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. 13.
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 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
331
Canto. 13.
Argumentum
Achilles dotes on beauteous Polixaine,And at her faire request refraines the fielde,
The Truce expierd, both Hoasts prepare againe
For battaile, with proud harts, in valour steel'd:
The Greekes are beate backe, many kild and taine,
Patroclus don's Achilles Armes and shield:
Him Hector, for Achilles tooke and slew,
Whose Armor gone, his Mother seeks him new.
Arg. 2.
Truce after Combat, Hecuba is wonneBy Paris meanes, to league with Thetis sonne.
1
Awake soft Muse from sleepe, and after restShew thy selfe quicke and actiue in thy way,
Thy labouring flight and trauell long opprest
Is comforted, no longer then delay,
But with thy swiftest winges fly in the Quest
Of thy prefyxed goale: The happy day
In which this Kingdome did her wide armes spread,
To imbrace king Iames, our Soueraigne Lord & head.
332
2
And you (great Lord) to whom I DedicateA second worke, the yssue of my braine,
Accept this Twin to that you saw of late,
Sib to the first, and of the selfe-same straine,
That onely craue the shelters of your state,
To keepe it from all stormes of Haile and Raine,
Who neither dread the rage of winds or Thunder,
whilst your faire roofe they may be shadowed vnder.
3
Your fauour and protection deckes my phrase,And is to me like Ariadnes clew,
To guide me through the Laborinthean Maze,
In which my brain's intangled: Tis by you,
That euery vulger eye hath leaue to gaze,
and on this Proiect takes free enter view,
Which, but t'expresse a due debt (yet vnpaid)
Had still remain'd vnperfect and vnmade.
4
Proceed we then, and where we left repaire:About his head (the Tree) rough Aiax flings,
Like to a threatning Meteor in the aire,
Which where it lights exitiall ruin brings,
Such seemes th'vngrounded Oake, leauelesse and bare,
Who shakes ore Hectors Crest her rooted strings,
And with such rude impetuous fury fell,
T'haue dingd him through the Center downe to hel.
5
But Hector with his broad shield waits the fall,Which shiuers all the plates of his strong Targe:
The Græcians too much fury, strikes withall,
The plant from his owne hands, in his rough charge,
Vnarm'd once more they grapple, to make thrall
Each others strength: their armes sinnowy and large,
About their sides with mutuall strength they cling,
and wrastling striue, which can each other fling.
6
When loe, the Kings on bothsides much admiringTheir neuer equald valour, loth to lose
Such Champions, in whose charging or retyring
Their spring of victory, declines or Flowes,
333
The generall of each hoast his Warder throwes
Betweene the Combattants, who still contend.
By slight of strength to giue the difference end.
7
Two Guards from either Army step betweeneTheir heated furies, till their blood retyr'd,
For with fresh breath they both abate their spleene,
And cease that Combate thousands late admyr'd,
Instead of blowes their friendly Armes are seene
T'infold each other (with new loues inspyr'd)
Aiax his Belt pluckes from athwart his brest,
And giues to Hector (of all Knights the best.)
8
Who takes a good sword flesht on many a foe,And enter-chang'd with Aiax (but oh Fate)
Two ominous Tokens these good Knights bestow,
Which to themselues prou'd most vnfortunate,
To Hectors heeles must Aiax Baldricke grow,
And three times drag him by each Troian gate:
Whose sight whole Troy with clamorous shricks shal fill,
With Hectors sword, Aiax, must Aiax kil.
9
These passages of friendship giuen and tooke,Behold a Herald from the Towne appeares,
Who greets the proud Greekes with a friendly looke
From Priam, (reuerent both in state and yeares:)
Them, whom but late the Troians could not brooke,
Troy now inuites, and for a space forbeares
All hostile hate, betweene both hoasts proclaiming
A day of Iubile for feast and gaming.
10
The Faith of Hector as best hostage giuen,Th'inuasiue Kings in peace the Citty enter,
Whom Priam feasts, with all that vnder heauen
Can be found rare, or bred aboue the Center,
The Dames and Damsels all pale feare bereauen,
Amongst the dreadfull Greekes dare freely venter,
And they that late did fright them aboue measure,
Haue liberty to sport and Court their pleasure.
334
11
Vnpeered Hector (who had neuer seeneAchilles, (but on Horse-backe arm'd) before,
Eyes him with pleasure, and forgets all spleene,
And Thetis sonne that (but in blood and gore)
Stain'd and besmear'd, had neuer Hector seene,
Freely surueighs his shape: his robes he wore:
His brawny Limbes, broad bulk, his face, and stature,
Nor can he but applaud the pride of nature.
12
To whom Achilles thus? Hector, I seeA presence I could Loue, but his Fame hate,
Tis thy renowne alone doth blemish me,
And makes me in these warres vnfortunate,
I neuer yet dropt blood, but drain'd by thee,
For which, my teene is growne inueterate:
Nor could I rellish pleasure, but still trusting
To end thy dayes, by sword-fight, or by iusting.
13
To him the Heroë mildly thus replies:Æacides pursues a double wrong,
That comes from Greece our Citty to surprise,
And race our wals that we haue builded strong,
Your Loues we hold deere, but your hates despise,
(As opposites that dare not front vs long:
If more thou wouldst: To armes: referre the rest,
Sit, (for th'art welcome) freely tast our feast.
