 | Ten books of Homers Iliades |  |
The
Heauenly sires and mortal folke passed the night as tho
In pleasaunt sleepe, yeelding to it, ful free of care and wo.
But Ioue sticking with tooth and nayle stil vnto hys behest
To Thetis made, with irkesome cheare bereft was of his rest,
Casting how he Achilles fame vnto the starres might raise,
And moue some broyles in the Greeks Cāpe to their losse any ways.
Iohn dreaming God he callde to him, that God chiefe God of il,
Common cole carrier of euery lye, thus saying him his wil:
Thou cankerde dreame thinke on thy charge, & leaue thy seate nowe here
And straight to Agamemnons ships this message see thou beare,
Without abode that he do arme eche Greekish crue and bande,
His enterprise to ende, my selfe wil put an helping hande.
For now the Gods do all agree that Troy to ruine goe,
Among them though hath bene great tug whether it should be so.
Throughly by Iuno brought thereto, whose wil and whole desire
Is both the Troyan towne and folke to daunt with sworde and fire.
In pleasaunt sleepe, yeelding to it, ful free of care and wo.
But Ioue sticking with tooth and nayle stil vnto hys behest
To Thetis made, with irkesome cheare bereft was of his rest,
Casting how he Achilles fame vnto the starres might raise,
And moue some broyles in the Greeks Cāpe to their losse any ways.
Iohn dreaming God he callde to him, that God chiefe God of il,
Common cole carrier of euery lye, thus saying him his wil:
Thou cankerde dreame thinke on thy charge, & leaue thy seate nowe here
And straight to Agamemnons ships this message see thou beare,
Without abode that he do arme eche Greekish crue and bande,
His enterprise to ende, my selfe wil put an helping hande.
For now the Gods do all agree that Troy to ruine goe,
Among them though hath bene great tug whether it should be so.
Throughly by Iuno brought thereto, whose wil and whole desire
Is both the Troyan towne and folke to daunt with sworde and fire.
19
Hauing his errand thus from Ioue, the dreaming God him sped
Forthwith to Agamemn that prince, whom he found then abed,
By sleepe refreshing so his sprites of toyle and trauaile gone,
Of Nestor olde that famous wight the shape that God put on,
Saying: Oh valiant Atreus heire, sleepst thou or dost thou wake?
A Princes dutie is not thus himselfe to sloth to take,
Who hath the charge of such a crue of knights and army big,
For not throughout to sleepe a night the care of them would twig.
Sith Ioue so much thy fame desires, and eke thy name to raise,
And for thy sake hath causde such broyles he bids without delayes,
That next when Titan shewes his face this, Orizon to light,
In order you your armies range of battaile for to fight.
For now the time is right at hand, yea this is now the day,
Wherein the Troyan Citie shal be giuen to Greekes in pray.
The Gods as now yeelde all therto, agreeing in this case
Willing to follow Iunoes vaine, whom great desires embrace
Of Troy to see the Towers downe torne, and euend with the ground,
And Ioue that God, of others most, that string doth wholy sounde.
The Troyans little to esteeme his Godhead he doth know.
Thinke on oh King that I haue saide, my message do not slow.
His errand done, as he was willde, he toke his flight from thence,
Leauing Prince Agamemnon then in dumpe and in suspence.
And casting for to make exployte and end without delayes,
To spoyle the Troyan towne and line, and not to take more dayes.
But the great Calfe mist of his counte, for Ioue had layde a bayte
As wel the Greekes as Dardanes kind them both a shame to waite.
But then he rose, leauing his bed, and sitting downe thereon,
He clad himselfe with garments newe, and put a Mantle on,
And on his feete ful delicate cleane shoes right feate he set,
And to his side a sworde he girt, with golden nayles ybet.
Thus clad, holding in his right hand his own paternal Mace,
Went from his tent vnto the ships to consult of the case.
Forthwith to Agamemn that prince, whom he found then abed,
By sleepe refreshing so his sprites of toyle and trauaile gone,
Of Nestor olde that famous wight the shape that God put on,
Saying: Oh valiant Atreus heire, sleepst thou or dost thou wake?
A Princes dutie is not thus himselfe to sloth to take,
Who hath the charge of such a crue of knights and army big,
For not throughout to sleepe a night the care of them would twig.
Sith Ioue so much thy fame desires, and eke thy name to raise,
And for thy sake hath causde such broyles he bids without delayes,
That next when Titan shewes his face this, Orizon to light,
In order you your armies range of battaile for to fight.
For now the time is right at hand, yea this is now the day,
Wherein the Troyan Citie shal be giuen to Greekes in pray.
The Gods as now yeelde all therto, agreeing in this case
Willing to follow Iunoes vaine, whom great desires embrace
Of Troy to see the Towers downe torne, and euend with the ground,
And Ioue that God, of others most, that string doth wholy sounde.
The Troyans little to esteeme his Godhead he doth know.
Thinke on oh King that I haue saide, my message do not slow.
His errand done, as he was willde, he toke his flight from thence,
Leauing Prince Agamemnon then in dumpe and in suspence.
And casting for to make exployte and end without delayes,
To spoyle the Troyan towne and line, and not to take more dayes.
But the great Calfe mist of his counte, for Ioue had layde a bayte
As wel the Greekes as Dardanes kind them both a shame to waite.
But then he rose, leauing his bed, and sitting downe thereon,
He clad himselfe with garments newe, and put a Mantle on,
And on his feete ful delicate cleane shoes right feate he set,
And to his side a sworde he girt, with golden nayles ybet.
Thus clad, holding in his right hand his own paternal Mace,
Went from his tent vnto the ships to consult of the case.
When as Aurora gan to clime vpon Olimpus hie,
And brought to men message of light before the Sunne in skie,
Agamemnon went to counsel his Heraults crying out,
Both great and smal, yea more and losse of all the Greekish route
Came to the cal, but ere he would his minde to them declare
He callde the auntients of the host, they that most worthy were,
Whose counsel was the best esteemde, to whom he thus began
Samewhat with ioy in Nestors shippe that famous worthy man.
And brought to men message of light before the Sunne in skie,
Agamemnon went to counsel his Heraults crying out,
Both great and smal, yea more and losse of all the Greekish route
20
He callde the auntients of the host, they that most worthy were,
Whose counsel was the best esteemde, to whom he thus began
Samewhat with ioy in Nestors shippe that famous worthy man.
How this last night the dreame diuine did set my thought on fire
Heare now my friends, when as he came resembling this old sire.
This rest becōmes thee not, quoth he, you child of Atreus kinde,
But rather on thy charge to thinke, and there to set thy minde.
A wise man the which subiect is to euery kinde of ill,
Ought not in rest spende all the night, or sleepe therein his fil.
Giue eare therefore vnto my words: sith Ioue now willing is
T'aduance thy name & great renoume, cōmands, thou dost not misse
But in the field to raunge thy power to morrow for to fight,
For therein thou shalt bring adowne the Troyan pride and might,
And sacke their Citie, sith the Gods no more are at discorde,
To succour them, their foe Iuno, hath wrought them to accorde.
And namely Ioue against Priam wil follow his reuenge,
And as a foman, so of him, himself himselfe wil venge.
This message done, the dreame me left, and I addresse likewise
My selfe to you my friends, to know your counsaile and aduise,
How to furnish this enterprise: but ere we do beginne
Our armour to put on, lets see what mindes our men be in.
If yee thinke good, to Countrey home I wil them wil to hie,
And with faire words wil counsayle them, & willing seeme wil I.
