Cinyras my Father been What hinder'd Myrrha's Hopes to be his Queen But the Perverseness of my Fate is such That he 's not mine because he 's mine too much Our Kindred-Blood debars a better Tie He might be nearer were he not so nigh Eyes and their Ojects never must unite Some Distance is requir'd to help the Sight Fain wou'd I travel to some Foreign Shore Never to see my Native Country more So might I to my self my self restore So might my Mind these impious Thoughts remove And ceasing to behold might cease to love But stay I must to seed my famish'd Sight To talk to kiss and more if more I might More impious Maid What more canst thou design To make a monstrous Mixture in thy Line And break all Statutes Humane and Divine Canst thou be call'd to save thy wretched Life Thy Mother's Rival and thy Father's Wife Confound so many sacred Names in one Thy Brother's Mother Sister to thy Son And fear'st thou not to see th' Infernal Bands Their Heads with Snakes with Torches arm'd their Hands Full at thy Face th' avenging Brands to bear And shake the Serpents from their hissing Hair But thou in time th' increasing Ill controul Nor first debauch the Body by the Soul Secure the sacred Quiet of thy Mind And keep the Sanctions Nature has design'd Suppose I shou'd attempt th' Attempt were vain No Thoughts like mine his sinless Soul profane Observant of the Right and O that he Cou'd cure my Madness or be mad like me Thus she But Cinyras who daily sees A Crowd of Noble Suitors at his Knees Among so many knew not whom to chuse Irresolute to grant or to refuse But having told their Names enquir'd of her Who pleas'd her best and whom she would prefer The blushing Maid stood silent with Surprize And on her Father fix'd her ardent Eyes And looking sigh'd and as she sigh'd began Round Tears to shed that scalded as they ran The tender Sire who saw her blush and cry Ascrib'd it all to Maiden-modesty And dry'd the falling Drops and yet more kind He stroak'd her Cheeks and holy Kisses join'd She felt a secret Venom fire her Blood And found more Pleasure than a Daughter shou'd And ask'd again what Lover of the Crew She lik'd the best she answer'd One like you Mistaking what she meant her pious Will He prais'd and bad her so continue still The Word of Pious heard she blush'd with shame Of secret Guilt and cou'd not bear the Name 'T was now the mid of Night when Slumbers close Our Eyes and sooth our Cares with soft Repose But no Repose cou'd wretched Myrrha find Her Body rouling as she rould her Mind Mad with Desire she ruminates her Sin And wishes all her Wishes o'er again Now she despairs and now resolves to try Wou'd not and wou'd again she knows not why Stops and returns makes and retracts the Vow Fain wou'd begin but understands not how As when a Pine is hew'd upon the Plains And the last mortal Stroke alone remains Lab'ring in Pangs of Death and threatning all This way and that she nods considring where to fall So Myrrha's Mind impell'd on either Side Takes ev'ry Bent but cannot long abide Irresolute on which she shou'd relie At last unfix'd in all is only fix'd to die On that sad Thought she rests resolv'd on Death She rises and prepares to choak her Breath Then while about the Beam her Zone she ties Dear Cinyras farewell she softly cries For thee I die and only wish to be Not hated when thou know'st I die for thee Pardon the Crime in pity to the Cause This said about her Neck the Noose she draws The Nurse who lay without her faithful Guard Though not the Words the Murmurs overheard And Sighs and hollow Sounds Surpriz'd with Fright She starts and leaves her Bed and springs a Light Unlocks the Door and entring out of Breath The Dying saw and Instruments of Death She shrieks she cuts the Zone with trembling haste And in her Arms her fainting Charge embrac'd Next for she now had leisure for her Tears She weeping ask'd in these her blooming Years What unforeseen Misfortune caus'd her Care To loath her Life and languish in Despair The Maid with down-cast Eyes and mute with Grief For Death unfinish'd and ill-tim'd Relief Stood sullen to her Suit The Beldame press'd The more to know and bar'd her wither'd Breast Adjur'd her by the kindly Food shew drew From those dry Founts her secret Ill to shew Sad Myrrha sigh'd and turn'd her Eyes aside The Nurse still urg'd and wou'd not be deny'd Nor only promis'd Secresie but pray'd She might have leave to