wrong to thy grieued mind my death being set so soone And neuer suffering my returne to grace of Peleus court Nor do I wish it nor to liue in any mans resort But onely that the crying bloud for vengeance of my friend Mangl'd by Hector may be stild his foes death paying his end She weeping said That houre is neare and thy deaths houre then nie â—…etis to Achilâ—… Which in thy wish seru'd of thy foe succeedeth instantly And instantly it shall succeed he answerd since my fate Achilles to Theâ—…is Allow'd not to my will a powre to rescue ere the date Of his late slaughter my true friend Farre from his friends he died Whose wrong therein my eyes had light and right to see denied Yet now I neither light my selfe nor haue so spent my light That either this friend or the rest in numbers infinite Slaughterd by Hector I can helpe nor grace with wisht repaire To our deare country but breathe here vnprofitable aire And onely liue a lode to earth with all my stâ—…ngth though none Of all the Grecians equall it In counsell many a one Is my superiour what I haue no grace gets what I want Disgraceth all How then too soone can hastiest death supplant My 〈◊〉 curst life her instrument to my indignitie Being that blacke friend Contention whom would to God might die To gods and men and Anger too that kindles tyrannie In men most wise being much more sweete then â—…quid hony is To men of powre to satiate their watchfull enmities And like a pliant fume it spreds through all their breasts as late It stolâ—… sterne passage thorough mine which he did instigate That is our Generall But the fact so long past the effect Must vanish with it though both grieu'd nor must we still respect Our soothed humours Need now takes the rule of eithers mind And when the loser of my friend his death in me shall find Let death take all Send him ye gods I le giue him my embrace Not Hercules himselfe shund death though dearest in the grace Of Iupiter euen him Fate stoopt and Iâ—…s crueltie And if such Fate expect my life where death strikes I will lie Meane time I wish a good renowme that these deepe-brested Dames Of â—…ion and Dardania may for th'extinguisht flames Of their friends liues with both their hands wipe miserable teares From their so curiously-kept cheekes and be the officers To execute my sighs on Troy when seeing my long râ—…ate But gatherd strength and giues my charge an answerable heate They well may know t was I lay still 〈◊〉 that my being away Presented all their happinesse But any further stay Which your much loue perhaps may wish assay not to perswade All vowes are kept all prayres heard now free way for fight is made The siluer-footed Dame replide It fits thee well my sonne Thetis 〈◊〉 Achilles To keepe destruction from thy friends but those faire armes are wonne And worne by Hector that should keepe thy selfe in keeping them Though their fruition be but short a long death being neare him Whose cruell glorie they are yet by all meanes then forbeare To tread the massacres of warre till I againe appeare From Mulciber with fit new armes which when thy eye shall see The Sunne next rise shall enter here with his first beames and me Thus to her sisters of the sea she turn'd and bad them ope The doores and deepes of Nereus she in Olympus top Must visite Vulcan for new armes to serue her wreakfull sonne Thetis and thâ—… Nymphs 〈◊〉 Achillâ—… And bad informe her father so with all things further done This said they vnderwent the sea her selfe flew vp to heauen In meane space to the Hellespont and ships the Greeks were driuen In shamefull rout nor could they yet from rage of Priams sonne Secure the dead of new assaults both horse and men made on With such impression thrice the feete the hands of Hector seasd And thrice th' Aiaces thumpt him off With whose repulse displeasd He wreakt his wrath vpon the troupes then to the corse againe Made horrid turnings crying out of his repâ—…sed men And would not quit him quite for death A Lion almost steru'd Is not by vpland herdsmen driuen from vrging to be seru'd With more contention then his strength by those two of a name And had perhaps his much prâ—…sd will if th'airie-footed dame Swift Iris had not stoopt in hast Ambassadresse from heauen Iris ambassâ—…dresse to Achilles from 〈◊〉 To Peleus sonne to bid him arme her message being giuen By Iuno kept from all the gods she thus excited him Rise thou most terrible of men and saue the precious lim Of thy belou'd in whose behalfe the conflict now runnes hie Before the fleete the either host fels other mutually These to retaine those to obtaine amongst whom most of all Is Hector prompt hee 's apt to drag thy friend home he your pall Will make his shoulders his head forc't hee 'l be most famous 〈◊〉 No more lie idle set the foe a much more costly prise Of thy friends value then let dogs make him a monument Where thy name will be grauen He askt What deitie hath sent Thy presence hither She repli'd Saturnia she alone Not high Ioue knowing nor one god that doth inhabite on Snowie Olympus He againe How shall I set vpon The worke of slaughter when mine armes are worne by Priams son How will my goddesse mother grieue that bad I should not arme Till she brought armes from Mulciber But should I do such harme To her and dutie who is he but Aiax that can vant The fitting my brest with his armes and he is conuersant Amongst the first in vse of his and rampiers of the foe Slaine neare Patroclus builds to him All this said she we know And wish thou onely wouldst but show thy person to the eyes Of these hote Ilians that afraid of further enterprise The Greeks may gaine some litle breath She woo'd and he was won And straite Minerua honor'd him who Ioues shield clapt vpon His mightie shoulders and his head girt with a cloud of gold That cast beames round about his browes And as when armes enfold A citie in an I le from thence a fume at first appeares Simile Being in the day but when the Euen her cloudie forehead reares Thicke show the fires and vp they cast their splendor that men nie Seeing their distresse perhaps may set ships out to their supply So to shew such aid from his head a light rose scaling heauen And forth the wall he stept and stood nor brake the precept giuen By his great mother mixt in fight but sent abroad his voice Which Pallas farre off ecchoed who did betwixt them hoise Shrill Tumult to a toplesse height And as a voice is heard Simile With emulous affection when any towne is spher'd With siege of such a foe as kils mens minds and for the towne Makes sound his trumpet so
THE ILIADS OF HOMER Prince of Poets Neuer before in any languag truely translated With a ComÌ„ent vppon some of his chiefe places Donne according to the Greeke By Geo Chapman At London printed for Nathaniell Butter William Hole sculp Qui Nil molitur Ineptè TO THE HIGH BORNE PRINCE OF MEN HENRIE THRICE Royall inheritor to the vnited kingdoms of Great BRITTAINE c. SInce perfect happinesse by Princes sought Is not with birth borne nor â—…xchequers bought Nor followes in great Traines nor is possest VVith any outward State but makes him blest That gouernes inward and beholdeth theare All his affections stand about him bare That by his power can send to Towre and death All traitrous passions marshalling beneath His iustice his meere will and in his minde Holds such a scepter as can keepe confinde His whole lifes actions in the royall bounds Of Vertue and Religion and their grounds Takes-in to sow his honours his delights And complete empire You should learne these rights Great Prince of men by Princely presidents VVhich here in all kinds my true zeale presents To furnish your youths groundworke and first State And let you see one Godlike man create All sorts of worthiest men to be contriu'd In your worth onely giuing him reuiu'd For whose life Alexander would haue giuen One of his kingdomes who as sent from heauen And thinking well that so diuine a creature VVould neuer more enrich the race of Nature Kept as his Crowne his workes and thought them still His Angels in all power to rule his will And would affirme that Homers poesie Did more aduance his Asian victorie Then all his Armies O! t is wondrous much Though nothing prisde that the right vertuous touch Of a well written foule to vertue moues Nor haue we soules to purpose if their loues Of fitting obiects be not so inflam'd How much then were this kingdomes maine soule maim'd To want this great inflamer of all powers That moue in humane soules All Realmes but yours Are honor'd with him and hold blest that State That haue his workes to reade and contemplate In which Humanitie to her height is raisde VVhich all the world yet none enough hath praisde Seas earth and heauen he did in verse comprise Out-sung the Muses and did equalise Their king Apollo being so farre from cause Of Princes light thoughts that their grauest lawes May finde stuffe to be fashiond by his lines Through all the pompe of kingdomes still he shines And graceth all his gracers Then let lie Your Lutes and Viols and more loftily Make the Heroiques of your Homer sung To Drums and Trumpets set his Angels tongue And with the Princely sport of Haukes you vse Behold the kingly flight of his high Muse And see how like the Phoenix she renues Her age and starrie feathers in your sunne Thousands of yeares attending euerie one Blowing the holy fire and throwing in Their seasons kingdomes nations that haue bin Subuerted in them lawes religions all Offerd to Change and greedie Funerall Yet still your Homer lasting liuing raigning And proues how firme Truth builds in Poets faining A Princes statue or in Marble caru'd Or steele or gold and shrin'd to be presâ—…d Aloft on Pillars or Pyramides Time into lowest ruines may depresse But drawne with all his vertues in learn'd verse Fame shall resound them on Obliuions herse Till graues gaspe with her blasts and dead men rise No gold can follow where true Poesie flies Then let not this Diuinitie in earth Deare Prince be sleighted as she were the birth Of idle Fancie since she workes so hie Nor let her poore disposer Learning lie Stil bed-rid Both which being in men defac't In men with them is Gods bright image rac't For as the Sunne and Moone are figures giuen Of his refulgent Deitie in Heauen So Learning and her Lightner Poesie In earth present his fierie Maiestie Nor are Kings like him since their Diademes Thunder and lighten and proiect braue beames But since they his cleare vertues emulate In Truth and Iustice imaging his State In Bountie and Humanitie since they shine Then which is nothing like him more diuine Not Fire not Light the Sunnes admired course The Rise nor Set of Starres nor all their force In vs and all this Cope beneath the Skie Nor great Existence term'd his Treasurie Since not for being greatest he is blest But being Iust and in all vertues best VVhat sets his Iustice and his Truth best forth Best Prince then vse best which is Poesies worth For as great Princes well inform'd and deckt VVith gracious vertue giue more sure effect To her perswasions pleasures reall worth Then all th' inferiour subiects she sets forth Since there she shines at full hath birth wealth state Power fortune honor fit to eleuate Her heauenly merits and so fit they are Since she was made for them and they for her So Truth with Poesie grac't is fairer farre More proper mouing chaste and regular Then when she runnes away with vntruss't Prose Proportion that doth orderly dispose Her vertuous treasure and is Queene of Graces In Poesie decking her with choicest Phrases Figures and numbers when loose Prose puts on Plaine letter-habits makes her trot vpon Dull earthly businesse she being meere diuine Holds her to homely Cates and harsh hedge-wine That should drinke Poesies Nectar euerie way One made for other as the Sunne and Day Princes and vertues And as in a spring The plyant water mou'd with any thing Let fall into it puts her motion out In perfect circles that moue round about The gentle fountaine one another raising So Truth and Poesie worke so Poesie blazing All subiects falne in her exhaustlesse fount VVorks most exactly makes a true account Of all things to her high discharges giuen Till all be circular and round as heauen And lastly great Prince marke and pardon me As in a flourishing and ripe fruite Tree Nature hath made the barke to saue the Bole The Bole the sappe the sappe to decke the whole VVith leaues and branches they to beare and shield The vsefull fruite the fruite it selfe to yeeld Guard to the kernell and for that all those Since out of that againe the whole Tree growes So in our Tree of man whose neruie Roote Springs in his top from thence euen to his foote There runnes a mutuall aide through all his parts All ioyn'd in one to serue his Queene of Arts. The soule In which doth Poesie like the kernell lie Oscur'd though her Promethean facultie Can create men and make euen death to liue For which she should liue honor'd Kings should giue Comfort and helpe to her that she might still Hold vp their spirits in vertue make the will That gouernes in them to the power conform'd The power to iustice that the scandals storm'd Against the poore Dame clear'd by your faire Grace Your Grace may shine the clearer Her low place Not shewing her the highest leaues obscure VVho raise her raise themselues and he sits
