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Thus fighting for this well-built ship; Patroclus all that space
Stood by his friend, preparing words, to win the Greeks his grace
With powre of vncontained teares: and (like a fountaine pour'd
In blacke streams, frō a lofty rocke) the Greeks, so plagu'd, deplor'd.
Achilles (ruthfull for his teares) said: Wherefore weepes my friend

Achilles chides Patroclus for his teares.

So like a girle, who, though she sees, her mother cannot tend
Her childish humours, hangs on her, and would be taken vp;
Stil viewing her, with teare-drownd eyes, when she hath made her stoope.
To nothing liker, I can shape, thy so vnseemely teares;
What causeth them? hath any ill, sollicited thine eares,
Befalne my Myrmidons? or newes, from loued Phthia brought,
Told onely thee? lest I should grieue, and therefore thus hath wrought
On thy kind spirit? Actors sonne, the good Menœtius,
(Thy father) liues; and Peleus (mine) great sonne of Æacus,
Amongst his Myrmidons; whose deaths, in dutie we should mourne.
Or is it what the Greeks sustaine, that doth thy stomacke turne?
On whom (for their iniustice sake) plagues are so iustly laide?
Speake man, let both know eithers heart. Patroclus (sighing said)

O Peleus sonne, (thou strongest Greeke, by all degrees, that liues)

Patroclus answer to Achilles.

Still be not angrie; our sad state, such cause of pittie giues.
Our greatest Greeks lie at their ships, sore wounded; Ithachus,
King Agamemnon, Diomed, and good Eurypilus:
But these, much-medcine-knowing men (Physitions) can recure;
Thou yet vnmedcinable still; though thy wound, all endure.
Heauen blesse my bosome from such wrath, as thou sooth'st as thy blisse,

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(Vnprofitably vertuous) How shall our progenies,
Borne in thine age, enioy thine aide? when these friends in thy flowre
Thou leau'st to such vnworthy death? O idle, cruell powre;
Great Peleus neuer did beget, not Thetis, bring foorth thee;
Thou, from the blew sea, and her rockes, deriu'st thy pedegree.
What so declines thee? If thy mind, shuns any augurie,
Related by thy mother Queene, from heauens foreseeing eye,
And therefore thou forsak'st thy friends; let me go ease their mones
With those braue reliques of our host, thy mightie Myrmidons;
That I may bring to field more light, to Conquest then hath bene;
To which end grace me with thine armes, since any shadow seene
Of thy resemblance; all the powre, of periur'd Troy will flie,
And our so tired friends will breathe: our fresh-set-on supplie
Will easily driue their wearied off. Thus (foolish man) he su'd
For his sure death; of all whose speech, Achilles first renu'd
The last part, thus: O worthy friend, what haue thy speeches bene?

Achilles to Patroclus.

I shun the fight for Oracles? or what my mother Queene
Hath told from Ioue? I take no care, nor note of one such thing;
But this fit anger stings me still, that the insulting king,
Should from his equall take his right; since he exceeds in powre.
This, (still his wrong) is still my griefe; he tooke my Paramour
That all men gaue: and whom I wonne, by vertue of my speare,
That (for her) ouerturn'd a Towne. This rape he made of her,
And vsde me like a fugitiue; an Inmate in a towne,
That is no citie libertine, nor capable of their gowne.
But, beare we this, as out of date; tis past, nor must we still
Feed anger in our noblest parts; yet thus, I haue my will
As well as our great king of men; for I did euer vow,
Neuer to cast off my disdaine, till (as it fals out now)
Their misse of me, knockt at my fleet; and told me in their cries,
I was reueng'd, and had my wish, of all my enemies.
And so of this repeate enough: Take thou, my fame-blaz'd armes,
And my fight-thirstie Myrmidons, leade to these hote alarmes.
Whole clouds of Troians circle vs, with hatefull eminence:
The Greeks shut in a little shore; a sort of citizens
Skipping vpon them: all because, their prowd eyes do not see
The radiance of my helmet there, whose beames had instantly
Thrust backe, and all these ditches fild, with carrion of their flesh,
If Agamemnon had bene kind: where now, they fight as fresh,
As thus farre they had put at ease; and at our tents contend.
And may; for the repulsiue hand, of Diomed, doth not spend
His raging darts there, that their Death, could fright out of our fleet:
Nor from that head of enmitie, can my poore hearers meet
The voice of great Atrides now: now Hectors onely voyce,
Breakes all the aire, about both hosts; and with the very noise,
Bred by his lowd encouragements, his forces fill the field,
And fight the poore Achaians downe. But on; put thou my shield
Betwixt the fire-plague and our fleet: rush brauely on, and turne

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Warres tide as headlong on their throtes. No more let them aiourne
Our sweet-home-turning: but obserue, the charge I lay on thee
To each least point, that thy rul'd hand, may highly honour me;
And get such glorie from the Greeks, that they may send againe
My most sweet wench, and gifts to boote; when thou hast cast a raine
On these so head-strong citizens, and forc't them from our fleet.

Iupiter called the god of sounds for the chiefe sound his thunder.

With which grace, if the god of sounds, thy kind egression greet;
Retire, and be not tempted on (with pride, to see thy hand
Raine slaughterd carkasses on earth) to runne forth thy command
As farre as Ilion; lest the gods, that fauour Troy, come forth
To thy encounter; for the Sunne, much loues it; and my worth
(In what thou suffer'st) will be wrong'd, that I would let my friend
Assume an action of such weight, without me; and transcend
His friends prescription; do not then, affect a further fight,
Then I may strengthen: let the rest, (when thou hast done this right)
Performe the rest. O would to Ioue, thou Pallas, and thou Sunne,
That not a man housd vnderneath, those towres of Ilion,
Nor any one of all the Greeks, (how infinite a summe
Soeuer, altogether make) might liue vnouercome:
But onely we two (scaping death) might haue the thundring downe
Of euery stone, stucke in the wals, of this so sacred towne.

Thus spake they onely twixt themselues. And now the foe no more
Could Aiax stand, being so opprest, with all the iron store
The Troians powr'd on; with whose darts, and with Ioues will beside,
His powres were cloyd, and his bright helme, did deafning blowes abide;
His plume, and all head ornaments, could neuer hang in rest:
His arme yet laboured vp his shield; and, hauing done their best,
They could not stirre him from his stand; although he wrought it out
With short respirings, and with sweate; that ceaslesse flow'd about
His reeking lims: no least time giuen, to take in any breath;
Ill strengthned ill; when one was vp, another was beneath.

