prayed Of Gods thou Ioue the soueraigne chiefe and Lord of Welkin hie Of aire and of this earth below who lets the thunder flie The stormes of Haile pashing showers graÌ„t me this day thy grace That I this Citie set a fire or night do come in place Which hath so long w estood our force grant y e my sworde doe sheare This day the shirt of Hector stout on brest which he doth weare And that by me he end his dayes viewing hys souldiours al Enforcing them to saue his life in bloudie death to fall He prayed thus but Ioue was deafe he pleased not to heare For all his offering there so great he doth him greatly deare Then is the hostie slaine and flayde and part on gridorne put The liuer and lights they comely séeth and euery little gut The gigots and the other flesh in péeces they did spit Which rost tipling the pleasaunt wine they downe to table sit At pleasure hauing fed their fil old Nestor was the furst Who could not rest but with these words their talking tales he burst It is no time Agamemnon to laugh or chat at all But execute we must the thing to which Ioue vs doth call Commaund then all the Heraults here that they go crie amaine And hither warne the Campe to come and then let vs againe Ech one in field go raunge his bande and there with curteous wordes Exhort them that right souldiour like they wéelde vse their swords Agamemn bids the Heraults good to go from band to band And cal y e Gréekes who Heraults heard came straight out of hand A séemely sight it was to sée th'array in euery thing And armour of the warlike Gréekes ech following his king But goodlier was it to behold those great and mightie Kings What paine they tooke the multitude who there in order brings Wyth them stoode Pallas al vnknowen come down froÌ„ Welkin hie Of Ioue the God inuinâ—…ible who liues immortally The Target hung and gastful so she on hir shoulder bare About the which hanging of gold an hundred pendants were So richly framde as ech was worth of â—…eues an hundred told So armde of doughtie Grecians so the harts she doth embolde To play the men with dreadlesse minds and do as souldiours right They nothing more wishe than their liues to venter and to fight The shining of their armor bright gret Targets shields of weight Amid the plaine was like in shew to those on mountaine height As is the fire in forrest made which men do sée a farre So shone their harneis gainst the sunne and weapons for the warre And like a gay great heard of Cranes or flock of swans like snow Or Géese a lesser foule with Charme and sundry singing go Harde by the pleasaunt Caister floud vnder the clothed trées That all the places rounde about do sound in fundry wise So Gréekes armde at Scamanderbanke for fight in euery thing Such noise they yeelde as fur aloofe they make the medowes ring With treading of the Horsse likewise the valley long did sound To battayle martch as many Gréeks as flowers on the ground And as you sée great swarmes of flies flie oft out hollow hoales And come in skul into the place wheras the shepheard foldes And gathers at the spring the milke which of his shéepe he reapes Euen so suppose the Gréeks they came out order al in heapes But their good leaders them dispose as heardsmen who with care At euen aye their flockes in field to seuer do prepare Whom al aboue Prince Agamemn himselfe did shew at ful As chiefe in name so chiefe in déede who brauing as a Bul Came fierce triumphes and rule he wil ouer the Dren bréede So he the puissant King commaundes how matters shal procéede For head he lookt that day like Ioue like Neptune for his brest You would haue iudgde him presently God Mars for all the rest It was the pleasure then of Ioue such deckings to bestow In Agamemu that more thereby his honor he might showe Now Muses who in heauen hie your place and dwellings haue The fauourers of vertuous workes teach me I humbly craue To tell that now I cannot write yée all and all do knowe Recite the Princes who to Troy did with the army goe Recite their countrys and their ships but hearesay nought haue we It shall suffise to tell the names of those who chiefest be For no man can with all his wittes rehearse of all the men The number and the proper names though tongues yea fully ten Right good he had and mouthes like wel spéecht that open were If euerlasting voyce I had and breast of brasse did beare Without your fauour I may haue in this I am but lost Of Ioue you daughters Goddesses of grace and vertue most Oh teach me then to name the kings and shippes of Gréekish host ¶ The Cataloge of the Grecian Princes and of their nauie that came to the siege of Troye and also of the Troyan Dukes and forraine Kings who came to Priams ayde Translated out of the Latine TO Troyan cost from Beotie fiue warlike leaders cum Pencle Prothaeno and Leiton Arcesilaus Clonlum These people hath Beotia lande they who do hyries eare With Scaenon Scolon Aulida which sâ—…onie earth doth beare And also 〈◊〉 Eteonum beâ—…pred wiâ—…h Maioraâ—… Thespia Graea Mâ—…ales and toâ—…n Lâ—…gam With Haxma olde the Ilesy and those that pasture on The auntient soyle of Erythra and men of Eleon Of Peteon and Hilis eke and those in Copae dwel And in Medâ—…on 〈◊〉 for wals in pride doth so excal With Thisbes which doth so abound with doues of wanton wil Who Eutresis and Coronâ—…e and Plateâ—… gay do til Th'inhabitaunts of Aliarte which is so fraught with grasse And who do stately Thebes holde and liue about Glissas Orcheston too with sacred groue to Neptunes godhead â—…owde And Arnen where y e trées of vines with waight of grapes are â—…owde Midea faire Nissâ—… diuine and lastly who do liue In Anthâ—…do whose fields about do fraught of flowers giue With fiftie ships they come full stuft with weapon and with men Ech one an hundred souldiours brought and also double tenne Who from watred Orchomenon with Minyeus floud Whose Citie is Aspledona two knights of Mars his bloud Ascalaphus and Ialmen leade Astyoche the fayre While she a virgin Actors childe did by hir selfe repaire To Parler sole Mars hir deflourde and forth she brought the twinne Those two welfurnisht at the ful with thirtie sayle come in From Phocis opposite against such numbers as were sent With Schâ—…us and Epistrophus two souldiours odde they went Them Iphitus Eubole begat they all of Cyparis Of rockie Pytho of Crâ—…ssa of Pâ—…op and Daulis Of loftie Hyampole and wholy on Cephisson floold In Anemore whose dwellings to at head of Lilee stoode From whence Cephissa riuer râ—…es with fortie ships they swéepe And as Beotians faithfuâ—…ates their left hand side they kéepe The diuerse
