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.XIX. The regions preyen Rome to be a meane to stilico.

In this maner the regions to gider ; talkid eche vnto othir
Praying dame Rome þat for hem al ; she wolde vouchesafe to goo
Which not tarying obeyed her wil ; & spedely her armour toke
The son light smytyng from the hevyns ; by þe clowdis fast she passid
Transveied she was ovir tuscian londe ; and also thappenynys
Eridanus watir was soone ovirstreyned ; with swyftenes of hir flyght
Whan she biforne the prynce appieryd ; þe shadow of shelde gan shyne
Her face as comely as pallas was ; which modir of wisdam is
Her stature not less than myghty martys ; þe hous tremelid at hir lokyng
ffor the high crestys vpon hir hede ; neighed þe self wyndebemys.

.XX. Rome mevith stilico to be consul.

With lovesom querels þan first she spake ; to stilico þat was astoyned
And seid by the right wele I knowe ; þe consuls chaiers arn kepte
But yit I fele not thornamentys ; which thou sholdist hem yive.
What availeth it þat thou hast put ; servauntys from this degree
That thou defendist this grete worshippe ; which first þi self refusyst
Despisest tho placis which with grete charge ; þou hast sheltronnyd to forne
Thou puttist awey þat glorye fro the ; for whos ruyne þou fightest
What is now cause of thi tarying ; what questions askist more
Alle fere is falle þat northward was ; þe south marche is in rest
Maurus is falle Germany yiveth way ; & geane is bounde to pees.
Yf thou be consul I am not lyke ; o litel title to haue
To the comparyd of worthynes ; for truly we suppose
That al such thingis as subiecte be ; thogh thei make hem gay
Of smal pris arn . on which maner ; vnwillyng . kyngis me serve
In that also nature hir self ; hath markyd chauncys to come
With grete merveil and tokenys gode ; we arn put in blame
That thou excusist the . and seyst thus ; the eest peple of þe worlde
That Ruffyne servid gode fortune had ; oo day & with treson
Steyned my worshippe . but what for this ; I knew nevir þis worde trewe.
The commoun Rumour of foltysh people ; nevir of this sclaundir gladyd
In such rebukys no feith is had ; of credens nevir cam letter
The to accuse and in this parte ; thi grettest worshippe groweth
That thou which counceil to al yivest ; art stille & preyst not oonys
The fadris which al thing may doo ; thise monstrys to distroye
Thyn enemyes I sey to putte aside ; thi wordis nevir defile
This blynde sede of grete myschief ; ne nevir my courte rehersyd
The shameful name which not gilteles ; þei wer disworshippid with
ffygh on her syn yf writyng oute ; fro phebus first thressholde.
ffrom the eest I mene where as thei duellyd ; had come vnto myn handys
I sholde haue broste it vpon the see ; dowtyng of her treson
That her foule deedys sholde not haue noyed ; ytalians eerys chaste
The common wodenesse of this people ; is secrete made & cloos.
Thurgh thi godenesse & þurgh thi cure ; which lest not hem bewrey
Thestirlyngis now may be glad ; which cessith to write of the.
Thise vnkouthe slaundrys were nevir herde ; amonge þe gabynys true
But busy thei be her own shenship ; to weve and make be knowe.
Why sholde I ioye a dede exempte ; or pardonnyd either of lawe.
Which nevir I felte ne nevir was lernyd ; þat it trespas myght be.
It hem repentith þat thei mysdede ; but yit we kon not leve it
Oon trespas in hem alle was founde ; & provid wele with axes.

.XXI. The cause why stilico sholde be consul.