Now Muses, you that dwell in heauen, the dreadfull meane inspire
That first enforc't the Grecian fleete, to take in Troian fire:
First Hector with his huge brode sword, cut off, at setting on,
The head of Aiax Ashen lance; which Aiax seeing gone;
And that he shooke a headlesse speare (a little while vnware)
His warie spirits told him straight, the hand of heauen was there,
And trembl'd vnder his conceipt; which was, that twas Ioues deed:
Who, as he pold off his darts heads; so, sure he had decreed,
That all the counsels of their warre, he would polle off like it,
And giue the Troians victorie: so, trusted he his wit,
And left his darts. And then the ship, was heapt with horrid brands
Of kindling fire; which instantly, was seene through all the strands,
In vnextinguishible flames, that all the ship embrac't:
And then Achilles beate his thighes; cryed out, Patroclus, haste,
Make way with horse; I see at fleet, a fire of fearfull rage:
Arme, arme, lest all our fleet it fire, and all our powre engage;
Arme quickly, Ile bring vp the troopes. To these so dreadfull warres

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Patroclus, in Achilles armes, (enlightned all with starres,
And richly ameld) all haste made: he wore his sword, his shield,
His huge-plum'd helme; and two such speares, as he could nimbly wield.
But the most fam'd Achilles speare, big, solid, full of weight,
He onely left, of all his armes; for that, farre past the might
Of any Greeke to shake, but his; Achilles onely ire
Shooke that huge weapon; that was giuen, by Chyron to his fire,
Cut from the top of Pelion, to be Heroes deaths.
His steeds, Antomedon straight ioyn'd; like whom no man that breaths
(Next Peleus sonne) Patroclus lou'd; for like him, none so great

Automedon friend to Patroclus, and manager of Achilles horses.

He found, in faith, at euery fight, nor to out-looke a threat:
Antomedon did therefore guide (for him) Achilles steeds,
(Xanthus, and Balius swift as wind) begotten by the seeds
Of Zephyr, and the Harpie borne, Pordarge; in a meade
Close to the wauie Ocean, where that fierce Harpye feade.
Antomedon ioyn'd these before, and with the hindmost geres
He fastn'd famous Pedasus, whom, from the massakers
Made by Achilles, when he tooke, Eetions wealthie towne,
He brought; and (though of mortall race) yet gaue him the renowne
To follow his immortall horse. And now, before his tents,
Himselfe had seene his Myrmidons, in all habiliments
Of dreadfull warre: And when ye see (vpon a mountaine bred)

A simile most liuely expressiue.

A den of Wolues, (about whose hearts, vnmeasur'd strengths are fed)
New come from currie of a Stagge; their iawes all blood-besmeard;
And when from some blacke water-fount, they altogether herd;
There hauing plentifully lapt, with thin, and thrust out tongs,
The top and clearest of the spring; go belching from their lungs
The clotterd gore; looke dreadfully, and entertaine no dread,
Their bellies gaunt; all taken vp, with being so rawly fed:
Then say, that such, in strength, and looke, were great Achilles men,
Now orderd for the dreadfull fight: and so with all them then
Their Princes, and their Chiefes did show, about their Generals friend;
His friend, and all, about himselfe: who chiefly did intend

The powers Achilles brought to Troy.

Th' embattelling of horse, and foote. To that siege, held so long,
Twise fiue and twenty saile he brought; twise fiue and twentie strong
Of able men, was euery saile: fiue Colonels he made
Of all those forces, trustie men; and all of powre to leade,
But he, of powre, beyond them all. Menesthius was one,
That euer wore discolour'd armes; he was a riuers sonne
That fell from heauen, and good to drinke, was his delightfull streame:
His name, vnwearied Sperchius; he lou'd the louely dame
Faire Polydora, Peleus seed; and deare in Borus sight,
And she, to that celestiall flood, gaue this Menesthius light:
A woman, mixing with a god. Yet Borus bore the name
Of father to Menesthius: he marrying the dame,
And giuing her a mightie dowre; he was the kind descent
Of Perieris. The next man, renown'd with regiment,
Was strong Eudorus; brought to life, by one supposd a maide;

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Bright Polymela (Phylas seed;) but had the wanton plaid,
With Argus-killing Mercurie; who (fir'd with her faire eyes
As she was singing in the quire, of her that makes the cries
In clamorous hunting, and doth beare, the crooked bow of gold)
Stole to her bed, in that chaste roome, that Phebe chast did hold;
And gaue her that swift-warrelicke sonne, (Eudorus) brought to light

Eudorus borne as Polymela his mother was dancing.

As she was dancing: but as soone, as she that rules the plight
Of labouring women, easd her throwes; and shew'd her sonne the Sunne,
Strong Echelaus, Actors heire; woo'd earnestly, and wonne
Her second fauour, seeing her, with gifts of infinite prise;
And after brought her to his house; where, in his grandsires eyes,
(Old Phylas) Polymelas sonne, obtaind exceeding grace,
And found as carefull bringing vp, as of his naturall race

Memalides the third Collonell.

He had descended. The third chiefe, was faire Memalides
Pysandrus; who in skill of darts, obtaind supremest praise
Of all the Myrmidons, except, their Lords companion.

Phœnix the fourth, Alcimedon the fifth.

The fourth charge aged Phœnix had. The fifth, Alcimedon,
Sonne of Laereus, and much fam'd. All these digested thus
In fit place, by the mightie sonne, of royall Peleus;
This sterne remembrance he gaue all: You Myrmidons, (said he)

Achilles to his Myrmidons.

Lest any of you should forget, his threatnings vsde to me
In this place; and through all the time, that my iust anger raign'd;
Attempting me with bitter words, for being so restrain'd
(For my hote humour) from the fight: remember them, as these:
Thou cruell sonne of Peleus, whom she that rules the seas,
Did onely nourish with her gall; thou dost vngently hold
Our hands, against our wills, from fight; we will not be controld;
But take our ships and saile for home; before we loyter here,
And feed thy furie. These high words, exceeding often were
The threates, that in your mutinous troopes, ye vsde to me, for wrath
To be detaind so from the field: now then, your splenes may bath
In sweate of those great works ye wisht; now he that can employ
A generous heart, go fight, and fright, these bragging sonnes of Troy.

