Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy A Poem Deuided into XVII. seuerall Cantons, intermixed with many pleasant Poeticall Tales. Concluding with an Vniuersall Chronicle from the Creation, untill these present Times. Written by Tho. Heywood |
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Canto. 14.
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 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
358
Canto. 14.
Argumentum
Troylus, Achilles wounds, and is betraidBy his fell Myrmidons, which being spread,
The bloody Greeke still loues the beautious Maid
Pollixena, and for her loue is lead
To Pallas Church, whom Paris doth inuade,
And with an Arrow in the heele strikes dead:
Penthisilea with her valiant Maydes,
Assists sad Troy, Greece lofty Pyrrhus ayds.
Arg. 2.
In this last fight, fall by the Argiue spleene,Paris, Amphimachus, & Scithiaes Queene.
1
To whom, Andromache may I compareThy Funerall teares ore Hectors body shed,
If mongst late Widdowes none suruiue so rare
To equall thee, lets search among the dead,
The Carian Queene that was as chast as faire,
Bright Artimesia a wonder bred:
Galathian Camna did likewise constant proue,
And riual'd her in firme Coniugall Loue.
2
What Fathers griefe could equall Priams teares?Who lost a sonne, no age, no world could match,
Whose arme vpheld his glory many yeares,
Whose vigilant eye did on his safety watch,
359
Like griefe, when timelesse death did soone dispatch
Thy braue sonnes life, Edward Sirnam'd the blacke,
By whom Spaine flag'd, and France sustained wracke.
3
Not Margaret, when at Teuxbury her sonneWas stab'd to death by Tyrant Glosters hand;
Felt from her riueld cheekes more Pearle-drops ronne,
Then Hecuba, when she did vnderstand
The thred of Hectors life already sponne,
Whose glories stretcht through Heauen, aire, sea, & land
Though he of semblant hope to England were
With him, whom Asia did account most deare.
4
Nor could the Countesse Mary sorrow more,To heare her Brother (the braue Sidney wounded,)
Whose death the seuenteene Belgian states deplore,
Whose Fame for Arts and armes the whole world sounded,
Then did Cassandra, who her garments tore,
Creusa who with extreame griefe confounded,
With whom Polyxena bare a sad straine,
To heare a third part of the earth complaine.
5
Nor when the hopefull youth Prince Arthur dide,Leauing his Brother both his life and Crowne,
Could the prince Henry lesse his sorrowes hide,
Then Hectors Brothers who still guard the Towne,
The vniuersall Citty doffes her pride,
The King himselfe puts on a Mourners gowne:
The Queene and Ladies with their leagued Kings,
Bury with him their best and costliest things.
6
So when from Rome great Tully was exild,Full twenty thousand Cittizens the best,
In garments Tragicke, and in countenance wild,
For twelue sad Moones their loues to him profest,
But Troy euen from the Bed-rid to the Child,
From Crutch vnto the Cradle, haue exprest
A generall griefe in their lamenting cryes,
Lookes, gestures, habits, mournefull harts and eyes.
360
7
Now when the Fountaine of their teares grew dry,And Men and Matrons him bewayld their fill,
With one Ioynt-voyce for iust reuenge they cry
On him, that did the Prince by Treason kill;
They lay their sad and Funerall Garments by,
The souldiers long to proue their Martiall skill,
And try their strengths vpon Scamander plaine,
Thinking themselues too long Inmur'd in vaine.
8
Tis Questionable whether greater woeIn Troy, then glee within the Campe abounded,
They hold themselues free from that late dread foe,
Who with his Steed had oft their trenches rounded,
And neuer but to th' Argiues ouerthrow
appear'd in field, or to the battaile sounded
With shrill applause, they proud Achilles Crowne,
And with Brauadoes oft-times front the Towne.
9
Thus when re-spirited Greece had Dominear'dand brau'd the sieged Troians at their gates,
Old Priam for his age now little fear'd,
With Troylus and the rest, of warres debates,
For Hectors slaughter (to them all indeer'd)
They vow reuenge on those hye Potentates
That were spectators of the ruthlesse deed,
When Hectors coarse thrice round the wals did bleed
10
And yssuing with their power, the aged KingPuts acts in execution, much aboue
His age or strength, he youthfully doth spring
Vpon his Steed, and for his Hectors loue,
Amongst the throng of Greekes dares any thing,
Himselfe gainst Diomed he longs to proue,
and scapes vntoucht, then gainst Vlisses rides,
and still his age doth equipage their prides.
11
Forthwith gainst Agamemnon he contends,and on his Beauer raught him many a blow,
Who like a souldier his renowne defends,
amazd that weake age should assault him so,
361
Against the Spartan King (an equall foe)
Whom with his speare he did so ill intreat,
Faire Hellens husband sits beside his seat.
12
From them he further to the throng proceeds,And deales about great Larges of grim wounds,
Admir'd alone for his renowned deeds,
Some with his sword vpon the Caske he stounds,
This day old Nestor by his Iauelin bleeds
With many more, and still the field he rounds:
Against old Priam not a Greeke dare stay,
Who soly claimes the honour of that day.
