allowd either voice or relish for Qui Poeticas ad fores accedit c. sayes the Diuine Philosopher he that knocks at the Gates of the Muses sine Musarum furore is neither to be admitted entrie nor a touch at their Thresholds his opinion of entrie ridiculous and his presumption impious Nor must Poets themselues might I a litle insist on these contempts not tempting too farre your Lordships Vlyssean patience presume to these doores without the truly genuine and peculiar induction There being in Poesie a twofold rapture or alienation of soule as the abouesaid Teâ—cher termes it one Insania a disease of the mind and a meere madnesse by which the infected is thrust beneath all the degrees of humanitie ex homine Brutum quodammodo redditur for which poore Poesie in this diseasd and impostorous age is so barbarously vilified the other is Diuinus furor by which the sound and 〈◊〉 healthfull supra hominis naturam erigitur in Deum transit One a perfection directly infused from God the other an infection obliquely and degenerately proceeding from man Of the diuine Furie my Lord your Homer hath euer bene both first and last Instance being pronounced absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most wise and most diuine Poet. Against whom whosoeuer shall open his prophane mouth may worthily receiue answer with this of his diuine defender Empedocles Heraclitus Protagoras Epichar c. being of Homers part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. who against such an Armie and the Generall Homer dares attempt the assault but he must be reputed ridiculous And yet against this hoast and this inuincible Commander shall we haue euery Besogne and foole a Leader The common herd I assure my self readie to receiue it on their hornes Their infected Leaders Such men as sideling ride the ambling Muse Whose saddle is as frequent as the stuse Whose Raptures are in euery Pageant seene In euery Wassall rime and Dancing greene When he that writes by any beame of Truth Must diue as deepe as he past shallow youth Truth dwels in Gulphs whose Deepes hide shades so rich That Night sits muffl'd there in clouds of pitch More Darke then Nature made her and requires To cleare her tough mists Heauens great fire of fires To whom the Sunne it selfe is but a Beame For sicke soules then but rapt in foolish Dreame To wrestle with these Heau'n-strong mysteries What madnesse is it when their light serues eies That are not worldly in their least aspect But truly pure and aime at Heauen direct Yet these none like but what the brazen head Blatters abroad no sooner borne but dead Holding then in eternal contempt my Lord those short-liued Bubbles eternize your vertue and iudgement with the Grecian Monark esteeming not as the least of your New-yeares Presents Homer three thousand yeares dead now reuiu'd Euen from that dull Death that in life he liu'd When none conceited him none vnderstood That so much life in so much death as blood Conueys about it could mixe But when Death Drunke vp the bloudie Mist that humane breath Pour'd round about him Pouertie and Spight Thickning the haplesse vapor then Truths light Glimmerd about his Poeme the pincht soule Amidst the Mysteries it did enroule Brake powrefully abroad And as we see The Sunne all hid in clouds at length got free Through some forc't couert ouer all the wayes Neare and beneath him shootes his vented rayes Farre off and stickes them in some litle Glade All woods fields riuers left besides in shade So your Apollo from that world of light Closde in his Poems bodie shot to sight Some few forc't Beames which neare him were not seene As in his life or countrie Fate and Spleene Clouding their radiance which when Death had clear'd To farre off Regions his free beames appear'd In which all stood and wonderd striuing which His Birth and Rapture should in right enrich Twelue Labours of your Thespian Hercules I now present your Lordship Do but please To lend Life meanes till th' other Twelue receaue Equall atchieuement and let Death then reaue My life now lost in our Patrician Loues That knocke heads with the herd in whom there moues One blood one soule both drownd in one set height Of stupid Enuie and meere popular Spight Whose loues with no good did my least veine fill And from their hates â— I feare as little ill Their Bounâ—â—es nourish not when most they feed But where there is no Merit or no Need Raine into riuers still and are such showres As bubbles spring and ouerflow the flowres Their worse parts and worst men their Best subornes Like winter Cowes whose milke runnes to their hornes And as litigious Clients bookes of Law Cost infinitely taste of all the Awe Bencht in our kingdomes Policie Pietie State Earne all their deepe explorings satiate All sorts there thrust together by the heart With thirst of wisedome spent on either part Horrid examples made of Life and Death From their fine stuffe wouen yet when once the breath Of sentence leaues them all their worth is drawne As drie as dust and weares like Cobweb Lawne So these men set a price vpon their worth That no man giues but those that trot it forth Through Needs foule wayes feed Humors with all cost Though Iudgement sterues in them Rout State engrost At all Tabacco benches solemne Tables Where all that crosse their Enuies are their fables In their ranke faction Shame and Death approu'd Fit Penance for their Opposites none lou'd But those that rub them not a Reason heard That doth not sooth and glorifie their preferd Bitter Opinions When would Truth resume The cause to his hands all would flie in fume Before his sentence since the innocent mind Iust God makes good to whom their worst is wind For that I freely all my Thoughts expresse My Conscience is my Thousand witnesses And to this stay my constant Comforts vow You for the world I haue or God for you Certaine ancient Greeke Epigrammes Tâ—anslated 〈◊〉 starres are 〈◊〉 vp by the firie Sâ—nne And in so much a flame lies 〈◊〉 the Moone 〈…〉 Name all 〈…〉 Death 〈…〉 Another Heau'ns fires 〈…〉 〈◊〉 his Sphere Graue Night the light â—eed of the Day shall 〈◊〉 Fresh streames shall chace the 〈…〉 shall teare Her fishie bottomes Men in long date dead Shall rise and 〈…〉 Another The great Maeonides doth onely write And to him dictates the great God of Light Another Seuen kingdomes strâ—â—e in which should swell the wombe That bore great Homer whom Fame freed from Tombe Argos Chius Pylos Smyrna Colophone The learn'd Athenian and Vlyssean Throne Another 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 THE FIRST BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT THe Gods in counsaile sit to call Vlysses from Calypso's thrall And order their high pleasures thus Gray Pallas to Telemachus In Ithaca her way addrest And did her heauenly lims inuest In Menta's likenesse that did raigne King of the Taphians in the Maine Whose rough waues neare
againe Which were th' abundant in all counsels men Your matchlesse Father who to gratifie The great Atrides backe to him did flie But I fled all with all that followd me Because I knew God studied miserie To hurle amongst vs. With me likewise fled Martiall Tidides I the men he led Gat to go with him Winds our fleete did bring To Lesbos where the yellow-headed King Though late yet found vs as we put to choise A tedious voyage if we saile should hoiseâ— Aboue rough Chiâ—s left on our left hand To th'Ile of Psiria or that rugged land Saile vnder and for windie 〈◊〉 stere We askt of God that some oftent might cleare Our cloudie businesse who gaue vs â—igne And charge that all should in a middle line The sea cut for Eubâ—ea that with speed Our long-sustaind infortune might be freed Then did a whistling wind begin to rise And swiftly flew we through the fishie skies Till to Gerâ—â—stus we in night were brought Where through the broad sea since we safe had wrought At Neptunes altars many solid Thies Of slaughterd buls we burnd for sacrifise The fourth day came when Tydâ—â—â— sonne did greete The hauen of Argâ—s with his complete Fleete But I for Pylâ—s strait ster'd on my course Nor euer left the wind his fore right force Since God fore-sent it first And thus I came Deare sonne to Pyols vninformd by fame Nor know one sau'd by Fate or ouercome Whom I haue heard of since set