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Title: The Æneid of Virgil Translated Into Scottish Verse. Volumes 1 & 2

Author: Virgil

Translator: Gawin Douglas

Release date: September 5, 2015 [eBook #49884]

Language: Scots

Credits: Produced by Henry Flower, Charlene Taylor, Ted Garvin and
the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ÆNEID OF VIRGIL TRANSLATED INTO SCOTTISH VERSE. VOLUMES 1 & 2 *** 




The Table of Contents has been added by the transcriber:








THE

ÆNEID OF VIRGIL

TRANSLATED INTO SCOTTISH VERSE


BY

GAWIN DOUGLAS

BISHOP OF DUNKELD.



VOLUME I.


PRINTED AT EDINBURGH.


M.DCCC.XXXIX.



PRESENTED TO

THE BANNATYNE CLUB

BY ANDREW RUTHERFURD

AND GEORGE DUNDAS.





THE BANNATYNE CLUB.

M.DCCC.XXXIX.



THOMAS THOMSON, ESQ.

PRESIDENT.





[Pg 1]



HEYR BEGYNNYS

THE WARK OF VIRGYLL PRYNCE OF LATYN POETIS

IN HYS TWELF BUKIS OF ENEADOS

COMPILIT AND TRANSLATIT FURTH OF LATYN

IN OUR SCOTTIS LANGAGE

BY ANE RICHT NOBILL AND WIRSCHIPFULL CLERK

MASTER GAWYN DOWGLAS

PROVEST OF SANCT GYLYS KYRK IN EDINBURGH

AND PERSON OF LYNTOUN IN LOUTHIANE

QUHILK EFTYR WAS BISCHOP OF DUNKELD
[Pg 2]





[Pg 3]

INCIPIT PROLOGUS


IN VIRGILII ENEADOS.






Lawd, honour, praysyngis, thankis infynyte


To the and thy dulce ornat fresch endyte,


Maist reuerend Virgill, of Latyn poetis prynce,


Gem of engyne and flude of eloquens.


Thou peirles perle, patroun of poetry,5


Roys, regester, palm, lawrer, and glory,


Chosyn charbukkil, cheif flour, and cedyr tre,


Lantarn, laid stern, myrrour, and A per se,


Maister of masteris, sweit sours, and spryngand well,


Wyde quhar our all rung is thyne hevynly bell;10


I meyn thy crafty warkis curyus,


Sa quyk, lusty, and maist sentencyus,


Plesand, perfyte, and feilabill in all degre,


As quha the mater beheld tofor thar E;


In every volume quhilk the lyst do wryte,15


Surmontyng fer all other maner endyte,


Lyke as the roys in June with her sweit smell


The mary guld or dasy doith excell.


Quhy suld I than, with dull forhed and vayn,


With rude engyne and barrand emptyve brayn,20


With bad harsk spech and lewit barbour tong,


Presume to write quhar thy sweit bell is rung,
[Pg 4]

Or contyrfate sa precyus wordys deir?


Na, na, noth swa, bot kneill quhen I thame heir.


For quhat compair betwix myd day and nycht,


Or quhat compair betwix myrknes and lycht,


Or quhat compair is betwix blak and quhyte,5


Far grettar difference betwix my blunt endyte


And thy scharp sugurate sang Virgiliane,


Sa wysly wrocht, with nevir a word invane.


My waverand wyt, my cunnyng febill at all,


My mynd mysty, thir may nocht mys a fall;10


Stra for thys ignorant blabryng imperfyte,


Besyde thy polyst termys redymyte.


And netheles with support and correctioun,


For naturall lufe and frendely affectioun,


Quhilkis I beir to thy warkis and endyte;15


All thocht, God wait, tharin I knaw full lyte;


And that thy facund sentence mycht be song


In our langage alsweill as Latyn tong,


Alsweill, na, na, impossibill war, per de;


Ȝit with thy leif, Virgill, to follow the,20


I wald, into my rurall wlgar gros,


Wryte sum savoryng of thyne Eneados.


Bot fair I dreid forto disteyn the quyte,


Throu my corruppit cadens imperfyte;


Disteyn the, nay forsuyth, that may I nocht,25


Weill may I schaw my burall bustuus thocht,


Bot thy wark sall endur in lawd and glory,


But spot or falt, condyng etern memory.


Thocht I offend, onwemmyt is thy fame,


Thyne is the thank, and myne salbe the schame.30
[Pg 5]

Quha may thy versis follow in all degre,


In bewtie, sentence, and in grauite?


Nane is, nor was, ne ȝit salbe, trow I,


Had, has, or sal haue sic craft in poetry.


Of Helicon so drank thou dry the flude5


That of thy copios fouth or plenitude,


All mon purches drynk at thy sugurit tun;


So lamp of day thou art and schynand son,


All otheris on fors mon thar lycht beg or borrow,


Thou art Vesper and the day stern at morow;10


Thou Phebus lightnar of the planetis all,


I not quhat dewly I the clepe sall,


For thou art all, and sum, quhat nedis more,


Of Latyn poetis that sens was, or before.


Of the writis Macrobius, sans faill,15


In hys gret volume clepit Saturnaill.


Thy sawys in sic eloquens doith fleit,


So inuentive of rethorik flowris sweit


Thou art, and has so hie profund sentens


Tharto perfyte but ony indigens,20


That na lovyngis ma do incres thy fame,


Nor na reproche dymynew thy gud name.


Bot sen I am compellit the to translait,


And not only of my curage, God wait,


Durst interpryse syk owtrageus foly,25


Quhar I offend the les reprefe serve I;


And that ȝe knaw at quhais instans I tuke


Forto translait this maist excellent buke,


I meyn Virgillis volume maist excellent,


Set this my wark full febill be of rent,30
[Pg 6]

At the request of a lord of renown


Of ancistry nobill and illustir baroun,


Fader of bukis, protectour to sciens and lair,


My speciall gud lord Henry lord Sanct Clair,


Quhilk with gret instance, diuers tymys seir,5


Prayt me translait Virgill or Homeir;


Quhais plesour suythly, as I undirstude,


As neir conjunct to his lordschip in blude,


So that me thocht hys request ane command,


Half disparit this wark I tuke on hand,10


Nocht fully grantand nor anys sayand ȝee,


Bot only to assay quhou it mycht be.


Quha mycht gaynsay a lord so gentill and kynd,


That euer had ony curtasy in thar mynd,


Quhilk, besyde hys innatyve pollecy,15


Humanyte, curage, fredome and chevalry,


Bukis to recollect, to reid and se,


Has gret delyte as euer had Ptholome?


Quharfor to hys nobilite and estait,


Quhatso it be, this buke I dedicait,20


Writtin in the langage of Scottis natioun,


And thus I mak my protestatioun.


Fyrst I protest, beaw schirris, be ȝour leif,


Beis weill avisit my wark or ȝhe repreif;


Consider it warly, reid oftar than anys,25


Weill at a blenk sle poetry nocht tayn is;


And ȝit forsuyth I set my bissy pane,


As that I couth, to mak it braid and plane,


Kepand na sudron bot our awyn langage,


And spekis as I lernyt quhen I was page.30
[Pg 7]

Nor ȝit sa cleyn all sudron I refus,


Bot sum word I pronunce as nyghtbouris doys;


Lyke as in Latyn beyn Grew termys sum,


So me behufyt quhilum, or than be dum,


Sum bastard Latyn, Franch, or Inglys oys,5


Quhar scant was Scottis, I had nane other choys.


Nocht for our tung is in the selwyn skant,


Bot for that I the fowth of langage want,


Quhar as the cullour of his properte


To kepe the sentens tharto constrenyt me,10


Or than to mak my sayng schort sum tyme,


Mair compendyus, or to lykly my ryme.


Tharfor gude frendis, for a gymp or a bourd,


I pray ȝou note me nocht at euery word.


The worthy clerk hecht Lawrens of the Vaill,15


Amang Latynys a gret patron sans faill,


Grantis quhen twelf ȝheris he had beyn diligent


To study Virgill, skant knew he quhat he ment;


Than thou or I, my frend, quhen we best weyn


To haue Virgil red, vnderstand, and seyn,20


The rycht sentens perchance is fer to seik;


This wark twelf ȝheris first was in makyng eyk,


And nocht correct quhen the poet gan deces;


Thus for small faltis my wys frend hald thy pes.


Adherdand to my protestatioun,25


Thocht Wilȝame Caxtoun, of Inglis natioun,


In proys hes prent are buke of Inglis gros,


Clepand it Virgill in Eneados,


Quhilk that he says of Franch he did translait,


It has na thing ado tharwith, God wait,30
[Pg 8]

Ne na mair lyke than the devill and Sanct Austyne;


Haue he na thank tharfor, bot loys hys pyne,


So schamefully that story dyd pervert;


I red hys wark with harmys at my hart,


That syk a buke, but sentens or engyne,5


Suldbe intitillit eftir the poet dyvyne;


His ornate goldyn versis, mair than gilt,


I spittit for dispyte to se swa spilt


With sych a wyght, quhilk trewly, be myne entent,


Knew neuer thre wordis at all quhat Virgill ment:10


Sa fer he chowpis I am constrenyt to flyte.


The thre first bukis he has ourhippyt quyte,


Salfand a litill twychyng Polidorus,


And the tempest furth sent by Eolus,


And that full sempilly on hys awyn gys;15


Virgill thame wrait all on ane other wys.


For Caxton puttis in hys buke out of toyn,


The storm furth sent by Eolus and Neptune;


Bot quha sa redis Virgill suythfastly,


Sall fynd Neptune salf Eneas navy.20


Me lyst nocht schaw quhou thystory of Dydo,


Be this Caxtoun is haill pervertit so,


That besyde quhar he fenys to follow Bocas,


He rynnys sa fer from Virgill in mony place,


On sa prolixt and tedyus fasson,25


So that the ferd buke of Eneadon,


Twichand the lufe and ded of Dido queyn,


The twa part of his volume doith conteyn,


That in the text of Virgill, trastis me,


The twelt part scars contenys, as ȝe may se.30
[Pg 9]

The fyfte buke of the festis funerall,


The lusty gammys, and plays palustrall,


That is ourhippit quyte and left behynd,


Na thing tharof ȝhe sall in Caxtoun fynd.


The saxt buke eyk, he grantis, that wantis haill,5


And, for tharof he vnderstude nocht the taill,


He callis it fenȝeit, and nocht for to beleif;


Sa is all Virgill perchans, for by his leif


Juno nor Venus goddessis neuer war,


Mercure, Neptune, Mars, nor Jupiter,10


Of Fortune eik, nor hir necessite,


Sik thingis nocht attentik ar, wait we,


Nor ȝit admittis that quent philosophy


Haldis sawlys hoppys fra body to body,


And mony thingis quhilkis Virgill dyd rehers,15


Thocht I thame write furthfollowand hys vers.


Nor Caxtoun schrynkis nocht siclyke thyngis to tell


As nocht war fabill, bot the passage to hell;


But trastis weill, quha that ilke saxt buke knew,


Virgill tharin ane hie philosophour hym schew,20


And, vnder the clowdis of dyrk poetry,


Hyd lyis thar mony notabill history.


For so the poetis, be ther crafty curys,


In similitudes, and vndir quent figuris,


The suythfast materis to hyde and to constreyn;25


All is nocht fals, traste weill, in cace thai feyn,


Thair art is so to mak thar warkis fair,


As in the end of Virgill I sall declair.


Was it nocht eik als possibill Eneas,


As Hercules or Theseus tyll hell to pas?30
[Pg 10]

Quhilk is na gabbyng suythly, nor na lie,


As Jhone Bocas in the genealogie


Of Goddys declarys, and lyke as ȝhe may reid


In the recolles of Troy, quha lest tak hed.


Quha wait gyf he in visioun thydder went5


By art magike, sorcery, or enchantment,


And with his faderis sawle dyd speke and meyt,


Or in the lyknes with sum other spreit,


Lyke as the spreit of Samuell, I ges,


Raysit to King Saul was by the Phitones?10


I will nocht say all Virgill beyn als trew,


But at syk thyngis ar possibill this I schew;


Als in tha days war ma illusionys,


By dewillich warkis and coniurationis,


Than now thar beyn, so doith clerkis determ;15


For, blissit be God, the faith is now mair ferm.


Enewch tharof, now will I na mor sayn,


Bot onto Caxtoun thus I turn agane.


The namys of pepill or citeis beyn so bad


Put by this Caxtoun, that, bot he had beyn mad,20


The flude of Touyr for Tibir he had nocht write;


All men may knaw thar he forvayt quyte.


Palente the cite of Evander kyng,


As Virgill playnly makis rehersyng,


Stude quhar in Rome now stant the cheif palyce;25


This sam buke eyk, in mair hepit malyce,


On the self ryver of Touyr says playnly


Eneas dyd hys cyte edify.


Thus ay for Tibir Touyr puttis he,


Quhilk mony hundreth mylis syndry be;30
[Pg 11]

For sykkyrly, les than wys authoris leyn,


Ene saw nevir Touyr with hys eyn;


For Touyr diuidis Grece from Vngary,


And Tibir is cheif flude of Italy;


Touyr is kend a grayn of that ryver5


In Latyn hecht Danubium or Hyster,


Or gyf it be Tanais he clepis sa,


That flude diuidis Europ from Asia.


In lyke wys eik this Caxtoun, all invane,


Crispina clepis Sibilla Cumane,10


That in the text of Virgill, trastis ws,


Hait Deiphebe douchtir of Glawcus,


Quhilk was Eneas convoyar to hell.


Quhat suld I langar on hys errouris dwell?


Thai beyn so playn, and eik sa mony fald,15


The hundreth part tharof I leif ontald.


The last sax bukis of Virgill all inferis,


Quhilk contenys strang batalis and werys,


This ilk Caxtoun so blaitly lattis ourslip,


I hald my tung for schame, bytand my lyp.20


The gret afferis of athir host and array,


The armour of Eneas fresch and gay,


The quent and curyus castis poeticall,


Perfyte symylitudis, and exempilis all


Quharin Virgill beris the palm of lawd,25


Caxtoun, for dreid thai suld hys lippis scald,


Durst nevir twich. Thus schortly for the namys,


A twenty devill way fall hys wark atanys,


Quhilk is na mair lyke Virgill, dar I lay,


Than the nycht owle resemblis the papyngay.30
[Pg 12]

Quharfor ȝou gentill redaris I besich


Traste on na wys at this my wark be sich,


Quhilk dyd my best, as the wyt mycht atteyn,


Virgillis versys to follow and no thing feyn.


Ȝhe worthy noblys redis my wark for thy,5


And cast this other buke on syde far by,


Quhilk, vndir cullour of sum strange Franch wycht,


Sa franchly leys, oneith twa wordis gais rycht.


I nold ȝhe trast I said this for dispyte;


For me lyst with nane Inglis bukis flyte,10


Na with na bogill nor browny to debait,


Nowder ald gaistis nor spretis ded of lait,


Nor na man will I lakkyn nor dispys,


My warkis till authorys be sik wys,


Bot twichyng Virgillis honour and reuerens,15


Quha euer contrary, I mon stand at defens;


And bot my buke be fundyn worth sik thre,


Quhen it is red, do warp it in the see,


Thraw it in the fyre, or rent it euery crum,


Twichand that part lo heir is all and sum.20


Syne I defend and forbiddis euery wight


That can nocht spell thar Pater Noster rycht,


Fortill correct or ȝit amend Virgill,


Or the translatar blame in hys wlgar stile;


I knaw quhat payn was to follow hym fut hait,25


Albeit you think my sayng intricate.


Traste weill, to follow a fixt sentens or mater


Is mair practik, deficill, and far strater,


Thocht thyne engyne beyn eleuate and hie,


Than forto write all ways at liberte.30
[Pg 13]

Gif I had nocht bene to a boundis constrenyt,


Of my bad wyt perchance I couth haue fenyt


In ryme a ragment twys als curyus,


Bot nocht be twenty part so sentencyus.


Quha is attachit ontill a staik, we se,5


May go na ferthir bot wreil about that tre,


Rycht so am I to Virgillis text ybund,


I may nocht fle, les than my falt befund;


For thocht I wald transcend and go besyde,


His wark remanys, my schame I may nocht hyde;10


And thus I am constrenyt, als neir I may,


To hald hys vers and go nane other way,


Les sum history, subtell word, or the ryme


Causith me mak digressioun sum tyme.


So thocht in my translatioun eloquens skant is,15


Na lusty cast of oratry Virgill wantis;


My studyus brayn to comprehend his sentens


Leit me nevir taist hys flude of eloquens;


And thus forsuyth becaus I was nocht fre,


My werk is mair obscur and gros per de,20


Quharof, God wait, Virgill has na wyte,


Thocht myne be blunt, hys text is maist perfyte.


And ȝit persave I weill, be my consait,


The kyng of poetis ganys nocht for rurall estait,


Nor hys fresch memor for bowbardis; he or scho25


Quha takis me nocht go quhar thai haue ado:


The sonnys lycht is neuer the wers, traiste me,


All thocht the bak hys brycht bemys doith fle.


Greyn gentill ingynys, and breistis curageus,


Sik ar the pepill at ganys best for ws;30
[Pg 14]

Our werk desiris na lewyt rebalddaill,


Full of nobilite is thistory all haill,


For, euery vertu belangand a nobill man,


This ornate poet, bettir than ony can,


Payntand discryvis in person of Eneas;5


Not forto say, sikane Eneas was,


Ȝit than by hym perfytly blasons he


All wirschip, manhed, and nobilite,


With euery bonte belangand a gentill wycht,


Ane prynce, ane conquerour, or a valȝeand knycht;10


In luffis cuyr eneuch heir sall ȝhe fynd;


And schortly, Virgill left na thing behynd


That mycht hys volume illummyn or crafty mak;


Reid quha hym knawys, I dar this vndertak,


Als oft as ȝe hym reid, full weill I wait,15


Ȝhe fynd ilke tyme sum mery new consait.


Thoght venerabill Chauser, principal poet but peir,


Hevynly trumpat, orlege, and reguler,


In eloquens balmy, cundyt, and dyall,


Mylky fontane, cleir strand, and roys ryall,20


Of fresch endyte, throu Albion island braid,


In hys legend of notabill Ladeis, said


That he couth follow word by word Virgill,


Wisar than I may faill in lakar stile;


Sum tyme the text mon haue ane expositioun,25


Sum tyme the cullour will caus a litill additioun,


And sum tyme of a word I mon mak thre,


In witnes of this term oppetere;


Eik, weill I wait, syndry expositouris seir


Makis on a text sentens diuers to heir,30
[Pg 15]

As thame apperis, according thar entent,


And for thar part schawis ressonys euident.


All this is ganand, I will weill it swa be;


Bot a sentens to follow may suffice me:


Sum tyme I follow the text als neir I may,5


Sum tyme I am constrenyt ane other way.


Besyde Latyn our langage is imperfite,


Quhilk in sum part is the caus and the wyte


Quhy that of Virgillis vers the ornate bewte


Intill our tung may nocht obseruyt be;10


For thar be Latyn wordis, mony ane,


That in our leyd ganand translatioun has nane,


Les than we mynys thar sentens and grauyte,


And ȝit scant weill exponyt; quha trewis nocht me


Let thame interprit animal and homo,15


With many hundreth other termys mo,


Quhilkis in our langage suythly, as I weyn,


Few men can tell me cleirly quhat thai meyn;


Betweyn genus, sexus, and species


Diuersite in our leid to seik I ces;20


For obiectum and subiectum alsswa


He war expert couth fynd me termys twa,


Quhilkis ar als ryfe amangis clerkis in scuyll


As evir fowlis plungit in laik or puyll.


Logicianys knawys heirin myne entent,25


Vndir quhais boundis lurkis mony strange went,


Quharof the proces, as now, we mon lat be.


Bot ȝit twychyng our tungis penuryte,


I meyn into compar of fair Latyn,


That knawyn is maste perfite langage fyne,30
[Pg 16]

I mycht also, percace, cum lyddir speid


For arbor and lignum intill our leid


To fynd different proper termys twane,


And tharto put circumlocutioun nane;


Rycht so, by about spech oftyn tymys5


And semabill wordis we compile our rymys.


God wait, in Virgill ar termys mony a hundir


Fortill expone maid me a felloun blundir;


To follow alanerly Virgilis wordis, I weyn,


Thar suld few vndirstand me quhat thai meyn;10


The bewte of his ornate eloquens


May nocht al tyme be kepit with the sentens.


Sanct Gregor eik forbyddis ws to translait


Word eftir word, bot sentens follow al gait.


Quha haldis, quod he, of wordis the properteis15


Full oft the verite of the sentens fleys.


And to the sammyn purpos we may apply


Horatius in hys art of poetry;


Pres nocht, says he, thou traste interpreter,


Word eftir word to translait thi mater.20


Lo he reprevis, and haldis myssemyng,


Ay word by word to reduce ony thing.


I say nocht this of Chauser for offens,


But till excus my lewyt insufficiens;


For as he standis beneth Virgill in gre,25


Vndir hym alsfer I grant my self to be.


And netheles into sum place, quha kend it,


My mastir Chauser gretly Virgill offendit.


All thoch I be to bald hym to repreif,


He was fer baldar, certis, by hys leif,30
[Pg 17]

Sayand he followit Virgillis lantern toforn,


Quhou Eneas to Dydo was forsworn.


Was he forsworn? Than Eneas was fals;


That he admittis, and callys hym traytour als.


Thus, wenyng, allane Ene to haue reprevit,5


He has gretly the prynce of poetis grevit.


For, as said is, Virgill dyd diligens,


But spot of cryme, reproch, or ony offens,


Eneas for to loif and magnyfy;


And gif he grantis hym maynsworn fowlely,10


Than all hys cuyr and crafty engyne gais quyte,


Hys twelf ȝheris laubouris war nocht worth a myte.


Certis, Virgill schawys Ene dyd na thing,


From Dydo of Cartage at hys departyng,


Bot quhilk the goddis commandit hym beforn;15


And gif that thar command maid hym maynsworn,


That war repreif to thar diuinyte,


And na reproch onto the said Enee.


Als in the first, quhar Ilioneus


Spekis to the queyn Dido, says he nocht thus,20


Thar curs by fait was set tyll Italy?


Thus mycht scho not pretend na just caus quhy,


Thocht Troianys eftir departis of Cartage,


Sen thai befor declaryt hir thar vayage.


Reid the ferd buke quhar queyn Dido is wraith,25


Thar sal ȝhe fynd Ene maid nevir aith,


Promyt, nor band with hir fortill abyde:


Thus hym tobe maynsworn may nevir betyde,


Nor nane onkyndnes schew forto depart


At the bydding of Jove with reuthfull hart,30
[Pg 18]

Sen the command of God obey suld all,


And vndir his charge na wrangwys deid may fall.


Bot sikkyrly, of resson, me behufis


Excus Chauser fra all maner repruffis,


In lovyng of thir ladeis lylly quhyte5


He set on Virgill and Eneas this wyte;


For he was evir, God wait, all womanis frend.


I say na mair, bot, gentil redaris heynd,


Lat all my faltis with this offens pas by.


Thou prynce of poetis, I the mercy cry,10


I meyn thou kyng of kyngis, lord etern,


Thou be my muse, my gydar, and laid stern,


Remittyng my trespas and euery mys


Throu prayer of thy moder queyn of blys!


Afald godhed, ay lestyng, but discrepans,15


In personys thre, equale of a substans,


On the I call and Mary Virgyn myld;


Calliope nor payan goddis wild


May do to me na thing bot harm, I weyn,


In Criste is all my traste and hevynnys queyn.20


Thou virgyn moder and madyn be my muse,


That nevir ȝit na synfull lyst refus


Quhilk the besocht deuotly for supple;


Albeit my sang to thy hie maieste


Accordis nocht, ȝit condiscend to my write,25


For the sweit liquor of thy pappis quhite


Fosterit that prynce, that hevynly Orpheus,


Grond of all gude, our Saluyour Ihesus.


Bot forthirmor, and lawar to discend,


Forgeif me Virgill gif I the offend,30
[Pg 19]

Pardon thy Scolar, suffir hym to ryme,


Sen thou was bot ane mortal man sum tyme;


In cace I faill haue me not at disdenȝe,


Thocht I be lewit, my leill hart can nocht fenȝe:


I sall the follow, suld I therfor haue blame,5


Quha can do bettir, sa furth in Goddis name.


I schrynk nocht anys correkkit for tobe


With ony wight grundit on cherite,


And glaidly wald I baith inquire and leir,


And till ilke cunnand wight la to my myne eyr;10


Bot laith me war, but owther offens or cryme,


Ane brimell body suld intertrike my ryme.


Thocht sum wald swer that I the text haue vareit,


Or that I haue this volume quyte myscareit,


Or threpe playnly that I come nevir neir hand it,15


Or at the wark is wers than evir I fand it,


Or ȝit argue Virgill stude weill befor,


As now war tyme to schift the werst our scor;


Ellis haue I said, thar may be na compar


Betwix his versis and my stile wlgar.20


All thocht he stant in Latyn maist perfyte,


Ȝit stude he nevir weill in our tung endyte,


Les than it be by me now at this tyme.


Gyf I haue falȝeit, baldly reprufe my ryme;


Bot first, I pray ȝou, grape the mater cleyn,25


Reproche me nocht quhill the wark be ourseyn.


Beis not our studyus to spy a moyt in myne E,


That in ȝour awyn a ferry boyt can nocht se,


And do to me as ȝhe wald be done to.


Now hark schirris, thar is na mair ado;30
[Pg 20]

Quha list attend, gevis audiens, and draw neir,


Me thocht Virgill begouth on this maner:




I the ilk vmquhile that in the small ait reid


Tonyt my sang; syne fra the woddis ȝeid,


And feildis about taucht tobe obesand,5


Thocht he war gredy, to the bissy husband,


Ane thankfull wark maid for the plewchmanis art:


Bot now the horribill stern dedys of Mart,


The batalys and the man I will discryve.




[Pg 21]


THE CONTENTIS


OF EUERY BOOK FOLLOWING.




The first contenys quhou the prynce Ene


And Troianys war dryve onto Cartage cite.




The secund buke schawis the finale ennoy,


The gret myscheif, and subuersioun of Troy.




The thryd tellith quhou fra Troys cite


The Troianys careit war throu owt the see.




The ferd rehersis of fair queyn Dido


The dowbill woundis, and the mortale wo.




The fyft contenys funerale gemmys glaid,


And how the fyre the navy dyd invaid.




Into the saxt buke syne doith Virgill tell,


Quhou that Eneas went and visseit hell.




The sevynt Ene bryngis to hys grond fatale,


And how Italianys Troianys schup to assale.




Ontill Eneas gevis the auchten buke


Baith falloschip and armour, quha list luke.
[Pg 22]



Dawnus son Turnus in the nynte, tak tent,


Segis new Troy, Eneas tho absent.




The tent declaris by the cost atanys


The batale betwix Tuscanys and Rutulanys.




In the ellevynt Rutulyanys beyn ourset,


By the deces of Camylla downebet.




The twelft makis end of all the weir, but dowt,


Throu the slauchtir of Turnus stern and stowt.




The last, ekit to Virgillis nowmyr evyn


By Mapheus, convoys Ene to hevyn.




[Pg 23]




 THE FIRST BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




The Poet first proponyng hys entent


Declaris Junois wreth and mailtalent.












The batalis and the man I wil discrive,


Fra Troys boundis first that fugitive


By fait to Ytail come and cost Lavyne;


Our land and sey kachit with mekil pyne,


By fors of goddis abufe, from euery steid,5


Of cruell Juno throu ald remembrit fede.


Gret pane in batail sufferit he alsso,


Or he his goddis brocht in Latio,


And belt the cite, fra quham, of nobill fame,


The Latyne pepill takyn heth thar name,10


And eik the faderis, princis of Alba,


Cam, and the wallaris of gret Rome alswa.


O thou my muse, declare the causis quhy,


Quhat maiestie offendit, schaw quham by,


Or ȝit quharfor of Goddis the drery Queyn15


Sa feil dangeris, sik travell maid susteyn
[Pg 24]

A worthy man, fulfillit of piete:


Is thare sik greif in hevynly myndis on hie?


Thare was ane ancyant cite, hecht Cartage,


Quham hynys of Tyre held intill heritage,


Ennymy to Itail, standand fair and plane5


The mouth of lang Tibir our forgane,


Myghty of moblys, full of sculys seyr,


And maist expert in crafty fait of weir:


Of quhilk a land Juno, as it is said,


As to hir special abuf al otheris maid;10


Hir native land for it postponyt sche


Callit Samo; in Cartage sett hir see;


Thar war hir armys, and here stude eik hir chair.


This Goddes ettillit, gif werdis war nocht contrar,


This realme to be superior and mastres15


To all landis; bot certis, netheles,


The fatale sisteris reuolue and schaw, scho kend,


Of Troiane blude a pepill suld discend,


Wailliant in weir, to ryng wydquhar, and syne


Cartage suld bryng ontill finale rewyne,20


And clene distroy the realme of Lybia.


This dredand Juno, and forthirmor alswa


Remembring on the ancyant mortell weir


That for the Grekis, to hir leif and deir,


At Troy lang tyme scho led befor that day;25


For ȝit the causys of wreth war nocht away,


Nor cruell harm forȝet ne out of mynd;


Ful deip engravyn in hir breist onkynd


The jugement of Parys, quhou that he


Preferrit Venus, dispisyng hir bewte;30
[Pg 25]

Als, Troiane blude till hir was odyus,


For Jupiter engendrit Dardanus,


Fra quham the Troianys cam in adultry,


And Ganymedes revist abuf the sky,


Maid him his butler, quhilk was hir douchteris office.5


Juno inflambit, musyng on thir casis nyce,


The quhile our sey that salit the Troianys,


Quhilkis had the ded eschapit, and remanys


Onslane of Grekis or of the fers Achill,


Scho thame fordryvis, and causys oft ga will10


Frawart Latium, quhilk now is Italy,


By fremmyt werd ful mony ȝeris tharby,


Cachit and blaw wydquhar all seys about.


Lo quhou gret cure, quhat travell, pane, and dowt,


Was to begyn the worthy Romanys blude!15


And as the Troianys frakkis our the flude,


Skars from the sycht of Sysilly the land,


With bent sail full, rycht merely saland,


Thar stevynnys scowrand fast throu the salt fame,


Quhen that Juno, till hir euerlestand schame,20


The etern wound hyd in hir breist ay greyn,


Ontill hir self thus spak in propir teyn;


Is this ganand, that I my purpos faill


As clene ourcum, and may nocht from Itaill


Withhald thys kyng of Troy and his navy?25


Am I abandonyt with sa hard destany,


Sen Pallas mocht on Grekis tak sik wraik,


To byrn thar schippis, and all, for anys saik,


Drowne in the sey, for Aiax Oilus wrang?


From Jupiter the wild fyre down sche slang30
[Pg 26]

Furth of the clowdis, distroyt thar schippis all,


Ourquhelmyte the sey with mony wyndy wall;


Aiax breist persit, gaspand furth flawmand smoke,


Sche with a thud stikkit on a scharp roke.


Bot I, the quhilk am clepit of godis queyn,5


And onto Jove baith spous and sistir scheyn,


With a pepill sa feill ȝheris weir sall lede;


Quha sal from thens adorn in ony stede


The power of Juno, or altaris sacryfy,


Gif I ourcummyn be thus schamefully?10






 CAP. II.




Quhou Dame Juno tyll Eolus’ cuntre went,


And of the storm on the Troianys furth sent.








And on this wys, wyth hart byrnyng as fyre,


Musyng alone, full of malyce and ire,


Tyll Eolus’ cuntre, that wyndy regioune,


A brudy land of furyus stormy sowne,


This Goddes went, quhar Eolus the kyng,15


In gowsty cavys, the wyndis lowde quhissilling,


And braithly tempestis by hys power refrenys,


In bandis hard schet in presoun constrenys;


And thai, heirat havand full gret disdeyn,


Quhill all the hill resoundis, quhryne and plene20


About thar closouris brayng with mony a rare.


Kyng Eolus set hie apon his chare,
[Pg 27]

With ceptour in hand, thar muyd to meys and still,


Temperis thar ire, les thai suld at thar will


Beir with thar byr the skyis, and drive about


Erd, ayr and sey, quhen euer thame lest blaw out.


Thus the hie fader almychty in cavis dyrk5


Thir wyndis hyd, for dreid sik wrangis thai wyrk,


And thar abuf set weghty hillys huge,


Gave thame a kyng, quhilk, as thar lord and juge,


At certane tyme thame stanching and withhald,


And, at command also, mycht quhen he wald10


Lat thame go fre at large to blaw out braid.


To quham as than lawly thus Juno said;


Eolus, a pepill onto me ennemy,


Salis the sey Tuscane, cariand to Italy


Thar venquyst hamehald goddis and Ilion;15


Bot, sen the fader of goddis euery one


And kyng of men gave the power, quod sche,


To meys the flude, or rays with stormys hie,


Infors thi wyndis, synk all thar schippis infeir,


Or skattir widquhar into cuntreis seir,20


Warp all thar bodeis in the deip bedeyn.


I haue, quod sche, lusty ladeis fourteyn,


Of quhame the farest, clepit Diope,


In ferm wedlok I sal coniune to the


For thi reward, that lilly quhite of swar,25


With the for to remane for euermar;


Quhilk propir spous and eik thi lady myld


Sal mak the fader to mony fair child.


Eolus answeris, O thou my lady queyn,


Quhat thou desiris to the it doith perteyn30
[Pg 28]

Forto devys, and me behuffis thi command


Obey; for thou the ceptour gevis me in hand


Of all this realme, quhat so it be, and oft


Jupiter with me consideris, and ful soft


Causis me feist amang the goddis at rest,5


And makis me master of wyndis and tempest.


Be this was said, a grondyn dart leit he glide,


And persit the bos hill at the braid syde;


Furth at the ilke port wyndis brade in a rout,


And with a quhirl blew all the erth about.10


Thai ombeset the seys bustuusly,


Quhil fra the deip, til euery cost fast by,


The huge wallis weltris apon hie,


Rollit at anys with storm of wyndis thre,


Eurus, Nothus, and the wynd Affricus,15


Quhilkis est, south, and west wyndis hait with ws.


Sone efter this, of men the clamour rays,


The takillis graslis, cabillis can fret and frays.


Swith the clowdis, hevyn, son, and days lycht


Hyd, and byreft furth of the Troianys sycht;20


Dyrknes as nycht beset the seys about;


The firmament gan rummylling rair and rout,


The skyis oft lychtnyt with fyry levin,


And schortly bath ayr, sey, and hevin,


And euery thing mannasit the men to de,25


Schawand the ded present tofor thar E.




[Pg 29]




 CAP. III.




Quhou that Ene was with the tempest schaik,


And quhou Neptune his navy salvyt fra wraik.






Belive Eneas membris schuk for cald,


And murnand baith his handis vp did hald


Towart the sternys, with petuus voce thus gan say;


O sevin tymys quhou happy and blissit war thai,


Vnder hie wallis of Troy, by dynt of swerd,5


Deit in thar faderis syght, bytand the erd!


O thou of Grekis maist forcy Diomed,


Quhy mycht I not on feldis of Troy haue deit,


And by thi rycht hand ȝaldin furth my sprete?


Quhar that the valiant Hectour losit the swete10


On Achillis speir, and grisly Sarpedon,


And ondyr the flude Symois mony one


With schelde and helm stalwart bodeis lyis warpit.


And al invane thus quhil Eneas carpit,


A blastrand bub, out from the north brayng,15


Gan our the forschip in the bak saill dyng,


And to the sternys vp the flude gan cast;


The aris hechis, and the takillis brast;


The schippis stevin frawart hyr went gan wryth,


And turnyt hir braid syde to the wallis swyth.20


Heich as a hill the jaw of watir brak,


And in ane hepe cam on thame with a swak.


Sum hesit hoverand on the wallis hycht,


And sum the swowchand sey so law gart lycht,
[Pg 30]

Thame semyt the erd oppynnyt amyd the flude;


The stour vp bullyrrit sand as it war wode.


The sowth wynd Nothus thre schippis draif away


Amang blynd cragis, quhilk huge rolkis, thai say,


Amyd the sey, Italianys altaris callis;5


And othir thre Eurus from the deip wallis


Cachit amang the schald bankis of sand:


Dolorus to se thame chop on grond, and stand


Lyke as a wall with sand warpit about!


Ane othir, in quham salit the Lycianys stowt,10


Quhilum fallowis to kyng Pandor in weir,


And Orontes Eneas’ fallow deir,


Befor his eyn [hastelye] from the north wynd


Ane hydduus sey schippit at hir stern behynd,


Smate furth the skippar clepit Lewcaspis,15


His hed doune warpit; and the schip with this


Thrys thar the flude quhirlit about round,


The sowkand swelth sank vnder sey and drond.


On the huge deip quhoyn salaris dyd appeir;


The Troianys’ armour, tabillis, and othir geir20


Flet on the wallis: and the strang barge tho


Bair Ilioneus, and scho that bair also


Forcy Achates, and scho that bair Abas,


And scho quharin ancyant Alethes was,


The storm ourset, raif rovis and syde semys;25


They all lekkit, the salt watir stremys


Fast bullerand in at euery ryft and boyr.


In the meyn quhile, with mony rowt and royr


The sey thus trublit, and this tempest furth sent


Felt Neptune, and his watir movit and schent,30
[Pg 31]

The deip furthȝet in schaldis heir and thair;


Gretly commovit, out of the sey gan stair,


His plesand hede rasit on the hyast wall,


Lukand about, behaldis, the sey our all,


Eneas navy skatterit fer ysundir;5


With fludis ourset the Troianys, and at vnder


By flaggis and rayn dyd from the hevyn discend:


Junois dissate and ire full weill he kend.


He callis till hym Eurus and Zephirus,


Tha est and west wyndis, and said thame thus;10


Ar ȝe sa gretly assurit in ȝour hie kyn,


Ȝe wyndis, quod he, but my leif durst begyn


Baith erd and ayr to move on this maneir,


And eik the sey with sa stowt stormys steir?


I sal ȝou chastys: bot me behuffis first meys15


The motioune of fludis, and thame appes;


Traist weill, onpunyst ȝe sal me not astart,


On sik a wys gif ȝe falt efterwart.


Withdraw ȝou hens, and to ȝour kyng say ȝe,


He has na power nor autorite20


On seys, nor on the thre granyt ceptour wand


Quhilk is by cut gevin me to beir in hand;


Hald him on craggis and amang rochis hie,


Thair is ȝour dwelling place, Eurus, quod he;


Byd Eolus kepe him in that hald conding,25


Do cloys the presoun of wyndis, and tharon ryng.


Thus said he, and with that word hastely


The swelland seys has swagit, and fra the sky


Gaderit the clowdis and chasit sone away,


Brocht hame the son agane and the brycht day.30
[Pg 32]

Hys douchter Cymothoe, and hys son Tryton


Enforsis thame the Troianys schippis anone


To rays and lift of the scharp rolkis blynd:


The god hym self gan hesyng thame behynd


With his byg ceptour havand granys thre;5


Oppynnys schald sandis and temperis weill the see,


Ourslidand lychtly the croppis of the wallis.


And as ȝe se, as oft amangis commonys fallis


Stryfe and debait in thar wod fulych ire,


Now fleys the stanys, and now the broyndis of fyre,10


Thar greif and fury mynysteris wapynnys plente:


Bot than percace, gif thai behald or se


Sum man of gret autorite and efferis,


Thai ces, and al stil standand gevis him eris;


He wyth his wordis gan slaik thar mynd and swage.15


On the samyn wys fell all the seys rage.






 CAP. IV.




Quhou Eneas in Affrik dyd arryve,


And thar with schote slew sevin hartis belyve.






Eftyr that the fader of the fludys Neptune


Had on sik wys behaldyn the seys abone,


Vndir the stabillit hevin movit in his chare,


Slakking his renȝeis with prosper cours and fair,20


Eneas and his feris, on the strand


Wery and forwrocht, sped thame to the nerrest land,
[Pg 33]

And at the cost of Lyby arryvit he.


Ane havyn place with a lang hals or entre


Thar is, with ane ile enveronyt on athir part,


To brek the wallis and storm of euery art;


Within, the watir in a bosum gays.5


Baith heir and thair stant large craggis and brais.


To se the hewis on athir hand is wondir,


For hycht that semys pyngill with hevin; and vndir.


In a braid sound sovir from all wyndis blawis,


Flowis the schore deip, euer stabil but ony wawis.10


A wod abufe ourheldis with his rank bewis,


And castis a plesand schaddow our the clewis.


Rycht our forgane the forret of a bra,


Vnder the hyngand rolkis, was alswa


Ane coif, and tharin fresch watir springand,15


And satis of stane neuer hewyn with manis hand


Bot wrocht by natur, as it ane hows had beyn


For nymphis, goddessis of fludis and woddis greyn.


Perbrakit schippis but cabillis thar mycht ryde,


Nane ankyr nedis mak thame arest nor byde.20


Of all his navy thidder Eneas brocht


Bot sevin schippis. With gret desyre and thocht


Tobe on grund Troianys sped thame to land,


As thai desyrit set softly on the sand;


Thare lethis and lymmys in salt watir bedyit,25


Strekit on the cost, spred furth, bekit and dryit.


Bot first Achates slew fyre of the flynt


Keppit in dry leiffis, as tunder, quhil thai brynt;


Syne stikkis dry to kyndil thar about laid is,


Quhil al in flambe the bles of fyre vp bradis.30
[Pg 34]

Than was the quhete with fludis chaffit and wet,


And instrumentis to purge it, swith out set.


For skant of vittal, the cornys in quernys of stane


Thai grand, and syne buke at the fyre ilkane.


In the meyn quhile, Eneas the bank on hie5


Has clummyn, widequhar behaldand the large see,


Gif ony schip tharon mycht be persavit


Quhilk lait tofor the wyndis had bewavit,


Or ony Troiane galay, bark or barge,


Antheus, Capis, or Caicus stremeris large10


Wavand or schawand from thar top on hycht.


Na schip he saw; bot sone he gat a syght


Of thre hartis waverand by the cost syde,


Quham at the bak, throu out the gravis wide,


The mekil herdis followit in a rowt,15


And pasturit all the large valle about.


Tharat he styntis, and hynt his bow in hand;


Swift fleand arowis fast by him had berand


The traist Achates: and first the ledaris thre,


Quhilk on thar hedis bair the tyndis hie,20


Smertly he slew, syne all the rangald persewis


With grundyn arowis amang the thik wod bewis;


And styntis not with dartis thame to bete


Quhil he to grond had brocht sevin hartis grete,


And with his schippis thar nowmyr equale maid.25


Syne to the havin sped him for out abaid,


And thame distribut amangis his feris all.


The wyne tharwith, in veschell gret and small,


Quhilk til him gave Acestes, his ryall host,


At his departing from Sycilly the cost,30
[Pg 35]

To thame he byrlis and skynkis fast but weir,


And with sik wordis comfortis thar drery cheir:


O ȝe my feris, and deir frendis, quod he,


Of by went perrellis not ignorant bene we;


Ȝe haue sustenyt grettar dangeris onkend,5


Lyke as heirof God sal mak sone ane end.


The rage of Silla, that huge swelth in the see,


Ȝe haue eschapit, and passit eik haue ȝhe


The euer rowtand Charibdis rolkis fell,


The craggis quhar monstruus Ciclopes dwell10


Ȝhe ar expert: pluk vp ȝour hartis, I ȝou pray,


This dolorus dreid expell and do away;


Sum tyme heiron to think may help perchance.


By diuers cacis, seir perrellis and sufferance,


Onto Itale we ettill, quhar destany15


Has schape for ws, in rest and quiet, herbry.


Predestinat is thar Troy sal rys agane;


Beis stowt, on prosper forton to remane.


Syk plesand wordis, carpand, he has furth brocht,


Set his mynd trublit mony grewous thocht,20


With fenȝeit comfort by his cheyr outwart


The dolorus payn hyd deip gravyn in hart.


Hys feris has this praye ressauyt raith,


And to thar met addressis, it to graith;


Hynt of the hydis, maid the bowkis bair,25


Rent furth the entralis, sum in tailȝeis schare,


Syne brochit flykerand, sum gobbettis of lyre


Kest in caldronys, and othir sum bet the fyre,


Thame to refresch: thus all, the cost on lenth,


Sped thame with fude to recover thar strenth;30
[Pg 36]

On the greyn gers sat doune, and fillit thaim syne


Of fat venyson and nobill auld wyne.


Quhen hungir thus with metis was chasit away,


And dischis drawin, than, with lang sermond, thai


Bewalit thar feris lossit on the flude:5


Betwix gude hope and dreid in dowt thai stude,


Quhidder thai war levand, or tholit extreme ded all;


Thai answer nocht set thai oft pleyn and call.


Bot principally, the pietefull Eneas


Regratis oft the hard fortoune and cace10


Of stern Orontes new drownyt in the sey,


And now Amycus harm complenys he,


Now hym alone the cruel fate of Lycus,


Now strang Gyan, now stalwart Cloanthus.






 CAP. V.




Quhou Jove beheld the large costis on fer,


And how Venus carpis with Jupiter.






Gone was the day, and all thar lang sermoun,15


Quhen Jupiter, from his heich speir, adoun


Blent on the sailrife seys and erth tharby,


With pepill dwellyng on costis fer syndry;


Heich in the hevynnys top he baid hoverand,


And of Lyby beheld graithly the land.20


Within his breist on diuers curis as he thus


Musys and thynkis, ontill hym spak Venus


All dolorus, hir eyn full of brycht teris:


O thow, quod sche, quhilk governys, rewlis and steris
[Pg 37]

Baith goddis and men be thyne etern empyre,


And oft affrays with thundyr and wyldfyre,


Quhou mycht myne Ene sa gretly the offend?


Or quhat mycht Troianys trespas, quhilk now at end


Ar brocht and sufferit, sa feill corsis laid ded,5


Throu owt the warld debarrit in euery sted,


And drevin from Itale? Thou hecht vmquhile, persay.


Of thame suld cum, efter this mony a day,


The worthy Romanys, and of Troianys ofspring


Princis of power our sey and land to ryng.10


Quhat wikkit counsale, fader, has turnyt thi thocht?


Forsuyth, at Troys distructioune, as I mocht,


I tuke comfort heirof, thinkand but baid,


That hard wanwerd suld follow fortoun glaid.


Bot ȝit the sammyn myschance persewis thame sayr,15


In syndry dangeris cachit heir and thair:


Of thair travell quhat end grantis thou, gret kyng?


Sen Anthenor mycht throu myd ostis thring


Of Grekis, and pers the soundis Ilyria,


And sovirly pas the strait regionys alswa20


Of Liburnanys, and our Tymavy the flude,


Quharat nyne mouthis rynand as it war wode,


The hillis resoundis, sa rudly doith it rowt,


And like a sey bettis on the brays about;


Thar netheles, of Padva the cite,25


A dwelling place for Troianys, biggit has he,


And nemmyt the pepill efter hym, and full ȝor,


The armys of Troy has set vp in memor:


Bot we thi blude, thi kynrent and ofspring,


To quham in hevin thou grantis a place to ryng,30
[Pg 38]

Schame forto say, all throw the feid of ane,


Has lossit our schippis, and ar betrasit ilkane,


And fer from Itale bene withhaldin eik;


Is this reward ganand for thame ar meik?


Is this the honour done to thame bene godlyke?5


Restoris thou ws on sik wys our kynryke?


Smylyng sum deil, the fader of goddis and men,


With that ilk sweit vissage, as we ken,


That mesys tempestis and makis the hevynnys cleir,


First kyssit his child, syne said on this maneir:10


Away sik dreid, Cytherea, be nocht efferd,


For thi lynage onchangit remanys the werd.


As thou desyris, the cite salt thou se,


And of Lavyne the promyst wallis hie;


Eik thou salt rays abuf the sterrit sky15


The manfull Eneas, and hym deify.


My sentence is nocht alterit, as thou trastis;


Bot I sal schaw the, sen sik thochtis the thrastis,


And heir declair of destaneis the secreit,


Full mony ȝheris tofor thai be compleit.20


This Eneas, with hydwys bargannyng,


In Itale frawart pepill sall doune thring;


Syne efter statut lawis for tha men,


And beld townys, and wal his citeis then.


Quhen thre someris in Latium or Itail,25


And thre wynteris he rungyn has all haill


Fra tyme Rutilyanys bene subdewit in fecht,


Than the ȝong child, quhilk now Ascanyvs hecht,


And to surname clepit Iulus sans faill,


For he in Ilion was of the blude ryale,30
[Pg 39]

Quhill that of Troy and Ilion stude the Ryng,


Thretty lang twelfmonthis rolling our sal ryng,


From Lavyne realm the seyt translat alswa,


And forcely wall the cite lang Alba:


Thar sal thre hundreth ȝeris togidder remane5


The ryng vnder the pepill Hectoriane,


Quhil Ilya nun and dochter of a kyng,


Consavit of Mars, twa twynnys do furth bring:


Than with the glitterand wolf skyn our his aray,


Cled in his nurys talbert glaid and gay,10


Romulus sal the pepill ressaue and weld,


And he the mercial wallis of Rome sal beld,


And efter his name cal the pepill Romanys.


To thir folkis, quhou lang thar ryng remanys,


Nowder term of space nor boundis of senȝeory15


Nane wil I set; for to thame grant haue I


Perpetual empyre, but end to lest.


Apirsmert Juno, that with gret onrest


Now cummyrris erd, sey and ayr, quod he,


Sal turn hir mynd bettir ways, and with me20


Fostir the Romanys, lordis of al erdly geir,


And Latyne pepill kepe bath in payce and weir.


This is determyt, this lykis the goddis, I wys.


Eftir mony lustris and ȝeris ourslydyn is,


The tyme sal cum quhen Anchises ofspring25


The realm of Phthia in bondage sal doune thring,


And eik of Myce subdew the regioune large,


And vndir thar lordschip dant al Grece and Arge.


Cesar of nobill Troiane blude born salbe,


Quhilk sal thempyre delait to the occiane see,30
[Pg 40]

And to the sternys vpspring sal the fame


Of Julius, that takyn haith hys name


From Iulus, thi nevo, the gret kyng,


As prince discend of his blude and ofspring;


Quham, efter this, sovir of thyne entent,5


Chargit with the spulȝe of the orient,


Amang the nowmyr of goddis ressaue thou sall,


And as a god men sal him clep and call.


The cruel tyme sone therefter sal ces,


And weris stanche, al salbe rest and pes;10


Ancyant faith, and valiant knychthed,


With chaste religioune, sal than the lawys led;


The dreidful portis salbe schet, but faill,


Of Janus tempill, the takynar of bataill;


With hard irne bandis claspit fast in cage,15


Of wykkit bargane tharin the furyus rage


Set apon grisly armour in his seyt,


And with ane hundreth brasyn chenȝeis grete


Behynd hys bak hard bund hys handis tway,


The horribil tyrrant with bludy mouth sal bray.20


This beand said, Jupiter ful evyn


Hys son Mercury send doune from the hevyn;


So that of Cartage baith realm and new cite


To luge the Troianys suld all reddy be,


Les than Dido, the destany mysknawand,25


Wald thame expell hyr boundis or hyr land.


He with gret fard of weyngis flaw throu the sky,


And to the cuntre of Liby come in hy:


Thar dyd hys charge; and the folkis of Cartage


Thar fers mudis and hartis gan asswage30
[Pg 41]

At the plesour of the god, quhilk thame taucht.


And, first of othir, the quene hir self has kaucht


Towart the Troianys a ful frendly mynd,


As on to thame tilbe bowsum and kynd.






 CAP. VI.




Ene, at morow rakand throu the schaw,


Met with hys modir into habit onknaw.






Bot al this nyght the reuthfull Eneas,5


That in his mynd gan mony thyng compas,


Belive as that the hailsum day wolx lycht,


Dressit him furth to spy and haue a sycht


Of new placis; fortil sers and knaw,


To quhatkyn costis he with the wynd was blaw,10


Quha thame inhabit, quhidder wild bestis or men,


For al semyt bot wildernes til hym then;


And as he fand schupe till hys feris to schaw:


Hys navy dern amyd the thyk wod schaw,


Vnderneth the holkit hyngand rochis hie,15


Dekkit about with mony semly tre,


Quhois schaddowis dyrk hyd weill the schippis ilkane.


And he bot with a fallow furth is gane,


With traste Achates; in athiris hand yfeir


The braid steil heid schuke on the huntyng speir.20


Amyd the wod hys moder met thame tway,


Semand a maid in vissage and aray,
[Pg 42]

With wapynnys like the virgynys of Spartha,


Or the stowt wench of Trace, Harpalica,


Hastand the hors hir fadir to reskew,


Spedyar than Hebrun, the swyft flude, dyd persew:


For Venus, eftyr the gys and maner thar,5


Ane active bow apon hir schuldeir bar


As scho had bene a wild hunteres,


With wynd waving hir haris lowsit of tres,


Hir skyrt kiltit til hir bair kne,


And, first of other, onto thame thus spak sche;10


Howe, say me ȝonkeris, saw ȝe walkand heir


By aventur ony of my sisteris deyr,


The cays of arrowis tachit by hir syde,


And cled in to the spottit lynx hyde,


Or with lowd cry followand the chays15


Eftir the fomy bayr, in thar solace?


Thus said Venus. And hir son agane


Answeris and said, trewly, maide, in plane


Nane of thi systeris dyd I heir ne se;


Bot, O thou virgyne, quham sal I cal the?20


Thy vissage semys na mortale creature,


Nor thi voce soundis not lyke to humane nature,


A goddes art thou suythly to my sycht.


Quhidder thou be Dyane, Phebus systir brycht,


Or than sum goddes of thir nymphis kynd,25


Maistres of woddis, beis to ws happy and kynd,


Releve our lang travell quhat euer thou be,


And, vndir quhat art of this hevyn sa hie,


Or at quhat cost of the warld finaly


Sal we arrive, thou tech ws by and by:30
[Pg 43]

Of men and land onknaw we ar drive will


By wynd and storm of sey cachit hiddertill;


And mony fair sacrifice and offerand


Befor thyne altar sal de of my rycht hand.


Venus answerd, I denȝe not to ressaue5


Sik honour certis, quhilk feris me nocht to haue;


Forto the madynnys of Tyre this is the gyis,


To beir a cays of arowis on this wys,


With rede botynys on thar schankis hie.


This is the realm of Punyce quhilk ȝe se,10


The pepill of Tyre, and the cite, but mor,


Belt by the folk discend from Agenor.


Ȝhe bene in the merchis of Lyby, sans faill,


Inhabit with pepill ondantabill in bataill.


Quhar Dido quene rewlis the empyre,15


Hydder, for hir brodir, fled from the realm of Tyre:


Lang war the iniuris, the dowtis lang tobe tald,


Bot I the vmaste of the mater sall hald.


Ane husband, quhilk Sycheus hecht, had sche,


Rychast in all the ground of Phenyce,20


And strangly luffit of the silly Dido;


For be hir fader, as was the maner tho,


By chans scho was in cleyn virginite


Weddit to hym; bot of Tyre the cuntre


In heretage held Pigmalyon hir brodir,25


In wikkitnes cruel abufe all othir,


Quhilk, but offence or occasioun of greif,


For blynd cwatyce of gold throu his myscheif.


Befor the altar, slely with a knyfe,


Or he was war, reft Sycheus the lyfe;30
[Pg 44]

And, of the gret luf of hys systir suyr,


Concelyt this cruel deid lang vndir cuyr;


That fals man, by dissaitfull wordis fair,


With vaynhope trumpit the wofull luffar.


Bot of hir husband bygravit the ymage5


To hir apperis in sleip, with pail vissage,


On mervellus wys, and gan at lenth declare


Quhou he was cruelly slane at the altare;


He schew the knyf out throw hys breist threst,


And all the hyd cryme of hir hows manyfest:10


Syne in gret haist exortis hir to fle,


And leif hir native land, and tak the see;


And, forto help hir onwart by the way,


Vnder the erth quhar ald hurdis hyd lay,


Of siluer and gold revelit a huge weght.15


Dido heirat commovit, I ȝou hecht,


For hir departing falloschip reddy maid;


Togidder conuenys, but ony langar abaid,


All thai quhilk hatis the cruell tyrrantis dedis,


Or ȝit his fellon violence sair dredis.20


The schippis that on cays war reddy thar


Thai tuke, and chargit full of gold but mayr.


The tresour of the wrachit Pigmaleon


Is thus caryit our the sey onone:


A woman captane is of all this deid.25


To ȝone place ar thai cummyn, thou may tak heid,


Quhar now rysis ȝone large wallis stowt


Of New Cartage, with hie towris abowt.


Als mekill grond thai bocht at the first tyde


As thai mycht compas with a bullis hyde;30
[Pg 45]

Ȝondir cheif castell standing on the bra


Into thar langage clepit is Byrsa,


And of this deid the name beris witnes ȝit.


Bot, quhat be ȝhe, finaly wald I wyt?


Or of quhat cuntre cummyn? or pas wald quhar?5


Scho sperand this, Eneas sichand sair,


The voce drawand deip from his breist within,


Said, O thou goddes, gif I suld begyn


And tell our labour from the formast end,


To heir our storyis set thou myght attend,10


Or I maid end, Vesper, the evyn starn brycht,


Suld cloys the hevin and end the days lycht.


We ar of ancyant Troy, gif euer ȝe


The name of Troy has hard in this cuntre,


And caryit throu owt diuers seys alswa,15


And now by fortoune to cost of Lybia


Drevyn with tempest. Rewthfull Ene am I,


That Troiane goddis tursys in my navy,


Quham fra amyd our ennemys I rent;


My fame is knaw abufe the eliment;20


I seik Itale and our auld cuntre fer,


And lynage cum from hyast Jupiter.


With schippis twys ten the Phrygyane see,


My modir a goddes techand the way, tuke we,


Followand destany quhilk was to me grant;25


Of all our floyt, from wynd and wallys, skant


Sevin evil perbrakit salue remanys with me.


Onkend and mystirfull in desertis of Lybe


I wandir, expellit from Europ and Asia.


Venus na mair sufferit hym pleyn or say,30
[Pg 46]

Amyd hys dolorus playntis thus spak sche;


Quhat evir thou art, I trast weill at thou be


Favorit with the goddis, and drawis this hailsum ayr,


Quhilk is the spreit of lyfe, to thy weilfair,


Sen thou art cummyn to Cartage the cyte.5


Now hald thy way, and at the Quenys entre


Present thy self; I schaw the, for certane,


Thy ferys ar salf, thy navy is cummyn agane,


In salfty brocht fre of north wyndis als,


Les than my parentis taucht me spayng craft fals.10


Behald twelf swannys in randoun glaid and fair,


Quham, newly from the regioun of the air


Jovis fowle, the Egill, discending fra hys hycht,


Has sair effrayt amyd the skyis brycht;


Now with lang range to lycht thai beyn adrest,15


And spyis the erth about quhar thai sall rest:


As thai return, thar weyngis swouchand jolely,


And with thar coursis circlys about the sky,


Cryand or syngand efter thar awyn gys;


Thy schippys and falloschip on the sammyn wys20


Owdir ar herbryit in the havyn, I wys,


Or with bent saill entris in the port be this.


Now pas thy way evyn furth that sammyn went.


Thus said sche, and turnand incontinent,


Hir nek schane lyke onto the roys in May,25


Hyr hevynly haris, glitterand brycht and gay,


Kest from hir forhed a smell gloryus and sweit,


Hir habyt fell down coveryng to hir feit,


And in hir passage a verray god dyd hir kyth.


And fra that he knew hys moder, alswith30
[Pg 47]

With sik wordis he followys as scho dyd fle;


Quhy art thou cruell to thy son, quod he,


Dissavand hym sa oft with fals sembland?


Quhy grantis thou nocht we mycht joyn hand in hand,


And fortill heir and rendir vocis trew?5


Thus he reprevys, bot sche is went adew;


Than to the Cyte he haldis furth the way.


Bot Venus with a sop of myst, baith tway,


And with a dyrk clowd, closyt rownd about,


That na man suld thame se nor twich but dowt,10


Ne by the ways stop or ellis deir,


Or ȝit the cawsis of thar cummyn speir.


Hyr self vplift to Paphum passyt swith,


To vissy hir restyng place, joly and blith;


Thar is hir tempill into Cypir land,15


Quharin thar doith ane hundreth altaris stand,


Hait byrnnyng full of Saba sens all houris,


And smellyng sweit with fresch garlandis of flowris.






 CAP. VII.




Eneas, at his moderys commandment,


Cled with the mysty clowd, to Cartage went.






Thai, in the meyn tyme, hastit furth thar way


As the rod led thame, quhil ascend ar thai20


The hill fer rysand abuf the town on hycht,


Quhar all the Cite forgane thame se thai mycht.
[Pg 48]

Eneas wondrit the gretnes of Cartage,


Quhilk lait tofor had beyn ane smal cotage;


The fair portis alsso he ferleit fast,


And of the brute of pepill tharat inpast,


The large stretys paithit by and by,5


The byssy Tyrryanys lauborand ardently.


Ane part haistis to beild the wallys wight;


And sum to rays the gret castell on hyght,


And welt vp stanys to the wark on hie;


Sum grathis fast the thak and rufe of tre;10


And sum about delvys the fowsy deip;


Sum chesis officeris the lawys forto kepe,


With counsalouris and senatouris, wys folkis;


Ȝonder other sum the new havyn holkis;


And heir alsso, ane other end fast by,15


Lays the fundament of the theatry;


And otheris eik the huge pillaris grete


Out of the querrellys gan do hew and bete,


Fortill adorn that place in all degre,


In tyme cummyng quhar gret triumphe suldbe.20


Lyke to the beys, in feildis floryst new,


Gaderyng thar wark of mony diuers hew,


In soft somyr the brycht son hait schynyng,


Quhen of thar kynd thame list swarmys furth bryng,


Or in camys inclus thar hwny cleyn,25


And with sweit liquour stuffis thar cellis scheyn,


Or ressavys the byrdyngis from othir tharowt,


Or fra thar hyve togyddir in a rowt


Expellis the bowbart beist, the faynt drone be:


Thar labour is bissy and fervent forto se,30
[Pg 49]

The hwny smellys of the sweit tyme seid.


O, quod Ene, full happy ar ȝhe in deid,


Quhais large wallis rysys thus on hie!


A quhile he visseit the boundis of this cite,


Ane wonder thyng, coverit with a clowd about;5


He entrys syne amyd the thikast rowt,


Amang the men he thrang, and nane hym saw.


Amyd the cite stude ane semly schaw,


With hys maist plesand sobir schaddowis, quhar,


As the Punycianys first vpwarpit war,10


Efter the stormys blastis and seys rage,


Thai, delvand, fand the takynar of Cartage,


Ane mekill hors hed that was, I weyn,


As Juno had schaw tofor, of goddis queyn,


That signyfyit the cite excellent in batale,15


And plentuus eik al tymys of vittale.


In the ilke place, the Sydonas Dido


Begouth to byg a prowd tempill of Juno,


With dowreis seir and gyftis of ryches,


And eik the goldyn statw of the goddes.20


The entre rays with hie stagis of bras,


With bras alsso the cupplys festynyt was;


The brassyn durris jargis on the marbill hirst.


In this tempill, seir novelteis first


Schawin till Eneas mesyt gretly hys feir;25


The first assurance of comfort was heir,


And hope of releif eftir aduersite:


For as he went diuers thingis to se,


Rowmyng about the large tempill scheyn,


Forto behald the cummyng of the queyn,30
[Pg 50]

And of the cite the gret prosperite,


The mony warkmen, and thar craftis sle


In dew proportioun, as he woundrit for joy,


He saw per ordour all the sege of Troy,


The famus batellis, wlgat throu the warld or this,5


Of kyng Pryam and athir Attrides,


And, baldar than thame baith, the fers Achill.


He styntis, and wepand said Achates tyll;


Quhou now, quhilk place is this, my frend, quod he,


Quhat regioun in erd may fundyn be10


Quhar our mysforton is nocht fully proclame?


Allace! behald, se ȝondir king Priam,


Lo, heir his wirschip is haldin in memor;


Thir lamentabyll takynnys passit befor


Our mortal myndis aucht to compassioun steir.15


Away with dreid, and tak na langar feir;


Quhat! wenys thou na this fame sall do the gude?


Thus said he, and fed hys mynd, quhar he stude,


With thir plesand fenȝeit ymagery,


Murnand sair, and wepand tendyrly,20


The flude of terys halyng our hys face;


For as he lukit on the wark percace,


He saw porturate quhar, in sik a place,


The Grekis fled and Troianys followis the chace


Abowt the wallys of Troy as thai dyd fyght:25


At ȝondir part the Troianys tak the flycht,


With creste on hed Achillis in hys chair


Persewand strangly. Not far thens saw he, quhar,


The quhite tentis of kyng Rhesus, evill kepe,


Betraisit war apon the first sleip;30
[Pg 51]

Quhar, with gret slauchter bludy Diomeid


Distroyt all, and till hys tent gan leid


The mylk quhite horssis, fers, swift and gude,


Or evir thai taistit ony Troiane fude,


Or drunkyn had of the flude Exanthus.5


And ȝondir, lo! beheld he Troilus


Wantyng his armour, the fey barn fleand,


Fortill recontyr Achilles onganand,


The hors hym harland behynd the void cart


Hyngand wyde oppyn, and hys hed dounwart;10


Suppos he held the renȝeis fast, but faill,


Hys nek and harys on the erd gan traill,


The speir ourturnyt in the duste dyd write.


The sammyn tyme, the Troian madynys quhite,


With hair doun skalit, all sorofull gan pas15


Onto the tempill of the grevit Pallas


To ask supple, with thame a wympill bair thai,


With handis betand thar breistis by the way:


This fremmyt goddes held hir eyn fixt fast


Apon the grund, nocht a blenk list thame cast.20


Abowt the wallis of Troy he saw quhat wys


Achilles harlyt Hectoris body thrys;


The ded corps syne for gold he saw hym sell.


Law from his breist murnand he gave a ȝell,


Seand the void cart, and spulȝe of the knycht,25


And the corps of his derrest frend sa dight.


Priam onarmyt streke furth handis dyd he spy


From Achilles hys sonnys body to by.


Hym self alsswa, mydlit, persavit he,


Amang princis of Grece in the melle.30
[Pg 52]

The orient hostis knew he one by one,


And Vlcanus armour on blak Memnon.


The madynnys cum fra Amason saw he soyn,


With crukit scheildis schapyn like the moyn,


Led by thar furyus queyn Pantissylle;5


Amyd the thowsandis egyrly feghtis sche,


And quhar hir pap was for the speir cut away,


Of gold tharon was belt a rych tyschay:


Ane worthy weriour suythly thai mycht hir ken,


This wench stowtly recontir durst with men.10






 CAP. VIII.




Heir to the tempil cummys queyn Dido,


Quhar that Enee his feris fand alsso.






Quhill as the manfull Troian Eneas


To se thir nyce figuris thocht wonder was,


And as he musyt, studyand in a stair


Bot on a sycht quharon he blenkit thar,


The queyn Dido, excellent in bewte,15


To tempill cumis with a fair menȝe


Of lusty ȝyngkeris walkyng hir about.


Lyke to the goddes Dian with hir rowt,


Endlang the flude of Eurot on the bra,


Or vndir the toppis of hir hill Cynthia,20


Ledand ryng dansys, quham followis our alquhar


A thousand nymphis flokkyng heir and thair:
[Pg 53]

On hir schulder the arrow cace baris sche,


And quhar scho walkis abufe the laif on hie


May weil beseyn; to Latone hir moder this


Gevis reiosyng and secrete hartis blys:


Sikane was Dido, sykane hir blithly bair5


Amyd thame all, the warkis and weilfair


Providing for the realm in tyme tocum.


And quhen sche to the tempill dur is cum,


Syne entryng vnder the myd volt, tuke hir sete


Heich in a trone, and cumpaneis grete10


On athir half standyng of armyt men,


The domys and law pronuncis sche to thame then:


The feys of thar labouris equaly


Gart distribut; gif dowt fallis tharby,


Be cut or kavill that pled sone partit was.15


Bot suddanly persavis Eneas


Quhar with gret haist com rynnyng Antheus,


Sergest he seis, and stalwart Cloanthus,


With diuers otheris of the Troian menȝe,


Quham the blak storm had skatterit on the see,20


And at ane other cost drevyn to the land.


He and his fallow awondris this seand.


Achates half estonyst stude in affray;


With feir and joy smyttin baith war thai,


And langit fair to schaik handys; bot thar hart25


The onkouth cace amovit in sum part


Forto dissymyll, as na thing seyn thai had,


And, with the dyrk clowd hyd, to spy thai baid


Quhou it stude with thar ferys, or chansyt eft,


Or on quhat cost thar navy thai had left,30
[Pg 54]

Quhat thai desyrit; for, as full weill thai saw,


From thar schippis per ordour thai com on raw,


Besekand grace and peax fast, as thame thocht,


And to the tempill with gret clamour socht.


Fra thai war enterit in the tempill tho,5


And licens grantit thame to speke alsso,


The gretast oratour, Ilioneus,


With plesand voce begouth his sermond thus;


O hie princes, quhamto Jupiter has grant


To beld ane new cyte, and to dant10


The violens of prowd folk by just law,


We wrachit Troianys, with the wyndis blaw


Throu strange stremys and mony diuers see,


Forbyd ȝon cruell fyre, besekis the,


Suffir not to byrn our schippis in a rage,15


Haue reuth apon our petuus auld lynage.


Considir frendly our mater quhou it standis;


We com nocht hiddir with drawyn swerdis in handis,


To spulȝe templis or ryches of Lybia,


Nor by the cost na spreth to dryve away;20


Sik violens nane within our myndis is,


Nor sa gret stowtnes to venquyst folk, I wys.


Thar is a place quham the Grekis, thai say,


Onto hys name clepis Hesperia,


Ane nobill land, richt potent in bataill,25


And fructuus grond, plentuus in vittaille,


By kyng Onotryus inhabit first, we trow;


Bot in our days laitly, the fame is now,


Eftir thar duke it is namyt Italy.


Thidderwart our cours was laid: quhen suddanly30
[Pg 55]

The flude boldnyt, and stormy Orion


Amang blynd bankis cachit ws onon;


The byttir blastis, contrarius al ways,


Throw wallis huge, salt fame, and wilsum wais,


And throw the perrellus rowkis gan ws dryve;5


Hidder at ȝour cost ar few of ws arryve.


Quhat kynd of pepill duellis heir? quod he,


Quhou beyn sik thewis sufferit in this cuntre?


We ar defendit to herbry on the sand,


Prouokyt eik to batale, and, drevyn to land10


By fors of storm, the slyke thai ws deny.


Albeit the strenth of men ȝhe set not by,


And mortal weris contempnys and comptis nocht,


Belevis weill ȝit than, and haue in thocht,


The goddis sall remember, trastis me,15


Baith of gud dedis and iniquite.


To ws was kyng the worthy Eneas,


Ane justar man in all the warld nane was,


Nor mair reuthfull, nor wisar into weir,


And mair valiant in dedis of armys seir:20


Quham gif the fatis alyve conservit haith


To tak this hevinly ayr and draw his braith,


And not with cruell gostis hyd vnder erd,


We neid not dreid, sall nocht mak ws efferd;


Nor thou sall neuer repent the sykkyrly25


To schaw ws first frendschip and curtasy.


Into the realm of Sycill als haue we


Frendis and citeis, with armyt men plente,


And of the Troian blude Acestes kyng.


Gyf ws war levit our flote on land to bryng,30
[Pg 56]

That with the wynd and storm is all to schaik,


And grantit eik wod leif to hew, and take


Tymmyr to beit ayrris and other mysteris,


So that our kyng we mycht fynd and our feris,


Blithly we suld hald towart Italy,5


And to the cost of Latium seik in hy:


Bot gif our weilfar and beleve cleyn gayn is,


And the, maist souerane fader of ws Troianys,


The Lybian sey withhaldis, gif thou be gone,


Nor of Ascanyus comfort remanys none,10


Than suythly, at the leste, the Sycill see


And placis reddy fra quham hidder drevin ar we,


We sall seik, and to the kyng Acestes.


Thus said Ilioneus, and sa can he ces;


Bot than the noys rays amang the Troianys,15


Thai murmuryt and complenyt all at anys.


Than schortly Dido spak with vissage doun cast,


Remove all dreid, Troianys, beis nocht agast,


Pluk vp ȝour hartis, and hevy thochtis dovn thring.


Ane hard myschans and novelte of this ryng20


Constrenys me sik mastry forto schaw,


And with discurriouris kepe the cost on raw.


Quha knawys nocht the lynnage of Enee?


Or quha myskennys Troy, that ryall cyte?


The gret wirschip of sik men quha wald nocht meyn?25


And the huge ardent batalys at thar has beyn?


We Phenycianys nane sa blait breistis hes,


Nor so fremmytly the Son list nocht addres


Hys curs frawart Cartage cyte away.


Quhiddir ȝhe will to gret Hesperia,30
[Pg 57]

The grund of Saturn, quhilk now is Italy,


Or to the cost of Sycill fast tharby,


And at the kyng Acestes lyst ȝou be,


Thidder sall ȝhe suyrly pas with my supple;


I sall support ȝou with all geir may gayn.5


And ples ȝhe with me in this realm remane,


The cyte quhilk I byg is ȝouris fre;


Bryng in ȝour schippis hidder from the see;


Betwix a Troiane and ane Tyrriane


Na differens, all sall I rewle as ane;10


And, with this sammyn wynd hidder blaw in feir,


Wald God Enee ȝour kyng war present heir!


Endlang the costis and far partis of Lyby


I sall forsuyth exploratouris send to spy


In ony wod gyf that he be vpdryve,15


Or ȝit perchance at ony cyte arryve.






CAP. IX.




Quhou Eneas with all his rowt bedene


War thankfully ressauyt of the queyn.






With thir wordis the spreit of Eneas


And of the strang Achates reiosyt was,


Gretly desyryng the clowd to brek in tway:


Bot first Achates till Enee gan say;20


Son of the goddes, quhat purpos now, quod he,


Rysys in thy breist? All is sovir, thou may se,
[Pg 58]

Thyne navy and thy ferys recoverit beyn,


Wantand bot ane, amang the fludis greyn


Quham we saw droun; all other thingis, thou knawis,


Is now conform onto thy moderis sawys.


And scarsly haith he all thir wordis spokkyn,5


Quhen that the clowd abowt thame swith was brokkyn,


And vanyst tyte away amang the ayr.


Vp stude Enee, in cleir lycht schynyng fair,


Lyke till ane god in body and in face;


For his moder grantit hir son sik grace;10


Hys crysp harys war plesand on to se,


Hys favour gudly, full of fresch bewte,


Lyke till ane ȝongker with twa lauchand eyn;


Als gracyus for to behold, I weyn,


As evoir boyn by craft of hand weill dycht,15


Or as we se the burnyst siluer brycht,


Or ȝit the quhite polist marbill stane schyne,


Quhen thai beyn circulit about with gold sa fyne.


Or evir thai wist, befor tham all in hy,


Onto the queyn thus said he reuerently;20


Hym quham ȝe seik behald now present heir,


Enee the Troian, delyverit from danger


Of storm and wallys of the Libiane see.


O thou only, quhilk rewth hes and piete


On the ontellabill pyne of the Troianys,25


Quhilk ws, the Grekis levyngis and remanys,


Ourset with all maner necessiteis,


And euery perrell baith be landis and seis,


Within thy cyte ressauys till herbry,


And to famyliar frendschip and ally;30
[Pg 59]

To quyte the, rendring ganand thankis rycht,


That lyis nocht, Dido, intill our mycht,


Nor all the laif of the Troian menȝe,


Throw out this warld skatterit quhar euer thai be:


Bot the hie goddis, gif ony deite takis tent5


To thame at petuus beyn and pacient,


For justice eik gif euer reward beis get,


And rychtwys myndis ramembrit and nocht forȝet.


Thai ilke goddis mot dewly reward the


Accordyng thy desert in all degre.10


Quhou happy and joyus was that tyme serene


That the producit hes, sa nobill a queyn!


Quhou wirschipfull eik war thai parentis of mycht


Quhilk the engendrit hes, sa worthy a wight!


Quhill fludis rynnys in the sey but dowt,15


Quhil sonnys schaddow circlys hillis about,


And the firmament starris doith conteyn,


Thy honour and thy fame sall evir be grene,


And thy renown remane perpetualy,


Throu all realmys quharto that drevyn am I.20


Thus sayand, til his frend Ilioneus


Hys rycht hand gave he, and to Serestus


Gave his left hand; syne welcumit euery man,


The strang Cloanthus and the stowt Gyan.


The queyn Dido, astonyst a litill wie25


At the first syght, behaldand his bewte,


Awondring be quhat wys he cummyn was,


Onto him thus scho said with myld face;


Son of the goddes, quhat hard aduersite


Throw owt so feill perrellis has cachit the?30
[Pg 60]

Quhat fors and violens drave the hyddir till ws,


Apon thir costis that beyn so dangerus?


Art thou not theilk compacient Eneas,


That apon haly Venus engendrit was


Be the Troian Anchises, as thai say,5


Besyde the flude Symois in Phrigia?


Weill I remembir, to Sydon the cyte


Sen Tewcer com, banyst from his cuntre,


Sekand supple at Belus, and sum new land.


My fader than, Belus, I vndirstand,10


The rich realm of Cipir wastit by weir,


And wan it syne, and gave it to Tewcer;


And evir syne of Troy, that gret cyte,


The distructioun has beyn weill knaw to me,


Thy name alsso, and pryncis of Grece sans faill,15


With quham thou faught seir tymys in batale.


This ilke Tewcer hys ennemys of Troy


Rusyt and lovit, and with excellent joy


Full oft him self extoll and vant he wald


Of Troiane blude tobe discend of ald.20


Tharfor haue done, gallandis, cum on ȝour way,


Entir within our lugyng, we ȝou pray:


Siclike fortoun, throu mony feill danger,


At last onto this land has dryve me heir;


Thus, nocht mysknawand quhat payn is ennoy to dre,25


I lernyt to help all tholis aduersyte.


Rehersyng this, convoys sche Eneas


Towart the place quhar hir ryche palyce was,


And tharwith eik commandis halyday,


Throwe owt the cyte all suldbe game and play.30
[Pg 61]

And netheles, the sammyn tyme, sendis sche


Down to his folkis, at the cost of the see,


Twenty fed oxin, large, gret and fyne,


And ane hundreth bustuus bowkis of swyne,


Ane hundreth lammys and thar moderis tharby,5


With other presandis, and wyne habundandly.


The place within maist gloriusly and gay


Adornyt was all our with ryall array:


Amyd the hie rufe of the mekill hall,


For the banket, mony rich claith of pall10


Was spred, and mony badkyn wonderly wrocht;


Of siluer playt ane huge weght furth was brocht


To set on burdis; and veschell forgit of gold,


Quharin was grave, maste curyus to behold,


The valȝeant dedis of forfaderis past by,15


Sen first begynnyng of thar geneology,


Man eftir man lyke as thai dyd succeid,


In lang rememberans of thar worthyheid.


Ene, for that his faderly piete


Wold nocht suffir hys mynd in rest tobe,20


In haist Achates to the schippis send,


To schaw Ascaneus all fra end till end,


Onto the cite that he onon war brocht;


On ȝong Ascaneus was haill the faderis thocht.


Seir gyftis eik he bad bryng with him syne,25


Hynt and deliuerit from the Troian rewyne;


Ane rych garmont brusyt with stife gold wyre,


The purpour mantill and rycht quent attyre


That pliabill was with the gilt bordour large,


Sum tyme array of Helene queyn of Arge,30
[Pg 62]

Quhilk from the realm of Myce with hir sche brocht,


Quhen scho to Troy forbodyn hymeneus socht;


This wondrus gift gottin at hir moder Lyda.


And forthir eik, of fair Illionya


He bad hym bryng with hym the ceptre wand,5


Quhilum Priamus eldast douchter bair in hand;


The collar pight with orient peirlys als,


That sche vmquhile wair about hir hals;


Off gold alsso the clos or dowbill crown,


Set full of precyus stonys enveroun.10


To do his charge, Achates bissely


The way towart the schippis socht in hy.






 CAP. X.




Quhou that Venus, all perrelis to seclude,


Send Cupide in Ascaneus similitude.






In the meyn tyme, Venus a sle wile socht,


By new consait in hir mynd quhou scho mocht,


In forme and vissage of sweit Ascaneus tho15


Transformyt, send hir awin son Cupido,


To beir thir presandis, so that the amorus queyn


He mycht inflambe, within hir banys greyn


The hoyt fyre of lufe to kyndill and steir:


For in hir mynd scho had a maner feir20


Of this lynnage waverand and ontrew,


Tyrrhyanys dowbill tongit weill sche knew;
[Pg 63]

Of cruell Juno the dreid brynt hir inwart,


With mony thocht ran hastely tyll hir hart.


Onto the weyngit god of luf, but weir,


For thy scho spak, and said on this maner;


O thou my child, my strenth and my gret mycht,5


O thou my son, quhilk only art so wight


That thou the dartis of Jupiter dar ganestand,


Quharwith he slew Typhon, the fell gyand,


To the I cum, to the I seik, quod sche,


Lawly askyn thy power and supple.10


Quhat wys thy broder Eneas, but dowt,


Is blawyn and warpit euery cost about,


Of wykkit Juno throu the cruell invy,


All this to the is manifest, weill wait I;


For quhen I wepit tharfor, thow murnyt also.15


Now hym withhaldis the Phenycian Dido,


And culȝeis hym with slekit wordis sle;


Bot to quhat fyne, richt sair it dredis me,


Sall turn this plesand gestnyng in Cartage,


Quhilk is the burgh of Juno; for in hir rage20


As is begun the mater sall not remane.


Quharfor I ombethynk me of a trane,


This queyn first forto cawch in luffis lace,


And so with flambe of amouris till enbrace,


That by na mycht tharfra scho may remove,25


Bot strangly sall with me Eneas lufe.


Hark my consait, quhat wys this may be done:


The rial child Ascaneus full sone,


On quham maist is my thocht, grathis to pas,


At command of his fader Eneas,30
[Pg 64]

To the cyte of Cartage, and gyftis seir


Tursis with hym of the ald Troian geir,


Quhilk fra the storm of sey is left ontynt,


And from the fyre remanys ȝit onbrynt;


Hym sall I sownd slepand steill away,5


And hyde apon the hight of Citheray,


Or in Idalium my hallowit schaw,


That our dissait he nowder persave ne knaw,


Nor onprovisitly cum thidder, thocht he mycht.


Tak thou his lyknes, na mair bot a nycht,10


Forto begile queyn Dido of Cartage;


My child, cleith the with ȝon kend childis vissage,


So that quhen scho all blythast haldis the


Into hir skyrt perchance, or on hir kne,


At hir fest ryall sittand at the tabill,15


Amang danceis and wynys amyabill,


And gan the forto hals and to enbrace,


Kyssand sweitly thi quhyte nek and thi face,


Than may thou slely thi vennamus ardent fyre


Of fraudfull luf amyd hir breste inspyre.20


The God of lufe obeys hastely


Hys moderis wordis, and laid his weyngis by,


And blythly steppis furth lyke Iulus.


Bot Venus to this ilke Ascaneus


The sweit vapour of plesand sleip and rest25


On all the membris of his body kest,


And softly the goddes in hyr lap hym bair


Amyd hyr schaw of Idalium, quhar


Tendir mariolyne and sweit flowris tharout


With thar dulce smell hym schaddowit rownd about.30




[Pg 65]




 CAP. XI.




Of the banket, and of the gret deray,


And quhou Cupyd inflambis the lady gay.






Now passys furth Cupyd, full diligent


Fortyll obey hys moderis commandment,


Berand with hym the kyngly gyftis scheyn,


Quhilkis suldbe present to the ryall queyn,


Blythly followyng hys ledar Achates.5


And as thai come, the quene was set at des


Vndir hir gloryus stentit capitale;


Amang provd tapetis and mych rych apparale


Hir place scho tuke, as was the gys that tyde,


Ourspred with gold amyd a beddis syde.10


Abuf all othir the fader Eneas,


And syne ȝong gallandis of Troy, to mete set was,


Apon rich beddis sydis, per ordour,


Ourspred with carpettis of the fyne purpour.


To wesch thar handis seruandis brocht watir cleir,15


Syne breyd in baskettis, eftyr thar maner,


With soft serviatis to mak thar handis cleyn.


Fyfty damycellis tharin seruyt the queyn,


Quhilkis bair the cure eftir thar ordour haill,


On purvyance of howshald and vittaill,20


To graith the chalmeris, and the fyris beld.


Ane hundreth madynnys had scho ȝong of eld,


And elyke mony of the sam age ȝong swanys,


The cowrsis and the mesys, for the nanys,
[Pg 66]

To set on burdis, sik as we call seweris,


And to fill cowpys, goblettis and eweris.


And mayratour, the Tyrryanys halely


At the blith ȝettis flokkis to the maniory;


And as thai come, thai war down set onone5


On brusyt or payntit tapetis eueryone.


Thai mervellit the rich gyftis of Eneas;


Apon Ascaneus feill awondrit was,


The schynand vissage of the God Cupyte,


And hys dissemblit slekit wordis quhite,10


The precyus mantill and quent garmond also:


Bot principaly the fey onsylly Dydo,


For the myscheif to cum predestinat,


Mycht not refreyn nor satisfy hir consait,


Bot ardently behaldis all on steir,15


Now lykand weill the child, and now the geir.


As Cupyd hyngis about Eneas hals,


Enbrasit in armys, fenȝeand luf full fals,


By semlant as he his fader had beyn,


Full slely than he blent apon the queyn.20


Scho, with hir sycht and all hir mynd, rycht thar,


Hym to behald, sat musand in a stayr;


Sumtyme onwar hym in hir bosum held sche,


Mysknawand, allace! by fals subtilite,


Quhou the gret god of luf, with all hys mycht,25


Wachit forto dissave hir, wofull wight:


Bot he, remembring on his moderis command,


The mynd of Sycheus, hir first husband,


Furth of hir thocht peys and peys begouth dryve,


And with scharp amouris of the man alyve30
[Pg 67]

Gan hir dolf spreit forto preveyn and steir,


Had beyn dysvsit fra luf that mony ȝeir.


Eftyr the first pawse, and that cowrs neir gane,


And voduris and fat trunschuris away tane,


The goblettis gret with myghty wynys in hy5


Thai fill, and coverit set in by and by.


Than rays the noys quhill dynnyt rufe and wallis,


So thik the vocis fleys throu the large hallys.


From the gilt sparris hang down mony a lycht,


The flambe of torchis venquyst the dyrk nycht.10


The queyn than askis of gold, for the nanys,


A weghty cowp, set all with precyus stanys,


Bad fill it full of the rych Ypocras,


Into the quhilk gret Belus accustomyt was


To drynk vmquhile, and fra hym euery kyng15


Discend of hys genology and ofspring.


And, quhen silens was maid our all the hall,


O Jupiter, quod scho, on the we call,


For this rayson, that by wys men is said,


To gestis thou grantis the herbry glaid;20


We the beseik, this day be fortunabill


To ws Tyrryanys, happy and agreabill


To strangearis cummyn fra Troy on thar vayage,


In tyme cummyng remembrance of our vsage


To our successioun and posterite;25


The gevar of glaidnes, Bachus, heir mot be,


And gentil Juno to ws fauorabill and meik;


And ȝou, myne awyn Tyrryanys, I command eik


Hallow this fest with blythnes and with joy,


Bair frendly falloschip to thir noblis of Troy.30
[Pg 68]

This beand said, the cowpe with the rich wyne


Apon the burd scho blyssit, and eftir syne


With hir lyp first tharof tuke bot a taist,


And, carpand blythly, gaif it Bythyus in haist.


He merely ressavis the remand tays,5


All owt he drank, and quhelmyt the gold on his face:


Syne al the nobillis tharof drank abowt;


I wil nocht say that ilkman playt cop owt.


Bot on his gylt harp berdyt Jopas,


Playand the gestis of the gret Atlas,10


The monys change and oblique cowrs sang he,


And quhy the son eclipsis, as we se;


Quharof mankynd is maid he schew ful plane,


Quharof bestis, and quhat engendris rayn,


Quharof cummys thundir and fyry levyn;15


The rany Hyades, quhilk ar the sternys sevyn,


And eik Arcturus, quhilk we cal the laid stern,


The dowbill Vrsys weil couth he decern;


And quhy the son, into the wyntir tyde,


Hastis in the sey sa fast his hede to hyde;20


Quhy makis the nycht that tyme sa large delay,


And in somyr quhy sa lang is the day.


The gyld and ryot Tyrryanys dowblit for joy,


Syne the rerd followit of the ȝonkeris of Troy:


Onhappy Dido alsso set all hir mycht25


With sermondis seir forto prolong the nycht,


The langsum lufe drynkand inwart ful cald.


Full mony demand of Priam speir scho wald,


And questionys seir twichyng Hector alswa;


Now with quhais armour the son of Aurora30
[Pg 69]

Come to the sege; and now inquir wald sche


Quhat kynd hors Diomede had in the melle;


Quhou large of statur was fers Achillis.


Haue done, my gentill gest, sone tell ws this


Per ordour, says scho, fra the begynnyng, all5


The dissait of the Grekis, and the fall


Of ȝour pepill, and of Troy the rewyne;


Thi wandring be the way thou schaw ws syne;


For now the sevynt symmyr hyddir careis the,


Wilsum, and errant, throu euery land and see.10






 CAP. XII.




Eneas first excusys hym, and syne


Addressis to rehers Troys rewyne.






Thai cessit all atanys incontinent,


With mouthis clos, and vissage takand tent.


Prince Eneas, from the hie bed, with that,


Into hys sege ryall quhar he sat,


Begouth and sayd: Thi desyre, Lady, is15


Renewing of ontellabill sorow, I wys;


To schaw how Grekis dyd spulȝe and distroy


The gret ryches and lamentabill realm of Troy:


And huge mysery quhilk I thar beheld,


Quharof my self a gret part bayr and feld:20


Quhat Myrmydon or Gregion Dolopes,


Or knycht wageour to cruel Vlixes,
[Pg 70]

Sik materis to rehers or ȝit to heir,


Mycht thame conteyn fra weping mony a teir?


And now the hevin ourquhelmys the donk nycht,


Quhen the declynyng of the sternys brycht


To sleip and rest perswadis our appetite:5


Bot sen thou hast sic plesour and delyte


To knaw our chancis, and fal of Troy in weyr,


And schortly the last end tharof wald heir,


Albeit my spreit abhorris, and doith grys,


Tharon forto remember, and oft sys10


Murnand eschewis tharfra with gret dyseys,


Ȝit than I sal begyn ȝow forto pleys.




[Pg 71]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE SECUND BUKE.






Dyrk beyn my muse with dolorus armony.


Melpomene, on the wald clerkis call


Fortill compyle this dedly Tragedy,


Twiching of Troy the subuersioun and fall;


Bot sen I follow the Poete principall,5


Quhat nedis purches fenȝeit termys new?


God grant me grace hym dyngly to ensew!




The drery fait with terys lamentabill


Of Troys sege wydequhar our all is song;


Bot followand Virgil, gif my wit war abill,10


Ane othir wys now sall that bell be rong


Than euer was tofor hard in our tong.


Saturn, thou auld fader of malancoly,


Thyne is the cuyr my wofull pen to gy.




Harkis, Ladeis, ȝour bewte was the caws;15


Harkis, Knychtis, the wod fury of Mart;


Wys men, attendis mony sorofull claws;


And, ȝe dyssavouris, reid heir ȝour proper art;


And fynaly, to specify euery part,


Heir verifeit is that proverbe teching so,20


All erdly glaidnes fynysith with wo.




[Pg 72]




 THE SECUND BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Quhou the Grekis withdrew thame of the raid,


And of the mekill subtile hors thai maid.






The Grekis chiftanys, irkit of the weir


Bypast or than sa mony langsum ȝeir,


And oft rebutyt by fatale destany,


Ane huge hors, lyke ane gret hil, in hy


Craftely thai wrocht in wirschip of Pallas;5


Of sawyn beche the ribbis forgyt was;


Fenȝeand ane oblacioune, as it had be


For prosper returnyng hame in thair cuntre:


The voce this wys throu owt the cite woyk.


Of choys men syne, walit by cut, thai tuke10


A gret numbyr, and hyd in bylgis dern


Within that best, in mony huge cavern;


Schortly, the belly was stuffit euery deill


Ful of knychtis armyt in plait of steill.


Thair standis into the sycht of Troy ane ile,15


Weil knawin by name, hecht Tenedos vmquhile,
[Pg 73]

Myghty of gudis quhil Priamus ryng sa stude;


Now is it bot a fyrth in the sey flude,


A raid onsikkyr for schip or ballyngare.


In desert costis of this iland thar


The Grekis thame ful secretly withdrew;5


We wenyng thame hame passit and adew,


And, with gude wynd, of Myce the realm had socht.


Quharfor al thai of Troy, blyth as thai mocht,


Thair langsum duyl and murnyng dyd away,


Kest vp the portis and yschit furth to play,10


The Grekis tentis desyrus forto se,


And voyd placis quhar thai war wont tobe,


The cost and strandis left desert al cleyn.


Heir stude the army of Dolopeis, sum wald meyn,


Cruel Achil heir stentit his pailȝeon;15


Quhar stude the navy, lo the place ȝonder down;


Heir the ostis war wont to joyn in feild.


And sum, wondring, the scaithfull gyft beheld


Suldbe offerit to the onweddit Pallas,


Thai mervellit fast the hors samekil was:20


Bot Tymetes exortis first of all


It forto leid and draw within the wall,


And forto set it in the cheif palyce;


Quhidder for dissait, I not, or for malyce,


Or destany of Troy wald sa suldbe.25


Bot Capis than, with are othir menȝe


Quhilk bettir avys thar myndis set apon,


Bad cast or drown into the sey onone


That suspek presand of the Grekis dissait,


Or kyndill tharvndir flambe of fyris hait,30
[Pg 74]

Or forto rype that holkit huge belly,


And the hyd hyrnys to sers and weil espy.


Quhat nedis mair? the onstabill common voce


Diuidit was in mony seir purpos.


Quhen thidder come befor thame al onone,5


Followand a gret rowt, the prest Laocon


From the cheif tempil rynnand in ful gret hy;


On far, O wrachit pepil, gan he cry,


Quhou gret wodnes is this at ȝe now meyn,


Ȝour ennymyis away salit gif ȝe weyn,10


Or gif ȝe traist ony Grekis gyftis be


Withowt dissait, falshed and subtelte!


Knaw ȝe na bettir the quent Vlixes slycht?


Owder in this tre ar Grekis closit ful rycht,


Or this engyne is byggit to our skaith,15


To wach our wallis and our byggynys bath,


Or to confound and ourquhelm our cite;


Thar lurkis sum falshed tharin, trastis me;


Lippyn nocht, Troianys, I pray ȝou, in this hors;


Quhow euer it be, I dreid the Grekis fors,20


And thame that sendis this gyft always I feir.


Thus sayand, with al his strenth a gret speir


At the syde of that bysnyng best threw he,


And in jonyngis of the thrawyn wame of tre


Festynnyt the lance, that trymlyng gan to schaik;25


The braid belly schudderit, and with the straik


The boys cavys sowndit and maid a dyn.


And had nocht beyn that owder his wit was thyn,


Or than the fatis of goddis war contrary,


He had assayt, but ony langar tary,30
[Pg 75]

Hyd Grekis covert with irne to haue rent owt;


Than suld thou, Troy, haue standyn ȝit, but dowt,


And the prowd palyce of Kyng Priamus


Suld haue remanyt ȝit ful gloryus.






 CAP. II.




The takyng of the tresonabill Synon,


And of hys fenȝeit wordis mony one.






Lo, the ilk tyme, harland onto the kyng5


Troiane hyrdis with gret clamour dyd bryng


A ȝong man, baith his handis behynd his bak


Hard bundyn, that wilfully forto be tak


Rendrit hym self, onknawyn the caws quhy,


Forto perform his deid mair secretly;10


By stowt curage reddy to athir of tway,


Owder to bryng hys slycht to gude assay,


Or faillyng tharof, dowtles reddy to de


Les than to Grekis he oppynnyt the cite.


On ather part hym to behald atanys15


Fast flokkis about a multitude ȝong Troianys,


Byssy to knak and pul the presoneir.


Now the dissait of Grekis may ȝe heir,


And all thar falshed lern by this a slycht.


For, alsso fast in myddis of al our sycht20


As that drery onarmyt wyght was stad,


And with eyn blent about, semyng ful rad,
[Pg 76]

Behaldand Troiane rowtis on athir hand,


Alace, quod he, wald God some erd, or sand,


Or sum salt sey dyd swelly me alyve!


Quhat other thing now restis to me catyve,


Quhamto sal nevir amang Grekis agane5


A place be fundyn suythly to remane?


And maratour, Troianys, offendyt eik,


To sched my blude by paynful deth dois seik.


With this regrait our hartis sterit to piete,


All molestatioune cessit and lattyn be,10


We hym exort rehers, and tobe bald,


Of quhat lynnage he was, and quhat he wald,


And to ramembir, gude hope of ferm supple


Happynnys oft to presoneris in captiuite.


He, at the last, this fenȝeit dreid dyd away,15


And on this wys onone begouth to say;


Forsuyth, Schir kyng, I sal, quhat euer betyde,


Grant to the all the verite, and nocht hyde,


Nor, be na ways, me lyst nocht to deny


That of the Grekis menȝe ane am I.20


Thys principaly I wald thou vndyrstude;


Thocht frawart fortoun miserabill and bayr of gude


Has maid Synon, sche sal nocht mak hym als,


Quhat euer he says, nowder lear nor fals.


Gyf euer onto ȝour eris come the name,25


The hie wirschip, and the renownyt fame


Of Palamedes, from Belus blude discend,


Quham Grekis by fals traysoun, as weil is kend,


Throw corrupt witnes stanyt to ded, but les,


For he the weir forbad and procurit pes;30
[Pg 77]

Now murn thai for his dede; and with hym heir


In falloschip, my puyr fader in weir


Send me of ȝouth, as to hym neir of blude.


Quhil in prosperite of the realm he stude,


And Grekis ryng by counsale was rewlit wysly,5


Sum name of wyrschip and autorite bair I:


Bot efter that by envy and haitrent


Of the fals flechand Vlixes sa quent,


I iape not, for that I say weyll I knaw;


Fra he was slane, allace, and brocht of daw,10


Dolorus my lyfe I led in sturt and pane,


Hevyly weyand my innocent frende thus slane.


Ses couth I nocht, bot in my franacy,


Gyf euer I happit my tyme forto espy,


And victour haue returnyt onto Arge,15


I hecht to be revengit: with wordis large


Thus I prouokit scharp feid and malyce baith.


To me this was fyrst apperans of skaith.


From thens fordwart, Vlixes mair and mayr


With new crymys begouth affray me sair,20


And dangerus rumour amang the commonys hedis


Skalit and sew of me in diuers stedis,


And, knawyng hym self gylty, by hys consait


Grathit hys wapynys of slycht and fals dissait;


Nor cessit he neuer his purpos to persew25


Quhil the solysting of Calcas I mycht rew:


Bot quharto tell I or rehersis this,


That be na ways displesis ȝou, I wys?


Quhy tary I my deth? and ȝe lyst, stryke;


Gyf that ȝe favour all the Grekis elyke,30
[Pg 78]

This is enewch at ȝe haue hard of me:


Now haist my pane, sen algatis I mon de.


Vlixes, quhilk is kyng of Ithacy,


Wald it war swa, and with gret price wald by


My deth Agamemnon als, and Menalay.5


Than hastit we, and brynt to heir hym say,


Desyrus all the maner forto heir,


Mysknawyng the gret iniquiteis seir


And sle craftis of Grekis in euery deid.


He quakand than, as it had bene for dreid,10


Begouth forto tell furth the remanent,


Sayand on this wys, with ful dissemlyt entent:


The Grekis oft in purpos war and will


To fle from Troy and leif it standand still,


And, wery of thar lang weir, pas away;15


Wald God swa thai had done syne mony a day!


The seys rage and storm thame stoppit oft,


And from thar passage the north wynd onsoft


Held thame abak, in angwys and in feir;


And principaly now, sen this hors was heir20


Of hattyr gestis beldit vp, but dowt,


The stormy clowdis our al the ayr gan rowt.


We, dowtyng heiron, send the preste Erypilus


Answer to seik at the tempill of Phebus,


And from the secret oratory, suyth to sayn,25


Thir soroful tythyngis he ws brocht agane:


With blude and by the slauchtir of a maid,


Grekis, ȝe mesyt the wyndis first, he said,


Quhen that ȝe come of Troy to the cuntre;


Ȝour haym passage by blude mon fundyn be,30
[Pg 79]

And haue ȝour askyn by deth of a Gregyoun.


Quhen to the commonys eris ran the sown


Of thir wordis, with myndis affrayit, atanys


The cauld dreid ran in throu thar banys,


For feir quhamto was schape this destanye,5


Or quho it was Apollo desyrit to die.


Vlixes than, amang thame, with gret dyn,


Calcas the gret dyvynour has brocht in,


And bissely at hym inquiris he,


By respons of the goddis, quha suld de.10


Than mony ane demyt to me, ful rycht,


The cruel wraik of that dissaitful slycht,


And quyetly persavit how it wald wend.


This Calcas held his tong ten days to end,


Kepand secret and cloys al his entent,15


Refusyng with his word ony to schent,


Or to pronunce the deth of ony wyght:


Skars at the last, throu gret clamour and slyght


Of Vlixes constrenyt, but mair abaid,


As was devisit, the laith word furth braid,20


And me adiudgit to send to the altare.


Tharto alhail the Grekis assentit are,


And sufferit glaidly so the mater pas;


Quhar as tofor eueryane tobasyt was


For hym selwyn, tho blyth was page and knycht25


The chance returnyt on a catyfe wyght.


Cummyn was the duylful day that doith me grys,


Quhen that of me suld be maid sacryfyce,


With salt meldir, as weil the gyis is kend,


Abowt my heide a garland or a bend.30
[Pg 80]

I grant that from the deth my self I fred,


The bandis I brast, and fast away syne fled


Ontil a muddy marras, quhar, the dyrk nycht,


Amang the rysp and redis out of sycht


Full law I lurkit, quhil vp salys drew thai,5


Gif thai perchance be ȝit passit away.


Now restis thar na hope; allace, fell me!


My natyve cuntre sal I neuer se,


Nor deir childryng, nor fader weil belovit,


Quham, as I traist, the Grekis, all ammovit10


For myne eschaping, turment sal with pane;


Thai, saykles wyghtis, sal for my gilt be slane.


Quharfor, Schir king, be the hie goddis abufe,


And thar mychtis that trewth best knawis and lufe,


And by the faith onfylit, and leil lawte,15


Gyf it with mortale folkis may fundyn be,


Haue rewth and piete on sa feil harmys smart,


And tak compassioune in thi gentill hart;


Apon my wrechit sawle haue sum mercy


That gyltles sufferis sik dyseys wrangwisly.20






 CAP. III.




Ȝyt of the traytowris fals controvyt slycht,


That was belevit, allace! with euery wyght.






Pardon and lyfe to thir terys geif we,


Quod Priamus, and mercy grantis fre.
[Pg 81]

And, first of all, the mannykillis and hard bandis


Chargit he lows of this ilk manis handis;


With frendly wordis syne thus onto hym said,


Quhat evir thou art, beis mery and glaid,


Forȝet the Grekis that lost ar and away,5


From thens fordwart thou salbe owris, perfay.


Bot schaw trewly this a thing I inquer,


Onto quhat fyne this huge hors was heir,


Of sa gret statur beldit vp on hie:


Quha wrocht the wark? quhat may it signyfie?10


Quhat is it? ane offerand of sum halynes?


Or sum engyne of batale? as I ges,


Said Priamus. Bot than the tother wight,


Ful weil instrukit of Grekis art and slycht,


Lowsit and laitly fred of al his bandis,15


Onto the starnys hevit vp his handis:


O ȝhe, quod he, euerlestand lampis brycht,


And ȝour dyvyne power and ȝour gret mycht,


That aucht not beyn forsworn, I testefy;


And ȝou altaris, and cruel swordis, quham I20


Am eschapit, and al ȝou goddis wys


Quhais garlandis bair I as ȝour sacryfys,


Leiffull is now to brek, but mair abaid,


The sworn promys that I to Grekis maid;


Leiffull is eik tha pepill fortil hait,25


And schaw furth planely al at euer I wait,


Thar hyd slycht als to rype furth to the grund:


To na cuntre nor lawis am I bund.


Sa mot thou, Troy, quham I sal salue fra skayth,


Kepe me thy promys and thi lawte baith,30
[Pg 82]

As I sal schaw the verite ilke deill,


And for my lyfe sal rendir ȝou a gret weill.


The Grekis trast and comfort, mony ȝheris,


From the begynnyng of thir mortale weris,


On Pallas help stude haill this towne to get:5


Bot efter that Thedeus, wareit get,


With Vlixes, fyndar of wykkytnes,


The fatale rellyk of Palladium, I ges,


Furth of hir tempill, and the hallowit hald,


To reif away forsabilly war so bald,10


And sla the wachis of the cheif castell,


The haly ymage, grysly forto tell,


Pollute and fylit, and with thar bludy handis


Hir vyrgyne valis and blissit godly garlandis


Presumyt twich; sen syne has euermair15


Bakwart of Grekis the hope went and weilfair;


Thar mychtis and thar strenthis feblit fast:


So frawart thame hir mynd this god hes kast


That with na dowtsum takynnys, ma than twa,


Hir greif furth schew this ilke Trytonia.20


Skarsly the statw was in thar tempill vpset,


Quhen all hir membris bittir terys swet;


Hir eyn glowit as ony gleid for ire,


Quharfra thar flaw mony sparkis of fyre;


A teyrful thing, and wonderfull to tell;25


Thrys schynyng down on the grond scho fell,


Hyr targe trymlyng, and schakyng fast hir speir.


Onone, al most ȝe wend to sey infeir,


Cryis Calcas, nor Grekis instrument


Of Troy the wallis sal neuer hurt ne rent,30
[Pg 83]

Les than agane the land of Arge be socht,


With alkyn portage quhilk was hydder brocht


In barge or bilgeit ballyngare our see:


The goddes mon be mesit als, quod he.


And now, set thai, with this ilke wynd, haue socht5


Thar land of Grece or Myce, this is thar thocht,


To graith thar armour and wapynnys by and by,


And, with supple of goddis in cumpany,


In haist forto return agane our see;


Or ȝe beyn war, apon ȝou will thai be.10


Thus al per ordour declaris thame Calcas,


At quhais monicioun als vp biggit was


This bustuus form, in lyknes of a hors,


For Palladium, and to appeis the fors


Of the goddes, and into recompens15


Of thar wrachit and dolorus offens.


And mairatour, of sa huge quantite


Calcas commandis beld this statw of tre,


Thus large and gret, weil neir the hevyn on hycht,


So at the portis it ne entyr myght,20


Nor ȝit be brocht within ȝour wallys wyde,


Nor ȝour pepill favour, help, nor gyde


Eftir the auld relligioun and vsage.


For gif ȝour handis had violet, in ȝour rage,


This haly presand of the god Mynerve,25


Gret wraik suld follow that al suld ȝe sterve,


Priamus ryng distroyit, and al ȝour pelf;


Quhilk destany goddis turn rather in hym self!


Bot gif this ilk statw, standis heir wrocht,


War with ȝour handis into the cite brocht,30
[Pg 84]

Than schew he that the pepil of Asya,


But ony obstakill, in fell batale suld ga,


Bet down the townys of Arge that regioun,


And the sam fait happyn our successioune.


By sik wylis and slychtis, mony one,5


Of fals controvit and maynsworn Synone,


The mater is belevit with all it heris;


And takyn ar, by dissait and fenȝeit teris,


Tha pepil quham the son of Thedeus,


Nor fers Achilles, clepit Larysseus,10


Nor Grece ten ȝheris in batale mycht ourcum,


Nor ȝit the thousand schippis al and sum.






 CAP. IV.




Quhou stranglit was the prest hecht Laocon,


And how the hors clam our the wallis of stone.






Betyd, the ilke tyde, a fer grettar woundir,


And mair dreidful to catyvis be sik hunder,


Quhilk of Troianys trublit mony onwarnyt breste.15


As Laocon, that was Neptunus prest,


And chosyn by kavill onto that ilk office,


A fair gret bull offerit in sacrifyce


Solemnytly befor the haly alteir,


Throw the styl sey, from Tenedos, infeir,20


Lo! twa gret lowpit edderis, with mony thraw,


Fast throu the flude towart the land gan draw.
[Pg 85]

My spreit abhorris this mater to declare;


Abufe the watir thar hals stude euermare,


With bludy crestis owtwith the wallis hie;


The remanent swam al ways vnder see,


With grysly bodeis lynkit mony fald;5


The salt fame stowris from the fard thai hald:


Onto the grund thai glaid with glowand eyn


Stuffit full of vennom, fyre, and fellon teyn,


Wyth tongis quhislyng in thar mowthis red


Thai lyk the twynkland stangis in thar hed.10


We fled away al bludeles for affeir;


Bot, wyth a braid, to Laocon infeir


Thai start atanys; and hys twa sonnys ȝyng


First athir serpent lappit lyke a ryng,


And, with thar cruell byt and stangis fell,15


Of tendir membris tuke mony sary morcell;


Syne thai the prest invadit, baith twane,


Quhilk with hys wapynnys dyd hys byssy pane


His childryng forto helpyn and reskew.


Bot thai about hym lowpit in wympillis threw,20


And twys cyrkyllit his myddil rownd about,


And twys faldis thar sprutlit skynnys, but dowt,


About hys hals; bath nek and hede thai schent:


As he etlys thar hankis to haue rent


Of with his handis, and thame away haue draw,25


Hys hed bendis and garlandis all war blaw


Ful of vennom and rank poyson atanys,


Quhilk infekkis the flesch, blude, and banys.


And tharwith eik sa horribilly schowtis he,


His cryis dynnyt to the sternys on hie;30
[Pg 86]

Lyke as a bull doith rummysing and rayr,


Quhen he eschapis hurt from the altair,


And charris by the ax with his nek wight,


Gif on his forhed the dynt hyttis nocht rycht.


Syne thir twa serpentis hastely glaid away;5


Onto the cheif tempil fled ar thai,


Of stern Pallas to the hallowit place,


And crap in vnder the feit of the goddes,


Hyd thame behynd the boys of hir bukleir.


Than trymlit thar mony stowt hart for feir,10


The onkowth dreid into thar brestis crap:


All said, Laocon justly, sik was his hap,


Has deir ybocht his wikkit and schrewit deid,


For he the haly hors or stalwart steid


With violent strake presumyt forto deir,15


And tharintil to fessyn his cursit speir.


Onto the hallowit sted bryng in, thai cry,


The gret fygur, and lat ws sacryfy


The haly goddes, and magnyfy hyr mycht


With orysonys and offerandis day and nycht.20


Quhat wil ȝe mair? the barmkyn down we rent,


And wallis of our cite we maid patent;


Onto that wark al sped thame bissely;


Turnand quhelis thai set in, by and by,


Vndir the feit of this ilke bysnyng jaip;25


Abowt the nek knyt mony bassyn raip:


This fatale monstre clam our the wallis then,


Gret wamyt, and stuffit ful of armyt men;


And tharabout ran childer and madis ȝyng,


Syngand karrellis and dansand in a ryng;30
[Pg 87]

Ful weil war thame, and glaid was euery wight,


That with thar hand anys twich the cordis mycht.


Furth drawyn haldis this suttell hors of tre,


And mannysand slydis throu the myd cite.


O natyve cuntre, and rial realm of Troy!5


O goddis hows Ilion ful of joy!


O worthy Troiane wallis chevalrus!


Four tymys stoppyt that monstre peralus,


Evin at the entre of the portis wyde,


And four sys the armour, that ilk tyde,10


Clynkit and rang amyd the large belly;


Bot netheles, intil our blynd fury,


Forȝetting this, instantly we wirk,


And forto drug and draw wald neuer irk,


Quhil that myschancy monstre, quently bet,15


Amyd the hallowit tempill vp was set.


Cassandra than the fatis to cum tald plane,


Bot, by command of Phebus, al was in vane;


For thocht scho spayit the suthe, and maid na bowrd,


Quhat euer scho said Troianys trowit nocht a word.20


The tempillis of goddis and sanctuaryis all,


We fey pepill, allace! quhat say I sall?


Quhamtill this was the duylfull lattir day,


With festuale flowris and bewys, as in May,


Dyd weil anorn, and fest and ryot maid25


Throu owt the town, and for myscheif was glaid.




[Pg 88]




 CAP. V.




Grekis entrys by trayson in the cite,


And how Hector apperis till Ene.






Wyth this, the hevyn sa quhyrlit about his speir


Out of the sey the dym nycht gan appeir,


With hir dyrk weid bath erth and firmament


Involwyng, by hir secret schaddowis quent


Covering Gregion and Myrmydonys slyght;5


Within the wallis to bed went euere wyght:


Still warin all, and soft vapour of sleip


Apon thar wery lymmys fast doith creip.


Be than the army of mony a Gregioun,


Stuffit in schippis, come fra Tenedon,10


Stil, vnder frendly sylens of the moyn,


To the kend costis speding thame ful soyn;


And quhen the takynnyng, or the bail of fyre,


Rays from the kyngis schip, vp byrnand schyre,


Of the goddis be frawart destany15


Synon preservit couth this syng aspy;


The fyrryn closeris oppynnys, but noys or dyn,


And Grekis, hyd the horssis cost within,


Patent war maid to fight and to the ayr.


Joyfull and blyth, from that boys statw thar,20


Discending thai downlat by cordis atanys


Thersander and Sthenelus, twa capitanys,


The dowr Vlixes als, and Athamas,


Pelyus nevo Pyrrus, and kyng Thoas,
[Pg 89]

The first Machaon, and Menelaus,


And the engyne forgyar hait Epeus;


The cite thai invaid, and fast infest,


With wyne and sleip yberyit and at rest.


Slane ar the wachis liggyng on the wall;5


Opnyt the portis, leyt in thar feris all,


Togidder jonyt euery cumpany:


Throu the cite sone rays the noys and scry.


Thys was that tyme quhen the fyrst quyete


Of naturale sleip, to quham na gyft mair swete,10


Stelis on fordoverit mortale creaturis,


And in thar swewynnys metis quent figuris.


Lo! in my sleip, I se stand me befor,


As to my syght, maist lamentabil Hector,


Wyth large flude of teris, and al besprent,15


As he, vmquhile, eftyr the cart was rent,


With barknyt blude and powder: O God, quhat skath!


Boldynnyt ful gret war feit and lymmys baith,


By bandis of the cordis quhilk thame drewch.


Ha! walloway! quhat harm and wo eneuch!20


Quhat ane was he! how far changit from joy


Of that Hector, quhilum returnyt to Troy,


Cled with the spulȝe of hym Achillys,


Or quhen the Troiane fyry blesis, I wys,


On Grekis schippis, thyk fald he slang that day25


Quhen that he slew the Duke Prothesylay!


Hys fax and berd was fadyt quhar he stude,


And all hys hayr was glotnyt ful of blude;


Full mony woundis on his body bayr he,


Quhilk, in defens of hys natyve cuntre,30
[Pg 90]

About the wallys of Troy ressavyt he had.


Me thocht, I first, wepyng and na thing glaid,


Rycht reuerently begouth to clepe this man,


And with sik dolorus wordis thus began:


O thou, of Troy the lemand lamp of lycht!5


O Troiane hope, maist ferm defens in fyght!


Quhat has the tareit? quhy maid thou this delay,


Hector, quham we desyrit mony a day?


From quhat cuntre this wys cummyn art thou?


That, eftir feil slauchter of thi frendis now,10


And of thi folkis and cite efter huge payn,


Quhen we beyn irkit, we se the heir agayn!


Quhat hard myschance fylyt so thi plesand face?


Or quhy se I tha feil woundis, allace!


Onto thir wordis he nane answer maid,15


Nor to my voyd demandis na thyng said,


Bot with ane hevy murmour, as it war draw


Furth of the boddum of his breste weil law,


Allace! allace! thou goddes son, quod he,


Salf thi self from this fyre, and fast thou fle;20


Our ennemys has thir worthy wallys tane;


Troy from the top down fallys, and all is gane.


Enewch has lestit of Priamus the ryng,


The fatis wil na mair it induryng.


Gif Pargama, the Troiane wallys wyght,25


Mycht langar haue beyn fendit into fyght,


With this rycht hand thai suld haue be defendit;


Adew! fair weil! for euer it is endit.


In thi keping committis Troy, but les,


Hir kyndly goddis clepit Penates;30
[Pg 91]

Tak thir in falloschip of thi fatis all,


And large wallis for thame seik thou sall,


Quhilk at the last thi self sall beld vp hie,


Eftir lang wandryng and errour our the see.


Thus said Hectour, and schew furth in his handis5


The dreidfull valis, wymplis, and garlandis


Of Vesta, goddes of the erth and fyre,


Quhilk in hir tempil eternaly byrnys schyre.






 CAP. VI.




Quhou Eneas the trayson did persave,


And quhat debait he maid the town to save.






In seyr placis throu the cite, wyth this,


The murmur rays, ay mair and mair, I wys,10


And clerar wolx the rumour and the dyne:


So that, suppos Anchysis my faderis In


With treys abowt stude secrete by the way,


So bustuus grew the noys and furyus fray,


And ratlyng of thar armour on the streit,15


Affrayit, I glystnyt of sleip, and start on feit;


Syne to the hows hed ascendis onone,


With eris prest stude thar als stil as stone.


A sownd or swowch I hard thar at the last,


Lyke quhen the fyre, be fellon wyndis blast,20


Is drevyn amyd the flat of cornys rank;


Or quhen the burn on spait hurlys down the bank,
[Pg 92]

Owder throu a watir brek, or spait of flude,


Ryvand vp rede erd, as it war wod,


Down dyngand cornys, all the pleuch laubour atanys,


And dryvis on swyftly stokkis, treis and stanys:


The sylly hyrd, seand this grysly syght,5


Set on a pynnakill of sum cragis hycht,


Al abasit, nocht knawand quhat this may meyn,


Wondris of the sovnd and ferly at he has seyn.


Rychtso I than, by cleyr takynnys enew,


Manifestly al the Grekis falshed knew;10


Thair hyd dissait wolx patent than to ws.


The nobil lugyng of worthy Deyphobus


Was fal to grond, the fyre vpspred onone;


The nixt hows byrnys of Vcalegon:


The large seys and costis Sygean,15


Throu lycht of flambis and brycht fyris, schane.


Vpsprang the cry of men and trumpys blist:


As out of mynd, myne armour on I thryst,


Thocht be na rayson: persave I mycht, but fail,


Quhat than the fors of armys couth avail;20


Ȝit, hand for hand, to thryng out throw the pres


With my feris, and rynnyng or we ces


To the castel, our hartis brynt for desyre;


The fury cachit our myndis hait as fyre,


So that we thocht maist semly in a feld25


To de feghtand, enarmyt vnder scheld.


Bot lo! Panthus, slippit the Grekis speris,


Panthus Othriades son, that, mony ȝheris,


Was of the strenth, and Phebus tempill preste,


Into his armys, lappit to his breist,30
[Pg 93]

The haly rellykkis of the sanctuary,


And eik our venquist goddis, by and by


With hym beryng, and, in his hand alsso,


Harlyng hym efter his litil nevo,


Cummys lyke a wodman til our ȝet rynnyng.5


How now, Panthus, quhat tythingis do ȝe bryng?


In quhat estait is sanctuary and haly geir?


To quhilk other fortres sall we speir?


Skars said I this, quhen, gowlyng petuusly,


With thir wordis he answerd me in hy:10


The lattir day is cummyn of Dardanus end,


The fatale tyme quham na walyng may mend;


We war Troianys; vmquhile was Ilion;


The schynand glory of Phrygianys now is gone:


Fers Jupiter to Grece all has translait;15


Our al the cite, kyndillit in flambis hait,


The Grekis now ar lordis but ony fors.


Within the wallis, ȝone mekil standand hors


Ȝettis furth armyt men; and now Synon


Is victour haill, kyndilland eueron20


The new fyris glaidly, as it war sport.


At athir ȝet beyn ruschit in sik a sort,


Sa mony thousandis come neuer from Myce nor Arge;


Sum cumpanyis, with speris, lance and targe,


Walkis wachand in rewis and narow stretis;25


Arrayit batalis, with drawyn swerdis at gletis,


Standis reddy forto styk, gor and sla:


Skarsly the wachis of the portis twa


Begouth defens and melle as thai mycht,


Quhen blyndlyngis in the batail fey tha fyght.30
[Pg 94]

Throu thir wordis of Panthus, and goddis heste,


Amyd the flambis and armour in I preste;


Ruschand thidder quhar sorofull Erynnys,


The noys and brute me drew, and quhar, I wys,


The clamour hard I rys vp to the ayr.5


And of our fallowis to me come twa pair:


Repheus fyrst, be the lycht of the moyn,


Valiant in armys Ephitus followit soyn;


Hypanys syne, and eik Dymas in hy,


Fast to our syde adionyt by and by;10


Mygdoneus son alsso, Chorebus ȝyng,


Quhilk in tha days, for fey luf hait byrnyng


Of Cassandra, to Troy was cummyn that ȝeir,


To help Priam and Troianys in the weir;


Onhappy he was, wald not beleif fermly15


Hys sayd spowsis command and prophecy!


Quhen I thame saw this wys adionyt to me,


And wilful forto stryke in the melle,


Thus I begouth thame forthirmar to steir:


O ȝe maist forsy ȝong men that beyn heir,20


Wyth brestis strang, and sa bald curage hie,


Invayn ȝe pres to succur this cite


Quhilk byrnys al in fyre and flambys rede;


The goddis al ar fled out of this stede,


Throu quhais mycht stude our empyre mony day:25


Now all thar templis and altaris waist leif thai.


Bot gif ȝour desyre be sa fermly prest


To follow me dar tak the vtyrmest,


Quhat fortune is betyd, al thingis ȝe se;


Thar is na mair; lat ws togidder de,30
[Pg 95]

And in amyd our ennemyis army schute.


To venquist folkis is a comfort and bute


Nane hope of help to beleif, or reskew.


Swa, with thir wordis, the ȝong menis curage grew,


That in the dyrk lyke ravenus wolffis, on rawis,5


Quham the blynd fury of thar empty mawis


Dryvis furth of thar den to seik thar pray,


Thar litil quhelpis left with dry throtis quhil day;


So, throw the wapynnys and our fays went we,


Apon the ded ondowtit, and wald nocht fle.10


Amyd the cite we held the master streit,


The dyrk nycht hyd ws with cloys schaddowis meit.






CAP. VII.




The woful end, per ordour, heir, allace!


Followys of Troy, and gestis of Eneas.






Quha sal the harmys of that woful nycht


Expreme? or quha with tong to tell hes mycht


Sa feil ded corsis as thar lyis slane?15


Or, thocht in cace thai weip quhil teris rayn,


Equaly may bewail tha sorowis all?


The ancyant, worthy cite down is fall,


That mony ȝeris held hie senȝeory:


Stekit in stretis heir and thar thai ly,20


Feil corsis ded of mony onweldy wyght,


Dung down in howsis, fey thai fal all nycht.
[Pg 96]

In sanctuarys and templis of goddis eik;


Na quhar mercy nor succur mycht thai seik.


And not only of Troianys, throu owt the town,


The blude is sched, thus marthyrit and slane down,


Bot sum tyme eik to thame, ourcummyn and schent,5


Agane returnys in brestis hardyment,


So that sum Grekis victoris war smyte ded.


Cruel womenting occupyit euery steid;


Our alquhar dreid, our alquhar wo and cayr,


And of the deth feil gastly schaddowis thair.10


Bot first enconteris ws Androgeus,


With a gret cumpany of the Gregyus,


Onwarly wenyng his fallowis we hadbe;


In haymly wordis to ws thus carpis he:


Haist ȝou, matis, quhat slewth tareit ȝou thus lait?15


Our other feris rubbis, tursyng away, fut hait,


The spreith of Troy, quhilk now is brynt to gledis,


And ȝe, fyrst from ȝour schippis now ȝou spedis.


Thus said he, quhen that, suddanly and onone,


He felt hym self happynnyt amyd his foyn,20


For we hym gave answer not traist enewch.


Estonyt with the word, abak he drewch:


As quha onwar tred on a rowch serpent


Lyggyng in the bus, and for feir bakwart sprent,


Seand hir, reddy to stang and to infek,25


Set vp hir vennamus ȝallo boldyn nek;


On the sammyn wys, Androgeus, of our syght


Gretly effrayt, fled in al his mycht.


On thame we schot, and in thar myd rowt duschit,


Hewit, hakkit, smate down, and al to fruschit30
[Pg 97]

Tha fey Gregionys, on ilk syde heir and thair,


With dreid ourset, and wist not quhar thai war.


The first lawbour thus lukkit weil with ws.


Joyus in hart of this chance Chorebus,


O ȝe feris, hald furth this way, quod he,5


Quhar forton first has schawyn ws sik supple;


Hald thidder quhar our manhed has ws taucht;


Now lat ws change scheildis, sen we beyn sawcht,


Grekis ensenȝeis do we cowntyrfeit;


Quhidder by slycht, or strenth of armys gret,10


A man ourcum his ennemy, quha rakkis?


Thai sal ws rendir thir harnes of thar bakkis.


And sayand thus, Androgeus cristit helm


He hynt in hy, and our his hed gan quhelm;


His schynand scheild with his bawgy tuk he,15


And hang a Gregioun swerd down by his the.


Syklyke dyd Rypheus, my self eik, and Dymas,


And all the other ȝong men at thar was;


Ful glaidly in that recent spulȝe warm


Belyfe ilk man dyd thame self enarm.20


Amang the Grekis mydlit than went we,


Not with our awyn takyn nor deite;


Mony debatis and onsettis haue we done,


And, throu the silens of the nycht, ondone


Feil of the Grekis, and send to hell adown.25


Ane other menȝe fled fast out of town


To thar schippis, and tha traist costis nyce;


Sum part alsso, for schaymfull cowartyce,


Clam vp agane in the gret horssis maw,


And hyd thame in that belly weilbeknaw.30
[Pg 98]

Allace! onleifull is ony man to weyn,


Contrar the plesour of goddis, ocht may sustene.


Lo! Priamus dochtir, the virgyne Cassandra,


Was, from the tempill and sete of Mynerva,


Drawyn forsabilly bairhed, with hayr down schake,5


Reuthfully invane behaldand hevyn, alake!


With glotnyt eyn; for baith hir tendir handis


War strenȝeit sayr, ybondyn hard with bandis.


This dolorus syght Chorebus mycht nocht se,


Bot ruschit with furyus mynd in the melle,10


Reddy to de, and we all followit fast,


Amang glavys and armour in we thrast.


Heir war we fyrst to fruschit and hard byset,


With dartis and with stanys all to bet


By owr awyn feris from the templis hycht;15


A miserabil slauchtir thar begouth that nycht.


The portratour of armys was mysknaw,


All war bot Grekis tymbrellis at thai saw.


Als quhat for walyng of irus wordis fell


Agane reskewit said by the damycell,20


Grekis flokkis togidder heir and thar,


And ombesettis cruelly and sayr;


The fellon Aiax, and athir Atrides,


And al the rowtis clepit Dolopes.


Lyke as, sum tyme, the fers wyndis ȝe se,25


Ȝepherus, Nothus, and Eurus, all thre


Contrarius blaw thar bustuus bubbys with byr,


The woddis rerdis, bath ayk, elm, and fyr


Ourturnys to grond, and Nereus the fomy


From the sey grond wod wraith is cachit in hy:30
[Pg 99]

On siklyke wys the Grekis ws invadit.


For than thai alls that fled war and evadit,


Throu the dyrk nycht, quhen sum thar feris slew we.


And thame had chasit throw owt all the cite,


Thai war the first come now to do ws deir;5


Our fenȝeit scheildis, wapynys, and other geir


Ful weil thai knew, and, by our vocis eik,


Thai notyfy that nane of ws was Greik.


By multitude and nowmyr apon ws set


All ȝeid to wraik, thar war we hail doune bet;10


And first of all, down smyte is Chorebus


By the rycht hand of Greik Peneleus,


Befor the altare of armipotent Pallas:


Rypheus down fell, ane the maist just man was,


Amang Troianys best kepand equite;15


Bot other ways the goddis thocht suldbe:


Hypanys eik, and Dymas than alssua


War by thar fallowis throw gyrd bath twa:


Nor ȝit the, Panthus, quhen that thou fell down,


Thy gret pety, and godly religioun,20


Nor habyt of Apollo hyd from skayth.


O ȝe cald assys of Troy, and flawmys baith,


And extreme end of cuntre folkis, heir I


Drawis ȝow to witnes, and doys testify,


Quhen that ȝe fell to grund thus and war slane,25


I nowder sparit wapynnys, strenth, nor pane,


Nor nane onset eschewit of Grekis mycht;


And gif fatis wald I had fallyn in fyght,


Thar with my handis wrocht I worth my ded.


Bot with the pres we war relit of that sted:30
[Pg 100]

Only with me Hyphitus and Pelyas;


For age Hyphitus waik and febill was,


And Pelyas slawly mycht onethis go,


By Vlixes for he was woundit so.






 CAP. VIII.




Quhou to the Kyngis palyce sped Ene,


That syne was take, thar helpit na suple.






Onone onto the palyce of Priamus5


The schowtis and the cryis callys ws.


Thar was ane hydwys batale forto seyn,


As thar nane other bargane ayr had beyn,


Lyke as nane slane war throu all the cite,


Sa wod ondantit melle thar we se:10


The Grekis ruschand to the thak on hyght,


So thik thai thrang about the portis all nycht,


That lyke a wall thai ombeset the ȝettis;


Vp to the syd wallys mony leddyr sett is,


Quharon thai preys fast our the rufe to speill,15


Coverit with scheildis agane the dartis feill


Thar left hand heich abuf thar hed gan hald,


And oft with rycht handis grypp the battalyng wald.


Troianys agane, schaping defens to mak,


Rent turettis doune, and of hows hedis the thak;20


Quhen all wes lost thai se, at lattyr end,


With sik wapynnys thai schupe thame to defend;
[Pg 101]

The gilt sperris, and gestis gold begane


Down on thame slyng thai, and mony costly stane,


The prowd and ryall werkis of faderis ald.


And other sum, law down within that hald,


With drawyn swerdis stude reddy to kepe the ȝet;5


In a thik rowt tharat was mony set.


Our spretis war restoryt, and curage grew


The kyngis palyce to succur, and reskew


The men tharin with all help and supple,


To strenthing thame war venquyst neyr, we se.10


A small wykket thar was, or entre dern,


A litil ȝet clepit a postern,


On the bak half Priamus palyce almaist,


Amang byggynnys stude desolate and waist;


Quharat was wont alane Andromocha15


To entir oft to Priam and Hecuba,


And Astyanax, hir ȝong son, with hir bring


Onto his grandsyre Priamus the kyng.


Tharat I enterit, and to the wallys hyght


Vpwent, quhar wrachit Troianys, as thai mycht,20


Threw down dartis, thocht all was bot in waist.


We start ontil a hie turate in haist,


The top vpstrekand to the starnys hie,


Quharon we wont war al Troy forto se,


The Grekis schippis, and thar tentis eik.25


With instrumentis of irne we pyke, and seik


Round al about quhar the jonyngis war worn,


Reddy to fall, and corbalys al to torn;


We holk and mynd the corneris for the nanys,


Quhil down belive we tumbil it al atanys;30
[Pg 102]

A fellon rusch it maid, and sownd with all,


And large on breid our Grekis rowtis dyd fall;


Bot sone ane other sort start in thar stedis:


Nowder stanys, nor quarellis with scharp hedis,


Nor na kynd of wapynnys war sparit than.5


And first of al, befor the porch inran


Hard to the entre, in schynyng plait and mail,


Pyrrus, with wapynnys fersly to assaill:


Lyke to the edder, with schrewit herbis fed,


Cummyn furth to lycht, and on the grond lyis spred,10


Quham wynter lang hyd vnder the cald erd;


Now slippit hir slowch with schynand skyn new brerd,


Hir slydry body in hankis rownd al run,


Heich vp hir nek strekand forgane the son,


With forkit tong intyll hir mouth quytterand.15


To the assalt with Pyrrus come at hand


Periphas, and Automedon his squyer


Was wont to govarn Achilles cart in weir,


And al the sensabill men of Scyrrya


Bownys our the wallis and howsis hedis alswa,20


And fyre blesis abuf the rufe garris fle.


Bot first of al, ane stalwart ax hynt he,


The stern Pyrrus, to hew and brek the ȝet,


And furth of har the stapillis has he bet,


And bandis all of bras yforgyt weill:25


Be that in twa the master bar ilk deill


Is al tofruschit; syne the hard burdis he hakkis,


And throu the ȝet are large wyndo makkis,


By the quhilk slop the place within apperis,


The wyde hallys wolx patent al infeiris30
[Pg 103]

Of Priamus and ancyant kyngis of Troy;


Secret throwgangis ar schawyn wont to be quoy;


Armyt men se thai stand at the first port.


Bot than throw owt the inner palyce, at schort,


With duylful scryke and walyng al is confoundit;5


The holl howsis ȝowlit and resowndit


For womentyng of ladeis and wemen;


The clamour vpstrak to the starnys then.


The woful moderis ran frayit on athir syde


Ful lamentabill throw out the chawmeris wyde,10


Brasand the postis in armys, and durris cald,


And feil sys with mowthis kys thame wald.


Instantly Pyrrus assailȝeis with al his mycht,


By naturale strenth of his fader the wight,


That nowder closeris, nor barryt ȝettis stowt,15


Nor ȝit the keparis may hald thame langar owt.


Oft wyth the ram the port is schaik and duschit,


Down bet ȝet chekis, and bandis al tofruschit;


The way is maid by fors, and entre brokkyn;


Grekis insprent, the formaste haue thai stokyn20


And slane with swordis; the large hald heir and thar


Was fyllit full of Grekis our alquhar.


Not sa fersly the fomy ryver or flude


Brekkis our the bankis, on spait quhen it is wode,


And, with hys brusch and fard of watir brown,25


The dykis and the schoris bettis doun,


Ourspredand croftis and flattis with his spait,


Our al the feildis that thai may row a bayt,


Quhil howsys and the flokkis flyttis away,


The corn grangis, and standand stakkis of hay.30
[Pg 104]

I saw my self thair Neoptolemus


Mak fellon slauchtir, wod and furyus,


And athir brodir of Atrides alswa:


Eldmodir to ane hundreth thar saw I Hecuba,


And Priamus, at the altar quhar he stude,5


All our bysprent and sperklyt ful of blude


Of sacryfice, quhamto he bet the fyre.


Fyfty chawmeris held that rial syre,


Quhar warryn his gude dochteris, ladeis ȝyng,


Syk fayr beleif is lost of his ofspryng!10


The prowd gestis and durris gilt with gold


Of barbary wark, and hungyn mony fold


With riches and spulȝe of seyr nationys,


Sa far as from the fyre onbet adoune is,


The Grekis occupyis haly; al is tharis;15


Quhat so thame lyst tospil is nane that sparis.






 CAP. IX.




Into this nixt cheptour ȝe may attend


Of Priam Kyng of Troy the fatale end.






Peraventur, of Priamus wald ȝe speir


Quhou tyd the chance, hys fait gif ȝe lyst heir


Quhen he the cite saw takyn and downbet,


And of his palyce brokyn euery ȝet,20


Amyd the secret closettis eik hys fays,


The auld grayth, al for nocht, to hym tays
[Pg 105]

Hys hawbryk quhilk was lang furth of vsage,


Set on his schulderis trymlyng than for age;


A sword, but help, about hym beltis he,


And ran towart hys fays, reddy to de.


Amyd the clos, vnder the hevyn al bayr,5


Stude thar that tyme a mekil fair altare,


Neyr quham thar grew a rycht ald lawrer tre,


Bowand towart the altare a litill wie,


That with his schaddow the goddis did ourheld.


Hecuba thydder, with hir childer, for beild10


Ran al invane, and about the altare swarmys,


Brasand the godlyke ymage in thar armys,


As for the storm dowis flokkis togidder ilkane:


Bot quhen scho saw how Priamus has tane


His armour, so as thocht he hald beyn ȝyng;15


Quhat fulych thocht, my wrachit spows and kyng,


Movis the now syk wapynnys forto weld?


Quhidder hastis thou? quod sche; of na sik beld


Haue we now mystir, nor syk deffendouris as the,


The tyme is nocht ganand tharto we se.20


In cace Hector war present heir, my son,


He mycht nocht succour Troy, for it is won:


Quharfor, I pray the, syt doune and cum hydder,


And lat this altare salue ws al togidder,


Or than atanys al heir lat ws de.25


Thus said scho, and, with sik sembland as mycht be,


Hym towart hir has brocht, but ony threte,


And set the auld doune on the haly sete.


Bot lo! Polytes, ane of Priamus sonnys,


Quhilk from the slauchter of Pyrrus away run is,30
[Pg 106]

Throw wapynnys fleyng and his ennemys all,


By lang throwgangis and mony voyd hall;


Woundit he was, and come to seik reskew;


Ardently Pyrrus gan him fast persew,


With grondyn lance at hand so neir furthstrekit,5


Almaist the hed hym twichit and arekit.


Quhil at the last, quhen he is cummyn, I weyn,


Befor his faderis and his moderis eyn,


Smate hym down ded in thar sycht, quhar he stude,


The gaist he ȝald with habundans of blude.10


Priamus than, thocht he was halfdeill ded,


Mycht nocht conteyn his ire nor wordis of fed,


Bot cryis furth: For that cruell offens,


And owtragyus fuyl hardy violens,


Gif thar be piete in the hevin abone15


Quhilk takis heid to this at thou has done,


The goddis mot condyngly the forȝeld,


Eftir thi desert rendring sik gaynȝeld,


Causit me behald myne awyn child slane, allace!


And with hys blude fylit the faderis face.20


Bot he, quhamby thou fenys thi self byget,


Achil, was not to Priam sa hard set;


For he, of rycht and faith eschamyt eik,


Quhen that I come hym lawly to beseik,


The ded body of Hector rendrit me,25


And me convoyit hame to my cite.


Thus sayand, the ald waykly, but fors or dynt,


A dart dyd cast, quhilk, with a pyk, gan stynt


On his harnes, and in the scheild dyd hyng,


But ony harm or other dammagyng.30
[Pg 107]

Quod Pyrrus, sen always thou saist swa,


To Pellyus son, my fader, thou most ga:


Beir hym this message, ramembir weil thou tell


Him al my warkis and dedis sa cruell;


Schaw Neoptolemus is degenerit cleyn.5


Now salt thou de: and with that word, in teyn,


The ald trymlyng toward the altare he drew,


That in the hait blude of his son, sched new,


Fundrit; and Pyrrus grippis hym by the hayr


With his left hand, and with the tother al bayr10


Drew furth his schynand swerd, quhilk in his syde


Festynnyt, and onto the hyltis dyd he hyde.


Of Priamus thus was the finale fait;


Fortone heir endit his gloryus estait,


Seand Ilion al byrn in fyris brown,15


And Troys wallis fall and tumlyt down;


That ryal Prince, vmquhile, our Asya,


Apon sa feil pepil and realmys alswa


Ryngnyt in welth, now by the cost lyis ded,


Bot as a stok, and of hakkit his hed;20


A corps, but lyfe, renown, or other fame,


Onknawyn of ony wight quhat was his name.






 CAP. X.




Quhou Venus gan to Eneas appeir,


And of his fader and other materis seyr.






Fyrst than the grysly dreid about me start;


Astonyst I wolx, for sone prent in myne hart
[Pg 108]

The ymage of my deir fader, quhen I


The kyng his evyneild beheld sa cruelly


By deidly wound ȝaldand vp the spreit.


On dessolat Crevse, my spows sa sweit,


I thocht alsso, and dangeris of my place;5


Of litill Ascaneus sayr I dred the cace.


About I blent to behald, heir and thar,


Quha of our feris remanyt with me thar.


Al war thai fled full wery, left me alane;


Sum to the erd loppin from hie towris of stane;10


Sum in the fyre thar irkit bodeis leit fall;


Thar was na ma bot I left of thame all:


Quhen in the tempil of Vesta the goddas,


Lurkand ful law, intil a secrete place,


Tyndarus douchter, queyn Helene I espy;15


The fyrys schane sa brycht, as I went by,


All thing was patent quhar so euer I went.


Scho, dreding les the Troianys wald hir schent,


And kast sum way for hir distructioun,


Becaus all Troy, for hir, was thus bet doun,20


Sayr punytioun of Grekis dred scho, als


Hir husbandis wroth, quham scho left and was fals,


And eik the common fatale fury of Troy,


Hir self scho hyd tharfor, and held ful koy,


Besyde the altare sytting onethis seyn.25


My spreit for ire brynt in propir teyn,


And, al in greif, thocht cruel vengeans take,


Of my cuntre for this myschews wrake,


With byttir panys to wreke our harmys smart;


Thocht I, sal scho pas to the realm of Spart30
[Pg 109]

Hailskarth, and se Mycene hir natyve land,


And with triumphe follow hir fyrst husband?


Or, lyke a queyn, sal scho wend hame our see?


Hir frendis agane and childring sal scho se,


Accumpanyit with mony Troiane maid,5


And Phrygiane seruandis in bondage with hir had?


Sen now, by hir, with sword lyis Priam ded,


And ryal Troy all brynt in flambis red;


Of Dardane eik the strandis and the flude


Sa oft has bene waterit or bathit in blude.10


Na, na, nocht swa, I wys, that sal scho nocht:


And, set it be nocht lovabill nor semly thocht


To punys a woman, bot schameful hir to sla,


Na victory, bot lak followyng alswa;


Ȝit, netheles, I aucht lovit to be15


Vengeans to tak on hir deservis to de.


It wil my mynd asswage, forto be wrokyn


On hir quham by Troy brynt is and down brokyn,


And, forto eik the myscheif of hir ded


Til our sorowis, fyllit with assis red.20


Syk thingis I thocht half wod and furyus,


As owt of wit my mynd was cachit thus;


Quhen that my blissit moder, of sik bewte,


Apperit farer than euer I dyd hir se,


Schynyng ful cleir for al the dyrk nycht,25


Confessyng hir tobe a goddes brycht;


In sik form of quantite and estait


As scho is seyn with spretis deificat.


Me by the rycht hand hynt scho, and held fast,


And with hir rosy lippis thus said at last;30
[Pg 110]

Son, quha sa gret and furyus cruelte


And hie ondantit ire has rasyt in the?


Quhy gois thou mad? quhidder is went thus onkynd


Our ramembrance, or we forȝet of mynd?


Suld thou not first think quhar thou left, but les,5


Thi wery fader, the agit Anchises?


Wenys thou, or not, Crevsa ȝit levand be,


And Ascanyus thi ȝong son? quham al thre


The Grekis armyis walkis rownd about;


And, bot my myght rasistit thame, sans dout10


Thai had bene brynt or this in flambis red,


And with thar fays swordis smyt to ded.


Not the bewte of Helene Laconya,


Quham thou hatis, nor Parys, quhilk alswa


Is blamyt oft, this ryches has ȝou reft;15


Bot the wroth of the goddis has down beft


The city of Troy from top onto the grond.


Behald! (for I, within a litil stound,


The clowd of dyrknes from thi sycht so cleir,


That on ȝour mortell eyn, quhil ȝe beyn heir,20


Lyke to ane watry slowch standis dym about;


Thi moderis heist on na wys nedis the dowt,


Na hir command refusyng to obey)


Quhar thir towris thou seys downfall and swey,


And stane fra stane down bet, and reyk vp rys,25


With stew, powder, and duste myxt on this wys,


Neptune the fundamentis of thir wallis hie,


With his gret mattok havand granys thre,


Vndermyndis rownd about the towne,


Furth of the grond holkand the barmkyn doun.30
[Pg 111]

Maist cruel Juno has, or this, alsswa


Saysit with the fyrst the port clepit Sceya,


And from the schippis the ostis in scho callis,


Standing wod wraith enarmyt on the wallis.


The hie castellis and strenthis to and fra,5


Behald, now Pallas of Tritonya


All occupyis, schynyng in weirlyke weid,


Fell Gorgones hed into hir scheild, tak heid.


The gret fader Jupiter strenth and mycht


Distributis happely to the Grekis in fyght,10


And eik the goddis ire prouokis he


Aganys Troianys power in the melle.


Fle thou, my son, in haist away thou wend,


And of this laubour onprofitabil mak ane end;


I salbe with the soverly and ful koy,15


Quhil to thi faderis ȝet I the convoy.


Thus sayand, scho hir hyd in the cloys nycht.


Than terribil figuris apperis to my sycht


Of gret goddis, semand with Troy agrevit;


And tho beheld I al the cite myschevit,20


Fayr Ilion all fall in gledis down,


And, fra the soyll, gret Troy, Neptunus town,


Ourtumlyt to the grond: so as ȝhe se


The lauboreris, into the montanys hie,


With steil axis byssely hak and hew25


A mekil ayk that mony ȝeir thar grew;


The tre branglis bostyng to the fall,


With top trymlyng, and branchis schakand all;


Quhil finaly it get the lattyr straik,


Than, with a rair, down duschis the mekil aik,30
[Pg 112]

And with his fard brekis down bewis about.


Furth of that sted I went, and throu the rowt


Of ennemyis and flambis I me sped;


The fyre and wapynnys gave me place, and fled.


So happely the goddes gydit me,5


Quhil that within the portis and entre


Of my faderis lugyng am I cummyn;


My fader, than, quham I schupe to haue nummyn,


And caryit to the nerrest hillys hycht,


And hym tharto solist with al my mycht;10


Bot he reffusys or euer to leif in joy


Eftir the rwyne and distructioun of Troy:


To suffir exile he said that he ne couth.


O ȝe! quod he, in blude and florist ȝouth,


That has ȝour strenth ȝit, and ȝour forcy mycht,15


Pas on ȝour way onone, and tak the flycht.


Gif goddis lykyt lenth my life langar space,


Thai wald haue salwyt to me this litil place.


It is eneuch, eneuch, and mair, I weyn,


A distructioun of Troy that we haue seyn,20


Remanyng alyve eftyr the cite tane.


So, so, hald on, leif this ded body alane;


Say the last quething word, adew, to me.


I sal my deth purches thus, quod he:


Quhen our ennemys seys me enarmyt stand,25


Sum sal haue reuth, and sla me with his brand,


To get my spulȝe; quhat of the body na cure;


The corps is sone warpit in sepulture.


Hatit of the goddis, to all nedis onhabill,


Thir mony ȝeris I left inprofitabill,30
[Pg 113]

Ay sen the fader of goddis and kyng of men


With thunderis blast me smate, as that ȝe ken,


And with his fyry levin me omberauch,


That we intill our langage clepe fyreflauch.


Rehersyng this, fermly he dyd remane5


At his first purpos fixt, and we agane


Furthȝetting teris, and our spows Crevsa,


Ascanyus ȝyng, and al our menȝe alswa


Besowth my fader to salue his wery banys,


And not be wilful to perys all atanys,10


And to escheif the chance as it was went:


Plat he reffusys, anherdyng to his entent,


The fyrst sentence haldyng euer ane.


To start to harnes I am compeld agane,


And, as maste wrachit and miserabil catyve,15


Ded I desyrit, and irkyt of my lyve;


For by na wysdome, nor chance, persave I mycht


We couth eschape, nor ȝit by fors in fyght.


O deir fader, quhat wenys thou for ded,


A fut, quod I, me to steir of this sted,20


And leif the heir? O God! quha euer couth


Sik cryme to me be said of faderis mouth!


Bot gif it lykis to the goddis hie


Na thing be left of sa fayr a cite,


Or gyf thou hest in mynd decretit eik,25


And weil lykis thi self and thine to eik


Onto the rewyne of Troy, and tobe schent,


Ded at our dur is reddy and patent.


From mekil blude schedding of Priamus


Hiddir, belyfe, sal cum cruell Pyrrus,30
[Pg 114]

Quhilk brytnys the son befor the faderis face,


And gorris the fader at the altare but grace.


Is this the way, my haly moder, at thou


Suld kepe me, fays and fyris passand throu,


That I behald, within my chawmyr secrete,5


Myne ennemys, and se Ascanyus swete,


My deir fader, and Crevsa my wyfe,


Athir in otheris hait blude leys thar lyfe?


Harnes, seruandis, harnes bryng hydder sone:


The lattyr end, thus venquyst and ondone,10


Callys ws agane to batale and assay;


Adone, cum on, this is our lattir day.


Rendir me to the Grekis, or suffir me


The bargane agane begun at I may se;


This day onwrokyn we sal neuer all be slane.15


Abowt me than my swerd I belt agane,


And schot my left arme in my scheild al meit,


Bownyng me furth; quhen lo! abowt my feit


My spows lappit fell down into the ȝet,


And litill Iulus forgane his fader vpset:20


Gyf thou lyst pas, quod scho, thi self to spill,


Harl ws with the in all perrell quhar thou will;


Bot gif thou trastis, as expert in thi dedis,


Ony help by fors of armys, than the nedis


First to defend and kepe this hows, quod scho,25


Quharin thi ȝong son and thi fader beyn, lo!


And I vmquhile that salbe clepit thi spows;


Quham to sall we be left in this waist hows?




[Pg 115]




 CAP. XI.




Quhou Eneas hys fader bayr away,


And how he lost Crevsa by the way.






Wyth skyrlys and with scrykis thus scho beris,


Fillyng the hows with murnyng and salt teris;


Quhen suddanly, a wonder thing to tell,


A feirful takyn betyd of gret mervell.


For lo! the top of litill Ascanyus hed,5


Amang the duylfull armys wil of red


Of his parentis, from the sched of his crown,


Schane al of lycht onto the grond adown.


The leym of fyre and flambe, but ony skath,


In his haris, about his halffettis baith,10


Kyndyllis vp brycht, and we than, al in weir,


Abasit, trymlyng for the dreidfull feir,


The blesand haris bet furth at brynt sa schyre,


And schupe with watir to sloyk the haly fyre.


Bot Anchises, my fader, blyth and glaid15


Lyft eyn and handis to hevyn, and thus gatis said;


O thou almychty Jupiter, quod he,


With ony prayeris inclynyt gif thou may be,


Tak heid to ws, and gif we haue deseruyt,


For our piete and rewth, tobe conseruyt,20


Haly fader, send ws thi help als ȝoir,


And conferm al thir takynnys seyn befor.


Scarsly the auld thir wordis had warpit owt,


Quhen sone the ayr begouth to rumbill and rowt
[Pg 116]

On our left hand, towart the north ful rycht,


And from the hevin fell, in the dyrk nycht,


A fayr brycht starn, rynnand with bemys cleir,


Quhilk on the top of our lugyng, but weir,


First saw we lycht, syne schynyng went awa5


And hyd it in the forest of Ida,


Markand the way quhidder at we suld spur;


Thar followis a streym of fyre, or a lang fur,


Castand gret lycht about quhar that it schane,


Quhil al enveron rekit lyke bryntstane.10


With that, my fader venquyst start on fute,


And to the goddis carpis tobe our bute,


The haly starn adornyt he rycht thar:


Now, now, quod he, I tary na langar;


I follow, and quhidder ȝe gyde me sal I wend.15


O natyve goddis, ȝour awyn kynrent defend,


Salwe ȝour nevo; ȝouris is this oracle,


In ȝour protectioun is Troy, for this myracle


I wil obey, and grantis onto ȝour will:


My deir son, quhidder euer thou wend will,20


I sal na mair reffus tobe thi feyr.


Thus sayd he, and be than, thar and heir,


Throw out the wallis the rerd of fyris grew


Ay mair and mair, and the heit nerrar drew.


Have done, quod I, fader, clym vp anone,25


And set the evyn abuf my nek bone;


Apon my schuldris I sal the beir, but weyr,


Nor this lawbour sal do to me na deir:


Quhat euer betyde, a weilfair and a skaith


Salbe common and equale to ws baith.30
[Pg 117]

Lytil Iulus salbeir me cumpany;


My spows on dreich eftyr our trays sal hy.


And ȝe, my seruandis, tak held quhat I say;


As ȝe pas furth of the cite this ilk way,


Thar is a mote, quhar ane ald tempil, but les,5


Now standis desert of the goddes Ceres,


Besyde quham growis a sypir tre full auld,


With forfaderis, feil ȝeris, in wirschip hald;


In that place lat ws meit on athir syde.


Fader, sen that we may na langar byde,10


Tak vp tha haly rellykis in thi hand,


And our penates or goddis of this land:


It war onleifful and wykkitnes to me


From sa gret slauchter, blude schedding, and melle


Newly departit, to twich thame, for the blude,15


Quhil I be weschyn into sum rynnand flude.


And sayng thus, I spred my schulderis brayd,


Syne our my nek, abuf the wedis, laid


A ȝallow skyn was of a fers lyoun,


And tharapon gart set my fader down;20


Lytil Iulus grippis me by the hand,


With onmeit pays his fader fast followand;


Neir at our bak Crevse, my spows, ensewys:


We pas by secret wentis and quyet rewys.


And me, quham laitly na wapyn, nor dartis kast,25


Nor pres of Grekis rowtis maid agast,


Ilke swouch of wynd, and euery quhispir now,


And alkyn sterage affrayt, and causyt grow,


Baith for my byrdyng and my litil mait.