13
Yet the meane time the King was in this broyle,Bold Deiphebus kept the rest in fee
With bloods and death, whilst Paris made great spoyle
Of such as in their valour seem'd most free,
Æneas strongly mounted, gaue the foyle
Vnto th' Athenian Duke, whose warlike knee
Bended to him, yet in an vpright hart,
Achilles in his rescue claimes a part.
14
The King Epistropus amongst them fought,So did Sarpedon gainst th'incamped Kings,
The stout Pelasgian strength they dreaded nought,
Now mongst their renged squadrons Troylus flings,
And on their soyl'd troopes much effusion wrought,
In him the life and spirit of Hector springs;
Twice he Achilles met, and twice him feld,
Who all the other Kings of Greece exeld.
15
A hundred thousand Troians were that dayLed to the field to auenge Prince Hectors life,
Double their number on Scamander stay,
To entertaine them in their æmulous strife,
Duke Aiax Telamon then kept in play
Troylus, whilst murder through the field grew rife,
The sterne Polydamas did Nobly fight,
And was the death of many a gallant Knight.
362
16
But Troylus that succeeds Hector in force,In courage, and in all good Thewes beside,
Whom ere he met that day did brauel vnhorse,
Till his white Armour was with Crimson dide,
For Hectors sake his sword vsd no remorse,
His warre-steel'd spirits to slaughter he applyde:
No man that saw him his bright weapons weild,
But sware another Hector was in field.
17
This day is Troyes, and now repose they borrowFrom the still night, to giue the wounded cure,
And such of note as dide, t'intombe with sorrow,
They that suruiue, themselues with armes assure,
And so prepare for battaile on the morrow,
Some to besiedge, the rest the siedge t'indure:
Or if they can, to their eternall praise,
The forren Legions from their Trenches raise.
18
Six Moones gaue nightly rest to th'Hostile paines,Of iust so many dayes, for full so long
Troy without respight the proud Campe constraines,
Howerly to proue whose puissance is most strong,
Blood-drops by Plannets on Scamander raines,
Horrid destruction flyes the Greekes among;
Troylus still held the Noblest Armes professor,
And Hectors equall, though his late successor.
19
T' omit a thousand Combats and Contentions,Hostile Encounters, Oppositions braue,
Such as exceed all human apprehensions,
Where some win liuing honour, some a graue,
With Stratagems and sundry rare inuentions,
The Towne to fortefie, the Campe to saue:
And contrary, to stretch all human reach,
The Hoast t'indamage, and the Towne t'impeach,
20
In all which, Troylus wondrous Fame atchieued,His sword and Armour were best knowne and feared,
Aboue the rest the Argiue Dukes he grieued,
By his sole valour were the Troians cheared,
363
The life of Hector in his blood appeared:
Priam and Troy now thinke themselues secure,
So long as Troylus mongst them may indure.
21
Achilles by his valour mated oft,And (as he thinkes) much blemisht in renowne,
To see anothers valor soare aloft,
But his owne bruitfull fame still sinking downe,
His downy bed to him appeares vnsoft,
He takes no pleasure in his regall Crowne:
The best delights to him are harsh and sower,
Since in one arme rests a whole Citties power.
22
The Greekes thinke Hector in this youth aliue,To stop whose honors torrent they deuise,
For since by force of armes in vaine they striue
To catch at that which soares aboue the skies,
They to the depth of all their Counsels diue,
How they by cunning may the Prince surprise:
Being well assur'd that whilst his honors grow,
In vaine they seeke Troyes fatall ouerthrow.
23
The sonne of Thetis feeles his armes yet sore,By the rude stroakes that from his fury came,
His armour heere and there besprinkt with gore
Of his owne wounds, that he is well-nye lame
With often iustles: and can no more
Indure the vertue of his strength or Fame:
For since his brest's in many places scard,
Hee'l flye vnto the rescue of his guard.
24
Since neyther the broad-brested DiomedCan in the course his rude incounter stay,
Since last when Telamon against him sped,
He was perforc'st to giue his fury way,
Since all those Princes Agamemnon led,
Though Martial'd in their best and proud'st array,
Could not repell his swift and violent speed,
he by his guard his ruine hath Decreed.
364
25
The selfe-same charge that he gainst Hector vsd,Gainst Troylus he his Myrmidons perswades,
Behold where he with Hectors spirit infusd,
The warlike Thoas in euen course inuades,
Him, whom his strength of armes might haue excusd,
The Troian sends vnto th'Elisian shades:
The Athenian Duke against him spurres his horse,
But quite through-piercst, the Greeke drops downe a corse.
26
Foure Princes in as many coarses tastedLike Fate, yet still the Dardan Prince sits hye,
No coarse, no towring blow he vainly wasted,
(In his great heart an hoast he dares defie)
King Diomed once more against him hasted,
And long'd with him a warlike course to try:
But horse and man were in the race ore-throwne,
(Nor maruell) now the princes strength was growne.
27
The elder of th' Atrides next him grew,And tryes the vigour of his arme and Speare,
Him likewise Troylus brauely ouerthrew,
And forth (vnshooke himselfe) he past on cleare,
Now well-nigh breathlesse he himselfe with-drew,
Whom then the spleenefull Pelean watched neare:
And as he lights to rest him on the ground,
Him the blacke Myrmidons incompasse round.
28
With mercilesse keene glaues they siege the youth,Whom all at once with fury they assaile,
In them is neither Honoured grace nor ruth,
Nor is one Troian neere the Prince to bale
Achilles, with the rest his blood pursuith,
(Thousands against one man must needs preuaile)
Who seeing nothing else saue death appearing,
Euen gainst all oddes, contemnes despaire, or fearing.
29
But through their squadrons hewes a bloudy trackt,And lops the formost that before him stands,
Had Deiphebus now his Brother backt,
Or had the place bin by Sarpedon mand,
365
Vpon his party, tear'd his conquering hand,
Had their brigat Faulchions brandisht by his side,
The Myrmidons had fayl'd, Troylus not dide.
30
But hee's alone round guirt with death and ruin,And still maintaines the battel though in vaine,
On euery side a bloudy passage hewing,
To worke himselfe out through a dismall Lane
Of Myrmidons: Achilles still pursuing,
Who keepes the hindmost of his rough-hair'd traine:
Yet had Prince Troylus markt him where he stood,
And almost wrought to him through death and blood
31
But ods preuail'd, he sinkes downe the mid-way,Euen in his fall his sword against him darting,
That did both Hectors and his life betray,
Boasting a Noble spirit in his departing
By Troylus death the Greekes obtaine the day,
The Myrmidons their many wounds yet smarting,
Cure in their Lords Tent: whom the Greekes aplaud,
For Troylus death (gainst honour) wrought by fraud.
32
Now the deiected Troians dare no moreEnter the field, the Greekes approach the gates
And dare them to grim warre, who still deplore
Hector and Troylus in their Tragicke fates,
Queene Hecuba yet keepes reuenge in store.
Of which at length with Paris she dabates,
Vowing to catch his life in some slye traine,
That by like fraud her two bold sonnes had slaine.
33
She cals to minde the great Achilles pride,Withall, the loue he to her Daughter beares,
A thing in zeale she can no longer hide,
Since in Polyxena-like loue appeares,
Troyes weake deiection she makes knowne besides,
Disabled by a siege of many yeares:
Therefore intreats him to accept her loue,
And in a generall truce the Argiues moue.
366
34
The lofty Greeke proud, by so great a QueeneTo be sued to, when he records withall
How much hees fear'd, he gins to slake his spleene,
And the Maids beauty to remembrance call,
What can he more? Since he hath dreaded beene,
And seene his ablest Foes before him fall:
But yeild to beauties soft inchaunting charme,
Knowing weake Troy dares not conspire his harme.
35
The day drawes on, a peace hath bin debated,To which Achilles the proud Greekes perswades;
Some thinke it needfull, others, hyer rated
Their honours, and this Concord much vpbraides,
Alone Achilles longs to be instated
In her faire grace (the beautifulst of Maids)
And with the sonne of Nestor makes repaire,
Where Priam with his sonnes and Daughters are.
36
Truce is proclaim'd, the Damsell richly clad,And by the Troian Ladies proudly attended,
Whom none that saw, but admiration had,
As at a Goddesse from hye heauen discended,
The innocenr Maide was still in count'nance sad,
For losse of those that Troy but late defended:
Yet guiltlesse in her soule of any spleene
Dreampt gainst the Prince, by Paris or the Queene.
37
Vnarm'd Achilles to the Temple goes,Whom Nestors sonne attends to Pallas shrine,
and all the way with Gold and Iewels strowes,
Prising them Earthy, but his Bride Deuine,
and nothing of their Treacherous act he knowes,
When Paris from a place where he had line
With arm'd Knights yssues, and a keene shaft drew,
Which in the heele the proud Achilles slew,
38
Who when he sees himselfe and friend betraid,and wounded to the Death, whilst he could stand,
Brandisht his sword, and mongst them slaughters made,
But now he wants his Myrmidons at hand,
367
Alacke, the Temple was too strongly man'd:
his strength that cannot bandy gainst them all,
at length must sinke, and his hye courage fall.
39
There lies the great Achilles in his gore,and by his side the Sonne of Nestor slaine,
Amongst the Troians to be feard no more,
His body to the Greekes is sent againe,
Whom they for Hectors change, and long deplore
his death (by Treason wrought:) vpon the plaine
For him a Monumentall Toombe they reare,
and for his death a ioynt reuenge they sweare.