14
Priam and Agamemnon take chiefe place,The rest are rankt vnto their states or fames,
Troylus and Diomed, sit face to face,
and gin to brall, for Diomedes blames
Troylus, and Troylus him, to his disgrace
The iarres appeas'd, for see the fairest Dames
Of the best bloods of Troy, richly attired,
Bring in the Queene, whose state the Greekes admired
15
Hellen, Troyes Fire-brand sat at this hye feast,Nor did she blush to see her husband there,
Him, Paris thinkes a bold vnwelcome guest,
and that to Hellen he was plac'st too neere,
335
Her very sight hath cloyd him without cheare;
On Hecuba faire Pollixene attended,
Whose beauty great Achilles most commended.
16
Now the reuolted Calchas free time foundGainst Troylus, louely Cresseid to perswade,
With Arguments and words so firme and sound,
The Troian now no more may Court the Maid,
King Diomed must henceforth be the ground
Of all her passionate Loue, she can be staid
In Troy no longer (though she wisht it rather)
Shee's but a Child, and must obey her Father.
17
Whilst all the Kingly Leaders had lowd chatOf Chiualty, hye Bloods, and deeds of warre,
(And as their humors led, of this or that)
Of many a bleeding wound and grisly skarre,
Whilst some spake much, and some sat mute thereat,
Achilles eye fixt on a brighter starre
Then any shines, fixt mongst the heauenly fires,
The rarest Pollixene alone admires.
18
He neither can dilate of Noble deeds,Nor enter-change discourse of slaughtered Kings,
What comes of peace, or what of warre proceeds;
What profit rest, what hurt inuasion brings;
His new dissolued heart within him bleeds,
And from his Rocky brest a Fountaine springs
Of passion, onely by her sight ingendred,
In place of which, old hate is quite surrendred.
19
It now repents him he hath lift a bladeAgainst the Syre, that such a childe hath bred,
Or to the place that foster'd that sweet maide,
His bloody Myrmidons to battaile led;
Or that his dreadfull hand did once inuade
Her Brother (for whose Loue hee's well-nye dead)
To gaine whose beauty, he could find in hart,
Greece to renounce, and take the Troians part.
336
20
Queene Hecuba obserues Achilles passionThinking to make it vse-full to her good,
That the most strong of all the Argiue Nation,
Shall for her daughters sake spare Troian blood:
By this, the feast and Royall preparation
Breakes vp, the Kings that on their honors stood,
With bounteous thanks take leaue, bent on the morrow,
This Truce-full ioy to mix with hostile sorrow.
21
The selfe-same night by Hecubaes aduice,Vnto Achilles Tent faire Paris sends,
Offring his Sisters loue (held at hye price)
Mixt with the aged Queenes most kind commends,
With courteous words the bold Greeke they intice
To leaue the siege, which Thetis sonne intends
Her nuptiall bed being promist, with much ioy,
Answer's return'd, hee'l warre no more gainst Troy.
22
Now while he rests him in his Idle Tent,And to his amorous Harpe Loue-Ditties sings,
Both Armies sundry Stratagems inuent,
Great Hector to the field his puissance brings,
Vpon the plaine appeares incontinent
A gallant hoast led by th'incamped Kings:
Warres Musicke sounds, Mars trots vpon his Steed
Ore thousand mangled sides, that freshly bleed.
23
Sometime the Troian Leaders with their powers,Euen to their Pallisadoes beat the Foe,
Whence being repulst, the camp the Champion scowers
And fore Troyes gates their purple Launces grow,
Whom th'yssue from the Citty soone deuoures,
Againe the Greeke sustaines great ouerthrow:
Againe relieu'd, the Troian powers they face,
Whom to their Tents againe the Dardans chace.
24
Full thirty daies together Fortune striuesTo make their Conquest doubtfull, in which time
Vnnumbred Knights on both parts lost their liues,
Some in their waine of yeares, some in their prime,
337
Some loose their Fame, and some to honors clime:
Amongst whom Hector in the first ranke stands,
For deeds of name wrought by his warlike hands.
25
Though farre-fear'd Aiax did hye workes of Fame,And blacke-hair'd Agamemnon boldly fought;
Though strong-limb'd Diomed his worth proclame
By Martiall Acts midst fields of slaughter wrought,
Though Nestor oft-times to the battaile came,
And (to his strength and age) for honour sought:
Though Menelaus oft in field was seene,
Vlisses too, more full of guile, then spleene.
26
Though these and more among themselues contended,With æmulation to atchieue most praise,
Yet when great Hector to the field discended,
Back't by his Brothers, their swift current stayes,
Aboue them all his glorious worth extended,
The Greekes grow warre-tyr'd after thirty dayes:
And beaten to their Trenches much decayd,
They ioyntly flocke t'implore Achilles ayd.
27
Who with his Myrmidons from field abstaines,In hope to gaine the fairest Dame aliue,
Still through the fields remorselesse slaughter raines,
The Greekes beyond their Parapets they driue,
Still they intreat, he still their words disdaines,
Within the Campes skirts he may heare them striue:
Yet (all this notwithstanding) he seemes loath
To Arme himselfe against a sacred oath.
