the voice from Thetis issue throwne Won emulously th' eares of all His brazen voice once heard The minds of all were startl'd so they yeelded and so feard The faire-man'd horses that they flew backe and their chariots turn'd Presaging in their augurous hearts the labours that they mourn'd A litle after and their guides a repercussiue dread Tooke from the horrid radiance of his refulgent head Which Pallas set on fire with grace Thrice great Achilles spake And thrice in heate of all the charge the Troians started backe Twelue men of greatest strength in Troy left with their liues exhald Their chariots and their darts to death with his three summons cald And then the Grecians spritefully drew from the darts the corse And hearst it bearing it to fleete His friends with all remorse Marching about it His great friend dissoluing then in teares To see his truly-lou'd return'd so horst vpon an herse Whom with such horse and chariot he set out safe and whole Now wounded with vnpittying steele now sent without a soule Neuer againe to be restor'd neuer receiu'd but so He follow'd mourning bitterly The Sunne yet farre to go Iuno commanded to go downe who in his powres despight Iuno commands the Sunne to go downe before his time Sunke to the Ocean ouer earth dispersing sodaine Night And then the Greeks and Troians both gaue vp their horse and darts The Troians all to counsell call'd ere they refresht their hearts With any supper nor would sit they grew so stiffe with feare To see so long from heauie fight Aeacides appeare Polydam as began to speake who onely could discerne Things future by things past and was vow'd friend to Hector borne In one night both he thus aduisde Consider well my friends Polydamas to Hector and the Troians In this so great and sodaine change that now it selfe extends What change is best for vs t' oppose To this stands my command Make now the towne our strength not here abide lights rosie hand Our wall being farre off and our foe much greater still as nere Till this foe came I well was pleasde to keepe our watches here My fit hope of the fleetes surprise enclin'd me so but now T is stronglier guarded and their strength increast we must allow Our owne proportionate amends I doubt exceedingly That this indifferencie of fight twixt vs and th' enemie And these bounds we prefixe to them will nothing so confine Th'vncurb'd mind of Aeacides The height of his designe Aimes at our citie and our wiues and all barres in his way Being backt with lesse then wals his powre will scorne to make his stay And ouerrunne as ouerseene and not his obiect Then Let Troy be freely our retreate lest being enforc't our men Twixt this and that be taken vp by Vultures who by night May safe come off it being a time vntimely for his might To spend at randome that being sure If next light shew vs here To his assaults each man will wish that Troy his refuge were And then feele what he heares not now I would to heauen mine eare Were free euen now of those complaints that you must after heare If ye remoue not If ye yeeld though wearied with a fight So late and long we shall haue strength in counsell and the night And where we here haue no more force then Need will force vs to And which must rise out of our nerues high ports towres walls will do What wants in vs. And in the morne all arm'd vpon our towres We all will stand out to our foe T will trouble all his powres To come from fleet and giue vs charge when his high-crested horse His rage shall satiate with the toyle of this and that wayes course Vaine entrie seeking vnderneath our well-defended wals And he be glad to turne to fleet about his funerals For of his entrie here at home What mind will serue his thirst Or euer feed him with sackt Troy the dogs shall eate him first At this speech Hector bent his browes and said This make not great Hectors angry reply to Polydamâ—… Your grace with me Polydamas that argue for retreate To Troys old prison haue we not enough of those towres yet And is not Troy yet charg'd enough with impositions set Vpon her citizens to keepe our men from spoyle without But still we must impose within that houses with our rout As well as purses may be plagu'd Before time Priams towne Traffickt with diuers-languag'd men and all gaue the renowne Of rich Troy to it brasse and gold abounding but her store Is now from euery house exhaust possessions euermore Are sold out into Phrygia and louely Maeonie And haue bene euer since Ioues wrath And now his clemencie Giues me the meane to quit our want with glorie and conclude The Greeks in sea-bords and our seas to slacke it and extrude His offerd bountie by our flight Foole that thou art be wray This counsell to no common eare for no man shall obay If any will I le checke his will But what our selfe command Let all obserue take suppers all keeepe watch of euery hand If any Troian haue some spoyle that takes his too much care Make him dispose it publickly t is better any fare The better for him then the Greeks When light then deckes the skies Let all arme for a fierce assault If great Achilles rise And will enforce our greater toyle it may rise so to him On my backe he shall find no wings my spirit shall force my lim To stand his worst and giue or take Mars is our common Lord And the desirous sword-mans life he euer puts to sword This counsell gat