The Whole Works of Homer Prince of Poetts: In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke. By Geo: Chapman |
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| 21. | THE XXI. BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS. |
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 | The Whole Works of Homer |  |
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THE XXI. BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS.
The Argvment.
In two parts, Troyes host parted; Thetis sonne,One to Scamander, one to Ilion
Pursues. Twelue Lords he takes aliue, to end
In sacrifice, for vengeance to his friend.
Asteropæus, dies by his fierce hand,
And Priams sonne, Lycaon. Ouer land
The flood breakes: where, Achilles being engag'd,
Vulcan preserues him; and with spirit enrag'd,
Sets all the Champaine, and the Flood on fire;
Contention then, doth all the gods inspire.
Apollo, in Agenors shape, doth stay
Achilles furie; and by giuing way,
Makes him pursue; till the deceipt giues leaue,
That Troy, in safetie, might her freinds receiue.
Another Argument.
Phy, at the floods shore, doth expresseThe labours of Æacides.
And now they reacht, the goodly swelling channell of the flood,
Gulfe-eating Xanthus; whom Ioue mixt, with his immortall brood:
And there Achilles cleft the host, of Ilion: one side fell
On Xanthus, th' other on the towne: and that did he impell
The same way, that the last daies rage, put all the Greeks in rout,
When Hectors furie reign'd. These now, Achilles powr'd about
The scatterd field. To stay the flight, Saturnia cast before
Their hastie feete, a standing fogge; and then Flights violence bore
The other halfe full on the flood. The siluer-gulphed deepe
Receiu'd them with a mightie crie: the billowes vast and steepe,
Ror'd at their armours; which the shores, did round about resound:
This way, and that, they swum, and shriekt; as in the gulphs they drownd:
And as in fir'd fields, Locusts rise, as the vnwearied blaze
Plies still their rising, till in swarmes, all rush as in amaze,
(For scape) into some neighbour flood: So, th' Achilleian stroke,
Here draue the foe. The gulfie flood, with men and horse did choke.
Gulfe-eating Xanthus; whom Ioue mixt, with his immortall brood:
And there Achilles cleft the host, of Ilion: one side fell
On Xanthus, th' other on the towne: and that did he impell
The same way, that the last daies rage, put all the Greeks in rout,
When Hectors furie reign'd. These now, Achilles powr'd about
The scatterd field. To stay the flight, Saturnia cast before
Their hastie feete, a standing fogge; and then Flights violence bore
The other halfe full on the flood. The siluer-gulphed deepe
Receiu'd them with a mightie crie: the billowes vast and steepe,
Ror'd at their armours; which the shores, did round about resound:
This way, and that, they swum, and shriekt; as in the gulphs they drownd:
And as in fir'd fields, Locusts rise, as the vnwearied blaze
Plies still their rising, till in swarmes, all rush as in amaze,
(For scape) into some neighbour flood: So, th' Achilleian stroke,
Here draue the foe. The gulfie flood, with men and horse did choke.
Then on the shore, the Worthy hid, and left his horrid lance
Amids the Tamriskes; and spritelike, did with his sword aduance,
Vp to the riuer; ill affaires, tooke vp his furious braine,
For Troyes engagements: euery way, he doubl'd slaine on slaine.
A most vnmanly noise was made, with those he put to sword,
Of grones and outcries; the flood blusht, to be so much engor'd
With such base soules: And as small fish, the swift-finn'd Dolphin flie,
Filling the deepe pits in the ports; on whose close strength they lie:
And there he swallowes them in sholes: So here, to rockes, and holes,
About the flood, the Troians fled; and there most lost their soules:
Euen till he tir'd his slaughterous arme. Twelue faire yong Princes then,
He chusde of all, to take aliue; to haue them freshly slaine
On that most solemne day of wreake, resolu'd on for his friend.
These led he trembling forth the flood; as fearefull of their end,
As any Hinde calues: all their hands, he pinnioned behind
With their owne girdles; worne vpon, their rich weeds; and resign'd
Their persons to his Myrmidons, to beare to fleete: and he
Plung'd in the streame againe; to take, more worke of Tragedie.
He met, then issuing the flood; with all intent of flight,
Lycaon, (Dardan Priams sonne;) whom lately in the night,
He had surprisde; as in a wood, of Priams, he had cut,
The greene armes of a wild figge tree; to make him spokes to put
In Naues of his new chariot. An ill then, all vnthought,
Stole on him in Achilles shape, who tooke him thence, and brought
To well-built Lemnos, selling him, to famous Iasons sonne:
From whom, a guest then, in his house; (Imbrius Ection)
Redeem'd at high rate, and sent home, t'Arisba; whence he fled,
And saw againe his fathers court: eleuen daies banquetted,
Amongst his friends; the twelfth god thrust, his haplesse head againe
In t'hands of sterne Æacides; who now must send him slaine,
To Plutos Court; and gainst his will. Him, when Achilles knew
Naked of helmet, shield, sword, lance; (all which for ease he threw
To earth, being ouercome with sweate; and labour wearying
His flying knees) he storm'd, and said; O heauen, a wondrous thing
Inuades mine eyes; those Ilians, that heretofore I slue,
Rise from the darke dead, quicke againe: this man, fate makes eschew
Her owne steele fingers: he was sold, in Lemnos; and the deepe
Of all Seas, twixt this Troy, and that (that many a man doth keepe
From his lou'd countrie) barres not him; Come then; he now shall tast
The head of Pelias; and trie, if steele will downe as fast
As other fortunes; or kind earth, can any surer seise
On his slie person; whose strong armes, haue held downe Hercules.
Amids the Tamriskes; and spritelike, did with his sword aduance,
Vp to the riuer; ill affaires, tooke vp his furious braine,
For Troyes engagements: euery way, he doubl'd slaine on slaine.
208
Of grones and outcries; the flood blusht, to be so much engor'd
With such base soules: And as small fish, the swift-finn'd Dolphin flie,
Filling the deepe pits in the ports; on whose close strength they lie:
And there he swallowes them in sholes: So here, to rockes, and holes,
About the flood, the Troians fled; and there most lost their soules:
Euen till he tir'd his slaughterous arme. Twelue faire yong Princes then,
He chusde of all, to take aliue; to haue them freshly slaine
On that most solemne day of wreake, resolu'd on for his friend.
These led he trembling forth the flood; as fearefull of their end,
As any Hinde calues: all their hands, he pinnioned behind
With their owne girdles; worne vpon, their rich weeds; and resign'd
Their persons to his Myrmidons, to beare to fleete: and he
Plung'd in the streame againe; to take, more worke of Tragedie.
He met, then issuing the flood; with all intent of flight,
Lycaon, (Dardan Priams sonne;) whom lately in the night,
He had surprisde; as in a wood, of Priams, he had cut,
The greene armes of a wild figge tree; to make him spokes to put
In Naues of his new chariot. An ill then, all vnthought,
Stole on him in Achilles shape, who tooke him thence, and brought
To well-built Lemnos, selling him, to famous Iasons sonne:
From whom, a guest then, in his house; (Imbrius Ection)
Redeem'd at high rate, and sent home, t'Arisba; whence he fled,
And saw againe his fathers court: eleuen daies banquetted,
Amongst his friends; the twelfth god thrust, his haplesse head againe
In t'hands of sterne Æacides; who now must send him slaine,
To Plutos Court; and gainst his will. Him, when Achilles knew
Naked of helmet, shield, sword, lance; (all which for ease he threw
To earth, being ouercome with sweate; and labour wearying
His flying knees) he storm'd, and said; O heauen, a wondrous thing
Inuades mine eyes; those Ilians, that heretofore I slue,
Rise from the darke dead, quicke againe: this man, fate makes eschew
Her owne steele fingers: he was sold, in Lemnos; and the deepe
Of all Seas, twixt this Troy, and that (that many a man doth keepe
From his lou'd countrie) barres not him; Come then; he now shall tast
The head of Pelias; and trie, if steele will downe as fast
As other fortunes; or kind earth, can any surer seise
On his slie person; whose strong armes, haue held downe Hercules.