scarse an ende had made now of this case But stoute and forwarde Menelau spake thus in open place Giue eare yée Gréeks and Troyans both vnto these words of mine Who shall declare vnto you al my griefe and grieuous pine I do agrée now for to end this daungerous debate Considering erst the trauailes great and mischiefs which of late And long sith by both campes sustainde for the adulterie And the iust cause whiche prickes me forth to venge this miserie That all men rest and that Paris against me come whereby All yée shall sée who ordainde is by fate to liue or dye And to effect that all be done thâ—…oblation whyche of due The Gods in such case ought to haue the pacte to holde more true It néedeful is by the Troyans two lambes there be assignde The one coale blacke the other white Male and Female by kinde White be the Male the female blacke vnto the sunne most cleare To shed their bloud and to the earth of all men dame so deare Benigne and auncient mother of man and we a thirde wil bring Which shal be offred vnto Ioue that great and mighty King I woulde also for suretie more one went for olde Priam That for this pact and couenaunt made he ratifie the same For his children all Greece wel knows are promise breakers all Falsers of Faith and vnto chaunge yong heades are alway thral The olde man if he sweare the othe if bounde he sée he be He wil abide no treason then nor offer iniurie This fight agréed the Citizens and souldiors strange of Troy The Troyans all the Gréekes ech one hereof beginne to ioy In hope an end shall now be made of this their wretched warre With busie toile they rounde about do place their horse afarre And kéeping order forthwith then they from their Chariots light Their shields their launces down they lay and harnesse fit for fight Leauing good scope betwéene them both ful fit by fight to trye The ioly Hector Heraults two to Troy sends by and by Two Lambes to fetche and hast Priam t'allowe all this accorde Talthybius eke went to the shippes commanded by his Lord Agamemn to fetche the Lambe vnto the company Which was appointed as before for the ceremonie This while from the Olympus high Iris made hir repaire To Troy to tell these newes to hir who fairest is offaire The shape she tooke of hir sister belovde faire Laodice Who marryed had Elicaon Anthenors sonne the wise She founde the faire not idle tho but working busilie She in hir chamber made a péece of worthy Chiualrie Wherin was wrought of Troyans and of Greekes the worthy Acts Most cunningly in portrature their sallies and their facts Their chargings oft their cruel fight their méetings one to one Which both the Campes continually made for hir loue alone Arise quoth Iris come Heleine and in the plaine hard by The Citie here thou straight shalt sée things wondrous to thine eye Those whom thou hast ech day beheld in wont deale doleful blowes In daungerous war thou shalt sée rest togither in sundry rowes And some there leaning on their shields wel wearie of their toyles And Menelau with Paris shal to end these wars and broyles Fight hand to hand and he who shall the better part obtaine Thée shall he haue by one consent as glorie of his gaine These newes declarde with a desire this Heleines minde is sped Of hir first spouse and countrey towne wherein she first was bred Of hir parents to sée them once a time this Heleine prayes With them to leade hir life againe and furnish forth hir dayes She riseth vp and deckes hir selfe with gorgeous attire And out she goes distilling teares as they wel saw stoode by hir And not alone she with hir led Climean and Aethrea And goes vnto the greatest port that named is Sciea Where on the Bulwarkes they might sée at ease the fields so wide There king Priam with Lordes of state was set on euery side To shrowde them in the shade within the pentus of the Wal Tymets Lampus Clytus Panthus in vertues famous all Hicetaon renoumde in warre also Vcalegon Of late that was of boysteous braine and eke Anthenor one As good a man of warre as they but now for councel out The aged dads there closely sit the scortching heate they dout As Grashoppers the olde men chat when two or thrée are founde In Sommer time amid the Grasse and make a charming sounde They loking on the heauenly Gréeke good cause confessed why Both campes should make such toile stirre and eke so long shold try Hir beautie wayed that was more than any earthly worke Which in hir Goddesse visage there did shine and séeme to lurke Yet they anoucht it better were to yéelde hir home to goe Without abode for to eschew the mischiefes which might grow By kéeping hir stil as they did as she arriued than Wheras they sat the king hir callde and thus to hir began Come thou to me my daughter faire here down by me do sit Leaue off thy mone leaue off thy tears which from thine eyes do â—…lit Do not consume lamenting thus come sée thy husband here And all the Gréekes thy kinsmen eke and coosins all so