40
The siedge still lasts, vpon the part of TroyPenthisilia with a thousand Maydes,
Vowes all their Amazonian strength to imploy,
and for the death of Hector, Greece vpbraides,
Whilst in the Campe with much applausiue ioy,
Grim Pyrrhus is receiu'd, Pyrrhus that trades
In gore and slaughter, with reuenge pursuing,
Euen to the death, Troy, for his Fathers ruine.
41
No longer tune he will delay, but streightDare them to battaile by the Morrowes Sunne,
The Scythian Damsels long to shew their height,
and imitate theyr deedes before-time dunne,
They know they enterprise a worke of weight,
and long for Signall, now to battaile runne:
The vnflesht Greekes that were of Pyrrhus traine,
Whom th' Amazonians soone repulse againe.
42
Penthisilea, was not that fayre QueeneOf Amazons, of whom we now intreate,
That made a Law, what Man so'ere had beene
Within her Court, to make a byding Seate
aboue three dayes, he might not there be seene,
Though his power mighty, and his State were great:
For if within her Court he longer dwelt,
The penall Law was, he should sure be gelt.
368
43
So much she feared the supposed traines,With which soft Women-kind vs men accuse,
That our society she quite disdaynes,
Nor shall our fellowship her Ladies vse,
To this decree she their applause constraines,
Because false men their weaker Sex abuse:
From which her words, nor warning can restrain thē,
She chusd this way, the onely meanes to tame them.
44
This strickt decree kept many from her Coast,That else had flockt as Suters to the place,
Their Angell-beauties which men couet most,
Must from the eyes of man receiue no grace,
Many too bold their deerest Iewell lost,
And were made Eunuches within three dayes space:
Else they were thought vnfit for the Queens dyet,
Who held that the first way to keepe them quiet.
45
Some that could well haue ventur'd their best blood,Were loath to hazzard what they needs must pay,
The Queene so much vpon this Edict stood,
That she had driuen her Suters quite away,
And still (to be at rest) she held it good,
Vowing t'obserue it to her dying day:
Hauing this prou'd, those men that came most bold,
Their forfeit pay, none more submisse and cold.
46
So that in processe few approacht their shore,But such as had no meanes to liue else-where,
Whom their owne Countries did esteeme no more,
But pay theyr fine, they may be welcome here,
And haue good place, and Lands, and liuings store,
Nothing the Court hath, can be held too deere:
Amongst the rest that held a Soueraigne place,
Their liu'd a Baron of a Noble race.
47
He that was from his Natiue Countrey fled,For some offence that questioned his life,
and as a refuge to secure his head,
He shund the deadly Axe to tast the Knife,
369
Among the Damsels, free from femenine strife:
Doubtlesse the Woman that's suspitious most,
Would be resolu'd to see what he had lost.
48
The Noble Eunuch left a Sonne behindIn his owne Countrey, who being growne to yeares;
Grew fairely featurd, of a generous mind,
and in his face much excellence appeares,
He vowes the world to trauell, till he find
His banisht Father, whose estate he feares:
At length by search, hee's made to vnderstand,
Of his late soiourne in the Scithians Land.
49
Thither he will, for so his vow decrees,But when he knowes an Edict too seuere,
Hee's loath to pay vnto the Land such Fees,
Which he hopes better to bestow else-where,
In this distraction, loe from farre he sees
A nimble Fayry, tripping like a Deere:
and as he lies strowde on the grassie playne,
With swiftest speede she makes to him amaine.
50
And greetes him thus: (Fayre Youth) boldlie proceede,I promise thee good Fortune on thy way,
Among the Scithian Dames thou shalt not bleed,
Onely obserue and keepe still what I say,
My counsell now may stand thee much in steede,
and saue thee that, thou wouldst be loath to pay:
Receiue this Handkercheife, this Purse, this Ring,
The least of them a present for a King.
52
These vertues they retaine: when thou shouldst eate,Vpon the Board this curious Napkin spred,
It streight shall fill with all delicious meate,
Foule, Fish, and Fruits, shall to the place be led,
With all delicious Cates, costly, and neate,
Which likewise shall depart when thou hast fed:
This Ring hath a rich stone, whose vertue, know
Is to discerne a true Friend, from a Foe.
370
52
In this thou mayst perceiue both late and early,Who flatters thee, and who intends thee well,
Who hates thee deadly, or who loues thee deerely:
The vertue of this Iewell doth excell,
Out of this Purse if I may iudge seuerely,
and in few words the worth exactly tell:
Valew it rightly, it exceedes the rest,
and of the three, is rated for the best,
53
So oft as thou shalt in it thrust thy hand,So oft thy Palme shall be repleat with Gold,
Spend where thou wilt, trauell by Sea or Land,
The riches of that Purse cannot be told,
Vse well these guifts, their vertues vnderstand,
Thanke my deuinest Mistresse and be bold:
Adde but thy will to her auspicious ayde,
Shee'le sure thee that which others late haue payde.