This set their minds, and strengths on fire; the speech enforcing well,
Being vsde in time; but being their kings, it much more did impell;

Simile.

And closer rusht-in all the troopes. And, as for buildings hie,
The Mazon layes his stones more thicke, against th' extremitie
Of wind and weather; and euen then, if any storme arise,
He thickens them the more for that; the present act so plies
His honest mind to make sure worke. So, for the high estate
This worke was brought to, these mens minds, (according to the rate)
Were raisd, and all their bodies ioyn'd: but there well-spoken king,
With his so timely-thought-on speech, more sharpe made valours sting;
And thickn'd so their targets bost; so all their helmets then;
That shields propt shields; helmes helmets knockt, and men encourag'd men.

Patroclus and Antomedon arme together.

Patroclus, and Antomedon, did arme before them all
Two bodies, with one mind inform'd; and then the Generall,
Betooke him to his priuate Tent, where (from a coffer wrought

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Most rich and curiously; and giuen, by Thetis, to be brought
In his owne ship, top-fild with vests; warme robes to checke cold wind;
And tapistries, all golden fring'd, and curl'd with thrumbs behind:
He tooke a most vnualewed boule, in which none dranke but he;

Achilles sacrifice for his friends safe returne.

Nor he, but to the deities; nor any deitie,
But Ioue himselfe was seru'd with that; and that he first did clense
With sulphure, then with fluences, of sweetest water rense.
Then washt his hands, and drew himselfe, a mightie boule of wine;
Which (standing midst the place enclosde, for seruices diuine,
And looking vp to heauen and Ioue, who saw him well) he pour'd
Vpon the place of sacrifice, and humbly thus implor'd:

Great Dodonæus, President, of cold Dodonaes towres;

Achilles innovation.

Diuine Pelasgicus, that dwell'st, farre hence; about whose bowres
Th' austere prophetique Selli dwell, that still sleepe on the ground,
Go bare, and neuer clense their feete: as I before haue found
Grace to my vowes, and hurt to Greece, so now my prayres intend.
I still stay in the gatherd fleete, but haue dismist my friend
Amongst my many Myrmidons, to danger of the dart.
O grant his valour my renowne; arme with my mind his hart,
That Hectors selfe may know, my friend, can worke in single warre;
And not then onely shew his hands, so hote and singular,
When my kind presence seconds him: but, fight he nere so well;
No further let him trust his fight: but when he shall repell
Clamor and Danger from our fleete, vouchsafe a safe retreate
To him and all his companies, with fames and armes compleate.

He prayd, and heauens great Counsellor, gaue satisfying care,
To one part of his orisons, but left the other there:
He let him free the fleete of foes, but safe retreate denide.
Achilles left that vtter part, where he his zeale applide;
And turn'd into his inner tent; made fast his cup; and then
Stood forth, and with his mind beheld, the foes fight and his men,
That follow'd his great minded friend, embattail'd, till they brake
With gallant spirit vpon the foe: And as fell waspes, that make

Simile.

Their dwellings in the broade high way; which foolish children vse
(Their cottages being neare their nests) to anger and abuse
With euer vexing them, and breed (to sooth their childish warre)
A common ill to many men; since if a traueller
(That would his iourneys end apply, and passe them vnassayd)
Come neare and vexe them, vpon him, the childrens faults are layd;
For on they flie, as he were such, and still defend their owne:
So far'd it with the feruent mind, of euery Myrmidon,
Who pour'd themselues out of their fleete, vpon their wanton foes,
That needs would stirre them, thrust so neare; and cause the ouerthrowes
Of many others that had else, bene neuer toucht by them,
Nor would haue toucht. Patroclus then, put his wind to the streame,

Patroclus to the Myrmidons.

And thus exhorted: Now my friends, remember you expresse
Your late-vrg'd vertue, and renowme, our great Æacides;
That he being strongst of all the Greeks, his eminence may dimme

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All others likewise in our strengths, that farre off imitate him.
And Agamemnon now may see, his fault as generall,
As his place high; dishonoring him, that so much honors all.

Thus made he sparkle their fresh fire, and on they rusht; the fleete
Fild full her hollow sides with sounds, that terribly did greete
Th' amazed Troians: and their eyes, did second their amaze,

The terror of Patroclus to the Troians.

When great Menatius sonne they saw, and his friends armor blaze;
All troupes stood troubl'd with conceit, that Peleus sonne was there;
His anger cast off at the ships; and each lookt euery where
For some authoritie to leade, the then prepared flight.
Patroclus greeted with a lance, the region where the fight
Made strongest tumult; neare the ship, Protesilaus brought,
And strooke Pyrechmen, who before, the faire-helmd Pæons fought,
Led from Amydon, neare whose wals, the broad stream'd Axius flowes.

Pyrechmen slain by Patroclus, and the ships rescued.

Through his right shoulder flew the dart, whose blow strooke all the blowes
In his powre, from his powrelesse arme; and downe he groning fell:
His men all flying (their Leader fled.) This one dart did repell
The whole guard plac't about the ship; whose fire extinct, halfe burn'd:
The Pæons left her; and full crie, to clamorous flight return'd.
Then spread the Greeks about their ships; triumphant tumult flow'd:

Simile.

And as from top of some steepe hill, the lightner strips a clowd,
And lets a great skie out from heauen; in whose delightsome light,
All prominent foreheads, forrests, towres, and temples cheare the sight:
So clear'd these Greeks, this Troian cloud; and at their ships and tents
Obtain'd a litle time to breathe, but found no present vents
To their inclusions; nor did Troy (though these Pæonians fled)
Lose any ground, but from this ship, they needfully turn'd head.

