from the foot of the rock until he had forced Cacus to descend and come down by famine or other means. Hercules came to the foot of the hill where the Ochre River slaughter had taken place. He made the place clean and purged it of the dead bodies and the blood of those who lay dead there. Afterward, he set up his camp with bows and leagues, and his bed of fresh grass. He commanded each man to log there. At that time, the night came and the day faded. The Greeks were weary of their all-day labor in arms and were pleased. And after they had ordered and set their camps, wacche. as well for to kepe the oost as for to kepe the roche. that cacus come not doun / they leyde hem doun vpon the grasse in suche wyse as they were acustomed whan they were in warre / and so slepte and passid that nyght:.\nIN the morn hercules de{per}ted his oste in tweyne And sente hispan with oon of them in to arra\u2223gon and nauarre / And he abode there with the other / Hispan in the name of hercules was Ioyously receyuyd of the nauarroys & of the aragonnoys / And they made to hym all obeyssance. knowlechyng hercu\u00a6les to be their lord and the moste vertuous prynce that was in the weste / whan hispan had all subdued as sayd is he retorned vnto hercules / Hercules laye yet styll to fore monchayo And there helde cacus in suche subieccion that he myht not yssue / Cacus and his folk were than in grete myschief of vytayll And they wist not what to ete ne to drynke / they deferryd as longe as they myghte / hopyng that hercules shold anoye hym to\nbe there so longe / But in the ende whan their vytaill fay\u00a6led / and They saw that they must adventure themselves to confront Cacus, who made certain things go down into their stomachs and then put fire on top and taught all the others to do so. Suddenly, as they felt the fire issue out of their mouths and the fume and smoke in such a violent manner that it seemed like a light fire to them, they descended rapidly and cast fire and fume so impetuously that Hercules and the Greeks thought it was a lightning storm from the heavens and had set the mountain on fire. They made him retreat, for it was a thing to make men afraid. For the entire day, the rock was filled with smoke and fume that Cacus had made, and the smoke was so dense that it seemed like darkness.\n\nWhen Cacus and his people had escaped and passed the east of Hercules and the Greeks, Hercules was then the most powerful. A wise Clerk who was in the world. And in all his pastimes he employed himself in study. He took his books and began to practice how and by what reason he was descended from the rock. He read and turned many leaves. But after careful consideration, he found that this smoke was not of natural things. This greatly astonished him. Then he sent for Atlas, who was always lodged behind the east, to be solitary. When Atlas arrived, he showed him the smoke and the fume that still lasted.\n\nThen he told him of the lightning that had passed by the east and asked him his opinion. Atlas, knowing that the fume was inextinguishable, answered Hercules: \"Ceres, my son, you are sharper in science than I. For my age cannot reach such lofty things as your youth.\" I shall tell you, he said, that I shall say. You shall find it true, as I suppose. You shall understand that this fume is a thing artificial and made by the craft of wickedness. That was the father of Cacus, who was an excellent master in this art and its inventor. He created certain mountains in Ceres to burn, and they would continue to burn until the end of the world. Cacus, who possessed the art and craft of his father, made this smoke: And in order to escape from your hands, he descended with his companions in the form of a lightning or tempest. Thus, your strength is deceived by his art.\n\nWhen Hercules understood what Athlas had said to him, he was greatly amazed by the art of Cacus and could not believe it. To know the truth, he took his club and went up through the smoke or fume to the top of the rock. Finding neither the best nor a man there, he returned to Athlas. Laughing, he confessed to him that he had spoken the truth. He said that he would make no pursuit after him, for as much as he had so gently escaped. That day they passed in speaking and coming about Cacus and his art. Hercules, the day after the smoke and fumes had disappeared, beheld the country. Finding it commodious and fertile, he founded a city there, which he named Teracone. He gave this country to the son of the king of Ancona and made him dwell there with his people and those of Tyre. After this foundation, Hercules went to the city of Salamanca. Since it was well inhabited and populated, he intended to establish a solemn study there. He made on earth a great round hall in the shape of a study and placed there the seven liberal arts and many other books. When the people of the country came to study there, they were so rude and dull that their minds could not grasp any knowledge of the sciences. As Hercules was about to depart on his voyage, and also wished to maintain this study, he established it. do make an image or statue of gold to his likeness and place it on a pillar in the midst of his study. He did this so that all who came before this image seeking declaration of any science would receive answers and instruction in all sciences, as if Hercules himself were present. The reputation of this study was great in all the country, and it continued until the time that St. James converted Spain to the Christian faith.\n\nFrom Salamanca, Hercules departed and went into Catalonia. There he founded the city of Barcelona, which is a fine city, and finally, when he had accomplished all these things, he sent Atlas home again to his country, but he kept all his writers. For he loved books above all the riches of the world. Afterward, he gave leave to Philotes to return to his country. But Philotes Hercules refused his congie and leave, and said to him that he would serve him all his life. He considered his felicity greater to be in his service than to govern the country that fortune had placed in his hand. Hercules, after this, called him Hispan and said to him, \"Hispan, I know your wit and valor. I have found the direct and true way. You are a man of authority and well known in these marches. I make and constitute you king over all this country. I give you no other charge but to love virtue and to learn honor and worship.\"\n\nWhen Hispan heard the gift that Hercules made to him, he fell down at his feet and thanked him. But Hercules said to him that he wanted it to be so, and delivered to him a certain number of people of his fellowship to serve him. After he made him depart with great signs and sorrow, Hispan went then by all the countries that Hercules had conquered, there upon Gerion and Cacus. And from then on. In the country named Spain, after his name, I will now discuss the conquest of Spain, and then speak of Hercules' arms in Lombardy and the death of Cacus. There are now kings, emperors, sultans, and princes, whose virtuous liberality men can speak of, resembling or similar to that of Hercules. Men today fight one against another and make conquests somewhere, but they attribute them to their singular profit. They do not resemble Hercules.\n\nWhen he made Hernando, or Hercules, king of all the region of Hispania, which is now called Spain, he sent for his oxen, his horses, and his calves. After departing from Barcelona, he took his way to Lombardy. He went so long on his journey that he came near the city of Cremona, which is only a day's journey from Milan. In this city, there were eleven giants, exceedingly great in size. These eleven giants were all brothers and sons of... Neleo, son of Saturn, and all called themselves kings of this city. They held all royal estate, yet their renomes were small and insignificant. Therefore, they robbed their neighbors and made continual war. When they learned that Hercules approached their city, they assembled their council and demanded of one another, should they allow him to enter their city? All were of one opinion that they should not receive him, and they decided to send one of them named Nestor to him, instructing him not to let Hercules enter Cremone unless he first had vanquished the eleven brothers. Nestor, at the command of the giants, departed from Cremone and went to Hercules, whom he found with his small army, only three miles from Cremone. Then he spoke to Hercules and said to him, \"Sir, I am one of the ten kings of Cremone, sent to you as they have been warned that you enter their domain.\" And charge them not to let any passage of Cremona. But if you first overcome them one after another in battle, and therefore choose whether you will have the battle or else return and leave this journey. I advise you that they are all giants, greater and more powerful than I am. Sir knight answered, \"Hercules I have set out to pass by Cremona. Let the giants know that Hercules intends to speak to them more near, as one who does not fear or dread their accustomed tyranny, which I must deliver the world from by the strength of my arms. And since they presume not that I have any doubt or fear of them in any manner, I will say to them that I will not fight one-on-one but will always gather and join you. And if you will accompany them, they shall find me ready by morning tomorrow.\"\n\nHercules spoke these words to make his people stay and rest there for that night. Next, I returned to my brethren and said to them: I have spoken to Hercules and have revealed to him your commandment. He has answered me with great courage, promising to fight with us all together in the morning, not one after another, but with us all at once. And to speak plainly of him, he has the appearance of a virtuous man in arms and is adorned with prowess. He is a prince mighty and of great conduct. It is fitting for you to prepare yourselves for the battle. Indeed, the battle will be perilous. For he is mighty and as great as one of us, but I think that he may not compare or prevail against us. There were eleven of us. And I think that he may not escape from our forces, but that we shall press him with our gladness, whatever force or strength is in him. The giants, hearing him praise Hercules, were filled with great marvel at him. They could not believe that I reported that he would fight with all of us together. For there was none of them all, but they thought him:\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Old English, and there are some errors in the OCR transcription. Here is the corrected version:\n\nNext, I returned to my brethren and said to them: I have spoken to Hercules and have revealed to him your commandment. He has answered me with great courage, promising to fight with us all together in the morning, not one after another, but with us all at once. And to speak plainly of him, he has the appearance of a virtuous man in arms and is adorned with prowess. He is a prince mighty and of great conduct. It is fitting for you to prepare yourselves for the battle. Indeed, the battle will be perilous. For he is mighty and as great as one of us, but I think that he may not compare or prevail against us. There were eleven of us. And I think that he may not escape from our forces, but that we shall press him with our gladness, whatever force or strength is in him. The giants, hearing him praise Hercules, were filled with great marvel at him. They could not believe that I reported that he would fight with all of us together. For there was none of them all, but they thought him a fool.) Self strong are you, Hercules. Then they asked Nestor if he understood that Hercules had said to him that he would fight against them all at once. Nestor replied and said that he had heard him say it in his own person. With this answer, they concluded that on the morrow they should arm themselves all and go to the field to fight against Hercules if he came against them. One of the giants said then to his brothers: \"Tomorrow shall be the day of our glory and worship. We shall vanquish. The hour of the Monsters: Let us make good cheer, brothers. Answered Nestor, there is no doubt but that we shall overcome and bring to submission him that you speak of. But so much the less will our glory be that we shall be eleven against one. Well said that other, if in fighting against us eleven, we shall have less honor. Let every man fight for himself, brothers. Answered Nestor, if you had seen and heard him as I have, you would not say so.\" be so hardy as you seem / he is quite another man than you think / Keep yourselves at the offering he has made at the left is better to have the most profit & less honor in such cases / In these devises they passed the whole day / After they went to rest / When our men were come on the morrow early / they arose and equipped themselves the best they could. After they sent one of their men to Hercules to ask if he would say anything / But as soon as the messenger issued out of the gate, the first thing he saw was a giant armed marvelously. The messenger hesitated and addressed him, \"What are you?\" \"I am Hercules,\" said the giant / \"What do you want or ask?\" asked the messenger / \"I will say,\" Hercules replied, \"that the giants of Cremona have no reason to prevent me from passing through their city. And since they told me yesterday that if I wanted passage, it was incumbent upon me to vanquish them one by one.\" I have cleaned the text as follows:\n\nThe messenger came to me in the field, having come here in hope of winning the pass. I ask for nothing else but to see them armed and ready to fight, so that I may make amends and have it done sooner. Therefore, I ask you to go to them and signify my coming. Hurry them.\n\nThe messenger returned to the giants and reported what he had found. When the giants knew that Hercules was ready in the field, they all took up their clubs and their war attire and departed from the city, addressing themselves against Hercules. Hercules was then alone in the place. The men and women of Cremona went up on the walls and towers to see the battle. Philotes and other noble Greeks were on a hill far from where Hercules was waiting. Indeed, it was a fair sight to see the coming of the eleven giants. They were all well appointed and well armed with helmets enriched with gold and stones. They were great and strong, all one in size. The measures advanced, bearing fierce countenances. They came on and marched sharply. And with bold courage, when they approached Hercules from a half bowshot, they cried out to him to die. Their cry was so great that the city walls would have trembled, seeing their determined advance. Firmly, Hercules stood his ground, lifting his club over his head. When they reached this assembly, it seemed that the giants should have frustrated him with their clubs. For they struck upon him so violently that their trunks and pieces flew into the air. Their strokes were great. Hercules endured them and observed their power. But when they had made their attempts upon him, Hercules made his attempt upon them. With his club, he struck one giant on his helmet. This not only shattered his helmet but also stunned him, causing him to fall suddenly dead. When the other ten giants saw that their brother was so quickly slain by one blow, they were filled with great sorrow and their blood was strongly moved. Nature embraced them. The battle began between Hercules and the giants. They found him to be formidable and assailed him on all sides. Hercules did not fear, striking with javelin, spear, or club. His lion skin was hard and strong, his strength steady. His club bore all and so it was necessary. The giants gave great strokes, but they could not pierce the lion skin. Yet his club was even harder. The giants marveled at the constance and power of Hercules. As Hercules lifted up his club to strike them, his cunning enemies leaped aside, while others broke his strokes. He slew four of them in less than an hour, and the other seven continued to fight with such vigor that the more he struck them with his club, the more mortal he found them and fiercer they became.\n\nThe battle was terrible and hard. The giants were strong and well-versed in the use of arms. Great pain they had in saving themselves and avenging the blood of their brethren, and seeking worship in battle. They declared themselves unfortunate when they could not overcome a single man alone. Nor could they match him in combat. In fighting, they helped and encouraged each other, and they all had good courage. But what profit was their great number of brethren, and what availed their courageous strokes when approaching death? Hercules was always Hercules. He rejoiced in the float of his enemies. He comforted himself in fortune. Fortune helped him. He performed marvels on all sides. He could fight well and defend himself. All that he did was well done. All that the others did and bragged about was worthless. Nevertheless, they were mighty and hardy. But Hercules' luck and good fortune could not be broken. Nor could his club be destroyed. But he triumphed, and his power was more than sufficient to sustain the fury of his enemies. Adversaries found him more mighty than they were able to charge him with their strokes. O marveled that it had been tempered with quick and hard steel; his body seemed more constant against the cutting blades of all his evil willers than is an andrew or a steady one against the strokes of many hammers or mauls; he took great pleasure in the battle, seeing himself among so many giants. He was greatly rejoiced, and there was nothing grieving him but the declining of the day, which began to fail. At this hour, when the sun withheld her rays and turned into the west, Hercules would make an end and hasten his battle. The giants began to cease from striking. For from morning until evening they had fought without any ceasing. And Hercules entered himself in such a way that striking one and another around him hard and sharply. Whereof it befell that of some he found and bruised helmets and heads, and of the others he broke the arms and sides marvelously and gave so many great strokes. That finally he beat them down and made them all frustrated. Nestor, who had fled away when he saw the confusion, wisely saved himself. For all his brothers were there slain by Hercules. Then those of Cremona saw their lords dead. They soon ended their weeping and sorrow. For they had been hard and troublesome for them at the end of this battle. And they assembled to counsel. When they saw that Hercules had won the battle, they concluded to yield themselves to him and put themselves in his mercy. With this conclusion, they issued out of the gates in great number. And came to Hercules, who was then victorious over his enemies. First, they knelt before him on the ground. Secondly, they prayed and begged for mercy from him. And thirdly, they abandoned themselves and their goods to him and said to him that they would hold him as lord during their lives. Hercules, who was pitiful and gentle towards those who were meek and humble, received them. Ceremonies entered before the grace and made them rise and stand up. And after he summoned those from the east; when they arrived, he brought them into Cremona. Great joy was made for them, for they were glad of the giants' deaths. There was no man, woman, or child who did not thank the gods:\n\nBy this manner, Hercules became king of Cremona and was enriched with a new title of victory. The first night he entered this city, he and his people rested and were well refreshed and feasted. On the morrow, he brought the giants' bodies into the city and buried them worshipfully. And upon the tower, he set up eleven images or statues of metal, in the likeness of the giants he had slain, in remembrance of his victory.\n\nAfter the construction of this tower, Hercules left the people of Cremona to govern themselves and departed thence to go further into the country. He studied continually and was never idle. He studied so much that he could make fire artificial as well as Cacus, and found the remedies against the same. Wherever he came or went, he earned great honor and reverence from me. What shall I make of this long process, without great adventure? He went so far that he came upon a city standing near Mount Aventine. There reigned a king named Euander, who received him solemnly. It is to be noted that when Cacus fled from Monchayas and went to this mountain, he gave leave to depart from him of all his servants, and all despaired, alone he went to Mount Aventine in an evening. There he went in without supper, and then he began to be greatly and bitterly uncomfortable, and said, \"Alas, now I am exiled and banished from all my lordships. I have no comfort or support from anyone. I dare not call myself a king.\" where I was wonte by my name make kynges to tremble. Alas all is torned and reuer\u00a6sid I haue no thyng to ete / ner wote not where to logge but yf hit be with the bestes. O poure kynge. where is ony man so vnhappy as I / I am so Infortunat and vn\u00a6happy. that I dare not be seen ne beknowen. with these wordes he leyde hym doun vpon the bare ground. and leyde a stoon vnder his heed. And with right grete pa\u00a6yne fill a slepe whiche dured not longe for his vay\u2223nes were strongly meuyd. his herte was not quyete And his body was right euyll susteyned. Anone than he awoke and wente out of the caue for to loke yf hit were nyhe day. for the nyyht anoyed hym and was hym to longe / But whan he was comen in to the ayer he sawe no day appere. ne sterres ne mone shyne. but he fonde hit alle derke and tenebres thikke and grete And sawe all the region of the ayer couerid with clow\u00a6des / wherof he was gretly anoyed and greuyd. Than he wente in to the caue agayn not in to the deppest but at the mouth therof / And there sorofull and When the day appeared, Cacus issued out of his cave and went up to the top of the hill. He began to behold and see the countryside around him. The countryside seemed good and fair to him for living there. After much contemplation and many thoughts, he decided in himself that he would stay there until his misfortune ceased. He would live there by means of farming, raiding, and theft. After he had thought about it, he decided to go to King Priam of Calydon, who was his cousin. He intended to ask for his company and to bring with him the wife he had chosen. He would ask for one of his daughters in marriage. With this decision, he departed from Mount Aventine and took the way to Calydon. Some say that Calydon is the country that we now call Calabria.\n\nWhen Cacus arrived in Calydon, King Priam received him as was fitting for a king, since he knew him and was of his lineage. After Cacus had been summoned, he signed and began to recount his troubles. When he saw that he must reveal his shape, he told and recounted from the beginning how Hercules had taken away his kingdom and how he had been besieged and escaped. Since I cannot remain in my own country, I have come to you for refuge and to tell and count my sorrows. I intend to stay on Mount Aventine in a cave until my enemy Hercules departs from my heritage. I will keep myself there so secretly that no man in the world will know of it, so that Hercules does not know it, for he hates me greatly and has greater happiness and fortune in arms than I have. If he knew that I was in any place, I am certain that he would come there to destroy me. Considering this, I have chosen this cave to hide myself as I have said. But although I have more sorrow in feeling than my taste requires. It is the case that a man's eyes rejoice in the face and sight of a woman, for a woman is the joy and comfort of a man. I request and pray that you give me one of your daughters. And if it pleases you, truly you will do me a great pleasure and the greatest good that I may have for this present time. The king Priam answered and said, \"Cacus, you have come and extracted yourself from high gentility. And have great honor and lordship in Hispania. If fortune were against you today, your honors ought not to be unknown. At this time I have four daughters. One is named Yolee. Take whom it pleases you, Yolee, for I will not yet marry her. And if you have any will to make an army against Hercules, tell it to me plainly, and I shall support you as a true friend.\" Cacus was very content with the king's answer and thanked him, saying that he would make no army for this season. But he would spend his time in the cave. Like he had purposed and concluded, then the three daughters of King Priam were sent forth. Cacus chose one of them, whom he wedded and lay with for two days. At the end of two days, he intended to depart and took leave of the king. The king would have gladly given him ten knights and ten squires to convey him, but he refused them and took none. Then he would have delivered to him certain ladies and damsels, but he took none, save the two sisters of his wife. They insisted on going with him, so he departed from Calydon. Accompanied by the three sisters, he was all way sorrowful and pensive. From then on, in exile and casting out of royalty, he began to renounce. And bathed his axe in the blood of the men, women, and children he met and put them all to death.\n\nCacus began to exercise the works of fury and tyranny, going unto Mount Aventine. As soon as he arrived, he entered in. The cause the best and wisest thing he could do with his wives. And most secretly, from this place, he made a nest and a pit of sins. For the first night that he had lodged his wives, he went into the village that stood there fast by. And beheld the fairest house. Within he entered by an open window. And slew all who were therein: and afterward took all the goods as much as he could carry upon his shoulders and bore them into the cave where were his wives.\n\nIn the morning, Cacus found a large stone of marble. Which he took and bore it unto his cave. And made therewith his door. The most part of the time Cacus held himself in his cave, and went never out but when he would do harm or evil. When he went into the fields, as is said, he slew all whom he met: He robbed every man, deflowered women, he burned houses and towns, And shortly made and did so much harm in Italy, that those who passed in the country supposed them to be hated by the gods. Could not. Hercules came to King Euander's city during the time Cacus shed it with men's blood and filled his cave with stolen goods. After Hercules and his soldiers arrived, their cattle were brought into the city because Euander wanted to see them. The king took great pleasure in beholding and seeing them, for they were tall and passing fair. After the king had seen them, Hercules asked if he could send them to pasture for the night.\n\n\"If you will trust my counsel, you shall leave them in this city and not send them to the fields,\" Euander replied.\n\n\"Why?\" Hercules asked.\n\n\"Because when we send out our livestock,\" Euander answered, \"we do not know where they go. They are stolen and driven away. Our servants are murdered. Houses are burned. The people who should be working in the fields cannot.\" The field is slaughtered. Women and maidens are vilified and put to shame. We cannot remedy it, for we cannot have knowledge of the doers or their deeds. Therefore, some men say and will maintain that they are the goddesses who thus punish us for our sins. I pray you, keep your best men in this city to prevent them from being robbed. Hercules spoke and recounted to me a great marvel. I believe well that the things you say are true. But this notwithstanding, since the goddesses have saved them up to this day, they will keep them yet if it pleases them. For if they wish to have them, they will take them in the city as well as in the fields. And if there is a robber or thief in the country who will take them away, I suppose I shall find him and make him pay for it. With these words, Hercules sent his beasts into the pasture and left them there without any keepers. The day passed over, the night came, In this night, Cacus issued out of his cave and went in. The unfortunate man traveled to the country to pillage and rob if he could find any prey. Such is the lot of the unhappy: in the end, he is paid in kind for his transgressions. His misfortune led him to a meadow where Oxen and cows of Hercules grazed, not far from the spring. He was accompanied by his three wives. As soon as he saw the beasts by the light of the moon, he recognized them at once. He was struck with awe and his countenance changed, for suddenly all his sorrows rose up in him, reaching the quick of his heart. He could not speak. His wives, seeing that he spoke no word and that he gazed at the beasts in wonder, came to him and asked him what he had. \"Alas,\" Cacus replied, \"you must know for certain that all the sorrow of the world arises in my stomach and surrounds my heart. For I see here the Oxen of the Triumph of my enemy Hercules, and in beholding them, my sorrow is renewed.\" The losses I have suffered at his hand, the honors and worship he has caused me to lose, the kingdoms taken from me, and the great misery I am now in - he must be here somewhere. Cursed be his coming; for I never knew what to do but in sign of revenge, I shall kill his oxen and his cattle.\n\nWhen the three sisters had learned of Cacus' sorrow, they advised him not to kill the beasts. They said, \"If you kill them, Hercules will lose nothing, for he would eat them instead. It would be better for your wife to take and lead away as many as you can and bring them into our camp. For if you do so, Hercules will suffer damage and disgrace, and you will have pleasure and profit.\"\n\nCacus believed his wife had said this to him. Yet he looked around the meadow to see if there was anyone there to keep them. But he found no man or woman. Then he went to the beasts and took eight of the best that he could choose - four oxen and four cattle. After he bound them. To gather with a cord by the tails and put the cord about his neck, and drew them so in that manner into his cave, so that the beasts resisted strongly to go backward in that manner. Cacus brought in this manner all the beasts that he had captured, to prevent anyone from following him by the tracks of the beasts' feet:\n\nWhen he had put the Herculean beasts in his cave as it is said. He shut the door so well that a man should never have known or perceived that there had been a door. Then, thinking that he had been successful, he lay down and slept, and it was day. Hercules, desiring much to hear news of his beasts, arose and did so much that King Euander brought him to the place where his oxen and cows were.\n\nWhen they had come into the meadow, Hercules found that he was lacking four oxen and as many cows. Therefore, he was greatly troubled. And to know whether the gods had taken them or any thieves had stolen them, he commanded: They should observe all around the meadow / And see if the tracks or impressions of the animals' feet could be seen or known. At his command, one and others began to search / Some saw towards Mount Aventine. And found the pass and the animals' feet. But they thought that by that pass the animals had descended from the mountain to come into the meadow / When they had searched for a long time and saw that they found nothing, they made their report to Hercules and said to him, \"We could not perceive on any side where these oxen had emerged / And on no side could we find any signs or tokens of animals leaving the pasture / But one said, 'I have found the pass and the feet of certain oxen / And know that they have descended from this mountain into this meadow.' When Hercules heard that oxen had come from the mountain into the meadow, he called Euander / And asked him, \"What people dwell on the mountain?\" Euander said to him, \"There are none.\" A man dwelt there, and Montague was inhabited. Hercules went there to see the pastures, and he thought that eight great beasts had passed through that night, for the footprints were large and new. He wanted to know where they had gone, but he found that the beasts' hooves ended there, as they had been grazing. Hercules was then greatly astonished, for there were no strange beasts. He began to think: when he had had a little thought, he beheld the mountain. He said, it must needs be that the gods have driven my oxen away or else a thief is in this mountain, who has come and has led them away, returning backward. But since I have less suspicion of the gods than of the thief, I shall never depart from them until I have searched this mountain from one side to another. For my heart urges me that the beasts are here.\n\nWith this conclusion, Hercules did take action. diuerse calues that were there and maad hem to faste tyll none. This whyle duryng he sente for his harnoys and armes by philotes. and adoubed & made hym redy to fighte / Anone after mydday as the calues began to crye and blete for honger he dide than them to be brought aboute the montaygne. Than as they pas\u2223sid by the place where the caue was and cryed. hyt happend that the kyen that were in the caue herde them / And answerd cryyng so lowde that the sowne passid by the hooks of the caue. and cam to the ceres of the cal\u00a6ues and also of hercules and of other / whan hercules herde the crye of his kyen. He abood there. his calues began to crye agayn. But his kyen cryed no more. for cacus by the force of their cryes was awaked. And as he that allway doubted for to be accused roose vp and cutte the throtes of the kyen. The calues than naturelly knowyng their moders cryed sore lowde and brayed as they that desired the mylk for to lyue by / how be hit they coude not so lowde crye / that her moders answerd\nthem. herof Merulated much over the matter of Hercules. Then he approached the mountain and went to the place where it seemed he had heard the cry. He was there three times searching if he could find any hole or cave or reduce it. But how was it that he passed many times the entrance of the cave, he could never perceive it. Some said that the loud and brazen noise they had heard from the cave was an illusion. Others said that Hercules had lost his labor and pain and begged him to leave to seek anything more, for they thought it not recoverable. In the end, when Hercules had heard one and another and saw that he might not come to the end of his desire, in great anger he took in both arms a great tree that grew there and shook it three times with such great force that at the third time he uprooted it root and all in such a way that the root that came out of the earth made a right great large hole, profound and deep, the bottom of the cave was seen. When Hercules saw the great hole that the root of the tree had made. The tree had made it. He was right joyous and glad, and said, \"Truly, it is here that the great thief dwells. I must see if he is here and what merchants inhabit in this place. In saying these words, Hercules bowed down his head and beheld on one side of the cave where he saw Cacus. As soon as he saw the thief, he knew him at once, and exclaimed, \"Cacus, I see you! You have before this time troubled the realms of Hesperia with innumerable delights and great sins that you made openly and publicly. This was the cause of the pardon of your lordship. Now you trouble the Italians with tyrannies hidden and unknown. I know your life; you cannot deny it nor forsake it. It is fitting that you die, therefore, and that I make the Italians free from your horrible and odious thefts. O accursed man, if your crowns, your diadems, your scepters, your brutes, your ruffians could not save you, why then and wherefore are you wrapped in sins?\" amendest the not ne correcte the for the pugnycion that thou hast suffred / but yet in the stede and place that thou sholdest dispose thand a putter in of fyre to brenne villages and howses And where thou sholdest haue kept and sauyd women. thou hast defowled them and don hem vilon\u2223nye. O kaytyf kynge / with oute coniuryng or pynyng of the / certes I see well that thou art he that the ytaly\u00a6ens knowe not that thou hast persecuted hem. Thy ma\u00a6lyce hath ben grete and thy subtylte / whan vnto thys day thou were neuer accused. And hast doon a grete thynge. But hit is not so grete / ner hast not so hidde the but thou arte right nyghe perill ffor thou shalt yelde to me agayn my oxen. And ffinably thou shalt put me to deth / or thou shalt deye by my hand. And thou shalt not escape by rennyng ne by thy subtyll fyres.\nWHan Cacus vnderstode this sentence / he was strongly affrayed. neuerthelesse he lyfte vp his hede And seeyng that he was founde by hercu\u2223les the man of the world that he moste hatid / he sayd to hym / Alas, Hercules, corrupted by courtesans. What cruel fortune has compelled you to draw out the tree from which the profound and deep roots have discovered the riches of King Cacus, late reigning, but now private and banished from all worldly prosperity. Is it not enough for you that I may have the core of my natural goods? When you have taken all away from me. And that I live by robbery and prey, from which the culpability and sin ought to accrue to the doer. Why do you not allow me to live and draw forth the remainder of my poor life among the stones, among the rocks, and among the works of the earth? Consider now what you have done to this king, and seek him no more. You have harmed and grieved him in some way. Hercules answered, Cacus, if you were in the abysses of wretchedness and miseries, your demerits would accuse you. And I am truly sorry and pitiful to see a king in such a haughty and shameful state. But when you cannot atone for your past days or these present ones. With one exception, what remedy have you daily practiced, both in prosperity and adversity? I well know that you are the new persecutor of the Italians, and that your hand is stained with their blood. I seek not the Italians' complaint against you, for they can say nothing about it. This tree has spoken for them, and by its roots it has discovered your enclave. Therefore, choose whether you will come and fight with me here in the air, at large, or else I will come and assault you in your inn: for if it is possible for me, I shall deliver the world from your tyranny.\n\nBy this answer, Cacus knew that there was no respite for him. He supposed that he would save himself as he had done before, and made such a great smoke and fume from his craft that it seemed to come out of the hole that the tree had made, as if it were a pit of hell. And this fume was laden with flames burning marvelously. For this fume. Hercules never abandoned Cacus, but leapt into the cave in the midst of the flames and smoke, acting as its master. He was immediately provided with remedies for this and attacked Cacus in such a way that he felt no smoke or suffocation. Then he gave him such a great blow on the helmet with his club that he made him rebound his head against one of the cave's walls. Cacus, with the shock of this blow, released the smoke from his stomach. Seeing that he could not escape by this means, he took his large axe, which stood by him for defense, and Hercules allowed him to take it. Cacus struck at him because the cave was not large. They fought for a long time without ceasing. To the rescue of Cacus came the three sisters who made great lamentation and threw stones at Hercules in great abundance and wept bitterly. These three damsels loved Cacus dearly. Hercules and Cacus fought for a long hour without stopping. At the end of the fight, Hercules... (The text ends abruptly) End of our journey. They were both so exhausted that they had to rest. Cacus took great pride. For he was strong of body, and it seemed that Hercules was not as strong as he had been before. And because he had not overcome him at the beginning, Cacus presumed that Hercules could not vanquish him. With this presumption, he demanded of Hercules if he would engage in battle without the cave. Hercules answered that he was content. With this answer, Cacus took away the stone that blocked the cave entrance and left. In going out, Hercules saw his cattle that were dead in a corner, and his oxen that were bound by the Moliones to a pillar. He was sorry when he saw his cattle in that condition. Nevertheless, he passed on and pursued Cacus, who rushed out with outstretched arms and made himself ready. And said to him, \"thou cursed thief, thou hast done great dishonor to me by killing my cattle. Thou cursed thief, thou thyself answered Cacus, \"yet thou hast done more to me.\" The displayer is to have slain my men and taken away my realms. Thou art only guilty of the evil that I have done and of their death. I would please the gods that I had you in my mercy as I had them. Be thou a sewer that thou shouldst never take away realms from any man. And now late us achieve our battle: At these words Hercules and Cacus struck each other right sore, and by great felony their strokes cleaved to their harms and sounded. At this sounding, King Evander and the Greeks came to the battle to see it. They forced him with all his power, for he saw it was time for him to show and put forth all that he might. He handled his axe mightily, and it was well needed of him. He was hard and boisterous. He gave many a stroke to Hercules. And Hercules, on his side, did not fail if he had a strong party against him. He was mighty as well. Hercules was stronger at avenue and more so than was good for Cacus. He never struck Cacus but tore out his eyes, or made him stoop or kneel on one side or the other, or go backward shamefully. This battle lasted for a long time and annoyed the onlookers, who sought each other and fought hard on both sides. Finally, they grew weary and it was necessary for them to rest. Then all their bodies were covered in sweat. Hercules saw that the prize had not yet been given, and that the night was approaching. He felt great shame within himself for having engaged in such a long battle. Then he began to search for Cacus nearby and redoubled his blows upon him with such ferocity that he eventually knocked him down to the ground, leaving him dazed. The three sisters fled into a forest named Octa, filled with tears and cries. Many Greeks wanted to pursue them, but Hercules made them return. Afterward, he called the king Euander and his people. \"said to the king, here is he that was wont to trouble the Italians. by secret murders / conspiracies / & unknown defiling of women. give no more suspicion to the gods, here is the minister and doer of these trespasses, I have intention to punish him. Not only after his desertion. but unto death:\n\nEndevor answered to Hercules and said, \"Prince excellent and worthy above all, exceedingly so. And the most accomplished in arms. What reverence is due to thee, not only human reverence, but that reverence which is of divine nature. I truly believe that thou art a god or the son of a god, or else a man deified. Thou in particular hast seen more in a moment than all the eyes in general of all the Italians have seen. not only in one year, but in a hundred. O son of noble men and the stock of relentless and shining of glorious feet and deeds, how may we thank thee and give praise for the desertion of this great work, Thou\" By bright and shining labor, we have been freed from dens and haste given us light and clarity. You have achieved more than the great towers and all the assemblies and armed men of Italy should have been able to do. And you have gained more triumph in chastising this giant, passing terrible, than we can give in return. Truly, if you are not a god. You have of the gods their singular grace. I promise, in remembrance of this labor, to build a solemn temple in my city where you shall have an altar. And upon the altar shall be your representation in fine gold. And the representation of this tyrant, showing how you have vanquished him, so that our heirs and successors in coming times may have knowledge of it.\n\nDuring these words, Cacus was relieved, astounded by the stroke he had received. But Hercules ran after and detained him. He embraced him so harshly that he could not move and brought him back and carried him to a deep place. In this pit, where Hercules had cast all filth and ordure, the foul Cacus, a Greek discovery and planting, had his head downward towards the filth below. The Italians then gathered around the pit and cast so many stones upon him that he died there miserably. Such was the end of poor King Cacus. He died in a hole full of ordure and stinking filth. When King Evander saw that he was dead by Hercules' consent, he had him drawn out of the pit and brought into his city. There, Hercules was received triumphantly, an event so grand that it cannot be recounted. The feast was great that night in King Evander's palaces, and it passed with great joy. The following morning, King Evander ordered certain people to carry and display this miserable corpse in all the cities where he had caused harm. For counting and recounting his life: What shall I make long rehearsal? When the body was shown in the city of King Euander, those who had the governance of it bore it to various places. And all along they examined Hercules. In the novelties of this victory, King Euander began to build the temple he had promised to Hercules. He requested that Hercules would stay in that country until his temple was fully made and completed. Hercules saw that King Euander labored diligently in his temple and agreed to his request, for it seemed to him that the temple would be finished soon. Some books say that a long time before, Mars had promised to Hercules that a temple would be built for him, and for that reason, he had come to Italy to find out if his destiny would occur or not. When the Italians heard the account of Hercules' birth, they were more pleased that he was the son of Jupiter than of Amphitriton. The glorious feats of Hercules were greatly revered in Italy, not only because he had vanquished the giants of Cremona but also due to the death of Cacus. His renown was so great that during the construction of his temple, all manner of people came there to see him. They named him the son of Jupiter, the king and lords came to pay him homage and bring divine presents. Among them all, the queen of Lawrence came from her city with many chariots and chariots, laden with many jewels, and presented them to Hercules. Hercules received the queen and her presents graciously and thanked her greatly. This queen was named Fausta. She was the wife of King Fanus, the son of Prius, who was replete with lust. She had not seen King Fanus, her husband, for four years because he had gone to a far country and had not returned at that time. It happened that she first began to notice and observe Hercules. She began to desire his conversation and grew to love him deeply, so much so that she could think of nothing but Hercules. In her heart, she believed him to be the most worthy and upright man she had ever seen. She praised him and extolled him, her heart filled with the fire of her love. Many thoughts filled her mind. Awake and quickened by a joyous spirit, she spent the first day with Hercules. When she was alone and resting, she lay down on a bed and began to imagine the beauty of Hercules through her ardent desires. Unable to resist, she wept and deeply longed for him. This was the outcome of her imaginings. After many such imaginings, she began to say to herself, O fortune, what man or what prince or what king have you brought into this country? This is not a king like other ones. This is an image singular and like as the gods had made him by nature, to excel and triumph above all their other subtle works and labors. All glory shines in him not only by his princely prowess but by his simple and sacred corporeal perception, to which no comparison can be made. O clear image among the nobles, who is she that seeing his eyes, that one only fight will not have her heart pierced through? Who is she that shall not covet and desire his grace? Blessed is she who may gain his favor. She is humble, fair, playful, and laughing. He is a treasure, O dear treasure, like the gold that passes all other kinds of metal similarly, he passes all other works of nature in all prosperity. How then shall I not love him? As long as I shall live, his name shall remain written in my memory, and his beauty shall not be forgotten. But she remained for an eternal souvenir. Greet were then the praises that Faunus spoke of Hercules. She forgot the king Faunus and put him all in oblivion for the love of Hercules. She was there for a certain space of time, and always thought of Hercules. Hercules, who thought of nothing for her, made no semblance or sign of love towards her. How was it that he spent time with her and with the wife of King Euander, named Carmenta? The more he spent time with them, the more was Faunus in great pain from love. Sometimes she lost her composure and contained it so well that no man took notice. But when she had been there for eight days in such painful torment, and she saw that Hercules could not see the love she had for him, she came to him on a day and humbly asked him to take the patience of her presence to pass the time. While King Euander performed his temple duties, ... Hercules acceded and agreed to her request, bringing great joy to her. They then prepared to go to Lawrence. They took leave of the king and queen, and set off. As they went, Hercules was always by Fausta's side, and they discussed many things. Fausta had her amorous eyes fixed on Hercules, and he eventually took notice. He said to her softly, \"Lady, you do me great honor by bringing me into your house. Alas, Sir, answered Fausta, I do nothing but pain. How I wish I had the power to entertain you and make you cheerful as I would like. Hercules replied, \"The good cheer you show me is pleasing to me. From this moment on, my heart is bound to fulfill your will in such a way that there is nothing you desire, but I will accomplish it at your command, to the best of my ability. Fausta, with these words, began to smile. Lady: I have not done anything for you. You are not more indebted to me than you claim. Yet I thank you for your kind words. And because the most unfortunate man of all men deigns to accompany such a lady as I, I am both honored and happy.