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
sure VVhom her wing'd hand aduanceth since on it Eternitie doth crowning Vertue sit All whose poore seed like violets in their beds Now grow with bosome-hung and hidden heads For whom I must speake though their Fate conuinces Me worst of Poets to you best of Princes By the most humble and faithfull implorer for all the graces to your highnesse eternised by your diuine Homer Geo. Chapman AN ANAGRAM OF THE NAME OF OVR DRAD PRINCE MY MOST Gracious and sacred Moecaenas HENRYE PRINCE OF VVALES OVR SVNN HEYR PEACE LIFE BE to vs as thy great Name doth import Prince of the people nor suppose it vaine That in this secret and prophetique sort Thy Name and Noblest Title doth containe So much right to vs and as great a good Nature doth nothing vainly much lesse Art Perfecting Nature No spirit in our blood But in our soules discourses beares a part What Nature giues at randon in the one In th' other orderd our diuine part serues Thou art not HEYR then to our state alone But SVNN PEACE LIFE And what thy powre deserues Of vs and our good in thy vtmost strife Shall make thee to thy selfe HEYR SVNN PEACE LIFE TO THE SACRED FOVNTAINE OF PRINCES SOLE EMPRESSE OF BEAVTIE AND VERTVE ANNE Queene of England c. WIth whatsoeuer Honour we adorne Your Royall issue we must gratulate yow Imperiall Soueraigne Who of you is borne Is you One Tree make both the Bole and Bow If it be honour then to ioyne you both To such a powerfull worke as shall defend Both from foule Death and Ages ougly Moth This is an Honor that shall neuer end They know not vertue then that know not what The vertue of defending vertue is It comprehends the guard of all your State And ioynes your Greatnesse to as great a Blisse Shield vertue and aduance her then Great Queene And make this Booke your Glasse to make it seene Your Maiesties in all subiection most humbly consecrate Geo. Chapâ—…an TO THE READER LEst with foule hands you touch these holy Rites And with preiudicacies too prophane Passe Homer in your other Poets sleights Wash here In this Porch to his numerous Phane Heare ancient Oracles speake and tell you whom You haue to censure First then Silius heare Who thrice was Consull in renowned Rome Whose verse saith Martiall nothing shall out-weare Silius Italicus Lib. 13. HE in Elysium hauing cast his eye Vpon the figure of a Youth whose haire With purple Ribands braided curiously Hung on his shoulders wondrous bright and faire Said Virgine What is he whose heauenly face Shines past all others as the Morne the Night Whom many maruelling soules from place to place Pursue and haunt with sounds of such delight Whose countenance wer 't not in the Stygian shade Would make me questionlesse beleeue he were A verie God The learned Virgine made This answer If thou shouldst beleeue it here Thou shouldst not erre he well deseru'd to be Esteem'd a God nor held his so-much breast A little presence of the Deitie His verse comprisde earth seas starres soules at rest In song the Muses he did equalise In honor Phoebus he was onely soule Saw all things spher'd in Nature without eyes And raisde your Troy vp to the starrie Pole Glad Scipio viewing well this Prince of Ghosts Said O if Fates would giue this Poet leaue To sing the acts done by the Romane Hoasts How much beyond would future times receiue The same facts made by any other knowne O blest Aeacides to haue the grace That out of such a mouth thou shouldst be showne To wondring Nations as enricht the race Of all times future with what he did know Thy vertue with his verse shall euer grow Now heare an Angell sing our Poets Fame Whom Fate for his diuine song gaue that name Angelus Politianus in Nutricia More liuing then in old Demodocus Fame glories to waxe yong in Homers verse And as when bright Hyperion holds to vs His golden Torch we see the starres disperse And euery way flie heauen the pallid Moone Euen almost vanishing before his sight So with the dazling beames of Homers Sunne All other ancient Poets lose their light Whom when Apollo heard out of his starre Singing the godlike Acts of honor'd men And equalling the actuall rage of warre With onely the diuine straines of his pen He stood amaz'd and freely did confesse Himselfe was equall'd in Maeonides Next heare the graue and learned Plinie vse His censure of our sacred Poets Muse. Plin. Nat. hist. lib. 7. Cap 29. Turnd into verse that no Prose may come neare Homer Whom shall we choose the glorie of all wits Held through so many sorts of discipline And such varietie of workes and spirits But Grecian Homer like whom none did shine For forme of worke and matter And because Our proud doome of him may stand iustified By noblest iudgements and receiue applause In spite of enuie and illiterate pride Great Macedon amongst his matchlesse spoiles Tooke from rich Persia on his Fortunes cast A Casket finding full of precious oyles Form'd all of gold with wealthy stones enchac't He tooke the oyles out and his nearest