Wherfore the rulyng of our lawe ; thou owist to þe to take
That þis olde worship perissh not now ; which haven of worshippe was
This grete damage withoute thyn helpe ; withoute thi comforte stilico
No consul is myghty now to refourme ; or to redresse with peas.
Thou sighe this myschief or than it felle ; and yit differdest tyme
And woldist not rule whan by office ; in worshippe myghtest haue growe
Sith now by al titlis of rule ; in honoure may be had
Socoure now consul to consulis olde ; for vilayned & grevid arn
Which s[o]evir haue be in tyme passyd ; or the shal aftir folowe
Yelde thou thy yere . and the estate take ; as for thise monethis twelve
The succession than shal be sure ; than olde worship defendyd
Al hevynesse shal [be] put a side ; // Stilico mote venger be.
Vnto the highnes of consulers ; whos fynder brutus was
The libertees of al romayns ; in brutis first sprange
By ordenyng of the consulate ; and stilico now therfro
Servage and lowe birthe excludid hath ; vnmete to þat degree

.XXII. Allectives to drawe stilico vnto the consulate.

Stilico answeryd gretter it is ; olde thingis tave kepte
Than new thyng oonys for tave founde ; to whom dame Rome þus seide
Why is thi face so shamefast nowe ; why taryest now tassent
Why flykerith the fyre in thy forhede ; as it was wonte to doo
Thou þat hast venquysshid periles so many ; at þe last ovircomme þi selfe.
Though sure it be þat with no yiftes ; thi spirite nyl be corrupte
Yet gladly thise garnementis mervelyng see ; & take with humble chere.
Which tritonia with her hevenly carde ; first halpe me for to breke.
And aftirward of purpil coloure ; twyes we dyed it ovir
Bounde it vp vpon our rockys ; & with such golde it spunne
As lachesis the worldis hath woven of ; þat golden sholde be to the
I prophesye also of thin Issue ; þat children thou shalt haue
Whan as þe worlde wolde nat suppose ; anoon þou shalt me preve
In this a prophetesse ful trewe ; for destenyes wil make gode
That arn commyng right thus she saide ; & shewid forth in her lappe
Precious yiftes and roobys hevy ; þe which minerva wrought
His halle ful swithe was reysed vp ; with pilours wondir clere
And lucina comfortith labours ; of mary in her childyng
Whos bed was faire in which she restyd ; or than her wombe was lighted
With herebende nimphe dressid vp hir templis ; & aftir labour were pale.
Wasshyng the childe the modris Ioies ; in welle of precious golde
Whos tendir laughyng thurgh thynne stamyne ; & wepyng men myȝte here
The childe gan growe & shewid his fadir ; whos face & his were oon
But his maistresse an olde womman ; to him as hir nevieu
fful wisely yave preceptis of marte ; which to his birthe were mete
This thy son Eutherius by the ; othir manly preceptis had
Whan he growe was and markyd firste ; with purpil floure of youthe
He rulyd and turnyd his hors atte wille ; which bridels of silke enfoomyd
With his darte or with his boowe ; he filled grete hertis to grounde
Of purpil colour þat reised her hornys ; for price araied with golde
Soone venus þan was brouȝte to hous ; with flyght of culverys fele
Where mariage the thridde she ioyned to gider ; with knotte of regaly
Plumyd loves she sett aboute ; vnto this lusty prynce.
Which fyred him selfe by the maydens mowthe ; þat sett him was to love
She this was doughtir vnto themperours high ; & emperours also sustir
Right soon termanchia aftir to stilico ; a fair lady was borne
Which pleyed ful ofte with Eutherius ; and lovelyly vpon him lough
And thus this hous with either keendis ; the diademys askith to haue
Which husbondis childeth to nobil quenys ; & quenys also bryngith forth.

.XXIII. Rome araieth stilico in vesture of the consul

With thise maner yiftes þe goddesse Rome ; þe princys herte moevid
yivyng a ceptre vnto his right hande ; þat of Ivore was white
Tookenys of deeth which loong were feeryd ; in haste she turnyd awey
With divers signes of prosperous lyfe ; by wedris & foulys take
Than she araied his able aarmys ; with armour defensable.
And clothid him in Romulys roobys ; which was hir first patrone
The panys of Italie before his brest ; expressid his nobil birthe
His habergeoun was with gowne wele coverid ; such as gradiuus vsid
What tyme he came from histirlonde ; or scicia as conquerour
And wolde not shew his shelde of stele ; ne harneys þat was bright
In riche roobys with mylke white hors ; he entrith þe citee
Quirinus his bridels governyd him by ; bellona this fadris chare
with riche clothis þat al rede was ; an oke beryng in hande.
yede beforne . and evir hir handis ; vnto þe sterris helde vp
Metus as Iailer sewid aftir þe chare ; and pavor his brother clepid
Boonde þe barbarys handis behynde ; with cheynes þat were not smothe.
Thise persoonys tweyn had lorer boughes . vpon her helmys shene
Whos hors folowid nere formido riȝte bleike ; beryng þe axe of dethe.

.XXIIII. The Joie of Rome in stilico the consul.

Whan Rome þan sighe þat she myȝte Ioie ; in her consul desired
Now she seith let ws breike vp ; þe lukys þe woodis thicke
Of the felde Elises ; where spirites of men be glad
That I compare may þe marveil ; of my right longe desire
Bothe to the charge and grete comforte ; which worthy fabrice had
Thei also that late beweyled ; oure cuntrey with hungrys stroke
Ner haue be perisshid . with mery foote ; now let hem daunce þe medewys
It mote not shame the sad catones ; for our love now pley
Who shal telle these glad tidyngis ; vnto our elder bruto
Or by whom may scipioes children ; here thise present Jeestys
ffor I had loste my loondis longe ; and also ruler lackyd.
But yit at last I was made free ; fro thise twoo damagys
And thurgh oonys helpe received ageyn ; libiam and my consul.

.XXV. Stilico is preyed to come to Rome.

Now thou my ruler thou stilico ; graunte oo thyng yat yit wantith
To that citee yive thy presence ; thi commyng which desireth
Whom thou hast made to reigne ageyn ; aftir bataile and hungir
Oure Iugys benchis mote oonys the take ; where as camillus restyd
Their senatour knyghtis mote wele the knowe ; & venger eke of Rome
Lette the people oonys yit in the Ioie ; to whom by the was yolde
Affrica the large cuntree ; & rodanus first yafe greynes
That massile corne and galis plente ; me myght promote in welth
Now the south moyste . and now þe north ; make soon þe herbis ripe
And large beernys shul be made riche ; how so evir þe wynde wil blowe.
How many thousandys þan shal be seyn ; aboute þe toure flaminea
Oo how fele tymes deceivable rumour ; shal thi lover illude
Suspence evir in his desire ; whan at al ourys he lokith
Aftir thi commyng their lovesom̄ modris ; talkyng the shal abide
With redolent flouris than shal be strowid ; þe weyes & stretis large
Whan thou our consul shalt entir our housis ; & phises thressholdis trede
That art the beaute of Rome now callid ; and fadir of olde senate
Pompeyes scaffaldis for pleyers made ; what myrthis shul make for the.
How ofte sithes the marcial vale ; shal lefte þi name into heven
Aboue both hilles þat aventyne ; & palatyn ar clepid
Shew now thi self a litel while ; & leve thi castels stronge
That thi sonne lawe & the in fere ; the peple may see in roobys.

.XXVI. The worlde was cited tappiere in Rome whan stilico sholde comme in.

While as Rome thus had hir speche ; tydyng with woordy wyngis
Ovir the grete occian fleugh ; commaundyng tappiere
Swich high estatys as somownyd were ; no man was lettid for age
Loong wey withstode not þe western Iryssh ; which ferthest duel of folke.
ffor al alpees & mownteyns high ; yit shippis sailed with wynde
The first love of thi gode life ; passid al hir labourys
And gladly come to worship the ; which venger of worship were.