The Whole Works of Homer :: :: University of Virginia Library

Paris (betwixt the Hoasts) to single fight
(Of all the Greekes) dares the most hardie knight:
King Menelaus, doth accept his braue,
Conditioning that he againe should haue
Faire Helena, with all she brought to Troy,
If he subdu'd; else Paris should enioy
Her, and her wealth, in peace. Conquest doth grant
Her deare wreath to the Grecian combattant;
But Venus, to her champions life doth yeeld
Safe rescue, and conueyes him from the field,
Into his chamber; and for Hellen sends;
Whom much, her louers foule disgrace offends;
Yet Venus, for him still makes good her charmes,
And ends the second combat in his armes.

Another Argument.

Gamma, the single fight doth sing
Twixt Paris, and the Spartan king.

When euery least Commanders will, best souldiers had obaide,
And both the hosts were rang'd for fight, the Troians would haue fraid
The Greeks with noises; crying out, in coming rudely on:
At all parts like the Cranes that fill, with harsh confusion,

The Troians compared to Cranes.

Of brutish clanges, all the aire: and in ridiculous warre,
(Eschuing the vnsufferd stormes, shot from the winters starre)
Visite the Ocean; and conferre, the Pygmei souldiers death.
The Greeks charg'd silent, and like men, bestow'd their thriftie breath

The silent assalt of the Greekes.

In strength of far-resounding blowes; still entertaining care
Of eithers rescue, when their strength, did their engagements dare.
And as vpon a hils steepe tops, the Southwind powres a cloud
To shepheards thanklesse; but by theeues, that loue the night, allowd;
A darknesse letting downe, that blinds, a stones cast off men eyes:
Such darknesse from the Greeks swift feet, (made all of dust) did rise.
But ere sterne conflict mixt both strengths, faire Paris stept before
The Troian host; athwart his backe, a Panthers hide he wore,
A crooked bow, and sword, and shooke, two brazen-headed darts;
With which (well arm'd) his tongue prouok't, the best of Grecian hearts
To stand with him in single fight. Whom, when the man wrong'd most
Of all the Greekes, so gloriously, saw stalke before the host;

As when a Lion is reioyc't (with hunger halfe forlorne)
That finds some sweet prey; (as a Hart, whose grace lies in his horne,
Or Syluane Goate) which he deuours, though neuer so pursu'd
With dogs and men; so Spartas king, exulted, when he view'd
The faire-fac'd Paris so exposde, to his so thirsted wreake,
Whereof his good cause made him sure. The Grecian front did breake,
And forth he rusht, at all parts arm'd: leapt from his chariot,
And royally prepar'd for charge. Which seene, cold terror shot

Paris flieth at sight of Menelaus.

The heart of Paris, who retir'd, as headlong from the king,
As in him, he had shund his death: and as a hilly spring,

Simile.

Presents a serpent to a man, full vnderneath his feete,
Her blew necke (swolne with poison) raisd, and her sting out, to greet
His heedlesse entrie: sodainely, his walke he altereth;
Starts backe amaz'd, is shooke with feare, and lookes as pale as death:
So Menelaus, Paris scar'd: so that diuine fac't foe,
Shrunke in his beauties. Which beheld, by Hector, he let go

Hector to Paris.

This bitter checke at him. Accurst, made but in beauties skorne;
Impostor, womans man! O heauen, that thou hadst neare bene borne,
Or (being so manlesse) neuer liu'd, to beare mans noblest state,
The nuptiall honor; which I wish, because it were a fate
Much better for thee, then this shame; this spectacle doth make
A man a monster: Harke how lowd, the Greekes laugh, who did take
Thy faire forme, for a continent, of parts as faire; a rape
Thou mad'st of Nature, like their Queene. No soule; an emptie shape
Takes vp thy being: yet, how spight, to euerie shade of good,
Fils it with ill? for as thou art, thou couldst collect a brood
Of others like thee: and farre hence, fetch ill enough to vs;
Euen to thy father: all these friends; make those foes mocke them thus,
In thee: for whose ridiculous sake, so seriously they lay,
All Greece, and Fate vpon their necks: O wretch! not dare to stay
Weake Menelaus? But twas well: for in him, thou hadst tried
What strength, lost beautie can infuse; and with the more griefe died,
To feele thou robdst a worthier man; to wrong a souldiers right.
Your Harps sweet touch, curld lockes, fine shape, and gifts so exquisite,
Giuen thee by Venus, would haue done, your fine Dames little good,
When bloud and dust had ruffled them; and had as little stood
Thy selfe in stead; but what thy care, of all these in thee flies,
We should inflict on thee our selues: infectious cowardise
(In thee) hath terrified our host; for which, thou well deseru'st
A coate of Tomb-stone, not of steele: in which, for forme thou seru'st.

