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 |
 |
|
| I. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
Canto. 10.
|
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
215
Canto. 10.
Argumentum
Hellen re-wrytes, the Troians sute preuails,And of the appointed Rape they both agree,
Proud of so fayre a purchase, Paris sailes
To Troy, from whence the Græcians seek to free
The rauisht Spartan: Menalaus bewailes
The absence of his Queene, longing to see
Reuenge on Troy, to which the Græcians meet,
Castor and Pollux perish with the Fleet.
Arg. 2.
Kappa records her Rape, describes and bringsTo Aulis Gulph the powerfull Græcian kings.
Hellen to Paris.
No sooner came mine eye vnto the sightOf thy rude Lynes, but I must needes re-wright:
Dar'st thou (Oh shamelesse) in such heynous wise,
The Lawes of Hospitality despise?
And being a straunger, from thy Countries reach,
Solicite a chast wife to Wedlocks breach?
Was it for this, our free Tenarian Port,
Receiu'd thee and thy traine, in friendly sort?
216
Gaue thee safe harbour from the stormy Seas?
Was it for this, our Kingdomes armes spread vvide,
To entertaine thee from the waters side?
Yet thou of forren soyle remote from hence,
A stranger, comming we scarce know from whence,
Is periur'd wrong the recompence of right?
Is all our friendship guerdond with despight?
I doubt me then, whither in our Court doth tarry,
A friendly guest, or a fierce aduersary:
Nor blame me, for if iustly you consider,
And these presumptions well compare togither,
So simple my complaint will not appeare,
But you your selfe must needes excuse my feare.
Well, hold me simple, much it matters not,
Whilst I preserue my chast name farre from spot,
For when I seeme toucht with bashfull shame,
It shewes how highly I regard my Fame:
When I seeme sad, my countnance is not fained,
And when I lower, my looke is vnconstrained.
But say my brovv be cloudy, my name's cleere,
And reuerently you shall of Hellen heere:
No man from me adulterate spoyles can win,
For to this houre I haue sported without sin,
Which makes me in my hart the more to wonder,
What hope you haue in time to bring me vnder,
Or from mine eie what comfort thou canst gather
To pitty thee, and not despise thee rather:
Because once Theseus hurried me from hence,
And did to me a kind of violence,
Followes it therefore, I am of such prize,
That rauisht once, I should he rauisht twice:
Was it my fault, because I striu'd in vaine,
And vvanted strength his fury to restraine?
He flattered and spake fayre, I strugled still,
And what he got, vvas much against my will:
Of all his toyle, he reapt no wished fruit,
For with my wrangling I vvithstood his sute,
At length, I was restor'd, vntoucht and cleere,
In all my Rape, I sufferd naught (saue feare)
217
Dry, without rhellish, by much striuing got,
And them with much adoo, and to his cost,
Of further fauours, he could neuer boast:
I doubt your purpose aymes at greater blisses,
And hardly would alone be pleasd with kisses,
Thou hast some further arme, and seekst to do
What (Ihoue defend) I should consent vnto:
He bare not thy bad mind, but did restore me,
Vnblemisht, to the place from whence he bore me:
The youth was bashfull, and thy boldnesse lackt,
And tis well knowne, repented his bold fact:
Theseus repented, so should Paris do,
Succeed in Loue, and in repentance to;
Nor am I angry: Who can angry be
With him that loues her? If your hart agree
With your kinde vvords, your suite I could applaude
So I were sure your lines were voyd of fraude.
I cast not these strange doubts or this dispence
Like one that were bereft all confidence:
Nor that I with my selfe am in disgrace,
Or do not know the beauty of my face,
But because too much trust hath damag'd such
As haue beleeu'd men in their loues to much,
And now the generall toung of woman saith,
Mans words are full of Treason, void of faith.
Let others sinne, and bowers in pleasure wast,
Tis rare to find the sober Matron chast:
Why, say it be that sinne preuailes with fayre ones,
May not my name be rank't among the rare ones?
Because my mother Læda was beguilde,
Must I stray too, that am her eldest childe?
I must confesse, my mother made a rape,
But Ihoue beguild her in a borrowed shape,
When she (poore soule) nor dreampt of god nor man,
He troad her like a milke-white feathered Swan:
She was deceiu'd by error, If I yeild
To your vniust request, nothing can shield
Me from reproach, I cannot plead concealing,
T'was in her, error, tis in me plaine dealing:
She happily err'd, He that her honour spilt,
Had in himselfe full power to salue the guilt;
Her error happyed me to (I confesse)
If to be Ihoues childe, be a happinesse.
Tis rare to find the sober Matron chast:
Why, say it be that sinne preuailes with fayre ones,
May not my name be rank't among the rare ones?
Because my mother Læda was beguilde,
Must I stray too, that am her eldest childe?
I must confesse, my mother made a rape,
But Ihoue beguild her in a borrowed shape,
When she (poore soule) nor dreampt of god nor man,
He troad her like a milke-white feathered Swan:
She was deceiu'd by error, If I yeild
To your vniust request, nothing can shield
Me from reproach, I cannot plead concealing,
T'was in her, error, tis in me plaine dealing:
218
Had in himselfe full power to salue the guilt;
Her error happyed me to (I confesse)
If to be Ihoues childe, be a happinesse.
To omit high Ihoue, of whom I stand in awe,
As the great Grandsire to our Father in Lawe,
To passe the kinne I claime from Tantalus,
From Pelopes, and from Noble Tyndarus.
Læda by Ihoue in shape of Swan beguild,
Her selfe so chaungde and by him made with child
Proues Ihoue my Father: then you ydely striue
Your name from Gods and Princes to deriue.
What need you of olde Priam make relation?
Laomedon, or your great Phrygian Nation?
Say, all be true: What then? He, of whom most
To be of your alliance you so boast,
Ihoue (fiue degrees at least) from you remoued,
To be the first from me, is plainly proued;
And though (as I beleeue well) Troy may stand
Powerfull by Sea, and full of strength by Land,
And no Dominion to your State superior,
I hold our Clyme nothing to Troy inferior:
Say, you in ritches passe vs, or in number
Of people, whom you boast your streets to cumber,
Yet yours a Barbarous Nation is, I tell you,
And in that kind, do we of Greece excell you.
Your ritch Epistle doth such guifts present,
As might the Goddesses themselues content
And woo them to your pleasures, but if I
Should passe the bonds of shame, & tread awry
If euer you should put me to my shifts,
Your selfe should moue me more then all your guifts:
Or if I euer shall transgresse by stealth,
It shall be for your sake, not for your wealth;
But as your guifts I scorne not, so such seeme
Most pretious, where the giuer we esteeme.
More then your presence, it shall Hellen please
That you for her haue past the stormy Seas,
That she hath causde your toyle, that you respect her,
And more then all your Troyan Dames affect her.
As the great Grandsire to our Father in Lawe,
To passe the kinne I claime from Tantalus,
From Pelopes, and from Noble Tyndarus.
Læda by Ihoue in shape of Swan beguild,
Her selfe so chaungde and by him made with child
Proues Ihoue my Father: then you ydely striue
Your name from Gods and Princes to deriue.
What need you of olde Priam make relation?
Laomedon, or your great Phrygian Nation?
Say, all be true: What then? He, of whom most
To be of your alliance you so boast,
Ihoue (fiue degrees at least) from you remoued,
To be the first from me, is plainly proued;
And though (as I beleeue well) Troy may stand
Powerfull by Sea, and full of strength by Land,
And no Dominion to your State superior,
I hold our Clyme nothing to Troy inferior:
Say, you in ritches passe vs, or in number
Of people, whom you boast your streets to cumber,
Yet yours a Barbarous Nation is, I tell you,
And in that kind, do we of Greece excell you.
Your ritch Epistle doth such guifts present,
As might the Goddesses themselues content
And woo them to your pleasures, but if I
Should passe the bonds of shame, & tread awry
If euer you should put me to my shifts,
Your selfe should moue me more then all your guifts:
Or if I euer shall transgresse by stealth,
It shall be for your sake, not for your wealth;
But as your guifts I scorne not, so such seeme
Most pretious, where the giuer we esteeme.
More then your presence, it shall Hellen please
That you for her haue past the stormy Seas,
That she hath causde your toyle, that you respect her,
And more then all your Troyan Dames affect her.
219
But ye' are a Wag in troth, the notes and signes
You make at Table, in the meats and Wines,
I haue obseru'd, when I least seemde to minde them,
For at the first my curious eie did finde them.
Sometimes (you wanton) your fixt eie aduaunces
His brightnesse against mine, darting sweet glaunces,
Outgazing me with such a stedfast looke,
That my dazd eyes their splendor haue forsooke,
And then you sigh, and by and by you stretch
Your amorous arme outright, the bowle to reatch
That next me stands, making excuse to sip
Iust in the self-same place that kist my lip.
How oft haue I obserud your finger make
Tricks and conceited signes, which straight I take?
How often doth your brow your smooth thoughts cloke
When (to my seeming) it hath almost spoke,
And still I fearde my Husband would haue spide ye,
In troth you are to blame, and I must chyde ye:
You are too manifest a Louer (Tush.)
At such knowne signes I could not choose but blush,
And to my selfe I oft was forst to say,
This man at nothing shames. Is this (I pray)
ought saue the truth? Oft times vpon the bord
Where Hellen was ingrauen, you the word
Amo haue vnder-writ, in new spilt wine
(Good sooth) at first I could not skan the line,
Nor vnderstand your meaning: Now, (oh spight)
My selfe am now taught, so to Read and write.
Should I offend, as Sinne to me is strange,
These blandishments haue power chast thoughts to change
Or if I could be mou'd to step astray
These would prouoke me to lasciuious play:
Besides, I must confesse, you haue a Face,
So admirably rare, so full of grace,
That it hath power to woo and to make ceasure,
Of the most bright chast beauties to your pleasure.
yet had I rather stainelesse keepe my Fame,
Then to a straunger hazzard my good name:
Make me your instance, and forbeare the fare,
Of that which most doth please you, make most spare.
The greatest vertues of which wise men boast,
Is to abstaine from that which pleaseth most.
How many gallant Youths (thinke you) desire,
That which you couet? Skorcht with the selfe-same fire?
Are all the World focles? Only Paris wise?
Or is there none saue you haue iudging eies?
No, no, you view no more then others see,
But you are playner and more bold with me,
You are more earnest to pursue your game,
I yeeld you not more knowledge, but less shame
I would to God that you had sayld from Troy,
When my Virginity and bedde to enioy
A thousand gallant princely Suters came:
Had I beheld young Paris, I proclaime,
Of all those thousand I had made you chiefe,
And Spartan Menalaus to his griefe
Should to my censure haue subscribde and yeilded,
But now (alasse) your hopes are weakely builded
You couet goodes possest; pleasures fore-tasted,
Tarde you come, that should before haue hasted,
What you desire, another claymes as due.
As I could wishe t' haue beene espousde to you,
So let me tell you, since it is my fate,
I hold me happy in this present state,
Then cease fayre Prince, an ydle suite to moue
Seek not to harme hir whom you seem to loue:
In my contented state let me be guided,
As both my stars and fortunes haue prouided,
Nor in so vaine a quest your spirits toyle,
To seeke at my hands an vnworthy spoyle.
You make at Table, in the meats and Wines,
I haue obseru'd, when I least seemde to minde them,
For at the first my curious eie did finde them.
Sometimes (you wanton) your fixt eie aduaunces
His brightnesse against mine, darting sweet glaunces,
Outgazing me with such a stedfast looke,
That my dazd eyes their splendor haue forsooke,
And then you sigh, and by and by you stretch
Your amorous arme outright, the bowle to reatch
That next me stands, making excuse to sip
Iust in the self-same place that kist my lip.
How oft haue I obserud your finger make
Tricks and conceited signes, which straight I take?
How often doth your brow your smooth thoughts cloke
When (to my seeming) it hath almost spoke,
And still I fearde my Husband would haue spide ye,
In troth you are to blame, and I must chyde ye:
You are too manifest a Louer (Tush.)
At such knowne signes I could not choose but blush,
And to my selfe I oft was forst to say,
This man at nothing shames. Is this (I pray)
ought saue the truth? Oft times vpon the bord
Where Hellen was ingrauen, you the word
Amo haue vnder-writ, in new spilt wine
(Good sooth) at first I could not skan the line,
Nor vnderstand your meaning: Now, (oh spight)
My selfe am now taught, so to Read and write.
Should I offend, as Sinne to me is strange,
These blandishments haue power chast thoughts to change
Or if I could be mou'd to step astray
These would prouoke me to lasciuious play:
Besides, I must confesse, you haue a Face,
So admirably rare, so full of grace,
That it hath power to woo and to make ceasure,
Of the most bright chast beauties to your pleasure.
yet had I rather stainelesse keepe my Fame,
Then to a straunger hazzard my good name:
Make me your instance, and forbeare the fare,
Of that which most doth please you, make most spare.
220
Is to abstaine from that which pleaseth most.
How many gallant Youths (thinke you) desire,
That which you couet? Skorcht with the selfe-same fire?
Are all the World focles? Only Paris wise?
Or is there none saue you haue iudging eies?
No, no, you view no more then others see,
But you are playner and more bold with me,
You are more earnest to pursue your game,
I yeeld you not more knowledge, but less shame
I would to God that you had sayld from Troy,
When my Virginity and bedde to enioy
A thousand gallant princely Suters came:
Had I beheld young Paris, I proclaime,
Of all those thousand I had made you chiefe,
And Spartan Menalaus to his griefe
Should to my censure haue subscribde and yeilded,
But now (alasse) your hopes are weakely builded
You couet goodes possest; pleasures fore-tasted,
Tarde you come, that should before haue hasted,
What you desire, another claymes as due.
As I could wishe t' haue beene espousde to you,
So let me tell you, since it is my fate,
I hold me happy in this present state,
Then cease fayre Prince, an ydle suite to moue
Seek not to harme hir whom you seem to loue:
In my contented state let me be guided,
As both my stars and fortunes haue prouided,
Nor in so vaine a quest your spirits toyle,
To seeke at my hands an vnworthy spoyle.
But see how soone poore Women are deluded,
Venus her selfe this couenant hath concluded,
For in the Idæan Valleyes you espy
Three Goddesses, stript naked to your eie,
And when the first had promist you a Crowne,
The second Fortitude and warres renowne,
The third bespake you thus: Crowne, nor Wars pride
Will I bequeath, but Hellen to thy Bride;
I scarce belieue those high immortall Creatures,
Would to your eye expose their naked features,
Or say the first part of your Tale be pure,
And meet with truth: The seconds false I am sure,
In which poore I was thought the greatest meede,
In such a hie cause by the Goddes decreed.
I haue not of my beauty such opinion
T'imagine it preferd before Dominion,
Or fortitude: nor can your words persuade me
The greatest gift of al, the Goddesse made me.
It is enough to me, men praise my face,
But from the Goddes, I merit no such grace,
Nor doth the praise you charge me with offend me,
If Venus doe not enuiously commend me.
But loe I graunt you, and imagine true,
Your free report, claiming your praise as due,
Who would in pleasing things call Fame a liar,
But giue that credit, which we most desire.
Venus her selfe this couenant hath concluded,
For in the Idæan Valleyes you espy
Three Goddesses, stript naked to your eie,
And when the first had promist you a Crowne,
The second Fortitude and warres renowne,
The third bespake you thus: Crowne, nor Wars pride
Will I bequeath, but Hellen to thy Bride;
I scarce belieue those high immortall Creatures,
Would to your eye expose their naked features,
221
And meet with truth: The seconds false I am sure,
In which poore I was thought the greatest meede,
In such a hie cause by the Goddes decreed.
I haue not of my beauty such opinion
T'imagine it preferd before Dominion,
Or fortitude: nor can your words persuade me
The greatest gift of al, the Goddesse made me.
It is enough to me, men praise my face,
But from the Goddes, I merit no such grace,
Nor doth the praise you charge me with offend me,
If Venus doe not enuiously commend me.
But loe I graunt you, and imagine true,
Your free report, claiming your praise as due,
Who would in pleasing things call Fame a liar,
But giue that credit, which we most desire.
That we haue mou'd these doubts be not you grieued,
The greatest wonders are the least beleeued,
Know then I first am pleasde that Venus ought me
Such vndeserued grace: Next, that you thought me
The greatest meede: Nor Scepter, nor Warres Fame,
Did you preferre before poore Hellens name.
(Hard-hart tis time thou shouldst at last come downe)
Therefore I am your valour, I your Crowne,
Your kindnesse conquers me do what I can,
I were hard-harted, not to loue this man;
Obdurate I was neuer, and yet coy,
To fauour him whom I can ner'e enioy.
What profits it the barren sandes to plow
And in the furrowes our affections sow,
In the sweete theft of Venus I am rude,
And know not how my Husband to delude;
Now I these Loue-lines write, my pen I vow
Is a new office taught, not knowne till now,
Happy are they that in this Trade haue skill,
(Alasse I am a Foole) and shall be still,
And hauing till this houre not stept astray,
Feare in these sports least I should mis my way
The feare (no doubt) is greater then the blame
I stand confounded and amaz'd with shame.
And with the very thought of what you seeke,
Thinke euery eie fixt on my guilty cheeke,
Nor are these suppositions meerely vaine,
The murmuring people whisperingly complaine,
And my maid Æthra hath by listning slily,
Brought me such newes, as toucht mine honor hily:
Wherefore (deere Lord) dissemble, or desist,
Being ouer-eyde, we cannot as we list,
Fashion our sports, our Loues pure haruest gather:
But why should you desist? dissemble rather:
Sport, (but in secret) sport where none may see,
The greater, but not greatest liberty
Is limitted to our Lasciuious play,
That Menalaus is farre hence away,
My Husband about great affaires is pousted,
Leauing his royall guest securely hoasted,
His businesse was important and materiall,
Being employd about a Crowne Imperiall:
And as he now is mounted on his Steed,
Ready on his long iourney to proceede,
Euen as he questions to depart or stay,
Sweet hart (quoth I) oh be not long away,
With that he reacht me a sweet parting kisse,
(How loath he was to leaue me, ghesse by this.)
Farwell fayre Wife (saith he) bend all thy cares
To my domesticke businesse, home affayres,
But as the thing that I affection best,
Sweet Wife, looke well vnto my Troian guest.
It was no sooner out, but with much paine,
My itching spleene from laughter I restraine,
Which striuing to keepe in and bridle still,
At length I wrung forth these few words (I wil.)
Hee's on his iourney to the Isle of Creet,
But thinke not we may therefore safely meet,
He is so absent, that as present I
Am still within his reach: His Eare, his Eye
And though abroad, his power at home commands
For know you not Kings haue long reaching hads?
The fame for beauty you besides haue giuen me,
Into a great exigent hath driuen me:
The more your commendation fild his eare,
The more iust cause my husband hath to fear:
Nor maruell you the King hath left me so,
Into remoate and forraine Climes to goe,
Much confidence he dares repose in me,
My carriage, hauiour, and my modesty,
My beauty he mistrusts, my hart relies in
my face he feares, my Chast life he affies in.
The greatest wonders are the least beleeued,
Know then I first am pleasde that Venus ought me
Such vndeserued grace: Next, that you thought me
The greatest meede: Nor Scepter, nor Warres Fame,
Did you preferre before poore Hellens name.
(Hard-hart tis time thou shouldst at last come downe)
Therefore I am your valour, I your Crowne,
Your kindnesse conquers me do what I can,
I were hard-harted, not to loue this man;
Obdurate I was neuer, and yet coy,
To fauour him whom I can ner'e enioy.
What profits it the barren sandes to plow
And in the furrowes our affections sow,
In the sweete theft of Venus I am rude,
And know not how my Husband to delude;
Now I these Loue-lines write, my pen I vow
Is a new office taught, not knowne till now,
Happy are they that in this Trade haue skill,
(Alasse I am a Foole) and shall be still,
And hauing till this houre not stept astray,
Feare in these sports least I should mis my way
The feare (no doubt) is greater then the blame
I stand confounded and amaz'd with shame.
222
Thinke euery eie fixt on my guilty cheeke,
Nor are these suppositions meerely vaine,
The murmuring people whisperingly complaine,
And my maid Æthra hath by listning slily,
Brought me such newes, as toucht mine honor hily:
Wherefore (deere Lord) dissemble, or desist,
Being ouer-eyde, we cannot as we list,
Fashion our sports, our Loues pure haruest gather:
But why should you desist? dissemble rather:
Sport, (but in secret) sport where none may see,
The greater, but not greatest liberty
Is limitted to our Lasciuious play,
That Menalaus is farre hence away,
My Husband about great affaires is pousted,
Leauing his royall guest securely hoasted,
His businesse was important and materiall,
Being employd about a Crowne Imperiall:
And as he now is mounted on his Steed,
Ready on his long iourney to proceede,
Euen as he questions to depart or stay,
Sweet hart (quoth I) oh be not long away,
With that he reacht me a sweet parting kisse,
(How loath he was to leaue me, ghesse by this.)
Farwell fayre Wife (saith he) bend all thy cares
To my domesticke businesse, home affayres,
But as the thing that I affection best,
Sweet Wife, looke well vnto my Troian guest.
It was no sooner out, but with much paine,
My itching spleene from laughter I restraine,
Which striuing to keepe in and bridle still,
At length I wrung forth these few words (I wil.)
Hee's on his iourney to the Isle of Creet,
But thinke not we may therefore safely meet,
He is so absent, that as present I
Am still within his reach: His Eare, his Eye
And though abroad, his power at home commands
For know you not Kings haue long reaching hads?
The fame for beauty you besides haue giuen me,
Into a great exigent hath driuen me:
223
The more iust cause my husband hath to fear:
Nor maruell you the King hath left me so,
Into remoate and forraine Climes to goe,
Much confidence he dares repose in me,
My carriage, hauiour, and my modesty,
My beauty he mistrusts, my hart relies in
my face he feares, my Chast life he affies in.
To take time now when time is, perswade me,
And with his apt fit absence you invade me:
I would, but feare, nor is my mind well set,
my Will would further, what my feare doth let.
I haue no husband here, and you no wife,
I loue your shape, you mine, deare as your life.
The nights seeme long to such as sleepe alone,
Our letters meet to enterchange our mone:
You iudge me beauteous, I esteeme you faire,
Vnder oue Roofe vve Louers lodged are,
And (let me die) but euery thing consider,
Each thing perswades vs we should lie together,
Nothing we see molests vs, naught we heare,
And yet my forward will is slackt through feare:
I would to God that what you ill perswade,
You could as well compell, So I were made
Vn-willing willing, pleasingly abusde,
So my simplicity might be excusde:
Iniurious force is oft-times wondrous pleasing,
To such as suffer ease in their diseasing,
If what I will, you gainst my vvill should doe,
I with such force could be well pleased too.
And with his apt fit absence you invade me:
I would, but feare, nor is my mind well set,
my Will would further, what my feare doth let.
I haue no husband here, and you no wife,
I loue your shape, you mine, deare as your life.
The nights seeme long to such as sleepe alone,
Our letters meet to enterchange our mone:
You iudge me beauteous, I esteeme you faire,
Vnder oue Roofe vve Louers lodged are,
And (let me die) but euery thing consider,
Each thing perswades vs we should lie together,
Nothing we see molests vs, naught we heare,
And yet my forward will is slackt through feare:
I would to God that what you ill perswade,
You could as well compell, So I were made
Vn-willing willing, pleasingly abusde,
So my simplicity might be excusde:
Iniurious force is oft-times wondrous pleasing,
To such as suffer ease in their diseasing,
If what I will, you gainst my vvill should doe,
I with such force could be well pleased too.
But whilst our loue is young and in the bud,
Suffer his Infant vigor be withstood,
A flame new kindled is as easily quench't,
And sudden sparkles in little drops are drencht:
A Trauellours Loue is like himselfe, vnstaid,
And wanders where he walkes, It is not layde
On any firmer ground, for when vve alone
Thinke him to vs, the winde blovves faire, hees gone:
Witnesse Hypsipile, alike betraide,
Witnesse vvith her, the bright Mynoyan maide:
Nay then your selfe, as you your selfe haue spoken
To fayre Oenone haue your promise broken,
Since I beheld your face first, my desire
Hath beene, of Troyan Paris to inquire:
I know you now in euery true respect,
Ile grant you thus much then, say you affect
Me (whom you terme your owne.) Ile grow thus farre
Do not the Phagian marriners prepare
Their sailes and Oares, and now whilst we recite
Exchange of words about the wished night:
Say that euen now you vvere prepard to clime
my long wisht bed, iust at th' appointed time
The wind should alter and blow fayre for Troy,
You must breake off; in midst of all your ioy
And leaue me in the infancy of pleasure,
Amid my riches, I shall lose my treasure.
You will forsake the sweets my bed affoords,
T'exchange for Cabins, Hatches, and pitcht boords,
Then what a fickle Courtship you commence,
When, with the first vvind, all your Loue blowes hence.
But shall I follow you vvhen you are gone,
And be the graund-child to Laomedon?
And Islium see, whose beauty you proclaime?
I doe not so despise the bruit of fame,
That she to whom I am in debt such thanks,
Should fill the Earth with such adulterate pranks:
What will Achaia? What will Sparta say?
What will your Troy report and Asia?
What may old Priam or his reuerent Queene?
What may your Sisters hauing Hellen seene,
Or your Dardanian brothers deeme of me?
Will they not blame my loose inchastity:
Nay, how can you your self faithfull deem me,
And not amongst the loosest dames esteem me
No stranger shall your Asian Ports com neare
But he shall fill your guilty soule with feare.
How often (angry at some small offence)
Will you thus say; Adultresse, get thee hence,
Forgetting you your selfe haue been the chiefe
In my transgression, though not in my griefe.
Consider what it is forgetfull Louer,
To be sinnes Author, and sinnes sharpe reprouer,
But ere the least of all these Illes betide me,
I wish the earth may in her bosome hide me.
Suffer his Infant vigor be withstood,
A flame new kindled is as easily quench't,
And sudden sparkles in little drops are drencht:
A Trauellours Loue is like himselfe, vnstaid,
And wanders where he walkes, It is not layde
On any firmer ground, for when vve alone
Thinke him to vs, the winde blovves faire, hees gone:
Witnesse Hypsipile, alike betraide,
Witnesse vvith her, the bright Mynoyan maide:
224
To fayre Oenone haue your promise broken,
Since I beheld your face first, my desire
Hath beene, of Troyan Paris to inquire:
I know you now in euery true respect,
Ile grant you thus much then, say you affect
Me (whom you terme your owne.) Ile grow thus farre
Do not the Phagian marriners prepare
Their sailes and Oares, and now whilst we recite
Exchange of words about the wished night:
Say that euen now you vvere prepard to clime
my long wisht bed, iust at th' appointed time
The wind should alter and blow fayre for Troy,
You must breake off; in midst of all your ioy
And leaue me in the infancy of pleasure,
Amid my riches, I shall lose my treasure.
You will forsake the sweets my bed affoords,
T'exchange for Cabins, Hatches, and pitcht boords,
Then what a fickle Courtship you commence,
When, with the first vvind, all your Loue blowes hence.
But shall I follow you vvhen you are gone,
And be the graund-child to Laomedon?
And Islium see, whose beauty you proclaime?
I doe not so despise the bruit of fame,
That she to whom I am in debt such thanks,
Should fill the Earth with such adulterate pranks:
What will Achaia? What will Sparta say?
What will your Troy report and Asia?
What may old Priam or his reuerent Queene?
What may your Sisters hauing Hellen seene,
Or your Dardanian brothers deeme of me?
Will they not blame my loose inchastity:
Nay, how can you your self faithfull deem me,
And not amongst the loosest dames esteem me
No stranger shall your Asian Ports com neare
But he shall fill your guilty soule with feare.
How often (angry at some small offence)
Will you thus say; Adultresse, get thee hence,
Forgetting you your selfe haue been the chiefe
In my transgression, though not in my griefe.
225
To be sinnes Author, and sinnes sharpe reprouer,
But ere the least of all these Illes betide me,
I wish the earth may in her bosome hide me.
But I shall all your Phrygian wealth possesse,
And more then your Epistle can expresse;
Gifts, wouen gold, Imbrodery, rich attire,
Purple and Plate, or what I can desire?
Yet giue me leaue, thinke you all this extends
To counter-vaile the losse of my chiefe friends?
Whose friendship, or whose ayde shall I imploy,
To succour me when I am wrong'd in Troy?
Or whether can I, hauing thus misdone,
Vnto my Father or my Brothers ronne,
As much as you to me, false Iason swore
Vnto Medea, yet from Æsons dore
He after did exile her: Now poore hart,
Where is thy Father that should take thy part?
Old Ætes or Calciope? thou tookest
No aid from them, who thou before forsookest.
Or say thou didst (alas they cannot heare
Thy sad complaints) yet I no such thing feare,
No more Medea did, good hopes ingage
Themselues so farre, they faile in their presage:
You see the ships that in the Mayne are tost,
And many times by Tempests wrackt and lost,
Had at their launching from the Hauens mouth,
A smooth sea, and a calme gale from the South.
Besides, the brand your mother dreampt she bare
The night before your byrth, breeds me fresh care,
It Propheside, ere many yeares expire,
Inflamed Troy must burne with Greekish fire,
As Venus fauours you, because she gained
A double prize by you; yet the disdained
And vanquisht Goddesses, disgracst so late,
May beare you hard, I therefore feare their hate:
Nor make no question, but if I consort you,
And for a Rauisher our Greece report you:
Warre will be wag'd with Troy, and you shall rue,
The sword (alas) your conquest shall pursue:
When Hypodamia at her bridale feast,
Was rudely rauisht by her Centaur guest,
Because the Saluages the Bride durst ceaze,
War grew betwixt them and the Lapythes:
Or thinke you Menelaus hath no spleene?
Or that he hath not power to auenge his teene?
Or that old Tyndarus this wrong can smother?
Or the two famous Twins each lo'ud of other.
And more then your Epistle can expresse;
Gifts, wouen gold, Imbrodery, rich attire,
Purple and Plate, or what I can desire?
Yet giue me leaue, thinke you all this extends
To counter-vaile the losse of my chiefe friends?
Whose friendship, or whose ayde shall I imploy,
To succour me when I am wrong'd in Troy?
Or whether can I, hauing thus misdone,
Vnto my Father or my Brothers ronne,
As much as you to me, false Iason swore
Vnto Medea, yet from Æsons dore
He after did exile her: Now poore hart,
Where is thy Father that should take thy part?
Old Ætes or Calciope? thou tookest
No aid from them, who thou before forsookest.
Or say thou didst (alas they cannot heare
Thy sad complaints) yet I no such thing feare,
No more Medea did, good hopes ingage
Themselues so farre, they faile in their presage:
You see the ships that in the Mayne are tost,
And many times by Tempests wrackt and lost,
Had at their launching from the Hauens mouth,
A smooth sea, and a calme gale from the South.
Besides, the brand your mother dreampt she bare
The night before your byrth, breeds me fresh care,
It Propheside, ere many yeares expire,
Inflamed Troy must burne with Greekish fire,
As Venus fauours you, because she gained
A double prize by you; yet the disdained
And vanquisht Goddesses, disgracst so late,
May beare you hard, I therefore feare their hate:
Nor make no question, but if I consort you,
And for a Rauisher our Greece report you:
Warre will be wag'd with Troy, and you shall rue,
The sword (alas) your conquest shall pursue:
226
Was rudely rauisht by her Centaur guest,
Because the Saluages the Bride durst ceaze,
War grew betwixt them and the Lapythes:
Or thinke you Menelaus hath no spleene?
Or that he hath not power to auenge his teene?
Or that old Tyndarus this wrong can smother?
Or the two famous Twins each lo'ud of other.
So where your valour and rare deedes you boast,
And warlike spirits in which you tryumph most,
By which you haue attaind mongst Souldiers grace,
None will beleeue you that but sees your face,
Your feature and fayre shape, is fitter farre
For amorous Courtships, then remorselesse warre:
Let rough-hevv'd Souldiers warlike dangers proue,
Tis pitty Paris should do ought sane loue.
Hector (whom you so praise) for you may fight,
Ile finde you warre, to skirmish euery night,
Which shall become you better: Were I wise
And bold withall, I might obtaine the prize,
In such sweete single Combats, hand to hand,
Gainst which no woman that is wise vvill stand:
my Champion Ile encounter breast to breast,
Though I vvere sure to fall, and be o'repreast.
And warlike spirits in which you tryumph most,
By which you haue attaind mongst Souldiers grace,
None will beleeue you that but sees your face,
Your feature and fayre shape, is fitter farre
For amorous Courtships, then remorselesse warre:
Let rough-hevv'd Souldiers warlike dangers proue,
Tis pitty Paris should do ought sane loue.
Hector (whom you so praise) for you may fight,
Ile finde you warre, to skirmish euery night,
Which shall become you better: Were I wise
And bold withall, I might obtaine the prize,
In such sweete single Combats, hand to hand,
Gainst which no woman that is wise vvill stand:
my Champion Ile encounter breast to breast,
Though I vvere sure to fall, and be o'repreast.
In that you priuate conference intreat me,
I apprehend you, and you cannot cheat me,
I know the meaning durst I yeeld thereto,
Of what you vvould confer; What you would do,
You are too forward, you too farre would vvade,
But yet (God knowes) your haruests in the blade.
My tyred pen shall heere his labour end,
A guilty sence in the euish lines I send,
Speake next when your occasion best perswades,
By Clymenea and Æthra my two maydes.
I apprehend you, and you cannot cheat me,
I know the meaning durst I yeeld thereto,
Of what you vvould confer; What you would do,
You are too forward, you too farre would vvade,
But yet (God knowes) your haruests in the blade.
My tyred pen shall heere his labour end,
A guilty sence in the euish lines I send,
Speake next when your occasion best perswades,
By Clymenea and Æthra my two maydes.
227
1
These enter-changes of theyr Amors past,And Menelaus absent, they compound,
That in some place an ambush shall be plac't,
With which the Queene shall be incompast round,
And willingly surpriz'd, seeming agast,
and at theyr armes, to weepe, to shrieke, to sound:
But all in vaine, the Troyan seemes to feare her,
and force perforce, vnto his Fleet to beare her.
2
Shee in her frightfull agony, seemes dum,Yet when shee was past helpe, for helpe she cride,
She cals for rescue, that had rescue come,
Euen at the sight of Spartan armes had dide:
Shee seemes affrighted at the Troian drum,
and at theyr stearne allarmes terrifide:
Shee cals on Father, Husband, Brother, Friend,
Naming them most, who could her least defend.
3
This vprore made the bold Pannomans guardThe passage to their ships, still Hellen cryes
Vpon th'Acdians, from her rescue bar'd,
The rumour of her Rape through Sparta flyes,
Whilst Paris with his Souldiers keepes strict ward,
Launching at length with his desired prize:
Her two Twin-brother-Kings, that nothing doubt,
At the same season soiournd thereabout.
4
And hearing of their Sisters Rape, make hast,The Rauisher with fury to pursue,
They disimbogue, hoping to gaine at last
Sight of the Troian Nauye, which now grew
neere to the Hellespont, hauing quite past
Th'Ægean Sea, the Windes against them blew,
The Surges swell, and with the rough Winds meet,
Conspiring both the ruyne of the Fleet.
228
5
Ships, Sailes, and men, are swallowed in th'Abisse,The brothers to two Starres the Gods translate,
One of the Poles by Castor named is,
The tother Pollux, to record theyr fate,
Where now they shine in theyr Celestiall blisse,
But so farre distant in theyr blest estate,
As neither hath the power to see his brother,
For when we rayse the one, we loose the other.
6
By this time with his Troian Rape arriuesAt Tenedos, the amorous Troian Lad,
Which Priam vnderstanding, nobly striues
To welcome her (at her arriuall glad)
The Queene attended with the Noble Wiues
Of all the Troian Princes, richly clad,
Issues from Troy, with thousands following after,
To entertaine bright Lædaes rauisht daughter.
7
Behold where (on an aumbling Palfrey mountedWhite as her mothers feathers) she appeares,
Now one of Priams daughters counted,
For with that stile, young Paris Hellen cheeres,
At meeting, the old King himselfe dismounted,
and with soft kisses dryes her feigned teares,
Old Hecuba next Priam cheeres her mone,
and after her, her daughters one by one.
8
Hector and Troylus with the Lords of Troy,Kisse her by turnes, and with kind armes embrace her,
The people with applauses crowne theyr ioy,
Whilst Priam 'fore the multitude to grace her,
Betrothes the Spartan to his amorous boy,
And in's returne on his right hand doth place her,
Æneas and Anthenor highlie praisde,
Kneele to the King, and by his hand are raisde.
9
The long diuorced Peeres now enterchangeTheir free embracements, whom with kisses sweet
Theyr wiues, to whom such fauours were grown strange,
with theyr long absence wirh like language meete,
229
With prayse and wonder they her welcome greet,
Her beauty euen so deepe in Hector strake,
He now repines that he against her spake.
10
The ground is strewd with sweet and various flowers,In euery place is Musicke heard to sound,
From Tenedos in lesse then two short howers
They enter Troy, whose Walles are peopled round,
She wonders at their buildings and hye Towers,
The like to which in Sparta are not found,
Wals, wealth, and people, Pallace, all appearing
Richer to th'eye, then theyr report in hearing.
11
She treads not but on Arras; Casts her eyesBut on ritch hangings, beautyes, rooffes of Gold,
Iewels, State, Garments: Now she doth despise
The pouerty of Sparta, as things old,
The nouelties of Troy she gins to prise,
But most delights in her sweet armes to infold
Inamoured Paris, who as much excels
her husband; as Troy Sparta, in ought else.
12
The morrow coms, by Priam shee is ledTo Pallas Temple, and espoused there
To Paris; and at night conueyde to bed
By Hecuba, her bright Attendants were
Andromache, Crevsa, (and in stead
Of hand-maydes) Polyxene and Cressyde, deare
To Troylus; None saue Ladyes of estate,
Are suffred on the Spartan Queene to waite.
13
Eyght entyre dayes and nights, the hye feast lasts,And Troy's all mirth, whylst Sparta is all woe,
With swiftest speed a winged Curror hasts
As farre as Creet, Queene Hellens Rape to show,
Menelaus his sad howers in anguish wasts,
By this the Græcian Kinges his sorrowes know:
And of themselues assemble, offering free,
Theyr hostyle ayde, and in Troyes fall agree.
230
14
To bring so huge a Nauy on the Seas,Behooues vs know theyr names that first deuisde
These noble vessayles: whether for their ease,
Whether Ambitious, they the Land despisde,
Whether the Creatan Minos did first please
The sutges God: or Neptune enterprise
The foaming billowes, being by Saturnes motion,
Made Admirall of all the brinish Ocean.
15
Whether Ericthris in the red Sea sayledAnd first made Boats, which others would impute
To the Meones, such as neuer sayled
In th'Hellespont, or whether the pursuit
Of Danaus in the Egyptian Sea preuailed,
An honour which to him most attribute:
Or whether Navigators first had place,
In Atlas kingdome, or in Samo-Thrace.
16
This I averre, his Arke first Noah madeFore th'vniuersall Deluge, since his dayes
Iason the Greeke, who Colchos sought to invade,
Composde the Galley, which next him assayes
Sesostris King of Ægypt, In this Trade
Eytheus flourisht, whom our Anthors prayse
For Marine skill, his Barge did first deuide
The Surges with two Oares on eyther side.
17
First, with three course of Oares Amocles rowed,The Carthagens with foure, as many write,
With fiue Nesichthon: These were first bestowed
By the bold Romans in the great Sea-fight
At the first battayle Punicke: He that owed
The sixe-Oard barge to do Zenagaras right
Must yeld it him (in Siracusa dwelling
For ship-wrights Craft, all other much excelling.
18
Hyppias the Troyan the broad Lyter framed,The Cyrenens the Hoy, which some more fine,
The Gallioon call: with Barks the Cyprians tamed
The rude sea-Rouers, Cockboates (some diuine)
231
By the Phenetians first: the Brigandine
The Rhodians rear'd: the Canoas now in trade,
In India by the Germans were first made.
19
The Copians found the Rudder, the broad OareThe sly Plateans by their Art composed;
Young Icarus the saile not knowne before,
Which some affirme, King Æolus disclosed,
With Masts and Sayle-yards Dedalus did store
The Cretans: but the sterne Typhis disposed:
The stemme Pyseus: Anacharsis wrought
The Tackle, Anchors first the Tyrhens sought.
20
Athens first ferried men, whether we must drawTh'Græcian fleete, the great'st that hath bin seene,
Such store th'amazed Neptune neuer saw,
No not when France and England met betweene
Callice and vs, where after many a flaw;
Phillip gaue place to the third Edwards spleene,
Before, the blacke Prince, by wars prosperous chance,
Quater'd our Lyons with the Flowers of France.
21
Nor when the stout Venetian Gallies frameTheir expedition gainst the Turkes Armade,
Nor when Sea-wars Malta or Rhodes proclaime,
Whose ponderous hulkes the Oceans backe nie swayde,
Nor when th'inuincible huge Nauy came
In the yeare Eighty eight, England t'inuade:
Were there so many Vessailes well prouided,
As by the Argiue Pylots are now guided.
22
Great Agamemnon they Grand-Duke createOf all their powerfull hoast, who in the ayde
Of Menelaus, as one of hyest estate,
With full an hundred ships at Athens staide,
All stuft with Armed Knights sworne to the Fate
Of threatned Troy, whome they with scornes vpbraid,
With forty ships faire rig'd and well supplide
In Athens road, doth Menelaus now ride.
232
23
For Athens was their Randeuous, and thereKing Archelaus and Prothenor stay,
With fifty Ships that of Boetia were,
With fifty Ships from Orconomies bay:
Helmius and Duke Ascalaphus appeare,
The Kings Epistrophus and Sedius, way
Their Anchors next, and to the Spartan King,
Thirty tall ships rig'd from Phociden bring.
24
King Telamon launcht fifty Souldierd wellFrom Salamine, and in his princely traine
Duke Theuter, Polyxeme, and Thebes fell,
With Duke Amphimachus: from Pylon came
With three-ag'd Nestor fifty ships t'expell
The Troians from the Hellesponticke Maine;
Thoas with fifty ships the harbour sought,
whether K. Doxunois likewise fifty brought.
25
King Telamon Chileus three times tenAnd six good Ships rig'd, in the Spartans Quest,
Amphimachus and Polibetes, men
Of high resolue, accompany the rest
With thirty saile, King Idumeus then,
And Cretan Mereon their loues exprest,
They fourescore and two Frigots brought in place,
And thirty two Vlisses weighed from Thrace.
26
Twelue Ships from Phrygia Duke Tynelus brings,And from Phtlaca fifty two arriue,
at the great charge of two imperious Kings
Prothocathus: The Prince to that did wiue
Laodomeia faire, whose praise Fame sings,
Prothesilaus: Collesis seekes to driue
With foure and twenty Craers th'opposed fleets
Whom King Machaon by appointment meets.
27
Machaons Sonne Pollydris thirty three,Achilles two and twenty hath in store,
King Thelaphus as many, these agree
By their ioynt Armes to win the Troian shore,
233
The rauisht Queene with two and fifty more:
Anthipus and Amphimachus are seene,
From Rustican with Hulkes and Hoyes thirteene.
27
King Polybetes that from Rythee came,Bring sixty two, and in his friendly ayde,
His Brother the Duke Lopius mou'd with fame
Of these great warres, seekes Phrygia to inuade:
King Diomed of Arges threats the same,
Fourescore and two tall Vessailes he displaide:
Eurialus and Thelanus in sight,
Of all the hoast, beneath his Ensignes fight,
29
Thirteene K. Fureus, Polyphebus nine,Prothoylus fifty two, as many led
The King Carpenor of the Bresseian line,
Theorius foure and twenty colours spread,
In foure and twenty ships, all these in fine
In the Athenian part meet and make head:
Twelue hundred twenty Ships make th'Ocean trēble,
In whom full sixty nine bold Kings assemble.
38
But ere we further enter or proceedIn these Heroike wars, we hold it fit,
Before the Græcians or the Troians bleed,
To memorize their shapes; ere we admit
The Argiue Peeres (all in one thought agreed)
To be reueng'd on Troy, and ransacke it:
Hellen the first, as Pearelesse through all Lands,
As Venus picture that in Coos stands.
31
She was not dwarfe-like statur'd, nor too tall,Nor foggy fat, nor yet Consumptiue leane,
Her Wast not grosse, nor yet too slender-small,
Her faire proportion, was smooth, quaint, and cleane:
Her habit shadowed no extreame at all,
She was all shaped by the Golden meane;
So rare, that neuer eye dwelt on her Cheeke,
But lost it selfe, and had his light to seeke.
234
32
What should I with harsh Language slubber o'reExact perfection? Shall my ragged quill
In seeking Natures cunning to explore,
Iniure the worke in which she shewes such skill?
T'expresse such Graces as the Gods adore
In Hellen, would a spacious Volume fill:
And aske (should I her beauties al recite,)
A world of Paper, and an Age to write.
33
And all my Subiect should be Hellen, sheThat in the Vniuerse can find no peere:
Hellen the scope of all my Verse should be,
Yet to her worth my praise not once comes neere;
Therefore, since more them Hellen call on me
To speake their Valors, and insert them heere:
I leaue her with this Title: Hellen, fairest
Of all the World, and for Perfection rarest.
34
Bold Agamemnon Duke of all the Host,Invoakes me next his features to let downe,
Tall statur'd, ably limb'd, adored most
Of all the Argiues with th'imperiall Crowne:
White-bodied, straight, tres-puissant without boast,
Hardy, well-spoke, Ambitious of Renowne.
Menelaus, of meane stature, his voyce lowd,
Brown-hair'd, well set, Valiant in armes, not prowd.
35
Achilles, he whose Myrmidons defendedThe hoast of Greekes with a strong brazen Mure,
From Thetis Goddesse of the Sea discended,
Pourefull, expensiue, on his Couenant sure,
Bright-hair'd, his face and feature much commended,
His eye much fiery, his Complexion pure:
Broad shoulder'd, and big-arm'd, large brested, strong
His match in Armes, liu'd not the Greekes among.
36
King Tantalus, broad, fat, and hye withall,His head Crispe-blacke, his Beard-thicke, but not long,
Affable, Courteous, and despising bral,
Delighting much in Musicke, and in Song:
135
But in his deeds of Armes more actiue strong:
He that alone by the Greekes awfull rector,
Was chosen worthy to encounter Hector.
37
Aiax Oeleus was of smaller size,Of milder temper, Curteous, Blacke his haire,
His Colour fresh, himselfe of faire Emprize,
And a great part among the Princes bare;
Vlisses King of Ithaca most wise,
A right Mercurialist, in discourse rare,
An Orator, whom Iudging eares applaud,
Yet Oyly toong'd, full of deceit and fraud.
38
King Diomed, of Gyant-like aspect,The largest Greeke that menac'st Troy with steele:
A Prince, whom all the Princes must respect,
His ponderous blowes make many Troians reele,
Equally apt to fight, or to direct,
Dreadlesse of Fortune, or her turning wheele:
Comely, and deck't with all the guifts of Nature,
His hart hauing Correspondence with his stature.
39
The three-ag'd liuing Nestor, Pytous King,Slenderly-tall, his Visage Sagely graue
And promising Counsell, he whose Muse did sing
Of King Prothesilaus, to him gaue
The wreath, for quicke and Actiue combatting,
Yet all his Art his body cannot saue:
His looke effeminate, his Courage bold,
His strength by might, but not by feare controld.
40
Stout Neptolynus, in his Countenance grim,Blacke-hair'd, broad-ey'd, his hairy win-browes meet,
Arm'd at all points, deepe Riuers he would swim,
Though heauy bodied, actiue were his feet,
They that most curiously decipher him,
Report his Language stammering and vnsweet:
Palumides, faire-shapt, but sickly tender,
His Colour chearefull, but his stature slender.
136
41
Nereus Ipasse, the faire Greeke Homer lou'd,Penelaus, Leitus, Eurialus,
Clouius Arcecilaus, Nobly prou'd,
Ialmen of Boetia, Ascalaphus;
Bold Idomen, (a Fury) being mou'd,
The Phocean Scedius, and Amphimachus,
Prothous, Ieonteus, Polybetes,
Guneus, Æmilius, and great Philoctetes
42
Who brought the Arrowes dipt in Hydraes blood,To Troyes sad siege, there was the braue Prothenor,
By whom Podarces and King Merion stood
Tlepolemus, Cteatus, and Alphenor,
Phidippes, Anthipus a souldier good,
With stout Alceus soone, K. Agapenor,
Talpheus, Phetides, King Polyxemon,
Muestheus, Stenetus, Thoas, sonne to Andremon.
43
Rough Polidarius, fat, and scornefull proude,False of his promise, and yet warlike bold,
Mathaon of meane stature, yet aloude
For valiant to, and mongst the best inrold,
More princes did the Greeke pauilions shroud,
Whose shapes we leaue, to haue their merits told:
Now come we to Creseida, Calchas doughter,
So faire, that many warlike Princes sought her.
44
She was a worthy and a beautious Dame,Whom Troylus lou'd, and Diomedes sought,
To gaine her Grace, they wan immortall Fame,
And still their glorious spoiles to Cresseid brought,
For her the mighty Persian Sophy came,
To gaine her Loue, he gainst the Troyans fought:
Filling the number of the Græcian hoast,
Who waite but waftage to the Dardan Coast.
45
They call a Counsell, and dispatch awayAchilles and Patroclus to the Isle
Cald Delos, which our Cosmographers say,
Stands midst the Ciclades: Heere of long while
137
Giues answere (by his Oracle:) His smile
Cheares such as kneele, his frown strikes them with terror
Such was the Panims Faith, the Pagans Error.
46
To this faire Clyme (which some Ortigia call,)The Sun and Moone were in their Nonage seene,
Latona brought them forth: Heere first of all
Phœbus (the dayes God) and his Sister Queene
Cynthia, that guids the night, both rise and fall:
Heere stands the Temple, and the guilded Skreene,
On which Apolloes Statuë dwels for aye,
pronouncing Oracles to such as pray.
47
Heere did Achilles and Patroclus findThe Troian Calchas, reuerent Thystranes sonne,
Sent by King Priam to know Phœbus mind,
And what shall in these future warres be done:
The Oracles hath by his priests assignd,
That after ten yeares Troy shall be o're-run:
Which Calchas hearing, with Achilles makes
His speedy peace, and so his Troy forsakes.
48
Achilles proud of such a glorious pray,With these glad tydings to the Fleet returnes,
Who with all prosperous speed their Anchors way,
And whilst Troyes King reuolted, Calchas mournes,
Whose graue aduice was to his Realme chiefe stay,
No longer th' Argiue Duke his speed adiournes:
But launcheth his Fleet royall: They set sales,
And the calme Eurus yeilds them gentle Gales.
49
Diana (that was euer friend to Troy,)Neptune intreats, that may command his waues,
The great Armade of Græcia to destroy
And swallow them within his Briny graues,
She takes it ill, the Greekes depart with ioy
From Aulis Gulfe, yet none her license craues
Or offers at her Altars, the due rights
Of Sacrifice, amongst those Kings and Knights.
238
50
Amidst the wrathfull Tempest Calchas praiesTo Neptune and the Moone, their Fleet to spare,
Who not with words to be appeas'd, will raise
His tumbling waues, and tosse them in the ayre,
Vnlesse great Agamemnon Altars raise
To angry Cynthia, and performe his Prayer,
And on her bleeding Shrine, at Dians feet,
Kill Iphegenia to preserue the Fleet.
51
Loath is the Generall his Childs blood to spill,Yet holds it better that one Lady dye,
(Although his Daughter) then the Seas to fill
With Ships, bold Knights, and Kings aduanced hye:
Calchas the Priest the Innocent Maid doth kill,
T'appease Dianaes wrathfull Deity:
The Sacrifice perform'd, the wind blowes faire,
The Seas are calm'd, the Sun hath clear'd the Aire.
52
And now the wind playes with those swelling sailesWhich they but late in fury rent and tore,
Calme Zephyr cheares their Fleet with gentle Gales,
Which made but late the violent Surges rore,
(This can the Gods) but ere proud Greece preuailes,
Or Land their powers vpon the Phrygian shore:
Or that Scamander field in blood be dide,
We from our taske our selfe a while deuide.
241
The end of the tenth CANTO.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |