sort Fell these beneath Aeneas powre When Menelaus view'd Like two tall fir-trees these two fall their timelesse fals he rew'd And to the first fight where they lay a vengefull force he tooke His armes beat backe the Sunne in flames a dreadfull Lance he shooke Mars put the furie in his mind that by Aeneas hands Who was to make the slaughter good he might haue strewd the sands Antilochus voluntary care of Menelaus and their charge of Aeneas Antilochus old Nestors sonne obseruing he was bent To vrge a combat of such ods and knowing the euent Being ill on his part all their paines alone sustaind for him Er'd from their end made after hard and tooke them in the trim Of an encounter both their hands and darts aduanc't and shooke And both pitcht in full stand of charge when suddenly the looke Of Anchisiades tooke note of Nestors valiant sonne In full charge too which two to one made Venus issue shunne The hote aduenture though he were a souldier well approu'd Then drew they off their slaughterd friends who giuen to their belou'd They turnd where fight shewd deadliest hate and there mixt with the dead Pylemen that the targatiers of Paphlagonia led A man like Mars and with him fell good Mydon that did guide His chariot Atymnus sonne The Prince Pylemen died Menelaus slayes Pylemen By Menelaus Nestors ioy slue Mydon one before The other in the chariot Atrides lance did gore Pylemens shoulder in the blade Antilochus did force A mightie stone vp from the earth and as he turnd his horse Antilochus slayes Myden Strooke Mydons elbow in the midst the reines of Iuorie Fell from his hands into the dust Antilochus let flie His sword withall and rushing in a blow so deadly layd Vpon his temples that he gron'd tumbl'd to earth and stayd A mightie while preposterously because the dust was deepe Vpon his necke and shoulders there euen till his foe tooke keepe Of his prisde horse and made them stirre and then he prostrate fell His horse Antilochus tooke home When Hector had heard tell Hectors manner of assault Amongst the vprore of their deaths he laid out all his voice And ran vpon the Greeks behind came many men of choice Before him marcht great Mars himselfe matcht with his femall mate The drad Bellona she brought on to fight for mutuall Fate A tumult that was wilde and mad he shooke a horrid Lance And now led Hector and anon behind would make the chance This sight when great Tydides saw his haire stood vp on end And him whom all the skill and powre of armes did late attend Now like a man in counsell poore that trauelling goes amisse Simile And hauing past a boundlesse plaine not knowing where he is Comes on the sodaine where he sees a riuer rough and raues With his owne billowes rauished into the king of waues Murmurs with fome and frights him backe so he amazd retirde And thus would make good his amaze O friends we all admirde Great Hector as one of himselfe well-darting bold in warre When some God guards him still from death and makes him dare so farre Now Mars himselfe formd like a man is present in his rage And therefore whatsoeuer cause importunes you to wage Warre with these Troians neuer striue but gently take your rod Lest in your bosomes for a man ye euer find a God As Greece retirde the power of Troy did much more forward prease And Hector two braue men of warre sent to the fields of peace Hector slaughters Menesthes and Anchialus Aiax slayes Amphius Selagâ—… Menesthes and Anchialus one chariot bare them both Their fals made Aiax Telamon ruthfull of heart and wroth Who lightned out a lance that smote Amphius Selages That dwelt in Paedos rich in lands and did huge goods possesse But Fate to Priam and his sonnes conducted his supply The Iauelin on his girdle strooke and pierced mortally His bellies lower part he fell his armes had lookes so trim That Aiax needs would proue their spoile the Troians powrd on him Whole stormes of Lances large and sharpe of which a number stucke In his rough shield yet from the slaine he did his Iauelin plucke But could not from his shoulders force the armes he did affect The Troians with such drifts of Darts the body did protect And wisely Telamonius fear'd their valorous defence So many and so strong of hand stood in with such expence Of deadly prowesse who repeld though big strong bold he were The famous Aiax and their friend did from his rapture beare Thus this place fild with strength of fight in th' armies other prease Tlepolemus a tall big man the sonne of Hercules A cruell destinie inspir'd with strong desire to proue Encounter with Sarpedons strength the sonne of Cloudy Ioue Who coming on to that sterne end had chosen him his foe Thus Ioues great Nephew and his sonne 'gainst one another go Ioues son Sarpedon and Tlepodemus his nephew son to Hercules draw to encounter Tlepodemus to Sarpedon Tlepolemus to make his end more worth the will of Fate Began as if he had her powre and shewd the mortall state Of too much confidence in man with this superfluous Braue Sarpedon what necessitie or needlesse humor draue Thy forme to these warres which in heart I know thou doest adhorre A man not seene in deeds of armes a Lycian counsellor They lie that call thee sonne to Ioue since Ioue bred none so late The men of elder times were they that his high powre begat Such men as had Herculean force my father Hercules Was Ioues true issue he was bold his deeds did well expresse They sprung out of a Lions heart he whilome came to Troy For horse that Iupiter gaue Tros for Ganimed his boy With sixe ships onely and few men and tore the Citie downe Left all her broad wayes desolate and made the horse his owne For thee thy mind is ill disposde thy bodies powers are poore And therefore are thy troopes so weake the souldier euermore Followes the temper of his chiefe and thou pull'st downe a side But say thou art the sonne of Ioue and hast thy meanes supplide With forces fitting his descent the powers that I compell Shall throw thee hence and make thy head run ope the gaâ—…es of bâ—…ll Ioues Lycian issue answerd him Tlepolemus t is true Sarpedon to 〈◊〉 Thy father holy Ilion in that sort ouerthrew Th' iniustice of the king was cause that where thy father had Vsde good deseruings to his state he quitted him with bad Hesyone the ioy and grace of king Laomedon Thy father rescude from a whale and gaue to Telamon In honourd Nuptials Telamon from whom your strongest Greeke Boasts to haue issude and this grace might well expect the like Yet he gaue taunts for thanks and kept against his oath his horse And therefore both thy fathers strength and iustice might enforce The wreake he tooke on Troy but this and
〈◊〉 c. Sicut verò quando discurrit vel prorumpit vel cum impetu exurgit mens viri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying ruo prorumpo vel cum impetu exurgo as hauing trauelled farre on an irkesome iourney as Iuno had done for the Greekes faining to Ioue and Venus she was going to visite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 multa nutrientes fines terrae and then knowes not whether he should go backeward or forward sustaines a vehement discourse with himselfe on what course to resolue and vext in mind which the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expresse being to be vnderstood mentibus amaris vexatis or distractis with a spitefull sorrowfull vext or distracted mind not mentibus prudentibus as all most vnwisely in this place conuert it though in other places it intimates so much But here the other holds congruence with the rest of the simile from which in the wise sence it abhorres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying amarus more properly then prudens being translated prudens meerely metaphorically acccording to the second deduction where here it is vsed more properly according to the first deduction which is taken from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Larcher tree whose gumme is exceeding bitter and because things irkesome and bitter as afflictions crosses c. are meanes to make men wise and take heede by others harmes therefore according to the second deduction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for cautus or prudens But now that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or application seemes to make with their sence of swiftnesse the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being translated by them sic citò properans it is thus to be turned in this place sic rapidè impetu pulsa so snatchingly or headlongly driuen flew Iuno As we often see with a clap of thunder Doues or other fowles driuen headlong from their seates not in direct flight but as they would breake their neckes with a kind of reeling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being deriued of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying impetu ferri vel furibundo impetu ferri all which most aptly agreeth with Iunos enforced and wrathfull parting from Ioue and doing his charge distractedly This for me if another can giue better let him shew it and take it But in infinite other places is this diuine Poet thus prophaned which for the extreme â—…bour I cannot yet touch at b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c Difficile est it is a hard thing saith Minerua to Mars when she answers his anger for the slaughter of his sonne Ascalaphus for Ioue to deliuer the generation and birth of all men from death which Commentors thus vnderstand There were some men that neuer died as Tython the husband of Aurora Chyron Glaucus made a sea god c. and in holy Writ as Spondanus pleaseth to mixe them Enoc and Elias but because these few were freed from death Mars must not looke that all others were But this interpretation I thinke will appeare to all men at first sight both ridiculous and prophane Homer making Minerua onely iest at Mars here as she doth in other places bidding him not storme that his sonne should be slaine more then better borne stronger and worthier men for Ioue should haue enough to do or it were hard for Ioue to free all men from Death that are vnwilling to die This mine with the rest the other others accept which you please The end of the fifteenth Booke THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT A Chilles at Patroclus suite doth yeeld His armes and Myrmidons which brought to field The Troians flie Patroclus hath the grace Of great Sarpedons death sprong of the race Of Iupiter he hauing slaine the horse Of Thetis sonne fierce Pedasus the force Of Hector doth reuenge the much-ru'dend Of most renown'd Sarpedon on the friend Of Thetides first by Euphorbus harm'd And by Apollos personall powre disarm'd Another Argument In 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patroclus beares the chance Of death imposd by Hectors lance THus fighting for this well-built ship Patroclus all that space Stood by his friend preparing words to win the Greeeks his grace With powre of vncontained teares and like a fountaine pour'd In blacke streams froÌ„ a lofty rocke the Greeks so plagu'd deplor'd Achilles ruthfull for his teares said Wherefore weepes my friend So like a girle who though she sees her mother cannot tend Achilles chides Patroclus for his teares Her childish humours hangs on her and would be taken vp Stil viewing her with teare-drownd eyes when she hath made her stoope To nothing liker I can shape thy so vnseemely teares What causeth them hath any ill sollicited thine eares Befalne my Myrmidons or newes from loued Phthia brought Told onely thee lest I should grieue and therefore thus hath wrought On thy kind spirit Actors sonne the good Meâ—…tius Thy father liues and Peleus mine great sonne of Aeacus Amongst his Myrmidons whose deaths in dutie