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
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
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
â—…ll vnthought Stole on him in Achilles shape who tooke him thence and brought To well-built Lemnos selling him to famous Iasons sonne From whom a guest then in his house Imbrius Eetion Redeem'd at high rate and sent home t' Ariâ—…ba whence he fled And saw againe his fathers court eleuen daies banquetted Amongst his friends the twelfth god thrust his haplesse head againe In t'hands of sterne Aeacides who now must send him slaine To Plutos Court and gainst his will Him when Achilles knew Naked of helmet shield sword lance all which for ease he thâ—…ew To earth being ouercome with sweate and labour wearying His flying knees he storm'd and said O heauen a wondrous thing Inuades mine eyes those Ilians that heretofore I slue Rise from the darke dead quicke againe this man fâ—…te makes eschew Her owne steele fingers he was sold in Lemnos and the deepe Of all Seas twixt this Troy and that that many a man doth keepe From his lou'd countrie barres not him Come then he now shall tast The head of Pelias and trie if stâ—…le will downe as fast As other fortunes or kind earth can any surer 〈◊〉 On his slie person whose strong armes haue held downe Hercules His thoughts thus mou'd while he stood firme to see if he he 〈◊〉 Lycâ—…ons feare to be seeâ—… of Achilles Would offer flight which first he thought but when he had dâ—…ride He was dâ—…scried and flight was vaine fearefull he made more nie With purpose to embrace his knees and now long'd much to flie His blacke fate and abhorred death by coming in His foe Obseru'd all this and vp he raisd his lance as he would throw And then Lycaon close ran in fell on his breast and tooke Achilles knees whose lance on earth now staid did ouerlooke His â—…il-turn'd backe with thirst to glut his sharpe point with the blood That lay so readie but that thirst Lycaons thirst withstood To saue his blood Achilles knee in his one hand he knit His other held the long lance hard and would not part with it But thus besought I kisse thy knees diuine Aeacides Respect me and my fortunes rue I now present th' accesse Lycâ—…s 〈◊〉 intercession to Achilles for his life Of a poore suppliant for thy ruth and I am one that is Worthy thy ruth ô Ioues belou'd First houre my miseries Fell into any hand t was thine I tasted all my bread By thy gift since O since that houre that thy surprisall led From forth the faire wood my sad feete farre from my lou'd allies To famous Lemnos where I found an hundred Oxens prise To make my ransome for which now I thrise the worth will raise This day makes twelue since I arriu'd in Ilion many daies Being spent before in sufferance and now a cruell fate Thrusts me againe into thy hands I should hant Ioue with hate That with such set malignitie giues thee my life againe There were but two of vs for whom Laothoe sufferd paine Laothoe old Altes seed Alte whose pallace stood In height of vpper Pedasus neare Satnius â—…iluer flood And rulde the warre-like Lelegi Whose seed as many more King Priam married and begot the godlike Polydor And me accurst thou slaughterdst him and now thy hand on me Will proue as mortall I did thinke when here I met with thee I could not scape thee yet giue eare and adde thy mind to it I told my birth to intimate though one sire did beget Yet one wombe brought not into light Hector that slue thy friend And me O do not kill me then but let the wretched end Of Polydor excuse my life For halfe our being bred Brothers to Hector he halfe paid no more is forfeited Thus su'd he humbly but he heard with this austere replie Foole vrge not ruth noâ—… price to me till that solemnitie Resolu'd on for Patroclus death pay all his rites to fate Till his death I did grace to Troy and many liues did rate At price of ransome but none now of all the brood of Troy Who euer Ioue throwes to my hands shall any breath enioy That death can beate out specially that touch at Primas race Die die my friend what teares are these what sad lookes spoile thy face Patroclus died that farre past thee nay seest thou not beside My selfe euen I a faire yong-man and rarely magnifide And to my father being a king a mother haue that sits In ranke with goddesses and yet when thou hast spent thy spirits Death and as violent a fate must ouertake euen me By twilight