was with pity And unto Hermes turn'd his eyes and said Since you mens company do most frequent And whom you will can quickly hear and aid Go and guide Priam to Achilles Tent. But so as to be seen by none until He thither safely come And Mercury No sooner understood his Fathers will But sets himself about it willingly And first his Shoes unto his feet he binds Ambrosian Shoes that over Sea and Land Bear him as swift and lightly as the Winds And then his Rod he took into his hand Wherewith he layeth sleep on Mortal eyes And takes it off again when he thinks good Then down to Troy and Hellespont he flies In likeness of a Youth of Royal blood When Doun begins t' appear upon his face Idaeus now and Priam at the brink Of Xanthus were and night came on apace And there they made their Mules and Horses drink Idaeus neer them then saw Mercury And in great fear to Priam cri'd I see A man O Priam coming Let us fly Or to him go and fall down at his knee And horribly was Priam then afraid His hair with fear upon him stood upright Then Mercury unto him came and laid His hand on his and to him said 'T is night What makes you be abroad Do you not fear Your Foes the Greeks If any of them knew That you were with so great a Treasure here In what a pitiful estate were you For you and he that 's with you both are old And neither of you can himself defend But as for any hurt from me be bold I hither come t' assist you as a friend So like me thinks you to my Father are And Priam then to Mercury repli'd 'T is true you say And yet the Gods a care Have of me still that send me such a Guide So great a man so comely and so wise That blessed are the Parents you begat And Mercury to him again replies Indeed old man you say the truth in that But whither bear you your best goods away To some strange City till the War be done Or are the Trojans all now leaving Troy Since killed is the best of them your Son That might with any of the Greeks compare Tell me said Priam pray ye who are you And whence ye come and who your Parents are And how my Son and his hard Fate you knew You mean to try me now said Mercury At th' Argive Ships I Hector frighted saw And how he made the Greeks before him fly And how he tost them in the Field like straw Where we stood by with wonder looking on Achilles had forbidden us to fight His man am I by birth a Myrmidon And stood amongst the rest to see the sight My Father is Polyctor very rich But now an old man is and like to you And seven Sons he has in all of which I am the last And Lots at home we drew Which of us with Achilles should be sent To th' War of Troy The Lot then fell to me And with Achilles in his Ship I went And hither come the place of fight to see The Greeks by break of day will hither come And try if now the City they can win Impatient of their stay at Ilium They cannot by their Leaders be kept in Then Priam to him said again Since you Achilles Servant are is Hector yet At th' Argive Ships I pray you tell me true Or cut in joynts thrown to the Dogs to eat And Hermes unto this again replies Nor Dogs nor Fowl upon him yet have fed But at the Ships he still neglected lies And though he have twelve days now there been dead Yet is his body uncorrupt and free From Worms that breed in other bodies slain And though it ev'ry morning dragged be About Patroclus Tomb doth whole remain And undefac'd the bloud all washt away You would admire to see him look so fresh And clensed of the filth that on him lay And at his wounds how closed is the flesh Though many from the Greeks receiv'd he had So kind the Gods were after he was dead These words of Mercury made Priam glad And thus again he to him answered Yes yes 't is good to give the Gods their due A thing that Hector never did omit And therefore to him they this favour shew Although his Soul be in th' Infernal Pit But now t' Achilles Tent be you my Guide And at my hand this handsome Cup receive Again you try me Mercury repli'd I dare not tak 't without Achilles leave For of his anger in great fear I stand Without a Bribe I 'll with you go along To what place you think fit by Sea or Land Though 't were to Argos none shall do you wrong For sure so wretchedly I do not look But that a man may of me stand in fear Then up he leapt and in his hands he took The Whip and Reyns and serv'd as Charretier When they were come to th' Argive Ditch and Wall The Watch that placed was the Gate to keep Their Supper to provide were busie all And Mercury there laid them all asleep Took off the Bars the Gate wide open laid And in the Charret and the Waggon went With all the wealth for Hector to be paid And forward pass unto Achilles Tent Built for him by his Myrmidons and high With Fir-trees tall and cover'd over head To keep it out of danger from the Sky With the deep vesture of the flowry Mead And to it had a great Court pal'd about And in the Pale a high two-valved door For Chars and Waggons to go in and out And one great Bar of Fir-tree and no more So great that it requir'd three common men Upon the lofty Gate to set it on And three such men to take it off agen None but Achilles shut it could alone This Gate then Hermes open to him laid And with the Char and Waggon in he came Then leaping to the ground to Priam said Old Fathâ—â— I a God Immortal am Hermes and hither sent to be your Guide From Heav'n on purpose by my Father Jove But by Achilles I 'll not here be spi'd Gods must not shew to men such open love But go you to Achilles in and try What favour from him at his knees you 'll find And put him of his Son in memory And Father That will work upon his mind This said t' Olympus Hermes went his way Then to the ground leapt Priam from his Charre And going in he bad Idaeus stay And of the Mules and Horses have a care Achilles at his Supper now was set And waiting on him stood Automedon And Alimus the Table standing yet But sup'd he had and appetite had none His other friends at distance from him sat And Priam to them then came in unseen And kist the hands there of Achilles that Of many of his Sons the death had been As when a man that kill'd another has And to another Prince for safety flies Men at him stare so he amazed was
Both Greeks and Trojans wondred at the sight And one unto another next him said This bloody War will sure return again Or else the Peace be surer made than ' t is But which o' th' two Jove has not yet made plain Who both of Peace and War disposer is Pallas the form took of Laodocus Antenor's Son and went into the throng O' th' Trojans to inquire for Pandarus At last she found him his own Troops among That were of Lycaonia the Bands And from Zeleia led by Pandarus To Ilium There Pallas by him stands Like to Antenor's Son and to him thus Lycaon's Son saies she dare you let fly A Shaft at Menelaus For I know The Trojans all would thank you specially Paris the Son of Priam and bestow Great Presents on you if you should him kill Shoot at him then and to Apollo pray The God of Archers that he help you will And vow a Hecatombe of Lambs to pay When to Zeleia safely you come home For there your people to Apollo vow When this was said the vain man overcome From off his Shoulders taketh down his Bow Which did a lusty Goats-head once adorn Which with a Shaft he killed had among The Rocks and taken from his head the Horn Which was no less than sixteen handfuls long And to a Fletcher gave it to be wrought Shaven and Polisht and Guilt at the hand This Bow he bent and lest the Foe should know 't He crouched down and laid it on the sand But lest the Greeks should rush on him before He ready were to shoot they that stood near Before him with their Bucklers stood good store And being now delivered of that fear From out the Quiver takes an Arrow keen And new well wing'd to carry mischief true Which shot before that time had never been But yet his Vow before his Arrow flew Phoebus said he if I Atrides slay Assoon as I shall to Zeleia come I vow unto your Deity to pay Of my first yeaned Lambs an Hecatombe Then to his breast he drew the leather string And to the Bow return'd the Arrow head Out leapt the Shaft and as it went did sing Amongst the throng as pleas'd mans blood to shed And Menelaus now the Gods you blest And chiefly Pallas that before you stood And turn'd the deadly Arrow from your breast About as much as a kind Mother cou'd From her Childs face divert a busie fly And made it on the Golden Buckle fall Where of his Breast plate double was the ply And though it past through Buckle Plate and all And Girdle which his Coat unto him bound The Shaft into his Body penetrated And made though not a great one yet a wound The force it went with being much abated Yet out the blood ran As when Ivory Is stain'd with Crimson to adorn the Cheeks Of the proud Steeds and please the Drivers eye Many a Cavalier to have it seeks The Dame that stain'd it then holds up the price And keeps it by her as a precious thing So lovely seems the Colour to her eyes As to be sold to none but to a King So look'd his body when the streams of Blood His Iv'ry Legs and Insteps did defile But Agamemnon stiff with horror stood And so did Menelaus for a while But when he saw the Arrow Barbs appear Above the Nerve his courage came again But Agamemnon not yet out of fear Did on the Trojans Perjury complain Brother said he and took him by the hand Dear Brother 't is the Oath that has you slain Making you thus before the Trojans stand But sure I am the Oath cannot be vain Confirmed with so great solemnity They shall though late pay for it with their lives For Jove nere fails to punish Perjury Both they themselves their children and their wives For I well know the fatal day will come To Priam and to Priam's people all Jove will his black Shield shake ore Ilium And for this ugly action make it fall This Menelaus is a thing to come But what if of your wound you chance to dye The Argives streight will think of going home How by the Greeks then scorned shall be I How proud will Priam and the Trojans be When Argive Helen shall be left behind And your bones rotting in the ground they see Without effecting what they had design'd Some trampling on you Grave perhaps will say Would Agamemnon thus would alwaies vent His Choler as he now has done at Troy Now gone with empty Ships back to repent Leaving his Brother Menelaus here Then should I wish the earth would swallow me But Menelaus to displace that fear Fright not the Army Brother thus said he Not mortal is the wound 'Twixt me and death My Armour and the Clasps stood all of Brass Besides a good tough Girdle underneath Pray God't be true said he to Menelaus But we must send for a Chyrurgeon To mitigate with Lenitives the pain Talthybius said he call Machaon And having found him quickly come again Tell him he must to Menelaus come Who by a Foe is with an Arrow shot Trojan or Lycian I know not whom That with great grief to us has honour got This said the Herald went and look'd about Amongst the Troops of Tricca which he led Nor was it long before he found him out With many Targetiers environed You must said he to Menelaus come Who by some Foe is with an Arrow shot Trojan or Lycian I know not whom That with great grief to us has honour got 'T is Agamemnon calls you Then they pass Together through the Hoast and hastened Till they were come where Menelaus was With many other Lords encompassed There Machaon the Arrow first pulls out The Barbs were broken as they came away Then took he off his Armour and his Coat Then sucked he the wound the blood to stay And laid on Unguents to allay the pain Mean while the Trojans arm'd were coming in And then the Greeks were forc'd to arm again And Agamemnon's vertue now was seen He did not at their coming sleep nor start But speedily prepared for the fight And of a Chief Commander did the part His own Commanders first to disaffright His Horses and his Chariot he sent off T' Eurymedon the Son of Ptolemy The Son of Pirus he gave charge thereof And bad him with it alwaies to be nigh To use when labour tired had his Knees Through the great Army then on foot he went And where them hasting to the Fight he sees He gives them in few words encouragement On Argives and be sure Jove never fights Against good men for such perfidious knaves But leave them will for food to Dogs and Kites And to their Foes their wives and children Slaves But where he saw the Soldiers negligent His admonition was then severe Fie Argives what d' you fear To what intent Stand you thus sâ—aring like a â—â—rd of 〈◊〉 Just like so many Deer that had been chased Ore some great Plain looking about they