Then euery man, a man subdude; Patroclus in the thigh
Strooke Areilicus; his dart, the bone did breake, and flie
Quite through, and sunke him to the earth. Good Menelaus slew
Accomplisht Thoas, in whose breast (being nak'd) his lance he threw,
Aboue his shield, and freed his soule. Phylides (taking note
That bold Amphidus bent at him) preuented him, and smote
His thighes extreme part, where (of man) his fattest muscle lies,
The nerues torne with his lances pile, and darknesse closde his eyes.
Antilochus, Atymnius seizd, his steele lance did impresse
His first three guts, and loosd his life. At yong Nestorides,
Maris, Atymnius bother flew; and at him, Thrasimed,
(The brother to Antilochus) his eager Iauelins head,
The muscles of his arme cut out, and shiuer'd all the bone;
Night closde his eyes; his liuelesse corse, his brother fell vpon.
And so by two kind brothers hands, did two kind brothers bleed:
Both being diuine Sarpedons friends; and were the darting seed
Of Amisodarus, that kept, the bane of many men,
Abhord Chimæra; and such bane, now caught his childeren.
Aiax Oileades did take, Cleobulus aliue,
Inuading him, (staid by the prease) and at him then let driue,
With his short sword, that cut his necke; whose bloud warm'd all the steele:

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And cold Death, with a violent fate, his sable eyes did seele.
Peneleus and Lycon, cast, together off their darts;
Both mist, and both together then, went with their swords; in parts
The blade and hilt went, laying on, vpon the helmets height;
Peneleus sword caught Lycons necke, and cut it thorough quite.
His head hung by the very skin. The swift Meriones,
(Pursuing flying Acamas) iust as he got accesse
To horse and chariot, ouertooke, and tooke him such a blow
On his right shoulder, that he left his chariot, and did strow
The dustie earth; life left, his lims, and night his eyes possest.

Idomenæus his sterne dart, at Erymas addrest,
As (like to Acamas) he fled; it cut the sundry bones
Beneath his braine, betwixt his necke, and foreparts, and so runs
(Shaking his teeth out) through his mouth; his eyes all drown'd in blood:
So through his nostrils and his mouth (that now dart-open stood)
He breath'd his spirit. Thus had death, from euery Grecian Chiefe,
A Chiefe of Troy. For, as to Kids, or Lambes, their cruelst thiefe

Simile.

(The Wolfe) steales in; and when he sees, that by the shepheards sloth,
The dams are sperst about the hils; then serues his rauenous tooth
With ease, because his prey is weake: So seru'd the Greeks their foes,
Discerning well, how shrieking flight, did all their spirits dispose;
Their biding vertues quite forgot; And now the naturall splene
That Aiax bore to Hector, still, by all meanes would haue bene
Within his bosome with a dart: but he, that knew the warre,
(Well couer'd in a well-lin'd shield) did well perceiue how farre
The arrowes and the iauelins reacht, by being within their sounds
And ominous singings; and obseru'd, the there-inclining bounds
Of Conquest, in her aide of him, and so obeyd her change;
Tooke safest course for him and his, and stood to her as strange.
And as when Ioue intends a storme, he lets out of the starres

Simile.

From steepe Olympus, a blacke cloud, that all heauens splendor barres
From men on earth: so from the hearts, of all the Troian host,
All comfort lately found from Ioue, in flight and cries was lost.
Nor made they any faire retreat; Hectors vnruly horse,
Would needs retire him; and he left, engag'd his Troian force;
Forc't by the steepnesse of the dike, that in ill place they tooke,
And kept them that would faine haue gone. Their horses quite forsooke
A number of the Troian kings, and left them in the dike;
Their chariots in their foreteames broke. Patroclus then did strike
While steele was hote, and chear'd his friends; nor meant his enemies good:
Who when they once began to flie, each way receiu'd a flood,
And chok't themselues with drifts of dust. And now were clouds begot
Beneath the clouds; with flight, and noise; the horse neglected not
Their home intendments; and where rout, was busiest, there pour'd on
Patroclus most exhorts and threats; and then lay ouerthrowne
Numbers beneath their axle-trees, who (lying in flights streame)
Made th' after chariots iot and iumpe, in driuing ouer them.

Th' immortall horse Patroclus rode, did passe the dike with ease,

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And wisht the depth and danger more: and Menetiades
As great a spirit had to reach, retiring Hectors hast;
But his fleete horse had too much law, and fetcht him off too fast.

Simile.

And as in Autumne the blacke earth, is loden with the stormes,
That Ioue in gluts of raine poures downe; being angry with the formes
Of iugdement in authorisde men, that in their courts maintaine
(With violent office) wrested lawes, and (fearing gods, not men)
Exile all iustice; for whose faults, whole fields are ouerflowne,
And many valleys cut away, with torrents headlong throwne,
From neighbour mountaines; till the sea, receiue them, roring in;
And iudg'd mens labours then are vaine, plagu'd for their Iudges sin:
So now the foule defaults of some, all Troy were laid vpon:
So like those torrents toar'd they backe, to windie Ilion;
And so like tempests, blew the horse, with rauishing backe againe
Those hote assailants, all their workes, at fleete now rendred vaine.

Patroclus (when he had disperst, the formost Phalanxes)
Cald backe his forces to the fleete, and would not let them prease
(As they desir'd) too neare the towne; but twixt the ships and floud,
And their steepe rampire, his hand steept, Reuenge in seas of bloud.

Then Pronous was first that fell, beneath his fierie lance,
Which strooke his bare brest, neare his shield. The second, Thestors chance
(Old Enops sonne) did make himselfe; who shrinking, and set close
In his faire seate (euen with th' approch, Patroclus made) did lose
All manly courage; insomuch, that from his hands, his raines
Fell flowing downe; and his right iaw, Patroclus lance, attaines;
Strooke through his teeth, and there it stucke, and by it, to him drew
Dead Thestor to his chariot: it shewd, as when you view

Simile.

An Angler from some prominent rocke, draw with his line and hooke
A mightie fish out of the sea: for so the Greeke did plucke
The Troian gaping from his seate; his iawes op't with the dart;
Which when Patroclus drew, he fell; his life and brest did part.

Then rusht he on Eryalus, at whom he hurl'd a stone,
Which strake his head so in the midst, that two was made of one;
Two wayes it fell, cleft through his caske: and then Tlepolemus,
Epaltes, Damastorides, Euippus, Echius,
Ipheas, bold Amphoterus, and valiant Erymas,
And Polymelus (by his sire, surnam'd Argeadas)
He heapt vpon the much-fed earth. When Ioues most worthy sonne
(Diuine Sarpedon) saw these friends thus stayd, and others runne;

Sarpedon to the Lycians.

O shame! why flie ye, then he cride? now shew ye feete enow:
On, keepe your way; my selfe will meete, the man that startles you;
To make me vnderstand his name, that flants in conquest thus,
And hath so many able knees, so soone dissolu'd to vs.