applause of all so much were all vnwise Minerua robd them of their braines to like the ill aduice The great man gaue and leaue the good since by the meaner giuen All tooke their suppers but the Greeks spent all the heauy Euen About Patroclus mournfull rites Pelides leading all In all the formes of heauinesse he by his side did fall And his man-slaughtering hands imposd into his oft-kist brest Sighes blew vp sighes and Lion-like grac't with a goodly crest Simile That in his absence being robd by hunters of his whelps Returnes to his so desolate den and for his wanted helps Beholding his vnlookt-for wants flies roring backe againe Hunts the slie hunter many a vale resounding his disdaine So mourn'd Pelides his late losse so weightie were his mones Which for their dumbe sounds now gaue words to all his Myrmidom Achilles to his Myrmidons O gods said he how vaine a vow I made to cheare the mind Of sad Menaetius when his sonne his hand to mine resign'd That high-towr'd Opus he should see and leaue rac't Ilion With spoyle and honor euen wiâ—…h me but Ioue vouchsafes to none Wisht passages to all his vowes we both were destinate To bloody one earth here in Troy nor any more estate In my returne hath Peleus or Thetis but because I last
which we waite Of winning Troy with brasse and gold he shall his nauie freight And entring when we be at spoile that princely hand of his Shall chuse him twentie Troian Dames excepting Tyndaris The fairest Pergamus infolds and if we make retreat To Argos cald of all the world the Nauill or chiefe seat He shall become my sonne in law and I will honour him Euen as Orestes my sole sonne that doth in honours swim Three daughters in my wel-built court vnmarried are and faire Laodice Chrysothemis that hath the golden haire And Iphianassa of all three the worthiest let him take All ioynturelesse to Peleus Court I will her ioyncture make And that so great as neuer yet did any maide preferre Seuen cities right magnificent I will bestow on her Enope and Cardamile Hyra for herbes renownd The faire Aepaea Pedasus that doth with grapes abound Antaea girded with greene meades Phera surnam'd Diuine All whose bright turrets on the seas in sandie Pylos shine Th' inhabitants in flockes and heards are wondrous confluent Who like a God will honour him and him with gifts present And to his throne will contribute what tribute he will rate All this I gladly will performe to pacifie his hate Let him be milde and tractable t is for the God of ghosts To be vnrul'd implacable and seeke the bloud of hoasts Whom therefore men do much abhorre then let him yeeld to me I am his greater being a King and more in yeares then he Braue King said Nestor these rich gifts must make him needs relent Nestor makes choice of Ambassadors to Achilles Chuse then fit legates instantly to greete him at his Tent But stay admit my choice of them and let them strait be gone Ioue-loued Phoenix shall be chiefe then Aiax Telamon And Prince Vlyssès and on them let these two heralds wait Graue Odius and Euribates Come Lords take water strait Make pure your hands and with sweet words appease Achilles mind Which we will pray the king of Gods may gently make inclin'd All lik't his speech and on their hands the Heralds water shed The youths crownd cups of sacred wine to all distributed But hauing sacrific'd and drunke to euerie mans content With many notes by Nestor giuen the Legats forwards went With courtship in fit gestures vsd he did prepare them well But most Vlysses for his grace did not so much excell Such â—…ites beseeme Ambassadors and Nestor vrged these That their most honours might reflect enrag'd Aeacides They went along the shore and praid the God that earth doth bind In brackish chaines they might not faile but bow his mightie mind The quarter of the Myrmidons they reacht and found him set Delighted with his solemne harpe which curiously was fret Achilles at his Haâ—…pe With workes conceited through the verge the bawdricke that embrac't His loftie necke was siluer twist this when his hand laid waste Actions citie he did chuse as his especiall prise Aâ—…illes loue of Musicke And louing sacred musicke well made it his exercise To it he sung the glorious deeds of great Heroes dead Himselfe sings the deeds of Heroes And his true mind that practise faild sweet contemplation fed With him alone and opposite all silent sat his friend Attentiue and beholding him who now his song did end Th' Ambassadors did forwards preasse renown'd Vlysses led And stood in view their sodaine sight his admiration bred Who with his harpe and all arose so did Menetius sonne When he beheld them their receipt Achilles thus begun Health to my Lords right welcome men assure your selues you be Achilles gentle receit of Vlysses Aâ—…ax c. Though some necessitie I know doth make you visite me Incenst with iust cause gainst the Greeks This said a seuerall seate With purple cushions he set forth and did their ease intreate And said Now friend our greatest bolle with wine vnmixt and neate Appose these Lords and of the depth let euerie man make proofe These are my best-esteemed friends and vnderneath my roofe Patroclus did his deare friends will and he that did desire Principes ipsâ—… 〈◊〉 munera obeunt vt alibi To cheare the Lords come faint from fight set on a blasing fire A great brasse pot and into it