54
Incourag'd thus, he pierces theyr cold Clime,Where many hot Spirits had beene calm'd of late,
And enters the great Court at such a time,
When he beheld his Father sit in State,
They that furiew the Youth now in his prime,
Not knowing his decree, blame his hard Fate:
And wish he might a safer Countrey choose,
Not come thus far, his deer'st things to loose.
55
For not a Ladyes eye dwels on his face,Or with iudiciall note viewes his perfection,
But thinkes him worthy of theyr deerest grace,
They prayse his looke, gate, stature, and complection,
And Iudge him Issu'd of a Noble race,
A person worthy of a Queenes election:
Not one among them that his beauty saw,
But now at length too cruell thinke their Law.
56
After some interchange of kindest greetingBetwixt the Father and the stranger Son,
Such as is vsuall to a suddaine meeting,
With extasies that Kindred cannot shon,
371
For greatest ioyes are oft times loonest don:
The Father iealous of his Sonnes ability,
Askes, If he brookt his late losse with facility.
57
For well he knowes, he cannot anchor theare,Or soiourne on that rude and barbarous Cost,
But his free harborage must cost him deare,
(Censuring his Sonne) by what himselfe had lost,
The gentle Youth, whose thoughts are free from feare,
Sayth he is come securely there to host:
and spight the Queene and Ladies (with oaths deepe)
Sweares to his Father (what he hath) to keepe.
58
By this th'Amazonian Princesse hearesOf a young stranger in her Court arriu'd,
She sends to know his Nation, Name, and yeares,
But being told his Father there suruiu'd,
A reuerent man, one of her chiefest Peeres,
She will not as the custome haue him gyu'd:
But takes his Fathers promise, oath, and hand,
To haue his Sonne made Free-man of her Land.
59
Three dayes she limits him, but they expierdAs others earst, he must the Razor try,
all thinges determin'd, the fayre Queene desierd
The Stranger to a banquet instantly,
Who at his first appearance much admierd
Her state, her port, proportion, face, and eye:
Nor had he (since his Cradle) seene a Creature
So rich in beauty, or so rare in feature.
60
Downe sat the Queene and Damsels at the board,But the young Stranger stands by, discontent,
They pray him sit: He answeres not a word,
Three times to him the Queene of Scithia sent,
But still the Youth would no reply affoord,
The rest not minding what his silence ment:
Leaue him vnto his humor, and apply
Themselues to feede and eate deliciously.
372
61
But when he saw the Ladies freely eate,and feede vpon the rude Cares of the Land,
At a with-drawing board he takes his seate,
and spreads his curious Napkin with his hand,
Streight you might see a thousand sorts of meate,
Of strangest kinds vpon the Table stand:
What Earth, or Ayre, or Sea, within them breeds,
On these the Youth, with lookes disdainefull feeds.
62
The Queene amaz'd to see such change of cheare,Whose beauty and variety surpast,
Longing to know the newes, could not forbeare,
But rose with all her Damsels at the last,
To know from whence he was supplyde, and wheare,
With Cates so rich in shew, so sweete in tast:
The like in Scithia she had neuer seene,
The least of them a seruice for a Queene.
63
For now she hath in scorne her owne prouisionAnd cals her choysest banquet, homely fare,
Her dainty Cates she hath in proud derision,
Since she beheld the Strangers foode so rare,
The Youth, who hopes by this t'escape incision,
Tels her (if so she please) he can prepare
A richer feast (yet not her Treasure wrong)
With any dish, for which her grace may long.
64
She growes the more Inquisitiue, and streightSweares, if he will her royall Cater be,
Shee'l in her Kingdome rayse him to the height
Of all high state, and chiefe Nobility:
For well she knowes, it is a worke of weight
To furnish her with such variety:
Since her cold Climat, with ten Kingdomes more,
Cannot supply her board with halfe that store.
65
When vp the Stranger ryseth, and thus sayes:Madam, for your sake was I hither guided,
Whom I will freely serue at all assayes,
For you this dyet haue I here prouided:
373
These no illusions are to be derided,
But meats essentiall, made for your repast,
Sit downe and welcome, and wher't please you tast.
66
The more she eats, the more she longs to knowWhence this strange bounty of the heauens proceeds,
They proue as sweet in tast, as faire in show,
The more she wonders, still the more she feeds,
The more she eats, the more her wonders grow,
She vowes her Land shall Chronicle his deeds:
And make him Lord of all his present wishes,
Excepting Loue, and what belongs to kisses.
67
The stranger then his Napkins vertue tels,What wonders it affoords when it is spred,
Without all charmes or Negromanticke spels,
Or inuocations made vnto the dead,
Onely in natiue Vertue it excels
(A secret power by inspiration bred)
This hee'l bestow with all their Vertues store,
To saue his forfet but for three dayes more.
68
Th'ambitious Queene loath her Decrees should slacke,More loath to loose a Iewell of such prize,
That can affoord her all things she doth lacke,
To make a feast as with the Dieties,
Vowes for three dayes he shall sustaine no wracke,
But then her law of force must tyranize:
Meane time her Court is for the stranger free,
Vpon these firme conditions they agree.
69
Glad was the Queene, more glad the amorous stranger,For neither at their bargaine was agrieued,
She for her guift, he to escape such danger,
Hauing his Man-hood for three dayes reprieu'd,
In her faire Parke he longs to be a ranger,
Where fed such store of Deere (scarcely belieu'd)
Till he by tride experience had beheld,
How many beauties in the Court exceld.
374
70
Now trusting to the vertue of his Ring,He longes to proue; who hate, who meane him good,
Who onely to his eare smooth flatteries bring,
Who with the Queene vpon his party stood,
For flattery is like an oyly Spring,
Whose smooth soft waters waxing to a flood:
Entyce fond men, his Siluer streames to crowne,
But he that proues to swim, perforce must drowne.
71
Among the rest, one Beldam neere in place,Vnto the lustlesse Amazon, he knowes
Perswades the Queene to his especiall grace,
and stands in plea betweene him and his Foes,
With her he growes acquainted in small space,
And in her lap a liberall Treasure throwes:
He giues her Gold in euery place he finds her,
And by large bounty to his Loue he binds her.
72
The time weares on, his three-dayes Lease expires,In which he rents the things, to which hee's borne,
His owne Fee simple, yet the Queene requires
To haue the forfeit since, the day's outworne,
But still his precious guifts the Youth inspires
With chearefull hope, he shall not liue forlorne:
But trusts by promise of the fayry Dame,
A Man to part thence, as a Man he came.
73
The day fore th'Execution, he was viewingHis precious Ring, the like was neuer seene,
Finding the time so neare, he sits still rewing
His rashnesse, for he feares the Knife is keene,
Each man he thinkes a Barbar him pursuing
To haue him Enunch't; when in comes the Queene
And spyes this glorious Ring vpon his Finger,
(The Beldam, to this troubled youth did bring'er.)
74
Of this she fals in Question, much admiringThe Splendor, and besides she longs to know
What vertue't hath, with vrgency desiring
If it be rare in worth, as rich in show,
375
Recounts to her what Soueraigne Vertues grow
From this bright Loue, a meanes ordaind by Fate,
Onely by which she may secure her State.
74
In this her Friendes she may discerne and try,On whom she may relye her certaine trust,
Who in her charge their vtmost wils apply,
Who in her Seate of Iudgement proue most iust:
Next, she by this all Traytors may descry,
Such as against her vertues arme their lust:
Such as intend their Soueraigne to depose,
Briefly, it points her Friends out from her Foes.
76
No maruell if the Queene were much in loueWith such a Iewell, and for it would pay
What he would aske, as that which much behooues
To keepe her doubtfull Kingdome from decay,
To buy it at the deerest rate she proues,
He onely craues but respight for one day:
That she but one day more his Youth would spare,
Eare he came bound vnto the Barbers Chayre.
77
The match is made, his guifts are knowne abroad,and from all partes they come this man to see,
The multitude esteeme him as a God,
That to their Soueraigne Queene hath beene so free,
A stately Steede he mounts, and thereon road
About the Court, where throngs of people be:
and from his Purse, of Gold whole handfuls flings,
A bounty that is seldome seene in Kings.
78
A thousand times his arme abroad he stretcht,as oft the figured plates of coyn'd-Gold fly
about theyr eares, still to his Purse he reacht,
And still to his applause the peoply cry,
The more they showte, the greater store he fetcht
From his deuine vnending Treasury:
The newes of this vnto the Queenes soone came,
Wondring whose praise her people thus proclaime.
376
79
In comes th'admired Stranger and alighting,The Queene him meets, and takes him by the hand
To lead him vp: he by the way reciting
The Proiect she much longs to vnderstand,
The Scithian Queene in his discourse, delighting
Vpon the vertue of this Purse long scand:
Thinking if this third Prize she might inioy,
She by her wealth might all the Earth destroy.
80
But Treasure cannot gaine it, for tis TreasureEuen of it selfe, in vaine she offers Gold
aboue all wealth, the Youth esteemes his pleasure,
One thing will doo't, that in her eare he told,
The couetous Queene's, perplexed aboue measure,
To buy the price that will be cheaply sold:
Onely to bed with her, he doth desire,
But till two Peares be roasted in the fite.
81
Oh! Gold, what canst not thou? Long she doth pause,How great's the Wealth, how easie tis to buy
She knowes, besides she is aboue her Lawes,
And what she will, no Subiect dares deny,
Why should she loose this Iewell? What's the cause
She to her owne Land should proue Enemy?
Whose weale, since she may compasse with such ease,
Why should she not her-selfe somewhat displease?
82
The time's but little that the Youth doth aske,Besides, shee'l cause her Maide her charge to hast,
If she compare her wages with her taske,
She knowes her time will not be spent in wast,
The friendly night will put a blushlesse Maske
Vpon her brow, then how can she be trast?
The fire is made, the Peares plast, both agreed,
To Bed they goe, good Fortune be their speed.