Downe iumpt he from his chariot; downe leapt his foe as light:

Simile.

And as on some farre-looking rocke, a cast of Vultures fight,
Flie on each other, strike, and trusse, part, meete, and then sticke by,
Tug, both with crooked beakes, and seres; crie, fight; and fight, and cry:
So fiercely fought these angry kings, and shew'd as bitter gals.

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Ioue (turning eyes to his sterne fight) his wife and sister cals,

Ioue to Iuno about the fate of Sarpedon.

And (much mou'd for the Lycian Prince) said: O that to my sonne,
Fate, by this day, and man should cut, a thread so nobly spunne.
Two minds distract me; if I should, now rauish him from fight,
And set him safe in Lycia; or giue the Fates their right.

Austere Saturnius, (she replide) what vniust words are theise?

Iuno to Ioue

A mortall long since markt by Fate, wouldst thou immortalise?
Do; but by no god be approu'd; free him, and numbers more
(Sonnes of immortals) will liue free, that death must taste before
These gates of Ilion; euery god, will haue his sonne a god,
Or storme extremely. Giue him then, an honest period,
In braue fight, by Patroclus sword, if he be deare to thee,
And grieues thee, for his danger'd life: of which, when he is free,
Let Death and Somnus beare him hence; till Lycias naturall wombe
Receiue him from his brothers hands, and citizens; a Tombe
And columne raisd to him; this is, the honor of the dead.

She said; and her speech rul'd his powre: but in his safeties stead,
For sad ostent of his neare death, he steept his liuing name
In drops of blood, heauen swet for him, which earth drunke to his fame.

And now, as this high combat grew, to this too humble end;
Sarpedons death had this state more; twas vsherd by his friend,
And chariotere, braue Thrasimed; whom, in his bellies rim,
Patroclus wounded with his lance, and endlesse ended him.

And then another act of name, foreranne his princely fate;
His first lance missing, he let flie, a second that gaue date

Sarpedon kils Pedasus, one of Achilles horse.

Of violent death to Pedasus; who (as he ioy'd to die
By his so honorable hand) did (euen in dying) ney.

His ruine startl'd th' other steeds; the geres crackt, and the raines
Strappl'd his fellowes; whose mis-rule, Antomedon restraines,
By cutting the intangling geres; and so dissundering quite,
The braue-slaine Beast; when both the rest, obeyd, and went foreright:
And then the royall combattants, fought for the finall stroke,

The last encounter of Sarpedon and Patroclus.

When Lycias Generall mist againe; his high-raisde Iauelin tooke,
Aboue his shoulder, emptie way. But no such speedlesse flight
Patroclus let his speare performe, that on the breast did light,
Of his braue foe; where lifes strings close, about the solid hart,
Impressing a recurelesse wound; his knees then, left their part,
And let him fall; when like an Oke, a Poplar, or a Pine,
New feld by arts-men on the hils; he stretcht his forme diuine
Before his horse and chariot. And as a Lion leapes

Simile.

Vpon a goodly yellow Bull, driues all the herd in heapes;
And vnder his vnconquerd iawes, the braue beast sighing dies:
So sigh'd Sarpedon vnderneath, this prince of enemies;
Cald Glaucus to him (his deare friend,) and said: Now friend, thy hands

Sarpedon dying, to Glaucus his friend.

Much dutie owe to fight, and armes; now, for my loue, it stands
Thy heart in much hand to approue, that warre is harmefull; now
How actiue all thy forces are, this one houres act must show.
First call our Lycian Captaines vp, looke round, and bring vp all,

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And all exhort, to stand like friends, about Sarpedons fall;
And spend thy selfe thy steele for me: for be assur'd, no day
Of all thy life, to thy last houre, can cleare thy blacke dismay
In woe and infamie for me; if I be taken hence,
Spoil'd of mine armes; and thy renowme, despoil'd of my defence.
Stand firme then, and confirme thy men. This said; the bounds of death
Concluded all sight to his eyes, and to his nosthrils breath.

Patroclus (though his guard was strong) forc't way through euery doubt:
Climb'd his high bosome with his foote, and pluckt his iauelin out;
And with it drew the filme and strings, of his yet panting hart;
And last, together with the pile, his princely soule did part.

His horse (spoil'd both of guide and king, thicke snoting, and amaz'd,
And apt to flight) the Myrmidons, made nimbly to, and seaz'd.

Glaucus, to heare his friend aske aide, of him past all the rest;

The sorrow of Glaucus for Sarpedon and praier to Phœbus.

(Though well he knew his wound vncur'd) Confusion fild his brest,
Not to haue good in any powre; and yet so much good will.
And (laying his hand vpon his wound, that pain'd him sharply still;
And was by Teucers hand set on, from their assail'd steepe wall,
In keeping hurt from other men) he did on Phœbus call
(The god of Medcines) for his cure: Thou king of cures (said he)
That art perhaps in Lycia, with her rich progenie,
Or here in Troy; but any where, since thou hast powre to heare;
O giue a hurt, and wofull man (as I am now) thine eare.
This arme sustaines a cruell wound, whose paines shoot euery way,
Afflict this shoulder, and this hand, and nothing long can stay,
A fluxe of blood still issuing; nor therefore can I stand
With any enemie in fight, nor hardly make my hand
Support my lance; and here lies dead, the worthiest of men;
Sarpedon, worthy sonne to Ioue; (whose power could yet abstaine
From all aide in this deadly need) giue thou then aide to me,
(O king of all aide to men hurt) asswage th' extremitie
Of this armes anguish; giue it strength, that by my president,
I may excite my men to blowes; and this dead corse preuent
Of further violence. He praid, and kind Apollo heard;
Allayd his anguish, and his wound, of all the blacke bloud clear'd,
That vext it so; infusde fresh powres, into his weakened mind,
And all his spirits flow'd with ioy, that Phœbus stood inclin'd
(In such quicke bountie) to his prayres. Then, as Sarpedon wild,
He cast about his greedie eye, and first of all instild
To all his Captaines, all the stings, that could inflame their fight,
For good Sarpedon. And from them, he stretcht his speedie pace,
T'Agenor, Hector, Venus sonne, and wise Polydamas;

Glaucus being cured, to Hector.

