aright Th' invenom'd Shaft and wings the fatal Flight Thus fell the foremost of the Grecian Name And He the base Adult'rer boasts the Fame A Spectacle to glad the Trojan Train And please old Priam after Hector slain If by a Female Hand he had foreseen He was to die his Wish had rather been The Lance and double Axe of the fair Warrious Queen And now the Terror of the Trojan Field The Grecian Honour Ornament and Shield High on a Pile th' Unconquer'd Chief is plac'd The God that arm'd him first consum'd at last Of all the Mighty Man the small Remains A little Urn and scarcely fill'd contains Yet great in Homer still Achilles lives And equal to himself himself survives His Buckler owns its former Lord and brings New cause of Strife betwixt contending Kings Who Worthiest after him his Sword to weild Or wear his Armour or sustain his Shield Ev'n Diomede sate Mute with down-cast Eyes Conscious of wanted Worth to win the Prize Nor Menelas presum'd these Arms to claim Nor He the King of Men a greater Name Two Rivals only rose Laertes Son And the vast Bulk of Ajax Telamon The King who cherish'd each with equal Love And from himself all Envy wou'd remove Left both to be determin'd by the Laws And to the Grecian Chiefs transferr'd the Cause THE SPEECHES OF AJAX AND ULYSSES FROM Ovid's Metamorphoses BOOK XIII THE SPEECHES OF AJAX AND ULYSSES THE Chiefs were set the Soldiers crown'd the Field To these the Master of the sevenfold Shield Upstarted fierce And kindled with Disdain Eager to speak unable to contain His boiling Rage he rowl'd his Eyes around The Shore and Grecian Gallies hall'd a-ground Then stretching out his Hands O Iove he cry'd Must then our Cause before the Fleet be try'd And dares Ulysses for the Prize contend In sight of what he durst not once defend But basely fled that memorable Day When I from Hector's Hands redeem'd the flaming Prey So much 't is safer at the noisy Bar With Words to flourish than ingage in War By different Methods we maintain our Right Nor am I made to Talk nor he to Fight In bloody Fields I labour to be great His Arms are a smooth Tongue and soft Deceit Nor need I speak my Deeds for those you see The Sun and Day are Witnesses for me Let him who fights unseen relate his own And vouch the silent Stars and conscious Moon Great is the Prize demanded I confess But such an abject Rival makes it less That Gift those Honours he but hop'd to gain Can leave no room for Ajax to be vain Losing he wins because his Name will be Enobled by Defeat who durst contend with me Were my known Valour question'd yet my Blood Without that Plea wou'd make my Title good My Sire was Telamon whose Arms employ'd With Hercules these Trojan Walls destroy'd And who before with Jason sent from Greece In the first Ship brought home the Golden Fleece Great Telamon from AEacus derives His Birth th' Inquisitor of guilty lives In Shades below where Sysiphus whose Son This Thief is thought rouls up the restless heavy Stone Just AEacus the King of Gods above Begot Thus Ajax is the third from Jove Nor shou'd I seek advantage from my Line Unless Achilles it were mix'd with thine As next of Kin Achilles Arms I claim This Fellow wou'd ingraft a Foreign Name Upon our Stock and the Sysiphian Seed By Fraud and Theft asserts his Father's Breed Then must I lose these Arms because I came To fight uncall'd a voluntary Name Nor shun'd the Cause but offer'd you my Aid While he long lurking was to War betray'd Forc'd to the Field he came but in the Reer And feign'd Distraction to conceal his Fear Till one more cunning caught him in the Snare Ill for himself and drag'd him into War Now let a Hero's Arms a Coward vest And he who shun'd all Honours gain the best And let me stand excluded from my Right Rob'd of my Kinsman's Arms who first appear'd in Fight Better for us at home had he remain'd Had it been true the Madness which he feign'd Or so believ'd the less had been our Shame The less his counsell'd Crime which brands the Grecian Name Nor Philoctetes had been left inclos'd In a bare Isle to Wants and Pains expos'd Where to the Rocks with solitary Groans His Suff'rings and our Baseness he bemoans And wishes so may Heav'n his Wish fulfill The due Reward to him who caus'd his Ill. Now he with us to Troy's Destruction sworn Our Brother of the War by whom are born Alcides Arrows pent in narrow Bounds With Cold and Hunger pinch'd and pain'd with Wounds To find him Food and Cloathing must employ Against the Birds the Shafts due to the Fate of Troy Yet still he lives and lives from Treason free Because he left Vlysses Company Poor Palamede might wish so void of Aid Rather to have been left than so to Death betray'd The Coward bore the Man immortal Spight Who sham'd him out of Madness into Fight Nor daring otherwise to vent his Hate Accus'd him first of Treason to the State And then for proof produc'd the golden Store Himself had hidden in his Tent before Thus of two Champions he depriv'd our Hoast By Exile one and one by Treason lost Thus fights Vlysses thus his Fame extends A formidable Man but to his Friends Great for what Greatness is in Words and Sound Ev'n faithful Nestor less in both is found But that he might without a Rival reign He left this faithful Nestor on the Plain Forsook his Friend ev'n at his utmost Need Who tir'd and tardy with his wounded Steed Cry'd out for Aid and call'd him by his Name But Cowardice has neither Ears nor Shame Thus fled the good old Man bereft of Aid And for as much as lay in him betray'd That this is not a Fable forg'd by me Like one of his an Vlyssean Lie I vouch ev'n Diomede who tho' his Friend Cannot that Act excuse much less defend He call'd him back aloud and tax'd his Fear And fure enough he heard but durst not hear The Gods with equal Eyes on Mortals look He justly was forsaken who forsook Wanted that Succour he refused to lend Found ev'ry Fellow such another Friend No wonder if he roar'd that all might hear His Elocution was increas'd by fear I heard I ran I found him out of Breath Pale trembling and half dead with fear of Death Though he had judg'd himself by his own Laws And stood condemn'd I help'd the common Cause With my broad Buckler hid him from the Foe Ev'n the Shield trembled as he lay below And from impending Fate the Coward freed Good Heav'n forgive me for so bad a Deed If still he will persist and urge the Strife First let him give me back his forfeit Life Let him return to that opprobrious Field Again creep under my protecting Shield Let him lie wounded let the Foe be near And let his
him a Bow or his from Cupid take away Time glides along with undiscover'd haste The Future but a Length behind the past So swift are Years The Babe whom just before His Grandsire got and whom his Sister bore The Drop the Thing which late the Tree inclos'd And late the yawning Bark to Life expos'd A Babe a Boy a beauteous Youth appears And lovelier than himself at riper Years Now to the Queen of Love he gave Desires And with her Pains reveng'd his Mother's Fires THE FIRST BOOK OF HOMER'S ILIAS The First Book of Homer's Ilias The ARGUMENT Chryses Priest of Apollo brings Presents to the Grecian Princes to ransom his Daughter Chryseis who was Prisoner in the Fleet. Agamemnon the General whose Captive and Mistress the young Lady was refuses to deliver her threatens the Venerable Old Man and dismisses him with Contumely The Priest craves Vengeance of his God who sends a Plague among the Greeks Which occasions Achilles their Great Champion to summon a Council of the Chief Officers He encourages Calchas the High Priest and Prophet to tell the Reason why the Gods were so much incens'd against them Calchas is fearful of provoking Agamemnon till Achilles engages to protect him Then embolden'd by the Heroe he accuses the General as the Cause of all by detaining the Fair Captive and refusing the Presents offer'd for her Ransom By this Proceeding Agamemnon is oblig'd against his Will to restore Chryseis with Gifts that he might appease the Wrath of Phoebus but at the same time to revenge himself on Achilles sends to seize his Slave Briseis Achilles thus affronted complains to his Mother Thetis and begs her to revenge his Injury not only on the General but on all the Army by giving Victory to the Trojans till the ungrateful King became sensible of his Injustice At the same time he retires from the Camp into his Ships and withdraws his Aid from his Country-men Thetis prefers her Son's Petition to Jupiter who grants her Sute Juno suspects her Errand and quarrels with her Husband for his Grant till Vulcan reconciles his Parents with a Bowl of Nectar and sends them peaceably to Bed THe Wrath of Peleu's Son O Muse resound Whose dire Effects the Grecian Army found And many a Heroe King and hardy Knight Were sent in early Youth to Shades of Night Their Limbs a Prey to Dogs and Vulturs made So was the Sov'reign Will of Jove obey'd From that ill-omen'd Hour when Strife begun Betwixt Atrides Great and Thetis God-like Son What Pow'r provok'd and for what Cause relate Sow'd in their Breasts the Seeds of stern Debate Jove's and Latona's Son his Wrath express'd In Vengeance of his violated Priest Against the King of Men who swoln with Pride Refus'd his Presents and his Pray'rs deny'd For this the God a swift Contagion spread Amid the Camp where Heaps on Heaps lay dead For Venerable Chryses came to buy With Gold and Gifts of Price his Daughters Liberty Suppliant before the Grecian Chiefs he stood Awful and arm'd with Ensigns of his God Bare was his hoary Head one holy Hand Held forth his Laurel Crown and one his Sceptre of Command His Suit was common but above the rest To both the Brother-Princes thus address'd Ye Sons of Atreus and ye Grecian Pow'rs So may the Gods who dwell in Heav'nly Bow'rs Succeed your Siege accord the Vows you make And give you Troys Imperial Town to take So by their happy Conduct may you come With Conquest back to your sweet Native Home As you receive the Ransom which I bring Respecting Jove and the far-shooting King And break my Daughters Bonds at my desire And glad with her Return her grieving Sire With Shouts of loud Acclaim the Greeks decree To take the Gifts to set the Damsel free The King of Men alone with Fury burn'd And haughty these opprobrious Words return'd Hence Holy Dotard and avoid my Sight E'er Evil intercept thy tardy Flight Nor dare to tread this interdicted Strand Lest not that idle Sceptre in thy Hand Nor thy God's Crown my vow'd Revenge withstand Hence on thy Life The Captive-Maid is mine Whom not for Price or Pray'rs I will resign Mine she shall be till creeping Age and Time Her Bloom have wither'd and consum'd her Prime Till then my Royal Bed she shall attend And having first adorn'd it late ascend This for the Night by Day the Web and Loom And homely Houshold-task shall be her Doom Far from thy lov'd Embrace and her sweet Native Home He said The helpless Priest reply'd no more But sped his Steps along the hoarse-resounding Shore Silent he fled secure at length he stood Devoutly curs'd his Foes and thus invok'd his God O Source of Sacred Light attend my Pray'r God with the Silver Bow and Golden Hair Whom Chrysa Cilla Tenedos obeys And whose broad Eye their happy Soil surveys If Smintheus I have pour'd before thy Shrine The Blood of Oxen Goats and ruddy Wine And Larded Thighs on loaded Altars laid Hear and my just Revenge proptious aid Pierce the proud Greeks and with thy Shafts attest How much thy Pow'r is injur'd in thy Priest He pray'd and Phoebus hearing urg'd his Flight With Fury kindled from Olympus Height His Quiver o'er his ample Shoulders threw His Bow twang'd and his Arrows rattl'd as they flew Black as a stormy Night he rang'd around The Tents and compass'd the devoted Ground Then with full Force his deadly Bowe he bent And Feather'd Fates among the Mules and Sumpters sent Th'Essay of Rage on faithful Dogs the next And last in Humane Hearts his Arrows fix'd The God nine Days the Greeks at Rovers kill'd Nine Days the Camp with Fun'ral Fires was fill'd The Tenth Achilles by the Queens Command Who bears Heav'ns awful Sceptre in her Hand A Council summon'd for the Goddess griev'd Her favour'd Hoast shou'd perish unreliev'd The Kings assembl'd soon their Chief inclose Then from his Seat the Goddess-born arose And thus undaunted spoke What now remains But that once more we tempt the warry Plains And wandring homeward seek our Safety hence In Flight at least if we can find Defence Such Woes at once encompass us about The Plague within the Camp the Sword without Consult O King the Prophets of th' event And whence these Ills and what the Gods intent Let them by Dreams explore for Dreams from Jove are sent What want of offer'd Victims what Offence In Fact committed cou'd the Sun incense To deal his deadly Shafts What may remove His settled Hate and reconcile his Love That he may look propitious on our Toils And hungry Graves no more be glutted with our Spoils Thus to the King of Men the Hero spoke Then Calchas the desir'd Occasion took Calchas the sacred Seer who had in view Things present and the past and Things to come foreknew Supream of Angurs who by Phoebus taught The Grecian Pow'rs to Troy's Destruction brought Skill'd in the secret Causes of their Woes The Reverend Priest in graceful