Paris to Hector.

To this thus Paris spake, (for forme, that might inhabit heauen)
Hector? Because thy sharpe reproofe, is out of iustice giuen,
I take it well: but though thy heart (inur'd to these affrights
Cuts through them, as an axe through Oke; that, more vsd, more excites
The workmans facultie: whose art, can make the edge go farre;
Yet I (lesse practisd, then thy selfe, in these extremes of warre)
May well be pardond, though lesse bold; in these, your worth exceeds;
In others, mine: Nor is my mind, of lesse force to the deeds

Requir'd in warte; because my forme, more flowes in gifts of peace.
Reproach not therefore the kind gifts, of golden Cyprides;
All heau'ns gifts haue their worthie price; as little to be scorn'd,
As to be wonne with strength, wealth, state; with which, to be adorn'd,
Some man would change, state, wealth, or strength. But if your martiall heart
Wish me to make my challenge good, and hold it such a part
Of shame to giue it ouer thus; cause all the rest to rest;
And twixt both hosts, let Spartas king, and me performe our best,
For Hellen, and the wealth she brought: and he that ouercomes,
Or proues superiour any way, in all your equall doomes,
Let him enioy her vtmost wealth, keepe her, or take her home;
The rest strike leagues of endlesse date, and heartie friends become;
You dwelling safe in gleby Troy, the Greekes retire their force,
T'Achaia, that breeds fairest Dames: and Argos, fairest horse.

He said, and his amendsfull words, did Hector highly please;
Who rusht betwixt the fighting hoasts, and made the Troians cease,
By holding vp, in midst, his lance: the Grecians noted not
The signall he for parle vsde, but at him fiercely shot;
Hurld stones, and still were leuelling darts. At last, the king of men
(Great Agamemnon) cried alowd: Argiues? for shame containe:

Agamemnon restraines the fight against Hector. Hector to the Greekes and Troians.

Youths of Achaia? shoot no more; the faire-helm'd-Hector showes
As he desir'd to treate with vs. This said, all ceast from blowes;
And Hector spake to both the hosts: Troians? and hardie Greekes?
Heare now, what he that stird these warres, for their cessation seekes:
He bids vs all, and you disarme, that he alone may fight
With Menelaus, for vs all; for Hellen and her right,
With all the dowre she brought to Troy; and he that wins the day,
Or is, in all the art of armes, superiour any way;
The Queene, and all her sorts of wealth, let him at will enioy;
The rest strike truce; and let loue seale, firme leagues twixt Greece and Troy.

The Greeke host wondred at this Braue: silence flew euery where;
At last, spake Spartas warlike king: Now also giue me eare,

Menelaus to both the armies.

Whom griefe giues most cause of replie; I now haue hope to free
The Greekes and Troians of all ils, they haue sustaind for me
And Alexander, that was cause, I stretcht my splene so farre.
Of both then, which is nearest fate, let his death end the warre:
The rest immediatly retire, and greet all homes in peace.
Go then (to blesse your champion, and giue his powers successe)
Fetch for the Earth, and for the Sunne, (the Gods on whom ye call)
Two lambes, a blacke one and a white: a femall, and a male;
And we, another for our selues, will fetch, and kill to Ioue;
To signe which rites, bring Priams force; because we well approue,
His sonnes perfidious, enuious, (and out of practisd bane
To faith, when she beleeues in them) Ioues high truce may prophane,
All yong mens hearts, are still vnstaid: but in those wel-weigh'd deeds
An old man will consent to passe, things past, and what succeeds
He lookes into; that he may know, how best to make his way
Through both the fortunes of a fact: and will the worst obay.