to give or take a wound While thus Ulysses argu'd in his minde Hector was near hâ—m and enclos'd him had With Taâ—getiers before him and behinde Whereof they had no reason to be glad At when the Hounds by Hunters are set on A wild Boar as he comes out from the Wood He whets his Teeth they from him will not run Even so Ulysses 'mongst the Trojans stood Where by him slain first Deiopites was And Thoon then and Eunomus he kill'd And after these he slew Chersidamas As from his Char he lighted in the Field Then leaving these slew Charops with his Spear Socus his Brother Hippasus his Son Then Socus to him came and standing near Unto Ulysses with a Speech begun Ulysses much renown'd for Craft and Pain This day you either must the Honor wear Of having Hippasus his two Sons slain Or lose your own life wounded by my Spear Then threw his Spear and pierc'd Ulysses Shield His Breast plate and his Coat and toar his Skin But Pallas him preserv'd from being kill'd For to the Vital parts it went not in Ulysses knew the wound not mortal was Made a step back and then to Socus said Fool that thou art that wou'dst not let me pass On other Trojans hast thy self destroy'd I do not think you shall this hour outlive But from my Spears sharp point receive your death And unto me more Reputation give And leave your Soul unto the Pow'rs beneath Then Socus turn'd himself about to fly But overtaken by Ulysses Spear That pierc'd him Back and Breast he fell down dead Then scornfully Ulysses did him jear O Socus gallant man at Arms said he By death prevented is your Enterprize Your eyes shall not by Parents closed be But shall be pecked out by Crows and Pyes Then from his Shield and Body he pull'd out The Spear which at him was by Socus thrown The Bloud then from the Wound did freely spout Which when the Trojans saw they straight came down And all together tow'rds him went the Rabble Then he retir'd and as he going was Thrice called out as loud as he was able For help and thrice was heard by Menelaus Who t' Ajax said Ulysses voice I hear And like the voice of one that is distrest He hem'd in by the Trojans is I fear Come let us to him go and do our best To fetch him off For valiant though he be I fear unless we aid him with great speed He by the Trojans will be slain and we Loose a good man of whom we oft have need Then up they went and found him by the Foes Environ'd round As when a Stag is shot By some young man he swiftly from him goes Whilst strong his knees are and his bloud is hot But when he by the Arrow tamed is The Wolves feed on him in the gloomy Wood Then comes the Lion and the Prey is his About Ulysses so the Trojans stood Till Ajax with a Target like a Tower Came to his aid then sev'ral ways they fled Ulysses now no longer in their Power Was from the Field by Menelaus led And mounted on his Chariot agen But on went Ajax and slew Pandocus King Priams Son and wounded three good men Lisander Pylartes and Pyrasus Then as a River coming to the Plain And swell'd by Jupiter with showr's of rain More than the Banks are able to contain Bears Oaks and Pines before it to the Main So Ajax charg'd the Trojan Troops But this Hector knew nothing of For far off now Upon Scamander Banks he fighting is And to the ground doth many an Argive throw There was the noise there aged Nestor stood And there Idomeneus with their Steeds And Hector that the use well understood Of Spears and Horses there did mighty deeds And yet the Greeks retir'd not nor had done If Paris had not with an Arrow smot Machaon on the shoulder to the Bone Three-sorked was the Arrow which he shot And mightily the Argives were afraid Since now the Foe prevail'd he would be slain To Nestor then Idomeneuâ— said O Nestor to your Charret mount again And with Machaon make haste to the Ships A Surgeon many other men is worth For many other men alive he keeps By making Salves and drawing Weapons forth Then Nestor mounteth and the Horses whips Which they no sooner feel than they are gone And quickly brought unto the hollow Ships Machaon Aesculapius his Son Mean while Cebriones the Charetier Of Hector saw the Trojans were distrest And to him said To what end stay we here Since yonder by the Greeks our Friends are prest 'T is Ajax that disorders them I see I know him by the largeness of his Shield Now where they fighting are most furiously Let us go down to that side of the Field This said he clackt his Whip his Horses ran Unto the place where greatest was the Cry Ore many a Shield and over many a man That gasping on the bloudy Field did lye The Horses Bellies and the Charret-wheels And Axletrees with bloud were cover'd ore Forc'd up in drops by the swift Horses heels And Hector rushing in their Battles tore But Hector still took heed of Ajax Spear And sought in other places of the Field But Ajax struck by Jupiter with Fear Amazed at his shoulder hung his Shield And staring on the Foe a while he stood Then turn'd and softly from them went away As when a Lion coming from the Wood Down to a Pasture on a Cow to prey Is hu'd by Dogs and Pesants in the night And hungry sometimes goes and sometimes stands But cannot have his Will for all his might So many Spears are flying from their hands And flaming Brands which put him in a fright Keen as he is then sullenly he goes Back to the Wood and comes no more in sight So then retired Ajax from his Foes Or as an Ass in spight of many Boes Is got into the Corn and there abides Though they upon him fall with Blows and Noise And many Cudgels break upon his sides For he the force of Boys but little feels He hardly will be driven out though fill'd And now and then kicks at them with his heels So Ajax at the last went off the Field By Hector and the Trojans still pursu'd Upon his Shield received many a Spear Sometimes his Back sometimes his face he shew'd So that they could not to the Ships come near Thus he between the Greeks and Trojans stands While Spears abundance at him hurled were Some in his Shield stuck driven by strong hands Some on the ground fell short and fixt were there But then Eurypylus Euaemon's Son That saw him thus opprest came to his side And wounded with his Spear Apisaon The Liver through and on the place he dy'd But as he stript him lying on the ground Was shot by Alexander in the Thigh And broken was the Arrow in the wound And much increased was his pain thereby Then went Eurypylus into the croud And cry'd out to the Princes of
And only mine unto the God be sent That unrewarded none but I remain I thought it reason th' Argives should collect Amongst themselves the value how they list And give it me before they did expect This Prize of mine should be by me dismisâ— If they 'l do that 't is well If not I 'le go To your or Ajax or Ulysses tent And take his prize and right my self will so Wherewith I think he will not be content But since there 's time enough to speak of this Let 's ready make a Ship with able Row'rs And th' Hecatombe to go with fair Chryseis And to direct one of the Counsellors Ajax Idomeneus Ulysses or Your self may go Athilles if you please And do the bus'ness you are pleading for And if you can th' offended God appease O impudence Achilles then reply'd What other of th' Achaeans willingly Will when you only for your self provide Go where you bid or fight with th' enemy Against the Trojans I no quarrel have In Pthia plundring they were never seen Nor ever thence my Kinâ— or Horses drave Nor could the Sea and great Hills are between Only for yours and Menelaus sake To honour gain for you we came to Troy Whereof no notice Dogshead now you take But threaten me my prize to take away Which by my labour I have dearly bought And by th' Achaeans given me has been And when the City Troy we shall have got Your share will great mine little be therein For though my part be greatest in the pain Yet when unto division we come You will expect the greatest part o' th' gain And that with little I go weary home Then farewel Troy To Sea I 'le go again And back to Pthia Then it will be seen When you without me shall at Troy remain What Honour and what Riches you shall win Go when you will said Agamemnon fly I le not entreat you for my sake to stay When you are gone more honour'd shall be I Nor Jove I hope will with you go away In you I shall but loose an enemy That only loves to quarrel and to fight The Gods have giv'n you strength I not deny Go 'mongst your Myrmidons and use your might I care not for you nor your anger fear For after I have sent away Chryseis And satisfi'd the God I 'le not forbear To fetch away from you the fair Briseis And that by force For I would have you see How much to mine inferior is your might And others fear t' oppose themselves to me This swell'd Achilles choler to the height And made him study what to do were best To draw his Sword and Agamemnon kill Or take some time his anger to digest His Sword was drawn yet doubtful was his Will But Juno that of both of them took care Sent Pallas down who coming stood behind Achilles and laid hold upon his Hair Whereat Achilles wondring in his minde Turn'd back and by the terror of her eyes Knew her but by none else perceiv'd was she Come you said he to see the injuries That are by Agamemnon done to me So great O Goddess Pallas is his pride As I believe it cost him will his life I hither came Athena then reply'd To put an end to this unlucky strife From Heaven I hither was by Juno sent That loves you both and of you both takes care Drawing of Swords and Blood-shed to prevent But as for evil words you need not spare For the wrong done you he shall trebly pay Another time Hold then Your Sword forbear I must then said Achilles you obey Though wrong'd Who hears not Gods the Gods not hear This said his mighty Sword again he sheath'd And Pallas up unto Olympus flew Achilles still nothing but Choler breath'd And Agamemnon thus revil'd anew Dogs-face and Drunkard Coward that thou art That hat'st to lead the people out to fight Nor yet to lye in ambush hast the heart And painfully watch in the field all night But thou to take from other men their due Safe lying in the Camp more pleasure hast But fools they are that ruled are by you Or else this injury had been your last But this I 'le say and with an Oath make good Now by this Scepter which hath left behind The stock whereon it once grew in the wood And never more shall have nor leaf nor rind And by Achaean Princes now is born By whom Jove's Laws to th' People carried be You hear now what a great Oath I have sworn If ere the Achaeans shall have need of me And Agamemnon cannot them relieve When Hector fills the field with bodies slain And Agamemnon only for them grieve They my assistance wish for shall in vain This said Achilles threw the Scepter down That stuck all over was with Nails of Gold And Nestor rose of Pyle that wore the Crown Wise and sweet Orator and Captain old His words like Honey dropped from his tongue Two ages he in battle honour gain'd For all that while he youthful was and strong And with the third age now in Pyle he reign'd What grief t' Achaea coming is said he O Gods what joy to Priam and his Seed How glad will all the Trojans be to see You two that all the rest in pow'r exceed With your own hands shed one anothers blood I elder am do then as I advise For I conversed have with men as good That yet my counsel never did despise Perithous and Dryas were great men And Polyphemus and Exadius Such as for strength I ne'er shall see agen And so were Caeneus and Theseus The strongest of mankind were these and slew The strongest of wild beasts that haunt the Wood. These strong men I convers'd withal and knew And with them also I did what I cou'd With these no other could contend in fight Yet they from Pyle thought fit to call me forth Far off nor ever did my counsel slight Think not therefore my counsel nothing worth Atrides take not from him though you can The Damsel which the Greeks have given him Forbear the King Pelides For the man Whom Jove hath crown'd is made of Jove a limb Though you be strong and on a Goddess got Atrides is before you in command Atrides be but you to peace once brought T' appease Achilles I will take in hand Who is while we are lying here our Wall To this Atrides answered again I nothing can deny of this at all But he amongst us thinks he ought to raign And give the Law to all as he thinks fit But I am certain that shall never be He well can fight the Gods have granted it But they nere taught him words of infamy Then interrupting him Achilles said I were a Wretch and nothing worth indeed If I what ever you command obey'd I will no more to what you say take heed But this I tell you if you take away The Damsel which is mine by your own gift I do not mean for that to make a Fray Amongst
stop'd and broken are and foam and roar So then the Greeks up to the Trojans come Obeying each his Leader silently You would have thought them though so many dumb In glittering Arms and glorious to the eye On th' other side the Trojans made a noise Like Ews a milking kept off from their Lambs When in the field abroad they hear their cries And they again bleat back unto their Dams But did not one another understand For few there were whose Language was the same Some were of one some of another Land And most of them from far off thither came Pallas the Greeks Mars Trojans favoured Then Fright came in with Mars his sister Strife Little when born but grew until her Head Was in the Clouds for she grows all her life But when the Armies were together near Then Man to Man came close and Shield to Shield And mingled in the Front was Spear with Spear And horrible the noise was in the field Whâ—lst some insult and others groaning dye And th' earth they stood on cover'd was with blood As when great Torrents from the Mountains high Pour down into the Valley a great flood The Streams through thousand Channels falling roar The trembling Shepherds hear it to the Hills So much the noise o' th' Battle the Air tore And all the Region with terror fills A Trojan was the first man that was slain Echepolus Son of Thalysias He smote was with a Spear into the Brain Antilochus the man that smote him was His Armour ratled on him as he fell As if some Tow'r had fall'n But then Elphenor To strip him of his Arms that hoped well Dragging him off was killed by Agenor For whilst in stooping he his Flank unhides Agenor quickly his advantage spyes And pierc'd him with his Spear through both his Sides Then down he fell and darkness seiz'd his eyes And then about his body rose great strife And one upon another falling on Anthemon's Son a fair youth lost his life Slain by great Ajax Son of Telamon And Simoisius called was by name 'Cause born upon the Bank of Simois Whither from Ida both his Parents came To view their Flocks lest ought should be amiss But had no joy of him He was unblest To be the first that came in Ajax way Who smote him with his Spear quite through the breast There dead he fell and by the River lay As when a man has fell'd a Poplar-Tree Tall streight and smooth with many fair boughs on Of which he meant a Cart-wheel made shall be And leaves it on the Bank to dry i' th' Sun So lay the comely Simoisius Slain by great Ajax Son of Telamon At Ajax then a Spear threw Antiphus Bright-armed Antiphus King Priam's Son Death the Spear carries but of Ajax misses And deadly wounds the Groin of Leucus bold And well beloved Soldier of Ulysses Who dragg'd the dead but now le ts go his hold Ulysses angry that his friend was slain Went out before the rest and coming close To th' Trojan front some fit revenge to gain Democoon King Priam's Son he chose A lawful Son where Nature is the Law The Trojans when they saw him look about Into the shelter of the Ranks withdraw Then soon his Spear Democoon pickt out And through both Temples forward went the head Then heavily he falls his Armour chinks His Eyes with endless night are covered And Hector with his Trojans from him shrinks The Greeks then shouted and drew off their slain And on the Trojans pressing further were But then Apollo cryed out amain From Pergam Tow'r O Trojans what d' ye fear Go on upon the Greeks no more give way Their