\n\nHercules: I shall not take that to my profit that I am the most unfortunate of men. For there are many more addressed than I am. But truly, the more you speak, the more you make me your subject. Since you do me such great honor, I ask as much as I may that I may be your knight. That you take power over me to command me to do your will and pleasure.\n\nSyre: Very well, if it pleases you.\n\nLady: I shall not command you, said Syre. But I shall give you as much seigniorage and lordship as it pleases you to take.\n\nHercules: I would have kissed the lady then, and would have done it had she not resisted. They had spoken of other gods from that. During this time, Hercules intended to please the lady more than he had before. Shortly, they came to an understanding with each other, and she with him. They lay together secretly, and Hercules fathered a son on her, who later became renowned as Latinus.\n\nWhile Hercules and Fausta enjoyed this time in Laurence, news arrived that King Faunus was coming. Fausta, who had deeply fixated her heart on Hercules, was filled with sorrow and distress upon hearing this news. Tears filled her eyes, and she went to a chamber where Hercules was. Taking him aside, she said, \"Alas, my love, I believe I shall die from sorrow.\" Hercules asked her, \"Why, my lady?\" She replied, \"For your husband, King Faunus, is returning home. I had supposed he was dead these past four years, but he is not. His heralds and messengers have arrived to announce his arrival.\" Herein this day, Alas, what evil fortune is this? We must needs now depart. Our communication shall fail. With this word, the lady embraced Hercules and fell down in his lap. Hercules took her up and comforted her the best he could, and said to her, \"Since it is so that you are married, it is the reason that you remain still with your husband. Whatever Hercules said to the lady, she could not keep her from weeping and lamenting her love. Their lamenting was great. In the end, she went into her chamber and dried her eyes and calmed her anxious heart as much as she could. In arranging and adorning herself in such a way as she had been joyous and glad of her husband's coming, he soon followed and entered the city with great pomp.\n\nHercules and Facua went against King Fanus. When King Fanus saw Hercules, he did to him as much honor and worship as he could. For as much as he had heard say and was advised of the arms that he had wielded against him. Hercules stayed in Cremona for four days after Fanus returned home. On the fifth day, he realized he could no longer enjoy his love there and was wasting his time. He took leave of King Fanus and Queen Fausta, and returned to the house of King Euander, where he stayed until his temple was completed.\n\nAbout the completion of this temple, an herald of Calidon came to Hercules and informed him that King Priam was coming against him with a great army to avenge the death of Cacus, his cousin. He accused Hercules of unjustly and cruelly putting to death such a noble king as Cacus. He further warned Hercules that on the following morning, he would find King Priam at the same place where the blood of King Cacus was shed. There, by Mortal battle at Puysannes, Puyssanwold proved that he truly spoke. When Hercules had well heard that King Priam had signified to him, he had his heart full of joy. And answered the herald that the death he had made Cacus die was a work of Justice. And that, upon that quarrel, he would finish the battle with King Priam at the hour and place he had mentioned. After this answer, Hercules gave the herald his gown that he wore, and bade him be well entertained, saying that he had brought him tidings of pleasure. When the herald had had good cheer and been well entertained as Hercules had commanded, he returned to King Priam and told him that Hercules had answered. And that he should have the battle on the morrow. King Priam, who supposed that he would have won all by advantage, for he had in the East more than thirty thousand men, thanked the gods for these tidings. And came and lodged himself that night near Mount Aventine, on the River Tiber. Maad ready for battle. And similarly did each man on his side think of his works. The night passed over. And then, at the dawning of the morning, as soon as it began, King Priam and Hercules began to sow their great fields and with that sowing, they armed their men to the point. And after regimenting them, they came, both parties, to the same place where the blood of King Cacus had been shed.\n\nAbout five of the clock in the morning, Hercules and Priam assembled at the battlefield. From as far as Priam saw Hercules, he made a tremendous cry. With this cry, all the Calidonians turned against Hercules and made such a great uproar that it seemed there was no one left in the world for them. But just as a small rain abates or lays down a great wind, in the same way Hercules alone laid down his great pride and uproar as soon as he saw his enemies running against him, about a quarter of a mile away. Hercules departed from his battle, which was well set in order. After he had commanded his men not to hasten for anything, he began to charge against the Calidonians so swiftly, not like a horse, but like a heart, which no man could overtake. King Evander was greatly alarmed to see Hercules, so great in size and swiftness. Pricus and the Calidonians, when they saw him moving from the east, had supposed it to be a horse or some other beast. In the end, when Hercules was near them, at a distance of a bowshot, they knew that it was Hercules. They were greatly alarmed at his coming. Pricus ordered his men to attack him. They shot arrows, threw javelins, and spears against all parts of Hercules' body, but they could never pierce his skin nor enter it, nor did he ever rest until he had passed among his enemies, confusing them all before him like a tempest or thunder, and went on. In the midst of the east, there was the chief banner of King Prycus. Hercules dwelt and rested there. He began to strike and lay on, one side and the other, dyeing his sword in the blood of the Calidonians. His sword was so heavy that no man could endure it. It made the place red, where the blood of Cacus was shed, of blood upon blood and of dead men upon dead. Then was not the shame and death of King Cacus avenged, but increased upon the persons of his friends in the bondage of slaughter and of execution. The cry arose greatly around Hercules. He broke and rent the banners and the recognitions of the Calidonians and their conductors. There was none so hardy but he withdrew. And there was none so well ass but he was afraid and trembled. All the best and hardiest fled before him. Then he made as if to engage with his enemies. Theseus, Euander, and others came to the battle. At the recount, there were many a spear. broken many a hauberk and many a helmet, and many a knight was struck in pieces. The Calidonians were in great numbers, and there were many of them strong and mighty. The battle was right strong and mighty and fierce. King Priam led the charge against the Greeks and fought most fiercely: Hercules and Theseus acted valiantly and worthy of remembrance. They ran from rank to rank and disheartened their enemies. Their feet and deeds were so great that it is impossible to recount and tell. And in little time they put their enemies in despair. What shall I say, all the discomfiture was on the Calidonians, for by the force of arms they held the field the most part. And when King Priam saw that his people could no longer fight, and that he had lost on all sides, and that fortune was against him in all respects. After he had labored greatly and was in need of rest, Withdraw him from the press and seized the retreat; and with the same, all the Calidonians tore his back and fled after King Pyrrhus. When Hercules saw that the Calidonians were withdrawing, he made his Greeks do the same, not for any need they had but to show their enemies that they were willing to let them rest. In this way, the battle ceased, going to Hercules, so that the Calidonians could reassemble in the morning when they had rested. They withdrew some here and some there. The day passed, and the night came on. Then King Pyrrhus assembled his people and showed them their loss and the strength and might of the Greeks, and especially of Hercules. After he had said this to them, he advised them that they could conquer nothing against them and that they could do no wiser thing than to withdraw and return to their country. The Calidonians, who feared Hercules more than death or tempest or thunder of heaven, had great joy when they understood his will. King Pricus and his men answered in unison that they were ready to set off. With this response, they were agreed upon leaving their tents, carts, and armor behind to travel lightly and secretly. After this, they continued on their journey without making any noise or causing a disturbance. That night they traveled far from Hercules. The next morning, Hercules discovered they had fled. He and his men quickly pursued them to expedite the matter. King Pricus returned to Calidonia. Hercules pursued him into his strong-walled city and laid siege to it. During this siege, no Calidonian dared to come out. Hercules frequently assaulted the city, but he wasted his time. Finally, when he saw that he could gain no advantage against his enemies, he called his Greeks and said, \"He who does not take risks wins nothing.\" We sovereign here doing nothing worthy of memory. Our enemies come not out upon us, but if we fetch them, we shall never have an end. Shortly we must all win or lose. Wherefore I am advised that I shall disguise myself. And that I will go unto the gate. Let the porters understand that I have an errand to the king. And here upon if I may enter, I will go unto the king. And I shall so do if it is possible that he shall never assault me in battle again. And if it happens that I may do as I have devised to you, I will signal you to assault the city as soon as I am with inner actions upon me.\n\nTheseus and Euander understood well what Hercules intended. They answered that they were ready to obey all his commands and that they would assault the city after his saying. Then Hercules armed himself like one embassador. Theseus and the Greeks disposed themselves for the assault. When all was ready, Hercules departed and came and knocked on the gate of Calydon. porters looked out at a little window to see who knocked there / and seeing that there was only one man in a long gown / they opened the gate and asked him what he wanted / Hercules answered that he sought the king / and one of the porters said, \"Certainly, said Hercules, I would like to speak with his person.\" And saying these words, the porters saw that Hercules was armed underneath his gown / and they cried out at him. \"Treason! You have come to spy on the city!\" When Hercules saw himself so accused by the porters / He was there he would be and had great joy / which he covered under a simple countenance / and made at the beginning as if he would have fled and escaped / But he employed so little of his strength. that the porters brought him before King Pricus / Who sat in the hall with his daughters and his princes. And made to him the presentation. \"Sir, here is a traitor. He has entered.\" In your citadel to see your power, we have taken him. He said he would speak to your person. How well he is armed beneath this mantle, as you may see. It is a right evil sign. For a man desiring to speak to a king should in no way be armed privately or concealed,\n\nWhen the king understood the accusation of the porters. While they spoke, he beheld Hercules and knew him. He was so afraid that he didn't know what to say. Hercules then defended himself and put himself out of the porters' holding. Casting them down to the ground so harshly and cruelly that they never afterward could relieve themselves,\n\nWhen the Calidonians in the hall saw him so ill-treated by the porters, they cried out \"Hercules\" to his death and assaulted him from all sides. His garment was then immediately torn,\n\nIn coming on, he received many a stroke. And always he defended himself without displaying his power and strength. As he warding off the tidings of the assault that was near. affray was great in the hall and in the city on all sides / The Calidonians rushed to the palais to assault Hercules. King Prius donned armor and joined the fray / Hercules was assaulted fiercely. But truly, this assault cost the king dearly, for Hercules approached the tabernacle / which stood upon four great iron bars. From which he took one and brought it down / After he lifted up his arm with the bar / And struck the king Prius so forcefully upon the helmet's rim that notwithstanding his strong helm and armor, he was knocked down to the earth. And struck him so forcefully that he fell dead between his two doorkeepers.\n\nAt this time, a great cry arose among the Calidonians. Not only there but also in the city, for the one who made the watch had summoned them to arms, as the Greeks assaulted the walls hastily. Calidonia was then terribly troubled. The Calidonians did not know where Hercules, after slaying King Eurytus of Calydon, began to attack his enemies. The palace and walls were filled with armed heads. After this deed, Hercules struck down his enemies in great numbers. At each stroke, he slew two or three. In little time, he covered the entire palace with the dead bodies of the Calydonians, one upon another, so that no man could adorn his armor.\n\nThe Calydonians, of great courage, felt great shame that they could not overcome Hercules, who had done such a great deed upon them. They assaulted him with great appetite and threw darts and sharp javelins. His arms and shoulders bore all the blows, and he performed great feats with his club, giving great strokes that none of them could resist his strength.\n\nThe remaining Calydonians came at him with great courage and desire to avenge the death of their king. Hercules put so many to death that he knew not where. The Calidonians set upon Hercules at the palace gate. Before the gate, a pitiful noise of weeping and cries from women and children arose. When the Calidonians realized and perceived Hercules' virtue and strength, and saw that they labored in vain to assault him and fled, Hercules issued out of the palace with his club covered in blood. As soon as the Calidonians saw him, they cried out and renewed their assault. They assailed him with anguish, casting stones and darts upon him. They shot arrows at him abundantly, as if provoked and eager to hinder his passage. In this assault, Hercules had much to endure. He passed through the throng that attempted to have slain him, and never ceased until he reached the gate.\n\nThe Calidonians then ran after him without fear of death. Swollen with pride and anger, they began anew to strike upon his shoulders and back. When Hercules saw this, He turned his face to his evil willards and struck them swiftly on the right side and the left side, staining his barre with new blood and mauling his enemy, making them recoil and go back more than forty paces. Afterward, he came to the gate, and the Calydonians saw him again. But before they reached him, he braced and battered and frustrated the lookouts and guards of the gate, preventing the Greeks from assaulting it with all their might. He broke down the drawbridge. After he called the assailants, and they came to him, they entered the city with little resistance. At that time, the Calydonians were in great commotion, unwilling to yield or grant mercy until they saw their streets and houses filled with dead bodies.\n\nIn this manner, King Priam was slain and his city taken by Hercules, after the Tution and slaughter, when the Calydonians had humiliated him. Hercules and Theseus went to the palaces and they arrived there so close that they found the daughters of King Priam with their ladies and maidservants, seated among the dead bodies. There were so many dead bodies that they could not find or identify the one they sought. Hercules, upon arriving, began to look around and among all others, he cast his eyes upon Iole, the daughter of the king. For she was extraordinarily resplendent in beauty, and in the whole world, there was none like her. When he had seen her a little by a secret commandment of love, he was drawn toward her, intending to comfort her. As soon as the sad damsel saw Hercules approaching her, she trembled with fear and fled to her chamber. The ladies and maidservants followed her, and Hercules did the same.\n\nWhat shall I say? He entered the chamber where she was and sat down beside her.\n\nLady, you may not flee from my company, Iole spoke then and said, O miserable tyrant. What seekest thou me now to trouble me more? Thou hast recently slain my father, and Madam answered Hercules if King Priamus is dead. It is reasonable that he is not greatly bereaved or wept, for he was intending to avenge the death of the tyrant Cacus. He could not long since attempt to assail me in earnest. Saying that I had unrightfully and without cause slain him, I fought with him on this quarrel. The battle was not ended nor brought to a conclusion at that time: for he withdrew himself with his people and came into this city. And I have seen him hastily; how well I could not overcome him. When I saw that, I laid siege about this city. He would not come to achieve the battle during my siege. I have this day willed to have an end. Fortune has been on my side and has put you in my power. Certainly it must needs be that without any remedy you are my lady and my love. For in seeing your singular beauty, love has constrained me to be yours. Then I pray you as affectionately as I may or can, that you cease your sorrow and receive me as your friend and love. The more you weep, the less you get and win. Continual tears or weeping that cannot be raised again will never bring your father back.\nThe fair yole spoke these words, and she was so oppressed with heat and contrary imaginations that her heart failed her. It was a pitiful thing to behold. Hercules would have taken her up and sustained her between his arms. But a wise lady who had always governed her came to him and said on her knees, \"Sir, I pray you in the name of all the goddesses. That you will cease to speak to this poor damsel for a while: She has lost her father today. It must needs be that nature requites her. You may do with her as you please. Allow her a little time to remain in her melancholy. All will be well if it pleases the goddesses, as well for you as for her. At the request of the lady, Hercules was content to let her go for a time. He recommended you to her. goddesses went to Theseus to pass the time. But so that you would not leave or escape, he arranged for twelve Greeks to keep her. He commanded them on pain of death that they should allow no woman to leave the chamber without his permission. In this night Hercules had the deceased bodies removed from the palace and the place cleansed. He also ordered that the body of King Pirithous be placed in a tomb. When these things were accomplished, Hercules and Theseus, along with their armed men, made merry with those they found there. You were never out of Hercules' memory at this time. You were certainly so disconsolate that it cannot be recounted. The lady who had charge of you grieved deeply to comfort and cheer you. Then, when Hercules had left you in the chamber as mentioned, and you had many words with her, and among other things, she said to you, \"My daughter, you weep too much.\" \"Madam,\" you replied, \"how can I help it?\" When shall I have cause to weep and wail if I have none now. My father is dead. I have lost him who loved me more than anyone in the world. I may lose no more or anything greater. Ought not then my heart be angry and sorrowful? My daughter said the lady I know well that you have the most apparent occasion of sorrow that any woman may have. But when it must needs be that you pass by this misfortune, what profit are your grievous weeping? And there may be nothing that proceeds from them but augmentation of melancholy, and hurting and appeasing of your beauty. You are now fallen into the hands of this prince. This is a man worthy and noble above all others; he loves you; you ought to thank the gods and give them praises for this grace. For this is to you an everlasting and happy thing in your misfortune if you will believe me. You should put up with all this suffering. It is better to suffer one evil than two. I think you ought to consider your estate. And if you consider it well, you should pay for forgetting it: Madame said, \"Alas, how can I have love or affection for him who has done me so much harm? He has taken from me neither knight nor uncle, but my own father has spoken to me of it no more. He is and shall be my mortal enemy as long as I live, and as long as he lives he shall have no more of me for prayer, promise, or menace.\"\n\nMy daughter said, \"Do not bind yourself, where you are free. The ways and deeds of love are subtle and sudden: Love is always in its secret throne, doing nothing but humbly and meekly softening and bending the hardest and strongest hearts. No tower is so high that it cannot be brought down by subtle means. No wind is so great or so rigorous that it cannot be tempered. There is no night so dark that it cannot be surmounted with the day.\" If you hate Hercules now, but you have spent a long time with him and had many conversations with him, you may come to love him more than you ever loved your father, mother, or any other ancestor. I can prove this by my own experience. At first, I hated my husband so much that I wished to see him die a shameful death. But suddenly, when we began to converse with one another, I loved him so certainly that if he had not been with me day and night, I would have died from sorrow and anguish. My daughter is the same in matters of love. Often she tells me that after great hate comes great love. The glory of Hercules is so clear that your heart ought to be enchanted. The conquest he has made in this city will be a unique preparation for all good things for you. Would you not strive for a greater well-being than to be a fellow or lover of him who is the master of kings, the most well-faring man, and the most triumphant in arms? To him, nothing is impossible. She has conquered the most part of the universal world, O my daughter, rejoice in your fortune. Do not shut the door to prosperity that comes to you. It is to be believed that the desolation of this city has been devised and ordered by the parliament of the gods, for your sake. By these words, the fair Yole had her stomach filled with great imaginings. She rose from that place and entered into her garden, where was the presentation of the goddess Diana. When she came there, she knelt down in great humility before the image. And in abundance of sighs and weeping as sorely as she had done any time of the day before, she said: Goddess of virgins, what shall your right simple handmaiden and servant do, Alas, my envious hope. Behold my affliction. Pity my unhappiness. Send your eyes into the secret of my heart and see the sorrow that I bear. The favor of virgins keeps my body and preserves it from the hand of him who would make me his wife. After he has engendered in me the root of mortal hate. Which is not possible to be annulled as nature judges in me. And it is true that the hate I have against this tyrant Hercules shall be enduring.\n\nIn the night, Yolle abode with the discoverer, cursing Hercules, saying that she would rather die than have any love in him. Despising the love of Hercules, she passed the night without food or drink.\n\nThe following day, Hercules returned to her. And on a new prayer, he asked her to be his wife. Saying without respect that she must needs agree to this. She was right sore disappointed by this request and excused herself in many ways that were too long to recall at this time. But at the end of the prayers and requests of Hercules, the damsel,\n\nLove in such a way that she understood well that Hercules\nwas issued from the root of a noble father. Moder accorded herself to do his pleasure. What more can I say than that, with Hercules as her husband, they lay together and became acquainted with each other, their wills locked and put into one. Hercules forgot Deianira, and she forgot the death of her father. So much was she enamored of Hercules that she could not rest in any place but was always with him. O marvelous thing. The rancor and hate that she had yesterday towards Hercules are now suddenly turned into love, infallible. To expedite the matter during the first days of Hercules and Deianira's love, at Deianira's request, Hercules gave her sisters in marriage to certain Greek knights and left them there to govern the country and the kingdom of Calydon. After he departed from there and brought his oxen and his cattle with him, he sent King Euander back to his dominion. Thanking him for his company and the honor he had done him.\n\nEuander. Hercules had conveyed Hercules into Greece, but he in no way wished to have the journey. At last, Euanter, with great thanks to Hercules and his army, departed. Hercules, with his exercises, went to the sea. He did not forget behind him the fair yole; he loved her sovereignly. All day he was with her, and she pleased him as much as she could, doubting more to lose his love than she feared death. As they went by the sea, maintaining their power, Hercules encountered, near a haven and a good city, a merchant galley. Hercules made the galley wait and called the captain. He asked the captain from which country he was and since when he had come. \"Sir, I departed late from the port of Troy,\" answered the captain of the galley. \"I see that you are strangers and that you do not know the peril that you are in. Therefore, I pity you and your company, and I advise you and pray you to be on your guard at the next port.\" You shall find that in no way you tarry there, for nothing that may befall you. If you go there, you shall harm yourselves, for there is a king, a tyrant, the most cruel in the world named Diomedes, who holds under him ten thousand thieves. And he makes war against all he can find and has a custom that he puts men to ransom as it pleases him. And if those he puts to such misery pay their ransom, he lets them go free. With that money and substance, he nourishes his thieves and his horses. And if they cannot furnish their ransom, he himself smites them into morsels and gives them to his horses to eat and devour. But there is one thing good for you. For this morning he has gone to the chase to hunt in a forest which is four miles from trace. And with him there are a hundred of the strongest thieves that he has. And I know this very well, for I have seen them depart not passing three hours ago. Hercules, upon hearing the words of the galley's patron and recalling the life of Diomedes, was more joyous in his heart than he had been since the death of the thief Cacus. He possessed the virtue that enabled him to identify monsters, tyrants, or any men hindering the common good, and he destroyed such tyrants. He would never retain or keep for himself anything of their goods, but gave all that he conquered in this way to noble men. He bestowed nothing but virtue. He would not increase his lordship nor amass and take royalties for himself, kingdom upon kingdom. He was endowed with this. And he always labored for the common good. O noble heart, O well-addressed courage, there was none like him among those before him or after him. For, to maintain and engage with my matter, when the patron had warned him as before mentioned that: The tyrant Dyomedes went hunting in the forest with his hundred men. He was shown the situation by the patron and told how to get there. After this, he allowed the patron to leave. He then called his mariners and assembled the Greeks, telling them to stay with him. He himself intended to enter the forest without delay. The patron had advised him to seek out Diomedes, saying he would never return to Greece until he had delivered the country from this tyrant. Yole began to weep when she heard this, and implored Hercules tenderly, weeping. But Hercules took no notice of her prayers. He gave Philotes his bow and club and entered a small, subtle, and light galley. With Philotes' help, he navigated it. Hercules reached the place, took land two bowshots from the forest. In setting foot on land, he heard the bustle and noise of the chase. He took great joy and said he was well addressed. He took his club and left his bow with Philotes. After entering the forest, he had not gone far when he found Diomedes and his hundred men. Diomedes was the first to spot Hercules from a distance. He knew him to be a stranger and called out, \"What are you seeking in this forest, giant?\" Hercules answered, \"Who are you?\" Diomedes replied, \"I am the king of Thrace. You have entered my domain without my leave. I am displeased. You must be my prisoner. Therefore yield to me.\" Hercules said, \"King Diomedes, you are at fault for not recognizing me. I am not disposed to yield without a fight and to an evil thief. Know that I will defend myself with this.\" When I clubbed him, with whom I have been accustomed to destroy monsters, and I hope today to make your horses eat and devour your body, just as you have taught and used them to eat your prisoners:\n\nWhen Diomedes heard Hercules' answer, he took a great axe that one of his men bore after him. And he lifted it up, threatening Hercules with death, and struck so hard that if Hercules had not turned the blow with his club, he would have been in great danger. Diomedes was one of the greatest and tallest, and had large strength, and had received the blow. He raised his club and failed not to strike Diomedes. For he gave him such a blow upon the stomach and heavy, that he tore him up so down from his horse. And he lay all astonished in the field. Then his men made them ready and assaulted Hercules on all sides. Some of them helped Diomedes and set him again upon his horse, the others fled upon Hercules with large arrows and javelins, and some broke their weapons. Their gloves were upon him. All these things affected him not. Hercules' helmet and headpiece were of fine steel, forged and tempered hard. Among them, the frog was like a mountain. When he had endured the first onslaught and assault of the thieves, he showed himself to them, and struck them down on all sides with such power that the pieces of them fled into the woods and struck them down from their horses. Diomedes was at that time present. And with great fury and malice, he came with many of his companions to the rescue of his thieves whom Hercules governed as he pleased. And Diomedes had well intended to murder Hercules. But Hercules did not falter for the blow but only bowed his head. After this, he lifted up his club and struck among the thieves. And mauled them all in less time than it would take an hour, and of the hundred he killed sixty, and the others all to bruise. and Frusshyd attacked him and made him flee with Diomedes, but Hercules, running more swiftly than any other, overtook Diomedes so near that he reached him by the leg and pulled him down from his horse, casting him against a tree to the earth. After seizing him by the body, Hercules subjected him with little resistance. For Diomedes was then completely subdued and could not help himself. And when he had him at his mercy, he bound him by the feet and hands. After this, he summoned twenty horses of the thieves that ran wild in the wood and came to Diomedes, saying to him: \"O thou cursed enemy who have spent all your time in tyranny, and have never done a good deed. But all your days have been spent in multiplying sins and vices, and you have troubled the people through theft and irreparable acts, and you have nourished your horses with human flesh, and by this cruelty you\" Hadest supposedly made me die; certainly, I shall do justice upon him and deal with his evil person as you would have done to mine. Then Hercules placed the tyrant in the midst of the ravenous horses, which were very hungry. And they immediately devoured him, for they loved man's flesh. And when Hercules had put the tyrant to death, he raised his arms in victory sign and returned to Philotes, who had stayed behind. Philotes had great joy when he saw Hercules return. He inquired of him how he had done and how he had fared. Hercules hid nothing from him. What shall I say with great joy and gladness? They returned to the Greeks and dismantled their ships and sailed swiftly to arrive at the port or harbor of Troy. Then Hercules wanted it to be known; it was late, and Troy was full of the death of King Diomedes. This notwithstanding, Hercules took Philotes' arms and sent him into the city to present them to those who governed it and for other reasons. Philotes went into the palace of Trace and summoned those who were principal in the city. When they had assembled, Philotes opened his charge and message to them. He summoned the Tracians and urged them to place their city in the hands of Hercules. He explained that Hercules was the one who had put Diomedes to death for his wicked living, and for the common good, the city could do no better than to receive him upon his coming. Hercules would not pillage it but would only restore it to good order. After making this declaration, Philotes revealed to them the arms of Diomedes.\n\nWhen the Tracians had heard Philotes and seen the arms of Diomedes, some of Diomedes' accomplices and those similar to him were filled with great fury. They would have taken the arms from Philotes. The wiser and more notable men, who had long desired the end of their troubles, however, restrained them. King. Seeing his arms knew assuredly that Diomedes was dead. And full of joy, he answered Philotes. For since Hercules is a king of great renown and wisdom, and had done a great deed in the death of Diomedes, they would receive him with good heart into the city. With our abundance of language, the Trachinians went to the gate and opened it. Philotes returned then to Hercules and told him these tidings. Hercules and the Greeks went out of their camp. And entering Trachis by a space of time, they were brought to the palaces where yet many thieves were. Hercules put all the thieves to death. Not in the same night, but during the space of ten days that he sojourned there. He set the city in a good nature under Polydeces. He delivered it from the evil thieves. He made judges by election at the people's pleasance, and when he had done all these things, he departed from Trachis with great thanksgivings, as well from the old as from the young. He mounted upon. Thesesus, after a succession of time without any adventure to mention, did so much that he came to his kingdom of Lycia and entered his palace. He was received with great joy by the inhabitants and neighbors. There he remained with the fair Yole, whom he loved above all temporal goods.\n\nThesesus, after Hercules' return, seeing that he intended to stay there and that there was no memory of any monster or tyrant in the world, took leave of his companions Hercules, Yole, Philotes, and others. He went to Athens and Thebes. The Greeks apparently did the same, and every man returned to his country and house, recounting and telling in all the places where they had gone the great adventures and glorious works of Hercules.\n\nThe renown that flees and flies as lightly as winds through realms and empires came and flew to where Dionysus was sorrowing. It was said to Dionysus that Hercules had returned from Spain. With great joy. Dame Deianira, glad for his renown and that he was descended in Lydia, was pleased and also subject to a great and singular pleasure. She concluded that she would go to him. She was ashamed that he had not signified to her his coming and had not sent for her. Anxious and downtrodden that she should fall out of Hercules' grace, she prepared herself and, in a right noble state, departed from home on a day to go to Lydia. In the course of time, she came near Lydia. Then she tarried there to prepare and array herself the best and most fair way she could. She called her squire named Lycas and commanded him to go to Lydia and signify to Hercules her coming.\n\nAt the commandment of Deianira, Lycas went into the city. He happened upon the gate and encountered and met a man of his acquaintance, a squire of Hercules.\n\nLycas and the squire greeted and saluted each other. After this, Lycas asked and demanded of the squire. The knight was where the king was. And if he were in his palaces, you truly said the squire, he is there, I assure you, and spends his time with his lady Yole, the most beautiful and resplendent lady that is in the world, as great as it is. Each man allows her. And she is praised a thousand times more than Diana, Hercules has her in such favor that they are continually together, and whatever the lady does is agreeable to Hercules, and there is no man who can say or tell the great love they have for each other.\n\nLycas, hearing these tidings of the squire, took leave of him and feigned having fallen or left behind some of his baggage or jewels. For, considering himself to be of advice, he thought it was not good that he signaled to Hercules the coming of Diana until he had warned her of his state. Penelope, simple and thinking, came to Diana, where she was adorning herself and said to her, \"Madame,\" what Here's the cleaned text:\n\nWhy did you ask, Deyanira? Therefore said Lycas. Why have you only told us what news? Lycas answered harshly. I have heard it said and told of Hercules' deeds of such bravery. Indeed, it is grievous for me to relate them to you. Yet, since you have come so far and must needs know and understand them, I tell and say to you certainly that your lord Hercules is in his palaces, rejoicing. And he has with him a lady, fair beyond comparison, whom he loves above all things for her beauty, which is so high and great that every man marvels, and she is the most sovereign in beauty that has ever been seen by human eyes. Consider well what you will do before you go any further; today it is necessary to abide and take counsel and advise.\n\nUpon hearing these tidings, Deyanira was passionately angry and was all beset with a great sorrow in all her veins. She began to quake and tremble. Her fair attendant who was beside her. She drew him towards her with her hands in such a fierce manner that she disgusted herself and struck herself on the breast with her fist, dealing a great blow. The ladies and damsels who accompanied her shrieked and cried out in pain and were greatly alarmed by the sight. For a while Dianna came to herself again, pale and faint, thinking of the sorrow that had arisen in her and that was coming, and she spoke with a feeble and low voice, \"Pity, Dianna, what shall you do? Or where shall you go? You who find yourself rejected and turning away from the love of your lord Hercules. Alas, alas, is it possible that the renown of a lady can take away my husband? The heart once joined to Dianna shall be separated by the finding of a foolish woman? Will she make the separation? By my faith, I have faith in him that he will be true to me.\" Madame, full of virtue. He has spent all his time on virtuous things. How about that? He is a man. And he has taken a new woman in love for her beauty. Do not trust so much in his virtue that your loyalty deceives you. You know well that fortune does not entertain long-reigning princes or princesses at the top. There is none so high. But he does not make them lie among those who suffer. Behold and see well what you have to do if you go to Hercules and he does not receive you. As he has been accustomed, that will be to you a title of despair. Men say that he loves sovereignly this new lady. It appears that he will set little store by your coming. And if you go to her, she will be ill-pleased. She has the power. And every man is willing to do her bidding. There will be no man so bold to welcome you. For the love of her, go not there. The parley is too great. I counsel you for the better that you return to your coming and put these things in order. Your suffering, in attending and abiding that the fire and the tumult of this lady pass, for where her husbands are all other than most men are, so shall he leave this lady a little and a little. Deianira, considering that Licas counseled her truly, believed well this counsel, and sore weeping she returned to her coming. When she was in the house of coming, then she hid herself from all worldly pleasures and held herself solitarily without going to feasts or plays. Thus abiding in this solitude, her grievous annoyance grew more and more by such ample annoyance that she was constrained to make infinite bewailings and sighs. The continual comfort of her ladies might give her no solace. The innumerable devices they made to her eyes for passing the time could never take away Hercules from her mind. She used and lived many days this life. Having always her ear open to know if Hercules sent for her, in the end, when she had suffered enough and saw. She received no news and neither man nor woman was coming to bring her tidings from Hercules. She wrote a letter which she delivered to Lycas, instructing him to give it only to Hercules' hand. Lycas took the letter and went to Lyce. Two miles from the city, he encountered Hercules at a crossroads. Hercules had come from Arcadia where he had recently slain a wild boar so great that none like it had been seen before. When Lycas saw Hercules, he paid him reverence and presented him with the letter, relieving him of Dionyra. Hercules grew red and changed color when he heard mention of Dionyra. He received the letter amicably, read it, and found the following contained within:\n\nHercules, my lord and the man of the world whom I most desire,\nI supply you with the one you have recommended,\nYour true servant, I dismiss Dionyra\n\nAlas, Hercules, alas, where has the love of the past gone? You have now... I have soujourned many days in Lycia, and you have let me have no knowledge of it. This is a most painful sorrow for me to endure and bear. I do not desire to be deified nor exalted in celestial manners with the sun, with the moon, nor with the stars. But I desire your solemn communication. I can no longer endure this. It is said to me that you have another wife than me. Alas, Hercules, have I ever wronged your reverence? Therefore, give me over and abandon me. How can you do this? Men call you virtuous. You abandon and forsake me. This is against virtue. How well you do it. I have seen the time when you were my husband, embracing and kissing us. You showed me then semblance of solace and joy. Now, leave her that you loved as a poor woman. Alas, where are the witnesses of our marriage? Where are the eternal promises and oaths that we made to one another? The men are deaf. When blind, but consider, for I pray you, that you should consider, and hold your glory more dear than you do for the love of your new acquaintance that makes you err against virtue, of which you have such great renown. I pray you earnestly to send to me your pleasure.\n\nWhen Hercules had read from the beginning to the end the letter of Deianira. As he yet beheld and saw it, Yole came upon him with a thousand maidens to feast and make merry to Hercules. Hercules then closed the letter and returned to his palace, holding Yole by the hand. When he was in his palace, he did not forget Deianira. But he found a way to go into his study, and there he wrote a letter. When it was completed, he took it to Lycas to present to Deianira. Lycas took the letter and returned home again to Deianira. First, he told her the tidings and of the state of Yole. Afterward, he delivered to her the letter containing that he Recommended her, and that he had no other wife but her, and entreated her not to give herself to any evil thinking, but to leave in hope and patience, as a wise and noble lady ought and is bound to do for her honor and worship. This letter little or nothing comforted Deianira. She was strongly tempted by jealousy. Her sorrow redoubled and grew. In this doubting, she wrote yet another letter which she sent to Hercules and contained the following words.