83
The trusted Hag, he knowes to be his friend,and one whom he had bribed long before,
It pleasd her well, that his desires haue end,
To haue had him Eunuch't, would haue griu'd her sore,
377
To proue the game she neuer tride before,
And still she cals to make a quicker fire,
And prethy sweet Nurse let the Peares be nyer.
84
They shall (quoth she,) yet let them roast at pleasure,The way-ward Queene yet thinkes the time too long,
And that she payes too sweetly for his Treasure,
(For yeeld she must) the stranger prooues too strong)
Yet still she cals (not yet?) Tis out of measure,
Nor yet, nor yet, she sings no other song,
Alacke the Beldams slacknesse quite betrayes her,
(The onely meanes to keepe him from the Razer.)
85
The youth preuail'd, the Queene's somewhat appeasd,And for there is no helpe the vtmost tries,
Since her the stranger hath by wager ceasd,
Before the watch-word giuen she must not rise,
The Beldam thinkes at last the Queene t'haue pleasd,
Oh Madam they are rosted now (she cries:)
Are they indeed? Let them rost on (quoth she,)
And prethy Nurse put in two more for me.
86
I know not what effect this wager tooke,But the next day she canceld her strict Law,
She that men hated: Eunuchs cannot brooke,
Command was giuen that all such should withdraw,
And not presume within her Court to looke,
That could be found toucht with the smallest flaw,
And this Decree among the Scithians grew,
Till the sad day that they their husbands slew.
87
For when their flying men were quite disgracst,And fayl'd in battaile, they disdain'd their yoke,
And scorning all subiection, proudly facst
Their foes themselues with many a boysterous stroke,
From Scithiaes bounds all men they cleane displacst,
And strongly arm'd, through many Regions broke:
Thus raign'd successiuely many a bold Dame
In Scithia, whence Penthisilea came.
378
88
Their Pollaxes, whose vse the Greekes neare knew,Thunder vpon theyr lofty Caskes and fell them,
The Greekes still guarde the field, although some fewe
Perisht at first, and striuing to excell them,
Being but Women, they some Damsels slew,
And with the oddes of number they repell them,
But when the Queene into the battaile flings,
VVhere eare she comes she bloudy Conquest bringes.
89
King Philomines Combats by her side,VVith many a bold Knight brought from Paphlagone,
Gainst whom the King Cassilius fierce can ride,
Striuing that day to haue his valour knowne,
Betweene them was a fayre and euen course tryde,
Amphimacus to Priam deare alone
Since Troylus death, thrust in amongst the Greekes,
Forcing their flight with many clamorous shrikes.
90
Him Aiax Telamon encounters then,And stayes the fury of his barbed Steede,
Acting that day, deeds, more then commen men,
Such as through both the Armies wonder breede,
Whom Noble Deiphebus meetes agen,
The youthfull Prince, whose valour doth exceed,
The fearefull slaughter of his puissance stayes,
Whose discipline his Foes could not but prayse.
91
And had not wrathfull Pyrrhus now led onHis Fathers Myrmidons, and quite forsooke
His vntryde Knights, the day had sure beene gon,
But where they march't, the Earth beneath them shooke,
And to withstand theyr vigor, they found none,
Till Paris with his Archers that way tooke:
and now began a fierce and Mortall fray,
In Emulation who should fly, who stay.
92
Paris preuailes, his forces gaine the best,And Lycomedes Grand-child must retire,
Behold, where gainst the Troians Aiax Crest
Seemes aboue all his Souldiers to aspyre,
379
For Paris through the field he doth inquire:
Whom as the Sal'mine fighting, spyes from far,
He heares a Steele-shaft from his Crosbow iarre.
93
It aymes at him, and where his Armour partedBetweene the Arme and Shoulder, there it fell,
Aiax obseru'd the man by whom he smarted,
And pressing forward, vowes to quite him well,
Through the mid-throng the neerest way he thwarted,
No opposition can his rage expell:
Till he had past through Groues of growing Speares,
To come where thousand Shafts sung by his eares.
94
Yet past them all, euen till he came where foughtThe amorous Troian, and to him he makes
His guard of Archers, the Greeke dradded naught,
But o're his Helme his reeking Glaue he shakes,
Which in his fall assured ruine brought
Vpon the Earth, the dying Troian quakes:
And in his death leaues all terrestriall ioy,
Faire Hellen, Priam, Hecuba, and Troy.
95
Oh! Had the Raptor in his Cradle dide,Millions of liues had in his death beene sau'd,
and Asiaes glory, that late sweld in pride,
Had not with siedge and death so long beene brau'd,
O're his dead Coarse the warlike Greeke doth stride,
and workes his way through harnesse richly ingrau'd:
Whose curious workes he blemisht where he stood,
Blurring their Fingers with wide wounds and blood.
96
The Dardans fly at Brute of Paris fall,The Greekes with dreadfull march their flight pursue,
Euen to the very skirts of Troyes fayre wall,
But betweene death and them the Scithians grew,
Squadrons of Greekes before the Damsels fall,
Now the re-spirited Troians fight renew:
Twice fore the Scithian Queene did Pyrrhus stand,
Yet twice by her repulsed, hand to hand.
380
97
Night partes the battaile vpon equall oddes,In Paris death, the Troians haue the wurst,
Hellen and Troy bequeath him to the Gods,
His death lesse mourn'd, then hath his life bin curst,
The morning comes, the Greekes make their aboad
Before the gates, through which the Scithians burst:
And scorning to be Coopt, each with her shielde
Brauely aduanst, make roomth into the field.
98
Them Deiphebus followes with his traine,The Sole-remainder of King Priams race,
By whom at first a valiant Greeke was slaine,
That in the Campe inioyde a Soueraigne place,
Amphimachus next him spurs on the plaine,
With Philomines who rankes on apace:
Æneas and Antenor, these contend,
With all their powers to giue the long siedge end.
99
In vaine: for loe, vpon the aduerse part,Guirt with his Fathers Myrmidons appeares,
Sterne Pyrrhus, whose late bleeding woundes yet smart,
Next him Pelides, with a band of Speares,
Then marcht Tysander with a Lyons hart,
Vlisses, Steuelus, and (proud in yeares:)
Nestor: the two Atrides well attended,
The two Achiaces next the field ascended.
100
These with the other Princes proudly fare,Disordred ruine, ruffles on each side,
Thousands of eyther party slaughterd are
In this incounter, Deiphebus dide,
And braue Amphimachus, forward to dare,
And able to performe (a Souldier tride)
And now on Priams party onely stand,
The Scithian Damsels to protect his Land.
101
Troy droopes, and Greece aspyres full foureteene dayes,Penthisilea hath vpheld her fame,
Both Campe and Citty surfeit with her prayse,
and her renowne deseruedly proclayme,
381
Yet shrinke beneath the fury of the Dame:
None can escape her vigour vnrewarded,
Troy by this sterne Virago's soly guarded.
102
But destiny swayes all things: Troy was foundedTo endure a third wracke, and must fate obay,
Therefore euen those that with most might abounded,
Cannot reprieue her to a longer day,
The Scythian Dames (by many Princes wounded)
Were with the Queene at length to Greece a pray,
Her too much hardinesse her selfe inmur'd,
Admidst her foes, in Armour well assur'd.
103
And when her Launce was splinter'd to her hand,Her warlike Pollax hew'd to pieces small,
Her selfe round guirt with many an armed band,
Euen in her height of Fame she needs must fall,
The warlike Wench amongst the Greekes doth stand
Vnbackt by Troy, left of her Damsels all,
The battery of a thousand swords she bides,
Till her yron plates are hew'd off from her sides.
104
Thus breathlesse, and vnharnest, (fresh in breathAnd strong in armor,) Pyrrhus her inuades,
At these aduantages he knowes tis eath
To cope with her quite seuered from her Maids,
His balefull thoughts are spur'd with rage and death,
Close to her side in blood of Greekes he wades:
(Blood slue'st by her) and naked thus assayles her,
Whilst a whole Campe of foes from safety railes her.
105
After much warre th'Amazonian fals,Whom Pyrrhus lops to pieces with his Glaue,
And hauing peece-meale hew'd her, lowd he cals
To haue her limbes kept from an honoured graue,
But to be strow'd about the sieged wals:
She dead, the Troians seeke themselues to saue
By open flight, her Virgins fighting dye,
Scorning the life, to gaine which, they must flye.
382
106
Now Troy's at her last cast, her succors fayle,Her souldiers are cut off by ruthlesse warre,
Her Sea-ports hemd in with a thousand sayle,
In her land siedge two hundred thousand are,
They close their Iron gates their liues to baile,
And strengthen them with many an yron barre:
After that day, they dare no weapons weild,
Or front the proud Greekes in the open field.
107
Æneas and Antenor now conspire,(As some suppose) the Citty to betray,
And with the Greekes they doome it to the fire,
But whilst the rich Palladium's seene to stay
In Pallas Temple, they in vaine desire
King Priams ruin or the Lands decay:
Therefore the slye Vlisses buyes for Gold,
The Iewell that doth Troy in safety hold.
108
Oh cursed Priest, that canst thy selfe professe,Seuere in habit, but in heart prophane,
Would of thy name and Order, there were lesse,
That will not sticke to sell their friends for gaine,
Who (but that knowes thy Treason,) once would gesse
Such treacherous thoughts should taint a Church-mans braine,
But many to the Gods deuoted soly,
In harts are godlesse, though in garments holy.
109
Whether by purchase, or by stealth, (Heauen knowes,)But the Palladium now the Greekes inioy,
And by a generall voyce the Campe arose
From their long siege, their ships againe t'inioy,
The Greekes vnto the sea themselues dispose,
And make a show to bid farewell to Troy:
But of this Stratagem, what next befell,
This Canto will not giue vs roome to tell.
384
The end of the 14. Canto.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |