Leader part had of the hair The Ceremonies being finished Atrides to the gods then made this Prayer O mighty Jove the Monarch of the Gods O glorious Sun with thy all-seeing Eye O Streams O Earth O you that hold the Rods Beneath the Earth scourges of Perjury Hear me and be you witnesses of this If Menelaus be by Paris slain Let Helen and the wealth she has be his And to Achaea we return again If slain by Menelaus Paris be Let Helen with her wealth to Greece be sent With some amends made for the injury To be of th' wrong done an acknowledgment If such amends the Trojans will not make I will pursue the War and here abide Till I the Town of Ilium shall take Or till the Gods the quarrel shall decide This said the Victims with his Knife he slew And sprawling there upon the place they lay Then into Golden Cups the Wine they drew And pour'd it on the Lambs Then prayed they Both Greeks and Trojans Jove and Pow'rs divine Who first to break this peace shall go about As poured on the Victims is this Wine So they and their Sons Brains be poured out Thus prayed they But Jove that Pray'r did flight Then Priam said To Troy return will I. It cannot please me to behold the Fight For none but Gods know which of them shall dye And then into the Charret went again He and Antenor and drave t' Ilium And with them carried their Victims slain Then in Ulysses and great Hector come And having measur'd out the Lists wherein They were to fight then the two Lots they drew For who to throw his Spear should first begin And then the Greeks and Trojans pray'd anew O glorious Jove whom all the Gods obey Let him that of the War the Author was Be slain and all the rest firm peace enjoy Then mighty Hector shook the skull of brass The Lot that was the first drawn out was that Which gave to Paris the right to begin Then down upon the ground the people sate In order as their Armours plac'd had been And Paris arm'd himself and first puts on His Leg-pieces of Brass and closely tyes That silver'd over were at th' Ancle-bone And then his Breast-plate to his Breast applyes Lycaons Breast-plate 't was but ev'ry whit As just upon him sat as it had done Upon Lycaon when he used it And next to this his good Sword he puts on And then his broad Shield and his Helmet good And last of all a Spear takes in his hand And in like Armour Menelaus stood Then come they forth and in the Lists they stand And one did on another fiercely look The people stupid sat 'twixt hope and fear And when they come were nigh their Spears they shook But Paris was the first to throw his Spear And threw and smote the Shield of Menelaus But through the Mettle tough it passed not But turn'd and bended at the point it was Then Menelaus was to throw by Lot But first he prayed Grant me O Jove said he That this my Spear may Alexander slay Who was the first that did the injury That they who shall be born hereafter may Not dare to violate the Sacred Laws Of Hospitality Having thus said He threw his Spear which Paris Shield did pass And through his Breast-plate quite and there it staid But tore his Coat And there he had been dead But that his Belly somewhat he drew back Then with his Sword Atrides smote his head Which arm'd was and the Sword in pieces broke Then Menelaus grieved at the heart Looking to Heaven did on Jove complain O Jove that of the Gods most cruel art Broken my Sword my Spear is thrown in vain Then suddenly laid hold on Paris Crest And to the Greeks to drag him did begin And Paris then was mightily distrest Choakt by the Latchet underneath his Chin. And to the Greeks had drag'd been by the Head If Venus to his aid had not come in Who broke the string and him delivered Atrides conquest else had famous been Then to the Greeks the empty Cask-he threw But Venus snatcht him from him in a Mist And whither she convey'd him none there knew A God she is and can do what she list When Paris to his Chamber was convey'd His Chamber which of Perfumes sweetly smelt Then puts she on the form of an old Maid That Helen serv'd when she at Sparta dwelt And in that shape went to call Helen home That stood with other Ladies of the Town Upon a Tow'r When she was to her come She gently with her finger stir'd her Gown Helen said she Paris has for you sent And on his glorious bed doth for you stay Not as a man that came from Fight but went To Dance or from it were new come away Helen at this was mov'd and mark'd her Eyes And of her lovely Neck did notice take And knew 't was Venus though in this disguise And troubled as she was thus to her spake Venus why seek you to deceive me still Since Menelaus has the Victory Though I have wrong'd him he receive me will And you come hither now to hinder me Whither d' ye mean to send me further yet To Phrygia or to Moeonia That there I may another Husband get You shall not me to Alexander draw Go to him you and Heaven for ever quit Grieve with him have a care the man to save And by his side continually to sit Till he his Bride have made you or his Slave I will not to him go for 't were a shame Nor any longer meddle with his Bed Nor longer bear the scorns nor mocks nor blame Which