here 〈◊〉 home As fits thou shalt be taught nought left vnshowne The expert speare-men euery Myâ—midon Led by the braue heire of the mightie sould Vnpeerd Achilles safe of home got hold Safe Philoctetes Paeans famous seed And safe Idomenâ—eus his men led To his home Crete who fled the armed field Of whom yet none the sea from him withheld Atrides you haue both heard though ye be His farre off dwellers what an end had he Done by Aegisthus to a bitter death Who miserably paid for forced breath Atrides leauing a good sonne that dide In bloud of that deceitfull parricide His wreakfull sword And thou my friend as he For this hath his fame the like spirit in thee Assume at all parts Faire and great I see Thou art in all hope make it good to th' end That after-times as much may thee commend He answerd O thou greateâ—t grace of Greece Orestes made that wreake his master peece And him the Greeks will giue a master praise Veâ—se finding him to last all after daies And would to God the Gods would fauour me With his performance that my iniurie Done by my mothers wooers being so foule I might reuenge vpon their euery soule Who pressing me with contumelies dare Such things as past the powre of vttâ—rance are But heauens great Powres haue grac'â— my destinie With no such honor Both my Sire and I Are borne to suffer euerlastingly Because you name those wooers Friend said he Report sayes many such in spite of thee Wooing thy mother in thy house commit The ils thou nam'st But say proceedeth it From will in thee to beare so foule a foile Or from thy subiects hate that wish thy spoile And will not aide thee since their spirits relie Against thy rule on some graue Augurie What know they but at length thy Father may Come and with violence their violence pay Or he alone or all the Greeks with him But if Minerua now did so esteeme Thee as thy Father in times past whom past All measure she with glorious fauours grac't Amongst the Troiâ—ns where we suffered so O! I did neuer see in such cleare show The Gods so grace a man as she to him To all our eyes appeard in all her tâ—im If so I say she would be pleasd to loue And that her minds care thou so much couldst moâ—e As did thy Father euery man of these Would lose in death their seeking mariages O Father answerd he you make amaze Seise me throughout Beyond the height of phrase You raise expression but t will neuer be That I shall moue in any Deitie So blest an honour Not by any meanes If Hope should prompt me oâ— blind Confidence The God of Fooles or euery Deitie Should will it for t is past my destinie The burning-eyd Dame answerd What a speech Hath past the teeth-guard Nature gaue to teach Fit question of thy words before they flie God easily can when to a mortall eie Hee 's furthest off a mortall satisfie And does the more still For thy car'd for Sire I rather wish that I might home retire After my sufferance of a world of woes Farre off and then my glad eyes might disclose The day of my returne then strait retire And perish standing by my houshold fire As Agamemnon did that lost his life By false Aegisthus and his falser wife For Death to come at length t is due to all Nor can the Gods themselues when Fate shall call Their most lou'd man extend his vitall breath Beyond the fixt bounds of abhorred Death Mentor said he let 's dwell no more on this Although in vs the sorrow pious is No such returne as we wish Fates bequeath My erring Father whom a present death The deathlesse haue decreed I le now vse speech That tends to other purpose and beseech Instruction of graue Nestor since he flowes Past shore in all experience and knowes The sleights and wisedomes to whose heights aspire Others as well as my commended Sire Whom Fame reports to haue commanded three Ages of men and doth in sight to me Shew like th'Immortals Nestor the renowne Of old Neleius make the cleare truth knowne How the most great in Empire Atreus sonne Sustaind the act of his destruction Where then was Menelaus how was it That false Aegisthus being so farre vnfit A match for him could his death so enforce Was he not then in Argos or his course With men so left to let a coward breathe Spirit enough to dare his brothers death I le tell thee truth in all faire sonne said he Right well was this euent conceiu'd by thee If Menelaus in his brothers house Had found the idle liuer with his spouse Arriu'd from Troy he had not liu'd nor dead Had the diggd heape powrd on his lustfull head But fowles and dogs had torne him in the fields Farre off of Argos Not a Dame it yeelds Had giuen him any teare so foule his fact Shewd euen to women Vs Troys warres had rackt To euery sinewes sufferance while he In Argos vplands liu'd from those workes free And Agamemnons wife with force of word Flatterd and softn'd who at first abhord A fact so infamous The heau'nly Dame A good mind had but was in blood too blame There was a Poet to whose care the King His Queene committed and in euery thing When he for Troy went charg'd him to apply Himselfe in all guard to her dignitie But when strong Fate so wrapt-in her
to his wisht and natiue mansion Since he is no offender of their States And they to such are firmer then their Fates The wise Penelope receiu'd her thus Bound with a slumber most delicious And in the Port of dreames O sister why Repaire you hither since so farre off lie Your house and houshold You were neuer here Before this houre and would you now giue cheare To my so many woes and miseries Affecting fitly all the faculties My soule and mind hold hauing lost before A husband that of all the vertues bore The Palme amongst the Greeks and whose renowne So ample was that Fame the sound hath blowne Through Greece and Argos to her very heart And now againe a sonne that did conuert My whole powres to his loue by ship is gone A tender Plant that yet was neuer growne To labours taste nor the commerce of men For whom more then my husband I complaine And lest he should at any sufferance touch Or in the sea or by the men so much Estrang'd to him that must his consorts be Feare and chill tremblings shake each ioynt of me Besides his danger sets on foes profest To way-lay his returne that haue addrest Plots for his death The scarce-discerned Dreame Said Be of comfort nor feares so extreme Let thus dismay thee thou hast such a mate Attending thee as some at any rate Would wish to purchase for her powre is great Mineruâ— pities thy delights defeate Whose Grace hath sent me to foretell thee theese If thou said she be of the Goddesses And heardst her tell thee these thou mayst as well From her tell all things else daigne then to tell If yet the man to all misfortunes borne My husband liues and sees the Sunne adorne The darksome earth or hides his wretched head In Plutos house and liues amongst the dead I will not she replide my breath exhale In one continude and perpetuall tale Liues he or dies he T is a filthy vse To be in vaine and idle speech profuse This said she through the key-hole of the dore Vanisht againe into the open blore Icarius daughter started from her sleepe And Ioyes fresh humor her lou'd brest did sâ—eepe When now so cleare in that first watch of night She saw the seene dreame vanish from her sight The wooers shipt the seas moist waues did plie And thought the Prince a haughtie death should die There lies a certaine Iland in the sea Twixt rockie Samos and rough Ithaca That cliffie is it selfe and nothing great Yet holds conuenient hauens that two wayes let Ships in and out calld Asteris and there The wooers hop't to make their massakere Finis libri quarti Hom. Odyss THE FIFTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT A Second Court on Ioue attends Who Hermes to Calypso sends Commanding her to cleare the wayes Vlysses sought and she obayes When Neptune saw Vlysles free And so in safetie plow the sea Enrag'd he ruffles vp the waues And splits his ship Leucothea saues His person yet as being a Dame Whose Godhead gouernd in the frame Of those seas tempers But the meane By which she curbs dread Neptunes splene Is made a Iewell which she takes From off her head and that she makes Vlysses on his bosome weare About his necke she ties it there And when he is with waues beset Bids weare it as an Amulet Commanding him that not before