Se ye not her that crowned is qd she All in white Madame qd I yes That is Diane goddes of chastity And for bicause that she a maiden is In her hond the braunch she bereth this That Agnus castus men call properly And all the ladies in her company Which ye se of that hearb chaplets weare Be such as han kepte alway her maidenhede And all they that of laurer chaplets beare Be such as hardy were and manly indeed Victorious name which neuer may be dede And all they were so worthy of ther hond In her time that none might hem withstond And tho that weare chapelets on ther hede Of fresh woodbind be such as neuer were To loue vntrue in word thought ne dede But aye stedfast ne for pleasance ne fere Thogh that they shuld their harts all to tere Would neuer flit but euer were stedfast Till that their liues there asunder brast Now faire Madame qd I yet I would pray Your ladiship if that it might be That I might know by some maner way Sith that it hath liked your beaute The trouth of these ladies for to tell me What that these knights be in rich armour And what tho be in greene and weare the flour And why that some did reuerence to the tre And some vnto the plot of floures faire With rizt good will my fair doughter qd she Sith youre desire is good and debonaire Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire Of all honour longing to chiualry And those certaine be called the nine worthy Which ye may se riding all before That in her time did many a noble dede And for their worthines ful oft haue bore The crowne of laurer leaues on their hede As ye may in your old bookes rede And how that he that was a conquerour Had by laurer alway his most honour And tho that beare bowes in their hond Of the precious laurer so notable Be such as were I woll ye vnderstond Noble knights of the round table And eke the douseperis honourable Which they bare in the signe of victory It is witnes of their dedes mightily Eke there be knights old of the Garter That in her time did right worthily And the honour they did to the laurer Is for by they haue their laud wholly Their Triumph eke and marshall glory Which vnto them is more parfit riches Then any wight imagine can or gesse For one leafe giuen of that noble tre To any wight that hath done worthily And it be done so as it ought to be Is more honour than any thing earthly Witnes of Rome that founder was truly Of all knighthood and deeds maruelous Record I take of Titus Liuius And as for her that crowned is in greene It is Flora of these floures goddesse And all that here on her awaiting beene It are such that loued idlenes And not delite of no busines But for to hunt and hauke and pley in medes And many other such idle dedes And for the great delite and pleasaunce They haue to the floure and so reuerently They vnto it do such obeisaunce As ye may se now faire Madame qd I If I durst aske what is the cause and why That knightes haue the signe of honour Rather by the leafe than by the floure Sothly doughter qd shee this is the trouth For knights euer should be perseuering To seeke honour without feintise or slouth Fro we le to better in all maner thing In signe of which with leaues aye lasting They be rewarded after their degree Whose lusty green May may not appaired be But aye keping their beauty fresh and greene For there nis storme that may hem deface Haile nor snow wind nor frosts kene Wherefore they haue this propertie and grace And for the floure within a little space Woll be lost so simple of nature They be that they no greuance may endure And euery storme will blow them soone away Ne they last not but for a season That if their cause the very trouth to say That they may not by no way of reason Be put to no such occupacion Madame qd I with all mine whole seruise I thanke you now in my most humble wise For now I am acertained throughly Of euery thing I desired to know I am right glad that I haue said sothly Ought to your pleasure if ye will me trow Qd. she ayen but to whom doe you owe Your seruice and which woll ye honour Tell me I pray this year the leafe or the floure Madame qd I though I least worthy Vnto the leafe I owe mine obseruaunce That is qd she right well done certainly And I pray God to honour you auaunce And kepe you fro the wicked remembraunce Of male bouch and all his crueltie And all that good and well condicioned be For here may I no lenger now abide I must follow the great company That ye may see yonder before you ride And forth as I couth most humbly I tooke my leue of her as she gan hie After hem as fast as euer she might And I drow homeward for it was nigh night And put all that I had seen in writing Vnder support of them that lust it to rede O little booke thou art so vnconning How darst thou put thy selfe in prees for drede It is wonder that thou wexest not rede Sith that thou wost ful lite who shall behold Thy rude langage ful boistoufly vnfold THE WIFE OF BATHE'S TALE As it was written by GEFFREY CHAUCER The ARGUMENT A Batcheler of King Arthur's Court is enjoyned by the Queen to tell what thing it is that women most desire At length he is taught it by an old Woman who for that cause is enforced to marry her IN the old daies of king Artour Of which the Bretons speaken great honour All was this lond fulfilled of fairy The Else quene with her ioly company Daunsed full oft in many a grene mede This was the old opinion as I rede I speake of many an hundred yere ago But now can no man se none elfes mo For now the great charite and praiers Of limitours and other holy 〈◊〉 That serchen euery land and euery streme As thicke as motes in the Sunne beme Blissing halles chambers kitchens and boures Citees borowes castelles and hie toures Thropes bernes shepens and deiries This maketh that there been no fairies For there as wont to walke was an Elfe There walketh now the limitour himselfe In vndermeles and in mornynges And saieth his Mattins and his holy thinges As he goeth in his limitacioun Women may go safely vp and doun In euery bush and vnder euery tre There nis none other Incubus but he And he ne will doen hem no dishonour And so fell it that this kyng Artour Had in his house a lusty batcheler That on a day come riding fro the riuer And happed that alone as he was borne He saw a maid walkyng him biforne Of which maid anon maugre her hed By very force he biraft her maidenhed For which