Bodies neither are of Stone nor Steel Nor able are the force of Brass to stay No less than you the wounds it makes they feel Nor fights Achilles here but angry lyes And wishes that the Greeks were overthrown So Phoebus 'Mongst the Argives Pallas flies Through Ranks and Files encouraging each one And then Diores slain was with a stone By Pyros whom the Thracians obey'd Crusht of his Right Leg was the Ankle-bone And in the dust upon his Back was lay'd Unto his fellows holding up his hands Ready to dye he for assistance cries Piros comes quickly in and ore him stands And wounds him in the Belly Then he dies But Thoas then slew Pyros with his Spear That pass'd his Breast till in his Lungs it stopt Then coming in he drew his Sword and there His Belly ript till out his Bowels dropt But to disarm him could not stay because So many Thracians about him stood Then back retir'd he and well pelted was Leaving two Leaders wrapt in dust and blood One an Epeian th' other Thracian And many others lying by them dead This Battle was well fought Although a man Through both the Armies safely had been led By Pallas and protected by her Shield He had no want of courage seen that day So many Greeks and Trojans in the field Depriv'd of Life by one another lay ILIAD LIB V. ANd Pallas now t'ennoble Diomed Amongst the Greeks with force did him inspire Whereby his heart and hands were strengthened And on his Shield and Helmet stood a Fire Bright as th' Autumnal Star above his Head And Shoulders flaming And straightway he runs Set on by Pallas and encouraged Into the throng where were the two good Sons Of Dares who was Vulcan's Priest Well skill'd They both were in the War Idaeus one The other Phegus These seeing him i' th' field On foot and not far from them and alone Met him and Phegus threw but hit him not For ore his shoulder flew the Spear in vain Then Diomedes threw and Phegus smote Clean through the Breast When Phegus thus was slain Down leapt Idaeus from the Chariot But durst not by his Brothers body stay For if he had the like Fate he had got But Vulcan in a smoak took him away Not willing that his Priest should childless dye Tydides to the Ships the Horses sent To see these two one slain the other fly To the proud Trojans very hearts it went But Pallas then took Mars by th' hand and said Mars bloody Mars to what end stay we here Let 's Neuters be For I am much afraid We both shall too much anger Jupiter This said she led him out and set him on Scamander bank And then the Trojans fled Before the Greeks Each Leader killed one Pressing them at their backs uncovered Then Dalius first his Charret turn'd about And open lay to Agamemnon's Spear Which in at 's Back and at his Breast went out Down fell the Alizonian Charioteer Idomeneus slew Phaestus with a thrust As up into his Charriot he went The Spear at the right shoulder paâ—â—ed iust And back again unto the earth him sent And Menelaus slew Scamandrius That well the Art of Hunting understood I' th' Hills and Woods none was more dexterous But Dian ' and his skill did him no good For Menelaus pierc'd him
back and Breast Between the Shoulders with a deadly Spear And down he tumbled of life dispossest His eyes with endless darkness covered were Meriones slew Phâ—riclus the Son Of Harmonides the great Architect That but by Pallas taught had been by none But of his Art unhappy was th' effect 'T was he that built those Ships for Alexander That brought with him so much ill luck to Troy And to himself and to his chief Commander Not knowing what the Oracles did say But he as from the Fight he fled was here Ore taken by Meriones and slain At his right Buttock entered the Spear And at his Groin the point came out again Meges Pedaeus slew Antenor's Son Though not his Wives yet was his Wife so kind T' Antenor that she bred him as her own And lookt upon him with a Mothers mind Him Meges overtaking as he fled Slew with his strong sharp-pointed Spear which lighting Behind upon the noddle of his Head Forward he fell the senseless weapon bâ—â—ing And then Eurypylus Euaemon's Son Hypsenor slew new made Scamander's Priest That from him but not fast enough did run Eurypylus shav'd off his Hand at th' Wrist For at his Shoulder though he aim'd the stroak The quick Sword finding there the Brass resist Slipt down unto his hand with force unbroke And there in streams of blood his Soul dismist Mean while Tydides like a man enraged Ran up and down the field One could not know With whom and where he was in fight engaged Whether amongst the Greeks or with the Foe As when a Torrent falling from the Hills Distends it self with fury on the Plain And suddenly the River overfills Supply'd by Jove with mighty showers of Rain And beareth down the Bridges as it goes No fence of Vineyard can against it stand But all the husbandry of men orethrows And uncontrolled passes ore their land Tydides so brake through each Trojan band And made them fly before him as he went And Pandarus then took his Bow in hand And a sharp Arrow from it to him sent Which pass'd through the right shoulder of his Coat Of Mail and fetcht the blood and with great joy Trojans cry'd he no more stand so remote For wounded is the stoutest foe of Troy And long he cannot the sore pain endure Unless my faith in Phoebus be in vain Thus said he boâ—sting For he thought 't was sure The wound was mortal and Tydides slain Tydides to his Charre did then retreat And Sthenelus alighting on the ground For sitting he was on the Charret-seat Drew out the cruel Arrow from the wound And out the blood gusht Then Tydides pray'd O Pallas Jove's all-conquering Child said he If ere you did me or my Father ayd Within my Spears reach let me this man see That with his Arrow me prevented has And boasting says I have not long to live Athena to his wish indulgent was And to him did more strength and courage give Fear not said she to go into the throng And charge i' th' thickest of the Enemies For I have made thee as thy Father strong And taken have the mist off from thy eyes That thou mayst see who Gods are who are men If any God oppose thee give him way Except if Venus thou encounter then Spare her no more than Mortals in the Fray This said away the goddess Pallas went And Diomed went to the fight again And though before he were upon it bent His courage now was trebled by his pain As when a Shepherd sees a Lion come And wounds him slightly as he leaps the Pen Then leaves his Sheep and frighted runneth home And dares not in the field appear agen The Lion now made fiercer than before Laies all his Sheep one by another dead And back again the Pen once more leaps ore So rag'd amongst the Trojans Diomed. Astynoâ—s there and Hypenor dy'd One through the Breast he pierced with his Spear And th' others Head did from his Neck divide With his broad Sword And slain he left them there And overtook Abas and Polyâ—ide Sons of Eurydamas who could tell what Upon a Dream should to a man betide And slew them both No Dream had told him that Thoon and Xanthus then he followed Phaenops two Sons gotten when he was old And of them both the vital Blood did shed Th' Estate to strangers came to have and hold Then Chromius and Echemon he slew Two Sons of Priam in one Chariot Whom from the seat unto the ground he threw And till he had disarm'd them left them not But to the Ships he sent away the Horses Aeneas seeing how he disarray'd Before him as he went the Trojan forces Sought Paâ—darus and having found him said Lycaons Son where are thy Shafts and Bow And Skill wherein the Lycians yield to thee See you the man that rages yonder now Aim a Shaft at him whosoere he be For many valiant Trojans he has slain Unless he be one of the Gods above Neglected by us 't will not be in vain Shoot boldly then but first invoking Jove Then Pandarus replying to him said 'T is Diomed as far as can be guess'd His Horses and his Shield I have survay'd And pleated Horse-hair hanging at his Crest Though it be he as I believe it is Yet sure some God does on his Shoulders sit For else of killing him how could I miss When I his Shoulder with my Arrow hit For I one Arrow shot at him before And verily believ'd I had him slain His Armour all besmeared was with gore But slew him not Now here he is again I did not on a Charret hither come Although Lycaon have eleven new With handsome Curtains to each one at home And Horses fit to draw them not a few The old Knight too advis'd me earnestly That when to Battle I the Trojans led I from a Charre should charge the Enemy But to his counsel I not hearkened Whâ—ch I repent It came into my head That when within Troy Walls we should be pent My Horses which were us'd to be well fed Would there be useless wanting nourishment This made me come without a Chariot And march as far as 't was to Troy on foot And trust unto my Bow which helps me not But faileth me as often as I shoot For two of them I have already shot Tydides and Atrides and good store Of blood have drawn from both though killed noâ— But made them fiercer than they were before In an ill hour sure I took down my Bow To fight for Hector and the Trojan men But if I safely to my Country go And to my House and Wife get back agen Let any man that will cut off my Head If presently myâ—Bow I do not burn That never yet my hopes has answered For why not when it doth not serve my turn To Pandarus Aeneas then reply'd No say not so but first let 's to him go For by th' encounter soon it will be try'd Whether he be indeed a God or no. Get
Retir'd eschewing th' odds of two to one And when they had brought off the Bodies slain And left them in their fellow soldiers hands Unto the skirmish they return'd again And slew the Prince of Paphlagonians Pylaemâ—nes Atrides threw the Spear Which near the Shoulder pass'd into his Neck By Nestor's Son slain was his Chariotier Mydon by name that did his Horses check As he his Charret turning was to fly Antilochus him wounded with a Stone On th'Elbow and benum'd his Hand whereby The sense he had to hold the Reins was gone The Reins fell down and then with Sword in hand Antilochus divides his Head in twain And headlong fell he where it chanc'd the Sand Was very deep and there he did remain With Head and Shoulders sticking in the sands But upright in the Air were both his Hips The Horses laid him flat Which by the hands Of Nestor's Son convey'd were to the Ships Hector saw this and in came with great cry Whom Bands of lusty Trojans followed Mars and Bellona marching furiously Against the Argives to the Fight them led Bellona brought in Tumult and Affright And Mars a mighty Spear had in his hand And sometimes after Hector went i' th' fight Sometimes before and oft did by him stand Tydides when he saw him was affraid As when a man in haste has lost his way And running on is at some River staid That 's deep and swift he runs as fast away So he retir'd And to his Argives said No wonder 't is if Hector valiant be One God or other alwaies gives him aid And near him stands from death to set him free Now Mars comes with him like a mortal wight Retire But turn your Faces to the Foe Forbearing still against the Gods to fight This said he but the Trojans near were now And Hector there had slain two men that sat Together Mnestheus and Anchialus Both Warriors good But Ajax griev'd thereat The greater Ajax Telamonius Darted his heavy Spear at Amphius Rich was he both in Lands and Goods and dwelt At Paesus And fought here for Priamus But by the Spear which pass'd quite through his Belt Upon his Belly took a mortal wound And as he fell Ajax ran fiercely in To strip him of his Armour on the ground And stript him had had he not hindred been For from the Trojans came a shower of Spears Whereof his Shield received not a few Then to be hemm'd in by the Foe he fears His own Spear he recover'd and withdrew Whilst they in stubborn war thus toyling were Unlucky fate Tlepolemus brought on To charge Sarpedon and when they were near Together come Jove's Grandson and his Son Tlepolemus said then What need had you Unskilful in the War to tremble here Jove's Son men say you are but 't is not true No such weak men by Jove begotten were But such as Hercules is said t' have been Couragious as a Lion with few men In but six Ships this strong Town he did win And rifled it and safe went off agen But you are weak your men a great part dead And can but little help afford to Troy And though from Lycia you were strengthened I mean to send you now another way To this Sarpedon answered 'T is true That Hercules sackt Troy because the Steeds Laomedon kept back that were his due And gave him evil language for good deeds But you from me shall present death receive For which I shall have honour truly paid And you your Soul shall now to Pluto leave And this Sarpedon had no sooner said Than from their hands their Spears together started Tlepolemus clean through the Neck was struck And from him presently his life departed But from Sarpedon Jove kept such ill luck Yet on his left Thigh he receiv'd a wound For through it went the Spear close by the bone Sarpedon by his friends born off the ground Was plac'd apart where Battle there was none Tormented with the Spear still in his Thigh To pull it out they all had quite forgot In so great haste they were the Foe so nigh The time so little and the Fight so hot Mean while Tlâ—polemus his body dead The Greeks fetch'd off The wise Ulisses then Within himself a while considered Whether to charge Sarpedon or his men But since by Fate Sarpedon was to die By other and not by Ulysses hands Athena made him lay that purpose by And turn his anger on the Lycians Alastor then he slew and Coeramus Alcander Prytanis and Noemon And Halius he slew and Chromius And many Lycians more had overthrown But mighty Hector now approached near In glittering Arms and brought with him Affright But glad Sarpedon was to see him there And when he was come up unto him quite Himself lamenting thus to Hector said Leave me not Hector to the Greeks a prey But let my Body in your ground be laid Since I my Country must no more enjoy Nor my beloved Wife and tender Son So said Sarpedon Hector not replies But to the Enemy he passeth on And as he goes the ground with blood he dyes Under a Beech sacred to Jupiter Sarpedon placed was upon the ground And gently Pelagon pull'd out the Spear The pain hereof put him into a swound Lost was his sight but by a gentle wind And cool that from the North upon him blew He soon recover'd both his Sight and Mind And all the company about him knew To Mars and Hector still the Greeks gave way And still their Faces to the Trojans were But for to charge none durst advance or stay For Diomed had told them Mars was there Now tell me Muse who slain by Hector was Trechus Orestes Tenthras Helenus Whose Father Oenops was and Oenonaus And last of all wealthy Oresbius In Hyla on Cephissis Lake he dwelt The richest pasture of Boeotia And known was by the gayness of his Belt This slaughter of the Greeks when Juno saw She then to Pallas spake Pallas said she If we let Mars still play the madman here Our word to Menelaus false will be That he from Troy return should Conqueror Let 's courage take and try what we can do Pallas contented 't was agreed upon And Juno ready made her self to go And quickly the Coach-wheels Hebe sets on Eight spokes each wheel had and were all of Brass And fixed round about at th'Axle-tree The Axle-tree it self of Iron was The Circle Gold and wonderful to see But arm'd it was above with Plaâ—es of Brasâ— The Naves on both sides were of Silver white With Gold and Silver Wire extended was The Seat which had two Silver rings and bright In which the Beam of Silver fastned staid At th' other end the Golden Yoke she ti'd And on the Yoke the Golden Reins she laid And Juno then no longer could abide But to the Coach her self the Horses brought From quarrels so impatiently she staid Pallas threw off her Robe and took Joves Coat And with the same she there her self arraid And then
