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
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
fit respects of men Are vanisht quite our right hands giuen our faiths our counsels vaine Our sacrifice with wine all fled in that prophaned flame We made to bind all for thus still we vaine perswasions frame And striue to worke our end with words not ioyning stratagemes And hands together though thus long the powre of our extremes Hath vrg'd vs to them Atreus sonne firme as at first howre stand Make good thy purpose talke no more in counsels but command In actiue field Let two or three that by themselues aduise Faint in their crowning they are such as are not truly wise They will for Argos ere they know if that which Ioue hath said Be false or true I tell them all that high Ioue bowd his head As first we went aboord our fleet for signe we should confer These Troians their due fate and death almightie Iupiter All that day darting forth his flames in an vnmeasur'd light On our right hands let therefore none once dreame of coward flight Till for his owne some wife of Troy he sleepes withall the rape Of Hellen wreaking and our sighes enforc't for her escape If any yet dare dote on home let his dishonor'd hast His blacke and well-built barke but touch that as he first disgrac't His countries spirit fate and death may first his spirit let go But be thou wise king do not trust thy selfe but others Know I will not vse an abiect word see all thy men arraid In tribes and nations that tribes tribes nations may nations aid Which doing thou shalt know what chiefs what souldiers play the men And what the cowards for they all will fight in seuerall then Easie for note And then shalt thou if thou destroist not Troy Know if the prophecies defect or men thou dost employ In their approu'd arts want in warre or lacke of that braue heate Fit for the ventrous spirits of Greece was cause to thy defeate To this the king of men replied O father all the sonnes Agamemnon to Nestor Of Greece thou conquerst in the strife of consultations I would to Ioue Atheniâ—… and Phoebus I could make Of all but ten such Counsellers then instantly would shake Kings Priams citie by our hands laid hold on and laid wast But Ioue hath orderd I should grieue and to that end hath cast My life into debates past end My selfe and Thetis sonne Like girles in words fought for a girle and I th' offence begunne But if we euer talke as friends Troys thus deferred fall Shall neuer vexe vs more one houre Come then to victles all That strong Mars all may bring to field each man his lances steele See sharpned well his shield well lin'd his horses meated well His chariot carefully made strong that these affaires of death We all day may hold fiercely out no man must rest or breath The bosomes of our targatiers must all be steept in sweate The lanciers arme must fall dissolu'd our chariot horse with heate Must seeme to melt But if I find one souldier take the chase Or stirre from fight or fight not still fixt in his enemies face Or hid a shipboord all the world for force nor price shall saue His hated life but fowles and dogs be his abhorred graue He said and such a murmure rose as on a loftie shore Simile The waues make when the Southwind comes and tumbles them before Against a rocke growne neare the strand which diuersly beset Is neuer free but here and there with varied vprores beat All rose then rushing to the fleete perfum'd their tents and eate Each offring to th' immortall Gods and praying to scape th' heate Of waâ—…e and death The king of men an Oxe of fiue yeares spring T'almightie Ioue slue call'd the Peeres first Nestor then the king Idomenaeus after them th' Aiaces and the sonne Of Tydeus Ithacus the sixth in counsell Paragon Diomed. To Ioue himselfe All these he bad but cat-a-martiall-crie Good Menelaus since he saw his brother busily Employd at that time would not stand on inuitation dBut of himselfe came All about the offring ouerthrowne Stood round tooke salt-cakes and the king himselfe thus praid for all O Ioue most great most glorious that in that starrie hall Sit'st drawing darke clouds vp to aire let not the Sunne go downe Darknesse supplying it till my hands the Pallace and the towne Of Priam ouerthrow and burne the armes on Hectors brest Diuiding spoiling with my sword thousands in interest Of his bad quarrell laid by him in dust and eating earth He pray'd Ioue heard him not but made more plentifull the birth Of his sad toiles yet tooke his gifts Prayres past cakes on they threw The Oxe then to the altar drawne they kill'd and from him drew His hide then cut him vp his thighes in two hewne dubd with fat Prickt on the sweet-breads and with wood leauelesse and kindl'd at Apposed fire they burne the thighes which done the inwards slit They broild on coales and eate The rest in giggots cut they spit Roast cunningly draw sit and feast nought lackt to leaue alaid Each temperate appetite which seru'd Nestor began and said Atrides most grac't king of men now no more words