their Diff'rence to decide The Pow'r that ministers to God's Decrees And executes on Earth what Heav'n foresees Call'd Providence or Chance or fatal Sway Comes with resistless Force and finds or makes her Way Nor Kings nor Nations nor united Pow'r One Moment can retard th' appointed Hour And some one Day some wondrous Chance appears Which happen'd not in Centuries of Years For sure whate'er we Mortals hate or love Or hope or fear depends on Pow'rs above They move our Appetites to Good or Ill And by Foresight necessitate the Will In Theseus this appears whose youthful Joy Was Beasts of Chase in Forests to destroy This gentle Knight inspir'd by jolly May Forsook his easie Couch at early Day And to the Wood and Wilds pursu'd his Way Beside him rode Hippolita the Queen And Emily attir'd in lively Green With Horns and Hounds and all the tuneful Cry To hunt a Royal Hart within the Covert nigh And as he follow'd Mars before so now He serves the Goddess of the Silver Bow The Way that Theseus took was to the Wood Where the two Knights in cruel Battel stood The Laund on which they fought th' appointed Place In which th' uncoupl'd Hounds began the Chace Thither forth-right he rode to rowse the Prey That shaded by the Fern in Harbour lay And thence dislodg'd was wont to leave the Wood For open Fields and cross the Crystal Flood Approach'd and looking underneath the Sun He saw proud Arcite and fierce Palamon In mortal Battel doubling Blow on Blow Like Lightning flam'd their Fauchions to and fro And shot a dreadful Gleam so strong they strook There seem'd less Force requir'd to fell an Oak He gaz'd with Wonder on their equal Might Look'd eager on but knew not either Knight Resolv'd to learn he spurr'd his fiery Steed With goring Rowels to provoke his Speed The Minute ended that began the Race So soon he was betwixt 'em on the Place And with his Sword unsheath'd on pain of Life Commands both Combatants to cease their Strife Then with imperious Tone pursues his Threat What are you Why in Arms together met How dares your Pride presume against my Laws As in a listed Field to fight your Cause Unask'd the Royal Grant no Marshal by As Knightly Rites require nor Judge to try Then Palamon with scarce recover'd Breath Thus hasty spoke We both deserve the Death And both wou'd die for look the World around A Pair so wretched is not to be found Our Life 's a Load encumber'd with the Charge We long to set th' imprison'd Soul at large Now as thou art a Sovereign Judge decree The rightful Doom of Death to him and me Let neither find thy Grace for Grace is Cruelty Me first O kill me first and cure my Woe Then sheath the Sword of Justice on my Foe Or kill him first for when his Name is heard He foremost will receive his due Reward Arcite of Thebes is he thy mortal Foe On whom thy Grace did Liberty bestow But first contracted that if ever found By Day or Night upon th' Athenian Ground His Head should pay the Forfeit See return'd The perjur'd Knight his Oath and Honour scorn'd For this is he who with a borrow'd Name And profer'd Service to thy Palace came Now call'd Philostratus retain'd by thee A Traytor trusted and in high Degree Aspiring to the Bed of beauteous Emily My Part remains From Thebes my Birth I own And call my self th' unhappy Palamon Think me not like that Man since no Disgrace Can force me to renounce the Honour of my Race Know me for what I am I broke thy Chain Nor promis'd I thy Pris'ner to remain The Love of Liberty with Life is giv'n And Life it self th' inferiour Gift of Heaven Thus without Crime I fled but farther know I with this Arcite am thy mortal Foe Then give me Death since I thy Life pursue For Safeguard of thy self Death is my Due More would'st thou know I love bright Emily And for her Sake and in her Sight will die But kill my Rival too for he no less Deserves and I thy righteous Doom will bless Assur'd that what I lose he never shall possess To this reply'd the stern Athenian Prince And sow'rly smild In owning your Offence You judge your self and I but keep Record In place of Law while you pronounce the Word Take your Desert the Death you have decreed I seal your Doom and ratifie the Deed. By Mars the Patron of my Arms you die He said dumb Sorrow seiz'd the Standers by The Queen above the rest by Nature Good The Pattern form'd of perfect Womanhood For tender Pity wept When she began Through the bright Quire th' infectious Vertue ran All dropp'd their Tears ev'n the contended Maid And thus among themselves they softly said What Eyes can suffer this unworthy Sight Two Youths of Royal Blood renown'd in Fight The Mastership of Heav'n in Face and Mind And Lovers far beyond their faithless Kind See their wide streaming Wounds they neither came From Pride of Empire nor desire of Fame Kings fight for Kingdoms Madmen for Applause But love for Love alone that crowns the Lover's Cause This Thought which ever bribes the beauteous Kind Such Pity wrought in ev'ry Ladies Mind They left their Steeds and prostrate on the Place From the fierce King implor'd th' Offenders Grace He paus'd a while stood silent in his Mood For yet his Rage was boiling in his Blood But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt As softest Metals are not slow to melt And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds Then reasons with himself and first he finds His Passion cast a Mist before his Sense And either made or magnifi'd th' Offence Offence of what to whom Who judg'd the Cause The Pris'ner freed himself by Natures Laws Born free he sought his Right The Man he freed Was perjur'd but his Love excus'd the Deed Thus pond'ring he look'd under with his Eyes And saw the Womens Tears and heard their Cries Which mov'd Compassion more He shook his Head And softly sighing to himself he said Curse on th' unpard'ning Prince whom Tears can draw To no Remorse who rules by Lions Law And deaf to Pray'rs by no Submission bow'd Rends all alike the Penitent and Proud At this with Look serene he rais'd his Head Reason resum'd her Place and Passion fled Then thus aloud he spoke The Pow'r of Love In Earth and Seas and Air and Heav'n above Rules unresisted with an awful Nod By daily Miracles declar'd a God He blinds the Wise gives Eye-sight to the Blind And moulds and stamps anew the Lover's Mind Behold that Arcite and this Palamon Freed from my Fetters and in Safety gone What hinder'd either in their Native Soil At ease to reap the Harvest of their Toil But Love their Lord did otherwise ordain And brought 'em in then own despite again To suffer Death deserv'd for well they know 'T is in my Pow'r and I their deadly Foe The Proverb