Neptune had not hindred my intent That took them up and sav'd them in a Cloud Great honour won the Pyleans that day For on the Plains we chac'd th' Epeians proud Killing and gath'ring Armour all the way Until we came unto Buprasium Alesium and Rock Olere and there Advis'd we were by Pallas to go home To Pylus then we went and welcome were And thanks were given to the Gods but most To Jupiter the greatest God And then In general were thanked all the Host And Nestor namely above other men Thus I behav'd my self amongst the Greeks Whereas Achilles sitting in his Tent Neglecting us his own contentment seeks Though if our Fleet be lost he will repent But O Patroclus the advice was good Menoetius your Father gave you then When I at Phthia was and by him stood By Agamemnon sent to levy men To Peleus house Ulysses came and I And there we found Menoetius and you And you upon Achilles waited nigh And Peleus to the Gods sat Cattle slew I' th' Court o' th' grass a Gold Cup in his hand And pour'd Wine on the burning Sacrifice And you then saw us in the Gate-house stand Though busie you were then to burn the Thighs Achilles to us came and led us in And made us sup and Supper being done To tell our bus'ness then did I begin Which was to bring with us to Troy his Son Both he and you desirous were to go And Peleus then unto Achilles said Strive still to be the best and let the Foe Be always of your Spear the most afraid Then to you spake your Father Son said he Achilles is a better man of War Than you and higher in Nobility Of Bloud but you in age before him are Give him good counsel therefore and suggest What 's for his good although he see it not He will obey when for himself 't is best Thus he advis'd you though you have forgot But do it now For 't is not yet too late Who knows but you may make him change his mind Or if he still continue obstinate Or in some Oracle a scruple find Or Thetis told him somewhat has from Jove Yet let him send his Myrmidons with you The Trojans from the Navie to remove And give th' Achaeans time to breathe anew But let him give you his own Arms. Then they When like unto Achilles you appear Leading fresh Forces fly will into Troy And rid th' Achaeans of their present fear This said Patroclus grieved went his way And tow'rds Achilles Tent ran back apace Passing by where Ulysses Vessels lay There were the Altars there the Market-place There were the Courts of Justice There he met Eurypylus with th'Arrow in his wound And from his head and shoulders dropt the sweat And bled apace but still his Sense was sound Then pitying hâ—m Patroclus spake and said Ah poor Commanders of the Achaean Hoast Must we be all so far from home destroy'd And lye for Dogs-meat on the Trojan Coast But say Eurypylus is there no way To keep off Hector but must perish all Nothing I know said he can Hector stay But in our flaming Ships we all must fall For all the best of us here wounded lie And still the Trojan power grows more and more But O Patroclus cut out of my Thigh This Arrow head For it torments me sore And with warm water wash away the blood And Salves apply the same that Chiron knew The best of Centaurs to be very good And taught Achilles and Achilles you For of two Surgeons in the Army one As much need of a Surgeon hath as I And Podaliriuâ— to the fight is gone Patroclus to him then made this reply How can this now be done Eurypylus Since to Achilles I must go with speed With Nestors Answer yet to leave you thus In torture were but an ungentle deed Then in his 〈◊〉 he beaâ—s him to his Tent And there upon a many Cow-hides spread Laid him and with his Knife to work he went And from his Thigh cuts out the Arrow-head And in his hands he bruis'd a bitter Root And wash'd away the bloud when that was done He cleans'd the Wound appli'd the Med'cine to 't And streight the blood was stop'd the pain was gone ILIAD LIB XII THus was Eurypylus of pain releas'd Mean while the Greeks and Trojans fiercely fought Nor could the Argive Wall and Trench unblest For on a Hecatomb they never thought Though made their Ships and Booty to defend Keep Hector and the Trojans long time out For very quickly cometh to an end Whatere without the Gods Men go about I deed while Hector liv'd and angry lay Achilles at his Tent and would not fight And standing were the Walls and Town of Troy The great Wall of the Argives stood upright But when the bravest Trojans once were slain And many Greeks and burnt was Iliâ—m That had almost ten years held out in vain And what remained of the Greeks gone home Then Neptune and Apollo both devise The Wall to ruine and the Rivers all That in this spacious Mountain Ida rise Upon this Argive mighty work make fall Aresus Rhesus Heptaporius Aesepus Rhodius Scamander and Besides these six the River Granicus And Simoeis upon whose Banks of Sand Many a Shield and Helmet scatter'd lay And many a Demi-God These Rivers all Apollo turned from their wonted way Directing them unto the Argives Wall Nâ—ne days perpetually they thither run And Jove nine days together pour'd down rain To th' end the work might be the sooner done And Neptune with his Trident from the Main Before them went and wrenched out the Stone And Timber which had there been laid with pain The deep'st of all for the Foundation And made it to the Sea all smooth again And strow'd again with sand the ample shore And made the Brooks in their own Chanels run No otherwise than they were wont before But this not yet but afterwards was done For Hector had the Greeks with show'rs of Spears Constrain'd to quit their Walls and Tow'rs so high That rattled terribly about their Ears And back unto their hallow Ships to fly As when a Lion or a Boar beset With Hounds and Hunters this and that way tries Close as they stand through them by strength to get And passing on their Spears prevails or dies And as he goes still makes them to give way So Hector 'mongst his friends went here and there Exhorting them the Trenches to assay The Horses when upon the Brink they were Boggl'd and whinny'd and refus'd to pass For broad it was and not to be leap'd ore And to descend into too deep it was And on each side bristled with stakes good store Fix'd by th' Achaeans to keep off the Foe So that for Horse and Charres there was no way But very willing were the Foot to go And only to receive command did stay And then to Hector said Polydamas Hector and you the Princes of our friends We strive in vain to make our
was For since unto the Ships you brought the War We with the Greeks perpetually have sought But those you miss slain by the Argives are Save that Deiphobus was carri'd out And Helenus both wounded in the hand Now lead us on to what part you think fit We ready are to do what you command As far as strength of body will permit This said his Brother reconciled was And both went to where cruelly they fought About Cebriones Polydamas Orthaeus Polyphoetes and about Phalces and Palmes and the Children two Ascanius Moris of Hippotion Who Ilium but the day before come to And now to th' Battle went by Jove set on As when a storm of wind falls on the Plain The Sea erects it self in ridges white And foaming rolls in order on the Main So to the Greeks with Helmets shining bright The Trojans one another followed In order with their Captains to the Fight And Hector like another Mars at th' Head With Buckler round and strong and Armour bright His Buckler he before him held far out That cover'd was his body with the same And peeping under it he look'd about And in that posture to the Argives came And at the foremost Ranks went here and there To try if through them he could passage make But fast they stood nor at it troubled were And Ajax seeing it unto him spake Come neerer man Why think you to affright The Greeks we are not so unus'd to War Nor are we driven hither by your might But by the hand of Jove afflicted are Hector I know to burn our Ships you think But we have hands as good the Ships to save And Troy willâ— first I think int'Ashes sink And shortly I believe you 'll wish to have And pray to Jove and all the Pow'rs on high For Horses that run faster than Hawks fly That from the Ships you may go speedily This said an Eagle Dexter presently Flew over them And they Jove's Prodigy Received gladly with a mighty cry Then thus to Ajax Hector did reply Ajax you love to prate and brag and lye O that the Son of Jove as sure were I And had been certainly conceived by Juno Jove's Wife and as a Deity Like Pallas and Apollo ne're to die As I am sure great woe will fall this day Upon the Argives all and then be kill'd If for the coming of my Spear thou stay And Dogs and Kites shall eat thee in the Field This said he led away The Trojans shout So do the Argives and resolv'd to try The power of their Foes with courage stout The noise on both sides went up to the sky ILIAD LIB XIV NOw Nestor with Macaon drinking sat And heard the Greeks and Trojans fighting roar And to him said Macaon hear you that The noise is greater much than 't was before Let Hecamede ore the fire set water And wash away the blood from off your sore While I go hence and see what is the matter But at the Wine sit you still as before This said he took up Thrasymedes Shield And Thrasymedes his Son took up his And with a good sharp Spear went to the Field And going forth a shameful sight he sees The Trojans chasing while the Argives flie And down unto the ground was torn their Wall And then as when a Wave is raised high By secret Gales on neither side can fall Until some certain and prevailing Wind Comandeth in the Air So Nestor stood And with two thoughts distracted was his mind Sometimes to go t' Atrides he thought good And sometimes to the Battle But at last Resolved unto Agamemnon goes Whilst Shields and Helmets all the way he past Resounded in his ears with frequent blows And as he went the wounded Chiefs he met Ulysses Agamemnon Diomed. For far off from the Fight the Ships were set And close unto the Shore lay at a head Only the foremost hawl'd were to the Plain And close astern of those was built the Wall For with so many Ships they crost the Main That near the Field they could not place them all But side by side along the Shore they lay And took up all the compass of the Bay The wounded men to look upon the Fray Helpt by their Spears went softly on the way Griev'd at the heart and met with Nestor there Who with his coming made them more afraid And when unto them Nestor was come near Then Agamemnon spake and to him said O Nestor Glory of the Argive Nation I am affraid that Hector will make good That which he promis'd once in his Oration Before the Trojans when he boasting stood I never will to Troy come back said he Till I have slain these Greeks and set on fire Their Ships And now performed it will be O strange Do all the other Greeks conspire Against me with Achilles Thetis Son And therefore are resolved not to fight 'T is plain said Nestor some such thing is done Else Jove himself could not with all his might Have made such work The Wall is broken down In which to save our selves we did confide And at the Ships they fight nor was it known Nor could it be observed on which side The Greeks that fighting were were most distrest So thick to th' ground in ev'ry part they fall But let 's consult what course to take were best If counsel can do any thing at all But that we all should fight I 'll not advise For what can wounded men in Battle do To Nestor Agamemnon then replies Nestor since now the War is brought unto Our Ships and that nor Wall nor Trench does good And much the Argives suffer'd have who thought Their Wall for all the Trojans would have stood And all our hopes built on it come to nought For though I know Jove once was to us kind Yet now I see our ruine he designes And pleasure takes in changing of his mind And aids the Trojans whilst our hands he binds Let 's all to what I saying am agree The Ships that nearest lye to the Sea-side Drawn down into the water let them be And there till Night let them at Anchor ride And if the Trojans then give over fight We 'll fetch away the rest For 't is less shame A danger to eschew although by night Than needlesly to perish in the same Ulysses frowning on him then reply'd Atrides what a word have you let fall You ought of Cowards to have been the guide And not of us Achaeans General For we by Jove are fram'd for actions high And to atchieve the Wars we undertake How dangerous soever or to dye And must we now the Siege of Troy forsake And after so much labour lost go hence Peace let no other Greek hear what you say Who would have said this that had common sense And whom so great an Army did obey Nor is in how to fly your counsel right Must we our Ships draw down from off the Shore And at the same time with the Trojans fight Who now rejoice but
