University of Virginia Library

Hecubaes mishaps.

When that Auroraes dewes were past, and Phœbus did decline,
And purple Titan ready prest with fainting light to shine.
When Cynthia did prease in place to run her compasse round,
And feeblely did shew her face with duskish light on ground.
Then walked I to silent groue my fancie to delight,
Where willingly I meant to bide to passe the pensiue night.
Sweete silence there her sound did yeeld, no noyse did me molest:
All chirping notes were whisht at once, each breathing soule did rest.
Amidst the hollow groue I past to ease my musing minde,
But no redresse of dolefull dumpes I any where could finde:
Untill at last I viewde the skies where lucent lights abound:
And downe againe mine eyes direct vpon the human ground.
Then did I shake from sobbing soule the griping griefe and paine,
That long before had me opprest, but now reuiude againe.
Within the groue a pleasant streame with bubling note did flowe,
Which I by chaunce had soone found out from hollow bankes below.
There musing by the running tide and soundings of the deepe:
The sliding flouds that smoothly passe had husht me soone asleepe.
And as I slept on greenish shore, by help of warbling streames
Strange fearefull fancies frighted me, by dreadfull drowsie dreames.
In slumber sound me thought I spied a wight both fierce and fell:
A thing despisde, in viler sort no creature was in hell.
A woman vext with eager lookes in frantike fierie moode.
With clapping hands and rowling eyes vncertainly she stoode.
She ran about with flaring haire, much like to horses stout,
When sodain fright had pierst their minds, with strouting tayles did strout.
Euen so or worse she roude about with head and shoulders bare:
And oftentimes from senselesse pate her pendant lockes she tare
With bloudie nayles and hands imbrued, her palmes she oft did smite:
And reaching for the heauens, as though she to the Gods had spite.
With irefull cries and fearefull notes the hollow groue did sound:
In yelling fort from gulled bankes the ditties did rebound.
Like mightie bulles that fiercely meetes, and filles with noise the skies.
And for a token of their wrath the dustie grauell flies,
By tearing vp of earth, so she in such like frantike fits
Doeth snatch vp grasse in griping hands, as one beside her wits.
Still stalking on, vntill at last she found me where I were:
Thus fancie fed my dreadfull dreame with grieuous gripes of flare.
But when that she approached neere, and stood me by, at length
Me thought my trembling ioynts did quake, to flie I had no strength.
With starting steps I sought to flie, to shun that fearfull sight:
But all in vaine J oft assayed to saue my selfe by flight.
My fainting feet did often faile by striuing still to start:
No forced pace would ought preuaile, or suffer to depart.
Thus stil me thought amid my dreame (as one that were in maze)
With quaking corps and haire vpright full still I stoode at gaze.
For feare my faltring tongue did stay, I durst her not behold,
Vntill at last with friendly cheare she said, my friend be bold.
I wish to thee no harme at all, wherfore be not dismayde:
But call to minde thy frighted sence, and be thou not afraide.
Ne maruell why though I disguisde, haue furiously been vext:
Jn raging sort so strange to thee for that J am perplext
In minde and soule, to thinke how far fell Fortune hath abusde
Both me and mine in spitefull sort, when hautie Gods refusde
To succour vs in greatest need, she turnde her face and fround,
Who long had smiled, but now gaue help to croude vs to the ground.
Wherfore good friend, quoth she, geue eare and marke what I shall tell.
Lift vp thy minde, be not dismayd, and note my speeches well:
For I must needes declare the cause to ease my pensiue brest
Of haplesse hap that Fate assignde, and then in hope to rest.
With that me thought I banisht feare, and quaking limmes reuiude.
I courage tooke againe afresh, of which I was depriude.
Then boldly thus I said at last, what madnes doeth possesse
Thy vexed soule? Be sure if that thy paine J may redresse,
To finde some ease of this thy griefe or els I were vnkind:
Therefore be short, to ease thy smart, and let me know thy mind
Jt pities me to see the plight of thy distressed state,
And makes me shrinke at all to gesse on this thy heauy fate:
For that no fiend that comes from hell could any more lament
Their peruerse lot for wickednes and sinnes already spent,
Than thou hast here before my face with bounsing blowes and cries,
Whereat the caues reuerberate, and Echo roles in skies.
But now dispatch, shew me thy mind, if so to ease thy griefe
Thou thinke it best: I am content that way to geue reliefe.
Then she began to shew her minde, and tell her griefe forepast
With grieuous grones in wofull wise, these words she spake at last.
If euer any wofull wight had cause to rue her fate,
And pleade with teares her heauie hap for change of her estate:
My selfe haue iust cause to bewayle my state which I thought sure.
But woe is me vnhappy wretch, what ioy doeth aye endure?
On Fortune fell J doe complaine, the cause of my mishap,
That thus hath dealt with me alas, when first within her lap
She lulld full sweet, and vsde right well, and then ere that I wist
Did tumble downe from top of throne, thus Judas like she kist.
She lifted me so high aboue my mates and fellowes all,
For that more grieuous when I fell she meant to make my fall.
But would from beggars broode at first my chance had beene so good
To spring, and that I had beene borne and bred of meanest blood,
Then would the world not so haue musde to see my sodaine chance
To fall so low, whom Fortune earst so highly did aduance.
Yet geue me leaue to ease my minde although J wish in vaine:
For now tis past by wishing I doe ease my pining paine.
The trueth is thus, I did descend from Cysseus that king
A mightie Prince of Thrace wel knowen, whose praise each where did ring.
And from his house! higher stept to highest place of state:
For Pryamus the king of Troy did take me for his mate.
Who was the stately Emperour of Asia, and there
Amongst the hautie Phrygians the diademe did weare.
Then Queene was I of flaunting Troy. The Troyans all reioyce
That Priamus their Lord and king had made of me his choice.
There many noble sonnes had I, the world doeth witnes beare:
No Nation vnder heauen that day with me durst once compare
In valure with so many sonnes by one brought foorth to sight:
Each people on the earth as yet will yeeld to them their right;
That for so many bretheren, as J brought foorth (poore Queene)
I say againe that neuer since by any hath beene seene.
And that I meane to prophesie, wherefore I dare be bold
To say the like will neuer be while heauen and earth dooth hold.
But for because I would not wish thou shouldst my name mistake:
Whom Greekes and Romanes long agoe in dolefull verse did make
The world to know, and now my selfe shall verefie the same:
Who called me olde Hecuba, so truely was my name,
A wretched wight too olde indeede, for that I liude so long,
To scape the fire that burned Troy, to suffer further wrong:
O would to God J then had died, when Pryamus my mate
By Pyrrhus sword receiude the wound, but now I wish too late,
Fell destinie denide me that and sparde me for the nonce,
To plague me with a thousand woes, ten thousand all at once.
But first to tell my fatall hap, and orderly proceede
To shew, howe that the angry gods against me had decreede
And vowed, I thinke, by one consent to worke me double woe,
Or else I neuer so had died to please my spitefull foe,
As after thou shalt knowe: but first J wish to ease my minde,
In shewing how that destinie and haplesse fate assignde
To me poore wretch such mischiefe vile, as none did euer taste.
Before nor since, though long agoe my miseries were past:
For first within my body I, to my great paine, did beare
And nourish vp the fruit which was the cause of all my care,
With childe I was, but then vnknowne what fruit I foorth should bring
To ioy my selfe, or else to please olde Pryam Troyan king
My louing mate, who vsde me well, wherefore J wisht to please
His quiet minde, by my good will, that we might liue at ease:
But see how froward fortune frownd, a dreame did me molest,
And fearefull fright did trouble me when I was layd to rest,
Me thought I was deliuered of such a fearefull sight,
For all was fire which J brought forth, and flamde as fire bright,
With furie great the fire waxt, with flames the aire did streame:
Thus doubtfull dumpe, by fright did pierse my breast in dreadfull dreame.
When that J wakde I tolde the king, how Morpheus had delt
With me in sleepe, and further how what agonie J felt,
Who presently to oracle would haue no nay, but sent
To know what by this fierie flame and dreadfull dreame was ment,
The dreame resolude, the Oracle, for answere did returne,
That I a sonne should beare, and he should cause strong Troy to burne
With fire bright, and for his cause olde Pryamus his sire,
And I his mother should behold our towne to burne with fire,
And all our people slaine downe right in fighting for his sake
A mightie foe for his abuse should sharpe reuengement take.
Which to preuent the father sought, to slay his harmelesse boy,
For that he thought some mischiefe might by his meanes hap to Troy,
And for because the Oracle on him vnborne, did giue
Such sentence which did fright his sire, wherefore he might not liue,
That when his sonne was borne, foorthwith the father did betake
The childe vnto a trusty friend, that he away might make
The boy which well I loude, but yet such pity did remaine
Within my breast, that I reserude my sonne which should be slaine,
And closly spake vnto the man, that he my childe shoulde spare,
And tell the king, at his returne, that cruell beasts did teare
The tender limmes of his yong sonne: wherefore he now was free
From such suspect as erst before the Oracle did see.