In Knots they stand or in a Rank they walk Serious in Aspect earnest in their Talk Factious and fav'ring this or t' other Side As their strong Fancies and weak Reason guide Their Wagers back their Wishes Numbers hold With the fair freckl'd King and Beard of Gold So vig'rous are his Eyes such Rays they cast So prominent his Eagles Beak is plac'd But most their Looks on the black Monarch bend His rising Muscles and his Brawn commend His double-biting Ax and beamy Spear Each asking a Gygantick Force to rear All spoke as partial Favour mov'd the Mind And safe themselves at others Cost divin'd Wak'd by the Cries th' Athenian Chief arose The Knightly Forms of Combate to dispose And passing through th' obsequious Guards he sate Conspicuous on a Throne sublime in State There for the two contending Knights he sent Arm'd Cap-a-pe with Rev'rende low they bent He smil'd on both and with superiour Look Alike their offer'd Adoration took The People press on ev'ry Side to see Their awful Prince and hear his high Decree Then signing to the Heralds with his Hand They gave his Orders from their lofty Stand. Silence is thrice enjoin'd then thus aloud The King at Arms bespeaks the Knights and listning Crowd Our Sovereign Lord has ponder'd in his Mind The Means to spare the Blood of gentle Kind And of his Grace and in-born Clemency He modifies his first severe Decree The keener Edge of Battel to rebate The Troops for Honour fighting not for Hate He wills not Death shou'd terminate their Strife And Wounds if Wounds ensue be short of Life But issues e'er the Fight his dread Command That Slings afar and Ponyards Hand to Hand Be banish'd from the Field that none shall dare With shortned Sword to stab in closer War But in fair Combate fight with manly Strength Nor push with biting Point but strike at length The Turney is allow'd but one Career Of the tough Ash with the sharp-grinded Spear But Knights unhors'd may rise from off the Plain And fight on Foot their Honour to regain Nor if at Mischief taken on the Ground Be slain but Pris'ners to the Pillar bound At either Barrier plac'd nor Captives made Be freed or arm'd anew the Fight invade The Chief of either Side bereft of Life Or yielded to his Foe concludes the Strife Thus dooms the Lord Now valiant Knights and young Fight each his fill with Swords and Maces long The Herald ends The vaulted Firmament With loud Acclaims and vast Applause is rent Heav'n guard a Prince so gracious and so good So just and yet so provident of Blood This was the gen'ral Cry The Trumpets sound And Warlike Symphony is heard around The marching Troops through Athens take their way The great Earl-Marshal orders their Array The Fair from high the passing Pomp behold A Rain of Flow'rs is from the Windows roll'd The Casements are with Golden Tissue spread And Horses Hoofs for Earth on Silken Tap'ftry tread The King goes midmost and the Rivals ride In equal Rank and close his either Side Next after these there rode the Royal Wife With Emily the Cause and the Reward of Strife The following Cavalcade by Three and Three Proceed by Titles marshall'd in Degree Thus through the Southern Gate they take their Way And at the Lists arriv'd e'er Prime of Day There parting from the King the Chiefs divide And wheeling East and West before their Many ride Th' Athenian Monarch mounts his Throne on high And after him the Queen and Emily Next these the Kindred of the Crown are grac'd With nearer Seats and Lords by Ladies plac'd Scarce were they seated when with Clamours loud In rush'd at once a rude promiscuous Crowd The Guards and then each other overbare And in a Moment throng the spacious Theatre Now chang'd the jarring Noise to Whispers low As Winds forsaking Seas more softly blow When at the Western Gate on which the Car Is plac'd alost that bears the God of War Proud Arcite entring arm'd before his Train Stops at the Barrier and divides the Plain Red was his Banner and display'd abroad The bloody Colours of his Patron God At that self-moment enters Palamon The Gate of Venus and the Rising Sun Wav'd by the wanton Winds his Banner flies All Maiden White and shares the Peoples Eyes From East to West look all the World around Two Troops so match'd were never to be found Such Bodies built for Strength of equal Age In Stature siz'd so proud an Equipage The nicest Eye cou'd no Distinction make Where lay th' Advantage or what Side to take Thus rang'd the Herald for the last proclaims A Silence while they answer'd to their Names For so the King decreed to shun with Care The Fraud of Musters false the common Bane of War The Tale was just and then the Gates were clos'd And Chief to Chief and Troop to Troop oppos'd The Heralds last retir'd and loudly cry'd The Fortune of the Field be fairly try'd At this the Challenger with fierce Defie His Trumpet sounds the Challeng'd makes Reply With Clangour rings the Field resounds the vaulted Sky Their Vizors clos'd their Lances in the Rest Or at the Helmet pointed or the Crest They vanish from the Barrier speed the Race And spurring see decrease the middle Space A Cloud of Smoke envellops either Host And all at once the Combatants are lost Darkling they join adverse and shock unseen Coursers with Coursers justling Men with Men As lab'ring in Eclipse a while they stay Till the next Blast of Wind restores the Day They look anew The beauteous Form of Fight Is chang'd and War appears a grizly Sight Two Troops in fair Array one Moment show'd The next a Field with fallen Bodies strow'd Not half the Number in their Seats are found But Men and Steeds lie grov'ling on the Ground The Points of Spears are stuck within the Shield The Steeds without their Riders scour the Field The Knights unhors'd on Foot renew the Fight The glitt'ring Fauchions cast a gleaming Light Hauberks and Helms are hew'd with many a Wound Out spins the streaming Blood and dies the Ground The mighty Maces with such haste descend They break the Bones and make the solid Armour bend This thrusts amid the Throng with furious Force Down goes at once the Horseman and the Horse That Courser stumbles on the fallen Steed And floundring throws the Rider o'er his Head One rolls along a Foot-ball to his Foes One with a broken Truncheon deals his Blows This halting this disabl'd with his Wound In Trumph led is to the Pillar bound Where by the King's Award he must abide There goes a Captive led on t' other Side By Fits they cease and leaning on the Lance Take Breath a while and to new Fight advance Full oft the Rivals met and neither spar'd His utmost Force and each forgot to ward The Head of this was to the Saddle bent That other backward to the Crupper sent Both were by Turns unhors'd the
Arts Endeavours can we have Guibbons but guesses nor is sure to save But Maurus sweeps whole Parishes and Peoples ev'ry Grave And no more Mercy to Mankind will use Than when he robb'd and murder'd Maro's Muse. Wou'dst thou be soon dispatch'd and perish whole Trust Maurus with thy Life and M lb rn with thy Soul By Chace our long-liv'd Fathers earn'd their Food Toil strung the Nerves and purifi'd the Blood But we their Sons a pamper'd Race of Men Are dwindl'd down to threescore Years and ten Better to hunt in Fields for Health unbought Than fee the Doctor for a nauseous Draught The Wise for Cure on Exercise depend God never made his Work for Man to mend The Tree of Knowledge once in Eden plac'd Was easie found but was forbid the Taste O had our Grandsire walk'd without his Wife He first had sought the better Plant of Life Now both are lost Yet wandring in the dark Physicians for the Tree have found the Bark They lab'ring for Relief of Humane Kind With sharpen'd Sight some Remedies may find Th' Apothecary-Train is wholly blind From Files a Random Recipe they take And Many Deaths of One Prescription make Garth gen'rous as his Muse prescribes and gives The Shop-man sells and by Destruction lives Ungrateful Tribe who like the Viper's Brood From Med'cine issuing suck their Mother's Blood Let These obey and let the Learn'd prescribe That Men may die without a double Bribe Let Them but under their Superiours kill When Doctors first have sign'd the bloody Bill He scapes the best who Nature to repair Draws Phisick from the Fields in Draughts of Vital Air. You hoard not Health for your own private Use But on the Publick spend the rich Produce When often urg'd unwilling to be Great Your Country calls you from your lov'd Retreat And sends to Senates charg'd with Common Care Which none more shuns and none can better bear Where cou'd they find another form'd so fit To poise with solid Sense a spritely Wit Were these both wanting as they both abound Where cou'd so firm Integrity be found Well-born and Wealthy wanting no Support You steer betwixt the Country and the Court Nor gratifie whate'er the Great desire Nor grudging give what Publick Needs require Part must be left a Fund when Foes invade And Part employ'd to roll the Watry Trade Ev'n Canaans happy Land when worn with Toil Requir'd a Sabbath-Year to mend the meagre Soil Good Senators and such are you so give That Kings may be supply'd the People thrive And He when Want requires is truly Wise Who slights not Foreign Aids nor over-buys But on our Native Strength in time of need relies Munster was bought we boast not the Success Who fights for Gain for greater makes his Peace Our Foes compell'd by Need have Peace embrac'd The Peace both Parties want is like to last Which if secure securely we may trade Or not secure shou'd never have been made Safe in our selves while on our selves we stand The Sea is ours and that defends the Land Be then the Naval Stores the Nations Care New Ships to build and batter'd to repair Observe the War in ev'ry Annual Course What has been done was done with British Force Namur Subdu'd is England's Palm alone The Rest Besieg'd but we Constrain'd the Town We saw th' Event that follow'd our Success France though pretending Arms pursu'd the Peace Oblig'd by one sole Treaty to restore What Twenty Years of War had won before Enough for Europe has our Albion fought Let us enjoy the Peace our Blood has bought When once the Persian King was put to Flight The weary Macedons refus'd to fight Themselves their own Mortality confess'd And left the Son of Jove to quarrel for the rest Ev'n Victors are by Victories undone Thus Hannibal with Foreign Laurels won To Carthage was recall'd too late to keep his own While sore of Battel while our Wounds are green Why shou'd we tempt the doubtful Dye agen In Wars renew'd uncertain of Success Sure of a Share as Umpires of the Peace A Patriot both the King and Country serves Prerogative and Privilege preserves Of Each our Laws the certain Limit show One must not ebb nor t' other overflow Betwixt the Prince and Parliament we stand The Barriers of the State on either Hand May neither overflow for then they drown the Land When both are full they feed our bless'd Abode Like those that water'd once the Paradise of God Some Overpoife of Sway by Turns they share In Peace the People and the Prince in War Consuls of mod'rate Pow'r in Calms were made When the Gauls came one sole Dictator sway'd Patriots in Peace assert the Peoples Right With noble Stubbornness resisting Might No Lawless Mandates from the Court receive Nor lend by Force but in a Body give Such was your gen'rous Grandsire free to grant In Parliaments that weigh'd their Prince's Want But so tenacious of the Common Cause As not to lend the King against his Laws And in a lothsom Dungeon doom'd to lie In Bonds retain'd his Birthright Liberty And sham'd Oppression till it set him free O true Descendent of a Patriot Line Who while thou shar'st their Lustre lend'st 'em thine Vouchsafe this Picture of thy Soul to see 'T is so far Good as it resembles thee The Beauties to th' Original I owe Which when I miss my own Defects I show Nor think the Kindred-Muses thy Disgrace A Poet is not born in ev'ry Race Two of a House few Ages can afford One to perform another to record Praise-worthy Actions are by thee embrac'd And 't is my Praise to make thy Praises last For ev'n when Death dissolves our Humane Frame The Soul returns to Heav'n from whence it came Earth keeps the Body Verse preserves the Fame MELEAGER AND ATALANTA Out of the Eighth Book OF OVID'S Metamorphosis MELEAGER AND ATALANTA Out of the Eighth Book of OVID's METAMORPHOSIS CONNEXION to the Former STORY Ovid having told how Theseus had freed Athens from the Tribute of Children which was impos'd on them by Minos King of Creta by killing the Minotaur here makes a Digression to the Story of Meleager and Atalanta which is one of the most inartificial Connexions in all the Metamorphoses For he only says that Theseus obtain'd such Honour from that Combate that all Greece had recourse to him in their Necessities and amongst others Calydon though the Heroe of that Country Prince Meleager was then living FRom him the Caledonians sought Relief Tho' valiant Meleagrus was their Chief The Cause a Boar who ravag'd far and near Of Cynthia's Wrath th' avenging Minister For Oeneus with Autumnal Plenty bless'd By Gifts to Heav'n his Gratitude express'd Cull'd Sheafs to Ceres to Lyaeus Wine To Pan and Pales offer'd Sheep and Kine And Fat of Olives to Minerva's Shrine Beginning from the Rural Gods his Hand Was lib'ral to the Pow'rs of high Command Each Deity in ev'ry Kind was bless'd Till at Diana's Fane th'invidious Honour ceas'd Wrath touches
shall rise Though mine the Woman for my ravish'd Prize But she excepted as unworthy Strife Dare not I charge thee dare not on thy Life Touch ought of mine beside by Lot my due But stand aloof and think profane to view This Fauchion else not hitherto withstood These hostile Fields shall fatten with thy Blood He said and rose the first the Council broke And all their grave Consults dissolv'd in Smoke The Royal Youth retir'd on Vengeance bent Patroclus follow'd silent to his Tent. Mean time the King with Gifts a Vessel stores Supplies the Banks with twenty chosen Oars And next to reconcile the shooter God Within her hollow Sides the Sacrifice he stow'd Chryseis last was set on board whose Hand Ulysses took intrusted with Command They plow the liquid Seas and leave the less'ning Land Atrides then his outward Zeal to boast Bade purify the Sin-polluted Host. With perfect Hecatombs the God they grac'd Whose offer'd Entrails in the Main were cast Black Bulls and bearded Goats on Altars lie And clouds of sav'ry stench involve the Sky These Pomps the Royal Hypocrite design'd For Shew But harbour'd Vengeance in his Mind Till holy Malice longing for a vent At length discover'd his conceal'd Intent Talthybius and Eurybates the just Heralds of Arms and Ministers of Trust He call'd and thus bespoke Haste hence your way And from the Goddess-born demand his Prey If yielded bring the Captive If deny'd The King so tell him shall chastise his Pride And with arm'd Multitudes in Person come To vindicate his Pow'r and justify his Doom This hard Command unwilling they obey And o'er the barren Shore pursue their way Where quarter'd in their Camp the fierce Thessalians lay Their Sov'reign seated on his Chair they find His pensive Cheek upon his Hand reclin'd And anxious Thoughts revolving in his Mind With gloomy Looks he saw them entring in Without Salute Nor durst they first begin Fearful of rash Offence and Death foreseen He soon the Cause divining clear'd his Brow And thus did liberty of Speech allow Interpreters of Gods and Men be bold Awful your Character and uncontroll'd Howe'er unpleasing be the News you bring I blame not you but your Imperious King You come I know my Captive to demand Patroclus give her to the Herald's Hand But you authentick Witnesses I bring Before the Gods and your ungrateful King Of this my Manifest That never more This Hand shall combate on the crooked Shore No let the Grecian Pow'rs oppress'd in Fight Unpity'd perish in their Tyrants sight Blind of the future and by Rage misled He pulls his Crimes upon his People's Head Forc'd from the Field in Trenches to contend And his Insulted Camp from Foes defend He said and soon obeying his intent Patroclus brought Briseis from her Tent Then to th' intrusted Messengers resign'd She wept and often cast her Eyes behind Forc'd from the Man she lov'd They led her thence Along the Shore a Pris'ner to their Prince Sole on the barren Sands the suff'ring Chief Roar'd out for Anguish and indulg'd his Grief Cast on his Kindred Seas a stormy Look And his upbraided Mother thus bespoke Unhappy Parent of a short-liv'd Son Since Jove in pity by thy Pray'rs was won To grace my small Remains of Breath with Fame Why loads he this imbitter'd Life with Shame Suff'ring his King of Men to force my Slave Whom well deserv'd in War the Grecians gave Set by old Ocean's side the Goddess heard Then from the sacred Deep her Head she rear'd Rose like a Morning-mist and thus begun To sooth the Sorrows of her plaintive Son Why cry's my Care and why conceals his Smart Let thy afflicted Parent share her part Then sighing from the bottom of his Breast To the Sea-Goddess thus the Goddess-born address'd Thou know'st my Pain which telling but recals By force of Arms we raz'd the Theban Walls The ransack'd City taken by our Toils We left and hither brought the golden Spoils Equal we shar'd them but before the rest The proud Prerogative had seiz'd the best Chryseis was the greedy Tyrant's Prize Chryseis rosy Cheek'd with charming Eyes Her Syre Apollo's Priest arriv'd to buy With proffer'd Gifts of Price his Daughter's liberty Suppliant before the Grecians Chiefs he stood Awful and arm'd with Ensigns of his God Bare was his hoary Head one holy Hand Held forth his Lawrel-Crown and one his Scepter of Com His Suit was common but above the rest mand To both the Brother-Princes was address'd With Shouts of loud Acclaim the Greeks agree To take the Gifts to set the Pris'ner free Not so the Tyrant who with scorn the Priest Receiv'd and with opprobrious Words dismiss'd The good old Man forlorn of human Aid For Vengeance to his heav'nly Patron pray'd The Godhead gave a favourable Ear And granted all to him he held so dear In an ill hour his piercing Shafts he sped And heaps on heaps of slaughter'd Greeks lay dead While round the Camp he rang'd At length arose A Seer who well divin'd and durst disclose The Source of all our Ills I took the Word And urg'd the sacred Slave to be restor'd The God appeas'd The swelling Monarch storm'd And then the Vengeance vow'd he since perform'd The Greeks 't is true their Ruin to prevent Have to the Royal Priest his Daughter sent But from their haughty King his Heralds came And seiz'd by his Command my Captive Dame By common Suffrage given but thou be won If in thy Pow'r t' avenge thy injur'd Son Ascend the Skies and supplicating move Thy just Complaint to Cloud-compelling Jove If thou by either Word or Deed hast wrought A kind remembrance in his grateful Thought Urge him by that For often hast thou said Thy Pow'r was once not useless in his Aid When He who high above the Highest reigns Surpriz'd by Traytor-Gods was bound in Chains When Juno Pallas with Ambition fir'd And his blue Brother of the Seas conspir'd Thou freed'st the Soveraign from unworthy Bands Thou brought'st Briareus with his hundred Hands So call'd in Heav'n but mortal Men below By his terrestrial Name AEgeon know Twice stronger than his Syre who sate above Assessor to the Throne of thundring Jove The Gods dismay'd at his approach withdrew Nor durst their unaccomplish'd Crime pursue That Action to his grateful Mind recal Embrace his Knees and at his Footstool fall That now if ever he will aid our Foes Let Troy's triumphant Troops the Camp inclose Ours beaten to the Shore the Siege fasake And what their King deserves with him partake That the proud Tyrant at his proper cost May learn the value of the Man he lost To whom the Mother-Goddess thus reply'd Sigh'd e'er she spoke and while she spoke she cry'd Ah wretched me by Fates averse decreed To bring thee forth with Pain with care to breed Did envious Heav'n not otherwise ordain Safe in thy hollow Ships thou shou'd'st remain Nor ever tempt the fatal Field again But now thy Planet sheds his pois'nous Rays
