Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy A Poem Deuided into XVII. seuerall Cantons, intermixed with many pleasant Poeticall Tales. Concluding with an Vniuersall Chronicle from the Creation, untill these present Times. Written by Tho. Heywood |
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Canto. 8.
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 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
165
Canto. 8.
Argumentum
THE twice sackt Troy with all abundāce flowes,Her wals inlarg'd, hir spacious bounds augmēted,
Fortune on Priam all her fauour strowes,
Her populous streets from all parts are frequented,
Proud of his sonnes, the King impatient growes,
And with all Greece for wrongs past, discontented:
Warlike Anthenor by Embassage seekes,
To haue the Kings faire Sister from the Greeks
Arg. 2.
The worth of Poets. Who first weapons found,Troy & the Troians, Theta makes hir groūd
1
Fayre Poesie, both ancient and Deuine,Tell me thy true Diuinity and age,
Emmius oft cals thee Sacred, thou didst shine
In Moses dayes, a Prophet wise and Sage,
Who sang sweet Hymnes compos'd in measured line,
To great Iehoua. Oft Dauid did asswage
His melancholy cares in many an Oade,
Tun'd to the praises of th'almighty God.
170
2
A sweeter verse then good Isaias wrote,Or Salomon in his deuinest song,
For Number, Accent, Euphony or note
Were neuer set with pen, or ayr'd with toong,
Greeke Pindarus, whose meeters made men dote,
Nor Saphos vaine so Musically strong,
Could in their fluent Verse, or sweet inuention,
Better delight the rauisht eares attention.
3
The rising and soft Cadens of a verse,In Deutronomium liuely is expressed,
He that shall Dauids Hæbrew Psalmes reherse,
Shall find true number in his words professed,
Not Orpheus, Horrace line could sooner pierce
Th'inchanted braine: not Homer whom so me gessed
To be chiefe Poet, this approues it holy,
Not as some hold deriu'd from Apish folly.
4
In verse Hexamiter did Moises praiseThe heauens Creator (through the red sea flying,)
Archilochus Iambickes first gan raise,
Apollo meetred Verse, all Prose denying,
Daphne the sonne of Mercury assaies
The Elegeick verse (soone after dying,)
Thespis: Quintilian Tragedies deuisd,
Which Sophocles soone after enterprisd.
5
A Poëm is the richest Monument,And onely liues when Marble toombes decay,
Shewing Kings deeds, their merit, and discent,
Notstab'd by time, whom Sepulchers obey,
Thou proud Achilles with thy great ostent,
Where stands thy Monumentall graue this day:
Toome-makers die disgracst, then Homer trust,
By whom thy fame liues, now thy graue is dust.
6
By Poëm Troyes name is preseru'd from fire,Which else long since had perisht with the towne,
Who in these dayes would for her fame inquire?
Had not deuine wits Chronicled her downe,
171
Had burnt her Name, and swallowed her renowne:
But Poësy apt all such things to saue,
Redeems her glory from Obliuions graue.
7
Poets are Makers, had great Homer pleasdPenelop had beene wanton, Hellen-chast,
The Spartan King the mutinons hoast appeasde,
And smooth Vlisses with the horne disgra'st,
Thersites had the Imperiall Scepter ceasd,
And Agamemnon in his rancke beene plast:
Oh! Homer, t'was in thee Troy to subdue,
Thy pen, not Greece; the Troyans ouerthrew.
8
Achilles, durst not looke on Hector whenHe guld his Siluer armes in Greekish bloud,
Homer that lou'd him more then other men,
Gaue him such hart, that he gainst Hector stood,
Twas not Achilles sword, but Homers pen
That drew from Hectors breast a Crimson-flood:
Hector his Myrindons, and him subdude,
In such hye-blood faint hands were not imbrude.
9
Twas Poesy that made Achilles bold,Stout Aiax, valiant, and Vlisses wise,
By Homers guift the great Alcide contrould
The hoast of Greekes: all such as highly prise
The sacred Muse, their Names are writ in gold,
Thersites was well featur'd, but denyes
The Muse her honor, therefore to his shame,
The Muse hath made him Stigmaticke and lame.
10
This made great Scipio Affricanus bringDead Ennius from the rude Calabrian Coast,
placing his statuë, that his prayse did sing,
In Romes hye Capitoll, who now can boast
Of such rich meede, worthy the greatest King?
So Pompey guerdon'd learning to his cost:
And gaue a large Towne rounded with a Wall,
And thought it for the Muse a guift to small.