But you shal argue and reply against that my request,
Constrayning them by word and deede to tarrie and arest,
Til that a thorow ende be made: then Nestor vp did rise
Straight at his tale, and to them al he gan speake in this wise.
Heare now my friends, when as he came resembling this old sire.
This rest becōmes thee not, quoth he, you child of Atreus kinde,
But rather on thy charge to thinke, and there to set thy minde.
A wise man the which subiect is to euery kinde of ill,
Ought not in rest spende all the night, or sleepe therein his fil.
Giue eare therefore vnto my words: sith Ioue now willing is
T'aduance thy name & great renoume, cōmands, thou dost not misse
But in the field to raunge thy power to morrow for to fight,
For therein thou shalt bring adowne the Troyan pride and might,
And sacke their Citie, sith the Gods no more are at discorde,
To succour them, their foe Iuno, hath wrought them to accorde.
And namely Ioue against Priam wil follow his reuenge,
And as a foman, so of him, himself himselfe wil venge.
This message done, the dreame me left, and I addresse likewise
My selfe to you my friends, to know your counsaile and aduise,
How to furnish this enterprise: but ere we do beginne
Our armour to put on, lets see what mindes our men be in.
If yee thinke good, to Countrey home I wil them wil to hie,
And with faire words wil counsayle them, & willing seeme wil I.
But you shal argue and reply against that my request,
Constrayning them by word and deede to tarrie and arest,
Til that a thorow ende be made: then Nestor vp did rise
Straight at his tale, and to them al he gan speake in this wise.
Oh Princes famous of renoume, if any presently
But Agamemn should counte this tale, we would it hold a lye,
And making him a laughing stocke, his credite should be smal:
But sith this tale is his, who hath the leading of vs al,
We must to it our credite giue, not spending time in this,
But to assent is my deuise vnto these words of his,
Encouraging our souldiours all for to committe to winde,
And to aduaunce our ensignes all with courage good and minde.
But Agamemn should counte this tale, we would it hold a lye,
And making him a laughing stocke, his credite should be smal:
But sith this tale is his, who hath the leading of vs al,
We must to it our credite giue, not spending time in this,
But to assent is my deuise vnto these words of his,
Encouraging our souldiours all for to committe to winde,
And to aduaunce our ensignes all with courage good and minde.
21
This sentence of Nestor allowde, Agamemnon straight rose,
The Peeres accompanying him, ye rout wt zeale of news now goes,
He, who hath seene the busie Bees, whē Prime time first forth leaps,
Issuing off the sliued rockes, flying in swarmes and heapes,
To smel the odour of the floures, of the small blossomde trees:
Suppose, that from al quarters came, both great and small likewise,
Folowing their chieftains at the heeles, for news to heare they cast,
Togither so to the sea stronde they hyed them to haste.
The Peeres accompanying him, ye rout wt zeale of news now goes,
He, who hath seene the busie Bees, whē Prime time first forth leaps,
Issuing off the sliued rockes, flying in swarmes and heapes,
To smel the odour of the floures, of the small blossomde trees:
Suppose, that from al quarters came, both great and small likewise,
Folowing their chieftains at the heeles, for news to heare they cast,
Togither so to the sea stronde they hyed them to haste.
The messenger of Ioue so swift with wing as may be thought,
Fame with the help of his strong pens, did leaue no place vnsought,
But stirres eche man with doubled wordes to haste vnto the rout,
That with ye noise of those that came the earth trembled throughout:
And in the ayre the brute resoundes, right haply he was set,
That could by chance find out some place among such prease so gret,
He preaseth him, him he again, shouldring ech one his feere,
They labor stil with heaue and shoue, eche one to draw more neere.
Fame with the help of his strong pens, did leaue no place vnsought,
But stirres eche man with doubled wordes to haste vnto the rout,
That with ye noise of those that came the earth trembled throughout:
And in the ayre the brute resoundes, right haply he was set,
That could by chance find out some place among such prease so gret,
He preaseth him, him he again, shouldring ech one his feere,
They labor stil with heaue and shoue, eche one to draw more neere.
But the Heraults silence to make, nine times th'Oies did crie,
To the Kings wordes praying the Greekes to hearke attentiuely.
To the Kings wordes praying the Greekes to hearke attentiuely.
Agamemnon him ready made, and on a place of state
He mounted vppe, in his right hande his Sceptre deaurate
Wrought lately by the God Vulcane, to Ioue it with great care
Did he present, efte by whose gifte eke Mercurie it bare,
And Mercurie in present gaue it to Pelops the greate,
Who it did yeelde to Atreus, and in his hand it set.
And Atreus yeelding vp the Ghost, to Thyestes the strong
He it bequeathde, with other things which to it did belong,
This Sceptre Agamemnon helde, and it possest indeede,
For to the soile of Argos riche as heire he did succeede,
And eke to other Cities more in lande right firme and fast,
With Iles, whose beauties to beholde eche minde would be agast.
Wherefore vaunting this royall Mace in his right hand before,
Whiche eke Pelops his auncestor had borne himselfe of yore,
With stately looke vpon his crues, he set and fixt his eies,
With stretched lims he gan him shroude, and spake thē in this wise:
With griesly plague not to be borne, O host of Greekishe soile,
Famous by Armes, Ioue hathe me deeerde, and put me to the foile,
And il hath fauourde our affaires: for promise he did make
To me, that long ere this we should the towne to flame betake
And that we should to Greece returne al safe in prosprous plight
But I see he hath laid a traine to trappe vs if he might.
For chaunging now his iust deuise: he counsels at the laste
Home to returne, when at this siege greate perils we haue past,
Which we this long time haue sustaind: thus wil this God of powre
Bring downe mens force if he so please in moment of an houre.
And Cities huge he layes in dust, euen as his pleasure is,
And brings eche mightie strength to ruine: oh what mishap is this?
Suche warped keeles for to behold fleeting vpon the seas,
And dead so many worthy Knightes on the earth sundry wayes,
And Troy to sacke haue had no might, who nowe cannot abide?
For if a present proofe were made, and that it might be tryde,
That Troians as our freendes and feres were numbred al in one,
And that we Greekes diuided were, by tens and tens eche one,
Appointing to eche troupe of vs but one Troyan by name,
To retche the Cuppe at our requests, when we call for the same,
A man should see thousandes of Greekes (the Troyans be so scant,)
That calling in their thirst for drinke, their butlers they should wāt,
So much our number theirs surmounts, which be of Troyan bloud.
But truth it is, that numbers great are come of nations good,
Resolued wightes themselues haue vowde to dye in their defence.
Whiche not a little grieues me nowe, and casts me in suspence,
Not being of force for to preuaile, and yet nine yeares throughout
We haue this Troy strongly besiegde on ech side round about.
Yet they our Machins haue withstoode: what hope then in the same
Of them to gaine should we now haue, but mere reproche & shame?
And of our ships the deckes be broke, and whole there is no saile,
Our saile yards rotten, our masts yspent, & tackling ginnes to faile.
For our returne to take in hand they are in sorie plight.
And yet againe our dolorous wiues doe wish of vs some sight,
And haue done long with ardent zeale, hearing the guiltlesse cries
Of the small babes, with our returne wishing to baite their eyes.
And we now brought into distresse, and voide of our purpose,
Our honor, fame, and good renowme, and like our time we lose.
For wel we knowe, and certaine be, that we can not destroy,
Nor put to flame this Citie nowe impugnable of Troy.
And other councell I knowe none, but this for beste I choose,
That to our houses we returne, and not our honours loose.
Doing as reason eke requires, let vs the Gods obay,
And that eche man hie to his home, let no man thinke of stay.
He mounted vppe, in his right hande his Sceptre deaurate
Wrought lately by the God Vulcane, to Ioue it with great care
Did he present, efte by whose gifte eke Mercurie it bare,
And Mercurie in present gaue it to Pelops the greate,
Who it did yeelde to Atreus, and in his hand it set.
And Atreus yeelding vp the Ghost, to Thyestes the strong
He it bequeathde, with other things which to it did belong,
This Sceptre Agamemnon helde, and it possest indeede,
For to the soile of Argos riche as heire he did succeede,
And eke to other Cities more in lande right firme and fast,
With Iles, whose beauties to beholde eche minde would be agast.
Wherefore vaunting this royall Mace in his right hand before,
Whiche eke Pelops his auncestor had borne himselfe of yore,
With stately looke vpon his crues, he set and fixt his eies,
With stretched lims he gan him shroude, and spake thē in this wise:
With griesly plague not to be borne, O host of Greekishe soile,
Famous by Armes, Ioue hathe me deeerde, and put me to the foile,
22
To me, that long ere this we should the towne to flame betake
And that we should to Greece returne al safe in prosprous plight
But I see he hath laid a traine to trappe vs if he might.
For chaunging now his iust deuise: he counsels at the laste
Home to returne, when at this siege greate perils we haue past,
Which we this long time haue sustaind: thus wil this God of powre
Bring downe mens force if he so please in moment of an houre.
And Cities huge he layes in dust, euen as his pleasure is,
And brings eche mightie strength to ruine: oh what mishap is this?
Suche warped keeles for to behold fleeting vpon the seas,
And dead so many worthy Knightes on the earth sundry wayes,
And Troy to sacke haue had no might, who nowe cannot abide?
For if a present proofe were made, and that it might be tryde,
That Troians as our freendes and feres were numbred al in one,
And that we Greekes diuided were, by tens and tens eche one,
Appointing to eche troupe of vs but one Troyan by name,
To retche the Cuppe at our requests, when we call for the same,
A man should see thousandes of Greekes (the Troyans be so scant,)
That calling in their thirst for drinke, their butlers they should wāt,
So much our number theirs surmounts, which be of Troyan bloud.
But truth it is, that numbers great are come of nations good,
Resolued wightes themselues haue vowde to dye in their defence.
Whiche not a little grieues me nowe, and casts me in suspence,
Not being of force for to preuaile, and yet nine yeares throughout
We haue this Troy strongly besiegde on ech side round about.
Yet they our Machins haue withstoode: what hope then in the same
Of them to gaine should we now haue, but mere reproche & shame?
And of our ships the deckes be broke, and whole there is no saile,
Our saile yards rotten, our masts yspent, & tackling ginnes to faile.
For our returne to take in hand they are in sorie plight.
And yet againe our dolorous wiues doe wish of vs some sight,
And haue done long with ardent zeale, hearing the guiltlesse cries
Of the small babes, with our returne wishing to baite their eyes.
And we now brought into distresse, and voide of our purpose,
Our honor, fame, and good renowme, and like our time we lose.
23
Nor put to flame this Citie nowe impugnable of Troy.
And other councell I knowe none, but this for beste I choose,
That to our houses we returne, and not our honours loose.
Doing as reason eke requires, let vs the Gods obay,
And that eche man hie to his home, let no man thinke of stay.
These words at pleasure thus pronoūst, did yeeld ye Greeks a mind
Of full desire of their returne, and so they ganne to wind,
With whispering noise, yeelding a sounde, as oft the seas we see
The storme the boistrous surge to raise, weltring now low now hie,
And with the strength of southern blast is driuen against eche rocke,
It doth redound with griesly roare, when on them it doth knocke:
Or else, when as the westerne winde doth meete a field of graine,
In haruest time, & cause the eares to whush throughout the plaine.
Ech man such hast made vnto shippe, that yet before their cryes
The dust into the aire was raisde alofte into the skyes.
Which was a griefe vnto them al, yet suche desire they had
Of their returne, that eche his friend beganne thereof to glad,
And councel gaue their Masts to hoise, and eke their sailes to spred,
With such a noise, as to the stars their cries and clamors yed.
Of full desire of their returne, and so they ganne to wind,
With whispering noise, yeelding a sounde, as oft the seas we see
The storme the boistrous surge to raise, weltring now low now hie,
And with the strength of southern blast is driuen against eche rocke,
It doth redound with griesly roare, when on them it doth knocke:
Or else, when as the westerne winde doth meete a field of graine,
In haruest time, & cause the eares to whush throughout the plaine.
Ech man such hast made vnto shippe, that yet before their cryes
The dust into the aire was raisde alofte into the skyes.
Which was a griefe vnto them al, yet suche desire they had
Of their returne, that eche his friend beganne thereof to glad,
And councel gaue their Masts to hoise, and eke their sailes to spred,
With such a noise, as to the stars their cries and clamors yed.
In truth the selfe same morning then eche his returne did hie,
And al agreed were of the same, maugre the destinie:
Had not Iuno spit on hir handes, and taken better holde,
And prayed Pallas of hir help when these things waxed colde.
And al agreed were of the same, maugre the destinie:
Had not Iuno spit on hir handes, and taken better holde,
And prayed Pallas of hir help when these things waxed colde.
Minerua thou my friendly mate, shall we before our eyes
Suffer vppon these Greekishe bandes such infamie to rise,
And shamefully to take their flight by armes not sacking Troy,
Not winning Helene, who is cause of all this great annoy,
To King Priames immortall fame, and honor of his kinne?
If oft thy godly wisedome hath preuaild mens hearts to winne,
And them to change from sentence set, the same now for to vse
Is meete, to cause the Greekes to change, and thys their way refuse.
And that from Troy no shippe departe, haste downe I thee desire,
Till Greece, who hath receivde this wrong, do venge hirselfe by fire.
Suffer vppon these Greekishe bandes such infamie to rise,
And shamefully to take their flight by armes not sacking Troy,
Not winning Helene, who is cause of all this great annoy,
To King Priames immortall fame, and honor of his kinne?
If oft thy godly wisedome hath preuaild mens hearts to winne,
And them to change from sentence set, the same now for to vse
Is meete, to cause the Greekes to change, and thys their way refuse.
And that from Troy no shippe departe, haste downe I thee desire,
Till Greece, who hath receivde this wrong, do venge hirselfe by fire.
Whē as ye green eyed Goddesse thus had heard dame Iunoes talk,
To finde the wilie Vlysses straight downe she tooke hir walke.
Who hauing lefte the other Greekes in care, then plunged was,
With sorrowe sore, seeing how ill the warre was brought to passe.
Who semblance none, nor countnāce made, homward to take ye seas,
Nor once t'imbarke himselfe, this ende so muche did him displease.
To finde the wilie Vlysses straight downe she tooke hir walke.
24
With sorrowe sore, seeing how ill the warre was brought to passe.
Who semblance none, nor countnāce made, homward to take ye seas,
Nor once t'imbarke himselfe, this ende so muche did him displease.
Is it agreed, saide Pallas then, O thou Vlysses wise,
That this shamefull departure thus be taken in thys wise?
Shall thus the Greekes be seene to flye, and Troyans to enioy
That beautie, which al Greece to win, brought their whole strēgth Troy?
These rauishing beasts hir to possesse, to see dost yu not burne?