we should mourne Or is it what the Greeks sustaine that doth thy stomacke turne On whom for their iniustice sake plagues are so iustly laide Speake man let both know eithers heart Patroclus sighing said O Peleus sonne thou strongest Greeke by all degrees that liues Still be not angrie our sad state such cause of pittie giues Patroclus answer to Achilles Our greatest Greeks lie at their ships sore wounded Ithachus King Agamemnon Diomed and good Eurypilus But these much-medcine-knowing men Physitions can recure Thou yet vnmedcinable still though thy wound all endure Heauen blesse my bosome from such wrath as thou sooth'st as thy blisse Vnprofitably vertuous How shall our progenies Borne in thine age enioy thine aide when these friends in thy flowre Thou leau'st to such vnworthy death O idle cruell powre Great Peleus neuer did beget nor Thetis bring foorth thee Thou from the blew sea and her rockes deriu'st thy pedegree What so declines thee If thy mind shuns any augurie Related by thy mother Queene from heauens foreseeing eye And therefore thou forsak'st thy friends let me go ease their mones With those braue reliques of our host thy mightie Myrmidons That I may bring to field more light to Conquest then hath bene To which end grace me with thine armes since any shadow seene Of thy resemblance all the powre of periur'd Troy will flie And our so tired friends will breathe our fresh-set-on supplie Will easily driue their wearied off Thus foolish man he su'd For his sure death of all whose speech Achilles first renu'd The last part thus O worthy friend what haue thy speeches bene Achilles to 〈◊〉 I shun the fight for Oracles or what my mother Queene Hath told from Ioue I take no care nor note of one such thing But this fit anger stings me still that the insulting king Should from his equall take his right since he exceeds in powre This still his wrong is still my griefe he tooke my Paramour That all men gaue and whom I wonne by vertue of
his brest Brands of quicke anger till reuenge hath quencht to his desire The fire reserued Tell me then if whatsoeuer ire Suggests in hurt of me to him thy valour will preuent Achilles answerd All thou know'st speake and be confident Achilles to Chalchas For by Apollo Ioues belou'd to whom performing vowes O Calchas for the state of Greece thy spirit Prophetique showes Skils that direct vs not a man of all these Grecians here I liuing and enioying the light shot through this flowrie sphere Shall touch thee with offensiue hands though Agamemnon be The man in question that doth boast the mightiest Emperie Of all our armie Then tooke heart the Prophet vnreprou'd And said They are not vnpaid vowes nor Hecatombs that mou'd The God against vs his offence is for his Priest empaird Calchas discouers to the Greekes the cause of their plague By Agamemnon that refusd the present he preferd And kept his daughter This is cause why heauens farre-darter darts These plagues amongst vs and this still will emptie in our hearts His deathfull quiuer vncontaind till to her loued sire The blacke-eyd damsell be resign'd no redemptorie hire Tooke for her freedome not a gift but all the ransome quit And she conuaide with sacrifice till her enfranchisd feete Treade Chrysa vnder then the God so pleasd perhaps we may Moue to remission Thus he sate and vp the great in sway Heroique Agamemnon rose eagerly bearing all His minds seate ouercast with fumes an anger generall Fill'd all his faculties his eyes sparckl'd like kindling fire Which sternly cast vpon the Priest thus vented he his ire Prophet of ill For neuer good came from thee towards me Agamemnon incenst to Calchas Not to a words worth euermore thou tookst delight to be Offensiue in thy Auguries which thou continuest still Now casting thy prophetique gall and vouching all our ill Shot from Apollo is imposd since I refusd the prise Of faire Chryseis libertie which would in no worth rise To my rate of her selfe which moues my vowes to haue her home Past Clytemnestra louing her that grac't my nuptiall roome With her virginitie and flowre Nor aske her merits lesse For person disposition wit and skill in housewiferies And yet for all this she shall go if more conducible That course be then her holding here I rather wish the weale Of my lou'd armie then the death Prouide yet instantly Supplie for her that I alone of all our royaltie Lose not my winnings t is not fit ye see all I lose mine Forc't by another see as well some other may resigne His Prise to me To this replied the swift-foote God-like sonne Achilles to Agamemnon Of Thetis thus King of vs all in all ambition Most couetouse of all that breath why should the great-soul'd Greekes Supply thy lost prise out of theirs nor what thy auarice seekes Our common treasurie can find so little it doth guard Of what our rac'd towns yeelded vs of all which most is shar'd And giuen our souldiers which againe to take into our hands Were ignominious and base Now then since God commands Part with thy most-lou'd prise to him not any one of vs Exacts it of thee yet we all all losse thou sufferst thus Will treble quadruple in gaine when Iupiter bestowes The sacke of well-wall'd Troy on vs which by his word he owes Do not deceiue your selfe with wit he answerd God-like man 〈◊〉 to Ahilles Though your good name may colour it t is not your swift foote can Out runne me here nor shall the glosse set on it with the God Perswade me to my wrong Woulst thou maintaine in sure abode Thine owne prisâ—… and sleight me of mine Resolue this if our friends As fits in equitie my worth will right me with amends So rest it otherwise my selfe will enter personally On thy prise that of Ithacus or Aiax for supply Let him on whom I enter rage But come we 'le order these Hereafter and in other place Now put to sacred seas Our blacke saile in it rowers put in it fit sacrifise And to these I will make ascend my so much enuied prise Bright-cheekt Chryseis For conduct of all which we must chuse A chiefe out of our counsellors thy seruice we must vse Idomeneus Aiax thine or thine wise Ithacus Or thine thou terriblest of men thou sonne of Peleus Which fittest were that thou mightst see these holy acts performd For which thy cunning zeale so pleades and he whose bow thus stormd For our offences may be calmd Achilles with a frowne Achilles to Agamemnon Thus answerd O thou impudent of no good but thine owne Euer respectfull but of that with all craft couetous With what heart can a man attempt a seruice dangerous Or at thy voice be spirited to flie vpon a foe Thy mind thus wretched For my selfe I was not iniur'd so By any Troian that my powers should bid them any blowes In nothing beare they blame of me Phthia whose bosome flowes With corne and people neuer felt empaire of her increase By their inuasion hils enow and farre-resounding seas Powre out their shades and deepes betweene but thee thou frontlesse man We follow and thy triumphs make with bonfires of our bane Thine and thy brothers vengeance sought thou dogs eyes of this Troy By our exposd liues whose deserts thou neither dost employ With honour nor with care And now thou threatst to force from me The fruite of my sweate which the Greekes gaue all and though it be Compar'd with thy part then snatcht vp nothing â—…or euer is At any sackttowne but of fight the fetcher in of this My hands haue most share in whose toyles when I haue emptied me Of all my forces my amends in liberalitie Though it be little I accept and turne pleasd to my tent And yet that little thou esteemst too great a continent In thy incontinent auarice For Phthya therefore now My course is since t is better farre then here endure that thou Shouldâ—… still be rauishing my right draw my whole treasure drie And adde dishonor He replied If thy heart serue thee flie Agamemnon to Ahilles Stay not for my cause others here will aid and honor me If not yet Ioue I know is sure that counsellor is he That I depend on as for thee of all our Ioue-kept kings Thou still art most my enemie strifes battels bloodie things Make thy blood feasts still But if strength that these moods build vpon Flow in thy nerues God gaue thee it and so t is not thine owne But in his hands still what then lifts thy pride in this so hie Home with thy fleete and Myrmidons vse there their Emperie Command not here I weigh thee not nor meane to magnifie Thy rough hewne rages but in stead I thus farre threaten thee Since Phoebus needs will force from me Chryseis she shall go My ships and friends shall waft her home but I will imitate so His pleasure that mine owne shall
fit respects of men Are vanisht quite our right hands giuen our faiths our counsels vaine Our sacrifice with wine all fled in that prophaned flame We made to bind all for thus still we vaine perswasions frame And striue to worke our end with words not ioyning stratagemes And hands together though thus long the powre of our extremes Hath vrg'd vs to them Atreus sonne firme as at first howre stand Make good thy purpose talke no more in counsels but command In actiue field Let two or three that by themselues aduise Faint in their crowning they are such as are not truly wise They will for Argos ere they know if that which Ioue hath said Be false or true I tell them all that high Ioue bowd his head As first we went aboord our fleet for signe we should confer These Troians their due fate and death almightie Iupiter All that day darting forth his flames in an vnmeasur'd light On our right hands let therefore none once dreame of coward flight Till for his owne some wife of Troy he sleepes withall the rape Of Hellen wreaking and our sighes enforc't for her escape If any yet dare dote on home let his dishonor'd hast His blacke and well-built barke but touch that as he first disgrac't His countries spirit fate and death may first his spirit let go But be thou wise king do not trust thy selfe but others Know I will not vse an abiect word see all thy men arraid In tribes and nations that tribes tribes nations may nations aid Which doing thou shalt know what chiefs what souldiers play the men And what the cowards for they all will fight in seuerall then Easie for note And then shalt thou if thou destroist not Troy Know if the prophecies defect or men thou dost employ In their approu'd arts want in warre or lacke of that braue heate Fit for the ventrous spirits of Greece was cause to thy defeate To this the king of men replied O father all the sonnes Agamemnon to Nestor Of Greece thou conquerst in the strife of consultations I would to Ioue Atheniâ—… and Phoebus I could make Of all but ten such Counsellers then instantly would shake Kings Priams citie by our hands laid hold on and laid wast But Ioue hath orderd I should grieue and to that end hath cast My life into debates past end My selfe and Thetis sonne Like girles in words fought for a girle and I th' offence begunne But if we euer talke as friends Troys thus deferred fall Shall neuer vexe vs more one houre Come then to victles all That strong Mars all may bring to field each man his lances steele See sharpned well his shield well lin'd his horses meated well His chariot carefully made strong that these affaires of death We all day may hold fiercely out no man must rest or breath The bosomes of our targatiers must all be steept in sweate The lanciers arme must fall dissolu'd our chariot horse with heate Must seeme to melt But if I find one souldier take the chase Or stirre from fight or fight not still fixt in his enemies face Or hid a shipboord all the world for force nor price shall saue His hated life but fowles and dogs be his abhorred graue He said and such a murmure rose as on a loftie shore Simile The waues make when the