my Spear And after cur'd To me the Thebans owe Lesbos and Tenedos their overthrow Syros and Cylla Not on all to dwell By me Lyrnesus and strong Chrysa fell And since I sent the Man who Hector slew To me the noble Hector's Death is due Those Arms I put into his living Hand Those Arms Pelides dead I now demand When Greece was injur'd in the Spartan Prince And met at Aulis to revenge th' Offence 'T was a dead Calm or adverse Blasts that reign'd And in the Port the Wind-bound Fleet detain'd Bad Signs were seen and Oracles severe Were daily thunder'd in our General 's Ear That by his Daughter's Blood we must appease Diana's kindled Wrath and free the Seas Affection Int'rest Fame his Heart assail'd But soon the Father o'er the King prevail'd Bold on himself he took the pious Crime As angry with the Gods as they with him No Subject cou'd sustain their Sov'raign's Look Till this hard Enterprize I undertook I only durst th' Imperial Pow'r controul And undermin'd the Parent in his Soul Forc'd him t' exert the King for common Good And pay our Ransom with his Daughters Blood Never was Cause more difficult to plead Than where the Judge against himself decreed Yet this I won by dint of Argument The Wrongs his injur'd Brother underwent And his own Office sham'd him to consent 'T was harder yet to move the Mother's Mind And to this heavy Task was I design'd Reasons against her Love I knew were vain I circumvented whom I could not gain Had Ajax been employ'd our slacken'd Sails Had still at Aulis waited happy Gales Arriv'd at Troy your choice was fix'd on me A fearless Envoy fit for a bold Embassy Secure I enter'd through the hostile Court Glitt'ring with Steel and crowded with Resort There in the midst of Arms I plead our Cause Urge the foul Rape and violated Laws Accuse the Foes as Authors of the Strife Reproach the Ravisher demand the Wife Priam Antenor and the wiser few I mov'd but Paris and his lawless Crew Scarce held their Hands and lifted Swords But stood In Act to quench their impious Thirst of Blood This Menelaus knows expos'd to share With me the rough Preludium of the War Endless it were to tell what I have done In Arms or Council since the Siege begun The first Encounter 's past the Foe repell'd They skulk'd within the Town we kept the Field War seem'd asleep for nine long Years at length Both Sides resolv'd to push we try'd our Strength Now what did Ajax while our Arms took Breath Vers'd only in the gross mechanick Trade of Death If you require my Deeds with ambush'd Arms I trap'd the Foe or tir'd with false Alarms Secur'd the Ships drew Lines along the Plain The Fainting chear'd chastis'd the Rebel-train Provided Forage our spent Arms renew'd Employ'd at home or sent abroad the common Cause pursu'd The King deluded in a Dream by Jove Despair'd to take the Town and order'd to remove What Subject durst arraign the Pow'r supreme Producing Jove to justify his Dream Ajax might wish the Soldiers to retain From shameful Flight but Wishes were in vain As wanting of effect had been his Words Such as of course his thundring Tongue affords But did this Boaster threaten did he pray Or by his own Example urge their stay None none of these but ran himself away I saw him run and was asham'd to see Who ply'd his Feet so fast to get aboard as He Then speeding through the Place I made a stand And loudly cry'd O base degenerate Band To leave a Town already in your Hand After so long expence of Blood for Fame To bring home nothing but perpetual Shame These Words or what I have forgotten since For Grief inspir'd me then with Eloquence Reduc'd their Minds they leave the crowded Port And to their late forsaken Camp resort Dismay'd the Council met This Man was there But mute and not recover'd of his Fear Thersites tax'd the King and loudly rail'd But his wide opening Mouth with Blows I seal'd Then rising I excite their Souls to Fame And kindle sleeping Virtue into Flame From thence whatever he perform'd in Fight Is justly mine who drew him back from Flight Which of the Grecian Chiefs consorts with Thee But Diomede desires my Company And still communicates his Praise with me As guided by a God secure he goes Arm'd with my Fellowship amid the Foes And sure no little Merit I may boast Whom such a Man selects from such an Hoast Unforc'd by Lots I went without affright To dare with him the Dangers of the Night On the same Errand sent we met the Spy Of Hector double-tongu'd and us'd to lie Him I dispatch'd but not till undermin'd I drew him first to tell what treacherous Troy design'd My Task perform'd with Praise I had retir'd But not content with this to greater Praise aspir'd Invaded Rhoesus and his Thracian Crew And him and his in their own Strength I slew Return'd a Victor all my Vows compleat With the King's Chariot in his Royal Seat Refuse me now his Arms whose fiery Steeds Were promis'd to the Spy for his Nocturnal Deeds And let dull Ajax bear away my Right When all his Days out-ballance this one Night Nor fought I Darkling still The Sun beheld With slaughter'd Lycians when I strew'd the Field You saw and counted as I pass'd along Alastor Cromyus Ceranos the Strong Alcander Prytanis and Halius Noemon Charopes and Ennomus Choon Chersidamas and five beside Men of obscure Descent but Courage try'd All these this Hand laid breathless on the Ground Nor want I Proofs of many a manly Wound All honest all before Believe not me Words may deceive but credit what you see At this he bar'd his Breast and show'd his Scars As of a furrow'd Field well plough'd with Wars Nor is this Part unexercis'd said he That Gyant-bulk of his from Wounds is free Safe in his Shield he fears no Foe to try And better manages his Blood than I But this avails me not our Boaster strove Not with our Foes alone but partial Jove To save the Fleet This I confefs is true Nor will I take from any Man his due But thus assuming all he robs from you Some part of Honour to your share will fall He did the best indeed but did not all Patroclus in Achilles Arms and thought The Chief he seem'd with equal Ardour fought Preserv'd the Fleet repell'd the raging Fire And forc'd the fearful Trojans to retire But Ajax boasts that he was only thought A Match for Hector who the Combat sought Sure he forgets the King the Chiefs and Me All were as eager for the Fight as He He but the ninth and not by publick Voice Or ours preferr'd was only Fortunes choice They fought nor can our Hero boast the Event For Hector from the Field unwounded went Why am I forc'd to name that fatal Day That snatch'd the Prop and Pride of Greece away I saw Pelides sink With