172
11
Art thou a Tyrant? to thy seruice take,Some Helliconian Scholler, whose fine quill
To after times thy raigne, may gentle make,
And giue them life, whom thou in rage didst kill?
Art thou a Vsurer? Wilt thou not forsake
A hundred for a hundred? Learne this skill:
To some one fluent Poet pension giue,
And he shall make thy famous bounty liue.
12
Had Thais fauour'd Arts, the Arts had raisd her,and made her Chast as Faire: This Lucresse knew,
Because she lou'd the Muse, the Muse hath praisd her,
Lending the knife, with which her selfe she slew:
Who Lais can accuse? Though fame hath blaz'd her
For wanton? who can say report is true?
Happly though Chast, al Poets she eschewes,
And now liues onely famous mongst the Stewes.
13
Art thou a Coward? Exhibitions lendTo Schollers that shal make thee ventrous bold;
Art thou a Glutton? Make the Muse thy friend?
Or a loose Leacher? Giue thy Poet Gold,
Hee'l cleare thy Fame, and giue thy scandall end,
He can redeeme renowne, to ruine sold,
Make Ryoters frugall, the dull blind to see,
The Drunkard temperate, and the Couetous free.
14
Th'ambitious meeke, the Lofty minded low,Th'inconstant stable, and the Rough, remisse;
Women that your defectiue humors know,
Are likewise by your bounty helpt in this,
Some speciall grace vnto the Muses show,
That haue the power t'inthrone your names in blisse:
Had faire fac'st Hellen this opinion cherisht,
O're-whelmed Troy, had not for her sake perisht.
15
They can make wantons Ciuill, the Foole wise,The stooping Straight, the Tawny coloured faire,
The merry, Modest, and the Loose, precise,
and change the colour both of face and haire,
173
For your Vermillion tinctures take no care:
What neede you far for couloured vnctions seeke,
When our blacke Inke can better paint thy cheeke.
16
Some of this Artfull coulour now I want,Which from the Muses I desire to borrow,
In Melancholly Priam to dispaint
The perfect Image and true face of Sorrow,
At sight of ruind Troy his spirits faint,
Yet after gathers strength, and on the morrow
Resolues himselfe with bootlesse cares to striue,
To interre the dead, and cheere those that suruiue.
17
In processe, taking truce with all Vexation,Priam intends a fayrer Troy to reare
Of larger bounds, so layes a firme foundation
So strong, that being mounted they need feare
Nor Phœbus wrath, nor Neptunes Invndation,
Nor any other bordering Neighbour neare:
His Towne repayrd, King Priam in small space,
Takes to his Wife a Princesse, borne in Thrace.
18
Great Ægipseus Daughter, HecubaProoues Mother of fiue Sonnes, the first in Row
Hector, the boldest Knight in Asia,
Paris the fayrest, expert in the bow,
Then Deiphebus, named by Phæbus ray,
Helemus taught all hidden Arts to know:
Bold Troylus youngest of his Mothers store,
Hath Bastard-Brothers fiue and forty more.
19
Some thinke young Polidore from her descended,And Ganimed that standes in Aebes place,
Her Eldest Girle Creusa, much commended
Matcht with Eneas, of a Noble race,
VVhose puisance next: Priam most extended
Then sweet Cassandra, one of regall grace,
A Prophetesse: but Polixene surpast,
Fayrest of all the world, and Hecubs last.
174
20
But now since Armes, and Battailes, Swords, & Speares,With other warlike Engines we must vse,
Before Troyes rich aboundance touch our eares,
With some delay we must restraine our Muse,
To shew what people the first Armour beares
And who they were first broake the generall Truce:
In the first age, erae men keene weapons knew,
They fought with naked fists, but no man slew.
21
Some say, the Thratian Mars first Armour brought,Others, that Pallas was of wars the ground,
Others, that Tubal-Cayne for weapons sought,
And taught the way how to defend and wound,
Most thinke Lame Vulcan on the Styth first wrought
Helmets, Swords, Speares, the Lacedemons found:
The Haberion Midias, Messenius filed,
Iauelins and Darts Ætolus first compiled,
22
Yet were not Souldiers arm'd at euery Peece,Some thinke th' Ægyptians flourisht in this trade,
And Helmets and bright Salets brought to Greece,
Leg-harnesse by the Carians was first made,
These Iason vsde in Conquest of the fleece,
Great Fuluius Flachus Iustings Speares assayde:
At Capua first, by old Tyrhenus framed,
For the browne Bill, the Thracian was first named.