from the wives of Troy I suffered Then Venus vext Hussie said she no more Provoke my anger If I angry be And hate you as I loved you before The Armies both will to your death agree This said the beauteous Helen frighted was And with the Goddess went who led the way And by the Trojan Wives did quiet pass Unto the house where Alexander lay I' th' Roomes below at work her women were But up went Helen with the Goddess fair And when to Alexander they were near The Goddess unto Helen fetcht a Chair Then sat she down and look'd at him again You come from Battle I would you had there And by my former Husbands hand been slain You brag'd you were his better at a Spear Go challenge him again and fight anew But do not though for fear you should be kill'd But rather when you see him him eschew Lest he should leave you dead upon the field To Helen Alexander then reply'd Forbear though he have now the Victory By Pallas help there are Gods on our side And they another time may favour me Let 's go to Bed and in sweet Love agree Your Beauty never did me so much move At Lacedemon nor in Cranae Where the first blessing I had of your Love This said to bed they went first he then she Atrides then sought Paris
will make my honour with the Greeks the less Nor in the slaughter take so much delight As to proceed up to the Walls of Troy Lest by some God or other you be checkt But having freed the Ships come straight away Apollo has for Troy a great respect And leave both sides to fight upon the Plain Till grant it O ye Gods there left are none But you and I the Town of Troy to gain Thus they to one another talkt alone Ajax by this time from the Ship was gone Forc'd by the Spears that from the Trojans flew And weakned by the hand of Saturn's Son For at his head the Trojans always threw And forc'd he was to hold his great Shield high And weari'd was thereby his Buckler-hand With Spear in hand no Trojan durst come nigh But pelting him with Spears aloof they stand The sweat ran down his Limbs nor could he well Though mightily for breath he pull'd respiâ—e Now tell me Muses that in Heav'n do dwell How came the Ship first to be set on fire Thus. Hector with his broad Sword at a blow The Spear of Ajax chanc'd to cut in twain Where to the staff the head was fixt and so His mighty Naval Spear he shook in vain â—â—e head of Brass flew humming to the ground This Ajax saw and frighted was to see â—â—ve thus the counsel of the Greeks confound To give unto the Trojans Victorie And went his way Then in the Trojans came With Brands of flaming fire and presently The hind part of the Ship was all in flame Achilles with his hand then clapt his Thigh And to Patroclus said A flame I see Rise at the Ships 'T is time that you were gone â—est our Retreat should intercepted be Away and quickly put my Armour on This said Patroclus first of all puts on His Boots of War and to his legs them ti'd With Silver Clasps and next of Thetis Son The Breast-plate good he to his Breast appli'd With Golden Stars like Heaven beautifi'd His Sword then ore his shoulder he puts on With Silver Studs to hang down by his side And then his Helmet shining like the Sun He puts upon his head and last of all he took two Spears that fit were for his hand But not that which Achilles fought withal For that none but Achillâ—s could command A great and strong and heavy Spear it was Made of an Ash cut down i' th' woody hill Of Pelius and by Chiron given 't was To Peleus his mighty â—oes to kill Then to Achilles Charre Automedon The Horses Balius and Xanthus ti'd That were by Zephyrus begotten on Pedarge feeding by the Oceans side And at their heads he Pedasus did place A Horse he took at Thebe in the Prey That with them both was able to keep pace Though he were mortal and immortal they While by his Charre Patroclus arming stands Apace from Tent to Tent Achilles runs And calleth unto those that had Commands To Arm and bring away the Myrmidons Then came they and about Patroclus stood Like Wolves that on a lusty Stag had fed And lapping stain'd the River with his blood With Bellies full and hearts encouraged When they together were Achilles then Appointed who i'th'Field should them command To Troy he Ships brought with him five times ten From ev'ry Ship came fifty men to land And then five Bodies he made of them all And Captains five by whom they led should be But was himself the Captain-General For of the Myrmidons the King was he Of these five Captains one Menestius was Who was the River Sperchius his Son And by the name of Boro then did pass His Mother was of Peleus Daughters one And Polydora was her name And she To Perierus had been married And for his Wife reputed constantly Before she was of M'nestius brought to bed The second Bands were by Eudorus led The Son of Polymela a fair Maid Hermes of her became enamoured As at a Dance her Beauty he survay'd It was upon Diana's Holy-day He saw her dancing and at night he got Unseen into her bed and with her lay And his brave Son Eudorus then begot To Echecles she after married Her Father Phylas to him took her Son And unto mans estate him nourished And lov'd