Southwind comes and tumbles them before Against a rocke growne neare the strand which diuersly beset Is neuer free but here and there with varied vprores beat All rose then rushing to the fleete perfum'd their tents and eate Each offring to th' immortall Gods and praying to scape th' heate Of waâ—…e and death The king of men an Oxe of fiue yeares spring T'almightie Ioue slue call'd the Peeres first Nestor then the king Idomenaeus after them th' Aiaces and the sonne Of Tydeus Ithacus the sixth in counsell Paragon Diomed. To Ioue himselfe All these he bad but cat-a-martiall-crie Good Menelaus since he saw his brother busily Employd at that time would not stand on inuitation dBut of himselfe came All about the offring ouerthrowne Stood round tooke salt-cakes and the king himselfe thus praid for all O Ioue most great most glorious that in that starrie hall Sit'st drawing darke clouds vp to aire let not the Sunne go downe Darknesse supplying it till my hands the Pallace and the towne Of Priam ouerthrow and burne the armes on Hectors brest Diuiding spoiling with my sword thousands in interest Of his bad quarrell laid by him in dust and eating earth He pray'd Ioue heard him not but made more plentifull the birth Of his sad toiles yet tooke his gifts Prayres past cakes on they threw The Oxe then to the altar drawne they kill'd and from him drew His hide then cut him vp his thighes in two hewne dubd with fat Prickt on the sweet-breads and with wood leauelesse and kindl'd at Apposed fire they burne the thighes which done the inwards slit They broild on coales and eate The rest in giggots cut they spit Roast cunningly draw sit and feast nought lackt to leaue alaid Each temperate appetite which seru'd Nestor began and said Atrides most grac't king of men now no more words allow Nestor to Agamemnon Nor more deferre the deed Ioue vowes Let heralds summon nâ—…w The brasen-coted Greekes and vs range euerie where the host To stirre a strong warre quickly vp This speech no sillable lost The high-voic't heralds instantly he charg'd to call to armes The curld-head Greeks they call'd the Greeks straight answerd their alarmes The Ioue-kept kings about the king all gatherd with their aide Rang'd all in tribes and nations With them the gray-eyd maide Great Aegis Ioues bright shield sustain'd that can be neuer old Neuer corrupted fring'd about with serpents forg'd of gold As many as suffisde to make an hundred fringes worth A hunderd oxen euerie snake all sprawling all set forth With wondrous spirit Through the host with this the Goddesse ranne In furie casting round her eyes and furnisht euerie man With strength exciting all to armes and fight incessant None Now lik't their lou'd homes like the warres And as a fire vpon A huge wood on the heights of hils that farre off hurles his light So the diuine brasse shin'd on these thus thrusting on for fight Their splendor through the aire reacht heauen and as about the flood Caister in an Asian meade flockes of the airie brood Cranes Geese or long-neckt Swans here there proud of their pinions ffiâ—… And in their fals lay out such throats that with their spiritfull crie The meddow shrikes againe so here these many nation'd men Flow'd ouer the Scamandrian field from tents and ships the din Was dreadfull that the feete of men and horse beate out of earth And in the florishing meade they stood thicke as the odorous birth Of flowres or leaues bred in the spring or thicke as swarmes of flies Throng then to ship-coates when each swarme his erring wing applies To milke
the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT PAris betwixt the Hoasts to single fight Of all the Greekes dares the most hardie knight King Menelaus doth accept his braue Conditioning that he againe should haue Faire Helena with all she brought to Troy If he subdu'd else Paris should enioy Her and her wealth in peace Conquest doth grant Her deare wreath to the Grecian combattant But Venus to her champions life doth yeeld Safe rescue and conueyes him from the field Into his chamber and for Hellen sends Whom much her louers foule disgrace offends Yet Venus for him still makes good her charmes And ends the second combat in his armes Another Argument Gamma the single fight doth sing Twixt Paris and the Spartan king WHen euery least Commanders will best souldiers had obaide And both the hosts were rang'd for fight the Troians would haue fraid The Greeks with noises crying out in coming rudely on At all parts like the Cranes that fill with harsh confusion The 〈◊〉 compared to Cranes Of brutish clanges all the aire and in ridiculous warre Eschuing the vnsufferd stormes shot from the winters starre Visite the Ocean and conferre the Pygmei souldiers death The silent assalt of the Greekes The Greeks charg'd silent and like men bestow'd their thriftie breath In strength of far-resounding blowes still entertaining care Of eithers rescue when their strength did their engagements dare And as vpon a hils steepe tops the Southwind powres a cloud To shepheards thanklesse but by theeues that loue the night allowd A darknesse letting downe that blinds a stones cast off men eyes Such darknesse from the Greeks swift feet made all of dust did rise But ere sterne conflict mixt both strengths faire Paris stept before The Troian host athwart his backe a Panthers hide he wore A crooked bow and sword and shooke two brazen-headed darts With which well arm'd his tongue prouok't the best of Grecian hearts To stand with him in single fight Whom when the man wrong'd most Of all the Greekes so gloriously saw stalke before the host As when a Lion is reioyc't with hunger halfe forlorne That finds some sweet prey as a Hart whose grace lies in his horne Or Syluane Goate which he deuours though neuer so pursu'd With dogs and men so Spartas king exulted when he view'd The faire-fac'd Paris so exposde to his so thirsted wreake Whereof his good cause made him sure The Grecian front did breake And forth he rusht at all parts arm'd leapt from his chariot And royally prepar'd for charge Which seene cold terror shot The heart of Paris who retir'd as headlong from the king Paris flieth at sight of Menelaus As in him he had shund his death and as a hilly spring Presents a serpent to a man full vnderneath his feete Simile Her blew necke swolne with poison raisd and her sting out to greet His heedlesse entrie sodainely his walke he altereth Starts backe amaz'd is shooke with feare and lookes as pale as death So Menelaus Paris scar'd so that diuine fac't foe Shrunke in his beauties Which beheld by Hector he let go This bitter checke at him Accurst made but in beauties skorne Hector to Paris Impostor womans man O heauen that thou hadst neare bene borne Or being so manlesse neuer liu'd to beare mans noblest state The nuptiall honor which I wish because it were a fate Much better for thee then this shame this spectacle doth make A man a monster Harke how lowd the Greekes laugh who did take Thy faire forme for a continent of parts as faire a rape Thou mad'st of Nature like their Queene No soule an emptie shape Takes vp thy being yet how spight to euerie shade of good Fils it with ill for as thou art thou couldst collect a brood Of others like thee and farre hence fetch ill enough to vs Euen to thy father all these friends make those foes mocke them thus In thee for whose ridiculous sake so seriously they lay All Greece and Fate vpon their necks O wretch not dare to stay Weake Menelaus But t was well for in him thou hadst tried What strength lost beautie can infuse and with the more griefe died To feele thou robdst a worthier man to wrong a souldiers right Your Haâ—…ps sweettouch curld lockes fine shape and gifts so exquisite Giuen thee by Venus would haue done your fine Dames little good When bloud and dust had ruffled them and had as little stood Thy selfe in stead but what thy care of all these in thee flies We should inflict on thee our selues infectious cowardise In thee hath terrified our host for which thou well deseru'st A coate of Tomb-stone not of steele in which for forme thou seru'st To this thus Paris spake for forme that might inhabit heauen Paris to Hector Hector Because thy sharpe reproofe is out of iustice giuen I take it well but though thy heart inuâ—…'d to these affrights Cuts through them as an axe through Oke that more vsd more excites The workmans facultie whose art can make the edge go farre Yet I lesse practisd then thy selfe in these extremes of warre May well be pardond though lesse bold in these your worth exceeds In others mine Nor is my mind of lesse force to the deeds Requir'd in warre because my forme more flowes in gifts of peace Reproach not therefore the kind gifts of golden Cyprides All heau'ns gifts haue their worthie price as little to bâ—… scorn'd As to be wonne with strength wealth state with which to be adorâ—…'d Some man would change state wealth or strength But if your â—…artiall heart Wish me to make my challenge good and hold it such a part Of shame to giue it ouer thus cause all â—…he rest to rest And twixt both hosts let Spartas king and me performe our best For Hellâ—…n and the wealth she brought and he that ouercomes Or proues superiour any way in all your equall doomes Let him enioy her vtmost wealth keepe her or take her home The rest strike leagues of endlesse date and heartie friends become You dwelling safe in gleby Troy the Greekes retire their force T'Achaia that breeds fairest Dames and Argos fairest horse He said and his amendsfull words did Hector highly please Who rusht betwixt the fighting hoasts and made the Troians cease By holding vp in midst his lance the Grecians noted not The signall he for parle vsde but at him fiercely shot Hurld stones and still were leuelling darts At last the king of men Great Agamemnon cried alowd Argiues for shame containe Agamemn on restraines the fight against Hector Youths of Achaia shoot no more the faire-helm'd Hector showes As he desir'd to treate with vs. This said all ceast from blowes And Hector spake to both the hosts Troians and hardie Greekes Hector to the Greekes and Troians Heare now what he that stird these warres for their cessation seekes He bids vs all and you disarme that he alone may fight With