23
Pyses the hunting Staffe, the warlike QueenePenthiselea, taught the Pollax-fight,
Crosse-bowes were first among the Cretans seene,
Quarryes and Bolts the Syrians bring to sight,
The euer-bold Phenetians furnisht beene
With Brakes and Slings to Chronicle their might:
In lists appointed, in the Argiue fields,
Acrisius and bold Pretus fought with shields.
24
Epeus at Troyes seidge the Ramme deuisde,The Tortoyes Citty wals to vndermine,
Artemon Clazemonius enterprisde
Bellerephon, to imitate the signe
175
And backt the Iennet: after some Deuine:
Bridles, Bits, Trappings, to adorne a Steede,
Seru'd first the Peletronians warlike speede.
25
But of all Hellish Engines, he whose brayneBy Deuilish practise first deuisd the Gun,
The world shall Vniuersally complaine
A generall murder, by that, Almain done,
By which the strong men are by Weakelings slaine,
By him hath many a Mother lost her Sonne:
This Hell-borne Art, sinceby the Deuill must
Venice against the Genoes practise first.
26
Of Priam now, and of his royall seede,Their fashions, and their features Dares writes,
The aged King of puissance in his deed,
And in his prime-age expert in all fights:
Tall, but well shaped, Mounted on his Steede,
In Horseman-ship excelling all his Knights:
Grisled his heyre, grey-eyde, Beard full and long,
Soft voy'st, his limbs, though slender, rare and strong.
27
In enterprises dreadlesse: early rysing,Eating betimes, with Musicke highly pleasd,
Not rash to execute, but with aduising,
Sound in his body, and no way diseasd,
Vpright in sentence, flattery dispising,
Apt to be angry, and as soone appeasd:
Euen to the last, in armes his body prouing,
Amorous of Ladies, and Souldiers dearely louing.
28
Hector the eldest of King Priams race,Past in his puissance all Knights of that age,
An able body, and a pleasant face,
Affable, and not much inclinde to rage,
Big-limb'd, but featur'd well, which added grace
To his proportion, young, but grauely sage:
His flesh tough-hard, but white, his blew veines ayery,
His quicke eye fiery bright: his skin much heyry.
176
29
His head short curld: his beard an aburne browne,His pleasant Language lisping, but not lowd,
(Saue in the wars) he was not seene to frowne,
Saue to his Gods and King, he neuer bowd,
In field a Lyon, but a Lambe in towne,
Strong without equall, but in Armes not prowd,
Was neuer knowne to speake fellonious word,
Or but against Troyes foes to vse a sword.
30
Aduentrous bold, but with discreet aduice,Patient of trauell, with no labour tyr'd,
In the Pannonian wars he triumpht thrice,
And more the Tent, then walled towne desird,
Oft hath his pillow bin a Caue of Ice,
Oft hath his sword his foes Caske proudly fird
To warme him by, when he before appeard
With Isicles low hanging at his beard.
31
Forth of Troyes gates neare yssued man so strong,So double vertued, Chiualrous and mild,
Or better Vsher through a Martiall throng,
Mongst foes a Gyant, to his friends a Child,
Dreaded and lou'd, and sooner bearing wrong,
Then knowne t'oppresse: he neuer grace exild
From Captiues, whom in armes he ouerthrew,
He neuer fled the strong, or yeilding slew.
32
A Homers fluence, or a Virgils pen,Behooues him that should giue great Hector due,
Whom with this Title, Valiantest of Men,
I now forbeare his Brothers to pursue:
Next Alexander sirnam'd Paris, when
His Mothers ominous dreame mongst Shepherds threw
The infant Prince. In him you may discouer
The true proportion of a perfect Louer.
33
Straight bodied, mid-statu'rd, wondrous faire,A pleasant looke, his eye both great and gray,
Round visag'd, soft, and Crispe at end his haire,
Smooth skind, well spoke, effeminate euery way,
177
Swift, a good Hunts-man, and much giuen to play,
Cunning at Chesse, which as most voyces run,
Was by King Priam first in Troy begun.
34
Louing gay cloaths, and go richly clad,Costly in Iewels, and stones highly rated,
Quicke-witted, iesting, dallying, seldome glad,
Who aboue all things Melancholy hated:
At loose lasciuious speeches seeming sad,
And by all Starre-coniecture fairely fated,
A Courtly carriage, and a promising face,
A manly looke mixt with a womanish grace.