\n\nHercules, alas, what avails it to me to be the wife of such a noble husband as you are? Your nobleness is to me more damning than profitable. O Fortune, I was accustomed to rejoice. For all day long, I heard nothing but praises and prayers of your prowess and right glorious deeds and feet, whereof the world was enlightened and shone. Now I must be angry and take offense in your works that are foul and full of vices. All Greece murmurs against you, and the people say that you were once the vanquisher. of all things, and woe is me, for I am vanquished by the foolish love of Jole. Alas, Hercules, and how shall I be parted from you, and be the chamberlain of the captive Jole. She is your captive, for you have slain her father, have taken her in the prize of Calidonia, how can it be that she has the place of your lawful wife, said well, married to be named the fair daughter of Jupiter, king of heaven and earth. Now I may no longer be called so, for it is not always happy to mount to the highest estate, for as much as I have risen in height and was your companion, from so far I feel myself falling into the greater peril. O Hercules, if for my beauty you took me to be your wife, I may well curse that beauty. For that is the cause of the great shame, that is evident to me. For to foretell my harm and evil that is to come, your astrologers cannot see that. I would know that. I well know that your beauty and my beauty have brought my heart into the strict prison of sorrow. I cannot count them as anything but enemies. When sorrows come to me from them all, the ladies have joy in the preeminence of their husbands, but I have malice and misshape. I see only disdain in my marriage. O Hercules, I think of you every day, who go in great parades of arms and of the best beasts and the tempests of the sea. My heart trembles and has right great fear of that which I ought to believe and hope for wealth. All that I remember in my mind and think on the day I dreamed on the night, and then it seems to me truly that I see sharp swords entering into me and the heads of spears. After me, I think I see issuing forth from the causes of the forests and deserts, lions and wild monsters that eat my flesh. Since the beginning of our alliance up to this day, I have had all the days and nights such pains for you. And alas, all these things are but little in comparison to the pain that I now suffer. and endure, as much as you maintain strange women and a woman of folly. She may be called the mother of your children, from whom the sparks of foul repute shall remain with you. Of this task or vice is my pain redoubled. It pierces my soul. I am troubled by the dishonor of your ample hides. The people say that you are made a woman. And live after the guise and manner of a woman. And spin on the rock: where you were accustomed to strangle lions with your hands, you leave the hands of arms behind, and are known in far countries and realms in showing your virtue like you were accustomed to do. For the only haunting cat that holds and abuses you: O cursed haunting and foul abuse. Speak to me, Hercules. If the right high and mighty men that you have vanquished and subdued saw you do nothing, what would they say? Certainly, they would not deem you worthy to be vanquished by, and she should show herself. point the finger, as a man shamed and made woman lying in the lap of a woman, O how is thou strong, When her hands that are not worthy nor fitting to thread a needle, have taken thy club and brandished thy sword wherewith thou hast put in fear all the earth. Alas, Hercules, have not you the strength that in your childhood, singing in your cradle, you slew the two serpents? You were a man in your childhood. And now, when you have been a man, you have become a woman or a child. This is the work of a woman to keep him all away with a woman, or it is the fate of a child, to enamor himself of a foolish woman, the truth must be said, you began better than you ended, your last deeds answer not to the first, your labors shall never be worthy of praise or of loos. For all the longing and praising is in the end. Whoever begins a work where the beginning is fair and the end foul, all is lost. Certainly Hercules, when I behold the gloryous beginning that virtue made. And see that you are violent. All my strength fails and my armies fall down like a woman in labor or a swan, and without spirit. It does not seem true to me that the arms which carry away the sheep from the garden longingly to the daughters of Atlas may fall into such a great fault. I am assured, however, that you do not hold yourselves as captives but as your own wife: not in prison, but at her pleasure in chamber, parceled and courteous in bed, not disguised and secretly as many hold their concubines. But she may do this graciously, for she holds you prisoner and captive, and she has put the gorreau about your neck with her Italian subtle jests and japes, of which I have great shame in myself. But as for amendment, I disclaim it and cannot do better. But pray to the goddesses that they may grant it. When Hercules had read this letter, he understood well what it contained, and was struck with remorse of conscience. By this remorse, he understood that virtue was hidden within him. He was then utterly pensive and so withdrawn from pleasure that none durst come near him for a great while and space, save only those who brought him food and drink. Lycas, who had brought this letter, was still waiting and attending for an answer. No man could know the cause of Hercules' solitude or why he had withdrawn himself from the people. In the end, when Hercules had been deeply pensive for a long time and had considered all his affairs and what he had to do to withdraw himself and to be alone, he departed from his chamber one day, saying that he would go and make a sacrifice to the god Apollo on the mountain named Oeta. He commanded and forbade, on pain of death, that no man should follow him - except for Philotes. As he issued out of his palaces. Hercules and Philotes were accompanied only by Philotes as they ascended the mountain. They met Lycas, who made him reverence. Lycas asked Hercules if there was anything he could send to Deyanira. Hercules told Lycas that he would go make a sacrifice to the god Apollo. Upon his return, he would either go to Deyanira himself or send something to her.\n\nWith these words, Hercules and Philotes passed on and began their pilgrimage. Lycas returned to Deyanira and shared the joyful news he had received from Hercules. He also told her about Hercules' life since he had sent the letter.\n\nDeyanira, comforted by these good tidings, went into her chamber and thanked the gods and fortune. But as she began to ponder her state, she remembered the poison that Nessus had given her in the article of his death. She had hidden it in one of her chests. And in her excitement, she opened the chest and took it out. The cursed woman and one of Hercules' shirts. She imagined, by the power of the poison, to draw Hercules' love back to her, as Nessus had said to her. She had the shirt boiled with the poison and gave the charge of it to one of her women. When the shirt was boiled, the woman took the vessel and set it to cool. After she had taken out the shirt carefully and wrung it, she could not immediately have wrung it out but the fire sprang up so painfully in her hands that, as she cast it upon a perch to dry, she fell down dead.\n\nIn the course of time, Desirya, desiring to have the shirt and seeing that the woman who had charge of it did not bring it, went into the chamber where the shirt had been boiled. She found the woman dead, which greatly astonished her. Nevertheless, she passed through death lightly. And by one of her damsels, she had the shirt taken down from the perch and was commanded to fold it and wind it. hit in a kerchief / At the commandement of Deianira, the damsel folded and enveloped the shirt. But doing so, she was served the poison in such a way that she lost her speech and died immediately. Nevertheless, Deianira, thinking of nothing but fulfilling her intention, took the shirt and delivered it to Lycas. She charged him that he should wear it. Lycas, ready to carry out his mistress's will, took charge of the dolorous shirt and departed from there. He went to the mountain where Hercules was and there he found him in a forest, where was the temple of Diana. Hercules had no man with him but Philotes / who made ready for him a great fire to sacrifice an heart that Hercules had taken running at a boar hunt. Lycas, finding Hercules in the temple, knelt down low to him and said, \"Sir, here is a shirt that your Ancille and servant Deianira sends to you. She recommends herself humbly.\" In your good grace, and this present I pray you receive, unclothed him, to do this cursed shirt. She claimed to be his wife, and for her sake, he wished to wear this shirt, in doing so, he felt a great pain and sorrow in his body. Nevertheless, he wore his other clothes as if nothing was amiss. When he was clothed and the shirt was heated, his pain and sorrow grew more and more, and he knew then that his malady came from the shirt. Feeling the prickly worms, without delay, he took off his robe and tried to remove the shirt from his back. The worms clung so fiercely and painfully to his flesh and skin, tearing out pieces of his flesh as he tried to take off the shirt.\n\nHercules knew then that he was hurt and wounded unto death, the death began to fight. against him. He began to resist by tearing off pieces of his shirt from his body and flesh, and shedding blood. He rent his back, tore his thighs, his body to his entrails and guts, his arms and shoulders to the bones. His agony and pain grew and intensified. Thus, as he returned by the force of his great painful agony, he beheld Lycas and another fellow who had come with him. They were both abashed by this adventure. Then he went to them and said to Lycas, \"You cursed and unhappy man, what has brought you here under the private habit of Deianira to bring me into the chance of fortune? What have you done? You have served me with a shirt impregnated with mortal venom. Who introduced you to do this? You must necessarily receive your reward.\" And saying these words, Hercules caught Lycas by the head. Lycas, who knew not what to say, threw himself against a rock so fiercely that he died. \"Furious and determined to break his bones, they seized him. The followers of Lycas fled and hid in a bush. Philotes was so terrified that he didn't know what to do. At the outset, where Hercules was in this predicament, many people came to the temple. The intestines of Hercules were boiled. His blood boiled in all his veins, the poison permeated his heart. His eyes shrank and withdrew. When he felt himself in this miserable state and that death hastened him with terrible battle, unable to overcome the repugnance of his virtuous force against the malice of poison, he began to run over hills and valleys in the forest. He uprooted the great trees and overthrew them. After he had endured this life for a long time, he returned to the temple. All a certainty of death. And lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, he said, 'Alas, alas, must it be that fortune laughs at me for this miserable destiny coming to me?'\" The accusation of witchcraft and sorcery of that woman whom I held and reputed most wise and most virtuous in the world. O Deianira, unnatural woman, without wit, without shame, and without honor, with a heart of a tyrant, all consumed by jealousy, how have you contrived against me this fury and treason, envenomed with false feminine will, disnatural, out of rule and out of order? You had never so much honor and worship as you now deserve blame, not only for yourself but for all the women who ever will be in the world. For if it happens that kings or princes introduce them to ladies or damsels for the great multitude, they shall never have credence or assurance in their own wives. O Deianira, what have you done?\n\nThe women present and those in the wombs of their mothers, all shall curse you and spit in your face without end. For the reproach by the turning upon them is infinite. And the men shall turn away from you. \"Have fear for serving the sheriff and others. Alas, Dayanira, what shall Caledonus now do who glorified you in your glory, and placed you at the front of their honor as a charm for the protection of your precious things? Instead, they will cast you under their feet, and instead of having glory from you, they will have shame. This they cannot avoid, for by your conspiracy and cruelty, you have conspired my death and unloyalty and boundless misfortune, not only for me but for our friends and kinsmen. O Dayanira, righteously remaining unhappy and most wretched, beware of the serpent, malicious and reproachable. Your false jealousy has more power to extinguish my life than all the monsters in the world. By your offense and by your machination, hid and covered, I could not keep myself. I must die and leave this world. Since it is so, I thank fortune, and ask of the gods no vengeance against you. But truly, to the end that it not be\" \"said that the vanquisher of men should not be vanquished by a woman. I shall not pass the bitter passage of death by your mortal sorceries full of abomination. But by the fire that is net and clear, and the most excellent of the elements. These dolorous and sorrowful words accomplished. Hercules took his club and cast it into the fire that was ready to make his sacrifice. After he gave to Philotes his bow and his arrows. And since he prayed him that he would commend him to Jole and to his friends, and feeling that his life had no more to endure, he took leave of Philotes. Then, as all burned and consumed, he laid himself down in the fire. Lifting his hands and eyes to heaven, and there consumed the course of his glorious life. When Philotes saw the end of his master Hercules, he burned his body into ashes and kept these ashes in intention to bear them to the temple that the king Evander had made. After he departed from then and returned to life, greatly discomforted.\" And he recounted to Yole and his friends the pitiful death of Hercules. No man could recount the great sorrow that Yole made, and the people of Lycie, both scholars and rural folk. The whole world filled with tears in sighs and lamentations for his death. So much was Yole filled with tears and weeping that her heart was drowned, and her soul departed from her body, overwhelmed by the bitter water of her weeping. Each body cursed and spoke shame of Deianira. Finally, Deianira announced herself by the servant of Lycas, the messenger who had come by the shirt. She fell into despair and made many pitiful lamentations. Among all others, she said, \"What have I done, alas? Alas, what have I done.\" The most solemn man of men, he who traversed the strong marches, the founder of earthly things, who considered among men bodily and among the sun, moon, and stars spiritually, and who sustained the circumference of the heavens, is dead. By my cause and by my... He is dead because of my fault, but it was not by my fault. I had sent him the shirt that had given him the deadly bite. But this was without my fault. I knew nothing of the poison. O mortal poison. I provided him with life. Of whom I loved the life as much as my own. He who physically dwelled among men on earth and spiritually above with the sun, the moon, and celestial secrets. He who was the source of science, by whom the Athenians were inspired and their wits and engines bedewed. He who made the monsters of the sea tremble in their abysses and swallow them up. And he who destroyed the monsters of hell. He confounded the monsters of the earth. The tyrants he corrected. The arrogant and proud he humbled and made humble. The humble and meek he encouraged and exalted. He who made no treasure but of virtue. He who subdued and subjected all the nations of the world with his club, and if he had wished by the ambition of lordship might have attained to be king of the east. of the west. of the sowth and of the north / of the sees and of the montaynes. of all thise he myght haue named hym kynge and lord by good right. yf he had wold. Alas alas what am I born in an vnhappy tyme Whan so hyhe and so myghty a prynce is ded by my symplesse He was the glorye of the men. Ther was neuer to hym none lyke. ne neuer shall be / ought I to lyue after hym Nay certes that shall I neuer doo. ffor to the ende that amonge the ladyes I be not shewid ne poyntyd with the fynger / And that I falle not in to strange hande for to be punysshid of as moche as I haue of coulpe and blame in this deth / I shall doo the venge\u2223ance to my self / And with that she toke a knyf. and sayng I fele my self and knowe that I am Innocente of the deth of my lord hercules. And with the poynte of the knyf she ended her dispayred lyf / Wherof philotes was all abasshid / and so were all they of grece / that longe bewepte and bewaylid hercules: and hys deth And they of athenes bewayllid hym strongly some for his scyence and other for his vertues wher of I wyll now tarye. Besechyng her that is cause of this trans\u2223laco\u0304n out of frenshe in to this symple and rude englissh / that is to wete my right redoubtyd lady Margrete by the grace of god suster of my souerayn lord the kynge of englond and of ffrance {etc} Duchesse of bourgoyne and of Brabynt {etc} that she wole resseyue my Rude labour in thanke and in gree:.\nTHus endeth the seconde book of the recule of the his\u2223toryes of Troyes / Whiche bookes were late trans\u2223lated in to frenshe out of latyn / by the labour of the vene\u00a6rable persone raoul le feure preest as a fore is said / And by me Indigne and vnworthy translated in to this rude englissh / by the comandement of my said redoubtid lady duches of Bourgone: And for as moche as I suppose the said two bokes ben not had to fore this tyme in oure englissh langage / therfore I had the better will to accom\u00a6plisshe this said werke / whiche werke was begonne in Brugis / & contynued in gaunt And finysshid in Coleyn In the tyme of \u00fee In the troublous world, and great disputes prevailing in the realms of England and France, as well as in all other places universally during the year 1461. Regarding the third book, which deals with the general and last destruction of Troy, it is not necessary to translate it into English, for the revered and religious man John Lidgate, monk of Bury, did so not long ago. I fear to take upon me, who am unworthy, to bear his pen and inkpot after him. Yet, since I am bound to please my aforementioned ladies' grace, and his work is in rhyme, and, as far as I know, not available in prose in our language, and possibly translated from another author, and since diverse men have diverse desires\u2014some to read in rhyme and meter, and some in prose\u2014and because I currently have leisure, I have undertaken this task. Coleyn have nothing else to do at this time\nIn avoiding idleness, the mother of all vices. I have delivered myself, for the contemplation of my said revered lady, to take on this labor by the suffrage and help of almighty God, whom I humbly supplicate to grant me grace to accomplish it to the pleasure of her who is the cause thereof, and that she receive it in grace of me, her faithful, true, and most humble servant. Thus ends the second book.\n\nIn these two preceding books, with the help of God, we have treated of the two first destructions of Troy, and the noble deeds and feats of the strong and mighty Hercules, who made and did so many marvelous things that the human engine of all men ought to marvel. And also how he slew the king Laomedon, put his city of Troy to ruin. Now in the third and last book, God granted that city, which was rebuilt and repaired by Priam's son, the said king Laomedon, to be stronger and more powerful than ever before. And afterward. For the raising of Dame Healyne, wife of King Menelaus of Greece. The said city was completely destroyed, with Priamus, Hector, and all his sons slain, along with numerous nobles. This will become apparent in the following chapters.\n\nTo enter further into the matter, you have previously heard here that, at the second destruction of Troy, Hercules had taken prisoner Priamus, the son of King Laomedon. He had put him in prison. According to Frigia's account, his father had sent him to wage war in a foreign land where he had been for a long time, hence he was not present at that time: This Priamus had espoused and married a very noble Egyptian lady, the daughter of the king of Thebes, from whom he had five sons and three daughters. Hector, the most worthy and best knight in the world, was the eldest son. He was named Paris and, in addition, was called Alexander. He was the fairest knight in the world and the best archer and bow drawer. The third was named Deiphobus, a very hardy and discreet man. The fourth was named Helenus, a man of great science, who knew all the liberal arts. The fifth was Troyllus, one of the best knights and the most aspiring in his time. Urgile relates that he had two other sons by his wife: one was named Polydorus; this Polydorus was sent by King Priam with a great treasure of gold to a friend-king for aid against the Greeks. But this king, suspecting King Priam of wrongdoing against the Greeks and swayed by greed, killed Polydorus and buried him in a man-made island in the sea. The other son was named Ganimedes. Jupiter carried him off and made him his cup-bearer in place of Hebe, the daughter of Juno, whom he had cast out of that position. The eldest of King Priam's daughters was named Hecuba, who was wife to Aeneas. Hecuba was the son of Anchises and Venus. The second daughter was named Cassandra, a noble virgin, adorned and educated with sciences and knowledge. In this text, there are some spelling errors and abbreviations that need to be expanded or corrected. Here is the cleaned version of the text:\n\nKing Priam had three named children: Polixena, the fairest and best formed of all known in the world. Yet, before these children, he had thirty bastard sons by various women. Valiant knights, noble and hardy, they were.\n\nWhen King Priam was in a foreign land, occupied in the pursuit of war, the news reached him that his father, King Laomedon, had been slain, and his city destroyed. His noblemen put his daughters to death and brought Exiona into slavery. Of this news, he was greatly saddened. He wept profusely and made many lamentations. And soon, unable to contain his grief, he left his camp and finished the war. Upon returning to Troy, he found it destroyed, and his sorrow knew no bounds, lasting a long time. Afterward, he consulted on rebuilding the city, and began to fortify it so greatly and strongly that it should never be destroyed again. In this city were six principal gates. One was named Dardanus, the second Tyria, the third Helias, the fourth Chetras, the fifth Troyenne, and the sixth Antenorides. These gates were great and fair, and of strong defense. And in the city were rich palaces without number, the fairest that ever were. And the fairest houses, rich and well-compassed. Also, in many parts of the city, there were diverse fair places and plays for the citizens to exercise and play. In this city were men of all crafts, and merchants who came and went from all parts of the world. In the midst of the city ran a great river named Paucus, which bore ships and brought great profit and solace to the inhabitants. When this city The king pranted came and gathered all the people and inhabitants of the surrounding areas. He made them dwell in the city, and so many came that it was never a city better peopled with noble men and citizens than it was. Many games and pastimes were found there, such as the chess game, tables, dice, and other various games. In the most prominent place of the city, on a rock, the king pranted ordered the construction of his rich palaces, named Illion, which was one of the richest and strongest palaces ever in the world. It was five hundred paces high without the height of the towers, and so high that it seemed to those who saw them from afar that they touched the heavens. In this rich palace, the king pranted ordered the construction of the richest hall that existed at that time, within which was his rich throne and the table on which he ate and held his state among his lords and barons. All who longed for it were admitted. In this hall, at one corner, was an altar of gold and precious stones. Dedicated and adorned with precious stones, it was consecrated in the name and worship of Jupiter, their god. Men climbed up twenty degrees or steps to reach it. Atop the altar was the statue of Jupiter, fifteen feet high, also adorned with precious stones. All were set and arrayed with precious stones. For in this god Jupiter, King Priam placed all his hope and trust to maintain his reign in peace and prosperity.\n\nWhen he saw that he had such a fair city, so strong and so well populated, and so rich in all good things, he began to take offense at the wrongs the Greeks had done to him. He pondered long on how he might avenge himself. Then, on a certain day, he summoned all his barons and held a grand court. Hector, his eldest son, was not present / for he was in the parties of Panemides on his father's affairs, as Panemides was a subject to King Priam. When King Priam Saw all his people assembled before him. He began to speak, saying in this manner: \"O my men and true friends who have participated in the great injuries inflicted upon me by the Greeks for such a little cause or trespass as you know. And how the Greeks, with their outrageous and proud behavior, have cruelly killed your parents and friends, and mine. They have taken away and hold captive Exyone, my sister, who is so fair and noble. Yet they hold her as a common woman, you know well how they have. And they have destroyed this city, overthrown the walls, palaces, and houses to their foundations. They have carried away the great riches, of which the city was filled. For these reasons, it seems just to me that, by the help of the gods who resist the outrageous and proud, we all should come together in a common accord to avenge these injuries. And how is it populated with good men armed and ready for battle, and provided with all goods and riches?\" You know well the alliances we have with many right great lords who willingly help us if needed. Therefore, it seems good to me to avenge ourselves of this shame. But always, since the adventures of the wars are doubtful and dangerous, and no one knows what may come of them, and since the injury is great and they hold my sister in such great dishonor, yet I will not begin the war. But first, if you think it good, I shall send the most sage and prudent men I have to pray and request that they render and yield again my sister in exemption. I will be content to pardon all other injuries.\n\nWhen the king had finished speaking, all the assistants approved and praised his advice. Then the king, praying, called upon one of his princes named Anthenor. And Anthenor answered him humbly that he was ready to undertake this legation into Greece. Antenor entered a ship that was made ready, along with all that was necessary to bring him to Greece. He embarked with his men and sailed for a long time until they reached the harbor, where King Peleus was present. Peleus received Antenor joyfully and asked him why he had come to these parts. Antenor answered in this way: \"Sir, I am a messenger of King Priam who has sent me to you. He has commanded me to tell you and others that he remembers the great injuries you and others have inflicted on him. For such little cause or occasion, you have killed his father, destroyed his city and his people, some of whom are dead and some in slavery. And yet, you hold his sister in concubinage by the one who holds her. At least, he should have married her. And since you are a man of such great wisdom and discretion, my lord king implores and warns you.\" King Peleus was enraged by Antenor's words, warning him of the dangers that would ensue if his sister was not returned. Antenor was to be given back only his sister, and the rest was to be forgiven. However, upon hearing this, King Peleus flew into a great anger and blamed King Priam. He accused Priam's wisdom and threatened Antenor, commanding him to leave his land immediately. If Antenor stayed any longer, he would be harmed severely. Antenor did not delay, but entered his ship without taking leave of King Peleus. He sailed away swiftly across the sea and arrived at Salamis, where King Thelamon was encamped. Antenor then went to him and explained the reason for his coming in this manner. King Thelamon said, \"Sir, King Priam requests that you release his noblemen who are in your service, especially the one whom you hold.\" \"Fowlessly, you would restore to him that which is not fitting nor becoming to you, for it is not becoming nor glorifying to you to treat in such a manner the daughter and sister of a king, who is issued from a more noble lineage than yours. And if you will restore to him his sister, he will hold all things as if they had not been done as well the damages as the dishonors inflicted upon him by you and others.\n\nWhen King Thelamon had heard Antenor speak thus, he began to grow very angry and answered him fiercely, saying, \"My friend, whatever you may be, I have great marvel at the simplicity of your king, to whom I have no friendship nor he to me. And therefore, I ought not to accede to his prayer nor grant his request. Your king ought to know that I and others entered there first into the city of Troy with great treachery and shedding of my blood, in avengeance of an injury done to some of our friends. Exile of whom you speak, who is indeed fair?\"\" Give me, in return for my victory, the woman to do with as I will. She is as well disposed to me as one of great beauty and filled with all knowledge. It is not a light thing for me to render and deliver back what is so fair and precious, which I have conquered with great pain and danger. But you shall tell your king that he can never recover her except by the point of a sword. And as for me, I consider the one who dared to embark on this legation as a fool, for you have come among people who strongly hate you and your kind. Therefore, go your way quickly out of this country. If you stay longer here, I will make you die by cruel death.\n\nWhen Antenor heard Thelamon speak thus, he entered hastily into his ship. And sailed so far that he arrived in Achaea, where the kings Castor and Polux, his brother, were encamped. He descended lightly from his ship and presented to them his legacy. Like how he had spoken to the other, and King Castor answered him, saying, \"Friend, do you know that we do not wish to have injured King Priam without cause, as it is that King Laomedon, his father, began the folly for which he was slain. For he wronged first Certeus, one of the most noble Greeks, and therefore we desire the evil will of your king Priam more than his good love or peace. It seems indeed that he did not have it in his heart when he sent you here to do this message. I advise you to see well to this, parted without leave, and entered into his ship. Sail swiftly until you come to Pylos, where Duke Nestor was encamped with a great company of noble men. Antenor went to him and said that he was the messenger of Priam. He spoke and recounted his legation to him in such a way as he had said to the other before. And if the other was angry, Nestor made himself angrier against himself.\" Antenor spoke to him, Ha. ha. you insolent varlet, who dared to say such things to me. If it weren't for my nobility holding me back, I would immediately tear out your tongue from your head, and in defiance of your king, I would forcefully drag all your limbs apart. Go quickly away from my sight, or by my gods, I will do to you all that I have said.\n\nThen Antenor was utterly ashamed of the horrifying words of duke, and doubtfully returned to Troy's ward. He had not been long on the sea when a great tempest arose. The air began to grow dark and rain heavily, and to thunder most marvelously. It made great winds contrary to each other and grew thick with horrible mist. And his ship was tossed on the waves at one time high and at another time low, in great peril. And there was not a man in the said ship who did not fear death and make special promises and vows to their gods. In these. Parillas lasted three days, and on the fourth, the tempest ceased. The air cleared, and they became payable. They comforted themselves and sailed so far that they reached the gates of Troy. They went straight to their temples to give thanks to their gods for their escape from so many perils. After Antenor went with a great company of noblemen to see King Priam. And when all the barons were assembled and all the king's sons were present, Antenor told them all in order about what he had found in Greece, as it is contained before.\n\nKing Priam was greatly troubled and sorrowful about the objectionable and reproachful actions towards his messenger in Greece. And then he had no more hope or trust to recover his sister, so he was moved with great anger and thought of sending a great navy. King Priam spoke to me, what is this misfortune that has given such great courage to you? Why cast yourself out of your wealth and rest? Why not restrain the first impulses of your courage? It would have been better for you if it had not been within your power. Yet you should have taken good counsel and measured your actions. And remember, it is commonly said, \"Someone seeking to avenge his sorrow only increases it.\" It would have been wiser to remember the proverb that says, \"He who sits well, let him not move.\" Or else, \"He who is well at his ease, the safe have nothing to stumble over.\" In this way, King Priam pondered. And after he had gathered all his noble men in his palace at Ilion, he said to them, \"You know how, by your counsel, Antenor was sent into Greece to recover my sister Helen. And you also know how he has returned, and what...\" The Greeks have wronged and insulted us: And it seems to me that the Greeks underestimate the injuries they have inflicted upon us. If they do not repent with their words, but instead threaten us even more than before, God forbid that it should come upon us as they threaten. But I pray to the gods to give us power. And as for me, it seems to me that we are more powerful and stronger than they are. We have the most secure city and the best fortified one in the world. We also have many great lords who have pledged to help and aid us when needed. And for conclusion, it seems to me that we have sufficient power to harm and hurt our enemies in many ways, and to defend ourselves from them. It would therefore be good to begin showing them our power. If you think it is good, we will send our men secretly to do great damage to them before they are ready to defend themselves. And for that purpose. all should avenge these injuries, and you have no doubt for any reason. Since they had first victory, it often happens that the vanquished avenge the vanquished. Then all those present allowed the king's advice, and each man offered to employ them with all their power. The king rejoiced greatly and thanked them. After that, he let every man depart and return to their own houses, reserving only his legitimate sons and bastards whom he kept in his palaces. He said to them with weeping tears in this manner: \"Sons, you have well in memory the death of your grandfather, the servitude of your Aunt Exione. I am held by your living in a common-law marriage, and you are so powerful; you should avenge this great injury and shame. And if this does not move you, you ought to do it.\" Satisfy my will and pleasure, for I die for sorrow and anguish that you ought and are bound to remedy, with your power. And you, Hector, my right dear son, eldest of your brothers, the wisest and strongest: I pray you first to undertake the execution of this my will. And be duke and prince of your brothers in this work. And all the others shall obey gladly to you. And in like manner shall do all those of this realm, for the great prowess they know in you. And know that from this day forth I dispense myself of all this work and place it upon him who is the strongest and most ambitious to maintain the battles. I am Ancient and old, and cannot help myself as well as I was accustomed to do {etc}.\n\nTo these words, Hector answered rightly and sweetly, saying, \"My father, and my right dear and sovereign lord. There is none of all your sons but that it seems to him a thing\" Humane desires revenge for these injuries. And we, who are of high nobility, a little injury ought to be great, as the quality of the person grows and multiplies, so ought the quality of the injury. If we desire and have appetite for revenge of our injuries, we do not abandon nor forsake human nature. For in like manner do and use domestic animals in the same manner. My right dear lord and father, there is none of all your sons who ought more to desire the vengeance of the injury and death of our eye. If it pleases you, consider in this enterprise not only the beginning, but also the middle and the end, for little profit comes from things well begun that come to an evil end. Then it seems to me that it is much more allowable for a man to abstain from beginning things whose ends are dangerous, and whose good may come more evil than good. For the thing is not said often or happily at the time that it comes to a good end. I say not these things for any evil or cowardice. But only to ensure that you begin not a thing. And specifically that thing which you have in your heart to put lightly everywhere. But that you first be well counseled. You know well that all Africa and Europe are subject to the Greeks. How are they adorned with knights worthy, hardy, and rich? Right marvelously. Crete, at this day, the strength and might of us here, is not to be compared with them in strength nor in valor. Therefore, if we begin the war against them, we might lightly come to a mean and shameful end. We, who are in such great rest and ease among ourselves, what would we seek to disturb our prosperity and welfare? No one is of such high price that it behooves all of us to put ourselves in peril and doubt of death for her. She has been there for a long time. It would be better for her to perform her time there. When Hector had finished speaking, Paris was not content with his answer. He stood up and said, \"My right dear lord, I beg you to listen to me and tell me, if you begin the war against the Greeks, how can we withstand them? We have no equal in all the world. Indeed, we are the ones who cannot be defeated. Therefore, begin this enterprise that you have thought of, and send your ships and people to Greece to take the people and damage the country. And if it pleases you to send me, I shall go.\" I will do my best to clean the text while staying faithful to the original content. Here is the cleaned version:\n\nI do it with a good will and heart: For I am certain that if you send me this, I will do great harm to the Greeks. And I will take some noble Greek lady and bring her with me into this realm. And by the exchange of her, you may recover your sister Eunice. And if you wish to understand and know how I am certain of this thing, I will tell you how the goddesses have promised it to me. It happened to me lately, in Paris, at the beginning of summer, on a Friday. I went into the forest early in the morning and, finding nothing that amused me, I returned after midday. Then, I found a great heart that I chased so swiftly that I left all my companions behind and followed it into the most deserted place of all the forest, which was named Yda. I followed it for such a long time that I came to a place that was passing obscure and dark. And then I saw no more the heart. that is how it was with me. I felt weary and my horse could go no further, sweating on all sides. I dismounted and tied my horse to a tree. I lay down upon the grass and placed my torques under my head instead of a pillow. And immediately I fell asleep. Then came to me in a vision the god Mercury, accompanied by three goddesses: Venus, Pallas, and Juno. He left the goddesses a little way from me. And after he approached and said to me in this way: \"Paris, I have brought these three goddesses here to you, for a great strife or contest that has arisen between them. They have all chosen you to be judge and determine according to your will their contention or strife. It is such that they quarreled about this remarkable apple among themselves yesterday, and it was given to the fairest among them in Greek language.\" And so it was immediately. Each of them would have sworn to be the fairest, each declaring herself more beautiful than the other, and so they were unable to agree. Therefore, they have been submitted to your judgment. Each of them promises a certain gift as reward for your judgment: if you judge that Juno is the fairest, she will make you the most noble man in the world in magnificence; if you judge for Pallas, she will make you the most wise man of all the world in all sciences; if you judge that Venus is the fairest, she will give you the most noble lady of Greece as your reward. When I heard Mercury speak thus to me, I replied that I could not give a true judgment unless I saw them all naked before me, to better assess the appearances of their bodies, for a true judgment. And then, Incontinent, Mercury caused them to strip naked. I then beheld them for a long time, and I thought that all three were exceedingly beautiful. However, Venus seemed to surpass them all. The beauty is of the other, and therefore I judged that the apple belonged to her. And then Venus greatly rejoiced in my judgment confirmed to me. Mercury had made a promise to me in her favor, and after I awoke, I went to my right dear father and told him that the gods had failed in their promise. Nay, truly, I say this to the end that you send me into Greece. And that you may have joy of that, I shall do there. After Paris spoke, Deiphobus began: men should avoid all particularities and singular things that might happen or fall. There should never be an enterprise begun nor feet done nor made by hardiness, if the laborers should leave and sow the land. For the seed that the birds recollect and gather, they should never labor. And for so much right, dear father, late prepare to send me to Greece with your ships. You may not believe better counsel than that which Paris has given you, for if he brings any noble lady, you may lightly forgo it. To yield her again. Have again your sister's exemption, for whom we all suffer villainy. After this spoke Helenus, the fourth son of King Priam, who said:\n\nRight mighty king and right sovereign dominator over us, your humble subjects and obedient sons, beware that the desire for revenge does not put you in such danger as lies herein. You know well how you know and can the science to know the things future and to come. As you have proved many times without finding fault. The gods forbid that it ever come to pass that Paris is sent into Greece. For truly, if he goes to make any assault, you shall see this noble and worshipful city destroyed by the Greeks. The Trojans slain, and we all that are your children. And therefore depart from these things. For the end shall be most sorrowful and great execution of right bitter death. And that you, yourself, and your wife, and we, your sons, may not escape. For truly, if Paris goes into Greece, all these evils shall come. When the king heard Helenus speak, he was abashed and began to counterfeit and think. He held his peace and spoke not for a great while. And so did all the others. Then arose up on his feet Troilus, the youngest son of King Priam, and began to speak in this manner: \"O noble men and hardy, why are you abashed for the words of this coward priest here? Is it not the custom of priests to fear battles through cowardice and to love delights, to fatten and encrase themselves, and fill their bellies with good wines and with good meats? Who is he that believes that any man may know the things to come, but if the gods reveal them? It is folly to tarry here or to believe such things. If Helenus is a false prophet, let him go into the temple and sing the divine service. And let the others take vengeance for their injuries by the force of arms. O right dear father and lord, why are you so troubled for these words? Send your ships to Greece and yours.\" knights wise and bold, who can avenge for us the injuries the Greeks have inflicted upon us; all who heard Troy's words approved, saying he spoke well. And so they ended their council and went to dinner.\n\nThe following day, the king summoned Paris and Deiphobus and commanded them expressly to hasten to the lands of Panonia to fetch and assemble wise and bold knights to join them in Greece. And that very day, Paris and Deiphobus departed from the city of Troy to carry out their father's will.\n\nThe next day, the king convened his council. All the citizens of Troy's city gathered and said to them, O my friends and true burghers, you all know well, notoriously, how the Greeks, through their pride, have done great wrongs to us, and countless damages, as is well known throughout the world. You also remember how they keep my sister in servitude, causing me great sorrow, and you are reminded of how I have been... sentence Antenor into Greece, who has done nothing; therefore, my sorrow is doubled. And since the wounds inflicted by iron have been healed, I have decided to send Paris my son with armed men to Greece. I intend to assault and harm our enemies with strength, and to test if they can capture any noble lady of Greece and send her to this city. Through her, I might regain my sister Exione. I will not begin this matter without first informing you, for it concerns you as much as it concerns me.\n\nWhen the king had finished speaking and each man held his tongue in silence, a knight named Pantheus stood up. He was the son of Democritus the philosopher, and he said, \"Right noble king, as I am your true servant and vassal, I offer you my service.\" this work, as a vassal and subject ought to counsel my lord, you have well understood that the great philosopher, my father, who lived in good health and sound mind, was over ninety years old. He was so wise in philosophy that he knew the science of things to come after. He said to me many times and affirmed for truth, that if Paris your son went into Greece to take any noble lady by force, that this noble city would be destroyed and burned to ashes by the Greeks, and that you and all your household would be cruelly slain. Therefore, right wise and wise king, please hear my words and believe that the wise men have said. And also in this matter, that you may not lose to leave, and great sorrow may ensue if you persist, why do you put an embattlement upon your rest, and place your tranquility under the dangerous adventures of fortune? Leave this and depart from this folly if it pleases you. And perfect and end your life. Rest eternally, and suffer not Paris to go into Greece with arms. If you wish to send another instead of Paris, these were the words of Pantheus that stirred great murmurs among the hearers. Some rejected the prophecies of Deucalion the philosopher, and some held them for mere mockery and fable. They were of the greatest number. By the consent of the more persuaded, they decided to go into Greece with armed men. The parliament concluded, and each man went home to his house and place.\n\nWhen this conclusion reached Cassandra, the daughter of Priam, she began to make such great sorrow that she seemed foolish or out of her mind. She began to cry out loudly:\n\nHa. ha. Noble city of Troy, what madness has brought me to such paralysis? For which you shall in a short time be beaten down, and your high towers will be demolished and destroyed to the ground.\nHa ha, Queen Hecuba, for what sin have you deserved the death? Children who will be cruel and horrible, why do you not prevent Paris from going into Greece, who will be the cause of this evil event? When she had cried out thus, she went to her father the king. With weeping drowned in tears, she prayed him to deport him and leave his enterprise. I knew by my science the great evils and harms that were coming because of this cause, but neither Hector's persuasions nor Cassandra's warnings could change the king's purposes, nor Helenus his son, nor Panteus {etc}.\n\nAt the beginning of the month of May, when the earth is adorned and arrayed with various flowers. Paris and Deiphobus returned from Phoenicia and brought with them three thousand knights, hardy and wise. Then they made ready two ships and embarked in them all who were suitable for them. Then the king, praying, called for Aeneas, Antenor, and Polydamas, the son of Antenor. He prayed and commanded them to go to Greece with Paris. And they offered to go with good will. And when they were all ready and assembled to go into their ships, the king Priam spoke to them in this manner: \"It is not necessary for you to reply with many words. You know well now why I send you to Greece, and how well I have cause to avenge myself for the wrongs the Greeks have done to us. The principal cause is to recover my sister Hecuba who lives in such great filth and misery. And for this you owe it to employ yourselves. Therefore I pray and admonish you that you put all your pain and diligence into this, so that I may recover my sister. And be you certain, if you have need of assistance, I will support you with such great strength that the Greeks shall not be able to withstand it. I will that in this voyage Paris, my son Duke and commander of this battle, and after him Deiphobus, and follow the counsel of Aeneas and Antenor.\"\n\nAfter these words, Paris and all the others took leave. The king and his men entered their ships and raised sails. They recommended their course toward Jupiter and Venus and sailed so far at sea that they reached the Greek coast, encountering a day when they met a ship belonging to one of the greatest Greek kings named Menelaus. He was sailing to the city of Pyrene to see Duke Nestor, who had summoned him. Menelaus was Agamemnon's brother and was married to the fairest lady in the world, Helene, who was also the sister of Castor and Pollux, who dwelled together in the city of Sparta. Helene's handmaiden, their niece, was with them. Menelaus ordered a small detour to conceal his ship, altering its course so that it was not recognized. The Trojans sailed so far that they reached the island of Cythera in Greece and anchored their ships there. This was a temple of Venus, ancient and of great beauty, filled with all riches. Since the inhabitants of the country had special devotion to Venus, the goddess, they celebrated her festivals every year, and she granted them answers to their prayers. When the Trojans learned of this, Paris put on his finest clothes and went into the temple in a fair and sweet manner, making an oblation of gold and silver with great generosity. Paris was strongly admired by all who were there for his beauty, for he was one of the fairest knights in the world, richly and elegantly dressed and adorned, bringing great pleasure to all who beheld him. Every man desired to know who he was. And when he came, and the Trojans who told him that it was Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, who had come to Greece at his father's command, requested that they return and give back his sister Hecuba, whom they had given to King Pelasgus. The news of the coming of these Trojans and their beauty and fine apparel spread far, and Queen Hecuba heard speak of it. According to the custom of women, she had great desire to know if it was true and decided to go to the temple under the guise of devotion to accomplish her desire. O how foolish it is for honest women to often go to the feasts and revelries of young people, who do little or nothing there but muse and devise how they may come to their desires. And they do not consider what harm may follow in body and soul. The ship should never perish if it remained in the harbor and was not sent out. In the Parthian cities by the sea, it is a good thing and a precious jewel for a good woman to hold herself honestly in her house. Oh, great damage came upon the Greeks and Trojans because Helena went so lightly to see the Trojans. She should not have done so, especially in her husband's absence. But it is the custom of women to bring their desires to a close. Helena, incontinent, made ready horse and all that was convenient for going to the temple. And she made them understand that she was going for devotion; for this temple was not far from where she dwelt. When all was ready, and she had clothed herself in rich attire, she rode with her company to the island of Cythara. And entering into a vessel that brought her near to the temple,\n\nShe was received with great worship by the people of the country as their lady. She entered the temple in a stately manner and made her devotion and oblation there.\n\nWhen Paris knew that Queen Helena, who was the wife of King,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Early Modern English. No major OCR errors were detected, and no meaningless or unreadable content was found. Therefore, no cleaning was necessary.) Menelaus, one of the most noble kings of Greece, came to this temple. He arrayed himself in the most gentlemanly way he could and entered the temple. For a long time, he had heard speak of her great beauty. And when he came and saw her, he was greatly surprised by her love and began strongly to behold her. He desired to see the face of her body, which was so fair and well-shaped in every way, and seemed properly made to be beheld. For in her was no thing but that it enhanced all the beauty that could be found in a woman. Therefore Paris could not forget to behold her, saying to himself that he had never seen or heard of anyone so fair and so well-formed. And as he beheld her, Helen beheld him as well, and it seemed to her that he was more beautiful than had been reported to her. She said to herself that she saw. A man of great beauty never pleased her as Paris did. She abandoned all her devotion and other thoughts, focusing only on Paris. When Paris saw and beheld her, he took great joy and continued to gaze at her sweetly. Through their mutual gaze, they signaled their desires to each other and wondered how they might speak together. They gazed at each other for a long time, and Helene made a token or sign for Paris to approach. Paris then sat down beside her while the people played in the temple. They spoke softly and sweetly to each other, revealing how they were surprised by their love for one another and how they might bring it to an end according to Helene's desire. When they had spoken of their ardent love, Paris took leave of her and exited the temple, along with his companions. Helene remained behind. sent after her eyes also far as she could. When Paris was come to his ship, he called to him the most noble and greatest of his company, and said to them in this manner: \"My friends, you know well why my father the king has sent us to Greece: it is to recover Exione, his sister. And if we may not recover her, then we should do harm to the Greeks; for she is in the hands of a stronger man than us, and it would be to our great danger and harm, since the king Thelamon, who holds her and loves her strongly, is more powerful than we and is in his own proper heritage. We are nothing so powerful to take any noble city in Greece. The country is so full of people and of many valiant folk, that it seems good to me that the fair gift and notable one that the goddesses have sent to us, we should not refuse. We see in this isle come the most greatest citizens, and the temple is replenished with the most noble women of this land.\" prouynce\nAnd also the quene helayne / that is lady of this contre and wyf of kynge menelaus / This temple is also full of alle richesses / yf we myght take them a liue that ben in the temple and brynge them prysoners with vs and take the goodes that ther ben of gold and of siluer / we shall haue conquerd a grete gayne. And other richesses that we shold go fecche in other places / yf ye seme good I am of the oppynyon / that now this nyght we shall entre in to the temple alle armed / And that we shall take men and women and alle that we shall finde and brynge in to our shippes and principally helayne / For yf we maye brynge her in to troye / The kynge pryant may lightly I nowh haue agayn his suster Exione for her. Therfore aduyse yow hastely what is beste to be don. whilis that hit is in poynte And er they escape vs / some of them blamed this thinge And some allowed hit / and finably they concluded after many councellys that they shold do as parys had deuysed.\nHOw hit happend that the nyght was come / and the The Troians found the most secret wise men and left some to guard their ships. The others went quietly to the temple and entered, armed, taking all they found within and the riches. Paris took Helen and her companions and brought all the best loot to their ships, putting it in safekeeping. Afterward, they returned to the camp.\n\nA great noise arose within the temple among the prisoners, and some preferred to be slain rather than taken captive. The noise was heard far and wide, and those in the castle nearby arose, armed themselves, and came to attack the Trojans, who were as vulnerable as they were. The fighting began in earnest, but the Trojans, with a four-to-one advantage, killed many of them, and the others fled back into their temple. And the Trojans took as much as they could find of good and carried it to their shippes, entering into them and drawing up their sails. They sailed for a long time, and on the seventh day they arrived at the gate of Troy with their ships full of good prisoners and riches. They stayed at the gate of Tydon, three miles from Troy, where they were received with great joy. Paris sent a messenger to his father, King Priam, to inform him of his coming and all that he had done in Greece. The king was greatly rejoiced and commanded the city to make a solemn feast for these news.\n\nWhile Helen was with the other prisoners on Paris' ship, she made great sorrow and wept and wailed for her husband, brothers, daughter, country, and friends. She left eating and drinking. Paris comforted her. most sweetly that he could, but she could not endure to forbear weeping, and then Paris spoke to her in this manner: Why, lady, why do you keep this sorrow day and night without rest, what man or woman can long endure and suffer this? Do not think, lady, that this sorrow harms your health. Yes, truly, lady, you make too much of it. From this day forth, I pray you, leave it and take rest, for in this realm you shall lack nothing, and no more shall those prisoners whom you wish to recommend be imprisoned. And you shall be the most renowned lady of this realm and the richest. And your men who are here shall lack nothing. To these words answered Helen to Paris in this manner: I know well, said she, that I must do as you will, since I am your prisoner. And if any good is done to me and to the prisoners, I hope the gods will reward those who do it. Ha. A. said Paris: Do not doubt it, lady. Men will do all that pleases you to command. And then he took her by the hand and brought her to a more secret place and said to her, \"Madame, it pleased the goddesses for you to be brought by me into this province, and for you to be lost. And that you shall not be more rich and more honored than you have been, and that the realm of Troy shall not be more rich than the realm of Achaea. Yes, truly that is so. Did you think I would maintain you dishonestly? No, indeed. But I will take you as my wife. And so you will be more honored than you have been with your husband and more protected. For your husband is not issued from a house as noble as mine nor is he as valiant. Nor did he love you as I shall. Therefore cease from making such sorrow. And believe me in this that I have said to you.\" She replied, \"Who can abstain from making sorrow being in the state that I am in? Alas, this has never happened to me before. But since it must be none other way, I shall do what I must.\" Thing that you require, as I have no power to resist it, Helena was reinforced a little, and Paris did please her with all his power. When the morning came, he dressed her and arranged her most honorably that he could. And so he did each prisoner according to his degree. Afterward, he mounted himself and Deephus his brother, Aeneas, Antenor, and Polydamas with a great company of noble men, and accompanied Queen Helena. They departed from Tenedos. And against them, without the town, came King Priam with a great company of noble men. He received his children and friends with great joy. Afterward, he came to Helena and bowed right sweetly to her, bringing her great joy and worship. When they approached the city, they found great rejoicing of the people. They made great festivities for their coming in many ways of musical instruments. And in such joy came unto the palaces of King Priam. And he himself lighted down and helped Helen down from her palanquin. And he led her by the hand into the hall. And there they made great joy all night long throughout the entire city because of these tidings. And when it came to the morning, Paris, by the agreement and consent of his father, took Helen as his wife and wedded her in the temple of Athena. And therefore, the feast was prolonged throughout the entire city. And the joy that endured yet for eight days.\n\nWhen Cassandra knew for certain that Paris her brother had wedded Helen, she began to make great sorrow to cry and wail as a woman out of her wits. And she said, \"O unhappy Trojans, why do you rejoice yourselves over the wedding of Paris? Wretched Trojans, from whence will come so many evils and follow!\" And why do you not see your own death and that of your sons who will be slain before you, and the husbands before their wives with great sorrow?\" Ha. A noble city of Troy. How shall you be destroyed and brought to nothing, wretched mothers? What sorrow will you see when you see your little children taken and dismembered before you? Wretched Hecuba, where will you find the water with which to weep for the death of your children? Wretched people, why don't you send Helen home again and give her back to her rightful husband before the swords of your enemies come and slay you with great sorrow? Do you think that this prince, Helen's husband, will dwell at home without avenging himself grievously? Certainly, that will be your dolorous end. Wretched Helen, you will cause us much sorrow, as Cassandra said and cried out with great wisdom and great sorrow. The king Priam knew this and had her taken prisoner. He sent for her and prayed that she would cease, but she would not. Then he commanded that she be tightly bound in prison and kept there for many days. Oh, what pity it was. That the Trojans did not heed this warning and Amphyion, for if they had, they would have escaped the great evils that came afterward, as will be related to those who wish to hear it to the end of the world {etc}. As these things were done as said, Menelaus, who was encamped at Pyre with Duke Nestor, heard the truth of the prize and taking of his wife and of his people, of which he was greatly angry and abashed. And he fell to the ground in a swoon. And when he came to himself again, he began to lament and express the greatest sorrow of the world, and above all other things, he was most sorrowful for his wife. He bewailed her beauty and her solace, and could find no way to be comforted. When Duke Nestor heard this, he came to him hastily and comforted him as best he could, for he loved him greatly. But Menelaus could not leave his sorrow, but took his way to his country. The duke Nestor arrived with a great company of noble men. He sent a message to King Agamemnon his brother, asking him to come speak with him. He also sent messages to Castor and Pollux, the brothers of Helen, requesting their presence. As soon as they heard the message, they came to him.\n\nWhen Agamemnon saw his brother demonstrating such sorrow and sadness, he said to him, \"My brother, why do you show such sorrow? Suppose the cause is just. A wise man should not display such outward signs. For showing such sorrow outwardly causes his friends to be sorrowful and his enemies to be joyous. Therefore, hide your sorrow and keep your courage. Make a show of not knowing anything about this matter. By weeping or denying sorrow, you will never come to honor or vengeance, but only through the force of the naked sword will you awaken your courage and take vengeance for the harm that has been done.\" He knew of their power. What helpers and aiders shall we find to avenge us? This injury touches all the kings and princes of Greece. And as soon as we request their help, there will not be one who will not help us with all his power. Then we shall go with great force to Troy and kill our enemies and do as we will. And if it happens that we may take Paris, the instigator of these injuries and evils, we shall hang him and make him die a cruel death. Cease then your sorrow. And let us be known to all the kings and princes of Greece this injury. Request them that they will help us to take revenge. This was Menelaus.\n\nReassured with his brother's words, they sent letters to all the barons of Greece. And at their sending, they all came. First came Achilles, Patroclus, Diomedes, and many others. And as soon as they knew why they were sent, they said that they would go to Troy with all their strength. King Agamemnon, wise and prudent chief and prince of their eastern army, should redress this shame and recover Helen.\nHow came it that the kings Castor and Pollux, brothers of Queen Helen, upon hearing this, immediately entered their ships and followed the Trojans with a great company of armed men, to see if they could recover her? On the third day that they were at sea, a great tempest arose in the sea, and with it came such a great rain and thunder that the ships were cast against one another by the waves. Their masts were broken, their sails torn, and finally they were all perished and drowned. None were ever seen of them again after that. The pagans say that these two brothers were translated into heaven or the zodiac and returned in the sign of the twins, because they were Germanic twins. Thus ends their lives. by the occasion of her sister's prize, some poets say that these brothers were translated into stars, named the north star and the south star, respectively, as Castor and Pollux. In this place, Dares in his book declares the faces of the Greeks who were to come before Troy, of the most notable among them, as he who saw them and beheld them many times during the truce that often occurred between both parties before the city. He begins to speak of Helen and says that she was so fair that in the world no man could find a fairer or better formed woman of all members. Agamemnon was long and fair of body, strong of limbs and well formed, loving labor, discreet, hardy, and passing well spoken. Menelaus was of middling stature, hardy in arms and courageous. Achilles was of great beauty, blond hair and crisp gray eyes, large breasts and broad shoulders, great arms, his reigns high, a tall man of great strength. Tantalus, having no equal in stature among all the Greeks, was a large and outrageous man in dispense. Tantalus was great of body and very strong, humble, and fearing no adversities if they were just and true. Ajax, of great stature, was large in the shoulders and arms. He was always well clothed and richly dressed, and of no great ambition. He spoke lightly. Ajax the Fair was a very handsome knight. He had black hair. And he listened gladly to songs and saved himself gladly. He was of great prowess and a good man of war. Ulixes was the most handsome man among all the Greeks, but he was deceitful and subtle. He spoke his things joyously. He was a great liar and was so well spoken of that he had no equal. Diomedes was great and had a broad chest and marvelously strong. He had a fierce gaze and was false in his promises, worthy in arms, desiring victory, and dreaded and revered. For he was greatly injurious. His servants were luxurious, therefore he suffered many pains. The duke Nestor was great in size and long, well-spoken, discrete, and profitable. He always gave good counsel. He was quickly angered and just as quickly appeased. He was the most true friend in the world. Protesilaus was fair and of fair stature, right noble and light in arms. Neptoleon was great, black-haired and great-eyed, but joyous and well-cheerful, stammering in his speech, but wise in the law. Palamedes, son of King Naus, was of right fair shape and lean, hardy and amiable, a good man and generous. Polydarius was excessively fat and swollen, hardy, orgiastic, and proud, without truth. Mathaon was of middling stature, strong, and little slept. Bryseis, daughter of Calchas, was passing fair of middling stature, white and mixed with red, well-made, sweet and pitiful, and whom many men loved for her beauty. For the love of her, the king of Persia came to her aid. Greeks laid siege to Troy. Of those within Troy, Dares reports first about King Priam. He was long-haired and fair, with a low-witted yet robust nature. He gladly dined early with a man without fear, and hated flatterers. He was a good and fair judge, and enjoyed music and singing. He strongly favored his knights and enriched them. Among all his sons, none was as bold as Hector, the eldest son of Priam. He surpassed all other knights in power during his time, and was only slightly smaller in stature. He had strong limbs and could endure much pain. He was quick-tempered and crisp-haired, and stuttered. No stronger or worthier man ever emerged from Troy, and no more vile word ever left Priam's mouth. He was never weary of fighting in battle. There was no knight more beloved by his people than he was. Paris was a passing fair and strong knight, soft-heated, true, swift, and sweet. Speech: Two men, well-drawn faces, wise and hardy in battle, well-assembled and covetous of lordship \u2013 Deiphobus and Helenus resembled each other so closely that one could not easily tell them apart. And they resembled the king Priam in face. Helenus was a very wise scholar. Troilus was great and of great courage, well-attempted and deeply beloved by young maidens. In strength and gladness, he resembled Hector the most and was second only to him in prowess. There was no stronger or more hardy young man in all the realm. Aeneas had a great body, marvelously discreet in his works, and well-spoken in his words. Full of good counsel and knowledgeable, he had a joyous countenance and clear, gray eyes. He was the richest man in Troy after King Priam in towns and castles. Antenor was long and lean, spoke much, but he was discrete and of great industry. The king Priam loved him greatly and gladly. Played among his fellowship, and was a right wise man. Polydamas, his son, was a goodly young man and fair, hardy and of good manners, long and lean like his father, brown and strong in the power of arms, and of well-tried words. The king Menon was great and a good knight, large-shouldered, with great arms, hard in the breast, and of great prowess, and brought many knights to Troy. The queen Hecuba was a rude woman, seeming more like a man than a woman, she was a noble woman, passing wise and honest, and loving the works of charity. Andromache, the wife of Hector, was a passing fair woman, white, with fair eyes and fair hair, she was among all other women, right honest and diligent in her works. Cassandra was of fair stature and clear, round-mouthed, wise, shining-eyed, she loved chastity, and knew much of things to come by astronomy and other sciences. Polyxena was a very fair and tender daughter, and was the very ray of beauty, in whom nature failed. Nottingh only that she made her mortal, and she was the fairest maid that was in her time. And the best formed. Many more were within the town and without. During the siege. But these were the principal and greatest in name. And therefore Dares declares the fashion of them and recounts not of the others.\n\nWhen it came to the end of summer, that the winter was passed, the kings and princes of all the provinces of Greece assembled them together at the gates of Athens to go to Troy. It is not in the mind of any man since the beginning of the world that so many ships and knights were assembled as at that time. For first Agamemnon, who was chief and prince of all the Greeks from the east, brought from his realm of Mycenae a hundred ships full of armed knights. King Menelaus his brother brought from his realm of Sparta sixty ships. Archelaus and Prothoenor brought fifty ships from the realm of Boeotia. Duke Ascalaphus and Earl Helms from the province of Orchomenus thirty. shippis / The kynge Epistrophus / And the kynge sedius fro the royame of And in his companye were the duc thentand the erle thephus And other many noble men. The Auncient duc Nestor fro his prouynce of pillon fifty shippis. The kynge thoas of tholye fifty shippis The kynge doxunois fifty shippis The kynge the\u2223lamon chyleus sixe and thritty shippes / Polibetes and Amphymacus fro his prouynce of calydone two and thretty shippis / The kynge ydumeus and the kynge me\u2223reon of Crete four score and two shyppis / The kynge Vlixes of trace two and fyfty shippis / The duc tyne\u2223lus fro his cyte of frygis twelue shippis Prothocathus\nand prothesalus the dukes of philaca brought wyth hem two and fyfty shippis / Collesis brought four and twenty shippis fro the royame of cresome And brought kynge Machaon And the kynge and thretty shyppes / Achilles brought fro his no\u2223ble cyte of phaces two and twenty shippes / The kynge Thelaphus brought fro Rodes two & twenty shippes Eruphylus fro orchomene two and fyfty shyppis The duc Anthypus and the duc Amphymacus of rusticane threttene shyppis The kynge Polibetes of Rythee And the duc Lopms his broder in lawe that had wedded his suster .lxij. shippis The kynge Dyomedes of Arges four score and two shippis And had in his companye Thelamus and Euryalus The kynge Poliphebus nyne shippis The kynge Fureus thretten shippes / The kynge prothoylus of chemenense two and fyfty shippes / The kynge Carpenor of Carpadye .lij. shippis / The kynge Theorius of breysse four and twenty shippes The some of kynges and dukes that were comen theder were sixty and nyne / And ther assemblyd at the porte of Athenes twelfe honderd and four and twenty shippis / wyth\u2223oute comprysyng the shippis of duc palamydes the sone of kynge Naulus That cam after on / Wyth his astate as shall be sayd after {etc}.\nWHan the kynge and the prynces weren thus assem\u00a6blid at the porte of Athenes The kynge Agamenon\nthat was chief of alle the ooste and taught alleway to co\u0304duyte this ooste meurely / assemblid vnto the counceyll on a \"plainly, without the city, all the noble men of the east have assembled here. And when they were all gathered about him in the sieges he had made, he said to them in this manner: \"O noble men, who have come together in this east with such great power, you know well that it is not assembled here for any other reason than to undertake work and deliver yourselves in arms against your enemies. Verily, I doubt not that one of a hundred who is in this company is sufficient to bring this work to an end, for which we have all assembled. It is well known to each of you the great injuries and great damages that the Trojans have inflicted upon us. Therefore, we have a just cause to take revenge by the force of arms. To the end that from henceforth it not be the custom of the noble men of Greece to endure such wrongs in dissimulation, and therefore it would be great villainy on our part.\"\" that many have assembled and possess great strength in this quarrel, yet there is no nation in the world but that fears our power, save only these evil counselors have turned them against us and have also initiated hostilities against us. As did first King Laomedon, who injured some of our people by a little occasion, for which he received death as his reward, and his city was destroyed, and his people were slain, and some were brought into servitude where they still are. Indeed, it is not so difficult and hard for us, who are more powerful, to take vengeance on the Trojans, as it was for four princes of lesser power who came against them. For the Trojans know very well that we have assembled to go against them, and they are strongly fortified with armed men to defend against our coming and all such as belong to them. Therefore, it seemed good to me, if it pleases you, that before we depart from this gate here, we send in to them. The isle of Delphi, our special messengers were to have an answer from our god Apollo concerning what we will do and undertake. Then there was none who opposed and disapproved the words of Agamemnon. Incontenent Achilles and Patroclus were to go to this isle to hear the answer of Apollo. And immediately they departed and went, and came there soon. For the said isle was, as it were, in the midst of the Cyclades islands, where Leto gave birth to Apollo and Diana. There was a rich temple in which the god of the paynems was worshipped, and gave answer to the people regarding such things as they demanded of him. This isle was first called Delos, that is, in Greek, manifestation. For as much as in this isle the paynems first saw the sun and the moon after the deluge, and therefore they supposed that they had been born there of their mother.\n\nFor Apollo is the sun, and Diana is the moon, in their language, some call this isle Ortigia, for as much as the birds that men call ortiges in English. They were the first Quayles seen there. The pagans gave to Apollo diverse names after the various operations of the sun. In this temple was a great image composed and made entirely of fine gold. In the worship of the god Apollo, and though the image was deaf and dumb, yet idolatry reigned so extensively at that time in the world. The devil put himself in the image and gave answers to the prayers of those things that they demanded of him. And this the devil did to abuse the foolish people, who at that time believed that this image was the true god.\n\nThe author declares from whence idolatry first came. In ecclesiastical history, we find that when Herod was deceived by the three kings who did not return to him. But worshiped our Lord Jesus Christ, as contained in the gospel. And after departing by another way, Herod purposed to have the child Jesus slain, and therefore the glorious virgin our Lady Saint Mary his mother and Joseph bore. And when our lord entered Egypt, all the idols of Egypt fell down to the earth, shattered and bruised, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah who said, \"The Lord will come to Egypt with might and enter Egypt in triumph. The idols of Egypt will be moved down, and all the idols of Egypt will be shattered.\" Among the Jews, Ismael was the first to make an idol, and it was of earth. Prometheus made the first among the pagans and taught them how to make them. But the true beginning of idolatry came from Belus, king of Assyria, who was the father of King Ninus. When Belus died, his son Ninus had him buried in a rich sepulcher and made an image of fine gold in his likeness to console and remember him. He worshiped the image as his god and compelled his people to do the same. An evil spirit entered within the image and gave the people false guidance. When the pagans made their demands and, following their example, the idols made responses for them in the worship of their friends. They worshipped them, and thus they proceeded in idolatry. There was none among them but that they had their goddess's favor, which granted them answers to their demands through the engine of their enemy, who deceived them and brought them to damnation through the envy he held and continues to hold against the human race, which God made to fulfill the decrees of paradise. From whence he was cast out for his pride in this age and darkness. And after the Day of Judgment, to dwell in hell, pardonably in the company of the damned.\n\nWhen Achilles and Patroclus arrived on this isle of Delphi, they went with great devotion into the temple of Apollo and made their offerings with great generosity. They demanded answers from him concerning their affairs and works. Then Apollo answered in a low voice: \"Achilles, return to the Greeks who sent you here and tell them this: It is to come and shall happen for...\" Certainly, they will go safely to Troy and make many battles. In the tenth year, they will have victory and destroy the city. They will kill King Priam's wife and children, along with the greatest man in the country. None will escape except those whom they choose to spare. Achilles was greatly pleased with this response. While they were still in the temple, a bishop of Troy named Calchas, the son of a man named Thistram, who was a very wise man, entered. He was also sent by King Priam to ask Apolline for answers on behalf of Troy. After he had made his offerings and requests for Troy, Apolline answered Calchas: Calchas, beware not to return to Troy, but go with Achilles to the Greeks. The Greeks will have victory over the Trojans by the agreement of the gods. You will be necessary to them. Achilles approached Calchas in the temple, making acknowledgement to him. They gathered together by faith and told each other what the idol had said to them. Achilles took great joy in this. He made a great face and feasted with Calchas and took him with him. They arrived safely at the gates of Athena, and when they had emerged from their ships, Achilles took Calchas by the hand and presented him to King Agamemnon and the others. He told them the truth of Apollo's answer: how they should gain victory over the Trojans and how Apollo had instructed him not to return to Troy but to stay with the Greeks during the war. The Greeks were greatly rejoiced by these tidings and made solemn feasts in his honor, receiving Calchas into their company by faith and oath, and promising him reward and good treatment.\n\nAfter this feast that the Greeks had made for the good news, Appolyn Calcas went in the company of Achilles and Patroclus, and he addressed them courteously, saying, \"O noble kings and princes assembled here for revenge against the great injuries inflicted upon you by the Trojans, do not delay here any longer after the gods have given their answer. Do you not think that King Priam has spies among you? While you tarry, he is fortifying his country and city with provisions and other necessities. Has it not been a large part of the summer already, and have you yet undertaken anything against your enemies? Beware lest you be unkind and ungrateful for the gods' answer, and lest they change it into the opposite due to your negligence. Therefore, do not delay any longer. But embark with your horses and go to the sea. And do not cease until the promises of the gods are fulfilled.\n\nBut when Calchas had spoken thus, each man said that he had spoken well.\" Agamemnon sent word to all the Ostia and commanded with a trumpet that every man should make himself ready to depart / And immediately they entered into their shipships / And they dispersed and hoisted up their sails / And all went towards the sea / And they had not long sailed, not passing a mile from thence, / But the air that was before clear and fair / began to grow troubled and thick / And began a right great tempest in the sea, of wind, rain, and thunder, so much that there was none so hardy but he feared and thought to have died / For their ships were cast by the sea here and there / And supposed none other for certain but to have been drowned / Then spoke Calchas to those who were with him. That the cause of this tempest was. For as much as Diana, her goddess, was wrathful and angry with them because they had departed from Athens and had made no sacrifice to her / And to appease this wrath / it is necessary that King Agamemnon sacrifice to her with his own hand Effigeny his. Daughter, a young virgin and tender of age,\nAnd if otherwise the tempest would never cease,\nTo expedite this sacrifice,\nHe counseled to tear the sail and apply it to the isle of Andylle, where the temple of the goddess Diana was.\n\nWhen King Agamemnon understood this,\nHe was all married and deeply sorrowful in his heart,\nFor he loved his daughter Iphigenia greatly,\nAnd on the other hand, he was entreated and required by all the other kings and princes of Greece,\nThat he would grant no impediment to this great enterprise,\nTo withstand the sacrifice,\nTherefore he was vanquished by the said princes,\nAnd for the love of his country,\nHe took his said daughter's image,\nAnd in the presence of many great kings and princes, sacrificed her to the goddess Artemis,\nAnd immediately the tempest ceased,\nAnd the air became clear and tranquil,\nAnd the sea calmed and in peace.\n\nThen he went again into his ship,\nAnd all the others did the same. Wyse, Drew up their sails and sailed before the wind so far that they arrived at the gate of the Kingdom of Troy, near a castle named Sarabana. Dares did not determine which king Agamemnon made his sacrifice to Diana, but outside the twelfth book of Methaphormos states that it was an image of his daughter, as if it were his said. And when the castle folk saw the great navy at their gate, they armed themselves and came out to defend their land against the Greeks. They assaulted those who had landed, a people still weary from their sea journey. But the Greeks issued forth from their ships in great numbers, armed, and slew them, driving them back to their castle and slew them in flight. They entered the castle with them and put all to death and took the prey.\n\nAfter they had destroyed the castle to the earth, they re-entered their ships again. And sailed so far that they arrived at the gate of Thendon. There, they anchored their ships there. At this port was a passing strong castle and well populated, full of great riches, three miles from Troyes. When they of the castle saw the Greeks, they ran to arms and garrisoned their castle with good fighters. And the others issued out and came to the port where they found the Greeks who were then issuing out of their ships, all armed and in great numbers. They took all they could find. Thus began the battle between them, the Greeks and the Trojans. And there were slain and dead on both sides. Many more of the Greeks than of the Trojans. But as soon as the great strength of the Greeks was descended, the Trojans could no longer endure or stay but put them to flight. Some to the castle. And the others fled to Troy. Then the Greeks besieged them and besieged the castle round about. And assaulted it on all sides. And they within defended it passionately on the walls and slew many by shot and by engines. But the Greeks, despite this, continued to assault it vigorously. They dressed their engines around the castle and set up ladders against the walls. They went up on all sides. Those within defended themselves valiantly and made some fall into their ditches, dead or injured. But the Greeks, so numerous, sent away new people to assault, causing those within to retreat and abandon their defenses. The Greeks then entered the castle by force and slew all they found, sparing neither man nor woman. They took and plundered all they found and afterward destroyed the castle and the house. They put the fire to it and burned everything up. Afterward, they rejoined their ships, joyous over the gain they had obtained in the castle.\n\nWhen the Greeks had demolished and burned down the castle and its buildings of Tenedos and Sarabana, and had refreshed themselves in the meadow of Tenedos, then Agamemnon, who had charge of all the eastern forces and was in command, A good captain should order that all the butyns and gains of these two castles be brought forth, and it was done immediately as he had commanded. A wise king distributed the gains to each man according to his desert and quality. And after this, he cried out in all the east that all the noble men of the east should assemble them on the plain of Tenedos to face the king Agamemnon. When they were all come, the king Agamemnon spoke and said in this manner: \"My friends and fellows who are here assembled for such a just cause as each of you knows, and in such great power that it will be renowned for ages in all the world. Let it please the gods that it be without pride and felony, for it is so that from the sin of pride grow all other vices. And let the gods resist and withstand the arrogant and proud people. And therefore we ought to put away pride from our works. And in particular in this work here now. And use:\" The right way of justice. To ensure that no one may reproach or blame us, you know well that we have come thus far to take vengeance for the injuries and wrongs that King Priam has inflicted upon us. And we have caused him great harm and damage in return. You may well know for truth that they have assembled in the city of Troy great power to defend themselves against us. And the city is passing great and strong. And you know well that they are on their own initiative, which doubles their force and strength. For you may take example of the crow that often defends its nest well against the falcon. I say not these things for any doubt that I have, but that we shall have victory. And that we will not destroy their city, however strong it may be, but only for our worship, to recommend that we have conducted this work with great discretion and without pride. A thing of a great importance. \"Great pleasure and without further counsel may come to a mischievous end. You know well that it is not long ago that King Pyrrhus demanded that we return his sister Exione to him. And we, through our arrogance and pride, refused. If we had returned and sent her home, these evils would never have happened in the island of Cythara as they have now. And Queen Helene, who is of the most noble of Greece, would not have been ravished nor led away. And we would not have undertaken the pain and labor that we now endure. None of us knows what will happen to him, good or evil. And therefore, if it seems good to you, we might return to our country without suffering more pain with our honor and worship. We shall send special messengers to King Pyrrhus and ask him to send Helene back to us freely. And he should restore to us the damages that Paris has done in the island of Cythara.\" If he will do so, our return will be honorable, and we may no longer ask anything of him by right. And if he refuses this, we shall have two things that will fight for us: Justice and our true quarrel and our power excused. And when men hear of our offers, they will give the wrong and blame the Trojans and us the loss and disgrace. And we shall be excused from all the damages we do to them after these offers. Therefore, decide among yourselves what you will do.\n\nThen there were some felons who criticized this council, and some approved of it. And finally, they decided to do as Ajax had said. Then they chose Messengers: Diomedes and Ulysses, to go to Troy. And they made their legation, which took their horses.\n\nThey went inconveniently there and arrived at Troy around midday. And they went straight to the palaces of King Priam and kept their horses at the gate. And after that, they went up into the hall. And as they went up, they marveled at it. They were greatly astonished by the rich works they saw in all the palaces. Particularly, they were amazed by a tree they saw in a plain, which was marvelously made by artistic means. The trunk or stock beneath was not larger than the size of a spear, yet it was very long and high. Above it, there were branches of gold and silver and leopards that spread over the palaces. And save a little, it was covered. The fruit of the same tree was of various precious stones that gave great light and brightness, and gave great pleasure to those who beheld it. They went so far that they came into the great hall where King Pyrrhus was accompanied by noblemen. And without further ado, Ulysses spoke to him in this manner:\n\nKing Pyrrhus, it is a marvel that we have not revealed anything to you as much as you are our mortal enemy; King Agamemnon, to whom we are messengers, commands and sends you and the queen. he/layne, whom thou hast made rude and betrothed from her husband. And restore all the damages that your son has caused in Greece. If you do so, I believe you will act wisely.\n\nAnd if you do not heed what evil may come to you and yours, for you shall die a bad death and all your men. And this noble city shall be destroyed. When King Priam heard Ulysses speak thus, he answered in a calm manner, without any empty counsel: I am greatly astonished by your words that ask of me that thing, which a man, vanquished and unable to defend himself any longer, would agree to... I do not believe that the Greeks have such power to do what you have said to me. They require reparation from me, and should I not demand it from them? Have they not killed my father and brothers, and taken my sister away in servitude, whom they do not deign to marry honorably but to hold and maintain as a common woman? I have sent Antenor to ask for her back. I would have forgiven them for keeping her, but you know the villainies and threats they inflicted on my messenger. Therefore, I will not listen to anything you say. I would rather die in disgrace than grant your request. Agamemnon should know that I have no peace or love for the Greeks who have caused me so much distress. If it were not for you being messengers, I would make you die a cruel death. Go your way now. I cannot see you without displeasure in my heart.\n\nDiomedes began to laugh in contempt and said, \"King, if without displeasure you cannot see us who are but two, then you shall not be without it all the days of your life. For you shall see, from now on, the great power of the Greeks before your eyes. They will not cease to come before your city. Against whom you cannot defend for long. But you and your fine city.\" If you were well advised in your actions, there were many Trojans who would have attacked the Greeks and drawn their swords to kill them. But the king Priam prevented them. He said to them that they should let two fools say their folly, and that it was the nature of a fool to show folly and of a wise man to suffer it. Aeneas asked, \"What does that mean, that you say a fool should show his folly to another fool?