Ten books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, by Arthur Hall Esquire — Iliad. Book 1-10. English. Hall

Ten books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, by Arthur Hall Esquire — Iliad. Book 1-10. English. Hall

Table of contents

Title page

To the right VVorshipfull his very good friend Sir Thomas Cicill Knight A. H. wisheth all prosperitie.

¶ The first Booke.

¶ The seconde Booke.

¶ The Cataloge of the Grecian Princes, and of their nauie that came to the siege of Troye, and also of the Troyan Dukes, and forraine Kings who came to Priams ayde: Translated out of the Latine.

¶ The third Booke.

¶ The fourth Booke.

¶ The fifth Booke.

¶ The sixth Booke.

¶ The seauenth Booke.

¶ The eight Booke.

¶ The ninth Booke.

¶ The tenth Booke.

§

§

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TEN BOOKS of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, By Arthur Hall Esquire.

AT LONDON Imprinted by Ralph Nevvberie. 1581.

Cum Priuilegio.

To the right VVorshipfull his very good friend Sir Thomas Cicill Knight A. H. wisheth all prosperitie.

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ABout two or three yeres past (good Knight) ransacking diuers olde and aside cast Papers of small moment: I found some fragments of Homers Iliades translated out of Frenche verse into Englishe metre at such time as I groped thereat, being a Scholer with you in my L. your fathers house: which when I had considered, & founde of as small reckening as the rest they were stored vp with, which was in truth none at all, I was about to bequeath thē to the fire. But being either better or worse aduised, for in your allowing & disallowing of this my proceeding consisteth the same: I tooke them againe in hand, & not onely as my leasure & capacitie did serue me, somwhat corrected my first Trāslatiō, which God knows needes euē now much meriding, and therefore in likelihood verie roughly hewed at the first: but also proceeded to finishe vp tenne whole Bookes. The which hauing performed this yeere, I haue till nowe rested in diuers myndes touching the Publication of them. In which warre with my selfe, I first did deale with mine owne want of abilitie to write any thing, much lesse to translate, and that out of verse into the same kinde, in my opinion the hardest matter belonges to the penne. Also I founde alwayes my selfe in such disquiet of minde, by meanes of some practise of my contraries (I must say vndeserued by me) such vexation in Lawe, and carefull turmoyle to preserue somewhat to my poore house, in a manner ouerthrowne by my vngouerned youth: that I was fully perswaded I coulde not goe thorowe well with my desire, being so harried otherwayes, for your selfe best knowes, that to a Poet there is no greater [Page] poison, than vexation of sprite. Againe, when I considered of the ripe wittes of this age, and had read diuerse workes so exquisitely done in this kinde by our owne Nation. As the trauaile of M Barnabe Googe in Palingenius, the learned and painefull translation of part of Seneca by M. Iasper Heywood, the excellent and laudable labour of M. Arthur Golding, making Ouid speake English in no worse Termes, than the Authors owne gifts gaue him grace to write in Latine, the worthy workes of that noble Gentleman my L. of Buckhurst, the pretie and pythie conceites of M. George Gascoyne, and others in great number, no more to be liked than praised, and not so much to be praised, as to be recorded for their eternall commendation. These persons, whose bookes I am not worthy to carie, when I minded, I wished I had beene otherwise occupied, I condemned my trauaile, I scratched my head as men doe, when they are greatly barred of their willes. But when I lighted on M. Thomas Phaers Virgilian Englishe, quoth I, what haue I done? am I become senslesse, to trauaile to be laughed at, to presume, and to be scorned, and to put forth my selfe and not to be receiued: for I was so abashed looking vpon M. Phaers Heroicall Virgill, and my Satiricall Homer, as I cried out, enuying Virgils prosperitie, who gathered of Homer, that he had fallen into the oddest mans hands, that euer England bred. And lamented poore blind Homers case, who gathered of no body, to fall to me poore blinde soule, poorely and blindly to learne him to talke our mother Tongue. These stoppes laide before me, and considered, made me for a while cast my papers behinde mee. But as it is a propertie of euerie man soone to finde a reason to will him proceede with his owne humour, be it neuer so vnreasonably grounded, in like case fell it with me: for these were my Arguments against these sound persuasions obiected to staie me. First I remembred that about. 18. or. 19. yeeres past walking with M, Richard Askame, a verie good Grecian, and a familiar acquaintaunce of Homer, & reciting vpon occasion of talke betweene vs, certaine verses Englished by me of the said Author, he animated me much, with great entreatie to goe forwarde with my begun enterprise. The like did also about that time the erst named M. Iasper Heywood, a man then better learned than fortunate, and since more fortunate than he hath well bestowed (as it is thought) the giftes God and Nature hath liberally lent him. Secondly, I suppose also that indifferent Iudges will say, I haue my wares at the second hande, as by Fraunce out of Greece, bicause I am not able to trauaile so farre for them, not vnderstanding [Page] the language. Thirdly for asmuch as I did assure my selfe (good knight) that you, to whom I haue long vowed my labour, would regard my good will, more than the worthinesse of my Translation, which if you doe. I haue with a most contented minde made holiday. And wholy presuming therof, it hath made me blind Bayerd, as bold as euer blind Iade was: And that in putting my simple skill to the carping iudgement of so many as well learned, as vnskilfull heads: which latter sort, though they be as blind as my milhorse with neuer an eye, no doubt wil be busier to iudge colours, & thinke they do it better then Poliphemus could, who had one perfect eye right in his forehead. Well, put case they do mislike, what helpe? If I thought I should in any Action please all men, I were fondly minded. And if I would goe about to content ech ones humour, I were meeter to carie Esopes Asse, than to be wisely occupied. My Author that most famous Poet had Momus and Zoilus, to take exceptions, & picke quarels to his bookes, & that at such time, as no mā could iustly commend them enough. I may not thinke the Apprentise to be greater than his Maister, neither yet the Translator to be compared to the first writer, wherefore for such persons the care is taken. As touching the Author himselfe, I know you shall finde him worthy the Englishing, though not worthily done. What fruites are to be gathered out of him, is lost labour to rehearse, your owne iudgement, whē you haue read him, will tell you more than I can, who haue dealt no small time with him. That happie conquerour Alexander the great, would not sleepe without him vnder his beddes head. He teacheth the dueties of many no small Babes, and in such sort as it shall not repent any man of his time imployed to reade him, as I haue sayde you can best iudge, and therefore for that here an ende. Some men haue condemned him heretofore, and doe, for his fonde fabling of the Gods, truely I cannot allowe them therein, for I am not persuaded his beliefe was so grosse touching them, but that he obserued a Poeticall manner of discourse, in citing so often the heauenly powers, as then they were taken, and that he had some peculiar meaning therein, which I conceyue in my opinion, and you I doubte not but will finde. In the latter ende of the Frenche seconde Booke, mention is made of the Cataloge of the Grecian Princes, that came from all partes to the besieging of Troy, and of the Troyan leaders and diuerse forreine Kings and Captaynes, that brought their people to the ayde of Priamus state: but looking to haue the same followe in the ende of th [...] sayde Booke, I perceyue the Frenche Translator [Page] hath omitted it [...] yet considering howe necessarie the recitall of the same is, I fought out the Latine, and there founde it, the which I haue also added in his place. I earnestly beseeche you to take in good part my good meaning, which I alwayes haue, and doe beare toward you, bound therto, not onely by that honourable and rare fauour of my L. your father, euen from my childhood dayly continued, yea maugre of such my contraries, who euer wanted good disposition to loue worthily his Lordshippes vertues. and neuer wanted good will crosse me with carelesse extremitie. To rehearse the particulers of your owne friendships towardes me, will aske long time, they are so diuers and many, and in this place not so needefull to repeate, as needefull in all other places for me to studie howe I may requite some part of them. To blase abroade the blessings of minde and otherwise, which God so aboundantly hath bestowed on you, and makes me the more to honour you, will lesse content you to heare your owne praise, than all the world well knowes you worthy thereof. And therefore wishing you all prosperitie, I committe you to him, who is best able, and no doubt will sende you enough.

Yours most assured to commaund. A. H.

¶ The first Booke.

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I Thée beséech, O Goddesse milde, the hatefull hate to plaine,

Proposi [...] of the A [...] thor. v [...]ith innocation of hi [...] M [...]

Whereby Achilles was so wroong, and grewe in suche disdaine,

That thousandes of the Gréekish Dukes, in hard and heauie plight,

To Plutoes Courte did yéelde their soules, and gaping lay vpright,

Those sencelesse trunckes of buriall voide, by them erst gaily borne,

By rauening [...]rres, and [...]rreine soules, in [...]ces to be torne.

Gainst Agamemn of Ioue his [...]rnth, s [...]kindled was the fire,

That he Achil [...]o déere, and crosse s [...] déeply did conspire.

O Lady shew what God beganne this hateful quarrell thus,

It was the heire of Latona, the gallant gay Phoebus,

Who had to sire that mighty God, who down his lightning throws,

Narta [...].

With stormes of haile, and th [...]ercl aps: the God incholler grows,

That Agamemn roughly a suite h [...] Chryses Priest res [...].

In Gréekish [...]p his plages he flings, their state which [...]retly bruso.

At that time Chryses did repayre vnto the shippes, that lay

At ancker before Troy besiegde, in the Porte of Sig [...],

The comming of Chryses to the Greeks ca [...].

With verdant crown, wherewith Apoll his séemely head had clad,

With scepter eke, with things of price, which he for ransome had,

His da [...]ghter captiue helde by Gréekes by worth hir home to buy,

To both Atrides and other kings, he breakes thus humbly:

O Princes greate, the loftie Gods adorde in earth belowe

Chryses [...]o Agamemnon, Me [...] laus, & [...] the [...] [...]

Doe sende you lucke, this Priams towne to sacke and ouerthrowe,

And loden with the troia [...] wealth, yée sale [...]o Greece retire:

I sp [...]ie in your heartes haue place, if willing yée desire

To reuer [...]te thy God I serue, if féeble aged dayes,

A worthy [...]ee; Nabilitie may temper any wayes,

Let my mishap obtaine, I pray Chryses so deare to me,

O Kings accept these goodly giftes for raunsome here that be.

His sute was taken in that sorte, that al the Gréekes did cry

[...] is gifts, to y [...]we Chryses, and vse h [...]n reuerently.

Agamemn was so far [...]due with this so gentle maide,

[Page] Such sutes he coulde not he abide, to Chryses grimme hée saide,

Agamemnō aunsvveres Ohryses & threatens hin [...].

Shaking alofte his ster [...] head: O hatefull dotard thou,

Henceforth in these quatters againe take héede I sée not you.

For no scepter, not Apolloes, shal hole my hand from thee;

Thinke not efts [...]ne Chryseis [...]o haue, [...]ie shall remaine with m [...]

In C [...]ry [...] t [...]y Coun [...]y [...], [...] w [...]ll t [...] [...]nne and [...]rght,

And bed to make, till [...], who [...] [...]arie age shal light.

Hence [...] [...], [...]oue [...]se [...], I reade thou take good heeds,

If safe and sounde vn [...] your [...] homward meane to speede.

The [...]ood olde man thu [...] th [...]led here, g [...]uts pla [...]e, Both not a [...]de

He hides his gr [...], [...] [...]y [...] [...]ines [...].

Bu [...] [...] i [...] [...], [...] his [...],

With prayers: [...] Gods [...].

Apollo [...] he [...] [...]d [...], wh [...] rul [...] the I [...] [...]iue,

Chryses prayer to Apollo.

Cilla, Chrisa, Smi [...]he, Te [...], with [...],

O Phoebus he [...] my [...], [...] Gréens,

T [...] [...] I h [...]e [...] had [...]

Thy holy [...] hath [...] with [...] th [...]e,

[...] whe [...] [...] [...]geith [...]

On these [...] p [...]re sire haue [...]ay to so [...]w,

To plague ye wro [...]g, [...] [...]que the [...] the wounding of thy [...]ow.

He pr [...]d [...]thus [...] [...]are, [...] [...]ing w [...]ght t [...] grounde

Apollo de scendes to, the ca [...]pe, and sends therein a plague.

Be g [...]te with [...] h [...]he g [...]e [...]endful T [...]d,

Lea [...]g [...] his [...], [...]o [...]ad [...],

He drawes the [...] [...]y [...]n the [...] [...]fte he losde

The noi [...]as s [...]ge, the loose was sm [...]le, the shot so far it [...],

The [...]anked Mo [...]es they [...]e, and Dogs [...] and running fit.

But sinc [...] the [...]aely [...]ehe sent [...] t [...]e [...] h [...]st,

[...]seriptio [...] Greekes pestilence.

In numbers [...]uge th [...] [...] he [...] they [...]st

Hard by the shippes ( [...] at) the [...],

Nine dayes Apollo ven [...] and sho [...], me them with [...] [...]sped.

But puissant [...] [...]desseth [...] (of [...] [...]santor true

During this [...]ar) of the in hard [...] p [...]re ganne to [...].

Achilles assembles [...] councel

She [...] Achilles he, the [...] he [...]al,

To séeke [...] helps [...] [...]he ha [...] [...] whith so doth [...]éere the [...]

As much was done, in his [...]te [...] was [...] man,

[Page] Achilles putting forth himselfe this [...]ale to them beganne:

[...]

O worthy Kings, abode is vaine, our hope it will not [...],

To Greece, to Greece we must returne: For why, it may not hée,

That we the Troians force do daunt, I dreade a matter more,

God graunt the weapons of our foes, doe not our bowels gore,

You sée howe in this wretched warre our people doe decay,

And now this deadly morreine plague doth make the rest away,

Wherefore my Lordes, it néedefull is to séeke and search about,

Of some Diuine, Augur, or Priest to trie the matter our,

What is the cause: For who that dreames, can true interprete wel

(Sith that from Ioue the dreames procéede) the why shal quickly [...]el.

He soone wil say whether Phoebus this direfull plague hath sent,

For that to do him sacrifice we haue béene negligent,

Or that vnto his holy house he worthy offrings craue,

Or shéepe and goats, whereby appease, some shielding we may haue

Achilles had no sooner faide, he sate hym in his place,

[...] ex [...] [...] pro [...]

Calchas arose, which from his youth Phoebus did yeelde suche grace,

The present times he [...]newe ful wel, the past he not forgot,

Of suche as were tn [...]ee, he wist, what was the secrete lot.

This [...] was the Prophet he, for to direct their wayes,

The Gréekes did th [...]se in this exploite, and sagely thus he sayes:

Achilles friend vnto the Gods, thou counselst I shoulde showe,

Unto the hearers here, from whence Apolloes wrath doth grow,

I wil it do, but sweare thou shall my safetie to defend,

[...] such out [...] [...]uries, which some on me wil bend.

I much do d [...]bt [...]hat ch [...]est one who shall my speaches heare,

Yea he, who [...] all the campe obeyes, wil greatly seeme to deare

And much amaz [...]e. Ost mightie Lordes, although conceale, they wu [...]

A crosse receivds of simple wight, yet pay they at the ful:

[...]cancea ceaseth not, [...]it they de yeeld their ve [...]geance due

Asspire me then with your defence here [...], what way ensue.

Ca [...] [...] A [...].

Sap what [...]walt queth Achilles, for by the God of might,

Whose secretes thou so well dost [...]nowe, I wil defende thy right.

None of the Gréekes, whereas, I am, shal wrong or iniure thée,

No not the greatest of regarde, not Agamemnon hée.

Then Calchas thus, assurde by worde p [...]e [...]unst in ove [...] sigh [...]

[Page] Ye Gréekes, this [...] conti [...] not, [...] [...]or that cause did light,

Calchas do [...]areth the [...] cause of the pestilence.

It fel not in the campe (I say) for want of sacrifice

To Phoebus bright in Countrey [...]r: this mischiefe whole doth rise,

For that you haue vnreuerently, the aged Chry [...]s vsde,

His daughter shoulde haue béene [...], and not his gifts refusde,

Til mends be made of this our fault, I thinke it wil not cease,

The blackenied Lady to hir home [...] she be brought in peace,

No raunsome had, in numbers tho our offerings let vs slay,

To purchase fauour of the God, and turne his w [...]th away.

Agamemnon forth standeth straite, with rage inflamed so,

Agamemnon to Calchas.

As like a burning brand his eies did twinckle to and fro,

And thus he sayth, looking askance on Calchas furiously:

Unluckie Prophet that thou art, for [...] happily

Ought dost thou shewe, and badly [...], [...] bad dost tel,

And me to spite, now do [...] thou preach, forsooth a proper spel,

Auouching, that vnto the camp this plague is from aboue,

Bycause I Chryses do withholde, whome I so greatly loue.

Hir beautie gay, and gallant glee, hath conquerd so my wil,

As wel I hop [...]e [...]he in my house shoulde haue r [...]yned stil

With Clytemnestra wife of [...], who [...] [...] I d [...] r [...]garde,

Clytemnestra vvife to Agamemnon.

And iustly [...]o, before h [...]r she is muche to [...]e pr [...]rde,

For countnaunce good, for col [...]r clea [...]e, for [...] and body gay.

But [...]th I néedes muste yéelde h [...]r vp, [...] this sore away,

(Ah) take hir then, I do agr [...], hi [...] wan [...] I [...],

Than that this people here▪ [...] not [...] h [...]ue:

But [...] looke in [...], [...] me [...],

You wel [...]hal know, of al [...] I wil [...] be the [...]ut.

Achilles ( [...] of the Gréek [...]s) to him replyed thus,

In presence of the Pr [...]ces a [...]: Thou sonn [...] of Atreus,

Achilles an [...]vvers Aga memnon.

Thou p [...]nching Pr [...]nce; [...] heart, thou loftie [...]inded h [...],

Where dost thou thinke [...] [...]her [...] for [...]?

In guerdon [...]owe of al that warre, dost th [...] no [...] [...]owe thy selfe

Long time agoe among vs al [...] d [...]ed is the [...]lfe?

Belike we must [...]he spoiles ama [...], which is not easely done,

And bring the camp to mutine to: [...] not thy [...]inde s [...] [...],

Obey the G [...]ds, [...] vp the [...], and [...] times richer [...]

[Page] Thou shalt possesse, if Ioue vouchsafe that we the Troians raigne,

And Towers happe to lay ful lowe. Straight Agamemnon tho

Said: thou Achill thinke not (I reade) thy credite such, no, no,

Ag [...] non [...].

Although thy force in shewe compare with suche to Gods belong,

Thinke not that I wil followe thée, or beare this open wrong.

Doth reason beare, that eche his part, haue of the wealthy prayes?

Thinkst thou it fit I leaue the maide, and emptie go my wayes

Unrecompens [...]e. I hir forgoe, as reason so it would,

But sée that I considered be, as fit it is I shoulde:

Else mangre thée and all thy might, that thine by thée possest,

Or Aiax, or Vlysses theirs, Ile haue as I think best.

Ag [...] non [...] le [...], [...] & [...].

And care who list, who then shall déers, that I his portion take

And here an end. I thinke it good to Sea we ready make

A vessell strong with skilfull guides, and eke that one of you

Accompany the Lady home vnto hir father now,

With honor due religiously the Aultars high to reare,

To sacrifice that Apollo, with fauour vs forbeare.

When Achilles had hearkned wel to Agamemnons tale,

Disdainfully he lookte at him, and blewe this bitter gale:

Thou impudent, thou iangler thou, what Gréeke shall readye make

Himselfe to fight at thy commaund, thy party for to take?

Ach [...] exci [...] of [...] non.

I came not from my Countrey I, the Troians stout to scarre,

Or to reuenge my selfe on them: for in no broiles of warre,

They euer out my region fruites or cattaile tooke away,

Too large a sea, too mightie hilles, them deserts wilde do stay,

And champaines wi [...]e their forraies bar, twéene vs which are defēce:

But I am co [...], and [...] my traine, cutting the seas from thence

Under thy leading, not at al for any cause of ours,

But Menelaus wrong to venge, a brother he of yours:

Not [...]ding thou the good we doe (thou face and dogshead thou)

In place of thankes I shoulde receiue, thou déepely threatens nowe,

To take away my good, my good, for so in truth it is:

For by my valor in the [...]elde I gained it ywis,

And whiche the Gréekes in witnesse large did giue of my desarte,

Of all the spoile: I haue more cause than thou to take at harte

These actions aye. Of pillage stil I alwayes haue the worst,

[Page] The victorie of wont is mine, infront I am the firste,

Yet what they giue, I wil accepte Sith home is peacer quie [...]

Better than with a tyrant warre, I warre no more wil trye it.

The working [...]ea I wil goe séeke in point of morning gray,

With Saile and Ore to Pthie land my countrey taking way.

Pthie countrey of A chilles.

And making here thou thy abode, dishonor thou shalt gaine,

Thy substaunce great and [...] wealth withall to waste in vaine.

And will you so (quoth Agam [...]) Amen, farewell, adue,

I list not your abode ent [...]ate, [...] for your presence fue.

Agamemnō to Achilles

There are ynow will here abide, and tender my renowme,

Ne vnprouided mightie Ioue will leaue me in this rowme.

Of all these Kings and Princes here, thou dost delight Achill

To bite and sting me of the no [...]st, and [...] bendes thy will,

Contentiously maintaining hate, presu [...] [...] much

Of force procéeding from the Gods: in th [...] [...] such

Farewel, your godly Myrmidones, comm [...]nd thē at your pleasure,

And your agoe and furie thus Ile care for at my leysure.

But herewith your audacitie that further I do [...] daunt,

Sith that Apolloe [...] pleasure is, and ordaines [...] [...]raunt

That I Chryses resto [...]e againe, with [...] as much as [...],

To olde Chryses [...]y peo [...]le [...] to [...].

To thy Pauillion wil I send tricke, Br [...]sida to bring

Thy best bel [...]ued, that al men knowe [...]how [...]nsaunter a King

I am than thou, and that hen [...]eforth [...] hard in [...]olde

To put vp head to matche [...], [...].

[...],

Achilles grovves in choler vvith Agamemnon.

Wit [...] [...]

Agamemn dead, or to appease the wr [...] [...],

To holde him stil, to parte them f [...]o. and [...]pany to lea [...]e.

Yet [...] in spite of reason rulde, his [...]lade [...].

But [...] hear [...]e from Welkin high thi [...] [...]

The bickering th [...]s so neare [...] [...]hem, [...] will defend [...]

And Pallas straight from loftie [...] she [...] descend

Approching to Achill, softly she tooke him by the [...]

Pallas keepeth Achilles frō killing Agamemnon.

Who spéedily retirde, knowing, the Goddesse to be there,

With twinckling eies vn [...]easingly, [...] neuer a man,

[Page] But onely to himselfe, to whome his speache he thus beganne:

You heauenly daughter Pallas you, doe I your presence sée?

Would you it know how Agamemn doth wrong and iniure mée?

Ach [...] [...] Pall [...].

Giue me some leaue, and for his pride you shall sée by and by

Before you here vppon the grasse his headlesse truncke to ly.

Thy griefe to ease quoth Pallas is this comming here of mine,

Pall [...] [...] Ach [...].

If to be rulde by heauenly sawe thy selfe thou canst encline.

Dame I [...]no séeing this dangerous strife, who fauours both so much,

Did bid me downe, thée to aduise in no wise him to touch.

Put vp thy sworde it doth not wel, with words do wordes repay:

Assured [...] for his great [...]ult thou shalt another daye

And these thy harmes; haue gallant gifts, yea layed in thy lappe,

If to obey this counsaile mine thy mind and meaning happe.

Achi [...] [...] that [...] say, [...]

Its more than méete quoth Achilles, and reason so doth will,

That what the Gods commaunde vs men, we wholly do fulfill,

Though sur [...] would vs thēce withdraw: Of Gods ye puissant might

Obedience doth [...], in euery manner wight.

And from his best who doth [...]ot swarue, in fauour stil we sée.

His m [...]ssie fal [...] saying thus, in sheath of brightsome blée

Of siluer braue he putteth vp, Pallas away she weares,

She leaues the Gréekes, to Gods aloft in Heauen she repaires.

The valiant Gréeke in furie stil on Agamemn doth stare,

His rage abides, him thus in speech he raging wise forbare.

Thou tipled Knight, a snarring curre, to sight and shew thou arte,

Than Stagge beset at bay about more feareful yet of harte,

Among the Kings a cowarde vile, a slouthful shifting Oxe,

Assaults, alarms, and battals fought, thou fearst for dread of knocks.

And lesse thou darste ambushments lay, for doubt to quaile or dye,

Thou tyrant great, who dost deuoure the people cruelly.

Oppressor thou scourge of the pore, delighting to disgrace

All men vnto thine appetite consenting giues not place.

If I my courage folowed had, thou shouldst no more haue harmde,

Al gracelesse straight thy carcas here, to death I wold haue charmde.

But hearke, for by this royall Mace, by whiche I now doe sweare,

The [...] of Achil [...].

A worthy ornament to shewe, in right hand which I beare,

Who hauing lost the sappe of wood, eft gréenenesse cannot drawe,

[Page] True ornament for iudges all, who execute the lawe

Of Iupiter on mortall men: the day before thou wist,

The Author often nameth He ctor a mur derer.

Wil come, when to be shielded from sir Hectors murdering fist

(Who shal hacke down the Gréeks in heapes) ye I shal be entreated,

And thou (thy lewdnesse fond contest) shal thorowly be heated,

To haue despised carelesly, who most deserueth [...]oes.

Thus said, from him in fury great his scepter down he throwes,

He sittes him downe. Agamemnon, whome anger forward straines,

Minding faire Bryseis stil to haue, the quarrel he maintaines.

That speaker swéete delighting tong therewith duke Nestor rose,

Nestor had lyued 300. yeares.

From Heauen had, much pleasannter than Harry front him flowes,

By grace diuine, of triple life the yeares he also bare,

He to th'assembly as they sate his knowledge both declare.

O what mishap, what parant losse sée I on Greece to fall?

Nestor to Achilles & Agam [...]ō

What ioy and hope to Priamus his sonnes and subiects all,

When as shall come vnto their eares, that in this campe of ours

By kindled heate in quarrell thus our greatest Princes lours?

This discorde leaue, this sury fly, than yours my yeares are more,

Your greaters and your grauers to, I known haue heretofore,

Who haue my counsel ay obeyed: I neuer knewe nor knowe

More bolde and mightie mortall men, than these and Perithoe,

Dryas in Prudence thiefe of price, Exadiuss, Polipheme,

Ceneis equall with the Gods, who by their three extreme

The Giants and the Lapyths slewe, whereby their glorie fledde

To Heauen highe, I called I, with them I often yedde

To battailes great and dangerous, in bloudy martial marte,

Whose force no lustie liuing tho to frunt in fight had hearte,

They alwaies [...]uill so on my word, as none would crosse my spéech,

Wel shal you doe, if you performe by counsaile what I reach.

And first to y [...] Agamemnon, be [...] also greate [...]de,

Thoughe chiefe thou be, perforce to take Bryseis, who is assignde

By all the Gréekes his lust rewarde: Achill I thinke it good

You silence vse, with farring wordes forbeare to crosse in moode.

The auctoritie of Kings com meth from Iupiter.

Of al the sceptred Princes none so high is sea [...]ed downe,

As ouer hi [...] Ioue app [...]nts the [...] and the crowne:

In force if so you more auaile, [...] Thetis that it retches

[Page] Your mother she, but yet than yours his puissaunce further stretches,

For Nations more do him obey. And Agamemnon take it,

Appease your rage and your abuse, lette not your calling make it.

Achilles, for the loue of me, if true, I true reporte,

Forget this iarre, to Gréekish campe in olde and wonted sorte

Shewe forth your selfe a bulwarke sure: Thou aged worthy sire,

Agam [...] ansvv [...] N [...].

Quoth Agamemn, what thou haste saide, beste reason doth require,

But here this mate by gallant heart triumphing Lorde will goe,

He will commaunde, he all will rule: but softe, he shall not so,

If I may choose: his force is greate, as sib to power diuine,

Hathe he then leaue all wrong to doe, as fancie shall encline?

Achilles straight ful restlesse yet, from him the speache he tooke,

Achill [...] [...] Agam [...]

I were (quoth he) a coward leude, if I agréed to brooke

Thy gouernaunce, after thy wil I rulde will be no more,

For no obedience looke of me, others commaunde therefore,

And build on this: For Bryseis faire, no quarrel I wil make

With any man, fith obstinate you bent are for to take

The gifte on me whiche was bestowed: but haue regarde to dare

(Yea for thy life) to touch the Gods in my possession are,

And be aboorde my vessels, thou, a bootelesse worke shouldest haue.

And if thou béest so gallant set, or yet so beastly braue,

Aduaunce thy selfe, thy valor shewe, and al men shal beholde

Me with my Launce to shed thy bloud, and lay thy carcasse colde,

The case debated thus at length, the Councell al they rose,

Achilles with his companye to his Pauillion goes.

The [...] cell br [...] vppe.

A shippe well furnishte Agamemn on sea he causeth rise

With twentie Ores, forgetting not things méete for Sacrifice,

And pueell Chryseis fitly there he shipped honest well,

And Vlysses for patron put, who Gréekes did all excell

Vlysses goes [...] Chryseis [...] hi [...] [...].

In good aduise, and pleasaunte speache, the waues at will they [...]ice,

With winde in poupe, they hope full soone to finde hir father Chryse.

Againe home offerings more to fitte, Agamemn hyeth faste,

VVith [...] crifice [...] puri [...] [...] cam [...]

To cleanse the campe, and in the sea the ordure for to caste.

Then to the Altars reared high on shoare right beautifull,

He biddeth bring the wanton Goate, the Shéepe and mightie Bull,

Deuoutly for the army all, on Phoebus to bestowe,

[Page] Whereof the smel and vapor thicke to heauen righte doth goe,

As burnt they were, the people eke in many sundry wise

Unto the Gods sent their demaunds, their prayers, and their cries.

But Agamemns wrath swageth not, he stil in rage doth roste,

Till he at pleasure Bryseis haue, for Chryseis he hathe loste.

Two Heraultes strayght he bids to come, he thought of best respect,

Talthybe, and Eurybate, to whome he spake to this effecte:

Talthybe and Eurybate tvvoo Heraults of the Greeks.

O Heraults here séeke out Achill, who in his tente nowe is,

Bring Bryse away, if he withstande, I present will not misse,

Spite of his téeth tofetche hir I, and wel vnto his paine.

Suche were his wordes, outragious, more fond and foolishe vaine.

To place the Heraultes quickly came, where lay ye valiant Gréek,

They him no sooner sawe, but that their dreads were not to séeke,

Agast to touch so mightie a Prince, of whome when he did heare,

Although in grief he welcomde thē, and shewde thē pleasant chéere.

You Heraultes high, come on quoth he, no daunger dread at all,

Achilles to the heraults

For by youre disarde king, not you, this wrong on me doth fall,

Agamemn, who will me bereaue by force and tyranny

Of Bryseis liking presence, whyche so deare is in mine eye.

Petroclus mate and brother mine, of beautie fetche the dame,

Giue hir in handes to Heraults these: And here I doe proclaime

Before the Gods, ye Heraults eke, al people vn [...] Sunne,

This tyrant too, whose senses stil to worse and [...] do runne:

To witnesse I do call you al, hereafter, if perh [...]es

The Gréekes haue néede of my reliefe by meanes of afterclappes,

And peril comming to the campe, this doting [...]led Asse,

He knowes not good discourse, nor yet what er [...] [...] councel was.

He mindeth not, who hitherto hath bin the armies [...]eld,

He knoweth not who hathe the power to saue the [...] in fielde.

Herewith Patroclus bringeth forth Bryseis the Dan [...]y,

Bryseis is brought to Agamēnon.

He giues hir in the Heraultes handes, who onwarde [...]re their way

Apace to Agamemnons shippes to leade the Lady faire.

Who much againste hir wil, to him doth make hir new repaire.

By this farewel, the pleasures al of valiant Achill quailes,

He martirde so is with the griefe, with sheadding teares he wailes,

And from his people goes aparte. And better to [...]ide

[Page] His bitter paine, vnto the shoare he stealeth there aside,

Thus to his mother Thetis ofte shewing his wofull case:

Sith in my birth by fate full harde fewe yeares I doe embrace

Of life, then Ioue (quoth he) who sées al things from Welkin hye,

Ach [...] [...] his [...]

Some honour shoulde haue giuen me, before the time I dye,

And not to suffer Agamemn my solace thus to sterue,

By power to take that noble gift, whyche well I did deserue.

From deapth of wide and hollowe sea, hir sonne complayning thus

With piteous noise, Thetis gaue eare, leauing Oceanus

The aged sire in Marine Courte, in likenesse of a cloude

With spéede she comes to Achilles, in dolour where he stoode.

Kinde countenaunce and shewe she makes: Alas deare son quoth she,

The [...] [...] sonne.

What ayleth thée? whence commes thy griefe? Alas, what man is hée

That hathe thy minde disturbed thus? let me th'occasion sée,

That of thy doleful déering here, partaker I may be.

He sighing saide, muste I to you declare my martyring throwes;

Achill [...] [...] his [...]

The wrongs to me nowe lately done your selfe too too well knowes.

You knowe full wel howe for to harme King Priame and his kinne,

Many a subiect towne of his, and neighbors, quite haue bin

To ruine, sacke, and bootie brought, the walles of Aetion

The puissant king, by me were torne, whereof to euery one

The spoyles were parted equally: Chryseis of beautie moste

Was lefte to Agamemnons choice, who kept hir in the hoste.

Chryseis the sire shortly in campe his daughter faire he sought,

And for hir raunsome also due he gallant presents brought.

Unto vs all in humble wise he lowly made request,

And eke to him that had hir rule, with whome the Maide did rest.

Of Phoebus cleare, olde Chryses was, cladde with the worthye wéed,

Thereby to purchase more regarde. By vs it was agréed,

That she in fréedome shoulde be sette, and giftes had in exchaunge,

But here oure Chieftaine our aduise he tooke it very straunge:

And maugre al, with choller ful, the hoarie haires he chode:

His presents thus refusde, good Chryse, right sorrowfull abode.

To Phoebus cleare he prayed harde, who put him not abacke:

For shortly numbers greate, by plague are put to direfull lacke.

This wofull plight, when plaine I sawe of Gréekes by death yspent,

[Page] Which Calchas wise saide from Apoll procéeded [...] content,

I did persuade the people al, the God to pacifie,

Thereby displeasing Agamemn, himselfe so gloriously

And sterne who beares. With outrages and threats he eke began,

And sayde, his losse muste healed be of me, I was the man:

He failed not to execute his filthie minde so false.

Chryseis in Galley scarce was put, and haled vp the halse,

But that they Bryseis fetche away, whether she wil or no

Out of my Tent, King Agamemn to him wil haue hir goe.

I this way of the goodly gifte, which all the Campe me gaue

Defrauded am. But if that you suche might and puissaunce haue

(As well I know your force is great) then yéelde thou some reliefe

Unto your wofull sonne, whose soule is paulde with inward griefe.

Ascend, and licence craue of Ioue that I reuenge may take,

For once from danger you him drew, for mends let him this make.

I minde it well, I ofte haue heard you largely vaunt and boste,

That, but for you and for your helpe, he life and laude had loste.

Conspyracie of the Gods againste Iupiter. The fable of Briareus had an hundred hādes.

For Neptune ioyned with Pallas, and Iuno Dame that shrowe,

Had enterprisde to bind his hands, & down the heauens him throwe.

But their malitious harde deuise preuented was in time:

For you descending, to the Heauen you caused for to clime

Briareus callde Aegeon, the hundred handed Giant,

The fiercest of all mortall wights, who fiercely there resiant,

Did so agast the Seaish God, and other Goddish powers,

That Ioue as soueraigne stil remaines, & none against him stoures.

Goe get you to him mother mine, and lowly on your knées

Minde him of this your seruice done, demaunding for your fées,

That he vouchsafe the Troyans sende suche courage to embrace,

That slaine or burnt, the Gréekes to shore do fearefully giue place.

This mischiefe byding by their King, who then his faulte shal spie,

And loftie liking of himselfe, so little care, looselie

Minding his prowesse, who of all in valor beares the Bell.

Thetis againe Achill hir sonne thus answers very wel,

With heauy hearte and wéeping eyes: Alas (she said) my sonne,

Thetis to Achilles.

Haue I thée hither thus brought vp? thy life hast thou begonne

(Sith in a trice it is cutte off) Why blisfull is it not?

[Page] Haue I conceiued thée deare sonne, to this vnhappy lot?

What, is thy fate so hard, to giue thée short and doleful dayes?

Wel, thée to please, I wil to Ioue, perswading diuerse wayes,

In telling this, that to thy losse he be a setter an,

But two dayes past he with the Gods is gone th'ocean,

Wheras the Aethiopes do inuite the auntient Gods to chéere,

Eleauen dayes it wil be ful, ere he returne I héere.

But then a suter will I be, til when I wish (my child)

You from the battayle do abstcine, and not your weapons wield.

Disport your selfe vpon the waues, a ship-boorde take no care,

That it be wist vnto the Gréekes how great your dolours are.

With this she leaues hir sonne Achil. A boorde he kéepes in paine

For Brisies gone, he féeles the smart, that thrils through euery vayne.

[...] ues in the Ile of Chris [...] [...] deliuers Chris [...] [...]

That while Vlisse with winde in poupe, and trauaile of the Ore,

Of fertile Chrise he with the dame approcheth to the shore

And pleasant port: downe come the sayles, & round they roll thē fast,

Upon the deck haeled adowne is layde the mightie Mast.

And then from Poupe with Cables harde the toothed Ancres fling

Their holde to take, and lay alande prouision which they bring

For sacrifice: Vlisses doth the mayde with careful charge

Upon hir saddle sette, conduct to Phoebus temple large,

With minde ful milde, where-to hir sier he giues hir in his handes,

And with these words: Thou Chrises Priest, so happy thou yt stands,

Agamemn, who commaunds the Gréeks, to thée hath sent me hither

Vlisses [...] Chris [...].

To bring thée home thy daughter here, and with hir eke togither

Such vowes to offer to Apol, to pacifie his anger,

That Gréekes therby so déeply pinde, be therewith plagde no lāger.

The good olde man did ioye apace his daughter to possesse,

And forthwith had to sacrifice they all things readie dresse.

And Barly cakes he cals to bring, and fingers washed faire,

Aloude he lifteth vp his voyce, and ioyned hands doth reare.

Oh puissāt Phoebus (thus he prayes) whose darts do al things teare,

Chrises prayer [...] Apoll [...].

Thou Phoebus cleare, Apollo God who siluer bow doth beare,

And Cyl, Chrysa, and Tenedos doth rule vnto thy liking,

If any time thou hast vouchsafte to graunt at my besiking

To shew the working of thy wrath on Gréekes afflicted sore,

[Page] Who wholely yéelde vnto thy wil, O Phoebus graunt therefore

The plague ceaseth in the Greeks Campe.

To chaunge thy minde, & frō this Cāpe this bitter plague [...]o banish,

No sooner prayde, but Phoebus hearde, & plague it straight did vanish.

Full furnishte were the offerings, when ended was to pray,

The shéepe are slaine, their skinnes of pluckt, & to the fire they lay

Sacrifice.

The gigots plumbe, and cut off legges: good Chrise with wine so red

The Aulter throughly doth perfume: himselfe he careful sped

About the seruice of the God, and fier great doth kindle,

The loynes of the oblations dead, and other flesh they mingle,

And roundly rost on broches fiue, and gridorne on the Coales,

And euery one prepares himselfe vnto his cheare and boales.

A séemely sight it was to sée the seamen plye their téeth,

Wherewith the Cups apace they walke, they wel content therwith.

Refreshed thus, Vlisses and the Gréekes they do not spend

Idle the day, they Himnes do chaunt, and ferly songs do send

Apollos prayse to herrie hie, whero [...] the pleasaunt tunes

Resounding in the God his eares, he pleasure great resumes.

At night Vlisses coucheth him within his galley lowé,

At péepe of day eche one prepares to plucke, to bale, to rowe.

Vlisses returnes to the Grekes Campe.

To loftie seas the Maste they hoyse, Gods ayde they do not lacke,

For shortly with ye winde he gaue (which made their sayles to crack)

In port of safetie they ariue, where bloudie war doth rore,

And taking land, their vessel they do draw vpon the shore.

To his pauilion eche retires, or hieth him abrode.

This while Achilles kéepes his tent, for matters of the sworde

He neither makes nor medles with, nor yet to counsel cōmes,

In minde with trouble ouerchargde, he grieued sits, and glōmes,

Pyning away his valiaunt corps, a patterne odde produced.

Unto the world of worthy shape: when as should be induced

Alarme among the Gréeks, he gapes, whom Troyans should assaile,

Good proofe to shew his helpe, to them to be of great auaile.

The day now come of Ioues returne from th'Occean solemn feast,

One morning Thetis from the sea to heauen hir selfe doth prest.

The God aside the sitting saw, approching to him-nie,

His knées hir left hand doth embrace, with countnaunce curteously [...]

Hyr right to chin she moued soft, and humbly thus she prayde:

[Page]

If any time (redoubted sire) that I haue with mine ayde

Thy high and mightie maiestie reléeued in thy want,

Th [...] Iupiter.

I thée besech this my request O father do it graunt,

Sith life is short, his honor to [...]te, yéelde thou vnto my sonne,

Let Agamemnon shortly know what wrong he hath him done,

Yéelding the Gréekes a thorough feare, the Troyans courage hie,

So that the wracked Campe restore his credite worthilie.

To this the Goddesses milde spéech, the great God answerd nat,

But sadly musing with himselfe he stil, in silence sat.

The Goddesse eftsoone wearie now, this silence long that spies,

In humble sort vpon hir knées intreateth in this wise:

T [...] [...] [...]oue [...] teth Iup [...]

Say yea, or no, Oh Iupiter, ende both my hope and feare,

For you of whom to stand in dread, I know none life doth beare:

Say on therfore, that I may sée, in fauour how I stand,

How smal regarded or estéemde, I craue it at your hand.

With fetched sigh Ioue aunsweres thus: Oh harde and heauy case,

Iupiter [...] Th [...].

Sith my wife Iuno I must stirre, and haue hir froward grace.

T'is she, t'is she of all the Gods with me that most doth iarre,

Alleaging that I Priams part support do in this warre.

That she do not our meaning finde, down straight descēd your ways,

And your demaunde I wil fulfil, assurde without delayes.

And that you know my promise sound, I wil you shew a signe

Token [...] the [...] tie of Iup [...] ters p [...]

To ease your doubt, this shal it be, to bow my heade diuine,

A token aye that neuer fayles, when any thing of waight

Unto the Gods I do behight. His head he shaketh straight,

And bended browes so raiseth he, that of his holy heare

By only shake, Olympus large doth tremble fast for feare.

The [...] pu [...] [...] Iupiter [...] turnes [...] Heauen.

Thetis to depth of sea descendes, the God his mansion kéepes,

In Welkin Countrey he remaines, with other Gods he méetes,

In troupe, not missing no not one, themselues they humbly show,

Amid them all right glorionsly on throne he sitteth tho.

Then Iuno chased at the full, now found the secrete tricke

Of Ioue, to wracke of Gréekish Campe, which touchte hir atye quick.

With hart audatious thus she says: thou God with malice frought,

Iuno angry vvith Iupiter.

What subtile ioy, what pretie prāke, haue you (I pray you) wrought

With that my maisters Mariner: from whence now doth it grow

[Page] That I with you must not conferre, nor must your counsels know?

Delighting that your dealings close to other knowen be,

I fur aloufe a straunger I. Hope not then aunsweared he

Iupiter to Iuno.

My secrets I acquaint you with, y [...] gaine it would be l [...]sse,

Although my wife and sister both, you are, I do confesse.

In Counsayles which are fitte for you, y [...]u full shal haue your right▪

None [...]alde so soone, no not the God, that greatest is of might.

If, what I haue determined plaine, none is shall know the matter,

Then let me rest, to search it out you ought not thus to patter.

Out cried the Goddesse loude, alas, O crabbed rusticke Ioue,

So like an Asse or vndiscrete, when did I euer roue,

Iuno to Iupiter.

To séeke the things of secrecie, but still I am excluded,

You crabbed you, your secrete déedes without me are concluded.

Which made me careful, when I saw Thetis that spiteful peate

Thys morning here so perting sitte at elbow by your seate.

I greatly dread hir sonne to venge, obtainde some suite she hath,

Wherby to danger down the Gréekes, & worke their harme & scath.

To this the God did cal hir hag, (quoth he) I cannot shift,

Iupiter to Iuno.

But thy suspitious iealous heade aye findeth out my drift.

But how much more (I smel) you thinke to alter what I meane,

I so much more in spite of you do stil contrarie cleane,

The rather for your kicking thus. If I vnto Thetis

Haue promist anye thing at all, [...] so my pleasure is,

And you it knowe, why should not you agrée as wel as I?

Go sit you downe, and talke no more so fonde and foolishly,

Least moued I, with both my fistes I giue you hanging lawes,

And in such sort, as no God here can saue you from my clawes.

By this so great and dreadful threat, dame Iuno more she feares,

She quiet gr [...]wes, she goes hir wayes, & visage downe she beares,

Among the Gods she takes hir place: this while the heauenly route,

By this contention gréeued are, and troubled thorow out.

Whereby with pitie Vulcane bare to Iuno, which he had,

With doubt this snarling would procéed to worse, which was to badt

With [...] s [...]h he did his best, to comfort hir, as thus:

My mothe [...] deare, if this [...] remaine, and that with vs

Vulcan [...] to Iuno his Mother.

Immortal G [...]ds we quarrel haue, for mortal peoples case,

[Page] I surely sée decay to fal vpon this goddish race.

The banquets shal be brought to nought, and quailed with disquiet,

Wherat we all are stil refresht, and reason why, for royot

In mischiefe like makes better [...]ad, than better can attaine.

You must more kind and louing be: oh noble dame refraine

Your choller now vnto my sire, how, best your selfe doth know,

Else by this rigour of debate the case wil fall out so,

As all the Gods, both you and I, shal finde no little griefe,

If once he grow into a rage. He mightie is and chiefe,

He from the heauens will vs hunte, wherby our iunkets gay,

Our sport, our chat of louing toyes shal cleane be tane away,

And porte of this our mansion hie, all counsels ended quite.

I you beséech to haue some care this daunger do not light,

Agrée your selfe vnto his wil, with wordes of milde allay,

Vul [...] present [...] drinke [...] I [...].

And what you list, you shal obtaine, he can you not denay.

With this a boule of Nectar ful, in hand sir Vulcane tooke,

And to his mother did present it with a comely looke.

Beare mother mine, (quoth he to hir) refuse not to obay

To Ioue, though care doth maister you, and wils you answere nay,

Least greater shame you hap to haue, he laying you on the Hide,

And though I would, no help at all I could for you prouide,

Nor yet resist his power diuine: haue you forgot so soone,

How you to rescue from his hand, he had me almost done

To death? when so his furie woxe, from skies he did me thro

Down by the foote, where in the ayre I tumbled too and fro,

Vulca [...] once throvve [...] out of Heauen [...] in [...] Ile.

A whole day through, and fel at last with bones and body burst,

In Lemnos Ile, in manner dead, wheras I fel at furst.

Wheras I was wel entertainde there by the Lemnos dweller,

With bountie great. When Iuno heard thus Vulcane for to tel hir,

She was appeasde, and gan to smile, the cup to lips she set,

Iuno drinketh of Ne ctar and in appe [...].

With Nectar swéete, celestial iuyce, hir mouth and hart she wet.

It was a pastime to behold the pleasannt Vulcane God,

In taking say to al the rest, with halting haunches plod.

Whereat the Gods do laugh apace, much liking of the iest.

The Gods feast. Phoebus [...] the [...]

And then prepared is forthwith, the high and heauenly feast,

From morning cleare which vnto night was drawen out along,

[Page] With great and glorious aray, [...] Muses with their song

[...], and Phoebus [...] Harpe doth strike

Agréeing in [...]éete Har [...]ie, wherwith they greatly like

The worthy route [...]the sun gone downe, ech one with heauie eyes

Retires vnto his seuerall home, in buildings which do rise

By skil of ly [...]ping Artysane: Ioue to his Chamber hies,

Iupiter and the Gods to rest.

And down he coucheth on his bed, and Iuno by him lyes.

Finis Libri primi.

¶ The seconde Booke.

THe Heauenly [...]ires and mortal folke passed the night as tho

In [...], yéelding to it [...] free of care and wo▪

Iupiter can not [...]leepe for the care he hath of Achilles.

But Ioue sticking with tooth and nayle stil vnto hys behest

To Thetis made, with irkesome cheare [...] was of his rest,

Casting how he Achilles [...] vnto the starres might raise,

And moue some br [...] in the Gréeks Cāpe to their losse any ways.

Iohn dreaming God he callde [...] him, that God chiefe God of il,

Common [...] carrier of euery lye, thus saying him his wil:

Thou cankerde dreame thinke on thy charge, & leaue thy seate nowe here

Iupiter to the God of dreame.

And straight to Ag [...] ships this message sée thou beare,

Without abode [...] the do arme ethe Gréekish crue and bande,

His enterprise to ende, my selfe wil put an helying hande.

For now the Gods do all agrée that Troy to ruine goe,

Among them though hath bene great tug whether it should be so.

Throughly by Iuno brought thereto, whose wil and whole desire

Is both the Troyan towne and folke to d [...]unt with sworde and fire.

[Page]

Hauing his errand thus from Ioue, the dreaming God him s [...]ed

Forthwith to Agamemn that Prince, whom he found then abed,

By sléepe refreshing so his sprites of toyle and trauaile gone,

Of Nestor olde that famous wight the shape that God put on,

Saying: Oh valiant Atreus heire, sléepst thou or dost thou wake?

The dr [...] to Ag [...] [...].

A Princes dutie is not thus himselfe to sloth to take,

Who hath the charge of such a crue of knights and army big,

For not throughout to sléepe a night the care of them would twig.

A prin [...] [...] vvar [...] not to [...] the vv [...] night.

Sith Ioue so much thy fame desires, and eke thy name to raise,

And for thy sake hath causde such broyles he bids without delayes,

That next when Titan shewes his face this, Orizon to light,

In order you your armies range of battaile for to fight.

For now the time is right at hand, yea this is now the day,

Wherein the Troyan Citie shal be giuen to Gréekes in pray.

The Gods as now yéelde all therto, agréeing in this case

Willing to follow Iunoes vaine, whom great desires embrace

Of Troy to sée the Towers downe torne, and euend with the ground,

And Ioue that God, of others most, that string doth wholy sounde.

The Troyans little to estéeme his Godhead he doth know.

Thinke on oh King that I haue saide, my message do not slow.

His errand done, as he was willde, he toke his flight from thence,

Leauing Prince Agamemnon then in dumpe and in suspence.

And casting for to make exployte and end without delayes,

To spoyle the Troyan towne and line, and not to take more dayes.

Aga [...] thinkes of his drea [...].

But the great Calfe mist of his counte, for Ioue had layde a bayte

As wel the Gréekes as Dardanes kind them both a shame to waite.

But then he rose, leauing his bed, and sitting downe thereon,

He clad himselfe with garments newe, and put a Mantle on,

Aga [...] and [...].

And on his féete full delicate cleane shoes right feate he set,

And to his [...] a sworde he girt, with golden nayles ybet.

Thus clad, holding in his right hand his own paternal Mace,

Went from his tent vnto the ships to consult of the case.

When as Aurora gan to clime vpon Olimpus hie,

And brought to men message of light before the Sunne in skie,

The S [...] rising.

Agamemnon went to counsel his [...] crying out,

Both great and smal, yea more and l [...]sse of all the Gréekish route

[Page] Came to the cal, but ere he would his minde to them declare

He callde the auntients of the host, they that most worthy were,

Whose counsel was the best estéemde, to whom he thus began

The Counsell assēbles

Somewhat with ioy in Nestors shippe that famous worthy man.

How this last night the dreame diuine did set my thought on fire

Aga: tels: his dreame.

Heare now my friends, when as he came resembling this old sire.

This rest becōmes thée not, quoth he, you child of Atreus kinde,

But rather on thy charge to thinke, and there to set thy minde.

A wise man the which subiect is to euery kinde of ill,

Ought not in rest spende all the night, or sléepe therein his fil.

Giue eare therefore vnto my words: sith Ioue now willing is

T'aduance thy name & great renoume, cōmands, thou dost not misse

But in the field to raunge thy power to morrow for to fight,

For therein thou shalt bring adowne the Troyan pride and might,

And sacke their Citie, sith the Gods no more are at discorde,

To succour them, their soe Iuno, hath wrought them to accorde.

And namely Ioue against Priam wil follow his reuenge,

And as a foman, so of him, himself himselfe wil venge.

This message done, the dreame me left, and I addresse likewise

My selfe to you my friends, to know your counsaile and aduise,

How to furnish this enterprise: but ere we do beginne

Our armour to put on, lets sée what mindes our men be in.

If yée thinke good, to Countrey home I wil them wil to hie,

And with faire words wil counsayle them, & willing séeme wil I.

But you shal argue and reply against that my request,

Constrayning them by word and déede to tarrie and arest,

Til that a thorow ende be made: then Nestor vp did rise

Nestor persuades the Greekes to beleeue Agame [...]non

Straight at his tale, and to them al he [...]n speake in this wise.

Oh Princes famous of re [...]me, if any presontly

But Agamemn should counte this tale, we s [...]uld it hold a lye,

And making him a laughing stacke, his credite should be smal:

But sith this tale is his, who hath the leading of vs al,

We must to it our credite giue, not spending time in this,

But to assent is my deuise vnto shese worde of his.

Encouraging our sould [...] [...] for [...] comitte to winde,

And to [...]nce our [...]gne all [...]th c [...] good and minde.

[Page]

This sentence of Nestor allowde, Agamemnon straight rose,

The Péeres accompanying him, ye rout wt zeale of news now goes,

He, who hath séene the busie Bées, whē Prime time first forth leaps,

Si [...] of Bees.

Issuing off the sliued rockes, flying in swarmes and heapes,

To smel the odour of the floures, of the small blossomde trées:

Suppose, that from al quarters came, both great and small likewise,

Folowing their chieftains at the héeles, for news to heare they cast,

Togither so to the sea stronde they hyed them to haste.

The messenger of Ioue so swift with wing as may be thought,

The famous [...] ger of Iupi [...].

Fame with the help of his strong pens, did leaue no place vnsought,

But stirres eche man with doubled wordes to haste vnto the rout,

That with ye noise of those that came the earth trembled throughout:

And in the ayre the brute resoundes, right haply he was set,

That could by chance find out some place among such prease so gret,

The pr [...]ast.

He preaseth him, him he again, shouldring ech one his féere,

They labor stil with heaue and shoue, eche one to draw more néere.

But the Heraults silence to make, nine times th'Oies did crie,

The Heraults m [...] silence.

To the Kings wordes praying the Gréekes to hearke attentiuely.

Agamemnon him ready made, and on a place of state

He mounted vppe, in his right hande his Sceptre deaurate

Agam [...] Scepr [...].

Wrought lately by the God Vulcane, to Ioue it with great care

Did he present, este by whose gifte eke Mercurie it bare,

And Mercurie in present gaue it to Pelops the greate,

Who it did yéelde to Atreus, and in his haud it set.

And Atreus yéelding vp the Ghost, to Thyestes the strong

He it bequeathde, with other things which to it did belong.

This Sceptre Agamemnon helde, and it possest indéede,

For to the soile of Argos riche as heire he did succéede,

And eke to other Cities more in lande right firme and fast,

With Iles, whose beauties to beholde eche minde would be agast.

Wherefore vaunting this royall Mace in his right hand before,

Whiche eke Pelops his auncestor had borne himselfe of yore,

With stately looke vpon his crues, he set and fixt his eies,

With stretched lims he gan him shroude, and spake thē in this wise:

Agamem [...] to the [...] diours [...] feele th [...] [...].

With griesly plague not to be borne, O host of Gréekishe soile,

Famous by Armes, Ioue hathe me deéerde, and put me to the foile,

[Page] And il hath fauourde our affaires: for promise he did make

To me, that long ere this we should the towne to flame betake

And that we should to Greece returne al safe in prosprous plight

But I sée he hath laid a traine to trappe vs if he might.

For chaunging now his iust deuise: he counsels at the laste

Home to returne, when at this siege greate perils we haue past,

Which we this long time haue sustaind: thus wil this God of powre

Bring downe mens force if he so please in moment of an houre.

And Cities huge he layes in dust, euen as his pleasure is,

And brings cche mightie strength to ruine: oh what mishap is this?

Suche warped kéeles for to behold fléeting vpon the seas,

And dead so many worthy Knightes on the earth sundry wayes,

And Troy to sacke haue had no might, who nowe cannot abide?

For if a present proofe were made, and that it might be tryde,

Comparisō.

That Troians as our fréendes and feres were numbred āl in one,

And that we Gréekes diuided were, by tens and tens eche one,

Appointing to eche troupe of vs but one Troyan by name,

To retche the Cuppe at our requests, when we call for the same,

A man should sée thousandes of Gréekes (the Troyans be so scant,)

That calling in their thirst for drinke, their butlers they should wāt,

So much our number theirs surmounts, which be of Troyan bloud,

But truth it is, that numbers great are come of nations good,

Resolued wightes themselues haue vowde to dye in their defence.

Whiche not a little grieues me nowe, and casts me in suspence,

Not being of force for to preuaile, and yet nine yeares throughout

We haue this Troy strongly besiegde on ech side round about.

Yet they our Machins haue withstoode: what hope then in the same

Of them to gaine should we now haue, but mere reproche & shame?

And of our ships the deckes be broke, and whole there is no saile,

Our saile yards rotten, our masts yspent, & tackling ginnes to faile.

For our returne to take in hand they are in sorie plight.

And yet againe our dolorous wiues doe wish of vs some sight,

And haue done long with ardent zeale, hearing the guiltlesse cries

Of the small babes, with our returne wishing to baite their eyes.

And we now brought into distresse, and voide of our purpose,

Our honor, fame, and good renowme, and like our time we lose.

[Page] For wel we knowe, and certaine be, that we can not destroy,

Nor put to flame this Citie nowe impugnable of Troy.

And other councell I knowe none, but this for beste I choose,

That to our houses we returne, and not our honours loose.

Doing as reason eke requires, let vs the Gods obay,

And that eche man hie to his home, let no man thinke of stay.

These words at pleasure thus pronoūct, did yéeld ye Gréeks a mind

Of full desire of their returne, and so they ganne to wind,

The [...] describ [...] the incō [...] cie of the multitude by tvvoo fine comparisons.

With whispering noise, yéelding a sounde, as ost the seas we sée

The storme the boistrous surge to raise, weltring now low now hie,

And with the strength of southern blast is driuen against eche rocke,

It doth redound with griesly roare, when on them it doth knocke:

Or else, when as the westerne winde doth méete a field of graine,

In haruest time, & cause the eares to whush throughout the plaine.

Ech man such hast made vnto shippe, that yet before their cryes

The dust into the aire was raisde alofte into the skyes.

Which was a griefe vnto them al, yet suche desire they had

Of their returne, that eche his friend beganne thereof to glad,

And councel gaue their Masts to hoise, and eke their sailes to spred,

With such a noise, as to the stars their cries and clamors yed.

In truth the selfe same morning then eche his returne did hie,

And al agréed were of the same, maugre the destinie:

Had not Iuno spit on hir handes, and taken better holde,

And prayed Pallas of hir help when these things wared colde.

Minerua thou my friendly mate, shall we before our eyes

Iuno [...] Pallas.

Suffer vppon these Gréekishe bandes such infamie to rise,

And shamefully to take their flight by armes not sacking Troy,

Not winning Helene, who is cause of all this great annoy,

To King Priames immortall fame, and honor of his kinne?

If oft thy godly wisedome hath preuaild mens hearts to winne,

And them to change from sentence set, the same now for to vse

Is méete, to cause the Gréekes to change, and thys their way refuse.

And that from Troy no shippe departe, haste downe I thée desire,

Till Greece, who hath receivde this wrong, do venge hirselfe by fire,

Whē as ye gréen eyed Goddesse thus had heard dame Iunoes talk,

Pal [...] d [...] cendeth [...] co [...] [...] Vlysses.

To finde the wilie Vlysses straight downe she tooke hir walke.

[Page] Who hauing lefte the other Gréekes in care, then plunged was,

With sorrowe sore, séeing how ill the warre was brought to passe.

Who semblance none, nor countnāce made, homward to take ye sea [...],

Nor once t'imbarke himselfe, this ende so muche did him displease.

Is it agréed, saide Pallas then, O thou Vlysses wise,

Pallas to Vlysses.

That this shamefull departure thus be taken in thys wise?

Shall thus the Gréekes be séene to flye, and Troyans to enioy

That beautie, which al Greece to win, brought their whole strēgth [...] Troy?

These rauishing beasts hir to possesse, to sée dost yu not burne?

I pray thée hast with pleasant wordes to stay the Gréekes returne,

Here to abide, vntil such time, as ye haue séene eche one

The Troyan towne within the walles and tower of Ilion.

The warie Gréeke hearing the voice diuine, without delay

Threwe off his wéed, and to the campe he tooke the nearest way,

The lighter clad to make more spéede, and méeter to make haste,

The which an Herault straight tooke vp, and folowed him as fast.

And Agamemnon as he ranne, he mette right in the face.

Vlysses [...]akes Agamemnons Sceptre.

Of whome (the more to be estéemde) he tooke hys golden Mace.

By happe, if in this hurly burle, with Prince or King he met,

With gentle spéeche he causde them stay, these words he forward set,

Ah fellowe mine, it is not méete, that we, who beare the porte

Vlysses speakes cur [...]ously to the Princes.

Of Kings and heads, should shew our selues as do the meaner sorte,

Daald dastards, but our parte it is, from slouth them to refraine,

And to leade them by counsel good, to things more for their gaine.

Agamemns fetch you do not féele, who by a gentle way

Doth proue to sée which Grecian heart most failes and faints away,

Or who holdes out: so his reward or punishment to bestow,

He is too wise that eche man should his minde and secrets know.

Wherefore we ought all to foresée, that he finde cause no where

In vs to stirre: for a Kings wrath is burthen great to beare.

The vvrath of a King.

For that powre, by the whiche he rules, procéedes from grace aboue,

And who commands here in Gods place, him God doth alway loue.

The raigne comes from God. Vlysses [...]hastiseth mutinous souldiours.

Vlysses to his fellow Knightes thus curteously did say,

Not irously, but if he founde a knaue carefull of pray,

Or mutinous, who made as though he home would passe the seas,

With his Sceptre he dealt some blows, &, beastly wretche he sayes:

[Page] Becomes it thée, thou Hedgehog thou, who loues no toile but ease,

With murmorous wordes to go about thy Captaine to displease?

Retire and stande, my friend I say, with those are of [...]y bande,

To [...]eare the Kings, who can appoint whats méetst to take in hand.

Th [...] [...] all [...] vve [...]. Obedie [...] to Kings.

Eche one of honor maye not be a King and Ruler straight,

For worthy Fame and great renoume are things that are of waight,

If they be Marshalled by one: wherfore in euery case

Let vs obey that King, whome Ioue hath set here in his place.

Suche gentle wordes Vlysses vsde, that so they did retire,

And straight they left their ships, in troups & plūps y• kings to heare,

Making such noise as doth the sea, when with some boisterous brag

It makes the shoare whistle along, with beating on eche crag.

Comp [...].

Ech one did choose himselfe a place, whereas he heare might beste,

Saue Thersites among them al without a roume did rest.

This Thersits was a surly knaue, and eke a dogged swine,

Homer [...] the name [...] Thersi [...] des [...] seditio [...] person.

Not knowing honor nor his good, and alwaies spent his time,

And tooke delight to mocke and scorne, and vse with trifling toyes

Euen the chiefe: and in such trickes consisted al his ioyes:

Thinking that it became him wel, when he did them contrary:

And worse: he was the vgliest beast, that ere the earth did carry:

The [...] vvas [...] me [...].

It séemde Nature had sought hir wit his foulenesse for to shape:

Ill limmde he was, and for his head, it pillde was like an Ape,

A Crassum c [...]put, and his eares they were of Asses last,

His limmes gourdie, crooked, and lame: in fine, take thys at last,

His forme was monstrous to beholde, his shape none euer had,

He reaked not, though he were thought in trouble still to gad.

All his contention and debate was broadly to gainsay

Vlysses and Achill, and ofte like part, yea, woulde he play

With Agamemnon, who, bycause he knewe th'ole host of late,

Or moste of it, did stomacke then, for that so fonde debate,

Bycause he helde Bryseis the faire: he spéedes to him amaine,

Thus scornfully to anger him, and moue him in eche [...]aine.

What doste thou lacke Agamemnon, t'accomplish thy desire?

The [...] Ag [...] ▪

What wouldst thou haue? what grieues thy hart? & sets it so on fire?

What doth it else demaunde▪ for first thy coffers full they be

Of golde, siluer, and iewels heapt, thy ships and tents we sée

[Page] Beset with passing Damsels through, which we the Gréekes bestow

In gifte on thée, when by assaulte we bring a Citie lowe.

If to vs chaunce a prisoner rich, we can thée not deny,

But bring to thée (strangely me thinke) his raunsome by and by:

For all these things at thy desire, yet art thou not content,

But if thou séest a captiue, whome nature hath beautie lent,

Hir strayght t'abuse thy corage serues: wherfore what should mē say,

Shall we al our allegeance beare, and such an head obey,

Or honor him, we very beastes and Gréekes infamde? nay, nay,

Not Gréekish knights, but Greciā dames, what get we here to bide?

This Auarice here let vs leaue, that perish may this pride,

And he of causing wrong debates may know the irkesome gaines,

Lets leaue him here, and he shal know what wrong Achill sustaines,

For Agamemn thou hadst good hap when as the quarrell grewe,

For, if that he reuenge had sought, downe there he had thée slewe.

Vlysse hearing this arrogant foole, with au [...]ere looke drew neare,

Vlysses to Thersites.

And looking through his browes at him, he spake as you shall heare:

Thou knaue defamde, thou busie Iacke, althoughe I knowe by kind

Thou arte a rayler, hold thy tongue, and set not thus thy minde,

Aught in reproch of him to say, whome we as chiefe do chuse,

For not the beste, euen of vs al, ought him in wordes misuse,

And much lesse thou, who of the campe art refuse and outcast,

What a trim Counsellour is this, who ꝓrates and talkes thus last.

Of our departure from this siege, without respect to knowe

Whether our good or losse it be? and (his vile minde to showe)

Commes here to taunt Agamemnon, and casteth in his téeth

The gift, which his desert did craue, and we rewarded with?

But hearke thou Iacke, and be thou sure, that if little or muche

Vlysses threatneth Thersytes. O [...]he of V [...]ysses.

I finde thée chatte agaynst the Kyngs, or else their honor touche,

That from my necke my head I loose, I pray the Gods aboue,

And that mine onely sonne do dye, whome I entirely loue,

If straight as cruelly as I can, I strippe thée not of all,

Yea mother na [...]te, no not thy shirt to couer thée withall,

And then in eche my hands a whip I scourge thée through the plaine,

Carelesse the Gréeks and thou thy selfe shalte hide for shame & paine.

So saying, with his Mace he hent him sixe or seauen bangs,

[Page] That on his crooked backe and bombes, the bloudy drops so hangs.

Vlysses stri [...]es The [...] vvith his Scep [...].

Then Thersites set vp with shame, grunting with chéere full ill,

Dreading that worser broiles might hap, wyth sobs so held him sti [...].

Which made th'assembly all to smile, (though troubled as before)

Laughing at him with open mouth, and at this skirmish sore.

Eche one lauding Vlysses muche, they thus reporte of him:

The o [...] on h [...] [...] Vlysses.

O what good zeale and wisedome great, with care of him so trimme.

His valyantnesse we knowe long since, and eche man well espies

He péerelesse is, hardie in warre, and eke in councell wise:

Yet neuer did he better déede, than coursing this rebel,

For henceforth nothing shal he moue, whiche dutie thinkes not well.

And Pallas played the Heraultes parte, exclayming to eche one

To holde them still, the flowing Gréeke to heare, seconde to none.

Pallas [...] the [...] [...]lt [...]o [...] [...]lence. Vlysses to Aga [...] and th [...] ▪

Who séeyng them al so whusht to heark, spake thus before the thrōg:

Agamemnon thou worthy Prince, thou haste too open wrong,

Of al these Gréeks vnder thy charge, to Greece who homward would

Against the promise they haue made, which rather kéepe they should,

The whyche they made not to returne, til Troy were in thy hande,

Like Babes and Widowes full of rage, themselues alone to stande,

Desiring to their pleasure thus their Countrey earth to gaine,

Which rather they should flée, knowing their toile hath bin in vaine,

And truth it is, that the pilot a whole month on the seas

Com [...] of a [...] of the [...] ▪

Toste with the surge and weltring waue, is pensiue diuers wayes,

And on his house, and wife at home, his whole desire doth goe:

Likewise these men some reason haue, to griene and sorrowe so.

But if we shoulde wel weigh our case, Reproch we cannot flye,

But lose our honor and renoume, whiche losse is now too [...],

When men shall know our long abode: I doe aduise and pray,

Al you my friends, plucke vp your harts, for your own wealth I say.

What, suffer nowe yet one yeare more, that we Gréeks know therby

Whether the knowledge of Calchas truth tolde or else did lye.

What he declarde by Prophecie, I thinke you all well knewe,

In Aulis towne of Beocie, he then as Prophet true.

The [...] appered [...] the Greek [...] [...] th [...] [...] of Au [...] [...] Beo [...].

Where all the Gréekes assembled were reuenge for to deuise

Againste Priam, it hapned then in doing sacrifice,

To Iupiter to be our guide, vnder a Béeche right gréene

[Page] With shadow fresh, by which to rise a liuely spring was séene,

That of the Gréekes who stoutest is, his heart for dreade was colde,

From th'aultars foote, a Dragon crept, so hideous to beholde:

For huge he was, and to all sighte righte terrible in shape,

The colour painted on his scales, was as the scarlet Grape.

The Dragon drawing to the trée, to highest braunche did créepe,

Where in the leaues he sparrowes found 8, yong that loud did péepe,

Which sodainly he rauend vp, and hir birdes to forgo,

The Damme alone lamenting much, he straight deuourd also:

But by and by his figure chaungde, when he had eat the Damme,

And of a monstrous Serpent tho, a rocke he straight became,

We present there, and looking on, and eke astonied all

At this so dreadfull beast and chaunce, that erst did so befall.

Then Calchas said: O people Gréek, what makes thée in this maze,

The prophecie of Calchas.

The mightie heyre of Saturne high thine honor meanes to blase,

And hath declarde a perfect signe of thy renowme to raise,

The time shall serue, though long it be. to thine eternal praise.

And as the Dragon did deuour these séely little ones,

And eke the Damme, in number nine, did swallow all at once:

Likewise great daungers we shall passe in this our warre of Troy,

For nine yeares space, we shall returne to oure twice double ioy.

For in the tenth yeare we shall sée Troy sackte, and Priame slaine:

Thus Calchas tolde this secret hidde, which hitherto is plaine.

Beholde the end at hand: Wherefore a while attende the same,

That hauing victorie of this towne, we parte with lasting fame.

Vlysses wordes and zeale so wél receivde was of the rout,

There of the Tents, the ships, and shoare, bare witnesse al about,

Resounding with the peoples noise, praysing his iudgement wise,

Whiche being stilld, the hoare Nestor to speake then straight did rise.

Oh hatefull case, worthy reproche, thus Nestor did begin,

O ye most variable folke, what mischiefe are we in:

Nestor to the Greeks

As for our braueries heretofore, and councels diuers wayes,

As farre as I sée, are but toyes and little childrens playes,

Who trauaile with their whole delight in foolishe trifles more

Than things aught worth, where are ye vowes & promises erst swore:

The othes so déepe and plighted faiths? where is the hatred greate:

[Page] Against Priam remaynes it yet, or else the cruel threate,

No, no, all these things quite are gone, and cleane you do forget

You minde them not, your idlenesse hath you so fully mette,

That without harming any wayes our enmies here of Troy,

We striue among our selues in words of eche inuented toye,

And none there is so wise, which mindes how now may ended be

This warre begonne: Agamemnon, the thiug belongs to thée,

And if thy duetie I declare, thy pardon I require:

Togither for to plucke thy spirits should be thy chiefe desire,

And on these Campes, as reason is, to set thy care and minde,

As to the chiefe of all the host, and chiefetaine is assignde.

And if some one withdrawe himselfe, and wil not bide the fray,

And do refuse what thou commaundst, leaue him for nought away.

(Hauing indured such hurrie harde) what Gréeke wil here request

For to depart, no knowledge, whether the plighted hest

Which Ioue did make, be true or no? for sure by letting fal

The dreadful flames of lighnting fire among vs Grecians al,

The lightning on the right [...] good, [...] for the Greekes.

On our right hands we martching on, did giue vs for to know,

That he himselfe would point a meane, and once the time wold show

Wherein we should cleane take away by sword the Troyan route.

What? courage sirs my selowes al, and yet a while holde out,

For we are almost at a pointe: wherefore what néedes this hast,

Til that eche one here of vs al, at wil and ease be plast

With Troyan Dames, and of Priam some daughter eke of his

Their owne parents and husbands by, to venge vs of Paris,

That wicked whelpe, who toke in hande, and that so lewdly durst

Rauish from vs, and steale away from Greece our Heleine furst?

And in meane time, if any wretch or coward darelesse knaue,

Do hardly beare this our abode, or else misliking haue,

And home wil runne, him hang you vp: & much you ought to héede,

And be aduisde with careful minde, how al things do procéede,

Conferre, both giue and counsel take, but who the best are tryde,

Those follow stil: I thinke it good your Campe you do deuide

By nations sere, as they do martch, some distance leaue betwéene,

That if apart they happe to fight, they shal be better séene,

Than if confusedly they went: and plainely shal you sée

[Page] Which of them best their dueties do, and whether so it be

That for prolonging of this war the Gods do it agrée,

And stil continue do the same by heauens hie decrée,

Or that the fault is in their Campe which listeth not to frght.

To this good counsel Agamemn aunswers the aged wight:

What ioy quoth he, is for to heare in wisdome how you passe,

Oh worthy sire, ech Grecian Prince that is, or euer was.

Oh Ioue, oh Phoebus, oh Pallas, would God such Nestors ten

Me for to comfort now I had, you should sée quickly then

By their good conduct Priam tane, and down his Citie torne,

The Gods so would, and my mishap that I to furie borne

So hateful gainst Achil should be, for loue sole of a dame,

For which I only am in fault, and no man else to blame:

But if it please thy heauenly grace, that we two may agrée,

Maugre all force, sonne Ilion quite in Ashes you shall sée.

To make vs stronger, let vs dine, and then draw out our power,

To front our foes more valiauntly, and ech one for to scoure

His gallant brightsome armour tricke, let him some care apply,

And trim their shields and bucklers all, your Chariots also hie

To binde so fast, they stagger not, and chief, as best is wont,

Do throughly prouend wel your Horsse, for they must bide the brunt.

The battel and the murder wil indure til sunne doth set,

Where many a lustie souldiour shal vnder his Baudrike swet,

In playing the man with Target borue himself for to defend,

And laying from him with his sword to bring his enmies end.

And eke ye stéeds orehaeld by draught, shal scarce haue power to blow.

In fine, if any Gréeke there be so lewde, that I may knowe

The fight to flye, and for to runne out of the troupe and bandes,

In ship himselfe to hide, no helpe shal saue him from my handes

But forthwith die, yea die he shal, to graue none shal him beare,

The dogs and flying soules for foode shal him asunder teare.

This spéech which Agamemnon had, doth greatly ioy the Gréekes,

They such a noyse and whirring made, as round the ayre it strikes:

The sound was like vnto the sea when as the whirling blasts

The fléeting waue it roring loude, on rockie mountaines casts.

Ech one repaireth to his tent, and dines contented wel

[Page] To mightie Gods they sacrifice and to their prayers fel.

They pray that that dayes iourney end, and to their daunger none.

To Ioue oblation doth prepare also Agamemnon,

As best becōmes the Captaine chiefe: an Oxe of fiue yeares old

Ful thicke and fat, to dine with him the Prince also he woulde

Haue of the Campe the chiefest Péeres, who sent for, there did méete:

Nestor of all came first, and then Idomene king of Creete,

The Aiax twaine, Diomede fifth, the sixth Vlisles flie,

To whom also then Menelau presents himselfe them by,

Ful certaine of the burden great, his brother then did beare

Sole for his sake in those turmoyles: they all assembled there.

And th'offring brought into the place, and cakes on Aulter layed,

As best denotion then did bid: Agamemn thus he prayed:

Of Gods thou Ioue the soueraigne chiefe, and Lord of Welkin hie

Of aire, and of this earth below, who lets the thunder flie,

The stormes of Haile & pashing showers, grāt me this day thy grace

That I this Citie set a fire, or night do come in place

Which hath so long westood our force, grant ye my sworde doe sheare

This day the shirt of Hector stout, on brest which he doth weare,

And that by me he end his dayes, viewing hys souldiours al,

Enforcing them to saue his life, in bloudie death to fall.

He prayed thus: but Ioue was deafe, he pleased not to heare,

For all his offering there so great, he doth him greatly deare.

Then is the hostie slaine and flayde, and part on gridorne put,

The liuer and lights they comely séeth and euery little gut.

The gigots and the other flesh in péeces they did spit,

Which rost, tipling the pleasaunt wine they downe to table sit.

At pleasure hauing fed their fil, old Nestor was the furst

Who could not rest, but with these words their talking tales he burst:

It is no time Agamemnon to laugh or chat at all,

But execute we must the thing, to which Ioue vs doth call.

Commaund then all the Heraults here that they go crie amaine,

And hither warne the Campe to come, and then let vs againe

Ech one in field go raunge his bande, and there with curteous wordes

Exhort them, that right souldiour like they wéelde, & vse their swords.

Agamemn bids the Heraults good to go from band to band,

[Page] And cal ye Gréekes, who Heraults heard, & came straight out of hand,

A séemely sight it was to sée th'array in euery thing,

And armour of the warlike Gréekes ech following his king:

But goodlier was it to behold, those great and mightie Kings,

What paine they tooke, the multitude who there in order brings.

Wyth them stoode Pallas al vnknowen, come down frō Welkin hie:

Of Ioue the God inuin [...]ible, who liues immortally,

The Target hung, and gastful so, she on hir shoulder bare,

About the which hanging of gold an hundred pendants were.

So richly framde, as ech was worth of [...]eues an hundred told.

So armde, of doughtie Grecians so the harts she doth embolde

To play the men, with dreadlesse minds, and do as souldiours right:

They nothing more wishe, than their liues to venter, and to fight.

The shining of their armor bright, gret Targets, shields of weight

Amid the plaine, was like in shew to those on mountaine height,

As is the fire in forrest made, which men do sée a farre:

So shone their harneis gainst the sunne, and weapons for the warre.

And like a gay great heard of Cranes, or flock of swans like snow,

Or Géese a lesser foule, with Charme, and sundry singing go,

Harde by the pleasaunt Caister floud, vnder the clothed trées,

That all the places rounde about do sound in fundry wise:

So Gréekes armde at Scamanderbanke, for fight in euery thing,

Such noise they yeelde, as fur aloofe they make the medowes ring.

With treading of the Horsse likewise the valley long did sound

To battayle martch, as many Gréeks, as flowers on the ground.

And as you sée great swarmes of flies, flie oft out hollow hoales,

And come in skul into the place wheras the shepheard foldes,

And gathers at the spring the milke, which of his shéepe he reapes:

Euen so suppose the Gréeks, they came out order al in heapes.

But their good leaders them, dispose, as heardsmen who with care

At euen aye their flockes in field, to seuer do prepare.

Whom al aboue, Prince Agamemn himselfe did shew at ful,

As chiefe in name, so chiefe in déede, who brauing as a Bul

Came fierce, triumphes, and rule he wil, ouer the Dren bréede:

So he the puissant King commaundes how matters shal procéede.

For head he lookt that day like Ioue, like Neptune for his brest,

[Page] You would haue iudgde him presently God Mars for all the rest.

It was the pleasure then of Ioue such deckings to bestow

In Agamemu, that more thereby his honor he might showe.

Now Muses who in heauen hie your place and dwellings haue,

The fauourers of vertuous workes, teach me I humbly craue,

To tell that now I cannot write, yée all and all do knowe,

Recite the Princes who to Troy did with the army goe,

Recite their countrys and their ships: but hearesay, nought haue we,

It shall suffise to tell the names of those, who chiefest be.

For no man can with all his wittes rehearse of all the men

The number and the proper names, though tongues, yea, fully ten

Right good he had, and mouthes like, wel spéecht that open were:

If euerlasting voyce I had, and breast of brasse did beare,

Without your fauour I may haue, in this, I am but lost.

Of Ioue you daughters Goddesses, of grace and vertue most,

Oh teach me then to name the kings and shippes of Gréekish host.

¶ The Cataloge of the Grecian Princes, and of their nauie that came to the siege of Troye, and also of the Troyan Dukes, and forraine Kings who came to Priams ayde: Translated out of the Latine.

TO Troyan cost from Beotie fiue warlike leaders cum,

Pencle, Prothaeno, and Leiton, Arcesilaus, Clonlum,

These people hath Beotia lande, they who do hyries eare,

The Beotia Dukes. The places of Beotia.

With Scaenon, Scolon, Aulida, which s [...]onie earth doth beare,

[Page] And also [...] Eteonum, be [...]pred wi [...]h Maiora [...],

Thespia, Graea, M [...]ales, and to [...]n L [...]gam

With Haxma olde, the Ilesy, and those that pasture on

The auntient soyle of Erythra, and men of Eleon,

Of Peteon, and Hilis eke, and those in Copae dwel

And in Med [...]on, [...] for wals in pride doth so excal,

With Thisbes, which doth so abound with doues of wanton wil,

Who Eutresis, and Coron [...]e, and Plate [...] gay do til.

Th'inhabitaunts of Aliarte, which is so fraught with grasse,

And who do stately Thebes holde, and liue about Glissas,

Orcheston too, with sacred groue to Neptunes godhead [...]owde,

And Arnen, where ye trées of vines with waight of grapes are [...]owde,

Midea faire, Niss [...] diuine, and lastly, who do liue

In Anth [...]do, whose fields about do fraught of flowers giue.

With fiftie ships they come full stuft with weapon and with men,

[...] Beotian ships.

Ech one an hundred souldiours brought, and also double tenne.

Who from watred Orchomenon, with Minyeus floud,

Orchomeniens.

Whose Citie is Aspledona, two knights of Mars his bloud

Ascalaphus and Ialmen leade: Astyoche the fayre

While she a virgin Actors childe, did by hir selfe repaire

To Parler sole, Mars hir deflourde, and forth she brought the twinne,

Those two welfurnisht at the ful with thirtie sayle come in.

From Phocis opposite against, such numbers as were sent,

With Sch [...]us and Epistrophus two souldiours odde they went.

The Captaines of the Pho [...]nses.

Them Iphitus Eubole begat: they all of Cyparis,

Of rockie Pytho, of Cr [...]ssa, of P [...]op and Daulis,

Of loftie Hyampole, and wholy on Cephisson floold,

In Anemore, whose dwellings to, at head of Lilee stoode,

From whence Cephissa riuer r [...]es with fortie ships they swéepe,

And as Beotians faithfu [...]ates, their left hand side they kéepe.

The diuerse armed Locrenses; valiaunt Orleus sonne

The noble Aiax he did guide, who did as swiftly runne

Locrenses.

As [...]sterne windes▪ but lesse in fact and eke in name likewise,

For néere to Aiax Telamo [...] in height [...] did not rise,

But weaker much with members lesse, yet bare he mightie bre [...],

And for the throwing of a [...]rt [...]e [...] all the rest.

[Page]

These lands the Locrenses do holde: Cynon, Opoes, Scarphen,

The [...] o [...] [...] ▪

Calliaron, the pleasannt Auge, Thronium and Tarphen,

Bessa, and people who do bide about Boager banke,

All ioynde to warre, with fortie ships to Troy they come in ranke.

Against sacred Euboea shore the Locri [...]s region lyes.

The Abantes who hold Euboea, out whose mouthes for [...]e out flyes,

[...] ▪

Who Cbalcida, Eretria, and wine Histia haue,

Cerinth [...]m by the sea, the town of Iupiter so braue,

With Car [...]ston, and in Styra who dwelling do abide,

Those▪ doth a martiall worthy Prince Elphenor Captaine guide,

The Calcyens eke a guider stoute, of the Abantes bandes,

Who were the best throwers of Dartes, that euer threw with hands,

And cunning shakers of the staffe to hit their foe a farre,

These also fortie: Bottomes big did bring vnto the warre.

From mightie walled Secrops town where people so do flourish

Of Erechthus, whom br [...]d in field Ioues daughter great did nourishe,

To him a Temple Athens raisde, on them he first did raigne,

Athen [...]

For yearely sacred offerings there both neate and lambes are slayne,

The doughtie mightie Menesthe the army out he leades,

No man his match for placing Horsse, and furnishing of steades,

And marchaling of souldiours close, wherein though Nestor ware

His better both for vse and yeares, therein he durst compare.

With fiftie warlike Kéeles he came from Athens straight as line,

And twice sixe Aiax Telamon did bring from Salamine,

The [...] ▪

The which he plast hard on the shore, the Cecrop sayles them by.

Who Gréekish Iunoes Argos holds, and Tyrinth walled hye,

Hermiones, and Asines, Troëzene hie in shore,

Eiöne sacred Epidaure, of [...]ines which hath such store,

Who are in wealthy Egina, and in Masita bred,

Those Diomedes big of voyce, and Stheneleus led

D. [...], Sten [...] ▪ lu [...], & H [...] ▪ rialus the [...] ▪ [...].▪ [...] ▪

The sonne of noble Capanus, two men of prowes odde,

With them the third Eurialus, in vertue like to God.

Mecest of Telaios was his sire, but doughtie Diomede

Did rule as chiefe, with fourscore saile they came right wel arayde.

Who do Mycenas stately frontes inhabite and maintaine,

Who in rich Corinthes wals of pride, and in Ornias raigne,

The [...] My [...] ▪

[Page] Who in Cleonas building braue, and Araethyra but,

With fruiteful fallowes round beset, and liue S [...]cion in

Where once Adrastus great was king: Gon [...]es on the Hill,

Hyperesis, Pelle [...]is, and Aegion, who do til,

All who dwel on the croked shore, and in the region large

Aga: king 100. ships.

Of Helissen, those Agamemn Atrides hath in charge.

Gallies and Gallions riggde he brought an hundred for reliefe,

Whom people and the Princes all did choose to be their chiefe.

For as in power he passed furre, his valure was not smal,

Wherfore by Gréekes consent he had the gouernement of al.

Who people do the Bulwarkes proude of L [...]cedaemon towne

Fishing surnamde, who loftie Sparte, and Par in low adowne,

The Lacedemonians and their dvvellings King Menelaus. 60. shippes.

Who Messis full of doues, and Auge, that is so pleasaunt aye,

Brysas, and who of Amyclare enioy the gréenes so gay,

Who Helon, and the fennish shore, and Tylon do frequent

With Laan, these with thréescore saile with Menelaus went,

With men and weapons furnisht ful, a man of doughtie pride,

Wel toungde, he also brother was vnto the great Atride,

His wife by stealth him taken fro, to deadly wrath he grew,

For Helenes sake with teares and plaints the Gréeks to war he drew.

Who kéepe in Pilon Neleida, and in Areius tillde,

The Pyli [...]s and their dvvellings.

Thryon, and Alphes méeting foordes, and Epy hielie hillde

With towers aloft, Cyparissa, and Eneo [...] alway gréene,

And who in Pteleon and Helos, and [...] dwellers béene,

The fable of Thamyris, depriued by the mus [...]s, of versifying.

Where Muses did bereaue of Thrace Thamyris of his skill

Of versifying, with whom he met with hap vnluckie ill,

When from Eurythus he did come, of Oechalie the king,

And swéeter than the Goddesses he boasted he did sing,

If they durst trye with him in song: Ioues children gréevde thereat,

D Nester, 90 ships.

His song and H [...]rping they doe marre, so vainely who did chat.

These souldiours bring [...] Duke Nestor he, the oldest for his yeares,

With ninetie strong and warlike barkes wel armed he appeares.

The nations of Arcadie townes, which so doth swarme with men,

The Arcades and their dvvellings.

And who doe dwel about the foote of mountaine hie Cyllen

Hard by the [...] so highly he apt, where mightie bodies lie,

Of many worthy warlike [...], who in the war did die,

[Page] In Pheneon, who leade their liues, and in rich Orchomen,

By meanes of Lambes so finely fléesde, in Rhipes Stratien.

In Enispes, subiect alway to winde where so it blowe,

Tigea, and Mantina gay, and who in Stymphalo,

And stately seated Parrhasis: to these Agapenore

Is Prince, the worthy Ances sonne, who came with full thréescore

Right roomy kéeles, with souldiours fraught, but they him giuen was

By the great king Atride, the sea of Nigropont to passe,

Bycause the Arcades farre from sea, and shore thereof doe fare,

They little reake for marine worke, and small for shipping care.

The natiue men of Buprasis, and of Elidadie,

Of Hyrnim, of furthest Myrsin, harde to the ridges hie

The Ep [...] ens & [...].

Of craggie Olen, and who dwell as farre as Alise olde,

These forward came with doubtie Dukes ful foure in number tolde.

Eche one with twice fiue vessels armde, as any could desire,

Amphimach first, sharpe Thalpy next, to whome Eurite was sire,

And Eteato to Amphimache, thirde Amaryncis was

D [...]ores cleapte, Polyxen fourth in shape who so Dis passe,

Ioues sonne by Auge, of Epeis they did bring a mightie masse.

The nations of Dulichium, and set alofte in waues,

Dulichiens.

Sacred Echinald, Elidis for Region fine that braues,

Meges a matche for Mars himselfe, their Captaine him they wull,

With t [...]les of warre, he Brigants brought in number fortie full.

The rider good Phileus Auge at Duliche, gote him there,

When from his wrathfull sire he fled, whom Ioue did fauor beare.

The warlike bandes of Cephalee, with crags and rockie hilles,

And of Neriton sterile earth, which mightie trées so filles,

Cep [...] ens, and their box [...] dures.

And of the little I [...]hache fieldes, so barraine and so bad,

Of hard Crocilia, and the soile of Aegelipee clad,

With barenesse strange, and torne Torres of Samon, of Zacin,

Whose pastures be so ful of woodde, and al the folke within

The Countrey hie, the sea aloofe, Vlysse a Ioue for head,

Did ouer-rule, twelue shippes he brought, their sternes al okard red.

Th' Etolien men of Pleuronis and loftie Olenon

Of Chal [...]is nie, high Pyles shore, and stony Calydon,

Andraemons sonne Duke Thoas rulde, the Etoles all he lead,

[Page] For all Oeneas stocke was failde, himselfe eke lately dead,

Cretenses.

Nor yellow Meleager did lyue, with vessels [...]oure times tenne

He did augment the nauie, and with thousandes so of men.

The worthy souldior Idomene the Cretian crues he brought,

Leuied out of Gneson and Gorthyna walld alost,

And Lycta olde for buildings famde, and Lycast white as Snowe,

With Phest, Milet, and Rhytion, well peop [...]ed townes you knowe

The whole supplie of Creta, whiche the [...]oomie sea [...],

100 Cities of Creta.

With Cities large an hundred full, doubtie Idomene fets,

And Meryan a Mars indéede, with fourescore in in tale,

And harnest Hulkes, with picked men they come with mery gale.

Great Tlepoleme great Herculs sonne, for war and bones a m [...]

The Rhodians they in number great with him to nauie ranne,

The Rhodi ans. Theyr Tovvnes

With Galleis nine of fertile Rhodes, where men tricke so their h [...]

Of Lindus, Ialisse, and Camire, who snowish hewe doth weare.

With them to Toy Tlepoleme commes, of greate Alcidas séede,

Whome it is sayde Astyoche bare, when Alcide did procéede

His mightie-sire to conquere realmes, he him from Ephyre tooke,

And out that countrey brought him home from nie Sellen [...]ees broo [...]

Where growing now to riper yeares, he flewe his fathers frien [...]

Allide in bloud, a vertuous wight, Licymnion had his end,

An aged man by slaughter his. Which done, his mates he calle [...] ▪

And hasting straight vnto the sea, to flight he forwarde falles:

For al the flocke of Herculs bréede themselues to vengeance [...]ast,

He scapte them al, with sundrie toiles he seas and countries [...] ▪

Nir [...]us Capitaine of the Symei 3 shippes. Next Achil les he vvas the godliest man. Calidneiens and other Insulans, vvhose prin ces vvere Phidippus and Antiphus thirtye shippes. Pelasgiens. Thessaliens

And light at Rhodes, which I [...]e beset thrée Cities namde before,

The whiche, for his sake mightie Ioue did blesse with wealthi [...] [...]

With fore gates thrée from Syma went Aglaies Nirëus,

A King he had to [...]ather his that hight Caropaeus,

Of all that came to Troy, he was a man for making odde,

Achill except, yet fewe he lead, bycause he was a lobbe.

The Nysire youth Capathus, Cast, and Euripile, not greate,

And al the Iles Calidnee cleapt, whereon the waues do beate,

Phidippus and Antiphus brings, Thessalees sonnes that were,

Amphytrios nephewes, Carauels they seas with thirtie shere

The Kréekers of Pelasgicke, Arge, Alopen, and Alon,

[Page] Trac [...] small, wel walld Pthie, and many a Myrmidon,

Bred of ful of many mothers faire, Achaes and Helens hight,

Myr [...] ▪ Hellades &c. vvhose leade [...] vv [...] Ach [...]es [...]0. shippes.

Who are also the Hellades eke, these Achill led aright

To Troy, there fiftie Argosies, both bigge and small he brought,

These ydle people of the warres vnhapppy neuer thought.

The mates who set their mind on muck no man wil bring to fight,

[...]chill then loytering kept aboord, doled with griefe and spite,

[...]nd wroth for leauing of Bryseis his tricke and gallant trull,

For whome he taken had such toile when as he downe did pull

The Bulwarkes proude of Lyrnessis in strong and warlike mart,

[...]nd wonne hir there, and Thebes sackte, and also claue the heart

Of Minite and Epistrophon, who sonnes of Euen were,

[...]nd also brethren vnto hir, whome nowe he helde so dere,

[...]nd for whose sake he mourning lies, with dreaming still of her,

That absent was, yet he againe to turne vnto the war.

Who seated are in Philaca, and in Pyrrhason wood

[...]o [...]ully fraught with Ceres plants, and Iton bréeder good

Phylaceens and their dvvellings.

Of waightie felterd felled shéepe: and Antro in the shore,

With Pteleon of Wedlockes rytes that makes so great a store:

Protesilau [...] ruler [...] shippes.

To these was Prince Ptotesilau, with fortie saile he hyed

[...]traight vnto Troy, a souldior right, whereas he quickly dyed.

For whome his wife Laodame with teares ful mourning is,

[...]nd wayling stands that princely Court, who doth ye Maister misse.

He was the firste of all the Gréekes on Phrygian shore that lepte,

His slaye [...] is taken to be Hector.

Who there a worthy warrior slue of Troy to him that stepte.

These people were not Princelesse yet, nor left vnarmed quite,

[...]odarce rich, Ip [...]clus his sonne, them rules, a warlike wight,

Brother to stout Protesilau, but lesse of yeares and déede,

A good man yet, and therefore glad his souldiors forth to leade.

The folke of Pheres and B [...]ben, Glaphyre, and Bebeid [...],

Phercie [...].

In fennish scite, Iaolcon which in houses beares such showe.

Eumel with fiue wel harnest Hoyes augments the nauie there,

Who to Admetus Alcest, bréede, of beautie odde, did beare.

The garrison of Methonie, and next Taumacie fieldes

Melibae, and Olizenes, whiche stony countrey yéeldes,

Methoni [...]s, and their borders.

The cunning shot Philoctetes in seauen shippes doth bring

[Page] And mates they were not eas [...]y matcht with such as Iauelins flin [...]

[...]loctetes vvounded, and left in Lemnos, of vvhom is a G [...]eckishe Tragedie.

In eche shippe fiftie souldiours were: but lefte in Lemnos he

Was by the Gréekes, where wounded sore his chance it was to b [...] ▪

With festered wound, that déerde him so, ystroke with Hydras blou [...]

The Argiues yet him doe desire, not Dukelesse though they stoode.

To them is Medon Coronell, the bastard of Oiley,

To whome his mother Rhene him bare, then Medon leades the wa [...] ▪

The Triccen men, and who abide in rockes aboute Itho,

Triccenses, Ithomenien ses, and Occhaliens.

And Oechalie, whiche Euryte ruled, with saile thrice tenne they go [...] ▪

Their Generals were brethren two, their syre Coronis bare

Nephewes to Phoebus, in Phisicke they cunning Doctors ware,

Both men of warre, Machaon one, and Podalire his mate.

Of Ormen who and Hypen spring, nie Aster holdes the state

Ormeniens vvith their borderers.

By top of Titan full of snow: their Duke was Eurypile

Euemons sonne, he vessels brought forty to Troy that while.

Argissa lads on Peneid shore, and who do Gyrtho tyll,

Argissei vvith their borderers.

Orthen, Elone, white Oloos they followe with good wil,

Meneptoleme a doubtie chief, he was Perithoes sonne,

Whome Ioue on Hypodame begote, where Pelis mount dothe run [...]

So nigh the skies, and where he sire the hairie Centaures bred,

And to Macedon coaste removde, yet was he not the head

Of them alone, Leonteus was ioynde with him in charge,

A captaine good Coronus sonne, with many an armed barge,

And furnysht foist, yea fortie full, they come in for an ayde.

From Cyph [...] towne Guneus brought, barkes twentie two araye▪

Whose ensignes th'Eniens and eke the worthy Perebs would

Ciphei.

Fast followe on, and at Dodo, who dwell in countrey colde,

And who about Titaresis, whiche ay so softly floes,

As thoughe swéete Peneon runnes therein, not mixt with it, it goes▪

Perhappes for there the iu [...]ces fatte of Pallas Oliues runne,

The head from S [...]ygian Lake, by whiche the Gods to sweare do [...] ▪

The standards of Magnesia, begot by Terthredon

Magnetes, & Prothous their prince An other Prothous 40. Shippes.

Prothous leades, but people else of pleasant Peneon

And Pelion so beset with wood, an other Prothous namde

A forwarde man doth order he, with two score galleys framde

Fit for the fight: these two do come, and loe, here haue I tolde

[Page] The King and Princes euery one, to Troy that came so bold.

The goodnes of the men & horses in this vvarre.

Now say my Muse, which of the Gréeks the best and worthiest was,

And whiche horse of the horses all in praise did there surpasse,

Whiche came to the Dardanian walles by conduct of Atride,

The Mares of Eumel were the best, as swift as though they flyde,

Both of a yere, both of a haire, and both in colour like,

Eumels Mares the best.

And like the smooth and ryped Grapes, their backes were softe & slike,

Apollo in Pieria their dammes he fosterd stoute,

With mightie breasts, from nostrels whose they furie breathed out.

Aiax Telamon bare the name of all the Gréekish crues

Aiax Telamon the best souldiour nex [...] Achilles. Achilles horses the best.

Next to Achill, who waxing wroth the battaile did refuse:

Of the Achiues he was the prime for strength, for bones, for pith,

His horsses eke they odde one were, but now at variance with

Atride the Chieftaine of them all, aboord he loyters still,

His mates yet met, in diuers mirth the shore in sporting fil.

Some quaite, some exercise their bowes, and on the dankey shore

The Chariots stande, the stéedes do féede in manger them before,

Great foyson of their liked foode, wilde Smallage was their fare,

While that their Chariots to the fielde the Princes do prepare.

To these so forward to the fight when as they do request

A hand victorious them to leade, the no he doth protest.

Through all the campe they vp and downe do roile and linger on,

There is no leaue that they may fight or else to battaile gon.

But now of Gréekes the army whole doth martch with stately grace,

Comparisō of the Gree kish march.

And al their brazen armor shone, as of the earth the face

Had bin on fire, and all the fieldes had flamed ore with flashe,

And like as Ioue wood mad lightning and thunder downe doth dashe,

An other comparison

With drisling shoures, so large aboute the fields they do resound

With rushing of the weapons bright, and stamping on the grounde.

Oras when on Typhoeus tombe, whereon huge mountaines lyes,

He scourges with his tempest blacke, ysent from Arimise,

The Giants Caue, as it is sayd, such noyse their trampling yéelds,

They mouing in a bodie whole, hasting out further fieldes.

And Iris Pursiuant to Ioue, from heauen takes hir flight,

To Troyan state brings dolefull newes, and at the gates dothe light

Of Priam King, where on a plumpe consult bothe yong and olde,

[Page] Of things of waight, quicke Iris there to them this tale she told.

The fained shape and voice she tooke, of Polite Priams sonne

So swift of foote, to Eesites tombe, whom Priam made to runne

Aloft to viewe, and worde to bring, if Gréekes did haply sturre,

Light Iris like to him in legges, she enters in thus furre.

Delightst thou still O aged sire (quoth she) to spend thy time

In néedlesse talke, as when in peace did stande this state of thine:

Great warres and destinie thée déeres, and here vpon the gréene

Such swarmes and millions flocke of men, as neuer hath bin séene.

To sande and leaues they are much like, their number is so great,

They fil the ample fields: this towne they harry wil they threat.

Do thou now Hector take the charge, sith thou hast in thy walles

Such great supply, and nations séere as beste it now befalles,

Commaunde the people ruled be by Princes of their own,

Assigne eche language leaders like, and ensignes to be knowne.

Thus Iris spake, but Hector well the voice diuine he knewe,

The Councell brake, from quarters all to towne the souldiors drewe,

And wide they open all the gates, the footmen forth they rushe,

The Cornets of the horsemen placed eke in order forward pushe,

With tumult and with clamor great, and nowe with heate they trie:

In sight amidst of all the field yplaced is on hie,

A sepulchre loftie and large, which men Batia call,

But Gods Myrynes tombe it cleape: here méete the Troyans all,

Batias sepulchre.

The Battaillons and Phalanges of footemen Marshald be,

The troupes of horssemen eke, to whyche the Captaines sée.

Gay Hector was the Troyans chiefe, of Priam King the sonne,

The Catalogue of [...]he Tro [...]an [...]aders.

Under whose ensignes many a feate of doubtie war was done,

He ioly forward souldiors had, men méete for Sword and launce.

To Dardans stout and beautifull Aeneas leades the daunce,

Dardaniens

Whom Venus white vnto Anchyse of Dardanie did beare,

In clothed shade of Ida hilles, with him when ioyde she there.

Enee alone not ruled all, with him appointed are

Antenors sonnes, Archilach, and Acamas men of war.

The bands of Zele in Lycie land, at foote of Ida springs,

The Aphnees braue, Lycaons sonne the noble Pandare brings,

Aphneiens

The Aesapes eke, who dayly bib of Troes that water blacke,

[Page] Who golden Apollo taught to shoote, and bowe to beare at backe.

Adrastien [...] ▪ vvhose le [...] ders vvere Adrastus & Amphiu [...].

The aydes of the Adastreans sent out Pytiëan,

And Apease rich, and Ter [...]i hie, to these the Dukes were than

The sonnes of Mecops, Percosis, Adraston, Amp [...]on,

Whose sire the future haps did knowe, yet forward would they on,

All his persuasions sette aparte, vnto that deadly warre,

They woulde withstande the destinie, which both the men did marre.

Percosi [...]. Sesticus. Abdye [...].

Who Percot and Praction townes, who Sestos, and Abyde,

Who holde Arisbaes Princely walles, a King ful noble tride.

Asius Hyrtacis gouernde, from riche Arisba sent

Asius Pric [...] of the Ar [...] beiens. Hippolochus & Pyle us Dukes of the P [...] lasgiens. Acamas & Piro [...]s Princes of the Thracians. Euphemus captaine of the Cicons. Pyrechnes duke of the Peo [...]es. Pylemenes ruler of the Paphlagōes Eneti.

With worthy coursers for their feate, from riuer Selleent.

The willing people of Pelasge and Larisse fertile lands,

Hippothous and Pyleus both brethren, lead their bands.

Of Thracians, and next Hellespont, to war the crues are brought,

By worthy Acam and Peiro, a haughtie Heroe thought.

The launced troupes of Cicones al Euphemus doth commaunde,

The noble sonne of Traezenus Ceada hight le Graunde.

The cunning shot of Peony, Pyrecheies Marshals all

Farre off from Amydon that came, where Axius brooke doth fall

So wholly with his glassie hue. Pylaemen Prince is found

Of Paphlagons from Enet sent, where numbers so abound

Of clownish bréede: to these the seates, to Cytor ioyned nie

Sesamon one, and Erythnie on mountaine placed hie,

And Cities proud, Cronna, and eke Aegiah gay to looke,

Y placed on the pleasaunt bankes of Partheneia brooke.

Epistroph▪ and Dius Dukes of the Halizone [...]. Eunomus and Chromus Capitaines of the Mesiēs The Dukes of the Phry giens, Phor cis, & Asc [...] nius. Antiphus, & Mest [...]les broght the Meoniens.

On Halizons Epistrophus and Dius Rulers raignde,

Of Alyb farre whose soile ful déepe with siluer Ore is vainde.

Two warlike youths of Mysiens, Cromis, and Eunomus

Did guide: the last a Prophet good, yet could he not discusse

To flée his fate, and scape the fist, and fierce force of Achill,

When he so many wretches drounde, and field with Mortes did fill.

The mightie Legions of Phrygie to Phorcis did obay,

And to Ascanius proude of forme, who both had tane their way

From Ascame, a countrey farre, the loue of warre it brings

Two gallants gay armed at ful to fight they flie with wings.

With brethren Mesthles and Antyph the Meons came to fight.

[Page] Who dwel nie Tmole, Gyga their Dame, their sire Pylemene hight.

The Cares, the Dullardes in our spéech, of Mileton the rankes,

And men of P [...]hiront shaded Mount, and of Maeander bankes,

Amphimachus & Nastes broght the Cares & Milesiēs.

And who dwel on Michales hilles, them, as they did desire,

Amphimach ioynde with Nastes rulde, to both was Nomion sire.

Amphimach, like some wanton wench in golden robes was cladde,

And so into a stubborne warre did thrust himselfe as madde.

No fence in golde, death fled he not, he falleth in the floud

Aeacis dothe bereaue his golde, and eke there spilles his bloud.

On lustie laddes of Lycie land, Sarpedon beareth sway,

Lyciens.

Drawne from his Countrey Xanthus far, where that brook takes hy [...] way,

With him was féere vnto the fielde in armor Glaucus gay.

Finis Libri secundi.

¶ The third Booke.

AFter the Troyans troupes came forth new raunged on the soyle

With manly mindes and courage good to put their foes to foyle,

In sodain with a maiestie, they martch on Gréekish hoste,

And like the Cranes they to the skies their cries and clamours tost,

Who leaue their hils and mountaines hie, great shoures knowing to fal,

And séek their foode by Neptunes shore, where they their armies cal,

For the Pygmeis, with whom ful oft war cruel they do hold,

With stroke of wing, of bil and foote, if they their force vnfold.

The Gréeks againe come forward on, yéelding no noise nor crie,

Comparisō of the Cranes vvho vvar vvith the Pigmeis

Full wood with rage them to reuenge with furie they drewe nie,

With ardent minde for the desire of victors onely fame,

Eche rescuing his feere, who fought to death to gaine the same.

[Page] And as you sée in winter time ful oft how fares the mist,

Comparisō of the mist.

Which western winds scouring ye plains on moūtaines hie doth kest,

As much vnto the sheapheards losse as to the robbers gaine:

For who can sée a stones throw of ought thing in land or plaine?

Euen so the troupes, when they approcht, the dust was rearde on hie

That neyther Troyan, ne yet Greeke could one another spie.

And when the armies both were raundge, Greekes by the Troyans harde,

The ras [...] nesse of prouoking the Greke [...] to the combat. Paris his armour.

Paris with stalking pace aduauncde himself to the Gréeks warde

Stoutly calling of the Gréekes the valiantst to the fighte,

Body to bodie was his demaunde, to shew therby his might.

The armour which he bare that day, was of Leopardus skinne,

With bow stifbent, and with quiuer, and many a shaft therein,

His sword in hand, and two braue Dartes armed with stéele at all,

Which he gan shake, when as the Gréekes to combat he did call.

But Menelau his boldnesse spyde, of whom he knowledge had

To be his foe, his hart it leapes, for ioy he groweth glad,

Comparisō of a Lion meeting [...] Hart.

Most Lion like méeting an Hart or Gote he séeking pray

Amid the woods, forst by the Houndes, and Hunters to the bay,

It kild, he taking his repast, is pleasd at his good chaunce:

The Gréeke so choosing Paris out, for very ioy doth daunce,

Th'occasion offred to reuenge the wrong him lately done,

And armed as he was, he leapt down from his Chariot soone.

But Paris who saw Menelau this fight in hand should take,

Feare and covvardise of Paris.

Could not holde out, but yea almost for verie dread gan quake.

And hasting straight reculde, he dred the daunger in this case,

And did retire among his féeres to raunge him in his place,

Euen as the trauelling man ful oft passing Hils great and hie,

Comparisō of a traueller meeting a Dragon.

Not looked for right in his way finding a Serpent lye,

Doth shunne the way, and step abacke, with colour pale and wan,

With trembling limmes, more like the death than any liuing man.

With this so villanous retreate sir Hector gay was wroth,

The vehement spe [...] of Hector to Paris.

The slaunder séeing now would grow, chid Paris for his sloth.

Unhappie Paris, bearing shew as doughtie as the best,

Yet in effect but feminate, with luxure to detest.

Oh would to God thou cowarde vile, in birth thou hadst bene lost:

Such shame to bring they dolorous sire, and eke thy Country cost:

[Page] Séest thou the mirth the Gréekes do make for this thy vile retreate,

Who thought thy corpes for braune and bones of armes to beare the feate.

And this is ech mans spéech & crie, behold the Gréekish sides,

Behold a Masse of flesh, wherin no sprite or strength abides.

You were of force, I know, ere now, your ships to arme and band,

And hoyse your sayles, and turne your course to fetch a strangers lād:

And like a yong man being receivde, into a Princes house

Didst steale away against all right a worthy King his spouse,

To the dishonor and reproch of all the Troyan name,

And by the same there doth redounde to King Priam a shame,

To Gréekes a ioy, to thée a griefe, and yet thou wert afright

And erst for dread began to pale with Menelau to fight.

This is thy feare, thou castest thus, that he should thée of life

Depriue, whom thou vnworthy hast depriued of his wife.

Menelaus.

Thy voice so swéete, thy pleasaunte tongue, thy lims so feately layed,

Thy bush so séemely to thy sight, thy giftes if all be wayed

Which Venus hath bestowde on thée, should serue to little end

Thy life to saue, if in the fielde with him thou shouldst contende:

Thy coward hart hath in such case now brought ech Troyan wight

Séeing in thée nought worthy praise, that they refuse to fight.

Thy déed deserues to great reproch, wherfore now hie thée hence

Out of my sight, go packe the fourth, and hide in some defence.

Hector chiding Paris thus, tricke Paris straight confest,

Paris to Hector.

Oh brother deare, of right to me this spéech you haue addrest.

For why, your force is of suche fauour your courage eke so hie,

Comparisō of Hectors force to an A [...].

That toyle and trauayle is there none it can be hurt thereby.

No more than doth the workmans axe tourne edge, or waxeth blunt

When tymber trées, his worke to ende, the man to hew is wont.

But yet of God the giftes yée ought not thus cast in my téeth,

For Gods the same on men bestow for to reward them with:

And sith of Gods those giftes they haue, let them yéelde him ye praise,

Not metting them by their deserts, but by his wil alwayes.

Wel, if you wil with Menalau the combat I attend,

Appoint the place, that of this strife we two may make an ende.

Paris vvill fight.

Turne vs two lose here, in the Gréeks and in the Troyans sight,

Placed about vs, let them sée of vs the martiall fight.

[Page] Who victor shal be, let him haue to recompence his p [...]ine,

To make him merry, all the pray, let him possesse Heleine,

And let the Troyans vnto Troy, the Gréekes to Greece repeare,

And couenant firmely for to kéepe, let both the nations sweare.

Hector séeing Paris thus, buskle vnto the fray,

Maruailes with ioy, before his bands he steps out in the way,

His pike in midst aloft he beares, he wils them al to holde,

And stay thēselues, which straight they did as souldiors wel cōtrold:

The Gréekes cease not to martch, their stones & darts at randō flye,

Gauling the Troyans, til such time Agamemnon did cry,

Cease, cease, (quoth he good Gréekes I say) no more do shoote or thro,

Agamemn [...] to the Greekes.

To stay his men, out of the troupe the king doth also go:

Content yée yong and worthy lads, I yonder Hector sée,

To talke with vs he by his signes doth willing séeme to bée.

The shafts they cease, & straight the Darts no mā doth sée to flie,

Obedience of the Greekes.

The Campe was stil as possible might in twinckling of an eye.

Hector séeing such silence made betwéen the hostes, began,

These were the words among them all of that most worthy man.

Heare oh yée Gréekes and Troyans both what Paris doth offer

Hector to the Greeks & Troyr [...]

Unto you all, my brother here the author of this war.

He thinkes it good to make an ende of this so mortal fight

That yée aside your weapons laye, and to decide the right

Twixt him and Menelau, he would sharpe weapons should it try,

Faire Heleine should the victor haue him rendred by and by.

With all the pray, and that forthwith, to morrow else by day

Assurance made to kéepe the pact ech one depart his way.

The worthy Hector scarse an ende had made now of this case,

But stoute and forwarde Menelau spake thus in open place:

Giue eare yée Gréeks and Troyans both vnto these words of mine,

Menelaus to the Greeks and Troyans.

Who shall declare vnto you al my griefe and grieuous pine,

I do agrée now for to end this daungerous debate,

Considering erst the trauailes great and mischiefs, which of late

And long sith by both campes sustainde, for the adulterie,

And the iust cause whiche prickes me forth to venge this miserie,

That all men rest, and that Paris against me come, whereby

All yée shall sée, who ordainde is by fate to liue or dye.

[Page] And to effect that all be done, th [...]oblation whyche of due

For the sacrifice.

The Gods in such case ought to haue, the pacte to holde more true,

It néedeful is, by the Troyans two lambes there be assignde,

The one coale blacke, the other white, Male and Female by kinde,

White be the Male, the female blacke, vnto the sunne most cleare

An old ceremone.

To shed their bloud, and to the earth, of all men dame so deare,

Benigne and auncient mother of man, and we a thirde wil bring,

Which shal be offred vnto Ioue that great and mighty King.

I woulde also for suretie more, one went for olde Priam,

That for this pact and couenaunt made, he ratifie the same,

For his children all Greece wel knows, are promise breakers all,

Falsers of Faith, and vnto chaunge yong heades are alway thral:

Youth inconstant.

The olde man if he sweare the othe, if bounde he sée he be,

He wil abide no treason then, nor offer iniurie.

This fight agréed, the Citizens, and souldiors strange of Troy

The Troyans all, the Gréekes ech one, hereof beginne to ioy,

In hope an end shall now be made of this their wretched warre,

With busie toile they rounde about do place their horse afarre,

And kéeping order, forthwith then they from their Chariots light,

Their shields, their launces down they lay, and harnesse fit for fight,

Leauing good scope betwéene them both, ful fit by fight to trye.

Herault.

The ioly Hector Heraults two to Troy sends by and by,

Two Lambes to fetche, and hast Priam t'allowe all this accorde.

Talthybius eke went to the shippes, commanded by his Lord

Agamemn, to fetche the Lambe vnto the company,

Which was appointed as before, for the ceremonie.

This while from the Olympus high Iris made hir repaire

Iris messenger of the Gods. Laodices daughter of Priame.

To Troy, to tell these newes to hir, who fairest is offaire.

The shape she tooke of hir sister belovde, faire Laodice,

Who marryed had Elicaon, Anthenors sonne the wise.

She founde the faire not idle tho, but working busilie,

She in hir chamber made a péece of worthy Chiualrie,

Helins exercise.

Wherin was wrought of Troyans and of Greekes the worthy Acts,

Most cunningly in portrature, their sallies and their facts,

Their chargings oft, their cruel fight, their méetings one to one,

Which both the Campes continually, made for hir loue alone.

[Page]

Arise quoth Iris, come Heleine, and in the plaine hard by,

The Citie here thou straight shalt sée things wondrous to thine eye:

Those whom thou hast ech day beheld, in wont deale doleful blowes,

In daungerous war, thou shalt sée rest, togither in sundry rowes.

And some there leaning on their shields, wel wearie of their toyles,

And Menelau with Paris shal (to end these wars and broyles)

Fight hand to hand, and he who shall the better part obtaine,

Thée shall he haue by one consent, as glorie of his gaine.

These newes declarde, with a desire this Heleines minde is sped

Helein [...] minde doth [...]

Of hir first spouse, and countrey towne, wherein she first was bred,

Of hir parents, to sée them once, a time this Heleine prayes

With them to leade hir life againe, and furnish forth hir dayes.

She riseth vp, and deckes hir selfe with gorgeous attire,

And out she goes, distilling teares, as they wel saw stoode by hir.

And not alone, she with hir led Climean and Aethrea,

And goes vnto the greatest port that named is Sciea.

Where on the Bulwarkes they might sée at ease the fields so wide,

The olde Troyans for coūsell.

There king Priam with Lordes of state was set on euery side,

To shrowde them in the shade within the pentus of the Wal,

Tymets, Lampus, Clytus, Panthus, in vertues famous all.

Hicetaon renoumde in warre, also Vcalegon

Of late that was of boysteous braine, and eke Anthenor one,

As good a man of warre as they, but now for councel out,

The aged dads there closely sit, the scortching heate they dout.

As Grashoppers the olde men chat, when two or thrée are founde

In Sommer time amid the Grasse, and make a charming sounde.

[...] of Grashoppers.

They loking on the heauenly Gréeke, good cause confessed, why

Both campes should make such toile & stirre, and eke so long shold try,

Hir beautie, wayed that was more than any earthly worke,

Which in hir Goddesse visage there did shine and séeme to lurke:

Yet they anoucht, it better were to yéelde hir home to goe,

Aduise of the Troyās to render Heleine.

Without abode, for to eschew the mischiefes, which might grow

By kéeping hir stil as they did: as she arriued than

Wheras they sat, the king hir callde, and thus to hir began.

Come thou to me my daughter faire, here down by me do sit,

Priam [...]o Heleine.

Leaue off thy mone, leaue off thy tears, which from thine eyes do [...]lit.

[Page] Do not consume lamenting thus, come sée thy husband here,

And all the Gréekes thy kinsmen eke, and coosins all so déere.

Oh Ioues wil is not that in thée I should th'occasion lay

Of my mishaps, which yeeldes my griefe, no, no, the gods are they

Who for the better to reuenge themselues of me and mine,

Desire by this wretched warre t'afflict vs all with pine.

Come néere, and leaue your bashfulnesse, and of the Gréekes declare

Your neighbours kindred and alies, and who you néerest are.

What, who is he is formost there, of middle pitch and bone,

With countenaunce graue, as I forethinke, I neuer saw yet one

Since I was borne, so wel beséene as he in euery thing,

And sure he beares the port and shew, and grace of some great king.

Then answerde Heleine thus the King with humble voyce & saide,

My most deare Lord, thy reuerent state doeth yéelde me wel afraide,

Heleine to Priam.

When to thy presence I resort, but would to God by death

Before the turmoyles of this warre I yéelded had my breath:

And chiefely when to follow with thy sonne, I was so mad,

Leauing my husband, many a Dame and gentle phéere I had,

My brethren, and my daughter both, then both we frée from wo

Had bene as now, but what helpe when il lucke wil haue it so?

Sent for to do your graces will, who doth commaunde the same:

For him you aske, that prince he hath Agamemnon to name.

Heleine shevves Agam: to Priam.

A King both wise and stoute in warre, of Atreus eke the heire,

To whom the Campe in all obeyes, and their alliegance beare.

Who now long sith, when we in peace and suretie al did swim,

Was vnto me brother in law, and I sister to him.

The péerelesse faire holding hir peace, Priam with maruel mazde,

Hearing Agamemnons honor thus declarde, set forth, and blazde,

Could not himselfe then hold his peace, but gan his prayse to crie,

Priam commendeth Agamemnō

O fortune good, thou Agamemn art more than twice happie

Sith worthy Prince of chilualrie, the hie Gods in thy hands

To thy good hap do put the Gréekes, to leade and rule their bands.

So that by thée is gouernde now, conducted at thy wyll,

So great an host arriued here, whiche doth al Phrigie fil.

When I was yong, and valiance had, and prowesse, I do minde,

That on this land the Amazones did warre, women in kind,

Amazones.

[Page] Yet folke in warre of great exploites, whose force for to withstand,

We driuen were to call such strength, as nere was in this lande.

Then Otrus and Migdon marching againste them in their way,

Their footemen and their horsemen both did in a valley stay,

Nie Sangar floude with streame so long, to their succors I came,

Sangar.

They made me chief, yet our gay bands ye Gréeks now passe ye same.

After he castes his sight aside on Vlysses, and sayes,

Pryame [...] Helene.

Ah gods, daughter mine yet once againe come on your wayes,

Tel me what Gréeke is that I sée, with shoulders, breast, and wast

So well beset, and not so high as Agamemnon last,

Who wt so good a grace, and armd goes round about the Gréekes,

Comparisō of the deep vvoolled Ra [...]es.

As doth the mightie Belweather with hairie cote and chéekes,

Who for the better kéeping in the goodly flockes of shéepe,

Goes by them stil, and rounde about, and from them doth not kéepe.

It is (quoth she) Vlysses of a good and séemely shape,

Helene declares Vlisses.

Yet wiser in his fetchers, who, although he had the hap

To be brought vp in Countrie rude among the countrie clownes,

Yet he in head and witte doth passe the Gréekish Kings renownes.

Ithache Ile.

Worthy Princesse, thou sayest most true bespake Anthenor then,

My selfe doth know it very wel: for I remember when

Antenor to Helene. Vlysses and Menelaus Embassadors once to Troye.

Both he and Menelaus did Embassadors come hither,

They wer then lodgde at my pore house, whom I receivde togither,

And made them suche chéere as I could, as they my sons had béene,

Where I their counsel, mind, and gifts do think my selfe haue séene.

Or my coniecture thought them great, and chiefly when to vs

In counsell they themselues were calld, their message to discusse.

Descriptiō of Menelaus & Vlisses

Menelaus standing vp was taller for his height,

But being set, Vlisses séemde more graue in things of weight,

And abler [...]o maintaine the case, for Menelaus was

A man of fewe words, and in vaine from him did nothing passe.

His spéech was pithie, wise and apt, and ful of gentlenesse,

And though Vlisses had more yeares, he vsed no excesse

Of words, but when it came to point that speake Vlisses should,

Wert néere so little, in the ayre cast vp his head he would.

And would a while cast down his sight most like a senselesse loute,

As one by rage and choller were from reason cleane put out.

[Page] Which well was shewed by his Mace, which he vnhansome bare,

Vlesses eloquence.

But when he spake, he eloquence most heauenly did declare.

His words came forth like winter snow, such store he did vnfolde,

As hauing doue, none with him durst any coutention holde,

Nor yet of any thing he sayde did any doubt at all,

Nor question aske, his talke was such, as to the Gods befall.

King Priam curious more to know, had cast aside his eyes,

Priame to Helene.

And finding Aiax, of Heleine enquired in this wise:

Who is that goodly Prince, (to aske the old man doth begin)

Who is a Giaunt to the rest, none of them retch his thin.

She vnto this made aunswere thus: It is Aiax the strong,

Who is best hope, defence and wall, that to the Gréekes belong.

Helene to Priame shevving him Aiax Telamō Idomene king of Crete.

And he, who stands hard by him there, is the good king of Creete

Idomene, among his folke obeyed with honor great,

As if some mightie God he were, whom often I haue séene

(He passing by) with Menelau at our house to haue bene.

And many moe, as wel as he, whose names I wel do know,

But not to sée my brethren here, doth cause my griefe to grow.

The Castor gay that worthy knight with Pollux without Péere

In feats of armes, in they in this war haue not vouchsaft I feare

Castor and Pollux.

To take a part, but if they did arriue here with the rest,

The irksome sorrow, grief and care, which hath their minds opprest,

To sée my wants and my mishaps, and chaunce, yea very filth,

Hath sent them home, & they abasht, with cares their harts it kilth.

Thus saide the faire, but hir brethren long ere these things befel

Were dead, and in the towne of Sparte they were intombed wel.

Castor and Pollux dead in Spart. Preparatiō forth ceremonies VVine the [...]our com mended.

This while the two Heraults they did prepare all things at ful,

That best shuld serue, they from the flocke two lābes of choyce did cult

And with good wine that licour likt, of Goate a ful great hide

They fild top vp, the which was brought by th'Arault called Ide

They for the misterie most méete a massie basen brought

Of polisht gold, and eke of gold two cups most finely wrought.

Thus furnisht, to king Priam they shewed their Embassaide

The Heraultres to Pryam.

They willing him to come himself, these were the words they sayde:

O péerelesse king of all renowme, we feare we haue bene sloe,

The chiefest of thy subiects all in feld attend thée [...]oe,

[Page] The Gréekes will now make such accorde, in mind that ay shall last,

Your sonne Paris his right to trie, with Menelau doth cast,

By hand to hand and force of fight, who victor shall arise,

Shal in reward haue faire Helene, and gifts of worthy price.

All discordes by this meane shall end, for Gréekes to Greece shall hie,

Troyans shall haue for war sustaind, their peace wishte earnestly.

Without your Grace nought can be done, for it is méete you sweare.

For full suretie of this combate which is agréed on there.

The good olde man was fearfull straight, for wel he knew, in hand

Fondly was tane this enterprise, whereto they meane to stande:

Priam and Antenor g [...] to the cāp [...].

Yet he commaundes his Chariot, and for his horsses calles,

They ioinde to it, all things were done, which in such case befalles.

With him he tooke Antenor olde, and to the field they haste,

Who scouring with a swéeping pace, came to the campe at laste,

And in the midst presente themselues: and lighted when they were,

Vlysses graue, and Agamemn, did come and méete them there.

Vlysses.

The Heraults there eke shewde themselues, right gay and richly clad

With ornaments whych longs them to, and no delay was had,

The a [...]ntitie of Heraults.

But straight procéedes before them all to the ceremonie:

And first with good and pleasant wine, they skinke the cuppes on hie

To the chiefe Lords, this pacte t'allowe, to wash one water beares:

The gret Gréek then doth draw his knife, ye which he always weares

By his left side, and of the Lambes the wooll he doth cut out

From twixt the browes, for the Heraults to part amids the rout

To the Princes, that hereafter repent none of them can.

The wooll receivde, his handes eke washt, Agamemn thus began,

With ioyned hands, and lifted vp, his prayer thus did make:

O mightie Ioue, who dost vouchsafe thy dwelling for to take

On Ida hil, and there to rule, O Sunne most bright I call,

Who sées this plaine, and knowes all things: O earth and riuers all,

I you beséech my prayers heare, you God infernall eake

So full of power, who al mischiefe so egerly do wreake,

Of fondling folke, who cal the Gods their witnes when they sweare,

And straight to be moste false forsworne they neither care nor feare,

Be Testes here, cause this accorde so sacred be fulfilld:

If it so be, that by Paris, or Menelau be killd,

[Page] Without repining we agrée faire Helene shall be his,

The goods he shall enioy, the whiche he rauend once amisse,

Here promising to raise the siege, and straight to Greece returne,

If Menelau my brother like (if hap so serue his turne)

With hand this Paris do subdue, that then this Gretian faire

With worthy mends for wrong sustaind to vs forthwith repaire,

And yearly that there be some rent, or tribute for the same

Assignde our heires for our renowme, to shew their fault and shame,

And if that he shoulde vanquish thus, and Priams sonnes refuse

To kéepe their othe and promise made, and so the Gods abuse,

If King Priam shall also hap for lacke and want of harte

To fault the same: I here protest I wil not hence departe

This countrey fro, nor turne elsewhere, vntil I sée it wast,

Agamc̄nōs Othe.

The Troyans slaine, their Citie burnt, and therein fiers plaff.

Thus hauing sayd, then with his knife the two yong lambs he slne,

And weakly sprawling in their blond, on groūd from him he threw,

And many present in that place, the same did also vowe,

And powring wine vppon the earth thereof they did allowe.

Among the which some Troyan Knight, or Onea souldior Gréeke

Nowe spent and worne with the warres, thus made his prayer eke:

A souldiers prayer.

O Gods of mercie, who wel sées, what here is done alway,

O graunt that he for whose default now this accord shal stay,

(As rebel vnto your decrées) with brayning be he sped,

And for his gilte, let of his ympes the braines be also shed.

And let an other haue his wife theirprayer thus did go.

But for al this their iust request, the Gods yet would not so.

Againe Priam perceiuing well, that thus this geare woulde fodge,

Priam to the Troyās & Greekes

Said to the Gréekes and Troyans both, I thinke it best I trodge,

If you my Lordes so thinke it good, my grief will not, in sight

That I this quarrell for to end, should sée my sonne to fight.

The mightie Gods agrée, that death for one shall be his gaine,

And haue appointed whych of both with conquest shal remaine.

Forthwith with him he tooke the Lābs, & mounteth on his chaire,

The place of the combatemet out by He ctor and Vlysses.

And Antenor, and from the preasse to Troy they straight repaire.

The lustie Hector and Vlysse this while do go about

To mette the place, most fit for fight, the which they measure out

[Page] In mids betwéene the armies both: and then for proofe they crane,

Of the first stroke for t'assaile who shall the honor haue:

Two lots they make, as in suche case the custome is to trie,

And in an helmet they do put two billets by and by,

For eche of the Combatants one: who first was drawne by lot,

Lot vvhiche of the [...]vvo sho [...] gyue the [...]rst blovv [...] The prayer of the Grek and Troy [...] souldiors.

Of first assailing of his féere the licence thereby got.

The souldiors all carefull to sée, did fixe their minds and eyes

On this helmet, and to the Gods with heart thus sent their cryes:

O Ioue thou God of Gods, of men high king, and king most chief,

Grant thou that grace this day, that he, who causeth this mischiefe,

May downe to the infernall shades descend, and there arest,

And that the Grékes and Troyans frée, may liue in peace and rest.

Hector from his helmet then his countnance hauing wried,

Paris lot is first dravv [...]

To parte the lots did turne them oft, them better to diuide.

He putteth in his hand, and out the lot of Paris drewe,

And forthwith straight to voide the place himselfech man withdrew,

And glad eche one sits round about: and Paris who assaile

Must Menelau, at all points wel to arme him doth not faile.

Then firste his gallant greues he tooke which customly he ware,

Paris is armed vvith other-ar [...].

His Cuysses which were fastened to by art and mickle care,

With buttons gay, and buckles great of siluer therevppon,

And of Lycaon strong and sure he put the Curets on.

Lycao [...].

One would haue thought (they séemd so fit) it moulded was for him:

A massie sword he girt, which hong with siluer nailes ful trimme.

And on his shoulder he doth cast a strong and mightie targe,

His head to hap an helmet rych, with crest right long and large,

Gastful to sée, made of the faile of some horse very great,

As oft as he cast vp his head, it also séemd to threat.

In fine, an armed Darte with stéele to his right hand doth yéeld,

And thus with porte, and visage fierce, he commes into the fielde.

There was no souldior, no so stout, for feare who did not quake,

To sée the hazarde of the case, when they beganne to shake

Their Darts at their approch, & more, their marks & gestures bold.

Paris stoutly stalking out, first there the fielde doth holde,

Paris [...] leth first.

He manly first assailes, and forth his dart doth strongly launce,

The which in mids of the Gréekes shield did stifly hit by chaunce,

[Page] But onely saue the vtter skin, no force it had to sturre,

The shields defence so put it backe, that pierce it coulde not furre.

For this yet was not Menelau one whit appalld at all,

He did the blowe, and stepping forth, to prayer thus doth fall:

O mightie Ioue, who knowes the right, the man do thou me make,

Menelaus prayer to Iupiter.

Who of his foe for his offence nowe iuste reuenge may take.

Direct good Lorde, that he may dye, as his deserts do craue,

That babes not born, may heare & know what stroke his fault should haue,

To make them feare their friendly Ius, as wretches to defile,

Where strangers are with ciuiltie well vsed euery while.

Forthwith he shooke his speare, when as these words he did rehearse,

And with such force at Paris threwe, that it his shielde did pierce,

His Curets eke it thirled throwe, and al the cloutes he ware

Hard to his shirte, and eft the stéele had kist his carcasse bare,

But then that Paris wried at last, and so the blowe did shunne.

After the stroke, then Menelau his gorgeous blade begunne

Out of his siluer sheath to drawe, which heauing vp he takes,

And striking him vpon his helme, his foe amazed makes.

Still laying on, at the thirde stroke his sworde in péeces flue,

Menelaus blasphemeth.

Wherewith, as one distraught he cryed: O Ioue, thou God vntrue,

I now well sée you can doe naught, Of al the Gods you are

The most malitious, yea of all, who in the skies repaire:

Alas I thought the time was come my foe I should confound,

But now my Iauelin I haue sent, not causing any wounde,

My sword in two: yet raging wood vpon him he doth fly,

And by the Crest he caught him fast, enforcing mightily

To driue and thrust him out of field, as one had conquest wonne,

By meanes his chin band chokte him so: the same then had he done,

But Venus who his safetie would, did cause it breake in twaine,

So saue his morreyne, Menelau had naught else for his gaine:

Venus saueth Paris.

Which he among his mates doth throw, and meaning for to pay

His bared pate, the Goddesse tho, forthwith conueyed away

Venus.

The Carpet Knight, bewrapping him in cloude of mistie aire,

She brought to town, wher she pluckte off the armor which he ware,

His bones to rest, she plaste him in, one of his Chambers all,

Which most did smoke wyth pleasant smels, and Helene went to cal,

Helene.

[Page] Who in a Towre past the time, about hir many moe,

Both Troyan Dames and gentle folke deuising to and fro.

Venus not willing to be knowne, in humaine shape appeares

In Greas forme, the good handmaid, nowe wel ystept in yeares,

In broiderie worke a minion odde, no lesse in spinning eake,

Grea the [...] to Helene.

Who pulling Helen by the skirte, did thus the silence breake.

Madame, your Paris doth commaunde, that I should will you hie

His lodging to, where in such ray, you shal there find him lie,

Venus to Helene.

You will not trow he lookes so fresh, he commes now from the fight,

Youle iudge he coms frō dauncing sport, he seems so tricke a wight.

Thus spake the amorous Goddesse tho, inspiring in hir sprite,

The mighty flame, who knowing wel, hir breast and necke so white,

Beholding wel the flaming eye there of the heauenly stocke.

Helene to Venus.

What mean you quoth she by this trade me this wise for to mocke:

What, nowe yet once againe as wise to giue me do you meane

In Phrigie townes or Meonie, or in some further realme,

For to rewarde some seruant thine, sith he, who by strong hand

Tooke me away, thou vanquisht séest, and I to Gréekish lande

Yet once againe must make returne? and wherefore do you vse

This fained talke, and hyde your shape me onely to abuse?

I do beléeue the blinde desire of this thy Paris loue

Which helds thée now, hath causd thée leaue the skies & Gods aboue,

To be the slaue and Concubine of him thy darling dere,

Sith it is so, then plie him well, stir not but tarry here.

Ile couche no more with thée good knight, within a paire of shéetes,

(I force no deale) I promise him, with me he nener méetes.

The Dames of state and Troyan wiues might scorn at me their fil,

With fléering taūts & stinting sleights, for spite which wold me kill.

When as the Goddesse heard these words, which forth in heat she [...]ōg,

Venus thr [...] neth Helen.

She spake hir thus: yu wretched else I reade thée hold thy tong,

Striue not with me if thou béest wise, least if thou stirre mine ire,

And that I kindly co [...] thée to, little to thy desire.

And least that as I haue bin friend I do become thy foe,

And séeke suche meanes as Goddesse nowe to moue againste thée so:

The Gréekish hearts & Troyans both, yea al thy hope cleane gone,

The death with one consent they shall bestowe on thée anone.

[Page]

The faire was mated by this rage, she with a countnance sowre,

Helene follovveth Ve nus to seek Paris.

Couering hir face with hir riche robe coms down straighte from the towre,

And softly followed Venus there, who hir to chāber brought,

The traine to talke, and some to weaue, and some the distaffe caught.

The place was trickly decked vp, the place where Helene sat

By Venus wil was placed there before hir husband flat,

Who did him earnestly behold, and swelling yea with wrath,

The very botome of hir minde she doth declare, and saith:

Then you are come you sorie sir, and luckie carpet knight

Helene to Paris.

From this combat so daungerous, and eke fierce warlike fight.

O would to God my first husband had hapt thy life to daunt,

In field with thée he durst not cope thou wonted wert to vaunt,

You would haue eate him at the first, and now you run away:

Leaue him, and be no more so brag his force for to assay,

If that you loue your selfe: the Gréeke brast out these words in rage,

But Paris curteously desires hir furie to assuage.

Swéet heart (quoth he) this passion leaue, and with me be not greued,

Though that the Gréeke haue warde me nowe, for yc he was releued

Paris to Helene.

By Minerua, the time will be, that I shall be his rod,

And vanquish him, when as I shal be fauourd by some God:

I knowe I am not so farre gone out of their fauors cleane,

But in my great affaires somewhat to aide me they do meane.

I pray thée now mine own swéet hart some better countnance showe,

Be mery once, and vnto rest let vs togither goe.

For (as me thinke) greater desire I had not any while,

No, when with thée I cabband first within Cranee the Ile.

After these words, the faire was brought to bed so gorgeous drest,

The Ile Crance. Paris lieth vvith Helē

Where without further doe they both two louers went to rest.

This while Menelau raging wood, more furious than the wilde

And sauage beast, doth nought but séeke his foe about the fielde,

The Troians stirred against Paris for his vvant of valor.

To ridde him quite, but no Troyan, nor of themselues not one

Could him descrie, for they wist not, nowe whether he was gone,

And if they had, to kéepe him close, there serue no friendship could,

But to the campe to shewe him forth they meant and surely woulde.

For now th'aduoutrie broad and knowne, & laid thus in their d [...]

Agamemnō to the Troians.

For sodaine end & fearful death with hate the souldiours wish.

[Page]

Agamemnon then séeing plaine that there to ech mans sight

The famous conquest did belong to Menelau of right,

If so that they would rightly iudge, stept forth, and thus he spake,

Ye Troyan crues, and forraines, who their quarrell good to make,

Come vnder their ensignes to war, I peale vnto you all,

You Menelau haue séene by force (your faith and truths I call)

And martiall fight to ouercome your Paris, who is fled.

Restore the Gréeke, and wealth wherewith once théefe away he yed.

Cause that we nowe be satisfied, and more for honor due

Which is deservd, do ye to Gréeks a certaine rent renue,

To vs and our posteritie by Troyans to be payed.

Herewith his souldiors praise him much, and lo the wordes he sayed.

Finis tertij Libri.

¶ The fourth Booke.

THe Gods were in the Pallaice gay of Ioue so curious wrought,

Hebe Cup▪ bearer.

To councell come, whom Nectar swéet the gentle Hebe brought.

Whereof they trypled ech so well, the golden Cuppe so fine

Among the rout from one to one, did passe with pleasant wine.

And hauing alwayes their regarde, with sight and mind they viewe

The long besieged C [...]tie thus, whiche wearie now doth rue.

Then Ioue disposd he of his wife to make a s [...]orte afar,

To nettle hir a talke beganne, which quickly tickled her.

Iupiter to the Gods.

In this combate (quoth he) the Gods immortall put in hande

Knowe ye, to Menelaus helpe two Goddesse do stande,

Who now at pleasure ioy their fil, to laugh they co [...]ers séeke,

Our Iuno one gir [...]es in hir sléeue, with puissant Pallas [...]e.

[Page] But curteous▪ Venus she againe with fi [...]ger in hir eye,

On th'other side doth sorrowe mur [...]e hir Paris hap to spie,

She hauing made no sm [...]ll adoe, to shield him from his end:

He neither force nor heart she knew in field had to contend,

Against the Gréeke, who victor stoode. Well now we muste adu [...],

To which of both their pleasures moste our fauor ought to rise.

If best to make them enimies still, or cause them to agrée,

A stable concord to them both must surely welcome be.

For by Helens returne, the Gréekes their souldiors they shall ease,

Of trauels great, and Priams towne, whom fame so much doth raise,

Shall ay with people fraighted be: those fained wordes agog

So set the Goddesses; that they in anger gan to shog,

But Pallas kept hir anger in, against hir kindly sire,

And méekely bare hir selfe, though spite did boile in hir as fire.

But Iuno rash and carelesse bold (hap yea what happen can)

Could not hir furie once refraine, but thus hir tale beganne:

Iuno to Iupiter.

O crabbed husband why to mine still diuers is thy minde?

Such treason for to vse with me [...]hat reason dost thou finde?

Wouldst thou the sweat and trauailes great of me, and of my horse

Of heauenly race all bootelesse toile, and be of sillie force?

In calling to this place such crues: hast thou founde out the meanes

To get a safegard for the state of Priam and Troyans?

Do what thou canst, the time wil come, that Totnam French shal turn

The Gods and I will so prouide, but that shall serue ou [...] turne

Shal hap at all But mightie Ioue séeing hir [...]hus to [...]et,

Replyed againe, and from his breast a sigh he déepely set.

Thou cankred Goddesse, what mischie [...], what harm, what hate, what wrongs

Hath Priam done, or yet his sons, yt so their [...]ain thoulongs

Iupiter to Iuno.

And mournest still the Troyan towne, if that thou shouldest not sée

By Gretians [...]; and in such p [...]ght, as wars may make it bée?

I surely thinke but for the shame which causeth thée to stay,

And somwhat doth surmount the rage, thou wouldst haue taken way

Long time ere this to Troy; where like a foole enraged there

The skin and flesh of Priam King wyth teeth thou wouldest teare.

That onely [...] at all, t'assuage thy furious [...]it.

Sith so it [...] ▪ [...] on me lay no excuse of it:

[Page] [...] minde, and what exploytes you list do enterprise,

There shal against thée let nor word he vsde in any wise.

In time to come my wrath t'appease, when I shal haply meane,

The fairest of thy Cities all, by grounde to raze it cleane,

Thinke not my minde then to withstād, for copper thou mightst get,

Sith he [...]ein to content thée now thy wil I nothing let.

I do agrée the ouerthrow of the most famous rich

Citie vnder the heauen cope, and of a king so muche

Renoum of al, whom most I loue, and honor most I ought

Of Duetie, for to honor me al wayes al meanes they sought

Unto my Godhead day nor night, their hosties they do spare,

At no time of oblations [...]t my Altars emptie are.

The [...] [...]: fully satisfied in hauing got hir will,

Aunsweared [...]oh Ioue thrée townes I haue, which manie people fill,

All gouerned by [...], the which I loue at hart,

Argos the rich, Mycene the gay, and eke the mightie Sparte,

When you shall please of one or all the glorie downe to rake

The Cities deare [...] Iuno.

Your wil h [...] [...] shal gainesay, or yet resistaunce make:

And though I [...], you are so great, I know I coulde it not,

To your great power both gods and men obey in euery i [...]te.

And I likewise great wrong should haue, if that my purpose now

Should nought preu [...]ile, for a goddesse, I am as wel as you

A God, a Saturne impe, and borne to him in eldest place:

Why should not I then as your spouse estéemde be in each case

Aboue the rest? let peace be made, contention banish quite,

And let vs both as in this point our hartes in one vnite.

Wherwith then shall the heauenlye routes, who often troubled are,

And often moued by our iarres, shal be of mercie fare.

And shal in fine our mindes allow: commaund Minerue to hie

Unto the Campe, there for to moue some braule and broyle, wherby

[...]he Troyans m [...]y the pact infringe. The God consenting tho

To Pallas sayde, you daughter mine, sée straight to Troy you go,

Iupiter [...] Pallas.

And couertly the promist league stir vp some Troyan crue

To breake, their Greekish enemies assailing them of new.

Yet after this he wils hir hast, wherwith such spéed she makes,

That wt the spéede the goddesse came, on earth men dreadful quakes.

[Page] For Venus Ioue doth send the glore of flash and lightning brande▪

Comparison of the lightning.

Which oft doth cause the fighting folke at gaze and feareful stand,

And thinke within themselues with those, who do the seas frequent,

That of a mischiefe to them like it is a token sente:

The Goddesse in like sort descendes, as star with flame and flash

Amid the Campe, wherewith [...]he doth the bands and armies bash.

And of them there were certaine sayed, with wonder and afright

This token shews vs luckie chaunce, or some mishap to light:

Either we shall haue by and by the happie peace we craue,

Or else the war continued, for long time shall we haue.

Pallas into the playne come downe, she straight hir selfe enrold [...]

In shape of one of the children of the Antenor olde,

Laodoc souldiour tricke and stoute: with Troyans then [...]he throng [...]

And forth with for to heare some newes of Pandarus she longs,

Pandarus.

That valiaunt Archer good and sure: she sought so in the route,

That there with gorgeous armour girt, at last she found him out.

Enuironde with a warlike sort, who al his léegies were,

Bred vp by Asop [...] the floud, who happie thought them there,

Under a lustie leader such to shew proofe of their strength.

The gréene eide Goddesse then drew me, & spake him thus at lengt [...]

Pallas to Pandarus.

Uictorious prince, one of the broode of graue Lycaons stocke,

An enterprise it selfe presentes, wherto if so you shocke,

Men shal thée cal the happiest this side the Ocean firre:

It thée behoues with piersing girde to cause thy arrow skirre

To wound the sturdie Menelau: if thou that martial act

Fulfillst, what fame shalt thou obtaine by that victorious fact?

What thankes of Alexander eke, when he shall sée to flowe

His enmies bloud? gay giftes with ioy on thée he shall bestow.

Well courage then▪ and readie make your bow with vowes adrest

To offer to Phoebus such shéepe; as in your flockes are best,

If he wil graunt you t'accomplish the bo [...]d which you do frame,

And giue you power and time your towne Zelye to sée againe.

The cokesing wordes causde Pandarus too fondly to agrée,

Whereof he soone repented him, out of the case then he

Abovve made of the hornes of a vvilde Goate.

Drew out his great and gallant how: garnisht with polisht brasse,

Which of the hornes of a wilde Goate right strangely shaped was.

[Page] Whom Pandarus so wel did hunt vpon a mountaine side,

He girt and hurt him in the [...]ankes, and of his hornes beside,

By cunning workemanship was made a fine and proper bow

Sixtéene pace the hornes were long, ful hard it was I trow

To make it serue to be shot in, but erst the workmans craft

Was so employde, that now a bow they ser [...]de, and shot a shaft:

And gorgeouser to make the bow appeare to all mens sight,

He hornde and tipt the ends right wel with beaten golde ful bright.

Then Pandarus without aboade drew out his bow to bende,

Pandarus breakee the agreement.

And that now of his enterprise none of them all should wende,

He causd his souldiours hap him wel with buckler and with targe,

Least that the wily subtile Gréekes might find his minde at large.

And sodaine broyle hys enterprise might let, and turne to nought:

His bow in point, an arrow he out of his quiuer cought,

Sure stéelde at end with piercing head, and finely featherde wel,

Most fit by cruel wretched death an enimie to quell.

He nockes the shaft, and then his vowes to Phoebus God doth make,

Pandarus [...].

And him behights his pretie lambes, if so his hast do take

God place and proofe by Phoebus meanes, his vow he thus ending

With such a force he drew his bow, as that he ha [...]lde the stryng

To hys right pay, and straight the head, when as it euen stoode

Hard with the backe, he losde it quicke, as [...] sure and good.

Wherwith the bow with sturdye string, when forth the shaft it [...]oong

A clange so great and strong it gaue, as wide abrode it roong.

[...] The Gods as then [...]h Menelau they were not farre from thée,

It was no time, Pallas hir selfe stoute armed there was she,

Of thy welfare hir selfe she shewed as careful as she coulde,

As when hir pretie sonne doth sléepe the tender mother would,

Comparison of the mother helping his childe.

Haue good regard and charie eye, least that the busie flye

His tender flesh should bite or harme, or come his visage nie.

A [...] ne with like care Mynerue did, put by the mortall blow,

Yet stroke, hys ba [...]dricke in the midst, and it it pierced so,

The buckle great of massie gold, which did his girdle tie

Was pierst, and through his Curats eke and stéeled head did flye,

And past so fur, of the stoute Gréeke the flesh it thirled in

Menalau [...] hurt.

And presently before them all the bloud was séene to spin.

[Page] Yea euen as on the [...]ie why [...] the [...] of C [...]ry [...]ft

Comparisō

Do worke the purple, and [...]mbost with [...]yderie aloft,

To make the gallant gorgeous raines for coursers braue and gay,

Which for a king a decking is, it is so rich aray:

The die was like and fairer much on the trimme Gretians flesh

With scarlet bloud, which by his thigh down to his héeles did desh,

The g [...]eat Agamemnon with this so sore and sodaine shot

Was grieued much the wound eke sée [...]e the hurt man dolour got,

And colour chaundge: he sighing sore his brother gay drew nie,

And toke him by the hande, of Greekes most part then standing by.

He piteously begins his mone, and thus he saith, alas,

Agamemnō bevvaileth his brother

My only hope, my brother deare, who as assured was

In assayling the Troyan freake, shal it be now the meane

That after this holy accorde thou couertly be slaine?

The oth before the Gods so sworne, where it is now become

Of these periured wicked folke? can Gods iustice be mum

Alas at rancour so much faynde? I hope it wil not so,

For though the Gods do winke thereat a while, and let it goe,

Yea though mens faults they séeme to slip, at end they pay for all,

Great time [...], doth cause the smart with rigor on them fal.

In time these [...]thy traytours shal so plagde be for their hire,

Themselues, their sons, and eke their wiues: & from the skies the fir [...]

With hideous storme they shal behold to light vpon their pate,

I know ere long Troy shal to wracke, & Priam with his stafe

Shal passe the [...] Gods wrath which doth the déedes of al mē si [...]

Is now against him so stirde vp, as the [...]of is no shift.

But what mishap, alas, what griefe shal hap to be my share,

If I should [...] you here behinde, and death to be your fare,

With graue a [...]cke, in forraine land, how wil all Greece cry out

At my returne, al Argos folke, and C [...]trey round about,

When they shal v [...]erstand your death? and they who with us are,

Shal they not set of their returne thei [...]y [...]linde and care?

Shal they not leaue to Troyans false the luckie glorie at hand?

Shal they not leaue to vs the shame? your carcase in this lande

(Which most me dea [...]s) shal they not leaue? shal they not leaue Helleine

Wherby hereafter to your tombe, there shal came some Troyan,

[Page] And loubring on the grasse, shall crie, al puffed vp with pride,

To all Agamemns practises God graunt like ende betide,

God graunt the Gréekes here long abode, may haue the like successe,

And after they maye hie them home with shame and wretchednesse?

The Troyan fierce he thus may chat, then not to be aliue

I do beséech th'immortal Gods, but that the earth do cliue

And swallow me. Although the hurt did cause a grieuous paine,

Menelaus to Aga [...] his brother

Yet Menelau with chéereful looke thus aunswerde him againe,

And manlike to his brother sayde: reioyce thou brother mine,

And courage take, for wel thou maist by this mourning of thine

Impute such feare in the Gréekes harts, which eft they cannot flie:

I féele ful wel the blow is such therof I cannot die,

The golden buckle of my belt, my Curet good I know

Wherwith I armed am before, hath surely stayde the blow.

My friendly brother would to God (quoth Agamemnon he)

Agamemnō to Menel.

You were out of this daunger here, and that it so might be

You might be healed of this wound: a surgeon good I wot,

Who should so wel attende you then, that this your wounding got,

Which irkes you so, he should delay: this saide, he causeth plod

Taltibius, to séeke the sonne of Esculape the God,

Macaon hight, from bande to bande he willes the Herault prie

Machaon Phisition [...]o Esculap [...].

Him out, praying thither to him, that he come by and by,

To visite Menelaus there, his wound to search and féele,

Which one of Licie or of Troy hath forst by stroke of stéele,

In trayterous guile, thinking to Gréekes there should redound therby

Notorious shame, to Troyans all to ioyful victorie.

So diligent Taltibius goes, amidst the Campe, that out

At last he finds the Phisition, enuironde rounde about

With strength of souldiers which he brought from his great town of Trice

Where horses plentie are, & whence by grasse great wealth doth rise,

His message to him he declares, beséeching him, that he

Wyll come to Agamemn the king, there Menelau to sée,

And careful to looke to his wounde, he straight at the first dash

Obeyes, but yet the sodaine chaunce his minde doth greatly bash.

He cōmes, [...]d there on heapes he findes the Gréekish princes stande

Loking for him, with mindefull heartes the hurt to vnderstand.

[Page] The lech diuine strayght for his worke made all things very [...]tte,

And first the shaft he softly drew, and grievde him not a whit,

But tho the sharpe and bended barbe in plucking out it brake,

He soft vnarmes him, and his scarse, and Curet off doth take,

That he, what harme ye wound hath done, might haue ye better sight,

How déepe it was and whether it in spéeding place did light.

After he had beheld the stroke, and washte away the bloud,

Machaon healeth Menelaus.

And tended it, he layde vnto his oyntments perfect good

T'aswage the paine: the which whilom the cunning Chyron taughte

To Esculape, and Machaon of him his knowledge caught,

Which were Probatum oft to heale. This while the Troyans goe

The Greks and Troyans prepare to the battayle.

To arme to fight, and battayle wise in fielde themselues they shoe.

The Gréekes againe the crueltie of them, them picking out

Were straight in order armed wel yea forward, fierce and stout,

Their case on Troyans to reuenge: then Agamemn appeard

The diligence and care of Agamemnon.

No whit to yéelde, or else retire, or ought with feare was steard,

But willing was as chieftaine tho, and king of valiaunt hart,

To die and take such part as they and from his chayre he start

And it vnto Eurymedon his trustie guider gaue,

And him commaundes to follow him, and horses readie haue

To mount againe, if toyled he shall féele himselfe to be,

In passing through and through the ranks their order for to sée.

The armies of this worthy host to viewe, a foote he went,

And those whom manly martch he sées, their courage doth augment,

And comforts thus: my very friends, of Greece ye floures al,

Agamemnō praiseth his souldiours.

Forget not your accustomde force, this day your prowesse cal

To minde: thinke not that Ioue wil rue on these false Troyan freaks,

Who thus vniust and faithlesly their oth and promise breaks.

This is the time of our reuenge, the dogs their bones shal pick,

And Uultures teare their flesh, and down shal now both stone & stick

Of their buildings, their welth bereft, their daughters, sons, & wiues

Shal in our bottomes caried be, and we with victors liues

Shal to our countrey backe, and sée our home and children both,

The good king thus he spake: but such in martch he knew to sloth,

He toke them vp, and threatens thus: O yée of Grecian race

Agamemnō [...]lameth the [...]vvbacks.

The dishonor, of your reproch hath shame with you no place?

[Page] Do yée not blush, thus fearefully to be by terrour frodden,

Euen as the timorous hartes do houe, with head & hornes loden,

Comparisō of the vv [...] ry Ha [...].

And prest and harde being laide vnto by, hunters, in the field

Do lag, and feareful are intrapt for force beginnes to yéeld.

What? wil you stay your martch, til that your foes your bloud do spil

And that you sée them take their ships, and murder at their wil.

What? thinke you that some God wil come, & fight for your behoofe,

And saue your liues, vnlesse by fight your selues do make some proofe.

This done, he goes whereas he found the souldiours al of Creete

Preparing them about their Prince, who then in order set,

And goodly raundge them as they shoulde: and Meriones who hight

His friend, far of, to come forward makes al the hast he might.

The great Gréeke then bespake ye king with kind & curteous chéere:

Agamemnō to Idomene king of Crete.

Idomene, of all the Kings whō we haue followed here

From al the Gréekish prouinces, thy honor most I ment,

Yea stil in publike and in warre, or priuate in my tent,

Or else in open shew, when routes at banquetting were met.

It to be true, thy cup of wine is alwaye top ful [...]et

When as my greatest friend hath his with wine but halfe repleate,

Bycause I would declare to thée my fauours they be great,

Alway thou hauing at my hande what so thou dost request,

Thou to deserue this my good wil this day be readie prest,

And let me sée that thou at ful thy selfe do now acquite,

As oft you say among the stoutst be forward in the fight.

He answerde straight, amid ye presse, you shal me surely finde

Idomene to Agam [...]

As I haue sayd, that al men know I beare you faithful minde

And honor due, but do you hast, and wil the fight to guide

So carefully, that we abate the Troyan glorious pride,

By which, and by their arrogance from stricken pact they start.

Herewiih Agamemn ioyes to sée Idomens loyal hart,

Wherwith he leaues him thus: and forth the king is forward gone,

And méetes in téeth the both Aiax, their armour buckling on:

The tvvo Aiax.

The which a great and gallant crue of footemen in a roe

With buckles long, and tricksie Darts wel furnisht, after goe.

One woulde haue toke them for a cloude ful of some dristing showre,

Similitud [...].

Or haile, which to the seaward coast, the wind doth often powre,

[Page] Which when the feareful shephearde sées, to light vpon him like,

Constrainde, to hap his flockes and him, some hāging cliffe doth séeke.

Uiewing thys band, you to exhort (quoth he) I little néede

Agam: to Aiax.

My mates to put your men in plight, you now make better spéede

Than any other do: would God that all in order such

Were prest and furnished as you, and couraged as much:

Our enemies should soone be put to take their flight abacke,

Their Citie straight destroyed be, and cruel put to sacke.

Nestor the wise, the good old man, as further on he goes,

Nestor.

He findes, who toyling on the plaine his souldiours to dispose,

Fiue valiaunt Dukes and leaders stoute, with worthy Nestor was,

Pelagon, Emon, Alastor, Chronnyus and Brias,

His men in order for to raunge, and not to let them passe

His ordinaunce and his commaunde, in any kinde of case:

His Chariots first he puts in fronte, the force to beare and breake,

His choice footemen the rereward kept, in midst he plast the weake.

That in such sort inclosed thus, although they were afraide

Ech one should fight, constraynde of force, in spite yea of his head.

Nestors instruction to his souldiours for their order in fight.

He shewde his horsemen, in no wise that single they should presse

Out of their ranke, where they were plast, their fomen to suppresse:

Ne to defence, nor fight beginne, ne that they should in horsse

Commit more trust and confidence, than in their proper force.

For in forsaking their array so fondly, weake they waxe,

Wherof ensues disorder great: again with sword or Axe

He telth them that it is not best with Chariots for to ioyne,

But rather with the shot and launce at them to pricke and foyne.

Thus doing, many auntient crues haue sundry Cities held,

And valiaunt déedes of warlike facts (saith he) did often welde,

In doing after my aduise: thus spake the worthy sire,

In th'army he to shew his helpe, doth greatly now desire.

Then Agamemn he spake him thus: ah Prince of great renowne,

Agamemnō to Nestor.

Oh would to God for this affaire, the Gods would send thée down

From heauen aboue at my request into this corpse of thine,

Such strength and force as wisedome doth thy sprite and senses line,

Alas, why is not this your age bequeathed to some lad

Whom whilom time hath taken a way? ye youth, which once you had,

[Page] Why sée we not est to reuiue, to vs to be a stay.

O good olde sire, now yong againe, why are you not I say?

I would (quoth he) that now I were as lustie and as strong,

Nestor to Agamemn [...]

As when Eurethali the stout these hands did lay along,

And slue: but what, al that is past, the Gods do nere bestow

Upon vs men all things at once, but alwayes order so,

That after our vnbrideled youth coms sage and wrinckled yeares,

Me yong, now old my selfe I féele, as to you all appeares,

And far vnméete exploites to welde, as touching force of hand,

Yet for all that to do my best in councel wil I stand.

It is the honor of the olde to councell men aright,

And of the yong the glorie is, stoutly to deale in fight.

Who then can strike, lay he it on, and I assuredly

Will hast me to the horsemen here to raunge my selfe thereby,

And will instructe their déede to guide: Agamemnon right glad

In heart doth waxe, and doth reioice when Nestor heard he had.

A good bow shoote not further off warlike Menesthee stoode,

Menes [...] Athemen▪

Whome there he méets with his Captains amid his souldiors good

Of Athens towne: next him ful still afoote Vlysses king

Of Cephelonie was great routes him eke accompanying.

Vlysses.

They stand both close, martch do they not, the skirmish they do hark,

The which the souldiors should beginne to set them all awarke.

Agamem [...] to Menesthee and Vlysses.

The chieftain of the Gréekish camp their negligence doth blame:

O Menesthee and Vlysses, what do you feare? for shame

Where is your forwardnesse (quoth he) what mean you thus to lag?

What looke ye for? why do you not with firste and formost wag?

In my good cheare, in hiest place you alwayes I do put,

The flesh most trimmest rosted ay, for you is also cut,

And when you fancie for to drinke, the swéetest wine you haue.

Therefore in fight your selues should be more forward & more braue

Than are the rest that lag, and onward with such willing mind,

As of your friends tenne bandes you might in danger leaue behind.

The wise Gréeke grieued at this talke, whose choler now doth rise,

Vlysses to Agame [...]

Makes answere thus, with bended browes a front his setled eyes:

O Atreus sonne, what sayst thou here? thou Agamemnon trowes

Us dastards and faint hearted folke, t'approche the Troyan foes:

[Page] What, braule no more, but if thou please, thy selfe come, and beholde

Who doth his duty beste this day, whether the father olde

Of people of Talemach kinde, both shields and Curets crush,

And giue into the Troyan prease the first of all the push,

In better point than any prince: this heate he being in

Agamemnō to Vlysses.

Atridas sawe, wherefore againe he gently doth begin:

I [...]tustre Prince, the impe and heire of good Laertes line,

Thy valiant actes are wel approvd by that same hand of thine.

I wil not thée reproche at all, I wrong thée should too much,

Greatly surpasse thy worthy déedes, the councell good is such

Of thy sage head, thy prowesse eke all men is layed before:

Content thy selfe, and of my wordes I pray thée thinke no more:

In time to come mends shal be made, for this time I thée pray

To shewe, and so behaue thy selfe, as al men of thée say,

And take the wordes, which I haue spoke, as simple fond, and baine.

He ending thus, doth leaue him there, and onward goes againe,

A little off, he findes the Prince Diomedes the stout

Upon his chare, not minding he of further setting out,

But talketh with his Chariot guide, calld Stenelus by name,

Capanees sonne, to nothing he this iorney mindes to frame.

Atridas rushing forth thus saith, when he his countnance saw,

Agamemnō to Diomedes. The father of Diomedes.

O Tydes heyre, whom doubt you here? of whom stand you in awe?

Belike you stay till we haue fought, and tryed in field at length,

Would you we should for you prepare an entrance in the strength

Of Troyans? wel, thy whilome sire had stomacke more at full,

He neuer quaild in mortall ioyne, ne yet in perillous pull,

But sole hath gone to front his foes: as oft I haue bin told

Of such as kept him company, and were his quaintance olde.

My selfe I neuer sawe the man, yet many do reporte

That he was at Mycenas once, my country twone, and forte:

That time, when as he warred on the warlike Thebanes towne,

He came then to demaunde some aide with Polynices downe,

Such as their souldiors shoulde refreshe, and we with willing heart

Polynices.

His armie would haue easd at full, and taken eke his parte,

If Ioue my friends and lieges al by signes apparant plaine

Had not quite turnde, whereby aide lesse he did returne againe,

[Page] After he long abode had made, vnto his campe ypitched

By Asope floud, with store of grasse whose bancks are much enriched.

There Tydee, as reporte doth goe, long bid not in his tent:

For euen that daye, yea al alone, the Gretians forth him sent

Embassador to Thebane [...]oes, and to their king, who hight

Etheocles, to towne he came wel armd with yron bright,

The historie of the vvarr [...].

Whereas he found the king in shade, with many a Thebane stout,

Discoursing this and that, and when he tolde his message out,

And shewd his courage and his might, he tild them for to trye

And proue with him the combate there, and dead by him they dye.

For Goddesse Pallas did encrease his force and hautie minde:

The Thebanes payed, do threat reuenge, and it with othe they binde.

The same to doe, they ambush lay, which doubtie Meon lead,

With Mneptoleme, who tumbled oft so many wolues adead.

These leaders two ful fiftie men chose fit for such a feate

And secretly conduct him downe with weapons hid to beate.

What came thereof? he slue them all, he did them soundly souse,

Of all the traytors Meon sole he home sent to his house.

Whereby before all men he might the Thebanes lewdnesse lay,

And his valor. Such was the king of Aetoly I say,

The race is failed in the sonne, a goodlier man he is,

And better tongde to tell a tale, no souldior like ywis.

So Agamemn Diomede prickte, who nothing did replie,

Ashamde, he doubted for to moue the kingly state so hie,

His mate who well the matter heard, his spéech he takes and sayes

O Agamemn, sith that the case is sure no manner wayes,

As you reporte, I you beséeche, the trueth do not disguise,

Nor do (I craue it at your handes) therein vs so despise.

For as for vs, I dare auouch, and stand to't to your face

Our force and valiantnesse ful far ore-méetes in euery case,

That of our auntient fathers past, as men more traind in warre.

The seauen gated Thebes towne had not withstoode so farre,

Ne yet hir walles, if so we two besiegde hir had aboute.

For soone you should haue séene them torne, & turnd vp from the rout,

Our fathers where in that assault by follie dead are done:

Then hold your peace, and father do not praise aboue the sonne.

[Page]

Diomede was full ill content, thus hardly for to heare

His fellow speake, he thus him blames in anger as he were:

What moues you for to talke thus much? your tong can you not hold

Out pratling in this case of waight: Agamemn may be bold

For to complaine, and fault to finde, with such, as flie the fight:

For if he conquere, as to him belongs the honor right,

So if he conqu [...]rd [...]e, againe with shame he shall be sped,

The honor and reproche of al doth lie vppon his head,

And as for vs, let vs go shew what men of warre we be.

With this he leapes, his Chariot downe, and as down leaped he,

His gay and gorgeous armor rich so sounded in the shake,

As yea the fiercest fighter there almost thereat did quake.

There might you sée the battels rangd, and raking in aroe,

The gallant Gréekes, and at the héeles therof their leaders goe.

Like as the waues within the sea, so large, so hie, so déepe,

Forst by some flaw, yéelds whushing noise, & shoring banks do swéepe.

The Captaines cease not to exhorte with wordes their souldiors still,

Who to their chieftaines beare good minde, and them obey they wil,

They on do martch, and nothing dreade, to them they list their eare,

As still as stones, they would haue saide tong tyed they had bin there.

But contrarie, the Troyans martch, they cries and clamors yéeld,

And therewith rings the countrey round as they prepare to fielde:

Unto the goodly flockes of shéepe compard in euery thing,

Whiche shéepheard to his Maisters Pen doth safe togither bring,

The old and yong togither put, the milke of them to take,

The Ewes do bleate, the Lambs do bey, and noise not small do make.

Like clamors do the Troyans vse, the medowes ring at hand

With sundrie sound, and diuers tongues, as they of sundry lande.

The Gretians by Minerua they were boldned to the blade,

And Troyans they by cruel Mars were full couragious made.

Terror and dread did tend them both, and did their doings guide,

Strife mate and sister vnto Mars eke in the plaine was spide.

This Goddesse namde, althoughe she be but [...]oore and bas [...]ly bred,

Yet rests she not till that she touch hie Heauen with hir head,

And yet on earth stil kéepes hir féete. Nowe came she in a throwe,

Of purpose, quarrels and debate, and mortall strife to sowe,

[Page] Whereby thereafter might procéede a bad and wofull state,

With sobs and sighs, the which should bring repentance, but too late,

In place for fight the armies méete, the darts and arrowes fill

The aire aloft, and in the approch full many a man they kill.

But when it came to handie strokes, muche more the murder was,

Nought heard but dying grones, ye which frō yéelding sprites did pas,

And ioyfull cries of conquerors: he wing of harnesse tough,

Shearing of shields, and who erst braue, now falles, & hathe ynough.

Of this flaughter the purple gore so runnes from them that bled,

And as the springs mountaine top, which ore the valleys spred,

Rushing with noise the shepheards heare, aloofe that lodged are,

Euen so the noise of them that fight is heard both nie and far.

Of all the Gréekish famed Knightes was first Antilochus

Did there of armes the first déede do, he slue Echepolus,

Fighting in formost Troyan ranckes: his top of helme he hit,

And with such force and courage stout the blow so doubled it,

That of the staffe the stéeled point made in his forehead way,

And pierced down so in his mouth, that dead along he lay.

He fell as doth a tower hie, whych men do mine about:

His fall when as Elphenor sawe, he like a souldior stoute,

Did forye his body for to spoile: but Agenor he sent

His Iaueline to his bared flanckes, that backward downe he went.

The fight for these two bodies dead more fierce & mortal grewe,

As egre Wolues the souldiors all on one another flewe.

The ioly Aiax then came in, Symosius he did daunt.

Symosius he a yonker was, who Troyan towne did haunt:

So called was he of his friends, bycause nie Symosis head

That water cleare, his mother there, of him was brought abed:

She tar [...]ife tane, comming to viewe what pasturing then had

Hir flockes vpon the medow bancks. The yong mans lucke was bad:

To parents he coulde neuer shew what honor due he ought,

For bitter and too hastie death too soone his carcasse cought.

Stout Aiax with his cruel launce so pierced his right pappe,

As like a mightie Poplar gréene he downe on earth doth flappe,

Whiche by the water growing hie, by workmans force it réeles,

His Axe it felles, a wood ful fit to forge the trolling whéeles

[Page] Of chariots, and also yokes, which on the riuer banckes

He leaues long time to drie, or else vppon some bourded planckes.

This Priams sonne, gay Antyphus to hart he doth it take,

His death to venge, his séemly dart to Aiax he doth shake,

But misste the man, and Leucus hit, who was Vlysses friend,

He through his guts and bowels thrust, and of him made an end.

Vlysse his friend thus séeing dead, in furie forth he fares,

Unto the formost Troyan ranckes, whereas he stands and stares,

And studies whom he should assault, his enimies gaue place,

And swayde aside, when as they sawe such fiercenesse in his face:

Yet forth his staffe ful stiffe he flong, and tooke vp by the way

Democoon bastard to Priam, as he did runne away,

But all too late: his temples both the stéele it thorow stept,

He dies. Long time in Abydos King Priam had him kept.

From whence he came, and left the stéeds and coursers of his sire,

To go abroad a venturer then was it his desire.

The Troyans all discomfited, retire, and almost flie,

The sonne when they saw of their King all dead in field to lie.

Hector himselfe, who had the charge and leading of the host,

Doth māmer eke whats best to do, least that his life be loste.

In truth the warre had ended bin, if not Apollo he

Had turnd the chaunce from sacred walles, the Troyans he did sée

Out order, broke, the field they left, amaine he cries and calles,

He stayes them straight, and that they fight he to exhort them falles.

Take hart (quoth he) yée Troyans stout, I pray you do not sinke,

Dread not the Gréekish brauerie? a Gods name do you thinke,

That they of stone or stéele are made, and that your sturdie Darts

And Cimyters cannot suffise to pierce and sheare their harts?

Aduance, aduance, and surely hope that conquere néeds you muste,

For Achilles that mightie bugge (to me I tell yée truste)

Who at his pleasure wonted was your heads and helmes to cleaue,

Doth kéepe aboorde in mourning rage, the battels he doth leaue.

The Troyans at the heauenly call renue againe the fray,

And Pallas bolds ye Gréekes, & blames whom fear doth there dismay.

In this conflict Diorus fell, Pirus a Thracian Lorde

With pibble great his legge he strake & burst eche vaine and cord,

[Page] And with his sword his breast he s [...]iste, and guttes on grasse he laide,

With armes abroad before the Gréeks he falles, as asking aide.

Wherewith sir Thoas thrusteth in, and with a deadly bloe

His cruell darte did Pirus wounde, the head of it did goe

Under his pappe vnto the lungs, and yet not pleased is,

But ruthlesse cuttes in mids his paunch, with hand and sword of his:

And after forceth al he may, the carcasse out to traine

The prease, his armor and hys wéede to conquere for his paine.

The Thracians sorie for their Prince, and hap that was so hard,

The doubtie Thoas do resist, and stand vppon their guard,

And that so well he carried nought although he were so strong:

The bones of these two valiant Dukes togither lye along.

And numbers great of souldiors more with them died alas.

And if Minerue had graunted then a souldior olde to passe

Unhurt at all the armies through, to sée who there did beste,

With wonder he, such slaughter like, was neare he would proteste.

Finis quarti Libri.

¶ The fifth Booke.

PAllas she willing to set forth Diomedes his praise,

Among the Gréeks his fame t'aduance by any worthy wayes,

Diuinely doth inspire his breast with stout and haughtie heart,

And to his person force and strength dame Pallas she doth part.

His armor she doth yéeldeful bright, and eke his waightie targe,

Comparisō of the S [...] vvhich is called Ori ons Dogg [...] Dares Vulc [...] [...].

His harnesse shone as doth the starre within the heauen large,

The whiche in Autumne time is raisd amid the mightie skie,

And bathes it selfe in Occean floud: afoote then by and by

The puissant Goddesse brings him in the thickest of the host.

[Page]

Now of King Priams subieas one, of all as rich as most,

Was Dares Priest of Vulcane God, the seruice tended hee:

Two sonnes he had, one Phegeus, the seconde called Idee,

Whose valiance in the Troian campe did cause their fame to flow:

Aboue the other souldiors much, the armour shining so,

When as they spide of the stout Gréeke, no time they tarryed then,

Phegeus & Ideus sons of Dares assaile Diomedes.

But fiercely assaild him from their chaire, and yode with him like mē:

Phegeus there aduaunced throwes his dart, a souldior stout

Whiche doth no harme, his polorone it doth strike and flieth out.

Diomedes the mortall launce he girdes with better hap,

The whiche he sendeth to his foe, and wounds him on the pap,

Diomedes flayes Phegeus.

And Phegeus the bloudie death receiued by the wounde,

And from the Chariot there (good soule) he falleth to the grounde:

His brother slaine, straight Idee left the Chariot where it stoode,

And no resistaunce made, for why defence would doe no good.

For dyed he had, but that Vulcane he of his heauenly grace

Preservd the man, and with a cloude he hapte him in the place,

vulcane saues Ideus

With pitie he respecting now the Dares good forgone,

Who childlesse sonke with sorrow great, his age would end anone.

The filthy flight Diomede sawe, to sue he nothing spedde,

The horses braue he gaue his man, who them to hauen ledde.

When Troyans sawe these brethren two discomfit, as you heare,

One put to flight, the other slaine, they greatly ginne to feare,

The warre they déeme not well for them, wherefore dame Pallas than

Pallas to Mars.

To Mars she cōmes, and takes his hand, and friendly thus beganne:

O bloudie Mars and gastfull God, O mightie Mars in rage,

Who townes and Castels in their force, and fighters still doth gage,

And rasest quite when pleaseth thée: is it agréed that stil

We disagrée, why, let the Gréekes and Troyans fight their fil,

By téeth let them the matter trie, our discord bid farewell,

Let vs not breake our heads with them, or with their quarrels mell:

Who Ioue the victorie will giue, that all men well may knowe,

To leaue this enterprise as nowe my councell would it so.

And surelye so I thinke it beste: wel, let vs hence I pray,

Take héede we stirre not vpon vs, Ioues furic anye way.

Mars leaueth the battaile.

The Goddesse sage nowe ending thus: she softly from the rout

[Page] Of Scamander a pleasaunt shade to banckes she brought him out:

He gone, the Troyans host doth quayle, and yéeld to shamefull flight,

Whom Gretians now as conquerors do follow al the night:

And then the Captaines wel did shew their worthy prowesse hie.

Agamemn leader of the warre, to earth he manfully

Of Alisones Odius hight, a doughtie Duke he doong,

Agam [...] Odius.

The chin he cleaues, & pierst his breast with Dart he strongly floong,

Wherewith he from the Chariot fell, whose fal (the noise was such)

Causde wel be heard his trembling corpse and eke his armor rich.

Idomen Phestus also slew, the vertuous Meons heire,

Idome [...] king of Creete [...] Phesius.

The courtous Phestus from Tarnee his prouince did repaire

That fertile was, renowme to get, but die (alack) he must,

In his right side the Cretane doth his bloudie ianeline thrust:

He falleth downe, blacke death he féeles, by souldiours he is spoylde,

His carcase all besmerde with bloud and filth, lyeth fouly foilde.

On the other side his valiantnesse wel sheweth Menelaie,

Menelaus kils Camā der the hunter.

With stiffe and sturdie launce he doth Camander hunter stay.

Him Diane she did honor so, to him so friendly was,

Him cunning gaue and courage too, t'assayle the beasts of chase:

The Goddesse and his goodly art in quiuer and in bow

Full ill doe serue, he in his flight behinde receiues the blow,

And down on earth he dead doth lye: Phereclus may no starte,

Meriones hand, a Carpenter, so cunning in his arte

Meriones kils Phereclus, vvh [...] made the ships [...] stale Heleine VV [...]

That worke was none so excellent that any man did frame,

But that Phereclus by his skill with toole cauld cut the same,

Minerua wise so fauoured him, for Paris he of Troy

Did builde the ships, which were the cause of al this great annoy,

And to his Citie and himselfe such spoyle and mischiefe brought.

For to the Gods, who nillde ye same, he wold not wéeld his thought:

Without reuenge he yéelds the ghost, him Merione doth smite

Upon the haunch with stéeled speare, and pierst his bladder quite,

When as he féeles hys breath to part, he falleth on his knées,

With better teares, sith die he must, distilling from his eyes.

Meges also fiercely fought for Phegeus wise and bold

Kight down he slew, the bastard sonne of Antenorus olde,

Meges [...] Phegeus Antenrs Bastardso [...]

Whom Theana his mother in Law had nourisht with great care

[Page] To please his sire, euen as though legitimate he were,

The Poet to moue the more pitie, names the race and bringing vp of these are slaine. Euripilus kils Hipsenor Priest of Scamander.

By great mishap vnto the téeth, the dart doth teare his skul,

He on the plaine doth die, his mouth with bloud and yron ful.

Hard by the bastards bodie there Euripilus doth quell

Hipsenor Priest of Scamander, who servde the Temple well:

Whose maners good were liked much, yet forst, he rested there

In field: his right hande at a blow his falchon off did shere:

Wherwith him sodainly receivde the darke and duskie death,

Which darknesse throwes vpon his eyes, & takes frō him his breath.

While that the kings they fought, & down in flight ye Troyans flew,

A man right hardly Diomede for Gréeke or Troyan knew,

He through and through the Campe doth go withouten any stay,

And nothing finds can him resist, no any kinde of way.

Like as a spring throughout a plaine falling from mountaine top,

Diomedes lickned to an ouer [...]o vving Riuer vvhich spoyles all.

Disorders all, both bancke and bridge, and no where findeth stop

Which it not breakes in spreading forth his mightie course on fields,

On vines, and fertile Gardens eke, and Meadowes often yéelds

Frnitelesse, that erst were fruiteful much, and frls them ful of Sande:

Euen so this Gretians haughtie déedes, and valiance of his hand

Makes way through Troyans euery where, he findes none doth resist,

No band or battayle in defence that stand against him list.

Pandarus then beholding thus the folke of Troy to flie,

Pandarus the archer.

Doth bend his bow minding to strike Diomede mortally:

He letteth flye a shaft at him, and pierst his Curet flap

On his shoulder, and in the flesh it gaue a pretie knap,

As well appeared by the bloud aboundantly that sproong,

Diomedes vvounded by Pādarus

Wherewith the archer ginnes to braue, that al the field it roong.

Oh valiaunt Troyans al, (quoth he) come sée, and here behold

The luckie hit of this my shaft, take hart and waxe yée bold.

Pandarus to the Troyans.

Aduance my friends, now hurt I haue one chiefest of our foes,

Beléeue that long he cannot stande, of force to die he goes,

If so Apollo do not spoyle, and yéeld my trauaile vaine,

And take from me this worthy glore, which now I séeme to gaine.

Thinking that victour now he stoode, thus Pandarus doth braue

At the stoute Gréeke, who féeling wel himselfe a wound to haue,

Sthenelus plnckes the arrovv out of Diomed.

He draweth backe, but not agast, and Sthenelus his friend

[Page] He wils to come downe from his chaire, and softly take by end

The stéele, and plucke it out the hurt, with ease as much as may:

As best he could, the piercing shaft he drew, and cast a way.

Wherwith the golden buckle gaie, the which he ware before,

And Curets did togither holde, was stainde with purple gore.

Diomedes thus painde alite, cast vp to heauen his heade,

With hart he Pallas doth entreate, and thus to hir he sayde

Diomedes prayer to Pallas.

Oh Pallas great, the daughter thou of Ioue the God so hie,

Giue eare, and graunt thy seruaunts suite, which craues it earnestlye:

If euer thou Tydee my sire, or else now me his sonne

Haue prospered wel gainst forceful foes, wher we exploite haue done,

Tideus Diomedes father.

Graunt I beséech, thy fauour now, that I may send to Hel

This gallant, who me hauing hurt, he thinkes he beares the bel,

Beléeuing sure, séeing from me my scarlet bloud to runne,

I cannot hold, but am depriude from euer sight of sunne.

The Gréeke no sooner saide his sute, but Pallas would it so,

She came, and straight to al his parts did double strength bestow,

Pallas to Diomedes

And spake him thus: Go, fiercely fight, thy foes to daunt not feare:

The gifts of force are now in thée, which in thy father were,

And more, the vale I take away long earst before thy sight:

That thou maist know both gods and men the better in thy fight:

Yet take good héede, if any God present himselfe to thée,

That one to deare him with thy hand thy minde, do not agrée.

If Venus faire do hap to come, then do thy forces plie,

And hurt hir corpes, if so thou canst, composde so tenderly.

Minerua left him with these words, with courage fully frought,

And to the Troyans then he made, and one them fiercely fought.

Who, though ful fierce in war he were, and forward alway bent

Before his hurt, a thirde part now he findes his strength augment:

Wishing reuenge most Lion like, the which the simple hearde

Comparison of the Lion chased.

Doth gaule with shast or skirring dart in kéeping of his heard,

Wherwith the beast is more enradge, the blow doth make him grin,

The which the heardman when he sées, for feare begins to spin,

And to the sauage Lion leaues his cattaile and his folde

To do his wil, who doth performe his losses manifold,

And commeth out a conqueror: ene with like valiant hart

[Page] The mightie Gréeke the Troyans scoures amazde in euery part.

Diomedes s [...]ayes A [...]ous.

Astinous and Hipenor, two puissaunt Dukes to tel,

By weapon of the worthy Gréeke in fielde the Princes fel.

For thwart the Pap the one he stroke, his launce so helde the trade,

The other smote his waightie sword twixt necke and shoulder blade:

The cruel blow he stroke, the ioynt no whit it mysste at all,

The bodie and the shoulder both to earth togither fal.

After he cutte in pieces there Polidus and Abant

Diomedes kils Abant and Polidus the sōns of Eurimātes the Prophet.

The children of the Prophet great cleaped Euridamant.

Who prophesies and dreames though true he could interpretate,

The hoarie fire yet had not cast his sonnes vnluckie fate.

And in the ranck by his right hand the selfe same daunce now runs

The brethren Thoon and Xanthus, rich Phenops only sonnes,

And to the olde mans griefe, sith fate no children did him leaue

He forced was his stored wealth to strangers to bequeaue.

Theon & Xanthus s [...]ayne by Diomedes.

And passing forth, a Chariot met Diomede in the face,

Wherein were two, king Priams sons, with wise and warlike grace,

Who wel did know the feates of war, Echemonone that hight,

Echmon & Chromius Priams sons s [...]aine by Diomedes Comparisō of an hungry Lion.

Chromius eke fel deade in fielde ydaunted by his might.

For euen as the Lion proude for hunger set to pray,

In pasture findes an hearde of neate, and séekes to force away

One of the troupe, with strength on him he seaseth with his pawes,

And fiercely holds him by the necke, and forth the bootie drawes:

Euen so the hardie Gréeke did ioy, & pluckt them from their chare,

His mightie hand of both their blouds the badge and token bare.

Off them their armour then he tare, their horsses eke he sente

Fourth by his friends vnto his ship, or else vnto his tent.

When as Eneas thus behelde the Troyans go to wracke,

With wounds and slaughter only one to put them al to sacke,

And at his pleasure play the Bug, he forward straight doth passe,

And in the throng he thrusteth in, wheras it thickest was:

Séeking he asketh of his folke for their Duke Pandarus,

The Lycian head, whom when he found, he chéerely spake him thus:

Oh curteous knight, thy piercing shafts where are they, & thy bowe?

Encas to Pandarus.

Are they in péeces al to pasht, wherof thou boasted so?

Thy great renowne and worthy fame, wherwyth al Lycie roong,

[Page] And eke our Camp, and oft the Gréeks with dread and terror doong,

What, is it out yquenched cleane? alack thy bow take yet,

And nocke the mortalst shaft thou hast, and sende it right to hit,

And pray the Gods to further thée against this Gretian fel,

Who cruelly our chiefest folke doth chase, destroy and quel:

I greatly feare some mightie God discended is from skies

To punish vs for our offence, whose furie now doth rise

For hauing not his honors due, if that way go the geare,

We quiet must content, for why, their rage is great to beare.

O noble Troyan quoth Pandare, as touching now this Gréeke,

Pandarus to Encas.

The prudent heire of Tydeus he séemeth to be léeke:

Like targe he beares, his loftie crest and armour doth agrée,

His horses also make me thinke that wel it may be hée:

I dare not yet affirme the same, for no man mortall sure

Is to be thought, whose déedes of armes such valiaunce doth procure.

Perhap it is one of the Gods in mortal armor bent,

Or else some one, to whom the Gods haue secrete fauour sent,

And turnes aside the wounds and blows, which should vpon him fal,

If not, my shaft had sent him erst to good king Plutoes Hall.

But now I sée him in the fight more furious than before,

And more I know some mighty God hath me displeasure bore.

For here I nothing haue to arme and fronte me to the fight,

My strong and shining chariots braue, my coursers eke so light,

And mightie band alack, I want: oh (no good reason why)

Far hence I left them at my home, the more vnhappy I.

I haue eleauen armed wel and richly wrought throughout

With goldsmithes worke, and gallauntly embroydred round about.

Two horses tough ech one it hath, the Iades they are not dul,

Of Barley white, of Rie and Oates they féede in mangier ful.

Licaon father of Pa [...] datus.

Licaon when I did depart the good old man me bad

To take them with me, for to shew what force in fight I had,

I do fore thinke, for that I would my fathers hest obey,

And did forsake his counsel good: I only fearde alway,

(Knowing with siege this Citie girt) I doubted to come by

The wo [...]d foode my ho [...]ses had, wherfore vnhappily

Trusting vnto my [...] [...]owe, I here am come a foo [...]e,

[Page] And haue them left, which bow of mine hath servde to little boote,

I hauing often provde the same: two of my shots did pricke

Both Menelau, and Diomede, and thrust them to the quicke,

And al in vaine, for thinking I, with death their bones to bore,

I nothing did, but stirde them vp more furious than before.

Wherfore I iustly now may say, vnluckie was my fate,

To bring my bow or souldioure else to fight in any rate

Under the Troyan ensigues here, or put my helping hande

Hector the noble prince to ayde, and subiectes of his lande.

If Gods do please that eft I may my wife and Countrey sée,

For this my gréeuous great mishap, I willingly agrée

And am content some straunger do cut off this heade of mine,

If bow, if shafts, and quiuers too, as right as any line

In fire and flame I do not cast, with most despite to b [...]rne

Which with my payne in this exploite so il haue servde my turne.

This spake the Lycian Pandarus, do not thy selfe thus déere,

Encas to Pandarus.

Quoth Eneas vnto him, but be of better chéere.

Let vs togither ioyne, and leaue this fancie wood,

Let vs assayle this souldiour stoute, if so you thinke it good.

Come vp into my Chariot here, do you my horsses trie

How light they are, how wel to hand to such as do them gye

To scoure apace, or else to stop, to ioyne to gallop swift,

To turne, and how to helpe vs to at any sodaine lift.

Choose which you list▪ take you the rain, and guider be to me,

While I do go and fight with him, or I wil guide to thée.

It best is that you take the charge quoth Pandare by my réede,

For they wil better gouernde be by him, who doth them féede,

Pandarus Eneas.

Than by a forraine, for I feare when so we should retire,

With bit in téeth they still would stand: and horses wil require

The chearing of their wonted g [...]ide▪ and so it might befal,

That he the Gréeke assayling vs▪ may raigne and gouerne all.

Wherfore do you your horses rule, and let me now in faight

My force and prowesse put in proofe: these words be ended straight

And both the lustie souldiours there in martch do forward goe,

And valiauntly do shake their [...] Sthenelus do [...] knowe,

S [...]nelus to Diomedes

He cals his friend and sayth him thus▪ [...] are here,

[Page] Who force themselues to ioyne with vs, and now are drawing néere,

Both warlike men, one cunning much in shooting very straight,

The Troyans praise the other stoute, and wise in things of waighte,

Estéemde and honourde ouer all, the olde Anc [...]ses heire,

The which he vaunteth he begot on louely Venus faire.

Wherfore herin is daunger much, and therfore I you pray

Re [...]ire a while, hast not so much the hap of war t'assaie.

For doubt that this our forwardnesse may yéelde vs both to die.

Diomede hearing thus his mate to counsel him to flye,

In choler great doth aunswere him as miscontented much:

Diomedes to Sthenel.

Thinke not thy foolish counsaile can yéelde feare or terror such

In me, no, no, al men of vs great villany would say,

No souldiour following at our backes to sée vs run away.

I aunswere can a greater cause than this yet wyth my force,

That it is true, I wil not take my Chariot nor my horsse

To deale with them, let me alone, Minerua she doth graunt

This victorie it shal be mine, one of them I must daunt,

And reaue from him his vital breath, beléeue it true to finde,

At least I wil constraine them here to leaue their chare behinde.

Good friend remember wel my words, part not from me away,

If so it hap, and fortune, that I both those Troyans stay,

Or if in field they mangled lye, make hast in any case,

Their horsse and Chariot to my hall I pray you leade apace.

These goodly beastes are of the race of these great coursers trim,

Which Iupiter to Tros the prince presented vnto him,

When as he meant Ganimedes from Troy to steale and catch

Eneas [...] ses of the heauenly Race.

To serue him in the heauens hie, no where is found their match

For countenaunce and for courage, not, vnder the morning gray,

Nor yet beneath the shining sunne, Anchise wel knew the way

The race and kind for to come by, for sith the same in gift

Laomedon would neuer graunt, he findes a pretie shift,

Into the pasture priuily he puts his goodly Mares,

To couer them the Stalions stoute and coursers nothing spares:

Sixe colts so had he beautifull of which he chose him foure

To serue him at all tymes of néede, and made of them great store,

Th [...]e two he gaue Eneas here so gay and richly clad,

[Page] O what a pray were this, if Ioue, would I the bootie had?

So spake the Gréeke, who euen thinkes the déede already done:

P [...]arus to Diomedes.

In meane time both the Troyans do against him ioyntly runne.

Then spake Pandare, oh cruel Gréeke, sith so it is befall,

That erst my mortal piercing shaft could not thée hurt at all,

To cleaue thy Curets once againe I now wil trie my dart.

And when he ended had these words, his launce he threw so smart,

That through he thirlde his buckler quite, and to his Curet fled,

Pandarus vanteth to foolishly.

And further not, yet thinking there that he the Gréeke had sped,

Doth vaunt aloude: O Diomede the déede now is it done,

Wherby I iustly iudge my selfe the happiest vnder sunne.

This blow so déepe it pierced hath thy side, and pretie poke

Of guts, as die of force thou must, receiuing thus the stroke.

Diomede nought afright him sayde: thy strength it is too yong

Thou art deceivde, for by the same I nothing now am wroong.

Diomedes to Pandar.

I wil thée shew another tricke, thou shalt not so wel brooke,

My launce shal send thée to thy graue, at my handes do not looke

For better grace, but it in bloud of one of you to bathe:

He with these words at Pandarus doth throw it strong and rathe:

Then Pallas to the Lycians face directs the weapon right,

Diomedes killeth Pan.

Which mightilye thrusteth through the same, & cuts in two his sight,

His nose, his téeth, his tong and all, and there remaineth in

A good péece of the stéele and staffe, the head from out his chin

Doth peare, and downe he falleth dead, the horses start withal,

Hearing the noyse that there did make his armor in the fal:

His armour bright and finely wrought, but filld with bloud so raw,

And hewde throughout, this great defeite when as Eneas saw,

Most Lion like he venters forth, and loude the Prince doth crie,

With sworde and targe in hande, in hast he runneth desperatly,

Minding mortally to wound, the Gretian first he met,

But Diomede then wel aduisde, a waightie stone doth fet,

Which scarcely two good [...] could heaue or lift vpon the ground,

Diomedes vvoundeth Eneas.

Wherwith he hits him on the thigh, and doth Eneas wounde,

So sore, his fi [...]ewes he doth pash, and muskles teares in two,

As forst kal [...]e deade [...] he was, headlong on knées to go,

And groueling stard him with his hands, he bitter death had cought,

[Page] If so his tender dame had not his present suc [...]or sought:

Who viewing wel the danger great, whiche to hir sonne did hap,

To rid him out the hard distresse, hir cloke she doth bewrap

Him round about, and hawseth him, wherewith he was so clad

As in a forte, else thousand darts him ouer happed had.

And then to leade him out the prease, Venus doth hir deuore.

And Sthenelus remembring what his friend had willd before,

Aeneas horse doth take, his owne aside doth leade a while

The Troyans horse he doth betake hys trustie mate Deiphile,

Stheneius Diomedes guider tak [...] Aeneas horses.

To guide vnto Diomedes tents: this Deiphile was the same

Who wel belovde of all the campe, of Knighthoode bare the name▪

His owne coursers he mounteth on, and followeth spéedily.

Diomedes, whom then he findes with all his might to hie

Diomedes purs [...]eth Ven [...].

After the Goddesse, hir to fell, and Venus downe to beate,

Well knowing she is none of them, in whom is powre [...]o great,

As in the two maydens Minerue, and in the fierce Bellon,

Minerua & Ballon [...].

A weake and daintie parnell she, in whome is goodnes none.

He in the prease doth finde hir out, he foloweth on so fast,

Whether th'immortalls wil be hurte, to proue he nowe doth cas [...]e.

His dart with poudred Emins lynde doth pierce the gallant cloke,

Venus vvounded in the hād by Diomedes.

And in hir fine and Goddesse hande there forward hit the stroke:

The kinde and daintie dame is hurte, wherewith she waild hir ill,

And heauie in hir heart she féeles the heauenly iuice distill,

And scarlet bloud, which was not like as mortall men do bléede,

For, forasmuch as heauenly folkes on fruits they do not féede,

And do abstaine themselues from wine, their h [...]nors do not grée,

With vs are men, therefore we say immortall that they be.

Venus she grieues, and chafeth much, being thus forste to pine

By hand of one that mortall is, and loud beginnes to whine,

For [...]eare she is constraind to leaue, and forsake Aeneas,

Whome Phoebus helpeth at a pinch, and doth him there embrace,

She haps him with a cloud, and kéepes him from the Gréekish spite,

Which for the purpose, when he came, she straight had therein sight.

In meane time Diomedes doth at Venus gibe and floute,

Prouokes hir wrath, in fight (quoth he) hēceforth no more come out,

Let it suffice you with your wiles pore women to deceaue,

[Page] The trade of warre and warlike actes I reade you for to leaue:

For if the battaile thus you haunt, your selfe you will beguile,

One day you wil be payde for all, that you wil cursse the while.

The Grecian spake the Goddesse thus, for grief who sorrows sore,

Not onely for the wound that painde, no lesse, but rather more

She doth lament thus to be mockte, wherewith hir colour gay

So bright that was, beginnes to swarte, and séemes to fade away.

Wherefore Iris with pitie woonde, vnto hir draweth nie,

And for good will she brought hir out, and to a place there by

Iris brigeth Venus our of the batel

On the left hand she led hir in, where Mars did stand and groile,

As ill disposd, and did behold the bloudie fight and broile:

He sitting in a duskie cloude, his Mounter by him there,

He leaneth sadly on his launce, as though he wearie were.

Then Venus on hir maribones thus prayes him earnestlye:

Good brother Mars so well belovde, to mounte [...] Olympus hie,

Venus to Mars.

And heauenly pallace, lend me now your chaire, great pain I haue,

Alacke with treason Diomede, that fierce and cruell knaue

He hath me wounded in the hand, that fierce and cruel curre,

I thinke he Ioue woulde also hurte he kéepeth suche a sturre.

Mars willing graunteth hir request, his chare and horse he lent,

Mars [...]endeth Venus his chariots vvho ascen deth into heauen.

She mounts, and Iris takes the raine, for guide with hir she went:

The goodly Genets cut the aire, they rather wish to flie,

And in a moment they are come vnto the heauen hie,

And found the mansion of the Gods, where Iris straight hir spedde

To dresse them wel, and there with meates immortal she them fed.

Then Venus found hir mother deare, and fell down in the place,

Halfe sounding, whome Dione doth lamenting there embrace,

And curteously doth thus entreate: Good daughter, whom I loue,

Whose hand hath bin so cruell bold of al the Gods aboue,

That dared déere thy tender fleshe? no worse they could haue vsde

The ranckes [...] driuel, who hirselfe most filthie had abusde.

Diomede that rebell (quoth she) hath giuen me the gelpe,

When as I meant my tender sonne Aeneas for to helpe,

Venus to hir mother.

Else died he had, and nowe I sée that Gréeks not onely warre

With folke of Troy, but do in fight the Gods both hurte and scarre.

The worthy Goddesse Dione then this furious rage to stay,

[Page] A while to quiet at hir harme doth louely Venus pray.

Dione to Venus.

My daughter swéete, content your selfe, for many Gods there are,

Whome mortall men dispitefully haue wrongd with hatefull care,

But yet in time haue felt at full the guerdon of their faulte:

Ephalte, Otus, stout Oloeus sonnes Mars God they did assault,

And so preuaild against the God, that thirtéene moneths long,

They bound and kept him prisoner in prison sure and strong:

Where he had dyed by long abode, but that with pitie fraught

Euribea their mother in law Mercurius she besought

In fauour of the God distrest, who stale him in a braide,

And secretly conuayde him forth, without whose present ayde,

The fetters and the stinking aire had there consumde him quite,

His nature so diuine it was. Iuno for al hir might

Iuno [...] in the right breast by Hercule [...].

On hir right breast was wounded sore, and stricken so did stand

By triple he adedshée ring shafte, ysent by Herculs hand.

What shal we say of Pluto blacke, who rules in eche behoofe

Th'infernall powers as onely God? hath he not had good proofe

Of Herculs darte, when as he was in Pili [...] country soile:

Among the murdred carcasses, where so receivde the foile

His Godhead, that if possibly a God could die or wast,

Pluto [...] by Hercules. Pluto vvas healed by Peon phisition to the Gods.

The wounde on shoulder which he caught had bin his vtas laste.

But to the lightsome mansion tho, of Ioue be hies amaine

To séeke a helpe there for his hurte, where Peon taketh paine,

His grieuous wounde he dresseth well, and quite doth heale the same:

O Hercules, vnhappy thou, too foolish and too blame,

Who feared not to deale in fight, and striue offensiuely

Against the Gods, who alwayes séeke reuenge assuredly.

But daughter trust this Gréeke durst not haue hurt you any way,

But by Mineruas helpe, who willes you all the ill she may.

A good pore foole, who doth not knowe the man that doth contend

Against the Gods with enuious pride, muste haue a wretched end.

This onely faulte another day (at home) shall make him misse

His preatie babes to call him Dad, and there his knées to kisse.

He surely ought to thinke, if they, who be of greater force

Then you, would not reuenge your case, so driuen by remorce,

That your power can well suffise his punisher to be

[Page] In his owne lande, that is to say, by his wife Egialee:

Who waking out hir heauie sléepe, séeling the burning pricke

Of loues desire, to quench hir heate, some roag she shal not sticke

To tice vnto hir husbandes bed, and sporte with many a fit,

As merily as Cocke and Pie, he nothing wotting it.

To cheare hir daughter thus she saide, and softly drest the sore,

She swagde the paine, and Venus was more eased than before.

Dione appeaseth Venus.

But when as Iuno and Minerue did sée hir thus arayed,

In flouting wise, O Ioue they sayde, be you not ill apayed?

O holy father (quoth Pallas) of this ymery be,

Pallas to Iupiter mocking Venus.

Venus a Gréeke to Troyan campe to bring there minding she

To giue to one whome wel she likte, in leading forth the man,

Hir hand with buckle of his belte (she hardly leaning an)

Ironia.

Is hurte, the tong hath thrust hir in, and then it may befall

Good cause to aske some ready helpe, the wound it is not small.

At this good iest the God of Gods smyleth with mery cheare,

And kindly came and spake hir thus: Venus my daughter deare,

It is not yours to rule an host, nor deale in bro [...]les of warre,

Iupiter to Venus.

But loue and mariages to make, for you they fitter are,

Meddle with them, your brother Mars to him leaue you the fight,

And to your sister Mineruà, as due to them of right,

In loue your office onely is, thus Ioue doth pleasaunt iest,

And talking so they to and fro, he sportes among the rest.

In the meane while Diomedes, Aeneas he had slaine,

And misste but small, but Apollo defended him againe.

For the desire that then he had, the Troyan for to slay,

And gaine his goodly furniture, al iudgement tooke away,

Apollo thrice there guarded him, him thrice the Gréeke did charge,

Apollo stil did strike aside his weapon and his targe:

The fourth time dead he had him downe, or layed him on the floure,

But that with grimme and griesly lookes Apoll doth threat & l [...]re.

In hast retire I reade (quoth he) how trimme a man you are,

Apollo to Diomedes.

So sawcie with th'immortall Gods, and boldly [...]s compare?

And henceforth this consider to, far different is the powre

Of men, who leades their liues on earth, and [...] die euery houre,

From that of Gods immortall who and heauenly neuer dies.

[Page] Herewith the hastie Gréeke, apace (wel fearde) away he flies.

Then Phoebus there out of the fight the Troyan tooke away,

And on the Citie wall he plaste him in the Temple gay,

Unto him consecrated, large, and sumptuously wrought,

As in a fortresse sacred much, and most assured thought:

Unto the end that Diana, and his sister Latone,

More carefully might help to heale his woūds, which causd his mone,

And straight the armies to abuse he vsde a Stratageme,

Animage like vnto Enee himselfe (it so did séeme)

An Imag [...] of [...].

He did erect, about the which the bloudy gore did runne,

And round about the same, many a doubtie déede was done

By Knights of Greece, and Troyans both, the one their trauel spent

It to defend, it Gréekes to spoile their might and forces bent.

When as Enee Apollo had in good sure safetie set,

Another way he helpeth, for, he mightie Mars doth get

By his great meanes in Troyans aide, and him he bourded thus:

Apollo to Mar [...].

O Mars thou God inuincible, Mars fell and furious,

O bloudie Mars with gastful lookes, gainst whom no batteld wal,

Nor armour tempred nere so well, can scarce resist at all:

What, can you suffer here this Gréeke to braue throughout the hoste

And glorie thus? wil you not plague and scowre him to his coste

For this so sawcie his attempt? for he would make no stoppe

An enimie to be to Ioue, and ride vppon his toppe,

Who made no bones so ill t'array Venus thy sister here,

And hath prepard against me to, a mad man as he were.

Apollo ending thus his words, vpon the wall did rest,

Mars in [...] [...]y kenelle [...] Acamas [...] horteth the Troyans

And Mars the puissant God himselfe to battel ready prest.

He commes into the Troyan campe, presenting in the face,

And furniture, one Acamas, a mightie Prince of Thrace.

The ranckes he cheares, and comforts vp, namely King Priams sons:

His voice he lifteth vp and calles, disordred nowe who runs,

O valiant ympes, whome erst I tooke so worthy and so strong,

To sée pour folke thus murdred here without your helpe, how long

Will yée forbeare? what, stay you till your Knights be beaten down▪

And that your foes do come and fight at gates before your town?

What greater griefe (oh) can there be for you, than to behold.

[Page] Enee a Troyan of suche price, so valiant and so bold,

Another Hector well estéemd in daunger here to ly,

And such a friend to rescue out not one of you will try?

These wordes made many Troyans shew good face & corage take,

Whereby Sarpedon worthy Knight to Hector thus he spake,

Sarpedon to Hector.

With choler séeming somewhat moode: O Hector sage and wise,

Where is the prowesse that sometimes extold was to the skies,

When thou didst boast that thy brethren, and thy allies alone

Could bid good welcome to the Gréekes, and wel defend your owne

Without the force of straungers aide? where is thy great kinred?

Thy brethren, cousins, and adheres? surely they all are fledde,

I sée not one, no, no. like Dogges, whom Lion séekes to teare,

They leaue thée here in daunger great, and runne away for feare.

Comparisō of Dogges assayled by a Lyon.

They leaue not thée, but vs also, who here are come not strest

In thy quarrell to spend our bloud, and thro haue done our best.

To Troyan King I am no liege, ne with him kinred haue,

I haue no countrey lies so neare, which I néede séeke to saue.

Yet here I come from Licie lande, a countrey furre that lies,

Prouoked by thy great reporte, which famde is to the skies.

I there haue left my louing spouse, my babes, such good and golde,

Wherewith such men as want the same, greatly reioice they would.

I hazarding with most good will my life and state for thée,

I cannot nowe but maruaile muche: for why, alas I sée

Thy friends and souldiors runne away, and I and mine to stand,

Thou holdst thy peace, who ought reuoke, & beare them hard in hand,

No more thus to abandon thée, declaring to them all

The mischiefe, wherein they and theirs is haply like to fall:

The which shal be as simple beasts ywrapped in the snare,

Comparisō of beasts taken in Nets.

Their great and famous Citie spoil [...], ysackte, and pilled bare.

You better ought to minde this geare, and goe vnto the chiefe,

And tel them, that there yet remaines great hope of good reléefe:

And that by stoutly standing to't, the victorie may be had:

So men of you will déeme right well, else iudge of you too bad.

Sarpedon thus prickte Hector on, the prince nothing replied,

But in his armor as he was from Chariot straight he hied,

Hector beginnes the battaile again [...].

And leaped downe, holding in hand of darts a goodly paire,

[Page] Which there he fiercely shakes, and doth vnto his folke repaire:

Where, with commaundment and request his bands he orders eft,

Who taking harte, forward aduaunce, to gain the place they left.

When Gréekes the Troyans thus perceivde themselues in rancks to weaue,

Their crues they clappe togither close, thē surer to receaue,

And souldior like do ready make, to bide the fight they meane:

And euen as men out of the barne fanning their corne cleane,

Often by greatnesse of the winde the chaffe abroad that blowes,

The filth doth white the husbandmen, which out the corne goes:

The dust was likewise great, when as the Troyans neare appearde,

The souldiors and their armor all with dust were all besmeard.

Then did the cruel warre beginne with great and sorer tewe

Than erst before, they fight it out, and shieldes in péeces hewe.

Mars runneth vp and downe the fieldes, the Troyans he exhortes

In couert wise, and cheares them vp with spéeche of sundry sortes.

Phoebus (quoth he) doth take your partes, and Pallas is your foe,

Wherefore some worthy déede of Armes, it you behooues to shoe.

Aeneas [...] turneth to the [...].

The selfe same time Aenee reurnes all freshe into the field,

Apollo brought him in, whom when the Troyans whole behelde,

And not to do like as a man that hurt or maimed were,

But like a strong and valiant Knight, they greatly ginne to chéere.

At him they coulde not gaze their fill, some woulde haue talkte with him

But now the broile and bickering begon was very brimme:

Apollo, Mars, the Goddesse fond Contention tooke the partes

Of the good Troyans, enflaming to war their warlike hartes,

Apollo, Mars. and Con [...] for the Troyans.

The valiant Knights the two Aiax on th'other partie doe it,

With Diomede and Vlysses they pray the Gréekes stande to it,

The whiche obey: like men of war they stand and kéepe their ground:

For as the cloudes the mountaines toppes do close & compasse rounde

Comparis [...] of the cloudes of the mount [...].

Maugre the winds, by Ioue his meanes, who else no way abides

The blasts & blustring northern puffes, ty thrusts at hart their sides:

Likewise with stout and valiant minds the Gréeks wel armed stand,

Séeing with them the worthiest Dukes of al the Gréekish land.

And Agamemnon doth commaunde, where néede he thinketh moste,

And trauailes carefully about to order all the hoste.

O warlike Grecians (quoth he) tho, if euer men haue séene

[Page] Your warlike déeds performe them now, no lesse than they haue bin,

Take courage sirs, and with one mind now charge vppon your foes,

The souldior who estéemes his name, for suretie do suppose,

And for the same doth stirre his stumpes, more dangers dothe escape

Than cowards do, who from the fight to flée doe onely gape.

We sooner sée goe to the hacke, the dull and fearful foke,

Than hardie souldiors in the field, who wishe with foes to yoke.

The sprite, the which for honors sake hath not more liuely grace,

The body faints, and mated eke, to death it giueth place.

He with these wordes doth she we the way, his Iaueline to his foes

He gyrdeth forth, and dead in field Deicoon ouerthrowes,

Deicoon slaine by Agamemnō

Déere friend vnto the great Aenee, through all the camp Troyene

So honord and estéemd, as he King Priams sonne had bene.

Not onely for his iolitie, and for his strength and might,

But that he alway stil would be the formost in the sight.

The Dart his massie Target doth and Baudricke thorowe beare,

So downe it goeth to his paunch, and dead he falleth there.

The selfe same time Aeneas slue Crethon, Orsilochus:

Who had of the Citie Pheree to sire Deocleus,

[...]neas kills Crethon & Orsilochus.

Abounding both in powre and wealth, whose petigrée they fetch

From Alphe brooke in Pilie land, so largely which doth stretch.

Orsilochus was Alphes sonne, a King of worthie name,

Who did beget Deocleus, a Prince of no lesse fame:

Of whome descended these two heires, Orsiloche and Crethone,

In feates of warre, in Gréekish campe their betters was there none:

And chiefly for their times, who more their honors to encrease,

Had folowed harde euen to Troy Agamemn through the seas,

Supposing they it honor great as souldiors for to go

Under the guide of such a chiefe: as oft it happens so,

That two yong whelpes of Lions race, close in some corner by

The Forrest, led by Lionesse who in the countrey nie

Spoiling their cattaile and their foldes, an Oxe they somtime slay,

Somtime an Horse, somtime a shéepe they kill and runne away,

Comparison of tvvo Lions surprised by the sheepehearde.

Shall be at length yet ouertane, and by the shéepheards catcht,

They not bearing their harmes, who wel wil cause thē to be watcht.

Likewise Aenee couragious [...]ueld (gainst whom ther was no bootes)

[Page] The Gretians two, who fel like Pines ytournde vp by the rootes

Similitude of tvvo Pine trees [...]elled.

By force of winde, then Menelau hereat doth greatly grieue

To sée his friendes thus murdred here, whom he cōmes to relieue.

Through armed wel, in his right hand a Darte right bright he bare

Mars let him passe, that by Aenee his hand he murdered were.

Antilochus him folowes harde when as he forward went,

He thought the hazard was not small, nor he sufficient

Alone to make his partie good, which when Eneas saw,

Although he wéelded wel in fight, himselfe he did withdraw.

To deale with two he daunger thought, no sooner he retires,

But that to draw the bodies forth the other two desires,

And gaue them to their fellowes there, and then to fight they gone,

Menelaus kils Pylemen [...]s.

In this conflict Pilemene fel, the king of Paphlagone.

With Mydon loyall guider, who his royal Chariot drivde,

The shoulder of the foresayde king there Menelaus clivde.

At Mydon mazde Antilochus a waightie stone did throw,

Antilochus kils [...]

He crusht his arme, constrayning him the bridle to let go:

Beside this blow, he on his face gaue him a schochelade,

Wherby he fel downe to the ground islaine by his blade.

He fel not straight, the Palfreys did trayle him vpon the mould,

Antilochus til he them stayde, and led them where he would.

Then Hector prince by chance came by, right as the déed was done,

Séeing the good king thus distrest to waxe in heate begonne:

And therewith al he cries so loude, that euery Troyan leapes

That heard his voyce, and with good heart they follow him in heaps.

The furious Mars, and stoute Bellone, on them the charge do take

Mars and Bellone vvith Hect.

To martch before the Troyan bands, and dreadful noise do make.

Mars shaketh his redoubted launce, he neuer Hector left,

Sometimes before, sometimes behind he oftentimes doth shift,

In fine, it was a goodly thing a God to haue for guide.

Diomede séeing Mars to martch, for feare may not abide,

Comparis [...] of a traueller vv [...]o stopt by a t [...]uer, returneth.

But did recule a forraine like, who ryding by the way

To some far land, doth finde a floud, whose bredth doth him affray,

He stopped is by the swift course, and surging so amaine,

That he his businesse leaues vndone, and home returnes againe.

Pea euen so the puissaunt Gréeke his souldiours doth aduise,

[Page] Himselfe withdraweth from the sight, and spake them in this wi [...]

Dio. to the Greekes.

My friends quoth he, maruel no whit that Hector is so stout,

And prest himselfe to sight with you, and hence to driue you out.

With him to leade him in the fielde a guider God doth go,

Erst in humaine and mortall forme I Mars the God did know,

Who mans him throughly at the ful, wherfore sirs by my reade,

I would perswade you tarry time, and stay but for a bread.

Tourne not your backs but do retire, for doubt what happen mig [...]

Prouoking here the mightie Gods, who for the Troyans fight.

The Gréekes a little leaue their ground, the Troyans hie as fast,

And Hector first of al the rest his iauelins he doth cast

Wherwith two warlike souldiours he doth slay, Menesthes strong

Anchialus and Menesthes slaine by Hector. Aiax kils Amphius.

And Anchiale, whom from their chare on earth he layed along.

The stoute Aiax did pitie much their fal, the which he spied,

Wherfore his piersing dart he threw, wherwith Amphius dyed:

His armour coulde not beare the blow, but that his guts it gorde,

This Amphius was Selags sonne, of Pese the wealthy Lorde,

Come far to Troy in Priams ayde, who there doth leaue his course,

And sturdie Aiax séekes to spoyle his furniture by force.

But Troyans on his target threw so many darts at once,

The carcase they it tooke him fro, for all his mighty bones.

Sauing his launce, he nothing had, which he was faine to plucke

With both his hands the body out, so déepe in him it stucke.

This done, by Troyans put aback, himselfe away he wryde

Almost wel weary of the toyle, againe on th other side

By fortune hard and fate doth fall valiant Tlepoleme, sonne

To Hercules, with hardie harte, who forward there doth runne,

And puts himselfe in place to ioyne, with stout Sarpedon knight,

Who méeting both togither rounde, and readie to the fight,

These wordes Tlepoleme to him sayes before his dart he flings:

Thepole [...]us to Sarpedon.

What waighty cause, what gret affairs, what néed thée hither brings

Thou coward knight of none accompt, vnhappy here to dye?

Who told thée Ioue to be thy sire, they coaxt thée pretily

Thy faintnesse with his heauenly race doth greatly disagrée:

Thinkst thou in valiaunce to approch Hercule my father he,

My louing sire, with Lions heart so hardie and so haute,

[Page] Who with sixe ships he brought from Greece, toke Ilion by assault,

To take reuenge of broken fayth of Laomedon tho,

Who promist on him in reward his horses to bestow?

Thy force and strength is far from his, and here before thy face

Thy Lycian souldiours are forehayde, and no man rues thy case.

What stead canst thou the Troyans stand? thou letst thy mē be hackt,

But al is one, for why? my launce to Hel shal send thée packt.

Sarpedon at his foolish threates doth moue and bash no whit,

Sarpedō to Tlepole [...].

He takes his tale out of his mouth, (quoth he) ful true is it,

That for the great abuse and fault to Hercules thy sire

They did, Troy it was sackt, and al hir buildings set on fire:

But as for thée, here dy thou shalt ymurdred by my hand,

To my renowme, and send thy soule to low and darksome land.

They make an end of wordes, their darts eche shakes with his good will,

The light betvv [...]ne Sarpedō [...] Tlepolem. Tlepolem. slaine and Sarpedon vvounded.

To slay his foe, and so it fel, as either had his fill.

Sarpedons laūce stroke through the Gréeke, who dead in field doth ly,

The Gréeke his launce Sarpedon pierst in the sinister thy.

So déepe the stéele stacke in the bone, Sarpedon it had kild,

[...]e had not told who had him hurt, but Iupiter it nilde.

The souldiours when these two great Dukes on earth they thus saw layde

Themselues they ply, their proper prince apace they come to ayde.

The Lycian Lord they toke first vp, and brought him out the host,

In euil plight, and very faint, he so much bloud had lost.

As him they beare, the iaueline stil trayled vpon the ground,

They had no time there gently to plucke it out the wound.

The Gréekes take Tlepoleme aside, they lay him in a nooke,

At this defaite and ouerthrow as Vlisses doth looke,

And saw Sarpedons safe retire, he doth the chaunce bewayle,

And doth forethinke which better is, the victor to assayle,

Or else to charge the Lycians, and them in pieces hew:

But following goddesse Pallas minde, he there doth them pursue.

Fate had not willd that Vlysses Sarpadons death should be,

Gods prouidence had kept it for a worthyer man than he.

But there in péeces he doth cut Alastor, Chronius,

Vlisses [...]ay [...]th seue [...] Lycian [...].

Ceranes, Nomon, Alcander, Prytanes, Halius:

And but that valiant Hector came, he more had servde of trust,

[Page] But Hector hied to succour them, and in the ranckes he thrust.

Sarpedon to Hector.

Yea fearing with his armor bright the hardiest of the Gréekes,

Sarpedon ioyeth this to sée, and running down his chéekes

The trickling teares, thou Priams son (quoth he) I hartly pray,

Unto the Gréekes in this distresse, oh leaue me not this day:

Cause me to Troy to be conuaide, there let me end my dayes,

Forsake me not, I wel do know I may no maner wayes

My Countrey sée, and home returne to sée my louing wife

Nor children chéerish, for I féele now ends my fading life.

The worthy Hector aunswerde not, among the Gréekes he romes,

Them, who withstoode him for to send vnto their longest homes.

The Lycians on a moole-hill set the wounded Sarpedon,

The dart drawes ont his friende and mate the faithful Pelagon,

He sounded in the plucking forth, his life it faded cleane,

With grones and sighes far fet, his breath by little comes againe,

Wherto the shadowe wel doth serue, and eke the open ayre,

Which coolly blew right in his face, as he lay dawing there.

Sarpedō in plucking out the dart svvouns.

Hector his arme and Mars the gods the Gretians in al steades

So foule affray, as they dare not once martch, or shew their heads.

They leaue their order and array, in field they turne their backes,

And to retire to shameful flight the Gretian souldiours packes.

Wel, let vs tel what Gréekes were slaine by Hector in this broyle,

The valiaunt Theutras he was first, in fight who bare such coyle,

[...]ector by the fauoar of Mars stayes many Greekes.

As he was wont to conquer stil, then their Orestes lay,

The cunning rider of great horsse, Threcus dide in the fray,

Stoute Helenus, who with the Gréekes for knighthoode bare the bell,

Oenom, last Oresbius by Hectors handes he fel:

Oresbius a prince of power, with Sceptre and with Crowne,

The which right princely he did beare in Hile his proper towne:

His neyghbours all he did excéede in wealth, hauing his good

By Cephise take in Beocie, wheras his Citie stoode.

Iuno séeing this wretched plight the which the Gréekes were in,

Doth finde hir selfe beguilde, and chaft to Pallas doth begin:

Oh daughter of the mightie Ioue, what? nothing else but kil?

Is it agréed we al shal die? if so we suffer stil

Iuno to Pallas.

This cruel Mars to foole so long, I sée it very plaine,

[Page] The promise made to Menelau to haue Heleine againe

After the siege and sacke of Troy, shal turne vnto a iest,

And that his trauaile he shall loose, if longer here he rest.

Go we my wench, and let vs shew this dizarde here at ful,

What power and puissance [...]two haue, when vse the same we wul.

Dame Pallas she consented straight, and Iuno she doth hie

Forthwith to put hir horse in point, and to hir Chariot tye:

Againe the gorgeous Chariot trimde Hebe on th'other side,

As did belong thereto, wheron the Goddesse she must ride,

Hebe mak [...] redy Iu [...] Charyot.

And then the whéeles she fastned fast, wel forgde of perfect golde,

Strong bound with brasse & yron nailes, we spokes twice four ful told,

Of self-same bright and glittring brasse, ye naues of siluer mas,

The ends of stéele with siluer beame as braue as cristal was.

The seate with goldsmithes worke bedaubde, & in such cunning wise,

As no man wist whether the worke or matter more to prise.

Minerua made hir readie while to dresse the chare they sought,

Discriptio [...] of Pallas armour.

And off the puts hir right attire which she hir selfe had wrought.

She claspeth on the Curets stiffe which Ioue doth weare in fight,

And on hir shoulder she doth cast the mightie targe, in weight

That is so peasaunt, and so broade, enuironed with feare,

Contention, terror, braules, horror, and furie euery where,

With boldnesse, noyse, and gastful threates of horrible Gorgon,

The gastful dreadful monster, there the head was painted on,

Which frights al such as lokes therat, a heauie helmet she

Puts on hir heade, of gold most fine, with crests ycrested thrée,

Which would suffice to hap the heads, yea of so many folke,

As wel an hundred Cities hath, in fight if they should yoke.

Thus armde, she lightly leapeth vp the chaire with speare in hand,

Against the which (she angry) not the demi-gods can stand.

Dame Iuno of the tryed horsse in hand doth take the raynes,

To be the conductour and guide hir self wil take the paines.

The hou [...] porter of heauen.

They scoure so fast, to gates they come there of the Welkin large

Fast shut: as porters of the same the houres haue the charge,

And gouerne all the skie, and rule the hye Olympus eke,

And cloudes to cal togither too, and force them for to breake.

The houres to the goddesses do open readily,

[Page] And forth they let their coursers out; who passe the champiō skie,

They soone come to the hugie hill of the Olympus [...]rim,

Where Ioue in throne doth gouerne it, and néere they draw to him.

And Iuno kéeping still hir chare, thus tels him hir annoy:

Inno to Lupiter.

My brother, and you husband mine, what pleasure or what ioy

Haue you to sée thus Mars your son before Troy Gréekes to kil

So cruelly without respect, to please the foolish wil

Ofenuious Venus and Apoll, of force, what, must you cloke

This hateful and malitious part with faith and promise broke?

I pray thée gréeue no whit at all this furie for to stay,

If I descende and do my best to chase him (hurt) away.

Iupiter to Iuno.

I am content answerd the God, but in your place I vise

For better end, that Pallas she do take the enterprise.

For Mars cannot defend himself against hir, nor resist,

For she shall often conquer him, and mate him if she list.

This answere liketh Iuno wel, she slakes the raynes and hies,

Hir coursers runne, and kéepe the way betwéene the earth, & skies,

The vvay vvhich the horses kepe betvvene heauen and earth.

They scoure aloft as far from vs, as men can wel discrie

A ship, which sayles aloofe in seas, from of some tower hie.

And thereabout the horsses kéepe their way, which down discende,

And soon they came against the town, and down to Troy they bend.

They quickly fal vpon the ground, and down do set their féete,

Where cleare Scamander hir brother floud Simois doth méete.

At Simois there Iuno left hir chare and horses braue,

Who wel do tast the heauenly floud, and store of vitayles haue.

The Paragons like two white doues, and yet with valiaunt harts

Do martch to ye Gréeks cāpe, with minde to play some worthy parts

Wher stout approued folk they finde, who spare no more hir foes,

Than Lions great, or wilde swine, which hungry a praying goes.

Iuno toke the habite on of Stentor Gréekish knight,

Whose voyce was more than fiftie mens, crying with al their might:

Stentor vvho had the voyce of 50. men.

O what dishonor and reproch, oh Gréekes that of your shame

So smal account, vnhappy Dukes and princes yet in name,

But in effect more feareful much than simple seruing men,

If not, the vsage of you thus why do you suffer then?

When as Achilles sought with vs, they fled for feareful hart,

[Page] No Troyan stoute durst any way from gates of Troy depart,

They dreaded so his valiaunt launce, but now good God what hap.

They fight not only out their town, but kil, and down they clap

Us and our souldiours at our ships, thus cryed she amaine,

The goddesse great, wherwith reuivde their hardie hartes againe.

The prudent Pallas she againe méeteth Diomede right,

Wearie not only of the toyle, which he all day in fight

Had taken, but his mightie targe did make him sweate apace,

As he doth ply to shew himselfe a knight in euery place.

And more, the hurt he lately had, did put him to such paine,

As while he bled, leauing he could seantly himselfe sustaine

Minerua to Diomed.

Against his chare, yet nerethelesse Minerua drew him nye,

And toucht the collers of his horse, and spake him curteously

Ful true it is, and as for me, it shal be in my créede

That Tydee that so odde a knight had neuer of his séede

A son so valiaunt as himselfe, he was but dapper he,

But aye so valiant and so wise, as often without me

He to the stoutst and strongst would begin the fight and fray,

And eyther bow them to his bent, or down in field them stay.

To warlike Thebanes did he not his courage wel declare

He once a legate sent to them, when after banket fare

(He séeing them carelesse ful of chat) with them begins to braule,

And to his glore and great renoume he ouerthrew them al?

And how? I tenderd him so much, in al his facts, I came

For to conduct him as a guide, as to thée oft I am,

And sometime put me in defence thy state and life to saue,

And worke on Troyans stoutest knights that thou ye triumph haue.

And yet as now thou wearie art, with sloth and dread distrest,

Among the valiaunt warlike folke no more I thinke it best

Diomed. to Minerua.

Thou name thy selfe as Tydes son: Diomede doth reply,

O dame impute not my retire (I craue it humbly)

To want of hart, nor blame me not: for sith I certaine know

Your presence here, of my retreate th'occasion I wil shew.

Neyther for feare nor fainted flesh, but wel in minde I had

Your counsel, which to take in hand against the Gods forbad.

Did you not warne me so, vnlesse on Venus tender foole?

[Page] And séeing now against vs here God Mars to deale his dole,

Am I blame worthy if I leaue and part the combat fro,

And do admonish all my friends that likewise they do so?

Minerua to Diomedes.

Quoth Pallas, friend, wel, make no bones, if so he come in place,

Be not afraide, but thrust to him, and lay him on the face,

Or any other God that shal afront himselfe on thée:

Mars is a wrangling craking wretche, a slauering Iacke is hée,

And worse, a lier: of his words he taketh little care:

No longer than this morning last, to me he said and sware,

He in the ayde of Gréekish crues would come to fight and deale,

And like a fickle foole he fights here for the Troyan weale.

She wils Stenele come downe the chaire, she wishes for to try

Now she can guide and take the raines and wil Diomede guy,

Minerua mounteth Diomedes Chariot, & guides it.

The Chariot began to bow with burden that it bare,

The Axeltrée (though great) did bend vnder the creaking chare,

The goddesse for she wayed so much, and eke the champion good,

They go to trump and down to beate the raging Mars so wood.

And Pallas, (least she should be knowne) had pluckte hir face vpon

The helmet great halfe stéele and brasse of th' infernal Pluton,

And when as Mars beheld them thus to come in such a hast,

A Gréeke Etolian, Periphant, whom he to earth had cast,

Did leaue: this Periphant renoumde with best they did estéeme,

But Mars the warlike Gréeke to slay, and take his spoyles doth méen.

And now at hāo Mars shaketh straight his launce, a wound it made

Harmelesse, vnder the horsses neckes, it flyeth as a shade:

For it the goddesse turnde abacke, aduised wel, and wise

She guides the Dart with hir own hand, vnder the chare it flyes.

Diomede threw not so in vaine, for Mars his dart he felt

Diomedes vvoundeth Mars.

Which prest his belly with the stéele that hit vnder his belt.

In bottom of his bulke it thrust so déepe entred the blow,

The stroke Dame Pallas for the Gréeke diuinely did bestow.

She woteth wel to do the feate, and eft the speare regaine,

Wi [...]h his great wound and so straunge hurt, Mars cryeth out amaine.

The terrible cry of Mars.

His hideous voyce & fearful cry, his thundring bleate & rore,

Ten thousande men saulting a town coulde not haue thundred more.

Unto the Gréekes and Troyans both, when in their eares it rusht

[Page] Full sodainely beginne to feare, and all for dread are whusht.

The sorrowful God surprisd with grief, & shame a thousand throes,

Most like a thicke and louring cloud to high Olympus goes.

Which in the cleare doth softly wast, when pirling wind doth beate

And makes it parte, and yéelds the earth beneath féele pleasant heat.

Unto the heauenly mansion come, with griefe and dolefull chéere

He sits by Ioue, shewing his wounde which bled, and spake him there:

Mars telleth loue his mi [...]ap.

Redoubted sire, I cannot tell whether your will it be,

To sée the Gods and Goddesses as Cattes and Dogges agrée,

For loue we onely beare to men, and for thy quarrell not,

Whose subiectes true we are: Thou haste a daughter ill begot.

So mischeuous, she nere is pleasd, but when she wrongs or spites,

A God, or Goddesse, when she lists, with pleasure she delites.

No God so mightie or so great, but iustly thée obayes,

But she, the frantike lawlesse Iyll vnpunishte goes hir wayes.

A cruell Gréeke she forced hath this day the hande to wounde

Of Venus sister mine, and eke hath made hym kéepe his grounde,

And forwarde come to foile and hurte me, as well sée you may,

My Godhead almost had bin loste, but that I ranne away.

He so mée mangled had and coyld, and so my force decayde,

The heapes so great of Troyans dead, by them he me had layde,

Which he in gobbets there had cut: thus spake vnto his sire

God Mars, & shewde his shame & grief, which prickt & burnd like fire,

To whom eft Ioue: Thou fickle foole, so wicked and so ill,

Iupiter [...]o Mars.

Leaue thy complaints, with thy foule déedes, thy fathers eares to fil.

Thou art the most malitious God of all the Gods aboue,

Thy nature full of strife and guile, with cause whom least I loue.

Taking wholy after Iuno that fond and spitefull shrewe,

A iealous head, past helpe to mend, like thée, hirselfe doth shewe.

Of thy déepe wounde she causer is, I truly thée assure:

But, for thou art of both our blouds, my grace it shall procure

Thy to be healde: but thinke if thou so wicked art and wilde,

The fathers fauour thou shalt want, whiche from offending childe

He doth withdraw: it is long since I iustice did on thée,

For thy malitious wyckednesse and cankred crueltie.

Ioue doth commaund to heale the wound, Peon doth looke thereon,

[Page] And there so wel he doth his charge as he it heald anone.

Comparisō of curded milke. The heauē ly bodyes are sooner healed than mans. Pallas and Iuno leaue the battaile and ascend to Heauen.

And as full oft in Sommer time their labor men do léese

In putting curdes into the presse, whyche hardly then will chéese:

Th' immortalls hold of heauen much, from vs they differ far,

When as their bodyes haue a wound they sooner healed are.

Mars sounde, Hebe preparde swéet bains, with garmēts gay in hand,

Mars commeth forth in open Court, and there by Ioue doth stand.

Againe victorious Pallas she, with brauing Iuno pleasd,

To skies returne, for chasing Mars and wounding him, wel easd.

Finis quinti Libri.

¶ The sixth Booke.

AFter the Gods had left the fight, the broile againe beganne

Among the Gréekes and Troyans both, and nere so sore as than.

Many a slaying darte was séene on eche side in the fray,

That none coulde iudge the doubtfull end betwéene them of that day.

In field so many corses fel, where Xanthus riuer flowes,

And Simois spreads hir bancks, where store of trées & herbage groes.

The worthy Aiax Telamon of his part was the furst,

The rampire sure of Gréekishe campe, that Troyan order burst,

And to his souldiors maketh way that victors they may be:

One of the chiefe, a Thracian Prince in sight there murders he,

Hight Acamas: betwéene the crest and helmet toppe, he strake

A [...]ax fiaies Acamas.

So iust, that hard vnto the braine the scull with brande he brake,

And in the forehead notchte him déepe, wherwith the grieuous paine

Of wounde so wide, with darksome death his eyes it did retaine.

[Page]

And Axilus there Theuthras sonne, was slaine by the hands

Dlomede kils Axyl [...]

Of Diomede, a souldior odde of all the Troyan bands.

His dwelling was [...]sba towne, with walles wel closed rounde,

Where many a straunger he had lodgde, to whome did oft abounde

His curtesie to vse them well: but yet his vsage good

And gentle hart did not so boote, when in this plight he stoode,

That he might méete with friend or guest, to yéeld him helpe or aide:

The faithfull guider of hys horse along by him is laide,

Calesius slain by Dimede.

Calesius his seruant there, yspitted through with wound,

To kéepe him company, he falles flat groueling on the ground.

Euryalus bereft of life Opheltius, and eke

Euryalus kils Dresus. Opheltius, Pedasns, & [...]sopue.

Dresus, and olde Bucolions sonnes he serued with the léeke.

They wist not how to saue themselues, the one Pedasus hight,

Both twinnes, the other Esopus, a well rynowmed Knight,

The gentle and the worthy Nais, called Nymph Abarbare,

Unto the saide Bucolion them secretly she bare:

At such time, when from Ilion he, vnto the mountaine came

To sporte himselfe, and to enioy the loue of beauties Dame,

Who then a simple shepehearde she, the fearney pasture on

Did kéepe hir shéepe, he was the sonne of King Laomedon:

Bucasion son of La [...] medon.

But leauing sire, and countrey both, aside their loue he laide,

Then caught with fierie sparke of loue of that so gentle maide.

In selfe same rancke Meneptoleme downe dingeth Astile deade,

Meneptoleme killes Astile. Vlysses kils Pidites. Teucer ouer throvvs Areton. Antilochus vvoundeth Abler to death. Agamē non kils Elatu [...] Leitus kile Philacus.

Vlysses sworde doth at a blowe strike off Pidices head.

Areton is by Teucer hurte, and tumbles in his bloud:

Antilochus eke Nestors sonne, that forward souldiour good

Ful well doth knowe to do as muche to Abler, there he glides

His Iaueline, wherwith dead he dies, it shot through both his sides.

Agamemn séeyng them thus slaine, he forward thrusteth on,

And Elatus he doth fordoe, whose lyuing lay vppon

The pleasaunt bancke of Satnyon floud, whereas it was not small

In Pedase towne ciuile and riche, and stately plast withall.

And Philacus taking his flight, Leytus with death him charmes:

Euripilus séeing his friends doing suche feates of armes,

Euripilus kils Melanthus.

Doth shake his darte, and at the first (he néedes not many blowes)

He doth Melanthius ouerretch, and dead him ouerthrowes.

[Page]

Among the rest to shew himselfe desires Menelay,

He takes Adrestus there aline, who then doth runne away:

But by ill lucke with Chariot so his horses braue did stumble

Against a stub of Iuniper, that downe it fast doth tumble:

Wherewith the beame full sore it brake, the coursers, who wel knew

Themselues at large, to Troy the towne in course amaine they flewe,

Leauing their Maister in the fielde: but Menelay, that faste

Doth follow on, steppes at an ynche, when downe he sées him caste,

To slay him with his loftie launce vpon him he doth flie,

But Troyan kissing there his knées, entreats him humblely.

Thou Atreus sonne, I you beséech, graunt vnto me I say

Virgil hath imitated this in his teuth Boke of the Ae [...]eides.

Pardon of this my wretched life, such raunsome wil I pay,

As you your selfe will thinke right great, if graunt my sute you wul:

My sire is riche, a house he hath with poyson stuffed full,

Of iewels, gold, yron, and brasse, which whole shall be your own,

And all he hathe me to redéeme, when well it shall be knowne

I am aliue, to gaine this wealth, your mercie graunt to me:

As captiue Menelaus then to take him did agrée,

Thinking to giue him to his folke, vnto his shippe or tent

To leade him safe: A stay doth come that failes the mind he meant.

For the great Gréeke Agamemnon came to the Market than

With his brother, he chast in rage, and thus to him beganne:

Agamemnō to Menel.

Thou coward great, what makes thy mind to pitie any whit

Or grieue for these false Troians here? haue they deserued it

Of thée at al? when in thy house as guests they harbourd ware,

Did they deserue so good a turne, as thus thou shouldst them spare?

It shall not boote, for all the broode in péeces shal be torne,

Yea ene the very sucking babes, and such as are not borne,

They die shall al the bitter death, by these, these handes of ours,

And passe the sworde, and in shorte time we shall enioy their toures.

The chieftaine Gréeke with these his words turnd Menelaus so,

As to his councell he consents, this prisoner he doth go,

Agamēnon [...]us Adrast.

And thrusts and chases him away, Agamemn was not stanche,

He falles on him, and with a stripe he slayes him in the panche.

But for to plucke his Iaueline out, he forced was to stride

Upon the carcasse: in the while there Nestor hard beside,

[Page] Tending the fight, exhortes the Gréekes, and thus to them he spoke:

O valiant friends you Mars his impes, couragious charging foke,

To gaine this victorie at hand sticke not to take some toile,

Giue once a lustie charge, set not your mindes vpon the spoile,

Til that you sée them murdred al, your darts and launces file

Their corpses in before the pray, that yée after a while

The glorie had, them at your ease and pleasure ye may strippe,

Then shall we in our roomie kéeles their wealthy treasure shippe.

These wordes enflamed so their harts, that victors they were than:

The Troyans put vnto the worse, vnto their Citie ranne,

And had forsaken cleane the field, but that King Priams sonne

Sage Helenus did kéepe them backe, as they away did runne.

Who viewing well this cruel chase, to Hector there he hies,

And to Aeneas, vnto whome, sith in you two it lies

Helenus to Hector and Aeneas.

(Quoth he) the leading and the charge of all our men and bands,

As two the experist princes here, that with our faction stands:

My friends, in this defecte you ought this day some meanes prouide,

That it be easd, stay this reproche: what, stan de and doe abide,

And shewlyour selues now diligent, do you our souldiors call

Togither here before the gates, and do exhort them all

Againe the battel to beginne, if so they loue their liues,

And will not be in péeces cut before their dolefull wiues,

Yea in their bosomes and their lappes, who séeing so their flight

Shall be ashamde, we in the while wil trauaile all our might

To stay them, though our forces are diminished too much,

It yet will boote, we thus constrainde, bycause our néede is such,

And as for thée O Hector thou, according to my réede,

Thou shalt to Troy to Hecuba our gentle mother spéede,

And will hir for to call to hir the womens troupe eche one,

The chastest and the worthiest, and she with them to gone

Unto the Temple reuerent of sage and wise Minerue

Inuincible, with such habites, as beste she doth reserue

In all hir Courte, the richest stuffe, and chiefe elabourd geare

With simple and with lowly heart deuoutly let hir beare,

Them on the Goddesse heauenly knées with humble mind to lay,

With Orisons to promise hir with crouched vow to pay

[Page] Eche yeare a solempne sacrifice, hir fauour so to get,

Of Béeues twelue, or Bulles that yet to yoke were neuer set.

Which also let them bring with them, that it may please hir bend

To take in hand our babes and wiues, and people to desend,

As far as may be, kéeping off from this Citie of ours,

The cruel dreadful Diomede: not al the Gréekish powers

Togither set, as I beléene, can do so much in fight

As he alone, I neuer sawe our folke in suche a plight

Forsake their ranckes, and so afeard, no for Achilles hée

Namde Thetis sonne, as I beheld them here away to flée,

By furie and by dreadfull actes of this redoubted Gréeke,

Who to no other mortall man but to himselfe is léeke.

This was the prudent Helens minde, séeing before his eyes

The daunger that his friends were in: Hector to him agrées,

And downe he commeth from his chare, two gallant dartes he held,

Among the stoutest souldiors then forthwith himselfe he weld,

And like a stout and worthy head he willes them weld their swordes

Yet once: The Troyans fiercily stand at those his onely wordes.

The Grecians were constrained then to stay and leaue the chace,

And to recule, séeing them thus to shewe suche fearlesse face.

For they did feare some God frō skies was come down in their aide,

And made them turne eft to the fight in suche a sodaine braide:

Where with their courage Hector lauds, and gentelly them chéeres:

O forraine Knights and Citizens, my valiant friendly féeres,

(Quoth he) to shew your selues like men the present time it bindes,

Hector exhortes hys people.

To helpe the peril we are in, put to your warlike mindes:

Now shew the prowesse oft to me you promist to employ,

Marth on with hardie countnaunce nowe, while I do go to Troy

Our Ladies al, and our good Quéene, and antient Dames [...]entreat

To make their prayers to the Gods, and solempne vowes beheat,

That from this daunger it wil please their Godheads vs to shield.

The Prince of prowesse ending thus, there left them in the fielde,

To Troy he goes, his targe ytackte, with sable leather thong

Hector go [...] T [...]oy

Well hapte him rounde, from shoulders his vnto his héeles it hong.

Glaucus aduanced forth himselfe these things a doing thus,

Th'illustre and the worthy sonne of good Hippolochus,

[Page] There man to man to try himselfe, and shewe some déede of worth,

Glaucus & Diomedes. are redy to fight togyther. Diomedes to Glaucus.

To whome the mightie warlike knight Diomede commeth forth:

But valiant Diomede at hand and wel disposd to fight,

Before they ioyne, dothe speake him thus: Thou worthy champion Knight

Among the rest a warlike one, a stout and sturdie sire,

That here wil come to deale with me, thy name I do desire,

(If so thou wilt) ful muche to knowe, for why, I haue not séene

Thée in the warre so forward erst, thou hardie art I wéene,

And armed wel with hope I sée, and surely thinkes to stand,

And to sustaine the waightie blowe of this my mightie hand:

Unhappy fathers I haue made ynow, their sonnes can tell,

Who hazarding with me the fight, their soules haue sent to Hel.

But séeing this thy haute attempte, I forst am to suppose

Thou art a God from hie come downe, or else, himselfe to loose

Some mortall man with simple sense: if so thou art a God,

Declare thy selfe, I wil giue place, and thou shalt haue the rod.

I wil not purchase to my selfe Licurgus danger so,

Licurgus despysing the Gods.

Who for hys rashnesse to the Gods, reward receiued tho

Ofwretched life and paineful death. On the mountaine of Nyse,

It happened that Licurgus there the women did aduise

To doe to Bacchus seruice due, his festalls when they were

With slippes of Uine their heads vpon: but so he dothe them feare.

He following on, that eche constrainde the sacred Crowne they fall,

Whereat (good God) he doth reioyce and pleasures therewithall.

For why, the murderer with goade so sore them on did pricke,

And scoft his fil, and worse than that, he rashly doth not sticke

To minde disgrace, yea, to the God, whome rudely he dothe chace,

And thunders out aloude his threats, but Bacchus flies apace,

And hardly scapeth from his clawes, and forth he goes his wayes

To marine Thetis, who receiues him gently in the seas,

Yea trembling yet for feare to fall into the cruel powre

Of suche a gripe. At this offence ful sore the Gods do lowre,

Licurgus lost his fight.

And forthwith did reuenge the same, reauing Licurgus sight,

But for a time: not so content, to punish him aright

His life they ended wretchedly: If so thou please, this while

Tel me thy name, who was thy sire, and vse therein no guile.

[Page] And if thou art no God, but one that féedes with wine and bread,

Drawe nie, if thy desire it be here to be tumbled dead.

Then Glaucus boldly answerde him, and with a comely grace,

Dost thou enquire of my descent-quoth he, mankinde the race

Glaucus ansvveres Diomedes.

Is fraile, and fading like the leaues, and hath no longer time:

For as we sée the braunches gréene, alway when happes the Prime,

A notable speeche.

Yclad with leaues, which Autumn winds down tumbles off the trées

With hard and hoarie frostes, wherewith their verdure they do léese,

And when the colde hath played his part, their hue againe they haue:

Ene so mankind to day aliue, to morrowe in his graue.

And if to day one yéelde his life, another commes as faste,

One dead, one borne, and so it commes the store it stil doth last.

But if you long to vnderstand my house, my stocke, and kinne,

Though almost al men knowe the same, and worthy it hath bin:

Glaucus tel his ofspring

Yet harke, and I will tel the same. In Argos goodly land,

The whiche for féeding beares the name, there Ephyra doth stand,

A Citie of so great reporte whereas their Court they held

My parents good, and sceptres eke in Princely state did weld.

Of Eolus the first was sonne, the mightie Sisyphus,

Who did enioy such masse of wealth, and he begat Glaucus:

Of Glaucus came Bellerophon, such honor great that got,

To whome the Gods as singular, with liberall loue did lot

Beside the fauour and the shape, which happes to him alone,

Such force and strength, as to the like arriued neuer none.

That time a King Proetus hight in Greece did sceptre holde,

Poretus.

Whose wealth was great, vnder whose raigne th'immortal Gods so would

Bellerophon his tender yeares and youth with him he spends,

Who had his linage much in price: but there the King pretends

Gainst him, and to procure his death he after doth conspire:

Not willingly, but woode thereto by the wicked desire

Of Andia his wife, who then enflamde with whorish loue,

Could finde no meanes to haue hir will, nor yong mans fancie moue:

No, though she sued earnestly, lamented, whinde, and howlde,

Wherefore in moode she turnd to spite, when nothing gaine she could.

So that the vehement liking turnd to hate, yea, by and by,

One day she commes hir husband to with countnance like to die,

[Page] And spake him thus: choose of these two and thinke to do the one,

Either to die thy selfe, or else to slay Bellerophon.

Who gone about hath to assault thy honor, it to blot,

Meaning by force to rauish me, when as preuailed not

His fawning toyes and sewing tales, to end his fonde desire

Thus sets the trayterous sade the king with griefe and wroth a fire,

Who straight doth thinke to be reuengde, yet déemes not he it wel

Bycause he was one of his house, in house him there to quell,

Belleropho [...] letters.

He likes of treason in the case, to treason then he goes:

Malicious, false, and ful of guile he letters doth compose,

Which he vnto his father in law king Rheon sends away

The Lycian prince to deale herein, he doth king Rheon pray

And that without returne of word he cause the bearer die.

When as Proetus thus had writ, the yong man presently

He sendeth forth, he takes his way, with gods his guides he goes,

In Lyce they cause him to arriue, where head of Xanthus flowes,

Which floud the prouince watereth: At his first lighting there

The prince receivde him curteously, with ioy and ioyly cheare.

Nine days throughout right braue they feast, ye bāquets were not bad,

Nine chosen Béeues on th'alters layde, th'immortall Gods they had.

And all to welcome this new guest: And now when comth ye tenth,

The king then of Bellerophon to know the message menth:

And whether that he letters brought had from his son in law:

The packet false he toke the king, which hauing red, he saw

The treason and the déede deuisde, he fames and holds him stil,

Minding the letters whole effect at ful for to fulfil,

And for to kil the messenger, his force yet wil he say,

Against Chimere he him imployes that monster dire to slay,

Discription of the C [...] mere.

The gastfulst thing that ere was séene: which beast ye Gods on hie,

To sée reuengde the hateful facts of humaine trecherie,

Had formde by nature of such shape, ful hidious and ful rare.

The head and breast right Lion like, the midst the forme it bare

Of Goate, behind like Dragon broode, and more, from him there gone

Right terrible flames which forth he breathes. And yet Bellerophon

Belleroph [...] kils the Chimere.

(Though fel he were as fel might be) the beast he doth assayle,

With fauour of the Gods, and of his wil he doth not fayle.

[Page] For after wearie toyle, in fielde the beast he stoutely slue,

He stayes the Solimois and the Amazones.

That done, the Solymes down he hacks, and quite them ouerthrew.

Report so goes, him much it pleasde the Solymes to haue slaine,

And yet beside all this, the king commaundeth him agayne

To try with maine an Amazon, but stil he was so stéelde

With heart so good, as victor he dead left them in the field.

At length to make an end of him, a bushment doth prouide

Belle flaies an ambushment of the Lycians.

Of Lycians to set on him, harde by a fountaine side.

But al in vaine, for no not one of all the packed craft

Did once returne vnto their home, for murdered them he left.

Wherwith the King repents the guile, he stands amazed dum

And knoweth wel that from the Gods, the victorie did come,

Who knew him innocent, himself his déedes doth disalow,

With him for his own quiet he doth minde to kéepe him now.

For his preferment him to giue his daughter wife to bée,

And halfe the whole of al his raigne, to ioyne sure amitie

The curteous virgin giuen him was, and for his place to dwel

The ferti [...]st soyle, two sons he had of this faire Damosel,

A daughter eke, Isander first, the next a warlike knight

Hippolochus, Laodomie his daughter fayre she hight,

Whom Ioue did wish to haue to friend: with brand of loue did sweate

Diuine Sarpedon in hir wombe, himself he left hir great

But after this it was not long, but that Bellerophon

Did lose the fauour of the Gods and stirrde them euery one:

He hates himself, he companie flyes, he corners eke doth séeke

He wanders vp and down his grounds most mad and frantike like,

Therfore his fields are wandring calld, againe of very spight

God Mars his son Isander stayes a man of haughty might

To wéelde in war both club and sword, the Solymes force him dye,

Againe, Diane as ruthlesly doth slay Laodomie.

Of al the thrée there rested but my sire Hippolochus,

Who Glaucus gaue me vnto name and hither sent me thus

In Troyan war with many a band here of his Countrey broode,

And willd me for to purchase price and prayse among the good,

Wherby not to degenerate mine auntient parents fro,

Whose great renowne Epira wals and Licie land doth know.

[Page] At your request now haue I tolde my name, my stocke, and race,

Diomede [...] to Glaucus.

And what occasions any way haue brought me to this place.

Diomede at stoute Glaucus words long tentife care doth hold,

He doth reioyce and maruayle much at things that then he told.

His iaueline right he sticketh down with words ful curteously,

And friendly chéere he thus begins: redoubted sire quoth he,

Betwéene your friends and mine long sith I sée by your report

Was friendship deare, and great welcome, the which in euery sort

Posteritie we ought to kéepe: Oeneus my grandsire

Lodgde twentie dayes Bellerophon, who styr [...]de not from his fire,

He vsing him in al respects like perfect friend and guest:

And at the time he shoulde depart, that friendship stil might last,

One friend vnto the other then a Princely present gaue,

Of the aliaunce to remaine as witnesse for to haue.

Oeneus gaue a girdle braue enricht with broydery,

Ipickt out of his arming house, of crimson purple die.

Bellerophon a gobblet round of gold ful bright he bare

To him againe, (which comming forth to war, wher now we are)

I left at home. As for my sire and also for your owne,

What proofe of friendship since they had, to me it is vnknowen,

I lost him in my childhoode I, when he with mightie power

In Thebes town did lose his life, where then he had the scoure

With many a Gretiā knights he brought. Sith so long time doth lay

The roote of friendship, I do iudge to let it not decay.

Wherby, if you should hap to come to Gréekish pleasant coast,

You might your lodging take with me your faithful friende and host

For euermore. And I also passing your Countrey by,

Wil take your house, and you as host and friend assuredly.

And for a perfect token now of this accorde to smite,

If in this war we hap to méet, let vs two leaue the fight,

And turne elsewhere, for why me thinkes the néede it is not so,

We two to deale in doubtful marte hauing so many a foe

On euery side, with whom to ioyne: to cause the standers by

Hereafter not to thinke it much of this our amitie,

It good is we do make a chaunge, giue me (if so you please)

Your armour, and you shal haue mine, ful tough at al assayes,

[Page]

With this they lighted and tooke hands, Diomede off him fro

His brasen Armour tooke, and it on Glaucus did bestowe.

Di. & Glau cus change their armor one vvith another.

Who straight gaue him his harneys braue of gold so riche and fine:

To make such chaunge al iudgement Ioue tooke from ye Lycians eyne.

For why, his sumptuous furniture was great, of value much,

It well was worth an hundred béeues, the price of it was such.

But, that which he receyude againe, to make a iust accompte,

And to estéeme it, to the worthe of bullockes nine did mount.

This while vnto the Citie comes the iollie Hector he,

Where at the gates in numbers great the women swarming be,

Hec. comes to Troy.

Demaunding diuers things of him, she asketh for her sonne,

She for her father deare, she what is with her brother done.

Another how her husbande fares: but he to all their call

To satisfies them any whit, doth aunswere nought at all,

But willes them pray vnto the Gods with sacrifice and teare

Now for the safetie of the towne, which greatly was to feare.

Frō thence to Priams sumptuous court, ye vertuous prince doth hie,

The pallace gaie with marble blacke is builtfull gorgeouslie.

Description of Priās pallace.

In midst therof king Priamus did fiftie lodgings reare,

Unto his children and their wiues which onely lodgings were.

Twelue more against them he had built, which giue away he would

To great and loftie Lordes, the which his daughters marrie should.

Dame Hecuba his mother olde at th'entrie he doth méete

Going most courteous Laodice her daughter for to gréete.

Hecuba to Hector.

She staies, and takes him by the hand, and gently thus begunne:

Why leaue you thus your tired folke my Hector déerest sonne?

Goes our affaires now backward still? I feare it so alacke,

The Gréekes are sure here at our walles, & Troyans goe to wracke,

Which makes you thus in hast to come, the mightie Ioue to pray

For their safegard: with me a while yet déerest sonne doe stay,

That I to you some pleasaunt wine may bring, and readie make,

Before you sacrifice shall doe, refreshing for to take

Unto your ouerhaled limmes, with toile and trauaile torne:

Good wine can much to strength yt wight, that wearie is and worne.

For feare I féeble waxe, no wine bring me quoth Hector he,

The foree of vvine. Hector to Hecuba.

By to much drinke least of my selfe forgetfull I might be.

[Page] And ill it were a smered knight with bloud, with dust, and sweate

Not washt before, with prayers his the Gods for to entreate:

But mother mine, the dames of state in Troy assemble yée,

And other Citizens also, you first example bée.

Unto Mineruas temple goe, hir fauour do implore,

Bestow on hir the costliest roabe you haue in all your store.

Deuoutly lay it on hir knées, on prayers set your care,

Yearely behight twelue Buls of grease, that neuer yoked were.

That she these wretched people here in hyr tuition haue,

That she Diomede (of our folke in slaughter who doth raue)

Do kéepe far off, and far aloufe our sacred turrets fro:

My brother Paris I will séeke, and wil him that he go

Into the Campe, but of my word God knowes what wil betide.

Hector desires the death of Paris.

Oh would to God, wheras he standes, the ground would open wide

To swallow him in deapth therof, the Gods haue giuen him life,

Sure to king Priams vtter ruine, or to his endlesse griefe,

And of vs all his children too, who else in fame and blisse

Might haue triumphed with the rest, my only wish it is

That of his latter end I here the carke it would me leaue,

That forceth now my heauie thought, and makes my hart to heaue.

With this the noble prince doth part, and Hecuba she bends

Unto hir lodging backe againe, and thence hir women sends

To go entreate the worthy dames, that they come to hir thyther.

She all bewept to chamber comes, wel swéete and deckt togither.

To wardrobe then, wheras were pilde of roabes no number smal,

Bewrought with néedle Imagrie, of pretious stuffe them al

Which hyr tricke sonne sir Paris he, had brought from Sidon tho

With the faire Gréeke, on Hecuba the same he did bestow:

Among them all the Quéene chose one, for worke, the best yt might,

The balme in odour it did match, the star eke in his light

Hecuba vvith the Troyan dames goes to the temple of Pallas Theano Anten ors vvife hath the charge of the temple,

No brighter was then it of hue. Also she kept it layde

In bottome of hir coffer coucht, aboue most gorgeous wayde.

With heart deuoute than wayted on with numbers in a row,

Unto the Goddesse temple large wyth others she doth go.

In midst of all the pallace great no sooner there they came,

But that Theane Antenors wife did open them the same.

[Page] The dores of gold she doth vndoe, vnfolded, rich, and large

Of this gay Church by Troyans all as priest she had the charge.

Now thither come, the Dames in troupe with reared hands on hie

They make their vowes, they strike their brests, & howle wt piteous cry [...]

And then the worthy Theano the royall roabe she laide

Th [...]ones prayer to Pallas.

On Pallas knées with humble grace, and forthwith thus she prayde:

O chast Minerua, o clemencie diuine and sacred séene,

Of this fortresse and Troyan folke who gardaine sure hath bene,

The prayers I beséech thée heare, which we to thée commende,

In this thy house, that of our woes we once may haue an ende.

We pray thée that the stoutest Gréeke (Diomedes is he)

Be beaten down at Scea gate, his launce eke broken be.

That done, vpon the aultar we our sacrifice wil do

Ofoxen twelue, in thy seruice as many yearely too,

If so thou helpe vs at this plundge: this prayre she did addresse,

But Pallas to accept the same in sooth thought nothing lesse.

This while cōmes Hector to the place, where tricke sir Paris lay,

A cunning piece of building, yea both costly, rich, and gay,

Which Troyan maister builders had made vp in point deuise,

A court it had, where Kitchin, Hal, and Chambers round do rise.

Paris house

Unto king Priams mansion chiefe it ioyned was at hand.

This valiaunt Prince with stéeled launce he holding in his hand

Sire foote in length with golden poynt, vnto the place doth draw

So sumptuous, where his brother he Alexander saw

Wel occupyed in déede of praise, his targe and armour bright

He furbushes, his bow himselfe he rubs, and séemely dight.

Heleine sits by, amidst hir maydes, that they may cunning be

She studies, and forethinks some workes, that pretiest shew may she.

Then Hector thus his talke began frowning with moodie cheare:

He. chideth Paris.

What cause is there oh cursed thou that kéepes thée idle here?

What tetishnesse thus to thy house doth make thée draw aback,

Sith wel thou knowst that for thy sake the Troyās go to wracke,

And sackt must néedes this Citie be, who haue this war begun

Only for thée? thou séeing one, who from the field should run,

Oughtst to crie open shame on him, but now thou hidst thy head,

As ringleader and coward chiefe of all that ere was bred.

[Page] Go quickly now and do thy best, if so thou do desire

To saue the towne from spoyle and wast, and from the Gréekish fire.

Tall Paris tho, hearing him chide so roughly in his moode,

Paris aunsvvers Hecurteously.

O brother Hector answerde straight, sith of your meaning good

You moued are, yet please it you my scuse for to allow.

No pet nor wrath with any one retire doth make me now,

It is but only my mishap, to ease by time I thought

My griefe, & curteons Heleine here with me al means now wrought,

Perswading me with milde exhortes mine armour on to pul,

And for to leaue this idle fit, and surely so I wil,

It giues me this day should be mine, for victorie is so,

To day a friend it is to some, and yet to morrow foe.

Stay here a while til I be armde, or else go forward yée,

Straight at this geare, hard at their héeles you shal me busie sée.

The valiant Hector these his words séemde nothing to regard,

Wherfore with milde and humble grace Heleine drew to him-ward:

Heleine to Hector.

Oh brother mine in law quoth she so worthy of the same,

(If I a wretched woman may of fister haue the name,

Who am no better than a dogge) when life I was assignde,

Unto some desart mountaine top would God some whirle winde

Had cast me vp, or in the sea my carcase throwen would,

By ending life, this mischiefe all auoyded then I should:

But though that by the whole consent of all the Gods on hie,

The instrument of al the ils, must néedes be none but I:

Yet ought I haue a better spouse of wisedome and of sight

To looke vnto his own affaires, that vnderstand he might

When one doth speake to his reproch, that to his blame doth fal,

But for to know his wealth or want this hath no sense at al.

And what so he shal take in hande, know wel shal end as il.

O noble, deare, and brother mine beséech you now I wil

Come in, sit downe here in this chaire, oh thorough grieued wight,

I wel perceyue and sée in you the dolour of your spright,

For vs two caytiues you sustaine, for that we did offend:

The gods it calling to their mindes, do ordain wretched end,

Which shal be soong in euery rime, and roong in euery raigne.

Unto dame Heleins curteous words bold Hector sayth againe:

Hector to Heleins▪

[Page] Though this procéede all of good wil, it cannot force me stay,

For things I haue now in my heade, call me another way,

And that I hast vnto the Campe to comfort and to chéere

Good Troyans all, who greatly wish (I know) to sée me there.

And lady mine, you shal do wel to wil him arme apace,

And if he present follow me, he wisely in thys case

Shal do: or take me going forth: for now to sée I go

My house, my sonne, my gentle spouse, for little do I know

Whether at wil another day it please the Gods on hie,

That I may sée them once againe, or else this day I dye.

Ending his talke▪ his lodging to with pace he stalketh on,

Andromacha the princesse great he found that she was gone

Unto a tower with hir son, a [...]se, and wayting mayde,

Where thinking on hir husbands broyles, forth tears amain she layd.

Unto the Maides quoth Hector then your mistresse where is she?

Hector to his vviues maydes.

What, is not she now gone abroade some sister hirs to sée,

Or to my good sisters there hir griefe to put away,

And so to passe the time with them? now sirs do quickly say,

Or with my mother at the vowes in that deuoutful crue,

Presenting Pallas sacrifice with them doth she ensue?

With Hecuba she is not gone, quoth one, sith you wil knowe,

One of the maydes to Hector. [...]

Nor to hir iolly sisters she, alas she tenders so

Your (state oh Hector) that she swelts (she is to careful plaine)

For frantike like with hir swéete son she ran with might and maine,

Into the kéepe, supposing that the Troyans lost the fight,

Eke in the iourney you had quaylde, and life had ended quite.

With this sir Hector tournes his steps, & then the stréets he thréeds,

And lanes, that faire and ample were, and forth apace he spéedes

To Scea gate where bode the Campe, Andromacha by hap

Doth méete him right, hir déerest sonne, and eldest in hir lap,

Whom Hector cleapt Scamandrius, but Troyans otherwise

Scamandrius.

Astianax, as son to him, from whom their health did rise,

For so did right his name import, the Hector stoute this while

Doth herewith very pleasaunt waxe, and smothly gan to smile.

Uiewing his son as cleare as star that cloudlesse heauen beares.

But then his wife with wayling great, and store of gushing teares,

[Page] With humble chéere drew to him nie, and thus hir tale began,

Clasping his hand: O to thine owne most hard vncurteous man,

Thy for warde minde shall thée vndo in midst of flouring life:

Hast thou no pitie of this childe, ne yet of me thy wife?

Dost thou not sée the dolefull end, that I pore wretche shall gaine,

If thou go aide now thy consorts, a widow to remaine?

The Gréekes conspire against thée all, and trauel all they may,

They most do gape to haue thy bloud, but yet before that day,

O mercilesse deuide thou earth, and me deuoure aliue,

What ioy to me when thou art gone, or which way may I thriue?

What, is ther loue, or wiuely care with mine that match may make?

Shall I hereafter be content another spouse to take?

No, no, I that defie, no mirth can chaunce me so,

The whiche of thée can cause me let the swéete remembraunce go:

What, shall I to my parents trudge, of them to séeke reliefe?

What, out alas they all are dead: O hel and heauie griefe.

Diuine Achilles in his déedes, after that he had pilld

And borne away their treasures great, and had the ditches filld

Of Thebes, with the walles thereof, whose fame far strangers knew,

His warlike hands right cruelly in bloud he did imbrue

Both of my sire, and of his sonnes, who strong and valiant were,

The King my fathers armor yet he woulde not off him tere,

To cindres both he them consumde, and off he did not drawe

The furniture, for why, he stoode of mightie Gods in awe.

A Tombe to him he rearde, whereas vnder the braunches gréene

To pleasure take and sporte themselues the Nimphs Orestiads béene,

Delighting there great store of Elmes be-planted they haue made

About the same, where they at ease may play them in the shade.

The father dead, his bow did force the seauen sonnes to yéelde,

He slue them downe in Cicilie encamped in the field.

My mother Quéene with pensiuenesse and sorrow fully frought

Was captiue made, who foūd such means, & so by ransome wrought,

That she deliuered was at length, with manner fullie rare

Diana wrought against hir then, with bowe down dead hir bare.

O Hector déere, do nowe behold Andromacha hir case,

O [...] fire, of dame, of brother eke, and spouse thou haste the place,

[Page] I thée beséech this one request of mine may graunted be,

Haue pitie on this pretie boy, an orphane, if thou die,

Haue some regarde, and call to minde the wretched creature I,

Who life and wid'hoode maye not haue, into this towre ascende

To kéepe the same, and round about call souldiors to defend

The wall whereas it lyeth low: for foure times we haue séene

The Aiax twaine with many a Gréeke, and also I do méene

With bold and doubtie Diomede, to force al what they can

To mount the same by hautie heart or Augure some set an.

These words dere wife, quoth Hector tho, which wil me thus to care,

Hector to Andromacha.

Both day and night, such mind and thought still my companions are,

My head long sith hereon I set, yet nothing can I frame

That profite wil, I greatly feare that ay reprochful shame,

The which on me this wretched folke with open throate will cry

When absent from this warre I am, where I so wel do try:

My heart to alter from his wont it also doth disdaine,

It prickes me forth to purchase fame, that cuer shal remaine.

I know right wel the time shal come, the Gréeks wil take this town,

Priam, my parents, kinne and friends to death ybeaten downe,

My brothers al must passe the sworde: To sée them so to dye

My sire, my dame, my brothren all, and nearest friendes them by,

I shal not grieue for them so much, as griefe for thée I haue,

And most, to thinke, that of some Gréeke thou shalt become the slaue,

Who to his country shal thée leade to tease and tosse his wul,

He shal thée put from day to day to spinne, to picke and pull.

And in the midst of al the heat, from spring his water drawe,

Which néedes must pinch thée at the heart, but Néede it hath no law.

And often shal the passers by say, Looke who yonder is,

The wife of valiant Hector loe, who in the field with his

Such fame and great renoume did get, whē Grecians compast round

The great and mightie town of Troy, and tare it to the grounde.

How great to heare my name rehearst shal then thy dolors be,

And that my helpe thou canst not haue eft to recouer thée,

But ere the waylings I wil heare of thée my captiue wife,

The earth shall hay this corpse of mine, and I wil lose my life.

With this the valiant prince doth hide his carke and inwarde griefe,

[Page] And out doth put his handes to take his sonne the pretie léese,

A little pretie bulchion fat, séeing the dreadfull crest

And armor, cries and calls his nurse, and nouzels in hir breast.

With this the curteous parents they smile at the preatie grace

Of that the babe, and Hector he his sonne for to embrace,

Doth set aside his loftie helme, he him doth coil and kus,

With pleasant mind he holds him softe and formd his praiers thus.

O mightie Gods, ye soueraigne Lords, request this grant to me,

That once this boy triumphantly a doubtie man may be,

He [...] pray [...] to the Gods.

Among his folke as nowe I am: Also when I am dead,

Giue him the honor, that he may the Troyans guide and leade:

That men may say, when they shall sée him prosper in such case,

Howe farre the sonne the father doth in déedes of armes surpasse.

And when the spoiles as conquerour from forraine foes he pull,

His mother she may sée the same, hir ioy it may be full.

The child he giues his mother nowe, who takes it in hir hand,

She smiles therewith, yet in hir eyes the water ful doth stand.

He rues thereat, to hir he drawes hir sorowe to delay,

About the necke he takes hir fast, and thus beganne to say.

Hector to Andromacha.

My dearest spouse these waylings leaue, and take not thus at heart

My death, thou knowest well ynough we al must hence departe.

No man can boast that he is frée from death and from his blow,

For from the first day of our byrth to death we subiects goe.

And as for me, this body, who, and life shal part in twaine,

Shall pay full deare, and haue no cause to glorie of his gaine.

I shal not die before my time: Good wife for Gods sake goe

Home to thy house, be of good cheare, and leaue to gréeue thée so,

Do passe the time to winde and réele, & with your maids to spinne,

Commaunde, and order take, that they good workewomen may bin,

And let vs men sée to the fielde, and looke what néedfull is,

And I (as alwayes) now to be the formost wil not misse.

With this from ground his helme he takes, & on his head it weares

Home goes Andromacha with sighes, and seas of sobbing teares.

When she vnto hir douse doth come she findeth wéeping eyes,

The seruants al do sobbe and howle with shril and heauy cryes,

[Page] Be wéeping Hector thus they say: On this odde knight alacke

We neuer shall set eyes againe, this day wil be his wracke.

Some fel and cruel Gréeke this day shall worke his death & harme.

Paris againe makes no abode, he hasteth fast to arme,

Paris follovves. Hector. Comparisō

He after Hector runneth nowe, he trusteth in his force,

And eke in his agilitie. And like vnto the horse,

That in the stable halter doth and headstall cracke in twaine,

And slippeth out the house apace into the fields amaine,

With many frisks and yerks behinde, his head doth cast aloft,

At last vnto some pleasant streame doth pace, and trotteth soft,

Therein to wash and play himselfe, and haply there doth finde

Some lustie Mare vpon the bancke t'assuage his raging minde:

Ene so sir Paris tall and tricke, in citie shewes ful braue,

Unto the sunne his Armes and targe the like for brightnesse haue.

As Hector left Andromacha, he méetes him in the téeth,

He going forth, he gréeteth him, and thus beganne therewith:

O brother deare and eldest borne, m [...]abode deserueth blame

Paris to Hector.

In staying nowe thus long, sith that you willd me haste the same.

All in good time quoth Hector then that doubtie Troyan he,

Hector to Paris.

None can thée iustly giue reproch how worthy that he be,

When to the field thou setst thy mind, thou lustie art and light,

A vauntage great, but slowly oft thou drawest to the fight,

Ne wil not mend thy pace one whit, nor leaue one iote of will,

It grieues me most that so thou givst thy selfe to pleasure still.

And chiefly, when the Troyans they I sée thy doings blame,

They byding many deadly brunts, do babble to thy shame.

Well, let vs go against these Gréekes, our forces for to lay,

These brutes ful wel we may appease, if happly come the day.

Hauing our enimies put to flight, the condigne sacrifice

Unto the hie immortall Gods on Aultars they may rise.

Finis sexti Libri.

¶ The seauenth Booke.

[Page]

NO we warlike Hector doth depart

Hector an [...] Paris return to the battaile.

with Paris out the towne,

They willing both in armes to shewe some déede of great renowme.

And like as after stormie flawes that déeres the shipmen sore,

In déepest sea against the winde

Comparison.

there striue with arme and ore,

God sends a present calme to cease that dreadfull tempest blast:

Euen so the Troyans ouerhaeld doe comfort at the last,

When as they sawe these brethren two marching before their sight,

Who, well they knewe sufficient were for to maintaine the fight,

They were no sooner come, but that they slaie two Gréekish foes,

Paris▪ kyls Menest [...] us.

The stout Menesthius to the ground by Paris hand he goes,

In Arna towne he sceptre held, of king Areitho bred,

Who young, with faire and glassie eyes Philomedusa wed.

Hector with sharpe ypointed launce Ioneus doth slaie,

Hector slaies Ioneus. Glaucus kyls Iplunous.

Twene curet, and his gorget both the stéele it maketh waye.

Glaucus doth Iphinous ding he downe on earth doth fall,

The raines eke of his horse the blowe did force him leane withall.

The slaughter Pallas séeing nowe thus of these Grecians thrée,

And the confusion of the rest, which likely was to be,

Full moovde, and grievde to sée the sight, vnto the Troyan towne

Pallas descends to Troy.

Descends from high Olympe, Phoebus that sawe hir comming downe,

(He sat vpon the wall, to viewe how ende the battaile shall,

Which in the fauour he doth wishe of Troy and Troyans all)

He finely cōmes vnto hir straight, quoth he vnder this Béeche

I count it best you rest your selfe, and thus beganne his spéeche.

You daughter of the mightie God, shew me th'occasion why

Apollo to Pallas.

You now are séene here in this place come downe so spéedily,

Sure great affaires, or else some cause, which muche your minde it léekes,

The victorie from Troyans good to giue vnto the Gréekes.

[Page] And is not that your meaning now, your purpose and intent

To sée the Troyan towne destroyed, hir buildings all to rent?

It better were (in my aduise) this day to cease the warre,

And eft they may beginne their fields, and fights wherein they ar,

Till that such time the citie there to sacke and pillage goe,

Sith that you Gods with one remorce, of force will haue it so:

The Goddesse answerde then: Agréed, for so I meane aright,

Pallas to Apollo.

Of purpose I descended downe to staie these folke from fight,

Wherefore séeke way to seuer now frō this daies warre these wights.

Apollo to Pallas.

Apollo soothde: quoth he therto, of all these gallant knights

Let Hector bold march boldly on, and chalenge for to trie,

Yea man to man the stoutest foe, with him to liue or die.

This braue demaund will much amaze the stoutest of their bands,

And they will point some odde man out with him to mingle hands,

And thus this battaile shall haue end. Apollos saying théed

Unto his graue and learned skill, forthwith it was agréed.

Then sage and prudent Helenus, who there their secret knewe

Helenus to Hector

By ghost diuine, with courteous wordes lowlie to Hector drewe.

Quoth he, my dearest brother now, to me thine eare attend,

And maruaile not, though to aduise, and euerie way I bend

My selfe t'aduaunce thy great renowme, sith brethren both we be,

I cannot chuse to doe my best, as duetie doth agrée.

Cause Gréekes and Troyans to retire with voice and courage hie,

Aduaunce thy selfe, if any Gréeke will out this quarrell trie

Upon him, doe, for by the fates this day thou shalt not dye,

I haue it from the mightie Gods, whose councells cannot lye.

Hector right iolly marcheth on, out of the rancks he goes,

His launce full long in midst he held, he willes thē leaue their blowes,

He brings his squadrons backe againe, the shot he bids retire,

The Gréekes stand fast, they order kéepe, and newes they doe desire.

Agamemn eke to harken to, made Grecians to abide.

Both Pallas and Apollo then séeing on euerie side

Pallas and Apollo sit on a Beech

The dartes to cease, vpon a Béeche of armes a mightie trée

The God and Goddesse they doe sit, as Uulturs there they bée.

They doe delight such puissant cries in field to sée so still.

The Bataillons yet soundly knit on ground doe lie at will,

[Page] With tooles of warre at elbowes end, much like the Ocean waue,

Which working storme, not gréen, but black doth make ye colour haue

Hector to the Greeks and Troyans.

Then Hector armde at euerie point thus spake vnto them all,

Hearke both ye Gréekes & Troyan knights what to your wealth may fall,

Betwéene these campes the treaties sworne, & parts so firmly fast,

Imperfect are, of no effect, as none had euer past.

Ioue in this daunger hath vs lapt, n'accord he will allowe,

He doth determine in his minde, with malice he doth vowe,

He all a cruell sacrifice of vs doth meane to make,

As thus: that either you the Gréekes our Troyan towne shall take,

Or that your iourney shall returne to you both voide and vaine,

Or hardly by vs Troyans set, quite beaten downe and slaine.

And now I knowe it verie well, that in your campe you haue

As to defend, so to assaile both souldiours fytte and braue,

Hector [...] the Greeks to perticular Cōbat.

And valiant men, single to me the strong and stoutest knight,

Let him nowe here his manhood trie, and cope with me in fight.

I will abide the man, and truth and faith I giue withall,

To which (if so it néedefull is) I Ioue to witnesse call,

If victor of me for to be so luckie be his chaunce,

And in my bowels that he doe imbrewe his warlike launce

Take he my spoyles vnto his shippes, my bodie let it rest

Without outrage, let Troyans take it to the fierie feast.

Let them the ashes gather vp: And if him vnder foote

That I doe tread Apollo graunt, I craue no other boote

But that his harneys I may haue, to Ilion thether I,

In temple his a relique signe to set and hang on hie.

And for his carcase send I will, the Gréekes they shall it haue,

Who in the shore of Hellespont thereon may reare his graue,

That if hereafter to this land a straunger take his way,

And with the tombe doe haply méete, full iustly he may say:

Here lies intombde the doughtie Gréeke, whom Hector charging hard

Epy [...] by anticipat on.

Downe slue, although he shewde the part of knight of great regard.

For valure and for force: and loe, thus shall a forraine saye,

Whereby my fame and great renowme shall last for euer and aye.

Menelaus angry vvith the Greekes.

This spéech so stunt and sodaine sayed yéelds all the troupe abasht,

Ech doubting to accept the fight, they blushing all are dasht.

[Page] Menelaus, who marked all, and how they stoode, he grewe

In furie great, he out doth come, and sighes he déepely drewe.

O villaine Gréekes (quoth he) in wordes ech proude & hardie speakes,

But come to déedes, you quaile alacke like faint and coward freakes.

O Gréekes infamed tootoo much, what, Gréekish men? not so,

But rather Gréekish wiues, what shame and filthy spéech will goe

Of you for this your cowardize? with hart not standing out

With Hector here to ioyne, for why, you daungers dreadfull doubt:

And without further mouing hence, that ye to earthy molde

Transgression Philosophicall.

Doe turne (your faults to plague) I pray or else to water cold.

And as for me, I will me arme, the combat I allowe,

With hardie minde I it accept, I knowe it well ynowe

The loftie Gods as best they please bestowe the victorie:

Thus Menelau doth blame his mates, and armour on doth tye.

Menelaus armes himselfe to fight vvith Hector.

And now at hand O Menelau was end of all thy toiles,

Thy death was sure in Hectors hands, whose skill in warlike brosles

And strength of arme surmounts thée farre, & but the Gréekish kings

Had come and stayde thée, Agamemn, he by the hand thée wrings,

Agamemnon to Me nelaus.

And much misliking this thy Acte, with rage quoth he thou asse,

Thou fondling thou, thinkst thou thy strength of force to bring to passe

To matche this doughtie Troyan here, to whom, of Gréekish race

Net one, howe stoute so ere he be, dare boldly shewe his face?

Achilles no: he greatly doubtes with him in field the fraie.

Drawe backe and quiet kéepe thy selfe, we shall finde out a way

To end this cause, we shall finde one shall make him stirre his stumps,

Though that a dreadlesse knight he be, and though in martiall iumps,

A souldior bold, nere tirde in warre, I hope right well that he

Shall thinke himselfe a happie man, if haplie so it be

Without his death this quarrell end: and that with humble hart

Upon his knées thanke God aboue, with life for to depart.

Agamemn Menelaus thus perswaded, and he stayde,

His gromes right glad their maister sawe, out daunger to be wayde,

And flocke about, his armor one, another takes his shield,

His weapons some, and by his bands he séeth him in the field.

Wherewith the reuerent Nestor graue stoode vp, & forth he drewe:

O great vnfitte reproch (quoth he) vnto this famous crue,

Nestor to the Greeks

[Page] O what mishap, if at our home this dolefull newes be tolde?

Surely the Prince of Myrmidons Peleus that father olde,

And all his prouince fast will whine: he hath enquirde of me

Of fauour great, the names and race of meanest in degrée.

Of all you here: but how abasht, how great shalbe his griefe,

When he shall heare your cowardise? it sure is my beliefe,

He clad with care, his prayer will vnto the Gods commend,

That ere he sée the Gréekes so foyld, of him they make an end.

I would the God Apollo, Ioue, and Pallas they would graunt

I were so young and lustie, as when able I did haunt

The warres, and in the battaile fought betwéene the Archads stout

And Pyliens that auncient were, who tride the quarrell out

By citie Phee, vpon the floud that Iardan hath to name,

Nestors [...] gression, vvherin h [...] tells hys former actes, as o [...] old mē do.

Whereas I shewde by perfect proofe my valure and my fame.

Among them there, then liued one that Ereuthalion hight,

Who on had put of Areithous the stéeled armour bright.

I meane that Areithous that bare the great and massie club,

And therewith fighting, got such praise by force and wéelding good,

That syrname he obtainde thereby of Clubber thorowe all,

Whom after, not by force, but sleight Lycurgus gaue the fall,

And slue him downe in strayted lane, where club he could not wéeld,

Lycurge with dart did drawe him nye, & therwith through him thréeld:

And dead he tooke his armor gaye, himselfe to shield and ayde

In all the byckerings that he had, and nere was ouerlayde,

As long as that he lyvde, and then to Ereuthalion

He them bequeathd, who bare himselfe as fierce as any Lion,

And often calld the Pyliens with man for man to trie,

With floutes ynowe, and when I sawe the pride of Arcadie

Th'abated mindes, the cowardize, and faintnesse of my phéeres,

I tooke in hand to shewe my worth for all my want in yéeres.

I tooke him vp, I layde him dead by grace of mightie God,

A maruaile great to sée his corpse, a thing for hugenesse odde

Nestor cōmes to his purpose

Falling a long, I wish my youth and courage such, as tho

A champion then to match in fight the Troyans well should knowe.

And sith the hardiest all of Gréece be present in this place,

If none of you defend this cause, I thinke it great disgrace.

[Page] The Gréekish Lordes so prickt to quicke this good graue aged sire,

As of the greatest nine he made stand vp, with great desire

The nine most vvorthy Greks.

The combats hazarde for to proue: Agamemn first did rise,

Next Diomede, to conquer all which still hath bene his guise.

The Aiax twaine of like exploit, Idomene was the [...]ift,

Merion eke, his maisters match in euerie martiall drift,

With whom was good Euripilus, the sonne of Euemon,

And with the rest stout Thoas rose the bréede of Andremon,

Of purpose eche to be receyude, and Vlysses the slie,

Not to be thought to be agast or slacke in chiualrie.

Quoth Nestor herevpon (finding their boldened mindes to growe)

Nestor coū sels to cast lots to knovve vvho shall fight vvith Hector.

Renowmed Lordes, sith thus it stands, full well we all shall knowe

Who for this combat shalbe tane, cast lots, on whom it lights

That forth his bullet first doth come, with Hector him he fights,

With suretie, he that ouercōmes, immortall praise to take.

Ech of the nine with marke, aduise a Bullet for to make,

His Helmet in their lots to put Agamemnon doth lend.

The Greks pray that Aiax lot first bee dravven.

The while the souldiors good of Gréece their prayers thus attend

With reatched hands: O mightie Ioue graunt so it doe befall,

That first of doughtie Aiax he out come the lotting ball,

Or it the sonne of Tydees his, whose laude so loude doth ring,

Or else to please thée to bestowe this honor on our King,

Our captaine chiefe, and leader graue. Nestor doth often blunder

And shake the lotts within the helme, to part them more asunder,

His hand thrust in, the bullet first of Aiax forth he brings

Aiax lot is dravven.

So much desired, and Herault badde to carie it the Kings,

That they may knowe which of them all by fate appointed was

In this conflict to deale: he forth with bullet on doth passe

By ranke and ranke through all the field, he open doth it beare,

But yet vnknowne to Aiax bold till he approched were,

Who doth reioyce at so good lucke, the scripture when he read,

Aiax to the Greekes.

And downe he throwes it on the ground, and to the Kings he sayd

Thus, full right like a man of warre: My louing friends so déere,

You sée that nowe I am the man, I pray you all to chéere:

My minde assures me that I shall as victor downe him strike,

And while I put mine armour on, you softly may beséeke

[Page] The hie Gods in my fauour now, and Troyans shall not néede

To heare your cries: what say I now? I surely doe not héede.

For pray you lowe, or out aloude, I doubtfull nothing déeme,

For if the bréeding vp doe make men more of men estéeme,

If Countrey soile, if worthy race, doe mende the mindes of men,

With these thrée gifts so thorowly, sith I am surnishte then,

You shall not sée me runne away, I will not turne my backe,

To princely blond what doth belong you shall not finde the lacke.

So spake the bold & manly Gréeke, his friends with hart deuout

To Ioue for safetie of the man did powre their prayers out,

With vowes in many sundry sortes: but some that best perceavde:

The greeks prayer to Iupiter.

The hazard great he entred on, their hartes to God they heavde,

And prayed thus: O mightie God, most great most good who stayes

On Ida hill beholding this, O Ioue who beares the swayes,

And rules all combats at thy will, this fauour graunt to day,

That this good Gréeke of this conflict may bring the palme away.

Or if thou dost too great good minde vnto sir Hector owe,

Graunt end this strife, they both alyue with honor home may goe.

The Aiax strong himselfe doth arme in braue and brightsome brasse,

Aiax takes his armour & cōmes to fight.

And forth he cōmes into the campe, in port and shewe he was

Like Mars the God, when he doth martch, he yet a smiling hath,

But that his smile a visage shewes inflamde and set to wrath,

With notice to his fellowes all he was their certaine forte:

His countenaunce stout, his sterne martch, whē they saw in such sort,

Hector abashde.

And so stiffe shaking of his launce, they doe beginne to ioye.

But to this combat he thus prest, now doubte the men of Troy,

Hector himselfe being agast, would haue retired sure,

But him they would a cowarde count, he did the strife procure.

Then Aiax hanging at his necke his huge and waightie targe,

Which towerwise so stoode aloft, so dreadfull and so large,

Aiax Turget compared to a Tovver.

(He Tychius of late it forgde, with seuen folded hydes,

With stiffe, eke hard, and azerde stéele he couerde it besides)

To Hector drawes: he shewe full great, and boldnesse on doth set,

Unto him there these were his wordes, wherwith he thus doth threat.

This day thou Hector well shalt knowe, of Greece the force & powre,

Aiax to Hector.

Thou wel shalt know what heds of knights we haue thée for to scoure

[Page] Achilles out, who kéepes abourde, with armes who doth not mell,

Bicause of an vnhappie iarre betwéene our chiefe which fell

And him: And here my selfe t'aduaunce among the rest thou séest,

And therefore now beginne, beginne if of the mynde you béest.

Hector hearing thus the Gréeke, doth forthwith then replie,

Hector to Aiax.

What iollie Aiax are these wordes so arrogant and hie,

Most like a dame or prentise young gesse you to make me shrinke?

Sure long agoe what longs to warre I knowe, and so doe thinke,

And willing thereto giue my selfe, a charge I can abyde,

And charge I can, my massie shielde I knowe to beate, I ride

At hand, and further fight I knowe, I foote it when I please,

And all these knowe I howe to vse, when most they ayde or ease.

By sleights my foe I can sometime imbrewe with mortall blowe,

But you a man of valure much bicause I certaine knowe,

No cunning will I vse as nowe, but clap you on the Crowne,

Description of the combate.

With arme I will imploy my best therewith to plucke you downe.

With this doth Hector to him draw, his sturdie dart he shooke

So large in length, so stifely launcde, that forth the way it tooke

And pierced to the seuenth fold of that his buckler strong:

The toughe and stéeled plate with all it teared all a long.

Aiax againe his stubborne staffe at Hector shaking flings,

With force so great, as through the bosse of Hectors targe it rings,

And further to his paunche doth passe, and Curet through doth glide,

No harme at all, a small at least the Troyan turnd aside:

Comparison.

Ech out againe his launce to plucke doth striue the best he can,

Like Lions fierce, inuincible, and grieslie bores they ranne

Together both: Hector doth thrust on targe, but all in vaine,

The strength therof doth beare it off, and turnes the poynt againe.

And Aiax blowe did likewise glaunce on Hectors shield aloft,

And péercde his necke, the purple bloud it trickled downe full soft.

So small a ticke he héedeth not, retyring from the grounde

He séekes and takes a coggle blacke, a mightie and a rounde.

Fight vvith stones.

Therewith on Aiax so doth lay, on target great it range,

In midst thereof the stone resounds, so soundly he it flange.

Aiax a greater farre doth ratch, and brawnly so doth cast

That he his bigge and bumpishe targe therwith in péeces brast.

[Page] The Troyan on his knées he sancke, perforce on earth he lay

Hector fals on his kn [...]

With shield behapte, from whence to scape he knew no maner way,

But that Apollo sodainly ariueth in the place,

To yéeld a safetie to the man, and raise him in that case.

Then would they out haue bladed it their armor so to teare,

But them betwéene the Heraults came, eche did a sceptre beare.

And Idee sage, the herault wise there thus in speach he brake:

The Heralts parte them.

Déere sonnes, leaue off this cruel strife, herein a breathing take,

To Ioue you both are deare, do end this deadly combate nowe,

And at the packe of mortall men you valiant doe allowe.

Lo he [...]e the might which bids you two to graunt to my request.

Quoth Aiax then, O Ideus thou wel and wisely sayest,

But I refuse, if Troyan here, who did vs al prouoke,

Aiax to Ideus.

And me assaild, do not entreate this quarrel to reuoke,

And if he do, I do agrée to graunt with al my hart.

Quoth Hector then, sith Gods on earth such honor thée impart,

Hector to Aiax.

That as of force, good gifts, and wit, so eke of mightie bone,

I do confesse of al the Gréekes thou art the knight alone.

On Gods name leaue this enterprise, againe we may beginne,

Another time we may it trie, who shal the honor winne.

The more, bicause the sunne is lowe, and night drawes nie at hand,

Whereby wel pleasd your mates wil be, & Gréeks hereby that stād.

And I the dwellers al of Troy againe shall greatly glad,

And eke the dames, who déeply déerde, their prayers now haue had,

For me, I thinke it Aiax méete in chaunge we do bestow

Our presents now betwéene vs both, that all the world may know,

And say to sée our heate so colde: these two were lately foes,

Hector gyueth Aiax his svvord, and Aiax giue th h [...] his baudri [...] vnlucky one for another after.

And now great friends, their enmitie to faithful friendship groes.

With thys the prowest Hector gaue his bright and gallant blade,

With séemly sheath and belt so braue, so trimly which were made.

Againe to him doth Aiax reach the Bawdrike big he bare,

He pleasd therewith, and Aiax doth vnto his friends repaire.

And Hector to his Troyans commes, whome séeing safe and sound,

They ioy amayne, they dreaded he, had caught so me mortal wound.

They vnto Troy do bring him all, and Aiax strong doth goe

Forthwith the Gréekish faction on, victor with souldiors showe,

[Page] And in his tent he séeketh out Agamemnon the King,

Who chieftaine good, them al to feast commaunded euery thing.

To Ioue for fauor forthwith he doth sacrifice prepare,

A Bull of grease of fiue yeares olde the yoke that neuer bare.

Which straight was lead and offred vp, and off they plucke the hide,

And him in péeces al to cut, and them on spits they slide.

And al things fit, eche man drewe nie, to eate and féede his fil,

And so wel vsd, as when they left they liked al at will.

Agamemn dothe his champion muche extoll, and presents feate

Of price hym gaue, in witnesse of his force and prowesse greate.

The presēt vvas the hornes and hyde of a Bull.

When eche so muche had eate and drunke, as wel content they stood,

The Nestor olde, whose counsel graue was alwayes proued good,

(Which to declare his last aduise it lately servde them wel)

To Agamemnon and the Gréeks his tale he thus doth tel:

Ye loftie Lordes and Princes great, ye are not to be taughte

Nestor to the Greeks.

Thys day how many Grecians are to death by weapon broughte.

Their bodies layed along the field, their soules to hel are hyed,

To bury the dead.

Some order must be tane herein, their buriall to prouide,

And for the same the war to cease, to morrow néedes must we

To Carrs to ioine Moyles two to two, and also yokte muste be

A number great of Oxen to, the carcasses to beare

More nie the ships, and there with fire the same on heapes to reare.

I wish also that héede there be to saue the bones that burne,

To saue the bones of the dead. Nestor persvvades the Greekes to fortify them selues.

To giue them to their children, if we haply home retourne.

And eke a common Monument a Trophée let vs build,

And more, oure vessals eke is beste from Troyans them to shielde,

(Least haply they vnhaply should in fight the better get)

We towers hie, and bulwarkes strong about them nie do set,

With ample gates and issues wide, the Chariots forth to goe,

And eke our squadrons with our bandes to passe out to and fro,

With trenches large and déepe before, with pales impaled strong,

To kéepe vs from the Troyans charge, if haply with their throng

They should assaile vs where they are. Thus Nestor loud did chaūt,

And that his councell al the kings for good did willing graunt.

And Troyans to consulting come did greatly grow to muse,

There rose so many diuers mindes they know not which to chuse.

[Page] The Lordes and great men of the towne, and people many by,

Antenor thus hys tale beganne with voice and spéeche on hie.

Giue eare ye Troyans I you pray, and forraine souldiors to,

Ye Citizens hearke what I wish and councell you to do:

Anten or counsels the Troyans to delyuer Helene and the Gods broughte from Grace.

Let Helene to hir husband home be sent with all the spoile,

The riches and the things of price were brought out Grecian soile,

The pacte and promise Paris made with othe, for to allowe,

For otherwise to plye the fielde against that concorde nowe,

I surely hope no good at all can hap vs in the end.

Sirs, thinke of this, the care whereof I doe to you commend.

This said, Antenor takes his place, and downe therein he set,

Paris aunsvvers and gaiysayes Anteno [...]

And Paris doth in choller growe, with him he takes the pet,

And youthly thus doth answere him: Antenor wel you can

When so you list, giue sounde aduise, and are a pretie man,

To tel a tale, for Troyans good you practise can at full,

But your opinion now declares your senses lost or dull.

And thinke for truth the Gods haue tane (as you a dotarde ware)

From you your wittes: And as for me, I contrary declare

My selfe to that which you haue sayde, and haue determind plaine,

The Gréekish Lady at no hand I wil hir leaue againe.

But for to end this strife, I will the treasure eft restore,

Paris vvy [...] yeelde the goods but keepe Helene.

And iewels which I tooke in Greece, and with them thus much more:

The costliest in my house I haue, if so accept they wil,

These points of peace, and so content remaine contented still.

King Priam herevppon, a Prince of prudence bearing bell,

In councel graue, to al the rout he thus his tale did tell.

Paris to the Troyans.

Ye Troyans and my other friendes hearke what I you aduise,

Your lodgings home go séeke ye al, sith now the night doth rise,

Your selues with meat repast I pray, and with your supper done

Regarde with héede your watch and warde, as they by course do run:

And in the morning shall there góe a Herault to the Gréekes,

At length who shal to them declare what Alexander léekes

My sonne, and know their minde therein, and more a matter say

Which hardly they wil vs deny, that there may be a stay

Of warre a while, that eche of vs in graue the bodyes slaine,

And burne the carcasses, for vs which dead abroade remaine:

[Page] And then we shall beginne to sée who shall obtaine the price.

No sooner saide, but Troyans al obey him in a trice.

They to their supper do departe, some to the watch do hye,

And some their tyred limmes to reste on couches downe do lye.

Good Ide the herault in the morne to execute his charge,

Commes to the ship of Agamemn, within the vessell large,

The Troian Herault goes to the Greekes campe to talke vvith them.

Whereas he founde of Gréekish Lordes the troup in councell fast,

Aloft the poupe to whome to say himselfe he thus doth cast.

Ye famous mightie Atreus heires, and al ye here togither,

Ye prudent hardie princes Gréekes, King Priam sends me hither,

And all his worthy councell wise to shew vnto you al,

His Paris sonne (the onely cause for whom this warre doth fall,

Who rather should haue suffred death, than such a mischief wrought)

Is now content to yéelde againe the pray from Greece he brought.

And thereto offers for to put good portion of his owne.

But Troyans to persuade him much, who all are greatly growne

Dame Helene faire for to restore, their labor lost they take,

He will hir holde. Aduise nowe Lordes, what answere yée wil make,

That I to Troy returne the same, my king he eke demaundes,

If that of truce ye will allow, the bodies on the laundes,

Which dead doly by slaughter of this late and last dayes warre,

In fitly graues and sepultures the same for to entarre.

Whiche done, the peace to haue an end, and with our yron to it,

To sée who for the victorie by force in fight shal do it.

The Gréekish Lordes the Herault heard, amazed nothing spake,

Til Diomede that noble Prince he thus the silence brake:

This offer must we not accept (quoth he) if that Helene

Diomedes to the Greeks.

They would and al the wealth of Troy with hir restore againe,

Who doth not fully wel perceiue (if not a fondling babe)

That shortly al the Troyans here shal be our vassals made,

The time at hand this vile reproch with vengeance due to pay:

Agamemnō ansvvers the herault

Herewith they greatly laud the man, and loe what he doth say.

Quoth Agamemn the herault to, thou hearst the Grecians minds,

As theirs, my answere is, my wil gainst theirs it not repines.

As for the truce, it graunted is as thou thy selfe dost pray,

I may not crosse it, from the dead to kéepe their granes away,

[Page] The hate it ought to be forgot when dead the person lyes,

Do you amasse the carcases which of your partie rise,

And burne, or burie as you list, and we wil do the same:

And for a witnesse of our faith, that it be voyde of blame,

O Ioue I do thée now inuoke, and Sceptre vp he throwes,

His royal one to heauens ward, a signe, true meaning showes.

The goo [...] Herault returnes to Troy.

The Herault good wel hearing al, to Troy with spéede he hies,

And Troyans found at councel harde, who longde with loking eyes

His comming home, the answere brought th'assembly parts awaye,

And forward forth abrode they go, & in the fields they stray.

One number great doth séeke the slaine, another down doth hacke

The Greks and Troyan [...] searche the de [...] bodyes.

The wéedes, and saggots bind, & Gréeks like minde they do not la k.

A whole day long you might haue séene the Gréeks & Troyans plye

On worke they both and often méete no whit displeasauntly.

It pitie was in field to sée them labourd so and toylde,

And hardly know their kinsfolks blée, with bloud they were so foyld.

But often washing them they found, and layd them on their chares,

And armour eke, with bitter teares & sighes that shewde their cares.

King Priam in a mightie flame did throw the Troyans slayne,

And subiects would not suffer more in mourning wise to plain.

So with the Gréekes delt Agamemn, and more a masse did reare

Close in the night the slaughtered bones wherin they tumbled were.

The [...] fortify th [...] s [...]p.

Not resting so, they round about their ships and nauie set

Many a strong and sturdie towre, & bulwarkes big they bet,

Gates hie and wide, as fit it was in souldiours to retire,

From battel come, or forth to go, to fight when they desire.

Without a gallant ditch they dig ful déepe, ful low and large,

With postes and pales renforced so, it hard was for to charge.

The Gods in péerelesse Pallace set of Ioue, this stirre espyed,

And maruelld much, among thē where Neptune, who could not hide

Neptune to Iup [...]er.

His spite conceivde, these words did vse: you God of gods alone,

O Ioue, in vowes, and sacrifise I careful now sée none,

Nor yet to reare a worke of worth, no men I sée to héede

The wil of Gods, they at their héeles to cast it are agréede.

Dost thou not sée these peruke Gréekes, who vs besought no wayes

When as their toures they topt aloft, and rampires great did raise?

[Page] Their fame all Countreys thus shal fill, and of their buildings ring,

And walles by me and Phoebus built they down on ground shal ding,

Their name encreast, our labour lost, the Marine God thus spake,

Who often by his proper power doth force the earth to quake.

Iupiter to Neptune.

In anger Ioue straight answerd thus: what sayst thou Neptūe here,

A meaner God of right then you these doings ought to feare.

You are to great your glorie spreads as far as day doth start.

For these gay towers and trenches wide, when their hie ships depart

To Greece their Countrey to returne, their worke destroy and race,

Drewhelm it clean with sand, therof, that none may know the place.

The son straight after downe it drawes, and vp the night it gat,

And al things done, the Gréekes at rest in their pauilions sat,

And many a béefe for supper slue, and there that instant tide

Diuers kéeles full fraught with wine from Lemnos fat did ride.

Euneus, faire Hipsiphils son, to Iason which she bare,

Runeus. Hipsiphyle.

For trafficke some and some to giue causde thither to repayre.

For of these new and pleasaunt wines, a thousand tuns he ful

Gaue to the chiefetaine of the war: the Gréekes came down in scul,

And barter for the wine apace, in hauen where it lay,

Some brasse exchaungde, some yron, some hides, & prisoners some do paye.

Some bullockes from their heards do giue, and so they drink cōtent,

That all the night no iote they slept but it in chéering spent.

Againe the Troyans ful at wil possest what they disirde,

But Ioue he did them much amaze, the heauen so it firde

With thunder and with lightning flames, which al ye night did last,

Deuout his anger to appease, vpon the ground they cast

In sacrifice great store of wine (the time then calme and quiet)

They tend to Cabane at their ease, and sound in sléepe lye by it.

Finis Septimi Libri.

¶ The eight Booke.

[Page]

THe morning with the ruddie hew on earth did shew his blée,

Discription of the da [...] ning of the day.

When Ioue the Prince of lightnings al, to counsels calleth he

In welkin bright ech mightie God, who set in order due,

And héedie all to hearke, thus Ioue into his tale he grew:

Ye troupe diuine giue eare to me, attend what now I wil,

Iupi. to the gods assembled in counsel.

Which hauing heard, none of you al be ye of minde so ill,

Whether he male or female be, to déeme to chaunge my doome,

Or crosse the same: who out the troupe shal go and leaue his roome,

The heauens who shal leaue I say in Gréekes or Troyans aide,

Him catcht, wel bumbd I shal him boh, and send him ill apaide

With shame ynough vnto his home, and if I grow to spight,

I wil him tumble headlong down, and cause him for to light

Into the hollow dreadful hole, which Tartare men do tel,

Where Barathrum that gastful gulfe doth lye so low in hel

From [...] in Hel.

With yron gates: so far beneath, as earth from skie remaines,

That wel to al men it be knowen how large my power it raignes.

But if you long to féele my sorce, at pleasure you shal sée it,

The [...] so [...] of vvriters.

From hence to take a golden chaine vnto the earth agrée it.

All get you down, your heau [...]nly powers apply with tooth & nayle

To plucke me down or me to moue, you little should auayle,

In fine your toyle to nought would turne, but I, if that I lust

To drawe you to the welkin vp, in spite of you yée must

Amount aloft without my griefe, and with you at a pul

I eke would bring the massie earth, and seas of waters ful.

One ende in heauen I would tie, and let the other hang

That I the chiefe of God and man the knowledge better rang.

Pallas aunsvvers [...].

This threat and surly spéech doth yéelde the Gods amazde & dum,

[Page] Til Pallas daughter vnto Ioue with this hir tale doth come:

O king of kings, great fire of Gods, whom eche and al obayes,

Long skil doth tel thy might to passe our forces many wayes:

But ifsome one do helpe the Gréekes, it is not in disdaine

Or spite of thée, but pitie moues to sée them dayly slaine.

Wel, sith with déede we may not ayde, please you it to deny

We counsayle giue, numbers to saue which by your furie die?

With pleasant countuaunce Ioue replyes: giue counsel to ye Gréekes

Iupiter to Pallas.

My daughter deare, and fauour too as best your fancie likes,

I will at this time pleasure you, you shal no way be chid.

Then Ioue his mightie heauenly stéedes vnto his chare doth bid

To tie, his golden roabes he takes, so bright and brauely wrought,

He mounteth vp, and to his hand the golden whip he rought,

His horse he beates, the ayre they cliue, aloft they skimme amaine,

Iupi. horses

Betwéene the earth and welkin hie they treade a iolly trayne.

He plyes them, and so straight doth guide, vnto the mountaine top

Iup. descēds & comes to the mountaine Ide.

Of Ide hight Gargarus cōmes, and there he makes them stop,

A place of pleasaunt pasture it, where waters swéete do spring,

Wild beasts great store, on this gréene hil so likt for euery thing

A temple large of antique yeares was built, and sacred old

By Troyans to his godhead hie, where Ioue now stay he would.

Ambrosie for his horse he gets, and least it should be known

That he was come, he with a cloude hath quite them ouerthrown.

He from the height of mountain hie the champion low doth view,

Iupi. frō the mountaine beholds the Greekes & Troyans.

The siegers, and besiegde he likes to sée, who like do rue.

The more he thinkes vpon the men, he sées his might the more.

The Gréekes hauing within their tentes repast themselues before,

Did not forget to arme them wel, their battailes out they draw,

The Greks & Troyans make ready so the battel.

And in ful séemely order martch, which when the Troyans saw,

And dinde they had, their bands they arme, their town they wil defēd

A handful they, but forst by néed, theyr minds to valure bend.

Th'assayling Gréeks for to resist, and countrey saue at néede,

And to protect their natiue soyle, and shield their patrie bréede.

Their gatesful open wide they set, and out their cohorts hies,

Their horsemen and their footemen al, not without lofty cries.

The [...]vvo armies fight

And to the place of battel come, they to their tackle fling

[Page] With shield to shield, and dart to dart, and king doth ioyne wt king,

And souldiour vnto souldiour goes, most like stoute warlike wights

Here one doth fall, another here doth vanquish in their fights.

One grones along, another doth boast of his conquest won,

And in such slaughter rare, apace with bloud the fields do runne.

This murder from the morning lastes vntil the noone of day,

The victory doubtful

Both sides so soundly stroke it out, right doubtful was the fray.

Then Ioue to sée, to whom should turne the victorie at last,

Iu. Balance.

Theyr fortune good and eke aduerse in ballance he doth cast:

The Gréekes on one side he doth put, and iustly for to way

The Troyans haue the other part, and lets the scales to play.

The Gréekes mishap the Troyans much he straight & plainely foūd

For to surpasse, for theirs do moūt, the Gréeks theirs draw to groūd.

Iu. throvvs his lightning on the Greekes. The Greks flee.

Wherfore amongst the Gréekes he flings his flash of burning lights

And sodainly with dread therof appalled were their sprights.

Idomene first his people leaues, and runs away apace,

The king of Creete, Agamemn flyes in field he turnes his face.

The Aiax twaine do stir their stumps, and take them to their flight,

Unto there tackle their do stand no Gréekish prince or knight,

Saue Nestor sage, who so was forst, a horse of his that drew

Paris so right on head did hit, where first his top out grew.

The beast he fain would haue bin gone, he turnes, he rears, he thūps,

He réeleth with the mortal wound, he flings, he fars, he iumps.

The shaft so surely it was shot, it brake the braine vnto,

The man was forst the geares to cut, and so the horse t'vndo.

This while the mightie coursers tho, their maister Hector draw

To Nestor nere, who had bin dead, but that the Gréeke him saw

He Diomede so much in fame, and came vnto his ayde,

Nestor in daunger vvithout Di. vvho r [...] scues him. Di. [...]o Vlisses vvho flees.

And séeing wily Vlisses run, aloude to him he sayd:

Laertes son, whose cunning kend, and wile is knowne ful wide,

Why, whether now? Are féete thy fence? why dost thou not abide?

Hast thou no shame: no feare in flight on back some wound to haue?

Abide, abide with Nestor here, let vs thy person saue.

Vlisses heard he would not stay, vnto the ships he hies,

Yet Diomede Nestor to helpe amid the preasse he driues,

Di. to Nes [...]

And come before his horse, he sayes, The youth of Greece doth lay

[Page] O Nestor greater toyle on thée, than age can beare away,

Hard for thy worne yeares t'abide, whose force thou séest to scant,

And forraine vigor earst enioyde the vitals now to want.

Thy chare, thy driuer, and thy seate, a tierd countenaunce shew,

Come down, mount vp my chariot too, to proue now in a throw

The swiftnesse great, the courage od of these my coursers gay,

Which late I conquerde from Aenee, our gromes shal lead away

Thy furniture, we two wil forth that Troy and Hector sée

Yet once how weapons we can wéeld, and souldiours what we be.

Th'old man agréed, and to the seate of Diomede doth come

Nest coms into Diom. chariot.

In Sthenels place, whiche Sthenele goes, & takes erst Nestors rome,

Nestor a guider was, but then, Diomede was the knight,

Both passing forth, the doughtie Phrige, Hector to haue in fight,

A Hector, who no lesse desires to méete them in the téeth.

Diome. kils He. driuer.

The mightie Gréeke to dart he leaues, when Hector first he séeth.

The sturdie stéeled staffe he throwes, but mist the man he ment,

The maister mist, in driuers wombe Enopeus déepe it bent.

He Thebes son, a man of price, a valiaunt man in déede,

The doughtie Hector grieued much to sée his seruaunt bléede

Of so good count, and tumble dead, but there he lets him ly,

A like he séekes for force and mind, and to him by and by

Archiptoleme presents himselfe, the stéedes he doth bestride,

Archeptol. He. driuer.

The whip and raines he takes in hand and serues him for a guide.

At these two new and sodain haps strange slaughters did appeare,

Like lambes vnto their force and folde the Troyans do reteare,

And séeke their wals for their defence, the Gréeks they grew so hot,

Iupi. againe throvvs his lightning against the Greekes. Nest. persvvads Di. to flye.

But Ioue straight ways his lightning flames we thūder forth he shot,

That by him néere the warlike Gréeke beheld the flame as't flasht,

His horse they quoke, from Nestors hands the raines are ready dasht,

His feare was such, wherwe (quoth he) perforce doth force vs now

O Diomede, to hie vs hence, the daunger sée not you?

The glorie now the mighty God doth giue vnto our foe,

Another time on vs againe the same he wil bestow.

The minde of man it may not dare the gods for to withstand,

For greatest is of gods the might to rule it takes in hande.

O aged sire (quoth Diomede) thou nought but reason sayes,

Di to Nest.

[Page] I do agrée, but yet lament, and grievd am diuers wayes,

When Hector commeth to my minde, who thus shal sée me run,

Unto his mates hereafter may, extolling to the Sun

His valiauntuesse, say, to the ships the chase he hath me giuen,

All pitie past, I rather craue the earth it here were riuen,

Ne. to. Di [...].

And I therin were swallowed vp, alas quoth Nestor than,

Thinke you if Hector should report you for a cowardly man,

His tale it would be taken true? your sword in heapes hath slain

Too many of the warlike wights, and left their widowes playne.

Herewith his horses straight he turnes, & with ye Gréeks doth flie,

Diom. flyes

And Hector with his souldiours fast doth after forward hie,

With clamors great: And Hector loude his spéech doth thus begin,

When as they fled: oh Diomede estéemed who hath bin

Among the Gréeks, yea éen thy fil for valure and for fame,

He. to Di [...].

At boord who fed stil of the beste, and first sat at the same,

Now like a hartlesse fem thou shalt be led in prisoner wise,

Make hast thou gay and glorious freke, dreadful with flaming eyes,

Beléeue no more our towers to scale, hope not to ship aborde

Our wiues, I Hector, only I sufficient shal afforde,

My force shal serue to stay the strength, and forth to make the pack,

And kéepe thée from thy ships returne, and thée in péeces hacke.

At Hectors words the Gréeke doth stay, he thinketh what to do,

To turne againe the spite to venge, or forward on to go,

Therby the daunger to auoyde, he thrice doth venter backe,

Diomedes in doubt vvhether to fly or to abide.

And thrice doth Ioue him eie, and down he lets the thunder cracke,

With lightning flame hard by his eare, a signe most sure and ful

The Troyans strong should haue the day, for so the Gods they wul.

Herewith aloude doth Hector crie his men to harten al:

He. exhorteth his souldiours.

O Troyaus, Lycians, ye my friends, to who it doth befal

To be my fellow souldiours here, if euer men you be

Thinke now thereon, and shew like men your selues on the enemie.

I know ful wel we vanquishe shal, the losse it shal be theirs,

Their wals, their forts, whiche they haue made to saue them in their feares

By me shal soone be forced down, my horse with easye ships

H. threates [...] [...]be Gr [...]ks sh [...].

Shal passe their dikes, and do attend when I am in their ships

To bring me fire to burne them vp, they may no more retyre,

[Page] I wil their lims and liues consume with smoke and smothering fire.

Thus Hector comforts vp his mates, and speaks his horse, Podarge

He. speakes to his horses

Aeton, Xanthe, oh yée my stéedes so swift with buttocks large,

Thou firie Lampus and diuine, for me that sweats and scuds,

Thinke on the cheare on you bestowes Andromacha my fuds

And louing wife, she careful doth with Wheat & Dates you féede,

VVine giuen to horses of vvar.

With temper eke of pleasaunt wine, when as she séeth néede,

Héeding as much to haue you drest, as on my selfe to tende,

She quirie is: aduaunce your sorce, your courses stoutly bend

To further now your maisters facts, that he do fange in field

The Nestor old, and from him take his famous bruted shield,

Ne. target of gold.

Report wherof doth reatch the skies, of pretious gold it is.

Of Diomede his cuyrasse to (he catcht) we shal not misse

Dl. curate made by Vulcan.

So counted off, which Mulciber did forge: And al the night

The Gréekish host all washt in sea you shal sée take their flight.

And thinking for to do as much thus loftie Hector braues.

But Iuno hearing this discourse, so spitefully she raues,

Hir members quoke, Olimpus shoke, to Neptune straight she cōmes,

Iuno to Neptune.

Art thou not grievd (quoth she) to sée the Gréeks hit on the thumbs,

And suffer in such sorie plight, who dayly sacrifice

Gay gifts and hosties vnto thée in Egues and Helice?

Egues. Helice.

How canst thou without heauy cheare, support their heauy case

Thy fauour knowne, which I haue séen, that did their state embrace?

O Neptune if thou and the rest would once but say the word,

And from this slaughter them to kéepe some fauour smal afforde,

It would be done, my husband Ioue for spite would friske and fare,

Yet least he might repent, depart from Ide he would not dare.

Thou frantike sot quoth Neptune tho, thinke not that I wil stur

Or speake against the mightie Ioue, whose power doth passe so fur,

Neptune to Iuno.

To whom ech one ought to obey, he is to loftie he,

He is our king, our maister Lord, his vassals al we be.

Thus while ye Gréeks are driuen back, and in the field defeated,

Their forts and trenches they do take, and doughtie Hector heated

The Greks shut vp in their streng thes by He.

Is Mars himself, the rampires so he forces them to gaine,

Betwéene the ships and vtter fence they filled all the plaine.

[Page]

Thus backe retird and cubberd vp, the Troyan stout had burnd

Their vessels, al the (God so would) if Iuno had not turnd

T'aduise the Gréekes, for when she saw this flight and this disorder,

To put in Agamemnons mind their king to passe on forder,

With spéede vnto the ships for aide. To nauie he doth drawe,

In hand a scarlet roabe he helde, the Ad m [...]rall ship he sawe

Vlysses shippes.

Of the Ithaque king, to it he went, of other vessels moe

It stoode in midst, the place he chose most méete his minde to shoe.

On one side stoode sir Aiax tent, on th'other stoode Achill,

The ten [...] of Aiax and Achilles on the side. Agamem [...]ō blames [...]n people of covvardise.

So guarded to withstand the force of such assault them will.

Agamemn come into the shippe, he mounts aloft to poupe,

He cries aloude: O Gréekish kings, O wretched fainting troupe,

What shame and marke of infamie this day on Greece doth light?

Where is the proud & vaunting spéech? where is the promise plight?

Where is the kilcow chatte become in Lemnos which you had

Upon your Alebenche, where you were so impudent and mad?

Then one of you would kil and eat fiue hundred Troyans full:

It was the chéere, it was the meate and wine you so did gull,

That made you braue and brag so much. I sée the matter nowe,

Lo Hector come, our fort to sacke, and al our army cow,

Our Bastion eke and vs to burne. O Ioue thou father great,

What king of kings so as my selfe hast thou with care beset,

Deprivde of glore, with enuy fraught, and wronged to my paine,

Defrauded of the suretie sounde, wherewith I fedde in vaine,

When as m'oblations vow I did to please thée Ioue withall,

And Troy did thinke to lay sul lowe? I sée I now muste fall

A pray into my enmies lap: thou soueraigne God yet graunt,

Pray [...] [...] Iupiter.

(It better grace we may not haue) fierce Hector do not daunt,

Nor cruel Troy our people here, but that they scape their swordes.

The chieftaine chiefe thus prayde for al, with teares he spake the wordes:

Ioue ful agréed to his request, his sighes did pitie moue,

Which he did yéeld for perishing folke, praying for their behoue.

Good tok [...] for the Greekes.

For Augure sure an Egle commes, a calle with talons tough

Of red Dere hinde he brings, and falles, which comforteth ynough

The whole Nobilitie of Greece, on Aultar downe it lights

In sacrifice of puissaunt Ioue, reuiuing muche their sprites.

[Page] And straight therewith forth make they head of thousands souldiors stout,

And valiant knights, Don Diomede forth first he sallies out

The forte with chare: On Troyan bands to trie and shewe his force,

To one he flies, one only blowe martyrde a Troyans corse,

Agelaus hight, Phadmon his sonne, whole armed for the warre,

Yet fled he fast from Diomede, his sight him so did scarre,

Diomedes ssayes Agesilaus.

But through his chin his dart it flue, and through the Curet came,

His armor gaue a murmuring noise, he tumbling in the same.

Agamemnon, and Menelau his brother, Aiax twaine,

The nine most vali [...]nt Greks next Achilles.

Princes of great exploite that were, Idomene in the traine,

With Merion his gallant guide, a man of courage braue,

Good Eurypile Euemons sonne, in company they haue,

Of al the Gréekes a man of choice, these forth from forte do starte,

And on their foes do forward hie, them charging ouerthwarte.

Beside these eight, a ninth with them, a Gréeke, one Teucer went,

He brother vnto Aiax was, his bowe he beareth bent,

His skil was good to make his best, and straight to shoote withall,

Teucer couered vvith Aiax shield vvoūds the Troyaus.

By subtile Arte his mortal woundes, did many Troyans thrall:

Under his brothers Target he himselfe did often hide,

And fréely let his arrows flie, where he his vantage spide,

And hauing sped, to saue his life séekes out the Buckler bigge,

As doth the infant oftentimes, the little pretie twigge

Comparisō.

When he doth sée displeasaunt sighes, doth vnder garments créepe

Of Nurse, or mother déere, and there playes like himselfe bo péepe.

Wel, let vs tell those lost their liues this Archer lighted on.

Eight Troyans staiue by Teucer.

Ocsilochus, he was the first, Detor, Amapaon,

Ophelest, Ormeyne, Lycophont, Chromius, Menalippe,

Hethrild thē through with deadly wounds, they down to ground do tip.

Agamemns hart it leaps for ioy, his part when thus he plaide

Agamemnō [...]o Teucer.

The sturdie shot, to him he drawes, and chéerefully he sayde:

O noble wight and Prince of same, whom I with honor due

Ought to regarde, I thée beséeche thy forward factes pursue:

Beside the praise men shal thée giue, when as thine aged sire

Thelemon heares of these exploites, he ioy shal, with desire,

And hope to sée thée shortly home: I know, and not beguilde,

He doth thée honor and estéeme, though thou no lawfull childe,

[Page] I know that from thy Cradle vp, he did thée alwayes bring,

As lawful borne: I sweare to thée in promise of a king,

If euer I this Citie take, of al the gallant pray,

Next me shalt thou make choice, and at thy pleasure take away

A rich thrée footed Cawdron guilt, on thée I wil bestow

A Chariot with two goodly stéedes, or else with thée to goe,

A Troyan faire, a Priams childe, or Dame of Citie bréede

To vse in bed, and serue thée ay, if so thou be agréede.

Quoth Teucer tho, there is no néede, great king my wil to mend,

Tencer [...]o Agamemō

Ful oft I shoote, to noy the foe, my force and care I bend.

Gight valiant foes it is ful true my shaftes haue deadly slaine,

He meneth Hector.

I were ful venged, if I could that mastiffe mad attaine.

He with these words doth plucke his bow, & sends his piercing stéele,

To Hector straight, to broach the man, but harme he none doth féele:

But yet the shaft on Priams sonne Gorgythion it light,

Gorgythio [...].

Of sodaine cruel death he dyes, his pap it pierced right,

He was the sonne of Castianire the Goddesses so like,

A noble Nimphe, with hir good king in Thrace did mariage strike,

For beautie sake which od she had, and like the growing Poppy,

Comparisō [...].

As wel for fruit as Aprill shoures, doth leaue his head so loppy

In gardens fat: Gorgythion hurte loden with stéele did helme him,

On shoulder layes his head, & dies with weaknesse which did whelm him.

The Gréekish shot to Hector eft, his bow doth careful plucke,

But him he misste, his arrow yet vnder the teate it stucke,

Teucer kils Hectors driuer.

Of strong Archeptoleme, who falles: his squier thus to dye

Hector doth grieue to sée, and downe he lighteth by and by,

And willeth Cebrion for to come, and take the guiders charge,

Cebrin [...] Hectors driuer.

Which done, Hector a coggel heaues, a mightie and a large,

With dreadful voice to Teucer flies, Teucer from quiuer takes

A shafte againe, to slay a foe himselfe he ready makes,

And ready for to shoote, Hector did reatch him such a bang,

Hector strikes Te [...] cer.

That downe he falles, and out his hands his bowe & arrows flang.

The forced stroke did force him so, the blow was deadly sent,

Aloft the breast the necke it hit, where downe the head is bent.

His brother Aiax ranne apace, when down he saw him doong,

Aiax saues his brother.

To saue and to defend the man, the noble prince he floong,

[Page] And him with shield so wel did hap, as vp they tooke him there,

The wretched archers friends Menest, Alastor they do beare

Him in their armes straight to the ships, [...]alfe gone for very paine.

The Greks retyre againe.

The Troyans strong by mightie Ioue [...]ided, yet once againe

Do force the Gréekes to leaue the field, and so retyring eft

Comparisō.

Their trenches, force, and forte to take, which they before had left.

Hector the formost leades the daunce, as fleshed mongrell great,

Trusting in strength and nimblenesse, the Lion beast doth heate,

Or wild swine in the forrest thicke, if either of them do cast

Or turne about to be reuengde, the cur he shiftes as faste,

Ful light he pincheth deepe their flancks, or hangs so at their thies,

As dye they must. So Hector he, doth chace his enimies,

Who leaue the field, and take to flight, if any lagge behinde,

With sword or lance he hits them home, with death of sundry kind.

The Gréeks repulsed from their forts, from dikes and trēches flye,

With slaughter great confused al in bloudie death they dye.

Hard by their shippes at last they stay, eche comforting his mate,

To play the man, and to the Gods they pray for their estate.

This while the gastfull Hector he, with Mars his dreadfull eyes,

And flaming like the Gorgons lights, vpon the Gréeks he flies,

Hector dreadfull to the Greeks.

And terror more doth put them in, he stirres, he castes aboute,

To looke howe he may cleane defeate, and breake the Gréekish rout.

Then wrathfull Iuno grieued much, to sée the valiant Gréekes

So harde distrest, and doubting worse, Pallas she thus beséekes.

Iuno to Minerua.

Of Ioue dearest daughter thou, canst thou this armie sée

In danger such, without regarde to helpe th'extremitie?

Suffer▪ shal we them al to quaile by this one Hectors hand,

So barbarous a slaughter man? looke in what case they stande.

Dost thou not sée how to their shippes he hath them forced all,

And wil not cease, til in their bloudes he force them ech to fall?

Minerua to Iuno.

Quoth Pallas then, I know your minde, I finde the matter well,

But this so hardie Hector hie, whose déedes are séene so fell,

And so muche to be wondred at, shal dye in countrey soyle,

But Ioue his wil to thinke to crosse nought follow woulde but foile.

I feare him much, his aukward spite against me oft is set,

Too much ingrate, the labor great, and paine he doth forget,

[Page] Which I for Hercules boote haue tane, his forces when to trie

Hercules.

Unto King Euristeus Court he went so willingly.

The trauailes truely which he tooke had mated oft the man,

But when he cryed, and when he wept, sir Ioue he praide me than

To hie to him, which oft I did, else he quite ouerthrowne

And tane had bene: if in those dayes I haply then had knowne,

What reckening he would make of me, in hell had holden binne

Hercules in al his enterprise [...] fauoured by Minerua.

His Hercules for euer and aye, his conquest farre to winne,

So famous got of Cerberus, that grimme thrée headed curre,

The hellish floud that Styx is hight, he had not paste so furre,

But had bene staide ere there he came, in guerdon of my déedes,

He now for worthy recompence me hates and often chides,

For to allowe the sottish will of Thetis Ladie white,

Her vaine requests he néedes must graunt, she flatters him so right

With humble spéech, touching his bearde, his knées eke kissing lowe,

Achill hir sonne to set aloft and Gréekes to ouerthrowe.

But well I knowe I shortly shall by Ioue be daughter taken,

And be againe his girle white, as nowe I am forsaken.

Your chare to hast if so you please now Iuno get you gon,

And I will hie vnto his house his armour to put on.

This Troyan I will make to féele what griefe or iolly glée

The guest shall get when me in warre against him he shall sée.

And that I haue the puissance I, to worke him téene and care,

And make his subiects meate for dogs, and flying foules of th'aire,

To be reuengde. Minerua madde thus spake and Iuno steares

Right carefull for to put in poynt hir horses and their geares

Minerua puts on the armour of Iupiter.

And all the rytes to shining chare. But Pallas she doth leaue

Hir linnowe robes so delicate, which erst hir selfe did weaue,

And happes hir with ye cuirates tough, which Ioue in battaile weares:

So armd, the chariot light she leapes, a launce in hand she beares,

Wherewich the demi-gods she mates, in anger when she copes,

Unto hi [...] heauen gates they come, which fréely to them opes.

Of these gaie dores the houres they haue, the whole & onely charge,

This is vvritten in the fist Booke.

Ech one a porter is, they rule also the heauens large.

Of cleare Olympe they regents are, the cloudes at becke they bring,

Or when they come, assoone againe away they force them for to fling.

[Page]

When Ioue aloft he looketh vp, and sées the horses flie,

Which drewe the Goddesses, in heate against them he doth frie.

Iupiter sendeth Iris ta the tvvo Goddesses.

He sendeth Iris vnto them that readie winged wight:

My pursiuaunt with golden wings (quoth he) goe shew thée light,

Goe méete these two, and say from me they doe retire their pace,

Tell them I byd they doe not dare to come before my face,

Tell them they are two fondlings vaine, to thinke to breake my host,

Tell them who list least to obey shall tast of little rest.

Their chariot gaie shall straight be burst, & beame from horses torne,

My lightning flames fuil stifly shot shall send them headlong borne

Downe to the earth, and in such plight, as (maugre all their skill)

In tenne yééres long they shall not heale their such receaued yll.

And then shall Pallas know what shame she doth deserue, and shall,

To stirre against hir sire, Iuno I blame no whit at all,

She treadeth but hir wontrd trod, I know hir so accurst,

To labour my disquiet still she alwayes is the furst.

Iris his message to fulfill from Ida mount he skores,

Iris to Iuno and Pallas.

And found them of the heauen hie then comming out the dores.

Whom whē he séeth, he resteth straight, quoth he, O frantick wights,

What fond & foolish sottish geare hath poisoned thus your sprightes,

To meane to aide the Gréekes, and stirre against you Ioue his ire?

He doth forbyd you further passe vnlesse you doe desire

Een in a trice your chariot gaie to flie in péeres small,

And beame from horses burst, and you in dust and dirt to fall,

By sodaine clap of lightning flames so tumbling from the aire,

As tenne yéeres long of quiet rest shall not your health repaire,

That Pallas you doe know, that Ioue thy maister is and dad,

And as for Iuno, he well knowes she is so leudly bad.

She is no whit at all abasht, she alwayes takes delight

His purposes to contrarie, and that in his despight.

But Pallas be not stubborne then as dogge of currish kinde,

Striue not with him, vse not thy staffe against his will and minde,

Least thou offend thy sire too farre. Iris he flies his wayes,

And Iuno to Minerua turnes, and thus to hir she sayes:

Iuno to Minerua.

Not to performe our mindes set downe what can be greater hell?

Yet sith that Ioue doth vs gainsay, I doe not thinke it well.

[Page] We should herein against him stand, nor for no worldly wight

Such painfull daunger for to take, his hie and heauenly might

Of their good hap or harme it shall at pleasure his dispose:

The Goddesses returne to Heauen. The hour [...] handm [...]ds of Iuno.

The stéeves with bridle straight she turnes, & right to heauen goes.

The houres doe loose the coursers braue, and them to mangier [...]ye,

The chariot they doe fitly place in roome appointed by.

Hard by the Gods in golden chaires the loftie Ladies sit,

Who hauing failde of their intent, they are in gréeuous fit:

To welkin now eke Ioue is come, who is with honour due

Iupiter [...] heauen.

Receavde of eche, assone as that of him they had a viewe.

His goodly stéedes the Marine god full quickly he vnties,

Their furniture he shutteth vp, and then he hastie hies

Of Ioue the mightie seate to set, it readie at a looke,

He downe doth sit, but clapping downe the whole Olympus shooke.

Betwéene Iuno and Pallas there in midst the God he sat,

No worde betwéene them both they had, ne to the God doe chat.

But Ioue who well did know their thoughts in bitter choler was,

Ladies quoth he, whēce doth procéed your spite which thus doth passe?

Whence cōmes ye séeke ye Troyans harme, & neuer haue your fill,

Unlesse you sée their vtter fall contrarie to my will?

My force sith that so great it is are you to learne to knowe

That neither you nor all the Gods and Goddesses in rowe

By force can make me chaunge my minde sith that my simple threate,

Doth make you quake with faces pale, & eke with trembling sweate:

What will you doe in bloudy marte so dreadfull to the sight,

When you shall féele my heauie fist inuincible in might:

Harke then, gainsay no more of you, I wishe you not to dare:

By happe if fondly ye oppugne my hie decrées that are,

Upon ye, ye shall féele to fall the scortching lightning flash,

Wherewith I thunder with my flames, & downe they shall you dash,

On earth to dwell, no meanes ye haue eft hetherto returne,

Your chares and stéedes in cinders quite and péeces it shall burne.

Hereat Minerua grones for griefe, hir hart it boiles with rage,

Yet still and coie she helde hir selfe, and furie doth asswage.

Iuno to Iupiter.

But Iuno takes the cause in hand, O crabbed Ioue quoth she,

What stirre is here? we well doe knowe your vassals all we be.

[Page] Your powre is odde, but if one would the Gréekish armie aide,

Is it against you to rebell? why should it so be saide?

So great an host to sée destroyde poore pittie makes vs rue,

But Iupiter to hir againe with wordes doth thus insue:

Their losse let it not trouble you, it double shall to morowe,

I will make Hector Troyan chiefe, to ding them with a sorowe,

And slaie them downe, not ceasing he to kill and driue them backe,

Unto their shippes, expecting nought but ruine, death, and wracke,

There fighting hard, and round beset about Patroclus bones,

Whō he shall slaie, wherby Achill shal yéeld his grieuous grones:

Séeing the slaughter of his friend, he shall in furie groe,

Him to reuenge, and giue them aide, he hastie on shall goe.

I will it so, and sith that fate to Gréekes hath so assignde,

For you dame Iuno more I ioy, the more you haue repinde,

A gods name get you in the sea, or furthest earthlie felles,

Goe séeke Iapetus Saturne out, in darknesse where he dwelles.

Iapetus Saturne.

Where neuer Phoebus shewes his face, nor no delight he takes

To heare the winds, trudge where you list, looke after you who makes

None shall you followe by my will, of you I doe not reake,

Your feumishe hart with poysoned hate is ready still to breake,

This was his spéech, the Goddesse great full quiet lowe doth lout

The sterne God she greatly dreades, and of him stands in doubt.

This while the cleare & brightsome sunne to th'ocean takes his flight,

Descriptiō of setting of the sun, and of the night.

As is his wont, and all the earth the browne and sable night

Doth wholy hap and cloke about with his so darksome shade,

A night right welcome to the Gréekes, but Troyans mad are made

Therwith, The gallaunt Hector drawes. & souldiors he commaundes

Hector encampeth out of Troy.

Backe from the shippes hard to the brooke, and cōmeth to the laundes,

Wheras that day with sorow great the slaughter was so bloudie,

There downe on foote they lighted straight in councell for to studie,

To whom Hector, who in right hand a mightie launce did holde

The lēgth of Hectors launce or dart.

As royall mace, launce stéeld and guilt, of féete large truely tolde

Eleuen full it was in length, with voice doth loudly call:

Ye Troyans stoute and straungers eke, I speake vnto you all,

Hector to the Troyans.

Ye souldiors and ye citizens, good hope I did conceaue

This day, and sure I thought my selfe them all of life to reaue,

[Page] Their vessailes eke to haue destroyde, and as a conquerour

To haue returnd, but my intent I misse in euill houre,

Bicause the night so soone is come. Wherfore I thinke it best

Not hence to stirre, but here t'encampe and take our quiet rest.

Well, goe to then, let euerie one point here his station out,

With otes and barley bate your horse. And let another route

Hie vnto Troy, muttons and béeues readie for vs to make,

And others wine and bread to get let them the office take,

Some must before our supper to good store of fewell fell,

To kindle flames, which all the night may light vs gaily well,

The Gréekes by sea may closely flie, which if they doe fulfill,

To charge them frankly in their flight, and cut their taile I will,

That their orethrowe example be to euery liuing wight,

That none doe dare to war with Troy, who well knowes howe to fight

And from the towne sith farre we be, her safetie we must héede,

The Heraults let them goe to Troy, and tell it is agréed

That all the youth and aged men the citie doe defend,

And on the walles doe make their watch, and Troyan women bend

Themselues to light the firie flame, to looke with carefull eyes

Our foes doe not surprise the towne by fault or otherwise:

As I haue saide let it be done, ech one his worke apply.

In morning further we shall talke, and doe accordingly.

I hope O worthy warriors mine, we end shall all these broiles

To morowe, and these furious curs shall by our manly toiles

Be hackt and hewde with great distresse, well, let vs all this night

Repose our selues, and at the péere and dawe of morning light

In battaile let vs raunge our bands, these furious foes to mate,

Then shall I sée sir Diomede in what a souldiors state

Hector threatneth Diomedes.

He will be séene, and whether he me from his vessels puts,

Or whether I shall spoile him quite, my darts sent through his guts.

Full tryall he shall haue, whether he able can sustaine

One thrust of this my launce, I hope by me he shalbe slaine,

And many a friend full deare of his, who would him gladly saue,

If such a victorie I get, I certainly shall haue

Eternall fame, immortall praise I purchase shall therby,

I doe not thinke, but they to me will raise an aultar hye.

[Page] In witnesse of my prowesse great, as is to Pallas done

That Goddesse she, or to Phoebus that God and brightsome sunne.

This said, the Troyans him obey, their good and wearie stéedes

Unloosde before, to chares againe they tie and forward yéedes,

Unto the towne, and quickly bring bread, wine and trinkets more,

The béeues and muttons were not fewe, they brought no scanted store:

A thousand fires kindled in the Troyans Campe. Comparison.

Then in the midst of all the campe a thousand fires they light,

The flames and smoke wherof, the winde to heauen caries right.

And euen as men shall often sée in faire and pleasaunt weather,

The Moone being cleare the skies aloft: (for light is so together,

As all the hilles, the vales, and plaines, with light as lightly showes

As in the day) wherby the heard, when vp his eyes he throwes,

He ioyeth in his cabbin poore: Een so from Troyan towne,

In night so pleasaunt and so still, the dwellers looking downe,

Reioyce to sée the armie sit: who when their horse were drest,

And vnto Otes and pasture set, they goe to take their rest:

By euery fire iust fiftie men downe sittes, as best they may,

In hope of Gréekes the morning next shalbe the latter day,

Finis Octaui Libri.

¶ The ninth Booke.

THe Troyans braue they placed thus, their watch with carefull héede:

For losse of field and fellowes slaine for griefe the Gréekes they bléede.

For flight the féere, and fellow mate of chilling feare that nippes,

Flight the companion of feare.

Had dastardlike with shame enough them driuen to their shippes.

And éen as we full often sée the pontique sea to growe,

Comparison.

When Boreas blasts or westerne gales frō Thracian moūtaines blow.

[Page] And make the bellowe so to bolne, as oft the brownish waues

From bottome of sir Neptunes sea aloft full hiely braues:

So were the Gréekish princes sprites all troubled and to tost,

Yet of them all Agamemnon he, he was tormented most.

He willes the princes to entreate the Heraults all and some

(Not loude with Proclamations out) vnto his tent to come,

To them his purpose to declare. The Heraults they obayed,

And when ye kings the sommon heard, from him no whit they stayed.

Ech one set after his degrée, with sad and ruthfull grace

Agamemn standeth vp, the teares fast trickling downe his face:

Euen as the fountaine water doth out springing from the stone

Comparison.

Bedewe the plaines, these were his words with sighes & doleful mone.

To déepely Ioue he doth me déere O all the Gréekish Dukes,

Agamēnon to the Greekes.

And staies not yet, with sorowe more he further me rebukes.

He promisde me in fire and bloud this Troy I should it sacke,

(I maruaile much) my ill successe commaundes me from it backe,

And bids me leaue the enterprise and home to hast to Gréece,

My honour lost, my fame forlorne, and host the greatest péece.

So pleaseth it the mightie Gods all force and might to mate,

Sentence vvhich is in the secōd booke.

Downe throwing strength of walles & men all heights he doth abate.

Sith so it be, I wish it not that we against him striue,

Lets get vs home, our paine we loose, here sure we cannot thriue.

Their chieftaine when the councell heard, long still they muet sat,

Till big and doughtie Diomede this matter aunsweres flat:

Thy want of skill O Atreus heire (quoth he) perswades me much

Diomedes' [...]hsvvers to Agamēnon

Unto thy words to aunswere now, thy spéeches being such,

And to gainsay the same: therfore against me rage not nowe,

Nor any else, iust councell law the priuiledge doth allowe

That eche in councell shew his minde: I pray thée truely tell,

When hast thou séene this campe afraide or weakely so to mell

In charge, assault, or els Alarmes, as best it should now séeme

Our weapons for to leaue? dost thou so yll their heartes estéeme?

Diomedes confesse [...] Agamēno [...] the gretest of honou [...] but the vvorst s [...] diour.

So small hope hast thou in their force, as for thy simple tong

The Troyan conquest we should leaue? it is too great a wrong.

These warlike bands so to despise. It skilleth not a flie,

It is thy want, my selfe the first I haue it suffred, I,

[Page] Thy thought of me of all this host well knoweth young and old,

With thée a coward counted I, and méeter for to scold,

Than in the daunger of the warres to venture in the same,

Dccasion sith I haue to speake, I speake it to thy shame.

The heauenly Gods haue made thée chiefe, & sceptre for to beare,

And rule this host, stout manly minde in thée it is not there,

Nor counsaile sound, in warlike feats, which are the gifts of gaine,

Unto those points thou canst not come, nor thereto once attaine.

Wherfore take héede hence forth to braule or iniurie the Gréekes:

And if to flie, and hie thée hence it so thy fansie léekes,

Get thée to sea, thy stuffe it lies right readie on the shore,

Soone to thy towne thou shalt be brought out trouble any more.

The other Gréekes will here abide and willingly attend

The wished day, wherin we shall surprise Troy in the end.

And if that home likewise they will, not forcing any whyt

This high exployt, Esthenelus with me will tarie yet,

Esthenelus for Sthenelus.

Nor leaue me till the end of all, assurde our comming hether

Unto the coastes directed was by Gods yea altogether.

This spéech the Gréeks they greatly praise of Tydees sonne the wise,

They doe commend his good aduise, wherwith doth Nestor rise

That prudent knight, & answers thus: O Diomede thy part

Nestor allovves Diomedes counsell.

In bloudie warre right stout thou playst, in councell good thou art,

I must confesse of all the kings thou art the oddest, thou,

Of those thy yeares. Of al the campe I thinke no souldior now

Doth wish, or will a harmefull truce, yet all thou dost not touch,

Concerning this our question here more must be sayed much.

I, olde who am, and may be sire to all these mightie kings,

And eke to thée, will end the rest I hope to their likings,

And euen so, as none reproue my councell good and sound.

No viler or vnhappie man, or wicked can be found,

Nor more vnworthy for to liue, than ciuill warre who Ioues.

Nestor Counsells vvhat is to be done.

To supper let vs get vs nowe, sith night so farre on shoues,

And stillie for to set the watch with bandes of youngest yeares,

Twene wall & trench to place them so, when Troyā crues appeares

To charge vs, they may notice giue: Agamemnon you ought

That all the Princes vnto you they be to supper brought:

[Page] (As I do thinke) you nothing want to feast them as you wul,

With pleasaunt wine of Thracian soile your tent is stuffed ful,

And as we sup discourse wil hap, and serue for councell eke

And helpe, in this so waightie cause we al our wits muste séeke.

For why, the enmy lyes at hand, it is a heauie thing

(God knowes) their fires to sée, and heare them by our noses ring.

Loe here the night which wil vs saue, if prudent men we be,

But if we sléepe, then shal we fall, in handes of th'enimie.

When he had sayed, and they had heard, his wil it was obayd [...],

Th [...]se vvho [...] chosen [...] the [...] and for scou [...].

And Princes seauen vnto the watche do go right well arayde,

And souldiours they seuen hundred take, the first was Thrasimede

Duke Nestors sonne, and Creons heire, another Lacomede,

Ascalaphe was the thirde, the fourth was willing Merion,

Aphareus, Ialmen, and Deyphire, they forward passed on,

And made the number seauen vp, thrée knights right hard to daunt,

And wights not better [...]e like to be, where men come in their haunt.

These with their souldiors armed ful, with dartes and armor bright,

Twéen wal and trench they set themselues, & tend the watch al night.

They fires make, some eate, some walke, no one of them doth sléepe,

With eyes they looke for them that come, and eares attentiue kéepe.

On th'other side Agamemn he to supper brings the Lords,

They neyther thirst nor hunger féele, so wel he them afordes.

Agamēnon suppes the Greekish Princes.

They supte, Nestor (whose councel graue of eche was knowne right wel

Unto the chieftaine of the warre he thus his tale did tell.

O worthy Prince, of none but you I am here for to say,

Nestor to Agamemn

Sith you are poynted of these folke to beare the rule and sway:

Sith that the Gods haue gyuen you powre of all the Grecians here,

More counsaile and more stoutly minde in you there shoulde appeare

Than any other, which should enforce it selfe to giue good eare,

And counsaile take, and after good to execute it were.

And chiefly, when you are aduisde a thing that profite wil,

And honest is, then who can say by you procéedeth ill?

An other thing to counsaile you it moueth me againe,

Which ful to followe is your best, not contrary to saine

As erst you did, when raging wood in furie you did fret

Against Achill, and worse than that into youre shippes did fet

[Page] To his despite out of his tent the Bryse in gift he had,

A fauourite of al the Gods, the wrong it was too bad

To stirre a personage so greate. Wherefore we ought to studie,

If helpe may be, how to repayre this facte outragious moodie,

And quietly it to appease with presents gay and ri [...]h,

Or else by meanes of curteous spéech and by entreatie miche.

Agamemnon thus answerd straight: O aged sire, no lesse

Agamemnō to Nestor.

Whereof thou hast accused me the fault I do confesse.

I can vouch no excuse at all, I fowlie fell and faild,

I do perceiue by the outrage the Gréekes haue greatly quaild.

Ioue loues the man, and whom God loues, in camp where men are full,

Such one is worth a multitude of the vnbrideled scull,

Who hardly wil be rulde at al, but as I am the man

Uniustly who hath onely done, Ile proue all meanes I can

To mend the fault, I wil bestow in guerdon for the facte

Great gallant gifts of loftie price out of my treasures pacte,

Which I wil name vnto you here, estéeme their price who can:

The giftes vvhiche Agamemnon vvil offer Achilles.

First seuen goodly Triuets large, which neuer were set an

The fire, ten talents eke right pure and fine of golden masse,

And twentie Caudrons burnishte braue of gloring shining brasse:

Twelue Coursers with their gorgeous barbs and furniture arayed,

Whose swiftnesse hath in wager béene in Greece ful dearly payed.

If so much wealth and coine he had, he should not thinke he néeds

As I haue got and gained eke by trauel of these stéedes.

Eke seuen dames, whose femine race surpasse for countnaunce rare,

Right cunning in Embroderie: which fell vnto my share,

When Achill conquerd Lesbos Ile, and with them wil I yéelde

His Bryseis floure of Damsels al, as pure and vndeféeld,

As when she first was giuen me, I by my royal state

And sceptre which I holde, I sweare, I in no manner rate

Haue priuately dealt with the maide, she neuer in my couch

Did rest hir selfe, I neuer neare approchte hir once to touch,

As men are wont, when they alone themselues with women finde:

Lo here the wealthy gift to him by me is now assignde.

And if that fauoure do the Gods this enterprise begonne,

And that this Troy it may be tane, and it to sacke be done,

[Page] I do agrée that of the spoile, top ful with brasse and golde

A mightie shippe he lade, and eke towne dames out twentie tolde

The fairest of the Troyans al (saue Helene) shall be his:

And to my country when I come, I truly wil not misse

So dearly to estéeme the man with honor vnbeguilde,

As I mine owne Orestes do, my deare and louing childe.

And if he mariage liste to minde, I gladly wil him knowe

My sonne in lawe, on him I wil a daughter mine bestowe:

Take where he please, I thrée nowe haue which méeke & modest are,

Agamēnon [...] three daugh ters.

Chriso [...]eme faire, wise Laodice, and she of honest care

Iphianas: wel, take he one, for dower it shall not skill,

I hope right wel she shal not blame my fatherly good wil,

(How great the match and princely is) for dower I haue prepard:

I seuen Cities wil bestow with walles right round reparde,

Wel stufte with wealth and people eke, fast by the sea of Pile,

That is to say, Enopa one, the second Cardamile,

Pheres diuine, Hira enclose with goodly fruitful trées,

Ped [...]sos, whose fat fertile earth with Uineyards wel agrées,

Egea with hir gallant seate, and Anthia so commended

For fruitful [...]eades and pasture ground whiche cannot be amended.

And in these seuen so good townes such ciuil people liue,

As like a God they wil him hold, and presents to him giue

Of such their wealth they do possesse, with goods and body prest

T'obey his sceptre and his wil, as he is pleased best.

These gifts and these good turnes are his, if this agréement doe,

(Would Gods O valiant Achilles) our strifes were brought vnto

A quietnesse: let Pluto to thy déede suche fauour send,

That thou thy selfe no way refuse, but peace may haue the end,

Let Pluto graunt me so much grace, in yeares and wealth as I

Far passe Achill, so in like case my sute he not deny.

Then Nestor▪ héeding wel his tale, his spéeche againe doth vse,

Nestor coū sels Agamē non to offer the gifts to Achilles, & to send him Embassadoures,

Sir Atreus sonne these presents told Achill ought not refuse,

For great they are: wherefore prouide Embassadors to goe,

Thrée men sufficient I can choose, if they be pleased so.

The Phoenix good shal be the first, Schoolemaister his that was

Of late of the Embassade chiefe, and Aiax he shal passe

[Page] The second man, and eloquent Vlysses third shal be,

Whome Heraults two shal followe fast, Odius Eurybatee,

Two loyall wights: and fit it is for to confirme the déede,

To wash our hands: you Heraults hie, and water fetch with spéede,

And you ye Gréekes, (eche one aparte) doe Iupiter require,

That this legation come to passe, as we do all desire.

The heraults two to Princes handes the water out they skinke,

Who to the Gods their prayers make, & then the wine they drinke.

Therewith wel filld the Legates parte, whome Nestor plyeth still,

To set themselues to purchase home good answeare from Achill,

Ere they returne Vlysses chiefe his spéeche to make the way,

So graue that is, and he there with his courage to delay.

Thus went the pointed Princes forth, with care to be wel heard,

Vlysses, Phoenix, & Aiax Embassadors to Achilles

And lowly to the Marine God their prayers they prefarde,

That of the valiant Gréeke the wrath so déepe and deadly placed,

To end the charge they now are in, more calmed be and raced.

Unto the vessels straight they come, and tents of Myrmidons,

In compasse wide and gay to sight, Achilles where he runnes,

And on the Uiole Ditties sings, in Musicke so delights

Of those the hie and loftie Gods, and worthy mortall wights.

The Viole or Harp of Achilles.

This Uioles swéetnesse matchlesse was with beautie rare to sée,

Wel painted ore with siluer head, was fine as fine might be,

The which was by Achilles wonne, when Thebes he did race,

I meane Thebes where Aetion did rule with princely [...]ace,

Which Thebes was by hi [...] destroyde, no one there was that markie

His musicke there, saue Patroclus, his harmonie who harkte.

These Princes when Achilles sawe, who long his friends had bin,

He would not faile to raise himself, and wondring doth beginne

To bid them welcome as he scoulde, Patroclus also rose,

And to receiue them [...]ut & himselfe: to spéeche Achilles goes,

Achilles speaketh curteously, receyuing the Embassadors.

Right welcome [...]e those my good friends [...]d Lords, who with good heart,

Do in my shippes come visite me; I take in most good part

The same, and though my wrath be great, you are no cause I say;

I you estéeme, I lovde, I loue, and loue you wil for ay.

Thus said, with [...]eons [...] [...]re he, doth bring them on to sit

One after one in sumptuous seats, be hangde with vellet fit:

[Page] The hugest cup he had, to bring Patroclus he did wil

To make them drinke, and wel the same with purest wine to fil,

For these (quoth he) here visite me, are knightes of valiaunt bréede,

And more than that, my wishers wel, and very friends in déede.

His friends minde when Patroclus heard, he doth obey the same,

And more a raldron he doth take, it round about with flame

He doth beset, and in he puts of goate and mutton fat

The vmbles whole, with goodly chine of tender swine with that

Ofone yeare fed, Antomedon and Achil they do cut

The pri [...] ces [...] the [...].

And brotch the rest, Patroclus while he to the fire doth put

Al smokelesse for to make it burne, the wood he couched fit,

Aptly to rost, the coales he spreades, and down he layes the spit,

Wheron the strokes of flesh were brotcht, and salt on them doth cast,

The meate to season, and to make it méeter for the tast.

Already thus, Patroclus bread out of a basket layde

He had in hand, and servde the borde, and sir Achilles prayd

When he had plast the Gréekish Lords, yt they would fal to meate,

And to Vlisses face to fa [...]e himself he chose his seate.

He bids Patroclus sacrifice eke to the gods their right,

Which done, they eate, they drink, and do with leasure great delight.

The good Phenix chiefe messenger, a silent noyse began

To warne Vlisses hauing supt, who knew what ment the man,

He takes the cup, and prayes Achil vnto him for to drinke,

O thou of Gréekes the choice (quoth he) I now ful méete it thinke

Vlisse [...] Achilles.

The cause of our Embassade here (now we so wel haue farde)

Be open layde before your selfe, and by vs plaine declarde.

Though you with plentie haue vs fed, Agamemnon before

Hath feasted vs, but al this cheare, it cannot heale our sore,

Nor vs content, the present time some other thing requires

Than stil to féede, and on our meate to set our whole desires.

Our care it is vnto our case al careful to prouide,

And wisely to in [...] some way the Troyan force t'abide,

And kéepe our vessels from the fire, that we in heapes not dy,

Which no way we can shun at al, if haply you deny

To put in vre your mighty fist, and eke your selfe to decke

With minde and force from vs to hold the harme lyes on our neck.

[Page] So hard at hand our foes they be incamped by our side,

They ly vs by, they merry make, their fiers burning bide.

They vow they wil not enter Troy til al the Gréekes bestaine,

And by their force defeated quite, yea in the ships. Againe,

And more their pride to set a gog, séene hath bin in their campe

A token sure of their great good, the lightning for to rampe

On the right hand. And Hector stoute now puffed vp aloft,

For victorie of yesterday, and in a suretie brought

Of Ioue his aide, doth nothing wish, but that the dawning come,

And then he meanes to burne our ships, and armie al and some

To ouerthrow, he is so braue, so furious, and so fel,

He réekes no whit of God or man, with smoke he wil vs quel.

This threate hath troubled'much our sprites wt fear & chilling dréed,

In doubt that fate wil haue it so, and gods they haue agréed

That after long abode this host must wholy haue the gelpe,

And in this Country leaue our liues. Though you haue spaerd their helpe

Til now (and that although to late) now vp your forces pul,

Eft cal your hart for to protect this host of dolour ful.

Else, when we al shal haue the losse, your selfe wil grow right sad

To sée your friends so many quailde, and that no care you had,

When néede there'was, to saue their falles, it better were t'avoyde

This error great, now in their aide your selfe you soone imployde,

And also st [...]yde this vtter ruine, which neuer can be holpen,

Friend mine, I wel do cal to minde what Pelcus did open

To you, and gaue for sound aduice (movde by a fathers care

And tender loue) when to these parts you in your voyage ware.

And as I should and best I may, his words I wel remember,

That the performance of the same your minde it may wel tender:

Minerue the goddesse, (son quoth he) and Iuno both at once

Shal giue thée valiaunt heart ynough, with big and brawnie bones,

But thou with loue and modest port those gifts must beautifie,

And kepe thée from dissembling faulte, and filthy fraude defye,

Yéelde not thy minde vnto reuenge, and so ofyong and old

You shal be much and hie estéemde, and loued as you would.

These were his words, thus in precept the good old man he gaue,

When you he sent, of this gay spéech now little minde you haue.

[Page] Good friend (alas) do cancel cleane these discords and these iars,

Ful eft in friendship with the chiefe and captaine of these wars,

Who séeking now for thy good wil, by vs doth offer thée

(Which here I count) such goodly giftes, as rich and gorgeous be.

First seauen triuets new and round, ten talents next of golde,

Vli [...]. [...] Ag [...] to A [...]

And twentie caudrons bright of hue, twelue coursers fully told,

Who by their swiftnesse conquerde haue right many princes rich,

And as for golde and wealthy ware if one man had as much

As they haue purchast to their Lord, and gayned by their spéede,

He might wel vaunt he were not poore, nor worldly muck to néede.

And further seuen ladies braue right od in néedels skil

And beautie rare, which then he had, when Lesboes thou didst pill

With thy strong hand, thy Bryseis eke thou shalt againe receiue,

For whom he déepely sweares, vntoucht he doth hir person leaue.

And that she neuer saw his bed, nor he the mayde hath knowne

In pleasure, as the male and fem. Al this shal be your own,

These goodly gifts here shal you haue, this gréement if you strike,

And if to sacke this mightie Troy the loftie gods it like,

And that we share the welthy spoyles, he wil that you lay on

And lade your largest ship with plate and gold, for you alone,

With twentie townish dames of choice, wel worthy such a Lord,

And when this war shal ended be, if so you list accord

To haunt his home and dwel with him you loue he shal as deare

As Orestes his only son, and if in minde you weare

To take a wife, of al his house, the choise yours fréely is:

He daughters there doth thrée possesse, the first Chrisotenis

With yealow lockes, sage Laodice the second hath to name,

Iphianas the third is hight, who haue so great a fame

For vertues theirs, the fairst of thrée at pleasure choose you may,

And leade hir to their sire his home, and nothing for hir pay.

For he himselfe for dower wil of riches giue such store,

As neuer father daughter gaue such portion heretofore:

He means to put vnder your rule seuen great and goodly townes

Hard by the sea, which ful of folke with wealthy ware abownes.

Ciuile Enopa shal be one, and Cardamile so hight,

Pheres diuine, fruiteful Hira, Epea great of might,

[Page] With Anthia for pasture fat of all that beares the bel,

And Pedases for goodly vines is spoken of so wel.

You honorde in these townes shal be, and servde in euery case

Most like a God, where people wil vnder your loyal mace

And kingly iustice willing liue, lo, these the giftes they are,

That is the mends in lieu of fault you shal haue for your share.

If you these offers not regard, nor him that giues the same,

Haue you no pitie of your friends, nor nation here that came

Out your own land? haue you no wil these silly Gréeks to ayde,

And helpe that quite they perish not? of whom if wil be sayde,

As to the gods, so are they bound Achilles vnto thée,

When they shal know that by thy meanes they are deliuerd frée,

An act of praise, immortal fame for you to gaine therby.

Th'occasion eke it brings, that you with Hector now may trie,

Who doth so gayly vaunt and boast, (he puft is with such pride)

No Gréeke in Campe to be his match that may him once abide.

When he the prudent Gréeke had hearde, to answere thus he start,

Vlisses, that, I answere plaine I thinke it is my part,

Achilles ansvvers Vli.

That thou, nor any other else your selues hereafter set

By motions for to trouble me, more of me so to get.

What in my minde I haue set down most surely shal be done,

Who sayes one thing, and in his heart another course doth run,

As gates of Hel I do him hate, with all the might I may:

What I concluded haue to do here hearken what I say.

Unpossible the matter is, that Agamemnon king

For yée the Gréekes or princes great, he may or can me bring

But once on heade my helmet set, sith who doth most desire

With al his force to ayde you al, I sée to bad his hire,

And of a souldiour no more count, whose valure hie doth raigne,

Than of an hedgehog hid in tent or dastard coward swaine:

Who for his part shal more possesse of great and worthy spoyles,

And higher place, than who deserues most best with al his toyles.

I speake this for my selfe, who haue such toyle and trauel bid,

And many a night in war haue wakt, and neuer haue bin hid

From daunger great what so it were, and al for your behouse,

Comparisō.

With semblant care, as pretie birde doth busie flye aloofe

[Page] To séeke out meate to féede hir yong vnfeatherde who do ly,

And nakt in nest, who haue no power the champaine ayre to try,

And far vnméete to meate themselues: who doth not vnderstand

The sackes and fals of Cities great, and Ilands of this land

My nauale forces conquerde haue? twice sixe the chiefest thought

Eleauen in firme my sword hath spoyld, and in subiection broughte:

Of al the which the booties whole you al ful wel do know

Out saued none, your chiefe he had, which stil he did bestow

Where best he pleasde, and skild he was the greater part to hold,

But mine and other princes parts were minste and wel controlde.

Yet with our sharing pleased wel, and none more pleasd than I,

Nathlesse by cruel iniustice, malice and tirannie

Agamemnon hath spoyled me of that my pittaunce smal

Was giuen me, which yet I say, to me did wel befal:

The same estéeming very much only I lovde it deare,

Bryseis it was, wel his be she, and with hir let him cheare,

Answere me you, what cause hath fetcht so many Princes hither

Of Greece? And Agamemnon who he callde hath here togither

Such furniture of souldiours good? are they not in the field

The rauish: Heleine to regaine, & force them hir to yéeld?

Doth he and eke his brother wéene of all that lead here liues,

That they in earth the od men are, which only loue their wiues.

Haue they a dome so blind and bad, to déeme ech worthy minde

Not to estéeme and honor much his loue or wife assignde?

For, as for me, I fride in loue of Bryseis worthy dame,

And hir regarded as my spouse a prisner though she came.

But now peruerting iustice al, your chiefetaine holds the lady,

And now I haue this wrong receivde, and fouly made a babie:

With sugred spéech and fained words séekes he all meanes he may

To swaddle vp the festred wound? it wil not be, nay, nay,

With you and other of the Gréekes (if so he thinketh good,)

Let him go Counsel to forsée how now may be withstoode

This daunger déepe, wherin he is Lord, in what wretched plight

He hath you brought, loke you your selues by his own leud dispight.

What, shal his fort, his wal, his dikes, his pales, and trenches all

Defend you so, as Hector stoute shal not vpon you fal?

[Page] When I with you did vse the fielde and fought for your auayle,

He in his roades and skirmishes durst not so forward raile,

By Scea Troyan gate he fought, my force him kept in awe,

Once at the béech him with intent me to abide I saw,

But straight I made him take his héeles and safe he thought him not

Til vnto Troy he was arrivde, and therin safely got.

Sith al wherein I then did ioy is turned now to griefe,

Achilles threatens to go his vvayes.

And that my force with Hector his I wil not put in priefe,

In morning next I hope depart if winds do happie blow,

With sacrificeto Ioue performde, aborde when I do goe,

That he do fauour my returne, and in the loftie sea

Thou shalt Vlisses then behold my vessels tall in way,

The which from rocke, and wracke of sea if Neptune please to guide,

In thrée dayes space at Pthie coast my countrey I shal ride.

Some balazde déepe with blazing brasse, and yron bright of blée

And perfect gold, with other wealth and goods that pretious be:

Forgetting not the virgins gay, which I alone in war

Haue conquerd I, for Agamemn doth hold and me debar

From bootie which fel vnto me. Wherfore friend tel you must

In publike wise to all the Gréekes my quarel it is iust,

And that they héede their chief not wrong them, as he hath done me,

For which I here protest, henceforth I wil him neuer sée.

I thinke eke shamelesse though he be, and vayde of vertue sure,

Own conscience his should him forbid my presence to indure.

And if that forward he would presse, and mind to speake me too,

My furie maister should I not but mischiefe more him do.

Suffice it him he hath me wrongde, and that his own vnright

Doth hel him like a man forlorne, and out his sences quite,

And for the presents he presents, I them abhorre in minde,

Ac. refuseth the giftes.

The giftes and giuer I do hate as death in direst kind.

Not ten times, no, not twentie times much more than he doth offer,

If all he hath, with traffike whole he also ment to proffer

Of these two Cities, Thebes one, and Orchemene to name,

The Egiptian Thebes auntient town renoumde, I meane the same,

With people ful so stufly filde, where passeth out and in

Through gates an hundred of accompt, of diuerse sorts that bin

[Page] The ware and merchandise to sée, two hundred cartes a daye

Out euery gate go loaden out, and forth are sent away.

And to be short, if al the sande and earthly gritte were tolde,

And offerd me, such masse of wealth content me surely nol [...]:

It cannot be I should content, my wrath it cannot coole,

Til for his fault he iustly smart wherin [...]e playde the foole.

Ac. refuseth the aliance of mariage.

You also séemed now to touch another point me thought,

That of his daughters one to spouse I should be therto brought,

Who he sayes, milde and modest be, if she (as he doth vaunt)

More faire than golden Venus were, and that it were to graunt

Hir chastitie and honour past dame Pallas in degrée,

He may not hope my father in law that he may named be.

Let him in Greece of his own macke his daughter too to wed

Some other finde. As for my part, if, as the gods haue sed,

They do vouchsafe my comming home, by Peleus his ayde,

My wife she shal prouided be, and I in wedlocke stayde.

In Pthie and Achaia lands is many a wealthy king,

Who virgins in their houses haue, of which to my liking

And their contentment I may take, which course I follow wil,

In peace I count it best to liue, and vse my pleasure stil,

And not hereafter to my harme in weapons for to die

In floure of mine age, the gems, the wealth, and riches hie

In Troy that were, ere out of Greece with siege we girt it round,

The sacred goods to Phoebus vowde, and in his church are found,

May not suffise, if dead I were, my life for to restore,

Shéepe, Oxen, coursers great, triuets, like stuffe and many more

Once lost may eftsoone yet be had, but soule from body parted,

Agayne into the bodie left shal neuer be insarted.

My mother Thetis tolde me once, die, die that néedes I must,

To double fate my life is tied, thereo she bad me trust.

If I abide hir waging war, immortal fame I gaine,

But die I shal, if home I go, and do at home remaine,

Long life and happy dayes I haue, but spoylde of honour hie,

The safer part I meane to take, and further not to try.

I do suppose you shal do wel to follow me a righte,

Sith nought you gaine, and Troy to take the hope is vaded quite:

[Page] And chiefely saeing the Gods and Ioue so sound in their defence,

My friend Vlisse, and Aiax then away depart you hence,

Go tel the Gréekes my answere now, and how I wil away,

Some other course and what to do let aged heads assay,

And so to féele since my offence what profit they do finde:

Here aged Phoenix in my tent this night shal stay behinde,

And in the morning home shal go with me, right chéeke by chéeke,

I meane not maugre his good wil, but if himselfe so léeke.

At this refusal stoute and sterne the kings amazed stand

And long abasht, but Phoenix graue the matter takes in hand,

The present daunger he forsées, which al the campe is in,

With trickling teare of earning minde this spéech he doth begin:

Phoenix to Achilles.

Though you refuse oh noble prince the safetie of this host,

And that your wrath is so confirmde you néedes wil leaue this cost,

Good Lord (deare son) how can you leaue your gouernour and guide,

My selfe who was appointed so when hither first you hide,

With you my Peleus plast I was, when forth he let you go,

T'instruct your youth, that you a prince of youth were gouernde so,

As what was [...]ttst, you should performe, yea both in word and déede,

To make you a souldiour for the field and oratour at néede

A perfect one. The pliant youth and yeares that tender are

Can hardly reatch vnto those parts without a tutors care.

Likewise such giftes plast in a prince do much adorne the man,

Then I, who charge haue had of you, suppose you that I can

(O son) thus leaue you? no, no, though (whose counsels ay are true)

The hie and mighty gods should say they would againe renew

To youth my worne corpse by yeares, and put it in such plight,

When from my sire Amintors wrath perforce I toke my flight,

Amyntor father of Phoenix. Phoenix ob Iernes the custome of old men, vvho vvillingly speake of matters pas sed in theyr youthes.

And him forsoke, and all the wealth which is in Hellade his,

Where then he raignde, for loue of one his anger grown is.

A damosel thewde and he woe as wel, his wife he lovde not so,

Wherat my mother spited much and eke did iealous grow:

Who wel hir husbands loue perceivde, she dayly stil [...]e prayde

With hands held vp importunate, to practise with the mayde

So far, that with hir I might l [...]ge, that [...] the matter spyed,

My father would no more hir kepe, it cannot be denyed

[Page] I did the thing, my mothers will, whereat Amyntor wonders,

And fully fed with furious rage, his bitter curses thunders

Upon my head, inuoking loud the damned furies fel,

With hateful wordes bequeathing me the hatefull harmes of hel,

Among the which he prayde I might no father be of heire,

Or at the least no children haue, in bosome he to beare,

Or which of nursing he should reake: I soundly did be léene,

That Pluto graunted to his plaint, whereat I did so gréeue,

When I his malediction knewe, that I then leaue him would,

And not remaine within his house, happen what happen should.

My mates, my friends, my neighbors all, the dearest of my kinne,

My neare Allies when this they sawe, they séeke againe to winne

Most carefully my home abode, which sooner to obtaine,

To loftie Gods their vowes they make, to thē right down are slaine

Shéepe, béeues, and porkets great of grease, whereof they rost-meate make,

And féed therof, of pleasant wine their tipple in they take,

Which in his house the old man had, and eke thrice thrée lōg nights

The dores made faste, they kéepe the watche, they stand with waked sprites

In order in the pallace court, and gates there out that goes:

But al their fires so highly light, their watch and ward they lose.

For stil the tenth night out I go, no watch nor maydes me hearde,

No groome perceiues my stealing forth, nor tooke thereof regarde.

Abroad I treade my country Bées, that large and fruitful be,

Whereyour good father found me out, and then receiued me.

And more, to shew his great good will which vnto me he bare,

He gaue me rule of Dolopie, and goods that wealthy ware,

Great store he trusted in my handes, with so muche fauour good,

Honor, and grace, as I had bin an infant of his bloude,

Euen then Achilles were you borne, wherfore I was desired

By Pelëus, the care to take your infancie required,

And it to gouerne, whych I did: your force whiche passeth all,

Your corpse most like the heauenly powres, of bones and bodie fall,

With me hath had the bringing vp, and grown to such an one.

Bycause I lovde you, so I did? No, not for that alone,

But you so dearly did me [...]e, that nothing was to name,

Which you woulde do at all, if I allowed not the same.

[Page] From me if you were cravde to sup, thereto you had no list,

They lost their paines, you wold noteate but what came out my fist.

To stil and please you when they woulde, they set you an my knée,

If nothing I would haue you eate, I muste your taster bée.

And ofte when you haue sipte the wine, y haue layd it on my breast,

As doth the pretie babe, who in his nurses armes doth rest.

I al these paines most willing bid your selfe when as I servde,

I thought that I deprivde of childe, I was a sire reservde,

For bringing vp at least of you, (and I right oldely yearde)

A most sure stay I should haue bene, when féeblenesse appearde.

This short discourse (mine owne deare sonne) is onely you to pray

Your minde totemper, and to put this wreakful wrath away.

Thimmortal ghosts, who nature haue more noble much than man,

By men intreated to forgiue, they do both wil, and can,

And graunt requests of mortall wights: no fault so great to wit,

Which at the prayer of faultie folkes the Gods do not remit.

What, know good sonne that prayers are the taughters true of Ioue,

Who for to séeke sir Iniurie out, abroade about do roue,

They follow him, a stronger much and harder mate than they,

For Prayer is both halte and lame, and slowly riddeth way:

But Wrong a mightie monster is, in toile he holdeth tacke

He treades apace, and far behinde leaues Prayer at his backe:

But féeble Prayer folowing him, with pace by pace doth passe,

And if she come where as he is, and good accepting has

Of person she is brought vnto, she Ioue intreateth full

In his behalfe, and to his wish she doth him also pull.

If aukwardle the partie do of this wrong more account,

Ashamde eke she being denyde, to Gods aloft dothe mount,

And tels to them the whole at large, and prayes that Iniurie

May in his house a dweller be that did hir so deny.

Truly my sonne, your honor bids you to accept these Dames,

These presents muster much thereto, whose price the value frames.

If wilful so our chieftaine were, and madnesse suche him hent,

He would by gifts not séeke your grace, nor yet himselfe relent.

I ourst not for the Gréekes at al you councel or aduise

How great so ere the businesse were: but when before mine eyes

[Page] His large and liberal offer standes, and suite in suche a rate

For your good will, I thinke it good your furie did abate,

And that you nothing did refuse: how should you moued be

By prowesse here of these two kings, who in nobilitie

Passe al of Greece, and now are come, and you the message bear?

If nought to moue you here vnto but the demaunders were,

Their dignitie it asketh much, for which much should be done

Their good opinion to preserue, least that hereafter runne

Of you bad spéeche, in terming you a proude disdainful one.

The Heroes olde of antique age, in time far past and gone,

If haply iarre with some they had, with time they were appeasd,

And bid content: yea many times the foe he was releasde,

And pardonde oft by gift and sute. Nowe to this purpose fit,

I minde a storie olde and true, which (if you so permit)

The quared betvvene the Curetois and Etoliens.

I will you tell, and you my friends. The Curetois they bended,

And fought with them of Etolie, who Calidon defended:

A sorer warre was neuer heard, they fought so stoutly well,

That many of th'inuaders dyde: but more inuaded fell.

The better that you knowe the cause of this the people slaine,

A little higher I must beginne. In Calidon did raigne

Onëus then a noble Prince, who of his fruits did giue

Eche yeare the first in sacrifice to such immortall liue.

Oeneus king of Calidon.

And hap it did (it purposly, or he remembring not)

Diana chast was set at nought, hir offering was forgot.

Whereat hir indignation grewe, and so to punish him,

A wild Beare to his fields she sent a gastful and a grimme,

Which many mischiefes did him doe, his people downe he flewe,

His grounde for frui [...]s he fowlie spoild, and down his trées he threw:

The vvild Boare of Calidon.

Gay appletrées, and many ful with fruit and flower packte,

With whetted shearing pointed tuske, they torne lye and crackte,

The corne and crooked Uines he marres. Meleager the sonne

Of this good king, when as he sawe his countrey thus to runne

To hauocke, and his people to, to call the hunters rounde

To him he doth determine straight, with many a hunting hound

The dreadful beast to chace and kil, great troupes togither storke,

Their forces prouing with this beast, do reatch him many a knocke.

[Page] But in the end, the wicked swine downe dead doth lye along,

His royall hand him felling downe, two nations great and strong

Do for the spoiles now growe to strife: the Curets clai [...]e it theirs,

As both of duty and desert. Of Etolie the heires

The same do chalenge to themselues: hereof doth grow the stur,

For this the cruell bitter warre, procéeded is so fur.

Thus Calidon besieged tho by crues of Curete lande,

A certaine time it is reléevde by Meleagers hand,

And the besiegers durst not stirre: for al their number great,

They drad his deadly sword, wherewith he did them hardly treat.

But haply rage and furie (which do sharp the méekest minde,

And natures good of constant wights) in him their places finde,

They which did straight so swap him out, that he determines plaine

To lay his armor downe aside, and not to fight againe.

This warme and bitter wrath it grewe of strife, that so befell

With Althea his dame, bycause he did his brother quell:

She grievde, she howlde, she kist the earth, she prayde in Plutoes lap

To plague the fault, that he hir sonne may reape like deadly hap.

When as Meleager this heard, in dumpes he falles to spite,

He led at home an Hermites life, he would no more to fight:

His louing wife Cleopatra, of beautie wondrous rare

Accompanyed him, she daughter was of Marpyse Nimph so faire,

Belovde, and wonne by Phoebus god, gainst whom Idee hir make

(In sorrowe sowste and iealousie) did dare the combate take,

With how in hand to cause him yéelde his spoile, but all in vaine

His force it would not fodge, whereby his wife he might regaine.

His kinred and the mother chiefe did many a teare let fall

Their woe to witnesse: newe they name and doe Alcion call

The rauishte fem. But for to come vnto my purpose first,

Alcion.

Meleager he resting stil, the enimies they thrust

When it they knewe vnto the sault, the Towres of Calidon

They batter, and at gates they thump, they put their forces on

To enter by all meanes they may, then of the wretched towne

The chiefest Lordes (in danger great to be al beaten downe)

Do throng and pray Meleagers helpe, but nothing could they do,

The Cleargie come, and vnto him pray for their Maisters too.

[Page] And offer at his choise great part of all their goodly landes,

His sire Oneus hopes to spéede, and at his doore he standes,

He him intreats vpon his knées to let his anger passe,

And saue the Citie all forlorne, his suite not heard, alas.

With held vp handes his mother doth the like, his brethren eake,

And all his friends, yet list he not their wretched woe to wreake.

This while the foes past vp the walles, & forest the towne by fight,

And crueltie none wanting was, that happes in such a sight.

His wife the grunting hearing then, and cries of those did yell,

The piteous fright, the flames, the folke and Citizens that fell:

To him she hastes with haire abroade, and teares she letteth fall.

Deare spouse (quoth she) this remnant saue (God knows) which is but small,

Both yoūg & old they die ye death, or weapons downe they lay,

If women any doe suruiue, they slaues are led away.

Meleager this hauing heard, his armour on he packt,

And full of furie forth he goes, the enemies he hackt,

Their crownes he pares, and citie saues, and yet was all his ayde

No whit to them so worthy thankes, bicause so long he stayde,

And for vnto the succour he of the Etoliens yed

Not at their suite, but as the toy did take him in the hed.

Oh God thée shield Achilles now to thinke vs so to vse,

Epil [...].

And for to leaue vs in this brake, such meaning doe refuse.

To you what corsée would it be to sée the enmies put

Our nauie to the wasting flame, and vs in péeces cut?

Then were your mightie strength to weake our cases to relieue,

A better way it were (my sonne) your forces for to prieue

To aide this wretched armie here, somewhat doth vrge the giftes,

And also that so hie renowme, which men so hicly liftes.

But if you doe forslowe the time to helpe in our defence,

Your succour slowe shall honour want, eke méede and recompence.

The ruler Phoenix here did end: Achill doth thus replie,

Achi [...] aunsvver [...] to Phoenix

This honour now whereof you talke and bribes I néede not I,

The praise and glory me contents from God the which ariseth,

Who is reuenger of my wrong, his fauour me suffiseth.

Wherefore I yéeld me to his will, and will in all degrées,

As long as this my bodie here shall goe vppon my knées,

[Page] As long as life in limmes shall last the world whole shall knowe,

To aide the Gréekes I will no foote out of my vessell goe.

And as for you (good Phoenix mine) heare what I say and marke,

Me thinke there is no reason you with all this stirre and carke

So earnestly should me intreate being your friend at full,

To please the mortalst foe I haue, and it to séeke you wull.

More reason much it were for you, your selfe a friend to showe,

To such I fauour, and therein your trauaile to bestowe:

And chieflie, sith we equalles are, and doe in friendship sound

Possesse as parteners all our goods, wherein we so abound.

These princes two they shall returne to Gréekes my answer right,

But you shall lodge with me, your host I will be for this night.

The morning come, we will consult in iourney home to glyde,

Or will perhap perswade our selues here longer to abyde.

Therwith Patroclus gaue a nodde that they a bed do dight,

A trimme and swéete, wherein should rest the noble aged wight.

The worthy Aiax Telamon this heard, right well he knewe

Aiax to Vlysses.

They lost but time, it bootelesse was them further for to sewe.

Unto Vlysses, friend (quoth he) enough is done, away,

I sée this matter will not doe, the kings who for vs stay,

Let vs goe tell our message here, least other they pretend:

This man is madde, he shamelesse is, his senses he doth bend

To pride, and recks no whit of friends, full set vpon his follie,

There haue bene many worthy men of minde and manners follie,

Who borne haue most hainous factes by filthy foemeus déede,

Who children theirs and brethren néere haue deadly done to bléede,

Aiax directes his speeche to Achilles.

Yet by entreatie haue forgiuen, what so th'offence hath béene.

Or else they haue accepted mendes, and willingly haue séene

In time the men who murthrers were. Achill, th'immortall Gods

Twéene you and those of courteous molde haue set a mightie oddes.

Who hauing suffred no great wrong, great losse, or death of kinne,

But onely one poore simple fem, and yet you lodge within

Your hart such rage, the gifts are sent seuen times more worth in price

The person selfe, such presents brings you for to please likewise,

As many men would much request, Achilles, doe aduise

Your selfe on this, I you beséech, and vs not so despise.

[Page] Of neighbourhood maintaine the right, which to vs all you owe,

Thinke on the state of vs are sent, your good friends aye you knowe.

Achilles thus an answere shapes: diuine Aiax (quoth he)

Achilles to Aiax.

I doe allowe all that you say, and it of amitie

Procéedes I know, but when I minde my wrong had in this warre,

The choler grafted in my hart I can no way debarre,

And chiefly, when some me account as of a base exile,

Disdaining me, who of the whole is worthiest many a mile.

Friends without more adoe procéede, goe tell them all therefore,

I minded am not for the Gréekes to trauaile any more.

At least, till by sir Hectors force, and Troyan souldiors I

In tents and shippes of Mirmidons behold the fire to flie,

And Gréekes slaine round about my tent, yet Hector doth not dare

I thinke for feare so néere to come, his bane least thence he bare.

This sayd, ech of the noble sort doe take a goblet rounde,

And heaue it sipping to their heades, the wine they weakly sounde.

On earth the rest they throwe, to Gods, to whom they them cōmend,

Vlysse the wisest takes his leaue, and forth doth formost wend?

A goodly bed they then prepare, a mattresse, linnen soft,

Phoenix lodg [...] [...] Achilles Tent.

Behong with curtines rounde about, a couerlet fine aloft.

Of woollen weaue, where Phoenix doth alone right soundly sléepe,

Straight after doth the valiaunt Gréeke to stately cabban créepe

To take his rest: King Phorbas bréede did come with him to be

Diomede Achilles svveete hart. Ipius the svveete hart of Patroclus.

In bed, (the King of Lesbos Ile) the faire Diomede

His mate, also to sport himselfe lies downe betwéene his shéetes,

With Iphis gaie the same to sléepe, Patroclus with hir méetes,

The which Achilles did him giue when Scyros citie strong,

Was by his force put to the spoile, downe raste, and laide along.

The Princes soone to campe are come of Gréekes from whence they went,

The councell they together finde still in the royall tent:

At their arriuall, eche presents in many a gorgeous cup

The wines to drinke, they welcomde are, and then they rising vp,

Doe offer place for them to sit, they long the whole to heare,

And of the substance of the cause they wishe they priuie were.

The chiefe then spake Vlysses thus: you glory of Gréece that are,

Vlysses O thou noble he, a Gods name vs declare

Agamēnon to Vlysses.

[Page] Whether Achill our giftes will haue, what hope or comfort tell yée

Of our reliefe? doth he relent, or be in rage still will hée?

Vlysses ansvvers to Agamemnon.

Sith truth you will (quoth Vlysses) his furie nothing dies,

But dayly growes to more and more, your presents he defies,

For your alliaunce he cares not, and last of all the rest

He bad vs bid you flie this worst, if so you thought it best,

And that the dawning next he would depart this countrey fro,

With like perswasion vnto vs that likewise we doe so,

Sith of this warre no end wil be, now brought to wretched plight,

And that the Gods to Phrigians aide, to vs haue death behight.

The Aiax hie and Heraults eke can witnesse well his minde,

If so they list, they heard the talke, Phoenix is staide behinde

By Achilles, he lodgeth there, and home with him he may,

Not by constraint, but if he please, so doth Achilles say.

The princes all of Gréekish land, the whole assemblie quaild,

They stoode abasht whē this they heard, long while their spéech it faild,

Not holding vp their heads they sat, till Diomede the Gréeke

Of them so worthy of accompt the solempne silence bréeke.

You mist the marke Agamemnon, when legates you sent out

Diomedes to Agamemnon.

To offer giftes, and him intreate, he is too proude and stout,

And you haue set him more a gog with message sent to him,

He thinkes himselfe a iolly man, a goodly and a trimme.

Forget him sirs, let him goe home, or as it please him tarie,

And when the Gods haue heald his rage, which raging him doth carie,

He warre will when he sées his time, end we this cause in talke,

And to our meate and wonted rest a good lucke let vs walke,

In morning we in armour all will stand before our sailes,

Our horsemen and our chariots all, our footemen in their railes.

Your valure there Agamemnon force you your selfe to showe,

In former ranke let men you sée Troyans to ouerthrowe,

This spéech and councell well allowde the princes euerie one,

And to his Tent or ship to leape they all departed gone.

Finis noni Libri.

¶ The tenth Booke.

[Page]

THe Gréekish kings did drawe aborde, and downe to rest they lie,

Agamēnon full of care passeth the night vvith out sleepe.

But Agamemn for carefull griefe no sléepe came in his eye.

As oft is séene the stormes of haile great showres and thunder blowes,

Comparison.

The boistrous blasts, the lightning flames, when Ioue his flashes throwes,

Or when great bankes of snowe he sendes in countrey low that lies:

So out the Gréekish Chieftaines breast the groues and sighings flies.

His heart doth quake, his dolefull sprite doth stand in heauie plight,

And chiefly, when on Troyans campe hard by he castes his sight:

Havvbo [...] & mu [...]ick in the Troyans campe.

Where he beholdes huge fires to flame, great cries, vnwonted noyce,

And round the quarters to resound, with flutes and hie Hawboixe.

Againe, when he doth turne his eye vnto his beaten bandes,

A sléepe, fordone, at point to fall into their enemies handes,

For griefe from head his haire he pulles, and armes he heaues aloft,

Agamemno [...] sor sorov [...] teares [...] haire.

Intreating Ioue to pitie some his Godhead may be brought.

In this so sore conflict of minde what méetest is to take,

He thinkes it best to goe in hast the Nestor olde to wake,

His counsellour graue with him t'aduise, and councell good to séeke,

To thwart this daunger from his folke, which happen them is léeke.

He vp his wonted robes doth take, his shooes on féete he tide,

Agamem [...] nons apparell rising in the night.

And from his shoulders downe doth hang a mightie Lions hyde,

A large and beautifull to sée, on ground it trailes be hinde,

A dart he tooke, and to his side his faulchon he doth binde.

The while this king doth beare himselfe lesse carefull not a whit,

Was Menelau, for feare and grief his eies he could not shit,

Menela [...] cannot sleepe.

Calling to minde the perill great of such a masse of men,

In his reuenge who paste the sea to warre with the Troyen,

A nation stout and fierce in fight, in hope to gaine renowne,

His goodly Curets on he puts and Helmet on his crowne,

[Page] His backe a Lyberds skinne doth hap, and launce in hand he haes,

The Poet giues Menelaus a Leopardes skinne, and Agamēnon a Lions. Menelaus to Agamē non.

He straight doth goe right to the shippes Agamemnon to raase,

He founde him newly full attride, he ioyes at Menelawes,

Who to him doth aduaunce himselfe, and thus his tale he drawes:

You brother mine and eldest borne, what meane you thus to thrust

Your selfe in armes? the Troyan campe this night abroade you must

Send out a spie to viewe it well, to get such one I doubt

To serue the turne, the charge belongs to one right bold and steut.

Him answerde Agamemnon thus: both you and I good brother

Agemēnon to Menalaus.

Doe greatly neede good sound aduise our people for to further,

And eke our nauie for to saue from Troyan sworde and fiers,

And most sith Ioue doth friend our foes, and leaues vs in the briers.

I neuer sawe, ne yet haue heard one man such partes to play

Of valiancie, as Hector hath vpon the Gréekes this day.

He cōmes not of the Gods their line, yet flie we from his rage,

I léeue the Gréekes will nere forget this fright in after age.

I thinke it best you straight doe goe vnto the Gréekish nauie

To Aiax and the king of Creete, and tell them that now craue I

They will with spéede to councell come, and I on th'other side

Procure will Nestor to the watch, for our state to prouide.

His sonne is captaine of the same ioynde with Meryon,

Menclaus to Agamem non.

They both will doe what Nestor shall commaund for to be done.

Your minde performde quoth Menelau shall I returne againe,

Or will you that till they doe come, I doe with them remaine?

Doe you with them abide quoth he, least they doe misse the way,

Agamemnō teacheth Menelaus to speake curteously to the princes.

The campe it is so full of crookes they likely are to straie.

I further thus doe counsaile you, when you the princes call,

Doe gently vse your wordes and soft, and name their names withall,

Their state recite and eke their race, and doe not stuntly talke,

Still with a lowe and courteous grace let there the spéeches walke.

We both must yéelde our selues thereto, and arme vs to abide

Things much vnméete, sith Ioue that God of vs doth so decide.

When Agamemnon well had schoold his brother, soft he hies,

And quickly cōmes into the Tent whereas king Nestor lies,

Nestors armour.

Unto the good olde man he cōmes, in bed he founde him laied,

His harneys bright, his helmet braue, his shield that waightie waied,

[Page] Two dartes withall lay hard him by, and eke his gorgeous belt,

Wherwith he girdes, when Gréekes he leades, as on that age not felt.

Nestor hearing Agamemnon with stealing step to stalke

Nestor to Agamemnon.

So nie his bed, liftes vp himselfe, and thus beginnes his talke

Leaning vpon his elbowe moovde: a gods name what art thou

That in the night thus romes in campe? to our ships who brings you?

Who sends you forth while others sléepe? some mulet doe you misse?

Or fellowes lost doe you enquire? what ho, say what it is,

Tell me what chaunce you hether sends at time so out of season,

If nought you lacke, say on your case out spéech, else stay with reason.

O worthy king, O noble fame, of Gréekes the glory odde,

Agamēnon to Nestor.

I am vnhappie Agamemn in griefe and sorowe sodde,

Agamemnon, whom cruell Ioue orechargeth so with shame,

And vile reproche, that nought I hope but mischiefe to my name.

I to you come, for that I cannot rest in this estate,

The tender care of Gréekes I haue makes me my bed to hate:

Such dread & shame take hold of me, my heart doth trembling quake,

My soule despaire doth whole assault, my féeble legges doe shake:

For griefe my wearie minde sustaines, this is the chiefest cause,

And eke you rest no more thon I: wherfore now let vs pause,

I you beséeche this folke to shield, let vs some way deuise

From wasting hand of Troyan foes, and therefore (friend) arise,

And if you please we will repaire whereas the watch they kéepe,

And viewe if souldiors ouerhaeld with toile doe wearie sléepe.

Alas our enimies be at hand, and little doe we ken

Whether this night they will vs charge, what safetie haue we then?

King Nestor thus to him replies, thinke you that Ioue he will

Nestor to Agamēnon

So Hector friend, what Hector list that Ioue will it fulfill?

No, no I thinke that he himselfe is déerd and gallde at full,

He doubts Achill wil leaue his pottes, and ioyne with you he wull.

But vp I will and follow you, eke you to be about

Call vp the cunning Vlysses, and Diomede the stout,

The curteous Meges, and Aiax the second Oilee cald,

In whom the prowesse of Grecian land so déepe and hie is stald.

O would to God some one did bid the Aiax great to sturre,

And Idomene, whose side large tents from vs are distaunt furre.

[Page] Why is not Menelaus here? hath he so little care,

He who should waite continually, and watching to repaire

With humble suite vnto the best, his eyes what can he close,

And of this warre leaue you the toile, which to such daunger groes?

For the good will I beare the man I bitterly must braule,

And with him chide, though him you loue, yea fall what will befall.

Thus answerd him Agamemnon, you worthy aged sire,

His slacknesse you to reprehend, you know is my desire.

Agamēnon to Nestor.

No slouth or ignoraunce him holdes, him his assuraunce staies,

Sometimes which in my Actes he hath; the charge on me he laies.

In this he doth deserue no blame, but rather worthy praise,

To be imployde, well armde at full he first came me to raise,

To Aiax and our other friends I sent him out erst while,

Lets goe, they surely tarie vs, hard by the watch Bastile.

He hath them sayd they should not faile but to attend vs there:

If brother yours quoth Nestor tho so kindely doe him beare,

Nestor to Agamēnon

And carefull be as you doe tell, and if he bid and pray

With modestie, the Grecians all him serue will and obay,

As much as you, who is their chiefe, herewith his bed he leaues

Full soft, and on his royall wéede and richly robes he heaues.

Nestors ap parell and armour.

Fine shooes of picked leather out his foote he tieth vnder,

A scarlet mantell on he throwes, for cost to sée, a wonder,

Of Lemster wooll the best it was, the workmanship was much,

A golden buckle made it fast, he in apparell such

In right hand takes his stubborne launce, to the pauilion

Of Vlysses forthwith he cōmes, him loude he calleth on,

And bids him rise, hearing the voyce of the good aged man,

He starteth out his sléepe, and vp to them he thus began:

Vlysses to Agemēnon & Nestor.

Alone why goe you vp and downe in time so darke and still?

What lacke or daunger are you in? what is it that you will?

Laertes heire so wise (quoth he) of vs no maruaile thinke,

Nestor to Vlysses.

For verie plaine necessitie hath brought vs to hir brinke:

Come, let vs raise some other prince, and what is to be done,

Let us consult, as howe to sight, or else away to runne.

When Vlysses had Nestor heard, on shoulder straight he throwes,

And hanges his target at his backe, and after them he goes:

[Page] There right against the tent they finde of Diomede the Gréeke,

Diomedes sleepes on a Bulles hide

That mightie man, out which he stepte, his armor not to séeke,

For on it was, a mightie hyde of béefe him vnderlay,

For pillow to his head he had a Carpet new and gay.

His mates, his bands, his men of war, they sléepe him round about,

Their armor hangs them by, and as the lightning breaking out

Doth shine far off, so do the same their darts and bucklers by.

The Nestor old with noise ynough doth draw the Grecian nye,

Nestor to Diomedes.

His héele he touchte, and therewithall fault finding thus sayes he:

What, dost thou sléepe O Diomede descended of Tydee?

Asléepe are you, knowing our foes at hande to kéepe suche charme,

And loud to chaunt it in the plains, wherein so thicke they swarme?

So wakde, thus answerde Diomede: Nestor, I greatly muse

How that your yeares can bide and beare such trauaile as you vse.

Diomedes to Nestor.

Why yéelde you stil your selfe to toile? haue you no youthful lads

To send about to call the kings, but Nestor stil he gads?

Yes sure I am, but your quicke sprite is neuer dull nor ydle,

Nestor to Diomedes vanting of his children & subiects.

Sound friend (quoth Nestor) what you say, as true is as the Byble.

I doubtie children haue, with men and subiects not a few,

Who zealous for my quiet rest themselues wil try and tewe,

And do what I shall wishe them doe: but for this vrgent bracke

Wherein I sée vs and our folke, my helpe I can not slacke,

Wel knowing, that if presently we make not head with héede,

But slacke the time, we cannot holde, but downe we al must bléede.

My yeares if that you pitie so, on fellowship call yée

Aiax Oilee, with Meges eke, who sonne is of Philee,

Straight Diomede him clad with skinne of boisteous Lyon weare,

And forth he goes, forgetting not his staffe and loftie speare,

To the two Gréekes he hyed him fast, and soone he founde them out,

And them entreates to come to him who ruleth all the rout.

The Princes straight and al the kings here named, méete at watch,

They finde the watchmen all awake, and none with slumber latche,

By course they liuely stand and hark, like souldiors fierce they fare,

As mastiffes, who for mightie flockes kéepers appointed are,

Comparisō of mastiues keeping a flocke of sheepe.

Do carefull héede, the Lyons leape downe whirling from the rocke,

From wood, or field, for to assault the shéepe within the flocke,

[Page] The shepeheards plaste in quarters round about their séemely folde,

Déep scath in night least they receiue, hie noise twéene them is trold,

And slumber none from their regard one whit can make thē stoupe,

So careful more, if more may be, was al the Gréekish troupe.

For sléepe was banishte from their eies, desire of watch augmented:

To whome did Nestor ioyfully, (when as he sawe thus tented

Their charge in hand) performe this spéech: watch, watch my childrē déere,

Nestor to the vvatch men and scoutes.

Sléep not least yt our hateful foes shold now surprise vs héere,

And wreak on vs their spitefull téene, vs taking at vnwares,

For want of looking to the watch, full great then were our cares.

The Kings with him, he past ye trench, whē he these words had said,

And commeth straight vnto the place, which ful of morts was layde,

Where Hector had the day before so highly done in fight,

And bloudie victorie had prolongde vnto the dreadfull night.

There downe the gallant Princes sit low placed on the grounde,

To talke they fall, and Meryon, (whose match may not be founde

For valiantnesse) to councel him, and Thrasymede they call

That doubtie knight, next to the kings commended most of all.

Nestor the flowre of Knighthood then thus al did speake thē there,

Nestor to the Greekish Princes.

Beloued friends of you who doth in mind the valor beare,

Whose hart and wisedom wil him serue the Troyan camp to view,

And seeke the meane to bring vs worde, that we may trust as true,

Whether they meane t'assaulte our ships, or fortifie the plaine,

And home to goe after they haue such Gréekish number slaine?

Some captiue of the taile perhap the matter may him tell,

Or hearkning where they lye at rest, he may it heare ful wel.

And if to vs he safe returne, and do their purpose bring,

He wel may say he hath deservde, that we his fame do ring.

Beside in guerdon he shall haue rich gifts, and not a few,

Eche patrone of a ship shal giue a big blacke fatted Ewe

Yea with the Lambe, a gift in truth in price for to be had,

In banquets welcome shall he be, and al men of him glad.

He done, good space the hearers stayde, no answere they replyed,

Diomede loude before the kings thus to his tale he hied:

Diomedes to Nestor.

My burning heart doth bid me goe, and forth it prickes me on

In this hazarde to serue a spie, and doubtie champion,

[Page] And go I will, so I may haue with me a dreadlesse mate,

For in a case of so great waight the wit of one mans pate,

Is not so good as that of two, when one doth councel take

He forward feareth daunger none, him bolder doth it make.

But man alone, though stout and strong, yea resolute and wise,

At point sometime doth shrinke, to him doth feare and terror rise.

This offer great hearde of the kings so nobly by the Gréeke,

The Aiax twaine wil followe him, they al wyl do the léek:

To liue and dye in all assayes with him wil Merion,

The gallant Thrasimede so craues, Menelau wil be one.

The wise Vlysses he doth sweare he wil the hazard proue,

Who far for wilie ingenie was all the Gréekes aboue.

When Agamemnon from this cause did sée they did not starte,

Agememnō to Diomed.

O friende quoth he as deare to me as is yea life or heart,

Sith now you sée to followe you are ready al and some,

Choose one your self, who nearst wil stand, when you in dāger come,

Let neither shame nor bashfulnesse cause you right iudgement misse,

Choose not for lignage great, but who most sage and hardie is.

No greater harme coulde be, than worst to haue, and best to loose,

So sayde Agamemnon for feare he Menelau woulde choose,

Bycause his parentage was great, which eke his wealth did fit.

Sith (quoth he doubtie Gréeke) to me the choise you do remit,

Diomedes nameth Vlysses to go vvith him.

Should I forget Vlysses here, whose wisedome is so famed,

Whose minde in dangers none so great could euer yet be tamed,

Of whome (yea) al the loftie Gods preserue a care and héede,

And chiefly to direct his factes Minerua is agréede?

I thinke I with this noble minde the fiercest flames to flye,

I knowe the prudence is so great which in the man doth lye.

Chaunt not I pray you (quoth Vlysse) my factes, ne yet me blame

Vlysses to Diomedes.

Before these Kings, my want and skil they knowe ful wel the same.

Lets goe, the night it runnes away, the stars are far agate:

The dawning straight wil bring the day, it groweth very late.

Diomedes and Vly [...] be a [...]med by the kings.

With this the two renoumed Gréeks were armed by the Kings,

His sword vnwéeldy Thrasimede to the stout Gréeke he brings,

Two edged with point of perfect trampe, for he to hast the more

His shield and faulchon in his tent he left behinde therefore,

[Page] And without crest or plume at all his morian on doth pull,

Of bullish hyde, a yong mans weare, men do it call a scul.

Meryon to Vlysses giues his quiuer and his bowe,

Descriptiō of Vlysses sallet.

A massie sworde, and for his head doth tricke attire bestowe,

Within of lether fitly framde, and it offensiue tanne,

So set with wilde swines téeth without, as cut it nothing can,

Howe kéene so ere the weapon be, and notwithstanding that

So stiffe it were, yet might one put within it wel his hat.

Antilochus ful long agoe it founde, as he begonne

To ransacke quite Ormenus house who was Amyntors sonne,

In Eleon where then it stoode, the shape so proper was,

That long who helde it noted stoode, he hight Amphidamas,

To warlike Molus he it gaue, who left it to his heire,

He ay it bare, to the trimme Gréeke, and lent it now to weare.

Thus armd as I haue sayd, right soone they from the others wēt,

And to them in their way, Minerue a mightie Heron sent,

Good signe by the He ro [...]s cry.

Who chanted loude his cries aloft, they wel might heare the voice,

But nothing sée, bicause of might, yet greatly they reioice

At the good hap: Vlysses, who the Augure wel bewrayes,

Ful pleased is, to the Goddesse deuoutly thus he prayes.

Heare me dame Pallas bréed of Ioue, who vouchsaues me to aide,

In daungers al, in toiles my guide, by whome I stil am stayed,

Vlysses prayer to Pallas.

Graunt I returne with victorie, and that I glorie gaine,

That we two do atchieue some déede vnto the Troians paine.

Eke Diomede thus softly prayes, deuoutly as he may,

Bowe downe thine eare thou Goddesse milde, thou dame Tritonia,

Diomedes prayer to Pallas.

Thou daughter deare belovde of Ioue, be thou my luckie guide,

As to my sire Tydee thou werte, when he in message hide

Embassador the Thebanes to, the Gréekes and them t'agrée,

At his returne he shewde himselfe right wel by meanes of thée.

O prudent Goddesse graunt to me such force and hardy hart,

As he then had, and so me guide, as out this cause I part,

My honor savde: In sacrifice I do thée here behight

Diomedes vovve.

Thy Altar on an Heiffer faire, on whome yoke neuer light,

I wil commaunde the hornes likewise shal be al ouer guilt,

And with good heart presented thée, if heare me now thou wilt.

[Page] Thus prayed both the noble Gréekes, the goddesse bowde them to,

Comparis [...]

And graunted fully to them both what they wisht there to do.

Forth then they martch two Liōs like the bléeding corpse they tread

So grieuous was the Gretians losse, ore al the plaine they spread.

His people Hector lets not sléepe, the wise and grauest sort

He sommons to his tent, to whom he doth his minde report.

Hect. to the Troy [...]

Who here (quoth) wil promise me my hest for to fulfil,

He shal be sure of honor due, reward him wel I wil,

He shal receiue of me I say, to recompence his paine

A chariot guided with two stéedes the best of Gréekish traine,

I aske no more but that he go vnto the enmies nauye

Whether they meane to tarie vs that therof knowledge haue I, lesse,

If in their ships their wonted watch they kepe, or (as I gesse)

Thus cowed, they thinke to run their ways, when we héede nothing

This was his spéech, but none that heard did answere to the same,

A Troyan in this counsel was that Dolon had to name,

The only son of Herald good that Eumades was cleapt,

To whom great masse of wealthy store was in his treasure heapt,

Dolon [...], happen, but very [...]ignce of foote.

This Dolon was of ougly shape, but fit to do his déede,

Belovde of sire, the last of sire that left was of the bréede.

He héeding much the promise great that doughtie Hector told,

The Troy. Dol. offer [...], himselfe to espie the Greekes.

Straight standeth vp and thus begins: Hector stoute courage bolde

Doth force my minde to take in hand this voyage, and to bring

Word, whether that the Gréeks wil stād, or forth to flight wil fling.

As chieftaine iust sweare by your mace you beare by princely lawes,

To giue me braue Achilles chare, and coursers it that drawes.

Dread not your noble enterprise, by me it shal not quaile,

I straight wil to the Gréekish barkes, and there I wil not faile

To enter in, yea of the hiest, their secrets there to leare.

Quoth Hector then with sceptre vp aloft into the ayre,

He svveareth to Do [...] by Iupiter.

Sith go thou wilt where I haue sayde, by thundring Ioue I vow,

None mount shal on those goodly stéedes but only Dolon thou,

Ful iustly thou them conquer shalt, do them possesse therfore

A guerdon iust for thy desart: thus noble Hector swore

This Troyan to, but he periurde, he bad him forth to gang.

An old woulfes skin doth Dolon take, it down his back doth hang.

[Page] His bow hung on his shoulder bent, his mantel was aloft,

A Sallet new vpon his head, of hide of geate not soft:

For made it was yea for the proofe, a dart, it braue and bright,

In hand he takes, and déemes himselfe right souldiour like to fight.

Thus being armde, not to returne in hast he forward hies,

To much beguilde, if hope he haue euer to set his eyes

On Hector, much lesse on his sire, such way he rides amaine

That soone he entred was ful far into the champion plaine.

Vlisse then minding nothing else, but what he had to do,

Vlisses to Diomedes.

Aloufe perceiuing Dolon come, spake thus Diomede to:

From Troyan campe behold a foe, a spie he for our foes,

Or some to spoile in battel plaine I gesse he surely goes.

We shall do wel to let him passe til to our ships he drawes,

We following hard at héeles, on him shal easily lay our pawes.

Yet take good héede, if he do straine to flie or runne awaye,

That we to force him to our ships do do the best we may,

Him driuing from the Troyan campe, where he wil thinke to go,

Him follow with your reaching staffe, and do your valure show.

Here both the Gréekes amongst the slayne out of the way they got,

Comparisō of Moyles and Oxen.

And spie and hearke after the spie, who goes a spéedie trot.

When as they saw him so far of, as moyles coupled in twaine

In trauel of the Oxen slow do space before them gaine:

They quickly out their ambush start, and fast vpon him come.

Dolon hearing the noyse they made, supposd them Troyans some

Pertakers with him who would be, his iourney staying so.

This while the Gréekes approch so nie, as one a dart may thro,

But when he founde what men they were, he forward runs apace,

And the two Gréekes do part themselues, and follow fast the trace.

And as you sée two Greyhoundes course in wood a Hinde or Hare,

Comparisō of tvvo Greyhoūds follovving an Hare or Hinde.

And lay so hard vnto the beastes that they their conquests are:

Euen so these valiant Gréekes do chase this Troyan badly hapt,

Who could not scape, but wel he found himself stil more intrapt.

So fast did Dolon scoure away, that nere vnto the scoute

Of the Gréekes watch he draweth nie, to Diomede the stoute

The goddesse Pallas doth encrease his strength and swiftnesse both,

That other should the honour haue (him taking) she was loth.

[Page] He with these words him ouertakes: I charge the for thy heade

Dolonis en tra [...]t by the tvvo greks.

No further passe for if thou do, my dart shal do thée deade.

And herewithal hard by his necke he made the same to fly,

And Dolon staide more colde than yce, he stoode so tremblingly,

That one full wel might heare his téeth togither so to shake:

The noble Gréekes far out of breath do there the Troyan take,

Who letting fal whole flouds of teares doth open thus his voyce,

Dolon to Vlisses and Diomedes.

O warlike wights do saue my life, and at your proper choyce

I wil it buy, my sire with gold, with brasse and yron flowes,

And iewels great, which he wil giue, when he aliue me knowes,

And prisner in your handes to bée: Vlisse of wit so rare

Vlisses to Dolon.

Sayd, Troyan take you heart of grace, and put away this care,

And feare not death here of vs two, and tel me not to lye,

Deceiue me not in what I aske, nor in what know would I:

What enterprise haue you in hand, thus in the night to créepe

Unto our campe stil and alone when al men are asléepe?

Come you to séeke some carcase dead, that yesterday was slaine,

And it to spoyle, did Hector else bid you to take this paine?

Did he send you to spie his foes? by his commaundmente come yée

Or of your selfe? which of the two? the truth declare to me.

Quoth trembling dreadful Dolon tho, dead like in euery guise,

Dolon to Vlisse [...].

The hope that Hector put me in, it hath me made so wise,

That at his wil here come I am, wherof I finde I misse

To try the thing, he promist me, the chare of Achilles

And al that did belong thereto, so that I to him brought

From out your campe some certain newes, & whervpō you thought,

Whether you meant to take the sea, or to your tackle stand,

And chiefely if you kept your watch, and if your ships were mande

Quoth Vlisse with a smyling faint, by your own words I sée

Vlisses to Dolon.

Your minde doth dreame on greater things than fit for your degrée.

Those coursers are of nature such, no mortling may them guide

Their master, but, whom Ioue decréede should come out Thetis side.

Tel me I pray thée without guile, when Hector bad thée hie,

Where was the man? and he vnarmde where doth his armour lie

That is so famed ouer all? and also in what nooke

Do chariots his and coursers lodge, their trauel when they brooke?

[Page] What do his people lye a bed with toyle of battel tierd,

Or do they watch, and for to fight is it of them desirerd?

What wil they kéepe the fields, and vs charge in the morning tide,

Or with their victorie to Troy wil they victorious ride?

Ouoth Dolon I wil tel you true: when I came on my way,

The worthy Hector at the tombe of Ilus he did stay,

Dolō to Vlisses Ilus sepulchre by Troy.

When with the greatst he did consult of matters méetest ware,

To ouerthrow his enimies it was his chiefest care.

As for the watch wherof you aske, sure Hector doth it wil,

But smally do his souldiours reack his minde for to fulfil,

They soundly sléepe. Some Troyans yet enforst are for their liues

The fires to light, for feare they lose their children, town, and wiues,

And nought but for pure néede they do. The strangers on them lay

The charge of al, their wiues far off, they sticke not so to say.

Vlisses further askes him thus: the forraines lodge they where,

Vlisses to Dolō Dolon to Vlisses.

The Troyans with, or by themselues? it would I gladly heare.

Unto this question which you aske, I truely wil you tel,

And where ech band is placed right: The Caries and Peones dwel,

The Caucons, Lelges, and Pelasges along the sea doly,

On the other side to Thimbra hil the Lycians campe them by,

The Phrygians, Meons, Misians, but to what purpose now

Tel I by name the Troyans power? if thither go wil you,

Ful true you shal my spéeches finde, the souldiours new from Thrace

Lye far vs off, their cariages and they do kéepe their place:

Where Rhesus I their king did sée and stéedes of ferlie might,

In colour they do passe the snow his horses are so white,

Comparisō of the svviftnesse and vvhitenes of Rhesus [...]es.

As swift they are as is the winde, when Rhesus wil them ride,

His chare I saw of mettals two both fine and perfect tryde,

Composde of gold and siluer bright, his armor al of gold,

In al the earth is not the like, it straunge is to be told.

No liuing man I worthy thinke of worthy armour such,

For Ioue or for some other God I thinke of worthy armour much.

I hauing tolde you all you would, I humbly do you pray,

Leade me vnto your ships, or bound here let me ly I say,

And hastly go vnio our campe, and eyely do behold

If I in ought haue failed you, or not the truth haue told.

[Page]

This spéech Diomede (loking thwart) to the poore spie did giue,

Diomedes to Dolon.

Hope not to scape my hands I say, thou canst no longer liue,

Although of thée we learned haue some things for our behoofe,

I know if we should let thée go at libertie aloofe

Hereafter thou wouldst spie our campe, or else the same assault,

But as I may, if I thée kil, the Gréekes thou shalt not sault.

Such were his words, but Dolon thought yet to entreate ye Gréek,

And drew nie soft to touch his chin, and fauour to beséeke.

Dolon slai [...] by Diome.

But in this thought he to his necke his sword so sowrely set,

That down he ouerthrew him dead, the cordes in pieces fet,

Wherwith the heade tumbles aside and murmurs in the fal:

His sallet then of geatish skin, his corslet fine withal

Of woluish heire, his bended bow and dart he taketh straight,

And to the welkin then Vlisse (heauing his hands on height)

The harneis held, to Pallas prayde with soft and silent voyce,

At this oblation here we bring oh goddesse do reioyce,

Vlises prayer to Muerua.

As worthyest of th'immortals all, and most of power and might,

To whom we ought al worthily vowes shape and aulters dight:

Offrings of due thy Godhead hie shal haue, graunt vs the grace

That we oh Lady, at this time may come where they of Thrace

Are sounde a sléepe, oh Ladie graunt that we those armours sée,

Their goodly stéedes and Chariot which, is of such golden blée.

His prayer when ended had the Gréeke, eft vp his hands he holds,

Do [...]ns appare hāged on a Tamarin tree.

Hie in the ayre, and on an heape the habites then he foldes,

And hangs them on a bow, and cuts a branch of Tamarin

A loftie arme, it sets for marke when they returned bin,

Their way the better for to finde, among the dead they passe,

And to the Thracians come at last as it determinde was,

In mightie rankes of numbers thrée them fast asléepe they foure,

Rhetus K. of Thrace asleepe among his souldiours.

And by ech one his furniture lay closely on the ground.

Their stuffe, their harneis and theyr horse, were nere at hand to vse:

To sléepe in midst of all his men king Rhesus he did chuse,

His stout and startling stéedes him by, and tyed to his chare

With strong and lasting geares at ful, they rich and chosen ware,

Vlisses to Diomedes.

This order when Vlisses saw, sayd, loe the king (my mate)

And horsse wherof (when of the campe) our Dolon spake alate

[Page] Now more than euer must you striue, and put your force in bre,

Sallet on head, and sword in hand, for nought must not be sure.

Do one of two, vndo these stéedes, and I these beastes wil kil,

Or take your sword and flye them too, and I vnloose them wil.

The goddesse Pallas did encrease the doughtie Gréeke his sprites,

Diomedes kils the Thracians a sle [...]pe.

He slayes them dead on euery side, and them in pieces smites.

The place is purple with the bloud, the grunts and grones are harde

Of such as are in péeces cut, and by his weapon marde.

Comparisō of a Lion finding sheepe or goats vvith out a shepheard.

And as a raging Lion, who findes goats and shéepe at large,

Out hold and wandring vp and down (the shepheard frō his charge)

Doth fal the on, & with his pawes thē teares, & takes theyr bloud:

Ene so the Gréeke the Thracians slue, he nothing was withstoode.

Twice sixe his edged sword did passe, of morts the place is fillde,

The carcases Vlisse aside did draw as he them killde.

He made the way the wished stéedes more willing that they wente,

Nor should not feare the dead to treade, nor doubt it what it ment.

The king for thirtenth Diomede out life to death doth swap

Rhesu [...]he thirte [...] that is lain

He swéetely slept, but (silly man) it was a deadly nap,

The which (assisted by Pallas) that night the Gréeke him brought.

Vlisses endoeth [...]e horses and brings [...]hē avvay.

This while Vlisse t'vndo the stéedes he on his office thought,

And hastly through the multitude he brings them as a riuer,

And with his boystrous stubborne bow he layes on many a fliuer,

For hast he had forgot the whip their way which makes them rid.

A little past, spying his friend, who by his businesse bid,

Vlisses vvh [...]tles to his fell [...]vv.

He whistled to him in his fiste, and wel the sound he knew,

Straight for to know what he should do Diomede to him drew.

As whether for to draw the chare which ful of armour lay,

It by the beame, or on his backe to bring it quite away,

Or [...]se to tend to murder stil, or to returne him backe,

Of these thrée points the valiant Gréeke did resolution lacke.

Palla [...]to Diomedes. Diomedes and Vlisses mount the horses and come avvay.

Wherwith his furthrer Pallas saide, the actes whiche done thou haste

Be pleased with, get thée away, that thou mayst come at last

Al dreadlesse safe vnto thy ships, thou mayst wel doubtsome stop.

And least some God the Troyan power should set vpon thy top.

Diomede to Vlisles cōmes, he hearing in this case

The counsaile good, ech mounts a stéede right swift and fléete of pace,

[Page] Vlysses layde on with his bowe, he made them for to flie.

Againe Phoebus with siluer bow bestirres right carefullye

The Troyans for. For when he spide Minerua for to chat

With the stout Gréeke, and folow him, he wroth did growe therat,

And at the damage lately done, to Troyans straight he hyes,

[...] th [...] [...] for [...] death o [...] king Rh [...] sus.

And wakes king Rhesus vncle there Hippocoon as he lyes,

His vncle and his counsellor greate, who when he vp did reare,

And did behold that (as before) the coursers were not there,

But couerd place with slaughtred men, he cries, he houles, he whines,

Condemne he doth the Thracian bands, for soone the losse he findes.

He Rhesus, Rhesus named oft, which was his nephewe deare,

And Prince so tenderly belovde. When as the campe did heare

His roarings loud, it moued all, and most of it did runne

Unto the place to view the news, and sée what there was donne,

They maruel at the crueltie, and on the slaughter stare,

They say the Gréekes for the exploite of too much courage ware.

When the two kings came to the place where they had slain ye spie,

Vlysses stopte, the other downe there lighted by and by

Diomedes reacheth Dolous apparel to Vlysses.

The bloudie habites him to reatch, which done, he mounts agen,

And shortly come vnto the shippes, where Gréeks attend the men.

Among the Kings was Nestor first of al did heare a sound,

And knew they came, thus spake he them: Of folk of Gréekish groūd

Nestor to the Greeks attending.

Ye shéepeheards yée, and of this campe so great the guiders graue,

Shal I vnto you tell a lye, and what in dreame I haue?

My minde doth wil me to beléeue before I sée the thing,

A galloping of certaine horse déepe in mine eare doth ring.

O would to God our champions two were of such cunning sight,

As scaping daungers they could bring two goodly coursers light,

But much I dread these noble men haue had some deadly hap.

Scarce had he said, but the two Kings downe from their horses flap

Amongst them al: Eche one them gréetes, good words vse euery man,

And aged Nestor of them al thus to Vlysse began:

Nestor to Vlysses.

O thou the glorie of our Greece, of honor worthy king,

Declare vnto me I you pray, these horses which you bring

So straunge for whitenesse of their blée, and like the sunnie raies,

What, hath some God them giuen you, or haue you any wayes

[Page] Won thē the Troian [...] fro? long time with Troians I haue fought,

And of my valor shewde good proofe, for age I neuer sought

Me to withdrawe, nor yet to clime my shippes, me there to hide,

Yet in the war I neuer sawe two coursers of such hyde.

I thinke some of the lofty Gods right careful of your good

To you haue them a present sent: for Iupiter hath stoode

Wel knowne a friend vnto you both, and Pallas neuer quailing

Is forward alwayes at your hand, with fauour neuer failing.

O Nestor sage good Neleus sonne, [...]ch stéeds and coursers od

Ouoth Vlysses to mortall wight may easily giue some God,

Vlysses to Nestor.

When they rewarde wil any one their powre is more to giue,

Than man hath powre to aske and take, that here doth mortal liue.

King Rhesus dead not eft to fight them hither lately led,

This countrey to: As for the horse out Thracia they are bred.

His knife Diomedes hath thrust into king Rhesus throate,

And to twelue more him sleeping by: As for this bloudy coate

It was the garment of a spie, the which we did entrap,

He slaine when we had al he knewe, and thus you heare our hap.

The trenches déep the coursers passe, the kings come hard at heeles,

This happy gaine, and voiage makes them al to ioy awhéeles.

To the rich tent when Vlysse came of his companion mate,

He careful tyde his horses fast, and plaste them in such rate,

Vlysses setteth vp the horses in Diomedes tent. Diomedes & Vlysses vvash them selues in the sea, th [...] go to the baines, and are noyn [...]ed vvyth oyle. They goe to meate & sacrifice to Minerua.

As placed were the gallaunt stéedes of the [...]t Gréeke in rancke,

And where with bread and foder both the Greek his own did [...]nk,

He Dolons geare did on the poupe hie in his ship bestowe,

And mindes to Pallas sacrifice and seruice ay to owe.

And straight these two so valiant Gréeks, through toile who soundly [...]et,

To wash and bath their wearie limmes into the sea they get,

And there so wel do rub their neckes, their backs, their legs, & thies,

As they are cleansed of the filth which on their bodies lies.

They neate and wel refreshed thus, to pleasant baines do goe,

And there with oile they nointed are without from top to toe.

They then to meate, and Pallas ayde they pray in humble wise,

And bolles of wine vpon the earth they powre in sacrifice.

Finis decimi Libri.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

Ten books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, by Arthur Hall EsquireIliad. Book 1-10. English. Hall

Homer.

Edition statement

1581

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A03508

ID [STC]

STC 13630

ID [STC]

ESTC S108577

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99844235

ID [PROQUEST]

99844235

ID [VID]

9026

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Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A03508)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 9026)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 547:14)

Source

— Ten books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, by Arthur Hall Esquire, Iliad. Book 1-10. English. Hall, Homer., Hall, Arthur, 1539?-1605..

Extent

[6], 188 p.

Imprinted by [Henry Bynneman? for] Ralph Nevvberie,. At London :: 1581.. (Translated from the French version of Hugues Salel.) (Actual printer's name conjectured by STC.) (At foot of title page: Cum priuilegio.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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