I pray thee hast with pleasant wordes to stay the Greekes returne,
Here to abide, vntil such time, as ye haue seene eche one
The Troyan towne within the walles and tower of Ilion.
That this shamefull departure thus be taken in thys wise?
Shall thus the Greekes be seene to flye, and Troyans to enioy
That beautie, which al Greece to win, brought their whole strēgth Troy?
These rauishing beasts hir to possesse, to see dost yu not burne?
I pray thee hast with pleasant wordes to stay the Greekes returne,
Here to abide, vntil such time, as ye haue seene eche one
The Troyan towne within the walles and tower of Ilion.
The warie Greeke hearing the voice diuine, without delay
Threwe off his weed, and to the campe he tooke the nearest way,
The lighter clad to make more speede, and meeter to make haste,
The which an Herault straight tooke vp, and folowed him as fast.
And Agamemnon as he ranne, he mette right in the face,
Of whome (the more to be esteemde) he tooke hys golden Mace.
By happe, if in this hurly burle, with Prince or King he met,
With gentle speeche he causde them stay, these words he forward set.
Ah fellowe mine, it is not meete, that we, who beare the porte
Of Kings and heads, should shew our selues as do the meaner sorte,
Daald dastards, but our parte it is, from slouth them to refraine,
And to leade them by counsel good, to things more for their gaine.
Agamemns fetch you do not feele, who by a gentle way
Doth proue to see which Grecian heart most failes and faints away,
Or who holdes out: so his reward or punishment to bestow,
He is too wise that eche man should his minde and secrets know.
Wherefore we ought all to foresee, that he finde cause no where
In vs to stirre: for a Kings wrath is burthen great to beare.
For that powre, by the whiche he rules, proceedes from grace aboue,
And who commands here in Gods place, him God doth alway loue.
Vlysses to his fellow Knightes thus curteously did say,
Not irously, but if he founde a knaue carefull of pray,
Or mutinous, who made as though he home would passe the seas,
With his Sceptre he dealt some blows, &, beastly wretche he sayes:
Becomes it thee, thou Hedgehog thou, who loues no toile but ease,
With murmorous wordes to go about thy Captaine to displease?
Retire and stande, my friend I say, with those are of my bande,
To heare the Kings, who can appoint whats meetst to take in hand.
Eche one of honor maye not be a King and Ruler straight,
For worthy Fame and great renoume are things that are of waight,
If they be Marshalled by one: wherfore in euery case
Let vs obey that King, whome Ioue hath set here in his place.
Threwe off his weed, and to the campe he tooke the nearest way,
The lighter clad to make more speede, and meeter to make haste,
The which an Herault straight tooke vp, and folowed him as fast.
And Agamemnon as he ranne, he mette right in the face,
Of whome (the more to be esteemde) he tooke hys golden Mace.
By happe, if in this hurly burle, with Prince or King he met,
With gentle speeche he causde them stay, these words he forward set.
Ah fellowe mine, it is not meete, that we, who beare the porte
Of Kings and heads, should shew our selues as do the meaner sorte,
Daald dastards, but our parte it is, from slouth them to refraine,
And to leade them by counsel good, to things more for their gaine.
Agamemns fetch you do not feele, who by a gentle way
Doth proue to see which Grecian heart most failes and faints away,
Or who holdes out: so his reward or punishment to bestow,
He is too wise that eche man should his minde and secrets know.
Wherefore we ought all to foresee, that he finde cause no where
In vs to stirre: for a Kings wrath is burthen great to beare.
For that powre, by the whiche he rules, proceedes from grace aboue,
And who commands here in Gods place, him God doth alway loue.
Vlysses to his fellow Knightes thus curteously did say,
Not irously, but if he founde a knaue carefull of pray,
Or mutinous, who made as though he home would passe the seas,
With his Sceptre he dealt some blows, &, beastly wretche he sayes:
25
With murmorous wordes to go about thy Captaine to displease?
Retire and stande, my friend I say, with those are of my bande,
To heare the Kings, who can appoint whats meetst to take in hand.
Eche one of honor maye not be a King and Ruler straight,
For worthy Fame and great renoume are things that are of waight,
If they be Marshalled by one: wherfore in euery case
Let vs obey that King, whome Ioue hath set here in his place.
Suche gentle wordes Vlysses vsde, that so they did retire,
And straight they left their ships, in troups & plūps ye kings to heare,
Making such noise as doth the sea, when with some boisterous brag
It makes the shoare whistle along, with beating on eche crag.
Ech one did choose himselfe a place, whereas he heare might beste,
Saue Thersites among them al without a roume did rest.
And straight they left their ships, in troups & plūps ye kings to heare,
Making such noise as doth the sea, when with some boisterous brag
It makes the shoare whistle along, with beating on eche crag.
Ech one did choose himselfe a place, whereas he heare might beste,
Saue Thersites among them al without a roume did rest.
This Thersits was a surly knaue, and eke a dogged swine,
Not knowing honor nor his good, and alwaies spent his time,
And tooke delight to mocke and scorne, and vse with trifling toyes
Euen the chiefe: and in such trickes consisted al his ioyes:
Thinking that it became him wel, when he did them contrary:
And worse: he was the vgliest beast, that ere the earth did carry:
It seemde Nature had sought hir wit his foulenesse for to shape:
Ill limmde he was, and for his head, it pillde was like an Ape,
A Crassum caput, and his eares they were of Asses last,
His limmes gourdie, crooked, and lame: in fine, take thys at last,
His forme was monstrous to beholde, his shape none euer had,
He reaked not, though he were thought in trouble still to gad.
All his contention and debate was broadly to gainsay
Vlysses and Achill, and ofte like part, yea, woulde he play
With Agamemnon, who, bycause he knewe th'ole host of late,
Or moste of it, did stomacke then, for that so fonde debate,
Bycause he helde Bryseis the faire: he speedes to him amaine,
Thus scornfully to anger him, and moue him in eche vaine.
Not knowing honor nor his good, and alwaies spent his time,
And tooke delight to mocke and scorne, and vse with trifling toyes
Euen the chiefe: and in such trickes consisted al his ioyes:
Thinking that it became him wel, when he did them contrary:
And worse: he was the vgliest beast, that ere the earth did carry:
It seemde Nature had sought hir wit his foulenesse for to shape:
Ill limmde he was, and for his head, it pillde was like an Ape,
A Crassum caput, and his eares they were of Asses last,
His limmes gourdie, crooked, and lame: in fine, take thys at last,
His forme was monstrous to beholde, his shape none euer had,
He reaked not, though he were thought in trouble still to gad.
All his contention and debate was broadly to gainsay
Vlysses and Achill, and ofte like part, yea, woulde he play
With Agamemnon, who, bycause he knewe th'ole host of late,
Or moste of it, did stomacke then, for that so fonde debate,
Bycause he helde Bryseis the faire: he speedes to him amaine,
Thus scornfully to anger him, and moue him in eche vaine.
What doste thou lacke Agamemnon, t'accomplish thy desire?
What wouldst thou haue? what grieues thy hart? & sets it so on fire?
What doth it else demaunde? for first thy coffers full they be
Of golde, siluer, and iewels heapt, thy ships and tents we see
Beset with passing Damsels through, which we the Greekes bestow
In gifte on thee, when by assaulte we bring a Citie lowe.
If to vs chaunce a prisoner rich, we can thee not deny,
But bring to thee (strangely me thinke) his raunsome by and by:
For all these things at thy desire, yet art thou not content,
But if thou seest a captiue, whome nature hath beautie lent,
Hir strayght t'abuse thy corage serues: wherfore what should mē say,
Shall we al our allegeance beare, and such an head obey,
Or honor him, we very beastes and Greekes infamde? nay, nay,
Not Greekish knights, but Greciā dames, what get we here to bide?
This Auarice here let vs leaue, that perish may this pride,
And he of causing wrong debates may know the irkesome gaines,
Lets leaue him here, and he shal know what wrong Achill sustaines,
For Agamemn thou hadst good hap when as the quarrell grewe,
For, if that he reuenge had sought, downe there he had thee slewe.
What wouldst thou haue? what grieues thy hart? & sets it so on fire?
What doth it else demaunde? for first thy coffers full they be
Of golde, siluer, and iewels heapt, thy ships and tents we see
26
In gifte on thee, when by assaulte we bring a Citie lowe.
If to vs chaunce a prisoner rich, we can thee not deny,
But bring to thee (strangely me thinke) his raunsome by and by:
For all these things at thy desire, yet art thou not content,
But if thou seest a captiue, whome nature hath beautie lent,
Hir strayght t'abuse thy corage serues: wherfore what should mē say,
Shall we al our allegeance beare, and such an head obey,
Or honor him, we very beastes and Greekes infamde? nay, nay,
Not Greekish knights, but Greciā dames, what get we here to bide?
This Auarice here let vs leaue, that perish may this pride,
And he of causing wrong debates may know the irkesome gaines,
Lets leaue him here, and he shal know what wrong Achill sustaines,
For Agamemn thou hadst good hap when as the quarrell grewe,
For, if that he reuenge had sought, downe there he had thee slewe.
Vlysse hearing this arrogant foole, with austere looke drew neare,
And looking through his browes at him, he spake as you shall heare:
Thou knaue defamde, thou busie Iacke, althoughe I knowe by kind
Thou arte a rayler, hold thy tongue, and set not thus thy minde,
Aught in reproch of him to say, whome we as chiefe do chuse,
For not the beste, euen of vs al, ought him in wordes misuse,
And much lesse thou, who of the campe art refuse and outcast,
What a trim Counsellour is this, who prates and talkes thus fast.
Of our departure from this siege, without respect to knowe
Whether our good or losse it be? and (his vile minde to showe)
Commes here to taunt Agamemnon, and casteth in his teeth
The gift, which his desert did craue, and we rewarded with?
And looking through his browes at him, he spake as you shall heare:
Thou knaue defamde, thou busie Iacke, althoughe I knowe by kind
Thou arte a rayler, hold thy tongue, and set not thus thy minde,
Aught in reproch of him to say, whome we as chiefe do chuse,
For not the beste, euen of vs al, ought him in wordes misuse,
And much lesse thou, who of the campe art refuse and outcast,
What a trim Counsellour is this, who prates and talkes thus fast.
Of our departure from this siege, without respect to knowe
Whether our good or losse it be? and (his vile minde to showe)
Commes here to taunt Agamemnon, and casteth in his teeth
The gift, which his desert did craue, and we rewarded with?
But hearke thou Iacke, and be thou sure, that if little or muche
I finde thee chatte agaynste the Kyngs, or else their honor touche,
That from my necke my head I loose, I pray the Gods aboue,
And that mine onely sonne do dye, whome I entirely loue,
If straight as cruelly as I can, I strippe thee not of all,
Yea mother nakte, no not thy shirt to couer thee withall,
And then in eche my hands a whip I scourge thee through the plaine,
Carelesse the Greeks and thou thy selfe shalte hide for shame & paine.
So saying, with his Mace he hent him sixe or seauen bangs,
That on his crooked backe and bombes, the bloudy drops so hangs.
Then Thersites set vp with shame, grunting with cheere full ill,
Dreading that worser broiles might hap, wyth sobs so held him stil.
I finde thee chatte agaynste the Kyngs, or else their honor touche,
That from my necke my head I loose, I pray the Gods aboue,
And that mine onely sonne do dye, whome I entirely loue,
If straight as cruelly as I can, I strippe thee not of all,
Yea mother nakte, no not thy shirt to couer thee withall,
And then in eche my hands a whip I scourge thee through the plaine,
Carelesse the Greeks and thou thy selfe shalte hide for shame & paine.
So saying, with his Mace he hent him sixe or seauen bangs,
27
Then Thersites set vp with shame, grunting with cheere full ill,
Dreading that worser broiles might hap, wyth sobs so held him stil.
Which made th'assembly all to smile, (though troubled as before)
Laughing at him with open mouth, and at this skirmish sore.
Eche one lauding Vlysses muche, they thus reporte of him:
O what good zeale and wisedome great, with care of him so trimme.
His valyantnesse we knowe long since, and eche man well espies
He peerelesse is, hardie in warre, and eke in councell wise:
Yet neuer did he better deede, than coursing this rebel,
For henceforth nothing shal he moue, whiche dutie thinkes not well.
Laughing at him with open mouth, and at this skirmish sore.
Eche one lauding Vlysses muche, they thus reporte of him:
O what good zeale and wisedome great, with care of him so trimme.
His valyantnesse we knowe long since, and eche man well espies
He peerelesse is, hardie in warre, and eke in councell wise:
Yet neuer did he better deede, than coursing this rebel,
For henceforth nothing shal he moue, whiche dutie thinkes not well.
And Pallas played the Heraultes parte, exclayming to eche one
To holde them still, the flowing Greeke to heare, seconde to none.
Who seeyng them all so whusht to heark, spake thus before the thrōg:
To holde them still, the flowing Greeke to heare, seconde to none.
Who seeyng them all so whusht to heark, spake thus before the thrōg:
Agamemnon thou worthy Prince, thou haste too open wrong,
Of al these Greeks vnder thy charge, to Greece who homward would
Against the promise they haue made, which rather keepe they should,
The whyche they made not to returne, til Troy were in thy hande,
Like Babes and Widowes full of rage, themselues alone to stande,
Desiring to their pleasure thus their Countrey earth to gaine,
Which rather they should flee, knowing their toile hath bin in vaine,
And truth it is, that the pilot a whole month on the seas
Toste with the surge and weltring waue, is pensiue diuers wayes,
And on his house, and wife at home, his whole desire doth goe:
Likewise these men some reason haue, to grieue and sorrowe so.
But if we shoulde wel weigh our case, Reproch we cannot flye,
But lose our honor and renoume, whiche losse is now too nie,
When men shall know our long abode: I doe aduise and pray,
Al you my friends, plucke vp your harts, for your own wealth I say.
What, suffer nowe yet one yeare more, that we Greeks know therby
Whether the knowledge of Calchas truth tolde or else did lye.
What he declarde by Prophecie, I thinke you all well knowe,
In Aulis towne of Beocie, he then as Prophet true.
Where all the Greekes assembled were reuenge for to deuise
Againste Priam, it hapned then in doing sacrifice,
To Iupiter to be our guide, vnder a Beeche right greene
With shadow fresh, by which to rise a liuely spring was seene,
That of the Greekes who stoutest is, his heart for dreade was colde,
From th'aultars foote, a Dragon crept, so hideous to beholde:
For huge he was, and to all sighte righte terrible in shape,
The colour painted on his scales, was as the scarlet Grape.
The Dragon drawing to the tree, to highest braunche did creepe,
Where in the leaues he sparrowes found 8. yong that loud did peepe,
Which sodainly he rauend vp, and hir birdes to forgo,
The Damme alone lamenting much, he straight denourd also:
But by and by his figure chaungde, when he had eat the Damme,
And of a monstrous Serpent tho, a rocke he straight became,
We present there, and looking on, and eke astonied all
At this so dreadfull beast and chaunce, that erst did so befall.
Of al these Greeks vnder thy charge, to Greece who homward would
Against the promise they haue made, which rather keepe they should,
The whyche they made not to returne, til Troy were in thy hande,
Like Babes and Widowes full of rage, themselues alone to stande,
Desiring to their pleasure thus their Countrey earth to gaine,
Which rather they should flee, knowing their toile hath bin in vaine,
And truth it is, that the pilot a whole month on the seas
Toste with the surge and weltring waue, is pensiue diuers wayes,
And on his house, and wife at home, his whole desire doth goe:
Likewise these men some reason haue, to grieue and sorrowe so.
But if we shoulde wel weigh our case, Reproch we cannot flye,
But lose our honor and renoume, whiche losse is now too nie,
When men shall know our long abode: I doe aduise and pray,
Al you my friends, plucke vp your harts, for your own wealth I say.
What, suffer nowe yet one yeare more, that we Greeks know therby
Whether the knowledge of Calchas truth tolde or else did lye.
What he declarde by Prophecie, I thinke you all well knowe,
In Aulis towne of Beocie, he then as Prophet true.
Where all the Greekes assembled were reuenge for to deuise
Againste Priam, it hapned then in doing sacrifice,
To Iupiter to be our guide, vnder a Beeche right greene
28
That of the Greekes who stoutest is, his heart for dreade was colde,
From th'aultars foote, a Dragon crept, so hideous to beholde:
For huge he was, and to all sighte righte terrible in shape,
The colour painted on his scales, was as the scarlet Grape.
The Dragon drawing to the tree, to highest braunche did creepe,
Where in the leaues he sparrowes found 8. yong that loud did peepe,
Which sodainly he rauend vp, and hir birdes to forgo,
The Damme alone lamenting much, he straight denourd also:
But by and by his figure chaungde, when he had eat the Damme,
And of a monstrous Serpent tho, a rocke he straight became,
We present there, and looking on, and eke astonied all
At this so dreadfull beast and chaunce, that erst did so befall.
Then Calchas said: O people Greek, what makes thee in this maze,
The mightie heyre of Saturne high thine honor meanes to blase,
And hath declarde a perfect signe of thy renowme to raise,
The time shall serue, though long it be, to thine eternal praise.
And as the Dragon did deuour these seely little ones,
And eke the Damme, in number nine, did swallow all at once:
Likewise great daungers we shall passe in this our warre of Troy,
For nine yeares space, we shall returne to oure twice double ioy.
For in the tenth yeare we shall see Troy sackte, and Priame slaine:
Thus Calchas tolde this secret hidde, which hitherto is plaine.
Beholde the end at hand: Wherefore a while attende the same,
That hauing victorie of this towne, we parte with lasting fame.
The mightie heyre of Saturne high thine honor meanes to blase,
And hath declarde a perfect signe of thy renowme to raise,
The time shall serue, though long it be, to thine eternal praise.
And as the Dragon did deuour these seely little ones,
And eke the Damme, in number nine, did swallow all at once:
Likewise great daungers we shall passe in this our warre of Troy,
For nine yeares space, we shall returne to oure twice double ioy.
For in the tenth yeare we shall see Troy sackte, and Priame slaine:
Thus Calchas tolde this secret hidde, which hitherto is plaine.
Beholde the end at hand: Wherefore a while attende the same,
That hauing victorie of this towne, we parte with lasting fame.
Vlysses wordes and zeale so wel receivde was of the rout,
There of the Tents, the ships, and shoare, bare witnesse al about,
Resounding with the peoples noise, praysing his iudgement wise,
Whiche being stilld, the hoare Nestor to speake then straight did rise.
There of the Tents, the ships, and shoare, bare witnesse al about,
Resounding with the peoples noise, praysing his iudgement wise,
Whiche being stilld, the hoare Nestor to speake then straight did rise.
Oh hatefull case, worthy reproche, thus Nestor did begin,
O ye most variable folke, what mischiefe are we in?
As for our braueries heretofore, and councels diuers wayes,
As farre as I see, are but toyes and little childrens playes,
Who trauaile with their whole delight in foolishe trifles more
Than things aught worth, where are ye vowes & promises erst swore?
The othes so deepe and plighted faiths? where is the hatred greate?
Against Priam remaynes it yet, or else the cruel threate?
No, no, all these things quite are gone, and cleane you do forget
You minde them not, your idlenesse hath you so fully mette,
That without harming any wayes our enmies here of Troy,
We striue among our selues in words of eche inuented toye,
And none there is so wise, which mindes how now may ended be
This warre begonne: Agamemnon, the thing belongs to thee,
And if thy duetie I declare, thy pardon I require:
Togither for to plucke thy spirits should be thy chiefe desire,
And on these Campes, as reason is, to set thy care and minde,
As to the chiefe of all the host, and chiefetaine is assignde.
And if some one withdrawe himselfe, and wil not bide the fray,
And do refuse what thou commaundst, leaue him for nought away.
(Hauing indured such hurrie harde) what Greeke wil here request
For to depart, no knowledge, whether the plighted hest
Which Ioue did make, be true or no? for sure by letting fal
The dreadful flames of lighnting fire among vs Grecians al,
On our right hands we martching on, did giue us for to know,
That he himselfe would point a meane, and once the time wold show
Wherein we should cleane take away by sword the Troyan route.
What? courage sirs my felowes al, and yet a while holde out,
For we are almost at a pointe: wherefore what needes this hast,
Til that eche one here of vs al, at wil and ease be plast
With Troyan Dames, and of Priam some daughter eke of his
Their owne parents and husbands by, to venge vs of Paris,
That wicked whelpe, who toke in hande, and that so lewdly durst
Rauish from vs, and steale away from Greece our Heleine furst?
And in meane time, if any wretch or coward darelesse knaue,
Do hardly beare this our abode, or else misliking haue,
And home wil runne, him hang you vp: & much you ought to heede,
And be aduisde with careful minde, how al things do proceede,
Conferre, both giue and counsel take, but who the best are tryde,
Those follow stil: I thinke it good your Campe you do deuide
By nations sere, as they do martch, some distance leaue betweene,
That if apart they happe to fight, they shal be better seene,
Than if confusedly they went: and plainely shal you see,
Which of them best their dueties do, and whether so it be
That for prolonging of this war the Gods do it agree,
And stil continue do the same by heauens hie decree,
Or that the fault is in their Campe which listeth not to fight.
O ye most variable folke, what mischiefe are we in?
As for our braueries heretofore, and councels diuers wayes,
As farre as I see, are but toyes and little childrens playes,
Who trauaile with their whole delight in foolishe trifles more
Than things aught worth, where are ye vowes & promises erst swore?
The othes so deepe and plighted faiths? where is the hatred greate?
29
No, no, all these things quite are gone, and cleane you do forget
You minde them not, your idlenesse hath you so fully mette,
That without harming any wayes our enmies here of Troy,
We striue among our selues in words of eche inuented toye,
And none there is so wise, which mindes how now may ended be
This warre begonne: Agamemnon, the thing belongs to thee,
And if thy duetie I declare, thy pardon I require:
Togither for to plucke thy spirits should be thy chiefe desire,
And on these Campes, as reason is, to set thy care and minde,
As to the chiefe of all the host, and chiefetaine is assignde.
And if some one withdrawe himselfe, and wil not bide the fray,
And do refuse what thou commaundst, leaue him for nought away.
(Hauing indured such hurrie harde) what Greeke wil here request
For to depart, no knowledge, whether the plighted hest
Which Ioue did make, be true or no? for sure by letting fal
The dreadful flames of lighnting fire among vs Grecians al,
On our right hands we martching on, did giue us for to know,
That he himselfe would point a meane, and once the time wold show
Wherein we should cleane take away by sword the Troyan route.
What? courage sirs my felowes al, and yet a while holde out,
For we are almost at a pointe: wherefore what needes this hast,
Til that eche one here of vs al, at wil and ease be plast
With Troyan Dames, and of Priam some daughter eke of his
Their owne parents and husbands by, to venge vs of Paris,
That wicked whelpe, who toke in hande, and that so lewdly durst
Rauish from vs, and steale away from Greece our Heleine furst?
And in meane time, if any wretch or coward darelesse knaue,
Do hardly beare this our abode, or else misliking haue,
And home wil runne, him hang you vp: & much you ought to heede,
And be aduisde with careful minde, how al things do proceede,
Conferre, both giue and counsel take, but who the best are tryde,
Those follow stil: I thinke it good your Campe you do deuide
By nations sere, as they do martch, some distance leaue betweene,
That if apart they happe to fight, they shal be better seene,
Than if confusedly they went: and plainely shal you see,
30
That for prolonging of this war the Gods do it agree,
And stil continue do the same by heauens hie decree,
Or that the fault is in their Campe which listeth not to fight.
To this good counsel Agamemn aunswers the aged wight:
What ioy quoth he, is for to heare in wisdome how you passe,
Oh worthy sire, ech Grecian Prince that is, or euer was.
Oh Ioue, oh Phœbus, oh Pallas, would God such Nestors ten
Me for to comfort now I had, you should see quickly then
By their good conduct Priam tane, and down his Citie torne,
The Gods so would, and my mishap that I to furie borne
So hateful gainst Achil should be, for loue sole of a dame,
For which I only am in fault, and no man else to blame:
But if it please thy heauenly grace, that we two may agree,
Maugre all force, sonne Ilion quite in Ashes you shall see.
To make vs stronger, let vs dine, and then draw out our power,
To front our foes more valiauntly, and ech one for to scoure
His gallant brightsome armour tricke, let him some care apply,
And trim their shields and bucklers all, your Chariots also hie
To binde so fast, they stagger not, and chief, as best is wont,
So throughly prouend wel your Horsse, for they must bide the brunt.
The battel and the murder wil indure til sunne doth set,
Where many a lustie souldiour shal vnder his Baudrike swet,
In playing the man with Target borne himself for to defend,
And laying from him with his sword to bring his enmies end.
And eke ye steeds orehaeld by draught, shal scarce haue power to blow.
In fine, if any Greeke there be so lewde, that I may knowe
The fight to flye, and for to runne out of the troupe and bandes,
In ship himselfe to hide, no helpe shal saue him from my handes
But forthwith die, yea die he shal, to graue none shal him beare,
The dogs and flying foules for foode shal him asunder teare.
What ioy quoth he, is for to heare in wisdome how you passe,
Oh worthy sire, ech Grecian Prince that is, or euer was.
Oh Ioue, oh Phœbus, oh Pallas, would God such Nestors ten
Me for to comfort now I had, you should see quickly then
By their good conduct Priam tane, and down his Citie torne,
The Gods so would, and my mishap that I to furie borne
So hateful gainst Achil should be, for loue sole of a dame,
For which I only am in fault, and no man else to blame:
But if it please thy heauenly grace, that we two may agree,
Maugre all force, sonne Ilion quite in Ashes you shall see.
To make vs stronger, let vs dine, and then draw out our power,
To front our foes more valiauntly, and ech one for to scoure
His gallant brightsome armour tricke, let him some care apply,
And trim their shields and bucklers all, your Chariots also hie
To binde so fast, they stagger not, and chief, as best is wont,
So throughly prouend wel your Horsse, for they must bide the brunt.
The battel and the murder wil indure til sunne doth set,
Where many a lustie souldiour shal vnder his Baudrike swet,
In playing the man with Target borne himself for to defend,
And laying from him with his sword to bring his enmies end.
And eke ye steeds orehaeld by draught, shal scarce haue power to blow.
In fine, if any Greeke there be so lewde, that I may knowe
The fight to flye, and for to runne out of the troupe and bandes,
In ship himselfe to hide, no helpe shal saue him from my handes
But forthwith die, yea die he shal, to graue none shal him beare,
The dogs and flying foules for foode shal him asunder teare.
This speech which Agamemnon had, doth greatly ioy the Greekes,
They such a noyse and whirring made, as round the ayre it strikes:
The sound was like vnto the sea when as the whirling blasts
The fleeting waue it roring loude, on rockie mountaines casts.
Ech one repaireth to his tent, and dines contented wel
To mightie Gods they sacrifice and to their prayers fel.
They pray that the dayes iourney end, and to their daunger none.
To Ioue oblation doth prepare also Agamemnon,
As best becōmes the Captaine chiefe: an Oxe of fiue yeares old
Ful thicke and fat, to dine with him the Prince also he woulde
Haue of the Campe the chiefest Peeres, who sent for, there did meete:
Nestor of all came first, and then Idomene king of Creete,
The Aiax twaine, Diomede fifth, the sixth Vlisses slie,
To whom also then Menelau presents himselfe them by,
Ful certaine of the burden great, his brother then did beare
Sole for his sake in those turmoyles: they all assembled there.
And th'offring brought into the place, and cakes on Aulter layed,
As best deuotion then did bid: Agamemn thus he prayed:
Of Gods thou Ioue the soueraigne chiefe, and Lord of Welkin hie
Of aire, and of this earth below, who lets the thunder flie,
The stormes of Haile & pashing showers, grāt me this day thy grace
That I this Citie set a fire, or night do come in place
Which hath so long wtstood our force, grant yt my sworde doe sheare
This day the shirt of Hector stout, on brest which he doth weare,
And that by me he end his dayes, viewing hys souldiours al,
Enforcing them to saue his life, in bloudie death to fall.
He prayed thus: but Ioue was deafe, he pleased not to heare,
For all his offering there so great, he doth him greatly deare.
They such a noyse and whirring made, as round the ayre it strikes:
The sound was like vnto the sea when as the whirling blasts
The fleeting waue it roring loude, on rockie mountaines casts.
Ech one repaireth to his tent, and dines contented wel
31
They pray that the dayes iourney end, and to their daunger none.
To Ioue oblation doth prepare also Agamemnon,
As best becōmes the Captaine chiefe: an Oxe of fiue yeares old
Ful thicke and fat, to dine with him the Prince also he woulde
Haue of the Campe the chiefest Peeres, who sent for, there did meete:
Nestor of all came first, and then Idomene king of Creete,
The Aiax twaine, Diomede fifth, the sixth Vlisses slie,
To whom also then Menelau presents himselfe them by,
Ful certaine of the burden great, his brother then did beare
Sole for his sake in those turmoyles: they all assembled there.
And th'offring brought into the place, and cakes on Aulter layed,
As best deuotion then did bid: Agamemn thus he prayed:
Of Gods thou Ioue the soueraigne chiefe, and Lord of Welkin hie
Of aire, and of this earth below, who lets the thunder flie,
The stormes of Haile & pashing showers, grāt me this day thy grace
That I this Citie set a fire, or night do come in place
Which hath so long wtstood our force, grant yt my sworde doe sheare
This day the shirt of Hector stout, on brest which he doth weare,
And that by me he end his dayes, viewing hys souldiours al,
Enforcing them to saue his life, in bloudie death to fall.
He prayed thus: but Ioue was deafe, he pleased not to heare,
For all his offering there so great, he doth him greatly deare.
Then is the hostie slaine and stayde, and part on gridorne put,
The liuer and lights they comely seeth and euery little gut.
The gigots and the other flesh in peeces they did spit,
Which rost, tipling the pleasaunt wine they downe to table sit.
The liuer and lights they comely seeth and euery little gut.
The gigots and the other flesh in peeces they did spit,
Which rost, tipling the pleasaunt wine they downe to table sit.
At pleasure hauing fed their fil, old Nestor was the furst
Who could not rest, but with these words their talking tales he burst:
It is no time Agamemnon to laugh or chat at all,
But execute we must the thing, to which Ioue vs doth call.
Commaund then all the Heraults here that they go crie amaine,
And hither warne the Campe to come, and then let vs againe
Ech one in field go raunge his bande, and there with curteous wordes
Exhort them, that right souldiour like they weelde, & vse their swords.
Agamemn bids the Heraults good to go from band to band,
And cal ye Greekes, who Heraults heard, & came straight out of hand.
Who could not rest, but with these words their talking tales he burst:
It is no time Agamemnon to laugh or chat at all,
But execute we must the thing, to which Ioue vs doth call.
Commaund then all the Heraults here that they go crie amaine,
And hither warne the Campe to come, and then let vs againe
Ech one in field go raunge his bande, and there with curteous wordes
Exhort them, that right souldiour like they weelde, & vse their swords.
Agamemn bids the Heraults good to go from band to band,
32
A seemely sight it was to see th'array in euery thing,
And armour of the warlike Greekes ech following his king:
But goodlier was it to behold, those great and mightie Kings,
What paine they tooke, the multitude who there in order brings.
Wyth them stoode Pallas al vnknowen, come down frō Welkin hie:
Of Ioue the God inuincible, who liues immortally,
The Target hung, and gastful so, she on hir shoulder bare,
About the which hanging of gold an hundred pendants were.
So richly framde, as ech was worth of beues an hundred told.
So armde, of doughtie Grecians so the harts she doth embolde
To play the men, with dreadlesse minds, and do as souldiours right:
They nothing more wishe, than their liues to venter, and to fight.
And armour of the warlike Greekes ech following his king:
But goodlier was it to behold, those great and mightie Kings,
What paine they tooke, the multitude who there in order brings.
Wyth them stoode Pallas al vnknowen, come down frō Welkin hie:
Of Ioue the God inuincible, who liues immortally,
The Target hung, and gastful so, she on hir shoulder bare,
About the which hanging of gold an hundred pendants were.
So richly framde, as ech was worth of beues an hundred told.
So armde, of doughtie Grecians so the harts she doth embolde
To play the men, with dreadlesse minds, and do as souldiours right:
They nothing more wishe, than their liues to venter, and to fight.
The shining of their armor bright, gret Targets, shields of weight
Amid the plaine, was like in shew to those on mountaine height,
As is the fire in forrest made, which men do see a farre:
So shone their harneis gainst the sunne, and weapons for the warre.
And like a gay great heard of Cranes, or flock of swans like snow,
Or Geese a lesser foule, with Charme, and sundry singing go,
Harde by the pleasaunt Caister floud, vnder the clothed trees,
That all the places rounde about do sound in sundry wise:
So Greekes armde at Scamanderbanke, for fight in euery thing,
Such noise they yeelde, as fur aloofe they make the medowes ring.
With treading of the Horsse likewise the valley long did sound
To battayle martch, as many Greeks, as flowers on the ground.
And as you see great swarmes of flies, flie oft out hollow hoales,
And come in skul into the place wheras the shepheard foldes,
And gathers at the spring the milke, which of his sheepe he reapes:
Euen so suppose the Greeks, they came out order al in heapes.
But their good leaders them, dispose, as heardsmen who with care
At euen aye their flockes in field, to seuer do prepare.
Whom al aboue, Prince Agamemn himselfe did shew at ful,
As chiefe in name, so chiefe in deede, who brauing as a Bul
Came fierce, triumphes, and rule he wil, ouer the Oxen breede:
So he the puissant King commaundes how matters shal proceede.
For head he lookt that day like Ioue, like Neptune for his brest,
You would haue iudgde him presently God Mars for all the rest.
It was the pleasure then of Ioue such deckings to bestow
On Agamemn, that more thereby his honor he might showe.
Amid the plaine, was like in shew to those on mountaine height,
As is the fire in forrest made, which men do see a farre:
So shone their harneis gainst the sunne, and weapons for the warre.
And like a gay great heard of Cranes, or flock of swans like snow,
Or Geese a lesser foule, with Charme, and sundry singing go,
Harde by the pleasaunt Caister floud, vnder the clothed trees,
That all the places rounde about do sound in sundry wise:
So Greekes armde at Scamanderbanke, for fight in euery thing,
Such noise they yeelde, as fur aloofe they make the medowes ring.
With treading of the Horsse likewise the valley long did sound
To battayle martch, as many Greeks, as flowers on the ground.
And as you see great swarmes of flies, flie oft out hollow hoales,
And come in skul into the place wheras the shepheard foldes,
And gathers at the spring the milke, which of his sheepe he reapes:
Euen so suppose the Greeks, they came out order al in heapes.
But their good leaders them, dispose, as heardsmen who with care
At euen aye their flockes in field, to seuer do prepare.
Whom al aboue, Prince Agamemn himselfe did shew at ful,
As chiefe in name, so chiefe in deede, who brauing as a Bul
Came fierce, triumphes, and rule he wil, ouer the Oxen breede:
So he the puissant King commaundes how matters shal proceede.
For head he lookt that day like Ioue, like Neptune for his brest,
33
It was the pleasure then of Ioue such deckings to bestow
On Agamemn, that more thereby his honor he might showe.
Now Muses who in heauen hie your place and dwellings haue,
The fauourers of vertuous workes, teach me I humbly craue,
To tell that now I cannot write, yee all and all do knowe,
Recite the Princes who to Troy did with the army goe,
Recite their countrys and their ships: but hearesay, nought haue we,
It shall suffise to tell the names of those, who chiefest be.
For no man can with all his wittes rehearse of all the men
The number and the proper names, though tongues, yea, fully ten
Right good he had, and mouthes like, wel speecht that open were:
If euerlasting voyce I had, and breast of brasse did beare,
Without your fauour I may haue, in this, I am but lost.
Of Ioue you daughters Goddesses, of grace and vertue most,
Oh teach me then to name the kings and shippes of Greekish host.
The fauourers of vertuous workes, teach me I humbly craue,
To tell that now I cannot write, yee all and all do knowe,
Recite the Princes who to Troy did with the army goe,
Recite their countrys and their ships: but hearesay, nought haue we,
It shall suffise to tell the names of those, who chiefest be.
For no man can with all his wittes rehearse of all the men
The number and the proper names, though tongues, yea, fully ten
Right good he had, and mouthes like, wel speecht that open were:
If euerlasting voyce I had, and breast of brasse did beare,
Without your fauour I may haue, in this, I am but lost.
Of Ioue you daughters Goddesses, of grace and vertue most,
Oh teach me then to name the kings and shippes of Greekish host.
| Ten books of Homers Iliades | |