His thoughts thus mou'd, while he stood firme; to see if he, he spide,
Would offer flight, (which first he thought) but when he had descride,
He was descried, and flight was vaine; fearefull, he made more nie,
With purpose to embrace his knees; and now long'd much to flie
His blacke fate, and abhorred death, by coming in. His foe
Obseru'd all this; and vp he raisd, his lance, as he would throw;
And then Lycaon close ran in; fell on his breast, and tooke
Achilles knees; whose lance (on earth, now staid) did ouerlooke,
His still-turn'd backe; with thirst to glut, his sharpe point with the blood,
That lay so readie; but that thirst, Lycaons thirst withstood;
To saue his blood, Achilles knee, in his one hand he knit;
His other held the long lance hard, and would not part with it:
But thus besought: I kisse thy knees, diuine Æacides:
Respect me, and my fortunes rue; I now present th' accesse
Of a poore suppliant, for thy ruth: and I am one that is
Worthy thy ruth (ô Ioues belou'd.) First houre my miseries
Fell into any hand, twas thine: I tasted all my bread
By thy gift since: O since that houre, that thy surprisall led
From forth the faire wood, my sad feete; farre from my lou'd allies,
To famous Lemnos, where I found, an hundred Oxens prise
To make my ransome: for which now, I thrise the worth will raise.
This day, makes twelue since I arriu'd, in Ilion: many daies
Being spent before in sufferance: and now a cruell fate,
Thrusts me againe into thy hands. I should hant Ioue with hate,
That with such set malignitie, giues thee my life againe.
There were but two of vs, for whom, Laothoe sufferd paine,
(Laothoe, old Altes seed; Alte, whose pallace stood
In height of vpper Pedasus, neare Satnius siluer flood;
And rulde the warre-like Lelegi. Whose feed (as many more)
King Priam married, and begot, the godlike Polydor,
And me accurst: thou slaughterdst him: and now thy hand on me.
Will proue as mortall. I did thinke, when here I met with thee,
I could not scape thee; yet giue eare, and adde thy mind to it;
I told my birth to intimate, though one sire did beget;
Yet one wombe brought not into light, Hector (that slue thy friend)
And me. O do not kill me then; but let the wretched end
Of Polydor, excuse my life. For halfe our being bred
Brothers to Hector, he (halfe) paid, no more is forfeited.
Would offer flight, (which first he thought) but when he had descride,
He was descried, and flight was vaine; fearefull, he made more nie,
With purpose to embrace his knees; and now long'd much to flie
His blacke fate, and abhorred death, by coming in. His foe
Obseru'd all this; and vp he raisd, his lance, as he would throw;
And then Lycaon close ran in; fell on his breast, and tooke
Achilles knees; whose lance (on earth, now staid) did ouerlooke,
His still-turn'd backe; with thirst to glut, his sharpe point with the blood,
That lay so readie; but that thirst, Lycaons thirst withstood;
289
His other held the long lance hard, and would not part with it:
But thus besought: I kisse thy knees, diuine Æacides:
Respect me, and my fortunes rue; I now present th' accesse
Of a poore suppliant, for thy ruth: and I am one that is
Worthy thy ruth (ô Ioues belou'd.) First houre my miseries
Fell into any hand, twas thine: I tasted all my bread
By thy gift since: O since that houre, that thy surprisall led
From forth the faire wood, my sad feete; farre from my lou'd allies,
To famous Lemnos, where I found, an hundred Oxens prise
To make my ransome: for which now, I thrise the worth will raise.
This day, makes twelue since I arriu'd, in Ilion: many daies
Being spent before in sufferance: and now a cruell fate,
Thrusts me againe into thy hands. I should hant Ioue with hate,
That with such set malignitie, giues thee my life againe.
There were but two of vs, for whom, Laothoe sufferd paine,
(Laothoe, old Altes seed; Alte, whose pallace stood
In height of vpper Pedasus, neare Satnius siluer flood;
And rulde the warre-like Lelegi. Whose feed (as many more)
King Priam married, and begot, the godlike Polydor,
And me accurst: thou slaughterdst him: and now thy hand on me.
Will proue as mortall. I did thinke, when here I met with thee,
I could not scape thee; yet giue eare, and adde thy mind to it;
I told my birth to intimate, though one sire did beget;
Yet one wombe brought not into light, Hector (that slue thy friend)
And me. O do not kill me then; but let the wretched end
Of Polydor, excuse my life. For halfe our being bred
Brothers to Hector, he (halfe) paid, no more is forfeited.
Thus su'd he humbly; but he heard, with this austere replie:
Foole, vrge not ruth, nor price to me; till that solemnitie
Resolu'd on, for Patroclus death, pay all his rites to fate.
Till his death, I did grace to Troy; and many liues did rate
At price of ransome: but none now, of all the brood of Troy,
(Who euer Ioue throwes to my hands) shall any breath enioy,
That death can beate out; specially, that touch at Priams race.
Die, die, (my friend) what teares are these? what sad lookes spoile thy face?
Patroclus died, that farre past thee: nay seest thou not beside,
My selfe, euen I, a faire yong man, and rarely magnifide;
And (to my father, being a king) a mother haue, that sits
In ranke with goddesses; and yet, when thou hast spent thy spirits,
Death, and as violent a fate, must ouertake, euen me.
By twilight, morne-light, day, high noone; when euer Destinie
Sets on her man, to hurle a lance; or knit out of his string,
An arrow that must reach my life. This said, a languishing
Lycaons heart bent like his knees; yet left him strength t'aduance
Both hands for mercie, as he kneeld. His foe yet leaues his lance,
And forth his sword flies; which he hid, in furrow of a wound
Driuen through the ioynture of his necke; flat fell he on the ground,
Stretcht with deaths pangs; and all the earth, embrew'd with timelesse blood.
Then gript Æacides his heele, and to the loftie flood
Flung (swinging) his vnpitied corse; to see it swim, and tosse
Vp on the rough waues: and said; Go, feed fat the fish with losse
Of thy left blood: they cleane will sucke, thy greene wounds; and this saues,
Thy mother teares vpon thy bed. Deepe Xanthus, on his waues,
Shall hoyse thee brauely to a tombe, that in her burly breast,
The sea shall open; where great fish, may keepe thy funerall feast
With thy white fat: and on the waues, dance at thy wedding fate,
Clad in blacke horror; keeping close, inaccessible state.
Foole, vrge not ruth, nor price to me; till that solemnitie
Resolu'd on, for Patroclus death, pay all his rites to fate.
Till his death, I did grace to Troy; and many liues did rate
At price of ransome: but none now, of all the brood of Troy,
(Who euer Ioue throwes to my hands) shall any breath enioy,
That death can beate out; specially, that touch at Priams race.
Die, die, (my friend) what teares are these? what sad lookes spoile thy face?
Patroclus died, that farre past thee: nay seest thou not beside,
My selfe, euen I, a faire yong man, and rarely magnifide;
And (to my father, being a king) a mother haue, that sits
In ranke with goddesses; and yet, when thou hast spent thy spirits,
Death, and as violent a fate, must ouertake, euen me.
By twilight, morne-light, day, high noone; when euer Destinie
Sets on her man, to hurle a lance; or knit out of his string,
An arrow that must reach my life. This said, a languishing
Lycaons heart bent like his knees; yet left him strength t'aduance
Both hands for mercie, as he kneeld. His foe yet leaues his lance,
And forth his sword flies; which he hid, in furrow of a wound
Driuen through the ioynture of his necke; flat fell he on the ground,
290
Then gript Æacides his heele, and to the loftie flood
Flung (swinging) his vnpitied corse; to see it swim, and tosse
Vp on the rough waues: and said; Go, feed fat the fish with losse
Of thy left blood: they cleane will sucke, thy greene wounds; and this saues,
Thy mother teares vpon thy bed. Deepe Xanthus, on his waues,
Shall hoyse thee brauely to a tombe, that in her burly breast,
The sea shall open; where great fish, may keepe thy funerall feast
With thy white fat: and on the waues, dance at thy wedding fate,
Clad in blacke horror; keeping close, inaccessible state.
So perish Ilians, till we plucke, the browes of Ilion
Downe to her feete, you flying still: I flying still vpon,
Thus in the rere; and (as my browes, were forckt, with rabid hornes)
Tosse ye together. This braue flood, that strengthens, and adornes
Your citie with his siluer gulfes; to whom, so many buls,
Your zeale hath offerd; which blinde zeale, his sacred current guls,
With casting chariots, and horse; quicke to his prayd-for aide;
Shall nothing profite: perish then, till cruell'st Death hath laide
All, at the red feet of Reuenge, for my slaine friend; and all
With whom the absence of my hands, made yours a festiuall.
