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
in so deepe a pit that from Gades to Aurora and Ganges few eyes can sound her I hope yet those few here will so discouer and confirme her that the date being out of her darkenesse in this morning of our Homer he shall now gird his Temples with the Sunne and be confest against his good friend Nunquam dormitare But how all Translators Censors or Interpretors haue slept and bene dead to his true vnderstanding I hope it will neither cast shadow of arrogance in me to affirme nor of difficultie in you to beleeue if you please to suspend censure diminution till your impartiall conference of their paines and mine be admitted For induction and preparatiue to which patience and perswasion trouble your selues but to know this This neuer-enough-glorified Poet to vary quicken his eternal Poem hath inspired his chiefe persons with different spirits most ingenious and inimitable characters which not vnderstood how are their speeches being one by another as coÌ„ueniently and necessarily knowne as the instrument by the sound If a Translator or Interpreter of a ridiculous and cowardly described person being deceiued in his character so violates and vitiates the originall to make his speech graue and him valiant can the negligence and numbnesse of such an Interpreter or Translator be lesse then the sleepe and death I am bold to sprinckle vpon him or could I do lesse then affirme and enforce this being so happily discouered This therfore in his due place approued and explaned let me hope my other assumpts will proue as conspicuous This first and second booke I haue wholly translated againe the seuenth eighth ninth and tenth bookes deferring still imperfect being all Englished so long since and my late hand ouercome wih labour not yet rested enough to refine them Nor are the wealthie veines of this holy ground so amply discouered in my first twelue labours as my last not hauing competent time nor my profit in his mysteries being so ample as when driuing through his thirteenth and last books I drew the main depth and saw the round coming of this siluer bow of our Phoebus the cleare scope and coÌ„texture of his worke the full and most beautifull figures of his persons To those last twelue then I must referre you for all the chiefe worth of my cleare discoueries And in the meane space I intreate your acceptance of some few new touches in these first Not perplexing you in first or last with anything handled in any other Interpreter further then I must conscionably make congression with such as haue diminisht mangled and maimed my most worthily most tendered Author a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being compounded ex à priuatiua 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 video signifies locus tenebricosus or according to Virgil sine luce domus and therefore different from others I so conuert it b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is the vulgar reading which I râ—…ade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 referd to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. is redundant and idle to the miseries of the Greekes by Ioues counsell graue and sententious c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. ex quo quidem primùm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. ex quo Here our common readers would haue tempore vnderstood because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to which they thinke the Poet must otherwise haue reference is the feminine gender But Homer vnderstands Ioue as in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 273. he expounds himselfe in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. which Pindarus Thebanus in his Epitome of these Iliads rightly obserues in these verses Conficiebat enim summi sententia Regis Ex quo contulerant discordi pectore pugnas Sceptriger Atrides bello clarus Achilles d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprobarunt Graeci all others turne it but since 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies properly fausta acclamatione do significationem approbationis I therefore accordingly conuert it because the other intimates a comprobation of all the Greekes by word which was not so but onely by inarticulate acclamations or showtes e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies properly circumambulo and onely metaphoricè protego or tueor as it is alwaies in this place translated which suffers alteration with me since our vsuall phrase of walking the round in townes of garrison for the defence of it fits so well the propertie of the originall f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Praemiserat enim Dea alba vâ—…nis Iuno Why Iuno should send Pallas is a thing not noted by any I therefore answer Because Iuno is Goddesse of state The allegory therfore in the Prosopopoeia both of Iuno Pallas is that Achilles for respect to the state there present the rather vsed that discretion and restraint of his anger So in diuers other places when state is represented Iuno procures it as in the eighteenth booke for the state of Patroclus his fetching off Iuno commands the Sunne to go downe before his time c. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sic dixit lachrimans c. These teares are called by our CoÌ„mentors vnworthie and fitter for children or women then such an Heroe as Achilles and therefore Plato is cited in 3. de Repub. where he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Meritò igitur clarorum virorum ploratus è medio tolleremus c. To answer which and iustifie the fitnesse of teares generally as they may be occasioned in the greatest and most renowmed men omitting examples of Virgils Aeneas Alexander the Great c. I oppose against Plato onely one president of great and most perfect humanitie to whom infinitely aboue all other we must prostrate our imitations that shed teares viz. our All perfect and Almightie Sauiour who wept for Lazarus This then leauing the fitnesse of great mens teares generally vtterly vnanswerable these particular teares of vnuented anger in Achilles are in him most naturall teares being the highest effects of greatest and most fierie spirits either when their abilities cannot performe to their wils or that they are restrained of reuenge being iniured out of other considerations as now the consideration of the state and grauitie of the counsell and publike good of the armie curbd Achilles Who can denie that there are teares of manlinesse and magnanimitie as well as womanish and pusillanimous So Diomed wept for curst heart when Apollo strooke his scourge from him and hindered his horse race hauing bene warned by Pallas before not to resist the Deities and so his great spirits being curbed of reuenge for the wrong he receiued then So when not-enough vented anger was not to be exprest enough by that teare-starting affection in couragious and fierce men our most accomplishâ—… expressor helpes the illustration in a Simile of his feruour in most feruent-spirited fowles resembling the wrathfull fight of Sarpedon and Patroclus to two Vultures fighting and crying on a rocke which thus I haue afterwards Englished and here for example