Nestors art iâ—… ordering his souldiers Embattelling his men at armes and stirring all to blowes Points euerie legion out his Chiefe and euery Chiefe he showes The formes and discipline of warre yet his Commanders were All expert and renowmed men Great Pelagon was there Alastor manly Chromius and Hemon worth a Throne And Byas that could armies leade with these he first put on His horse troopes with their chariots his foote of which he chusde Many the best and ablest men and which he euer vsde As rampire to his generall powre he in the Rere disposd The slouthfull and the least of spirit he in the midst inclosd That such as wanted noble wils base need might force to stand His horse troopes that the Vantgard had he strictly did command To ride their horses temperatly to keepe their rankes and shun Confusion lest their horsemanship and courage made them run Too much presum'd on much too farre and charging so alone Engage themselues in th' enemies strength where many fight with one Who his owne chariot leaues to range let him not freely go But straight vnhorse him with a lance for t is much better so And with this discipline said he this forme these minds this trust Our Ancestors haue walles and townes laid leuell with the dust Thus prompt and long inur'd to armes this old man did exhort And this Atrides likewise tooke in wondrous chearefull sort And said O Father would to heauen that as thy mind remaines Agamemnon to Nestor In wonted vigor so thy knees could vndergo our paines But age that all men ouercomes hath made his prise on thee Yet still I wish that some young man growne old in mind might be Put in proportion with thy yeares and thy mind young in age Be fitly answerd with his youth that still where conflicts rage And young men vsd to thrust for fame thy braue exampling hand Might double our young Grecian spirits and grace our whole Command The old knight answer'd I my selfe could wish O Atreus sonne Nestor to Agamemnon I were as young as when I slue braue Ereuâ—…halion But Gods at all times giue not all their gifts to mortall men If then I had the strength of youth I mist the Counsels then That yeares now giue me and now yeares want that maine strength of youth Yet still my mind retaines her strength as you now said the sooth And would be where that strength is vsd affoording counsels sage To stirre youths minds vp t is the grace and office of our age Let yonger sinewes Men sprong vp whole ages after me And such as haue strength vse it and as strong in honour be The king all this while comforted arriu'd next where he found Well-rode Menestheus Peteus sonne stand still inuirond round With his well-train'd Athenian troopes and next to him he spide The wise Vlysses deedlesse too and all his bands beside Of strong Cephalians for as yet th' alarme had not bene heard In all their quarters Greece and Troy were then so newly stird And then first mou'd as they conceiu'd and they so lookt about To see both hoasts giue proofe of that they yet had cause to doubt Atrides seeing them stand so still and spend their eyes at gaze Began to chide And why said he dissolu'd thus in a maze Thou sonne of Peteus Ioue-nurst king and thou in wicked sleight Agamemnon to Vlysses and Menestheuâ—… A cunning souldier stand ye off Expect ye that the fight Should be by other men begun t is fit the formost band Should shew you there you first should front who first lifts vp his hand First you can heare when I inuite the Princes to a feast When first most friendly and at will ye eate and drinke the best Yet in the fight most willingly ten troopes ye can behold Take place before ye Ithacus at this his browes did fold And said How hath thy violent tongue broke through thy set of teeth Vlysses to Agaâ—…emnon To say that we are slacke in fight and to the field of death Looke others should enforce our way when we were busied then Euen when thou spak'st against the foe to cheate and leade our men But thy eyes shall be witnesses if it content thy will And that as thou pretendst these cares do so affect thee still The father of Telemachâ—… whom I esteeme so deare And to whom as a Legacie I le leaue my deeds done here Euen with the formost band of Troy hath his encounter dar'd And therefore are thy speeches vaine and had bene better spar'd He smiling since he saw him mou'd recald his words and said Agamemnon to Vlysses Most generous Lâ—…ertes sonne most wise of all our aid I neither do accuse thy worth more then thy selfe may hold Fit that inferiours thinke not much being slacke to be controld Nor take I on me thy command for well I know thy mind Knowes how sweet gentle counsels are and that thou standst enclind As I my selfe for all our good On then if now we spake What hath displeasd another time we full amends will make And Gods grant that thy vertue here may proue so free and braue That my reproofes may still be vaine and thy deseruings graue Thus parted they and forth he went when he did leaning find Against his chariot neare his horse him with the mightie mind Great Diomedes Tydeus sonne and Sthenelus the seed Of Capaneius whom the king seeing likewise out of deed Thus cried he out on Diomed O melin what a feare Agamemnon chideth Diomed. The wise great warriour Tydeus sonne stands gazing euerie where For others to begin the fight It was not Tydeus vse To be so danted whom his spirit would euermore produce Before the formost of his friends in these affaires of fright As they report that haue beheld him labour in a fight For me I neuer knew the man nor in his presence came But excellent aboue the rest he was in generall fame And one renowm'd exploit of his I am assur'd is true The historie of Tydeus He came to the Mycenian Court without armes and did sue At Godlike Polinices hands to haue some worthie aid To their designes that gainst the wals of sacred Thebes were laid He was great Polinices guest and nobly entertaind And of the kind Mycenian state what he requested gaind In meere consent but when they should the same in act approue By some sinister prodigies held out to them by Ioâ—…e They were discourag'd thence he went and safely had his passe Backe to Aesopus flood renowm'd for Bulrushes and grasse Yet once more their Ambassadour the Grecian Peâ—…res addresse Lord Tydeus to Eteocles to whom being giuen accesse He found him feasting with a crew of Cadmians in his hall Amongst whom though an enemie and onely one to all To all yet he his challenge made at euerie Martiall feate And easly foild all since with him Minerâ—…a was so great The ranke-rode Cadmians much incenst with their so
of old to be The bane of Mars and had as well the gift of spoile as he This grace she slackt not but her horse scourg'd that in nature flew Betwixt the cope of starres and earth And how farre at a view A man into the purple Sea may from a hill descrie * How farre â—… heauenly 〈◊〉 took at one reach or stroke in galloping or running wherein Homers â—…ind is farre from being exprest in his Inter pretors al taking it for how far Deities were borne from the earth when instaÌ„tly they came downe to earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. tantum vno saltu conficiunt vel tantuÌ„ subâ—…ulum progrediuntur deorum altizoni e qui c. vno be ing vnderstood and the horses swiftnes highly exprest The sence otherwise is senslesse and contradictorie So farre a high-neighing horse of heauen at euerie iumpe would flie Arriu'd at Troy where broke in cutls the two-floods mixe their force Scamander and bright Simois Saturnia staid her horse Tooke them from chariot and a clowd of mightie depth diffusd About them and the verdant bankes of Symois produc'd In nature what they * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ilus is the originall word which Sea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 learnedly asking how the horse came by it on those bankes when the text tels him 〈◊〉 produced it being willing to expresse by 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of that 〈◊〉 If not I hope the Dâ—…ities 〈◊〉 euer command it eate in heauen Then both the Goddesses Marcht like a paire of timorous Doues in hasting their accesse To th' Argiue succour Being arriu'd where both the most and best Were heapt together shewing all like Lyons at a feast Of new slaine carkasses or Bores beyond encounter strong There found they Diomed and there midst all th' admiring throng Saturnia put on Stentors shape that had a brazen voice And spake as lowd as fiftie men like whom she made a noise And chid the Argiues O ye Greekes in name and outward rite But Princes onely not in act what scandall what despight Vse ye to honor all the time the great Aeacides Was conuersant in armes your foes durst not a foote addrâ—…sse Without their ports so much they feard his lance that all controld And now they out-ray to your fleete This did with shame make bold The generall spirit and powre of Greece when with particular note Of their disgrace Athenia made Tydeus issue hote She found him at his chariot refreshing of his wound Inflicted by slaine Pandarus his sweat did so abound It much annoid him vnderneath the brode belt of his shield With which and tired with his toile his soule could hardly yeeld His bodie motion With his hand he lifted vp the belt And wip't away that clotterd blood the feruent wound did melt Minerua leand against his horse and neare their withers laid Her sacred hand then spake to him Beleeue me Diomed 〈◊〉 to Diâ—…med Tydeus exampl'd not himselfe in thee his sonne not Great But yet he was a souldier a man of so much heate That in his Ambassie for Thebes when I forbad his mind To be too ventrous and when Feasts his heart might haue declind With which they welcom'd him he made a challenge to the best And foild the best I gaue him aide because the rust of rest That would haue seisd another mind he sufferd not but vsd The triall I made like a man and their soft feasts refusd Yet when I set thee on thou faint'st I guard thee charge exhort That I abetting thee thou shouldst be to the Greekes a Fort And a dismay to Ilion yet thou obey'st in nought Affraid or slouthfull or else both henceforth renounce all thought Diomed to Palâ—… That euer thou wert Tydeus sonne He answerd her I know Thou art Ioues daughter and for that in all iust dutie owe Thy speeches reuerence yet affirme ingenuously that feare Doth neither hold me spiritlesse nor sloth I onely beare Thy charge in zealous memorie that I should neuer warre With any blessed Deitie vnlesse exceeding farre The limits of her rule the Queene that gouerns Chamber sport Should preasse to field and her thy will enioynd my lance to hurt But he whose powre hath right in armes I knew in person here Besides the Cyprian Deitie and therefore did forbeare And here haue gatherd in retreit these other Greekes you see With note and reuerence of your charge My dearest mind said she 〈◊〉 againe What then was fit is chang'd T is true Mars hath iust rule in warre But iust warre otherwise he raues not fights he 's alterd farre What 〈◊〉 wâ—…rre is He vow'd to Iuno and my selfe that his aide should be vsd Against the Troians whom it guards and therein he abusd His rule in armes infring'd his word and made his warre vniust He is inconstant impious mad Resolue then firmly trust My aide of thee against his worst or any Deitie Adde scourge to thy free horse charge home he fights perfidiously This said as that braue king her knight with his horse-guiding friend Were set before the chariot for signe he should descend That she might serue for wagonnesse she pluckt the waggoner backe And vp into his seate she mounts the Beechen tree did cracke Beneath the burthen and good cause it bore so huge a thing A Goddesse so repleate with powre and such a puissant king She snatcht the scourge vp and the reines and shut her heauenly looke In hels vast helme from Mars his eyes and full careere she tooke At him who then had newly slaine the mightie Periphas Renown'd sonne to Ochesius and farre the strongest was Of all th'Aetolians to whose spoile the bloodie God was run But when this man-plague saw th'approch of God-like Tydeus sonne He let his mightie Periphas lie and in full charge he ran The combâ—… of Mars and 〈◊〉 At Diomed and he at him both neare the God began And thirstie of his blood he throwes abrazen lance that beares Full on the breast of Diomed aboue the reines and geres But Pallas tooke it on her hand and strooke the eager lance Beneath the chariot then the knight of Pallas doth aduance And cast a Iaueline off at Mars Minerua sent it on Mars 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 That where his arming girdle girt his bellie graz'd vpon Iust at the rim and rancht the flesh the lance againe he got But left the wound that stung him so he laid out such a throat As if nine or ten thousand men had bray'd out all their breaths In one confusion hauing felt as many sodaine deaths The rore made both the hosts amaz'd Vp flew the God to heauen And with him was through all the aire as blacke a tincture driuen To Diomeds eyes as when the earth halfe chok't with smoking heate Of gloomie clouds that stifle men and pitchie tempests threat Vsherd with horrid gusts of wind with such blacke vapors plum'd Mars flew t' Olympus and brode heauen and there his place resum'd