He toucht vpon Phaeacias shore He should not part with it but then Returne it to the sea agein And caâ—t it from him He performes Yet after this bides bitter stormes And in the rockes sees Death engrau'd But on Phaeacias shore is sau'd Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vlysses builds A ship and gaines The Gassie fields Payes Neptune paines AVrora rose from high-borne Tithons Bed That men and Gods might be illustrated And then the Deities sate Imperiall Ioue That makes the horrid murmure beate aboue Tooke place past all whose height for euer springs And from whom flowes th' eternall powre of things Then Pallas mindfull of Vlysses told The many Cares that in Calypsos hold He still sustaind when he had felt before So much affliction and such dangers more O Father said she and ye euer blest Giue neuer King hereafter interest In any aide of yours by seruing you By being gentle humane iust but grow Rude and for euer scornfull of your rights All iustice ordring by their appetites Since he that rul'd as it in right behou'd That all his subiects as his children lou'd Finds you so thoughtlesse of him and his birth Thus men begin to say ye rule in earth And grudge at what ye let him vndergo Who yet the least part of his sufferance know Thralld in an Iland shipwrackt in his teares And in the fancies that Calypso beares Bound from his birthright all his shipping gone And of his souldiers not retaining one And now his most-lou'd Sonnes life doth inflame Their slaughterous enuies since his Fathers fame He puts in pursuite and is gone as farre As sacred Pylos and the singular Dame breeding Sparta This with this reply The Cloud-assembler answerd What words flie Thine owne remembrance daughter hast not thou The counsell giuen thy selfe that told thee how Vlysses shall with his returne addresse His wooers wrongs And for the safe accesse His Sonne shall make to his innatiue Port Do thou direct it in as curious sort As thy wit serues thee it obeys thy powers And in their ship returne the speedlesse wowers Then turnd he to his issue Mercurie And said Thou hast made good our Ambassie To th' other Statists To the Nymph then now On whose faire head a tâ—ft of gold doth grow Beare our true-spoken counsell for retreat Of patient Vlysses who shall get No aide from vs nor any mortall man But in a patcht-vp skiffe built as he can And suffering woes enow the twentith day At fruitfull Scheria let him breathe his way With the Phaeacians that halfe Deities liue Who like a God will honour him and giue His wisedome clothes and ship and brasse and gold More then for gaine of Troy he euer told Where at the whole diuision of the prey If he a sauer were or got away Without a wound if he should grudge t was well But th' end shall crowne all therefore Fate will deale So well with him to let him land and see His natiue earth friends house and family Thus charg'd he nor Argicides denied But to his feete his faire wingd shooes he tied Ambrosian golden that in his command Put either sea or the vnmeasur'd land With pace as speedie as a puft of wind Then vp his Rod went with which he declin'd The eyes of any waker when he pleasd And any sleeper when he wisht diseasd This tooke he stoopt Pierea and thence Glid through the aire and Neptunes Confluence Kist as he flew and checkt the waues as light As any Sea-mew in her fishing flight Her thicke wings soucing in the
draue in all nor kept One male abroad if or his memory slept By Gods direct will or of purpose was His driuing in of all then doth surpasse My comprehension But he closde againe The mightie barre milkt and did still maintaine All other obseruation as before His woâ—ke all done two of my souldiers more At once he snatcht vp and to supper went Then dar'd I words to him and did present A boll of wine with these words Cyclop take A boll of wine from my hand that may make Way for the mans flesh thou hast eate and show What drinke our ship held which in sacred vow I offer to thee to take ruth on me In my dismission home Thy rages be Now no more sufferable How shall men Mad and inhumane that thou art againe Greet thy abode and get thy actions grace If thus thou ragest and eatst vp their race He tooke and drunke and vehemently ioyd To taste the sweet cup and againe employd My flagons powre entreating more and said Good Guest againe affoord my taste thy aid And let me know thy name and quickly now That in thy recompence I may bestow A hospitable gift on thy desert And such a one as shall reioyce thy heart For to the Cylops too the gentle Earth Beares generous wine and Ioue augments her birth In store of such with showres But this rich wine Fell from the riuer that is meere diuine Of Nectar and Ambrosia This againe I gaue him and againe nor could the foole abstaine But drunke as often When the noble Iuyce Had wrought vpon his spirit I then gaue vse To fairer language saying Cylop now As thou demandst I le tell thee my name do thou Make good thy hospitable gift to me My name is No-Man No-Man each degree Of friends as well as parents call my name He answerd as his cruell soule became No-Man I le eate thee last of all thy friends And this is that in which so much amends I vowd to thy deseruings thus shall be My hospitable gift made good to thee This said he vpwards fell but then bent round His fleshie necke and Sleepe with all crownes crownd Subdude the Sauage From his throte brake out My wine with mans flesh gobbets like a spout When loded with his cups he lay and snor'd And then tooke I the clubs end vp and gor'd The burning cole-heape that the point might heate Confirmd my fellowes minds lest Feare should let Their vowd assay and make them flie my aid Strait was the Oliue Leuer I had laid Amidst the huge fire to get hardning hot And glowd extremely though t was greene which got From forth the cinders close about me stood My hardie friends but that which did the good Was Gods good inspiration that gaue A spirit beyond the spirit they vsde to haue Who tooke the Oliue sparre made keene before And plung'd it in his eye and vp I bore Bent to the top close and helpt poure it in With all my forces And as you haue seene A ship-wright bore a nauall beame he oft Thrusts at the Augurs Froofe works still aloft And at the shanke helpe others with a cord Wound round about to make it sooner bor'd All plying the round still So into his eye The firie stake we labourd to imply Out gusht the blood that scalded his eye-ball Thrust out a flaming vapour that scorcht all His browes and eye-lids his eye-strings did cracke As in the sharpe and burning rafter brake And as a Smith to harden any toole Broad Axe or Mattocke in his Trough doth coole The red-hote substance that so feruent is It makes the cold waue strait to seethe and hisse So sod and hizd his eye about the stake He roar'd withall and all his Cauerne brake In claps like thunder We did frighted flie Disperst in corners He from forth his eie The fixed stake pluckt after which the blood Flowd freshly forth and mad he hurl'd the wood About his houill Out he then did crie For other Cyclops that in Cauernes by Vpon a windie Promontorie dwelld Who hearing how impetuously he yelld Rusht euery way about him and enquir'd What ill afflicted him that he expir'd Such horrid clamors and in sacred Night To breake their sleepes so Askt him if his fright Came from some mortall that his flocks had driuen Or if by craft or might his death were giuen He answerd from his den By craft nor might No man hath giuen me death They then said right If no man hurt thee and thy selfe alone That which is done to thee by Ioue is done And what great Ioue inflicts no man can flie Pray to thy Father yet a Deitie And proue from him if thou canst helpe acquire Thus spake they leauing him When all on fire My heart with ioy was that so well my wit And name deceiu'd him whom now paine did split And groning vp and downe he groping tride To find the stone which found he put aside But in the doore sate feeling if he could As his sheepe issude on some man lay hold Esteeming me a foole that could deuise No stratageme to scape his grosse surprise But I contending what I could inuent My friends and me from death so imminent To get deliuerd all my wiles I woue Life being the subiect and did