Quhen we war cummyn almaist to the ȝet,30
[Pg 118]

And al danger we thocht eschapit neyr,


A fellon dyn, belyve, of feit we heir:


My fader than lukand furth throw the sky,


Cryis on me fast, fle son, fle son in hy!


Thai cum at hand; behynd me I gat a sycht5


Of lemand armour and schynand scheildis brycht,


Thar knaw I nocht quhat fremmyt god onkynd


So me astonyst, and rest fra me my mynd:


For throu the secrete stretis fast I ran


Befor the laif, as weil bekend man;10


Allace to me, catyve! I wait neuer quhydder


My spows Crevse remanyt or we come thydder,


Or by sum fait of goddis was reft away,


Or gif scho errit, or irkit by the way;


For nevir syne with eyn saw I hyr eft,15


Nor neuer abak, fra scho was lost or reft,


Blent I agane, nor perfyte mynd has nummyn,


Quhil to the mote of Ceres war we cummyn.


And fynaly, quhen we beyn gadderit thidder,


Fast by the haly tempil al togidder,20


Scho was away, and betrumpit suythly


Hyr spows, hir son, and all the cumpany.


Than wod for wo, so was I quyte myscaryit


That nowder god nor man I left onwaryit:


For quhat mair hard myschance, quhen Troy down fell,25


Apperit to me as that, or sa cruell?


Ascanyus tho, and my fader Anchises,


And eik our Troiane goddis penates,


Onto my feris betauch I, for to keip,


And hyd thame darn within a valy deip.30
[Pg 119]

To town agane I sped with al my mycht,


Claspit ful meit into fyne armour brycht,


Wilful al aventuris newlyngis to assay,


And forto sers Troy, euery streit, and way,


And eik my hed agane in perrell set.5


Bot first the wallis, the darn entre, and ȝet,


Quharat we yschit furth, I seik agane,


Haldyng bakwart ilk futstep we had gane,


Lukand and sersand about me as I myght.


The vgsumnes and silens of the nycht10


In euery place my spreit maid sayr agast.


Fra thyne ontil our lugyng hame I past,


To spy perchance gif scho had thidder returnyt;


It was with Grekis beset, and hail ourturnyt,


Alhail the hows with thame sa occupyit:15


Belyve the fyre al waistand I espyit


Bles with the wynd; our the rufe, heir and thar,


The flambe vpsprang and hait low in the ayr.






 CAP. XII.




Quhou Eneas socht hys spows, at the cost,


And how to hym apperis hir gret gost.






To Priamus palyce eftyr socht I than,


And syne onto the tempil fast I ran:20


Quhar, at the porchis or clostir of Juno,


Than al bot waist, thocht it was gyrth, stude tho
[Pg 120]

Phenix and dowr Vlixes, wardanys tway,


Forto observe and keip the spreth or pray.


Thydder in a hepe was gadderit precyus geir,


Riches of Troy, and other jowellis seyr


Reft from all partis; and of tempillis brynt5


Of massy gold the veschel war furth hynt


From the goddis, and goldyn tabillis all,


With precyus vestmentis of spulȝe triumphall:


The ȝyng childring, frayt matronys eik,


Stude al on raw, with mony petuus screik10


Abowt the tresour quhymperand wondir sayr.


And I alsso my self sa bald wolx thair


That I durst schaw my voce in the dyrk nycht,


And clepe and cry fast throw the stretis on hycht


Ful dolorusly, Crevsa! Crevsa!15


Agane, feil sys, invane I callit swa


Throu howsys and the cite quhar I ȝoyd,


But owder rest or resson, as I war woyd;


Quhil that the figur of Crevsa and gost,


Of far mair statur than ayr quhen scho was lost,20


Befor me, catyve, hyr sekand, apperit thar.


Abasyt I wolx, and widdyrsyns start my hayr;


Speke mycht I not, the voce in my hals swa stak.


Than scho, belyfe, on this wys to me spak,


With sik wordis my thochtis to asswage:25


O my sweit spows, into sa furyus rage


Quhat helpis thus thi selwyn to torment?


This chance is not, but goddis willis went;


Nor it is nocht leifful thing, quod sche,


Fra hyne Crevse thou turs away with the,30
[Pg 121]

Nor the hie governour of the hevin abufe is


Wil suffir it so tobe; bot the behuffis


From hens to wend ful far into exile,


And our the braid sey sail furth mony a myle,


Or thou cum to the land Hesperya,5


Quhar, wyth soft cowrs, Tybris of Lydya


Rynnys throu the rych feldis of pepil stowt:


Thar is gret substans ordanyt the, but dowt,


Thar salt thou have a realm, thar salt thou ryng,


And wed to spows the douchtir of a kyng.10


Thy wepyng and thi teris do away,


Quhilk thou makis for thi luffyt Crevsay;


For I, the neyce of mychty Dardanus,


And gude douchtyr onto the blyssit Venus,


Of Myrmydonys the realm sal nevir behald,15


Nor ȝit the land of Dolopeis so bald,


Nor go to serve na matron Gregion;


Bot the gret modir of the goddis ilkan


In thir cuntreis withhaldis me for evyr.


Adew, fayr weil, for ay we mon dissevir!20


Thou be gude frend, lufe weil, and keip fra skath


Our a ȝong son is common til ws baith.


Quhen this was spokkyn, fra me away scho glaid,


Left me wepyng and feil wordis wald have said;


For sche sa lychtly vanysyt in the ayr,25


That with myne armys thrys I presyt thar


About the hals hir fortil haue belappit,


And thrys, al waist, my handis togidder clappit:


The figur fled as lycht wynd, or the son beym,


Or maist lykly a waverand swevyn or dreym.30
[Pg 122]

Thus finaly, the nycht al passit and gane,


Onto my falloschip I return agane,


Quhar that I fand assemlyt, al newly,


So huge a rowt of our folkis that I


Wondryt the nowmyr; thai sa mony weir5


Of men and women gadderit al infeir,


And ȝong pepil to pas in exile abill,


And of commonys a sort sa miserabill,


Fra euery part that flokkyng fast about,


Baith with gude wil and thar moblis, but dout,10


Reddy to wend in quhat cost or cuntre


That evir me list to cary thame our see.


Wyth this the day starn, Lucifer the brycht,


Abuf the top of Ida rays on hycht,


Gydand the day hard at his bak followyng;15


The Grekis than we se in the mornyng


Stand forto kepe the entreis of the portis:


And thus, quhen na hope of reskew, at schort, is,


My purpos I left, obeyand destanye,


And careit my fader to Ida hyll on hie.20




[Pg 123]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE THRYD BUKE.






Hornyt Lady, pail Cynthia, not brycht,


Quhilk from thi broder borrowis al thi lycht,


Rewlare of passage and ways mony one,


Maistres of stremys, and glaidar of the nycht,


Schipmen and pilgrymys hallowis thi mycht,5


Lemman to Pan, douchtir of Hyperion,


That slepand kyssit the hyrd Endymyon;


Thy strange wentis to write God grant me slycht,


Twiching the thryd buke of Eneadon.




The feirful stremys and costis wondyrfull10


Now most I write, althocht my wyt be dull,


Wild aventuris, monstreis and quent effrays;


Of onkowth dangeris this nixt buke hail is full:


Nyce laborynth, quhar Mynotawr the bull


Was kepte, had nevir sa feil cahuttis and ways;15


I dreid men clepe thame fablis now on days;


Tharfor wald God I had thar erys to pull


Mysknawis the creid, and threpis otheris forvayis.




Incays thai bark, I compt it nevir a myte;


Quha kan not hald thar peice ar fre to flyte;20


Chide quhil thar hedis ryfe, and hals worth hays:
[Pg 124]

Weyn thai to murdrys me with thar dispyte?


Or is it Virgill quham thame list bakbyte?


His armour wald thai pers? quhar is the place?


He dowtis na dynt of polax, sword, nor mace:


Quhat wenys thou, frend, the craw be worthyn quhite,5


Suppos the holkis be all ourgrowyn thi face?




Deym as ȝhe lest that kan not demyng weill;


And, gentill curtas redaris, of gude ȝeill,


I ȝow beseik to gevin aduertens;


This text is full of storys euery deill,10


Realmys and landis, quharof I haue na feill


Bot as I follow Virgill in sentens;


Few knawis all thir costis sa far hens;


To pike thame vp perchance ȝour eyn suld reill:


Thus aucht thar nane blame me for smal offens.15




By strange channellis, fronteris, and forlandis,


Onkouth costis, and mony wilsum strandis


Now goith our barge, for nowder howk nor craik


May heir bruke sail, for schald bankis and sandis.


From Harpyes fell, and blynd Cyclopes handis,20


Be my laid star, virgyne moder, but maik;


Thocht storm of temptatioun my schip oft schaik.


Fra swelth of Sylla, and dyrk Caribdis bandis,


I meyn from hell, salue al go not to wraik.




[Pg 125]




 THE THRYD BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Quhou Eneas fra Troy has tane hys rays,


And Polidorus graf has fund in Trace.






Eftyr that seyn and thocht expedient


Was by the goddys to dystroy and schent


Of Asya the empyre, and down to bryng,


But offens, Priamus pepil and ofspryng,


And prowd Ilion was brokyn and bet down,5


And from the soyl al Troy, Neptunus town,


Ybrynt in smoke of flambis and in reik;


Syndry landis and cuntreis forto seik,


And wend exile in diuers nationys,


Of the goddis by reuelacionys,10


We war admonyst feil syth, as is said.


Schippis we graith, and navy reddy maid,


Betwix Anthandros and the mont of Ida,


Oncertane quhidder the fatis wald we suld ga,


Or quhar we suld remane ȝit fynaly;15


Our men togidder gadderit we in hy.
[Pg 126]

And skant begunnyn was the fresch veir,


Quhen that Anchises, myne awyn fader deir,


Bad ws mak sail and follow destany.


Than, weping sayr, my native cost left I,


The havynnys, and the feildis dissolait5


Quhar Troys ryall cite stude of lait:


Furth sail I banyst throw the deip see,


With my ȝong son Ascanyus and our menȝe,


And with our frendly goddis, Penates hait,


And eik our gret Goddis of mair estait.10


Thar lyis a weirly cuntre weil far thens,


With large feildis lauborit ful of fens;


Of Trace the pepill ar thar inhabityng,


Quhar that vmquhile strang Lycurgus was kyng:


Ane ancyant and ane tendir herbry place15


To Troianys, quhil we stude in fortonys grace,


Our pepil togidder confederate and aly.


By schip thiddir, our sey, careit was I,


Quhar, at the bayand costis syde of the see,


Begouth I first set wallis of a cite,20


Althocht my foundment was mysfortunat:


The towne I nemmyt efter myne estait,


And fra my name it clepit Eneadas.


Onto my moder, of Dyona douchter was,


Sacrifice I maid, and to the goddis all25


Quham for new warkis men happy helparis call;


And to the kyng of hevinly wightis, that tyde,


A quhite bull slew I by the costis syde.


On cace, thar stude a litil mote neir by,


Quhar hepthorn buskis on the top grew hie,30
[Pg 127]

And evin saplynnys of myrthus, the tre funerale.


Thiddir I went, greyn bewis doune to haill,


Hard by the grond myne altare forto dycht


With burgyonys and with branchis al at rycht:


A grysly takyn, feirful to tell, I se.5


As from the soyll vprent was the first tre


By the rutys, the blak droppis of blude


Distillit tharfra, that al the erth quhar it stude


Was spottit of the fylth, and stenyt, allaik!


The cald dreid maid all my membris quaik,10


And for effeir my blude togidder fresyt.


Ane other smal twyst of a tre I chesit


Forto brek down, the causys to assay


Of this mater, that war onknawyn alway;


And ȝit the blude followit on the sam maneir15


Furth of the bark of that other, but weir.


Than in my mynd of mony thingis I musyt,


And to the goddessis of wildyrnes, as is vsyt,


Quhilk Hamadriades hait, I wirschip maid;


Onto Gradyus fader, that ryngnys glaid20


Our all the land of Getya and Tars,


Quhilk clepit is the god of armys, Mars;


Besekyng this avisioun worth happy,


And the oracle prosperite suld signyfy.


Bot efter that the thryd syoun of treys,25


Apon the sandis syttand on my kneys,


I schupe to haue vprevyn with mair pres,


(Quhidder sal I spek now, or hald my pes?)


Furth of the graif a duylful murnyng law


I hard, and to myne eris come this saw:30
[Pg 128]

Ene, quhy rentis thou a wrechit creatur?


Haue reuth of hym now laid in sepultur,


And forto fyle thi deuote handis spair:


Of Troy I born am, to the na strangar:


This blude droppis nocht from that stok in thi hand.5


Fle sone, allace! furth of this cursyt land:


Fle from this avarus kyngis cost in hy;


For lo! thus, Polidorus heir I ly,


Througyrd with dartis, and thyk steil hedis schote,


Apon sik wys ourheildit on this mote;10


The scharp lancis growis greyn and spredis owt.


Than wist I not quhat I suld do for dowt,


The feir affrayit my mynd estonyst als,


Vpstart my hayr, the word stak in my hals.


With a gret sold of gold fey Priamus15


Secretly vmquhile send this Polidorus,


Quhilk was his son, to Polynestor kyng


Of Trace, to kepe and haue in nurysyng,


Quhen first of Troiane defens begouth he dowt,


And saw the town besegyt all abowt.20


Bot this ilk kyng of Trace, seand how Troy


Lossyt his myghtis be forton turnyt from joy,


The party chesis of Agamenon,


Anherdand to the victorius syde onone;


Al faith and frendschip brak he than in hy,25


And Polydorus slane hes cruelly,


And thus, be fors, the tresour he doith withhold.


O cursyt hungyr of this wrachit gold!


Quhat wikkytnes or myscheif may be do


At thou constrenys not mortale myndis tharto?30
[Pg 129]

Eftir this effray was fra my banys went,


Of the goddis thir feirfull wordis quent


Onto the noblis and grettast of our men,


And to my fader fyrst, rehers I then,


And, quhat thar purpos was, eik I inquir.5


Thai war al of a will and a desyr,


To pas furth of this wareit realm of Trace,


And for to leif that pollut herbry place,


And set our navy to the wynd, but weir.


Tharfor, to Polidorus vp a beyr10


We erekkit, and of erd a gret fluyr


Kest in a hepe abuf his sepultur:


Syne, in ramembrance of the sawlis went,


The dolorus altaris fast by war vpstent,


Crownyt with garlandis al of haw sey hewis,15


And with the blaiknyt cypres dedly bewis.


The Troiane wemen stude with hayr down schaik,


About the beir weping with mony allake!


And on we kest of warm mylk mony a skul,


And of the blude of sacrifyce cowpis full:20


The sawle we bery in sepultur on this wys,


The lattir hailsyng syne lowd schowtit thrys,


Rowpand atanys, adew! quhen al is done,


Ilkane per ordour, the mon we follow sone.




[Pg 130]




 CAP. II.




Quhou Eneas socht answer at Apollyne,


And quhou he to the land of Crete is salyt syne.






Syne, quhen we se our tyme to sail maist habill,


The blastis mesit, and the fludis stabill,


The softe piping wynd callyng to see,


Thar schippis than furth settis our menȝe:


Ȝe mycht haue sene the costis and the strandis5


Fillit with portage and pepil tharon standis.


Furth of the havin we salit al onone;


The sicht of land and cite sone is gone.


Amyd the sey yclepit Egeos


Ane haly iland lyis, that hait Delos,10


Beluffit of Neptune, and the moder alswa


Of the Nereydes, clepit Doryda;


Quham the cheritabil archer, Appollo,


Quhen it flet rollyng from costis to and fro,


Saisit and band betwix other ilis twa,15


Quhilk clepit ar Mycone and Gyara,


Stablisyng so that it mycht lauborit be,


And comptis nowthir the wynd nor storm of see.


Thidder ar we careit, and, in that plesand land,


A sovir havyn ressavit ws at hand.20


Al wery beyn we yschit furth of schip


The cite of Apollo to wirschip:


The kyng tharof, yclepit Anyvs,


Prince of the men, and preste eik to Phebus,
[Pg 131]

With bendis baith and haly lawrer crown


Set on his hed, met ws withowt the town;


His agit frend Anchises knew this kyng.


Handis we schuke with hartly welcumyng,


And to his palyce al with hym we went,5


Quhar that I wirschip, as wes myne entent,


The god Appollo, within his hallowit hald


Or tempil beldyt al of stanys ald.


O thou, quod I, Appollo Tymbreus,


Sum propir dwellyng place thou grant to ws;10


We the beseik that schaw alsso thou wald


To ws irkit sum strenth and stalwart hald,


And at thou grant ws eik successioun,


And for to dwel in a remanand town.


Salve ws, lattir wardis of Troy, that we ne spill,15


Levyngis of Grekis and of the fers Achill.


Geif ws thine answer quharon we sal depend;


Quhidder wilt thou, fader, at we now wend?


Quhar sall we set our lugyng to remane?


Condiscend in our myndis, and schaw this plane.20


Scars war thir wordis said, quhen that I se


Al thingis trymmyl and schaik neir abowt me,


The durris and the lawrer tre, but dowt,


And al the montane movit rownd about:


A murmur or a rumysyng hard we haue25


Within the courtyng and the secret cave;


The quyet closettis oppynnyt with a rerd,


And, we plat law gruflyngis on the erd,


A voce com til our erys, sayand thus;


O ȝe dowr pepil discend from Dardanus,30
[Pg 132]

The ilke grond, fra quham the first stok cam


Of ȝour lynnage, with blyth bosum the sam


Sal ȝou ressaue thidder returnyng agane:


To seik ȝour ald moder mak ȝou bane.


Thar sal Eneas lynnage haue senȝeory5


Our al realmys and landis vndir the sky,


And thar sonnys, and sonnys sonnys syne,


And al that evir succedis of thar lyne.


Thus said Phebus; and than, our folkis amang,


Mixt with blithnes a fellon dyn vpsprang:10


Quhat place was this, euery ane fast gan frane,


Quhidder callis Phebus? byddis he ws turn agane?


My fader than, revoluyng in his mynd,


The discens of forfaderis of our strynd,


Nobillis, quod he, harkis quhat I sal say,15


And leyr at me ȝour weilfair, I ȝou pray.


The ile of Crete lyis amyd the see,


The native land of Jupiter maist hie;


Thar is the first hyll, yclepit Ida,


Thar our forbearis first in thar credlys lay;20


The land maist plentevs of wyne, oyl, and quhete,


Inhabyt with a hundreth citeis gret,


Quharfra thar com, gif I remembir rycht,


Our gret forfader Teucrus the wycht,


First to the cost of Rethea in Phrygy,25


And for his cite chesit the set fast by:


For ȝit than was not Ilion vpbeld,


Nor the strang wallis of Troy; bot on the feld


Thai dwelt in lugys and mony litil cave.


The adornar eik of our realm we haue30
[Pg 133]

From that land, the moder of goddis Cybele,


And blast of brasyn trumpettis, as ȝe se:


From thens com eik the wod of Idea,


And the traist serymonys of sacrifice alswa:


The fasson eik and gys we lernyt thar5


Quhou the lyonys suld draw the ladeis char.


Haue done onon, tharfor, and lat ws wend


Thidder quhar the goddis oracle haith ws kend.


The wynd first lat ws meys, or that we ga,


Syne seik the realm of Crete and Gnosia:10


It is not thens lang cowrs nor vyage far;


Our navy sall, with help of Jupiter,


The thrid morow be at the cost of Crete.


This beand said, ganand offerandis ful mete


Befor the altaris he slew in sacrifyce;15


A bul first to Neptune, as is the gys,


A bull to brycht Appollo for his beheist,


And to the god of tempestis a blak beist,


And to the chancy wyndis ane mylk quhite.


The fame was than, of Crete the cost stude quyte20


Dissolate, but prince; for Idomeneus the kyng


Was by the pepil expellit from his ryng,


The lugyngis voyd and reddy to thar fays,


The sete left waist til ony it vptais.


The porte tharwith, Ortygia, leif we,25


And with swift cowrs flaw throu the salt see;


By the iland swepit we onon


With hillis ful of wynys, hait Naxon,


By Donysa quhar growis the marbill greyn,


And by Paron with his quhite marbill scheyn,30
[Pg 134]

By Olearon, and mony ilis, but les,


Skatterit in the sey, yclepit Cyclades;


We slyde throu fludis endlang feil costis fayr.


The noys vpsprang of mony marynar


Byssy at thar wark, to takilling euery tow,5


Thar feris exorting, with mony heys and how,


To speid thame fast towart the realm of Crete,


With thar forfaderis and progenitouris to mete.


The followand wynd blew strek in our tail,


Quhill finaly arrive we, with bent saill,10


Apon the ancyant cost of Curetanys,


A kynd of pepill quhilk into Crete remanys.


And sone I me enfors with diligence


To byg a wallit cite of defens;


Pargamea I namyt it, but baid:15


Our folkis than, that warryn blyth and glaid


Of this kowth surname of our new cite,


Exort I to graith howsis, and leif in le,


And rays on hycht the strenth and fortales.


Our schippis, or this, ful weil we gart adres,20


And lay almaist apon the dry sand:


The ȝong men fortil laubour thar new land,


And in honour of wedlok, as is the gys,


Makkis thar offerand and thar sacryfys,


And I thar statutis and seyr lawis thame tawcht,25


Assyngnand ilkane propir howsis and aucht.


Quhen suddanly a cruel pest and traik,


So that cornys and frutis goith to wraik,


Throu the corruppit ayr and cowrs of hevyn,


A dedly ȝeir, far wers than I kan nevin,30
[Pg 135]

Fell on our membris with sik infectioun,


Was na remeid, cure, nor correctioun;


The sweit sawlis lefis the bodeis ded,


Or seik thai ly gaspand in euery sted.


And forthir eik, Syryvs, the frawart star,5


Quhilk clepit is the syng canicular,


So brynt the feildis al was barrand maid;


Herbis wolx dry, wallowyng, and gan to faid;


The seik grond denyis hys fruyt and fudis.


My fader exortis ws turn agane our fludis10


To Delos, and Apolloys answer speir,


Besekyng hym of succurs ws to leir,


Quhat end ontil our irksum panys he sendis,


And be quhat way we mycht assay amendis


Of this turbacioun, or quhidder and quhar that he15


Wil at we seik or set our cowrs our see.






 CAP. III.




Quhou Troiane goddys apperis tyll Enee,


And how that he was stormstad on the see.






Cummyn is the nycht, that euery beist on grond


Desiris rest by kynd, and slepis sovnd;


Quhen that the figuris of our goddis blist,


And the Phrigiane Penates, or I wist,20


Quhilkis from amyd the fyris of Troy I brocht


Thidder with me, quhar I lay and slepit nocht,
[Pg 136]

Gan to appeir standyng befor myne eyn:


With ful gret lycht graithly I haue thame seyn,


Quhar as the ful moyn schawing bemys brycht


Inthrou the tyrlyst wyndo schane by nycht.


Than said thai thus, with wordis to asswage5


My thochtis and my hevy sad curage;


That thing, quod thai, quhilk Apollo wald sa


And thou war brocht onto Ortygia,


Heir he the schawis, and eik, as thou may se,


Onrequirit hes send ws hidder to the.10


Quhen Troy was brynt, we followit thi prowes,


Vnder thi gward to schip we ws addres,


Ourspannand mony swelland seys salt;


And to the starnys eik we sal exalt


The childryn for tocum of thine ofspryng;15


Thi cite sal we geif empyre to ryng


Our al the erth: tharfor to goddis grete


Begyn to graith gret wallis and ryal sete;


Leif not thi langsum lavbour, bot fle away;


This duelling place thou mon change, we the say:20


Delyvs Apollo, certis, as thou thocht,


Tocum onto this cost perswadit nocht,


Nor chargit neuer in Crete thou suld remane.


A land thar is, in Grekis langage plane


Hesperya clepit, a bald cuntre in weir,25


A fructuus grond of corn and riches seir,


By kyng Onotryvs inhabit first with wyne,


Bot in our days laitly, the fame is syne,


Eftir thar duke it is namyt Italy:


Thar beyn our propir setis and our herbry;30
[Pg 137]

Tharof com Dardane and his brothir Jasyvs,


And from that ilk prince, Schir Dardanus,


Is the discens of our genealogy.


Get vp onone, tel thi ald fader blythly


Thir tythyngis, quhilk beyn trew and certan thing.5


Seik to Coryce, and Italy the ryng;


For the feldis in Crete neyr Dycteus


Jupiter denyis to granting onto ws.


Of this visioun estonyst quhar I lay,


And of tha wordis quhilkis the goddis gan say,10


(For this wes nowthir dreym nor fantasy;


Thar propir vissage befor me stand knew I,


With garlandis and thar cirkillettis on thar hair;


Thar figur saw I present to me thair;


The cald sweit our al my body ran;)15


Furth of my bed on fute son sprent I than,


And, strekand vp my handis towart hevyn,


Myne oryson I maid with devote stevyn;


A cleyn sacrifyce and offerand maid I syne,


Into the fyris ȝettand sens and wyne.20


The serymoneis endit, blyth and glaid


To my fader per ordour al I said


As ȝe haue hard, quhat nedis tell agane?


And of this mater maid hym ful certane.


Onone he knew our elderis dowtis ilk deill,25


And of our clan the dowbill stok full weill:


He grantis the unkouth errour hym dissavit


Of ancyant placis, quhilk he not persavit.


Syne said he, son, thou irkit art al gatis


By the contrarius frawart Troiane fatis;30
[Pg 138]

Now I remembir only quhou Cassandra


Ful oft maid mensioun of Hesperya,


And oft als of the realm hait Italy,


Thir materis me declaring by and by.


That land now knaw I destinate to our kyn:5


Bot quha wald haue belevit at euer within


The realm of Itail Teucrus blude suld cum?


Or quha wald than, mair than scho had bene dum,


Set by the prophetes wordis Cassandra?


Lat ws obey Phebus, and wend awa,10


As we bene monyst, follow our chance, but pleys.


Thus said he, and we glaid al hym obeys:


A few folkis thar left to kepe the town,


This sted alsso leif we, and sail maid bown;


In bowit bargis throu the large streym we slyde.15


Quhen sycht of land was tynt on euery syde,


Sa that na cost apperis quhilk we mycht se,


Bot the schippis haldand the deip see,


The hevin abufe, and fludis al abowt;


A watry clowd, blak and dyrk, but dowt,20


Gan tho appeir abone our hed ful rycht,


And down a tempest sent als myrk as nycht.


The streym apperis vgsum of the dym sky;


The wyndis weltris the sey continualy,


That huge wallis boldynnys apon loft;25


Skatterit widequhar our the fame ful oft


War our schippis, and the brythnes of day,


Inuolvit al with clowdis, hyd away.


The rayn and royk reft from ws sycht of hevin;


The brokkyn skyis rappis furth thunderis levin;30
[Pg 139]

Forswiftit from our richt cowrs, gan we ar


Amang the blynd wallis waverand far.


For Palynurus him self maist expart,


For al his cunnyng of schipman craft and cart,


Amyd the sey forȝet the richt way,5


Denyand als that the nycht from the day


He mycht discern be sycht of firmament.


Apon sik wys oncertanly we went


Thre days wilsum throu the mysty streym,


And als mony nychtis but starnys leym,10


That quhidder was day or nycht oneith wist we;


Bot at the last, on the ferd day we se


On far the land appeir, and hillis rys,


The smoky vapour vpcasting on thar gys.


Down fallis salis, the aris sone we span;15


But mair abaid, the marineris euery man


Egirly rollis our the fomy flude,


And the haw sey weltis vp as thai war woid.


Salve from the wallis at the costis of Strophe


With al our navy first arryvit we.20






 CAP. IV.




Quhou till Ene the harpyes dyd gret wo,


And of the drery prophete Celeno.






Strophades in Grew leid ar nemmyt so,


In the gret sey standing ilis two;
[Pg 140]

The quhilk sey clepit is Ionium;


And, in thir ilandis quhidder we ar becum,


Dwelt and inhabit the cruel Celeno,


With all the otheris harpeys mony mo,


Evir sen thai war expeld from the land5


Of Arcad, quhar kyng Phyneus was dwelland,


And for dreid at his tabil durst not remane.


Mair wikkit monstreis than thai kan be nane,


Nor nane mair cruel pestilens is fund,


Nor fury of goddis that cummys from hellis grund,10


Furth of the flude of Stix that sory place.


Thir fowlis hes a vyrgynys wlt and face,


With handis like to bowland byrdis clewis;


Bot the vile belleis of thai cursit schrewis


Aboundis of fen maist abhomynabill,15


And pail al tyme thar mowthis miserabill


For wod hungyr and gredy appetite.


At this ilke cost as we arryvit, als tyte,


And in the port entrit, lo! we se


Flokkis and herdis of oxin and of fe,20


Fat and tydy, rakand our alquhar,


And trippis eik of gait, but ony kepar,


In the rank gyrs pasturyng on raw;


With wapynnys thame we brittyn, but dreid or aw:


To goddis syne and Jupiter we pray,25


And thame distribut a party of our pray.


Syne eftir, endlang the sey costis bay,


Vp sonkis set, and desys dyd array;


To meit we sat with habundans of cheir:


Quhen suddanly, with horribill dyn and beir,30
[Pg 141]

From the montanys the harpeis on vs fell,


With huge fard of weyngis and mony a ȝell.


Our mesis and our mete thai reft away,


And with thar laithly twich al thing fyle thai;


Thar voce alsso was vgsum fortil heir,5


With sa corruppit flewyr nane mycht byde neir.


From that place syne ontil a caif we went,


Vndir a hyngand hewch, in a dern went,


With treys clos bilappit rownd about,


And thik harsk granyt pikis standing owt:10


Thar, vp agane, our tabillis haue we dicht,


And on the altaris bet the fyris bricht.


Bot, of the hevin agane from syndry artis,


Out of quyet hyrnys, the rowt vpstartis


Of thai birdis, with byr and mony a bray,15


And in thar crukyt clawis grippis the pray:


Evir as thai fle about fra sete to sete,


With thar vyle mowthis infek thai al our mete.


Quhen I saw this, our feris command I than


Tak thar wapynnys, and bargane euery man20


Agane tha cruell pepill, or byrdis fell.


As I thame chargit, schortly for to tell,


Sone haue thai done; and, vnder the gers, al bair


Ful prevaly thar swerdis in thai stair,


And darnly eik thar targis al ourheildis;25


So that, quhen the sey costis and the feildis


Resoundis at down come of thir harpeys,


Mysenus, the wait, on the hie garet seys,


And, with his trumpet, thame a takyn maid.


Our falloschip thir fowlys gan invayd,30
[Pg 142]

And onkouth kynd of batail dyd assay,


With wapynnys forto bet and dryve away


Thir laithly sey byrdis of syk effeir.


Bot thar was na dynt mycht thar fedderis scheir,


Nor in thar bodeis wound ressave thai nane:5


Bot suddanly, away tha wysk ilkane


Furth of our sycht, heich vp in the sky;


The pray half etyn behynd thame lat thai ly,


With fut stedis vyle and laith to se.


Ane, on a rolkis pynnakill perkit hie,10


Celeno clepit, a drery prophetes,


Furth of hir breist thir wordis warpis expres:


Theyfage lynnage of fals Laomedon,


Addres ȝe thus to mak bargane onon?


Becaus ȝe have our oxin reft and slane,15


Brytnyt our styrkis and ȝong bestis mony ane,


Schaip ȝe, tharfor, harpeys expell and dyng,


But ony offens, furth of thar faderis ryng?


Ressave for that, and in ȝour brestis enprent


My wordis, quhilk I, gretast fury of torment,20


Schawis ȝou; that thing quhilk Jupiter maist hie


Schew to Phebus, and brycht Phebus tald me.


I knaw ȝe set ȝour cowrs to Italy:


Ȝe cal eftir gude wyndis and prospir sky:


To Itale sal ȝe wend, and thar tak land.25


Bot first, or wallis of the cite vpstand


Quhilk by the goddis is ȝou predestinate,


For strang hungir sal ȝe stand in sik state,


In wraik of our iniuris and bestis slane,


That with ȝour chaftis to gnaw ȝe salbe fane,30
[Pg 143]

And runge ȝour tabillis al and burdis, quod sche;


And sone away in the thik wod gan fle.


The suddane dreid so stonyst our feris than,


Thar blude congelit and al togiddir ran;


Dolf wolx thar spretis, thar hie curage downfell,5


No mair thame lykis assayng sik batell;


Bot, with offerandis and eik devot prayer,


Thai wald we suld perdoun and pace requer,


In cace gif thai war goddessis or fowlis,


Vengeabill wightis, or ȝit laithly owlis.10


Bot our fader, hevand vp his handis,


The gret goddis dyd call, and on the sandis


Hallowis thar mycht with detful reverens:


O hie goddis, forbyd syk violens,


Stanch this bost and ondo this myscheif,15


Salve petuus folkis, ameys ȝour wrath and greif,


Quod he; and tharwith chargit ankyrris haill,


Do lows the rabandis, and lat down the saill.


The sowth wyndis stentis furth strait our schete:


Swiftly we slyde our bullyrand wallys grete,20


And followit furth the sammyn went we have,


Quhar so the wynd and sterysman ws drave;


Quhil that, amyd the fludis, gan we se


The woddy ile Zacynth, with mony tre;


Dulichium syne, and Same we aspy,25


And Neritos with his rochis hie;


By craggis and hewys of Itachia,


That was Laertes realm, we slyde alswa,


And fast we wary and cursyt oft, but les,


That land quhilk bred the cruel Vlixes.30
[Pg 144]

Belyve the mysty toppys of mont Lewcas


Apperis, quharon Appollois tempil was,


That feirful is til euery maryner.


Al wery of our vayage thidder we steir,


And come onon afor the litil town,5


And of our forschip ankyrris leit we down:


Endlang the costis syde our navy raid.


And thus at last brocht to land blyth and glaid,


Quhar as to have arryvit we not belevit,


We clenge ws first, les Jupiter war aggrevit;10


Syne on the altaris kendillit sacrifyce,


And, langgis the channel, eftir the Troiane gys,


The active gemmys and sportis gart assay.


Our falloschip excers palestral play,


As thai war wont at hame, with oyll envnte,15


Nakyt wreslyng and struglyng at nyce punte.


Joyvs thai war to haue eschapit at hand


Sa mony citeis of the Grekis land,


And to haue fled til salfte on this wys


Throu the myd rowtis of thar ennemys.20






 CAP. V.




Eneas arryvis at Epyria,


And how he spak thar with Andromacha.






Be this the son had circulit his lang ȝer,


And frosty wyntir scharpit the watir cleir
[Pg 145]

With cald blastis of the northin art.


Quhen sesson come that tyme was to depart,


Apon a post in the tempyl I hang


A bowand scheild of plait, quhilk Abas strang


Bair vmquhile, and, the maner to rehers,5


I notyfy and tytillis with this vers,


Eneas hec de Danais victoribus arma;


That is to say, Eneas festnyt thus


This armour of the Grekis victorius.


Syne, to depart of that havyn, I command10


Syt down on hechis, and span aris in hand.


Byssely our folkis gan to pyngil and stryve,


Swepand the flude with lang rowthys belyve,


And vp thai welt the stowr of fomy see;


Quhil sone the citeis of Corsyra tyne we,15


And vp we pyke the cost of Epyrus,


And landit thar at port Chaonyus:


Syne to the hie town of Butrot ascendit;


Quhar tythingis, oncredibill to thame not kend it,


Come to our erys, schawyng that Helenus,20


The lauchful son of the kyng Priamus,


Rang kyng our mony citeis in Greik land,


Berand tharof the ceptre and the wand,


By resson of his spows adionyt, but les,


Be Pyrrus vmquhil son of Achilles;25


And that Andromacha wes wed agane


Onto ane other husband and man Troiane.


Heirof awondrit, with breist hait as fyre,


Be fervent luf kendillit in gret desyre


Our cuntre man to vissy and with hym talk,30


To knaw thir strange casys, on I stalk
[Pg 146]

From the port, my navy left in the raid.


That ilke sesson, percace, as I furth glaid,


Befor the cite, in a schaw, I wys,


Besyde the fenȝeit flude of Symois,


Andromache maid anniuersar sacrifyce5


And funerale servyce, on ful dolorus wys,


To Hectoris puldir or hys assis brynt:


Oft wald scho clepe and call, and oneth stynt,


Apon the sawlis that onbodeit war,


Besyde Hectoris voyd tumbe stannand thar,10


Quhilk scho vpbeildit had of herbis greyn,


With twa altaris; and oft with wepyng eyn


Bewalis scho that hard dissyverance.


And alssone as scho me aspyis perchance,


And Troiane armour and ensenȝeis with me saw,15


Affrayit of the ferly, scho stude syk aw,


And at the fyrst blenk become so mait,


Naturale heyt left hir membris in sik stait


Quhil to the grond half mangit fel scho down,


And lay a lang tyme in a dedly swown20


Or ony speche or word scho mycht furth bring:


Ȝit thus, at last, sayd eftir hir dwawmyng;


Is that thine awyn face, and suythfast thyng?


Schawis thou to me a verray sovir warnyng?


Levis thou ȝit, son of the goddes? quod sche,25


Gif thou be ded, quhar is Hector? tell me.


And, with that word, scho bryst furth mony a teir,


And walit so that piete was to heir,


Quhil al about dynnys of hir womentyng.


A few wordis skars as I mycht furth bryng,30
[Pg 147]

For to comfort that maist lamentabill wight,


With langsum speche said, quhispirand, as I mycht;


I leif forsuyth, and ledis lyfe, as ȝe se,


In al hard chance of fortunys extremyte.


Be nocht agast, ȝe se bot suythfast thyng.5


Allace! quhat aventur, in this onkouth ryng,


Is the betyd, and hes degradit, quod I,


Eftir thi husbandis deth, was maist douchty?


Or quhat fortune mycht sufficient happyn the,


Spows to maist worthy Hector, Andromache?10


Art thou, or na, to Pirrus ȝit bywed?


Hyr vissage down scho kest, for schame adred,


And, with a bas voce, thus said, as scho mycht;


O thou alane, befor al madynnys bricht,


Happy was, virgyne douchtir of Priam kyng,15


Quhilk, vnder the wallis hie of Troys ryng,


Apon thine ennemeis grafe was maid to de;


Thou suffert no kut nor kavillys cast for the,


Nor in bondage away was thou nocht led,


Nor ȝit twichit na victour lordis bed.20


Bot we, quhen that ybrynt war our kynd landis,


Careit our fremmyt seys and diuers strandis,


The dortynes of Achillis ofspring,


In bondage, vndir the prowd Pyrrus ȝyng,


By fors sustenyt thraldome mony a day,25


Quhil he at last ensewit ane othir may,


Hermyone, the douchtir of Helena,


In fey wedlok at Lachidemonya;


Than send he me, his seruand, hiddir thus,


Tobe spowsit with his seruand Helenus.30
[Pg 148]

Bot Orestes, cachit in furyus rage


For cryme of his moderis slauchtir, and savage,


In lufe hait byrnyng for his spows byreft,


Or he was war, set on this Pirrus eft,


And in Delphos, quhat nedis wordis mair?5


Smate of his hed befor his faderis altair.


Thus, by deces of Neoptolymus,


Of the realm a part fell to Helenus;


The quhilk boundis and feildis braid alsswa


He has to name clepit Chaonya,10


Eftir his brodir of Troy Chaonyus,


And Troiane wallis heir has beild vp thus,


And on thir motis a strenth hait Ilion.


Bot quhat wyndis thi cowrs has hydder gone?


And quhat aventur has the hyddir dryve?15


Or of the goddis quha maid the heir arrive


At our marchis, mysknawyng our estait?


Quhou faris the child Ascanyus now of lait,


Quham to the bayr Crevse, thi spous and joy,


That tyme enduryng the sege lay about Troy?20


Levis he ȝit in helth and in weilfair?


Ha! how gret harm and skaith for euermar


That child has caucht throu lesyng of his moder!


O lord! quhat ancyant vertuys, ane and othir,


And knychtly prowes in hym steris frendis befor,25


Baith fader Eneas, and hys vncle Hector!


Syk wordis scho spak, wepyng with petuus mayn,


And with lang sobbis furthȝettand teris invayn;


Quhen that hir lord hym self cummys from the town,


Kyng Priamus son, Helenus of renown.30
[Pg 149]

Neir he approchit with ful gret cumpany,


And hys awyn natyve frendis knew in hy,


And blythly to hys cite hes ws led:


Betwix ilk word feil bricht teris furth he sched.


We passit on, and litil Troy I knaw,5


Lyke the gret cite contyrfait on raw,


With Ilion, and wallis lyke Pergama,


And a smal burn half gane dry alswa,


Onto his surname clepit Exanthus.


At port Seya I entir, and eik with ws10


Al our Troianys togiddir welcum war


Onto thar frendly cite famyliar.


In hys wyde palyce the kyng ressauyt thaim all,


And, in the myddis of the mekil hall,


Thai byrl the wyne in honour of Bachus;15


Gret fest with joy wes maid for luf of ws;


The mesis and the danteis thyk dyd stand,


And goldyn cowpis went fra hand to hand.






 CAP. VI.




Quhou Helenus declaris tyll Ene


Quhat dangeris he suld thoill on land and see.






Thus drave we our in solace day be day,


Quhil at the weddir prouokis ws to assay20


Our salis agane; for the sowth wyndis blast


Our piggeis and our pynsalis wavit fast.
[Pg 150]

Onto the prophet Helenus tho went I,


And with syk wordis besocht hym reuerently;


O gentil Troiane, dyvyne interpretur,


Quhilk the respons of Phebus hes in cur;


Quhilk knawist eik the reuelationys5


Of god Apollois diuinationys,


Vndir hys trestis and burdis at Delphois schene,


And into Claryus vndir the lawrer grene


That vnderstandis the cowrs of euery star


And chyrm of euery byrdis voce on far,10


And euery fowle on weyng fleyng in the sky,


Quhat thai betakyn, and quhat thai signyfy;


Say me, I pray the, quhat dangeris principaly


In to my cowrs and vayage eschew sall I,


Or how I may, or be quhat meyn, eschaip15


Sa gret aduersiteis quhilkis beyn to me schaip.


For as to me al devote godly wightis


Schew we suld haue a prospir rays at rychtis,


And euery oracle of goddis admonyst eik


That we the realm of Italy suld seik,20


Ensew tha landis quhilkis war for ws provyde


Alanerly newlyngis on that other syde;


Schame for to say, the Harpye Celeno


Spays onto ws a feirful takyn of wo;


A vengeans from the goddis pronuncis sche,25


With schameful hungir sal happyn our menȝe.


Helenus than, eftir the rytis and gyis,


The ȝong bestis slew in sacryfys,


Purchesyng favour of goddis to stanch thar fed,


And lowsit the garlandis of his haly hed:30
[Pg 151]

Syne me, Phebus, he ledis by the hand


Onto thi tempil, on seyr materis musand;


Quhar this gret preist gan spekyn and declar


To me thir wordis of the goddis answar:


Son of the goddes, sen traist is manifest5


That throu deip seys thi wayage is addrest,


And eik, of forton by the boundis hie,


The purviance dyvyne wil so it be;


The kyng of goddis so distributis the fatis,


Rollyng the chancis, and turnyng thame thusgatis;10


Of mony wordis, schortly, a quhoyn sall I


Declare, at thou mayr sovirly tharby


May seik out throu the strange stremys onkend.


And at a port of Itale arryve at end:


The remanent heirof, quhat evyr be it,15


The werd Systeris defendis that suld be wyt,


And eik the douchtir of auld Saturn, Juno,


Forbyddis Helenus to speik it, and cryis, ho!


First say I the, that twichand Italy,


Quhilk thou trastis be at hand and fast by,20


And the addressis ignorantly, but weyr,


To entyr sone in the port, as it war neir,


Lang wylsum ways, and far landis alswa


A ful gret space dissyveris ȝou tharfra.


Ȝour aris fyrst into the Sycil see25


Bedyit weill and bendit oft mon be;


And of Ausonya the salt stremys eik


Rownd about with ȝour schippis mon ȝe seik,


And Avernus, clepit the layk of hell,


And Aheie, the ile quhar Circes dwell,30
[Pg 152]

Or euer thou may sovirly vpbeild


Thi cite in land of Italy or feild.


I sall the schaw takynnys tharof ful meit,


Quhilkis thou sal hald within thi mynd secreit.


Quhen thine alane musyng as thou sal ga,5


By aventur, endlang a watir bra


And vndir ane aik, fyndis, in to that steid,


A gret sow ferryit of grysis thretty hed,


Lyggyn on the grond, mylk quhite, al quhite brodmell


About hir pappis sowkyng, thar, I the tell,10


Is the richt place and sted for ȝour cite,


And of ȝour travell ferm hald to rest in le.


Nor the nedis nocht to gruch, in tyme tocum,


The rungyng of ȝour tabillis euery crum:


Destany sal fynd tharfor a ganand way,15


And Phebus sal ȝou help, quhen ȝe list pray.


Bot ombyschew this cost of Italy


Quhilk nixt onto our bordouris ȝhe se ly,


Bedyit with flowyng of our seys flude,


Sen al tha citeis with wykkit Grekis, not gude,20


Inhabit ar; for the Naricyanys,


Othir wys nemmyt Locry, thar remanys,


Quhilk come with Aiax Oylus to the fecht;


And, neir the hill that Salentynus hecht,


The feildis all ar occupyit full meit25


Be Idomeneus the kyng expellit from Crete;


Thar is alsso the litil cite, but les,


Of the Duke of Melyboy, Phyloctetes,


Clepit Petilya, closyt with a wall:


Eschew thir citeis and thyr costis all.30
[Pg 153]

Forthir, quhen that beȝond the sey sall stand


All thi navy, and thar apon the strand


Settis vp ane altare thi sacrifyce to ȝeild,


Thyne haris with a purpur vail ourheild,


Les than amyd the godly fyris, per cace,5


Thi ennemeis mycht occur, and knaw thi face,


And so perturbyng all thi sacrifyce:


Thou caws thi feris keip the samyn gys


In thar oblacionys, and this vsage condyng;


Observe, thi self and thi chaist ofspring,10


Every serimony of our religioun.


And, fra the wynd haith set thi cours adoun


From Itale towart the cost of Sycilly,


And the strait sowndis of the mont Pelory


Vanysys away peys and peys, than the land15


Strekis all tyme towart the left hand,


And the left syde lang salt thou, but dowt,


Cyrkil, and sail mony seys about:


On the richt syde the cost and wallis evaid;


For tha partis vmquhile, as it is sayd,20


Be fors of storm war in sondir ryfe,


And a huge deip gat thar holkit belyfe.


Behald quhat change and sa onkouth a kast


May be mysknaw, throw tymys lang bipast;


For, quhen that baith tha landis war al ane,25


The seys rage draif in, and maid thame twane,


And fors of streym from the syde of Itale


The ile of Sycill devydit hes al haill;


Ane narow fyrth flowis, baith evyn and morn,


Betwix tha costis and citeis in sondir schorn.30
[Pg 154]

The rycht syde tharof with Scilla ombeset is,


And the left with insaciabil Carybdys;


Quhar, in hir bowkit bysme, that hellys belch


The large fludis suppys thrys in a swelch,


And othir quhilis spowtis in the ayr agane,5


Dryvand the stowr to the starnys, as it war rane.


Bot Scilla lurkand in darn hyddyllis lyis,


Within hir cave, spredand hyr mouth feil syis


To sowk the schippis amang rolkis onsure.


Lyke to a woman hir ovyr portrature,10


A fair virgynys body doun to hir scheir;


Bot hir hynd partis ar als gret, weil neir,


As beyn a hydduus huddon, or a quhaill,


Quharto beyn cuppillit mony meyrswyne taill,


With empty mawys of wolfis ravenus:15


Eschew, tharfor, this passage dangerus;


For bettir is thou seik the cost about


Of Pachynus in Scycill, than stand in dout,


And turn thi cowrs on bawburd, a weil far way,


Than anys tobe into sa hard assay20


As forto se the vgly monstre fell,


Scilla, and heir the craggis rowt and ȝell


For barking of sey doggis in hir wame.


And mair atour, gif owthir wit, or fame,


Or traist may be geif Helenus the prophete,25


Or gif with verite Phebus inspiris hys sprete,


This a thing, son of the goddes, I the tech,


Abuf al othir, this a thyng I the prech,


And principaly repetis the sam agane,


And seir tymys monysis heir in plane;30
[Pg 155]

First of Juno thou wirschip the gret mycht,


And glaidly hallow with sacrifice al at rycht


The power of Juno, and that mychty prynces


To ples lawly with offerandis the addres:


And on sik wys quhen thou hir favouris hes get,5


And hest alsso thi cours from Sycil set


Towart the boundis of Italy our see,


Syne, quhen thou art careit to that cuntre,


And cummyn is to the cite of Cumas,


And by the lakys dedicate to goddis doith pas10


Outthrou the soundand forest of Avern,


Vndir a roch, law within a cavern,


Thar salt thou fynd the godly prophetes,


Ful of the spreit dyvyne, that schawis expres


The reuelationys and fatis forto cum,15


In palm tre leiffis thame notand al and sum,


Writand vp euery word as sal betyde,


Direkking the leiffis per ordour furth on syde.


Quhat euer this virgyne discrive in hir endyte,


Without the cave closyt scho lays the write:20


Tha leiffis remanys onsterit of thar place,


Ne partis not furth of rewle, quhil per cace


The piping wynd blaw vp the dur on char,


And dryve the leiffis, and blaw thaim out of har


In at the entre of the cave agane,25


That al hir fyrst laubour was invane:


Bot, fra the blast and ȝet pertrubbil thus


Tha thyn leiffis, scho is so dangerus,


Nevir eftyr denȝeing hir within the cave


To gaddir togiddir thame with the wynd bewave.30
[Pg 156]

Ne forto put thame into rewle agane,


Nor jone hir writis as thai dyd first remane.


Thus oft the pepil but answer gays thar ways,


And wareis the set of Sybil al thar days.


Fail not, for los of tyme that may betyde,5


Bot thou pas to that prophetes, thocht the tyde


And prospir wyndis challance the to the saill,


Ȝa, thocht thi fallowyis cry owt, illyr haill!


On burd! a fair wynd blawis betwix twa schetis!


Beseik hir or thou wend, thocht thine hart betis,10


Oppynnand hir voce, scho plesit schaw the evyn


Thy destaneys, be hir awyn mowthis stevin.


Scho sal ryply declare to the in hy


The maneris of al pepill in Italy;


The batellis forto cum scho wil the schaw,15


And on quhat wys al dangeir thou sal withdraw.


Or how thou may al lauborus payn sustene;


Wirschip this haly religyus woman cleyn,


Scho sal the grant a prospir cours at hand.


This is the effect, schortly to vnderstand,20


That I am levyt with my wordis the to charge:


Adew, pas on, and by thi fatis large


The fame of mekil Troy bair vp to hevyn!


Eftir at this prophet, with hys frendly stevyn,


Thir dyvyne answeris thus pronosticate,25


Seyr weghty gyftis of massy goldyn plate


Onto our schippis chargit he beir onon,


And gret ryches of polyst eveir bone:


Our karvellis howys ladis and prymys he


With huge charge of syluer in quantite.30
[Pg 157]

With caldronys, and othir seir veschell ma,


In Epyr land maid at Dodonea.


To me he gaif a thik clowyt habyrgeon,


A thrynfald hawbrik was al gold begone,


A rownd rich helm with creste and tymbrete fair,5


The armour quhilum Neoptolemus bair:


Syne to my fader, effering to his age,


Rych rewardis he gaif of hie parage;


Tharto alsso he eikis and gaif ws then


Gentill horssis, pylotis, and lodismen;10


He ws suppleyt with rowaris and maryneris,


And armour plente atanys for al our feris.






 CAP. VII.




Of Helenus and of Andromache,


And how fra thame departing gan Ene.






In the meyn quhile Anchisis, my fader, in hy


Reddy forto sail chargis mak our navy,


Les than, percace, it mycht our cours delay,15


Gif so the wynd blew fair that othir day;


Quhom till this wys interpretour of Phebus,


Helenus, with gret honour carpys thus:


O thou Anchisis, that worthy was, quod he,


With fair Venus conionyt for to be,20


And twys delyverit by purviance dyvyne,


And twys eschapit of Troy the sayr rewyne,
[Pg 158]

Lo! ȝondir for the Ausonya or Itaill;


Onto ȝone cost syde ȝondir salt thou saill.


And netheles, thocht it be necessar


Out our the sey to ȝondir grond ȝe fair,


That part of Itale is a far way hyne5


Quhilk is previdyt ȝour kyn be Appollyne.


Wend on, says he, thou happy and fortunate


Of thi devote son by the godly estate.


Bot quharto suld I mak langar delay?


As I haue said, fayr weil, pas on ȝour way;10


Quhat nedis with my speche ȝou tary mor,


Or stop this fair wynd blawing evyn befor?


This not theles, Andromacha, wo begone,


The lattir tyme we suld depart onon,


Brocht to ws brusyt clathis, and rych wedis,15


Figuryt and prynnyt all with goldyn thredis,


And to Ascanyus a prowd tawbart gave


Sik as was honorabill hym to weir and have;


Hym and his feris of hir nedyll wark


And wovyn dowreys furnyst, worth mony mark:20


And thus scho said, my child, ressaue alswa


Thir remembrance wrocht with my handis twa,


In takyn lang tyme to thynkyng apon me,


Thine vncle Hectouris wife, Andromache:


Tak thir with the as lattir presandis seir25


Of thi kynd natyve frendis gudis and geir.


O leif is me! the lykast thing levyng,


And verray ymage of my Astianax ȝyng!


Syk eyn had he, and syk fair handis tway,


For all the warld, syk mowth and face, perfay:30
[Pg 159]

And, gif he war on lyve quhil now infeir,


He had bene evyneild with the, and hedy peir.


Quhat wil ȝe mair? quhen we behuffyt depart,


Terys brysting furth on fors, and with sair hart,


To thame I said; deir frendis, weil ȝe be,5


Weil mot ȝe leif in ȝour felicite,


Quhamtill the prospir forton is brocht till end:


Bot we, from werd to werd, and chance, mon wend.


Ȝour rest is fund, ȝou nedis sewch throw na seys,


Nor seik feildis of Itail, that evir ws fleys:10


Symylytude of Exanthus, and Troy ȝe se


Quhilk ȝour awyn warkis hes beldit vp on hie;


God grant in bettyr tyme thai be begunnyn,


And neuer eft with Grekis fors ourrunnyn!


Gif evir in Tybir to entyr me betydis,15


And, on the feildis neirby Tybris sydis,


May behald wallis vpset for my menȝe,


Or may the frendly citeis sum tyme se,


Lat ws of Epyrus and of Italy,


Cummyn baith of Dardanus genealogy,20


And quhamto eik the chance of fortoun is ane,


Mak but a Troy of athir realmys twane;


And this sam lyge with our posterite


Sal evir remane in faith and vnyte.




[Pg 160]




 CAP. VIII.




Quhar fyrst Eneas Itale dyd aspy,


And mony strange wentis hes salyt by.






Furth on, with this, throu owt the sey we slyde,


By the forland Cerawnya fast beside,


Quhar fra, out our the fludis forto saill,


The schortast way and cours lyis to Itaill.


Down gois the son be than, and hillis hie5


Wolx dyrknyt with schaddowis of the sky;


We sort our aris, and chesis rowaris ilke deill,


And at a sownd or cost we likit weill


We strike at nycht, and on the dry strandis


Dyd bawne and beyk our bodeys, feyt, and handis.10


Sone on our irkyt lymmys, lethis, and banys


The naturale rest of sleip slaid al atanys.


And, or the speyre his howris rollit richt


Sa far about that it was scars mydnycht,


Not sweir, bot in hys dedis deligent,15


Palynurus furth of his cowch vpsprent,


Lysnyng about, and harknyng our alquhar


With erys prest to kep the wynd or ayr.


Of euery starn the twynklyng notis he


That in the still hevyn move cours we se,20


Arthuris huyf, and Hyades betakynnand rayn,


Syne Watlyng streit, the Horn, and the Charle wayn,


The fers Orion with hys goldyn glave;


And, quhen he hes thame eueryane persaue
[Pg 161]

Into the cleir and serene firmament,


Furth of his eft schip a bekyn gart he stent:


We rays, and went on burd in our the waill,


Syne slakis down the schetis, and maid sayll.


Be this the dawyng gan at morn walx red,5


And chasit away the starnys fra euery sted;


The dym hillis on far we dyd aspy,


And saw the law landis of Italy.


Italy! Italy! fyrst cryis Achates,


Syne al our feris of clamour micht nocht ces,10


Bot with a voce atanys cryis, Itaill!


And hailsyng gan the land with hey and haill.


Than my fader, ammyral of our flote,


A mekil tankart with wyne fild to the throte,


And tharon set a garland or a crown,15


And to the goddis maid this orysoun,


Sittand in the hie eft castell of our schip,


With ful devote reverens and wirschip:


O ȝe, quod he, goddis haldis in pouste


Weddir and stormys, the land eik and the se,20


Grant our vayage ane esy and reddy wynd,


Inspyre ȝour favouris that prospir cours we fynd.


Scars this wes said, quhen, evyn at our desyre,


The sessonabil ayr pipis vp fair and schyre;


The havyn apperis, and thiddir nerrar we draw,25


And of Mynerva the strang tempill saw


Set in the castell apon ane hillis hycht.


Our fallowis fangis in thar salys tyght,


And towart the cost thar stevynnys dyd addres.


A port thar is, quham the est fludis hes,30
[Pg 162]

In maner of a bow, maid bowle or bay,


With rochys set forgane the streym ful stay,


To brek the salt fame of the seys stowr:


On athir hand, als hie as ony towr,


The byg hewis strekis furth lyke a wall:5


Within the hawyn goith lown, but wynd or wall,


And at the port the tempill may not be seyn.


Heir fyrst I saw apon the plesand greyn


A fatale takyn, fowr horssis quhite as snaw


Gnyppand gresys the large feildis on raw.10


Ha! lugyn land, batale thou ws pretendis,


Quod my fader Anchisis; for, as weil kend is,


Horssis ar dressit for the bargane feil sys;


Weir and debait thir stedis signyfyis.


Bot, sen the sammyn four futtit bestis eik15


Beyn oft vsyt, ful towartly and meik,


To draw the cart, and thoil brydill and renȝe,


It is gude hope pace follow sal, says he.


Than wirschip we the godhed and gret mycht


Of Pallas, with clattering harnes fers in fyght,20


Quhilk heth ws first ressauyt glaid and gay:


Our hedis befor the altar we array


With valys brown, eftir the Troiane gys,


And, onto Juno of Arge, our sacryfys


Maid reuerently, as Helenus vs bad,25


Obseruyng weil, as he commandyt had,


The serymonys leill. Syne, but langar delay,


Fra that perfurnyst was our offerand day,


Onon the nokkis of our rays we writh;


Down fallys the schetis of the salys swith:30
[Pg 163]

The Gregionys herbry and fronteris suspek


We left behynd, and efter, in effek,


Of Taurentum the fyrth we se, but les,


Biggit, as thai say, by worthy Hercules;


And, our forgane the tother syde alsso,5


Rays vp Lacynya the tempill of Juno;


Of Cawlon cite eik the wallys hie,


And Scyllacium quhar schipbrokyn mony be.


Syne, far of in the flude, we gan aspy


The byrnand Ethna into Sycilly,10


And a fell rage rowting of the sey


Alang way thens, and on the rolkis hie


We hard the jawpys bete, and at the cost


A hyduus brayng of brokyn seys vost:


Apon schald bankis boldynnys hie the flude:15


The stowr vpbullyrris sand as it war wode.


My fader than cryis, how! feris, help away,


Streke aris atanys with all the fors ȝe may;


No wondir this is the selkouth Caribdis:


Thir horribill rolkis and craggis heir, I wys,20


Helenus the prophete ful weil dyd ws declare.


The sammyn wys as thai commandyt ware


Thai dyd onon, and Pallynurus fyrst


Hard halys the schete on syde, and fast gan thryst


The forschip to the wallis and the tyde,25


Saland on bawburd towart the left syde;


Towart the left, with mony heys and haill,


Socht all our flot fast baith with rowth and saill.


The swelland swyrl vphesyt ws til hevyn;


Syne wald the waw swak ws doun ful evyn,30
[Pg 164]

As it apperit, vnder the sey to hell.


Thrys the holkyt craggis hard we ȝell,


Quhar as the swelch had the rolkis thyrlyt;


And thrys the fame furth spowt, that so hie quhirlyt


It semyt watir the starnys, as we thocht.5


Be this the son went to, and ws forwrocht


Left dissolat; the wyndis calmyt eik:


We, not bekend quhat rycht cours mycht we seik,


War warp to seywart by the outwart tyde


Of Ciclopes onto the costis syde.10


The port, quhamto we cappit, wes ful large,


And, fra al wyndis blast, for schip or barge


Sovir al tyme: bot netheles, fast by,


The grisly Ethna dyd rummyll, schudder and cry;


Sum tyme thrawing owt, heich in the skyis,15


The blak laithly smoke that oft dyd rys


As thunderis blast, and rekand as the pyk,


With gledis sparkand as the hail als thik;


Vpspring the blesis and fyry lumpis we se,


Quhilk semyt forto lik the starnys hie;20


Sum tyme it rasyt gret rochys, and oft will


Furth bok the bowellis or entralis of the hyll,


And lowsyt stanys vpwarpys in the ayr


Rownd in a sop, with mony crak and rayr:


The stew of byrnand heyt law from the grond25


Vpstrikis thar, that doith to hevyn rebound.


The rumour is, doun thrung vndir this mont


Enchelades body with thundir lyis half bront,


And hydduus Ethna abufe his belly set;


Quhen he lyst gant or blaw, the fyre is bet,30
[Pg 165]

And from that furnys the flambe doith brist or glide:


Quhou oft he turnys our his irkit syde


All Sycil trymblys, quaking with a rerd,


And vgly stew ourquhelmys hevyn and erd.


That nycht, lurkand in woddis, we remane,5


Of feirfull monstris sufferand mekil pane;


Bot quhat causyt syk noys na thing we saw:


For nowthir lycht of planetis mycht we knaw,


Nor the brycht poyll, nor in the ayr a starn,


Bot in dyrk clowdis the hevynnys warpit darn;10


The moyn was vndir walk and gave na lycht,


Haldyn ful dym throu myrknes of the nycht.






 CAP. IX.




Of the Greik clepit Achemenydes


Rehersyng Ene the natur of Ciclopes.






The secund day be this sprang fra the est,


Quhen Aurora the wak nycht dyd arest


And chays fra hevyn with hir dym skyis donk:15


Than suddanly, furth of the woddis ronk,


We se a strange man, of form onknaw;


A lenar wight, na mayr pynyt, I ne saw,


Nor ȝit sa wrachitly beseyn a wy;


Towart the cost, quhar that we stude in hy,20


Hys handis furth he strekis askand supple.


We hym behald, and al hys cors gan se
[Pg 166]

Maist laithly ful of ordur, and hys berd


Rekand doun the lenth neir of a ȝerd;


Hys tawbart and array sewyt with breris:


Bot he was Greik be all hys othir feris,


And vmquhile was, as eftir weil we kend,5


To Troy intil hys faderis armour send.


This ilk man, fra he beheld on far


Troiane habitis, and of our armys wes war,


At the first sicht he styntit and stude aw,


And fra hys pays begouth abak to draw;10


Bot sone eftyr cummys rynnyng in a rays


Down to the schoir, wepyng and askand grace:


O ȝe Troianys, be all the planetis, quod he,


Be all the starnys and the goddis hie,


And be the hailsum spreit of hevynnys lycht,15


I beseik tak me with ȝou, catyve wycht,


And leid me in quhat land at euer ȝe ples:


That may suffys; that war my hartis eys.


I knaw me ane of the Grekis navy;


In weir to Troy cuntre, I grant, socht I;20


For the quhilk deid, gyf that of our trespas


Sa gret the offence and the iniurys was,


Rent me in pecis, and in the fludis swak,


Or drown law vndir the large seys brak.


Gyf that I perych, it is ȝit sum comfort25


That I of mennys handis deing at schort.


Quod he; and tharwith, grulyng on hys kneis,


He lappit me fast by baith the theys:


We hym exort to schaw quhat was his name,


Of quhat kynrent and blude cummyn at hame,30
[Pg 167]

And syne to tell quhat forton had hym betyde.


My fader Anchisis na ma wordis wald byde,


Bot furthwith gaue that ȝong man his richt hand,


And assurys hys spreit with that presand:


He at the last this dreid has done away,5


And on this wys begouth to carp and say;


Of the realm Itachia I am, but les,


And of the cumpany of fey Vlixes,


And Achemenydes onto name I hait,


Cummyn onto Troy with my fader of lait,10


Bot a puyr wageour, clepyt Adamastus;


Wald God ȝit the sam forton remanyt to ws!


My falloschip onwytting forȝet me heir,


Quhen tha thir cruel marchys left for feir,


And in the Ciclopes huge cave tynt me;15


A gowsty hald within, laithly to se,


Ful of vennom and mony bludy meys.


Bustuus hie Poliphemus set at deys


Thar remanys, that may the starnys schaik;


Ȝe goddis delyvir this erd from sik wraik!20


For he is vgsum and grysly forto se,


Hutyt to speke of, and aucht not nemmyt be.


Thir wrachit mennys flesch, that is hys fude,


And drynkis worsum, and thar lappyrrit blude.


I saw myself quhen, gruflyngis amyd his cave,25


Twa bodeys of our sort he tuke and rayf;


Intil hys hyddus hand thame thrymlyt and wrang,


And on the stanys owt thar harnys dang,


Quhil brayn, and eyn, and blude al poplit owt:


I saw that cruel fend eik thar, but dowt,30
[Pg 168]

Thar lymmys ryfe and eyt, as he war woid,


The ȝoustir tharfra chirtand and blak blude,


And the hait flesch vndir his teith flykkerand.


Bot not onwrokyn, forsuyth, this feste he fand;


Nor Vlixes list not lang suffyr this,5


Ne this kyng of Itachy hym self nor his


Myghtyn forȝet, into sa gret a plyght.


For sammyn as that horribyll fendlich wight


Had eyt his fyll, and drunk wyne he hym gave,


Sowpit in sleip, his nek furth of the cave10


He straucht, fordronkyn, lyggyng in his dreym


Bokkis furth and ȝyskis of ȝowstyr mony streym,


Raw lumpys of flesch and blude blandyt with wyne.


We the gret goddys besocht, and kavillys syne


Kastis, quhat suld be euery mannys part;15


Syne al atanys abowt and on hym start,


And, with a scharpyt and brynt steyng of tre,


Out dyd we boyr and pyke hys mekil E,


That lurkit alane vndyr hys thrawyn front large,


Als braid as is a Gregioun scheild or targe,20


Or lyke onto the lantern of the moyn:


And thus at last haue we ravengit soyn


Blithly the gostis of our feris ded.


Bot ȝhe, onhappy men, fle from this sted,


Fle, fle this cost, and smyte the cabil in twane!25


For quhou grysly and how gret I ȝou sayn


Lurkis Polyphemus, ȝymmand his beystis rouch,


And al thar pappis mylkis throuch and throuch,


Ane hundreth otheris, als huge of quantite,


Endlang this ilke costis syde of the se,30
[Pg 169]

Gret Ciclopes inhabitis heir and thar,


And walkis in thir hie montanys our alquhar.


The moyn hes now fyllyt hir hornys thrys


With new lyght sen I haue, on this wys,


My lyfe in woddis led, but syght of men,5


In desert hyrnys and seyr wild beistis den,


And far out from my cavern dyd aspy


The grym Ciclopes, and oft thar grysly cry


And eik stamping of thar feyt maid me trymmyl.


My wrachit fude was berreis of the brymmyll,10


And stanyt heppis, quhilk I on buskis fand,


With rutis of herbis I holkit furth of land:


And vyssyand al about, I se at last


This navy of ȝowris drawing hyddir fast,


Quhamto I me betaucht and gan avow,15


Quhat flote at euer it was; for wayt ȝe quhou


It is enuch that I eschapyt haue


Ȝone cruel pepil; I set not of the lave:


For, rather ȝe or I fal in syk wraik,


Quhat deith ȝe pleis, the lyfe fra me gar taik.20






 CAP. X.




Of Poliphemus, and mony strange cost,


And how Ene hys fader in Sycill lost.






Skars this wes sayd, quhen sone we gat a sycht


Apon ane hyll stalkand this hydduus wight,
[Pg 170]

Amang hys beystis, the hyrd Poliphemus,


Down to the costis bekend draw towartis ws:


A monstre horribyll, onmesurabill and myschaip,


Wanting hys syght, and gan to stab and graip


With hys burdon, that wes a gret fyr tre,5


Fermand his steppis, becaus he mycht not se;


The wollyt scheip him followyng at the bak,


Quharin his plesur and delyte gan he tak.


About hys hals a quhissil hung had he,


Wes all his solace for tynsell of hys E;10


And, with his staf fra he the deip flude


Twichit, and cummyn at the seysyde stude,


Of hys E dolp the flowand blude and attir


He wysch away al with the salt wattir,


Grassilland his teith, and rummysand full hie.15


He wadis furth throu myddis of the see,


And ȝit the wattir wet not hys lang syde.


We, far from thens affrayt, durst not abyde,


Bot fled onon, and within burd hes brocht


That faithful Greik quhilk ws of succurs socht,20


And prevyly we smyte the cabill in twane;


Syne, kempand with aris in al our mane,


Vp weltris watir of the salt sey flude.


He persauyt the sownd, quhar that he stude,


And towart the dyn movis hys pays onon:25


Bot quhen he felt at we sa far war gone,


Sa that his handis ws areke ne mycht,


Nor the deip sey Ionium, for all hys hycht,


Ne mycht he waid equale ws to arest,


A fellon bray and huge schowt vp he kest,30
[Pg 171]

Quharthrou the sey and al the fludis schuke;


The land alhail of Itail trymlyt and qwoyk;


And holl cavernys or furnys of Ethna rownd


Rummyst and lowyt, fordynnyt with the sound.


Bot than, furth of the woddis and hillys hie,5


Walkynnyt with the cry, a huge pepill we se


Of Ciclopes cum hurland to the port,


And fillyt all the cost sydis at schort.


Tha elrych bredyr, with thar lukis thrawyn,


Thocht not avalyt, thar standyng haue we knawyn;10


Ane horribil sort, with mony camscho beik,


And hedis semand to the hevyn areik:


Syklyke as quhar that, with thar hie toppis,


The byg akis strekyng in the ayr thar croppys,


Or than thir cipressis berand heich thar bewys,15


Growand in the woddis or hie vp on hewis,


In schawys ald, as men may se from far,


Hallowyt to Dyane or ȝit to Jupiter.


The scharp dreid maid ws so to cach haist,


Withdrawand fast, as thocht we had bene chaist,20


And for to set our sail quhidder we best mycht,


To follow the wynd, and hald na courssis rycht.


Aganys the counsale of Helenus, our feris


Perswadis to hald furth evyn the way that steris


Mydwart betwix Charibdis and Scylla,25


A litil space fra ded by athir of twa:


For, bot we hald that cours, for owtyn fail,


Bakwartis, thai said, on Ciclopes mon we saill.


Bot lo! onon a fair wynd, or we wist,


Rays of the north, blawing evyn as we lyst,30
[Pg 172]

From the strait bay of Pelorus the mont


And sone we swepyt by, at the fyrst bront,


The mouth of flude Pantagyas ful of stanys,


The sownd Megarus, and Tapsum ile atanys.


The namys of thir costis, Achemenydes,5


The companȝeon of onhappy Vlixes,


Raknys to ws, as we past ane by ane;


For we return the sammyn went agane


Quhar thar navy had waverit by thar rays.


Within the fyrth of Sycill, forgane the face10


Of the flude Plemyrion full of wallis,


Thar lyis ane Iland, quhilk our elderis callis


Orthigia; quhar that the fame is so


That Alpheus, ane of the ryveris two


Of the cite of Elys in Archaid,15


Vndir the sey gan thyddir flow and wayd


Throu secrete cundytis, and now eik, as thai say,


Arethusa, at thi mouth or ischay,


It entris rynnyng in the Sycill see.


The gret goddis of that place wirschip we,20


At command of my fader; and fra thyne


The fertill grond of Helory passyt syne,


Quhilk flude watyris al the feild about.


Thar on the craggis our navy stude in dowt;


For on blynd stanys and rolkis hyrslit we,25


Tumblit of mont Pachynnus in the see:


And far from thens the loch Cameryna,


Quham the fatis forbyddis to do away,


Apperis to ws, and of Geloy the feildis,


Quhar that the gret cite Gela vpbeild is,30
[Pg 173]

Havand the surname fra the flude fast by:


Syne heich Agragas far of we gan aspy,


A hyl and cite with large wallys of fors,


Quhar vmquhile bred war the maist weirlyke hors:


And the alsso, Selynys, I left behynd,5


For al thi palm treys, with the followand wynd.


The dangerus schaldis and cost vppykyt we,


With al hys blynd rolkis, of Lylibe.


Thar the port of Drepanon, and the rayd,


Quham to remember my hart may nevir be glaid,10


Ressauyt me, quhar that, allace, allace!


I leys my fader, al comfort and solace,


And al supple of our travell and pane;


Thar, thar allaik! sa feill dangeris bygane


And tempestis of the sey. O fader most deir,15


Anchises, desolate quhy left thou me heir


Wery and irkyt in a fremmyt land?


O weilaway! for nocht wes all, I fand,


That thou eschapit sa mony perrellis huge.


Helenus the dyvyne, as we with hym gan luge,20


Quhen horribill thingis seir he dyd aduert,


Schew not befor to me thir harmys smert,


Nor ȝit the fellon and akwart Celeno.


This wes extreme laubour of pane and wo;


Thys was the end of all hys lang vayage:25


And hyddir syne, warpyt with seys rage,


Apon ȝour costis, as I fra thens was dryve,


Sum happy chance and God maid me arryve.


The Prynce Eneas, on this wys, alane


The fatis of goddys and rasys mony ane30
[Pg 174]

Rehersyng schew, and syndry strange wentis;


The queyn and all the Tyrryanys takand tentis.


And at the last he cessyt and said no moir,


Endyng his tayll as ȝe haue hard befor.




[Pg 175]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE FERD BUKE.






With bemys scheyn thou bricht Cytherea,


Quhilk only schaddowist amang starris lyte,


And thi blyndyt weyngit son Cupyd, ȝe twa


Fosteraris of byrnyng, carnail, hait delyte,


Ȝour joly wo neidlyngis most I endyte,5


Begynyng with a fenȝeit faynt plesance,


Continewit in lust, and endyt with pennance.




In fragil flesch ȝour fykkil seyd is saw,


Rutyt in delyte, welth, and fude delicate,


Nurist with sleuth and mony onsemly saw;10


Quhar schame is lost, thar spredis ȝour burgeonys hait;


Oft to revolue ane onleful consait


Rypys ȝour peralus frutis and oncorn:


Of wikkyt grayn quhou sal gude schaif be schorn?




Quhat is ȝour fors bot feblyng of the strenth?15


Ȝour curyus thochtis quhat but musardry?


Ȝour fremmyt glaidnes lestis not ane howris lenth;


Ȝour sport for schame ȝe dar not specify;


Ȝour frute is bot onfructuus fantasy;


Ȝour fary joys beyn bot janglyng and japys,20


And ȝour trew seruandis sylly goddys apys.
[Pg 176]



Ȝour sweit myrthis ar mixt with byttyrnes;


Quhat is ȝour drery gemme? a myrry pane;


Ȝour wark onthrift, ȝour quyet is restles,


Ȝour lust lykyng in langour to remane,


Frendschip turment, ȝour traist is bot a trane:5


O luf, quhidder art thou joy or fulychnes,


That makis folk sa glaid of thar distres?




Salomonys wyt, Sampson thou rubbist hys fors,


And Dauid thou byreft hys prophecy;


Men says thou brydillyt Aristotyll as ane hors,10


And crelyt vp the flour of poetry:


Quhat sal I of thi myghtis notyfy?


Fair weil, quhar that thy lusty dart assalis,


Wyt, strenth, ryches, na thyng bot grace avalis.




Thou cheyn of luf, ha benedicite!15


Quhou hard strenys thi bandis euery wyght!


The god abuf, from his hie maieste,


With the ybond, law in a maid dyd lycht;


Thou venquyst the strang gyant of gret mycht;


Thou art mair forcy than the ded sa fell;20


Thou plenyst paradyce, and thou heryt hell.




Thou makist febill wight, and lawyst the hie;


Thou knyttis frendschyp quhar thar beyn na parage;


Thou Jonathas confederat with Davy;


Thou dantyt Alexander for all his vaslalage;25


Thou festnyt Jacob fourteyn ȝheir in bondage;


Thou techit Hercules go lern to spyn,


Reke Dyomeir hys mays and lyoun skyn.
[Pg 177]



For luf Narsysus perysyt at the well;


For luf thou stervyst most douchty Achill;


Thesyus, for luf, hys fallow socht to hell;


The snaw quhyte dow oft to the gray maik will.


Allace! for luf how mony thame self dyd spill!5


Thy fury, luf, moderis taucht, for dispyte,


Fyle handis in blude of thar ȝong chyldering lyte.




O Lord, quhat writis myne author of thi fors,


In hys Georgikis! quhou thyne ondantyt myght


Constrenys so sum tyme the stonyt hors10


That, by the sent of a meyr far of syght,


He bradis brays onon, and takis the flyght;


Na brydill may hym dant nor bustuus dynt,


Nowther bra, hie roch, nor brayd fludis stynt.




The bustuus bullys oft, for the ȝong ky,15


With horn to horn wyrkis othir mony a wound,


So rumysyng with hydduus lowand cry


The feildis all doith of thar rowstis resound:


The meyk hartis, in bellyng, oft ar fond


Mak fers bargane, and rammys togyddir ryn;20


Baris twyte thar tuskis, and fret otheris skyn.




The reuthtfull smart and lamentabill cace


Quhilk thar he writis of Leander ȝyng,


Quhou for thi luf, Hero, allace, allace!


In fervent flambe of hait desyre byrnyng,25


By nychtis tyde, the hevynys lowd thundering,


And, all with storm trublyt, the seys flude


Bettand on the rolkis, and rowtand as it war wod;
[Pg 178]



Set he hym not to swym our, wallaway!


The fyrth betwix Sestos and Abydane,


In Europe and in Asya citeis tway;


Hys fader and moder mycht hym not call agane:


O God, quhat harm! thar wes he drynt and slane;5


And quhen his lufe saw this myscheif, atanys


Out our the wall scho lap, and brak hir banys.




Lo, quhou Venus kan hir seruandis acquyte!


Lo, quhou hir passionys onbridillis al thar wyt!


Lo, quhou thai tyne thame self for schort delyte!10


Lo, from all grace quhou to myscheif thai flyt,


Fra weil to sturt, fra payn to ded! and ȝyt


Thar beyn bot few exempil takis of othir,


Bot wilfully fallys in the fyre, leif brothir.




Be nevir our set, myne author techis so,15


With lust of wyne nor warkis veneryane;


Thai febill the strenth; revelys secrete bath two


Stryfe and debait engendris, and feil hes slane;


Honeste, prowes, dreid, schame and luk ar gane


Quhar thai habound; attempyr thame for thy.20


Childir to engendir oys Venus, and not invane;


Hant na surfat, drynk bot quhen thou art dry.




Quhat? is this lufe, nys luffaris, at ȝe meyn,


Or fals dissait fair ladeys to begile?


Thame to defowle, and schent ȝour self betweyn,25


Is al ȝour lykyng, with mony suttel wyle.


Is that trew lufe, gude faith and fame to fyle?
[Pg 179]

Gyf luf be vertu, than is it lefull thing;


Gif it be vyce, it is ȝour ondoyng.




Lust is na lufe, thocht ledis lyke it weill;


This furyus flambe of sensualite


Ar nane amouris bot fantasy ȝe feill:5


Carnale plesance, but syght of honeste,


Hatis hym self forsuyth, and luffis nocht the:


Thare beyn twa luffis, perfyte and imperfyte,


That ane leful, the tother fowle delyte.




Lufe is a kyndly passioun, engendryt of heyt10


Kyndlyt in the hart, ourspredyng al the cors:


And, as thou seys sum person waik in spreyt,


Sum hait byrnyng as ane onbridillyt hors;


Lyke as the pacient hes heyt of our gret fors,


And in ȝong babbys warmnes insufficient,15


And into agyt failȝeis, and is out quent;




Rycht so in luf thou may be excessyve,


Inordinatly luffand ony creature;


Thi luf alsso it may be defectyve,


To luf thine awin and geif of otheris na cure:20


Bot quhar that lufe is rewlyt by messure,


It may be lyknyt to ane hail mannis estait,


In temperat warmnes, nowthir to cald nor hait.




Than is thi lufe inordinat, say I,


Quhen ony creatur mair than God thou luffis,25


Or ȝit luffis ony to that fyne, quharby
[Pg 180]

Thi self or thame thou frawartis God remufis:


Fortil attempir thine amouris the behuffis:


Lufe euery wyght for God, and to gude end,


Thame be na wys to harm, bot to amend.




That is to knaw, lufe God for his gudnes,5


With hart, hail mynde, trew servyce, day and nycht;


Nixt luf thi self, eschewand wykkytnes;


Lufe syne thi nychtburris, and wyrk thame nane onrycht,


Willyng at thou and thai may haue the syght


Of hevynnys blys, and tyste thame not tharfra,10


For, and thou do, syk luf dowe nocht a stra.




Faynt lufe, but grace, for all thi fenȝeit layis,


Thy wantoun willis ar verray vanyte;


Grasles thou askis grace, and thus thou prayis;


Haue mercy, lady, haue reuth and sum piete!15


And scho, reuthtles, agane rewys on the:


Heir is na paramouris fund, bot all haitrent,


Quhar nowthir to weill nor resson tak thai tent.




Callys thou that reutht, quhilk of thar self ne rakkis?


Or is it grace to fall fra grace? nay, nay;20


Thou sekis mercy, and tharof myscheif makkis:


Renown and honour quhy wald thou dryfe away?


A brutale appetyte makis ȝong fulys forvay,


Quhilk be resson lyst not thar heyt refreyn,


Haldand opynyon deyr of a boryt beyn.25




Says nocht ȝour sentens thus, skant worth a fas,
[Pg 181]

Quhat honeste or renoun is to be dram?


Or forto drowp lyke a fordullyt as?


Lat ws in ryot leif, in sport and gam;


In Venus covrt, sen born tharto I am,


My tyme weil sal I spend. Wenys thou not so?5


Bot al ȝour solace sal return in gram,


Syk thewles lustis in byttir pane and wo.




Thou auld hasard lichour, fy for schame,


That slotteris furth euermar in sluggardry


Out on the, auld trat, agit wyfe, or dame,10


Eschamys na tyme in rovste of syn to ly!


Thir Venus warkis in ȝouthed ar foly,


Bot into eild thai turn in fury rage;


And quha schameles dowblis thar syn, ha fy!


As doith thir vantouris owthir in ȝouth or age?15




Quhat nedis avant ȝou of ȝour wykkytnes,


Ȝhe that beyn forcy alane in villans deid?


Quhy gloyr ȝe in ȝour awyn onthriftynes?


Eschame ȝhe not rehers and blaw on breid


Ȝour awyn diffame, havand of God na dreid20


Nor ȝyt of hell, provokand otheris to syn,


Ȝhe that lyst of ȝour palȝardry nevir blyn?




Wald God ȝhe purchest bot ȝour awyn myschans,


And war na banareris forto perych mo!


God grant sum tyme ȝe turn ȝou to pennans,25


Refrenyng lustis inordinate, and cry ho!


And thar affix ȝour luf and myndis so,
[Pg 182]

Quhar euer is verray joy without offens,


That all syk beistly fury ȝhe lat go hens.




Of brokkaris and syk bawdry quhou suld I write,


Of quham the fylth stynkis in Godis neys?


With Venus henwyffis quhat wys may I flyte,5


That strakis thir wenschis hedis thame to ples?


Douchtir, for thy lufe this man hes gret dyseys,


Quod the bysmeyr with the slekyt speche;


Rew on hym, it is meryte hys pane to meys:


Syk poyd makcrellis for Lucifer beyn leche.10




Eschame, ȝyng virgynys, and fair damycellis,


Furth of wedlok forto disteyn ȝour kellys;


Traist nocht al talis that wanton woweris tellis,


Ȝow to deflour purposyng, and nocht ellys:


Abhor syk pryce or prayer wirschip sellys.15


Quhar schame is lost quyte schent is womanhed;


Quhat of bewte, quhar honeste lyis ded?




Rew on ȝour self, ladeys and madynnys ȝyng,


Grant na syk reuth for evir may caus ȝou rew:


Ȝhe fresch gallandis, in hait desyre byrnyng,20


Refreyn ȝour curage syk paramouris to persew;


Grund ȝour amouris on charite al new;


Found ȝow on resson; quhat nedis mair to preche?


God grant ȝou grace in luf, as I ȝou tech!




Fy on dissait and fals dissymulans,25


Contrar to kynd with fenȝeit cheir smylyng,
[Pg 183]

Vndyr the cloik of luffis obseruans,


The venom of the serpent reddy to styng!


Bot al syk crymys in luffis caus I resyng


To the confessioun of morale Jhonne Gower;


For I mon follow the text of our mater.5






Thy dowbill wound, Dido, to specify,


I meyn thyne amouris, and thi funeral fait,


Quha may endyte, but teris, with eyn dry?


Augustyne confessis hym self wepit, God wait,


Redyng thy lamentabill end mysfortunat.10


By the wil I repeyt this vers agane,


Temporal joy endis wyth wo and pane.




Allace, thy dolorus cays and hard myschance!


From blys to wo, fra sorow to fury rage,


Fra nobylnes, welth, prudens and temperance,15


In brutell appetite fall, and wild dotage;


Danter of Affryk, Queyn foundar of Cartage,


Vmquhil in ryches and schynyng gloyr ryngnyng,


Throw fulych lust wrocht thine awyn ondoyng.




Lo! with quhat thocht, quhat byttyrnes and pane,20


Lufe onsylly bredis in euery wight!


Quhou schort quhile doith hys fals plesance remane!


Hys restles blys how sone takis the flicht!


Hys kyndnes alteris in wraith within a nycht:


Quhat is, bot turment, all hys langsum fayr,25


Begun with feir, and endyt in dispayr?
[Pg 184]



Quhat sussy, cuyr, and strange ymagynyng,


Quhat ways onlefull, hys purpos to atteyn,


Hes this fals lust at his first begynnyng!


Quhou subtell wylis, and mony quyet meyn!


Quhat slycht dissait quently to flat and feyn;5


Syne in a thraw kan not hym selvyn hyde,


Nor at his first estait no quhile abyde!




Thou swelch, deuourar of tyme onrecoverabill,


O lust, infernal furnys, inextingwybill,


Thy self consumyng worthis insaciabill,10


Quent fendis net, to God and man odibill!


Of thi tryggettis quhat tong may tell the tribbill?


With the to wrasyll, thou walxis euer moir wyght;


Eschew thyne hant, and mynnys sal thi mycht.




Se, quhou blynd luffis inordinate desyre15


Degradis honour, and resson doith exile!


Dido, of Cartage flour, and lamp of Tyre,


Quhais hie renoun na strenth nor gift mycht fyle,


In hir faynt lust sa mait, within schort quhile,


That honeste baith and gude fame war adew;20


Syne for disdeyn, allace! hir selvyn slew.




O! quhat avalit thi brute and gloryus name,


Thi moblys, tresour, and werkis infinyte,


Thi citeis beilding, and thi ryal hame,


Thy realmys, conquest, weilfar and delyte?25


To stynt al thing salue thine awyn appetite
[Pg 185]

So wes in lufe thi frawart destane:


Allace the quhile thou knew the strange Ene!




And sen I suld thy tragedy endyte,


Heir nedis nane othir invocatioun:


Be the command I lusty ladeis quhyte,5


Be war with strangeris of onkouth natioun


Wyrk na syk woundris to thar dampnatioun;


Bot til attayin wild amouris at the thai leir:


Thy lusty pane begouth on this maneir.




[Pg 186]




 THE FERD BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




The thochtfull queyn, with mony amorus claws,


Til hir systir complenys in luffis caws.






Be this the Queyn, throw hevy thochtis onsound,


In euery vayn nurysys the greyn wound,


Smytyn so deip with the blynd fyre of lufe


Hir trublyt mynd gan fra all rest remufe.


Compasing the gret prowes of Ene,5


The large wirschip feill sys remembris sche


Of his lynnage and folkis; for ay present


Deip in hir breist so was hys figur prent,


And all hys wordis fixt, that, for bissy thocht,


Noyn eys hir membris nor quyet suffir mocht.10


The nixt day following, with hys lamp brycht


As Phebus dyd the grund or erth alycht,


Eftir the dawing heth the donk nychtis clowd


Chasyt from the sky, and the ayr new schrowd;


Ful evil at eys queyn Dido on this kynd15


Spak to hir systir, wes of the sammyn mynd.
[Pg 187]

My sistir An, quhat swevynnys beyn thir, quod sche,


Quhilk me affrays in sik proplexite?


Quhat be he, this gret new gest or stranger,


Onto our realm laitly is drevyn heir?


Quhou wys in speche, and in his commonyng,5


He schawys hym self! O God, quhat wondir thing!


Quhou stout in curage! in weir quhou vailȝeand!


I trow sistir, and, as I vndirstand,


Myne opinion is nane oncertane thing,


Thai beyn sum lynnage of verray goddis ofspring;10


For dreid always and schaymful kowardys


Degeneryt wightis and bowbartis notyfys.


Allace! quhat wondir fatale aventuris


Hes hym bywaif! quhat travel, pane and curis,


How huge batellis, be hym eschewit, tald he!15


Now, certis, war it not determyt with me,


And fixit in my mynd onmovabilly,


That to no wyght in wedlok me list I


Cuppil nor knyt, sen my first luf is gane,


By deth dissoverit, and left me alane;20


War not alsso to me is displesant


Genyvs chalmyr or matrymone to hant;


Perchans I mycht be venquist in this rage,


Throu this a cryme of secund mariage.


Annes, I grant to the, sen the deces25


Of my sory husband Syche, but les,


Quhar that our hows with brodyrris ded wes sprent,


Only this man hes movit myne entent,


And heth my mynd inducyt to forvay:


I knaw and felis the wemmys and the way30
[Pg 188]

Of the ald fyre and flambe of luffis heit.


Bot rather I desyre baith cors and spreit


Of me the erth swelly law adown,


Or than almychty Jove with thundris sovn


Me smyte ful deip onto the schaddoys dern,5


Amang pail gastis of hellis holl cavern,


In the profond pot of deth and dyrk nycht,


Or I becum so schamful wrachit wyght


That I myne honeste fyle or womanhed,


Or brek ȝour lawis; na, quhil I be ded!10


He, that me first to hym in wedlok knyt,


My first flowr of amouris tuke, and ȝyt


For euermair with hym he sal thame haue,


And he most keip thame with hym in his grave.


Thus sayand, the brycht teris onon owtbrist,15


And fillyt all hir bosum or scho wist.


Annes answerd; O thou, sa mot I thryve,


To thi systir derrar than hir awyn lyve,


Quhiddir gif thou wilt alane, in wedowhed,


Evir murnand thus waist away thy ȝouthed,20


Nowthir ȝyt the comfort of sweit childring thou knawis,


Nor the plesour felis of Venus lawys?


Quhat! wenys thou assys cald and gastis in grave


Of al syk walyng ony fest sal haue?


In cays that in thi duyl afor thir days,25


Thy lord new ded, the list inclyne na ways


Nowthir prynce nor duke to tak as for husband;


Suppos thou lychtlyit than, of Lyby land,


Hyarbas kyng, and othir heris all,


Quhilkis in the rich sulȝe triumphall30
[Pg 189]

Of Aufrik boundis dwelling wyde quhar;


Quhat! wilt thou als debatyng euer mar


Agane this lykand lufe, cummys of plesance?


Consideris thou not, and hes in remembrance,


Amyddys quhays grond heir thou remanys?5


On this hand, citeis of Getulyanys,


A kynd of pepill invincibill in batell;


Heir the ondantit folk of Numyda dwell,


And, on that other part, ombyset, I wys,


We ar with bustuus onfrendly Syrtis;10


And ȝondir the desert region alsswa,


Ay full of thryst, in barrand Libya;


And wydquhar thens the wild pepil of Barchay.


The weris moving from Tyre quhat sal I say,


And the gret brag and mannans of our brothir?15


Be disposicioun of goddis, I weyn, nane othir,


And by the purvyans of Juno, to our supple,


Thir Troiane schippis by prospir wynd our see


Heth hyddir set thar coursys fortunate.


O systir myne, consider in quhat estait20


Thys cite, quhilk thou beildis, sal vprys!


Persaue quhou that this realm may, on syk wys,


Beyn vpheyt throu sa nobil a mariage!


Behald quhou mekill the glory of Cartage


Salbe extollyt, and encres in euery thyng,25


Throu help in armys of the Troianys ofspryng!


Quharfor, the nedis beseik goddis of thar grace,


With sacrifyce, tobe favorabil in this cace.


Do set alhaill thi cure and diligence


To causyng hym mak with the residence,30
[Pg 190]

And fenȝe causys to tary hym and wythhald,


So lang as thus, duryng the wyntir cald,


The sey ragis throu watry Orion,


And quhil the stormys be al our blawyn and gon;


And quhil hys schippis, with the tempest schaik,5


Be bet, byd spair nowthir fyr, elm, nor aik.






 CAP. II.




Dido enflambyt in the lusty heyt,


With amorus thochtis trublys al hir spreit.






Wyth thir wordys the spreit of Dido queyn,


The quhilk tofor in lufe wes kyndlyt grene,


Now al in fyre the flambe of lufe furth blesys;


Hir doutsum mynd with gude hope so scho esys10


That al the schame and dreid wes blaw away;


And to the tempill furth held tha baith tway.


Eftir the serymonys of thar payane gys,


Beneuolence and gude luk, syndry wys,


Thai sekyng and thai sers at ilke altar;15


And twyntris, walit for sacrifyce, heir and thar


Thai brytnyt; and sum in honour dyd addres


Of the law ledar Ceres, the goddes;


To Phebus, and to Bachus part alsso;


Bot principaly onto the queyn Juno,20


Quhilk heth in cuyr the band of mariage.


Hir self, most gudly queyn Dido of Cartage,
[Pg 191]

Held in hir richt hand a cowp full of wyne;


Betwix the hornys twa furthȝet it syne


Of ane ontamyt ȝong quy, quhite as snaw:


And, othir quhilis, wald scho raik on raw,


Or pays tofor the altaris, wyth fat offerandis5


Ay chargyt full; and oft, with hir awyn handis,


Renew and beyt the sacrifyce all day;


And rich gyftis geif Troianys; and wald ay


The beistis costis, as thai debowellit wer,


And thar entralis behald flekkyr and steir,10


Accordyng the auld vsans to that effect,


Sum augury to persaue or gude aspect.


O wallaway! of spamen and dyvynys


The blynd myndis, quhilkis na way diffynys


The fors ne strenth of Luf with hys hard bandis!15


Quhat avalyt thir sacrifice and offerandis?


Quhat helpis to vyssy tempillis in luffis rage?


Behald onhappy Dido of Cartage


In this meyn sesson byrnyng hait as gleyd:


The secrete wound deip in hir mynd gan spreyd,20


And of hoyt amouris the subtell quent fyre


Waistis and consumys merth, banys, and lyre.


Our all the cite enragyt scho heir and thar


Wandris, as ane strykkyn hynd, quhom the stalkar,


Or scho persave, from far betis with hys flane25


Amyd the woddis of Creyt, and lattis remane


The braid hed, onknaw the beste was hyt:


Scho skypping furth, as to eschew the byt,


Gan throu the forest fast and gravys glyde;


Bot evir the dedly schaft stykkis in hir syde.30
[Pg 192]

Sum tyme the queyn Ene with hir dyd leid


Throu owt the wallys onto euery steid,


The tresour al and riches of Sydony


Schawyng to hym; and offerit al reddy


The cite of Cartage at hys commandment:5


Begyn scho wald to tell furth hir entent,


And in the myd word stop, and hald hir styll.


And quhen the evyn come, it wes hir will


To seik ways hym to feste, as scho dyd ayr;


And, half myndles, agane scho langis sayr10


For tyll enquyre and heir the sege of Troy,


And in a stair behaldis hym for joy.


Eftir all wes voydyt, and the licht of day


Ay mair and mair the moyn quynchit away,


And the declynyng of the starris brycht15


To sleip and rest persuadis euery wight,


Within hir chalmyr alane scho langis sayr,


And thocht al waist for lak of hir luffar.


Amyd a voyd bed scho hir laid adoun,


And of hym absent thinkis scho heris the sown;20


Hys voce scho heris, and hym behaldis sche,


Thocht he, God wait, far from hir presens be:


And sum tyme wald scho Ascanyus, the page,


Caucht in the figur of hys faderis ymage,


And in hir bosum brace, gif scho tharby25


The lufe ontellabill mycht swik or satisfy.


The wark and wallys begun ar not vpbrocht;


The ȝounkeris dedis of armys excersis nocht;


Nothir fortres nor turettis suyr of weir


Now graith tha mair; for al the wark, but weir,30
[Pg 193]

Cessis and is stoppyt, baith of pynnakillis hie,


And byg towris, semyt to rys in the skie.






 CAP. III.




Tyl Venus carpys Juno the goddes,


And of thar spech and sermond, mar and les.






Alsswyth as Juno, with syk maleys ourtane,


Persauyt hir deir frend that remeid was nane,


Nothir fame ne honour the rage resyst mycht,5


Saturnus douchtir with syk wordis on hyght


Begouth to carp onto Venus, I wys;


A huge honour and lawd ȝe sal of this


Raport, and richt large spulȝe beir away,


Thou and thi child forsuyth, quod scho, bath tway:10


O Lord, quhou gret power and notabil mycht,


Gif that, of twa hie goddis throu the slycht,


A sylly woman sal ourcummyn be!


Not so, I wys, hes thou dissavyt me,


Bot that I knaw thou had in feir and dreid15


Our cite, and held the lugyng suspek, in deid,


Of our renownyt hie burgh of Cartage.


Bot on quhat wys sall sesyng al this rage?


Or now quhat nedis sa gret stryfe and contak?


Far rather perpetuell pes lat ws mak,20


And knyt vp band of mariage thartill,


Sen thou hes gottin al thyne hartis will;
[Pg 194]

For Dido byrnys in hait lufe al atanys,


The brym fury glydis throu owt hir banys.


Lat ws thir pepill to ws common, for thy,


Be frendly favouris govern equaly;


So that it lesum be Dido remane5


In spousage bund, and serve a lord Troiane,


And suffir Tirreanys, and al Lyby land,


Be geif in dowry to thi son in hand.


Than Venus, knawing hir spech of fenȝeit mynd,


To that effect scho mycht the Troiane kynd,10


And werys to cum furth of Itail alsswa,


With hald and kepe from boundis of Lybia,


Answerd and sayd: quhat wikkyt wyght wald euer


Refuys syk proffyr, or ȝyt with the had levir


Contend in bataill, or stand at debait,15


Gif that, as thou rehersis, the deid algait


Als sovirly mycht follow fortunabill?


Bot I affeir me les the fatis onstabill,


Nor Jupiter, consent not, ne aggre,


That bot a cite to Tyryanys suld be20


And eik to folkis from Troy in vayage cummyn,


Or list appreif thai pepillis all and summyn


Togiddir myddill, or joyn in lyge or band.


Thou art hys spows; til the to tak on hand


Is lefull with request hys mynd to assay.25


Pas on befor, I follow the perfay.


Than Juno queyn syk answer maid agane:


This laubour I tak on hand, al myne alane.


Bot on quhat wys, sen tyme is convenabill,


The fasson quhou this stant to do maist habill,30
[Pg 195]

Hark, at schort wordys that poynt I sal ȝou say.


Eneas and onsilly Dido, baith tway,


To forest grathis in huntyng furth to wend,


To morow, als fast as Titan doith ascend,


And our the warld gan hys bemys spreid.5


Quhen that the rangis and the faid on breid


Dynnys throu the gravys, sersyng the woddis wyde,


And setis set the glen on euery syde,


I sal apon thame a myrk schour down skaill


Of weit and wynd, mydlit wyth fellon haill,10


And all the hevyn with thundyrris blast sa steir


That all thar falloschip sall withdraw for feir.


Enclosyt with a myst als dyrk as nycht


Dido and eik the Troiane duke full rycht,


Alanerly, bot be thame selvyn twane,15


Togiddir sal entir in a cave of stane:


Thar sal I be reddy, and, but delay,


Gif thi mynd be ferm tharto the ilk day,


In sovir wedlok I sal conioyn hir thar,


To be his propir spous for euermair:20


Apon this wys thar wedding salbe wrocht.


Affermys all hir wil, contrarying nocht,


Of Cetheron Venus the goddes brycht,


Lauchyng scho fund had so controvit a slycht.




[Pg 196]




 CAP. IV.




Quhou that the Queyn to huntyng raid at morow,


And of the first day of hir joy and sorow.






Furth of the sey, with this, the dawyng spryngis.


As Phebus rays, fast to the ȝettis thringis


The chos gallandis, and huntmen thame besyde,


With ralys and with nettys strang and wyde,


And huntyng sperys styf with hedis braid:5


From Massillyne horsmen thik thiddir raid,


With rynnyng hundis, a full huge sort.


Nobillys of Cartage, hovand at the port,


The Queyn awatys that lang in chawmyr dwellys:


Hyr fers steyd stude stampyng, reddy ellys,10


Rungeand the fomy goldyn byt gynglyng;


Of gold and pal wrocht hys rych harnasyng:


And scho, at last, of palyce yschit owt,


With huge menȝe walking hir abowt,


Lappyt in a brusyt mantill of Sydony,15


With gold and perle the bordour al bewry,


Hyngand by hir syde the cays with arowis grund;


Hir bricht tressis envolupyt war and wond


Intil a quayf of fyne gold wyrin threid;


The goldyn button claspyt hir purpour weid:20


And furth scho passyt with all hir cumpany.


The Troiane pepill forgaderit by and by,


Joly and glaid the fresch Ascanyus ȝyng.


Bot first of all, maist gudly, hym self thar kyng
[Pg 197]

Enee gan entir in falloschip, but dout,


And onto thame adionyt hys large rowt.


Lyke quhen Apollo list depart or ga


Furth of hys wyntring realm of Lysya,


And leif the flude Exanthus for a quhile,5


To vissy Delos, his moderis land and ile,


Renowand ryngis and dansys, mony a rowt;


Mixt togiddir, hys altaris standing about,


The pepil of Creit, and thame of Driopes,


And eik the payntit folkis Agathirces,10


Schowtand on thar gys with clamour and vocis hie:


Apon thi top, mont Cynthus, walkis he,


Hys wavand haris, sum tyme, doyng doun thryng


With a soft garland of lawrer sweit smellyng;


And vmquhile thame gan balmyng and enoynt,15


And into gold addres, at full gude poynt;


Hys grundyn dartis clattering by hys syde.


Als fresch, als lusty dyd Eneas ryde;


With als gret bewte in hys lordly face.


And eftyr thai ar cummyn to the chace,20


Amang the montanys in the wild forest,


The rynnyng hundis of cuppillys sone thai kest,


And our the clewys and the holtis, belyve,


The wild beistis doun to the dail thai dryve.


Lo! thar the rays, rynnyng swyft as fyre,25


Drevyn from the hyghtis, brekkis out at the swyre:


Ane othir part, syne ȝondyr mycht thou se


The herd of hartis with thar hedis hie,


Ourspynnerand with swyft cours the plane vaill,


The hepe of duste vpstowryng at thair taill,30
[Pg 198]

Fleand the hundis, levand the hie montanys.


And Ascanyus, the child, amyd the planys,


Joyus and blith hys startling steid to assay,


Now makis his rynk ȝondir, and now this way


Now prekis furth by thir, and now by thame;5


Langyng, amang faynt frayt beistis ontame,


The fomy bair, doun from the hyllis hycht,


Or the dun lyoun discend, recontyr he mycht.


In the meyn quhile, the hevynnys al about


With fellon noys gan to rummyll and rowt.10


A bub of weddir followyt in the tayll,


Thik schour of rayn myddillit ful of haill.


The Tyriane menȝe skales wydequhar,


And al the gallandis of Troy fled heir and thar;


And eik with thame the ȝong Ascanyus,15


Nevo to kyng Dardan and to Venus.


For feir, to diuers stedis throu the feildis,


Thai seik to haldis, howsis, hyrnys and beildis:


The ryveris rudly ruschit our hillis bedene.


Within a cave is entrit Dido queyn,20


And eik the Troiane duke, al thame alane,


By aventur, as thai eschewyt the rane.


Erth, the first moder, maid a takyn of wo,


And eik of wedlok the pronuba Juno,


And of thar cuplyng wittering schew the ayr:25


The flambe of fyreslaucht lychtnyt heir and thar


And on the hillys hie toppis, but les,


Sat murnand nymphis, hait Oreades.


This wes the formaste day of hir glaidnes,


And first morrow of hir wofull distres.30
[Pg 199]

For nother the fasson nor the maner sche


Attendis now, nor fame, ne honeste;


Ne, from thens furthwart, Dido ony mor


Musis on lufe secrete, as of befor,


Bot clepis it spousage; and, with that fayr name,5


Clokyt and hyd hir cryme of oppyn schame.






 CAP. V.




Of Fame that monstre, and kyng Hyarbas fury,


And how fra Jove wes send the god Mercury.






The fame heirof, belyve, gan walx and spreid


Throu cheif citeis of all Affrik on breid:


Fame is myscheif, quham na harm vndyr the lyft


In motioun nor sterage is mair swyft.10


Movand scho growis, and, passand our alquhar,


Hir strenth encressis and walxis mair and mayr.


Lytil, for feir, the fyrst tyme semys sche;


Sone eftir rysys to the starnys on hie;


Apon the grond scho walkis fra sted to sted,15


And vp amang the clowdis hydis hyr hed.


Throu greif of goddis commovyt, and nocht glaid,


Erth, the gret moder, bayr this child, as is said,


Last systir to Ceyos and Enchelades,


Ane huge, horribill, and strange monstre, but les,20


Spedy of fut, and on weyngis swyft as wynd.


Quhou mony fedderis bene on hir body fynd,
[Pg 200]

Als mony walkryse eyn lurkis thar vndir,


Als feil tongis, that for to tell is wondir,


With als feil mouthis carpis sche and beris,


Als mony hes scho prik vpstandand eris.


By nycht scho fleys amyd the hevyn throu owt,5


Circuland the schaddow of the erth about


With huge fard, nother cuyr gevand nor keip


Hir eyn anys to rest nor tak a sleip:


Al day scho syttis, wachand byssely,


Apon the top of nobillis howsis, to spy,10


Or on thir princis palyce with towris hie,


And with hir noys gret citeis affrays sche;


Als weil ramembring fenȝeit and schrewit sawys,


As scho the treuth and verite furth schawis.


Thys ilke wensch, that tyme, with mony a taill,15


Glaidly this rumour gan throu the pepill skaill,


Telland the thing wrocht, and not wrocht, togiddir:


Quhou of the Troiane blude wes cummyn thiddir


Ene, with quham the fair Dido be wed


Dedenyt, and as husband go to bed;20


And how the wyntir sesson betwix thame tway


Thai spend in lang reffell, lust, and play,


Of thar realmys na thing remembring,


In fowle delyte ybond be Cupyd kyng.


Thys menskles goddes in euery mannys mouth25


Skalys thir newis est, west, north, and sowth.


Hir cours, onon, but langar tarying,


Addressys scho ontill Hyarbas kyng;


With hir sawis his mynd inflambyng as fyre,


Prouokand hym to wreth and fellon ire.30
[Pg 201]

To Amon he wes son, beget alswa


Apon the maid revist Garamantida:


Within his large realmys huge braid


Ane hundreth tempillis to Jupiter he maid;


Ane hundreth altaris, quharon the walkryfe fyre5


He dedicate, al tymys byrnand schyre;


Set wachis in honour of goddis perpetuelly;


Of beistis blude the fat grond nevir dry,


Strowit with garlandis and flowris of diuers kynd.


This ilke kyng, wod wroith, half owt of mynd,10


And for thir schrewyt rumouris for ammovit,


In presens of the goddis quhilk he luffit,


Befor the altar, to Jupiter, as thai say,


Hevand vp handis, devotly thus gan pray:


Almychty Jove, quod he, quhamto, feill sys,15


On brusyt beddis hie fest and sacryfys


Of Mawrusya the pepill hantis thus,


Offeryng to the the honour of Bachus,


Consideris thou this? or quhidder, fader, gif we


For nocht the dredis, quhen thou lattis thundir fle?20


Or gif thi fyreslauch, the blynd clowdis within,


To fley our myndis, in vane makis noys and dyn?


Ȝone woman, lait exile and vagabund


Com to our boundis, that by pryce bocht the grund


A litil village to byg, and quhamto we25


For to manuyr gave the strand of the see,


Quhamto our lawis and statutis we gart mak,


Our mariage gan lychtly and forsaik,


And in hir ryng hes tane Ene for lord.


And now that secund Parys, of ane accord30
[Pg 202]

With his onworthy sort, skant half men beyn,


Abufe his hed and halffettis, weil beseyn,


Set lyke a mytir the Troiane foly hat,


Hys hair enoynt weil prunȝeit vndir that,


By reif mantemys hir suld owris be;5


Becaus onto thi templis dayly we


Bryngis offerand, and invane hallowis thi name.


With syk wordis kyng Hyarbas at hame


Makyng hys prayeris, and grippand the altar,


Him hard onon almychty Jupiter,10


And hys eyn turnys towart the riall wallis


Of Cartage, and thir luffaris, quhilkis so fallis


At thai thar fame and gude renown forȝet.


Syne thus said to Mercuryus, but let,


And with sik maner charge gan hym direk:15


Pas, son, inhaist, graith the wyndis in effek;


Slyde with thi feddyrame to ȝon Troiane prynce,


Quhilk now in Cartage makis residence,


Gevand no cuyr of citeis in Italy


To hym ygrant by fatale destany;20


Do beir my message swyftly throw the skyis,


Sa to hym thus my wordis on syk wys:


His derrest moder promist ws not that he


Of hys gydyng sa faynt a man suld be,


Nor, for syk causys, hym delyverit twys25


Furth of the Grekis handis, hys ennemys;


Bot at he suld haue beyn wys, sage, and grave,


Hie senȝeoreis and gret empyre to have,


And Itale dant, quhilk brandysis in battell,


And, by his dedis, declair and cleyrly tell30
[Pg 203]

Hym cummyn of Teuceris hie genealogy,


And to subdew the warldis monarchy.


Of sa gret thingis thocht na wirschip hym steris,


Nor for hys honour list not laubour as efferis,


Ȝyt than, the fader aucht na wys to envy5


That Ascanyus bruke Romys senȝeory.


Speir quhat he beildis, or how that he dar dwell


Amang a pepill salbe hys ennemys fell.


Hys lynnage tocum in Itale forȝettis he,


And gevis na compt of Lavyne the cuntre.10


Byd hym mak saill: this is all in effek;


Thiddir on our message thus we the direk.


Said Jupiter: and Mercur, but arest,


Dressyt to obey hys gret faderis behest:


And first ontill hys feyt fast buklyt he15


Hys goldyn weyngis, quharwith he doith fle,


Quhen so hym lyst, abuf the fludis on hyght,


Or on the erth, with gret fard and swyft flycht.


Syne tuke his wand, quharwith, as that thai tell,


The pail sawlis he cachis furth of hell,20


And other sum tharwith gan schet full hoyt


Deip in the sorofull grisly hellys pote;


Quharwith he makis folk sleip, magre thar hed,


And revis fra othir al sleip, and to the ded


Closis thar eyn, and brekis the stryngis tway:25


Throu help tharof he chasys the wyndis away,


And trubly clowdis dyvidis in a thraw.


Tho furth he fleys, till at the last he saw


The heich top and sydis braid onevyn


Of hard Atlas, baryng on his crown the hevyn;30
[Pg 204]

The mysty clowdis cirkilland his hed about,


Quharon of fyrryn treis stant mony rowt,


With wynd and storm full oft to schaik and blaw;


Hys schulderis heildit with new fallyn snaw:


Furth of the chyn of this ilk hasard auld5


Gret fludis ischis, and styf ise schokkyllis cauld


Doun from his stern and grysly berd hyngis.


Heir first Mercur, with evynly schynand weyngis,


Gan hym arest, and with hail fard fra thens


Vnto the sey fludis maid hys discens;10


Lyke till a fowle that, endlang the cost syde,


About the strandis, of fysch plentuus, and wyde,


Fleys by the watyr, skummand the fludis law:


Betwix the hevyn and erth, the sam wys, flaw


Mercury, clepit the child Cyllenyus,15


Discendyng from hys moder granscher thus;


The sandy costis and desertis of Lyby,


And eik the wyndis, persyng by and by.


And, with the weyngit solys of hys feyt,


As he of Cartage fyrst tred on the streyt,20


Eneas foundand towris he gan aspy,


And garrand beild new lugyngis byssyly:


Belt he wes with a swerd of mettale brycht,


Of quham the scawbart with brown jasp wes pight;


His rych array dyd our hys schuldris hyng,25


Bet of a purpour claith of Tyre glittering,


Fettysly stykkit with prynnyt goldyn thredis;


Of mychty Didois gift wrocht all his wedis.


Mercur recontris hym, and said onon:


Of Cartage now the prowd wallis of stone30
[Pg 205]

Thou foundis, quod he, and biggis at al devyce


A cite, excersyt intill a wyfis seruyce,


Thyne awyn materis and realm forȝetting, allace!


Hiddir onto the, from his bricht hevynly place,


The governour of goddis heth me sent,5


Quhilk rewlys at will erd, hevyn, and elyment;


He bad me throw the skyis bair this charge:


Quhat beildis thou heir in Lyby or Cartage?


Or to quhat fyne or beleif takis on hand


To waist thi tyme into this fremmyt land?10


Gif that na lavd ne honour move the list


Of sa hie thingis as ar to the promyst,


Nor thi selvyn thou wil not occupy


To purches thine awyn renown ne glory;


Ȝyt than, behald Ascanyus vpwalxing,15


And the gret hope of his seid and ofspring,


Quhamtil the realm and kynryk of Itaill,


With Romys boundis, beyn destinate, sans faill.


On syk wys thus carpys Mercuryus,


And in the myddis of his sermond, thus,20


He vanyst far away, I wait nevir quhar.


Furth of this mortale syght, in the schyre ayr.






 CAP. VI.




Quhou Eneas hym grathys to depart,


To quhom Dido heir carpys with sayr hart.






Bot than Ene half mad and dum stude als,


Vpstart his hair, the voce stak in his hals.
[Pg 206]

Sayr he langis to fle and to depart;


And that sweit cuntre, on the tother part,


To leif ful laith wes hym, or go at large.


Astonyst he wes to syt sa hie a charge,


Or dysobey the gret godis beheste.5


Allace! quhat suld he do? oneth he wist;


Or with quhat wordis suld he now assay


The amorus queyn forto requir and pray,


Or on quhat wys hys taill he mycht begyn;10


Baith to and fra compasyng, hys breist within,


Feill purpossys for euery part about.


And, at the last, thus as he stude in dout,


Thys resson hym semyt fynaly the best:


He callys to hym Mynestheus and Sergest,15


And strang Cloanthus; and bad thai suld, in hy,


Do graith hys schyppys and navyn secretly,


And gaddir hys folkis towart the cost togydder;


Armour and al thyng necessar bring thyddir,


And to dissymyll, gif ony axit quhy20


Thai thus addressyt thar geyr sa suddanly:


Hym self, he said, the meyn quhile, suld assay


To purches leif to pas and go away,


And wait hys tyme to speke tharof maist habill,


Quhen that the queyn Dido, maist honorabil,25


Suld not beleif sa sone he kouth depart,


Nor sa gret luf dissyvir mycht be na art.


At hys command thai al glaidly furth went,


And bissely begouth speid hys entent.


Bot sone the queyn persavyt al the slycht:


Quhay may begile a luffar, day or nycht?30
[Pg 207]

Thar departing at hand fyrst scho aspyis,


Dredyng all sovir thing, as is the gys


Of euery luffar al tyme to stand in feir.


This ilke cursyt Fame, we spak of eyr,


Bair to the amorus queyn noys, and gan rown,5


The schippis ar grathand, to pas thai mak thaim boun.


Quharfor, inpacient, and myndles in hir rage,


Scho wyskis wild throu the town of Cartage;


Syk wys, as quhen thir nunnys of Bachus


Ruschis and relis our bankis, brays, and bus,10


Quhen, euery thryd ȝeir, on thar payane gys,


Thar goddis feist thai hallow with lowd cryis,


That, al the nycht, the mont of Cytheron


Resoundis of thar clamour, quhar thai gone.


And at the last, ȝit thus, of hir fre will,15


Eftir lang musyng, scho spak Eneas tyll:


With dissymulance wenyt thou, onfaithfull wight,


Thou mycht haue hyd fra me sa fals a slycht,


And, myne onwyttyng, steill furth of my land?


That nothir our gret lufe, promys, nor rycht hand20


Gevyn me vmquhile, may the heir withhald,


Nor cruel deth of Didois cors so cald!


Gif thou depart, and forthir quhat wald thou do,


In wyntir sesson pres graith thi navy, lo!


And the addres to pas throu the wod see,25


Myd tyme quhen stormys and wyndis blaw maist hie;


Art thou sa cruel? I put the cace, alsso,


That to nane onkouth landis the list go,


Nother to fremmyt place, nor stedis will,


Bot that auld Troy war ȝyt vpstandand still;30
[Pg 208]

Aucht thou, ȝit than, leif this weilfair and joy,


And in sik perrell seik throu the sey to Troy?


Quhat! wilt thou fle from me? allace! allace!


Be all thir teris trygland our my face,


And be that rycht hand vmquhile thou me gave;5


Sen to my self nocht ellis left I have,


Now wrachit catyve; be our treuth plychting eyk,


And be our spowsage begunnyn, I the beseik,


Gif euer ony thank I deservit towart the,


Or ocht of myne to the wes leif, quod sche,10


Haue mercy of our lynnage reddy to spill;


Gif tyme remanys ȝit thou heir prayeris will,


This fremmyt mynd, I pray ȝou, do away.


For the I haue beyn hatyt, this mony a day,


With all the pepill of Affrik, and with the kyng15


That rewlys the land of Numyda and ryng;


For the myne awyn Tyrianys ar with me wraith;


For the is womanheid went and wirschip baith,


And my first fame, lavd, and renownye,


Quharby I wes rasyt to the starnys hie.20


Reddy to de, and my selvyn to spill,


My sweit gest, quhamto thou me leif will?


My gest, ha God! quhou al thyng now invane is,


Quhen of my spows nane othir name remanys!


Bot quharto suld I my ded langar delay?25


Sal I abyde quhil thou be went away,


And quhil myne awyn brothir, Pigmaleon,


Bet down the wallis of my cite onon,


Or stern Hyarbas, kyng of Getule,


Led me away into captiuite?30
[Pg 209]

Bot, at the leist, tofor thi wayfleyng,


Had I a child consavyt of thyne ofspryng,


Gif I had ony ȝong Eneas small,


Befor me forto play within my hall,


Quhilk representit by symylitude thi face;5


Than semyt I nocht, thus wys, allace! allace!


Aluterly dissauyt nor dissolate.


Thus said the queyn Dido, in febil estate.


Bot, apon Jovis message fermly he


Stude musyng so, he movit nocht ane E;10


Refrenyt his will, hydand in hart his thocht,


And, at the last, thir few wordis hes furth brocht:


O gentil queyn, that sall I nevir deny,


Thy gude deid and desart is mair worthy


Than thou with wordis or tong may expreme;15


Nor it sal nevir me irk, na ȝit mysseym,


The worthy Dido to hald in fresch memory,


So lang as that my self remembir may I,


Or quhil the spreit of lyfe this body steris.


As the mater requiris, a litil heris:20


I purposyt nocht forto hyde thyftuusly


My vayage, nor, as ȝe weyn, secretly


Away to steil; quhat nedis ȝou sa to feyn?


For I pretendit nevir, be na meyn,


With ȝou to mak the band of mariage,25


Nor in that ȝok, ne frendschip in Cartage,


Ȝyt come I nevir: bot gif the fatis, but pled,


At my plesour sufferit me lyfe to led,


At my fre wil my warkis to modyfy,


The cite of Troy than first agane suld I30
[Pg 210]

Restore, and of our deir frendis remanys


Gaddir togiddir, and to the venquist Troianys


Raparal with my handis agane thar wallis,


And beild vp Priamus palyce at now fallis.


Bot sen Appollo, clepit Gryneus,5


Gret Italy to seik commandis ws,


To Itale eik oraclys of Lycia


Admonyst ws, but mair delay, to ga;


Thar is my lust now, and delyte at hand,


Thar is my cuntre, and my natyve land.10


Gif the, of Cartage the burgh and towris swa,


Quhilk art a woman of Phenycia,


And the aspect of citeis Affricane


Delytis, and withhaldis heir to remane,


Quhat wrang is it, caus of envy or schame,15


Thocht Troianys seik to Itale for thar hame?


Or is it nocht als lesum and ganand


That fynaly we seik to onkouth land?


Als oft as day is gone, and the dyrk nycht


With hir donk schaddow hydis of the erth the sycht,20


Als oft as schynyng starnys doith vprys,


My faderis gost, Anchises, als feil sys


Into my sleip mannasis me tharto fast,


And oft his feirfull ymage doith me agast;


And, in lyke wys, the child Ascanyus,25


Quhais deir hed suffir iniurys is hard to ws,


Quham of the realm of Itail I defraud,


And fra the grond to hym promyst withhawd.


Be athir of our hedis this I sweir;


Now laitly eik of goddis the messynger,30
[Pg 211]

From hie Jupiter in hasty message sent,


Down throu the ayr brocht the ilk commandment:


On fair day lycht, myne awyn self dyd I se


Mercur, the God, entyr in this cite,


And his wordis with thir sam eris hard I.5


With thy complayntis ony langar, forthy,


Lat be to vex me, or thy self to spyll,


Sen I seik nocht to Itale with fre will.






 CAP. VII.




Of the scharp wordys queyn Dydo dyd say,


And how Eneas bownys fast away.






Dydo, aggrevit ay quhil he his tayl tald,


With acquart luke gan to wart hym behald,10


Rollyng vmquhile hir eyn, now heir, now thar,


With syght onstabil waverand our alquhar;


And all enragyt thir wordis gan furth braid:


Nothir wes a goddes thy moder, as is sayd,


Nor ȝyt kyng Dardanus cheif stok of thi kyn,15


Thou treuthles wyght; bot, of a cald hard quhyn,


The clekkyt that horribill mont, Cawcasus hait;


Thou sowkyt nevir womanis breist, weil I wait,


Bot of sum cruel tygir of Araby


The pappys the fosterit in the wod Hyrcany.20


To quhat effect suld I hym langar perswaid,


Or quhat bettir may beleve than he hes said?
[Pg 212]

Quhiddir gif he murnyt quhen we wepit and walyt?


Quhiddir gif he steryt his eyn, as ocht hym alyt?


Quhidder gif, for rewth, he furthȝet anys a teyr,


Or of hys lufe had piete? na, not to ȝeir.


Quhou sal I begyn, quhat first, quhat last to say?5


Now, now, nothir gretast Juno, wallaway!


Nor Saturnys son, hie Jupiter, with just eyn


Hes our querrell considerit, na ourseyn;


For no quhar now faith nor lawte is fund.


I ressavyt hym schyp brokkyn fra the sey grund,10


Wilsum, and mystyrfull of al warldis thyng,


Syne, myndles, maid hym my fallow in this ryng:


Hys navy lost raparalyt I, but faill,


And hys feris fred from the deth alhaill.


Allace! enragyt or enchantit am I;15


Quhen now Appollo, with hys sossery,


And quhilis, he says, the kavillys of Lycia,


And quhilis, fra Jupiter down sent alsswa,


The messynger of goddis bryngis throu the skyis


Sa feirful charge and command on this wys:20


Lyke as the goddis abufe nocht ellys rocht,


Bot on thi passage war al thar cuyr and thocht.


Nothir wil I hald the, nor thi wordis contrar:


Pas on thi way, towart Itale thou fair;


Seik throu the fludis with wyndis to that ryng.25


Forsuyth, gif reuthfull goddis may ony thing,


Amyd thi way, I traist, on rolkis blak


Thou sal deir by thy treuth thou to me brak,


And clepe oft my richt name, Dido, Dido!


With fyre infernale, in thine absens alsso,30
[Pg 213]

I sal the follow; and, fra the cald ded


Reif from my membris this sawle, in euery sted


My gost salbe present the to agrys:


Thou salt, onworthy wyght, apon this wys,


Be punyst weil; and tharof wald I heyr;5


The fame tharof sal cum onto myne eyr,


Vndir the erth, amang the schaddowys law.


And this spokkyn, hir sermond, with the ilk saw,


Brak scho in twane, ful dolorus in hir thocht:


The lycht scho fled, and, als fast as scho mocht,10


Turnys frawart hym, and wyskyt of hys sycht,


On seir materis leifand hym pensyve wight,


And purposyng to haue said mony thyngis.


The damycellis fast to thar lady thryngis,


That was in dedly swoun plat for dispar:15


Vp thai hyr hynt, and to hyr chawmyr bayr,


Quhilk was of marbill wrocht, and in hir bed


Laid softly down apon rych carpettis spred.


Bot ȝyt, althocht the reuthfull Eneas


The dolorus queyn to meys ful bissy was,20


To do hir comfort, and hir dyseys asswage,


And with hys wordis return hir sad curage,


Bewalyng mekill hyr sorow and distres,


Proplexte in mynd by gret lufe; netheles,


The command of the goddis, by and by,25


He execut, and vysseys hys navy.


Than byssely the Troianys fell to wark,


And mony gret schyp, ballyngar, and bark,


Langis the cost brocht in, and bet full weill.


Now fletis the mekil holk with tallonyt keyll:30
[Pg 214]

The burgionyt treys on burd thai bring for aris,


Weltis down in woddis gret mastis, and na thing sparis,


Saysyng half onwrocht, so ithand thai war fair bown.


Rynnand heir and thar, and wendyng fast of town,


Ȝhe mycht haue seyn thame haist, lyke emmotis grete5


Quhen thai depulȝe the mekill byng of quhete,


And in thar byke it careis, all and sum,


Providing for the cald wyntir tocum:


The blak swarm our the feildis walkis ȝarn,


Tursand throu the gers thar pray to hydlys darn:10


Sum on thar nek the gret cornys vpwrelis,


And our the furris bissely tharwith spelys;


Sum constrenyng the otheris fast to wirk;


And sum the sleuthful chasteis, that thocht irk


Of thar labour; quhil euery rod and went15


Wolx of thar ithand wark hait, quhar thai went.






 CAP. VIII.




Quhou Dydo send hir systir Ene to pray,


And of the grysly syngnys dyd hir affray.






Quhat thocht thou now, Dydo, seand thir thingis?


Quhou mony sobbys gave thou and womentyngis,


Quhen thou, out of thi castell from the hycht,


The large costis beheld thus at a sycht20


Ourspred with Troianys, in fervent bissynes


Gan spedely for thar vayage addres,
[Pg 215]

And of thar clamour befor thine eyn dyd se


Dyn and resoundyng al the large see?


O wytles lufe! quhat may be thocht or do,


At thou constrenys nocht mortell myndis therto?


Scho is compellit to fal agane to teris,5


And Eneas assay with new prayeris;


And condiscendyt hir provd hart to submyt


Onto the strenth of lufe thus anys ȝyt:


Les scho onwar, but caus, hir deth purvayt,


Hir list na thyng behynd leif onassayt.10


Till hir scho gan hir systir call in hy:


Annes, quod scho, thou seys how byssely,


Our al the cost, for this vayage haist thai,


And now the wynd blawis weil to sail away:


The maryneris glaid lays thar schippis vndyr croys.15


O systir! in tyme kouth I haue trowyt this loys,


And sa gret dolour, I had providyt, but weir,


That this displesour suld haue beyn eith to beir.


And netheles, for me, onhappy wight,


Do this a thing, Annes, with al thi mycht:20


Sen ȝon ilk faithles man, deir systir, the


Was wont to cherys, and hald in gret dante,


And als hys secretis onto the reveill;


Hys sweit entres sum tyme thou knew ful weill,


Nane bot thou only the tyme of hys cummyng.25


Pas on, systir; in my name this a thyng


Say lawly to my provd fa, and declair,


That in the port Aulyda I neuer swair


With the Grekis the Troianys to distroy;


Nor I non navy send to sege Troy;30
[Pg 216]

Nor ȝyt his fader Anchises graf schent;


I nothir the muldis nor banys tharof rent.


Quhy doith he reffus my wordis and prayeris


To lat entir in his dul ontretabill eris?


Quhidder haistis he sa fast from hys behufe5


Beseik hym grant ontil his wrachyt lufe


This lattir reward, sen algatis he wil fle;


Tary quhil wynd blaw soft, and stabill see.


His ald promys na mair wil I hym crave,


Nor band of wedlok, quhilk he hes dissave;10


Nor ȝyt him pray go not to Italy,


Ne leif fair realmys, onto him destany:


A litil delay I ask, but othir eys,


A space my furor to asswage and meys;


Quhill that my frawart forton and estait15


Of my beleve schaw me I am frustrait,


And tech me for to murn mair paciently.


This lattir gift only at hym ask I.


Haue mercy, systir, of thy systir deyr:


Quhilk seruyce quhen thou done hes, without weir,20


I sal the recompens weil twenty fald,


And, quhil my ded, the sam in memor hald.


With syklyke wordis hir request scho maid.


Hir supplicatioun, with teris ful onglaid,


Reportis hir systir, and answer brocht agane25


Quhou al hir prayeris and desyre was invane:


For al thar wepyng mycht not him anys steir;


Nane of thar wordis lykis hym to heir,


Thocht he of natur was tretabill and curtas.


The fatis war contrar thar desyre netheles,30
[Pg 217]

And hys benyng eris the goddis dyttit,


That of thar askyng thar was nocht admittit.


And lyke as quhen the ancyant aik tre,


With hys byg schank, by north wynd oft we se


Is ombeset, to bet hym down and ourthraw,5


Now heir, now thar, with the fell blastis blaw,


The swouchand byr quhisland amang the granys,


So that the hyast branchys, al atanys,


Thar croppys bowis towart the erth als tyte,


Quhen with the dynt the maister stok schank is smyte;10


And, netheles, the ilk tre, fixit fast,


Stikkis to the rochis, not doun bet with the blast:


For quhy? als far as his crop heich on breid


Strekis in the ayr, als far hys rut doith spreid


Deip vndir erth, towart the hell adoun:15


The sammyn wys was this gentil baroun,


Now heir, now thar, with wordis ombeset,


And in his stout breist, ful of thochtis het,


Of reuth and amouris felt the perturbance.


Bot euer his mynd stude ferm, for ony chance20


Onmovyt, quhar hys fyrst purpos was set,


That al for nocht the teris war furthȝet.


Than suythly, the fey Dydo, al affrayt,


Seand fatis contrar, eftir deth prayt:


Scho irkit of hir lyfe, or to tak tent25


Forto behald the hevynnys firmament.


Tharfor, in takyn hir purpos to fulfill,


And leif the lycht of lyfe, as was hyr will,


As on the altaris byrnand ful of sense


The sacrifyce scho offerit, in hir presence,30
[Pg 218]

A grisly thyng to tell, scho gan behald


In blak adyll the hallowyt watir cald


Changyt and altyr, and furthȝet wynys gude,


Onon returnyt into laithly blude.


This visioun sche to nane reveil wald,5


Nor ȝyt to An, hir deir systir, it tald.


In wirschip eik, within hir palyce ȝet,


Of hir first husband, was a tempil bet


Of marbill, and hald in ful gret reverens,


With snaw quhite bendis, carpettis, and ensens,10


And festuale burgeonys arrayt, on thar gys:


Tharin was hard vocis, spech, and cryis


Of hir said spous, clepand hir ful lowd,


Evir quhen the dyrk nycht dyd the erth schrowd;


And oft with wild scryke the nycht owle,15


Heich on the rufe, alane, was hard ȝowle


With langsum voce and a ful petuus beir.


And eik bygane the feirful sawis seyr


Of the dyvynys, with terribil monysyngis,


Affrayt hir by mony grysly syngis.20


And in hir sleip, wod wroth, in euery place


Hir semyt cruel Eneas gan hir chace;


And evir, hir thocht, scho was left al alane,


And, but cumpany, mony far way had gane,


To seik hir folkis in a wilsum land.25


Lyke kyng Pentheus, in his wod rage dotand,


Thocht he beheld gret rowtis stand in staill


Of the Ewmenydes, fureys infernale,


And in the lyft twa sonnys schynand cleir;


The cite of Thebes gan dowbil to hym appeir:30
[Pg 219]

Or lyke Orestes, son of Agamenon,


On theatreis, in farcis mony one,


Rowpyt and sung how he his moder fled,


With fyre brondis and blak serpentis ourcled,


And saw the furyis, and grisly goddis fed,5


Sittand in the tempill port to wrek hir ded.






 CAP. IX.




Quhou Dydo queyn, hir purpos to covert,


Of enchantment dyd contyrfait the art.






Thus quhen Dydo had caucht this frenasy,


Ourset with sorow and syk fantasy,


And determyt fermly that scho wald de;


The tyme quhen, and maner quhou it suld be,10


Compasyng in hir breist, but mair abaid


Onto hir dolorus systir thus scho sayd,


Hir purpos by hir vissage dissymuland,


Schawand by hir cheir gude hope and glad sembland:


Systir germane, quod scho, away ȝour smart;15


Beys of ȝour systeris weilfar glaid in hart.


I haue the way fundyn, quharby ȝone syre


Salbe to me rendryt at my desyre,


Or me delyvir from hys lufe al fre.


Neyr by the end of the gret occiane see,20


Thar as the son declynys and goys doun,


At the far syde of Ethiope regioun,
[Pg 220]

A place thar is, quhar that the huge Atlas


On schuldyr rollys the round speir in cumpas,


Full of thir lemand starnys, as we se:


Thar dwellys, systir, as it is schaw to me,


Ane haly nun, a ful gret prophetes,5


Born of the pepill of Massylyne, I ges,


And wardane of the ryal tempil, thai sa,


Set in the gardyngis hecht Hesperida,


And to the walkryfe dragon mete gave sche,


That kepyt the goldyn apyllis in the tre,10


Strynkland to hym the wak hunny sweit,


And sleipryfe chesbow seyd, to quykkyn his spreit.


This woman hechtis, with hir enchantmentis,


From luffis bandis to lows al thar ententis


Quham so hir lyst, and bynd other sum alsso15


In langsum amouris vehement payn and wo:


The rynnand fludis thar watir stop kan scho mak,


And eik the starnys turn thar cours abak;


And on the nycht the ded gastis assemmyll:


Vndir thi feyt the erd rayr and trymmyll20


Thou most se, throw hir incantatioun,


And from the hillys treys discendyng down.


To wytnes the gret goddis draw I heyr,


And thy sweit hed, myne awyn systir deir,


Agane my wil, ful sayr constrenyt am I25


Art magyk to excers or sossory.


Richt secretly intil our innar clos,


Vndir the oppyn sky, to this purpos


Pas on, and of treys thou byg a byng


To be a fyre, and tharapon thou hyng30
[Pg 221]

Ȝon mannys sword, quhilk that wikkyt wight


Left stykand in our chawmyr this hyndir nyght;


Hys cote armour, and othir clethyng all,


And eik that maist wrachit bed coniugall,


Quharin I perychit and wes schent, allace!5


For so the religyus commandyt has,


To omdo and distroy al maner thyng


Quhilk may ȝon wareit man to memor bring.


This sayd, scho held hir tong; and tharwithall


Hir vissage wolx als pail as ony wall.10


Thocht Annes wenyt not hir systir wald


Graith sacryfice for hir ded body cald,


Nor that syk fury was in hyr breist consavyt;


For by na resson dred sche, nor persavyt


Now mor displesour or harmys apperand15


Than for Sycheus ded, hir first husband:


Quharfor, scho hes hir command done ilk deill.


Bot quhen the gret byng was vp beildit weill


Of ayk treys and fyrryn schydis dry,


Within the secrete clos, vndyr the sky,20


The place with flowris and garlandis stentis the queyn,


And crownys about with funerale bewis greyn:


Abuf the mowe the forsaid bed was maid,


Quharin the figur of Ene scho layd,


Hys clethyng, and hys sword at he had left,25


Ramembryng weill the thyng that followyt eft.


Feill altaris stude about the fyre funerale,


And the religyus nun, with hair down skaill,


Thre hundreth goddis with hir mouth rowpyt sche;


Herebus, the grysly of the deyp hellys see,30
[Pg 222]

Chaos, confoundar of Elymentis, alssua,


And the thrynfald goddes Proserpina,


The thre figuris of the virgyn Dyan.


And evir the watir strynklis scho onan,


Contyrfait to be of Avernus the well,5


Quhilk lowch is situat at the mouth of hell:


Spryngand herbys eftir the cours of the moyn


War socht, and with brasyn hukis cuttit soyn,


To get thar mylky sap and vennom blak:


Thai seik alsso, and owt gan rent and tak10


The lump betwix the new born folys eyn,


And fra the moder byreft the lufe sa greyn.


The queyn hir self fast by the altar standis,


Haldand the meldyr in hir devote handis;


Hir ta fute bayr, and the bandis of threyd15


Nocht festynnyt, bot hung by hyr lowys weyd:


And, remembring scho was in poynt to de,


The goddis all onto wytnes drew sche,


The starnys and planetis, gydaris of fatis,


And gif thar ony deite be, that watis20


Or persavys luffaris inequale of behest,


To haue in memor hir just caus and request.






 CAP. X.




Quhat sorow dreys queyn Dydo all the nycht,


And how Mercur bad Ene tak the flycht.






The nycht followys, and euery wery wight


Throu owt the erth hath caucht, onon rycht,
[Pg 223]

The sownd plesand sleip thame lykit best;


Woddis and rageand seys war at rest:


As the starnys thar myd cours rollys doun,


All feildis still, but othir noys or sown,


All beistis and byrdis of diuers cullouris seir,5


And quhatsumeuer in the braid lochis weir,


Or, amang buskis harsk, leyndis vndir the spray,


Throu nychtis sylence slepit quhar thai lay;


Mesyng thar bissy thocht and curis smart,


All irksum laubour forȝet and owt of hart.10


Bot the onrestles fey spreit dyd not so


Of this onhappy Phenyssane Dydo;


For neuer mair may scho sleip a wynk,


Nor nychtis rest in eyn or breist lat synk:


The hevy thochtis multipleis euer on ane:15


Strang luf begynnys to rage and rys agane


And fellon stormys of ire gan hir to schaik


Thus fynaly scho owt bradis, allaik!


Rollyng alane seir thyngis in hir thocht:


Ha! quhat do I? quod scho, all is for nocht.20


Sall I thus mokkit, and to hething dryve,


My fyrst luffaris agane assay belyve?


Or sal I lawly sum lord Numydane


Pray and beseik of mariage now agane,


Quhom I sa oft lychtlyit to spows or this?25


Na, wyll I not: quhat? sal I than, I wys,


Follow the Troiane navy in strange landis.


And reddely obey al thar commandis?


I hope it sal profyte, na litill thyng,


My gret help done thame and suppowellyng;30
[Pg 224]

For amang kynd folkis this is na dreid,


Weil is remembrit the ald thankful deid.


Bot thocht, in cace, to do this war my will,


Quha wald me suffir my purpos to fulfyll,


Or in thar prowd schippis me ressaue?5


Thus drevyn to hethyng, and al thi grace bywave,


Tynt woman, allace! baris thou not ȝyt in mynd


The maynsweryng of fals Laomedonis kynd?


And maratour, quhat ettill I for to do?


A Queyn alane to steil away thus, lo!10


Accumpanyit bot with mery maryneris?


Or than with all my Tyrianys, as efferis,


And all my power assemblit me about,


On schipburd entyr with al that huge rowt


Quhilk furth of Sydon scarsly draw I mycht,15


Sal I thame cach agane our seys lycht?


Byd thame mak saill onon, and a new rays?


Na, rather de, as thou deservyt has,


And with a swerd mak of this duyl ane end.


O systir germane, thou me fyrst taucht and kend,20


Allace the quhile! and offerit me to my fo;


Thou with thir harmys ourchargit me alsso,


Quhen I fell fyrst into this rage, quod sche,


Bot so to do my teris constrenyt the.


Was it not lefull, allace! but cumpany,25


To me but cryme in chawmyr alane to ly,


Or led my lyfe lyke to thir beistis wild,


And not beyn thus with thocht nor harmys fild?


Allace! onkepit is the trew cunnand


Hecht to Sycheus assys, my first husband.30
[Pg 225]

Syk gret complayntis from hir breist bryst kan.


Bot Eneas, sovir to depart or than,


And al hys neidful thyngis grathit, by and by,


Heich in hys eft schyp sownd slepand kan ly;


Quhamto in visioun the sam god dyd appeir,5


In syklyke figur as that he dyd eyr,


Onto Mercuryus lyke, in al fasson,


Baith cullour of vissage, and of vocis sown,


In form of a ȝongker with membris fair,


Plesand of cheir, and ȝallow glytterand hair.10


Hym thocht agane he monyst on this wys:


Son of the goddes, quhou is this heir thou lyis?


Quhat? may thou vndir sa gret danger sleip,


And, al forvayit, takis nothir cuyr nor keyp


For to behald quhat perrellys about the standis,15


Nor harknys the fair wynd blawys of landis?


Scho quham thou knawys, within hir breist ful hait


Sorowfull vengeans compasis and dissait,


And certanly determyt for to de,


In diuers stowris of ire brandysys sche:20


Quhy wilt thou not fle spedely be nycht,


Quhen forto haist thou hes laser and mycht?


Thou salt, onon, behald the seys large


All ombeset with toppyt schyp and barge,


The feirful brandis and blesys of hait fyre,25


Reddy to byrn thi schippys, lemand schyre,


And al the cost belyve of flambys scald,


Gyf, quhil to morow, tary in this land thow wald.


Haue done, speid hand, and mak na mair delay,


Variabill and changeand thyngis beyn wemen ay.30
[Pg 226]

And sayand this, into the dyrk nyght


He gan hym hyde, and vanyst out of sycht.


Eneas, of this hasty visioun affrayit,


Gan start on fut, and fast his feris assayit:


A walk onon, get vp my men in hy,5


Tyte to ȝour wardis, span aris bissely,


Schaik down the salys sone, and lat ws wend.


From the hie hevyn the god agane is send,


Lo! spurrand ws to haist and fle away,


And byddis smyte the twyne cabyll in tway.10


O blissyt wyght! quhat god at evir thou be,


We sal obey thi charge, and follow the,


And thy command fulfyll agane blithly;


Besekyng the assist to ws frendly


Help and support, with prospir influens15


The hevyn and starris dres our vayage hens.


And, with that word, hys scherand sword als tyte,


Hynt owt of scheith, the cabil in twa gan smyte.


The sam maner of haist caucht al the lave:


Thai hurl away, ankyrris vphynt and rave;20


Left the costis desert on athir sydis;


The stabil sey vndir the schippis slydis;


The stour of fame vpwelt thai egyrly,


And swepis our the haw fludis in hy.




[Pg 227]




 CAP. XI.




Quhou queyn Dydo beheld Ene depart,


And quhat scho said with harmys at hir hart.






Be this Aurora, leifand the purpour bed


Of hir lord Titan, heth the erd ourspred


With new days licht: and quhen the queyn


The first grekyng of the day hes seyn,


And fra hir hie wyndoys gan espy,5


With bent sail furth caryand, the navy;


The costis and the schor al desolate


Behaldis eik, but owthir schip or bate;


Hir fayr quhite breist, thar as scho dyd stand,


Feil tymys smate scho with hir awyn hand,10


And, ryvand hir bricht haris petuusly,


Jupiter, quod scho, sal he depart, ha, fy!


And leful tyll a vavengeour stranger


Me and my realm betrump on this maner?


Sal not my menȝe to harnes ryn in hy15


Our al the town, and follow bissely?


Speid, tak ȝon schippis, on burd fast to the raid,


Haist sone, and kast on thame fyre blesis braid,


Schute dartis thik, and qwel thame with ȝour glavys.


Quhat said I? or quhar am I? now thou ravys;20


Quhat wodnes, fey Dydo, movis thi mynd?


Now art thou hyt with frawart werdis onkynd?


Sa til haue done than had bene mair ganand


Quhen thou hym gave the ceptour of thi land.
[Pg 228]

Ha! now behald hys gret prowes, quod sche,


Hys reuthful piete, and faith! is not ȝon he,


Quham, as thai say, the goddis of hys land


In hys navy careis our sey and sand?


Is not ȝon he, quhom on his schulderis, thai say,5


For reuth his agit fader bair away?


Mycht I not caucht and rent in pecis his cors,


Syne swak the gobbettis in the sey by fors


Of hym and all hys fallowys? weill I mocht:


And eik ȝone sam Ascanyus mycht I nocht10


Haue trynschit with a sword, and maid a meys


To his fader tharof to eyt at deys?


Forsuyth, in cace the aventur of bataill


Had beyn doutsum; wald God it war assaill!


Quham sall I dreid, now reddy for to de?15


Wald God I mycht, in ȝon navy I se,


The hait fyre brandis set, and euery boyr


Fyll all with flambys red, and forthirmor


Baith fader and son, with hail generacioun,


That I had brynt, distroyit, and bryttynyt doun,20


And thame abuf syne ded my self had laid!


O thou brycht son, that, with thi bemys glayd,


All erdly laubour clengis, circuland about;


And thou Juno, mediatrix, but dout,


Of al thir hevy thochtis, and weill thame knawis;25


And thou Proserpyne, quhilk, by our gentile lawys,


Art rowpit hie, and ȝellyt lowd by nyght,


In forkyt ways, with mony mudy wight;


And ȝe infernale fureys, that wrekis al wrang;


And ȝe goddis eik, quham now amang30
[Pg 229]

Dido standis reddy to cum in poynt to de;


Ressaue thir wordis quhilkis I sal say, quod sche,


Withdraw fra hyne ȝour gret mychtis, quharby


Schrewis awcht be punyst for thar cryme, and not I;


And thir our prayeris accept, we ȝou beseik.5


Gyf it be necessar, and determyt eik,


Ȝon wikkit hed in portis of Itale


To entir and cum, or to thai boundis saill;


And gyf the fatis and Jove wil it be so,


And hes decreit he fynaly thyddir go;10


Ȝit, at the lest, thar mot he be assail,


With hardy pepill ay trublyt in bataill;


By fors of armys expellyt hys boundis eik,


Far from Ascanyus help, constrenyt beseik


Ayd and supple; and als that he behald15


Feil cayrfull corsys of hys folk ded and cald:


And quhen alsso hym self submyt hes he


Vndir payce and lawis of iniquite,


That he bruke nowthir realm, nor gude lyfe led,


Bot fal fey or his day, and sone be ded,20


And ly onerdyt in myddis of the sandis.


Thys I beseik ȝou, hevand vp my handis:


This is my lattir word at I conclude,


Furthȝettand it togidder with my blude.


And forthirmor, O ȝe, my Tyrianys,25


Quhilk now in Affrik at Cartage remanys,


Ȝone clan, with thar successioun and kynrayd,


Persew with haitrent perpetual, and invaid:


Onto my assys grant this a gift, quod sche.


Nevir luf nor payce betwix thir pepill be:30
[Pg 230]

Of our levingis sum revengar mot spryng,


With fyre and sword to persew and doun thryng


The lauboreris discend from Dardanus.


Now fra thyne furth, all that succedis til ws,


Quhen euer thai may fynd tyme, with strenth and mycht5


Batail to batail mot thai debait in fyght:


Thir costis mot be to tharis contrar ay,


And to thar stremys our seys frawart, I pray,


Thar ofspring eik amang thame self mot debate.


Thus said scho, and with that word, God wate,10


Hir faynt spreit in al partis writhis sche,


Sekand the way, alssone as it mycht be,


Forto bereif hir self the irksum lyve.


Tho callys scho to hyr Barcen belyve,


Nurys vmquhile to Sychey hir husband;15


For hir awyn nurys in hir native land


Was beryit in to assis broun or than.


Deir nurys, quod scho, fech my sister An;


Byd hir in haist with watir of a flude


Hir body strynkil; the bestis, and the blude,20


And clengyng graith scho knawis, with hir bring:


Se on this wys scho cum, forȝet na thyng;


And thou thy self thine halffettis als array


With haly garland. My will is to assay,


And now perform the sacryfyce in hy,25


That onto Pluto dewly begun haue I;


To mak end of my dolorus thochtis all,


And byrn ȝon Troiane statw in flamb funeral.


Thus said Dido; and the tother, with that,


Hychit on furth with slaw pays lyke a trat.30




[Pg 231]




 CAP. XII.




Heir followis of the famus queyn Dydo


The fatale dynt of deth and mortale wo.






Bot now the hasty, egyr, and wild Dydo,


Into hyr cruell purpos enragyt so,


The bludy eyn rollyng in hir hed,


Wan and ful paill for feir of the neir ded,


With chekis freklyt, and al of tythirris bysprent,5


Quakyng throu dreid, ruschit furth, or scho wald stent,


Onto the innar wardis of hyr place,


As wod woman clam on the byng, allace!


And furth scho drew the Troiane swerd, fute hait,


A wapyn was neuer wrocht for syk a nate.10


And sone as sche beheld Eneas clething,


And eik the bed bekend, a quhile wepyng,


Stude musyng in hir mynd; and syne, but baid,


Fel in the bed, and thir last wordis faid:


O sweit habyte, and lykand bed, quod sche,15


So lang as God lyst suffir and destane,


Ressaue my blude, and this sawle that on flocht is,


And me delyvir from thir hevy thochtis.


Thus lang I levyt haue, and now is spent


The term of lyfe that forton heth me lent;20


For now my gret gost vndir erth mon go.


A richt fair cite haue I beild alsso:


Myne awyn wark and wallys behald haue I:


My spows wrokyn of my brothir ennemy,
[Pg 232]

Fra hym byreft hys tressour, and quyt hym weill.


Happy, allace! our happy, and ful of seyll,


Had I beyn, only gyf that neuer nane


At our cost had arryvit schip Troiane.


And sayand this, hir mouth fast thristis sche5


Doun in the bed: Onwrokyn sal we de?


De ws behufis, scho said, and quhou; behald!


And gan the scharp sword to hir breist vphald;


Ȝa, thus, thus lykis ws starve and to depart:


And, with that word, rave hir self to the hart.10


Now lat ȝon cruel Troiane swelly and se


This our fyre funerale from the deip see,


And of our deth turs with hym fra Cartage


Thys takyn of myscheif in hys vayage.


Quod scho: and, tharwith, gan hir seruandis behald15


Hir fallyn and stekit on the irne cald;


The blude outbullyrand on the nakyt swerd;


Hir handis furthsprent. The clamour than and rerd


Went to the toppys of the large hallys;


The noys ran wild out our the cite wallis,20


Smate all the town with lamentabill murnyng.


Of greting, gowlyng, and wyfly womentyng,


The ruffis dyd resound, bray, and rayr,


Quhil huge bewalyng al fordynnyt the air:


Nane other wys than thocht takyn and doun bet25


War al Cartage, and with ennemys ourset,


Or than thar natyve cite, the town of Tyre;


And furyus flambe, kendillit and byrnand schyre,


Spredyng fra thak to thak, baith but and ben,


Als weil our templis as howsis of othir men.30
[Pg 233]

Hir systir An, spreitles almaist for dreid,


Heirand sa feirful confluens thyddir speid,


With nalys ryvand reuthfully hir face,


And smytand with hir nevis hir breist, allace!


Fast ruschis throu the myddis of the rowt,5


And on the throwand, with mony sprauch and schout,


Callys by name: Systir germane, quod scho,


Och! was this it thou fenȝeit the to do?


Hes thou attempyt me with syk dissait?


This byng of treys, thir altaris, and fyris hait,10


Is this the thyng thai haue onto me dycht?


Quhat sall I first compleyn, now dissolate wight?


O deir systir, quhen thou was reddy to de,


Ha! quhy hes thou sa far dyspysyt me


As to reffus thi systir with the to wend?15


Thou suld haue callyt me to the sammyn end;


That the ilk sorow, the sammyn swerd, both tway,


And the self hour, mycht haue tane hyne away.


Thys funeral fyre with thir handis biggyt I,


And with my voce dyd on our goddis heir cry,20


To that effect as, cruel, tobe absent,


Thou beand thus sa duylfully heir schent!


Sistir, allace! with my counsell haue I


The, and my self, and pepill of Sydony,


The heris all, and eik thi fayr cite,25


Distroyt and ondoyn for ay, quod sche.


Fech hiddir sone the well watir lew warm,


To wesch hir woundis, and hald hir in myne arm;


Syne with my mowth at I may sowk, and se


Gyf spreit of lyve left in hir body be.30
[Pg 234]

This sayand, the hie byng ascendis onane,


And gan enbrays half ded hir systir germane,


Culȝeand in hir bosum, and murnand ay,


And with hir wympil wipyt the blude away.


And scho agane, Dydo, the dedly queyn,5


Pressyt fortil vplift hir hevy eyn,


Bot tharof falys; for the grysly wound


Deip in hir breist gapis wyde and onsound.