their race haue more fruite then the dust This iust cause turnd his brothers mind who violently thrust The prisoner from him in whose guts the king of men imprest His ashen lance which pitching downe his foote vpon the brest Of him that vpwards fell he drew then Nestor spake to all O friends and household men of Mars let not your pursuit fall Kestor to the Greekes With those ye fell for present spoile nor like the king of men Let any scape vnfeld but on dispatch them all and then Ye shall haue time enough to spoile This made so strong their chace That all the Troians had bene housd and neuer turnd a face Had not the Priamist Helenus an Augure most of name Hellenus to Hector and Aeneas Will'd Hector and Aeneas thus Hector Anchises fame Since on your shoulders with good cause the weightie burthen lies Of Troy and Lycia being both of noblest faculties For counsell strength of hand and apt to take chance at her best In euery turne she makes stand fast and suffer not the rest By any way searcht out for scape to come within the ports Lest fled into their wiues kind armes they there be made the sports Of the pursuing enemie exhort and force your bands To turne their faces and while we employ our ventur'd hands Though in a hard condition to make the other stay Hector go thou to Ilion and our Queene mother pray To take the richest robe she hath the same that 's chiefly deare To her Court fancie with which Iemme assembling more to her Of Troys chiefe Matrones let all go for feare of all our fates To Pallas temple take the key vnlocke the leauie gates Enter and reach the highest towre where her Palladium stands And on it put the precious veile with pure and reuerend hands And vow to her besides the gift a sacrificing stroke Of twelue fat Heifers of a yeare that neuer felt the yoke Most answering to her maiden state if she will pittie vs Our towne our wiues our yongest ioyes and him that plagues them thus Take from the conflict Diomed that Furie in a fight That true sonne of great Tydeus that cunning Lord of Flight Whom I esteeme the strongest Greeke for we haue neuer fled Achilles that is Prince of men and whom a Goddesse bred Like him his furie flies so high and all mens wraths commands Hector intends his brothers will but first through all his bands He made quicke way encouraging and all to feare affraide All turnd their heads and made Greece turne Slaughter stood still dismaid On their parts for they thought some God falne from the vault of starres Was rusht into the Ilions aide they made such dreadfull warres Thus Hector toyling in the waues and thrusting backe the flood Hector to the Troians Of his ebb'd forces thus takes leaue So so now runs your blood In his right current Forwards now Troians and farre cald friends Awhile hold out till for successe to this your braue amends I haste to Ilion and procure our Counsellours and wiues To pray and offer Hecatombs for their states in our liues Then faire-helm'd Hector turnd to Troy and as he trode the field How Hector left the field The blacke Buls hide that at his backe he wore about his shield In the extreme circumference was with his gate so rockt That being large it both at once his necke and ankles knockt And now betwixt the hosts were met Hippolochus braue sonne The encounter of Diomed and Glaucus Glaucus who in his verie looke hope of some wonder wonne And little Tydeus mightie heire who seeing such a man Offer the field for vsuall blowes with wondrous words began What art thou strongst of mortall men that putst so farre before Diomed to Glaucâ—… Whom these fights neuer shew'd mine eyes they haue bene euermore Sonnes of vnhappie parents borne that came within the length Of this Minerua-guided lance and durst close with the strength That she inspires in me If heauen be thy diuine abode And thou a Deitie thus inform'd no more with any God Will I change lances the strong sonne of Drias did not liue Long after such a conflict dar'd who godlesly did driue Nisaeus Nurses through the hill made sacred to his name And cald Nissâ—…ius with a goade he puncht each furious dame And made them euery one cast downe their greene and leauie speares This t'homicide Lycurgus did and those vngodly feares He put the Froes in seisd their God Euen Bacchus he did driue From his Nisseius who was faine with huge exclaimes to diue Into the Ocean Thetis there in her bright bosome tooke The flying Deitie who so feard Lycurgus threats he shooke For which the freely-liuing Gods so highly were incenst That Saturns great sonne strooke him blind and with his life dispenc't But small time after all because th'immortals lou'd him not Nor lou'd him since he striu'd with them and his end hath begot Feare in my powres to fight with heauen but if the fruits of earth Nourish thy bodie and thy life be of our humane birth Come neare that thou maist soone arriue on that life-bounding shore To which I see thee hoise such saile Why dost thou so explore Glaucuâ—… his wor thie answer to Diomed and his â—…edegree drawne euen from Sysipâ—…us Said Glaucus of what race I am when like the race of leaues The race of man is that deserues no question nor receiues My being any other breath The wind in Autumne strowes The earth with old leaues then the Spring the woods with new endowes And so death scatters men on earth so life puts out againe Mans leauie issue but my race if like the course of men Thou seekst in more particular termes t is this to many knowne In midst of Argos nurse of horse there stands a walled towne Ephyré where the Mansion house of Sysiphus did stand The historie of Bellerophon Of Sysiphus Aeolides most wise of all the land Glaucus was sonne to him and he begat Bellerophon Whose bodie heauen endued with strength and put a beautie on Exceeding louely Prâ—…tus yet his cause of loue did hate And banisht him the towne he might he ruld the Argiue state The vertue of the one Iouâ—… plac't beneath the others powre His exile grew since he denied to be the Paramour Of faire Antâ—…ta Prâ—…tus wife who felt a raging fire Of secret loue to him but he whom wisedome did inspire As well as prudence one of them aduising him to shunne The danger of a Princesse loue the other not to runne Within the danger of the Gods the act being simply ill Still entertaining thoughts diuine subdu'd the earthly still She rul'd by neither of his wits preferd her lust to both And false to Prâ—…tus would seeme true with this abhorr'd vntroth Praetus or die thy selfe said she or let Bellerophon die Bellerephâ—…ntis literaeâ—… Ad. Eras. â—…hu long speech many Critickes taxâ—… 〈◊〉 vntimâ—…ly being as they take 〈◊〉
know the ready right hand charge I know the left and euery sway of my securefull targe I triumph in the crueltie of fixed combat fight And manage horse to all designes I thinke then with good right I may be confident as farre as this my challenge goes Without being taxed with a vaunt borne out with emptie showes But being a souldier so renownd I will not worke on thee With least aduantage of that skill I know doth strengthen me And so with priuitie of sleight winne that for which I striue But at thy best euen open strength if my endeuours thriue Thus sent he his long Iauelin forth it strooke his foes huge shield The combat Neere to the vpper skirt of brasse which was the eighth it held Sixe folds th'vntamed dart strooke through and in the seuenth tough hide The point was checkt then Aiax threw his angry Lance did glide Quite through his bright orbicular targe his curace shirt of maile And did his manly stomacks mouth with dangerous taint assaile But in the bowing of himselfe blacke death too short did strike Then both to plucke their Iauelins forth encountred Lion-like Whos 's bloudie violence is increast by that raw food they eate Or Bores whose strength wilde nourishment doth make so wondrous great Againe Priamides did wound in midst his shield of brasse Yet pierc't not through the vpper plate the head reflected was But Aiax following his Lance smote through his target quite And stayd bold Hector rushing in the Lance held way outright And hurt his necke out gusht the bloud yet Hector ceast not so But in his strong hand tooke a Flint as he did backwards go Saxis pugnant Blacke sharpe and big layd in the field the seuenfold targe it smit Full on the bosse and round about the brasse did ring with it But Aiax a farre greater stone lift vp and wreathing round With all his bodie layd to it he sent it forth to wound And gaue vnmeasur'd force to it the round stone broke within Hector strooks on his knees His rundled target his lou'd knees to languish did begin And he leand stretcht out on his shield but Phoebus raisd him streight Then had they layd on wounds with swords in vse of closer fight Vnlesse the Heralds messengers of Gods and godlike men The one of Troy the other Greece had held betwixt them then Imperiall scepters when the one Idaeus graue and wise Said to them Now no more my sonnes the Soueraigne of the skies Doth loue you both both souldiers are all witnesse with good right But now night layes her mace on earth t is good t' obey the night Idaeus Telamon replide To Hector speake not me Aiax to Idâ—… He that cald all our Achiue Peeres to station fight t was he If he first ceasse I gladly yeeld great Hector then began Aiax since Ioue to thy big forme made thee so strong a man Hector to Aiax And gaue thee skill to vse thy strength so much that for thy speare Thou art most excellent of Greece now let vs fight forbeare Hereafter we shall warre againe till Ioue our Herald be And grace with conquest which he will heauen yeelds to night and we Go thou and comfort all thy Fleet all friends and men of thine As I in Troy my fauourers who in the Fane diuine Hector giues Aiax a sword Aiax Hector a girdle Both which gifts were afterward cause of both their deaths Haue offerd Orisons for me and come let vs impart Some ensignes of our strife to shew each others suppled hart That men of Troy and Greece may say Thus their high quarrell ends Those that encountring were such foes are now being separate friends He gaue a sword whose handle was with siluer studs through driuen Scabard and all with hangers rich By Telamon was giuen A faire well glossed purple waste Thus Hector went to Troy And after him a multitude fild with his safeties ioy Despairing he could euer scape the puissant fortitude And vnimpeached Aiax hands The Greeks like ioy renude For their reputed victorie and brought him to the King Who to the great Saturnides preferd an offering Sacrifice for victorie Virgil imit An Oxe that fed on fiue faire springs they fleyd and quartred him And then in peeces cut on spits they rosted euery lim Which neatly drest they drew it off worke done they fell to feast Conuiuium à sacrificio All had enough but Telamon the King fed past the rest Nector to the Greeks With good large peeces of the chine Thus thirst and hunger staid Nestor whose counsels late were best vowes new and first he said Atrides and my other Lords a sort of Greeks are dead Whose blacke bloud neare Scamanders streame inhumane Mars hath shed Their soules to hell descended are it fits thee then our king To make our souldiers ceasse from warre and by the dayes first spring Let vs our selues assembled all the bodies beare to fire With Mules and Oxen neare our fleet that when we home retire Each man may carrie to the sonnes of fathers slaughterd here Their honourd bones one tombe for all foreuer let vs reare Circling the pile without the field at which we will erect Wals and a raueling that may safe our fleet and vs protect And in them let vs fashion gates solid and bard about Through which our horse and chariots may well get in and out Without all let vs dig a dike so deepe it may auaile Our forces gainst the charge of horse and foote that come t'assaile And thus th' attempts that I see swell in Troys proud heart shall faile The Kings do his aduice approue so Troy doth Court conuent At Priams gate in th'Ilion tower fearfull and turbulent Antenors counsell to the Tro ians Amongst all wise Antenor spake Troians and Dardan friends And Peeres assistants giue good eare to what my care commends To your consents for all our good resolue let vs restore The Argiue Hellen with her wealth to him she had before We now defend but broken faiths If therefore ye refuse No good euent can I expect of all the warres we vse He ceast and Alexander spake husband to th'Argiue Queene Paris replies Antenor to mine eares thy words harsh and vngracious beene Thou canst vse better if thou wilt but if these truly fit Thy serious thoughts the Gods with age haue reft thy grauer wit To war-like Troians I will speake I clearly do denie To yeeld my wife but all her wealth I le render willingly What euer I from Argos brought and vow to make it more Which I haue readie in my house if peace I may râ—…store Priam sirnam'd Dardanides godlike in counsels graue Priam to the Troians In his sonnes fauour well aduisde this resolution gaue My royall friends of euery state there is sufficient done For this late counsell we haue cald in th' offer of my sonne Now then let all take needfull food then let the
〈◊〉 c. These last verses in the originall by many 〈◊〉 ancients haue suffered expunction as being vnworthy the mouth of an Heroe because he 〈◊〉 to make such a wish in them which is as poorely conceipted of the expâ—…gers as the rest of the places in Homer that haue groned or laughed vnder their 〈◊〉 Achilles not out of his heart which any true eye may see wishing it but out of a 〈◊〉 and delightsome humour being merry with his friend in priuate which the verse following in part expresseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sic hi quidem talia inter se loquebantur Inter se intimating the meaning aforesaid But our diuine Maisters most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the life of things which is the soule of a Poeme is neuer respected nor 〈◊〉 by his Interpreters onely standing pedantically on the Grammar and words vtterly ignorant of the sence and grace of him b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Agnouit autem Aiax in animo inculpato operadeorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exhorruitque Another most ingenious and spritefull imitation of the life and ridiculous humor os Aiax I must needs note here because it flies all his Translators and Interpreters who take it meerely for serious when it is apparently scopticall and ridiculous with which our author would delite his vnderstanding Reader and mixe mirth with matter He saith that Hector cut off the head of Aiax lance which he seeing would needs affect a kind of prophetique wisedome with which he is neuer charged in Homer and imagined strongly the cutting off his lances head cast a figure thus deepe that as Hector cut off that Ioue would vtterly cut off the heads of their counsels to that fight and giue the Troians victory which to take seriously and grauely is most dull and as I may say Aianticall the voyce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they expound praecidebat and indeed iâ—… tondebat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying most properly tondeo helping well to decipher the Ironie But to vnderstand grauely that the cutting off his lances head argued Ioues intent to cut off their counsels and to allow the wit of Aiax for his so farre-fetcht apprehension I suppose no man can make lesse then idle and witlesse A plaine continuance therefore it is of Aiax humor whom in diuers other places he playes vpon as in 〈◊〉 him in the eleuenth booke to a mill Asse and else where to be noted hereafter c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Sleepe and Death which he ingeniously calleth Twins was the body of Ioues sonne Sarpedon taken from the fight and borne to Lycia On which place Eustathius doubts whether truly and indeed it was transferd to Lycia and he makes the cause of his doubt this That Death and Sleepe are inania quaedam things empty and voide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not solid or firme persons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but quae nihil ferre possunt And therefore he thought there was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quoddam that is some voyde or emptie sepulcher or monument prepared for that Heroe in Lycia c. or else makes another strange translation of it by wonder which Spondanus thinkes to haue happened truly But rather would interprete it merely and nakedly apoeticall fiction his reason I will forbeare to vtter because it is vnworthy of him But would not a man wonder that our great and graâ—…e Eustathius would doubt whether Sleepe and Death carried Sarpedons person personally to Lycia or not rather make no question of the contrary Homer nor any Poets end in such poeticall relations being to affirme the truth of things personally done but to please with the truth of their matchlesse wits and some worthy doctrine conueyed in it Nor would Homer haue any one beleeue the personall transportance of Sarpedon by Sleepe and Death but onely varieth and graceth his Poeme with these Prosopopeiaes and deliuers vs this most ingenious and graue doctrine in it that the Heroes body for which both those mightie Hosts so mightily contended Sleepe and Death those same quaedam inania tooke from all their personall and solid forces Wherein he would further note to vs that from all the bitterest and deadliest conflicts and tyrannies of the world Sleepe and Death when their worst is done deliuers and transfers men a little mocking withall the vehement and greedy prosecutions of tyrants and souldiers against or for that which two such deedlesse poore things takes from all their Emperie And yet against Eustathius manner of sleighting their powers what is there of all things belonging to man so powerfull ouer him as Death and Sleep And why may not our Homer whose words I hold with Spondanus ought to be an vndisputable deed and authoritie with vs as well personate Sleepe and Death as all men besides personate Loue Anger Sloth c Thus onely where the sence and soule of my most worthily reuerenced Author is abused or not seene I still insist and gleane these few poore corne eares after all other mens haruests The end of the sixteenth Booke THE XVII BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT A Dreadfull fight about Patroclus corse Euphorbus slaine by Menelaus force Hector in th'armour of Aeacides Antilochus relating the decease O slaine Patroclus to faire Thetis sonne The body from the striuing Toians wonne Th' Aiaces making good the after field Make all the subiect that this booke doth yeeld Another Argument In Rho the ventrous hosts maintaine A slaughterous conflict for the slaine NOr could his slaughter rest conceald from Menelans eare Who flew amongst the formost fights with his targe speare Circled the body as much grieu'd and with as tender heed To keepe it theirs as any damme about her first-borne seed Not prouing what the paine of birth would make the loue before Nor to pursue his first attaint Euphorbus spirit forbore But seeing Menelaus chiefe in rescue of the dead Euphorbuâ—… to Menelaus This Euphorbus was he that in Ouid Pythagoras saith he was in the wars of Troy Assaid him thus Atrides ceasse and leaue the slaughtered With his embrew'd spoyle to the man that first of all our state And famous succours in faire fight made passage to his fate And therefore suffer me to weare the good name I haue wonne Amongst the Troians lest thy life repay what his hath done O Iupiter said he incenst Thou art no honest man Menclaus to Euphorbus To baost so past thy powre to do Not any Lion can Nor spotted Leopard nor Bore whose mind is mightiest In powring furie from his strength aduance so prowd a crest As Panthus fighting progenie But Hyperenors pride That ioy'd so little time his youth when he so vilifide My force in armes and cald me worst of all our cheualrie And stood my worst might teach ye all to shun this surcuidrie I thinke he came not safely home to tell his wife his acts Nor lesse right of thy insolence my equall fate exacts And will
should we mourne too much Who dead is must be buried mens patience should be such That one dayes mone should serue one man the dead must end with Death And life last with what strengthens life All those that held their breath From death in fight the more should eate that so they may supply Their fellowes that haue stucke in field and fight incessantly Let none expect reply to this nor stay for this shall stand Or fall with some offence to him that lookes for new command Who euer in dislike holds backe All ioyne then all things fit Allow'd for all set on a charge at all parts answering it This said he chusde for noblest youths to beare the presents these The sonnes of Nestor and with them renowm'd Meriones The names of those that caried the presents to Achilles Phylidas Thoas Lycomed and Meges all which went And Menalippus following Vlysses to the tent Of Agamemnon He but spake and with the word the deed Had ioynt effect the fitnesse well was answerd in the speed The presents added to the Dame the Generall did enforce Were twentie Caldrons Tripods seuen twelue yong and goodly horse Seuen Ladies excellently seene in all Minâ—…es skill The presents The eight Brisaeis who had powre to rauish euery will Twelue talents of the finest gold all which Vlysses weyd And caried first and after him the other youths conueyd The other presents tenderd all in face of all the Court. Vp rose the King Talthybius whose voice had a report Like to a god cald to the rites there hauing brought the Bore Atrides with his knife tooke sey vpon the part before AgameÌ„nons atâ—…ation And lifting vp his sacred hands to Ioue to make his vowes Graue Silence strooke the compleate Court when casting his high browes Vp to the broad heauen thus he spake Now witnesse Iupiter First highest and thou best of gods thou Earth that all doest beare Thou Sunne ye Furies vnder earth that euery soule torment Whom impious periury distaines that nought incontinent In bed or any other act to any slendrest touch Of my light vowes hath wrong'd the Dame and let my plagues be such As are inflicted by the gods in all extremitie On whomsoeuer periur'd men if godlesse periurie In least degree dishonor me This said the bristl'd throte Of the submitted sacrifice with ruthlesse steele he cut Which straight into the horie sea Talthybius cast to feed The sea-borne nation Then stood vp the halfe-celestiall seed Of faire-hair'd Thetis strengthning thus Atrides innocence O father Iupiter from thee descends the confluence Achilles to Iupiter Of all mans ill for now I see the mightie king of men At no hand forc't away my prise nor first inflam'd my splene With any set ill in himselfe but thou the king of gods Incenst with Greece made that the meane to all their periods Which now amend we as we may and giue all suffrages To what wise Ithacus aduisde Take breakfasts and addresse For instant conflict Thus he raisd the Court and all tooke way To seuerall ships The Myrmidons the presents did conuay T'Achilles fleete and in his tents disposde them doing grace Of seate and all rites to the Dames The horses put in place With others of Aeacides When like Loues