this approue Fat fleecie Rams most faire and great lay there That did a burthen like a Violet beare These while this learn'd in villanie did sleepe I yokt with Osiers cut there sheepe to sheepe Three in a ranke and still the mid sheepe bore A man about his belly the two more Marcht on his each side for defence I then Chusing my selfe the fairest of the den His fleecie belly vnder-crept embrac't His backe and in his rich wooll wrapt me fast With both my hands arm'd with as fast a mind And thus each man hung till the Morning shin'd Which come he knew the houre and let abroad His male-flocks first the females vnmilkt stood Bleating and braying their full bags so sore With being vnemptied but their shepheard more With being vnsighted which was cause his mind Went not a milking He to wreake enclin'd The backs felt as they past of those male dams Grosse foole beleeuing we would ride his Rams Nor euer knew that any of them bore Vpon his belly any man before The last Ram came to passe him with his wooll And me together loded to the full For there did I hang and that Ram he staid And me withall had in his hands my head Troubl'd the while not causlesly nor least This Ram he grop't and talkt to Lazie beast Why last art thou now thou hast neuer vsde To lag thus hindmost but still first hast brusde The tender blossome of a flowre and held State in thy steps both to the flood and field First still at Fold at Euen now last remaine Doest thou not wish I had mine eye againe Which that abhord man No-Man did put out Assisted by his execrable rout
heauen Poore Irus pull'd vpon him bitter blowes Through his thin Garment what a Thigh he showes They said But Irus felt His Cow-herd minde VVas mou'd at roote But now he needs must finde Facts to his brags and forth at all parts â—it The seruants brought him all his artires smit VVith feares and tremblings VVhich Antinous saw And saide Nay now too late comes feare No Law Thou shouldst at first haue giuen thy braggart vaine Nor should it so haue swell'd if terrors straine Thy spirits to this passe for a man so old And worne with penuries that still lay hold On his ragg'd person Howsoeuer take This vow from me for firme That if he make Thy forces stoope and proue his owne supreame I le put thee in a Ship and downe the streame Send thee ashore where King Echetus raignes The roughest tyrant that the world containes And he will slit thy Nostrils crop each eare Thy shame cut off and giue it dogges to teare This shook his Nerues the more But both were now Brought to the Lists and vp did either throw His heauy fists Vlysses in suspence To strike so home that he should fright from thence His Cow-herd soule his trunke laide prostrate there Or let him take more leisure to his feare And stoope him by degrees The last shew'd best To strike him slightly out of feare the rest Would else discouer him But peace now broke On his right shoulder Irus laide his stroke Vlysses strooke him iust beneath the eare His iaw-bone broke and made the blood appeare VVhen straight he strew'd the dust and made his crie Stand for himselfe with whom his teeth did lie Spit with his blood out and against the ground His heeles lay sprawling Vp the hands went round Of all the wooers all at point to dye VVith violent laughters Then the King did ply The Beggers feete and dragg'd him forth the Hall Along the Entry to the gates and wall Where leauing him he put into his hand A Staffe and bad him there vse his command On Swine and Dogs and not presume to be Lord of the guests or of the Beggery Since he of all men was the scum and curse And so bad please with that or fare yet wurse Then cast he on his scrip all patcht and rent Hung by a rotten cord and backe he went To greete the Entries threshold with his seat The wooers throng'd to him and did entreat VVith gentle words his conquest laughing still Pray'd Ioue and all the Gods to giue his will VVhat most it wisht him and would ioy him most Since he so happily had cleer'd their cost Of that vnsauoury morsell whom they vow'd To see with all their vtmost haste bestow'd Aboord a ship and for Epirus sent To King Echetus on whose Throne was spent The worst mans seat that breath'd And thus was grac't Diuine Vlysses who with ioy embrac't Euen that poore conquest Then was set to him The goodly Goats breast promist that did swim In fat and greauy by Antinous And from a Basket by Amphinomus VVas two Breads giuen him who besides renown'd His banquet with a golden Goblet cround And this high salutation Frolicke Guest And be those riches that you first possest Restor'd againe with full as many ioyes As in your poore state I see now annoyes Amphinomus saide he you seeme to me Exceeding wise as being the progeny Of such a Father as autentique Fame Hath told me was so One of honour'd name And great reuennues in Dulychius His faire name Nisus He is blazon'd thus And you to be his Sonne his wisedome â—eyring As well as wealth his state in nought empairing To proue which all waies let me tell you this As warning you to shun the miseries That follow full states if they be not held With wisedome still at full and so compeld To courses that abode not in their browes By too much swindge their sodaine ouerthrowes Of all things breathing or that creepe on earth Nought is more wretched then a humanâ— Birth Bless'd men thinke neuer they can cursed be While any power lasts to moue a knee But when the blest Gods make them feele that smart That fled their Faith so as they had no â—art They beare their sufferings and what wel they might Haue cleerly shun'd they then meet in despight The Minde of Man flyes stil out â—f his way Vnlesse God guide and prompt it euery day I thought me once a blessed man with men And fashion'd me to all so counted then Did all iniustice like them what for Lust Or any pleasure neuer so vniust I could by powre or violence obtaine And gaue them both in all their powres the raigne Bold of my Fathers and my Brothers still VVhile which held good my Arts seem'd neuer ill And thus is none held simply good or bad But as his will is either mist or had Al goods Gods gifts man cals how ere he gets them And so takes all what price so ere God sets them Saies nought how ill they come nor will controule That Rauine in him though it cost his soule And these parts here I see these wooers play Take all that fals and all dishonors lay On that mans Queen that tell your frends doth bear No long times absence but is passing neare Let God then guide thee home lest he may meeâ—â— In his returne thy vndeparted feete For when he enters and sees men so rude The quarrell cannot but in blood conclude This said he sacrific'd then drunke then Referr'd the giuen Boule to the guide of men VVho walk't away afflicted at his heart Shook head and fear'd that these facts wold conuert To ill in th' end Yet had not grace to flie Minerua staid him being ordain'd to die Vpon the Lance of yong Vlyssiâ—es So downe he sate and then did Pallas please T' incline the Queenes affections to appeare To all the wooers to extend their cheare To th' vtmost lightning that still vshers death And made her put on all the painted sheath That might both set her wooers fancies hye And get her greater honor in the eye Euen of her Son Soueraigne then before VVho laughing yet to shew her humor bore No serious appetite to that light show She told Eurynome that not till now She euer knew her entertaine desire To please her wooers eyes but oft on fire She set their hate in keeping from them still Yet now she pleas'd t' appeare though from no will To do them honor vowing she would tell Her son that of them that should fit him well To make vse of which was not to conuerse Too freely with their pride nor to disperse His thoughts amongst them since they vs'd to giue Good words but through them ill intents did driue Eurynome replied With good aduise You vow his counsaile your open guise Go then aduise your Son nor keepe more close Your cheekes stil drown'd in your eyes ouerflowes But bathe your body with Balmes make cleere Your thickn'd count'nance