(This granted,) A delightfull hope, both Greekes and Troians fed,
Of long'd-for rest, from those long toyles, their tedious warre had bred.
Their horses then in ranke they set, drawne from their chariots round;
Descend themselues, tooke off their armes, and plac't them on the ground,
Neare one another; for the space, twixt both the hosts was small.

Hector sendeth for Priam.

Hector two heralds sent to Troy, that they from thence might call
King Priam; and to bring the lambes, to rate the truce they swore.
But Agamemnon to the fleet, Talibibius sent before,
To fetch their lambe; who nothing slackt, the royall charge was giuen.

Iris to Hellen.

Iris the raine-bow then came downe, Ambassadresse from heauen,
To white arm'd Hellen; she assum'd, at euery part, the grace
Of Hellens last loues sisters shape; who had the highest place
In Hellens loue; and had to name, Laodice; most faire
Of all the daughters Priam had: and made the nuptiall paire,
With Helicaon; royall sproute, of old Antenors seed;
She found Queene Hellena at home, at worke about a weed,
Wou'n for her selfe: it shin'd like fire; was rich, and full of sise;
The worke of both sides being alike, in which she did comprise
The many labors, warlike Troy, and brasse-arm'd Greece endur'd,
For her faire sake, by cruell Mars, and his sterne friends procur'd.
Iris came in in ioyfull haste, and said: O come with me,
(Lou'd Nymph) and an admired sight, of Greekes and Troians see;
Who first on one another brought, a warre so full of teares,
(Euen thirstie of contentious warre) now euerie man forbeares,
And friendly by each other sits, each leaning on his shield;
Their long and shining lances pitcht, fast by them in the field.
Paris, and Spartas king alone, must take vp all the strife;
And he that conquers, onely call, faire Hellena his wife.

Thus spake the thousand colour'd Dame: and to her mind commends

Hellens desire to see her first husband & friends.

The ioy to see her first espousd, her natiue tow'rs, and friends;
Which stir'd a sweet desire in her, to serue the which, she hi'd:
Shadowed her graces with white veiles, and (though she tooke a pride
To set her thoughts at gaze, and see, in her cleare beauties flood
What choice of glorie swum to her, yet tender womanhood)
Season'd with teares, her ioyes to see, more ioyes the more offence:
And that perfection could not flow, from earthly excellence.

Thus went she forth, and tooke with her, her women most of name,
Æthra, Pitthaus louely birth: and Clymene, whom fame
Hath, for her faire eyes, memorisd. They reacht the Scæan towrs,
Where Priam sat to see the fight, with all his Counsellours,
Panthous, Lampus, Clitius, and stout Hycetaon,
Thimætes, wise Antenor, and profound Vcalegon:
All graue old men, and souldiers, they had bene, but for age

Old men, and their weake vtterance, most aptly compared to Grashoppers and their singing.

Now left the warres; yet Counsellors, they were exceeding sage.
And, as in well-growne woods, on trees, cold spinie Grashoppers
Sit chirping, and send voices out, that scarce can pierce our eares,

For softnesse, and their weake faint sounds: So (talking on the towre)
These Seniors of the people sate: who when they saw the powre

Of beautie, in the Queene ascend; euen those cold-spirited Peeres;
Those wise, and almost witherd men; found this heate in their yeares;

Hellens beautie moues euen the oldest.

That they were forc't (though whispering) to say; what man can blame
The Greekes, and Troians to endure, for so admir'd a Dame,
So many miseries, and so long? In her sweet countenance shine
Lookes like the Goddesses: and yet (though neuer so diuine)
Before we boast, vniustly still, of her enforced prise,
And iustly suffer for her sake, with all our progenies,
Labor, and ruine; let her go: the profit of our land,
Must passe the beautie. Thus, though these, could beare so fit a hand
On their affections; yet when all, their grauest powers were vsde;
They could not chuse but welcome her; and rather they accusde
The Gods, then beautie; for thus spake, the most fam'd king of Troy;
Come, loued daughter, sit by me, and take the worthy ioy

Priam cals Hellen to informe him of the Greeke Princes.