man art markt the deadly Ilion gate Must entertaine thy death O then I charge thee now take care That our bones part not but as life combinde in equall fare Our louing beings so let Death When from Opuntas towres My father brought me to your roofes since gainst my will my powres Incenst and indiscreet at dice slue faire Amphidamas Then Peleus entertaind me well then in thy charge I was By his iniunction and thy loue and therein let me still Receiue protection Both our bones prouide in thy last Will That one Vrne may containe and make that vessell all of gold That Thetis gaue thee that rich Vrne This said Sleepe ceast to hold Achilles waking to the shade of 〈◊〉 Achilles temples and the shade thus he receiu'd O friend What needed these commands my care before meant to commend My bones to thine and in that Vrne Be sure thy will is done A little stay yet le ts delight with some full passion Of woe enough eithers affects embrace we Opening thus His greedie armes he felt no friend like matter vaporous The spirit vanisht vnder earth and murmur'd in his stoope Achilles started both his hands he clapt and lifted vp In this sort wondring O ye gods I see we haue a soule In th'vnderdwellings and a kind of man-resembling idole Achiâ—…s his discourse with him selfe about the apparition of 〈◊〉 shade The soules seate yet all matter felt staies with the carkasse here O friends haplesse Patroclus soule did all this night appeare Weeping and making mone to me commanding euery thing That I intended towards him so truly figuring Himselfe at all parts as was strange This accident did turne To much more sorrow and begat a greedinesse to mourne In all that heard When mourning thus the rosie morne arose The morning And Agamemnon through the tents wak't all and did dispose Both men and Mules for cariage of matter for the fire Agamemnon sends out companies to fetch fewell for the funerall heape of which company Meriones was Captaâ—… Of all which worke Meriones the Cretan soueraigns squire Was Captaine and abrode they went Wood-cutting tooles they bore Of all hands and well-twisted cords The Mules marcht all before Vp hill and downe hill ouerthwarts and breake-necke clifts they past But when the fountfull Idas tops they scal'd with vtmost haste All fell vpon the high-hair'd Okes and downe their curled browes Fell busling to the earth and vp went all the boles and bowes Bound to the Mules and backe againe they parted the harsh way Amongst them through the tangling shrubs and long they thought the day Till in the plaine field all arriu'd for all the woodmen bore Logs on their neckes Meriones would haue it so the shore At last they reacht yet and then downe their cariages they cast And sat vpon them where the sonne of Peleus had plac't The ground for his great sepulcher and for his friends in one They raisd a huge pile and to armes went euery Myrmidon Charg'd by Achilles chariots and horse were harnessed Fighters and charitoters got vp and they the sad march led A cloude of infinite foote behind In midst of all was borne Patroclus person by his Peeres on him were all heads shorne Euen till they couer'd him with curles Next to him marcht his friend Embracing his cold necke all sad since now he was to send His dearest to his endlesse home Arrin'd all where the wood Was heapt for funerall they set downe Apart Achilles stood And when enough wood was heapt on he cut his golden haire Achilles cuts his haire ouer his friends body Long kept for Sperchius the flood in hope of safe repaire To Phâ—…hiâ—… by that riuers powre but now left hopelesse thus Enrag'd and looking on the sea he cried out Sperchius In vaine my fathers pietie vow'd at my implor'd returne To my lou'd countrie that these curls should on thy shores be shorne Besides a sacred Hecatombe and sacrifice beside Of fiftie Weathers at those founts where men haue edifide A loftie temple and perfum'd an altar to thy name There vow'd he all these offerings but fate preuents thy fame His hopes not suffering satisfied and since I neuer more Shall see my lou'd soyle my friends hands shall to the Stygian shore Conuey these Tresses Thus he put in his friends hands the haire And this bred fresh desire of mone and in that sad affaire The Sunne had set amongst them all had Thetis sonne not spoke Thus to Atrides King of men thy aide I still inuoke Achilles to Agamemnon Since thy Command all men still heare dismisse thy souldiers now And let them victle they haue mourn'd sufficient t is we owe The dead this honour and with vs let all the Captaines stay This heard Atrides instantly the souldiers sent away The funerall officers remain'd and heapt on matter still Till of an hundred foote about they made the funerall pile In whose hote height they cast the Corse and then they pour'd on teares Numbers of fat sheepe and like store of crooked-going steres They slue before the solemne fire stript off their hides and drest Of which Achilles tooke the fat and couer'd the deceast From head to foote and round about he made the officers pile The beasts nak't bodyes vessels full of honey and of oyle Pour'd in them laide vpon a bere and cast into the fire Foure goodly horse and of nine hounds two most in the desire Of that great Prince and trencher-fed all fed that hungry flame Twelue Troian Princes last stood foorth yong and of toward fame Twelue Princes sacrifised on the funerall pile of Patroclus All which set on with wicked spirits there strooke he there he slew And to the iron strength of fire their noble lims he threw Then breath'd his last sighes and these words Againe reioyce my friend Euen in the ioylesse depth of hell now giue I complete end To all my vowes Alone thy life sustain'd not violence Twelue Troian Princes waite on thee and labour to incense Thy glorious heape of funerall Great Hector I le excuse The dogs shall eate him These high threates perform'd not their abuse Ioues daughter Venus tooke the guard of noble Hectors Corse And kept the dogs off night and day applying soueraigne force Of rosie balmes that to the dogs were horrible in tast And with which she the body fild Renowm'd Apollo cast A cloude from heauen lest with the Sunne the nerues and lineaments Might drie and putrifie And now some powres deniâ—…e consents To this solemnitie the fire for all the oyly fewell It had iniected would not burne and then the louing Cruell Studied for helpe and standing off inuokt the two faire winds Zephyr and Boreas to affoord the rage of both their kinds To aid his outrage Precious gifts his earnest zeale did vow Powr'd from a golden bowle much wine and prayde them both to blow That quickly his friends Corse might burne and that heapes sturdy breast Embrace
seeme his fault then cowardise And thus he answerd Since with right you ioynd checke with aduise Paris 〈◊〉 Hâ—…ctor And I heare you giue equall eare It is not any spleene Against the Towne as you conceiue that makes me so vnseene But sorrow for it which to ease and by discourse digest Within my selfe I liue so close and yet since men might wrest My sad retreat like you my wife with her aduice inclinde This my addression to the field which was mine owne free minde As well as th'instance of her words for though the foyle were mine Conquest brings forth her wreaths by turnes stay then this hast of thine But till I ar me and I am made a consort for thee streight Or go I le ouertake thy haste Hellen stood at receipt And tooke vp all great Hectors powers t' attend her heauie words Hellens ruthfull complaint to Hector By which had Paris no reply this vent her griefe affords Brother if I may call you so that had bene better borne A dog then such a horride Dame as all men curse and scorne A mischiefe makâ—…r a man-plague O would to God the day That first gaue light to me had bene a whirlwind in my way And borne me to some desert hill or hid me in the rage Of earths most far-resounding seas ere I should thus engage The deare liues of so many friends yet since the Gods hauâ—… beene Helplesse foreseers of my plagues they might haue likewise seene That he they put in yoke with me to beare out their award Had bene a man of much more spirit and or had noblier dar'd To shield mine honour with his deed or with his mind had knowne Much better the vpbraids of men that so he might haue showne More like a man some sence of griefe for both my shame and his But he is senslesse nor conceiues what any manhood is Nor now nor euer after will and therefore hangs I feare A plague aboue him But come neare good brother rest you here Who of the world of men stands charg'd with most vnrest for me Vile wretch and for my Louers wrong on whom a destinie So bitter is imposde by Ioue that all succeeding times Will put to our vn-ended shames in all mens mouthes our crimes He answerd Hellen do not seeke to make me sit with thee Hector to Hellen I must not stay though well I know thy honourd loue of me My mind cals forth to aid our friends in whom my absence breeds Longings to see me for whose sakes importune thou to deeds This man by all meanes that your care may make his owne make hast And meete me in the open towne that all may see at last He minds his louer I my selfe will now go home and see My houshold my deare wife and sonne that little hope of me For sister t is without my skill if I shall euer more Returne and see them or to earth her right in me restore The Gods may stoupe me by the Greekes This said he went to see The vertuous Princesse his true wife white arm'd Andromache She with her infant sonne and maide was climb'd the towre about The sight of him that sought for her weeping and crying out Hector not finding her at home was going forth retir'd Stood in the gate her woman cald and curiously enquir'd Where she was gone bad tell him true if she were gone to see His sisters or his brothers wiues or whether she should be At Temple with the other Dames t'implore Mineruas ruth Her woman answerd since he askt and vrg'd so much the truth The truth was she was neither gone to see his brothers wiues His sisters nor t'implore the ruth of Pallas on their liues But she aduertisde of the bane Troy sufferd and how vast Conquest had made her selfe for Greece like one distraught made hast To ample Ilion with her sonne and Nurse and all the way Mournd and dissolu'd in teares for him Then Hector made no stay But trod her path and through the streets magnificently built All the great Citie past and came where seeing how bloud was spilt Andromache might see him come who made as he would passe The ports without saluting her not knowing where she was She with his sight made breathlesse hast to meet him she whose grace Brought him withall so great a dowre she that of all the race Of king Action onely liu'd Action whose house stood Beneath the mountaine Placius enuirond with the wood Of Theban Hippoplace being Court to the Cilician land She ran to Hector and with her tender of heart and hand Her sonne borne in his Nurses armes when like a heauenly signe Compact of many golden starres the princely child did shine Whom Hector cald Scamandrius but whom the towne did name Astianax because his sire did onely prop the same Hector though griefe bereft his speech yet smil'd vpon his ioy Andromache cride out mixt hands and to the strength of Troy Thus wept forth her affection O noblest in desire Aâ—…dromaches passion to Hector Thy mind inflam'd with others good will set thy selfe on fire Nor pitiest thou thy sonne nor wife who must thy widdow be If now thou issue all the field will onely run on thee Better my shoulders vnderwent the earth then thy decease For then would earth beare ioyes no moâ—…e then comes the blacke increase Of griefes like Greeks on Ilion Alas what one suruiues To be my refuge one blacke day bereft seuen brothers liues By sterne Achilles by his hand my father breath'd his last Thebes a most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ciâ—… His high-wald rich Cilician Thebes sackt by him and laid wast The royall bodie yet he left vnspoild Religion charm'd That act of spoile and all in fire he burnd him compleat arm'd Built ouer him a royall tombe and to the monument He left of him Th' Oreades that are the high descent Of Aegis-bearing Iupiter another of their owne Did adde to it and set it round with Elms by which is showne In theirs the barrennesse of death yet might it serue beside To shelter the sad Monument from all the ruffinous pride Of stormes and tempests vsde to hurt things of that noble kind The short life yet my mother liu'd he sau'd and seru'd his mind With all the riches of the Realme which not enough esteemd He kept her prisoner whom small time but much more wealth redeemd And she in syluane Hyppoplace Cilicia rul'd againe But soone was ouer-rul'd by death Dianas chast disdaine Gaue her a Lance and tooke her life yet all these gone from me Thou amply renderst all thy life makes still my father be My mother brothers and besides thou art my husband too Most lou'd most worthy Pitie then deare loue and do not go For thou gone all these go againe pitie our common ioy Lest of a fathers patronage the bulwarke of all Troy Thou leau'st him a poore widdowes charge stay stay then in this Towre And call vp to the wilde
