Page:History of the destruction of Troy (2).pdf/5

              the Destruction of Troy.                   5

but Exione, the king’s daughter, was de- voured, for whose hard fortune the people greatly lamented, as being a virtuous lady, of a beauteous behaviour, and exceeding fair: When at that instant she was led to be bound to the rock, followed by her weeping sisters, who were married, and a multitude of people, the mighty Hercules, whose name made nations tremble, return- ing from winning the golden fleece, arrived in the port, and enquiring into the matter, offered himself to be the lady’s champion. King Leomedon, upon this greatly, rejoic- ed, and promised him, if he overcame the monster, to give him whatever he desired in his kingdom; telling him a lamentable story of their desires and sufferings, which moved him to pity. But whilst they were discoursing, the sea came rowling on in mighty waves from afar; and immediately they could perceive the monster, in a terri- ble form and bigness, making to the shore; whereupon the virgin being bound to the rock, to wait the event, having only a cambrick shift over her delicate body. Her- cules took a huge iron club, which two strong men at his request, had fetched from Troy on their shoulders, and entering a boat began a combat with the monster, who roared terribly, and spouted floods of water on him, endeavouring to catch him in his monstrous mouth, and swallow him whole ; but