Of thy first husbands sight; old friends, and Princes neare allyed:
And name me some of these braue Greekes, so manly beautified.
Come: do not thinke, I lay the warres, endur'd by vs, on thee;
The Gods haue sent them, and the teares, in which they swumme to me.
Sit then, and name this goodly Greeke, so tall, and broadly spred,
Who then the rest, that stand by him, is higher by the head;
The brauest man I euer saw, and most maiesticall;
His onely presence, makes me thinke, him king amongst them all.

The fairest of her sexe replyed; Most reuerend fath'r in law:

Hellen to Priam

Most lou'd, most fear'd; would some ill death, had seizd me, when I saw
The first meane, why I wrong'd you thus; that I had neuer lost,
The sight of these my ancient friends; of him that lou'd me most;
Of my sole daughter, brothers both; with all those kindly mates,
Of one soyle, one age borne with me; though vnder different fates.
But these boones enuious starres denie; the memorie of these,
In sorrow pines those beauties now, that then did too much please;
Nor satisfie they your demand; to which I thus replie:
That's Agamemnon, (Atreus sonne) the great in Emperie;
A king, whom double royaltie, doth crowne, being great and good;
And one that was my brother in law, when I contain'd my blood,
And was more worthie; if at all, I might be said to be,
My Being, being lost so soone, in all that honour'd me?

The good old king admir'd, and said: O Atreus blessed sonne!

Priams admiration of Agamemnon.

Borne vnder ioyfull destinies, that hast the Empire wonne
Of such a world of Grecian youths, as I discouer here;
I once marcht into Phrygia, that many vines doth beare,
Where many Phrygians I beheld, well skild in vse of horse;
That of the two men, like two Gods, were the commanded force,
(Otrœus, and great Migdonus) who on Sangarius sands,
Set downe their tents; with whom my selfe (for my assistant bands)
Was numbred as a man in chiefe: the cause of warre was then,
Th' Amazon dames, that in their facts, affected to be men.
In all, there was a mightie powre, which yet did neuer rise,
To equall these Achaian youths, that haue the sable eyes.

Then (seeing Vlysses next) he said, Lou'd daughter what is he,
That lower then great Atreus sonne, seemes by the head to me?
Yet in his shoulders, and big breast, presents a broader show;
His armor lies vpon the earth: he vp and downe doth go,
To see his souldiers keepe their rankes, and ready haue their armes;
If, in this truce, they should be tried, by any false alarmes.
Much like a well growne Bel-weather, or feltred Ram he shewes,
That walkes before a wealthie flocke, of faire white-fleeced Ewes.

High Ioue, and Ledas fairest seed, to Priam thus replies:

Vlysses described

This is the old Laertes sonne, Vlysses, cald the wise;
Who, though vnfruitfull Ithaca, was made his nursing seate,
Yet knowes he euerie sort of sleight: and is in counsels great.

Antenor to Hellen by way of digression.

The wise Antenor answerd her; Tis true, renowmed dame;
For, some times past, wise Ithacus, to Troy a Legate came
With Menelaus, for your cause: to whom I gaue receit,
As guests; and welcom'd to my house, with all the loue I might.
I learn'd the wisdomes of their soules, and humors of their blood:
For when the Troian Councell met, and these together stood,
By height of his broad shoulders had, Atrides eminence;
Yet set, Vlysses did exceed, and bred more reuerence.
And when their counsels and their words, they woue in one; the speech
Of Atreus sonne was passing lowd, small, fast, yet did not reach
To much; being naturally borne, Laconicall: nor would
His humor lie for any thing; or was (like th' other) old.
But when the prudent Ithacus, did to his counsels rise,
He stood a little still, and fixt, vpon the earth his eyes;
His scepter mouing neither way, but held it formally,
Like one that vainely doth affect. Of wrathfull qualitie,

Vlysses wisdome admirably illustrated by similitude.