\" If he insists on receiving his death at my hand, I advise him to go away immediately. If he does not cease speaking foolishly, Diomedes answered Aeneas and said, \"Whatever you may be, you show yourself very ill-advised and hot-tempered in your words. I desire to find you in a worthy place so that I may reward you for the words you have said about me. I see well that the king is fortunate and wise to have such a counselor.\" Among all the advice you give him, you are the one who counsels him wisely regarding the words of Diomedes. You then told King Priam that we have understood all that he has said, and we will go and report it to our princes. Inconveniently, they left and found all the nobles assembled before King Agamemnon. They reported to them the answer of King Priam. The nobles were greatly astonished and spent a long time deliberating on how to conduct themselves since they were assured of the Trojan war.\n\nAfter these events, Agamemnon summoned his people to council in the plain of Troy. He said to them, Among other things, it is necessary for us to consider how during the siege of Troy, our eastern allies will be supplied with provisions. If it seems good to you, we will send to the kingdom of Messene to obtain provisions continually from there. For it is a country that is fertile and productive. They that go there should take care of those from the countryside, ensuring they send provisions to the east as long as we remain in this country. This counsel pleased the Greeks greatly, and they chose Incontynetes. Achilles and Thelephus, Hercules' son, were to carry out this message and go there with a great company of armed men. In that province, there reigned a king named Theutam, who had ruled for a long time in peace. For his country was populated with good and hardy knights.\n\nWhen Achilles and Thelephus, with three thousand knights, fierce and hardy, arrived on the island of Messe, they disembarked from their ships and descended onto the land. Then, King Theutam appeared against them with a great company of foot soldiers and horsemen. The battle began fiercely, and at its onset, there were many knights slain on both sides. Despite the Greeks having fewer in number, they defended themselves well, but their defense had not always succeeded. Achilles, who was the greatest in strength and courage among the Greeks, confronted King Theutram among his people, causing great harm to his own people. He charged into the thickest press of his enemies and defeated all who stood before him on his way to Theutram. He struck him so many times that he shattered his helmet and knocked him down, almost killing him. The king himself cried out for mercy to Achilles. Achilles asked Theutram, \"Why do you show pity for our enemy, who has come to attack us with such treachery? It is just reason that he has fallen into the pit that we prepared for him.\" Theutram replied, \"This king was once very familiar with my father Hercules, and he once did me great honor in this land.\" Therefore I may not permit him to be slain before my eyes. Well then said Achilles / take him then, and do with him what you will. The battle was finished, and the Greeks ceased. Then Thestius was born into his palaces as was fitting. For Achilles had so bruised him and frustrated him, and Thestius prayed to Achilles and Thetis / that they would go with him. They went, and were received with \"great joy and honor.\"\n\nIt was not long after this that Thestius, who was mortally wounded by the wounds that Achilles had given him, sent for Achilles and Thetis, and then said to them, \"My friends, I may not long live / And then said to Thetis, \"My friend, I may no longer live / And I have no lawful heirs of my body / to whom I may bequeath this kingdom that I have obtained with great labor / And had lost long since if not the most worthy of all / Hercules, who warranted and was a shield to me against all those who would have taken it from me.\" \"Despite those who intended to seize it, this fate belonged to those who had fathered it down, as my father, through his great prowess, had slain them and driven them out. Since I have kept it faithfully through my merit, and since my father has conquered this kingdom for me, who have no eyes, I hereby bequeath this kingdom and all my other possessions, wherever they may be, to you. Make yourself my heir, and pray that you bury me honorably, as befits a king. And as soon as he had finished these words, he died. The Thelephus and the nobles of the country then buried him honorably and laid him in a very rich sepulcher, upon which was written this epitaph: Here lies the king Thentram, whom Achilles slew. This Thelephus, who was previously only a duke, was made king in his place, and all the nobles of the country did him homage. All the people promised him faith.\" And Achilles ordered his ships stocked with provisions and commanded Thelephus to remain in his new kingdom, which he did reluctantly. He reassured him and also commanded, in the name of the Greeks, that he should frequently send supplies to the east. He promised him he would do so without fail. Then Achilles took leave of him and returned to his ships. They sailed for a long time and eventually reached the port of Tenedos, where they found the east still encamped. As soon as he disembarked, he straightaway went to King Agamemnon's tent where all the princes and kings had assembled. He was warmly received, as the one they loved much for his great strength and prowess. Achilles recounted to them how he had arrived at Messina and of the battle, and how Thelephus had been made king. The Greeks took great joy in these tidings. And allowed and presided much over the treachery of Achilles. After their parliament, each man went to his pavilion. Then was Achilles received with great joy by his Myrmidons, who greatly loved him.\n\nHere the author names those kings and princes who came to aid King Priam at Troy, not all but the most notable. First came to their aid, King Pandorus, King Galior, and King Adrastus with three thousand knights armed. From Thessaly came four kings with five thousand knights armed: King Carras, King Amasis, King Nestor, a very strong man, and King Amphymacus. From Lydia came King Glaucus with three thousand knights. And his son Sarpedon, one of the strongest knights in the world and cousin of King Priam. From Lycia came King Ensis with three thousand knights, expert in arms. From Larisso came two kings with five hundred knights, King Iamus. that was a moche grete man And the kynge capidus / Fro the royame of thaborye cam the kynge remus with thre thousand knyghtes / and in his companye cam foure dukes & seuen erles that were feyd with kynge pryant They bare in their armes the co\u00a6lour of asure with oute other signe / and therby was the kynge remus & his peple knowen in the bataylle. Fro the royame of trachie cam the kynge pilex & the duc al\u2223chamas with .xi. honderd knyghtis. Fro the royame of pauonye cam the kynge pessemus and the duc stupex\nhis cosyn wyth thre thousand knyghtes right expert to Iouste and to shote wyth the bowe / This is a moche wylde contre of forestes and montaygnes / And where is but lityll peple / And ynowhe of wylde bestes and of byrdes. Fro the prouynce of boecye cam thre dukes with twelue honderd knyghtes the duc Ansermms / the duc fortunus And the duc sammus. Fro the royame of bur\u00a6tyn where as growe good espices cam two kynges bre\u2223thern with a thousand knyghtes / the kynge boAnd the kynge episteus. Fro the regne of King Paphagor, rising in the east, filled with all riches, brought the noble King Philemon with three thousand knights, all shields of fish hides covered in gold and precious stones. King Philemon was as great as a giant. King Perseus, from the realm of Ethiopia, came with him, along with the king of the city, who was both strong and wise, with three thousand knights, many dukes, and many earls, and Simagon, the son of King Perseus. King Theles from the realm of Cheres came, along with Archilogus his son, who was an affinity of King Priam, bringing a thousand knights. Two kings came from the isle of Agrestes, whose names I do not have, with one hundred and twenty knights. From the realm of Eliane, beyond the realm of Amazones, came an Ancient wise and discreet king named Epistropus, bringing a thousand knights and a marvelous beast called sagittary, which had a horse behind the middle and a man in front. This beast was like a horse and had eyes red as coal, and shot rightly with above. This beast made the Greeks afraid and slew many of them with his bow. All the knights who came to aid King Priam numbered two hundred thousand and thirty thousand, besides those from the realm of Uruyen and India. It is not recorded by writing that since the creation of the world such a multitude of noble knights had assembled in one place, and this quarrel arose for such a small occasion. O how kings and princes should take heed and be wary of stirring up war, and far better they might have remedied it by other means.\n\nThe Greeks were not yet parted from Tenedos. When Palamedes, the son of King Nausicaa, came and arrived at this gate of Tenedos with thirty ships full of armed knights, the Greeks had great joy. They had murmured before because he had tarried so long, which he excused by sickness he had suffered. Palamedes was,\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Old English, but it is actually in Middle English. No translation is necessary as the text is already in a readable form.)\n\n(No cleaning was necessary as the text was already in a clean and readable state.) Among the Greeks, Holden was held in great worship and was the second in rank after King Agamemnon, distinguished in arms and very rich. Upon his arrival, he was immediately chosen to be a counselor of the East. For many days and nights, the Greeks assembled at the gates of Tenedos to counsel on the best way to assault Troy. Finally, after exploring various options, they gathered at the council of Diomedes, who said:\n\n\"All you kings, princes, and barons who are present, we ought to feel great shame and disgrace. It has been a year since we arrived in this land, and yet we have not truly approached Troy. In this time, our enemies have been provided with great aid, and their city is strongly fortified with walls and bulwarks, giving them the advantage. They seem to think that we are not bold enough to come against them, and therefore, \" The more we delay going there, the more our shame and damage increase, and I believe if we had gone there when we first came to this country, we would have more easily descended and taken land than we will now. For they have been better fortified now than they were at that time with all things they needed to defend themselves. Therefore, I counsel you that in the morning we put ourselves in good order and set the siege firmly and as quickly as we can. We ought to know that we will not do this without great battle. Wherefore it behooves each man to employ himself and put aside all fear and dread. For by no other way may we exploit this work, nor more honorably by my advice.\n\nThe counsel of Diomedes pleased all the barons of the east, and in the morning they re-entered their ships and sailed straight to the gate of Troy and brought their ships by good order one after the other. In the first front, they put one hundred ships, well garnished with knights and men-at-arms who waited in the wind. After them, they put another hundred, and after all the others in order. They had not sailed far when they saw the noble city of Troy. Approaching swiftly as they could, the Trojans saw them and ran to arms, mounting their horses and going forth with their weapons to the gate. When the Greeks saw the Trojans come out in such great numbers to defend their gate, none was unwilling to fight. But since they could not land except by force, they armed themselves inconveniently and contended to take the land by force.\n\nOf the first hundred ships, Protesilaus, king of Phylas, was their chief and captain. He made great efforts to bring his ships within the gate. But the strong wind blew them towards the gate instead. \"Despite their strong resistance, many Greeks were broken and bruised, and many were drowned. Those who managed to reach land were immediately slaughtered by the Trojans with great torment, and their numbers were so great that the ground was red with their blood. It is not in the mind of any man that any navy ever won land with such misfortune as the Greeks did. After the first hundred ships, the others arrived and disembarked, and those on board were armed with great arbalests. With these, they shot and killed many Trojans and forced them to retreat.\n\nThe Greeks then took the land, and the first to fight suffered greatly. The battle then became mortal. King Protesilaus, who was descended from the first, performed wonders with his body and killed countless Trojans that day. If he had been alone, all the Greeks who had landed would have been killed. What defense could help them when seven thousand...\" The Greeks fought against one hundred thousand Trojans. For the great danger they felt, they sold their lives dearly, waiting for the arrivals of King Archelaus and King Protesilaus. Anon, they arrived and compelled the Trojans to descend and take land, succoring their people valiantly and beginning again the cruel battle. After the arrival of Duke Nestor and his men, who fought fiercely among their enemies, there were many broken spears and many arrows shot. Knights fell on both sides, and the cry was so great that it was marvelous to hear. There they slew many Trojans, and Archelaus and Protesilaus were slain. After the arrival of King Ascalus and King Agamemnon with their ships, they descended on a land and assaulted the Trojans with great ferocity, forcing them to recoil and retreat. Then came great numbers of new Trojans to the battle, and the battle became greater than it had been all day, so much so that the... The Greeks were forced back to their ships. Upon their arrival, Ulysses came with a large company of knights, charging immediately into the battle. The Greeks recovered the land and assaulted the Trojans. Ulysses caused great loss of life among the enemy, and his banner was recognized among them. When King Priam saw Ulysses slaughtering his people, he approached him. Ulysses dismounted from his horse and wounded him slightly. Priam retaliated, wounding Ulysses on the throat. Ulysses struck him again, nearly killing him. The Trojans rescued Priam from the Greeks, carrying him onto their shields into the city. Without Priam's intervention, the Greeks would have been defeated. However, the Trojans were determined to save him. King Thoas and King Agamemnon, King Menelaus, and Ajax arrived with their full power, descending upon the land and joining the battle. And they set their spheres against the Trojans. And struck down many some dead and some wounded. At this joining, many Trojans were slain.\nWhen King Protesilaus departed from the battle where he had been since the beginning,\nTo take rest, and when he came to the gate,\nHe found all his men near by dead. For whom he wept with pity,\nAnd took back his courage to avenge the death of his men,\nAnd returned to the battle. And in his great anger, he slew many Trojans, wounded them, and struck down many of them from their horses. Then came to the battle from the party of the Trojans, King Perses with a great company of knights. At the coming of the Ethiopians, the battle became mortal. And they killed many Greeks and forced them to retreat. And had almost defeated them,\nIf not for the worthy Palamedes, who had descended from the land. For at his coming, the Greeks were comforted, and Palamedes made a remarkable display with his hand,\nAnd addressed him again against Sagamon, the brother of King Menelaus and Neoptolemus. The king of Persia, who greatly troubled the Greeks, was struck so forcefully with his spear that he pierced him completely through his body and killed him to the earth. Afterward, he plunged into the great press and crushed all whom he encountered. Each man who knew him made way for him. A cry arose among the Trojans that they could not endure the strength of Palamydes and were repelled by force. But the most worthy of all, Hector, upon hearing the cry of his people, issued out of the city with a great company of knights and entered the battle, armed in rich armor, bearing on his shield a golden lion. His strength was immediately recognized among the Greeks. He encountered and met in his advance the king Protesilaus, who had not ceased all day in killing Trojans. He struck him with such great might upon his helmet that he split him open notwithstanding his armor and fell dead to the earth. After Hector thrust him into the greatest press, and as many Greeks as he encountered with his sword he slew. Each man fled from him, making way, and demanded of one another, \"What is that which so grieves us?\" And anon they knew that it was Hector, the strongest man in the world. Then there was none so bold who dared to withstand his stroke.\n\nThen it happened that Hector went out a little\nfor refreshment, and the Greeks regained courage against the Trojans. This happened eight or ten times. It was about the hour of evening when Hector departed from the battle and reentered the city. The Greeks were all disheartened, and then arrived the mighty Achilles with his Myrmidons and entered the battle immediately with three thousand good knights who were with him. The Trojans were beaten down and slain on all sides, for no man endured against Achilles except he was beaten to the earth or sorely hurt.\n\nThen all the navy arrived. The Greeks and knights advanced on the land and clashed with the others in battle. The Trojans suffered greatly and were forced to retreat into their city. Achilles and the others slaughtered them as they fled, causing a great cry of pain. Achilles killed many Trojans with his own hand. There was great chaos and carnage at the city gates. The fathers saw their children killed before their eyes. The carnage would have been even greater if Troilus, Paris, and Deiphobus with a large company had not come out of the city to resist the Greeks and make the fighting cease. The night was near, and each man drew himself into his place. The Trojans fortified their city and made good preparations. Achilles and the Greeks returned to their tents with great glory, but King Agamemnon did not let them rest. He made each man take his position in an orderly fashion. And they, who had no tents or pavilions, lodged them under the lees of the best ships they could and their horses. After anchoring their ships as well as they could and taking out all that was necessary, the Greeks made their siege this night and set it before the city of Troy. They made marvelous great fires in the east that made it as light as it had been day. So were they encamped near each other and made good watch. How well they had no assaults this night. And they had all the night trumpets and minstrels in great abundance. Agamemnon ordeained for the east and they remained this night all armed in the best way they could. This was the first battle of the Greeks and Trojans at their coming.\n\nAnd when the night was past, Hector, who had charge of all of them in the city, ordered his battles in a great plain that was in the city. He put two thousand good knights in the first battle. Betoke this to two of your kinship: Glaucon, the son of the king of Sparta, and Aphiamolor, his bastard brother. Assign to them King Theses of Tiras and Archilogus, his brother who was wise and valiant.\n\nFor the second battle, he took three thousand good knights and strong men, whom he assigned to King Examplus of Phrygia and King Alcaus, knights of great strength. He recommended them to the goddesses' guard and had them exit after the others in good order.\n\nFor the third battle, he took it upon Troyllus, his brother, to conduct with three thousand knights who were wise and hardy. And at his departure, he said to him, \"My right dear brother, the lesser part of my heart puts me in doubt of your great hardiness. Therefore, I pray you to govern wisely in the battle, and not to enterprises things you may not achieve, and not to put your body in danger of death by overmuch.\" Wenying/Whereby thou mightest give joy to thine enemies and others, go thy way in the name of the goddesses that conduct and keep thee from parry and encumbrance. Ha. a Sir, brother Answered Troilus, \"Thou needeth not to doubt of me. For I shall do that which is in me, as thou hast commanded, and then he went forth with his company, bearing in his shield three golden lions.\n\nHector put in the fourth battle three thousand knights and seven hundred, whom he took to conduct to King Hupon of Larisse. This King Hupon was the strongest of all the Trojans, next to Hector, and had in his company a valiant knight, a bastard brother of Hector, wise and hardy, named Dymabataill. Hector delivered to conduct to the King of Cisaye with all his folk, who were marvelously strong and great as giants. And the same king bore in his shield all assurance without any difference. Hector committed the sixth battle to Polydamas his bastard brother and issued after the others. King Pricesus, who had induced his people to shoot and draw the bow, went out with arms to battle, mounted on good light horses. Hector came to face Deepbus, his brother, to lead them, and followed after the others. With this battle, Hector dismissed all the nobility of the kingdom of Agrestes, under the conduct of King Esdras and King Philon. This King Philon had a marvelous chariot all of your gold and silver and precious stones. This chariot carried two strong knights. With these two kings, Hector placed Epitagoren, his bastard brother, and they followed after. The seventh battle was led by Aeneas and a noble admiral named Enfrenes. They went after the others. The eighth battle was led by Perses, king of Persia, and Paris was chief and captain. Hector prayed to Paris his brother not to assemble against the Greeks until he came to him, and that he would follow him immediately. The ninth and last battle was led by Hector himself, and ten. of his bastard brothers and the best knights of the city, chosen to the number of five thousand, were in this battle. Then when Hector was richly armed and mounted on his horse named Galate, which was one of the greatest and strongest horses in the world, he rode up to his father the king and said to him, \"Dear father, retain with you a thousand and five hundred knights and all the footmen of this city. Hold your position before the sight of the Greeks and do not move, unless I send word. If we have need, you shall be our refuge. I will send you all away among my messengers who will tell you the state of the battle. And take heed and guard that our enemies do not take our city by cunning or treason.\" The king answered him, \"My son, I shall do all as you have asked me.\" And have no faith but in the virtue of thine arms and in the great discretion of thy wit. I humbly pray to the goddesses that they will keep thee whole and sound and preserve thee from encumbrance. After these words, Hector went forth after the others. This Hector was much courageous, strong, and victorious in battle, and a right wise commander of men of arms. His shield was all of gold, and in the middle a lion of gold. And though he was the last to issue from his house or the city, yet he passed all the battalions and came and placed himself at the foremost battalion. The women in the city, and all the others, went upon the walls to behold the battle. They had great doubt and diverse imaginations in themselves.\n\nWhy had Hector ordered his battalions? The king Agamemnon was not idle, but had right away ordered twenty-six battalions from his people. He put Patroclus with his people and with them\n\n(Note: The text appears to be in Old English, but it is still largely readable and does not require extensive translation. The main issue is the presence of some OCR errors, which have been corrected above.) folk of Achylles.\nWhiche was not that day in the batayll / for his woun\u00a6des that he had and dyde do hele hem in his tente This pa\u00a6troclus was a moche noble due and ryche and louyd so moche Achylles that they were bothe of one Alyance In the seconde bataylle was the kynge men on And the kynge ydumeus with thre thousand knyghtes And ther was with hem the due of Atthenes wyth alle his peple The thirde bataylle ledde the kynge Achalaphus / And his sone phimenus wyth her peple / The fourth bataylle ladde the kynge Archelaus / And the kynge prothenor his broder & with them was securidam the right stronge knyght with all the peple of boecye / The fyfthe batayll ladde the kynge menelaus wyth alle his peple of sperte. The sixthe bataylle ladde the kynge Epistropus and the kynge celidus wyth alle her peple / The seuenth batayll ladde Thelamon ayax wyth alle his peple of salamyne And he had foure erlis with hym / that is to wete thesus Amphymacus Dorius & Polidarius / The eyghte ledde the kynge Thoas / The nynthe ledde Ajax the tenth, the king Philotus, Enyalius the eleventh, King Idomeneus and Meriones, the twelfth Duke Nestor, the thirteenth lord Eumedes, seventeenth King Polydarius and King Machaon, eighteenth King of Rhodes, nineteenth King Androcles, twentieth King Gerand and Philoctetes of Larissa, twenty-second Diomedes, twenty-third King Oeneus of Cyprus, twenty-fourth King Prothales, twenty-fifth King Caranor, twenty-sixth and last battle lord Agamemnon, Emperor of all the east.\n\nWhen all the battles were arranged on one side and the other, and there was nothing left to do but assemble, Hector was challenged first by Aeneas, and Patroclus came against him as fast as his horse could run. He struck him so forcefully with his spear on his shield that he pierced through it, but did not cause him more harm than that. Hector. Patroclus struck Hector with his sword, splitting his head in two. Patroclus fell dead to the ground. When Hector saw him dead, he dropped his arms, for they were quite fine and rich. He dismounted from his horse to take them, but King Menon came upon him with three thousand good knights to defend King Patroclus against Hector. Menon said to him, \"Ha. A ravening and insatiable wolf. Indeed, you will find your prey in some other place here, for you will find none of it here.\" And they assailed him on all sides, trying to take his horse, but Hector, by his prowess, remounted and intended to avenge himself on King Menon. But Kings Glancion and Thesus, along with Archilogus his son, came with three thousand fighters. Then Hector laid into them all and was the first to kill one, followed by many others. And so the battle raged on both sides. Hector approached Patroclus' body to retrieve his arms, but King Idumeus of Crete opposed him with two thousand fighters. King Menon, who had always been an adversary to Hector, obstructed him and prevented him from obtaining the arms he desperately wanted. Hector, on foot, endured great pain but pressed on, slaying man and horse, severing heads, legs, and arms. He slew fifteen of the strongest assailants. In the meantime, Menon carried Patroclus' body before him and bore it to his tent. The Greeks sought to inflict harm on Hector and seize his horse. Among them was a strong knight named Creon de la Plerre, who infuriated Hector most. One of Hector's servants addressed this Creon and dealt him such a great blow with his spear that he fell dead to the earth. Afterward, Hector struck down... Another man urged the Trojans loudly to come and support Hector. Secrbus, one of Hector's bastard brothers, was the first to respond, charging into the thickest press of Greeks and encountering those who had grievously wounded Hector, who had slain more than thirty of them. Secrbus caused such chaos that the Greeks were forced to retreat. Hector then remounted his horse and plunged back into the fray, inflicting great losses on them due to his anger that he might not obtain the arms of Patroclus. He killed or knocked down each man in his path and inspired fear in all.\n\nThen Menestheus, duke of Athens, joined the battle where Tydeus was, performing marvels and fighting with him, along with the kings Amyptrus and Alcaeus. Menestheus addressed himself against Tydeus in fierce battle. They fought with great force, and Menestheus knocked Tydeus down. A horse stood in the midst of the crowd. Menesteus struggled with all his might to seize him. He succeeded and led him towards their tents with a great company of knights. Meanwhile, the Trojans were crying out to their people that Troilus was a prisoner. They urged them not to allow him to be taken away, threatening dishonor if they did. King Alcanes then took up his strong spear and confronted those holding Troilus. He struck down the first man to the ground and wounded another severely. With the help of King Sampitus and his people, Troilus was rescued and remounted his horse. Menesteus, feeling sorry for his loss, began a mortal battle among them. Many were slain on both sides. prisoner / Recountryed men / By whom he had lost him And immediately he addressed him and struck him down, and at the same time struck down another knight. Then they came to the battle and Hippolyta with two thousand fighters. And on their side came Menelaus and Prothoenor with their people. And there began a mortal melee.\nAnyone after came Polidamas, the son of Antenor, With a great company. He stationed himself on that other side among his enemies. After him came King Remus from Troy with three thousand fighters. And against them came Menelaus with all his people. Menelaus addressed him again, King Remus, and engaged with him. And struck each other to the ground. Then addressed him Polidamas and Remus against the newcomer from Helas, a young man twenty years old. Remus gave him such a great stroke with his spear that he struck him down dead to the earth. Of which Menelaus had great sorrow, for he loved him much. And in his great anger he gave such a great stroke to Remus with his sword That he smote him down as dead, and when the king Hector was so beaten down, his men had thought that he was dead and would have fled, had it not been for Polidamas who kept them with great pain and did so much that they took their king Celesius. Celesius addressed him and struck him with his spear, but he could not remove the spear from Polidamas, who gave him such a great stroke with his sword that he struck him down dead to the earth. Among these things, Hector went and hunted and killing his enemies. He made his way before him in the killing of knights and beating down so far that he came upon the men of Salamis, whom King Thelamon conducted and who slew many of the Trojans and beat down by his prowess. Then the king thrust a great stroke with his spear at Hector, making a deep wound in him. And then Hector, in his great anger, encountered an admiral of the Greeks and slew him cruelly with his sword. Then Hector was surrounded by his enemies on all sides. There was The king Thesesus warned Hector on behalf of the Greeks, \"Go out of the battle, for it is damaging for the world to lose such a knight.\" Hector responded courteously. In the meantime, Menelaus and Thelamon attacked Polidamas. Thelamon struck him first with his spear and gave him numerous blows, breaking the last piece of his helmet and taking him captive. Hector was not far behind, striking among those holding him and killing and injuring many, causing so much chaos that he killed thirty of them and the others fled, leaving Polidamas with him. Then they gathered together Kings Epistropus, Menelaus, and Thelamon with all their people and attacked the Trojans with such great ferocity that they forced them to retreat and be mauled. Notwithstanding Hector's great prowess, who was with the others and performed marvelously in person, and then... his good horse Galathe was slain under him, and then he defended himself on foot so marvelously that none of the Greeks were bold enough to approach him when his comrades knew the great danger he was in. They all ran to that side. Thelamon severely hurt Andrinus, one of Hector's bastard brothers, and Dinarius, another bastard brother of Hector, gave such a great stroke to Polixenus, a noble man, that he slew him and knocked him off his large and strong horse. And he took the steed for Hector, who was mounted on it in the continent. There were marvels of arms done by the bastards. Then Dephebus came on with all his eastern host, where in he had a great multitude of archers who hurt and slew great numbers of Greeks. Dephebus wounded King Thoetes in the face. The battle began mortally, as if it had been predetermined that day. Theseus was assaulted by Quintus, one of Hector's bastard brothers and of King Moderus, and was taken and led away. But Hector released him entirely. courtsey to him beforehand. Then came to the battle the party of the Greeks. King Agamemnon and the king Polydamas confronted Cassitanus, one of Hector's bastard brothers, and gave him such a great stroke that he fell to the earth. Seeing Hector, he became enraged among the Greeks and slew many, putting them all to flight. Then came Nestor with six thousand knights. King Esdras and King Phylon, who performed great feats of arms, came against them. At this assembly, many knights were slain from one party and the other. King Philon, who performed great feats of arms, was surrounded by the Greeks on all sides and would have been slain if Idomeneus and King Esdras his father had not delivered him from their hands. Hector and his brother performed marvels with Polydamas, putting all the Greeks to flight, but Menelaus and Thelamon resisted them strongly. Then came Aeneas to the battle. with all his might / And placed him among Hector and the others / By force, he put the Greeks to rout. Ajax was greatly distressed by this, and as he looked behind him, he saw the banners approaching for battle that had not yet arrived. There was the flower of Greek knighthood, praying for Hand to resume the fight. Ajax and Aeneas engaged in such fierce combat that they both fell to the ground. Philotas then arrived with three thousand knights and turned the tide against the Trojans. He struck Ajax with his spear but could not dislodge it. Hector retaliated with a mighty blow that injured Ajax severely. Then, Humerus and Ulysses arrived with all their people and ten thousand knights, causing great sorrow to the weary Troians. Paris came to the battlefield and struck so hard against the king of Frigia, who was a cousin of Ulysses. He slew him and knocked him down. The Greeks deeply regretted this. Vulixes, supposedly struck by his spear, instead hit his horse and killed it, causing Paris to fall to the ground. Then Achilles dealt him such a great blow that he wounded him in the face and made the blood spurt out. Vulixes injured him again. The Trojans would have fled if not for Hector's and his brothers' great prowess. Hector did not cease to put himself in the greatest peril here and there. Each man who knew him made way for him.\n\nWhen he saw that his people could not endure the great strength of the Greeks, he withdrew and told them of the injuries the Greeks had inflicted on them and of what they would do if they came to their city. He then urged and warned them to do well. Afterward, he led them by a ruse to the right side to attack their enemies. There was great confusion among the Greeks. The king was assaulted by Hector's bastard brothers, seeking revenge. The death of Cassibelanus, their brother, whom he had slain, they brought down from his horse and removed his helmet from his head, killing him inconsequently. If the Duke of Athens had not come among them at that time and given such a great stroke to one of the Bastardis Quintylinus, he would have fallen to the ground, severely hurt. Parris struck the Duke with an arrow in the side, causing him a great wound. But the wounded Duke did not yield, delivering King Humerus and his men from their hands.\n\nHector then caused great pain to the Greeks, driving them back. King Humerus shot an arrow at Hector, wounding him in the face. Enraged, Hector ran at him and struck him so hard on the head that he split it open, and he fell dead.\n\nThen, with the blowing of a horn, more than seven thousand Greeks came to assault Hector, who defended himself marvelously against them. After this, he went a little to his father and took three thousand knights fresh. fiers arrived and brought them to the battle. And at their coming, he made great occasion of the Greeks. Ajax and Hector clashed and fought each with the other. Menelaus slew an admiral of Troy, Celidon slew Molus, one of King Thoas. Mandon struck out an eye of King Cedonius. Sadellus slew an admiral of the Greeks. Thelamon struck Margareton and wounded him severely. Famuell struck King Protesilaus to the ground. The king of Gaul fought against Menestheus. Menestheus hurt him on the nose with his sword. Then Deanor, seeing his brother hurt, addressed him and struck him down to the ground. But three brothers came to attack or take him, but he defended himself valiantly. And immediately he was saved by the king. But Hector then assaulted them both. And without fault, they would not have escaped him, nor would Ajax the strong knight have come to their rescue with the thousand knights he had in his company. The king then came on. Perse and his five thousand knights carried Paris' banner and forced the Greeks to retreat. Dares writes in his book that Hector slew a thousand knights in this assault. Among other things, Hector encountered Menelaus before a tent and said to him, \"You are a evil traitor, who will receive your reward for returning me to take the arms of Patroclus.\" Then he struck him so great a blow that he fell to the ground. After Hector alighted, he struck off his head. But Menelaus prevented him and struck Hector across the body with such force that he gave him a great wound. Menelaus went away without delay, fearing Hector's fury. Hector went out of the store and bound his wound, which stopped the bleeding. Afterward, he went back into the store and slew many Greeks. Dares says that after he had bound his wound, he: In this day, a thousand knights were slain, and none had the courage to avenge themselves against him or defend. But he put them all to flight, and the Trojans entered their tents and plundered and robbed them, taking all the best they could find.\n\nOn this day, the Trojans would have had victory over all the Greeks if fortune had consented. For they could have killed them all and avoided the great evils that came afterward. It is not wise for any man to find his enemy in great peril and offer his power to deliver him, for it often happens that he will never recover to have his enemy in the same circumstances again, but that fortune turns back. This happened on this day to the unhappy Hector, who was at the head of his enemies and could have killed them all if he had wished, for they sought nothing but to flee. However, by great misfortune, Ajax, the son of King Telamon, came before him in an encounter. Exion was a German comrade of Hector and his brothers, who were wise and valiant. They confronted Hector again and launched a great assault against him. Hector, who was equally valiant, engaged in combat with them. As they fought, they spoke to each other. Through their conversation, Hector recognized that Exion was his cousin, the son of his aunt.\n\nHector, in a show of courtesy, embraced him and made great rejoicing. He offered to do anything he desired if he asked for it. He also asked him to come to Troy to see his mother's lineage. But Thelamon, who sought only his own advantage, refused to go at that time. He asked Hector, saying, \"If you love me so much as you claim, then for my sake and at my request, cease the battle for that day. Let the Greeks be left in peace.\" The unfortunate Hector agreed to his request. He blew a horn and ordered his people to withdraw into the city. The Trojans began to set fire to the Greek ships, and had burned them all. Hector had not called them off from this. Because of this, the Trojans were sorry for their rashness. This was the reason why they could not achieve victory and were unable to regain their fortune. And therefore Virgil says, \"There is no mercy in battle.\" A man ought not to show mercy, but take the victory.\n\nThen, at dawn, the Trojans prepared to go out and assault the Greeks. But the Greeks sent word to King Priam, and demanded true truce for two months. He agreed to their terms.\n\nThe dead bodies were gathered from both sides. Some were buried, and some cremated. Achilles was then grieving for the death of Patroclus, unable to be comforted. He had their bodies buried in rich tombs, and so did they for the others. as the king and other kings, and those who were hurt and wounded, were helped during the truce. Priam the king had his bastard son Cassibelanus honorably buried in the temple of Venus. He took great sorrow for his death, and so did all the others.\n\nWhen Cassandra heard the mourning and sorrow of the Trojans for the death of their friends, she cried out and said, \"Woe to the Trojans, make sorrow for yourselves, for in the same way shall it happen and come to you as it is to your friends. That shall be your death. Alas, why do you seek peace from the Greeks before these evils come to you and before this noble city is destroyed? Alas, why do you not yield to Hector again, who my father once drove out by force? You shall all be destroyed. Among other things, Palamedes murmured strongly against the lordship of Agamemnon, saying that he was not worthy to have such great dominion above all the others, and that he himself was more worthy to have it. King Seiyanax of the east, instead of Agamemnon, and there was not enough time for anything further to transpire. When the truce was broken, King Agamemnon, who commanded all the eastern forces and conducted battles effectively, gave the first to Achilles, the second to Diomedes, the third to Menelaus, the fourth to Menestheus, the duke of Athens. In all the others, he appointed good commanders and conductors. Hector did the same, assigning his battalions in the same way. He placed Troyllus in the first. And in all the others, he appointed good commanders and brave men. He made all the battles issue forth, and he placed himself at the front. When Achilles saw him, he charged against him, and Hector against him. They struck each other to the ground very hard. Hector rose first and left Achilles lying on the ground. He struck among the others in the greatest press and reached no knight but he killed him or knocked him down. He went through the battlefield, leaving it red from their blood. That he had slain [it was when Achilles was remounted among the Trojans in the greatest press and slew many]. He went so far that he encountered Hector again [and ran to him; Hector to him]. But Achilles was brought to the ground [and Hector tried to take his horse, but he couldn't due to Achilles' great strength]. When he was remounted, he assaulted Hector with his sword and gave him such great blows that he nearly defeated him. But Hector gave him such a great stroke upon the helmet that he staggered and blood gushed out of his head. Such was the fatal battle between the two knights [and if they had not parted, one or the other would have been slain, but their people separated them]. Then came Diomedes to the battlefield and Hector on the other side [who struck each other to the ground]. But Diomedes mounted first. And Diomedes assaulted Hector, who was on foot and defended himself valiantly, but killed the horse of Diomedes. However, they remounted. Both/two forced their way in and intervened. Diomedes took away Troilus, but the Trojans prevented him from doing so, and many of them were slain. Menelaus came to the battle on the Greek side, and Paris on the other. In the going and coming, Hector did not let up, engaging knights. A new knight named Bretes assaulted him fiercely, but Hector, in great anger, struck him on the helmet with such a powerful blow that he split his head open and he fell dead. Seeing that his cousin King Archylaus was in danger, Hector went after him. But Archylaus defended himself as best he could. Hector then ran at him and struck him so hard that he split his body in two, disregarding his armor. Protesilaus addressed Hector, but Hector paid no heed. He struck Protesilaus down to the earth. Hector remounted his horse and gave Protesilaus to King Protesilaus. After this battle, when the night came, all the kings, princes, and barons of the Greeks assembled at King Agamemnon's tent. They held a parliament on how to slay Hector, for as long as he lived and came to battle against them, they could never vanquish the Trojans. He would do great harm to them, and to bring this to an end, they requested that Achilles take it upon himself, both for his strength and wisdom. Achilles agreed gladly, as one who longed for more death. And then Hector, the one who could take his life most easily after this counsel, was issued out of the city with his battles well and diligently arranged. He went before all others in the first battle, and after him came Aeneas, then Paris, then Deiphobus, and after him Troyllus, and the others following in order. Then all the Trojans joined together, and there were more than a hundred thousand fighting men. The battle began horribly and mortally. Paris and those good knights from Perce killed many Greeks with arrows and injured them. Hector encountered King Agamemnon and struck him, wounding him severely. Then Achilles assaulted Hector and gave him so many blows that he broke his helmet. Then Aeneas and Diomede attacked Hector and said to him mockingly, \"Ha. A. good counselor that gave counsel to your king to\" Among these things, Hector assaulted Achilles and gave him so many blows that he fell and broke his helmet. Intending to take him, the son of Thetis ran upon Hector and gave him such a great stroke with his sword that he injured him severely. In his anger, Hector returned the favor and gave him such a great stroke that he knocked him down to the ground. Then Aeneas alighted and descended to fight. Hector defended himself so valiantly that it was remarkable, and besides them, Hector and Achilles fought each other. Then came to the fray all the kings and princes of Greece with a great company of armed men. And from the Trojan side came all the barons who had come to their aid. The battle began marvelously. King Agamemnon and King Peleus fought against each other. King Menelaus encountered Paris, and they knew each other. And Menelaus struck him so hard with his spear that he made him a great wound and knocked him down, causing Paris great shame. Ulysses struck King Arasites and took his good horse, sending it to his tent. Polymites leapt upon the ancient one and killed him, and Archilochus fought with him. Polidamas struck Palamides and wounded him severely, then mocked him with reproach. King Scelenus and King Carras encountered each other and Carras was severely beaten and wounded. Philoteas and King Remus fought each other and both were severely hurt, leaving them both astonished by the fierce anger they displayed. King Thesus and Eryalus fought each other and both were sorely hurt. The bastards of King Priam committed treacherous acts and killed many Greeks, injuring many kings. King Thelamon and Sarpedon clashed so violently that one against the other they both sustained severe injuries, leaving them both amazed. King Thoas and Achilles, who were cousins, assaulted Hector and struck him many times. Drawing off his helmet from his head, Hector struck him in many places, and he cut off half of his nose. To the rescue of Hector came his bastard brothers, who slew many Greeks and took King Thoas prisoner, wounding and beating King Agamemnon in such a way that he was carried to his tents. Menelaus contained his grief, and Paris shot an arrow envenomed with poison at him, wounding him in such a way that he was carried to his tent. As soon as Menelaus had bandaged his wound, he went back to the battle to avenge himself on Paris, if he found him. But Aeneas placed himself between them both, for Paris was unarmed to face him. Aeneas led him into the city, so that Menelaus should not kill him. Then Hector assaulted Menelaus. He thought he could take him, but there came to the rescue a great multitude of Greek warriors, so Hector could not come. The king entered the battle and struck among the Greeks, causing them to flee. When night came, the battle ceased. In the morning, the king, who was reluctant to fight that day, summoned his counselors: Hector, Paris, Troilus, Deiphobus, Eneas, Antenor, and Polidamas. He said to them, \"You know we hold prisoner the king who, without cause, has come to destroy us. Therefore, I think it good that we make him suffer a cruel death. What do you say to this?