golden Queene Brisaeis all in ghastly wounds had dead Patroclus seene She fell about him shrieking ouâ—… and with her white hands tore Her haire breasts radiant cheekes and drown'd in warme teares did deplore His cruell destinie At length she gat powre to expresse Her violent passion and thus spake this-like-the goddesses O good Patroclus to my life the dearest grace it had Briâ—… complaint ouer the body of 〈◊〉 I wretched dame departing hence enforc't and dying sad Left thee aliue when thou hadst chear'd my poore captiuitie And now return'd I find thee dead misery on miserie Euer increasing with my steps The Lord to whom my Sire And dearest mother gaue my life in nuptials his lifes fire I saw before our citie gates extinguisht and his fate Three of my worthy brothers liues in one wombe generate Felt all in that blake day of death And when Achilles hand Had slaine all these and rac't the towne Mynetes did command All cause of neuer-ending griefes presented thou took'st all On thy endeuour to conuert to ioy as Generall Affirming he that hurt should heale and thou wouldst make thy friend Braue Captaine that thou wert supply my vowed husbands end And in rich Phthia celebrate amongst his Myrmidons Our nuptiall banquets for which grace with these most worthy mones I neuer shall be satiate thoâ—… euer being kind Euer delightsome one sweete grace fed still with one sweete mind Thus spake she weeping and with her did th' other Ladies mone Patroclus fortunes in pretext but in sad truth their owne About Aeacides himselfe the kings of Greece were plac't Entreating him to food and he entreated them as fast Still intermixing words and sighes if any friend were there Of all his dearest they would ceasse and offer him no cheare But his due sorrowes for before the Sunne had left that skie He would not eate but of that day sustaine th'extremitie Thus all the kings in resolute griefe and fasting he dismift But both th' Atrides Ithacus and warres * old Martialist Neâ—…or Idomenaeus and his friend and Phoenix these remain'd Endeuoring comfort but no thought of his vow'd woe restrain'd Nor could till that dayes bloudie fight had calm'd his bloud he still Rememberd something of his friend whose good was all his ill Their vrging meate the diligent fashion of his friend renew'd In that excitement thou said he when this speed was pursu'd Against the Troians euermore apposedst in my tent A pleasing breakfast being so free and sweetly diligent Thou mad'st all meate sweete Then the warre was tearefull to our foe But now to me thy wounds so wound me and thy ouerthrow For which my readie food I flie and on thy longings feed Nothing could more afflict me Fame relating the foule deed Of my deare fathers slaughter bloud drawne from my sole sonnes heart No more could wound me Cursed man that in this forâ—…ein part For hatefull Hellen my true loue my countrey Sire and son I thus should part with Scyros now giâ—…es education 〈◊〉 was an I le in the sea Aegeum where Achilles himself was brought vp as well as his soâ—… O Neoptelemus to thee if liuing yet from whence I hop't deare friend thy longer life safely return'd from hence And my life quitting thine had powre to ship him home and show His yong eyes Phthiâ—… subiects court my father being now Dead or most short-liu'd troublous age oppressing him and feare Still of my deaths newes These sad words he blew into the eare Of euery visitant with sighs all eccho'd by the Peares Remembring who they left at home All whose so humane teares Ioue pitied and since they all would in the good of one Be much reuiu'd he thus bespake Minerua
his nor mine Iudge of with fauour him nor me lest any Grecian vse This scandall Menelaus wonne with Nestors sonnes abuse The prise in question his horse worst himselfe yet wanne the best By powre and greatnesse Yet because I would not thus contest To make parts taking I le be iudge and I suppose none here Will blame my iudgement I le do right Antilochus come neare Come noble gentleman t is your place sweare by th' earth circling god Standing before your chariot and horse and that selfe rod With which you scourg'd them in your hand if both with will and wile You did not crosse my chariot He thus did reconcile Antiloâ—…us his ironicall reply Grace with his disgrace and with wit restor'd him to his wit Now craue I patience ô king what euer was vnfit Ascribe to much more youth in me then you you more in age And more in excellence know well the outraies that engage All yong mens actions sharper wits but duller wisedomes still From vs flow then from you for which curbe with your wisedome will The prise I thought mine I yeeld yours and if you please a prise Of greater value to my tent I le send for and suffise Your will at full and instantly for in this point of time I rather wish to be enioyn'd your fauors top to clime Then to be falling all my time from height of such a grace Iroâ—… O Ioue-lou'd king and of the gods receiue a curse in place This said he fetcht the prise to him and it reioyc't him so This Simile likeâ—…se is meerly â—…nicall That as corne-eares shine with the dew yet hauing time to grow When fields set all their bristles vp in such a ruffe wert thou O Menelaus answering thus Antilochus I now Though I were angry yeeld to thee because I see th'hadst wit When I thought nor thy youth hath got the mastery of thy spirit And yet for all this t is more safe not to abuse at all Great men then ventring trust to wit to take vp what may fall Mâ—… to Antâ—… For no man in our host beside had easely calm'd my spleene Stird with like tempâ—…st But thy selfe hast a sustainer bene Of much affliction in my cause so thy good father too And so thy brother at thy suite I therefore let all go Giue thee the game here though mine owne that all these may discerne King Menelaus beares a mind at no part proud or sterne The king thus calm'd Antilochus receiu'd and gaue the steed To lou'd Noemon to leade thencâ—… and then receiu'd beside The caldron Next Mâ—…ones for fourth game was to haue Two talents gold The fift vnwonne renowm'd Acâ—…lles gaue To reuerend Nestor being a boule to set on either end Which through the preasse he caried him Receiue said he old friend Achilles his gift to Nestor This gift as funerall monument of my deare friend deceast Whom neuer you must see againe I make it his bequest To you as without any strife obtaining it from all Your shoulders must not vndergo the churlish whoorlbats fall Wrastling is past you strife in daâ—…s the footes celeritie Harsh age in his yeares fetters you and honor sets you free Thus gaue he it he tooke and ioyd but ere he thankt he said Now sure my honorable sonne in all points thou hast plaid Nâ—… glorie in the gift of Aâ—…lles The comely Orator no more must I contend with nerues Feete faile and hands armes want that strength that this and that swinge serues Vnder your shoulders Would to heauen I were so yong chind now And strength threw such a many of bones to celebrate this show As when the Epiâ—…s brought to fire actiuely honoring thus King â—…marynceas funerals in faire Buprasius His sonnes put prises downe for him where not a man matcht me Of all the Epians or the sonnes of great-soul'd Aetolie No nor the Pilians themselues my countrimen I beate Great Clydomedeus Eâ—…ops sonne at buffets at the feate Of wrastling I laid vnder me one that against me rose Ancâ—…s cald Plâ—…ius I made Ipiclus lose The foot-game to me At the speare I conquer'd Pâ—…e And strong Phyleus Actors sonnes of all men onely bore The palme at horse race conquering with lashing on more horse And enuying my victorie because before their course All the best games were gone with me These men were twins one was A most sure guide a most sure guide The other gaue the passe With rod and mettle This was then But now yong men must wage These workes and my ioynts vndergo the sad defects of age Though then I was another man * His desire of praise pants still at that time I exceld Amongst th'heroes But forth now let th' other rites be held For thy deceast friend this thy gift in all kind part I take And much it ioyes my heart that still for my true kindnesse sake You giue me memorie You perceiue in what fit grace I stand Amongst the Grecians and to theirs you set your gracefull hand The gods giue ample recompence of grace againe to thee For this and all thy fauors Thus backe through the thrust draue he Another note of Nestors humor not so much being to be plainly obserued in all these Iliads as in this booke When he had staid out all the praise of old Neleides And now for buffets that rough game he orderd passages Proposing a laborious Mule of sixe yeares old vâ—…'d And fierce in handling brought and bound in that place where they gam'd And to the conquerd a round cup both which hâ—… thus proclames Atrides and all friends of Greece two men for these two games Achilles proposes the game for buffets I bid stand forth who best can strike with high contracted fists Apollo giuing him the wreath know all about these lists Shall winne a Mule patient of â—…oyle the vanquisht this round cup. This vtterd Panopâ—…s sonne Epeus straight stood vp A tall huge man that to the naile knew that rude sport of hand And â—…ng the tough mule thus spake Now let some other stand Note the sharpnes of wit in our Homer if where you looke not for 〈◊〉 you can find it Forth for the cup this Mule is mine at cuffes I bost me best Iâ—… not enough I am no souldier who is worthiest At all workes none not possible At this yet this I say And will performe this who stands forth I le burst him I will bray His bones as in a mortar fetch sâ—…rgeons enow to take His corse from vnder me This speech did all men silent make At last stood forth Euryalus a man god-like and sonne To king Mecisteus the grand child of honor'd Talaon He was so strong that coming once to Thebes when Oedipus Had like rites solemniz'd for him he went victorious From all the Thebanes This rare man Tydides would prepare Put on his girdle oxehide cords faire wrought and spent much care That he might conquer heartned him and