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
would scorne to fight with one that flies Or leaues the fight as you do now The Generall slothfull lies And you though sloughtfull to maintaine with him a fight of splene Out out I hate ye from my heart ye rotten minded men In this ye adde an ill thats worse then all your sloths dislikes But as I know to all your hearts my reprehension strikes So thither let iust shame strike to for while you stand still here A mightie fight swarms at your fleete great Hector rageth there Hath burst the long barre and the gates Thus Neptune rowsd these men b And round about th' Aiaces did their Phalanxes maintaine Their station firme whom Mars himselfe had he amongst them gone Could not disparage nor Ioues Maide that sets men fiercer on For now the best were chosen out and they receiu'd th'aduance Of Hector and his men so full that lance was lin'd with lance Shields thickned with opposed shields targets to targets nail'd Helmes stucke to helmes and man to man grew they so close assail'd Plum'd caskes were hang'd in eithers plumes all ioyn'd so close their stands Their lances stood thrust out so thicke by such all-daring hands All bent their firme brests to the point and made sad fight their ioy Of both Troy all in heapes strooke first and Hector first of Troy And as a round peece of a rocke which with a winters flood Simile Is from his top torne when a showre powr'd from a bursten cloud Hath broke the naturall bond it held within the rough steepe rocke And iumping it flies downe the woods resounding euerie shocke And on vncheckt it headlong leapes till in a plaine it stay And then though neuer so impeld it stirs not any way So Hector hereto throated threats to go to sea in blood And reach the Grecian ships and tents without being once withstood But when he fell into the strengths the Grecians did maintaine And that they fought vpon the square he stood as fetterd then And so the aduerse sons of Greece laid on with swords and darts Whose both ends hurt that they repeld his worst and he conuerts His threats by all meanes to retreats yet made as he retir'd Onely t' encourage those behind and thus those men inspir'd Troians Dardanians Lycians all warlike friends stand close Hector to his friends The Greeks can neuer beare me long though towre-like they oppose This lance be sure will be their spoile if euen the best of Gods High-thundring Iunos husband stirres my spirite with true abodes With this all strengths and minds he mou'd but yong Deiphobus Old Priams sonne amongst them all was chiefly vertuous Dâ—…obus his â—…alor He bore before him his round shield tript lightly through the prease At all parts couerd with his shield And him Meriones Charg'd with a glittring dart that tooke his bul-hide orbie shield Yet pierc't it not but in the top it selfe did peecemeale yeeld Deiphobus thrust forth his targe and fear'd the broken ends Of strong Meriones his lance who now turnd to his friends The great Heroe scorning much by such a chance to part With lance and conquest forth he went to fetch another dart Left at his tent The rest fought on the Clamor heightned there Was most vnmeasur'd Teucer first did flesh the Massacre Teuâ—…ers â—…alor And slue a goodly man at armes the souldier Imbrius The sonne of Mentor rich in horse he dwelt at Pedasus Before the sonnes of Greece sieg'd Troy from whence he married Medesicasté one that sprung of Priams bastard bed But when the Greeke ships double oar'd arriu'd at Ilion To Ilion he returnd and prou'd beyond comparison Amongst the Troians he was lodg'd with Priam who held deare His naturall sonnes no more then him yet him beneath the eare The sonne of Telamon attain'd and drew his lance He fell As when an Ash on some hils top it selfe topt wondrous well Simile The steele hewes downe and he presents his young leaues to the soyle So fell he and his faire armes gron'd which Teucer long'd to spoyle And in he ranne and Hector in who sent a shining lance At Teucer who beholding it slipt by and gaue it chance On Actors sonne Amphimachus whose breast it strooke and in Flew Hector at his sounding fall with full intent to win The tempting helmet from his head but Aiax with a dart Reacht Hector at his rushing in yet toucht not any part About his bodie it was hid quite through with horrid brasse The bosse yet of his targe it tooke whose firme stuffe staid the passe And he turnd safe from both the trunks both which the Grecians bore From off the field Amphimachus Menestheus did restore And Stichius to th' Achaian strength th' Aiaces that were pleasd Still most with most hote seruices on Troian Imbrius seasd And as from sharply-bitten hounds a brace of Lions force Simile A new slaine Goate and through the woods beare in their iawes the corse Aloft lift vp into the aire so vp into the skies Bore both th' Aiaces Imbrius and made his armes their priâ—…e Yet not content Oileades enrag'd to see there dead His much belou'd Amphimachus he hewd off Imbrius head Which swinging round bowle like he tost amongst the Troian prease And full at Hectors feete it fell Amphimachus decease Being nephew to the God of waues much vext the Deities mind And to the ships and tents he marcht yet more to make inclinde The Grecians to the Troian bane In hasting to which end Idomenâ—…us met with him returning from a friend Whose hamme late hurt his men brought off and hauing giuen command To his Physitians for his cure much fir'd to put his hand To Troyes repulse he left his tent Him like Andremons sonne Prince Thoas that in Pleuron rulde and loâ—…rie Calidon Th' Aetolian powres and like a God was of his subiects lou'd Neptune encountred and but thus his forward spirit mou'd Idomeneus Prince of Crete O whither now are fled Neptuâ—…e to Idoâ—…en Those threats in thee with which the rest the Troians menaced O Thoas he replide no onâ—… of all our host stands now In any question of reproofe as I am let to know And why is my intelligence false We all know how to fight And Feare disanimating none all do our knowledge right Nor can our harmes accuse our sloth not one from worke we misse The great God onely workes our ill whose pleasure now it is That farre from home in hostile fields and with inglorious fate Some Greeks should perish But do thou O Thoas that of late Hast prou'd a souldier and was wont where thou hast Sloth beheld To chide it and exhort to paines now hate to be repeld And set on all men He replied I would to heauen that he Who euer this day doth abstaine from battell willinglie May neuer turne his face from Troy but here become the prey And skorne of dogs Come then take armes and let our kind assay Ioyne both our forces