watch be set And euerie court of guard held strong so when the morne doth wet The high raisd battlements of Troy Idaeus shall be sent To th'Argiue fleet and Atreus sonnes t' vnfold my sonnes intent From whose fact our contention springs and if they will obtaine Respit from heate of fight till fire consume our souldiers slaine And after our most fatall warre let vs importune still Till Ioue the conquest haue disposd to his vnconquer'd will All heard and did obey the king and in their quarters all That were to set the watch that night did to their suppers fall Idaeus to the Grecian flee◅ Idaeus in the morning went and th'Achiue Peeres did find In counsell at Atrides ship his audience was assignd And in the midst of all the kings the vocall Herald said Idaeus to the Greekes Atrides my renowned king and other kings his aid Propose by me in their commands the offers Paris makes From whose ioy all our woes proceed he Princely vndertakes That all the wealth he brought from Greece would he had died before He will with other added wealth for your amends restore But famous Menelaus wife he still meanes to enioy Though he be vrg'd the contrarie by all the Peeres of Troy And this besides I haue in charge that if it please you all They wish both sides may ceasse from warre that rites of funerall May on their bodies be performd that in the fields lie slaine And after to the will of Fate renue the fight againe All silence held at first at last Tydides made reply Diomed do Idaeus Let no man take the wealth or Dame for now a childs weake eye May see the imminent blacke end of Priams Emperie This sentence quicke and briefly giuen the Greeks did all admire Then said the King Herald thou hear'st in him the voice entire Agvmemnon to Idaeus Of all our Peeres to answer thee for that of Priams sonne But for our burning of the dead by all meanes I am wonne To satisfie thy king therein without the slendrest gaine Made of their spoiled carkasses but freely being slaine They shall be all consumd with fire to witnesse which I cite High thundring Ioue that is the king of Iunos beds delight With this he held his scepter vp to all the skie thron'd powres And graue Idaeus did returne to sacred Ilions towres Where Ilians and Dardanians did still their counsels plie Expecting his returne he came and told his Legacie All whirlewind like assembled then some bodies to transport Some to hew trees On th' other part the Argiues did exhort Their souldiers to the same affaires then did the new fir'd Sunne Smite the brode fields ascending heauen aud th' Ocean smooth did runne When Greece and Troy mixt in such peace you scarce could either know Then washt they off their blood and dust and did warme teares bestow Vpon the slaughterd and in Carres conueid them from the field Priam commanded none should mourne but in still silence yeeld Their honord carkasses to fire and onely grieue in heart All burnd to Troy Troyes friends retire to fleet the Grecian part Yet doubtfull night obscur'd the earth the day did not appeare When round about the funerall pile the Grecians gatherd were The pile they circled with a tombe and by it raisd a wall High towres to guard the fleet and them and in the midst of all They built strong gates through which the horse and chariots passage had Without the rampire a brode dike long and profound they made On which they Pallesados pitcht and thus the Grecians wrought Their huge workes in so little time were to perfection brought That all Gods by the Lightner set the frame thereof admir'd Mongst whom the earthquake-making God this of their King enquir'd Father of Gods will any man of all earths grassie sphere Neptune to I◅iter Aske any of the Gods consents to any actions there If thou wilt see the shag-haird Greekes with headstrong labours frame So huge a worke and not to vs due offrings first enflame As farre as white Auroras dewes are sprinkled through the aire Fame will renowne the hands of Greece for this diuine affaire Men will forget the sacred worke the Sunne and I did raise For king Laomedon bright Troy and this will beare the praise Ioue was extremely mou'd with him and said What words are these Ioue to Neptune Thou mightie shaker of the earth thou Lord of all the seas Some other God of farre lesse powre might hold conceipts dismaid With this rare Grecian stratageme and thou rest well apaid The fortification that inthe twelft Booke is razed For it will glorifie thy name as farre as light extends Since when these Greekes shall see againe their natiue soile and friends The bulwarke battred thou maist quite deuoure it with thy waues And couer with thy fruitlesse sands this fatall shore of graues That what their fierie industries haue so diuinely wrought In raising it in razing it thy powre will proue it nought Thus spake the Gods among themselues set was the feruent Sunne And now the great worke of the Greeks was absolutely done Then slue they Oxen in their tents and strength with food reuiu'd When out of Lemnos a great fleete of odorous wine arriu'd A fleete of wine of a thousand tun sent by Euneus king of Lēnos Iasons son Sent by Euneus Iasons sonne borne of Hypsiphile The fleete containd a thousand tunne which must transported be To Atreus sons as he gaue charge whose merchandize it was The Greeks bought wine for shining steele and some for sounding brasse Some for Oxe hides for Oxen some and some for prisoners A sumptuous banquet was prepar'd and all that night the Peeres And faire-haird Greeks consum'd in feast so Troians and their aide And all the night Ioue thunderd lowd pale feare all thoughts dismaide While they were gluttonous in earth Ioue wrought their banes in heauen They pourd full cups vpon the ground and were to offrings driuen In stead of quaffings and to drinke none durst attempt before In solemne sacrifice they did almightie Ioue adore Then to their rests they all repaird bold zeale their feare bereau'd And sodaine sleepes refreshing gift securely they receiu'd The end of the seuenth booke THE EIGHTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT VVHen Ioue to all the Gods had giuen command That none to either host should helpfull stand To Ida he descends and sees from thence Iuno and Pallas haste the Greeks defence Whose purpose his command by Iris giuen Doth interuent then came the silent Euen When Hector chargde fires should consume the night Lest Greeks in darkenesse tooke suspected flight Another Argument In Theta gods a Counsell haue Troyes conquest glorious Hectors Braue THe chearfull Ladie of the light deckt in her saffron robe Periphrasis of the Morning Disperst her beames through euery part of this enflowred globe When thundring Ioue a Court of Gods assembled by his will In top of all
to the sea and to the land drew vp the drowsie night The Troians grieu'd at Phoebus fall which all the Greeks desir'd The Night And sable night so often wisht to earths firme throne aspir'd Hector intending to consult neare to the gulfie flood Farre from the Fleet led to a place pure and exempt from blood The Troians forces from their horse all lighted and did heare Th'Oration Ioue-lou'd Hector made who held a goodly speare Eleuen full cubits long the head was brasse and did reflect A wanton light before him still it round about was deckt With strong hoops of new burnisht gold On this he leand and said Heare me my worthie friends of Troy and you our honord aid 〈◊〉 to his friends A little since I had conceipt we should haue made retreate By light of the inflamed fleet with all the Greeks escheate But darknesse hath preuented vs and safte with speciall grace These Achiues and their shore-hal'd fleet Let vs then render place To sacred Night our suppers dressâ—… and from our chariot free Our faire-man'd horse and meate them well then let there conuoid be From forth the citie presently Oxen and well fed sheepe Sweet wine and bread and fell much wood that all night we may keepe Vina parant animos Plentie of fires euen till the light bring forth the louely morne And let their brightnesse glase the skies that night may not suborne The Greeks escape if they for flight the seas brode backe would take At least they may not part with ease but as retreit they make Each man may beare a wound with him to cure when he comes home Made with a shaft or sharpned speare and others feare to come With charge of lamentable warre gainst souldiers bred in Troy Then let our Heralds through the towne their offices imploy To warne the youth yet short of warre and time-white fathers past That in our god-built towres they see strong courts of guard be plac't About the wals and let our Dames yet flourishing in yeares That hauing beauties to keepe pure are most inclin'd to feares Since darknesse in distressefull times more dreadfull is then light Make loftie fires in euery house and thus the dangerous night Held with strong watch if th' enemie haue ambuscadoes laid Neare to our wals and therefore seeme in flight the more dismaid Intending a surprise while we are all without the towne They euery way shall be impugn'd to euery mans renowne Performe all this braue Troian friends what now I haue to say Is all exprest the chearfull morne shall other things display It is my glorie putting trust in Ioue and other Gods That I shall now expulse these dogs fates sent to our abodes Who bring ostents of destinie and blacke their threatning fleet But this night let vs hold strong guards to morrow we will meet With fierce-made warre before their ships and I le make knowne to all If strong Tydides from their ships can driue me to their wall Or I can pierce him with my sword and force his bloudy spoile The wished morne shall shew his powre if he can shun his foile I running on him with my Lance I thinke when day ascends He shall lie wounded with the first and by him many friends O that I were as sure to liue immortall and sustaine No frailties with increasing yeares but euermore remaine Ador'd like Pallas or the Sunne as all doubts die in me That heauens next light shall be the last the Greekes shall euer see This speech all Troians did applaud who from their traces losde Their sweating horse which seuerally with headstals they reposde And fastned by their chariots when others brought from towne Fat sheepe and oxen instantly bread wine and hewed downe Huge store of wood the winds transferd into the friendly skie Their suppers sauour to the which they sate delightfully And spent all night in open field fires round about them shinde As when about the siluer Moone when aire is free from winde And stars shine cleare to whose sweete beames high prospects and the brows Igne TrolanoruÌ„ 〈◊〉 similes Of all steepe hils and pinnacles thrust vp themselues for showes And euen the lowly vallies ioy to glitter in their sight When the vnmeasur'd firmament bursts to disclose her light And all the signes in heauen are seene that glad the shepheards hart So many fires disclosde their beames made by the Troian part Before the face of Ilion and her bright turrets show'd A thousand courts of guard kept fires and euery guard allow'd Fiftie stout men by whom their horse eate oates and hard white corne And all did wilfully expect the siluer-throned morne The end of the eighth Booke THE NINTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT TO Agamemnon vrging hopelesse flight Stand Diomed and Nestor opposite By Nestors counsell Legats are dismist To Thetis sonne who still denies t' assist Another Argument Iota sings the Ambassie And great Achilles sterne replie SO held the Troians sleeplesse guard the Greeks to flight were giuen The feeble consort of cold feare strangely infusde from heauen Griefe not to be endur'd did wound all Greeks of greatest worth And as two laterall-sited winds the West wind and the North Meete at the Thracian seas blacke breast ioyne in a sodaine blore Tumble together the darke waues and powre vpon the shore A mightie deale of froth and weed with which men manure ground So Ioue and Troy did driue the Greeks and all their minds confound But Agamemnon most of all was tortur'd at his heart Who to the voicefull Heralds went and bad them cite apart Each Grecian leader seuerally not openly proclaime In which he labourd with the first and all together came They sadly sate the king arose and pour'd out teares as fast As from a loftie rocke a spring doth his blacke waters cast And deeply â—…ghing thus bespake the Achiues O my friends Agamemnon to the Greeks Princes and leaders of the Greeks heauens aduerse king extends His wrath with too much detriment to my so iust designe Since he hath often promist me and bound it with the signe Of his bent forehead that this Troy our vengefull hands should race And safe returne yet now ingag'd he plagues vs with disgrace When all our trust to him hath drawne so much bloud from our friends My glorie nor my brothers wreake were the proposed ends For which he drew you to these toiles but your whole countries shame Which had bene huge to beare the rape of so diuine a Dame Made in despite of our reuenge and yet not that had mou'd Our powres to these designes if Ioâ—…e had not our drifts approu'd Which since we see he did for bloud t is desperate fight in vs To striue with him then let vs flie t is flight he vrgeth thus Long time still silence held them all at last did Diomed rise Atrides I am first must crosse thy indiscreet aduise Diomed to Agamemnon and takes fit time to answer
