Book V. The river Xanthus flowed through the city, under the houses. (fol. 27 b.) In imitation of Troy, Rome was built on a riverthe Tiber. Priam caused all his people to settle in Troy. With all maister men pat on molde dwellis, 1600 Onestly enabit in entris Aboute. Thurgh myddis þe mekill toune meuyt a water, There were bild by the bankes of pe brode 1604 Mylnes full mony, made for to grynde, The water by wisshyng went vnder houses, Gosshet through Godardys & other grete vautes, 1608 And clensit by course all pe clene Cite Of filth and of feum, throughe fletyng by nethe. In Ensample of this Cite, sothely to telle, Rome on a Riuer rially was set, 1612 Enabit by Eneas after full longe, Tild vpon Tiber after Troy like. Priamus pertly the peopull ylkon, hat longit to his lond & logit O fer, 1616 Gert sue to pe Cite sothely to dwelle, And fild it with folke fuerse was pe nowmber, Of lordes of pe lond and oper lesse peopull. In pat Cite for sothe, as saith vs the story, Many games were 1620 Mony gaumes were begonnen þe grete for to solas. invented there, such as chess, draughts, dice, backgammon, magic, and May games. The chekker was choisly pere chosen þe first, The draghtes, the dyse, and oper dregh gaumes. Soche soteltie pai soght to solas hom with; 1624 The tables, the top, tregetre also, And in the moneth of may mekill þai vsit, With floures and fresshe bowes fecchyng of somer: Somur qwenes, and qwaintans, & oper qwaint gaumes, 1628 There foundyn was first, & yet ben forthe haunted. THE MAKYNG OF YLION. Priam by purpos a pales gert make Within the Cite full Solempne of a sete riall, Louely and large to logge in hym seluyn, 1632 ffull worthely wroght & by wit caste, And euyn at his etlyng Ylion was cald; Closit with a clene wall crustrit with towres, Euyn round as a ryng richely wroght,— 1636 ffyue hundrith fete fully the heght: Withoute, toures full tore torret aboue, þat were of heght so hoge, as I here fynde, bat the clowdes hom clede in vnclene ayre. 1640 In þe heghest to houe and beholde ouer, All the lond for to loke when hym lefe thought. 1648 The windowes, worthely wroght in a mesure, Shapyn full shene all of shyre stones, 1652 The bases & bourdurs all of bright perle. 1656 Drapred by dene with a dese riall. There were bordis full bright aboute in þat sale, Gret vp fro pe ground vppon gray marbill. 1660 With a flore þat was fret all of fyne stones, Pauyt prudly all with proude colours, Made after musycke, men on to loke. In the cheffe of pe choise halle, chosen for pe kyng, 1664 Was a grounde vp graid with gresis of Marbill, Book V. Priam caused a splendid palace to be built for himself, and called it Ilion. (fol. 28 a.) Its towers were seen from all parts of the province. It had beautifully wrought windows of carved crystal, set within pillars. The palace hall was overlaid with gold, draped with a royal dais; it had tables of cedar-wood, set on marble. The floor was of mosaic work. Book V. At one end of the (fol. 28 b.) And a tabill atyret, all of triet yuer, bat smelt is & smethe, smellis full swete, 1668 With taste for to touche the tabull aboute. ffor the souerayn hym selfe was a sete rioll, Atyret with a tabernacle of Eyntayill fyn. At the other end 1672 At the tother hede of pe halle was, hegh vppolofte, was an altar set with precious stones and pearls. On the altar stood an image of pure gold set with diamonds. When the city was completed, Priam began to think of his past misfortunes. A wonderfull werke weghes to beholde; With preciose stones of price & perlles ynogh, 1676 Goond vp by a grese all of goode stones, 1684 bat with lemys of light as a lamp shone :- 1688 With long dayes to endure & fro dethe kepe. THE CONSELL FOR THE RESTITUCION OF DE GREKES. Riches full ryfe & relikes ynow; All abundaunt in blisse blent with his folke, 1696 þat wele wantid no wegh, ne worship in vrthe. ban a sorow full sodenly sanke in his hert, A Remorec of maters, þat hym mys lyket; How be Grekes hym greuyt and to ground put, 1700 His fader & his fryndis ferkit out of lyue, Book V. (fol. 29 a.) And his suster into seruage, þat hym sore noyet. 1704 And his wille for to wete as hom wele aght. council of the whole city. Of his sons, only absent. Silence having been gained, the 1712 As become for a kyng in counsell with lordes; All pese vmbe pe plase, pepull were stille, Be comaundement of pe kyng, as be come well; king opened his ben he menyt of pe mater all with mylde wordes, 1716 And touchet his entent, as I telle shall. "Now lordys of my lond & other lefe pepull, subject. Priam's speech to the council; he Hit is knowen to pis court and oper kyd fryndes, recalls to mind the harm and loss that the Greeks had inflicted on 1720 That the Grekes in horgremy vs to grefe broght, the country. Bothe to me & to myne mykull vnright, And to yow & also yours 30meryng for euer. 1724 And my suster Exiona in seruage is holdyn, þat is comen of soche kyn, coldes my hert; 1728 pat ben set vnder seruage & sorow for ay. Our golde & our godys gripped in hond; 1732 Robbet our riches, our renttes distroyet; Book V. (fol. 29 b.) To redress these wrongs by their advice and aid seems right and proper. They have the means: and the time suits. But the fortune of war might be Token all our tresoures, trussit into grise; Mony knightes full kant, & kyd men of Armys. 1744 Armur and all thing abill perfore. Well viteld, I wis, for wynturs ynow; ffele fryndes and fauer out of fer londys, 1748 þat we to helpe vs may haue in a hond whyle: against them, and 1752 And siker were to sit and solas vs here: it would be safer to enjoy them selves at home. If the council think so, he will send a message to the Greeks, asking them to restore his sister, and to forget old quarrels. The council agree to the message. But be harme and the hethyng of my kynd suster, 1756 þat it reuys me my rest & my right hele. Thus gate to begyn er we goo ferre ;— hat I send for my suster on a softe wise 1760 To pe Grekes, for to goo with a goode wille And restore withoutyn strife into pis stide home, My sister Exina soberly & faire ; To qwit claym all querels, & be qweme fryndes. 1764 Of all our dures pai vs did & daunger for euer, All account and Enuy after to voide, Neuer to deire for pat dede pe dayes in our lyue." When the souerain hade said, pen sesit he here, 1768 And it liket well the lordys & pe ledis all: |