friends Askt in what better guard it might be vsde All giuing their conceipts to seuerall ends He answerd His affections rather chusde An vse quite opposite to all their kinds And Homers bookes should with that guard be seru'd That the most precious worke of all mens minds In the most precious place might be preseru'd The Fount of wit was Homer Learnings Syre Idem lib. 17. cap. 5. Idem lib. 25. cap. 3. And gaue Antiquitie her liuing fire VOlumes of like praise I could heape on this Of men more ancient and more learn'd then these But since true Vertue enough louely is With her owne beauties all the suffrages Of others I omit and would more faine That Homer for himselfe should be belou'd Who euerie sort of loue-worth did containe Which how I haue in my conuersion prou'd I must confesse I hardly dare referre To reading iudgements since so generally Custome hath made euen th'ablest Agents erre In these translations all so much apply Of Translation and the naturall difference of Dialects necessarily to be obserued in it Their paines and cunnings word for word to render Their patient Authors when they may as well Make fish with fowle Camels with Whales engender Or their tongues speech in other mouths compell For euen as different a production Aske Greeke and English since as they in sounds And letters shunne one forme and vnison So haue their sense and elegancie bounds In their distinguisht natures and require Onely a iudgement to make both consent In sense and elocution and aspire As well to reach the spirit that was spent In his exanple as with arte to pierce His Grammar and etymologie of words 〈◊〉 But as great Clerkes can write no English verse Because alas great Clerks English affords Say they no height nor copie a rude toung Since t is their Natiue but in
foule disgrace Lodg'd ambuscados for their foe in some well chosen place By which he was to make returne Twise fiue and twentie men And two of them great captaines too the ambush did containe The names of those two men of rule were Mâ—…on Hâ—…mons sonne And Lycophontes Keepe-field cald the heire of Autophon By all men honord like the Gods yet these and all their friends Were sent to hell by Tydeus hand and had vntimely ends He trusting to the aid of Gods reueald by Augurie Obeying which one Chiefe he sau'd and did his life apply To be the heauie messenger of all the others deaths And that sad message with his life to Maeon he bequeaths So braue a knight was Tydeus of whom a sonne is sprong Inferiour farre in martiall deeds though higher in his tongue All this Tydides silent heard aw'd by the reuerend king Which stung hote Sthenelus with wrath who thus put forth his sting Atrides when thou know'st the truth speake what thy knowledge is And do not lie so for I know and I will bragge in this Sthenelus rough speech to Agamemnon That we are farre more able men then both our fathers were We tooke the seuen-fold ported Thebes when yet we had not there So great helpe as our fathers had and fought beneath a wall Sacred to Mars by helpe of Ioue and trusting to the fall Of happie signes from other Gods by whom we tooke the towne Vntoucht our fathers perishing there by sollies of their owne And therefore neuer more compare our fathers worth with ours Tydides frownd at this and said Suppresse thine angers pow'rs Good friend and heare why I refrain'd thou seest I am not mou'd Diomed rebukâ—…s Stheneâ—…s Against our Generall since he did but what his place behou'd Admonishing all Greekes to fight for if Troy proue our prise The honor and the ioy is his If here our ruine lies The shame and griefe for that as muâ—…h is his in greatest kinds As he then his charge weigh we ours which is our dantlesse minds Thus from his chariot amply arm'd he iumpt downe to the ground The armor of the angrie king so horribly did sound It might haue made his brauest foe let feare take downe his braues And as when with the West-wind flawes the sea thrusts vp her waues Simile One after other thicke and high vpon the groning shores First in her selfe lowd but opposd with banks and Rocks she â—…ores And all her backe in bristles set spits euerie way her some So after Diomed instantly the field was ouercome With thicke impressions of the Greekes and all the noise that grew The silence of the Greeke fight Ordring and chearing vp their men from onely leaders flew The rest went silently away you could not heare a voice Nor would haue thought in all their breasts they had one in their choice Their silence vttering their awe of them that them contrould Which made ech man keep bright his arms march fight still where he should The Troians like a sort of Ewes pend in a rich mans fold The Troians coÌ„pared to Ewâ—…s Close at his dore till all be milkt and neuer baaing hold Hearing the bleating of their lambs did all their wide host fill With showts and clamors nor obseru'd one voice one baaing still But shew'd mixt tongs from many a land of men cald to their aid Rude Mars had th'ordring of their spirits of Greeks the learned Maid Mars for the Troians Pallas for the Greekes But Terror follow'd both the hosts and flight and furious Strife The sister and the mate of Mars that spoile of humane life Discord the sistâ—…r of Marâ—… And neuer is her rage at rest at first she is but small Yet after but a little fed she growes so vast and tall Virgil the same of â—…ame That while her feet moue here in earth her forhead is in heauen And this was she that made euen then both hosts so deadly giuen Through euery troope she stalkt and stird rough sighes vp as she went But when in one field both the foes her furie did content And both came vnder reach of darts then darts and shields opposd To darts and shields strength answerd strength then swords and targets closd With swords and targets both with pikes and then did tumult rise Vp to her height then conquerors boasts mixt with the conquerds cries Earth flow'd with blood And as from hils raine waters headlong fall That all waies eate huge Ruts which met in one bed fill a vall With such a confluence of streames that on the mountaine grounds Farre off in frighted shepheards eares the bustling noise rebounds So grew their conflicts and so shew'd their scuffling to the eare With flight and clamor still commixt and all effects of feare And first renowm'd Antilochus slew fighting in the face Antilocâ—…us slue 〈◊〉 Of all Achaias formost bands with an vndanted grace Echepolus Thalysiades he was an armed man Whom on his haire-plum'd helmets crest the dart first smote then ran Into his forehead and there stucke the steele pile making way Quite through his skull a hastie night shut vp his latest day His fall was like a fight-rac't towre like which lying their dispred King Elephenor who was sonne to Chalcodon and led The valiant Abants couetous that he might first possesse His armes laid hands vpon his feet hal'd him from the preasse Of darts and Iauelins hurld at him The action of the king Elephenor drawing of the body of Echepolus is slaine by Agenor When great in heart Agenor saw he made his Iaueline sing To th 'others labor and along as he the trunke did wrest His side at which he bore his shield in bowing of his breast Lay naked and receiu'd the lance that made him lose his hold And life together which in hope of that he lost he sold. But for his sake the fight grew fierce the Troians and their foe Like wolues on one another rusht and maâ—… for man it goes The next of name that seru'd his fate great Aiax Telamoâ—… 〈◊〉 slaies Siâ—… Preferd so sadly he was heire to old Anthemion And deckt with all the flowre of youth the fruit of which yet fled Before the honourd nuptiall torch could light him to his bed His name was Symoisius For some few yeares before His mother walking downe the hill of Ida by the shore Of Syluer Symois to see her parents â—…locks with them She feeling sodainely the paines of child-birth by the streame Of that bright riuer brought him forth and so of Symois They cald him Symoisius Sweet was that birth of his To his kind parents and his growth did all their care employ And yet those rites of pietie that should haue bene his ioy To pay their honourd yeares againe in as affectionate sort He could not graciously performe his sweet life was so short Cut off with mightie Aiax lance For as his spirit put on He strooke him at his breasts right
seeme his fault then cowardise And thus he answerd Since with right you ioynd checke with aduise Paris 〈◊〉 Hâ—…ctor And I heare you giue equall eare It is not any spleene Against the Towne as you conceiue that makes me so vnseene But sorrow for it which to ease and by discourse digest Within my selfe I liue so close and yet since men might wrest My sad retreat like you my wife with her aduice inclinde This my addression to the field which was mine owne free minde As well as th'instance of her words for though the foyle were mine Conquest brings forth her wreaths by turnes stay then this hast of thine But till I ar me and I am made a consort for thee streight Or go I le ouertake thy haste Hellen stood at receipt And tooke vp all great Hectors powers t' attend her heauie words Hellens ruthfull complaint to Hector By which had Paris no reply this vent her griefe affords Brother if I may call you so that had bene better borne A dog then such a horride Dame as all men curse and scorne A mischiefe makâ—…r a man-plague O would to God the day That first gaue light to me had bene a whirlwind in my way And borne me to some desert hill or hid me in the rage Of earths most far-resounding seas ere I should thus engage The deare liues of so many friends yet since the Gods hauâ—… beene Helplesse foreseers of my plagues they might haue likewise seene That he they put in yoke with me to beare out their award Had bene a man of much more spirit and or had noblier dar'd To shield mine honour with his deed or with his mind had knowne Much better the vpbraids of men that so he might haue showne More like a man some sence of griefe for