which we waite Of winning Troy with brasse and gold he shall his nauie freight And entring when we be at spoile that princely hand of his Shall chuse him twentie Troian Dames excepting Tyndaris The fairest Pergamus infolds and if we make retreat To Argos cald of all the world the Nauill or chiefe seat He shall become my sonne in law and I will honour him Euen as Orestes my sole sonne that doth in honours swim Three daughters in my wel-built court vnmarried are and faire Laodice Chrysothemis that hath the golden haire And Iphianassa of all three the worthiest let him take All ioynturelesse to Peleus Court I will her ioyncture make And that so great as neuer yet did any maide preferre Seuen cities right magnificent I will bestow on her Enope and Cardamile Hyra for herbes renownd The faire Aepaea Pedasus that doth with grapes abound Antaea girded with greene meades Phera surnam'd Diuine All whose bright turrets on the seas in sandie Pylos shine Th' inhabitants in flockes and heards are wondrous confluent Who like a God will honour him and him with gifts present And to his throne will contribute what tribute he will rate All this I gladly will performe to pacifie his hate Let him be milde and tractable t is for the God of ghosts To be vnrul'd implacable and seeke the bloud of hoasts Whom therefore men do much abhorre then let him yeeld to me I am his greater being a King and more in yeares then he Braue King said Nestor these rich gifts must make him needs relent Nestor makes choice of Ambassadors to Achilles Chuse then fit legates instantly to greete him at his Tent But stay admit my choice of them and let them strait be gone Ioue-loued Phoenix shall be chiefe then Aiax Telamon And Prince Vlyssès and on them let these two heralds wait Graue Odius and Euribates Come Lords take water strait Make pure your hands and with sweet words appease Achilles mind Which we will pray the king of Gods may gently make inclin'd All lik't his speech and on their hands the Heralds water shed The youths crownd cups of sacred wine to all distributed But hauing sacrific'd and drunke to euerie mans content With many notes by Nestor giuen the Legats forwards went With courtship in fit gestures vsd he did prepare them well But most Vlysses for his grace did not so much excell Such â—…ites beseeme Ambassadors and Nestor vrged these That their most honours might reflect enrag'd Aeacides They went along the shore and praid the God that earth doth bind In brackish chaines they might not faile but bow his mightie mind The quarter of the Myrmidons they reacht and found him set Delighted with his solemne harpe which curiously was fret Achilles at his Haâ—…pe With workes conceited through the verge the bawdricke that embrac't His loftie necke was siluer twist this when his hand laid waste Actions citie he did chuse as his especiall prise Aâ—…illes loue of Musicke And louing sacred musicke well made it his exercise To it he sung the glorious deeds of great Heroes dead Himselfe sings the deeds of Heroes And his true mind that practise faild sweet contemplation fed With him alone and opposite all silent sat his friend Attentiue and beholding him who now his song did end Th' Ambassadors did forwards preasse renown'd Vlysses led And stood in view their sodaine sight his admiration bred Who with his harpe and all arose so did Menetius sonne When he beheld them their receipt Achilles thus begun Health to my Lords right welcome men assure your selues you be Achilles gentle receit of Vlysses Aâ—…ax c. Though some necessitie I know doth make you visite me Incenst with iust cause gainst the Greeks This said a seuerall seate With purple cushions he set forth and did their ease intreate And said Now friend our greatest bolle with wine vnmixt and neate Appose these Lords and of the depth let euerie man make proofe These are my best-esteemed friends and vnderneath my roofe Patroclus did his deare friends will and he that did desire Principes ipsâ—… 〈◊〉 munera obeunt vt alibi To cheare the Lords come faint from fight set on a blasing fire A great brasse pot and into it a chine of muâ—…ton put And fat Goates flesh Automedon held while he peeces cut To rost and boile right cunningly then of a well fed swine A huge fat shoulder he cuts out and spits it wondrous fine His good friend made a goodly fire of which the force once past He laid the spit low neare the coales to make it browne at last Then sprinkled it with sacred salt and tooke it from the rackes This rosted and on dresser set his friend Patroclus takes Bread in faire baskets which set on Achilles brought the meate And to diuinest Ithacus tooke his opposed seate Vpon the bench then did he will his friend to sacrifice Sacrifice before meate Who cast sweet incense in the fire to all the Deities Thus fell they to their readie food hunger and thirst allaid Aiax to Phenix made a signe as if too long they staid Before they told their Legacie Vlysses saw him winke And filling the great boule with wine did to Achilles drinke Health to Achilles but our plights stand not in need of meate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who late supt at Atrides tent though for thy loue we eate Of many things whereof a part would make a compleat feast Nor can we ioy in these kind rites that haue our hearts opprest O Prince with feare of vtter spoile t is made a question now If we can saue our fleet or not vnlesse thy selfe endow Thy powers with wonted fortitude now Troy and her consorts Bold of thy want haue pitcht their tents close to our fleet and forts And made a firmament of fires and now no more they say Will they be prison'd in their wals but force their violent way Euen to our ships and Ioâ—…e himselfe hath with his lightnings showd Their bold aduâ—…ntures happie signes and Hector growes so prowd Of his huge strength borne out by Ioue that fearfully he raues Presuming neither men nor Gods can interrupt his braues Wilde rage inuades him and he prayes that soone the sacred morne Would light his furie boasting then our streamers shall be torne And all our nauall ornaments fall by his conquering stroke Our ships shall burne and we our selues lie stifl'd in the smoke And I am seriously affraid heauen will performe his threats And that t is fatall to vs all farre from our natiue seates To perish in victorious Troy but rise though it be late Dâ—…liuer the afflicted Greeks from Troyes tumultuous hate It will hereafter be thy griefe when no strength can suffise To remedie th'effected threats of our calamities Consider these affaires in time while thou maist vse thy powre And haue the grace to turne from Greece fates vnrecouered houre O friend thou knowest thy royall Sire forewarnd what should be done
thy mightie spirits it fits not one that moues The hearts of all to liue vnmou'd and succour hates for loues The Gods themselues are flexible whose vertues honors powers Are more then thine yet they will bend their breasts as we bend ours Perfumes benigne deuotions sauors of offrings burnd And holy rites the engines are with which their hearts are turnd By men that pray to them whose faith their sinnes haue falsified For prayers are daughters of great Ioue lame wrinkled ruddie eyd Prayers how necessary and helpful if shund or neglected how wreakefull And euer following iniury who strong and sound of feet Flies through the world afflicting men beleeuing prayers yet To all that loue that seed of Ioue the certaine blessing get Ioues daughters and cald Litâ—… To haue Ioue heare and helpe them too but if he shall refuse And stand inflexible to them they flie to Ioue and vse Their powres against him that the wrongs he doth to them may fall On his owne head and pay those paines whose cure he failes to call Then great Achilleâ—… honour thou this sacred seed of Ioue And yeeld to them since other men of greatest minds they moue If Agamemnon would not giue the selfe same gifts he vowes But offer other afterwards and in his stil-bent browes Entombe his honour and his word I would not thus exhort With wrath appeasde thy aide to Greece though plagu'd in heauiest sort But much he presently will giue and after yeeld the rest T' assure which he hath sent to thee the men thou louest best And most renownd of all the hoast that they might soften thee Then let not both their paines and prayers lost and despised be Before which none could reprehend the tumult of thy heart But now to rest inexpiate were much too rude a part Of ancient worthies we haue heard when they were more displeasde To their high fames with gifts and prayers they haue bene still appeasde For instance I remember well a fact perform'd of old Which to you all my friends I le tell The Curets warres did hold Another narration de bello Aetolico With the well-fought Etolians where mutuall liues had end About the citie Calidon th'Etolians did defend Their flourishing countrie which to spoile the Curets did contend Diana with the golden throne with Oeneus much incenc't Since with his plenteous lands first fruits she was not reuerenc't Yet other Gods with Hecatombes had feasts and she alone Great Ioues bright daughter left vnseru'd or by obliuion Or vndue knowledge of her dues much hurt in heart she swore And she enrag'd excited much she sent a syluan Bore From their greene groues with wounding tuskes who vsually did spoile Aper Calidonius King Oeneus fields his loftie woods layd prostrate on the soile Rent by the roots trees fresh adornd with fragrant apple flow'rs Which Meleager Oeneus sonne slue with assembled pow'rs Of hunters and of fiercest hounds from many cities brought For such he was that with few liues his death could not be bought Heapes of dead humanes by his rage the funerall piles applide Yet slaine at last the Goddesse stird about his head and hide A wondrous tumult and a warre betwixt the Curets wrought And braue Aetolians all the while fierce Meleager fought Ill far'd the Curets neare the wals none durst aduance his crest Though they were many but when wrath inflam'd his hautie brest Which oft the firme mind of the wise with passion doth infest Since twixt his mother Queene and him arose a deadly strife He left the Court and priuately liu'd with his lawfull wife Faire Cleopatra femall birth of bright Marpissas paine And of Idaeus who of all terrestriall men did raigne At that time king of fortitude and for Marpissas sake Gainst wanton Phoebus king oâ—… flames his bow in hand did take Since he had rauisht her his ioy whom her friends after gaue The surname of Alcyone because they could not saue Their daughter from Alcyones Fate in Cleopatr as armes Lay Meleager feeding on his anger for the harmes His mother praid might fall on him who for her brother slaine By Meleager grieu'd and praid the Gods to wreake her paine With all the horror could be pour'd vpon her furious birth Still knockt she with her impious hands the many-feeding earth To vrge sterne Pluto and his Queene t' incline their vengefull eares Fell on her knees and all her breast dewd with her fierie teares To make them massacre her sonne whose wrath enrag'd her thus Erynnis wandring through the aire heard out of Erebus Pray'rs fit for her vnpleased mind yet Meleager lay Obscurd in furie then the bruit of the tumultuous â—…ray Rung through the turrets as they scal'd then came the Aetolian Peeâ—…es To Meleager with low suits to rise and free their feares Then sent they the chiefe Priests of Gods with offered gifts t' attone His differing fuâ—…ie bad him châ—… in sweet-soild Calidon Of the most fat and yeeldie soile what with an hundred steares Might in a hundred dayes be plowde halfe that rich vintage beares And halfe of naked earth to plow yet yeelded not his ire Then to his loftie chamber dore ascends his royall Sire With ruthfull plaints shooke the strong barres then came his sisters cries His mother then and all intreate yet still more stiffe he lies His friends most reuerend most esteem'd yet none impression tooke Till the high turrets where he lay and his strong chamber shooke With the inuading enemie who now forc't dreadfull way Along the cittie then his wife in pittifull dismay Besought him weeping telling him the miseries sustaind By all the citizens whose towne the enemie had gaind Men slaughterd children bondslaues made sweet Ladies forc't with lâ—…st Fires climing towres and turning them to heapes of fruitlesse dust These dangers softned his steele heart vp the stout Prince arose Indude his bodie with rich armes and freed th'Aetolians woes His smotherd anger giuing aire which gifts did not asswage But his owne perill And because he did not dis-ingage Their liues for gifts their gifts he lost But for my sake deare friend Be not thou bent to see our plights to these extremes descend Ere thou assist vs be not so by thy ill angell turnd From thine owne honor it were shame to see our nauie burnd And then come with thy timelesse aide For offerd presents come And all the Greeks will honour thee as of celestiall roome But if without these gifts thou fight forc't by thy priuate woe Thou wilt be nothing so renown'd though thou repell the foe Achilles answerd the last part of this oration thus Achilles to Phoenix Phoenix renown'd and reuerend the honors vrgde on vs We need not Ioue doth honor me and to my safetie sees And will whiles I retaine a spirit or can command my knees Then do not thou with teares and woes impassion my affects Becoming gracious to my foe nor fits it the respects Of thy vowd loue to honor