morne-light day high noone when euer Destinie Sets on her man to hurle a lance or knit out of his string An arrow that must reach my life This said a languishing Lycaons heart bent like his knees yet left him strength t' aduance Both hands for mercie as he kneeld His foe yet leaues his lance And forth his sword flies which he hid in furrow of a wound Driuen through the ioynture of his necke flat fell he on the ground Stretcht with deaths pangs and all the earth embrew'd with timelesse blood Then gript Aeacides his heele and to the loftie flood Flung swinging his vnpitied corse to see it swim and tosse Vp on the rough waues and said Go feed fat the fish with losse Of thy left blood they cleane will sucke thy greene wounds and this saues Thy mother teares vpon thy bed Deepe Xanthus on his waues Shall hoyse thee brauely to a tombe that in her burly breast The sea shall open where great fish may keepe thy funerall feast With thy white fat and on the waues dance at thy wedding fate Clad in blacke horror keeping close inaccessible state So perish Ilians till we plucke the browes of Ilion Downe to her feete you flying still I flying still vpon Thus in the rere and as my browes were forckt with rabid hornes The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which they translate caedens but properly signifies dissipans ut boues infestis cornibus Tosse ye together This braue flood that strengthens and adornes Your citie with his siluer gulfes to whom so many buls Your zeale hath offerd with blind zeale his sacred current guls With casting chariots and horse quicke to his prayd-for aide Shall nothing profite perish then till cruell'st Death hath laide All at the red feet of Reuenge for my slaine friend and all With whom the absence of my hands made yours a festiuall This speech great Xanthus more enrag'd and made his spirit contend For meanes to shut vp the o'pt vaine against him and defend The Troians in it from his plague In meane time Peleus sonne And now with that long lance he hid for more blood set vpon Asteropaeus the descent of Pelagon and he Of brode-stream'd Axius and the dame of first natiuitie To all the daughters that renown'd Acesamenus seed Bright Periboea whom the flood arm'd thicke with loftie reed Comprest At her grandchild now went Thetis great sonne whose foe Stood
person which sweare thou These faire and temperate termes Farre fled Achilles his browes bent and out flew this reply Hector thou onely pestilence in all mortalitie Achilles sterne reply to Hector To my sere spirits neuer set the point twixt thee and me Any conditions but as farre as men and Lions flie All termes of couenant lambes and wolues in so farre opposite state Impossible for loue t' attone stand we till our soules satiate The god of souldiers do not dreame that our disiunction can Endure condition Therefore now all worth that fits a man Call to thee all particular parts that fit a souldier And they all this include besides the skill and spirit of warre Hunger for slaughter and a hate that eates thy heart to eate Thy foes heart This stirs this supplies in death the killing heate And all this needst thou No more flight Pallas Athenia Will quickly cast thee to my lance now now together draw All griefes for vengeance both in me and all my friends late dead That bled thee raging with thy lance This said he brandished His long lance and away it sung which Hector giuing view Achilles first encounter with Hector Stoupt low stood firme foreseeing it best and quite it ouerflew Fastening on earth * Pallas Athenia drew it and gaue her friend Vnseene of Hector Hector then thus spake Thou want'st thy end God-like Achilles now I see thou hast not learn'd my fate Of Ioue at all as thy high words would brauely intimate Much tongue affects thee cunning words well serue thee to prepare Thy blowes with threats that mine might faint with want of spirit to dare But my backe neuer turnes with breath it was not borne to beare Burthens of wounds strike home before driue at my breast thy speare As mine at thine shall and trie then if heauens will fauor thee With scape of my lance O would Ioue would take it after me And make thy bosome take it all an easie end would crowne Our difficult warres were thy soule fled thou most bane of our towne Thus flew his dart toucht at the midst of his vast shield and flew Hector at Achilles A huge way from it but his heart wrath enterd with the view