give her offer'd Aid Good-will she said my want of Strength supplies And Diligence shall give what Age denies If strong Desires thy Mind to Fury move With Charms and Med'cines I can cure thy Love If envious Eyes their hurtful Rays have cast More pow'rful Verse shall free thee from the Blast If Heav'n offended sends thee this Disease Offended Heav'n with Pray'rs we can appease What then remains that can these Cares procure Thy House is flourishing thy Fortune sure Thy careful Mother yet in Health survives And to thy Comfort thy kind Father lives The Virgin started at her Father's Name And sigh'd profoundly conscious of the Shame Nor yet the Nurse her impious Love divin'd But yet surmis'd that Love disturb'd her Mind Thus thinking she pursu'd her Point and laid And lull'd within her Lap the mourning Maid Then softly sooth'd her thus I guess your Grief You love my Child your Love shall find Relief My long experienc'd Age shall be your Guide Relie on that and lay Distrust aside No Breath of Air shall on the Secret blow Nor shall what most you fear your Father know Struck once again as with a Thunder-clap The guilty Virgin bounded from her Lap And threw her Body prostrate on the Bed And to conctal her Blushes hid her Head There silent lay and warn'd her with her Hand To go But she receiv'd not the Command Remaining still importunate to know Then Myrrha thus Or ask no more or go I prethee go or staying spare my Shame What thou wou'dst hear is impious ev'n to name At this on high the Beldame holds her Hands And trembling both with Age and Terrour stands Adjures and falling at her Feet intreats Sooths her with Blandishments and frights with Threats To tell the Crime intended or disclose What Part of it she knew if she no farther knows And last if conscious to her Counsel made Confirms anew the Promise of her Aid Now Myrrha rais'd her Head but soon oppress'd With Shame reclin'd it on her Nurses Breast Bath'd it with Tears and strove to have confess'd Twice she began and stopp'd again she try'd The falt'ring Tongue its Office still deny'd At last her Veil before her Face she spread And drew a long preluding Sigh and said O happy Mother in thy Marriage-bed Then groan'd and ceas'd the good Old
Steel all shining bright And cover'd with th' Atchievements of the Knight The Riders rode abreast and one his Shield His Lance of Cornel-wood another held The third his Bow and glorious to behold The costly Quiver all of burnish'd Gold The Noblest of the Grecians next appear And weeping on their Shoulders bore the Bier With sober Pace they march'd and often staid And through the Master-Street the Corps convey'd The Houses to their Tops with Black were spread And ev'n the Pavements were with Mourning hid The Right-side of the Pall old Egeus kept And on the Left the Royal Theseus wept Each bore a Golden Bowl of Work Divine With Honey fill'd and Milk and mix'd with ruddy Wine Then Palamon the Kinsman of the Slain And after him appear'd th' Illustrious Train To grace the Pomp came Emily the Bright With cover'd Fire the Fun'ral Pile to light With high Devotion was the Service made And all the Rites of Pagan-Honour paid So lofty was the Pile a Parthian Bow With Vigour drawn must send the Shaft below The Bottom was full twenty Fathom broad With crackling Straw beneath in due Proportion strow'd The Fabrick seem'd a Wood of rising Green With Sulphur and Bitumen cast between To feed the Flames The Trees were unctuous Fir And Mountain-Ash the Mother of the Spear The Mourner Eugh and Builder Oak were there The Beech the swimming Alder and the Plane Hard Box and Linden of a softer Grain And Laurels which the Gods for Conqu'ring Chiefs ordain How they were rank'd shall rest untold by me With nameless Nymphs that liv'd in ev'ry Tree Nor how the Dryads and the Woodland Train Disherited ran howling o'er the Plain Nor how the Birds to Foreign Seats repair'd Or Beasts that bolted out and saw the Forest bar'd Nor how the Ground now clear'd with gastly Fright Beheld the sudden Sun a Stranger to the Light The Straw as first I said was laid below Of Chips and Sere-wood was the second Row The third of Greens and Timber newly fell'd The fourth high Stage the fragrant Odours held And Pearls and Precious Stones and rich Array In midst of which embalm'd the Body lay The Service sung the Maid with mourning Eyes The Stubble fir'd the smouldring Flames arise This Office