hence Go without doores go And quickly too lest ye be sindg'd away VVith burning fire-brands He thus seeing their fray Continu'd by her with such spleene replide Minion What makes your angry blood thus chide My presence still Is it because you see I shine not in your wanton brauery But weare these rags It fits the needy Fate That makes me beg thus of the commune state Such poore soules and such beggers yet are men And euen my meane meanes means had to maintain A wealthy house and kept a manly prease VVas counted blessed and the poore accesse Oâ— any Begger did not scorne but feede VVith often hand and any man of neede Releeu'd as fitted kept my seruants to Not few but did with those additions go That call choise men The Honest who are stild The rich the great But what such great ones build Ioue oft puls downe as thus he ruin'd me His will was such which is his equity And therefore woman beare you fitting hand On your behauiour lest your spirit thus mann'd And cherisht with your beauties when they wane Comes down Your pride now being then your bane And in the meane space shun the present danger Lest your bold fashion breed your Soueraigns anger Or lest Vlysses come of whom euen yet Hope finds some life in fate Or be his seat Amongst the meerly ruin'd yet his Sonne Whose lifes heate Phoebus saues is such a one As can discouer who doth well deserue Of any woman heere His yeares now serue The Queen gaue eare thus supprest the flame Thou quite without a brow past female shame I heare thy monstrous boldnesse which thy head Shall pay me paines for Thou hast heard it said And from my selfe too and at euery part Thy knowledge serues thee that to ease my hart So punisht in thy witnesse my desire Dwelt on this Stranger that I might enquire My lost friends Beeing But 't is euer tride Both Man and God are still forgot with Pride Eurynome Bring heere this Guest a seat And Cushion on it that we two may treat Of the affaire in question Set it neare That I may softly speake yet he well heare She did this little freely and he sat Close by the Queen who askt him Whence what He was himselfe And what th'inhabited place VVhere liu'd his parents whence he fetcht his race O woman he replyed with whom no man That moues in earths vnbounded circle can Maintaine contention for true honor geuen Whose fame hath reacht the fairely flowing heauen VVho like a neuer-ill-deseruing King That is well spoke of First for worshipping And striuing to resemble God in Empire VVhose equall hand impartially doth temper Greatnesse and Goodnesse To whom therefore beares The blacke earth store of all graine Trees conferres Cracking with burthen Long-liu'd Herds creates All which the Sea with her sorts emulates And all this feeds beneath his powrefull hand Men valiant many making strong his Land With happy liues led Nothing else the cause Of all these blessings but well order'd Lawes Like such a King are you in Loue in Fame And all the blisse that deifies a Dame And therefore do not mixe this with a mone So wretched as is now in question Aske not my Race nor Countrey lest you fill My heart yet fuller with repeated ill For I must follow it with many teares Though 't is not seemly to sit wounding eares In publique Roofes with our particular life Times worst expence is still-repeated Griefe I should be irkesome to your Ladies here And you your selfe would say you vrg'd your eare To what offends it My still-broken eine Supposing wounded with your too much wine Stranger said she you feare your owne excesse With giuing me too great a noblenesse The Gods my person Beauty Vertue to Long since subuerted when the Ilion wo The Greeke designe attempted In which went My praise and honor In his gouernment Had I deseru'd your vtmost grace But now Sinister Deity makes dishonor woo In shew of grace my ruine All the Peres Syluane Zacynthus and Dulychius Spheres Samos and Ithaca strange strifes haue showne To win me spending on me all mine owne Will wed me in my spite And these are those That take from me all vertue to dispose Or Guest or Suppliant or take any course Amongst my Heralds that should all disburse To order any thing Though I neede none To giue me greefe at home Abroad erres one That my veins shrink for whoÌ„ these holding gone Their Nuptials hasten and find me as slow Good spirits prompted me to make a show Of vndertaking a most curious taske That an vnmeasur'd space of time would aske VVhich they enduring long would often say VVhen ends thy worke I soone had my delay And prai'd their stay For though my Lord wer dead His Fathers life yet matter ministred That must imploy me which to tell them true Was that great worke I nam'd For now nere drew Laertes death and on my hand did lye His funerall Robe whose end being now so nye I must not leaue and lose so much begun The rather lest the Greeke Dames might be wun To taxe mine honor if a man so great Should greet his graue without his winding sheet Pride made them credulous and I went on VVhen whatsoeuer all the day had done I made the night helpe to vndo againe Though oyle and watch it cost and equall paine Three yeares my wit secur'd me vndiscern'd Yet when the fourth came by my Maids discern'd False carelesse wenches now they were deluded When by my light descern'd they all intruded Vâ—'d threatning words and made me giue it end And then could I to no more length extend My linger'd Nuptials Not a counsaile more VVas to be stood vpon my Parents bore Continuall hand on me to make me wed My Sonne grew angry that so ruined His goods were by them He is now a man VVise in a great degree and one that can Himselfe giue order to his houshold fare And Ioue giue equal glory to his care But thus you must not passe me I must know It may be for more end from whence doth grow Your race and you For I suppose you none Sprung of old Oake or iustl'd out of stone He answer'd O Vlysses reuerend wife Yet hold you purpose to enquire my life I le tell you though it much afflict me more Then all the sorrowes I haue felt before As worthily it may since so long time As I haue wandred from my Natiue Clime Through humane Cities and in sufferance stil To rip all wounds vp though of all their ill I touch but part must actuate all their paine But aske you still I le tell though stil sustaine In middle of the sable Sea there lies An Isle cal'd Crete a rauisher of eyes Fruitfull and mann'd with many an infinite store Where ninety Cities crowne the famous shore Mixt with all Languag'd men There Greekes suruiue There the great-minded Eteocretans liue There the Dorensians neuer out of
foote amongst our liberall Feast For should the King returne though thought deceast It had bene gaine to vs in finding him To lose his wife But now since nothing dim The daies breakes out that shewes he neuer more Shal reach the deere touch of his countrey shore Sit by your Mother in perswasion That now it stands her honor much vpon To choose the best of vs and who giues most To go with him home For so all things lost In sticking on our haunt so you shall cleere Recouer in our no more concourse here Possesse your birth-right wholly eate and drinke And neuer more on our disgraces thinke By Ioue no Agelaus For I sweare By all my Fathers sorrowes who doth erre Farre off from Ithaca or rests in death I am so farre from spending but my breath To make my Mother any more defer Her wished Nuptials That I le counsaile her To make her freâ— choise And besides will giue Large gifts to moue her But I feare to driue Or charge her hence For God will not giue way To any such course if I should assay At this Minerua made for foolish ioy The wooers mad and rouz'd their late annoy To such a laughter as would neuer downe They laught with others cheeks eate meat oreflowne With their owne bloods their eies stood full of teares For violent ioyes Their soules yet thought of feares VVhich Theoclymenus exprest and said O wretches Why Sustaine ye well apaid Your imminent ill A night with which Death sees Your heads and faces hides beneath your knees Shriekes burn about you your eies thrust out teares These fixed wals and that maine Beame that beares The whole house vp in bloody torrents fall The Entry full of ghosts stands Full the Hall Of passengers to hel And vnder all The dismall shades The Sun sinkes from the Poles And troubl'd aire poures bane about your soules They sweetly laught at this Eâ—rymachus To mocks dispos'd and saide This new come-t'vs Is surely mad conduct him forth