as they saw Hector gone Took heart and on the Trojans fiercer were Then Ajax of Oileus the Son Slew Satnius Son of Enops with his spear His Mother Nëis was a very fine Nymph of the River Satnius Of the same Enops upon the Bank sat keeping Kine And on her got a Son call'd by that name Him Ajax now struck through the Flank and slew Then for the Body there was much ado At him Polydamas a Spear then threw Which Prothoenors shoulder pierced through And on his hands into the dust he fell To th' Greeks then boasting said Polydamas I have not thrown in vain I know full well That one Greek or another taken 't has To lean on as a Staff i' th' way to Hell At this the Greeks were griev'd but especially The heart of Telamonius did swell For Prothoenor slain did neer him lie And with his Spear threw at Polydamaâ— Who nimbly leapt aside and it declin'd But by Archelochus receiv'd it was Antenors Son whose death the Fates design'd Who having on his Neck receiv'd the wound His Forehead and his Eyes and Lips and Nose Before his Legs or Knees came to the ground Then Ajax took his turn and at it crows Polydamas said he was Prothoenor As good a man in your own estimation As this man that was Brother to Antenor Or Son For he is not unlike that Generation This said he though he well knew who it was Then Promachus as he drew off the dead Was killed by a Spear from Acamas And in it Acamas then gloried Argives said he great threat'ners as you are You vulnerable are as well as we And no less subject to the chance of Warre How quiet Promachus now lies you see And so I hope ere long you all shall lie My Brother not long unrevenged lay T is good you see to have a Brother nigh And when he this had said he went away Peneleus then went to throw his Spear At Acamas but Acamas was gone But yet he threw and kill'd another there Iliones of Phorbas th' onely Son A man much favoured by Mercury The Spear beneath his Eye-brow enter'd in And to the ground fell down the bloody eye The Spear went on unto the Brain within Then sitting down with both his hands outspread The deadly Spear yet sticking in his eye Peneleus with his Sword cuts ofâ— his head Which to the ground with Helmet on did fly Then looking up he to the Trojans said Tell this in Troy And let his Parents mourn For Promochus's Wife will not be joy'd When we without her Husband shall return This said the Trojans striken were with fear And lookt about each one which way to fly Now tell me Muse Who and by whom slain were When they pursu'd the flying Enemy Great Ajax first the Son of Telamon Killed the Mysian Leader Hyrtius Of Gyrtias the strong and valiant Son Antilochus then killed Mermerus And Phalces By Meriones were slain Hippotion and Morys Teucer slew Prothon and Periphetes good men twain At Hyperenor then Atrides threw And gave him on the Flank a cruel wound And where the Spear went in his Life went out And suddenly he fell unto the ground And on his eyes sate darkness all about But he that far the greater number slew The lesser Ajax was Oîleus Son 'T was hard to scape when Ajax did pursue For of the Argives all he best could run ILIAD LIB XV. WHen flying they had past the Ditch and Wall They at the Horses and the Charrets stay'd With loss of many men and looking pale And Jove awakt stood and the Field survay'd And saw the Greeks pursue and Trojans fly And Neptune with the Greeks and Hector laid Upon the Plain his Friends there sitting by And not a little of his Life affraid For gasping he scarce able was to draw His breath and blood abundance vomited Nor knew his friends When Jupiter him saw Offended his condition pityed And then on Juno fiercely lookt and said Juno I see all this is done by you And if you for it with a whip were paid 'T would be no more than for your work is due Have you forgot how once you swung i' th' Air And had two Anvils hanging at your feet Your hand with a Gold Chain ty'd to my Chair Though sorry were the other Gods to see 't Yet had I any seen but go about Your Manacles or Shackles to untye I from the Sill of Heav'n had thrown him out And strength'ess made him on the earth to lye I was not so much griev'd for Hercules When Boreas set on by you arose As he went off from Troy enrag'd the Seas And at the last threw him ashore at Coos But I to Argos brought him safe again And this I now repeat that you may try Whether you likely are to lose or gain Abusing our familiarity This said the Goddess Juno struck with fear By Earth said she and Heaven about iâ— spread By Styx which is our greatest Oath I swear And by your Life and by our Nuptial Bed I never did to Neptune speak a word To hurt the Trojans or the Greeks to aid But all he did was of his own accord By pity only and compassion sway'd And from henceforward I will him advise Seeing what way you lead the same to take Then Jupiter with favourable eyes On Juno lookt and thus unto her spake Juno if we were both one way inclin'd Neptune would quickly with us both comply Now if your words dissent not from your mind Go 'mongst the other Gods and presently Bid Iris and Apollo to me come For Iris unto Neptune I will send To bid him leave the Battle and go home To Hector and the Trojans I intend To send Apollo to give Hector might And cure him of his pain that he may lead The Trojans on and put the Greeks to flight That Thâ—tis Son may see them scattered And he shall send Patroclus to the Field Who shall the Trojans rout and kill my Son Sarpedon and himself shall then be kill'd By Hector's Spear And after that is done Achilles in revenge again shall fight And by his hand stout Hector shall be kill'd Under the Walls of Troy i' th' Trojans sight And beaten be the Trojans from the Field Till Troy by Pallas counsel taken be Nor till I have performed all I said To Thetis supplicating at my knee Let any God presume the Greeks to aid This said went Juno to Olympus high As when a man looks ore an ample Plain To any distance quickly goes his eye So swiftly Juno went with little-pain And found the Gods at Wine together set And at her coming in they all stood up But Themis forward went and Juno met And to her hand delivered the Cup And said You look as if you frighted were By Jupiter for something But what is 't You know said Juno that he is severe And you shall hear the matter if you list Together with the other Gods though bad They will not all contented
had spoken to him di'd Patroclus on the Body sets his foot And out agen he pull'd the bloudy Spear With pieces of the Midriff sticking to 't And now away the Horses ready were To run For no man was upon the Seat But by the Myrmidons they soon were staid The grief of Glaucus then was very great For that he knew not how the King to aid For in great pain his Arm was with the stroke Of Teucer's Arrow at the Argive Wall And found no remedy but to invoke Apollo and upon him thus did call Apollo whether thou in Troy be now Or Lycia unto my Pray'r give ear For when distressed men unto thee bow Thou dost from any place or distance hear I grievously am wounded in the hand The pain whereof up to my shoulder goes No longer now can I my Spear command When most I need to use it 'gainst the Foes Sarpedon the brave Son of Jove is slain Hâ—s Father of him takes no further care But thou Apollo now asswage my pain And cure my wound and make me fit for Warre That I may bring the Lycians to fight And I with them the Body may defend This said Apollo by his Heavenly might His wound heal'd up the pain was at an end The bloud was gone encourag'd was his minde And Glaucus knew Apollo did it all And joy'd such favour with the God to finde Then out he went the Lycians to call That done he to the Trojan Princes goes Agenor Hector and Polydamas Divine Aeneas and craves aid of those But what he said to Hector spoken was Hector said he your friends you now forget Who from their Country hither came so far Their lives to venture for your sake For yet How to assist them you take little care Slain is the King Sarpedon in the sight That both with Might and Justice rul'd the Land Of Lycia Let them not vent their spight Upon the Body slain but by him stand The Myrmidons else for th' Achaeans sake Of whom we slew so many at the Fleet Will in revenge his Armour from him take And do unto him other things unmeet This said the Trojans all were on a flame To be reveng'd To Troy he was a Waâ—l Although he thither as a Stranger came He many led himself the best of all And to the Myrmidons they marcht away Hector himself before them at the head As angry for Sarpedon's death as they Patroclus then the Greeks encouraged And speaking first to the Ajaxes two Ajax said he both you and you again Fight gallantly as you are us'd to do Or better if you can For I have slain Sarpedon with my Spear who was the man That mounted first up to the Argive Wall Let 's take his Armour off him if we can And make his Fellows some of them to fall This said they into order put their men Trojan and Lycian Greek and Myrmidon And to the Body slain return agen And fiercely one another fell upon And Jove the place with darkness cover'd round As long as they were fighting 'bout his Son And at the first the Greeks forsook their ground For then there was a noble Myrmidon Epigeus that King was formerly Of Budeon and forced thence away For a mans death to Peleus did fly Who sent him with Achilles unto Troy And now no sooner layed had his hand Upon Sarpedon's Body but was slain By a great stone that flew from Hector's hand And broke for all his Cask his skull in twain Down he upon the dead King falling dies Patroclus when he saw his friend thus fall Swift as a Hawk that at a Stareling flies Up to the Foes ran and amongst them all He threw a stone which lighted on the Neck Of Stenelaus and the Tendon rent And this gave to the Trojan Horse a check And back a little Hector with them went As far as one can for experiment Or at a Foe in Battle throw a Spear So far back Hector with his Charret went The Argives them pursuing in the Rear But Glaucus that did then the Lycians lead Pursu'd by Bathycles and very near Upon a sudden to him turn'd his head And deep into his breast he thrust his Spear And down he fell The Trojans then were glad And at the Body fallen boldly stay'd On th' other side the Greeks were very sad To lose so good a man but not dismay'd Meriones then slew Laogonus Son of Onetor Priest of Jupiter And honour'd like a God in Gargarus The Spear him pierc'd between the Cheek and Ear. Then at Meriones Aeneas threw And was in hope to give him his deaths wound But he then stoopt and ore him the Spear flew And one end shook the other stuck i'th'ground At this Aeneas angry to him said Meriones as well as you can dance My Spear was like your motion to have stay'd And that it did not think it was by chance To him replying said Meriones Aeneas strong and valiant as you are You cannot kill men whom and when you please Your self are subject to the chance of Warre As well as I. And if my Spear fall right As much as to your hands you trust you 'll die Like other men and I win honour by 't And to the shades below your Soul will fly This said Patroclus came and him reproved Meriones why talk you thus said he D' ye think the Trojans can be hence removed With evil words till many slain there be In counsel words may somewhat signifie But hands in War determine the event 'T is to no purpose words to multiplie This said away they both together went And by and by was heard a mighty sound As if the Woods were felling on the Hills Of men in Armour falling to the ground And Swords and Spears on Helmets and on Shields Sarpedon cover'd was from top to toe With dust and Spears and so besmear'd with blood That wise he must have been that could him know Though who it was they all well understood And busie were about him as the Flies That buz in Summer-time about the Pans Of Milk And all this while Jove kept his Eyes Upon the Battle and advising stands Whether 't were best to let Patroclus die Upon Sarpedon slain by Hector or Let him go on and follow those that fly And of the Trojans make the slaughter more At last resolv'd he made the Trojans fly Patroclus then pursu'd them up to Troy And as he went made many of them die And Hector was the first that fled away Not ignorant of Jove's Apostasie And then the lusty Lycians also fled Whose King Sarpedon now i' th' heap did lie Stretcht out on th' Earth amongst the other dead And him Patroclus of his Armour strips His mighty Armour all of solid Brass And sent it by his fellows to the Ships Thus slain and stript Jove's Son Sarpedon was Then Jove unto Apollo spake and said Go Phoebus bear Sarpedon from the Fight A great way off and let him be array'd In an immortal Garment pure