And franticke (rashly iudging him) you would haue said he was;
But when out of his ample breast, he gaue his great voice passe,
And words that flew about our eares, like drifts of winters snow;
None thenceforth, might contend with him; though nought admird for show.

The third man, aged Priam markt, was Aiax Telamon:
Of whom he askt; What Lord is that, so large of limme, and bone;
So raisd in height, that to his breast, I see there reacheth none?

To him the Goddesse of her sexe, the large veild Hellen said;

Aiax Telamon the Grecian bulwarke. Idomeneus king of Crete.

That Lord is Aiax Telamon, a Bulwarke in their aide.
On th' other side stands Idomen, in Crete of most command,
And round about his royall sides, his Cretane captaines stand.
Oft hath the warlike Spartan king, giuen hospitable due,
To him within our Lacene court, and all his retinue.
And now the other Achiue Dukes, I generally discerne;
All which I know; and all their names, could make thee quickly learne.
Two Princes of the people yet, I no where can behold;

Castor and Pollux brothers to Hellen.

Castor, the skilfull knight on horse, and Pollux vncontrold,
For all stand-fights, and force of hand; both at a burthen bred,
My naturall brothers: either here, they haue not followed,
From louely Sparta; or (arriu'd within the sea-borne fleet)

(In feare of infamie for me) in broad field shame to meet.

Nor so; for holy Tellus wombe, inclosd those worthy men,
In Sparta, their beloued soyle. The voicefull heralds then,

The heralds prepare for the compact.

The firme agreement of the Gods, through all the citie ring:
Two lambs, and spirit-refreshing wine (the fruit of earth) they bring,
Within a Goate-skin bottle closd; Idæus also brought
A massie glittering boll, and cups, that all of gold were wrought:
Which bearing to the king they cride; Sonne of Laomedon?

Idæus to Priamus.

Rise; for the wel-rode Peeres of Troy, and brasse-arm'd Greekes in one,
Send to thee, to descend to field, that they firme vowes may make;
For, Paris and the Spartan king, must fight for Hellens sake,
With long arm'd lances; and the man, that proues victorious,
The woman and the wealth she brought, shall follow to his house;
The rest knit friendship, and firme leagues; we safe in Troy shall dwell;
In Argos and Achaia they, that do in dames excell.

He said, and Priams aged ioints, with chilled feare did shake;
Yet instantly he bad his men, his chariot readie make.
Which soone they did, and he ascends: he takes the reines, and guide,
Antenor cals; who instantly, mounts to his royall side;
And through the Scæan ports, to field, the swift-foote horse they driue.
And when at them of Troy and Greece, the aged Lords arriue,
From horse, on Troyes well feeding soyle, twixt both the hosts they go.
When straight vp rose the king of men, vp rose Vlysses to;
The heralds in their richest cotes, repeate (as was the guise)
The true vowes of the Gods; term'd theirs, since made before their eyes.
Then in a cup of gold they mixe, the wine that each side brings;
And next, powre water on the hands, of both the kings of kings.
Which done, Atrides drew his knife, that euermore he put
Within the large sheath of his sword: with which, away he cut
The wooll from both fronts of the lambs, which (as a rite in vse
Of execration to their heads, that brake the plighted truce)
The heralds of both hosts did giue, the Peeres of both. And then
With hands and voice aduanc't to heauen, thus prayd the king of men:

O Ioue, that Ida dost protect, and hast the titles wonne,

Agamemnon himselfe prayes.

Most glorious, most inuincible; And thou all-seeing Sunne;
All-hearing, all-recomforting; floods? earth? and powers beneath?
That all the periuries of men, chastise euen after death;
Be witnesses, and see perform'd, the heartie vowes we make;
If Alexander shall the life, of Menelaus take,
He shall from henceforth Hellena, with all her wealth retaine;
And we will to our houshold Gods, hoyse saile, and home againe.
If by my honourd brothers hand, be Alexander slaine,
The Troians then, shall his forc't Queene, with all her wealth restore,
And pay conuenient fine to vs, and ours for euermore.
If Priam, and his sonnes denie, to pay this, thus agreed,
When Alexander shall be slaine; for that perfidious deed,
And for the fine, will I fight here, till dearely they repay
By death and ruine, the amends, that falshood keepes away.

The contract is confirmed.

This said, the throtes of both the lambs, cut with his royall knife;
He laid them panting on the earth, till (quite depriu'd of life)
The steele had robd them of their strength. Then golden cups they cround,
With wine out of a cisterne drawne: which powr'd vpon the ground,
They fell vpon their humble knees, to all the deities,
And thus pray'd one of both the hosts, that might do sacrifice;

Now one praies whose office was to do sacrifice.

O Iupiter, most high, most great, and all the deathlesse powers;
Who first shall dare to violate, the late sworne oaths of ours,
So let the bloods and braines of them, and all they shall produce,
Flow on the staind face of the earth; as now, this sacred iuice:
And let their wiues with bastardise, brand all their future race.
Thus praid they: but with wisht effects, their prayrs Ioue did not grace.

Priam to both hosts.

When Priam said; Lords of both hoasts? I can no longer stay,
To see my lou'd sonne trie his life; and so must take my way
To winde-exposed Ilion. Ioue yet and heauens high States,
Know onely, which of these must now, pay tribute to the Fates.

Priam and Antenor returne to Troy.

Thus putting in his coach the lambs, he mounts, and reines his horse;
Antenor to him; and to Troy, both take their speedie course.

Then Hector (Priams Martiall sonne) stept forth, and met the ground,

Hector and Vlysses measure the ground for the combat.

(With wise Vlysses) where the blowes, of combat must resound.
Which done, into a helme they put, two lots, to let them know,
Which of the combattants should first, his brasse-pil'd iaueline throw.
When, all the people standing by, with hands held vp to heauen,
Pray'd Ioue, the conquest might not be, by force or fortune giuen;
But that the man, who was in right, the author of most wrong,
Might feele his iustice; and no more, these tedious warres prolong;
But sinking to the house of death, leaue them (as long before)
Linkt fast in leagues of amitie, that might dissolue no more.

Hector shakes the helme, and Paris draws the lot to hurle first.

Then Hector shooke the helme that held, the equall doomes of chance;
Look't backe, and drew; and Paris first, had lot to hurle his lance.

The souldiers all sat downe enrank't, each by his armes and horse,
That then lay downe, and cool'd their hoofes. And now th' allotted course

He armes.

Bids faire-haird Hellens husband arme: who first makes fast his greaues,
With siluer buckles to his legs: then on his breast receiues
The curets that Lycaon wore, (his brother) but made fit
For his faire bodie: next, his sword, he tooke, and fastned it
(All damaskt) vnderneath his arme: his shield then, graue and great,
His shoulders wore: and on his head, his glorious helme he set;
Topt with a plume of horses haire, that horribly did dance,
And seem'd to threaten as he mou'd. At last he takes his lance,
Exceeding big, and full of weight; which he with ease could vse.

Menelaus arms

In like sort, Spartas warlike king, himselfe with armes indues.
Thus arm'd at either armie both, they both stood brauely in,
Possessing both hosts with amaze: they came so chin to chin;
And with such horrible aspects, each other did salute.

A faire large field was made for them: where wraths (for hugenesse) mute
And mutuall, made them mutually, at either shake their darts,

The combat.

Before they threw: then Paris first, with his long iaueline parts;

It smote Atrides orbie Targe: but ranne not through the brasse:
For in it (arming well the shield) the head reflected was.

Then did the second combattant, applie him to his speare:
Which ere he threw, he thus besought, almightie Iupiter:

O Ioue! vouchsafe me now reuenge, and that my enemie,

Menelaus prayeth to Ioue.

(For doing wrong so vndeseru'd) may pay deseruedly
The paines he forfeited; and let, these hands inflict those paines,
By conquering, I, by conquering dead, him on whom life complaines:
That any now, or any one, of all the brood of men
To liue hereafter, may with feare, from all offence abstaine,
(Much more from all such foule offence) to him that was his host,
And entertain'd him, as the man, whom he affected most.

This said, he shooke, and threw his lance; which strooke through Paris shield
And with the strength he gaue to it, it made the curets yeeld;
His coate of Maile, his breast and all: and draue his intrailes in,
In that low region, where the guts, in three small parts begin:
Yet he, in bowing of his breast, preuented sable death.
This taint he follow'd with his sword, drawne from a siluer sheath:
Which (lifting high) he strooke his helme, full where his plume did stand,
On which, it peece-meale brake, and fell, from his vnhappie hand.

Menelaus sword breaketh.

At which, he sighing stood, and star'd, vpon the ample skie,
And said, O Ioue, there is no God, giuen more illiberally

Menelaus at Iupiter.

To those that serue thee, then thy selfe; why haue I pray'd in vaine?
I hop't my hand should haue reueng'd, the wrongs I still sustaine
On him that did them; and still dares, their foule defence pursue;
And now my lance hath mist his end, my sword in shiuers flew,
And he scapes all. With this againe, he rusht vpon his guest,
And caught him by the horse-haire plume that dangl'd on his crest;
With thought, to drag him to the Greekes; which he had surely done,
And so (besides the victorie) had wondrous glorie wonne;
(Because the needle-painted lace, with which his helme was tied
Beneath his chin, and so about, his daintie throte implyed,
Had strangl'd him:) but that in time, the Cyprian seed of Ioue,
Did breake the string, with which was lin'd, that which the needle woue;
And was the tough thong of a Steere, and so the victors palme
Was (for so full a man at armes) onely an emptie helme.
That then he swong about his head, and cast among his friends;
Who scrambled, and took't vp with shouts. Againe then he intends,
To force the life blood of his foe, and ranne on him amaine,
With shaken iaueline; when the Queene, that louers loues, againe
Attended; and now rauisht him, from that encounter quite,

Venus rapture of Paris from Menelaus. This place Virgil imitateth.

With ease, and wondrous sodainly; for she (a Goddesse) might.
She hid him in a cloud of gold, and neuer made him knowne,
Till in his chamber, (fresh and sweet) she gently set him downe;
And went for Hellen, whom she found, in Scæas vtmost height;
To which, whole swarmes of citie Dames, had climb'd to see the sight.

To giue her errand good successe; she tooke on her the shape,

Venus like Græa to Hellen.

Of beldame Græa, who was brought, by Hellen in her rape,

From Lacedæmon, and had trust, in all her secrets still;
Being old, and had (of all her maids) the maine bent of her will;
And spun for her, her finest wooll; like her, loues Empresse came,
Puld Hellen by the heauenly veile, and softly said: Madame?
My Lord cals for you, you must needs, make all your kind haste home;
He's in your chamber, stayes, and longs; sits by your bed; pray come,
Tis richly made, and sweet; but he, more sweet; and lookes so cleare,
So fresh, and mouingly attir'd: that (seeing) you would sweare,
He came not from the dustie fight, but from a courtly dance,
Or would to dancing. This she made, a charme for dalliance;
Whose vertue Hellen felt, and knew (by her so radiant eyes,
White necke, and most enticing breasts) the deified disguise.

Hellen chideth Venus.

At which amaz'd, she answerd her: vnhappie Deitie?
Why lou'st thou still in these deceipts, to wrap my phantasie?
Or whether yet (of all the townes, giuen to their lust beside,
In Phrygia, or Mæonia) com'st thou to be my guide?
If there (of diuers languag'd men) thou hast (as here in Troy)
Some other friend, to be my shame? since here thy latest ioy,
By Menelaus now subdu'd; by him, shall I be borne
Home to his Court; and end my life, in triumphs of his scorne.
And to this end, would thy deceits, my wanton life allure.
Hence, go thy selfe to Priams sonne, and all the wayes abiure
Of Gods, or Godlike minded Dames, nor euer turne againe
Thy earth-affecting feet to heauen: but for his sake, sustaine
Toiles here: guard, grace him endlesly: till he requite thy grace,
By giuing thee my place with him: or take his seruants place,
If all dishonourable wayes, your fauours seeke to serue
His neuer-pleasd incontinence: I better will deserue,
Then serue his dotage now: what shame, were it for me to feed
This lust in him? all honour'd Dames, would hate me for the deed;
He leaues a womans loue so sham'd, and showes so base a mind;
To feele, nor my shame, nor his owne; griefes of a greater kind
Wound me, then such as can admit, such kind delights so soone.

The Goddesse (angrie, that past shame, her meere will was not done)

Venus terrifies Hellen.

Replied: Incense me not you wretch, lest (once incenst) I leaue
Thy curst life to as strange a hate, as yet it may receiue
A loue from me; and left I spread, through both hosts such despite,
For those plagues they haue felt for thee, that both abiure thee quite.
And (setting thee in midst of both) turne all their wraths on thee,
And dart thee dead: that such a death, may wreake thy wrong of me.

This strooke the faire Dame with such feare, it tooke her speech away;
And (shadowed in her snowy veile) she durst not but obay:
And yet (to shun the shame she fear'd) she vanisht vndescride
Of all the Troian Ladies there; for Venus was her guide.

Arriu'd at home; her women both, fell to their worke in hast;

Hellen followeth Venus from the port.

When she that was of all her sexe, the most diuinely grac't,
Ascended to a higher roome, though much against her will,
Where louely Alexander was, being led by Venus still.

The laughter-louing Dame discern'd, her mou'd mind, by her grace:
And (for her mirth sake) set a stoole, full before Paris face;

Venus mirth with Hellen.

Where she would needs haue Hellen sit: who (though she durst not chuse
But sit, yet) lookt away for all, the Goddesse powre could vse;
And vsd her tongue too, and to chide, whom Venus sooth'd so much;

Hellens bitter reproofe of Paris.

And chid too, in this bitter kind; And was thy cowardise such,
(So conquerd) to be seene aliue? O, would to God thy life
Had perisht by his worthy hand, to whom I first was wife.
Before this, thou wouldst glorifie, thy valour, and thy lance;
And, past my first Loues, boast them farre: Go once more, and aduance
Thy braues against his single power: this foile might fall by chance.
Poore conquerd man; twas such a chance, as I would not aduise,
Thy valour should prouoke againe: shun him thou most vnwise;
Lest next, thy spirit sent to hell, thy bodie be his prise.

He answerd; Pray thee woman ceasse, to chide and grieue me thus:

Paris to Hellen.

Disgraces will not euer last; looke on their end; on vs
Will other Gods, at other times, let fall the victors wreath,
As on him Pallas put it now. Shall our loue sinke beneath
The hate of fortune? In loues fire, let all hates vanish: Come,
Loue neuer so inflam'd my heart; no not, when (bringing home
Thy beauties so delicious prise) on Cranaes blest shore
I long'd for, and enioyd thee first. With this, he went before
She after, to the odorous bed. While these to pleasure yeeld,
Perplext Atrides, sauage-like, ran vp and downe the field,

Menelaus seeketh for Paris through the troopess

And euery thickest troope of Troy, and of their farre-cald aid,
Searcht for his foe; who could not be, by any eye betraid;
Nor out of friendship (out of doubt) did they conceale his sight;
All hated him so like their deaths, and ow'd him such despight.

At last thus spake the king of men: Heare me, ye men of Troy,

Agamemnon to both the armies.

Ye Dardans and the rest, whose powers, you in their aides employ;
The conquest on my brothers part, ye all discerne is cleare:
Do you then Argiue Hellena, with all her treasure here
Restore to vs, and pay the mulct, that by your vowes is due,
Yeeld vs an honourd recompence: and all that should accrue,
To our posterities, confirme; that when you render it,
Our acts here may be memorisd. This all Greekes else thought fit.

The end of the third Booke.