\" Hector replied, \"Sir, the gods forbid that your nobles commit such a villainy. For the king of the Greeks is one of the most noble kings of Greece. It might happen that the Greeks could take one of ours, to whom they could do the same in return, causing us the greatest sorrow in the world. Therefore, it seems better to me that we keep him safely confined.\" King Thoas, without wrongdoing to him, if by fortune one of ours were taken, we might make a change and take that one for the other. This counsel seemed good to Hector, but the king prayed to them yet, if you do this, it will seem to the Greeks that we doubt ourselves and that we dare not put their folk to death. Nevertheless, I shall do so according to your counsel. This counsel finished. Aeneas took Hector and Antenor and went to see Helen, whom they found in the great hall of Ilium with the queen Hecuba, and many other noble ladies where she made great sorrow. And they supposed they had comforted her. And so did the queen Hecuba, who said to her that she should take no thought or sorrow, and that they of the city should well defend themselves.\n\nAmong these things, the Greeks complained sorely of the death of their friends that the Trojans slew thus, and held themselves children that they had put them in such danger. Of which they had well passed and been delivered if they had had good fortune. And yet that same night, a great wind and heavy rain arose, and their tents were all turned upside down to the earth. It seemed the world would end from the great storm, which increased their sorrow when it abated. Upon passing, they armed themselves and marched against the Trojans. Achilles confronted the one who was as great as a giant and king of Laryssa first. He struck him so hard with a spear in the breast that he killed him and brought him down to the earth. Hector killed King Anthemus in the process. Dyomedes killed King Antipus. Then Kings Epistropus and Cedus assailed Hector. Epistropus struck him and said many insulting words. Enraged, Hector gave him such a great blow that he killed him. Afterward, he said to him, \"Go and say your insulting words to...\" Them that were dead were those whom he was wont to address as living men. Cedeus passed by, sorrowful for the death of his brother. He admonished a thousand knights who were to sleep, intending to attack Hector. They assailed him immediately and beat him off his horse. They cried to King Cedeus to kill Hector. When Hector perceived this, he gave him such a great blow that he severed the arm from which he felt the pain. Hector then slew him. Eneas killed King Amphymacus in the melee, and all the most powerful Greeks gathered and attacked the Trojans, killing many of them. They put the Trojans in a pursuit, during which Achilles killed King Philis. Hector's anger caused him to kill King Dalpmee and King Doreus. Thus, by the might of Hector, the Trojans recovered the field and killed many Greeks.\n\nThen King Epistropus issued out of Troy with three thousand knights and they pursued. Among the Greeks, there were three who recoiled in their coming, as he brought with him a sagittary, the same that had been previously mentioned. This sagittary was not armed, but he bore a strong bow and a quiver full of arrows, shooting powerfully. When the knights of the Greeks saw this marvelous beast, they had no will to go forth. Those who were already engaged began to withdraw and retreat. Among these things, Hector slew Polynices, the noble duke, who fought fiercely against him. And by the strength of the Trojans and the horror of the sagittary, the Greeks were driven back to their tents. It happened that Diomedes, before one of the tents, was assaulted by the sagittary. And he had this beast before him and the Trojans on his back. He had to display his prowess there. The sagittary shot an arrow at him, and Diomedes, unready, drew near to it. He gave him such a great stroke with his sword, which was unarmed, that he... slewe hym. And at that tyme hit was paste myddaye / And than the grekes recoueryd the felde / And made the Troians to flee / And than entrecountryd Hector and Achylles And wyth force of theyr speres they faught bothe two And fylle bothe to the erthe / And as achilles was fyrst remounted / He supposid to haue ladde awaye galathe the good horse of hector But hector escryed to hys folke that they sholde not suffre hym to lede hym awaye Than they ran vpon Achilles and dyde so moche that they rescowed galathe & rendryd hym to hector that was right glad of hym At this medle was anthenor taken & sente to their tentes notwit\u0304\u2223standyng that polidamas his sone dyde meruaylles\nof Armes for to resscowe hym / but he myght not / And thus they faught to grete domage of that one partye and of that other vnto that the nyght departed hem.\nIN the morn betymes the grekes sente diomedes and vlixes vnto the kynge Pryant for to haue tryews for thre monthes The kynge Pryant as\u00a6semblid his counceyll vpon this thynge / And eche man Agreed Hector, who said the Greeks feigned to will bury their dead bodies / by cartel / And lacked supplies / Therefore, they required trials / To ensure that during this time they could procure supplies / And we daily waste what we may soon have in scarcity / yet he would not abide only by his intent against the cunning of so many wise men / And he agreed with the other parties / The trials were accorded for three months / This trial, delivered in the place of Antenor that they held prisoner, whom they sent to the Trojans. Calcas, who by Apollo's command had left the Trojans, had a passing fair and wise daughter named Briseis. For this daughter, he prayed to King Agamemnon and the other princes / that they would request King Priam to send Briseis to him\nThey prayed now to King Priam at Calcas' instance / But the Trojans blamed Calcas severely and called him. He is evil and false, deserving of death, who abandoned his own land and natural lord to join the ranks of his mortal enemies, at the behest of the Greeks. The Trojans, during Hector's time, went one day to the Greek tents. Achilles welcomed him gladly, as he had never seen him unarmed before. At Achilles' request, Hector entered his tent. As they spoke of various things, Achilles said to Hector, \"I take great pleasure in seeing you unarmed, as I have never seen you thus before. But I will find even greater pleasure when the day comes that you will die at my hand. I desire this greatly, for I know you to be strong, and I have often provided opportunities for this to come to pass, which fills me with anger. Yet, I have even greater sorrow, for you slew Patroclus, whom I loved more than you may believe.\" Before this year, he who is past his death shall be avenged upon thee, by my hand. And I well know that thou desirest to slay me. Hector answered and said, \"Achilles, if I desire your death, wonder at it not. For as much as you deserve to be my mortal enemy, you have come into our land to destroy me and mine. I well know that your words fear me nothing at all. But yet I have hope that within two years, if I live, and my sword fails me not, that you shall die by my hands, not only you but all the greatest of the Greeks. Among you, you have undertaken a great folly, and it may none otherwise come to you than death. And I am assured that you shall die by my hand or I shall die by yours. And if you think that you are so strong that you may defend against me, make it so that all the barons of your east promise and accord that we fight body against body. And if it happens that you vanquish me, that my friends and I shall...\" When Banished from this realm, we shall leave it to the Greeks. I will give good pledge for this, and it may benefit many others who run great danger if they haunt the battlements. And if I conquer, make all those of this eastern camp depart and let us live in peace. Achilles was incited by these words and offered to engage in this battle, giving Hector his armor which he accepted gladly {etc.\n\nWhen Agamemnon learned of this quarrelsome and bargaining, he went hastily to Achilles' tent with a great company of noble men. They would not agree or accede to this battle, saying they would not submit so many noble men under the strength of one man. The Trojans said the same. Thus the army was divided, and Hector departed and returned to Troy from the Greeks.\n\nWhen Troylas... I know certainly that Briseis should be sent to her father; he made great sorrow because she was his sovereign lady of love. And in similar fashion, Briseis strongly loved Troilus. She made the greatest sorrow in the world to leave her sovereign lord in love. There was never so much sorrow made between two lovers at their parting, for whoever wishes to hear of all their love, read him the book of Troilus that Chaucer made. Wherein he shall find the story whole, which was too long to write here. But finally, Briseis was led among the Greeks, whom they received honorably. Among them was Diomedes, who was immediately inflamed with the love of Briseis when he saw her so fair. In riding by her side, he showed to her all his heart and made to her many promises, and especially begged her love. And when she knew the heart of Diomedes, she excused herself, saying that she would not agree to him nor refuse him at that time. For her heart was not disposed at that time to answer otherwise. Of this answere Dyomedes had grete Ioye. For as moche as he was not reffusid vtterly And he accompanyed her vnto the tente of her fader. And halpe her doun of her hors / And toke fro her one of her glouys that she helde in her handes And she souffryd hym swetely / Calcas resceyuyd her wyth grete Ioye And whan they were in pryuete betwene hem bothe. Breseyda saide to her fader these and semblable wordes\nA A. A. my fader how is thy wytte fayllyd that were wonte to be so wyse and the moste honou\u00a6red and belouyd in the cyte of troye And gouer\u2223nest alle that was wyth Inne And haddest so many richesses and possessions / And haste ben trayttre thou that oughtest to haue kepte thy Rychesses and def\u2223fended thy contree vnto the deth / But thou louest\nbetter to lyue in pouerte and in exyle amonge the mor\u00a6tall enemyes of thy contree. O how shall thys torne to the grete vylonnye: Certes thou shalt neuer gete so moche honour / as thou haste goten vylonnye. And thou shalt not only be blamed in thy lyf / but thou shalt also after thy death and be damned in hell. And it seems to me now that it would have been better for me to have lived among some people on the sea in an island, rather than to dwell here in this dishonor and wickedness. Do you think that the Greeks hold the gods to be true and faithful, while you openly are false and untrue to your people? Indeed, it was not only Apollo who behaved thus, but it was a company of devils. And as she thus spoke to her father, she wept strongly for the disgrace that she had suffered.\n\nHA. a. My daughter Calcas said, \"Do you think it is a sure thing to despise the gods' answers, and especially in this matter that touches my health? I certainly know by their answers that this war will not last long, that the city will not be destroyed. And the nobles and the burghers as well. And therefore it is better for us to be here safe, than to be slain with them.\" And they finished their parliament. The coming of Bresisades pleased the Greeks much. And they came there and feasted her. And she told them about Troy and King Priam, and those with him. She spoke to them as much as she knew curtly. Then all the greatest ones promised her to keep her and hold her dear as their daughter. And each man went into his own tent. And there was none of them but that gave her a jewel at parting. And it pleased her well to live and dwell with the Greeks, and to forget immediately the noble city of Troy and the love of the noble Troilus. O how quickly a woman's purpose changes and turns! Indeed, more quickly than a man can say or think. After the three months had passed, on the morning, the Trojans prepared themselves for battle. And when Hector had arranged all his battle lines, he went out first and took with him fifteen thousand fighting men. And Troyllus followed him with ten thousand knights. After him came Paris with three thousand fighting men and good archers and well-horsed men. After Paris came Deiphobus with three thousand fighters. After him came Aeneas and the others in order, so many that there were over a hundred thousand good fighting men and hardy ones on the Trojan side that day. On the Greek side came all their first Menelaus with seven thousand knights. And after him came Diomedes with an equal number. And then came Achilles, who also led seven thousand. The king Pylodorus advanced first. And Hector came against him so strongly that he slew him with his spear. There was a great cry of his death among the Greeks. And the occasion and slaughter began so greatly that it was a horrible sight to see on both sides. King Pampus slew many Trojans to avenge the death of his uncle and assaulted. Hector gave him such a great stroke with his sword that he slew him also. In revenge, the Greeks killed many Trojans. Achilles killed many noble men, among whom were Deiphobus and Cycnus. Hector was severely wounded in the face that day and bled profusely, not knowing who had inflicted it. Therefore, the Trojans retreated to the walls. When Hector saw his mother Hecuba and his sisters on the walls, he felt great shame. He assaulted Menelaus, a cousin of Achilles, and struck him repeatedly on his helmet, killing him when he saw Achilles, who intended to engage and took a strong spear. But Achilles could not withdraw. Hector gave him such a great stroke with his sword that he made him fall under his horse. Hector said to him, \"Achilles, you contend to approach me. Know that...\" You approach thy death. And as Achilles would have answered to Hector, Troy came upon them with a great number of knights and placed him in their midst. And there were slain more than five hundred knights of Greece and were pushed back by force. And Menelaus came to the rescue cows with three thousand fighting men. And of the party of the Trojans came the king Ademon, who was against Menelaus, and struck him and wounded him in the face. And he and Troilus took him and were leading him away. But if Diomedes had not come sooner with a great company of knights, and fought with Hector at his coming and struck him down and took his horse, and sent it to Briseis. And he did say to her through his servant that it was Troilus' horse, her love, that had beaten him by his prowess, and advised her to hold him as her love and friend.\n\nBris\u00e9is took great joy in these tidings and said to the servant that he should tell his lord that she could not. hate him who with such good heart loved her,\nwhen Diomedes knew the answer, he was right joyous,\nand third among his enemies. But the Trojans, stronger than they,\nmade the Greeks retreat and go back to their tents,\nand would have killed them all if Agamemnon had not rallied them with great strength.\nThen began the battle horrible and mortal,\nand the Greeks recovered the field. They turned and put the Trojans back to their trenches.\nThen Palamedes came to the rescue with a great number and multitude of knights,\nand did fair appearances of war.\nThen Diomedes addressed him,\nbut he was struck down by Palamedes, who took the horse of Diomedes\nand gave it to Troyllus, who was fighting on foot.\nHe mounted it immediately thereon,\nthen came Achilles against Troyllus, whom Troyllus received gladly,\nand struck him down. Achilles remounted lightly,\nand assailed Troyllus with his sword.\nTroyllus defended himself right valiantly.\nThen came Hector, and in this encounter he killed more than A thousand knights attacked, but the Greeks defended Achilles, who was so oppressed that they could no longer defend him. He would have been slain or taken if not for the timely intervention of King Thelamon and the Duke of Athens. They managed to set him back on his horse with great effort, and then the night came, ending the battle. They fought continuously for thirty days, causing great damage to both sides. Six of King Priam's bastard sons were killed. Hector was wounded in the face. In response, King Priam demanded truece from the Greeks for six months. They agreed, and during this time, Hector was healed of his wounds and entertained in the noble and famous hall of Ilion, as the history says the most beautiful and fair hall in the world. During the truece, King Priam had his six bastard sons buried honorably by himself. Among other things, Diomedes. Suffered greatly for the love of Briseis, and could not eat or rest due to thinking about her. He asked for her love many times, and she answered wisely, giving him hope without certainty. This inflamed Diomedes with love for all her points. After six months had passed, they fought continuously for twelve days. Many were killed on both sides. And then a great mortality came among the Greeks in the east due to the great heat. King Agamemnon required truces, which were agreed and granted to him.\n\nWhen the truces were about to pass, Andromache, Hector's wife, saw a marvelous vision that night. It seemed to her that if Hector followed the battlefield that day, he would be killed. And she, with great fear and dread, foreboded this. husband Wepng said to him, praying him that he would not go to the battle that day. Hector blamed his wife, saying that she should not believe or give faith to dreams, and would not stay therefore. When it was more serious, Andromache went to the king and queen and told them the truth of her vision. She begged them with all her heart that they would do something to prevent Hector from going to the battle that day.\n\nIt was a fair and clear day, and the Trojans armed themselves. Hector issued first into the battle. After him went Aeneas, After Paris, Deiphobus, Polydamas, and the kings Sarpedon, Epistrophus, and Croesus. After all the princes who came to aid the Trojans, each man in good order. The king sent to Hector to keep him from going to battle that day. Hector was angry and said to his wife many reproachable words, as one who knew well that This defense came at her request. How could it not withstand the defense he had prepared? When Andromeda saw him armed, she took her young children and fell to the feet of her husband, humbly begging him to disarm. But he refused. Then she pleaded, \"At the very least, if you won't have mercy on me, have pity on your young children. We will all die a bitter death, or be led into servitude and bondage in foreign lands.\"\n\nAt this point, Queen Hecuba and Queen Helaine, Hector's sisters, approached and knelt before him, pleading with tears. They begged him to disarm and join them in the hall. But he would not comply for their prayers. Instead, he descended from the palaces, armed as he was, and took his horse, intending to go to battle. But at Andromeda's request, the king came running and seized him by the bridle. He implored him with many words. Among these things, there were battles more fatal for the Greeks and Trojans. Diomedes and Hector were eager to engage. At their assembly, they inflicted harm on each other, and each would have killed the other if Menelaus had not come and separated them. Then King Meriones of Phrygia attacked Menelaus and was about to capture him, but when Aeneas arrived and disrupted them. Meriones intended to kill him, but Troilus intervened and killed many Greeks. Then King Thoas came with three thousand fighting men and attacked Polydamas, putting him to the worse and dismounting him. But Troilus came to his aid and helped him remount on his horse. Afterward, Paris and Achilles clashed on the Trojan side, striking among the Trojans with such great force, aided by their people, that they put them to flight towards the city. In this chase, Achilles killed Margareion, one of King Priam's bastards.\n\nWhen Hector... Achilles knew that he had slain Hector; he wore great sorrow and did none abandon his helmet. He went to the battlefield, where his father did not know he was. In his coming, he slew two noble Greek dukes, Corcyrus and Bastidas. He thrust himself into the thickest press of the Greeks and slew as many as he could reach. The Greeks fled before him, and there was none so bold that dared abide his strokes. Thus, the Trojans returned and slew the Greeks on all sides.\n\nThen the Greeks took Polydamas and were carrying him away; had Hector not intervened and slew many Greeks. Then an admiral of Greece named Leocides assaulted Hector, and Hector slew him.\n\nWhen Achilles saw that Hector slew thus the nobles of Greece and so many others, it was marvelous to behold. He thought that if Hector were not slain, the Greeks would never have victory, and since he had slain many kings and princes. He ran upon him marvelously and a noble duke of Greece, Derdas or Diomedes, was with him. With the name Polydeus, he came for the love of Achilles, who had promised to give his sister in marriage to him. But Hector killed the duke immediately upon seeing Achilles. In response, Achilles intended to avenge the death of Polydeus by greatly angered. But Hector threw a spear at him so fiercely and inflicted a wound in his thigh. Achilles then withdrew from the battle and bound his wound, taking a large spear to kill Hector if he could find him. Among these things, Hector had taken a very noble Greek warrior, elegantly and richly armed, intending to lead him out of the fight at his ease. He had cast his shield behind him at his back and had left his breast unprotected. At this moment, taking no notice of Achilles approaching him, Hector received this spear in his body. And Hector fell dead to the ground.\n\nWhen King Menon saw Hector dead, he attacked Achilles in great anger and knocked him to the ground, injuring him. And his men carried him into his tent on his shield. Then, for the death of Hector, all the Trojans were disheartened and re-entered their city, bearing his body with great sorrow and lamentation.\n\nWhen Hector was dead and his body brought into the city, there was no tongue that could express the sorrow that was felt in the city by men and women. And they all said that they would have preferred to have lost their own sons than him. From then on, they deemed that they had lost all hope and trust in defense. And they mourned for a long time.\n\nThe noble kings and princes carried the body to the palace of Ilion. Then, when King Priam saw him, he fell down in a swoon upon the body and was as dead from sorrow, which they could not take him away by force. There was great sorrow among his brothers. What could be said of the sorrow that his mother, the queen, made? And after his sisters. O what sorrow his wife made. Certainly, there is no man who can express all the sorrow. The lamentation was that there were many problems, and the body could not endure without corruption. The king, praying, took counsel from many wise masters on how to keep Hector's body without corruption and without sepulture. Then he had a rich sepulcher made on four golden pillars, upon which was constructed a much riches tabernacle of gold and precious stones. And on the four corners of the tabernacle were four golden images that had the appearance of angels. Above the tabernacle was a great golden image made in the likeness of Hector, with his face turned toward the Greeks and holding a naked sword, seeming to menace the Greeks. And in the midst of the tabernacle was a wide place where the masters placed and put Hector's body in flesh and bones, clad in his best garments and robes. He stood upright in this way and could endure so long. The masters placed a vessel, with a hole in its bottom, filled with fine pitch, on the summit of Hector's head. This vessel was dropped into a place above his head and spread down into all his limbs, both within and without. The body could not decompose due to the great power of the pitch. People who saw Hector saw him in a manner similar to how he had been alive. The masters made a lamp of fine gold to burn continuously without going out or being quenched above this sepulcher. Afterward, they made a closure to prevent anyone from approaching or entering this tabernacle without permission. In this temple, King Priam ordered and stationed a great number of priests to pray for his son Hector and gave them generous rents. Among these things, King Priam. All the kings and most nobles assembled and said to them in this manner: \"My friends, all you kings, princes, and barons, we ought to render and yield thanks to the gods humbly and with a devout heart. Our right hard enemy, Hector, has been slain by the hand of Achilles. As long as he was alive, we had never hoped to come out on top against our enemies. What may the Trojans hope and trust from now on, but only their destruction? And we may in a short time hope for victory upon them. And since Achilles is strongly hurt and cannot go to battle, and there are many others who are hurt among us, and also for the burial of the dead bodies, we shall send to King Priam for truce for two months.\" The council seemed good to them. They sent immediately to King Priam for truce, and he granted it to them for two months.\n\nDuring this truce, Palamedes murmured again against the lordship of Agamemnon. And as they were all gathered, Palamides spoke of this matter. The king Agamemnon answered him wisely in the presence of all the others and said, \"Palamides, do you think that I have great joy in the lordship given to me at the beginning and have occupied it up to the present time? It was not given to me at my request, and I have no advantage or profit from it, but I have a great burden and lose many nights, so that our army does not decline or disgrace itself. And truly, it would have sufficed for me to have been under the governance of another. And I fear no one who may accuse me that for any evil will or negligence I have failed in anything. And if you had not given your consent to my election, you should not doubt it, for you were not yet come with the others at that time. But it was two years later that you came. And therefore, if we had waited for your coming, we would still have been at the gates of Athens.\" Thou should not think that I enjoy this office and desire to have this honor; I am content for another to be chosen, and I am ready to consent with the wisest. When Agamemnon had spoken thus, there was no further proceeding that day in this matter. And then at evening, Agamemnon cried out in all the east that each man should be at his tent before the parliament in the morning.\n\nWhen it came about that they were all assembled, Agamemnon said to them: \"My brothers and friends, I have had the charge of this work with great trouble for a long time, conducting it well so that, by the suffrance of the gods, I have brought it to honor up to this time. And since it is not fitting that a universality should always be under one master, but that every man should employ himself to the best of his ability, for as much as I have conducted this army for a long time, I will that we choose another who may conduct it discreetly.\"\n\nWhen Agamemnon had finished speaking, his saying pleased them. Every man and they, Achilles, who lay sick of his wounds, was angry at Agamemnon's deposition and said to all present that Palamedes was not like Agamemnon in wit and discretion. I ought not to change him for Palamedes, but since all the people had consented, I did so as well.\n\nTwo months after the truce had passed, the king Priam, desiring to avenge the death of his son Hector, ordered his battles with his own person. He set good conductors in each battle and went himself, leading with him five and twenty thousand chosen knights. And he says in his book that there went out of Troy that day an hundred and fifty thousand men. Deiphobus was the foremost, then Paris, and after him came the king Priam, Troylos, Menelaus, and Polydamas. They went to the Greek camp. Palamedes had ordered his battles, and then began the great and mortal battle. The king Pryant struck down Palamides on his approach and afterward plunged into the thickest ranks of the Greeks, killing many and beating them down. He displayed such prowess in battle that day that it was a great struggle to believe an ancient and old man could do so. King Sarpedon of Troy assaulted King Neptolemus, a formidable knight. Born to the earth, Sarpedon bravely defended himself and dealt a great blow to Neptolemus, wounding him in the thigh. Then, the king of Parcus attacked Sarpedon and the duke of Athens assaulted him, enclosing him and his people among them and killing the king of Parcus. They forced the Trojans to retreat. Marvels of arms were performed by King Sarpedon.\n\nKing Pryant and his bastard sons, who followed him, did not cease from killing Greeks that day. No one did as much in battle as King Pryant did. For his sorrow and his anger made his strength grow. Then the Greeks advised them to take the way by which the Trojans should return to their city. They went there in great numbers. And when the Trojans recoiled for going into that place, they found themselves in the midst of their enemies. Thus began a mortal battle. And there came upon them King Priam with a great number of fighting men on one side. Paris came with a large force of good fighters, and he had a great force of archers who killed many Greeks and wounded them. They did so well that the Trojans reentered their city. King Priam had the victory and the prize of this battle. He sent to the Greeks to demand true. And they agreed and made an accord with him. But we do not find out how long this truce endured.\n\nAmong these things, King Priam also had the body of the king of Perse carried by land to be buried in his country. There was great weeping and sorrow in Troy, especially. In Paris, Louis strongly urged me to attend the anniversary of Hector's death, which was approaching. I would mourn for fifteen days in great sorrow. Afterward, I was to participate in the grand funeral festivities, as was the custom for kings and princes at that time. During the trials, the Greeks entered the city secretly, and the Trojans did the same at the Greek camps. Achilles had a great desire to go to Troy to see the city and the anniversary festivities of Hector, whom he had killed. He went unarmed to the temple of Apollo, where Hector's sepulcher was located, and found great mourning among the men and women, who were all noble. The queen, Hecuba's daughter Polixena, was there with a large company of noble ladies, all weeping and wailing around their shoulders. And she demonstrated most wonderful sorrow, yet she lost nothing of her beauty, but seemed and showed herself so fair in all her members and so well colored that nature had never formed any fairer. When Achilles had well considered and seen Polyxena, he said within himself that he had never seen a more beautiful woman or one better formed and made. With this, Polyxena was one of the most noble women in the world. Achilles was struck with the dart of love, and this filled his heart marvelously, causing him to be unable to cease beholding her. The more he beheld her, the more he desired her. He was so enamored with her that he thought of nothing else but remained in the temple until the queen departed. And when she went out, he conveyed his eye upon Polyxena as far as he could see her. This was the cause and beginning of his trouble. In this sorrow, Achilles returned to his tent, and when he was laid to sleep. That night, many things came into his mind and thoughts. He knew then where Polixena had confined him. And he thought within himself that the strongest men in the world could not or had not vanquished him. The sight and regard of a frail maiden had vanquished and overcome him, and it seemed to him that there was no medicine in the world that could save him from her. But he said his prayer, his strength, and his riches could not move her to have pity on him. I never knew what devil had put me in this danger, to love her who hates me so bitterly. For I came here to kill her bride and kinsman, Hector. Certes, I see no remedy; since she is the most noble and fairest in the world. Then he turned to the wall and wept, filling himself with tears, and out of necessity he had to think how he might come to the love of Polixena. Achilles, unable to sleep the night following, planned to send a messenger to Queen Hecuba to ask for her daughter Polixena in marriage. He promised to make the Greeks lift their siege and return to their lands in exchange. All this he pondered in the night, and put his plan into action, sending his messenger to the queen with his master's commands. The queen, upon hearing the messenger's words, responded discretely, expressing her hatred for Achilles greater than any man's, yet offering to do as her master required. She requested, however, that she be allowed to speak to her lord and Paris, her son, before making her decision. The messenger returned on the third day, and I will give my response. When the messenger heard the queen speak thus, he went back to his lord and reported all that he had found. Achilles began to have hope of achieving his goal. The queen Hecuba went immediately to King Priam and told them all that Achilles had sent. The king hung his head and was silent for a long time without saying a word. Afterward, he said to his wife, \"How can it be, as I think, that we receive this into friendship and amity from him who has done us such great offense, taking away the light of my eyes by killing my dear son Hector, and giving the Greeks hope of victory, but always striving to incur the greatest danger, so that my other sons do not lose their lives and I may have rest in my old age? I consent with you that he may have what he asks.\" The king had foreseen that he would do this first: Achilles had promised without any deceit; Paris agreed lightly to this, as long as nothing about Queen Heleine was mentioned in Achilles' promises. On the third day after, Achilles sent his messenger again to the queen. As soon as he stood before her, she said to him, \"I have spoken to my husband and my son Paris about your request and the promise of your lord. They are content that your request be granted to you. But you must first fulfill that which you have promised. So you may tell him that he may come to the completion of his desire, and conduct this matter wisely and secretly as much as possible.\" The messenger took leave of the queen and went immediately to his master. Then Achilles began strongly to consider how he might fulfill what he had promised to King Priam. It was a grievous thing to do, and it was not all within his power. But it was... It is a proper vice for frivolous lovers to promise things that are hard to bring about and difficult to achieve in the realization of their loves. In the same way, Achilles glorified himself by granting the Greeks the leave to abandon their siege. And then, by the counsel of Palamas, Achilles assembled all the kings and noblemen of the east in parliament and spoke to them in this manner:\n\nMy friends who are assembled here to bring this war to an end, do not think of yourselves for the moment. How, through great negligence and folly, have we left our countries and lands, our wives and children, and come to this strong land? Here we have squandered our folly and put our bodies in danger of death and great labor. And since we have come here, many kings and princes have died. And I myself have shed much of my blood, which never would have happened if we had not embarked on this folly. He lay before him a world of noble and fair women, of whom Menelaus could have had one or two if he wished. It is not a light thing to overcome the Trojans, as they have a strong city well fortified with good fighters on horseback and foot. And it ought to suffice for us that we have now slain Hector and many other of their nobles, by whose deaths we might now return with our honor and respect. If we leave Helaine, have we not expiation, to whom Helaine may not compare in nobility?\n\nThen came the duke of Athens and King Thoas, and they strongly contradicted the words of Achilles. And so did all the others, and they said that he had neither spoken fairly nor well. Achilles was greatly grieved by this, and he commanded his companions not to arm themselves again against the Trojans and not to give any counsel or aid to the Greeks. Among these things, provisions began to fail among the Greeks, and they suffered great famine. Then Palamedes assembled all. The most noble eastern councillors advised King Agamemnon to send a delegation to the city of Messe, where King Telephus resided. Agamemnon complied, and the delegation, having passed through the straits, arrived in the eastern Aegean Sea, where they were warmly welcomed. Among other things, Palamedes ordered his ships to be repaired, so they would be ready if needed.\n\nWhen the Truce was over, they began to fight as usual. Deiphobus attacked King Cresus of Greece, who welcomed him gladly and offered to fight one-on-one. But Deiphobus defeated Cresus, knocking him to the ground. The Greeks were taken aback and retreated. Palamedes and Diomedes arrived with five and twenty thousand fighting men, resisting the Trojans. With them was the noble King Thalamon, Ajax, who confronted Euphorion, one of King Priam's bastard sons, and struck him down, killing him. The ground seeing Deyphebus, who in his great fury ran upon Thelamon and bit him severely, Palamydes saw that stroke. He took a great spear and addressed it to Deyphebus, striking him so hard in the breast that the spear entered his body and the spearhead broke and the tip penetrated Deyphebus' body. When Paris saw his brother mortally wounded, he took him and carried him to the city gate and handed him over to his men to keep. As Deyphebus opened his eyes and saw Paris, he said to him, \"Brother, let me descend into hell without avenging my death. I pray you, as soon as this spearhead is removed from my body, do this much by your hand: kill him who has slain me.\" Paris promised him that he would do so and returned to the battle, filled with anger for his brother. He said to himself that he desired no longer to live until he had avenged his brother's death. Paris searched for Palamydes everywhere and found him. Paris fought against King Sarpedon, who had attempted to kill him. Palamydes defended Paris fiercely. In his great rage, Paris struck the king with his sword, severing Sarpedon's shoulder from his body. Sarpedon immediately fell dead.\nSeeing the great harm Palamydes caused them and having put the Trojans to flight with his prowess, Paris drew his strong bow and aimed carefully at Palamydes. He shot an arrow poisoned with enmity and struck him in the throat. He cut Palamydes in two, and Palamydes fell to the earth. The Greeks mourned deeply for Palamydes' death and left the battlefield. They returned to their tents and strongly defended against the Trojans. The Trojans then advanced on foot and entered some of their tents, taking all that they found to be good. Paris and Troilus then went by a side way to the gate. King Thelamon and his fighters put fire in their ships and burned such a great quantity that the flame could be seen far off / When the ships were in distress, King Thelamon arrived with a large company of fighters and began the horrific battle, causing great casualties on both sides. The ships would have all been burned had it not been for King Thelamon's prowess, who performed marvels with his body. Over five hundred ships were burned. There was great chaos among the Greeks. Many were injured. Ebes, the son of the king of Troy, was severely wounded by a spear and carried the standard in his body. He went to Achilles' tent that day, where he had refused to join the battle due to his love for Polyxena. Ebes strongly reproached Achilles for allowing the destruction of his people and for dying cowardly. He could have helped them if he had wanted to. As soon as Ebes finished speaking, one of them took the standard from him. \"Out the trunk of his body, and he fell down dead in the presence of Achilles. Afterward came from the battle one of the varlets or servants of Achilles. And Achilles commanded him tidings of the east. A Syrian said, 'It is unfortunate for our people today. For the great multitude of Trojans that have come upon them, and they have slain all they could meet, and I believe there is not one left at home of the men of Troy, but that every man is come to the battle. And therefore, if it pleases you now, while the Trojans are weary of coming to the battle, you shall obtain perpetual memory of worship and glory, for by your prowess you shall in little time have vanquished them all, and they shall not dare to defend themselves against you, being so weary. Achilles would never change his courage for the words of his servant or for the death of Hebes. But he concealed all that he had seen and heard for the great love he had for Polixenes. Among these things, \" Bataille was very sharp and endured until night, causing great damage to the Greeks. The night departed, but Dephebus was not dead yet. He drew near his end. When Paris and Troilus saw him in such sorrow, they began to cry and make great lamentation. Dephebus opened his little eyes and asked Paris with a weak voice if he had killed him. Paris replied, \"Yes.\" Dephebus then drew out the head of the spear with the truncheon and died. Therefore, the Trojans made great sorrow. It is not necessary to hold a long parliament of the sorrow that King Priam, his father, and his wife and sisters made. It was too much, and also because of the death of the king Sarpedon. The Greeks made great sorrow for the death of Palamydes and buried his body respectfully. And as they could not be without a head and governor, Agamemnon was reminded of his dignity as he was. The day following the Trojans early issued out of the city in good order. And the Greeks came against them; they began the battle mortally. And there was great slaughter on both sides. But it rained so much that day that the Greeks withdrew to their tents. And the Trojans followed after them. But the rain was so great that they were forced to leave the battle and return to their city.\n\nOn the morning, they began to fight, and slew many barons of the Greeks that day. They fought until the evening, and so they fought for seven consecutive days, with great occurrences on one side and the other. And since the Greeks could not endure the stench of the dead bodies, they demanded truces for two months, which were granted to them by King Priam.\n\nDuring these truces, King Agamemnon sent the Duke Nestor, Ulysses, and Diomedes to speak to Achilles to pray and urge him to come to the aid of the Greeks against the Trojans. Ulixes spoke to him with great joy when they arrived. Ulixes said to him, Sir Achilles, this was not according to your intention, and the same goes for all of us on this ship. Come and run to King Priam and destroy him and his city with the power of your arms. From where does this new courage come from? After suffering so many injuries and damages in this land at the hands of the Trojans, who have killed and plundered our tents and burned our ships, and we were on the verge of defeating them. After you have slain Hector, their leader, and now that you have gained such great honor and good reputation, are you now going to abandon it all and let your people be cruelly killed, whom you have long defended with the shedding of your blood?\n\nPlease, from now on, maintain and keep your good reputation. Defend your people, so that without you they cannot long defend themselves against their enemies, in order that we may come to victory through your prowess. Sir Ulysses said then to Achilles, if we have come to this land for the reasons you have declared, it may be said that great folly was among us, that for the wife of one of us, that is to say of Sir Menelaus, so many kings and high princes are on the verge of death, it would have been wiser for the noble Palamides to have remained in peace in his kingdom than to be slain here. And other kings and princes in the same way. Indeed, as the greatest part of the world of noble men is here assembled, if they die, it must necessarily follow that the lands will be replenished and governed by villains. Hector, who was so noble and worthy, is he not dead? In the same way, I may lightly die, since I am not as strong as he was. And therefore, how much do you require? me to go to battle / so much pain and labor costs me, for I have no more intention to put myself in danger / And I'd rather lose my reputation than my life. In the end, there is no prowess but it is forgotten. Nestor and Diomedes contended to draw Achilles into their quarrels, but they could never persuade him to their purpose, nor the words of Agamemnon either. Then he said to them that they should make peace with the Trojans before they were all slain {etc}.\n\nThen these three princes returned to Agamemnon and said to him that they had found Achilles. And Agamemnon made it known to the princes of the east, whom he had assembled for this cause, and demanded their consent. Then Menelaus stood up, saying that it would now be great villainy for us to seek peace with the Trojans since Hector and Deiphobus are dead, and that without Achilles, they should be able to maintain the war against them. Trojans / In response, Ulysses and Nestor answered and said that it was not marvelous though Menelaus desired the war for the sake of recovering his wife. Troy was not so disgraced that they did not have a new Hector. That was Troilus / he was a little less strong and worthy than Hector. There was also Deiphobus / and he was Paris / whom we ought to doubt as much as the other. Therefore, they counseled peace and a return home to Greece. Then the false traitor Calchas cried out, \"Noble men, what do you think you should do against the command of the gods? Have they not promised you victory? Will you now abandon it? Certainly, it would be great folly. Take courage again and fight against the Trojans more strongly than you have done before. Do not cease until you have the victory that the gods have promised you.