TRANSLATIONS.

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THE TWELVE TRIUMPHS OF HENRY VII.

Here follow twelve exploits performed by Hercules, figured under twelve triumphs achieved by the very illustrious and puissant King Henry, Seventh of the name, King of England.

The Author.

To rehearse the wonderful exploits
Of king Henry VII. of England,

The triumphs that he has achieved in his day
Against Envy, the worst in the world,

Which, as may be seen in his case,
Pursues him with mortal warfare;

Yet still, as we ought to believe,

Nothing can injure those whom God means to help.

Of his virtue and illustrious dignity
According to my poor ability,

I will speak, that it may be known
How victoriously he reigns.
Treacherous Envy is always raging
To destroy him by her venomous fate,
But in the end he resists in such wise

That he will confound the envious traitors.

To describe by any comparison

His noble actions and his proud elevation,

I must by some means find

Those who in their time have had similar griefs.
I have seen in the history of the Greeks
How Juno entertained envy of Hercules,
And I know no subject which is nearer

To that of king Henry: God grant him long life!

Twelve triumphs did Hercules achieve

During his time, as the story recounts them to us.
He was brave and valiant in his exploits

To accomplish any meritorious work.
But, truly, I think that king Henry
Has a greater victory than Hercules:
For his feats are better worthy of memory
Against Envy; and I will prove it.

Juno, full of envy and malice,
Instigated king Eurystheus

To impose an unpropitious task

On Hercules that he might no longer reign.

Juno thought that in this exploit there was no

chance

Of his life. But it was otherwise;

For he exercised such noble virtues

That he resisted very gloriously.

Who is Juno? To understand the case well,
As one sees, and as it may appear,

The dowager of Flanders must be taken for her,
Who instigated right and left,

One who called himself (I know not if he be so)
King of the Romans, to destroy this good king.
Him I mean, and it is easy to understand,
For Eurystheus; this is enough for me.

As for the dragons that Juno brought
Into the chamber of Hercules to kill him,
The story says that Hercules conquered them,
But on this achievement I will not enlarge
beforehand.

Twelve other feats I will write in this place
Which Hercules did, well trained in virtues,
Returning, if I can well tell it,

To the triumphs of the noble king Henry.

Do you, my hearers, hold me excused
If I couch my rhetoric in uncouth terms.
As an unlearned person I set myself

To do this my skill applies itself thereto.
For since I have seen in public

The brilliant deeds of the king which I would relate,

First of all, and without farther remark,

I pray you that you will please to listen.

The First Exploit.

As I said that by exhortation

This Juno told Eurystheus

That he should send Hercules straightway

To fight with the lion of Cleonæ,

Who was there without longer delay.

Juno thought in this way to discomfit him,
But he found the shepherd Molorchus,
Who gave him his club to fight with.

I mean no other shepherd than God,
Who gave to king Henry power
To resist in each and every place
The envious who would do him injury.
He is the shepherd who is his ally,'
Who gives him this strong club
To keep him in secure enjoyment:
Not otherwise is the thing understood.