déere Oh Ioues wil is not that in thée I should th'occasion lay Of my mishaps which yeeldes my griefe no no the gods are they Who for the better to reuenge themselues of me and mine Desire by this wretched warre t'afflict vs all with pine Come néere and leaue your bashfulnesse and of the Gréekes declare Your neighbours kindred and alies and who you néerest are What who is he is formost there of middle pitch and bone With countenaunce graue as I forethinke I neuer saw yet one Since I was borne so wel beséene as he in euery thing And sure he beares the port and shew and grace of some great king Then answerde Heleine thus the King with humble voyce saide My most deare Lord thy reuerent state doeth yéelde me wel afraide When to thy presence I resort but would to God by death Before the turmoyles of this warre I yéelded had my breath And chiefely when to follow with thy sonne I was so mad Leauing my husband many a Dame and gentle phéere I had My brethren and my daughter both then both we frée from wo Had bene as now but what helpe when il lucke wil haue it so Sent for to do your graces will who doth commaunde the same For him you aske that prince he hath Agamemnon to name A King both wise and stoute in warre of Atreus eke the heire To whom the Campe in all obeyes and their alliegance beare Who now long sith when we in peace and suretie al did swim Was vnto me brother in law and I sister to him The péerelesse faire holding hir peace Priam with maruel mazde Hearing Agamemnons honor thus declarde set forth
and blazde Could not himselfe then hold his peace but gan his prayse to crie O fortune good thou Agamemn art more than twice happie Sith worthy Prince of chilualrie the hie Gods in thy hands To thy good hap do put the Gréekes to leade and rule their bands So that by thée is gouernde now conducted at thy wyll So great an host arriued here whiche doth al Phrigie fil When I was yong and valiance had and prowesse I do minde That on this land the Amazones did warre women in kind Yet folke in warre of great exploites whose force for to withstand We driuen were to call such strength as nere was in this lande Then Otrus and Migdon marching againste them in their way Their footemen and their horsemen both did in a valley stay Nie Sangar floude with streame so long to their succors I came They made me chief yet our gay bands y e Gréeks now passe y e same After he castes his sight aside on Vlysses and sayes Ah gods daughter mine yet once againe come on your wayes Tel me what Gréeke is that I sée with shoulders breast and wast So well beset and not so high as Agamemnon last Who w t so good a grace and armd goes round about the Gréekes As doth the mightie Belweather with hairie cote and chéekes Who for the better kéeping in the goodly flockes of shéepe Goes by them stil and rounde about and from them doth not kéepe It is quoth she Vlysses of a good and séemely shape Yet wiser in his fetchers who although he had the hap To be brought vp in Countrie rude among the countrie clownes Yet he in head and witte doth passe the Gréekish Kings renownes Worthy Princesse thou sayest most true bespake Anthenor then My selfe doth know it very wel for I remember when Both he and Menelaus did Embassadors come hither They wer then lodgde at my pore house whom I receivde togither And made them suche chéere as I could as they my sons had béene Where I their counsel mind and gifts do think my selfe haue séene Or my coniecture thought them great and chiefly when to vs In counsell they themselues were calld their message to discusse Menelaus standing vp was taller for his height But being set Vlisses séemde more graue in things of weight And abler â—…o maintaine the case for Menelaus was A man of fewe words and in vaine from him did nothing passe His spéech was pithie wise and apt and ful of gentlenesse And though Vlisses had more yeares he vsed no excesse Of words but when it came to point that speake Vlisses should Wert néere so little in the ayre cast vp his head he would And would a while cast down his sight most like a senselesse loute As one by rage and choller were from reason cleane put out Which well was shewed by his Mace which he vnhansome bare But when he spake he eloquence most heauenly did declare His words came forth like winter snow such store he did vnfolde As hauing doue none with him durst any coutention holde Nor yet of any thing he sayde did any doubt at all Nor question aske his talke was such as to the Gods befall King Priam curious more to know had cast aside his eyes And finding Aiax of Heleine enquired in this wise Who is that goodly Prince to aske the old man doth begin Who is a Giaunt to the rest none of them retch his thin She vnto this made aunswere thus It is Aiax the strong Who is best hope defence and wall that to the Gréekes belong And he who stands hard by him there is the good king of Creete Idomene among his folke obeyed with honor great As if some mightie God he were whom often I haue séene He passing by with Menelau at our house to haue bene And many moe as wel as he whose names I wel do know But not to sée my brethren here doth cause my griefe to grow The Castor gay that worthy knight with Pollux without Péere In feats of armes in they in this war haue not vouchsaft I feare To take a part but if they did arriue here with the rest The irksome sorrow grief and care which hath their minds opprest To sée my wants and my mishaps and chaunce yea very filth Hath sent them home they abasht with cares their harts it kilth Thus saide the faire but hir brethren long ere these things befel Were dead and in the towne of Sparte they were intombed wel This while the two Heraults they did prepare all things at ful That best shuld serue they from the flocke two