though but two yet being both combinde The worke of many single hands we may performe we finde That Vertue coaugmented thriues in men of little minde But we haue singly matcht the great This said the God again With all his conflicts visited the ventrous fight of men The king turnd to his tent rich armes put on his brest and toooke Two darts in hand and forth he flew his haste on made him looke Much like a fierie Meteor with which Ioues sulphrie hand Opes heauen and hurles about the aire bright flashes showing aland Abodes that euer run before tempest and plagues to men So in his swift pace shew'd his armes he was encountred then By his good friend Meriones yet neare his tent to whom Thus spake the powre of Idomen What reason makes thee come Thou sonne of Molus my most lou'd thus leauing fight alone Is' t for some wound the Iauelins head still sticking in the bone Desir'st thou ease of Bring'st thou newes or what is it that brings Thy presence hither Be assur'd my spirite needs no stings To this hote conflict Of my selfe thou seest I come and loth For any tents loue to deserue the hatefull taint of Sloth He answerd Onely for a dart he that retreat did make Were any left him at his tent for that he had he brake On proud Deiphobus his shield Is one dart all said he Take one and twentie if thou like for in my tent they be They stand there shining by the walls I tooke them as my prise From those false Troians I haue slaine And this is not the guise Of one that loues his tent or fights afarre off with his foe But since I loue fight therefore doth my martiall starre bestow Besides those darts helmes targets bost and corslets bright as day So I said Merion at my tent and sable barke may say I many Troian spoiles retaine but now not neare they be To serue me for my present vse and therefore aske I thee Not that I lacke a fortitude to store me with my owne For euer in the formost fights that render men renowne I fight when any fight doth stirre and this perhaps may well Be hid to others but thou know'st and I to thee appeale I know replide the king how much thou weigh'st in euerie worth What needst thou therefore vtter this If we should now chuse forth The worthiest men for ambushes in all our fleet and host For ambushes are seruices that trie mens vertues most Since there the fearefull and the firme will as they are appeare The fearefull altering still his hue and rests not any where Nor is his spirit capable of th' ambush constancie But riseth changeth still his place and croucheth curiously On his bent hanches halfe his height scarce seene aboue the ground For feare to be seene yet must see his heart with many a bound Offring to leape out of his breast and euer fearing death The coldnesse of it makes him gnash and halfe shakes out his teeth Where men of valour neither feare nor euer change their lookes From lodging th' ambush till it rise buut since there must be strokes Wish to be quickly in their midst thy strength and hand in these Who should reproue For if farre off or fighting in the prease Thou shouldst be wounded I am sure the dart that gaue the wound Should not be drawne out of thy backe or make thy necke the ground But meete thy bellie or thy breast in thrusting further yet When thou art furthest till the first and before him thou get Buton like children let not vs stand bragging thus but do Lest some heare and past measure chide that we stand still and wooe Go chuse a better dart and make Mars yeeld a better chance This said Mars-swift Meriones with haste a brazen lance Tooke from his tent and ouertooke most carefull of the wars Idomeneus And such two in field as harmfull Mars And Terror his beloued sonne that without terror fights And is of such strength that in warre the frighter he affrights When out of Thrace they both take armes against th' Ephyran bands Or gainst the great-soul'd Phlegians nor fauour their owne hands But giue the grace to others still In such sort to the fight Marcht these two managers of men in armours full of light And first spake Merion On which part sonne of Deucalion Serues thy mind to inuade the fight is' t best to set vpon The Troians in our battels aide the right or left-hand wing For all parts I suppose employd To this the Cretan king Thus answerd In our nauies midst are others that assist The two Aiaces Teucer too with shafts the expertest Of all the Grecians and though small is great in fights of stand And these though huge he be of strengh will serue to fill the hand Of Hectors selfe that Priamist that studier for blowes It shall be cald a deed of height for him euen suffring throwes For knocks still to out labour them and bettring their tough hands Enflame our fleet if Ioue himselfe cast not his fier-brands Amongst our nauie that affaire no man can bring to field Great Aiax Telamonius to none aliue will yeeld That yeelds to death and whose life takes Ceres nutritions That can be cut with any iron or pasht with mightie stones Not to Aeacides himselfe he yeelds for combats set Though cleare he must giue place for pace and free swinge of his feete Since then the battell being our place of most care is made good By his high valour let our aid see all powres be withstood That charge the left wing and to that let vs direct our course Where quickly feele we this hote foe or make him feele our force This orderd swift Meriones went and forewent his king Till both arriu'd where one enioynd when in the Greeks left wing The Troians saw the Cretan king like fire in fortitude And his attendant in bright armes so gloriously indude Both chearing the sinister troopes all at the king addrest And so the skirmish at their sternes on both parts were increast That as from hollow bustling winds engenderd stormes arise Simile When dust doth chiefly clog the waies which vp into the skies The wanton tempest rauisheth begetting Night of Day So came together both the foes both Iusted to assay And worke with quicke steele eithers death Mans fierce Corruptresse Fight Set vp her bristles in the field with lances long and light Which thicke fell foule on eithers face the splendor of the steele In new skowrd curets radiant caskes and burnisht shields did seele Th'assailers eyes vp He sustaind a huge spirit that was glad To see that labour or in soule that stood not stricken sad Thus these two disagreeing Gods old Saturns mightie sonnes Afflicted these heroique men with huge oppressions Ioue honouring Aeacides to let the Greeks still trie Their want without him would bestow yet still the victorie On Hector and the Troian powre yet for Aeacides And honor of his mother