Thrys scho hir self raxit vp to rys;


Thrys on hir elbok lenys; and als feill sys10


Scho fallys bakwart in the bed agane:


With eyn rollyng, and twynkland vp ful fane,


Assays scho to spy the hevynys lyght;


Syne murmouris, quhen scho tharof gat a sycht.


Almychty Juno havand reuth, by this,15


Of hir lang sorow and tarysum ded, I wys,


Hir mayd Irys from the hevyn hes send,


The throwand sawle to lowys, and mak ane end


Of al the juncturis and lethis of hir cors:


Becaus that, nothir of fatis throu the fors,20


Nor ȝit by natural ded, peryschit sche,


Bot fey, in hasty furour emflambyt hie,


Befor hir day had hir self spilt;


Or that Proserpyne the ȝallow haris gilt


From hir fortop byreft, or dubbyt hir hed25


Onto the Steygian hellis flude of ded.


Tharfor dewy Iris throu the hevyn


With hir safron weyngis flaw ful evin,


Drawand, quhar scho went, forgane the son cleir,


A thousand cullouris of diuers hewys seir;30
[Pg 235]

And abufe Dydoys hed arest kan:


I am commandyt, said scho, and I man


Omdo this hayr, to Pluto consecrate,


And lowis thi sawle out of this mortale stait.


Thys sayand, with rycht hand hes scho hynt5


The hair, and cuttis in twa, or that scho stynt;


And thar withall the naturale heyt outquent,


And, with a puft of aynd, the lyfe furthwent.




[Pg 236]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE FYFT BUKE.






Gladys the grond the tendir florist greyn,


Byrdys the bewys and thir schawys scheyn,


The wery huntar to fynd hys happy pray,


The falconeyr rych ryver onto fleyn;


The clerk reiosys hys bukis our to seyn,5


The luffar to behald hys lady gay;


Ȝong folk thame schurtis with gam, solace, and play:


Quhat maist delytyth or lykis euery wight,


Tharto steris thar curage day and nycht.




Knychtis delytis to assay sterand stedys,10


Wantoun gallandis to trayl in sumptuus wedis;


Ladeys desyris to behald and be seyn;


Quha wald be thrifty courtyouris says few credis:


Sum plesance takis in romans that he redis,


And sum hes lust to that wes nevir seyn:15


Quhou mony hedis als feil consatis beyn;


Twa appetitis oneth accordis with othir;


This lykis the, perchance, and not thi brothir.




Plesance and joy richt hailsum and perfyte is;


So that the wys tharof in proverb wrytis,20


A blith spreit makis greyn and floryst age.
[Pg 237]

Myne author eyk in Bucolykis endytis,


The ȝong enfant fyrst with lauchtir delytis


To knaw hys moder, quhen he is litil page:


Quha lauchis not, quod he, in thar barnage,


Genyus, the God, delytyth not thar tabill,5


Nor Juno thame to kepe in bed is habill.




The hie wysdome and maist profound engyne


Of myne author Virgile, poete dyvyne,


To comprehend, makis me almaist forvay,


So crafty wrocht hys wark is, lyne by lyne.10


Tharon aucht na man irk, compleyn, nor quhryne:


For quhy? he altyrris hys style sa mony way;


Now dreid, now stryfe, now lufe, now wo, now play,


Langeir in murnyng, now in melody,


To satyfy ilk wightis fantasy;15




Lyke as he had of euery thyng a feill,


And the willys of euery wight dyd feill;


And tharto eyk so wysly writis he


Twiching the proffyte of the common weill,


Hys sawys beyn full of sentencis, euery deill,20


Or morale doctryne, that men suld vycis fle:


Bot gyf he be nocht joyus now lat se;


For quha so lyst seyr glaidsum gemmys leyr,


Ful mony myrry abaytmentis followis heir.




Now harkis sportis, myrthis, and myrry plays,25


Full gudly pastans on mony syndry ways,


Endyte by Virgil, and heir by me translate,
[Pg 238]

Quhilk William Caxton knew never al hys days:


For, as I sayd befor, that man forvays;


Hys febil proys beyn mank and mutulate;


Bot my propyne come from the pres fute hait,


Onforlatit, not jawyn fra tun to tun,5


In fresch sapour new from the berry run.




Bachus of glaidnes, and funeral Proserpyne,


And Goddes of triumphe, clepyt Victorie,


Sal I ȝou call as ȝour name war dyvyne?


Na, na, it suffysyth of ȝou ful smal memorie:10


I byd nothir of ȝour turmentis nor ȝour glorie;


Bot he quhilk may ws glaid perpetualy,


To bryng ws tyll hys blys on hym I cry.




Sen erdly plesour endis oft with sorow, we se,


As in this buke nane exemplys ȝe want,15


Lord, our protectour to all trastis in the,


But quham na thing is worthy nor pyssant,


To ws thy grace and als gret mercy grant,


So forto wend by temporal blythnes


That our eternale joy be nocht the les!20




[Pg 239]




 THE FYFT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Ene fra Cartage salys, and quhon belyve


He with the tempest was in Sycill dryve.






In the meyn quhile tho gan Eneas hald


Sovirly hys cours throu the gray fludis cald,


Hys navy with north wynd scherand the seys:


Towart Cartage he gan behald, and seys


Be than the wallys lemand brycht and schyre5


Of the onhappy Dydoys funeral fyre.


Quha had this gret fyre maid, and to quhat end,


Thai marvellyt, for the causys war onkend:


Bot by the sorofull takynyng, not the les,


The Troianys in thar breistis tuke a ges10


Quharfor it was; for weil wyst Eneas


In violait lufe quhat strenth of dolour was,


And knew alsso quhat thyngis mycht be controvyt


By women in fury rage that strangly luffyt.


Bot fra the schippys held the deyp see,15


That now na mair sycht of the land thai se,
[Pg 240]

Salve hevyn abufe, and fludis all about,


A watry clowd, blak and dyrk, but dout,


Gan our thar hedis tho appeir ful rycht,


And down a tempest sent als dyrk as nycht;


The streym wolx vgsum of the dym sky.5


Palynurus, the maistir, gave a cry


From the eft castell heich, thar as he stude;


Quharfor, allace! samony clowdis onrude,


Quod he, bylappyt hes the hevynnys, lo?


Fader Neptune, quhat etlys thou to do?10


This beyng said, commandis he euery feir


Do red thar takillis, and stand hard by thar geir,


And wightly als thar arys vp to haile:


Hymself infangis the le schete of the saill,


And eftir said; maist curageus Ene,15


Althocht our helpar, gret Jove, wald hecht it me,


I traist not with this weddir to wyn Itale.


The wynd is contrar, brayand in our bak saill,


Hard in our berd vpblawand wondir fayr,


And al with bubbys ombesett is the ayr;20


Nor we may nocht stryve nor infors sa fast


Agane the storm, bot stowtar is the blast:


And sen that forton masteris ws, tharfor


Lat ws follow tharon, and ryn befor,


Quhiddyr that the wyndis callys ws set saill.25


Not far hens, as that I beleif, sans faill,


The frendful, brotherly, costis of Erycys,


And sovir portis of Sycil beyn, I wys,


Gif I remembir the methys of starnys weill.


Tho quod reuthful Eneas, so haue I seyll,30
[Pg 241]

I saw langsyne the wyndis ettyll that way,


And the, invayn, agane thame stryve perfay:


Tyte turn ȝour salys and set thyddyr ȝour went;


Thar is na land mair lykand to myne entent,


Nor quhar me lyst sa weil, and profitabill5


Our wery folkis to restyng and estabill,


Than in that cuntre quharin doith remane,


Ful deir to me, Acestes of blude Troiane,


And in his boundis, derrest outour the lave,


My faderis banys enbrasys, layd in grave.10


This beand sayd, towart the port thai stevyn,


The followand wynd blew strek thar saill furth evyn:


Fast our the wallys slydis the navy,


And in schort quhile arryvit ar blythly


At the strandis and costis weil bekend.15


Bot, on the hie top of a hyll ascend,


Acestes gan behald, and had gret wondir,


And to the cost, als fers as ony thundyr,


To meit hys frendis schippys dyd he speid,


A beyr skyn of Affryke aboue hys weyd,20


Ful grym of luke, with dartis keyn and rude:


Hys moder Troiane of Crinosus the flude


Consavyt hym and bayr, as it is said.


Not forȝettyng hys ald kyn, blyth and glaid


Of thar return was he, and myrrely25


Thame welcumand ressauyt by and by;


Gave thame of rural metis with glaid semlance,


And cherysyt thame with frendly purvyance.




[Pg 242]




 CAP. II.




Eneas in Sycill, but langar tary,


Maid for his fader the seruyce anniuersary.






The nixt morow, als sone as the brycht day,


The son vprysand, chasyt the starnys away,


Eneas gan fra euery cost about


Hys folkis all assembill in a rowt,


Syne spak thir wordis on a knollys hycht;5


O ȝe my Troiane pepill, stowt and wyght,


Discend from worthy Dardanus the kyng,


And of the hie goddis ryall ofspryng,


The son hes run hys hail cours circular,


Hys monethis twelf, and the tyme anniuersar,10


Sen that the reliqueis and bonys infeir


Of my dyvyne fader we erdyt heir,


And eyk the dolorus altaris consecrate.


Les than I be dissavyt, weil I wait


Thys is the day that euermor sall I15


Meyn and regrait, and al tyme reverently


In wirschip keip, and with gret honour hald


For so it plesith ȝou, goddis, and so ȝe wald.


Ȝa, thocht I war wilsum, and banyst this da,


Amang sey sandis of Getulya,20


Or ȝyt with storm ourset in the Greik see,


Or in the cite of Myce hapnyt tobe,


Netheles suld I seruyce anniuersar,


And exequeys, with solemnyt pomp and fair,
[Pg 243]

Dewly perform, and, with myne awyn handis,


Adorn the altaris with thar just offerandis.


Now, as I weyn, or we persavyt the chance,


Not but the myghtis of goddis and purvyance,


Onto the assis and the bonys deir5


Of my sayd fader bene we caryit heir,


Entrit in frendly portis and arryve:


Tharfor haue done, and lat ws all, belyve,


Perform this honour blithly, as efferis;


Ask prosper wyndis, and beseyk euery ȝeris10


That my fader wald eftir this ressaue


This sacrifyce, quhilk I begunnyn haue,


Within our cite that we mon beild, God wait,


In tha templys onto hym dedicate.


Acestes, cummyn of Troy, for hys wirschip,15


Twa oxin sal ȝou geif for euery schyp.


Our Penates and Troiane goddis, for thy,


Bryng furth hyddir onto the maniory:


Do fech me eyk tha goddis to this cost,


Quhilk wirschippit ar by Acestes, our host.20


And forthirmar, gyf that the nynt day


Rys fair and cleyr, with hys brycht morow gay,


And gan hys bemys our the erth spreid,


First sal I ordand for my Troianys, in deyd,


Quha hes the swyftast schippis of our navy,25


With al thar fors to stryfe for the mastry;


And eik, quha best on fute kan ryn, lat se,


To preif hys picht, or wersyll, and bair the gre,


Or dartis kast, and best schute arrowis lycht;


Or, lyke a douchty campioun into fyght,30
[Pg 244]

With bustuus baston darryn stryve, or mays:


Lat euery man addres hym to this place,


And mak hym reddy agane the sammyn day,


Fortil opteyn, and bayr the pryce away.


Annerd heirto, ilk man, rycht favorabilly,5


And hald ȝour payce, but owthir noys or cry,


And do ȝour hedis with fresch bewys array.


And sayand this, he gan hys templis twa


Covir with myrthus, that is his moderis tre.


The sam wys dyd gret Helymus, perde;10


Rycht so hym self kyng Acestes the ald,


Richt so the child Ascanyus so bald;


Quham followys al the laif in lyke maner.


The prynce Ene, from the counsale in feyr,


With mony thousandis walkand hym about,15


Went to the tumbe amyd the thykkest rout;


Quhar fyrst, eftir thar payane ryte and gys,


Twa flaconys ful of wyne, in sacryfys,


Apon the erd he ȝet, and other twane


Full of new mylkyt mylk, and syne agane20


Twa full of hayt blude was of the offerandis,


And purpour flowris strowis with hys handis;


Syne said: Hail, haly fader! hail agane


Ȝ assys cald, ressauyt al invane,


Vmquhile contenyt my faderis sawle and gost.25


Allace! was it not leful, thou onlost,


The boundis of Itale, with the, and fatale landis,


Forto haue socht, and eik onto the strandis


Of Tybir in Ausonya, quhar evir it be,


Arryvit sound, in fallowschip with the?30
[Pg 245]

Scars said he thus, quhen, of the holl graf law,


A gret eddir slydand gan furth thraw,


In sevyn lowpis lynkyt, and tymys sevyn


Circulyt the tumbe about sweitly and evyn,


And glydand syne amang the altaris onon:5


Of freklit sprutlis al hir bak schone,


As goldyn mailȝeis hir skalys glytrand brycht;


Lyke to the rayn bow amang clowdis lycht,


Drawand always, forgane the son cleir,


A thousand cullouris of diuers hewis seir.10


Eneas of the syght abasyt sum deill:


Bot scho at last, with lang fard, fair and weill,


Crepis amang the veschell and cowpis all;


The drynk, and cyk the offerandis gret and small,


Snokis and lykkyt; syne full the altaris left,15


And, but mair harm, in the graf enterit eft.


Quharfor Ene begouth agane renew


Hys faderys hie sawle queith; for he not knew


Quhiddir this was Genyus, the god of that sted,


Or than the seruand of hys fader ded:20


Fyve twyntyrris brytnyt he, as was the gys,


And alsmony swyne, and tydy quyis


With hydys blak; and into cowpys syne


In gret plente ȝet furth the hallowyt wyne,


Rowpand the sawle of gret Anchyses gone,25


And hys gost fred from the flude Acheron.


Hys feris eik, euery man in thar degre,


Of syk thyng as thai mycht get plente,


Blithly thar offerandis addressis to inbring;


Chargis the altaris, and brytnys styrkis ȝyng.30
[Pg 246]

Sum othir per ordour caldronys gan vpset,


And, skatryt endlang the greyn, the colis het


Vndir the spetis swakkis, to royst in threyt


The raw spaldis ordanyt for the mulde meyt.






 CAP. III.




Of the gemmys proclamyng, and the play,


Quhais fyrst dereyn four schippis dyd assay.






Cummyn be thys was the desyryt day:5


The nynte morow vpspryngis fresch and gay,


And Pheyton gan hys faderis chayr furth dryve.


The fame of this triumphe gan spreid belyve,


That, for wirschip of Acestes, thar kyng,


All folkis enveron dyd to the costis thryng,10


Glaidly occupyand al the strandis about;


Sum, to behald Eneas cowrt and rowt,


And sum, alsso, to stryfe for the mastry.


At the begynnyng, the wageouris by and by,


And the rewardis, in myddis of the feild15


Befor thar eyn war set, at all beheld:


The gilt trestis, and the greyn tre,


The lawrer crownys, for the pryce and gre,


With palmys scheyn in takyn of victory,


Fair armouris of triumphe and myche glory,20


The robbys fyne of purpour, richly dycht,


Seir talentis eik of gold and siluer brycht.
[Pg 247]

Tharwith, the trumpet blew, as beyn the gys,


Apon ane hyght, declaris and notyfyis


The gemmys tobe excersyt for that day.


With arys squair, the bargan gan assay


Four galeys fyrst, chosyn of al the flote.5


The swyft Pystris witht spedy routht, fute hoyt,


Furth steris the stern Mynestheus onan,


Quhilk eftir bycam a lord Italian;


Of quhays ofspring and genealogy


The pepill ar discend, clepyt Memny.10


The bustuus barge, yclepit Chimera,


Gyas, with fellon fard, furthbrocht alssua,


Sa huge of byrth a cite semyt sche;


Quham, a gret nowmyr of ȝong Troiane menȝe


In thrynfald ordour, causis furth toglyde;15


The arys rays thre rawis on athir syde.


The thryd schip, yclepit Centaurus,


Furth haldis, with hir patron Sergestus,


Quham fra the famyle come hait Sergia.


The sovir sey schip tho, namyt Scylla,20


Cloanthus gydis; efter quham, ȝyt syne,


In Roym the pepill beyn callyt Cluenthyne.


Weil far from thens standis a rock in the see,


Forgane the fomy schor and costis hie,


Quhilk, sumtyme, with the boldynnand wallis quhite,25


Is by the jawpe of fludis coveryt quyte,


Quhen the southt est wynd, in the wynter tyde,


Gan with his stormy clowdis the starnys hyde;


And, in the calm or lowyn weddir, is seyn


Abufe the fludis hie, a fair plane greyn,30
[Pg 248]

A standing place, quhar skarthis with thar bekis,


Forgane the son, glaidly thame pronȝe and bekis.


In this place stykkyt heth the prince Ene


A mark or wyttir of a greyn aik tre,


In term and takyn onto the maryneris,5


Quhar, forto turn agane, as thame efferis,


And set about thar lang cours, thai mycht knaw.


By kuttis than, per ordour, al on raw,


Thar place thai cheysyt at the costis bay.


The patronys in eft castellis, fresch and gay,10


Stude, al in gold and purpour schynand brycht:


The remanent of the rowaris, euery wight,


In poppil tre branchis dyght at poynt,


With spaldis nakyt, schayn of oyl enoynt;


Apon thar seyttis and thoftis all atanys15


Thar placis hynt, arrayit for the nanys,


With armys reddy outour thar aris fald,


Abydis lysnand the takyn to behald,


Thar hartis onflocht, smytyn with schame sumdeill;


Bot glaid and joly, in hope forto do weill,20


Rasys in thar breistis desyre of hie renoun.


Syne, but delay, at the first trumpys sown,


From thar marchis atanys furth thai sprent.


Vpsprang the clamour, and the rerd furth went,


Heich in the skyis, of mony maryner:25


The fomy stowr of sey rays thar and heir,


Throu fers bak drauchtis of feil gardeys squair.


Thai sewch the fludis that, swouchand quhar thai fair,


In sondyr slydis; ourweltyt eyk with arys,


From thar forstammys the bullyr brays and raris.30
[Pg 249]

Nevir sa fersly, in feild nor in barrer,


The dowbill ȝokkyt cartis in feir, of wer


Or for triumphe, furth of thar stabillys gan rusch;


Nor nevir sa thyk, with mony lasch and dusch,


The cartaris smate thar horssis fast in teyn,5


With renȝeys slakkyt, and swete drepand bedeyn:


For, throu the gild and rerd of men so ȝeld,


And egyrnes of thar frendis thame beheld,


Schowtand, row fast! all the woddis resoundis;


Endlang the costis the vocis and the sowndis10


Rollys inclusyt, quhill the mekyll hyllys


Bemys agane, hyt with the brute so schil is.


Amyd the pres, thus as the rerd vpwent,


Befor the laif Gyas schyp furth sprent,


Ourslydand wallys croppys byssely;15


Quhom Cloanthus followys nixt in hy,


Mayr sle in rowth, thocht sum deil slaw was sche,


For that hir holl was of sa hevy tre.


And eftir thame, elyke, furth in evyn space,


Pistris and Centawr straif for the fyrst place:20


And now hes Pistrys the fordell, and syne, in hy,


The byg Centawr hyr warris, and slyppis by:


Now glyde tha bath togidder furth in front,


Sewchquhand salt fame with thar lang kelis blont.




[Pg 250]




 CAP. IV.




Ȝyt quhou the schippys stryvys on the see,


Of thar nyce rays, and quha that won the gre.






Wyth this thai gan towart the meyth approche,


And war almaist cummyn onto the roch,


Quhen that the patron Gyas, amyd the flude,


Wenyng hym self victour, thar as he stude,


Callys on hys steris man, hayt Meneyt by name;5


Quhidder goys thou so on steirburd? fy forschame!


Frawart me thou haldis; set thi cours innarmor;


Seik hard on burd endlang fast by the schor,


And suffir that the palmys of our arys


Hyrsyl on the crag almaist, ilk rowth, and waris:10


Lat the othirris hald furth the deip sey large.


Quod Gyas: Bot Menetes, for hys barge


Of the hyd rolkis blynd sum deill afferyt,


Towart the deip fludis hyr stevin ay steryt.


Quhar, dysmall, wilt thou now? gan Gyas cry;15


Hald to the crag agane, Meneyt, fast by.


And tharwith, lo! Cloanthus he dyd behald


Hard at hys taill, that gan the nar way hald:


For, rycht betwix the rolk and Gyas schyp,


On bawbord fast the innar way he leyt slyp,20


And wan befor the formast schip in hy:


Now is he passyt the wittir, and rollys by


The roch, and haldis sovirly throu the see.


Bot than, God wait, quhat payn in hart gan dre
[Pg 251]

The ȝong Gyas! hym thocht al brynt hys banys;


The watir bryst from baith hys eyn atanys;


Forȝet was wirschip and hys honeste thar,


Forȝet was of hys falloschip the weilfair,


The ancyant treuth of Meneyt forȝettis he,5


And swakkyt hym our schipburd in the see:


Hym self, as skyppar, hynt the steir in hand,


Hym self, as mastir, gan maryneris command,


And threw the ruddyr to the costis syde.


Be than the auld Meneyt our schipburd slyde,10


Hevy, and al his weid sowpyt with seys,


Skars from the watir grond vpboltyt he is,


Syne swymmand held onto the craggis hycht,


Sat on the dry rolk, and hym self gan dyght:


The Troianys lauchys fast seand hym fall,15


And, hym behaldand swym, thai keklyt all;


Bot mast, thai makyn gem and gret ryot,


To se hym spowt salt watir of hys throte.


Heir first gude hope arays to the twa last,


That is to knaw, Mynestheus and Sergest,20


Gyas schyp thar by to ourcum wenyng,


That tarays sum deill for lak of gude steryng.


Tho Sergest gan the fyrst place occupy,


With schip approchand towart the roche in hy;


And, netheles, hail befor wan scho nocht,25


Bot thrang hir forschip formast, as scho mocht,


So that Pistrys, hyr weryour, all the way,


Hyr forstam by hir mydschip haldis ay.


Than, rowmyng to and fra hys schyp our all,


Mynestheus gan hys feris exhort and call:30
[Pg 252]

Now, now, ȝe vailliant feris of worthy Hector,


Hail stoutly vp ȝour arys; thynk on ȝour glor;


Thynk quhou, the lattir rewyne of Troy, ȝou I


Haue walyt, and brocht with me in cumpany:


Now schaw that strenth, now schaw that hie curage,5


Quhilk on the schaldis of Affryk, in stormys rage,


Ȝhe dyd excers, and the ilk fors, I wys,


Ȝhe schew betwix Scylla and Carybdys,


Quhar that Ioneum clepyt is the see,


And als forgane the styth stremys of Malee.10


As to the fyrst place, now byd I nocht craif it,


Althocht I be Mynestheus, wont til haue it;


Nor I byd not to stryve and wyn the gre,


Howbeyt, wald God, that war a gloir to se!


Do lat thame bruke the mastry and the pryce,15


Quhamto Neptune lyst grant at hys devyce;


Bot gret lak war to return althar last:


Deir frendis, defend ȝou fra that kankyrryt kast,


And do ourset sa schaymful hard myschance.


With al thar fors than at the vtyrance,20


Thai pynglyt arys vp to bend and haill,


With sa strang rowthis apon athir wail,


The mychty karvell schuddryt at euery straik,


Down swakand fludis vndir hyr brayd bilge of aik:


So clappys the braith in breistis with mony pant,25


Quhil in thar dry throtis the aynd worth skant,


And swait down triglys in stremys our alquhar.


Betyd a chance that ilk tyme fell thame fair,


And grantyt thame that honour tha desyryt:


For as Sergest, with fers mynde half enfyryt,30
[Pg 253]

Turnyt hys stevyn towart the rolk our neir,


Ontil a wykkyt place hys schip dyd steir,


Quhil on the blynd craggis, myschewsly,


Fast stykkis scho, choppand hard quhynnys in hy,


And on the scharp skelleis, to hir wanhap,5


Smait with syk fard, the arys in flendris lap;


Hir forschip hang, and sum deil scoryt throu owt.


The marynaris start on fut with a schout,


Cryand, byde, how! and with lang bolmys of tre


Pykyt with irne, and scharp roddis, he and he10


Inforcis of to schowyn the schyp to save,


And brokkyn aris gadderyt on the streym thai haue.


Now quha was blith bot Mynestheus, ful ȝor,


Quhilk, for this chance, mair egyrly than befor,


With swyft fard of arys, and wynd at wyll,15


The reddy way held our the fludis chyll,


And frakkis fast outthrow the oppyn see.


Als swyftly as the dow affrayit doith fle


Furth of hir hoyll, and richt darn wynnyng wayn,


Quhar hir sweit nest is holkyt in the stayn,20


So fersly in the feildis furth scho spryngis,


Quhil of hir fard the howsys ryggyng ryngis;


And sone eftir, scherand the lownyt ayr,


Down from the hycht discendis soft and fair,


Not byssy weyngyt, bot planand esyly:25


So slaid Mynestheus throu the sey in hy,


So followys Pistrys, was langeyr allthar last,


With fellon fard furth swepand alsso fast.


And fyrst Sergest behynd sone left hes he,


Wreland on skelleys and ondepys of the see,30
[Pg 254]

With brokkyn aris lerand to haist agane,


And cryand, help! bot that was al invane.


Syne Gyas schyp, the fellon Chimera,


Persewys he fast, quhilk gave hym place alsswa,


For scho was spulȝeyt of hir sterisman.5


Thar restis na ma bot Cloanthus than;


Quham fynaly to persew he addrest,


And pynglys hir onto the vtyrmest.


The noys and brute tho dowblys lowd on hycht;


For, on the costis syde, fast euery wight10


Spurris the persewaris to roll bissely:


Set on hym now; haue at hym thar, thai cry;


That huge clamour fordynnyt al the ayr.


The formast thocht thar awyn wirschip so fair,


And had disdeyn bot thai thar honour save,15


To bruke it quhilk so hard wonnyn thai have,


Or thai thar lawd suld loys or vassyllage,


Thai had far levir lay thar lyfe in wage.


The favorabill forton, and thar happy chance,


So gan the breistis of the otheris avance,20


Thame thocht thai mocht thame wyn witht laubour lycht,


Becaus it semyt to thame at so thai mycht.


And peraventur, with equale stevynnys atanys,


The pryce thai suld haue baith caucht for the nanys,


War not Cloanthus in the fludis cauld25


With devote prayeris baith his handis gan hald,


And on the goddis callys, and maid hys vow:


O ȝhe goddis, quhays fludis I ryn throw,


Vndir ȝour empyre rewlyng the large see,


I sal glaidly on this cost syde, quod he,30
[Pg 255]

A quhite bull offir in ȝour sacryfyce,


So I my vow may bruke, and wyn the pryce;


The entralis eyk, far in the fludis brak,


In ȝour reuerens, sal I slyng and swak,


And ȝet tharin the sweit liquor of wyne.5


And, be hys wordis warryn brocht to fyne,


Law fra the boddom of the seys deip


Hys prayeris war except: tharto tuke keip


The nymphis all, clepyt Nereydes,


And thai that followis Phorcus, all the pres;10


The maid alsso quhilk Panopea hait:


The fader of havynys, Portunus, al the gait


With his byg hand schot the schip furth hir went,


That swyftar than the southt wynd on scho sprent,


Or as a fleand arrow to land glaid,15


And in the deip port enterit, but abaid.






 CAP. V.




Quhou Eneas onto the maryneris


Gaif euery man thar reward, as effeiris.






Anchises son Eneas, than, ful wys,


Callys thame forrowth hym al, as wes the gys,


And, with ane harraldis lowd voce, gan declare


Cloanthus victor was, and on hys hair20


Gart set a crown, was of the lawrer greyn;


And bad onto thar schippis bair bedeyn
[Pg 256]

Thre ȝong oxin onto euery barge,


Presandis of wyne, and of siluer a charge.


Bot principaly to the capitanys he gave


Honorabill rewardis, as thame efferit to haue:


To the victour, a mantil brusyt with gold,5


With purpour selvage writhyn mony fold,


And al byrunnyn and lowpyt lustely,


As rynnys the flude Meander in Thessaly;


Quharon was weyf, in suttel goldyn thredis,


Kyng Troyus son, the fair Ganymedys,10


Vnder the thyk wod bewys of Ida


The swyft hartis chasand to and fra,


And with hys dartis baldly thame gan beyt:


He semyt porturyt pantand for the hete;


Quham, witht a surs, swyftly, Jovys squyar15


Caucht in hys clewis, and bair vp in the air:


The eldar huntaris, and hys keparis than,


Clapand thar lufis and thar handis, ilk man,


Sayr awondryt gan the starnys behald;


For hundis queste it semyt the lyft ryfe wald.20


Onto hym, syne, Eneas gevyn has,


That by hys vertew wan the secund place,


A habirgyon of byrnyst mailȝeis brycht,


With gold ourgilt clowit thrynfald full tycht,


Quhilk he, sum tyme, with his strang handis two,25


Tyrvyt and rent of bald Demoleo,


Quham vndir Troys wallys venquyst he,


Quhar Symois rynnys swyftly in the see:


This wirschipful gift to Mynestheus he gave,


That was hys beild in armys hym to save.30
[Pg 257]

Sa paysand was this cote that scarsly mycht


Phegeus and Sagaris, twa serwandis wight,


Bair it on thar nek chargyt mony fald:


Bot, tharwith cled, Demoleo ryn fast wald,


Chasand the Troianys skatterit far on breid.5


The thryd gyft syne, Eneas gaif in deyd


Twa gret caldronys of bras forgyt hoyt;


Twa syluer choppis schapyn lyke a boyt,


Punsyt ful weil, and with fyguris ingrave:


And thus thar gyftis gottyn al thai haue.10


Apon syk wys, ful prowd of thar reward,


Ilkane of thame, furth pransand lyke a lard,


Arrayit weil the tymplis of thar hed


With purpour garlandis of the rosys red:


Quhen from the scharp rolk, scarsly, with gret slycht,15


Sergestus gan vpwreil hys schyp evill dycht;


Of brokyn arys febilly with a raw,


Mokkyt and schent, scho cummys hame ful slaw.


Lyke as oft happynnys the eddyr amyd the way


Lurkand or glydand, in the hait symmyrris day,20


Quham the hevy schod cart quheil doith ourtak,


Pressyng hir down, and ryvand hir tewch bak,


Or, with smart dynt or stane kast, half ded neir,


And kut in tway, leifis the travelleir;


Scho pressand fle, al for nocht, byssely,25


Lang wrynklys makis oft with hir body;


The ta part fers and fell, with byrnand eyn


Strekand hyr nek with hyssis lowd in teyn;


The tother part, lamyt, clynschis and makis hir byd,


In lowpis thrawyn and lynkis of hir hyde:30
[Pg 258]

With syklyke routhe this schip slawly furth went,


Syne maid sail at the last, and, tharwith bent,


Entyrris in the havyn; and Sergest Eneas


Rewardis weil, as that his promys was;


For glaid he was the schip was salue onlost,5


And brocht hys ferys hailskarth to the cost.


To hym a servand woman, hayt Pholoa,


Was geyf, and, sowkand hyr, hir twynnys twa:


Of Creyt, as to hyr kynrent, born was sche,


And in the craft of Mynerve wondyr sle.10






 CAP. VI.




Into this nixt cheptour followys heir


The fut mennys rynkis and rewardis seir.






Gentyll Ene, this sport endyt and done,


Ontyl a fayr plane greyn passyt sone,


Quhilk was enveronyt al with hyllys hie,


Schaddowyt with woddys rank, and mony a tre:


Amyd the vale, in maner of cyrkyl rownd,15


A playng place was markyt on the grond,


Syk as that clepyt beyn a theatry.


Thiddir the heir with mony thousand gan hy,


And evyn amydwart in hys troyn grete,


For hym arayt, takyn hes hys sete:20


Quhar, with rewardis seir, he dyd provoke


The curage and myndis of ȝong foke;
[Pg 259]

Syk as lykkyt swyftly on fute to ryn,


Cum bayr the pryce away, and wageour wyn.


On athir half than gadderis hym about


Of Troianys sammyn and Sycilyanys a rowt;


And first come Nysus and the fresch Evrille:5


Ewrillyus in grene ȝouth and luf sylle,


Maist eligant of person, for quhays frendschip


And tendyrnes come Nisus in falloschip:


Quham followis nixt nobyl Dyores the gude,


Cummyn of the stok of myghty Priamus blude;10


And eftir hym thar followys sone onon


Twa othirris sammyn, Salyus and Patron,


Of quham the tane born of Epyria,


And the tother was of Archadya,


Cummyn of the blude of Tegea that cite:15


Twa othir ȝong men syne of Sycille,


Helymus and Panopes, baith feris


Onto the kyng Acestes ald of ȝeris,


Hantyt to ryn in woddis and in schawis:


Seir othir come eik, quhais namys onknaw is,20


For that thai war of law stait and degre.


Amyddys of thame all, thus sayd Ene;


Tak tent frendis, remembir quhat I say,


Mark this in myndis glaidly, and bair away:


Neuer ane of al this falloschip, quod he,25


Sal onrewardyt hyne depart fra me.


I sal ȝou geiffyn ilk man as efferis:


With brycht hedis, wrocht in Creyt, twa schort speris,


A syluerit ax alsso, to bair in hand;


For ȝou al equale salbe syk presand.30
[Pg 260]

The thre formaste salbeir the pryce and gre,


Thar hedis crownyt with greyn olyve tre:


Quha cummys fyrst, and victour our the laif,


Ane hors with precyus harnessyng sal haif:


The secund, ane arow cays of Amazon,5


Ful of arrowys of Trace, sal haue onon,


Hungyn by a braid tysche of gold ilke joynt,


The bukkil claspyt with a jemmys poynt:


The thryd most go hys way, and stand content


Bot of this Gregion helm, lo, heir present.10


Quhen this was said, thar placis haue thai tane,


And, fra thai hard the takyn, sone onane


Richt swyftly on thar rasys gan thai tak;


The stand thai leif, and flaw furth with a crak,


As wyndis blast, etland to the rynkis end.15


Befor thame all furth bowtis with a bend


Nysus a far way, start mair spedely


Than thud of weddir, or thundyr in the sky.


Nyxt onto hym, bot nocht neir be far way,


Followys Salyus; and, a space eftir thame tway,20


Ewrialus was the thryd: quham syne infeir


Followyt Helymus; quhamto held evir neir


Dyores, quhidderand at hys bak fute hait,


Hys tays choppand on hys heill al the gayt,


Writhand with hys schuldir to haue thrung hym by;25


And, had he anys won mair rowm, tho in hy


He suld ful sone haue skyppyt furth befor,


And left in dowt quha come fyrst to the skoyr.


Be this thai wan neir to the rynkis end,


Irkyt sum deill befor the mark weil kend;30
[Pg 261]

Quhen that Nysus fallys, onhappely,


Apon the glotnyt blude, quhar as fast by


The styrkis for the sacrifyce, per cace,


War newly brytnyt; quharof al the place,


And the greyn gers, bedyit was and wet.5


As this ȝongker heiron tred and fute set,


Joly and blyth, wenyng hym victour round.


He slaid and stumryt on the slydry grond,


And fell at erd gruflyngis amyd the fen,


Or beistis blude of sacrifyce; ȝyt then10


Forȝettis he not Ewrialus luf, perfay,


Bot kest hym evyn ourthourtyr Salyus way,


Grulyng as he mycht apon the slydry grene,


Maid hym lycht wyndflaucht on the grond onclene.


Furth sprent Ewrialus formest, and, by supple15


Of his frend Nysus, the first place wan he.


With rerd and favorabil hailsyngis furth he sprang,


As oft befallys, syk tymys, commonys amang.


Helymus nixt onto the stand is cummyn:


The thryd place now and gre Dyor has nummyn.20


Tho Salyus fyllys al the court about


With lowd ramingis, and with mony a schowt,


And gan, in presens of the nobillys, pray


Restor hys honour by dyssayt stollyn away.


The favour defendis Eurialus of hys ferys,25


And of hys eyn brysting the seymly terys,


Sched for dysdeyn he suld swa leys hys pryce;


The vertew, eyk, mair gracyus at all devyce


Was haldyn, at come of sa seymly person.


That helpyt mekyl; and Dyores evir onon30
[Pg 262]

Chydis for hym fast, for alsmekill as he


The thryd place than had wonnyn and the gre;


Bot all for nocht may he the last pryce beleif,


Gyf that to Salyus the fyrst reward beys geyf.


Than the rewthfull Eneas spak and sayd:5


Ȝour enterprys, childeryng, beys blyth and glaid,


Remanys sovir to ȝou; for, owt of weir,


As fyrst was set the pryce, sal na man steir.


It moste be to me leful rewth to haue


Of my frendis myschance, hys lak to save,10


Quhilk in hys awyn defalt tynt not the gre.


And, sayand thus, to Salyus gave he


A bustuus lyonys skyn of Getuly,


With goldyn clewys, lokkerit and weghty.


Ha! than quod Nysus, gyf syk reward salbe15


Gevyn onto thame at fallys and tynys the gre:


Gif the lyst rew on syk, quhat gyft condyng


Wilt thou geif Nysus, ran swyft in a lyng,


And worthy was the fyrst croun to haue caucht,


War nocht the sam mysforton me ourraucht20


Quhilk Salyus betyd? and, with that word,


Hys face he schew besmottyrit for a bourd,


And al hys membris in mud and dung bedoyf.


Than lewch that ryal prynce on hym to goyf,


And bad do fech a rych scheild, wrocht quently25


Sum tyme by ane Dodymaon maist crafty,


And by the Grekis alsso doun was dyng


Of Neptunys tempyll post, quhar it dyd hyng:


This worthy ȝong man with that gyft soverane


Rewardis he, of syk geyr as mycht gane.30




[Pg 263]




 CAP. VII.




Of the twa kempys suld stryfe in the pres,


The bustuus Entellus and Darhes.






Eftyr thir rasys done, and gyftys geif;


Now cummys heir, said Ene, quha lyst preif


To streke thar armys furth, and heys on hycht,


For mays or burdon arrayit weil at rycht:


Quha hes tharto reddy bald spreit lat se.5


For athir party the pryce ordanyt hes he:


For the victour a bul, and al hys hed


Of goldyn schakaris and roys garlandis red


Buskyt full weil; to hym venquyst, alssua,


A rych helm and a fyne sword, baith twa,10


Set for hys solace. Than, but delay, Darhes


With buustuus fors schew hys face in the pres.


As he vpstart, onon gret rumour rays


Amang the commonys, sayand, lo! quhar he gays,


Alane was wont agane Parys debait:15


Ȝon sam is he quhilk, at the tumbe, fute hait,


Quhar beryit was Hector of maist renoun,


The campion Butes ourcom and bet doun,


Al flat hym speldyt on the dun sand,


In the dedthrawis: quhilk Butes, to vnderstand,20


Fra Bebrycy com, of statur huge rude,


And hym avansyt of kyng Amycus blude.


Thys ilk Darhes, berand hys hed on hie,


Reddy for batale, schew furth, at al mycht se,
[Pg 264]

Hys schulderis braid, and swakkis heir and thar


Hys armys strecht with gret flappys in the ayr.


Ane othir mache to hym was socht and speryt;


Bot thar was nane of al the rowt at steryt,


Ne durst presume meyt that man on the land,5


With mace nor burdon to debait hand for hand.


Joly and glaid tharof, baith al and sum


Into bargane wenyng fortil ourcum,


Beforn Eneas feyt stad but delay:


The bul he grippys by ane of hornys tway10


With hys left hand, and said apon this wys;


Son of the goddes, gyf na man wil rys,


Ne dar hym self aventur in batelle,


Quhy stand I thus? quhou lang efferis me dwell?


Command me leid away the pryce al fre.15


The Troianys with hym sammyn, he and he,


Murmuryt and bemyt on the ilke wys:


Reyk to the man the pryce promyst, all cryis.


Tho gan the grave Acest with wordis chyde


Entellus, sat on greyn sonk hym besyde:20


Entell, quod he, vmquhile the forcyast


Of campionys clepyt, and the worthyast,


Invane that name thou beris, I dar say,


Gyf thou, sa thoilmude, sufferis leid away


So gret a pryce, but dereyn of batell.25


Quhar is he now, gret Erix, as thai tell,


Our God renownyt, and mastir, al for nocht?


Quhar now that fame, our al Sycil onflocht


Quhilum dywlgate, is becummyn and gone?


Quhar beyn the spulȝe triumphal mony one,30
[Pg 265]

Within thine hows hyngis on euery post?


The tother ansuerd: nowthir for dreid ne bost


The luf of wirschip nor honour went away is,


Bot certanly the dasyt blude, now on days,


Walxis dolf and dull throw myne onweldy age;5


The cald body hes mynyst my curage:


Bot war I now, as vmquhile it hes bene,


Ȝyng as ȝon wanton voustour, sa strang thai weyn,


Ȝa, had I now syk ȝouthed, traistis me,


But ony pryce, I suld al reddy be;10


Na lusty bull me tyl induce suld neid,


For nothir I suld haue cravyt wage nor meyd.


Quhen this was said, he hes, but mair abaid,


Twa kempys burdonys brocht, and befor thame laid,


With al thar harnes and braseris by and by,15


Of weght ful huge, and schap onmesurly;


Quhar with, vmquhile, the stern Erix was wont


To feght in bargane, and geif mony dont,


In that hard bellan hys brawnys to enbrace.


All wolx estonyst beheld thame in that place:20


So huge weght, and so gret quantite


Thai war, that weil thame semyt for to be


Of curbulle corvyn sevyn gret oxin hydis,


Styf as a burd that stude, on athir sydis


Stuffyt and cowchit ful of irne and leid.25


Abuf al otheris, Darhes, in that sted,


Thame to behald abasyt wolx grettumly,


Tharwith to mel reffusyng aluterly:


Bot, ful of magnanymyte, Eneas


Pasys thar weght als lychtly as a fas,30
[Pg 266]

Thar hydduus braseris swakand to and fro.


Syk wordis gan the auld rehersyng tho:


Quhat wald he haue said, that perchance had se


Hercules burdon and wapynnys heir, quod he,


And on this ilke cost the sorofull bargane?5


Thir sammyn wapynnys Erix, thi broder germane,


Was wont to bair: behald thame smottyt quyte


Of his red blude, and harnys tharon owtsmyte.


With thir agane gret Hercules stude he;


With thir was I wont mach in the melle,10


Quhil my fresch blude mair fors and strenth me lent,


Or that onfrendlich eild had thus bysprent


My hed and halffettis baith with canus hair.


Bot, gyf that Troiane Darhes reffusys thair


With thir, our cuntre wapynnys, in feild to pas,15


And eik it lykis the curtas Eneas,


So that Acest my soverane that appreve,


Be not efferd, Darhes; na thing the greve;


Erix macis to the on syde lay I,


And thou thi Troiane burdon alsso do by:20


With equale wapynnys lat ws go to sone.


And, with that word, of hys schulderis hes done


Hys dowbill habyt; and hys lymmys squair,


Baith byg bonys and brawnys, maid al bair;


Syne stythly in the sand vpstandis he,25


Of hyduus statur and of quantite.




[Pg 267]




 CAP. VIII.




The bargane of the kempys curageus,


The fers Darhes, and stalwart Entellus.






The prynce Anchises son, Eneas, than


Twa evynly burdonys walyt, as cunnand man,


And equale armour, but dyversyte,


On schulderis and thar gardeys buklys he.


Than athir gan contrar othir styth stand,5


With fyngeris fast faikand thar mace in hand,


Syne heich abufe thar hedis in the ayr


Onabasytly rasyt thar armys squair,


And from the straik thar nek drew far abak.


Now, hand to hand, the dynt lychtis with a swak;10


Now bendis he vp hys burdon with a mynt,


On syde he bradis fortil eschew the dynt;


He etlys ȝondir hys avantage to tak,


He metis hym thar, and charris hym with a chak;


He watis to spy, and smytis in al hys mycht,15


The tother keppys hym on hys burdon wycht;


Thai foyn at othir, and eggis to bargane.


Lychtar on fute and agil was the tane,


And in hys lusty ȝouth sum deil ensuris:


The tother, of lymmys byggar, and cors mair stuyr, is,20


Bot hys faynt schankis gan for eild schaik;


Hys gowsty cost and membris, euery straik,


The febil braith gan to bete and blaw.


Thir hardy kempys, al in waist, leyt draw,
[Pg 268]

Athir at other, mony rowtis grete:


On holl sydis feill dowbill dyntis gan bete,


And on thar breistis lychtis with huge sownd;


Oft in the ayr about thar hedis rownd


Thar handis waveryt, and the strayk went mys;5


Hard halffettis clappyt oft vndir the dynt, I wys.


Entellus standis styf and grave of cors,


Not movyng from hys fyrst stand in a fors,


And, with hys body only, and walkryfe E,


The strakis onfar enchewys and keppyt he.10


Bot Darhes walkis about rycht craftely,


Of hys fyrst purpos frustrat, to espy


Sum avantage, with diuers assaltis algait


Hym ombesetting sair, and handland hait:


Lyke as by gret engynys quha sa wald15


A strang cite assail, or stalwart hald,


To wyn that strenth, or ȝyt by craftis sle


To mynde the castell on the rochys hie,


Lurkand in harnes wachis round about;


Now this tocome, now by that way gan lowt,20


Quhar best he may cum to hys purpos sone,


Avysand weil the place maist oportone.


Entellus raxit hym, and hevis on hycht


Hys rycht hand, for to smyte in al hys mycht:


The tother, seand the dynt cum, gan provide25


To eschew swyftly, and sone lap on syde,


That al hys fors Entellus gan apply


Into the ayr; so that hys grave body,


All hym alane, with huge weght and sayr,


Ruschyt flatlyngis to the grond with a rair:30
[Pg 269]

So as, quhilum, the mekil kosch fyr tre,


On Erymanthus the mont of Archade,


Or in the wod of Ida, with a sownd


Vp by the rutis rent, ruschis to grond.


The ȝoungkeris tho of Troy and Sycilly5


Gan starting all on fut delyvirly:


The clamour rays, quhil al the hevyn dyd ryng,


And fyrst to hym ran Acestes the kyng,


And, for compassioun, hes vphynt in feild


Hys frend Entellus, onto hym evyn eild.10


Bot, nother estonyst nor abasyt heiron,


Mair egyrly the vaillyant campion


Agane to bargane went als hoyt as fyre:


Hys strenthys now encressis al of ire;


For schame, alsso, and for that weil he knew15


Hys auld prowes, hys fors dowblyt and grew;


And ardently, with fury and mekil boist,


Gan Darhes kach and dryve our al the cost:


Now with the rycht hand, now with the left hand, he


Dowblys dyntis, and, but abaid, leyt fle,20


That nothyr rest nor quyet may he tak.


Als fast as rayn schour rappys on the thak,


So thyk with strakis this campion maist strang,


With athir hand, feil sys at Darhes dang,


And drave hym to and fra with mony rowt.25


The prynce Eneas, than, seand this dowt,


Na langar suffer wald sik wreth procede,


Nor fers Entellus mude thus rage and sprede;


Bot of the bargane maid end, but delay,


And wery Darhes hes withdrawyn away.30
[Pg 270]

With wordis hym to mesyng thus he said:


Onsylle wight, quhou dyd thi mynd invaid


Sa gret wodnes? felys thou not ȝyt, quod he,


Othir strenth or mannys fors hes delt with the?


Seys thou not weil thi self at thou art fey?5


Tharfor to God thou ȝeild the and obey:


The power of goddys ar turnyt in thy contrar:


Obey to God. And with that word, but mair,


The bargane he dissolvyt: and than Darhes


Hys trew companȝeonys ledis of the pres,10


Harland hys wery lymmys dolf as led,


For sorow schakand to and fra hys hed,


And schaddis of blude furth spyttand throu hys lyppys,


With bludy gammys, led hym to thar schippys;


The helm and eik the sword with thame hes tane,15


As thai commandyt war, and left alane


The bul ontil Entellus: sa was defynd.


He victour than, and abufe in hys mynd,


Prowd and reiosyt of this bull, gan say;


Son of the goddes, and Troianys, I ȝou pray,


Behald, and knaw by this takyn and syng,


Quhat strenth was in my cors quhen I was ȝyng:


Se fra quhat ded Darhes is savyt onslane.


Quod he; and standand the bullys face forgane,


Quhilk of thar dereyn was the pryce and gre,25


Hys stern burdon behynd hys bak on hie


With hys rycht hand gan tais and mesour swa,


It smait hym evyn betwix the hornys twa;


Persyt the harn pan, draif out the brayn in hy:


Down duschit the beist ded on the land gan ly,30
[Pg 271]

Sprewland and flekkyrand in the ded thrawys.


And he abufe hym furth warpys syk sawys:


For Darhes ded, Erix, lo! this, quod he,


A far mair ganand sawle, I offer the;


And victour eyk my craft and wapynnys fair5


Vprendris heir, for now and evir mair.






 CAP. IX.




Into this nixt cheptour ȝe may espy


Nys craft of schotyng and of archery.






Onon Eneas induce gan to the play,


With arowys forto schute quha wald assay:


The pryce tharfor ordanys; and syne, but let,


With fors of mennys handis vp hes set10


Amyd the greyn Sergestus schippys mast;


Apon the top tharof gart fessyn fast


A fleand dow intil a cord, quharat


Thai suld thar arowys schuyt. The men with that


Conuenyt togiddir, and in a helm of steill15


Thar kavillys haue thai castyn fair and weill.


And first of al, with frendly noys and sound,


Hyppocaon the first place hys hes fond,


That was of kynrent cummyn from Hirtacus:


Quham nixt eftyr followys Mynestheus,20


Victour afor amang the schip bargane;


The grene olyve about hys forhed schane.
[Pg 272]

The thryd kavill betyd Evricyus,


Thy brodir, O maist doughty Panderus;


Quhilk vmquhile, forto brek the trewis command,


On the Grekis fyrst set with speir in hand:


And of the helmys boddom al thar last5


The ancyant kyng Acestes lot furth past,


Quhilk, for Eneas sayk, durst anys assay


With hys awyn hand ȝong mennys sport and play.


Than euery man, accordyng thar strenth ful meyt,


Thair byg bowys gan bend, and at thar feyt10


Dyd schaik onone thar arowys of thar cays.


Ȝong Hippocaon, quhilk had the first place,


A quhidderand arow leyt spang fra the stryng,


Towart the hevyn fast throu the ayr dyd thryng;


The mastis top it hyt, and tharin stak,15


Quhil al the tre trymlyt with the swak:


The fowle affrayt flychtris on hir weyngis;


Of gret rumour than al the feildis ryngis.


Nixt scharp Mynestheus, war and avysye,


Onto the hed hes halyt vp on hie20


Baith arow and eyn, etland at the mark.


Bot it was reuth, the fowle, for al hys wark,


Ne mycht he twich; and, netheles, ȝyt quyte


The bandis and lyamys in twa dyd he smyte,


Quharwith, by baith the feyt, thar fast was sche25


Attachit at the mastis top on hie:


Scho in the ayr and dyrk skyis flaw onon.


With arow reddy nokkyt than Ewricion


Plukkis vp in hy hys bow, and maid hys vow


Onto hys brothir Pander: with that the dow30
[Pg 273]

Heich in the lyft ful glaid he gan behald,


And with hir weyngis sorand monyfald;


Hys arow he threw vndir the clowdis blak,


And persyt hir quyte owtthrou the bak.


Hyr lyfe scho lost heich vp in the ayr,5


Down fallys ded, and has brocht with hir thar


The arow brochyt throu owt hir body.


Acestes now alane stude all reddy


To schute, quhen that the pryce was tynt and won:


And, netheles, to schuyt he hes begun,10


And threw ane arow in the ayr on hycht,


Schawand hys craft, and hys byg bowys mycht,


That lowsyt of the takill with a spang.


And sone betyd, and in thar sychtis sprang,


A fellon grysly monstre and wondryng,15


As weil was knaw syne at the endyng:


The feirfull spa men tharof pronosticate


Schrewyt chancis to betyde and bad estate.


For quhy, this schaft, fleand in the moyst ayr,


Brynt in a bles, and the randoun alquhar20


With low and flambys gan do notyfy,


And, al consumyt, vanyst in the sky:


As doys oft starnschoit fallyng fra the hevyn,


Drawand thareftyr a taill of fyry levin.


Estonyst in thar myndis, abasyt stude25


The folk of Sycill and all the Troiane blude;


And, netheles, maist douchty Eneas


Reffusyt nocht the takyn, bot gan embras


Acestes glaidly, and rych gyftis him gave:


Syne said hym thus; Tak, fader myne, ressaue30
[Pg 274]

Sik favorabill aspectis benevolent


As the gret kyng of hevyn heth to the sent,


That lyst with onkouth syngnys honour the.


Thou sal haue heir this reward and degre,


A cowp of gold engrave with figuris seir,5


A presand vmquhile of my fader deir,


Ancyant Anchises, quham Cysseus, of Trace kyng,


In remembrance hym gave and lufe takynnyng.


And sayand thus, hys tymplis al, but weir,


He gan involue and belt with grene lawrer;10


And syne hes causyt, al the othiris befor,


Proclame Acestes, and declair victor.


Nor gentill Euricion hys gloyr envyes nocht,


Quhoubeyt that he only the fowle down brocht,


And in the skyis smait hir ded, ȝyt than15


The secund place he tuke as curtas man:


Nixt eftir quham, the wageour hes ressaue


He that the lysch and lyam in sondir drave;


And last rewardyt was he, that hys flycht


Into the mastis top festynnyt on hyght.






 CAP. X.




Quhou that Ascanyus and ȝong childer gent


Assailȝeit othir, in maner of turnament.






Eneas syne, the derenys not al done,


Epytides to hym hes callyt sone,
[Pg 275]

Mastir and gydar of Ascanyus ȝong,


Quhais secrete haris warryn ȝyt onsprung,


And in hys trasty eyr thus prevaly


He rownys, sayand; pas thi way in hy,


Se gyf Ascanyus hes now reddy dycht5


Hys falloschip of childer and horssys lycht,


Arrayt for the rynkis and the play:


Byd hym bryng hyddir hys rowtis to turnay,


And do hys grandschir honour and renown,


In hys harnes schaw hym self reddy bown.10


Sayd Eneas; and tharwith gave command


About the cowrt the pepil on rowm to stand,


That al the feild within suldbe patent.


Than sone the childer, arrayit fair and gent,


Enterit in the camp alsammyn, schynnand brycht,15


On stedis pransand in thar faderis syght;


And, quhar thai went, al the gallandis of Troy


And Sycill wondyrris with gret brute and joy.


Thar harys all war tukkyt vp on thar crown,


That baith with how and helm was thrystyt doun:20


Twa javillyng speris with blunt hedis sum bair,


Sum on thar schuldyr a cace with dartys fair;


The wryth of gold, or chane lowpyt in ryngis,


About thar hals down to thar breistis hyngis.


Thai war in nowmyr cumpaneys thre,25


On horssis rydand; and for ilk menȝe


A capitane walkis rewland al hys rowt:


Twys sax childir followys ilkane about


In thar parsmentis, arrayit in armour brycht:


The chiftanys warryn equale of a hycht.30
[Pg 276]

A ward thar was of childir quham, ful joyus,


Berand hys grandschiris name, ȝong Priamus


Led and rewlyt, quhilk thi genealogy,


O Polytes, plantyt in Italy;


Apon a hors of Trace dappil gray5


He raid, quhays formest feyt bath tway


War mylk quhyte, and hys crest on hycht bair he,


With bawsand face, rynggyt the forthir E.


The secund, Atys, on a cursour bay,


Fra quham the Latyn lynnage to this day10


Actii bene nemmyt; and this litill Atys


With child Ascanyus weilbelovyt is.


Lufty Iulus, in bewte dyd all exceid,


Come last montyt on a Sydon steyd


Of cullour quhyte, quham Dydo, the fair Lady,15


In hir remembrance hym gave and luf drowry.


The remanent of the falloschip, euery one,


Sycill horssis gan swyftly ryde apon,


That from the auld Acestes purchest wer.


With revell, blythnes, and a maner feir,20


Troianys ressauys thame, and rycht glaidly


Thar vissage gan behald, and dyd aspy


The prent of faderis facis on childir ȝyng.


Eftyr thai had all cirkillyt in a ryng,


On horsbak, hail the place and feild abowt,25


And joyusly behaldyn all the rowt,


All reddy hufand thar coursys forto tak;


Epytides on far a syng gan mak,


Smait with a clap, and cryis, go togidder!


Than ran thai sammyn in paris with a quhidder;30
[Pg 277]

The rowtis thre brak; ilkane chesyt hys feir;


And, quhen thai by war runnyn, thar horsis thai steir,


And turnys agane incontinent at commandis,


To preif thar fors with javillyngis in thar handis:


Syne went abak in sondyr a far space,5


Ilkane at othir rynnyng with a rays.


Syndry coursys and returnyngis maid thai;


Fast athir sort gan othiris rowt cumray,


And gan excers, by semblance, vndir scheild


The symylitude of batell or a feild.10


Sum tyme the bak thai turn, as thai wald fle;


Sum tyme at othir threw dartis, he and he;


And, sone eftyr, assemmyl wald with a crak,


Thar handis schak, and pes togyddir mak.


Swa, as tha say, vmquhile the hows in Creyt,15


Hait Laborynthus, with mony went and streyt,


Had wrynkillyt wallys, a thousand slychtis wrocht,


Forto dissaue al onkouth tharin brocht,


To wavyr and er thar onreturnabilly,


The subtell throwgangis followand sa quently;20


Nane othir ways, in coursys mony ane,


Quhirlys thar trays thir ȝong childir Troiane.


Thai lowke togiddir, and countyrfatis a chays


In maner of bargane, makand mony a rays


And seir derenȝeis in thar sport and play;25


Als swyft as dalphyn fysch, swymmand away


In the wak sey of Egyp or Lyby,


Persand the wallys, that plays jolely.


Thir maner of rynkis and jupertyis of bataill


Ascanyus hantyt, and brocht fyrst in Itaill,30
[Pg 278]

Quhen he with wallys closyt lang Albay,


And taucht the ald Latynys to hant syk play,


The sammyn gyis as he, a child, now wrocht,


And othir Troiane childir with hym brocht.


The Albanys taucht thar childir the sammyn way;5


And mychty Roym, syne efter mony a day,


Syk oys ressavyt hes, and gan vphald


In wirschip of thar antecessouris auld;


And now, childring hantyng syk gem and joy


Beyn Troiane rowtis namyt, and weir of Troy.10






 CAP. XI.




Quhou Irys, send fra Juno in gret ire,


Gart Troiane wemen set thar schippys in fyre.






Thus, hyddyrtyllys, warryn derenys seyr


Excersyt in wyrschip of hys fader deyr:


And in this tyme gan forton fyrst remove


Fra thame agane hir sykkill faith and lufe.


For, as Troianys dyd hallow on this wys,15


By diuers gemmys, as was tho the gys,


Solemnytly, the seruyce anniuersar


Besyde Anchises graf, furth of the air,


And hevynnys hie, Saturnus get, Juno,


That gan of wreth and malyce nevir ho,20


Not satisfyit of hir ald fury ne wrok,


Rollyng in mynd full mony kankyrryt blok,
[Pg 279]

Hes send adoun onto the Troiane navy


Irys; and, that scho suld go spedely,


The prospir wynd gan eftyr hir inspyre.


Thys virgyn sprent on swyftly as a vyre,


And throu the clowdis hir trace, quhar scho went,5


Schupe lyke a bow of diuers hewis ment.


Sone slaid sche doun, onseyn of ony wy,


Gret confluence of pepill dyd aspy:


Scho walkis about the costis of the see,


Havynnys and flote left dissolate fand sche;10


And al the Troiane wemen dyd sche ken


Syttand on the schor, secret far fra men,


The gret loys of Anchises regratyng sair,


And al togiddir gan to weip and rair,


Behaldand the deip seys sorowfully,15


And, with a voce, sayand al halely:


Allace! behald, samony stremys gray,


And of thir salt fludis sa braid a way


Remanys ȝyt, fortyl ourslyde and sayll,


By ws wemen irkyt of lang travaill!20


Thai al besocht God send thame sone, ilkane,


A cite or a town forto remane,


And tedyus thocht the seys laubour to bair.


Iris heirfor aspyis hir tyme best thair,


As scho that was in myscheif ful expart:25


Amyddis of thame all in gan scho start,


Hir godly figur and hir weid laid by,


And bycame agyt Beroes in hy,


In maner schap of symylitude and face,


That was Doryclus spows, born of Trace,30
[Pg 280]

Quhilk vmquhile was of hie genealogy,


Of gret renoun, and childir had mony;


And on syk wys amang matronys Troiane


Transformyt entrys scho, and in is gane.


O woful wrachit wemen all, quod sche,5


Quhilk to the deth, vndir the wallys hie


Of ȝour natyve cite and kynd landis,


War not in batell harlyt by Grekis handis!


O pepill onhappy! to quhat myschews end


Forton reseruys ȝou of this warld to wend?10


Lo! sen the fal of Troy and dolorus weir,


Byrunnyn is the sevynt symmyr and ȝeir,


Sen that samony seys, and onkouth landis,


Sa huge wilsum rolkis, and schawd sandis,


And stormys gret, ourdrewyn and sufferyt haue we;15


Lo! thus saland throw out the mekill see,


Quhar that we chays Itale, that fleys ay,


And we ly warpyt on the wallys gray.


Heir beyn the bredyrly boundis of Erix stowt;


Our frend Acestes is our host but dowt:20


Quha will ws warn to beild vp wallys hie,


And to our citesanys set heir a cite?


O natyve land, and kynd goddis, al invane


Rest from our fays! sal nevir nane agane


Troiane wallys be namyt nor vpbeild?25


Sal I nevir se, allace! in all my eild,


Hectoriane fludis, Exanth and Symois?


Haue done tharfor, and now with me, I wys,


Thir fey onhappy schippys al bedene


Lat ws go byrn: for, in my sleip ȝistreyn,30
[Pg 281]

The figur of Cassandra, prophetes,


Gave me byrnand fyre brandis, and said expres,


Heir suld we rest; bad seyk Troy na forthar;


Heir was our dwellyng place for euermar.


Now is the tyme ganand our wark to speyd;5


To tary ma fatale syngnys quhat suld neid?


Lo! ȝondir beyn four altaris byrnand schyre;


Neptune, the god, thir hait brandis of fyre


Distributis to ws, and alsso hardyment.


And sayand thus, to perform hir entent,10


The peralus fyre first hynt scho forsably;


With flambys schynand on far thai mycht espy


Hir rycht hand rasyt, the blesys in to cast.


Of Troiane wemen the myndis worth agast,


And al thar hartis sum deil stupefak;15


Quhen ane, the eldast amang thame al, spak,


Clepyt Pirgo, the quhilk had beyn, feil sys,


To mony of kyng Priamus childir nurys:


O matronys, ȝon was nevir Beroys, quod sche,


Born a Troiane, and Doryclus spous, traist me.20


Considir of hir bewte syngnys dyvyne;


Behald so brycht as baith hir eyn doith schyne;


Quhat sweit favour and smell from hir spryngis;


Quhatkyn vissage hes scho; quhou thynk ȝe ryngis


Hir vocis sown, or quhat pays goys scho now.25


My self left Beroes, as I come hyddir rycht now,


Lyand seyk at hame, and ful ennoyit wight,


That scho alane suld want this ryal syght,


And, as scho wald, mycht not mak sacryfyce


In Anchysis honour and funerale seruyce.30
[Pg 282]

Thus said Pirgo: bot than the matronys all


Stude fyrst in dowt quhat thing tha do sall,


And with evil willy eyn the schippys behaldis,


On hovir betwix wrachyt desyre, thame haldis


Forto abyd within that present land,5


And of the fatis, on the tother hand,


That onto othir realmys doith thame call:


Quhen lo! the goddes, in form celestiall,


With equale weyngis fleys vp to the hevyn,


And, in hir went, schup vndir the clowdis evyn10


The figur of a raynbow huge grete.


Than pryncipaly begouth thar hartis bete;


Of syk wondris estonyst, thai al in hy


Cachit with wodnes begouth raym and cry,


And from the hallowyt ingill rest the fyre;15


Part spulȝeis altaris of thar flambys schire,


And byrnand branchis, faggottis, and fyre brandis,


Into the schippys swak they with thar handis:


The flambe vpkyndilling blesys braid at large


Throw hechis, ourloft, ayr, and payntyt targe.20






 CAP. XII.




Of the fyre stoknyng, quhilk the navy derys,


And quhou in Sycill Ene hes left hys feris.






Ontyl Anchises graf and theatry


First brocht Ewmolus word, quhou the navy
[Pg 283]

Was al infyryt. Thai luke, and gan behald


The fyre sparkis fleand vp thyk fald


In a blak sop of reik: and fyrst Ascanyus,


As he on hors playt with hys ferys joyus,


Als swyft and fersly spurris hys steid fute hoyt,5


And, but delay, socht to the trublyt flote.


Hys mastirys, half ded for affray and dreid,


Mycht nocht withhald hym: thyddir gan he speid;


And cryit, allace, O wrachit citesanys!


Quhat new wodnes be this that ȝou ourtane is?10


Quhou now, quhou now? quhat meyn ȝe for to do?


Ȝour ennemys floyt, nor Grekis schippys, lo,


Ȝe byrn not, bot al hope of ȝour weil fair;


Se, this is I, ȝour awyn Ascanyus, ayr


Onto my fader: and, with that word, his helm15


Befor thar feyt al voyd doun dyd he quhelm,


Quharwith in the derenys cled was he,


And countyrfait the maner of a melle.


Eneas than, and al the rowtis Troianys,


Fast as thai mycht, sped thame thiddir atanys.20


Bot than the wemen al, for dreid and affray,


Fled heir and thair, endlang the cost away;


Socht to woddys and cavys in euery rolk,


Eschamyt with thar deid, knew thar awyn folk,


Thar myndis changit, fled the lycht for dispyte,25


Al Junois rage smate from thar breistis quyte.


Bot not for this the flambys and byrnand bleys


Dyd stanch thar fors ondantyt, ne appeys:


The tuffyng kyndillys betwix the plankis wak,


Quharfra outthrawis the pykky smoke coil blak;30
[Pg 284]

The hait fyre consumys fast the howe;


Our al the schip discendys the peralus lowe:


Thar was na strenth of vaillyant men to waill,


Nor large fludis on ȝet, that mycht avail.


Reuthful Ene than of hys schulderis tway5


The claith hes rent, and gan the goddys pray,


Vp baith hys handis hevand in the sky:


Almychty Jove, quod he, aluterly


Gyf thou hes not al Troianys at haitrent,


Or gif thi reuthfull clemens takis tent,10


As thou was wont, to mennys travel and pyne,


Now, haly fader, thi maieste inclyne;


Grant at our navy this fyre may eschaip,


And from distructioun delyvir and outscrape


Thir sobir trumpys, and meyn graith of Troianys:15


Or, gif I haue deseruyt, with the remanys,


Smyte al togyddir ded with feirful thundir;


Lat thi rycht hand heir schaik ws al in sondir.


Scars this wes sayd, quhen that a blak tempest


Brays but delay, and al the lyft ourkest:20


A huge weyt gan down powre and tumbill;


Hillys and valys trymlyt of thundir rummyll;


The drumly schour ȝet furth our al the ayr


Als blak as pyk, in bubbys heir and thar,


Fyllys the schippys, quhil thai flet our the walys;25


Wrayngis half brynt bedyit in watir salys;


That al the fors of fyre was slokyt owt,


And from the perrell salf and out of dowt


Was al the navy, outtake four schippys lost.


And, quhil he rowmys vp and doun the cost,30
[Pg 285]

The fader Eneas, smyte with this smart cace,


Now heir, now thar, gan huge thyngis compace;


Rollyng in mynd quhiddir he suld or nay


Remane in Sycill, or thens pas away,


Or gif he suld seik ȝyt to Italy,5


Lyke as he had forȝet hys destany.


Thus as he musys, stad in sykkyn dowt,


Ane of the eldast herys stude abowt,


Clepyt Nawtes, quham the goddes Mynerve


Our al the layf instrukkyt hym to serve,10


And rendryt had ful scharp and rype of wyt,


Syk answer gave, and plane declaris it;


Quhat pretendis this fellon goddes greif,


And eik, accordyng thar fatis, quhat was releif;


And, comfortand Eneas, thus gan say:15


Son of the goddes, lat ws follow that way,


Bakwart or fordwart, quhyddir our fatis dryve;


Quhat evir betyde, this is na bute to stryve:


All chance of forton tholand ourcummyn is.


Heir is thi tendir frend Troiane, I wys,20


Worthy Acestes, of dyvyne lynage;


Cal hym to the in counsale, wys and sage,


And weil willyng to thi purpos to apply.


Leif with hym all may nocht in thi navy


Be tursyt now, for lak of schippis lost;25


Al syk as beyn ennoyt, and irk almost


Of thi gret purpos, thi dedis, and efferis;


And thai that beyn agyt passyt dait of ȝeris,


Or ald matronys wery of the see:


Wail out al thame beyn waik and onweilde,30
[Pg 286]

Or ȝyt afferyt beyn in ilke affray;


Syk cummyrryt wightis suffir, I the say,


To haue ane hald and dwel heir in this land:


The cite salbe, as was first cunnand,


Acesta clepyt, eftir Acestes kyng.5


With syk wordis, and prudent sermonyng


Of hys wys agit frend, than Eneas


On al sydis gan ithandly cumpas


Quhat was to do: and as the dirk nycht


Rollyt hys cart ourthourt the polys bricht,10


Eftir that all was went to rest and pace,


The ymage of hys fader Anchises


Gan from the hevin appeir, and, but abaid,


Ontil Eneas heth thir wordis said:


O thou my child, derrer, so mot I thrive,15


Quhil that I levit, than myne awin lyve;


O son, in Troiane fatis exercit sayrly;


Hiddir, at the command of Jove, cummyn am I,


Quhilk from thi navy stanchit the fyre, quod he,


And from hie hevin at last heth reuth on the.20


Follow the counsale is maist ganand and heynd,


That agit Nautes gave the, thi trew frend;


And chose ȝong men of harte maste curagious


Turs in Itale with the. I tel the thus;


A dour pepill, and of conditioun fell,25


The nedis in Latium ourcum in batell.


Bot first, of Pluto the infernale see,


And deip regioun of hell, behufis the se,


To cum and speke with me, myne awin son deir.


Be not agast, my child, and haue na feir:30
[Pg 287]

For I am nocht withhald, I lat the wyt,


In Tartarus, the soroful hellys pyt,


Nor drery pottis deip of saulis paill;


Bot in the hailsum rowtis, furth of baill,


I dwel amyd the plane of Elyse.5


The chaist virgyn Sibil wil convoy the


The rycht way thidder, quhilk at thou sal tak


By blude offerit of mony bestis blak.


Thar sal thou lern all thi genolegy,


And quhat cite is to the destany.10


Adew; as now na langar dwell I may:


The donk nycht is almaist rollyt away,


And the fers Orient wil at I withdraw;


I feil the ayndyng of hys horssys blaw.


Thus hes he said; and with that word, but mair,15


Vanyst away, as the reik in the ayr.


And quhen Eneas saw him pas, he said,


Quhidder bradis thou now sa fast, without abaid?


Quhidder hastis thou swa? quhom fleys thou? me, allace!


Quhat is the let I may the nocht enbrace?20


Thus sayand, the assys and coverit fyre bet he;


To Troiane Ingil, and the cannos Veste,


Within hys secret closet maid reuerence,


With hallowyt flour, deuotely, and incence.


Syne sone assemlyt his feris all in pres,25


Bot first of al the ancyant Acestes:


The wil and plesour of Jove schew thame cleir,


And eik the charge brocht by hys fader deir,


And tald thame planely his mynd and desyre.


Thai tary nocht at counsale; for this syre,30
[Pg 288]

Acestes, was al reddy at command.


Than al tha folk, quhilk list bide in that land,


For this new cite titil thai and writis:


The matronys first, and sik as nocht delytis


Nor hes in cure desyre of hie renoun,5


Thai deput, and thai ordand for this town.


Thar hechis and thar ourloftis syne thai beit,


Plankis and gestis gret, squair and meit,


Into thar schippis jonand with mony a dynt,


Insted of thame war with the flambys brynt;10


Thar cabillis new, and thar hed towis reparis,


And gan to forge newly wrayngis and ayris:


In numbir war thai bot a few menȝe,


Bot thai war quyk and vailliant in melle.


In the meyn tyme, Eneas with a pleuch15


The cite circulit, and merkit be a seuch;


By cavillys syne the tenementis dyd depart:


Heir ordanys Ilion, and, in ȝondir art,


Of Troy commandis beld othir memoriallis.


Of this new cite, and thir frendly wallis,20


Glaid wolx Troiane Acestes, and, but mair,


Did mak proclame thar merkattis and thar fair;


And all the hedismen gadderis and set down,


Stabillis thar lawys and statutis for that town.


Syne, on the top of Erix the montane,25


Full neir the lift, thai found, of marbill stane,


A tempil to Venus of Idalia;


And, about Anchisis sepultur alssua,


Ane hallowit schaw on breid, as sanctuar,


Plantit thai haue, and stabillit prestis thar.30




[Pg 289]




 CAP. XIII.




Eneas gan depart, and quhou Venus


Maid for hir son request to Neptunus.






Be this has al the pepil, euery hyne,


The feste continewit fully days nyne,


And on the altaris, as was tho the gys,


Thar offerandis endit and hie sacrifice:


The stabil ayr has calmyt weill the see,5


And sowtht pipand wyndis fair on hie


Challancis to pas on burd and tak the deip.


Bot quhen thai moste depart, lord, quhou thai weip!


Quhat huge waling rays all the costis bay!


Brasand and halsand thai dwel al nycht and day.10


And now thai moderis, and thai onweldy men,


Quhom til, vmquhile, forto behald and ken


The seys figur was abhominabill,


And eyk the fors tharof intollerabill,


Now wald thai wend, for all the seys rage,15


Reddy to thoill al travale in vayage:


Quhom curtas Eneas with wordis frendly


Comfortis, and syne, wepand full tendirly,


Betaucht ontil Acest his cousing deir.


Thre velys tho, as was the auld maneir,20


In wirschip of Erix he bad down quell,


And a black ȝowe to God of tempestis fell:


Syne chargit hail thar cabillis vp belyve.


Hys awin hed warpit with a snod olyve,
[Pg 290]

Heich in a schippis forcastell dyd stand,


Haldand a cowpe of gold intil hys hand,


The bestis entralis in the see can swak,


And ȝet the cleir wyne furth in fludis brak.


From the eft schip vprays onone the wynd,5


And followit fast the see fararis behynd;


Eyk al the flote smate fast with arys the flude,


Kempand to welt our wallys as thai war wode.


In the meyn sesson Venus, al onflocht,


Amyd hir breist reuoluand mony a thocht,10


Spak to Neptune with sik petuus regrate:


Neptune, quod scho, the fel ire and consate


Of queyn Juno, with mynd insaciabill,


Constrenys me to condiscend thus stabill


In all maner of request and prayeris;15


The quhilk Juno nowdir lang days nor ȝeris,


Nor na divyne sacrifice, may apples;


Scho restis nevir, nor may scho leif at eys,


Albeit the power and charge of Jupiter


Resistis scho wait, and fatis ar hir contrar.20


Scho thinkis it nocht eneuch and sufficient


By wikkit malice to downbet and schent,


And for euer put to distructioun,


Master of the pepil of Frigia, Troys town,


And for tobe wrokin, be alkin panys,25


Apon thar sary levingis and remanys:


Bot euer in ane ȝit stil persewis sche


The ded banys and cald assys to spulȝe


Of silly Troy, quhilk is to rewyne brocht.


A wondyr quhou scho may, intil hir thocht,30
[Pg 291]

Of sa gret furour half the causys consaue.


Thi self is witnes quhou, laitly, our the laif,


Sa masterful storm amyd the Libiane see


Scho rasit sone, quhil vp to hevynnys hie


The fludis kachit war, and sair opprest,5


Throu help of Eolus wyndis and tempest:


Sa gret wrang in thi realme durst scho excers.


O this detestabil wikkitnes to rehers!


Lo! hes scho nocht, newlingis, sa schamefully,


The Troiane matronys maid byrn thar navy,10


By hir wod rage? and ar, for falt of schippis,


In onkouth land left from thar fallowschippis?


In tyme cummyng, I the beseik, quod sche,


Schaw thi mychtis, that salfly throu the see


It may be leifful thai thar salys set:15


Grant at thai may alsso atteyn, but let,


The flude Tybir, throu Lawrent feildis slydis.


Admyt myne askin, gif so the fatis gydis,


Or gif that my desyre may grantit be,


Or ȝit werd sisteris list geif thame that cuntre.20


Saturnus son Neptunus tho, I wys,


That of the deip see fludis dantar is,


Ansuerit and said: Citherea the fair,


It is resson, and ganand euermair,


Thou be assurit to rest at thi lyking25


In my boundis, and throw out al my ryng,


Quharfra thou hes thi first original,


As thi kynd grund and cuntre natural.


In othir placis als, furth of my land,


I haue deseruit thankis at thi hand,30
[Pg 292]

And oft tyme hes sa gret curage, thou knawis,


Dantit baith of see and bustuus wynd at blawis.


To witnes draw I of this at I say,


Exanth and Symois, Troiane fludis tway,


That I na les cuyr tuke of thine Ene,5


To salue him on the land, than on the see.


For quhen the fers Achil persewit sair,


Chasand affrayt Troianys heir and thar,


The gret rowtis to the wallis thrymland,


Tofor his face half ded for feir trymland,10


And mony thousandis on the grund layd ded,


The ryveris dittit with ded corpsys wolx rede,


Vndir bodeis bullyrrand; for sik multitude


Of slauchtir he maid, quhil Exanthus the flude


Mycht fynd na way to ryn onto the see:15


Than, apon cace, with Achillis Ene


Matchit in fecht, nowdir of strenth or mycht


Equale be far, nor ȝit sa weil at rycht


Favorit of the goddis as Achillis, perfay,


By a dyrk clowd I staw thi son away:20


Quhoubeit, the ilk tyme, my desyre was set


Law fra the grond al Troy forto down bet,


Tha maynsworn wallis biggit with my handis.


As twichand Ene, quhou evir the chance standis,


The sammyn wys ȝit perseueris my mynd:25


Haue thou na dreid. I salbe ȝit als kynd.


Onto tha havynnys he sal cum sovirle,


As thou desyris, and furthir him eyk sal I


Ontil Avern, clepit the louch of hell.


Ane sal alanerly be loste, I the tell,30
[Pg 293]

Quham thou sal seik, amang the fludis, dede;


For help of mony thar salbe gevin a hede.


Eftir that with sik wordis Neptunus


Had mesit the mude of the goddes Venus,


Tho kan this fader of the see, but mair,5


Hys horssis ȝok to draw his cart or chair,


With fomy bridill danting the fers bestis;


Thar renȝeis and thetys, at thame arestis,


With hys awin handys leit do slyp and slakkis,


And lichtly our the fludis croppis frakkis10


Hys watry chair, furth fleand with a sownd,


Quhil al the wallis dowkis to the grownd;


Vndir the brayand quhelis and assiltre


The fludis strekis plane our al the see:


The bubbis and wyndy clowdis, heir and thar,15


Gan fle onon furth of the large ayr.


Than of his court apperit figuris seir;


The hydduus quhalys, and al the rowtis in feir


Of agit Glaucus with his cannos hair,


And Palemon, Inoes son and ayr;20


The swift Tritones, with trump playand thar spryng;


Phorcus, with al his falloschip and ofspryng:


And on hys left hand furth haldis Thetis,


With al the Nymphis hait Nereidis,


Sik as Melite, Spyo, Penopea,25


Cymodoce, Nyse, and Thalia.




[Pg 294]




 CAP. XIV.




Throu owt the flude merely salys Ene,


And Palynurus drownys in the see.






Glaidnes and comfort than, in to sum part,


Begouth to kittill Eneas thochtful hart.


Heys heich the cros, he bad, al mak thaim bown,


And fessyn bonnettis beneith the mayn sail down.


Than al sammyn, with handis, feit, and kneis,5


Dyd heys thar sail, and trossyt down thar teys:


Now the le schete, and now the luf, thai slak,


Set in a fang, and threw the ra abak;


Baith to and fra al dyd thar nokkis wry:


Prosper blastis furth careis the navy.10


Befor the laif, as lodis man and lard,


And al his salis vp with fellon fard,


Went Palynure; and hail the remanent


Was chargit hald the sammyn cours and went.


Be than, the donk nycht had run almaist evin15


His myd cours or methis in the hevin,


And euery maryner, but langar kepe,


Thar bodeis restis with the plesand sleip,


Endlang the hechis lyand heir and thar is,


Or in thar hard settis lenand on ayris:20


Quhen that the swift God of sleip gan slide


Furth of the starnyt hevin, by nychtis tide,


And dyd away the dirknes of the ayr,


Removing schadowit skyis maid al fair;
[Pg 295]

Onto the, Palynurus, hes he socht,


And the, al innocent, soroful slepis brocht.


Heich in the eftschip dyd this God appeir,


In figur of Phorbantus, a maryneir,


And frendfully gan warp sik wordis owt:5


Jasyus son, Palynur, luke about;


The sobir seys beris sownd our navy;


The wyndis blawis ful evin and rycht makly:


Thou may sovirly tak the ane howris rest,


Leyn doun thi hede, and sleip, for that is best10


Thy wery eyn thou prevely withdraw


From langsum laubour, and sleip a litil thraw;


And I my self sal glaidly, in thi place,


Beir thyne office, and steir a litil space.


To quhom Palynur, skars liftand his eyn,15


Ansuerd and said; quhat thing wald thou meyn?


Byddis thou me be sa nyce I suld mysknaw


This calm salt watir, or stabil fludis haw?


Wilt thou I traste this monstre perellus?


Or quhat in wyndis sa dissaitful til ws,20


And this cleir hevin sa oft hes trumpit me,


Wald thou I lippynnyt the maist nobil Ene?


Sik wordis he said, grippand the helmstok fast,


Lenand tharon, and by na way nor cast


Wald part tharfra, haldand his eyn ful evin25


Ay to behald the starnys in the hevyn.


Quhen lo! this God smate bath his tymplis twane


With a ful sleipry and bedyit grane,


Wet in the myndles flude of hell, Lythe,


And sowpit in Stix, the forcy hellys see:30
[Pg 296]

Hys glotnyt and fordovirrit eyn two


He closyt hes, and sound gart sleip alsso.


Bot scarsly gan the first rest of sleip,


Or he was war, thus on his membris creip,


Quhen on him lenys this God, and tho he kneld,5


And with a swak, as that the schip gan helde,


Ourburd him kest amyd the flowand see,


Richt al togidder with the helmstok of tre:


Than al for nocht apon his feris he cryis.


This God flaw vp lyke a bird in the skyis.10


And nocht the les the schip held furth hir went,


As scho did ayr, throw the calm seys sprent,


But ony harm, and al the navy sone,


By the promys of the fader Neptune.


With this almaste thai careit ar infeir15


Onto the rochis and skelleis weill neir


Of Syrene, that we Marmadynnys clepe;


Dangerus vmquhile, for a mekil hepe


Of dede banys lay tharon ful quhite;


So gan the salt jawpis ythandly smyte20


The holl rolkis, maid a sownd ful hays.


Quhen Prince Ene persauyt, by his rays,


Quhou that the schip dyd rok and tailȝeve,


For lak of a gud sterisman on the see,


Him self hes than sone hynt the rudyr in hand,25


And throu the fludis steris the schip to land,


Bewaland gretly in his mynde pensyfe,


For that his frend was fal, and lost the lyfe.


Allace! our mekil thou lippynnyt hes, quod he,


Into the stabillit hevin and calmyt see:30
[Pg 297]

Bair and onerdit, in ane onkouth land,


Palynurus, sal thou ly on the sand.


Thus wepand said, and leyt his flote go large,


Quhill at the last, baith ballyngar and barge


Apon the cost, that hait Ewboica,5


Arryvit neir the cite of Cuma.


Than to the streme thai turnyt thar forschip;


Kest down thar bewchit ankyrris, ferm of grip,


Into the raid; endlang the costis bay


Thar eft castellis gan mustyr in array.10


And al the ȝongkeris spedis hastely


Onto the schore of Hisperia fast by:


Sum smytis fyre furth of the hard flynt stane;


Sum spedely to the thik wod ar gane,


In dern dennys, quharin wild bestis dwellis;15


And sum dyd schaw the new fund springand wellis:


To beit thar mystir al bissy for the nanys,


Sum to this turn, sum to that, start atanys.




[Pg 298]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE SAXT BUKE.






Pluto, thou patron of the deip Achiron,


Fader of tormentis in thyne infernal see,


Amyd the fludis, Stix and Flagiton,


Lethie, Cochite, the watyris of oblivie,


With dolorus quhirling of furyus sistyris thre,5


Thyne now salbe my muse and drery sang:


To follow Virgil in this dyrk poyse


Convoy me, Sibil, that I ga nocht wrang.




Quhat wenys fulys this saxt buke be bot japis,


Al ful of leys or ald ydolatryis?10


O hald ȝour pace, ȝe verray goddis apis!


Reid, reid agane, this volume, mair than twys:


Consider quhat hyd sentence tharin lyis:


Be war to lak, les than ȝe knew weil quhat;


And gif ȝou list not wirk eftir the wis,15


Heich on ȝour hede set vp the foly hat.




All is bot gaistis and elrich fantasyis,


Of browneis and of bogillis ful this buke:


Owt on thir wandrand speritis, wow! thou cryis;


It semys a man war mangit, tharon list luke,20


Lyke dremys or dotage in the monys cruke,
[Pg 299]

Vayn superstitionys aganyst our richt beleve:


Quhat of thir fureis, or Pluto that plukkit duke,


Or cal on Sibil, deir of a revyn sleif?




Wald thou I suld this buke to the declare,


Quhilk war impossibil til expreme at schort?5


Virgil is ful of sentence our all quhare;


Bot heirintil, as Seruius gan proport,


Hys hie knawlage he schawis, that euery sort


Of his clausys comprehend sik sentence,


Thar bene tharof, set thou think this bot sport,10


Maid gret ragmentis of hie intelligence.




In all his warkis Virgil doith discrive


The stait of man, gif thou list vnderstand;


Baith life and ded in thir fyrst bukis fyve;


And now, intil this saxt, we haue on hand,15


Eftir thar deth, in quhat plyte saulis sal stand.


He writis lyke a philosophour naturall:


Twichand our faith mony clausis he fand


Quhilk beyn conform, or than collaterall.




Schawis he nocht heir the synnys capital?20


Schawis he nocht wikkit folk in endles pane?


And purgatory for synnys venyall,


And vertuus pepil into the plesand plane?


Ar al sik sawis fantasy and invane?


He schawis the way, evir patent, down to hell,25


And rycht difficil the gait to hevin agane,


With ma gude wordis than thou or I kan tell.
[Pg 300]



Heir tretand vertu, taxis he pane for vyce,


Feil woful turmentis of wrachit catyvis sary,


Notabil histories, and diuers proverbis wyce,


Quhilkis to rehers war our prolixt a tary:


Althocht he, as a gentile, sum tyme vary,5


Ful perfitely he writis seir misteris fell,


As quhou thir heithin childir thar werdis wary,


Wepand and waland at the first port of hell.




And, thocht our faith neid nane authorising


Of gentiles bukis, nor by sik heithin sparkis,10


ȝit Virgil writis mony just claus conding,


Strenthing our beleve, to confound payan warkis.


Quhou oft rehersis Austyne, cheif of clarkis,


In his gret volume of the cite of God,


Hundreth versis of Virgil, quhilk he markis15


Agane Romanys, til vertu thame to brod!




And of this saxt buke walis he mony a scor,


Not but gude resson; for, thocht Criste grund our faith,


Virgil sawis ar worth to put in stor.


Thay aucht not be hald vagabund nor waith,20


Ful riche tresour thai bene and precius graith:


For oft by Sibilys sawis he tonys his stevyn;


Thus faithfully in his Bucolykis he saith,


The maide cummyth bringis new lynnage fra hevyn.




As twiching hym writis Ascentyus;25


Feil of his wordis bene like the appostilis sawis,


He is ane hie theolog sentencyus,
[Pg 301]

And maste profound philosophour he him schawis,


Thocht sum his writis frawart our faith part drawis:


Na wondir; he was na cristyn man, per De,


He was a gentile, and levit on payane lawis,


And ȝit he puttis a God Fader maste hie.5




We trow a God, regnand in personys thre,


And ȝit angellis hevinly spiretis we call;


And of the hevinly wightis oft carpis he,


Thocht he belevit thai war not angellis all.


Quhil Cristis passioun, of Adam from the fall,10


All went to hell, thocht all war nocht in pane:


Or Criste he wrait this buke, quhar reid ȝe sall


Destinit in hell specialy placis twane.




And principaly the sted of fell tormentis,


With seyr departingis in that laithly hald;15


Ane other place quhilk purgator representis,


And, dar I say, the Lymbe of faderis ald,


With Lymbus puerorum, as I haue tald.


Schawis he not eik, by werkis meritory,


Quhou just pepil, in welthis monyfald,20


Raiosys, syngand sangis of hevinly glory?




And, as he twichis greys seyr in payn,


In blys, elike wys, syndry slagis puttis he.


Quhat sal I of his wondir warkis sayn?


For al the plesance of the camp Elyse,25


Octauian, in his Georgikis, ȝe may se:


He consalis nevir lordschip in hell desyre,
[Pg 302]

Bot evir in hevin, intil sum hie degre,


To cheys his place, and not amang the fyre.




Quhat cristyn clerk kouth hym haue consalit bettir?


Al thocht he was neuer catholyk wight,


He hes writtin ful mony attentik lettir.5


In that ilk buke he techis ws ful richt,


The warld begouth in veyr, baith day and nycht;


In veir he says that God als formyt man,


The son, the mone, and all the starnys bright:


We grant in veir that first the warld began.10




Happy war he knew the caus of al thingis,


And settis on syde all dreid and cuyr, quod he,


Vndir his feyt at treddis, and down thryngis,


Chancis ontretabill of fatis and destane,


All feir of ded, and eik of hellis see;15


Happy he callys sik wightis, and sa do I:


Quhar may we swa optene felicite?


Neuer bot in hevin empire abone the sky.




Tyll write you all hys tryit and notabil vers


Almaist impossibil war, and half invane,20


For me behuffyt repeting and rehers


In seir placis the sammyn wordis agane.


This may suffice, I wil no mor sane:


Ane movar, ane begynnar puttis he,


Sustenys all thing, and doyth in all remane;25


And, be our faith, the sammyn thing grant we.
[Pg 303]



I say nocht all hys warkis beyn perfyte,


Nor that sawlys turnys in othir bodeys agane;


Thocht we traste, and may preif be haly write,


Our sawle and body sal anys togiddir remane.


At thar bene mony Goddis I will not sane,5


Thocht haly scriptur just men, Goddis, clepe.


Quhom call I Pluto, and Sibilla Cumane,


Hark; for I wil na fals Goddis wirschepe.




Sibilla, til interpret propirly,


Is clepit a maid of Goddis secret preve,10


That hes the spiret divyne of prophecy.


Quha bettir may Sibilla callit be


Than may the gloryus moder and madyn fre,


Quhilk of hir natur consavit Criste, and buyr


All hail the mysteris of the Trinite,15


And maist excellent wark had vnder cure.




Thou art our Sibill, Cristis moder deir,


Prechit by prophetis and Sibilla Cumane;


Thou brocht the hevynly lynage in erd heir,


Moder of God, ay virgyne doith remane,20


Restoring ws the goldin warld agane.


Sathan the clepe I, Pluto infernall,


Prynce in that dolorus den of wo and pane,


Nocht God tharof, bot gretast wrech of all.




To name the God, that war a manifest le;25


Is bot a God, maker of euery thing:


I fauour nocht the errour of Manache.
[Pg 304]

Set thou to Wlcane haue ful gret resembling,


And art sum tyme the minister of thundring,


Or sum blynd Ciclopes of thy laithly wra,


Thou art bot Jovys smytht, in the fyre blawing,


And dyrk fornace of perpetuall Ethna.5




Thou wrocht na thyng, bot maid thi self a devill,


And that was not to mak, bot rather failȝe:


For Austyn says, syn, myscheif, or evill,


Is nocht at all: for quhy? thai nocht availȝe.


The dym dongeoun of Ditis till assailȝe,10


Or in the lyknes this mysty poetry,


Help me, Mare; for certis, vail que vailȝe,


War at Pluto, I sal hym hunt of sty.




[Pg 305]




 THE SAXT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Ene aspyis Dedalus wark expres,


And with Sibilla spak, the prophetes.






Qwil on this wys ilk man occupyit was,


Reuthful Eneas bownys hym to pas,


Onone to sers the strenth and tempil tho


Dedicat ontil the myghty Apollo;


That feirfull gowsty cave far from the way,5


And secret hald of Sibilla the may;


Quhais hait memor and resson oft infyrit


Delyus, the prophet divyne, and so inspirit


That scho the secretis fortocum did knaw.


With this thai entrit in the hallowit schaw10


Of the thrynfald passynger Dyane,


And hows of brycht Apollo gold bigane.


The fame is so, that Dedalus, the wright,


Furth of king Mynos realm takand his flycht,


Sa bald was with swift fedrame, and happy15


To aventur hym self heich in the sky,
[Pg 306]

And by a quent onvsyt way to knaw,


Towart the frosty poil artik he flaw:


Bot, at the last, softly he gan alicht


Of Chalcydonys apon the castell hicht;


And rendrit fyrst into thir landis, he5


Offerit and hallowit, Phebus, onto the,


The fard and flycht of baith hys weyngis two,


And thar grathit a fair tempil alsso.


Apon the portis dyd he carve and grave


Androgyus slauchtir, falsly brocht to grave,10


And for hys deth the vengeance and the wrake;


Quhou of Athenes commandit war, alake!


Twys sevyn childir onto Creyt be send,


Perpetualy ilk ȝeir, a fair presand:


The dedly vrn stand porturat mycht thai knaw,15


Owt of the quhilk the lottis warrin draw.


Forgane Athenes, a litil our the see,


The ile of Crete he wrocht, musterand ful hie;


The kingis cite thar hecht Gnosya;


Quharin he porturit als ful, wallowa!20


The lufe abhominabill of queyn Pasyphe,


Quhou pryvely with the bul forlane was sche:


The blandit kynd, and birth of formys twane,


The monstruus Mynotawr, doith thar remane,


Ane horribill takin of schrewit Venus wark.25


Thar was alsso craftely schape and mark


That namekouth hows, quhilk Laborynthus hait,


Ful of wrynkkillit onreturnabil dissait.


Bot, netheles, Dedalus, cawcht piete


Of the gret luf of fayr Ariadne,30
[Pg 307]

That was the kyngis douchtir, tawght ful rycht


Of this quent hows fortil omdo the slycht;


Quhou by a threid the subtell wentis ilkane


Thai myghtin hald, and turn that way agane.


And thou alsso, the ȝong child Icharus,5


Quhilk son was onto this ilk Dedalus,


A gret part of this wark suld haue beyn thyne,


Gyf that the dolour and the huge pyne


Had sufferit hym to kyth his craft on the.


In gold to grave thi fall twys etlyt he,10


And twys, for rewth, failȝeis the faderis handis.


Eneas tho, and al at with hym standis,


This sculptur al espyit had on breid,


Ne war Achates, quhilk befor him ȝeid,


Be than returnyt was, and with him brocht15


The religyus woman quham thai socht,


Baith consecrate to Dyane and Phebus,


Hait Deiphobe, the douchtir of Glawcus;


Quhilk to the king sone spak apon this wys:


This tyme, quod scho, to stair and to devys,20


Govand on figuris, is not necessary.


Mair neidfull now it war, but langar tary,


Sevin ȝong stottis, that ȝok bur nevir nane,


Brocht from the bow, in offerand brittin ilkane,


And alsmony twyntyrris, as is the gys,25


Chosyn and ganand for the sacrifys.


On this wys till Eneas spak Sibill;


And Troianys tareis nocht forto fulfill


Hir commandment, that, but langar delay,


The sacryfyis and offerand done haue thai;30
[Pg 308]

And syne the nun to the hie tempill thame brocht,


Quhilk in maner of ane gret cave was wrocht,


Of Cuma holkit in the hillis side.


Ane hundreth entreis had it, large and wyde;


Ane hundreth durris tharon stekit clos,5


Out at the quhilkis ruschit alsmony a voce,


Gevand respons onto this Sibilla.


Tho to the dur threswald cummyn ar tha,


Quhen that this virgyn said: To ask answeris


Now is the tyme; lo, lo, the God me steris!10


And as scho gan sik wordis say and cry,


Without the entre standand, suddanly


Nowdir vissage nor cullour, as thai war air,


Remanys than, nor hir weil dressit hair;


Bot fast hir breist the breth dyd clap and bete;15


Hir fers hart boldynnys vp ful grete,


Enragit of the sprete divyne alsso,


That of mair statur gan scho semyng tho;


Hir voce ne sovndis lyke a mortale wight;


For, with the goddis maieste and myght20


Twichit and smyte, that drew hir mynde ful neir,


Hir hart pipis gan to flekkir and steir.


Blyn nocht, blyn nocht, thou gret Troiane Ene,


Of thi bedis nor thi prayeris, quod sche;


For, bot thou do, thir gret durris, but dreid,25


And grisly ȝettis, sal nevir warp on breid.


And, with that word, scho cessit, and no mor said.


The cald dreid gan the Troianys invaid,


Thirland throu owt hard banys at euery part:


The king hym self than inkirly from his hart30
[Pg 309]

Maid this oryson, and devotly said:


O bright Phebus, that evir reuth has had


On Troys hard aduersite and wo,


Thow quhilk direkkit the Troiane dartis so


In Achillis body, schot by Parys hand;5


This see, at goys about mony gret land,


Thou beand my gidar, entrit haue I,


And eyk the wilsum desert land Masylly,


Quhar the schald sandys strekis endlang the schor:


Now at the last, that fled ws evir mor,10


The forther cost of Ital haue we kaucht,


Thocht, hiddertillis, hard fortoun has omberaucht


The Troianys, and persewit onfrendfully.


Now all ȝe Goddis and Goddessis, quham by


Vmquhile was thocht gret Ilion ful of joy,15


And the schynand gloryus town of Troy


Semyng resist and gaynstand ȝour godhede,


Lesum it is to desist of ȝour fede,


And now to spair the puyr pepil Troiane.


O thou maist haly prophetes souerane,20


Quhat is to cum hes knawlage of all thingis,


Grant at Tewcranys may dwel in Ital ringis;


For I ne ask na land, nor realm algatis,


Bot quhilk is grantit to ws by our fatis:


Schaw, and declar for our goddis errand,25


That cachit bene our mony see and sand,


Quhar sal thar resting place be to remane.


So eftir that to Phebus, and Diane,


Of sownd marbill tempillis beld may I,


And festual days for Appollo gar cry.30
[Pg 310]

To the, alsso, within our realmys, salbe


Mony secrete closet and revestre,


Quharin thi warkis and fatale destaneis,


Thi secret sawis, and thi propheceis,


Endite of my kyn and genolegy,5


I sal gar kepe and obserue reuerendly;


And, O thou blissit woman, onto the


Wys walit men sal dedicate and sacre:


So that thou write nocht on the levis thi wordis,


For dreid al turn bot til a mok or bourdis,10


Gif that the wynd thame skattir and blaw away.


Pronunce it with thyne awin mowth, I the pray.


Tharwith he held hys pace, and said no mor.


Bot than Sibill the prophetes, ful ȝor


Within the cave, as half enragit wight,15


Kouth nocht contene of Phebus the gret mycht;


And evir the mair scho hyr enforcys ay


The gret God from hir breist dryve away,


The mor he gan invaid hir and infest,


Hir rageand mowth and fers hart, as him lest,20


Danting at wil, and forgeand hir sayngis:


Scho was constrenyt to schaw al suthfast thingis.






 CAP. II.




The answeris and the wordys to and fra


Betwix Eneas and this Sibilla.






The hundreth gret durris of that hows, with this,


At thar awin willis warpit wide, I wys,
[Pg 311]

And brocht the prophetis ansuer to thar erys:


O Eneas, that, eftir mony ȝheris,


Now finaly hes dryve to end, quod sche,


Sa mony huge gret dangeris of the see!


Bot on the land, I tel ȝou al and sum,5


Far grettar perellis remanys forto cum.


The Troiane pepill to the realm of Lavyne


Sal cum; that is determyt be goddis dyvyne;


Out of thi mynde sik dowtis do away:


Bot forthirmor, I wil onto the say,10


Quhen thai the grond of Italy haue nummyn,


Thai sal desyre neuer thiddir to haue cummyn.


Batalis, horribil batalis, to conclude,


I now behald, and Tibris, the gret flude,


For gret habundance of blude on spait walx reid.15


Nowdyr Exanth nor Symois in that sted


Sal thou mys, nor ȝit the Grekis army.


Thou sal befor the fynd in Italy


Ane othir Achil, born als of a goddes:


Nor Juno, Troianys persewar expres,20


Sal neuer mair failȝe in ȝour contrary.


And quhen thou art thar, as thou waldbe cary,


Of succurs and of help al desolate,


Quhat pepill, and quhat citeis than, God wait,


In Ital salt thou beseik of supple!25


Few sal remane onrequerit, trast me.


The causys of al this myscheif and pane,


Ane othir woman, a fremmyt gest agane


For the Troianys, is to be spows and wed,


A strange bride, or scho be brocht to bed.30
[Pg 312]

Withdraw the from na perellis, nor hard thrist;


Bot evir infors mair strangly to resist


Agane dangeris, than fortune sufferis the.


Ȝour first reskew of succurs and supple


Furth of a Gregioun cite salbe schaw,5


Quhilk thou leste wenys, a wondir thing to knaw.


Furth of hir secret closet, thus onane,


Sik sawis warpis this Sibilla Cumane;


Horribil answeris, ful dowtsum to consave,


Quhar as scho sat rumysand in hir cave,10


In subtel wordis of obscurite


Involupand the trewth and verite:


For on sik wys Apollo hir refrenys,


Bridillis hir sprete, and, as him list, constrenys,


From hir hart pipis his fers brod withdrawing.15


As the divyne fury gan first sessing,


And eik hir ragiand mowth begouth to rest,


Devoyt Eneas begynnys als prest,


And said: Virgyn, na kynd of pane may rys


Onknaw to me, of new that may me grys:20


Or now I am warnyt of al sik chance,


And hes thame rollit in my remembrance.


Bot a thing I beseik the and requeir;


Sen the entres and port, thai sai, bene heir,


Of the infernal king, and the layk dyrk25


Of Acheron, gorgeit with fludis myrk;


Thocht it be rycht difficil, ȝit grant me


Thai quent realmys I may behald and se,


And cum onto my deir faderis sight:


Thiddir the passage, and al ways rycht,30
[Pg 313]

Do teche me, and tha secret portis onschet.


I hym delyuerit amyd from flambis het,


And on thir schulderis careit him away,


A thousand speris followand to assay,


From myd ennymeis brocht him to salfte:5


In my vayage, accumpaneit with me,


He went throu owt al seys and strange strandis,


All maner perrellis of fludis, stremys, and sandis,


And stormys of the hevin, thocht he was waik:


He sufferit and sustenyt, for my saik,10


Ful huge pane, as he had beyn a page,


Abufe the strenth and common curs of age.


And forthir he me chargit, and gan beseik,


To the, lady, I reuerently suld seik,


And pas hiddir to thi sted and dwelling place.15


Haue reuth now, haly woman, schaw sum grace


Baith to the son and fader, I requeir;


For thou may do all thing, I wait, but weir:


Ne not but gude resson, ful weil I knaw,


Beside Avernus, our hir hallowit schaw,20


Proserpyn maid the patron and mastres.


Gif Orpheus mycht reduce agane, I ges,


From hell his spousis gost with his sweit stringis,


Playand on his harp of Trace sa plesand springis;


Or gif Pollux redemyt his broder Castor,25


As he that was immortal get and boyr,


Partyng with him his immortalite,


Athir for other sufferand forto de,


That ych of thame, by coursis alternate,


Sa oft gais and returnys that gait;30
[Pg 314]

Is it nocht anys lesum I pas that way?


Of Thesyus quhat nedis mair to say,


Or of the strang maste dowchty Hercules,


Quhilk thidder went with sa gret fors and pres?


Am I nocht eik discend from Jupiter?5


Sik prayer maid he, grippand the altar;


Quhil thus begouth the prophetes speke agane:


Of goddis blude, Anchises son Troiane,


It is richt facil and eith gait, I the tell,


Forto discend and pas on down to hell:10


The blak ȝettis of Pluto, and that dirk way,


Standis evir oppin and patent nycht and day;


Bot tharfra to return agane on hyght,


And heir abufe recovir this aris licht,


That is difficil wark, thar lawbour lyis.15


Ful few thar bene, quhom heich aboue the skyis


Thar ardent vertue has rasit and vphyeit,


Or ȝit quhom equal Jupiter deifyit,


Thai quhilk bene gendrit of goddis, may thidder attayn.


Al the myd way is wildirnes onplayn,20


Or wilsum forest, and the laithly flude


Cochytus, with his drery bosum onrude,


Flowis enverom rownd about that place.


Bot gif sa gret desyre and luf thou has


Twys til our sayll of Stix the dedly layk,25


And twys behald blak hellis pyt of wraik,


Or sa huge laubour delytis the, quod scho,


Harkyn quhat first behuffis the to do.


Amyd a rank tre lurkis a goldin bewch,


With aurial levis, and flexibill twystis tewch,30
[Pg 315]

Onto Juno infernal consecrate,


That standis lowkit abowt and obumbrate


With dirk schaddowis of the thik wod schaw.


Bot it is na wys lesum, I the schaw,


Thir secret ways vndir the erd to went,5


Quhil of the tre this goldin grayn be rent:


Fair Proserpyn hes institute and command


To offer hir this, hir awin propir presand.


Ane othir goldin grane, to the ilk effect,


Thou sal nocht mys, thocht the first be down brek;10


Incontinent evir of the sammyn mettall


Sik a lyke branch sal burgion furth withall.


The nedis, tharfor, to hald thine eyn on hight,


It forto sers and seik; syne all at right,


Quhen it is fund, thou hynt it in thi hand.15


For, gif it list, esely that sammyn wand,


Of the awin will, sall follow thi grip fut hait,


Gif so the fatis wil thou pas that gait;


Or ellis be na strenth thou sal it ryve,


Nor kut in twa with wapyn, sword, or knyve.20


And mair atour, beforn the in the place,


At thou ne wait, of thi deyr frend, allace!


Onerdyt lyis of new the ded body,


That with hys corps pollutis al thi navy;


The self tyme slane thow askand our answer,25


And in this place remanys with ws heir.


First se that hym to hys lang hame thou haue,


And, as efferis, gar bery law in graue.


Til his funeral entyre, or sacrifys,


Do bring the blak bestis, as is the gys:30
[Pg 316]

Lat tha be ȝour first expiationys,


And clenging graith, eftir ȝour serymonys.


So at the last, of Stix the cayrful schaw,


And realmys wilsum for levand men to knaw,


Thou sal behald. Quod scho; and tho gan ses,5


Hir mowth clappit togiddir, and held hir pes.






 CAP. III.




Of Mysenus entyrment at was slane,


And quhou Eneas fand the goldin grane.






Ene, with drery cheir, and eyn down cast,


Levand the cave, furth on his way is past,


And in his breste gan rollyng all on raw


Thir onkouth chancis, wondir strange to knaw.10


Achates, hys traste frend, furth by hym went,


Ilk step and pays musyng the sammyn entent:


Ful mony diuers sermondis betwix thame two


Talkand and carpand oft quhar as tha go;


Dowtsum quhilk of thar feris this might be,15


The prophetes thame tald was done to de,


Or quhat corps was this scho thame bad bery.


And, as thai come apon the strandis dry,


Thai gan behald, ligging in the ilk sted,


Mysenus new slane be onworthy ded;20


Mysenus, Eolus son, nane mair cunnand


Ostis to assembill with brasyn trump in hand;
[Pg 317]

That, with his sovnd and weirly blastis, oft sys


The martial curage maid in brestis rys.


Sum tyme he was ane of gret Hectoris feris;


About Hector evir hantit he the werys,


Now blawing with his trump maste craftely,5


Now with a speir jonand hys mastir by:


Eftir Achil reft him the lyfe in wer,


Til dowchty Ene this forcy chyvaler


Adionyt hes him self in falloschip,


A man of na les prowes nor wirschip.10


Bot now, percace, with his boys trump as he


Went onprowisitly blawand by the see,


To stryfe prowoking the goddis with his springis,


Gif it be lesum to trast sa schameful thingis,


Triton the God, havand tharat dispite,15


Or he was war, him hyntis, and dyd smyte


Amang the fomy rolkis law adown,


And in the salt wallys the man gan drown.


Quharfor about his corps with gret clamour


The Troianys stude murnand, and maid dolour;20


Bot principaly the rewthfull Eneas.


Sibillais heste, as he commandit was,


Tho sped in haist forto perform weping:


For the sepulcre funerale fyre or byng,


Ane hepe of treis thai pres onone to dycht,25


And vp onto the hevynnys rays on hight.


Ontil ane ancyent forest socht thai then,


Entrand in mony dern wild bestis den:


Ful of roset down bet is the fyr tre;


Smyte with the ax dyd rayr the akis hie;30
[Pg 318]

Gret eschin stokkis tumlys to the grond;


With weggeis schydit gan the byrkis sovnd;


The felloun elmys weltis down the hillys.


Ene him self alsso, with ful gude willys


Into sik warkis, with the first, al day5


For tobe bissy gan his feris pray,


With loome in hand fast wirkand lyke the laif;


And in hys breste gan to and fra consaif,


Ful hevely, thir materis war betyde,


Behaldand the large wod on athir syde,10


Thar as he stude thus makand hys prayer:


Wald God ȝon goldyn branch list now appeir,


And kyth the self to ws in this forest!


Sen lo, al thing the prophetes exprest


Of the, Mysenus, ar our trew, allace!15


Skars war thir wordis said, quhen, in that place,


A payr of dowis fra hevin come with a flycht,


And richt forgane the mannys face dyd lycht,


And on the grene sward thar place tuke law.


This rial prynce, alssone as he thame saw,20


His moderis byrdis knew, and blithly than


Hys orison hes maid, and thus began:


O haly fowlys, gif the way may be went,


Be ȝe my gydis to compleit myne entent;


Addres ȝour cours throu owt the ayr in hy25


Onto that haly schaw, with soyl myghty,


Quhar as that rych branch the grond ourheildis.


And ȝe, my blissit moder, that our beild is


Into this dowtsum cace, be nocht away;


I ȝou beseik be favorabil to our way.30
[Pg 319]

And prayand thus, efter the spamen werd,


He prentit baith his futsteppis in the erd,


Behaldand redly quhat syngnys thai schaw,


Or quhidder thai mark, etand, pasyng on raw.


Thai at the last gan flychtir furth a space,5


Half stalkand on the grond a soft pace,


Sa fer befor Achates and Ene


As thai mycht weil behald thame with thar E.


And alssone as thai come to the entre


Of Avernus, that stynkand hellys see,10


Vprays thai swyftly, and in the moste ayr


Flaw furth, and syne gan alycht and repair


Apon thar segys, quhar thame list tobe,


Of divers naturis perkit on the tre,


Throw quhais branchis, of seir hewis mony ane,15


The brycht glittyrrand goldin cullour schane.


Lyke as ful oft, in chil wyntiris tyde,


The gum or glew, amyd the woddis wide,


Is wont to seym ȝallow on the grane new,


Quhilk nevir of that treis substance grew,20


With saffron hewit frute doyng furth sprowt,


Circulis and wymplis rownd bewis abowt:


Siklyke was of this gold the figur brycht,


That burgionyt fayr on the rank akis hycht.


Evir as the branch for pypand wynd reboundit,25


The goldin schakeris ratlis and resoundit.


Eneas smertly hynt the grayn at schone,


And, but delay, hes rent it dovn anone;


Desyrus to compleit hys way alssua,


Bair it onto the hald of Sibilla.30
[Pg 320]

And netheles Troianys, this ilk tyde,


Mysenus deth bewalit at the cost syde,


Onto the dolorus onsilly body


Funeral seruyce completand by and by.


At the begynnyng first vp hie thai beild5


A huge heip or byng amyd the feild,


Of dry ayk schydis and fat roset treys:


Al sydis tharof, als fer as ony seys,


Was dek and coverit with thir dedly bewis,


And wild cipres, the tre of mortall hewys;10


The top abufe arrayit was at richt,


And adornyt with schynand armour bricht.


Sum spedis to graith hait watir bissely


In caldronys playand on the fyre fast by:


The cald ded corps is weschin and invnct,15


Embalmyt with rich gummys euery junct.


Thai schowting, gowling, and clamour, abowt him maid;


The body syne bewalit haue thai laid


In a soft bed, and thar abuf was spred


Purpour robbis, quharwith he wont was cled:20


Sum on thar schulderis the gret beir vpbair,


A dulful office, with mony sob and rayr,


And, as the maner of tendir frendis is,


For sorow thar facis writhis away, I wys,


Puttand the kyndling in with hait fyre brand.25


Gret hepis of cens vpblesit fra hand to hand;


Cowpis and goblettis warpit in the fyre,


Ful of oyl dolyve, brynt vp brycht and schyre.


Eftir all was fallin in puldir and in as,


And the gret heit of flambis quynchit was,30
[Pg 321]

The reliqueis and the dry ammeris syne


Thai sloknyt, and gan weschin with sweit wyne:


The banys, walit by and naitly chosit,


Choryneus in a brassyn twn hes closit;


And this ilk man his feris al, but dowt,5


With cleyn watir clengit thrys abowt,


Strinkland a litil dewing, as was the gys,


With the branch of a happy olyve thrys;


He purgit and aspergit weil the men,


The lattir word, al is done! said he then.10


Eneas tho gart vp erekkit be


A sepultur, of ful huge quantite,


In takynnyng of the mannys instrumentis,


Ane ayr and eik a trumpet tharon prentis,


Vndir the mont, vmquhile Aeryus15


Was clepit, quhilk now is hait Mysenus;


Eftir his name callit perpetualy,


That evir sal his memor testify.






 CAP. IV.




Of Eneas sacrifyis be nycht,


And quhou to hel he tuk the way ful rycht.






This beand done, Sibillais commandment


Ene addressis perform incontinent.20


Thar stude a dirk and profound cave fast by,


A hieduus hoill, deip gapand and grisly,
[Pg 322]

All ful of cragis and of thir scharp flynt stanys,


Quhilk was weil dekkit and closit for the nanys


With a fowle layk, als blak as ony craw,


And skuggis dym of a ful dern wod schaw;


Abufe the quhilk na fowle may fle but skath.5


Exalationys or vapouris blak and laith


Furth of that dedly golf thrawis in the air,


Sik wys na byrd may thiddir mak repair;


Quharfor Grekis Avernus clepis this sted,


The place but fowlis, to say, or pyt of ded.10


Heir first Ene, at this ilk entre vyle,


Fowr ȝong stottis addressit, blak of pyle:


The nun Sibilla ressauys thame, and syne


Amyd thar forhedis quhelmyt on cowpis of wyne,


And of thar top, betwix the hornys twa,15


The ovirmast haris has scho pullit awa,


And in the haly ingil, as was the gys,


Kest thame, in maner of the first sacrifice,


Apon Hecate cryand, with mony a ȝell,


Mychtful in hevin and dym dungeon of hell.20


Sum slevit knyvis in the bestis throtis,


And otheris, quhilk war ordand for sik notis,


The warm new blude keppit in cowp and peys.


Ene him self a ȝow was blak of flece


Brittynnyt with hys sword, in sacrifice ful hie25


Onto the moder of the fureys thre,


And hir gret systir; and to the, Proserpyne,


A ȝeld kow all to trynschit; and eftir syne


To the infernal kyng, quhilk Pluto hait,


Hys nycht altaris begouth to dedicate:30
[Pg 323]

The hail bowkis of bestys, bayn and lyre,


Amyd the flambys kest and haly fyre;


The fat oly dyd he ȝet and peyr


Apon the entralys, to mak thame byrn cleir.


Bot lo! a litill befor the son rysyng,5


The grond begouth to rummys, croyn, and ryng,


Vndir thar feyt, and woddy toppis hie


Of thir hillys begyn to move thai se:


Amang the schaddowys and the skuggis mark


The hell hundys hard thai ȝowl and bark,10


At cummyng of the goddes Proserpyne.


Sibilla cryis, that prophetes dyvyne,


All ȝe that bene prophane, away, away;


Swith, owtwith al the sanctuar hy ȝow, hay!


And thou, quod sche, hald on thi way with me;15


Draw furth thi swerd; for now is neid, Ene,


To schaw thi manheid, and be of ferm curage.


Thus far scho said, smyte with the godly rage,


And tharwith entris in the oppynnyt cave:


Eneas onabasit, fra all the lave,20


Followis his gide with equale pays ful rycht.


O ȝhe Goddis, in quhais power and mycht


The sawlis beyn, and ȝhe dern skuggis dyrk,


Confusyt Chaos, quharof all thing beyn wirk,


Skaldand hellis flude, Flagiton, but lycht,25


Placis of silence and perpetuall nycht;


Mot it be leful to me for to tell


Tha thyngis quhilkis I haue hard said of hell,


And, by ȝour myghtis, that I may furth schaw


Seir thingis drynchit in the erd ful law,30
[Pg 324]

And deip envoluyt in myrknes and in myst.


Thai walking furth sa dyrk, oneth thai wyst


Quhidder thai went, amyd dym schaddowys thar,


Quhar evir is nycht, and nevir lyght dois repar,


Throwout the waist dongion of Pluto kyng,5


Thai voyd boundis, and that gowsty ryng:


Siklyke as quha wald throw thik woddis wend


In obscure licht, quhen moyn may nocht be kend;


As Jupiter, the kyng etheryall,


With erdis skug hydis the hevynnys all,10


And the myrk nycht, with hir vissage gray,


From every thing hes reft the hew away.


Befor the porch, and fyrst jawys of hell,


Lamentatioun and wraikfull Thochtis fell


Thar lugyng had; and tharat dwellis eyk15


Pail Maladeis, that causys folk be seik;


The feirful Dreid, and als onweldy Age,


The fellon Hungir with hir ondantit rage:


Thar was alsso the laithly Indigence,


Terribill of port, and schameful hir presence;20


The grysly Ded, at mony ane hes slane,


The hard Labour, and diseysful Pane,


The slottry Sleip, Dedis cousyng of kynd,


Inordinat Blithnes of peruersit mynd;


And in the ȝet, forganyst thame, dyd stand25


The mortall Batall with hys dedly brand,


The irne chalmeris of hellys Fureys fell,


Witles Discord, that wondryng maist crewell,


Wymplit and buskit in a bludy bend,


With snakis hung at euery harys end.30
[Pg 325]

And in the myddis of the vtyr ward,


With braid branschis spred owr al the sward,


A rank elm tre stude, huge gret, and stok ald:


The wlgar pepil in that sammyn hald


Belevis thir vayn dremys makis thar dwellyng;5


Vndir ilk leif ful thik thai stik and hyng.


Thar beyn eik monstreis of mony diuers sort:


The Centawres war stablit at this port,


The dowbil porturat Scilla with thame infeir,


Bryareus with ane hundreth formys seyr,10


The bysnyng best, the serpent of Lerna,


Horribilly quhysland, and quent Chymera


With fyre enarmyt on hir toppis hie,


The laithly Harpyes, and the Gorgones thre;


Of thrynfald bodeys gaistly formys dyd grone,15


Baith of Erylus and of Geryon.


Eneas smartly, for the hasty dreid,


Hynt furth hys swerd in this place, and, gud speid,


The drawin blaid he profferis thar and heir


Onto tha monstreis, evir as thai drew neir;20


And war not his expert mait Scybilla


Tawcht him thai war bot voyd gaistis all tha,


But ony bodeis, as wandrand wrechis waist,


He had apon thame ruschit in gret haist,


And with his bytand brycht brand, all invane,25


The twme schaddowis smyttyn to haue slane.




[Pg 326]




 CAP. V.




Tyll hellys fludys Ene socht neddyrmar,


And Palynurus, hys sterysman, fand thar.






Fra thyne, strekis the way profond onone


Deip onto hellys flude of Acheron;


With holl bysme, and hydduus swelch onrude,


Drumly of mud, and skaldand as it war wod,


Popland and bulrand furth on athir hand5


Onto Cochitus all his slyke and sand.


Thir ryveris and thir watyris kepit war


By ane Charon, a grisly ferryar,


Terribil of schap, and sluggart of array:


Apon his chyn feil cannos harys gray,10


Lyart feltrat tatis; with burnand eyn red,


Lyk twa fyre blesys fixit in his hed;


Hys smottrit habyt, owr his schulderis lydder,


Hang pevagely knyt with a knot togiddir.


Hymself the cobill dyd with hys bolm furth schow,15


And, quhen hym lyst, halit vp salys fow.


This ald hasart careis owr fludis hoyt


Spretis and figuris in hys irne hewyt boyt,


All thocht he eildit was, or step in age,


Als fery and als swippir as a page;20


For in a god the age is fresch and greyn,


Infatigabill and immortall as thai meyn.


Thiddir to the bra swarmyt all the rowt


Of ded gostis, and stud the bank abowt;
[Pg 327]

Baith matronys, and thar husbandis, all yferis,


Ryal pryncis, and nobill chevaleris,


Smal childering, and ȝong damysellis onwed,


And fair springaldis laitly ded in bed,


In fader and moderis presence laid on beir.5


Als gret number thiddir thikkit infeir,


As, in the first frost eftir hervist tyde,


Levis of treys in the wod doys slyde;


Or byrdis flokkis owr the fludis gray,


Onto the land seikand the nerrest way,10


Quhom the cald sesson cachis owr the see,


Into sum benar realm and warm cuntre.


Thar stude thai prayand sum support to get,


That thai mycht with the formast owr be set,


And gan vp heving petuusly handis twa,15


Langand to be apon the forthir bra.


Bot this soroful boytman, with brym luyk,


Now thir, now thame, within his veschel tuke;


And other sum expellit, and maid do stand


Far from the ryvage syde apon the sand.20


Awondrit of this sterage, and the pres,


Say me, virgyn, quod Ene, or thou ces,


Quhat menys sik confluence at this watir side?


Quhat wald thir sawlys? quhy nyl thai nocht byde?


Quhilk causis beyn, or quhat diuersite,25


Sum from the brays thame withdraw I se;


Ane other sort, eik, of thir sawlys ded


Rollyt owr this ryver, cullorit as the led?


Thys ancyant religius woman than,


But mair delay, to answer thus began:30
[Pg 328]

Anchises get, heynd child, curtas and gude,


Discend ondowtabil of the Goddis blude,


The deip stank of Cochitus doith thou se,


And eik the hellis puyll, hait Stix, quod sche,


Be quhais myghtis the Goddis ar full laith,5


And dredis sair, to sweir, syne fals thar aith.


All thir, thou seis stoppit at the schor,


Beyn helples folk, onerdit and forlor;


Ȝon grysly ferryar to name Charon hait;


Thai beyn all bereyt he careys in hys bayt.10


It is not to him lefull, he ne may


Thame ferry owr thir rowtand fludis gray,


Nor to the hydduus ȝonder costys haue,


Quhil thar banys be laid to rest in graue.


Quha ar onbereit ane hundreth ȝer mon bide,15


Waverand and wandrand by this bankis syde:


Than, at the last, to pas owr in this boyt


Thai beyn admyt, and costis thame not a grote,


And frely may behaldyn or espy


Tha lakis, quhilkis thame langis to vissy.20


Anchises son tho styntis a litil stownd,


And baith his futsteppis fixit in the grond,


Musyng in mynd sum deil, sad in a part,


And of this hard forton kauth rewth in hart.


Thar saw he, dolorus and wofull of cheir,25


But funeral seruyce, nevir laid on beir,


Lucaspes and Orontes, baith twane,


Quhilum masteris of the schyp Lyciane;


Quham baith yfeir, as said befor haue we,


Saland from Troy throw owt the wally see,30
[Pg 329]

The dedly storm ourquhelmyt with a quiddir,


Baith men and schip welt vnder flude togyddir.


Lo! Palynurus eyk, his sterysman,


Amang otheris fast to the watir ran,


Quhilk laitly saland in the Libyane see,5


As that he gan behald the starnys hie,


Togidder with the helmstok, quhar he stude,


Owr schipburd swakkit was amyd the flude.


And skarsly as Ene gan hym espy,


Amang dirk skowgis standand full drery,10


First he him gretis, sayand to him thus;


Quhilk of the goddis, O Palynurus,


The ws bereft, and drynt amyd the see?


Quhow tyd that cace? declar me, I pray the.


For certis, bricht Apollo nevir or now15


Was fals to me; bot I wait neuer how


Of hys answer twiching the he ravyt,


And hes my mynd tharin al hail dissavit;


That schew thow suld hailskarth owr the see


Onto the grond of Ital cum, quod he:20


Se, thus his lawte and promyt is keip!


The tother answeris with a petuus peip:


Maist worthy Duke, Anchises son sa deir,


Nowder hath the of Phebus the answer,


Vndir his secrete cortyne, so dissave,25


Ne ȝit na God sa far has me bywave,


Nor drownyt in the deip, as ȝe beleve.


Bot, as I slaid our burd to my myscheve,


The helmstok, or gubernakil of tre,


Quharwith I rewlit owr cours throu the see,30
[Pg 330]

Lenand tharon sa fast, per cace it threw,


And rent away owr burd with me I drew.


The wally seys to wytnes draw I heir,


That for my self tuke I nane sa gret feir


As of thi schip, quhom that I knew ful quyte5


Spulȝeit of hir graith, and lodysman furth smyte,


Dreding scho suld haue perist in sik neid,


Owr the huge swelland fludis rays on breid.


The sowth wynd Nothus thre days me drave


Throw owt the see, with violent wallys wave:10


Skars on the ferd day at morn dyd I spy,


Heich from the wallys croppis, Italy.


Huly and fair onto the cost I swam:


And tho almaist in surte cummyn I am;


Ne war the crewel pepil of tha landis,15


As that I grippit with my crukit handis


The scharp rolkis toppys at the schoyr,


In hevy wayt frog stad, and chargyt soyr,


Thai gan with irne wapynnys me invaid,


Wenyng a spy that I had beyn, thai said,20


From thar cuntre sum pray to dryve away.


So now I am bedyit in fludis gray,


And wyndis warpis my corps apon the strandis.


Quharfor I pray the, hevand vp my handis,


And be the plesand light of hevin requiris,25


And by the hailsum ayr at thou inspiris,


And be thi weilbelovit fader dyng,


And gude hope of thi ȝong sonnys ofspryng;


O thou onvenquyst valyant champyoun,


Delyuyr me fra thir gret harmys onon:30
[Pg 331]

Or, at the leist, grave me in sepulture,


Sen weil thow kan, and may perform that cur:


Speir to the portis quhilkis Velynos hayt;


Or gyf thar may be fundyn ony gayt,


Quhilk thy blyssit moder hes the techit rycht,5


Reke thy rycht hand onto this wrechit wight,


And haue me with the our thir fludis red;


So, at the leist, I may, eftir my ded,


Into sum plesand sted remane and rest:


For I beleve fermly thou nocht addrest10


Sa large fludis, but Goddis authoryte,


Nor Stix this layk fortil owr swym, quod he.


Quhen that he had thir wordis said expres,


Syk answer til hym maid the prophetes:


Palynurus, quod scho, thou sary syre,15


Quhiddir is becummyn sik ondantyt desyre


To the, and fers will sa onressonabill?


Wenys thou, onerdyt now, and thus onhabill,


Owr Stix the hellys puyll sik wys to fair,


And grysly fludis, abowt quham doith repar20


Thir dreidfull fureys, to behald and se?


Oncallyt, on the ȝondyr bra wald thou be?


Desist, and ces to weyn with thy prayer


The goddis decrete at thou may brek or steir.


Bot now inprent in thy remembrance25


Thir wordys, in solace of thy hard chance.


Quhar thy body is at this tyme present,


For feir tharof, the pepil adiacent,


By wondir takynnys from the hevynnys schaw,


Constrenyt, sal bygrave thy banys law,30
[Pg 332]

And on thy corps erect a sepultur,


Doyng tharto solempnyt funeral cur:


Palynurus to name that place for thy


Sal bare, and clepit be perpetualy.


With thir wordis assuagit hys hevy thocht,5


And fra hys sorofull hart, as that he mocht,


Sum deil expellyt hes the dolorus cayr,


Reiosyt of the grond hys surname bayr.


Quharfor Eneas and Scybill, baith tway,


As thai begunnyn had, held furth thar way.10






 CAP. VI.




Owr Stix the flude quhou that Ene dyd fair,


And Cerberus in cave hard ȝell and rayr.






And as thai gan approch toward the flude,


This churlych boyt man, on Stix quhar he stude,


Alswyth as he persavit thame cum swa


Throw the darn wod, and draw nerar the bra;


First with sik bustuus wordis he thame grat,15


And, but offence, gan thame chidyng thus plat:


Quhat evir thou be, that cummys enarmyt so


Towart owr fludis, quhiddir etlys thou go?


For quhat caus come thou hyddir? tell me tyte;


Stand styl thar as thou art, with mekill syte.20


Pres na forthir, for this is the hald richt


Of Gaistis, Schaddowys, Sleip, and dovyrrit Nycht:
[Pg 333]

Onlefull war, and ane forbodyn thing,


Within this passyngear our Stix to bryng


Ony levand wight. Certis, in myne entent,


I am nocht glaid ȝyt of the last sa went;


Nor that I careyt Hercules owr this layk,5


Ne Theseus, and Pyrothous hys mayk:


All thocht thai war cummyn of goddis lynage,


And invynsibill of strenth and vassallage.


For this ilk Hercules, with hys stalwart handis,


The grym wardane of hell strenyt in bandis,10


And drew hym trymlyng from the kyngis trone:


The tothyr twa gret violence wald haue done;


The fresch Proserpyne, Plutois lady gay,


Furth of hir bowr begouth to led away.


To hym agane this answer maid expres15


Of Amphrisya Phebus prophetes:


Do all suspicioun furth of thy consate;


Heir is, quod scho, nane sik gyle nor dissate;


Na violence owr wapynnys doith pretend:


Weill lykis ws, it doith ws not offend,20


Thocht in his cave ȝour hydduus portar


ȝowland affray the ded gaistis evyrmar;


We stand content, it sufficyth ws alssua,


That ay remane the chaste Proserpina


Within hir fader broderis boundis and ryng.25


Bot heir is cummyng, of kyng Troas ofspring,


Eneas, full of piete and knychthed,


To vissy hys luffit fader, quhilk is ded,


Discendit to the law skuggis of hell.


Of sa gret vertu and piete, quhilk I tell,30
[Pg 334]

Gyf na considerance may the move, quod sche,


At leist thou knawys this goldin granyt tre:


And, with that word, the branch schew and omdyd,


That pryvely vndir hyr clok was hyd.


The rageand hart, all full of wraith and ire,5


Than wolx appesit of this laithly syre,


And, but ma wordys, or langar delay,


Awondryt of the presand fresch and gay,


Thys fatale wand sa precyus was, I meyn,


That he tofor a lang tyme had nocht seyn,10


Hys watry hewyt boyt, haw lyke the see,


Towart thame turnys and addressis he,


And gan approch onto the bra in heast.


Syne othir sawlys expellit hes and chast


Furth of hys bayt, quhilk sat endlang the wayll;15


He strekyt sone hys ayris, and grathis his saill,


And tharwithall the byg weghty Ene


Within his veschell boddum ressavis he.


Vndir the paysand and the hevy charge


Gan grane or geig full fast the sewit barge,20


Sa ful of ryftys, and with lekkis perbrake,


Scho suppit huge watir of the layk.


Bot, at the last, owtour the flude ȝit than


Salfly scho brocht baith prophetes and man,


And furth thame set amyd the fowl glar,25


Amang the fawch ryspys harsk and sear.


Cerberus, the hydduus hund, that regioun


Fordynnys, barkand with thre mowthis sown,


Onmesurabill in hys cave quhar he lay


Richt our forgane thame in the hie way:30
[Pg 335]

Quhom till the prophete, behaldand quhou in hy


Hys nekkis wolx of eddyrris all grysly,


A sop, stepyt intill hunny als fast,


And of enchantit cornys maid, gan cast.


For hungyr wod, he gapys with throtis thre,5


Swith swellyand that morsell raucht had sche,


And tho hys terribyll body with a rerd


He tumlys owr, liggyn on the erd;


Of huge statur, and fellon quantite,


Our all the cave furth strekit him hes he.10






 CAP. VII.




The circulyt ways in hell Eneas saw,


And fand queyn Dido in the myr tre schaw.






Thus quhil the portar in sleip sowpit lyis,


The entre tho Eneas occupyis,


And owr the fludis bank ful swyftly sprent,


Quhais passage is onreturnabill went.


Onon thai hard seir vocis lamentabill,15


Gret walyng, quhympring, sprachis miserabill.


In the first cyrkill, or the vtyr ward,


Ȝong babys sawlys weping sor thai hard;


Quhom the hasty and blak duylful day


Sowkand thar moderis pap had reft away,20


From the swete lyfe twynnyt ontymusly,


As cayrful corps plungit in grave gart ly.
[Pg 336]

Nixt thame, the secund place tha folkis hes


Wrangwysly put to ded for cryme sakles.


Nor, sykkyrly, thir settis to ilke wight


War nocht assignit but juge, doym, and rycht:


For kyng Mynos, inquisitour and justice,5


The fatale vrne and ballance at device


Rewlys equaly, and be discretioun steris


To consale and to jugement as efferis;


The silly gostis callys in that secret cage,


Baith of thar life and crymys takkand knawlage.10


Syne eftir thir, al sory and full of cayr,


The thryd place haldis, and sal evir mayr,


Giltles folk, that for disdene, wo, or fed,


With thar awin handis wrocht thar self to ded,


And, irkit of the life at thai war in,15


Thar sweit sawlys maid fra the body twyn.


O, quhat penuryte and hard distres infeir


Wald thai now suffir tobe in this warld heir!


Bot the fatis and goddis decrete gaynstandis


That thai may nevir return onto thir landis:20


The woful puyl with watyr onlufly


Withhaldis thame, so at thai may nocht go by,


And Stix, the flude, bylappis thame abowt


Nyne tymys, sa clos at thai sal nevir wyn owt.


Nocht far from thens, wide quhar on euery syde,25


Thai mycht behald the large fieldis wyde


And boundis of Complaynt, all voyd of lycht;


Sa beyn thai clepit properly at rycht;


Quharin war all by strang lufe in thar days


With sik crewel infectioun wastit away is:30
[Pg 337]

The hydlys held thai and the roddis darn,


A myr tre wod about thame lowkyt ȝarn:


Thar paynfull musyng and thar hevy thocht,


Eftir thar ded alsso, forȝet thai nocht.


Thar was Phedra, the spows of Theseus,5


And Procrys eyk, the wyfe of Cephalus;


In that ilke sted was trist Eryphyle;


Hir crewell sonnys wondis schawis sche:


Evadne he beheld, and Laodomya,


And Pasyphe in falloschip with tha,10


And Ceneus, first a wench, and syne a man,


In hyr ald schap eftir ded changit than.


Amang otheris the Phenyssyane Dido


Within the gret wod walkis to and fro,


The greyn wound gapand in hir breist all new:15


Quhom as the Troiane barrown nerrer drew,


And throw the dyrk schaddowis first dyd knaw;


Sikwys as quha throw clowdy skyis saw,


Or, at the leist, wenys he heth do se,


The new moyn quhen first vp walxis sche;20


The terys leyt he fall, and tendyrly


With hartly lufe begrat hir thus in hy.


O fey Dido, sen I persave the heyr,


A sovir warning, now I knaw ful cleir,


Was schawin me, at thou with swerd was slaw,25


Byreft thi self the lyfe, and brocht of daw.


Alace, I was the causar of thy ded!


By al the starnys schynys abone our hed,


And be the Goddis abone, to the I swer,


And be the faith and lawte, gif ony heir30
[Pg 338]

Trewth may be fund deip vndir erd, quod he,


Malgre my wyl, Prynces, sa mot I the,


From thy costis depart I was constrenyt.


Bot the commandment of the Goddis onsenyt,


Quhais gret mychtis hes me hyddir dryve,5


To pas throwout thir dirk schaddowis belyve,


By gowsty placis, welch savorit, must, and hair,


Quhar profund nycht perpetual doith repar,


Compellit me from the forto dissevir;


Nor in my mynde ymagyn mycht I nevir,10


For my departing or absens, I wys,


Thou suldist kaucht sa gret dyseys as this.


Do stynt thy pays; abide, thou gentil wight;


Withdraw the not sa sone furth of my sight.


Quham fleist thou? this is the lattir day,15


By werdis schape, that with the speke I may.


With sik wordis Eneas, full of wo,


Set him to meys the sprete of Queyn Dido;


Quhilk, all inflambit, full of wreth and ire,


With acquart luke glowand hait as fyre,20


Maid him to weip, and sched furth teris wak.


All fremmytly frawart hym, as he spak,


Hir eyn fixit apon the grond held sche,


Moving na mair hir curage, face, nor bre,


Than scho had bene a statu of marbil stane,25


Or a ferm rolk of Mont Marpesyane.


Bot finaly, full swyft scho wiskis away,


Aggrevit fled in the darn woddis gray;


Quhar as Sycheus, hir first spows, ful suyr


Corespondis to hir desyre and cuyr,30
[Pg 339]

Rendring in lufe amouris equiualent.


And, netheles, fast eftir hir furth sprent


Ene, perplexit of hir sory cace,


And weping gan hir follow a weil lang space,


Regratand in his mynd, and had piete5


Of the distres that movit hir so to fle.






 CAP. VIII.




The ward of worthy weyrmen now Ene


Beheld, and heir with Deiphobus spak he.






Wyth al his speid fra thens he tuk the gayt


That was ontil him grantit by hys fayt.


And sone thai war in cummyn to the plane


And lattir wardys, quharin dois remane10


Valyant folkis in feild and chevalry,


Tha secret stedis hantand by and by.


Heir him recontrit Parthenopeus,


And intil armys valyant Tedeus;


The pail gost eik of Adrastus the king.15


Thar saw he als, with huge greyt and murnyng


In mydlerd oft menyt, thir Troianys


Duryng the sege that into batale slane is:


Quhom as he gan behald wydequhar on raw,


Ful tendirly complenyng, thar he saw20


Glawcus, Medontus, and Thersylocus,


Anthenoris thre sonnys, and Polybetus
[Pg 340]

Onto the goddes Ceres consecrate;


Ideus saw he in his ald estate,


Baith rewland ȝit his cart, and wapynnys weildand.


Onto Eneas left side and rycht hand


The sawlys flokkis, circulyt in a rowt:5


Not sufficyt thame to spy him anys abowt;


Bot, desiring he tareit evir mair,


Furth with him forto walkin and repar


Weil lykis thame, towart him fast to thring,


And to inquire the caus of his cummyng.10


The nobillis eik of Grekis, one by one,


With the gret rowtis of Agamenon,


Alsone as thai the stalwart Troiane saw


In brycht armour amyd the schaddowis law,


Gretly afferd war smyte with fellon dreid:15


Sum gave the bak, takand the flycht gude speid,


As quhilum thai onto thar schippis socht;


Sum rasyt a cry with waik voce, as thai mocht:


Bot al for nocht, thar clamour was ful skant,


The sovndis brak with gasping or a gant.20


Syne Deiphobus, quhilum armypotent,


Kyng Pryamis son, with body tore and rent,


Thar he beheld, and crewel manglit face,


Vissage menȝeit, and baith hys handis, allace!


Half-hedis spulȝeit, of stowyt his erys tway,25


By schaymful wound hys nes cuttit away.


With gret difficulte he him skarsly knew,


Trymlyng for lak, eschamyt red of hew,


As that he mycht, hydand hys fellon woundis:


Ondemandit, with frendly wordis and sovndis30
[Pg 341]

Ene hym grat, sayand; Of gret renown,


Deiphobus, armypotent champyoun,


Quha hes, allace! the marthyrit swa and slane


By sa crewel tormentis and hydduus pane?


Quhou euer was ony sufferit the sa to dight?5


It was me tald, of Troy the lattir nyght,


Thou, wery and forfochtin in that sted


For sa feil Grekis be thi dyntis ded,


Abuf the hepe of ded corpsis ourane


Fell down for bled, thar standing thyne allane.10


Than I my self, fra this was to me schaw,


Down at the nes Rethe, by the costis law,


A voyd tumbe rasyt, and with lowd voce thrys


Apon the wrethis and wandrand gaistis cryis.


Thy armys and thy name that place doith hald.15


My frend, thy body kouth I nocht behald


Nor fynd, thocht I wald it haue gravit eft,


The tyme quhen I our natyve cuntre left.


Kyng Pryamis son maid answer; suyth is it,


Na thing, my deir frend, dyd thou pretermyt;20


All that thou aucht to Deiphobus, ilk deill


Thou hest perfurnyst worthely and weil,


As to my berial and sprete appertenyt.


Bot my hard fatis war wers than thou wenyt:


For the detestabill cursyt wikkytnes25


Of Helyn born in Lacena, I ges,


Has me involuyt in thir harmys ȝe se:


Thir ar hir last luf drowreis left with me.


Ful weil thou wait quhou that the lattir nycht


In fals myrthis we spendyt, euery wight;30
[Pg 342]

Allace the quhile! our gret mater of cayr


Behuffis ws hald in memor euermar:


Quhen that the fatale hors, to our ennoy,


Com speland owr the hie wallys of Troy,


With belly chargit full of armyt men;5


That strang lurdane than, quham weil ȝe ken,


The Troiane matronys hedis in a ryng,


Fenȝeand to Bachus feste and karellyng;


Amyddis al the laif a gret fyre brand,


Byrnand ful cleir, scho haldis in hir hand,10


Quharwith, out from the master streyt of Troy,


The Grekis dyd scho bekyn and convoy.


This ilk tyme me, with hevy curis lang


Of irksum weir and sad, slumrys strang


Oppressit, for my walkyn mony fald,15


My fey chalmer gan my body hald.


Fordoverit as I lay in to that sted,


In swete profound rest of sleip lyke soft ded,


That notabil spows furth of hir lugyng place,


This meyn sesson, al armour dyd arrace;20


My trasty sword fra vnder my hed away


Stall scho, and in the place brocht Menelay;


The chalmer durris oppynnyt scho in hy,


Wenyng to wyrk a hie plesour tharby


To hir first luffar, and hir ald schame25


Tharthrou to quynche, and recover gud name.


Quhat suld I tarry, or ȝou langar hald?


The Grekis ruschit in the chalmyr thik fald:


Amang al otheris sammyn thiddir spedis


That schrew prouocar of all wikkyt dedis,30
[Pg 343]

Eolus nevo, cursyt Vlixes sle.


On siklyke wys as thar thai dyd with me,


Gret goddis mot the Grekis recompens,


Gif I may thyg avengeans but offens!


Bot say me this agane, frend, altogidder,5


Quhat aventur hes brocht the levand hydder?


Quhidder wavyt wilsum by storm of the see,


Or at command of goddis, com thou, quod he?


Or quhat fortoun doith the cach and steyr,


That to this sory hald thou cummys heir,10


To vissy this trublyt dym regioun,


Quhar evir is nycht, and nevir son ȝit schon?






 CAP. IX.




Sibilla carpand tyl Ene gan tell


The tormentis of deip drery paynful hell.






The quhile as thai thus carpyt to and fra,


Hir rosy charyot the fresch Aurora


Amydwart of the hevynnys assiltre15


Begouth fortil vproll and rays on hie;


The myd declynyng of hir cowrs was went:


And thai, percace, on sik wys mycht haue spent


The tyme compleyt was for thar journe grant;


Bot sone hym warnys Scibilla the sant,20


His trew marrow, gan schortlie to him say:


The nycht, Eneas, slydis fast away;
[Pg 344]

Weping the howris we consume and waist:


Heir is the place quhar owr passage in haist


Departit is, and sched in stretis twane.


This way, towart the rycht hand, strekis plane


To the hie wallys of Schir Ditis kyng;5


It is our reddy went, quhilk sall ws bring


Onto the plesand playn of Elyse:


This other gait, on the left hand ȝe se,


Convoys onto the sted of fell torment,


Quhar dampnyt schrewis in Tartarus ar sent10


In woful pyt perpetual to remane.


Than Deiphobus maid this answer agane:


Beis nocht agrevit, souerane nun, I pray,


I sal no langar dwel, bot go my way;


I sal compleyt my number furth, quod he,15


And to dym schaddowis rendrit sall I be.


Pas on, pas on, our wirschip and renown!


Mair prosper chance to hant go mak the bown!


Thus fer spak Deiphobus, and, with that saw,


About turnyt hys pays, and gan withdraw.20


Eneas blent him by, and suddanly


Vndir a rolk at the left syde dyd spy


A wondir large castell, strang and stowt,


With wallys thrynfald lappit rownd about;


Quham the grysly Tartareane Flagiton,25


That ravenus flude, closys enveron,


With watir blesand brym in fyry low,


And rolland stanys rumland deip and how.


The port in foirfront was ful huge gret;


Of ferm adamant war the pillaris bet,30
[Pg 345]

Sa that na fors of men mycht thame down myne,


Nor ȝit the strenth of goddis with strang ingyne:


Ane irne towr stude beildit wondir hie,


Quhilk semyt forto reke vp in the skye.


Tysiphone, that furyus monstre wild,5


In bludy caip revestit and oursild,


Sittis kepand, but sleip, baith nycht and day,


That sory entre and this porch alway.


Tho begouth thai first in this sted to heyr


Murnyng, granyng, gowlyng, and duylfull beir:10


Feil crewell strakis smytyn hard thai sovnd,


Frasyng of irne fettris and chanys rovnd.


Ene gan him arrest, in mind within


Al abasit, herknand this feirfull dyn.


O haly virgyn, say furth now, quod he,15


Quhat kynd of grysly turment may this be?


In quhat punytioun, panys, and distres,


Beyn sawlis ȝondir strenȝeit, prophetes?


Quhat menys this bruyt, weping, and woful cryis,


With sik walyng semys fordyn the skyis?20


Scibilla thus begouth answer agane:


O wirschipfull and gentil duke Troiane,


It is nocht lesum to nane innocent wight


Within boundis of wikkytnes or onrycht


Til entir, nor attayn to neir that ȝet;25


Bot the first tyme Proserpyn maid and set


Me mastres of Avern, hir hallowit schaw,


The Goddys turmentis gan scho to me schaw,


And me convoyit thar throw euery sted.


This maist dolorus realm to steir and led30
[Pg 346]

Hes Radamanthus, vmquhile of Creyt kyng,


Haldand maste scharp and sayr lawys in hys ryng;


Chastiand folkis, speris thar offence expres;


By turment thame compellis thar cryme confes,


Synnys committit abufe in the erd,5


Quham ony, joyand to thar awin wanwerd,


But proffyt doith conseil, hyde, or delay,


Onamendit quhil dedis lattyr day.


Syk wikkyt and condampnyt wightis, als tyte


As thai cum in that dolly pyt of syte,10


Tysyphone, the wrekar of mysdedis,


With quhip in hand al reddy fast hir spedis


Thame to assail, to tor, skurge, and bete,


And with hir left hand terribil eddyrris gret


Thik at thame swakkis; syne, to pyne thame, doith call15


Of fel torment the rowt of systyrris all.


And tho at last with horribil sovndis trist


Tha wareit portis, iargand on the hirst,


Warpit vp braid. Lo! ȝondir may thou se


Quhat kynd wardane syttis in the porch, quod sche,20


And quhou terribill of contenans and cheir


Thou hir behaldis kepis the entre heir:


Ane mair feirful monstre and mair fell,


Ane vgly serpent, syttis within ȝon hell,


With fyfty hydduus blak throtis gapand.25


And forthir eik ȝon Tartarus ay trymland,


Quhilk is of hell the dirk dungeon and pyt,


Dippis twys als holl down, I lat the wyt,


Semyng so law vnder the erth reke,


As that our sight may vp to hevynnys streke.30
[Pg 347]

Tharin the ancyant lynage of the erd,


Thir gyantis hait Tytanas, be wanwerd


With thundris blast dovn smytyn and ourthraw,


Ar warpyt in ȝon pottis boddum law.


Thar saw I eyk Aloeus twynnys twane,5


Othus and Ephialtes, bredir germane,


With huge bodeis, that pressyt dovn to rent


With thar handis the large firmament,


And by thar fors begouth expell the kyng,


Hie Jupiter, furth of his hevynly ryng.10


Thar I beheld Salmoneus alsswa,


In crewel torment sufferand mekil wa,


For that he gan to contyrfet him cast


Gret Jovis fyre and hevynly thundris blast.


By horssis four furth rollit was his char,15


Secret condytis of fyre smytand sayr,


Throwout the pepil of Greys and of Arcad,


Amyd the cite of Elys, blith and glaid,


Prowd and haltand in hys hart, walkyt he,


And as a god bad honorit he suld be;20


For that, intil his dotage and fuyl heyt,


By sownd of bras and stampand stedis feyt,


He maid hym forto feyn a simylitude


Of clowdis blast, and rumland thundir rude,


Quhilk on na wys aucht to be contyrfet.25


Bot the hie fader Almychty from hys set


Throw thyk clowdis at hym hys dart dyd thraw;


Nowder blak fyre brand, nor reky flambys law;


Bot suddanly with a fel bles of thundyr


Threw hym to grond, and smayt him al in sondyr.30
[Pg 348]

To Tytyos thar was I schawin in deid,


With body speldyt nyne akyr on breid,


That fostyr child vmquhile was cleyp and call


Onto the Erth, quhilk moder is of all:


Ane hydduus grype with bustuus bowland beyk5


Hys maw immortal doith pyk and owrreik,


Hys brudy bowellys torryng with huge payn,


Furth rentyng all, hys fuyd to fang full fayn,


Vndir his cost holkand in wail law,


And sparis nocht to rug, ryfe, and gnaw;10


All thocht the entrallis springis new ilk day,


Thai get na rest, the fowle hes thar hys pray.


Quhat suld I rekkyn tha pepil of Thessaly,


That Lapytas ar hait, for gluttony


Distroyt all? of Ixion to tell,15


Or Pyrothous, quhat nedis langar dwell?


Abuf quhom hyngis blak quhyn stanys gret,


Ay semand reddy to fall and thame to bete.


Befor Tantalus, and ane othir sort,


The goldin trestys schynand standis ourthwort,20


Vndir ryche tablys dight for maniory,


Quharon, forgane thar face, is sett reddy


All danteys langand tyl a kyngis fest.


Bot ane the gretast Fureys gan arest,


Syttand tharby, and hungyr in thame blawys;25


And netheles thar handys scho withdrawys,


So that the mesys twichyn dar thai nocht:


As that thai mynt tharto, than all onflocht


With hait fyre brand in hand vp dois scho rys,


Fleyis thame with flambe, grym luke, and vgly cryis.30
[Pg 349]

Thai beyn alsso within ȝon pyt turment


Quhilk at thar bredir envy held or haitrent,


Quhil that thai levyt in this present lyfe;


And tha quhom by, throu thar deray and stryfe,


Thar faderis warryn chasyt in exile;5


All tha that ony falset, slyght, or gyle,


Aganys thar seruandis or famyliaris wrocht;


And tha that, only settyng all thar thocht


Apon thar ryches quhilk wonnyn thai haue,


Tuke nocht thar nedis tharof, nor na man gave,10


Of quhom ȝondir beyn ane ful huge rowt;


And all tha for adultry schent, but dowt,


And tha that movyt wrangwys batall or weyr,


Tha not eschamyt thar promys to forswer,


Brekand lawte plight in thar lordys hand:15


All sik inclusyt ar ȝondyr, abydand


Every day new panys perpetualy.


Speir not at me, for nocht declar can I,


Quhat diuers kyndis of torment ȝondir thoil thai,


Nor ȝit quhat sort of payn is deput ay20


For ilk trespas: to rekkyn I tak na keip


Quhat mysforton thame plungis in ȝon deip.


For sum weltris a gret stane vp the bra,


Of quhom in numbir is Sisyphus ane of tha:


On quhelis spakis speldyt otheris hyngis.25


The maist wrechit of all princis and kyngis,


Phlegyas, vmquhile kyng of Thessaly,


All mortale wightis admonysys, with his cry


And lowd voce throw the dyrk awytnessyng:


Be myne exampill all wightis, prynce and kyng,30
[Pg 350]

Lernys, quod he, to hant justice and rycht,


And not contem the goddis strentht and mycht.


Thar syttis eik, and sal syt evir mair,


The fey onhappy Thesyus, full of cair.


Sum ȝondir beyn, for reddy gold in hand,5


Sald and betrasyt thar natyve realm and land,


And tharin brocht a myghty tyrrant strang:


Sum otheris eik, for pryce or meid to fang,


That lawys maid and onmaid, as thame list.


Thar beyn alsso, ful sorofull and tryst,10


Thai quhilk thar dochteris chalmer vyolate,


Or, havand na regard to thar estate,


Forbodyn or incestuus mariage


Gan hantyng by ondantit lustis rage.


And schortly, all durst ymagyn or compas15


Mastirfull wrang, myscheif, or wykkytnes,


Or ony sik consait brocht to effek,


Heir evyrmar the charge lyis on thar nek.