35
Bold Deiphebus, and wise Helenus,Were scarse to be distinguisht, both so like:
The last a Clarke, sawes hidden to discusse,
The first not taught to pray so well as strike,
The one deuout, the other Chiualrous,
One grub'd his pen, while th'other tost his Pike:
Though seuerall byrths, yet twins they seemed rather
And both the true proportions of their Father.
36
The most redoubted Troylus youngst of fiue,Next after Hector was esteemd in field,
(Saue this bold brother) the best Knight aliue,
Most expert in the vse of sword and shield:
Amorous of Calchas daughter: Ladies striue
Which to his sweet embracements soon'st may yeild:
Neuer was Knight in valor better proued,
Or Courtier amongst Ladies deerlyer loued.
37
Then in one word, his aprises to comprise,He was another Hector, shape, looke, gate,
Stature, proportion, fashion, haire, and eyes;
Martiall encounter, or for Courtly state,
Æneas a bold Knight, a States-man wise,
Louer of peace, and foe to sterne debate:
A Counsellor and Souldier, who imparts,
Inequaliz'd proportion, Armes and Arts.
178
38
Large stature, and broad set, deuinely skild,His haire by Nature browne, but grayed with yeares,
Cleare ey'd, sharpe visag'd, but with colour fild,
One of King Priams best esteemed Peeres,
Sober in speech, and seene to laugh but seild,
Whom Paphian Venus by Anchises beares,
Preferring much the Counsels of the old,
And Beards of Siluer, before Haires of Gold.
39
Anthenor, second to Æneas, blacke,Long, and leane visag'd, whom the King affected
And much esteem'd his Counsell, in the sacke
And fall of Troy, by Priam much suspected,
Polydanus his sonne, in whom no lacke
Of vertue was, or valor well directed:
Of Counsell with his Father in Troyes fall,
Resembling him, leane visag'd, swart, and tall.
40
Menon of all the Kings that Priam aydedWith best assistance, and most valiant Knights,
Broad-brested, and big-limb'd, not soone disswaded
From hostile oppositions, and sterne sights,
By him was many a Græcian Knight disgraded,
Whom hope of Honour, more then gaine incites:
Queene Hecuba, Religious, Graue, well staide,
A Manly Woman, somewhat rudely made.
41
Andromache, well shapt, looking aloft,Exceeding faire, her eye-ball broad and cleare,
Her Alablaster skin, white, smooth, and soft,
A worthy Wife to such a worthy Peere,
As full of Grace as Beauty, praying oft,
A visage Louely, but withall seuere:
Promising loue, but with so Chast an eye,
That what her beauty grants, her lookes deny.
42
Creusa like her Mother bodied well,But nothing faire, her grace is manly rude;
Onely the wise Æneas happy fell
Into her fauour, with good Thewes indude,
197
Vnapt young amorous Courtiers to delude,
A gracious, affable, kind, modest Creature,
Loued for her Vertues, more then for her feature.
43
Cassandra, Hecubs second, chast and wise,A profest Virgin, and Deuinely red,
In Deuinations, Sawes, and Prophesies,
She for her life abandons Hymens bed;
Faire-hair'd, Meane-statur'd, Round-mouthd, stedfast eies
Sometime her yellow Lockes about her spread:
(Rapt with Deuinest fury) oft she weares,
Like a rich cloake, wouen of her golden haires.
44
But young Polixena among the rest,Most Beautifully-perfect, Rauishing sweet,
Of all Terrestriall graces, loe the best,
In one exact and Compleat creature meet,
Celestiall coloured veines, Swan-downy brest,
And from her Natiue golden crowne to feet
Spotlesse, her brow the whitest, eye the clearest,
And her Rose coloured Cheeke of al Dyes dearest.
45
One Ladies beauty lies most in her haire,Anothers in her Checke, this in her brow,
Her eye is quicke, another colour's rare,
To which the Knights their deeds of Honour vow,
Foot, skin, or hand: and all esteemed faire,
The least of these best Iudging wits alow:
And where but one of all these are extended,
For that one guift bright Ladies are commended.
29
On such quicke feet as makes yon Lady praisd,Polixena doth lightly touch the ground,
Such hands as make anothers name imblazd,
White, azure-vain'd within her Gloues are found;
A body on two Iuory collumnes raisd,
A brest so white, a Globe-like head so round:
a haire, so bright-hewed Brests so softly sweld,
Saue in this maide no Mortall hath beheld.
180
47
She is all beauty, Nature shew'd her skillTo haue this Maide made in all parts compleate,
her Store-house, the Creator first did fill,
The Prodigall Queene, doth for the Lady cheate
her Surplusse, then the world lamenteth still
The Troian Ladyes Larges was so great:
That hye-borne women yet in many places,
Are for'st since her, to haue hard-fauoured faces.
48
But least we dwell vpon her shape too long,From her vnto the buildings we looke downe,
Leauing the Ladyes fayre, the Princes strong,
It followes, that we next suruiew the Towne,
How Priam sought to quit Hesiones wrong,
His Scepter, State, and his Imperiall Crowne:
These by th'assistance of th'all-guiding Fate,
And by the Muses helpe, we next relate.
49
The glorious Towers and Spyres of Troy looke hye,Sixe principall Percullist Gates admit
The people in and out: first Dardany,
Fimbria the second (but scarce finisht yet)
Hely the third: we Chetas next descry,
Troyen the fift, with Marble Turrets fit:
The sixt and last, but of like state with these,
Cald by Antenor, Antenorides.
50
Vn-numbred Pallaces, houses of State,With their guilt couers seeme to mocke the Sunne,
Which towards heauen their hye tops eleuate,
Staples of Forraine Marchants now begun,
Free Traffickt-Marts, and Wares of euery rate,
By which, much wealth may be acquird and wun:
Nothing is wanting in this New-built-Towne,
That may acquire Troy Riches or Renowne.
51
Midst this young Citties hart, a Riuer glydes,Bleeding her Azure veines through euery streete;
Whose meeting streames a spacious Channell guids
To the maine Ocean, where the Troyan fleete
181
The Merchant ferried for his pleasure, meets
His laden Lyters, Barkes, and ships of trade,
Whom at their rich keyes they with Cranes vnlade.
52
Vpon the highest hill the rest o're-peeringThe Pallace royall doth the King erect,
On her wind-mouing vanes Troyes Scutchion wearing,
Whose shyning guilt vpon the Towne reflect,
The Marble posts, and Porphyr-Collumnes bearing,
Roofes of pure-gold from the best Mines select;
By good aduise they Islium Towers inuest,
A Citadell to ouer-looke the rest.
53
The glorious Sunne, from whose all-seeing eye,Nothing on earth can be conceiled long,
In his Diurnall trauels through the sky,
Saw neuer Pallace built so faire and strong,
The square Pyramides appeared hye,
As if they had bin rear'd the Clouds among,
The Porches, Tarras, windowes, Arches, Towers,
Resembling one of Ihoues Celestiall Bowers.
54
More then the rest his great Hall men admire,Built like th'Olimpicke pallace, where Ihoue feasts,
Paued with bright Starres, like those of Heauenly fire,
On which he treads, when he inuites his guests,
The roofe hung round with Angels (a rich Quire)
With Diamond eyes, red Rubies in their breasts,
Holding like Grapes long branches in their fists,
Of Emeralds greene, and purple Amethists.
55
At one end of the Hall stands Priams Throne,To which by twelue degrees the King ascended,
His chaire all Gold, and set with many a Stone,
By curled Lyons, and grim Beares defended,
Who seem'd to fawne on him that sat thereon,
The curious Grauer all his Art extended:
The sauage Monsters that support his chaire,
Euen to the life, cut and proportiond are.
182
56
Next this, from twenty hie steps looking downeTowards the Skreene aloft inthroned stands
Ihoues Statuë, on's head a glorious Crowne,
An vniuerse and Scepter grac'st both hands:
His length full fifteene foot, his colour browne,
His front Maiesticke, like him that commands:
His state, as when with Gods he was couersing,
His face so dreadfull, and his eye so piersing.
57
By his Stone-shining Alter, rooted growesThe rich Palladium, the two Thrones betwixt,
Whose golden roote enameld Branches strowes
Through the vast Hall, the leaues with blossomes mixt:
Mongst which ripe Fruits their coloured sides dispose,
As mellowed with the Sun, Deuinely fixt;
A wonder twas, this Arbor to behold,
The Fruit and blossomes Stones, the branches Gold.
58
Of selfe-same Metall was his dining boord,Where with his Sonnes and Peeres oft times inuested
He eat in state, and sometimes would affoord
That stranger Peeres were at his Table feasted;
In stead of plate they precious Lycours powr'd
Into bright hollowed Pearle, rarely digested,
Gold was thought base, and therefore for the nones,
They diu'd for Pearle, and pierst the rockes for stones.
59
With as great state as Troian Priam could,I haue beheld our Soueraign, Strangers feast,
In Boules as precious, Cups, as deerely sould,
and hy-prizd Lyquors equall with the rest,
When from the Lands-graue and the Browns-wicke bold,
The Arch-duke and the Spaniard Legats prest:
But chiefely when the royall Brittish Iames,
at Greenwitch feasted the great King of Danes.
60
No King for wealth was to this King compared,Fortune showrd all her bounties on his head,
No King had bold Sonnes that like Priams dared,
Or Dames with greater beauties garnished,
183
Whom their imperious beauties captiue led:
Prince Hector more his Fathers Crowne to grace,
Addes by his sword, Pannonia, Phrigia, Thrace.
61
Full with all plenty, with aboundance stored,Seeing his wals so strong, his Towne so faire,
Himselfe by forraigne Potentates ador'd,
And his Exchequer rich without compare,
Fifty tall sonnes, the least to vse a sword,
And most of them in Martiall Turneyes rare:
His Counsell graue, his Lords of hie degree,
As prouident, as full of Chiualry.
62
He therefore now bethinkes him of his shame,Done by the Argiues in Alcides dayes,
Therefore against all Greece will warre proclame,
And to their opposition, forces rayse,
He summons all his Lords, who forthwith came,
To whom assembled thus King Priam sayes:
Oh! which of all this faire and princely traine,
Hath not (by Greece) a friend or Kinsman slaine.
63
Shew me the man hath not inricht their TreasureWith his owne substance by his Father lost,
Whose wiues & daughters haue not serud their pleasure,
If they be rich, they Reuell at our cost,
Their Barbarous Tyranies exceed all measure,
They spoil'd our Nauy on the salt Sea Coast;
Beate downe our Wals, they pillag'd all our goods,
And waded knee-deepe in our Fathers bloods.
64
Amongst vn-numbred of your neare allyes,My royall Father treacherously they slew,
Were not your Fathers in the selfe-same wyse
Butcher'd and mangled by that murdrous erew?
I see my words confirm'd in your wet eyes,
(Remembrance of these wrongs their moist teares drew)
Besides they slewe my Sister in their spleene,
A free borne princesse, Daughter to a Queene,
184
65
Behold my state, surueigh your priuate powers,Is it for Priams honor this to beare?
Being your Soueraigne, my disgrace is yours,
And that which troubles me, should touch you neare;
We haue defer'd reuenge to these last howers,
Till we had gathered Armes, strength, wealth, and feare:
And now since heauen supplies our generall need,
I aske your Counsel: Is reuenge decreed?
66
So deepely did the Kings words pierce their brests,That with a generall voyce, Reuenge they cry,
Now euery man the inuasiue Greeke detests,
And thinkes it long, tili they can Greece defie,
Soone after this, the King his Nobles feasts,
Longing till some aduantage they can spy
To make their warre seeme iust, at length deuise
This colour to their Hostile enterprise.
67
That Pryam shall in courteous manner, sendTo al the Græcian Kings, to aske againe
His captiue Sister, like a royall frend:
(Which if they grant,) in friend-ship to remaine:
But if this Embassie their eares offend,
And they the faire Hesione detaine;
To Menace warre: Anthenor Nobly mand,
At Priams vrgence, takes this taske in hand.
68
In Thessaly where Peleus that time raign'd,Anthenor after some few moneths ariues,
And of Hesiones estate complain'd,
That her returne might saue ten thousand liues,
But if to bondage shee were still constrain'd,
Her Brother that as yet by faire meanes striues,
Must in his Honour seeke by armes to gaine her,
Vnto their costs, that proudly dare detaine her.
69
Peleus inrag'd, commands Anthenor thence,Nor will he grace the Troian with reply,
That dare to him so proud a sute commence,
He therefore makes with speed from Thessaly,
185
Who keepes the Princesse in base Slauery:
In Salaminaes Port he Anchor casts,
And thence vnto Duke Aiax Pallace hasts.
70
Mildly of him the Embassador demandsHesione, or if he keepe her still,
With her to enter Hymens Nuptiall bands,
Not as a Slaue to serue his lustfull will:
When Tellamon this Message vnderstands,
He was in thought, the Troian Lord to kil:
So scornefully the Duke his Message tooke,
His face lookt pale, his head with anger shooke.
71
He tels him he is not allyde at allWith twice-won Troy, nor any league desires;
The beautious Princesse to his lot did fall,
Whom he wil keepe (and mauger all their yres,)
For scaling first Troyes well defended Wall,
She was his Trophies prize: He that aspires
To take her thence, or once demand her backe,
Is but the meanes their Troy againe to Sacke.
72
And so commands him thence, who still proceedsVnto Achaia, where the famous Twins
Castor and Pollux haue aduanc'st their deeds,
And by their Valours were both crowned Kings;
Vnto their Court in hast Anthenor speeds,
And to their eares his Embassie begins:
But they with Telamons rude scornes reply,
And charge him straight out of their Confines hie.
73
With like contempt Duke Nestor sends him backe,So did the two Atrides; So the rest
Of all the Argiue Kings, command him packe
Out of their bounds, as an vnwelcome guest,
Since Troy deseruedly indur'd such wracke:
Anthenor answered thus, esteemes it best,
Backe to resaile, and to King Priam tell,
What in his bootlesse voyage him befell.
186
74
The King at this reproach inflam'd with rage,Assembles all his people, Sonnes, and Peeres,
Intending by their aydes new warre to wage,
To which the youthfull Gallants wanting yeares,
Freely assent, but those of riper age,
Out of their grauer wisedome, not pale feares,
Seeke by their Counsels Priam to perswade,
To raigne in peace, and not proud Greece inuade.
75
Among the rest, great Hector, from whose tongDid neuer yssue proud discourteous word,
Whom Greeke nor Troian can accuse of wrong,
Nor they within whose blouds he glaz'd his sword,
Rayseth himselfe aboue the populous throng,
And thus he sayes: Who rather should afford
Vengeance on Greece, then I your eldest sonne,
To whom these rough iniurious wrongs are done.
76
But if we well consider what a foe,And what great wrath vpon our heads we pull,
Not Greece alone, but all that homage owe,
Asia and Affricke make their numbers full,
The oddes is too vnequall, therefore knowe,
I am of thought all warres to disanull.
Troy's but a Citty, and though rich and strong,
Yet gainst the world oppos'd, must needs take wrong.
77
Why will Rich Priam hazard his estate,Being in peace? what need we couet warre?
What can we more desire, then fortunate?
So Priam, Troy, and all our people are:
Why should we seeke t'incurre the Argiue hate,
Of which remains so incurable a scarre?
Wisemen in their reuenges should forsee
What ends may fall, not what beginnings be.
78
My Grand-sire's dead, perhaps he did offend,But howsoeuer he cannot now suruiue?
To seeke his life we vainely should contend:
Methinkes in this against the Gods we striue,
187
Whence should we then our detriments deriue?
Our Troy is since her second fall, much fairer,
Her people richer, and her buildings rarer.
79
Troy lost a King, that losse your Grace supply,And though (your sonne) of this I proudly vant,
He is in you receiu'd with vsury,
They pillag'd vs, and yet we nothing want,
Of all their wounds, we not one scarre can spy,
Vnlesse Hesione our Princely Ant:
Whose bondage long since hapning, we may gesse,
The custome and continuance makes seeme lesse.
80
But howsoeuer neare to mee allyde,I do not hold her freedome of that meed,
That for her sake Troy should in blood be dyde,
Priam or any of his yssue bleed:
And for this cause do I my selfe deuide
From their rash Counsel, that Reuenge decreed:
Knowing all warre is doubtfull, and fore-seeing
Of Troy, what it may be, not of Troyes being.
81
If any hot blood prouder then the rest,Accuse my words, and thinke I speake through feare,
I wish that man the boldest Græcian guest
That euer with Alcides Anchor'd heare,
That I might print my valour on his Crest,
And on his armed Vaunt-brace proue my Speare:
This said, great Hector Congied to the King,
Then takes his place, when vp doth Paris spring.
82
And to the King his Idaes dreame relates,And how he iudg'd three beauties for the ball;
How farre he Venus 'boue the rest instates,
The fairest Greeke vnto his lot must fall,
A fit reuenge for those whom Priam hates:
For if the King will make him Generall,
He makes no doubt, from Greece a Queene to bring,
Shall equalize the Sister of the King.
188
83
Now all the peoples voyce on his side flowes,In euery eare his famous dreame is rife,
When ranckt next Paris, Deiphebus growes,
Perswading still to giue these discords life,
As one that by presumptions thus much knowes,
His voyage can procure no further strife:
Then if the promising Fates assist his Brother,
To proue th'exchance of one Queene for another.
84
But Helenus with sacred spels indude,Seekes this prepared voyage to restrayne,
He saith, the Greekes shall with their hands imbrude
In Troyes bloud royall, conquer once againe,
Intreating Paris, he will not delude
Theyr reuerent eares, with dreames and visions vaine:
Assuring him, that of this Quest shall grow
The Citties vniuersall ouerthrow.
85
When youthfull Troylus thus: Who euer heardA bookish Priest perswade to hostyle Armes,
Let such as are to Fates and Sawes indeard,
Crouch by the fires that smoking Alters warmes,
And cherish their faint sinnewes (much affeard)
Dreading their owne, not Souldiers threatned harmes:
He that's a Priest, amongst priests let him pray,
We Souldiers cry Arme: and a glorious day.
86
What lets the King my Father, but to grantMy Brother Paris a right royall fleete?
That in reuenge of our surprised Aunt,
He Warlike prayes among the Græcians meete?
Shall tymerous Clarkes our Martiall Spirits dant?
No royall Father: know reuenge is sweet:
Which since the Fates by visions promise beare:
Not to obey their Hests, we Cowards were.
87
Troylus preuailes, and Hector is perswadedTo shun the imputation of base feare,
With which his courage should be wrong vpbrayded,
A tymerous thought came neuer Hector neare,
189
Hee'l guard his honor with his sword and Speare:
Or if the Gerekes will on the Troians pray,
Through his bold body they shall first make way.
88
Without his faire applause it had not past,So reuerent was th'opinion of his braine;
His words were Oracles, so sweetly gracst,
They generall murmur in all Counsels gaine,
His free consent they hauing woon at last,
The King appoints them a well furnisht traine,
With two and twenty Ships well rig'd and man'd,
In any part of Greece freely to Land.
89
Which when the Prophetesse Cassandra heares,Indu'de with deuine wisedome, she exclaimes,
Her yellow Tramels she in fury teares,
And cries alowd: poore Troy shall burne in flames.
Oh had not changelesse Fate made deafe their eares
They had bin mou'd: Th'vnhappy King she blames:
The credulous Queene, rash Paris, and all Troy,
That giue consent their Citty to destroy.
90
But as her Deuinations neuer fayled,So were they neuer credited for true,
Till Troy vnwares with mischiefe was assayled,
And then too late their misbeliefe they rue,
They that now held her mad, ere long bewailed
Their slacke distrust, when threatned Ils ensue:
But twas a Fate their Sawes were still neglected,
and till prooud true by processe: false, suspected.
91
Apollo, in whose sacred gift remainesThe true presage and ken of future things,
Dotes on Cassandraes beauty, and complaines,
To her chast eares he tunes his golden strings;
The crafty Girle that in her heart disdaines
The gold, as she had earst despised Kings,
Demands a boone, which Phæbus hath decreed
To grant Cassandra, in sure hope to speed.
190
92
He sweares by Styx, an oath that cannot change,That he will graunt what she shall next impose him,
She askes to know the skill of secrets strange,
And future Prophesies; withall she shewes him
Her beauty where his eyes may freely range:
The amorous God of Fire securely throwes him
In her faire lap, and on her Iuory brest,
Laies his bright head, so grants her her request.
93
But when she feeles a deuine spirit infus'dThrough all her parts, (this Phœbus did inspire,)
She fled his loose imbraces, and refus'd
By any meanes to accomplish his desire:
He mad with anger to be thus abus'd,
Thus sayes: Thou think'st to mock the God of Fire:
Thy Sawes, though sooth, yet shall do no man good,
Not be beleeu'd, or else not vnderstood.
94
This was the cause the King remain'd vnmou'd,The Queene vntoucht with her lamenting cries,
And all those Princes that their safeties lou'd,
Though long for-warn'd, her Counsell yet despise,
Her Spels haue credit, when th'euents are prou'd,
Till then, though true, they are esteemed lies:
But leaue Cassandra to her ceaselesse care,
And Paris to his Troian Fleet prepare.
95
Who with his Brother Deiphebus sends,To hast Æneas to the Seas with speed,
Polydamus, Anthenor, and such frends,
As in this generall voyage were agreed,
His Souldiers most Pannonians, he entends
Shall rather see his Aunt from Aiax freed,
Or some bright Græcian Queene, for her disgrace
Shall Captiue liue in faire Hesiones place.
96
Imbarckt, and passing diuers Seas, at last,In Lacedemons Port they safely Land,
But what twixt Paris and bright Hellen past,
What fauours he receiu'd from her faire hand,
191
You in the sequell Booke must vnderstand,
Some small retyrement at this time we craue,
What you want heere, another place shall haue,
193
The end of the eight CANTO.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |