Nestors art iâ—… ordering his souldiers Embattelling his men at armes and stirring all to blowes Points euerie legion out his Chiefe and euery Chiefe he showes The formes and discipline of warre yet his Commanders were All expert and renowmed men Great Pelagon was there Alastor manly Chromius and Hemon worth a Throne And Byas that could armies leade with these he first put on His horse troopes with their chariots his foote of which he chusde Many the best and ablest men and which he euer vsde As rampire to his generall powre he in the Rere disposd The slouthfull and the least of spirit he in the midst inclosd That such as wanted noble wils base need might force to stand His horse troopes that the Vantgard had he strictly did command To ride their horses temperatly to keepe their rankes and shun Confusion lest their horsemanship and courage made them run Too much presum'd on much too farre and charging so alone Engage themselues in th' enemies strength where many fight with one Who his owne chariot leaues to range let him not freely go But straight vnhorse him with a lance for t is much better so And with this discipline said he this forme these minds this trust Our Ancestors haue walles and townes laid leuell with the dust Thus prompt and long inur'd to armes this old man did exhort And this Atrides likewise tooke in wondrous chearefull sort And said O Father would to heauen that as thy mind remaines Agamemnon to Nestor In wonted vigor so thy knees could vndergo our paines But age that all men ouercomes hath made his prise on thee Yet still I wish that some young man growne old in mind might be Put in proportion with thy yeares and thy mind young in age Be fitly answerd with his youth that still where conflicts rage And young men vsd to thrust for fame thy braue exampling hand Might double our young Grecian spirits and grace our whole Command The old knight answer'd I my selfe could wish O Atreus sonne Nestor to Agamemnon I were as young as when I slue braue Ereuâ—…halion But Gods at all times giue not all their gifts to mortall men If then I had the strength of youth I mist the Counsels then That yeares now giue me and now yeares want that maine strength of youth Yet still my mind retaines her strength as you now said the sooth And would be where that strength is vsd affoording counsels sage To stirre youths minds vp t is the grace and office of our age Let yonger sinewes Men sprong vp whole ages after me And such as haue strength vse it and as strong in honour be The king all this while comforted arriu'd next where he found Well-rode Menestheus Peteus sonne stand still inuirond round With his well-train'd Athenian troopes and next to him he spide The wise Vlysses deedlesse too and all his bands beside Of strong Cephalians for as yet th' alarme had not bene heard In all their quarters Greece and Troy were then so newly stird And then first mou'd as they conceiu'd and they so lookt about To see both hoasts giue proofe of that they yet had cause to doubt Atrides seeing them stand so still and spend their eyes at gaze Began to chide And why said he dissolu'd thus in a maze Thou sonne of Peteus Ioue-nurst king and thou in wicked sleight Agamemnon to Vlysses and Menestheuâ—… A cunning souldier stand ye off Expect ye that the fight Should be by other men begun t is fit the formost band Should shew you there you first should front who first lifts vp his hand First you can heare when I inuite the Princes to a feast When first most friendly and at will ye eate and drinke the best Yet in the fight most willingly ten troopes ye can behold Take place before ye Ithacus at this his browes did fold And said How hath thy violent tongue broke through thy set of teeth Vlysses to Agaâ—…emnon To say that we are slacke in fight and to the field of death Looke others should enforce our way when we were busied then Euen when thou spak'st against the foe to cheate and leade our men But thy eyes shall be witnesses if it content thy will And that as thou pretendst these cares do so affect thee still The father of Telemachâ—… whom I esteeme so deare And to whom as a Legacie I le leaue my deeds done here Euen with the formost band of Troy hath his encounter dar'd And therefore are thy speeches vaine and had bene better spar'd He smiling since he saw him mou'd recald his words and said Agamemnon to Vlysses Most generous Lâ—…ertes sonne most wise of all our aid I neither do accuse thy worth more then thy selfe may hold Fit that inferiours thinke not much being slacke to be controld Nor take I on me thy command for well I know thy mind Knowes how sweet gentle counsels are and that thou standst enclind As I my selfe for all our good On then if now we spake What hath displeasd another time we full amends will make And Gods grant that thy vertue here may proue so free and braue That my reproofes may still be vaine and thy deseruings graue Thus parted they and forth he went when he did leaning find Against his chariot neare his horse him with the mightie mind Great Diomedes Tydeus sonne and Sthenelus the seed Of Capaneius whom the king seeing likewise out of deed Thus cried he out on Diomed O melin what a feare Agamemnon chideth Diomed. The wise great warriour Tydeus sonne stands gazing euerie where For others to begin the fight It was not Tydeus vse To be so danted whom his spirit would euermore produce Before the formost of his friends in these affaires of fright As they report that haue beheld him labour in a fight For me I neuer knew the man nor in his presence came But excellent aboue the rest he was in generall fame And one renowm'd exploit of his I am assur'd is true The historie of Tydeus He came to the Mycenian Court without armes and did sue At Godlike Polinices hands to haue some worthie aid To their designes that gainst the wals of sacred Thebes were laid He was great Polinices guest and nobly entertaind And of the kind Mycenian state what he requested gaind In meere consent but when they should the same in act approue By some sinister prodigies held out to them by Ioâ—…e They were discourag'd thence he went and safely had his passe Backe to Aesopus flood renowm'd for Bulrushes and grasse Yet once more their Ambassadour the Grecian Peâ—…res addresse Lord Tydeus to Eteocles to whom being giuen accesse He found him feasting with a crew of Cadmians in his hall Amongst whom though an enemie and onely one to all To all yet he his challenge made at euerie Martiall feate And easly foild all since with him Minerâ—…a was so great The ranke-rode Cadmians much incenst with their so
his brest Brands of quicke anger till reuenge hath quencht to his desire The fire reserued Tell me then if whatsoeuer ire Suggests in hurt of me to him thy valour will preuent Achilles answerd All thou know'st speake and be confident Achilles to Chalchas For by Apollo Ioues belou'd to whom performing vowes O Calchas for the state of Greece thy spirit Prophetique showes Skils that direct vs not a man of all these Grecians here I liuing and enioying the light shot through this flowrie sphere Shall touch thee with offensiue hands though Agamemnon be The man in question that doth boast the mightiest Emperie Of all our armie Then tooke heart the Prophet vnreprou'd And said They are not vnpaid vowes nor Hecatombs that mou'd The God against vs his offence is for his Priest empaird Calchas discouers to the Greekes the cause of their plague By Agamemnon that refusd the present he preferd And kept his daughter This is cause why heauens farre-darter darts These plagues amongst vs and this still will emptie in our hearts His deathfull quiuer vncontaind till to her loued sire The blacke-eyd damsell be resign'd no redemptorie hire Tooke for her freedome not a gift but all the ransome quit And she conuaide with sacrifice till her enfranchisd feete Treade Chrysa vnder then the God so pleasd perhaps we may Moue to remission Thus he sate and vp the great in sway Heroique Agamemnon rose eagerly bearing all His minds seate ouercast with fumes an anger generall Fill'd all his faculties his eyes sparckl'd like kindling fire Which sternly cast vpon the Priest thus vented he his ire Prophet of ill For neuer good came from thee towards me Agamemnon incenst to Calchas Not to a words worth euermore thou tookst delight to be Offensiue in thy Auguries which thou continuest still Now casting thy prophetique gall and vouching all our ill Shot from Apollo is imposd since I refusd the prise Of faire Chryseis libertie which would in no worth rise To my rate of her selfe which moues my vowes to haue her home Past Clytemnestra louing her that grac't my nuptiall roome With her virginitie and flowre Nor aske her merits lesse For person disposition wit and skill in housewiferies And yet for all this she shall go if more conducible That course be then her holding here I rather wish the weale Of my lou'd armie then the death Prouide yet instantly Supplie for her that I alone of all our royaltie Lose not my winnings t is not fit ye see all I lose mine Forc't by another see as well some other may resigne His Prise to me To this replied the swift-foote God-like sonne Achilles to Agamemnon Of Thetis thus King of vs all in all ambition Most couetouse of all that breath why should the great-soul'd Greekes Supply thy lost prise out of theirs nor what thy auarice seekes Our common treasurie can find so little it doth guard Of what our rac'd towns yeelded vs of all which most is shar'd And giuen our souldiers which againe to take into our hands Were ignominious and base Now then since God commands Part with thy most-lou'd prise to him not any one of vs Exacts it of thee yet we all all losse thou sufferst thus Will treble quadruple in gaine when Iupiter bestowes The sacke of well-wall'd Troy on vs which by his word he owes Do not deceiue your selfe with wit he answerd God-like man 〈◊〉 to Ahilles Though your good name may colour it t is not your swift foote can Out runne me here nor shall the glosse set on it with the God Perswade me to my wrong Woulst thou maintaine in sure abode Thine owne prisâ—… and sleight me of mine Resolue this if our friends As fits in equitie my worth will right me with amends So rest it otherwise my selfe will enter personally On thy prise that of Ithacus or Aiax for supply Let him on whom I enter rage But come we 'le order these Hereafter and in other place Now put to sacred seas Our blacke saile in it rowers put in it fit sacrifise And to these I will make ascend my so much enuied prise Bright-cheekt Chryseis For conduct of all which we must chuse A chiefe out of our counsellors thy seruice we must vse Idomeneus Aiax thine or thine wise Ithacus Or thine thou terriblest of men thou sonne of Peleus Which fittest were that thou mightst see these holy acts performd For which thy cunning zeale so pleades and he whose bow thus stormd For our offences may be calmd Achilles with a frowne Achilles to Agamemnon Thus answerd O thou impudent of no good but thine owne Euer respectfull but of that with all craft couetous With what heart can a man attempt a seruice dangerous Or at thy voice be spirited to flie vpon a foe Thy mind thus wretched For my selfe I was not iniur'd so By any Troian that my powers should bid them any blowes In nothing beare they blame of me Phthia whose bosome flowes With corne and people neuer felt empaire of her increase By their inuasion hils enow and farre-resounding seas Powre out their shades and deepes betweene but thee thou frontlesse man We follow and thy triumphs make with bonfires of our bane Thine and thy brothers vengeance sought thou dogs eyes of this Troy By our exposd liues whose deserts thou neither dost employ With honour nor with care And now thou threatst to force from me The fruite of my sweate which the Greekes gaue all and though it be Compar'd with thy part then snatcht vp nothing â—…or euer is At any sackttowne but of fight the fetcher in of this My hands haue most share in whose toyles when I haue emptied me Of all my forces my amends in liberalitie Though it be little I accept and turne pleasd to my tent And yet that little thou esteemst too great a continent In thy incontinent auarice For Phthya therefore now My course is since t is better farre then here endure that thou Shouldâ—… still be rauishing my right draw my whole treasure drie And adde dishonor He replied If thy heart serue thee flie Agamemnon to Ahilles Stay not for my cause others here will aid and honor me If not yet Ioue I know is sure that counsellor is he That I depend on as for thee of all our Ioue-kept kings Thou still art most my enemie strifes battels bloodie things Make thy blood feasts still But if strength that these moods build vpon Flow in thy nerues God gaue thee it and so t is not thine owne But in his hands still what then lifts thy pride in this so hie Home with thy fleete and Myrmidons vse there their Emperie Command not here I weigh thee not nor meane to magnifie Thy rough hewne rages but in stead I thus farre threaten thee Since Phoebus needs will force from me Chryseis she shall go My ships and friends shall waft her home but I will imitate so His pleasure that mine owne shall
thy mightie spirits it fits not one that moues The hearts of all to liue vnmou'd and succour hates for loues The Gods themselues are flexible whose vertues honors powers Are more then thine yet they will bend their breasts as we bend ours Perfumes benigne deuotions sauors of offrings burnd And holy rites the engines are with which their hearts are turnd By men that pray to them whose faith their sinnes haue falsified For prayers are daughters of great Ioue lame wrinkled ruddie eyd Prayers how necessary and helpful if shund or neglected how wreakefull And euer following iniury who strong and sound of feet Flies through the world afflicting men beleeuing prayers yet To all that loue that seed of Ioue the certaine blessing get Ioues daughters and cald Litâ—… To haue Ioue heare and helpe them too but if he shall refuse And stand inflexible to them they flie to Ioue and vse Their powres against him that the wrongs he doth to them may fall On his owne head and pay those paines whose cure he failes to call Then great Achilleâ—… honour thou this sacred seed of Ioue And yeeld to them since other men of greatest minds they moue If Agamemnon would not giue the selfe same gifts he vowes But offer other afterwards and in his stil-bent browes Entombe his honour and his word I would not thus exhort With wrath appeasde thy aide to Greece though plagu'd in heauiest sort But much he presently will giue and after yeeld the rest T' assure which he hath sent to thee the men thou louest best And most renownd of all the hoast that they might soften thee Then let not both their paines and prayers lost and despised be Before which none could reprehend the tumult of thy heart But now to rest inexpiate were much too rude a part Of ancient worthies we haue heard when they were more displeasde To their high fames with gifts and prayers they haue bene still appeasde For instance I remember well a fact perform'd of old Which to you all my friends I le tell The Curets warres did hold Another narration de bello Aetolico With the well-fought Etolians where mutuall liues had end About the citie Calidon th'Etolians did defend Their flourishing countrie which to spoile the Curets did contend Diana with the golden throne with Oeneus much incenc't Since with his plenteous lands first fruits she was not reuerenc't Yet other Gods with Hecatombes had feasts and she alone Great Ioues bright daughter left vnseru'd or by obliuion Or vndue knowledge of her dues much hurt in heart she swore And she enrag'd excited much she sent a syluan Bore From their greene groues with wounding tuskes who vsually did spoile Aper Calidonius King Oeneus fields his loftie woods layd prostrate on the soile Rent by the roots trees fresh adornd with fragrant apple flow'rs Which Meleager Oeneus sonne slue with assembled pow'rs Of hunters and of fiercest hounds from many cities brought For such he was that with few liues his death could not be bought Heapes of dead humanes by his rage the funerall piles applide Yet slaine at last the Goddesse stird about his head and hide A wondrous tumult and a warre betwixt the Curets wrought And braue Aetolians all the while fierce Meleager fought Ill far'd the Curets neare the wals none durst aduance his crest Though they were many but when wrath inflam'd his hautie brest Which oft the firme mind of the wise with passion doth infest Since twixt his mother Queene and him arose a deadly strife He left the Court and priuately liu'd with his lawfull wife Faire Cleopatra femall birth of bright Marpissas paine And of Idaeus who of all terrestriall men did raigne At that time king of fortitude and for Marpissas sake Gainst wanton Phoebus king oâ—… flames his bow in hand did take Since he had rauisht her his ioy whom her friends after gaue The surname of Alcyone because they could not saue Their daughter from Alcyones Fate in Cleopatr as armes Lay Meleager feeding on his anger for the harmes His mother praid might fall on him who for her brother slaine By Meleager grieu'd and praid the Gods to wreake her paine With all the horror could be pour'd vpon her furious birth Still knockt she with her impious hands the many-feeding earth To vrge sterne Pluto and his Queene t' incline their vengefull eares Fell on her knees and all her breast dewd with her fierie teares To make them massacre her sonne whose wrath enrag'd her thus Erynnis wandring through the aire heard out of Erebus Pray'rs fit for her vnpleased mind yet Meleager lay Obscurd in furie then the bruit of the tumultuous â—…ray Rung through the turrets as they scal'd then came the Aetolian Peeâ—…es To Meleager with low suits to rise and free their feares Then sent they the chiefe Priests of Gods with offered gifts t' attone His differing fuâ—…ie bad him châ—… in sweet-soild Calidon Of the most fat and yeeldie soile what with an hundred steares Might in a hundred dayes be plowde halfe that rich vintage beares And halfe of naked earth to plow yet yeelded not his ire Then to his loftie chamber dore ascends his royall Sire With ruthfull plaints shooke the strong barres then came his sisters cries His mother then and all intreate yet still more stiffe he lies His friends most reuerend most esteem'd yet none impression tooke Till the high turrets where he lay and his strong chamber shooke With the inuading enemie who now forc't dreadfull way Along the cittie then his wife in pittifull dismay Besought him weeping telling him the miseries sustaind By all the citizens whose towne the enemie had gaind Men slaughterd children bondslaues made sweet Ladies forc't with lâ—…st Fires climing towres and turning them to heapes of fruitlesse dust These dangers softned his steele heart vp the stout Prince arose Indude his bodie with rich armes and freed th'Aetolians woes His smotherd anger giuing aire which gifts did not asswage But his owne perill And because he did not dis-ingage Their liues for gifts their gifts he lost But for my sake deare friend Be not thou bent to see our plights to these extremes descend Ere thou assist vs be not so by thy ill angell turnd From thine owne honor it were shame to see our nauie burnd And then come with thy timelesse aide For offerd presents come And all the Greeks will honour thee as of celestiall roome But if without these gifts thou fight forc't by thy priuate woe Thou wilt be nothing so renown'd though thou repell the foe Achilles answerd the last part of this oration thus Achilles to Phoenix Phoenix renown'd and reuerend the honors vrgde on vs We need not Ioue doth honor me and to my safetie sees And will whiles I retaine a spirit or can command my knees Then do not thou with teares and woes impassion my affects Becoming gracious to my foe nor fits it the respects Of thy vowd loue to honor
and fame and therefore threw Stones from the wals and towres as thicke as when a drift wind shakes Blacke-clouds in peeces and plucks snow in great and plumie flakes From their soft bosomes till the ground be wholly cloth'd in white So earth was hid with stones and darts darts from the Troian fight Stones from the Greeks that on the helms and bossie Troian shields Kept such a rapping it amaz'd great Asius who now yeelds Sighes beates his thighes and in a rage his fault to Ioue applies O Ioue said he now cleare thou shew'st thou art a friend to lies Asiâ—… neare his dâ—…ath blames 〈◊〉 for it Pretending in the flight of Greece the making of it good To all their ruines which I thought could neuer be withstood Yet they as yellow Waspes or Bees that hauing made their nest Apta ad rem comparatio The gasping Cranny of a hill when for a hunters feast Hunters come hote and hungrie in and dig for honny Comes They flie vpon them strike and sting and from their hollow homes Will not be beaten but defend their labours fruite and brood No more will these be from their port but either lose their blood Although but two against all vs or be our prisoners made All this to do his action grace could not firme Ioue perswade Who for the generall counsell stood and gainst his singular braue Bestow'd on Hector that daies fame Yet he and these behaue Themselues thus nobly at this port but how at other ports And all alongst the stony wall sole force gainst force and forts Rag'd in contention twixt both hoasts it were no easie thing Had I the bosome of a God to tune to life and sing The Troians fought not of themselues a fire from heauen was throwne That ran amongst them through the wall meere added to their owne The Greeks held not their owne weake griefe went with her witherd hand And dipt it deepely in their spirits since they could not command Their forces to abide the field whom harsh Necessitie â—…o saue those ships should bring them home and their good forts supply Draue to th'expulsiue fight they made and this might stoope them more Then Need it selfe could eleuate for euen Gods did deplore Their dire estates and all the Gods that were their aids in war Who though they could not cleare their plights yet were their friends thus far Still to vphold the better sort for then did Polepaet passe A lance at Damasus whose helme was made with cheekes of brasse Yet had not proofe enough the pyle draue through it and his skull His braine in blood drownd and the man so late so spiritfull Fell now quite spirit-lesse to earth So emptied he the veines Of Pylon and Ormenus liues and then Leonteus gaines The lifes end of Hippomachus Antimachus-his sonne His lance fell at his girdle stead and with his end begun Another end Leonteus left him and through the prease His keene sword drawne ran desperatly vpon Antiphates And liuelesse tumbled him to earth Nor could all these liues quench His fierie spirit that his flame in Menons blood did drench And rag'd vp euen to Iamens and yong Orestes life All heapt together made their peace in that red field of strife Whose faire armes while the victors â—…poild the youth of Ilion Of which thereseru'd the most and best still boldly built vpon The wisedome of Polydamas and Hectors matchlesse strength And follow'd fild with wondrous spirit with wish and hope at length The Greeks wall wun to fire their fleet But hauing past the dike And willing now to passe the wall this prodigie did strike Their hearts with some deliberate stay A high-flowne-Eagle sorde On their troopes left hand and sustaind a Dragon all engorde In her strong seres of wondrous sise and yet had no such checke In life and spirit but still she fought and turning backe her necke So stung the Eagles gorge that downe she cast her feruent prey Amongst the multitude and tooke vpon the winds her way Crying with anguish When they saw a branded Serpent sprawle So full amongst them from aboue and from Ioues fowle let fall They tooke it an ostent from him stood frighted and their cause Polydamas thought iust and spake Hector you know applause Polydamas to Hector Of humour hath bene farre from me nor fits it or in warre Or in affaires of Court a man imploid in publicke care To blanch things further then their truth or flatter any powre And therefore for that simple course your strength hath oft bene sowre To me in counsels yet againe what shewes in my thoughts best I must discouer let vs ceasse and make their flight our rest For this dayes honor and not now attempt the Grecian fleet For this I feare will be th' euent the prodigie doth meet So full with our affaire in hand As this high flying fowle Vpon the left wing of our host implying our controwle Houerd aboue vs and did trusse within her golden seres A Serpent so embrew'd and bigge which yet in all her feares Kept life and feruent spirit to fight and wrought her owne release Nor did the Eagles Airie feed So though we thus farre prease Vpon the Grecians and perhaps may ouerrune their wall Our high minds aiming at their fleet and that we much appall Their trussed spirits yet are they so Serpent-like disposd That they willl fight though in our seres and will at length be losd With all our outcries and the life of many a Troian breast Shall with the Eagle flie before we carrie to our nest Them or their nauie thus expounds the Augure this ostent Whose depth he knowes these should feare Hector with countenance bent Thus answerd him Polydamas your depth in augurie Hector to Polydamas I like not and know passing well thou dost not satisfie Thy selfe in this opinion or if thou think'st it true Thy thoughts the Gods blind to aduise and vrge that as our due That breakes our duties and to â—…oue whose vow and signe to me Is past directly for our speed yet light-wingd birds must be By thy aduice our Oracles whose feathers little stay My serious actions What care I if this or th' other way Their wild wings sway them if the right on which the Sunne doth rise Or to the left hand where he sets T is Ioues high counsell flies With those wings that shall beare vp vs Ioues that both earth and heauen Both men and Gods sustaines and rules One augurie is giuen To order all men best of all fight for thy countries right But why fearst thou our further charge for though the dangerous fight Strew all men heâ—…e about the fleet yet thou needst neuer feare To beare their Fates thy warie heart will neuer trust thee where An enemies looke is and yet fight for if thou dar'st abstaine Or whisper into any eare an abstinence so vaine As thou aduisest neuer feare that any foe shall take Thy life from thee for t
Locrians hid still and their foes all thought of fight forgot With shewes of those farre striking shafts their eyes were troubled so And then assur'dly from the ships and tents th' insulting foe Had miserably fled to Troy had not Polydamas Thus spoke to Hector Hector still impossible t is to passe Polydâ—… to 〈◊〉 Good counsell vpon you but say some God prefers thy deeds In counsels wouldst thou passe vs too In all things none exceeds 〈◊〉 adâ—…ice to 〈◊〉 To some God giues the powre of warre to some the slâ—…ight to dance To some the art of instruments some doth for voice aduance And that far-seeing God grants some thâ—… wisedome of the minde Which no man can keepe to himselfe that though but few can â—…inde Doth profite many that preserues the publique weale and staâ—… And that who hath he best can prise but for me I le relate Onely my censure what 's our best The verie crowne of warre Doth burne about thee yet our men when they haue reachâ—… thus farre Suppose their valours crownd and ceasse A few still stir their feâ—… And so a few with many fight sperst thinly through the fleet Retire then leaue speech to the route and all thy Princes call That here in counsels of most weight we may resolue of all If hauing likelihood to beleeue that God wil conquest giue We shall charge through or with this grace make our retreate and liue For I must needs affirme I feare the debt of yesterday Since warre is such a God of change the Grecians now will pay And since th' insatiate man of warre remaines at fleet if there We tempt his safetie no howre more â—…is hote soule can forbeare This sound stuffe Hector lik't approu'd iumpt from his chariot And said Polydamas make good this place and suffer not One Prince to passe it I myselfe will there go where you see Those friends in skirmish and returne when they haue heard from me Hector for his goodly forme compared to a hill of snow Command that your aduice obeys with vtmost speed this said With day-bright armes white plume white skarffe his goodly lims arraid He parted from them like a hill remouing all of snow And to the Troian Peres and Chiefes he flew to let them know The Counsell of Polydamas All turnd and did reioyce To haste to Panthus gentle sonne being cald by Hectors voyce Who through the forefights making way lookt for Deiophobus King Hellenus Asiades Hyrtasian Asius Of whom some were not to be found vnhurt or vndeceast Some onely hurt and gone from field As further he addrest He found within the fights left wing the faire-hair'd Hellens loue By all meanes mouing men to blowes which could by no meanes moue Hectors forbeareance his friends misse so put his powres in storme Hector chideâ—… Paris But thus in wonted terms he chid You with the finest forme Impostor womans man Where are in your care markt all these Deiphobus king Hellenus Asius Hyrtacides Othryoneus Acamas now haughtie Ilion Shakes to his lowest groundworke now iust ruine fals vpon Thy head past rescue He replyed Hector why chid'st thou now When I am guiltlesse other times there are for ease I know Then these for she that brought thee forth not vtterly left me Without some portion of thy spirit to make me brother thee But since thou first brought'st in thy force to this our nauall fight I and my friends haue ceaslesse fought to do thy seruice right But all those friends thou seek'st are slaine exeepting Hellenâ—… Who parted wounded in his hand and so Deiphobus Ioue yet auerted death from them And now leade thou as farre As thy great heart affects all we will second any warre That thou endurest And I hope my owne strength is not lost Though least I le fight it to his best nor further fights the most This calm'd hote Hectors spleene and both turnd where they saw the face Of warre most fierce and that was where their friends made good the place About renowm'd Polydamas and God-like Polyphet Palmus Ascanius Morus that Hippotion did beget And from Ascanias wealthie fields but euen the day before Arriu'd at Troy that with their aide they kindly might restore Some kindnesse they receiu'd from thence and in fierce fight with these Phalces and tall Orthaus stood and bold Cebriones And then the doubt that in aduice Polydamas disclosd To fight or flie Ioue tooke away and all to fight disposd And as the floods of troubled aire to pitchie stormes increase Simile That after thunder sweepes the fields and rauish vp the seas Encountring with abhorred roares when the engrossed waues Boile into foame and endlesly one after other raues So rank't and guarded th' Ilians marcht some now more now and then The Troian host and Hector glorified More vpon more in shining steele now Captaines then their men And Hector like man killing Mars aduanc't before them all His huge round target before him through thickn'd like a wall With hides well coucht with store of brasse and on his temples shin'd His bright helme on which danc't his plume and in this horrid kind All hid within his worldlike shield he euerie troope assaid For entrie that in his despite stood firme and vndismaid Which when he saw and kept more off Aiax came stalking then And thus prouokt him O good man why fright'st thou thus our men Come nearer not Arts want in warre makes vs thus nauie-bound Aiax his speech to Hector Scoptâ—…cè But Ioues direct scourge his arm'd hand makes our hands giue you ground Yet thou hop'st of thy selfe our spoile but we haue likewise hands To hold our owne as you to spoile and ere thy countermands Stand good against our ransackt fleete your hugely-peopl'd towne Our hands shall take in and her towres from all their heights pull downe And I must tell thee time drawes on when flying thou shalt crie To Ioue and all the Gods to make thy faire-man'd horses flie More swift then Falkons that their hoofes may rouse the dust and beare Thy bodie hid to Ilion This said his bold words were Confirm'd as soone as spoke Ioues bird the high flowne Eagle tooke The right hand of their host whose wings high acclamations strooke From foorth the glad breasts of the Greeks Then Hector made replie Vaine-spoken man and glorious what hast thou said would I Hector to Aiax As surely were the sonne of Ioue and of great Iuno borne Adorn'd like Pallas and the God that lifts to earth the Morne As this day shall bring harmefull light to all your host and thou If thou dar'st stand this lance the earth before the ships shalt strow Thy bosome torne vp and the dogs with all the fowle of Troy Be satiate with thy fat and flesh This said with showting ioy His first troopes follow'd and the last their showts with showts repeld Greece answerd all nor could her spirits from all shew rest conceald And to so infinite
as not being satis compotes mentis Poeticae for want of which which all their reading and language cannot supply they are thus often graueld and mistaken d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Veluti Aquila The sport Homer makes with Menelaus is here likewise confirmed and amplified in another Simile resembling him intentionally to a harefinder though for colours sake he vseth the word Eagle as in all other places where he presents him being so eminent a person â—…e hides his simplicity with some shadow of glory or other The circumstances making it cleare being here and in diuers other places made a messenger from Aiax and others to call such and such to their aid which was vnfit for a man of his place if he had bene in magnanimitie and valour equall or any thing neare it But to confirme his imperfection therein in diuers other places he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mollis bellator and therefore was fittest to be employed to cal vp those that were â—…ardier and abler In going about which businesse Homer shewes how he looks about leering like a hare-finder for to make it simply a Simile illustrating the state of his addresse in that base affaire had neither wit nor decorum Both which being at their height in the other sence because our Homer was their great master to all accomplishment let none detract so miserably from him as to take this otherwise then a continuance of his Ironie The end of the seuenteenth Booke THE XVIII BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT AChilles mournes told of Patroclus end When Thetis doth from forth the sea ascâ—…nd And comfort him aduising to abstaine From any fight till her request could gaine Fit armes of Vulcan Iuno yet commands To shew himselfe And at the dike he stands In sight of th' enemie who with his sight Flies and a number perish in the flight Patroclus person safe brought from the warres His souldiers wash Vulcan the armes prepares Another Argument Sigma continues the alarmes And fashions the renowmed armes THey fought still like the rage of fire And now Antilochus Came to Aeacides whose mind was much solicitous For that which as he fear'd was falne He found him neer the fleet With vpright saile-yeards vttering this to his heroike conceit Ay me why see the Greeks themselues thus beaten from the field And routed headlong to their fleet O let not heauen yeeld Achilles to himselfe concerning Patroclus Effect to what my sad soule feares that as I was foretold The strongest Myrmidon next me when I should still behold The Sunnes faire light must part with it Past doubt Menaetius sonne Is he on whom that fate is wrought O wretch to leaue vndone What I commanded that the fleete once freed of hostile fire Not meeting Hector instantly he should his powres retire As thus his troubl'd mind discourst Antilochus appear'd And told with teares the sad newes thus My Lord that must be heard Antilochus reâ—…ates Patroclus death Which would to heauen I might not tell Menaetius sonne lies dead And for his naked corse his armes alreadie forfeited And worne by Hector the debate is now most vehement This said Griefe darkned all his powres With both his hands he rent The blacke mould from the forced earth and pour'd it on his head Achilles his rage Smear'd all his louely face his weeds diuinely fashioned All filde and mangl'd and himselfe he threw vpon the shore Lay as laid out for funerall Then tumbl'd round and tore His gracious curles his Ecstacie he did so farre extend That all the Ladies wonne by him and his now slaughterd friend Afflicted strangely for his plight came shrieking from the tents And fell about him beate their breasts their tender lineaments Dissolu'd with sorrow And with them wept Nestors warlike sonne Fell by him holding his faire hands in feare he would haue done His person violence his heart extremely streightned burn'd Beate sweld and sighd as it would burst So terribly he mourn'd That Thetis sitting in the deepes of her old fathers seas Heard and lamented To her plaints the bright Nereides Flockt all how many those darke gulfes soeuer comprehend There Glauce and Cymodoce and Spyo did attend Nesaea and Cymothoa and calme Amphithoe Thalia Thoa Panope and swift Dynanime Actaea and Lymnoria and Halia the faire Fam'd for the beautie of her eyes Amathia for her haire Iaera Proto Clymene and curl'd Dexamine Pherusa Doris and with these the smooth Amphinome Chast Galathea so renowm'd and Callianira came With Doto and Orythia to cheare the mournfull Dame Apseudes likewise visited and Callianassa gaue Her kind attendance and with her Agaue grac't the Caue Nemertes Maera followed Melita Ianesse With Ianira and the rest of those Nereides That in the deepe seas make abode all which together beate Their dewie bosomes and to all thus Thetis did repeate Her cause of mourning Sisters heare how much the sorrowes wey Thâ—…u to the Nâ—…reides Whose cries now cald ye haplesse I brought forth vnhappily The best of all the sonnes of men who like a well-set plant In best soiles grew and flourished and when his spirit did want Employment for his youth and strength I sent him with a fleete To fight at Ilion from whence his fate-confined feete Passe all my deitie to retire The court of his high birth The glorious court of Peleus must entertaine his worth Neuer hereafter All the life he hath to liue with me Must wast in sorrowes and this sonne I now am bent to see Being now afflicted with some griefe not vsually graue Whose knowledge and recure I seeke This said she left her caue Which all left with her swimming forth the greene waues as they swom Cleft with their bosomes curld and gaue quicke way to Troy Being come They all ascended two and two and trod the honor'd shore Till where the fleete of Myrmidons drawne vp in heapes it bore There stayd they at Achilles ship and there did Thetis lay Thet is to Achilles Her faire hand on her sonnes curl'd head sigh'd wept and bad him say What griefe drew from his eyes those teares conceale it not said she Till this houre thy vplifted hands haue all things granted thee The Greeks all thrust vp at their sternes haue pour'd on t teares enow And in them seene how much they misse remission of thy vow Achilles to Thetis He said T is true Olympius hath done me all that grace But what ioy haue I of it all when thus â—…hrusts in the place Losse of my whole selfe in my friend whom when his foe had slaine He spoil'd of those prophaned armes that Peleus did obtaine From heauens high powres solemnizing thy sacred nuptiall bands As th' onely present of them all and fitted well their hands Being louely radiant maruellous O would to heauen thy throne With these faire deities of the sea thou still hadst sate vpon And Peleus had a mortall wife since by his meanes is done So much
his nor mine Iudge of with fauour him nor me lest any Grecian vse This scandall Menelaus wonne with Nestors sonnes abuse The prise in question his horse worst himselfe yet wanne the best By powre and greatnesse Yet because I would not thus contest To make parts taking I le be iudge and I suppose none here Will blame my iudgement I le do right Antilochus come neare Come noble gentleman t is your place sweare by th' earth circling god Standing before your chariot and horse and that selfe rod With which you scourg'd them in your hand if both with will and wile You did not crosse my chariot He thus did reconcile Antiloâ—…us his ironicall reply Grace with his disgrace and with wit restor'd him to his wit Now craue I patience ô king what euer was vnfit Ascribe to much more youth in me then you you more in age And more in excellence know well the outraies that engage All yong mens actions sharper wits but duller wisedomes still From vs flow then from you for which curbe with your wisedome will The prise I thought mine I yeeld yours and if you please a prise Of greater value to my tent I le send for and suffise Your will at full and instantly for in this point of time I rather wish to be enioyn'd your fauors top to clime Then to be falling all my time from height of such a grace Iroâ—… O Ioue-lou'd king and of the gods receiue a curse in place This said he fetcht the prise to him and it reioyc't him so This Simile likeâ—…se is meerly â—…nicall That as corne-eares shine with the dew yet hauing time to grow When fields set all their bristles vp in such a ruffe wert thou O Menelaus answering thus Antilochus I now Though I were angry yeeld to thee because I see th'hadst wit When I thought nor thy youth hath got the mastery of thy spirit And yet for all this t is more safe not to abuse at all Great men then ventring trust to wit to take vp what may fall Mâ—… to Antâ—… For no man in our host beside had easely calm'd my spleene Stird with like tempâ—…st But thy selfe hast a sustainer bene Of much affliction in my cause so thy good father too And so thy brother at thy suite I therefore let all go Giue thee the game here though mine owne that all these may discerne King Menelaus beares a mind at no part proud or sterne The king thus calm'd Antilochus receiu'd and gaue the steed To lou'd Noemon to leade thencâ—… and then receiu'd beside The caldron Next Mâ—…ones for fourth game was to haue Two talents gold The fift vnwonne renowm'd Acâ—…lles gaue To reuerend Nestor being a boule to set on either end Which through the preasse he caried him Receiue said he old friend Achilles his gift to Nestor This gift as funerall monument of my deare friend deceast Whom neuer you must see againe I make it his bequest To you as without any strife obtaining it from all Your shoulders must not vndergo the churlish whoorlbats fall Wrastling is past you strife in daâ—…s the footes celeritie Harsh age in his yeares fetters you and honor sets you free Thus gaue he it he tooke and ioyd but ere he thankt he said Now sure my honorable sonne in all points thou hast plaid Nâ—… glorie in the gift of Aâ—…lles The comely Orator no more must I contend with nerues Feete faile and hands armes want that strength that this and that swinge serues Vnder your shoulders Would to heauen I were so yong chind now And strength threw such a many of bones to celebrate this show As when the Epiâ—…s brought to fire actiuely honoring thus King â—…marynceas funerals in faire Buprasius His sonnes put prises downe for him where not a man matcht me Of all the Epians or the sonnes of great-soul'd Aetolie No nor the Pilians themselues my countrimen I beate Great Clydomedeus Eâ—…ops sonne at buffets at the feate Of wrastling I laid vnder me one that against me rose Ancâ—…s cald Plâ—…ius I made Ipiclus lose The foot-game to me At the speare I conquer'd Pâ—…e And strong Phyleus Actors sonnes of all men onely bore The palme at horse race conquering with lashing on more horse And enuying my victorie because before their course All the best games were gone with me These men were twins one was A most sure guide a most sure guide The other gaue the passe With rod and mettle This was then But now yong men must wage These workes and my ioynts vndergo the sad defects of age Though then I was another man * His desire of praise pants still at that time I exceld Amongst th'heroes But forth now let th' other rites be held For thy deceast friend this thy gift in all kind part I take And much it ioyes my heart that still for my true kindnesse sake You giue me memorie You perceiue in what fit grace I stand Amongst the Grecians and to theirs you set your gracefull hand The gods giue ample recompence of grace againe to thee For this and all thy fauors Thus backe through the thrust draue he Another note of Nestors humor not so much being to be plainly obserued in all these Iliads as in this booke When he had staid out all the praise of old Neleides And now for buffets that rough game he orderd passages Proposing a laborious Mule of sixe yeares old vâ—…'d And fierce in handling brought and bound in that place where they gam'd And to the conquerd a round cup both which hâ—… thus proclames Atrides and all friends of Greece two men for these two games Achilles proposes the game for buffets I bid stand forth who best can strike with high contracted fists Apollo giuing him the wreath know all about these lists Shall winne a Mule patient of â—…oyle the vanquisht this round cup. This vtterd Panopâ—…s sonne Epeus straight stood vp A tall huge man that to the naile knew that rude sport of hand And â—…ng the tough mule thus spake Now let some other stand Note the sharpnes of wit in our Homer if where you looke not for 〈◊〉 you can find it Forth for the cup this Mule is mine at cuffes I bost me best Iâ—… not enough I am no souldier who is worthiest At all workes none not possible At this yet this I say And will performe this who stands forth I le burst him I will bray His bones as in a mortar fetch sâ—…rgeons enow to take His corse from vnder me This speech did all men silent make At last stood forth Euryalus a man god-like and sonne To king Mecisteus the grand child of honor'd Talaon He was so strong that coming once to Thebes when Oedipus Had like rites solemniz'd for him he went victorious From all the Thebanes This rare man Tydides would prepare Put on his girdle oxehide cords faire wrought and spent much care That he might conquer heartned him and
vse from food and sleepe haue taken the base courts Of my sad Pallace made my beds where all the abiect sorts Of sorrow I haue varied tumbl'd in dust and hid No bit no drop of sustenance toucht Then did Achilles bid His men and women see his bed laid downe and couered With purple Blankets and on them an Arras Couerlid Wast costs of silke plush laying by The women straite tooke lights And two beds made with vtmost speed and all the other rites Their Lord nam'd vsde who pleasantly the king in hand thus bore Good father you must sleepe without lest any Counsellor Achilles to Priam. Make his accesse in depth of night as oft their industrie Brings them t' impart our warre-affaires of whom should any eye Discerne your presence his next steps to Agamemnon flie And then shall I lose all these gifts But go to signifie And that with truth how many daies you meane to keepe the state Of Hectors funerals because so long would I rebate Mine owne edge set to sacke your towne and all our host containe From interruption of your rites He answerd If you meane To suffer such rites to my sonne you shall performe a part Of most grace to me But you know with how dismaid a heart Our host tooke Troy and how much Feare will therefore apprehend Their spirits to make out againe so farre as we must send For wood to raise our heape of death vnlesse I may assure That this your high grace will stand good and make their passe secure Which if you seriously confirme nine daies I meane to mourne The tenth keepe funerall and feast th' eleuenth raise and adorne My sonnes fit Sepulcher The twelfth if we must needs wee le fight Be it replyed Aeacides do Hector all this right I le hold warre backe those whole twelue daies of which to free all feare Take this my right hand This confirm'd the old king rested there His Herald lodg'd by him and both in forepart of the tent Achilles in an in most roome of wondrous ornament Whose side bright-cheekt Briseis warm'd Soft Sleepe tam'd gods and men All but most vsefull Mercurie Sleepe could not lay one chaine On his quicke temples taking care for getting off againe Engaged Priam vndiscern'd of those that did maintaine The sacred watch Aboue his head he stood with this demand O father sleep'st thou so secure still lying in the hand Mercurie appeares to Priam in his sleepe Of so much ill and being dismist by great Aeacides T is true thou hast redeem'd the dead but for thy lifes release Should Agamemnon heare thee here three times the price now paide Thy sonnes hands must repay for thee This said the king affraid Start from his sleepe Idaeus cald and for both Mercurie The horse and mules before losde ioyn'd so soft and curiously That no eare heard and through the host draue but when they drew To gulphy Xanthus bright-wau'd streame vp to Olympus flew Industrious Mercurie And now the saffron morning rose Spreading her white robe ouer all the world When full of woes They scourg'd on with the Corse to Troy from whence no eye had seene Before Cassandra their returne She like loues golden Queene Ascending Pergamus discern'd her fathers person nie His Herald and her brothers Corse and then she cast this crie Round about Troy O Troians if euerye did greet Hector return'd from fight aliue now looke ye out and meet Cassandra to the Trâ—…ians His ransom'd person Then his worth was all your cities ioy Now do it honour Out all rusht woman nor man in Troy Was left a most vnmeasur'd crie tooke vp their voices Close To Scaeas Ports they met the Corse and to it headlong goes The reuerend mother the deare wife vpon it strowe their haire And lie entranced Round about the people broke the aire In lamentations and all day had staid the people there If Priam had not cryed Giue way giue me but leaue to beare The body home and mourne your fils Then cleft the preasse and gaue Way to the chariot To the Court Herald Idaeus draue Where on a rich bed they bestow'd the honor'd person round Girt it with Singers that the woe with skillfull voices crownd A wofull Elegie they sung wept singing and the dames Sigh'd as they sung Andromache the downeright prose exclames Andromaches lamentation for her husband Began to all she on the necke of slaughterd Hector fell And cried out O my husband thou in youth badst youth farewell Left'st me a widdow thy sole sonne an infant our selues curst In our birth made him right our child for all my care that nurst His infancie will neuer giue life to his youth ere that Troy from her top will be destroy'd thou guardian of our state Thou euen of all her strength the strength thou that in care wert past Her carefull mothers of their babes being gone how can she last Soone will the swolne fleete fill her wombe with all their seruitude My selfe with them and thou with me deare sonne in labours rude Shalt be emploid sternely suruaid by cruell Conquerors Or rage not suffering life so long some one whose hate abhorres Thy presence putting him in mind of his sire slaine by thine Andromaches lamentation for Hector His brother sonne or friend shall worke thy ruine before mine Tost from some towre for many Greeks haue eate earth from the hand Of thy strong father In sad fight his spirit was too much mann'd And therefore mourne his people we thy Parents my deare Lord For that thou mak'st endure a woe blacke and to be abhorr'd Of all yet thou hast left me worst not dying in thy bed And reaching me thy last-raisd hand in nothing counselled Nothing commanded by that powre thou hadst of me to do Some deed for thy sake O for these neuer will end my woe Neuer my teares ceasse Thus wept she and all the Ladies closde Her passion with a generall shrieke Then Hecuba disposde Her thoughts in like words O my sonne of all mine much most deare Hecubas lamentation Deare while thou liu'dst too euen to gods and after death they were Carefull to saue thee Being best thou most wer 't enuied My other sonnes Achilles sold but thee he left not dead Imber and Samos the false Ports of Lemnos entertain'd Their persons thine no Port but death nor there in rest remain'd Thy violated Corse the Tombe of his great friend was spher'd With thy dragg'd person yet from death he was not therefore rer'd But all his rage vsde so the gods haue tenderd thy dead state Thou liest as liuing sweete and fresh as he that felt the Fate Of Phoebus holy shafts These words the Queene vsde for her mone And next her Hellen held that state of speech and passion O Hector All my brothers more were not so lou'd of me Hellens lamentation As thy most vertues Not my Lord I held so deare as thee That brought me hither before which I would