laÌ„bes of choyce did cult And with good wine that licour likt of Goate a ful great hide They fild top vp the which was brought by th'Arault called Ide They for the misterie most méete a massie basen brought Of polisht gold and eke of gold two cups most finely wrought Thus furnisht to king Priam they shewed their Embassaide They willing him to come himself these were the words they sayde O péerelesse king of all renowme we feare we haue bene sloe The chiefest of thy subiects all in feld attend thée â—…oe The Gréekes will now make such accorde in mind that ay shall last Your sonne Paris his right to trie with Menelau doth cast By hand to hand and force of fight who victor shall arise Shal in reward haue faire Helene and gifts of worthy price All discordes by this meane shall end for Gréekes to Greece shall hie Troyans shall haue for war sustaind their peace wishte earnestly Without your Grace nought can be done for it is méete you sweare For full suretie of this combate which is agréed on there The good olde man was fearfull straight for wel he knew in hand Fondly was tane this enterprise whereto they meane to stande Yet he commaundes his Chariot and for his horsses calles They ioinde to it all things were done which in such case befalles With him he tooke Antenor olde and to the field they haste Who scouring with a swéeping pace came to the campe at laste And in the midst presente themselues and lighted when they were Vlysses graue and Agamemn did come and méete them there The Heraults there eke shewde themselues right gay and richly clad With ornaments whych longs them to and no delay was had But straight procéedes before them all to the ceremonie And first with good and pleasant wine they skinke the cuppes on hie To the chiefe Lords this pacte t'allowe to wash one water beares The gret Gréek then doth draw his knife y e which he always weares By his left side and of the Lambes the wooll he doth cut out From twixt the browes for the Heraults to part amids the rout To the Princes that hereafter repent none of them can The wooll receivde his handes eke washt Agamemn thus began With ioyned hands and lifted vp his prayer thus did
that he do fange in field The Nestor old and from him take his famous bruted shield Report wherof doth reatch the skies of pretious gold it is Of Diomede his cuyrasse to he catcht we shal not misse So counted off which Mulciber did forge And al the night The Gréekish host all washt in sea you shal sée take their flight And thinking for to do as much thus loftie Hector braues But Iuno hearing this discourse so spitefully she raues Hir members quoke Olimpus shoke to Neptune straight she coÌ„mes Art thou not grievd quoth she to sée the Gréeks hit on the thumbs And suffer in such sorie plight who dayly sacrifice Gay gifts and hosties vnto thée in Egues and Helice How canst thou without heauy cheare support their heauy case Thy fauour knowne which I haue séen that did their state embrace O Neptune if thou and the rest would once but say the word And from this slaughter them to kéepe some fauour smal afforde It would be done my husband Ioue for spite would friske and fare Yet least he might repent depart from Ide he would not dare Thou frantike sot quoth Neptune tho thinke not that I wil stur Or speake against the mightie Ioue whose power doth passe so fur To whom ech one ought to obey he is to loftie he He is our king our maister Lord his vassals al we be Thus while y e Gréeks are driuen back and in the field defeated Their forts and trenches they do take and doughtie Hector heated Is Mars himself the rampires so he forces them to gaine Betwéene the ships and vtter fence they filled all the plaine Thus backe retird and cubberd vp the Troyan stout had burnd Their vessels al the God so would if Iuno had not turnd T'aduise the Gréekes for when she saw this flight and this disorder To put in Agamemnons mind their king to passe on forder With spéede vnto the ships for aide To nauie he doth drawe In hand a scarlet roabe he helde the Ad mâ—…rall ship he sawe Of the Ithaque king to it he went of other vessels moe It stoode in midst the place he chose most méete his minde to shoe On one side stoode sir Aiax tent on th'other stoode Achill So guarded to withstand the force of such assault them will Agamemn come into the shippe he mounts aloft to poupe He cries aloude O Gréekish kings O wretched fainting troupe What shame and marke of infamie this day on Greece doth light Where is the proud vaunting spéech where is the promise plight Where is the kilcow chatte become in Lemnos which you had Upon your Alebenche where you were so impudent and mad Then one of you would kil and eat fiue hundred Troyans full It was the chéere it was the meate and wine you so did gull That made you braue and brag so much I sée the matter nowe Lo Hector come our fort to sacke and al our army cow Our Bastion eke and vs to burne O Ioue thou father great What king of kings so as my selfe hast thou with care beset Deprivde of glore with enuy fraught and wronged to my paine Defrauded of the suretie sounde wherewith I fedde in vaine When as m'oblations vow I did to please thée Ioue withall And Troy did thinke to lay sul lowe I sée I now muste fall A pray into my enmies lap thou soueraigne God yet graunt It better grace we may not haue fierce Hector do not daunt Nor cruel Troy our people here but that they scape their swordes The chieftaine chiefe thus prayde for al with teares he spake the wordes Ioue ful agréed to his request his sighes did pitie moue Which he did yéeld for perishing folke praying for their behoue For Augure sure an Egle commes a calle with talons tough Of red Dere hinde he brings and falles which comforteth ynough The whole Nobilitie of Greece on