And (onely naming Hector) said: Hector, you now forget
Your poore auxiliarie friends, that in your toiles haue swet
Their friendlesse soules out, farre from home; Sarpedon, that sustain'd
With Iustice, and his vertues all, broade Lycia hath not gain'd
The like guard for his person here; for yonder dead he lies,
Beneath the great Patroclus lance: but come, let your supplies

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(Good friends) stand neare him: O disdaine, to see his corse defil'd
With Grecian furie; and his armes, by their oppressions spoil'd;
The Myrmidons are come enrag'd, that such a mightie boote
Of Greekes, Troys darts haue made at fleete. This said, from head to foote
Griefe strooke their powres, past patience, and not to be restrain'd,
To heare newes of Sarpedons death; who, though he appertain'd
To other cities; yet to theirs, he was the very Fort,
And led a mightie people there; of all whose better sort,
Himselfe was best. This made them runne, in flames vpon the foe;
The first man, Hector, to whose heart, Sarpedons death did go.

Patroclus stird the Grecian spirits; and first, th' Aiaces, thus:

Patroclus to the Grecians, and particularly to both the Aiaces.

Now brothers, be it deare to you, to fight, and succour vs,
As euer heretofore ye did, with men first excellent.
The man lies slaine, that first did scale, and raze the battlement,
That crown'd our wall; the Lycian Prince. But if we now shall adde
Force to his corse, and spoile his armes, a prise may more be had
Of many great ones, that for him, will put on to the death.

To this worke, these were prompt enough; and each side ordereth
Those Phalanxes that most had rate, of resolutions;
The Troians, and the Lycian powres; the Greeks, and Myrmidons.
These ranne together for the corse, and closde with horrid cries;
Their armours thundering with the claps, laid on about the prise.
And Ioue about th' impetuous broile, pernicious night powr'd out,
As long as for his loued sonne, pernicious Labour fought.

The first of Troy, the first Greekes foil'd, when, not the last indeed,
Amongst the Myrmidons was slaine: the great Aiacleus seed;
Diuine Epigeus, that before, had exercisde command
In faire Budæus; but because, he laid a bloudie hand
On his owne sisters valiant sonne; To Peleus, and his Queene,
He came for pardon, and obtain'd; His slaughter being the meane
He came to Troy, and so to this. He ventur'd euen to touch
The princely carkasse, when a stone, did more to him, by much;
(Sent out of able Hectors hand) it cut his skull in twaine,
And strooke him dead. Patroclus (grieu'd, to see his friend so slaine)
Before the foremost thrust himselfe: and as a Faulcon frayes

Simile.

A flocke of Stares or Caddesses; such feare brought his assayes
Amongst the Troians, and their friends; and (angry at the hart,
As well as grieu'd) for him so slaine: another stonie dart,
As good as Hectors, he let flie, that dusted in the necke
Of Sthenelaus; thrust his head, to earth first, and did breake
The nerues in sunder, with his fall; off fell the Troians too;
Euen Hectors selfe, and all as farre, as any man can throw,
(Prouokt for games, or in the warres, to shed an enemies soule)
A light, long dart. The first that turn'd, was he that did controule
The Targatiers of Lycia; Prince Glaucus, who to hell
Sent Bathyclæus, Chalcons sonne; he did in Hellas dwell,
And shin'd, for wealth and happinesse, amongst the Myrmidons;
His bosomes midst the Iauelin strooke, his fall gat earth with grones.

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The Greeks grieu'd, and the Troians ioy'd, for so renowm'd a man;
About whom stood the Grecians firme: and then the death began
On Troyes side by Meriones; he slue one great in warre,
Laogonus, Onetors sonne, the Priest of Iupiter,
Created in th' Idean hill. Betwixt his iaw and eare
The dart stucke fast, and loosde his soule; sad mists of Hate and Feare
Inuading him. Anchises sonne, dispatcht a brazen lance
At bold Meriones; and hop't, to make an equall chance
On him, with bold Laogonus; though vnder his broade shield
He lay so close. But he discern'd, and made his bodie yeeld,
So low, that ouer him it flew, and, trembling tooke the ground;
With which, Mars made it quench his thirst; and since the head could wound
No better bodie; and yet throwne, from nere the worse a hand;

Æneas iests at Meriones.

It turnd from earth, and lookt awrie. Æneas let it stand,
Much angrie at the vaine euent; and told Meriones,
He scap't but hardly; nor had cause, to hope for such successe
Another time; though well he knew, his dancing facultie,
By whose agilitie he scap't; for had his dart gone by
With any least touch, instantly, he had bene euer slaine.

Meriones to AEneas.

He answerd: Though thy strength be good, it cannot render vaine
The strength of others with thy iests; nor art thou so diuine,
But when my lance shall touch at thee, with equall speed to thine,
Death will share with it, thy lifes powres; thy confidence can shun
No more then mine, what his right claimes. Menatius noble sonne
Rebuk't Meriones, and said: What needst thou vse this speech?
Nor thy strength is approu'd with words, (good friend) nor can we reach
The bodie, nor make th' enemie yeeld, with these our counterbraues;
We must enforce the binding earth, to hold them in her graues.
If you will warre, Fight; will you speake? giue counsell; counsell, blowes
Are th' ends of warres, and words; talke here, the time in vaine bestowes.

He said, and led, and nothing lesse, for any thing he said,
(His speech being season'd with such right) the Worthy seconded.

Simile.

And then, as in a sounding vale, (neare neighbour to a hill)
Wood-fellers make a farre-heard noise, with chopping, chopping still,
And laying on, on blocks and trees: so they, on men laid lode,
And beate like noises into aire, both as they strooke and trod.
But (past their noise) so full of bloud, of dust, of darts, lay smit
Diuine Sarpedon, that a man, must haue an excellent wit,
That could but know him; and might faile: so from his vtmost head,
Euen to the low plants of his feete, his forme was altered.
All thrusting neare it euery way, as thicke as flies in spring,
That in a sheepe-cote (when new milke, assembles them) make wing,
And buzze about the top-full pailes: nor euer was the eye
Of Ioue auerted from the fight; he viewd, thought, ceaslesly,
And diuersly vpon the death, of great Achilles friend:
If Hector there (to wreake his sonne) should with his iauelin end
His life, and force away his armes, or still augment the field;
He then concluded, that the flight, of much more soule, should yeeld

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Achilles good friend more renowne; and that, euen to their gates
He should driue Hector and his host: and so disanimates
The mind of Hector, that he mounts, his chariot, and takes Flight
Vp with him, tempting all to her; affirming, his insight
Knew euidently, that the beame, of Ioues all-ordering scoles,
Was then in sinking on their side, surcharg'd with flockes of soules.

Then, not the noble Lycians staid, but left their slaughterd Lord
Amongst the corses common heape; for many more were pour'd
About, and on him; while Ioues hand, held out the bitter broile.
And now they spoil'd Sarpedons armes; and to the ships the spoile
Was sent by Menætiades. Then Ioue, thus charg'd the Sunne:

Haste, honor'd Phœbus, let no more, Greeke violence be done

Ioue to Phœbus.

To my Sarpedon; but his corse, of all the sable bloud
And iauelins purg'd; then carry him, farre hence to some cleare floud,
With whose waues wash, and then embalme, each thorough-cleansed lim,
With our Ambrosia; which perform'd, diuine weeds put on him:
And then to those swift mates, and twins, sweete Sleepe and Death commit
His princely person, that with speed, they both may carrie it
To wealthy Lycia; where his friends, and brothers will embrace,
And tombe it in some monument, as fits a Princes place.

Then flew Apollo to the fight, from the Idalian hill,

Apollo sends Sarpedons body by Sleep and Death to Lycia.

At all parts putting into act, his great Commanders will:
Drew all the darts, washt, balm'd the corse; which (deckt with ornament,
By Sleepe and Death, those featherd twins) he into Lycia sent

Patroclus then, Antomedon, commands to giue his steeds
Large raines, and all way to the chace: so madly he exceeds
The strict commission of his friend; which had he kept, had kept
A blacke death from him. But Ioues mind, hath euermore outstept
The mind of man; who both affrights, and takes the victorie
From any hardiest hand, with ease; which he can iustifie,
Though he himselfe commands him fight: as now, he put this chace
In Menætiades his mind. How much then weighs the grace
(Patroclus?) that Ioue giues thee now, in scoles put, with thy death?
Of all these great and famous men, the honorable breath.

Of which, Adrestus first he flue, and next Autonous;
Epistora, and Perimus; Pylartes, Elasus,
Swift Menalippus, Molius; all these were ouerthrowne

Patroclus scaling the wals of Troy, resisted by Phœbus.

By him, and all else, put in rout; and then proud Ilion
Had stoopt beneath his glorious hand: he rag'd so with his lance,
If Phœbus had not kept the towre, and helpt the Ilians,
Sustaining ill thoughts gainst the Prince. Thrice to the prominence
Of Troys steepe wall he brauely leapt: thrice Phœbus thrust him thence:
Obiecting his all-dazeling shield, with his resistlesse hand.
But fourthly, when (like one of heauen) he would haue stird his stand,
Apollo threatned him, and said; Ceasse, it exceeds thy fate

Apollo threatens Patraclus.

(Forward Patroclus) to expugne, with thy bold lance, this state;
Nor vnder great Achilles powres, (to thine superiour farre)
Lies Troyes graue ruine. When he spake, Patroclus left that warre:

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Leapt farre backe; and his anger shund. Hector detain'd his horse
Within the Scæan ports, in doubt, to put his personall force
Amongst the rout, and turne their heads, or shun in Troy the storme.

Apollo seeing his suspence, assum'd the goodly forme

Apollo in shape of Asius to Hector.

Of Hectors vnkle, Asius, the Phrygian Dymas sonne,
Who neare the deepe Sangarius, had habitation;
Being brother to the Troian Queene. His shape Apollo tooke;
And askt of Hector, why his spirit, so cleare the fight forsooke;
Affirming twas vnfit for him: and wisht his forces were
As much aboue his, as they mou'd, in an inferiour sphere:
He should (with shame to him) be gone; and so bad, driue away
Against Patroclus, to approue, if he that gaue them day,
Would giue the glorie of his death, to his preferred lance.
So left he him; and to the fight, did his bright head aduance,
Mixt with the multitude, and stird, foule Tumult for the foe.
Then Hector bad Cebriones, put on; himselfe let go
All other Greeks within his reach, and onely gaue command,
To front Patroclus. He at him; iumpt downe; his strong left hand
A Iauelin held; his right, a stone; a marble sharpe; and such
As his large hand had powre to gripe; and gaue it strength as much
As he could lie to: nor stood long, in feare of that huge man
That made against him; but full on, with his huge stone he ran
Discharg'd, and draue it twixt the browes, of bold Cebriones:
Nor could the thicke bone there prepar'd, extenuate so th' accesse,
But out it draue his broken eyes, which in the dust fell downe;
And he diu'd after; which conceit, of diuing, tooke the sonne
Of old Menætius, who thus plaid, vpon the others bane.

Patroclus iests at the fall of Cebriones.

O heauens! for truth, this Troian was, a passing actiue man;
With what exceeding ease he diues? as if at worke he were
Within the fishie seas. This man, alone would furnish cheare
For twentie men; though twere a storme; to leape out of a saile,
And gather oisters for them all; he does it here as well;
And there are many such in Troy. Thus iested he so neare
His owne graue death; and then made in, to spoile the Chariotere,
With such a Lions force, and fate; as (often ruining,
Stals of fat oxen) gets at length, a mortall wound to sting
His soule, out of that rauenous breast, that was so insolent;
And so his lifes blisse proues his bane: so deadly confident
Wert thou Patroclus, in pursuite, of good Cebriones,

A simile expressing Patroclus encounter and Hectors.

To whose defence now Hector leapt. The opposite addresse,
These masters of the crie in warre, now made, was of the kind
Of two fierce kings of beasts, opposd, in strife, about a Hind
Slaine on the forehead of a hill; both sharpe, and hungry set,
And to the Currie neuer came, but like two Deaths they met:
Nor these two entertain'd lesse mind, of mutuall preiudice,
About the bodie; close to which, when each had prest for prise,
Hector the head laid hand vpon; which once gript, neuer could
Be forc't from him; Patroclus then, vpon the feete got hold,

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And he pincht with as sure a naile: so both stood tugging there,
While all the rest, made eager fight, and grappl'd euery where.
And as the East and South wind striue, to make a loftie wood

Simile.

Bow to their greatnesse; barkie Elmes, wild Ashes, Beeches bowd
Euen with the earth; in whose thicke armes, the mightie vapors lie,
And tosse by turnes, all, either way; their leaues at randon flie,
Boughs murmure, and their bodies cracke; and with perpetuall din,
The Syluans falter, and the stormes, are neuer to begin:
So rag'd the fight; and all from Flight, pluckt her forgotten wings;
While some still stucke; still new wingd shafts, flew dancing from their strings;
Huge stones sent after, that did shake, the shields about the corse,
Who now (in dusts soft forehead stretcht) forgat his guiding horse.

As long as Phœbus turn'd his wheeles, about the midst of heauen,
So long the touch of eithers darts, the fals of both made euen:
But when his waine drew neare the West, the Greeks past measure were
The abler souldiers, and so swept, the Troian tumult cleare
From off the bodie; out of which, they drew the hurl'd-in darts;
And from his shoulders stript his armes; and then to more such parts
Patroclus turn'd his striuing thoughts, to do the Troians ill:
Thrice, like the god of warre, he charg'd; his voice as horrible:
And thrice nine those three charges slue; but in the fourth assay,
O then Patroclus, shew'd thy last; the dreadfull Sunne made way
Against that on-set; yet the Prince, discern'd no deitie;
He kept the prease so; and besides, obscur'd his glorious eye
With such felt darknesse. At his backe, he made a sodaine stand,
And twixt his necke and shoulders laid, downe-right with either hand,
A blow so weightie, that his eyes, a giddie darknesse tooke,
And from his head, his three-plum'd helme, the bounding violence shooke,
That rung beneath his horses hooues; and like a water-spout,
Was crusht together with the fall. The plumes that set it out,
All spatterd with blacke bloud and dust; when euer heretofore
It was a capitall offence, to haue, or dust, or gore
Defile a triple-feather'd helme; but on the head diuine,
And youthfull temples of their Prince, it vsde, vntoucht, to shine.
Yet now Ioue gaue it Hectors hands; the others death was neare.
Besides whose lost and filed helme, his huge long weightie speare,
Well bound with iron, in his hand, was shiuerd, and his shield
Fell from his shoulders to his feete; the bawdricke strewing the field.
His Curets left him, like the rest; and all this onely done
By great Apollo. Then his mind, tooke in confusion;
The vigorous knittings of his ioynts, dissolu'd; and (thus dismaid)
A Dardan (one of Panthus sons, and one that ouerlaid
All Troians, of his place, with darts, swift footing, skill, and force,
In noble horsmanship; and one, that tumbl'd from their horse,
One after other, twentie men: and when he did but learne
The art of warre; nay when he first, did in the field discerne
A horse and chariot of his guide: this man, with all these parts
(His name Euphorbus) comes behind, and twixt the shoulders darts

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Forlorne Patroclus, who yet liu'd, and th' other (getting forth
His Iauelin) tooke him to his strength; nor durst he stand the worth
Of thee Patroclus, though disarmd; who yet (discomfited
By Phœbus, and Euphorbus wound) the red heape of the dead
He now too late shund, and retir'd. When Hector saw him yeeld,
And knew he yeelded with a wound, he scour'd the armed field;
Came close vp to him, and both sides, strooke quite through with his lance;
He fell, and his most weightie fall, gaue fit tune to his chance.

Simile.

For which, all Greece extremely mourn'd. And as a mightie strife
About a little fount, begins, and riseth to the life
Of some fell Bore, resolu'd to drinke; when likewise to the spring
A Lion comes, alike disposde; the Bore thirsts, and his King;
Both proud, and both will first be seru'd; and then the Lion takes
Aduantage of his soueraigne strength; and th' other (fainting) makes
Resigne his thirst vp with his bloud: Patroclus (so enforc't
When he had forc't so much braue life) was, from his owne diuorc't.

Hectors insultation ouer Patroclus being wounded vnder him.

And thus his great Diuorcer brau'd; Patroclus, thy conceit,
Gaue thee th' euersion of our Troy; and to thy fleete a freight
Of Troian Ladies, their free liues, put all in bands by thee:
But (too much priser of thy selfe) all these are propt by me.
For these, haue my horse stretcht their hoofes, to this so long a warre;
And I (farre best of Troy in armes) keepe off from Troy as farre;
Euen to the last beame of my life, their necessary day.
And here (in place of vs and ours) on thee shall Vultures prey,
Poore wretch; nor shall thy mightie Friend, affoord thee any aid,
That gaue thy parting much deepe charge; And this perhaps he said;
Martiall Patroclus, turne not face, nor see my fleete before
The curets from great Hectors breast, all guilded with his gore,
Thou hew'st in peeces: if thus vaine, were his far-stretcht commands;
As vaine was thy heart to beleeue, his words lay in thy hands.

Patroclus languishing to Hector.

He languishing, replide: This proues, thy glory worse then vaine,
That when two gods haue giuen thy hands, what their powres did obtaine,
(They conquering, and they spoiling me, both of my armes and mind,
It being a worke of ease for them) thy soule should be so blind,
To ouersee their euident deeds, and take their powres to thee;
When, if the powres of twentie such, had dar'd t'encounter me,
My lance had strew'd earth with them all. Thou onely doest obtaine
A third place in my death; whom first, a harmfull fate hath slaine
Effected by Latonas sonne; second and first of men,
Euphorbus. And this one thing more, concernes thee; note it then:
Thou shalt not long suruiue thy selfe; nay, now Death cals for thee,
And violent fate; Achilles lance, shall make this good for me.

Thus death ioyn'd to his words, his end; his soule tooke instant wing,
And to the house that hath no lights, descended, sorrowing
For his sad fate, to leaue him yong, and in his ablest age.
He dead; yet Hector askt him why, in that prophetique rage,
He so forespake him? when none knew, but great Achilles might
Preuent his death; and on his lance, receiue his latest light.

235

Thus, setting on his side his foote, he drew out of his wound,
His brazen lance, and vpwards cast, the body on the ground;
When quickly, while the dart was hote, he charg'd Automedon,

Hector charges on Antomedon for Achilles horses.

(Diuine guide of Achilles steeds) in great contention
To seise him to: but his so swift, and deathlesse horse, that fetch
Their gift to Peleus from the gods, soone rap't him, from his reach.