All thocht ane hundretht scharp tungis had I,


Ane hundreth mowthis forto clepe and cry,20


Tharto my voce war strang as irne or steill,


All kynd of vicis to comprehend, half deill,


Nor all the namys of tormentis and of panys


I mycht nocht rekkyn, that in ȝon hald remanys.




[Pg 351]




 CAP. X.




Quhou finaly Scibilla and Ene


Com to the plesand plane of Elyse.






Fra that the ancyant nun of Dan Phebus


Thir wordys endyt had, and spokkyn thus;


Haue done, quod scho, now tak thi way expres,


Perform thy wark quhilk thou begunnyn hes:


Speid ws fordwart; for ȝondir, lo, I se5


Of Plutois chymmys the byg wallys hie,


Forgyt of irne full craftely and bet


Be the Ciclopes furth of thar furnace het;


Eik I behald, lo, heir forgane our face,


Tha portis with thar stalwart bow or brace,10


Quhar our instructioun techis ws ful plane


This presand thar to leif and goldyn grane.


Thus said scho; and onon tharwith baith tway


Gan walkyn furth throwout the darn way,


And sone our passyt hes the myddill space,15


Approchyng to the portis of that place.


Eneas baldly sprang in at the ȝet,


Hys body strynkillit, or a litill wet,


With cleir spryngand watir ran tharby;


Forgane thame eik, at the entre, in hy20


The goldyn branch he stykkis vp far and weill.


This beand done at last, and euery deil


Perfurnyst langyng the goddes gyft gay,


Ontil a plesand grond cummyn ar thai,
[Pg 352]

With battil gyrs, fresch herbys, and beyn swardis,


The lusty orchardis and the hailsum ȝardis


Of happy sawlys and weil fortunat,


To blissyt wightis the placis preparat.


Thir feildis beyn largiar, and hevynnys brycht5


Ravestis thame with purpur schynand lycht:


The starnys, for this place conuenient,


Knawis weil thar son and obseruys his went.


Sum thar, amyd the gresy planys greyn,


Into palestral plays thame betweyn10


Thar membris gan exers, and hand for hand


Thai fal to werslyng on the goldyn sand,


Assayand honest gemmys thame to schort:


Sum other hantyng gan ane other sport,


As forto dansyng, and to leid the ryng,15


To syng ballatis, and go in karalyng.


Thar was alsso the preist and menstrale sle,


Orpheus of Trace, in syd rob harpand hie,


Playand proportionys and spryngis dyvyne


Apon his harp, sevyn diuers sovndis fyne;20


Now with gymp fyngris doyng stryngis smyte,


And now with subtel evyr poyntalis lyte.


Heir was the nobil kyn and ancyant strynde,


The maist dowchty lynage sprang be kynde


Fra king Tewcer, campyones souerane,25


Into mair happy ȝeris born ilkane:


Thar was Ilus, and eik Assaracus,


And the begynnar of Troy, Schir Dardanus.


On fer Eneas and als Sibilla


Awondrit war, and mervellis baith twa30
[Pg 353]

The armour and the men for to behald,


And voyd charyotis of thir chyftanys bald.


Thar sperys stikkyng in the erd dyd stand;


Wydquhar al lows owr feildis and the land


Pasturyt thar horsis, rakand thame fast by:5


For quhat plesour of armys or chevalry,


Or quhat cuyr to addres thar cart or wedis,


To fedyng and to dant thar sleik swail stedis,


Thai hantit quhil thai levyt heir alyve,


The sammyn solace, be thai man or wyfe,10


Ȝit doith thame follow vndir the erth stad.


And lo, ane other sort, ful blyth and glaid,


On athir hand behaldis Eneas,


At banket on the greyn herbys set was,


In loving of the goddis joyusly15


Ympnys of pryce, triumphe, and victory,


All syngand glaid togydder in falloschip,


And pryncipaly Apollo to worschip:


Within a wod of lawrer greyn thai dwell,


Fragrant of sweit odour and hailsum smell,20


Quhar throw the schawis scheyn in strandis seir


Erydanus, the hevynly ryver cleyr,


Flowys contyrmont and vpwart to the lift.


Within this place, in al plesour and thryft,


Ar hail the pissance quhilk, in just batal,25


Slane in defens of thar kynd cuntre fell;


And al thai preistis and religius wightis


Quhilk levyt chaste cleyn lyfe, as to thame rycht is;


And al godlyke devote prophetis trew,


That suythfast thyng worthy to Phebus schew;30
[Pg 354]

And thai quhilkis, by thar craftys or science fyne,


Fund by thar subtel knawlage and engyne,


Thar lyfe illumynat and annornyt cleir;


And tha by merytabil dedis and gyftis seir


That maid otheris hald thame in memory:5


Of al thir war the tymplis by and by


Arrayt with a fresch garland snaw quhite.


And as thai flokkit abowt Ene, als tyte


Syk wys onto thame carpys Sibilla;


Bot principaly to Museus, ane of tha,10


Was stad amyddis of the mekill rowt,


As sche beheld hym with big schulderis stout:


O ȝhe so happy sawlys, tellith me,


And thou, maste souerane poet, schaw, quod sche,


In quhat regioun and place bene Anchises?15


Hyddir for his saik come we, and with gret pres


Hes oursalit of hell the gret fludis.


This ryall lord in few wordis concludis,


And ansuerit thus; frend, certane dwelling nane


In this cuntre haue we, bot all ourane20


Walkys and lugis in thir schene wod schawys,


Endlang thir ryver bankis all on rawys;


Thar bene our settis, and beddis of fresch flowris


In soft bene medowis by cleir strandis all howris


Our habitatioun is and residens.25


Bot gif ȝour mynd langis to haue presens


Of Anchises, pas vp ȝone swyre fut het,


I sall ȝou lyghtly in the hie way set.


And sayand thus, befor thame furth went he,


And can thame schaw, apon the hill on hie,30
[Pg 355]

The schynand planys full of all plesance.


Agane returnys he, and thai avans,


Fra thyne discending from the hillis hyght,


Quhar thai at last of Anchises gat sycht.






 CAP. XI.




Quhou that Eneas with hys fader met,


And athir othir with frendly wordis gret.






The meyn sesson thys Anchises, the prynce,5


Intill a wondir grene vale full of fence


Sawlys inclusit, quhilkis war forto wend


To myddil erd and thare in bodeis ascend,


Can rekkyn, and behald attentfully


Hail the nowmyr of hys geneologye,10


His tendir nevoys and posterite,


Thare fatis, and thare fortonys euery gre,


Thare conditions, thare strenth and hardyment.


And sone as he persavys quhar that went


Forganyst him, cumand throu gresy sward,15


Hys derrest son Ene with hasty fard,


Baith his handys joyfull furthstracht he than;


The teris trynglyng our his chekis ran,


And fra his mouth slydis thir wordis myld:


Thou art cummyn at last, my deir child;20


Thy gret piete, and kyndnes weil expert


Onto thy fader, causyt the and gart
[Pg 356]

This hard vayage venquys and ourset!


Quhat! is it grantit me? ha! sall I get


A verray sight, luffit son, of thy face?


And grantit ws to carp or talk a space?


To heir and render frendly wordis knaw?5


Within my mynd ymagynyt I on raw


Swa suld betyde, and weil belevit I


Thou was tocum, and the tyme by and by


I calculit and comptit quhen that suld be;


And my consait hes nocht dissauyt me.10


O God, throu quhou feill landis braid and large,


Quhou mony seys ourcareit in thy barge,


Efter quhou feil dangeris with storm oft schaik,


I now ressaue the heir, deir son, allaik!


Quhou gretlie dred I of Lybie that ryng15


Suld the haue hyndrit, and harmyt in sum thing!


Eneas answeris; fader, thy drery gost,


Sa oft apperand, maid me seik this cost:


In Tyrrhean sey abydis our navy.


Grant me, fader, now grant me by and by,20


We athir may with other handis schaik;


Fra myne embrasyng withdraw the nocht, allaik!


And sayand thys, tendyrly wepit he,


Baithyng hys face in terys gret plente.


On this wys talkyng, or thar wordis sessit,25


With hys lang armys thrys Eneas pressit


About hys hals hym forto haue belappit,


And thrys, invane, hys handys togidder clappit:


The figur fled as light wynd, or son beym,


Or mast lykly a waverand sleip or dreym.30
[Pg 357]

Duryng this tyme Eneas gan aduert,


Within a vale fer thens closyt apart,


Quhare stude a wod with swouchand bewys schene,


The flude Lythee flowand throu the fair grene;


About the quhilk pepill onnowmerabill,5


And silly sawlys, fleys fast, but fabill,


Quhil all the feildis of thare dyn resoundis:


Lyke as, in medowys and fresch florist boundis,


The bissy beys in schene symmeris tyde,


On diuers colorit flouris skalit wide,10


Flokkis about the blomyt lylleis quhite,


And other fragrant blosummys redymyt.


Mysknawyng quhat this ment, Eneas wight


Becam abasit of the soddane syght,


And can inquir the causys of this cace;15


Quhat war tha fludis far befor hys face,


Or quhat bene tha men in syk numbyr swa


With so gret fard flokkit to athir bra.


Tho quod hys fader Anchises; all ȝon be


Thai sawlys quhamto, by the fatis hie,20


Bene other bodeis eftir this yschape,


Quhilk drynkis ȝondir, or thai may eskape,


At ȝone ryver and the flude Lythee,


The sikkyr watir but curis, trastis me,


Quharby oblyvyus becum thai als tyte,25


Forȝetting pane bipast and langsum syte.


Forsuyth, I purpos furthwith to declare,


And schaw befor thy face now standand thar,


The sawlys all, and numbyr in thy presens,


Quhilkis ar tocum of my stok and discens;30
[Pg 358]

So that the mair glaidly with me tharby


Thou may reios to haue fund Italy.


O fader, quod Eneas, quhidder or nay


Is that tobe belevyt at ȝhe say,


That souerane saulys from this place sall wend,5


Onto the warld abufe or erd ascend?


Quhy may thai nocht in this swete stede remane,


Bot sall return in slaw bodeis agane?


Quhat cursyt covatyce causith wrachit wightis


So to desyre our life and drery lightis?10


I sall the schaw forsuyth the caus, quod he,


My derrest son, and sal no wys hald the


Thochtfull in mynde, ne doutsum by na way.


Tharwith Anchises baith hys eyn twa


Gan lyftyng vp, and toward hewyn behald,15


And euery thing per ordour thus he tald.






 CAP. XII.




The seir punitioun of sawlis in purgatorye,


And quhou thai pas syne to the flude Lythe.






Fra the begynnyng, all thing les and mar,


The fyry regioun, the erth, and the ayr,


The plane flowand boundis of the sey,


The lyghtnyt monys lamp that lemys hie,20


The hevynnys starnys, and bryght sonnys ball,


Ane spreit thar is within, sustenys all:
[Pg 359]

In euery part the hie wysdome dyvyne


Diffundit movys this warldis hail engyne,


And by hys power mydlit is our all


This mekil body clepit vniuersal.


Fra this infusioun, and thir elementis seir,5


Baith kynd of man and best cummys, but weir,


All levyng foulys fleying in the ayr,


All fyschis, and the monstreis doith repar


Vndre the slekit sey of marbill hew.


A hait fyry power, warm and dew,10


Hevinly begynnyng and original,


Beyn in thar sedis quhilk we saulys call;


Sa far as that thir noysum bodeis cald


Nocht tareis thame tharfra, nor doith withhald,


Nor withdrawis from souerane hevinly kynd:15


Thar erdly lymmys, and eik thar irksum mynd,


Throu thar mortal membris euer deidlike,


Dullith thar curage and thar spretis godlyke.


Fra the quhilk cummys to al mankynd, that thai


Dredis, desiris, murnys, or joys ay;20


Nor, in the dyrk mansioun and preson blynd


Of thir vyle bodeis yfettyrit and bynd,


The sawlis thar clene natur may attend.


So fer that, all efter the lattir end,


Quhen that the lif disseueris fra the body,25


Than, netheles, not ȝit are fullely


All harm ne cryme from wrachit sawlis separate,


Nor ald infectioun come of the body layt:


And thus, aluterly, it is neidfull thing


The mony vycis lang tyme induryng,30
[Pg 360]

Contrackit in the corps, be done away,


And purgit on seir wonderfull wys to say.


Tharfor thai suffir panys and torment,


For thar inveterat vycis ald bywent


By punitioun satisfactioun to mak.5


Sum stentit in wysnand wyndis wak;


Of sum the cryme committit clengit be


Vndre the watir or deip hydduus sey;


And in the fyre the gilt of other sum


Is purefyit and clengit all and sum.10


Ilk ane of ws hys ganand purgatory


Mon suffir, and fra thyne ar send in hy


Onto the large feildis of Elysee:


Thar bene of ws nane, bot a few menȝe,


Quhilkis cumis to inhabyt and remanys,15


But ony purging, in thyr ioyful planys;


And heir mon dwell quhil that the lang day,


Be perfyt cours of tyme, heth done away


The spot of fylth hardnyt in the spreit,


For that it fand sum tyme the body sweit,20


And quhil it be so purefyit and fynd,


Na thing remane bot a clene hevynly mynd,


And subtel pure flambe celestiall.


Thir other sawlis quhilk bene purgit all,


Eftir thai haue, within thir planys heir,25


By cirkill rollyt our a thousand ȝeir,


God callis thame onto this flude Lythe,


With felloun fard, in numbyr as ȝhe se;


To that effect, that thai myndles becum


Baith of plesour and ald panys all and sum,30
[Pg 361]

Langing agane the warld abufe to se,


And gan begyn desire, baith he and he,


In bodeis ȝit forto return agane.


Thus said Anchises; and tharwith baith twane,


Hys son and eik the prophet Sibilla,5


Amyddys of that sort flokkit to the bra,


And gret rowt with rangald, in ledis he;


And gan ascend ontill a mote on hie,


Quharfra, per ordour, forganyst thame on raw,


Thai mycht thame rekkin all, and cleirly knaw10


Thar vissagis and contenance also,


As that thai went and rowmyt to and fro.






 CAP. XIII.




Anchises schawis Eneas to the end


Alhail the lynage sal fra hym discend.






Now harkis, me behuffis schortlie say,


Quod Anchises, or thou depart away,


And rekkyn our Troian ofspring all and sum,15


Quhat glor and honour beis of ws tocum,


And quhat successioun or posterite


Of Ital frendschip sal discend of the,


And tha illustir sawlis salbe sent


Heir, eftir this, in name of our kynrent;20


Thy fatis and thy destany also


I sal the teche per ordour, or thou go.
[Pg 362]

Seys thou ȝon lusty springald or ȝonkeir,


That lenys hym apon his hedles sper?


The formast place by chance doith occupy


Tyl pas to life in our geneology,


And first sal rys in the ovir warld agane,5


Commixit of the blude Italiane,


Siluius, to surname clepit Albanus,


Born efter thy deces, child posthumus;


Quham, consauyt of thyne ancyent lynage,


Thy secund spous, Lavinia, wys and sage,10


In woddys fostir sal, a vailȝeant kyng,


And fader to al kingis of our ofspring:


Quharby our kynrent and famyl alswa


Sal ryng and lordschip hald in Lang Alba.


Ȝon is Procas that standis nixt hym by,15


Of Troiane pepill the honour and glory:


Syne Capys, lo, and Numytor, baith twane;


And he that representis thy name agane,


Siluyus Eneas, notabil chevellere,


Renownyt baith of piete or in were,20


Gif evir he may his tyme optene and se


To ryng into Lang Alba the cite.


Behald quhat maner ȝong gallandis bene ȝon;


Quhou gret curage thar hart is set apon;


Quhat gud semblant thai schaw of chevalre.25


Bot ȝon, with coverit hedys by and by


With ciuile crownys of the strang aik tre,


Sall beld and found to thy honour, quod he,


Nomentum cite, and Gabios the tovne,


And Fidena, the cite of renoun:30
[Pg 363]

Sum in the hillys hie sal set vp syne


The strenthis and the castellis Collatyne,


Pometios and New Castell, baith twa,


The cite Bolan, and the tovne Cora.


Thir namys salbe gevin thame efter this,5


Quhar now, but name, the land remanand is.


Lo! Romulus, by martial wirschip


To hys grandschir jonyt in falloschip,


Quham, of Assaracus blude, the nobill kyng,


Hys moder Ilya discendit sal furth bring.10


Seys thou nocht quhou apon thar hedys on hyght


Twa dowbil cristis standys schynand bryght?


Thar fader Mars, behald, this sammyn hour


Has thame ymerkit with dyvyne honour:


And lo, my child, be ȝon manis prowes15


That gloryus cite Rome sal so incres,


Tyll hyr empire be with the erth maid evin,


And vertuus curage equal to the hevin;


The quhilk cite all round togiddir sall


Sevin gret strenthis clos within a wall,20


Happy and brudy of hir forcy ofspring:


Lyke as, throu out citeis of Phrecis ryng,


The moder of Goddis, with hir towrit crovn,


Berecynthia, careit from tovn to tovn,


Within hir char yset, all ful of myrth25


Of the goddis becaus of hir rich birth,


Hir hundreth childring and posterite


Ful tendirly in armys enbracis sche,


All haill the hevynly wightis to hyr behufe,


And all that weildis the hie hevynnys abufe.30
[Pg 364]

Now turnys hyddir, my sweit son, albedein,


The cirkillis and the sight of baith thy eyn:


Behald thir pepill and thy cheif Romanys.


Cesar Julyus, lo! in ȝonder planys,


And all the famyl of hym Julius,5


Quhilk eftir thys ar tocum, trastis ws,


Vndre the gret hie hevynnys assiltre.


Ȝon man, ȝon man, my son, the sam is he


Quham thou so oft has hard promist or this,


Cesar August Octauyane, I wys,10


Cum of the goddys geneology and kyn,


Quhilk sal agane the goldin warld begyn,


As vmquhile was, in tyme of Saturn ald,


Throu Ital ryng baith be firth and fald;


And hys empire sal delait and wynde15


Our Garamantas, and the forthar Inde:


The landis lyis without the starnys blenk,


Outwith the ȝheris cours, and sonnys renk,


Quhar the vpberar of the hevyn, Atlas,


On schuldir rollys the round speir in cumpas,20


Ful of thir lemand starnys mony one.


Sal, at his hyddir cummyn, ror and grone


The realme of Caspys, or of Assery,


All Scithia, Meothys land fast by,


Horribill answeris sall of goddis heir:25


All trublit in affray, trymlyng for feir,


To quakyng sall sevyn mowthis of Nyle flude.


Nevir, forsuyth, strang Hercules the gude


Sa mekil space of erth or land ourȝeid;


All thocht the wyndswift hart he schot to ded,30
[Pg 365]

And stanchit Erymanthus forest rouch,


The serpent Lerna with hys bow persit throuch:


Nor Bachus, quhilk victor afor thir days


With wyne burgions the hillis top arays,


Dryvand the ferfull tygris fast away5


Down fra the hyght of the gret mont Nysay.


And ȝyt we dowt onto the forthir end


Hys gret vertu and dedys to extend!


Than quha suld dreid stop ws to occupy


Or till inhabyt land of Italy?10






 CAP. XIV.




Anchises ȝit furthrekkynnys his ofspring,


As worthiast that euer in Rome sal ryng.






Bot quhat maner man be ȝon, quod Anchys,


With olyve branch on sik gudly wys


Arrayit, and eik berys mony a syng


Of sacrifyce and ritis of offeryng?


I knaw hys canos har and lyard berd15


Of the wysast Roman kyng into the erd,


Numa Pompilius, quhilk sall in hys days


Begyn and statut with lawys and haly lays


The cheif cite Rome; and he sal pas


From a pur land, and smal cite Curas,20


Send for to rule and bruke a gret empire.


Quhamto thar sal succeid a lordly syre,
[Pg 366]

Tullus Hostilius, that first of hys land


The peys and quiet, quhilk so lang dyd stand,


He sal dissolue and brek, and dolf men steir,


Quhilk lang hath bene disosyt fra the weir,


To armys and triumphe of victory,5


And thame array in hostis by and by.


Quham nixt fallowis Ancus Marcyus,


Of hys estait mar prowd and gloryus;


And ourgretlie evin now, persaue and se,


Vayn glor and favour of pepill desiris he.10


Ples the behald the Tarquynys kingis two,


And the stowt curage of Brutus alsso,


Quhilk can revenge the wrang in hys cuntre,


His gret honour gif thou lest heir or se,


And ensenȝeis send fra Ethrurianys:15


This ilk Brutus sall first amang Romanys


Ressaue the dignite and stait consular;


With heding swerd, bath felloun, scharp, and gar,


Befor hym born throu all Romys tovne,


In takin of justice executioun,20


Hys awin sonnys, movyng onkyndly wer,


To punytioun and ded sal damp infeir,


To kepe frensches and souerane liberte;


And thus onsilly fader sall he be.


Quhou sa evir the pepil hys fatel dedis25


In tyme tocum sall blason, quha thame redis,


The feruent lufe of his kynd natyve land,


And excedand desyre he bar on hand


Of honour, and hie glory to ressaue,


Mot al evil rumour fra his lawd byvaue.30
[Pg 367]

Attour, behald, lo, athir Decyus;


And, standing fer of, twa that hait Drusus:


Consider Torquatus ȝondir, doith him rax


So brym and fellon with the heding ax;


And Camyllus, the vailȝeand capitane,5


Bringand the Roman standartis hame agane.


Ȝon twa sawlys, quhilk thou seis, sans faill,


Schynand with elike armys peregale,


Now at gud concord stad and vnite,


Ay quhil thai stand in myrk and law degre;10


Allace, how gret batale and debait


Salbe betwix thame, gif thai til estait


May cum abufe, and to the lyght of lyfe!


O, how gret slauchter, assembleis, and huge strife,


Sal thai exerce and move into thar days!15


Cesar, the eldfader, by the strait ways


With his gret rowtis our the Franch montanys


Discendand dovn Lumbardy throu the planys;


His mavch Pompey sall strech agane him went


With rayt ostis of the orient.20


O my childring, cum nocht in vse to hant


Sik fremmyt batalis, bot ȝour curage dant;


Exers ȝhe neuer ȝowr vailȝeand fors, quod he,


Amangis the entralis of ȝour awin cuntre.


And O thou, Cesar, thou formast in the pres,25


Cum of hevinly kyn, abstene and ces;


Myne awin lynage, obeys my command,


Do cast sik wapynnys fer furth of thy hand.


And he that standys ȝonder, Lucyus,


Onto his surname clepit Mummyus,30
[Pg 368]

Efter he venquist haue Corinthe tovne,


And in batale the worthy Grekis bet dovn,


His char, with mekil glor triumphale,


Sal steir furth to the hie capitol wal.


And he ȝon other, Quintus Metellus,5


Ful gret honour sal conques onto ws;


For he sal bet dovn and distroy al clene


Baith Arge and Agamemnonys realm Mycene:


And ȝonder Curyus with his fallow fyne,


Pyrrus, cummyn of kyng Eacus lyne,10


And of Achillis armipotent ofspring,


In batel sal ourcummyn and dovne thring,


And thare eldris of Troy wreke and revenge,


And the tempill of Mynerve pollute clenge.


Quha wold the, gret Cato, lefe onhyt?15


Or quha with silens Cossus pretermyt?


Quha list forȝet the kynrent of Gracchus?


Or athir of the Scypionys gloryus,


Thai twa thunderis of batale in thare rage,


Fynale rwyne of Affrik and Cartage?20


Quha wald, Fabricius, of the say na thyng,


That art ful myghty bot of litil thing?


Of the, Seranus, quha wald na thing schaw,


Quhar thou thi ryggis telys forto saw,


As thou was chosyn capitane of weir?25


Quhidder withdraw ȝhe, Fabyus? cum neir;


Thole me na mar be irkyt ȝou to behald:


Thou art that ilk mast souerane Fabius bald,


Quhilk only, throu thy slycht and tareyng,


Restoris the common weill of our ofspryng.30




[Pg 369]




 CAP. XV.




Anchises gevis Eneas gud teching,


To gyde the pepill vnder his governyng.






The pepil of othir realmys, son, said he,


Bene mor expert in craftis, and mar sle


To forge and kerf lyflyke staturis of bras,


Be contenans as the spreit tharin was:


I trast, forsuyth, heirefter mony ane5


Sal hew quyk facis furth of marbil stane;


Sum otheris bettir can thar causis pled;


Sum bene mar crafty in ane other sted,


With rewlis and with mesouris by and by


For til exers the art of geometry;10


And sum mor subtel to descryve and prent


The starnys movyng and the hevynnys went:


Bot thou, Romane, remember, as lord and syre,


To rewle the pepil vnder thyne empyre;


Thir sal thy craftis be, at weil may seme,15


The peax to modefy and eik manteme,


To pardon all cumis ȝoldin and recryant,


And prowd rabellis in batale forto dant.


Thus said the noble fader Anchyses meik;


As thai awondrit can thir wordis eik:20


Behald Marcus Marcellus mast douchty,


Quhar that he walkis, lo, sa gloriusly,


With the rich spulȝe triumphale deirly dycht,


Quhilk he reft from his aduersar in fyght,
[Pg 370]

As the maste vailȝeant victor that I ken,


In bonty doith exceid all other men.


This worthy knycht the common weil Romane,


In gret affray perturbit, to rest agane


And quyet sal restor, and ȝon is he5


That venquys sal the Affricane menȝe,


And the Franch rebellioun sall down bet:


The thrid armour or rych spulȝe gret,


Reft from chiftane of weir, this Marcellus


Sall hyng vp to the fader Quirynus.10


And for alsmekil as Eneas saw


In falloschip with this Marcus raik on raw


A sembly springald, a far ȝong galland,


Rycht schaply maid, in armour brycht schynand;


Bot his vissage semyt scarsly blith,15


With luke doun cast, as in his face dyd kith


That he was sum deill sad and no thing lycht;


Fader, quod he, quhat be ȝon drery knycht,


Quhilk haldis so with ȝon prince company?


Quhidder his son, or sum nevo worthy,20


Of our gret lynage and successioun?


O lord, how gret brute, noys, and sovn,


Of confluens that walkyng him about!


Quhou gret apperance is in hym, but dout,


Tilbe of prowes, and a valȝeant knycht!25


Bot a blak sop of myst, als dyrk as nycht,


With drery schaddo bilappis his hed.


The fader tho, Anchises, in the sted,


With teris bristyng furth, begouth to say;


O my sweit son, inquir nocht, I the pray,30
[Pg 371]

The excedand regret and womanting


Of thame bene fortocum of thyne ofspring.


The fatis sall bot for a litill space


Schaw ȝon man to the erth and warldly place,


And sall no langer suffer him tharin.5


O goddis abufe, the Romanys blude and kyn


Semyt to ȝou our myghty and potent,


Gif so it war the giftis ȝhe hym lent


Had remanyt, or lang his lyfe had lest.


Quhou gret murnyng of men all forcyest,10


For hym, furth of the feildis marcyall,


Sall dyn and resound to the cite wall!


And O thou God of the flude Tyberyne,


Quhou mony fertyrris and duyl habetis schyne


Sall thou behald, as thou flowis at Rome15


Down by his new maid sepultur or tovme!


Ne nevir child cummyn of Troiane blude


In sic beleif, and glory, and gret gude,


Sal rays his forbearis Italianys;


Ne nevir, certis, the grund of the Romanys20


Of ony fostir sal him so avance.


Allace, quhat harm of thy disseuerance!


Of thy gret piete, and thyne ancyent treuth,


Thy hand onvenquyst in batale, O quhat reuth!


Nane suld, but dammage, hym in harnes meit,25


Quhidder so aganyst him he went on feit,


Or ȝit on horsbak, as thir knychtis rydis,


With spurris brochand the fomy stedis sydis.


Allace my child, so worthy to be menyt!


Worthy tobe bewalit and complenyt!30
[Pg 372]

Gyf them thyne hard werdis mycht vincus,


Thou salbe namyt the souerane Marcellus.


Of fresch lilleis reke me my handis full:


The purpour flowris I sall skattir and pull,


That I may strow, with sik rewardis at lest,5


My nevoys sawle, to culȝe and to fest,


And, but profit, sik costage sall exers.


Apon this wys seir thingis dyd rehers


Anchises; and thus wide quhar thai do walk


Our al that regioun, haldand spech and talk10


Within the large feildis of hailsum air,


And euery thing per ordour visseyt thar.


And efter that Anchises, hand in hand,


Had thus his son led our all that land,


And his curage inflambit by and by15


With the gret fame tocum and hie glory:


Syne to this valȝeant man he rekkynys heir,


Per ordour, all the batalis and the weir


Quhilk eftir this he had to ber on hand;


And of the pepill eik in Latyn land,20


And of the cite of the kyng Latyne,


He him instrukkis; and tharefter syne


Taucht him quhat wys he myght sustene or fle


Ever hard danger or aduersite.


Thar bene ordanyt for dremys ȝettis twane,25


Quharof, thai say, of horn forgit is ane,


At quham the suythfast swevynnys by and by


Departis all ways, and ischis furth lychtly:


The tother port is forgit wail perfite


Of eliphantyne and polist evor quhite;30
[Pg 373]

Bot tharat goddis infernal lattis owt


The fals swevynnys to the warld about.


So as Anchises had, apon this wys,


Rehersit, as said is, all thingis at devys,


Sibilla and his son togidder at schort5


He leit depart furth at the evor port.


Eneas spedis the strecht way to the schippis,


And can vissy agane his falloschippis:


Fra thyne thai hald, endlang the costis bay,


Onto the port of Caiet the strecht way.10


Furth of the forschip leyt thai ankyris glyde;


The navy raid endlang the schoris syde.






 CAP. XVI.




Eneas nurys, Caieta, can deces,


Quhar ȝit the place kepis hir name, but les.






O Caieta, thou nurys of Ene,


Thou has alsso, that tyme quhen thou can de,


Ontil our cost or fronteris of Itale15


Gevin the bruyt and fame perpetual:


Quhil this day the ilke place and sted


Observis the renovn eftir thy ded;


Thy tumbe and banys merkit with thy name


In gret Hesperia witnessyng the same,20


Gyf that be ony glory now to the.


The reuthfull than and devote prince Ene
[Pg 374]

Performyt dewly thy funeral seruys;


Apon the sepultur, as custum was and gys,


Ane hepe of erd and litil mot gart vprays,


And with bent saill syne furth his vayage tays:


Eftir that asswagit was the deip sey,5


Thai leif the cost and sped on thar journe.


The pyping wynd blew in thar tail at nyght,


Nor the schene moyn hir curs and cleir lyght


Has nocht denyit; so that the haw stremys


Couth schyne and glittir vnder the twynkland glemys.10


The cost endlang the ile Circea


Thai swepyng fast by, hard on burd the bra,


Quharas the ryche sonnys douchter, Circe,


Thai schawis, quhamto repar nane aucht tobe,


With hir ythand sweit sang and caralyng15


Cawsys allway forto resound and ryng,


And in hir prowd place of beddis all the nycht


The weil smelland cedyr byrnys bright;


With subtil slays, and hir hedlys sle,


Rich lynȝe wobbis natly wefis sche.20


From this land redly on fer mycht thai her


The gret rageyng of liones and the beir,


Quhilk thai dyd mak, refusyng to be in band


In silens, all the lait nycht rumesand;


The byrsit baris and beris in thar styis25


Roryng all wod with quhrynys and wild cryis,


And gret figuris of wolffis eik infeir,


Ȝowland with ȝammering grisly forto here:


Quhilkis all this crwell goddes, hecht Circe,


By enchantment and forcy herbis sle,30
[Pg 375]

Had forth of mannys figur and estait


Into wild bestis schap and form translait.


Quhilk monstruos transmutatioun for the nanys


Ne happin mycht onto devoyt Troianys,


Gyf thai arryvit in thai portis nys,5


Thai cursit costis of this enchantrys,


At thai ne suld do entir, ne thame fynd,


Thar salis all with prosper followand wynd


Neptunus fillit, and maid thame sail swiftly,


All dangeris and gray schaldis careit by.10




[Pg 376]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE SEVYNT BUKE.






As bryght Phebus, scheyn souerane hevynnys E,


The opposit held of hys chymmys hie,


Cleir schynand bemys, and goldyn symmyris hew,


In laton cullour alteryng haill of new;


Kythyng no syng of heyt be hys vissage,5


So neir approchit he his wyntir stage;


Reddy he was to entyr the thrid morn


In clowdy skyis vndre Capricorn:


All thocht he be the hart and lamp of hevyn,


Forfeblit wolx hys lemand gylty levyn,10


Throu the declynyng of hys large round speir.


The frosty regioun ryngis of the ȝer,


The tyme and sesson bittir, cald, and paill,


Tha schort days that clerkis clepe brumaill:


Quhen brym blastis of the northyn art15


Ourquhelmyt had Neptunus in his cart,


And all to schaik the levis of the treis,


The rageand storm ourweltrand wally seys;


Ryveris ran reid on spait with watir brovne,


And burnys hurlys all thar bankis dovne,20


And landbrist rumland rudely with sik beir,


So lowd ne rumyst wild lyoun or ber;
[Pg 377]

Fludis monsteris, sik as meirswyne or quhalis,


Fro the tempest law in the deip devalis.


Mars occident, retrograde in his speir,


Prouocand stryfe, regnyt as lord that ȝer;


Rany Oryon with his stormy face5


Bewavit oft the schipman by hys race;


Frawart Saturn, chill of complexioun,


Throu quhais aspect darth and infectioun


Beyn causyt oft, and mortal pestilens,


Went progressyve the greis of his ascens;10


And lusty Hebe, Junoys douchtir gay,


Stude spulȝeit of hir office and array.


The soyl ysowpit into watir wak,


The firmament ourcast with rokis blak;


The grond fadyt, and fawch wolx all the feildis,15


Montane toppis slekit with snaw ourheildyis;


On raggit rolkis of hard harsk quhyn stane


With frosyn frontis cauld clynty clewis schane:


Bewte was lost, and barrand schew the landis,


With frostis hair ourfret the feldis standis.20


Seir bittir bubbis, and the schowris snell,


Semyt on the sward a symylitude of hell,


Reducyng to our mynd, in euery sted,


Gousty schaddois of eild and grisly ded.


Thik drumly skuggis dyrknyt so the hevyn,25


Dym skyis oft furth warpit feirfull levyn,


Flaggis of fire, and mony felloun flaw,


Scharpe soppys of sleit, and of the snypand snaw.


The dolly dichis war all donk and wait,


The law valle flodderit all with spait,30
[Pg 378]

The plane stretis and euery hie way


Full of floschis, dubbis, myre, and clay;


Laggerit leyis wallowit farnys schew,


Brovne muris kythit thar wysnyt mossy hew,


Bank, bra, and boddum, blanchit wolx and bar;5


For gurl weddir growit bestis hair;


The wynd maid waif the red wed on the dyke,


Bedowyn in donkis deip was euery sike;


Our craggis, and the front of rochis seir,


Hang gret ische schouchlis lang as ony speir;10


The grond stud barrant, widderit, dosk or gray,


Herbis, flowris, and gersis, wallowyt away;


Woddis, forrestis, with nakyt bewis blowt,


Stude strippyt of thar weid in euery howt.


So bustuusly Boreas his bugill blew,15


The deyr full dern doun in the dalis drew;


Smale byrdis, flokkand throu thik ronys thrang,


In chyrmyng and with cheping changit thar sang,


Sekand hidlis and hyrnys thame to hyde


Fra feirfull thuddis of the tempestuus tyde;20


The watir lynnys rowtis, and euery lynd


Quhislit and brayt of the swouchand wynd.


Puyr lauboraris and bissy husband men


Went wait and wery draglit in the fen:


The silly scheip and thar litil hyrd gromys25


Lurkis vndre le of bankis, woddis, and bromys;


And other dantit grettar bestiall,


Within thar stabillis sesyt into stall,


Sik as mulis, horssis, oxin and ky,


Fed tuskyt barys, and fat swyne in sty,30
[Pg 379]

Sustenyt war by mannys governance


On hervist and on symmeris purvyance.


Wyde quhar with fors so Eolus schowtis schill


In this congelit sesson scharp and chill,


The callour ayr, penetratyve and puyr,5


Dasyng the blude in euery creatur,


Maid seik warm stovis and beyn fyris hoyt,


In dowbill garmont cled and wily coyt,


With mychty drink, and metis confortyve,


Agane the stern wyntir for to stryve.10


Repatyrrit weil, and by the chymnay bekyt,


At evin be tyme dovne a bed I me strekyt,


Warpit my hed, kest on clathis thrynfald,


Fortil expell the peralus persand cald:


I crosyt me, syne bownyt forto sleip:15


Quhar, lemand throu the glas, I dyd tak kepe


Latonya, the lang irksum nyght,


Hir subtell blenkis sched and watry lycht,


Full hie vp quhirlyt in hir regioun,


Till Phebus ryght in oppositioun,20


Into the Crab hir proper mansioun draw,


Haldand the hight all thocht the son went law.


Hornyt Hebowd, quhilk we clepe the nycht owle,


Within hir cavern hard I schowt and ȝowle,


Laithly of form, with crukyt camscho beke,25


Vgsum to heir was hir wild elrich screke:


The wild geis claking eik by nyghtis tyde


Atour the cite fleand hard I glyde.


On slummyr I slaid full sad, and slepit sound


Quhil the oriȝont vpwart gan rebound.30
[Pg 380]

Phebus crownyt byrd, the nyghtis orlager,


Clapping his weyngis thrys had crawin cleir:


Approching neir the greking of the day,


Within my bed I walkynnyt quhar I lay;


So fast declynys Synthea the moyn,5


And kays keklis on the ruyf aboyn:


Palamedes byrdis crowpyng in the sky,


Fleand on randon, schapyn like ane Y,


And as a trumpat rang thar vocis soun,


Quhois cryis bene pronosticatioun10


Of wyndy blastis and ventositeis:


Fast by my chalmyr, in heich wysnyt treis,


The soir gled quhislis lowd with mony a pew,


Quharby the day was dawyn weil I knew:


Bad beit the fyre, and the candill alyght,15


Syne blissyt me, and in my wedis dyght;


A schot wyndo onschet a litill on char,


Persauyt the mornyng bla, wan, and har,


With clowdy gum and rak ourquhelmyt the ayr,


The sulȝe stythly, hasart, rouch, and hair;20


Branchis bratlyng, and blaknyt schew the brays,


With hirstis harsk of waggand wyndill strays;


The dew droppis congelit on stibbill and rynd,


And scharp hailstanys, mortfundeit of kynd,


Hoppand on the thak and on the causay by:25


The schot I closit, and drew inwart in hy,


Chyvirrand for cald, the sesson was so snell;


Schupe with hayt flambe to fleym the fresyng fell.


And, as I bownyt me to the fyre me by,


Baith vp and down the hows I dyd aspy:30
[Pg 381]

And seand Virgill on a lettron stand,


To write onone I hynt a pen in hand,


Fortil perform the poet grave and sad,


Quham sa fer furth, or than, begun I had;


And wolx ennoyt sum deill in my hart5


Thar restit oncompletit sa gret a part.


And to myself I said; In gud effect


Thou mon draw furth, the ȝok lyis on thy nek.


Within my mynde compasyng thocht I so,


Na thing is done quhil ocht remanys ado;10


For byssynes, quhilk occurrit on cace,


Ourvoluyt I this volume, lay a space;


And, thocht I wery was, me list not tyre,


Full laith to leif our wark swa in the myre,


Or ȝit to stynt for bitter storm or rane:15


Heir I assayt to ȝok our pleuch agane;


And, as I couth, with afald diligens,


This nixt buke following of profond sentens


Has thus begun in the chil wyntir cald,


Quhen frostis doith ourfret baith firth and fald.20




Explicit tristis prologus;


Quharof the altar says thus.




Thys Proloug smellis new cum furth of hell;


And, as our buk begouth hys weirfar tell,


So weill according dewly bene annext25


Thou drery preambill, with a bludy text.


Of sabyll be thy lettyris illumynate,


According to thy proces and estait.




[Pg 382]




 THE SEVYNT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




King Latyn of the goddis had command


To wed hys douchter with man of onkouth land.






Tho gan the sey of bemys walxin red,


And heich abuf, dovn from the hevinly sted,


Within hyr rosy cartis cleirly schane


Aurora vestit into brovn sanguane.


Eftir the wyndys lownyt war at will,5


And all the blastis pacefyit and still,


Out our the calm streym of marbill gray


With ayris palmys sweip thai furth thar way.


And suddanly heir from the stabillit see


A large semly schaw beheld Enee;10


Amyddis quham the flude he gan aspy


Of Tybir flowand soft and esely,


With sworland welis, and mekill ȝallow sand,


Into the sey dyd entyr fast at hand.


The byrdis seir of mony diuers hewis,15


About the watir, abuf vp in the clewis,
[Pg 383]

On bankis weilbyknaw and fludis bay,


Wyth wryblis sweit and myrthfull sangis gay


Gan meys and glaid the hevynnys and the ayr,


And throw the schaw went fleand our alquhar.


To turn thar course he gan his feris command,5


And stevin thar schippis to the sammyn land:


Joyfull and blith thai entring in the flude,


That dern about skuggyt with bewis stude.


Now, thou my muse, Erato, I the pray,


Do schaw me this, at I may scharply say10


Quhat kynd proces of tyme was, and quhat kyngis


In ald Latium, and in quhat stait all thingis,


Quhen first this strange army or falloschip


In Italy gan arryvyn, euery schip:


I sall declar all, and reduce fut hait,15


From the begynnyng of the first debayt.


O thou sweit goddes, O thou haly wight,


Convoy and tech thy poet to say ryght!


I sall the horribill batellis schaw and tell,


The bludy ostis, and the feildis fell;20


Quhou, throw thar curage, douchty kyngis seir


As ded corps becum war, and brocht on beir:


The power hale of all Tuscany,


And all the gret rowtis of Italy


Assemblit into armys on the land.25


Per ordour now thar risis apon hand


Fer largear materis forto treit and write;


A grettar wark begyn we to endyte.


Tha boundis, with thar lusty citeis all,


By lang proces of peax, in stait riall30
[Pg 384]

The king Latinus held in governyng:


Or than full agyt was this nobill kyng;


Quham, as we haue hard tald ful long agone,


By kyng Fawnus engendrit was apon


The mayd, or nymphe of Lawrent, Marica.5


And to this Fawnus fader was alsswa


Picus the kyng, quhilk doith the represent,


Saturnus, for hys fader and parent:


Thou was the fyrst gan all thar blude begyn,


The first fundment and cheif stok of kyn.10


By dispositioun of the goddis dyvyn,


Son nor manchild nane had kyng Latyn;


For alsmekill as his ȝong son, a page,


Decessit was within his tendir age.


The kyngis palice, and all that riall hald,15


All hyr allane a douchtir dyd withhald,


Now reddy for a man, and cum to age


In grene ȝheris to compleit mariage.


Full mony nobillis into Latium


Axit hir to wyf, throu Itale all and sum:20


Turnus hir axis, cummyn of hie parage,


Abuf all other maste gudly personage,


And tharto rich of frendis, and myghty


Of eldris gret and riall anchestry;


Quham kyng Latinus spows, queyn Amata,25


With diligens dyd procur, day by day,


That he adionyt war thar son in law:


Bot feirfull syngnys by the goddis schaw,


And syndry terrouris gan tharto ganestand.


Amyddis of the palyce clos dyd stand,30
[Pg 385]

With blisfull bewis, a fair grene lawrer,


Haldyn in dreid and wirschip mony a ȝer;


Quham this ilk prynce and fader Latinus


Dyd consecrat and hallow to Phebus,


For that he fand it growand in the feild5


Quhar he hys ryall palyce first dyd beild:


The indwellaris of the grond, eftir this tre,


Lawrentes onto name clepit hes he.


Betyd a wondir takynyng for to say:


A gret flight of beys, on a day,10


Careit our the sey heich throu the moist ayr,


With lowd bemyng gan alycht and repar


On the hie top of this forsaid lawreir;


Intill a clud ful thik togidder infeir,


Thar feyt al sammyn knyt after thar gys,15


A swarm, or ony wyst quhou or quhat wys,


Hang from a florist branch of this ilk tre.


Incontinent the spaymen cryis; We se


A strange man tocum onto thir partis


With a gret rowt, and, fra the sammyn artis20


Quharfra ȝon beis cam, sal hidder seik;


Quhilk, for hys bonte and his thewis meke,


Sail weild this palice and hie senȝeory.


Abuf this, eik, betyd a mar farly:


As kyng Latinus kyndillis, on thar gys,25


Apon the altaris for the sacrefyis,


The clene schidis of the dry fyre brandis,


Quhar that also fast by hir fader standis


Lavynya the maid, his douchter fair;


A selcouth thing to se, in hir syde hair30
[Pg 386]

It semyt the hait fyre kyndillit bricht,


And hir gay clething al with lowis lyght


Gan gleit, and sperkland birn vp in a bles;


Hir ryall tressis inflambit, evil at eys;


Hir crownel, picht with mony precyus stane,5


Infyrit all of byrnand flawys schane:


And eftir that semyt this gudly wight


Tobe involuyt in ȝallo reky lyght,


And furth our al the place and rufe on hie


The fyre blesys, thame semyt, skattirris sche.10


Certis, this was reput with ȝyng and ald


A grisly thing and wondrus to behald;


For the diuinys declaris by and by


Quhat this feirful takyn dyd signyfy:


That is to knaw, at this ilk maid suld be15


Of fame excelland and felicite;


Bot to the pepill pronosticatioun cleir


Of suddane batale and of mortal wer.


Bot than the king, thochtfull and al pensyve


Of sik monstreis, gan do seik belyve20


Hys fader Fawnus orator and answar,


Quhilk couth the fatis for to cum declar;


And gan inquiryng responsions alssua


In the schaw vndre hie Albunea,


Quhilk is a cheif gret forest, as thai tell,25


And namyt from a haly rowtand well,


Quhar, from the erth, in dern wentis heir and thar,


A strang flewyr thrawis vp in the ayr.


Thiddir hail the pepil of Italia,


And al the land eik of Onotrya,30
[Pg 387]

Thar dowtsum axyng tursis for ansuer,


And thar petitions gettis assolȝeit heir.


The kingis offerand and rich sacryfys


The preist thidder gart bring, as was the gys,


And, vnder silence of the dirk nycht,5


On scheip skynnys, weil spred and couchit rycht,


Quhilk slane war in the sacrifice that day,


He strekis him adovne and tharon lay,


Demandand swevynnys and visions til appeir:


On mervellus wys, thir fleand schaddoys seir10


And figouris nys dyd he se and aspy,


And diuers vocis hard he eik fast by,


And gan the Goddis carping bruke and joys,


With speche of thai spretis that beyn yclos


In Achyron, the depest pyt of hell,15


And thame that far doun in Avernus dyd dwel.


The kyng alsso, that tyme, atour the laif,


Heir wald him self his answer ask and craif:


Ane hundreth wollit wedderis, weil ganand,


In sacryfys he brytynnys for offerand,20


On quhais soft flesys, weil and dewly spreid,


The kyng down liggis for that nyghtis bed.


And suddanly, furth of the schawys clos,


Sayand him thus, thar com a hasty voce:


O thou my child, cummyn of my stok,25


Adres the nevir to knyt into wedlok


Thi dochter til a man of Latyn land;


Lyppin nocht in ȝon allyance reddy at hand.


Tobe thi mawch sal cum ane alienar,


That of his blude sal gendir sik ane air,30
[Pg 388]

Quhilk sal our name abufe the starnys vpbring;


Of quhais stok the nevoys and ofspryng


Vnder thar feit and lordschip sal behald


All landis sterit and rewlit as thai wald,


Als fer as that the son, circuland we se,5


Behaldis baith the est and westir seye.






 CAP. II.




Eftir Eneas com to Itale land,


Maid sacryfice to the goddis with offerand.






The kyng thir ansueris of his fader Fawnus,


And admonitions be nyght gevin thus,


Ne hydis nocht, nor closys in his mouth;


So that the fame tharof walkis full couth10


Our all the citeis of Italy wyde quhar,


Quhen as the ȝonkeris of Troy arryvit war,


And at the schor, vndre a gresy bank,


Thar navy can thai ankyr fast and hank.


Eneas, and othir chiftanys gloryus,15


And the fresch lusty springald Ascanius,


Vndre the branchis of a semly tre


Gan lenyng dovn, and rest thar bodeys fre,


And to thar dyner dyd thame all adres


On grene herbis and sonkis of soft gers:20


The flowr sconnys war set in, by and by,


With othir mesis, sik as war reddy;
[Pg 389]

Syne bred trynschouris dyd thai fyl and charge


With wild scrabbis and other frutis large.


Betyd, as was the will of Jupiter,


For falt of fude constrenyt so thai war,


The other metis all consumyt and done,5


The paryngis of thar bred to mowp vp sone,


And with thar handis brek, and chaftis gnaw,


The crustis, and the coffyngis all on raw;


Ne spar thai not at last, for lake of met,


Thar fatale four nukit trynschour forto eyt.10


Och! quod Ascanius, quhou is this befall?


Behald, we eyt our tabillis vp and all!


He said na mair bot this, half deil in bourd.


Thame thocht thai hard a fatale voce or word,


Quhilk was as finale end of thar vayage.15


Hys fader first of all, with glaid curage,


The word reft from his mouth as that he spak,


And followis on the answer stupefac:


All hail thou grond and land, quod he, in hy,


By the fatis onto me desteny,20


And ȝe, O trast Penates, said Enee,


Al hail our natyve goddis, weil ȝe be!


Heir is our dwelling place, quhar we sall leynd,


Forto remane heir is our cuntre heynd.


Certis, now I ramembir my fader Anchys25


Syk secret takynnis of fatis on this wys


Schew and rehersit, sayand this to me:


Son, quhen in sik hungyr thou stad salbe,


As thou art careit till a strange cost,


That, all the mesis etyn, done, and lost,30
[Pg 390]

Thou art constrenyt thy burdis gnaw and fret;


Than thou, al irkyt, may thar beleif to get


A sovir duelling sted perpetualy:


Ramembir, in that place, or neir fast by,


To found thy first cite with thi hand,5


Dychit with fowsys and wallys hie standand.


This was that hungir tareit ws so lang;


This sall mak end of our myschevis strang.


Quharfor, to morow ayrly, I ȝou pray,


First as the son vprys, we glaidly may10


Sers and inquir quhat place and land is this,


Or quhat maner of pepill tharin duellis,


And of thys kyth quhar standis the cheif cite;


Lat ws seik syndry ways fra the see.


Now mak we mery; away dolf hartis dull;15


Now skynk, and offer Jupiter cowpis full,


And in ȝour prayeris and orisons infeir


Do call apon Anchys, my fader deir:


Bryng wyne agane; set in tharof plente.


And sayand thus, with a grene branch of tre20


He dyd involup and aray his hed,


And Genyus, the God of that ilk sted,


He dyd wirschip, and gan in prayeris call


Erth, the gret moder and first god of all,


The Nymphis, and the fludis ȝit onknaw;25


The Nycht syne, with hir syngnys al on raw,


And Jupiter Ideus of Ida,


And Cibylla the mother in Phrigia;


He gan also beseik, quhar that thai dwell,


Athir of his parentis baith in hevin and hell.30
[Pg 391]

The Fader than almychty with cleyr lycht


Gan thundir thrys dovn from the hevynnys hycht;


And schakand in his hand, quhar as he went,


A byrnand clowd, schew from the firmament,


With fyry sparkis lyke to goldyn bemys,5


Or twynkilland sprayngis with thar giltin glemys.


And tho belyve dywlgat round abowt is


The noys and rumour throu the Troiane rowtis,


The day was cummyn, and the place quhar thai


Thar cite promist suld beld and array.10


For joy thai pyngill than fortill renew


Thar bankettis with all obseruancis dew,


And, for thir tithingis, in flacon and in skull


Thai skynk the wyne, and wauchtis cowpis full.






 CAP. III.




Quhou Eneas ambassatouris dyd send


To kyng Latyn with rewardis and commend.






The nixt morow, with his goldin lamp bryght15


As the cleir day dyd ayr and erth alycht,


Thai boundis, costis, and the cheif cite,


Diuers spyis went furth to sers and se;


And fand ane stank that flowyt from a well


Quhilk Numycus was hait, and eik thai tell20


This was the flude of Tibir thai had fund,


And strang Latyn pepill inhabyt this ground.
[Pg 392]

Tharwith Anchises son, the wys Enee,


Per ordour chosyn of euery degre


Ane hundreth gay ambassatouris dyd waill,


To pas onto the kyngis sted riall,


Bad beir the prynce rewardis for the nanys,5


And him beseik of peax to the Troianys.


With fresch garlandis and branchis all thai be


Arrayt of the olyve of Pallas tre;


And but delay, as he thame chargit had,


With swyft pays thai on thar message glaid.10


And he into the meyn tyme fast can spur


Bot with a smal sewch, or a litill fur,


To mark the fundment of his new cite;


And fast by the ilk costis syde of the see


Hys first mansioun, in maner as it had bene15


Ane ost of tentis stentit on the grene,


With turettis, fowsy, and erd dikis ilk deill,


He gan addres to closing wonder weill.


Be this the ȝong men send furth in message


Sa far has sped furthwart thar vayage,20


That thai the towris and the turettis hie


Of kyng Latyn the cheif chymmys gan se.


Vndre the cite wall childir and pagis,


And lusty springaldis, al of tendir agis,


Thar horssis and thar stedis dyd assay,25


And dantit cartis in the dusty way;


And sum thar big bowis dyd bend and draw,


Sum with armys leyt trymland dartis thraw,


Baith with swyft curs and schuting so thai wirk,


Ilkane bissy his party forto irk.30
[Pg 393]

Than, careit on ane hors, a messynger


Brocht tithingis to the ancient kyngis eyr,


A gret menȝe of sturdy men war cum,


Cled in a strange habyt all and sum.


The kyng bad bryng thame in his palyce sone,5


And set hym self amyd his eldris troyn.


Thar stude a gret tempill, or sail ryall,


Of Lawrent cite seyt imperiall,


Belt with a hundreth staitly pillaris hie,


Of kyng Picus the chymmys cheif to se,10


With semly schawys circulit, and lang hald


In wirschip and reuerence be faderis ald;


Quhar was statut by the consent common


The kyngis suld ressaue ceptur and crovn,


And of justice other ensenȝeis seir,15


And thar the baner fyrst rays for the weir.


In this tempill held thai curt on raw;


That was the set eik by thar gentil law


Deput for hallowit fest and mangeory;


And heir full oft at burdis by and by20


The heris war wont togidder syt all sam,


Quhen britnyt was, eftir thar gys, the ram.


And forthir eik, per ordour mycht ȝe knaw


Within the cheif deambulatour on raw


Of forfaderis gret ymagis dyd stand,25


Of ald cedir carvyt with crafty hand;


Kyng Italus, and fader Sabinus


That first the wyne tre plantit, stok or bus;


The crukyt huke vndre hys weid held he;


The ancyent kyng Saturn thar mycht thou se,30
[Pg 394]

And Janus statur eyk with dowbill face,


With other pryncis porturyt in that place,


From the begynnyng of thar first discens,


Quhilk, of thar natyve cuntre for defens,


In marcyal batale sufferit woundis sair.5


Apon the postis alsso mony a pair


Of harnes hang, and cart quhelis gret plente,


From ennemys war wonnyn in melle;


The bowand axis, helmys with hie crestis,


Of rich citeis ȝettis, stapillis, and restis,10


Gret lokkis, slottis, massy bandis sqwair,


Dartis and scheildis hyngis heir and thar,


And stalwart stevynnys, baith of irne and tre,


Reft from thir schippis fechtand on the see.


The ymage porturit was of kyng Pycus,15


Dantar of horssis, in chair sat gloryus,


Cled in a ryal rob auguriall,


And in his hand a ceptre wand riall,


And in his left hand haldand a bukleir;


Quham, revist for his luf, throu vennomys seir,20


Circes hys spous smate with a goldin wand,


And in a byrd hym turnyt fut and hand,


With sprutlyt weyngis, clepit a Speicht with ws,


Quhilk in Latyn hait Pycus Marcyus.




[Pg 395]




 CAP. IV.




Kyng Latyn speris the caus of thar cummyng,


And Ilioneus maid gudly ansueryng.






In sik a tempill of goddis Latyn Kyng,


Amyd his faderis set ryall sytting,


Gart fech the Troianys to his presens heir;


And as thai entrit, and befor him wer,


With glaid semlant and vissage ful benyng5


Thir wordis first to thame carpis the king:


Say me, Troianys, quhat ȝe desire, quod he;


For weil we knaw ȝour lynage and cite,


And it is alsso cummyn to our erys


Ȝe set ȝour cours our se thir mony ȝeris;10


Schaw for quhat causis, or quhat necessite,


Ȝour schippis our sa feill haw stremys of see


Beyn hiddir to this cost of Italy


Careit or dryve, or quhidder ȝour navy


Has errit by thar cours, and far gone will,15


Or ȝit by fors of storm catchyt hiddertill,


As oft wil happin by the frawart tyde


To marynaris on fludys deip and wyde.


Gyf ȝe sik wys within our ryver bankis


Be entryt, or remanys with our thankis20


In to our port and havynnys fast heir by,


Withdraw ȝou not, ne fle nocht that harbry;


Nor mysknaw not the condityons of ws


Latyn pepill and folk of Saturnus,
[Pg 396]

Onconstrenyt, not be law bund thartill,


Bot be our inclinatioun and fre will


Just and equale, and but offencis ay,


Ar rewlit eftir the ald Goddys way.


As twichyng eik ȝour discens and ofspryng,5


Weil I ramembir that I haue hard sum thing;


Bot that is passyt, or now, sa mony ȝheris,


The fame almaste forȝet is and efferis;


Agit men of the cite Arunca,


With gret avant, forsuyth, thame hard I say,10


Of this cuntre Schir Dardanus ybor


Throw out the sey socht far and ferthyrmor


Tyl Samo, fyrst, in Trace, the nerrest gait,


Quhilk Samothracia now to name is hait;


Syne socht he to the land of Phrygia,15


And citeis set in the wod of Ida.


The goldyn palyce now with sternys brycht


Of hevyn in seyt riall withhaldys that wyght,


That vmquhile socht fra hyne of Tuscany,


And Corith cite, standis our cost hard by;20


That now a god is clepit our all quhar,


And to thar numbir ekis hys altar.


Thus said the kyng; and Ilioneus, but baid,


Onto hys wordys thus wys answer maid.


Maist ryall prynce, cummyn of hie parage25


Of god Fawnus, nowdyr the seys rage


By fors of dyrk tempest has ws dryve


Onto ȝour realm, and tharat maid arryve,


Nor ȝit the laid stern from our cours bywauyt,


Nor strange cost of this regioun dissauyt:30
[Pg 397]

Bot by assent common, and of fre will,


And set purpos, we socht this cite till,


As folkis flemyt fra thar natyve cuntre;


Vmquhile the maste souerane realm, trast me,


That evir the son from the far part of hevyn5


With hys bemys ourschane, or man can nevin.


From Jupiter dyd our lynnage begyn,


And all the ofspring of Schir Dardanus kyn


Of Jupiter thar forfader can reios;


Of Jovis stok in hyast gre most chois10


Our kyng discend, the strang Troiane Enee,


In message send ws heir to thy cite.


Quhou gret tempest of batale and debait


Our Troiane feildis wyd has walkyt layt


By cruel Grekis hydduus confluens,15


Quhat fatale bargane thar maid and defens,


Athir part knawys of the warldis twa,


That is to say, Europ and Asya:


And gif thar ony ferthir regioun be,


Diuidit be the streym and occiane see20


Fra the ferm land, tharof thai haue hard tell;


And thai alsso, gif ony thar may dwell,


The sonnys myd cirkill remanys vnder,


Hait Torrida Ȝona, dry as ony tundir,


Quhilk is amyd the hevynnys situat25


Amang four othir plagis temperate.


Fra that diluge eschape and feirful spait,


Careit throu feil large haw stremys wayt,


A litil sted or mansioun, we beseik,


Grant to our natyve kyndly goddis meik,30
[Pg 398]

The bair sey cost, hurtand na mannys rycht,


With air and watir common to euery wight.


Na mair lak to ȝour realm sall we be,


Nor na repreif tharby to ȝour renowne


Be ws, nor nane other, sal nevir spreid;5


Nor ȝit the thankis of sa frendful a deid


Sal ony tyme into obliuion slyde;


Nor Italy, with hir braid bundis and wide,


Sal nevir repent that scho the folk of Troy10


Hes ressauyt, nor tharof thynk ennoy.


Be al Eneas destaneis I sweir,


Hys trasty faith, or rycht hand into weir


Sa valȝeand at onset and defens,


And by his lang wse and experiens15


Of armys, quhilk he hes in batale hantit;


Ful mony pepil, victoryus, ondantit,


Desirit ws in frendschip and ally,


And tobe jonyt in thar senȝeory:


Nor lichtly not forthy our frendly proffer,20


Quhilk of our fre will onrequirit we offir,


With wordis of request and of trety,


The takynnys in our handis born vp hye:


For oft the fatis of the goddis seir


Has ws compellit by thar strang power25


Onto ȝour landis and thir costis seik.


Schir Dardanus born of this cuntre eik


Desiris hiddir to return agane;


And with commandmentis strait, ful mony ane,


Appollo chargit ws to sper bedene


To Tybyr, flowand in the sey Tirrene,30
[Pg 399]

And to the fontane and the strandis cleir


Of Numycus, the hallowit fresch ryver.


And forthir eik our prince hes to the sent


Of his ald fortoun bot a smal present,


The sobir levyngis rest from Troys fyre.5


Into this cowp of gold Anchises hys syre


At the altar was wont to sacrify;


And of the gret kyng Pryam, mast douchty,


This was the cheif dyademe our the laif,


With quham he crownyt sat and domys gaif;10


Hys ceptre als, and eik his tyar hat,


Hallowit quharwith at sacrifice he sat;


And this was eik hys precius rob ryall,


By Troiane ladeis wrocht and brusyt all.


Herand sic wordis of Ilioneus,15


Ful stil his vissage haldis Latynus;


Hys syght onmovyt to the erd dyd he prent,


Witht eyn rollyng, and erys rycht attent.


The brusyt purpour movis hym na thing,


Nor Priamus ceptour sa sar steris the kyng,20


As that he musys thochtfull gretumly


Apon his douchteris spousage and ally,


And in his mind gan cumpas oft infeir


His fader Faunus respons and answer;


Thynkand this ilk Eneas semyt to be25


The self stranger, quham fatale destanee


Signyfeit tocum furth of ane vncouth sted,


Tobe his son in law, and forto led


Equale dignite with him in that ryng,


Ful of souerane vertu, quhais ofspring30
[Pg 400]

By thar power suld joys and occupy


The haill warld vndre thar senȝeory.


And at the last, eftir ful lang musyng,


Witht joyus cheir on this wys said the kyng:


The goddis ȝour begynnyng furthir and speid,5


And thar pronosticatioun manifest in deid.


I grant thyne axyng, Troiane messynger,


And ȝour rewardis ressauys in thank; for heir


Ȝe be all hartlie welcum, trastis me:


So lang as levys kyng Latyn in this cuntre,10


The riches of mast plentuus fertil grund


Ȝe sal nocht want, that in this realm is fund,


Ne ȝit nane othir welth, weilfar, and joy,


Quhilkis ȝe war wont to bruke and haue in Troy.


Bot, at the lest, ȝe caus ȝour prince Enee,15


Gyf that so gretlie he desiris tobe


With ws confiderat intil allyance,


Or gif he langis, but langar discrepans,


Within our palyce to entir befor othir,


And be clepit our companȝeoun or brother,20


Dwel no langar, bot cum hidder in haist,


Ne skar not at his frendis face as a gaist.


For the mast part of our convene and band


To me salbe to twich ȝour kyngis hand.


And now agane ȝe sal, turnand ȝour went,25


Bar to ȝour prince this my charge and commandment.


I haue a douchter quham responsis, schaw


Furth of my faderis oratory law,


And mony feirful takynnys of the hevin


Be diuers ways schawin, and fyry levin,30
[Pg 401]

Wil not suffir at scho in wedlok be


Gevin ontil a man of our cuntre;


Bot all the spaymen declaris, by and by


Thar suld cum to remane in Italy,


Fra strange costis, to be our son in law,5


A douchty man, vnkouth and onknaw,


Quhilk, of his lynage and posterite,


Our name abufe the sternys sal vphie.


Gyf that my mynd can ocht ymagn rycht,


I weyn that he suld be the sammyn knycht,10


And glaidly wald, with al my hartis desire,


The werdys tharto callit that rial syre.


This beand sayd, the kyng Latyn, but faill,


Gart cheis of al his stedis furth the waill:


Thre hundreth mylk quhite hors and fare had he,15


Seysit and fed in stalwart stallis hie.


For euery Troiane per ordour thar the kyng


With purpour howsouris bad a cursur bring:


Thar brusyt trappuris and patrellis reddy bovne,


With goldin bruchis hang from thar brestis dovne;20


Thar harnessing of gold rycht deirly dicht;


Thai runge the goldin mollettis burnyst bright.


Ontil Eneas als, thar prynce absent,


A ryal chair richly arrayit he sent,


With twa stern stedis tharin ȝok infeir,25


Cummyn of the kynd of hevinly horssis wer,


At thar neys thirlys the fyre fast sneryng owt;


Of the ilke stok and stude sprungyn, but dowt,


Quhilk Circes, crafty and engenyus,


And mar subtell than evir was Dedalus,30
[Pg 402]

Be a quent way fra hir awin fader staw,


Makand his stedis byleip meris onknaw,


That by hir sle consait and wily mynd


Sik maner horsis engendrit of bastard kynd.






 CAP. V.




Juno, persavand the Troianys beild a town,


For greif and dolour like to swelt and swoun.






Wyth sik giftis Eneas messyngeris,5


And of kyng Latyn with joyful answeris,


Returnys, montit hie on hors ilk ane,


Of peax and concord bodword brocht agane.


Bot lo, the spous of Jove, cruell Juno,


The self tyme can return fro Arge tho;10


The quhilk cuntre, of nobill brute and fame,


From Innachus the kyng has tak his name;


And has careit throu the ayr puyr,


Quhilk is hyr proper regioun. As scho fur


Down from the skyis, on far can do spy15


Of the heland Pachynnus in Scycilly;


Beheld the Troiane navy stand on raw,


And Eneas blyth and glaid scho saw


Of the joyus bodword onto him brocht,


That bissely, with all the haist he mocht,20


Inforcis thar herbry and strenth to beld,


Than all assurit of this land and feld,
[Pg 403]

And thar schippis left desolate and waist.


In extasy scho stude, and mad almaist:


In suddand dolour smyttin wonder smert,


Can schak hir hed, with harmys at hir hart,


And of hir breist thir wordis warpis in hy:5


Och, kynd of pepill haitfull and onworthy!


For all the willis and the fatis Troiane


Bene to our mynd and destaneis euer agane.


Mycht thai nocht all haue bene slane in Troy feildis?


Mycht thai nocht all haue swelt thar vnder scheildis?10


Ar thai nocht venquist and ourcum ilk ane?


Quhat! may nocht thir presoneris agane be tane?


Hes nocht Troy all infyrit ȝit thame brynt?


Na: all sic laubour is fornocht and tynt.


Haue thai nocht fund, forto eschape away15


Throw myd fyre, and myd ostis, sovir way?


So trast I now at last my fors and mychtis


Lyis dolf and irkit be ȝon cative wightis:


Insaciate of haitrent, I rest in pes,


That was so bald afor, and nevir wald ces,20


Quhen thai war chasyt of thar natyve land,


To sturt thame on the streme fra hand to hand,


And to persew tha flemyt vavengouris


Throw all seys, my self, ilk tyde and howris.


Agane Troianys consumyt are be me25


The strenth of all the hevynnys and the see.


Quhat proffittit me Syrtis, that sowkand sand,


Or ȝit Scilla, the swelch is ay rowtand?


Or quhat avalit Caribdis bisme huge?


Ar thai not stakit at rest, and weil luge30
[Pg 404]

In the desirit sond of Tybris bay,


Assoverit of the sey, and hes na fray


Of me, ne of my malice and fant thocht?


The stern pepil Lapythos bryng to nocht,


And quyt distroy, mycht Mars for his offens:5


Was it nocht eik grantit in recompens


To Dyan, by the fader of goddis ichone,


To wrek hir greif in ancyent Calidone?


Quhat falt maid the Lapythos or trespas,


Or Calidon, at sa sar punyst was?10


Abuf myssour forsuyth thai chastyit war.


Bot I, the spous of the gret Jupiter,


Quhilk sa onhappy al ways I mycht fynd


Thame til ennoy consait lest nocht behynd,


Quhilk hes myself in propir person eik15


Turnyt and writhit all wentis I couth seik,


Am now venquist be a man, this Ene.


Bot, gif my power nocht sufficient be,


Or gret eneuch, quhy suld I dreid or spar


To purches help, fursuyth, atour alquhar?20


Gif I may nocht the hevinly goddis inclyne


To my purpos, I sal seik forthir syne


To thame that far doun into Achiron dwell,


And sall commove that depast pyt of hell.


I put the cace, that I may nocht optene25


From Latyn land thame to expel al clene,


Bot be the fatis immovabill destane,


Lavynya remanys spous to Ene:


Ȝit at lest thar may fall stop or delay


In sa gret materis, for a ȝeir or twa;30
[Pg 405]

And lefull is it eik of athir kyng


The retennew in batale down to dyng.


Lat the eldfar and mawch knyt vp frendschip


Be price of thar pepillis and falloschip.


With gret effusioun of the blude Troiane,5


And sammyn of pepill Rutiliane,


Thou salbe saisyt, madyn, to dowry;


Bellona, goddes of batale, sal stand by,


Tobe convoyar of the mariage.


Nevir Heccuba, of Cisseus lynage,10


Quhilk, bund with child, dremyt scho dyd furth bring


A gleid of fyre, or hait brand lycht byrnyng,


Was deliuer of sik flambis, but faill,


As thou sal ber, and fyris coniugale;


And forthir eik, this Venus proper birth,15


And secund Paris, Ene, litill wirth,


Sal rays and kyndill dedly flambe agane


Of hait fyre brondis amang the wallis Troiane.


Fra this was said, with horribill mynd in haist


Doun to the erth scho socht, and the laith gaist20


Furth of hir set and myrk dongeoun of hell


Scho dyd provoke, and callys with a ȝell


Ane of the sory furyus sisteris thre,


Alecto, quhilk causis all myschefe tobe,


And evir mar desiris of hir kynd,25


And hes full grene enprentit in hir mynd


The dedly batalis, and the dolorus wer,


Stryfe and dissait, harm and discordis seir.


This fendlych hellys monstre Tartareane


Is hatit with hir other sisteris ilkane,30
[Pg 406]

And Pluto eik, the fader of hellis see,


Reputtis that bysmyng belch haitfull to se;


Into samony grisly formys seir


Scho dois hir self translate, and of sik feir


Bene hir cruell schappis and vissage,5


Sa fowle and laithly all hir personage,


That, for hir pilis, and in sted of hir hair,


Feil snakis springis our hir body alquhar.


Quhilk fury quent, of kynd sa peralus,


Juno tystis to myscheif, sayand thus:10


Do to me, virgyn, dochtir of the dyrk nycht,


This a seruice, thy proper wark be richt,


Do me this laubour, quhilk is thyne of det,


That our honouris and fame be nocht ourset,


Ne ȝit subdewit into sik a place15


As with ȝone Troianys, standis voyd of grace:


Lat nevir Ene so prowdly to optene


The spousage of Latinus douchter schene,


And, by na way, lat nevir his feris weld


A fut braid of Italiane grond nor feld.20


Thou can brethir of ane assent mony ȝeris


Aganyst other enarm in mortale weris;


Thou may ourturn with haitrent and with strife


The hail houshald, the man agane his wife;


Thou may skurgyng and strakis in lugyngis rays,25


And thou of frendis may mak mortale fays,


And dedly fyrbrondis kyndill in thak and rwys;


A thousand namys thou has that na man luffis,


A thousand ways folkis to ennoy and schent.


Knok on thy brudy breist at myne entent;30
[Pg 407]

Brek and cast doun thar concord maid of new;


Causys of stryfe and batale I wald thou sew;


Gar all the power, and euerilk stowt ȝounkeir,


First in thar myndis desire to move the weir,


Syne cry, and ask armys and batale all,5


And rusch tharto forsely gret and small.






 CAP. VI.




Alecto, throw persuasion of Juno,


Queyn Amata al wytles gart sche go.






This cruel monstre, Alecto, onane


Infect with feil vennom Gorgonyane,


Socht first to Latyum, and the chymmys hee


Of Lawrentyn, the kyngis cheif cite,10


And prevely begouth awach and lowr


About his spous quene Amatais bour;


Quhilk, all inflambit in ire and wifely thochtis


Of this new come of Troianys, all on flocht is,


The bissy curis of Turnus mariage15


Skaldyng hir breist and mynd half in a rage.


Thys wikkyt Goddes towart hir alsfast


Ane of hir slymy serpent haris dyd cast,


Deip in hir bosum leyt inslip with slycht,


Amyd hir hart pipis or precordialis lycht;20


That be this ilk monstris instigatioun


Wod wraith scho suld perturble al the toun.
[Pg 408]

Thys eddir, slyding owr slekit bodeis soft


Of thir ladeis, amang thar wedis oft


Went thrawin so that nane felt quhar scho glidis,


The furyus queyn dissauyng on athir sydis,


And in hir mynd can blaw and kyndill syne5


Ane felloun greif or curage serpentyne.


The grysly serpent sum tyme semyt tobe


About hir hals a lynkit gold chenȝe;


And sum tyme of hir curche, lap with a waif,


Becum the selvage, or bordour of hir quafe;10


Sum tyme hir hed lays, forto knyt hir hair;


Ful slyde sche slippis hir membris our alquhar.


Sone as the first infectioun a litil we


Of slymy vennom inȝet quently had sche,


Than scho begouth hir wittis to assale,15


And depe amyd hir banys forto skaill


And multiply the rage or byrnand fury;


For ȝit nocht all our hyr breist cruelly


The spreit hes felt the flambe frenettical:


Quharfor the mar sobirly furth with all,20


Eftir the commoun custum and vsage


Of ald matronys in thar wyld dotage,


With huge complaynt for hir dochter and regrate,


And Troiane wedlok contrar hir consate,


Thus said scho weping, and that ful petuusly:25


O fader kyng Latyn, quhy wilt thou, quhy?


Quhat! sal our child, Lavynya the may,


To banyst men be geif to leid away?


Nowdir hes thou of thy tendir get piete,


Ne ȝit compassioun of thy self, ne me30
[Pg 409]

Hir moder, quham sa sone, full dissolate,


Ȝone fals sey revar wil leif in sturt, God wayt,


And cary the maid our the deip fludis haw,


Alssone as evir the first north wynd dois blaw?


Was it nocht evin be sik a fenȝeit gyrd5


Quhen Parys furth of Phryge, the Troiane hyrd,


Socht to the cite Laces in Sparta,


And thar the dochter of Lydea stal awa,


The fair Helyn, and to Troy tursyt raith?


Quhat sal avale ȝour faith and hallowit aith?10


Quhat of ȝour ancyent purvyance, schir kyng,


That ȝe had of ȝour frendis and ofspring?


Quhat of ȝour richt hand, hald sa gloryus,


Sa feil syth gevin to our cousyng Turnus?


Gyf that thou sekis ane alienar onknaw,15


Tobe thy mawch or thy gud son in law,


And hes that thing determyt in thy hed,


Constrenyt tharto by the command and red


Of thy fader Fawnus: as to that gate,


Heir a litil my fantasy and consate.20


All cuntre onsubieckit vnder our wand,


It may be clepit ane oncouth strange land,


And al at thar indwellis alienaris bene;


Of sik strangeris the goddis spak, I weyn.


And gyf we list seik forthir mar, ȝit than25


To compt the first begynnyng of Turnus clan,


Inachus and Achrysyus, but weir,


Twa kyngis of Grece, his forfaderis wer;


Thus is he Greik, to compt his greis a pece,


And cum of Myce the myddil realm of Grece.30
[Pg 410]

Eftir at the quene with sik wordis, all for nocht,


Assayt had kyng Latyn, as scho mocht,


And fand at he resistit hyr entent,


The furyus poyson than of the serpent


Deip in hir breist and entralis swiftly ȝeid,5


And dyd our all partis of hir body spreid;


So that, forsuyth, cacchit onhappely


With hydduus monstreis, gan scho ryn and cry


Throw owt the large cite in wild dotage,


But resson, strikkin with the nymphis rage.10


As sum tyme sclentys the round tap of tre,


Hyt with the twynyt quhip dois quhirl, we se,


Quham childyr dryvis bissy at thar play


Abowt the clos and voyd hallis all day;


Scho smyttyn with the tawys dois rebound,15


And rynnys about, abowt, in cirkill round;


The wytles sort of forsaid babbys ȝyng


Studeis awondrit of sa nyce a thing,


This turnyt tre so all that berdles rowt


Ferleis to se swa sleip and quhirl abowt,20


And all thar mynd settis it to cach and dryve:


Na slawar went Amata, the kyngis wife,


Throw owt the myd citeis of Latyn land,


And throu the fers pepill, fra hand to hand.


And forthir eik, onto the woddis grene25


With swyft fard cacchys furth this quene,


Fenȝeand the rage of Bacchus, and gret mycht,


A mar myschefe forto controve and slycht,


And grettar fury swyth scho can begyn,


Hyr douchter hyd thir woddy hillys within;30
[Pg 411]

Tharby the Troiane spousage to delay,


Stop and prolong thar fest and brydell day.


Scho schowtis, hey, how! Bacchus, god of wyne,


Thow only art worthy to haue our virgyne;


And this with lovd voce cryis and schowtis sche.5


To the, Bacchus, scho rasyt eik on hie


Gret lang speris, as thai standartis wer,


With wyne tre branchis wippit on thar maner;


To the scho led ryng sangis in caralyng,


To the hir hair addressit leit down hyng.10


The fame heirof wyde our all dyd spreid,


Quhill at the last the sammyn fury can spreid


In all the matronys brestis of the land:


Cacchit with fors tha flok fra hand to hand,


Thar howsis thai forhow and levis waist,15


And to the woddis socht as thai war chaist,


And leit thar nekkis and hayr blaw with the wynd;


Sum othiris went ȝelland vnder the lynd,


Quhill all the skyis of thar scryke fordynnys;


And sum, war cled in pylchis of fowne skynnys,20


Into thar handis rasyt vp on hie


The lang stowris, wond with the sweit wyne tre.


Amyd thame all the queyn Amata gais,


And fersly dyd a byrnand fyrr tre rays,


And of hir douchter eik and of Turnus ȝyng25


The wedding sangis and ballettis dyd scho syng,


With bludy eyn rollyng full thrawynly;


Oft and rycht schrewitly wald scho clepe and cry,


Owt harro! matronys, quharso evir ȝe be,


All Latyn wyfis harkis now to me:30
[Pg 412]

Gif ony favouris or frendschip ȝit remanys


In ȝour devote brestis, amangis thir planys,


Of the onhappy mother Amata,


Gif ony thocht remordis ȝour myndis alssua


Of the effectuus piete maternall;5


Lows hed bandis, schake down ȝour haris all,


Walk in this wod heir caraland with me,


Syng Bacchus sangis, sen na bettir may be.






 CAP. VII.




Quhou Alecto persuadit hes Turnus


To move batale incontrar Latinus.






Alecto thus, amang the woddis dern,


Mony wild bestis den and depe cavern,10


Into sic rage this ilk queyn Amata


With Bacchus fury cacchis to and fra.


And eftir that this wikkit fals goddes


Thocht scho had scharpit weill eneuch, I ges,


The first fury of sa dolorus rage,15


Fortyll distrubbill the forsaid mariage,


And quyte pervert or turnyt top our taill


Latynus howshald, purpos, and counsale;


But mar delay, with wallowit weyngis sche


Wiskis from thyne onto the wallis hie20


Of the curageus Rutiliane Turnus:


Quhilk cite the douchter of Acrysyus,
[Pg 413]

Fair Danas, fundyt for hir men and hir,


Drevin to that cost with the south wyndis bir:


Quhilk sted was sum quhile clepit Ardea,


Fra Ardea, a fowle, ȝit namyt swa,


And, to this day, the forsaid riall hame5


Be fortoun brukis of Ardea the name.


Within tha hyghty boundis Turnus rycht


Lay still at rest amyddis the dirk nycht.


Alecto hir thrawin vissage dyd away,


All furyus membris laid apart and array,10


And hir in schap transformyt of a trat,


Hyr forret skorit with runclys and mony rat;


And with a vaill ourspred hir lyard hair,


A branch of olyve tharto knyttis ȝare:


Of Junoys tempill semyt scho tobe15


The nun and trattes, clepit Calybe.


Befor the visage of this stowt ȝong knycht


Present hir self, with thir wordis on hicht:


Turnus, quhat! wylt thou suffir this ondocht,


Thy lang travale and laubour be for nocht,20


And thy ceptre and crown delyuerit be


To ȝon banyst new cum Troiane menȝe?


The kyng Latyn the spousage of Lavyne,


And thy dowry, bocht with thy blude and pyne,


Denyis forto grant the, or ellis ocht;25


And to succeid in his realm hes besocht


Ane alienar, born of ane oncouth land.


Pas now thy way, and set the to ganestand


Thir perellis, but all thankis or gaynȝeld;


Sen thou art mokkit, go, down bet in seld30
[Pg 414]

The ostis of Hethruria, and syne


Defend in peax and rest the folk Latyne.


Almychty Saturnus douchtir aluterly,


As thou be nycht thus doith at quiet ly,


Bad me schaw planely all thir thingis to the.5


Haue done therfor, assembil this cuntre,


Addres thy sensabill men in thar array,


Enarmyt glaidly move and hald ȝour way


Towart the portis or havynnys of the see,


And set apon ȝon sam Troiane menȝe;10


Dryve thar chiftanys of this land, but hone,


Thar pantit carvellis byrn; so to be done


The gret power of hevynly Goddis dyvyne


Commandit hes, decret, and determyne.


Lat kyng Latynus feil to his awyn harmys,15


And haue experiens of the, Turnus, in armys,


Bot he the grant to wife his child Lavyne,


And kepe to the hys promys and convyne.


The ȝyng man mokkand at the prophetes,


Herand sic speche, answeris with mouth expres:20


It standis not so as thou wenys, but weris;


The messynger is nocht gone by myne erys,


Full lang or now, quhou that a strange navy


Arryvit in this Tibris streme fast by.


Fenȝe na cawsis me fortill effray;25


Weyn not me list my purpos leif na way,


Nor ryall Juno, quene of realmys all,


List our querrell forȝet, nor thoil we fall.


Bot, O ald dame, thy vile onweldy age,


Ourset with hasart hair and faynt dotage,30
[Pg 415]

Quhilk voyd is of all treuth and verite,


In sic curys invane occupyis the,


And the dissavis, as prophet, be fals dreid,


That gevis thi mynd tharon thou has na heid,


As forto treyt of batalis betwix kyngis:5


Thyne occupatioun standis on othir thingis,


Quhilk suld haue cure of nocht alanerly


Bot goddis tempillis and ymagis to spy:


Thoill men of pes and wer carp and rehers,


Quhamto pertenys the batalis to exers.10


At sic wordis Alecto, hait as fyre,


Brynt in hir fury rage and felloun ire,


So that, the ȝong man spekand, suddanly


The trymlyng hynt all membris of his body;


His eyn stud abasyt in his hed;15


This hellis monstre, full of wreth and fed,


Hyssyt and quhislyt with sa feill eddir sondis,


And hir figour sa grysly gret abundis,


With glowrand eyn byrnand of flawmys blak.


Turnus awondryng styntis and drawis abak;20


And, as he purposit mekill mar to say,


Insted of haris scho rasit vp serpentis tway,


And of hir scurge the sound scho made him heir;


With rageand mouth syne said and fellown beir:


Behaldis this my vile onweldy age,25


Ourset with hasart hair and faynt dotage,


Quham eild, void of al trewth and verite,


Be fals dreid dissavys so, quod sche,


As forto treyt of batale betwix kyngis:


Behald gif it so be, consider thir syngis;30
[Pg 416]

Lo me present, ane of the sisteris thre,


Infernal fureis of feirfull hellis see;


Se, I bar in my handis and power


The ded of batalis and the mortale were.


And sayand thus, at this ilk fers ȝyng knycht5


Ane hait fyre brand kest scho byrnand brycht,


And in hys breste this furyus lemand schide


With dedly smok fixit deyp can hyde.


The huge dreid with this dissoluyt his slepe,


Our all his body bristing furth dyd crepe10


The warm swait throw euery lith and bane,


And all enragit can eftir harnes frane;


Armour, all wytles, in his bed sekis he,


Armour, our all the lugyng law and hie.


The gret curage of irne wapynnys can waid15


Cruell and wild, and all his wyt invaid


In wikkit wodnes batale to desire,


Quharon he byrnys hait in felloun ire:


Lyke as quhen that the ingill of stikkis dry


With blesand sownd is layd to by and by,20


About the sydis of the pot playing,


The licour sparklis for the heyt bulyng;


Within, the fervent bullyr violent


Of watir makyng reky froith vpsprent;


So swellis vp the skum and bellis bedene,25


The veschell may na mar the broth contene,


Bot furth it poplys in the fyre heir and thar,


Quhill vp fleys the blak stew in the air.


And for alsmekill as Turnus thus was stad,


The gretast of hys chiftanys go he bad30
[Pg 417]

To kyng Latyn, and him declar, but wer,


The paix was brokyn, and he wald move the were:


To graith thar armour fast commandis he,


To defend Ital, and of thar awin cuntre


Thar ennemys expell and dryve; as ȝit5


He was eneuch for baith, he leyt thame wyt,


Baith to recuntyr the Latynys and Troianys.


Quhen this was said, and, on sik wys as ganys,


The goddis callit tobe in thar helping,


Than bissely Rutilianys, our all thing,10


Can athir othir fast exhort and pray


On thar best wys for werfar to purvay.


Sum the maste semly farrand personage


Tistys to the feild, to preif his grene curage;


Sum on his ȝouthhed, and his thewes gude;15


Sum is movit throw hys ryall blude,


For his progenitouris noble kyngis wer;


And sum war eik inducit to the weir


For hie prowes knawin in ilke landis,


And dedis wrocht maste knychtly with his handis.20






 CAP. VIII.




Ascanyus huntand has a taym hart hurt,


Quhilk was the first moving of strife and sturt.






Quhill Turnus on this wys, about all partis,


In the Rutilyanys rasys hardy hartis,
[Pg 418]

With hir infernall weyngis furth can cary


Alecto towart Troianys, but mair tary.


By ane new slycht a place spyit hes sche,


Quhar, for the tyme, by the cost of the see,


The ȝyng semly Ascanyus at solace5


Dyd hunt the wild deir, followyng the chace.


Thar suddanly this hellis wench infest


Ane hasty fury on his hundis kest;


Thar nes thirlys with a sover sent


Scho fillis so, that bissely thai went10


Eftir the fute of a taym hart; quhilk thing


Was the first caus of weirfar and fechtyng,


And first sterit the wild fosteris fell


To move debait, or mak thame for batell.


This hart of body was baith gret and squar,15


With large hed, and tyndis burnyst far;


Quham childir of ane Tyrrheus thame amang,


Reft from his moderis pap, had nurysit lang:


Tyrrheus thar fader was fee master and gyde


Of studdis, flokkis, bowis, and heirdis wide,20


As storour to the kyng, dyd kepe and ȝym,


Of the large plane all trast was gevin to hym.


Full dantit and full taym at thar command


Was so becum this best, that, but demand,


Siluya thar sister with all diligens25


Arrayt hym of flowris sweit as sens;


Oft plet scho garlandis for his tyndis hie;


The deir also full ofttyme kem wald sche,


And feil sys wesch intil a fontane cleir.


Full weil sufferit hir handis the tame deir,30
[Pg 419]

And was accustomyt so quhen he list eyt,


At his awin masteris burd to seik his meyt:


Our all the woddis wald he raik ilk day,


And at evin tide return hame the strecht way


Till hys lugyng weilbekend, fute hait,5


All by him self, war the nycht neuer so lait.


This hart, errand far from hys resset,


Ascanyus wod hundis ombeset,


As that, per cace, for the hait sonnys gleme,


He held doun swymmand the cleir ryver streme,10


To cuyll hys heyt vnder a gresy bra.


Ascanyus the child hym self alssua,


Byrnyng in desire of sum notable renown,


With nokkyt bow ybent all reddy bown,


Wenand hym wilde, leyt sone ane arow glide;15


The Goddes was all reddy fast besyde,


That can hys hand addres but waveryng;


The flane flaw fast with a spang fra the stryng,


Throw owt the wame and entrellis all, but stynt,


The scharp hedit schaft duschit with the dynt.20


The deir, so dedly woundit and to laym,


Onto his kynd resset can fleyng hame,


And entrys in his stall, and that onone


All blude besprent, with mony grank and grone,


And like a man besocht help and supple;25


With hys plenyng all the hows fillis he.


Siluya, the eldest sister, with a schowt,


Hir handis clappyng fast hir schulderis abowt,


Cryis efter help, and can togidder call


The landwart folkis and dowr foresteris all.30
[Pg 420]

Thai tho assemblit to the fray in hy,


And flokkis furth rycht fast onwarnystly;


For the ilk fury pestilenciall that hour


Full prevely in the dern wod dyd lowr,


To cast on thame slely hir feirfull rage;5


That furth vpstartis bath wife, man, and page:


He with a burdon of ane lang stif tre,


The poynt scharpit and brynt a litill we;


He with a knotty club and knorry hed;


Quhat ilk man sand first reddy in that sted,10


Sekand a swerd, new rynnand fra the pleuch,


Thar greif maid that thing wapyn gud eneuch.


Tyrrheus, the master storour, in a rowt


The churlys all assemlyt hym abowt,


Quhar as, per cace, byssy with weggis he15


Stude schidand a four squarit akyn tre,


With mony pant, with fellon hauchis and quakis,


Als oft the ax rebundit of the strakis.


This cruell goddes, feirfull Alecto,


Fortill ennoy hir tyme espyit tho,20


And spelis vp ful sone, as scho war wod,


Apon a heich stabill quhar that bestis stude:


Right bustuusly apon the rufe on hie


The hyrdys ensenȝe lowd vp trumpis sche,


And in a bowand horn, at hir awin will,25


A feyndlich hellis voce scho liltis schill;


At quhais sovnd all trymlyt the forest,


The dern woddis resondit est and west,


The blast was hard thens mylis mony ane


At the deip lowch of Triuia or Dyane;30
[Pg 421]

The dyn was hard eik ellis quhar ful far


At the sulphuryus quhite ryvar callit Nar,


And at the laik or fontane of Velyne.


Baith to and fro our all the cuntre syne


Wemen and moderis, effrayt of this cace,5


Thar ȝyng childring fast to thar brestis dyd brace.


Than spedely, with haste and bissy fare,


The laubouraris ondantit heir and thare


Hynt wapynnys, and assemlyt on euery side


Towart the sovnd, quhar as the trump that tyde10


With dedly voce blew this feirfull syng:


The Troiane power alsso can furth thring


With haill rowtis, Ascanyus to reskew.


The batalis war adionyt now of new;


Nocht in maner of landwart folkis bargane,15


With hard blokkis raschand all ourane,


Nor blunt steyngis of the byrsillit tre,


Bot with scharp scherand wapynnys maid melle.


The grond blaknyt and feirfull wolx alssua:


Of drawyn swerdis sclentyng to and fra20


The brycht mettale, and othir armouris seir,


Quharon the sonnys blenkis betis cleir,


Glitteris and schane, and vnder bemys brycht


Castis ane new twynklyng or a lemand lycht.


This stour sa bustuus begouth to rys and grew,25


Lyke as the sey changis first hys hew


In quhite lippiris by the wyndis blast;


Syne, peis and peys, the flude boldnys so fast,


Quhill finaly the wallis vprysis mar,


That fra the grund it warpis vp in the air.30
[Pg 422]

At the first cuntre into this bargane


Almon, Tyrrheus eldast son, was slane,


A fair ȝyng springald, quhilk caucht dedis wound


Throw dynt of arrow schot with felloun sound,


That smate hym rycht evin in at the hals bone;5


The loppirrit blude stoppyt hys aynd onone,


And closyt in of lyfe the tendir spreit.


Abowt hym fell down ded, and lost the sweit,


Mony of the hyrdmen, amangis quham was ane,


The eldar Galesus, as that he allane10


Offerit hym self amyd the ostis tway,


To treit concord of pes and of the fray;


Quhilk was the justast of a rurall man,


And mychtyast in hys tyme levyng than:


Our all the boundis of Ausonya15


Hys fyve flokkis pasturyt to and fra,


Fyve bowis of ky ontil his hame reparit,


And with ane hundreth plewis the land he aryt.






 CAP. IX.




Fra the first slauchter maid apon this wys,


Turnus and all the pepill for batall cryis.






And as this bargane on this maner ȝeid


In plane feld and evinly batale sted,20


This hellis goddes, joysing at hir will


Hir promys, quhilk scho hecht forto fulfill,
[Pg 423]

Alssone as was this gret melly begun,


The erth littyt with blude and al ourrun,


And the first slauchter was commyt and done


In dedly weir; than Italy alssone


Scho levis, and with swift fard can do fle5


Throw owt the skyis to the hevynnys hie,


Haissand hir purpos, said with woce ful prowd,


Onto Juno thus spak scho throw a clowd:


Lo! now, discord perfornyst, as thou wald,


With schrewit batale and carys monyfald.10


In tender frendschip lat thame now convene,


Knyt vp allyance and falloschip bedene;


Sen that I haue the Troianys all bysprent


With blude of the Italyanys, or I went.


And, gif thi mynd be ferm tharto with me,15


I sal thus mekill eik to my wark, quod sche,


Fortill induce the citeis adiacent


Onto the bargane, or that I hyne went;


With schrewit rumouris, I can amang thame skaill,


Thar myndis so I sall enflambe alhaill20


By wod ondantit fers desyre of Mart,


Thai sall forgaddir to help from euery art,


Quhil batale, armouris, swerdis, speris, and scheldis,


I sall do saw and strow our all the feildis.


Than answerit Juno; at abundans thar is25


Of thi dissaitfull slycht and frawd, I wys,


And eik of feirfull terrour and deray:


Weill ar perfurnyst causys of this weir perfay:


Thai feght togidder mydlit on the land,


Baith face for face, with drawin glavis in hand,30
[Pg 424]

And new sched blude littis thar armour cleyr,


Quhilk thai by fortoun cawch haue first in weir.


Ȝon worthy squyer of Venus blude and kyn,


And king Latynus, now lat thame begyn


Sik wedlok to contract and spousale feste.5


Bot the gret fader of hevin, at my request,


Will suffir the at large no langar heir


To walk, nor tary abufe the skyis cleir:


Withdraw the of this place, forthy, weil sone:


Gif ony chance restis mar tobe done,10


I sall my self that mater rewle and gy.


Thir wordis spak Juno; and scho tharwith in hy


Hir dowbill weyngis with eddir sound dyd bete,


Levand the hevynnys, socht to hir hellis sete.


Amyddis Itall, vnder hillys law,15


Thar standis a famus sted weil beknaw,


That for his bruyt is namyt in mony land,


The vail Ansanctus hait, on athir hand


Quham the sydis of a thik wod of tre


Closis full dern with skowgy bewys hie:20


A rowtand burn amydwart therof rynnys,


Rumland and soundand on the craggy quhynnys:


And eik forgane the brokkyn brow of the mont


Ane horribill cave with braid and large front


Thar may be sene, a thyrl or ayndyng sted25


Of terribill Pluto, fader of hell and ded;


A ryft or swelch so grysly for to se,


Till Acheron revin dovne, that hellis see,


Gapand with his pestiferus gowle full wide;


At quhais bysme the fury can down slyde,30
[Pg 425]

This hutit goddes, and by that discens


Delyverit hevyn and erd of hyr presens.


And netheles, duryng the meyn sesson,


The queyn hir self, Saturnus get, onon


Set to hyr hand, and ondyd the batell.5


Off hyrdmen all the rowtis with a ȝell


Ruschit fra the feild to the city, but tary,


The sclane bodeis away with thame dyd cary;


Almon the child, and ded Galesus als,


With blud bysparkyt vissage, hed, and hals:10


Thai thyg vengeance at the Goddis, and syne


Thai raym and cry fast on the kyng Latyne.


Turnus was by, and amyd this deray,


Thys hait fury of slauchtir, and fell affray,


The terrour dowblis he and feirfull dreid,15


That sik forloppyn Troianys at this neid


Suld thankfully be resset in that ryng,


Or Phrigiane blude confiderat with the kyng,


And he furth of tha boundis tobe expellit.


The self tyme eyk, for the matronys at ȝellit,20


And roundis sang so in thar wilde dotage,


In the dern woddis, smyttyn with Bacchus rage,


Gret rowtis dyd assembill thyddir in hy,


And rowpyt eftir batale ernystfully;


Thar the detestabill weris euer in ane,25


Agane the fatis all, thai cry and rane,


Contrar answeris and dispositions all


Of goddis, for the weir thai clepe and call.


Led by the power and frawart godhed


Of cruell Juno with ald ramembrit fed:30
[Pg 426]

Full fast thai thryng about the kyngis palyce.


Bot this ilk Latyn, knawand thar malyce,


Rasistis onmovit as a rok of the see,


Quham, with gret brute of watir smyt, we se


Hymself sustenys by hys huge wecht5


Fra wallis feill, in all thar byr and swecht


Jawpyng about hys skyrtis with mony a bray;


Skelleis and famy craggis thai assay,


Rowtand and rarand, and may not empar,


Bot gif thai sched fra his sydis the wair.10


So, eftir that the kyng mycht nocht resist


Thar blynd purpos, for, as evir Juno list,


The mater went, all set to cruelte;


Full mony Goddis and the hevynnys hie


To wytnes drew he, all was by his will:15


Bot all for nocht, na tent was take thartill.


Allace! he said, we ar to broke and ryve


By the fatis, by storm cacchit and dryve.


O, o, ȝe wrachit pepill! gan he cry,


With cruell pane full deir ȝhe sall aby20


This wilfull rage, and with ȝour blude expres


The wrangis of sic sacrilege redres.


O Turnus, Turnus, full hard and hevy wraik


And sorofull vengeance ȝit sal the ourtak,


Quhen, al to lait, in thy helpyng thou sall25


With prayeris on the Goddis clepe and call.


For I had fund my rest and eys, quod he;


Now at the dur deth reddy bydis me,


Quhar now of happy pompis funeral


I spulȝeit am, and sik triumphe riall.30
[Pg 427]

Na mor sayng, with that ilk word fut het


Ful clos within his palice he him schet,


Of all sik thingis gaue our the cure and charge,


Sen na better mycht be, to go at large.






 CAP. X.




The portis of weir to twich the prynce refusis,


Quhilkis Juno brekis, syne al for batal musis.






The maner than was, and the ald custum5


Within the land of ancyent Latyum,


Quhilk blissit vsance eftir mony a day


The citeis and faderis of Alba kepit ay,


Now the gret master souerane cite dyng


Of Rome kepis and hantis the self thing;10


That is to knaw, quhen first thai move or steir


The marciall ensenȝeis for the wer,


Quhidder so thai list to set with ostis plane


On the Gethys, pepill Tartareane,


With dolorus and with ful lamentable wer15


In Hyrcany or Araby to steir,


Or for til ettill into Inde furth eik,


Towart the dawyng and son rysyng to seik,


Or ȝit til ask and reduce hame agane


Thar standartis from the dowr pepill Persane.20


Twa portis beyn of batale and debait,


So thai war clepit to thar name, and hait,
[Pg 428]

Haldyn in religioun of haly reuerence


Of Martys cruel dreid and his offence:


A hundreth brasyn hespis thame claspit queym,


And strenthy irne flottis, that dyd seym


Tobe eternal and inconsumptive;5


Nor Janus, kepar of this entre of strive,


Was no quhile furth of this ilk hallowit hald.


Bot quhen the ferm sentens of faderis ald


Was ony tyme determyt to move weir,


Than he that was cheif duke or consuler,10


In rob ryall vestit, that hait Quyryne,


And rich purpour, eftir the gys Gabyne,


Gyrd in a garmont semly and fut syde,


Thir ȝettis suld up oppin and warp wyde:


Within that girgand hirst alsso suld he15


Pronunce the new weir, batale, and melle;


Quham all the sensabill men suld follow fast,


With plane assent and brasyn trumpis blast.


The kyng Latyn furthwith command thai than


On this maner, as prince and grettast man,20


To proclame weir and decrete the melle


Agane Troianys, thidder cum with Ene,


And warp tha sorofull ȝettis vp on breid.


The prynce refusyt to do sa vile a deid,


Ne list not anys thame twich, nor brek his heist,25


Sore agrevit planely ganestud thar requeste,


And in his secret closet hym withdrew.


Than from the hevin downe quhirland with a quhew


Come queyn Juno, and with hir awin handis


Dang vp the ȝettis, brak but delay the bandis:30
[Pg 429]

This cruell douchter of the ald Saturn


The marbill hirst can weltir and ourturn,


And strang ȝet chekis of weirfar and batell


Strake down, and rent the gret irne postis fell.


Onsterit lang tyme, and onmovit, Ital5


Now byrnys into fury bellicall.


Sum grathis thame on fut to go in feild;


Sum his montit on horsbak vnder scheld


The dusty pvlder vpdryvand with a stour,


And euery man socht wapynnys and armour;10


Thar schynand scheildis sum dyd burnys weill,


And sum polist scharp speir hedis of steill,


To mak thame brycht with fat creisch or same,


And on quhitstanys thar axis scharpis at hame;


To beir pynsellis it gladis thame vp and dovne,15


And ar reiosyt to heir the trumpettis sovne.


Fyve the grettast and maist cheif citeis,


Thar wapynnys to renew in al degreis,


Set vp forgis and steil styddeis fyne;


Rych Atyna, and the prowd Tyburyne,20


Ardea the cite, and Crustumere,


And eik Antemne, with strang towris he


And weirly wallis battellit about,


The sikkyr helmys penys and forgis owt;


Thar targettis bow thai of the lycht sauch tre,25


And bos bukleris coverit with cuyrbulȝe;


Sum steil hawbrikis forgis furth of playt,


Burnyst flaukartis and leg harnes, fut hait,


With latit sowpill siluer weill annelit:


All instrumentis of pleuch graith, irnyt or stelyt,30
[Pg 430]

As cultyris, sokkis, and the somys gret,


With sythis, and al hukis at scheris quhet,


War thidder brocht and tholis temper new;


The lust of all sik wark lomys was adew:


Thai dyd thame forge in swerdis of mettel brycht,5


Forto defend thar cuntre and thar rycht.


Be this, thar armour grathit and thar geir,


The draucht trumpet blawis the brag of weir;


The sloggorn ensenȝe, or the wach cry,


Went for the batale all suld be reddy.10


He pullis down his sellet quhar it hang,


Sum deill effrayt of the noys and thrang;


He dryvis furth the stampand hors on raw


Onto the ȝok, the chareottis to draw;


He clethys hym with his scheld, and semys bald;15


He claspys hys gilt habirgyon and thrynfald;


He, in his breistplait strang and his byrne,


A sover swerd beltis law down by his the.






 CAP. XI.




The poet makis to goddis his prayer,


Dewly to compt the folkis grathis for this weir.






Ȝhe Musys now, sweit Goddessis ichone,


Oppyn and onschet ȝour mont of Helycone,20


Reveil the secretis lyand in ȝour myght,


Addres my stile, and steir my pen go rycht,
[Pg 431]

Entone my sang, and til endyte me leir


Quhat kyngis dyd remufe furth to this weir,


Quhat rowtis followit euery prynce in feild,


With ostis braid that dyd the plane ourheld,


With quhat maner of valȝeand men sik ways5


The happy grund Ital flurist tha days,


With quhatkyn armys it enflambit schane;


Furthschaw thir ancyent secretis euery ane.


Ȝhe blissyt wightis forsuyth ramembris weill


All sic thingis, and, quhar ȝou list, may reveill,10


Thocht scarsly, for the proces of lang ȝeris,


Be smal rumour tharof cum tyl our erys.


First, from the land and costis hait Tyrreyn,


Onto the batale bownys stern and keyn


Mezentius the kyng, that in hys day15


Contempnar clepit was of the goddis ay.


The gydar of hys army and hys rowt


Was hys son Lawsus, valȝeant and stowt,


Abuf all other the maste semly wight,


Except the person of Turnus the gentil knycht,20


Quhilk was the flour of all the Lawrenteis:


This Lawsus was weil taucht at all degreis


To dant gret hors, and as hym list arrest,


Hunt and doun bet the deir and ilk wild best;


A thousand men he led of hys convyne25


From Corete the city Agilyne.


Worthy he was to rewle a gret empyre,


And tobe cummyn of sum mar happy syre


Than of Mezentyus, banyst and indyng,


Bot to haue beyn sum empriouris son or kyng.30
[Pg 432]

The lusty Aventynus nixt in pres


Hym followis, the son of worthy Hercules.


Throu gresy planys hys char with palm ryall


Was rollit furth by hors victoriall,


Quhilk, in hys musteris, schew he in the feild5


Hys faderis takynnys merkit in his scheild,


Ane hundreth edderis and other snakis in sete


Lynkit abowt of Larn the serpent gret;


Quhom the nun Rhea and woman dyvyne


In the dern wod of the mont Aventyne10


Bair and brocht furth onto this warldis lycht:


Ful prevely, onknaw of ony wight,


The woman mydlit with the god went bond,


Eftir this ilk Hercules had brocht to grond


And venquyst Gereon with prowd bodeis thre,15


Syne in the feild besyde Lawrent cite


Was entrit as hym lyft to tak his rest,


Hys Spanȝe oxin, quhom hym likit best,


Dyd bathing and refresch, to mak thame clene,


In Ital strandis at the cost Tyrrhene.20


This Aventinus followis in thir werys,


Bair in his handis lans stafis, and burrel speris,


And dangerus facheonys into staffis of tre;


With round stok swerdis faucht thai in melle,


With poyntalis, or with stokis Sabellyne.25


Thar capitane, this ilke strang Aventyne,


Walkis on fut, hys body wymplit in


A felloun bustuus and gret lyon skyn,


Terribill and roucht, with taty lokkyrrand haris;


The quhite tuskis, the hed, and clowis thar is:30
[Pg 433]

And on sik wys, grym and awfull to se,


Within the kingis gret palyce entris he,


Our his schuldris hyngand, as said is plane,


His faderis talbart cote Herculeane.


Twa brederyng to this batale bownys syne,5


Furth of the wallit cite Tiburtyne,


Ledyng thai pepill namyt, ane and other,


Fra Tiburtus, that was thar eldar brother;


And thai war clepit, the tane Catillus,


The tother Coras, strang and curageus,10


Stowt ȝyng men, Grekis born of Arge bath twane:


Befor the formast ostis in the plane


Amyd a bus of speris in raid thai,


Generit of the clowd lyke to Centaures tway,


Quhen, fra the montane top of Homolane,15


Or snawy Otryn hill, downe to the plane,


With felloun fard and swift curs he and he


Can do discend, levand the holtis hie:


The large wod makis placis to thar went,


Buskis withdrawys, and branchis al to rent20


Gan rattillyng and resound of thar deray,


To red thar renk, and rowmys thame the way.


Nor Ceculus was not absent, trast me,


The foundar of the cite Preneste,


Quham all eyldis reputis and schawis ws25


Engendrit was by the God Vlcanus,


And by the fyre syd fund, a ȝyng fundlyng,


Our landwart bestis syne wolx lord and kyng.


A hail legioun in a rowt followis hym


Of wild wod men, quhilk doys thir catel ȝym;30
[Pg 434]

All thai pepill on breid, baith he and he,


That inhabitis the heich tovn Preneste,


And thai that occupyit the feildis alsso


Of Gabyne, quhilkis ar dedicat to Juno;


And thai that duellis langis the chil ryver5


Of Anyene, and thai alsso infeir


Amang the dewy strandis and craggis remanys


Of Hernyca, in the Sabyne montanys;


And thai alsso that bred and fosterit be


In boundis of rich Anagnya cite;10


And eik thai pepill dwelling fair and bene


In Champanȝe, on the flude Amasene.


Amangis al thir pepill na brycht armyng


Mycht thou heir sovnd, nor scheild our schulder hyng.


Or cartis clattir; bot of thame the maste parte15


To schut or cast war perfite in the art,


With leyd pellokis from engynys or staf slyng


By dyntis bla thar samen doun to dyng:


Sum dowbill dartis castyng in handis buyr,


And for defens, to keip thar hedis suyr,20


A ȝallow hat woir of a wolfis skyn,


For thai waldbe lyght bodyn ay to ryn.


Thar left fut and all that leg was bair;


Ane rowch ryllyng of raw hide and of hair


The tother fut coverit weil and knyt.25


Neptunus son list tho na langar syt,


Hait Mesapus, bot bownys furth to gang;


Dantar he was of stedis wild and strang,


Quham na man with steil wapyn forgit brycht,


Nor byrnand fyre, onto his ded mycht dycht.30
[Pg 435]

Now hastely in armys callys he


The rowtis of hys pepill and menȝe,


Quhilkis lang tofor dysvsit had the weir


With curage dolf, that idill lay thar geir;


Thar swerdis now and burnyst glavys gray5


He maid thame furth bedraw and oft assay.


With hym thai folk in falloschip led he


That inhabitis Fascenyum the cite,


And the just pepill, clepit Falyscy;


And thame that duellis in Soracte fast by,10


A strang cite, and hie situat,


Onto the God Appollo dedicat;


And thai that in Flavynya feildis dwell,


Or that wonnys besyde the layk or well


Of Cymynyk, vndre the montane bra,15


Or ȝit amang the schawyis of Capua:


In gudly ordour went thai and array,


And of thar kyng sang bellettis by the way.


Syk wys as sum tyme in the skyis hie


Throw the moste ayr doys snaw quhite swannys fle,20


Quhen thai fra pastur or fedyng dois resort


To seik thar solace, and on thar gys to sport;


Weill soundyng wriblys throw thar throtis lang


Swouchyng makis in maner of a sang,


That of thar bruyt resoundis the ryveir,25


And all the laik of Asya fer and neir:


So, in like wys, on far was nane mycht ken


That rowt had bene ane ost of armyt men,


Bot of the swouchand swannys suld he wene


A sop fleand in the ayr thai had bene,30
[Pg 436]

Quhilk chasyt, or affrayt, jolely


Socht crowpyng to the costis syde fast by.






 CAP. XII.




Ȝit comptis the poet the chiftanys al and sum,


Aganys the Troianys sal in weirfar cum.






Lo, Clausus eik, that douchty was and gude,


Discendit of the ancyent Sabinis blude,


A mekil rowt furth ledis to the weir,5


As gret man worthy syk ane ost to steir;


Fra quham the clan and pepill Claudyane


Is cummyn our all the boundis Italiane,


Eftir that Rowme was gevin and maid fre


To the Sabynys, as thar proper cite.10


Togidder can assembill a huge rowt


That fra the cite Amatern flokkis owt;


The ancyent Sabynys hait Quyrites then,


And of Erety all the fensabill men,


Of Mytisca, quhilk now heicht Tribule,15


Quhar growys of olyve treys gret plente;


All thai that dwellis in cite Nomentyne,


Or rosy feildis besyde the layk Velyne,


Or on the scharp craggy rochis hie,


Quhilk for harsknes ar clepit Tetryce,20


With hyngand hewys and mony a skowland bra;


Thidder held the cite of Casperia,
[Pg 437]

Thai that inhabittis Forolas that towne,


Or on the flude Hymella vp and downe;


All thai that drynkis of Tibir the ryver,


Or Fabarus that rynnys fresch and cleir;


And thai that wynys in Nursya so cald,5


And of Ortyne the navy gret and bald;


The Latyn pepill alsso, and all tha


Quhar the onhappy flude of Allya


Flowis throw the boundis and bedyis thar land.


Als thik thai gadder, and flokkis fra hand to hand,10


As evir the fomy bullerand wallis hie


Is seyn weltyr on the large Lybyane see,


Quhen the stormy Orion hys hed schrowdis


In wyntir vnder the blak watry clowdis;


Or how feil eichyrris of corn thik growyng,15


With the new sonnys heit byrsillit, doys hyng


On Hermy feildis in the symmyr tyde,


Or in the ȝallow corn flattis of Lyde:


Alsmony scheildis clattris and targatis,


That for dynnyng of thar feyt all the gatis,20


For stamping stedis, and for trumpys blast,


The grond wolx all affrayt and agast.


The ennemy to Troiane name onon,


The bastard son of kyng Agamemnon,


Hait Halesus, can with fers mud acwart25


Adioyn hys horsis forto draw his cart,


And, in the aid of Turnus and supple,


A thousand fers folkis assemlyt he:


Thay quhilkis with rakis ourturnys euery bra


Fertyll of wynys in the mont Massica;30
[Pg 438]

And thame alsso dwelland in hillys he,


Send from the ald faderis of Arunca cite;


And thai that dwellis hard on the sey bray


Besyde the cite of Sydycina,


Or come fra Cales into Champany,5


With all tha pepillis into cumpany


Inhabitant the schauld flude Wlturnus,


And frawart folkis, hait Saticulus,


Togiddir eik with the haill multitude


Of Oscores, that pepill stern and rude.10


Thyr bair in feild, of wapynnys in the stedis,


Round casting dartis, or macis with pikit hedis,


Quhilk, in thar leid, is clepit ane Aclyd;


And, so it mycht the mair suyrly abyde,


Onto thar armis is knyt with a tewch stryng,15


Quharwith thai do it at thar fays slyng.


A ballen pavys coverys thar left sydis,


Maid of hart skynnys and thik oxin hydis;


And crukyt swerdis, bowand as a syth,


Thai bair at hand reddy to draw ful swith.20


Nor thow, Oebalus, onreknyt sal nocht wend


By our metyr, but lovyng and commend,


Quham kyng Telon engendrit, as thai say,


On Sabetrydes, the lusty nymphe or may,


That tyme quhen he ryngnyt as lord and kyng25


Our Capreas ilys, and in governyng


Led the pepill hait Theleboes bald;


Or than, far step in age was he and ald:


Bot hys son, this Oebalus, in his entent


Of his faderis boundis stud nocht content,30
[Pg 439]

That lang afor to his obeysans he


Subdewit had the pepill Sarraste,


And all the large feildis, bonk and bus,


Quhilk ar bedyit with the ryver Sarnus;


Thai that occupyit Rusa and Batulane,5


In Champany rich and strang townys twane;


The planys eik and sulȝe of Celene,


Quhilk dedicat ar onto Juno quene;


And thai behaldis the weirly wallit cite


Of Nola, witht his stalwart towris he,10


Quhar gret plente of apillis orrange growis:


Quhilk pepill in thar weirfar had na bowis,


Bot wer accustumit forto thraw oft sys


The castyng speris on the Duchmenis gys;


Quhais hed gere war of ful sobir extent;15


Maid of the cork or bark fra treis rent;


Bukclaris thai bair, with boys or plait of steill,


And schynand swerdis of mettal burnyst weill


Thai pepill eik that clepit beyn Nursanys,


Quhilkis in the strait and hie montanys remanys,20


Send to the feld ane chiftane of defens,


Of worthy fame, the renownyt Vfens;


Happy in armys and redowtit was he:


Bustuus abuf al otheris his menȝe,


The folkis clepit of Equicola,25


That hard furrys had telit mony a da,


And all enarmyt laubour thai thar land;


Thai hant ful oft huntyng in woddis at hand;


Evir lykis thame to cach and dryve away


The recent spreith, and fresch and callour pray,30
[Pg 440]

And on spulȝe to leif and on rapyne.


Onto this batale bownys the preste dyvyne,


Vmbro to name, the strenthyast a man


Of all the pepill in Marrubya clan,


Send fra the kyng Archippus with his feris,5


As thar chiftane and rewlar in the weris,


Hys helm arrayt with a garland schene


Plet of the happy olyve branchis grene.


All kynd of eddir and hissand serpent fell


With incantatioun he couth gar ryfe and swell,10


Or cast apon thame sleping with his sang,


And, with his charmys and his herbis strang,


Thar wraith and wenom couth he dant and mes,


And heill thar stangyng, and sik hurtis eys.


Bot he couth fynd no curis nor remede15


To salf hym from the Troiane speris hed:


Hys slepy charmys had no fors nor mycht,


Ne herbis gadderit on Marsys montis hycht,


To help thai hurtis he caucht in the melle.


O souerane preist, quhat reuth was it of the!20


For the the woddis wepyt of Angytus,


The cristal strandis murnyt of Fuscynus,


The bewalit cleir lakis and spryng wellis,


Nymphis, virgynys, matronys, and damysellis.


Furth to the batale eik held Virbyus,25


The son mast semly of Hippolitus:


Hys cheif maternal cite, ful of mycht,


Aricya, furth sent this worthy knycht:


In schawis schene, endlang the watir bra


Of flud Hymetes, by Agerya30
[Pg 441]

That nymphe he fosterit was ful tenderly,


Quhar as of manswete Diane fast tharby


The altar, eith fortyl aples, vpstandis,


Oft ful of sacrifice and fat offerandis.


For mony haldis opinion, sayand thus5


Be common voce and fame; Hippolitus,


Eftir that he slane was, and to ded dycht


By fals dissait of his stepmoderis slycht,


And had eik sufferit by his blude and breth


The cruel panys of his faderis wreth,10


As tobe harlit with hors, that caucht affray


And skeichit at a merswyne by ther way;


Ȝit nevir the les, for the luf of Dian,


He was restorit to this ilk lyfe agane,


And come to dwell vndir our hevin and ayr,15


That heir abuf contenys thir starnys fair:


Quhilk cuyr was done by Asculapyus sle,


Throw the mychtis of the roys Pyone.


Than Jupiter almychty fader hie,


Havand disdene ony mortal suld be20


Rasyt to lyfe, or over warldis lycht,


From the dyrknes of neddir hellis nycht,


The fyndar of this crafty medycyne,


Quhilk was byget be the god Appollyne,


That is to knaw, this Asculapyus,25


With thunderis dynt bath fell and dangerus


Vnder the erth smate dovn, forto remane


In hellis ground and watir Stigiane.


Bot than the thrynfald Diane ful of blys


In secret place Hippolitus with this30
[Pg 442]

Hyd, and betaucht Agerya the may,


Tobe kepit in the ilk forest gay;


Quhar, him allane, in woddis of Italy


Hys lyfe he led onknaw of ony wy,


And quhar he first was hait Hippolitus,5


Changit his name, yclepit Vyrbyus.


And, be this self resson ȝit alsso,


From the tempill of Dian euermo


Thir horny hovit horssis bene debarrit;


For sa mekil as thai at the sey monstreis skarrit,10


And brak the cart throw thar ondantit mycht,


And furth swakkit Hippolitus, gentil knycht.


Ȝit netheles, hys son, this Virbyus,


The ardent stedis fers and chevalrus


Throw owt the plane feild dryvis al in feir,15


And furth hurlis his chariot to the weir.






 CAP. XIII.




Quhou Turnus to this batal bownys to ga,


And als this weirlyke woman Camylla.






Turnus him self, of weir the cheif capitane,


Amyd pryncis and gret chiftanys ilkane


Enarmyt walkis, turnand to and fro


With corps of statur eligant, that so,20


Quhar as he went throw out the rowtis on hie,


Abuf thame all hys hed men mycht weil se,


Quharon his helm set ful richly schane


With cristis thre lyke til ane lokkyrrit mane;
[Pg 443]

Tharon as tymbrill standing Chymera,


That wondrus monstre, with wide chaftis bla


Furth blawand fyre and flambe sulphureus,


Lyke byrnand Ethna, that mont peralus:


The mair wod wraith and furyus wolx sche,5


With sorofull fyre blesys spowtand hie,


Evir as the batale worthis mor cruell


By effusioun of blude and dyntis fell.


Hys schynand scheld was all of fyne gold bet,


Quhar in thar was, insted of armys, set10


Io the wench, sum tyme but hornys, now


With hair ourgrow, transformyt in a kow;


Quhilk was gret argument and probatioun


That he was of his blude a Gregioun.


The kepar eik of this ilk maid, Argus,15


Was porturit thar, and fader Inachus,


Furth of ane pantyt pig, quhar as he stude,


A gret ryver defundand or a flude.


Ane ost of fut men, thik as the hail schour,


Followys this Turnus, dryvand vp the stour;20


With scheildis schrowdyt mony huge rowt


Thik forgaderis the large feildis about:


Thai ȝonkeris quhilk of Grekis war discend


The power of Arunca thiddir send,


The garnysons alsso of Rutilyanys,25


And the ancyent pepill hait Sycanys,


Of Sacrane the army bald in feildis,


The Lybicanys eik with thar pantit scheildis.


Quhilk telys on thy bankis, Tybyr flude,


Or ȝit endlang thy gresy brays gude,30
[Pg 444]

O Numycus, thou hallowit fresch ryver,


And thai that with scharp cultyr teil and scheir


Of Rutuly the hilly knowis hie,


Or camy eyge, and holtis fair to se,


That Circeus to surname clepit ar;5


Quhar Anxurus, the berdles Jupiter,


For patron is hallowit our the planys,


And Juno eik ful joyusly remanys


In Feronya, hir sweit schaw ay greyn,


Neir by the blak laik clepit Satureyn,10


Quhar as the chil ryver, hait Vfens,


Sekis with narrow passage and discens


Amyd holl valeis his renk and ische,


And hydis hym self within the Tyrrhene see.


Abuf all thir the stowt wench Camylla,15


Of the famyl and kynrent of Volsca,


Com ledand armyt ostis and stern feldis,


In burnyst plait arrayt and schynand scheldis;


Forsuyth, ane worthy weriour was sche:


Hir womanly handis nothir rok of tre20


Ne spyndill vsit, nor brochis of Mynerve,


Quhilk in the craft of claith makyng doys serve;


Bot ȝit this maid was weil accustumate


To suffer bargane dowr, and hard debait,


And throu the speid of fut in hir rynnyng25


The swift wyndis prevert and bakwart dyng:


Or than alsso so spedely couth scho fle


Our the cornys, ourtred thar croppis hie,


That with hir curs na reid ne tendir stra


Was harmyt ocht, na hurt by ony way:30
[Pg 445]

And, throu the boldnand fludis amyd the see


Born soverly, furth hald hir way mycht sche,


The swyft solis of hir tendir feyt


Nocht twichand onys the watir hir to weit.


All ȝong folkis, on hir forto ferly,5


Furth of howsys and feldis flokkis in hy.


Litil childer and matronys awondring


On far behaldis hir stowt pays in a lyng,


So manfully and baldly walkis sche,


With spreit abasyt thai gove hir forto se:10


Quhat wys hir slekyt schuldris war array


With kyngly purpour, honorabill and gay;


And quhou the hair was of this damoysell


Knyt with a button in a goldyn kell;


And how a quavir clos scho bair alssua,15


With grondyn dartis wrocht in Lycia;


And ane hail sipplyn of a gret myr tre,


Quhilk hyrdis mycht ourheld with bewis he,


In maner of a speir in hand scho bair,


Hedit with forgit steill full scharp and squair.20


Alswith as Turnus, our the master towr


Of Lawrentum, hys baner quhite as flour


In syng of batale dyd on breid display,


The trumpys blast and hornys maid deray;


And stern stedis stampyng for the dyn,25


The armour clattris, fast ilk man can ryn:


Incontinent togidder, with myndis amovit,


All Latyum assemblit sone controvit


Ane coniuratioun or hasty convyne,


As in feirfull affray thar land to tyne,30
[Pg 446]

And wod wraith wolx thir ȝonkeris, he and he,


With byrnand hartis fers to the melle.


The first chiftanys for assay or defens,


The gret Mesapus, and the strang Vsens,


With Mezentyus of Goddis contempnar,5


The rowtis for supple baith neir and far


Compellis to assemble with thar poweris,


And large feildis laid waist of lawboreris.


Ane Venulus alsso was send, a Greik,


To gret Diomedis cite, to beseik10


Supple and help, and to schaw all and sum


Quhou Troianys war discend in Latyum;


Ene with navy arryvit vp at hand,


And brocht his venquyst Goddis in thar land,


Sayand that, by the fatis and destance,15


He thiddir callit was as kyng tobe:


And that he suld eik to Diomedis schaw


That mony pepill war adionyt and draw


Onto this ilk forsaid strangear knycht,


For he was cummyn of Dardanus the wyght,20


And wyde quhar our al partis of Italy


Hys name begouth to spreid and multiply.


And sen he had begun sic thing on hand,


Quhat syne he etlyt mycht be vnderstand;


That is to knaw, gif forton war so heynd25


By aventour of weir tobe his frend,


Mair evidently he covat to proceid


Agane his ancyent ennemy, Diomed,


Than to ourset the ȝong knychtly Turnus,


Or ȝit ourcum the ald kyng Latynus.30




[Pg 447]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE AUCHT BUKE.






Of dreflyng and dremys quhat dow it to endite?


For, as I lenyt in a ley in Lent this last nycht,


I slaid on a swevynnyng, slummyrrand a lite,


And sone a selcouth seg I saw to my sycht,


Swownand as he swelt wald, sowpyt in syte,5


Was nevir wrocht in this warld mair wofull a wycht;


Ramand, Resson and rycht is rent be fals ryte,


Frendschip flemyt is in Frans, and faith hes the flycht,


Leys, lurdanry, and lust, ar our laid starn;


Peax is put owt of play,10


Welth and weilfar away,


Luf and lawte baith tway


Lurkis ful darn.




Langour lent is in land, all lychtnes is lost,


Sturtyn study hes the steir, distroyand our sport,15


Musyng marris our myrth half mangit al most;


So thochtis thretis in thra our brestis ourthwort,


Bailfull bessynes baith blys and blithnes can bost:


Thar is na sege for na schame that schrynkis at schort,


May he cum to hys cast be clokyng, but cost,20


He rekkis nowder the rycht nor rakles report;
[Pg 448]

All is weill done, God wate, weild he hys will.


That bern is best can nocht blyn


Wrangwys gudis to wyn;


Quhy suld he spair, for ony syn,


Hys lust to fulfyll?5




All ledis langis in land to laucht quhat thame leif is:


Lufferis langis only to lok in thar lace


Thir ladeis lufly, and louk but let or releifis,


Quha sportis thame on the spray sparis for na space;


The gallyart groym grunschis at grammys hym grevis,10


The fillok hyr deformyt fax wald have a fair face,


To mak hir maikles of hir man at myster myscheif is;


The gudwif grulyng befor God gretis eftir grace,


The lard langis eftir land to leif to his ayr;


The preist for a personage,15


The seruand eftir his wage,


The thral tobe of thrillage,


Langis ful fair.




The myllar mythis the multyr with a met skant,


For droucht had drunkyn vp his dam in the dry ȝeir;20


The cadgyar callis furth his capill with crakkis wail cant,


Calland the colȝar a knafe and culron ful qweir:


Sum schippart slais the lardis scheip, and says he is a sanct,


Sum grenys quhil the gyrs grow for his gray meir,


Sum sparis nowder spiritual, spowsyt wife, nor ant,25


Sum sellis folkis sustynance, as God sendis the feir,


Sum glasteris and thai gang at, and all for gait woll:


Sum spends on the ald vse,
[Pg 449]

Sum makis a tvme ruse,


Sum grenys eftir a guse,


To fars his wame full.




The wrach walis and wryngis for this warldis wrak,


The mukkyrrar murnys in his mynd the meil gaue na pryce,5


The pyrat pressys to peill the peddar hys pak,


The hasartouris haldis thame hereyt, hant he nocht the dyce;


The burges byngis in hys boith, the brovne and the blak


Byand bessely, and bane, buge, bevir, and byce;


Sum ledys langis on the land, for love or for lak,10


To sembyll with thar schaftis, and set apon sys;


The schipman schrenkis the schour, and settis to schor:


The hyne crynys the corn,


The broustar the beir schorn,


A fest the fedlar to morn15


Covatis full ȝor.




The ralȝear raknys na wordis, bot ratlis furth ranys,


Full rude and ryot ressons baith roundalis and ryme;


Swengeouris and scurryvagis, swankeis and swanys,


Gevis na cur to cun craft, nor comptis for na cryme,20


With berdis as beggaris, thocht byg be thar banys,


Na laubour list thai luk till, thar lufsis ar byrd lyme:


Get ane bysmer a barn, than all hir blys gane is,


Scho will nocht wirk thocht scho want, bot wastis hir tyme


In thiggyn, as it thrift war, and other vayn thewis,25


And slepis quhen scho suld spyn,


With na will the warld to wyn;


This cuntre is full of caymis kyn,


And sik schire schrewis.
[Pg 450]



Quhat wikkytnes, quhat wanthrift now in warld walkis!


Baill hes banyst blythnes, bost gret brag blawis,


Prattis ar reput polycy and peralus pawkis,


Dignyte is laid dovn, darth to the dur drawis;


Of tratlys and tragedyis the text of all talk is:5


Lordis ar left landles be onleill lawys;


Burgessis bryngis hame the bothe to breid in thar bawkis;


Knychtis ar kowhubeis, and commonys plukkyt crawis;


Clerkis for oncunnandnes mysknawis ilk wight:


Wifis wald haue all thar will,10


Enewch is nocht half fyll,


Is nowder resson nor skill


In erd haldin rycht.




Sum latyt latton, but lay, lepys in lawyd lyt,


Sum penys furth a pan boddum to prent fals plakkis;15


Sum gowkis quhill the glas pyg grow full of gold ȝit,


Throu cury of the quynt essens, thocht clay muggis crakkis:


Sum wernour for this warldis wrak wendis by hys wyt;


Sum trachour crynys the cunȝe, and kepys corn stakkis;


Sum prygpenny, sum pyke thank with prevy promyt,20


Sum jarris with a jed staf to jag throu blak jakkis.


Quhat fenȝeit fair, quhat flattry, and quhat fals talys!


Quhat mysery is now in land!


Quhou mony crakkyt cunnand!


For nowther athis, nor band,25


Nor selis avalis.




Prestis, suldbe patteraris and for the pepill pray,


Tobe Papis of patrimon and prelaceis pretendis;
[Pg 451]

Ten tendis ar a trump, bot gif he tak ma


Ane kynryk of paroch kyrkis cuppillit with commendis.


Quha ar wyrkaris of this weir, quha walkynaris of wa,


Bot incompetabill clergy, that Cristyndome offendis?


Quha revis, quha ar ryotus, quha rakles, bot tha?5


Quha quellys the puyr commonys bot kyrkmen, weil kend is?


Thar is na stait of thar stile that standis content;


Knycht, clerk, nor common,


Burges, nor barroun;


All wald haue vp that is dovn,10


Weltrit the went.




And as this leyd at the last lyggand me seys,


With a luke onlufsum he lent me sic wordis;


Quhat bern be thou in bed, with hed full of beys,


Grathit lyke sum gnappar, and, as thi greis gurdis,15


Lurkand lyke a longeour? quod I, Lovn, thou leys.


Ha, wald thou feght? quod the freik; we haue bot few swordis:


Thar is sic haist in thi hed, I hop thou wald neys,


That brawlys thus with thi bost quhen bernys with the bourdis.


Quod I, Churle, ga chat the, and chyde with ane other.20


Move the nocht, said he than,


Gyf thou be a gentill man,


Or ony curtasy can,


Myne awyn leif brother.




I speik to the into sport; spell me this thyng,25


Quhat lykis ledis in land? quhat maste langis thou?


Quod I, Smake, lat me sleip; sym skynnar the hyng:


I weyn thou byddis na better bot I brek thi brow.
[Pg 452]

To me is myrk myrrour ilk mannys menyng;


Sum wald be cowrt man, sum clerk, and sum a cachkow.


Sum knycht, and sum capitane, sum Caser, sum Kyng,


Sum wald haue welth at thar will, and sum thar wame fow,


Sum langis for the leffyr ill to lyk of a quart,5


Sum for thar bontay or boyn,


Sum to se the new moyn;


I lang to haue our buke done,


I tell the my part.




Thy buke is bot brybry, said the bern than,10


Bot I sal leir the ane lesson to lys all thi pane.


With that he racht me a roll: to reid I began


The roytast ane ragment with mony rat rane,


Of all the mowys in this mold sen God merkyt man;


The moving of the mapamond, and how the moyn schane,15


The pleuch, and the polys, the planettis began,


The son, the sevyn starnys, and the Charl wayn,


The elwand, the elementis, and Arthurus hufe,


The horn and the hand staf,


Prater Johne and Port Jaf,20


Quhy the corn hes the caf,


And kow weris clufe.




Thys romans ar bot rydlys, quod I to that ray;


Leyd, lern me ane other lesson, this I ne like.


I persaue, Schir parson, thi purpos perfay,25


Quod he, and drew me doun dern in dolf by a dyke;


Had me hard be the hand quhar a hurd lay,


Than prevely the pennys begouth vp to pike:
[Pg 453]

Bot, quhen I walknyt, all that welth was wiskyt away,


I fand nocht in all that feild, in faith, a be byke:


For as I grunschit at this grome, and glisnyt abowt,


I grapyt graithly the gyll,


Every modywarp hyll;5


Bot I mycht pyke thar my fyll


Or penny come owt.




Than wolx I teyn at I tuke to sic trufis tent,


For swevynnys ar for swengeouris that slummyrris nocht weill;


Mony mervellus mater nevir merkit nor ment10


Will seggis se in thar sleip, and sentens but seill:


War all sic sawys suythfast, with schame we war schent.


Thys was bot faynt fantasy, in faith, that I feill,


Nevir word of verite, bot all in waist went,


Throw roytnes and ravyng, that maid myne eyn reill,15


Thus lysnyt I, as losanger, syk lewydnes to luke:


Bot, quhen I saw nane other bute,


I sprent spedely on fute,


And vndre a tre rute


Begouth this aucht buke.20




[Pg 454]




 THE AUCHT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Quhou Tiberinus, god of the ryver,


Till Eneas in visioun gan appeir.






As thys convyne and ordinance was maid


Of Latyum throw owt the boundis braid,


Quhilk, euery poynt, this Troiane lord onon,


Cummyn of the hows of kyng Laomedon,


In hevy curis flowand all on flocht,5


Avysys weill, how all this thing was wrocht:


And hastely in mynd on euery sydis


Now for this purpos, now for that, providis,


Now heir, now thar, ryvest in syndry partis,


And sersys, turnand to and fra all artis.10


Lyke as the radyus sonnys bemys brycht,


Or than the glymmerand monys schaddo lycht,


Reflexit from the brasyn veschell, we se,


Fillyt with watir to the cirkyll on hie,


Our all the hows reboundis and doys spreid15


Schynand, and sersys euery sted on breid,
[Pg 455]

Quhil in the ayr vpgoys the twynkland lycht,


Glitterand on euery spar and ruf on hyght.


The nycht come, and all thing levand sessit;


Wery of wark baith byrd and brutal best


Our all the landis war at rest ilkane,5


The profound swouch of sleip had thame ourtane;


Quhen this ilk prince, Eneas, all on flocht,


With mynd sowpyt in cuyr and hevy thocht,


And for this sorofull batale richt onglaid,


Apon the ryver bank hym self dovn laid10


Vndre the cald firmament for the nanys,


And gave schort rest onto his wery banys.


Quham to the God of that sted dyd appeir,


Tyberynus, furth of the still ryver,


Amyd the branchis of the popill treys,15


As agyt man semyng hym self vpheis:


A lenȝe watry garmond dyd hym vaill,


Of cullour fawch, schaip lyke a hempyn saill,


And leiffy redis dekkis weill hys haris:


To meys Eneas thochtis and hys sarys,20


Thus he begouth to speke, and sayd, but dyn:


O gentill get, cummyn of hie goddis kyn,


Quhilk from thy fays to ws with mekill joy


Hes hyddir brocht the gret cite of Troy,


And Pergama, the Troiane wallys wight,25


Eternaly conservis throu thy myght;


Desyrit maist of lang tyme, now welcum


Onto the grond and soill of Lawrentum,


And all the feildis eik of Latyn land:


Heir is thy sikkir duellyng place at hand,30
[Pg 456]

Ane sovir ferm habitatioun for ay:


Withdraw the not fra hyne, pas nocht away,


Nor dreid na thing the bost of this batell.


The rancour all of Goddis, I the tell,


And boldynand wreth, appesyt ar almaste.5


And so thow weyn not at my wordis be waist,


Nor fenȝeit dremys do to the appeir,


Vndyr sawch treis by thir bankis neir


Onon thou sall do fynd a mekill swyne,


With thretty hed ferreyt of grysys syne,10


Of cullour quhite, thar lugyng on the grond,


Hyr quhite brodmell abowt hyr pappis wond.


That is the place to set vp thy cite,


Quhilk of ȝour laubour sovir rest salbe;


Quhar that, as thretty ȝheris byrun and gane is,15


Ascanyus sal do beld of lyme and stanys


The cite hait fair Alba of delyte,


Berand hys name fra the fair cullour quhite.


Thus I declar the nane oncertane thing,


Bot verray suythfast takynnys and warnyng.20


Now harkis bot a litill, I the pray,


I sall the lern in quhat wordis, quhat way


Thow may cum speid, and haue the haill ourhand


Twichand this instant mater now at hand.


Thar bene pepill of Arcad from the ryng25


Cummyn in this land, discend of Pallas kyng,


Quhilk, with Evandir kyng in cumpany,


Followand the syngnys schaw, hes fast heir by


Chosyn a sted, and beldit a cite,


Amang the knollis round or motis hie,30
[Pg 457]

Eftir thar forfader of nobill fame,


Pallas, clepyt Pallanteum to name.


Contynualy thir folkis euery ȝeir


Agane the Latyn pepyll ledis weir;


Adione to thir thyne ost in falloschip,5


Do mak with thame a lyge, and bynd frendschip.


I sall my self convoy the the rycht way


Betwix thir brays vp the fludis gray,


So that agane the streme, throu help of me,


By ayris rowth thydder careit sall thou be.10


Haue done, get vp, thou son of the Goddes;


First as the starris declynys, the addres,


I meyn into the dawyng rycht ayrly,


Dewly to Juno se thou sacryfy,


Hyr wreth and all sik mannans to ourset15


With devoyt supplications maid of det:


And, quhen thou has optenyt victory,


To me thou sall do wirschip by and by.


I am God Tybris, watry hewyt and haw,


Quhilk, as thou seys, with mony jawp and jaw20


Bettis thir brays, schawyng the bankis dovn,


And with full flude flowand fra tovn to tovn,


Throw fertill feildis scheryng thar and heir,


Vnder the lift the maste gentill ryver:


Heir is myne habitatioun huge grete,25


Of mychty citeis cheif and souerane sete.


This beand sayd, this ilk God of the flude


Vnder the deip can dowk dovn quhar he stude,


And socht onto the watir grond onone,


So darnly hyd nane wist quhar he was gone.30




[Pg 458]




 CAP. II.




The sow with grysis, as Tiberinus said,


Eneas fand, and sacrifice has maid.






The nycht fled, and the sleip left Ene.


On fut he startis, and onon can he se


Furth of the orient in the brycht mornyng


The sonnys hevynly bemys newly spryng,


And in the holl lufis of his hand quhar he stude5


Dewly the water hynt he fra the flude,


Syne to the hevyn thus wys his prayeris maid:


O nymphys all of fludis blith and glaid,


And O ȝe haly nymphys of Lawrentum land,


Quham fra thir fresch ryveris, and euery strand10


That flowys rynnyng as we se sa cleir,


Hes thar begynnyng furth of sowrssys seir;


And O thou haly fader Tiberyne,


With Tybris eik, thy blissyt flude dyvyne,


Ressave Eneas to ȝow onbekend,15


And now at last from all perrellys defend.


And, gif thou takis rewth of our gret skathis,


Heir I awow and promittis with aithys,


Quhar evir thy lowch or fontane may be fund,


Quhar evyr so thy spryng is, in quhat grund,20


O flud mast plesand, the sall I our all quhar


Hallow with honorabill offerandis euermar.


Hornyt ryver, ryngand as lord and kyng


Our all the fludis in to Itall ryng,
[Pg 459]

Be in our help, now at last, I requere;


Eftyr sa feill dangeris and perellis seir,


Conferm thy promys and orakill in hy.


Quhen this was said, furth of all his navy


Twa galeis dyd he cheis the ilk tyd,5


With dowbill raw of ayris on athir syde,


And for the rowyng weil grathit thaim hes he,


Syne for the weir instrukkit his menȝe.


Bot lo, in haist befor hys eyn he saw


A mervalus and wondrus thyng to knaw;10


A mylk quhite sow within the woddis lay


Apon the grene watris bank in hys way,


With hir lyttar new ferreit in that sted,


All of a cullour, grysys thretty hed:


Quham the devoyt Eneas on hys gys15


Onto the, gretast Juno, in sacryfys


Brytnys, and, with hyr flok and followaris,


Hes set and offerit vp on thy altaris.


Tybyr his swelland fludis all that nycht,


Quhow lang at evir it was quhil days lycht,20


Stabillys and cawmys at hys awin will;


The streme bakwartis vpflowys soft and still;


On syk wys mesand his watir, that he


Ane standand stank semyt for tobe,


Or than a smoith puyl, or dub lovn and fair,25


So that the ayris mycht fyndyn na contrar.


Tharfor Eneas can hys tyme aspy,


And hastis on hys vayage bissely;


With prosper curs, and sobyr quhisperyng,


The pikkyt bargis of fyr fast can thryng,30
[Pg 460]

And slydis throw the schaldis stil and cleir:


The watir ferleys of thar fard and beir;


The forest, nocht accustummyt to se


Sik thingis, wondris quhat at this mycht be,


As to behald schynand scheldis on far5


On mennys schuldris ay cumand nar and nar,


The pantit carvellis fletyng throu the flude.


Baith nycht and day ilk man, as thai war wod,


Can spend in rowth with irksum lauboryng,


The lang stremys and welys rovnd sworlyng10


Our slydyng fast vpwartis the ryver,


Hyd and ourheldit with mony treys seir;


Endlang the still fludis calm and beyn


Thai seik and schar throu owt the woddis greyn.






 CAP. III.




Quhou Eneas with kyng Evander met,


And bandis of kyndnes has betwix thame knet.






The fyry son be this ascendit evin15


The myddill ward and regioun of the hevyn;


That is to knaw, be than it was myd day,


Quhen that on far the cite wallis se thai,


With towris and the hows hedis on raw


Skatterit dispers, and bot a few to knaw;20


Quhilk now the mychty power of Rome tovn


Hes onto hevyn maid equal of renovn:
[Pg 461]

The kyng Evander, of moblys not mychty,


Held for that tyme bot sobyr senȝeory.


In haist thyddir thar stevynnys can do steir


Eneas sort, and to the tovn drew neyr.


Thys kyng Evander, born was of Arcad,5


Percace the self day a gret honour mayd,


Solempnyt fest, and full hie sacryfys,


Onto the gret Hercules on thar gys,


That fostyr son was till Amphitrion,


And to the other goddis euery one,10


Befor the cite in a hallowit schaw:


Pallas, hys son, was thydder alsso draw,


Togiddir with the principalis of ȝonkeris,


The sobir senatouris, and puyr officeris,


All sammyn kest ensens; and with a stew15


Besyde the altar blude sched and scalit new,


Beand lew warm, thar full fast dyd reik.


Bot ȝit, als swyth as thai persauyt eyk


The gret bargis slydand thus on raw,


And throw the dern woddis fast thydder draw,20


So stilly bendand vp thar ayris ilk wight;


Thai worth affrayt of the suddand syght,


And euery man thai left the burdis in hy,


On fut gan starting from the mangeory.


Quham hardy Pallas dyd forbyd and diffend25


Thar sacrifys to brek, quhill it war end:


He hynt a wapyn, with a few menȝe


Thame to recontyr onon furth haldis he;


And ȝit weill far from a hill or a know


To thame he callys; standis, ȝyng men, howe!30
[Pg 462]

Quhat caus hes movit ȝou apon sik way


Thir strange wentis onknawin to assay?


Quhiddir ettill ȝe, or quhat kynrent ȝe be?


Schaw quhens ȝe com, and quhilk is ȝour cuntre.


Quhidder do ȝe bryng onto our boundis heir5


Bodword of peax, or cumis in feir of weir?


Eneas tho, the fader of wirschip,


Maid answer from the pulpyt of the schip,


And in hys hand straucht furth, at he mycht se,


In takyn of peax a branch of olyve tre:10


My frend, quod he, thou seys pepill of Troy,


To Latyn folkis ennemys, man and boy;


Quhilk, flemyt of our realm, newly agane


Thai ilk Latynys hes socht with prowd bargane.


Onto the kyng Evander all seik we,15


Hym to requir of succurs and supple.


Bair hym this message, and declar hym plane,


That chosyn men discend from kyng Dardane


Beyn hyddir cummyn, besekyng hys frendschip,


To knyt vp band in armys and falloschip.20


Pallas, estonyst of sa hie a name


As Dardanus, abasyt worth for schame:


Cum furth, quod he, quhat evir thou be, bern bald,


And say befor my fader quhat thou wald,


And entyr in our lugyngis the to rest,25


Quhar thou salbe ressauyt welcum gest.


And furth onone he hynt hym by the hand,


A weil lang quhile hys rycht arm embrasand:


Syne furth togiddir rakyt thai on raw,


The flud thai leif, and entris in the schaw.30
[Pg 463]

Eneas tho, with frendly commonyng,


Spak curtasly, thus sayand to the kyng:


O thou maste curtas prynce, and best in neid


That evir was byget of Grekis seyd,


Quhamto fortoun wald I suld cummyn heir,5


The lawly to besekyng and requir,


And wald alsso I suld furth reke to the


Wippyt with bendis the branch of olyve tre,


In takyn that of thy supple I neid;


Forsuyth, I caucht na maner feir ne dreid,10


Thocht thou a capitane of the Grekis be,


Yborn alsso of Arcad the cuntre,


Of blude coniunct to the Atrides tway,


I meyn onto Agamemnon and Menelay:


Bot myne awin vertu, and haly oracleis15


Of the goddis be devyn miracleis,


And our forbearis all of a kynred,


Thy fame dyuulgat into euery sted,


Hes me fermly adionyt onto the;


The fatis eik tharto inducis me,20


That wilfully I obey thar command.


Schir Dardanus, the kyng first in our land


That belt the cite Troy or Ilion,


Our cheif fader, as Grekis grantis ilkone,


Born of Electra, Atlas douchter ȝyng,25


Careit be schip come first to Troys ryng;


And this Electra gret Atlas begat,


That on hys schuldyr baris the hevynnys plat.


Mercur is fader of ȝour clan alssua,


Quham the schene madyn, the fair fresch Maya,30
[Pg 464]

Apon the frosty hillys top all bair,


Quhilk Cillenus is hait, in Arcad bair;


And this ilk Maya suythly, gif that we


Ony credens to it we heir or se


May geif, Atlas begat, that sam Atlas5


That rollys the hevynly starrit speir cumpas:


So baith our kynrentis, schortlie to conclud,


Devidit ar furth of a stok and blude.


Quharfor, havand confidens in thir thyngis,


Nothir by ambassat, message, nor writingis,10


Nor other craft, thy frendschip first socht I;


Bot myne awin self in person com in hy,


That onto the submittit has my hed,


And the to pray socht lawly to this sted.


For the ilk pepill vnder Dawnus kyng,15


That the Rutilianys has in governyng,


Quhilk ledis weir aganys thi cuntre,


With cruell batal now persewis me;


And gif thai mycht expel ws of this land,


Thai weyn tharby that nocht may thame ganestand,20


Bot at thai sall vnder thar senȝeory


Subdew alhaill in thraldom Italy,


And occupy thai boundis oriental


Quhar as the ovir see flowys alhaill,


And eik thai westir partis, trastis me,25


Quhilkis ar bedyit with the neddir see.


Ressaue, and knyt vp faith and ferm cunnand;


Tak our promyt, and geif ws treuth and band:


Strang bodeis til abyde bargane haue we,


With hardy myndis in batal or melle,30
[Pg 465]

Exercit in weir, and expert at sik nedis,


In lusty ȝouth likly to do our dedis.


Thus said Eneas, and Evander than,


Fra tyme that he first forto speke began,


Hys eyn, hys mowth, and all hys body rycht,5


Gan to behald, espying with hys syght;


Syne schortly maid hys ansuer thus agane:


O quhou glaidly the, mast forcy Troiane,


I do ressaue as tendir frend and feir!


Quhou blythly now I knaw and weil may heir10


The voce, the wordis, and the speche, but les,


Of thy fader, the gretast Anchises!


And full perfytly now I draw to mynd


The vissage of that worthy knycht maste kynd.


For weill I do ramembir, lang tyme gone,15


Quhou Priamus, son of Laomedon,


To vissy hys sisteris land Hesiona,


Socht to the cite hait Salamyna,


And at the sammyn rays hys vayage maid


Throw the cald frosty boundis of Arcaid.20


My grene ȝouth that tyme with pilis ȝyng


First cled my chyn, or berd begouth to spryng;


I ioyt to se the Troian dukis ilkone,


And on the son of kyng Laomedone,


That is to say, this ilk ȝong Priamus,25


Forto behald was mervel gloryus:


Bot thy fader Anchises, quhar he went,


Was hyar far than all the remanent.


My mynd brynt, of ȝouthed throu desire,


To speke and commoun with that lordly syre,30
[Pg 466]

Tobe acquentit, and ioyn hand intil hand,


Cunnand to knyt, and bynd fordwert or band:


To hym I went desyrus of frendschip,


And sped that sammyn so in falloschip,


Within the wallys of Pheneus I hym led.5


And quhen he dyd depart, or thens hym sped,


Ane courtly quavir ful curyusly wrocht,


With arowis maid in Lycia, wantand nocht,


Ane garmond he me gaue, or knychtly weid,


Prynnyt and wovyn full of fyne gold threid,10


Twa goldyn bridillis eik, as he dyd pas,


Quhilk now my son occupyis, ȝong Pallas.


Quharfor our allyance, faith, and rycht hand,


As ȝe desire, ar ellys adionyt in band,


We bene of ald confideratis, perfay:15


Quharfor to morn, alssone as the brycht day


Begynnys allycht the landis and the sky,


With succurs and suppovell blythly I


Sal ȝou fra hyne hame to ȝour army send,


And with my gudis and my mobillis amend.20


And in the meyn tyme, sen, my frendis deir,


Onto our sacrefyis ȝe be cummyn heir,


Quhilk ȝeirly vsyng we as anniuersary,


That bene onlefull to defer or tary;


Tharfor with ws do hallow our hie fest,25


And with glaid semlant blythly maste and lest


Accustom ȝou from thens, and now instant


Our tabillis as ȝour frendly burdis hant.


Quhen this was said, mesis and cowpis ilkane,


Quhilk war away tak, bad he bring agane,30
[Pg 467]

And he hym self the Troiane men fut het


On sonkis of gresy scheraldis hes doun set:


Thar pryncipal capitane syne, Ene,


Beside hym self on des ressauys he;


The benk, ybeldyt of the grene holyne,5


With lokkyrrit lyoun skyn ourspred was syne.


Than ȝong men walit bissy heir and thar,


And eik prestis of Hercules altar,


The rostit bullys flesch set by and by,


The bakyn breid of baskettis temys in hy,10


And wynys byrlys into gret plente.


Eneas, sammyn with hys Troiane menȝe,


Dyd of perpetual oxin fillettis eyt,


And purgit entralis, clepit clengyng meit.






 CAP. IV.




Evander tellith till Eneas, but baid,


The verray caus quhy this sacrifice was maid.






Eftir that stanchit was the hungris rage,15


And appetit of meit begouth asswage,


Said kyng Evander; na superstitioun vayn,


Nor mysknawlage of goddis ancyane,


Thys hie fest and gret solempnyte,


Nor this bankat and mesys, as ȝe se,20


Hes institut to ws, and this alter


Of sa excelland maieste standyng heir:
[Pg 468]

Bot, my deir frend and nobill gest Troiane,


We, preservit from cruel peralus pane,


Hantis this seruys apon sik manere,


As proper det and observans ilk ȝer.


First, do behald ȝone schorand hewchis brow,5


Quhar all ȝon craggy rochis hyngis now,


Quhou the huge weghty brays bene dovn cast,


The holkit fows in the mont syde left waste,


Quhar as the craggy quhynnys, dovn declyne,


Has drawyn of the hill a huge rewyne.10


Ȝon was a cavern or cove in ald days,


With gousty entray far furth of all ways;


A grisly den and ane forworthyn gap


Of Cacus, that na mar had bot the schap


Of mannys form, for skant half man was he15


Throw cruel dedis of iniquyte,


That in ȝone fendlich hole dwelt hym allane;


A hellys byke, quhar sonnys beme nevir schane,


Quhar the vile flur evir lew warm was spred


With recent slauchter of blud newly sched:20


Befor that tyrrandis ȝet of men that ded is


Affixit stud mony dolorus hedis,


With vissage blakynt, blude byrun, and bla,


The laithly ordur or filth stilland thar fra.


Onto this hutyt monstre, this Cacus,25


The God of fyre was fader, Wlcanus;


And at hys mouth, a wondir thing to se,


Hys faderis reky flambe furth ȝiskyt he.


As to hys body, quhar so evir he passit,


Of bustuus statur lyke nane other was it.30
[Pg 469]

Proces of tyme at last hes ws inspirit,


And send ws help, as we full lang desyrit,


Be cummyng of the mychtfull Goddis presens;


For the danter of monstreis, our defens,


The maste redoutit Hercules, com at hand5


Be aventour onto this ilke land,


New from the slauchter into stern melle


Of Geryon, the quhilk had bodeis thre.


With prowd spulȝe arryving triumphal,


This conquerour maid thyddir dryve and call10


Hys bullys, and hys oxin huge gret,


And eik hys ky, to pastur and to eyt


Endland ȝone valle that is large and wyde,


And tuk thar lugyng on this ryver syde.


Bot the ondantit fury mynd of this theif,15


Schrewit Cacus, all way ful of myscheif,


By his frawart engyne and sle consait,


So that na maner wikkytnes nor dissait


Mycht be, that he ne durst nocht tak on hand,


Ne onassayt leif, out from thar stand20


Four semly oxin of body gret and squar,


Als mony tendir quyis excedand fair,


Of all tha catal away with hym drave.


And, that thar tred suld na way be persaue,


Onto hys cave ay bakwartis by the talys25


To turn thar futsteppis he thame harlys and tralys:


And thus his spreith he had ontil his in,


And with a queym stane closyt hes the gyn:


Sik way he wrocht that, quha thar tred list goif,


Na takynnys suld convoy thame to his coif.30
[Pg 470]

In the meyn quhile, as all the bestis war


Repatyrit weil eftir thar nychtis layr,


At morow ayrly first as thai removit,


For Hercules depart from thens behuffit,


The catal gan to rowtyng, cry, and rar,5


The woddis rang of thar sound our alquhar,


And with thar noys dynnyt hillis and knowys;


Quhil in the caif as that a quyok lowis,


With lowd voce squeland in that gousty hald,


All Cacus trast reuelit scho and tald.10


Bot tho in greif this worthy Hercules,


Alceus nevo, the douchty Alcides,


That so oft sys was clepit commonly,


Within his skyn begouth to byrn and fry


In brym fury of his bitter gall;15


Hys wapynnys and his armour hynt withall,


Hys weghty burdon, or his knorry mays,


And to the hillys hycht held in a rays.


Than was the first tyme that ony in this erd


Of our pepill persavyt Cacus efferd,20


Within his hed trublit his eyn tway.


Swyft as the wynd he fled and gat away,


And to his cave hym sped with ery spreit;


The dreid adionyt weyngis to his feyt.


And, fra he had hym self sesyt tharin,25


A stane of huge weght for to clos the gyn


He leyt do fall, and with sic haist doun thrang,


The chenȝeis brak quharwith it festnyt hang,


That forgit war by hys faderis engyne;


With gret irne slottis schet the entre syne.30
[Pg 471]

Bot lo, in haist Hercules come at hand


With furyus mynd careyng our the land,


Passage and entre sekyng bissely,


Now heir his eyn, now thar, rollyng in hy,


Graslyng hys teith, and byrnand full of ire.5


Of Aventynus hill thrys all the swyre


He sersys our, and thrys assays he


To brek and rent that craggy stone entre;


Bot all for nocht, thocht he was nevir sa wight:


So, thrys irkyt, doun from the hillys hyght10


To rest hym is he to the valle gone.


Thar stude a pynnakil of quhyn or flynt stone,


Apon the baksyde of this cavern cald,


That rays on end rycht hie forto behald,


For wild fowlys of reif a ganand sted,15


That rent raw flesch of bestis bonys ded;


The craggis all about this rolk war worn,


With wedderis blast to holkyt and to torn:


And as it stud on schor sweyand that tyde,


Downwith the bank towart the watir syde,20


Hercules it smytis with a mychty towk


Apon the rycht half, forto mak it jowke,


Inforsyng hym to welt it our the bra;


And sa rudly it branglys to and fra,


That from the rutis he it lowsyt and rent,25


And tumlyt dovn fra thyne, or he wald stent.


The large ayr dyd reirding with the rusch,


The brays dyndlit, and all dovn can dusch;


The ryver wolx effrayt with the rak,


And, demmyt with the rokis, ran abak.30
[Pg 472]

Than this gret cove, of Cacus sail ryall,


Was discoverit; hys inwart cavernys all,


Wont tobe dyrk, worth patent now and knaw:


Non otherwys than quhen the erd ourthraw


By fors of thundyr, or erdquake with a clap,5


Ryvys vp a terribill sewch or grisly gap,


Oppynnand the hellis mansioun infernall,


And onclosys that dyrk regioun paill


Quhilk of the goddis al abufe is hayt;


Or thocht the hellis bysme in sik estait10


War oppynnyt, that his bodum se men mycht,


And dampnyt sawlys effrayt of new lycht.


Quharfor this worthy stalwart Hercules,


That on this wys had Cacus set in pres,


And fund onwarnyst by this lycht suddane,15


Quhar he was closyt in a cave of stane,


Fast rumesand apon a strange maner;


This campyoun with dartis fell of weir


Gan down tobet, and in his wod fury


Eftir all kynd wapynnys can do cry,20


With branchis rent of treis, and querral stanys


Of huge weght dovn warpand all at anys.


Bot this ilk Cacus, quhen that he dyd se


Fra this danger thar was na way to fle,


Furth of his throt, a wondrus thing to tell,25


A laithly smok he ȝiskis blak as hell,


And all the hous involuyt with dyrk mist,


That sone the sycht vanyst, or ony wist,


And reky nycht within a litill thraw


Gan thikkyn our al the cavern and ourblaw,30
[Pg 473]

And with the myrknes mydlit sparkis of fyre.


The hie curage of Hercules, lordly syre,


Mycht this no langar suffir, bot in the gap


With hasty stert amyd the fyre he lap,


And thar as maist habundyt smokis dyrk,5


With huge sop of reyk and flambis myrk,


So that the caif dyd glevyn of the heyt,


Thar has he hynt Cacus, that wikkyt spreit,


That al invane hys hait kyndlyng furth gaspyt;


For as a ball he hym in armys claspyt,10


And so strenȝeis hys throt, furth chirt hys eyn,


Hys hals worth dry of blude. Than mycht be seyn


This mirk dungeon and onsemly hald:


The entre oppynnyt Hercules the bald,


Bet doun the closeris, and syne brocht to the lycht15


Hys oxin fra him reft by subtel slycht;


And by the feyt furth harlyt was onon


Of Cacus the deformyt carion.


The hartis than and myndis of our menȝe


Mycht not be satisfyit on him to luke and se,20


As to behald hys vgly eyn twane,


Hys terribil vissage, and hys grisly gane,


The rouch byrsys on the breist and creste


Of that monstruos half deil wilde beiste,


And in his gorge stikkand the sloknyt fyre.25


Evir sen that tyme, to Hercules the gret syre


We haue this honour mayd and sacrifice,


Al our ofspring and ȝong men on this wys


This day kepis solempnyte, as ȝe se;


Potitius first master heir with me,30
[Pg 474]

And the famyll of Pynaria the bald,


The cheif keparis of Hercules hallowyt hald,


Ȝon altar in this cuthyll dyd vpbeild,


That onto ws in euery tyme of eild


Is clepyt maist solempnyt and hie altar,5


And salbe reput gretast euermar.


Tharfor haue done, ȝong gallandis; now in hy,


In wirschip of this fest and mangeory,


Of greyn branchis plet for ȝour hed garlandis,


Do waucht and drynk, bryng cowpys full in handis,10


Call on our patron common God dyvyne is,


And with gud will do skynk and birl the wynys.


Thus sayand, the party popill grayn


Heldit his hed with skug Herculyane,


The levis from the plettis dovn hyngand,15


Ane haly cowp fillit in hys rycht hand.


Than ilk man smertly tastis the wyne at tabill,


Prayand thar goddis for tobe aggreable.






 CAP. V.




In lovyng of the douchty Hercules


The pepill syngis hys warkis mar and les.






In the meyn sesson Hesperus drew neir,


Throw the declynyng of the hevynly speir:20


Tharwith the prestis of the sacryfyis,


Gyrdyt in skynnys, eftir thar ald gys,
[Pg 475]

Gan trasyng furth togidder in a rowt,


And formest went Potityus the stowt.


All do thai beir the byrnand hait fyre brandis;


And, to renew the bankat, with thar handis


Ful delicat danteis for the secund mete5


Thai dres onone, and furth of platis gret


With paysit flesch plenyst the altaris large,


Tharon bestowyng in hepis mony a charge.


Syne the menstralis, syngaris, and danseris,


To syng and play with soundis, as afferis,10


Abowt the kyndlit altaris, quhil thai brynt,


Assemblit ar ful swyth, and wald nocht stynt,


With poppil tre hattis buklyt on thar hed.


The ȝonkeris ȝonder in ane other sted


Led rowndis, dansys, and fresch caralyng;15


Other agit persons thame addressit to syng


In ympnys, ballettis, and lays, throu the pres,


The lovabill gestis of mychty Hercules:


Quhou the first monstreis of his stepmoder sle,


Lugyng a bab in creddill, stranglit he;20


That is to knaw, twa gret serpentis perfay,


The quhilk he wyrreit with hys handis tway:


And how this ilke Hercules of renovn


The ryall citeis assegis and bet dovn,


Of Troy, and eik the strang Echalia:25


A thousand hard journeis sufferyng alssua,


Vndre the kyng clepit Euristeus,


By Junoys frawart will mast envyus.


And thus thai syng; invyncybill weriour,


That bair of strenth and hardyment the flour,30
[Pg 476]

The stern Centaures thou slew and dovn bet,


Dowbill of form, and on the clowd byget;


Thow brytnys eik and with thi hand hes slane


Pholus and Helyus, stalwart gyantis twane;


Of Creit the monstreis dantis thou at full,5


The savage bestis, as wild bair and bull;


Vndre a roik, Nemee forest within,


Thou slew and rent the hydwys lyoun skyn.


The laik off Stix trymlyt for dreid of the;


The grisly portar of the hellys see,10


Lugyng in caif on ded banys half gnaw,


Dyd quaik for feir, quhen he thy vissage saw:


Na kynd of bysnyng figour dyd the grys,


Nor byg Typheus, that agane Jove oftsys


Movyt batell, with wapynnys fell in hand15


Mycht the affray, nor thy gret strenth ganestand;


Nor the serpent of Lern, thou put to ded,


Fand the want nowder wysdom nor manhed,


Thocht scho, of hedis with hir mekil rowt,


The dyd assail and ombeset about.20


Hail, verray child of Jove; hail, honour hie


Adionyt to the goddis in maieste!


Baith ws and eik thi sacrifyce infeir


We pray the wissy, at thou may cum heir


With prosper presens and ful happy fut,25


In our helpyng for tobe our bute.


In sic sangis thar fest thai sanctify,


And Hercules hie lovyng syng and cry;


Bot principaly, and last of the laif,


Thai maid mensioun of Cacus slane in caif,30
[Pg 477]

And quhou that he the flambis furth dyd blaw.


The wod resoundis schill, and euery schaw


Schowtis agane of thar clamour and dyn,


The hillys rerdis, quhil dyndlis roik and quhyn.


Syne, quhen dyvyne seruys was at end,5


To the cite bownys ilk man to wend.


Furth held the kyng onweldy in ald ȝeris,


Fast by hym haldand, as his frendis and feris,


The prynce Eneas and his ȝong son Pallas;


And, quhil thai thus towart the cite pas,10


With syndry sermondis schortis he the way.


Eneas awondris of that he dyd say,


And kest his eyn about delyuerly,


Thai stedis all to serchyn and espy;


Sa fair placis to se and vissy tyte15


This strange knycht caucht plesance and delyte,


And glaidly can inquiryng euery thing,


And hard the answer of the agit kyng,


Quhilk teching him per ordour to him tald


Memorialis of seir forfaderis auld.20






 CAP. VI.




Quhou kyng Evander rehersis til Enee


In eldris days the rewle of that cuntre.






Thys kyng Evandrus than, the first foundar


Of Romys burgh or palyce, can declar
[Pg 478]

And dyd rehers ontil his gest Enee:


Thir woddis and thir schawis all, quod he,


Sum tyme inhabyt war and occupyit


With Nymphis and Fawnys apon euery syde,


Quhilk fairfolkis, or than elvys, clepyng we,5


That war engendryt in this sam cuntre,


That with ane kynd of men yborn, but leys,


Furth of ald stokkis and hard runtis of treis;


Quhilkis nowder maneris had nor polecy,


Ne couth thai eir the ground, nor occupy10


The plewis, nor the oxin ȝok infeir,


Nor ȝit had craft to conquys nor wyn geir,


Nor kepe thar moblis quhen it gadderit was;


Bot, as thir bestis, or the doillit as,


Thar fude of treis dyd in woddis fet,15


Or of the wild veneson scharp to get.


First from the hie hevynnys into this land


Saturnus com, fleand gret Jovis brand,


Hys realmys reft, and banyst eik was he:


Bot tha ontaucht pepill of this cuntre,20


That skatterit dwelt in his hillis greyn,


He maid forgadder togidder and conveyn,


Gaue thame lawys and statutis thame to lede,


And wald also this regioun euery sted


War callit Latium, and clepit to hys name,25


For that he surely lurkyt in the same.


And as thai tel, and redis in mony ryme,


Of gold the warld was in that kyngis tyme;


Sa lykandly, in paix and liberte,


At eys his common pepill governyt he:30
[Pg 479]

Quhil, peis and peis, the elde syne war and war


Begouth to wolx, that cullour fading far,


As, in the sted of paix, the rage of wer


Begouth succeid, and covatys of geyr.


Syne the pissance com of Ausonya,5


And the pepill Sycany hecht alsswa,


By quham the land of Saturn, war and wys,


Hes left and changit his ald name oft sys.


Syne kyngis com, amangis quham for the nonys


Stern Tybrys rygnyt, a man byg of bonys,10


Fra quham, ay syne, all the Italiane blude


Thar gret ryver hes clepit Tibrys flude;


Thus Albula hys auld trew name hes lost.


And me also to duel within this cost,


Banyst and flemyt of my natyve land,15


Strang destany, quhilk may nocht be gaynstand,


And fortoun eik, clepit omnipotent,


Throu all extremys of sey hes hidder sent.


The reuerend als and dreidfull monysyngis


Of Carmentes my moder, in mony thingis20


Expert as nymphe and prophetes dyvyne,


And the autorite of god Appollyne,


Hes me constrenyt to dwel in this hald.


Scars hes Evandrus all thir wordis tald,


Quhen, walkyng thens furth bot a litil space,25


He can do schaw the altar and the place


Quhilk in the langage Romane ȝit, sans faill,


Is to this day clepit port Carmentaill;


Quharby ramemmorit is in the ilk tovn


This ald Carmentes wirschip and renovn,30
[Pg 480]

Quhilk was baith nymphe and fatale prophetes,


That first declarit, in hir sawys expres,


The gret pryncis fortocum of Ene,


And of Pallenteum the nobilite.


The kyng syne schew him to the haly schaw,5


Quhilk strang Romulus dyd reduce and draw


In maner of franches or of sanctuary.


He schew him eik, but ony langar tary,


Vnder the frosty bra, the coif, was call


Ful mony ȝeris in thar leid Lupercall,10


Eftir thar gys of Arcad and estait,


To Pan the god of Lyce consecrait.


He schew alsso the wod hait Argilete,


That to the man of Arge, thar lost the swete,


Was dedicat, and drew to witnes that sted15


That he was nevir culpabill of his ded,


And can to him declar the mater plane,


Quhat wys his gest, this man of Arge, wes slane.


Fra thyne, to mont Tarpeya he him kend,


And beknyt to that sted, fra end to end,20


Quhar now standis the goldin Capitoll,


Vmquhil of wild buskis rowch skroggy knoll.


Thocht, the ilk tyme, ȝit of that dreidfull place


Ane feirfull reuerent religioun, per cace,


The ery rural pepill dyd affray,25


So that this crag and scroggis wirschippit thai.


In ȝon schaw, on this woddy hillis top


That skowgit is with mony buskis crop,


Quod Evander, tharon a god dois dwell,


Bot quhat god at he be can na man tell:30
[Pg 481]

My pepill that bene cummyn from Arcaid


Wenys thai saw ȝonder, as thai me said,


Gret Jove hym self, as he ful oft at large


Dyd schake his tawbart, or his beknyt targe,


And with his rycht hand dyd assembill and steir5


The watry clowdis, that makis thundris beir.


And forthir eik he said ontill Enee,


Ȝon twa town stedis thou behaldis, quod he,


With barmkyn down bet and euery wall,


Of forfaderis thai bene memoriall:10


This cite beldit our ald fader Janus,


And ȝonder cite fundit Saturnus:


Janiculum this hecht, myne awin leif brother,


And Saturnya clepit was that other.


Amangis thame with sic carpying and talk,15


Towart Evandrus pur lugyng thai stalk:


The catal eik behald thai raik on raw,


And in that sted thar pasturand thai saw,


Quhar now in Rome is the cheif merkat placis,


Baith squeil and low in thai ilk plentuus gatis20


Quhilk sum tyme hecht Caryne, fair and large,


Quhar the howsis war like a turnyt barge.


And quhen thai cummyn to the palice wer,


Quod Evander, at thir ilk ȝettis heir


The conquerour entrit, douchty Hercules;25


This sobir mans ressauyt hym, but les.


My gentil gest, enfors the and addres


To lern to dar contemp welth and riches,


And do thi self compone, and schaw in deid


In goddis steid worthy to succeid,30
[Pg 482]

With thame equal ressauyt in sic herbry;


Amang smal geir now entris bowsumly.


And sayand this, the myghty gret Ene


Within hys narrow chymmys ledis he,


And maid him sytting doun apon a bed,5


That stuffit was with levys, and ourspred


With the rouch skyn of a bustuus wild beir


In Affrik bred befor mony a ȝer.






 CAP. VII.




Ontil Eneas Venus armour requiris


Fra Wlcanus, quhilk grantis hir desiris.






The nycht approchis with hir weyngis gray,


Ourspred the erd, and put all lycht away;10


Quhen Venus moder till Ene efferd,


And not but caus, seand the felloun rerd,


The dreidfull bost and assemly attanys


Aganys hir son of pepill Laurentanys,


To Wlcanus, hir husband and gud man,15


Within hys goldyn chalmyr scho began


Thus forto spek, and with hir wordis the fyre


Of dyvyne luf can towartis hym inspire.


Quod sche, quhil that the kyngis of Grece and Arge


Down bet the Troiane wallys wyde and large,20


That destinat war, bath towr, town, and wall,


Of ennemys be flambys to down fall,
[Pg 483]

Na help onto thai wrachit folkis I socht,


Nane armour axit, nor thy craft besocht,


Nor the, my deirest spows, exers bad I


Thy craft, nor wark invane wald occupy:


Albeit that to the childring of Pryam kyng5


I was bedettit into mekill thing,


And the ontollerabill laubour of Enee


Bewalit oft wepand ful fair, quod sche,


Quhilk now by Jovis power stad remanys


Within the boundys of Rutilyanys.10


Quharfor this tyme I, thy ilk spows and wyve,


Thy blissyt godhed, derrest to me on lyve,


Cummys lawly to beseik and requer


For wapynnys, harnes, armour, and sic ger;


For my deir son I, moder, prays the:15


Sen Nereus douchter, Thetys, mycht, quod sche,


Induce the till enarm hir son Achill,


And eik Tythonus spous, at hir awin will,


Aurora, with hir terys so the brak


Fortill enarm hir child Memnon the blak.20


Behald quhat pepill, lo, assemblit bene,


Quhat wallit townys with ȝettis closyt in teyn


Gryndys thar wapynnys aganis me and myne,


To bring ws to distructioun and rewyne.


Thus said the goddes, and in hir milk quhite armys25


Ful tendirly belappys him and warmys,


Quhil that he musys so, that hait fyre sle


Of lufe bekend onon ressauyt he;


The natural heit into the merch dyd glyde,


Persand the banys maid soft on every syde:30
[Pg 484]

Nane other wys than as, sum tyme, we se


The schynand brokkyn thundris lychtnyng fle


Wyth subtil fyry stremys throu a ryft,


Persand the watry clowdis in the lift.


Venus hys spows, confiding in hir bewte,5


Ful glaid persavys that hym caucht had sche.


The fader than Vlcanus, god abuf,


Lokkyt in the eternal cheyn of luf,


Answerd and said; quharfor, myne awin hart deir,


Sa far about thou glosys thy mater?10


Quhy axis thou nocht planely thy desire?


Quhiddir is becum of me, thy lord and syre,


The ferm confidence thou suld haue, Goddes?


Quhat nedyt mor bot schaw thy mynd expres?


Gyf siclike curis and desire had bene15


Into thy mynd that sammyn tyme, I meyn


Duryng the subuertioun of Troys ryng,


To ws it had bene bot a lesum thing


Troianys til haue enarmyt at thy request:


Nowder the fader almychty at the lest,20


Ne ȝit the fatis contrary dyd ganestand,


Bot Troys cite mycht haue langar stand,


So that kyng Priamus ryng, by our power,


Mycht haue remanyt fully othir ten ȝeir.


And now, gif thou the grathis forto fecht,25


And tharto be thy mynd set, I the hecht


All maner thing, with solist diligens,


That may be wrocht in my craft or sciens,


Or ȝit may be forgit in irne or steill,


Or moltyn mettal graif and burnyst weill.30
[Pg 485]

Sa far as fyre, and wynd, and hie engyne,


Into our art may cumpas or dyvyne.


Tharfor desist of thi strenth to haue dreid,


Or me to pray in ocht at thou hes neyd;


For in sic cacis thar nedis na request:5


Am I nocht reddy to fulfill thy behest?


Thir wordis beyng said, this hait syre


Gan hir enbrasyng al at his desyre,


And, lappit to hys spowsys breist in armys,


The plesand natural sleip, to beit his harmys,10


And eys hys wery membris, can he tak.


Syne as he had slummyrrit bot a snak,


Quhen the first silence of the quyet nycht


Hys myddil curs and cirkill run had rycht,


Provokyng folk of the first sleip awaik:15


Lyke as the puyr wife, quhilk at evin had raik


Hyr ingill, rysys forto beit hir fyre,


As scho that hes nane other rent nor hyre


Bot with hir rok and spynnyng forto thryve,


And tharwithall sustene hir enty lyve;20


Hir day wark to encres, or scho may se,


Thartill a part of the nycht ekis sche,


And at the candill lycht hir handys tway,


And eik hir pur damysellis, as scho may,


Natly exercis forto wirk the lyne,25


To snoif the spyndill, and lang thredis twyne,


Quharby scho mycht sustene hir powerte,


Kepe chaist hir spowsys bed in honeste,


And tharwith eik foster hir childer lyte:


The mychty God of fyre this tyme als tyte,30
[Pg 486]

And no slawar, bot on the sam maner,


Furth of hys bed startis, and hynt his geir,


And to hys smyddy craft and forge hym spedis.


Thar standis ane ile, with reky stanys as gledis,


Vpstrekyng hie betwix the cost Sycille5


And Lyparen, god Eolus wyndis ille:


Vndre the quhilk byg iland in the see


Ane coif thar is, and hyrnys feill thar be,


Lyke till Ethna holkyt in the mont,


By the Ciclopes fornace worn or bront,10


That makys rumlyng, as quha dyd thunder heir,


The bustuus dyntis on the styddeys seir;


Ane huge dyn and noys the strayke doyth mak.


The irne lumpys in tha cavys blak


Can byss and quhissill, and the hait fyre15


Doith fuf and blaw in blesys byrnand schire:


Quhilk forges bene Wlcanus duellyng call,


And eftir Wlcan that cuntre nemmyt all.


The mychty God of fyre dovn from the hevin


Into this forsaid ile discendit evin,20


Quhar as, intill hys large and gowsty caif,


The hydduus Ciclopes forgit furth and draif,


Brontes, Steropes, and nakyt Pyracmon,


The glowand irne to well and peyn onon.


The fyreflaucht, ȝyt nocht formyt perfitely,25


Quhilk the fader of godis oft throw the sky


From euery art dovn in the erth doys cast,


Thai had into thar handys wirkand fast;


That ane part polist, burnyst weill and dycht,


Thar other party not perfytit rycht.30
[Pg 487]

Thre rawys wel tha of the frosyn hail schour,


Thre of the watry clowd, to eik the stowr,


Thre blesys of the byrnand fyris brycht,


With thre blastis of the south wyndis lyght:


Syne to thar wark, in maner of gun powder,5


Thai myddillyt and thai myxit this feirful sowder,


A grysly sound, gret dreid, and goddis ire,


Quham followys ay the fel flambys of fyre.


Ane other sort ful bissely to Mart


The rynnyng quhelys forgis, and weir cart,10


Quharwith the men to batale doys he steir,


And movys citeis to rays mortal weir:


Thai dycht and polys egirly alssua


The horribill terget, bustuus Egyda,


Quhilk is the grevyt Pallas grysly scheild,15


With serpent scalys puldrit in goldyn feild,


Togidder lynkyng lowpyt edderis twa;


And in the breist of the goddes graif thai


Gorgones hed, that monstre of gret wondir,


With eyn wawland, and nek bane hak in sondyr.20


Away with this, ȝhe Ethna Ciclopes,


Quod Wlcanus, and all sic warkis ses,


And at I say enprentis in ȝour thocht.


Ontill a forcy man ar tobe wrocht


Harnes and armour: now nedis it, quod he,25


Ȝour strenth exers and pythis schaw; lat se


Quha nymlyast can cum and turn thar handis;


Now on all master poynt of craft it standis:


Do put away in haist all maner delay.


Na mair he said; bot wondir frakly thai30
[Pg 488]

Onto thar laubour can thame all addres,


Assignand euery man hys part expres:


The irne the mettal throw thir cundyttis flowys,


The moltyn gold and weirlyk steil hait glowys,


And furth of gousty furnace fundyt ran.5


Maste craftely to forgyng thai began


A huge gret semly target, or a scheild,


Quhilk only mycht resistyng into feild


Agane the dynt of Latyn wapynnys all;


In euery place sevin ply thai welt and call.10


Sum can ressaue the glowand heyt, sum wynd


With blawand bellys bet the fyre behynd;


Sum of the trowch apon the sparkand gledis


The byssand watir strynklys and ourspredis.


The huge coif and all the mont within,15


For strak of stydeys, can resound and dyn.


Amangis thame self thai grisly smythys gret


With mekil fors dyd forge, peyn, and bet,


And can thar armys hesyng vp and dovn


In nowmyr and in dew proportioun,20


And with the grippand turcas oft alsso


The glowand lump thai turnyt to and fro.






 CAP. VIII.




Evander telland Eneas thingis seir,


Vlcanus armour dyd in the sky appeir.






Quhil that the fader of Lemnos, Wlcanus,


Within the boundis of wyndy Eolus
[Pg 489]

To wyrk this geir hastis on euery syde,


The blissull lycht ayrly at morrow tyde,


And myrthfull sangis of the byrdis bay,


The swallow, syngis on the ruf hir lay,


Awalknyt kyng Evander, and maid rys5


Within his sobir chymmys quhar he lyis.


Vpstart the ald, and cled hym in hys cote,


Apon his feyt hys meit schoys hote


War buklyt on the gys of Tuscany;


Syne our hys schuldris, down hys myddil by,10


Hyngis buklyt hys trasty swerd Arcaid;


From hys left arm, about the rycht syde layd,


Ywymplyt was the spottit pantheris skyn:


Hys twa keparis can furth by hym ryn


From the hie palyce, bustuus hundis two,15


That haldis thar lordis pays quhar evir he go.


Furth held this heir the secret prevy way


Towart the sted quhar as Eneas lay,


His Troiane gest, ramembring al at rycht


Hys help and promys grantit ȝister nyght.20


On the sam wys, at morow ful ayrly,


Eneas hastis vp, and mycht nocht ly.


The kyng only bot with his son Pallas,


Achates with Eneas accumpaneit was.


Thai jonyt handis sone as thai war met,25


And syne amyd the chalmer doun thame set.


Quhar, finaly, thai fel in commonyng


Of secret materis and attentik thing.


The kyng begouth, and said first til Ene:


Maist souerane ledar of Troiane cumpane,30
[Pg 490]

Quha beand on lyfe nevir grant I sall


Troy is distroyt, nor castyn doun the wall,


Nor ȝit the Troiane power put at vnder;


We haue bot sobir pissance, and no wonder,


To help in batale, and to mak supple5


Onto so hie excellent maieste:


On this half closyt with the Tuscane flude;


On ȝonder syde ar the Rutylianys rude,


Nyddris our boundis, as full oft befallis,


With thar harnes clatteryng about our wallis.10


Bot I purpos adione to the onon


A huge pepill, and landis mony one,


Ostis of fertill realmys neir fast by.


O fortoun, or we wist, so happely


Thou schawist the in our help and supple!15


And O maste douchty campioun Ene,


Desyrit of the destany and fatis,


Heir ȝe be weill arryvit many gatis!


Fundyt of ald stanys, not far hyne,


Inhabyt stand the cite Agyllyne;20


Quhar that the worthy pepill Lydyane,


Vailȝeant in batale, duellis and dois remane


Apon the egge of the Hetruscan hillys.


Thir folkis all in lykyng at thar willis


This land inhabyt, vale, mont, and swyre;25


Quhil fynaly, ful prowd in his empyre,


Mezentyus begouth thar tobe kyng,


And in gret fors of armys tharon ryng.


Suld I rehers the ontellabil myscheif,


The cruel dedis, slauchter, and huge greif30
[Pg 491]

Of that tyrant, quhilk ȝit the goddis dyng


Apon hys hed reseruys and ofspring!


For he, besyde his othir wikkyt deyd,


The quyk bodeis, speldit furth on breid,


Adionyt to the corps and caryoun ded,5


Layd hand to hand, baith face to face and hed,


Quhil quyk mowthis dyd ded mowthis kys:


O, quhat maner of torment call ȝe this!


Droppand in worsum and filth laithly to se,


So miserabilly enbrasyng, thus wys he10


By lang proces of ded can thame sla.


Quhil, at the laft, of this ennoy and wa


Hys citesanys irkyt, syne in a rowt


Enarmyt ombeset his mans abowt:


Hym al enragit on his wild maner15


Besegit thai, and of his complicis seir


Hes slane onon, and all in pecis hakkit,


And fyre blesis on his hie biggingis swakkit.


Amyd the slauchter, on cace, eschapit he,


And to the feildis Rutilyane can fle,20


Quhar intill armys, be Turnus hys ost,


He hym begouth defend apon that cost.


Quharfor Hetrurya all, full justly


Aggrevyt, rays in armys by and by,


Onto punytioun and all tormentis seir25


Thar kyng to ask, and seik in feir of weir.


To thir mony thousand pepill, quod he,


Souerane ledar I sal the jone, Ene.


For now thar schippys ful thik reddy standis,


Brayand endlang the costis of thir landis;
[Pg 492]

Thai byd display thar baneris owt of faldis;


Bot ane ancyent dyvynour thame withhaldis,


Schawand the fatale godly destyne:


O ȝe mast valȝeand ȝong gallandis, quod he,


And pepill cummyn from Meonya,5


Ȝhe that bene flour of chevalry alssua,


The vertu and the strenth of vassallage


Of ancestry and men of ȝour lynnage,


Quham just dolour steris on this wys,


Baldly aganys ȝour ennemys to rys;10


All thocht Mezentyus, to hys myscheif,


Hes weil deservit aganys hym ȝour greif


Thus in commotioun forto rays and steyr,


Ȝyt neuertheles belevys, owt of weir,


So gret a pepill, as vnder Turnus kyng15


And Latynus leyndis, forto down thryng


Onlesum is till ony Italyane:


Ȝow behuffis to seik a strange chiftane.


Of Hetrurya the ostis vnder scheild


With that word stoppit in the sammyn feild,20


Of the goddis admonysyng all effrayt.


Tarchon hym self, thar duke, lyst not delay it,


Bot to me send ambassatouris all bovn,


Offerand to me the ceptre and the crovn


Of al thar realm, and thar ensenȝeis brocht,25


Requyryng me that I refusyt nocht


Tocum and be chiftane of thar army,


The realm Tyrrheyn eik to ressaue in hy.


Bot my febill and slaw onweldy age,


The dasyt blude gane far by the hait rage,30
[Pg 493]

Or than the owtworn dait and mony ȝeris,


With fors falȝeit to hant the strang weris,


Envyis that I suld joys or bruke empyre.


My son Pallas, this ȝong lusty syre,


Exhort I wald to tak the steir on hand,5


Ne war that of the blude of this ilk land


Admixit standis he, takand sum strynd,


Apon his moderis syde, of Sabyne kynd.


Bot thou, quham baith thi ȝeris and thi blude


The fatis favouris, and is so conclude10


By the goddis abufe as, owt of weir,


Tobe callyt and schaip for this mater,


Go to the batal, campyoun maste forcy,


The Troianys baith and Italyanys to gy.


And forthir eik, this sammyn ȝyng Pallas,15


Our son, our hope, our comfort, and solace,


I sal adione in falloschip, quod he,


As his master, to exers vndre the,


And lern the fayt of knychtly chevalry,


Hard marcyall dedis hantyng by and by,20


Tobe accustummyt and behald thy feris,


For wondyr followyng thy warkis in ȝyng ȝeris.


Twa hundreth walyt hors men, wight and stern,


Of Arcad, sal I geif onto that bern;


And of hys awyn behalf, in thy supple,25


Als mony Pallas sal promyt to the,


Quhilk in the hail may weill four hundreth bene.


Skant this was said, quhen, castyng dovn his eyn,


Trast Achates, and Anchyses son Ene,


Sat starrand on the grond, baith he and he,30
[Pg 494]

And in thar hartis dyd full oft compas


Ful mony hard aduersyte and cace,


With drery cheir and myndis sad bath twa;


Ne war Venus, lady Citherea,


Dovn from the hevin of comfort to thame sent5


Ane oppyn takyn, cleir and evident.


For suddanly thai se, or thai be war,


The fyreslaucht betyng from the lyft on far,


Cum with the thundris hydduus rumlyng blast,


Semyng the hevyn suld fall and all doun cast;10


The ayr onon can dynnyng vp and doun


With brag of weir and Tyrreyn trumpys sovn.


Thai lysnyng to persaue and heir the dyn,


Ay mar and mar agane it dyd begyn


To rerd and rattill apon a feirfull wys:15


Quhill at the last thai se and al espyis


Throw the cleir sky and regioun of the hevyn,


Amang the clowdis, brycht as fyry levyn,


The glitterand armour burnyst lemand schene,


And, as thai schuke, thar rays thunder bedene.20


Abasyt in thar myndis worth the laif;


Bot this lord Troiane knew and did persave


Full weil the sound, and all the cace expres,


Be promys of hys moder the Goddes;


Syne can rehers it plane, and thus gaitis said:25


Forsuyth, forsuyth, my gentill ost, be glaid,


The nedis not to ask, ne ȝit to speir


Quhat signyfyis thir wondris dyd appeir:


For I am callyt to the hevin, quod he.


The haly moder, my genitryce, schew me30
[Pg 495]

That sic a takyn suld be send, scho said,


Gyf ony wald with batale ws invaid,


And, in my helpyng, hecht doun throu the ayr


To send Wlcanus armour, gude and fair.


Allace, how feill slauchter now apperis5


To wrachit Latynys in thir mortal weris!


By me, Turnus, quhat panys salt thou dre!


O Tybir fair that rynnys in the se,


Quhou mony scheldis, helmys, and stern body,


Vndre thy fludis warpyt law sall ly!10


Lat thame array thar ostis now lat se,


And baldly brek thar frendschip maid with me.






 CAP. IX.




Evander sendis hys son, the ȝong Pallas,


With hys army in help of Eneas.






Fra this was sayd, from his hie set he start:


And first the sloknyt fyris hes he gart,


The rakyt harthis and ingill ȝister nycht,15


On Hercules altar beyt and kyndill bryght,


And glaidly went to wirschip and to call


Sobir Penates, goddis domesticall;


And walyt twynteris, eftir the auld gys,


He slew and brytnyt onto sacryfys;20


With hym Evander eik, and all hys feris


Of Troiane menȝe, lusty fresch ȝonkeris.
[Pg 496]

Syne doun in haist he went onto hys schippys,


Hys folkis he visseyt and his falloschippys:


Of quhais nowmyr hes he walyt owt


Ane certane, the mast lykly, bald, and stowt,


Quhilk suld hym follow into euery place;5


The remanent tuk byssely thar rays


Down by the watyr, on the followand flude


Discendand slawly, to beir message gude


Sone eftir this ontill Ascanyus ȝyng,


Twychand hys fader and of euery thing.10


The horssys syne war gevin and furth brocht


To the Troianys that onto Tuscane socht;


And till Eneas led onon thai gaue


A gentill steyd excedand all the laif,


On quham at all partis was ourspred and fold15


A dun lyonys skyn with nalys of gold.


Than throu the litil cite all on raw


The fame onon dywlgat swyftly flaw,


Quhow that the horsmen spedis thame bedene


To go onto the land and cost Tyrrene.20


The wyssys and avowys than, for feir,


By woman and the matronys dowblet wer;


Mor grew the dreid the narrar drew dangar,


Now Martis ymage semys walxin mair.


The fader than Evander, as thai depart,25


By the rycht hand thame gryppyt with fair hart,


Hys son enbrasyng, and full tenderly


Apon hym hyngis, wepand ontellabilly;


And thus he sayd: O sen omnipotent


Hie Jupiter my ȝyng ȝheris by went30
[Pg 497]

Wald me restor! in sic strenthis and eild,


So as I was quhen first in batal feild


The armys of the ostis down I dang


Of Preneste vndir the wallis strang,


And victor of myne ennemys, as prowd syre,5


Hail hepys of thar scheildis brynt in fyre:


Quhar, with this sammyn rycht hand quellyt and slane,


Vndre the hellys grond Tartareane


Kyng Herylus was sent to dwell for ay;


Quhamtill hys moder Feronya the gay,10


Into the tyme of hys natiuite,


Grisly to say, had gevyn sawlys thre,


And that he suld beir armour thrys in fyght,


And thrys behwyt to the ded be dicht;


Fra quham that tyme this rycht hand, not the les,15


Tha sawlys all bereft, and thar expres


Of alsmony enarmouris spulȝeit clene.


Gyf so war now with me as than hes bene,


Ne suld I nevir depart, myne awyn child deir,


From thyne maste sweit embrasyng, for na weir;20


Nor our nychtbour Meȝentyus in hys fed


Suld na wys, mokkand at this hasard hed,


By swerd haue killyt so feill corps as slane is,


Nor thys burgh, of sa mony citesanys


Left desolat and denudyt, quod he.25


Bot O ȝe Goddis abuf, and Jove mast hie,


The governour of hevynly wyghtis all,


On ȝou I cry, on ȝou I clepe and call;


Begyn to haue compaciens and piete


Of ȝour awin wofull kyng of Arcadye;30
[Pg 498]

Oppyn and inclyne ȝour dyvyne godly erys,


To heir and ressaue the faderis meik prayeris.


Gyf it be so ȝour godhed and gret myghtis


Be presciens provyd hes, and forsychtis,


Pallas my son in salfty hail and feir,5


Gyf the fatis preservys hym of danger,


Sa onys in my lyfe I may hym se,


Agane togidder assemblyt I and he;


I ȝow beseik my febill lyfe to respyte,


That I mycht lyf, and endur ȝyt a lyte10


All pane and laubour that ȝou list me send.


Bot, O faynt fortoun, gyf thou doys pretend


And mannancis ony myschewos cace,


Now, now furthwith, into this sammyn place


Suffir me swelt, and end this cruel lyfe,15


Quhil dowtsum is ȝyt all sic sturt and stryfe,


Quhil hope oncertane is of thing tocum,


And quhil I thus, my deir child, all and sum


My lustis plesance, and my last weilfair,


The in myne armys enbrasis but dispar;20


So that, eftir, na sorowfull messynger


With smert ennoy hurt nevir myne agit eyr.


The fader Evander with full sory hart,


At lattir poynt quhen thai war to depart,


Thir wordis spak, syne fel in swoun rycht thar:25


Hys men hym hynt and to hys chalmyr bar.


Be this, the rowt of horsmen strang in fyght


War ischit at the portis euery wight:


Amangis the formast the duke Eneas,


And eik the trast Achates, furth can pas,30
[Pg 499]

Syne other nobillis of the Troianys stowt;


The ȝyng Pallas rydyng amyd the rowt,


So farrand and so lusty personage,


Cled in a mantill in hys tender age,


Quhilk dyd ourheld hys burnyst armour brycht:5


On hym to luke was a mor gudly syght


Than on the day stern, quhilk at morn ayrly


Baithit in the occeane rysys in the sky,


Quhois fyry bemys Venus in speciall


Chosys abuf all starnys gret and small,10


Heich in the hevin liftyng hys vissage schene,


To chays away the myrknes with hys eyn.


The wofull moderis, quakand for cald dreid,


Stude on the wall behaldand quhar thai ȝeid,


And dyd convoy or follow with thar sight15


The dusty sop, quharso the rak went rycht,


Govand apon thar bryght armour at schane,


So fer as that thar luke mycht thame attane.


The cumpany al sammyn held array


Throw scroggy bussys furth the narrest way,20


Enarmyt rydyng thyddir as thai wald:


The brute and dyn from thame vpsprang thik fald,


The horny hovyt hors with four feyt


Stampand and trottand on the dusty streyt.




[Pg 500]




 CAP. X.




Quhou that Venus ontill Eneas brocht


The godly armour be Wlcanus wrocht.






Thar growys a gret schaw, neir the chil ryver


Quhilk that flowys with hys frosty stremys cleir


Down by the cite of Agillyna,


That other wys is clepyt Cereta,


Quhilk is in wirschip haldyn and in dreid5


By faderis ald, the large boundis onbreid,


As sanctuar; and with deip clewchis wyde


Thys schaw is closyt apon euery syde:


Ane thyk ayk wod of skowgy fyrris stowt


Belappys all the said cuthill abowt.10


The fame is that the Grekis ancyane,


Quhilk clepyt bene to surname Pelasgane,


That quhilum lang tyme in the formast eildis


The Latyn boundis occupeyt and feildis,


To Syluanus fyrst dedicat this schaw,15


The God of bestis and of feildis faw,


And constitut to hym solempnyt fest.


Duke Tharcon, and the Tuscanys maste and lest,


Not fer from thens, intyll a strenthy place


Thar palȝeonys all had plantyt apon cace,20


That from the top of the hillys hyght


The army all thai mycht se at a syght,


With tentis stentit strekand to the plane.


Thyddyr held Eneas, the souerane Troiane,
[Pg 501]

And all the bernys of hys ryall rowt


Chosyn for the batell, lusty, stern, and stowt.


And, wery of thar travale, thocht thai best


Thar self and horssis to refresch and rest.


Bot than Venus, the fresch Goddes, bedene5


Amang the hevynly skyis brycht and schene,


Berand with hir the dyvyne armour cleir,


To mak tharof a presand, can draw neir:


And as on far hir son scho dyd behald,


Secret allone by the chill ryver cald,10


Amyd ane holl cleuch, or a dern valle,


Of hir fre will tyll hym apperis sche,


And with sic wordis to hym spak, sayng:


Lo, my reward heir, and my promysyng


Fulfillyt justly by my husbandis wark;15


So that, my son, now art thou sovyr and stark,


That the not nedis to haue ony feir


Fortill resist the prowd Latynys in weir,


Nor ȝit the strang Turnus to assaill,


Hym to provok, or challance for batale.20


Thus said the scheyn Citherea fair of face,


And, with that word, can hyr deyr child enbrace;


And thar the schynand armour forgane his sycht


Vndre a bowand aik layd dovn full rycht.


Seand sic gyftis of this trast Goddes,25


This gentill knycht reiosyt wolx, I ges,


Glaid that so gret honour ressauyt he,


That scarsly kowth he satisfyit be


Forto behald thir armour bryght and schene;


On euery peys to vissy kest hys eyn,30
[Pg 502]

Tharon wondrand; betwix hys handis two


And byg armys thame turnys to and fro:


The grysly crystit helm he can behald,


On feirfull wys spowtand the fyre thik fald;


The fatale swerd, dedly to mony ane;5


The styf hawbryk of steill yburnyst schane,


Of huge weght and bludy sangwyne hew,


That sic a glans or variant cullour schew,


As quhen the byrnand sonnys bemys brycht


The watry clowd persand with hys lyght,10


Schynand on far, forgane the skyis how


Schapys the figour of the quent rayn bowe:


The lyght legharnes on that other syde,


Witht gold and burnyst laton puryfyde,


Grathit and polyst weill he dyd aspy;15


The speir, and eik the scheild so subtelly


Forgyt that it was ane ontellabill thyng.


For Vlcanus, of fyre the lord and kyng,


Knawand full weill the art of prophecy,


And syndry thingis tocum eik by and by,20


The valȝeand dedis of Italyanys,


The gret triumphys als of the Romanys,


And of Ascanyus stok all nobil knyghtis,


Thar batalys all per ordour, weir, and fyghtis,


Had tharin porturat properly and grave.25


Amang al otheris, in Martis gresy cave


The sukkyn wolf furthstrekand breste and vdyr:


Abowt hir pappys, but feir, as thar moder,


The twa twynnys, smal men childer ȝyng,


Sportand ful tayt gan to wrabill and hyng;30
[Pg 503]

And scho hir lang rovnd nek bane bowand raith


To geif thame sowke, and can thame culȝe baith,


Semyng scho suld thar bodeis by and by


Lyk with hir tong, and clenge full tenderly.


Not fer from thens Rome cite eikyt he;5


Quhar, by ane new inuentioun wonder sle,


Sittand into ane holl valle or slak,


Within the lystis for the triumphe mak,


War Sabyne virgynys revyst by Romanys,


As that thai war assemblyt for the nanys10


The gret gammys Circenses forto se,


Quhilk justyng or than turnament cleip we.


With hasty sterage thar most thou behald


The werys rasyt aganys Romanys bald


By agyt Tatyus and fell Curetanys:15


Syne the ilk princis, and the said Romanys,


The weris sessyt sammyn all infeir,


Enarmyt stad befor Jovys alter,


With cowpys full in hand for sacryfys;


Thar mycht thou se thame, eftir the ald gys,20


The swyne stekit brytnyt sone and slane,


Conferm thar trewys and mak paix agane.






 CAP. XI.




Quhou that Wlcanus thar, amang the laif,


Storys tocum dyd in the armour graif.






Fra thyne not far the chariot thou mycht knaw,


Metus Suffytius in seir pecis draw;
[Pg 504]

Albeit thou thocht this cruelte, kyng Albane,


Quhy wald thou not at thy promys remane?


Quhy list thou not thy faith obserue and saw?


Thys faithles wyghtis entralys war outdraw,


By command of Tullus Hostilyus,5


And throu the woddis harlyt, euery bus,


Quhil that the tharmys and the bowellys rent


Scroggis and breris all with blude bysprent.


Thar mycht thou se Tarquynus in exile


Furth cast of Rome, and syne, within schort quhile,10


By kyng Porsenna into batale plane


Commandit fortobe ressauyt agane;


With that a felloun sege al Rome about


Dyd ombeset, and closyt with hys rowt:


The Romanys than discendit from Enee15


Rusch onto wapynnys for thar liberte.


Thou mycht behaldin eik this ilk Porsen


Lyke as he had dyspite, and bostand men;


For that the hardy Cocles, darf and bald,


Durst brek the bryg that he purposit to hald,20


And eik the virgyn Clelya, quhar scho stude,


Hyr bandis brast, and swam our Tibir flude.


Manlyus the knycht abufe into the scheild,


In the defens for Jovys tempil beild,


Kepand the strenth and castell Tarpeia,25


And haldand the heich Capitoll alssua,


Stud porturat, neir the chymmys calendar,


Quhais ruffis laitly ful rouch thekit war


With stra or gloy by Romulus the wight.


Thar was alsso engravyt all at ryght30
[Pg 505]

The siluyr ganer, flyghterand with lowd scry,


Warnand all reddy the gilt entre by,


Quhou the Franchmen dyd the ȝet assaill:


Thar mycht thou se the Franch army alhaill


Haist throu the bussys to the capitoll,5


Sum vndermyndand the grond with a hoill,


So that almaist thai wan the forteres;


Gret help thame maid the clos nychtis myrknes;


Thar haris schane as doith the brycht gold wyre,


And all of gold wrocht was thar rich attyre,10


Thar purpour robbys bygareit schynand brycht,


And in thar hand withhaldand euery knycht


Twa javillyng speris, or than gyssarn stavis,


Forgit in the montanys al sik maner glavys,


Thar bodeis all with lang tergis ourheild.15


Syne ȝonder mar was schapin in the feld


The dansand prestis, clepit Salii,


Hoppand and syngand wonder merely,


And Panos prestis, nakit Lupercanys;


The toppyt hattis quhar the woll threid remanys,20


And bowyt buklaris falland from the sky.


Thar mycht besene, forgyt maste craftely,


The chaist matronys throw the cite all


In soft charis thar gemmys festual


Ledand, and playand with myrthis and solace.25


A far way thens ful weill engravit was


The vgly hellis set Tartareane,


The deip dungioun quhar Pluto dois remane,


And of the wikkyt pepill all the pyne:


Thar was thou markyt, cursyt Catylyne,30
[Pg 506]

Hyngand out our ane schorand hewch or bra,


And trymland for the feirfull dreid and wa,


To se the furyus grysly sisteris facis,


That with thar scurgis wikkit pepil chacis:


The rychtwis folkis, at levit deuotly,5


Fra thame war partit in a place far by,


And the wys man Censorius Cato


Gevand thar just rewardis till all tho.


Myd way betwix the other storeis seir,


The swelland seys fygour of gold cleir10


Went flowand, bot the lippyrrand wallys quhyte


War pulderit full of fomy froith mylk quhite:


The delphyn fysches, wrocht of siluer schene,


In cirkill swepand fast throu fludis grene,


Sewchand swyftly salt stremys; quhar thai far,


Vpstrake thar talys the stour heir and thar.






 CAP. XII.




Eneas mervellys of the storeys seir


Wrocht be Wlcanus in hys armour cleir.






Amyd the seys mycht be persauyt weill


The weirly schippis with thar snowtis of steill,


The Actiane batalys, semyng as quha dyd se


The mont Lewcata, standand by the seye,20


For ostis arrayt glowand as the gleyd;


Of glitterand gold schane all the flude on breid.
[Pg 507]

On that a party, thar myght thou behald


Cesar August Octauyan the bald,


Movand to batale the Italyanys;


With hym senatouris and worthy pepill Romanys,


And Goddis domestik, quhilk Penates hait,5


With all the gret Goddis of mair estait:


Heich in the forstam stand he mycht be sene,


From hys blyth browys brent and athir eyn


The fyre twynklyng, and hys faderis star


Schew from hys helmys top schynand on far.10


The byg and stowt Agrippa, hys frend deir,


Hys navy led at hand weil by neir,


As he that in hys help and succurs fyndis


The prosper favouris baith of goddis and wyndis:


Quhais forhed schane of ane prowd syng of weris,15


A crown with stammys sic as schippis beris.


Marcus Antonyus cummys thame aganys


With hail suppovel of barbaryanys,


As nobill victour and cheif conquerour,


Careand with hym of Orient the flour;20


Diuers armyis and pepillys for melle,


From Pers, Egipt, and costis of the Red See,


The power all assemblit in hys flote,


Ane huge rowt and multitude, God wote,


The ȝondermast pepill, clepit Bactranys,25


Quhilk neir the eist part of the warld remanys.


Hym followys to the feild, ane schame to say,


Hys spous Egiptiane, queyn Cleopatra.


Thai semyt sammyn ruschand all togidder,


Quhill all the sey vpstowris with a quhidder;30
[Pg 508]

Ourweltit with the bensell of the ayris,


Fast fra forstammys the flude swowchis and raris,


As thai togiddir matchyt on the depe.


Thou suld haue wenyt, quha tharto tuke kepe,


The gret ilandys, Ciclades, hail vprent,5


Apon the sey fletand quhar thai went,


Or huge hie hillys, concurrand all atanys,


Togiddir rusch and meyt with other montanys;


On athir hand with sa gret fors and weght


The men assalys in schip of towr to feght.10


Thai warp at other brycht blesys of fyre,


The kyndillyt lynt, and hardis byrnand schire;


The castyng dartis fra hand to hand dyd fle,


Slang gaddis of irne, and stane cast gret plente:


Neptunus feildis, all the large flude,15


For new slauchter wolx blandit red of blude.


Amyd the ostis Cleopatra queyn


The rowtis dyd assembill to feght bedene,


With tympane sound, in gys of hir cuntre,


Prouocand thame to move in the melle:20


Nor ȝit beheld scho not the edderis twane


Behynd hir bak, that eftir hes hir slane.


The monstruus goddis figuris, of al kynd


That honorit ar in Egipt or in Inde,


And eik the barkand statu, Anubis,25


Agane Neptune, agane Venus, I wys,


And als agane Mynerva, porturat standis


In that bargane, with wapynnys in thar handis.


Amyd the feld stude Mars, that felloun syre,


In plait and mail, wod brym and ful of ire:30
[Pg 509]

The sorofull Fureys from the firmament


By the Goddys to tak vengeans war sent:


In went Discord, joyus of that journe,


With mantill rent and schorn men mycht hir se;


Quham followit Bellona of batell,5


With hir kynd cousyng, the scharp scurgis fell.


Actyus Appollo, seand in the sky


Of this melle the dowtsum victory,


Hys bow abufe thar hedis hes he bent,


Lyke forto schote hys dartis and down sent:10


For dreid of quham all the Egiptianys,


All thai of Inde, and the Arabyanys,


And thai of Sabey, turnyt bak to fle.


Cleopatra the queyn thar mycht thou se


Wynd sayll about, and gang befor the wynd,15


Ay mar and mair dredand persute behynd,


Sclakand schetis, and haldand rowme at large,


With purpour saill abufe hir payntit barge.


The mychty God of fyre hir wrocht and maid


Ful pail of hew, sorowfull and not glaid,20


In syng tocum of hir smert hasty ded,


Amangis ded corpsis new of slauchter red,


And, with the west wynd and the wallys haw,


Frawart the flude of Nyle our stremys blaw:


Quhilk Nylus ryver, murnand for thar deseys,25


Hys large skyrt onbrede spred thame to ples,


With all his habyt oppynnyt thame to call,


As thocht hym list ressaue the venquyst all


Within hys watry bosum, large and rude,


And hyde in secret cundyte of his flude.30
[Pg 510]

Within the wallis syne of Romys cite,


Cesar, ressauyt with triumphis thre,


Thou mycht behald, thar offerand on his gys


Till Itale goddis immortal sacryfyce:


Our all the cite, in maist singular joy,5


The blysfull fest thai makyng man and boy,


So that thre hundreth ryall tempillys dyng


Of ryot, ryppet, and of revellyng,


Ryngis, and of the myrthful sportis seir


The stretis soundyng on solacius maner;10


At euery sanctuary, and altar vpstent,


In caralyng the lusty ladeis went;


Befor the altaris eik, in cirkyll round,


The brytnyt bestis strowyt all the ground.


Cesar hym self, seysit in sete ryall,15


Within the snaw quhite statly merbill wall


Of God Phebus tempill, thar as he sat


Visseand the pepillis gyftis, this and that,


And on the prowd pillaris, in takynnyng


Of hys triumphe, maid thar be vp hyng:20


The pepill by hym venquyst mycht thou knaw,


Befor hym passand per ordour, all on raw,


In langsum tryne; and how feil kyndis seir


Of tungis and of langage men mycht heir,


Als mony diuers habyttys wor thai strange,25


Als feil sortis of armouris dyd thai change.


Vlcanus heir the beltles Numydanys,


And thai folkis that in Affrik remanys,


Had gravyn weill; and ȝonder porturat was


The Leleganys, and the pepill Carras,30
[Pg 511]

And Gelones, tha pepill of Sythia,


In archery the quhilk ar wonder thra.


The mekill flude Eufrates, fast by,


With streym now semyt flow mair sobirly;


The Moryn pepill eik, fast by the see,5


Of men reput the last extremite,


The forkyt flude of Reyn eik pantit was,


And the ondantit Danys thar dyd pas,


The flude Arax of Armeny alsso,


Havand disdene a bryg our it suld go.10


Eneas, of hys moderis gyft wondryng,


Our al Vlcanus scheild samony a syng


Wrocht on sic wys, nocht knawand the mater,


To se the figouris of thir storeis seir


Reiosyt wolx, and syne deliuerly15


Apon hys schulder hyntis vp in hy


The famus honour, and hie renownye,


Or gloryus jestis of hys postheryte.




[Pg 512]


THE

ÆNEID OF VIRGIL



TRANSLATED INTO SCOTTISH VERSE



BY
GAWIN DOUGLAS

BISHOP OF DUNKELD.


VOLUME II.


PRINTED AT EDINBURGH.

M.DCCC.XXXIX.


[Pg 513]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE NYNTH BUKE.






Thir lusty warkis of hie nobilyte


Agilyte dyd wryte of worthy clerkis,


And tharin merkis wysdome, vtilyte,


Na vilyte, nor sic onthryfty sperkis:


Scurilyte is bot for doggis at barkis,5


Quha tharto harkis fallys in fragilyte.




Honeste is the way to worthynes,


Vertu, doutles, the perfyte gait to blys;


Thou do na mys, and eschew idilnes,


Persew prowes, hald na thing at is hys;10


Be nocht rakles to say sone ȝa, I wys,


And syne of this the contrar wyrk expres.




Do tyll ilk wight as thou done to waldbe;


Be nevir sle and doubill, nor ȝit our lyght;


Oys not thy mycht abufe thyne awin degre,15


Clym nevir our hie, nor ȝit to law thow lycht;


Wirk na malgre, thocht thou be nevir sa wyght,


Hald with the rycht, and pres the nevir to le.




Eneuch of this, ws nedis prech na mor,


Bot, accordyng the purpos said tofor,20
[Pg 514]

The ryall style, clepyt heroycall,


Full of wirschip and nobilnes our all,


Suldbe compilit but thewhes or voyd word,


Kepand honest wys sportis quhar thai bourd,


All lowus langage and lychtnes lattand be,5


Observand bewte, sentens, and grauyte.


The sayar eik suld weil consider thys,


Hys mater, and quhamto it entitilit is:


Eftir myne authouris wordis, we aucht tak tent


That baith accord, and bene conuenient,10


The man, the sentens, and the knychtlyke stile,


Sen we mon carp of vassalage a quhile.


Gyf we descryve the woddis, the treis, quod he,


Suld conform to that mannis dignyte


Quhamto our wark we direct and endyte.15


Quhat helpis it? full litill it wald delyte


To write of scroggis, broym, haddir, or rammale;


The lawrer, cedyr, or the palm triumphale,


Ar mar ganand for nobillis of estait:


The muse suld with the person aggre algait.20


Stra for to spek of gayt to gentill wight;


A hund, a steid, mar langis for a knyght,


Quhamto efferis hant na rebald daill;


Thar suld na knyght reid bot a knychtly taill.


Quhat forsis hym the bussart on the brer,25


Set weil hym semys the falcon heroner?


He comptis na mair the gled than the fewlume,


Thocht weil hym lykis the goshalk glaid of plume.


The cur, or mastys, he haldis at smal availl,


And culȝeis spanȝellis, to chace pertryk or quaill.30
[Pg 515]

Ne byd I not into my stile for thy


To speke of trufis, nor nane harlotry;


Sen that myne author with sic eloquens


Hys buke illumnyt hes, and hie sentens,


Sa fresch endyte, and sang poeticall,5


That it is clepyt the wark imperiall,


Endyt onto the gret Octauyane,


The Emperour excellent and maste souerane:


By quham, the gospell makis mensioun,


The hail warld put was to discriptioun,10


To numbir all the pepill tharin suld be,


So, but rebellioun, al quhar obeyt was he.


Bot, sen that Virgill standis but compar,


Thocht in our leid hys sayngis to declar


I haue in ryme thus far furth tane the cur,15


Now war me laith my lang laubour mysfur:


All thocht my termys be nocht polist alway,


Hys sentence sall I hald, as that I may.


Gyf ocht be weill, thank Virgil and nocht me;


Quhar ocht is bad, gays mys, or owt of gre,20


My lewytnes, I grant, hes all the wyte,


Kouth not ensew hys ornat fresch endyte,


Bot, with fuylhardy curage malapert,


Schupe to enterprit, and dyd perchance pervert,


Thys maist renownyt prynce of poetry:25


Quhar I sa dyd, mea culpa, I cry.


Ȝit, by my self, I fynd this proverb perfyte,


The blak craw thinkis hyr awin byrdis quhite:


Sa faris with me, bew schirris, wil ȝe hark,


Can nocht persaue a falt in all my wark,30
[Pg 516]

Affectioun sa far my raysson blyndis.


Quhar I mysknaw myne errour, quha it fyndis


For cheryte amendis it, gentil wight,


Syne pardon me, sat sa far in my lycht,


And I sal help to smore ȝour falt, leif broder;5


Thus, vail que vail, ilk gude deid helpis other.


And for I haue my wark addressyt and dycht,


I dar sa, baith to gentil barroun and knycht,


Quhais name abufe I haue done notyfy,


And now of prowes and hie chevelry10


Behuffis me to write and carp a quhile;


The mair glaidly I sal enfors my stile,


And for hys saik do scharp my pen all new,


My maste renownyt author to ensew,


That thar salbe, wyll God, litill offens,15


Salwand owr bustuus wlgar differens.


Na mar as now in preambill me list expone,


The nynt buke thus begouth Eneadon.




[Pg 517]




 THE NYNTH BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Juno to Turnus in message Iris sent,


To sege the Troianys, Eneas tho absent.






Quhyll on this wys, as I haue said or this,


Sik materis and ordinancis wirkand is


In diuers placis, set full fer ytwyn,


Saturnus get, Juno, that list not blyn


Of hir auld malyce and iniquyte,5


Hir madyn Iris from hevin sendys sche


To the bald Turnus malapert and stowt;


Quhilk for the tyme was with all his rowt


Amyd ane valle wondyr lovn and law,


Sittand at eys within the hallowyt schaw10


Of god Pilumnus, hys progenitor.


Thamantis douchtir knelys hym befor,


I meyn Iris, this ilk fornamyt maid,


And with hir rosy lippys thus hym said:


Turnus, behald on cace reuoluyt the day,15


And of hys fre will sendys the, perfay,
[Pg 518]

Sik avantage and oportunyte,


That set thou wald haue axit it, quod sche,


Thar was nevir ane of all the goddis dyng


Quhilk durst haue the promittit sic a thing.


Eneas, desolat levand hys cite,5


Hys navy eik, hys ferys, and hail menȝe,


Is till Evander socht, and Palatyne,


That burgh. But not eneuch; for farther syne


To the extreme citeis of Tuscany


In mont Corythus haldys he in hy,10


And doys assembill the wild lauboreris,


That quhilum com fra Lyd, till armys in weris.


Quhat dredis thou? now tyme is to prik hors,


Now tyme fortill assay ȝour cartis and fors.


Haue done, mak na mar tary nor delay,15


Set on thar strenthis sone, gif thame affray.


Quod sche; and tharwith, in hys presens evin,


With equale weyngis flaw vp in the hevin,


Vndre the clowdis schapand, quhar scho went,


A gret rane bowe of diuers hewys ment.20


The ȝong man knew hir weill, and hastely


Vp baith hys handis hevis to the sky,


With sic wordis followand, as scho dyd fle:


Iris, thou bewte of the hevynnys hie,


Throw all the clowdis and thir skyis brovn,25


Quha hes the send to me in erth a dovn?


Quhow is becummyn on this wys, quod he,


Sa brycht weddir and cleir serenyte?


I se the hevynnys oppynnyt and devyde,


And movand sternys in the lyftis syde.30
[Pg 519]

So gret takynnys and reuelacions schaw


I sal persew, and fallow quhat befaw;


Quhat evir thou be that callys to the weris,


Thy command sal I obey, as efferis.


And thar withall, with wordis augurall,5


Eftir thar spayng cerymonys diuynal,


Onto the flude onon furth steppis he,


And of the stremys crop a litill we


The watir lyftis vp intill his handis,


Full gretumly the goddys, quhar he standis,10


Besekand till attend to hys prayer,


The hevynnys chargeyng with feil awowis seir.


With this the ostis all in the plane feild


Held furth arrayt, schynand vnder scheld.


Men mycht behald full mony riall stedis,15


Full mony pantyt targe and weirlyke wedis:


Of giltyn geir dyd glytter bank and bus.


The formast batale ledis Mesapus;


The hyndmast ostis had in governyng


Of Tyrrhyus the sonnys or childer ȝyng:20


Turnus thar duke rewlys the myddill ost,


With glave in hand maid awful feir and bost;


Thame till array raid turnand to and fro,


And by the hed alhaill, quhar he dyd go,


Hyear than all the rowt men mycht hym se.25


In sik ordour furth haldis his menȝe,


Lyke as sum tyme Ganges, the flude Indane,


Sevyn swelland ryveris eftir spayt of rayn


Ressauyt in hys large bosum in hy,


In hys deip trowch now flowys esely:30
[Pg 520]

Or as vmquhile the fertill flude, Nylus,


Ourfletand all the feildis, bank and bus,


Syne, eftir the gret fludis watry rage,


Returnys swagit to hys auld passage.






 CAP. II.




Turnus segis the Troianys in gret ire,


And all thar schippis and navy set in fyre.






Be this the Troianys in thar new cite5


A dusty sop vprysand gan do se,


Full thik of stowr vp thryngand in the ayr,


And all the feildis myrknyt mair and mair.


Caycus first cryis, as he war wod,


Dovn from the hie garrat quhar he stude;10


O citesanys, how gret ane ost, quod he,


Is lappit in ȝone dusty stew I se!


Swith hynt ȝour armour, tak ȝour wapynnys all,


Bryng hydder dartis, speil vp on the wall,


Our ennemys cummys at hand, but dowt.15


Hay, hay, go to! than cry thai with a schowt,


And with a huge bruyt Troianys at schort


Thar wallys stuffyt, and closyt euery port.


For sa Eneas, maste expert in armys,


At hys departing, dredand for thir harmys,20


Gaif thame command, gif thai assalȝeit wer,


Or hys returnyng, be hard fortoun of weir,
[Pg 521]

That thai ne suld in batale thame array,


Nor in the plane thar ennemys assay:


Bot bad thai suld alanerly withhald


Thar strenth within thar fowseis, as he wald,


And kepe thar wallys forsely and weill,5


With fowcy dichis and wapynnys styfe of steill.


Tharfor, all thocht baith schame and felloun ire


Thar breistis had enflambyt hait as fyre.


In the plane feild on thar famen to set,


Ȝit neuertheles thar portis haue thai schet,10


Fortill obey the command of Enee;


On boss turrettis and on towris hie


Enarmyt stude thar fays till abyde.


Turnus the chiftane on the tother syde


Come to the cite, or that ony wist,15


Furth fleand swipperly, as that hym best list,


Befor the ost, quhilk went bot esy pas:


With hym a twenty chosyn men he has;


Apon a sterand steid of Trace he sat,


Of cullour dapill gray and wail fat,20


Full hie rysand abuf his knychtly hed


Hys goldin helm, with tymbrel al blude rede.


Go to, ȝyng gallandis, quha that list, quod he,


Thar ennemys assailȝe first with me:


And, with that word, threw a dart in the air,25


As he to geif batale all redy war,


Syne in plane feild with browdyn baneris gay


Bargane to byde drew hym till array.


Hys feris all ressauyt the clamour hie,


And followand thar chiftane, he and he,30
[Pg 522]

The bruyt rasyt with grisly sound attanys,


And gan to mervell the dolf hartit Troianys,


That durst nocht, as thame semyt, in plane feild


Thame self aventour, nor ȝit with sper and scheld


Mach with thar famen in patent bargane,5


Bot hald thame in thar strenthis euery ane.


And all commovit, brym, and full of ire,


Baith heir and thar Turnus the grevyt syre


Went on horsbak, seirsand abowt the wall


Every dern way and secret passagis all,10


Gyf ony entre or tocome espy


He myght, fortill assail the cite by.


Lyke as we se, wachand the full scheip fald,


The wild wolf ourset with schowris cald


Of wynd and rane, at myddis of the nycht,15


Abowt the bowght plet all of wandis tyght


Brays and gyrnys; tharin bletand the lammys


Full sovirly liggis vnder thar dammys:


He brym and felloun his rage and furour


Aganys the absentis, reddy to devour,20


Rasys in ire, for the wod hungris lyst;


Hys wysnyt throt, havand of blude sic thrist,


Gendris of lang fast sic ane appetyte


That he constrenyt is in extreme syt.


Nane other wys, the feirfull fervent ire25


In Turnus breist vpkyndillis hait as fyre,


Seand thir wallys and fortressis attanys;


The huge ennoy byrnys hym throu the banys,


Imagynand by quhat resson or way


Hys ennemys he mycht wyn till assay,30
[Pg 523]

And on quhat wys the Troianys fra thar strenth


He mycht expell, and in plane feild on lenth


Mak thame to ische in patent batale place.


And as he musand was heiron, per cace,


The navy of thar schippys he dyd invaid,5


That fast by jonyt to the wall was layd,


With dychys and with fowseis dern abowt,


In the flude watir, as neir owt of dowt:


Quham fra he had espyit, but abaid


At hys feris, quhilkis wilfull war and glaid,10


Eftir the fyre and kyndillyng dyd he cry,


And in hys awin handis hyntis vp in hy


A blesand fyrebrand of the fyrryn tre.


Than byssely Rutilyanys, he and he;


So the presens of Turnus dyd thame steir,15


That euery man the rekand schydis in feir


Rent fra the fyris, and on the schippis slang:


The semys crakkis, the watir byssyt and sang,


The tallownyt burdis kest a pikky low,


Vpblesis ourloft, hechis, wrangis, and how;20


Quhill myxt with reik the fell sparkis of fyre


Heich in the air vpglydis byrnand schire.






 CAP. III.




Quhou the fyre was expellit fra the navye,


The schippis translait in nymphis or goddessis of see.






Say me, O Musys, reherses and declare,


Quhilk of the Goddis sa cruel flammys sayr
[Pg 524]

Held from Troianys? quha sa vehement fyre


Drave from thar schippis, thus wys byrnand schire?


The deid is auld forto beleif or wry,


Bot the memor remanys perpetualy.


The first tyme quhen the Troiane Eneas5


By sey to tak hys vayage schup to pas,


And gan do beld his schippis vp ilkane


In Ida forest, that mont Phrygiane;


The moder of Goddis, Berecyntia,


Spak to hir son gret Jupiter, thai sa,10


With sikkynd wordis, sayand; My child deir,


Grant this ane axin quhilk I the requeir,


Grant thy belovit moder bot a thing,


Thou at art master of the hevynly ryng.


Apon the top of Gargarus, quod sche,15


Thar grew a fyr wod, the quhilk into dante


Full mony ȝeris held I, as is knaw;


Thys was my cuthill and my hallowit schaw,


Quhar that the Phrygianys maid me sacrifice;


Ful weill me lykyt thar to walk oft sys,20


With pikky treis blak skuggit abowt,


And abundans of hattyr gestis stowt;


Quhilk glaidly I haue gevin a ȝong Troiane,


Strang Eneas, discend from kyng Dardane,


Fortill support the mysteris of hys navy.25


And now the dowtsum dreid, for the ilk quhy,


Full pensyve haldis me and doith constrene:


Deliuer me of thys feir be sum meyn,


My deir son, suffir at thy moderis request


Be admittit this a time, be the leste,30
[Pg 525]

So that tha schippis be nevir mair ourset


With contrar curs, nor ȝit with storm dovn bet;


Quharby thai may haue sum avale, quod sche,


At thai vmquhill grew in our hillys hie.


Hyr son, the quhilk rewlys at hys lykyng5


The hevyn, the starris, and all erdly thyng,


Ansuerd and said: O moder best belovyt,


Quhou art thou thus agane the fatis amovyt?


Or quharto axis thou to thir, quod he,


With mortale handis wrocht of stokkis and tre,10


That is to say, thir schippis so habill to faill,


That lesum war thai suld be immortale?


And that Enee, in dedly corps onsure,


Assoverit fermly throw all dangeris fuyr?


Quhat God hes to hym grantyt sik frelage?15


Bot for thy saik, quhen fully thar vayage


Thai haue compleyt, and at costis of Itale


Arryvit ar, and in tha portis set sail,


And thar duke Troiane careit our the see


To boundis of Lawrentum, that cuntre,20


Alsmony of thame as than hes eschaipe


The wally fludis sall I turn and schaip


Furth of thar mortale formys corruptabill,


And sall command thame forto be mair habill


From thens forthwart, as immortale, quod he,25


In Nymphes turnyt and Goddessys of see;


Lyke as Nereus douchter, Clotho gay,


And Galathea, throw fomy fludis gray


Scheryng with braid brestis delytabill.


Quod Jupiter: and till hald ferm and stabill,30
[Pg 526]

Be Stix the flude, Pluto hys broderis see,


Hys godly aith and promys sworn hes he;


Be that ilk pykky laik with brays blak,


And laithly sworlys, till kepe at he spak


He dyd afferm hys hecht, and in takynnyng5


The hevynnys all maid trymmyll at hys likyng.


Tharfor the day that he by promys set


Is now at hand, and the ful tyme of det,


By the werd sisteris schaip, is now compleit;


Quhen Turnus thus in hys iniuryus heit10


Admonyst hes hys pepill, and commandis,


With dry schydis and with hait fyre brandis,


The moder of Goddis by sik flambys fell


Furth of hir hallowyt schippis to expell.


At this tyme first apperis in thar syght15


A new takynnyng of gret plesand lycht,


And a braid schynand clowd thai dyd aspy


Cum from the est, rynnand our all the sky;


The rowtis eik onone thai gan behald


Of Ideanys, tha wightis that in the hald20


Ar of the moder of the Goddis clos;


Dovn throu the air eik come a feirful voce,


And fillit all the ostis baith atanys


Of Troiane pepill and Rutilianys,


Sayand; Troianys, dreid na thing, haist ȝou nocht25


Fortill defend my schippis, albeit ȝe mocht,


For that caus tak na wapynnys in ȝour handis:


For rather, now as that the mater standis,


Sal it be lefull Turnus fyre the see,


Or that he byrn my bargis maid of tre.30
[Pg 527]

O ȝe my schippys, now to ȝou I say,


Go fre at large quhar ȝou list away,


Go furth and swym as Goddessis of the see;


The moder of Goddis commandis so tobe.


And, wyth that word, als tyte furth from the bra5


Ilk barge bownys, cuttyand hir cabyll in twa;


Lyke delphyn fysch onon as thai tuke kepe,


Thar snowtis dowkand held vnder the deip.


Syne from the grond, a wonder thing to say,


With als feill virgyne facis vpsprang thai,10


And throu the fludis, quhar thame list, dyd fair,


Quhou mony steill stammyt bargis that ayr


Stude by the costis syde, or thai war fyryt.


Rutylianys wolx affrayit with myndis myryt;


Mesapus musyng can withdraw on dreich,15


Seand hys stedis and the horssis skeich;


And eik the ryver brayt with hays sovnd,


Quhill Tyberinus bakwartis dyd rebound,


As thocht hys curs dyd stop and step abak.


Bot netheles, for all the feir thai mak,20


The hie curage and forcy hardyment


Baid onamovyt in Turnus stowt entent,


So that baldly with hardy wordis on hie


Thar spretis rasyt, and rycht fersly he


Gan thame repreve, that tuk for nocht affray.25


Thir monstruus takynnys at ȝe se, perfay,


Sekis mischeif to the Troianys, said he;


And by this way gret Jupiter, as ȝe se,


Hes now byreft thar help and confidens,


Quharby thai wont war to fle for defens:30
[Pg 528]

Now nowder Rutyliane fyre nor swerdis dynt


May thai withstand, for all thar fors is tynt.


Sen that thai may not eschape by the see,


Nor hes na maner hope away to fle,


The maist half of the Troiane help is lost;5


This land is in our power, feld and cost;


So that thai sal na wys eschape our brandis,


Quhou mony thousand douchty men of handis


Ar heir assemblyt, all Italyanys.


I compt na thing all thocht ȝon fant Troianys10


Rakkyn thar fatis that thame hydder brocht;


All syk vayn ruys I feir as thing of nocht,


In cace thai prowd be of the goddis answeris,


And thame avant tharof with felloun feris.


It may weill suffys, and eneuch, I wys,15


Baith to thar fatis and Venus grantit is,


That evir thir Troianys in this cost fast by


Hes anys twichit the boundis of Italy.


My werdis eik and fatale destane


Be the contrar is grantit onto me,20


Thys cursyt pepill tobet down with my glave,


For my deir spous, quham byreft me thai have:


Nor this ennoy alanerly twichis nocht


The twa Atrydes, that Troy to rewyne brocht;


I meyn the principal chiftanys, breder twa,25


That is to knaw, Agamemnon and Menelay;


Ne ȝit allane this caus to armys steris


The pepill of Myce to move batale and weris;


Bot principaly this querrell myne I knaw.


Gif it had bene eneuch, as that thai schaw,30
[Pg 529]

At thai bot anys distroyit aucht tobe,


It war eneuch and mycht suffys, think me,


That thai haue faltit anys lang tyme befor;


Quhy dowbill thai thar trespas mor and mor?


All thocht that women brocht thame to foly,5


Ȝyt hait thai not wemen aluterly.


Quhat meyn thai be this myddill mantill wall?


This litill stop of dykis and fowseis all?


Weyn thai this be a strenth that may thame save?


Thar lyfe is now in juperte, thai raif,10


Full neir thar ded thai stand: all men may knaw


Quhidder gif the wight wallys of Troy thai saw,


Belt by the hand of Neptunus, that syre,


Rent and bet down, and all the town in fyre.


Bot O ȝe walyt knychtis of renown,15


Quham I behald with pykkis brekand dovn


Ȝon forteres, and now present with me


Assalȝeand this affrayt strenth we se;


Ws nedis not Wlcanus armour heir


Aganys thir maste fant Troianys in our weir,20


Nor ȝit we mystir not a thousand schippis.


All thocht hail Tuscany into falloschippis


With thame adione, and cum on euery syde,


Lat thame nocht dreid that we, be nyghtis tyde,


Sall thyftuusly Palladium steill away,25


Nor sla thar wachis slepand; na, perfay,


Dern in ane horssis belly large and wyde,


Thame to dissave, we sall ws neuer hyde:


For we determyt haue by fors in fyght,


In plane batale, and on days lyght,30
[Pg 530]

With fyre and swerd ȝon wallys ombeset.


So dowchtely we schape to do our det,


That thai sall not beleif weir vndertane


Agane Grekis, nor pepill Pelasgane,


Quhilkis in thar weris previt sa spreitles men5


That Hector thame delayt ȝeris ten.


Now, chosyn men, and walyt weriouris,


Sen the maist part of this days howris


Is gane, said he, I hald it for the best


Eftir this gud journay ȝe tak ȝou rest;10


Do eys ȝour bodeis and ȝour hors quhil day,


Bot hald ȝou reddy for the batale ay.


In the meyn tyme, of the nycht wach the cure


We geif Mesapus, the ȝettis to discure,


And forto beit brycht fyris abowt the wallys.15


Twys sevin Rutilianys for al chance befallys


Was chosyn with knychtis forto wach the town;


Ilkane ane hundreth fallowys reddy bown


Of ȝoung gallandis, with purpour crestis red;


Thar giltyn geir maid glitteryng euery sted,20


Quhar so thai walk, and rowmys still and soft.


Thai stalk about, and wardis changis oft,


And sum tyme, on the greyn herbys down set,


Thai byrll the wyne, and ilk man dyd hys det


Fortil ourturn goblettis of mettell bryght.25


The schynand fyris our al the land kest lycht;


And all the forenycht thir wachis sikkyn way,


But sleip, dyd spend in revale, gam, and play.




[Pg 531]




 CAP. IV.




Heir Nysus carpis to his frend Eurilly,


Till vndyrtak ane aventur onsilly.






The Troianys, from thar fortres quhar thai stude


All thar deray beheld and vnderstude,


And baith with armour and with wapynnys brycht


The towr hedys thai stuffyt all that nyght;


And feill tymys in hasty effeir for dreid5


The portis vissy thai, gyf ocht war neid,


And drawbriggis befor the ȝettis vprasyt,


Junct to the wallys, at thai suld nocht be trasyt;


And euery man stud reddy in hys geir


Enarmyt weill, and in his hand a speir.10


Mnestheus stern, and eik Serestus stowt,


Ful bissy war to walk and go abowt,


Tyll ordinance forto put every thing;


For thame Eneas, at his departyng,


Had deput rewlaris to hys ȝong son deir,15


And master capitanys of hys ost in weir,


Gyf so betyd ony aduersyte,


Or aventour, befor hys returne.


Ane hail legioun about the wallis large


Stude wachyng, bodyn with bow, speir, and targe:20


The danger was by cuttys sone decyde,


At euery corner quha, or quha, suld byde;


And euery man his curs abowt dyd sleip,


Quhil that his fallow had his ward to keip.
[Pg 532]

Nisus, Hirtacus son, that tyme was set,


As for hys stand, to byde and kepe the ȝet,


As he that was in armys bald and stowt,


Ane the maist valȝeant intill all that rowt;


Quham Ida hys moder, ane huntryce,5


In falloschip send with Ene ful wys:


To cast dartis nane sa expert as he,


Nor forto schoyt swyft arrowys half sa sle.


Euryalus, hys fallow, stude hym by,


Of all Eneas ost nane mair gudly,10


Nor ȝit mar semly cled in Troiane armys,


Stowt, of hie curage, dredand for na harmys:


Hys florist ȝouth ravest hys vissage ȝyng,


Ȝit nevir schavyn, with pilis newly spryng.


To thir twa was a will in vnyte,15


A lust, and mynd in vniformyte:


Sammyn thai ȝeid to mete, to rest, or play,


And baith togidder in batale ruschit thai;


Now sammyn eik thai war in statioun set,


As baith in feir to kepe the common ȝet.20


Nisus thus spekis, O brothir myne Ewrylly,


Quhiddir gif the Goddis, or sum spretis sylly,


Movys in our myndis this ardent thochtfull fyre,


Or gif that euery mannis schrewit desyre


Be as his God and Genyus in that place,25


I wait nevir how it standis; bot this lang space


My mynd movys to me, heir as I stand,


Batale or sum gret thyng to tak on hand.


I knaw not to quhat purpos is it drest,


Bot be na way may I tak eys nor rest.30
[Pg 533]

Behaldis thou not so surely, but affray,


Ȝon Rutylianys thame haldis glaid and gay?


Thar fyris now begynnys schyne full schire;


Sowpyt in wyne and sleip baith man and syre


At quyet lugyng ȝondyr at thar will;5


Queym silens haldis the large feildis still.


Considir this profundly, I the pray,


Quhat suld I dreid, quhat thinkis thou, now say.


Baith common pepill and the heris bald


To bryng agane Eneas ful fane thai wald;10


Langyng ful sair eftir hys hame cummyng,


And of hys mynd to haue sure witteryng,


Thai all desyre sum attentik men be send.


Gyf, as I wald, thou had licens to wend,


Sen weill I knaw thy famus nobill dedis,15


In sik a cace, me think, na ma thar nedis,


Vndre ȝon moyte the way fund weill I se


To hald onto the wallys of Pallante.


Ewrialus, smyte with hie fervent desyre


Of new renown, quhilk brynt hym hait as fyre,20


And half eschamyt of this bodword glaid,


Thus til hys best belovyt fallow said:


Nisus broder, in souerane actis hie,


For ony caus, quhou may thou refus me


With the to go in falloschip as feir?25


Suld I the send allane in sik danger?


My fader, Opheltes, the quhilk all hys days


The weris hantit, nevir apon that ways


Instrukkit me, nor tawcht sik cowardy.


Was I not lernyt to hant chevalry30
[Pg 534]

Amyd the Grekis brag, and Troiane weris?


Haue I me born with the, at thou afferis


Off my curage? the maist dowchty Enee,


And of fortoun to the last extremyte,


Haue I not followyt, refusand na pyne?5


Heir is, heir is, within this corps of myne,


A forcy spreit that doith this life dispys,


Quhilk reputtis fair to wissyll, apon sik wys,


With this honour thou thus pretendis to wyn,


This mortale stait and life that we bene in.10


Nisus answeris; forsuyth, my broder dyng,


Of the, God wait, ȝit dred I nevir sic thing;


For so to think in faith onlefull wer.


So hail and feir mot salf me Jupiter,


And bryng me sownd agane with victory,15


As euer ȝit sic consait of the had I.


To wytnes draw I that ilk God, quod he,


With frendly eyn quhilk dois ws heir and se,


And in my mynd first movit this consait.


Bot gif that so betyde, as weill ȝe wait20


In sic aventouris thar bene dangeris seir,


Be hard fortoun or aventour of weir,


Or goddys dispositioun happin it fall,


My will was the to salue fra perrellis all:


Thy florist ȝouth is mair worthy to leif25


Than forto put in danger of myscheif.


I wald alsso at hame sum frend haue had


That gif at I war takyn and hard stad,


Or fra me reft the lyfe, and sa withhald,


Quhilk my body or banys ranson wald,30
[Pg 535]

And lay in grave, eftir our Troiane gys;


Or, gyf fortoun wald suffir on na wys


My body mycht be brocht to beriall,


Than to hys frend the seruyce funeral


With obsequeis to do for corps absent,5


And in my memor vp a tumbe to stent.


Ne wald I not alsso that I suld be


Caus or occasioun of sic duyll, quod he,


To thy maist reuthfull mother, trast and kynd,


Quhilk anerly of hir maist tendir mynd,10


From all the other matronys of our rowt,


Hes followyt the, hir luffyt child abowt,


Ne for thy saik refusyt not the see,


And gave na fors of Acestes cite.


The tother tho hym ansuerit sone agane:15


My frend, for nocht thou says sik wordis vane,


Ingirand cacis ar of nane effek;


My first entent I list not change nor brek.


Haist ws, quod he. And tharwithall baith twa


The nixt wach thai walknyt quhar thai lay;20


Quhilk gat on fut, and to thar rowmys went.


Eurialus, to fulfill hys entent,


With Nysus furth can hald hys way onon,


And to the prynce Ascanyus ar gone.




[Pg 536]




 CAP. V.




Quhou at the consal the fornamyt two


Ontill Eneas purchest leif to go.






Apon the erth the othir bestis all,


Thar bissy thochtis sessyng, gret and small,


Ful sownd on sleip dyd cawcht thair rest be kynd,


All irksum laubour forȝet owt of mynd:


Bot the cheif ledaris of the Troiane rowt,5


And flowr of fensabill ȝyng men stern and stowt,


In the meyn tyme sat at wys consell


For common weill and materis hie befell,


Consideryng wisly quhat ado thar was,


Or quha suld message beir to Eneas;10


Amyddis thar tentis, in feild quhar thai stand,


With scheildis schrowd, apon thar speris lenand.


Tho Nysus and Eurialus baith twane


Glaid of this cast, seand thair tyme maste gane,


Besocht thai mycht be admittit to say15


A gret mater of weght, quhais delay


Myght harm gret deill, and eik be thar avys


Thar erand was worth audiens and of price.


Ascanyus first, seand thar hasty way,


Admittit thar desire, and bad thame say.20


Than this Nisus, Hirtacus son, thus said:


Gentill Troianys, with equal myndis glaid


Ressaue my wordis, for this thing, quod he,


Quhilk I ȝou tell may nocht considerit be
[Pg 537]

With sik as ws, nor men sa ȝong of ȝheris,


Bot to ȝour wisdomys till avys esseris.


The Rutilianys, ourset with sleip and wyne,


Lyggis sowpit, fordoverit, drunk as swyne:


To set apon thame, and await with skaith,5


The place surely we haue espyit baith,


Quhilk reddy may ful esely be get


In ȝondir forkyt way, strekis fra the ȝet


Down to the seys cost the nerrest went;


Quhar the fyris fast falȝeis, neir owt brynt,10


So that the blak reik dyrknys all the air.


Gif that ȝe suffir wald, as I said ayr,


That we mycht vse this oportunyte


Quhilk fortoun has ws grant, sone suld ȝe se


Eneas socht by ws at Pallantyne,15


And hyddir brocht in schort quhile eftir syne,


With ryche spulȝe, and mekill slauchter maid.


We knaw the way thidder full weill, he said,


And all the watyr of Tibyr vp and down;


In dyrk valeys oft we saw the town,20


As we by custum oft the huntyng hantit.


Agit Alethes, that na wisdome wantit,


Bot baith was rype in consale and in ȝheris,


Onto thir wordis digestly maid ansueris:


O kyndly Goddis of our natyve landis,25


Vndre quhais myghtis all tyme Troy vpstandis,


All thocht the weill tharof in dowt remanys,


ȝit list ȝou not distroy all the Troianys,


Ne thame so clene defait aluterly,


Sen sa stowt myndis as we heir aspy,30
[Pg 538]

And sa bald reddy breistis gevin haue ȝhe


To thir ȝonkeris. And sayand thus, can he


The rycht handis and schuldris of baith embrace,


With terys tryncland our his chekis and face.


O manly knychtis, quhat reward condyng5


May ganandly be geif for syk a thyng,


Forsuyth I can nocht in my mynd devys;


Bot ȝour maist cheif ganȝeld and gyft to prys


The gret Goddis mot rendyr ȝou, said he,


And ȝour awin vertu mot be renownee:10


The remanent onone ȝe sall ressaue,


Sa that na wys ȝe sal ȝour medis crave,


By the handys of reuthfull Eneas;


Or, gif he sone from this lyfe happynnys pas,


Ascanyus, quhilk as ȝit is bot page,15


ȝong and fordward into hys hailsum age,


Sall render ȝour desert, I tak on hand,


And sik thankis, quhil that he is levand,


Sal nevir be forȝet nor do away.


The sammyn word onon, as he dyd say,20


Furth of hys mowth Ascanyus hes hynt:


I hecht forsuyth that deid sall nevir be tynt,


For all my weil alanerly doys hyng


Apon my faderis prosper hame cummyng.


Nysus, said he, I ȝou pray and beseik,25


Be our Penates, kyndly goddis meik,


And be Assaracus goddis domesticall,


Quham ȝe the cheif stok of our kynrent call,


And be the secret closettis or entre


Of the venerabill auld canus Veste,30
[Pg 539]

Bryng hame my fader sone, I ȝou exort:


All that pertenyng is to me, at schort,


Baith twychand consale and commandment,


Or aventouris of fortoun, in ȝour entent,


In ȝour willys, I put all haill, quod he,5


Bryng hame my fader that I may hym se;


For had we hym ressauyt, I dar say,


Is no thing suld ennoy ws nor effray.


Twa siluer cowpys, wrocht rycht curyusly


With figuris grave, and punsyt ymagery,10


I sall ȝou geif, the quhilk my fader wan


Quhen conquest was the cite Arisban;


Twa charis rych, or trestis quently fold,


And twa gret talentis of the fynast gold,


And eik the crafty ancyant flacconys two15


Quhilkis to me gave the Sydones Dido.


And gyf, certis, as victouris ws betydis


To conquys Ital, as the fatys provydis,


Tharin to bruke the crown and ceptre wand,


And to distribut the pray, as lord of land;20


Beheld ȝe nocht quhatkyn a cursour wyght,


Quhou prowd armour, weil gilt and burnyst brycht,


That Turnus bair this ȝister nyght, quod he?


The sammyn scheld, and helm with crestis thre


Semyng of fyre all rede, and the ilk steid,25


Fra this sammyn hour, Nysus, salbe thy meid;


I sall thame sort fra all the remanent.


And forthir eik my fader, of hys assent,


Twelf chosyn matronys sall ȝou geif all fre,


Tobe ȝour sclavys in captiuite,30
[Pg 540]

With all thar childryng and thar hail ofspryng,


Thar moblys, catal, rentis, and armyng;


And eik that feild and pryncipal peys of land,


Quhilk kyng Latinus hes now in hys hand.


And O thou wirschipfull ȝong child, quhais age5


Is to my ȝouthed in the nerrest stage,


With all my hart I the ressaue evin heir,


In all cacis as tendir fallow and feir.


But the, na glorius act in my materis


Salbe exercyt, nother in paix nor weris:10


In euery thing, baith into word and deid,


The maist trast salbe geif the for thy meid.


Ewrialus maid this answer for hys syde:


That day sal neuer cum, nor tyme betyde,


For my defalt onworthy sall I be15


Fortyll attene sa souerane dignyte.


Lat fortoun send ws gude luk, gif scho lest,


Or mysaventour, I sal do my best:


Lo, this is all, na mair I may promyt.


Bot, abuf all thingis, a gift grant me ȝit,20


That I beseik the oft and monyfald:


Ane moder, cummyn of Priamus blude of ald,


Within this town I haue, quhilk silly wyfe,


Me forto follow not comptand hir lyfe,


The realm of Troy mycht not withhald, said he,25


Nor ȝit in Sycyll Acestes fair cite.


Now hir I leif onhalsyt as I ryde,


Of this danger, quhat so evir betyde,


All ignorant and wait no thyng, puyr wight:


To wytnes draw I heir this ilk gude nyght,30
[Pg 541]

And thy rycht hand, my lord and prynce maste hie,


The wepand teris may I not suffir nor se


Of my deir moder, nor that rewthfull syght.


Bot I beseik thy gentyll hart of ryght


Forto comfort that cayrfull creatur;5


That desolat wight to succur schaw thi cuyr.


Grant this a thyng, and suffir that of the


This a gude hop I bair of town with me;


And far the baldar, quhat so fortoun send,


Ontill all dangeris glaidly sall I wend.10


The Troianys all for reuth, at speke hym heris,


Smyte with compassioun, brastis furth of terys,


With tender hartis menand Ewrialus;


Bot principaly lusty Ascanyvs:


The ymage of hys faderly piete,15


Prent in hys mynde, hym strenys swa that he


Wepand answerd, and said; my brother deir,


I promys all thou desiris, out of weir,


For thy commancement and stowt begynnyng


Is sa douchty I may the nyte na thyng.20


Forsuyth this woman, quhat so evir scho be,


Fra thyne fordwart sal moder be to me,


Wantyng na mar of my moder in plane


Alanerly bot Creusa, hyr name;


And thus of sik a byrth na litill blys25


Sall hyr betyde, quhou evir eftir this


The chans turnys, owder to weill or wo.


Be this ilk hed I swere to the also,


By quhilk my fader wont was forto swere,


All that I haue onto the promyst heir,30
[Pg 542]

Gyf thou returnys in prosperyte,


Failȝeand tharof, as Jove defend swa be,


To thy moder and onto thy kynred


Sail fully bene obseruyt, in thy sted.


Thus sayd he wepand; and tharwith alssua5


Hys gyltyn swerd he hynt his schuldris fra,


Quham wonder craftely in the land of Creyt


Lycaon forgyt had, and wrocht it meyt


Within a burnyst scheith of evor bone;


Thame baith togiddir he gaue Ewrill onone.10


Syne Mnestheus a bustuus lyon skyn,


That rowch and weirlyke tawbart na thing thyn,


To Nysus gave; and the traste Alethys


With hym hes helmys cosyt, and gaue hym hys.






 CAP. VI.




Furth haldis Nysus and Eurillius baith tway,


And huge slauchter thai haue maid be the way.






Onon thai held enarmyt furth thar way:15


Quham all the nobillys ȝyng and ald, persay,


Convoyt to the portis, na thyng fayn,


Prayand full oft Jove bryng thame weil agane.


Bot principaly the fresch Ascanyus ȝyng,


Abufe al otheris in hys commonyng20


Schawand the wysdome, consait, and forsyght,


Of agit man, and eik the curage wight,
[Pg 543]

Gave thame feill chargis and commandmentis


To beir hys fader, twychand hys ententis:


Bot with the wynd tha skatterit war on raw,


And all for nocht amang the clowdis flaw.


Furth ischit thai, and by the fowcyis wentis,5


In silens of the dyrk nycht, amangis the tentis


And perellus pailȝeonys, to thame ennemy,


Thai entrit ar, and caucht gret harm tharby:


Bot netheles, or ony skaith thai hynt,


The ded of mony was thar douchty dynt.10


Apon the gyrs, ourset witht sleip and wyne,


Fordoverit, fallyn down als drunk as swyne,


The bodeys of Rutylianys heir and thar


Thai dyd persaue; and by the cost alquhar


The cartis stand with lymowris bendyt strek,15


The men lyggyng, the hamys abowt thar nek,


Or than amangis the quhelys and the thetis;


All sammyn lay thar armour, wyne, and metys,


Baith men and cartis myddillyt all our ane.


With ane bas voce thus Nysus spak agane:20


Ewrialus, the mater now thus standis,


Forto be stowt and forcy of our handis;


Thys is our passage, quhilk way we mon wend.


Thy part salbe to kepe and to defend


That nane onset cum on ws at the bak;25


Spy far about, tharto gude tent thou tak.


I sall befor mak voyd passage and way,


And the convoy throu a large streit away.


Rehersand this, onon he held hym clos,


So that na noys mycht thar be hard or voce:30
[Pg 544]

And tharwith eik with drawyn swerd in pres


He can assail the pompus Rhamnetes,


Quhilk lay, percace, slepand soft and sownd


On prowd tapetis spred apon the grond;


A kyng he was, and a spa man, suyth to sayn,5


To Turnus kyng mast trast auguriane:


Bot with hys diuinatioun nor augury


The trake of deth ne cowth he not put by.


Thre of hys seruandis, that fast by hym lay,


Ful raklesly he kyllyt, all thocht thai10


Amang thar speris lyggyng war infeir;


And quellyt ane to Remus was squyer.


The cartar syne, luggyng apon the streit,


He hynt onon amang the horssis feyt,


And with hys swerd hys nek, hyngand on syde,15


In twane hes hakkyt; and the sammyn tyde


Thar lordis hed, I meyn this said Rhamneyt


Of smytis he, quhill all the bed wolx weyt:


Lyke a ded stok the corps wantand the hed


Lay bullerand, al besprent with sprayngis red,20


And als the erth grew warm with teppet blude.


Attour he stekit hes eik, quhar he stude,


Twa forcy men, Lamus and Lamyrus,


And als the lykly ȝong child, Serranus,


That all the fornycht in ryot and in play25


Had spendyt as he lyst, and now he lay


With membris strekit, and plesand vissage brycht,


Ourset with god Bachus mekill of myght:


Ful happy and weill fortunat had he be,


In sport and gam on the sam wys gif he30
[Pg 545]

All the remanent of that nycht had spent,


Quhil the lycht day, and tyl hym self tane tent.


Lyke as the empty lyoun, lang onfed,


Be nychtis tyde quhen all folk sleip in bed,


Trubland the fald full of silly scheip;5


The wod rage of hys hungir is so deip


That he constrenyt is sik wys to fair:


He ryvis and he harlys heir and thar


The tendir bestis, that for awfull feir


Of hys presens dar nowder bleyt nor steir;10


He rummysis with bludy mowth and brays.


So dyd Ewrilly, and none other ways,


And na les slauchter maid he in the plane,


Of ire inflambyt in his wod brane.


A multitude of commonys of birth law,15


By quhilk resson thair namys ar onknaw,


He ombeset and put to confusioun:


And Fadus syne, with Hesebus dang he down,


And Arabys also, onwarnystly;


And Rhetus eik, lay walkand hard thame by,20


Behaldand all thar sterage and deray;


Bot, of the stowt Ewrialus for affray,


Behynd a wyne bote or a pype hym hyd:


Quham Eurialus, as the cace betyd,


Keppyt on hys swerdis poynt, that all the blaid25


Hyd in hys cost vp to the hyltis glaid:


To ded he duschis down bath styf and cald,


And vp the purpour spreit of lyf he ȝald,


And blude and wyne mixt he can furth schaw,


At he last drank owt ȝeskis in the ded thraw.30
[Pg 546]

And, by sik slyght full brym, thus he enforcis


To mak huge slauchtir of onweldy corpcis,


Etlyng wightly to the nixt stude fast by.


Thar as Mesapus feris all dyd ly,


And the last fyris almaste quynchit owt,5


The hors, per ordour, tyit weill abowt,


Etand thar meit he mycht behald and se:


Quham schortly Nysus bad ses and lat be;


For he persauyt Eurialus by his feris


Had our gret lust to slauchter, and dangeris10


Persauyt nocht quhilkis war apperand eft:


Desist, quod he, this mater mon be left,


For the day lycht, quhilk is to ws onfrend,


Approchis neir, we may na langar lend.


Gret harm is done, eneuch of blude is sched,15


Throw owt our fays a patent way is red.


And sayng thus, thai sped thame on thar way:


Behynd thame, for vptakyng quhar it lay,


Mony brycht armour richly dyght thai left,


Cowpys and goblettis, forgyt fare, and beft20


Of massy syluyr, lyand heir and thare,


Prowd tapysry, and mekil precyus ware:


Salf that Eurialus with hym tursyt away


The rial trappouris, and myghty patrellys gay,


Quhilkis war Rhamnetes stedis harnessyng;25


And, for the mair remembrance in takynnyng,


Ane rych tysche or belt hynt he syne,


The pendentis wrocht of burnyst gold maste fyne,


Quhilk gyrdill ane Cedicus, that was than


Duryng his tyme ane the myghtyast man,30
[Pg 547]

Bereft a strang Rutiliane, as thai tell,


Quham he venquyst in singular batell,


And send it syne to ane Remulus hes he,


That duke was of the Tiburtyne cite,


In syng of frendschip and ferm acquentans;5


Thus athir absent jonyt allyans;


Syne this ilk prynce, into hys legacy,


That tyme apon hys ded bed dyd he ly,


This gyrdill left to ȝongar Remulus,


Hys tendyr nevo, that is heir slane thus.10


Euryll, as said is, hes this jowell hynt,


Abowt hys sydis it brasyng, or he stynt;


Bot all for nocht, suppos the gold dyd gleit:


Mesapus helm syne, for him wondir meit,


With schynand tymbret and with crystis hie,15


Apon hys hed onon buklyt hes he.


Furth of the tentis with this bownyt thai,


And fra thar fays held the sovyr way.






 CAP. VII.




Quhou capitane Volscens, cumand Turnus till,


Recontrit Nysus and hys fallow Ewrill.






In the meyn quhile, as this other army


Thus at the sege gan in the feildis ly,20


From Lawrentum, kyng Latinus cite,


War horsmen sent to Turnus, forto se
[Pg 548]

Quhat he plesyt, and the kyngis entent


Tyll hym to schaw, thre hundreth men furthwent


With scheild on schuldir vndre capitane Volscens;


And be this cummyn war to the distens


Neir to thar ost, and, as the cace dyd fall,5


Thai held fast vnder this new cite wall;


Quhar as on far towart the left hand thai


Turnand thar curs bakwart persauyt tway:


For the brycht helm in twynkland starny nycht


Mythis Eurilly with bemys schynand lycht,10


Quhilk he, onwar, persauyt nocht, allace!


And as thai scars war thus aspyit on cace,


Volscens the capitane, from amyd his rowt,


Said, stand fallowis; and cryis with a schowt:


Quhat is the caus of ȝour cummyng, said he,15


That rydis thus enarmyt? quhat ȝe be,


And quhidder ar ȝe bown, ȝe schaw ws plane.


The tother twa maid nane ansuer agane;


Bot in the woddis hyis at the flicht,


Assurit gretly in dirknes of the nycht.20


The horsmen than prekis, and fast furth sprentis


To weil beknawin pethis, and turnys wentis


Baith heir and thar; sone ombeset haue thai


The owtgatis all, thai suld nocht wyn away.


The wod was large, and rowch of buskis ronk,25


And of the blak ayk schaddowis dym and donk,


Of breris ful, and thyk thorn ronnys stent;


Scarsly a strait rod or dern narow went


Tharin mycht fundyn be that men mycht pas,


Quharthrou Eurialus gretly cummyrrit was:30
[Pg 549]

Quhat for myrknes, thik buskis, branch, and breir,


And weght also of the new spulȝeit geir,


Tharto the hasty onset and affray


Maid hym gang will in the onknawin way.


Nysus was went, and by this chapyt cleir5


Hys ennemys, onwar quhar was hys feir:


And as he stude at that sted, eftir syne


From Alba cite clepit was Albyne,


Quhar, for the tyme, this forsaid Latyn kyng


Hys hors at pastour held in stabillyng,10


He blent abowt to se hys frend so deir,


Bot all for nocht, thar was na man hym neir.


Ewrill, quod he, allace onhappely


In quhat part of this land the left haue I?


Or quhar sall I the seik? O wailaway!15


Tharwith this ilk wilsum perplexit way


Bakwart he held, euery futstep agane,


Throw the dern wod dissaitfull and onplane;


Quhil, at the last, amang rank buskis he


Errit by the way, becaus he myght nocht se.20


The hors stampyng and the dyn he heris,


The wordis and the takynnys come to hys erys


Of thame quhilk at persewit hym at the bak.


A lytil space eftir tent gan he tak,


And hard a scry: harknand quhat that suld be,25


Eurilly takyn in handys dyd he se;


Quham the dissaitfull onbekend dern way,


The myrk nycht, and the hasty dowtsum fray,


Betrasyt had, that all the mekill rowt,


Or he was war, hym lowkyt rownd about.30
[Pg 550]

Full gret debait he maid, as that he mocht;


Ourset he was, defens was all for nocht.


Quhat mycht than silly Nysus do or say?


Be quhat fors or wapynnys dar he assay


Forto deliuer hys tendir cousyng deir?5


Suld he or not aventour hym self heir,


And rusch amyd hys ennemys in that sted,


To procur in haist by wondis ane honest ded?


Vprasys he onon hys arm bakwart,


To thraw a gevillyng, or a castyng dart,10


And, lukand vpwart towart the cleir moyn,


With afald voce thus wys he maid hys boyn:


O Latonya, Goddes of mekill myght,


Mastres of woddis, bewte of sternys brycht,


Be thou present, and send me thy supple,15


Addres my wark, be directrix, said he:


Gif euer that Hirtacus, my fader deir,


Offrit for me sum gift at thy alter;


Or gif that I of my huntyng and pray


Ekyt thy honour ony maner way,20


Or, at thy standart knoppit post of tre,


Thy haly tempillys rufe, or bawkis hie,


Gif evir I hung or fixit ony thyng,


Wild bestis hed, wapynnys, or armyng;


Thoil me to trubbill this gret rowt of men,25


Do dres my dartis in this wilsum den,


So that my schote and myssour may go rycht


Throw the dyrk ayr and silens of the nycht.


Thus sayand, with all fors of hys body


The grundyn dart he leyt do glyde in hy.30
[Pg 551]

The fleand schaft the nycht schaddoys devydis,


And rycht forgane him on the tother sydis


It smate Sulmonys scheild, hang on his bak,


Quharin the querral al in schuldir brak;


Bot with the dynt the rynde is revyn swa,5


Hys hart pipis the scharp hed persyt in twa.


Down duschis he in ded thraw all forlost,


The warm blude furth bokkand of his cost,


And for the cald of deth hys lungis lap,


With sobbys deip blawys with mony clap.10


Hys ferys lukis about on euery syde,


To se quharfra the grundyn dart dyd glyde.


Bot lo, as thai thus wondrit in effray,


Thys ilk Nysus, worthin provd and gay,


And baldar of this chance swa with hym gone,15


Ane other takill assayt he onon,


And with a sownd smate Tagus, but remede,


Throu athir part or tymplis of his hed;


In the harn pan the schaft he hes affixt,


Quhil blude and brane al togidder mixt.20


The felloun capitane, Volscens, neir wod wendis,


Seand na man quham of to get amendis:


He mycht do stanche his ire, and syth his thocht,


For quha that threw the dartis saw he nocht.


Thou, not the les, quod he, that standis by,25


With thy hait blude for baith twa sal aby


The pane for this myscheif; and, with that word,


He ran apon Euryll with drawyn sword.


Than Nisus, dredand for his fallow kynd,


Begouth to cry, all wod and owt of mynd,30
[Pg 552]

Nor na langar in dern hym hyde he mycht,


Nor of his frend behald sa reuthfull syght:


Me, me, ȝe sla; lo, I am heir, he said,


That dyd the dede; turn hidder in me ȝour blaid


And swerdis all, O ȝe Rutilyanys!5


All be my slycht now ȝour feris slane is:


That silly innocent creatur so ȝyng


Myght, nor ȝit durst, on hand tak sic a thing:


Be hevynnys he, and all the starnys, I swer,


That ws behaldis with thar bemys cleir.10


Sik wordis said he: for on sic maner,


And sa strangly, his frend and fallow deir,


That sa myschancy was, belovit he,


That rather for hys life him self list de.


Bot thar was na remedy nor abaid:15


The swerd, wightly stokit, or than was glaid


Throu owt hys cost: allace, the harmys smart!


That mylk quhite breist is persyt to the hart.


Down ded ruschit Eurialus right thar,


The blude bruschand outour his body fair,20


And on hys elbok lenand a litill on wry,


Hys hed and hals bowys he hevely.


Lyke as the purpour flour in fur or sewch,


Hys stalk in two smyt newly with the pleuch,


Dwynys away, as it doith faid or de;25


Or as the chesbo hedis oft we se


Bow down thar knoppis, sowpit on thar grane,


Quhen thai be chargyt with the hevy rane.


Bot Nysus than ruschit amyd the rowt,


Amangis thame all sekand Volscens the stowt,30
[Pg 553]

And on Volscens alanerly arestis;


Thocht rownd about with ennemys he prest is,


Quhilk heir and thar onon at euery syde


Hym ombeset with warkand woundis wyde.


Bot netheles thame stowtly he assalit,5


Not amovit, as na thing him had alit:


And euer his schynand swerd about him swang,


Quhil at the last in Volscens mouth he thrang,


As he, forgane him standand, cryit and gapit.


Allace, quhat reuth was it he not eschapit!10


For he deand bereft his fa the life;


Stekit and hurt sa oft with speir and knyfe,


Fell down abuf his frendis ded body,


Quhar best him likit ded to rest and ly.


O happy baith, O fortunat and dyng!15


Gif myne endyt or stile may ony thing,


Nevir day nor proces of tyme sal betyde,


That ȝour renown sal owt of memor slyde:


Quhil the famyl and ofspring of Ene


The stane immovabill of the Capitolie20


Inhabitis, and sa lang as Romanys bald


The monarchy of the empyre sal hald.


The schameful victouris, thir Rutilyanys,


The pray and spreth, and other geir that ganys,


Joysyng but obstakil, Volscens ded body25


Onto the tentis wepand bair in hy.


And na les murnyng hard thai in that sted


For Rhamnetes, fund hedles, pail, and ded,


Togidder with samony capitanys,


And gret herys, so wrachitly as slane is;30
[Pg 554]

Serranus ȝyng, and the gentill Numa,


And nobill corpsis brytnyt mony ma.


Gret pres flokkit to se the bodeis schent,


Sum men ȝit throwand half ded on the bent;


Of recent slauchter and the hait effray5


The feld abowt all warmyt quhar thai lay,


That all with spait was blandyt and on flude


In bullyrrand stremys of the fomy blude.


The spulȝe led away was knaw full rycht;


Mesapus rich hewmet schynand brycht,10


The goldyn gyrdill, and trappouris prowdly wrocht,


With mekill swete and labour agane brocht.






 CAP. VIII.




Ewrillys moder hir sonnys deth bewalis,


And quhou Rutilianys the cyte first assalis.






Be this Aurora, levand the safron bed


Of hir lord Tithone, had the erth ourspred


With new cleirnes, and the son scheyn15


Begouth defund hys bemys on the greyn,


That euery thing worth patent in the lyght:


Turnus, enarmyt as ane douchty knyght,


Till armys sterys euery man abowt,


In plait and maill full mony forcy rowt20


Prouocand to the bargane and assay:


Ilk capitane hys folkis settis in array,
[Pg 555]

And gan thar curage kyndill in ire to fyght,


Be schamefull murmur of this ȝister nycht.


And forthir eik, ane miserabill thing to se,


Ewril and Nysus hedys, on speris hie


Fixit, thai rasyt haldand to the wall,5


With huge clamour followyng ane and all.


The forcy and the stowt Eneadanys,


That for the tyme in this cite remanys,


The bront and fors of thar army that tyde


Endlang the wallis set on the left syde;10


For on the rycht hand closyt the ryver;


Thai held the forfront quhar thar was danger,


Kepand the braid fowseis and towris hie:


And as thai stand ful dolorusly, thai se


The twa hedys stikkand on the speris,15


A miserabil syght, allace! onto thar feris;


Thar facis war our weil bekend, baith twa,


The blaknyt dedly blude droppand tharfra.


In the meyn quhile, throw the drery cite


The weyngit messenger, Fame, dyd swyftly fle,20


And slippand come to thy moder, Ewrilly.


Than suddanly that wrachit wight onsilly


Al pail become, as na blude in hir left,


The naturale heit was from the banys reft.


Furth of hir hand the spynnyng quheil smate sche,25


The ȝarn clewis, spyndill, and broche of tre,


All swakkit our, and full onhappely


Furth fleys scho with mony schowt and cry,


With wepyng, and with wifly womentyng,


Ryvand hir haris, to the wallys can thring30
[Pg 556]

All wod enragit, and with a spedy pays


Dyd occupy tharon the formaste place,


Takand nane hed, na ȝit na maner schame,


Swa amangis men to ryn, and rowp or raym;


Na maner feir of perrel seys sche,5


Nor mynd of dartis cast that fast dyd fle.


And as that from the wall hyr sonnys hede


Behaldis sche, wofull, and will of rede,


With hir petuus rewthfull complantis sayr


The hevynnys all scho fillyt and the ayr.10


O my Ewryll, lamentabilly scho cryis,


Sall I the se demanyt on syk wys?


O thou, the latter quyet of myne age,


Quhou mycht thou be sa cruell in thy rage


As me to leif alyve, thus myne allane?15


O my maist tendir hart, quhar art thou gane?


Na licens grantit was, nor tyme, ne space,


To me, thy wrachit moder, allace, allace!


Quhen thou thy self onto sik perellis set,


That I with the mycht samekill laser get20


As forto tak my leif for evir and ay,


Thy last regrait and quethyng wordis to say.


Ichane, allace! intill ane oncouth land,


Nakyt and bair thy fair body on sand


To fowlys of reif and savage doggis wild25


Sall ly as pray, myne awin deir only child!


Nor I, thy moder, layd not thy corps on beir,


Nor with my handis lowkyt thyne eyn so cleir,


Nor wysche thy wondis to reduce thy spreit,


Nor drest the in thy lattir clathis meyt,30
[Pg 557]

The quhilkis I wrocht, God wayt, to mak the gay,


Full bissely spynnand baith nycht and day,


And with sic wobbis and wark, for the, my page,


I comfort me in myne onweldy age,


And irkyt not to laubour for thy sake.5


Quhar sall I seik the now? allake, allake!


Or in quhat land lyis now, maglyt and schent,


Thy fair body, and membris tyrvit and rent?


O deir son myne, O tendir get, quod sche,


Is this the comfort at thou dois to me,10


Quhilk hes the followyt baith our seys and landis?


O ȝe Rutilianys, steik me with ȝour brandis;


Gyf thar be rewth or piete in ȝour banys,


Do swak at me ȝour dartis all atanys:


With ȝour wapynnys first ȝe sal me sla.15


O thou gret fader of Goddis, can scho say,


Haue reuth apon me, wrach of wrachis all,


And on my catyve hed thou lat dovn fall


Thy thundris dynt of wildfyre fra the hevin,


Law vndre hell tharwith to smyte me evin;20


Sen that this langsum cruel life I ne may


Consume nor endyng be nane other way.


With this regrait the Troiane myndis all


War smyte with reuth; endlang the large wall


The duylfull murnyng went and womentyng:25


Thar hie curage, to tel a wondyr thyng,


That oneffrayt was batale to sustene,


Wolx dolf and dull the petuus sycht to sene.


Bot as scho thus kyndillis sorow and wo,


Ane Ideus, and Actor, Troianys two,30
[Pg 558]

At the command of Illyoneus past,


And ȝyng Ascanyus wepand wonder fast,


And hynt hyr vp betwix thar armys squar;


Syne hamewart to hir lugyng thai hyr bair.


Bot than the trumpettis weirly blastis abundis,5


With terribill brag of brasyn bludy soundis;


The skry, the clamour, followys the ost within,


Quhill all the hevynnys bemyt of the dyn.


The Volscenaris assemblyt in a sop,


To fyll the fowseis and the wallis to slop,10


All sammyn hastand with a pavys of tre


Hesyt togidder abuf thar hedys hie;


Sa sairly knyt that maner embuschment


Semyt tobe a clos volt quhar thai went.


Ane other sort pressyt to haue entre,15


And clym the wallis with leddyrris large and hie,


Quhar as the army of the Troiane syde


Was thynnast scattyrrit on the wallis wyde,


And brycht arrayt cumpany of the men


War dividit or sloppit, at thai mycht ken20


The weirmen not sa thyk in syk a place.


Bot the Troianys, that oft in sik lyke cace


Be lang vsage of weir war lernyt and kend


Quhou thai thar town and wallys suld defend,


All kynd of wapynnys and dartis at thame slyngis,25


And dang thame down with pikkis and poyntit styngis;


Down weltyng eik of huge weght gret stanys,


Be ony way gif tharby for the nanys


Thai mycht on fors dissevyr that punȝe,


Quhilk thame assalȝeit thekit with pavys he:30
[Pg 559]

For weill thai knew thar fays al maner of teyn


Vndir that volt of targis myght susteyn,


Sa lang as thai sammyn onsyverit war.


Bot now thai mycht thar ordour hald na mar:


For the Troianys, or evyr thai wald ces,5


Thar as the thikast rowt was and maist pres,


Ane huge weght or hepe of mekill stanys


Ruschys and weltis down on thame atanys,


That diuers of Rutilianys lay thar ondyr;


The laif skalyt on brede; brok was in sondir10


The covertouris and ordinance of thar scheldis.


Fra thens, the hardy Rutilianys in the feildis


Pressyt na mar in hydlys forto fyght,


Bot thame enforcis now with all thar myght,


With ganȝeis, arrowys, and with dartis slyng,15


Thar famen from the wallys forto dyng.


And at ane other syde with felloun feir


Mezentyus the grym, apon a speir,


Or heich styng or stour of the fyr tre,


The blak fyre blesis of reik in swakkis he:20


And Mesapus, the dantar of the horssys,


Neptunus son, with hys menȝe enforcis


Tyl vndermynd the dike and rent the paill;


Leddyris he axis the wallys to assaill.




[Pg 560]




 CAP. IX.




Quhou Turnus set the ȝet towr into fyre,


And maid gret slauchter of Troianys in his ire.






Calliope, and O ȝe Musys all,


Inspire me til endyte: on ȝou I call


To schaw quhat slauchter and occisioun,


Quhou feill corpsis thar war brytnyt doun


By Turnus wapynnys and hys dartis fell;5


Quham euery man kyllit and send to hell:


Help and assist to revolue heir with me


The extreme dangeris of that gret melle.


Ȝhe blissyt wightis, forsuyth, ramembris weill


Sik thyngis, and quhar ȝou lyst may reveill.10


Thar stude a towr of tre, huge of hyght,


With batellyng and kyrnellys all at ryght,


Set in ane neidfull place neir by the ȝet,


Quham to assailȝe, ourcum, and down bet,


With hail pyssance all the Italianys15


At vtir power ombeset atanys:


And by the contrar, on the tother syde


Alkynd defencis can Troianys provyde;


Threw stanys down, and sillys heir and thar,


At euery part or oppyn fenystar20


The grundyn dartis leyt down fle thikfald.


Turnus the prynce, at was baith darf and bald,


Ane byrnand bleis leyt at the fortres glyde,


And festynyt the fyre hard to the towris syde,
[Pg 561]

Quhilk with the wyndis blast, thar as it stak,


Vpblesyt in the burdis and the thak,


And spreddis wide amangis the gestis gret;


The byrnand low consumyt all throu hete.


Within thai schuddrit for the fell effray;5


Bot all for nocht to pres to wyn away,


Na laser was the danger to escape:


For as thai ran abak, and can thame schaip


Fortill withdraw towart the tother syde


Quhar as the fyre was not ȝit ourglyde,10


And hurlyt all togidder in a hepe,


Tho with thar swechtis, as thai reill and leipe,


The byrnand towr down rollys with a rusche,


Quhill all the hevynnys dyndlyt of the dusch.


Down weltis the men half ded with brokyn banys,15


The huge heip thame followit all atanys,


On thar awyn wapynnys stikkand he and he,


Sum stekit throu the cost with spilys of tre


Lay gaspand, of thame all that scarsly tway,


Ane Helenor, and Lycus, gat away:20


Of quhom the formest, this ilk Helenor,


Now in hys florist ȝouth, was get and bor


Betwix Meonyus kyng, in prevyte,


And Lycynya the boynd wench wondir sle,


Quhilk hym to Troy had send that hendyr ȝer,25


Onkend, in armour forbodyn for wer;


Delyver he was with drawin swerd in hand,


And quhite target, onsemly and evill farrand.


Thys Helenor, scand hym self in dowt


Amyd thousandis enarmyt of Turnus rowt,30
[Pg 562]

Behaldand graithly apon athir hand


Arrayt ostis of Latyn pepill stand;


Lyke the wild ragyt best, quham huntaris stowt


Hes ombeset with thyk range all abowt,


Seand be na meyn that scho myeht evaid,5


Apon the wapynnys rynnys with a braid;


Slyppis hir self, and with gret fors hir beris


Apon the poyntis of the huntyng speris:


Nane othir wys, this ilk ȝong Helenor,


Thus ombeset behynd and als befor,10


Amyd hys fays ruschys reddy to de,


Quhar thikkast was the pres thar etlys he;


Quhilkis, but abaid, alssone hes hym slane


As spark of gleid wald in the sey remane.


Bot Lycus, spedyar far on fut than he,15


Throw owt the ostis and armyt men can fle,


And to the wallys wan, and vp on hyght


Enforcis hym to clym with all hys mycht,


And forto gryp sum of hys feris handis:


Quham Turnus, lanssand lychtly our the landis,20


With speir in hand persewys forto spill,


And quhen he hes ourtane him at his will,


Thus dyd hym chyde; O catyve wytles knaip,


Quhat wenyt thou our handis to eschaip?


And tharwith drew hym doun, quhar he dyd hyng,25


And of the wal a gret part with hym bryng.


Lyke as the egill, Jovis squyer, straucht


Within hys bowand clukis had vp clawcht


A ȝong cygnet, or quhite swan, or a hair,


Tharwith resursyng heich vp in the ayr;30
[Pg 563]

Or as a ravanus bludy wolf throu slycht


Hyntis in hys gowl, furth of the fald be nycht,


The litill tendyr kyd, or the ȝong lam,


With feill bletingis socht by the gait, hir dame.


Rutilianys for joy than rasyt a schowt,5


And fast invadys the cite all abowt;


With hepys of erd the fowsy do thai fyll:


Sum otheris presyt with schydis and mony a syl


The fyre blesys abowt the ruf to slyng.


Bot Ilioneus that tyme dyd doun dyng10


With a gret quhyn, or roch of cragy stone,


Ane Lucetyus, and brak hys nek bone,


As that he dyd approche towartis the ȝet,


The hait flammys of fyre tharin to set:


Liger a Troiane from the wall also15


Doun bet a Rutiliane hait Emathio:


A Phrigiane eik, Asylas, stern and stowt,


All tofruschit Choryneus withowt,


Quhilk was in dartis castyng wonder sle;


On far to schute scharp flanys and lat fle20


Nane mar expert than this Emathio:


Ceneus ourquhelmyt Ortygius also;


And this Ceneus, quhilk than gat the mastry,


Belyve Turnus with a dart ded gart ly:


And down dyngis alsso this ilk Turnus25


Ithis, Clonyus, and eik Dioxippus,


Promulus als, and busftuus Sagaras,


And syne the huge byg Troiane, hait Idas,


Standand forto defend the towris hie:


Capys, a Troiane, bet doun Pryverne,30
[Pg 564]

Quham Themyllas with a scharp casting dart


Had newly hurt and wondyt in sum part;


And he hys hand plat to the wound in hy,


Hys scheild besyde hym swakkand fulychly,


So that the fedderit arrow furth dyd glyde,5


And nalyt hys hand plat to the left syde:


The schaft and hed remanyt in hys cost,


Be dedly wound the lyfe thus hes he lost.


Arcens, Arcentis son, stude on the wall,


In brycht armour ful semly schynand all,10


Hys mantill of the purpour Iberyne,


With nedill wark brusyt rych and fyne,


Of vissage was he plesand forto se;


Hys fader Arcens send him with Enee:


Fostyrrit he was and vpbrocht tendirly15


Within hys moderis hallowyt schaw, fast by


The flude Symethus into Sycill land,


Quhar as the plentuus fat altar dyd stand


Of the placabill Goddis, Palycy hecht.


Ane gret staf slung byrrand with felloun weght20


Hynt Mezentius; hys scheild syne by hym lays;


The stryngis thrys abowt hys hed assays,


And this ilk Arcens standyng hym forgane


Hes smertly with a ledyn pellok slane:


Hys harn pan and forhed al to claif,25


Quhil at the led in sondir brak and raif,


That he ourtumlys speldit on the sand.


Thus gret slauchtir was maid fra hand to hand.




[Pg 565]




 CAP. X.




Heir ȝyng Ascanyus the strang Numanus slew,


Quhilk wordis owtragyus to the Troianys schew.






Ascanyus this ilk tyme, as is said,


That wont was with his schot bot to invaid


The wild bestis, quhilkis cowth do nocht bot fle,


First heir in bargane leyt swyft arrowys fle;


And by hys handis slew strang Numanus,5


That was to surname clepit Remulus,


Had laitly Turnus ȝyngast systir wed,


As for hys spows, and brocht ontill hys bed.


This ilk Numanus Remulus, in that sted,


Befor the frontis of the batell ȝeyd,10


Furth schawand mony diuers sawys seir,


Baith ganand and onganand forto heir,


Rycht prowd and hely in his breist and hart


That newlyngis of the kynrik was a part


To him befall; his gret estait this wys15


Woustand he schew with clamour and lowd cryis:


Aschame ȝe nocht, Phrigyanys, that twys taik is,


Tobe inclosyt amyd a fald of stakis,


And be assegit agane sa oft sys


With akyn spilis and dikis on sik wys?20


Schame ȝe not to prolong ȝour lyvis? said he.


Thir venquyst cowart wightis behald and se,


That dar our spousage into batale craif!


Quhat wild dotage so maid ȝour hedis raif?
[Pg 566]

Or quhat onthrifty God in sic foly


Hes ȝou bywavit heir till Italy?


Heir ar not the slaw weirmen Atrydes,


Nor the fenȝear of fair speche Vlixes.


Bot we, that bene a pepill derf and dour5


Cumyn of kynd, as keyn men in a stour,


Our ȝoung childring, the first tyme born thai ar,


Onto the nixt rynnand flude we bair,


To hardyn thar bodeis and to mak thame bald


With the chil frostis and the watyr cald:10


Our childir ȝyng exercis bissely


Huntyng with hundis, hornys, schowt, and cry,


Wild deir throw owt the woddis chais and mait.


To dant and reyn the horssis ayr and layt,


That is thar game and sport thai hant on raw,15


Or with thar bowys schute, or dartis thraw.


Our ȝong spryngaldis may all laubouris endur,


Content of litill fuyde, I ȝou assur,


Of ȝouth thai be accustumat tobe skant,


The erd with plewch and harrowys forto dant,20


Or than in batal bettis citeis down.


In euery age with irne grath ar we bown,


And passand by the plewys, for gad wandis,


Broddis the oxin with speris in our handis:


Nor ȝit the slaw nor febill onweldy age25


May waik our spreit, nor mynys our curage,


Nor of our strenth to altyr ocht or pair.


The steill helmys we thrist on hedis hair;


Best likis ws all tyme to rug and reif,


To dryve away the spreth, and tharon leif.30
[Pg 567]

Ȝour pantit habittis dois of purpour schyne;


Ȝour hartis lykis best, so I dyvyne,


In idilnes to rest abuf al thing,


To tak ȝour lust, and go in karellyng:


Ȝour cotys hes traland slevys our ȝour handis,5


Ȝour foly hattis trappouris and brasyng bandis.


O verray Phrygiane wifis, dasyt wightis!


To call ȝou men of Troy that onrycht is;


Ȝe be onworthy to sa hie style to clame.


On Dyndyma top go, and walk at hame;10


Quhar as the quhissill rendris soundis seir,


With tympanys, tawbronys, ȝe war wont to heir,


And bos schawmys of turnyt buschboun tre


That grew in Berecyntia montane hie,


Onto the moder of Ida dedicat,15


Callys eftir ȝou to dans, and nocht debait:


Ȝeld ȝou to men, and leif al ȝour armyng,


Rendir ȝour swerdis, and all wapynnys resyng.


Ascanyus ȝyng, byrnand for proper teyn,


Sa gret owtrage of wordis mycht not sustene,20


Herand sa hie avant of pompus pryde,


And sik dispyt blawyn owt apon hys syde.


Hys bow with horsis sennonys bend hes he,


Tharin a takill set of sovir tre,


And tasand vp his armys far in twyn,25


Thus onto Jove lawly dyd begyn


To mak hys first petitioun and prayer:


Omnipotent hie Jupiter, me heir


Assist to this hardy commancement!


My self onto thy templis sal present30
[Pg 568]

Solempnyt gyftis, maste gudly may be get,


And eik befor thyne altar sall I set


A ȝoung bullok of cullour quhite as snaw,


With goldin schakaris hys forhed arrait on raw;


The best salbe full tydy, tryg, and wight,5


With hed equale till hys moder on hyght,


Can all reddy with hornys fuyn and put,


And scrape or skattyr the soft sand with his fut.


The fader of hevin exceppit hys prayer,


And, on that part quhar the lift was maist cleir,10


Towart the left hand maid a thundyrryng:


All sammyn soundyt the dedly bowys stryng.


Quhyrrand smertly furth flaw the takill tyte,


Quyte throw the hed the Remulus dyd smyte;


The grundyn steill outthrowch hys tympillys glaid.15


Hald on thy ways in haist, Ascanyus said,


Thy self to loif, knak now scornfully


With prowd wordis all at standis by.


Sik boydword heir the twys takyn Troianys


Sendis for hansell to Rutylianys.20


Thus far spekis Ascanyus, and na mair.


Bot the Troianys rasyt a scry in the ayr


With rerd and clamour of blithnes, man and boy,


That to the starnys thar curage sprang for joy,


Ascanyus extolland abuf the skyis.25


And, as thai mak this ryot on sik wys,


Down from the regioun of the hevin tho


The brycht curland haryt Appollo,


Apon a clowd sittand quhar he wald,


The ostis of Italianys can behald,30
[Pg 569]

And eik new Troys cite, with cheir glaid


Till Iulus the victor thus he said:


Eik and continew thy new vailȝeand dedis,


Thou ȝong child; for that is the way the ledis


Vp to the starnys and the hevynnys hie,5


O thou verray Goddis ofspring, quod he,


That sal engendir Goddis of thy seyd.


In the, be verray resson and of neid,


All batalys, quhilkis by werd ar destinate


Agane Assaracus hows to move debait,10


Salbe appasit, and to quyet brocht.


This litill town of Troy, that heir is wrocht,


May nocht withhald the in sik boundis lyte.


And sayand thus, from the heich hevin als tyte


Discendis he, movand the hailsum ayr,15


And to the child Ascanyus socht rycht thar:


Hys figur changit that tyme as he wald


In lyknes of ane Butes, hayr and ald,


That pursevant tofor and squyer had be


To Troiane Anchyses, fader of Enee,20


And trasty kepar of hys chalmyr dur;


Now had Ene committ to hym the cur


For tyll attend apon Ascanyus ȝyng.


Lyke to this ancyent Butes in al thyng


Furth steppys Phebus, baith in voce and hew,25


With lokkis quhite and armour na thing new,


Rousty, and with a felloun sound clattring,


And sic wordis spak to Iulus ȝyng,


That otherwys is hayt Ascanyus,


With ardent mynd of bargane desyrus:30
[Pg 570]

Eneas verray douchty son and ayr,


It may suffice, the nedis do na mair,


Sen, thou onhurt, with thy schote in this sted


The strang Numanus thou hes dung to ded:


This first loving and eik hie renownee5


The souerane Apollo grantys the,


Nor na disdene at the sal haue, suthly,


Tobe hys peregall intill archery.


Leif of my child, and of sic batale ces;


Na mair at this tyme; draw the owt of pres.10


On this wys carpys the brycht Appollo,


And in the myddis of hys sermond tho


He vanyst far away, I wait neuer quhar,


Furth of this mortal sycht in the schire ayr.


The nobillys, and the Troiane capitanys trew,15


Be thir takynnys the God Appollo knew,


And hard hys arrowys clatterand in hys cace.


Tharfor thai haue withdraw furth of that place


Ascanyus, at brycht Phebus mychty charge,


And wald no langar thoill hym go at large,20


All thocht to feght he had desyre and joy;


Hame to hys innys dyd thai hym convoy:


Syne to the bargane hes thame sped agane,


In oppyn perrellys, dangeris, and all pane,


Thar personys and thar lyvys for thar town25


Offerand, and for defens maid thame bown.




[Pg 571]




 CAP. XI.




Quhou Pandarus and Bitias, brethir twane,


Kest vp the ȝettis, and thar was Bytias slane.






Endlang the wallys kyrnellys euery stand,


The bruyt and clamour rays fra hand to hand;


Thar bustuus bowys keynly do thai bend,


Scharp querrellis and castyng dartis furth send,


Quhilk thai with lyamys and thwangis lang owt threw:5


Sa thik the ganȝeis and the flanys flew,


That of schaftis and takillys all the feildis


War strowit, and the large planys ourheldis.


On bos helmys and scheldis the weirly schote


Maid rap for rap, reboundand with ilk stot.10


Scharp and awfull incressis the bargane,


Als violent as euer the ȝet doun rane


Furth of the west doith smyte apon the wald,


In October, quhen the twa sternys cald,


That clepyt beyn the Kyddis, first vpspryngis;15


And als thik as the hail schour hoppys and dyngis


In furdys schald, and brays heir and thar,


Quhen trublit beyn the hevynnys and the ayr


With stormy tempest and the northyn blastis,


Quhill clowdis clattris, and all the lyft ourcastis.20


Pandarus and Bytias, twa brethir germane,


By Alcanor engendryt, that Troiane,


Quham Hybera, the wild foresteres knaw,


Bred and vpbrocht in Jovys haly schaw,
[Pg 572]

Sa byg ȝong men thai war, sa gret and wight,


That equale semyt thame tobe of hight


With fyr treis of thar landis or hillys;


And tharto eik sa egyr of thar willis


At thai the port, quhilk be Eneas charge5


Was commandyt to kepe stekit, all at large


Has warpyt oppyn onbreid to the wall,


And baldly dyd thar fays clepe and call


To entyr, gyf thay durst, and thame assay:


Sa gret confidens in thar fors had thai.10


And thai within stude by the ȝet, that tyde,


Quhilk oppin was on the rycht and left syde,


As thai had towris beyn baith gret and squar,


Enarmyt with thar wapynnys brycht and bair.


The hie tymbrettis of thar helmys schane:15


Lyke to behald as bustuus akis twane


Besyde the beyn ryver Athesys grow,


Or flowand fludis bankis of the Pow,


Vpstrekand thar byg croppys to the ayr,


And onsned branchis wavand heir and thar.20


Alsswith as the Rutylianys dyd se


The ȝet oppyn, thai rusch to the entre:


Quercens formast, and Equycoly,


A lusty knycht in armys rycht semly,


Wight Tynarus, fers myndyt to assaill,25


And bald Hemon, with curage marcyall.


Bot thai with all thar complicis in fyght


War dung abak, and constrenyt tak flyght,


By Troiane rowtis, or than in that stryfe


Quha that abaid lost in the port thar lyfe.30
[Pg 573]

Tho brymmar grew thar fers mudis within,


So that the Troianys can flok and sammyn ryn


Towart that place, and maid felloun debait;


So bald thai wolx that in the plane gait,


Ischand without the portis on the land,5


Thai durst recontyr thar fays hand for hand.


A messynger to Turnus come that tyde,


That wondir fersly at ane othir syde


The town assalȝeis; and thar he til hym schew


Quhat hait slauchter hys fays maid of new,10


And sik a port had all wyde oppyn set.


Hys first purpos he left, and to that ȝet,


With felloun ire movit, furth sprent he tho,


Towart the Troianys and prowd brethir two:


And first hes slane byg Antyphates,15


That him on cace met formest in the pres,


Son to the bustuus nobill Sarpedon,


In purches get a Theban wench apon:


Hym smate he down with the cast of a dart;


The fleand schaft Italian to his hart20


Glydand, throw owt the schire ayr duschit sone,


The stomok persyt, and in the cost is done.


The how cavern of his wond a flude


Furth bruschit of the blaknyt dedly blude;


So deip the grundyn steill hed owt of sycht is,25


Ful hait and warm it festnyt in his lychtis.


Syne Meropes and Erymanthus he


And Aphydnus slew with his hand al thre;


And eftir that, with a stern mynd full teyn,


Slew Bytias, for al his glowrand eyn:30
[Pg 574]

Bot that was nother with dart, swerd, nor knyfe;


For na sik wapyn mycht him haue reft the lyfe;


Bot with ane hydduus byssand fyry speir,


That clepit is Phalarica in weir,


Quhilk with sa vehement fors this Turnus threw5


That as the thundris dynt at him it flew:


Quham nowder scheld of twa bull hydis thik,


Nor ȝit the dowbill malyt traste hawbrik,


All gilt with gold, mycht it resist nor stynt:


The bustuus body down duschit of the dynt,10


Quhil all the erd to granyt with a rattill;


The hydduus scheild abufe him maid a brattill:


Lyke as the hie pillar of marbill stone


Standand apon the cost Euboycon,


Vmquhile besyde Bais, the rych cite,15


With grysly swecht down duschit in the see;


Quhilk was of ald of massy stanys a byng,


And by the fludis sik wys doun was dyng,


Hys fall drew down the cite quhar it stude,


And ruschit in a fer way in the flude:20


The seys mixt ourran, and all ourhed


Blak slyke and sand vp poplit in the sted;


Quhill of the feirfull sovnd the ilandis twa


Trymlyt, Inaryme and eik Prochita;


Quhilk Inaryme, at Jupiteris command,25


Full hard bed is to Typheus the gyand.


At this tyme Mars, the God armypotent,


Ekyt the Latynys fors and hardyment,


With felloun ire prikland so thar myndis,


That as hym lyst he turnys so and wyndis;30
[Pg 575]

And makis the Troianys tak the flycht gud speid,


On them he kest sik feir and schamfull dreid.


The Latyn pepill flokkis on euery syde


Quhen thai beheld the port sa oppynyt wyde,


Seand thai had a rowm to fecht at will;5


The God of stryfe thar curage steris thartill.






 CAP. XII.




Quhou Turnus the byg Pandarus smat doun,


Lyke a wod lyoun past within the town.






Pandarus, seand hys brotheris corps at erd,


And on quhat wys thus fortune with thame ferd,


And quhou the chance of batale ȝeid al wrang,


Full forcyly with hys braid schuldris strang10


He thristis to the levys of the ȝet,


And closyt queym the entre, and furth schet


Without the port a gret sort of hys feris,


In hard bargane amyd the mortal weris;


And of hys ennemys sum inclosyt he,15


Ressavand all at thrang to the entre.


A fuyll he was, and wytles in a thyng,


Persauyt not Turnus, Rutilian kyng,


So violently thryng in at the ȝet;


Quham he onwar within the cite schet,20


Lyke as ane rageand wild tyger onstabill


Amang the febill bestis onfensabill.
[Pg 576]

Sone as Turnus hym hes inclusyt seyn,


A glowand new lyght brystis from hys eyn,


Hys armour ryngis or clattris horribilly;


Hys crystis trymlyt on hys hed in hy,


That in hys sanguane bludy scheild als straucht5


Kest schynand fyry bemys lyke fyre flaucht.


All suddanly, affrayit Eneadanys


Hys face onfrendly persauit and byg banys.


The hydduus Pandarus than hym self furth schew,


That wonder fervent in hys furour grew,10


Hys broderis slauchter to revenge in will,


Thus austernly he spekis Turnus ontill:


Thys is not queyn Amatais cheif cite,


Suld the be geif into dowry, said he;


Nor ȝit the myddis of Ardea cite bald,15


Thi faderis burgh, Turnus, doith the withhald:


Thou seys thy fays strenth and wallys wyde;


ȝeild the for thy, thou may eschape na syde.


Turnus agane, with curage blyth and glaid,


Nocht abasyt, ful baldly to hym said:20


My frend, begyn, gif thou hes hardyment,


And mach with me allone apon this bent;


And hand for hand, gif at it be thy will,


Thou sal schaw Pryam heir thou hes fund Achill.


The tother tho a huge speir of haill tre,25


With bark and knottis altogidder, leyt fle


In al his fors; bot the dynt dyd no deir;


Nocht bot the ayr was wondyt with the speir:


For wikkyt Juno, the ald Saturnus get,


Choppyt by the schaft, and fixt it in the ȝet.30
[Pg 577]

Ha! quod Turnus, sa sal thou not astart


Thys wapyn now in faith or we depart,


Nor on sik wys eschape this bytand brand,


Quhilk my gret fors thus rollys in my hand:


For he that aw this swerd, and wond sal wyrk,5


Is not sa faynt, ne sa sone sall nocht irk.


And with that word, standand on hys typtays,


Hevyng hys swerd, heich hys hand dyd rays;


Down with the dynt duschit the steil blaid keyn


Amyd hys forhed, hard betwix hys eyn,10


Hys berdles chekis or hys chaftis rownd


In sondyr schorn hes with a grysly wound:


Sa felloun sownd or clap maid this gret clasche,


That of hys huge weght, fell with a rasche,


The erd dyndlyt, and all the cite schuke.15


So large feild hys gowsty body tuke,


That fer onbreid ourspred was all the plane,


Hys armour sparkyt with hys blude and brane:


Baith to and fra, apon hys schuldris tway,


Hys hed clovyn in equale halfis lay.20


Of dreidfull raddour trymlyng for affray,


The Troianys fled right fast and brak away:


And gif Turnus had than incontinent


Ramembryt hym, and kauch in mynd to rent


The lokkis vp, and oppyn the ȝettis wyde,25


So that hys feris without the port that tyde


Mycht haue entryt, and cummyn in the cite,


The last day of the batale that had be,


And latter finale end to the remanys


Of Phrigiane folkis and pepil Troianys.30
[Pg 578]

Bot sic ardent hie furour martyall,


And of slauchter desire insaciable,


Draif hym to follow thame that hym gaynstandis:


And first he kyllit Phalarys with his handis,


And ane other, that Gyges hecht, alssua,5


Of quham the howchys bath he smate in twa;


Syn speris rent and hynt vp all on raw,


And at the flearis bakkis fast dyd thraw,


That wondir was to se hym quhar he went,


For Juno ekyt hys strenth and hardyment.10


Syne ane Hales onto the corpsis ded


In cumpany he ekyt in that sted;


And Phegeas doun brytnys in the feld,


Spetit throw owt the body and hys scheld;


Alchandrus syne, and the prowd Halyus,15


Nemonas eik, and keyn Prytanyus,


Quhilkis mysknew Turnus was within the wall,


And to the bargan dyd thar feris call,


Apon the grund onon al ded he layd,


In bargan full expert: syne dyd invaid20


With schynand swerd, hard at the dykis syde,


Ane Lynceus, the quhilk the sammyn tyde


Resistys, as he myght, with fell afferis,


And eftir help cryis apon hys feris;


Bot with a strake he smate hys nek in twa,25


Baith helm and hed flaw far the body fra.


And, eftir thir, ane Amycus he slew,


That bayn had beyn to wild bestis enew;


Was nane other mair happy nor expert


To graith and til invnct a castyng dart,30
[Pg 579]

And with vennom to garnys the steil hedis.


By Turnus handis the ilk tyme done to ded is


Eolus son, hait Clytius, the heynd,


And Creteus also, was the Musys frend;


Creteus, poet to Musys famyliar,5


That in hys mynd and breist all tymys bar


Sangis and gestis, musyk and harpyng;


Apon hys stryngis playd he mony a spryng,


Lays and rymys on the best awys,


And euermar hys maner and his gys10


Was forto syng, blason, and discryve,


Men and stedis, knychthed, wer, and stryve.






 CAP. XIII.




The Troianys set on Turnus dyntis rude,


Quhill at he fled, and lap into the flude.






At last Mnestheus and strang Serestus,


The Troiane capitanys, herand quhow that thus


Thar pepill slane war doun, dyd convene;15


Thar feris fleand pail and wan haue thai sene,


And thar cheif ennemy closyt in thar wallys.


Mnestheus on thame clepys thus and callys:


Quhar ettill ȝhe to fra hyne? quhidder wald ȝhe fle?


Quhat other wallys seik ȝhe, or cite?20


Quhar haue ȝe other strenth or forteres?


O citesanys, behaldis heir expres
[Pg 580]

Nane bot a man standand ȝou aganys,


Closyt within ȝour dykis and wallys of stanys,


Onrevengit, sa gret occisioun


And huge slauchter sal mak within ȝour tovn,


Or sa feill valȝeand ȝyng capitanys kend,5


Onresistit, thus down to hell sall send!


O maste onworthy cowartis, ful of slewth,


Of ȝour onselly cuntre haue ȝhe na rewth,


Nor piete of ȝour ancyent Goddis kynd?


Think ȝhe na lak and schame into ȝour mynd,10


To do sa gret owtrage to strang Enee,


In hys absens thus catyfly to fle?


The Troianys by sik wordis as he said


In curage grew, and fermly all abaid,


Abowt thar faman flokkand in a rowt.15


Turnus a litil, thocht he was stern and stowt,


Begouth frawart the bargane to withdraw,


And sattil towartis the ryveris syde alaw,


Ay peys and peys, to that part of the tovn


Was closyt with the ryver, rynnand dovn.20


Troianys, that seand, the mar apertly


Assalȝeit hym with mony schowt and cry,


And thikkyt fast abowt hym inveroun.


As quhen abowt the awfull wild lyoun,


With thar invasibill wapynnys scharp and squar,25


Ane multitude of men bilappyt war;


And he full fers, with thrawin wlt, in the start,


Seand the scharp poyntis, recullys bakwart:


Bot, forto gif the bak, and fle away,


Nowder hys greif nor curage suffir may;30
[Pg 581]

And, thocht he wald, for all hys mekill mycht,


Agane samony men and wapynnys brycht


To pres fordwart may he cum na speid.


Nane other wys Turnus, at sik a neid,


Steppys abak with huly pays full still,5


Hys mynd scaldand in greif and egir will:


And forthir eik amyd hys fays he


Twys ruschit in, and schuddrit the melle;


And twys also that onrebutit knycht


Endlang the wallys put thame to the flycht.10


Bot al togidder, intyll ane convyne,


Apon hym haill the town assemlyt syne,


Nor Saturnus get, Juno, in that fyght


Agane thame durst him minister strenth nor mycht;


For Jupiter had from the hevynnys fair15


Send dovn Iris, quhilk dwellis in the ayr,


Onto hys spous and sister thar at hand


Ful scharp chargis bryngis and command,


Les than Turnus, quhou evir the chance befallis,


Withdrew hym fra the fatale Troiane wallys:20


Quharthrow this valȝeand campioun ȝong and keyn


Nowder with his scheild sa mekil mycht sustene,


Nor sic defens mak with his hand, as ayr.


With dartis at him swakkit heir and thar


On sik wys is he quhelmyt and confundyt,25


That euer in ane hys bos helm rang and soundyt,


Clynkand abowt hys halfheddis with a dyn:


Hys sovir armour, strang, and na thyng thyn,


Is brokkyn and byrsyt with feill stonys cast;


So thik war dyntis, and strakis smyt so fast,30
[Pg 582]

That of his helm down bettyn war the crestis;


Sa sair the bosys of hys target prest is,


Hys scheild na langar mycht sik rowtis sustene;


The Troianys, with this Mnestheus, in thar teyn


Dowblys thar dyntis at hym with speris cast,5


As it had bene the hydduus thundris blast.


Our all hys body furth ȝet the swait thik,


Lyke to the trynland blak stremys of pyk;


Ne gat he laser anys hys aynd to draw:


The febillit brath ful fast can beit and blaw10


Amyd hys wery breist and lymmys lasch.


Than at the last, al suddanly, with a plasch,


Harnes and al togiddir, quhar he stude,


Him self he swakkis and lap into the flude.


With giltyn stremys hym keppyt the ryver,15


And bar hym vp abuf hys wallis cleir;


Syne blithly careit to hys feris bedene,


All blude and slauchter away was weschyn clein.




[Pg 583]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE TENTH BUKE.






He plasmatour of thingis vniuersall,


Thou renewar of kynd, that creat all,


Incomprehensibill thy warkis ar to consave,


Quhilk grantyt hes to every wight to haue


Quhat thing mast ganys onto hys governall.5




Quhou mervellus beyn divisions of thy gracis,


Distribut so to ilk thing in all placis!


The son to schyne our all, and schaw hys lyght,


The day to laubour, for rest thou ordanyt nycht;


For diuers causys schupe seir sessonys and spacis.10




Fresch veir to burgioun herbys and sweit flowris;


The hait symmyr to nurys corn all howris,


And breid all kynd of fowlys, fysch, and beste;


Hervist to rendir hys frutis maste and leste;


Wyntir to snyb the erth with frosty schowris.15




Not at thou nedyt ocht, all thyng thou wrocht,


Bot to that fyne thou maid all thing of nocht,


Of thy gudnes tobe participant;


Thy Godhed na rychar, nor ȝit mar skant,


Nowthir now nor then, set thou ws wrocht and bocht.20
[Pg 584]



Thy maist supreme indiuisibill substans,


In ane natur thre personys, but discrepans,


Regnand etern, ressauys nane accident;


For quhy? thou art rycht at this tyme present


It at thou was, and evir sal, but varians.5




Set our natur God hes to hym vnyte,


Hys Godhed incommixt remanys perfyte,


The son of God havand verray naturis twane


In a person, and thre personys all ane


In deite, natur, maieste, and delyte.10




The Son the self thing with the Fader is;


The self substans the Haly Gaist, I wys,


Is with thame baith; thre distinct personage,


Ar, war, and be sall, euer of ane age,


Omnipotent, a Lord, equale in blys.15




Quhilk souerane substans, in gre superlatyve,


Na cunnyng comprehend may nor discryve;


Nowther generis, generat is, nor doith proceid,


Allane begynnar of euery thing, but dreid,


And in the self remanys etern on lyve.20




The Fader, of nane generat, creat, ne boir,


Hys only Son engendris evirmor;


Not makis, creatis, bot engendris all way


Of hys substans; and all tyme of baith twa


Procedis the Haly Gaist, equal in glor.25
[Pg 585]



Of baith, from ane begynnyng, procedis he;


So bene the warkis of the Trinite


Maist excellent, and wondirfull to consave:


Ȝit thame to traste the mair meryte we have,


That be na manys rayson prevyt may thai be.5




The Fader knawys hym self, quhilk knawlege spredis


Be generatioun etern, that evir bredis


Hys Son, hys word and wysdom eternall:


Betwix thir twa is luf perpetuall,


Quhilk is the Haly Gaist, fra baith procedis.10




Not at the Faderis natur mynyst is,


Of hys substans he generis his Son in blys;


Ne so the Son of hys kynd is ybor,


That he a part hes tharof, and na mor;


Bot all he gevys hys Son, and all is hys.15




The ilk thing he hym gevis, that he remanys:


Thys syngill substans indifferently thus ganys


To thre in ane, and ilk ane of the thre


The sammyn thing is in a maieste,


Thocht thir personys be seuerall in thre granys.20




Lyke as the sawle of man is ane, we wait,


Havand thre poweris distinct and separate,


Vnderstandyng, rayson, and memor:


Intelligens consideris the thing befor,


Rayson discernys, memor kepis the consait.25
[Pg 586]



As thai beyn in a substans knyt all thre,


Thre personys ryngnys in a Deite.


We may tak als ane other simylytude,


Grosly the sammyn purpos to conclud;


Flame, lycht, and hait, bene in a fyre we se.5




Quhar euer the low is, lycht and heit bene thar;


And had the fyre bene byrnand euermar,


Evyr suld the flambe engendrit haue hys lyght,


And of the byrnand low the flambys brycht


Perpetualy suld heit haue sprung alquhar.10




So generis the Fader the Son with hym etern,


From baith procedis the Haly Gaist coetern.


Thus rude exemplys and figuris may we geif;


Thocht, God by hys awin creaturis to preif,


War mar onliknes than liknes to discern.15




Frend, farly nocht, na caus is to complene


Albeit thy wyt gret God may nocht attene;


For, mycht thou comprehend be thyne engyne


The maist excellent maieste dyvyne,


He mycht be reput a pretty God and meyn.20




Consider thy raison is so febill and lyte,


And hys knawlage profund and infynyte;


Consider quhou he is onmensurabill:


Hym, as he is, to knaw thou art not habill;


It sufficis the beleif thy creid perfyte.25
[Pg 587]



God is, I grant, in all thing nocht includyt;


Gevis all gudnes, and is of nocht denudyt;


Of hym hes all thing part, and he nocht mynyst;


Hail he is alquhar, not diuidit, ne fynyst;


Without all thing he is, and nocht excludit.5




O Lord, thy ways beyn investigabill!


Sweit Lord, thy self is sa inestimabill,


I can write nocht bot wondris of thy mycht,


That lawyt sa far thy maieste and hyght


Tobe born man intill ane oxis stabill.10




Thow tuke mankynd of ane onwemmyt maid,


Inclosyt within a virginis bosum glaid,


Quham all the hevynnys mycht nevir comprehend;


Angellis, scheiphyrdis, and kyngis thy Godheid kend,


Set thou in cryb betwix twa bestis was laid.15




Quhat infynyte excellent hie bonte


Abufe thy warkis all, in wonderfull gre!


Lord, quhen thou man wrocht to thyne awyn ymage,


That tynt him self throu hys fulych dotage,


Thou man becam, and deit to mak hym fre.20




Maid thou not man first president vnder the,


To dant the bestis, fowlys, and fysch in see,


Subdewit to him the erth, and all tharin;


Syne paradice grantit hym and all his kyn,


Gave him fre will, and power nevir to dee?25
[Pg 588]



Enarmyt him with raison and prudence;


Only bad hym kepe thyne obediens,


And to hym suld all creaturis obey?


Bitter was that fruyt for his ofspryng, and fey,


Maid deth onknawin be fund, and lyfe go hens.5




O thyne inestimabill luf and cheryte!


Becam a thrall to mak ws bondis fre,


To quykkyn thy sclavys tholyt schamfull ded maste fell.


Blissyt be thou virginal frute, that hereit hell,


And pait the pryce of the forbodin tre!10




Thocht thou large stremys sched apon the rude,


A drop had bene sufficient of thy blude


A thousand warldis to haue redemyt, I grant;


Bot thou the well of mercy wald nocht skant,


Ws to provoik to lufe the, and be gude.15




Our all this syne, thyne infynyte Godhed,


Thy flesch and blude in form of wyne and bred,


Tobe our fuyd of grace, in plege of glor,


Thou hest ws geif, in perpetuall memor


Of thy passioun and dolorus paynfull ded.20




Quhat thankis dew or ganȝeld, Lord benyng,


May I, maist wracht synfull catyve indyng,


Rendir for this souerane peirles hie bonte?


Sen body, saule, and all, I haue of the,


Thou art my pryce, mak me thy praye condyng.25
[Pg 589]



My makar, my redemar, and support,


Fra quham all grace and gudnes cumis at schort,


Grant me that grace my mysdedis til amend,


Of this and all my warkis to mak gud end:


Thus I beseik the, Lord, thus I exort.5




From the begynnyng and end be of my muse:


All other Jove and Phebus I refus.


Lat Virgill hald hys mawmentis to him self;


I wirschip nowder ydoll, stok, nor elf,


Thocht furth I write so as myne autour dois.10




Is nane bot thou, the Fader of Goddis and men,


Omnipotent eternal Jove I ken;


Only the, helply Fader, thar is nane other:


I compt not of thir paygane Goddis a fudder,


Quhais power may nocht help a haltand hen.15




The scripture clepys the God, of Goddis Lord;


For quha thy mandat kepys in ane accord


Bene ane with the, not in substans, bot grace,


And we our Fader the clepys in euery place:


Mak ws thy sonnys in cherite, but discord.20




Thow haldis court our cristall hevynnys cleir,


With angellis, sanctis, and hevynly spretis seir,


That, but cessyng, thy glor and lovyng syngis:


Manifest to the, and patent, bene all thyngis;


Thy spows, and queyn maid, and thy moder deir.25
[Pg 590]



Concord for ever, myrth, rest, and endles blys,


Na feir of hell, nor dreid of ded, thar is


In thy sweit realm, nor na kynd of ennoy,


Bot all weilfair, eys, and euerlestand joy;


Quhais hie plesance, Lord, lat ws neuer mys! Amen.5




[Pg 591]




 THE TENTH BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Quhou Jupiter the court of goddis dyd call,


And Venus makis complaynt amangis thame all.






On breid, or this, was warp and maid patent


The hevynly hald of God omnipotent.


The kyng of men and fader of goddis all


Ane consale or a sessioun maid do call,


Amang the spretis abufe and goddis gret,5


Within hys sterrit hevyn and mylky set:


Quharfra, amyd hys trone sittand full hie,


Our all the erd he mycht behald and se


The Troianys castellys, and the pepill Latyne.


Down sat the Goddis in thar segis dyvyne,10


The faldyn ȝettis baith vp warpyt braid;


First Jove hym self begouth, and thus he said.


O hevynly wightis, of gret power and mycht,


Quhou is betyd ȝour myndis bene sa lycht,


That ȝour decreit fatal and sentens hie15


Retretit thus and turnyt bakwartis suld be?
[Pg 592]

Or quhy with frawart myndis now of layt


Aganys ȝour ressonabill oraclys ȝe debait?


My will was not at the Italianys


In batale suld concur contrar Troianys.


Quhat maner discord be this at we se,5


Expres agane our inhibitioun? said he:


Quhat dreid or reuerens thame, or thame, hes movyt


To ryn till armys, and rasys weir controvit?


Or hes sic wys persuadyt to bargane,


With bludy wapynnys rent, and mony slane?10


Haist not the sesson to provoke nor prevene;


Of batale cum sal detfull tyme bedene,


Heireftir, quhen the fers burgh of Cartage


To Romys boundis, in thar feirfull rage,


Ane huge myscheif and gret qualm send sall,15


And thyrll the hie montanys lyke a wall:


Than war just tyme in wreth to mak debait,


Than war the tyme to rug and reif thus gait.


Now of sic thingis leif and desist; with me


Glaidly do makis frendly amyte.20


A few wordis on this wys Jupiter said;


Bot not in quhoyn wordis him answer maid


The fresch goldyn Venus: O thou, quod sche,


Fader of all, O eternal powste,


Regnand abuse all men, and Goddis eik,25


To the I cum, the rewthfully beseik,


Sen thar nane other maieste bene, ne glor,


That in sik neid may help ws to implor.


Thow seys quhou, with bost and felloun feir,


The Rutilianys makis gret derray and steir;30
[Pg 593]

And quhou Turnus, pransand on semly stedis,


Throw owt the ostis rydis in steill wedis;


And quhou orpyt and prowdly ruschis he


Amyd Troianys, be fawour of Mars, quod sche.


The strenth of wallys, nor the portis schet,5


May nocht salf Troianys; lo, within the ȝet,


Amyd the clos muralȝeis and paill,


And dowbill dikis, quhou thai thame assaill,


Quhill the fowceis of blude rynnys on spait:


Eneas absent of this na thing wait.10


Quhidder gif that thou list suffir neuermar


Thar sege scalit, nor thame fre of dangar?


Behald agane abowt new Troys wall,


Ȝit bot begyn to byg, and not clos all,


Quhou inveroun musteris thar ennemyis:15


Ane other ost and sege abowt thame lyis,


And newly, lo, Tedeus son, not far


From Arpos cite into Calabar,


To wery Troianys movis, Diomed.


I feill agane my wondis newly bleid;20


And I, thy blude, thi get, and douchter schene,


Ȝit mortale wapynnys mon thoil eik and sustene!


Gyf the Troianys, but thy benevolens,


Or repugnant to thy magnificens,


Hes socht onto the cost of Italy,25


Lat thame be punyst and thar cryme aby;


And I sall suythly stand content for me,


Thou mak thame na kynd help nor ȝit supple.


Bot gif thai followit haue for thar behufe


Sa feill responsis of the Goddis abufe,30
[Pg 594]

With syndry admonitiouns, charge, and redis


Of the infernal wightis and spretis that ded is,


Than wald I knaw the caus or resson quhy


That ony mycht pervert or ȝit bewry


Thy commandmentis? how, or quharfor, may thai5


New fatys mak, and the ald do away?


Quhat nedis to rehers, quhou on the cost


Of Scycilly thar schippis brynt war lost?


Or quharto suld I dwel, to schaw ȝou thus,


Quhou be the God of tempest, Eolus,10


The rageand wyndis send war our alquhar,


Or Iris catchit throw clowdis of the ayr?


Now movyt eyk bene fendlych wightis affrayt:


Befor, only that chance was onassayt;


Bot now Alecto newly is furth sent15


Into the ovir warld, that fell torment,


With Bacchus fury enragit by and by,


Walkand throu all citeis of Italy.


Na thyng I paus on the empyre, quod sche,


Allthocht we hoip had at sic thing suld be,20


Quhen fortoun schew tharof sum apperans:


Lat thame be victour quham thou lyst avans.


And gif na realm in this warld remanys,


Quhom thy stern spous list geif to the Troianys,


I the beseik of Troy by the rewyne,25


By that subuersioun rekand, and huge pyne,


Suffyr that ȝyng Ascanyus mot be


Salf fra all wapynnys, and of perrell fre;


And, at the lest, in this ilk mortall stryve


Suffir thy nevo to remane alyve.30
[Pg 595]

As for Ene, forsuyth, I mak na cair:


Thoill hym in onkowth stremys, as he was ayr,


Be dryve, and warpyt euery sey abowt,


To follow furth in danger and in dowt


Quhat curs and went at fortoun lyst hym sent;5


Mot it ples the fader omnipotent


That I may bot defend ȝon litill page,


And hym withdraw from this fers weris rage.


I haue in Cipyr the cite Amathus,


And the hie standand burgh that hayt Paphus,10


And eik the ille yclepyt Cythera,


The hallowyt hald als of Idalya,


Quhar, rendryt vp all armys in that stede,


Duryng hys age he sobir lyfe may led.


And command eik with gret fors and mastry15


The burgh of Cartage down thryng Italy;


Fra thyne sal na thing resist nor gaynstand


Contrar citeis of Tyre or Affrik land.


Quhat proffit has it done, or avantage,


Of Troys batale to haue eschape the rage,20


And throw amyd the Grekis fyrys eik


Haue fled away, and throw the sey haue seik,


Sa feill dangeris bywent and ourdryve


Our streym and landis; gyf that thus belyve


Troianys hes socht till Itaill, to vpset25


New Troys wallys, tobe agane doun bet?


Had not bene bettir thame in thar natyve hauld


Had syttin still amang the assys cauld,


And lattyr isillys of thar kynd cuntre,


Or barrand soyll quhar Troy was wont tobe,30
[Pg 596]

Than thus, fra ded to ded, from payn to payn,


Be catchit on, and euery day be slane?


Restor, I pray the, to thai wrachit wightis


Xanthus and Symoes, fludis quhilk of rychtis


Was wont tobe thar propyr herytage:5


O fader, suffir the fey Troiane barnage


To seik agane quhat hard myschance befallys


To Troy or Ilion with thar brokyn wallys.






 CAP. II.




To Venus complaynt Juno fra end till end


Maid hasty ansuer, hir actioun to defend.






The queyn Juno than, but mair abayd,


Prykkyt with felloun fury thus furthbrayd:10


Quhy doys thou, said scho, to me sik offens,


Constrenyng me brek clos profund sylens,


And with thy wordis, quhar ayr I was koy,


Prouokis to publys and schaw myne hyd ennoy?


Quhat maner man, or quhilk of goddis, lat se,15


To move batale constrenyt hes Ene,


Or to engyre hym self to Latyn kyng


As mortal fa, within hys proper ryng?


I geif the cace, to Italy socht he


Of the fatys by the autoryte,20


Provokyt tharto be the wyld dotage


Of wod Cassandra in hir fury rage:
[Pg 597]

Lat se, for all this, gyf that anys in sport


To leif hys strenthis we dyd hym exhort;


Or forto put hys lyfe in ony danger;


To sayll, or submyt hym to wyndis seir?


Lat se, gyf we hym causyt to walk at large,5


And till ane bab commyt the batellis charge,


And governance haill of hys cite wallys?


Lat se gyf we, how evir the chance befallys,


Persuadyt hym forto commove and steir


Other quyet pepill with hym to rays the weir,10


Or till adione vp frendschip and ally


With Tyrrhene pepill and folk of Tuscany?


Quhat God amovit hym with sic a gawd


In hys dedis to oys sik slyght and frawd,


Or quhilk of our hard poweris wrocht sic thyng?15


Quhar was Juno with all, this lady ȝyng?


Or quhar was sche also quhen, ȝistir nycht,


Irys was send down throu the clowdis brycht?


Is this a thing full onlesum, but let,


Thocht Italianys with flambys ombeset20


The new cite of Troy vprysand, lo?


And is it not full gret dispyt also


That, in hys natyve land and faderis ryng,


Turnus remane, or pretend tobe kyng,


Quhamto the God Pylumnus grandschir is,25


And haly nymphe Venylia moder, I wys?


Quhat! thinkis thou lesum is at Troianys infeir


Violens to mak with brandis of mortall weir


Agane Latynys, syk onkowth heritage


Tyll occupy and subdew in bondage,30
[Pg 598]

And thar catale in spreth to dryve away?


Quhat! haldis thou lesum als, I pray the say,


From otheris to withdraw sa thyftuusly


Thar eldfaderis and maist tendyr ally,


Or, from betwix thar breist and armys tway,5


Thar treutht plyght spowsys forto reif away?


To cum and beseik trewys in strange landis,


With syng or takyn of paix born in thar handis;


And, netheles, to mak reddy for weir,


Purvay thar schippis, provide armour and geir?10


To salf Ene, hes thou not power and mycht


From Grekis handis hym to withdraw be slycht,


And set in sted of that man, light as lynd,


Owder a clowd or a waist puft of wynd?


And eik thou may transform the schippis, quod sche,15


Intil alsmony Goddessis of the see:


Bot, be the contrary, Rutilyanys ofspryng


We suld support, that is forbodyn thyng!


Thy son Ene, mysknawyng this deray,


As thou allegis, is absent now away:20


And quhat iniurys, absent mot he remane,


And ignorant for ay of this bargane?


Thow has Paphos, thyne is Idalia,


And thyne mot be the ile of Cithera:


Sen thou hes all thir at command and will,20


Lat other folkis in paix and rest dwell styll.


Quharto assalzeis thou a strang cite,


That hes bene oft exercyt in melle,


And lyst invaid pepill with hartis kene?


I can not fynd quhat occasioun ȝe meyn.30
[Pg 599]

Haue we etlyt the Phrigyane febill geir


Down from the grund to welt our into weir?


Quhidder was it we, or than Parys, that faltyt,


That wrachit Troianys by Grekis war assaltit?


Quhat was the caus, that Europ and Asya5


To rays the weir in armys war sa thra


Aganyst otheris, and thar auld allyans


With thiftuus reif to brek on sic myschans?


Was I not governour and cheif ledar thar,


The tyme quhen that the Troiane adulterar10


Ombesegyt the cite of Spartha,


And the queyn Heleyn reft and brocht awa?


Or quhidder gif I evir into that weir


Mynysterit dartis, wapynnys, or sic geir?


Or ȝit that bargane stuffyt or bet, lat se,15


With Cupydis blynd lust and subtilite?


Than had bene honest tyme, and ganand baith,


Till haue previdit for thy frendis skaith:


Now, al to layt, with thyne iniust complantis


Aganyst ws thou rysis, and attantis20


Forto warp owt thy vane wordis chydyng,


Quhilk certis may avale the in na thing.


With siclyke wordis Juno fra end to end


Gan hir querrell sustene and als defend;


And all the hevynly wightis dyd quhyspir and rown,25


In opynyonys full diuers, vp and down:


Lyke as first, or wyndis blast be persave,


The swouch is hard within the woddis waif,


With frasyng soundis quhisland, ȝit onknaw


Quharof cumis this bruyt owt throw the schaw;30
[Pg 600]

All thocht it be to maryneris a syng,


Of wyndis blast to follow sur taknyng.


The Fader than omnipotent maist hie,


That our all thingis hes souerane maieste,


Begouth to say; and, quhen he spak, all cessyt:5


The hevynly heich hows of Goddis was pecyt;


The erthis grund schuke trymlyng for feir,


And still, but movyng, stud the hevynys cleir;


The wyndis eik thar blastis lowynt sone;


The sey calmyt hys fludis playn abone.10


Ressaue, quod he, my sawis, and tak tent,


And thir my wordis within ȝour myndis emprent.


Sen that algatis ȝit may not sufferit be


Latynys considir with Troianys and Ene,


Nor ȝe can nocht mak end of ȝour debait,15


I sall me hald indifferent, the meyn gait,


And as for that, put na diuersyte


Quhiddir so Italianys or Troianys thai be;


Quhow evir this day the fortoun with thame standis,


Bruke weill thar chance and werd on athir handis,20


Lat ich of thame hys hoip and fortoun sew:


Quhidder so the fatys hes determyt of new


Troianys tobe assegit with Italianys


To thar myscheif, or wraik of the Troianys,


Quhilkis with frawart admonytions sa lang25


Peraventour hes errit and gane wrang;


Nowder Troianys nor Rutilianys freith will I.


Lat athir of thame thar awin fortoun stand by,


And bruke thar wark thai haue begun; but faill,


Kyng Jupiter salbe to all equale.30
[Pg 601]

The fatis sal provyd a way mair habill.


And with that word, fortill hald ferm and stabill


Hys godly aith and promys sworn hes he,


Be Stix the flude, Pluto hys broderis see,


Be that ilk pykky layk with brays blak,5


And laithly golf, to kepe all that he spak;


And, til afferm hys aith, at hys lykyng


The hevynnys all maid trymbill, for a syng.


Thus endit was the consale, and al doyn,


And Jupiter rays fra hys goldyn troyn:10


Quham hevynly wightis amyddis thame with joy


Ontill hys chymmys ryall dyd convoy.






 CAP. III.




Quhou the Troianys defendis thar cyte,


Eneas absent sekand mair supple.






Duryng this quhile, all the Rutilianys stowt


The cite portis lappit rownd abowt,


Forto down bet the Troianys, euery fyre,15


Inveroun all the wallys with hait fyre.


Eneas barnage, at myschefis huge


Thus ombeset, and segyt but refuge,


Inclusyt war but hop to wyn away,


And sobyrly at defens, as thai may,20


On the hie towris hedis stud on raw:


Ful thyn the cirkyllys of the wallys law
[Pg 602]

Thai mannyt abowt; for in the first front stude


Jasyus, Imbrasus son, and eik the gude


Tymetes, son of strang Icetoan,


And by thame alsso the Assaracus twane,


The eldar Thybrys with Castor full wroth;5


Brethir germane to kyng Sarpedon boith,


Quham Clarus had, and Hemon, ferys twa,


Followyt from the hie realm of Lycya.


Ane Agmon of Lyrnesya fast tharby


Presys with all the fors in hys body10


A felloun stone to welt the wallys tyll,


Quhilk semyt be a gret part of a hyll;


Na les of statur than hys fader Clytyus


Was he, nor ellys hys brother Mnestheus.


With dartis thai assaill the cite fast,15


And thai defend with slungis and stane cast;


Sum presys thik the wyld fyre in to slyng,


The arrowys flaw spangand fra euery stryng.


The Dardane child, the ȝyng Ascanyus,


Principall thocht and cuyr of Dame Venus,20


Amyd the rowtis, in covert quhar he ȝeid,


Thar mycht be seyn in hys fresch lustyhed,


Lyke as ane gem, with hys brycht hew schynyng,


Departis the gold set amydwart the ryng,


Or in the crownell pyght, or rych hynger,25


Quhilk doys the nek array, or the hed ger;


And mair semly than evir bane to se,


Craftely closyt within the box of tre,


Or than amyd the blak terebynthyne


Growys by Orycia: and, as the geit dois schyne,30
[Pg 603]

Hys curland lokkis hyngis down weill dek


About hys schuldris our hys mylk quhyte nek;


Ane circulet of plyabill gold so bryght


Abuf hys haris apon hys hed weil pyght.


Thow Ismarus, of magnanymyte5


Fulfyllit, eik thar myght men the se,


Invnctand venemus schaftis the ilk tyde,


Addres dartis, and wyrk wondis full wyde;


Cummyn of the gentill blude of Meony,


In Lyde cuntre born thou was, fast by10


The plentuus sulze quhar the goldyn ryver


Pactolus warpys on grund the gold vre cleir.


Reddy at hand was Mnestheus wight,


Quham the renowne of this ȝistir nycht,


For that he Turnus our the dychys drave,15


Full prowd maid in hys curage our the laif:


With hym was Capys thar alsso, quham by


The town Capua is namyt in Champany.


Thus ather party into hard barganyng


Stude at debait, quhill Eneas the kyng,20


With all hys ferys, baith day and mydnycht


Slydis throw owt the salt famys lyght.


For eftir that fra kyng Evander he


Departit was, as heir abufe said we,


And entrit in amyd the Tuscane tentis,25


The kyng he socht, and tald hym hys ententis,


Hys name to hym rehersyng, and hys blude;


And hys desyre, fully to conclude,


Hes schawyn planely, twychand quhat he socht,


And quhat supple alsso with hym he brocht;30
[Pg 604]

And tald quhat army prowd Mezentyus


Had convenyt, and how the bald Turnus


So violent and fers was in hys will,


Exhortyng hym to tak gude heyd heirtill;


And how instabill was all warldis chance,5


All manis surte hyngand in ballance:


And onto this hys request and prayer


Adionyt hes on ful gudly maner.


Thar was na mair delay, bot Tarchon kyng


Al reddy was to fulfyll hys lykyng,10


With moblys and all ryches at command,


And vp gan knyt thar fordward and cunnand


Of amyte and perpetuall ally:


Than of the fatys fre, in thar navy,


At command of the Goddis, pepill Tuscane15


Ar entrit in thar schyppys euerilkane,


Submytting thame ontill a strange duke.


Eneas barge than furth the vayage tuke


Befor the laif, as almeral of the flote,


And in hir stevyn kervyn full weil, God wot,20


The lyonys that the Phrygyane armys bene;


Abufe the quhilkis porturat fair and greyn


Was Ida forest, to fugytyve Troianys


Thar best belovyt wod and natyve wanys.


In hyr was set the gret prynce Eneas,25


That with hym self can mony thing cumpas


Twychyng the chancis of batal in that tyde:


Pallas adionyt sat by hys left syde,


And he at hym dyd wysly ask and speir


The curs and namys of the starnys cleir,30
[Pg 605]

Quhilk in the styl hevyn schynys on the nycht:


Now speris he, franand with all hys myght,


To knaw Eneas wandryng be the see,


And quhou huge payn he had on landis dre.






 CAP. IV.




Heir comptis Virgill the pepil of Tuscane,


Quhilkis with Eneas com to the bargane.






Ȝhe Musys now, sweit Goddessis ychone,5


Oppyn and onclos ȝour mont of Helycon:


Reveil the secretis lyand in ȝour mycht,


Entone my sang, addres my style at rycht,


To schaw quhat pyssance, ostis, and army,


At this tyme from the boundis of Tuscany10


In falloschyp com with the prynce Ene,


And stuffyt schippys of weir set to the see.


Fyrst, prynce Massycus cummys with hys rowt,


Into hys barge Tygrys, with stelyt snowt,


Sowchand throw owt the fludis quhar scho went,15


A thowsand stowt ȝong men of hys talent


Vndir hym ledyng, for the batale bown,


From Clusyum com vmquhile, that nobell town,


And fra the Tuscane cite of Cosa;


Baith castyng dartis and flanys vsyt tha,20


With arrow casys and other quavyrris lycht,


And mortal bowys buklyt for the fyght.
[Pg 606]

Sammyn furth salys Abas; and hym by


Hys barnage stud enarmyt rychely;


Hys weirlyke schip our the fludis ilkane


Of God Appolloys goldyn statw schane:


The rych cyte of Populonyas,5


Hys natyve cuntre, quharof born he was,


Sax hundreth men of armys in wer expert


With hym hes send; and the ile in that part


Illua callyt, within the Tuscane see,


Sa rych of steill it may nocht wastyt be,10


Thre hundreth eik hes send with hym to pas.


The thryd capitane, worthy Asylas,


Of Goddis eik and men interpretur,


Of euery spayng craft that knew the cuyr,


Quhat the hart pypis and bestis entralys ment,15


Quhat signyfeit the starnys, quhar thai went


Thar rycht cursis abufe the hevynnys hie,


And euery byrdis vocis weil knew he,


And quhat betaknyt, schynnyng from the hevyn,


Thyr fyry blastis, or this thundris levyn;20


A thousand men assemlyt with hym ledis,


With awful speris and scharp grundyn hedis:


Quham the Hetruscane cite, Pysa gude,


Inhabyt first from Alpheus that flude,


Send tyll obey hym as thar capitane.25


Syne followys Astur, the semlyast of ane,


Astur, maist sovyr horsman forto seik,


Of variant cullour was hys armour eik;


Thre hundreth walyt men with hym he led.


All of a will, furth to the batal sped30
[Pg 607]

The folkis alhail dwelt in the cite sweit


Of Agelyn, otherwys callyt Cerete,


And thai that dwellys in tha feldis, I wys,


Endlang the bankis of flude Mynyonys,


Or intill ancyent Pyrgus town alssua,5


Or inhabytys the cyte Grauyssa,


Ful contagius of tempest and grews ayr.


Suld I the pretermyt, sen thou was thar?


I meyn the, Cygnus, of Lygurianys


The cheif ledar, amang other capitanys10


Ane the maist forcy into batal sted.


Ne wil I not forȝet, suld I be ded,


The, strang Cupauus, with thy few menȝe,


Fra quhais tymbret rysys apon hie


The lusty swannys fedrame, brycht and scheyn:15


The cryme and caws of all ȝour woful teyn


Was luf and amouris, or pompus array


Schrowd in ȝour faderis connysans al to gay.


For, as thai tell, quhil dolorusly Cygnus


Maid hys complant amang the scroggy bus20


Of poppill tre branschis lang and squar,


Quharin the twa systeris transformyt war,


And gan bewail Phaeton, hys best belovyt;


Quhil that he sang and playt, as hym behwyt,


The dolly tonys and lays lamentabill,25


With sic regrate to comfort and astabill


Hys hevy amorus thochtis ennoyus,


In quhite canos soft plumys joyus


Became ourheld, in lyknes of a swan,


And led hys age na mar furth lyke a man,30
[Pg 608]

Bot tuke hys flycht vp from the erd in hy,


And with a swouchand voce socht in the sky.


Hys son, this tyde, havand hys falloschippys


Distribut equaly into syndry schippys,


Amang the navy and the flote at large,5


With ayris rollys furth hys bustuus barge,


Clepyt Centaurus, and ithandly syne he


Dryvys throu fludis of the stormy see:


Byg of statur stude he lyke to feght,


Bostand the streme with ballast of huge weght,10


And with hys lang and lusty ballyngar


Ourslydis the deip fludis in thar fair.


The nobill Ocnus from hys natyve land


A fair army assemlyt brocht at hand,


Son of God Tibris, the Tuscane ryver,15


Beget apon Manthus the lady cleir,


That was baith nymphe and famus prophetes:


Thys Ocnus was the ilk man quhilk expres


Of Mantua the cite dyd he wall,


And eftir hys said moderis name can call20


Mantua, myghty of ald ancystry


And forfaderis: bot hys geneology


Was not of ane kynrent cummyn all;


For that town had thre clannys principall,


And, vnder euery clan or trybe of tha,25


War other sobyr famyllis twys twa:


Mantua eik was cheif and principal hed


Till all thir pepill wonnyng in that sted,


Takand thar fors and hardyment ilkane


From the lynage and nobill blude Tuscane.30
[Pg 609]

Mezentius, throu hys auld tyrranny,


Furth of this cite aganyst hym in hy


Fyve hundreth men till armys maid do steir;


Quham Myncyus, the fresch rynnand ryver,


That from the lowch of Bennacus ischis down,5


And is ourheldyt all with redis brovn,


Hes careit to the braid seys large


Within thar weirly schip and awfull barge.


Furth held the stowt and degest Aulestes,


Quhilk with gret strenth of rowaris in that pres,10


Rasyng thame on thar thoftis for the nanys,


The fludis smate with hundreth arys at anys,


Quhil that the famy stowr of stremys le


Vp weltis from the braid palmys of tre.


The mekill howk hym bair was Tryton callyt;15


For in hir forestam was the monstre stallyt,


With watry trumpe fleyand the fludis gray:


Quhar as scho salyt, men mycht se hym ay


With byrsy body porturyt, and vissage


All rowgh of harys, semyng of cullage20


In mannys form fra hys cost to hys crown;


Bot from hys belly, and thens fordwart dovn,


The remanent straucht lyke a fyschis tayll,


In symylitude of huddon or a quhaill;


Vndre the breist of this ilk bysnyng thyng25


The sey wallys bulrand makis murnyng.


Sa mony walyt capitanys, nobill men,


In help of new Troy, with schippys thrys ten,


Slydis throw the salt stremys of the see


With stelyt stevynnys and bowand bylge of tre.30




[Pg 610]




 CAP. V.




Eneas schippis, translait in Nymphis of see,


Tald hym quhou Turnus assegit the cyte.






Be this declynyt was the days lyght;


The moyn intill hyr waverand cart of nycht


Held rollyng throw the hewynnys myddil ward;


As Eneas, the Troiane prynce and lard,


For thochtis mycht na wys hys membris rest,5


Sa mony curys in hys mynd he kest,


Bot sat in proper person, and nane other,


To steir hys carvell and to rewle the ruther,


And forto gyde the salys takand tent.


Onone, amyd hys curs, thar as he went,10


Recontyris hym hys falloschip in hy


Of Nymphis, quham of schippys and his navy


The haly moder, clepyt Cybele,


Maid to becum Goddessys in the see:


All sammyn swam thai, hand in hand yfeir,15


And throw the wallys fast dyd sewch and scheir,


Als feill in numbyr Nymphys throw the flude,


As laitly with thar stelyt stevynnys stude


Of Troiane schippys by the costis syde.


A weil far way, as our the streme thai glyde,20


Thar kyng thai knaw, and all in carralyng


About hys schyp went circulyt in a ryng.


Amangis quham, in speche the maist expert,


Cymodocea to the wail astert,
[Pg 611]

And with hir rycht hand can the eft casteill


Do gryp onon, that all hir bak ilk deill


Abuf the sey watir dyd appeir:


Beneth the calmyt stremys fair and cleir


With hir left hand craftely swymmys sche;5


Syne on this wys spekis till Enee,


That of this wonderus mervell knew na thing:


Walkis thou or not, thou verray Goddis ofspryng,


Our prynce and master Eneas? now awaik,


Takill thy schippys, and thy schetis sclaik.10


We beyn thy navy and thy flote, quod sche,


Bowyt sum tyme of fyr and bych tre,


Grew in the haly top of mont Ida,


And now, as present thou behald ws may,


Nymphes we beyn, and salbe euermor.15


For, as ȝon faithles Turnus by the schor


Invadyt ws with glavys and with fyre,


On fors constrenyt for the flambys schire,


Thy cabillys we in sundyr brak in haist,


To seik the throw the sey, as we war chaist:20


And than the moder of Goddis, Cybele,


Havand of ws compassioun and piete,


In this figour has ws all translait,


For euermar to be deificat,


As Goddessys, quhar so ws lykis best,25


Amangis the fludis forto leif and lest.


Bot thy deir child, ȝyng Ascanyus stowt,


Besegyt is, and closyt rownd abowt


With wallys, fowcy, and trynschis, ather syde,


Amyd dartis or quarrellys fast doys glyde,30
[Pg 612]

And dreidfull hostis of stern pepill Latyne,


By weir enforsyng to distroy all thyne.


Evandrus horsmen, clepyt Arcadanys,


Mydlyt sammyn with Hetrurianys,


Quham in thy help thou sendis by the land,5


Thai placis now, quhar as thou gaue command,


Can occupy, abydand thy cummyng:


Bot Turnus hes determyt, as certane thing,


Gret garnysonys to send betwix thame sone,


That ȝour hostis sall not togidder joyn.10


Get vp, haue done, and sone in the mornyng,


Alsswyth as the brycht day begynnys to spryng,


Thy ferys haill thou fyrst to harnes call,


And with thy scheild invynsibill tharwithall


Thy selvyn schrowd, quham mychty God of fyre15


To the, as ane maist souerane lord and syre,


Has wrocht and gevyn, and with gold sa brycht


The bordouris has ourgylt and forgit at rycht.


Gyf thou belevys not my sawys invayn,


The lyght of day to morn, I schaw the playn,20


Huge hepys sal behald in feld dung down


Of Rutilianys by fell occisioun.


Thus said sche; and, departand with a skyp,


By hir rycht hand sche schowys furth the schyp,


As scho that was in that craft rycht expert;25


And throw the wallys on the tother part


Glydys away undir the fomy seys,


Als swyft as ganȝe or feddyrrit arrow fleys,


That stryvys forto pyngill with the wynd:


The remanent hir followys fast behynd.30
[Pg 613]

Anchises son, the gret Troiane Ene,


Awondris, onwyttyng quhat this mycht be;


And, netheles, hys curage dyd avance


With this ilk fatale augury or chance:


Syne schortly, lukand to the hevyn abone,5


On this maner can pray and maid hys boyn.


O blyssyt moder of the Goddis, quod he,


That hallowyt art in the montane Ide,


Quhamto the toppys of mont Dyndymane,


And eik the towryt citeis mony ane,10


With renyt lyonys ȝokkyt to the char,


Ful tendyr bene and hartly euermar;


Be thou in batall now my president,


Be my protectrix, dewly takand tent


At this orakyll be hastyt to our weill;15


O haly Goddes, with happy fute of seill


Cum and assistis to thyne awyn Troianys.


No mor he spak, bot, with that word atanys,


In the meyn quhile vpspryngis the brycht day,


Chasand the clowdis of the nycht away.20


And fyrst Eneas gan hys ferys command


Thar baneris to displayt and follow at hand,


Thar curage eik and curace to addres,


And graith thame for the batail all expres.


For he, be than, hys Troianys mycht behald;25


And of the eft schyp into hys town and hald


Men mycht hym se, and knaw, quhar at he stude,


Hys schynand new scheild from amyd the flude


Into hys left hand rasyt hie on hyght.


The Troianys from the wallys of that sycht30
[Pg 614]

War sa reiosyt, vp tha rasyt a cry


That rerdis to the starnys in the sky.


The hoip of hys returnyng hait as fyre


Dowblyt thar curage, and vprasyt thar ire,


That with thar handis fast thai dartis slyng,5


With sic a dyn of clamour and crying,


And trumpys blast rasyt within the town


Sik maner bruyt, as thocht men hard the sovn


Of crannys crowplyng, fleand in the ayr


With spedy fard in randoun heir and thar;10


As from the flude of Trace, hait Strymone,


Vndre the dyrk clowdis, oft we se,


Thai fle the weddris blast and rak of wynd,


Thar glaidsum soundis followand thame behynd.


Bot quhat mycht meyn this affeir and deray15


A gret farly and wondyr was, perfay,


To Turnus, kyng of Rutuleis, that tyde,


And the Italiane dukis hym besyde:


Quhill thai at last beheld towart the cost,


And saw the navy cum and mekill ost,20


Semand the sey of schippys all our flet.


The creist or schynand tymbret, that was set


Abufe Eneas helm and top on hyght,


Kest byrnand flambys with a glytterand lycht;


And eyk the goldyn boys of hys bukleir25


Large fyry stremys on breid schew fair and cleir


Lyke as the comete stern sanguynolent,


With hys red cullour tryst and violent,


Schynys sum tyme apoun the donk nycht;


Or frawart Syrius, that fervent star brycht,30
[Pg 615]

Quhilk with the scaldand heyt at hys rysyng


Byrnys the erth of drowth, and is the syng


Pretendand tyll all mortale folk, I ges,


Contagyus infirmyteis and seiknes,


That with hys schrewyt lyght canicular5


Infekkyt all the hevynnys and the ayr.


Bot Turnus hardy stalwart hie curage,


For all this feir, demynyst nevir a stage,


Quhilk manfully schup thame to withstand


At the cost syde, and dyng thame of the land,10


That on na wys thar thai suld arryve;


And with glaid semlant gan his folk belyve


Exortyng forto rays thar spretis on hie,


And with hys wordis forthirmar eik he


Gan thame repreif of thar sa hasty feir.15


Lo! now present, says he, is cummyn heir


The mater quhilk ȝe lang desyrit haue;


The tyme is now to gryp in hand ȝour glaif;


The tyme of batale reddy is at hand,


Quhar strenth beis schawyn in stalwart stowr to stand.20


Now euery man ramembir on his spows,


Thynk on thar natyve land and dwellyng hows:


Reduce ȝe now onto ȝour mynd, ilkane,


The worthy actis of ȝour eldris bygane,


Thar lovabyll fame, and ȝour awyn renowne;25


And lat ws formest haist ws to the see,


And thar recontyr our fays, or thai land,


Quhill as thai first set fut apon the sand,


With slyde to cummyn, half deil in effray,


Or thai thar fut steppis ferm, and tak array.30
[Pg 616]

Hap helpis hardy men, be myne avys,


That weil dar tak on hand stowt interprys.


Thus said he; and tharwith in hys thocht


Devysis quham maist ganandly he mocht


Led with hym, to resist and meit his fays,5


Or quham he suld not from the sege vprays,


Bot styll remane to ferm and clos the town,


The wallys and the trynschis enveroun.






 CAP. VI.




Eneas fra the schippis landit his ost,


And Turnus thame assalit at the sey cost.






In the meyn sesson, the Troiane Ene


Begouth hys folkis from thar schippis hie10


On bryggis and on plankis set on land:


Mony abaid the ebbyng of the sand,


Quhill the swarf fard wallys abak dyd draw,


Than in the schaldis dyd thai leip on raw;


And sum with ayris into coggis small15


Etlyt to land. But tho amang thame all


The prynce Tarchon can the schor behald,


Thar as hym thocht suldbe na sandis schald,


Nor ȝit na land bryst lyppyrryng on the wallys,


Bot quhar the flude went styll, and calmyt all is20


But stowr or bullyr, murmour or movyng;


Hys stevynnys thydder steryng gan the kyng,
[Pg 617]

And on this wys hys ferys dyd exort:


Now, O ȝe walyt flour of weir, at schort,


Bend vp ȝour ayris styth, and rays ȝour schippys,


Haist owr the flude, bair to the schor with skyppys,


And with ȝour stelyt stevynnys, ane and all,5


Thys ground onfrendly to ws and innimicall


Do scheir and cleif in sundyr lyke a stok,


Lat euery barge do prent hir self a dok:


Na fors I not in sik port by this meyn


To brek the schyp, sa we the land atteyn.10


Fra Tarchon had thir wordis said, but mair


Hys feris startis ilk man till ane ayr.


The stowrand famy bargis dyd rebound,


Inrowand fast towart the Latyn grond,


Quhyl that thar stammys tuke the bankis dry,15


And thar kelys stak in the slyke fast by,


But ony harm or danger, euery one.


Bot sa tyd not onto thy schyp, Tarchon:


For in the schald scho stoppys, and dyd stand


Apon a dry chyngill or bed of sand,20


A lang tyme all to schakyng with the flude;


Quhill fynaly, thar rokkand as scho stude,


To brystis scho, and ryvys all in sondyr,


Warpyt the men amyd the faym thar vndir;


The plankis, hechis, and mony brokyn ayr,25


That on the streym went flotand heir and thar,


Maid to thar landing gret impediment,


And slyddry glar so from wallys went


That oft thar feyt was smyttyn vp on loft:


Bot finaly, all drowkyt and forwrocht,30
[Pg 618]

Thai salwyt war, and warpyt to the cost.


Than na delay of sleuth, nor feir, ne bost,


Withheld Turnus, bot with hys haill armee


Aganyst Troianys by the cost of the see


He dyd array all sammyn in that stound.5


The trumpettis blew thar bludy weirlyke sownd:


And fyrst, in syng of gud luk in the weris,


Ene the rowtis of the lauboreris,


Or rurall husbandis, invadis and ourset,


And hes the Latyn commonys haill doun bet,10


By slauchter fyrst of thar chiftane, Theron,


Amang all otheris the biggast man of one,


Quhilk set apon Eneas or he wyst:


Bot he throw owt hys syde hys sword hes thryst,


Persyt the stalwart platit scheild of steill,15


And throw the schynand hawbrek euery deill;


The giltyn mailȝeis makis hym na sted,


For in the cost he tholys dynt of ded.


Syne smate he Lychas, and hym hes al to torn,


That of hys ded moderis waym was furth schorn,20


And onto Phebus God was consecrait,


And was sa chancy in hys ȝong estait


That he the swerd eschapit by hys hap;


Bot not at this tyme so the dedis clap.


And not far thens this douchty Eneas25


Kyllyt the dowr and stalwart Cysseas,


And put to deth the bustuus Gyas strang,


That with hys burdoun down haill rowtis dang:


Thar strenthy handis helpyt thame na thyng,


Nowder Hercules wapynnys nor armyng30
[Pg 619]

Mycht thame defend, nor ȝit thar syre, that heght


Melampus, and companȝeon was in feght


To Hercules in hys sair journeis feill,


Quhil he in erth was levand and in heill.


And lo, as Pharon cryis and dois rowst5


With haltand wordis and with mekill woust,


Eneas threw a dart at hym that tyde,


Quhilk, as he gapyt, in hys mowth dyd glyde.


And thou also, the fey Greyk, Cydon,


Quhilk strangly luffyt thir ȝong childer ichone,10


As thou the ȝyng Clytius dyd persew,


Quhais ȝallow berd begouth to spryng of new,


And was alhaill thy new lust and desyre,


Be the rycht hand of this ilk Troiane syre


Thar had bene maid end of thy amouris greyn,15


And wrachitly had lyin ded, I weyn,


War not the brethir of the clan Phorcanys


Apon Eneas assemblit all atanys:


In numbyr sevyn thai war, and dartis sevin


Alsammyn thai kest, forcy as fyry levin;20


Of quham sum dyd, but harm or other deir,


Stot from hys scheild, his hewmet, or hed geir;


And sum, that wald haue hyt hys corps in hy,


Venus hys haly moder choppyt by.


Than to the traist Achates said Ene:25


Reik me dartis and castyng speris, quod he,


That in the Grekis bodeis fixit stude,


Quhilum in Troys planys bedyit with blude;


And my rycht hand sall thraw thame so ilkane


On Rutulanys, that nane sal sle invane.30
[Pg 620]

A bustuus schaft with that he grippyt has,


And incontrar hys aduersaris gan tays,


Quhilk flaw towartis Meonyus fast by:


Owt throw the scheild platit with steill in hy


Duschyt the dynt, and throw the corslettis glydis,5


Gyrd throw the cost persyng baith the sydis.


Onto hym startis Alcanor, hys brothir,


To beir hym vp, quhen that he saw hym schuddir,


With hys rycht arm, bot throw hys gardy sone


The grundyn hed and bludy schaft ar done,10


Furth haldand the self randoun as it went;


The ryght arm, from the schulder al to rent,


Apon the mankyt sennonys hyngis by,


As impotent, quyte lamyt, and dedly.


Than Numytor furth of hys brotheris corps15


Ruggis the trunschoun, and with all hys fors


It swakkis at Ene; bot he na mycht


Had till attane ne wond the nobill knycht:


Ȝyt with the dynt the gret Achates thee


He hurt and strenȝeit has a litill wee.20


With this come Clawsus, full of vassalage,


Confidand in hys ȝouth and florist age,


The Curytanys with hym brocht in the pres,


And with a lang styf speir ane Dryopes


Smate in the hals, vnder the chyn, sa sair25


That hym byreft was in the place rycht thar


Baith voce and spreit of lyfe; and that na wondir;


For hys nek bayn and throte war carf in sondir,


That doun he duschys with a felloun rerd,


Quhil that hys forret raschit on the erd,30
[Pg 621]

And of hys mouth, a petuus thing to se,


The lopprit blude in ded thraw voydis he.


Thre otheris syne this ilk Clawsus has slane,


Born into Trace of the clan Boryane;


And thre com fra the cite of Idas,5


And other thre of cite Ismaras,


By diuers chancis put he al to ded.


Alesus hym recontris in that sted,


And all the barnage com from Aurunca,


That auld cite; and thame followys alssua10


To that melle the son of Neptunus,


That is to knaw, the worthy Mesapus,


Quhilk into horsman craft was maist expert.


Now presys this syde, and now ȝonderwart,


To reill abak and to expell in fyght15


Thar aduersaris, and mak thame tak the flycht:


Thus by the cost Ausonya that tyde


Hard wolx the batale apon athir syde.


As thocht sum tyme amyd the large ayr


The contrar wyndys stryvys heir and thar,20


With brethfull blastis in thar equale mychtis:


Nane lyst obey tyll other, all sa wight is;


Nowder thai amang thame self, nor ȝit the clowdis,


Ne ȝit the rageand seys, quhilkis sa lowd is;


So that the bargane lang standis in dowt,25


Quha salbe victor, and quha vnderlowt:


Sa forcyly remanys the elementis


Contrary otheris to thar awin ententis.


Nane other wys the Troiane hostis in feild,


And Latyn rowtis ȝokkit vnder scheild,30
[Pg 622]

Metys in the melle: jonyt sammyn than


Thai fewtyr fut to fut, and man to man.






 CAP. VII.




Quhou Pallas confortis his ost of Archadye,


Quhilkis gave the bak and tuke purpos to fle.






Bot quhen that Pallas at ane owtyr syde


Persavyt hys Arcad army that tyde


In sic a place had takyn land attanys,5


Quhar as a burn had warpyt rowand stanys,


And buskis with the brays down had bet,


That thai war in sa hard myscheif ourset,


As men nocht vsyt forto go feght on fute,


And than, constrenyt, knew nane other buyt,10


For scharpnes of that sted, bot leif thar hors;


That weil persauyt he how that on fors


Thai gave the bak, and schupe to tak the flycht,


The Latynys followand thame in all thar mycht:


Than, quhile with prayer, now with wordis sowr,15


Thar curage he enflambis to the stowr,


Quhilk maner havyng is suyth, as is the creid,


As vtir poynt remedy at sik a neid.


My ferys, says he, quhidder do ȝe fle?


I ȝou beseik, be ȝour gret renowne,20


And be ȝour forcy dedis done of ald,


And by ȝour pryncis fame, Evander bald,
[Pg 623]

And be the oftis and mony victorys


That ȝe in weir and batale wan feill sys,


And be my gude beleif and hoyp, that now


With haill confidens restis fixt in ȝow,


As to atteyn onto my faderis glore,5


To ondertak sik dedis done before;


Do nevir, for schame, onto ȝour self that lak,


To lyppyn in speid of fute and gyf the bak.


With swerdys dynt behuffis ws, perfay,


Throw amyddis our ennemys red owr way.10


Quhar ȝondir sop of men thikkis in a rowt,


Ȝondir is the passage quhar we moste wyn owt;


Ȝondir ȝour noble cuntre wyl ȝe pas;


Ȝon way to wend exhortis ȝour duke Pallas.


Heir is na power of dyvynyte,15


Nor Goddis mycht gaynstandyng ws, quod he:


Nane other bargane haue we in thir fyghtis


Bot agane dedly and with mortale wightis:


Alsmony mortale bodeis heir haue we,


And als feill handis to debait the melle.20


Behaldis, quhou the sey with obstakill gret


Inclusys ws, and at our bak can bet;


On land is left ws heir na place to fle:


Quhat! wald ȝe ryn to Troy owt throw the see?


Thus said he, and forthwith, or he wald ces,25


Amyd hys fays ruschit in the pres,


Quhar as the rowtis thikast war in stowr.


And first of other, to hys fatale howr,


Hym metys Lagus, a Rutilyane;


Quham fyrst ourrollyt with a mekill stane,30
[Pg 624]

Throw gyrd hys cost syne with a castyng dart,


Persyng hys rybbys throuch, at the ilk part


Quhar beyn the cupplyng of the ryg bone,


And the ilk schaft stak in hys cors onone.


Pallas it joggillit, and furth drew in hy:5


Quham ane Hysbon, standand neir tharby,


Wenyt to have kawcht, bot the gryp he falyt;


For as onwar he stowpyt, and devalyt,


Wod wroth for wo of this myschews ded


Of hys deir fallow, in the ilk sted10


Pallas hym keppyt syk wys on hys brand


That all the blaid, vp to the hylt and hand,


Amyd hys flaffand longis hyd has he,


On sik maner that na man mycht it se.


Syne Pallas set apon Anchemolus,15


And Sthenelus, that of the kyng Rhetus


Prynce of Marrubyanys, ancyent pepill, beyn;


The quhilk Anchemolus was that ilk, I weyn,


Defowlyt hys faderis bed incestuusly,


And had forlayn hys awyn stepmoder by.20


And ȝe alsso, stowt gemel brether twa,


Childer and sonnys onto hym Dawcya;


Tymber, I meyn, and thy brother Laryde,


Amyd the feild Rutiliane dyd abyde;


Ȝe war sa lyke in form and symylitude25


Nane mycht decern betwix ȝou quhar ȝe stude;


Quhilk maner errour, or sik mysknawyng,


To fader and mother is oft plesand thyng,


Seand thar childer resembill ane lyknes:


Bot at this tyme has Pallas, as I ges,30
[Pg 625]

Markyt ȝou swa with sic rude differens,


That by hys keill ȝe may be knaw fra thens.


For swa stud with the, Tymber, thou art ded,


Evandrus swerd hes swepyt of thy hed;


And thy rycht arm of smyttyn, O Laryd,5


Amyd the feild lyis the besyde,


And half lyfles thi fyngyrris war sterand,


Within thy neif doys gryp and faik the brand.


Than schame and dolour, mydlit baith ourane,


Baldis the pepill Arcad eueryane10


To the bargane aganyst thar ennemys,


For Pallas wordis maid thar curage rys,


And eik, for thai beheld befor thar eyn


Hys douchty dedis, thai hym love and meyn.


For Pallas than throw gyrd Rheteus the kyng,15


As he on cace glaid by on char fleyng:


Na mair space was of tary ne delay


That Ilus deth prolongit the ilk day;


For as agane the, Ilo, with fell feir


Pallas addressyt had a stalwart speir,20


Rhetheus start in betwix, and cawch the dynt,


As he on cace was fleand fers as flynt


From thy handis, the maist forcy Teucras,


And thy brother Tyres, that by the was:


Ourweltis Retheus in ded thrawys atanys,25


And with hys helys smayt the Rutilian planys,


Tumlyt from hys hie cart chargit quhar he sat,


And on the grund rebundis with a squat.


And lyke as sum tyme in the symmyris drowth,


Quhen wyndis rysys of the north or sowth,30
[Pg 626]

In seir placis the hyrd, at hys desire,


Amang the scroggy rammell settis the fyre;


Wlcanus hostis of brym flambys red


Spredand on breid, vpblesys euery sted;


Than he that set the kyndillyng glaid and gay5


Behaldis quhou that the low doys mak deray,


Blesand and crakand with a nyce reuery:


Non other wys, the Archadanys in hy


All sammyn socht in feild with all thar mycht,


And maid debait to help Pallas in fyght.10


Bot tho Alesus, keyn into batale,


Thame to recontyr etlys, and assaill,


And gan hym self weil schrowd vnder his scheild;


Syne manfully ruschit amyd the feild,


Quhar that he slew ane Ladon, and Pheres,15


And Demodocus eftir in the pres:


As hym Strymonyus by the gorget grippyt,


With hys brycht brand hys rycht hand be of quhyppyt;


And Thoas syne sa smayt apon the hed


With a gret stane, quhil mixt of blud all red20


The harnys poplit furth on the brayn pan.


Thys ilk Alesus fader, as witty man,


Forto eschew hys sonnys fatys strang,


Hyd hym prevely the thik woddis amang:


Bot, fra the auld Alesus lay to de,25


And ȝeldis vp the breth with wawland E,


The fatale systeris set to hand onon,


And can this ȝong Alesus so dispon,


That by Evandrus wapynnys, the ilk stownd,


He destinat was to caucht the dedis wond.30
[Pg 627]

Towart quham Pallas bownyt has ful sone,


And in hys renk on this wys maid hys boyn:


Now grant, thou God and fader Tyberyne,


Gude chance and fortoun to this hed of myne


The quhilk I tays apon this castyng speir,5


That it may throw Alesus body scheir;


And ȝon harnes, cote armour, and spulȝe brycht,


Quhilk now sa weirly schynys on ȝon knycht,


Sall hyng apon ane ayk fast by thi bra.


The God hys askyn hard, as he dyd pray:10


For quhil Alesus onavisytly


Cled with hys scheild Imaonus, hym by,


That was to hym hys frend and fallow deir,


Hys breist stud nakyt, but armour or geir,


Quharin he Pallas dedly schaft ressauyt.15


Bot Lawsus, wilfull hys syde to haue savyt,


As he that was a gret part of the ost,


And lyst not suffir, with sik feir na bost,


Or slauchtir maid be Pallas and deray,


At his cumpanȝeis suld caucht mair affray,20


Ruschit in the melle; and first in hys teyn


Slew Abas, that gret bargane dyd sustene.


The thikast sop or rowt of all the pres,


Thar as maist tary was, or he wald ces,


Thys Lasus al to sparpillyt and invadys:25


Down bettyn war the barnage of Archadys;


Down bettyn eik war the Hethruryanys;


And ȝhe also, feil bodeis of Troianys,


That war not put by Grekis to vtyrrans.


Than all the ostis semlyt with speir and lans,30
[Pg 628]

The chiftanys all jonyt with hail poweris,


The hyndmast wardis swarmyt all yferis;


So thik in staill all marryt wolx the rowt,


Oneys mycht ony turn hys hand abowt


To weild hys wapyn, or to schuyt a dart.5


Full douchtely Pallas on the ta part


Inforcis hym to greif hys fays that tyde;


Lawsus resistis on that othir syde.


Thar agis was not far indifferent,


And of maist semly statur, quhar thai went,10


Thai war excellent of bewte baith tway;


Bot so it stude, at fortoun, walloway!


Wald nother suffir to hys realm resort.


And, netheles, to meyt sammyn at schort,


As into feild to preif thar hardyment,15


The governour of hevyn omnipotent


Lyst na way thoill: for, belyve eftir this,


To athir of thame thar dedly fatys, I wys,


To ane far grettar aduersar remanys,


As heir onon doys follow vnder anys.20






 CAP. VIII.




Quhou that fers Turnus has ȝong Pallas slane,


For quham hys folkis makis gret dolour and mayn.






Duryng this fervour of the bargane swa,


The haly nymphe, clepit Juturna,
[Pg 629]

Hir brother Turnus dyd monys and exhort


To succur Lawsus, and hys folk support;


The quhilk Turnus, as in hys spedy char


The myd rowtis went sloppand heir and thar,


Beheld hys ferys debatand with Pallas:5


Lo, now is tyme to desist, and lat pas


All sic bargane, quod he; cessis in hy;


For I will set on Pallas anerly;


Only to me, and to nane other wight,


The victory pertenys of sik a knycht;10


Glaidly I wald hys fader stude heirby,


This interprys to dereyn and aspy.


Thus said he, and hys feris at command


Voydit the feild, and all plane left the land.


Than ȝong Pallas, seand Rutylianys15


Withdraw the feild sa swith, and rovm the planys,


At the prowd byddyng of thar prynce and kyng,


Amervellit full gretly of this thing,


And farly can on Turnus to behald,


Our all hys bustuus body, as he wald,20


Rollyng hys eyn, and all hys corps in hy


With thrawyn luke on far begouth aspy;


Syne movyng fordwart, with sic wordis on hie,


To answer Turnus speche, thus carpys he:


Owthir now, quod he, for ay be lovyt I sall25


Of rych kyngly spulȝe triumphall,


Quhilk heir I sall rent from myne aduersar,


Or than salbe renownyt evirmar


Of ane excellent end moist gloryus.


Do wa thy bost and mannance maid to ws:30
[Pg 630]

For my fader, quhom thou desyris besyde,


Reputtis all elyke, quhou evir the chance betyde.


And sayand thus, amyd the plane furth startis:


The blude congelyt abowt Archadyane hartis.


Turnus down lepys from hys twa quhelit char,5


And bownys fast towartis his aduersar.


Lyke as ane lyoun from the hillys hycht,


Amyd the valle had scharply gottin a sycht


Of sum prowd bull, with hys horn in the plane


Addressand hym reddy to mak bargane,10


Cummys bradand on the best fast in a lyng;


On siclyke wys was Turnus tocummyng:


And quhen that Pallas saw hym cum sa neir


He mycht areke to hym a casting speir,


Formast he bownys to the jonyng place,15


Gyf sa betyd that fortoun, of hir grace,


Hys interprys for stowt ondertakyng


Wald help, or hym support in ony thing,


As he that ȝong was, and of strenth all owt


Na wys compeir to Turnus stern and stowt;20


And to the gret Goddis in hevyn abone


Apon this maner prayand said he sone:


I the beseik, thou myghty Hercules,


Be my faderis gestnyng, and the ilk des


Quhar thou strangear was ressauyt to herbry,25


Assist to me, cum in my help in hy,


To perform this excellent fyrst journe;


That Turnus in the ded thraw may me se


Bereif fra hym hys bludy armour red,


And, ȝaldand vp the breth in the ilk sted,30
[Pg 631]

Mot with hys eyn behald me hym befor


In hie tryumphe, with ourhand as victor.


Gret Hercules the ȝong man hard onon,


And from the boddum of hys hart can gron,


Hydand hys smert for rewth of Pallas ȝyng,5


Seand the fatys wald haue hys endyng;


And for ennoy salt terys, all in vayn,


Furth ȝettyng our hys chekis thyk as rayn.


Tho Jupiter, hys curage to astabill,


Thus to hys son spak wordys amyabill.10


Tyll euery mortale wofull wight, perfay,


Determyt standis the fixit lattir day;


Ane schort and onrecoverabill term is set


Of lyfe, quhen all most neydlyngis pay that det:


Bot, to prolong thar fame by nobill dedis,15


Fra vertuus wark that cumys and procedis.


Quhou mony sonnys and deir childryn, said he,


Of goddis kyn, vnder Troy wallys hie


War done to ded, and brytnyt blude and bone!


So that amangis all otheris Sarpedon,20


My tendir get, my kyn, and blude, lyis slane.


Forsuyth also, I say the into plane,


The fynale fayt awatis Turnus in feild,


The dait and methis approchis of hys eild.


On this wys spak gret Jove to Hercules;25


And, with that word, hys eyn towart the pres


On the Rutilian feild addressis he.


And, the ilk stownd, ȝong Pallas lattis fle


With mekill fors at Turnus a gret speir,


And syne onon hys brycht brand burnyst cleir30
[Pg 632]

Hyntis furth of the scheith to mak debait.


The schaft flaw towart Turnus, and hym smait


Apon the schulder, abuf the gardis hie


That rysys vmast tharvpon we se,


And throw the bordour of the scheild swa persyt,5


Quhill fynaly in sum deill it traversyt,


And hurt a part of Turnus byg body.


Than Turnus smyttyn, full of felony,


A bustuus lance with grundyn hed ful kene,


That lang quhile taysyt he in proper teyn,10


Leyt gyrd at Pallas, and thus wys said he:


Consider ȝoungkeir, gyf our lancis be,


Bettir of tempyr and mair penytratyve.


And, with the word, the schaft flaw furth belyve,


So that the scharp poynt of the brangland speir15


Throw owt amyddis of the scheild can scheir,


Persand sa mony platis of irne and steill,


And sa feill plyis of bull hydis ilk deill,


All sammyn cowchit in hys target strang,


The bustuus strake throw all hys armour thrang.20


That styntit na thing at the fyne hawbryk,


Quhil throu the cost thyrlyt the dedly pryk.


Pallas, nocht schrynkand for the mortale dynt,


Invane the hait schaft of hys wond lies hynt;


For al togidder by the sammyn way25


The blude and sawle passys hyne bath tway.


Apon hys wond onon he ruschis down:


Abuf hym rang hys harnes with a sovn:


And that onfrendly erth inimycall,


That in hys deth he suld not scryk nor call,30
[Pg 633]

As was the gys, with bludy mowth bait he.


Turnus, abufe hym standand, carpys on hie:


O ȝhe pepill of Arcaid, takis tent,


And my wordis do rehers and present


To kyng Evander, sayand hym playnly,5


That hys son Pallas to hym send haue I


In sik array as that he hes deservyt;


And, of my gentrys, wil he be preservit


To all estait and honour funerall,


With all solace pertenyng beryall10


Of tumbe and of entyrment, as efferis.


Na lytill thyng, perfay, into thir weris


Hes hym bycost the frendschip of Ene.


And, sayand thus, with hys left fut hes he


Pallas ded corps ourwelt, or euer he stent,15


And syne abowt hys sydis sone has rent


Hys goldyn gyrdill, pasand a gret deill,


Quharin was gravin craftely and weill


Of Danavs douchteris the iniquyte,


Quhou that the fyfty ȝong men, schame to se,20


War fowlly murthuryt on the first nycht,


As thai war spowsyt to thar ladeis brycht;


The chalmeris portyrit war bysprent with blude:


Quhilk historeis Eurition, warkman gude,


Had carvyt weill and wrocht full craftely25


In weighty platis of the gold massy;


Of quhais spulȝe now is Turnus glaid,


Joyfull and blyth that he it conquest had.


O mannis mynd, so ignorant at all


Of thingis tocum and chancis quhilkis may fall!30
[Pg 634]

Vpheit sone in blynd prosperyte,


Can not be war, nor myssour hald with the!


The tyme sall cum quhen Turnus sall, persay,


Hait and wary this spulȝe and this day,


Desyrand he mycht by for mekill thing5


That he had nevir twichit Pallas ȝyng.


Abowt the corps assemblit tho his feris,


With mekill murnyng and huge plente of terys;


Apon a scheild Pallas body thai laid,


And bair hym of the feild, and thus thai said:10


O Pallas, quhou gret dolour and wirschyp


To thy fader, and all hys falloschip,


Sall thou rendir and bryng hame, said thai:


This was to the in weyrfar the first day,


Quhilk first in bataill dressyt the to go;15


The ilk for ay has the bereft tharfro!


And, not the les, thy swerd leiffis in the planys


Gret hepys ded of the Rutilianys.






 CAP. IX.




The rich Magus na ranson mycht reskew,


And preist Hemonydes, baith Eneas slew.






Tho nane incertane rumour nor demyng,


Bot sovyr boydword cam thar, and warnyng,20


Ontill Eneas of this gret myschance,


Schawand quhou that his folkis stud in ballance.
[Pg 635]

As bot in litill distans all from ded;


The tyme requiryt forto set remeid,


And succur Troianys quhilkis had tane the flycht.


Than, as wod lyon, ruschit he in the fight,


And all quham he arekis nerrest hand5


Without reskew dovn mawis with his brand;


The bytand blaid abowt hym inveroum


Amyd the rowtis reddis large rovm.


Enragit and inflambit thus in ire


Throw owt the ostis Turnus, that prowd syre,10


Quhilk had this new slauchtir maid, socht he:


Ay prentand in hys mynd befor hys E


The gudly Pallas, was sa stowt and ȝyng,


And the gret gentryce of Evander kyng;


The cheir and fest hym maid bot a stranger;15


Per ordour all thing, quhou and quhat maner


He was ressauyt, and tretit thankfully;


Syne of hys band of frendschip and ally


With athis sworn and interchangit handis,


Remembryng tho his promys and cunnandis.20


Amovit in this heit, or euer he stynt,


Four ȝong men quyk he hes in handis hynt,


That born was of the cite hecht Sulmon;


Alsmony syne he takyn has onon


Bred and vpbrocht besyde the flude Vfens,25


Quham that he etlys forto send from thens


To Pallas lykewalkis and obsequeis,


To strow his funeral fyre of byrnand treis,


As was the gys, with blude of presoneris,


Eftir the ald rytis into mortale weris.30
[Pg 636]

Syne hynt Eneas a perellus lance in hand,


And it addressis far furth on the land


To ane Magus, that subtell was and sle,


And jowkit in vnder the speir has he;


The schaft schakand flaw furth abufe hys hede;5


And he Eneas in that samyn sted


Abowt the kneis grippyt humylly,


With petuus voce syne thus begouth to cry:


Be thy deir faderys gost I the beseik,


And be that gude beleif quhilk thou has eik10


Of Ascanyvs vprysyng to estait,


Thys silly sawle of myne, sa faynt and mayt,


Thow salf to my a son and fader deir.


I haue a hows, rych, full of mobillis seir,


Quharin bedelvyn lyis a gret talent,15


Or charge of fyne siluer, in veschell quent


Forgyt and punsyt wonder craftely;


Ane huge weght of fynast gold tharby,


Oncunȝeit ȝit, ne nevir put in wark:


Sa thou me salf, thy pyssans is so stark,20


The Troianys glory nor thar victory


Sal na thyng change nor dymynew tharby,


Nor a puyr sawle, thus hyngand in ballance,


May sik diuisioun mak nor discrepans.


Thus said this silly Magus, all invane.25


Quhamtill Eneas answeris thus agane:


Sa mony talentis of fyne siluyr and gold,


Quhilkis thou rehersand heir befor hes told,


Do kepe onto thy small childyr and ayris;


Lat thame bruke weill, I consent it be tharis.30
[Pg 637]

All interchange and ransonyng, perfay,


In this batale Turnus hes done away,


Now laitly slayand ȝong Pallas, allace!


That rewthfull harm, and that myschews cace,


Felys baith Ascanyus and my faderis gost,5


For thai na litill thyng tharby hes lost.


Thus sayand, by the helm hym grippys he


With hys left hand, and fast as he mycht dre


Writh down hys nek, quharin, but mair abaid,


Hys bludy brand vp to the hyltis slaid.10


Not far thens stude Hemonydes allane,


Prest onto Phebus and the thrynfald Dyane,


On quhais hed wympillit holy garlandis


With thar pendentis lyke to a mytyr standis,


Hys habyt as the scheyn son lemand lycht,15


And all hys armour quhite and burnyst brycht:


Quham Eneas assalyt myghtyly,


And gan do chays owt throw the feld in hy,


That fleand stummyrryt and to grond went sone:


The Troiane prynce down lowtis hym abone,20


And with hys brand hym brytnys at devys,


In maner of ane offerand sacryfys.


The large schaddow of Eneas in feild


Dyd haill the ded corps of this preist ourheld.


Serestus sortis vp hys armour gay,25


And on hys schuldris careit hes away,


To hyng as trophe or syng victoriall


Tyll Mars the God, quhilk Gradyus is call.
[Pg 638]





 CAP. X.




Quhat douchty chiftanys of the Latyn land


That day Eneas kyllit with hys hand.






Ceculus, discendit of Wlcanus blude,


And Vmbro eyk, the stalwart chiftane rude,


That cum was fra the montanys Marsyane,


The bargane stuffis, relevand in agane.


Bot Eneas, discend from Dardanus,5


Ganstandis thame, ful brym and furyus,


And onto ane, hecht Anxurus, in the feild


Of strak the left arm all dovn with the scheld;


Quhilk had maid sum gret vant, spekand prowdly,


Wenyng that in hys sawys by and by10


Thar had bene gret effect, and hardyment,


As thocht he wald extoll in hys entent


Hys manhed to the hevyn and starnys hie,


And promys to hym self, for hys bonte,


Agit cannos hayr and lang proces of ȝeris:15


Lo, now he lyggis law, for all hys feris!


Syne baldly with glaid curage, as I ges,


Agane Eneas can Tarquytus dres,


In schynand armour wonder prowd and gay,


Of Dryope born, the nymphe or schene may,20


To Fawnus wonnyng in the woddis greyn;


And, to recontyr Ene inflambyt in teyn,


Kest hym selvyn: bot the tother, but feir,


Buyr at hym mychtyly with a lang speir
[Pg 639]

Throw owt hys scheild of pays and hawbrik fyne,


That to the grond gan dovn hys hed declyne;


All thocht he than full humylly hym besocht,


And schupe to say mekill, all was for nocht.


Hys pallat in the dust bedowyn stude,5


And the body baithit in the hait blude


Ene ourweltis, sayand thir wordis withall,


With trublit breist and mynd inimicall:


Now ly thow thar, that wenyt the so wight


That thou was feirfull ontill euery wight.10


Thy best belovyt mother sall the not haue


To erd, as custum is, nor delf in grave,


Na do thy bonys honour with sik cuyr


As thame to lay in fadyrris sepultur;


Bot salbe left to the wild bestis fuyd,15


Or than the spait watir of this flude


Sal bair the in the deip, and thar on raw


With empty throtis sal thy banys gnaw


Thir sey monstreys in thar wod rage,


And lape thy blude thar hungar to asswage.20


Syne, but delay, Antheus and Lycas,


Quhilkis that of Turnus first ward ledaris was,


Persewys he, and also Numa bold,


And Camerthes, brycht schynand all of gold,


Son of the manly Volscens capitan;25


In all the fertill grond Ausonyane


The richast man, and kyng was this Volscens


Of Amyclys the cite of silens.


And lyke as Egeon, the kyng of gyandis,


Quhilk had, thai say, ane hundreth armys and handys.30
[Pg 640]

And fyfty mowthys, of quham the fyre dyd schyne,


As he into the batale gigantyne


Incontrar Jovis thundir and fyre flaucht


With alsmony scharp drawyn swerdis fawght,


Clatterand in bargane with samony scheildis:5


The sammyn wys, enragent throw the feildis


Went Eneas, as victor with ourhand,


Fra tyme that anys bedyit hys burnyst brand


And wet he had in hait Rutiliane blude.


So that alsso, in this ilk fury wod,10


He draif at Nypheus amyd the breste bane,


Set in hys fourquhelit chariot allane:


Bot fra the hors on far dyd hym aspy


Sa grym of cheir stalkand sa bustuusly,


For feir thai start abak, and furth can swak15


The duke Nypheus wyd oppyn on hys bak,


And brak away with the cart to the schor,


With stendis feill and mony bray and snor.


The self stound, amyd the pres fut hoyt


Lucagus entyris in hys chariote,20


With quhyte hors drawyng wonder lustely,


Hys brother Lyger sittand neir hym by;


Thys Lyger led the renȝeis with hys hand,


Bot bald Lucagus swakkis a burnyst brand.


Eneas mycht nocht suffir nor sustene25


Of thame sic fervour in thar felloun teyn,


Bot ruschit furth, and with a gret speir


Forganyst thame can into sycht appeir;


Quhamto this Liger carpys apon he:


Thou seys nocht Dyomedis stedis heir, said he,30
[Pg 641]

Nor ȝit Achillis char persavis draw,


Thocht athir venquyst the in feild, we knaw;


Nor ȝit the Troiane planys behaldis thou:


The end of thyne age and of bargane now


Salbe maid in thir landis on this grond.5


Sic wordis vayn and onsemly of sovnd


Furth warpys wyde this Lyger fulychly:


Bot the Troian barroun onabasitly


Na wordis pressis to rendir hym agane,


Bot at hys fa leyt fle a dart or flayn,10


That hyt Lucagus; quhilk, fra he selt the dynt,


The schaft hyngand into hys scheild, but stynt


Bad dryf hys hors and char al fordwart strecht,


As he that hym addressit to the fecht,


And strekit furth hys left fut in hys char:15


Bot sone Eneas speir was reddy thar,


Beneth hys schynand scheild reversyt law,


So that the grondyn hed the ilk thraw


At hys left flank or leisk persyt tyte,


Quhill clar owt our the charyot is he smyte,20


And on the grond weltis in the ded thrawys.


Quham on this wys with sowr wordis and sawys


The petuus Eneas begouth to chyd:


Lucagus, said he, forsuyth as at this tyde


Na sla curs of thy horssys onweldy25


Thy cart has rendryt to thyne ennemy,


Nor ȝit na vayn wrathys nor gaistis quent


Thi char constrenyt bakwart forto went,


And malgre thyne withdraw thi fays gryppys;


Bot lo now, of thy fre will, as thou skyppys30
[Pg 642]

Owtour the quhelys of thy cart, God wait,


Levand the renys and hors all desolat.


Thys beand said, the horsis renys he hynt.


The tothir fey brother, or evyr he stynt,


Lap fra the cart, and kneland petuusly,5


Vphevand hys bayr handis, thus dyd cry:


O Troiane prynce, I lawly the beseik,


Be thyne awyn vertues and thy thewys meyk,


And be thy parentis maist of renowne,


That sik a child engendryt hes as the,10


Thow spair this wofull sylly sawle at lest,


Haue rewth of me, and admyt my request.


With wordis feill as he thus can requer,


Ene at last on this wys maid answer:


Syk sawys war langer furth of thy mynd.15


Sterve the behuffis, les than thou war onkynd


As for to leif thy broder desolait


All hym allane, na follow the sam gait.


And tharwithall the hyrnys of hys gost


He rypyt with the swerd amyd hys cost,20


So tyll hys hart stoundis the pryk of deth:


He weltis our, and ȝaldis vp the breth.


Thys Dardane prynce as victor thus in weir


Sa mony douchty corpsis brocht on beir,


Amyd the planys reddand large gait,25


As doys a rowtand ryver red on spait;


That for hys dyntis wolx hys fays agast,


As for the feirfull drumly thundris blast.


Quhil fynaly Ascanyus the ȝyng page,


And the remanent of Troian barnage,30
[Pg 643]

Quhilk war, as said is, besegyt invane,


Thar strenth hes left, and takyn hes the plane.






 CAP. XI.




Juno rycht quayntly causys Turnus to fle,


Ane fenȝeit figour persewand of Ene.






The ilk stound, of hys awyn fre volunte,


Jove callys Juno, and thus carpys he:


O thou my systir german and my feir,5


My best beluffyt spows, most leif and deir,


Thyne opynyon has not dissauyt the,


As thou belevyt: now may thou not se


Quhou Venus doys susteyn and fortyfy


The Troiane rowtis and pyssans by and by?10


Nane actyve handis, nor stowt myndis, I weyn,


Nor bodeys reddy all perrellys to sustene,


Haue thai, thou may se be experiens.


Quhamto Juno, with humyl reverens,


Answeryt; my sweit and mast gudly husband,15


Quharto lyst the renew my sorow at hand,


As cayrfull wight, that lykis nocht sic bourdis?


All efferd of thy fatal dreidfull wordis


I am bestad: bot war I now, I weyn,


Als strangly belovyt as I sum tyme haue bene;20


Thocht ȝit, God wait, accordyt so tobe


Baith to myne honour and thy dignyte;
[Pg 644]

I say, war I beluffyt as I was ayr,


Thou Jove almyghty ryngand euermar


Suld not deny me sa sobyr a thyng,


Bot at I mycht withdraw, at my lykyng,


Furth of the feild Turnus, and hym save5


Onto hys fader Dawnus, that our the lave


Belovyt hym, as raysoun wald, quod sche.


Now sall he perysch, and now sal he de,


And sched hys gentyll blude sa pacient,


In grews panys be Troianys tort and rent:10


And netheles hys kyn origynall


Is renownyt of godly stok ryall,


Discendit of our seid and hevynly clan,


Fra God Pylumnus to rekkyn the ferd man;


And eik, thou wait, full oft with large hand,15


With mony oystis, and ryght fair offerand,


Thy templys and thyne altaris chargit has he,


In wirschyp of thy myghty maieste.


The souerane kyng of hevyn etherial


In few wordis maid answer thus at all:20


Gif thow askis a resput or delay,


Bot for a tyme, or tyll a certane day,


Of thys evident deth of Turnus ȝyng,


Desyrand I suld grant the sik a thyng,


All thocht he mortale be rycht sone we knaw;25


I leif the to remove hym and withdraw,


And from this instant perrellus hard fayt


Steill hym away, and gyde hym by the gait:


For so lang space ȝyt restis at will of me


To lenth hys lyfe, quhilk I the grant, quod he.30
[Pg 645]

Bot gif sa beys, that vndre thy request


Mair hie pardon lurkis, I wald them cest:


For gif thou wenys that all the victory


Of the batale, and chancis by and by,


May be reducyt and alterat clar agane,5


A mysbyleve thou fosteris all invane.


To quham Juno on this wys said wepyng:


Quhat harm mycht fall, thocht be sum takyn or syng


Thow schew thy mynd, and grantit that, quod sche,


Quhilk be thy wordis of fatale destane10


Now grunschis thou to geif or to conceid?


That is to sa, quhat fors, thocht thou in deid


Waldyst appreif and ratyfy agane


That Turnus lyfe a lang tyme suld remane?


Bot now approchis to that innocent knycht15


A feirfull end; he sal to ded be dicht,


Or than my sawys ar voyd of veryte.


And O, wald God, at rather sa suld be


That I dissavyt war bot with fals dreid,


And at thou list, as thou has mycht in deid,20


Thy fatale promys and thy statutis strange


In bettir purpos to translait and change!


Fra scho thir wordis had said, the ilk tyde


Dovn from the hevyn scho leyt hir selvyn slyde,


Befor hyr dryvand a tempestuus wynd,25


And all abowt, befor and eik behynd,


Within a clowd of myst circulyt cleyn:


So throw the air bownyt furth this queyn


Towart the Troiane hostis in the planys,


And to the tentis socht of Lawrentanys.30
[Pg 646]

Thys Goddes than furth of ane boys clowd


In lyknes of Ene dyd schaip and schrowd


A voyd figur, but strenth or curage bald,


The quhilk wondyrus monstre to behald


With Troiane wapynnys and armour grathis sche,5


With scheild, and helm, and tymbret set on hie,


Be semlant lyke Eneas godlyhed;


And tharto ekis scho in euery sted


Quent fenȝeit wordis, fant and contyrfait,


With voce, but mynd, or ony other consait;10


And fenȝeis eik hys concernans and pacis;


Syklyke as that, thai say, in diuers placis


The wraithis walkis of goistis that ar ded,


Or as the slepy dremys, fra sted to sted


Fleand in swevyn, makis illusionys,15


Quhen mennys myndis oft in dravillyng gronys:


And all befor the forfront of the feild


Richt haltandly, as curageus vnder scheild,


Musturis this ymage, that with dartis keyn


Aggrevyt Turnus, and dyd hym chyde in teyn,20


Prouocand hym to bargane and tyl ire.


And Turnus tho als hoyt as any fyre


Thys figur dyd invaid, and tharat he


In gret dispyte a quhirrand dart leyt fle:


Bot this ilk schaddo, as sum deill addred,25


Turnyt abowt, and gaif the bak and fled.


Then Turnus, wenand Ene had tane the flycht,


And al awondryt of that selcouth fyght,


Within hys mynd a vayn comfort kawch he,


And cryis lowd; quhidder fleys thou now, Ene?30
[Pg 647]

Leif nevir, for schame, thus dissolait and waist


Thy new allyans promyst the in haist,


Of Lavynya the spousyng chalmyr at hand,


And all this ilk regioun and this land,


Quhilk thou sa far has socht owt our the se:5


My rycht hand sal the saysyng geif, quod he.


With sik wordis he schowtand dyd persew,


And ay the glymmyrand brand baith schuke and schew,


Na thyng persavand quhou this myrth and blys


Away quyte with the wynd bewavit is.10


On cace thar stude a mekill schip that tyde,


Hyr wayl jonyt til a schor rokis syde,


With plankis and with bryggis layd on land,


The entre reddy grathit weill thai fand;


In the quhilk schip Osynyus kyng, I wys,15


Come laitly from the cite of Clusys.


Thydder went this wrath or schaddo of Ene,


That semyt, all abasyt, fast to fle,


And hyd hyr dern vndre hychis tharin.


Na slawar Turnus hastis hym to ryn,20


That but delay he spedis to this schyp,


Ran owr the bryg, and inwith burd can skyp;


And scars was entrit in the forcastell,


Quhen Saturnus douchter saw hir tyme befell:


Than soyn the cabyll in sondir smytis sche,25


And fra the schor draif the schip throu the see.


Bot Turnus absent thus that sammyn howr


Eneas seyrssys throw amyd the stowr,


And in hys renk quham euer he met lay ded;


Full mony a man he kyllit in that sted.30
[Pg 648]

And tharwithall hys lycht and fenȝeit gost,


Fra tyme the schip was chargyt fra the cost,


No langar sekis hyrnys hir to hyde,


Bot flaw vp in the ayr the sammyn tyde,


And al dissoluyt into a dyrk clowd.5


The meyn sesson, can fors of wyndis lowd


Turnus far furth amyd the deip sey dryve:


He dyd behald abowt hym tho belyve,


All ignorant quhat wys this chance was wrocht,


And of hys lyfe salvyng na thyng he rocht;10


With handis junct vphevit towart hevin,


Syk wordis he furth braid with drery stevyn:


Almychty fader of the hevynnys hie,


Has thou me reput on sic wys tobe


Confusyt in this schame for myn offens?15


And will I suffyr syk torment and pennans?


Quhidder am I dryue, and from quhens am I cumyn?


Quhat maner eschewyng or fleyng haue I nummyn?


In quhat estait sall I return agane?


Sall I evir se the wallys Lawrentane,20


Or evir eft my tentis sall I se?


Quhat may ȝon ost of men now say of me,


Quhilkis my querrell and me followit to feild,


Quham now, allace! lo, fechtand vnder scheild


Ȝondir, schame to say the harm, sa wikkytly25


Reddy to myschews deth beleft haue I?


Lo, I behald thame fleand paill and wan,


And heris the granyng of mony douchty man


In my defalt falland fey to grond.


Quhat sal I do? allace the wofull stond!30
[Pg 649]

Or quhilk land, thocht a thousand tymys I stervit,


May swelly me sa deip as I haue servyt?


Bot, O ȝe wyndis, rather haue mercy,


On rowkis and on craggis by and by


Do swak this schyp, sen heir na erth I se,5


And haue of wrachit Turnus sum pyete,


Quhilk of hys fre will, stad in this maner,


Besekis ȝow with all hartly prayer;


Do warp my body on the schaldis onkend,


Far furth on Syrtys at the warldis end,10


Quhar Rutilyanys me nevir fynd agane,


Sa that na fame nor rumour may remane


Eftir my deth of this schaymfull trespas.


And, sayand thus, in mynd dyd he cumpas


Full mony chancis rolland to and fro,15


Quhidder gif he suld, for proper lak and wo,


Into this fury smyte hym with hys brand,


And thryst the bludy blaid in with hys hand


Throw owt hys rybbys, and sched his hart blude;


Or than to swak hym self amyd the flude,20


Swymmand to seik the nerrest costis bay,


In feild agane the Troianys to assay.


Athir way till assay thrys presyt hes he:


And thrys hym styntis Juno, queyn mast hie,


Havand compassioun of this ȝong man bald,25


And can asswage hys mynd, and hand withhald.


Furth held the schip, slydand owt our the fludis,


With prosper wynd and followand tyde sa gude is,


Quhill he is careit suyrly throw the see


Tyll Ardea, hys faderis auld cite.30




[Pg 650]




 CAP. XII.




In Turnus sted Mezentius dyd succeid,


Killyt doun his fays, and spulȝeit of thar weid.






Durand this quhile, in fatis marciall,


Mezentyus movyt with ardour bellycall,


Be instigatioun of Jove in that neid,


Can to the batale in hys place succeid;


And the Troianys to invaid na thing sparis,5


That semyt prowd as all the feild war tharis.


Than sammyn to recontyr hym atanys


Semlyt haill ostis of Hethrurianys,


And all assailȝeit Mezentius allone;


Aganyst a man thai rowtys euery one,10


Inflambyt all in malyce, maid persutys,


And thik as haill schour at hym schaftis schutis.


Bot he, lyke to a ferm rowk, quhilk we se


Strekyt on lenth amyd the large see,


Sytuat aganys the rageand wyndis blast,15


And brym wallys boldynnand wondyr fast,


From all that violens doys hym self defend,


And haill the fors sustenys to the end


Baith of the hevynnys and byr of seys rage,


Remanand onremovyt ferm in hys stage:20


Als stern standis Meȝentius in that stound


And first he hes fellit and laid to the grond


Hebrus, the son of ane Dolycaon,


And hym besyde Latagus flew onon,
[Pg 651]

And Palmus eik, accustumat to fle:


Bot with a stane Latagus brytnyt he


Quhilk of a montane semyt a gret nuke,


With quham hym on the vissage he ourtuke;


And Palmus howgh sennonys smait in tway5


Maid hym sa slaw he mycht nocht fle away;


Thar armour syne to Lawsus gevyn hes he


To weir on hys schuldris, and crovn on hie


Thar creistis set, the quhilk sa rychly schane.


He slew also Evantes a Troiane,10


And Mynas syne he kyllys in the feild,


Quhilum to Parys companȝeoun and evin eild;


Quham on a nycht Theana, gude and fair,


To hys fader Amycus in Troy bair,


Quhen Heccuba, douchter of Cisseus,15


Dremyt scho was gret, the story tellis thus,


With a fyre broynd, and the self samyn nycht


Was delyver of Parys, the fey knycht,


Quhilk in hys natyve cite maid hys end:


Bot thir feildis Lawrentan ombekend20


Withhaldis now the body of Mynas:


So brym in stowr that stond Mezentyus was.


Lyke to the strenthy sangler, or the bore,


Quham hundis quest with mony quhryne and rore


Down dryvyng from the hightis maid discend,25


Quhilk mony wyntyr tofor had hym defend


In Vesulus, the cauld montane hie,


That is ourheldyt with mony fyr tre;


Or than the bustuus swyne weil fed, that bredis


Amang the buskis rank of ryspe and redis,30
[Pg 652]

Besyde the layk of Lawrens, mony ȝheris,


Quhen that he is betrappyt fra his feris


Amyd the huntyng ralys and the nettis,


Standis at the bay, and vp hys byrsys settis,


Grasland hys tuskis with astern fyry eyn,5


With spaldis hard and harsk awfull and teyn,


That nane of all the huntmen thar present


Hym to engreif has strenth or hardyment,


Nor dar approchyng within hys byt neir,


Bot standand far on dreich with dart and speir,10


Assoverit of hys reik, the beste assays,


With felloun schowtis, bustuus cryis, and brays.


Nane other wys stud all the Tuscane rowt


This stalwart knycht Mezentius abowt;


And, thocht thai just caws had of wreth and feyd,15


Thar was nane of thame durst hym put to ded,


Nor curage had with drawyn swerd in hand


Hym till assaill, nor mach apon the land;


Bot with takillis and castyn dartis on far


Thai warp at hym, bot durst not ane cum nar,20


And with huge clamour hym infestis that tyde:


He, onabasyt, abowt on euery syde


Behaldis, gyrnand full of proper teyn,


And with hys scheild choppyt by schaftis bedene.


Furth of the ancyent boundis of Coryt tho25


Was cum a Greik, quhilk clepyt was Acro,


That fugityve into his lusty heyt


Had left hys spowsal trewth plicht oncompleit:


Quham as Mezentius saw amyd the rowt


Hym grevand soir, as weriour stern and stowt,30
[Pg 653]

And saw the plesand plomys set on hycht


Of hys tymrell, and eik the purpour brycht,


Quhilk of his trewthplycht lufe he bair in syng;


Than, lyke a hungry lyon rumysyng,


Constrenyt by hys rageand empty maw,5


The beistis dennys circuland all on raw,


Gif he on cace aspys a swyft ra,


Or the ȝyng hart with spryngand tyndis twa,


Joyful he bradis tharon dispytuusly,


With gapand gowle, and vprasys in hy10


The lokkyrris lyand in his nek rowght,


And all the bestis bowellis thrymlys throwght,


Hurkylland tharon, quhar he remanyt and stude,


Hys gredy gammys bedyis with the red blude:


On the sammyn wys, Mezentius rycht baldly15


Mydwart hys fays rowt ruschit in hy;


Down smytis fey Acron amyd the ost,


That in the ded thraw, ȝaldand vp the gost,


Smate with hys helys the grond in maltalent,


And brokkyn schaftis with hys blude bysprent.20


This ilk Mezentius eik dedenȝeit nocht


To sla Orodes, quhilk than was onflocht,


That is to knaw, quhill frawart hym he went,


And reput na wys, as by hys entent,


Syk ane fleand to wond into the bak,25


Onawarnyst, quhen he na defens mycht mak,


Bot ran abowt and met hym in hys rays;


Than athir man assemblit face for face:


Orodes mair of prattik was all owt,


Bot the tother in dedis of armys mair stowt,30
[Pg 654]

That to the erth ourthrawyn he hes his feir,


And, possand at hym with hys stalwart speir,


Apon hym set hys fut, and thus he said:


O now my feris, beys blyth and glaid;


Lo, a gret party of this weir, but les,5


Heir lyis at erd, the douchty Orodes.


Hys feris sammyn rasyt vp a cry,


With joyus sound in syng of victory,


And blew the prys triumphall for his deth:


Bot this Orodes, ȝaldand vp the breth,10


Onto Mezentyus carpys thus on hie:


Me onrevengit, thou sal nocht victour be,


For weill I wait that sone I salbe wrokyn,


Na, for all thy prowd wordis thou has spokkyn,


Thou sall nocht lang endur into sik joy;15


Bot siclyke chancis and semblant ennoy


Abydis the, thocht thou be nevir sa bald,


Thys sammyn feild sall thy ded corps withhald.


To quham Mezentius smyland said in teyn;


Thou sall de first, quhat evyr to me forseyn20


Or previdyt has myghty Jove, quod he,


Quham fader of Goddis and kyng of men cleip we.


And sayand thus, the schaft the ilk thraw


Furth of hys wond and body dyd he draw.


Tho Orodes the hard rest doith oppres,25


The cauld and irny slepe of dethys stres,


And vp the breth he ȝald onon rycht


With eyn closyt in evir lestand nycht.


Cedicus al totrynschit Alcathous,


And Sacrator to grund laid Hydaspus;30
[Pg 655]

Rapo, ane Arcaid, has Parthenyus slane,


And Orses, wondir byg of blude and bane;


And Mesapus kyllyt the stowt Clonyvs,


And Erycates with Lychaonyus;


The formast lyggand at the erd he ouvraucht,5


That by hys hedstrang hors a fall had caught,


And Lychaonyus eik, a fut man, he


Lyghtit on fut and slew in the melle.


Aganys hym than went a man of Arge,


Hait Lycyus, bodyn with speir and targe;10


Bot by the way Valerus, gude in nedis,


Nocht inexpert in douchty eldris dedis,


Recontryt hym, and put hym to the ded:


Salyus a Troiane in that sammyn sted


Atronyus slew; and Nealces, expert15


To schut the fleand arrow or castyng dart,


Quhilk invadis a man or he be war,


Slew Salyus with schot, beand on far.






 CAP. XIII.




Quhou Eneas the ȝong Lawsus has slane,


Quhilk fred his fader hurt in the bargane.






Thus awfull Mars equaly with hys brand


The sorow rasyt apon athir hand:20


Huge slauchter maid was and seir woundis wyd,


Thai kyll and ar bet down on euery syde,
[Pg 656]

That sammyn in the feild thai fall infeir,


Baith the victouris, and thai that venquyst weir,


And nother party wist, nother he nor he,


To salf hym self quhar away to fle:


So that the Goddis in Jovys hevynly hald5


Had compassioun and rewth for to behald


The wroith and ire of athir in the fightis,


That sik distres rang amang mortal wightis.


Venus towart the Troiane syde tuke tent:


Aganyst quham, all full of maltalent,10


Saturnus douchter Juno, that full bald is,


Towart the party aduersar behaldis;


And the pail furour of Tysiphone


Walkis wod wroth amydwart the melle.


Bot pryncipaly Mezentyus all engrevyt,15


With a gret speir, quharwith he feill myschevit,


Went brangland throu the feild all hym allon:


As bustuus as the hydduus Orion,


Quhen he on fut woyd throu the mekill see,


Scherand the streym with hys schuldris hie,20


Abufe the wallys of the flude apperis;


Or lyke ane ancyent ayk tre, mony ȝheris


That grew apon sum montane toppys hycht,


Semand so hie to euery manis sycht,


Quhilk, thocht hys rutis spred in the grond all sydis,25


Hys crop vpstraucht amyd the clowdis hydis:


Syk lyke Mezentius mustyrris in the feild,


With huge armour, baith speir, helm, and scheild.


Aganyst quham Eneas fast hym hyis,


Fra tyme amyd the rowt he hym aspyis.30
[Pg 657]

The tother, onabasyt, all reddy thar


The cummyng of hys douchty aduersar


Abydis stowtly, fermyt in hys fors,


And massely vpstude with bustuus cors;


And, mesurand with hys E als large spais5


As he mycht thraw a castyng speir, thus says:


My rycht hand, and this fleand dart mot be,


Quhilk now I tays, as verray God to me!


Assistyng to my schot I ȝou beseik;


For I awow, and heir promittys eyk,10


In syng of trophe or triumphall meith,


My lovit son Lawsus forto cleith


With spulȝe and all harnes rent, quod he,


Of ȝondir rubbaris body, fals Enee.


Thus said he; and fra hys hand the ilk tyde15


The castyng dart fast byrrand lattis glyde,


That fleand sclentis on Eneas scheild;


Syne, standand far on rovm ȝond in the feild,


Smate worthy Anthores the ilk thraw,


Betwix the bowellys and the rybbys law:20


Anthores, ane of gret Hercules ferys,


That come from Arge into hys lusty ȝheris,


Inherdand to Evander the Arcaid,


And had hys dwellyng and hys residens maid


In Palentyn, cite Italian;25


Onhappely now lyggis thus down slane,


All of a wound and dynt quhilk in the fycht


Addressit was towart ane other knycht.


Ȝit, deand, he beheld the hevynnys large,


And can ramembir hys sweit cuntre of Arge.30
[Pg 658]

Than the reuthfull Eneas kest hys spere,


Quhilk throu Mezentius armour all dyd schere;


Throw gyrd hys targe platyt thrys with steill,


And throw the cowchit lynnyn euery deill,


And thrynfald plyis of the bullys hydis,5


That law down in hys flank the dynt abydis:


Bot it byreft hym nowder lyfe ne mycht.


Eneas tho, quhilk was expert in fyght,


Joyfull quhen that Mezentius blude saw he,


Furth hynt hys swerd at hang law by hys thee,10


And fervently towart hys fa can pas,


Quhilk, for the dynt, sum deill astonyst was.


Quhen Lawsus saw this aventour of weir,


He wepyt wail sair for hys fader deir;


Sa wobegone becam this lusty man15


That salt teris fast our hys chekis ran.


Forsuyth, I sall not ourslyp in this sted


Thy hard myschance, Lawsus, and fatale ded,


And thy maist dowchty actis bellycall:


O fresch ȝongker, maist dyng memoriall20


I sall rehers, gyf ony faith may be


Gevyn to sa gret dedis of antiquyte.


With this Mezentyus menzeit drew abak,


Harland hys leg quharin the schaft stak,


That quhar he went he baris our the feild25


Hys ennemys lance fixit in hys scheild.


Betwix thame ruschys in the ȝong Lawsus,


Amyd thar wapynnys, stern and curagus,


Hym self has set forto sustene the fyght:


Vnder Eneas rycht hand rasyt on hycht.30
[Pg 659]

That reddy was to smyte a dedly wond,


In steppis he, and baldly the ilk stound


The bytand brand vphevyt keppyt he,


And can resist and stynt the gret Enee.


Hys feris followys with a felloun schowt:5


Quhill that Mezentius of the feild wan owt,


Diffend and coverit with hys sonnys scheild,


Thai cast dartis thikfald thar lord to held,


With schaftis schot, and flanys gret plente,


Perturband thar stern aduersar Ene;10


That all enragyt hys sovir targe erekkit,


And thar vndre hym haldis closly dekkyt.


And lyke as sum tyme clowdis brystis attanys,


The schowr furthȝettand of hoppand hailstanys,


That all the plewmen and thar hynys inhy15


Fleis of the croftis and feildis by and by;


And eik the travellour ȝond vnder the wald


Lurkand withdrawys to sum sovir hald,


Owdir vndir watyr brays and bankis dern,


Or in sum craggis clyft, or deip cavern,20


So lang as that the schour lestis on the plane,


That he may, when the son schynys agane,


Exers hys journe, or hys wark alsfast:


Syk wys Ene with schoit and dartis cast


Was all ourheld, and ombeset ilk syde,25


Quhil he the pres of batale styntis that tyde,


And all thar fors sustenyt and deray;


Reprevand Lawsus, thus begouth to say,


And mannansyt hym with brand of blude all red:


Quhidder hastis thou sa fast apon thy ded?30
[Pg 660]

Or quhou dar thou ondertak into fyght


Syk interprys, quhilk is abuf thy mycht?


Thou art nocht wys; thy tendir hart, quod he,


And rewthfull mynd all owt dissavis the.


Bot for all thys ȝong Lawsus, vail que vaill,5


Wald no wys ces Eneas till assaill.


Than hyear rays the wraith and felloun ire


Of the ilk manfull Troiane lordly syre,


And eyk the fatale sisteris tho in deid


Had wymplyt vp this Lawsus lattyr threid:10


For so Eneas stokis hys styf brand


Throw owt this ȝongker, hard vp to hys hand,


That swerd, befor maid mannansyng and bost,


Throw gyrd that gentill body and hys cost,


Hys target persand, and hys armour lycht,15


And eik hys cote of goldyn thredis brycht


Quhilk hys moder hym span; and, to conclude,


Hys bosum all is fillyt of hait blude:


Sone eftir is the spreit of lyfe furth went


Down to the goistis law with sad entent,20


And left the body ded, and hyne dyd pas.


Bot quhen Anchises son, fers Eneas,


Beheld hys wlt and contenans in deyng,


Hys sweit vissage sa in the ded thrawyng


Becummyn wan and paill on diuers wys,25


He sychit profundly owder twys or thrys,


And drew abak hys hand, and rewth has hynt;


For so into hys mynd, eftir the dynt,


The ymage of hys faderly piete


Imprentit was, that on this wys said he:30
[Pg 661]

O douchty ȝynglyng, worthy tobe menyt,


Worthy tobe bewalyt and complenyt,


Quhat sall the reuthfull compacient Ene


For sa gret lovabill dedis rendir the?


Or quhat may he the ȝeld sufficient5


For sik natural and inborn hardyment?


Thyne armour, quharof sumtyme thou reiosyt,


With the I leif, for ay to beyn eniosyt:


Onto thy parentis handis and sepultre


I the beleif tobe entyrit, quod he,10


Gyf that sic maner of triumphe and cost


May do thame plesour, or eys onto thy gost.


Bot thou, onsilly child, sa will of red,


Do comfort heirwith thy lamentabill ded,


That thou ourmatchit art and thus lyis slane15


By the gretast Eneas handis twane.


Syne he hys feris can repreif and chyde,


That thai sa lang delayt hym besyde,


Makand na haist to bair hys corps away;


And he hym self betwix hys armys tway20


The ded body vpliftis fra the grond,


That with the red blude of his new grene wond


Besparklyt had hys ȝallow lokkis brycht,


That ayr war kemmyt and addressyt rycht.




[Pg 662]




 CAP. XIV.




Fra Mezentius knew ȝong Lawsus deces,


Hym to revenge his lyfe lost in the pres.






The meyn sesson, hys fader with his feris,


Down at the fludis syde of Tyberis,


Stanschit his wondis with watyr by and by,


Weschand the blude and swait from hys body.


Hys helm of steil besyde hym hang weil ne5


Apon a grayn or branch of a grene tre;


Hys other weghty harnes, gud in neid,


Lay on the gyrs besyde hym in the meid;


Hys trasty chosyn verlettis hym abowt:


And he ful for wondyt, all in dowt,10


Stude lenand with hys wery nek and bonys


Owt our a bowand tre, with sair gronys;


Hys weil kemmyt berd, hyngand ful straucht


Apon his breist, onto hys gyrdill raucht:


And feill tymys on Lawsus menys he,15


Prayand full oft he mycht hym falsly se,


And mony messyngeris onto hym hes send,


To withdraw hym the feild, and to defend


That he abyde na langar in bargane,


And schaw quhat sorow for hym hys fader had tane.20


Bot than Lawsus ded owt of the feild


Hys wofull feris careit apon a scheild,


Wepand sa gret a man was brocht to grond,


And discumfyt with sa grysly a wond.
[Pg 663]

Mezentius mynd and consait, the ilk tyde,


Suspekand the harmys quhilkis war betyde,


On far considerit the caus of thar murnyng,


And on hys canos hair the dust can slyng,


With mekill powdir fyland hys hasart hed;5


And baith hys handis in that sammyn sted


Towart the hevin vphevis in a fary,


And he the Goddis and starnys fast dyd wary;


Syne, lenand on hys sonnys corps, thus cryis:


O my deir child and tendir get heir lyis!10


Had I sa gret appetit and delyte


Onto this wrachit lyfe, sa ful of syte,


That I the sufferit to entyr in my sted


Vndre our fays hand, and with thy ded


My lyfe is salfit? Ha, I thy fader heir,15


Quhilk the begat, my only son sa deir,


Suld I be salf and lyfand eftir the,


Throu tha sa grisly wondis that I se?


Allace, onto me, wrachit catyve thing,


Myne exill now at last and banysyng20


Becummyn is hard and insufferabill!


The stound of deth, the panys lamentabill,


Is deip engravyn in my hart onsound;


Now am I smyttyn with the mortal wond!


I, the self man was the caus of thy ded,25


With my trespas, my child, in euery sted


Filyt the glor and honour of thy name,


Thy hie renovn bespottand with my schame,


As I that was, by invy and haitrent


Of my awin pepill, with thar haill assent,30
[Pg 664]

Expellit from my ceptre and my ryng,


And was adettyt, for my mysdoyng


Onto our cuntre, till haue sufferit pane:


I aucht and worthy was to haue bene slane,


And to haue ȝald this wikkyt sawle of myne5


Be all maner of turment and of pyne,


Fortill amend myne offencis and fed.


Ha, now I lyf, allace! and thou art ded!


Ȝit want I not off men the cumpany,


Nowder lyght of lyfe, ne cleirnes of the sky,10


Bot soyn I sal thame leif and part tharfra.


And sayand thus, sammyn with mynd ful thra


He rasyt hym vp apon hys wondit thee,


And determyt to revenge hym or de:


For thocht the violens of hys sair smart15


Maid hym onfery, ȝit hys stalwart hart


And curage ondekeit was gude in neid.


He bad ga fech Rhebus, hys ryall sted,


Quhilk was hys wirschip and hys comfort haill,


And hys support hys fays to assaill;20


For by thys hors in euery gret iourne


Hame fra the feild victour eschapit he.


Quhamto Mezentyus, but mair abaid,


Seand the steid drowpand and sad, thus said:


Rhebus, we twa hes levit lang yfeir,25


Gyf that to mortal wightis in this erd heir


Ony tyme may be reput lang, quod he.


Owder this day beys thou revengear with me


Of Lawsus dolorus deith, and wrek our schame,


And sall as victour with the bryngyn hame30
[Pg 665]

Ȝon bludy spulȝe, and Eneas hed;


Or, gif na fors nor strenth into that sted


Will suffir ony way that it be so,


We sal in feild sammyn de baith two.


For, O moist forcy steid, my lovyt foill,5


I can na wys beleif at thou may thoill


To be at ony otheris commandment,


Nor that the lift dedeyn, gif I war schent,


Till obey ony master or lord Troiane.


And sayand thus, ful towartly onane10


The steid bekend held to hys schulder plat,


And he at eys apon hys bak doun sat;


And bath hys handis fillyt with dartis keyn,


With helm on hed burnyst brycht and scheyn,


Abuf the quhilk hys tymbret buklyt was,15


Lyke till a lokryt mayn with mony fas.


And into sik array with swyft curs he


Furth steris hys steid, and draif in the melle.


Deip in hys hart boldynnys the felloun schame,


Myxit with dolour, angir, and defame;20


The fervent luf of hys son ȝyng of age


Gan catchyng hym into the furyus rage;


Tharto alsso persuadis to the fyght


Hys hors weil knawin hys hardyment and mycht:


And, in sik poynt, throw owt the rowtis all25


With mychty voce thrys dyd Eneas call.


Eneas hard hym cry, and weil hym knew,


And glaid tharof can towartis hym persew,


And prayand says; the fader of Goddis hie,


And eik mychty Apollo, that grant to me,30
[Pg 666]

Thou wald begyn in bargan on this land


To mell with me, and to meyt hand for hand.


Thus carpyt he, and with stern lance, but tary,


Furth steppys forto meyt hys aduersary.


Bot Mezentius, seand hym cumand,5


Cryit to hym onon and bad hym stand:


O thou maist cruell aduersar, said he,


Quhat wenys thou so to effray and bost me,


Sen thou my son has me bereft this day,


Quhilk was only the maner and the way10


Quharby thou mycht ourcum me and distroy?


Now, sen that I haue tynt all warldis joy,


Nowder I abhor the ded, to starve in fyght,


Nor rak I ocht of ony Goddis mycht.


Desist, and ces to bost me or manas,15


For I am cum to de in this ilk plas;


Bot first I bryng the thir rewards, quod he.


With that word, at his fa a dart leyt fle,


And eftir that ane other has he cast,


And syne ane other has he fixit fast,20


About hym prekand in a cumpas large:


Bot all thir dyntis sustenyt the goldin targe.


Thrys on the left half fast, as he war wod,


About Eneas raid he quhar he stude,


Thik with hys handis swakkand dartis keyn:25


And thrys this Troiane prynce our all the greyn,


Intil hys stalwart stelyt scheild stikand owt,


Lyke a hair wod the dartis bair abowt.


At last, as he ennoyt of this deray,


This irksum traysyng, jowkyng, and delay,30
[Pg 667]

And cumryt wolx sa mony dartis invane


Thus oft to draw furth and to cast agane,


As he that was matchit that tyme, but faill,


With hys fa man in bargane inequale,


Quhilk ay was at avantage and onflocht,5


Full mony thing revoluyt he in thocht;


Syne on that weirman ruschit he in teyn:


In the forhed, betwix the horsys eyn,


He kest hys speir with all his fors and mycht.


Vpstendis thar the stalwart steid on hycht,10


And with his helys flang up in the ayr;


Down swakkis the knycht sone with a fellon fair,


Foundris fordwart flatlyngis on hys spald,


Ourquhelmyt the man, and can hys feit onfald.


Than the Latynys, and eik pepill Troianys,15


The hevynnys dyndlit with a schowt at anys.


Eneas gyrd abufe hym with a braid,


Hynt furth hys swerd, and forthir thus he said:


Quhar is he now, Mezentius, sa stern?


Quhar is the fers stowt curage of that bern?20


Quhamto Mezentius, this ilk prynce Tyrrheyn,


Fra that he mycht alyftyn vp his eyn


To se the hevynnys licht, and draw hys braith,


And hys rycht mynd agane recoverit haith,


Thus answeris: O thou dispituus fo,25


Quharto me chydis thou reprochand so,


And manancis me to the ded by and by?


Of my slauchter I think na villany,


Nor on sik wys heir com I not in feild,


That I stand aw to swelt vnder my scheild;30
[Pg 668]

Nor, I beleif, na frendschip in thy handis,


Nane syk trety of sawchnyng nor cunnandis,


My son Lawsus band vp with the, perfay.


Bot of a thyng I the beseik and pray,


Gif ony plesour may be grantit or beld5


Till aduersaris, that lyis venquyst in feild;


That is to knaw, suffir my body haue


Ane sepultur, and with erd be bygrave.


I knaw abowt me standand in this sted


My folkis byttyr haitrent and gret feid:10


Defend me from thar furour, I requeir,


And grant my corps, besyde my sonnys infeir,


Into sum tumbe entyrit for tobe.


And sayand thus, knawand at he most de,


Befor hys eyn persavyt the burnyst brand,15


That throuch hys gorge went from Eneas hand;


Within hys armour, schortly to conclude,


Furth bruschit the sawle with gret stremys of blude.


Be this the son declynyt was almost,


So that the Latynys and Rutilian ost,20


Quhat for the absens of thar duke Turnus,


And new slauchter of bald Mezentius,


Withdrew thame to thar raset in affray,


And Troianys went onto thar rest quhil day.




[Pg 669]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE ELEVINT BUKE.






Thow hie renown of Martis chevalry,


Quhilk gladis euery gentill wight to heir,


Gif thou mycht Mars and Hercules deify,


Quharfor beyn nobillys to follow prowes swer?


Weill auchtin eldris exemplis ws to steir5


Tyll hie curage, all honour till ensew:


Quhen we consider quhat wirschip tharof grew,


All vyce detest, and vertu lat ws leyr.




Prowes, but vyce, is provit lefull thyng


By haly scriptur into syndry place,10


Be Machabeus, Josue, Dauid kyng,


Mychael, and eyk hys angellys full of grace,


That can the dragon furth of hevynnys chace


With vailȝeand dyntis of ferm myndis contrar:


Nane other strokis nor wapynnys had thai thar,15


Nother speir, buge, pol ax, swerd, knyfe, nor mace.




In takynnyng that in chevalry or fyght


Our myndis suld haue just ententioun,


The grond of batale fundyt apon rycht;


Not for thou lyst to mak discentioun,20
[Pg 670]

To seik occasyons of contentioun,


Bot rype thy querrell, and discus it plane:


Wrangis to reddres suld wer be vndertane,


For na conquest, reif, skat, nor pensioun.




To speke of moral vertuus hardyment,5


Or rather of dyvyne, is myne entent;


For warldly strenth is febill and impotent


In Goddis sight, and insufficient.


The Psalmyst says, that God is not content


In mannys stalwart lymmys nor strenth of cors,10


Bot into thame that trastis in hys fors,


Askand mercy, and dredand jugement.




Strang fortitud, quhilk hardyment cleip we,


Abuf the quhilk the vertu souerane


Accordyng pryncis, hecht magnanymyte,15


Is a bonte set betwix vicis twane:


Of quham fuyl hardynes clepit is the tane,


That vndertakis all perrellis but avice;


The tother is namyt schamefull cowardyce,


Voyd of curage, and dolf as ony stane.20




The first is hardy all owt by mesur,


Of tyme nor rayson gevis he na cuyr,


No dowt he castis, bot all thinkis suyr,


Nocht may he suffir, nor hys hait endur:


The tother is of all prowes sa puyr,25


That evir he standis in feir and felloun dreid,
[Pg 671]

And nevir dar vndertak a douchty deid,


Bot doith all curage and all manheid smuyr.




The first soundis towart vertu sum deill,


Hardy he is, couth he be avyse;


Of hardyment the tother has na feill:5


Quhou may curage and cowardys agre?


Of fortitud to compt ȝou euery gre,


As Arestotill in hys Ethikis doith expres,


It wald, as now, conteyn our lang proces;


Quharfor of other chevalry carp will we.10




Gyf Crystis faithfull knychtis lyst ws be,


So as we aucht, and promyst hes at font,


Than mon we byde baldly, and neuer fle,


Nowder be abasyt, tepyt, nor ȝit blunt,


Nor as cowartis to eschew the first dunt.15


Pawle witnessith, that nane sall wyn the crown,


Bot he quhilk dewly makis hym reddy bown


To stand wightly, and feght in the forfront.




And quha that sall nocht wyn the crown of meid,


That is to say, the euerlestand blys,20


The fyre eternall neidlyngis most thai dreid:


For Cryst into his gospell says, I wys,


Quha bydis nocht with me contrar me is:


And gif thou be aganyst God, but weir


Than art thou wageour onto Lucifer.25


God salf ws all from sik a fyre as this!
[Pg 672]



The armour of our chevalry, perfay,


So the Apostyll techis ws expres,


Not corporall bot sperituall beyn thai,


Our conquyst haill, our vassellage and prowes,


Aganyft spretis and pryncis of myrknes;5


Not agane man, owr awyn brother and mait,


Nor ȝit aganyst our maker to debait,


As rabell tyll all vertu and gudnes.




The flesch debatis aganys the spiritual gost,


Hys hie curage with sensual lust to law,10


And, be the body victor, baith ar lost;


The spreit wald vp, the cors ay down list draw:


Thy secund fa the warld, ane other thraw,


Makis strang assaltis of covatys and estait,


Aganyst quham is full perrellus debait;15


Thir fays famyliar beyn full quaynt to knaw.




Lyff in thy flesch as master of thy corps,


Lyf in this warld as nocht ay to remane;


Resist the fendis slycht with all thy fors,


He is thy ancyent ennemy, werst of ane;20


A thousand wylys he hes, and mony a trane,


He kendillis oft thy flesch in byrnand heit,


He causys wrachit plesans seym full sweit,


And, for nocht, of this fals warld makis the fane.




He is thy fa and aduersar principall,25


Of promyssioun wald the expell the land,
[Pg 673]

For he the sammyn lost, and caucht a fall;


Enfors the strangly contrar hym to stand.


Rays hie the targe of faith vp in thy hand,


On hed the halsum helm of hoip onlace,


In cheryte thy body all embrace,5


And of devoit oryson mak thy brand.




Stand at defens, and schrynk not for a schore:


Thynk on the haly marthyris at ar went,


Thynk on the payn of hell, and endles glore,


Thynk quhou thy Lord for the on rude was rent,10


Thynk, and thou fle fra hym, than art thou schent,


Thynk all thou sufferis ontyll hys paynis nocht is,


Thynk with quhou precyus pryce as thy sawll bocht is,


And ay the moder of grace in mynd enprent.




Feill beyn thy fays, fers, and full of slycht,15


Bot be thou stalwart campioun and knycht;


In feild of grace with forsaid armour brycht


Thou may debait thame lyghtly in ilk fyght:


For of fre will thyne acton is sa wight


Nane may it pers, wilt thou resist and stand;20


Becum thow cowart, crawdoun recryand,


And by consent cry cok, thy ded is dycht.




Thynk quhou that fa is waik and impotent,


May venquys nane bot thame lyst be ourcum;


He sal the nevir ourset, but thy consent.25


Eith is defens to say nay, or be dum;
[Pg 674]

And for thy weill, lo, thys is all and sum:


Consent nevir, and thou sall nevir be lost,


By disassent thou may venquys ane ost,


And, for anys ȝa, tyne thy meid euery crum.




Na wondir is; for by exempill we se,5


Quha servys hys souerane intill all degre


Full mony days, and eftir syne gif he


Commyttis anys trayson, suld he nocht de,


Les than hys prynce, of gret humanyte,


Pardoun hys falt for hys lang trew seruys,10


Gyf he wald mercy craif? The sammyn wys


We beyn forgevyn, so that repent will we.




Bot quhat avalys begyn a strang melle,


Syne ȝeld the to thy fa, but ony quhy,


Or cowartly to tak the bak and fle?15


Na; thar sall nane optene hie victory,


Les thai sustene the bargane dowchtely;


And quha so perseueris to the end


Ane conquerour and campioun euir is kend,


With palm of triumphe, honour, and glory.20




The maist onsilly kynd of fortoun is


To haue beyn happy; Boetius techis so;


As, to haue beyn in welth and hartis blys,


And now tobe dekeit and in wo:


Richt so, quha vertuus was, and fallys tharfro. 25


Of verray rayson malewrus hait is he;
[Pg 675]

And ȝit, by grace and hys fre volunte,


He may recovir meryt agane alsso.




I say, be grace; for quhen thou art in grace,


Thou may eik grace to grace, ay mor and mor;


Bot quhen thou fallys be syn tharfra, allace!5


Of thy meryte thou gettis hyr nevirmor:


Ȝit quhen thou dewly disponys the tharfor,


Doand all that in the thar may be done,


Of hys gudnes the etern Lord alssone


Restorys the meryt, with grace in arlys of glore.10




Haill thy meryt thou had tofor thy fall,


That is to say, thy warkis meritabill,


Restorit ar agane baith gret and small,


And grace tharto, quhilk is sa profitabill


That thou tharby to eik meryt art habill;15


Bot nocht ilk gre of grace thou had befor;


That gettis thou not sa soyn, quhill forthyrmor:


Be war tharfor, fall not, bot standis stabill.




For lyke as quha offendit had hys lord,


That lang tofor hys trew servand had bene,20


And syne agane becumis at ane accord


With hys master, all thocht hys lord wald meyn


On hys ald seruyce, ȝit netheles, I weyn,


He sall nocht soyn be tendir, as he was ayr:


Be war tharwith, and kepe ȝou fra the snair,25


Tyne nocht ȝour laubour and ȝour thank betweyn.
[Pg 676]



Exempill takis of this prynce Ene,


That, for hys fatale cuntre of behest,


Sa feill dangeris sustenyt on land and see,


Syk stryfe in stour sa oft with speir in rest,


Quhill he hys realm conquest bath west and est:5


Sen all this dyd he for a temporall ryng,


Pres ws to wyn the kynryk ay lestyng,


Addres ws fast fortill opteyn that fest.




He may be callyt, as says sanct Augustyn,


Ane delicat, owr esy, crystyn knycht,10


Refusys to thoill traval, sturt, or pyne,


And but debait wenys till optene the fyght.


To wyn the feild, and nevir preif thy mycht,


That war nyce thyng: thy kyng Cryste in batell


Quhat sufferit he for the, O catyve wight!15


Lyis thou at eys, thy prynce in bargane fell?




Aschamys of our sleutht and cowardyce!


Seand thir gentyles and the paganys ald


Ensew vertu, and eschew euery vyce,


And for sa schort renown warryn so bald20


To susteyn weir and panys teyr ontald;


Than lat ws stryve that realm forto posseid,


The quhilk was hecht till Abraham and hys seyd:


Lord, at ws wrocht and bocht, grant ws that hald!




[Pg 677]




 THE ELEVINT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Eftir the feild Enee maid sacrifyce,


Offerand the spulȝe to Mars, as was the gys.






Duryng this quhile, furth of the sey dyd spryng


The fresch Aurora with the brycht dawyng.


Ene, albeyt hys hasty thochtfull curis


Constrenyt hym, as twychyng sepulturis


Of hys folkis new slane and berying,5


Forto provide a tyme mast accordyng,


And gretly eik in mynd he trublyt was


For the slauchtyr and ded corps of Pallas;


Ȝit netheles, as first the son vpsprent,


Scheddyng hys bemys in the orient,10


As victor he onto the Goddis als tyte


With sacryfyce can hys vowys acquyte.


Ane akyn tre, was huge gret and squar,


The branchis sned and kut abowt alquhar,


Apoun a motys hycht vpset has he,15


And all with schynand armour cled the tre:
[Pg 678]

The coyt armour and spulȝe tharon hang


Of Mezentius, the vailȝeand campioun strang;


To the, gret God of stryfe, armypotent,


In syng of trophe tharon was vpstent


Hys cryst and hewmet all besprent with blude,5


The brokyn trunschions of hys speris rude,


And hys fyne hawbryk, with speir, swerd, and macis,


Assayt and persyt into twys sax placis;


Hys stelyt scheild dyd on the left syde hyng;


Abowt hys gorget, or hys nek armyng,10


Was hung hys swerd with evor scawbart fyne.


And thus exortis Ene hys ferys syne:


The chiftanys all abowt hym lowkyt war,


Quhilk glaidsum warryn of this joyus fair.


O douchty men, quod he, worthy in weris,15


The grettast part of our warkis and afferis


Beyn endit now, sa that in tyme cummyng


All feir and dreid ar passyt of ony thyng:


Thir bene the spulȝe, and first weirly weid,


Reft from the prowd kyng be my handis in deid;20


Lo, heir Mezentius venquyst lyis doun bet.


Now to the wallys of Lawrent and the ȝet


The way is maid to kyng Latyn to wend.


Tharfor addres ȝour myndis, and attend


To armys and to weirfar euery ane,25


Provydand in ȝour consatis for bargane;


So that ȝhe reddy be, and na delay


May stoppyn ȝou, nor stunnys ane other day,


Be ȝour awyn sleuth, for lak of gude forsycht,


Gif ȝe onwarnyst beys callyt to the fycht:30
[Pg 679]

Alssone as fyrst the Goddis omnipotent


By sum sygnys or takyn lyst consent


The ensenȝeis and baneris be vphynt,


And all the ȝonkeris meyt for swerdis dynt,


Of thar tentis convoyt in array,5


Se ȝhe all reddy be than, but delay.


And, in the meyn quhile, lat ws to erd haue


The corpsys of our fallowys onbegraue;


Quhilk only honour is haldyn in daynte


At Acheron, the lawest hellys see.10


Pas on, he said; tha sawlys valȝeant,


Quhilk, with habundans of thar blude bysprent,


Has conquyst ws this realm apon sik wys,


Do honour with thar funeral servys,


And wirschip with thar finale last rewardis.15


Bot first, befor all corpsis of tha lardis,


Ontill Evandrys dolorus cite


Of ȝong Pallas the body send mon we;


Quham, wantand na vertu nor prowes,


The wofull day hes ws byreft expres,20


And with a wofull slauchter caucht, allace!


Thus said he, wepand salt terys our hys face:


Syne tuke hys vayage towart the ilk sted


Quhar Pallas lyfles corps was lyggand ded;


Quham ancyent Acetes thar dyd kepe,25


With flottyryt berd of terys all beweip;


The quhilk Acetes had tofor ybe


Squyer to kyng Evander, from the cite


Of Parrha cummyn into Arcady,


And at thys tyme was send in cumpany30
[Pg 680]

With hys deir fostyr child he had in cur,


Bot not, as ayr, with happy aventur.


About the corps alhaill the multitud


Of servyturis and Troiane commonys stud,


And dolorus Phrigyane wemen, on thar gys,5


With hair down schaik, and petuus spraichis and cryis.


Bot, fra that enterit was Eneas bald


Within the portis of that large hald,


A huge clamour thai rasyt and womentyng,


Betand thar brestis quhill all the lyft dyd ryng;10


So lowd thar wofull bewalyng habundis


That all the palyce dynnys and resoundis.


Thys prynce hym self, fra that he did behald


The snaw quhite vissage of this Pallas bald,


Hys hed vphald, mycht nocht the self sustene,15


And eik the gapand dedly wond hes sene,


Maid by the sperys hed Rutilyane


Amyd hys snerth and fair slekyt breist bane.


With terys brystand from hys eyn, thus plenyt:


O douchty child, maist worthy tobe menyt,20


Has fortoun me envyit sa far that, eft


Our weill is cummyn, thus thou art me bereft,


Sa that thou suld not se our ryng, said he,


Nor ȝit as victor with prosperyte


Onto thy faderis cite hame retour?25


Syk promys hecht I not the lattir hour


To thy fader Evandrus, quhen that he


At my departyng last embrasyt me,


And send me to conquys a large empyre:


And, dredand eyk for the, that lordly syre30
[Pg 681]

Vs monyst tobe war and avyse,


Becaus the men quhamwith to do had we


War bald and stern; said, we had wer at hand


With bustuus folk, that weill in stryfe durst stand.


Now, certis, he levand in hoip, invane,5


For thy prosper returnyng haym agane


Perchans doith mak prayer and offerandis,


Chargeand the altaris oft with hys awyn handis:


Bot we hys lyfles child, quhilk aw na thyng


Onto the Goddis of the hevynly ryng,10


With womentyng heir menand tendyrly,


And vayn honour, accumpaneis by and by.


O fey onhappy kyng Archadian!


Now thy sonnys ded corps cruelly slane


Thou sal behald: allace, the panys strang!15


This is our haymcom thou desyrit lang;


This salbe our triumphe thou lang abaid,


To se thy a son on hys beir tre laid!


Ha! quhat, is this my promys and gret faith?


Bot, O Evander, beys not with me wraith;20


Thou sall not se thy son was dryve abak


With schamefull wondis that he caucht in the bak:


Ne thou hys fader, war he alyve this day,


Suld nevir haue lak of hym, ne for hym pray


For hys desert he deit a schamefull deth;25


And now with honour hes he ȝald the breth.


Bot netheles, quhat harm, ful ways me!


Quhou large support, hey! quhat beld or supple


In hym hes tynt Ausonya the ryng,


And quhou gret deill hes lost Ascanyus ȝyng!30




[Pg 682]




 CAP. II.




Ȝong Pallas corps is till Evander sent,


With all honour accordyny hys tyrment.








Quhen he bewalyt had on this maner,


This wofull corps he bad do lyft on beir,


And with hym send a thousand men in hy


Walyt of euery rowt and cumpany,


Forto convoy and do hym falloschip5


At hys last honour and funeral wirschip,


And tobe present at the lamentyng


Of hys fader, to comfort hys murnyng;


Thocht smal solace was that to hys regrait,


Quhilk was sa huge, bot to hys estait10


Accordit weill that sik thingis suld be,


Quhen all wightis mycht rew on hym to se.


Sum of Eneas ferys bissely


Flakis to plet thame presys by and by,


And of small wikkyris forto beld a beir15


Of sowpill wandis and of bronys seir,


Bund with the syonys or the twystis sle


Of small rammell or stobys of akyn tre.


Thyr beddis beldyt, or funeral lytteris,


Syk tumbys as for ded corps efferis,20


With greyn burgionys and branchys fair and weill


Thai gan ourheld, and stentys euery deill:


Amyd the quhilkis, of blumys apon a byng


Strowyt full hie, thai laid this Pallas ȝyng;
[Pg 683]

Lyggyn tharon als semly forto se


As is the fresch flowris schynand bewte,


Newly pullyt vp from hys stalkis smaill


With tendyr fyngeris of the damysaill,


Or the soft violet that doys freschly schyne,5


Or than the purpour flour, hayt jacynthyne;


Quham all thocht the erth hys moder with sap


Hym nurys not, nor comfortis on hir lap,


Ȝyt than hys schene cullour and figur glaid


Is not all went, nor hys bewte defaid.10


Eneas syne twa robbys furth gart fold


Of rych purpour and styf burd of gold,


Quhilk vmquhil Dydo, Quheyn of Sydones,


Of sik laubour full byssy tho, I ges,


As at that tyme to ples hym wonder glaid,15


With hir awyn handis to hym wrocht and maid,


Wovyn full weill, and brusyt as rych wedis,


Of costly stuf and subtell goldyn thredis;


And with the tane of thir full dolorusly


Eneas cled the ȝyng Pallas body,20


Tobe hys finall and hys last honour:


Hys lokkis and hys harys the self hour,


Quhilkis war forto be brynt in assys cald,


Into the tother habyt dyd he fald.


Abuf all thys, rewardis mony ane,25


Yconquest in this batall Lawrentane,


In haill hepys with hym hes he send,


And bad thai suld tak gud kepe and attend


To leid the pray per ordour pompusly.


Feill horssys als he gaue thame by and by,30
[Pg 684]

With wapynnys eik, and other precyus geir,


That he had reft hys fa men in the weir:


The presoneris alsso, quham he had tak,


He send with handis bund behynd thar bak,


Quhilkis, at the obsequies or entyrment,5


To the infernal gostis suldbe sent,


And with thar bludis sched, as was the gys,


The funeral flambe strynkyll in sacrifys.


He bad the capitanys and the dukis all,


In syng of trophe or pomp triumphall,10


Gret perkis bair of treyn saplyng that squair is,


Cled with the armour of thar aduersaris,


To wryte and hyng tharon baith all and sum


The namys of thar ennemys ourcum.


Furth led was the onsilly Acetes,15


Ourset with age, and sorow mycht nocht ces;


Now bludyand hys awyn breist with hys fystis,


Now with hys nalys hys face rentis and brystis,


And oft down fallys spaldit on the erd,


With mony gowl, and a full petuus rerd.20


And furth war led rych cartis for the nanys,


Besprent with blude of the Rutylianys.


And eftir com Aethon, hys werly steid,


Dispulȝeit of hys harnessyng and weid;


Wepand he went for wo, men mycht haue seyn25


With gret terys floddyrrit hys face and eyn.


Ane bair hys helm, ane other bair hys speir;


For the remanys of hys harnes and geir,


Syk as hys rych gyrdill, and cotarmour,


Turnus victor byreft hym in the stour.30
[Pg 685]

Furth haldis syne the drery cumpany


Of Troianys, and Tyrrheyn dukis thame by;


And wofull Archadis, in syng of dolour, weris


Scheldis reversyt, and doun turnyt thar speris.


And eftir that, per ordour, by and by,5


Thai beyn furth passyt euery cumpany,


Eneas tho can styntyng and abaid,


And with a petuus regrait thus he said:


The horribill batellys of thir sammyn weris


Tyll otheris funerall womentyng and terys10


Callys ws from thens; we may nocht follow the,


Thyne entyrment forto behald and se.


Adew for ay, Pallas, beluffyt best,


Fair weill for evyr intill eternall rest!


Na mair he said, bot went towart new Troy,15


Entrand tharin with terys of ennoy.






 CAP. III.




Quhou Eneas onto the Latynys gave


Twelf days of respyt the ded corps to grave.








Be this war cum fra kyng Latynys cyte


Ambassatouris, with branch of olyve tre,


Besekand favouris and benevolens;


That he wald suffir tobe careyt from thens20


Tha corpsys ded, quhilkis on the feldis broun


Lay strowyt heir and thar, with swerd bet down,
[Pg 686]

And thame restor agane of hys gentre,


To suffyr thame begravyn for tobe;


Assuryng hym, thar mycht be led na weir


On venquyst folkis, that lyfles mycht not steir,


And prayt spair thar pepill at syk myschans,5


Quhylum clepyt hys frendis and acquentans.


Quhen that Eneas, heynd, curtas, and gud,


Thar peticioun sa ressonabill vndirstud,


As man that was fulfillyt of bonte,


Thar hail desyre full glaidly grantit he,10


And forthir eik onto thame thus he said:


O Latyn folkis, quhat mysfortoun onglaid


Has ȝou involuyt in sa onhappy weir


That ȝhe chays ws away, ȝour frendis deir?


Desyre ȝhe paix bot for thame that bene lost15


By marcyall fayt, and slane into this ost?


And I, forsuyth, tyll all that levand be


Wald glaidly grant the sammyn, I say for me.


Neuir hyddyr had I cummyn, wer not, perfay,


Into this sted the fatys hecht for ay20


Our restyng place providit and herbry;


Ne na weirfar with ȝour pepill led I.


Bot ȝour kyng has our confiderans vpgeif,


And rather hes settyn all hys beleif


On Turnus vassalage and his hie prowes:25


Thocht mor equale and ganand war, I ges,


To this Turnus, the brekar of our paix,


Till aventour hymself to de in pres.


Gif he pretendis in batale with a brand


To end the weir, or Troianys of this land30
[Pg 687]

Forto expell, heir semyt hym vnder scheild


With wapynnys to recontre me in feild,


That nane bot ane of ws war left levand,


Quhais lyfe God lyst withhald, or hys rycht hand.


Now haldis on, and all the lyfles banys5


And corpsis of ȝour wratchit citeȝanys


Do byrn, and bery eftir ȝour awyn gys:


Says Eneas, the Troiane war and wys.


Than of hys speche so awondrit war thai,


Kepit thar silens, and wist nocht quhat to say;10


And athir towartis otheris turnys, but mayr,


And can behald his fallow in a stair.


The eldast man amang thame, finaly,


Clepyt Drances, that had full gret envy


At ȝyng Turnus, all way to hym infest15


For ald malyce or of cryme manyfest,


Begouth to speke and ansuer thus agane:


O huge gret is thy fame, thou Duke Troiane,


Bot far grettar all owt we may aspy


Thy dedis of armys and thy chevalry:20


With quhat lovyngis equaill may I compair


The to the Goddis in hevyn abuf the ayr?


Quhidder sall I fyrst extoll, and wonder in the,


Thy gret gentryce and sa just equyte,


Or thy gret fors and laubour bellicall?25


Glaidly, forsuyth, now haymwart bair we sall


Ontill our natyve bundis and cite


Thir sa gret sygnys of humanyte;


And, gif that ony chans can fynd the way,


We sall do fully all that evir we may30
[Pg 688]

The to conione with kyng Latyn in hy:


Lat Turnus quhar hym list go seik ally.


And forthir eik weil lykis ws at all


To help till rays this fatale massy wall,


And forto ber apon our schuldris war joy5


Thir stonys gret to thys new wark of Troy.


Thus said Drances, and all the remanent


Tharto annerdis with haill voce and consent.


Twelf days of trewys thai band, to stanch debait,


Forto kepe paix, and werys sequestrate:10


Than throu the woddis and thir holtis hie


Troianys and Latynys sammyn, he and he,


Quhar so thame list, wandris but danger.


The heich eschis soundis thar and heir


For dyntis rude of the scharp stelyt ax;15


Down weltit ar with mony granand strakis


The fyrrys rekand to the sternys on hie;


The mekill syllis of the warryn tre


With weggis and with proppis beyn devyd;


The strang gustand cedyr is al to schyde;20


Ne ces thai not apon the jargand wanys


The gret akys to turs away atanys.






 CAP. IV.




The kyng Evander complenyt sor and wareit,


Quhen his son Pallas ded was to hym careit.








Than Fame with this, alsfast as scho mycht spryng,


As messynger of sa gret womentyng,
[Pg 689]

Flaw furth, and all with murnyng fillys sche


Evander kyng hys palyce and cyte,


Quhilk layt tofor had schawyn that Pallas


In Latyum landis sa victoryus was;


Now says sche, lo, is he brocht on beir!5


The Archadis ruschit to the portis in feir,


And euery wyght in handis hynt als tyte


Ane hait fyre broynd, eftir the ald ryte,


In lang ordour and rabill, that all the stretis


Of schynand flambys lemys brycht and gletis.10


Quhil all the large feildis of the light


Myght seueraly be raknyt at a sight.


The Troiane rowtis, on the tother hand,


With thame adionys thar folkis sair wepand:


Quham as the matronys beheld on sik wys15


So duylfully wend to the kyngis palys,


The dolorus town in euery streit and way


With petuus scrykis and gowlyng fyllit thai.


Than was na fors Evander mycht refreyn,


Bot in amyddis thame with gret disdene20


He ruschis, plenand on wofull maner,


And fell on growf abuf ded Pallas beir,


Wepand and waland as his hart wald breke;


Embrasyt hym, bot no word mycht he speke:


And scars at last with gret difficulte25


The cundytis of his voce war lowsyt fre;


Quhen he mycht speke, than thir hys wordis was:


This is nocht thy last cunnand, son Pallas;


Thou promyst not so vnto thy fader deir,


Bot at thou suld pas mair warly in weir,30
[Pg 690]

And not in danger of the cruell Mart.


Owr weill I wist, with harmys at my hart,


Quhat aventour, and of quhou mekill mycht


Till ony ȝong man, the first feld in fight,


Was gret desire of new loif or glory,5


And how sweit was renown of chevalry.


Allace! the first commancement and assays


To ȝyng men beyn in weir full fey always;


And rycht hard bene the first entechment


Of hasty batall to thame bene not acquent.10


My vowys nor my prayeris gret and small


War not accept to nane of Goddis all.


O thou my blissyt spows, decessit or now,


Full happy of that ded in faith was thou,


That to thys sorow not preservyt was!15


Bot be the contrar I, allace, allace!


Ourlevit has my fatys profitabill,


And am alyve as fader miserabill:


Quham, wald God, in ȝon sammyn mortale weris


Rutilyanys had ourquhelmyt with thar speris,20


That, followand to the feild my feris of Troy,


I mycht haue ȝald this sawle full of ennoy,


So that this funeral pomp, quhilk heir is wrocht


My body, and nocht Pallas, hame had brocht!


Ne byd I nocht ȝou, Troianys, to argew25


Of amyte and allyance bund of new,


Ne our rycht handis and promys, quhilkis we


In frendschip knyt and hospitalyte:


This mysfortoun is myne of ald thirlage,


As tharto detbund in my wrachit age.30
[Pg 691]

Bot had this hasty ded, sa ondigest,


Haue sufferit bot my son a stound to lest,


Quhill of Rutilianys he had slane thousandis,


And investit the Troianys in thar landis,


That is to say, in Latyum or Lavyn,5


Weill lykyt me that he had endyt syne.


And forthir eik, Pallas, my son so deir,


Na mair rychly cowth I the lay on beir,


Nor with mair wirschip list me entyre the,


Than is providit be reuthfull Enee,10


Be myghty Troianys and pryncis Tyrrheyn:


For all the Tuscane menȝe, as heir is seyn,


Gret trophe and rich spulȝe hyddir bryngis,


On perkis rychly cled with thar armyngis


Quham thy richt hand in feild had put to ded.15


Bot, O thou Turnus, in this sammyn sted


Amangis otheris heir suld thou haue be,


In form and maner of a stok of tre,


Gyf ȝhe of age had beyn equale and perys,


And baith elyke cummyn to ȝour strenthy ȝheris.20


Bot now, allace! I, fey onhappy wight,


Quharto delay I Troianys from the fyght?


Pas haym in haist, and remember to say


Thir my desiris to ȝour prynce, I ȝou pray:


Evander says that thy ryght hand, Ene,25


Is all the caws that he delays to de,


Or that this haitsum lyfe sustene he wald.


Sen now is lost hys son Pallas the bald:


Sa till hym that he oblist is of det,


Baith to the son and the fader, to set30
[Pg 692]

Ȝon Turnus slauchter for owr recompens:


To the Eneas only, but offens,


And to fortoun, remanys this journay ȝit,


Quharwith thou may thankfully be acquyt.


Tell hym, na lust to lyf langar seyk I;5


Onlesum war syk plesour I set by;


Bot for a thraw desyre I to lest heir,


Turnus slauchter and deth with me to beir,


As glaid tithandis onto my child and barn,


Amang the gostis law in skowgis dern.10






 CAP. V.




Heir athir party takis byssy cuyr


The ded bodeis to graif in sepultur.








The meyn sesson Aurora rasyt hir lycht,


Richt confortabill for euery mortall wight,


Rendryng agane the oportunyte


Of laubour and of wyrkyng, as we se.


The prynce Eneas, and the kyng Tarchon,15


Gret byngis has of treys mony one


Vpbeldyt, by the bowand costis bay.


Thydder euery ane dyd cary, but delay,


Eftir thar eldris gys, onto that sted


The corpsis of thar frendis that war ded,20


As for to do thar observans of det;


And thar vnder the smoky fyre has set,
[Pg 693]

Quhill that the hevynnys hye dyd walxin dirk,


Involuyt with the reky stewys myrk.


And thrys on fut all sammyn euery man


In schynand armour abowt the fyris ran,


And thrys the wofull funerall inglys thai5


Circulyt abowt on horsbak in array,


With gowlyng and with vocis myserabill;


Quhill that of trigland terys lamentabill


The feildis strowyt war in euery place,


Armouris all wet with wepyng, and thar face.10


The clamour of the men and trumpys stevyn


Gan spryngyng vp on hight onto the hevyn.


Syne cumis sum, and in the fyre dyd slyng


The weirly wedis, spulȝe, and armyng,


Rent from the Latynys slane into the weir;15


As helmys, scheildis, and rych swerdis seir,


Brydillys, and all thir stedis trappouris fair,


The hasty hurland charyot quhelys squair:


And other sum kest in the fyre syk geir


As weilbekend the corps was wont to weir,20


Thar awyn wapynnys, and thar onsilly scheildis,


Quhilk mycht thame nocht defend into the feildis.


Full mony carcage of thir oxin gret


Abowt the fyris war brytnyt and downbet,


And bustuus bowkis of the byrsyt swyne,25


Our feildis all byreft from euery hyne;


Thai steik the beistis, and swakkis in the fyre,


Endlang the costis all tho byrnand schyre;


And can behald quhou that thar feris brynt,


Observand weill the gledis half owt quent,30
[Pg 694]

And eik the assys half brynt of the ded:


Ne may thai thens be harlyt of that sted,


Quhill at the hevyn ourquhelmyt the dyrk nycht,


That ganand is for fyry sternys brycht.


And, netheles, the Latynys lamentabill5


In placis seir fyris innumerabill


Vpbeldit has, and sum with wofull rerd


Feill corpsis deip bedelvys vnder erd;


And sum alsso in cartis haue thai sent


To townys in the feildis adiacent;10


And sum alsso war send to the cite,


Tobe entyrit as thame accordyt be:


The remanent all sammyn assemlyt ourane,


But numbyr and but ordour, euery ane,


Of corpsys slane in huge heip byrn thai:15


And thus, on athir sydis, the hie way


And large feildis dyd oft of fyris schyne.


As that the thryd days lycht eftir syne


The dyrk nycht removyt from the sky,


The assys deip, murnand with mony a cry,20


Down dyd thai cast, and scrapis owt atanys


The hait amyrris and the byrslyt banys;


And ȝit all warm, onculyt, sone thai have


Bedelvyn thame, and in the erd begrave.


Bot, certis, than renewys the womentyng25


Within the mychty burgh of Latyn kyng,


The rumour rays and murmour principaly


Of bewalyng all owt the maist party.


The wofull moderis and matronys wepis heir,


The eldmoderis, and eyk the systeris deir;30
[Pg 695]

Thar mycht be hard with duylfull breistis greyt


The ȝyng babbys walyng on the streyt,


That had thar faderis slane this hyndir day,


Cryand, ichane, allace! and weill away!


Thai curs and wary fast this vengeabill weir,5


And Turnus wedlok bannys with mony a teir:


All in a voce thai cry, desirand he


Suld ondertak the batall and melle,


And feght allane to mak end of this thing,


As he the quhilk pretendis to weld the ryng10


Of Italy with honour pryncipall,


Desyrand that he suld be lord of all.


The brym Drances aggregis weill this thyng,


And buyr on hand baldly befor the kyng


Nane bot this Turnus challance wald Enee,15


Turnus only to feght desyris he.


And, be the contrar, mony sensymentis


For Turnus schawys evident argumentis:


Of queyn Amatha the gret authoryte


Dekkis and defendis hym with wordis sle;20


And hys gret fame and actis triumphall


Hys querrell dyd susteyn agane thame all.






 CAP. VI.




Befor king Latyn and hys consale in deid


Venulus schawis respons of Diomeid.








Abuf all this, lo, the ilk stound onon


Thyr messyngeris, all trist and wobegon,
[Pg 696]

Returnyt haymwart into thar maist neid


From the gret cite of schir Dyomed;


Reportand answer, that alhaill was lost


Thar lang travale and maist sumptuus cost;


Schortly, thai had doyn thar na thyng at docht,5


The rych gyftis nor gold avalyt nocht,


For all thar large requestis and prayeris;


To help the Latyn pepill in thar weris


Behuffyt thame to seik other supple,


Or to mak paix with Troiane prynce Ene.10


Herand thir wordis, this ald Latyn kyng


Falys all curage, with gret lamentyng:


For patently the Goddis wraik, hym thocht,


Schew that by fait Ene was thyddir brocht,


And manifest mycht of Goddis hym dyd sustene,15


That schew the new gravys befor thar eyn.


Quharfor, a gret consale assemlys he,


And callys the cheif ledaris of hys menȝe,


Chargeand thai suld in hys palyce conveyn


Onto the riall chymmys. Tho bedeyn20


Thai flok so fast that euery way was hyd.


Thys ancyent kyng dyd set hym dovn amyd


The cepturyt men, as first and pryncipall,


Bot no thyng semyng glaid of cheir at all.


Than the ambassat, that was returnyt agane25


From Dyomedis cite Etholiane,


He bad do schaw the credens that thai brocht,


Per ordour haill thar answer, faland nocht.


Silens was maid, ilk man hys tong held than,


And Venulus, of thame the gretast man,30
[Pg 697]

Begouth fortill obey the kyngis charge,


And schew hys credens planely thus at large:


O citeȝanys, we haue visseit Diomed,


And seyn thai strenthys by thame of Arge in deid


Vpbeldyt in the boundis of Italy;5


The ways thiddir we haue met by and by,


And eschapyt all dangeris by the gait,


All thocht our journay was nocht fortunait.


We haue twichit that sammyn douchty hand


By quham of Troy distroyt was town and land:10


Quhilk now as victor, in the feildis plane


Besyde the skyrtis of the mont Gargane,


Within boundis of Japigya fulȝe,


That now on days Apulȝe clepyng we,


Vprasyt hes the cite Argyripas,15


Quham fra hys natyve pepill namyt he has.


Fra that we entryt war in hys presens,


And forto speik was geif ws audiens,


The gyftis and rewardys present we;


Our credens, our estait, and our cuntre,20


Declaryt plane, and quha with wer ws socht,


And quhat occasioun had ws thidder brocht.


He hard ws weill, and on a frendly wys


Thus answer maid with wordis war and wys:


O fortunat folk, quhar Saturn regnyt swa,25


Ȝhe ancyent pepill of Ausonya,


Quhat mysaventour and onkyndly heyt


Ȝou steris from ȝour lang rest and quyet,


Prouocand ȝou to movyng, rays, and steir,


Sa peralus, onkowth, and onthrifty wer?30
[Pg 698]

For euery ane of ws that dyd offens


In Troys bundis with swerd and violens,


Or cruell handis set fortill invaid


Kyng Priamus, and of hys realm degraid;


(I leif ontald all thai that in the feld5


By Troys wallys hes swelt vnder scheld,


Or that the flude of Symois by the town


Drownyt in stremys warpis vp and dovn;)


Our all the warld of ws hail the remanys


Beyn punyst fore with onrehersabill panys,10


And sufferit hes all maner of turment:


Ful weill knawis my wordis, quhat I ment,


The sorofull constillatioun of Mynerve,


Quhilk causyt mony douchty man to sterve;


And on the costis of Euboica15


The rokis beris witnes ȝit alssua,


And the montane Caphareus, God woit,


That vengeans tuke and wraik apon our floyt.


From that weirfar and cursyt chevalry


We cachyt ar to syndry costis, far by20


Our natyve bundis and ald heritage.


Lo, Menelay, ane of the cheif barnage,


And Atrius son, yclepyt Atrydes,


To Protheus pillaris, bait Pyramydes,


Constrenyt is in exill forto wend;25


Vlixes alsso, as full weill is kend,


Bewavyt is wyd quhar our all the see,


So that the Ciclopes of Ethna saw he.


Quhat suld I tell of Neoptolemus,


That other wys to name is hait Pyrrhus,30
[Pg 699]

The hard myschans and tynsell of hys ryng?


Or quhou aganys Idomeneus the kyng


Hys kyndly Goddis and cuntre dyd rebell,


And hym gan of hys natyve realm expell?


Or quhou the Locrys, Aiax Oelyus ost,5


Now doys inhabyt the waist Lybyan cost?


Sen he hym self the gret Agamemnon,


The kyng of Myce, and cheif ledar of on


Of all the Grekis ostis in batale,


Ha, schame to say! fowlely befell,10


That by the handis of hys awyn wife


The first nycht in hys palyce lost hys lyfe.


And he that venquyst Asya lyis ded;


The sle adultrar occupiis hys sted.


The Goddis eik sa far did me invy,15


That in my natyue land neuer sall I spy


My chaist spousage, lyke as befor hes bene,


Ne Calydon my realm of crymys cleyn.


And now alsso, a grisly thyng to se!


Ane selcouth monstre, lo, betyd hes me:20


My ferys lost with plumys in the ayr


As thame best lykis ar fleand our al quhar,


Allace of my folkis the vengeabill wraik!


Transformyt in fowlys, wandris by the laik,


And of thar lamentabill and wofull sowndis25


The large costis dynnys and redoundis.


Thir myschevys for my trespas and cryme,


I may traist, hes betyd me sen that tyme


That I, witles and so rakles, perfay,


The hevynly bodeis durst with swerd assay,30
[Pg 700]

And with smert wond was our presumptuus


To violat the rycht hand of Venus.


Solist na mar, quod he, persuaid me nocht


That to so dangerus batellis I be brocht.


Eftir the bettyng down of Troys wallys,5


With the Tewcranys, quhat chance that euir befallis,


I will na mair debatis mak nor weris;


Nor of our ald stryfe thir hyndir ȝheris,


That so myschews was and bad to se,


May I glaidly remember now, said he.10


Tha giftis rych, and mony fair presandis,


Quhilkis ȝe to me hes brocht furth of ȝour landis,


Return and beir onto the Prynce Ene.


Contrar hys keyn dartis ellis stand haue we,


And hand for hand matchit hym in fycht:15


Beleif me as expert, quhou stowt and wight


Is he owther in batale place or feld,


And how sternly he rasys vp hys scheild,


Or with quhou gret a thud in the melle


Ane lance towartis hys aduersar thrawys he.20


Forthir, he said, I certify ȝou alsua,


That, gif the forsaid grond of Phrygia


Twa othir sik men fosterit had or bred,


The citeis all of Arge mycht sore haue dred,


And the offpryng of Dardan esely25


Mycht in our realmys arryvit by and by,


So that Grece suld haue murnyt, euery tovn,


The fatis ald reuersit vp syd dovn.


Alhail the stop, resistans, and delay,


Mayd at Troy wallys, quhil the sege thar lay,30
[Pg 701]

Was by the handis of Hector and Ene;


The Grekis conquyst lang tyme, trastis me,


By thame was styntit, apon sik maner


That it prolongit was quhil the tent ȝer.


Athir of thame in bonte and curage5


Excelland war, and full of vassalage;


Athir of thame maist souerane and douchty


In dedis of armys, prowes, and chevalry:


Bot this Ene was first all owt expres


Of reuth, compassioun, and of gentilnes.10


Tharfor all sammyn adionys ȝour rycht handis


In ferm allyance of concord, and sik bandis


Be ony wys se ȝhe optene, quod he;


For, gif thai start till armys in melle,


Be war with thame fortill debait, I red.15


Maist nobill kyng of kyngis, in this sted


Hys answer hes thou hard, as I haue tald,


And twichand this gret batale quhat he wald.






 CAP. VII.




The kyng proponys with Enee to tak pes


Incontrar Turnus; tharto persuadis Drances.








Scars had the messyngeris thir wordis said,


Quhen all the Latynys, trublyt, full onglaid,20


Fra hand to hand quhispyris fast and roundis,


On diuers wys demyng with murmour soundis:
[Pg 702]

Lyke as the swyft watir stremys cleir


Sum tyme rowtand men on far may heir,


Quhar it is stoppit with thir stanys round,


That of the ryveris brute and brokkyn sound,


Brystand on skelleis our thir demmyt lynnys,5


The bankis endlang all the fludis dynnys.


Bot eftir that thar mudis mesyt wer,


Thar waverand wordis stanchit and sik beir,


With reuerens first blyssand the Goddis mycht,


The kyng thus carpys from hys trone on hycht:10


O Latyn pepill, forsuyth I wald al gait,


And so had beyn far bettir, weill I wait,


Full lang or now avisyt had we be


Twychand the common weill and materis hie;


And not at sik a poynt, apon this wys,15


Our consale to assembill and to avys,


Quhen that our fays and aduersaris ar bown


Forto bysege the wallys of our town.


O citeȝanys, we move and ledis at hand


Ane wer inoportune, quhilk is onganand,20


Aganys folkis of Goddis clan discend,


That beyn invincybill, and weill can defend


So that na bargane may thame irk nor tyre;


Nor thocht thai venquyst war, baith man and syre,


May thai desist, ne withdraw the melle.25


Gif ony hope or confidens had we


In chevalry of the Etholianys,


Quhilkis in Napillis with Dyomed remanys,


And for thir men of armys thidder send,


Do all sik traste away, and ȝou defend:30
[Pg 703]

Lat euery man in his awyn self haue hope.


But quhou febill sik traste is ȝe may grope,


And eik befor ȝour eyn cleir may ȝe se


In quhou gret perrell and proplexite


All other materis lyis now or standis;5


All sic thyngis bene braid amang ȝour handis.


I will accus nor argu now na wight.


All haill the fors or strenth mycht be in sycht


Exercyt was, I wait; sen all the flour


And pyssans of this realm dyd stryve in stour.10


Now so it is that I will breifly end,


And in schort wordis mak onto ȝou kend


The dowtsum purpos in my mynd remanys;


Attendans geif, and harkis all at anys.


I haue, besyde Tyber the Tuscane flude,15


Ane ald feld onprofitabill and rude,


Far strekand west to the bundis quhar remanys


The Scicyll pepill, quhilkis clepit ar Sycanys:


The folk Auruncane and of Rutuly


This grand sawys full onthriftely,20


With scharp plewis and steill sokkis seir


Thai hard hillys hyrstis forto eyr,


And on thir wild holtis harsk alsso


In faynt pastur doith thar bestis go.


All that cuntre and band of hillis hie,25


Sa full of rochis pynnakillis, as we se,


Lat it be geif for amyte and concord


To the Troianys, and Eneas thar lord;


Syne offer thame equale trety condyng,


And, as our perys, do call thame in this ryng;30
[Pg 704]

All sammyn lat thame dwell heir by and by,


Gif thai haue sik desyre to Italy,


Do lat thame beld thar cite wallys squar.


Bot gif so be that thai lyst ellis quhar


To othir costis or pepill forto wend,5


Thar dwellyng place for ay to apprehend,


And possibill be that of our boundis thai


May so depart, and from thens wend away;


Twys ten schippis lat ws beld agane


Of strang tymmyr and treis Italyane,10


And gif thai wald compleit ma in this land,


The stuf lyis all reddy by the strand:


Of thar schippis the numbir and maner


Lat thame command, and we sal furnys heir


The irne graith, the warkmen, and the wrychtis,15


And all that to the schippis langis of rychtis.


And forthir eik it lykis me, quod he,


To ber my wordis to this prynce Ene,


And to conferm our frendschip and our pes,


Ane hundreth gay ambassatouris, but les,20


Of gretast blude of the Latyn menȝe,


And in thar handis reke furth the peaceable tre;


And bair hym giftis and rewardis large,


Of gold and evoir mony sovm and charge,


The char or sete accordyng for the ryng,25


Our rob ryall, ensenȝeys of a kyng.


Avys heiron amangis ȝou for the best,


And help to bryng our febill weill to rest.


Ane Drances tho vpstud, and speke began:


The quhilk Drances was the self man30
[Pg 705]

That, as we said haue laitly heir tofor,


Was rycht molest to Turnus euermor,


Quham the renovn of Turnus and glory


Prikkyt full sor with lurkand hyd envy;


Of moblis rych and plentuus was he,5


And maste expert in speche and wordis sle,


Bot of his handis into batale sted


Full cald of curage, dolf as ony led,


And into consalys gevyng he was hald


A man nocht indegest, bot wys and cald;10


Bot ane seditioun or a brek to make


Sa masterfull, tharin was nane hys mayk:


The nobill kynrent of hys moderis syde


Maid hym full gret of blude, and full of pryde;


Hys fader was oncertane and onknaw.15


And vp he startis in this ilk thraw,


With thir wordis Turnus to ourcharge,


Aggregyng on hym wrath and malyce large:


O douchty kyng, thou axis consale, said he,


Of that mater quhilk, as semys me,20


Is nother dyrk nor dowtsum, bot full cleir,


That mysteris not our avicis beyn heir.


The pepill haill grantis that thai wait


Quhat forton schawys, and in quhat estait


Our materis standis; bot thai ar arch to schaw,25


Quhispirand amangis thame, thai stand sik aw.


Bot caus hym geif thame liberte to speke,


Do way his bost, at thar breth may outbreke;


I meyn of hym, by quhais onhappy werd,


And fraward thewys, now ded on the erd30
[Pg 706]

Samony cheif chiftanys and dukis lyis:


Forsuyth, I sall say furth all myne avys,


All thocht with brag and bost, or wapynnys, he


Me doith await, and mannans forto de:


For by hys dedis may we se expres5


Thys cite haly plungit in distres,


Quhillys that he has maid hym to assay


The Troianys strenth, and stall sa sone away,


Havand assurans to withdraw and fle,


And into armys dois bost the hevynnys hie.10


Bot, O thou all thar best and riall kyng,


To all thir gyftis ekis bot a thyng;


Onto thir presandis, and wys wordis seir,


That to Troianys thou has byd say and beir,


Ekis a gift, and lat neuer demyt be15


The bustuusness of ony may dant the,


Bot that thi douchter, O thou fader gude,


Onto ȝon worthy prynce of gentill blude


Be gevyn, tobe thy son in law, I wys,


As he that worthy sik a wedlok is;20


And knyt vp paix, but mor disseuerans,


With that eternall band of allyans.


And gif sa gret raddour or dreid haue we


Within our myndis or our breistis, quod he,


That, for Turnus, we dar nocht do sik thyng;25


Than lat ws for the weilfar of this ryng


Beseik hym tharfor, and with haill entent


Require hym at he wald grant hys consent,


So that the kyng, at hys fre volunte,


Mycht oys and do hys proper dewyte,30
[Pg 707]

And, for the weill publik of this land,


Desyre that he na wys tharto ganestand.


O Turnus, hed and causar verraly


Of thir myschevis gret in Italy,


Quharto sa feill sys in playn perrellis now5


Thir sylly wrachit citeȝanys warpis thou?


Nane hoip of weilfar haue we in this wer:


For paix halely we all the requer,


Togiddyr with Lavinia the schene may,


Quhilk is the pand or plege, this dar I say,10


Of paix tobe kepit inviolate.


And I forsuyth, quhilk, as be thy consait,


Thou fenys thyne evill willar forto be,


And for the common weill, sa mot I thee,


So forto cum I refus nocht, gud broder,15


Bot lo me heir, now formest of all other


Humylly the besekyng: I requer,


Haue mercy, lord, of thyne awyn frendis deir,


Lat be thy stowt mynd, go thy way but lak,


With ane mair strang rebute and dryve abak.20


Ded corpsis bet down enew haue we seyn,


Our large feldis and boundis all betweyn


Left desolate and waist of induelleris.


Bot gif thy fame and gret renown the steris,


Gyf in thy breist sa hie curage and mycht25


Thou has consauyt, thynkand the sa wight,


And gif that on sik wys this hald ryall


Suldbe thy dowry and rych gyft dotall


Thou berys in hart, and is to the sa deir;


Do vndyrtake this thyng, and end the weir:30
[Pg 708]

Addres thy body baldly, and not spayr


Forto recontyr alone thyne aduersar,


To that entent, that Turnus all hys lyfe


May weld the kyngis douchter to hys wyfe;


So that we, dolf of curage as the led,5


Be not doun strowit in the feildis ded,


In cumpaneis onberyit or bewalyt.


Bot thou, that has in feild sa feil assalyt,


Gyf ony strenth thou has or hardyment,


Or marciall prowes steryng thyne entent10


For thy cuntre; aganyst the, for hys rycht,


Behald thy fa prouocand the to fyght,


Ȝondir all reddy to mak hys party gude:


Delay no mor, bot manfully go to it.






 CAP. VIII.




Turnus, at Drances speche commovit sair,


Rycht subtelly allegis the contrar.








The fers mude of Turnus, this bald syre,15


At sik sawys kyndillyt hait as fyre;


Sychand rycht sor deip in hys breist onon,


Thir wordis pronuncis with a petuus grone:


Drances, said he, forsuyth euer hes thou beyn


Large and to mekill of spech, as weil is seyn20


Now, quhen the batale desyris wark at hand:


The consale syttand, first thou doys vpstand.
[Pg 709]

Bot not with wordis suld the cowrt be fillyt,


Set thou be gret tharin, and ful evill willyt,


With haltand wordis fleand from the heir,


Quhen thou assouerit art of al danger,


So lang as that our strenthy wallys gude5


Our ennemys debarrit doith exclude,


Or quhil the fowceis of our forteres


Rynnys not our of bludy spait, I ges.


Tharfor trump vp, blaw forth thyne eloquens,


As thou was wont to do, mak thy defens:10


Bot than thou may, Drances, be myne avice,


Me to reproch of feir and cowardyce,


Quhen that thi rycht hand into batale sted


Sa mony hepis of Troianys hes laid ded,


And quhen thou takynnyt hes so worthely15


With syng tropheall the feildis, as haue I.


Full eith it is fortill assay, and se


Quhat may our sprety fors in the melle;


And, as full weill is knawyn to ws eik,


Our fais beyn not far from hens to seik,20


Bot plant about the wallis of our town:


Aganyst thame go mak ws reddy bown.


Quhy duellys thou and tareis thus al day?


Quhidder gif thy marcial dedis, as thai war ay,


Into thy wyndy clattrand tung salbe,25


And in tha cowart feit, euir wont to fle?


Says thou I was repulsyt and dryve away?


O maist onworthy wight, quha can that say?


Or me justly reprochyng of syk lak,


That I rebutyt was or dung abak,30
[Pg 710]

By me quhen thou behald mycht Tyber flude


Boldyn and ryn on spait with Troian blude,


And all the famyll of Evander kyng


Brocht onto grond alhail and his ofspryng;


And the Archadis, confundyt and ourset,5


With mony ma in armys I doun bet?


The grysly Bytias, and Pandarus his brother,


Thai ar expert gif I fled one or other,


And eik thai thousand sawlys on a day


As victor I to hell send hyne away,10


Quhen that I was inclusyt at distres


Amyd myne ennemys wallis and forteres.


Thou says, in weir na hoip is of weilfare:


O wytles wyght! pronunce that, and declare


Sik chance betyd ȝon Dardan capitane,15


And spa sik thyng onto thy dedis ilkane.


And forthir eik, sen thou art mad becum,


Ces not forto perturbill all and sum,


And with thy felloun raddour thame to fley;


The febill myghtis of ȝon pepill sey,20


Into batale twys venquyst schamefully,


Spare not fortill extoll and magnyfy;


And, be the contrar, the pissans of Latyn kyng


Do set at nocht, bot lychtly, and down thryng.


Now the nobill Myrmydon capitanys25


Quakis in armys for feir of the Troianys,


And now Tedeus son Diomedes


Agast is, and Larissyane Achilles:


And Aufidus, the swyft flowand ryver,


Rynnys contyrmont frawart the sey for feir.30
[Pg 711]

And quhill alsso this ilk schrewit wight,


That is controvar of mony wykkyt slycht,


Fenȝeis hym sleyt or abasyt tobe,


That he dar not chide furth incontrar me,


Than with hys dreid and sle controvit feir5


My cryme aggregis he on hys maner.


Desist, Drances, be not abasyt, I pray,


For thou sal neuer los, schortly I the say,


By my wapyn nor this rycht hand of myne,


Sik ane pevych and catyve saule as thyne:10


Nay; lat it duell with the, as best may gane,


Within that wrachit corps, and thar remane.


Now, O thou gret fader and prynce souerane,


To the and thy consale I turn agane.


Gyf thou list no thyng trasting nor affy15


Into our armys nor our chevalry;


Gyf that we be of help all desolate,


And hail at vnder into this last debait,


Distroyt for ay, and na help may mak,


For that our ost was anys drevyn abak,20


And forton hes na return ne regres;


Lat ws beseik for paix at sik distres,


Mak hym request to rew apon our harmys,


And reke hym furth our ryght hand bair of armys.


Quhoubeit, O! wald God, in this extreme neid25


That ony thyng of curage or manheid


Remanyt, as was wont with ws tobe:


Abuse the laif thame worthy thinkis me,


Maist fortunat in fatys marcyall,


And excellent in hie curage our all,30
[Pg 712]

Quhilk wilfully, as that thame selvyn wald,


At thai ne suldyn sik myscheif behald,


Fell ded to grond by fatale happy werd,


And with thar mowth anys bait the erd.


Bot gif we haue ryches and moblys seir,5


And nevir assayt ȝit fresch ȝong power,


And, in our helpyng, of Italianys


Citeis and pepillys habundis and remanys;


Or gif that also to the Troiane syde,


With effusioun of blude and wondis wyde,10


This victory betyd is; trastis me,


Thai haue als feill ded corpsis as haue we:


Gyf this tempestuus trake of the batale


On baith the halfis is all owt equale,


Quhy failȝe we so schaymfully our mycht15


Into the first entre of the fycht?


Quhy quakis thus our membris vp and dovn,


Befor the bludy blast and trumpis sovn?


For tyme, feill sys, and eik the variant chance


Of our onstabill lyfe hung in ballance,20


Reducit hes full mony onlykly thyng


To bettir fyne than was thar begynnyng;


And fortoun interchangabill with blenkis quent


Full mony ane dissauyt hes and schent,


Syne eftir in a thraw, this weill I wait,25


Restoryt thame agane to thar ferm stait.


I put the cace, set the Etholianys,


With Dyomed and the pepill Arpanys,


Lyst not cum in our helpyng nor suple;


Ȝit than the bald Mesapus weill wylbe,30
[Pg 713]

And the happy Tolumnyus alsso,


With all tha other dukis mony mo


That fra so feill pepillys beyn hydder sent:


And na litill renown, be myne entent,


Followys the chosyn folkis of Italy,5


Nor thame that duellis in Lawrent feildis heirby.


Haue we not eik the stalwart Camylla,


Of the famyll and kynrent of Volsca,


Ledand thir armyt ostis and stern feildis,


In byrnyst plait arrayt and schynand scheldis?10


Bot gyf the Troiane pepill, euery ane,


Desyris me to feght in feild allane,


Gif that be plesand onto the, schir kyng,


And I sa far, eftir Drances menyng,


Gaynstandis the common weill; into that cace,15


That schame sal nevir betyd me in na place:


For victory me hatis not, dar I say,


Nor lyst syk wys withdraw thir handis twa,


That I refus suld to assay ony thyng


Quhilk mycht sa gret beleif of weil inbryng.20


With stowt curage agane hym wend I will,


Thocht he in prowes pas the gret Achill,


Or set in cace sik armour he weris as he,


Wrocht by the handis of God Vulcanus sle.


To ȝou, and kyng Latyn my fader in law,25


I Turnus heir, quham full weill ȝe knaw


No thyng behynd, nor tobe reput les,


To nane of all our eldris in prowes,


This saul and life, the quhilk sa weil I lufe,


Doith promys and awowis for ȝour behufe.30
[Pg 714]

Thai say, allone me challancis Ene;


And I beseik gret God he challance me:


Ne byd I not that Drances deir aby


Ocht with hys deth, quhar that apposit am I;


Nor, quhidder this turn to Goddis wrethfull wraik,5


Or hardyment and honour, we ondertake,


Na thing at all tharof salbe his part;


The chans is myne, I will it not astart.






 CAP. IX.




Duryng this disputatioun, as is said,


Enee hys ost abowt the town has laid.








Quhill thai thus at gret altricatioun wer


Amangis thame self in dowtsum thingis seir,10


Eneas all his ost and haill army


Hes rasyt, trumpyng to the town in hy.


A messynger com ruschand in with haist,


Amyd the rowtis ran as he war chaist,


That with huge rumour and a feirfull dyn15


Fillit onon the kyngis riall In,


And with gret dreid the cite stuffit alquhar;


Schawand quhou that thar fays cummyn war


In plane batale arrayt, to conclude,


The Troiane barnage from Tibir the flude,20


With ordinance of Tuscan, that dyd spreid


In forfront al the large feildis on breid.
[Pg 715]

Onon the pepillis hartis effrayt wer,


And commonys breistis proplexit all for feir;


In sum, the greif and ire dyd fast habund,


Rasyt with brethfull stangis full onsond,


And with a felloun dreid all on steir5


Thai hynt to harnes, and cryis eftir thar gere:


Harnes, harnes, all the ȝong citeȝanys


With fellon brute and noys schowtis atanys;


The febill and agyt faderis wobegone


Can pleyn and weip with mony a petuus grone.10


In euery part the gret clamour and cryis


In diuers opinionys rays vp to the skyis:


Nane other wys than as sum tyme we knaw


The flycht of byrdis fordynnys the thik schaw,


Or than the rawk vocit swannis in a rabill,15


Sondand and swouchand with noys lamentabill


Endlang the bemand stankis and stremys cleir


Of Padusa, sa full of fyschis seir.


Turnus, that fand hys tyme sa oportune,


Now baldly says he, citeȝanys haue doyn;20


Do call ȝour consale, takis avysment,


Sittand at eys ilkane say his entent,


Carpys of paix, and ruys it now, lat se,


Quhen that thai ȝonder invadis ȝour cuntre,


Ȝour mortale fays inarmyt ȝou to assaill.25


Na mair he said, bot startis vp sans faill,


And of the cheif palyce ischit furth in hy,


Thus carpand to the noblys stud hym by:


Go tyte, Volusus, to the banereris


Of the Volscanys, and thame that standartis beris;30
[Pg 716]

Charge thame thar ensenȝeis forto rays on hycht,


And in thar armour adres thar men to fyght:


And ȝhe, Mesapus, Coras, and ȝour broder,


The horsmen all enarmyt, ane and other,


Convoys furth onto the feildis braid.5


A party of the citeȝanys, he said,


Do stuf the entreis, and the portis defend;


Sum to the towris and wall hedis ascend;


The remanent of all our haill menȝe,


Quhen I command, lat thame set on with me.10


Onon our all the cite by and by


Vp on the wallys ryn thai than in hy.


The kyng Latyn hys consale, full onglaid,


And gret materis quhilkis he begunnyn had,


Left and differrit quhil ane other day,15


Trist in his mynd, and trublit of that delay:


And mony ways hym self he accusyt,


That he sa lang had slewthit and refusyt


To ressaue glaidly the Troiane Ene;


Repentyng sor, for weill of his cite,20


That he had not requirit hym and draw,


Or than, to be his mawch and son in law.


Sum tho, thar cite entre forto kepe,


Befor the portis delvis trynschis deip;


Sum to the ȝettis weltis weghty stonys,25


And sum gret jestis and sillys for the nonys:


The bas trumpet with a bludy sovn


The syng of batell blew our all the tovn.


The wallis than thai stuffit rownd abowt


With diuers sortis of mony syndry rowt:30
[Pg 717]

Baith wifis, barnys, childer, men, and page,


Na kynd of stait was sparit tho, nor age;


The hyast poynt and lattir resistens


Callit euery wight to laubour and defens.


The queyn also, Amata, furth can hald5


Onto the tempill and Pallas souerane hald,


Born in hir char, and walkyng hir abowt


Of matronys and nobil wemen a rowt;


Offerandis and gyftis brocht with hir scho had:


Nixt hand hir went Lavynia the maid,10


The caus of all this harm and wofull teyn,


That down for schame dyd cast hyr lusty eyn.


The matronys entris in the Goddis presens,


And smokis the tempill with sweit vapour and sens,


And reuthful vocis warpis lovd on hie.15


Alssone as thai attenyt the entre,


O thou, said thai, Pallas armipotent,


Tritonia clepit, maid, and president


Of batale and of weris eueryone,


With thy virginal handis breke onon20


Ȝon Troiane revaris wapynnys and his speir;


Hym self als tyte dovn to the grund thou ber,


Vndre our portis and our wallis hie


Down warp hym ded, that we that sycht may se.




[Pg 718]




 CAP. X.




Heir Turnus and Camylla gan devys


Practikis of weir, the Troianys to supprys.








Turnus hym self, als fers as ony gleid,


Ful bissely addressyt on his weid,


Desyrus of the batale and bargane.


Intil a clos curas Rutilyane


Be than his body weill embrasyt had he,5


Hys burnyst armour, awfull for to se,


With lymmys claspit in platis gilt with gold,


And hed all bair; ȝit, as hym selvyn wold,


Hys dedly brand he beltis by his syde;


And, schynand all of brycht gold, fast can glide10


Throw owt the palyce ryall heir and thar,


Reiosyt in his mynd, as thocht he war


In ferm beleif fortill ourset his fo:


And on sik wys gan walkyng to and fro,


With hart hyngand on the joly pyn.15


As, sum tyme, dois the curser start and ryn,


That brokkyn hes his band, furth of his stall,


Now gois at large out our the feldis all,


And haldis towart the studis in a rage,


Quhar merys rakis in thar pasturage,20


Or than onto the deip rynnand ryver,


Quhar he was wont to drynk the watir cleir;


He sprentis furth, and full provd walxis he,


Heich strekand vp his hed with mony a ne,
[Pg 719]

Out our his spaldis and nek lang by and by


His lokkyrrit mayn schakand wantonly:


Siklyke this Turnus semys, quhar he went.


And, as he bradis furth apon the bent,


The maid Camylla cummis hym agane,5


Accumpaneit with hir ostis Volscane:


Befor the portis dovn lyghtis the queyn,


Quham all the rowt hes followyt bedeyn,


Discendand from thar horssis esely;


Syne on sic wys this lady spak on hy:10


Turnus, says sche, gif ony hardy wight


May traste or assure in thar awyn mycht,


I vndertak, and dar promys, allane


To mach in feild the ostis Eneadane,


And baldly dar recuntir in melle15


All the horsmen of the Tuscane menȝe.


I the requyr, suffir me to assay


With my retenew and thir handis tway


The first danger in batale, or I stent:


Byde thou behynd on fut in enbuschment,20


And kepe the wallis of this tovn, scho said.


Turnus his eyn hes fixit on this maid,


That weirlike was and awfull onto se,


Syne on this maner to hir ansueris he:


O thou virgyn, glory of Italy,25


Quhat thankis ȝeld or rendir the may I,


Or quhat may I refer of thy renovn?


Bot, sen thou art to all thyng reddy bovn,


Surmontyng all in curage souerane,


Now at this tyme of sic laubour and payn30
[Pg 720]

Grant me my part, so that on athir syde


Betwix ws twa the bargane be dyvyde.


Hark, I sall schaw ȝou myne avys, quod he:


Ȝon detestabill and myschews Enee,


As that the rumour surely hes maid kend,5


And als my spyis schawis was thidder send,


A certane horsmen, lycht armyt for the nanys,


Hes send befor forto forray the planys;


Hym self ascendis the hie band of the hyll


By wentis strait and passage scharp and wyll,10


Schaip on our cite fortocum prevely.


Tharfor a prattik of weir devys will I,


And ly at wait in quyet enbuschment


At athir pethis hed or secrete went;


In the how slak, be ȝonder woddis syde,15


Full dern I sall my men of armys hyde.


Set thou apon the Tuscan horsyt rowt,


With pynsellis semlyt sammyn with a schowt:


The stalwart Mesapus with the sall go,


The Latyn barnage, and the brethir two,20


Thai capitanys come fra Tyburtyn cite,


With all thar ordinance and hail menȝe:


Tak thou the cuyr with thame to rewle and steir


Alhaill that ryall army into weir.


Thus said he, and with sic wordis at schort25


Mesapus to the fight he dyd exhort,


And all his feris, syne euery capitane;


And syne towart his aduersaris is gane.


Thar lay a valle in a crukyt glen,


Ganand for slycht till enbusch armyt men,30
[Pg 721]

Quham, wonder narrow, apon athir syde


The bewys thik hampirris and doith hyde


With skowgis darn and full obscur, perfay,


Quharthrow thar strekit a rod or a strait way,


Ane narrow peth, baith outgang and entre,5


Full scharp and schrowit passage wonder sle:


Abufe the quhilk, apon the hill on hycht,


Quhar men may spy about a weil far sycht,


Thar lyis a playn to the Troianys onknaw;


Bot, quha so list towart that sted to draw,10


It is a stellyng place and sovir harbry,


Quhar ost in stail or enbuschment may ly,


Quhidder men list the bargane to abyde


Owder on the rycht hand or on the left syde,


Or on the hycht debait thame for the nanys,15


And on thar fays welt dovn weghty stanys.


Thyddir ȝong Turnus held and dyd ascend,


As he that all the passage weil bekend;


The place he tuke, and ful prevy, onknaw,


Lyggis at wait vnder the darn wod schaw.20






 CAP. XI.




Quhou that Opis was doun from Dyane send,


And of quhat kyn Camylla was discend.








The meyn sesson, Latonas douchter Dyan,


Within hir sete of hevynnys souerane,
[Pg 722]

The swyft Opys, a nymphe ane of hir feris,


Ane haly virgyne of hir sort mony ȝheris,


To hir callis, rycht dolorus and onglaid,


And, sychand sair, to hyr syk wordis said:


O virgyn deyr, lo now, Camylla gays5


To cruell batall aganyst hyr mortal fays,


And, al in vayn, with hir into syk werys


Our wapynnys and our armour with hyr berys.


I the declar and certifeis, quod sche,


Abuf all other full deyr is sche to me:10


Ne this luf, suythly, is nocht cummyn of new,


Nor ȝit of lait in Dyanys brest vpgrew,


And with a hasty sweitnes movyt my spreit,


Bot of ald kyndnes lang tyme onforleit.


For quhen hir fader, Metabus the kyng,15


Was throw invy expellit hys ancyent ryng


Of Pryvernum, and for the cruelte


Of his pepill fled from that cite,


With hym he bair this ȝong infant sa deir,


Tobe his fallow in exill, and play feir,20


And eftir hir moderis name, hait Casmylla,


Camylla hes clepit, a lettir tane awa.


Befor hym in hys bosum he hyr bair,


And socht onto the wilsum holtis hair.


Hys cruel fays with thar wapynnys keyn25


Hym ombeset on all partis in teyn:


With armyt men and wageouris the Volscanys


So neir almost bylappyt hym at anys,


Thar was na passage quhar away to fle.


For lo! amyd the went quhar etlyt he,30
[Pg 723]

Amasenus, that ryver and fresch flude,


Abuf the brays bulryt as it war wod;


From the clowdis was bryst sik spait of rayn


The ryver flowis our the large plane.


He, dressand hym to swym, at the bank syde5


For luf of the ȝong bab most neid abyde,


And, for his deir byrdyng dredand soir,


Ilk chance in haist dyd roll in his memor;


And scars this sentens prent into hys mynd,


Hys douchtir forto clos within the rynd10


And stalwart sapplyn or bark of cork tre:


For in hys hand the self tyme had he


A bustuus speir, percace, baith styth and stuyr,


As he that was a worthy weriour;


The schaft was sad and sound, and weill ybaik:15


Ywympillit in this bark tho dyd he take


Hys ȝong douchter, and with hys awyn hand


Amyddis of this lans full suyrly band;


Quhilk tasand with hys rycht hand, sone on hye


Onto the hevyn abuf thus carpys he:20


O blissyt maid Latonya, our alquhar


Of wild forestis the inhabitar,


I, fader, heir professys servand to the


This tendir ȝonglyng, bund onto this tre;


Fleand hys fays throw the skyis, lo,25


Knyt to thy schaft, lawly besekis scho.


Ressaue hir, lady, and testify, God wait,


As thyne alhail, onto the dedicate,


Quhilk now thou seis standis in danger,


Commyttit to the wyndis and the ayr.30
[Pg 724]

Thus said he, and onon with a swak


Hys gardy vp has bendit far abak,


And threw the speir with all hys fors and mycht;


The stremys soundyt of the schaftis flycht:


Owr this fers ryver to the farthyr bra5


This fey onsilly bab, ȝong Camylla,


Flaw knyt onto this quhirrand schaft of tre.


Bot this Metabus, quhen that he dyd se


The gret pres of hys fays cum sa neir,


Na langar duelt, bot swam throu the ryver;10


And, cummyn to his purpos blyth and glaid,


The speir onon, sa buklyt with the maid,


In presand onto the thrynfald Dyane,


Furth of the gresy sward he has vptane.


Na rurall byggyngis, nor ȝit na strang cite,15


Wald hym ressaue within thar wallys he,


Nor, thocht thai wald hym to harbry haue tane,


Hys fers mynd couth not subdew to nane:


So that, in maner of hyrdis in pasturage,


On wild montanys he wonnyt all his age;20


Quhar that his dochtyr, amang buskis ronk,


In dern sladis and mony scroggy slonk,


With mylk he nurist of the beistis wild,


And with the pappis fosterit he his child


Of savage stude meris in that forest;25


Oft tymys he thar breistis mylkit and prest


Within the tendir lippys of his get.


And, fra the child myght fut to erd set,


And with hir solis first dyd mark the grond,


With dartis keyn and hedis scharply grund30
[Pg 725]

Hir fystis and hir handis chargyt he;


And at hir schuldir buklyt hes on hie


Ane propir bow and litil arow cace:


And for hir goldyn garland or hed lace,


In sted eik of hir syde garmont or pall,5


Our the schuldris fro hir nek down with all


The grisly tygrys skyn of rent dyd hyng.


The self tyme ȝit sche bot tendir ȝonglyng


Thir dartis and the takillis swyft leit glyde;


And oft abowt hir hed the ilk tyde10


Wald warp the stryngis of the stowt staf slyng,


Quharwith feill sys to grand ded wald scho dyng


The cran of Trace, or than the quhite swan.


For nocht scho was desirit with mony a man,


And moderis feill throu the townys Tuscane15


Desirit hir thar gud douchter, in vane:


For scho only, full ferm in hir entent,


Of Diane, Goddes of chastyte, stud content,


And list to hant evyr in woddis with me


The dartis schutyng, and love virginyte,20


Remanand incorrupt and a cleyn maid.


I wald, forsuyth, at this tyme scho abaid,


And had not hastit to sic chevalry,


Forto molest the Troianys stowt army;


Bot that ane of my ferys scho suld be,25


As scho that is at all tyme deir to me.


Haue done onon, thou nymphe Opys, scho said,


With wikkyt fatis sen bestad is ȝon maid,


Thou slyde down from the hevyn, and that in hy;


The Latyn feildis thou vissy and aspy,30
[Pg 726]

Quhar, in the wofall batale and melle,


To ane onhappy chance betaucht is sche.


Tak thir dartis, and sone owt of my cays


That ilke revengeabill arow thou owt rays:


Quha evir with wond doys hurt or violat5


Hyr haly body onto me dedicat,


Quhidder he be Troiane or Italiane,


All is in like, that he onon be slane,


And with hys blude myn offens deir aby.


My self thar eftir the reuthfull corps in hy10


Amyd a boys clowd sall cary away,


Onspulȝeit of hir armour or array,


And hir bygrave, reducit to hir cuntre,


In sepultur full gloryus, said sche.


Than Opys lyghtly of the hevynnys glade,15


Throw owt the skyis sowchand fast doun slaid,


Persand the ayr with body all ourschrowd


And dekkyt in a watry sabill clowd.






 CAP. XII.




Quhou that Eneas with hys haill power


Towart the cyte wallys drawis neir.








Dvryng this quhile, the Troiane power all


Approchys fast towart the cite wall,20


The Tuscane Dukis and horsmen rowtis alhaill


Arrayt in batale, euery ward and staill.
[Pg 727]

Our all the planys brays the stampand stedis,


Full galȝeart in thar bardis and weyrly wedis,


Apon thar strait born brydillis brankand fast,


Now thrympand heir, now thar, thayr hedis can cast:


The large grond worth grysly onto se5


Of steill wapynnys and scharp speir hedis hie;


And as the fyre all byrnand schayn the feildis


Of brycht armour, heich helmys, and braid scheildis,


Aganyst thame alsso onon apperys


The bald Mesapus, valȝeant in werys;10


The agill Latyn pepill with hym was,


And duke Catyllus, with his brother Coras,


And eik the weyng of Wolscane pepill in feild


With the stowt wench Camylla vnder scheild;


And furth thai streik thar lang speris weill far,15


Drew in thar armys with schaftis chargit on far,


Tasyt vp dartis, taclys, and fleand flanys:


The contyr or first tocome for the nanys


Full ardent wolx, and awfull forto se,


The men byrnand to joyn in the melle,20


And furour grew of stedis sterand on stray.


Now thai, approchyng sammyn in array


Within ane arow schot on athyr syde,


Syne maid a litill stop, and still dyd byde;


Rasyt vp a schowt, bad on thame with a cry,25


Quhil bruyt and clamour fordynnyt the sky;


Thar fers stedis dyd for the bargane cheir;


On athir half thai mak a weirlike feir:


And thar withall at anys on every sydis


The dartis thik and fleand takyllys glydis,30
[Pg 728]

As doith the schour of snaw, and with thar flycht


Dyrknyt the hevynnys and the skyis lyght.


Tyrrhenus tho, ane of the Tuscane rowt,


And Acontevs, a Rutilyane full stowt,


Togidder semblyt with thar speris ran,5


To preif the first fall sammyn, man for man:


Thai meit in melle with a felloun rak,


Quhil schaftis al to schuldris with a crak;


Togiddir duschis the stowt stedis atanys,


That athyris contyr fruschyt otheris banys.10


And Aconteus, lyke to the thundris blast,


Smyte from hys sadill a far way was cast,


Or lyke a stayn warpyt from the engyne,


That al tofruschit dovn he dyd declyne,


With sik rebund and rewyne wonder sair15


That he his lyfe hes sparpellit in the ayr.


All suddanly the Latynys tuke affray,


And gaue the bak bedeyn, and fled away,


Thar scheldis our thar schuldris kest behynd,


And to the tovn spurris als fers as wynd.20


The Troianys dyd persewyng on the chays,


And fast invadis thame Prynce Asyllas.


Quhen thai approchyng to the portis neir,


The Latyn pepill returnys all infeir,


Thar weill dantit hors nekkis quhelit abowt,25


Syne gaue a cry, and on thame with a schowt:


The tother party than hes tane the flyght,


Leit ga the brydill, and fled in all thar mycht.


Lyke as the flowand sey with fludis rude


Now ruschis to the land, as it war woyd,30
[Pg 729]

And on the skelleys at the costis bay


Vpswakkis fast the fomy wallys gray,


And with his jawpys coverys in and owt


The far sandis our the bay abowt;


Now with swyft fard gois ebband fast abak,5


That with hys bulrand jaschis and owt swak


With hym he sowkis and drawys mony stayn,


And levis the strandis schald and sandis plane:


The Tuscane folk the Latynys on sik wys


Onto the cite wallys chasyt twys;10


And twys thar self dyd fle and gif the bak,


With scheldis at defens behynd thame swak.


Bot thareftir the thryd assay thai mak,


The ostis sammyn jonyt with a crak,


That euery man hes chosyn hym his feir:15


And than, forsuyth, the granys men mycht heir


Of thame that stervyn and dovn bettyn beyn,


That armour, wapynnys, and ded corps bedeyn,


And stedis throwand on the grond that weltis,


Mydlit with men quhilk ȝald the gaste and sweltis,20


Bedowyn lay full deip in thar awyn blude:


The stowr encressis furyus and woyd.


Orsilochus, a Troiane, with all his fors


Dressis his lans at ane Remulus hors,


For hym to meit he stude a maner feir;25


The hed remanyt vnder the horssis eyr.


The steid enragit for the cruell dynt,


And lansys vp on hycht als fers as flynt,


As he that was inpacient of his wond,


That Remulus down weltis on the grond.30
[Pg 730]

Catillus, ane of the brethir Tyberyne,


Iollas down bet, and thareftir syne


The gret Hermynyus, wondir byg of corps,


Bot far byggar of curage and of fors;


Quhais hed and schuldris nakyt war and bare,5


And on his crovn bot lokrand ȝallow hair;


And thocht he nakyt was, and voyd of geir,


Na wond nor wapyn mycht hym anys effer:


Forgane the speris so bustuus blomyt he,


That this Catillus stalwart schaft of tre10


Throw gyrdis baith hys braid schulder banys,


And with the dynt stud schakand all at anys,


Transfixit so, and persand euery part,


It dowblis and renewys the mannis smart.


The blaknyt dedly blude on athir syde15


Furth ruschis owt of workand wondis wyde;


The swerdis baithit wolx in bargane red;


Feill corpsis kyllit in the feild fell ded,


And caucht a douchty end to swelt in fyght,


By hurtis feill forto manteym thar rycht.20






 CAP. XIII.




Quhou Camylla hir fays doun can dyng,


And venquyst Awnus, for all his fair flechyng.








The awfull maid Camylla the ilk tyde,


With cace of arrowis tachit by hyr syde,
[Pg 731]

Amyd the slauchter and melle apon hyr foyn


Prowdly pransys lyke a wench Amaȝon,


That, forto hant the bargane or assay,


Hyr rycht pap had cut and brynt away:


And now the sowpill schaftis baldly sche5


On athir sydis thik sparpellis and leit fle;


Now, not irkyt in batale stith to stand,


Ane stalwart ax scho hyntis in hir hand:


Apon hir schulder the giltyn bow Turcas,


With Dyanys arowys clatterand in hyr cays.10


And gif that so betyd into that fight


Hyr ferys gave the bak and tuke the flycht,


Into the chais oft wald scho turn agane,


And, fleand, with hir bow schuyt mony a flane.


Abowt hir went hir walit salwart feris,15


The maid Laryna, and Tulla ȝong of ȝheris,


And Tarpeia, that stowtly turnys and swax


With the weil stelit and braid billit ax;


Italyanys born; quham the nobil Camylla


Had to hir lovyng and honour deput swa,20


Tobeyn hir servandis in ganand tyme of paix,


And in batale to stand by hir in pres.


Lyke as of Trace the wenchys Amaȝonys


Dyndillis the flude Thermodoon for the nonys,


As in thar payntit armour do thai fyght,25


Owder abowt Hippolita the wight,


Or by the weirlyke maid Penthesile,


Rolland hir cart of weir to the melle;


The wemen rowtis baldly to the assay,


With felloun bruyt, gret revery, and deray,30
[Pg 732]

Furth haldis sammyn our the feldis sone,


With crukyt scheldis schapyn like the moyn.


O thou stern maid Camylla, quhat sall I say?


Quham first, quham last, thou smait to erth that day?


Or quhou feil corpsis in the batale sted5


Thou laid to grond, ourthrew, and put to ded?


With the formast, Ewmenyus, that was one


Son to Clysius; quhais braid breist bone


With a lang stalwart speir of the fyr tre


Throw smyttyn tyte and persyt sone hes sche:10


He cavis owr, furthbokand stremys of blude,


And with his teith eik, schortly to conclude,


The bludy erd he bait; and, as he sweltis,


Apon hys wond oft writhis, tumlys, and weltis.


Abuf this nixt scho ekis other two,15


Lyris, and ane Pegasyus alsso;


Of quham the tane, that is to say, Lyris,


As that he fordward stowpand was, I wys,


To hynt hys horssis reyn that gan to fundir,


And the tother present, to kep hym vndir,20


Furth straucht his febill arm to stynt his fall,


To grund togidder ruschit ane and all.


And to thir syne the son of Hyppotes,


Amastrus hait, ded scho adionyt in pres;


And lenand fordwart on hir lance of tre,25


Terreas and Harpalicus chasys sche,


Persewand eik full bustuusly onon


The bald Chromys, and strang Demophoon:


Quhou feill dartis with hir hand kest this maid,


Alsmony Troianys ded to grund scho laid.30
[Pg 733]

Ane Ornytus, ane huntar, far on raw,


In armour and in cognycens onknaw,


Raid on a curser of Apulȝe throu the feild:


Hys braid schuldris weill cled war and ourheld


With a ȝong bullis hyde newly of hynt;5


Hys hed coverit, to salf hym fro the dynt,


Was with ane hydduus wolfis gapand jowis,


With chaftis braid, quhyte teith, and bustuus powis.


To mak debait, he held intill his hand


A rural club or culmas insted of brand;10


And, quhar he went, amyd the rowtis on hie


Abuf thame all his hail hed men myght se.


Camylla hym at myscheif hes on set,


Scho bair hym throw, and to the grund dovn bet;


Nor na gret curage, forsuyth, was that, na mycht,15


For all his rowt tofore had tane the flycht.


Bot forthir eik this forsaid Camylla,


With mynd onfrendly, can thir wordis sa:


Thou Tyrrheyn fallow, quhat, wenyt thou tobe


In woddis chasand the wild deir? quod sche:20


The day is cummyn that ȝour prowd wordis hait


A womanis wapyn sal resist and debait.


And, not the les, na litill renowne


From thens thou sal do turs away with the,


And to our faderis gostis blythly schaw25


That with Camyllais glave thou art ourthraw.


Incontinent this madyn eftir thys


Slew Orsilochus, and ane that hait Butys,


Twa biggast men of body and of banys


Of all the ost and fallowschip Troianys.30
[Pg 734]

Bot this ilk Butys, standand hir befor,


Out throu the nek dyd scho pers and bor,


Betwix the hawbrig and the helm in hy,


Quhar that his hals scho dyd nakyt aspy;


For our his left schulder hang his scheld.5


Bot this Orsilochus fled hir in the feild,


And gan to trump with mony a turnyng went;


In circulis wyde scho drave hym our the bent,


With mony a curs and jowk, abowt, abowt;


Quhar euer he fled scho followis in and owt:10


And at the last scho has ourtak the man,


And throw hys armour all, and his harn pan,


Hyr braid poll ax, rasyt so on hie,


With all hir fors and mycht syne strykis sche;


As he besocht for grace with gret request,15


Scho dowblit on hir dyntis, and so hym prest,


With feil wondis his hed has tort and rent;


Hys harnys hait our all his vissage went.


Than Awnus son, quhilk also Awnus hait,


On cace betyd approche in the debait20


Towart this maid, and, alssone he hir saw,


Abasyt huvis still for dreid and aw:


Into the mont Appennynus dwelt he,


Amang Liguriane pepill of his cuntre;


And not, forsuyth, the lakest weriour,25


Bot forsy man, and rycht stalwart in stour,


So lang as fatis sufferit hym in fycht


To excers prettykis, juperty, or slycht.


This Awnus, fra that weil persavit he


Na way to fle nor eschew the melle,30
[Pg 735]

Nor mycht eschaip the queyn, stude him agane;


Than he begouth assay hir with a trayn,


And with a sle dissait thus first he said:


Quhat honour is till a stowt wench or maid


Fortill assur and trast in a strang hors?5


Leif thy swyft steid, and traste in thyne awyn fors;


At nane avantage, quhen thou lyst to fle,


Lyght on this plane, and hand for hand with me


Addres ws to debait on fut allone:


Thar sall thou se, thar sall thou knaw onone,10


Quhamto this wyndy glore, voust, or avantis,


The honor, or, with payn, the lovyng grantis.


Thus said he: bot scho than als hait as fyre,


Aggrevit for, inflambit in felloun ire,


Alycht, and to hir mait the hors betaucht;15


At his desyre onon on fut vpstraucht,


With equal armour bodyn wondir lycht,


The drawyn suerd in hand that schane full brycht,


And onabasyt abaid hym in the feild,


Abylȝeit only bot with a quhite scheild.20


The ȝong man, wenyng with his sle dissait


He had begilit hir be his consait,


Abowt his bridill turnyt but mair delay,


And at the flycht sprent furth and brak away,


And feil sys leit the hors sydis feill25


The scharp irne spurris prik apon his heill.


O, quod the maid, thou fals Liguriane,


Our wanton in thy prowd mynd, all invayn;


O variant man, for nocht perfay, quod sche,


Hes thou assayt thy cuntre craftis sle:30
[Pg 736]

Dissaitfull wight, forsuyth I to the say,


Thy slycht and wylis sall the nocht beir away,


Nor hayl scarth hyne do turs the hame fra ws


Onto thy faderis hows, the fals Awnus.


Thus said the wench onto this other syre,5


And furth scho sprent as spark of gleid or fyre;


With spedy fut so swyftly rynnys sche,


By passyt the horssis renk, and furth can fle


Befor hym in the feild with gret disdeyn,


And claucht onon the curser by the reyn;10


Syne set apon hym baldly, quhar scho stude,


And hir revengit of hir fays blude:


Als lychtly as the happy goishalk, we se,


From the hycht of a rokis pynnakill hie


With swyft weyngis persewis wonder sair15


The silly dow heich vp into the ayr,


Quham finaly he clippis at the last,


And lowkyt in his punsys sarris fast,


Thristand his tallons sa throu hir entralis


Quhill at the blude abundantly furth ralys;20


And, with hir beik deplumand, on al sydis


The lycht downys vp to the skyis glidis.






 CAP. XIV.




Tarchon, gret chiftane of the Tuscan ost,


The fleand folkis to turn agane can bost.








The fader of Goddis and men with diligent eyn


Has all hir dedis vnderstand and seyn,
[Pg 737]

And, situat in his hevynly hous on hie,


Inducis and commovis to the melle


Tarchon, of Tuscanys pryncipall lord and syre,


In breithfull stoundis rasyt brym as fyre;


So that amyd the ful myschewos fyght,5


The gret slauchter and rowtis takand the flycht,


On horsbak in this Tarchon baldly draw,


Wilfull his pepill to support and saw:


The wardis all of euery natioun


With admonitiouns seir and exhortatioun10


And diuers wordis tystis to feght, for schame,


Clepand and calland ilk man be his name,


Quhill thai that drevyn war abak and chaste


Relevys agane to the bargane in haist.


O Tuscane pepill, quhou happynnys this, said he,15


That ȝhe sal evir sa doillyt and bowbartis be


Onwrokyn sik inurys to suffir heir?


O, quhat be this? quhou gret a dreid and feir,


Quhou huge dolfnes, and schaymful cowardice,


Hes ombeset ȝour myndis, apon sik wys20


That a woman allon, and thus belyve,


Apon sik wys sal scattir ȝou and dryve,


And gar sa large rowtis tak the flycht?


Quharto bair we thir steill egis in fyght?


Or quhat avalys to hald in hand, lat se,25


For nocht thir wapynnys, gyf we a wife sall fle?


Ȝe war not wont tobe sa lyddyr ilkane


At nycht batellys and workis venerian,


Or quhar the bowand trumpet blew the spryng,


At Bachus dans to go in caralyng,30
[Pg 738]

Syne go to fest at tabill, and syt at des,


Se cowpys full, and mony danty mes:


Thar was ȝour lust, plesour, and appetite,


Thar was ȝour bissy cuyr and ȝour delyte;


Quhen that the happy spayman, on hys gys,5


Pronuncit the festual haly sacryfys,


And the fat offerandis dyd ȝou call on raw


To banket amyd the dern blissyt schaw.


And, with that word, amydwart the melle,


Reddy to sterf, his hors furth sterys he,10


And awfully onon with all his mayn


Ruschit apon Venulus, stud hym agane;


And with hys rycht arm can hys fa enbras,


Syk wys he dyd hym from hys hors arrais,


And with huge strenth syne dyd hym cowch and lay15


Befor his breist, and bair hym quyte away.


The Tuscanys rasyt a clamour to the sky,


And Latynys all thar eyn abowt dyd wry.


This Tarchon, ardent as the fyry levyn,


Flaw furth swyft as a fowle vp towart hevyn,20


Berand with hym the armour and the man;


And fra his speris poynt of brak he than


The stelit hed, and syne seyrsis all artis,


Euerilk entre, and all the oppyn partis,


Quhar he mycht fynd into sa litil stovnd25


A place patent to geif hym dedis wond:


And, be the contrar, Venulus full wight


Maid all debait and obstakill at he mycht,


And can hys hand from hys throt oft sys chop


With all hys strenth, hys violens to stop.30
[Pg 739]

Lyke as, sum tyme, the ȝallo egill be sycht


The eddir hyntis vp and careis on hyght,


Syne, fleand, in hir feit strenȝeis sa fast


That oft hyr punsys out throw the skyn dois thrast:


Bot the serpent, wondyt and al toschent,5


In lowpyt thrawys wrythis with mony a sprent,


Hyr sprutlyt skalys vpset grysly to se,


With quhisland mouth strekand hir hed on hie;


All thocht scho wreill, and sprynkill, bend, or skyp,


Evir the sarar this ern strenys hys gryp,10


And with hys bowand beik rentis grewsly,


Sammyn with hys weyngis soursand in the sky:


Noyn othyr wys, this Tarchon tursys hys pray


Throw owt the Tyburtyn rowtis glaid and gay.


The pepill Tuscane, quhilum cum fra Lyde,15


Seand the exempill and prosper chans that tyd


Of thar stowt duke, followys hys hardyment,


And with a rusch sammyn in the bargane sprent.


Quhen as ane Aruns, by hys mortal fait


Onto myschewos ded predestinate,20


Circulis at the wait, and aspyis abowt


The swyft madyn Camyll, of all the rowt


In honest fait of armys maist expert,


And best betaucht to schute or cast a dart:


He sekis by quhat ways or fortoun25


To fynd the fassoun and tyme oportune


Maist esely this lady to assaill;


And all the wentis and renkis, sans faill,


This furyus maid held mydwart the melle,


The sammyn gait and passage haldis he,30
[Pg 740]

And prevely hir futsteppys dyd espy;


And quhar scho dyd return with victory,


With fut bakwart frawart hir aduersar,


This ilk Aruns was ful reddy thar,


And thyftuusly onon the sam way he5


Withdrew hys pays, and held on hir hys E:


Lurkand at wayt, and spyand rownd abowt,


Now this tocome, now that onset, but dowt,


At euery part thys pevech man of weyr,


And schuke in hand hys oneschewabill speir.10






 CAP. XV.




Aruns the preist slays Camylla be slycht,


Syne cowartly onon takis the flycht.








Per chans that tyde Choreus, of gret estait,


Ane spiritual man blissyt and consecrat,


That to Cybele sum tyme preist had be,


A weill lang space ȝond in the melle


Abilȝeit rychly and full gloryus schane15


In pompus armour and array Phrygiane:


Furth dryvys he the fomy sterand steid,


With weirlyke bardis cled, and sovir weid


Of coyrbulȝe or leddir with gilt nalys,


Cowchyt with plait of steill als thik as skalys;20


And he hym self, in brovne sangwane weill dycht,


Abuf hys onkouth armour blomand brycht,
[Pg 741]

Schaftis he schot, and takillys wrocht in Creyt,


With Lycyane bow nokkyt with hornys meyt,


And clattryng by hys schuldyr for the weir


Hys ganȝe cays and goldyn awblaster;


The helm of gold schane on the prestis hed;5


Of safron hew, betwix ȝallow and red,


Was hys rych mantill, of quham the forbreist lappys,


Ratlyng of brycht gold wyre, with gyltyn trappys


Or cordys fyne was buklyt with a knot;


Of nedill wark all brusyt was hys cote;10


Hys hosyng schane of wark of barbary


In porturatour of subtell brusery.


Thys man only of all the mekyll rowt


The maid Camylla followis fast about;


Quhyddir so it was that Troiane armour sche15


Lyst hyng in tempill for memor of trophe,


Or than desyryt this wantoun hunteres


In goldyn attyre hir selwyn to addres,


Quhilk scho in feild byreft hyr aduersar;


Throw owt the ost onwarly went alquhar,20


Blynd in desyre this Troiane to assay,


In womanly appetyt ardent of this pray,


This precyus spulȝe, and array sa prowd,


Quharwith, as said is, was this preist yschrowd.


This forsaid Aruns liggyng at the wait,25


Seand this maid onflocht at sik estait,


Chosys hys tyme that was mast oportune,


And towart hir hys dart adressyt sone.


With voce expres hys prayer thus maid he:


O brycht Apollo, souerane God mast hie,30
[Pg 742]

Of haly mont Soractis the wardane,


Quham pryncipaly we wirschip euery ane,


Quhamto the fyry smok of sens, we se,


Blesys in the kyndillit byngis of fyr tre;


As we that wirschippis the with obesans,5


Be support of thy devoyt observans,


Oft with our futsteppys and our nakyt solys


Down thryngis feil hait syndris and fyry colys;


Grant me, fader almychty, now I pray,


With our wapynnys this schame to do away.10


I ask na trophe, nor the pompos weyd


Of this maid dovn bet or repulsyt in deid,


Nowder byd I therof spulȝe nor renovn;


My other dedis syne mot mak me bovn


To report honour and lawd eftir this:15


Bot at this time I byd na mair, I wys,


Salf that this wench, this vengeabill pest or trake,


Be bet dovn ded by my wond and smart strake,


And syne that I may to my kynd cite


But ony glor return alyve, quod he.20


Phebus hym hard, and grantit to fulfyll


Of hys axin a party, at hys wyll;


Bot for the tother part, suyth to say,


He leit do waif with the swyft wynd away:


Consentand that he suld doun bet and sla25


By hasty ded the awfull Camylla;


Bot, at hys cuntre hail scarth haymwart brocht


Suld se hym eftir that, he grantit nocht;


And in the clowdy blastis of the sky


That voce and wordis flaw away in hy.30
[Pg 743]

So that, als fast as from hys hand, that stond,


Thirland the ayr this takill gaue a sound,


The rowtis can aduert and takis tent,


Turnand thar syghtis, ilk wight, with a blent


Towart the queyn, thar lady, this Camyll:5


Bot scho nane heyd nor tent hes tane thartill,


Nowder of the hasty motioun of the ayr,


Nor ȝit the byrrand sovnd this flycht maid thar,


Nor ȝit persauyt this awfull schaft of tre


Discendand swyftly fra the hevyn on hie;10


Quhill that the lance hir smate and hurt, perfay,


Quhar that hir pap was schorn and cut away,


And weggyt deip within hir cost stude,


Furth sowkis largely of this madynnys blude.


Hyr complicis alsammyn in this neyd15


Start to thar lady in affray and dreid;


And sone thai claucht and lappyt in thar armys


This queyn, that funderand was for hir smart harmys.


Bot fyrst of all, for feyr and fell affray,


Thys Aruns fled full fast and brak away,20


With blythnes mydlyt havand paynfull dreid:


For he na langar durst into this neyd


Assure forto debait hym with hys speir,


Na ȝit abyd the virgynys wapyn, for feyr.


And lyke as that the wild wolf in hys rage25


Knawand hys recent falt and gret owtrage,


Quhen that he hes sum gret ȝong oxin slane,


Or than weryit the nolt hyrd on the plane,


Tofor hys fays with wapynnys hym persew,


Onon is he to the heich mont adew,30
[Pg 744]

And hyd hym self full far owt of the way;


Hys taill, that on hys ryg befor tymys lay,


Vnder hys waym lattis fall abasytly,


And to the wod can hast hym intill hy:


Nane other wys Aruns, that fleyt wight,5


Fled, and belyve withdrew hym owt of sycht;


Content only to gyf the bak and fle,


Amang the thikast pres hym hyd hes he.


And this Camylla, stervand the ilk stound,


The schaft hes pullyt of hyr dedly wound10


With hir awyn hand; bot ȝit amang the banys


The scharp steill hed fixt to the rybbys remanys,


In a full deip wond and a grewos sayr.


All paill and bludles swarthis scho rycht thar,


And in the deth closys hir cald eyn;15


The rudy cullour, vmquhile as purpour scheyn,


Blaknyt, and fadys quyte out of hir face:


And, ȝaldand vp the gost in the ilk place,


Onto ane of hir damysellis and ferys,


Clepyt Acca, that had beyn mony ȝheris20


Only maste trast, and hald in speciall


To Camylla abuf the otheris all,


That knew alhaill the secretis of hir hart,


With quham hir thochtful curys wald scho part,


That tyme scho spak, and said on this maner:25


Acca, Acca, my leif systyr deyr,


Onto this hour I haue done at I myght;


Bot now this dolorus wond so hes me dycht


That all thyng dymmys and myrknys me abowt.


Go fast thy way, and hy the of this rowt;30
[Pg 745]

Schaw Turnus thir my last commandis, quod sche;


Byd hym entyr in fecht insted of me,


And fra the cite thir Troianys dryve away:


Adew for evir! I haue na mar to say.


Sammyn with that word the renȝeis slyp leyt sche,5


And slayd to grond, nocht of fre volunte.


Than the cald deith and last stondis mortall


The spreit dissoluyt from the corps our all;


Hyr sowpil crag inclynand and nek bayn,


Bowyt dovn hyr hed that was with deth ourtane;10


Furth sprent hyr armys in the ded thrawyng,


And fra hir kest hir wapynnys and armyng:


The spreit of lyfe fled murnand with a grone,


And with disdene dovn to the gostis is goyn.






 CAP. XVI.




Opis the nymphe with dartis of Dyane,


Camylla to revenge, has Aruns slane.








Ane huge clamour than dyd rys on hycht,15


That semyt smyte the goldyn starnys brycht;


The bargane walxis mair cruell and het


Quhar that the stowt Camylla was down bet:


For all the rowtis of the bald Troianys,


The Tyrrheyn dukis semlyt all at anys,20


And eik Evandrus wardys of Arcadys,


Sammyn in the pres thar aduersaris invadis.
[Pg 746]

Bot Opis tho, the nymphe, that weill neir by


Be thrynfald Dyane send was to espy,


Sat a lang space apon ane hillys hight,


And onabasyt dyd behald the fyght.


Syne thareftir on far scho can espy,5


Amyd quhar as thir ȝonkeris rasyt this scry,


With schaymfull deth ourtane, Camyll the maid:


Scho wepyt soir, and plenand thus scho said,


Sobband full deip law from hir breist within:


Allace! virgyne, to mekill, and that is syn,10


To mekill all owt, sa cruell punysyng


Has thou sufferit, certis, for sik a thyng,


Becaus thou hest inforsyt in all thy mycht


Fortill ennoy the Troianys in this fight.


Quhat proffitis the in buskis thyne allane15


To haue servyt so lang the blissyt Diane?


Or by thy syde, or than on schuldir hie,


So lang our quavyrris to haue born? quod sche.


And, netheles, but honour in this sted


Thy queyn hes not the left in poynt of ded;20


Nor this thy slauchter but ramemberyng


Amang all pepill sall not be, nor menyng;


Ne salt thou not that schame suffir, trast me,


Forto be tald thou suld onwrokyn be:


Quha evir with wond hes schent or violait25


Thy fair body, to Dyane dedicate,


He sal repent the tyme that evir thou stervit,


And with his deth aby, as he hes servyt.


Vnder the montane law thar stude fute hoit


A byng of erth, vphepit like a moyt,30
[Pg 747]

Contenyng the cald assis and brynt banys


Of ald Dercennus, kyng of Lawrentanys,


Ourheld with akyn treis and bewys rank:


Thyddir this Goddes, hastand dovn the bank,


Hyrself hes careyt, and thar huvys styll,5


And from this knowys hycht, or lityll hyll,


Abydis this ilk Aruns till espy.


And fra scho hym persavys glydand by,


In rich armour schynand wonder brycht,


And all invayn, prowd, wantoun, gay, and lycht;10


Quhy haldis thou awaywart so? quod sche:


Dres hyddirmar thy futsteppis towart me;


Now cummys hyddir to perys and to sterve,


And caucht dewly, as that thou hes deserve,


Thy reward for Camyllys ded, perde.15


On Dyanys dartis, ha, suld syk ane de?


And with that word, lyke a stowt wench of Trace,


The swyft gilt arow schuke owt of hir cace,


And, rycht amovit, hir hornyt bow has bent,


Quharin onon the takill vp is stent;20


Syne halys vp in ire and felloun haist,


Quhill that the bow and nokkis met almaist:


And now hir handis raxit hyt euery sted,


Hard on the left neyf was the scharp steill hed,


The stryng, vp pullit with the rycht hand in feir,25


Went by hir pap almaste ontil hir eyr.


Aruns onon the motioun of the ayr


Sammyn with the quhislyng of the takill squar


Persavit hes, and eik the dynt atanys;


The dedly hed throu gyrd his body and banys.30
[Pg 748]

Hys ferys all hes hym forȝet allane,


Quhar as he swelt with mony a wofull grane,


And in ane onkouth feld hes left hym ded,


Bedoif in dust and puldyr, will of red:


Syne Opys with hir weyngis swyft can fle5


Abufe the skyis heich in the hevynnys hie.






 CAP. XVII.




Acca to Turnus schawys Camyllais chance,


Hir army fled, and left all ordinans.








The swyft army and active rowt wyth this


Of Camilla fled first the feld, I wys,


For thai had lost thar lady and capitane:


The pissans haill and ostis Tyburtane10


Affrayt all togyddir gave the flycht;


The bak hes tane Atynas bald and wight;


The chiftanys brak array, and went thar gait,


The banneris left all blowt and desolait,


Socht to warrand on horsbak, he and he,15


Frawart thar fays, and held to the cite.


Nor nane of thame, sa mayt and sa agast,


The fers Troianys, quhilk thame assalȝeit fast,


Onto the ded and myscheif dyd invaid,


With wapynnys anys to styntyng maid a braid,20


Nor thame sustene ne ȝit resist thai mycht,


Bot all atanys sammyn tuke the flycht,
[Pg 749]

And on thar wery schuldris with gret schame


Thar byg bowys onbent has tursyt hame;


And the stowt stedis with thar huvys sovnd


With swyft renkis dyndlyt the dusty grond.


The blak stowr of puldir in a stew5


Als dyrk as myst towart the wallys threw;


On the barmkyn abufe, and turettis hie,


The wemen bet thar breistis, was reuth to se,


Rasand atanys a wofull wyfly cry


Went to the starnys and thyrlyt throw the sky.10


And quha mycht formest, with swyft curs hes thame set


To brek in at the oppyn patent ȝet;


The rowtis of thar ennemys myxt ourane


Apon thame ruschis, and owrthrawys mony ane:


Nor thar eschape thai nocht the wrachit deth,15


Bot in the portis ȝaldis vp the breth,


Stekit amyd thar native wallys hie,


And amang howsis quhar sovir semyt thame tobe.


A part closyt the entre and the portis;


Ne to thar ferys, nor ȝit nane other fortis,20


The ȝettis listyng oppyn, nor mak way,


Nor, thocht thai oft besekyng thame and pray,


Durst thame ressaue within thar wallys squar:


A duylfull slauchter onon vprisys thar


Of thame in armys stude the portis to defend,25


And thame with glavys war kyllyt and maid end.


The sonnys furthschet, that pety was to seyn,


Befor thar wepand wofull faderis eyn,


Sum in the holl fowcy war tumlyt dovn,


Sa thik thame cummyrris the pres throng to the tovn;30
[Pg 750]

Sum hasty and onwarly at the flycht


Sclakis thar brydillys, spurrand in all thar mycht,


Can with a ram rays to the portis dusche,


Lyke with thar hedis the hard barris to frusch.


The moderis eik and wemen albedene,5


Fra tyme Camylla kyllyt haue thai sene.


Knawand thar was extreme necessite,


With all debait stude on the wallys hee;


Sik thyng to do that tyme and tak on hand


The perfyte luf thame taucht of thar kynd land;10


And all agast dartis and stanys doun threw:


The syllys square and hedyt styngis enew,


And perkis gret with byrslyt endis and brunt,


Full hastely doun swakkis, dunt for dunt,


And, for defens of thar kynd wallys hie,15


Offerit thame self with the formest to de.


In the meyn quhile, as Turnus at the wait


Lay in the wod, fast by the passage strait,


All the maist cruell tithingis fillys hys erys:


For Acca schawys to hym and all hys ferys20


The huge affray, quhou the batale was gane,


The Volscane ostis distroyt, and Camyll slane,


Thar noysum fays encressyng furyus rage,


And by thar prosper Martis vassallage


Discumfyst all hys ostis, euery rowt,25


That now the cite wallys stud in dowt.


He walxis brayn in furor bellicall,


So desyrus of dedis martiall,


For the hard fatys and strang mychtis he


Of the gret Jove wald that it so suld be:30
[Pg 751]

The hyllys heich he left quhar at he lay,


And from the dern woddis went away.


And scarsly was he passyt owt of syght,


In the plane feild cummyn all at rycht,


Quhen that the prynce Ene with all his men5


Hes entryt in and passyt throu the glen,


And our the swyre schawys vp at hys hand


Eschape the dern wod, and won the evyn land;


So that baith twa with thar haill rowtis at last


In all thar speid held to the cite fast.10


And na lang space thar ostis war in sondir,


Bot that Ene the feildis reik lyke tundir


Of dusty stowr persauyt a far way,


And saw the Latyne rowtis ryde away;


And fers Eneas, wyrkar of hys harmys,15


Turnus persauyt also ryde in armys,


The dynnyng of thar hors feit eik hard he,


Thar stampyng sterage, and thar stedis ne.


Incontinent thai had to batale went,


And in the bargane previt thar hardyment,20


Ne war, as than, the rosy Phebus red


Hys wery stedis had dowkyt our the hed


Vnder the stremys of the occeane see,


Reducyng the dyrk nycht, thai mycht not se;


Alhail declynyt had the days lycht.25


To tentis than befor the tovn ilk wight


Bownyng to rest, al thai that war withowt,


And delvys trynschis all the wallys abowt.




[Pg 752]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE TWELT BUKE.






Dyonea, nycht hyrd, and wach of day,


The starnys chasyt of the hevyn away,


Dame Cynthia dovn rollyng in the see,


And Venus lost the bewte of hir E,


Fleand eschamyt within Cylenyus cave;5


Mars onbydrew, for all his grundyn glave,


Nor frawart Saturn from hys mortall speir


Durst langar in the firmament appeir,


Bot stall abak ȝond in hys regioun far


Behynd the circulat warld of Jupiter;10


Nycthemyne, affrayt of the lyght,


Went ondir covert, for gone was the nycht;


As fresch Aurora, to myghty Tythone spows,


Ischit of hir safron bed and evir hows,


In crammysyn cled and granyt violat,15


With sangwyne cape, the selvage purpurat,


Onschet the wyndois of hir large hall,


Spred all with rosys, and full of balm ryall,


And eik the hevynly portis cristallyne


Vpwarpis braid, the warld to illumyn.20


The twynklyng stremowris of the orient


Sched purpour sprangis with gold and asure ment.
[Pg 753]

Persand the sabill barmkyn nocturnall,


Bet doun the skyis clowdy mantill wall:


Eous the steid, with ruby hamys red,


Abuf the sey lyftis furth hys hed,


Of cullour soyr, and sum deill brovn as berry,5


Forto alichtyn and glaid our emyspery,


The flambe owtbrastyng at his noys thyrlys;


Sa fast Phaeton with the quhyp hym quhyrlys,


To roll Appollo hys faderis goldyn char,


That schrowdith all the hevynnys and the ayr;10


Quhill schortly, with the blesand torch of day,


Abilȝeit in hys lemand fresch array,


Furth of hys palyce ryall ischit Phebus,


With goldyn crovn and vissage gloryus,


Crysp haris, brycht as chrisolyte or topace,15


For quhais hew mycht nane behald hys face,


The fyry sparkis brastyng from hys eyn,


To purge the ayr, and gylt the tendyr greyn,


Defundand from hys sege etheryall


Glaid influent aspectis celicall;20


Before hys regale hie magnificens


Mysty vapour vpspryngand, sweit as sens,


In smoky soppys of donk dewis wak,


Moich hailsum stovys ourheldand the slak;


The aureat fanys of hys trone souerane25


With glytrand glans ourspred the occiane,


The large fludis lemand all of lycht


Bot with a blenk of hys supernale sycht.


Forto behald, it was a glor to se


The stablit wyndis and the cawmyt see,30
[Pg 754]

The soft sesson, the firmament sereyn,


The lowne illumynat ayr, and fyrth ameyn;


The syluer scalyt fyschis on the greit


Ourthwort cleir stremys sprynkland for the heyt,


With fynnys schynand brovn as synopar,5


And chyssell talys, stowrand heir and thar;


The new cullour alychtnyng all the landis,


Forgane thir stannyris schane the beriall strandis,


Quhil the reflex of the diurnal bemys


The beyn bonkis kest ful of variant glemys:10


And lusty Flora dyd hyr blomys spreid


Vnder the feit of Phebus sulȝart steid;


The swardit soyll enbrovd with selcouth hewys,


Wod and forest obumbrat with thar bewys,


Quhois blisfull branschis, porturat on the grund,15


With schaddoys schene schew rockis rubicund;


Towris, turettis, kyrnellis, pynnaclys hie


Of kyrkis, castellis, and ilke fair cite,


Stude payntit, euery fyall, fayn, and stage,


Apon the plane grund, by thar awyn vmbrage20


Of Eolus north blastis havand no dreid,


The sulȝe spred hir braid bosum on breid,


Ȝephyrus confortabill inspiratioun


Fortill ressaue law in hyr barm adoun;


The cornys croppis and the beris new brerd25


With glaidsum garmont revestyng the erd;


So thik the plantis sprang in euery peyce,


The feildis ferleis of thar fructuus fleyce;


Byssy dame Ceres, and provd Pryapus,


Reiosyng of the planys plentuus,30
[Pg 755]

Plenyst sa plesand and mast propyrly,


By natur nurysyt wondir nobilly,


On the fertill skyrt lappys of the grund


Strekyng on breid ondyr the cyrkyll rovnd;


The variand vestur of the venust vaill5


Schrowdis the scherald fur, and euery faill


Ourfret with fulȝeis of figuris full diuers,


The spray bysprent with spryngand sprowtis dispers,


For callour humour on the dewy nyght,


Rendryng sum place the gers pilis thar hycht,10


Als far as catal, the lang symmyris day,


Had in thar pastur eyt and knyp away;


And blisfull blossummys in the blomyt ȝard


Submittis thar hedis in the ȝong sonnys salfgard:


Ive levys rank ourspred the barmkyn wall,15


The blomyt hawthorn cled hys pykis all;


Furth of fresch burgionys the wyne grapis ȝyng


Endlang the treilȝeis dyd on twystis hyng;


The lowkyt buttonys on the gemmyt treis


Ourspredand leyvis of naturis tapestreis,20


Soft gresy verdour eftir balmy schowris


On curland stalkis smylyng to thar flowris;


Behaldand thame sa mony diuers hew,


Sum pers, sum paill, sum burnet, and sum blew,


Sum greyce, sum gowlys, sum purpour, sum sangwane,25


Blanchit or brovne, fawch ȝallow mony ane,


Sum hevynly culloryt in celestiall gre,


Sum watry hewit as the haw wally see,


And sum depart in freklys red and quhite,


Sum brycht as gold with aureat levys lyte.30
[Pg 756]

The dasy dyd on breid hir crownell smaill,


And euery flour onlappyt in the daill;


In battill gyrs burgionys the banwart wild,


The clavyr, catcluke, and the cammamyld;


The flour delys furthspred hys hevynly hew,5


Flour dammes, and columby blank and blew;


Seir downys smaill on dent de lyon sprang,


The ȝyng greyn blomyt straberry levys amang;


Gymp gerraflouris thar royn levys onschet,


Fresch prymros, and the purpour violet;10


The roys knoppys, tutand furth thar hed,


Gan chyp, and kyth thar vermel lippys red,


Crysp scarlet levis sum scheddand, baith atanys


Kest fragrant smell amyd from goldyn granys;


Hevynly lylleis, with lokrand toppys quhyte,15


Oppynnyt and schew thar creistis redymyte,


The balmy vapour from thar silkyn croppys


Distilland hailsum sugurat hunny droppys,


And syluer schakaris gan fra levys hyng,


With crystal sprayngis on the verdour ȝyng;20


The plane pulderit with semly settis sovnd,


Bedyit full of dewy peirlys rovnd,


So that ilk burgioun, syon, herb, and flour,


Wolx all embalmyt of the fresch liquor,


And bathit hait dyd in dulce humouris fleyt,25


Quharof the beys wrocht thar hunny sweit,


By myghty Phebus operatiouns,


In sappy subtell exalatiouns.


Forgane the cummyn of this prynce potent,


Redolent odour vp from rutis sprent,30
[Pg 757]

Hailsum of smell as ony spicery,


Tryakill, droggis, or electuary,


Seroppys, sewane, sugur, and synamome,


Precyus invnctment, salve, or fragrant pome,


Aromatik gummys, or ony fyne potioun,5


Must, myr, aloes, or confectioun;


Ane paradyce it semyt to draw neir


Thir galȝart gardyngis and ilke greyn herbere.


Maist amyabill walxis the amerant medis;


Swannys swouchis throw owt the rysp and redis,10


Our al thir lowys and the fludis gray


Seirsand by kynd a place quhar thai suld lay:


Phebus red fowle hys corall creist can steir,


Oft strekyng furth hys hekkill, crawand cleir,


Amyd the wortis and the rutys gent15


Pykland hys meyt in alleis quhar he went,


Hys wifis, Toppa and Partelot, hym by,


As byrd al tyme that hantis bigamy:


The pantyt povn, pasand with plomys gym,


Kest vp his taill, a provd plesand quheil rym,20


Yschrowdyt in hys fedramme brycht and scheyn,


Schapand the prent of Argus hundreth eyn:


Amang the bronys of the olyve twistis


Seir smaill fowlys wirkand crafty nestis,


Endlang the heggeis thyk, and on rank akis,25


Ilk byrd reiosyng with thar myrthfull makis:


In corneris and cleir fenystaris of glas


Full bissely Aragne wevand was,


To knyt hir nettis and hir wobbys sle,


Tharwith to caucht the myghe and litill fle:30
[Pg 758]

So dusty pulder vpstowris in euery streit,


Quhil corby gaspyt for the fervent heit.


Vnder the bewys beyn in lusty valys,


Within fermans, and parkis cloys of palys,


The bustuus bukkis rakis furth on raw;5


Heyrdis of hertis throw the thyk wod schaw,


Baith the brokkettis, and with braid burnyst tyndis,


The sprutlyt calvys sowkand the red hyndis,


The ȝong fownys followand the dun days,


Kyddis skippand throw ronnys eftir rays;10


In lyssouris and on leys litill lammys


Full tayt and tryg socht bletand to thar dammys,


Tydy ky lowys, veilys by thame rynnys;


All snog and slekit worth thir bestis skynnys.


On salt stremys wolx Doryda and Thetis,15


By rynnand strandis Nymphis and Naedes,


Sik as we clepe wenschis and damysellis,


In gresy gravys wandrand by spryng wellis,


Of blomyt branchis and flowris quhite and red


Plettand thar lusty chaplettis for thar hed;20


Sum sang ryng sangis, dansys ledys, and rovndis,


With vocis schill, quhill all the daill resovndis;


Quharso thai walk into thar caralyng,


For amorus lays doith the rochys ryng:


Ane sang, The schyp salys our the salt faym,25


Will bryng thir merchandis and my lemman haym;


Sum other syngis, I wilbe blyth and lycht,


Myne hart is lent apon sa gudly wight.


And thochtfull luffaris rowmys to and fro,


To lys thar pane, and pleyn thar joly wo;30
[Pg 759]

Eftir thar gys, now syngand, now in sorow,


With hartis pensyve, the lang symmyris morow:


Sum ballettis lyst endyte of hys lady,


Sum levis in hoip, and sum aluterly


Disparit is, and sa quyte owt of grace,5


Hys purgatory he fyndis in euery place.


To pleys his lufe sum thocht to flat and feyn,


Sum to hant bawdry and onlesum meyn;


Sum rownys to hys fallow, thame betwene,


Hys myrry stouth and pastans lait ȝisterevin:10


Smyland says ane, I couth in previte


Schaw the a bovrd. Ha, quhat be that? quod he;


Quhat thyng? that most be secrete, said the tother.


Gud Lord! mysbeleif ȝe ȝour verray broder?


Na, neuer a deill, bot harkis quhat I wald;15


Thou mon be prevy: lo, my hand vphald.


Than sal thou walk at evin: quod he, quhidder?


In sik a place heir west, we baith togydder,


Quhar scho so freschly sang this hyndyr nycht;


Do choys the ane, and I sal quynch the lycht.20


I salbe thar I hope, quod he, and lewch;


Ȝa, now I knaw the mater weill eneuch.


Thus oft dywlgat is this schamefull play,


Na thyng accordyng to our hailsum May,


Bot rathar contagius and infective,25


And repugnant that sesson nutrytyve,


Quhen new curage kytlys all gentill hartis,


Seand throu kynd ilk thyng spryngis and revertis:


Dame naturis menstralis, on that other part,


Thar blysfull bay entonyng euery art,30
[Pg 760]

To beyt thir amorus of thar nychtis baill,


The merl, the mavys, and the nychtyngale,


With mery notis myrthfully furth brest,


Enforcyng thame quha mycht do clynk it best:


The cowschet crowdis and pyrkis on the rys,5


The styrlyng changis diuers stevynnys nys,


The sparrow chyrmys in the wallis clyft,


Goldspynk and lyntquhite fordynnand the lyft;


The gukgo galys, and so quytteris the quaill,


Quhill ryveris rerdit, schawis, and euery vaill,10


And tender twystis trymlyt on the treis,


For byrdis sang, and bemyng of the beys;


In wrablis dulce of hevynly armonyis


The larkis, lowd releschand in the skyis,


Lovys thar lege with tonys curyus,15


Baith to dame Natur, and the fresch Venus,


Rendryng hie lawdis in thar obseruance;


Quhais suguryt throtis maid glaid hartis dans,


And al smail fowlys syngis on the spray:


Welcum the lord of lycht, and lamp of day,20


Welcum fostyr of tendir herbys grene,


Welcum quyknar of floryst flowris scheyn,


Welcum support of euery rute and vayn,


Welcum confort of alkynd fruyt and grayn,


Welcum the byrdis beild apon the brer,25


Welcum master and rewlar of the ȝer,


Welcum weilfar of husbandis at the plewys,


Welcum reparar of woddis, treis, and bewys,


Welcum depayntar of the blomyt medis,


Welcum the lyfe of euery thyng that spredis,30
[Pg 761]

Welcum storour of alkynd bestiall,


Welcum be thy brycht bemys, gladyng all,


Welcum celestial myrrour and aspy,


Attechyng all that hantis sluggardy!


And with this word, in chalmer quhair I lay,5


The nynt morow of fresch temperit May,


On fut I sprent into my bair sark,


Wilfull fortill compleit my langsum wark


Twichand the lattyr buke of Dan Virgill,


Quhilk me had tareit al to lang a quhile;10


And to behald the cummyng of this kyng,


That was sa welcum tyll all warldly thyng,


With sic tryumphe and pompos curage glaid


Than of hys souerane chymmys, as is said,


Newly aryssyn in hys estait ryall,15


That, by hys hew, but orleger or dyall,


I knew it was past four houris of day,


And thocht I wald na langar ly in May


Les Phebus suld me losanger attaynt:


For Progne had, or than, sung hir complaynt,20


And eik hir dreidfull systir Philomeyn


Hyr lays endyt, and in woddis greyn


Hyd hir selvyn, eschamyt of hir chance;


And Esacus completis hys pennance


In ryveris, fludis, and on euery laik:


And Peristera byddis luffaris awaik;


Do serve my lady Venus heir with me,


Lern thus to mak ȝour obseruance, quod sche,


Into myne hartis ladeis sweit presens


Behaldis how I beynge, and do reuerens.30
[Pg 762]

Hyr nek scho wrynklys, trasyng mony fold,


With plomys glitterand, asur apon gold,


Rendryng a cullour betwix greyn and blew,


In purpour glans of hevynly variant hew;


I meyn our awyn natyve byrd, gentill dow,5


Syngand in hyr kynd, I come hydder to wow;


So pryklyng hyr greyn curage forto crowd


In amorus voce and wowar soundis lowd,


That, for the dynnyng of hir wanton cry,


I irkyt of my bed, and mycht not ly,10


Bot gan me blys, syne in my wedis dres,


And, for it was ayr morow, or tyme of mes,


I hynt a scriptour and my pen furth tuke:


Syne thus begouth of Virgill the twelt buke.




Explicit scitus prologus;


Quharof the autour says thus.




The lusty crafty preambill, perle of May15


I the entitil, crownyt quhil domysday;


And al with gold, in syng of stait ryall,


Most beyn illumnyt thy letteris capital.




[Pg 763]




 THE TWELT BUKE OF ENEADOS.


 CAP. I.




Turnus, persavand the Latyn pepill faill,


Promittis Eneas allone hym tyll assaill.








Quhen Turnus knew the Latyn pepill haill


Irk of the weir, and saw thar curage faill,


By the frawart aduersiteis of Mart,


Quhilk war tofor onbrokyn and stowt of hart,


And thocht the tyme requiris hym, but abaid,5


Forto compleit the promys he had maid,


Semyng as towartis hym tho euery wight


To that effect addressyt thar luke and sycht:


Than, onrequirit, by insaciabill desyre


Langang to feght, and byrnand hait as fyre,10


Full hie rasand hys curage and hys cheir,


He gan amyd the audiens appeir.


Fers as a wild lyoun ȝond in Trace,


By the huntar wondyt in the chace,


Quhen the smert straik in hys breist all fast is,15


For ire the lokkyrris of hys nek vpcastis,
[Pg 764]

Than first begynnyng to rays hys stern moyd,


Reiosyt of the bataill, fers and wod,


Onabasytly raschand the schaft in sundir,


And on the man liggand at wait thar vndir,


Hym to revenge, with bludy mouth doys bray;5


Nane other wys ferd Turnus the ilk day,


Smytyn so brym in fervent violens,


That all commouyt in the kyngis presens


On this maner begouth to speke and say:


Thar sall in Turnus be fund na delay;10


And al for nocht ȝon cowart Eneadanys


Thar promys and thar wordis cumis aganys,


Willyng retreit thar behestis and sawys;


Sa sall thai nocht; we wil nane sik lawys:


I sal thar falshed resist and ganestand,15


And feght contrar thar chiftane hand for hand.


Thou ryall prynce and fader, kyng Latyne,


Do sacryfy and conferm this convyne:


For owdyr sal I with thir handis twa


Ȝon ilk Troiane, forhowar of Asya,20


Do put to deth, send down to hell, quod he;


Lat Latyn pepill syttyng by to se


Quhou, myne allane with swerd in thar presens


I sall revenge and end our allyris offens;


Or than, gyf so betyd he wyn the gre,25


Lat ws all venquyst to hym subiect be,


Ȝeld hym the crown enduryng term of lyve,


And lat hym joys Lavinia to hys wyfe.


Kyng Latyn tho with sad and degest mynd


To hym answeris, and said apon this kynd:
[Pg 765]

O douchty ȝyngkeir, excellent of curage,


Quhou far as by thy forcy vassallage


My febill age thou doith exceid, quod he,


Als far mair diligently pertenys me,


And ganand is, to consell and provyde,5


And exemyn euery chance may betyde,


As I that has in part a maner feir,


Be lang experiens knawand the dowtis of weir.


Thow weldis Dawnus thy faderis realm and land,


And feil citeis conquest with thyne awyn hand;10


Tharto thou has alsso a gentill hart,


Liberall and fre, and in weir most expert,


And kyng Latyn hes gold to geif the eik.


Perfay, enew otheris, not far to seik,


Of madynnys beyn onwed in Latyum wyde,15


And in the Lawrent feildis heir besyde,


Of blude and frendschip na thyng myssemand,


Bot worthy tobe queyn of ony land.


Thoill me, I pray the, al dissait done away,


Thir wordis quhoyn of weght to the till say;20


And sammyn prent thir sawys in thy wyt.


Onlesum is I suld in wedlok knyt


My douchtir till ald wowaris of this land,


That hir tofor had axit in sik band:


All the spa men and Goddis revelyng25


Declarit plane that was onlesum thyng.


And netheles, I, venquyst cleyn but weir,


For luf of the my spowsys cousyng deir,


Ourcummyn be hir wofull terys and syte,


All maner bandys now hes brokyn quyte;30
[Pg 766]

And fra my son in law, full wrangwisly,


Hys spous onto hym promyst rest haue I,


And forthir on hym movit a wikkyt weir.


Sen syne in quhat chance I stand and danger,


And quhou fers batellis now persewys me,5


Full weill thou wait, and seis, Turnus, quod he,


And quhou huge travale thou has tholit and pane,


As principall maste douchty capitane.


Lo, twys in batale venquyst haue we be,


And now scantly within our wallit cite10


The hope and weill of Italy defendis;


Now of our recent blude, as noterly kend is,


The flude of Tibir walxis hait agane,


And of our huge banys quhite semys the plane.


Quhou am I sterit thus in purpos feir?15


And quhidder flow I thus oft thar and heir?


Quhat mad foly all to changis my thocht?


Gyf that I reddy be and dowtit nocht


The Troianys for my frendis to ressaue,


Gif so war Turnus ded war and bygrave,20


Quhat! aucht I nocht far rather end the weir


He beand in prosperyte haill and feir?


Quhat wald our cosyngis, the Rutilianys,


Or quhat wald say the other Italianys,


Gyf the I suld thus wys sa wilfully,25


Axyng our douchteris wedlok and ally,


Expone or offer to the ded? quod he:


Fortoun defend that chance at sa suld be!


Behald the chance of batale variabill,


Persave of weir the sykkill ward onstabill:30
[Pg 767]

Haue reuth and mercy of thy fader ald,


Quham Ardea now, hys cuntre, doys withhald,


Diuidit far and disseuerit from the,


And for thy saik quhou wobegone is he.


Thus said the kyng; bot the violent curage5


Of Turnus hie mynd bowit neuer a stage;


Quha wald with cuyr of medycyne hym meys,


The moir encressys and growys hys mail eys:


And, eftir that he first mycht speke agane,


Thus he began expreym with wordis plane.10


O thou maist souerane fader, I the pray,


To salue my honour, thou wald do away


Thir curis, thochtis, and solicitude,


For me thou takis; and, schortly to conclude,


Suffir me forto plege my deth in wage,15


For gloryus renovn of vassillage:


For we, fader, can swak dartis and brandis,


Nocht with febill bot stalwart rycht handis,


And of our wondis the red blude ruschis owt.


To ȝonder provd Troiane, clepit sa stowt,20


Hys moder at this tyme salbe far to seik,


Quhilk Goddes with hir subtell slychtis eik


Hir son, accustumat to tak the flycht,


Was wont to dek, and to hyde owt of sycht


Within a wifly clowd, as for a trayn,25


And heild hir self alsso in schaddowis vayn.




[Pg 768]




 CAP. II.




The queyn perswadis Turnus fra stryfe desist,


Bot he for batal can agane resist.








Be than the queyn Amata, all in feir


Of this onkouth and new maner of weir,


Wepyng full sor, all dedlyke, full of harmys,


Hyr son in law Turnus hynt in hir armys,


That was sa fervent in his ardent desyre.5


Turnus, said scho, thou best belovit syre,


Be thir ilk wofull terys I the pra,


And be the wirschip thou aw till Amata,


Gyf ony honour of hyr or thy kyn


Twichys or movys into thy breist within,10


I the beseik a thyng, myne awyn knycht;


Desist and ces to mach Troianys in fight.


Thou only comfort of our febill eld,


Thou all our rest, our weilfar, and our beld,


Haue reuth and piete of my wofull baill:15


In thy power and mycht restis alhaill


The wirschip and empyre of kyng Latyn;


Hys hows and famyll, now lyke to declyne,


In the remanys, and is by the vpbore.


I the assuyr, and certifeis tharfor,20


Quhat aventour in this fight sall happyn the,


The selfin chance, Turnus, sall betyd me:


Sammyn with the, gif thou endis in that stryfe,


I sal depart furth of this irksum lyfe,
[Pg 769]

Nor nevir thrall sall I remane to se


Ȝon ilk Eneas son in law to me.


Lavinia the maid, with soir smert,


Hyr moderis wordis felt deip in hyr hart,


So that the rud dyd hyr vissage glow,5


And full of terys gan hyr chekis strow;


The fervent fyre of schame rysys on hie,


Kyndland mar large the red culloryt bewte,


So that the natural heit the blude dyd chace


Our all the partis of hir quhitly face:10


Quhill that this virgyn, in this wofull rage,


Syk cullouris rendris from hir fresch vissage,


As quha byspark wald the quhite evor Indane


With scarlet droppis or with brovn sangwane,


Or quhar the scheyn lylleis in ony sted15


War pulderit with the vermel rosys red.


The hait luf trublys for the knyght,


That on this maid he fixis all hys sycht,


And all the mair he byrnys in desyre


Of bargane into armys, hait as fyre;20


Syne to the queyn Amata, but abaid,


In few wordis on this wys he said:


O my deir moder, of thy wepyng ho,


I ȝow beseik, do not, do not so,


Persew me not thus with ȝour grete and teris,25


Nor quhen I pas onto thir mortall werys.


In marciall bargane contrary my fo,


Do wa to present me sik takyn of wo:


In Turnus myghtis lyis nocht, quod he,


The chance of deth to mak hym selvyn fre.30
[Pg 770]

I say, gyf deth this way be to me schaip,


Now may I not astart, nor it eschape.


For at this tyme instant my messynger,


Idmon clepyt, my credens hecht to ber


Now to ȝone Troiane tyrrand, rehersyng5


My wordis, quhilkis lykis hym na thyng:


That is to knaw, to morow, als ayrly


As brycht Aurora in the orient sky


With rosy chariot lyftis vp hir hed,


The firmament schrowdyng in cullour red,10


That he move not aganys Rutilyanys


Hys ostis, nor nane army of Troianys;


Bot athir half fra batale, for the best,


Baith sall Troianys and Rutilianys thame rest:


And lat ws twa, this bargane to conclude,15


Betwix ws only dereyn with our blude,


And into ȝonder feld, in stalwart stryfe,


Lat athir seik Lavinia to hys wyfe.


Fra this was said, fast to hys in he spedis,


And bad onon do lat hym se hys stedis:20


Behaldand thame reiosys he in hart,


To se thame stand sa fers with curage smart;


Quhilk kynd of horsis quhilum, as thai say,


Orythia, the lusty fresch may,


Of Athenis the kyngis douchter and ayr,25


As ane maste ryall presand, wonder fair,


Send from hir cuntre to kyng Pilumnus,


Was foregrandschir onto this ilk Turnus;


The quhilk stedis, schapyn at all delyte,


Excedit far the snaw in cullour quhite;30
[Pg 771]

To speke of speid, thar swyftnes was ontald,


For thai the wyndis blastis forryn wald.


The byssy knapys and verlettis of hys stabill


Abowt thame stud, full ȝaip and seruyabill,


And with thar holl luyffis gan thame cheir,5


Dyd clap and straik thar leyndis to mak thame steir,


Thar lokrand manys and thar crestis hie


Dressys with trelȝeis and camys honestlye.


Fra thens onto hys chalmyr went he syne;


Abowt his schuldris assays hys halbryk fyne,10


Of burnyst maill, and schynand rychely


Of fynast gold and quhitly alcomy.


Tharwith alsso hys swerd addressis he,


Quhat way he wald it oys in the melle;


Hys sovir scheld assays he alsso,15


And eik hys tymbret helm with crestis two;


Quhilk swerd was maid onto Dawnus hys fyre


Be Wlcanus, the myghty God of fyre,


That forgyt this blaid and temperit with hys handis,


Hait glowand dyppyt in the Stigiane strandis.20


Syne with gret fors, enarmyt in all hys geir,


Full lychtly vp he hynt hys stalwart speir,


Quhilk tho amyddis the hall lenand stud


Vp by a pillar huge square and rude;


Quhilum the spulȝe he byreft from ane25


Clepyt Actor, a capitane Auruncane:


The schaft he schuke, and branglys lustely,


Tharto with lowd voce thus can he cry:


O now thou speir, that neyir failȝeit thy deid


Quhen I the callyt to my desyre in neid,30
[Pg 772]

Quhilum the weldit Actor, mast douchty knycht,


Now the in hand withhaldis Turnus wight;


Now is the tyme that I maste myster the:


Forto dovn bet the corps thou grant to me


Of ȝondir Phrigiane, is skant half a man,5


That with my stalwart handis I may than


Hys halbrik of hys body to arras,


Hakkyt, and rent, and persyt in mony place,


And in the dusty puldyr heir and thar


Suddill and fyle hys crispand ȝallow hair,10


That are maid creys, and curlys now sa weill,


Yplet ilk nycht on the warm broch of steill,


Dekkyt and donk, on hys wifly maner,


Of fragrant myr and other envnctmentis seir.


With sykkyn fury rage catchyt is he,15


That thus he carpys till a schaft of tre;


And from the vissage of this ardent syre


The sparkis glydis as the hait fyre,


For veray fervour of the feirfull teyn


Schynys and brystis furth of baith hys eyn:20


Lyke as the bull, that bargane begyn wald,


Gevis terribill rowstis and lowis monyfald,


Or than aggrevit, bustuus, and furthborn,


Presys hys ire to assay with hys horn,


Lenand hys spald to the stok of a tre,25


And with hys dynt the wynd to rentis he,


Or, forto mak debait apoun the land,


With hys hard clufe vpwarpys fast the sand.


In the self tyme, na les of curage, Enee,


Cled in hys moderis armour awfull to se,30
[Pg 773]

Scharpys hym self in furour marciall,


Rasand hys greif for ardour bellicall,


And joyus wolx of weir to mak ane end


By syk proffer and poyntment as was send.


Syne comfortis he hys ferys dolorus,5


And mesyt the dreid of sad Ascanyus,


Declarand thame the fatale ordinans,


Thar destyne, and Goddis purvians;


And to the kyng of Lawrenteis, Latyn,


Twychand this forsaid trety and convyne,10


Bad the messyngeris bair hame but delay


Sovir answer, as thai desyrit alway,


And of the peys and trewys, as thai spak,


Proclame articulis and lawys of contract.






 CAP. III.




Juno, knawand Turnus last day at end,


To stop the bargane has Juturna send.








Scarsly vpsprang the nixt day followyng,15


Scheddand the bemys of hys bryght mornyng


Apoun the toppis of the montanys hie,


As Phebus stedis first of the deip se


Rasyt thar hedis and noys thirlys on hight,


Our all the feildis blawand the cleir lyght;20


Quhen that the Troianys and Rutilianys


The grund myssouris, evynnys, dichtis, and planys,
[Pg 774]

Vndir the wallys of the cheif cite,


Thar as the feild and fechtyng place suld be:


Amyddis quham the harthis vp thai set,


Quharon the fyris suld be maid and bet,


And to the common Goddis eik bedeyn5


The altaris coverit with the scherald greyn.


Sum otheris brocht the fontane watir fair,


And sum the haly ingill with thame bair;


With lynnyng valis or lyke apronys lycht


Thai war arrayt, and thar hedis dicht10


In wyppys of the haly herb vervane.


The legionys tho furth haldis to the plane,


And all the rowtis of Awsonyanys,


That otherwys ar hait Italyanys,


Furth thryngis at the portis full attonys,15


With lancis lang and pykkis for the nonys.


Thyddir all the Troianys wardis, by and by,


And Tyrrheyn ostis ruschis hastely,


Bodyn full weill in nobill armour seir;


Nane otherwys with wapynnys and with geir20


Arrayt for the batale all at rycht,


Than thocht the fury of Mars thame callit to fycht.


Amyd the thousandis swyftly throw the planys


Furth sprentis lustely thir capitanys,


In rich purpour arrayt and fyne gold brycht,25


Assaracus sonnys and Mnestheus wight,


And on the tother part strang Asilas,


And bald Mesapus also with hym was,


Neptunus son, expert in hors dantyng.


And eftir that the trumpet blew a syng,30
[Pg 775]

Than euery partyment bownys to thar stand,


And gan thar speris stik doun in the land,


Set by thar scheildis, to behald the fyne.


The wemen wedois and the matronys syne,


Desyrus forto se the bargane stowt,5


Of childyr and of commonys mony a rowt


That couth na wapynnys weld, nor armour weir,


With the onweldy agit folk infeir,


Clam on the hight and hedis of the towris,


The wallys all and howsis ryggyngis flowris;10


And sum abufe apon the portis hie


Ascendit ar to behald the melle.


Bot Juno tho dovn from the hycht, I wys,


Of the montane that Albane clepit is


Now in our days, set than this hyllys dovn15


Had nowder name, honour, nor renovne,


Scho dyd behald amyd the feldis plane


Athir batellis and the ostis twane,


Baith of the Troianys and the Laurenteis,


And kyng Latynus cite eik scho seys.20


Onon to Turnus systyr vp on hie,


That clepit was Juturna, carpys sche,


Thys Goddes to that haly Nymphe, mastres


Of wellys, stankis, and rowtand stremys expres;


Quhilk honour Jove, the kyng of hevynnys hie,25


Hyr gave for the byreft virginite:


Said, O thou Nymphe, wirschip of fludis cleir,


That to my saul is hald maste leif and deir,


Thou knawys weill, I the preferrit ay


To all the otheris damysellys, persay,30
[Pg 776]

Of Latyn cuntre, quhat so evir thai wer


That wrangwisly ascendit or drew neir


The bed onprofitabill of Jupiter mast hie;


And glaidly eik haue I not stakyt the


Intill a party of the hevyn alssua?5


Hark now thy sorow, thou Juturna,


And wyte me not bot I the warnyt haue.


Turnus and thy cheif cite haue I save,


Sa lang as that the fatis sufferit me,


And quhill werd sisteris sa tholyt tobe:10


Bot now I se that ȝong man haste, but faill,


To mach in feild with fatis inequaill;


The lattir day and term approchis ne


Of fatale fors and strangast destyne.


Nowder this bargane ȝonder on the greyn15


Nor consideratioun may I se with eyn.


Pas thou on, for thy deir brothir germane


Gyf thou dar suffir ony mar dreidfull pane;


To the this semys and pertenys, quod sche,


Gyf that, perchans, ony bettyr may be,20


Or eft betyd onto ȝon catyvis kend.


Scars had Juno thir wordis brocht to end,


Quhen that the nymphe Juturna bedeyn


Plente of terys furthȝet from hir eyn;


Hyr fair quhite breist, thar as scho dyd stand,25


Thrys or four tymys smait with hir awyn hand.


Saturnus get, this Juno, says; tha terys


Na wys to this tyme pertenys nor efferys:


Hast the, gyf that thou can be ony way


Withdraw thy brother from the deth away;30
[Pg 777]

Or than do mak the ostis baith on steir,


Provok the batale, and thame move to weir,


And this convyne and trety, new consave,


Do brek, disturb, and with the wynd bywave.


I sall the warrand and the wyrkar be5


To mak the baldly vndertak, quod sche.


On this wys Juno can this nymphe exort,


And left hir hail in weir and dowt, at schort,


With mynd full tryst, wobegone, and onsound,


Full deip smyttyn with the sorowfull wound.10






 CAP. IV.




Heir followis the sacrifyce and prayer,


Fyrst of Eneas, syne kyng Latyn infeir.








In the meyn tyme, the kyngis of athir rowt


From thar citeis and strenthis ischis owt.


Amyd a four quhelit char Latyn that thraw


With huge pomp by stedis fowr was draw,


Quhais haris and hys tymplis war weil dycht15


With ryall crown of fyne gold burnyst brycht,


Quharon stud turrettis twelf, lyke bemys scheyn,


As it ane rych enornament had beyn


Of cleir Phebus, that was hys grandschir hald:


Nixt quham furth rollyt was prynce Turnus bald20


Within a twa quhelyt chariot of delyte,


That drawyn was with stedis twa mylk quhyte;
[Pg 778]

In athir hand held he, in feir of weir,


The braid hed brangland on the jevillyng speir.


The fader Eneas alsso furth withall,


Of Romane lynnage the originall,


Apon the tother half com thame agane,5


With byrnyst scheild that brycht as starris schane,


And hevynly armour lemand all of lycht:


Besyde hym raid Ascanyus the sweit wyght,


That semyt weil, till euery manis doym,


Ane other gude beleif and hope to gret Roym.10


Furth come the preste, quhamto accordyt mak


The sacrifice of concord and contract,


In vestment cleyn, for syk religioun wrocht,


And a ȝong byrsyt swyne befor thame brocht,


With a rowch twyntyr scheip sammyn infeir,15


Quhais woll or fleyce was neuer clyp with scheir;


The bestis furth hes tursyt this ilke syre


Onto the altar blesand of hait fyre.


The princis tho, quhilkis suld this payce makyng,


Turnys towartis the brycht sonnys vprysyng,20


With the salt meldyr in thar handis raith;


The forrettis of thir bestis toppys baith


They clyp and myssour, as tho was the gys,


And cowpys full of wyne in sacryfys


Abowt the altaris ȝettis he and he.25


With drawyn swerd syne the reuthfull Enee


Hys orison furth maid, and thus he said:


O thou brycht son, with thy scheyn bemys glaid,


Be wytnes now till my behest, I pray;


And this ilk grund mot testyfy quhat I say,30
[Pg 779]

For quham sa gret payn and aduersyte


I sufferit haue feill syth on land and see;


And thou almychty Jove heir my prayer;


Saturnus douchtir, thou hys spows sa deir,


Now mor benyng than thou was of befor,5


Sweit Goddes, heir me now, I the implor;


And gentill Mars now takis tent heirtill,


That withhaldis and writhis at thy will


Every batale, stryfe, weirfar, or debait,


Vndyr thy hie power deificait:10


All fludys I call, fontanys, and stremys cleir,


And all maner of reuerend Goddis seir


Abuf the hevyn ydred and starrit sky;


And ȝow eik, blyssyt wightis, I testify,


That vnder erth or law in hell doun beyn,15


Or in the fomy seis stremys greyn:


Gif so betyd, that fallys the victory


To Turnus on the Ausonyan party,


It is conuenient, and we grant to fle,


As venquyst folk, till Evandrus cite:20


Ascanyus sall als tyte thir feildis withdraw,


Nor Eneadanys neuir, from the ilk thraw,


Aganyst ȝou sall rebell nor move weir,


Ne with na wapynnys eft thys cuntre deir.


Bot gif so beys, Mars our God glorius25


The victory and ouyrhand grantis ws;


As I beleif far rathar sall befall,


And that als tyte conferm mot Goddis all


Throw the gret mychtis of thar deite!


Gif that sa fair fortoun betydis me,30
[Pg 780]

Ne will I not command Italianys


Tobe subiect, nor obey the Troianys,


Ne ȝit this realm desyre I not to me:


Bot athir of our pepill mot go fre,


Onthrall, onvenquyst, in lawys all evynly5


Considerat in perpetuall ally.


The wirschipyng of Goddis in sacryfice


I sal thame lern and tech at my devys:


My fader in law, the kyng Latinus heir,


Most rewle the pepill baith in peax and wer;10


My fader in law, as souerane lord and syre,


Duryng hys lyfe most bruke solempnyt empyre.


Suffir my Troianys than, as we ar bovn,


For me to beild a strenth and wallyt tovn,


And to this cite, quhar we sall duell at hame,15


Lat the madyn Lavinia gif the name.


Thus first Eneas said; and eftir syne


Apon this wys hym followys kyng Latyn,


Behaldand towart hevyn quhar he dyd stand,


And to the starnys vphevyis hys rycht hand:20


By this ilk erth, seys, and starnys hie,


I sweir in like wys onto ȝou, Enee,


And by Latonas byrth or twynnys twa,


The brycht Apollo, and chast Diana,


And by the dowbill frontit Janus, and all25


The pyssans of the Goddis infernal,


And by the dyrk sanctuary, blak as sabill,


Of grevos Pluto, that God revengeabill:


The hie fader abuf mot heir my cry,


That dois with thundir sik concord ratify.30
[Pg 781]

I twich thyr altaris, and ingill present, quod he,


And testifyis ilk godly maieste;


Sail nevir tyme, sesson, nor day betyde,


To breke this peax on the Italian syde,


Ne this considerans anys part in two,5


Quhat way that evir happynys the mater go;


Ne na manner of violens, bost, nor aw,


Sail ony wys me tharfra withdraw,


Bot ferm and stabill all sall haldyn be:


All thocht the erth wald myddill with the see,10


And with diluge or invndatioun schent


Covir and confund athir eliment;


Or thocht the hevyn in hell resolue wald,


Our promys sall inuiolat be hald.


Lyke as this ilk ceptour wand ȝhe see,15


(Perchans that tyme a ceptour in hand bair he)


Sail nevir burgioun, nor spred branschis lyte,


Nowder rank levys, nor blosum of delyte,


Sen it is anys in wod, thar as it grew,


Law from hys stok hard by the rutis hew,20


And wantis now hys moder of nurysyng;


For all the syonys and twystis wont to spryng


Or grow thar fra, as ȝhe may se perfay,


With egge lumys bene sned full quyte away;


Vmquhile a growand tre, thar it dyd stand,25


That now thus by the crafty warkmanis hand


Inclusyt is and coverit lustely


In burnyst gold and finast alcomy,


And gevyn our forfaderis of Latyn land,


As ceptour ryall, forto bere in hand.30
[Pg 782]

With wordis sik, and ferm relatioun,


This fynal suyr confideratioun


Athir pryncis has confermyt and sworn,


Amyd thar nobillys standyng thame beforn:


Syne, eftyr thar auld cerymonys and gys,5


The bestis dewly adrest for sacryfys


Thai brytnyt haue amyd the flawmys red,


And rentis out, or thai war fully ded,


The entralys of all thir bestis ȝit alyve;


Syne furth of platis or ballancis belyve10


With pasyt flesch plenyst the altaris large,


Tharon bestowand in hepys mony a charge.


Bot tho begouth of new this ilk bargane


Semyng to the Rutilianys, euery man,


Tobe ane rycht onevynly interprys,15


And diuers rumour can in thar brestis rys,


With mony syndry demyng and consait;


He thynkis thus, and he ane other gait;


And ay the nerrar and mar diligently


At thai the mater consider and aspy,20


Weill thai persaue and behaldis, sans faill,


Thir campionys war not of strenth equaill.


And onto this opinioun the ilk thraw


Helpit mekill, that with still pays so slaw


This Turnus musand towart the altar past,25


And it lawly adornyt with face doun cast,


With chekis walxin leyn, to thar semyng,


Quharon the soft berd newly dyd furth spryng,


As all to ȝyng with sic ane to haue daill,


Thai thocht hys vissage all becummyng paill.30




[Pg 783]




 CAP. V.




Quhou Juturna be slycht and enchantment


Brekis the peax, and hasty batale sent.








And eftyr that this ilk commonyng


Thus walxand mare and mare by mony a syng


Juturna hys systyr dyd persaue,


And saw the common wlgar hartis wave


In diuers sentens and ententis seir;5


Than in amyd the rowtis drew scho neir,


In form and lyknes of Camertis bald,


Of nobill blude cummyn and lynage ald,


And of hys fader the bruyt and renowne


Was magnifeit in wirschip wondir hie,10


Tharto hym self maste douchty cheveller


In dedis of armys and in fait of weir.


Amyd the ostis this wys dyd scho thryng,


Not onexpert to convoy sik a thing,


And diuers rumouris in the pres skalis sche,15


Syne siclyke wordis carpis apoun hie:


O Rutilianys, aschame ȝhe not for feir


Into sa gret a perrell and danger


A sylly sawle to put in aventour,


That for ȝow all sall vndirly sik cuyr?20


Quhidder ar we not equale in our entent


To the Troianys in number or hardyment?


Lo, all the Troianys and Archadianys


Befor ws heir arrayt on the planys:
[Pg 784]

The fatall pissans is hail in this sted,


And the Tuscanys that Turnus hes at fed.


Sa few tha beyn, ȝhe may behald and se,


That gif we list mak onset, trastis me,


The half of all our menȝe gret and small5


Sail not fynd ȝondyr a fa to mach withall.


Ȝon Turnus, to the Goddis abuf full straucht,


To quhais altaris hym vowyt and betaucht


He hes for ȝou, as that ȝhe se, said sche,


With fame eternal sal vpheit be,10


As euermar alyve and maist name couth,


Carpit and sung in euery mannis mowth;


Quhen we, as thrallys, leif sal our natyve land,


And onto prowd tyrrantis, hes the ovirhand,


Salbe compellit as lordis till obey,15


That now, thus sleuthfully, sa fant and fey


Hufys still on thir feldis as we war ded,


And for our self list schape for na remeid.


With siclike wordis the myndis and consait


Of the ȝongkeris was inflawmyt hait,20


And mair and mar now, all the feld abowt,


The murmur crepys out throw euery rowt;


So thai quhilkis air desyrit peax and rest,


And for the common weill thocht it was best


To mak end of the bargane on this wys,25


Ar alterit haly in ane other avys:


For now desyre thai batale, but abaid,


Prayand God this contract had neuer bene maid,


And has compassioun caucht in hart, but faill,


Of Turnus chans, semyng so inequale.30
[Pg 785]

Thys self tyme eik hes Juturna, I wys,


Ane other grettar wondir ekit to this,


And heich vp from the hevyn befor thame plane


A takyn hes scho schawyn auguriane;


Syk a syng, that nane other to that entent5


Was mar effectuus nor conuenient


To trubbill Italian myndis, and mak thame raif,


And with fals demonstratioun to dissaue.


For Jovis fowle, the ern, com sorand by,


Fleand vp heich towart the brycht red sky,10


Befor hym catchand ane gret flycht or ost


Of fowlys that dyd hant endlang the cost,


Quhilk on thar weyngis, sair dredand hys wraik,


Skrymmys heir and thar with mony sprauch and craik;


Quhil suddanly this egill with a surs,15


As he towartis the fludis maid hys curs,


Dispittuusly intill hys punsys he


Hes claucht a swan excellent of bewte.


Than the Italianys apon athir syde


Rasyt thar myndis to se quhat suld betyde;20


And sone the other fowlys heich in the sky


Turnyt agane with mony screym and cry,


To chais and to assail thar aduersar,


A wondir thing to se! vp in the air:


The lyght thai dirkyn with thar pennys thik,25


And throw the skyis with mony a strake and pik,


Sammyn in a sop, thik as a clowd, but baid,


Thar fa thai dyd assalȝe and invaid,


Sa lang, quhil that by fors he was ourset,


And of the hevy byrdyng sa mait and het30
[Pg 786]

That hys mycht falȝeit, and of his clukis rude


The egil leit hys pray fall in the flude,


And vp amang the clowdis flaw away.


Than the Rutilianys all, full glaid and gay,


With huge brute and clamour lowd onane5


Salust this syng or takyn augurian;


Syne sped thar hand, and maid thame for the fight.


And, first of othir, Tolumnyus the wight,


That was a spa man and diuinour sle;


Ȝa, this was it, ȝa, this was it, quod he,10


Quhilk oft I visseit and desirit by and by:


This gud takyn I ressaue and ratify,


And knawys the Goddis favour in our supple.


Rutilianys, hynt ȝour wapynnys, and follow me,


Quham now ȝon vauengeour, ȝon ilk stranger,15


Affrays so with hys onworthy weir,


Lyke tyll onweldy fowlys on the cost,


And our marchis with fors and mekill bost


Inuadis, rubbis, and spulȝeis, as ȝe se:


He sall, for fer, sone gif the bak and fle,20


Mak sail onon, and hald for euer away


Throu the deip sey outour the fludis gray.


Tharfor ȝhe sall all sammyn, with ane assent,


Assembil now ȝour rowtis heir present,


And into feild defend, as men of mayn,25


Ȝour kyng Turnus he be nocht reft and slane.


Thus said he, and with that word als sa fast


Towartis his fais forganys hym dyd cast


A weirly dart onon with all his byr:


The sovir schaft flaw quhisland with a quhir,30
[Pg 787]

Thar as it slydis scherand throw the ayr,


Oneschewabill, bath certane, lang, and squar.


Sammyn with this, vp rysis for the nanys


Ane huge noys and clamour all at anys;


With sik affray and hydduus dyn and beir5


The wardis all and ostis war on steir,


That, for the rerd and deray, hait in ire


The hartis kyndillis of euery bald syre.


Furth flaw the takill rycht our forgane his face,


Thiddir as for the ilk tyme stude, percace,10


Nyne brethir germane, fresch and ȝyng of age,


Nane in thar ost mair semly personage,


Quham the trew faithfull wife Tyrrhene ilkane


Bair till hir spows Gilip Archadiane;


Of quham this dart hyt ane, thar he dyd stand,15


A gudly spryngald, a fair ȝyng galland,


Richt schaiply maid, in armour schynand brycht,


And at the myddill markyt hym full rycht,


Quhar as the wovyn gyrdill or tysche


Abufe his navill was beltit, as we se,20


And smate hym evyn into the sammyn place


Neyr quhar the bukkill hys sydis dyd enbrace,


Throw gyrd hys body with a grevos wond,


And spaldyt hym stark ded apon the grond.


Bot than hys bald brethir in a rowt,25


Wod wraith for wo, sum hyntis swerdis owt,


Sum claucht in hand the dart with the steil hed,


And in thar blynd fury, full of fed,


Ruschit on thar fays with a feirfull braid.


Aganys quham to resist and invaid,30
[Pg 788]

The rowtis of the army Lawrentanys


Ran to recontyr thame: and tho atanys


Agane assemblit, as a spait of flud,


The Troianys and the Tuscanys wraith and wod,


With thame of Arcad in arrayt feildis,5


With burnyst armour and thar payntit scheildis;


Apon sik wys that all, with ane assent,


Caucht haill desyre to feght apon the bent,


And to dereyn in feild with bytand brand


The haill mater. Sum schot doun with thar hand10


The altaris markyt for the sacryfys:


Belyve our all the lyft vp semyt rys


The fell tempest of dartis schote and flanys,


So thik as ony schour of scharp hailstanys,


As dyd incres this flycht of stelit hedis;15


Full grewos grew the bargane in all stedis:


Sum ran to the wyn flacconys for gret ire,


And sum hynt vp the furnace full of fyre.


The kyng hym self, Latinus, for the affray


Fled to the cite, and tursyt with hym away20


Hys Goddis and hys mawmentis, drevyn abak


With a schamefull rebute and mekill lak,


Left the concord ondone, not brocht till end.


Sum brydillys stedis, and cartis vp dyd bend,


And sum in haist with a lowp or a swak25


Thame self vpcastis on the horsys bak,


And war all reddy in the stowr at hand


With drawyn swerd and nakit burnyst brand.


Mesapus, full desyrus in the pres


Fortill confund the trety and the pes,30
[Pg 789]

A kyng Tyrreyn, Aulestes, in that sted


With kyngis ensenȝeis and with crown on hed,


Affrays sore, at hym dryvand hys steid:


The tother drew away for feir and dreid,


And bakwartis fallys on hys schuldris and crovn,5


Onhappely, apon ane altar dovn,


Quhilk stud percace behynd hym on the land.


Mesapus than, full fers, with speir in hand


Apon hym drave, thocht he besocht hym fair,


And with this schaft, that was als rude and squar10


As it had beyn a cabyr or a spar,


Dovn from hys stowt cursor, na thyng skar,


Smait hym a grewos wond and dedly byt,


And syne thir wordis said; Ha, art thou hyt?


Ha, that thou has: this is, be myne avys,15


To our gret Goddis mair ganand sacrifys.


Italianys hurlys on hym in a floyt,


Spulȝeit hys corps, hys membris ȝit all hoyt.


Chorineus tho, that was a stowt Troiane,


To meit ane Ebusus, com hym agane,20


That wald haue smyt hym with a bustuus dynt,


And on ane altar a byrnand schide has hynt,


And gan it rycht amyd hys vissage stair,


That blesyt vp hys lang berd of hair,


Quhilk, scaldit thus, a strang fleur dyd cast.25


And forthir this Chorineus alsso fast


Ruschit on hys fa, thus fyrefangit and onsaucht,


And with hys left hand by the hair hym claucht:


Syne with hys kne hym possit with sic a plat,


That on the erd he spaldit hym all flat,30
[Pg 790]

And with hys styf stok swerd in sik estait


Throu baith the sydis at the first dynt hym smait.


And Podalirius with drawyn swerd list not ces


Alsus the hyrd to persew throu the pres,


Quhilk ruschis abak for feir, hys life to save,5


In the vangart, throw mony a poyntit glave:


Bot, quhen he saw his fa sa neir invaid


That he na wys mycht eschew nor evaid,


Vphesit he hys braid ax rude and squair,


And akwartly strake at hys aduersar,10


Quhilk from amyd hys forhed, neir hys crovn,


Onto hys chyn the egge dyd carvyn doun,


That far onbreid hys armour, quhar he stude,


Was all bysprent and blandit full of blude.


Tho Podalirius the hard rest dyd oppres,


Or cald and irny sleip of dethis stres;


And vp the breith he ȝald into thar sycht,


With eyn closyt in euerlestand nycht.






 CAP. VI.




Enee sair wondyt of the feild dyd pas;


In quhais absens Turnus mair cruell was.








Than the reuthfull and pacient Eneas,


Behaldand quhou all wrang the gem dyd pas,20


Hys rycht hand onenarmyt, to stynt thar fed,


Furth strekis, and oncoverit hes hys hed,
[Pg 791]

And cryis and clepis on his pepill tho;


My frendis deir, quhidder now hurl ȝe so,


Ilkane aganys other? quhou may this be?


Quhat has movit this hasty discord? quod he.


O, stanch ȝour wraith for schame, or all is lorn!5


The payce and concord now is twichit and sworn,


And the articulis and the lawys dyng


Appunctit vp, and promist euery thing:


Of det and ryght I aucht apon this land


Allane Turnus recontyr, hand for hand:10


Suffir me perform my dereyn by and by,


And do away all dreid and villany.


I sall with my hand sone mak ferm and stabill


Our appoyntment, for evir onvariabill;


For this ilke sacrifice violate in this sted15


Sall rendir onon Turnus to me ded.


Amyd sic sawys, as he thir wordis said


Forto asswage thar mynd, but mar abaid


A quhirrand arrow, lo, with fedderit flycht


At swift randon dyd in hys the bayn lycht;20


Oncertane fra quhat hand that it was sent,


Quhat kynd of schote, nor of quhat instrument.


The hie glory of sa notabill a deid


Is hyd, that nane knew quha it dyd but dreid,


Nor wist quha wrocht had to the Rutilianys25


Sa gret wirschip and lovyng for the nanys;


Quhidder it betyd on cace and aventur,


Or of sum God be dispositioun suyr;


Nor nevir person eftir, he nor he,


Dyd hym avant he wondit had Ene.30
[Pg 792]

Quhen Turnus all the chiftanys trublit saw,


And Eneas sair wondit hym withdraw,


Than, for this hasty hope als hait as fyre,


To mell in feght he caucht ardent desyre:


He askis hors and harnes baith at anys,5


And haltandly in hys cart for the nanys


He skippis vp and musturis wantonly,


Furth sprentand throu the feildis by and by,


And at his will, quharso hym list tobe,


With hys awyn hand the renȝeis rewlis he.10


And dryvand furth thus into his ire


Laid feill corpsis ded, and mony bald syre;


Down strowand eik vnder fut in the plane


Diuers otheris ȝit throwand and half slane:


Owder with his cart the rowtis he drave away,15


Or, as thai tuke the flycht for gret affray,


Castyng speris and dartis scharp hynt he,


And leit thame thik amang his fays fle.


Sik wys as bludy armipotent God Mars,


Besyde hys frosty flude Hebrum in Tras,20


Full hastely bownand to batale feild,


Makis gret bruyt and clatteryng with hys scheild,


Quhen he list movyng weir mast chevalrus;


Furth steris hys stedis, fers and furyus,


Quhilk fleys furth sa swith with mony a stend25


Owtour the planys at large quhar thai wend,


That thai forryn and goys befor alway


Ȝephyrus and Nothus, swyftest wyndis tway:


And, with the dyn of thar feyt and hys cart,


All Trace gronys onto the ferthar part.30
[Pg 793]

Abowt hym walkis, as hys godly feris,


Dreid with paill face, Debait, and mortale Weris,


The Wraith, and Ire, and eik fraudfull Dissait,


Lyggyng vndir covert at enbuschment or await.


Turnus siclike, als chery, prowd, and lycht,5


Amyd the batale catchys to the fycht


Hys stedys, rekand of swete quhar thai raid.


And sa baldly hys fays dyd invaid,


With sik slauchter, that piete was to se;


And sik deray has maid in the melle,10


That hys swyft stedis hovys, quhar thai went,


Spangit vp the bludy sparkis our the bent,


Quhil blude and brane, in abundans furth sched,


Mydlit with sand vndir hors feit was tred.


For he, or now, hes doun bet Sthenelus,15


And kyllit eik Thamyrys and Polus:


The formast twa he slew machit at hand;


And this Polus, as he far of dyd stand:


On far eik slew he of Imbrasyus


The sonnys twa, Glawcus and Iasus,20


Quham this Imbrasyus fosterit had, baith twa.


Into the far cuntre of Lycia,


And thame instrukit had full equaly


In fait of armys, and to hant chevelry;


Owder till assaill befor, or ȝit behynd,25


Or with swift hors for till forryn the wynd.


Ȝond, in ane other part, amyd the feild


The fers Eumedes walkis vnder scheild,


Quhilk was the son and air, as that thai tell,


Of agit Dolon valȝeant in batell:30
[Pg 794]

The name he bair of hys fore grandschir wight,


Bot the strang handis and stowt curage in fight


Of hys awyn fader, this Dolon, he bair;


Quhilk at Troy vmquhile, as the sege lay thar,


Ane was of sa stowt curage and hie will5


That he durst ask the chariot of Achill


To his reward, for that he sa baldly


The Grekis tentis tuk on hand to aspy:


Bot the son of Tedeus, Diomed,


Ane other fassoun hes hym quyt his meid10


For sa stowt ondyrtakyn, and hym sleuch:


And ȝit for all his renovn, provit eneuch,


Ne durst anys pretend, for all hys dedys,


That he was worthy to weld Achillys stedys.


Bot to our purpos; this forsaid Eumedes15


As Turnus dyd behald ȝond in the pres,


On the plane feld thar as he dyd ryde,


First weill a far way at hym leyt he glyde


A fleand dart; and furth with that, rycht thar,


Gan stynt hys horssis and his quhirland char,20


And ferely dyd lepyng from hys cart,


And sone apon hys aduersar astart,


Quhilk tho was fall to grond, and half deill ded:


Syne with hys fut doun thryst in the ilk sted


Hys fair nek bayn, and owt of hys rycht hand25


Richt austernly has he thrawyn the brand,


Quhilk schynand brycht into hys throte he wet,


And tharto ekyt thir wordys wondyr het:


O thow prowd Troian, lyggand thar at grond,


Now may thou myssour the feld at thou has fund;30
[Pg 795]

Lo heir the bundis, lo heir Hesperia,


Quhilk thou to seik in weirfar was sa thra:


Thys is the bontay thai sal bair away


That dar with wapynnys or armour me assay!


To hym in feir also has he laid5


With a scharp castyn hed, but mair abaid,


Ane Butys, and eftyr hym ane Chloreus,


Syne Sybar, Dares, and Thersilocus,


And Thymetes, a man of full gret fors,


Castyn from hys staffage, skeich, and hedstrang hors.10


And as the blastis with thar bustuus sovn


From mont Edon in Trace cumis thuddand doun


On the deip sey Egean fast at hand,


Chasand the flud and wallys to athir land;


And quhar the wyndis assalys, the suyth to say,15


The clowdis fleys fast our the hevyn away:


The sammyn wys, quhat way at Turnus went,


The rowtis red hym plane rovm on the bent,


And all the ostis fast abak dyd fle;


For, with sik fors and fard furth dryvys he,20


Hys bissy movand tymbrell euery art


Catchis the wynd and ayr forgane hys cart.


Phegeus, a Troiane, seand Turnus all mad


Sa instantly assaill with strakis sad,


Na langar mycht hym thoill, bot with bald hart25


Hym self kest in the way to meit hys cart;


And he the renys in hys ryght hand hynt,


Syne writhit hes about, or euer he stynt,


The fomy mowthis of the hasty stedis.


And as this douchty man, sa gud at nedis,30
[Pg 796]

Thus hang and harlyt was in euery art


By the lymouris and hamys of the cart,


That he hys body mycht nocht kepe nor held,


To covyr with hys armour and his scheld,


The speir hym followis with scharp hed and braid,5


And rent hys hawbrik of dowbill plyis maid,


Hurt his body sum deill, nocht fully sond,


Persand the hyde, and maid a litill wond.


He, nocht the les, agane hys fa furth sprent,


With hys braid scheild or target evir vp stent,10


And in hys hand held drawyn the burnyst blaid,


Cryand for help his aduersar till invaid;


Quham tho, allace, gret piete was to se!


The quhirland quheill and spedy swyft extre


Smate doun to grond, and on the erd lay plat:15


And, as he fell, Turnus followis with that,


And evyn betwix the helm can hym arras


And vmast roll or hem of hys curas,


Smait of his hed clenly with hys brand,


And left the corps lyke a stok in the sand.20






 CAP. VII.




Na mannys cuyr nor craft of surrurgyne


Mycht heill Eneas, bot Venus medycyn.








And as Turnus thus in the batale sted


With the ovirhand sa feil corps laid ded,
[Pg 797]

The meyn quhil Mnestheus and traste Achates


Hes led the bald Eneas of the pres,


Ascanyus ȝyng with thame in cumpany,


And to the tentis brocht hym all bludy,


With steppis slaw furth stalkand all in feir,5


Lenand ilk pays on a lang poyntit speir.


Wod wroth he worthis, for dysdene and dispyte


That he ne mycht hys ferys succur als tyte:


He wrythis, and enforsys tyll owtdraw


The schaft in brokkyn, and the hed withall:10


He axis help at all thar standand by,


Quhat was the nerrest way and maist reddy;


And bad thai suld with a scharp knyf that tyde


Scheir doun the wond, and mak it large and wyde,


Rype to the boddum weill, and tak gude tent15


To sers the hyrnys quhar that the hed was went,


That thai mycht hast thame self, but mair delay,


To the batale, forto stynt this effray.


Now was thar than present in the pres


Iapis, that was son of Iasides.20


Abuf all otheris to the God Phebus he


Was best belovyt and haldyn in dante;


With quhais favour vmquhile strangly caucht,


This God Appollo gladly has hym taucht


Hys craftis and his officis, by and by,25


Of diuinatioun or of augury,


The musik tonys to play on harp waill sle,


And forto schute and lat swyft arrowis fle.


Bot this Iapis, fortill prolong, perfay,


Hys faderis fatis, quhilk as bedrall lay30
[Pg 798]

Befor hys ȝet, of hys lyfe in dispar,


Had levyr haue knawyn the sciens and the lair,


The myght and fors of strenthy herbys fyne,


And all the cunnyng of vse of medycyne,


And with sik secrete craftis prevely5


To leid hys lyfe and tyme mair esely.


Eneas standis byttyrly chidand,


Lenand apon a bustuus speir in hand,


Amyd gret confluens of thir childer ȝyng,


And eik his son Ascanyus fair wepyng;10


Bot he na thing hym movit at thar terys.


Than this Iapis, sage and ald of ȝheris,


With habyt schapyn on furrugyn mak,


Vprollit weill and wymplit far abak,


Rycht bissely with hys nait handis tway15


Begouth fortill exem, and till assay


The wond with mony crafty medycyn,


And mychty herbys taucht be God Appollyn;


Bot all for nocht his travale and hys pane.


Oft with hys rycht hand sersis he, invane,20


To rype the owtgait of the wond sa wyde,


And forto seik the schaft on euery syde,


With hys wynrys and grippand turcas sle


To thrist the hed, and draw furth, pressis he:


Bot, for na chance that evir betyd may,25


Wald fortoun dres hys hand the sovir way;


Na thing avalyt hys crafty medycyne,


Nor ocht hym helpys his master Appollyn.


And now the grisly dreid, ay mair and mair,


Our all the feildis walkis heir and thar,30
[Pg 799]

Nerrar drawys the perrell and affray;


So that all dyrknyt wolx the cleir day


Of dusty puldir in the hevyn dyd stand;


The horsmen all approchis fast at hand,


That dartis thik amyd the tentis fell:5


Wofull clamour with mony cry and ȝell


Went to the skyis of ȝong men faucht in feild,


And thame that swelt, sair wondit vnder scheild.


Venus hys moder tho, this pane to meys,


Caucht rewth and piete of hir sonnys dyseys,10


And from the wod of mont Ida in Creit


Vp hes scho pullit dictam, the herb sweit,


Of levis rank, rypit, and wondir fair,


With sprowtis, sprayngis, and vanys our alquhar,


As that we se on sik verdour spryngand,15


And on the top a purpour flour curland:


Sik gresis gude beyn no wys onknaw


To the wyld bestis, quhen that ony thraw


Thai with the fleand arrow beyn ourtak,


The hed stikand owther in syde or bak.20


Thiddir brocht Venus this herb; and scho was schrowd


Baith face and body, in a watry clowd;


And with the herb alsso mydlit hes sche


The hailsum thryfty watir wondir sle,


That from hir brycht lippys scho ȝet in hy;25


And temperis and enbalmys prevely


The plastyr tharwith, strynkland all ourane


The hailsum jus of herb ambrosian,


And the weill smelland herb hait panaces.


This ancyent surrigian, Iapes,30
[Pg 800]

With sik watir or jus, that he nocht knew,


The wond mesys, and softnyt hes of new:


And suddanly the payn vanyst als cleyn


Of hys body, as thocht it had beyn


Bot a dyrlyng or a litill stond;5


All blud stanchit and stud in the deip wond.


Tharwith baith hed and schaft com owt droppand,


But ony pull following of manis hand,


That strenth and fors of new to mak debait


Restoryt war onto thar ald estait.10


Harnes, harnes, bryng hym hydder in hy!


Quhy stand ȝe sa? Iapis gaue a cry;


And with this word aganyst thar fays he


Hes first thar spreit inflammyt to melle.


O Eneas, quod he, I mak ȝou suyr,15


Throw manis mycht was neuer wrocht this cuyr,


Nor be na mastir craft of medycyne;


Thou art not helyt by this hand of myne,


Bot be sum grettar God, full weill I se,


The quhilk to grettar workis preservis the.20


Eneas tho, desyrus of bargane,


Hys lymmys in legharnes gold begane


Claspyt full clos, and dyd hym self array;


Bad speid in haist, for he hatit delay:


He schuke and branglit fast his speir that tyde.25


And eftir hys active scheild was by his syde


Cowchit full meit, and on his bak full thik


Sesyt his curace or hys fyne hawbrik,


Ascanyus ȝyng tendirly the ilk place,


With all his harnes bilappit, dyd embrace,30
[Pg 801]

And throw his helmys ventall a litill we


Hym kyssyt hes; syne on this wys said he:


O thou my child, do lernyng, I the pray,


Vertu and verray laubour till assay


At me, quhilk am thy fader, as thou wait;5


Desyre tobe chancy and fortunate


As othir pryncis, quhilkis mair happy beyn.


Now sall my rycht hand thy querrell susteyn,


And the defend in batale by and by,


To mak the partisman of gret senȝeory.10


Do thou siclyke, I pray the, myne awyn page,


Als fast as thou cumis to perfyte age,


Ramembir heiron, and revolue in thy mynd


Thy lynage, thy forbearis, and thy kynd;


Exempill of prowes in the steris frendis befor,15


Baith fader Eneas and thyne vncle Hector.






 CAP. VIII.




Juturna gydys hir brotheris cart rycht sle


Frawart the batel, he suld nocht mache Enee.








Quhen this was said, furth at the portis hee,


Schakand in hand a gret speir, ischit he:


With hym also to the feild ruschis owt


Anteus, Mnestheus, and ane full thyk rowt;20


Alhaill the barnage flokkis furth atanys,


Left voyd the tovn and strenth with wasty wanys.
[Pg 802]

Than was the playn ourset, quha com behynd,


With dusty stew of puldyr maid folk blynd,


And, for stampyng and fell dynnyng of feyt,


The erd movit and trymlyt euery streyt.


Turnus, apon the party our rycht forgane,5


Persauyt thame thus sterand throw the plane,


Thame saw also the pepill Ausonyanys,


And the cald dreid for feir ran throw thar banys.


First of the Latynys all, this ilke maid


Juturna thame knew, and was not glaid;10


Scho hard the soundis and the fell deray,


And quakand fast for feir hes fled away.


Bot this Eneas, full bald vndyr scheild,


With all hys ost drave throw the plane feld,


And with hym swyftly bryngis our the bent15


A rowt coill blak of the stew, quhar he went.


Lyke as the bub or plaig of fell tempest,


Quhen that the clowdis brekis est or west,


Dryvys by fors throw the sey to the land,


Doand the cayrfull husbandis vnderstand20


The gret myscheif tocum, and felloun wraik;


Quhilk, with fair hartis quakand, allake, allaik!


Says, lo ȝon bub sall stryke dovn growand treys,


Doun bet our cornys, and by the ruyt vpheis,


And far onbreid ourturn all doys vpstand:25


Hark! heir the swouch cumis brayand to the land.


On siclyke wys this ilk chiftane Troian


The corsy pasand Osyris hes slane:


Mnestheus kyllyt Archet, and Achates


Byhedit has the wight Epulones;30
[Pg 803]

Gyas doun bet Vfens the gret captane;


Dovn fell also the gret augurian,


Tolumnyus him self, that the ilk day


Threw the first dart hys fays till assay.


Vprysis than the clamour, and a scry5


Quhilk semyt wend onto the starnyt sky.


Thar curs abowt than the Rutilianys


Hes tane the flyght, and gave the bak atanys,


Skatterit throw owt the feldis heir and thar,


Quhil stovr of puldir vpstrikis in the air.10


Bot the chiftane, this vailȝeant Ene,


Dedenȝeit nane doun bet as thai dyd fle,


Ne thame invaid that met hym face for face,


All thocht thai fawght with wappyn, swerd or mace;


Bot throw the thikast sop of dust in hy15


Only Turnus went to seik and aspy,


And hym allane, accordyng the tretye,


He askis and requiris into melle.


With dreid heirof the mynd was smyttyn so


Of Juturna, the verray virago;20


Quhilk term to expone, be myne avys,


Is a woman exersand a mannys offys;


Amyd the lyamys and the thetis thar


Doun swakkis scho Metiscus the cartar,


That Turnus char had forto rewle on hand,25


And left hym lygand far ȝond on the land,


Fra the cart lymmowris warpit a gret way;


And scho, in sted, hys office dyd assay,


And with hir handis abowt writhis sche


The flexibill renys frawart the melle,30
[Pg 804]

Berand the lyknes in all maner thing


Of Metiscus voce, person, and armyng.


Als feill wrynklis and turnys can scho mak


As dois the swallow with hir plumys blak,


Fleand and seirsand swiftly thar and heir5


Our the gret lugyngis of sum myghty heir,


Apon hir weyngis scummand euery syde


Thir heich hallys, bene full large and wyde,


Gadderand the small morcellis est and west


To bair hir byrdis chepand in thar nest;10


Now into gowsty porchis doith scho fle,


Now by the donky stankis soundis sche:


In siclike wys this Juturna belyfe


Throw owt the ostis gan the horssis dryfe,


Circuland abowt with swift fard of the cart15


The feildis our all quhar in euery art,


And schew hir bruthir Turnus in his char,


Now brawland in this place, now voustand thar;


Na be na way wald scho suffir that he


Assembill hand for hand suld with Enee;20


Bot fled hym far, and frawart hym held ay,


Writhand hir cartis curs ane other way.


In na les haist Eneas on the bent


Hys quhelys turnys and writhis mony a went;


The man he seirsis throw the effrait routis,25


And on hym callis with lowd cry and hie schowtis.


And als feill sys as he his eyn kest


Apon his fa, al tymys he hym adrest


To chas hym with swyft curs throu the melle,


On hors that semyt ryn as fowle dois fle;
[Pg 805]

Bot evir als oft Juturna ane other art


Awaywart turnys and writhis hyr broderis cart.


And thus Eneas remanys all on flocht


In syndry motioun of ire, bot all for nocht:


Allace! ne knawis he not now quhat to do:5


Diuers thochtis, and seir consatis, lo,


Hys mynd in mony contrar purpos sent.


And as he thus was trublit in entent,


Mesapus, that on cace was neirhand by,


And in hys left neif haldis all reddy10


Twa sowpill castyng speris hedit with steill,


Of quham that ane full sovirly and weill


Towart Ene addressit leit he glyde.


Eneas hovit still the schote to abyde,


Hym schrowdand vndir his armour and his scheild,15


Bowand hys howch, and stude a litill onheld:


And, netheles, this speir, that scharply schar,


Of hys basnet the tymbrell quyte doun bair,


And smait away the creistit toppis hie.


Than mair in greif and ire vpgrowis he,20


Seand hym catchit with dissait and slycht,


Quhen that he hes persauyt in his sycht


Turnus horsis drevyn ane other art,


Awaywart turnyng sa feill sys his cart:


Tho mony tymys lowd did he testify25


Gret Jupiter, quhou that sa wrangwisly


He was iniurit, and constrenyt to fight;


To witnes drew he als with gret onrycht


The altaris of considerans violate;


And now at last, full furyus and hait,30
[Pg 806]

The mydwart of his ennemys dyd invaid:


With prospir chance of batale, sa onglaid


And terribill to his fays walxis he,


That hail, but ony differans of degre,


All goith to wraik; for na man list he spair:5


A cruell slauchter he hes rasit thar.


All kynd of wreth and breithfull ire now he


Leyt slyp at large, but brydill, with renȝeis fre.






 CAP. IX.




Heir followys of the slauchter monyfald


Maid by Turnus and be Eneas bald.








Quhat God sall now me techyng to endite


Sa mony wondis and this cairfull syte?10


Or quha me lern in metyr to declar


Sa feill and diuers slauchteris as was thar,


And gret deces of dukis in that sted,


Our all the feildis strowyn lyggis ded,


Quham euery ane sammyn hys curs abowt15


Now down bet Turnus, now Eneas stowt?


O Jupiter, was it plesand to the,


With sa gret motioun of crudelyte


Athir pepill suld rusch on other in pres,


Quhilkis eftir suldbe ane in etern pes?20


Eneas first, that tareit not to lang,


Smate ane Sucron, a Rutilian strang;
[Pg 807]

A grevous wond he hyt hym in the syde,


Throw owt hys rybbys can the stif swerd glide,


Persyt hys cost and breistis cundyt in hy,


Thar as the fatale deth is maste hasty:


This bargane first fermyt Troianys to stand,5


That langeir fled Turnus fra hand to hand.


Tho Turnus has rencontyrit in the pres


Amycus, and hys brother Diores,


Quham, fra thar horssis on the grond doun bet,


On fut in feild strangly he ombeset:10


And the formast with a lang stif speir


Smate ded, and with a swerd the tother in feir,


Syne baith thar hedis hakkit of in hy,


And at his cart thame hyngis by and by,


The blude tharfra dreippand, tursys away.15


The self stound Eneas at ane assay,


Or ane onset, hes kyllit Tanaus,


Talon also, and the stowt Cethegus;


Syne, eftyr thame, he kyllyt in the pres


The sad and ay sorofull Onytes,20


Renownyt of Thebes blude, and the ofspryng


Discendyng down from Echion the kyng,


And of hys moder born, Peridia.


This othir chiftane, Turnus, killit twa,


That brethir war, and owt of Lycia send,25


Appollois cuntre, Troianys to defend;


And eftir thame ane Meneit hes he slane,


A ȝong man that was born ane Archadane,


That all his days evir hatit the melle,


Bot all for nocht, for he most neid thus de:30
[Pg 808]

About the laik of Lern and fludis gray


Hys craft was forto fyschyng euery day;


A puyr cote hous he held, and buyr hym law;


Rewardis of rich folkis war to hym onknaw;


Hys fader eyrit and sew ane peys of feld,5


That he in hyregang held tobe his beild.


And lyke as that the fyre war new vpbet,


And in sum dry wydderit wod vpset,


Baith heir and thar, at diuers partis seir,


Amyd the sovndand buskis of lawrer;10


Or quhar the fomy ryveris, red on spait,


Hurlys doun from the month a large gait,


With hydduus bruyt and felloun fard atanys,


Thar as thai ryn ourflowand all the planys;


Ilkane distroys, wastis, and dryvis away15


All that thai fynd befor thame in the way:


Na slawar baith this Turnus and Ene


Hurlys and ruschis fers throw the melle.


Now, now, the brethfull ire and felloun thocht


Within thar myndis boldynnys all on flocht,20


And tha breistis, can na wys venquyst be,


Now bristis full of greif and cruelte;


Now lasch thai at with bludy swerdis brycht,


Fortill mak wondis wyd in all thar mycht.


The tane of thame, that is to knaw, Enee,25


Kyng Murranus, of anchestry maist hie,


Sovndand the name of his forfaderis ald,


Our all the clan of Latyn kyngis bald


Observyt man by man onto his day,


Furth of hys cart hes smyttyn quyt away,30
[Pg 809]

And bet hym doun onto the erd wyndslaucht,


With a gret roik or quhirrand stane ourraucht;


That this Murranus the renys and the thetis,


Quharwith hys stedis ȝokkit war in thretis,


Vndyr the quhelis hes do weltit doun;5


Quhar, as he lyggis in hys mortall swoun,


Of hys awyn stedis abuf hym rap for rap


The sterand hufis, stampand with mony clap,


Ourtreddis and doun thryngis thar master law,


And gan thar lordis hie estait mysknaw.10


And Turnus hes recontryt ane Hilo,


That ruschand hurlit throw the melle tho,


Full fers of muyd and austern of curage:


Bot this Turnus, for all hys vassalage,


At hys gilt halssettis a grundyn dart dyd thraw,15


That fixit throu hys helm the schaft flaw,


Persand hys brane, quhill owt bruschit the blude.


Nor thy rycht hand, Creteus, sa gude,


Thou forcyast Greik, cumyn from Archad land,


Mycht the deliuer from this ilk Turnus brand:20


Nor all hys goddis Cupencus in the plane


Myght defend from Ene, com hym agane,


Bot at hys breist with the steill poynt is met,


That thirlyt hes throu all, and hym doun bet,


That nother scheild nor obstant plait of steill25


This catyvis breist hes helpit neuir a deill.


O Eolyn, the feildis Lawrentane


Hes the behald tharon dovn bet and slane,


And with thy braid bak in thy rich weid


The grund thou hes byspred rycht far onbreid:30
[Pg 810]

Thar lyis thou ded, quham Gregioun ostis in fyght


Nothir venquys nor to the erth smyte mycht,


Nor fers Achilles to the grund couth bryng,


That was ourquhelmar of kyng Pryamus ryng:


Heir war thy methis and thy term of ded:5


The hous and famyll or the nobill sted


Of thy kynrent stant vndir mont Ida,


In the gret cyte of Lyrnessia;


Bot in the feildis of Lawrentane sulȝe


Thy sepultur is maid for ay tobe.10


Apon this wys the ostis and wardis haill


On athir part returnyt in bataill,


Aganyst othir to feght sammyn attanys,


All the Latynys and alhaill the Troianys;


Duke Mnestheus, and the stern Serestus,15


And, on the tother half, prynce Mesapus,


That of gret hors the dantar clepit was,


And with hym eik the stalwart Asylas,


The Tyrreyn rowtis semblit all atanys,


And kyng Evandrus army Archadianys:20


Euery man for hym self, as he best mycht,


At the vtyrrans of all hys fors gan fyght.


No rest nor tary was, thai so contend,


Sum to confoundyng all, sum to defend.




[Pg 811]




 CAP. X.




Quhou Eneas segit the tovn agane,


And queyn Amata hir self for wo has slayn.








At this tyme, the bargane induryng thus,


Eneas moder, the farest dame Venus,


Into hys mynd scho has put this entent,


To hald onto the wallys incontinent,


And steir hys ost the cyte till assay5


With hasty onset and suddane affray,


At gret myscheif the Latynys to effeir,


Quhilk of hys cummyng tho onwarnyt wer.


And as at he held movyng to aspy


Turnus throu syndry rowtis by and by,10


On euery syde he has castyn hys E;


And at the last behaldis the cite,


Saikles of batale, fre of all syk stryfe,


But payn or travale, at quyet man and wyfe.


Than of a grettar bargane in hys entent15


All suddanly the figour dyd imprent:


He callys Mnestheus and eik Sergestus,


Chiftanys of hys ost, and strang Serestus,


And on a lytill mote ascendit in hy,


Quhar sone forgadderit all the Troian army,20


And thik abowt hym flokkyng can, but baid;


Bot nother scheld nor wapynnys doun thai laid.


And he amyddis on the knollis hight


Onto thame spak thus, herand euery wight:
[Pg 812]

Heir I command no tary nor delay


Be maid of my preceptis, quhat I sal say,


Nor se that na man be sweir nor slaw to ryn;


Till our hasty onset we will begyn,


Sen Jupiter assistis onto our syde.5


Now harkis quhat I purpos do this tyde:


This day I sal distroy and cleyn bet doun


Of Lawrent haill the cite and the tovn,


Quhilk is the caus of all our werying,


And quyte confund the kyng Latinus ryng,10


Les than thai wil ressaue the bridill at hand,


Be at obeysans, and grant my command;


And ȝon hie turrettis, and tha toppis hie


Of rekand chymnais ȝondir, as we se,


I sal mak plane and equale with the grond.15


Quhat suld I tary or delay a stond,


Abydand heir into sik plyte, quod he,


Quhil Turnus lyst feght with ws in melle;


Or quhil that he, ane other tyme agane


Ourcum and venquyst into batale plane,20


May haue refuge to this tovn to releif,


Syne eftir in feild vs recontyr and greif?


O citeȝanys, the hed is this cite


Of our weirfair, and cheif of iniquyte:


Turs thiddir in hy the hait byrnand fyre brandis,25


And with the blesand flawmys in ȝour handis


Renewys and requir agane, said he,


The trety sworn and promyst ȝou and me.


Quhen this was said, thai put thame in array,


Togiddir all the cite tyll assay:30
[Pg 813]

Thai pyngill thraly quha mycht formest be


With dowr myndis onto the wallys hie;


Knyt in a sop, with gret pissans thai thrist


The leddyrris to the wallys, or ony wist,


And hasty fyre blesis dyd appeir.5


Sum otheris of the Troianys ruschit infeir


Onto the portis, and the first thame met


Hes kyllyt at the entre and doun bet:


Sum otheris schutis dartis, takillis, and flanys,


At thame quhilkis on the barmkyn hed remanys,10


That with the flycht of schaftis heir and thar


Thai dyrknyt all the skyis and the air.


Ene hym self with the formast can stand


Vndyr the wallys, puttand to hys hand


To the assalt, and with lowd voce on hie15


The kyng Latinus fast accusys he;


Drawand the Goddys to wytnes, quhou agane


He is constrenyt on fors to move bargane;


And quhou at the Italianys, thus twys


At syndry tymys, schew thame hys ennemys;20


And how falsly that day thai brokyn had


The secund consideratioun sworn and maid.


Amang the citeȝanys, into gret affray,


Vprais discord in mony syndry way:


Sum bad onclos the cite, and als fast25


Warp vp the portis, and wyde the ȝettis cast


To the Troianys, and thar gret prynce Ene


Ressaue as for thar kyng in the cite;


Otheris start to thar wapynnys and thar geir,


Forto defend thar tovn in feir of weir:30
[Pg 814]

As we may geif a symylitude, wail lyke


Quhen that the hyrd hes fund the beys byke,


Closit vnder a dern cavern of stanys,


And fillit hes full sone that litill wanys


With smoik of sowr and byttir rekis stew;5


The beys within, affrayt all of new,


Ourthwort thar hyvis and walxy tentis rynnys,


With mekill dyn and bemyng in thar innys,


Scharpand thar stangis for ire, as thai wald fycht:


Swa heir, the laithly odor rais on hycht10


From the fyre blesis, dyrk as ony roik,


That to the ruffis toppys went the smoik;


The stanys warpit in fast dyd rebund,


Within the wallis rays gret bruyt and sound,


And vp the reik all void went in the air,15


Quhar as na tenementis stud nor howsis war.


Betyd alsso to thir wery Latynys,


Quhilk so irkit at sik myscheif and pyne is,


Ane chance of mysfortoun, that all the tovn


With womentyng straik to the boddum doun.20


For as the queyn Amata saw syk wys


The cyte ombeset with ennemys,


The wallys kyndlyt be with flambys heit,


The fyre blesis abuf the ruffis gleyt,


Na Turnus army cumand thame aganys,25


Nor ȝit nane ostis of Rutilianys;


Scho, full onhappy, in the batell sted


Wenyt ȝong Turnus feghtand had bene ded:


And tho for verray sorow suddanly,


Hyr mynd trublit, gan to rame and cry,30
[Pg 815]

Scho was the caus and wyte of all this greif,


Baith crop, and ruyte, and hed of sik myscheif;


And in hir dolorus fury thus myndles,


All enragit for duyll tho dyd expres


Full mony a thing, and reddy to de with all5


Rent with hir handis hyr purpour weid ryall,


And at ane hie balk teyt vp scho has


With a lowp knot a stark cord or a las,


Quharwith hir self scho spilt by schamefull ded.


And fra the Latyn matronys, will of red,10


Persavit hes this vile myschewos wraik,


Thai rent thar hair, with harrow, and allaik!


Hyr douchter first besyde the ded corps standis,


Ryvand hyr gyltyn tressys with hir handis,


Hyr rosy chekis to tor and scartis sche:15


Than all the laif, that piete was to se,


Of ladeis that about the ded corps stud,


Rentis and ruggis thame self as thai war wod,


That of thar gowlyng, greting, and deray,


The large hald resundis a far way,20


Quhil from the kyngis palyce inveroun


Dywlgat went and spred our all the tovne


The fey onhappy fame of sik a deid;


Than euery wight tynt hart for wo and dreid.


With habyt rent kyng Latyn on the gait25


Walkis wobegone, astonyst of the fait


Of hys deir spous, and of the cite syne,


That semyt brocht onto fynall ruyne:


Hys canos hair, sair movit in hys entent,


With onclene puldyr has he all bysprent,30
[Pg 816]

And mony tymys hym selvyn hes accusyt,


That he sa lang had lachit and reffusyt


To ressaue glaidly the Troiane Ene;


Repentyng sair, for weill of the cyte,


That he had nocht requirit hym, and draw5


Or than tobe his mawche and son in law.






 CAP. XI.




The quenys deces fra Turnus cleirly wist,


Went to the sege Eneas to resist.








In the meyn tyme, as weriour vnder scheild,


Turnus ȝond at the far part of the feld


A few menȝe persewand our the plane,


Quhilk at the stragill fled in all thar mayn,10


Sum deill or than walxis dolf this syre,


Seand his horssis begyn to sowpe and tyre;


That euer the les and les joyus was he


Of thar renkis and gait throu the melle.


Tharwith the wynd and sowchquhyng of the air15


This feirfull clamour brocht to hym rycht thar,


Mixt with oncertane terrour and affeir;


The confusioun of sovnd smait in hys eyr,


Com from the cyte, of felloun murmuryng,


Rycht onglaid bruyt of cayr and womentyng.20


Ha, ways me! he said, quhat may this be?


Quhou beyn the wallys trublit of this cite
[Pg 817]

With so gret duyll and sorrow as I heir?


Or quhou thus ruschis so felloun noys and beir


And clamour from the tovn at euery part?


Thus has he said, and can do stynt his cart,


And all enragit tyt the renȝeis abak.5


Quhamto his sistir tho Juturna spak,


As scho that was turnyt, as I said air,


In semlant of Metiscus the cartar,


That horssis, renȝeis, syd rapis, and cart, dyd sche


Rewle and direct amydwart the melle;10


With sic wordis scho ansueris hym fute hait:


Turnus, lat ws persew Troianys this gait,


Quhar victory ws schawis the reddy way;


Thar beyn enew otheris, be my fay,


Forto defend and weill manteym the tovn.15


Ȝon is Eneas makis the brute and sovn,


That can invaid Italianys, as ȝe heir,


Mydlit in batale on sik feir of weir.


Tharfor lat ws with cruell hand in this sted


Lay als feill corpsis of the Troianys ded;20


For with na les numbir slane vnder scheild,


Nor les honour, sall thou wend of the feild.


Turnus answeris; O thou my sistyr deir,


I knew full weill at it was thou, langere,


That be thi craft and quent wylis sa sle25


Our consideratioun trublit and trete,


And entrit in this batell quhilk thou wrocht:


And now, Goddes, thy wylis ar all for nocht.


Bot quha was that send the from hevyn so scheyn,


So huge sturt and travell to susteyn?30
[Pg 818]

Quhidder gif thou com to that entent to se


The cruell deth of thy fey brother? said he:


Quhat sall I do, lat se; quhar sall I now?


Or quhat succurs promittis fortoun, and quhou?


I saw myself befor myne eyn langere5


Gret Murranus, quham nane mair leif and deir


Onto me was that levand is this day,


Swelt on the grund, and with lowd voce, perfay,


On me dyd call, quhar as he lay onsound


At erth discomfyt with ane grisly wond:10


And lo, doun bet and slane in hys defens


Is not alsso the stowt capitane Vfens,


That he suld not our lak and schame behald?


Hys corps and armour doys Troianys baith withhald.


Sail I als suffir thame doun the cyte dyng?15


Of our myscheif thar restis bot that a thing:


Nor sall I not with this rycht hand in hy


Confund schir Drances langage onworthy?


Sail evir this grund behald or se sik lak,


That I sall fle, or Turnus gif the bak?20


Is it all owt sa wrachit thing to de,


That, or thai stervyn, men suld rathar fle?


Ȝhe Manes, clepit Goddis infernal,


Beis to me frendly now, sen that all


The Goddis myndis abuf ar me contrar;25


Be ȝhe benevolent quhen that I cum thar:


Ane haly saule to ȝou discend sall I,


Saikles of all sic cryme or villany,


Na wys onworthy namyt forto be


With my eldris and forfaderis mast hie.30
[Pg 819]

Scars hes he said, quhen, lo, throu the plane


Ruschand amyd hys fays, com hym agane


Ane Sages, montit on a fomy steid;


And he was wondit sair, and gan to bleid,


In the face with ane arrow vndir the E,5


Cryand, help, Turnus, be his name, quhar is he?


Turnus, quod he, in the and thy twa handis


The extreme help and lattir weilfar standis:


Haue reuth and piete of thyne awin menȝe.


Now, as the thundris blast, faris Ene10


In bargane, so enragit he doith mannays


The cheif cyte of Italy doun to arrays,


And into fynal ruyne to bet doun


The principall palyce and all the ryall tovn;


And now onto the thak and ruffis hie15


The flambys and the fyre blesys doys fle.


In the thar wltys, in the thar eyn, but faill,


The Latyn pepill dressyt hes alhaill:


The kyng hym self Latinus, the gret heir,


Quhispyris and musys, and is in maner seir20


Quham he sall cheis or call, into this thraw,


Tobe hys douchteris spous, and son in law,


Or to quhat frendschip or allyans fyne


Is best hym selwyn at this tyme inclyne.


And forthirmore, Amata the fair queyn,25


Quhilk at all tymys thyne afald frend has bene.


With hir awyn hand doith sterve, now liggand law,


And for affray hir self hes brocht of daw.


Only Mesapus and Atynas keyn


At the portis doys the stour susteyn:30
[Pg 820]

Abowt thir twa on athir syde thik standis


Arrayt rowtis, with drawyn swerdis in handis,


Full horribill and austern athir barnage,


Cled in steill weid with wapynnys, man and page;


And thou, thus rollyng furth thy cart bedene,5


Walkis at avantage on the void grene.


Turnus astonyst stude dum in studeyng,


Smyt with the ymage of mony diuers thyng:


Deip in hys hart boldynnys the felloun schame,


All mixt with dolour, angyr, and defame;10


Syne fervent luf hym catchit in fury rage,


And hys bykend hardyment and curage.


As first the schaddois of pertrublans


Was dryve away, and hys rememberans


The lycht of ressoun has recoverit agane,15


The byrnand sycht of baith his eyn twane,


Sore aggrevit, towart the wallys he kest,


And from hys cart blent to the cyte prest.


Bot lo, a sworll of fyre blesys vpthraw!


Lemand towart the lyft the flambe he saw,20


Amang the plankis and the loftis schire


Stremand and kyndland fast the hoyt fyre,


That caucht was in a mekill towr of tre;


Quhilk towr of sillys and gestis gret belt he,


And thar vnder, to roll it, quhelis set,25


With staris hie and batelling weirly bet.


Now, now, systir, quod he, lo all and sum


The fatis has vs venquyst and ourcum:


Desist tharfor to mak me langar tary;


Lat ws follow that way, and thiddir cary,30
[Pg 821]

Quhar God and this hard fortoun callys me.


Now standis the poynt, I am determyt, quod he,


Eneas hand for hand fortill assaill;


Now standis the poynt, to suffir in bataill


The bittir ded and all paynfull distres:5


No langar, sistir germane, as I ges,


Sall thou me se schamefull onworthy wight.


Bot, I beseik the, manly as a knycht


Into this fervent furour suffir me


To go enragit to batale, or I de.10


Thus has he said, and from the cart in hy


Apon the land he lap deliuerly,


And left his sistir trist and dissolate;


Thrist throu hys fays and wapynnys all, fute hait,


And with sa swift fard schot throu the melle15


That the myd rowtis and wardis schuddris he.


And like as the gret roch crag with a sovn


From the top of sum montane tumlyt doun,


Quhen at it is our smyt with wyndis blast,


Or with the drumly schowris spait doun cast,20


Or than be lang proces of mony ȝheris


Lowsyng tharfra the erd, and away weris,


Is maid to fall and tumbill with all his swecht,


Lyke till a wikkit hill of huge weght,


Halding his fard the discens of the bra25


With mony skyp and stend baith to and fra,


Quhill that he schut far on the plane grund,


And all that he ourrekis doith confund;


Woddis, heyrdis, flokkis, catale, and men,


Our welterand with hym in the deip glen:30
[Pg 822]

Towart the wallys Turnus ruschit als fast


Throw owt the rowtis, by hys fard doun cast,


Quhar tho the grund wet and bedyit stude


A weill far way with effusioun of blude,


And large on breid the skyis and the ayr5


For schaftis schot dyd quhissilling heir and thar:


A bekyn with hys hand to thame maid he,


And sammyn eik with lowd voce cryis; lat be!