28
But when he saw the wounded souldiers run,Their bleeding heads amongst the Tents to hide,
Heard, by their swords so many slaughters done,
Beheld some mangled, that before him dide,
Found how the foe their Campe had well nye won,
Perceiu'd the fire burne bright on euery side,
Himselfe surcharg'd with Flames, in his tent sweating
And all the princes by his bed intreating.
338
29
He then relents, and at their faire request,Hee'l keepe his oath, and yet affoord them ayde,
For now the man whom he esteemed best,
He whom alone his bosome friend he made,
Patroclus don's his armes, his shield, his Crest,
And to his thigh girts his victorious blade:
And with three hundred Myrmidons attended,
He yssues where the Campe was least defended.
30
At his appearance when those armes were seeneSo well, among the Troians knowne and feared,
They make him way, Patroclus had not beene
Long in the place, but all the Greekes were cheared:
They that before stood like a haruest screene,
Gaue backe apace, for not a man appeared,
Patroclus still aduanc'st Achilles shield,
And with his Myrmidons maintaines the field:
31
Now horrid Massacre pursues apaceTh'astonisht Troians Paris, wounders most
To see Achilles arm'd, makes good the place,
And with such rage assault the Troian hoast,
That not a man dares their Pauillions face,
Or gainst the Myrmidons his valour boast:
He cals him troth-lesse, periur'd, false, forsworne,
And as he speakes (withal) is backward borne.
32
The cry growes great, which Hector ouer-hearing,He cals vpon his men to cease base flight,
And spying one aboue the rest appearing,
Dreadfull in shape, and all imbrude in fight,
His quakefull hand and sword, so often rearing,
He takes him for the warlike Pelean Knight
Achilles, of the Græcians great'st in pride,
Whom he had oft before in battaile tride.
33
He chuseth from his Page an Oaken speare,Hewed from the hart of Ihoues relentlesse tree,
And couching it, spurres with a full Carriere
Against Patroclus: his proud Steed was free,
339
At euery plunge the ground neere kist his knee:
His constant ayme, that neuer er'd at need,
Tops the proud Greeke from off his Noble steed.
34
And now Achilles armour strowes the field,Patroclus lyes vpon the Verdure spred,
Heere lay his sword, and there his trusty shield,
The Myrmidons (as had their Lord bin dead,
And neuer more victorious Armes should weild)
Al in disordred rankes retyr'd and fled:
Achilles armes ceizd, who durst longer stay?
This was the cause the Dardan wan the day.
35
When dead by Hector was Menetius son,And that his wounded body strowed the plaine,
(Quoth Hector) Now Achilles armes are won,
These are mine owne, and these wil I maintaine:
He strips the faire Patroclus (new foredone,)
And thought at first Achilles he had slaine:
But when he saw one not of God-like kind,
The Armes he takes, the body leaues behind.
36
Achilles franticke with so great disgrace,Losse both of friend, and of his glorious armes,
Torments himselfe with fury for a space,
Threatning to Princely Hector hostile harmes,
Yet when he thinkes to haue his life in chace,
And rowse the Worthy with his warres alarmes:
He now records his friends disgrace in field,
To combat him, he hath nor armes, nor Shield.
37
The bright-foot Amphetrite his fayre Mother,Knowing the griefe her sonne conceiues at hart,
Her true Maternall pitty cannot smother,
But with her care she seekes to cure his smart,
Instead of these, she will prouide him other
Made by Deuine composure, not Mans art,
And thus resolu'd, to Lemnos she doth hie,
Where Vulcan workes in heauenly Ferrarie.
340
38
She found him with his face all smoog'd and blacke,And labouring at his Forge quite hid in smoke,
The stifling fume kept the faire Goddesse backe,
About she was her soft steps to reuoke,
But whilst the Ciclops on their Anuiles thwacke,
She spies faire Charis, and to her she spoke:
That the Lame Mettall-God might vnderstand,
Thetis his friend, the Seas-Queene was at hand.
39
Charis the hand-maide, grace whose Office stillIs to strow Venus louely bed with Flowers,
And to them both Cælestiall Nectar fill,
As vnto Ihoue-himselfe faire Hebe powers,
Prayes the bright Goddesse but to stay vntill
The swetty Smith his face and visage skowers;
And whilst she tels the God of her repaire,
To ease her selfe in a rich golden Chaire.
40
Charis departs, she mounts the Inamel'd seat,The backe of solid Gold richly ingrau'd,
Cut and inchac'st, it shewed his skill was great,
and in the Metall too, no cost was sau'd,
So though the frame was large, his art was neat,
The foure supporters round about were slau'd
With pillers of white siluer, moulded so,
That by the worke, the worke-man you may know.
41
Meane time faire Charis to the Smith relates,How faire-foote Amphetrite stayes without,
at this report lame Vulcan thankes the Fates,
Who had so well his businesse brought about,
The Queene whose fauour he so highly rates,
Should take the paine to finde his Concaue out:
Of whom, he (falling through the Plannets seauen,)
More fauour found, then all the rest in heauen.