allow Nestor to Agamemnon Nor more deferre the deed Ioue vowes Let heralds summon nâ—…w The brasen-coted Greekes and vs range euerie where the host To stirre a strong warre quickly vp This speech no sillable lost The high-voic't heralds instantly he charg'd to call to armes The curld-head Greeks they call'd the Greeks straight answerd their alarmes The Ioue-kept kings about the king all gatherd with their aide Rang'd all in tribes and nations With them the gray-eyd maide Great Aegis Ioues bright shield sustain'd that can be neuer old Neuer corrupted fring'd about with serpents forg'd of gold As many as suffisde to make an hundred fringes worth A hunderd oxen euerie snake all sprawling all set forth With wondrous spirit Through the host with this the Goddesse ranne In furie casting round her eyes and furnisht euerie man With strength exciting all to armes and fight incessant None Now lik't their lou'd homes like the warres And as a fire vpon A huge wood on the heights of hils that farre off hurles his light So the diuine brasse shin'd on these thus thrusting on for fight Their splendor through the aire reacht heauen and as about the flood Caister in an Asian meade flockes of the airie brood Cranes Geese or long-neckt Swans here there proud of their pinions ffiâ—… And in their fals lay out such throats that with their spiritfull crie The meddow shrikes againe so here these many nation'd men Flow'd ouer the Scamandrian field from tents and ships the din Was dreadfull that the feete of men and horse beate out of earth And in the florishing meade they stood thicke as the odorous birth Of flowres or leaues bred in the spring or thicke as swarmes of flies Throng then to ship-coates when each swarme his erring wing applies To milke
he and therefore be of cheare Menelaus to Agamemnon Lest all the armie led by you your passions put in feare The arrow fell in no such place as death could enter at My girdle curets doubled here and my most trusted plate Obiected all twixt me and death the shaft scarce piercing one Good brother said the king I wish it were no further gone Agamemnon to Menâ—…laus For then our best in medicines skild shall ope and search the wound Applying balmes to ease thy paines and soone restore thee sound This said diuine Talthybius he cald and bad him haste Machaon Aesculapius sonne who most of men was grac't 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 With Physicks soueraigne remedies to come and lend his hand To Menelaus shot by one well skild in the command Of bow and arrowes one of Troy or of the Lycian aid Who much hath glorified our foe and vs as much dismaid He heard and hasted instantly and cast his eyes about The thickest squadrons of the Greekes to find Machaon out He found him standing guarded well with well-arm'd men of Thrace With whom he quickly ioynd and said Man of Apollos race Talâ—…ybius to Machâ—…on Haste for the king of men commands to see a wound imprest In Menelaus great in armes by one instructed best In th' art of archerie of Troy or of the Lycian bands That them with much renowne adornes vs with dishonor brands Machaon much was mou'd with this who with the herald flew From troope to troope alongst the host and soone they came in view Of hurt Atrides circled round with all the Grecian kings Who all gaue way and straight he drawes the shaft which forth he brings Machaon draws the arroâ—… Without the forkes the girdle then plate curets off he pluckes And viewes the wound when first from it the clotterd blood he sucks Then medicines wondrously composd the skilfull Leech applyed Which louing Chyron taught his Sire he from his Sire had tryed While these were thus employd to ease the Atrean martialist The Troians arm'd and charg'd the Greekes the Greekes arme and resist The Troians renew the fighâ—… Then not asleepe nor maz'd with feare nor shifting off the blowes You could behold the king of men but in full speed he goes To set a glorious fight on foote and he examples this Agamemnon marshals his armiâ—… With toyling like the worst on foote who therefore did dismisse His brasse-arm'd chariot and his steeds with Ptolomaus sonne Sonne of Pyraides their guide the good Euâ—…ymidon Yet said the king attend with them lest wearinesse should seise My lims surcharg'd with ordering troopes so thicke and vast as these Eurymidon then rein'd his horse that trotted neighing by The king a foot-man and so scowres the squadrons orderly Those of his swiftly-mounted Greekes that in their armes were fit Agamemnon to the Greekâ—…s Those he put on with chearfull words and bad them not remit The least sparke of their forward spirits because the Troians durst Take these abhord aduantages but let them do their wurst For they might be assur'd that Ioue would patronise no lies And that who with the breach of truce would hurt their enemies With vultures should be torne themselues that they should raze their towne Their wiues and children at their breasts led vassals to their owne But such as he beheld hang off from that increasing fight Such would he bitterly rebuke and with disgrace excite Base Argiues blush ye not to stand as made for Buts to darts Agamemnon to the negligent souldiers Why are ye thus discomfited like Hinds that haue no harts Who wearied with a long-run field are instantly embost Stand still and in their beastly breasts is all their courage lost And so stand you strooke with amaze nor dare to strike a stroke Would ye the foe should nearer yet your dastard splenes prouoke Euen where on Neptunes fomie shore our nauies lie in sight To see if Ioue will hold your hands and teach ye how to fight Thus he commanding rang'd the host and passing many a band He came to the Cretensian troopes where all did armed stand About the martiall Idomen who brauely stood before In vantguard of his troopes and matcht for strength a sauage Bore Meriones his chariotere the Rereguard bringing on Which seene to Atreus sonne to him it was a sight alone And Idomens confirmed mind with these kind words he seekes O Idomen I euer lou'd thy selfe past all the Greekes Agamemnon to Idomen In warre or any worke of peace at table euery where For when the best of Greece besides mixe euer at our cheere My good old ardent wine with small and our inferiour mates Drinke euen that mixt wine measur'd too thou drinkst without those rates Our old wine neate and euermore thy boll stands full like mine To drinke still when and what thou wilt Then rowse that heart of thine And whatsoeuer heretofore thou hast assum'd to be This day be greater To the king in this sort answerd he Atrides what I euer seem'd the same at euerie part Idomen to Agamemnon This day shall shew me at the full and I will fit thy hart But thou shouldst rather cheare the rest and tell them they in right Of all good warre must offer blowes and should begin the fight Since Troy first brake the holy truce and not endure these braues To take wrong first and then be dar'd to the reuenge it craues Assuring them that Troy in fate must haue the worse at last Since first and gainst a truce they hurt where they should haue embrac't This comfort and aduice did fit Atrides heart indeed Who still through new raisd swarmes of men held his laborious speed And came where both th' Aiaces stood whom like the last he found Arm'd caskt and readie for the fight Behind them hid the ground A cloud of foot that seem'd to smoke And as a Goteheaâ—…d spies On some hils top out of the Sea a rainie vapour rise How the troopes of Aiax stood Driuen by the breath of Zephyrus which though farre off he rest Comes on as blacke as pitch and brings a tempest in his breast Whereat he frighted driues his heards apace into a den So darkning earth with darts and shields shew'd these with all their men This sight with like ioy fir'd the king who thus let forth the flame In crying out to both the Dukes O you of equall name Agamemnon to the Aiaces I must not cheare nay I disclaime all my command of you Your selues command with such free minds and make your souldiers shew As you nor I led but themselues O would our father Ioue Minerua and the God of light would all our bodies mouâ—… With such braue spirits as breathe in you then Priams loftiâ—… towne Should soone be taken by our hands for euer ouerthrowne Then held he on to other troopes and Nestor next beheld The subtle Pylian Orator range vp and downe the field
to the sons of Priam. Euen till they braue ye at your gates Ye suffer beaten downe Aeneas great Anchises sonne whose prowesse we renowne As much as Hectors fetch him off from this contentious prease With this the strength and spirits of all his courage did increase And yet Sarpedon seconds him with this particular taunt Sarpedon reproues Hector Of noble Hector Hector where is thy vnthanfull vaunt And that huge strength on which it built that thou and thy allies With all thy brothers without aid of vs or our supplies And troubling not a citizen the Citie safe would hold In all which friends and brothers helps I see not nor am told Of any one of their exploits but all held in dismay Of Diomed like a sort of dogs that at a Lion bay And entertaine no spirit to pinch we your assistants here Fight for the towne as you helpt vs and I an aiding Peere No Citizen euen out of care that doth become a man For men and childrens liberties adde all the aide I can Not out of my particular cause far hence my profit growes For far hence Asian Lycia lies where gulfie Xanthus flowes And where my lou'd wife infant sonne and treasure nothing scant I left behind me which I see those men would haue that want And therefore they that haue would keepe yet I as I would lose Their sure fruition cheere my troupes and with their liues propose Mine owne life both to generall fight and to particular cope With this great souldier though I say I entertaine no hope To haue such gettings as the Greeks nor feare to lose like Troy Yet thou euen Hector deedlesse standst and car'st not to employ Thy towne-borne friends to bid them stand to fight and saue their wiues Lest as a Fowler casts his nets vpon the silly liues Of birds of all sorts so the foe your walls and houses hales One with another on all heads or such as scape their fals Be made the prey and prize of them as willing ouerthrowne That hope not for you with their force and so this braue-built towne Will proue a Chaos that deserues in thee so hote a care As should consume thy dayes and nights to hearten and prepare Th' assistant Princes pray their minds to beare their far-brought toiles To giue them worth with worthy fight in victories and foiles Still to be equall and thy selfe exampling them in all Need no reproofes nor spurs all this in thy free choice should fall This stung great Hectors heart and yet as euery generous mind Should silent beare a iust reproofe and shew what good they find In worthy counsels by their ends put into present deeds Not stomacke nor be vainly sham'd so Hectors spirit proceeds And from his Chariot wholly arm'd he iumpt vpon the sand On foote so toiling through the hoast a dart in either hand And all hands turn'd against the Greeks the Greeks despisde their worst And thickning their instructed powres expected all they durst Then with the feet of horse and foote the dust in clouds did rise And as in sacred floores of barnes vpon corne-winowers flies The chaffe driuen with an opposite wind when yellow Ceres dites Simile 〈◊〉 the husband man expressing â—…bly Which all the Diters feet legs armes their heads and shoulders whites So lookt the Grecians gray with dust that strooke the solide heauen Raisd from returning chariots and troupes together driuen Each side stood to their labours firme fierce Mars flew through the aire And gatherd darknesse from the fight and with his best affaire Obeyd the pleasure of the Sunne that weares the golden sword Who bad him raise the spirits of Troy when Pallas ceast t' afford Her helping office to the Greeks and then his owne hands wrought Apollo brings Aeneas from his Temple to field cured Which from his Phanes rich chancell cur'd the true Aeneas brought And plac't him by his Peeres in field who did with ioy admire To see him both aliue and safe and all his powers entire Yet stood not sifting how it chanc't another sort of taske Then stirring th' idle siue of newes did all their forces aske Inflam'd by Phaebus harmfull Mars and Eris eagrer farre The Greekes had none to hearten them their hearts rose with the warre But chiefly Diomed Ithacus and both th' Aiaces vsde Stirring examples and good words their owne fames had infusde Spirit enough into their blouds to make them neither feare The Troians force nor Fate it selfe but still expecting were When most was done what would be more their ground they stil made good And in their silence and set powers like faire still clouds they stood Simile With which Ioue crownes the tops of hils in any quiet day When Boreas and the ruder winds that vse to driue away Aires duskie vapors being loose in many a whistling gale Are pleasingly bound vp and calme and not a breath exhale So firmely stood the Greeks nor fled for all the Ilions ayd Atrides yet coasts through the troupes confirming men so stayd O friends said he hold vp your minds strength is but strength of will Reuerence each others good in fight and shame at things done ill Where souldiers shew an honest shame and loue of honour liues That ranks men with the first in fight death fewer liueries giues Then life or then where Fames neglect makes cow-herds fight at length Flight neither doth the bodie grace nor shewes the mind hath strength He said and swiftly through the troupes a mortall Lance did send That reft a standard-bearers life renownd Aeneas friend Deicoon Pergasides whom all the Troians lou'd Pergasides slain by Agamemnon As he were one of Priams sonnes his mind was so approu'd In alwayes fighting with the first the Lance his target tooke Which could not interrupt the blow that through it cleerly strooke And in his bellies rimme was sheath'd beneath his girdle-stead He sounded falling and his armes with him resounded dead Then fell two Princes of the Greeks by great Aeneas ire Orsilochus and Crethon slain by Aeneas Diocleus sonnes Orsilochus and Crethon whose kind Sire In brauely-builded Phaera dwelt rich and of sacred bloud He was descended lineally from great Alphaus floud That broadly flowes through Pylos fields Alphaeus did beget The pedigree of Orsilochus Orsilochus who in the rule of many men was set And that Orsilochus begat the rich Diocleus Diocleus sire to Crethon was and this Orsilochus Both these arriu'd at mans estate with both th' Atrides went To honor them in th' Ilton warres and both were one way sent To death as well as Troy for death hid both in one blacke houre As two yong Lions with their dam sustaind but to deuoure Simile Bred on the tops of some steepe hill and in the gloomie deepe Of an inaccessible wood rush out and prey on sheepe Steeres Oxen and destroy mens stals so long that they come short And by the Owners steele are slaine in such vnhappie