Aultar downe it lights In sacrifice of puissaunt Ioue reuiuing muche their sprites And straight therewith forth make they head of thousands souldiors stout And valiant knights Don Diomede forth first he sallies out The forte with chare On Troyan bands to trie and shewe his force To one he flies one only blowe martyrde a Troyans corse Agelaus hight Phadmon his sonne whole armed for the warre Yet fled he fast from Diomede his sight him so did scarre But through his chin his dart it flue and through the Curet came His armor gaue a murmuring noise he tumbling in the same Agamemnon and Menelau his brother Aiax twaine Princes of great exploite that were Idomene in the traine With Merion his gallant guide a man of courage braue Good Eurypile Euemons sonne in company they haue Of al the Gréekes a man of choice these forth from forte do starte And on their foes do forward hie them charging ouerthwarte Beside these eight a ninth with them a Gréeke one Teucer went He brother vnto Aiax was his bowe he beareth bent His skil was good to make his best and straight to shoote withall By subtile Arte his mortal woundes did many Troyans thrall Under his brothers Target he himselfe did often hide And fréely let his arrows flie where he his vantage spide And hauing sped to saue his life séekes out the Buckler bigge As doth the infant oftentimes the little pretie twigge When he doth sée displeasaunt sighes doth vnder garments créepe Of Nurse or mother déere and there playes like himselfe bo péepe Wel let vs tell those lost their liues this Archer lighted on Ocsilochus he was the first Detor Amapaon Ophelest Ormeyne Lycophont Chromius Menalippe Hethrild theÌ„ through with deadly wounds they down to ground do tip Agamemns hart it leaps for ioy his part when thus he plaide The sturdie shot to him he drawes and chéerefully he sayde O noble wight and Prince of same whom I with honor due Ought to regarde I thée beséeche thy forward factes pursue Beside the praise men shal thée giue when as thine aged sire Thelemon heares of these exploites he ioy shal with desire And hope to sée thée shortly home I know and not beguilde He doth thée honor and estéeme though thou no lawfull childe I know that from thy Cradle vp he did thée alwayes bring As lawful borne I sweare to thée in promise of a king If euer I this Citie take of al the gallant pray Next me shalt thou make choice and at thy pleasure take away A rich thrée footed Cawdron guilt on thée I wil bestow A Chariot with two goodly stéedes or else with thée to goe A Troyan faire a Priams childe or Dame of Citie bréede To vse in bed and serue thée ay if so thou be agréede Quoth Teucer tho there is no néede great king my wil to mend Ful oft I shoote to noy the foe my force and care I bend Gight valiant foes it is ful true my shaftes haue deadly slaine I were
be holpen Friend mine I wel do cal to minde what Pelcus did open To you and gaue for sound aduice movde by a fathers care And tender loue when to these parts you in your voyage ware And as I should and best I may his words I wel remember That the performance of the same your minde it may wel tender Minerue the goddesse son quoth he and Iuno both at once Shal giue thée valiaunt heart ynough with big and brawnie bones But thou with loue and modest port those gifts must beautifie And kepe thée from dissembling faulte and filthy fraude defye Yéelde not thy minde vnto reuenge and so ofyong and old You shal be much and hie estéemde and loued as you would These were his words thus in precept the good old man he gaue When you he sent of this gay spéech now little minde you haue Good friend alas do cancel cleane these discords and these iars Ful eft in friendship with the chiefe and captaine of these wars Who séeking now for thy good wil by vs doth offer thée Which here I count such goodly giftes as rich and gorgeous be First seauen triuets new and round ten talents next of golde And twentie caudrons bright of hue twelue coursers fully told Who by their swiftnesse conquerde haue right many princes rich And as for golde and wealthy ware if one man had as much As they haue purchast to their Lord and gayned by their spéede He might wel vaunt he were not poore nor worldly muck to néede And further seuen ladies braue right od in néedels skil And beautie rare which then he had when Lesboes thou didst pill With thy strong hand thy Bryseis eke thou shalt againe receiue For whom he déepely sweares vntoucht he doth hir person leaue And that she neuer saw his bed nor he the mayde hath knowne In pleasure as the male and fem Al this shal be your own These goodly gifts here shal you haue this gréement if you strike And if to sacke this mightie Troy the loftie gods it like And that we share the welthy spoyles he wil that you lay on And lade your largest ship with plate and gold for you alone With twentie townish dames of choice wel worthy such a Lord And when this war shal ended be if so you list accord To haunt his home and dwel with him you loue he shal as deare As Orestes his only son and if in minde you weare To take a wife of al his house the choise yours fréely is He daughters there doth thrée possesse the first Chrisotenis With yealow lockes sage Laodice the second hath to name Iphianas the third is hight who haue so great a fame For vertues theirs the fairst of thrée at pleasure choose you may And leade hir to their sire his home and nothing for hir pay For he himselfe for dower wil of riches giue such store As neuer father daughter gaue such portion heretofore He means to put vnder your rule seuen great and goodly townes Hard by the sea which ful of folke with wealthy ware abownes Ciuile Enopa shal be one and Cardamile so hight Pheres diuine fruiteful Hira Epea great of might With Anthia