both my shame and his But he is senslesse nor conceiues what any manhood is Nor now nor euer after will and therefore hangs I feare A plague aboue him But come neare good brother rest you here Who of the world of men stands charg'd with most vnrest for me Vile wretch and for my Louers wrong on whom a destinie So bitter is imposde by Ioue that all succeeding times Will put to our vn-ended shames in all mens mouthes our crimes He answerd Hellen do not seeke to make me sit with thee Hector to Hellen I must not stay though well I know thy honourd loue of me My mind cals forth to aid our friends in whom my absence breeds Longings to see me for whose sakes importune thou to deeds This man by all meanes that your care may make his owne make hast And meete me in the open towne that all may see at last He minds his louer I my selfe will now go home and see My houshold my deare wife and sonne that little hope of me For sister t is without my skill if I shall euer more Returne and see them or to earth her right in me restore The Gods may stoupe me by the Greekes This said he went to see The vertuous Princesse his true wife white arm'd Andromache She with her infant sonne and maide was climb'd the towre about The sight of him that sought for her weeping and crying out Hector not finding her at home was going forth retir'd Stood in the gate her woman cald and curiously enquir'd Where she was gone bad tell him true if she were gone to see His sisters or his brothers wiues or whether she should be At Temple with the other Dames t'implore Mineruas ruth Her woman answerd since he askt and vrg'd so much the truth The truth was she was neither gone to see his brothers wiues His sisters nor t'implore the ruth of Pallas on their liues But she aduertisde of the bane Troy sufferd and how vast Conquest had made her selfe for Greece like one distraught made hast To ample Ilion with her sonne and Nurse and all the way Mournd and dissolu'd in teares for him Then Hector made no stay But trod her path and through the streets magnificently built All the great Citie past and came where seeing how bloud was spilt Andromache might see him come who made as he would passe The ports without saluting her not knowing where she was She with his sight made breathlesse hast to meet him she whose grace Brought him withall so great a dowre she that of all the race Of king Action onely liu'd Action whose house stood Beneath the mountaine Placius enuirond with the wood Of Theban Hippoplace being Court to the Cilician land She ran to Hector and with her tender of heart and hand Her sonne borne in his Nurses armes when like a heauenly signe Compact of many golden starres the princely child did shine Whom Hector cald Scamandrius but whom the towne did name Astianax because his sire did onely prop the same Hector though griefe bereft his speech yet smil'd vpon his ioy Andromache cride out mixt hands and to the strength of Troy Thus wept forth her affection O noblest in desire Aâ—…dromaches passion to Hector Thy mind inflam'd with others good will set thy selfe on fire Nor pitiest thou thy sonne nor wife who must thy widdow be If now thou issue all the field will onely run on thee Better my shoulders vnderwent the earth then thy decease For then would earth beare ioyes no moâ—…e then comes the blacke increase Of griefes like Greeks on Ilion Alas what one suruiues To be my refuge one blacke day bereft seuen brothers liues By sterne Achilles by his hand my father breath'd his last Thebes a most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ciâ—… His high-wald rich Cilician Thebes sackt by him and laid wast The royall bodie yet he left vnspoild Religion charm'd That act of spoile and all in fire he burnd him compleat arm'd Built ouer him a royall tombe and to the monument He left of him Th' Oreades that are the high descent Of Aegis-bearing Iupiter another of their owne Did adde to it and set it round with Elms by which is showne In theirs the barrennesse of death yet might it serue beside To shelter the sad Monument from all the ruffinous pride Of stormes and tempests vsde to hurt things of that noble kind The short life yet my mother liu'd he sau'd and seru'd his mind With all the riches of the Realme which not enough esteemd He kept her prisoner whom small time but much more wealth redeemd And she in syluane Hyppoplace Cilicia rul'd againe But soone was ouer-rul'd by death Dianas chast disdaine Gaue her a Lance and tooke her life yet all these gone from me Thou amply renderst all thy life makes still my father be My mother brothers and besides thou art my husband too Most lou'd most worthy Pitie then deare loue and do not go For thou gone all these go againe pitie our common ioy Lest of a fathers patronage the bulwarke of all Troy Thou leau'st him a poore widdowes charge stay stay then in this Towre And call vp to the wilde
him that hath dishonord me Lest such loose kindnesse lose his heart that yet is firme to thee It were thy praise to hurt with me the hurter of my state Since halfe my honor and my Realme thou maist participate Let these Lords then returne th' euent and do thou here repose And when darke sleepe breakes with the day our counsels shall disclose The course of our returne or stay This said he with his eye Made to his friend a couert signe to hasten instantly A good soft bed that the old Prince soone as the Peeres were gone Might take his rest when souldier-like braue Aiax Telamon Spake to Vlysses as with thought Achilles was not worth The high direction of his speech that stood so sternly forth Vnmou'd with th'Orators and spake not to appease Pelides wrath but to depart his arguments were these High-issued Laertiades let vs insist no more Aiâ—…x souldier-like speech and fashion On his perswasion I perceiue the world woâ—…d end before Our speeches end in this affaire we must with vtmost haste Returne his answer though but bad the Peeres are else-where plac't And will not rise till we returne great Thetis sonne hath stor'd Prowd wrath within him as his wealth and will not be implor'd Rude that he is nor his friends loue respects do what they can Wherein past all we honourd him O vnremorsefull man Another for his brother slaine another for his sonne Accepts of satisfaction and he the deed hath done Liues in belou'd societie long after his amends To which his foes high heart for gifts with patience condescends But thee a wild and cruell spirit the Gods for plague haue giuen And for one girle of whose faiâ—…e sexe we come to offer seauen The most exempt for excellence and many a better prise Then put a sweet mind in thy breast respect thy owne allies Though others make thee not remisse a multitude we are Sprung of thy royall familie and our supremest caâ—…e Is to be most familiar and hold most louâ—… with thee Of all the Greeks how great an host soeuer here there be He answerd Noble Telamon Prince of our souldiers here Achilles tâ—… 〈◊〉 Out of thy heart I know thou speakst and as thou holdst me deare But still as often as I thinke how rudely I was vsd And like a stranger for all rites fit for our good refusd My heart doth swell against the man that durst be so profane To violate his sacred place not for my priuate bane But since wrackt vertues generall lawes he shamelesse did infringe For whose sake I will loose the reines and giue mine anger swinge Without my wisedomes least impeach He is a foole and base That pitties vice-plagu'd minds when paine not loue of right giues place And therefore tell your king my Lords my iust wrath will not care For all his cares before my tents and nauie charged are By warlike Hector making way through flockes of Grecian liues Enlightned by their nauall fire but when his rage arriues About my tent and sable barke I doubt not but to shield Them and my selfe and make him flie the there-strong bounded field This said each one but kist the cup and to the ships retir'd Vlysses first Patroclus then the men and maids requiâ—…'d To make graue Phoenix bed with speed and see he nothing lacks They straite obeyd and thereon laid the subtile fruite of flax And warme sheep-fels for couering and there the old man slept Attending till the golden Morne her vsuall station kept Achilles lay in th'inner roome of his tent richly wrought And that faire Ladie by his side that he from Lesbos brought Bright Diomeda Phorbas seed Patroclus did embrace The beautious Iphis giuen to him when his bold friend did race The loftie Syrus that was kept in Enyeius hold Now at the tent of Atreus sonne each man with cups of gold Agamemnon to Vlysses Receiu'd th' Ambassadors returnd all clusterd neare to know What newes they brought which first the king would haue Vlysses show Say most praise-worthie Ithacus the Grecians great renowne Will he defend vs or not yet will his prowd stomacke downe Vlysses made replie Not yet will he appeased be Vlysses to Agâ—…memnon But growes more wrathfull prizing light thy offerd gifts and thee And wils thee to consult with vs and take some other course To saue our armie and our fleete and sayes with all his force The morne shall light him on his way to Pthias wished soile For neuer shall high-seated Troy be sackt with all our toile loue holds his hand twixt vs and it the souldiers gather heart Thus he replies which Aiax here can equally impart And both these Heralds Phoenix stayes for so was his desire To go with him if he thought good if not he might retire All wondred he should be so sterne at last bold Diomed spake Would God Atrides thy request were yet to vndertake Diomed to Agaâ—…non And all thy gifts vnofferd him he 's proud enough beside But this ambassage thou hast sent will make him burst with pride But let vs suffer him to stay or go at his desire Fight when his stomacke serues him best or when Ioue shall inspire Meane while our watch being strongly held let vs a little rest After our food strength liues by both and vertue is their guest Then when the rosie-fingerd Morne holds out her