Stynt, ȝhe Rutilianys, se ȝhe feght na mair,


And, ȝhe Latynys, ȝour dartys castyng spar;10


Quhou evir the fortoun standis at this tyde,


The chance is myne, the fait I mon abyde.


It is mair just and equale I allane


For ȝou sustene the payn was ondertane,


And purge the cryme, so happynnyt now of lait,15


Of this consideratioun violate:


Lat me stand to my chans, I tak on hand


Forto derene the mater with this brand.


Than euery man amydward thame betwene


Can draw abak, and maid rovm on the greyn.20






 CAP. XII.




Eneas feghtis and Turnus, hand for hand,


And Turnus fled, for he had brokkyn his brand.








Thys fader than, this gret prynce Ene,


Herand the name of Turnus cryit on hie,
[Pg 823]

The wallys left, and fra the tovn went away


Richt hastely, secludand all delay;


Styntis all the wark that he begunnyn had,


And hoppit vp for joy, he was so glaid:


The huslyng in his armour dyd rebund,5


And kest a terribill or a feirfull sound.


Vpraxit hym he hes amyd the place,


Als byg as Athon, the hie mont in Trace,


Or heich as mont Erix in Scycily,


Or than the fader of hillys in Italy,10


Clepyt mont Apennynus, quhen that he


Doith swouch or bray with roky quhynnys hie.


And joys to streik hys snawy top on hycht


Vp in the ayr amang the skyis brycht:


That is to say, amang all other wightis15


Eneas semyt to surmontyn in hyghtis


The remanent of all the mekill rowt,


As thir montanys excedis the knollys abowt.


And than, forsuyth, Rutilianys egyrly,


And all the Troian ostis or army,20


Towart thar dukis dyd return thar eyn;


The Rutilianys, I say, and eik bedeyn


All the Latynys that on the wallys stud,


And all thai als, tofor as thai war woid


The barmkyn law smait with the rammys fast,25


Now of thar schuldris can thar armour cast.


The kyng hym self, Latyn, abasyt to se


Twa men sa byg of huge quantite,


Generit and bred in realmys far insundir


Of seir partis of the warld, that it was wondir30
[Pg 824]

Twa of sik statur, onmysurly of hycht,


Fortill assembill sammyn into fyght,


Or forto se thame, matchit on the greyn,


Dereyn the bargane with thar wapynnys keyn.


And than athir thir campionys vndir scheild,5


Quhen voydit weill and rowmyt was the feild


That patent was the plane a weil large space,


With hasty fard on far hes tane thar rays,


And can thar speris cast, or thai cum neir,


Quhil scheildis soundit and all thar other geir;10


Ane marcial batale thai begyn, but baid,


And athir sternly dyd hys fa invaid.


So dyd the strakis dyn on thar steill weid,


The erd granys and dyndlys far onbreid,


Syne raschit togidder with swerdis, or euer thai stynt,15


And rowtis thik thai doublit, dynt for dynt;


With fors of prowes and fatale aventur


Mydlit sammyn the bargane thai endur.


Lyke as twa bustuus bullys by and by,


On the hie month Taburn in Champany,20


Or in the mekill forest of Syla,


Quhen thai assembill in austern bargane thra,


With front to front, and horn for horn, attanys


Ruschand togiddir with cronys and feirfull granys,


That fe masteris and hyrdmen, euery wight,25


Abasyt gevys thame place, so brym thai fight:


For feir the bestis dum all standis by,


And all in dowt squelys the ȝong ky,


Quha salbe master of the catal all,


Or quhilk of thame the bowys follow sall:30
[Pg 825]

Tha twa bullys, thus stryvand in that stond,


By mekill fors wyrkis other mony a wond,


And duschand festynnys fast thar hornys stowt,


Quhill that abundans of blude stremys owt,


That can do wesch, bedy, or all to baith,5


Thar grym nekkis and thar spaldis baith;


That of thar rowstyng all the large plane


And woddis rank rowtis and lowys agane.


Nane other wys Ene, the Troian heir,


And Dawnus son, Turnus, sammyn infeir10


Hurlys togiddir with thar scheildis strang,


That for gret raschis all the hevynnys rang.


Thus Jupiter hym self hes atheris chance


A weill lang space to hungyn in ballance


Be equale myssour, and pasyt hes alsso15


The fatis diuers of thame baith two;


Quham the stowt laubour suld deliuer fre,


And quham the pasand wecht ourwelt to de.


Turnus at this tyme walxis bald and blyth,


Wenyng to caucht a stound hys strenth to kyth20


But ony danger or aduersyte;


He raxis hym, and hevis vp on hie


Hys bludy sword, and smait in al hys mayn.


A gret clamour gave the pepill Troian,


And eik the Latynys quakyng gaue a schowt,25


Full prest thame to behald stud athir rowt.


Bot this ontraste fals blaid is brokyn in sundyr,


And ardent Turnus brocht hes in gret blundir;


For it amyddis of hys dynt hym falys,


And dissolet hym left, that nocht avalys
[Pg 826]

To hym hys strenth, hardyment, and mycht,


Les than he tak for hys defens the flycht:


Ȝa, swyftar than the wynd he fled, I ges,


Quhen that he saw hys rycht hand wapynles,


And persauyt the plummet was onknaw.5


For so the fame is, at the ilk thraw


Quhen he first ruschit in hys cart inhy,


And gart do ȝok hys stedis by and by


To go onto the batale the sam day,


That, for the suddand onset and effray,10


The cartar Metiscus sword he hynt in hand,


And all forȝet hys faderis nobill brand:


And this ilk swerd was sufficient a lang space,


Quhill that he followit the Troianys in the chais,


That gaue the bak, as we haue said or this;15


Bot alsfast as it twichit and matchit is


With dyvyn armour maid by God Wlcan,


And tharon smyttyn in al Turnus mayn,


This ontrew temperit blaid and fykkill brand,


That forgit was bot with a mortal hand,20


In flendris flaw, and at the first clap,


As brukkill ice, in litill pecis lap,


Quhil the small partis of the blaid brokin in twa


As glas gletand apon the dun sand lay.


Quharfor this Turnus, half myndles and brane,25


Socht diuers wentis to fle throu owt the plane;


With mony wyndis and turnys, all on flocht,


Now heir, syne thar, onsovirly he socht.


Troianys stude thik bylappit inveroun


In maner of a conpas or a crovn;30
[Pg 827]

And on the ta half eik a laik braid


Hym so inclusyt that he mycht nocht evaid,


And on the tother syde fermyt als was he


With the hie wallys of the cheif cyte.


And thocht the wond tarreis Ene sum deill,5


Wrocht to hym by the takill with hed of steill,


To weild hys kne maid sum impediment,


That he mycht nocht braid swyftly our the bent,


With na les pres and haist ȝit, nocht for thy,


He, fute for fut, persewys him fervently:10


Lyke as, sum tyme, quhen that the huntar stowt


Betrappit has and ombeset about


With hys ralys and with hys hundis gude


The mekill hart swymmand amyd the flude,


Quhilk thar inclusit neidlingis mon abyd;15


For he may not eschape on nother syd,


For feir of hundis, and that awfull bern


Baryng schaftis fedderit with plumys of the ern;


The rynnyng hund dois hym assail in threte


Baith with swift rays and with hys questis grete:20


Bot this hart, all abasyt of thar slycht,


And of the strait and stay bankis gret hycht,


Can fle and eik return a thousand ways;


Bot than the swypir Tuscan hund assays


And nerys fast, ay reddy hym to hynt,25


Now, now, almaste lyke, or euir he stynt,


He suld hym hynt, and, as the beste war tak,


With hys wyd chaftis at hym makis a snak,


The byt oft falȝeis for ocht he do mycht,


And chakkis waist togiddir hys wapynnys wycht.30
[Pg 828]

Richt so, at this tyme, apon athir syde


The clamour rays, that all the laik wyde


And brays abowt thame answerd, so thai ferd,


The hevyn our all eik rumlyt of ther rerd.


And Turnus, fleand, sammyn fast can call5


Rutilianys, chidand baith ane and all,


Every man clepand by hys proper name,


To reke hym hys traist swerd for schame:


And by the contrar, awfully Ene


Can thame mannans, that nane sa bald suldbe,10


And schew present the deth all reddy heir


To thar ondoyng, gif that ony drew neir,


And quakyng for affeir maid thame agast;


Schorand the cite to distroy and doun cast,


Gif ony help or supple to hym schew,15


And, thocht he sair was, fersly dyd persew.


Thus fyve tymys round intill a rays


About the feild can thai fle and chais,


And als feill sys went turnyng heir and thar,


Lyke as befor the hund wiskis the hair.20


And na wondir; for sa the mater lyis,


To na bowrdyng twichit thar interprys,


Na for small wagis thai debait and stryfe,


Bot apoun Turnus blude schedding and lyfe.


On cace, amyd this feild had grow of lait25


Ane wild olyve to Fawnus consecrait,


Quharon grew bittyr levys, and mony ȝheris


Was hald in wirschip with all maryneris;


At the quhilk tre, quhen thai eschapit had


The stormys blast, and wallis maid thame rad,30
[Pg 829]

Tharon thar offerandis wald affix and hyng


Onto this God vmquhile of Lawrent kyng,


And tharon eik the clathis bekend vpstent:


Bot tho the stok of this tre doun was rent


By the Troianys, mysknawand it hallowit was,5


To that entent to plane the batale place.


Eneas byg lance or hys castyng speir


Percays apon the poynt was stykand heir;


Thiddir this schaft the gret fors of his cast


Had thraw the ilk stund, and thar fixit fast,10


Amang the grippill rutis fast haldand,


Weggit full law the lance on end dyd stand.


The Troiane prynce it grippis in that sted,


Willyng in hand to pull owt the steill hed,


With cast tharof to follow hym at the bak,15


Quham he throw speid of fut mycht nocht ourtak.


Bot than Turnus, half mangit in effray,


Cryis, O thou Fawnus, help, help! I the pray;


And thou Tellus, mast nobill God of erd,


Hald fast the speris hed by ȝour werd;20


As I that evir has wirschipit on thir planys


Ȝour honour, that be the contrar Eneadanys


Hes violet and prophanyt be stryfe, quod he,


With blude scheddyng, and down hewyn ȝour tre.


Thus said he, and no thyng in vane, I wys,25


The Goddys help he axit; for, at hys wys,


A full lang tyme wrelis and tareis Ene


Furth of the teuch rutis of this ilk tre


Hys speir to draw, and bytis on his lip;


Bot festynnyt sa is in the war the gryp.30
[Pg 830]

That by na maner fors, thocht he was wight,


Furth of the stok the schaft vp pull he mycht.


And as he brymly thus inforcis fast


To draw the speir, this Goddes at the last,


I meyn Juturna, douchter of Dawnus king,5


Owt throw the feld com rynnand in a lyng,


Changit agane, as that befor scho was,


Into Metiscus semlant and lyknes,


And to hir brother hes hys swerd betaucht:


Quhar at Dame Venus gret disdenȝe caucht,10


Sik thyng suldbe tholit this bald nymphe to do;


Than suddanly to the speir rakis scho,


Baith schaft and hed onon, or evir scho stent,


At the first pull from the deip rute hes rent.


Than athir restit and refreschit weill15


Baith in curage and scharp wapynnys of steill,


He trastand in hys swerd that weill wald scheir,


And he full prowd and stern of hys byg sper;


Incontrar otheris baldly lang thai stand


In marciall batale athir resistand,20


Ilkane full wilfull otheris till ourthraw,


At sic debait that baith thai pant and blaw.






 CAP. XIII.




Quhou Jupiter and Juno dyd contend


Eneas stryfe and Turnus fortill end.








The fader almychty of the hevyn abuf,


In the meyn tyme, onto Juno his lufe,
[Pg 831]

Quhilk tho down from a watry ȝallow clowd


Beheld the bargane, therof na thing prowd,


Thus spak and said; O my deir spous, quhat now?


Quhat end salbe of this mater, or quhou?


Quhat restis finaly now atall? lat se.5


Thou wait thi self, and grantis thou wait, Enee


Is destinat onto the hevin to cum,


And for tobe clepit with all and sum


Amang the Goddis a God Indigites,


And by the fatis forto rest in pes,10


Sesit abuf the starry skyis hie.


Quhat purposis or etlys thou now? lat se;


Or into quhat beleif, or quhat entent,


Hyngis thou swa in the cald firmament?


Was it honest a godly dyvyne wight15


With ony mortal strake to wond in fight?


Or ȝit ganand, the swerd lost and adew,


To rendir Turnus, lo, hys brand of new,


And strenth encress to thame at venquist be?


For quhat avalit Juturna, but thy supple?20


Desist heirof, now at last, be the lest,


And condiscend to bow at our request;


Ne suffir not thy hyd sorrow, I pray,


Na langar the consume and waist away,


That I na mar sik wofull thochtis se25


Schyne nor appeir in thy sweit face, quod he:


For now is cum the extreme lattir punct.


Thou mycht, quhil now, haue catchit at disiunct


The silly Troianys baith be sey and land;


And eik thou mycht alsso at thyne awin hand30
[Pg 832]

A fell ontellabill batal rays or weir,


Deform the howshald, and bryng all on steir


Be mony diuers ways of fury rage,


And all with murnyng mixt thar mariage:


Bot I forbyd ȝou ony mar sic thing.5


Thus spak and carpis Jove, gret hevynnys kyng.


Saturnus dochtir, Juno the Goddes,


Ansuerit on this wys, castand doun hir face:


O Jupiter, deir lord, certis, said sche,


Because this thy gret will was knawyn to me,10


On fors tharfor, and incontrar my mynd,


I left the erd and my frend Turnus kynd.


Ne, war not that, suld thou me se allone


Thus sittand in the ayr al wobegone,


Sustenand thus al maner of myscheif,15


And euery stres, baith lesum and onleif;


Bot at I suld, gyrthit with flambis red,


Stowtly haue standyn in ȝon batale sted,


And suld haue drawyn ȝon Troianys, ane and all,


Into fell mortal bargane inimicall.20


I grant, I dyd persuading owt of dreid


Juturna to pas doun at sik neid


To hir brothir, and for his lyfe eik I


Approvis weill, and als dois ratify,


To vndertak mair than to hir pertenyt;25


Bot I forsuith persuadit neuer, nor menyt,


That scho suld dartis cast, or takillis draw,


Nor with the bow mak debait ony thraw:


I swer tharto be the onplesand well


Of Stix, the flud and cheif fontane of hell,30
[Pg 833]

Quhais only dreidfull superstitioun heir


The Goddis kepis, that nane dar it forswere.


And now, forsuith, thy will obey sall I,


And giffis owr the caus perpetualy;


And heir I leif sik werys and debait,5


The quhilk, certis, I now detest and hait.


Bot for the land of Latium or Itaill,


And for maieste of thine awin blude, sans faill,


A thing I the beseik, quhilk, weill I wait, is


Na wys include in statutis of the fatis:10


That is to knaw, quhen that, as weill mot be,


With happy wedlok and felicite


Ȝon pepillis twane sall knyt vp peax for ay,


Bynd confiderans baith coniunct in a lay,


That thou ne wald the ald inhabitantis15


Byd change thar Latyn name nor natyve landis,


Ne charge thame nother tobe callyt Troianys,


Nor ȝit be clepit Phrigianys nor Tewcranys;


Ne ȝit the Latyn pepill thar leid to change,


Nor turn thar clething in other habyt strange.20


Lat it remane Latium, as it was air;


And lat the kyngis be namyt euermar


Pryncis and faderis of the stile Albane;


The lynage eik and gret ofspring Romane


Mot discend tharfra potent and mychty,25


Vndir the virtuus titill of Italy.


Troy is doun bet; doun bet lat it remane,


With name and all, and neuer vprys agane.


Than gan to smyle Jupiter the gret kyng,


That is producear of men and euery thing:30
[Pg 834]

Systir german, quod he, to Jove art thou,


And secund child to Saturn ald; ha, quhou


Sa gret a storm or spait of felloun ire


Vndir thy breist thou rollis hait as fyre?


Bot wirk as I the byd, and do away5


That wreth consauyt but ony caus, I pray.


I geif and grantis the thi desyre, quod he;


Of fre will, venquyst, referris me to the.


Thir ilk pepill clepit Ausonyanys,


On otherwys callit Italianys,10


The auld vsans and leyd of thar cuntre


Sall bruke and joys, and eik thar name salbe


As it is now, and as thar stile remanys:


Alanerly thar personys the Troianys


Sall entyr myddill and remane thame amang:15


The fassonys and the ritis, that nocht ga wrang,


Of sacrifice to thame statute I sall,


And Latyn pepill of a tung mak thame all.


The kynd of men discend from thir Troianys,


Mydlit with kyn of the Italianys,20


Thou sall behald in piete and gentilnes


To go abufe baith men and Goddis expres;


Nor neuer clan or other nation by


Lyke thame sall hallow, ne ȝit sanctify


Thy wirschip, eik and honour, as thai sall do.25


Juno anerdit, and gaue consent heirto,


Ful blith and joyus of this grant, perfay,


Fra hir ald wraith hes writhit hir mynd away;


And in the meyn tyme onto the hevyn hir drew,


And left the clovd, and bad Turnus adew.30
[Pg 835]

Thys beand done, as said is, on sik wys,


This hie fader can with hym self devys


Ane other craft; and providis the way


Quhou that he sall Juturna dryfe away


From helpyng of hir brother intill armys.5


Thar beyn twa vengeabill monstreis full of harmys,


Clepit to surname Dire, wikkit as fyre,


That is to say, the Goddis wraik or ire:


Quhilk myschewos and cruell sisteris twa,


Sammyn with the hellys fury Megera,10


Bair at a birth, for na thing profitabill,


The Nycht thar moder, that barntyme miserabill;


And all elike wymplit and cled thir trakis


With eddris thrawin, and harys full of snakis,


And tharto ekit weyngis swift as wynd.15


Thir wikkit schrewys reddy sal ȝe fynd


Befor the troyn of Jove, and eik also


Within the wanys of cruell kyng Pluto:


Thai scharp the dreid to mortale wrachit wightis,


Quhen euir the kyng of Goddis by his mychtis20


The deth, or the contagius seiknes seir,


Disponys hym to send in the erth heir,


Or quhen that hym list do smyte and affray


Citeis with weirfar, as deservit haue thai.


Jove ane of thir, full swipper to discend,25


Furth of the hevin abuf onon hes send,


And bad hir hald doun baldly to the erd,


Forto resist Juturnais ire and werd.


And scho onon doun flaw, to ples the lard,


And to the grund thuddis with hasty fard:30
[Pg 836]

Nane other wys than from the stryng doith fle


The swift arrow owt throw the ayr we se,


Or, into bittyr vennom wet, sum flane


Castyn or schot by sum archer Persayn,


By sum Persayn or man of Cydony5


The schaft thrawyn, that quhirris throu the sky,


And, quhar it hyttis, wirkis a wond of pyne,


Oncurabill by the craft of medycyne,


And sa swiftly slydis throu the clowdis gray


That quhar it went nane may persave the way.10


On sik maner the Nyghtis douchtir onflocht


Throw the skyis doun to the erth sone socht:


And eftir that scho saw the Troian ostis,


And Turnus rowtis arrayt on the costis,


Scho hir transformyt in lyknes of a fowle,15


Quhilk we a litil howlet cleip, or owle;


That sum tyme into gravis, or stokkis of tre,


Or on the waist thak, or hows rufis hie,


Sittand by nycht syngis a sorowfull toyn


In the dyrk skowgis, with scrykis inoportoyn:20


This vengeabill wraik, in sik form changit thus,


Evyn in the face and vissage of Turnus


Can fle and flaf, and maid hym forto grow,


Scho soundis so with mony hys and how,


And in hys scheild can with hyr weyngis smyte.25


A new dolfnes dissoluyt hys membris tyte;


For verray dreid and for gret horrour als


Vp stert hys hair, the voce stak in hys hals.


Bot as Juturna soyn on far dyd heir


Of this fury the quhislyng and the beir,30
[Pg 837]

The swouchyng of hir weyngis and hir flycht,


This woful sister hyr hair rent for that sycht,


With nalys ryvand reuthfully hir face,


And smytand with hir nevis hir breist, allace!


Turnus, my best belovit brother, quod sche,5


Quhat may thy sistir help now, wa is me!


Or quhat now restis to me, wrachit wight?


Thy life prolong quhou may I? Be quhat slycht


May I oppone me to resist or stryve


With sik a monstre? Na, nane wight alyve.10


Now, now, I leif the feild, and goys away.


O ȝe myschewos fowlis, I ȝou pray,


Do me na mair agrys trymland for feir;


The clappyng of ȝour weyngis I knaw and heir,


And eik the dedly sovndis weill on far:15


The provd command of myghty Jupiter,


That gydis al thing by hys maieste,


Dois me not now astart, for I it se.


Is this the ganȝeld that he rendris me


In recompens of my virginite?20


Quharto eternal lyfe hes he me geif?


Quharto suld I on this wys euer leif?


Quharto is me byreft the faculte


Of deth, and grantit immortalite?


For, gif I mortal war, now, now suythly,25


Thir sa gret dolouris mycht I end in hy,


And with my reuthfull brother go withall


Amangis the dym schaddoys infernall.


O deir brother german, without the


Is na thing sweit nor plesand onto me.30
[Pg 838]

O now quhat grund, land, or erd tewch


Sal swelly me tharin half deip eneuch,


And, thocht I beyn a Goddes, doun me draw,


And send ontil infernal wightis law?


Thus mekil said scho; and tharwith bad adew,5


Hir hed valit with a haw claith or blew,


And, murnand gretly thar as that scho stud,


This Goddes dowkit deip vnder the flud.






 CAP. XIV.




At Eneas Turnus a stane dyd cast;


Bot Eneas has slane hym at the last.








Ene with this instantly list not ces


Forto recontyr Turnus in the pres,10


And hys big speir apoun hym schakis he,


Quhilk semyt rude and squar as ony tre;


And with a bald and bustuus breist thus spak:


Quhat menys this langsum delay ȝhe mak?


Quhy tary ȝe for schame, Turnus, all day?15


Quharto withdrawis thou the so away?


We pyngill not for speid na curs to ryn,


Bot we debait suld, this barres within,


With wapynnys keyn and with our burnyst brandis,


Togiddir met dereyn it with our handis.20


Do change thy self, or turn at thy awyn eys


In all maner of figuris as the pleis;
[Pg 839]

Gaddir togiddir and assembill now, lat se,


All that thou has of strenth or subtelte;


Wys now to fle vp to the starnys on hycht


With fedderit weyngis forto tak thy flycht,


Or forto cloys thy self this ilk thraw5


Into sum cavern vnder the erd law.


Turnus, schakand hys hed, said, thou fers fo,


Thy fervent wordis compt I not a stro,


Thy sawis makis me not agast, perfay;


It is the Goddis that doith me affray,10


And Jupiter becummyn myne ennemy.


Ne mor he said, bot blent about in hy,


And dyd aspy quhar that a gret roke lay,


Ane ald crag stane huge gret and gray,


Quhilk on the plane, percace, was liggand neir,15


A marche set in that grand mony ȝeir


Of twa feildis, forto decern tharby


The ald debait of pley or contrauersy;


Scarsly twys sax stowt walit men and wight,


Quhilk now the erd producis, hes sik mycht20


To charge it on thar schuldris or to beir;


Quham full lychtly Turnus, that nobill heir,


Hynt in hys hand, and swakkit at his fo,


And raxit hym on hicht thar vndir alsso,


And tharwith chargit a full swyft curs ran.25


Bot sa confundit is this douchty man,


That he ne knew hym selvyn in that sted,


Nowder quhar that he ran, nor quhar he ȝed.


Nor felt hym self liftand on the land


The mekill stane, nor steir it with his hand:30
[Pg 840]

Hys kneis stummerit, and hys lymmys slydis,


The blude congelit for feir within hys sydis;


So that the stane he at his foman threw


Fayntly throwowt the voyd and waist air flew,


Ne went it all the space, as he dyd mynt,5


Nor, as he etlyt, perfornyst not the dynt.


Lyk as, sum tyme, in our swevyn we tak keip,


Quhen langsum dravillyng or the onsound sleip


Our eyn oursettis in the nyghtis rest,


Than semys ws full bissy and full prest10


That we ws streke, and doith adres in hy


Lang renkis for to mak and ryn swiftly:


Bot all for nocht, for at the first assay,


Or in the myddis of the start, by the way,


All fante we faill, as forfeblit war we;15


The tung avalis not, it will not be;


Ne ȝit the strenthis in our body knaw


Semys sufficient to ws at that thraw;


For, set we pres ws fast to spek owt braid,


Ne voce nor wordis followys, nocht is said.20


Siklyke wys hes this Goddes myschews


Ombeset all the ways of Turnus:


Quhat evir to do by hys strenth etlyt he,


Scho maid obstakill; all that ganestandis sche.


Than in hys mynd becom his wittis strange,25


And begouth forto vary and to change;


And oft he dyd behald Rutilianys,


And oft the cite with all that ryall wanys:


He hovirris all abasyt for dreid and feir,


And gan do quaik, seand at hand the speir;30
[Pg 841]

Ne can he fynd quhiddir away to wend,


Nor on quhat wys hym self he may defend,


Nor with quhat strenth assaill hys aduersar,


Nor be na ways persaue hys cart or char,


Nor se hys sistir, that had hys cartar be.5


And as he stud on hovyr thus, Ene


The fatale dedly speir in hand gan tays,


And with hys eyn markit and walit has


Ane place be fortoun to smyte oportune,


And with the hail fors of hys body soyn10


Furth from hys hand weil far the lance gan thraw.


Neuer sa swiftly quhidderand the stane flaw


Swakkit from the engyne onto the wall,


Nor fulderis dynt, that causis towris fall,


With sik a rummyll com bratland on sa fast.15


Lyke the blak thud of awfull thundris blast


Furth flaw the schaft to smyte the dedly straik,


And with it brocht cruell myschewos wraik;


Quhilk throu the hawbrik skyrtis persyt has,


And the extreme bordour gan arras20


Of hys strang scheild, cowchit of sevyn ply,


And quhirrand smait hym throw the thee in hy:


That with the dynt huge Turnus, full onsound,


With faldyn howchis duschit to the grund.


Vpstart Rutilianys sammyn complenyng25


With a ȝelloch and cairfull womentyng,


Quhill all the hillys rumysit thame abowt,


And far on breid thyk woddis gaue a schowt.


And Turnus than, quhar he at erth dyd ly,


Addressis furth full humyll and lawly30
[Pg 842]

Towart Ene hys syght and eyn tway,


And strekis eik hys rycht hand hym to pray:


And thus he said; forsuyth, I haue deserve


The deth, I knaw, and of thy hand to sterve,


Ne wil I not beseik the me to spair;5


Oys furth thy chance: quhat nedis proces mar?


Bot gif that ony cuyr or thocht, quod he,


Of ony wofull parent may twich the,


Haue rewth and mercy of kyng Dawnus the ald;


Thou had forsuyth, as I haue hard betald,10


Anchises, sik a fader as is he;


And me, or than, gif bettir lykis the,


My body, spulȝeit and the life byreft,


Onto my folkis thou may rendir eft.


Thou hes me venquyst, I grant, and me ourcum;15


Italian pepill present all and sum


Hes sene streke furth my handis humylly;


Lavinia is thy spows, I not deny:


Extend na forthir thy wraith and matalent.


Eneas stern in armys tho present20


Rolland hys eyn toward Turnus dyd stand,


And lyst nocht stryke, bot can withdraw hys hand;


And mor and mor thir wordis, by and by,


Begouth inclyne hym to reuth and mercy,


Abydand lang in hovir quhat he suld do:25


Quhen, at the last, on Turnus schuldir, lo!


The fey gyrdill hie set dyd appeir,


With stuthis knaw and pendes schynand cleir,


The belt or tysche of the child Pallas,


Quhilk by this Turnus laitly venquyst was,30
[Pg 843]

As we haue said, and with a grews wond


Slane in the feld, bet doun, and brocht to grund;


And Turnus, in remembrans of this thing,


Abowt his schuldris bair this onfrendly syng.


Bot eftir that Eneas with hys eyn5


Sa cruell takynnys of dyseys hes seyn,


And can sik weid byreft thar aspy,


All full of furor kyndlys he inhy,


Full brym of ire and terribill thus can say:


Sall thou eschape me of this sted away,10


Cled with the spulȝe of my frendis deir?


Pallas, Pallas, with this wond rycht heir


Of the ane offerand to the Goddys makkis,


And of thy wikkit blude punytioun takkis.


And sayand thus, full fers, with all hys mayn,15


Law in hys breist or cost, lay hym forgayn,


Hys swerd hes hyd full hait; and tharwithall


The cauld of deth dissoluyt hys membris all:


The spreit of lyfe fled murnand with a grane,


And with disdeyn vnder dyrk erth is gayn.20




[Pg 844]




 HEIR THE TRANSLATOUR OF THIS BUK MAKIS MENSIOUN
OF THRE OF HYS PRYNCIPALL WARKIS.






Lo thus, followand the flowr of poetry,


The batellys and the man translait haue I:


Quhilk ȝoir ago in myne ondantit ȝouth,


Onfructuus idylnes fleand, as I couth,


Of Lundeys Lufe the Remeid dyd translait;


And syne of hie Honour the Palyce wrait;


Quhen paill Aurora, with face lamentabill,


Hir russet mantill bordowrit all with sabill, &c.




 TO KNAW THE NAYM OF THE TRANSLATOUR.




The Gaw onbrokkyn mydlyt with the Wyne,


The Dow jonyt with the Glas richt in a lyne:


Quha knawys nocht the Translatouris naym,


Seik na forthar, for lo, with litill pyne


Spy leill this vers; men clepys hym swa at haym.




Quod the compilar G. D.




[Pg 845]




 THE PROLOUG OF THE THRETTENE BUKE
OF ENEADOS EKIT TO VIRGILL
BE MAPHEUS VEGIUS.






Towart the evyn, amyd the symmyris heit,


Quhen in the Crab Appollo held hys sete,


Duryng the joyus moneth tyme of June,


As gone neir was the day, and supper doyn;


I walkyt furth abowt the seildis tyte,5


Quhilkis tho replenyst stud full of delyte,


With herbys, cornys, catal, and frute treis,


Plente of stoir, byrdis and byssy beys


In amerant medis fleand est and west,


Eftir laubour to tak the nychtis rest.10


And as I lukit on the lift me by,


All byrnand red gan walxin the evyn sky:


The son enfyrit haill, as to my sight,


Quhirlit about hys ball with bemys brycht,


Declynand fast towart the north in deid,15


And fyry Phlegon, his dun nychtis steid,


Dowkit hys hed sa deip in fludis gray


That Phebus rollis doun vndir hell away;


And Esperus in the west with bemys brycht


Vpspryngis, as forrydar of the nycht.20
[Pg 846]

Amyd the hawchis, and euery lusty vaill,


The recent dew begynnys doun to scaill,


To meys the byrnyng quhar the son had schyne,


Quhilk tho was to the neddir warld declyne:


At euery pilis poynt and cornys croppis5


The techrys stude, as lemand beryall droppis,


And on the hailsum herbis, cleyn but wedis,


Lyke cristal knoppis or smal siluer bedis.


The lyght begouth to quynchyng owt and faill,


The day to dyrkyn, declyne, and devaill;10


The gummys rysis, doun fallis the donk rym,


Baith heir and thar scuggis and schaddois dym:


Vpgois the bak with hir pelit ledderyn flycht,


The lark discendis from the skyis hycht,


Syngand hir complyng sang, eftir hir gys,15


To tak hir rest, at matyn hour to rys:


Owt our the swyre swymmys the soppis of myst,


The nycht furthspred hir cloke with sabill lyst,


That all the bewte of the fructuus feld


Was with the erthis vmbrage cleyn ourheld;20


Baith man and beste, fyrth, flude, and woddis wild,


Involuyt in tha schaddois warryn syld.


Still war the fowlis fleis in the air,


All stoir and catall seysit in thar lair,


And euery thing, quharso thame lykis best,25


Bownys to tak the hailsum nychtis rest


Eftir the days laubour and the heyt.


Closs warryn all and at thar soft quyet,


But sterage or removing, he or sche,


Owder best, byrd, fysch, fowle, by land or sey:30
[Pg 847]

And schortlie, euery thing that doith repare


In firth or feild, flude, forest, erth or ayr,


Or in the scroggis, or the buskis ronk,


Lakis, marrasis, or thir pulys donk,


Astabillit lyggis still to slepe, and restis;5


Be the smaill byrdis syttand on thar nestis,


The litill mygeis, and the vrusum fleys,


Laboryus emmotis, and the bissy beys;


Als weill the wild as the taym bestiall,


And euery othir thingis gret and small,10


Owtak the mery nychtgaill, Philomeyn,


That on the thorn sat syngand fra the spleyn.


Quhais myrthfull notis langyng fortil heir,


Ontill a garth vndir a greyn lawrer


I walk onon, and in a sege down sat,15


Now musyng apon this and now on that.


I se the poill, and eik the Vrsis brycht,


And hornyt Lucyne castand bot dym lycht,


Becaus the symmyr skyis schayn sa cleir;


Goldyn Venus, the mastres of the ȝeir,20


And gentill Jove, with hir participate,


Thar bewtuus bemys sched in blyth estait:


That schortly, thar as I was lenyt doun,


For nychtis silens, and this byrdis sovn,


On sleip I slaid: quhar sone I saw appeir25


Ane agit man, and said; quhat dois thou heir


Vndir my tre, and willyst me na gude?


Me thocht I lurkit vp vnder my hude


To spy this ald, that was als stern of spech


As he had beyn ane medicyner or lech;30
[Pg 848]

And weill persavit that hys weid was strange,


Tharto so ald, that it had not beyn change,


Be my consait, fully that fourty ȝeir,


For it was threidbair into placis seir:


Syde was this habyt, round, and closyng meit,5


That strekit to the grund doun our his feit;


And on his hed of lawrer tre a crown,


Lyke to sum poet of the ald fassoun.


Me thocht I said to hym with reuerens;


Fader, gif I haue done ȝou ony offens,10


I sall amend, gif it lyis in my mycht;


Bot suythfastly, gyf I haue perfyte sycht,


Onto my doym, I saw ȝou nevir ayr:


Fayn wald I wyt quhen, on quhat wys, or quhar,


Aganyst ȝou trespassit ocht haue I.15


Weill, quod the tother, wald thou mercy cry


And mak amendis, I sal remyt this falt;


Bot, other ways, that sete salbe full salt.


Knawis thou not Mapheus Vegius, the poet,


That onto Virgillis lusty bukis sweit20


The thretteyn buke ekit Eneadane?


I am the sammyn, and of the na thyng fayn,


That hes the tother twelf into thy toung


Translait of new, thai may be red and soung


Our Albyon ile into ȝour wlgar leid;25


Bot to my buke ȝit lyst the tak na heid.


Mastir, I said, I heir weill quhat ȝhe say,


And in this cace of perdon I ȝou pray:


Not that I haue ȝou ony thing offendit,


Bot rathir that I haue my tyme mysspendit,30
[Pg 849]

So lang on Virgillis volume forto stair,


And laid on syde full mony grave mater,


That, wald I now write in that trety more,


Quhat suld folk deym bot all my tyme forlore?


Als, syndry haldis, fader, trastis me,5


Ȝour buke ekit but ony necessite,


As to the text accordyng neuer a deill,


Mair than langis to the cart the fift quheill.


Thus, sen ȝhe beyn a cristyn man, at large


Lay na sik thing, I pray ȝou, to my charge;10


It may suffys Virgill is at ane end.


I wait the story of Jherom is to ȝou kend,


Quhou he was dung and best intill hys sleip,


For he to gentilis bukis gaif sik keip.


Full scharp repreif to sum is write, ȝe wist,15


In this sentens of the haly Psalmyst;


Thai ar corruppit and maid abhominabill


In thar studeyng thingis onprofitabill:


Thus sair me dredis I sal thoill a heit,


For the grave study I haue so long forleit.20


Ȝa, smy, quod he, wald thou eschape me swa?


In faith we sall nocht thus part or we ga!


Quhou think we he essonȝeis hym to astart,


As all for consciens and devoit hart,


Fenȝeand hym Jherom forto contyrfeit,25


Quhar as he lyggis bedovyn, lo, in sweit!


I lat the wyt I am nane hethyn wight;


And gif thou has afore tyme gayn onrycht,


Followand sa lang Virgill, a gentile clerk,


Quhy schrynkis thou with my schort cristyn wark?30
[Pg 850]

For thocht it be bot poetry we say,


My buke and Virgillis morall beyn, baith tway:


Len me a fourteyn nycht, how evir it be,


Or, be the faderis sawle me gat, quod he,


Thou salt deir by that evir thou Virgill knew.5


And, with that word, doun of the sete me drew:


Syne to me with hys club he maid a braid,


And twenty rowtis apon my riggyng laid,


Quhil Deo, Deo, mercy dyd I cry;


And, be my rycht hand strekit vp inhy,10


Hecht to translait his buke, in honour of God


And hys Apostolis twelf, in the numbir od.


He, glaid tharof, me be the hand vptuke;


Syne went away, and I for feir awoik,


And blent abowt to the north est weill far,15


Saw gentill Jubar schynand, the day star,


And Chiron, clepit the syng of Sagittary,


That walkis the symmyrris nycht, to bed gan cary.


Ȝondyr dovn dwynys the evyn sky away,


And vpspryngis the brycht dawyng of day20


Intill ane other place nocht far in sundir,


That to behald was plesans, and half wondir:


Furth quynchyng gan the starris, one be one,


That now is left bot Lucifer allone.


And forthirmor to blason this new day,25


Quha mycht discryve the byrdis blisfull bay?


Belyve on weyng the bissy lark vpsprang,


To salus the blyth morrow with hir sang:


Sone our the feildis schynys the lycht cleir,


Welcum to pilgrym baith and lauborer:30
[Pg 851]

Tyte on hys hynys gaif the greif a cry,


Awaik on fut, go till our husbandry;


And the hyrd callis furth apon hys page,


Do dryve the catall to thar pasturage:


The hynys wife clepis vp Katheryn and Gill;5


Ȝa, dame, said thai, God wait, with a gude will.


The dewy greyn, pulderit with daseis gay,


Schew on the swerd a cullour dapill gray;


The mysty vapouris spryngand vp full sweit,


Maist confortabill to glaid all manis spreit;10


Tharto, thir byrdis syngis in the schawys,


As menstralis playng, The joly day now dawys.


Than thocht I thus: I will my cunnand kepe,


I will not be a daw, I will not slepe,


I will compleit my promys schortly, thus15


Maid to the poet master Mapheus,


And mak vpwark heirof, and cloys our buke,


That I may syne bot on grave materis luke:


For, thocht hys stile be nocht to Virgill lyke,


Full weill I wayt my text sall mony like,20


Sen eftir ane my tung is and my pen,


Quhilk may suffys as for our wlgar men.


Quha evir in Latyn hes the bruyt or glor,


I speke na wers than I haue doyn before:


Lat clerkis ken the poetis different,25


And men onletterit to my wark tak tent;


Quhilk, as twiching this thretteynt buke infeir,


Begynnys thus, as furthwith followis heir.




[Pg 852]




 THE THRETTENE BUKE.


 CAP. I.




Rutilian pepill, eftir Turnus deces,


Obeys Eneas, and takis thame to hys pes.








As Turnus, in the lattir bargan lost


Venquyst in feild, ȝald furth the fleand gost,


This marciall prynce, this ryall lord Enee,


As victor full of magnanymyte,


Amyddis baith the rowtis baldly standis;5


That to behald hym apon athir handis


Astonyst and aghast war all hym saw.


And tho the Latyn pepill haill on raw


A fellon murnyng maid and wofull beir,


And gan devoid and hostit owt full cleir10


Deip from thar breistis the hard sorow smart,


With curage lost and doun smyttyn thar hart:


Lyke as the huge forest can bewaill


Hys granys doun bet and his branchis skaill,


Quhen thai beyn catchit and all to schakyn fast15


With the fell thud of the north wyndis blast.
[Pg 853]

For thai thar lancis fixit in the erd,


And lenys on thar swerdis with a rerd;


Thar scheldis of thar schuldris slang away,


That bargan and that weir fast wary thai,


And gan abhor of Mars the wild luf,5


Quhilk laitly thay desyrit and dyd appruf:


The brydyll now refus thai nocht to dre,


Nor ȝok thar nekkys in captiuite,


And to implor forgifnes of all greiff,


Quyet, and end of harmys and myscheif.10


As quhen that twa gret bullys on the plane


Togiddir rynnys in bittir gret bargane,


Thar lang debait mydland quhar thai stand


With large blude scheddyng on athir hand,


Quhill athir of thame onto the batalis fyne15


Hys awyn bestis and heyrdis doys inclyne:


Bot, gyf the prys of victory betydis


Till ony of thir twa on athir sydis,


Onon the catall, quhilkis favorit langer


The best ourcummyn as thar cheif and heir,20


Now thame subdewis vndir his ward inhy


Quhilk has the ovirhand wonnyn and mastry,


And of fre will, thocht thar myndis be thra,


Assentis him till obey: and evin rycht swa


The Rutilianys, all thocht the gret syte25


Thar breistis had bedowit and to smyte,


With gret effray of slauchter of thar duke,


Ȝit thocht thame levir, and haill to purpos tuke,


To follow and obey, for all thar harmys,


The gentill chiftane and bettir man of armys,30
[Pg 854]

And thame subdew to the Troian Enee,


And hym beseik of peax and amyte,


Of rest and quyet evirmar from the weir,


For thame, thar landis, moblis, and other geir.


Eneas tho with plesand voce furth braid,5


And, standand abuf Turnus, thus he said:


O Dawnus son, quhou com this hasty rage


Into thy breist with foly and dotage,


That thou mycht nocht suffir the Troianys,


Quhilkis at command of Goddis onto thir planys,10


And by power of hie Jove ar hiddir cary,


Within the bundis of Italy to tary,


And, all invane, thame so expellyng wald


Of thar land of behest and promyst hald?


Lern forto dreid gret Jove, and nocht gaynstand,15


And to fulfyll glaidly the Goddis command;


And for thar greif weill aucht we tobe war:


Sum tyme in ire will grow gret Jupiter,


And oft remembrans of the wikkit wraik


Solistis the Goddis tharof vengeans to take.20


Lo, now of all sik furour and effeir


The lattir meith and term is present heir,


Quhar thou aganyst resoun and equyte,


Aganyst lawte, and brokyn all vnyte


Of consideratioun sworn and bund or now,25


The Troian pepill sair trublit hes thow.


Behald and se the extreme fynale day,


To geif all otheris gud exempill for ay,


That it mot nevir lefull be agane


Tyll ony to contempne gret Jove invane,30
[Pg 855]

As forto rays with sik dreid and effeir


Sa onworthy motioun of wikkit weir.


Now beis glaid, bruke thyne armour but pled:


Allace, a nobill corps thou lyggis ded,


The gret Turnus! and, as to my demyng,5


Lavynya has the cost na litill thyng:


Nor thou na schame nedys thynk in na part,


That of Eneas hand thou kyllit art.


Now cumys heir Rutilianys, but delay,


The body of ȝour duke turs hyne away;10


I grant ȝou baith the armour and the man:


Hald on, and do tharto all that ȝe can,


As langis onto the honor of bereyng,


Or to bewail the deth of sik a kyng.


Bot the gret pasand gyrdill, and sik geir15


That Pallas, my deir frend, was wont to weir,


To Evander I will send, for tobe


Na litill solace to hym, quhen he sall se


Hys felloun fa is kyllit thus, and knaw,


Full glaid tharof, Turnus is brocht of daw.20


And netheles now, ȝe Italianys,


That otherwys be clepe Ausonyanys,


Ramembir heirof, and lern in tyme cummyng


With bettir aspectis and happy begynnyng


To move and tak on hand debait or weir:25


For, be the blyssit sternys brycht I sweir,


Neuir nane ostis nor ȝit armour glaidly


Aganyst ȝou in batal movit I;


Bot constrenyt by ȝour fury, as is kend,


With all my fors I set me to defend30
[Pg 856]

The Troian party and our awyn ofspryng,


As, lo, forsuyth this was bot lesum thing.


No mor Eneas said, bot tharwithall


Addressys hym towart hys cite wall,


And throu the feildis socht full joyusly5


To hys new Troian reset and herbry.


Sammyn hym followis all the rowt atanys,


The pissans haill and ȝynkeris of Tewcranys,


And our the planys, glaid and wondir lycht,


Thar swyft stedis, as the fowle at flycht,10


Throw speid of fut assays by and by,


And oft with bittir mouth dyd crying, fy!


And can accus the Latyn pepill all,


Oft fant folkis and sleuthfull dyd thame call;


That with thar rerd and bemyng, quhar thai fair,15


For the deray full heich dynnys the air.






 CAP. II.




Quhou Eneas, glaid of hys victory,


Lovyt the Goddis, and can thame sacryfy.








And thocht Ene the bissy thochtfull curis


Constrenyt has, as twychand sepulturis


Of hys folkis yslane, and bereyng,


With funeral fyre and flambis accordyng;20


Ȝit, netheles, in hys breist rollys and sterys


Ane grettar mater and largyar, as efferis.
[Pg 857]

For first the souerane honour, on thar gys,


On the altarys with detfull sacrifice


He ordand has, and than, fra hand to hand,


Eftir the ryte and vsans of thar land,


The ȝyng oxin gan thai steik and sla:5


Within thar tempill haue thai brocht alssua


The bustuus swyne, and the twynteris snaw quhite,


That with thar clovis can the erth smyte,


With mony palt scheddand thar purpour blude.


Furth haue thai rent thar entralis, full onrude,10


And gan denude and strippyn of thar hydis;


Syne hakkyn thame in talȝeis, and besydis


The hait flambis brochit hes thame laid.


And furth thai ȝet the wyne in cowpis glaid,


God Bachus giftis fast thai multiply:15


With platis full the altaris by and by


Thai can do charge, and wirschip with fat lyre;


The smelland sens vpblesis in the fyre.


Than throu that hald thai fest and mak gud cheir;


Vprays the mery rerd and joyus beir:20


Thai dyd extoll and lovyng with gret wondir


Gret Jupiter, the feirfull God of thundir,


And dame Venus thai wirschippit alsso,


And the, Saturnus douchter, queyn Juno,


Now pacifyit, and bettir than befor,25


Ane huge lawd thai ȝald to the tharfor;


And eik hym self Mars, the gret God of armys,


Thai magnyfy, as wrekar of thar harmys:


Syne haill the remanent of the cumpany


Of the Goddys thai name furth by and by,30
[Pg 858]

With hie vocis and with lowd cryis


Lovit and born vpheich abufe the skyis.


Befor thame all maste gracius Eneas


Hys handis twa, as tho the custum was,


Towart the hevyn gan vplift and arays,5


And syne the child Ascanyus dyd enbras,


Sayand a few wordis, that all mycht heir:


O thou my son and only child mast deir,


In quham only restis thy faderis beleve,


Quham throu samony laubouris of myscheve10


I careit haue, catchit full mony gatis


Be the hard fortoun and the frawart fatis,


Lo, now our rest and quyet fund for ay!


Lo, now the last and maist desyrit day,


To mak end of our harmys and distres!15


Our paynfull laubour passit is expres:


Lo, the acceptabill day for euermor,


Quhilk I full oft haue schawin the befor,


Quhen ontill hard bargan callit was I,


This was tocum and betyd by and by20


Be dispositioun of the Goddys abufe.


And now, my derrest child, for thy behufe,


To morn, soyn as Aurora walxis red,


To the cite of Lawrent, that ryall sted,


I sall the send, as victor with ovirhand,25


Tobe mastir and to maynteym this land.


And eftir this he turnyt hym agane


Onto hys folkis and the pepill Troian,


And from the boddum of hys breist weill law


With soft spech furth gan thir wordis draw:30
[Pg 859]

O ȝe my ferys and my frendis bald,


Throu mony hard perrellis and thikfald,


Throw sa feill stormys baith on land and se


Hiddir now careit to this cost with me,


Throu sa gret fervour of batall into stowr,5


And dowbill fury of weirfar in armour,


Be sa feill wynteris blastis and tempestis,


By all ways noysum and onrestis,


And all that horribill was, or ȝit hevy,


Wofull, hydduus, wikkyt, or onhappy,10


Or ȝit cruell or myschews; now stad


In bettir hoip, return ȝour mynd, beys glaid:


Now is the end of all ennoy and wo,


The term is cumyn, heir sall thai stynt, and ho:


And, lyke as we desyrit for the best,15


With Latyn pepill in ferm peax and rest


We sall conioyn, and leif in vnite;


And Lavinia, of that ilk blude, quod he,


Quham I defendit haue in strang bargan,


Of Troian kyn, with blude Italian20


Sammyn mydlit, to me as spous in hy


Sal ȝeld lynnage to ryng perpetualy.


A thing, my fallowis and my frendis deir,


I ȝou besekyng, and I ȝou requer;


Bair ȝour myndis equale, as all anys,25


And common frendis to the Italianys,


And to my fader in law, the kyng Latyn,


Obeis all, and with reuerens inclyn:


Ane myghty ceptre and riall beris he:


This is my mynd, this is my will, perde.30
[Pg 860]

Bot into batale and douchty dedis of armys,


Ȝou forto wreke and revenge of ȝour harmys,


Lern forto follow me, and tobe meik,


Ȝhe contyrfyt my reuth and piete eik.


Quhat glor is ws betyd full weill is knaw:5


Bot the heich hevyn and starris all I draw


To witnessyng, that I, the sammyn wight


Quhilk ȝou deliuerit hes into the fight


From sa huge harmys and myschevis seir,


I sall ȝou seys and induce now, but weir,10


In far largyar rewardis myghtyly,


And ȝou rendir ȝour desert by and by.


With sik wordis gan he thame comfortyng,


And in his mynd full mony syndry thyng


Of chancis bipast rollyng to and fro,15


Thynkand quhou he is brocht to rest alsso


With na litill laubouris, sturt, and panys;


And with excedand luf of the Troianys


Full ardently he flowis all of joy,


Glaid at the last from danger and ennoy,20


So huge and hevy perrellis mony fald,


Thai war eschapit, and brocht to sovir hald.


Lyke as quhen that the gredy gled on hycht


Scummand vp in the ayr oft turnys hys flycht,


With felloun fard wachand the chiknys lyte,25


Thar deth mannasand, reddy forto smyte:


The cristit fowle, thar moder, tho full smert


For hyr pullettis, with harmys at hir hart,


Affrait gretly of thar wofull chance,


Gan rax hir self and hir curage avans,30
[Pg 861]

Forto resist hir fa scharpand hir byll,


And with haill fors, and mycht, and egir will,


Apon hir aduersar baldly settis sche,


Quhill, at the last, to gif the bak and fle


With mekill payn and verray violens5


Scho hym constrenys, and to pyk hym thens:


Hyr byrdis syne, clokkand, scho sekis on raw,


And all affrait dois thame sammyn draw,


Ennoyt gretly for hir childir deir;


And quhen thai beyn assemlit all infeir,10


Than glaid scho worthis, and thar meyt gan scrape,


For that thai haue sa gret perrell eschape.


Nane other wys, the son of Anchises


With frendly wordis thus amyd the pres


The Troian myndis gan meys and asswage,15


As man fulfillit of wit and vassalage,


Dryvand furth of thar hartis all on flocht


The ald dreid and byrnand hevy thocht,


That weill thame lykis now thar joy and eys


At last fundyn eftir sa lang diseys;20


And it that layt tofor was tedyus


To suffir or sustene, and ennoyus,


Now to ramember the sammyn, or rehersyng,


Doys to thame solace, comfort, and lykyng:


Bot maist of all onto the gret Ene,25


Quhilk in excelland vertu and bonte


Excedit all the remanent a far way;


And for sa feill dangeris and mony affray


The Goddis power and mychty maieste


With gyftis gret and offerandis wirschippis he;30
[Pg 862]

Eyk Jupiter, the fader of Goddis and kyng,


Gan to extoll with maist souerane lovyng.






 CAP. III.




Quhou Turnus folkis for hym maid sair regrait,


And kyng Latyn contempnys his wrachit estait.








In the meyn tyme the Rutilianys ichone


The gret ded corps reuthfull and wobegone


Of thar duke Turnus, slayn, as said is air,5


Within the cite of Laurentum bair,


With mekill murnyng in thar myndis enprent,


And from thar eyn a large schour furth sent


Of teris gret, as thocht the hevyn dyd rayn,


And far on breid dyd fyll the erys twayn10


Of kyng Latyn with cry and womentyng,


That al to irkyt was the nobill kyng,


And in his breist, the self tyme, in ballance


Was rollyng mony diuers selcouth chance.


Bot quhen he hard thar lowd womentyng15


Incressyng mair and mair, and Turnus ȝyng


With sa grysly a wond throw gyrd hes seyn,


Than mycht he nocht fra terys hym conteyn;


And syne this rowt, sa tryst and wobegone,


Full curtesly chargis be still onon,20


Baith with hys hand and wordis in his presens


Inionyt has and commandit thame silens.
[Pg 863]

Lyke as quhen that the fomy bair hes bet


With his thunderand awfull tuskis gret,


Throw owt the cost and eik the entralis all,


Ane of the rowt, the hund maste principall;


Than the remanent of that questing sort,5


For this onsilly chance effrait, at schort


Withdrawys, and about the master hunteir


With quhyngeand mouthis quakand standis for feir,


And with gret ȝowlyng doith compleyn and meyn:


Bot quhen thar lord rasys hys hand bedeyn,10


And byddys ces, thai hald thar mowthis still,


Thar quhyngng and thar questyng at his will


Refrenys, and all clos gan thame withhald:


The sammyn wys thir Rutilianys, as he wald,


Gan at command debait thar voce and ces,15


To heir the kyngis mynd, and held thar pes.


Than thus, wepyng, from hys hart ruyt waill law


The kyng Latyn begouth thir wordis schaw:


O quhou gret motioun, quhat alteryng onstabill,


Quhou oftsys interchangit and variabill20


Beyn the actis and dedis of man! quod he.


With quhou gret trubill, but tranquylyte,


Is quhirlit abowt the lyfe of man, behald!


O dampnabill pryde and ambitioun, that wald


Bruke crovn or ceptre, prowd in thyne entent,25


Quhilk beyn sa fragill, and not permanent!


O fury, O lust, that beyn our gretumly


Bred in our brestis, to covat senȝeory!


Thou blynd desyre insaciabill, may not tary,


Our mortal myndis quhidder doith thou cary?30
[Pg 864]

O glory and renoun of loys, in vayn


Conquest with sa feill perrellis and huge pane,


To quhat conditioun or to quhat estait


Thou sterys furth thir provd myndis inflait!


Quhou mony slichtis and dissatis quent5


With the thou tursis! quhou mony ways to schent,


Quhou feill maneris of deth and of distres,


Quhou feill tormentis, gret harm, and wikkytnes!


Quhou mony dartis, quhou feill swerdis keyn,


Gyf thou beheld, thou hes befor thyne eyn!10


Allace! thou sweit vennom schawis, and ȝit


This warldly wirschip hes the dedly byt.


Allace! the sorofull reward in all thyng


Of realmys, and thame covatis forto ryng,


Quhilk costis oft na litill thing, but weir.15


Allace! the hevy byrdyng of warldly geir,


That nevir hour may suffir nor permyt


Thar possessour in rest nor peax to syt.


Allace! the miserabill chance and hard estait


Of kyngly honour sa mysfortunate:20


The chance of kyngis standis onderlowt,


To mekill dreid ay subiect, and in dowt


From thar estait to dekey suddanly,


That all quyet and eys is thame deny.


O Turnus, quhat avalit the to steir25


In huge bargan so and feir of weir


All Italy with sik deray atanys,


And to perturbe the strang Eneadanys,


Constrenyng thame hard batal to assay?


Or quhat avalis now, I pray the say,30
[Pg 865]

Fortill haue brokkyn, violate, or schent,


The haly promys and the bandis gent


Of peax and concord oblisit and sworn?


Quhou was thi mynd to rent and all to torn


With samekill impaciens on this wys,5


That the lyst move the weir, but myne avys,


With tha pepill, sa strang, bald, and sage,


That beyn discendit of the Goddys lynnage,


And at command of Jove the God of thundir


Ar hyddir careit? and forto mak sic blundir,10


That wilfully, but motyve, so belyve


Enforsyt the thame from our cost to dryve?


And forto brek the band that promyst we


Of our douchtir till our gude son Ene?


And with thy hand hard bargan rays and steir,15


Quhen I planely denyit to move weir?


Quhou was sa gret foly and dotage


Involuyt in thy mynd with fury rage?


Quhou oft, quhen thou to awfull batale wend


Amyd thy rowtis, and on thy steid ascend,20


In schynand armour arrayt all at rycht,


I assayt the to withdraw from fycht!


And feill tymys defendit the and forbad


To go the way that thou begunnyn had;


And all efferit, quhen thou wald depart,25


Amyd the ȝet the stoppit with sair hart!


Bot all for nocht; no thyng mycht styntyng the.


Quhat I haue sufferit sen syne, quhou standis with me,


Our cyte wallys wytnessyng fut het,


With tenementis and biggyngis half doun bet,30
[Pg 866]

And the large feldis strowit quhite of banys,


And haill the pissans of Italianys


All wastit and distroyit thus, alake!


The huge slauchtir and myschews wrake,


And all the fludis walxyn red or brovn5


Of mannys quelling gret and occisioun,


The lang abasit quakyng feirfull dreid,


And hard laubour, quhilk in extreme neid


I in myne age sa oft hes ondertane,


In sa feill dangeris quhar remed was nane.10


Bot now, Turnus, heir thou lyggis ded:


Quhar is the nobill renovn of thy ȝouthed?


And quhar is thyne excellent hie curage?


Quhiddir is went thy strenth and vassallage?


Quhar is the staitly bewty of thy face?15


Quhar is thy schynand figur now, allace!


Of thy fair vissage quhidder ar gone, but weir,


Thy plesand forret schaply and eyn cleir?


Ha, quhou feill terys and wofull dolouris smart


Sall thou, Turnus, rendir to Dawnus hart!20


And with quhou large wepyng, duyll, and wa,


Ourfleit sal all the cite of Ardea!


Bot thai sal nocht behald the with sik lak


Throu gyrd with schamefull wond caucht in the bak,


Ne noyt the of na cowardys in thar mynd,25


Nor that thou was degenerit owt of kynd;


And to thy wofull fader, will of red,


At lest this salbe solace of thy ded,


All thocht thy harmys doith hym soir smart,


That gret Eneas swerd hes persyt thy hart.30
[Pg 867]

And, sayand thus, with terys of piete


Hys chekis baith and face ourchargit he:


Syne, turnand hym towart the mekill rowt,


The reuthfull corps of this ilk Turnus stowt


Bad turs away, and cary furth onon5


Ontill hys faderis cite wobygone;


And commandit to do the body cald


All funerall pomp, eftir the vsage ald.






 CAP. IV.




Quhou Turnus corps till Ardea was sent,


Quhilk was by suddand fyre brynt down and schent.








The Rutilianys onon all in a rowt


This ded corps, that slayn lay, start abowt:10


The gentill body of this stowt ȝongkeir


Thai haue addressit, and laid on a rich beir;


And with hym eik feill takynnys by the way,


Reft from Troianys in the bargan, bair thai,


Baith helmys, hors, swerdis, and other geir,15


Scheildis, gittarnys, and mony stalwart speir.


Syne eftir this hys wery cart furth went,


Of Troian slauchter and hait blude all bysprent.


Furth haldis wepand Metiscus, the carter,


As he that in the craft was not to leir,20


Ledand the steid bedowyn all of swete,


And chekis wait of flotterand terys grete;
[Pg 868]

Quhilk steid had careit Turnus oft tofor


As victor hame with gret triumphe and glor


Full pompusly, apon ane other wys,


Eftir fervent slauchter of his ennymys.


Ȝondir otheris, about hym inveroun,5


Baris thar armour and scheildis turnyt dovn;


The remanent syne of the haill barnage


Followys wepand, knycht, swane, man, and page,


With habundans of mony trigland teyr


Wetand thar brestis, wedis, and other geir:10


And thus wery furth went thai euery wycht


Amyd the dirk silens of the nyght,


Betand thame self with wondir drery cheir.


And kyng Latyn, with all thame with hym wer,


Towart hys palyce gan return onon,15


With mynd trublit, trist, and wobygone,


For sa excelland ded corps as was slane;


Terys all sammyn furth ȝettis euery ane,


Baith agit men, matronys, and childer lyte,


The cite fyllis with womentyng and syte.20


Dawnus, hys fader, na wys wittand tho


He suld remane to se sik duyll and wo,


Nor that his son hys stalwart spreit had ȝald,


And maid end in the lattir bargan bald,


That thus was brocht to tovn ded by his feris25


With sik plente of bittir wepand terys;


The sammyn tyme with othir dyseys was socht,


At mekill sad dolour and hevy thocht.


For, as the Latyn pepill war ourset


Into batall by Troianys, and dovn bet,30
[Pg 869]

And Turnus be his hait and recent ded


Had with bys blude littit the grond all red,


A suddan fyre within the wallys hie


Ombeset halyly Ardea cite:


The biggyng of this fader wobegon,5


Brynt and doun bet, of reky flammys schone,


And all returnys intill assys red;


The fyry sparkis into euery sted


Twynkland vpspringis to the starnys on hie,


That now na hope of help may fundyn be:10


Quhidder so it was onto the Goddis lykyng,


Or that the fatis befor list schaw sum syng


Of Turnus deth, in horribill batal slane.


And quhen the pepill saw remed was nane,


Belyfe the wofull trublit citesanys,15


Thar drery brestis betand all atanys,


Gan fast bewaill with petuus wepand face


Of this onhappy chance the wrachit cace;


In lang rabill the wemen and matronys


With all thar fors fled reuthfully atonys20


From the bald flammys and brym blesys stowt.


And lyke as that of emottis the blak rowt,


That ithandly laubouris and byssy be,


Had beldit, vnder the ruyt of a heich tre,


Intill a clift thar byke and duellyng sted,25


To hyd thar langsum wark and wyntry bred:


Gyf so betyde thai feill the ax smyte


Apoun the treis schank, and tharon byte,


So that the crop doun weltis to the grund,


That with the felloun rusch and grysly sound30
[Pg 870]

Thar small cavernys all to brok and rent is;


Than spedely this litill rowt furth sprentis


All will of red, fleand thai wait nocht quhar,


Tursand thar byrdyngis affraytly heir and thar:


Or lyke as that on the hous syde the snaill,5


Schakand hir coppit schell, or than hir taill,


Fleand the byrnand heit that scho doith feill,


A lang tyme gan do wrassill and to wreill,


Thristand fast with hir feit onto the wall,


And ȝit hir hed with fors and strenthis all10


Frawart the fervent flammys fast withdrawys;


Scho scaldis, and with mony wrikis and thrawys


Presys forto eschew the feirfull heit:


Nane other wys in sa feill perrellis gret


Thir woful citesanys gan thame self slyng,15


Ruschand with trublit mynd intill a lyng


Baith heir and thar, and wist not quhar away.


Bot maist of all, allace! and weil away!


With reuthfull vocis cryand to the hevyn,


The agit kyng Dawnus with wofull stevyn20


Gan on the Goddis abuf clepe and call.


And tho amyd the flambis furth with all


Ardea the fowll, quham a heron clepe we,


Betand hir weyngis, thai behaldyn fle


Furth of the fyre heich vp in the air,25


That baith the name and takyn our alquhar


Baris of this cite Ardea the ald;


Quhilum with wallis and towris hie ontald


Stud weirly wrocht, as strenth of gret defens,


That now is changit and full quyte goyn hens,30
[Pg 871]

With weyngis wyde fleand baith vp and doun,


Now bot a fowle, was ayr a ryall tovn.


Astonyst of this nyce and new cace,


And of the wonderus mervellis in that place,


Quhilk semyt no thing litill fortobe,5


As thocht thai send war by the Goddis hie,


The pepill all confusyt still dyd stand,


Thir byrdyngis on thar schuldris caryand,


And movit nowthyr fut, tung, nor mouth:


And kyng Dawnus, for this affray onkouth,10


With ardent luf smyttin and hait desyre


Of hys cheif sete distroyt and brynt in fyre,


The hard dolour and the sorow smert


Haldis full clos, deip gravyn in hys hart.






 CAP. V.




Fra that Dawnus his son Turnus saw ded,


Huge lamentatioun maid he in that sted.








Amyd all this deray and gret effeir,15


Fame, of dyseys forrydar and messynger,


Com hurland with huge movyng fast to tovn,


And with large clamour fyllys inveroun


Thar myndis all; quhou ane ded corps new than


Was cumand at hand, with mony wofull man,20


And Turnus lyfles laid with mortal wond,


In feld discomfist, slane, and brocht to grund.
[Pg 872]

Than euery wight, trublit and wobegone,


The blak blesand fyre brandis mony one,


As was the gys, hes hynt into thar handis;


Of schynand flammys glitteris all the landis:


Thus thai recuntyrrit thame that cumand weir,5


And sammyn jonyt cumpaneis in feir.


Quham alsfast as the matronys gan espy,


Thai smait thar handis, and rasyt vp a cry,


That to the sternys went thar wofull beir.


Bot fra Dawnus the corps of hys son deir10


Beheld, he gan stynt and arrest hys pais:


And syne, half deill enragit, in a rays,


With huge sorow smyte, in ruschis he


Amyd the rowt, that reuth was forto se,


And apon Turnus corps hym strekis doun,15


Enbrasyng it ongrouf all in a swoun;


And, alsfast as he spek mycht, hes furth braid


With wordis lamentabill, and thus wys he said:


Son, the dyseys of thy fader thus drest,


And of my febill eild the reuthfull rest20


Now me byreft, quhy hes thou so, allace!


Into sa gret perrellys and in sik cace


Me catchit thus, and dryve quhidder? quod he;


And vndir cruell bargan, as I may se,


Now fynaly thus venquyst and ourcum,25


Quhar is thy worthy valour now becum?


Quhar hes the douchty constans of thy spreit


Me careit thus from rest and all quyet?


Is this the notabill honour and lovyng


Of thy manhed, and glory of thy ryng?30
[Pg 873]

Is this the gret wyrschip of thyne empyre?


O my deir son, quhilum thou bald syre,


Bryngis thou ws hame sikkyn triumphe as this?


Is this the rest and eys thou dyd promys


To thy fader, sa tryst and wobegone,5


And oft ourset with ennemys mony one?


Is this the meith, and finale term or end


Of all laubouris, as we desyrit and wend?


O ways me, wrachit and wofull wyght!


Quhou hastely doun fallyn from the hight10


Thir slyddir warldly chancis dryvis fast!


With quhou gret fard ourrollyt and down cast


So hastely beyn thir fatis, behald!


He that was laitly sa stowt, heich, and bald,


Renownyt with gret honour of chevelry,15


And haldyn gret throu owt all Italy,


Quham the Troianys sa awfull felt in armys,


And dred sa oft hys furour, wrocht thame harmys:


Myne awyn Turnus, lo now apon sik wys


Ane lamentabill and wofull corps thou lyis:20


Now dum and spechles that hed liggis thar,


Quhilum in all Italy none sa fair,


Nor nane mair gracius into eloquens,


Nor nane so byg but harnes, nor at defens!


Son, quhar is now thy schynand lustyhed,25


Thy fresch figour, thy vissage quhite and red,


Thy plesand bewte, and thyne eyn twane


With thar sweit blenkand lukis mony ane,


Thy gracyus glitterand semly nek lang,


Thy vocis sovn, quhilk as a trumpet rang?30
[Pg 874]

The glor of Mars in batale or in stowr


Is conquest with sik aventouris sowr.


Had thou sic wyll thy selvyn to submyt


To fervent bargan, and to dedis byt,


Quhen thou departit of this sted fra me,5


Forto return with sik pompe as we se?


O haitfull deth! that only, quhar thou lykis,


With thy revengeabill wapynnys sa sair strikis,


That thou thir prowd myndis brydill may;


To all pepill elyke and common ay10


Thou haldis evyn and baris thi ceptre wand,


Eternaly observand thy cunnand,


Quhilk gret and small doun thryngis, and nane rakkis,


And stalwart folkis to febill equale makkis.


The common pepill with the capitanys,15


And ȝouth and age assemblys baith attanys.


Allace, detestabill deth, dyrk and obscur!


Quhat chance onworthy or mysaventur


Hes the constrenyt my child me to byreif,


And with a cruell wond thus ded to leif?20


O systir Amata, happy queyn, quod he,


Be glaid of sa thankfull chance hes hapnyt the,


And of thyne awyn slauchtir be blith in hart,


Quharby thou has sa gret dolour astart,


And fled sa huge occasions of myscheif,25


Sa hard and chargeand huge wo and greif!


O Goddis abuf, quhat ettill ȝe mor to do


Onto me wrachit fader? sen ellys, lo,


My son ȝhe haue byreft, and Ardea


My cite, into flambis brynt, alssua30
[Pg 875]

Consumyt is, and turnyt in assis red,


With weyngis fleys a fowle in euery sted.


Bot ha, Turnus! mar trist and wo am I


For thy maste petuus slauchter sa bludy:


Wantit this last myschance ȝit or sik thing5


To thyne onweldy fader, auld Dawnus kyng.


Bot sikkyrly, with sic conditioun ay


Thir warldly thingis turnys and writhis away,


That quham the furyus fortoun lyst infest,


And eftir lang quyet bryng to onrest,10


Brayand apon that catyve for the nanys,


With all hir fors assalȝeis scho attanys,


And, with all kynd of torment, in hir greif


Constrenys hym with stundys of myscheif.


This said he, wepand sadly, as man schent,15


With large flude of teris hys face bysprent,


Drawand the sobbys hard and sychis smart,


Throw rageand dolour, deip owt from hys hart:


Lyke so as quhar Jovis byg fowle, the ern,


With hir strang tallonys and hir punsys stern20


Lychtyng, had claucht the litill hynd calf ȝyng,


Torryng the skyn, and maid the blude owt spryng:


The moder, this behaldand, is all ourset


With sorow, for slauchter of hir tendir get.




[Pg 876]




 CAP. VI.




Kyng Latyn till Eneas send message


For peax, and eyk hys douchteris mariage.








The nixt day followyng with hys bemys brycht


The warld on breid illumnyt hes of lycht:


The kyng Latinus tho seand, but let,


Italyanys discumfyt and ourset


By the fatale aventour of weir,5


And weill persavit quhou and quhat maner


The fortoun haill turnyt to strang Enee;


And in hys mynd revoluyt eik hes he


The huge dowt of batall and deray,


Full mony feirfull chance and gret effray,10


Hys consideratioun and hys sworn band,


The wedlok promyst, and the ferm cunnand,


And spousal of hys douchtir hecht withall:


Of all the rowt ontill hym gart he call


A thousand worthy men walit at rycht,15


The quhilkis the Troian duke and dowchty knycht,


Quham he desyrit, suld convoy to town:


In robbys lang also, or traill syde govn,


With thame he jonyt oratouris infeir,


And to thame gaif feill strait commandis seir:20


And forthir eik, quhen thai depart can,


Of hys fre will thame chargit euery man,


That, sen be favouris and admonysyngis


Of the Goddis, be mony feirfull syngis,
[Pg 877]

Expedient it was the kyn Troian


Conioyn and myddill with blude Italian;


At tharfor glaidly to thame gang wald thai,


And with gud willis vissy, and assay


Forto convoy the said Eneadanys5


With joy within hys hie wallys attanys.


In the myd quhile, hym self full bissy went,


The cite, quhilk was disarayt and schent,


To put to poynt and ordinans agane,


And the onweldy common pepill ilkane10


To caus adres eftir thar faculte;


Thar myndis mesys and estabillis he,


And gan thame promys rest in tyme cummyng,


And quhou, within schort tyme, he suld thame bring


Intyll eternall peax for evirmar.15


Syne chargit he the pepill our alquhar,


In joy, blithnes, solace, and deray,


Tryumphe to mak, with myrth, game, and play.


As was accordyng, and in lugyngis hie


Thar kyngly honour and sport ryall tobe;20


And merely commandis man and page,


With ane assent, blith wlt, and glaid vissage,


Hys gud son thai suld do welcum and meit,


And with hail hart ressaue apon the streit


The Troian pepill, festand thame in hy25


With glaid semlant, ryot, and melody;


And to furthschaw seir takynnys of kyndnes,


And of new peax so lang disirit soles.


Be this the rowt, as thai instrukkit wer,


In full gude rewle and ordinans infeir30
[Pg 878]

Ar entrit in the Troianys new cite,


And on thar hed garlandis of olyve tre;


Peax thai besocht as cheif of thar message.


Quham gentill Eneas, euery man and page,


Within hys palys ryall to presens5


Chargit convoy, and gafe thame audiens,


And of thar cummyng the causys and maner


With vissage full debonar dyd inqueir.


Than the agit Drances with curage hoyt


Begowth the first hys toung forto noyt,10


As he that was baith glaid, joyfull, and gay


For Turnus slauchter, that tho was doyn away:


And thus he said; O gentill duyk Troian,


Ferm hope and glory of the pepill Phrigian,


To quham of piete and dedis of armys fair15


In all the warld thar may be na compair;


We venquyst folkis to witnessyng doith call,


And by the Goddis sweris and Goddessis all,


Contrar hys willis sair the kyng Latyn


Beheld the gret assemly and convyn20


Of the Italyanys and folk of Latyn land:


Agane his stomak eyk, I bair on hand,


Owtragyusly the contract is ybrokkyn,


Ne nevir he in deid nor word hes spokkyn


That mycht the Troian honour trubbill ocht;25


Bot far rathar, baith in deid and thocht,


Sen that the Goddis responsis swa hes tald,


The weddyng of hys douchter grant ȝou wald,


And with full gret desyre, full weill I knaw,


Oft covat ȝou tobe hys son in law.30
[Pg 879]

For, all the brek and sterage that hes beyn


In feir of weir and burnyst armour keyn,


With sa gret rage of laubour and of payn,


The wild fury of Turnus, now lyis slayn,


Inflambit with the stang of wikkytnes,5


And infekkit with hie haitrent expres,


Hes brocht on hand, and movit sa to steir;


Agane thar will to rays batale and weir


The Latyn pepill constrenyng by and by,


Quhilk thai playnly refusyt and gan deny:10


Hym all the ost, turnand bakwart agane,


Besocht to ces, and draw fra the bargane,


And suffir the gret Anchises son of Troy


Hys wedlok promyst enioys but ennoy.


Syne the maist nobill kyng Latyn, full fayn15


Hym forto breke and to withdraw agane,


Hys auld onweldy handis twa dyd hald,


Hym to requir hys purpos stynt he wald;


For weill he saw, in our ardent desyre


Of the bargan he scaldit hait as fyre:20


Bot all our prayeris and requestis kynd


Mycht nowder bow that dowr mannys mynd,


Nor ȝit the takynnys and the wondris seir


From Goddis send with dyvyne ansuer,


Bot that evir mor and mor fersly he25


Furth spowtit fyre, prouocand the melle.


And, for syk succudrus ondertakyng now,


Hys awin myscheif, weill worthy to allow,


He fundyn hes; quhilk finaly, on the land


Thou beand victour with the ovirhand,30
[Pg 880]

Hym bet to grond hes maid do gnaw and byte


The blak erd intill hys mortall syte.


Now lat that ilk rahatour wend inhy


The blak hellys byggyngis to vissy,


Vndir the drery deip flude Acheron;5


Lat hym go sers, sen he is thiddir gone,


Other ostis or barganys in hys rage,


And als ane other maner of mariage.


Thou, far bettir, and gret deill worthiar


To bair the riall ceptyr, and tobe ayr,10


Succeid to realm and heritage sall


Of Lawrent cuntre with the moblys all:


In the alhaill the hows of kyng Latyn,


And hys onweldy age, lyke to declyne,


Hys hope and all beleif restis in the;15


And the only Italianys all, said he,


Abufe the schynand sternys, as gold brycht,


Full wylfull ar fortill vphie on hycht;


As maste excelland worthy weryour


Thai the extoll in batale and in stowr,20


Thy hevynly armour eik, with lowd stevin,


And thy verray renoun syngis to the hevyn.


The graue faderis of consale venerabill


In thar digest decretis sage and stabill,


The ancyent pepill onweldy for age,25


The glaid ȝong gallandis stalwart of curage,


The lusty matronys newfangill of sik thyng,


Wenschys onwed, and litill childryn ȝyng,


All, with a voce and haill assent at accord,


Desyris the as for thar prynce and lord,30
[Pg 881]

And joyus ar that into feild, fut het,


Vndir thy wapynnys Turnus lyis doun bet:


The all Itaill, clepit Ausonya,


Besekis heirof, and forthirmor alssua


Doith the extoll maste worthy, wys, and wight;5


In the only returnyt is thar syght:


The kyng hym self Latinus, now full ald,


Hys ancient onweldy lyfe to hald,


Hes only this beleif and traste, quod he,


That he hys douchter may do wed with the,10


Quhilk of kyn, successioun, and lynnage,


Be that ilk souerane band of mariage,


Of Troian and Italian blude discend


Sall childryng furth bryng, quhill the warldis end


Perpetualy to ryng in hie impyre.15


Tharfor haue doyn, cum on thou gudly syre,


Thou gret ledar of the Troian rowt,


Cum entyr in our weirly wallys stowt;


Ressaue this worthy notabill fair proffyr,


And saisyn tak of honouris quhilkis we offir.20


Thus endit he; and all the remanent


Intill a voce sammyn gave thar consent:


Quham the reuthfull Eneas with glaid cheir


Ressauyt hes full tendyrly infeir;


And, in few wordis and a frendly mynd25


Thame ansuerand, he carpys on this kynd.


Not ȝou, nor ȝit the kyng Latyn, but les,


That wont was forto ryng in plesand pes,


Will I argew of this maner offens:


For suyth I wait, the wilfull violens30
[Pg 882]

Of Turnus all that gret wark brocht abowt;


And I am sovir eik, and owt of dowt,


Sa gret danger of batale it was he


Provokit swa, and movit to melle,


For ȝyng desyre of hie renown, perfay,5


And loys of prowes mair than I byd say.


And netheles, quhou evir it be, I wys,


This spowsage Italian, at me promyst is,


Ne will I not refuys on nakyn wys,


Nor forto knyttyng vp, as ȝhe devys,10


This haly peax with frendly allyans,


With etern concord, but disseuerans.


The sam kyng Latyn, my gud fader ald,


Sall hys impyre and venerabill ceptour hald,


And I Troian for me vp in this feild15


Ane new resset and wight wallys sall beld,


Quhilk cite sall ressaue hys douchteris naym;


And my Goddis domesticall, that fra haym


With me I brocht, I sall with ȝou conioyn;


In concord and in vnyte all commoun,20


In tyme tocum sammyn athir falloschip


Vndir a law sall leif in gret frendschip.


In the meyn tyme go to, and speid ws soyn


Onto our wark that restis ȝit ondoyn,


And lat ws byrn the bodeis, and bery eft,25


Quham the hard wofull rage hes ws byreft,


And into batale kyllyt lyis ded:


Syne, tomorn ayrly, as the son worthis red,


And with hys cleir days lyght doyth schyne,


Blithly we seik to cyte Lawrentyne.30
[Pg 883]

Thus said he; and the Latynys, quhill he spak,


With vissage still beheld hym stupifak,


Of hys wys gracius answeris wonderand all,


And of sik wordis debonar in speciall;


Mayr evidently gan mervell he and he5


Of hys gret warkis of reuth and sik piete:


Belyve, with all thar forcis, euery wyght


Weltis doun treys grew full hie on hycht,


And hastely togiddir gadderit has


In hepys gret, the funerall fyre to rays,10


And thar abuf thar citeȝanys hes laid,


Vndir quham syne thai set in blesys braid:


The flambe and reik vpglydis in the ayr,


That of the laithly smokis heir and thar


The hevyn dyrknyt and the firmament.15


Thai hynt from all the feildis adiacent


Innumerabill rowch twyntir scheip syne,


And of thir akcorn swellyaris, the fat swyne;


And tydy ȝyng oxin steik thai fast,


And in the funerall fyris dyd thame cast:20


The large planys schynys all of lycht,


And, throw thir hait scaldand flambys brycht,


Stude blowt of bestis, and of treys bair:


With huge clamour smyt, dyndillit the ayr.




[Pg 884]




 CAP. VII.




Quhou king Latinus metis with Eneas keyn,


And frendly talking was thir twa betweyn.








Be this the schynand secund days lyght


Vprasit Phebus with goldyn bemys brycht:


Than all the Troianys and Ausonyanys,


Full blithly in a rowt assemblit attanys,


Montit on hors, and held thar ways syne5


Onto the mastir cite Lawrentyne,


With wallys hie and biggingis weirly maid.


Befor thame all rewthfull Eneas raid;


And nixt per ordour Drances, that to the kyng


As agit man carpis of mony thyng;10


Syne come hys only child Ascanyus,


That otherwys was clepyt Julus;


Nixt hym Alethes, with mynd full digest,


Grave Ilyoneus, Mnestheus, and stern Serest;


Syne followys thame the forcy Sergestus,15


Gyas alsso, and stalwart Cloanthus:


Eftir quham, mydlit sammyn, went arayn


The other Troianys and folk Italian.


In the meyn quhile the Latyn citeȝanys


Without thar wallys ischit furth atanys,20


That with gret lawd, in mych solempnyte


And triumphe ryall has ressauyt Enee.


Be this thai cummyn war onto the town;


Quham with blith front, to meyt thame reddy bown,
[Pg 885]

The kyng Latyn with huge cumpany


Thame welcumis and festis by and by.


And fra that he beheld amyd the rowt


Eneas cumand, the Dardan capitan stowt,


Hys verray figur dyd hym nocht dissaue;5


For, quhar he went, excellent all the lave


And hyear far a gret deill semys he,


That far on breid his ryall maieste


And pryncely schynand countenans dyd appeir.


And quhen that he cummyn was so neir10


That athir gudly to othir speke mycht,


And heir the wordis carpyt apon hycht,


And, lyke as thai desyrit, on the land


To lap in armys, and adion hand in hand;


The kyng Latinus, as a curtas man,15


With glaid semblant thus first to speke began:


Weill be ȝe cummyn finaly, Enee,


And the ferm hope hes not dissavit me


Of my desyrus mynd, now full of joy;


O schynand gloryus light to folkis of Troy!20


Quham the command of the gret Goddis mycht,


Throu sa feill chancis catchit and evill dycht,


In Italy within our boundis plane


Hes destinat and ordanyt to remane:


All thocht that manis wanton willfull offens,25


Be our malapert and ondantit licens,


In thar fury with brag and mekill onrest


Tha haly lawis trublit and infest,


Prouocand and commovand the Goddis greif;


So that alsso, quhidder me war loith or leif,30
[Pg 886]

Full oft resistand and denyand the weir,


Constrenyt I was, and warpit thar and heir,


That, mawgre my hed, me behuffit susteyn


The hard dangeris of Mars and mekill teyn.


Now is it endit; bot, certis, na litill thyng5


Has it cost sum man sik undertakyng:


The godly power, wilfull vengeans to tak,


Havand disdeyn at sik deray was mak,


Onto tha wikkyt sawlys for the nanys


Hes send condyng punytioun and just panys.10


Haue doyn, gret Troian prynce, now I the pray,


Sen baith the crop and rutys ar away


Of all seditioun and discord, I wys,


And wyrkaris of sa gret trespas and mys;


Cum and ressaue thy spows and mariage15


To the promyst; succeid to heritage.


Realmys I haue, and citeys mony ane


Full strangly beldit with hie wallis of stane,


And sum alsso that I in weir conquest,


And thar barmkynnys to grund bet and doun kest:20


Bot only the beleif and beld, quod he,


Of my wery age and antiquyte,


A douchtir haue I, quhilk suld be myn ayr:


Quharfor in tyme cummyn for euermar


I the ressaue, and haldis in dante,25


As son in law and successour to me.


To quham the gentill Eneas reuerently


This ansuer maid agane, and said in hy:


Maist ryall kyng, all tyme accustumate


To lyf in plesand peax, but all debait,30
[Pg 887]

Of this weirfar and sa gret stryfe, quod he,


I trastit evir thar was no wyte in the:


Tharfor, my derrest fader, I the pray,


Do all sik dowtis of suspicioun away,


Gyf ony sik thochtis restis in thy mynd,5


And trastis weill Enee afald and kynd.


Now am I present, reddy as ȝe wald,


That ȝou ressavis and fra thens sall hald


As fader in law, and in all chancis, per de,


As verray fader that me bigat, but le:10


The figour of the gret Anchises ded


I se heir present to me in this sted;


And I agane in fervent hayt desyre


Ȝow forto ples, my fader, lord, and syre,


Sall byrn in lufe, as sum tyme wont was I15


Towartis hym me engendrit of his body.






 CAP. VIII.




Heir Eneas, that worthy nobill knycht,


Was spowsyt with Lavinia the brycht.








With sikkyn sermond athir othir grat,


And sammyn to the cheif palys with that


Thai held infeir: than mycht thou se with this


The matronys and ȝong damysellis, I wys,20


That gret desyre hes sik thing to behald,


Thryng to the stretis and hie wyndoys thik fald;
[Pg 888]

The agit faderis, and the ȝyng gallandis,


Per ordour eik assemlyt reddy standis


In gret rowtis, to vissy and to se


The gudly personys of the Troian menȝe.


Bot specialy, and first of all the laif,5


The gret capitan Enee notyt thai haue,


Attentfully behaldand euery wight


Hys stowt curage, hys byg statur and hycht,


And in thar mynd comprasyt hys kyn maste hie,


Hys plesand vissage, and knychtly large bonte;10


And, glaid and joyfull, extoll and loif thai can


The gret apperans of gud in sik a man,


And sa fair gyftis and beleif, but les,


As thai desyrit, of finale rest and pes.


Lyke as, quhen the gret ithand weit or rayn,15


From the clowdis furth ȝet our all the playn,


Haldis the husbandis ydill aganys thar will,


Lang with hys crukyt beym the plewch lyis still:


Syne, gif brycht Tytan list do schaw hys face,


And with swyft curs far furth a large space20


Doith cach hys stedis and hys giltyn char,


And kythis hys goldyn bemys in the ayr,


Makand the hevynnys fair, cleir, and scheyn,


The weddir smowt, and firmament sereyn;


The landwart hynys than, baith man and boy,25


For the soft sessoun ourflowis full of joy,


And athir otheris gan exhort in hy


To go to laubour of thar husbandry.


Nane other wys the pepill Ausonyan


Of this glaid tyme in hart wolx wonder fayn.30
[Pg 889]

Be this the kyng Latyn, lord of that land,


With maste nobill Eneas hand in hand,


Within the cheif palys, baith he and he,


Ar entryt in the saill ryall on hie;


Quham followys nixt the ȝyng Ascanyus fair,5


That was hys faderis only child and ayr;


Syne folk of Itaill, mydlit with Troianys,


Ar entrit in that riall hall attanys:


With pompos fest and joyus myrth our all


Resoundis tho baith palys, bowr, and hall,10


And all the chymmys riall rownd abowt


Was fyllyt with thar tryne and mekill rowt.


And tharwithall, of chalmyr by and by,


With sa gudly a sort and cumpany


Of ladeis fair and damysellys onwed,15


Innumerabill almast, als furth was led


The fair fresch Lavinia the may,


Amyd thame schynand in hir ryall array;


The crystall bemys of hir eyn twane,


That as the brycht twynkland starnys schayn,20


Sum deill eschamyt, towart the erth doith hald.


Quham as this Troian prynce first gan behald,


Of bewte, schape, and all afferys, perfay,


Sa excelland that wondir war to say,


At the first blenk astonyst half wolx he,25


And musyng hovirris styll on hir to se;


And in hys mynd gan rew the hard myschans


Of Turnus, quham na litill apperans


Sa baldly movit to dereyn bargane,


To rays the weir, and feght for sykkyn ane:30
[Pg 890]

For weill, he thocht, the hope of syk a wight


To dedys of armys aucht constreyn ony knycht.


Syne, to abbryge our mater, hand in hand


Thai war coniunct intill eternall band


Of matrimonye; and tho at all devys5


Thar wedlok with honour, as was the gys,


By menstralys and herraldis of gret fame


Was playd and sung, and throw the cowrt proclame.


Than joy and myrth, with dansyng and deray,


Full mery noys, and sovndis of gam and play,10


Abuf the bryght starnys hie vpwent,


That semyt forto pers the firmament,


And joyus vocis ryngis furth alsso


Our all the palys ryall to and fro.


And syk ryot indurand amyd the pres,15


Ene thus carpys to traste Achates,


And bad hym go belyve, but mair delay,


Do fech the rych robbys and array,


The fresch attyre, and all the precyus wedis,


Wrocht craftely, and weif of goldyn thredis,20


Quhilum be fair Andromachais hand,


By quham thai war hym gevyn in presand;


And eyk the collar of the fyne gold brycht,


With precyus stanys and with rubeys pight,


Quham scho also abowt hir hals quhyte25


Was wont to weir in maste pompe and delyte,


Quhill that the Troian weilfar stud abufe;


The gret cowpe eyk, the quhilk in syng of lufe


Quhilum kyng Priam to hys fader gave,


Ald Anchises, of fyne gold weill engrave.30
[Pg 891]

Than, but delay, Achates at command


Brocht thir rych gyftis, a wonder fair presand:


Syne to hys fader in law, the kyng Latyn,


The precyus cowp gave he of brycht gold fyne,


And to hys spows, Lavinia the may,5


The wedis ryall and the collar gay.


Than athir dyd thar dewly obseruans


With breistis blyth and plesand dalyans,


To festyng, entertenyr, and cherys


Thar ferys abowt on the maist gudly wys:10


With diuers sermond carpyng all the day,


Thai schort the howris, and dryvis the tyme away.






 CAP. IX.




Gret myrth and solace was maid at the festis,


Rehersand mony histories ald and gestis.








Be this it walxis layt towart the nycht,


And fast declynyng gan the days lycht,


The tyme requiring, eftir the ald maner,15


To go to meyt and syt to the supper:


Onon the bankat and the mangeory


For fest ryall accordyng, by and by,


With all habundans pertenyng to syk thyng,


As weill efferit in the hows of a kyng,20


With alkyn maner ordinans was maid


Amyd the hallys heich, lang, and braid,
[Pg 892]

Apparalyt at all devys and array.


Onto the bankat haill assemlyt thai,


And on the carpettis spred of purpour fyne


To tablis set, quhar thai war servit syne


With alkyn danteys, and with metys seir,5


That all to rakkyn prolixit war to heir:


As quhou the crystall eweris to thar handis


The watir gave, and quhou feill servandis standis


To mak thame ministratioun in all curys,


And quhou thai trasyng on the large flurys10


With blyth vissage intil euery sted,


And quhou that first on burdis thai set bred:


Sum with mesys gan the tabillys charge;


Ane other sort doith set in all at large


The cowpys gret and drynkyn tassis fyne,15


And gan do skynk and byrll the nobill wyne:


That to behald thame walkyn to and fro


Throw the rowm hallys, and sa byssy go,


And thame at tabillis makand sa glaid cheir,


A paradys it was to se and heir.20


Bot with hys eyn onmovit Latyn kyng


Gan fast behald the child Ascanyus ȝyng,


Wondrand on his afferis and vissage,


And of the speche and wordis grave and sage


Of sik a childis mowth syk wys suld fall,25


And of his digest and reddy wyt withall,


Befor the ȝheris of maturyte;


And of feill thingis hym demandis he,


Athir to other renderand mony a saw:


And syne wald he alsso, ane other thraw,30
[Pg 893]

Full tendirly do kyss hys lusty face,


And lap hym in hys armys and embrace;


And, wondirly reiosyt, declare wald he


Happy and to the Goddis bedettit Ene,


Quhilk hym had gevin syk a child as that.5


And quhillis thai thus at the supper sat,


Eftir that with samony danteis seir


Thar appetit of metis assuagit were,


With commonyng and carpyng euery wyght


The lang declinand and ourslippand nyght10


Gan schape full fast to mak schort and ourdryve:


Now the Troianys hard aventouris belyve


Rehersyng our, and all the Grekis slycht;


Now the fers bargan and the awfull fight


Of Lawrent pepill callyng to thar mynd:15


As quhou, and quhar, quham by, and be quhat kynd,


The ostis first discumfist war in feild;


And quhar that athir rowtis vndir scheild,


With dartis castyng, dynt of swerd and mays,


Constrenyt was to fle in syk a place,20


And leif the feild; and quha best dyd hys det,


Quha bald in stowr eyk maid the first onset;


And quha first, on ane startland cursour gude,


Hys burnyst brand bedyit with red blude.


Bot principaly Eneas Troian bald,25


And Latinus the kyng sage and ald,


Of conquerouris and soueran pryncis dyng


The gestis can rehers fra kyng to kyng,


Twichand the stait, quhilum be days gone,


Of Latium that myghty regioun:30
[Pg 894]

Quhou vmquhile Saturn, fleand hys sonnys brand,


Lurkyt and dwelt in Italy the land,


Be quhilk rayson he dyd it Latium call;


That kynd of pepill, dwelt skatterit our all


In montanys wild, togyddir maid conveyn,5


And gaif thame lawys and statutis, and full beyn


Tawcht thame to grub the wynys, and al the art


To eyr, and saw the cornys, and ȝok the cart:


And quhou the gret Jupiter, God dyvyne,


To this hys faderis resset socht hes syne;10


And quhou that he engendrit thar alssua


On Atlas douchter, the fair wench Electra,


Schir Dardanus, that eftir, as thai sayn,


Hys awyn brother Jasyus hes slayn;


Syne from the cyte Choryte in Italy15


To sey is went with a gret cumpany,


And gan arryve eftir in Phrigia,


And belt the cyte on the mont Ida:


And quhou that he, in syng, for hys baner,


From Jupiter ressauyt, hys fader deir,20


The fleand egill displayt fair and playn,


Ane knawyn takyn to pepill Hectorian,


As the first nobill armys and ensenȝe


Baith of the Troian ancistre and menȝe,


By hym erekkit and vprasyt stud,25


Was first begun, and cheif stok of that blude.


Thus, with syk maner talkyn, euery wight


Gan dryvyn our and schortis the lang nycht.


Tharwith the bruyt and noys rays in tha wanys,


Quhill all the large hallys rang attanys30
[Pg 895]

Of mannys voce and sound of instrumentis,


That to the ruyf on hie the dyn vp went is;


The blesand torchys schayn and sergis brycht,


That far on breid all lemys of thar lycht;


The harpys and the githornys plays attanys:5


Vpstart Troianys, and syne Italianys,


And gan do dowbill brangillys and gambatis,


Dansys and rowndis traysyng mony gatis,


Athir throu other reland, on thar gys:


Thai fut it so that lang war to devys10


Thar hasty fair, thar revellyng and deray,


Thar morysis and syk ryot, quhil neir day.


Bot for to tellyng quhou with torch lycht


Thai went to chalmer, and syne to bed at nycht,


Myne author list na mensioun tharof draw;15


Na mair will I, for sik thingis beyn knaw;


All ar expert, eftir new mariage,


On the first nycht quhat suld be the subcharge.






 CAP. X.




Eneas foundis a wallit town and squair;


Quhamto Venus can diuers thingis declare.








And thus thai festyng days nyne at all,


With large pompe, and kyngly apparall,20


Accordyng sych a spowsage as was this.


And, quhen the tent morrow cummyn is,
[Pg 896]

Than this ilk souerane and maste douchty man,


Eneas, for to found hys town began:


Fyrst gan he mark and cirkill with a pleuch


Quhar the wallys suld stand, thar drew a sewch:


Syne Troianys fundis tenementis for thame self,5


And gan the fowceis and the dichis delf.


Bot lo, onon, a wonder thing to tell!


Ane huge bleys of flambys braid doun fell


Furth of the clowdis, at the left hand straucht,


In maner of a lychtnyng or fyre flaucht,10


And dyd alicht rycht in the sammyn sted


Apon the crown of fair Lavinias hed;


And fra thyne hie vp in the lyft agane


It glaid away, and tharin dyd remane.


The fader Eneas astonyst wolx sum deill,15


Desyrus this syng suld betakyn seill;


Hys handis baith vphevis towartis hevin,


And thus gan mak hys boyn with myld stevin:


O Jupiter, gif euer ony tyme, said he,


The Troian pepill, baith by land and see,20


Thyne admonitions, command, and impyre,


Obeyt has, page, man, or syre;


Or gif that I ȝour power and godhed


Dred, and adornyt intyll ony sted


Ȝour altaris, or ony wirschip dyd tharto;25


And be that thyng ȝit restis for to do,


Gif ony thyng behynd ȝit doith remane;


With this ȝour happy takyn augurian


Ȝeld ws ȝour plesand rest and ferm pes,


Mak end of all our harmys, and caus thame ces.30
[Pg 897]

As he sik wordis warpys owt that tyde


Hys goldyn moder apperis hym besyde,


Confessand hir tobe the fair Venus,


And with hir blissyt mowth scho carpis thus:


Son, do syk thocht and dreid furth of thy mynd,5


Ressaue thir godly syngis in bettir kynd,


And joyusly enioys, myn awyn Enee,


The gret weilfar fra thens sal betyd the:


Now is thy rest and quiet fund and kend,


Now of thy harmys is cummyn extreme end;10


Now at the last, as thou desyris, perfay,


This warld with the sal knyt vp peax for ay.


Abhor thou nocht the fyre and flambis brycht,


From thy deir spowsys hed glaid to the hycht,


Bot constantly thy mynd thou now addres;15


It salbe scho, I the declar expres,


That sall with blude ryall thy douchty name,


Thy successioun, renown, and nobill fame,


And Troian pryncis, of thy seid discend,


Abufe the clowdis hie and sternys send.20


Scho sall of thy lynnage, my son Enee,


Bair childryng full of magnanymyte,


Of quhais offspryng sik men sall succeid,


That all this large warld far onbreid


With thar excelland wirschip sall fulfill,25


And by thar mychty power, at thar will,


As conquerouris, vnder thar senȝeory


Subdew and rewle this warldis monarchy;


Of quham the schynand souerane glor sall wend,


And far beȝond the occean see extend,30
[Pg 898]

Makand thame equale with the hevynnys hie:


Quham, finaly, thar ardent gret bonte


And soueran vertu, spred sa far onbred is,


Eftir innumerabill sa feill douchty dedis,


Sail mak thame Goddis, and thame deify,5


And thame vpheis full hie abufe the sky.


This flambe of fyre the wirschip and renovn


Doith signyfy of thy successioun;


The God almychty from his starrit hevin


Has schawin tharfor this syng of fyry levin:10


Tharfor, in recompens of sykkyn thyng,


And samekill wirschip of hir sal spring,


This cite, quhilk thou closys with a wall,


Eftir thy spowsis name clepe thou sall.


And forthir eyk, the Goddis quhom thou hynt15


Of Troy, that tyme quhen it in flambys brynt,


Penates, or the Goddis domesticall,


Thou set alsso within the sammyn wall:


Tharin thou gar thame soyn be brocht in hy,


In hie honour and tyme perpetualy20


Thar to remane, eternally to dwell.


I sall to the of thame a wonder tell;


Thai sall sa strangly luf this new cyte,


That, gyf thame happynys careit for tobe


Tyll ony other sted or place tharby,25


All be thame self agane full hastely


Thai sall return to this ilk town of thyne,


That thou beildis in boundis of kyng Latyn:


Ȝa; quhou oft sys that thai away be tayn,


Thai sal return haymwart agane ilkane.30
[Pg 899]

O happy cyte, and weil fortunat wall,


With quham sa gret rellykis remane sall,


Quharin thou sall in tyme tocum, but leys,


Govern the Troian folk in plesand pes!


Eftir this at last Latyn, thy fader in law,5


Wery of hys lyfe, and far in age ydraw,


Doun to gostis in the campe Elyse


Sall wend, and end his dolly days, and de:


Onto hys ceptre thou sall do succeid,


And vnder thy senȝeory, far onbreid,10


Sall weld and led thir ilk Italianys,


And common lawis for thame and the Troianys


Statut thou sall; and syne thou sall ascend,


And vp to hevyn glaidly thy self send:


Thus standis the Goddis sentens and decreit.15


Na mair scho said; bot, as the gleym doith gleit,


From thens scho went away in the schyre ayr,


I wait nocht quhidder, for I com neuer thar.


Enee astonyst, havand hys mynd smyte


With syk promys of renown and delyte,20


Hys blissyt moderis command gan fulfill:


And now at plesand rest, at hys awyn will,


The Troian pepill rewlit he in pes.


With this the kyng Latynus can deces,


And left the ceptre vacand to hys hand:25


Than the reuthfull Ene our all the land


Of Italy succedis in hys sted,


And gan full large bundis in lordschip led,


That halely obeyt to hys wand,


And at hys lykyng rewlit all the land.30
[Pg 900]

Now equaly of fre will euery ane,


Baith pepill of Troy and folk Italian,


All of a ryte, manerys, and vsans,


Becummyn ar frendly but discrepans;


Thar myndis and thar brestis in amyte,5


In ferm concord and gret tranquylite,


Gan leif at eys, considerat in ally,


As vnder a law sammyn coniunct evynly.






 CAP. XI.




Quhou Jupiter, for Venus cause and lufe,


Has set Eneas as God in hevyn abufe.








Venus with this, all glaid and full of joy,


Amyd the hevynly hald, rycht myld and moy,10


Befor Jupiter down hir self set,


And baith hir armys abowt hys feyt plet,


Enbrasand thame and kyssand reuerently;


Syne thus with voce expres scho said in hy:


Fader almychty, that from thy hevynly ryng15


At thy plesour rewlys and sterys al thyng,


That manis dedys, thochtis, and aventuris,


Reknys and knawys, and therof hes the curis;


Weill I ramember, quhen that the pepill Troian


With hard onfrendly fortoun was ourtane,20


Thou promyst of thar laubouris and distres


Help and support, and eftir dyseys soles.
[Pg 901]

Nowder thy promys, fader, nor sentens


Hes me dissauyt: for lo, with reuerens


All the faderis of Italy hes se,


But discrepans, fully thir ȝheris thre,


In blyssyt peax my son enioys that land:5


Bot certis, fader, as I vndirstand,


Onto the starnyt hevynly hald on hie


Thou promyst rays the maste douchty Enee,


And, for hys meryt, abufe thy schynand sky


Hym forto place in hevyn, and deify.10


Quhat thochtis now doith rollyng in thy mynd?


Sen, ellys, doith the vertuus thewys kynd


Of this reuthfull Eneas the requyr


Abuf the polys brycht to rays that syre.


The fader tho of men and Goddis all15


Gan kys Venus hys child, and tharwithall


Thir profund wordis from hys breist furth braid:


My deir douchtir Citherea, he said,


Thow knawys quhou strangly the mychty Ene,


And the Eneadanys all of hys menȝe,20


Ithandly and onyrkyt luffyt haue I,


On se and landis cachit by and by


In perrellis seir, and quhou that oft tyme eik,


Havand piete of the my douchtir meik,


For lufe of the, for thar dyseys was wo;25


And now I haue, lo, finaly alsso


All thar harmys and ennoy brocht till end,


And maid Juno, as that full weill is kend,


Forto becum frendly and favorabill:


Now lykis me, forsuyth, all ferm and stabill30
[Pg 902]

My sentens promyst to compleit, quod he,


Quhen that the riall Troian duke Ene


Amang the hevynnys institut I sall,


And hym to numbyr of the Goddis call:


All this I grant with gud willis perfay.5


Tharfor, se that thou clenge and do away,


Gif thar be in hym ony mortall thyng,


And syne abuf the starnys thou him bryng:


I sall alsso heich ony of hys kyn,


Quhilk of thar proper vertu lyst do wyn10


Perpetuall lovyngis by dedis honorabill,


And doith contempn the wrachit warld onstabill;


Thame in lykewys abufe the hevynnys hie


I sal do place and deify, quod he.


The Goddis abufe alhaill gave thar consent,15


Nor ryall Juno, at that tyme present,


Lyst not contrary, bot gan perswaid full evyn


To bryng the gret Ene vp to the hevyn,


And frendly wordis of hym carpys thar.


Than Venus slaid discendand throw the ayr,20


And socht onto the feildis Lawrentane,


Neir by quhar that Numycus throu the playn,


That fresch ryver, flowys to the see,


Dekkyt abowt with redis growand hie;


Quharin the body of hir son sa deir25


Scho maid do wesch, and vnder the stremys cleir


All that was mortale or corruptibill thyng


Gart do away; and syne, at hir lykyng,


The recent happy sawl with hyr hynt sche,


And bair it vp abuf the ayr full hie30
[Pg 903]

Onto the hevyn, quhar reuthfull Eneas


Amyd the starnys chosyn has his place:


Quham the famyll and kynrent Julian


Doith clepe and call amangis thame euery ane


Indigites; quhilk is alsmekill to say,5


As God induellar, at thar sudiornys ay;


And, in remembrans of this ilk turn,


Thai gan hys templis wirschip and adorn.




[Pg 904]




 CONCLUSIO.






Now is my wark all fynyst and compleit,


Quham Jovis ire, nor fyris byrnand heit,


Nor trynschand swerd sal defas, ne doun thryng,


Nor lang proces of age, consumys al thyng.


Quhen that onknawyn day sall hym addres,5


Quhilk not bot on this body power hes,


And endis the dait of myn oncertan eld,


The bettir part of me salbe vpheld


Abufe the starnys perpetualy to ryng,


And heir my naym remane, but enparyng;10


Throw owt the Ile yclepit Albyon


Red sall I be, and sung with mony one.


Thus vp my pen and instrumentis full ȝore


On Virgillis post I fix for evirmore,


Nevir, from thens, syk materis to discryve:15


My muse sal now be cleyn contemplatyve,


And solitar, as doith the byrd in cage,


Sen fer byworn is all my childis age,


And of my days neir passyt the half dait


That natur suld me grantyn, weil I wait.20
[Pg 905]

Thus sen I feill down sweyand the ballans,


Heir I resyng vp ȝyngkeris observans:


Adew, gallandis, I geif ȝou all gud nycht,


And God salf euery gentill curtas wight! Amen.




HEIR ENDIS THE THRETTEYN AND FINAL BUKE
OF ENEADOS QUHILK IS THE FIRST CORREK
COPPY NIXT EFTIR THE TRANSLATIOUN
WRYTTIN BE MASTER MATHO GEDDES
SCRIBE OR WRITAR TO THE
TRANSLATAR.


[Pg 906]




 HEIR THE TRANSLATAR DIREKKIS HYS BUK
AND EXCUSIS HYM SELF.






My Lord, to ȝour nobilyte in effect,


To quham this wark I haue abufe direct,


Gawyn, ȝour cousyng, provest of Sanct Geill,


Gretyng in God ay lestyng, and gud heill.


Ressave gude will, quhar that my cunnyng falys,5


And gyf within this volume ocht avalys,


Or is onto ȝour plesour aggreabill,


Than is my laubour sum thyng profytabill:


Quhar I offendit, or mysteris correctioun,


Vndir ȝour salfgard and protectioun10


I me submyt; ȝhe be my scheld and defens


Aganys corruppit tungis violens,


Can nocht amend, and ȝit a falt wald spy:


Quhen thai bakbyte, quhen evir thai clepe and cry,


Gyf neyd beys, for ȝour kynysman and clerk15


Than I protest ȝe ansuer, and for ȝour wark.


Gyf thai speir quhy I dyd this buke translait,


Ȝhe war the caus tharof, full weill ȝe wait;


Ȝhe cawsyt me this volume to endyte,


Quharthrow I haue wrocht myself syk dispyte,20
[Pg 907]

Perpetualy be chydit with ilk knak,


Full weill I knaw, and mokkyt behynd my bak.


Say thai nocht, I myne honeste haue degraid,


And at my self to schute a but hes maid?


Nane othir thyng, thai threpe, heir wrocht haue I5


Bot fenȝeit fabillys of idolatry,


With sik myscheif as aucht not namyt be,


Oppynand the gravis of smert iniquyte,


And on the bak half wrytis wyddyr synnys


Plente of lesyngis, and ald perversyt synnys.10


Quhar that I haue my tyme superexpendyt,


Mea culpa, God grant I may amend it,


With grace and space to vpset this tynsell;


Thocht not be far sa largely as thai tell,


As that me semys, ȝit offendit haue I:15


For weill I wait, our wark to mony a wy


Sall baith be plesand and eyk profitabill,


For tharin beyn seir doctrynys full notabill;


It sal eik do sum folk solace, I ges,


To pas the tyme, and eschew idylnes.20


Ane othir proffit of our buke I mark,


That it salbe reput a neidfull wark


To thame wald Virgill to childryn expone;


For quha lyst note my versys, one by one,


Sall fynd tharin hys sentens euery deill,25


And almaste word by word, that wait I weill:


Thank me tharfor, masteris of grammar sculys,


Quhar ȝe syt techand on ȝour benkis and stulys.


Thus haue I not my tyme swa occupy


That all suld hald my laubour onthryfty:30
[Pg 908]

For I haue not interpryt ne translate


Every bural ruyd poet dywlgait,


Na meyn endyte, nor empty wordis vayn,


Common engyn, nor stile barbarian;


Bot in that art of eloquens the flude5


Maste cheif, profund and copyus plenitude,


Surs capitall in veyn poeticall,


Soverane fontane, and flum imperiall:


Quham gif I haue offendit, as thai meyn,


Deym as ȝe lyst, quhen the wark is ourseyn:10


Be as be may, ȝour frendschip, weill I wait,


Wrocht mair at me than dyd myne awyn estait;


For kyndnes so myne eyn almaist maid blynd,


That, ȝow to pleys, I set all schame behynd,


Offeryng me to my weriouris wilfully,15


Quhilk in myne E fast staris a mote to spy.


Bot quha sa lawchis heirat, or hedis noddis,


Go reid Bochas in the genology of Goddis;


Hys twa last bukis sall swage thar fantasy,


Les than na resson may thame satysfy.20


I rak nocht quhidder fulys hald me devill or sanct,


For ȝou maid I this buke, my Lord, I grant,


Nowder for pryce, det, reward, nor supple,


Bot for ȝour tendir request and amyte,


Kyndnes of blude grundyt in natural law.25


I am na cayk fydlar, full weill ȝe knaw:


No thing is myne quhilk sall not ȝouris be,


Gyf it afferis for ȝour nobilyte;


And of ȝour moblys and all other geir


Ȝhe will me serve siklyke, I haue na weir.30
[Pg 909]

Bot as twychyng this our wark now in hand,


Quhilk oft is said was maid at ȝour command,


To quhat effect, gyf ony wald inqueir;


Ȝe may answer, thocht I neid not ȝow leir,


That Virgill mycht intill our langage be5


Red lowd and playn be ȝour lordschip and me,


And othir gentill companȝeonys quha sa lyst;


Nane ar compellit drynk not bot thai haue thryst:


And quha sa lykis may tastyng of the tun


Onforlatyt, new from the berry run,10


Reid Virgill baldly, but mekill offens


Except our wlgar toungis differens,


Kepand na facund rethoryk castis fair,


Bot haymly playn termys famyliar,


Na thing alterit in substans the sentens,15


Thocht scant perfyte observyt beyn eloquens;


I will weill otheris can say mair curyusly,


Bot I haue said eftir my fantasy.


I covait nocht to prefer ony wight,


It may suffice I said na thing bot rycht;20


And, set that empty be my brayn and dull,


I haue translait a volum wondirfull:


So profund was this wark at I haue said,


Me semyt oft throw the deip sey to waid;


And sa mysty vmquhile this poetry,25


My spreit was reft half deill in extasy,


To pyke the sentens as I couth als playn,


And bryng it to my purpos, was full fayn;


And thus, becaus the mater was onkowth,


Not as I suld, I wrait, bot as I couth.30
[Pg 910]

Quha wenys I say thir wordis bot in vane,


Lat thame assay als lang laubour agane,


And translait Ovid, as I haue Virgill;


Perchans that wark sall occupy thame a quhile:


Ȝit haue I hard oft said be men na clerkis,5


Tyll idyll folk full lycht beyn lukand warkis.


To ȝou, my Lord, quhat is thar mair to say?


Ressaue ȝour wark desyrit mony a day;


Quharin also now am I fully quyt,


As twichand Venus, of myn ald promyt10


Quhilk I hir maid weil twelf ȝheris tofor,


As wytnessith my Palyce of Honour:


In the quhilk wark, ȝhe reid, on hand I tuke


Forto translait at hir instance a buke:


Sa haue I doyn abufe, as ȝe may se,15


Virgillis volum of hir son Enee,


Reducit, as I cowth, intill our tong.


Be glaid, Ene, thy bell is hiely rong,


Thy fame is blaw, thy prowes and renown


Dywlgat ar, and sung fra town to town,20


So hardy from thens, that other man or boy


The ony mair reput traytour of Troy,


Bot as a worthy conquerour and kyng


The honour and extoll, as thou art dyng.


My Lord, all thocht I dyd this wark compyle,25


At ȝour command, intill owr wlgar style,


Suffir me borrow this a word at the leist,


Tharwith to quyte my promys and beheste,


And lat dame Venus have gud nycht adew,


Quhamto sum tyme ȝhe war a servand trew.30
[Pg 911]

I haue alsso a schort comment compyld


To expon strange historeis and termys wild;


And gif ocht lakis mar, quhen that is doyn,


At ȝour desyre it salbe writtyn soyn.


And forthir, so that I be nocht prolixt,5


The etern Lord, that on the ruyd was fixt,


Grant ȝow and ws all in this lyfe weilfair,


With euerlestand blys quhen we hyne fair! Amen.




Quod Gawinus Dowglas.




[Pg 912]




 ANE EXCLAMATIOUN




AGANYST DETRACTOURIS AND ONCURTAS REDARIS, THAT BEYN
OUR STUDYUS, BUT OCCASIOUN, TO NOTE
AND SPY OWT FALTIS OR OFFENCIS
IN THIS VOLUM, OR ONY OTHER
THRYFTY WARKYS.






Now throw the deip fast to the port I mark,


For heir is endyt the lang desparyt wark,


And Virgyll hes hys volum to me lent:


In sovir raid now ankyrrit is our bark;


We dowt na storm, our cabillys ar sa stark;5


We have eschapyt full mony perrellus went:


Now God be lovyt, has syk grace tyl ws sent!


Sen Virgyll beys wydquhar in Latyn soung,


Thus be my laubour red in owr wlgar toung.




Bot quhat danger is ocht to compyle, allace!10


Herand thir detractouris intil euery place,


Or evir thai reid the wark, byddis byrn the buke:


Sum beyn sa frawart in malyce and wangrace,


Quhat is weill said thai love not worth ane ace,


Bot castys thame euer to spy owt falt and cruyk;15


All that thai fynd in hydlys, hyrn, or nuyk,


Thai blaw owt, sayand in euery manis face


Lo, heir he failȝeis, se thar he leys, luyk!
[Pg 913]



Bot, gyf I le, lat Virgyll be owr juge,


Hys wark is patent, I may have na refuge;


Tharby go note my faltis one by one:


No wondir is, the volum was so huge,


Quha mycht perfytely all hys hie termys luge5


In barbar langage, or thame dewly expone?


Bot weill I wait, of hys sentens wantis none.


Quha can do bettir, lat se quhar I forvayt;


Begyn of new; all thing is gud onassayt.




Far eithar is, quha lyst syt doun to moyt,10


Ane othir sayaris faltis to spy and noyt,


Than but offens or falt thame self to wryte:


Bot forto chyde sum beyn so brym and hoyt,


Hald thai thar peax, the word wald scald thar throte,


And has sik custum to jangill and to bakbyte,15


That, bot thai schent sum, thai suld bryst for syte.


I say na mair, quhen all thar rerd is rong,


That wight mon speke that can nocht hald hys tong.




Go, wlgar Virgill, to euery churlych wight


Say, I avow thou art translatit rycht,20


Beseyk all nobillys the corect and amend,


Beys not afferyt to cum in prysaris sycht;


The nedis nocht to aschame of the lycht,


For I haue brocht thy purpos to gud end:


Now salt thou with euery gentill Scot be kend,25


And to onletterit folk be red on hycht,


That erst was bot with clerkis comprehend.




Qð Douglas.




[Pg 914]




HEIR FOLLOWYS

THE TYME, SPACE, AND DAIT, OF THE TRANSLATIOUN OF THIS BUKE.






Completyt was this wark Virgilian


Apon the fest of Mary Magdelan,


Fra Crystis byrth, the dait quha lyst to heir,


A thousand fyve hundreth and thretteyn ȝeir;


Quhilk, for othir gret occupatioun, lay5


Onsteryt clos besyd me mony day:


And netheles, quhidder I serve thank or wyte,


Fra tyme I tharto fyrst set pen to wryte,


Thocht God wait gyf thir bundis war full wyde10


To me, that had syk byssynes besyde,


Apon this wys, as God lyst len me grace,


It was compylit in auchteyn moneth space;


Set I feil syth syk twa monethis infeir


Wrait neuir a word, nor mycht the volum steir,15


For grave materis and gret solicitud,


That all sik laubour far besyde me stud.


And thus gret scant of tyme and bissy cuyr


Has maid my wark mair subtell and obscur,


And nocht sa plesand as it aucht tobe;20


Quharof ȝhe curtas redaris perdon me,
[Pg 915]

Ȝhe writaris all, and gentill redaris eyk,


Offendis nocht my volum, I beseik,


Bot redis leill, and tak gud tent in tyme.


Ȝhe nother maggill nor mysmetyr my ryme,


Nor alter not my wordis, I ȝou pray:5


Lo, this is all; now, bew schirris, haue gud day.




Qð Gawinus Douglas.






 MANTUA ME GENUIT, CALABRI RAPVERE, TENET NUNC
PARTHENOPE; CECINI PASCUA, RURA, DUCES.






OF MANTUA AM I BEGET AND BOIR,


IN CALABRE DECESSIT AND FORLOR,


NOW STANT I GRAVE IN NAPLYS THE CITE,


THAT IN MY TYME WRAIT NOTABILL WARKIS THRE;


OF PASTURAGE, AND EIK OF HUSBANDRY,


AND DOUCHTY CHIFTANYS FULL OF CHEVALRY.




Quod Gawinus Douglas.




[Pg i]




 THE COMMENT.




I HAUE ALSSO A SCHORT COMMENT COMPYLD


TO EXPON STRANGE HISTOREIS AND TERMYS WILD.






P. 6. l. 15.—Innatyve is alsmekil to say as
inborn, or that quhilk cumis till ony person be
thar natural inclinatioun of kynd throw thar
forbearis.


P. 6. l. 18.—Ptholome kyng of Egipt, the
famous gret clerk, astronomour, and discryvar
of the warld, that causit lxxij interpretouris to
translat the bibill, had sa gret plesour and delyte
of bukis that he gadderit togidder in ane librar
xxxvj thousand volummys.


P. 10. l. 10.—Thistory of Saul and the spreit
of Samuel rasyt by the Phitones is in the first
buk of Kyngis, in the xxviij. c.


P. 14. l. 21.—Oppetere is alsmekil to say as
ore terram petere, lyke as Seruius exponys the
sammyn term, quhilk to translate in our tung
is, with mowth to seik, or byte, the erd. And
lo, that is ane hail sentence for ane of Virgillis
wordis.


P. 15. l. 15.—As for animal and homo in our
langage is nocht a propir term, and thai be bot
bestis that exponys animal for a beste. Ane
beste is callit in Latyn bestia and pecus, and
animal betakynnys all corporall substans that
has ane saull quhilk felis payn, joy, or ennoy:
and vndyr animal beyn contenyt all mankynd,
beist, byrd, fowll, fisch, serpent, and all other
sik thingis at lyfis and steris, that has a body;
for all sik, and euery ane of thame, may be properly
callit animal. And thus animal is ane
general name for al sik maner thingis quhatsumeuer.


Homo betakynnys baith a man and a woman,
and we haue na term corespondent tharto, nor
yit that signifyis baith twa in a term alanerly.


P. 15. l. 19.—Genus is that thing quhilk is
common, and may be verefyt of mony other
thingis different in kynd, or of diuers kyndis:
as this word, a beste, may be verefeit and is
common till al and syndry kynd of bestis; for
a hors is a beste, ane ox a beste, a scheip a
beste, a dog a beste; and swa of otheris.


Species is that thing or word that is common,
or may be verefeit of mony thingis different in
numbir: as this word, a man, may be verefeit
and is common till al maner of man particular;
for Johne is a man, Thomas a man, Wilyam a
man; and furth of otheris. Syk lyke, this
word, a hors, is common to this hors, and that
hors; the gray is a hors, the blak a hors, the
quhite a hors.


Sexus is the discretioun, diuersitie, or differens
in schap, betwix the mail and the female
in al maner corporal creatouris: for thocht a
man and a woman beyn baith of a kynd and
natur, yit ar thai different and diuers in thar
schap. Rycht swa is ane hors fra a mair, quhilk
ar bath of a kynd; siklyke, a cok from a hen,[Pg ii]
a kow from a bull; and swa is of all kyndis
quhar the mail is distinct fra the femell.


P. 17. l. 13.—This argument excusis nocht
the tratory of Eneas, na his maynsweryng, considering
quhat is said heirafoir, in the ij. c. of
this prolog; that is,




Juno nor Venus goddes neuer war,


Mercur, Neptun, Mars, nor Jupiter,


Of forton eik, na hir necessitie,


Sic thingis nocht attentik ar, wait we.




It followis than, that Eneas vroucht not be command
of ony goddis, bot of his awyn fre wyl,
be the permission of God, quhilk sufferis al
thing, and stoppis nocht, na puttis nocht necessite
to fre wyll. He falit than gretly to the
sueit Dydo; quhilk falt represit nocht the goddessis
diuinite, for thai had na diuinite, as said
is befoir.


P. 17. l. 25.—Heir he argeuis better than
befoir.


P. 23. l. 1.—Virgille reherssis not Eneas
naim, bot callis him The Man, be excellens;
as thocht he said, The mast soueran man.


P. 23. l. 3.—Lavyn, Lavinium, Lawrentum,
stud viij. mylis fra the mowth of Tibyr, and was
cyte of the king Latynus; of quham eftyr in the
vij. buyk, quhill the end of this volume.


P. 23. l. 8.—Quhat is Latium, or Latio, luyk
eftyr in the vj. c. of the viij. buyk. The cite of
quham heir is mention was new Troy, quham
Eneas beggit at the mouth of Tibir, and fra Ene
bein namyt the Latynis, and nowdir fra the
cyte nor the land.


P. 23. l. 11.—Of Alba cyte luyk eftyr, in
the fyfte c. of this buyk, and in the fyrst c. of
the viij. buyk.


P. 23. l. 13.—Musa, in Grew, signifeis an
inuentryce, or inuention, in our langgage; and
of the ix Musis sum thing in my Palyce of
Honour, and be Mastir Robert Hendirson in
New Orpheus.


P. 23. l. 14.—The poet inqueris quhat maieste
or power offendyt of Juno, quhilk is fenyeit
to haf many poweris: sche is clepit queyn
of goddis, mastres and lady of realmys, precident
of byrthis, spous and sistir to Jupiter, &c.


P. 24. l. 12.—Samo is an ile in Trace, quhar
Juno was weddit and born, as sais Seruius; and
ther, as vitnessyth Sanct Jerom, stud the farest
tempil of Grece, dedicat to Juno.


P. 24. l. 12.—Hir see, hir seit.


P. 24. l 21.—Lybia, or Liby, is the thrid
part of the warld, callit Affryk, quham now we
call the land or cost of Barbary.


P. 24. l. 29.—The jugement of Paris is common
to all knawis the sege of Troy.


P. 25. l. 5.—Hebe, douchter of Juno, and
goddess of youth, seruyt Jupiter of his covp:
quhilk, at a fest amang the goddis makand hir
seruice, slaid and schew hir schame in al thar
presens; for the quhilk lak Jupiter gaif to this
Ganymedes, son to kyng Troyus, hir office. Of
the ravisyng of this Ganymede ye haf benayth,
in the v. c. of the v. buyk; and of this Hebe sum
thyng in the prolog of the vij. buyk.


P. 25. l. 16.—And as the Troianys &c.
First abuyf the poete proponis his entent;
sayand, The batellis and the man &c. nyxt
makis he inuocation, calland on his muse to
tech hym thar; O thou my Muse &c. and ther,
lyke as his muse spak to hym, declaris the
caussis of the feid of Juno, sayand, Ther was
an anchient Cyte, hecht Cartage. Now heir
thridly procedis he furth on his narration and
history, and beginnys at the sevint yeir of Eneas
departyng of Troy, as ye may se in the end of
this first buyk, and eftyr the deces of his fadir
Anchises, quham he erdit in Sycill at Drepanon,
as ye haf in the end of the thrid buyk; the
remanent of his auenturis being reseruyt, be
craft of poetry, to the banket of queyn Dido,
quhar thai be then at lenth rehersit by Eneas
in the secund and thryd.


P. 25. l. 29.—This offence was the ravising
of Cassandra furth of the tempill of Pallas, as
ye haue in the vij. cheptour of the secund buke
following. And sum says this Aiax oppressit[Pg iii]
hir in the tempill: quhilk Aiax was son to kyng
Oylus, prince of Locria, or Locrida, and his
pepyll beyn namyt Locrj or Locranys.


Thocht, in verite, Juno was bot ane woman,
dochter to Saturn, sistir and spows to Jupiter
king of Crete, yit quhen poetis namys hir swa,
thai ondirstand sum tyme by Juno the erth and
the watir, and by Jupiter the ayr and the fyre:
and for als mekyll as the ayr and the fyre is
actyve, and the watyr and the erth patient, and
that all corporall thyngis beyn engendrit therof,
heirfoir bein thaj clepit spowsis. Bot, for that
sum tym Juno betakinys alanerly the ayr, and
Jove the fyre, than, be raison of ther contegwyte
and qualite convenient, bein thai clepit sistyr
and brothir: and for that all thyngis, by the influens
of the planetis, starnys, and hevinnis
abufe, be maid of thir elymentis, therfor bein
thaj clepit kyng and queyn, fadir and mothyr
to goddis and men. And ferthyr as twychyng
this Juno, hir other namys and proprieteis, I
refer to John Bocas in the Genealogy of gentille
Goddis, onto the nynt buyk therof, and first c.
of the sammyn.


P. 26. l. 13.—The cuntre or realm of Eolus,
clepit Eolia, lyis betwix Sycill and Italy, vij.
ilandis in the sey, of quham thir be the namys;
Lipara, Hiera, Strongile, Didyme, Eriphusa, Phenycusa,
and Evomynos. And for alsmekyll as
thir ilis bene full of cavernys, with bryntstan
blawand and byrnand ondir the erd, that therby,
throw the swouch of the fire, may be persauyt
a day or twa befor fra quhat part or art
the wynd is for to cum; and this Eolus kyng
therof, as an naturall man, first be experiens persauit
this, and wald schaw the pepill therby,
weill twa or thre dais befor, the wynd was to
blaw from syk an art: for the quhilk rayson,
with the rude pepill, was he namyt kyng or god
of windis. And thai put that he had vj sonnys
and vj dochtiris, quhilkis ar nocht ellis bot the
xij wyndis, of quham the namys, to begin at
the est and go round abowt, bein thir; Subsolanus,
Ewrus, Nothus, Auster, Affricus, Zephyrus,
Fauonius, Circius, Chorus, Boreas, Aquilo,
and Wlturnus.


P. 26. l. 22.—John Bocas, be Eolus set hie
in his chare to rewle and dant the windis, ondirstandis
Raison set hie in the manis hed, quhilk
suld dant, and includ law in the cave or boddum
of the stomach, the windis of peruersit appetyte,
as lord and syre set be God almychty therto.


P. 27. l. 15.—Ilion, or Ilium, was the cyte
of Troy, havand his naym fra king Ilus, fader
to Laomedon. The hayll cuntre was callit Troy
fra kyng Tros, or Trojus, fadir to this Ilus: the
awld naim therof is Phrigia, bot oft bein ather
of all ther namys takin for other; as Troy, als
weill for the cyte as the realm. And heir, be
a maner dispite, Juno, for the pepill or gudis
of Ilion, namys the hail cyte.


P. 28. l. 2.—For alsmekill as I hafe said
abufe Juno betakinnys the air, in quham blawis
thir windis, and by quham the mater quhareof
windis bein engendrit beyn producit to ther
perfection, therfor justly and of rycht Eolus
grantis him to hald his ring of Juno.


P. 28. l. 15.—Ewrus is heir takyn for the
gret est wynd, thocht it be bot the wind est to
sowthin; siklyke, Nothus for the mayn sowth,
thocht it be south to est: and Affricus is takin
for plat west wynd, that is bot sowth sowthwest.
And thus heir the thre principall gret windis
contrarius blew attanys apon thaim, and the
north wind also in the nyxt c.; A blastirrand
bub owt from the north braying &c.


P. 29, l. 1.—Here fyrst namys Virgill Eneas.


This cald, sais Seruyus, coym of dreid; not
that Eneas dred the ded, bot this maner of
ded: and alsso he that dredis na thyng, nor kan
haf na dred, is not hardy, but fuyll hardy and
beistly.


P. 29, l. 6.—The maner was swa in tha dais,
that nobillis slan in feld tuke ther mouth full of
erd, to that effect that in the ded thrawis nain
myssyttand word nor voce suld be hard of ther
mowth.


P. 29, l. 11.—Sarpedon, son of Jupiter and[Pg iv]
Laodomya, dochtyr to Bellerophon, was kyng
of Lycia; of huge statur, and slane by Patroclus.


P. 30. l. 5.—Thar lyis betwix Affryk and the
ile of Sardynia, amyd the sey, a hirst or ryg of
craggy rolkis, quhilkheyn callit altaris of suple
or help, becaus therat, on a tyme, the pepill of
Affrik and Romanys band vp perpetwall payce.
And thir schald bankis of sand, heir nammyt,
bein the twa dangeris of the sey Affrican, callit
Syrtis, the mair and the les; mar perellus than
Yairmuth sandis or Holland cost.


P. 30. ll. 12 & 15.—Off Orontes and Lewcaspis
sum thing in the v. c. of the vj. buyk; and of this
Pander or Pandarus, in the ix. c. of the v. buyk.


P. 30. l. 22.—Of this Ilioneus, and the otheris
Troianys heir nammyt, beyn oft benath maid
mensioun.


P. 30. l. 30.—Neptun, or Neptunus, brother
to Jove and Pluto, and son to Saturn. For
that the partis of his heritage lay in Creit by
the sey cost, and for he vsit mekill salyng and
rowyng, and fand the craft or art therof, therfor
is he clepit god of the sey. He was alsswa ane
the first tawcht to dant and taym horssis: and
onto hym beyn consecret the fundment of wallis,
for alsmekill as it is said he biggyt the wallis of
Troy, or than becaus the watyr inclusyt ondyr
the erth is oft tymys caus of erdqwkyng, and
trimbillyng or moving of the erth, as we se by
experiens in watyr brekis. And, perchans, thir
thre poweris signefeis the thre granyt ceptour,
quhilk his statw in ald days bair in hand, lyk a
crepar or a graip wyth thre granys. Tha discryve
hym rydand in a cart, quhilk betakinnys
the weltyng our of the sey wallys, that rollys,
hurlys, and brais, lyke cart quhelis. Quha lykis
mair of him, go reid Bocas, in the first c. and
tent buyk of the Genealogy of Goddis.


P. 31. l. 15.—Heir is an notabyll doctryn,
that nane nobill man suld hastely reveng him
eftir his greif. Tharfor was gevin consell to
August Octavian, the empriour, that eftir his
commotioun, or euer he did or said ocht, he
suld wryte xxiiij lettiris.


P. 31. l. 21.—This thre granyt ceptour in
sum part haf I twychit abuf: it may betakyn
alsswa the thre properteis of the water, quhilk
is flowand, drynkabyll, and ganand to sayll or
swym intyll.


P. 32. l. 1.—Cymothoe, as sais Seruyus, is,
in Grew, als mekyll to say in our langage, as
the flowand or rinnand flud, quhilk may be
clepit a ganand dochtir to Neptun, god of seys.
Trytton, as sais Bocas, is the bruyt or rowtyng
of the wally sey; quharfor justly is he fenyeit
trumpet to the occian, and son to Neptun. Netheles,
Plynyus in his natural history reherssis
that Triton is a verray monstre of the sey, and
that in the tym of Tyberius the emperour syk
ay was hard and seyn. His schap and portatour
is discryvit in the x. buyk, in the iiij. c.; and
he slais Mesenus in the iij. c. of the vj. buyk.


P. 32. l. 8.—Noyte Virgill in this comparison
and symilytude, for therin and in syk lyke baris
he palm of lawd, as I haf said in my proheme.
It is to be considderit alsso that, our all this
wark, he comparis batell tyll spait or dyluge of
watyr, or than to suddan fyr, and to nocht ellis.


P. 32. l. 16.—Cristoferus Landynus, that
writis moraly apon Virgill, says thus: Eneas
purposis to Italy, his land of promyssioun; that
is to say, a just perfyte man entendis to mast
soueran bonte and gudnes, quhilk, as witnessyth
Plato, is situate in contemplation of godly thingis
or dyvyn warkis. His onmeysabill ennymy
Juno, that is fenyeit queen of realmys, entendis
to dryve him from Itall to Cartage;
that is, Avesion, or concupissence to ryng or
haf warldly honouris, wald draw him fra contemplation
to the actyve lyve; quhilk, quhen
scho falis by hir self, tretis scho with Eolus, the
neddyr part of raison, quhilk sendis the storm
of mony warldly consalis in the just manis mynd:
bot, quhoubeyt the mynd lang flowis and delitis
heirintyll, fynaly by the fre wyll and raison predomynent,
that is, ondirstand, by Neptun, the
storm is cessit, and, as followis in the nyxt c.,
arryvit in sond havin, quhilk is tranquilite of[Pg v]
consciens: and fynaly Venus, in the vj. c. following,
schawis Ene his feris recouerit again;
quhilk is, fervent lufe and cherite schawis the
just man his swete meditationys and feruor of
deuotion, quham he tynt by warldly curis, restorit
to hym again; and all his schippis bot on,
be quham I ondyrstand the tyme lost.


P. 33. l. 18.—Nympha may be clepit a spows,
or a damysell. Bot thai bein takyn with poetis
for goddessis of woddis, wildirnessis, fludis, or
wellis: and Nympha is a generall naym to all
syk Nymphis of wellis, bein callit Naydes; of
hillis or montanys, Oreades; of woddis and
forestis, Dryades; of salt fludis, Nereides; of
flouris, Napee and Hamadriades, ar fenyeit to
grow and de wyth the tre, as quha wald say
the sawle of the tre.


P. 34. l. 5.—Ye sall ondirstand, Virgill, in
all partis of his proses, quhat maner or fassoun
he discrivis ony man at the begynnyng, sa continewys
he of that samin person all thro; and
Eneas in all his wark secludis from all vylle
offyce: bot, as twychand materris of pyety or
devotion, thar labowris he euer wyth the first,
as ye may se in the beginyng of the vj. buke.


P. 34. l. 13.—Thocht sum wald say, perchans,
that in Affrik bein na hartis, therto answeris
Landinus that albeit perchans now ther be nain,
in tha days tha war not to seyk: Or thocht in the
ferther partis of Affrik be nain, in the hiddir
partis, quharto was Eneas dryve, ther beyn mony.


P. 34. l. 29.—Acestes, kyng of Sycilly; of
quham in the first c. of the v. buke.


P. 35. l. 7.—Sylla and Charybdis bein twa
gret dangeris in the Sycill sey; of quham in the
vj. and viij. c. of the thrid buke.


P. 35. l. 10.—Off thir Cyclopes alsso, in the
ix. and x. c. of the thrid buyk.


P. 36. l. 2.—Wyne the eldar the bettir, sa
that it be fresch; and euery man knawis vennyson
owt of ply tynys the sesson.


P. 36. l. 16.—Jove, or Jupiter, by the gentillis
was clepit the mast soueran god, fader of
goddis and men, and all the otheris war bot
haldyn as poweris dyuers of this Jupiter, callit
juuans pater, the helply fadir; bot quham we
cleip swa I haf writyn in my proloug of the x.
buyk. Of Jupiter, as writis Sanct Augustyn in
his volume clepit the Cyte of God, in the vij.
buke and ix. c. therof, thus writis poetis:




Jupiter omnipotens, regum rex ipse, deusque,


Progenitor genitrixque deum, deus vnus, et omnes.




Jupiter omnipotent, kinq of kingis, and god,
fader and moder of goddis, an god, and all the
goddis. Of him largly spekis he alswa, reprevand
the gentile opinyonys, in the sam volum,
in the first buk and xj. c. therof; and in the xij.
c. repreuys the opynion of Plato, that haldis
God the sawl of the warld. Of Jupiter sais the
poet Lucan,




Jupiter est quodcunque vides, quocunque moueris:




Jupiter is all that euer thou seis, and all that
euer movis. Bot quhou ther beyn thre syndry
Jupiteris, reid John Bocas in his Genealogy of
Goddis, in the first c. of the xj. buyk, quhar he
tretis of Jupiter, kyng of Crete, quhilk was
Jupiter the thrid: and ther, at the full, of all
the fiction and fabillis therof, and quhy he is
clepit gret god, and of this Jupiter in the recollectis
of Troy. Of the secund Jupiter, kyng of
Archad, and syne of Athenes, quhich slew Lycaon,
and was fadyr to Dardanus, of quham
caym the Troianys, he writis in the first c. of
his v. buyk: and of Jupiter the first, callit
Lysanyan, and kyng Athenes, in the ij. c. of
his ij. buke, quhar he tretis the proprieteis of
Jupiter the planeyt. And now to speyk of
Jupiter the planete, quhilk is secund in ordour,
and vnermaste nyxt Saturn; he is gentyll and
meyk, and full of gud influens, and profitabill
aspectis, in sa far that gif he conionys with a
frawart planete, sik as Mars, or Saturn, he
meysis ther wreth: gif he conjonys with a meyn
planete, as the Sone, the Moyn, or Mercury, he
drawis thaim and makis inclyn to his gudnes.
Quhen he conjonys with Venus, or is participant
with hir, as he stud in the ascendent at[Pg vi]
this tym of Eneas landyng, quhilk is fenyeit the
commonyng betwix hym and Venus, than, as
heir apperis, batakynnys all gud; for Jove is
clepit, Fortuna maior, and Venus, Fortuna
minor. He completis his curs in xij yeris; and,
by this constylation betwix him and Venus,
Seruius ondirstandis felicite to cum be a woman;
as followis be Dido: And that Venus was sorofull,
that is to knaw, discendent, and nocht in
hir strenth, signifeis the sorefull departyng and
myschans of Dido.


P. 37. l. 18.—Becaus ther is mensioun of
Anthenor, quham many, followand Gwydo De
Columnis, haldis tratour, sum thing of him will
I speyk, thocht it may suffis for his purgation
that Virgill heir hayth namit him, and almaste
comparit him to the mast soueran Eneas; quhilk
comparison na wys wald he haf maid for lak of
Eneas, gif he had bein tratour. Bot to schaw
his innocens, lat vs induce the mast nobill and
famus historian and mylky flud of eloquens,
gret Tytus Lyuius, quhilk of Anthenor and
Eneas sais thir wordis in his beginning: It is
weill wyt that, Troy beand takin, in all the
otheris Troianys crudelite was exersit, exceppand
twa, Athenor and Eneas: to quham the
Grekis did na harm, bot abstenyt fra all power
of batell as twichyng thaim, becaus of the rayson
of hospitalite; for thai had beyn ther ald hostis
and all tymys thai war solistaris and warkkaris
to rendyr Helen and to procur paice. Now I
beseik yow, curtes redaris, considdir gif this be
punctis of traison, or rathar of honour; and
wey the excellent awtorite of Virgill and Tytus
Lyuius with your pevach and corrupt Gwido.
Landinus sais als of this Anthenor that, for his
sone Glaucus followit Paris, he depechit him of
him, and for that sam caus, quhen he was aftyr
slan by Agamemnon, he maid na duyll for his ded.


P. 37. l. 19.—Ilyria hes his naym fra Illyrus,
son to Polyphemus, and, as sais Sextus Rufus,
it contenys xvij provyncis. It extendis endlang
all the gret flud Danubyum, callit Hister, on
bayth the sydis, and in it is Vngary, Pannony,
Sclauony, Bohem, Denmark, and Macydon:
and this Lyburnya is bot a part therof, contenand
certan ilis. Timauus is a flud in Lumbardy,
in the Venytian landis, that cumis furth of the
Duch Montanys at ix beginnyngis, quhilk all
rynnys in a loch, quham the pepill adiacent
callis a sey; and from this loch cumys the flud
that rynnys to Padva, byggit be Anthenor, as
heir ye may se. Bot it is to be notyt that
Virgill sais abuf, in the first c., Eneas coim
fyrst fra Troy to Italy; and heir it apperis
Anthenor caym befor him. To that sais Seruyus,
tha partis quhamto coym Anthenor beyn not
haldyn of Italy, bot of Lumbardy, callit Gallia
Cysalpina: or mayr evidently may we say that
Ene was the fyrst coim to Italy by fait, and at
the goddis command; Anthenor coym at his
awin auentur, and nocht be destine.


P. 38. l. 11.—Venus is clepit Cytherea fra
the ile Cythera, besid Creyt, quhar scho was
norysit; or fra the mont Cytheron, quhar scho
was gretly wirscheppit.


P. 38. l. 13.—The cyte of Rome, or than of
new Troy.


P. 38. l. 15.—The deyfication of Eneas is
eftyr, in the last c. of the xiij. buyk.


P. 38. l. 21.—Of the barganyng or batellis
of this Eneas, her in dyuers bukis followand;
and of the beldyng of this cyte, and how lang
his ryng endurit, in the last and penult c. of
the xiij. buyk.


P. 38. l. 29.—Julus is thre sillabis, spellit
wyth i per se and v per se.


P. 39. l. 4.—The cite Alba, biggit by Ascanius
son of Creusa, eftyr Virgill had his naim
fra the quhite swyn, as ye may se in the first
c. of the viij. buk; and was clepit Lang Alba,
for it was set end lang the band or ryg of a law
hill, as writis Tytus Lyuius, and was distroit
by Tullus Hostilius, thrid king of Rom; and
tharof in the xj. c. of the xiij. buke.


P. 39. l. 6.—Pepill Hectorean, hardy as
Hector, or of the kinrent and blude of Hector;
for this Ascanyus was his fift son.


[Pg vii]


P. 39. l. 11.—Of Romulus ye sall knaw, that
Porcas, the xj kyng of Alba or Albanys, gat
twa sonys, Numytor and Amulyus, betwyx
quham he dividit his realm. Bot this Amulyus
banyst his brother Numytor, and slew his son
Lawsus, and his dochtir, callit Ilya or Rhea,
consecrat a nun onto the goddes Vesta, to that
effect scho suld haf na succession; for in tha
dais sik nunis, gif thai brak ther virginite, war
eyrdit qwyk. Bot this Ilia consauyt and brocht
furth twa childyr mayll, quham thai fenze to
haf beyn engendyrit of Mars, becaus thai war
bellicos and chevalrus, and bygettin of sum
dowchti man; and than this Amulyus gart put
this Ilia to ded, and bad kast tha childyr in
Tybyr. Bot the flud be an speyt was flowyn
sa far our the brays thai mycht nocht wyn to
the crocis of the water, and thus war thai left
on the bra; and ane Fastulus, an hyrd, had
thaim born to his hows, and maid Acca his wyf,
other wys callyt Lupa, nuryce thaim: and, for
that Lupa batakinnys a wolf, and scho was
callit Lupa, therfor is it said a wolf fosterit
Romulus and Remus. And becaus this said
Acca or Lupa maid Romulus hir ayr, therfor
sais Virgill he was cled in his motheris or nuryce
tawbart. And eftyr, quhen thai worth men,
thai becam for the nanys briggantis of the wod,
and by a maner pollycy or practyk convenyt
that the tayn of thaim suld tak his brother and
all his complicis, and sa thai did, and brocht
him befor ther vncle the kyng Amulyus, as
thocht he wald accus him of a dedly cryme.
And quhen thai war in presens cumin, thai
bayth attanys rays apon Amulyus and slew him,
and ther declaryt ther blud and genealogy; and
therefter brocht haim thar grandsyr Numytor,
and restoryt to him his realm: syn went ther
way, and for thaim selvyn biggit Roym and
wallyt fyrst. And, for thai war bayth of a
byrth, thai beguyth debait for the naim of the
cyte. Than was appunctyt that on the morn
quha saw the mast nobyll syng, or takin Augurian,
suld geif the cyte his naym: and Remus
fyrst saw vj gripis, and Romulus eftyr hym xij
gripis. Than said the tayn his takyn was mast
nobyll, for that he saw thaim first; and the
tother na, becaus he saw ma: bot quhiddir it
was for that debait, or for the goyng our the
wallis, as otheris will say, Remus was slayn be
Fabyus, chyftan of weyr to Romulus, and the
cyte clepit Roma eftyr Romulus. And quhou or
quhy that he is callit Quyrites, and of his dowtsum
end, and of the sonnis eclips the tym of
his ded, and quhy he was repute a god, reid
Titus Lyuius, John Bocas in the last c. of the
Genealogie of Godis, in the ix. buke, and Augustyn
in the Cyte of God, in the xv. c. of the iij.
buke. And sum thing heireftir in the xiij. c. of
the vj. buke and the x. c. of the viij. buyk.


P. 39. l. 15.—Sanct Augustyn in his volum
clepit De verbis Domini, in the xxix sermond,
mokkis at this word, sayand, Yit is not the end,
and the empyr is translat to the Almanys: bot
Virgill was crafty, sais he, that wald not on his
awyn byhalf rehers thir wordis, bot maid Jupiter
pronunce thaim; and as he is a half fenzeit
god, swa is his prophecy.


P. 39. l. 26.—Pthyia was the cuntre of
Achylles; Myce, or Mycene, the realm of
Agamemnon; Arge the realm of kyng Adrastus,
pertenyng eftir to Diomed be raison of his
moder; and it is oft tane for all Grece, and
the Grekis therfra bein oft clepit Argiui, or
pepill of Arge.


P. 40. l. 2.—Of Julius Cesar, quhen I behald
his Commentareis, and the gret volum of Lucan,
and quhat of hym writis Swytoneus, I thynk
bettyr hald styll my pen than wryt lytill of sa
large a mater, and sa excellent a prynce. Bot
ye sall knaw that the principall entent of Virgill
was to extoll the Romanys, and in specyal the
famyllye or clan Julyan, that comin from this
Ascanyus, son to Eneas and Crevsa, otherwais
callyt Julus; becaus the empryour August Octauyan,
quhamto he direkkit this wark, was of
that hows and blud, and sistyr son to Cesar
Julyus. And therfor, quhen Cesar was slayn[Pg viii]
by the Sanatouris, Octavyan had revengeit his
deth, and rang passabilly at the byrth of our
salviour, quhen the starn of Bethliam apperit.
Than, to ples Octavian, said the Romanys, that
was the sawll of Cesar quhilk was deifyit; and
this opynion heir twichis Virgill, and als in his
Bucolyqueys.


P. 40. l. 13.—Off the stek and of closyng of
the tempill of Janus in tym of weyr and of pace,
ye haf in the vij. buyk, in the x. c. And this
tempill of Janus was twys closit befor Octauian;
anys be Numa Pompilius, and the secund tym
be Tytus Manlyus; and thris be Octavyan:
and this tym heyr markyt was the last tyme,
at the cumyng of Cryst, quhen all the warld
was in pace. In wytnes therof the angellis
sang pace in erd, the tym of bryth; the ij. c. of
Sanct Luke.


P. 40. l. 22.—Off Mercury red in the v. c. of
the iiij. buke: and that Mercur heir was send
doun from Jupiter is nocht ellis bot the planet
Mercur was at disces, and Jove ascendent;
quhilk signifeit frendschip in hast to cum, bot
not to lest lang.


P. 41. c. VI.—In this cheptir ye haf that
Eneas met his moder Venus in liknes of a virgyn,
or a mayd; by the quhilk ye sall vndirstand
that Venus is fenyeit to be modyr to
Eneas, becaus that Venus was in the ascendent,
and had domynation in the hevyn, the tym of his
natyvite: and, for that the planet Venus was
the signifiar of his byrth, and had domination
and speciall influens towart hym, therfor is
scho fenzeit to be his mother; and thus it that
poetis fenzeis bein full of secreyt ondyrstandyng
ondyr a hyd sentens or fygur. And weyn nocht
for this, thocht poetis fenzeis Venus the planet,
for the caus foirsaid, to be Eneas mother, at
thai beleve nocht he was motherles, bot that he
had a fayr lady to his moder, quhilk for hir
bewte was clepit Venus: and that Venus metis
Eneas in form and lyknes of a maid is to be
onderstood that Venus the planete that tym
was in the syng of the Virgyn, quhilk betakynnyt
luf and fawouris of wemen. And of Venus
and hir son Cupyd I sall say sum thyng in the
x. c. of this sam buke.


P. 41. l. 20.—Mony expondis Achates for
thochtfull cuyr or solicitud, quhilk all tymys is
feyr and companyeon to princis and gret men.


P. 42. l. 1.—The madynnis of Sparta bene
the Amasonys.


P. 42. l. 2.—Harpalica douchter to Ligurgus
kyng of Trace, hir fader beand tane be the
pepil of Getya, assemblit hir power, and with
sa gret haist persewit thame, that scho semyt in
swiftnes to forryn the swiftast flude of Trace,
callit Hebrun; and, with mair agilite and
hardyment than is almaste to be belevit, reskewit
hir fader and ourcome hir aduersaris.


P. 43. l. 5.—Thus said scho for to dissimyll
hyr self, or than becaus that in Cypir was scho
wirscheppit only wyth insens and flouris, and
nayn other sacrifyce, sa that it was onlefull ony
blud war sched in hir tempyll.


P. 43. l. 12.—Of Agenor ye sal knaw that
Jupiter engendrit Ephaphus, quhilk gat Belus
the first, that engendrit this Agenor, and he
begat Phenix, fra quham the realm of Tyre was
namyt Phenycia, and the pepil bath of Tyre
and Cartage Phenycianys, or Punycianys. This
Phenix begat Belus the secund, otherwys callit
Methres, and he was fader to this Pygmaleon,
and queyn Dido, otherwys nemmyt Elissa. This
ilk Phenix also engendrit Philistenes, quhilk
begat this Sycheus, otherwys callit Sicarbas,
spous to this ilk Dido, and gret preste to Hercules.


P. 44. l. 30.—Sum sais scho gave als mekyll
gold as wald gang in a bul hid for this grund;
sum haldis opynyon that in thai dais the monye
was mad of cuyrbulye or leddyr, and this castell
hes his naym therfra, for, in the langage of
Affrik, byrsa betakynnys leddyr, or a hyd: bot
Seruyus is of Virgillis opynion, sayand, Dido
maid carve the bull hid in sa small twhangis
that it cumpassyt abowt the spas of xxij stageis,
that is thre myllis quarter les.


[Pg ix]


P. 45. l. 17.—That Eneas heyr commendis
his self, it is not to be tayn that he said this for
arrogans, bot for to schaw his scyll; as a kyng
or prince onknawin in an onkowth land, may,
but repreif, rehers his estate and dygnite, to
mak him be tretyt as afferis. And als, becaus
he trastyt he spak with a goddes, that scho
suld nocht aschaym to remayn and talk with
hym therfor: and becaus scho was a woman,
he schew that he was a man of autorite, with
quham thai nedis nocht ascham to speyk; for
he was that man quhilk, by the common voce,
was clepit Eneas full of pyete. And for that
Virgill clepis hym swa all thro this buyk, and
I interpret that term, quhylys, for rewth, quhils,
for devotion, and quhilis, for pyete and compassion;
tharfor ye sall knaw that pyete is a
vertu, or gud deid, be the quhilk we geif our
dylligent and detfull lawbour to our natyve cuntre,
and onto thaim beyn conionyt to vs in neyr
degre: and this vertu, pyete, is a part of justyce,
and hes ondyr hym twa other vertws;
amyte, callyt frendschip, and liberalyte.


P. 45. l. 24.—Varo sais that Eneas, fra his
departing of Troy quhil he coym in the feldis
of Lawrentum, all the day saw the starn of
Venus; and quhen he was thiddir cummyn
he saw it na mair, quharby he ondirstud that
was his grund fatayll.


P. 46. l. 10.—Parentis betakynnys the childis
fader and moder baith.


P. 46. l. 13.—The Egill be poetis is fenyeit
to be Jovis fowle, and that he maid ministration
to him of the thunder and wapynnys the
tyme of the battale betwix the god Dis and the
gyantis. Bot, war it lefull to compar prophane
fabillis to haly Scriptour, Sanct John the ewangelist
is verray Jovis egill, and clepit son of
thundir.


P. 50. l. 6.—




Attrides beyn in Latyn clepit thus


Thir nevois reput of kyng Attryus,


That in our langage are the broder tway,


Kyng Agamemnon, and Duke Menalay.




P. 63. l. 8. Of Typhon, or Typheus, in the
xi. c. of the ix. buke.



CÆTERA DESUNT.







 Transcriber's Note



Variant spellings have otherwise been kept as printed.
The book was originally printed with the "long s" ("ſ"). This has been replaced by a modern "s".