done she sunk upon the Ground But what she spoke recover'd from her Swoond I want the Wit in moving Words to dress But by themselves the tender Sex may guess While the devouring Fire was burning fast Rich Jewels in the Flame the Wealthy cast And some their Shields and some their Lances threw And gave the Warriour's Ghost a Warriour's Due Full Bowls of Wine of Honey Milk and Blood Were pour'd upon the Pile of burning Wood And hissing Flames receive and hungry lick the Food Then thrice the mounted Squadrons ride around The Fire and Arcite's Name they thrice resound Hail and Farewell they shouted thrice amain Thrice facing to the Left and thrice they turn'd again Still as they turn'd they beat their clatt'ring Shields The Women mix their Cries and Clamour fills the Fields The warlike Wakes continu'd all the Night And Fun'ral Games were plaid at new-returning Light Who naked wrestl'd best besmear'd with Oil Or who with Gantlets gave or took the Foil I will not tell you nor wou'd you attend But briefly haste to my long Stories End I pass the rest the Year was fully mourn'd And Palamon long since to Thebes return'd When by the Grecians general Consent At Athens Theseus held his Parliament Among the Laws that pass'd it was decreed That conquer'd Thebes from Bondage shou'd be freed Reserving Homage to th' Athenian Throne To which the Sov'reign summon'd Palamon Unknowing of the Cause he took his Way Mournful in Mind and still in Black Array The Monarch mounts the Throne and plac'd on high Commands into the Court the beauteous Emily So call'd she came the Senate rose and paid Becoming Rev'rence to the Royal Maid And first soft Whispers through th' Assembly went With silent Wonder then they watch'd th' Event All hush'd the King arose with awful Grace Deep Thought was in his Breast and Counsel in his Face At length he sigh'd and having first prepar'd Th' attentive Audience thus his Will declar'd The Cause and Spring of Motion from above Hung down on Earth the Golden Chain of Love Great was th' Effect and high was his Intent When Peace among the jarring Seeds he sent Fire Flood and Earth and Air by this were bound And Love the common Link the new Creation crown'd The Chain still holds for though the Forms decay Eternal Matter never wears away The same First Mover certain Bounds has plac'd How long those perishable Forms shall last Nor can they last beyond the Time assign'd By that All seeing and All making Mind Shorten their Hours they may for Will is free But never pass th' appointed Destiny So Men oppress'd when weary of their Breath Throw off the Burden and subborn their Death Then since those Forms begin and have their End On some unalter'd Cause they sure depend Parts of the Whole are we but God the Whole Who gives us Life and animating Soul For Nature cannot from a Part derive That Being which the Whole can only give He perfect stable but imperfect We Subject to Change and diff'rent in Degree Plants Beasts and Man and as our Organs are We more or less of his Perfection share But by a long Descent th' Etherial Fire Corrupts and Forms the mortal Part expire As he withdraws his Vertue so they pass And the same Matter makes another Mass This Law th' Omniscient Pow'r was pleas'd to give That ev'ry Kind should by Succession live That Individuals die his Will ordains The propagated Species still remains The Monarch Oak the Patriarch of the Trees Shoots rising up and spreads by slow Degrees Three Centuries he grows and three he stays Supreme in State and in three more decays So wears the paving Pebble in the Street And Towns and Tow'rs their fatal Periods meet So Rivers rapid once now naked lie Forsaken of their Springs and leave their Channels dry So Man at first a Drop dilates with Heat Then form'd the little Heart begins to beat Secret he feeds unknowing in the Cell At length for Hatching ripe he breaks the Shell And struggles into Breath and cries for Aid Then helpless in his Mothers Lap is laid He creeps he walks and issuing into Man Grudges their Life from whence his own began Retchless of Laws affects to rule alone Anxious to reign and restless on the Throne First vegetive then feels and reasons last Rich of Three Souls and lives all three to waste Some thus but thousands more in Flow'r of Age For few arrive to run the latter Stage Sunk in the first in Battel some are slain And others whelm'd beneath the stormy Main What makes all this but Jupiter the King At whose Command we perish and we spring Then 't is our best since thus ordain'd to die To make a Vertue