siluer light Bring forth thy host encourage all and be thou first in fight The kings admir'd the fortitude that so diuinely mou'd The skilfull horseman Diomed and his aduice approu'd Then with their nightly sacrifice each toooke his seuerall tent Where all receiu'd the soueraigne gifts soft Somnus did present The end of the ninth Booke THE TENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT TH'Atrides watching wake the other Peeres And in the Fort consulting of their feares Two kings they send most stout and honord most For royall skowts into the Troian host Who meeting Dolon Hectors bribed Spie Take him and learne how all the Quarters lie He told them in the Thracian regiment Of rich king Rhesus and his royall Tent Striuing for safetie but they end his strife And rid poore Dolon of a dangerous life Then with digressiue wyles they 〈◊〉 their force On Rhesus life and take his snoâ—…e horse Another Argument Kappa the Night exploits applies Rhesus and Dolons tragedies THe other Princes at their ships soft fingerd sleepe did bind But not the Generall Somnus silkes bound not his laboring mind Agaâ—…nons cares That turnd and returnd many thoughts And as quicke lightnings flie These are the liâ—…htnings before snow c. that Scalligers Critiâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…worthily 〈◊〉 citing the place falsly as in the 3. bookes annotations c From well-deckt Iunos soueraigne out of the thickned skie Preparing some exceeding raine or haile the fruite of cold Or downe-like Snow that sodainly makes all the fields looke old Or opes the gulfie mouth of warre with his ensulphur'd hand In dazling
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
obtaine me if thou stay'st retire then take aduise A foole sees nought before t is done and still too late is wise This mou'd not him but to the worse since it renew'd the sting That his slaine brother shot in him rememberd by the king To whom he answer'd Thou shalt pay for all the paines endur'd By that slaine brother all the wounds sustaind for him recur'd With one made in thy heart by me T is true thou mad'st his wife A heauie wid ow when her ioyes of wedlocke scarce had life And hurt'st our parents with his griefe all which thou gloriest in Forespeaking so thy death that now their griefes end shall begin To Panthus and the snowy hand of Phrontes I will bring Those armes and that proud head of thine and this laborious thing Shall aske no long time to performe nor be my words alone But their performance Strength and Fight and Terror thus sets on This said he strooke his all-round shield nor shrunke that but his lance Euphorbus slain by Menelaus That turn'd head in it then the king assaid the second chance First praying to the king of gods and his dart entrie got The force much driuing backe his foe in low part of his throte And ranne his necke through Then fell pride and he and all with gore His locks that like the Graces were and which he euer wore In gold and siluer ribands wrapt were piteously wet And when alone in some choice place a husband-man hath set Simile The young plant of an Oliue tree whose roote being euer fed With plentie of delicious springs his branches brauely spred And all his fresh and louely head growne curld with snowy flowres That dance and florish with the winds that are of gentlest powres But when a whiâ—…lewind got aloft stoopes with a sodaine gale Teares from his head his tender curles and tosseth there withall His fixt roote from his hollow mines it well presents the force Of Spartas king and so the Plant Euphorbus and his Corse He slaine the king stript off his armes and with their worthy prise All fearing him had clearely past if heauens faire eye of eyes Had not in enuy of his acts to his encounter stird The Mars-like Hector to whose powres the rescue he preferd Of those faire armes and tooke the shape of Mentas Colonell Of all the Cicones that neare the Thracian Hebrus dwell Like him he thus put forth his voice Hector thou scowâ—…'st the field In head strong pursuite of those horse that hardly are compeld To take the draught of chariots by any mortals hand The great grand child of Aeacus hath onely their command Achilles Whom an immortall mother bore while thou attendst on these The young Atrides in defence of Menatiades Patroclus so cal led of Meâ—…etius his father Hath slaine Euphorbus Thus the god tooke troope with men againe And Hector heartily perplext lookt round and saw the slaine Still shedding riuers from his wound and then tooke enuious view Of braue Atrides with his spoyle in way to whom he flew Like one of Vulcans quenchlesse flames Atrides heard the crie Note the manly wise discourse of Menelaus 〈◊〉 himselfe 〈◊〉 Hector ad uancing towards him That euer vsherd him and sigh'd and said O me if I Should leaue these goodly armes and him that here lies dead for me I feare I should offend the Greeks If I should stay and be Alone with Hector and his men I may be compast in Some sleight or other they may vse Many may quickly win Their wils of one and all Troy comes euer where Hector leades But why deare mind dost thou thus talke when men dare set their heads Against the gods as sure they do that fight with men they loue Straight one or other plague ensues it cannot therefore moue The grudge of any Greeke that sees I yeeld to Hector he Still fighting with a spirit from heauen And yet if I could see Braue Aiax he and I would stand though gainst a god and sure T is best I seeke him and then see if we two can procure This Corses freedome through all these a little then let rest The body and my mind be still of two bads chuse the best In this discourse the troopes of Troy were in with him and he Made such a Lionlike retreate as when the herdsmen see The royall sauage and come on with men dogs cries and speares 〈◊〉 To cleare their horned stall and then the kingly heart he beares With all his high disdaine fals off so from this ods of aide The golden-haird Atrides fled and in his strength displaid Vpon his left hand him he wisht extremely busied About encouraging his men to whom an extreme dread Apollo had infusde the king reacht Aiax instantly And said Come friend let vs two haste and from the tyranny Menelaus to 〈◊〉 Of Hector free Patroclus corse He strait and gladly went And then was Hector haling of the body with intent To spoile the shoulders of the head and giue the dogs the rest His armes he hauing prisde before When Aiax brought his brest To barre all further spoyle with that he had sure Hector thought T was best to satisfie his splene which temper Aiax wrought With his mere sight and Hector fled the armes he sent to Troy To make his citizens admire and pray Ioue send him ioy Then Aiax gatherd to the corse and hid it with his targe There setting downe as sure a foote as in the tender charge Of his lou'd whelps a Lion doth two hundred hunters neare Simile To giue him onset their more force make him the more austere Drownes all their clamors in his 〈◊〉 darts dogs doth all despise And lets his rough browes downe so low they couer all his eyes So Aiax lookt and stood and stayd for great Priamides When Glaucus Hippolâ—…chides saw Aiax thus depresse 〈◊〉 vpâ—… 〈◊〉 The spirit of eHctor thus he chid O goodly man at armes In Fght a Paris why should Fame make thee fort gainst our harmes Being such a fugitiue now marke how well thy boasts defend Thy citie onely with her owne Be sure it shall descend To that proofe wholly Not a man of any Lycian ranke Shall strike one stroke more for thy towne for no mans gets a thanke Should he eteâ—…nally fight here nor any guard of thee How wilt thou worthlesse that thou art keepe off an enemie From our poore souldiers when their Prince Sarpedon guest and friend To thee and most deseruedly thou flew'st from in his end And left'st to all the lust of Greece O gods a man that was In life so huge a good to Troy and to thee such a grace In death not kept by thee from dogs if my friends wiâ—…l do well We 'le take our shoulders from your walls and let all sinke to hell As all will were our faces turn'd Did such a spirit breath In all you Troians as becomes all men that fight beneath Their
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
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
I had bene brought To ruine for what breeds that wish which is the mischiefe wrought By my accesse yet neuer found one harsh taunt one words ill From thy sweet cariage Twenty yeares do now their circles â—…ill Since my arriuall all which time thou didst not onely beare Thy selfe without checke But all else that my Lords brothers were Their sisters Lords sisters themselues the Queen my mother in law The king being neuer but most milde when thy mans spirits saw Sowre and reprochfull it would still reproue their bitternesse With sweet words And thy gentle soule And therefore thy deceasse I truly mourne for and my selfe curse as the wretched cause All brode Troy yeelding me not one that any humane lawes Of pitie or forgiuenesse mou'd t' entreate me humanely But onely thee all else abhorr'd me for my destinie These words made euen the coÌ„mons mourn to whom the king said Friends Priam to the Troians Now fetch wood for our funerall fire nor feare the foe intends Ambush or any violence Achilles gaue his word At my dismission that twelue dayes he would keepe sheath'd his sword And all mens else Thus oxen mules in chariots straite they put Went forth and an vnmeasur'd pile of Syluane matter cut Nine daies emploide in cariage but when the tenth morne shinde On wretched mortals then they brought the-fit-to-be-diuin'd Forth to be burn'd Troy swum in teares Vpon the piles most height They laid the person and gaue fire all day it burn'd all night But when th' eleuenth morne let on earth her rosie fingers shine The people flockt about the pile and first with blackish wine Quencht all the flames His brothers then and friends the snowy bones Gatherd into an vrne of gold still powring on their mones Then