no less than if t 'had been his own The third Pisandrus led that swift could run And had at fighting with a Spear more arâ— In bloudy War than any Myrmidon Amongst them all Patroclus set apart The fourth was by the old Knight Phoenix led And of the fifth charge had Alcimedon When they were all together gathered Unto them sharply thus spake Thetis Son Ye Myrmidons said he remember now How all the time I kept you have from fight You have the Trojans threatned hard and how You said my Mother fed me had with Gall And in great tumult bid me let you go Or at the Ships upon the Trojans fall â—o there before you is the War you crave The Trojans are about to burn the Fleet Do you your utmost now the same to save Let him that brags of Valour let us see 't This said the Myrmidons became more keen Because they saw the King had chang'd his mind And presently into their Ranks fell in And close themselves to one another joyn'd As close as in a Wall are laid the stones By him that means his House shall keep out wind So close together stood the Myrmidons Helmets with Helmets Shields with Shields conjoyn'd Before them all two good men armed went Patroclus and Automedon to th'Fight Achilles then returned to his Tent Where stood a Chest most beautiful to sight Which Thetis gave him when he went to Troy Wherein were Carpets Coats and Cloaks laid up To keep him warm when he a Ship-board lay And in the same was kept a dainty Cup. In which no other man ere drank but he Though 't were to offer to the Gods above Nor he himself such was his nicetie Ere in it drank but offering to Jove Achilles then with Sulphur scour'd the Cup And having rins'd it clean with water fair And washt his hands went out and held it up Tow'rds Heaven and thus to Jove addrest his pray' Pelasgique Jove that far from hence dost dwell But at Dodona men thy counsel know The Selli there thy Prophets fortunes tell Though on the ground they sleep and barefoot go That at my Prayer once didst honour me And broughtest on the Argive Hoast much wo Once more unto my Pray'r enclined be Though to the Fight my self I do not go I thither send my dear Companion O Jove now honour him Let Hector know Patroclus is a man of War alone And not then only when I with him go And when he has the Trojans driven from The Argive Ships then grant O Jove he may With all his Myrmidons safe hither come With all their Arms and make no longer stay Thus prayed he To half of his desire Jove nodded but the other half deni'd He granted him to save the
defend the Wives of Ilium And Babes against the Greeks that love the Warre Which to prevent the Trojans day by day With pay and with free Quarter tired are Let 's therefore fight and either die or slay For there 's no other Traffick at the Warre And he that shall Patroclus body gain And spight of Ajax fetch it off the Field Half of his Armour shall have for his pain And I wiâ—l half the Honour to him yield This said the Trojans on the Argives fell With all their weight and made account to gain Patroclus Body For they could not tell How many Trojans there would first be slain And then to Menelaus Ajax said I fear we shall no more return from Troy And am not for Patroclus so afraid That to the Dogs is sure to be a Prey As for my self and you with such a Cloud Of Trojans Hector thundring cometh on Go therefore presently and call aloud To th' other Princes Other help there 's none Then Menelaus cried out aloud O you that have command in th' Argâ—ve Host And dâ—et with Atrides are allow'd And drink unstinted at the Publick cost 'T is hard to call you ev'ry one by name But you that hear me come away with speed For to us all 't will be no little shame To let the Dogs upon Patroclus feed This said first little Ajax running came And with Idomeneus Meriones Then many more came in but who can name The number great that came in after these And Heâ—tor wiâ—h the Trojans then came in And as â—he Sea that rolleth to the shore Which by some mighty wind had driven been So to the Fight the Trojans marching roar The Greeks about Patroclus body staid All of one minde all cover'd with their Shields And on their heads Jove then a great Fog laid And all the place about with darkness fills For while Patroclus was alive and serv'd Achilles Jove took at him no offence Nor thought that to be Dogs meat he deserv'd And therefore urg'd the Greeks to his defence At first the Trojans made the Greeks to flie And leave the Body but they killed none So great a Fog upon the place did lie Then with his friends again came Ajax on Of all the Greeks for person and for might The bravest man excepting Thâ—tis Son The Trojans when the Greeks refus'd to fight The Body seiz'd and thought the bus'ness done As when a Boar pursu'd by Hounds and Men Upon them turns they scatter'd are and flie So when great Ajax to them came agen The Trojans scatter'd let Patroclus lie For when Hippothous was in great hope To drag Patroclus body up to Troy And to his Anckle tyed had a rope Arrived to him was his latest day For Ajax now was come unto him near And smote him through the Helmet and the Braiâ— Which stained with his blond stuck to the Spear And down he threw Patroclus foot again And with it neer unto the body fell â—apâ—iâ—'d of life by mighty Ajax Spear Far from Earissa where his friends did dwell And never for his breeding payed were And Hector then a Spear at Ajax threw Which he perceiving did a little shun â—very little it beside him flew And killed Schedius Iphitus Son That of Phocaeans all was far the best And did in well-built Panopaea reign The Spear sharp-pointed enter'd at his Brest And at his Shoulder out it went again And Ajax then the valiant Phorcys slew That 'bout the body of Hippothous went The Spear through Breast-plate and through Belly flew And as it pass'd the Guts in pieces rent Then Hector and the Trojan Lords gave way Retiring from the Argive Lords and thus By th' Argives coming in without delay Stript were both Phorcys and Hippothous And now the Trojans had for want of heart Been chased by the Argives up to Troy And th' Argives gotten had on th' other part Without the Gods an honourable day Had not Apollo like to Periphas Anchises Squire t' Aeneas come disguised That very wise now grown and aged was And standing by his side him thus advised Aeneas cannot you without the Gods As well as the Achaeans gain the day By valour since in men they have no odds For Jove had rather you should win than they Thus Phoebus said Aeneas knew 't was he And with a loud voyce unto Hector said Hector and you who the Commanders be Of Trojans or have brought unto them aid Oh what a shame 't is for us thus to run Before the Greeks our selves in Troy to hide But come there yet amongst the Gods is one That hath asâ—ur'd me Joâ—â— is on our side This said before the Trojans he leapt out And with his Spear in hand stood at their head And when he made them had to wheel about Unto the Body he directly led And with his Spear Leocritus he slew The friend of Lycomed Arisbas Son And Lycomed displeas'd at Hector threw And hit him not but kill'd Apisaoâ— Of all that from Paeonia pass'd the Seas He was in battle of the greatest might Excepting no man but Asteropaeus Who angry at his fall went to the Fight But now the Greeks about Patroclus stood So close with Spears advanc'd with Buchlers hidden That there Ateropaeus did no good For by great Ajax so they had been bidden Let none from hence again retire said he Nor any man before the rest skâ—p out But stand together till you charged be Thus roaring to them Ajax went about And thick the Trojans and their Aids now fell And with their blond bedewed was the ground Nor did the Argives come off very well But sewer of them ' mongst the dead were sound For standing close one Shield sav'd more than one Thus keen as fire on both sides sought they here And such a darkness was the place upon As if nor Sun nor Moon in safety were But th' other places all about had light And brightly did the Sun in Ida shine And gentle at a distance was the Fight And one anothers Spear did oft decline But in the middle where the very best Both of the Argives and the Trojans stood The pain they suffer'd cannot be exprest Of restless labour and of loss of blood But of Patroclus by the Trojans kill'd Antilochus and Torasymed knew nor But fought in other places of the Field And that he still pursu'd the Trojans thought When for his body who the same should get Now fighting were the Trojans and the Greeks And from their Knees and Legs ran down the swear And stained were with blond their arms and cheeks As when men set themselves about the skin Of some fat Bull and stretch it ev'ry way That th' humour may go out the grease go in Just so Patroclus body tugged they Trojans to Troy and Argives to the Fleet And thereupon arose this mighty fray If Mars or Pallas had been there to see 't They had not known on whom a fault to lay Though angry they had been such work was then By Jove about
Straw there is but Harvest none or small If Jove once hold the Scales unevenly Innumerable are the men that fall When then an end of weeping shall we see The Bellies of the Argives must not mourn They that go to the War must patient be And let the dead unto their Graves be born And not weep over them above a day And we that safe from Fight are come agaâ—n When we are fed can all day sighting stay All other Exhortation is vain Let therefore now the Greeks to Breakfast go Which is the Soldiers best encouragement Then all together fall upon the Fo. And when he this had said away he went And with him took Meges Meriones Theas Antilochus and Thrasymed And Menalippus and added unto these The Martial Son of Creon Lycomed And brought the Presents from Atrides Tent Sev'n Tripods great and twenty Caldrons bright Twelve Horses and sev'n Women with them went And fair'st of all Briseis made them eight Talents of Gold Ulysses weigh'd out ten And took the pains himself to carry that The rest was carri'd by the younger men And laid before the Princes as they sat Then Agamemnon rose and by him neer Talthybius attended with a Swine From which Atrides clâ—pt a lock of hair And lifts his hands unto the Pow'rs Divine O Jâ—ve said he the chiefest of the Gods O Sun and Earth and