\" With the words of the said Calchas, the Greeks were encouraged. They said, \"We will.\" Maintain the war against the Trojans, whether Achilles helped them or not, for this they would not leave. When the true months had passed, they began to fight fiercely in battle. There, Hector performed marvels with his weapons to avenge his brother's death. According to Dares' book, he slew a thousand knights that day, and the Greeks fled before him. The battle lasted until night separated them. The following day, the fourth battle began fiercely and sharply. There, Diomedes performed marvels with his weapons, killing many Trojans and wounding them. He challenged Hector once, striking him so hard that he knocked him to the ground and was severely wounded. Hector reproached him for his love of Briseis. Then, with great strength, the Greeks took Diomedes up and carried him to his tent. Menelaus, seeing Diomedes so beaten, challenged Hector. But Hector, who still had his spear wound, struck him so hard that he knocked him to the ground. Agamemnon, sore wounded, was carried into his tent by his men and shielded from his enemies. Then Agamemnon rallied all his strength and joined the Troians, slaying many. But Tydeus came against him and knocked him off his horse. But he was quickly remounted with the help of his men.\n\nThus ended the battle for that day. Agamemnon sent for truces for six months, which were agreed upon by King Priam. Among these things, it seemed to some of his council that he should not make the truce so long. Briseis, against her father's will, went to see Diomedes, who lay wounded in his tent. She knew well that Tydeus, her lover, had injured him. Then, in her heart, she considered many purposes. In the end, she saw that she could never recover Troilus and, as soon as Diomedes was healed, she would give herself to him without further delay.\n\nAmong these things, King Agamemnon transported him to the tent of Achilles in the company of dukes. Nestor and Achilles received them with great joy. And then Agamemnon asked him to come forward to the battle and allow no more of their people to be killed. But Achilles would not move his courage for his words. Although he loved Agamemnon, he agreed and consented that his men should go to battle without him. Agamemnon and Nestor thanked him greatly for this. And after they returned to their tents.\n\nWhen the trumpets had passed, Agamemnon ordered his people to the battle, and Achilles sent his Myrmidons, dressed and marked with a red sign, to him. The battle began harshly and sharply to the great damage of both parties. Tydeus brought down the duke of Athens and killed many of the Myrmidons, and fought thus until the night departed.\n\nOn the morning, the battle began sharply and mortally. King Philomenus and Polydamas took the king and were about to lead him away, but the Myrmidons would not have rescued him. Then Tydeus. Among them, he struck many and wounded some. But they delivered a great assault and killed his horse and intended to take him. Paris and his bastard brothers joined the fight and broke through their ranks, rescuing Troilus on his horse. Then there was a fierce melee. The Myrmidons, one of King Priam of Troy's bastards, were killed by Troilus, causing him great sorrow. With the aid of his people, Troilus joined the fight again and killed and injured many. But they defended themselves valiantly and held them together. Troilus did not cease to harm them and entered their ranks frequently.\n\nAgamemnon, Menelaus, Thoas, Ulysses, and Diomedes came to the battlefield with all their people and began a hard melee, where the Trojans suffered greatly. Troilus courageously supported them. He placed himself where the need was greatest and killed and beat down all whom he found, doing so much with his prowess that the Greeks retreated to their tents. Thoas defended them valiantly. And he made them recover the field through his prowess. This was the sixteenth battle in which many knights from both sides died. Troyllus did not cease to harm the Myrmidons, and there was none so powerful or strong enough to withstand him. He did so much that he caused the Greeks to flee and took one hundred noble men as prisoners, bringing them into the city.\n\nWhen the battle had ended, around evening, the Myrmidons returned to Achilles' tent, and many of them were found to be injured. One hundred of them were dead. Achilles had great sorrow over this, and it was night when he went to bed. He had many thoughts then, and he considered going to the battle to avenge the death of his men. At another time, he thought about the beauty of Polyxena and considered that if he went, he would lose her love forever. The king Priam and his wife would hold him a deceitful one, for he had promised them that he would no longer help the Greeks. And he had said,\n\n(Note: The text seems to be incomplete at the end, so no further cleaning is necessary.) He had sent his men to aid himself, and for several days he thought about it. But when the seventeenth battle began, it was horrible and lasted for seven days, during which many Greeks were required to swear true truces. However, the Trojans refused to agree to the truces until they had buried their dead. After the passing of these days, the eighteenth battle began fiercely and fiercely. Menelaus and Paris fought each other, as did Polidamas and Ulysses, for a long time. Menestheus brought down Hector with the help of Idomeneus. King Phylomenus fought against Agamemnon and wounded him severely. If Thelemon had not come and struck down Phylomenus, he would have severely wounded Archilochus, the son of Duke Nestor. He assaulted one of Priam's bastards named Brontes. And Troyllus was especially angry, as he fought among them. Trojan soldiers had not resisted him, and therefore Aeneas attacked them, killing many and defeating them. He entered their tents and slaughtered them all around. There was such a great cry that the sound reached Achilles, who was resting in his tent. Achilles' servant told him that the Trojans had defeated the Greeks and killed them inside their own tents, which could no longer protect them. Forty thousand Trojan soldiers were ready to kill you unarmed, and they had already killed most of your Myrmidons. They did not stop killing and there would not be a single one left alive unless they were saved.\n\nAt these words, Achilles shook with anger and abandoned the love of Polyxena. He quickly armed himself. And he mounted his horse and charged out like a lion, striking among the Trojans and Persians, slaying and wounding them so severely that his sword was known, and blood ran through the field as he went. When Troilus knew that Achilles fought with his sword, he approached him and gave him such a great stroke that he caused him a serious wound and a deep one. He was forced to rest for many days before returning to battle. Troilus was also wounded by Achilles, but not seriously. Both fell to the ground, and the battle continued until night. The next morning they began again and continued until evening. Thus they fought for six days consecutively. Therefore, there were many killed on both sides. King Priam felt great sorrow that Achilles, in violation of his promise, had come to the battlefield. He believed that Achilles had not understood the situation but rather intended to deceive him. He reproached his wife for not trusting him more and Polixena. She was sorrowful than thou art. For she had rather had Achilles as her husband. Achilles, among other things, had received wounds from Trojan horses, and he proposed to avenge himself and have Trojan killed villainously by his hand. Before the nineteenth battle began, Achilles assembled his Myrmidons and prayed them to attend to nothing but to enclose Trojan and keep him out of killing until he came, and not to be far from them. They promised him they would do so. He entered the battle, and from the other side came Trojan, who began to slay and beat down. About midday, he put the Greeks to flight. But the Myrmidons, who were well two thousand fighting men and had not forgotten their lord's commandment, thrust themselves among the Trojans and recovered the field. As they held them together and sought none but Trojan, they fonde hym \u00fet he foughte strongly & was enclosid on all parties / but he slewe & wounded many. And as he was all allone amonge hem and had no man to socoure hym / they slewe\nhis horse / And hurte hym in many places / And araced of his heed his helme / And his coyffe of yron / And he deffended hym the beste wyse he cowde / Than cam on Achilles whan he sawe troyllus alle naked / And ran vpon hym in a rage / And smote of his heed And caste hit vnder the feet of the horse / And toke the body and bonde hit to the taylle of his horse And so drewe hit after hym thurgh oute the ooste / O what vylonnye was hit to drawe so the sone of so noble a kynge / that was so wor\u00a6thy and so hardy / Certes yf ony noblesse had ben in Achilles / he wold not haue done this vylonye.\nWHan parys knewe that Achilles had thus vy\u2223laynsly slayn Troyllus he had grete sorowe and so had Eneas and polidamas / And dyde grete payne to recouere his body / But they myght not for the grete multytude of grekis that resisted hem / On the other The king Menon died in sorrow for the death of Troilus and assaulted Achilles. He reproached him, saying, \"Ah, evil traitor, what cruelty have you shown me by binding you to the tail of your horse? The son of such a noble prince as King Priam. Indeed, you shall endure this. You rushed upon him and struck him so hard with your spear in his breast that you gave him a great wound. Afterward, you received many strikes from his sword, causing you to fall to the ground. The body of Troilus was recovered with great difficulty. The people of Achilles released their lord and set him back on his horse. As soon as his strength returned, he came back into the fray and attacked Menon strongly. Menon defended himself valiantly and wounded Achilles in many places. But soon, so many people came to each side that they were separated. Then night came on.\" Departed they and made them cease; they fought for seven days. At the seventh day, when Achilles was healed of his wounds, desiring to avenge himself against King Menon, he said to his people: \"If you can recall him, hold him in close confinement as you did Troyllus.\" Then began the battle of Aspasias. Achilles and Menon fought hand to hand with great treachery, each one beating down the other's foot. Then the Myrmidons surrounded him and took him by force, as no one came to his aid. Achilles, seeing King Menon in peril, ran upon him and slew him with great cruelty. But Menon gave him many grave wounds, from which he lay long afterwards. Among these things, Menelaus and Menestheus, with a great company of kings, princes, and fighting men, entered the city and caused great harm to the Trojans. For the death of Menon, the Greeks chased them so near that they killed and injured many of them. King Priam and his wife, along with all the inhabitants of Troy, mourned greatly and lamented the loss of Hector, Deiphobus, and Priam himself. They all exclaimed that since they had lost these men, they had no more hope of life than of death. King Priam demanded answers, and it was agreed upon by the Greeks. During this time, they honorably buried the bodies of Hector and King Pompus. The queen could not be consoled or appeased for the death of her children. She thought of various ways to avenge Achilles, who had killed her sons cruelly through treachery. Finally, she called Paris weeping and said to him secretly, \"Dear son, you know how this traitor Achilles has treacherously killed my sons, your brothers, who were so close to my life. And since he has killed them through treachery, it seems just and right to me that he be killed in return.\" The unhappy man has frequently requested that my daughter Polixene be sent to him, and I have agreed to send her with a trustworthy messenger. I have instructed him to come speak to me in the temple of Apollo, and I will be there in hiding with a good company of knights. When he arrives, you are to ambush him and his knights and kill him so that he does not escape with his life. Polixenes replied that he would carry out this task as planned. He then assembled twenty good knights and set out with them to the temple of Apollo.\n\nAs soon as Achilles heard the messenger speak, who had come from Queen Hecuba, the foolish man took the son of Duke Nestor with him and went to the temple of Apollo. As soon as they arrived, Polixenes and his knights attacked him. Polixenes threw three darts at him, causing him great harm. Achilles drew his sword, which had no edge. After more armour, Amymas wrapped his arm with his mantle and fiercely struck among the knights, slaying seven of them. But finally, both the sons of Duke Nestor, Archilogus and Achilles, were slain within the temple. And Paris commanded that their bodies be cast out to the hounds and birds. But at Helenus' request, they were placed before the temple to be guarded. The Trojans rejoiced greatly and said that they had no responsibility for the Greeks and held them in low regard. When Agamemnon learned of this, he sent to King Priam to have the bodies delivered for burial. King Priam had them delivered and they were taken to their tents. Great sorrow arose among the Greeks, and they all lamented, saying they had all lost. Duke Nestor could not be comforted by the death of his son, and they made a noble burial for Achilles. By the consent of King Priam, Achilles was laid within the city at the center of the gate of Tymbre.\n\nAfter these events, King Agamemnon Assembled before him were all the nobles of the coast, and she [Queen] spoke to them about how, due to the death of Achilles, most of them were discontented and reluctant to engage in the war. They therefore asked if it would be good to leave the war or to entertain and maintain it. Among them were various opinions. Some allowed the war to continue. Others criticized it. In the end, they all came to an agreement to maintain the war, saying that if Achilles had fallen, the promises of the gods should not fail. Then stood up Ajax among them and said, \"If Achilles is dead, let us send for his son, whom King Nymedes, his father-in-law, is raising and training in the use of arms. I believe that without him, we cannot achieve victory over the Trojans.\" His counsel seemed good, and by the agreement and will of every man, Menelaus was chosen to lead, while Pyrrhus was chosen in another way.\n\nAmong these things, when the truths were revealed on the sixteenth day of June, when the days are longest of all. The year. The Troians began the twentieth battle against the Greeks, which was sharp and hard. This day, Ajax, in great folly, went to battle without arms, bearing nothing but his sword. The Troians, who had lost their best defenders, were not as brave as they were used to be, but they fought mightily to save their lives. Paris, with all the people of Persia, who were the best archers, killed many Greeks. King Phylomenus fought strongly, and those of Paphagonia came on, killing many Greeks and pressing against Polydamas. They beat him fiercely and ran upon him with their swords. Had Phylomenus not delivered him, they would have taken or slain him. Ajax made marvels of arms that day, unarmed as he was, and slew many Trojans. He was not yet hurt. In the end, he struck among those of Persia that Paris had led and slew many of them, causing them to turn to flight. When Paris saw his people thus slain, he shot an arrow at Ajax. Ajax found himself between the rack and the sides, and at once felt that he was mortally wounded. He thought he would not die until he had avenged himself on him who had killed him. He did so much that he found Paris, and said to him, \"You have killed me with your arrow, but before I die, I shall kill you.\" He also avenged the many noble men who had been killed because of you. Then he dealt him such a great blow that he cut his face in two, causing him to fall dead to the earth. Ajax also fell down. The Trojans took Paris's body with weeping tears and carried it to the city, followed by the gates.\n\nThe next night, Agamemnon approached the city with his forces, and they pitched their tents. The Trojans kept their walls day and night. The Trojans had no more hope or expectation of their lives when they saw that all the sons of King Priam were dead. There is no tongue that can express the lamentations that King Priam made and his wife. Daughters / And Queen Helaine mourned for Paris' death / And above all others, Helaine showed the greatest sorrow. The king caused Paris to be buried in a rich sepulcher and placed him honorably {etc}.\n\nFor two months, during the siege / the gates of Troy were not opened. And the Trojans did nothing but go about in the city and lamented and mourned. King Agamemnon sent frequently to King Priam that he should send his men to battle. But King Priam, doubting his destruction, would not do it, as long as he awaited the queen of Amasias' arrival, who was then on her way to come to King Priam's aid. Amasias is a province / where no men but women dwelt then. And they were incited to war and to fight. They had nearly their border an island where the men dwelt. And they were accustomed three times a year to go there / In April, May, and June / To have their company. And after they returned to Amasias, And they who were supposed to be with children, if they bore sons, gave them suck for a certain time and then sent them to their fathers. If it was a daughter, they kept her with them and burned the right pap for her to make her stronger and taught her the use of arms. In this province there was a lady and queen, a very noble virgin and a strong fighter, named Penthesilea. She loved Hector much for his good reputation. When she learned that the Greeks had assaulted Troy with such great strength, she went there to support it with a thousand virgins, out of love for Hector. And when she arrived and learned that he was dead, she made great sorrow and begged King Priam to let her issue forth to the battle against the Greeks, so that she might show them how her maidens could bear arms.\n\nAt the prayer of Penthesilea, on the morning by times, the gate was opened. King Philomenus and all of Paphaghon, Eneas and Polidamas with all, issued out. The people/queen Penthasile and all her maidens/ The Greeks were ready and began the battle hard and sharp. Menesteus addressed himself to Penthasile, and she to him; and she struck Menesteus to the ground and took his horse, giving it to one of her maidens. Then Desides came against her, and she received him gladly. She struck him so strongly that he was thrown down from his horse. And she took Desides' shield from his neck and gave it to one of her maidens. When Thelamon saw that she behaved herself thus with arms, he addressed himself against her, and she against him. And Thelamon was brought down to the ground, and had led him into the city, but Diomedes came to his rescue with great defense. Then she signaled her maidens to attack the Greeks, and they did so with such ferocity and rage that they turned them to flight. They chased them, killing and beating them to their tents. They would have killed them all if Diomedes had not resisted them so vigorously. The store departed the night that parted them, and Queen Penthesilea returned to the city with great glory. The king Priam received her with great joy and gave her many fair jewels and riches. It seemed fitting that she should avenge him of his sorrows. They fought many times after this, and for so long that Menelaus returned from King Neoptolemus and brought to the east Neoptolemus' son, Pyrrhus, otherwise known as Pyrrhus.\n\nThis Pyrrhus was received with great glory by all the barons of the east and above all others, the Myrmidons were passing joyous and held him as their lord. Then it was desired that Pyrrhus be given all the conduct of the men of arms. They made him knight by the hand of the noble Thelamon, who prayed to the gods to give him strength and courage in wielding his sword, and that they would give him victory and honor to avenge the death of his father. Two other princes set spurs of gold on him. And King Agamemnon gave him all the arms of Achilles. his father and all his bags and jewelry. And after these things came the day of fighting, and the battles were ready on one side and on the other. Then began the battle right hard. Pirrus, armed with his father's proper weapons, encountered Polidamas in his coming and killed him with the great strokes of his sword that he gave him. But King Philomenis came upon him and delivered him. Then Pirrus struck from his horse Philomenis and took him away. They of Paphagone did not rescue him with great trouble. Among these things, Queen Pantasilee entered the battle with her maids and struck among the Myrmidons, and slew many of them. There came upon the king Thelamon, who struck down Queen Pantasilee to the ground, and she gave him such a great stroke with her sword that she brought him down to the earth in the same way. Then her maids relieved her and set her. aggain on her horse and she struck among the Myrmidons, who held the king Phylomems in great danger, and many she slew and hurt. When Pyrrhus saw that his men were so badly entered. He cried to them and said that they ought to have great shame that they suffered themselves to be vanquished by women. Then he left the king Phylomems to defend his men against the maiden. Then addressed the queen Penthesilea near to Pyrrus, and reproached him for the treason of his father, who had slain Hector, and that the whole world ought to run upon him, Pyrrus, who had such great sorrow at these words. Pyrrus, in response, addressed himself against her, and she brought him down to the earth. Then he immediately released her and assaulted Penthesilea with his sword. She, by great strength, overpowered him. Then Pyrrus was remounted by the aid of his Myrmidon doubles. Then came to the battle Agamemnon, Diomedes, Menelaus, the duke of Athens, and all their people. And so did all the other princes and barons. Among these things, King Pylamemes was delivered from the Myrmidons and gave great thanks to Queen Penthesileia. He said, \"Had she not been here, I would have been slain.\" Then came to the battle all the Trojans. They began the shower sharp and mortal. There recognized Pirrus, the son of Antenor, and brother of Polidamas, of another mother. He gave him such a great stroke that he slew him and laid him flat on the earth. Then addressed Penthesileia to Pyrrhus, and he to her. They both fell to the earth, but they quickly rose again. And they began to gather their forces together again. Then came upon so many people from both parties that they were dispersed. Polidamas, to avenge the death of his brother, slew many Greeks that day and injured them. He and Penthesilea did so much in battle that they put the Greeks to flight. Then came to their aid Pyrrhus, Demodocus, and Thoas. They made those who fled stay and sustain the onslaught. And they did so until the night, when each man went to his place. They fought. every day lasts a month, five hundred fighting men from both parties. Pantasilea lost many of her maidens. After they had rested for a month, they began the battle fiercely. At this assembly came one against another of Pirrus and Pantasilea, and they broke their spears without falling. But Pirrus was severely wounded, and the tip of his spear remained in his body. Therefore, a great cry arose among the Greeks, and they ran upon Pantasilea with great strength. They broke the last part of her helmet, and then Pirrus, in his great fury, paid no heed to his wound or the spear tip in his body, but assaulted Pantasilea, who thought she would strike him first. But Pirrus parried her first and gave her such a great stroke with his sword that he cut off her arm at the body. Therefore, the said Pantasilea fell down dead to the earth. And Pirrus, not yet satisfied, struck her body and cut it in two pieces. effusion of blood that ran fro his wounde / he fyll doun as ded amonge his peple\nAnd they toke hym vp and leyde vpon his shelde and bare hym in to hys tente / Than the maydens of pan\u2223thasilee / for to avenge the deth of their quene smote in a\u00a6monge the myrondou\u0304es by grete fureur / And slewe many and hurte but hit prouffited but lytill to the tro\u2223ians / as they that were but afewe ayenste a grete mul\u2223titude of grekes. And so ther were slayn of them of troye that day in the batayll more than ten thousand men. And the other withdrewe hem in to the cyte for to saue hem self. And shette & closid faste their gates / And had no more entencion to yssubatayll ayenst theyr enemyes {etc}.\nTHe troians had moche grete sorowe whan they sawe hem in this myschef ffor they had no more hope to haue ony more socours from ony place / And they contended to no thynge but to kepe well their cyte / and to garnyssh hem well wyth vytayll / ffor they fered ne dredde hem nought of ony assault / Amonge these thynges the grekes wold haue Cast the body of Panthasilee to the dogs, for she had slain so many noble men of Greece. But Pyrrus said it was for the honor and worship of noble Anthenor and his son Polidamas, who went to counsel to advise them on how they might save their lives and possessions against the Greeks. Rather than fail in this, they decided to speak to King Priam. They counseled him to make peace and a treaty with the Greeks, in restoring Helen to her husband and the damage Paris had done in the island of Cetharis. Oh, if King Priam had been so fortunate to have done this and had pleased the Greeks at the beginning, he would have saved his life and that of his wives, and the lives of all his children. He would have saved the city and its people, and avoided all the misfortunes that came afterward. Therefore, men say in a proverb, \"peaces made soon are good,\" for it is a hard thing to reconcile such a nature. The Greeks, despite having suffered great damage in the war, were reluctant to make peace with those still present among them. They had endured numerous injuries and damages before Troy, leading them to believe they were on the verge of destroying the city and all its inhabitants. However, when the traitors spoke not of this matter but of purchasing peace under the guise of peace negotiations, they did so to save their lives.\n\nThey then went before King Priam and Amphimachus, one of his bastard sons. They spoke of their purpose before many noblemen of the city. As soon as King Priam heard them mention purchasing peace with the Greeks, he suspected them of great treachery and began to suspect. They replied to him, \"If you are not persuaded by this, take heed of what we will say, and if it pleases you.\" not use the council of other The king said that he would well hear their council and would know what seemed good to them. And said to them, what seems good to you. Then spoke Anthenor, saying, \"King, you may not displease but that you and your men are involved with your enemies, and are here by your city desiring your death and destruction, and you may not issue out. And they are more than fifty kings who desire nothing but to destroy this city and you and all who dwell herein. And you may no more resist them, and you dare no more open your gates. And thus we are left with two evils, choosing the lesser. And therefore, for peace with the Greeks if it seems good to you, we shall return Helena to Menelaus her husband since Paris is dead. And also restore the damage that Paris did to them in Greece rather than we should suffer ourselves to be put to death.\"\n\nAt these words arose up Amphimachus, one of the bastard sons of King Priam, and replied. Anthenor asked the king, \"What trust and hope do my lord, my father, and we have in you and this city? And see how the Trojans, who should live and die with us, act in such a recreant manner. You counsel shame.\"\n\nAnthonor, Anthenor spoke truthfully beforehand. The king will do that which will cause twenty thousand men to die. That thing you counsel the king to do comes from treason. Amphymacus said many other injurious words to Anthenor. Eneas tried to restrain him, saying, \"You know well that we cannot go to battle against the Greeks again. We dare not open our gates any longer. Therefore, it is necessary for us to find allies among them.\"\n\nThe king, in great anger, said to Anthenor and Eneas, \"Do you not have shame in yourselves for speaking to me in such a way? You are causing me to die with your sorrow. For all that I have done here so far, I have done it by your counsel. Anthenor, when you return to Greece, where I had sent you to ask for help from my sister, will you not counsel me to do this?\" Send Paris into Greece to harm the Greeks, and I had never intended to wage war against them. If it weren't for your false counsel, I would not have done so. You, Eneas, when I sent you with Paris into Greece: Were not you principal of the council that Paris should rouse Helen and bring her into this realm, and you incited her to come with your presence? If you had been against it and had let it be, Helen would never have seen the walls of Troy. And now, after they have killed all my children and caused so much damage and harm: your counsel advises me to make peace with the Greeks who have so cruelly destroyed me. Indeed, your counsel ends my life with great sorrow and dishonor.\n\nEneas was deeply angered and distraught by these words, and he answered the king sharply and bitterly. He and Anthony departed from the king, displeased. The king began to weep when they were gone. That feared they would deliver the city into the hands of the Greeks, who would harm him inconveniently. Then he thought he would kill them first. He called upon Amphymacus and said to him, \"Right soon I am your father. We ought to support each other to the death. I know certainly that Antenor and Aeneas contend to kill us and deliver the city to the Greeks. Therefore, it would not be unfavorable to make them fall into the pit they have prepared, before they do any such evil. I will tell you how this will happen: tomorrow at evening they will come to council. You shall be hidden here within, and you shall have with the good knights. When they have come, you shall run upon them and kill them. Amphymacus answered him and said that he would do so willingly. And although there were no others at this council but the king and his son, yet there is nothing so secret that it is not known elsewhere.\" Aeneas knew well the... This text appears to be written in Old English, and there are some errors in the transcription. Here is the cleaned text:\n\nThe truth of this matter was not known to anyone who knew it. And suddenly, he and Antenor and some other of their confederates spoke of the treason of the city. And there they swore to each other. Then they said that if they went to counsel the king, they would go with a great company of armed men, for Enias was one of the most noble and richest in Troy next to the king, and the best of lineage. And Antenor was also rich and powerful in the city. Their treason was such that they would deliver the city into the hands of their enemies, but that they and all their lineage should have their lives and their goods saved. And of this they took good care from the Greeks.\n\nAmong these things, the king Priam sent for Antenor and Enias to come to counsel, to perform that thing which he had purposed. But they came with a great company of armed men. And therefore the king sent to Amphimachus that he should leave. The king summoned all the Trojans to counsel him the next day. When they had assembled before him, Eneas stood up and admonished them all to make peace with the Greeks. All the others agreed, except for the king. Eneas urged him, \"Sire king, why do you not consent to this, for we shall negotiate for the peace and make it work. When the king saw that his opposition could not prevent anything, he preferred to consent to the others rather than be the cause of his destruction. The king then said to Eneas, \"Let it be done as you think is most expedient for the peace, and I will approve it.\" With the counsel of all, Antenor was chosen to go to the Greeks and negotiate for the peace. The Trojans took branches of palm as a sign of peace and went up to the city walls to show it to the Greeks, indicating their intention to make peace. Anthenor was called from the walls and brought down to King Agamemnon. And Agamemnon arranged all the work for the King of Crete, Dyomedes and Ulysses. And all the Greeks promised to honor whatever Anthenor asked of them, swearing it on their law.\n\nWhen the four were assembled, Anthenor, filled with deceit, promised them to betray the city for their own will and pleasure, provided they would assure him, Aeneas, and their kin and elders, and all whom they would choose. Aeneas should have all his possessions without any loss and hold them. Then one spoke to another, and they agreed that this treason must be kept secret until it was carried out. Antenor prayed to the Greeks to deliver to him the ancient King Cassilus to go with him to Troy. Antenor and Cassilyus entered the city and made their coming known to the king. The morrow, the king Priantus summoned all the Trojans to hear Antenor's answer. Antenor spoke otherwise than he had found, making a long speech to conceal his treachery. He spoke of the Greeks' power and their truth in their promises. He mentioned the oaths they had made before the city, which they had faithfully kept without breach. Afterward, he spoke of the Trojans' misfortunes and the great dangers they faced. Concluding thus, Antenor revealed... hit was profitable for those who sought peace and that they came thither. And he said it could not be, but if they gave a great quantity of gold and silver to the Greeks for restoring to them the great damages and losses they had in the war. And afterwards he urged himself, in his own person, to be employed in this matter without any sparing. And as much as I cannot know at this time all their will, I would that you would let Eneas go with me to them to know better their will and to win their belief in us. Every man allowed Anthenor's words. Then he and Eneas went to the Greeks and with them, King Cassilyus.\n\nWhen the council was finished and all done, King Priam entered into his chamber and began to weep strongly, as one who clearly perceived the treachery. He lamented sorely the death of his sons and also the great damage that he bore. And yet the worst is that he must buy his peace from those who had done all this to him. this do\u0304mage and hurte / and to gyue to them alle the tresour that he had in longe tyme gadryd to gyder / / And to become poure in his olde auncyent dayes / And yet he is not sewre of his lyf / and muste nedes do the wyll of them that shall betraye hym. On that other syde whan helayne knewe that Anthenor shold goo to the grekes / she prayd hym right effectuously that he wold make her peas ayenst menelaus her husbond and that he wold haue pyte on her / And he promysid to her that he wold doo his power\nWHan Eneas and Anthenor were comen in to the ooste of the grekes they treted of theyr tray\u2223son / / wyth the thre kynges that the grekes hadd co\u0304mysyd / / and there they maad the peas for helayne and toke good sewerte / After theyr parlament the gre\u2223kes ordeyned that Dyomedes and Vlixes shold goo with them to troye / And they wente with them. Ther was grete Ioye whan they herde of theyr comyng in to theyr cyte / wenyng to the troians to haue had the peas that they had so moche desyred. On the morn erly by the The king's command summoned all the Trojans to his palace. Vulixes spoke then, stating that the Greeks demanded two things: restitution of damages and a great quantity of gold and silver. They also demanded that Amphymacus be banished forever from the city of Troy, never to return. Antenor bought Amphymacus' freedom for this offense.\n\nO how light it is to speak in times of turbulence and sedition. As they were all assembled in parliament, they suddenly heard a marvelous cry. Diomedes and Vulixes had great fear that the people would kill them. The others suggested taking these two kings in Amphymacus' place to prevent his banishment. However, no one knew for certain and they all departed, each man returning to his place.\n\nThen Antenor drew aside Diomedes and Vulixes to speak with them. \"Felony [said] to him why do you tarry and delay so long in doing what you have promised. Anchises answered and said, the goddesses know that Eneas and I attend to nothing other than doing what we have promised you. But there is a marvelous thing that hinders us, and I shall tell you what it is. When King Ilion first founded the palaces of Ilion in this city, he established in the name of Pallas a great temple in this city. And when it was all ready and completed, a marvelous thing descended from heaven. It stood in the wall of the temple with the great Apollo. And it has been there until this time. None may carry it away except those who keep it. The material is of tree or wood, but there is no man who knows of what wood or how it is made, except the goddess Pallas who sent it there. It shall be with the temple or within the city within the walls. The Trojans may not lose their city nor the kings.\" And this is what keeps the Trojans in safety, and therefore they can keep it better. This thing is called Palladium, because the goddess Pallas sent it. Diomedes said, \"If this thing is of such virtue as you say, we will lose our pain.\" Antenor replied that they had no reason to be afraid, for he and Aeneas had gone to fulfill the promise. I have only just spoken to the priest who keeps it, to make him deliver it by stealth. I have very trust that he will deliver it to me for a great sum of gold that I have promised him. And as soon as I have it, I will send it to you outside the city, and then we will perform what we have promised to you. And before you go and cover and hide our work, I will go to King Priam and make him understand that I have spoken long to you to know what quantity of gold you demand, and it was done as Antenor had planned.\n\nWhen Diomedes... Anthenor returned to the king Priam and requested that he summon all his people for a council. When they had all assembled, Anthenor spoke to them, stating that to come to the peace of the Greeks, they must pay twenty thousand gold marks and an equal amount of silver, as well as one hundred thousand quarters of wheat. This was to be prepared within a certain term. Once they had fulfilled this requirement, they were to provide security to keep the peace without any fraud or deceit. It was there decided how this arrangement was to be ratified, and while they were occupied with these matters, Anthenor went to the priest who guarded the Palladium. This priest was named Thoas, and Anthenor presented him with a large quantity of gold. The two of them held a secret council, and Anthenor told him that he should take this gold, which would make him rich for life, and give him the Palladium in return. No one was to know of this. Anthenor had expressed great fear. \"moche dread should know it. I will send it to Vlixes, and he shall bear the blame. Every man will say that Vlixes stole it, and we will be free from it, both of us [etc]. Though the priest resisted the words of Antenor for a long time, but in the end, due to the great sum of gold that Antenor gave him, he consented to take the Palladium and take it away. Then Antenor took it immediately and sent it to Vlixes that night. And after the Wise Men ran among the people, Vlixes, by his cunning, had taken and carried away the Palladium from Troy. O what treason was this of a priest, who loved better for covetousness to betray his city than to leave the gold that was given to him. Indeed, it is a foul vice in a priest, the sin of covetousness. But few have been before this time, and few are there now, if they have been involved, of which it is a great pity, since avarice is the mother of all vices. While the Trojans\" The Gadarians gathered their gold and silver and placed it in the temple of Minerva to keep until it was all assembled. They then offered and made sacrifices to their god Apollo. When they had slain many beasts for their sacrifice and placed them on the altar, and had set fire on them to burn, it happened that two men appeared. The first was that the fire would not ignite or burn, and they attempted to make the fire more than ten times. It always quenched and could never burn the sacrifice. The second miracle or marvel was when they had appointed the entrails of the beasts for their sacrifice. A great eagle descended from the air, crying loudly, and took the said entrails with its feet and carried them into the Greek ships.\n\nThe Trojans were greatly abashed and amazed by these two things and demanded of Cassandra what they signified. She said to them that the gods were angry with them. Apollo was angry with them for the spilling of Achilles' blood, which defiled and violated his temple. This was the first miracle. You must go fetch fire from Achilles' tomb and light your sacrifice there. And it shall quench no more. They did so, and the sacrifice burned clearly. For the second miracle, she said to them that for certain, the treason was made by the city with the Greeks. When the Greeks heard her speak of these miracles, they demanded of Calchas what it signified. And he said to them that the tradition of the city would soon come to pass. Among these things, Calchas and Crisis the priest advised the Greeks to make a great horse of brass. It must be as great as could hold within it a thousand knights armed. They said to them that it was the pleasure of the gods. This horse was made skillfully by a man named Apius. Whose name was Synon. He made it so subtly that without fail no man could perceive or see it. entree ne yssue. But wythin hyt apperyd to them that were closid ther in for to yssue whan they wold {etc}.\nWHan the hors was full maad. and the thou\u2223sand knyghtes therin by the counseyll of Cry\u2223sis / they prayed the kynge pryant that he wold suffre thys hors entre in to the cyte: and that hit myght be sette in the temple of Pallas / for as moche as they sayd that they had maad hyt in the hanour of Pallas for a vowe that they had maad for restytucion of the Palladyum that they hadd doon be taken oute of the same temple {etc}.\nAMonge these thynges the prynces that were yet in troye / Whan they sawe that the kynge had so fowle and shamefully trayted with the grekes\nthey wente oute of troye and toke theyr men with them And the kyng philemenus ladde no moo with hym but two honderd and fyfty men and sixty maydens of ama\u2223zone that were lefte of a thousand that cam wyth the quene panthasile And caryed the bodye of her with hem And rood so moche that they cam vnto theyr contre. Than cam the day that the grekes shold The people feignedly placed the peas on the plain field before the sanctuaries. The king pranced out of the city, and his people swore to each party to hold the peas firmly from then on. Diomedes swore first for the Greeks. After they had broken the oaths they had made with Antenor regarding that matter, they could maintain that they were not forsworn by that color. Therefore, I say in a proverb, \"he who swears by cattle or maliciously, he swears falsely by malice.\" After Diomedes swore in the same way, all the Greek kings and princes did as well. Then King Priam and the Trojans swore in good faith, knowing nothing of the great treason. After their oaths, King Priam delivered Helen to Menelaus, her husband. He and other Greek kings and princes promised him falsely that they would do her no injury or hurt. wronge.\nTHan prayd the grekes that they myghte sette the hors of brasse wyth in the temple of pallas / ffor the restytucion of palladyum / to thende that the goddesse Pallas myght be to them aggreable In their\nretourne. And as the kynge pryant answerd not ther\u2223to. Eneas and Anthenor sayd to hym that hit shold be well doon / And that hit shold be honour to the cy\u2223te / / how be hyt the kynge pryant accorded hyt wyth euyll wyll / Than the grekes receyuyd the gold and siluer & the whete / that was promysid to them. And sente hyt and putte hit in to their shyppis / After these thynges they wente all in maner of procession and in deuocyon wyth theyr prestis. And began with strength of cordes to drawe the horse of brasse vnto tofore the ga\u2223te of the cyte / And for as moche as by the gate hyt myght not entre in to the cyte / hit was so grete / ther\u2223fore they brake the walle of the cyte in lengthe and heyght in suche wyse as hyt entryd with in the town And the troians receyuyd hyt wyth grete Ioye. But the custome of fortune is such that great joy ends in tragedies and sorrow: The Trojans took joy in this horse, in which were concealed their death. And they knew nothing of it. In this horse was a cunning man named Sinon, who carried the keys to open it. When the Trojans were asleep and rested in the night, and as soon as they issued out of the horse, they gave a signal of fire to those in the fields to come into the city for destruction.\n\nThe same day, the Greeks feigned going to Tenedos: And said that they would receive Helen and set her in safety because the people should not rush upon her for the great evils and hurts that had fallen for her. And thus they departed from the gates of Troy with her sails drawn up, and came before the sun going down to Tenedos. Then the Trojans had great rejoicing, and they supped that very night with great gladness. And the Greeks, as soon as they were come to Tenedos, they armed themselves. The Greeks quietly and privately approached Troy. Once the Trojans had finished their supper, they went to bed. Synon then opened the horse and went out, lighting a fire to show those outside. Without delay, those waiting entered the city through the broken gate to bring in the bronze horse. The thousand knights emerged and found the sleeping Trojans. They slaughtered men, women, and children without mercy and took all they found in their houses. They killed so many that by the time it was day, they had slain more than twenty thousand. They plundered and robbed the temples. A horrible cry arose from those they had killed. When King Priam heard the cry, he knew at once that Hector and Antenor had betrayed him. He rose hastily and went to his temple of Apollo. Within his palaces, he who had no more expectation or hope of his life, knelt to find himself driven out of the temple of Minerva, weeping and demonstrating great sorrow. The other noblewomen remained in the palaces, weeping and in tears.