wrapt they in soft purple veiles the rich vrne digg'd a pit Grau'd it ramb'd vp the graue with stones and quickly built to it A sepulcher But while that worke and all the funerall rites Were in performance guards were held at all parts dayes and nights For feare of false surprise before they had imposde the crowne To these solemnities The tombe aduanc't once all the towne In Ioue-nurst Priams Court partooke a passing sumptuous feast And so horse-taming Hectors rites gaue vp his soule to Rest. Thus farre the Ilian Ruines I haue laid Open to English eyes In which repaid With thine owne value go vnualu'd Booke Liue and be lou'd If any enuious looke Hurt thy cleare fame learne that no state more hie Attends on vertue then pin'd Enuies eye Would thou wert worth it that the best doth wound Which this Age feedes and which the last shall bound THus with labour enough though with more comfort in the merits of my diuine Author I haue brought my translation of his Iliads to an end If either therein or in the harsh vtterance or matter of my Comment before I haue for haste scatterd with my burthen lesse then fifteene weekes being the whole time that the last twelue bookes translation stood me in I desire my present will and I doubt not hability if God giue life to reforme and perfect all heareafter may be ingenuouslly accepted for the absolute worke The rather considering the most learned with all their helpes and time haue bene so often and vnanswerably miserably taken halting In the meane time that most assistfull and vnspeakeable spirit by whose thrice sacred conduct and inspiration I haue finished this labour diffuse the fruitfull horne of his blessings through these goodnesse-thirsting watchings without which vtterly dry and bloodlesse is whatsoeuer Mortality soweth But where our most diligent Spondanus ends his worke with a prayer to be taken out of these Maeanders and Euripian riuers as he termes them of Ethnicke and prophane writers being quite contrarie to himselfe at the beginning I thrice humbly beseech the most deare and diuine mercie euer most incomparably preferring the great light of his truth in his direct and infallible Scriptures I may euer be enabled by resting wondring in his right comfortable shadowes in these to magnifie the clearenesse of his almighty apparance in the other And with this salutation of Poeâ—…ie giuen by our Spondanus in his Preface to these Iliads All haile Saint-sacred Poesie that vnder so much gall of fictioâ—… such abundance of honey doctrine hast hidden not reuealing them to the vnworthy worldly wouldst thou but so much make me that amongst thy Nâ—…uices I might be numbred no time should euer come neare my life that could make me forsake thee I will conclude with this my daily and nightly prayer learn'd of the most learned Symplicius Supplico tibi Domine Pater Dux rationis nostrae vt nostrae nobilitatis recordemur qua tu nos ornasti vt tu nobis praestò sis vt ijs qui per sese mouentur vt à corporis contagio brutorumque affectuum repurgemur eosque superemus regamus sicut decet pro instrumentis ijs vtamur Deinde vt nobis adiumento sis ad accuratam rationis nostrae correctionem coniunctionem cum ijs quae verè sunt per lucem veritatis Et tertium Saluatori supplex oro vt ab oculis animorum nostrorum caliginem prorsus abstergas vt quod apud Homerum est Norimus bene qui Deus aut mortalis habendus Amen FINIS TO THE RIGHT GRACIOVS and worthy the Duke of LENNOX AMongst th'Heroes of the VVorlds prime years Stand here great Duke see theÌ„ shine about you Informe your princely minde and spirit by theirs And then like them liue euer looke without you For subiects fit to vse your place and grace VVhich throw about you as the Sunne his Raies In quickning with their power the dying Race Offriendlesse Vertue since they thus can raise Their honor'd Raisers to Eternitie None euer liu'd by Selfe-loue Others good Is th' obiect of our owne They liuing die That burie in them selues their fortunes brood To this soule then your gracious count'nance giue That gaue to such as you such meanes to liue TO THE MOST GRAVE AND honored Temperer of Law and Equitie the Lord CHANCELOR c. THat Poesie is not so remou'd a thing From graue administry of publike weales As these times take it heare this Poet sing Most iudging Lord and see how he reueales The mysteries of Rule and rules to guide The life of Man through all his choicest waies Nor be your timely paines the lesse applyed For Poesies idle name because her Raies Haue shin'd through greatest Counsellors and Kings Heare Royall Hermes sing th' Egyptian Lawes How Solon Draco Zoroastes sings Their Lawes in verse and let their iust applause By all the world giuen yours by vs allow That since you grace all vertue honour you TO THE MOST WORTHIE Earle Lord Treasurer and Treasure of our Countrey the Earle of SALISBVRY c. VOuchsafe great Treasurer to turne your eye And see the opening of a Grecian Mine VVhich VVisedome long since made her Treasury And now her