Downe to her feete, you flying still: I flying still vpon,
Thus in the rere; and (as my browes, were forckt, with rabid hornes)
Tosse ye together. This braue flood, that strengthens, and adornes
Your citie with his siluer gulfes; to whom, so many buls,
Your zeale hath offerd; which blinde zeale, his sacred current guls,
With casting chariots, and horse; quicke to his prayd-for aide;
Shall nothing profite: perish then, till cruell'st Death hath laide
All, at the red feet of Reuenge, for my slaine friend; and all
With whom the absence of my hands, made yours a festiuall.
This speech, great Xanthus more enrag'd; and made his spirit contend,
For meanes to shut vp, the o'pt vaine, against him; and defend
The Troians in it, from his plague. In meane time Peleus sonne,
(And now with that long lance he hid) for more blood, set vpon,
Asteropæus; the descent, of Pelagon; and he
Of brode-stream'd Axius, and the dame (of first natiuitie,
To all the daughters that renown'd, Acesamenus seed)
Bright Peribœa; whom the flood; (arm'd thicke with loftie reed)
Comprest. At her grandchild now went, Thetis great sonne; whose foe
Stood arm'd with two darts, being set on, by Xanthus; angerd so
For those youths blood, shed in his streame, by vengefull Thetis sonne,
Without all mercie. (Both being neare) great Thetides begunne
With this high question. Of what race, art thou that dar'st oppose
Thy powre to mine thus? cursed wombs, they euer did disclose,
That stood my anger. He reply'd, What makes thy furies heate,
Talke, and seeke Pedigrees? farre hence, lies my innatiue seate,
In rich Pœonia. My race, from brode-stream'd Axius, runs;
Axius, that giues earth purest drinke, of all the watrie sons
Of great Oceanus; and got, the famous for his speare,
Pelegonus, that fatherd me; and these Pœonians here,
Arm'd with long lances, here I leade: and here th' eleuenth faire light
Shines on vs, since we enterd Troy: Come now, (braue man) lets fight.
For meanes to shut vp, the o'pt vaine, against him; and defend
The Troians in it, from his plague. In meane time Peleus sonne,
(And now with that long lance he hid) for more blood, set vpon,
Asteropæus; the descent, of Pelagon; and he
Of brode-stream'd Axius, and the dame (of first natiuitie,
To all the daughters that renown'd, Acesamenus seed)
Bright Peribœa; whom the flood; (arm'd thicke with loftie reed)
Comprest. At her grandchild now went, Thetis great sonne; whose foe
Stood arm'd with two darts, being set on, by Xanthus; angerd so
For those youths blood, shed in his streame, by vengefull Thetis sonne,
Without all mercie. (Both being neare) great Thetides begunne
With this high question. Of what race, art thou that dar'st oppose
Thy powre to mine thus? cursed wombs, they euer did disclose,
That stood my anger. He reply'd, What makes thy furies heate,
Talke, and seeke Pedigrees? farre hence, lies my innatiue seate,
In rich Pœonia. My race, from brode-stream'd Axius, runs;
Axius, that giues earth purest drinke, of all the watrie sons
Of great Oceanus; and got, the famous for his speare,
Pelegonus, that fatherd me; and these Pœonians here,
Arm'd with long lances, here I leade: and here th' eleuenth faire light
Shines on vs, since we enterd Troy: Come now, (braue man) lets fight.
Thus spake he, threatning; and to him, Pelides made replie,
With shaken Pelias: but his foe, with two at once let flie;
(For both his hands were dexterous:) one iauelin strooke the shield
Of Thetis sonne; but strooke not through (the gold (gods gift) repeld
The eager point:) the other lance, fell lightly, on the part
Of his faire right hands cubit; forth, the blacke blood spunne; the dart
Glanc't ouer, fastening on the earth, and there his splene was spent,
That wisht the body. With which wish, Achilles, his lance sent,
That quite mist, and infixt it selfe, fast, in the steepe-vp shore.
Euen to the midst, it enterd it; himselfe then, fiercely bore
Vpon his enemie with his sword. His foe was tugging hard,
To get his lance out: thrise he pluckt; and thrise, sure Pelias bard
His wisht euulsion. The fourth plucke; he bow'd, and meant to breake
The Ashen plant; but (ere that act) Achilles sword, did checke
His bent powre, and brake out his soule. Full in the nauill stead
He ript his belly vp; and out, his entrailes fell; and dead
His breathlesse body: whence his armes, Achilles drew, and said:
With shaken Pelias: but his foe, with two at once let flie;
(For both his hands were dexterous:) one iauelin strooke the shield
Of Thetis sonne; but strooke not through (the gold (gods gift) repeld
The eager point:) the other lance, fell lightly, on the part
Of his faire right hands cubit; forth, the blacke blood spunne; the dart
291
That wisht the body. With which wish, Achilles, his lance sent,
That quite mist, and infixt it selfe, fast, in the steepe-vp shore.
Euen to the midst, it enterd it; himselfe then, fiercely bore
Vpon his enemie with his sword. His foe was tugging hard,
To get his lance out: thrise he pluckt; and thrise, sure Pelias bard
His wisht euulsion. The fourth plucke; he bow'd, and meant to breake
The Ashen plant; but (ere that act) Achilles sword, did checke
His bent powre, and brake out his soule. Full in the nauill stead
He ript his belly vp; and out, his entrailes fell; and dead
His breathlesse body: whence his armes, Achilles drew, and said:
Lie there, and proue it dangerous, to lift vp aduerse head,
Against Ioues sonnes; although a flood, were Ancetor to thee.
Thy vants vrg'd him; but I may vant, a higher pedigree,
(From Ioue himselfe:) king Peleus, was sonne to Æacus;
Infernall Æacus, to Ioue; and I, to Peleus.
Thunder-voic't Ioue, farre passeth floods; that onely murmures raise
With earth and water, as they runne, with tribute to the seas.
And his seede theirs exceeds as farre. A flood, a mightie flood
Rag'd nere thee now; but with no aide. Ioue must not be withstood.
King Achelous, yeelds to him; and great Oceanus;
Whence all floods; all the sea; all founts; wells; all deepes humorous,
Fetch their beginnings; yet euen he, feares Ioues flash, and the cracke
His thunder giues; when, out of heauen, it teares atwo his racke.
Against Ioues sonnes; although a flood, were Ancetor to thee.
Thy vants vrg'd him; but I may vant, a higher pedigree,
(From Ioue himselfe:) king Peleus, was sonne to Æacus;
Infernall Æacus, to Ioue; and I, to Peleus.
Thunder-voic't Ioue, farre passeth floods; that onely murmures raise
With earth and water, as they runne, with tribute to the seas.
And his seede theirs exceeds as farre. A flood, a mightie flood
Rag'd nere thee now; but with no aide. Ioue must not be withstood.
King Achelous, yeelds to him; and great Oceanus;
Whence all floods; all the sea; all founts; wells; all deepes humorous,
Fetch their beginnings; yet euen he, feares Ioues flash, and the cracke
His thunder giues; when, out of heauen, it teares atwo his racke.
Thus, pluckt he from the shore, his lance; and left the waues to wash
The waue-sprung entrailes; about which, Fausens, and other fish,
Did shole, to nibble at the fat, which his sweet kidneyes hid.
This for himselfe; now to his men, (the-well-rode Peons) did
His rage contend. All which, cold Feare, shooke into flight, to see
Their Captaine slaine: at whose mazde flight (as much enrag'd) flew he.
And then fell all these, Thrasius, Mydon, Astypilus,
Great Ophelestes, Ænius, Mnesus, Thersilochus.
And on these, many more had falne; vnlesse the angry flood,
Had tooke the figure of a man; and in a whirlepit stood,
Thus speaking to Æacides. Past all, powre feeds thy will,
(Thou great grandchild of Æacus) and past all, th' art in ill.