a chine of muâ—…ton put And fat Goates flesh Automedon held while he peeces cut To rost and boile right cunningly then of a well fed swine A huge fat shoulder he cuts out and spits it wondrous fine His good friend made a goodly fire of which the force once past He laid the spit low neare the coales to make it browne at last Then sprinkled it with sacred salt and tooke it from the rackes This rosted and on dresser set his friend Patroclus takes Bread in faire baskets which set on Achilles brought the meate And to diuinest Ithacus tooke his opposed seate Vpon the bench then did he will his friend to sacrifice Sacrifice before meate Who cast sweet incense in the fire to all the Deities Thus fell they to their readie food hunger and thirst allaid Aiax to Phenix made a signe as if too long they staid Before they told their Legacie Vlysses saw him winke And filling the great boule with wine did to Achilles drinke Health to Achilles but our plights stand not in need of meate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who late supt at Atrides tent though for thy loue we eate Of many things whereof a part would make a compleat feast Nor can we ioy in these kind rites that haue our hearts opprest O Prince with feare of vtter spoile t is made a question now If we can saue our fleet or not vnlesse thy selfe endow Thy powers with wonted fortitude now Troy and her consorts Bold of thy want haue pitcht their tents close to our fleet and forts And made a firmament of fires and now no more they say Will they be prison'd in their wals but force their violent way Euen to our ships and Ioâ—…e himselfe hath with his lightnings showd Their bold aduâ—…ntures happie signes and Hector growes so prowd Of his huge strength borne out by Ioue that fearfully he raues Presuming neither men nor Gods can interrupt his braues Wilde rage inuades him and he prayes that soone the sacred morne Would light his furie boasting then our streamers shall be torne And all our nauall ornaments fall by his conquering stroke Our ships shall burne and we our selues lie stifl'd in the smoke And I am seriously affraid heauen will performe his threats And that t is fatall to vs all farre from our natiue seates To perish in victorious Troy but rise though it be late Dâ—…liuer the afflicted Greeks from Troyes tumultuous hate It will hereafter be thy griefe when no strength can suffise To remedie th'effected threats of our calamities Consider these affaires in time while thou maist vse thy powre And haue the grace to turne from Greece fates vnrecouered houre O friend thou knowest thy royall Sire forewarnd what should be done
More then thy selfe their horses yet superior are to thine For their parts thine want speed to make discharge of a designe To please an Artist But go on shew but thy art and hart At all points and set them against their horses heart and art Good Iudges will not see thee lose A Carpenters desert Stands more in cunning then in powre A Pylote doth auert His vessell from the rocke and wracke tost with the churlish winds By skill not strength so sorts it here One chariotere that finds Want of anothers powre in horse must in his owne skill set An ouerplus of that to that and so the proofe will get Skill that still rests within a man more grace then powre without He that in horse and chariots trusts is often hurl'd about This way and that vnhandsomely all heauen wide of his end He better skild that rules worse horse will all obseruance bend Right on the scope still of a Race beare neare know euer when to reine When giue reine as his foe before well noted in his veine Of manage and his steeds estate presents occasion I le giue thee instance now as plaine as if thou saw'st it done Here stands a drie stub of some tree a cubite from the ground Suppose the stub of Oake or Larch for either are so sound That neither rots with wet two stones white marke you white for view A Cōment might well be bestowed vpon this speech of Nestor Parted on either side the stub and these lay where they drew The way into a streight the Race betwixt both lying cleare Imagine them some monument of one long since tomb'd there Or that they had bene lists of race for men of former yeares As now the lists Achilles sets may serue for charioteres Many yeares hence When neare to these the race growes then as right Driue on them as thy eye can iudge then lay thy bridles weight Most of thy left side thy right horse then ◅witching all thy throte Spent in encouragments giue him and all the reine let flote About his shoulders thy neare horse will yet be he that gaue Thy skill the prise and him reine ◅o his head may touch the Naue Of thy left wheele but then take care thou runst not on the stone With wracke of horse and chariot which so thou bear'st vpon Shipwracke within the hauen auoide by all meanes that will breed Others delight and thee a shame Be wise then and take heed My lou'd sonne get but to be first at turning in the course He liues not that can cote thee then not if he backt the horse The gods bred and Adrastus ow'd Diuine Arions speed Could not outpace thee or the horse Laomedon did breed Whose race is famous and fed here Thus sat Nele◅es When all that could be said was said And then Meriones Nestors aged loue of speech was here briefly noted Set fiftly forth his faire-man'd horse All leapt to chariot And euery man then for the start cast in his proper lot Achilles drew Antilochus the lot set foremost foorth Eumelus next Atrides third Meriones the fourth The fifth and last was Diomed farre first in excellence All stood in order and the lists Achilles fixt farre thence In plaine field and a seate ordain'd fast by In which he set Renowmed Phoenix that in grace of Peleus was so great Phoenix chiefe iudge of the best deseruers in the race To see the race and giue a truth of all their passages All start together scourg'd and cried and gaue their businesse Study and order Through the field they held a winged pace Beneath the bosome of their steeds a dust so dim'd the race It stood aboue their heads in clowds or like to stormes amaz'd Manes flew like ensignes with the wind the chariots sometime graz'd And sometimes iumpt vp to the aire yet still sat fast the men Their spirits euen panting in their breasts with feruour to obtaine But when they turn'd to fleet againe then all mens skils were tride Then stretcht the pasternes of their steeds Eumelus horse in pride Still bore their Soueraigne After them came Diomeds coursers close Still apt to leape their chariot and ready to repose Vpon the shoulders of their king their heads His backe euen burn'd With fire that from their nostrils flew And then their Lord had turn'd The race for him or giuen it doubt if Phoebus had not smit The scourge out of his hands and teares of helplesse wrath with it From forth his eyes to see his horse for want of scourge made slow And th 'others by Apollos helpe with much more swiftnesse go Apollos spite Pallas discern'd and flew to Tydeus sonne His scourge reacht and his horse made fresh Then tooke her angry runne At king Eumelus brake his geres his mares on both sides flew His draught tree fell to earth and him the tost vp chariot threw Downe to the earth his elbowes torne his forehead all his face Strooke at the center his speech lost And then the turned race Fell to Tydides before all his conquering horse he draue And first he glitter'd in the race diuine Athenia gaue Strength to his horse and fame to him Next him draue Spartas king Antilochus his fathers horse then vrg'd with all his sting Of scourge and voice Runne low said he stretch out your lims and flie Antilochus to his steeds With Diomeds horse I bid not striue nor with himselfe striue I. Athenia wings his horse and him renowmes Atrides steeds Are they ye must not faile but reach and soone lest soone succeeds The blot of all your fames to yeeld in swiftnesse to a mare To femall Aethe What 's the cause ye best that euer were That thus ye faile vs Be assur'd that Nestors loue ye lose For euer if ye faile his sonne through both your both sides goes His hote steele if ye suffer me to bring the last prise home Haste ouertake them instantly we needs must ouercome This harsh way next vs this my mind will take this I despise For perill this I le creepe through hard the way to honor lies And that take I and that shall yeeld His horse by all this knew He was not pleasde and fear'd his voice and for a while they flew But straite more cleare appear'd the streight Antilochus foresaw It was a gaspe the earth gaue forc't by humours cold and raw Pour'd out of Winters watrie breast met there and cleauing deepe All that neare passage to the lists This Nestors sonne would keepe And left the rode way being about Atrides fear'd and cride Menelaus in feare to follow Antilochus who ye may see playd vpon ◅im Antilochus thy course is mad containe thy horse we ride A way most dangerous turne head betime take larger field We shall be splitted Nestors sonne with much more scourge impeld His horse for this as if not heard and got as farre before As any youth can cast a quoyte Atrides would no more He backe
aâ—…d boâ—… to Ilion In one ship saild Besides by birth I breathe a Myrmidon Polystor cald the rich my sire declin'd with age like you Sixe sonnes he hath and me a seuenth and all those sixe liue now In Phthia since all casting lots my chance did onely fall To follow hither Now for walke I left my Generall To morrow all the Sunne-burn'd Greeks will circle Troy with armes The Princes rage to be withheld so idlely your alarmes Not giuen halfe hote enough they thinke and can containe no more He answerd If you serue the Prince let me be bold t'implore This grace of thee and tell me true lies Hector here at fleet Or haue the dogs his flesh He said Nor dogs nor fowle haue yet Toucht at his person still he lies at fleet and in the tent Merâ—…rie to Priam. Of our great Captaine who indeed is much too negligent Of his fit vsage but though now twelue dayes haue spent their heate On his cold body neither wormes with any taint haue eate Nor putrifaction perisht it yet euer when the Morne Lifts her diuine light from the sea vnmercifully borne About Patroclus sepulcher it beares his friends disdaine Bound to his chariot but no Fits of further outrage raigne In his distemper you would muse to see how deepe a dew Euen steepes the body all the blood washt off no slenderst shew Of gore or quitture but his wounds all closde though many were Opened about him Such a loue the blest immortals beare Euen dead to thy deare sonne because his life shew'd loue to them He ioyfull answerd O my sonne it is a grace supreme Priam to â—…curie In any man to serue