and from his body frighted ran That was your friend and had such service done So that if I were won to lead them home You 'd finde a little after we were gone The utmost fate of Troy were on it come For if the Trojans had as forward been As men should be that for their Country fight Patroclus body we in Troy had seen Fetcht from the field for all the Argives might And from the Greeks in change we might have had Sarpedons Corps and brought it into Troy And all the Greeks thereof would have been glad So great experience of his worth had they But you to Ajax never yet durst go And when he came to you you from him ran Into the throng o' th' Trojans And why so But that you know he is the better man Then Hector frowning on him thus repli'd Glaucus 't is strange that such a man as you Should so severely without cause me chide I thought you very wise but 't is not true You say I dare not with great Ajax fight When I do neither Foot nor Horse-men shun But only way give sometimes to the might Of Jove when he the Enemy sets on For he to whom he will gives Victorie And from the proud their courage takes away But to the Fight come with me now and see If I be such a Coward as you say And do not from Patroclus body make Some of the Argives to retire agen This said he turn'd and to the Trojans spake Trojans said he and Lycians play the men Whilst I my self in those good Arms aray Which from Patroclus body slain I took This said he from the Field went toward Troy And quickly those that bare them overtook And gave to them the Armour â—e then wore And th'Armour of Patroclus there puts on Giv'n by the Gods to Peleus heretofore Which he when aged gave unto his Son But were not kept by him till he was old Then Jove that out of sight in Heaven sate And Hector in this Armour did behold Poor man said he he knoweth not his fate Which now is neer and at it shook his head And said Though now these heavenly Arms you wear Of this great man whom all men else did dread Killing the gentle Knight that did them bear And so unhandsomely you 'll never go To shew them to Andromache your Wife Yet now you shall prevail against the Fo. To please you since thus shortned is your life And as he said it seal'd it with a Nod. Now Hector having on these Arms and fit Into his Breast went in the mighty God Of Battle and with courage filled it Then Hector like Achilles shining came To his confederates and 'mongst them went Calling upon the best of them by name To give unto them all encouragement Mesâ—â—les and Glaucus and Thersilochus Aâ—teropaeus and Hippothous Medon Disinor Phorcys Chromius And you the skilful Augur Ennomus And you the thousands that to aid me come 'T is not to muster that you called are But to defend the Wives of Ilium And Babes against the Greeks that love the Warre Which to prevent the Trojans day by day With pay and with free Quarter tired are Let 's therefore fight and either die or slay For there 's no other Traffick at the Warre And he that shall Patroclus body gain And spight of Ajax fetch it off the Field Half of his Armour shall have for his pain And I wiâ—l half the Honour to him yield This said the Trojans on the Argives fell With all their weight and made account to gain Paâ—roclus Body For they could not â—ell How many Trojans there would first be slain And then to Menelaus Ajax said I fear we shall no more return from Troy And am not for Patroclus so afraid That to the Dogs is sure to be a Prey As for my self and you with such a Cloud Of Trojans Hector thundring cometh on Go therefore presently and call aloud To th' other Princes Other help there 's none Then Menelaus cried out aloud O you that have command in th' Argive Host And diet with Atrides are allow'd And drink unstinted at the Publick cost 'T is hard to call you ev'ry one by name But you that hear me come away with speed For to us all 't will be no little shame To let the Dogs upon Patroclus feed This said first little Ajax running came And with Idomeneus Meriones Then many more came in but who can name The number great that came in after these And Hector with the Trojans then came in And as the Sea that rolleth to the shore Which by some mighty wind had driven been So to the Fight the Trojans marching roar The Greeks about Patroclus body staid All of one minde all cover'd with their Shields And on their heads Jove then a great Fog laid And all the place about with darkness fills For while Patroclus was alive and serv'd Achilles Jove took at him no offence Nor thought that to be Dogs meat he deserv'd And therefore urg'd the Greeks to his defence At first the Trojans made the Greeks to flie And leave the Body but they killed none So great a Fog upon the place did lie Then with his friends again came Ajax on Of all the Greeks for person and for might The bravest man excepting Thâ—tis Son The Trojans when the Greeks refus'd to fight The Body seiz'd and thought the bus'ness done As when a Boar pursu'd by Hounds and Men Upon them turns they scatter'd are and flie So when great Ajax to them came agen The Trojans scatter'd let Patroclus lie For when Hippothous was in great hope To drag Patroclus body up to Troy And to his Anckle tyed had a rope Arrived to him was his latest day For Ajax now was come unto him near And smote him through the Helmet and the Brain Which stained with his bloud stuck to the Spear And down he threw Patroclus foot again And with it neer unto the body fell Depriv'd of life by mighty Ajax Spear Far from Larissa where his friends did dwell And never for his breeding payed were And Hector then a Spear at Ajax threw Which he perceiving did a little shun A very little it beside him flew And killed Schedius Iphitus Son That of Phocaeans all was far the best And did in well-built Panopaea reign The Spear sharp-pointed enter'd at his Brest And at his Shoulder out it went again And Ajax then the valiant Phorcys slew That 'bout the body of Hippothous went The Spear through Breast-plate and through Belly flew And as it pass'd the Guts in pieces rent Then Hector and the Trojan Lords gave way Retiring from the Argive Lords and thus By th' Argives coming in without delay Stript were both Phorcys and Hippothous And now the Trojans had for want of heart Been chased by the Argives up to Troy And th' Argives gotten had on th' other part Without the Gods an honourable day Had not Apollo like to Periphas Anchises Squire t' Aeneas come disguised
That very wise now grown and aged was And standing by his side him thus advised Aeneas cannot you without the Gods As well as the Achaeans gain the day By valour since in men they have no odds For Jove had rather you should win than they Thus Phoebus said Aeneas knew 't was he And with a loud voyce unto Hector said Hector and you who the Commanders be Of Trojans or have brought unto them aid Oh what a shame 't is for us thus to run Before the Greeks our selves in Troy to hide But come there yet amongst the Gods is one That hath assur'd me Jove is on our side This said before the Trojans he leapt out And with his Spear in hand stood at their head And when he made them had to wheel about Unto the Body he directly led And with his Spear Leocritus he slew The friend of Lycomed Arisbas Son And Lycomed displeas'd at Hector threw And hit him not but kill'd Apisaâ— Of all that from Paeonia pass'd the Seas He was in battle of the greatest might Excepting no man but Asteropaeus Who angry at his fall went to the Fight But now the Greeks about Patroclus stood So close with Spears advanc'd with Bucklers hidden That there Asteropaeus did no good For by great Ajax so they had been bidden Let none from hence again retire said he Nor any man before the rest skip out But stand together till you charged be Thus roaring to them Ajax went about And thick the Trojans and their Aids now fell And with their bloud bedewed was the ground Nor did the Argives come off very well But fewer of them 'mongst the dead were found For standing close one Shield sav'd more than one Thus keen as fire on both sides fought they here And such a darkness was the place upon As if nor Sun nor Moon in safety were But th' other places all about had light And brightly did the Sun in Ida shine And gentle at a distance was the Fight And one anothers Spear did oft decline But in the middle where the very best Both of the Argives and the Trojans stood The pain they suffer'd cannot be exprest Of restless labour and of loss of blood But of Patroclus by the Trojans kill'd Antilochus and Thrasymed knew not But fought in other places of the Field And that he still pursu'd the Trojans thought When for his body who the same should get Now fighting were the Trojans and the Greeks And from their Knees and Legs ran down the sweat And stained were with bloud their arms and cheeks As when men set themselves about the skin Of some fat Bull and stretch it ev'ry way That th' humour may go out the grease go in Just so Patroclus body tugged they Trojans to Troy and Argives to the Fleet And thereupon arose this mighty fray If Mars or Pallas had been there to see 't They had not known on whom a fault to lay Though angry they had been such work was then By Jove about Patroclus body set For Trojans and for Argives Horse and Men. But to Achilles known it was not yet That slain by th' Trojans was his Favourite For now not far off from the Trojan Wall At a great distance from him was the fight So that he thought not on his death at all But having chac'd the Trojans to the Gates Of Ilium that straight he would come back For well he knew 't was ordered by the Fates Patroclus never should the City sack His Mother Thetis oft had told him that As she before had told it been by Jove But quite Patroclus destiny forgat Or knew it not whom he so much did love The Greeks and Trojans at the body staid Together close and one another kill'd And one Achaean to another said 'T would be a great disgrace to quit the Field And leave the body of Patroclus thus I rather had by th' Earth we swallowed were Than they should have it and crow over us And to the Town the noble body bear The Trojans likewise t'one another cri'd Though ev'ry one of us were sure to die By this mans body let us here abide And then the clamour rose up to the Skie Achilles Steeds now with Autâ—medon Upon the Charre without the Battle stood But to the Fight he could not get them on He to them call'd but that would do no good And then he flatters them then threats then whips But for Patroclus griev'd they would not go With th' Argives to the Fight nor to the Ships But lay down on the ground and wept for wo That they had lost a gentle Charretier Jove seeing them upon the ground thus laid And for Patroclus how they grieved were Shaking his head unto himself he said Poor Steeds why did I you on man bestow That mortal is and you immortal are And make you also misery to know And to participate of humane care There breatheth not upon the Earth so wide So poor a thing and wretched as a man But Hector on your Charre shall never ride For he without my leave do nothing can Is 't not enough for him that he hath got Achilles Arms to please himself in vain Buâ— have Achilles Horses he shall not For you shall to the Ships return again And safely carry back Automedon Though to the Trojans I intend to day The Victory till setting of the Sun And that by darkness parted be the fray This said he strength and courage to them gave Automedon then to the Troops of Greece As swiftly the immortal Horses drave As flies a Vulture at a flock of Geese For from the Foe he quickly could retire And easily upon them go again As oft as the occasion should require But by his hand no Enemy was slain For since he was upon the Seat alone He could not both together fight and guide But to him came at last Alcimedon Laertes Son and stood by th'Charret side What God said he has put it in your head Automedon amongst so many Spears To be alone knowing your friend is dead And Hector now Achilles Armour wears Automedon unto him then repli'd Alcimedon a fitter man is none Than you are the immortal Steeds to guide Since Menoctiades my friend is gone Get up then you and the good Steeds command Whilst on the ground I with the Trojans fight Alcimedon then took the Whip in hand And Reyns Automedon did then alight This Hector saw and to Aeneas spake Achilles Horses yonder coming are To us said he they are not hard to take For with them there is no great man of Warre And if we to them go they dare not stand This said Aeneas well contented was And forward then they go with Spear in hand And shoulders cover'd well with Hide and Brass And Chromius with them and Aretus went And made no doubt but both the men to slay And then to seize Achilles Steeds they meant And with the Charre triumphing drive to Troy Vain men that were not sure themselves to save To
fly And flaming Brands which Lions chiefly dread Away he goes i' th' morn unwillingly So from Patroclus body parted he Against his will thinking the Greeks afraid Might leave Patroclus to the Enemie And to Meriones and th' Ajaxes said How good a man Patroclus was you know And how in our defence his bloud he shed And therefore valiantly defend him now Let not the Foe abuse his body dead And when he this had said he went away Amongst the Argives peeping here and there Like to an Eagle soaring for a Prey Amongst the Bushes peeping for a Hare So he amongst the Argives lookt about Seeking of Nestor's Son Antilochus Nor was it long before he found him out Cheering his men and said unto him thus Antilochus come neer and hear from me Sad news I would it were not also true That now the Trojans have the Victorie I think it is already known to you But further know that slain Patroclus is Run therefore to Achilles quickly and Tell him the news It may be mov'd by this To help the Argives with his mighty hand He 'll to the naked body hither come For now Achilles Armour Hector wears At this Antilochus was stricken dumb And filled were and swoln his eyes with tears And there Antilochus no longer staid But to Laodocus his Armour gave And he the same upon his Charret laid For to that end he neer unto him drave Away Antilochus then weeping went To carry to Achilles the ill news And left to Thrasymed his Regiment For Menelaus did the same refuse Though of a valiant Commander then The tired Pylians had the greatest need And to the Ajaxes return'd agen Where lay Patroclus body with all speed And when he thither came unto them said Antilochus is to Achilles gone Although I see not how he should us aid How can he seeing Armour he has none Let 's therefore now bethink our selves how we Our selves may bear the body from the Field And also how we may secured be Against the Trojans that we be not kill'd Ajax to this replying said 'T is true And the advice I 'll give you will be right Take up the Corps Meriones and you And on your shoulders bear it from the Fight We two that are of one name and one mind And in the Field together use to be Will fighting with the Trojans come behind Till at the Ships the body lain we see This said Meriones and Menelaus Up to their shoulders hoyst the body dead Whilst towards them the back of Ajax was The Trojans with great shouting followed Just as a Pack of Hounds pursue a Boar Wounded by Hunters running with great cry Until he turn then follow him no more But scatter'd are and this and that way fly So did the Trojans after Ajax run As long as towards them was not his face But when he turned neer him durst stay none But stood at a great distance from the place Thus fetcht they off at last the body dead With at their heels of Trojan Speâ—rs great showers And Argives dropt abundance as they fled Like houses in a Twon on fire and Tow'rs As when two Mules in heavie way are set To drag down from the Hills some mighty Tree To be a Beam or Mast it makes them sweat Before into the Plain it drawn could be So Menelaus and Meriones Sweating and moyling with the body go And as a Rock that keepeth off the Seas So Ajax at their backs kept off the Fo. The Trojans led by Hector and Aeneas Pursue the flying Greeks with mighty cry As from a Hawk that preys on Birds like these A Cloud of Starelings cackle when they fly And many of them threw their Arms away And that they came to fight had quite forgot In and about the Ditch much Armour lay Of flying Greeks But done the Fight was not ILIAD LIB XVIII WHilst at the Ships the Greeks and Trojans sought Antilochus came to Achilles Tent. And found him to the Argive Ditch gone out Presaging in his minde the sad event And saying to himself Ay me what 's this The Battle to the Ships is come again Pray God it be not as I fear it is The Greeks are routed and Patroclus slain My Mother told me that the best of all The Myrmidons by th' Trojans should be slain I bad him not t' assault the Trojan Wall Nor fight with Hector but come back again As speaking to himself Achilles stood Antilochus unto him weeping came The news said he I bring you is not good I cannot without Tears relate the same Slain is Patroclus On the ground he lies And now they fighting are with Swords and Spears Who shall his Body have with mighty cries Though naked for his Armour Hector wears At this sad news dark were Achilles eyes And up he takes the dust with both his hands And throws it on his head then down he lies His Face and Coat sulli'd with dust and sands And tore his hair And then the lovely prey Of Captive women that had taken been By him and by Patroclus before Troy Affrighted from Achilles Tent came in And over him they beat their Breasts and moan'd On th' other side Antilocus was fain To hold his hands so mightily he groan'd Lest otherwise he should himself have slain His Mother Thetis hearing him complain Though sitting in the deepest of the Seas Wept out aloud and presently her train About her came of the Nereiades Glauca Thaleia and Cymodoca Nesaea Speio Thoa Halia And Aemioreia and Cymothoa Melita Iaera and Amphithoa And Doto Proto Actaea Agava Doris Dexamena Dynamena And Callianeira and Amphinoma Pherusa Apseudes and fair Panopa Nemertes and the milk-white Galataea And Clymene there was and Callianassa And Maera Orithvia and glorious Amatheia And not to name them all fair Janassa With all the rest and fill'd the silver Cave And beat their breasts and round â—er stood dismaid And Thetis then th' account unto them gave Of her great grief and thus unto them said Hear me Nereïdes my Sisters dear And be acquainted with my misery Ah wretched Goddess that I was to bear The best of all the Heroes and when he Was quickly grown up to a goodly height Send him unto the War at Ilium Against the Trojans for the Greeks to fight From whence he never should agaâ—n come home But spend his little time of life in woe And I can nothing do for his relief And now I mean to visit him and know Since he not fights what cause he hath of grief This said she with her Nymphs went from the Cave The Sea before them her smooth water tore And gentle passage to the Goddess gave Till they were landed on the Trojan shore Where lay Achilles Ships upon the sand And straight up to Achilles Thetis went The Nymphs attending on her hand in hand And seeing him so grâ—evously lament She held him by the head and to him said Why weep you thus sweet Child what is 't you ail For that which
is time we to the Trojans go To make fine Speeches here is but delay But let your men o'th'Field Achilles see Through Squadrons of the Trojans making way The Argives then encouraged will be Ulysses then t' Achilles answered Godlike Achilles mighty as you are Urge not the Greeks to fight till they be fed They fasting cannot long endure the Warre And likely 't is the Battle will be long Especially if Gods both sides assist And Bread and Wine is that which makes men strong Let therefore now the Argives be dismist Who can d' ye think the toil of Battle bear From morning unto night unless he first With food his heart and feeble limbs do chear He would be heavie hungry and athirst But he that is with food well satisfi'd Courageous is and fight will all the day His heart and limbs are strong and will abide As long as any on the Field dare stay Come let the people now to Breakfast go And Agamemnon send the Presents in Into th' Assembly where we sit that so By the Achaeans all they may be seen And let him take an Oath before us that Briseis Bed he never went unto Nor all this while has done unto her what A Husband to his Wife is us'd to do And you your anger henceforth bridle must And you Atrides feast him like a friend And for hereafter learn to be more just Nor think 't a shame for men their faults to mend Ulysses said Atrides I am joy'd The counsel you have given us to hear For 't is but reason all that you have said And I with all my heart the Oath will swear And let Achilles though in haste stay here With all the rest that they my Gifts may see And Witnesses be to the Oath I swear And for the Gifts Ulysses presently Go you your self with good men whom you will And bring them from my Tent and set them here For what they are you well remember still The same that by you promisâ—d from me were And you Talthybius provide a Swine That we may offer up a Sacrifice To Jove the Sun and other Pow'rs Divine This said Achilles to him thus replies Renowned Agamemnon I think yet Another time for Feast had better been As when in War a pause we intermit And whilst yet unabated is my spleen We see our friends lie torn upon the ground The Greeks to battle and revenge I prompt You think my counsel therein is not sound And seek with Feasting to divert them from 't But let us fasting to the Battle go And make good Chear when we come back agen And have reveng'd our selves upon the Fo. For I will neither eat nor drink till then For whilst Patroclus mangled lieth here And they that love him stand lamenting by There nothing is that I can think good Chear But Slaughter Bloud and Groans of men that die To this Ulysses did again reply Achilles you have not in Greece your Peer For Martial worth yet Elder much am I And more have seen I pray you therefore hear The fare of War soon breeds Satiety Much Straw there is but Harvest none or small If Jove once hold the Scales unevenly Innumerable are the men that fall When then an end of weeping shall we see The Bellies of the Argives must not mourn They that go to the War must patient be And let the dead unto their Graves be born And not weep over them above a day And we that safe from Fight are come again When we are fed can all day fighting stay All other Exhortation is vain Let therefore now the Greeks to Breakfast go Which is the Soldiers best encouragement Then all together fall upon the Fo. And when he this had said away he went And with him took Meges Meriones Theas Antilochus and Thrasymed And Menalippus and added unto these The Martial Son of Creon Lycomed And brought the Presents from Atrides Tent Sev'n Tripods great and twenty Caldrons bright Twelve Horses and sev'n Women with them went And fair'st of all Briseis made them eight Talents of Gold Ulysses weigh'd out ten And took the pains himself to carry that The rest was carri'd by the younger men And laid before the Princes as they sat Then Agamemnon rose and by him neer Talthybius attended with a Swine From which Atrides clipt a lock of hair And lifts his hands unto the Pow'rs Divine O Jove said he the chiefest of the Gods O Sun and Earth and Furies under ground That in your hands carry th' Eternal rods To punish such as perjur'd shall be found My hand I on Briseis never laid Neither for Bed nor any other cause But always in my Tent untoucht she staid Nor ever by me once attempted was And if herein I told you have a Lye Let all the dreadful torments that are due To such as guilty are of Perjury Upon me fall This said the Swine he slew Then out the Stomach of the Swine did cut And that Talthybius took in his hands And threw 't into the Sea the Fish to glut That done Achilles up amongst them stands 'T is thou O Jove said he that spoilest all Briseis at my Tent had stayed still Nor had her going from me mov'd my gall But that thou hadst a mind the Greeks to kill This said the Councel he dissolv'd and sent Th' Achaeans to their Ships to break their fast Then ev'ry man unto his own Ship went And busie were about their short repast Mean while the Myrmidons the Presents bear T' Achilles Ships and laid them in his Tent And thither also brought the Women were But th'Horses to the Field his Servants sent Briseis when she saw Patroclus lie With many gastly wounds dead on the Biere She flung her arms about him and did crie And her white Neck and Face and Breast did tear And weeping over him did thus complain O dear Patroclus whom alive I left Now when I to you am return'd again Ay me I find you of your life bereft How fast my Woes on one another fall The Husband which my Parents made me wed And three good Brothers of one Mother all I saw before Lyrnessus Massacred And then Patroclus you to comfort me Told me that I should be Achilles Wife And to him married in Pthia be But now since you have also lost your life I never of my Woe shall see an end And then the other women wept and roar'd All for Patroclus as they did pretend But inwardly their own Fate they deplor'd The Greeks again about Achilles stood And urged him ere he to Battle went Himself to strengthen with a little food But could by no means get him to consent My friends said he importune me no more To eat or drink before we go to fight My heart within me now is vexed sore Fear not I shall endure from morn to night This said the other Princes from him went The two Atrides and Ulysses stay And Phoenix and old Nestor at his Tent And King Idomeneus his
th' Argive Charret-wheels to crush and grind And after him he slew Demoleon A Warrier good and of undaunted mind That of Antenor was a valiant Son Him through the head with Spear in hand he smot And out together came both bloud and brain Hâ—s Helmet though of Brass preserv'd him not And after he Demoleon had slain He with his Spear pursu'd Hippodamas Who from his Charre had leapt unto the ground Frighted and now before him running was And gave him on the back a mortal wound Whereat he blows and roars like any Bull Brought to the Altar for a Sacrifice When young men by the Horns him thither pull By violence then down he falls and dies Unluckily then in Achillâ—s sight Was Polydorus Priam's youngest Son And best belov'd whom he forbad to fight Though swiftest of them all he were to run But he the vertue of his feet to shew Betwixt the Hoasts ran up and down the Field Until a Spear Achilles at him threw And with a wound upon the back him kill'd Out at his Navil went the Spear again And for his Guts to follow made a way But Hector when he saw his Brother slain Amongst his Troops he could no longer stay But going to Achilles shook his Spear Then speaking to himself Achilles said The man that slew Patroclus I see here We must no more each other now avoid And sowrely on him looking said Come near That I may quickly of you make an end And Hector to him answer'd without fear In vain Achilles your proud words you spend Such words as these may Children terrifie And I can speak that Language when I list And though you be a mightier man than I The Victory does not in that consist But he shall have it whom the Gods appoint Though he be weaker if his Spear fly true Which mine may do and sharp is at the point This said his Spear he at Achillâ—s threw Which back to Hector's feet Athena blew With soft and gentle breath without a sound And straight Achilles thundring to him flew But then Apollo snatcht him from the ground Which is by any God done in a trice And in a Mist conceal'd him from his sight And after him Achilles leapt up thrice And thrice the Air obscure in vain did smite Then whoopt he after him and threatning said Dog an ill death agen thou scaped hast That fighting to Apollo pray'st for aid But yet I shall dispatch you at the last If any of the Gods for me appear But now I must to other Trojans go This said at Dryops straight he threw his Spear And sent his Soul unto the Shades below To meet Demuchus then he went half way That with his Sword came toward him to fight Him with a wound i' th' neck he made to stay And with his Sword then killed him outright Then by him slain the Sons of Bias were Laogonus and Dardanus the one With his great Sword the other with his Spear And next he killed Tros Alastor's Son Who not resisted but fell at his knee And beg'd his life for being of his age Hoping for that he pitied might be But that Achilles wrath could not asswage He quite mistook his nature like a child For cruel was Achilles and hard-harted But he sweet-natur'd thought he was and mild Whereas he never thought how others smarted And then Achilles gave him such a wound That with the bloud his Liver started out And there he left him dying on the ground And for more Trojan Leaders lookt about Then coming to him he saw Mulius And strook him through the head from ear to ear Then with his Sword he killed Echeclus Antenor's Son that to him came too near Then on the arm he hit Demolion The Spear stuck in and forc'd him there to stay Achilles then came furiously on And with his Sword he skim'd his head away Helmet and all Then Regmus with a wound Upon the belly he slew with his Spear Who from his Charret fell unto the ground And after him he flew his Charretier Areitbous whilst he his Horses turns As a thick Coppice in a windy day If set on fire unmercifully burns So went Achilles killing ev'ry way As Oxen from the Straw tread out the Corn So trampling went his Horses ore the dead That with their Bucklers by the wheels were torn And th'Axle-tree with bloud was covered And Spoaks in part with droppings from the wheels For going on the ground the wheels were goâ—y And partly beaten up with th'Horses heels And bloudy were his hands and all for glory ILIAD LIB XXI WHen to the River Xanthus they were come The Trojans at the Ford half of them pass'd And on the High way fled to Ilium The other leapt into the Stream for haste And with the winding flood there swimming strive As Locusts when by sudden Tier sprung In swarms unto the River fly and dive So they themselves into Scamander flung And filled was the Stream with Horse and Men. Achilles on the Bank-side left his Spear Set up on end against a Tree and then Achilles leapt in with his Sword and there He kill'd as fast as he could turn and strike And with their bloud the Stream was dyed red And grievous 't was to hear them groan and shrike That in the flood were by him massacred As when the Dolphins in a River are The other Fish scud to the Banks in sholes So did it with the swimming Trojans fate They fled to th'Banks and hid themselves in holes And twelve of them alive Achilles took And with their Girdles hands behind them bound Then caus'd them to be led out of the Brook And to the Ships conveyed safe and sound To slay them at Patroclus Funeral Then from the River out he came again And Priam's Son Lycaon met withal That from Scamander flying was in vain Whom Prisoner he had taken once before When in his Father's ground he was by night Cutting of Spoakâ—staves from a Sycamore And on him now the second time did light To Lemnos first he sent him to be sold And bought he there was by Eetion Achilles for him had good store of Gold But he got loose and home again did run And there eleven days he staid and well Was entertained in his Father's house The twelfth into Achilles hands he fell Agen that sent him then to Erâ—bus Achilles seeing him without a Spear Without a Shield and nothing on his head For he had cast away his Arms for fear When almost tir'd he from the River fled Achilles grumbling to himself then said O strange These Trojans are stout-hearted men That being sent away will not be staid But to the War must needs come back agen Here 's one I sent to Lemnos to be sold And now is come to fight with me agen 'T is strange the Sea could not him from me hold That can against their wills hold other men But well I 'll give him of my Spear a tast And send him to the Earth that
I may see Whether the Earth or no can hold him fast By which are holden better men than he Whilst this Achilles said the man came near To beg his life for loath to die was he To wound him then Achilles lifts his Spear But under it he got unto his knee And with one hand laid hold upon his Spear And on Achilles knee the other laid And kneeling down before him shook with fear And lamentably to him speaking said Achilles I beseech you pity me And save my life although 't were but for this That I your Pris'ner was Captivitie At least for life a Sanctuary is And when you unto Lemnos sent me had You for me got a hundred Oxens price And for my Ransom now I should be glad You would be pleas'd to take that value thrice 'T is but twelve days since I came back to Troy And all the way had been in grievous pain And when I thought I should my friends enjoy I fallen am into your hands again O how have I so much incur'd the hate Of Jupiter to shorten thus my life Or from my Mother cometh my hard fate Laâ—thoe whom Priam made his Wife Alâ—heus got her King of Pedasus And she of Priam's many Wives was one For many more beside had Priamus And by her had me and another Son And both of us must by you now be kill'd For Polydore you have already slain Whilst like a Child he ran about the Field And for my self I fear I pray in vain But what am I that must no Quarter have Though by the Father I am Hector's Brother That sent the good Patroclus to his grave Yet I am nothing to him by the Mother Thus pleaded he Achilles then replied Tell me no more of Ransome or of Quarter 'T is true I did before Patroclus died Suffer some Trojans for their lives to barter But now if any of the Trojans fall Into my hands before the Town of Troy And those of Priam's Race the least of all Must from me hope to get alive away But wherefore friend should you think much to die Patroclus a much better man is gone You see how strong and tall a man am I And of a noble Father am the Son And have a Goddess for my Mother Yet At morn or noon or night with Shaft or Spear I 'm sure by one or other to be hit And lose my life Why therefore should you fear This said Lycaon's heart and limbs both fail'd And of the Spear let 's go his hold and wide His hands he spread and his sad fate bewayl'd Achilles then his Sword drew from his side And gave him on the neck a mighty wound The Swords whole bredth into his neck he took And presently he fell dead to the ground Achilles threw him then into the Brook And said insulting Go now to the deep And feed the Fishes that will lick your blood Your Mother over you shall never weep But to the Sea you go shall with the Flood Where to the curled water leaps a Fish Upon Iycaon's dainty fat to feed And until Troy be by us won I wish That th' other Trojans may no better speed But flying by my Spear be tost like Hay Scamander shall afford them little aid Though to his Stream they Bulls and Horses slay Till for Patroclus death they all have paid With these his haughty words Scamander griev'd Contrived how Achilles to repel And how the Trojans best might be reliev'd That to escape into his water fell Achilles then Asteropaeus spi'd Pelegons Son the Son of Axius Of Axius the River deep and wide By th'Daughter of King Acessamenus And to him with a mind to kill him went As he was newly come out of the water But Xanthus gave him such encouragement Because Achilles fill'd his Stream with slaughter That there Asteropaeus for him staid And both in right and left hand had a Spear And never sought the Combat to avoid And when they were to one another near Who are you said Achilles and whose Son That in my anger dares approach me so For I in Arms encountred am by none But those whose Parents destin'd are to wo. Asteropaeus to him then repli'd Why ask you me whose Son and who I am The Forces of Paeonia I guide To whom eleven days since I hither came Of my descent the Author Axius is The fairest Stream that on the Earth doth run His Son was Pelegon and I am his Thus who I am 't is told you and whose Son And now Achilles it is time to fight This said from his two hands his two Spears fly For both Asteropaeus hands were right The one of them his mighty Shield did try But pierc'd it not the plate of Gold withstood The other gave his arm a little wound Neer to his elbow and fetcht out some blood And so beyond him went and stuck i'th'ground Achilles then his Spear with all his strength Incensed at Asteropaeus threw Which missing into th' Earth went half its length Then from his side his Sword Achilles drew Asteropaeus to Achilles Spear Went back and at it thrice he pluckt in vain Then thought to break it but Achilles there Was with his Sword and with that he was slain For by the Sword his belly was so ript That all his bowels issu'd at the wound There him Achilles of his Armour stript And ore him crow'd as he lay on the ground Lie there said he shall Rivers Sons compare With th'off-spring of the blessed Gods above The Issue of a Brook you say you are But I the Issue am of mighty Jove For Peleus my Father was and his Was Aeacus whom Jupiter begot But greater he than any River is Then equal to his Race their Race is not A River great enough you had at hand But that you found had done you little good For nothing can the Pow'r of Jove withstand Not Achelous with his Royal Flood Nor th' Ocean it self of Waters King From whose abundance Seas their water take And ev'ry River Stream and Well and Spring That goeth on the Earth and ev'ry Lake Who when they but a clap of Thunder hear From Jove some danger presently they dread This said from th' Earth he pulled out his Spear And left o'th'Sands Asteropaeus dead Where Xanthus from his wound shall wash the blood And Eels and other fish feed on his fat Achilles then pursued those that stood Upon Scamander Bank amazed at The fury of the giddy Stream and when They saw their Leader killed in their sight By th' hand of terrible Achilles then They ev'ry one betook themselves to flight Then with his Sword he slew Thersilochus And after him the stout Astypylus And Ophelestes Mydon Aenius And after these Mnesus and Thrasius And had shed yet much more Paeonian blood But that Scamander at it took offence And like a man above his water stood And to Achilles spake his mind from thence Achilles truly you excel in might And Acts you do of
my Graces one And with you as a wife shall always stay Content said Sleep but I will have you swear By Styx Come on the Earth now one hand lay The other on the Sea that witness bear May all the Gods below that Juno will Give me the Grace Pasiphae to Wife And that as Wife she shall dwell with me still That love her dearly as I do my life Then Juno as she was required sware By all the Subtartarian Gods by name They Titans and the brood of Saturn are And then together both from Lemnos came To Lectos at the foot of Ida Hill And ore the Woods upward their way they took But out of sight of Jove there Sleep stood still And as they went the wood below them shook Then Sleep went up into a high Fir-tree And there he sat in likeness of a Fowl All cover'd ore with Boughs and Leaves was he Call'd Chalcis by the Gods by us an Owl Juno went on to Gargarus where Jove Saw her and met her with no leâ—s desire Than when the first time to enjoy her love Without their Parents knowledge he lay by her And Jove then standing by her very neer What made you from Olympus come said he Neither your Charre nor Hoâ—ses have you here Deceitfully then to him answer'd she I going am upon a Visit now To th'Father and the Mother of the Gods Oceanus and Tethys who you know Did bring me up For now they are at odds And angry he abstaineth from her bed But if I can I reconcile them will The Horses that me brought unharnessed Attend me at the foot of Ida Hill But that I from Olympus hither came Was that I would not such a journey take And not make you acquainted with the same This said to Juno Jove again thus spake You may said he at any time do that But let us now with Love our selves delight For never yet upon my heart Love sat For woman or for Goddess with such might Not when upon the Wife of Ixion The wise Perithous I did beget Nor when the fair maid Danae I won That brought forth God-like Perseus nor yet When by Uropa I two Children got Minos and Rhadamant both famous men For her nor Semele when I begot Bacchus mans joy nor for Alcmena when I Hercules begot my lusty boy Nor Ceres Leto nor your self till now So much I long your Beauty to enjoy Fierce Cronides then answer'd Juno How On Ida top for some o'th'Gods to spy And tell it to the rest to make them sport Then so ashamed of it shall be I That I shall never after come to Court You have a Chamber without Chink or Hole Made you by Mulciber my Son whereat Neither the Sun nor any living Soul Can peep Go thither if you will do that And Jove to Juno then again repli'd That Man or God shall see us do not fear With such a Cloud of Gold I will us hide As to the Sun himself we 'll not appear This said within his Arms his Wife he caught Whilst under them the Earth made to arise Great store of Saffron Hyacinth and Lote There pleased Jupiter with Juno lies Closely concealed in a Cloud of Gold Away went Sleep unto the Argive Fleet And speaking there to Neptune said Be bold And help the Greeks a while Jove cannot see 't I clos'd his eyes as he by Juno lay He 'll soon awake but help the Greeks till then Who now before the Trojans dare not stay This said Sleep went amongst the Tribes of Men And Neptune to the Argive Ranks and cri'd Shall Hector think to get the Victory Because Achilles is not on our side No. Of Achilles little need would be If every man would his Companion chear But now the Counsel I shall give obey Arm every man himself with a good Spear And Shield and Helmet strong and come away And follow me I 'll lead you to the Field Hector though bold my coming will not stay But let the best man take the largest Shield And to a weaker put his own away This said well pleased were the Argives all The wounded Princes arm'd themselves each one King Agamemnon first the General Ulysses and Tydides then put on Their Arms and every way the Field they range Surveying Men and Arms and all along Make weak men with their betters Armours change And give their heavie Arms to men more strong Thus armed all and Neptune at the Head Who with a great and long Sword in his hand â—ent brandishing as if 't had lightned To th'Fight they go no man durst him withstand And Hector with the Trojans well array'd On th' other side came on And then began Betwixt the Greeks that had the God for aid And those of Troy led by a valâ—ant man A cruel fight And high the Sea arose Up to the Ships and Tents And presently With Alalaes the mighty Armies close And up unto the Heavens went the cry So loud as now the Sea did never rore When beaten 't was in t ' heaps by Boreas Nor Wind when in the Woods great Oaks it tore Up by the roots nor th' Wood when fir'd it was And here did Hector first begin the fight And at the greater Ajax threw his Spear Which hit him but upon two Belts did light Which one upon another lying were One of his Sword the other of his Shield Hector was angry that in vain he flung For he was in great hope he had him kill'd And now retired backward to the throng Then Ajax in his hand took up a Stone Of those to which the Greeks their Ships did tye For there amongst their feet lay many a one And at him as he parted lets it fly And as a Top he made it flying spin It but a little ore his Buckler slew And hit him 'twixt his Buckler and his Chin Upon the breast and to the ground him threw As when an Oak is overthrown by Thunder Which known is eas'ly by the Brimstone-smell Men look upon 't with horror and with wonder So gazed they at Hector when he fell And from his hands went out both Shield and Spear And Helmet from his head and with great cry The Greeks rush on and in fair hope they were To gain his body and their Spears let fly But all in vain For by Polydamas Divine Aeneas and Agenor and Sarpedon and by Glaucus sav'd he was Who all before him with their Bucklers stand His friends then from the Battle him convey'd Unto his Chariot and Charioteer That close behide the Squadrons for hâ—m stay'd And in his Charre tow'rds Ilium they him bear But at the ford of Xanthus by the way They poured water on his face and then In little time as on the ground he lay He breath'd and came unto himself agen Then sitting on his knees he cast up blood And backward fell unto the ground again Upon his eyes again the darkness stood For of the stroke remained still the pain The Greeks assoon