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
think it was to give consent But struggling with his own Desires he went With large Expence and with a pompous Train Provided as to visit France or Spain Or for some distant Voyage o'er the Main But Love had clipp'd his Wings and cut him short Confin'd within the purlieus of his Court Three Miles he went nor farther could retreat His Travels ended at his Country-Seat To Chassis pleasing Plains he took his way There pitch'd his Tents and there resolv'd to stay The Spring was in the Prime the neighb'ring Grove Supply'd with Birds the Choristers of Love Musick unbought that minister'd Delight To Morning-walks and lull'd his Cares by Night There he discharg'd his Friends but not th' Expence Of frequent Treats and proud Magnificence He liv'd as Kings retire though more at large From publick Business yet with equal Charge With House and Heart still open to receive As well content as Love would give him leave He would have liv'd more free but many a Guest Who could forsake the Friend pursu'd the Feast It happ'd one Morning as his Fancy led Before his usual Hour he left his Bed To walk within a lonely Lawn that stood On ev'ry side surrounded by the Wood Alone he walk'd to please his pensive Mind And sought the deepest Solitude to find 'T was in a Grove of spreading Pines he stray'd The Winds within the quiv'ring Branches plaid And Dancing-Trees a mournful Musick made The Place it self was suiting to his Care Uncouth and Salvage as the cruel Fair. He wander'd on unknowing where he went Lost in the Wood and all on Love intent The Day already half his Race had run And summon'd him to due Repast at Noon But Love could feel no Hunger but his own While list'ning to the murm'ring Leaves he stood More than a Mile immers'd within the Wood At once the Wind was laid the whisp'ring sound Was dumb a rising Earthquake rock'd the Ground With deeper Brown the Grove was overspred A suddain Horror seiz'd his giddy Head And his Ears tinckled and his Colour fled Nature was in alarm some Danger nigh Seem'd threaten'd though unseen to mortal Eye Unus'd to fear he summon'd all his Soul And stood collected in himself and whole Not long For soon a Whirlwind rose around And from afar he heard a screaming sound As of a Dame distress'd who cry'd for Aid And fill'd with loud Laments the secret Shade A Thicket close beside the Grove there stood With Breers and Brambles choak'd and dwarfish Wood From thence the Noise Which now approaching near With more distinguish'd Notes invades his Ear He rais'd his Head and saw a beauteous Maid With Hair dishevell'd issuing through the Shade Stripp'd of her Cloaths and e'en those Parts reveal'd Which modest Nature keeps from Sight conceal'd Her Face her Hands her naked Limbs were torn With passing through the Brakes and prickly Thorn Two Mastiffs gaunt and grim her Flight pursu'd And oft their fasten'd Fangs in Blood embru'd Oft they came up and pinch'd her tender Side Mercy O Mercy Heav'n she ran and cry'd When Heav'n was nam'd they loos'd their Hold again Then sprung she forth they follow'd her amain Not far behind a Knight of swarthy Face High on a Coal-black Steed pursu'd the Chace With flashing Flames his ardent Eyes were fill'd And in his Hands a naked Sword he held He chear'd the Dogs to follow her who fled And vow'd Revenge on her devoted Head As Theodore was born of noble Kind The brutal Action rowz'd his manly Mind Mov'd with unworthy Usage of the Maid He though unarm'd resolv'd to give her Aid A Saplin Pine he wrench'd from out the Ground The readiest Weapon that his Fury found Thus furnish'd for Offence he cross'd the way Betwixt the graceless Villain and his Prey The Knight came thund'ring on but from afar Thus in imperious Tone forbad the War Cease Theodore to proffer vain Relief Nor stop the vengeance of so just a Grief But give me leave to seize my destin'd Prey And let eternal Justice take the way I but revenge my Fate disdain'd betray'd And suff'ring Death for this ungrateful Maid He say'd at once dismounting from the Steed For now the Hell-hounds with superiour Speed Had reach'd the Dame and fast'ning on her Side The Ground with issuing Streams of Purple dy'd Stood Theodore surpriz'd in deadly Fright With chatt'ring Teeth and bristling Hair upright Yet arm'd with inborn Worth What e'er said he Thou art who know'st me better than I thee Or prove thy rightful Cause or be defy'd The Spectre fiercely staring thus reply'd Know Theodore thy Ancestry I claim And Guido Cavalcanti was my Name One common Sire our Fathers did beget My Name and Story some remember yet Thee then a Boy within my Arms I laid When for my Sins I lov'd this haughty Maid Not less ador'd in Life nor serv'd by Me Than proud Honoria now is lov'd by Thee What did I not her stubborn Heart to gain But all my Vows were answer'd with Disdain She scorn'd my Sorrows and despis'd my Pain Long time I dragg'd my Days in fruitless Care Then loathing Life and plung'd in deep Despair To finish my unhappy Life I fell On this sharp Sword and now am damn'd in Hell Short was her Joy for soon th' insulting Maid By Heav'n's Decree in the cold Grave was laid And as in unrepenting Sin she dy'd Doom'd to the same bad Place is punish'd for her Pride Because she deem'd I well deserv'd to die And made a Merit of her Cruelty There then we met both try'd and both were cast And this irrevocable Sentence pass'd That she whom I so long pursu'd in vain Should suffer from my Hands a lingring Pain Renew'd to Life that she might daily die I daily doom'd to follow she to fly No more a Lover but a mortal Foe I seek her Life for Love is none below As often as my Dogs with better speed Arrest her Flight is she to Death decreed Then with this fatal Sword on which I dy'd I pierce her open'd Back or tender Side And tear that harden'd Heart from out her Breast Which with her Entrails makes my hungry Hounds a Feast Nor lies she long but as her Fates ordain Springs up to Life and fresh to second Pain Is sav'd to Day to Morrow to be slain This vers'd in Death th' infernal Knight relates And then for Proof fulfill'd their common Fates Her Heart and Bowels through her Back he drew And fed the Hounds that help'd him to pursue Stern'd look'd the Fiend as frustrate of his Will Not half suffic'd and greedy yet to kill And now the Soul expiring through the Wound Had left the Body breathless on the Ground When thus the grisly Spectre spoke again Behold the Fruit of ill-rewarded Pain As many Months as I sustain'd her Hate So many Years is she condemn'd by Fate To daily Death and ev'ry several Place Conscious of her Disdain and my Disgrace Must witness her just Punishment and be A Scene of
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
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
seruant which that serued here Well couth he hewen wood and water bere For he was young and mighty for the nones And therto he was strong and bigge of bones To done that any wight gan him deuise A yere or two he was in this seruice Page of the chamber of Emelye the bright And Philostrate he saied that he hight But halfe so welbeloued man as he Ne was there none in court of his degre He was so gentill of condition That through all the court was his renon Thei said that it were a charitie That Theseus wold enhauncen his degre And put him in a wurshipfull seruice There as he might his vertue exercise And thus within a while his name is sprong Both of his dedes and of his good tong That Theseus hath taken him so nere That of his chamber he made him squiere And yaue him gold to maintain his degre And eke men brought him out of his contre Fro yere to yere full priuely his rent But honestly and slyly he it spent That no man wondered how he it had And thre yere in this wise his life he lade And bare him so in peace and eke in were There was no man that Theseus hath der And in this blisse let I now Arcite And speke I woll of Palamon alite In darknesse horrible and strong prison This seuen yere hath sitten this Palamon Forpined what for wo and distresse Who feleth double sore and heuinesse But Palamon that loue distraineth so That wode out of his wit he goeth for wo And eke therto he is a prisonere Perpetuel and not only for a yere Who could rime in English properly His martyrdome forsoth it am natl Therfore I passe as lightly as I may It befel that in the seuenth yere in May The third night as olde bokes sayne That all this story tellen more playne Were it by aduenture or by destine As when a thing is shapen it shal be That soon after midnight Palamon By helping of a frende brake his prison And fleeth the cite as falt as he may go For he hath yeuen the gailer drinke so Of a clarrie made of certain wine With Narcotise and Opie of Thebes fine That all the night though men wold him shake The gailer slept he nugh not awake And thus he fleeth as fast as he maie The night was short and fast by the daie That nedes cost he mote himselfe hide And to a groue fast there beside With dredfull foote than stalketh Palamon For shortly this was his opinion That in the groue he would him hide al daie And in the night than wold he take his waie To Thebes ward his friendes for to prie On Theseus to helpe him to warrie And shortly either he would lese his life Or winne Emelye vnto his wife This is the effect and his intent plain Now will I tourise to Artite again That little wist how me was his care Till that fortune had brought him in her snare The merie larke messanger of the daie Saleweth in her song on the morrow graie And firie Phebus riseth vp so bright That all the orisont laugheth of the sight And with his stremes drieth in the greues The siluer droppes hanging in the leues And Arcite that in the court reall With Theseus his squier principall Is risen and looketh on the merie daie And for to doen his obseruances to Maie Remembring on the poinct of his Desire He on his courser startlyng as the fire Is riden into the fieldes him to plaie Out of the court were it a mile or tweie And to the groue of whyche I you tolde By aduenture his way he gan holde To maken him a garlonde of the greues Were it of Wodbind or Hauthorn leues And loud he song ayenst the Sonne shene Maie with all thy floures and thy grene Welcome be thou faire freshe Maie I hope that I some grene get maie And from his courser with a lustie hert Into the groue full hastily he stert And in a pathe he romed vp and doun There as by aduenture this Palamon Was in a bushe that no man might hym se For sore afraied of death was he Nothing ne knew he that it was Arcite God wote he would haue trowed full lite Both soth is saied go sighen many yeres That field hath jyen and wodde hath ere 's It is full fair a man to beare him euin For all daie men mete at vnset steuin Full little wote Arcite of his felawe That was so nigh to herken of his sawe For in the bushe sitteth he now full still When that Arcite had romed all his fill And songen all the roundell lustely Into a studie he fell sodenly Is doen these louers in their queint gires Now in the crop and now doun in the brires Now vp now doune as boket in a well Right as the Fridaie fothly for to tell Now it raineth now it shineth fast Right so gan gerie Venus ouercast The hartes of her folke right as her daie As gerifull right so chaungeth she araie Selde is the Friday all the weke alike When that Arcite had song he gan to sike And set him doun withouten any more Alas quoth he the daie that I was bore How long Juno with thy cruelte Wilt thou warren Thebes the citee Alas ibrought is to confusion The blood reall of Cadmus and Amphion Of Cadmus which was the first man That Thebes builte or first the toun began And of the citee first was crouned king Of his linage am I and of his spring By very line as of the stocke reall And now I am so caitiffe and so thrall That he that is my morrall enemie I serue him as his squire poorely And yet doeth me Juno well more shame For I dare nat be knowe myne owne name But there as I was wont to hight Arcite Now hight I Philostrat nat worth a mite Alas thou fell Mars alas thou fell Juno Thus hath your ire our linage all for do Saue only me and wretched Palamon That Theseus martireth in prison And ouer all this to slean me vtterly Loue hath his firie dart so brennyngly I sticked through my true carefull hert That shapen was my death erst my shert Ye slean me with your iyen Emelie Ye been the cause wherefore I die Of all the remenaunt of mine other care Ne set I nat the mountaunce of a Tare So that I cou'd do ought to your pleasaunce And with that word he fel down in a traunce A long time and afterward he vp stert This Palamon thought that through his hart He felt a colde sworde sodenly glide For ire he quoke no lenger could he abide And when that he had heard Arcite's tale As he were wode with face dedde and pale He stert him vp out of the bushes thicke And saied Arcite false traitour wicke Now art thou hent that louest my ladie so For whom that I haue this pain and wo And art my blood and to my counsell sworn As I haue full