appaid Long since and held it as at first to Priam Ilion And all his subiects for the rape of his licentious sonne Proud Paris that despisde these dames in their diuine accesse Made to his cottage and praisd her that his sad wantonnesse So costly nourisht The twelfth morne now shin'd on the delay Of Hectors rescue and then spake the deitie of the day Apollo to the other gods Thus to th'immortals Shamelesse gods authors of ill ye are To suffer ill Hath Hectors life at all times show'd his care Of all your rights in burning thighs of Beeues and Goates to you And are your cares no more of him vouchsafe ye not euen now Euen dead to keepe him that his wife his mother and his sonne Father and subiects may be mou'd to those deeds he hath done See'ng you preserue him that seru'd you and sending to their hands His person for the rites of fire Achilles that withstands All helpe to others you can helpe one that hath neither hart Nor soule within him that will moue or yeeld to any part That fits a man but Lion-like vplandish and meere wilde Slaue to his pride and all his nerues being naturally compil'd Of eminent strength stalkes out and preyes vpon a silly sheepe And so fares this man That fit ruth that now should draw so deepe In all the world being lost in him And Shame a qualitie Shame a quality that hurts and helpes men exceedingly Of so much weight that both it helpes and hurts excessiuely Men in their manners is not knowne nor hath the powre to be In this mans being Other men a greater losse then he Haue vndergone a sonne suppose or brother of one wombe Yet after dues of woes and teares they bury in his tombe All their deplorings Fates haue giuen to all that are true men True manly patience but this man so soothes his bloudy veine That no bloud serues it he must haue diuine-soul'd Hector bound To his proud chariot and danc't in a most barbarous round About his lou'd friends sepulcher when he is slaine T is vile And drawes no profit after it But let him now awhile Marke but our angers his is spent let all his strength take heed It tempts not our wraths he begets in this outragious deed The dull earth with his furies hate White-wristed Iuno said Being much incenst This doome is one that thou wouldst haue obaid Thou bearer of the siluer bow that we in equall care And honour should hold Hectors worth with him that claimes a share In our deseruings Hector suckt a mortall womans brest Aeacides a goddesses our selfe had interest Both in his infant nourishment and bringing vp with state And to the humane Pelâ—…s we gaue his bridall mate Because he had th'immortals loue To celebrate the feast Of their high nuptials euery god was glad to be a guest And thou fedst of his fathers cates touching thy harpe in grace Of that beginning of our friend whom thy perfidious face In his perfection blusheth not to match with Priâ—…m sonne O thou that to betray and shame art still companion Iâ—…e thus receiu'd her Neuer giue these brode termes to a god Iâ—…e to 〈◊〉 Those two men shall not be compar'd and yet of all that trod The well-pau'd Iliâ—… none so deare to all the deities As Hector was at least to me For offrings most of prise His hands would neuer pretermit Our altars euer stood Furnisht with banquets fitting vs odors and euery good Smokt in our temples and for this foreseeing it his fate We markt with honour which must stand but to giue stealth estate In his deliuerance shun we that nor must we fauour one To shame another Priuily with wrong to Thetis sonne We must not worke out Hectors right There is a ransome due And open course by lawes of armes in which must humbly sue The friends of Hector Which iust meane if any god would stay And vse the other t would not serue for Thetis night and day Is guardian to him But would one call Iris hither I Would giue directions that for gifts the Trâ—…n king should buy His Hectors body which the sonne of Thetis shall resigne This said his will was done the Dame that doth in vapours shine Dewie and thin footed with stormes iumpt to the sable seas Twixt Samos and sharpe Imbers cliffes the lake gron'd with the presse Of her rough feete and plummet-like put in an oxes horne That beares death to the raw-fed fish she diu'd and found forlorne Thetis lamenting her sonnes fate who was in Troy to haue Iris to Thetis Farre from his countrey his death seru'd Close to her Iris stood And said Rise Thetis prudent Ioue whose counsels thirst not blood Cals for thee Thetis answerd her with asking What 's the cause The great god cals my sad powres fear'd to breake th' immortall lawes In going fil'd with griefes to heauen But he sets snares for none With colourd counsels not a word of him but shall be done She said and tooke a sable vaile a blacker neuer wore A heauenly shoulder and gaue way Swift Iris swum before About both rowld the brackish waues They tooke their banks and flew Vp to Olympus where they found Satâ—…nius farre-of-view Spher'd with heauens-euerbeing states Minerua rose and gaue Her place to Thetis neare to Ioue and Iâ—…no did receiue Her entry with a cup of gold in which she dranke to her Grac't her with comfort and the cup to her hand did referre She dranke resigning it And then the sire of men and gods Thus entertain'd her Com'st thou vp to these our blest abodes Faire goddesse Thetis yet art sad and that in so high kind As passeth suffrance this I know and try'd thee and now find Thy will by mine rulde which is rule to all worlds gouernment Besides this triall yet this cause sent downe for thy ascent Nine dayes Contention hath bene held amongst th'immortals here For Hectors person and thy sonne and some aduices were To haue our good spie Mercurie steale from thy sonne the Corse But that reproch I kept farre off to keepe in future force Thy former loue and reuerence Haste then and tell thy sonne The gods are angrie and my selfe take that wrong he hath done To Hector in worst part of all the rather since he still Detaines his person Charge him then if he respect my will For any reason to resigne slaine Hector I will send Iris to Priam to redeeme his sonne and recommend Fit ransome to Achilles grace in which right he may ioy And end his vaine griefe To this charge bright Thetis did employ Instant endeuour From heauens tops she reacht Achilles tent Found him still sighing and some friends with all their complements Soothing his humour othersome with all contention Dressing his dinner all their paines and skils consum'd vpon Thetis to Achilles A huge wooll-bearer slaughterd there His reuerend mother then Came neare tooke kindly his faire hand and askt him Deare sonne
I had bene brought To ruine for what breeds that wish which is the mischiefe wrought By my accesse yet neuer found one harsh taunt one words ill From thy sweet cariage Twenty yeares do now their circles â—…ill Since my arriuall all which time thou didst not onely beare Thy selfe without checke But all else that my Lords brothers were Their sisters Lords sisters themselues the Queen my mother in law The king being neuer but most milde when thy mans spirits saw Sowre and reprochfull it would still reproue their bitternesse With sweet words And thy gentle soule And therefore thy deceasse I truly mourne for and my selfe curse as the wretched cause All brode Troy yeelding me not one that any humane lawes Of pitie or forgiuenesse mou'd t' entreate me humanely But onely thee all else abhorr'd me for my destinie These words made euen the coÌ„mons mourn to whom the king said Friends Priam to the Troians Now fetch wood for our funerall fire nor feare the foe intends Ambush or any violence Achilles gaue his word At my dismission that twelue dayes he would keepe sheath'd his sword And all mens else Thus oxen mules in chariots straite they put Went forth and an vnmeasur'd pile of Syluane matter cut Nine daies emploide in cariage but when the tenth morne shinde On wretched mortals then they brought the-fit-to-be-diuin'd Forth to be burn'd Troy swum in teares Vpon the piles most height They laid the person and gaue fire all day it burn'd all night But when th' eleuenth morne let on earth her rosie fingers shine The people flockt about the pile and first with blackish wine Quencht all the flames His brothers then and friends the snowy bones Gatherd into an vrne of gold still powring on their mones Then wrapt they in soft purple veiles the rich vrne digg'd a pit Grau'd it ramb'd vp the graue with stones and quickly built to it A sepulcher But while that worke and all the funerall rites Were in performance guards were held at all parts dayes and nights For feare of false surprise before they had imposde the crowne To these solemnities The tombe aduanc't once all the towne In Ioue-nurst Priams Court partooke a passing sumptuous feast And so horse-taming Hectors rites gaue vp his soule to Rest. Thus farre the Ilian Ruines I haue laid Open to English eyes In which repaid With thine owne value go vnualu'd Booke Liue and be lou'd If any enuious looke Hurt thy cleare fame learne that no state more hie Attends on vertue then pin'd Enuies eye Would thou wert worth it that the best doth wound Which this Age feedes and which the last shall bound THus with labour enough though with more comfort in the merits of my diuine Author I haue brought my translation of his Iliads to an end If either therein or in the harsh vtterance or matter of my Comment before I haue for haste scatterd with my burthen lesse then fifteene weekes being the whole time that the last twelue bookes translation stood me in I desire my present will and I doubt not hability if God giue life to reforme and perfect all heareafter may be ingenuouslly accepted for the absolute worke The rather considering the most learned with all their helpes and time haue bene so often and vnanswerably miserably taken halting In the meane time that most assistfull and vnspeakeable spirit by whose thrice sacred conduct and inspiration I haue finished this labour diffuse the fruitfull horne of his blessings through these goodnesse-thirsting watchings without which vtterly dry and bloodlesse is whatsoeuer Mortality soweth But where our most diligent Spondanus ends his worke with a prayer to be taken out of these Maeanders and Euripian riuers as he termes them of Ethnicke and prophane writers being quite contrarie to himselfe at the beginning I thrice humbly beseech the most deare and diuine mercie euer most incomparably preferring the great light of his truth in his direct and infallible Scriptures I may euer be enabled by resting wondring in his right comfortable shadowes in these to magnifie the clearenesse of his almighty apparance in the other And with this salutation of Poeâ—…ie giuen by our Spondanus in his Preface to these Iliads All haile Saint-sacred Poesie that vnder so much gall of fictioâ—… such abundance of honey doctrine hast hidden not reuealing them to the vnworthy worldly wouldst thou but so much make me that amongst thy Nâ—…uices I might be numbred no time should euer come neare my life that could make me forsake thee I will conclude with this my daily and nightly prayer learn'd of the most learned Symplicius Supplico tibi Domine Pater Dux rationis nostrae vt nostrae nobilitatis recordemur qua tu nos ornasti vt tu nobis praestò sis vt ijs qui per sese mouentur vt à corporis contagio brutorumque affectuum repurgemur eosque superemus regamus sicut decet pro instrumentis ijs vtamur Deinde vt nobis adiumento sis ad accuratam rationis nostrae correctionem coniunctionem cum ijs quae verè sunt per lucem veritatis Et tertium Saluatori supplex oro vt ab oculis animorum nostrorum caliginem prorsus abstergas vt quod apud Homerum est Norimus bene qui Deus aut mortalis habendus Amen FINIS TO THE RIGHT GRACIOVS and worthy the Duke of LENNOX AMongst th'Heroes of the VVorlds prime years Stand here great Duke see theÌ„ shine about you Informe your princely minde and spirit by theirs And then like them liue euer looke without you For subiects fit to vse your place and grace VVhich throw about you as the Sunne his Raies In quickning with their power the dying Race Offriendlesse Vertue since they thus can raise Their honor'd Raisers to Eternitie None euer liu'd by Selfe-loue Others good Is th' obiect of our owne They liuing die That burie in them selues their fortunes brood To this soule then your gracious count'nance giue That gaue to such as you such meanes to liue TO THE MOST GRAVE AND honored Temperer of Law and Equitie the Lord CHANCELOR c. THat Poesie is not so remou'd a thing From graue administry of publike weales As these times take it heare this Poet sing Most iudging Lord and see how he reueales The mysteries of Rule and rules to guide The life of Man through all his choicest waies Nor be your timely paines the lesse applyed For Poesies idle name because her Raies Haue shin'd through greatest Counsellors and Kings Heare Royall Hermes sing th' Egyptian Lawes How Solon Draco Zoroastes sings Their Lawes in verse and let their iust applause By all the world giuen yours by vs allow That since you grace all vertue honour you TO THE MOST WORTHIE Earle Lord Treasurer and Treasure of our Countrey the Earle of SALISBVRY c. VOuchsafe great Treasurer to turne your eye And see the opening of a Grecian Mine VVhich VVisedome long since made her Treasury And now her