Furies under ground That in your hands carry th' Eternal rods To punish such as perjur'd shall be found My hand I on Briseis never laid Neither for Bed nor any other cause But always in my Tent untoucht she staid Nor ever by me once attempted was And if herein I told you have a Lye Let all the dreadful torments that are due To such as guilty are of Perjury Upon me fall This said the Swine he slew Then out the Stomach of the Swine did cut And that Talthybius took in his hands And threw 't into the Sea the Fish to glut That done Achilles up amongst them stands 'T is thou O Jove said he that spoilest all Briseis at my Tent had stayed still Nor had her going from me mov'd my gall But that thou hadst a mind the Greeks to kill This said the Councel he dissolv'd and sent Th' Achaeans to their Ships to break their fast Then ev'ry man unto his own Ship went And busie were about their short repast Mean while the Myrmidons the Presents bear T' Achilles Ships and laid them in his Tent And thither also brought the Women were But th'Horses to the Field his Servants sent Briseis when she saw Patroclus lie With many gastly wounds dead on the Biere She flung her arms about him and did crie And her white Neck and Face and Breast did tear And weeping over him did thus complain O dear Patroclus whom alive I left Now when I to you am return'd again Ay me I find you of your life bereft How fast my Woes on one another fall The Husband which my Parents made me wed And three good Brothers of one Mother all I saw before Lyrnessus Massacred And then Patroclus you to comfort me Told me that I should be Achilles Wife And to him married in Pthia be But now since you have also lost your life I never of my Woe shall see an end And then the other women wept and roar'd All for Patroclus as they did pretend But inwardly their own Fate they deplor'd The Greeks again about Achilles stood And urged him ere he to Battle went Himself to strengthen with a little food But could by no means get him to consent My friends said he importune me no more To eat or drink before we go to fight My heart within me now is vexed sore Fear not I shall endure from morn to night This said the other Princes from him went The two Atrides and Ulysses stay And Phoenix and old Nestor at his Tent And King Idomeneus his grief t' allay But nothing they could say did any good So fiercely he was set upon the Fight And looking on Patroclus body stood And then afresh lamented at the sight Sweet friend said he you wont were to provide Good Breakfast for me when I was to figh But since that comfort now I am deni'd In meat and drink I take no more delight For greater hurt cannot upon me fall Although for want of me my Father die While absent from him at the Trojan Wall For this accursed Helen's sake I lie Nor though my Son Nâ—ptolemus should die Whom I in Scyros Isle left to be bred Not thinking then that here both you and I Should lose our lives but that when I was dead He should by you be to my House convey'd And made to know my Servants and Estate For Peleus now is very much decay'd If quite he have not finished his Fate When this Achilles weeping spoken had The good old men that also had their fears For those they left at home were very sad And Jove had pity on Achilles tears And speaking to Athena Child said he Your love to valiant men I see is gone Achilles must no more remembred be Behold how for his friend he maketh moan And takes no food though th' other Princes feast Let not his strength by hunger be decay'd Distil Ambrosia into his breast And Nectar Straight Athena him obey'd And swift as any Harpy came away And arming of themselves she found the rest But that Achilles strength might not decay She dropt Ambrosia into his breast And Nectar sweet and out the Argives went As when from Jove descendeth a thick Snow Which Boreas bloweth through the Element Such of the armed Argives was the show So bright their burnâ—sht Arms and Helmets were The lustre up to Heaven did rebound And smiling all about the Fields appear And at the moving of their feet resound Achilles then his mighty Arms puts on And grinds his teeth and fire was in his eyes And hasted to the Battle to be gone So much his heart did at the Trojans rise First to his legs the Leg-pieces he ti'd With Buckles of fine silver all along And next his Breast-plate to his breast appli'd And on his shoulder then his Sword he hung Then up into his hand his Shield he took Large strong and mighty radiant was the same And from afar it like the Moon did look Or as to Seamen on the wolds a flame That sure are of a storm when that they see And from their friends to scatter'd be by wind To places where they not desire to be So then the Buckler of Achilles shin'd And next he puts his Helmet on his head Which shined like a Comet in the Air So finely Vulcan had it polished And made it seem to blaze with golden hair And then to try his Arms if fit they were He walkt about and thought he wings had worn And last from out a Tub he took his Spear Which by his Father formerly was born And made by Chiron in Mount Pelion Which no man but Achilles now could