The aged King was then content, and thought all things were well,
He feared not the prophesie, which these things first did tell:
Thus did J breede and foster vp euen him that did destroy
Both parents, friends and countrey kinde, and sought our great annoy,
The lad did liue with heard in field, and shortly vp was growen,
So that he for King Pryams sonne by secret signes was knowen,
Then was the youth callde home againe, and Pryam was content
To take him for his sonne, and did his former acte repent.
But when sir Paris came to Court, for so we callde his name,
The doting boy began to loue and follow Uenus game,
Enquiring oft when fame would bring newes of a peerelesse peece
And passing dame, which that ere long had tidings thus from Greece,
That there the flower of all the world sir Menelaus helde,
The like to her on all the earth no Nation then could yelde:
For whom vnknowne my sonne did dote, in such exceeding sort,
That he to Greece by sea would passe, to see if that report
Had blazde a truth: but first before to Grecian soile he went,
He craude of me and Priamus, to yeelde him our consent:
Then shippes were built on seas to saile, king Pryam willd it so,
And mates for him were picked out, and hence to Greece they go,
At Lacedemon he at length, a place of Greece so calld
Ariude, and in their safest rodes, his wearie shippes in halld
By Menelaus his consent, who foorthwith did inuite
The Troyans all vnto his court, suspecting no such spite
As after did betide, for that sir Paris did conuay
Faire Helen thence, his louing wife, and so without delay
Did hoise vp saile, and speedie windes did send him soone to Troy,
Where many of his friends did wait to welcome his newe ioy.
But Helen thus conuaide from Greece, the angry Greekes waxe mad,
To see how Paris plaid his prankes, when Menelaus had
Receiued his guest in frankest sort, and did him friendly vse,
Whose courtesie to recompence, the letcher did abuse
His honest host by spitefull rape, in stealing of his wife,
Which hatefull cause did soone procure sharpe warre and deadly strife:
Yet first the Greekes, I must confesse, like honest minded men
Did send to Troy, to haue againe faire Helena which then
Was brought to Troy, and their demaund, to end the bloody iarre,
Which likely were to followe fast, and turne to deadly warre.
But Priam he, with his fierce sonnes their lawfull sute denide,
For which the Greekes, to take reuenge to Pryams Kingdomes hied:
From Greece they saile to Phrygia land, which haughty Pryam held,
And there arriude in dreadfull sort well armed with speare and sheld:
The warre began great slaughter was, for mightie Mars did raigne:
Full fierce they fought for ten yeares space, yet neither party gaine,
Such losse there was on either side in lamentable sort,
That Phrygia soile did flowe with blood, the world can giue report.
When Phrygia thus was ouer-run by Grecians ouer stout,
Unto the Troyan walls they marchde and compast it about,
Where Pryam held his stately court, not passing of their spight,
Nor fearing future hap at all, but still maintained fight,
Where from the top of stately walls we dayly might beholde
Right neere our sight the slaughters great of Troyan youth full bolde,
And Greekes likewise on euery side the Troyans fierce did daunt,
They lay on heapes wherefore as yet they iustly could not vaunt
Nor brag, for that their mighty peeres in bloodie broile were slaine,
Wherefore to end the warre begun to sue did not disdaine
To haue saire Helen backe againe, for whom this warre begunne,
And eke to boote they offer made yong Polidore my sonne,
Whom Polymnestor King of Thrace had to the Greeks betrayde,
When Pryam first had placed him there, in hope of better ayde:
For when we knew the Greekes did minde to make sharpe warre with Troy,
To Polymnestor King of Thrace, we sent our yongest boy,
A mighty masse, and treasure great with this our sonne we sent,
In hope to keepe him free from warre, and from the Greekes intent:
But then the Thracian King betrayde (O vile disloyall wretch)
The harmelesse lad vnto the Greekes, this was the traitours fetch,
To holde the coyne which then he had, and so to yeelde the childe
Vnto the Greekes for lucres sake, lo thus we were beguilde,
Which boy the Grecians brought to Troy, and made request againe,
That Helen Menelaus wife in Troy might not remaine
But be restorde, then Polidore from their hands should be free,
And we our sonne might haue againe, and warre should ended bee:
But if in case that we denied, and Helen did detaine,
Then Polidore for brothers fault should presently be slaine.
Olde Pryamus would not consent that Helen backe should goe,
But helde perforce the wanton wench in spite of proudest foe,
And willd them for to doo their worst, for Helen meant to bide,
Wherefore he would not yeeld her vp what euer might be tide.
It well was knowne vnto the Greekes, that Pryam bade her chuse
To stay in Troy, or goe to Greece, which she did flat refuse,
And for because she willing was with Paris to be still,
He would by no meanes send her backe against her owne good will.
Then sent he word to Grecian campe, if that they had decreed
His sonne should die, his other sonnes should make them rue the deede,
And that the fieldes of Troy should flowe with gorie blood full fast,
Untill the Grecians did repent their enterprised hast.
But now alas began my woe, my sorrowe did increase,
For neuer day from this time foorth mine eies from teares did cease,
O Polidore my yongest boy, sweete Polidore my sonne
From Troyan walles J did behold how fast the Grecians run
To doe thee wrong, my harmelesse childe, and mightie stones did bring
Thicke thronging fast with furie great, at Polidore they fling,
Who sure was tyed at fastned stake, which J from Troyan wall
Might well beholde how bouncing blowes did make my childe to sprall,
Not ceasing till my sonne were slaine, nor then, but still did smight
The brused bones of my sweet boy within his mothers sight:
O hellish plague, O torture vile, me thinke I see it still,
How Grecians raging mad did strike, the harmelesse soule to kill,
With wringing hands I looked on, yet loath to see him die,
I turnd my backe, and strait againe J coulde not chuse but prie
For this my sonne, who bleeding lay so bobde with waightie stones,
The flesh with blowes was mangled so, eche man might see the bones,
Yet would mine eies haue passage still to this his carkasse dead,
Till that my liuing sonnes from top of Troyan wals had lead
Their mother downe, whose folding feete her body could not stay:
Which they perceiued, so that from thence me wretch they did conuay.
To Grecian campe a messenger we did commaund to trudge,
To craue the body of my sonne, which thing they did not grudge,
But sent the martyrde corps to Troy, as custome did require,
They said not nay but graunted straight when Priam did desire.
And also did a present send to breede me further woe:
The bloudy stones that kild my sonne on me they did bestowe.
VVhose bloud and braines in vgly sort about the stones was seen:
A homely present to be sent to me most wretched Queen.
Then shrinde we vp with weeping teares, our sonne so vilely slaine,
And put the stones in tombe with him, for euer to remaine.
His brothers mad with this mischaunce, for battell strong prouide:
And to reuenge their brother slaine to Grecian Campes they hide.
VVhere from the walles we had in view such cruell sturdy fight,
That mightie men to death were sent, thus battell raignd downright.
The Greekes by thousands fell to ground, their people goe to wracke:
And that ere long the Troyans stout by Greekes are beaten backe.
Thus Fortune playes in double sort, sometime with vs to stand,
And then to flie to thother part, and geue the vpper hand.
But while that Hector liued in Troy, king Priams eldest sonne,
The proudest Peere that came from Greece his mightie hand would shun,
And fly the sield before him fast, they feared so his name:
So fierce he fought amongst their men, each Greeke dooth know the same.
At last my lot was so extreame to see him likewise die:
In turret top from lofty towne his death I did espie.
For when as he had slaine that day in mighty battell strong,
Of kingly Peeres the chiefe of all that oft had doone vs wrong.
And there amongst the rest he had a noble Grecian slaine,
VVhose armour all was beaten golde, which pray he went to gaine:
And drew him vp vpon his steede, and rode foorth of the throng,
And for his better ease his shield vpon his back he flong.
VVhile he did spoyle him of his weedes, carelesse of any wight,
His naked breast vnarmed then Achilles had in sight
How he was busie, and therefore from couert where he lay
By stealing steppes behinde his backe he tooke the ready way,
And suddenly with fatall speare ere that he could aduert,
He vnawares with furie great thrust Hector to the heart.
Thus died he thorowe auarice, whom thousands could not kill,
Untill his wilfull foolishnesse himselfe did fondly spill.
My selfe, I say, that time did see from top of lofty towers,
The Troyan fieldes besprinckled with dew of bloudy showers,
That Hectors launce had letten out, but now his latest fate
I soone had spide, and did lament to see the wofull state
Of this king Priams eldest sonne, and eke my chiefest ioy:
For well I wist that while he liude no harme could hap to Troy.
But now Achilles ouercrowed him whom he fearde before:
Wherefore he stabde him thorowly that he might liue no more.