From forth the nailed prisoner the Iauelin quickly out And fairely with a little wooll enwrapping round about The wounded hand within c a scarffe he bore it which his Squire Had readie for him yet the wound would needs he should retire Pysander to reuenge his hurt right on the King ran he A bloodie fate suggested him to let him runne on thee O * Scoptice Menelaus that he might by thee in dangerous warre Be done to death Both coming on Atrides lance did erre Pisander strooke Atrides shield that brake at point the dart Not running through yet he reioyc't as playing a victors part Atrides drawing his faire sword vpon Pisander flew Pisander from beneath his shield his goodly weapon drew Two-edg'd with right sharpe steele and long the handle Oliue tree Well polisht and to blowes they go vpon the top strooke he Atrides horse-hair'd-featherd helme Atrides on his brow Aboue th' extreme part of his nose laid such a heauie blow That all the bones crasht vnder it and out his eyes did drop Before his feete in bloodie dust he after and shrunke vp His dying bodie which the foote of his triumphing foe Opened and stood vpon his breast and off his armes did go This insultation vsde the while c At length forsake our fleete 〈◊〉 most ridiâ—…lous insultation Thus ye false Troians to whom warre neuer enough is sweet Nor want ye more impieties with which ye haue abusde Me â—…e bold dogs that your chiefe friends so honourably vsde Nor feare you hospitable Ioue that lets such thunders go But build vpon 't he will vnbuild your towres that clamber so For rauishing my goods and wife in flowre of all her yeares And without cause nay when that faire and liberall hand of hers Had vsde you so most louingly and now againe ye would Cast fire into our fleet and kill our Princes if ye could Go too one day you will be curb'd though neuer so ye thirst Rude warre by warre O Father Ioue they say thou art the first In wisedome of all Gods and men yet all this comes from thee And still thou gratifiest these men how lewd so ere they be Though neuer they be cloid with sinnes nor can be satiate As good men should with this vile warre Satieâ—…ie of state Satietie of sleepe and loue Satietie of ease Of musicke dancing can find place yet harsh warre still must please Past all these pleasures euen past these They will be cloyd with these Before their warre ioyes neuer warre giues 〈◊〉 satieties This said the bloody armes were off and to his souldiers throwne He mixing in first fight againe and then Harpalion Kind King Pylemens sonne gaue charge who to those warres of Troy His loued father followed nor euer did enioy His countries sight againe he strooke the targe of Aâ—…reus sonne Full in the midst his iauelins steele yet had no powre to runne The target through nor had himselfe the heart to fetch his lance But tooke him to his strength and cast on euery side a glance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Harpalion Lest any his deare sides should dart but Merion as he fled Sent after him a brazen lance that ranne his eager head Through his right hippe and all along the bladders region Beneath the bone it settl'd him and â—…et his spirit gone Amongst the hands of his best friends and like a worme he lay Stretcht on the earth which his blacke blood embrewd and flow'd away His corse the Paphlagonians did sadly waite vpon Repoâ—…d in his rich chariot to sacred Ilion The king his father following dissolu'd in kindly teares And no wreake sought for his slaine â—…onne But at his slaughterers Incensed Paris spent a lance since he had bene a guest To many Paphlagonians and through the preasse it prest There was a certaine Augures sonne that did for wealth excell And yet was honest he was borne and did at Câ—…th dwell Who though he knew his harmefull fate would needs his ship ascend His father Polyidus oft would tell him that his end Would either seise him at his house vpon a sharpe disease Or else amongst the Grecian ships by Troians slaine Both these Together he desir'd to shun but the disease at last And lingring death in it he left and warres quicke stroke embrac't The lance betwixt his eare and cheeke ran in and draâ—…e the mind Of both those bitter fortunes out Night strooke his whole powres blind Thus fought they like the spirit of fire nor Ioue-lou'd Hector knew How in the fleets left wing the Greekes his downe-put souldiers slew Almost to victorie the God that shakes the earth so well Helpt with his owne strength and the Greeks so fiercely did impell Yet Hector made the first place good where both the ports and wall The thicke rancke of the Greeke shields broke he enterd and did skall Where on the gray seas shore were drawne the wall being there but sleight Protesilaus ships and those of Aiâ—…x where the fight Of men and horse were sharpest set There the Boeotian band Long-rob'd Iaones Locrians and braue men of their hands By Iâ—…ons for Ioâ—…ians he intends the Athenians The Phthian and Epeian troopes did spritefully assaile The God-like Hector rushing in and yet could not preuaile To his repulse though choicest men of Athens there made head Amongst whom was Menesthius Chiefe whom Phidâ—…as followed The names of tâ—…e Captaines at the fight at the wall and their souldiers Stichius and Bias huge in strength Th' Epeian troopes were led By Meges and Philides cares Amphion Dracius Before the Phâ—…hians Medon marcht and Meneptolemus And these with the Boeotian powres bore vp the fleets defence Oileus by his brothers side stood close and would not thence For any moment of that time but as through fallow fields Simile wherein the two Aâ—…aces are compared to two draught â—…xen Blacke Oxen draw a well-ioyn'd plough and either euenly yeelds His thriftie labour all heads coucht so close to earth they plow The fallow with their hornes till out the sweate begins to flow The stretcht yokes cracke and yet at last the furrow forth is driuen So toughly stood these to their taske and made their worke as euen But Aiax Telamonius had many helpfull men That when sweate ran about his knees and labour flow'd would then Helpe beare his mightie seuen-fold shield when swift Oileades The Locrians left and would not make those murthrous fights of prease The Locrians which Oileus Aiax led were all Archers Because they wore no bright steele caskes nor bristl'd plumes for show Round shields nor darts of solid Ash but with the trustie bow And iackes well d quilted with soft wooll they came to Troy and were In their fit place as confident as those that fought so neare And reacht their foes so thicke with shafts that these were they that brake The Troian orders first and then the braue arm'd men did make Good worke with thâ—…ir close fights before Behind whom hauing shoâ—… The
Locrians hid still and their foes all thought of fight forgot With shewes of those farre striking shafts their eyes were troubled so And then assur'dly from the ships and tents th' insulting foe Had miserably fled to Troy had not Polydamas Thus spoke to Hector Hector still impossible t is to passe Polydâ—… to 〈◊〉 Good counsell vpon you but say some God prefers thy deeds In counsels wouldst thou passe vs too In all things none exceeds 〈◊〉 adâ—…ice to 〈◊〉 To some God giues the powre of warre to some the slâ—…ight to dance To some the art of instruments some doth for voice aduance And that far-seeing God grants some thâ—… wisedome of the minde Which no man can keepe to himselfe that though but few can â—…inde Doth profite many that preserues the publique weale and staâ—… And that who hath he best can prise but for me I le relate Onely my censure what 's our best The verie crowne of warre Doth burne about thee yet our men when they haue reachâ—… thus farre Suppose their valours crownd and ceasse A few still stir their feâ—… And so a few with many fight sperst thinly through the fleet Retire then leaue speech to the route and all thy Princes call That here in counsels of most weight we may resolue of all If hauing likelihood to beleeue that God wil conquest giue We shall charge through or with this grace make our retreate and liue For I must needs affirme I feare the debt of yesterday Since warre is such a God of change the Grecians now will pay And since th' insatiate man of warre remaines at fleet if there We tempt his safetie no howre more â—…is hote soule can forbeare This sound stuffe Hector lik't approu'd iumpt from his chariot And said Polydamas make good this place and suffer not One Prince to passe it I myselfe will there go where you see Those friends in skirmish and returne when they haue heard from me Hector for his goodly forme compared to a hill of snow Command that your aduice obeys with vtmost speed this said With day-bright armes white plume white skarffe his goodly lims arraid He parted from them like a hill remouing all of snow And to the Troian Peres and Chiefes he flew to let them know The Counsell of Polydamas All turnd and did reioyce To haste to Panthus gentle sonne being cald by Hectors voyce Who through the forefights making way lookt for Deiophobus King Hellenus Asiades Hyrtasian Asius Of whom some were not to be found vnhurt or vndeceast Some onely hurt and gone from field As further he addrest He found within the fights left wing the faire-hair'd Hellens loue By all meanes mouing men to blowes which could by no meanes moue Hectors forbeareance his friends misse so put his powres in storme Hector chideâ—… Paris But thus in wonted terms he chid You with the finest forme Impostor womans man Where are in your care markt all these Deiphobus king Hellenus Asius Hyrtacides Othryoneus Acamas now haughtie Ilion Shakes to his lowest groundworke now iust ruine fals vpon Thy head past rescue He replyed Hector why chid'st thou now When I am guiltlesse other times there are for ease I know Then these for she that brought thee forth not vtterly left me Without some portion of thy spirit to make me brother thee But since thou first brought'st in thy force to this our nauall fight I and my friends haue ceaslesse fought to do thy seruice right But all those friends thou seek'st are slaine exeepting Hellenâ—… Who parted wounded in his hand and so Deiphobus Ioue yet auerted death from them And now leade thou as farre As thy great heart affects all we will second any warre That thou endurest And I hope my owne strength is not lost Though least I le fight it to his best nor further fights the most This calm'd hote Hectors spleene and both turnd where they saw the face Of warre most fierce and that was where their friends made good the place About renowm'd Polydamas and God-like Polyphet Palmus Ascanius Morus that Hippotion did beget And from Ascanias wealthie fields but euen the day before Arriu'd at Troy that with their aide they kindly might restore Some kindnesse they receiu'd from thence and in fierce fight with these Phalces and tall Orthaus stood and bold Cebriones And then the doubt that in aduice Polydamas disclosd To fight or flie Ioue tooke away and all to fight disposd And as the floods of troubled aire to pitchie stormes increase Simile That after thunder sweepes the fields and rauish vp the seas Encountring with abhorred roares when the engrossed waues Boile into foame and endlesly one after other raues So rank't and guarded th' Ilians marcht some now more now and then The Troian host and Hector glorified More vpon more in shining steele now Captaines then their men And Hector like man killing Mars aduanc't before them all His huge round target before him through thickn'd like a wall With hides well coucht with store of brasse and on his temples shin'd His bright helme on which danc't his plume and in this horrid kind All hid within his worldlike shield he euerie troope assaid For entrie that in his despite stood firme and vndismaid Which when he saw and kept more off Aiax came stalking then And thus prouokt him O good man why fright'st thou thus our men Come nearer not Arts want in warre makes vs thus nauie-bound Aiax his speech to Hector Scoptâ—…cè But Ioues direct scourge his arm'd hand makes our hands giue you ground Yet thou hop'st of thy selfe our spoile but we haue likewise hands To hold our owne as you to spoile and ere thy countermands Stand good against our ransackt fleete your hugely-peopl'd towne Our hands shall take in and her towres from all their heights pull downe And I must tell thee time drawes on when flying thou shalt crie To Ioue and all the Gods to make thy faire-man'd horses flie More swift then Falkons that their hoofes may rouse the dust and beare Thy bodie hid to Ilion This said his bold words were Confirm'd as soone as spoke Ioues bird the high flowne Eagle tooke The right hand of their host whose wings high acclamations strooke From foorth the glad breasts of the Greeks Then Hector made replie Vaine-spoken man and glorious what hast thou said would I Hector to Aiax As surely were the sonne of Ioue and of great Iuno borne Adorn'd like Pallas and the God that lifts to earth the Morne As this day shall bring harmefull light to all your host and thou If thou dar'st stand this lance the earth before the ships shalt strow Thy bosome torne vp and the dogs with all the fowle of Troy Be satiate with thy fat and flesh This said with showting ioy His first troopes follow'd and the last their showts with showts repeld Greece answerd all nor could her spirits from all shew rest conceald And to so infinite
for honour in their sight Wrought not what sight or wishes helpt for turning backe his looke The hollow of his necke the shaft came singing on and strooke And downe he fell his horses backe and hurried through the field The emptie chariot Panthus sonne made all haste and withheld Their loose carier disposing them to Protiaons sonne Astinous with speciall charge to keepe them euer on And in his sight so he againe amongst the foremost went At Hector then another shaft incensed Teâ—…er sent Teucer at Hector Which had it hit him sure had hurt and had it hurt him slaine And had it slaine him it had driuen all those to Troy againe But Ioues mind was not sleeping now it wak't to Hectors fame And Teucers infamie himselfe in Teucers deadly aime Ioue breakes Teâ—…cers bow His well-wrought string disseuering that seru'd his brauest bow His shaft flew quite another way his bow the earth did strow At all which Teucer stood amaz'd and to his brother cride O prodigie without all doubt our Angell doth deride Teucer to Aiax The counsels of our fight he brake a string my hands put on This morning and was newly made and well might haue set gone A hundred arrowes and beside he strooke out of my hand The bow Apollo gaue He â—…ayd Then good friend do not stand Aiax to Teucer More on thy archerie since God preuenter of all grace Desir'd by Grecians sleights it so Take therefore in the place A good large lance and on thy necke a target cast as bright With which come fight thy selfe with some and othersome excite That without labour at the least though we proue worser men Troy may not brag it tooke our ships come mind our businesse then This said he hasted to his tent left there his shafts and bow Teucer changeth his armes And then his double double shield did on his shoulders throw Vpon his honor'd head he plac't his helmet thickly plum'd And then his strong and well pilde lance in his faire hand assum'd Return'd and boldly tooke his place by his great brothers side When Hector saw his arrowes broke out to his friends he cride Hectors admiration of Ioues breaking Teuâ—…ers â—…ow O friends be yet more comforted I saw the hands of Ioue Breake the great Grecian archers shafts t is easie to approue That Ioues powre is direct with men as well in those set hiâ—… Vpon the sodaine as in those deprest as sodainly And those not put in state at all as now he takes away Strength from the Greeks and giues it vs then vse it and assay With ioyn'd hands this approched fleete If any brauely buy His fame or fate with wounds or death in Ioues name let him die Who for his country suffers death sustaines no shamefull thing His wife in honour shall suruiue his progenie â—…hall spring In endlesse summers and â—…heir roofes with patrimonie swell And all this though with all their freight the Greeke ships we repell His friends thus cheer'd on th' other part strong Aiax stird his friends O Greeks said he what shame is this that no man more defends 〈◊〉 to the Greekâ—… His fame and safetie then to liue and thus be forâ—…'t to shrinke Now either â—…aue your fleet or die vnlesse ye vainly thinke That you can liue and they destroyd perceiues noâ—… euery â—…are How Hector hartens vp his men and hath his firebrands here Now ready to enflame ourfleet he doth not bid them dance That you may take your ease and see but to the fight aduance No counsell can serue vs but this to mixe both hands and harâ—… And beare vp close t is better much t' expose our vtmost parts To one daies certaine life or death then languish in a warre So base as this beate to our ships by our inferiours farre Thus rowsd he vp their spirits and strengths To work then both sides went When Hector the Phocensian Duke to fields of darknesse sent Fierce Schedius Perimedes sonne which Aiax did requite With slaughter of Laodamas that led the foote to fight And was Antenors famous sonne Polydamas did end Otus surnam'd Cyllenius whom Phydas made his friend Being chiefe of the Epeians Bands whose fall when Mâ—…ges viewd He let flie at his fellers life who shrinking-in eschew'd The wel-aym'd lance Apollos will denied that Pantbus sonne Should fall amongst the foremost fights the dart the mid-brest wonne Of Craesmus Meges wonne his armes At Meges Dolops then Bestow'd his lance he was the sonne of Lampus best of men And Lampus of Laomedon well skild in strength of mind He strooke Phylides shield quite through whose 〈◊〉 better lin'd And hollow'd fitly sau'd his life Phyleus left him them Who from Epirus brought them home on that part where the streme Of famous Seléés doth runne Euphetes did bestow Being guest with him those wel-prou'd armes to weare against the foe And now they sau'd his sonne from death At Dolops Meges threw A speare well pilde that strooke his caske full in the height off flew His purple feather newly made and in the dust it fell While these thus striu'd for victorie and eithers hope seru'd well Atrides came to Meges aide and hidden with his side Let loose a lauelin at his foe that through his backe implied His lustie head euen past his breast the ground receiu'd his weight While these made-in to spoyle his armes great Hector did excite All his allies to quicke reuenge and first he wrought vpon Strong Menalippus that was sonne to great Hycetâ—…n With some reproofe Before these warres he in Percoâ—… fed Clouen-footed Oxen but did since retâ—…rne where he was bred Exceld amongst the Ilians was much of Priâ—…m lou'd And in his court kept as his sonne him Hectâ—…r thus reprou'd Thus Menalippui shall our blood accuse vs of neglect Hector to Meâ—…alippui Nor moues it thy lou'd heart thus vrg'd thy kinsman to protect Seest thou not how they seeke his spoyle Come follow now no more Our fight must stand at 〈◊〉 but close nor leaue the close before We close the latest eye of them or they the lowest â—…one Teare vp and sacke the citizens of loftie Iliâ—… He led he followd like a god and then must Aiax needs As well as Hector cheare his men and thus their spirits he feeds Good friends bring but your selues to feele the noble stings of shame Aiax to his souldiers in imitation of Agamem nâ—…n obserued by him before â—…ing the same words For what ye suffer and be men respect each others fame For which who striues in shames fit feare and puts on neare so farre Comes oftner off then sticke engag'd these fugitiues of warre Saue neither life nor get renowne nor beare more minds then sheepe This short speeeh fir'd them in his aide his spirit toucht them deepe And turn'd them all before the fleet into a wall of brasse To whose assault Ioue stird their foes and young Atrides was Ioues instrument who thus set
and foote To that siege held so long Twise fiue and twenty saile he brought twise fiue and twentie strong Of able men was euery saile fiue Colonels he made Of all those forces trustie men and all of powre to leade But he of powre beyond them all Menesthius was one That euer wore discolour'd armes he was a riuers sonne That fell from heauen and good to drinke was his delightfull streame His name vnwearied Sperchius he lou'd the louely dame Faire Polydora Peleus seed and deare in Borus sight And she to that celestiall flood gaue this Menesthius light A woman mixing with a god Yet Borus bore the name Of father to Menesthius he marrying the dame And giuing her a mightie dowre he was the kind descent Of Perieris The next man renown'd with regiment Was strong Eudorus brought to life by one supposd a maide Bright Polymela Phylas seed but had the wanton plaid With Argus-killing Mercurie who fir'd with her faire eyes As she was singing in the quire of her that makes the cries In clamorous hunting and doth beare the crooked bow of gold Stole to her bed in that chaste roome that Phebe chast did hold And gaue her that swift-warrelicke sonne Eâ—…dirys brought to light As she was dancing but as soone as she that rules the plight Eudorus borne as Polymela his mother was dancing Of labouring women easd her throwes and shew'd her â—…onne the Sunne Strong Echeclaeus Actors heire woo'd earnestly and wonne Her second fauour feeing her with gifts of infinite prise And after brought her to his house where in his grandsires eyes Old Phylas Polymelas sonne obtaind exceeding gracâ—… And found as carefull bringing vp as of his naturall race He had descended The third chiefe was faire Memalides Memalides the third Collonell Pysandrus who in skill of darts obtaind supremest praise Of all the Myrmidons except their Lords companion The fourth charge aged Phoenix had The fifth Alcimedon Phoenix the fourth Sonne of Laercus and much fam'd All these digested thus 〈◊〉 the fifâ—…h In fit place by the mightie sonne of royall Peleus This sterne remembrance he gaue all You Myrmidons said he Achilles to his Myrmidons Lest any of you should forget his threatnings vsde to me In this place and through all the time that my iust anger raign'd Attempting me with bitter words for being so restrain'd For my hote humour from the fight remember them as these Thou cruell sonne of Peleus whom she that rules the seas Did onely nourish with her gall thou dost vngently hold Our hands against our wills from fight we will not be controld But take our ships and saile for home before we loyter here And feed thy furie These high words exceeding often were The threates that in your mutinous troopes ye vsde to me for wrath To be detaind so from the fiâ—…ld now then your splenes may bath In sweate of those great works ye wisht now he that can employ A generous heart go fight and fright these bragging sonnes of Troy This set their minds and strengths on fire the speech enforcing well Being vsde in time but being their kings it much more did impell And closer rusht-in all the troopes And as for buildings hie 〈◊〉 The Mazon layes his stones more thicke against th'extremitie Of wind and weather and euen then if any storme arise He thickens them the more for that the present act so plies His honest mind to make sure worke So for the high estate This worke was brought to these mens minds according to the rate Were raisd and all their bodies ioyn'd but there well-spoken king With his so timely-thought-on speech more sharpe made valours sting And thickn'd so their targets bost so all their helmets then That shields propt shields helmes helmets knockt and men encourag'd men Patroclus and Automedon did arme before them all Patroclus and Automedon arme together Two bodies with one mind inform'd and then the Generall Betooke him to his priuate Tent where from a coffer wrought Most rich and curiously and giuen by Thetis to be brought In his owne ship top-fild with vests warme robes to checke cold wind And tapistries all golden fring'd and curl'd with thrumbs behind He tooke a most vnualewed boule in which none dranke but he Achilles sacrifice for his friends safe returne Nor he but to the deities nor any deitie But Ioue himselfe was seru'd with that and that he first did clense With sulphure then with fluences of sweetest water rense Then washt his hands and drew himselfe a boule of mightie wine Which standing midst the place enclosde for seruices diuine And looking vp to heauen and Ioue who saw him well he pour'd Vpon the place of sacrifice and humbly thus implor'd Great Dodonaeus President of cold Dodonaes towres Achilles 〈◊〉 Diuine Pelasgicus that dwell'st farre hence about whose bowres Th'austere prophetique Selli dwell that still sleepe on the ground Go bare and neuer clense their feete as I before haue found Grace to my vowes and hurt to Greece so now my prayres intend I still stay in the gatherd fleete but haue dismist my friend Amongst my many Myrmidons to danger of the dart O grant his valour my renowne arme with my mind his hart That Hectors selfe may know my friend can worke in single warre And not then onely shew his hands so hote and singular When my kind presence seconds him but fight he nere so well No further let him trust his fight but when he shall repell Clamor and Danger from our fleete vouchsafe a safe retreate To him and all his companies with fames and armes compleate He prayd and heauens great Counsellor gaue satisfying eare To one part of his orisons but left the other there He let him free the fleete of foes but safe retreate denide Achilles left that vtter part where he his zeale applide And turn'd into his inner tent made fast his cup and then Stood forth and with his mind beheld the foes fight and his men That follow'd his great minded friend embattail'd till they brake With gallant spirit vpon the foe And as fell waspes that make Simile Their dwellings in the broade high way which foolish children vse Their cottages being neare their nests to anger and abuse With euer vexing them and breed to sooth their childish warre A common ill to many men since if a traueller That would his iourneys end apply and passe them vnassayd Come neare and vexe them vpon him the childrens faults are layd For on they flie as he were such and still defend their owne So far'd it with the feruent mind of euery Myrmidon Who pour'd themselues out of their fleete vpon their wanton foes That needs would stirre them thrust so neare and cause the ouerthrowes Of many others that had else bene neuer toucht by them Nor would haue toucht Patroclus then put his wind to the streame Patroclus to the 〈◊〉 And thus exhorted Now my friends remember you
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
nere be wonne To helpe keepe off the ruinous day in which all Troy should burne Fir'd by the Grecians This vow heard she charg'd her sonne to turne His fierie spirits to their homes and said it was not fit A god should suffer so for men Then Vulcan did remit His so vnmeasur'd violence and backe the pleasant â—…ood Ranne to his channell Thus these gods she made friends th' other â—…tood At weightie difference both sides ranne together with a sound That Earth resounded and great heauen about did surrebound Ioue heard it sitting on his hill and laught to see the gods Buckle to armes like angry men and he pleasde with their ods They laid it freely Of them all thump-buckler Mars began Mars against Minerua And at Minerua with a lance of brasse he headlong ran These vile words vshering his blowes Thou dog-flie what 's the cause Thou mak'st gods fight thus thy huge heart breakes all our peacefull lawes With thy insatiate shamelesnesse Rememberst thou the houre When Diomed charg'd me and by thee and thou with all thy powre Took'st lance thy selfe and in all sights rusht on me with a wound Now vengeance fals on thee for all This said the shield fring'd round With fighting Adders borne by Ioue that not to thunder yeelds He clapt his lance on and this god that with the bloud of fields Pollutes his godhead that shield pierst and hurt the armed Maid But backe she leapt and with her strong hand rapt a huge stone laid Aboue the Champaine blacke and sharpe that did in old time breake Partitions to mens lands And that she dusted in the necke Of that impetuous challenger Downe to the earth he swayd And ouerlaid seuen Acres land his haire was all berayd With dust and bloud mixt and his armes rung out Minerua laught And thus insulted O thou foole yet hast thou not bene taught Minerua insults ouer Mars To know mine eminence thy strength opposest thou to mine So pay thy mothers furies then who for these aides of thine Euer affoorded periur'd Troy Greece euer left takes spleene And vowes thee mischiefe Thus she turn'd her blew eyes when Loues Queen The hand of Mars tooke and from earth raisd him with thick-drawne breath His spirits not yet got vp againe But from the prease of death Kind* Aphrodite was his guide Which Iuno seeing exclam'd Venus Pallas see Mars is helpt from field Dog flie his rude tongue nam'd Thy selfe euen now but that his loue that dog-flie will not leaue Her old consort Vpon her flie Minerua did receaue This excitation ioyfully and at the Cyprian flew Strooke with her hard hand her soft breast a blow that ouerthrew Mars and Venus ouerthrowne by Pallas Both her and Mars and there both lay together in broad field When thus she triumpht So lie all that any succours yeeld To these false Troians against the Greeks so bold and patient As Venus shunning charge of me and no lesse impotent Be all their aides then hers to Mars so short worke would be made In our depopulating Troy this hardiest to inuade Of all earths cities At this wish white-wristed Iuno â—…mil'd Next Neptune and Apollo stood vpon the point of field And thus spake Neptune Phoebus come why at the lances end Stand we two thus t will be a shame for vs to re-ascend Ioues golden house being thus in field and not to â—…ight Begin For t is no gracefull worke for me thou hast the yonger chin I older and know more O foole what a forgetfull heart Thou bear'st about thee to stand here prest to take th'Ilian part And fight with me Forgetst thou then what we two we alone Of all the gods haue sufferd here when proud Laomedon Enioyd our seruice a whole yeare for our agreed reward Ioue in his sway would haue it so and in that yeare I rear'd This broad braue wall about this towne that being a worke of mine It might be inexpugnable This seruice then was thine In Ida that so many hils and curld-head forrests crowne To feed his oxen crooked shankt and headed like the Moone But when the much-ioy-bringing houres brought terme for our reward The terrible Laomedon dismist vs both and scard Our high deseruings not alone to hold our promist fee But giue vs threats too Hands and feete he swore to fetter thee And sell thee as a slaue dismist farre hence to forreine Iles Nay more he would haue both our eares His vowes breach and reuiles Made vs part angry with him than and doest thou gratulate now Such a kings subiects or with vs not their destruction vow Euen to their chast wiues and their babes He answerd â—…e might hold His wisedome litle if with him a god for men he would Apollo to Neptune Maintaine contention wretched men that flourish for a time Like leaues eate some of that Earth yeelds and giue Earth in their prime Their whole selues for it Quickly then let vs flie fight for them Nor shew it offerd let themselues beare out their owne extreme Thus he retir'd and fear'd to change blowes with his vnkles hands His sister thererefore chid him much the goddesse that commands Diana reproues Apollo for leauing the Troians In games of hunting and thus spake Fliest thou and leau'st the field To Neptunes glorie and no blowes O foole why doest thou wield Thy idle bow no more my eares shall heare thee vant in skies Dares to meete Neptune but I le tell thy cowards tongue it lies He answerd nothing yet Ioues wife could put on no such raines But spake thus loosly How dar'st thou dog whom no feares containes Iâ—…no to Diana Encounter me t will proue a match of hard condition Though the great Ladie of the bow and Ioue hath set thee downe For Lion of thy sexe with gift to slaughter any Dame Thy proud will enuies yet some Dames will proue th'hadst better tame Wilde Lions vpon hils then them But if this question rests Yet vnder iudgement in thy thoughts and that thy mind contests I le make thee know it Sodainly with her left hand she catcht Both Cynthias palmes lockt fingers fast and with her right she snatcht From her faire shoulders her guilt bow and laughing laid it on About her eares and euery way her turnings seisd vpon Till all her arrowes scatterd out her quiuer emptied quite And as a Doue that flying a Hauke takes to some rocke her flight Simile And in his hollow breasts sits safe her fate not yet to die So fled she mourning and her bow left there Then Mercurie His opposite thus vndertooke Latona at no hand Will I bide combat t is a worke right dangerous to stand At difference with the wiues of Ioue Go therefore freely vant Amongst the deities th' hast subdu'd and made thy combattant Yeeld with plaine powre She answer'd not but gather'd vp the bow And shafts falne from her daughters side retiring Vp did go Diana to Ioues starrie hall her incorrupted
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
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