And gods themselues, confederates; and Ioue (the best of gods)
All deaths giues thee: all places, not. Make my shores periods
To all shore seruice. In the field, let thy field acts run hie,
Not in my waters. My sweet streames, choake with mortalitie
Of men, slaine by thee. Carkasses, so glut me, that I faile
To powre into the sacred sea, my waues; yet still assaile
Thy cruell forces. Ceasse; amaze, affects me with thy rage,
Prince of the people. He reply'd; Shall thy command asswage
(Gulfe-fed Scamander) my free wrath? Ile neuer leaue pursude
Prowd Ilions slaughters; till this hand, in her fild walls conclude
Her flying forces; and hath tried, in single fight, the chance
Of warre with Hector; whose euent, with starke death, shall aduance
One of our conquests. Thus againe, he like a Furie flew
Vpon the Troians: when the flood, his sad plaint did pursue,
To bright Apollo; telling him, he was too negligent
Of Ioues high charge; importuning, by all meanes vehement,
His helpe of Troy; till latest Euen, should her blacke shadowes poure,
On earths brode breast. In all his worst, Achilles yet from shore,
Leapt to his middest. Then sweld his waues, then rag'd, then boyld againe,
Against Achilles: vp flew all, and all the bodies slaine,
In all his deeps; (of which the heapes, made bridges, to his waues)
He belcht out; roring like a Bull The vnslaine, yet he saues,
In his blacke whirlepits, vast and deepe. A horrid bi low stood
About Achilles. On his shield, the violence of the flood
Beate so; it draue him backe, and tooke, his feet vp; his faire palme,
Enforc't to catcht into his stay, a brode, and loftie Elme,
Whose roots he tost vp with his hold; and tore vp all the shore,
With this then, he repeld the waues; and those thicke armes it bore,
He made a bridge to beare him off; (for all fell in) when he,
Forth from the channell threw himselfe. The rage did terrifie,
Euen his great spirit, and made him adde, wings to his swiftest feet,
And treade the land. And yet not there, the flood left his retreate,
But thrust his billowes after him; and blackt them all at top,
To make him feare, and flie his charge; and set the brode field ope
For Troy to scape in. He sprong out, a darts cast; but came on
Againe with a redoubl'd force: As when the swiftest flowne,
And strong'st of all fowles, (Ioues blacke Hawke) the huntresse stoopes vpon
A much lou'd Quarrie: So charg'd he; his armes with horror rung,
Against the blacke waues: yet againe, he was so vrg'd, he flung
His body from the flood, and fled. And after him againe,
The waues flew roring: As a man, that finds a water vaine;
And from some blacke fount is to bring, his streames through plants & groues;
Goes with his Mattocke, and all checks, set to his course; remoues
When that runnes freely: vnder it, the pibbles all giue way,
And where it finds a fall, runnes swift: nor can the leader stay
His current then: Before himselfe, full pac't, it murmures on.
So, of Achilles, euermore, the strong flood vantage wonne;
(Though most deliuer) gods are still, aboue the powres of men.
The waue-sprung entrailes; about which, Fausens, and other fish,
Did shole, to nibble at the fat, which his sweet kidneyes hid.
This for himselfe; now to his men, (the-well-rode Peons) did
His rage contend. All which, cold Feare, shooke into flight, to see
Their Captaine slaine: at whose mazde flight (as much enrag'd) flew he.
And then fell all these, Thrasius, Mydon, Astypilus,
Great Ophelestes, Ænius, Mnesus, Thersilochus.
And on these, many more had falne; vnlesse the angry flood,
Had tooke the figure of a man; and in a whirlepit stood,
Thus speaking to Æacides. Past all, powre feeds thy will,
(Thou great grandchild of Æacus) and past all, th' art in ill.
And gods themselues, confederates; and Ioue (the best of gods)
All deaths giues thee: all places, not. Make my shores periods
To all shore seruice. In the field, let thy field acts run hie,
Not in my waters. My sweet streames, choake with mortalitie
Of men, slaine by thee. Carkasses, so glut me, that I faile
To powre into the sacred sea, my waues; yet still assaile
Thy cruell forces. Ceasse; amaze, affects me with thy rage,
Prince of the people. He reply'd; Shall thy command asswage
(Gulfe-fed Scamander) my free wrath? Ile neuer leaue pursude
Prowd Ilions slaughters; till this hand, in her fild walls conclude
Her flying forces; and hath tried, in single fight, the chance
Of warre with Hector; whose euent, with starke death, shall aduance
292
Vpon the Troians: when the flood, his sad plaint did pursue,
To bright Apollo; telling him, he was too negligent
Of Ioues high charge; importuning, by all meanes vehement,
His helpe of Troy; till latest Euen, should her blacke shadowes poure,
On earths brode breast. In all his worst, Achilles yet from shore,
Leapt to his middest. Then sweld his waues, then rag'd, then boyld againe,
Against Achilles: vp flew all, and all the bodies slaine,
In all his deeps; (of which the heapes, made bridges, to his waues)
He belcht out; roring like a Bull The vnslaine, yet he saues,
In his blacke whirlepits, vast and deepe. A horrid bi low stood
About Achilles. On his shield, the violence of the flood
Beate so; it draue him backe, and tooke, his feet vp; his faire palme,
Enforc't to catcht into his stay, a brode, and loftie Elme,
Whose roots he tost vp with his hold; and tore vp all the shore,
With this then, he repeld the waues; and those thicke armes it bore,
He made a bridge to beare him off; (for all fell in) when he,
Forth from the channell threw himselfe. The rage did terrifie,
Euen his great spirit, and made him adde, wings to his swiftest feet,
And treade the land. And yet not there, the flood left his retreate,
But thrust his billowes after him; and blackt them all at top,
To make him feare, and flie his charge; and set the brode field ope
For Troy to scape in. He sprong out, a darts cast; but came on
Againe with a redoubl'd force: As when the swiftest flowne,
And strong'st of all fowles, (Ioues blacke Hawke) the huntresse stoopes vpon
A much lou'd Quarrie: So charg'd he; his armes with horror rung,
Against the blacke waues: yet againe, he was so vrg'd, he flung
His body from the flood, and fled. And after him againe,
The waues flew roring: As a man, that finds a water vaine;
And from some blacke fount is to bring, his streames through plants & groues;
Goes with his Mattocke, and all checks, set to his course; remoues
When that runnes freely: vnder it, the pibbles all giue way,
And where it finds a fall, runnes swift: nor can the leader stay
His current then: Before himselfe, full pac't, it murmures on.
So, of Achilles, euermore, the strong flood vantage wonne;
(Though most deliuer) gods are still, aboue the powres of men.
As oft, as th' able godlike man, endeuour'd to maintaine
His charge on them, that kept the flood; (and charg'd as he would trie,
If all the gods, inhabiting, the brode vnreached skie,
Could dant his spirit,) so oft, still, the rude waues charg'd him round;
Rampt on his shoulders; from whose depth, his strength, & spirit would bound
Vp to the free aire, vext in soule. And now the vehement flood,
Made faint his knees: so ouerthwart, his waues were, they withstood
All the denyed dust, which he wisht; and now, was faine to crie;
Casting his eyes, to that brode heauen, that late he long'd to trie:
And said, O Ioue, how am I left? No god vouchsafes to free
Me, miserable man; helpe now, and after torture me,
With any outrage. Would to heauen, Hector, (the mightiest
Bred in this region) had imbrew'd, his iauelin in my breast;
That strong might fall by strong. Where now, weake waters luxurie,
Must make my death blush: one, heauen-borne, shall like a hog-herd die,
Drown'd in a durtie torrents rage. Yet none of you in heauen,
I blame for this: but she alone, by whom this life was giuen,
That now must die thus. She would still, delude me with her tales,
Affirming Phœbus shafts should end, within the Troian walls
My curst beginning. In this straight, Neptune and Pallas flew
To fetch him off. In mens shapes Both, close to his danger drew:
And, taking both, both hands, thus spake, the shaker of the world:
His charge on them, that kept the flood; (and charg'd as he would trie,
If all the gods, inhabiting, the brode vnreached skie,
Could dant his spirit,) so oft, still, the rude waues charg'd him round;
Rampt on his shoulders; from whose depth, his strength, & spirit would bound
Vp to the free aire, vext in soule. And now the vehement flood,
Made faint his knees: so ouerthwart, his waues were, they withstood
All the denyed dust, which he wisht; and now, was faine to crie;
Casting his eyes, to that brode heauen, that late he long'd to trie:
And said, O Ioue, how am I left? No god vouchsafes to free
Me, miserable man; helpe now, and after torture me,
With any outrage. Would to heauen, Hector, (the mightiest
293
That strong might fall by strong. Where now, weake waters luxurie,
Must make my death blush: one, heauen-borne, shall like a hog-herd die,
Drown'd in a durtie torrents rage. Yet none of you in heauen,
I blame for this: but she alone, by whom this life was giuen,
That now must die thus. She would still, delude me with her tales,
Affirming Phœbus shafts should end, within the Troian walls
My curst beginning. In this straight, Neptune and Pallas flew
To fetch him off. In mens shapes Both, close to his danger drew:
And, taking both, both hands, thus spake, the shaker of the world:
Pelides, do not stirre a foot; nor these waues, prowdly curld
Against thy bold breast, feare a iote; thou hast vs two thy friends,
(Neptune and Pallas) Ioue himselfe, approuing th' aide we lend.