I saw, I saw how Hector lay as dead as any stone:
And yet the tyrant would not leaue but mighty blowes layd on.
For if my sonne had beene aliue and armed for to fight:
Achilles durst not come in place, nor once be seene in sight.
But when by chance my naked sonne Achilles launce had payde,
The eager Greeke to lay on lode was nothing then afraide.
When noble Hector thus was dead, yea dead, and dead againe,
Achilles then to spoyle my sonne began to take some paine.
J sawe how that he handled him, I could not looke beside:
And if J did, yet straight againe my sight that way would glide.
The tyrant vile, the bedlam beast his carkas would not spare,
Who was a man, a valiant man, his noble mind was rare.
Another of king Priams sonnes that day was caught in fight,
Whose hands chopt off the Greeks sent home to worke vs further spite.
And wilde him thus to say in Troy, and tell his aged sire
That Hector now by Grecian launce was payd his earned hire.
And that Achilles had no doubt but Paris so to slay,
VVho was the cause of all that warre, and bred that bloudy day.
Thus came my sonne with losse of hands before his mothers face,
To tell how Greekes had dealt with him, a lamentable case.
And how that Hector now was dead, whom Troyans soon should misse:
VVhich was no newes for that before mine eyes had seene all this.
And while my boy besmearde with bloud his heauie hap did waile,
A seruant came and shewde vs how Achilles vile did hale
Dead Hector round about the walles in all the Troyans sight:
VVhich was because his frends should see, as easily they might
His naked corps in mire drawne at horses taile fast tide:
And that the doer of the same before did vaunting ride.
Then came I to the wall to see slaine Hector so misusde:
From whence I cride for that I knew the Greekes had him abusd
VVho was king Priams eldest sonne wherfore against all law
In cruell sort to spite his friends, his carkasse dead to draw.
VVith that I strainde my voice and said, Achilles, let me haue
My sonne whom thou hast slayn, that I may send him to his graue.
But he for all my mournfull cries, full fierce without remorce:
Did hale my naked sonne about the Troyan walles perforce.
VVhich when his aged sire beheld, from top of lofty wall
For griefe conceiude did yeald himselfe in desperat wise to fall
Down headlong from the turrets height, if friends had him not stayd:
And throngd about to succour him who then had need of ayd.
But when at last he did perceiue Achilles cruell hart,
VVith beckning hand he spake aloud, Be sure for this hard part,
Jf that J liue, thou shalt repent, and Gods the same will graunt
Thy wicked act: and that ere long, vile wretch, thou shalt not vaunt
Of this despitefull fact, wherfore I wish thee to restore
My slaughtered sonne, as I haue done thy slaughtered Greeks before.
Yet would not fierce Achilles cease from doing Hector wrong:
For round about the Troyan walls he halde our sonne along.
And thus did still for four days space euen in his parents sight
To work our wo, for well he wist he could not Hector spight
VVho then was dead, whose gaping iawes the durt and grauell fild.
VVhose whighish skin the muddy mire with filthy spots had hild.
His beard besmeard with stinking filth, to eyes and face did clung
Such lothsome stuff as filthy Greeks with durty fists had flung.
VVas this a sight for parents eye to vew their louing child
In such a case as he was then amongst his foes so wild?
O haples hap, O Fortune vile, what woman could abide
Such pangs of wo from sobbing soule as did to me betide?
VVe did not cease to sue for grace at proud Achilles feet
In yealding wise, to haue our sonne, although it were not meet
A mighty king should stoup so low vnto so meane a state,
For that vnto the Troyan king Achilles was no mate.
But yet for all king Priams sute, when he did what he might,
The tyrant would not yeald as yet our sonne should haue his right
Of funerall, nor that his bones should rest in silent graue:
VVhen we had made such humble sute his mangled corps to haue.
Vnburied thus he kept him still for twelue days space at least:
VVhose flesh was torne, and then did will the dogs should haue the rest.
VVhich when I heard, a hell of woes did plague me then aliue.
O death (quoth I) my loathed life from miseries depriue,
Let not me liue to call to mind this Fortunes froward spite,
Nor see the day wherin againe such heauie hap may light.
Yet still in hope to haue his corps, Polixena I sent
My daughter faire, to Grecian campe and to Achilles tent.
Who there on knees with wringing hands before Achilles face
With brinish teares made humble suite, to find as then such grace,
As that he would as then restore the corps of this her brother slaine.
And for which cause to pleasure him she euer would remaine
His seruant base, or bondslaue vile, to satisfie his mind.
For which, if that it pleasd him well, she then would stay behind
To be a faithfull seruant true to him at all assayes:
And pray the Gods to prosper him, and send him happie dayes.
With that Achilles stepped foorth, and gaue to her his hand:
In courteous wise he greeted her, and wilde her vp to stand
Before his face, and waile no more, and then as she thought best
He was content it should be so, and graunted her request.
This did my daughter bring to passe such was her peereles hewe
That she a second Helen was within Achilles vewe.
When Priamus and Hectors wife before had tried in vaine,
And I myselfe with weeping teares the like could not obtaine.
Her beautie so did qualifie the tyrants wrathfull ire,
That Hectors corps was brought by her home to her aged sire.
Then did J mourne afresh, to see there laide before my face
The ougly shape of my sweet sonne in such a wofull case
That Hectors face I could not know although I knew his name.
For Hecuba his mother J before had geuen the same,
Whose corps once washt, full well I knew the fauour of my child.
But pale aspect did alter much, that neare J was begilde.
Twelue dayes at least my sonne had lain abroad in open ayre:
VVhat time till now to haue againe we euer did despaire.
The funerals and other rites in order allwell done:
VVe did prouide the mony, which redeemed this our sonne.
For first before my daughter had the thing she did desire,
Achilles he a certain summe of mony did require.
VVhich thing before he had refusde, though massie summes were sent:
But for her sake and such a summe he seemed well content.
The money now without delay we sent away in hast:
And willingly did pay the same for daughters promise past.
O wretch most vile, O tyrant bad, that thus with Hector delt:
VVhat stonied heart in brawned breast would this not make to melt?
The cause of this his furie great, and of such cruell hate
Was by Patroclus haplesse death, who was his louing mate,
Whom Hector slewe in open fight, with many a Greeke that day,
And spoylde him of his armor bright, that naked there he lay,
Which armor was the chiefest canse that brought him to his end,
The angry gods displeasde with vs such haplesse hap did send.
All things thus done, my other sonnes reuenge did vowe to take,
On vile Achylles for this deede, and for slaine Hectors sake,
That presently vpon the Greekes with mightie force they went,
And thousands on ech part that day to dreadfull death were sent.
Thus dayly they did still contend by force of cruell warre,
And Princes fell on eyther side, that thither came from farre:
The Greekes did waxe, the Troyans grew as desperat men in fielde,
To daunt eche others haughty minde, and make eche other yeelde:
At last againe as fortune woulde Achylles fierce did slay
My other sonne, sir Troylus, who was our chiefest stay.
A valiant youth the Greekes can tell, although he thus did die,
For that before the proudest Greekes he forced had to flie.
Jn turrets tall from toppe of towne, my hap was still so bad,
To see my louing sonne to die, a wofull sight most sad
For mothers eie still to beholde her louing children so
To end their dayes, and be abusde by such a spitefull fo,
From loftie walls I then beheld sir Troylus my sonne,
To course the Greekes on euery side, and made them fast to run,
Untill that fierce Achylles came, who sure I thinke was borne
To breede my woe, and that the gods against me wretch had sworne
To plague with hellish torments vile, the plagues of furthest hell
Should hap to me, and greater paines than any tongue can tell,
For that what time soeuer I on walls did see the fight
Some childe of mine was sure to die, within his mothers sight.
When nowe to turrets top I climde with many Ladies more,
Whereto I did not once ascend, since Hector dide before:
But then too soone such was my chaunce, I thinke the gods decreede,
That while I did behold the fight no better they should speede.
Achylles braue, on horse did mount, whom Troylus had spide
To brag amongst the Greekes, his mates, well mande on euery side:
But when my sonne had found his foe, and thought on Hectors foile,
Like mighty Mars he layd on lode, and made that day great spoile:
He thrust amongst the thicest throng Achylles out to finde,
That he might knowe his brothers death, as yet he had in mind.
With couched launce and courage good, my sonne did run amaine
In hope to haue by manly force his cruell foe there slaine,
He mist the marke, but yet he strake Achylles from his steede,
And if the Greekes had not giuen ayde, he then had done the deede:
And yet for all the Greekes could do, he gaue his foe a wound
Thorowe plated thigh, he thrust his launce a handful in the ground.