42
With that his apron from his brest he takes,His airy Bellowes haue surceast to blow,
He sleckes his Coales, his smoaky Forge forsakes,
Spunges his hands and face, then gins to throw
341
On to the Queene, whose mind he longs to know:
When after many a limping Curtsie made,
Thus Amphetrite doth the Smith perswade.
43
If euer I was held worthy the nameOf the seas-Queene, vnfortunate alone,
For of the seed of Gods deriu'd I came,
Yet (married to a Mortall,) find you none
Thetis except: yet ist to me no shame;
Behold my Deuine beauty, I was one
Euen Ihoue himselfe lou'd, whom, cause I denide,
In spight he gaue me to a Mortals Bride.
44
Yet am I not esteem'd amongst them least,For when my hye espousals were first made
In the Mount Pelion, all the Gods increast
My glory with their presence; for none stayed
Or kept away from th'Hymenean feast,
Sauing the Goddes discord, the Spheares plaid
Musicke to vs; my Peleus me contented
To grace, whom all the Gods rich gifts presented.
45
Ihoue gaue vs Graces on our bed to wait,Apollo, Ingots of the purest Gold,
Pluto, a smarag'd to be worne in state,
Iuno, a Iem worth, more then can be told,
Neptune two Steeds, aboue all Mortall rate,
Xanthus and Ballia, whom you may behold
Still draw my Coach, a rich Knife rarely wrought,
Mongst other presents you God Vulcan brought.
46
But what of these digressions, If my hapHath euer bin to do you any grace,
When falling from hye Heauen, in my soft lap
I gently catcht you, See: behold the place
On which your head fel, which to fold and wrap
In smoothest silkes, my robes I did vnlace:
For this, and much more kindnesse by me done,
Requite all, with an Armour for my sonne.
342
47
Inough (quoth Vulcan fetch Pyragmon straight)A parcell of the best and purest Steele,
And you Berountes let it finde the waight
Of your huge Hammers, and their ponders feele,
The Ciclops fetcht a Plate six Cubes in haight,
So Massie, that the burden made him reele;
Sceropes stain'd with smoake, the Bellowes blew,
And all at once themselues to worke withdrew.
48
They forg'd a Helmet with rich Flowers inchac'stSo curiously, that Art it much exceeded,
Borders of sundry workes about were plac'st,
The precise sight of the best eye they needed,
That could discerne the closures, they were grac'st
With God-like skill (from God-hood it proceeded)
For beauty, it was glorious to the sight,
For proofe, no Steele could on this Helmet bite.
49
The Gorget, Vaunt-brace, Backe-peece, brest, and all,Came from the selfe-same substance, and like skill,
The Cushes that beneath the girdle fall,
Impenetrable were, and Steele-proofe still,
And though the thickenesse did appeare but small,
The Plates they with such strength of Mettall fill:
It hath the force and puissance to withstand
The sharpest Speares hurl'd from the strongest hand.
50
Aboue them all, his shield the rest surpast,Massie, and onely for his Arme to weare
For whom twas made, vpon the same was ra'st
The great world Tripartyte: heauen and each Spheare,
Thence all the hye Circumference was pla'st
Starres, Moone, and Sun, the signes that rule the yeare,
The Ram, the Bull, and the Twin-brothers signe,
The Crab, the Lyon, and the Maid Deuine.
51
The Skale, the Scorpion, and the Centaure fell,Sterne Capricorne, and he that water powers,
The Fishes: all these were ingraued well,
There Phœbus stood, about him dayes and howers,
343
With sweetest Buddes: Sommer that seldome lowers
Stood next in ranke, well clad in freshest greene,
Autumne next her, in ragged Roabes was seene.
52
There stood old Winter in hye Furs attyred,On whom the flakes of Snow like Feathers hong,
He shyuering lookes, as if he warmth desired,
With chattering teeth, hands Palsied, quaking tong
Below the Earth, with Dales and Hils admired,
Fields full of Grayne, & Meads with Grasse new sprong:
Here Citties rarely built, there Hamlets stand,
Here fallow-fields, besides them, New-tild Land.
53
Betweene the middle Earth, Seas ebbe and flow,Whose Billowes in their caruing seeme to moue,
Here the Leuiathan huge waues doth throw
From out his Nostrils to the skyes aboue,
The Dolphins, of a thousand coullours show,
Here Whales their heads aboue the waters proue:
And sayling ships contriu'd by cunning rare,
On which strange Fish, with wonder seeme to state.
54
A thousand sundry Obiects made by Art,This huge Orbicular Shield in compasse holds,
What Heauen or Earth, or Seas to vs Impart,
His Globe-like compasse to the eye vnfolds,
When Vulcan taking the fayre Queene apart,
(who with much wonder his strange worke beholds:)
Presents it her, made perfect for her Son,
In whose rich armes, Troy seemes already won.
55
At Vulcans Caue she yoakes her Chariot-steeds,which o're the Oceans rugged backe make way,
And as she freely on the Seas proceeds,
About her Coach the Quicke-ear'd Dolphins play
At her Sonnes Tent (fam'd for his warlike deeds,
She lights, and to the Couch on which he lay:)
Tost those rich armes, which when Achilles view'd,
The halfe-dead spirit within his breast renew'd.