Of that hard scape and heauie thoughts strooke through him when he spide His brother vanisht and no lance beside left out he cride Deiphobus another lance Lance nor Deiphobus Hâ—…ctors amaze with the deceit of Pallas Stood neare his call And then his mind saw all things ominous And thus suggested Woe is me the gods haue cald and I Must meete Death here Deiphobus I well hop't had bene by With his white shield but our strong wals shield him and this deceit Flowes from Minerua now ô now ill death comes no more flight No more recouerie O Ioue this hath bene otherwise Thy bright sonne and thy selfe haue set the Greeks a greater prise Of Hectors bloud then now of which euen iealous you had care But Fate now conquers I am hers and yet not she shall share In my renowme that life is left to euery noble spirit And that some great deed shall beget that all liues shall inherit Thus forth his sword flew sharpe and broad and borâ—… a deadly weight The last encounter of Achilles and Hector With which he rusht in And looke how an Eagle from her height Stoopes to the rapture of a Lambe or cuffes a timorous Hare So fell in Hector and at him Achilles his minds â—…are Was fierce and mightie his shield cast a Sun-like radianâ—… Helme nodded and his foure plumes shooke and when he raisde his lance Vp Hesperus rose amongst th' euening starres His bright and sparliling 〈◊〉 Lookt through the body of his foe and sought through all that prise The next way to his thirsted life Of all wayes onely one Appear'd to him and thas was where th'vnequall winding bone That ioynes the shoulders and the necke had place and where there lay The speeding way to death and there his quicke eye could display The place it sought euen through those armes his friend Patrâ—…lus wore When Hector slue him There he aim'd and there his iauelin tore Sterne passage quite through Hectors necke yet mist it so his throte It gaue him powre to change some words but downe to earth it got Hâ—…ctor wounded to death His fainting bodie Then triumpht diuine Aeacides Hector said he thy heart supposde that in my friends deceasse Achilles insultation Thy life was safe my absent arme not car'd for Foole he left One at the fleete that better'd him and he it is that reâ—…t Thy strong knees thus and now the dogs and fowles in foulest vse Shall teare thee vp thy corse exposde to all the Greeks abuse He fainting said Let me implore euen by thy knees and soule Hâ—…ctors dâ—…ing request to Achilles And thy great parents do not see a crueltie so foule Inflicted on me brasse and gold receiue at any rate And quit my person that the Peeres and Ladies of our state May tombe it and to sacred fire turne thy prophane decrees Dog he replied vrge not my ruth by parents â—…oule nor knees Achillâ—… infleâ—…bilitie I would to God that any rage would let me eate 〈◊〉 raw Slic't into peeces so beyond the right of any law I tast thy merits and beleeue it flies the force of man To rescue thy head from the dogs Giue all the gold they can If ten or twentie times so much as friends would rate thy price Were tenderd here with vowes of more to buy the cruelâ—…es I here haue vow'd and after that thy father with his gold Would free thy selfe all that should faile to let â—…hy mother hold Solemnities of death with thee and do thee such a grace To mourne thy whole corse on a bed which 〈◊〉 I le deâ—…ce With fowles and dogs He dying said I kâ—…owing thâ—… well 〈◊〉 Thy now tried tyrannie nor hopâ—… for any other â—…aw Of nature or of nations and that feare fore't much more Then death my flight which neuer toucht at Hectâ—…s 〈◊〉 before Hectors prophecy of Achilles deâ—…h A soule of iron informes thee marke what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Will giue me of thee for this rage when in the Scâ—…ri gates Phoebus and Paris meete with thee Thus deathâ—… hand 〈◊〉 his eyes His soule flying his â—…aire â—…ms to hell mourning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To part so with his youth and strength Thâ—… dâ—…d thus Tâ—…is sonne His prophecie answer'd Die thou now when my short thred is spunne I le beare it as the will of Ioue This said his brazen speare He drew and stucke by then his armes that all embrewed were He spoil'd his shoulders off Then all the Greeks ran in to him To see his person and admir'd his terror-stirring lim The Greeks adâ—…ration of Hectors person being slaine Yet none stood by that gaue no wound to his so goodly forme When each to other said O Ioue he is not in the
appaid Long since and held it as at first to Priam Ilion And all his subiects for the rape of his licentious sonne Proud Paris that despisde these dames in their diuine accesse Made to his cottage and praisd her that his sad wantonnesse So costly nourisht The twelfth morne now shin'd on the delay Of Hectors rescue and then spake the deitie of the day Apollo to the other gods Thus to th'immortals Shamelesse gods authors of ill ye are To suffer ill Hath Hectors life at all times show'd his care Of all your rights in burning thighs of Beeues and Goates to you And are your cares no more of him vouchsafe ye not euen now Euen dead to keepe him that his wife his mother and his sonne Father and subiects may be mou'd to those deeds he hath done See'ng you preserue him that seru'd you and sending to their hands His person for the rites of fire Achilles that withstands All helpe to others you can helpe one that hath neither hart Nor soule within him that will moue or yeeld to any part That fits a man but Lion-like vplandish and meere wilde Slaue to his pride and all his nerues being naturally compil'd Of eminent strength stalkes out and preyes vpon a silly sheepe And so fares this man That fit ruth that now should draw so deepe In all the world being lost in him And Shame a qualitie Shame a quality that hurts and helpes men exceedingly Of so much weight that both it helpes and hurts excessiuely Men in their manners is not knowne nor hath the powre to be In this mans being Other men a greater losse then he Haue vndergone a sonne suppose or brother of one wombe Yet after dues of woes and teares they bury in his tombe All their deplorings Fates haue giuen to all that are true men True manly patience but this man so soothes his bloudy veine That no bloud serues it he must haue diuine-soul'd Hector bound To his proud chariot and danc't in a most barbarous round About his lou'd friends sepulcher when he is slaine T is vile And drawes no profit after it But let him now awhile Marke but our angers his is spent let all his strength take heed It tempts not our wraths he begets in this outragious deed The dull earth with his furies hate White-wristed Iuno said Being much incenst This doome is one that thou wouldst haue obaid Thou bearer of the siluer bow that we in equall care And honour should hold Hectors worth with him that claimes a share In our deseruings Hector suckt a mortall womans brest Aeacides a goddesses our selfe had interest Both in his infant nourishment and bringing vp with state And to the humane Pelâ—…s we gaue his bridall mate Because he had th'immortals loue To celebrate the feast Of their high nuptials euery god was glad to be a guest And thou fedst of his fathers cates touching thy harpe in grace Of that beginning of our friend whom thy perfidious face In his perfection blusheth not to match with Priâ—…m sonne O thou that to betray and shame art still companion Iâ—…e thus receiu'd her Neuer giue these brode termes to a god Iâ—…e to 〈◊〉 Those two men shall not be compar'd and yet of all that trod The well-pau'd Iliâ—… none so deare to all the deities As Hector was at least to me For offrings most of prise His hands would neuer pretermit Our altars euer stood Furnisht with banquets fitting vs odors and euery good Smokt in our temples and for this foreseeing it his fate We markt with honour which must stand but to giue stealth estate In his deliuerance shun we that nor must we fauour one To shame another Priuily with wrong to Thetis sonne We must not worke out Hectors right There is a ransome due And open course by lawes of armes in which must humbly sue The friends of Hector Which iust meane if any god would stay And vse the other t would not serue for Thetis night and day Is guardian to him But would one call Iris hither I Would giue directions that for gifts the Trâ—…n king should buy His Hectors body which the sonne of Thetis shall resigne This said his will was done the Dame that doth in vapours shine Dewie and thin footed with stormes iumpt to the sable seas Twixt Samos and sharpe Imbers cliffes the lake gron'd with the presse Of her rough feete and plummet-like put in an oxes horne That beares death to the raw-fed fish she diu'd and found forlorne Thetis lamenting her sonnes fate who was in Troy to haue Iris to Thetis Farre from his countrey his death seru'd Close