Achylles horsde by helpe of Greekes, and mounted vp anew,
And then with troupe of armed Knights my sonne he did pursue:
The wounded Greeke that folowed fast, sir Troylus had spide,
Who turnd his horse, and willd his mates his fury to abide,
With monstrous force, the Greekes did fight, the Troyans did not flie
On either side to lay it on, the people fiercely cry:
At last the Greekes had giuen the horse that then my sonne did beare
A mortall wound, that paind him so, the iade did fiercely fare,
In plunging sort, the horse did play with mighty gyrds, at last
From setled seate my haplesse sonne the winsing iade had cast:
In falling downe (ah heauy chance) his foote the stirrop helde,
The wounded horse so scard before, ran raging in the field,
And dragd my childe before my face vpon the bloody ground,
For blood did flow that dayful fresh from many a mortal wound.
Achylles hauing spide my sonne in such a woful case,
With piercing speare to him halfe dead, he hied him then apace,
Through backe and side his launce he sent, and cride, J now am quit
With this my wound receiude before, and therewithal did hit
The staggring horse that downe he fel, and there together lay
Both man and horse: thus fortune vile her froward pranks did play.
Sir Troylus by chance thus slaine, the Greekes from armour stript,
Whose bowels hung about his feete, for they his body ript,
And naked on a gibe they hang for Troyans there to see
Their champion stout whom earst before had made the Greekes to flee.
Olde Pryamus and I beheld our louing sonne so kinde
In vgly sort to hang on high starke naked in the winde,
Whose corps did waue in swinging-sort which way each wind did blowe:
And as he hung, the angry Greekes at him great stones did throwe,
Their speares did passe through senselesse corps, before him slaine they vaunt,
So fierce the fooles his carkasse dead with bitter words did taunt:
Hang here (quoth they) thou wicked wretch, and rue thy brothers deede,
If he by Grecian fist be caught, no better shall he speede,
For causing of this bloody warre that many thousands rue
Their haplesse chance, but he himselfe we trust shall haue his due,
And that ere long, wherefore till then feele thou his earned smart:
We Greekes do hope that Paris proude shal rue his wilful part.
These words we heard, this sight we see, the Greekes like mad men rage,
They threaten stil for Paris deede, sharp war with vs to wage.
A sight ful strange, yet not so rare for fortune did present
More harder haps to me than this, to plague me she was bent.
A messenger we sent to craue the carkasse of our childe,
Whose bones were broke and skin from flesh, with blows the Greeks had hilde
Achylles straight, did send my sonne which something pleasde my minde,
I did not thinke such curtesie at his handes then to finde.
But with my sonne to comfort me, these louing words did send
My friend (quoth hee) tel Hecuba, that oft I do intend,
Such gifts on her for to bestow to breed her further ioy:
Til such time serue, wish her to take of me this mangled boy.
Thus Troylus was brought to Troy, a heauie sight God knows,
His body foule disfigured with many bloody blows:
They layde him downe before my face that mothers eies might see
Her sonne whom fierce Achylles vsde with such extremitie,
His martyrde corps I did intoombe, though part were left behinde
Which Grecian iades did tread to dirt, yet al that I could finde,
To graue was sent: the funerals and al things else wel done,
The Troyans al in woful wise do much lament my sonne,
That al the towne with houlings sound ech one did waile his fil:
Him dead, I know it was in vaine, but that did shew good will.
Now did the Greekes afresh begin the Troyans to suppresse,
And they as fierce did fight it out, in hope to haue redresse
Of former wrongs, but al in vaine, for Hector now was gone,
And Troylus my other sonne, wherefore there was not one
Aliue in Troy, that durst presume Achylles once to meete,
VVho thus had slaine my noble sonnes, and crouded vnder feete,
The brauest peere of Troy that durst incounter with his force,
VVith Grecian launce he threw to ground, thus had he no remorce,
But still did striue by martial force to beat the Troyans downe,
And egerly maintained fight in hope to sacke our towne,
My sonnes thus slaine the warre increast, and bloody sight did growe,
No Troyan durst within my sight incounter this my foe,
So that before our walls he marchde with glistring speare and shield
Like mightie Mars, he oft did dare the Troyans to the field,
Which made me woe to see him raigne that thus with me had delt,
Whose cruell hand (to our great losse) the haplesse Troyans felt:
A counsell then of matrons wise I presently did call,
How to reuenge my slaughtred sonnes, to counsell straight we fall,
That fierce Achylles might not vaunt of this his cruel deede:
Together then we layde our heades, in such a time of neede,
We thus conclude, that best it were, Achylles to insnare
With some fine peece of Venus Court, whose beauty shoulde be rare:
And forbecause the Greeke wel knowne, to loue a daintie peece,
Which I had spide, for that before he sayled home to Greece
When Agamemnon tooke away sweete Briseis his delight,
No longer then, he would abide, nor for the Greekes did fight:
Till Briseis was againe restorde, which thing J wel did note,
And was right glad that beautie faire could make my foe to dote.
And forbecause Polixena his sight did wel content,
When she to fetch her brothers corps, to Grecian campe was sent,
So that at first he fraunted her, when we before had nay,
And whatsoeuer she did craue was done without delay.
Which wel I wist, wherefore foorthwith my daughter I bedect
With gorgeous geare in hope to bring my purpose to effect,
And presently to Grecian campes a messenger I send
Unto Achylles tent to shew what then J did intend:
Which messenger J did commaund his arrand thus to tell
That Hecuba the Queene of Troy, Achylles greeted well:
And further, that he should declare, Achylles should inioy
My daughter faire Polixena the peerelesse flower of Troy,
No other wight J do desire, for that mine eies behelde
The noble valour of the man so tride in Troyan field.
The Greeke hath often made me glad to see his courage bolde,
For from the highest walls of Troy I gazing did beholde,
To view Achylles that braue Greeke, so lyon-like to vaunt
Before the towne, and with his force the proudest foe to daunt:
And that although my sonnes were slaine in warre by lucklesse chaunce,
Yet were I glad their hap were such, as that vpon his launce
To end their liues, that no reproch might happen to them dead,
And that Achylles right wel knew they died before they fled,
And for their death J nothing grieue, for that my sonnes were slaine
By such a noble Grecian peere, whose like doth not remaine
In all the world such worthy fame the peerelesse Greeke hath woon:
Say thus, quoth she, I shall not rest till that he be my sonne.
My daughter for the courtesie that she with him did find
Cannot forget the benefit, but still doeth beare in mind
The friendly vsage of the Greeke, at whose hands she hath found
Such sweet reliefe, that euer since to this day she is bound
To yeald to him her chiefest friend, and willing to fulfill
His mind in all respects, and be obedient to his will.
And that because Achilles shall not think my words as vaine,
VVish him foorthwith to proue my mind, and find if J doe faine.
Appoint some place (wish him doe so) and there my daughter she
And J my selfe his louing friend will then attendant be.
Achilles knowes that oft I doe to Hectors tombe repare,
Apollos temple holds his bones, in which I haue a care
To doe him rights as custome is (and yet the church did stand
Jn greenish field without the towne, not far from Grecian band)
In which if that Achilles will Polixena shall stay,
And J my selfe will come with her to celebrate that day.
Thus to the Grecian camps J sent my messenger in hast:
VVho soone vnto Achilles tent in secrete manner past,
And told him all that I had said: who presently with ioy
Besturd his slumps, and was right glad my daughter was not coy.
For that when first he made his suite, and did my daughter craue,
The wench was coy, and thus replide: No Grecian she would haue.
But now reuiude from former woe, the man with ioy halfe mad
Did send me thanks, and ten times thanks, that thus had made him glad.
J will quoth he be there indeede, to offer with my frends
For Hector slaine, whose death I rue, yet vvill I make amends
VVith some oblation to his ghost, right in his mothers view:
That she may say, Achilles is become a frendfull true
To vs and to the Troyans all, by souldiers faith J sweare,
It shall be so vvhile life doeth last, this mind I still vvill beare.
And then foorthwith preparde himselfe to offer to my sonne:
VVhom he before had slaine, but novv did vvish the deede vndone.
Meane vvhile vvhen that J knevv his mind, and hauing place so fit
I did inuent in secrete sort to cry the Grecian quit.
For slaying of my sonnes, and for a thousand Troyans slaine,
VVhich vvere my frends, for vvhose sake novv such frendship I did faine.
Then presently I cald my sonne, vvhom Fortune yet had sparde:
And made him priuy of my mind, how that I had preparde
To worke my foe a spitefull part when least he did suspect:
And sure I was no liuing wight as yet could it detect.
And thus I said, my louing sonne, euen as thou art my child,
And hast a care to wish me well that am thy mother mild,
And as thou knowest J tendred thee when Priam sentence gaue
Thou shouldst be slaine, yet I as then sought meanes thy life to saue.
Wherfore good Paris haue a care to ease thy mothers griefe:
And that J pine in paine not long before I find reliefe.
Which soon may be by thy good help, wherfore lay to thy hand:
And shrinke not now in time of need, but to thy mother stand.
Thou knowest my sonne (quoth J) how that thy brethren both are gone
Whom well I loude, and now in Troy aliue there is not one
That dares so valiantly in field against our foe to fight.
But trembling we (thou knowest it well) doe feare Achilles might.
Euen now the time is come that we may banish feare away:
For that Achilles hath set down a certaine meeting day,
To meet thy sister and my selfe, with others of my traine:
What time the wretch doeth make account my daughter for to gaine.
Apollos temple is the place where Hectors bones doo rest:
VVhich stands in field vvithout our rovvne, a place mistrusted least.
In vvhich Achilles mindes to be, and vovves if that he liue
To keep the time, expecting then my daughter I should giue:
So likevvise I haue promised, vvherfore my sonne geue ayd:
Let not the terror of the Greek make Paris heart afrayd.
But hie thee to the place, and there in secrete sort goe hide
Thy selfe before Achilles come so that thou be not spide.
With vveapon good prouide thy selfe against so fierce a foe,
And vvhen thou spiest conuenient time then strike the fatall blovv,
That shall procure the Troyans ease, and pleasure to thy frends,
And pay the debt that Hector ovves to make the Greek amends.
My sonne as vvilling as my selfe to vvork Achilles spight:
Did soon consent to my request, and thether stole by night,
And closely by his brothers tombe himselfe he did conuay:
And there vntill Achilles came in secrete sort he lay.
Polixena my daughter faire in gorgious vvise I clad:
For that J knew her pleasant hue would make Achilles glad.
According to appointed time we passe the Troyan gates
With certaine of the Troyan dames, we had no other mates.
And to the temple straight we hide, where we Achilles met,
According to the place and time which he before had set.
Then did the Greek vs Troyans greete, he faind a sober cheere,
And said he grieud at Hectors death that was so braue a Peere.
And further that he knew his death was to his mother paine,
And to his sister whom he loude, wherfore (quoth he) againe,
I am content to make amends for that which J haue done.
And that in stead of Hector slaine J mind to be thy sonne.
And for assurance of the thing, by Ioue he did protest,
That after this (by his good will) the town of Troy should rest
From further war, and therwithall his loue he did embrace,
And fixt his eyes in doting sort vpon my daughters face,
Not fearing any future hap, nor doubting any ill:
For that in all respects we did according to his will.
Which Paris spide, behind the tombe, when hand in hand we went.
His sword prepard with mighty force, through back and side he sent.
That down Achilles falles right soon all groueling on the ground:
From gored sides the bloud did flow foorth of his mortall wound.
There lay the wretch that earst we feard, now breathing out his last
Whom Paris wild to eager curres should presently be cast.
For vsing of his brethren so in such despitefull wise:
Their bodies dead he did abuse before their mothers eyes.
Wherto my sonne sir Helenus by no meanes then would yeeld
How that the body of the Greek should lie in open field,
Where beasts and foules might feed their fill: but craude the Greeks might haue:
The body of their slaughtered friend to lay in resting graue.
Which thing was done, though vndeserud on vile Achilles part,
That euer sought by spitefull meanes to slay my wofull hart.
Then home we came with this reuenge more mery than before:
For well we wist Achilles fierce should neuer hurt vs more.
Now Fortune faund on me awhile, awhile it was indeed:
For that the angry Gods against me wretch had still decreed.
Achilles dead, the Greekes afresh fierce war did vndertake:
And vowed reuenge on all my frends for slaine Achilles sake.
And on my daughter chiefe of all for working them such spight:
VVith one consent on either part they faithfull promise plight.
If that in case our towne they take, wherof before they boast
My daughter they will sacrifice to dead Achilles ghost.
But hauing slaine so fierce a foe the Troyans all were glad.
And craued the field against the Greekes, who now remayned sad
For losing of so braue a Peere, who was their chiefest ayd,
Wherfore to fight with vs we thought the Grecians were afrayd.
Yet were we all deceiude for that more fiercer than before
The Grecians fought, that down there falles on either side great store.
Their rage was great for to reuenge the death of this their Peere:
And fiercely fought in desperate sort, as men without all feare.
At last I climde to wonted place where often I had been:
Yet neuer there but some mishap by me poore wretch was seen,
From whence I viewd the bloudy broyle which grieude me to behold
How that the Greeks and Troyans stout in bloud together rolde,
At last J spied where Paris was (my sonne) who then did chase
A Grecian Peere, Sir Aiax stout, who fled before his face.
Not Aiax Telamon I meane, but Oelius Aiax he
Whom Paris chas'd in open field that all the Greekes might see.
At last the Greek receiud a wound though he full swiftly flew:
For that my sonne the flying chase did eagerly pursue.
A greeuous wound it was indeede, for Aiax feeling paine
By flight could not preuaile, wherfore perforce he turnde againe,
And did encounter with my sonne who first had made him smart:
And with his sword (O haples hap) strake Paris to the hart.
There died my sonne before my face, which Helen well doeth know
Who stood with me when that her mate receiude that fatall blow.
The Greek like bedlem beast layd on, for dolor of his wound,
And stabd my sonne through back and side, starke dead vpon the ground.
Whose corps when that the Greeks had spied, with mighty force they run
To haue a part of Paris dead, for his offences done.
For well they knew he was the man that stole their Prince his wife:
Which was the chiefest cause of all that bred that bloudy strife.
VVherfore each Greek to haue him dead did mightely contend:
And sure had got my sonne, but that the Troyans did defend
The mangled corps of Paris dead, and kept from Grecian force
My sonne whom they would faine haue caught to plague his senslesse corse.
VVhose life was gone they right well knew, but they like hellish hounds
Did hunt to haue his carkas dead to plague with grieuous wounds.
His senslesse corps they could not hurt, yet they as men starke mad:
Of worldly wealth would geue great store so that they might haue had
Aliue or dead, or but a part, to satisfie their will:
Forwell they wist he was the man that did Achilles kill,
Wherefore they fiercely fought to haue the body of my sonne,
Who slewe Achylles traytrously, and first that warre begunne,
But by the ayde of Troyans stout in maugre of their might,
The body of my sonne was brought foorth of that bloody fight,
Whose corps was laide before my face a grieuous sight to see:
The armes and legs which Greekes hewde off, was likewise brought to mee,
The pale aspect of this my sonne did mortifie my minde,
That downe vpon the corps I fell, in hope some ease to finde,
For willingly I would haue dide, to finish vp my care,
The gods denide it should be so, but still my life did spare;
For further woe and miserie they meant J should abide,
Which would to God J had not seene, but that J then had dide.
Faire Helena for this her mate in wofull sort did morne,
Who was the cause that all the Greekes against our state had sworne,
All Troy was sad for my hard hap they waile on euerie side,
Both olde and yong through euery streete, in mournefull manner cride.
His funeralls and other rites in order al well done,
And Troyans al had wailde their fill for losse of this my sonne:
Then Helen faire her sorrow slackt, by course of weeping tearse
Her beauty bright to Deiphœbe, in secret sort appeeres,
So that the man halfe mad for her doth earnestly require
The Grecian Dame, and that he might foorthwith haue his desire:
He was my sonne, wherefore as then I seemed well content,
He had his choice, but then ere long the acte he did repent:
The Greekes that knew how al things went came fierce againe ere long.
When they had filld their rankes with men to maintaine battaile strong,
And gaue sharpe siege to Troyan walls which Troyans did defend;
From that time foorth the angry Greekes no idle time did spend,
But day by day did still inuent to worke our great annoy,
And plots did lay how to betray the stately towne of Troy:
For now they found no force preuailde against so strong a towne,
Their hope was past, by open force to beate our turrets downe,
Though diuers of our states were dead, and men of great account,
The Grecian peeres which Troyans slewe our number did surmount,
Our losse was great and ouer great, whereof the Grecians bost:
We also knew what mighty states the Grecian army lost,
Yet were we strong and strong enough for all the Grecian states,
And dayly put their men to foile before the Troyan gates:
Which well they spide, wherefore at length, by secret meanes they sought
To take our towne, and with our states full priuily they wrought,
They promise that these traytors vile, should haue their goods and liues,
And all their friendes (whome they thought good) their children and their wiues
Should freed be from sacke or spoile, if that they would betray
Both Prince and towne into their power, to be a Grecian pray.
Æneas that disloyall man especially I blame,
And false Antenor, who at first consented to the same,
Both vile disloyall wretches they thus to betray their King,
And Grecian armies set in rankes within our towne to bring,
But sure J thinke the gods decreede at first it should be so,
Wherefore I lesse do blame these men for bringing in our fo.
Fell destinie so frownd on me, wherefore this latest fate
Was first decreede for Paris fault, against King Pryams state,
To plague me oft with wofull sights, to see my children torne,
Both planets sure, and fortune vile against me wretch had sworne.
Our towne betrayde, not knowing as yet, til after, when too late,
For that the Greekes with mightie troups were entred in the gate
In silent night, by helpe of friends when Troyans were at rest:
They marched on, for well they knew the lowring night was best,
For this their subtile policie: when we to rest were laide,
The Greekes came in, our gates were ope, loe thus we were betraide.
Now was my woe afresh renude, my miseries forepast
To this mishap a trifle was, but sorrow now full fast
In spitefull wise did shew her force, to vexe me more and more:
And fortune frownd in worser sort than she had done before:
For now my friends and deere alies in paued streetes so wide
Besmerde with blood do gaping lie, as they to succour hide.
The conquerde towne which then was lost in vaine they sought to saue,
With rankes of men not armde for haste, they lusty larums gaue,
But al in vaine was this their force for that the Grecians fell,
With murdring minds so laide about, a greeuous thing to tell,
And so behact and hewde our men vnarmed as they stoode,
That like to streames the Troyans streetes did flowe with gory bloode:
There lay the States and Peeres of Troy, whome angry Greekes had slaine,
For that they thought to saue the towne which Grecians meant to gaine.
Thus passing vp our stately streets, such mighty spoile they made,
So that I thinke it grieude the Greekes in Troyan blood to wade,
Yet for because we had abusde the Grecians in such sort,
The slaughters vile of guiltlesse men was to the Greekes a sport:
At last when all the towne was wonne, the states for succour flewe
To Pryams pallace, hoping that the foe would not pursue,
Nor there to spoile the aged Prince for reuerence of his yeares,
Who long had liude in Phrygia land, as at this day appeares.
But they to reuerence aged yeares, so little had regarde,
That Prince and Peere, both olde and yong by Grecians was not sparde,
The pallace faire of Pryamus, the greedy Greekes beset
With weapons bright, and fiercely fought, their hoped pray to get.
There now the battaile great was vp, as if no place else where
Had felt of warre, and die did none in all the towne but there,
So mightily the Greekes did run, to houses tops we see
The posts brake down, and gates brake ope, beset that none might flee,
The wals with scaling ladders laide, and props for scaffolds hie,
That vp hy staires they climbe, and backe they driue the darts that flie,
To battlements full fast they cling, on battred walls they holde
While Troyans downe vpon their heads the tops of towers rolde,
Full fierce a while the Troyans fought, but al their force was vaine,
For that the gods had vowde, there should no part of Troy remaine
Vnconquered, and Pryamus the King of Troy should knowe,
How that he did not wel when first he made the Greekes his foe.
At last the gates too weake to holde, by force were opened wide,
And fearefull foes with armour bright passde in on euery side.
The peeres within right wel perceiude the cruel foes intent,
Unable to withstand their force to dreadfull death were sent:
Which I beheld from secret place where I my selfe did shrowde,
And other moe that time with me, to saue themselues did crowde.
My kinsmen deere and faithfull friends before my face they made
To be as wood before the axe, and buckler to the blade,
Dismembring them in wofull sort, a lamentable thing,
And oft enquirde for Pryamus that they might kill the King,
Which well I wist wherefore from thence my selfe I did conuay,
And word did send to Pryamus, that there he should not stay
But seeke someway by priuy doores to scape their bloody hand,
And not to bide amongst their force, nor to their mercy stand,
And then into the streetes I passde by secret wayes vnknowne,
Where chanells deepe (ah grieuous sight) with blood was ouer-flowne,
And martred men scarce dead did lie, there breathing out their last,
A worser hap then this I spide, as I by chaunce did cast
Mine eies aside where I perceiude sir Menelaus he,
Jn armour bright, so lyon-like fast marching towards me,
And as he came, he soone had spide how Deiphœbe my sonne
Made haste to shun his cruel hand, and swiftly thence did runne
For that he feared the desperate foe, and knowing iust cause why,
Made greater haste to saue himselfe, and fast away did sly:
The Greeke despising that my sonne of al the rest should scape,
Because he held his lawful wife, he would reuenge that rape:
For when that Paris late was slaine, then this my sonne did take
Faire Helen Menelaus wife which did against him make,
And now before my face this Greeke my louing sonne had cought,
Whom be before through all the towne full egerly had sought
To make him rue his former deede: and Paris being slaine,
He vowde my sonne that held his wife, should yeeld her vp againe.
Lo thus (I say) before my face the greedy Greeke there helde
My sonne, who to the bedlem beast in humble sort did yelde:
But he in steade of clemencie did shewe his cruell minde,
My sonne that yeelded at his foote the tyrant vile did binde,
His nose he cut, his eares and lips, and plucked out his sight,
His other limmes in spiteful sort, he did dismember quite:
Take heere (quoth he) the due reward of Paris fault forepast,
Thy brother dead, for if he liude, a worser plague should taste.
Wherefore commend me to his ghost, and truely to him tell,
That I for his offences vile did send thy soule to hell.
And therewithall he stabde my sonne that willing was to die:
Which thing once done, yet further griefe I chanced to espie,
For presently right neare my sight it was my hap to see
My daughter, whom full deare I loude, my sweete Cassandra she
Most vilely to be drawne along, whose handes and feete were bound
Jn spitefull sort by haire of head, they dragged on bloody ground,
They hallde her still along the streetes, where gory blood did flowe,
That when she past along by me, I scarce her face did knowe:
But soone she spide me where I stoode, and lifting vp her eies,
To haughty heauens, and for redresse in wofull sort she cries,
And calls aloude to haue my ayde, when I my selfe had neede
Of ayde, to succour my mishap, and that to haue with speede:
Yet still she cryes, O mother, helpe, lay to your helping hand,
Let not this Greeke misuse me thus, while you on looking stand,
But rather seeke to succour me from this vile tyrant wilde,
And saue me from this cruell Greeke that mindes to force your childe:
Sweet mother help (quoth she againe) get Troyans to defend
Me thus abusde But she in vayn her wofull voice did spend:
For I my self did quaking stand, expecting still the end;
Amongst my foes I there was placde, I could not spie a frend.
Yet following fast my daughter deere to see what might betide:
Who still for ayd on me poore soule, continually cride.
To Pallas temple she was drawn, in Troy a sacred place,
And there my daughter was abusde before her mothers face.
That bad vngodly Greek did deale with her, and did abuse
The holy place with such a fact, her body to misuse.
Which when I saw I could not stay to geue the looking on,
But cried aloud for Troyan ayd although I could get none.
That holy temple was defilde with such a filthy deed:
For which offence that wretch ere long vnhappily did speed.
Away I trudgd opprest with grief, vnable to geue ayd,
Or to reuenge my selfe on him that this vile part had playd.
And as I past from place to place, it was my chance to see
A hundred of my daughter-lawes which did enquire for me.
And quaking stood in open street with minds resolud to dy:
For well they knew the wayes were stopt, that none away could fly.
With wofull cries we wayld a good, down dropt the brinish teares
But all in vain, for dreadfull death in ougly shape appeares.
Yet lingring still in hope to liue, we seek to find reliefe:
And rangde about in streets vnknown, which bred vs further grief.
For as J past I might behold an altar huge to stand
In open street, wherto we went to shun their cruell hand.
A sacred place, where all our Gods were painted on a row:
There throngd we thick about that place to shrowd vs from our foe.
Which place we thought the angry Greeks durst not once be so bold
Before the Gods our bloud to shed, wherfore on them we hold,
And thought the Gods would vs defend, and priuiledge the place:
And as a sanctuary safe to help in such a case.
Thus sitting there, at last I spide old Priamus my mate:
Who yet had scapt their murdring hand, but this his heauy state
VVas death to me, yea death it selfe my husband deare to see
So chacte as hare before the hound who fast for life did flee.
The aged man whose quaking limmes could scant his body beare
Had weapons got, and armour bright vpon his back did weare.
His bending hams did beare the waight vnfit for Priams yeares:
VVith speare in hand as if no state of Grecian land he feares.
His manly mind was bent to fight, his feeble force to try:
And he amongst his louing frends most willingly would dy.
The heauy harnesse ouer huge my husband would assay:
That being on, his speare in hand could scarce his body stay.
But staggering stood, not fit to fight infeebled so by age:
Yet he against his cruell foes in desperat wise did rage.
VVhich soon J spide, wherfore as then I humbly did desire
To rage no more, but seeme content, and pacifie his ire.
I wild him then without delay to sacred place repare:
VVhich thing to touch the greedy Greeks would haue especiall care.
For that the Gods there present were to keep vs free from spoyle:
VVhose presence what bold Grecian dares pollute with bloudy foyle.
And therwithall in hast I drew him to the altar side,
And set him down (old feeble man) but see what did betide:
By this time Pryams pallace faire was yealded to the Greekes,
And Pyrrhus fierce Achilles sonne in euery corner seekes
For Priamus that aged sire, and for his louing sonnes:
Jn hope to gaine them with the spoile full eagerly he runs.
And hauing found Polytes out, in cruell sort did chase
The fearfull youth, who for his life did trudge the streets apace.
And comming where his father sate, there hoping to haue ayd:
Yet scarcely come to wished place but that proud Pyrrhus stayd
Our sonne, and there within our sight with churlish fist fast held:
And presently in parents view Polites there he feld.
There panting lay our louing sonne by breathles course neare spent:
VVhile Pyrrhus stern his fatall speare through back and side had sent.
That dying straight his hands vp held to take his last farewell:
It makes me shrink to call to mind, and greeues me now to tell
VVhat after did ensue, for that King Priam could not rest:
VVith such a sight as commonly each father dooth detest.
For to reuenge his sonne so slain he needs would take in hand:
VVhen he (good man) vnable was with feeble age to stand,
But he to shew his noble mind bad Pyrrhus proud pack hence:
Forth of his sight, or els he would with speed driue him from thence.
VVhat darst thou now thou wretch (quoth he) thus in my presence stay?
VVhen that my sonne whom well J loude thou didst before me slay.
And wilt thou stand to braue it out to breed me further paine?
No that J will not sure digest, though J myselfe be slaine.
And therwithall in feeble fist his speare he trembling held,
Whose quaking lims by age opprest could scant his weapon weld.
And at proud Pyrrhus he lets driue his hurtles speare (God knowes)
Wherof strong Pyrrhus might haue born for need a thousand blowes.
Achilles bastard borne (quoth be) by this I know thou art:
That dares presume before my face to play so hard a part.
Thou wretch, thou misbegotten wretch, that thus hast shewd thy kind
For well I know thou art the man that bearst so bad a mind.
With that (quoth he) Neoptolemus my fathers sonne, the same
That was the bastard, and not I, for Pyrrhus is my name.
And for because in time to come thou shalt not vse me so
With these hard tearms, a token I will geue thee how to know
My brother and my selfe apart, wherfore thou shalt enquire
Ere long of slaine Achilles ghost to proue thy selfe a lier.
And therwithall the spitefull Greek from sacred place did draw
My noble mate by haire of head, contrary to all law.
And through the bloud of his slaine sonne the aged man he drew:
And right before our sacred Gods my husband deare he slew.
With fatall blade before my face he piercde his tender side:
That right against the Gods themselues my louing husband dide.
The Gods no help at all would geue the Grecian to preuent:
Nor that the Troyan Prince should liue, but they with one consent
Did vow his death for former fault, and for his sinnes offence.
No earthly wight for this his sinne could with their power dispence.
But die he must it was decreed, and dreadfull death should end
This bloudy war, that after none in like case should offend.
My husband dead, I did behold a grieuous sight to see:
His daughters all bewayld his hap which then did stand with me.
The cellers deep and hollow caues with wayling all did sound:
And from the hauty houses tops the Echo did rebound.
Ah heauy chaunce to see him slaine who was my chiefest ioy:
The Emperor of Asia great, and stately King of Troy.
Who now lay slaine before my face, but being then starke dead:
With louing zeale on Priam slaine my greedy eyes J fed.
What hath this princox boy (quoth I) my louing husband slaine
Beside our Gods without reuenge, what shall he still remaine
Aliue, to vaunt of this his deed, or brag of such a fact
Before the Greeks his cruell mates, who ioyes at this his act.
Ye Gods, ye sacred Gods (J cride) although your wrath be great
Against vs Troyans now subdude, whose ruine ye did threat
For Paris sinne yet haue regard on Priam thus betrayd.
VVho now is dead by your decree, wherfore his debt is payd.
But now (quoth I) graunt my request, that this vile Greek may rue
This cruell deed in time to come, that euer he so slue
The aged King, for reuerence of gray and aged haires:
VVhose youth was come by yearly course to old and aged yeares.
Let not the slaughter of a King make proud his hauty hart:
Nor that he long may make his vaunt of this so hard a part.
But as your iustice now is seen, in so reuenging wrong:
So Pyrrhus proud by your consent may rue this deed ere long.
VVhen Priam thus by Pyrrhus sword had breathed out his last,
And that the town was quite subdude by Grecians fighting fast,
The Greeks demaund Polixena, because she first procurde
Achilles death by fained loue, through which he was allurde:
VVhom when they found, this Pyrrhus craude to haue my louing child
That so had causde his fathers death by working such a wilde,
But when she knew the earnest suite of fierce Achilles sonne:
For succour to me helples wretch, with vaine hope fast did run.
VVith clasping armes about my neck on me she cride for ayd,
For Pyrrhus, dead Achilles sonne, had made her sore afrayd.
Help mother now at need (quoth she) still weeping on my brest:
A place too weak, for greedy Greeks, for there she might not rest:
Grim Pyrrhus with an eager look did teare her from my lap:
VVith churlish fist he gript the girle, O hard and cruell hap?
That still mine eyes should witnes beare of this my wofull case,
And that both mate and children deare should die before my face.
By haire of head Polixena was drawne along the street:
VVhere diuers of her wofull frends in sorrowing sort did meete
To waile with her, for well they wist to dreadfull death she went.
Achilles death now to reuenge they knew proud Pyrrhus ment.
And as they thought it came to passe, for Pyrrhus did deuise,
Vpon his fathers tombe as then my child to sacrifise
Vnto the ghost of his slaine Sire, his death to recompence:
And that Achilles ghost might know it was for her offence.
Polixena so halde along by such a cruell foe:
VVhat should become of this my child as then I did not know.
VVherfore to see I followed fast what would to her betide:
VVhere round about Achilles tombe a troup of Greeks J spide,
Which readie were to giue their aide if need should so require,
My daughters death with one consent each Gretian did desire:
And there before my face they bound both hand and foote full fast
Of this my child, that willing was of bitter death to tast.
But hauing spide me where I stood, her hands and feete fast bound,
Jn token of her last farewell, her head towards me she twound,
And fixt her eyes on me (poore wretch) with such a wofull looke,
With nodding head for want of limmes, her last farewell she tooke.
Then Pyrrhus mad vntill reuenge did drawe his fatall blade,
And slewe my child vpon the tombe, which he before had made
In honour of his father dead, and there with gorie blood
Imbrewd the graue: which cruell act did all the Gretians good.
These words he spake which well I heard (quoth he) take here thine end,
Thy soule vnto my fathers ghost for thine offence J send,
And for the fault of Paris slaine, King Priam late did rewe
His sonnes vile part; for with this hand the aged man J slewe.
O fortune vile, that sparde my life to see this wofull day,
My friends starke dead whom Grecians slewe, in euery corner lay,
Not one was left to comfort me that could my woe redresse.
But mourning matrons whose hard hap increasde my heauinesse,
And last of al the angry Greekes to breede vs further care:
The traytours of our common wealth, from sacke or spoile they spare:
Æneas, and Antenor he, those that betrayde our towne,
In conquerde Troy had liberty as walkers vp and downe,
The spoile once had our stately towne with fire fierce did flame:
The gods decreed my life should last that I might see the same,
Then did I see our lofty towers consumde with fire to fall,
In burning houses children cride, which number was not small:
A world of woe to call to minde the latter spoile of Troy,
When Greekes with fire our City great did vtterly destroy,
Fierce was the flame on euery side, downe falls the buildings faire,
The temples of our sacred gods the fier did not spare,
Till all things flat vpon the ground did lie like desart plaine,
For memorie of this our tovvne the vvalls did not remaine,
Dovvne to the earth it smoking lay defaced so vvith fire.
To ruine novv all things vvere come vvhich vvas the Greekes desire,
The bodies of the Troyans slaine in Zanthus floud did svvimme,
Eche channell deepe vvith crimson blood stoode floting to the brimme:
The members of our martredmen in barren fields they flung,
Jn fertile sort to fat the earth in steade of other dung,
That where the towne of Troy did stand in little space was seene
Where houses stoode there grasse did growe in sprouting sort full greene;
And where the Temples of our gods in stately maner stoode,
The dockes and weedes were cherished by losse of Troyans bloode,
No place of Troy vntoucht did stand, but all for waste was layde:
The Greekes cride quit with that vile part that Paris first had playde.
When that mine eies had seene all this the sorrowes which were past,
Eche wofull hap once callde to minde, starke mad J fell at last,
And raging in the fieldes I ran where lately Troy did stand:
From thence when J had raylde my fill, I passde to Thracia land,
Where Polymnestor that vile wretch and traytor bad did raigne,
Who had betrayde yong Polidore my sonne for filthie gaine.
Which cruell acte (though then starke mad) in minde I still did beare
That for reuenge on him I fell, and out his eies did teare,
To worke him woe for this his deede my frantike minde was fierce,
The cheekes of this disloyall wretch my nayles did soundly pierce,
That he foorthwith had lost his sight for this his former deede.
O would to God all traitours thus for treacherie might speede:
This deede once done, my troubled minde somewhat I did appease,
For wel I wist the wretch was blinde which did my sorrow ease,
And also to my further ioy proude Pyrrhus lost his life,
When he returned home to Greece by reason of the strife
That stout Orestes had with him for Hermion that wench,
That nothing else but present death could this their quarrell quench:
Achylles sonne at last was slaine, Orestes had his ioy.
And Pyrrhus might repent the time that first be came to Troy,
Where he imbrewde himselfe with blood, and slewe the aged King,
Which was the cause of his mishap, and sure no other thing:
The gods that knew his cruell minde, and saw his wilfull fact
Could not lesse do than make the Greeke repent his bloudy act.
Orestes slue Achylles sonne, thus Pyrrhus being dead,
Like hearbes to pot his flesh was chopt, no otherwise he sped:
This newes to me some comfort was in this my wofull state,
To heare what hard mishap befell to him that slue my mate.
And well I wist his father first for vsing me so ill
Was slaine himselfe by my consent, for Paris did him kill:
And also how that Thracian King that Polymnestor hight,
For so betraying of my sonne, and doing me that spite,
Receiude a guerdon for his fact, his lumen lights he lost,
Wherefore the traytor of his gaines, I thinke, could scarcely bost,
Of all the rest it did me good, for that my hands had done
Such due reuenge on that vile wretch that so betrayde my sonne.
I ioyde a while at this my deede my sorrow wel did flake,
For that I knew they dide the death of whom before I spake.
But when againe I callde to minde my children that were gone,
And deere alies, of whom the Greekes aliue had left not one:
And how olde Pryamus my mate before my face did die
On Pyrrhus blade that Grecian grim, while I in vaine did crie
For helpe, to free him from the hand of this his spitefull fo,
In vaine I cride, for that the gods decreede it should be so.
And then when that I thought on Troy, on Troy our stately towne,
Which was the eie of all the world, but now by Greekes throwne downe,
And like a desart place did lie, no signe of Troy did stand:
The empire stout of Asia great, so wrested from our hand,
That I the greatest Queene on earth, so was my stately stile
In time forepast, and now to be a helplesse wretch most vile:
So base and humbly was I vsde farre from my former state,
That harborlesse I rangde about, this was my haplesse fate.
Despisde of all, receiude of none, refusde of those that faund
On me before, when I their Queene did euery thing commaund.
But now, although I vsde them well in elder time before,
They to requite my courtesie did shut me foorth of dore:
And let me lie without reliefe, this kindnesse they did showe;
Jn Princes place, to me they sude, but now they would not knowe
Their haplesse Queene in miserie, but let me raging runne
In euery corner where J would, eche wight me wretch did shunne:
Not Greekes I meane, but subiects mine, who sometime did professe
In Asia soile me for their Queene, and now in this distresse
The Greekes had awde their minds so far, they durst not on me looke:
But as a thing that venyme was eche liuing wight forsooke:
Which when J spide, and callde to minde my former stately place,
And now againe did see my selfe to liue in such disgrace:
In frantike sort my heart was vext, the anguish of my minde,
Like bedlam beast did make me run the spitefull Greekes to finde
That were the causers of my woe, that J reuenge might take
On all the wrongs that they had done, and for my husbands sake,
Whom they had slaine before my face, and for my children deare,
For whose sweete sakes, amongst the Greekes I went without al feare,
With eger fist I laide on loade, with nayles, and feete at length,
But slender hurt, a womans hand could do to men of strength,
Yet notwithstanding my good will was seene by this my force
And theirs againe (O wretched me) by vsing such remorce,
For when that I had done my worst, and shewed my vtter might,
And breathlesse stoode for want of breath by this my feeble fight,
The Greekes with stones did compasse me, whose force J stil defide,
Till they with stones did strike me downe, where presently I dide.
Lo thus, when that all vile mishaps had chaunced vnto me,
Whome fortune followed to the death with such extremitie:
And that mine eies (to my great griefe) such wofull things had seene,
But would to God before the warre long time I dead had beene.
When all such haps of hatefull dome that fortune could assigne
Did chaunce to me by haplesse hap, such luckelesse lot was mine,
To ende my dayes in great disgrace J dide among my foes,
They stoned me to death (poore wretch) a heauy end God knoxes,
Had euer any such mishap since first the world begunne,
Or any one did know such woe that liued vnder sunne,
As J my selfe (poore wretched Queene) though bootelesse now J mourne,
For remedlesse the cause remaines when Planets all had sworne,
And haughty gods to worke me woe for Paris filthie sinne,
Who would to God had dide the death when life did first begin:
Or would to God (I wish too late) the waues had beene his graue,
When he to Lacedemon went faire Helen for to haue:
O Neptune fierce couldst thou not frowne and Eolus out call,
With whirling windes to drench his ship, his company and all,
But safely so to suffer him to swimme with gale at will.
The doting youth in prime of yeres, his fancie to fulfill,
In Simois and Zanthus flood, his ships did seeme to saile:
So quiet was the seas as then because he should preuaile.
What, did ye seaish Gods decree together with consent,
To plague the Troian state so farre, as angrie Pallas ment?
Ye Gods that rule both land and sea, why did ye thus decree,
That Neptunes towne, at first so cald, to Greekes a pray should bee?
If otherwise ye ment at all, his ship should not haue past
So quietlie through surging seas by helpe of Boreas blast:
For Triton mild did shewe his face so happilie that day,
That Paris past with sprouting sailes into the Gretian bay.
What was become of Palemon, did Glaucus hide his head?
Their swift recourse far from his ship in partiall sort was fled.
The Siren coucht Antiphates Parthenope was gone
That wonted were to keep their course, but novv there vvas not one,
Not Circe nor Calipso vvould their vvonted magike vse:
Although they knevv the lecher meant Atrides to abuse.
So Zephirus and Euras fell, with Aquilo did lurke:
And hid themselues while Boreas with frendly gale did work.
Nereides were past away, Lutonas imps did shine.
Ech thing did smoothly smile that day by help of Gods diuine.
And all was for the Troyan wracke, to plague my sonnes offence.
For Paris needs to Greece would goe, and soon returnd from thence.
But would to God the brinish seas, with raging waues so wild
Had drownd that baud that Theseus first in filthy sort defilde:
And that my sonne had dide with her before he came to shore:
Then Troy had stood and flourisht still, as long it did before.
But Helen Menelaus wife that was sir Paris ioy,
VVas first occasion of our woe, and latest fate to Troy.
O would the tygers first had torne the lims of this my sonne,
VVhen aged Priam sentence gaue on that which was not done.
The cause wherof was mine own deed which act J now repent:
For that the Oracle did shew before the boyes intent.
But now I know I wish too late the angry Gods had sworn
To plague our state for some offence. For Paris being born,
VVhose desteny the Oracle did openly declare,
And yet to see, my hap was such that wicked babe to spare.
VVho was the cause of this mischaunce, and breeder of our woe:
His death had been to vs a life, and life to thousands mo.
Yet I for pitie sake would not consent that this my boy
The tygers brood his tender lims should vtterly destroy.
VVhat power diuine did hinder me, or what infernall fiend?
VVhat did both heauen and earth to this their vtter forces bend?
O what offence did we commit that all the Gods should frowne:
And thus decree with one consent to pluck our Empire downe?
Did they appoint that I should breed, and foster in my lap
A scourge to plague the parents sinne, and cause of their mishap?
VVas it king Priams fathers fault that Laomedon bad
That builded Troy vvith borovved coyne? for he receiued had
Of Neptune and Apollos Priests a summe of money great,
And when the day appoynted came, the wretch forsware the debt,
With mighty vowes the periurde man at altar side did say
He borrowed none to buyld his walles, and therfore none would pay.
But whether twere for periurie, or for my sonnes offence
I cannot tell, but well I know it was a recompence
For double and for treble sinne, so many thousand dide:
From Nations far the world dooth know the people thether hide
In hope of pay to either side great troupes of men did run:
But what was gaind saue deadly fight? or what but death was won?
Did euer any feel such woe as J poore wretch did tast?
Did euer Fortune yeeld such lookes as she on me did cast?
O hauty Gods what hap was mine to feel such bitter paine?
Did destiny assigne me that, to make me thus complaine?
I would that I had been vnborn, or borne I dead had been:
For then these wofull miseries J wretch had neuer seen.
Why did the Gods cause me to liue? why did they thus decree?
Was this their will that J should liue with present eyes to see
My louing mate and children slaine, and Troy to burn with fire?
If they did will it should be so, then they had their desire.
But fie on that vile destinie, O fie on that hard curse:
The Gods themselues could not deuise how they should plague me worse.
And then with wringing hands she wept, with wayling voice she cride:
Which grieude me sore, about I turnd, where presently I spide
An aged man both graue and grim for that he seemed sad:
Right father like for grayish haires, with Princely robes beclad:
Unto the wofull Queen he marchd, and thus in modest sort
Began to quip her frantike mood as I shall geue report.