Tis nothing, as thou fearst with fate; she will not see thee drown'd:
This height shall soone downe; thine owne eyes, shall see it set aground.
Be rulde then, weele aduise thee well; take not thy hand away,
From putting all, indifferently, to all, that it can lay
Vpon the Troians; till the walles, of haughtie Ilion
Conclude all in a desperate flight: and when thou hast set gone,
The soule of Hector, turne to fleet: our hands shall plant a wreath
Of endlesse glorie, on thy browes. Thus, to the free from death,
Both made retreate. He (much impeld, by charge, the godheads gaue)
The field, that now was ouercome, with many a boundlesse waue,
He ouercame: on their wild breasts, they tost the carkasses,
And armes of many a slaughterd man. And now the winged knees,
Of this great Captaine, bore aloft: against the flood he flies
With full assault: nor could that god, make shrinke his rescu'd thies.
Nor shrunke the flood; but as his foe, grew powrefull, he grew mad:
Thrust vp a billow to the skie, and cristall Simois bad
To his assistance: Simois, Hoe, brother, (out he cried)
Come, adde thy current, and resist, this man halfe deified;
Or Ilion he will pul downe straite; the Troians cannot stand
A minute longer. Come, assist; and instantly command
All fountaines in thy rule to rise; all torrents to make in,
And stuffe thy billowes; with whose height, engender such a din,
(With trees torne vp, and iustling stones) as so immane a man,
May shrinke beneath vs: whose powre thriues, do my powre all it can:
He dares things fitter for a god. But, nor his forme, nor force,
Nor glorious armes shall profit him: all which, and his dead corse,
I vow to rowle vp in my sands: Nay, burie in my mud:
Nay, in the very sincks of Troy: that, pour'd into my flood,
Shall make him drowning worke enough: and being drown'd, Ile set
A fort of such strong filth on him; that Greece shall neuer get
His bones from it. There, there shall stand, Achilles sepulcher;
And saue a buriall for his friends. This Furie did transferre
His high-ridg'd billowes on the Prince; roring with blood, and fome,
And carkasses. The crimson streame, did snatch into her wombe,
Surprisd Achilles; and her height, stood, held vp by the hand
Of Ioue himselfe. Then Iuno cried, and cald (to countermand
This watry Deitie) the god, that holds command in fire;
Affraid left that gulf-stomackt flood, would satiate his desire
On great Achilles: Mulciber? my best-lou'd sonne? (she cried)
Rouse thee: for all the gods conceiue, this flood thus amplified,
Is raisd at thee; and shewes as if, his waues would drowne the skie,
And put out all the sphere of fire; haste, helpe thy Emperie:
Light flames, deepe as his pits. Our selfe, the West wind, and the South,
Will call out of the sea; and breathe, in eithers full-charg'd mouth
A storme, t'enrage thy fires gainst Troy; which shall (in one exhal'd)
Blow flames of sweate about their browes; and make their armors skald.
Go thou then, and (gainst these winds rise) make worke on Xanthus shore,
With setting all his trees on fire: and in his owne breast poure,
A feruor that shall make it burne; nor let faire words or threats
Auert thy furie, till I speake; and then, subdue the heates
Of all thy Blazes. Mulciber; prepar'd, a mightie fire,
First, in the field vsde: burning vp, the bodies, that the ire
Of great Achilles rest of soules: the quite-drown'd field it dried;
And shrunke the flood vp. And as fields, that haue bene long time cloide
With catching wether; when their corne, lies on the gauill heape;
Are with a constant North wind dried; with which for comfort leape
Their hearts that sow'd them: So this field, was dride; the bodies burn'd;
And euen the flood into a fire, as bright as day was turn'd.
Elmes, willowes, tamrisks, were enflam'd; the lote trees; sea-grasse reeds,
And rushes, with the galingale rootes (of which abundance breeds
About the sweet flood) all were fir'd: the gliding fishes flew
Vpwards, in flames: the groueling Eeeles, crept vpright; all which slew
Wise Vulcans vnresisted spirit. The flood out of a flame,
Cried to him; Ceasse, ô Mulciber; no deitie can tame
Thy matchlesse virtue: nor would I, (since thou art thus hote) striue.
Ceasse then thy strife; let Thetis sonne, with all thy wisht hast, driue
Euen to their gates these Ilians; what toucheth me their aide,
Or this Contention? Thus in flames, the burning riuer prayde:
And as a Caldron, vnderput, with store of fire; and wrought
With boyling of a well-fed Brawne, vp leapes his waue aloft;
Bauins of sere wood vrging it, and spending flames apace,
Till all the Caldron be engirt, with a consuming blaze.
So round this flood burn'd; and so sod, his sweete, and tortur'd streames;
Nor could flow forth, bound in the fumes, of Vulcans fierie beames.
Who (then not mou'd) his mothers ruth, by all his meanes he craues;
And askt, why Vulcan should inuade, and so torment his waues,
Past other floods? when his offence, rose not to such degree,
As that of other gods, for Troy: and that himselfe would free,
Her wrath to it, if she were pleasde; and prayd her, that her sonne
Might be reflected: adding this, that he would nere be wonne,
To helpe keepe off the ruinous day, in which all Troy should burne,
Fir'd by the Grecians. This vow heard; she charg'd her sonne to turne
His fierie spirits to their homes: and said, it was not fit,
A god should suffer so, for men. Then Vulcan did remit
His so vnmeasur'd violence; and backe the pleasant flood
Ranne to his channell. Thus these gods, she made friends; th' other stood
At weightie difference; both sides ranne, together with a sound,
That Earth resounded; and great heauen, about did surrebound.
Against thy bold breast, feare a iote; thou hast vs two thy friends,
(Neptune and Pallas) Ioue himselfe, approuing th' aide we lend.
Tis nothing, as thou fearst with fate; she will not see thee drown'd:
This height shall soone downe; thine owne eyes, shall see it set aground.
Be rulde then, weele aduise thee well; take not thy hand away,
From putting all, indifferently, to all, that it can lay
Vpon the Troians; till the walles, of haughtie Ilion
Conclude all in a desperate flight: and when thou hast set gone,
The soule of Hector, turne to fleet: our hands shall plant a wreath
Of endlesse glorie, on thy browes. Thus, to the free from death,
Both made retreate. He (much impeld, by charge, the godheads gaue)
The field, that now was ouercome, with many a boundlesse waue,
He ouercame: on their wild breasts, they tost the carkasses,
And armes of many a slaughterd man. And now the winged knees,
Of this great Captaine, bore aloft: against the flood he flies
With full assault: nor could that god, make shrinke his rescu'd thies.
Nor shrunke the flood; but as his foe, grew powrefull, he grew mad:
Thrust vp a billow to the skie, and cristall Simois bad
To his assistance: Simois, Hoe, brother, (out he cried)
Come, adde thy current, and resist, this man halfe deified;
Or Ilion he will pul downe straite; the Troians cannot stand
A minute longer. Come, assist; and instantly command
All fountaines in thy rule to rise; all torrents to make in,
And stuffe thy billowes; with whose height, engender such a din,
(With trees torne vp, and iustling stones) as so immane a man,
May shrinke beneath vs: whose powre thriues, do my powre all it can:
He dares things fitter for a god. But, nor his forme, nor force,
Nor glorious armes shall profit him: all which, and his dead corse,
I vow to rowle vp in my sands: Nay, burie in my mud:
Nay, in the very sincks of Troy: that, pour'd into my flood,
Shall make him drowning worke enough: and being drown'd, Ile set
A fort of such strong filth on him; that Greece shall neuer get
His bones from it. There, there shall stand, Achilles sepulcher;
And saue a buriall for his friends. This Furie did transferre
His high-ridg'd billowes on the Prince; roring with blood, and fome,
And carkasses. The crimson streame, did snatch into her wombe,
Surprisd Achilles; and her height, stood, held vp by the hand
294
This watry Deitie) the god, that holds command in fire;
Affraid left that gulf-stomackt flood, would satiate his desire
On great Achilles: Mulciber? my best-lou'd sonne? (she cried)
Rouse thee: for all the gods conceiue, this flood thus amplified,
Is raisd at thee; and shewes as if, his waues would drowne the skie,
And put out all the sphere of fire; haste, helpe thy Emperie:
Light flames, deepe as his pits. Our selfe, the West wind, and the South,
Will call out of the sea; and breathe, in eithers full-charg'd mouth
A storme, t'enrage thy fires gainst Troy; which shall (in one exhal'd)
Blow flames of sweate about their browes; and make their armors skald.
Go thou then, and (gainst these winds rise) make worke on Xanthus shore,
With setting all his trees on fire: and in his owne breast poure,
A feruor that shall make it burne; nor let faire words or threats
Auert thy furie, till I speake; and then, subdue the heates
Of all thy Blazes. Mulciber; prepar'd, a mightie fire,
First, in the field vsde: burning vp, the bodies, that the ire
Of great Achilles rest of soules: the quite-drown'd field it dried;
And shrunke the flood vp. And as fields, that haue bene long time cloide
With catching wether; when their corne, lies on the gauill heape;
Are with a constant North wind dried; with which for comfort leape
Their hearts that sow'd them: So this field, was dride; the bodies burn'd;
And euen the flood into a fire, as bright as day was turn'd.
Elmes, willowes, tamrisks, were enflam'd; the lote trees; sea-grasse reeds,
And rushes, with the galingale rootes (of which abundance breeds
About the sweet flood) all were fir'd: the gliding fishes flew
Vpwards, in flames: the groueling Eeeles, crept vpright; all which slew
Wise Vulcans vnresisted spirit. The flood out of a flame,
Cried to him; Ceasse, ô Mulciber; no deitie can tame
Thy matchlesse virtue: nor would I, (since thou art thus hote) striue.
Ceasse then thy strife; let Thetis sonne, with all thy wisht hast, driue
Euen to their gates these Ilians; what toucheth me their aide,
Or this Contention? Thus in flames, the burning riuer prayde:
And as a Caldron, vnderput, with store of fire; and wrought
With boyling of a well-fed Brawne, vp leapes his waue aloft;
Bauins of sere wood vrging it, and spending flames apace,
Till all the Caldron be engirt, with a consuming blaze.
So round this flood burn'd; and so sod, his sweete, and tortur'd streames;
Nor could flow forth, bound in the fumes, of Vulcans fierie beames.
Who (then not mou'd) his mothers ruth, by all his meanes he craues;
And askt, why Vulcan should inuade, and so torment his waues,
Past other floods? when his offence, rose not to such degree,
As that of other gods, for Troy: and that himselfe would free,
Her wrath to it, if she were pleasde; and prayd her, that her sonne
Might be reflected: adding this, that he would nere be wonne,
To helpe keepe off the ruinous day, in which all Troy should burne,
Fir'd by the Grecians. This vow heard; she charg'd her sonne to turne
His fierie spirits to their homes: and said, it was not fit,
295
His so vnmeasur'd violence; and backe the pleasant flood
Ranne to his channell. Thus these gods, she made friends; th' other stood
At weightie difference; both sides ranne, together with a sound,
That Earth resounded; and great heauen, about did surrebound.
Ioue heard it, sitting on his hill; and laught to see the gods,
Buckle to armes like angry men: and (he pleasde with their ods)
They laid it freely. Of them all, thump-buckler Mars began;
And at Minerua with a lance, of braffe he headlong ran;
These vile words vshering his blowes: Thou, dog-flie, what's the cause,
Thou mak'st gods fight thus? thy huge heart, breakes all our peacefull lawes,
With thy insatiate shamelesnesse. Rememberst thou the houre,
When Diomed charg'd me? and by thee? and thou with all thy powre,
Took'st lance thy selfe; and in all sights, rusht on me with a wound?
Now vengeance fals on thee for all. This said, the shield fring'd round
With fighting Adders, borne by Ioue, that not to thunder yeelds,
He clapt his lance on; and this god, that with the bloud of fields,
Pollutes his godhead; that shield pierst, and hurt the armed Maid:
But backe she leapt; and with her strong, hand rapt a huge stone, laid
Aboue the Champaine; blacke and sharpe, that did in old time breake
Partitions to mens lands; And that, she dusted in the necke
Of that impetuous challenger. Downe to the earth he swayd,
And ouerlaid seuen Acres land: his haire was all berayd
With dust, and bloud mixt; and his armes, rung out. Minerua laught,
And thus insulted: O thou foole, yet hast thou not bene taught
To know mine eminence? thy strength, opposest thou to mine?
So pay thy mothers furies then; who for these aides of thine,
(Euer affoorded periur'd Troy; Greece euer left) takes spleene,
And vowes thee mischiefe. Thus she turn'd, her blew eyes, when Loues Queen
The hand of Mars tooke; and from earth, raisd him with thick-drawne breath,
His spirits not yet got vp againe. But from the prease of death,
Kind Aphrodite was his guide. Which, Iuno seeing, exclam'd:
Pallas; see, Mars is helpt from field? Dog, flie, his rude tongue nam'd
Thy selfe euen now; but that his loue, that dog-flie will not leaue,
Her old confort. Vpon her; flie. Minerua did receaue
This excitation ioyfully; and at the Cyprian flew;
Strooke with her hard hand, her soft breast, a blow that ouerthrew
Both her and Mars; and there, both lay together in broad field.
When thus she triumpht. So lie all, that any succours yeeld
To these false Troians, gainst the Greeks; so bold, and patient,
As Venus, (shunning charge of me); and no lesse impotent
Be all their aides, then hers to Mars: so short worke would be made
In our depopulating Troy (this hardiest to inuade,
Of all earths cities). At this wish, white-wristed Iuno smil'd.
Next, Neptune and Apollo stood, vpon the point of field;
And thus spake Neptune: Phœbus! come; why, at the lances end
Stand we two thus? twill be a shame, for vs to re-ascend
Ioues golden house, being thus in field; and not to fight. Begin;
For tis no gracefull worke for me: thou hast the yonger chin;
I older, and know more. O foole! what a forgetfull heart
Thou bear'st about thee? to stand here, prest to take th' Ilian part,
And fight with me? Forgetst thou then, what we two; we alone
(Of all the gods) haue sufferd here? when proud Laomedon,
Enioyd our seruice, a whole yeare, for our agreed reward?
Ioue, in his sway would haue it so; and in that yeare I rear'd
This broad braue wall about this towne; that (being a worke of mine)
It might be inexpugnable. This seruice then, was thine,
In Ida (that so many hils, and curld-head forrests crowne)
To feed his oxen; crooked shankt, and headed like the Moone.
But when the much-ioy-bringing houres, brought terme for our reward;
The terrible Laomedon, dismist vs both, and scard
Our high deseruings; not alone, to hold our promist fee,
But giue vs threats too. Hands and feete, he swore to fetter thee,
And sell thee as a slaue; dismist, farre hence to forreine Iles;
Nay more, he would haue both our eares. His vowes breach, and reuiles,
Made vs part angry with him than; and doest thou gratulate now,
Such a kings subiects? or with vs, not their destruction vow,
Euen to their chast wiues, and their babes? He answerd, he might hold
His wisedome litle; if with him (a god); for men he would
Maintaine contention: wretched men, that flourish for a time,
Like leaues; eate some of that, Earth yeelds; and giue Earth, in their prime,
Their whole selues for it. Quickly then, let vs flie fight for them;
Nor shew it offerd: let themselues, beare out their owne extreme.
Buckle to armes like angry men: and (he pleasde with their ods)
They laid it freely. Of them all, thump-buckler Mars began;
And at Minerua with a lance, of braffe he headlong ran;
These vile words vshering his blowes: Thou, dog-flie, what's the cause,
Thou mak'st gods fight thus? thy huge heart, breakes all our peacefull lawes,
With thy insatiate shamelesnesse. Rememberst thou the houre,
When Diomed charg'd me? and by thee? and thou with all thy powre,
Took'st lance thy selfe; and in all sights, rusht on me with a wound?
Now vengeance fals on thee for all. This said, the shield fring'd round
With fighting Adders, borne by Ioue, that not to thunder yeelds,
He clapt his lance on; and this god, that with the bloud of fields,
Pollutes his godhead; that shield pierst, and hurt the armed Maid:
But backe she leapt; and with her strong, hand rapt a huge stone, laid
Aboue the Champaine; blacke and sharpe, that did in old time breake
Partitions to mens lands; And that, she dusted in the necke
Of that impetuous challenger. Downe to the earth he swayd,
And ouerlaid seuen Acres land: his haire was all berayd
With dust, and bloud mixt; and his armes, rung out. Minerua laught,
And thus insulted: O thou foole, yet hast thou not bene taught
To know mine eminence? thy strength, opposest thou to mine?
So pay thy mothers furies then; who for these aides of thine,
(Euer affoorded periur'd Troy; Greece euer left) takes spleene,
And vowes thee mischiefe. Thus she turn'd, her blew eyes, when Loues Queen
The hand of Mars tooke; and from earth, raisd him with thick-drawne breath,
His spirits not yet got vp againe. But from the prease of death,
Kind Aphrodite was his guide. Which, Iuno seeing, exclam'd:
Pallas; see, Mars is helpt from field? Dog, flie, his rude tongue nam'd
Thy selfe euen now; but that his loue, that dog-flie will not leaue,
Her old confort. Vpon her; flie. Minerua did receaue
This excitation ioyfully; and at the Cyprian flew;
Strooke with her hard hand, her soft breast, a blow that ouerthrew
Both her and Mars; and there, both lay together in broad field.
When thus she triumpht. So lie all, that any succours yeeld
To these false Troians, gainst the Greeks; so bold, and patient,
As Venus, (shunning charge of me); and no lesse impotent
Be all their aides, then hers to Mars: so short worke would be made
In our depopulating Troy (this hardiest to inuade,
Of all earths cities). At this wish, white-wristed Iuno smil'd.
Next, Neptune and Apollo stood, vpon the point of field;
And thus spake Neptune: Phœbus! come; why, at the lances end
Stand we two thus? twill be a shame, for vs to re-ascend
Ioues golden house, being thus in field; and not to fight. Begin;
296
I older, and know more. O foole! what a forgetfull heart
Thou bear'st about thee? to stand here, prest to take th' Ilian part,
And fight with me? Forgetst thou then, what we two; we alone
(Of all the gods) haue sufferd here? when proud Laomedon,
Enioyd our seruice, a whole yeare, for our agreed reward?
Ioue, in his sway would haue it so; and in that yeare I rear'd
This broad braue wall about this towne; that (being a worke of mine)
It might be inexpugnable. This seruice then, was thine,
In Ida (that so many hils, and curld-head forrests crowne)
To feed his oxen; crooked shankt, and headed like the Moone.
But when the much-ioy-bringing houres, brought terme for our reward;
The terrible Laomedon, dismist vs both, and scard
Our high deseruings; not alone, to hold our promist fee,
But giue vs threats too. Hands and feete, he swore to fetter thee,
And sell thee as a slaue; dismist, farre hence to forreine Iles;
Nay more, he would haue both our eares. His vowes breach, and reuiles,
Made vs part angry with him than; and doest thou gratulate now,
Such a kings subiects? or with vs, not their destruction vow,
Euen to their chast wiues, and their babes? He answerd, he might hold
His wisedome litle; if with him (a god); for men he would
Maintaine contention: wretched men, that flourish for a time,
Like leaues; eate some of that, Earth yeelds; and giue Earth, in their prime,
Their whole selues for it. Quickly then, let vs flie fight for them;
Nor shew it offerd: let themselues, beare out their owne extreme.
Thus he retir'd, and fear'd to change, blowes with his vnkles hands;
His sister thererefore chid him much, (the goddesse that commands
In games of hunting) and thus spake: Fliest thou? and leau'st the field
To Neptunes glorie? and no blowes? O foole! why doest thou wield
Thy idle bow? no more my eares, shall heare thee vant in skies,
Dares to meete Neptune; but Ile tell, thy cowards tongue, it lies.
His sister thererefore chid him much, (the goddesse that commands
In games of hunting) and thus spake: Fliest thou? and leau'st the field
To Neptunes glorie? and no blowes? O foole! why doest thou wield
Thy idle bow? no more my eares, shall heare thee vant in skies,
Dares to meete Neptune; but Ile tell, thy cowards tongue, it lies.
He answerd nothing; yet Ioues wife, could put on no such raines;
But spake thus loosly: How dar'st thou, dog, whom no feares containes,
Encounter me? twill proue a match, of hard condition:
Though the great Ladie of the bow; and Ioue hath set thee downe,
For Lion of thy sexe; with gift, to slaughter any Dame
Thy proud will enuies; yet some Dames, will proue, th' hadst better tame
Wilde Lions vpon hils, then them. But if this question rests
Yet vnder iudgement, in thy thoughts; and that thy mind contests;
Ile make thee know it. Sodainly, with her left hand she catcht
Both Cynthias palmes, lockt fingers fast; and with her right, she snatcht
From her faire shoulders, her guilt bow; and (laughing) laid it on,
About her eares; and euery way, her turnings seisd vpon,
Till all her arrowes scatterd out; her quiuer emptied quite.
And as a Doue, that (flying a Hauke) takes to some rocke her flight;
And in his hollow breasts sits safe; her fate, not yet to die:
So fled she mourning; and her bow, left there. Then Mercurie,
His opposite, thus vndertooke: Latona, at no hand,
Will I bide combat; tis a worke, right dangerous to stand,
At difference with the wiues of Ioue; Go therefore, freely vant
Amongst the deities, th' hast subdu'd, and made thy combattant
Yeeld with plaine powre. She answer'd not, but gather'd vp the bow
And shafts falne from her daughters side, retiring. Vp did go
Diana to Ioues starrie hall; her incorrupted vaile
Trembling about her; so she shooke. Phœbus (lest Troy should faile
Before her Fate) flew to her wals; the other deities flew
Vp to Olympus; some enrag'd, some glad. Achilles slew
Both men and horse of Ilion. And as a citie fir'd,
Casts vp a heate, that purples heauen; Clamors and shriekes expir'd
In euery corner; toile to all; to many, miserie;
Which fire, th' incensed gods let fall; Achilles so let flie,
Rage on the Troians; toiles and shriekes, as much by him imposde.
Old Priam in his sacred towre, stood; and the flight disclosde,
Of his forc't people; all in rout, and not a stroke return'd,
By fled Resistance. His eyes saw, in what a furie burnd
The sonne of Peleus; and downe, went weeping from the towre,
To all the port-guards; and their Chiefes, told of his flying powre,
Commanding th' opening of the ports; but not to let their hands
Stirre from them; for Æacides, would poure in with his bands.
Destruction come; O shut them straight; when we are in (he praid);
For, not our walls I feare, will checke, this violent man. This said,
Off lifted they the barres; the ports, hal'd open, and they gaue
Safetie her entrie, with the host; which yet they could not saue,
Had not Apollo sallied out, and strooke Destruction
(Brought by Achilles in their neckes) backe; when they, right vpon
The ports bore all, drie, dustie, spent; and on their shoulders rode
Rabide Achilles with his lance; still Glorie being the gode
That prickt his Furie. Then the Greeks, high-ported Ilion
Had seiz'd; had not Apollo stird, Antenors famous sonne,
Diuine Agenor; and cast in, an vndertaking spirit
To his bold bosome; and himselfe, stood by to strengthen it,
And keepe the heauie hand of death, from breaking in. The god
Stood by him, leaning on a beach, and couer'd his abode
With night-like darknesse; yet for all, the spirit he inspir'd;
When that great citie-racers force, his thoughts strooke, he retir'd;
Stood, and went on; A world of doubts, still falling in his way,
When (angry with himselfe) he said: Why suffer I this stay,
In this so strong need to go on? If, like the rest, I flie;
Tis his best weapon to giue chace, being swift; and I should die
Like to a coward. If I stand, I fall too. These two wayes,
Please not my purpose; I would liue. What if I suffer these,
Still to be routed? and (my feete, affoording further length)
Passe all these fields of Ilion, till Idas syluane strength,
And steepe heights shroud me; and at Euen, refresh me in the flood,
And turne to Ilion? O my soule, why drown'st thou in the blood
Of these discourses? If this course, that talkes of further flight,
I giue my feete; his feete more swift, haue more ods. Get be sight
Of that passe; I passe least; for pace, and length of pace, his thies
Will stand out all men. Meete him then; my steele hath faculties
Of powre to pierce him; his great breast, but one soule holds; and that
Death claimes his right in (all men say); but he holds speciall state
In Ioues high bountie: that's past man, that euery way will hold;
And that serues all men, euery way. This last heart, made him bold,
To stand Achilles; and stird vp, a mightie mind to blowes.
And as a Panther (hauing heard, the hounds traile) doth disclose
Her freckl'd forhead; and stares forth, from out some deepe-growne wood,
To trie what strength dares her abroad; and when her fierie blood
The hounds haue kindl'd; no quench serues, of loue to liue, or feare;
Though strooke, though wounded; though quite through, she feels the mortal speare;
But till the mans close strength she tries, or strowes earth with his dart;
She puts her strength out: So it far'd, with braue Agenors hart;
And till Achilles he had prou'd; no thoughts, no deeds, once stird
His fixed foote. To his broad breast, his round shield he preferd,
And vp his arme went, with his aime; his voice out, with this crie:
Thy hope is too great (Peleus sonne), this day to shew thine eye
Troys Ilion at thy foote; O foole! the Greeks with much more woes,
More then are sufferd yet, must buy, great Ilions ouerthrowes.
We are within her many strong, that for our parents sakes,
Our wiues and children, will saue Troy; and thou (though he that makes
Thy name so terrible) shalt make, a sacrifice to her,
With thine owne ruines. Thus he threw; nor did his iauelin erre;
But strooke his foes leg, neare his knee; the feruent steele did ring
Against his tin greaues, and leapt backe. The fires strong-handed king,
Gaue vertue of repulse; and then, Æacides assail'd
Diuine Agenor; but in vaine; Apollos powre preuail'd,
And rapt Agenor from his reach; whom quietly he plac't
Without the skirmish; casting mists, to saue from being chac't,
His tenderd person; and (he gone) to giue his souldiers scape;
The deitie turn'd Achilles still, by putting on the shape
Of him he thirsted; euermore, he fed his eye, and fled;
And he with all his knees pursu'd. So cunningly he led;
That still he would be neare his reach, to draw his rage, with hope,
Farre from the conflict; To the flood, maintaining still the scope
Of his attraction. In meane time, the other frighted powres,
Came to the citie, comforted, when Troy, and all her towres,
Strooted with fillers; none would stand, to see who staid without,
Who scapt, and who came short; the ports, cleft to receiue the rout,
That pour'd it selfe in. Euery man, was for himselfe; Most fleete,
Most fortunate; who euer scapt, his head might thanke his feete.
But spake thus loosly: How dar'st thou, dog, whom no feares containes,
Encounter me? twill proue a match, of hard condition:
Though the great Ladie of the bow; and Ioue hath set thee downe,
For Lion of thy sexe; with gift, to slaughter any Dame
Thy proud will enuies; yet some Dames, will proue, th' hadst better tame
Wilde Lions vpon hils, then them. But if this question rests
Yet vnder iudgement, in thy thoughts; and that thy mind contests;
Ile make thee know it. Sodainly, with her left hand she catcht
Both Cynthias palmes, lockt fingers fast; and with her right, she snatcht
From her faire shoulders, her guilt bow; and (laughing) laid it on,
About her eares; and euery way, her turnings seisd vpon,
Till all her arrowes scatterd out; her quiuer emptied quite.
And as a Doue, that (flying a Hauke) takes to some rocke her flight;
And in his hollow breasts sits safe; her fate, not yet to die:
So fled she mourning; and her bow, left there. Then Mercurie,
His opposite, thus vndertooke: Latona, at no hand,
297
At difference with the wiues of Ioue; Go therefore, freely vant
Amongst the deities, th' hast subdu'd, and made thy combattant
Yeeld with plaine powre. She answer'd not, but gather'd vp the bow
And shafts falne from her daughters side, retiring. Vp did go
Diana to Ioues starrie hall; her incorrupted vaile
Trembling about her; so she shooke. Phœbus (lest Troy should faile
Before her Fate) flew to her wals; the other deities flew
Vp to Olympus; some enrag'd, some glad. Achilles slew
Both men and horse of Ilion. And as a citie fir'd,
Casts vp a heate, that purples heauen; Clamors and shriekes expir'd
In euery corner; toile to all; to many, miserie;
Which fire, th' incensed gods let fall; Achilles so let flie,
Rage on the Troians; toiles and shriekes, as much by him imposde.
Old Priam in his sacred towre, stood; and the flight disclosde,
Of his forc't people; all in rout, and not a stroke return'd,
By fled Resistance. His eyes saw, in what a furie burnd
The sonne of Peleus; and downe, went weeping from the towre,
To all the port-guards; and their Chiefes, told of his flying powre,
Commanding th' opening of the ports; but not to let their hands
Stirre from them; for Æacides, would poure in with his bands.
Destruction come; O shut them straight; when we are in (he praid);
For, not our walls I feare, will checke, this violent man. This said,
Off lifted they the barres; the ports, hal'd open, and they gaue
Safetie her entrie, with the host; which yet they could not saue,
Had not Apollo sallied out, and strooke Destruction
(Brought by Achilles in their neckes) backe; when they, right vpon
The ports bore all, drie, dustie, spent; and on their shoulders rode
Rabide Achilles with his lance; still Glorie being the gode
That prickt his Furie. Then the Greeks, high-ported Ilion
Had seiz'd; had not Apollo stird, Antenors famous sonne,
Diuine Agenor; and cast in, an vndertaking spirit
To his bold bosome; and himselfe, stood by to strengthen it,
And keepe the heauie hand of death, from breaking in. The god
Stood by him, leaning on a beach, and couer'd his abode
With night-like darknesse; yet for all, the spirit he inspir'd;
When that great citie-racers force, his thoughts strooke, he retir'd;
Stood, and went on; A world of doubts, still falling in his way,
When (angry with himselfe) he said: Why suffer I this stay,
In this so strong need to go on? If, like the rest, I flie;
Tis his best weapon to giue chace, being swift; and I should die
Like to a coward. If I stand, I fall too. These two wayes,
Please not my purpose; I would liue. What if I suffer these,
Still to be routed? and (my feete, affoording further length)
Passe all these fields of Ilion, till Idas syluane strength,
And steepe heights shroud me; and at Euen, refresh me in the flood,
And turne to Ilion? O my soule, why drown'st thou in the blood
Of these discourses? If this course, that talkes of further flight,
298
Of that passe; I passe least; for pace, and length of pace, his thies
Will stand out all men. Meete him then; my steele hath faculties
Of powre to pierce him; his great breast, but one soule holds; and that
Death claimes his right in (all men say); but he holds speciall state
In Ioues high bountie: that's past man, that euery way will hold;
And that serues all men, euery way. This last heart, made him bold,
To stand Achilles; and stird vp, a mightie mind to blowes.
And as a Panther (hauing heard, the hounds traile) doth disclose
Her freckl'd forhead; and stares forth, from out some deepe-growne wood,
To trie what strength dares her abroad; and when her fierie blood
The hounds haue kindl'd; no quench serues, of loue to liue, or feare;
Though strooke, though wounded; though quite through, she feels the mortal speare;
But till the mans close strength she tries, or strowes earth with his dart;
She puts her strength out: So it far'd, with braue Agenors hart;
And till Achilles he had prou'd; no thoughts, no deeds, once stird
His fixed foote. To his broad breast, his round shield he preferd,
And vp his arme went, with his aime; his voice out, with this crie:
Thy hope is too great (Peleus sonne), this day to shew thine eye
Troys Ilion at thy foote; O foole! the Greeks with much more woes,
More then are sufferd yet, must buy, great Ilions ouerthrowes.
We are within her many strong, that for our parents sakes,
Our wiues and children, will saue Troy; and thou (though he that makes
Thy name so terrible) shalt make, a sacrifice to her,
With thine owne ruines. Thus he threw; nor did his iauelin erre;
But strooke his foes leg, neare his knee; the feruent steele did ring
Against his tin greaues, and leapt backe. The fires strong-handed king,
Gaue vertue of repulse; and then, Æacides assail'd
Diuine Agenor; but in vaine; Apollos powre preuail'd,
And rapt Agenor from his reach; whom quietly he plac't
Without the skirmish; casting mists, to saue from being chac't,
His tenderd person; and (he gone) to giue his souldiers scape;
The deitie turn'd Achilles still, by putting on the shape
Of him he thirsted; euermore, he fed his eye, and fled;
And he with all his knees pursu'd. So cunningly he led;
That still he would be neare his reach, to draw his rage, with hope,
Farre from the conflict; To the flood, maintaining still the scope
Of his attraction. In meane time, the other frighted powres,
Came to the citie, comforted, when Troy, and all her towres,
Strooted with fillers; none would stand, to see who staid without,
Who scapt, and who came short; the ports, cleft to receiue the rout,
That pour'd it selfe in. Euery man, was for himselfe; Most fleete,
Most fortunate; who euer scapt, his head might thanke his feete.
The end of the one and twentieth Booke.
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