\n\nThen, on the following morning, the Greeks, by the instigation of Eneas and Anthenor, who were treacherous to their city and their king and lord, entered the palaces of Ilium where they found no defense and put to death all whom they found. Then Pyrrhus entered the temple of Apollo and found there Priam, awaiting his death. Then he rushed upon him with an unsheathed sword, seeing Eneas and Anthenor guiding him. He slew Priam before the altar, which was already drenched in his blood.\n\nThe queen Hecuba and Polixene fled and did not know where to go; and it happened that she met Eneas. And then Hecuba said to him in a great fury: \"Ah, you treacherous wretch! From whence has such great cruelty come?\" That you have brought with those who killed the prince Priam,\nwho had done so much good and had raised you to greatness:\nand also have betrayed the country where you were born\nand the city that you ought to protect. At the late hour, it was not enough to restrain your anger:\nand have pity on this unfortunate Polixene,\namong so many evils that you have done. You may yet have grace to do one good deed,\nas to save her from death or the Greeks kill her.\nEneas comforted Polixene with pity and took her into his care, hiding her in a secret place.\nAmong these things, King Thelamon placed Andromache, Hector's wife, and Cassandra, whom he found there,\nin the temple of Minerva for safekeeping.\nHe set fire to the city on all sides and burned it completely. He reserved only the houses of the traitors,\nwhich were kept and reserved. When the city of Troy was all burned, King Agamemnon assembled all the most noble of Greece in the temple. When they had all assembled, Minos required two things of them. The first was that they should keep their faith and loyalty to the traitors. The second was that they should advise each other on how to leave the city. The Greeks answered that they would keep their faith to the traitors regarding the first matter, and that each man should bring all the property into common and divide it among themselves according to merit and desert. Then Thelamon spoke and said that I should burn Helen, for so much harm and evil had come from her. Many grumbled at this, but Agamemnon and Menelaus managed to save her with great difficulty. Vixis, with his fair language, said many things to them that made them content with this outcome. Afterward, Agamemnon rewarded them all. Cassandra, the daughter of Priam, was the reward. Delivered to him/ While the Greeks held yet their parliament, came to them Eneas and Anthenor, and advised them that Helenus had continually blamed the Trojans for their tempers against the Greeks. He counseled them to put Achilles' body in sepulture, which they would have given to the hounds, and therefore urged them to save his life. It was agreed and accorded, and Andromache and Helenus prayed for the two sons of Hector. Pyrrhus debated a little, but in the end agreed: and so the children were spared.\n\nAfter this fury, they ordered that all the noble women who had escaped death should go where they would freely, or dwell still there if it pleased them. And after these things were done, they purposed to depart from Troy. But the great plague began to arise at that time, which lasted a month before they might go to the sea. Then the Greeks demanded of Calchas the cause of this. This prolonged enmity: And he answered that to appease the goddesses, it is necessary to sacrifice Polixene, for whom Achilles died. Then Pyrrhus inquired diligently where Polixene was, as there was no news whether she was alive or dead. Agamemnon asked Antenor. Who said to him that he did not know where she was, although he lied. And yet, to put an end to all his evils, he inquired so much that Polixene was found in an old, ancient tower where she had been imprisoned. He went there and drew her out by force, arms in hand. And he presented her to King Agamemnon. Who immediately sent her to Pyrrus, who sent her to the sepulcher of Achilles to be slain. And as they led her there, there was no king or prince who did not have great sorrow to see such a fair figure of a woman lost, unless she had deserved it and had delivered her from the hand of Pyrrus. Calchas had not been wrong that the tempest would not cease until she was dead. When the fair Polixene was before the sepulcher of Achilles, she humbly excused herself for his death and said that she was very angry and sorry for his death. She lamented that the kings and princes of Greece had allowed her to die against justice and without fault or transgression. She would have preferred his death to living with those who had taken away and slain all her friends. When she had finished speaking, Pyrrhus struck her with his sword, seeing the queen, her mother, and killed her cruelly. He cut her into pieces and cast them all about the sepulcher of his father. When Hecuba, the queen, saw her beautiful daughter slain in this way, she fell down senseless. Afterward, she went out of her wits and became mad. She began to run wildly and assault with her teeth and nails all whom she could reach, and threw stones, injuring many of the Greeks. The Greeks took her by force and loaded her onto an island. There they stoned her to death. And thus ended and finished the life of Queen Hecuba. The Greeks made a noble sepulcher for her and placed her body there. Her sepulcher still appears in that same island to this day.\n\nWhile the Greeks were still stationed at Troy and could not depart due to the great tempest, after they had destroyed the entire city and taken all that they found valuable. King Themison made a quarrel with King Agamemnon over the Palladium that Ulysses had taken. He who had not deserved it as much as he had, who had often sustained the east with provisions and also defended it with his great prowess, where the east of the Greeks had been in danger of being lost and he had been. He claimed that he had killed King Polymestor, to whom King Priam had given Polydorus his son, and afterwards had killed Polydorus himself and brought a great treasure that he had found to the east. And he had slain the king of Frigia and brought his goods to the east. And he claimed then that he had gained many realms to the seigniory of Greece, and other many victories that he had done for the honor of the Greeks. He also said moreover that Ulysses had no prowess nor valor, but only cunning and fair speech to deceive men. By him we have suffered great villainy; for where we might have conquered the Trojans with arms, now we have conquered them with guile and deceit.\n\nTo these words answered Ulysses and said that soon his wit had conquered the Trojans. And if he had not been, the Trojans would still have been in a state and in glory in the city. And afterwards he said to Thalamon, Truly, the Palladium was never by your prowess, but by my wit. And the Greeks never knew what it was or of what virtue it was. When I first made them know of this, and when I knew that the city of Troy could not be taken. As long as it was in the same place, I went secretly into the city and did so much that it was delivered to me. And after we took the city, Thelamon answered injuriously to Thesesus in the same way, and they became mortal enemies of each other. Thelamon manacled Thesesus to death openly, and afterwards, Agamemnon and Menelaus judged that the Palladium should remain with Thesesus. Some said that they made this judgment because Thesesus, with his fair speaking, had saved them from death, and Thelamon and others would have died. They could not agree on this judgment. The greatest part of the east said that Thelamon should rightfully have the Palladium instead of Thesesus. Therefore, Thelamon said to Agamemnon and Menelaus many injurious words. He said to them that he would be their mortal enemy from then on, for this cause, Agamemnon. Menelaus and Thesesus remained close to each other, and had allewayes after them with a great number and multitude of knights, it happened that in the morning, Allemon was found slain in his bed, and had made great sorrow. He laid all the blame upon the three kings previously mentioned: Pyrrhus, who strongly loved the king Allemon, spoke many injurious words to Ulysses and the other. Ulysses doubted him. And the following night, he and his men entered their ships secretly and went to the sea to return home, leaving their ally Paladin with his friend. Pyrrus caused the body of Allemon to be burned and put the ashes in a rich vessel of gold to carry with him to his country to bury it honorably. The hatred was great between Pyrrus and King Agamemnon and his brother. But Antenor made peace, and on one day gave a dinner to all the nobles of Greece. He served them with many dishes and gave them fair gifts among these things.\n\nThe Greeks reproached Menelaus for breaking his oath. Eneas had hidden Polixene and, because of this, they banished him. When Eneas saw that he could not stay there, he prayed them earnestly to reconcile and allow him to take the twenty ships that Paris had with him to Greece. They agreed to his request, giving him a four-month period to repair and equip them. Antenor did not depart from Troy with his goodwill, but the old man hated him strongly because he had been banished from Troy by him. Eneas, in great sorrow because Antenor was not banished along with him, assembled all the Trojans and said, \"My friends and brothers, since fortune has placed us in this state, we cannot live without a leader and governor. If you will do as my counsel, you shall choose Antenor as your king, for he is wise enough to govern you.\" The council approved of Antenor's return to the Trojans, and he was quickly summoned. As soon as he arrived, Eneas gathered a large crowd of people to confront him, as the most powerful man in Troy before the war ended. The Trojans begged him to cease his hostilities and not start the war again. Antenor replied, \"How can we spare this traitor, who caused the death of Polixena, the fair daughter of King Priam? I was the one who should have given counsel and helped you, but now I must leave you.\"\n\nEneas spoke so persuasively to the Trojans that they banished Antenor forever and forced him to leave the town immediately.\n\nAntenor set sail with a large company of Trojans and sailed so far that he encountered men of war and pirates at sea who attacked him. They killed many of his men, injured others, robbed him, and plundered his ships. Anthenor escaped from them and sailed so far that he arrived in a province named Gergandye, where the king Tetides was lord and king, a just man and debonair. In this land, Anthenor arrived with a few ships and rested on the side of a great island that was near the entrance. He saw the country fair and powerful in woods and land and fortifications. There he built a city for himself and his people, fortified it with walls and good towers. And when the Trojans knew of it, many went there and dwelt with Anthenor. The city grew strongly and was full of people. Anthenor governed himself wisely in this land and was well in the grace of King Tetides, second only to him in his realm. He named his city Cortirem erralum.\n\nCassandra, left at Troy, had great sorrow for the great misfortunes that had befallen her friends. She did not cease to weep and wail. And when she had endured her sorrow for a long time, the Greeks demanded her. Her they returned home from their estate, where she warned them of many pains and great hardships before they reached their country. Afterward, she told Agamemnon that his own household should harm him. This came to pass for him, as well as for all the others, just as Cassandra had foretold. Of King Thelamon, there were left two sons. The eldest was named Hermycides, born to Queen Glausta. The other, named Anchisatus, was born to Queen Thymyssa. These two sons nurtured King Theutes as long as they were not yet strong enough to bear arms.\n\nAmong these things, Agamemnon and Menelaus demanded leave to return to their lands. The most powerful eastern ruler granted them leave, reluctantly, for they had been suspected of the death of Thelamon, which had been stolen away like a thief. Therefore, he showed clearly that he was culpable for the death. Thus, these two brothers set sail to return home. In the winter, when the sea is most dangerous, and one after another, the Greeks entered the sea, acting foolishly and poorly advised due to the sea's uncertainty. They loaded their ships with the riches they had plundered from the wealthy city and kingdom of Troy. Desiring to be home in their own country, they began to return in the midst of winter. They set aside all dangers and perils that faced them, but after sailing for four days and four nights, on the fifth day they were in the Aegean Sea. About the hour of noon, a great tempest suddenly arose. It brought heavy rain, thunder, wind, and massive waves of the sea that tossed their ships hither and thither in the sea. Many of their masts broke, and all sails were torn. When the long and dark night came, the ships separated from each other, some sailing before the wind in one place, and some in another. And many were burned with lightning and thunder that filled upon them, and many were drowned and sunk into the sea. Those who were there were dead and drowned. The great riches of Troy were lost. Ajax, who had thirty-two ships in this company, had all his ships burned and perished. He himself, by the force of his arms and legs, swam naked and arrived on land, all swollen from the water he had drunk. He lay for a long time upon the gravel, hoping for death more than life. And soon after came others in the same way, who were saved by swimming, but were disheartened by their misfortune and unhappiness. This disaster came upon Ajax because he dragged Cassandra out of the temple of Minerva. It often happens that many are punished for the sin and transgression of one man.\n\nIn this time there was a king in Greece named Nausicaa, who was very rich and powerful. His kingdom stood on the side of the Aegean Sea toward the south. the reason was great rocks and high and many mountains and hills of sand which were right perilous. This king was father of Palamides, who was slain before Troy. He had yet a son named Cetus. There was none in Greece so rich or powerful a king. However, there were some evil people there who could not endure the peace and tranquility of others. These people convinced King Naus to believe and King Cetus that Palamides had not been slain in battle but had been treacherously killed by Ulysses and Diomedes. Agamemnon and Menelaus had forged and contrived a false letter, in which was contained the information that Palamides would betray the Greek camp while he was emperor of the east, for a great sum of gold. They placed this letter by the side of a slain knight. Then Ulysses negotiated in such a way with one of Palamides' secretaries for a great sum of money, such as the letters contained. And this secretary, by Ulysses' suggestion, put the letters in Palamides' hands. This is some money under the head of Palamides while he slept. And as soon as the secretary had told Ulysses that he had done this, Ulysses privately killed the secretary. Then, immediately, this letter came into the hands of the Greeks who read it and were all ashamed when they saw the treason in writing and that the contents of the same letter were lying under his head. They went at once into his tent and found the truth about this matter. They wanted to attack Palamides immediately, but he offered himself to defend it against whoever would prove it. And so, there was none who dared to fight against him. After this thing was repealed, Ulysses and Diomedes on one day told Palamides that they knew of a pit where there was much treasure. And that they wanted him to have his share and that they would go the night following. When the night had come, they all three went alone with no more company. And Palamydes went first into the pit, and they said they would follow. As soon as he was within, the other two cast stones upon him, killing him. Afterward, they returned to their tents privately. These envious men then told King Nausis and Cetus of the death of Palamydes. But it was all false. Then King Nausis and his son began strongly to think how they might avenge themselves on the Greeks. They knew well that the Greeks were on their return in the heart of winter and that they must pass through his kingdom. And then King Nausis ordered that great fires be lit every night on the mountains that stood by the sea side. He did this so that when the Greeks should see the fire by night, they would come there, thinking to find good hauens. And if they came, they would find hard rocks and mountains of sand. Not escape without death. It was done thus as Naulus had decreed. And there were well two hundred Greek ships shattered against the rocks. And all who were therein were drowned. When the other ships that followed them heard the noise of the ships that were shattered and the cry of those who were drowned, they turned to that other side and made to defend themselves.\n\nOf those who escaped were Agamemnon, Menelaus, Diomedes, and some others who will be named hereafter.\n\nCetus, who was otherwise called Pellus, had great sorrow when he learned that Agamemnon had espoused one of King Priam's daughters and loved her strongly, bringing her into his country to make her queen. And he pondered long on how he might avenge himself when he should return and descend in his own land. He did write a letter to Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife. And this letter contained that for certain, Agamemnon, her husband, had espoused one of Priam's daughters and loved her strongly, and brought her into his country to make her queen. And to put out Clytemnestra or to do harm to her. Clytemestra believed these letters from Clytaemestra, thanked Clytaemestra, and planned to avenge herself on her husband. In her husband's absence, Clytemestra loved a man named Aegisthus with whom she had a daughter named Erygone. She loved her husband, but it is the custom of a woman to take a lesser man as a mistress. She had made a deal with Aegisthus that the first night Agamemnon should lie with her, he should kill him. This was done as planned, and Agamemnon was killed and buried.\n\nAgamemnon, who had been slain, had a son by Clytemestra named Orestes, a young child. Calchas took the child in custody and took him from his mother to prevent her from harming him. After sending him to King Idumeus of Crete, his uncle, he took great joy in him and his wife Tharasis, who loved him as much as Clytemnestra, his daughter, who had no other children but her and was a fair young maiden. In the same way, Cetus wrote to Clytemnestra, the wife of Agamemnon. He also wrote to the wife of Diomedes, named Egee, who was the daughter of King Polytes of Argos and sister of Ajax, who had returned from Troy with Diomedes, his brother in law. During their return journey, they descended in the land of King Thelepus, who was ill-disposed towards them and came against them with a large army. They defended themselves strongly, and Ajax killed many of Thelepus' knights, for which he felt great sorrow and anger. Taking a great spear, he challenged Ajax, and by such great force, he struck him down to the ground and killed him. Diomedes avenged the death of his brother-in-law by killing many knights of Thelepus. Thelepus recovered Assandrus' body with great difficulty and brought it into his ship [etc]. Thus died Assandrus, but this was not reported as such to Egee, his sister. Instead, it was told to her that Diomedes, her husband, had killed him to seize all the power of Archimens, which Assandrus and Egee shared. Enraged by these news and inciting much unrest among her people, they promised her they would not receive Diomedes back as their lord. When Diomedes returned, his wife and people refused to receive him, banishing him from the land of Archymens forever. However, he managed to reach Salamis, where the king, Theutes, brother of King Thalamon, was. This king had heard that Diomedes was responsible for his brother's death, along with Ulixes [etc]. Thus, Diomedes learned of the king's intent to capture him and fled. kynge demephon and the kynge Athamas / whan they were arryued in theyr landes / were banysshid by sem\u2223blable manere / Than they arryued in the lande of duc nestor / whiche resseyuyd hem wyth grete Ioye / These two kynges purposid to goo in to theyr landes wyth men of armes / and take vengeance on their peple / But the duc nestor blamed hem therof / And counceillid them that they shold sende fyrst to them for to amoneste and warne hem for to resseyue them for theyr lordes / And promyse to them grete fraunchyses and lybertees / And thus they dyde as nestor councellyd to them / And hyt was not longe after but theyr peple resseyuyd hem as a fore is sayd {etc}.\nWHan Eneas was a biden at troye for to repayre hys shyppis / He suffryd many assault of hys neyghbours that wold haue taken to proye alle the remena\u0304nt of the troians. And for as moche as he myghte not abyde there lenger than hys terme that was assigned vnto hym by the grekes / He assem\u2223blid the troians. And counceyllid them that they shold\nsende and fecche Dyomedes was to be their king and said he would come willingly since he had been driven out of his country. He was wise and bold in defending them. They sent to find Dyomedes and found him. He came gladly and with good will, and found the Trojans half besieged by their neighbors. Eneas was present and appointed them to battle against their enemies. They fought many days. In the fifth battle, Dyomedes displayed great prowess and slew many of their enemies, and many were taken captive and many were hung as trophies. At the height of the battle, they were all vanquished, and henceforth none of their neighbors nor those around them dared to attack the Trojans again. And so they lived in peace.\n\nAmong these things, the navy of Aeneas was ready, and he entered it, along with Anchises his father, and many Trojans to go by sea. Whether the gods would consent that they should dwell there and\n\n(Note: The text appears to be complete and does not contain any meaningless or unreadable content, and there are no OCR errors to correct. Therefore, no cleaning is necessary.) And they found many perilous adventures at sea. In the end, they sailed into the Hellespont Sea and sailed so far that they reached Italy and Tuscany. Of his adventures and how he arrived at Carthage and later in Italy, those who wish to see it should read Virgil in the Aeneid. When Hecuba, the wife of Diomedes, knew that the Trojans had resettled Diomedes and that he had defeated her enemies, she doubted that Diomedes would take revenge on her. Then, with her people's counsel, she sent to fetch him. He came with a good will and was received with great joy. And in the same way, the others who had exiled their lords at their return from Troy called them back home again. Every man returned to his lordship of those who escaped from the perils of the sea.\n\nWhen Horaces, the son of Agamemnon who was then forty-two years old, King Idomeneus, who had nourished him, made him king. A knight held a great feast for the new chivalry of Hercules. Hercules asked him to help avenge his father's death and recover his land. King Idumeus granted him a thousand wise and hardy knights. Hercules gathered another thousand in various places. They set out towards Miches. In going there, they passed by the city of Troy, where King Priam was lord, who helped him with three hundred knights, as he hated Ajax because Ajax had pledged his daughter's hand to him, but she had left him for Clytemnestra's love. So, he joined forces with Hercules to wage war against Ajax. When they were setting out, it was around the middle of May. When they approached Miches, those within the city would not yield it to him. He therefore laid siege around it. Hercules had received a divine response that he himself should take revenge. His mother was enclosed in the city by his handmaids, not opposing this. Egistus was not present there, but he was going to fetch reinforcements and assemble knights to defend his city against the approaching enemy Horestes. At the instigation and counsel of Clytemnestra, his wife. And as soon as Horestes learned of this, he set a great number of knights in ambush to intercept him on his return. Then he ordered the city to be assaulted frequently. Since it was not well fortified, Horestes took it by storm on the fifteenth day of his siege. He commanded his people to keep the gates, so that none could leave or enter. Afterward, he went to the royal palaces and took his mother captive, subjecting all those he deemed responsible for his father's death or who had rebelled against him to the same fate. That very day, Egistus returned with his reinforcements. The people of Horestes killed all his people and brought him to Egistus. To Horeses, his hands bound behind him. In the morning, Horeses had his mother Clytemnestra brought before him, naked, her hands bound. As soon as he saw her, he rushed upon her with his naked sword and cut off her two breasts, then killed her with his hands. He had her drawn to the fields for the hounds to eat and the birds to devour. Afterward, he plundered Egestus and drew him through the city. And afterward, he hanged him on a fork. In the same way, he dealt with all those who were responsible for the death of his father, Agamemnon. Thus, avenging his father's good king, Horeses {etc}. Menelaus, after the great parley of the sea, arrived in Crete with his wife, Helen. When he learned of his brother's death and the vengeance taken by the said Horeses, he was indifferent to his nephew's cruel vengeance on his mother. The greatest lords of Greece came to Menelaus to see Helen. Menelaus went to Michapes and confronted Horeses, accusing him of being unworthy to rule due to his cruel treatment of his mother. Menelaus gathered all the nobles of Greece at Athens to declare Horeses a traitor for his actions against his mother. Horeses defended himself, claiming that the gods had commanded him. The people of Athens offered to defend Horeses if anyone could prove he had acted unfairly. No one came forward. Therefore, Horeses was reinstated as ruler, causing Menelaus to bear a heavy heart. King Idomeneus intervened and made peace between them. Horeses then took Hermione, the daughter of Helena, as his wife. Menelaus to his wife, Helene:\n\nErigone, the daughter of Egistus and Clytemestra, had great sorrow when she saw Hippomenes in such great honor. She hanged herself in despair. Among these things, Ulysses came to Crete with two merchant ships that he had hired, for he had lost all his ships and all that was in them to pirates and robbers. After being robbed, it unfortunately happened that he arrived in the land of King Thoas. There, he was taken and lost the remainder of his goods. The people of the land had hanged him, but by the industry and cunning of his wit, he managed to escape poverty. Afterward, he arrived in the land of King Nausithous, who hated him because of the death of his son Palamedes. Despite this, he did so much by his skill and wit that he escaped poverty once more. And so he came and arrived in Crete. King Idomeneus welcomed him joyfully. However, he was greatly displeased to see him in such poverty, and asked him about his adventures. After departing from Troy, Vulixes told him of many dangers and marvels. He recounted how he had lost his men and great riches that he had brought from Troy. King Idomeneus felt pity on Vulixes and honored him as long as he remained with him. When he departed, Idomeneus gave him two ships filled with all necessary supplies for the journey and other goods. He also asked Vulixes to go by the kingdom of Alcinous, which was on his way, and promised to receive him gladly.\n\nThus, Vulixes departed from Crete and went to King Alcinous, who welcomed him with great joy. Vulixes heard news of Penelope, his wife, who had rejected many notable suitors. He was told that some people were opposing her will on his land. Vulixes' son, Alcinous' messenger, came to him and assured him of all truthful matters. For: that cause Ulysses prayed to Alcinous that he would accompany him to his kingdom / with a great number of knights / And Alcinus agreed to him gladly / They sailed so long that on a night they arrived in his country / and entered into the city / and in the houses of his enemies / and slew them all. And on the morrow by day Ulysses, thus accompanied, entered into his palaces / And there he was received as king & lord with great joy. And above all others Penelope his wife had great joy, as she who had so long desired him / His people came from all sides and ran to see him, their lord, giving him great and rich gifts. And thus Ulysses was much honored and exalted in his kingdom. And then he treated so much with Alcinous that he gave his daughter Nausicaa in marriage to Telemachus his son. And after the great solemnity of the wedding, Alcinous went him in to his country. And Ulysses abode in his kingdom in great peace.\n\nPirus that was the son of Achilles and of Deidamia the daughter of King Lycomedes of This side. King Lichomedes was the son of King Achilles, who lived at that time. And King Achilles, who was very old and ancient, hated Pyrrhus strongly. But the history does not tell why or for what reason this hatred arose. King Achilles had expelled King Peleus from his kingdom of Thessaly and had sent him into exile. He had also set spies in many places to kill Pyrrus on his return from Troy. Pyrrhus, on his way back from Troy, passed many parallels in the sea and cast the best jewels he had into the sea. After he arrived at Molos, he disembarked and made repairs to his ships. While he was there, he learned that King Achilles had sent him into exile and was the father of Achilles. He also knew that spies had been set to kill him. This knowledge filled him with great sorrow and anger. King Peleus did not know where to go for shelter due to his doubt about which of Achilles' two sons he was to fear, one of whom was named Philistides. that other Menelaus, if he found him, would kill him. Then he hid himself in an old ancient edifice that was half a mile from Thessaly's city, between the sea and the city. There was an old closure of walls and rocks about it. No more houses were there as there had been in the past. But there were cells underneath the earth, where men could enter secretly by a hole that appeared little for the bushes and thorns that were there.\n\nIn this place dwelt King Peleus, idling the returning of his nephew Pyrrhus from Troy, who could avenge him of his enemies. He often went to the seashore to see if his nephew might come. When Pyrrus' ships were repaired, he set out for Thessaly to avenge himself against King Achilles. To do this more wisely, he sent two of his secretaries, one named Cryses and the other Adrastus, who were wise and subtle, to a high and mighty man of the city named [NAME]. Assandrus, a true friend of him and King Peleus, went there. When they had heard Assandrus speak, they returned to Pyrrhus and told him what they had found. Immediately, Pyrrus ordered them to raise their sails and sailed towards Troy, but a great tempest arose in the sea that lasted for three days. On the fourth day, they arrived at the gate of Scamander, which was only half a mile from Troy, near the cave where Peleus was staying. Pyrrus then descended on land to rest from the sea journey and to take in the fresh air. By chance, he went straight to the cave where Peleus was. Hidden by thorns and bushes, he found his grandfather Peleus and recognized him because he resembled his father Achilles closely. Peleus then knew his nephew and embraced him, kissing him and revealing to him. Pyrrus experienced great pain and misery, which caused him deep sorrow. Then they went up and approached his ships. News arrived that Philistines and Menalipus, the sons of King Achas, had come to hunt in the forest nearby. Pyrrus undressed himself and put on an old, torn robe. He took his sword and told his people to stay there, while he would go alone into the forest. He had not gone far when he encountered the two brothers, who asked him who he was, from where he came, and where he was going. He replied that he was Greek and had returned from Troy in a ship with others. He intended to go back to his country but the tempest at sea had killed over five hundred people, leaving him as the only survivor. He had drunk a lot of seawater and lost all his possessions. Now he had to beg for food from door to door. While they spoke thus to Gyges, a great heart passed before them. Menalipus set Gyges on the chase and left his brother Pyrrhus alone. It happened then that Phylas alighted from his horse to rest, and as soon as he had dismounted, Pyrrus ran upon him with his naked sword in hand and killed him. And when Menalipus returned, Pyrrus attacked him and killed him as well. In this way, Pyrrus slew his two uncles, who were brothers of Thetis, the mother of Achilles' father. And after, he encountered Chinaras, who was from the household of King Achilles, whom Pyrrus demanded to know where Achilles, the king, was. Chinaras answered him that he was nearby and not far off. And as soon as he had said this, Pyrrus killed him. Then he went back to his ships. clads him with precious robes and returned again to the forest. He met King Achilles, who demanded of him what he was. I am said he, one of King Priam of Troy's sons, a prisoner of Pyrrhus. Where is Pyrrhus asked the king. And he indicated toward the sea. As the king turned him thitherward, Pyrrhus drew out his sword and would have slain him, but Theseus was present and cried out, recognizing him, saying, \"Right dear newcomer, what do you want? Do you want to kill my father? And you have killed my two uncles. And she, holding him by the arm with which he held his sword, then said to him. Pyrrhus answered the king Achilles, \"Your father has exiled King Peleus, his husband. Where has he transgressed and offended?\" If he will pardon Peleus his malice and evil will, I will pardon him.\" King Achilles was well pleased, and Peleus came before him. The peace was made between them. And when they were returned to The king Achastus said to them, \"I am so ancient and feeble that I can no longer help myself. Therefore, I will discharge myself of the charge and government of this realm. Now I have lost those who should have governed it after me, and for that reason, I grant Pyrrhus, my right dear nephew, the right and title that I have here. I am in will that Pyrrus be king. Then, King Achastus commanded all the barons of the isle to make homage to Pyrrus as to their king, and they had great joy and did it gladly. Thus, Pyrrus was crowned king of the isle. He was taken as the most redoubtable king of the isle and of Greece. Ydeumus, the king of Crete, died suddenly after and left two sons after him. Merion and Loarca. But Loarca died soon after him, and Merion was made king. Thelamotus had a son of Naufica his wife, named Deyphebus. Among these things, King Achastus did this. Pirrus buried his two sons near him, as agreed. This occurred during a time when Pirrus held high authority. He grew infatuated with Hermione, the daughter of Helene, who was married to Hector. Pirrus took Hermione by force and brought her to the palace, making her his wife. Hector was deeply saddened by this and, unable to attack Pirrus in his kingdom, vowed that if he could live, he would avenge himself in due time and place.\n\nPirrus then traveled to the island of Delphi to offer thanks to his god Apollo for avenging the death of his father Achilles. He left Andromache, Hector's wife, behind in the palace. She had a little son named Laomedon by Hector, and Pirrus had sent word to Menelaus, her father, that he had left Hermione for the love of Andromache. Pirrus instructed Menelaus to remain there until further notice. Pyrrhus went out to kill Andromache and her son Laomedon. Menelaus went to the ships to do this thing that his daughter required of him. He encountered Andromache, who took her son between her arms and ran into the city, seeking help from the people against Menelaus. The people armed themselves and rushed upon Menelaus, preventing him from doing anything there. When Hector learned that Pyrrhus was in Delphi, he went there and assaulted Pyrrus, killing him with his own hand. Hector had Pyrrus buried there. Immediately after Pyrrus' death, Peleus and Thetis took Andromache and her son. They sent them to the city of Molossis. There, Andromache gave birth to a beautiful son, whom she named Achilles. When Achilles grew up, he crowned his brother. King Laomedon of Thesalian realm, desiring for the love of him that all Trojans present should be freed, spoke. He said that Achilles had slain Hector before Troy, and the king had granted the burial of his son beside Troilus. The sister came to Troy, richly attired. She opened her brother's sepulcher and took out the bones she found. As soon as she held them, she vanished suddenly away, and neither man nor bone was ever known thereafter. They said that she was a goddess or the daughter of a goddess.\n\nAs Ulysses slept one night in his bed, he had a marvelous vision. It seemed to him that he saw an image of wondrous form and the fairest ever seen. He earnestly desired to touch this image and would have embraced her, but the image would not allow it. Instead, it withdrew itself. Approaching again, the image demanded of him, \"What do you want?\" He answered, \"I want us to be together.\" When Conioyned and I, to gather, and that I may know the fleshly. The image spoke and said thy request is hard and bitter. For our conjunction shall be unhappy. For one of us two shall die. He seemed further that this image held a spear and that above on the head had a brush all made most subtly with fish. After he saw that the image would go, and said to him at her departure, \"This sign signifies the ill and destruction that shall be of us two.\"\n\nWhen Ulysses was awakened, he marveled at this dream, and thought sore what it might signify. He sent after his gods and sages of his realm and demanded them what his vision might signify. And when they had taken a little heed thereof, they said that his own son should slay him. Ulysses, who had great fear and fear of his son, made him to be taken and kept secretly. And after he chose a place only and far from people, where he dwelt with some of his true friends. And did fortify this place with high towers and enclosed it with water. Around a drawn bridge. No man could enter except by a drawbridge and a wicket. This was kept so that only those whom he had brought with him could enter. It happened to Ulysses when he returned from Troy that fortune led him to an island where Circe dwelt, who was a lady, knowing as much of enchantments as any woman in the world. And by her art she held Ulysses captive near a year. And Ulysses fathered a son by her, whom she named Telegonus. In the time that Ulysses stayed in this place, so strong, Telegonus, his son, did not yet know who his father was. And when he was old enough to bear arms, he asked his mother often when he might see his father and where he dwelt. So long he begged her that she said to him that Ulysses was his father and told him where he dwelt.\n\nWhen Telegonus was very joyous and desired strongly to see his father, he took leave of his mother and went on many journeys until he came to When he learned where Vlixes dwelt, he went there. On a Monday morning, as he approached the bridge where they stood guard, he prayed them to let him pass to see Vlixes. They refused him in every way, and as he prayed, they pushed him back roughly. Enraged, he attacked one of them and struck him on the neck with his fist, killing him. He then assaulted the other and threw them both off the bridge. They cried out loudly, and when those in the castle heard the noise, they armed themselves and came to attack them. He confronted one of them and took his sword from him. In a short time, he killed fifteen of them, but they wounded him in many places. As the cry grew louder, Vlixes arose, doubting that it was Achilles' son and that he had escaped from prison and come. whereas the noise was there, with a javelin in his hand, which he threw against Thelagona, when he saw his men slain and hurt him a little, whom he did not know.\nThelagona, who had received the javelin, threw it against Vixen, whom he did not know, and struck him so hard between the sides that he killed him and fell to the earth. And as he spoke with great pain, he demanded of Thelagona, \"What are you?\" For as much as then his vision came to his mind. And Thelagona demanded on the other side, \"Who speaks to me?\" And they answered him that it was Vixen. Then Thelagona began to make the greatest sorrow of the world, saying, \"Alas, captive! I had come to see my father / and to live with him in joy / & I have killed him. And as soon as he had said so, he fell down in a swoon. And when his heart came to him again, he began to rent his garment, beat his face with his fists, and filled with weeping approached his father and said to him that he was the unfortunate Thelagona. his son and the queen Circe's. He prayed to the goddesses that they would allow him to die with his father. When Vulixes knew that it was his son, he comforted himself and sent at once to fetch Laomotus, his other son, who would have slain Thelagonus to avenge his father's death. But Vulixes restrained him. He said to him that he was his brother and begged them to love each other. After this, Vulixes was brought to Achaia. He lived there for three days only. His sons buried him honorably. Thelamotus ruled the kingdom of Achaia after his father. He held Thelagonus near him for nearly a year and a half, made him knight in great honor, and wanted him to dwell with him. But since his mother wrote to him frequently that he should return to his country, he did so, with great honor. For his brother gave him all that he needed on the journey and gave him many rich gifts. He departed. One returns to that island and finds Thelagonus with weeping tears. Thus, Thelagonus returned to the island of Aulides to his mother Circe, who took great joy in his coming. It was not long after that Circe's mother died, and Thelagonus was made king of this island. He lived there for sixty years in great prosperity and died. Thelamus reigned in Achaea for sixty and ten years, increasing and expanding his rule. When Vulves was slain, he was forty-six and thirteen years old.\n\nIn this part, Dares finished his book about the siege of Troy and spoke no more of their adventures. And all that went before was written by the Greek in his book. The two books were found to agree for the most part. Dares put in the end of his book that the siege lasted ten years, ten months, and twelve days. And the same Greek records that the number of Greeks who were killed before Troy was eighty-six thousand fighting men. Some of the Troians who defended them against the Greeks that were slain were six hundred and sixty-five thousand fighting men. He furthermore recites in his book, by whom the most noble kings and princes of that one party and also of that other were slain. Hector, prince of the cavalry of the world, slew with his own hand, by good and loyal faith, eighteen kings. By his own prowess without guile, that is, King Archylaus, Protesilaus, Patroclus, Menon, Prothoenor, Archymenes, Polemon, Epistropus, Ecedyus, Doccius, Polixenes, Phylas, Anthypus, Lenutus, Polytetes, Humerus. Fumus. King Examplus, Paris slew Palamides, Emperor of the Greeks east, and Achilles slew King Ayax. Ajax and Paris slew each other. Eneas slew King Amphimachus. And Achilles slew King Cyperus, Iupitas, Plebeius, Austerus, Lymonius, Euforbius, Menon, and Neptolonus. He also slew Hector, who paid no heed to him, and Troyllus, whose Myrmidons had enclosed and unarmed him. Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, slew Queen Panthasilea, and also the noble King Priam, whom he found unarmed and without defense, as a cruel tyrant. He slew the fair maiden Polixene and the best man of the world. Dyomedes slew King Antypus, Escorpus, Prothoenor, and Obtyneus {etc}. Thus ends this book, which I have translated after my author as near as God has given me ability. To whom be given praise and thanks. And because in the writing of the same, my pen is worn, my hand weary and not steady, my eyes dimmed from excessive looking at the white paper, and my courage not so eager and ready to labor as it has been, and because age creeps on me daily and weakens all the body, and also because I have promised various gentlemen and friends to address this said book to them as quickly as I might, therefore I have practiced and learned at great expense and dispensed to order this said book in print, as you see here, not written with pen and ink as other books are, so that every man may have them at once. For all the books of this story named the recule of the history of Troy were begun on one day and finished on one day. This book I have presented to my said revered lady, as is said before. And she has graciously accepted it and generously rewarded me. Therefore I beseech almighty God to reward her. Everlasting bliss after this life. Praying her, he said grace and all who shall read this book not to despise the simple and rude work. Neither to reply against the sayings of the masters touched upon in this book, for diverse men have made diverse books. These, in all points, do not agree with Dares and Homer, for Dares and Homer, as the Greeks say and write, favorably for the Greeks and give them more worship than to the Trojans. And Dares writes otherwise than they do. And also, as for the proper names, it is no wonder that they do not agree, for some one name in these days has diverse equivalents according to the countries that they dwell in. But they all agree in conclusion the general destruction of that noble city of Troy and the death of so many noble princes as kings, dukes, earls, barons, knights, and common people, and the irreparable ruin of that City which never was rebuilt, an example to all. all men during the world how dreadful and jeopardous it is to begin a war and what harms, losses, and death follow. Therefore the apostle says, all that is written is written to our doctrine / whych doctrine for the common weal I beseech God may be taken in such place and time as shall be most necessary in increasing of peace's love and charity, which grant us He that suffered for the same to be crucified on the rood tree. And say we all Amen for charity.\n\nPergama volo. fates given to the Danaans alone.\nSolo captured, deceived alone.\nCausa mali such. The harlot was the official.\nFemina letalis. Woman full of evils.\nIf you have been bathed, if the life following is good all the way.\nIf you will be unknown, you will not be unknown.\nPassa prius paridem. Perish first the one who has given birth.\nEs factura fides. Do not return to the same thing.\nRumor of the old. Will make future events feared.\nCras poterunt fieri. Wickednesses as before.\nQuid euadis in the scene. He who gives up other things to death.\nWhy do you not perish, Conia, perish with the destruction.\nFemina digna mori. A woman worthy of death. Rejoice in former love.\nReddita victori. Delights and Thor's gifts.", "creation_year": 1473, "creation_year_earliest": 1473, "creation_year_latest": 1473, "source_dataset": "EEBO", "source_dataset_detailed": "EEBO_Phase1"}
]