the gods And I must needs say this For no cause hauing season fit my Hectors hands would misse Aduancement to the gods with gifts and therefore do not they Misse his remembrance after death Now let an old man pray Thy graces to receiue this cup and keepe it for my loue Not leaue me till the gods and thee haue made my prayres approue Achilles pitie by thy guide brought to his Princely tent Hermes replidâ—… You tempt me now old king to a consent Farre from me though youth aptly erres I secretly receiue Hermes againe to Prâ—…am Gifts that I cannot brodely vouch take graces that will giue My Lord dishonour or what he knowes not or will esteeme Perhaps vnfit such briberies perhaps at first may seeme Sweet and secure but futurely they still proue sowre and breed Both feare and danger I could wish thy graue affaires did need My guide to Argos either shipt or lackying by thy side And would be studious in thy guard so nothing could be tride But care in me to keepe thee safe for that I could excuse And vouch to all men These words past he put the deeds in vse For which Ioue sent him vp he leapt to Priams chariot Tooke scourge and reines and blew in strength to his free steeds and got The nauall towres and deepe dike strait The guards were all at meat Those he enslumberd op't the ports and in he safely let Old Priam with his wealthy prise Forthwith they reacht the Tent Of great Achilles Large and high and in his most ascent A shaggie roofe of seedy reeds mowne fâ—…om the meades a hall Of state they made their king in it and strengthned it withall Thicke with firre rafters whose approch was let in by a dore That had but one barre but so bigge that three men euermore Raisd it to shut three fresh take downe which yet Aeacides Would shut and ope himselfe And this with farre more ease Hermes set ope entring the king then leapt from horse and said Now know old king that Mercurie a god hath giuen this aid To thy endeuour sent by Ioue and now away must I For men would enuy thy estate to see a Deitie Affect a man thus enter thou embrace Achilles knee And by his sire sonne mother pray his ruth and grace to thee This said he high Olympus reacht the king then left his coach 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To graue Idaeus and went on made his resolu'd approach And enterd in a goodly roome where with his Princes sate Ioue-lou'd Achilles at their feast two onely kept the state Of his attendance Alcymus and Lord Automedon At Priams entrie a great time Achilles gaz'd vpon His wonderd at approch nor eate the rest did nothing see While close he came vp with his hands fast holding the bent knee Of Hectors conqueror and kist that large man-slaughtring hand That much blood from his sonnes had drawne And as in some strange land And great mans house a man is driuen with that abhorâ—…'d dismay Simile That followes wilfull bloodshed still his fortune being to slay One whose blood cries alowde for his to pleade protection In such a miserable plight as frights the lookers on In such a stupefied estate Achilles sate to see So vnexpected so in night and so incrediblie Old Priams entrie all his friends one on another star'd To see his strange lookes seeing no cause Thus Priam then prepar'd Priam to Achillâ—… His sonnes redemption See in me O godlike Thetis sonne Thy aged father and perhaps euen now being outrunne With some of my woes neighbour foes thou absent taking time To do him mischiefe no meane left to terrifie the crime Of his oppression yet he heares thy graces still suruiue And ioyes to heare it hoping still to see thee safe arriue From ruin'd Troy but I curst man of all my race shall liue To see none liuing Fiftie sonnes the Deities did giue My hopes to liue in all aliue when neare our trembling shore The Greeke ships harbor'd and one wombe nineteene of those sons bore Now Mars a number of their knees hath strengthlesse left and he That was of all my onely ioy and Troyes sole guard by thee Late fighting for his countrey slaine whose tenderd person now I come to ransome Infinite is that I offer you My selfe conferring it exposde alone to all your oddes Onely imploring right of armes Achilles feare the gods Pitie an old man like thy â—…ire different in onely this That I am wretcheder and beare that weight of miseries That neuer man did my curst lips enforc't to kisse that hand That slue my children This mou'd teares his fathers name did stand Mention'd by Priam in much helpe to his compasfion And mou'd Aeacides so much he could not looke vpon The weeping father With his hand he gently put away His graue face calme remission now did mutually display Her powre in eithers heauinesse old Priam to record His sonnes death and his deaths man see his teares and bosome pour'd Before Achilles At his feete he laid his reuerend head Achilles thoughts now with his sire now with his friend were fed Betwixt both Sorrow fild the the tent But now Aeacides Satiate at all parts with the ruth of their calamities Achilles remorse of Priaâ—… Start vp and vp he raisd