to light In th' open Market place he thinkes 't is night Within the house Eurymachus said he I will not aske for any guide of thee I both my feete enioy haue eares and eies And no mad soule within me and with these Will I go forth the doores because I know That imminent mischiefe must abide with you VVhich not a man of all the wooers here Shall flye or scape â—e all too highly beare Your vncurb'd heads Impieties ye commit And euery man affect with formes vnfit This said he left the house and tooke his way Home to Pyraeus who as free as day Was of his welcome When the wooers eyes Chang'd lookes with one another and their guise Of laughters still held on still eas'd their brests Of will to set the Prince against his guests Affirming that of all the men aliue He worst lucke had and prou'd it worst to giue Guests entertainment Foâ— he had one there A wandring Hunter out of prouendere An errant Begger euery way yet thought He was so hungry that he needed nought But wine and Victuals nor knew how to do Nor had a spirit to put a knowledge to But liu'd an idle burthen to the earth Another then stept vp and would lay forth His lips in phâ—ophesie thus But would he heare His friends perswasions he should finde it were More profit for him to put both abord For the Siciâ—ian people that afford These 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 feete of men good price and this would bring Good meanes for better guests These words made wing To his eares idlely who hâ—d still his eye Vpon his Father looking feruently When he would lay his long-withholding hand On those proud wooers And within command Of all this speech that past Icarius heire The wise Penelope her royall chaire Had plac't of purpose Their high dinner then With all pleas'd palates these ridiculous men Fell sweetly to as ioying they had slaine Such store of banquet But there did not raigne A bitterer banquet Planet in all heauen Then that which Pallas had to that day driuen And with her able friend now meant t' appose Since they till then were in deserts so grose The End of the Twentith Booke of Homers Odysses THE XXI BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT PEnelope proposeth now To him that drawes Vlysses Bow Her instant Nuptials Ithacus Eumaeus and Philaetius Giues charge for guarding of the Gates And he his sâ—aft shoots through the plates Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Nuptiall vow and Game reherst Drawne is the Bow the steeles are pierst PAllas the Goddesse with the sparkling eyes Excites Penelope t'obiect the prise The Bow bright steeles to the wooers strength And here began the strife and blood at length She first aseended by a lofty staire Her vtmost chamber of whose doore her faire And halfe transparant hand receiu'd the Key Bright brazen bitted passing curiously And as it hung a knob of Iuory And this did leade her where was strongly kept The treasure Royall in whose store lay heap't Gold Brasse and Steele engrauen with infinite Art The crooked Bowe and Arrowy quiuer part Of that rich Magazin In the Quiuer were Arrowes a number sharpe and sighing gere The Bow was giuen by kinde Eurythides â—phitus fashion'd like the Deities To yong Vlysses when within the Roofe Of wise Ortâ—locus their passe had proofe Of mutuall meeting in Mâ—ssena where Vlysses claim'd a debt To whose pay were The whole Messenâ—an people bound since they From Ithaca had forc't a wealthy prey Of Sheepe and Sheâ—pherds In their ships they thrust â—hree hundred Sheepe together for whose iust And instat rendry old Lâ—ertes sent Vlysses his Ambassador that went A long way in the Ambassy yet then Bore but the formost prime of yongest men His Father sending first to that affaire His graâ—est Councellors and then his heire Iphitus made his way there hauing lost Twelue female horse and Mules commended most For vse of burthen which were after cause Of death and fate to him For past all Lawes Of hospitality Ioues mighty son Skill'd in great acts was his confusion Close by his house though at that time his guest Respecting neither the apposed Feast And hospitable Table in that loue He set before him nor the voice of Ioue But seizing first his Mares he after slew His host himselfe From those Mares search now grew Vlysses knowne t'Iphitus who that Bow At their encounter did in loue bestow Which great Eurytus hand had boâ—ne before Iphitus Father who at deaths sad dore In his steepe Turretâ— left it to his Son Vlysses gaue him a keene Faulchion And mighty Lance and thus began they there Their fatall Loues for after neuer were Their mutâ—all Tables to each other knowne Because Iouâ—s son th'vnworthy part had shownâ— Oâ— slaughtering this God-like louing man Eurytus son who with that Bow began And ended loue t'Vlysses who so deare A gift esteem'd it that he would not beare In his blacke fleete that guest-rite to
gates then were shut By kind Philaetius who straight did go From out the Hall and in the Portico Found laid a Gable of a Ship compos'd Of spongy Bulrushes with which hee clos'd In winding round about them the Court gates Then tooke his place againe to view the Fates That quickly follow'd When he came he saw Vlysses viewing ere he tried to draw The famous Bow which euery way he mou'd Vp and downe turning it in which he prou'd The plight it was in fearing chiefly lest The hornes were eate with wormes in so long rest But what his thoughts intended turning so And keeping such a search about the Bow The wooers little knowing fell to iest And said Past doubt he is a man profest In Bowyers craft and sees quite through the wood Or something certaine to be vnderstood There is in this his turning of it still A cunning Rogue he is at any ill Then spake another proud one Would to heauen I might at will get Gold till he hath geuen That Bow his draught with these sharp iests did these Delightsome wooâ—rs their fatall humors please But when the wise Vlysses once had laide His fingers on it and to proofe suruaide The stil sound plight it held As one of skill In song and of the Harpe doth at his will In tuning of his Instrument extend A string out with his pin touch all and lend To euery wel-wreath'd string his perfect sound Strooke all togither with such ease drew round The King the Bow Then twang'd he vp the string That as a Swallow in the aire doth sing VVith no continu'd tune but pausing still Twinkes out her scatter'd voice in accents shrill So sharpe the string sung when he gaue it touch Once hauing bent and drawne it Which so much Amaz'd the wooers that their colours went And came most grieuously And then Ioue rent The aire with thunder which at heart did chere The now-enough-sustaining Traueller Tha Ioue againe would his attempt enable Then tooke he into hand from off the Table The first drawne arrow and a number more Spent shortly on the wooers But this One He measur'd by his arme as if not knowne The lengâ—h were to him nockt it then and drew And â—hrough the Axes at the first hole flew The steele-chardg'd arrow which wheÌ„ he had done He thus bespake the Prince You haue not wonne Disgrace yet by your Guest for I haue strook The marke I shot at and no such toile tooke In wearying the Bow with fat and fire As did the wooers yet reseru'd entire Thanke heauen my strength is my selfe am tried No man to be so basely vilified As these men pleas'd to think me But free way Take that and all their pleasures and while Day Holds her Torch to you and the howre of feast Hath now full date giue banquet and the rest Poeme and Harpe that grace a wel-fill'd boorde This saide he beckn'd to his Sonne whose sword He straight girt to him tooke to hand his Lance And compleate arm'd did to his Sire aduance The End of the XXI Booke of Homers Odysses THE XXII BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT THe Wooers in Mineruaes sight Slaine by Vlysses All the light And lustfull Hâ—swiues by his Sonne And seruants are to slaughter done Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The end of Pride lawlesse Lust Is wretched tried with slaughters iust THe vpper rags that wise Vlysses wore Cast off he â—usheth to the great Hall dore With Bow and Quiuer full of shafts which downe He pour'd before his feet thus made known His true state to the wooers This strife thus Hath harmlesse bene decided Now for vs There rests another marke more hard to hit And such as neuer man before hath smit VVhose full point likewise my hands shall assay And try if Phoebus will giue me his day He said and off his bitter Arrow thrust Right at Antinous that strooke him iust As he was lifting vp the Bolle to show That 'twixt the cup lip much ill may grow Death toucht not at his thoughts at Feast for who VVould thinke that he alone could perish â—o Amongst so many And he best of all The Arrow in his throate tooke full his fall And thrust his head farre through the other side Downe fell his cup downe he downe all his pride Straight from his Nostrils gusht the humane gore And as he fell his feete farre ouerbore The feastfull Table all the Rost and Bread About the house strew'd VVhen his high-born head The rest beheld so low vp rusht they all And ransack't euery Corner of the Hall For Shields and Darts but all fled farre their reach Then fell they foule on him with terrible speach And told him it should proue the deerest shaft That euer past him and that now was saf't No shift for him but sure and sodaine death For he had slaine a man whose like did breath In no part of the Kingdome and that now He should no more for Gameâ— striue with his Bow But Vultures eate him there These threats they spent â—et euery man beleeu'd that sterne euent Chanc't 'gainst the authors will O Fooles to thinke That all their rest had any cup to drinke But what their great Antinous began He frowning saide Dogs see in me the man Ye all held dead at Troy My house it is That thus ye spoile that thus your Luxuries File with my womens rapes in which ye woo The wife of one that liues and no thought â—â—ow Of mans fit feare or Gods your present Fame Or any faire sence of your future name And therefore present and eternal death Shall end your base life This made fresh feares breath Their former boldnesse euery man had eye On all the meanes and studied wayes to flye So deepe deaths imminent But seeing none Eâ—rymachus began with suppliant mone To mooue his pitty saying If you be This Iles Vlysses we must all agree In grant of your reproofes integrity The Greekes haue done you many a wrong at home At field as many But of all the summe Lies heere contract in death For onely he Imposd the whole ill Offices that we Are now made guilty of and not so much Sought his endeuours or in thought did touch At any Nuptials but a greater thing Employ'd his forces For to be our King VVas his cheefe obiect his sole plot it was To kil your Son which Ioues hand would not passe But set it to his owne most merited end In which end your iust anger nor extend Your sterne wreake further Spend your royal pow'rs In milde ruth of your people we are yours And whatsoeuer waste of wine or food Our Liberties haue made wee 'le make all good In restitutions call a Court and passe A fine of twenty Oxen Gold and Brasse On euery Head and raise your most rates still Till you are pleasd with your confessed fill VVhich if we faile to tender all your wrath It shal be iustice in our bloods to bathe Eurymachus saide
Vlysses and his sonne the Flyers chac'st As when with crooked Beakes and Seres a cast Of hill-bred Eagles cast off at some game That yet their strengths keepe But put vp in flame The Eagles stoopes From which along the field The poore Foules make wing this and that way yield Their hard-flowne Pinions â—hen the clouds assay For scape or shelter their forlorne dismay All spirit exhaling all wings strength to carry Their bodies forth and trust vp to the Quarry Their Faulconers ride in and reioyce to see Their Hawkes performe a flight so feruently So in their flight Vlysses with his Heire Did stoope and cuffe the wooers that the aire Broke in vaste sighes whose heads they shot cleft The Pauement boyling with the soules they reft Liodes running to Vlysses toke His knees and thus did on his name inuoke Vlysses Let me pray thee to my place Affoord the reuerence and to me the grace That neuer did or saide to any Dame Thy Court contain'd or deede or word to blame But others so affected I haue made Lay downe their insolence and if the trade They kept with wickednesse haue made them still Despise my speech and vse their wonted ill They haue their penance by the stroke of death Which their desâ—rt diuinely warranteth But I am Priest amongst them and shall I That nought haue done worth death amongst theÌ„ dy From thee this Prouerbe then will men deriue Good turnes do neuer their meere deeds suruiue He bending his displeased forehead saide If you be Priest amongst them as you pleade Yet you would marry and with my wife too And haue descent by her For all that woo Wish to obtaine which they should neuer doo Dames husbands liuing You must therefore pray Of force and oft in Court heere that the day Of my returne for home might neuer shine The death to me wish't therefore shall be thine This said he tooke a sword vp that was cast From Agelaus hauing strooke his last And on the Priests mid necke he laide a stroke That strooke his head off tumbling as he spoke Then did the Poet Phoemiuâ— whose sur-name VVas call'd Terpiades who thither came Forc't by the woo'rs fly death but being nere The Courts great gate he stood and parted there In two his counsailes either to remoue And take the Altar of Hereâ—ian Ioue Made sacred to him with a world of Art Engrauen about it where were wont t' impart Laertes and Vlysses many a Thye Of broad-brow'd Oxen to the Deity Or venture to Vlysses claâ—pe his knee And pray his ruth The last was the decree His choise resolu'd on Twixt the royall Throne And that faire Table that the Bolle stood on VVith which they sacrific'd his Harpe he laide Along the earth the Kings knees hugg'd and saide Vlysses Let my prayers obtaine of thee My sacred skils respect and ruth to mee It will heereafter grieue thee to haue slaine A Poet that doth sing to Gods and men I of my selfe am taught for God alone All sorts of song hath in my bosome sowne And I as to a God will sing to thee Then do not thou deale like the Priest with me Thine owne lou'd sonne Telemachus will say That not to beg heere nor with willing way Was my accesse to thy high Court addrest To giue the wooers my song after Feast But being many and so much more strong They forc't me hither and compell'd my Song This did the Princes sacred vertue heare And to the King his Father said Forbeare To mixe the guiltlesse with the guilties blood And with him likewise let our mercies saue Medon the Herald that did still behaue Himselfe with care of my good from a childe If by Eumaeus yet he be not kild Or by Philaetius nor your fury met While all this blood about the house it swet This Medon heard as lying hid beneath A Throne set neere halfe dead with feare of death A new-flead Oxe-hide as but there throwne by His serious shroud made he lying there to fly But hearing this he quickly left the Throne His Oxe-hide cast as quickly and as soone The Princes knees seiz'd saying O my loue I am not slaine but heere aliue and moue Abstaine your selfe and do not see your Sire Quench with my cold blood the vnmeasur'd fire That flames in his strength making spoile of me His wraths right for the wooers iniury Vlysses smil'd and said Be confident This man hath sau'd and made thee different To let thee know and say and others see Good life is much more safe then villany Go then sit free without from death within This much renowned Singer from the sin Of these men likewise quit Both rest you there While I my house purge as it fits me here This saide they went and tooke their seat without At Ioues high Altar looking round about Expecting still their slaughter VVhen the King Searcht round the Hall to try lifes hidden wing Made from more death But all laid prostrate there In blood and gore he saw whole sholes they were And lay as thicke as in a hollow creake VVithouâ— the white Sea when the Fishers breake Their many-meshed Draught-net vp there lye Fish frisking on the Sands and faine the dry VVould for the wet change But th'al-seeing beam The Sun exhales hath suckt their liues from them So one by other spraul'd the wooers there Vlysses and his Son then bid appeare The Nurse Euryclea to let her heare His minde in something fit for her affaire He op't the doore and call'd and said Repaire Graue Matron long since borne that art our Spy To all this houses seruile huswifery My Father cals thee to impart some thought That askes thy action His word found in nought Her slacke obseruance who straight op't the dore And enter'd to him when himselfe before Had left the Hall But there the King she view'd Amongst the slaine with blood and gore embrew'd And as a Lyon sculking all in Night Farre off in Pastures and come home all dight In iawes and brest-lockes with an Oxes blood New feasted on him his lookes full of mood So look't Vlysses all his hands and feete Freckl'd with purple When which sight did greete The poore old woman such workes being for eyes Of no soft temper out she brake in cries VVhose vent though throughly opened he yet closd Cal'd her more neere and thus her plaints composd Forbeare nor shrieke thus But vent ioyes as loud It is no piety to bemone the proud Though ends befall them mouing neere so much These are the portions of the Gods to such Mens owne impieties in their instant act Sustaine their plagues which are with stay but rackt But these men Gods nor men had in esteeme Nor good nor bad had any sence in them Their liues directly ill were therefore cause That Death in these sterne formes so deepely drawes Recount then to me those licentious Dames That lost my honor and their sexes shames I le tell you truly she replied There are
arriu'd at this sweet Hauen our Bed Be your care vsde to see administâ—ed My house-possessions left Those Sheepe that were Consum'd in surfets by your wooers heere I le forrage to supply with some and more The suffering Grecians shall be made restore Euen till our stalles receiue their wonted fill And now to comfort my good Fathers ill Long suffer'd for me To the many-tree'd And ample Vineyard grounds it is decreed In my next care that I must haste and see His long'd-for presence In the meane time be Your wisedome vsde that since the Sun ascended The fame will soone be through the Town extended Of those I heere haue slaine your selfe got close Vp to your chamber see you there tepose Cheer'd with your women and nor looke afford Without your Court nor anie man a word This said he arm'd To arms both Son and Swain His powre commanding who did entertaine His charge with spirit Op't the gates and out He leading all And now was hurl'd about Auroraes ruddie fire through all whose light Minerua led them through the Towne from sight The End of the XXIII Booke of Homers Odysses THE XXIIII BOOKE OF HOMERS ODYSSES. THE ARGVMENT BY Mercury the Woâ—ers soules Are vsher'd to th'Inferâ—all Pooles Vlysses with Laertesâ—et â—et The people are in vprore set Against them for the wooers ends Whom Pallas stayes and renders Frends Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vprores fire the Peoples fall The Grandfire Sire and Son to all CYllenian Hermes with his golden rod The wooers soules that yet retain'd abod Amids their bodies call'd in dreadfull rout Forth to th'Infernals who came murmuring out And as amids the desolate retreate Of some vaste Cauerne made the sacred seate Of austere spirits Bats with Brests and wings Claspe fast the wals and each to other clings But swept off from their couerts vp they rise And flye with murmures in amazefull guise About the cauerne So these grumbling rose And flockt together Downe before them goes None-hurting Mercury to hels broad waies And straight to those streights where the Ocean staies His lofty current in calme deepes they flew Then to the snowy rocke they next withdrew And to the close of Phoebus orient gates The Nation then of Dreames and then the states Of those soules Idols that the weary dead Gaue vp in earth which in a flowry Mead Had habitable situation And there they saw the soule of Thetis son Of good Patroclus braue Antilochus And Aiax the supremely strenuoâ—s Of all the Greeke hoast next Plebeian All which assembled about Mâ—ias son And to them after came the mournfull Ghost Of Agamemnâ—n with all those he lost In false Aegysthus Court Aâ—hilles then Beholding there that mighty King of men Deplor'd his plight â—nd said O Atreus Son Of all Heroes all Opinion Gaue thee for Ioues most lou'd since most command Of all the Greekes he gaue thy eminent hand At siedge of Ilion where we suffer'd so And is the issue this That first in wo Sterne Fate did therefore set thy sequell downe None borne past others Fates can passe his owne I wish to heauen that in the heighth of all Our pompe at Ilion Fate had sign'd thy fall That all the Greekes might haue aduanc't to thee A famous Sepulcher and Fame might see Thy Son giuen honor in thy honour'd end But now a wretched death did Fate extend To thy confusion and thy Issues shame O Thetis Son said he the vitall flame Extinct at Ilion far from th' Argiue fields The stile of blessed to thy vertue yields About thy fall the best of Greece and Troy VVere sacrific'd to slaughter Thy iust ioy Conceiu'd in battell with some worth forgot In such a death as great Apollo shot At thy encounters Thy braue person lay Hid in a dusty whirlewinde that made way VVith humane breaths spent in thy ruines state Thou great wert greatly valew'd in thy Fate All day we fought about thee nor at all Had ceast our conflict had not Ioue let fall A storme that forc't off our vnwilling feete But hauing brought thee from the fight to fleete Thy glorious person bath'd and balm'd we laide Aloft a bed and round about thee paide The Greekes warme teares to thy deplor'd decease Quite danted cutting all their curles increase Thy death draâ—e a diuine voice through the Seas That started vp thy Mother from the waues And all the Marine Godheads left their caues Consorting to our fleet her rapt repaire The Greekes stood frighted to see Sea and Aire And Earth combine so in thy losses sence Had taken ship and fled for euer thence If old-much-knowing Nestor had not staide Their rushing off His counsailes hauing swaide In all times former with such cause their courses Who bad containe themselues and trust their forces For all they saw was Thetis come from Sea VVith others of the watry progenie To see and mourne for her deceased Son VVhich staid the feares that all to flight had won And round about thee stood th' old Sea-gods seedes VVretchedly mourning their immortall weeds Spreading vpon thee all the sacred Nine Of deathlesse Muses paid â—hee dues diuine By varied turnes their heauenly voyces venting All in deepe passion for thy death consenting And then of all our Army not an eye You could haue seene vndrown'd in misery The mouing Muse so rul'd in every minde Full seuenteene dayes and nights our teares confin'd To celebration of thy mourned end Both men and Gods did in thy moane conâ—â—nd The eighteenth day we spent about thy heape Of dying fire Blacke Oxen fattest Sheepe VVe slew past number Then the precious spoile Thy Corse wee tooke vp which with stoods of oile And pleasant Hony we emblam'd and then VVrapt thee in those Robes that the Gods did raine In which we gaue thee to the hallowed flame To which a number of heroicall name All arm'd came rushing in in desperate plight As prest to sacrifice their vitall right To thy dead ruines while so bright they burn'd Both foote horse brake in and fought mourn'd In infinite tumult But when all the night The rich flame lasted and that wasted quite Thy body was with the enamor'd fire VVe came in early Morne and an entire Collection made of euery Iuorie bone VVhich washt in wine and 〈…〉 A two-ear'd Bolle of Gold 〈◊〉 Mother gaâ—e By Bacchus giuen her and did forme receaue From Vulcans famous hand which O renown'd Great Thetis Son with thy faire bones we crown'd Mixt with the Bones of 〈◊〉 And braue Antilochus 〈◊〉 in decease Of thy Patroclus was thy fauours Deere About thee then a matchlesse Sepulchâ—re The sacred hoast of the Achaiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Vpon the Hellespont where most it seisd For height and conspicuity the eies Of liuing men and their posterities Thy Mother then obtain'd the Gods consent To institute an honor'd game that spent The best approuement of our Grecian Fames In whose praise I must say that many games About Heroes Sepulchers mine eyes Haue seene perform'd But