to her Iris stood And said Rise Thetis prudent Ioue whose counsels thirst not blood Cals for thee Thetis answerd her with asking What 's the cause The great god cals my sad powres fear'd to breake th' immortall lawes In going fil'd with griefes to heauen But he sets snares for none With colourd counsels not a word of him but shall be done She said and tooke a sable vaile a blacker neuer wore A heauenly shoulder and gaue way Swift Iris swum before About both rowld the brackish waues They tooke their banks and flew Vp to Olympus where they found Satâ—…nius farre-of-view Spher'd with heauens-euerbeing states Minerua rose and gaue Her place to Thetis neare to Ioue and Iâ—…no did receiue Her entry with a cup of gold in which she dranke to her Grac't her with comfort and the cup to her hand did referre She dranke resigning it And then the sire of men and gods Thus entertain'd her Com'st thou vp to these our blest abodes Faire goddesse Thetis yet art sad and that in so high kind As passeth suffrance this I know and try'd thee and now find Thy will by mine rulde which is rule to all worlds gouernment Besides this triall yet this cause sent downe for thy ascent Nine dayes Contention hath bene held amongst th'immortals here For Hectors person and thy sonne and some aduices were To haue our good spie Mercurie steale from thy sonne the Corse But that reproch I kept farre off to keepe in future force Thy former loue and reuerence Haste then and tell thy sonne The gods are angrie and my selfe take that wrong he hath done To Hector in worst part of all the rather since he still Detaines his person Charge him then if he respect my will For any reason to resigne slaine Hector I will send Iris to Priam to redeeme his sonne and recommend Fit ransome to Achilles grace in which right he may ioy And end his vaine griefe To this charge bright Thetis did employ Instant endeuour From heauens tops she reacht Achilles tent Found him still sighing and some friends with all their complements Soothing his humour othersome with all contention Dressing his dinner all their paines and skils consum'd vpon Thetis to Achilles A huge wooll-bearer slaughterd there His reuerend mother then Came neare tooke kindly his faire hand and askt him Deare sonne
when Will sorrow leaue thee How long time wilt thou thus eate thy heart Fed with no other food nor rest t were good thou wouldst diuert Thy friends loue to some Ladie cheare thy spirits with such kind parts As she can quit thy grace withall the ioy of thy deserts I shall not long haue death is neare and thy all-conquering fate Whose haste thou must not haste with griefe but vnderstand the state Of things belonging to thy life which quickly order I Am sâ—…nt from Ioue t'aduertise thee that euery deitie Is angry with thee himselfe most that rage thus reigns in thee Still to keepe Hector Quit him then and for fit ransome free His iniur'd person He replied Let him come that shall giue The ransome and the person take Ioues pleasure must depriue Men of all pleasures This good speech and many more the sonne And mother vsde in eare of all the nauall Station And now to holy Ilion Saturnius Iris sent Go swiftfoote Iris bid Troys king beare fit gifts and content Ioues sâ—…ds Iris to Priam. Achilles for his sonnes release but let him greet alone The Grecian nauie not a man excepting such a one As may his horse and chariot guide a herald or one old Attending him and let him take his Hector Be he bold Discourag'd nor with death nor feare wise Mercurie shall guide His passage till the Prince be neare And he gone let him ride Resolu'd euen in Achilles tent He shall not touch the state Of his high person nor admit the deadliest desperate Of all about him For though fierce he is not yet vnwise Nor inconsiderate nor a man past awe of deities But passing free and curious to do a suppliant grace This said the Rainbow to her feet tied whirlewinds and the place Reacht instantly the heauie Court Clamor and Mourning fill'd The sonnes all set about the sire and there stood Griefe and still'd Teares on their garments In the midst the old king â—…ate his weed All wrinkl'd head and necke dust fil'd the Princesses his feed The Princesses his sonnes faire wiues all mourning by the thought Of friends so many and so good being turn'd so soone to nought By Grecian hands consum'd their youth rain'd beautie from their eyes â—…ris came neare the king her sight shooke all his faculties And therefore spake she soft and said Be glad Dardâ—…ides Iriâ—… to Priâ—… Of good occurrents and none ill am I Ambassadresse Iâ—…e greets thee who in care as much as he is distant daines Eye to thy sorrowes pitying thee My ambassie containes This charge to thee from him he wills thou shouldst redeeme thy sonne Beare gifts t' Achilles cheare him so but visite him alone None but some herald let attend thy mules and chariot To manage for thee Feare nor death let dant thee Ioue hath got Hermes to guide thee who as neare to Thetis sonne as needs Shall guard thee and being once with him nor his nor others deeds Stand toucht with he will all containe Not is he mad nor vaine 〈◊〉 witnesse of Achilles Nor impious but with all his nerues studious to entertaine One that submits with all fit grace Thus vanisht she like wind He mules and chariot cals his sonnes bids see them ioynd and bind A trunke behind it he himselfe downe to his wardrobe goes Built all of Cedar highly rooft and odoriferous That much stuffe worth the sight containd To him he cald his Queene Thus greeting her Come haplesse dame an Angell I haue seene Priam to Hecuba Sent downe from Ioue that bad me free our deare sonne from the fleet With ransome pleasing to our foe what holds thy iudgement meet My strength and spirit layes high charge on all my being to beare The Greeks worst ventring through their host The Queene cried out to heare Hecuba to Priâ—… His ventrous purpose and replyed O whither now is fled The late discretion that renown'd thy graue and knowing head In forreine and thine owne rulde realmes that thus thou dar'st assay Sight of that man in whose browes sticks the horrible decay Of sonnes so many and so strong thy heart is iron I thinke If this sterne man whose thirst of blood makes crueltie his drinke Take or but see thee thou art dead He nothing pities woe Noâ—… honours age Without his sight we haue enough to do To mourne with thought of him keepe we our Pallace weepe we here Our sonne is past our helpes Those throwes that my deliuerers were Of his vnhappy lineaments told me they should be torne With blacke foote dogs Almightie fate that blacke howre he was borne Spunne in his springing thred that end farre from his parents reach This bloodie fellow then ordain'd to be their meane this wretch Whose stony liuer would to heauen I might deuoure my teeth My sonnes Reuengers made Curst Greeke he gaue him not his death Doing an ill worke he alone fought for his countrie he Fled not nor fear'd but stood his worst and cursed policie Was his vndoing He replied What euer was his end Is not our question we must now vse all meanes to defend His end from scandall from which act disswade not my iust will Nor let me nourish in my house a bird presaging ill To my good actions t is in vaine Had any earthly spirit Giuen this suggestion if our Priests or Soothsayers challenging merit Of Prophets I might hold it false and be the rather mou'd To keepe my Pallace but these eares and these selfe eyes approu'd It was a goddesse I will go for not a word she spake I know was idle If it were and that my fate will make Quicke riddance of me at the fleet kill me Achilles Come When getting to thee I shall find a happy dying roome On Hectors bosome when enough thirst of my teares finds there Quench to his feruour This resolu'd the works most faire and deare Of his rich screenes he brought abrode twelue veiles wrought curiously Twelue plaine gownes and as many suits of wealthy tapistry As many mantles horsemens coates ten talents of fine gold Two Tripods Caldrons foure a bowle whose value he did hold Beyond all price presented by th' Ambassadors of Thrace The old king nothing held too deare to rescue from disgrace His gracioâ—…s Hector Forth he came At entry of his Court The Troian citizens so prest that this opprobrious sort Of checke he vsde Hence cast-awayes away ye impious crew Priâ—…â—…aged against his citizens Are not your griefes enough at home what come ye here to view Care ye for my griefes would ye see how miserable I am I st not enough imagine ye ye might know ere ye came What such a sonnes losse weigh'd with me But know this for your paines Your houses haue the weaker doores the Greeks will find their gaines The easier for his losse be sure but ô Troy ere I see Thy ruine let the doores of hell receiue and ruine me Thus with his scepter set he on the crowding citizens