I had bene brought To ruine for what breeds that wish which is the mischiefe wrought By my accesse yet neuer found one harsh taunt one words ill From thy sweet cariage Twenty yeares do now their circles â—…ill Since my arriuall all which time thou didst not onely beare Thy selfe without checke But all else that my Lords brothers were Their sisters Lords sisters themselues the Queen my mother in law The king being neuer but most milde when thy mans spirits saw Sowre and reprochfull it would still reproue their bitternesse With sweet words And thy gentle soule And therefore thy deceasse I truly mourne for and my selfe curse as the wretched cause All brode Troy yeelding me not one that any humane lawes Of pitie or forgiuenesse mou'd t' entreate me humanely But onely thee all else abhorr'd me for my destinie These words made euen the coÌ„mons mourn to whom the king said Friends Priam to the Troians Now fetch wood for our funerall fire nor feare the foe intends Ambush or any violence Achilles gaue his word At my dismission that twelue dayes he would keepe sheath'd his sword And all mens else Thus oxen mules in chariots straite they put Went forth and an vnmeasur'd pile of Syluane matter cut Nine daies emploide in cariage but when the tenth morne shinde On wretched mortals then they brought the-fit-to-be-diuin'd Forth to be burn'd Troy swum in teares Vpon the piles most height They laid the person and gaue fire all day it burn'd all night But when th' eleuenth morne let on earth her rosie fingers shine The people flockt about the pile and first with blackish wine Quencht all the flames His brothers then and friends the snowy bones Gatherd into an vrne of gold still powring on their mones Then wrapt they in soft purple veiles the rich vrne digg'd a pit Grau'd it ramb'd vp the graue with stones and quickly built to it A sepulcher But while that worke and all the funerall rites Were in performance guards were held at all parts dayes and nights For feare of false surprise before they had imposde the crowne To these solemnities The tombe aduanc't once all the towne In Ioue-nurst Priams Court partooke a passing sumptuous feast And so horse-taming Hectors rites gaue vp his soule to Rest. Thus farre the Ilian Ruines I haue laid Open to English eyes In which repaid With thine owne value go vnualu'd Booke Liue and be lou'd If any enuious looke Hurt thy cleare fame learne that no state more hie Attends on vertue then pin'd Enuies eye Would thou wert worth it that the best doth wound Which this Age feedes and which the last shall bound THus with labour enough though with more comfort in the merits of my diuine Author I haue brought my translation of his Iliads to an end If either therein or in the harsh vtterance or matter of my Comment before I haue for haste scatterd with my burthen lesse then fifteene weekes being the whole time that the last twelue bookes translation stood me in I desire my present will and I doubt not hability if God giue life to reforme and perfect all heareafter may be ingenuouslly accepted for the absolute worke The rather considering the most learned with all their helpes and time haue bene so often and vnanswerably miserably taken halting In the meane time that most assistfull and vnspeakeable spirit by whose thrice sacred conduct and inspiration I haue finished this labour diffuse the fruitfull horne of his blessings through these goodnesse-thirsting watchings without which vtterly dry and bloodlesse is whatsoeuer Mortality soweth But where our most diligent Spondanus ends his worke with a prayer to be taken out of these Maeanders and Euripian riuers as he termes them of Ethnicke and prophane writers being quite contrarie to himselfe at the beginning I thrice humbly beseech the most deare and diuine mercie euer most incomparably preferring the great light of his truth in his direct and infallible Scriptures I may euer be enabled by resting wondring in his right comfortable shadowes in these to magnifie the clearenesse of his almighty apparance in the other And with this salutation of Poeâ—…ie giuen by our Spondanus in his Preface to these Iliads All haile Saint-sacred Poesie that vnder so much gall of fictioâ—… such abundance of honey doctrine hast hidden not reuealing them to the vnworthy worldly wouldst thou but so much make me that amongst thy Nâ—…uices I might be numbred no time should euer come neare my life that could make me forsake thee I will conclude with this my daily and nightly prayer learn'd of the most learned Symplicius Supplico tibi Domine Pater Dux rationis nostrae vt nostrae nobilitatis recordemur qua tu nos ornasti vt tu nobis praestò sis vt ijs qui per sese mouentur vt à corporis contagio brutorumque affectuum repurgemur eosque superemus regamus sicut decet pro instrumentis ijs vtamur Deinde vt nobis adiumento sis ad accuratam rationis nostrae correctionem coniunctionem cum ijs quae verè sunt per lucem veritatis Et tertium Saluatori supplex oro vt ab oculis animorum nostrorum caliginem prorsus abstergas vt quod apud Homerum est Norimus bene qui Deus aut mortalis habendus Amen FINIS TO THE RIGHT GRACIOVS and worthy the Duke of LENNOX AMongst th'Heroes of the VVorlds prime years Stand here great Duke see theÌ„ shine about you Informe your princely minde and spirit by theirs And then like them liue euer looke without you For subiects fit to vse your place and grace VVhich throw about you as the Sunne his Raies In quickning with their power the dying Race Offriendlesse Vertue since they thus can raise Their honor'd Raisers to Eternitie None euer liu'd by Selfe-loue Others good Is th' obiect of our owne They liuing die That burie in them selues their fortunes brood To this soule then your gracious count'nance giue That gaue to such as you such meanes to liue TO THE MOST GRAVE AND honored Temperer of Law and Equitie the Lord CHANCELOR c. THat Poesie is not so remou'd a thing From graue administry of publike weales As these times take it heare this Poet sing Most iudging Lord and see how he reueales The mysteries of Rule and rules to guide The life of Man through all his choicest waies Nor be your timely paines the lesse applyed For Poesies idle name because her Raies Haue shin'd through greatest Counsellors and Kings Heare Royall Hermes sing th' Egyptian Lawes How Solon Draco Zoroastes sings Their Lawes in verse and let their iust applause By all the world giuen yours by vs allow That since you grace all vertue honour you TO THE MOST WORTHIE Earle Lord Treasurer and Treasure of our Countrey the Earle of SALISBVRY c. VOuchsafe great Treasurer to turne your eye And see the opening of a Grecian Mine VVhich VVisedome long since made her Treasury And now her
title doth to you resigne VVherein as th' Ocean walks not with such waues The Round of this Realme as your VVisedomes seas Nor with his great eye sees his Marble saues Our State like your Vlyssian policies So none like HOMER hath the VVorld enspher'd Earth Seas heauen fixt in his verse and mouing VVhom all times wisest Men haue held vnper'de And therefore would conclude with your approuing Then grace his spirit that all wise men hath grac't And made things euer flitting euer last An Anagram Robert Cecyl Earle of Salisburye Curbfoes thy care is all our erly Be. TO THE MOST HONOR'DRE storer of ancient Nobilitie both in blood and vertue the Earle of SVFFOLKE c. IOine Noblest Earle in giuing worthy grace To this great gracer of Nobilitie See here what sort of men your honor'd place Doth properly command if Poesie Profest by them were worthily exprest The grauest wisest greatest need not then Account that part of your command the least Nor them such idle needlesse worthlesse Men. VVho can be worthier Men in publique weales Then those at all parts that prescrib'd the best That stird vp noblest vertues holiest zeales And euermore haue liu'd as they profest A world of worthiest Men see one create Great Earle whom no man since could imitate TO THE MOST NOBLE AND learned Earle the Earle of NORTHAMTON c. TO you most learned Earle whose learning can Reiect vnlearned Custome and Embrace The reall vertues of a worthie Man I prostrate this great Worthie for your grace And pray that Poesies well-deseru'd ill Name Being such as many moderne Poets make her May nought eclipse her cleare essentiall flame But as she shines here so refuse or take her Nor do I hope but euen your high affaires May suffer intermixture with her view VVhere Wisedome fits her for the highest chaires And mindes growne old with cares of State renew You then great Earle that in his owne tongue know This king of Poets see his English show TO THE MOST NOBLE MY singular good Lord the Earle of Arundell STand by your noblest stocke and euer grow In loue and grace of vertue most admir'd And we will pay the sacrifice we owe Of prayre and honour with all good desir'd To your diuine soule that shall euer liue In height of all blisse prepar'd here beneath In that ingenuous and free grace you giue To knowledge onely Bulwarke against Death VVhose rare sustainers here her powres sustaine Hereafter Such reciprocall effects Meete in her vertues VVhere the loue doth raigne The Act of knowledge crownes our intellects VVhere th' Act nor Loue is there like beasts men die Not Life but Time is their Eternitie TO THE LEARNED AND most noble Patrone of learning the Earle of PEMBROOKE c. ABoue all others may your Honor shine As past all others your ingenuous beames Exhale into your grace the forme diuine Of godlike Learning whose exiled streames Runne to your succour charg'd with all the wracke Of sacred Vertue Now the barbarous witch Foule Ignorance sits charming of them backe To their first Fountaine in the great and rich Though our great Soueraigne counter-checke her charmes VVho in all learning reignes so past example Yet with her Turkish Policie puts on armes To raze all knowledge in mans Christian Temple You following yet our king your guard redouble Pure are those streames that these times cannot trouble TO THE RIGHT GRACIOVS Illustrator of vertue and worthy of the fauour Royall the Earle of MONTGOMRIE THere runs a blood faire Earle through your cleare vains That well entitles you to all things Noble VVhich still the liuing Sydnian soule maintaines And your Names ancient Noblesse doth redouble For which I needs must tender to your Graces This noblest worke of Man as made your Right And though Ignoblesse all such workes defaces As tend to Learning and the soules delight Yet since the sacred Penne doth testifie That Wisedome which is Learnings naturall birth Is the cleare Mirror of Gods Maiestie And Image of his goodnesse here in earth If you the Daughter wish respect the Mother One cannot be obtain'd without the other TO THE MOST LEARNED and Noble Concluder of the Warres Arte and the Muses the Lord LISLE c. NOr let my paines herein long honor'd Lord Faile of your ancient Nobly-good respects Though obscure Fortune neuer would afford My seruice show till these thus late