thither my direction was they should with speed resort Why now said Nestor none will grudge nor his iust rule withstand Examples make excitements strong and sweeten a command Thus put he on his arming trusse faire shoes vpon his feet About him a mandilion that did with buttons meet Of purple large and full of folds curld with a warmefull nap A garment that gainst cold in nights did souldiers vse to wrap Then tooke he his strong lance in hand made sharpe with proued steele And went along the Grecian fleet First at Vlysses keele He cald to breake the silken fumes that did his sences bind The voice through th'Organs of his eares straight rung about his mind Forth came Vlysses asking him Why stirre ye thus so late Vlysses to Agamemnon and Nestor Sustaine we such enforciue cause He answerd Our estate Doth force this perturbation vouchsafe it worthie friend Nâ—…or to Vlysses And come let vs excite one more to counsell of some end To our extremes by fight or flight He backe and tooke his shield And both tooke course to Diomed they found him laid in field The manner of Diomeds loggiâ—… Farre from his tent his armour by about him was dispread A ring of souldiers euerie man his shield beneath his head His speare fixt by him as he slept the great end in the ground The point that brisled the darke earth cast a reflection round Like pallid lightnings throwne from Ioue thus this Heroe lay And vnder him a big Oxe hide his royall head had stay On Arras hangings rolled vp whereon he slept so fast That Nestor stird him with his foote and chid to see him cast Nestor chideth Diomed. In such deepe sleepe in such deepe woâ—…s and askt him why he spent All night in sleepe or did not heare the Trâ—…ans neare his tent Their Campe drawne close vpon their dike small space twixt foes and foes He starting vp said Strange old man that neuer tak'st reposâ—… Diomed to Nestor Thou art too patient of our toile haue we not men more yong To be imploid from king to king thine age hath too much wrong Said like a king replied the Sire for I haue sonnes renownd Nestor to him Note the life of these representations And there are many other men might go this toilesome round But you must see imperious Need hath all at her command Now on the eager razors edge for life or death we stand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tâ—… went into a Prouerbe vsed by Tâ—…critus in Dioscaris Dâ—…caris of Hâ—…mer Then go thou art the yonger man and if thou loue my ease Call swift foot Aiax vp thy selfe and young Phyleides This said he on his shoulders cast a yellow Lions hide Big and reacht earth then tooke his speare and Nestors will applide Raisd the Heroes brought them both All met the round they went And found not any captaine there asleepe or negligent But waking and in armes gaue eare to euerie lowest sound And as keene dogs keepe sheepe in Cotes or folds of Hurdles bound Simile And grin at euerie breach of aire enuious of all that moues Still listning when the rauenous beast stalks through the hilly groues Then men and dogs stand on their guards and mightie tumults make Sleepe wanting weight to close one winke so did the Captaines wake That kept the watch the whole sad night all with intentiue eare Conuerted to the enemies tents that they might timely heare If they were stirring to surprise which Nestor ioyd to see Why so deare sons maintaine your watch sleepe not a winke said he Rather then make your fames the scorne of Troian periurie Nâ—…â—…o the â—…ds This said he formost past the dike the others seconded Euen all the kings that had bene cald to counsell from the bed And with them went Meriones and Nestors famous sonne For both were cald by all the kings to consultation Beyond the dike they chusde a place neare as they could from blood Where yet appear'd the fals of some and whence the crimson flood Of Grecian liues being pour'd on earth by Hectors furious chace He made retreate when night repour'd grim darknesse in his face There sate they downe and Nestor spake O friends remaines not one Nâ—…â—…o the Greâ—… Princes That will relie on his bold mind and view the campe alone Of the prowd Troians to approue if any stragling mate He can surprise neare th' vtmost tents or learne the briefe estate Of their intentions for the time and mixe like one of them With their outguards expiscating if the renown'd extreme They force on vs will serue their turnes with glorie to retire Or still encampe thus farre from Troy This may he well enquire And make a braue retreate vntoucht and this would win him fame Of all men canapied with heauen and euerie man of name In all this host shall honor him with an enriching meed A blacke Ewe and her sucking Lambe rewards that now exceed All other best possessions in all mens choice requests And still be bidden by our kings to kind and royall feasts All reuerenc't one anothers worth and none would silence breake Lest worst should take best place of speech at last did Diomed speake Dioâ—…â—…o Nâ—…stor Nestor thou ask'st if no man here haue heart so well inclin'd To worke this stratageme on Troy yes I haue such a mind Yet if some other Prince would ioyne more probable will be The strengthned hope of our exploite two may together see One going before another still slie danger euerie way One spirit vpon another workes and takes with firmer stay The benefit of all his powers for though one knew his course Yet might he well distrust himselfe which th' other might enforce This offer euerie man assum'd all would with Diomed go The two Aiaces Merion and Menelaus too But Nestors sonne enforc't it much and hardie Ithacus Who had to euerie ventrous deed a mind as venturous Amongst all these thus spake the king Tydides most belou'd The grâ—…â—…unsell of Agamemâ—…on to Diomed. Chuse thy associate worthily a man the most approu'd For vse and strength in these extremes Many thoâ—…â—…st stand forth But chuse not thou by height of place but by regard of worth Lest with thy nice respect of right to any mâ—…ns degrâ—… Thou wrongst thy venture chusing one least fit to ioyne with thee Although perhaps a greater king this spake he with suspect That Diomed for honors sake â—…is brother would select Then said Tydides Since thou giu'st my iudgement leaue to chuse How can it so much truth forget Vlysses to refuse Diâ—… câ—… of Vlysses That beares a mind so most exempt and vigorous in th' effect Of all high labors and a man Pallas doth most respect We shall returne through burning fire if I with him combine He sets strength in so true a course with counsels so diuine Vlysses loth to be esteemd a louer of his praise With such exceptions humbled
the first seem'd best to him and backe he went to call Anchises sonne to friend who stood in troope the last of all Where still he seru'd which made him still incense against the king Aeneas angrie being euer disgraced by PriaÌ„ That being amongst his best their Peere he grac't not any thing His wrong'd deserts Deiphobus spake to him standing neare Aeneas Prince of Troians if any touch appeare To him Deiphobus Of glorie in thee thou must now assist thy sisters Lord And one that to thy tendrest youth did carefull guard afford Alcathous whom Cretas king hath chiefly slaine to thee His right most challenging thy hand come therefore follow me This much excited his good mind and set his heart on fire Against the Cretan who child-like dissolu'd not in his ire Simile But stood him firme As when in hils a strength-relying Bore Alone and hearing hunters come whom Tumult flies before Vp thrusts his bristles whets his tusks sets fire on his red eyes And in his braue-prepar'd repulse doth dogs and men despise So stood the famous for his lance nor shund the coming charge That resolute Aeneas brought yet since the ods was large He cald with good right to his aide war-skild Ascalaphus Idomeneus cals his friends to aid Aphareus Meriones the strong Deipyrus And Nestors honorable sonne Come neare my friends said he And adde your aids to me alone Feare taints me worthilie Though firme I stand and shew it not Aeneas great in fight And one that beares youth in his flowre that beares the greatest might Aeneas yet a youth as Virgil makes him Comes on with aime direct at me had I his youthfull lim To beare my mind he should yeeld Fame or I would yeeld it him This said all held in many soules one readie helpfull mind Clapt shields and shoulders and stood close Aeneas not inclind With more presumption then the king cald aid as well as he Diuine Agenor Hellens loue who followd instantly And all their forces following them as after Bellwethers The whole flocks follow to their drinke which sight the shepheard cheres Nor was Aeneas ioy lesse mou'd to see such troopes attend His honord person and all these fought close about his friend But two of them past all the rest had strong desire to shed The blood of either Idomen and Cythereas seed Aeneâ—… and Idomeneâ—… in conflict Aeneas first bestowd his lance which th' other seeing shund And that throwne from an idle hand stucke trembling in the ground But Idomens discharg'd at him had no such vaine successe Which Oenomaus entrailes found in which it did impresse His sharpe pile to his fall his palms tore his returning earth Idomeneus strait steptin and pluckt his Iauelin forth But could not spoile his goodly armes they prest him so with darts And now the long toile of the fight had spent his vigorous parts And made them lesse apt to auoid the foe that should aduance Or when himselfe aduanc't againe to run and fetch his lance And therefore in stiffe fights of stand he spent the cruell day When coming softly from the slaine Deiphobus gaue way To his brght Iauelin at the king whom he could neuer brooke But then he lost his enuie too his lance yet deadly tooke Ascalaphus the sonne of Mars slaiâ—…e by 〈◊〉 Ascalaphus the sonne of Mars quite through his shoulder flew The violent head and downe he fell Nor yet by all meanes knew Wide throated Mars his sonne was falne but in Olympus top Sad canapied with golden clouds Ioues counsell had shut vp Both him and all the other Gods from that times equall taske Which now about Ascalaphus Strife set his shining caske Deiphobus had forc't from him but instantly leapt in Mars-swift Meriones and strooke with his long Iauelin Deiphobus wouÌ„ded by Meridnes The right arme of Deiphobus which made his hand let fall The sharp-topt helmet the prest earth resounding there withall When Vulture-like Meriones rusht in againe and drew From out the low part of his arme his Iauelin and then flew Backe to his friends Deiphobus faint with the bloods excesse Falne from his wound was carefully conuaid out of the preasse By his kind brother by both â—…ides Polites till they gat His horse and chariot that were still set fit for his retreate And bore him now to Ilion The rest fought fiercely on And set a mightie fight on foote When next Anchises sonne Aphareus Caletorides that tan vpon him stâ—…oke Iust in the throate with his keene lance and strait his head forsooke His vpright cariage and his shield his helme and all with him Fell to the earth where ruinous death made prise of euerie lim Antilochus discouering well that Thoons heart tooke checke Let flie and cut the hollow veine that runs vp to his necke Along his backe part quite in twaine downe in the dust he fell Vpwards and with extended hands bad all the world farewell Antilochus rushtnimbly in and looking round made prise Of his faire armes in which affaire his round set enemies Let flie their lances thundering on his aduanced targe But could not get his flesh the God that shakes the earth tooke charge Of Nestors sonne and kept him safe who neuer was away But still amongst the thickest foes his busie lance did play Obseruing euer when he might far-off or neare offend And watching Asius sonne in prease he spide him and did send Close coming on a dart at him that smote in midst his shield In which the sharpe head of the lance the blew-hair'd God made yeeld Not pleasd to yeeld his pupils life in whose shield halfe the dart Stucke like a trunchion burnd with fire on earth lay th' other part He seeing no better end of all retir'd in feare of worse But him Meriones pursude and his lance foundfull course To th 'others life it wounded him betwixt the priuie parts And nauill where to wretched men that wars most violent smarts Must vndergo wounds chiefly vexe His dart Meriones Pursude and Adamas so striu'd with it and his misease As doth a Bullocke puffe and storme whom in disdained bands Simile The vpland heardsmen striue to cast so falne beneath the hands Of his sterne foe Asiades did struggle pant and raue But no long time for when the lance was pluckt out vp he gaue His tortur'd soule Then Troys turne came when with a Thracian sword The temples of Deipyrus did Hellenus afford So huge a blow it strooke all light out of his cloudie eyes And cleft his helmet which a Greeke there fighting made his prise It fell so full beneath his feet Atrides grieu'd to see That sight and threatning shooke a lance at Hellenus and he A bow halfe drew at him at once out flew both shaft and lance The shaft Atrides curets strooke and farre away did glance Atrides dart of Hellenus the thrust out bow-hand strooke Hellenus wounded And through the hand stucke in the bow Agenors hand did plucke
on the yong Antiloâ—…us Antilochâ—…s in all our host there is not one of vs Menelaus to Antilochus More yong then thou more swift of foote nor with both those so strong O would thou wouldst then for thou canst one of this lustie throng That thus comes skipping out before whoeuer any where Make sticke for my sake twixt both hosts and leaue his bold blood there He said no sooner and retir'd but forth he rusht before The foremost fighters yet his eye did euery way explore For doubt of ods out flew his lance the Troians did abstaine While he was darting yet his dart he cast not off in vaine For Menalippus that rare sonne of great Hycetaon Antiâ—…â—…ters Meâ—…ppus As brauely he put foorth to fight it fiercely flew vpon And at the nipple of his breast his breast and life did part And then much like an eager hound cast off at some yong Hart Simile Hurt by the hunter that had left his couert then but new The great-in-warte Antilochus O Menalippus flew On thy torne bosome for thy spoyle But thy death could not lie Hid to great Hector who all haste made to thee and made flie Antilochus although in watre he were at all parts skild But as some wild beast hauing done some shrewd turne either kild The heardsman or the heardsman dogge and skulks away before The gatherd multitude makes in so Nestors sonne forbore A Simile suiting the other before to the life But after him with horrid cryes both Hector and the rest Showres of teare-thirstie lances powr'd who hauing arm'd his brest With all his friends he turn'd it then Then on the ships all Troy Like raw-flesh-nourisht Lions rusht and knew they did imploy Their powres to perfect Ioues high will who still their spirits enflam'd And quencht the Grecians one renownd the other often sham'd For Hectors glorie still he stood and euer went about To make him cast the fleet such fire as neuer should go our Heard Theâ—… foule petition and wisht in any wise The splendor of the burning ships might satiate his eyes From him yet the repulse was then to be on Troy conferd The honor of it giuen the Greeks which thinking on he stird With such addition of his spirit the spirit Hector bore To burne the fleet that of it selfe was hote enough before But now he far'd like Mars himselfe so brandishing his lance As through the deepe shades of a hill a raging fire should glance Held vp to all eyes by a hill about his lips a fome Hâ—…s 〈◊〉 appâ—… Stood as when th' Ocean is enrag'd his eyes were ouercome With feruour and resembl'd flames set off by his darke browes And from his temples his bright helme abhorred lightnings throwes For Ioue from foorth the sphere of starres to his state put his owne And all the blaze of both the hosts confin'd in him alone And all this was since after this he had not long to liue This lightning flew before his death which Pallas was to giue A small time thence and now prepar'd beneath the violence Of great Pelides In meane time his present eminence Thought all things vnder it and he still where he saw the stands Of greatest strength and brauest arm'd there he would proue his hands Or no where offering to breake through But that past all his powre Although his will * were past all theirs they stood him like a towre Conioynd so firme that as a rocke exceeding high and great And standing neare the hoarie sea beares many a boisterous threate Of high-voic't winds and billowes huge belcht on it by the stormes So stood the Greeks great Hectors charge nor stird theâ—… battellous formes He guirt in fire borne for the fleet still rusht at euery troope And fell vpon it like a waue high raisd that then doth stoope Simile Out from the clouds grows as it stoops with stormes then downe doth come And cuffe a ship when all her sides are hid in brackish some Strong gales still raging in her sailes her sailers minds dismaid Death being but little from their liues so Ioue-like Hector fraid And plyde the Greeks who knew not what would chance for all their guards And as the banefull king of beasts leapt in to Oxen heards Simile Fed in the meddowes of a fenne exceeding great the beasts In number infinite mongst whom their heardsmen wanting breasts To fight with Lions for the price of a blacke Oxes life He here and there iumps first and last in his bloodthirstie strife Chac't and assaulted and at length downe in the midst goes one And all the rest sperst through the fenne so now all Greece was gone So Hector in a flight from heauen vpon the Greciaâ—…s cast Turnd all their backs yet onely one his deadly lance laid fast Braue Mycenaus Periphes Cypraeus dearest sonne Who of the heauens-Queene-lou'd-king great 〈◊〉 wonne The grace to greet in Ambassie the strength of Hercules Was farre superiour to his sire in feete fight noblenes Of all the vertues and all those did such a wisedome guide As all Mycena could not match and this man dignified Stil making greater his renowne the state of Priams sonne For his vnhappie hastie foote as he addrest to runne Stucke in th' extreme ring of his shield that to his ankles reachâ—… And downe he vpwards fell his fall vp from the center fetcht A huge sound with his head and helme which Hectâ—… quickly spide Ranne in and in his worthy breast his lances head did hide And slue about him all his friends who could not giue him aide They grieu'd and of his god-like foe fled so extreme afraid And now amongst the nearest ships that first were drawne to shore The Greeks were driuen beneath whose sides behind them and before And into them they powr'd themselues and thence were driuen againe Vp to their tents and there they stood not daring to maintaine Their guards more outward but betwixt the bounds of Feare and Shame Chear'd still each other when th' old man that of the Grecian name Was cald the pillar euery man thus by his parents praid O friends be men and in your minds let others shames be weigh'd Know you haue friends besides your selues possessions parents wiues Nestor to the Greekes As well those that are dead to you as those ye loue with liues All sharing still their good or bad with yours by these I pray That are not present and the more should therefore make ye wey Their misse of you as yours of them that you will brauely stand And this forc't flight you haue sustain'd at length yet countermand Supplies of good words thus supplide the deeds and spirits of all And so at last Minerua clear'd the cloud that Ioue let fall Minerua cleares the darknes Ioue powred on the Grecian armie Before their eyes a mightie light flew beaming euery way As well about their ships as where their darts did hotest play Then saw they Hector great in armes and
my speare That for her ouerturn'd a Towne This rape he made of her And vsde me like a fugitiue an Inmate in a towne That is no citie libertine nor capable of their gowne But beare we this as out of date t is past nor must we still Feed anger in our noblest parts yet thus I haue my will As well as our great king of men for I did euer vow Neuer to cast off my disdaine till as it fals out now Their misse of me knockt at my fleet and told me in their cries I was reueng'd and had my wish of all my enemies And so of this repeate enough Take thou my fame-blaz'd armes And my fight-thirstie Myrmidons leade to these hote alarmes Whole clouds of Troians circle vs with hatefull eminence The Greeks shut in a little shore a sort of citizens Skipping vpon them all because their prowd eyes do not see The radiance of my helmet there whose beames had instantly Thrust backe and all these ditches fild with carrion of their flesh If Agamemnon had bene kind where now they fight as fresh As thus farre they had put at ease and at our tents contend And may for the repulsiue hand of Diomed doth not spend His raging darts there that their Death could fright out of our fleet Nor from that head of enmitie can my poore hearers meet The voice of great Atrides now now Hectors onely voyce Breakes all the aire about both hosts and with the very noise Bred by his lowd encouragements his forces fill the field And fight the poore Achaians downe But on put thou my shiâ—…ld Betwixt the fire-plague and our fleet rush brauely on and turne Warres tide as headlong on their throtes No more let them aiourne Our sweet-home-turning but obserue the charge I lay on thee To each least point that thy rul'd hand may highly honour me And get such glorie from the Greeks that they may send againe My most sweet wench and gifts to boote when thou hast cast a raine On these so head-strong citizens and forc't them from our fleet With which grace if the god of sounds thy kind egression greet Iupiter called the god of sounds for the chiefe sound his thunder Retire and be not tempted on with pride to see thy hand Raine slaughterd carkasses on earth to runne forth thy command As farre as Ilion left the gods that fauour Troy come forth To thy encounter for the Sunne much loues it and my worth In what thou suffer'st will be wrong'd that I would let my friend Assume an action of such weight without me and transcend His friends prescription do not then affect a further fight Then I may strengthen let the rest when thou hast done this right Performe the rest aO would to Ioue thou Pallas and thou Sunne That not a man housd vnderneath those towres of Ilion Nor any one of all the Greeks how infinite a summe Soeuer altogether make might liue vnouercome But onely we two scaping death might haue the thundring downe Of euery stone stucke in the wals of this so sacred towne Thus spake they onely twixt themselues And now the foe no more Could Aiax stand being so opprest with all the iron store The Troians powr'd on with whose darts and with Ioues will beside His powres were cloyd and his bright helme did deafning blowes abide His plume and all head* ornaments could neuer hang in rest His arme yet laboured vp his shield and hauing done their best They could not stirre him from his stand although he wrought it out With short respirings and with sweate that ceaslesse flow'd about His reeking lims no least time giuen to take in any breath Ill strengthned ill when one was vp another was beneath Now Muses you that dwell in heauen the dreadfull meane inspire That first enforc't the Grecian fleete to take in Troian fire First Hector with his huge brode sword cut off at setting on The head of Aiax Ashen lance which Aiax seeing gone And that he shooke a headlesse speare a little while vnware His warie spirits told him straight the hand of heauen was there And trembl'd vnder his conceipt which was bthat t was Ioues deed Who as he pold off his darts heads so sure he had decreed That all the counsels of their warre he would polle off like it And giue the Troians victorie so trusted he his wit And left his darts And then the ship was heapt with horrid brands Ofkindling fire which instantly was seene through all the strands In vnextinguishible flames that all the ship embrac't And then Achilles beate his thighes cryed out Patroclus haste Make way with horse I see at fleet a fire of fearfull rage Arme arme lest all our fleet it fire and all our powre engage Arme quickly I le bring vp the troopes To these so dreadfull warres Patroclus in Achilles armes enlightned all with starres And richly ameld all haste made he wore his sword his shield His huge-plum'd helme and two such speares as he could nimbly wield But the most fam'd Achilles speare big solid full of weight He onely left of all his armes for that farre past the might Of any Greeke to shake but his Achilles onely iâ—…e Shooke that huge weapon that was giuen by Chyron to his sire Cut from the top of Pelion to be Heroes deaths His steeds Automedon straight ioyn'd like whom no man that breaths Next Peleus sonne Patroclus lou'd for like him none so great Automedon friend to Patro clus and mana ger of Achilles horses He found in faith at euery fight nor to out looke a threat Automedon did therefore guide for him Achilles steeds Xanthus and Balius swift as wind begotten by the seeds Of Zephyr and the Harpie borne Pordarge in a meade Close to the wauie Ocean where that fierce Harpye feade Automedon ioyn'd these before and with the hindmost geres He fastn'd famous Pedasus whom from the massakers Made by Achilles when he tooke Eetions wealthie towne He brought and though of mortall race yet gaue him the renowne To follow his immortall horse And now before his tents Himselfe had seene his Myrmidons in all habiliments Of dreadfull warre And when ye see vpon a mountaine bred A simile most liuely expressiuâ—… A den of Wolues about whose hearts vnmeasur'd strengths are fed New come from currie of a Stagge their iawes all blood-besmeard And when from some blacke water-fount they altogether herd There hauing plentifully lapt with thin and thrust out tongs The top and clearest of the spring go belching from their lungs The clotterd gore looke dreadfully and entertaine no dread Their bellies gaunt all taken vp with being so rawly fed Then say that such in strength and looke were great Achilles men Now orderd for the dreadfull fight and so with all them then Their Princes and their Chiefes did show about their Generals friend His friend and all about himselfe who chiefly did intend The powers Achilles brought to Troy Th'embattelling of horse
must vndergo the ground I le keepe no funerall lawes O my Patroclus for thy Corse before I hither bring Achilles to Patroclus body The armes of Hector and his head to thee for offering Twelue youths the most renown'd of Troy I le sacrifise beside Before thy heape of funerall to thee vnpacifide In meane time by our crooked sternes lye drawing teares from me And round about thy honour'd Corse these dames of Dardanie And Ilion with the ample breasts whom our long speares and powres And labours purchast from the rich and by-vs-ruind towres And cities strong and populous with diuers-languag'd men Shall kneele and neither day nor night be licenst to abstaine From solemne watches their toil'd eyes held ope with endlesse teares This passion past he gaue command to his neare souldiers To put a Tripod to the fire to cleanse the festred gore From off the person They obeyd and presently did powre Fresh water in it kindl'd wood and with an instant flame The belly of the Tripod girt till fires hote qualitie came Vp to the water Then they washt and fild the mortall wound With wealthy oyle of nine yeares old then wrapt the body round In largenesse of a fine white sheete and put it then in bed When all watcht all night with their Lord and spent sighes on the dead Then Ioue askt Iuno if at length she had suffisde her splene 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Achilles being wonne to armes or if she had not beâ—…e The naturall mother of the Greeks she did so still preferre Their quarrell She incenst askt why he still was tanting her For doing good to those she lou'd since man to man might show Kind offices though thrall to death and though they did not know Halfe such deepe counsels as disclosd beneath her farre-seeing state 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 She reigning Queene of goddesses and being ingenerate Of one stocke with himselfe besides the state of being his wife And must her wrath and ill to Troy continue such a strife From time to time twixt him and her This priuate speech they had And now the siluer-footed Queene had her ascension made Theâ—… enters the Court of Vulâ—…n To that incorruptible house that starry golden court Of fiery Vulcan beautifull amongst th' immortall sort Which yet the lame god built himselfe she found him in a sweate About his bellowes and in haste had twentie Tripods beate To set for stooles about the sides of his well-builded hall To whose feete little wheeles of gold he put to go withall And enter his rich dining roome alone their motion free And backe againe go out alone miraculous to see And thus much he had done of them yet handles were to adde For which he now was making studs And while their fashion had Employment of his skilfull hand bright Thetis was come neare Whom first faire well-haird Charis saw that was the nuptiall fere Of famous Vulcan who the hand of Thetis tooke and said Why faire-train'd lou'd and honour'd Dame are we thus visited Charis the wife of Vulcan to Thetis By your kind presence You I thinke were neuer here before Come neare that I may banquet you and make you visite more She led her in and in a chaire of siluer being the fruite Of Vulcans hand she made her sit a footstoole of a suite Apposing to her Cristall feete and cald the god of fire For Thetis was arriu'd she said and entertain'd desire Of some grace that his art might grant Thetis to me said he Vulcan to Charis Is mightie and most reuerend as one that nourisht me When Griefe consum'd me being cast from heauen by want of shame In my proud mother who because she brought me forth so lame Would haue me made away and then had I bene much distrest Had Thetis and Eurynome in eithers siluer breast Not rescu'd me Eurynome that to her father had Reciprocall Oceanus nine yeares with them I made A number of well-arted things round bracelets bâ—…ons braue Whistles and Carquenets my forge stood in a hollow Caue About which murmuring with fome th'vnmeasur'd Ocean Was euer beating my abode knowne noâ—… to god nor man But Thetis and Euryâ—…one and they would see me still They were my louing guardians now then the starry hill And our particular roofe thus grac't with bright-hair'd Thetis here It fits me alwaies to repay a recompence as deare To her thoughts as my life to me Haste Charis and appose Some daintie guest-rites to our friend while I my bellowes lose From fire and lay vp all my tooles Then from an anuile rose Th'vnweildy Monster halted downe and all awry he went He tooke his bellowes from the fire and euery instrument Lockt safe vp in a siluer chest Then with a sponge he drest His face all ouer necke and hands and all his hairie breast Put on his Cote his Scepter tooke and then went halting forth Handmaids of gold attending him resembling in all worth Vulcans attendants Liuing yong damzels fild with minds and wisedome and were train'd In all immortall ministrie virtue and voice contain'd And mou'd with voluntarie powres and these still waited on Their fierie Soueraigne who not apt to walke sate neare the throne Of faire-hair'd Thetis tooke her hand and thus he courted her For what affaire ô faire-train'd Queene reuerend to me and deare Vulcan to Thetis Is our Court honord with thy state That hast not heretofore Perform'd this kindnesse Speake thy thoughts thy suite can be no more Then my mind giues me charge to grant can my powre get it wrought Or that it haue not onely powre of onely act in thought She thus O Vulcan is there one of all that are of heauen Thâ—…t to Vulcan That in her neuer-quiet mind Saturnius hath giuen So much affliction as to me whom onely he subiects Of all the Sea-Nymphs to a man and makes me beare th' affects Of his fraile bed and all against the freedome of my will And he worne to his roote with age from him another ill Ariseth to me Iupâ—…ter you know hath giuen a sonne The excellenst of men to me whose education On my part well hath answered his owne worth hauing growne As in a fruitfull soyle a tree that puts not vp alone His body to a naked height but ioyntly giues his growth A thousand branches yet to him so short a life I brought That neuer I shall see him more return'd to Peleus Court And all that short life he hath spent in most vnhappy sort For first he wonne a worthy Dame and had her by the hands Of all the Grecians yet this Dame Atrides countermands For which in much disdaine he mourn'd and almost pin'd away And yet for this wrong he receiu'd some honor I must say The Greeks being shut vp at their ships not sufferd to aduance A head out of their batterd sternes and mightie suppliance By all their graue men hath bene made gifts honors all proposde For his reflection yet he still kept
godlike man endeuour'd to maintaine His charge on them that kept the flood and charg'd as he would trie If all the gods inhabiting the brode vnreached skie Could dant his spirit so oft still the rude waues charg'd him round Rampt on his shoulders from whose depth his strength spirit would bound Vp to the free aire vext in soule And now the vehement flood Made faint his knees so ouerthwart his waues were they withstood All the denyed dust which he wisht and now was faine to crie Casting his eyes to that brode heauen that late he long'd to trie And said O Ioue how am I left No god vouchsafes to free Achilles comâ—… to the gods in 〈◊〉 exâ—… Me miserable man helpe now and after torture me With any outrage Would to heauen Hector the mightiest Bred in this region had imbrew'd his iauelin in my breast That strong might fall by strong Where now weake waters luxurie Must make my death blush one heauen-borne shall like a hog-herd die Drown'd in a durtie torrents rage Yet none of you in heauen I blame for this but she alone by whom this life was giuen That now must die thus She would still delude me with her tales Affirming Phoebus shafts should end within the Troian walls My curst beginning In this straight Neptune and Pallas flew To fetch him off In mens shapes Both close to his danger drew And taking both both hands thus spake the shaker of the world Pelides do not stirre a foot nor these waues prowdly curld Neptune to Achilles Against thy bold breast feare a iote thou hast vs two thy friends Pallas and he rescuing him Neptune and Pallas Ioue himselfe approuing th'aide we lend T is nothing as thou fearst with fate she will not see thee drown'd This height shall soone downe thine owne eyes shall see it set aground Be rulde then wee le aduise thee well take not thy hand away From putting all indifferently to all that it can lay Vpon the Troians till the walles of haughtie Ilion Conclude all in a desperate flight and when thou hast set gone The soule of Hector turne to fleet our hands shall plant a wreath Of endlesse glorie on thy browes Thus to the free from death Both made retreate He much impeld by charge the godheads gaue The field that now was ouercome with many a boundlesse waue He ouercame on their wild breasts they tost the carkasses And armes of many a slaughterd man And now the winged knees Of this great Captaine bore aloft against the flood he flies With full assault nor could that god make shrinke his rescu'd thies Nor shrunke the flood but as his foe grew powrefull he grew mad Xanthus to Simois Thrust vp a billow to the skie and cristall Simois bad To his assistance Simois Hoe brother out he cried Come adde thy current and resist this man halfe deified Or Ilion he will pul downe straite the Troians cannot stand A minute longer Come assist and instantly command All fountaines in thy rule to rise all torrents to make in And stuffe thy billowes with whose height engender such a din With trees torne vp and iustling stones as so immane a man May shrinke beneath vs whose powre thriues do my powre all it can He dares things fitter for a god But nor his forme nor force Nor glorious armes shall profit him all which and his dead corse I vow to rowle vp in my hands Nay burie in my mud Nay in the very sincks of Troy that pour'd into my flood Shall make him drowning worke enough and being drown'd I le set A fort of such strong filth on him that Greece shall neuer get His bones from it There there shall stand Achilles sepulcher And saue a buriall for his friends This Furie did transferre His high-ridg'd billowes on the Prince roring with blood and fome And carkasses The crimson streame did snatch into her wombe Surprisd Achilles and her height stood held vp by the hand Of Ioue himselfe Then Iuno cried and cald to countermand This watry Deitie the god that holds command in fire Affraid lest that gulf-stomackt flood would satiate his desire On great Achilles Mulciber my best-lou'd sonne she cried Iuno to Vulâ—…an Rouse thee for all the gods conceiue this flood thus amplified Is raisd at thee and shewes as if his waues would drowne the skie And put out all the sphere of fire haste helpe thy Emperie Light flames deepe as his pits Our selfe the West wind and the South Will call out of the sea and breathe in eithers full-charg'd mouth A storme t'enrage thy fires gainst Troy which shall in one exhal'd Blow flames of sweate about their browes and make their armors skâ—…d Go thou then and gainst these winds rise make worke on Xanthus shore With setting all his trees on fire and in his owne breast poure A feruor that shall make it burne nor let faire words or threats Auert thy furie till I speake and then subdue the heates Of all thy Blazes Mulciber prepar'd a mightie fire First in the field vsde burning vp the bodies that the ire Of great Achilles reft of soules the quite-drown'd field it dried And shrunke the flood vp And as fields that haue bene long time cloide With catching wether when their corne lies on the gauill heape Are with a constant North wind dried with which for comfort leape Similâ—… Their hearts that sow'd them So this field was dride the bodies burn'd And euen the flood into a fire as bright as day was turn'd Elmes willowes tamrisks were enflam'd the lote trees sea-grasse reeds And rushes with the galingale rootes of which abundance breeds About the sweet flood all were fir'd the gliding fishes flew Vpwards in flames the groueling Eeeles crept vpright all which slew Wise Vulcans vnresisted spirit The flood out of a flame Cried to him Ceasse ô Mulciber no deitie can tame Xanthus out of a flaming whirlepit to Vulcan Thy matchlesse virtue nor would I since thou art thus hote striue Ceasse then thy strife let Thetis sonne with all thy wisht hast driue Euen to their gates these Ilians what toucheth me their aide Or this Contention Thus in flames the burning riuer prayde And as a Caldron vnderput with store of fire and wrought With boyling of a well-fed Brawne vp leapes his waue aloft Simile Bauins of sere wood vrging it and spending flames apace Till all the Caldron be engirt with a consuming blaze So round this flood burn'd and so sod his sweete and tortur'd streames Nor could flow forth bound in the fumes of Vulcans fierie beames Who then not mou'd his mothers ruth by all his meanes he craues And askt why Vulcan should inuade and so torment his waues Past other floods when his offence rose not to such degree As that of other gods for Troy and that himselfe would free Her wrath to it if she were pleasde and prayd her that her sonne Might be reflected adding this that he would
vaile Trembling about her so she shooke Phoebus lest Troy should faile Before her Fate flew to her wals the other deities flew Vp to Olympus some enrag'd some glad Achilles slew Both men and horse of Ilion And as a citie fir'd Casts vp a heate that purples heauen Clamors and shriekes expir'd Simil◅ In euery corner toile to all to many miserie Which fire th' incensed gods let fall Achilles so let flie Rage on the Troians toiles and shriekes as much by him imposde Old Priam in his sacred towre stood and the flight disclosde Of his forc't people all in rout and not a stroke return'd By fled Resistance His eyes saw in what a furie burnd The sonne of Peleus and downe went weeping from the towre Priams amaze at Achilles To all the port-guards and their Chiefes told of his flying powre Commanding th'opening of the ports but not to let their hands Stirre from them for Aeacides would poure in with his bands Destruction comes O shut them straight when we are in he praid For not our walls I feare will checke this violent man This said Off lifted they the barres the ports hal'd open and they gaue Safetie her entrie with the host which yet they could not saue Had not Apollo sallied out and strooke Destruction Brought by Achilles in their neckes backe when they right vpon The ports bore all drie dustie spent and on their shoulders rode Rabide Achilles with his lance still Glorie being the gode That prickt his Furie Then the Greeks high-ported Ilion Had seiz'd had not Apollo stird Antenors famous sonne Diuine Agenor and cast in an vndertaking spirit Agenor spirited by Apollo To his bold bosome and himselfe stood by to strengthen it And keepe the heauie hand of death from breaking in The god Stood by him leaning on a beach and couer'd his abode With night-like darknesse yet for all the spirit he inspir'd When that great citie-racers force his thoughts strooke he retir'd Stood and went on A world of doubts still falling in his way When angry with himselfe he said Why suffer I this stay In this so strong need to go on If like the rest I flie T is his best weapon to giue chace being swift and I should die Agenors ◅scourse with himselfe Like to a coward If I stand I fall too These two wayes Please not my purpose I would liue What if I suffer these Still to be routed and my feete affoording further length Passe all these fields of Ilion till Idas syluane strength And steepe heights shroud me and at Euen refresh me in the flood And turne to Ilion O my soule why drown'st thou in the blood Of these discourses If this course that talkes of further flight I giue my feete his feete more swift haue more ods Get he sight Of that passe I passe least for pace and length of pace his thies Will stand out all men Meete him then my steele hath faculties Of powre to pierce him his great breast but one soule holds and that Death claimes his right in all men say but he holds speciall state In Ioues high bountie that 's past man that euery way will hold Io◅es bountie serues all men all wayes And that serues all men euery way This last heart made him bold To stand Achilles and stird vp a mightie mind to blowes And as a Panther hauing heard the hounds traile doth disclose Simile Her freckl'd forhead and stares forth from out some deepe-growne wood To trie what strength dares her abroad and when her fierie blood The hounds haue kindl'd no quench serues of loue to liue or fea◅e Though strooke though wounded though quite through she feels the mortal speare But till the mans close strength she tries or strowes earth with his dart She puts her strength out So it far'd with braue Agenors hart And till Achilles he had prou'd no thoughts no deeds once stird His fixed foote To his broad breast his round shield he preferd And vp his arme went with his aime his voice out with this crie Thy hope is too great Peleus sonne this day to shew thine eye Troys Ilion at thy foote O foole the Greeks with much more woes Agenor to Achilles More then are sufferd yet must buy great Ilions ouerthrowes We are within her many strong that for our parents sakes Our wiues and children will saue Troy and thou though he that makes Thy name so terrible shalt make a sacrifice to her With thine owne ruines Thus he threw nor did his iauelin erre But strooke his foes leg neare his knee the feruent steele did ring Against his tin greaues and leapt backe The fires strong-handed king Gaue vertue of repulse and then Aeacides assail'd Diuine Agenor but in vaine Apollos powre preuail'd And rapt Agenor from his reach whom quietly he plac't Without the skirmish casting mists to saue from being chac't His tenderd person and he gone to giue his souldiers scape The deitie turn'd Achilles still by putting on the shape Of him he thirsted euermore he fed his eye and fled And he with all his knees pursu'd So cunningly he led That still he would be neare his reach to draw his rage with hope Farre from the conflict To the flood maintaining still the scope Of his attraction In meane time the other frighted powres Came to the citie comforted when Troy and all her towres Strooted with fillers none would stand to see who staid without Who scapt and who came short the ports cleft to receiue the rout That pour'd it selfe in Euery man was for himselfe Most fleete Most fortunate who euer scapt his head might thanke his feete The end of the one and twentieth Booke THE XXII BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT ALl Troians housd but Hector onely he Keepes field and vndergoes th'extremitie Aeacides assaulting Hector flies Minerua stayes him he resists and dies Achilles to his chariot doth enforce And to the nauall station drags his corse Another Argument Hector in Chi to death is done By powre of Peleus angry sonn◅ THus chac't like Hinds the Ilians tooke time to drinke and eate And to refresh them getting off the mingl'd dust and sweate And good strōg rāpires on in stead The Greeks thē cast their shields Aloft their shoulders and now Fate their neare inuasion yeelds Of those tough wals Her deadly hand compelling Hectors stay Before Troy at the Scaean ports Achilles still made way At Phoebus who his bright head turn'd and askt Why Peleus sonne Apollo to Achilles Pursu'st thou being a man a god thy rage hath neuer done Acknowledge not thine eyes my state esteemes thy mind no more Thy honor in the chase of Troy but puts my chace before Their vtter conquest they are all now housde in Ilion While thou hunt'st me What wishest thou my bloud will neuer runne On thy proud iauelin It is thou repli'd Aeacides That putst dishonor thus on me thou worst of deities Achilles to Apollo Thou
fauourers If one the cup giues t is not long the wine he finds in it Scarce moists his palate if he chance to gaine the grace to sit Suruiuing fathers sonnes repine vse contumelies strike Bid leaue vs where 's thy fathers place He weeping with dislike Retires to me To me ahlas Astyanax is he Borne to these miseries He that late fed on his fathers knee To whom all knees bow'd daintiest fare apposde him and when Sleepe Lay on his temples his cries still'd his heart euen laid in steepe Of all things precious a soft bed a carefull nurâ—…s armes Tooke him to guardiance but now as huge a world of harmes Lies on his suffrance now thou wantst thy fathers hand to friend O my Astyanax O my Lord thy hand that did defend These gates of Ilion these long walls by thy arme measur'd still Amply and onely yet at fleete thy naked corse must â—…ll Vile wormes when dogs are fatiate farre from thy parents care Farre from those funerall ornaments that thy mind would prepare So sodaine being the chance of armes euer expecting death Andromache wrought many funerall ornaments for Hector before his death Which taske though my heart would not serue t' employ my hands beneath I made my women yet performe Many and much in price Were those integuments they wrought t' adorne thy Exequies Which since they flie thy vse thy Corse not laid in their attire Thy sacrifice they shall be made these hands in mischieuous fire Shall vent their vanities And yet being consecrate to thee They shall be kept for citizens and their faire wiues to see Thus spake shee weeping all the dames endeuouring to cheare Her desert state fearing their owne wept with her teare for teare The end of the two and twentieth Booke THE XXIII BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. THE ARGVMENT A Chilles orders Iusts of exequies For his Patroclus and doth sacrifise Twelue Troian Princes most lou'd hounds and horse And other offerings to the honour'd Corse He institutes besides a funerall game Where Diomed for horse-race wins the fame For foote Vlysses others otherwise Striue and obtaine and end the exequies Another Argument Psi sings the rites of the decease Ordaind by great Aeacides THus mourn'd all Troy but when at fleet and Hellespontus shore The Greeks arriu'd each to his ship onely the Conqueror Kept vndisperst his Myrmidons and â—…aid Lou'd countrimen Achilles to his Myrmidons Disioyne not we chariots and horse but bearing hard our reine With state of both march soft and close and mourne about the corse T is proper honour to the dead Then take we out our horse When with our friends kinds woe our hearts haue felt delight to do A virtuous soule right and then sup This said all full of woe Circl'd the Corse Achilles led and thrise about him close All bore their goodly coted horse Amongst all Thetis rose And stirr'd vp a delight in griefe till all their armes with teares And all the sands were wet so much they lou'd that Lord of Feares Then to the center fell the Prince and putting in the breast Of his slaine friend his slaughtring hands began to all the rest Words to their teares Reioyce said he O my Patroclus Thou Achilles to the person of Patroâ—…lus Courted by Dis now now I pay to thy late ouerthrow All my reuenges vow'd before Hector lies slaughterd here Dragd at my chariot and our dogs shall all in peeces teare His hated lims Twelue Troian youths borne of their noblest straines I tooke aliue and yet enrag'd will emptie all their vaines Of vitall spirits sacrifisde before thy heape of fire This said a worke vnworthy him he put vpon his ire And trampl'd Hector vnder foote at his friends feet The rest Disarm'd tooke horse from chariot and all to sleepe addrest At his blacke vessell Infinite were those that rested there Himselfe yet sleepes not now his spirits were wrought about the chere Fit for so high a funerall About the steele vsde then Oxen in heapes lay bellowing preparing food for men Bleating of sheepe and goates fild aire numbers of white-tooth'd swine Swimming in fat lay sindging there the person of the slaine Was girt with slaughter All this done all the Greeke kings conuaid Achilles to the king of men his rage not yet allaid For his Patroclus Being arriu'd at Agamemnons tent Himselfe bad Heralds put to fire a Caldron and present The seruice of it to the Prince to trie if they could win His pleasure to admit their paines to cleanse the blood sok't in About his conquering hands and browes Not by the king of heauen He swore The lawes of friendship damne this false-heart licence giuen Achilles ouerhearing vsed this abruption To men that lose friends not a drop shall touch me till I put Patroclus in the funerall pile before these curles be cut His tombe erected T is the last of all care I shall take While I consort the carefull yet for your entreaties sake And though I lothe food I will eate but early in the morne Atrides vse your strict command that lodes of wood be borne To our design'd place all that fits to light home such a one As is to passe the shades of Death that fire enough set gone His person quickly from our eyes and our diuerted men May plie their businesse This all eares did freely entertaine And found obseruance Then they supt with all things fit and all Repair'd to tents and rest The friend the shores maritimall Sought for his bed and found a place faire and vpon which plaide Achilles retreate from company to the seas short The murmuring billowes There his lims to rest not sseepe he laid Heauily sighing Round about silent and not too neare Stood all his Myrmidons when straite so ouer-labour'd were His goodly lineaments with chace of Hector that beyond His resolution not to sleepe Sleepe cast his fodaine bond Ouer his sense and losde his care Then of his wretched friend The soule appear'd at euery part the forme did comprehend Patroclus appeares to Achilles sleeping His likenesse his faire eyes his voice his stature euery weed His person wore it fantased and stood aboue his head This sad speech vttering Dost thou sleepe Aeacides am I Forgotten of thee Being aliue I found thy memorie Euer respectfull but now dead thy dying loue abates Interre me quickly enter me in Plutoes iron gates For now the soules the shades of men fled from this being beate My spirit from rest and stay my much desir'd receipt Amongst soules plac't beyond the flood Now euery way I erre About this brode-dor'd hoâ—…se of Dis. O helpe then to preferre My soule yet further here I mourne but had the funerall fire Consum'd my bodie neuer more my spirit should retire From hels low region from thence soules neuer are retriu'd To talke with friends here nor shall I a hatefull fate depriu'd My being here that at my birth was fixt and to such fate Euen thou ô god-like