344
56
He leaps from of his Pallet, to imbraceThe beautious Queene, and soone intreats her ayde,
To arme his shoulders, and his head to grace,
With that inchaced Helme God Vulcan made,
Who now compleatly furnisht, longs for place
Where thus be-seene, he Hector may inuade:
He cannot sleepe for gazing on his Shield,
In hope t'aduance it in the Morrowes field.
57
Thetis departs, when th'early Cocke gaue signe,With his lowd notes Aurora to dispose,
Who leaues the Bed-rid Tython sunke in Wine,
From whom the Gold-hair'd Goddesse blushing rose,
To harnesse Phœbus Coach-steeds, who in fine
About his face, his Beames bright glistring throwes:
To dry the Mornings teares, who weepeth still,
To see th'vnkind Sunne climb th' Easterne hill.
58
He had not left the forelorne Goddesse long,But from Olimpus top he may espy,
Plaine-Crested Hector, his arm'd Troopes among,
Chearing them vp the proud Greekes to defy:
Next him marcht Noble Troylus, Memnon strong,
Antenor and Æneas mounted hye:
Young Deiphebus and Polydamas,
Paris, whose ayme in Arch'ry doth surpasse.
59
Sarpedon, King Epistropus: besideMany more Kings that sundry battailes led
Against these soone the Curld Inuaders ride,
The grim Atrides first aduan'st his hed,
Achilles next, past with vaine-glorious pride
For his rich armour, Nestor next him sped
Menon, whose armes were set with many a stone,
And (he that Hector stood) bold Telamon.
60
The Ithacan, with Lacedemons King,The widdowed Spartan: ground of all this broyle,
These to the fielde their seuerall battailes bring,
With thousand followers, bent on death and spoyle,
345
Harnesse and quartered limbes blocke the smooth soyle:
Amongst the rest, Achilles loftiest stood,
and his new armour double-Guilds in blood.
61
With Memnon, sonne to Tython and the Morne,Who came from Egipt in King Priams aide,
Æacides encounters, change of scorne
Betweene them past; bold Memnon nought dismaide,
With that strong hand that had the Scepter borne
Of Persiaes kingdome, and did once inuade
Susa, as farre as where Choaspes flowes,
Vpon his Helme thunders two persant blowes.
62
They stound him in his saddle, make him kisseHis Steeds curl'd Crest, ere he can Mount his head,
Achilles who esteemes no other blisse,
But to behold his foes before him spread,
(Wak't from his sudden trance) espyes by this,
A Græcian Squadron bout King Memnon dead,
And his bright sword still towring ore his Crest,
Threatning in his third fall, Eternall rest.
63
The proud Greeke sends a blush out of his face,as red as that in which his proofe was lau'de,
he now records his strength, his god-like race,
and his rich armour with such art ingrau'de,
He knowes it ill becomes his Name or Place,
By any Mortall puissance to be brau'de;
He doubles strength on strength, and stroak on stroak,
Euen till he mists himselfe in his owne smoake.
64
Auroraes Darling prooues to weake a FoeFor him, on whose tough Shield no Steele can bite,
His conquer'd Sword and Armes the field must strow,
Achilles is too strong an opposite,
His Red-cheek't Mother ouercharg'd with woe,
Laments her Son vntimely slaine in fight:
In griefe of whom, a Dusky Roabe she weares,
And fils the whole world with her dew-drop teares.
346
65
The death of Memnon euen to Hector flyes,That Tragicke newes cost many a Princes life,
Incenst, he seemes all safety to dispise,
And where he spurs, he makes red slaughter rife,
For euery drop of bloud, a bold Greeke dies:
Him Troylus seconds in his purpled strife:
And (if as for a wager) they contend,
Whose Sword most pale Soules can to Orcus send.
66
They breake a Ring of Harnesse, making wayInto the Battayles Center, where they see
a Noble Knight maintaine a gallant fray,
Gainst many Troian Knights (in valor free)
Yet of them all, this Champion gets the day,
The strongest cannot make him cringe his knee:
Polydamus against him brauely sped,
Yet still his gaz'd at Shield, safeguards his hed.
67
Against which Paris many arrowes spends,But all in vaine, they shiuer gainst his Targe,
and whom he best can reach his force extends
as far as life, the prisoned Soule t'enlarge,
Young Deiphebus to that place descends,
and with his Speare in reast, doth gainst him charge:
But the Dardanian fayles in his intent,
And from the Noble Knight is bleeding sent.
68
Victorious Hector at such deeds amaz'd,But more at the rich Armor that he ware,
Mannadge and shape in heart he highly praysd,
and in his honors longes to haue a share,
Hupon Larissaes King, that long had gaz'd
Vpon his valor, sees him fight so fayre:
A pointed Staffe against his breast he prooued,
But from his Steed the bold Greeke was not mooued.
69
Vnhappy Hupon could not stay the forceOf his keene Sword, but soone before him fals,
King Philos, next against him spurd his Horse,
And (turne thee valiant Greeke) aloud he cals,
347
It seem'd he was invr'd to such hot bials:
Hector no longer can his rage forbeare,
But gainst the vnknowne Knight aymes a stiffe Speare.
70
Who when he Hector from a far espyde,As if he had but sported with the rest,
and that was he gainst whom he should be tryde,
He thrild a Iauelin at the Dardans brest,
T'was terror to behold these Champions ride,
and skorch the Plumes that grew in eithers Crest,
With fire that from their Steele in sparkles flew,
No sooner dead, but still they forced new.
71
Ther's for Patroclus death, the proud Greeke sayesTher's for my armes, which thou didst basely win,
and as he speakes vpon his shoulders layes,
at euery dint his bruisde armes pincht his skin,
Hector now knowes his Champion by his phrase,
and by his stroake (he thinkes his armes too thin:)
Such puissant blowes, whose weight he scarce can like,
None but Achilles hand hath power to strike.
72
A well knowne Knight, in vnknowne armes he sees,against whose force he gathers all his might,
His hye-stretcht arme contendes to make him leese
All fore-past Fame, and hazard dreadfull fight,
But now the multitude like Swarmes of Bees
Betweene them flocke, who farre from all affright:
Vex in their heated bloods to be so parted,
So with their Steedes mongst other rankes they started.
73
Three puissant Kings beneath Prince Hector fell,Archilochus, a Souldier of hye Fame,
Prothenor, who in battailes did excell,
And with th' Atrides to the field then came:
King Archelaus too, a Champion fell,
Who mongst the Greekes had won a glorious Name:
And whilst halfe tyerd, he from the throng withdrew,
King Diomed the Sagittary slew.
348
74
Thoas tooke Prisoner, to the Towne was sent,Whom Paris with his arrowes had surprisde,
Antenor likewise to Vlisses Tent
Was Captiue led (whom he before depisde)
Epistropus, his hostile fury bent
Gainst Polyxenes, in rich armes disguisde;
They part, when Polixenes full of pride,
Crost-Hectors course, and by his valor dyde.
75
Once more the dauntlesse Troians haue the best,The night comes on, both Hoasts themselues with draw,
The Citties Captaines take them to their rest,
But th' Argiue Kings (that naught but ruine saw
Impendent still, whilst Hectors able brest
Bucklerd large Troy from each tempestuous flaw)
At Agamemnons Tent a Counsell call,
To find some traine, by which the Prince may fall.
76
Achilles oft-times Mated, vowes in heartWith his blacke Mirmidons to guirt him round,
And neuer from a second field depart,
Till Hectors length be measured on the ground,
Th'assembled Kings, whose bleeding wounds yet smart,
Vow by all meanes his puissance to confound:
For well they know whilst Noble Hector stands,
In vaine gainst Troy they reare their armed hands.
77
Night passeth on, and the gray Morne appeares,The Greekes a six-months Truce of Troy demaund,
In which the Campe bloud-staynd Scamander cleares
Of Bodies slaine by warres infernall hand,
A Herald to the Camp King Thoas beares,
Receiuing backe Antenor, Nobly man'd,
The Truce expires, both parties now prouide
To haue their Armes tight, and their Weapons tride.
78
Andromache this night dreampt a strange dreame,That if her Husband tryde the field that day,
His slaughter should be made the generall Theame
Of Troyes laments, she faine would haue him stay,
349
Her Life, his Honors, safety, or decay:
The ayde of Troy, their Vniuersall good,
To saue all these in keeping still his blood.
79
This (Hector censures) spoake from Womanish feare,He armes himselfe in hast and cals to Horse,
Takes in his hand a bright Brasse-headed Speare,
Longing for some on whom to proue his force,
Andromache spends many a ruthfull teare,
His thoughtes were fixt, they bred no soft remorse:
He armes for field, she to the Kings proceeds,
and tels his thus: If Hector fight, he bleedes.
80
Her dreame and feare she to the King relates,and praies him to entreat her Husband fayre,
Or if soft speech his purpose naught abates
To vse his power: This said, she doth repayre
Where Hecuba and Hellen kept their states,
and where the rest of Priams Daughters are:
To whose requests she knowes hee'l soonest yeild,
Still vrging them to keepe him from the field.
81
The Greekes Imbattayld are, and from the Towne,The Troians Issue the Mid-way to meet,
When from the loftie Pallace hastning downe
Andromache, prostrate at Hectors feet
Throwes her fayre selfe: and by King Priams Crowne,
His Mothers loue, her owne imbracements sweete:
his Brothers, Sisters, and his little Sonne,
Con-iures his stay, till one daies fight be done.
82
Hector bids one: she mingles words with teares,and once more casts her selfe to stop his way,
(That he shall backe) she begs, she wooes, she sweares,
and shun the battaile for that ominous day,
her horrid dreame hath fild her heart with feares,
And hill she hanges on him, to haue him stay:
She weepes, intreats, clinges, begs, and Coniures stil,
(In vaine) hee's arm'd, and to the battayle will.
350
83
King Priam by Antenors mouth desiresTo vnarme him streight, and to the Court returne,
For should his life fayle: Troyes fayre Sons and Sires,
Matrons and Damsels, for his death should mourne,
The Prince inrag'd, his Eye-bals sparkle fires,
With inward rage his troubled Entrails burne:
He knowes from whence these Coniurations spring,
And that his Wiues dreame hath incenst the King.
84
Yet will he forward: when the aged QueeneThis hearing: with the Spartan makes swift speede,
They ring his Horse: Intreat him cease his spleene,
And for one day to act no warlike deed,
The more they pray, the more they rouse his teene,
a purpose irremoueably decreede:
Hee'l put in action though they kneele and pray,
and compasse in his Steede to haue him stay.
85
This Priam vnderstanding, he descends,And in his face a gracefull reuerence brings,
He stayes his Courser by the Raines, and ends
The difference thus: Oh! Thou the awe of Kings,
Death to thy Foes, supporture to thy Friends,
From whose strong arme our generall safty springs:
Refraine this day, tempt not the Gods decree,
Who by thy Wife this night forwarneth thee.
86
The discontented Prince at length is wonne,Yet will he not vnarme him for them all,
But to expresse the duty of a Sonne,
With Priam and the rest he mountes the wall,
To see both Armies to the Skirmish ronne,
Where some stand hye, and some by slaughter fall:
King Diomed and Troylus from a farre,
Wafts to each other, as a signe of warre.
87
They meete like Bullets, by two Souldiers chang'd,Their way as swift, their charge as full of Terror,
Their Steedes keepe euen, they neither tript nor rang'd,
Both Man and Horse are free from any Error,
351
In Troylus, might be seene a Souldiers Mirror,
In Diomed, the patterne of such skill,
as they desire that would their Foe-men kill.
88
The fayre-browde Sky shrinkes vp her Azure face,Least their sharpe splinterd Staues should race her brow,
Both couer honor in this warlike race,
and in their hearts they eythers ruine vow,
But Menelaus happily came in place,
With him three hundred Knights that well knew how
To manage battaile, these betweene them grew,
and they to further ranks perforce withdrew.
89
Miseres (King of Phrigia) met by chanceThe Spartan King, and shooke him in his Seat,
Against Duke Aiax, Paris charg'd a Launce,
and him, the Sal'mine did but ill intreat,
At the first blow he stounds him in a trance,
Then midst the Troian rankes doth toyle and sweat:
Striuing behind, on both sides, and before,
Euen till his armes with bloud were vermeil'd o're.
90
Prince Margareton, vnto Hector deareKnowing the slaughter Noble Aiax made,
against his Vaunt-brace brauely prooues his Speare,
and to their vanquisht Phalanx brings fresh ayde,
Aiax is for'st his fury to forbeare,
The Troians powers on all sides him inuade,
Till Agamemnon comes with fresh supply,
at whose approach, th'astonish Troians fly.
91
Yet Noble Margareton keepes his stand,Nor can the strongest arme of Greece remoue him,
He feeles the strength of Agamemnons hand,
Grim Aiax sword with a towers weight doth proue him,
Yet shrinkes not, till the place was Nobly man'd
By Paris and Polydamus that loue him:
These hearing Margareton much distrest,
Rescue the Prince, who brauely guards his Crest.
352
92
It ioyes the King and Ladyes, that on hyStand on the Torras to behold the field,
To see the Prince so full of Chiualry,
And with such power to vse his Sword and Shield,
Achilles (in a place where thousands lye
Besmeard in bloud, as if he meant to build
a wall of Limbes and Quarters) brauely fought,
And bout himselfe a siedge of bodies wrought.
93
Where issuing after much effuse of bloodTo calme himselfe, remotely from the throng
(Retyerd alike) young Margareton stood
Striuing for breath, he had not rested long,
But spyes Achilles with a purple flood
Powerd o're his armes, a Iauelin light and strong
The valiant Troian Prince against him bent,
Whom the proud Greeke receiues incontinent.
94
From broken Speares they come to two-edg'd Steele,Oh! How stont Hector yernd to be in place,
His very Soule doth all the puissance feele
Of him that hath his Brothers life in chace,
No stroake that makes Prince Margareton reele,
But (as he thinkes) it tingles on his face:
And from the wall in Armour he had lept,
Had not the King and Queene perforce him kept.
95
By this the youthfull Priameian tyerdWith oddes of might, he wauers too and fro,
Doubtfull which way to fall, the Greeke admierd
To find so young a gallant plunge him so,
and therefore with his ancient rankor fierd,
He doubles and redoubles blow and blow:
Till he (whose deere life was to Hector sweet)
Sinkes from his Horse beneath his ruthlesse feete.
96
Who with his barb'd Steede tramples o're his Coarse,Whose Iron hoofe the Princes armor raceth,
This Hector seeing, breakes from all their force,
He claps his Beauer downe, his Helme fast laceth,
353
(And yssuing) where he rides, the enemy cheareth:
For Margaretons death, he vowes that day,
Achilles with a thousand more shall pay.
97
Two Noble Dukes he chargeth, and both slew,Duke Coriphus, Bastidius big and tall,
And forth like lightning mongst their squadrons flew,
Where such as cannot flye before him fall,
Leocides an Armour fresh and new,
(He was amongst the Greekes chiefe Admirall)
Would proue gainst Hector, but in his swift race,
The Troians Speare brake on the Græcians face.
98
A splinter strooke the Greeke into the braine,And downe he sinkes, Achilles full of yre,
Spying so many bold Pelasgians slaine,
Prickes on with Polyceus: both desire
To proue themselues with Hector on the plaine,
The bold assaylants need not farre inquire
For the sterne Prince: In that part of the host,
Th'are sure to find him where the cry growes most.
99
Both Menace him, gainst both he stands prepared,Duke Policeus to Achilles deare,
(Whose Sister he was promist, had warre spared
His destin'd life) drew to the Troians neare,
At the first stroke his Beauer'd face he bared,
But with the next his sparpled braines appeare,
Achilles mads at this, and sweares on hye,
For Polyceus death, Hector shall dye.
100
His threatned vengeance Hector did soone quaile,For through his thigh he quiuers a sharpe Dart,
Achilles feeles his bleeding sinnowes faile,
And with all speed doth to his Tent depart,
Where hauing bound his wound vp, wan and pale,
With fury, and the rancor of his hart;
Three hundred Myrmidons that all things dar'd,
he leads to field his person to saue gard.
354
101
Swearing them all theyr ioynt-rage to bestowOn Hector, and on him sterne vengeance power,
And sauing him t'intend no Dardan Foe,
That Heauen with him may on his Conquests lower,
They listen where the clamors loudest grow,
And there spy Hector, wald in like a Tower
With heapes of men, that bout him bleeding lay,
For not a liuing Greeke durst neere him stay.
102
Now tyrd with slaughter, he was lean'd vponThe Pomell of his bright victorious Blade,
and for his strength and breath was almost gone,
His Armour he had slackt, it loosely playde
about his shoulders (for he dreaded none:)
Him now the bloudy Myrmidons inuade:
In three-fold rings about him they were guided,
To take the Noble Heroë vnprouided.
103
Oh! Where is Paris with his Archers bow?Where's youthfull Deiphebus now at need?
Where's the inuinced Troylus, to bestow
His puissant stroakes before Prince Hector bleed?
Where is Æneas to repulse the foe?
You Troyes confedred Kings, where do you speede?
Bring rescue now, or in his Mountaine fall
Beneath destruction, he will crush you all.
104
All these are absent, naught saue death and ruineCompasse the Prince, a tripple ring of blades
Inguirts him round, who still their rankes renewing,
Threaten to send him to th'infernall shades,
With bloudy appetites his fall pursuing,
Achilles as they shrinke, on hye perswades
With promises: and some with threats, he sweares
To pay the base shame of their dastard feares.
105
A hundred Myrmidons before him lyeDrownde in their owne blouds, by his strong arme shed,
The rest renew the charge with fresh supply,
and thunder on his shoulders, armes, and head,
353
To see the hunger of his Blood-hounds fed:
Was neuer Mortall, without might of Gods,
That stood so long against such powerfull ods.
106
They hew his armour peece-meale from his backe,Yet still the valiant Prince maintaines the fray,
Though but halfe-harnest, yet he holds them tacke,
And still the bloudy Slaues vpon him lay,
Armour and breath at once the Prince doth lacke,
Stor'd with nought else saue wounds (alacke the day:)
Yet like a stedfast rocke the worthy stood,
From whom ran twenty seuerall springs of blood.
107
This, when the fresh-breath'd Greeke beheld, and sawSo much effuse of blood about him run,
He chargd his warlike Myrmidons withdraw,
And crying out alowd: Now Troy is won,
(With shamefull oddes against all Knight-hoods law)
Gainst naked Hector, well-arm'd Thetis son
Aymes a stiffe Iauelin, and against him rides,
The ruthlesse staffe through-pierst his Royall sides.
108
With him King Priam and whole Asiaes glory,Queene Hecuba with all her daughters faire
Sinke into Lethe, euen the Gods are sorry
To see the man they made without compare,
So basely fall, to make Achilles story
Reproachfull to all eares that would not spare
So great a Worthy, but with oddes strike vnder,
Him that atchieud things beyond strength & wonder
109
Hector thus falne, the Troians (whose whole powerLay in the arme of Hector) flye the field,
And now th'incourag'd Greekes Scamander scower,
(The head subdude, the body needs must yeild,)
Behold the Prince that aw'd within this hower,
Millions of Greekes lyes dead vpon his shield,
He gone, whose Atlas Arme vpheld their states,
Amazed Troy rams-vp her sieged Gates.
356
110
At sight of which Achilles sweld with rage,From Hectors breast, the Belt Aiax him gaue
Snatcheth in hast, and his sad spleene t'asswage,
Fetters his Legges, and like a conquerd slaue,
Voyde of all honor, ruth, or Counsell sage,
at his Horse-heeles he drags him like a slaue:
Hauing Troyes wall first three-times circled round,
hurdling the Dardan Heroë on the ground.
111
To thinke so braue a Peere should basely bleede,A Prince t'insult vpon a slaughter'd Foe,
and gainst a worthy act so base a deede,
Makes my soft eye with Springs of Sorrow flow,
Nor can I further at this time proceede,
The Greekes blacke practise doth offend me so,
Heare therefore I desist my Tragicke verse,
To mourne in silence o're Prince Hectors hearse.
357
The end of the thirteenth CANTO.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |