th' Achean forces O Goddess tell me now who was the best In Battle of the Leaders and whose Horses In swiftness and in force excell'd the rest Eumelus his two Horses did surpass Though they were females all the rest for speed Their colour age and stature equal was Sprung in Pieria from Apollo's Breed That terrour drew about as swift as wind 'Mongst Greeks the greater Ajax had no Peer For now Achilles had the War declin'd Whom none in Prowess equall'd or came near Nor other Horses could with his compare But at his Ships he discontented staid And full of spight which he t' Atrides bare Whilst on the Beach idle his Soldiers plaid At who can furthest throw a Dart or Stone The Horses loosly wandred here and there Amongst the people and had Riders none Or upon Lote and Cinqueâ—oil feeding were But the Achaeans to Scamander march'd Swiftly as when a fire runs ore a Plain Which Phoebus had with a long Summer parch'd And going made the ground to groan again As when Jove angry lasheth Arimy Which men say of Typhaeus is the bed The earth therewith is made to groan and sigh So groan'd the ground when they to Troy were led Then Jove unto the Trojans Iris sent Who old and young were then at Priams gate Assembled with the King in Parliament Over their heads stood Iris as they sate Her voice was like to that of Priams Son Polytes that was watching at the Tomb Of old Aesuites there to wait upon The coming of the Greeks to Ilium Old man said he you love to hear men preach As in a time of Peace But now 't is War The Greeks no more lye idle on the Beach But at your Gates and numberless they are As sands by the Sea-side or leaves in Spring And to the City now they bring the War Hector to you this counsel now I bring Within the City many people are To aid you come of divers Languages Let them that hither led them lead them here Arm and command them each one as he please When she had done dismist the people were Hector to open all the Gates commands And with great clamour Horse and Foot come out Before the City a high Pillar stands To which the field lyes open round about And Battiea called was by men Which 'mongst the Gods another name did bear Myrinna's Sepulcher And there agen The Trojans and their Succours muster'd were The Trojans were by Hector led The best In battle and in number most were these With Spear in hand and Brass on Back and Breast The Dardans were commanded by Aeneas Anchises Son but Venus was his Mother Amongst the Hills of Ida got he was And joint Commanders with him were two other Brave men Archilochus and Acamas And of Zeleia the Inhabitants Which of Mount Ida lyeth at the foot And on the River of Aesopus stands Under command of Pandarus were put Son of Lycaon and that well knew how To make an Arrow in the Air fly true Phoebus himself had given him a Bow And how to use the same none better knew Th' Adrasteians and the men of Apaesus Of Pityeia and Tereia Hill Were by Adrastus led and Amphius Two Sons of Merops that had mighty skill In Prophecy and both of them forbad Themselves to venture in the War at Troy But Fate a greater power with them had And made them go but brought them not away The People of Percosia and they That dwell upon the Banks of Practius Arisbe Sestus Abydus obey The orders of their Leader Asius The Son of Hyrtacus whose Chariot By Horses great and black as any coal And on it he to Ilium was brought And of Selleis race each one a foal Larissa was Pelasgique by descent Under Pylaeus and Hyppothous Two stout Pelasgique Leaders these were sent Who both the Grandsons were of Teutomus The Thracians on this side Hellespont Were led by Piros and by Achamas O' th' Cycons who do these oppose in front Troezenus Son Euphemus Leader was From Amydon that standeth on the side Of Axius the fairest Stream that flows The Poeons came Pyrechmus them did guide And arm'd they were with Arrows and with Bows The Enneti in Paphlagonia From whence proceedeth of wild Mules the race Parthenius Brook and the Town Coronia Cytorus Sesamus and the high place Of th' Erithins and of Aegyalus The charge was given to Pylomenus And of the Halizons t' Epistrophus But not alone joyn'd with him was Dius Of Alybe where is a Silver Mine The Leaders of the Mysians were Chromis And Enomus Both of them could divine By flight of Birds though they foresaw not this That in Scamander Stream they both should dye Slain by Achilles who there massacred Many a Trojan many a good Ally Which to the Sea the River carried The Phrygians from Ascania far off Were led by Phorcys and Ascanius And Battle lov'd But the Commanders of The Maeones Mesthles and Antiphus The two Sons were of old Pylomenes Both of them born upon Gygaea Lake At th' foot of Tmolus dwell the Maeones Amphimachus and Nastes charge did take Of those of Caria people of rude tongue And of Miletus and the Hill Phtheiron And of the Towns that seated are among The windings of Maeander and upon Mount Mycale And Nastes carry'd Gold Unto the Battle like a Child or Sot Wherewith his Life he did not buy but sold. For slain he was his Gold Achilles got And left him lying at the River dead The Succours by the Lycians sent to Troy By Glaucus were and King Sarpedon led Far off they dwelt and a long march had they ILIAD LIB III. WHen both the Armies were prepar'd for fight The Trojans marched on with noise and cry As in the air of cackling fowl a flight Or like the Cranes when from the North they fly The Army of Pygmaean men to charge And shun the Winter with a mighty cry Fly through the Air over the Ocean large So swiftly march'd the Greeks but silently Resolved one another to assist And such a dust between both Hoasts did rise As when upon the Mountains lies a Mist Which to a stones cast limiteth the eyes Which good for Thieves is but for Shepherds not So great a dust the middle space possest When they were near to one another got Came Alexander forth before the rest A Leopards skin he wore upon his Shoulders Two Spears in hand his Sword girt at his side Bow at his back and brave to the beholders And any of th' Achean hoast defi'd And glad was Menelaus to see this As when a Lion finds a lusty prey A wild Goat or a Stag well pleased is And hungry seizes him without delay Although by Hunters and by Hounds pursu'd So glad was Menelaus him to see And soon as he his person had well view'd Arm'd from his Charret to the ground leapt he Assured as he thought revenge to take But soon as Alexander once saw that He fled into the throng as from a
night But if Achilles hither now should come We must not only here fight for our lives So proud he is he 'll go to Ilium And for the City fight and for our Wives Let 's to the City go 'T is as I say And nothing keeps him from us but the night And if he here shall find us when 't is day Some of us will acknowledge I say right And many flying wish when 't is too late They were within the Walls of Ilium Whom Dogs and Kites shall eat without the Gate But to my ears may never such news come But if you will be ruled all by me Into the Market-place of Troy by night We 'll bring our strength and soon as we can see Stand arm'd upon the Tow'rs prepar'd to fight Then let him from the Ships come fight at Troy And drive about the Walls and do his worst And having tir'd his Horses go away Take it he shall not Dogs shall eat him first Then Hector frowning on him thus replies Again said he I from you must dissent Since you to shut our selves in Troy advise We have already there too long been pent Troy once was counted rich in Brass and Gold But since Jove angry was all that is gone In Phrygia and in Maeonia sold And little left in Ilium to be won But since the Greeks are beaten and dismayd By th' hand of Jove your fear is out of season Nor will you by the Trojans be obey'd Nor shall you though the Trojans thought it reason And therefore take my counsel which is this Go now and ev'ry man his Supper take In Rank and File there where he placed is And set good Guards and keep your selves awake If any Trojan for his Goods lament He may the same upon the Town bestow In service of the Publick to be spent Rather than be possessed by the Foe And armed in the morn go to the Fleet And sharply charge the Greeks by break of day And if indeed Achilles there we meet He were not best oppose us in our way For from him I will neither fly nor shrink But either honour from him bear away Or he from me Mars common is I think To them that fight and slain are they that slay This said the Trojans heard with great applause Fools as they were Pallas had made them mad But none of them commend Polydamas That given them much better counsel had The Trojans presently to Supper went The Greeks all night about Patroclus stand And there began Achilles to lament And on Patroclus breast he laid his hand As when a Lion coming to his Den Misses the tender Whelps he left behind He roars and furiously goes out agen And through the Vallies hunts the Thief to find Such fierce thoughts on Achilles heart then lay And sighing to the Myrmidons he spake Oh what did I to old Menoetius say How vain a promise did I to him make I said when we had sackt the Town of Troy That I to Opus would bring back his Son Enriched with his portion of the Prey But all we hope from Jove is seldom done For both of us have the same Destiny With our hearts bloud to dye the Trojan Plain And as he lieth now so shall I lie And never to my Parents come again But since Patroclus you the first are dead Your Funeral I will not celebrate Till I have brought you Hector's Arms and Head Whose bloudy hand deliver'd your sad fate And have twelve of the Noble youths of Troy Beheaded in revenge Till then stay here Where Trojan Captive women night and day Bewailing you shall stand about the Biere This said he order gave for water hot To clense Patroclus body from the gore Into a Caldron said he water put And make a Fire and set the Caldron ore Into a Caldron water then they put And made a Fire and set the Caldron ore The Flame about it goes The water 's hot Then washed from the body was the gore And then again they laid him on the Bed From head to foot in Linnen they him fold And on him laid a fair white Coverled His wounds first fill'd with Unguent nine year old About the body of Patroclus staid Achilles and the Myrmidons all night Lamenting him Then Jove to Juno said You have Achilles brought again to fight Against the Trojans on the Argives side Are they your Children that you love them so And Juno then to Jupiter repli'd Harsh Cronides what words do you let go Since mortal men that know much less than we May to a Friend do good and hate a Fo Why may not I that boast my self to be The Wife and Sister of great Jove do so And make my Foes the Trojans feel my hate Whilst Jove and Juno were discoursing thus The Goddess Thetis come was to the Gate Of Vulcan's undecaying famous House Of shining Brass with brighter Stars thick set That 'mongst the Houses of the Heaven shone But he was at his Work-house in a sweat And at his Bellows swaying up and down For Tripods twenty he had laboured With golden Wheels to go and come agen At his command but had not finished The Ears and Chains which he was making then And whilst this bus'ness Vulcan was about Thetis was come and at the Gate did stand And Charis Vulcan's Wife then going out Saw her and straightway took her by the hand Thetis said she 't is strange to see you here Much honour'd and a welcom Guest you are Come in and pleased be t' accept our Chear Then led her in and brought her to a Chair A dainty Chair with Foot-stool joyn'd thereto And then unto her Husband's Shop she hi'd For Thetis said she you have work to do And Vulcan glad to Charis thus repli'd Is Thetis here that sav'd me from mishap When for my lameness thrown down from the Sky Thetis was pleas'd to catch me in her lap When else I had been in great misery I wrought for her and for Eurynome Nine year and made them many pretty things Within a Rock encompass'd by the Sea As Buckles Clasps fine Boxes Beads and Rings Which neither Mortal nor Immortal knew But only Thetis and Eurynome And now to Thetis I must pay what 's due The Ransom of my life for saving me Go you and entertain her well while I My Tools take up and Bellows set away This said the Bellows he took and set by But in a Chest his working Tools did lay Then with a Sponge he wip'd his hands and face His brawny neck and hairy breast and on He puts his Coat and with his staff apace Though haulting goes and waited was upon By Maids of Massie Gold endu'd with Wit And Speech Strength and learn'd in Heav'nly Art And went to Thetis and did by her sit And joyful at her presence was his heart And laid his hand on hers and to her said Thetis so welcome to me there is none Tell me wherein you think I can you aid And if it
kept in vain For on the tenth the Court-wall I leapt ore And undiscerned to King Peleus fled Who us'd me as a Father would his Son His only Son far off begot and bred Enrich'd and gave me the Dominion Of the Dolopians who are a part Of Peleus Realm Now no man like you is Divine Achilles whom I love at th' heart And joy that I have brought you up to this Though painful to me were your Infancie Who not at Feast nor in the House would eat If first I did not set you on my Knee And into little pieces cut your meat And often on my Breast you puk't your Wine But since I knew my Line with me would end To take you for my Heir was my design Who in my feeble age might me defend Master your heart Achilles For you know The Gods though stronger and more fear'd than you With Incense and with Pray'rs are made to bow Although from men they not receive their due For Prayers of high Jove the Daughters are Though lame their feet and squinting be their eyes And follow wrath though she runs faster far And to the hurt it does give remedies And cure all those that show them due respect But when an angry man they cannot move That reconcilement alwaies will reject They call for Judgment from theâ—r Father Jove Therefore Achilles give respect unto These Goddesses the Daughters of high Jove As other mighty men and Princes do Had not Atrides to redeem your love Offer'd you Presents great and promis'd more I never had advis'd you to agree To save their Ships from burning on the Shore Till that were done you could not blamed be But since he does so amply make amends And chosen has good men to intercede Who are of all the Greeks your greatest friends Refuse them not the grace for which they plead Such was the Heroes custom heretofore When one had done another injury The damage they had done first to restore And then with Gifts and Pray'rs buy Amity But I will tell you how it came to pass At Calydon long since not yesterday War 'twixt the Curets and th' Aetolians was These to defend the other to destroy For Oeneus having got his Harvest in To all the Gods made a great Sacrifice Only Diana had no part therein Forgot she was he did not her despise But she in anger sent a great wild Bore That wasted and made havock of his field And up by th'roots his goodly Fruit-trees tore This Bore Meleager Son of Oâ—neus kâ—ll'd Assisted by the Youth of many a State That to the Chase with Men and Hounds came in Between them then Diana rais'd debate About who was to have the Head and Skin While Meleager with them went to War The Curets never durst approach the Wall Although they were the greater number far But when with Choler swelled was his Gall Which often happens to a man though wise He kept his Chamber and abstain'd from fight Offended with his Mothers injuries And of all company eschew'd the sight But Cleopatra Conâ—ort of his Bed Child of Marpissa who by stealth was Bride Of Idas who at that time carried For Strength the reputation far and wide This Idas Child was Meleager's wife But Idas rashly for his dear wife's sake Against Apollo did engage his life And him at Bow and Arrows undertake But Cleopatra then surnamed was Halcyone that was not so before Her Father with Apollo sought because She did her Mother's death so much deplore With her now grieving Meleager lay And angry at the Curses of his Mother Who to the Gods continually did pray Against his life for killing of her Brother And from her eyes the tears ran down her Breast And often with her hand the ground she smote Making to Pluto and his Queen request To kill her Son which they rejected not Mean while the uproar heard was at the Gates And thumping of the Towr's of Calydon To Meleagâ—r then came Priests and States Intreating him his Armour to put on And save the Town and offer'd for his pain As much good Land to take it where he would One half for Wine the other half for grain As fifty able Oxen labour could Then came his Father ratling at his door His Brothers and his angry Mother too But he persisted in his will the more His dearest friends could with him nothing do But when the cry and danger now was nigher And on the Tow'rs the Curets mounted were And ready now to set the Town on fire Then Cleopatra to her Husband dear Shew'd th' Image of a Town won by the Foe How butcher'd are the men the houses burned Their Wives and Children drag'd away and so Her Husband's heart again to pity turned Then went he and repell'd the Enemies Though what they promis'd him they never gave But that 's not it to which I you advise But first the ships and then the Greeks to save But not without these gifts to go to War For more unto your honour it will be To give them aid when satisfi'd you are By Agamemnon for the injury Thus Phoenix said Achilles then repli'd Such honour I seek none Jove honours me Since by his will I at my ships abide And will do till I dead or strengthless be No more molest me for Atrides sake But stay with me and equal to me reign And such as are my friends for your friends take And do not loose my friendship his to gain Stay then this night and take your lodging here My answer t' Agamemnon these will carry Assoon as morning shall again appear We 'll talk of whether we shall go or tarry And as he spake those words he winkt upon Patroclus to give order for his bed That he himself prepare might to be gone Amongst them then great Ajax spake and said Ulysses come our labour here is lost Let 's carry back his answer such as ' tâ—s To Agamemnon and the Argive Hoast Who us expect since obstinate he is And can a thought so savage entertain Unkind and unregardful of his friends When others for a Son or Brother slain Can be contented to receive amends And let the man that slew him live in rest Assoon as they have paid for their misdeed But you Achilles harbour in your breast An everlasting anger without need And hurtful to your friends no less than Foes For 't is but for one maid he took away And for her now he seven on you bestows And much beside your anger to allay Regard your house We your domesticks are Nearer than any of the Greeks beside And in your honour more concern'd by far Thus Ajax said Achilles then repli'd O Ajax noble Son of Telamon I not deny but all you say is well But always when that man you mention My choler rising makes my heart to swell He made me has to th' Argives despicable As if I were a Fool or Inmate who Of honour in a Town is incapable And with the Publick nothing has to
now may boast as you think fit And in your own Ability take pride T' Apollo first my death I owe who threw My Armour from my body to the ground I could have slain else twenty such as you And from Euphorbus I receiv'd a wound To bring me down you were but one of three But hear me and remember what I say Hector you will not long live after me And only for Achilles hand you stay And at these words he was of life bereft His Soul unto th' Infernal Regions fled Lamenting so much Youth and Vigour left And Hector to him spake again though dead Patroclus why do you foretel my death Who knows but that Achilles may be slain By me first and before me lose his breath This said he pulled out the Spear again And presently pursu'd Automedon Who of Achilles was the Charretier But he away was carried and gone By Peleus Horses that Immortal were ILIAD LIB XVII ANd Menelaus understanding now That slain Patroclus lay upon the ground Careful as of her first Calf is a Cow To th'Body went and walkt about it round Couching his Spear and holding out his Shield Resolv'd to kill him whosoe'er he was That durst to stand against him in the Field Then to him said Euphorbus Menelaus Retire let me advise you from the dead For I am he that gave him the first wound That with his Arms I may be honoured Lest with my Spear I strike you to the ground And Menelaus to him thus repli'd O Jupiter in Lion never was Nor yet in Panther nor in Boar such pride Though other Beasts in strength they far surpass As in these Sons of Panthus Though they know When Hyperenor proudly me defi'd And spitefully did value me below All other Greeks that by my hand he di'd And sorry were his Parents and his Wife Now you succeed will to your Brother's fate Be gone then if you mean to save your life And quickly or you will be wise too late No Menelaus said Euphorbus then Since you have griev'd his Parents and his Wife 'T is best I think to comfort them agen By making you pay for it with your life For though intolerable be their grief Yet when they see your Armour and your head Brought to them home it will be some relief But this by sight must be determined This said he made a thrust at Menelaus Which he received on his trusty Shield It entered not resisted by the Brass Which bent the point and passage none did yield Then as he backward stept to get away He by Atrides on the Breast was hit The Spear prest with his hand not there did stay But to his Neck went up and pierced it And then the ground he with his Armour knocks And dyed was with blood his dainty hair Those fine with Gold and Silver twined Locks Like those that Cytherea's Graces wear As when one planted hath an Olive sprig In open place and where are many Springs And stir'd by gentle winds it is grown big Then comes a storm and to the ground it flings So by Atrides fell Euphorbus now As when a Lion cometh from the Wood Into the Herd and seizeth on a Cow First breaks his Neck then seeds he on his blood And Bowels Dogs and Herds men looking on And hueing him that dare not to go near So then upon Atrides ventur'd none So much the Trojans stricken were with fear And now into the hands of Menelaus Patroclus Armour came and born away Had been but that by Phoebus crost he was That was a friend to Hector and to Troy And in the shape of Mentes gone was then Whom now the Cicon Regiments obey'd To call back Hector to the Field agen And overtaking him thus to him said Hector you here Automedon pursue To take Achilles Horses all in vain Which never will be won or rul'd by you And suffer good Euphorbus to be slain By Menelaus at the Body dead Of Menoetiades Then went his way And Hector grieved turn'd about his head And saw how on the ground Euphorbus lay Bleeding and naked left by Menelaus And Hector then enflamed with the sight Like raging fire did through the Squadrons pass And with great cry returned to the fight And cold was then Atrides at the heart And with himself he thus disputing stands If I should from the Body slain depart The Greeks would say of me but little good But if I stay alone here 't will be worse Than any thing the Greeks can of me say For he brings with him all the Trojan force But wherefore do I thus disputing stay Who fights against him whom a God doth aid Draws on himself a great and certain ill My best course then is Hector to avoid And let the Greeks say of it what they will But if of Ajax I could get a sight Then he and I together would not fear With Hector aided by a God to fight And to Achilles the dead Body bear Whilst thus unto himself he laid the Case The Trojans came with Hector at the head And Menelaus then forsook the place And going left behinde the Body dead But oft lookt back As when a Lion is Compel'd to leave a Fold by Men and Dogs He oft looks back and runs not for all this But tow'rds the Wood still slowly on he jogs Unwillingly his heart 's too big to run So Menelaus off went safe and sound And then for Ajax Son of Telamon Lookt round about and 'mongst his Troops him found Inciting them to fight For not a man But frighted was by Phoebus and dismay'd And with all speed Atrides to him ran And standing at his side unto him said Come Ajax quickly come away with me To save Patroclus from the Trojans wrath That to Achilles carri'd he may be Though naked For his Armour Hector hath Ajax inrag'd at this flies to the place With Menelaus where Patroclus lay When Hector from the Field him drawing was Having already snatcht his Arms away Unto the Trojans to cut off his head And give the Body to the Dogs to eat But when great Ajax thither came he fled And to the Trojans made a quick Retreat And order gave to bear the Arms to Troy Achilles Arms a noble Monument Of his great deed But Ajax still did stay And with his Shield about the Body went As when a Lion his Whelps following him Into the open Field comes from the Wood And Hunters meets he looks upon them grim So Ajax looking by Patroclus stood And Glaucus then that led the Lycian Bands To Hector went and frowning to him said Though you be thought a good man of your hands Hector it is not so I am afraid Consider first if you the Town can save By Trojans only without other guard And of their service how great need you have And then how lightly you their pains regard What Lycian again will for you fight Or how will you defend a meaner man That left Sarpedon to the Argives spight And sport