his armes when Nestor did pursue Nestor to the Greeks The same reproofe he set on foote and thus supplide his turne What huge indignitie is this how will our country mourne Old Peleus that good king will weepe that worthy counsellor That trumpet of the Myrmidons who much did aske me for All men of name that went to Troy with ioy he did enquire Their valour and their towardnesse and I made him admire But that ye all feare Hector now if his graue eares shall heare How will he lift his hands to heauen and pray that death may beare His grieued soule into the deepe O would to heauens great King O si 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mihi Iupiter annos Qualis eram c. Minerua and the God of light that now my youthfull spring Did flourish in my willing veines as when at Phaeas towres About the streames of Iardanuâ—… my gather'd Pylean powres And dart-employed Arcadians fought neere raging Celadon Amongst whom first of all stood forth great Ereuthalion Who th' armes of Arcithous wore braue Areâ—…hous And since he still fought with a club sirnam'd Clauigerus All men and faire-girt Ladies both for honour cald him so He fought not with a keepe-off speare or with a farre shot bow But with a massie club of iron he brake through armed bands And yet Lycurgus was his death but not with force of hands With sleight encountring in a lane where his club wanted sway He thrust him through his spacious waste who fell and vpwards lay In death not bowing his face to earth his armes he did despoile Which iron Mars bestowd on him and those in Mars his toile Lycurgus euer after wore but when he aged grew Enforc't to keepe his peacefull house their vse he did renew On mightie Ereuthalions lims his souldier loued well And with these Armes he challeng'd all that did in Armes excell All shooke and stood dismaid none durst his aduerse champion make Yet this same forward mind of mine of choice would vndertake To fight with all his confidence though yongest enemie Of all the armie we conduct yet I fought with him I Minerua made me so renownd and that most tall strong Peere I slue his big bulke lay on earth extended here and there As it were couetous to spread the center euery where O that my youth were now as fresh and all my powers as sound Soone should bold Hector be impugn'd yet you that most are crownd With fortitude of all our hoast euen you me thinkes are slow Not free and set on fire with lust t' encounter such a foe With this nine royall Princes rose Atrides for the first Nine Princâ—… stand vp to answer Hector Then Diomed th' Aiaces then that did th' encounter thirst King Idomen and his consorts Mars-like Meriones Euemons sonne Euripilus and Andremonides Whom all the Grecians Thoas cald sprong of Andremons bloud And wise Vlysses euery one proposd for combat stood Againe Gerenius Nestor spake Let lots be drawne by all His hand shall helpe the wel-armd Greeks on whom the lot doth fall Lots 〈◊〉 by Nestor for the 〈◊〉 And to his wish shall he be helpt if he escape with life The harmfull danger-breathing fit of this aduentrous strife Each markt his lot and cast it in to Agamemnons caske The souldiers praid held vp their hands and this of Ioue did aske With eyes aduanc't to heauen O Ioue so leade the Heralds hand That Aiax or great Tydeus sonne may our wisht champion stand Or else the King himselfe that rules the rich Mycenian land This said old Nestor mixt the lots the foremost lot suruaid With Aiax Telamon was sign'd as all the souldiers praid One of the Heralds drew it forth who brought and shewd it round Beginning at the right hand first to all the most renownd None knowing it euery man denide but when he forth did passe To him which markt and cast it in which famous Aiax was He stretcht his hand and into it the Herald put the lot Who viewing it th'inscription knew the Duke denied not But ioyfully acknowledg'd it and threw it at his feet And said O friends the lot is mine which to my soule is sweet The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Aiâ—… For now I hope my fame shall rise in noble Hectors fall But whilst I arme my selfe do you on great Saturnius call He to the Greeks But silently or to your selues that not a Troian heare Or openly if you thinke good since none aliue we feare None with a will if I will not can my bold powers affright At least for plaine fierce swinge of strength or want of skill in fight For I will well proue that my birth and breed in Salamine Was not all consecrate to meate or meere effects of wine This said the wel-giuen souldiers prayed vp went to heauen their eyne O Ioue that Ida doest protect most happie most diuine Send victorie to Aiax side fame grace his goodly lim Or if thy loue blesse Hectors life and thou hast care of him Bestow on both like power like fame This said in bright armes shone The good strong Aiax who when all his warre attire was on Marcht like the hugely figur'd Mars when angry Iupiter Aiax armed his dreadful maner of approch to the combat With strength on people proud of strength sends him forth to inferre Wreakfull contention and comes on with presence full of feare So th'Achiue rampire Telamon did twixt the hoasts appeare Smil'd yet of terrible aspect on earth with ample pace He boldly stalkt and shooke aloft his dart with deadly grace It did the Grecians good to see but heart quakes shooke the ioynts Of all the Troians Hectors selfe felt thoughts with horrid points Tempt his bold bosome but he now must make no counterflight Nor with his honour now refuse that had prouokt the fight The shield of Aiax like a tower Aiax came neare and like a towre his shield his bosome bard The right side brasse and seuen Oxe hides within it quilted hard Old Tychius the best currier that did in Hyla dwell Tychius the currier Did frame it for exceeding proofe and wrought it wondrous well Hinc illud Dominuâ—… clypei septemplicis Aiax With this stood he to Hector close and with this Braue began Now Hector thou shalt clearly know thus meeting man to man What other leaders arme our hoast besides great Thetis sonne Who with his hardie Lions heart hath armies ouerrunne But he lies at our crookt-sternd fleet a Riuall with our King In height of spirit yet to Troy he many knights did bring Coequall with Aeacides all able to sustaine All thy bold challenge can import begin then words are vaine The Helme-grac't Hector answerd him Renowned Telamon Hector to Aiax Prince of the souldiers came from Greece assay not me like one Yong and immartiall with great words as to an Amazon dame I haue the habit of all fights and know the bloudie frame Of euery slaughter I well
streÌ„gths try season there their sweet With ceaslesse toils and grieuances For now he turnd his face Lookt down viewd the far-off land of welrode meÌ„ in Thrace Of the renown'd amilk-nourisht men the Hippemolgians Long-liu'd most iust and innocent And close-fought Mysians Nor turnd he any more to Troy his euer-shining eyes Because he thought not any one of all the Deities When his care left th' indifferent field would aide on either side But this securitie in Ioue the great Sea-Rector spide Who sate aloft on th' vtmost top of shadie Samothrace And viewd the fight His chosen seate stood in so braue a place Neptunes prospect That Priams cittie th' Achiue ships all Ida did appeare To his full view who from the sea was therefore seated there He tooke much ruth to see the Greeks by Troy sustaine such ill And mightily incenst with Ioue stoopt strait from that steepe hill That shooke as he flew off so hard his parting prest the height The woods and all the great hils neare trembled beneath the weight Of his immortall mouing feet three steps he onely tooke Before he far-off Aegas reacht but with the fourth it shooke With his drad entrie In the depth of those seas he did hold His bright and glorious pallace built of neuer-rusting gold And there arriu'd he put in Coach his brazen-footed steeds All golden man'd and pac't with wings and all in golden weeds The horse of Neptune He cloth'd himselfe The golden scourge most elegantly done He tooke and mounted to his seate and then the God begun To driue his chariot through the waues From whirlepits euery way The whales exulted vnder him and knew their king the Sea For ioy did open and his horse so swift and lightly flew The vnder-axeltree of Brasse no drop of water drew And thus these deathlesse Coursers brought their king to th' Achiuâ—… ships Twixt th' Imber Cliffs and Tenedos a certaine Cauerne creepes Into the deepe seas gulphie breast and there th'earth-shaker staid Chorographia His forward steeds tooke them from coach and heauenly fodder laid In reach before them Their brasse houes he giâ—… with giues of gold Not to be broken nor dissolu'd to make them firmely hold A fit attendance on their king Who went to th' Achiue host Nept une goes to the Greekes Which like to tempests or wild flames the clustring Troians tost Insatiably valourous in Hectors like command High founding and resounding shouts for Hope chear'd euery hand To make the Greek fleete now their prise and all the Greeks destroy But Neptune circler of the earth with fresh heart did employ The Grecian hands In strength of voice and body he did take Calchas resemblance and of all th' Aiaces first bespake Who of themselues were free enough Aiaces you alone Neptunâ—… to the two Aâ—…aces Sustaine the common good of Greece in euer putting on The memorie of Fortitude and flying shamefull Flight Elsewhere the desperate hands of Troy could giue me no affright The braue Greeks haue withstood their worst but this our mightie wall Being thus transcended by their powre graue Feare doth much appall My carefull spirits lest we feele some fatall mischiefe here Where Hector raging like a flame doth in his charge appeare And boasts himselfe the best Gods sonne Be you conceited so And fire so more then humane spirits that God may seeme to do In your deeds and with such thoughts chear'd others to such exhort And such resistance these great minds will in as great a sort Strengthen your bodies and force checke to all great Hectors charge Though nereso spirit-like and though Ioue still past himselfe enlarge His sacred actions Thus he toucht with his forckt scepters point The brests of both fild both their spirits and made vp euery ioynt With powre responsiue when hawk-like swift and set sharpe to flie Simile That fiercely stooping from a rocke inaccessible and hie Cuts through a field and sets a fowle not being of her kind Hard and gets ground still Neptune so left these two eithers mind Beyond themselues raisd Of both which Oileus first discern'd The masking Deitie and said Aiax some God hath warn'd Aiax Oileus to Aiax Telamoâ—…ius Our powres to fight and saue our fleet He put on him the hew Of th'Augure Calchas by his pace in leauing vs I knew Without all question t was a God the Gods are easly knowne And in my tender brest I feele a greater spirit blowne To execute affaires of fight I find my hands so free To all high motion and my feete seeme featherd vnder me The two 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Telamonius thus receiu'd So to my thoughts my hands Burne with desire to tosse my lance each foote beneath me stands Bare on bright fire to vse his speed my heart is raisd so hie That to encounter Hectors selfe I long insatiately While these thus talkt as ouer-ioyd with studie for the fight Which God had stird vp in their spirits the same God did excite The Greekes that were behind at fleet refreshing their free hearts And ioynts being euen dissolu'd with toyle and seeing the desprate parts Playd by the Troians past their wall Griefe strooke them and their eyes Sweat teares from vnder their sad lids their instant destinies Neuer supposing they could scape But Neptune stepping in With ease stird vp the able troopes and did at first begin With Teucer and Peneleus th'Heroe Leitus Deipirus Meriones and yong Antilochus All expert in the deeds of armes O youths of Greece said he Neptâ—… to the Greekes What change is this In your braue fight I onely lookt to see Our fleets whole safetie and if you neglect the harmefull field Now shines the day when Greece to Troy must all her honours yeeld O griefe so great a miracle and horrible to sight As now I see I neuer thought could haue prophan'd the light The Troians braue vs at our ships that haue bene heretofore Like faint and fearefull Deare in woods distracted euermore With euerie sound and yet scape not but proue the torne-vp fare Of Lynces Wolues and Leopards as neuer borne to warre Nor durst these Troians at first siege in any least degree Expect your strength or stand one shocke of Grecian Chiualrie Yet now farre from their walles they dare fight at our fleet maintaine All by our Generals cowardise that doth infect his men Who still at ods with him for that will needs themselues neglect And suffer Slaughter in their ships Suppose there was defect Beyond all question in our king to wrong Aeacides And he for his particular wreake from all assistance cease We must not ceasse t' assist our selues Forgiue our Generall then Good minded men apt to forgiue And quickly too apt to forgiue are all good minded men Yet you quite voide of their good minds giue good in you quite lost For ill in others though ye be the worthiest of your host As old as I am I
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
Thetis sonne Ioue to Minerua Now daughter thou hast quite forgot O is Achilles care Extinguisht in thee prostrated in most extreme ill fare He lies before his high-sail'd fleet for his dead friend the rest Are strengthning them with meate but he lies desperatly opprest With heartlesse fasting Go thy wayes and to his brest instill Red Nectar and Ambrosia that Fast procure no ill To his neare enterprise This spurre he added to the free And like a Harpye with a voice that shrickes so dreadfully And feathers that like needles prickt she stoopt through all the starres Amongst the Grecians all whose tents were now fill'd for the warres Her seres strooke through Achilles tent and closely she instill'd Heauens most-to-be-desired feast to his great breast and fill'd His sinewes with that sweete supply for feare vnsauorie Fast Should creepe into his knees Her selfe the skies againe enchac't The host set forth and pour'd his steele waues farre out of the fleete The show of the army setting forth vnder Achilles conduct And as from aire the frostie Northwind blowes a cold thicke sleete That dazels eyes flakes after flakes incessantly descending So thicke helmes curets ashen darts and round shields neuer ending Flow'd from the nauies hollow wombe their splendors gaue heauens eye His beames againe Earth laught to see her face so like the skie Armes shin'd so hote and she such clouds made with the dust she cast She thunderd feete of men and horse importun'd her so fast In midst of all diuine Achilles his faire person arm'd His teeth gnasht as he stood his eyes so full of fire they warm'd Vnsufferd griefe and anger at the Trâ—…ians so combin'd His greaues first vsde his goodly curets on his bosome shin'd His sword his shield that cast a brightnesse from it like the Moone And as from sea sailers discerne a harmfull fire let runne By herdsmens faults till all their stall flies vp in wrastling flame Which being on hils is seene farre off but being alone none came To giue it quench at shore no neighbours and at sea their friends Driuen off with tempests such a fire from his bright shield extends His ominous radiance and in heauen imprest his feruent blaze His crested helmet graue and high had next triumphant place On his curl'd head and like a starre it cast a spurrie ray About which a bright thickned bush of golden haire did play Which Vulcan forg'd him for his plume Thus compleate arm'd he â—…ide How fit they were and if his motion could with ease abide Their braue instruction and so farre they were from hindring it That to it they were nimble wings and made so light his spirit That from the earth the princely Captaine they tooke vp to aire Then from his armoury he drew his lance his fathers speare Huge weightie firme that not a Greeke but he himselfe alone Knew how to shake it grew vpon the mountaine â—…elion From whose height Chiron hew'd it for his Sire and fatall t was To great-soul'd men Of Peleus and Pelion surnamed Pelias Then from the stable their bright horse Automedon withdrawes And Alcymus Put Poitrils on and cast vpon their â—…awes Their bridles hurling backe the raines and hung them on the seate The faire scourge then Automedon takes vp and vp doth get To guide the horse The fights seate last Achilles tooke behind Who lookt so arm'd as if the Sunne there falne from heauen had shin'd Achilles to hiâ—… horses And terribly thus charg'd his steeds Xanthus and Balius Seed of the Harpye in the charge ye vndertake of vs Discharge it not as when Patroclus ye left dead in field But when with bloud for this dayes fast obseru'd Reuenge shall yeeld Our heart sacietie bring vs off Thus since Achilles spake As if his aw'd steeds vnderstood t was Iunoes will to make Vocall the pallat of the one who shaking his faire head Which in his mane let fall to earth he almost buried Thus Xanthus spake Ablest Achilles now at least our care Xanthus thâ—… horse of Achi. to Achilles Shall bring thee off but not farre hence the fatall minutes are Of thy graue ruine Nor shall we be then to be reprou'd But mightiest Fate and the great God Nor was thy best belou'd Spoil'd so of armes by our slow pace or courages empaire The best of gods Latonaes sonne that weares the golden haire Gaue him his deaths wound though the grace he gaue to Hectors hand We like the spirit of the West that all spirits can command For powre of wing could runne him off but thou thy selfe must go So Fate ordaines God and a man must giue thee ouerthrow This said the Furies stopt his voice Achilles farre in rage Achilles reply to Xanthus Thus answerd him It fits not thee thus proudly to presage My ouerthrow I know my selfe it is my fate to fall Thus farre from Phthia yet that Fate shall faile to vent her gall Till mine vent thousands These words vsde he fell to horrid deeds Gaue dreadfull signall and forthright made flie his one-hou'd steeds COMMENTARIVS ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Aprum praeparet mactandum Iouique Solique He shall prepare a Bore for sacrifice to Ioue and the Sunne It is the end of Agamemnons speech in this booke before to Vlysses and promiseth that sacrifice to Ioue and the Sun at the reconciliation of himselfe and Achilles Our Commentors Eustathius and Spondanus c. will by no meanes allow the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here for Homers but an vnskilfulnesse in the diuulger and will needs haue it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Spondanus sayes is altogether here to be vnderstood as Eustathius words teach for to offer so fierce a beast to Ioue as a Bore he sayes is absurd and cites Natalis lib. 1. cap. 17. where he sayes Homer in this place makes a tame Sow sacrificed to Ioue who was as tamely and simply deceiued as the rest Eustathius reason for it is that sus is animal salax and since the oath Agamemnon takes at this sacrifice to satisfie Achilles that he hath not toucht Briseis is concerning a woman very fitly is a Sow here sacrificed But this seemes to Spondanus something ridiculous as I hope you will easily iudge it And as I conceiue so is his owne opinion to haue the originall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 altered and expounded suem His reason for it he makes nice to vtter saying he knowes what is set downe amongst the learned touching the sacrifice of a Sow But because it is he sayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nihil ad rem though as they expound it t is too much ad rem he is willing to keepe his opinion in silence vnlesse you will take it for a splayed or gelded Sow as if Agamemnon would innuate that as this Sow being splayed is free from Venus so had he neuer attempted the dishonour of Briseis And peraduenture sayes Spondanus you cannot