for pasture fat of all that beares the bel And Pedases for goodly vines is spoken of so wel You honorde in these townes shal be and servde in euery case Most like a God where people wil vnder your loyal mace And kingly iustice willing liue lo these the giftes they are That is the mends in lieu of fault you shal haue for your share If you these offers not regard nor him that giues the same Haue you no pitie of your friends nor nation here that came Out your own land haue you no wil these silly Gréeks to ayde And helpe that quite they perish not of whom if wil be sayde As to the gods so are they bound Achilles vnto thée When they shal know that by thy meanes they are deliuerd frée An act of praise immortal fame for you to gaine therby Th'occasion eke it brings that you with Hector now may trie Who doth so gayly vaunt and boast he puft is with such pride No Gréeke in Campe to be his match that may him once abide When he the prudent Gréeke had hearde to answere thus he start Vlisses that I answere plaine I thinke it is my part That thou nor any other else your selues hereafter set By motions for to trouble me more of me so to get What in my minde I haue set down most surely shal be done Who sayes one thing and in his heart another course doth run As gates of Hel I do him hate with all the might I may What I concluded haue to do here hearken what I say Unpossible the matter is that Agamemnon king For yée the Gréekes or princes great he may or can me bring But once on heade my helmet set sith who doth most desire With al his force to ayde you al I sée to bad his hire And of a souldiour no more count whose valure hie doth raigne Than of an hedgehog hid in tent or dastard coward swaine Who for his part shal more possesse of great and worthy spoyles And higher place than who deserues most best with al his toyles I speake this for my selfe who haue such toyle and trauel bid And many a night in war haue wakt and neuer haue bin hid From daunger great what so it were and al for your behouse With semblant care as pretie birde doth busie flye aloofe To séeke out meate to féede hir yong vnfeatherde who do ly And nakt in nest who haue no power the champaine ayre to try And far vnméete to meate themselues who doth not vnderstand The sackes and fals of Cities great and Ilands of this land My nauale forces conquerde haue twice sixe the chiefest thought Eleauen in firme my sword hath spoyld and in subiection broughte Of al the which the booties whole you al ful wel do know Out saued none your chiefe he had which stil he did bestow Where best he pleasde and skild he was the greater part to hold But mine and other princes parts were minste and wel controlde Yet with our sharing pleased wel and none more pleasd than I Nathlesse by cruel iniustice malice and tirannie Agamemnon hath spoyled me of that my pittaunce smal Was giuen me which yet I say to me did wel befal The same estéeming very much only I lovde it deare Bryseis it was wel his be she and with hir let him cheare Answere me you what cause hath fetcht so many Princes hither Of Greece And Agamemnon who he callde hath here togither Such furniture of souldiours good are they not in the field The rauish Heleine to regaine force them hir to yéeld Doth he and eke his brother wéene of all that lead here liues That they in earth the od men are which only loue their wiues Haue they a dome so blind and bad to déeme ech worthy minde Not
he wist what was the secrete lot This 〈◊〉 was the Prophet he for to direct their wayes The Gréekes did thâ—…se in this exploite and sagely thus he sayes Achilles friend vnto the Gods thou counselst I shoulde showe Unto the hearers here from whence Apolloes wrath doth grow I wil it do but sweare thou shall my safetie to defend 〈◊〉 such out 〈◊〉 â—…uries which some on me wil bend I much do dâ—…bt â—…hat châ—…est one who shall my speaches heare Yea he whoâ—… all the campe obeyes wil greatly seeme to deare And much amazâ—…e Ost mightie Lordes although conceale they wuâ—… A crosse receivds of simple wight yet pay they at the ful â—…cancea ceaseth not â—…it they de yeeld their veâ—…geance due Asspire me then with your defence hereâ—… what way ensue Sap what â—…walt queth Achilles for by the God of might Whose secretes thou so well dost â—…nowe I wil defende thy right None of the Gréekes whereas I am shal wrong or iniure thée No not the greatest of regarde not Agamemnon hée Then Calchas thus assurde by worde pâ—…e â—…unst in oveâ—… sighâ—… Ye Gréekes this 〈◊〉 contiâ—… not 〈◊〉 â—…or that cause did light It fel not in the campe I say for want of sacrifice To Phoebus bright in Countrey â—…r this mischiefe whole doth rise For that you haue vnreuerently the aged Chryâ—…s vsde His daughter shoulde haue béene 〈◊〉 and not his gifts refusde Til mends be made of this our fault I thinke it wil not cease The blackenied Lady to hir home 〈◊〉 she be brought in peace No raunsome had in numbers tho our offerings let vs slay To purchase fauour of the God and turne his wâ—…th away Agamemnon forth standeth straite with rage inflamed so As like a burning brand his eies did twinckle to and fro And thus he sayth looking askance on Calchas furiously Unluckie Prophet that thou art for 〈◊〉 happily Ought dost thou shewe and badly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bad dost tel And me to spite now doâ—… thou preach forsooth a proper spel Auouching that vnto the camp this plague is from aboue Bycause I Chryses do withholde whome I so greatly loue Hir beautie gay and gallant glee hath conquerd so my wil As wel I hopâ—…e â—…he in my house shoulde haue râ—…yned stil With Clytemnestra wife of 〈◊〉 whoâ—… 〈◊〉 I dâ—… râ—…garde And iustly â—…o before hâ—…r she is muche to â—…e prâ—…rde For countnaunce good for colâ—…r cleaâ—…e for 〈◊〉 and body gay But â—…th I néedes muste yéelde hâ—…r vp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this sore away Ah take hir then I do agrâ—… hiâ—… wanâ—… I 〈◊〉 Than that this people here 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hâ—…ue But 〈◊〉 looke in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 You wel â—…hal know of al 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I wil 〈◊〉 be the â—…ut Achilles 〈◊〉 of the Gréekâ—…s to him replyed thus In presence of the Prâ—…ces aâ—… Thou sonnâ—… of Atreus Thou pâ—…nching Prâ—…nce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heart thou loftie â—…inded hâ—… Where dost thou thinke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…her 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 In guerdon â—…owe of al that warre dost thâ—… noâ—…â—…owe thy selfe Long time agoe among vs alâ—… dâ—…ed is theâ—…lfe Belike we must â—…he spoiles amaâ—… which is not easely done And bring the camp to mutine to 〈◊〉 not thy â—…inde sâ—… 〈◊〉 Obey the Gâ—…ds 〈◊〉 vp the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 times richer 〈◊〉 Thou shalt possesse if Ioue vouchsafe that we the Troians raigne And Towers happe to lay ful lowe Straight Agamemnon tho Said thou Achill thinke not I reade thy credite such no no Although thy force in shewe compare with suche to Gods belong Thinke not that I wil followe thée or beare this open wrong Doth reason beare that eche his part haue of the wealthy prayes Thinkst thou it fit I leaue the maide and emptie go my wayes Unrecompensâ—…e I hir forgoe as reason so it would But sée that I considered be as fit it is I shoulde Else mangre thée and all thy might that thine by thée possest Or Aiax or Vlysses theirs Ile haue as I think best And care who list who then shall déers that I his portion take And here an end I thinke it good to Sea we ready make A vessell strong with skilfull guides and eke that one of you Accompany the Lady home vnto hir father now With honor due religiously the Aultars high to reare To sacrifice that Apollo with fauour vs forbeare When Achilles had hearkned wel to Agamemnons tale Disdainfully he lookte at him and blewe this bitter gale Thou impudent thou iangler thou what Gréeke shall readye make Himselfe to fight at thy commaund thy party for to take I came not from my Countrey I the Troians stout to scarre Or to reuenge my selfe on them for in no broiles of warre They euer out my region fruites or cattaile tooke away Too large a sea too mightie hilles them deserts wilde do stay And champaines wiâ—…e their forraies bar twéene vs which are defeÌ„ce But I am coâ—… and 〈◊〉 my traine cutting the seas from thence Under thy leading not at al for any cause of ours But Menelaus wrong to venge a brother he of yours Not â—…ding thou the good we doe thou face and dogshead thou In place of thankes I shoulde receiue thou déepely threatens nowe To take away my good my good for so in truth it is For by my valor in the â—…elde I gained it ywis And whiche the Gréekes in witnesse large did giue of my desarte Of all the spoile I haue more cause than thou to take at harte These actions aye Of pillage stil I alwayes haue the worst The victorie of wont is mine infront I am the firste Yet what they giue I wil accepte Sith home is peacer quieâ—… Better than with a tyrant warre I warre no more wil trye it The working â—…ea I wil goe séeke in point of morning gray With Saile and Ore to Pthie land my countrey taking way And making here thou thy abode dishonor thou shalt gaine Thy substaunce great and 〈◊〉 wealth withall to waste in vaine And will you so quoth Agamâ—… Amen farewell adue I list not your abode entâ—…ate 〈◊〉 for your presence fue There are ynow will here abide and tender my renowme Ne vnprouided mightie Ioue will leaue me in this rowme Of all these Kings and Princes here thou dost delight Achill To bite and sting me of the noâ—…st and 〈◊〉 bendes thy will Contentiously maintaining hate presuâ—… 〈◊〉 much Of force procéeding from the Gods in thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such Farewel your godly Myrmidones commâ—…nd theÌ„ at your pleasure And your agoe and furie thus Ile care for at my leysure But herewith your audacitie that further I doâ—… daunt Sith that Apolloeâ—… pleasure is and ordaines 〈◊〉 â—…raunt That I Chryses restoâ—…e againe with 〈◊〉 as much as 〈◊〉 To olde Chryses â—…y peoâ—…le 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 To thy Pauillion wil I send tricke Brâ—…sida to bring Thy best belâ—…ued that al men knoweâ—…how â—…nsaunter a King I am than
thou and that henâ—…eforth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hard in â—…olde To put vp head to matche 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Witâ—… Agamemn dead or to appease the wrâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To holde him stil to parte them fâ—…o and â—…pany to leaâ—…e Yet 〈◊〉 in spite of reason rulde his â—…lade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But 〈◊〉 hearâ—…e from Welkin high thiâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The bickering thâ—…s so neare 〈◊〉 â—…hem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will defendâ—… And Pallas straight from loftie 〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 descend Approching to Achill softly she tooke him by the 〈◊〉 Who spéedily retirde knowing the Goddesse to be there With twinckling eies vnâ—…easingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neuer a man But onely to himselfe to whome his speache he thus beganne You heauenly daughter Pallas you doe I your presence sée Would you it know how Agamemn doth wrong and iniure mée Giue me some leaue and for his pride you shall sée by and by Before you here vppon the grasse his headlesse truncke to ly Thy griefe to ease quoth Pallas is this comming here of mine If to be rulde by heauenly sawe thy selfe thou canst encline Dame Iâ—…no séeing this dangerous strife who fauours both so much Did bid me downe thée to aduise in no wise him to touch Put vp thy sworde it doth not wel with words do wordes repay Assured 〈◊〉 for his great â—…ult thou shalt another daye And these thy harmes haue gallant gifts yea layed in thy lappe If to obey this counsaile mine thy mind and meaning happe Its more than méete quoth Achilles and reason so doth will That what the Gods commaunde vs men we wholly do fulfill Though surâ—… would vs theÌ„ce withdraw Of Gods y e puissant might Obedience doth 〈◊〉 in euery manner wight And from his best who doth â—…ot swarue in fauour stil we sée His mâ—…ssie falâ—… saying thus in sheath of brightsome blée Of siluer braue he putteth vp Pallas away she weares She leaues the Gréekes to Gods aloft in Heauen she repaires The valiant Gréeke in furie stil on Agamemn doth stare His rage abides him thus in speech he raging wise forbare Thou tipled Knight a snarring curre to sight and shew thou arte Than Stagge beset at bay about more feareful yet of harte Among the Kings a cowarde vile a slouthful shifting Oxe Assaults alarms and battals fought thou fearst for dread of knocks And lesse thou darste ambushments lay for doubt to quaile or dye Thou tyrant great who dost deuoure the people cruelly Oppressor thou scourge of the pore delighting to disgrace All men vnto thine appetite consenting giues not place If I my courage folowed had thou shouldst no more haue harmde Al gracelesse straight thy carcas here to death I wold haue charmde But hearke for by this royall Mace by whiche I now doe sweare A worthy ornament to shewe in right hand which I beare Who hauing lost the sappe of wood eft gréenenesse cannot drawe True ornament for iudges all who execute the lawe Of Iupiter on mortall men the day before thou wist Wil come when to be shielded from sir Hectors murdering fist Who shal hacke down the Gréeks in heapes y e I shal be entreated And thou thy lewdnesse fond contest shal thorowly be heated To haue despised carelesly who most deserueth â—…oes Thus said from him in fury great his scepter down he throwes He sittes him downe Agamemnon whome anger forward straines Minding faire Bryseis stil to haue the quarrel he maintaines That speaker swéete delighting tong therewith duke Nestor rose From Heauen had much pleasannter than Harry front him flowes By grace diuine of triple life the yeares he also bare He to th'assembly as they sate his knowledge both declare O what mishap what parant losse sée I on Greece to fall What ioy and hope to Priamus his sonnes and subiects all When as shall come vnto their eares that in this campe of ours By kindled heate in quarrell thus our greatest Princes lours This discorde leaue this sury fly than yours my yeares are more Your greaters and your grauers to I known haue heretofore Who haue my counsel ay obeyed I neuer knewe nor knowe More bolde and mightie mortall men than these and Perithoe Dryas in Prudence thiefe of price Exadiuss Polipheme Ceneis equall with the Gods who by their three extreme The Giants and the Lapyths slewe whereby their glorie fledde To Heauen highe I called I with them I often yedde To battailes great and dangerous in bloudy martial marte Whose force no lustie liuing tho to frunt in fight had hearte They alwaies â—…uill so on my word as none would crosse my spéech Wel shal you doe if you performe by counsaile what I reach And first to yâ—… Agamemnon be 〈◊〉 also greate â—…de Thoughe chiefe thou be perforce to take Bryseis who is assignde By all the Gréekes his lust rewarde Achill I thinke it good You silence vse with farring wordes forbeare to crosse in moode Of al the sceptred Princes none so high is seaâ—…ed downe As ouer hiâ—… Ioue appâ—…nts the 〈◊〉 and the crowne In force if so you more auaile 〈◊〉 Thetis that it retches Your mother she but yet than yours his puissaunce further stretches For Nations more do him obey And Agamemnon take it Appease your rage and your abuse lette not your calling make it Achilles for the loue of me if true I true reporte Forget this iarre to Gréekish campe in olde and wonted sorte Shewe forth your selfe a bulwarke sure Thou aged worthy sire Quoth Agamemn what thou haste saide beste reason doth require But here this mate by gallant heart triumphing Lorde will goe He will commaunde he all will rule but softe he shall not so If I may choose his force is greate as sib to power diuine Hathe he then leaue all wrong to doe as fancie shall encline Achilles straight ful restlesse yet from him the speache he tooke I were quoth he a coward leude if I agréed to brooke Thy gouernaunce after thy wil I rulde will be no more For no obedience looke of me others commaunde therefore And build on this For Bryseis faire no quarrel I wil make With any man fith obstinate you bent are for to take The gifte on me whiche was bestowed but haue regarde to dare Yea for thy life to touch the Gods in my possession are And be aboorde my vessels thou a bootelesse worke shouldest haue And if thou béest so gallant set or yet so beastly braue Aduaunce thy selfe thy valor shewe and al men shal beholde Me with my Launce to shed thy bloud and lay thy carcasse colde The case debated thus at length the Councell al they rose Achilles with his companye to his Pauillion goes A shippe well furnishte Agamemn on sea he causeth rise With twentie Ores forgetting not things méete for Sacrifice And pueell Chryseis fitly there he shipped honest well And Vlysses for patron put who Gréekes did all excell In good aduise and pleasaunte speache the waues