effects And though my poore deserts weigh'd neuer more Then might keepe downe their worthlesse memorie From your high thoughts enricht with better store Yet yours in me are fixt eternally VVhich all my fit occasions well shall proue Meane space with your most Noble Nephewes daine To shew your free and honorable loue To this Greeke Poet in his English vaine You cannot more the point of death controule Then to stand close by such a liuing soule TO THE GREAT AND VER tuous the Countesse of MONTGOMRIE YOur Fame great Lady is so lowd resounded By your free Trumpet my right worthy frend That with it all my forces stand confounded Arm'd and disarm'd at once to one iust end To honor and describe the blest consent Twixt your high blood and soule in vertues rare Of which my friends praise is so eminent That I shall hardly like his Echo fare To render onely th' ends of his shrill Verse Besides my Bounds are short and I must meâ—…rely My will to honour your rare parts rehearse VVith more time singing your renowme more clearely Meane-time take Homer for my wants supply To whom adioyn'd your Name shall neuer die TO THE HAPPY STARRE DI scouered in our Sydneian Asterisme comfort of learning Sphere of all the vertues the Lady VVROTHE WHen all our other Starres set in their skies To Vertue and all honor of her kind That you rare Lady should so clearely rise Makes all the vertuous glorifie your mind And let true Reason and Religion trie If it be Fancie not iudiciall Right In you t' oppose the times Apostasie To take the soules part and her sauing Light VVhile others blinde and burie both in Sense VVhen t is the onely end for which all liue And could those soules in whom it dies dispense As much with their Religion they would giue That as small grace Then shun their course faire Starre And still keepe your way pure and circular TO THE RIGHT NOBLE PA tronesse and Grace of Uertue the Countesse of BEDFORD TO you faire Patronesse and Muse to Learning The Fount of learning and the Muses sends This Cordiall for your vertues and forewarning To leaue no good for th' ill the world commends Custome seduceth but the vulgar sort VVith whom when Noblesse mixeth she is vulgare The truly-Noble still repaire their Fort VVith gracing good excitements and gifts rare In which the narrow path to Happinesse Is onely beaten Vulgar pleasure sets Nets for her selfe in swinge of her excesse And beates her selfe there dead ere free she gets Since pleasure then with pleasure still doth waste Still please with vertue Madame That will last TO THE RIGHT VALOROVS and virtuous Lord the Earle of SOVTH-HAMTON c. IN Choice of all our Countries Noblest spirits Borne slauisher barbarisme to conuinâ—… I could not but in uoke your ho or'd Merits To follow the swift vertue of our Prince The cries of Vertue and her Fortresse Learning Brake earth and to Elysium did descend To call vp Homer who therein discerning That his excitements to their good had end As being a Grecian puts-on English armes And to the hardie Natures in these climes Stikes-vp his high and spiritfull alarmes That they may cleare earth of those impious Crimes VVhose conquest though most faintly all apply You know learn'd Earle all liue for and should die TO MY EXCEEDING GOOD Lord the Earle of SVSSEX with duty alwaies remembred to his honor'd Countesse YOu that haue made in our great Princes Name At his high birth his holy Christian vowes May witnesse now to his eternall Fame How he performes them thus far stil growes Aboue his birth in vertue past his yeares In strength of Bountie and great Fortitude Amongst this traine then of our choicest Peeres That follow him in chace of vices rude Summon'd by his great Herald Homers voice March you and euer let your Familie In your vowes made for such a Prince reioyce Your seruice to his State shall neuer die And for my true obseruance let this show No meanes escapes when I may honour you TO THE RIGHT NOBLE AND Heroicall my singular good Lord the Lord of VVALDEN c. NOr let the vulgar sway Opinion beares Rare Lord that Poesies fauor shewes men vaine Ranke you amongst her sterne disfauourers She all things worthy fauour doth maintaine Vertue in all things else at best she betters Honour she heightens and giues Life in Death She is the ornament and soule of letters The worlds deceipt before her vanisheth Simple she is as Doues like Serpents wise Sharpe graue and sacred nought but things diuine And things diuining fit her faculties Accepting her as she is genuine If she be vaine then all things else are vile If vertuous still be Patrone of her stile TO THE MOST TRVLY-NO ble and Uertue-gracing Knight Sir Thomas HOVVARD THe true and nothing-lesse-then sacred spirit That moues your feete so farre from the prophane In skorne of Pride and grace of humblest merit Shall fill your Names sphere neuer seeing it wane It is so rare in blood so high as yours To entertaine the humble skill of Truth And put a vertuous end to all your powres That th' honor Age askes we giue you in youth Your Youth hath wonne the maistrie of your Mind As Homer sings of his Antilochus The parallell of you in euery kind Valiant and milde and most ingenious Go on in Vertue after Death and grow And shine like Ledas twins my Lord and you Euer most humbly and faithfully deuoted to you and all the rare Patrons of diuine Homer Geo. Chapman