The Whole Works of Homer Prince of Poetts: In his Iliads, and Odysses. Translated according to the Greeke. By Geo: Chapman |
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 | The Whole Works of Homer |  |
THE FIRST BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS.
The Argvment.
Apollos Priest to th' Argiue fleete doth bringGifts for his daughter, prisoner to the King;
For which, her tenderd freedome, he intreats.
But, being dismist, with contumelious threats,
At Phœbus hands, by vengefull prayer he seekes,
To haue a plague inflicted on the Greekes.
Which had, Achilles doth a Councell cite,
Emboldning Chalchas, in the Kings despite,
To tell the truth, why they were punisht so.
From hence their fierce and deadly strife did grow.
For wrong in which, Æacides so raues,
That Goddesse Thetis, from her throne of waues,
(Ascending heauen) of Ioue assistance wonne,
To plague the Greekes, by absence of her Sonne:
And make the Generall himselfe repent,
To wrong so much his Armies Ornament.
This, found by Iuno, she with Ioue contends,
Till Vulcan, with heauens cup, the quarell ends.
Another Argument.
Alpha, the prayer of Chryses, sings:The Armies plague: the strife of Kings.
Achilles
banefull wrath resound, O Goddesse, that imposd,
Infinite sorrowes on the Greekes; and many braue soules losd
From breasts Heroique: sent them farre, to that inuisible caue
That no light comforts: & their lims, to dogs & vultures gaue.
To all which, Ioues will gaue effect; from whom, first strife begunne,
Betwixt Atrides, king of men; and Thetis godlike Sonne.
Infinite sorrowes on the Greekes; and many braue soules losd
From breasts Heroique: sent them farre, to that inuisible caue
That no light comforts: & their lims, to dogs & vultures gaue.
To all which, Ioues will gaue effect; from whom, first strife begunne,
Betwixt Atrides, king of men; and Thetis godlike Sonne.
What God gaue Eris their command, and op't that fighting veine?
Ioues, and Latonas Sonne; who fir'd, against the king of men,
For contumelie, showne his Priest; infectious sicknesse sent,
To plague the armie; and to death, by troopes, the souldiers went.
Occasiond thus; Chryses the Priest, came to the fleete, to buy
For presents of vnualued price, his daughters libertie.
The golden scepter, and the crowne, of Phœbus, in his hands
Proposing; and made suite to all, but most to the Commands
Of both th' Atrides, who most rulde. Great Atreus sonnes (said he)
And all ye wel-grieu'd Greekes; the Gods whose habitations be
In heauenly houses, grace your powers, with Priams razed towne,
And grant ye happy conduct home: to winne which wisht renowne
Of Ioue, by honouring his sonne (farre-shooting Phœbus) daine
For these fit presents to dissolue, the ransomeable chaine
Of my lou'd daughters seruitude. The Greekes entirely gaue
Glad acclamations, for signe, that their desires would haue
The graue Priest reuerenc'd, and his gifts, of so much price embrac'd.
The Generall yet, bore no such mind, but viciously disgrac'd,
With violent termes, the Priest, and said: Doterd, auoid our fleete,
Where lingring be not found by me, nor thy returning feete
Let euer visite vs againe, lest nor thy Godheads crowne,
Nor scepter saue thee. Her thou seekst, I still will hold mine owne,
Till age defloure her. In our court, at Argos (farre transferd
From her lou'd countrie) she shall plie, her web, and see prepard
(With all fit ornaments) my bed. Incense me then no more,
But, (if thou wilt be safe) be gone. This said, the sea-beate shore,
(Obeying his high will) the Priest, trod off with haste, and feare.
And walking silent, till he left, farre off his enemies eare;
Phœbus (faire-haird Latonas sonne) he stird vp, with a vow,
To this sterne purpose: Heare, thou God, that bear'st the siluer bow,
That Chrysa guard'st, rulest Tenedos, with strong hand, and the round
Of Cilla most diuine dost walke: O Smintheus, if crownd
With thankfull offerings thy rich Phane, I euer saw, or fir'd.
Fat thighs of oxen, and of goates, to thee: this grace desir'd
Vouchsafe to me: paines for my teares, let these rude Greekes repay,
Forc'd with thy arrowes. Thus he praid, and Phœbus heard him pray;
And vext at heart, downe from the tops, of steepe heauen stoopt; his bow
And quiuer couerd round; his hands, did on his shoulders throw;
And, of the angrie deitie, the arrowes as he mou'd
Ratl'd about him. Like the night, he rang'd the host, and rou'd
(Apart the fleete set:) terribly, with his hard-loosing hand
His siluer bow twang'd, and his shafts, did first, the Mules command,
And swift hounds: then the Greekes themselues, his deadly arrowes shot.
The fires of death went neuer out, nine daies his shafts flew hot
About the armie, and the tenth, Achilles cald a court
Of all the Greeks: heauens white-arm'd Queene, (who euery where cut short
Beholding her lou'd Greeks by death) suggested it: and he
(All met in one) arose, and said: Atrides, Now I see
We must be wandering againe, flight must be still our stay,
(If flight can saue vs now) at once, sicknesse and battell lay
Such strong hand on vs. Let vs aske, some Prophet, Priest, or proue
Some dreame interpreter (for dreames, are often sent from Ioue)
Why Phœbus is so much incenst? If vnperformed vowes
He blames in vs; or Hecatombs; and if these knees he bowes
To death, may yeeld his graues no more; but offering all supply
Of sauours, burnt from lambes, and goates; auert his feruent eye,
And turne his temperate. Thus he sate; and then stood vp to them
Chalcas, sirnam'd Thestorides, of Augures, the supreme:
He knew things present, past, to come; and rulde the Equinpage,
Of th' Argiue fleete to Ilion, for his Prophetique rage
Giuen by Apollo: who well seene, in th' ill they felt, proposd
This to Achilles: Ioues belou'd? would thy charge see disclosd,
The secret of Apollos wrath? then couenant, and take oth,
To my discouerie; that with words, and powrefull actions both,
Thy strength will guard the truth, in me; because I well conceiue
That he whose Empire gouerns all, whom all the Grecians giue,
Confirm'd obedience, will be mou'd; and then you know the state,
Of him that moues him. When a king, hath once markt for his hate,
A man inferior; though that day, his wrath seemes to digest
Th' offence he takes; yet euermore, he rakes vp in his brest,
Brands of quicke anger; till reuenge, hath quencht to his desire,
The fire reserued. Tell me then, if, whatsoeuer, ire
Suggests, in hurt of me, to him; thy valour will preuent?
Ioues, and Latonas Sonne; who fir'd, against the king of men,
For contumelie, showne his Priest; infectious sicknesse sent,
To plague the armie; and to death, by troopes, the souldiers went.
Occasiond thus; Chryses the Priest, came to the fleete, to buy
For presents of vnualued price, his daughters libertie.
The golden scepter, and the crowne, of Phœbus, in his hands
Proposing; and made suite to all, but most to the Commands
Of both th' Atrides, who most rulde. Great Atreus sonnes (said he)
And all ye wel-grieu'd Greekes; the Gods whose habitations be
In heauenly houses, grace your powers, with Priams razed towne,
2
Of Ioue, by honouring his sonne (farre-shooting Phœbus) daine
For these fit presents to dissolue, the ransomeable chaine
Of my lou'd daughters seruitude. The Greekes entirely gaue
Glad acclamations, for signe, that their desires would haue
The graue Priest reuerenc'd, and his gifts, of so much price embrac'd.
The Generall yet, bore no such mind, but viciously disgrac'd,
With violent termes, the Priest, and said: Doterd, auoid our fleete,
Where lingring be not found by me, nor thy returning feete
Let euer visite vs againe, lest nor thy Godheads crowne,
Nor scepter saue thee. Her thou seekst, I still will hold mine owne,
Till age defloure her. In our court, at Argos (farre transferd
From her lou'd countrie) she shall plie, her web, and see prepard
(With all fit ornaments) my bed. Incense me then no more,
But, (if thou wilt be safe) be gone. This said, the sea-beate shore,
(Obeying his high will) the Priest, trod off with haste, and feare.
And walking silent, till he left, farre off his enemies eare;
Phœbus (faire-haird Latonas sonne) he stird vp, with a vow,
To this sterne purpose: Heare, thou God, that bear'st the siluer bow,
That Chrysa guard'st, rulest Tenedos, with strong hand, and the round
Of Cilla most diuine dost walke: O Smintheus, if crownd
With thankfull offerings thy rich Phane, I euer saw, or fir'd.
Fat thighs of oxen, and of goates, to thee: this grace desir'd
Vouchsafe to me: paines for my teares, let these rude Greekes repay,
Forc'd with thy arrowes. Thus he praid, and Phœbus heard him pray;
And vext at heart, downe from the tops, of steepe heauen stoopt; his bow
And quiuer couerd round; his hands, did on his shoulders throw;
And, of the angrie deitie, the arrowes as he mou'd
Ratl'd about him. Like the night, he rang'd the host, and rou'd
(Apart the fleete set:) terribly, with his hard-loosing hand
His siluer bow twang'd, and his shafts, did first, the Mules command,
And swift hounds: then the Greekes themselues, his deadly arrowes shot.
The fires of death went neuer out, nine daies his shafts flew hot
About the armie, and the tenth, Achilles cald a court
Of all the Greeks: heauens white-arm'd Queene, (who euery where cut short
Beholding her lou'd Greeks by death) suggested it: and he
(All met in one) arose, and said: Atrides, Now I see
We must be wandering againe, flight must be still our stay,
(If flight can saue vs now) at once, sicknesse and battell lay
Such strong hand on vs. Let vs aske, some Prophet, Priest, or proue
Some dreame interpreter (for dreames, are often sent from Ioue)
Why Phœbus is so much incenst? If vnperformed vowes
He blames in vs; or Hecatombs; and if these knees he bowes
To death, may yeeld his graues no more; but offering all supply
Of sauours, burnt from lambes, and goates; auert his feruent eye,
And turne his temperate. Thus he sate; and then stood vp to them
Chalcas, sirnam'd Thestorides, of Augures, the supreme:
He knew things present, past, to come; and rulde the Equinpage,
3
Giuen by Apollo: who well seene, in th' ill they felt, proposd
This to Achilles: Ioues belou'd? would thy charge see disclosd,
The secret of Apollos wrath? then couenant, and take oth,
To my discouerie; that with words, and powrefull actions both,
Thy strength will guard the truth, in me; because I well conceiue
That he whose Empire gouerns all, whom all the Grecians giue,
Confirm'd obedience, will be mou'd; and then you know the state,
Of him that moues him. When a king, hath once markt for his hate,
A man inferior; though that day, his wrath seemes to digest
Th' offence he takes; yet euermore, he rakes vp in his brest,
Brands of quicke anger; till reuenge, hath quencht to his desire,
The fire reserued. Tell me then, if, whatsoeuer, ire
Suggests, in hurt of me, to him; thy valour will preuent?
Achilles answerd; All thou know'st, speake, and be confident:
For by Apollo, Ioues belou'd (to whom, performing vowes,
O Calchas, for the state of Greece; thy spirit Prophetique showes
Skils that direct vs) not a man, of all these Grecians here,
(I liuing, and enioying the light, shot through this flowrie sphere)
Shall touch thee, with offensiue hands; though Agamemnon be
The man in question, that doth boast, the mightiest Emperie,
Of all our armie. Then tooke heart, the Prophet vnreprou'd,
And said: They are not vnpaid vowes; nor Hecatombs, that mou'd,
The God against vs: his offence, is for his Priest, empaird,
By Agamemnon; that refusd, the present he preferd,
And kept his daughter. This is cause, why heauens farre-darter darts,
These plagues amongst vs; and this still, will emptie in our hearts
His deathfull quiuer, vncontaind; till to her loued sire,
The blacke-eyd damsell be resign'd; no redemptorie hire,
Tooke for her freedome; not a gift; but all the ransome quit;
And she conuaide, with sacrifice; till her enfranchisd feete,
Treade Chrysa vnder: then the God (so pleasd) perhaps we may
Moue to remission. Thus he sate; and vp, the great in sway,
Heroique Agamemnon rose; eagerly bearing all:
His minds seate ouercast with fumes: an anger generall,
Fill'd all his faculties; his eyes, sparckl'd like kindling fire;
Which, sternly cast vpon the Priest, thus vented he, his ire;
For by Apollo, Ioues belou'd (to whom, performing vowes,
O Calchas, for the state of Greece; thy spirit Prophetique showes
Skils that direct vs) not a man, of all these Grecians here,
(I liuing, and enioying the light, shot through this flowrie sphere)
Shall touch thee, with offensiue hands; though Agamemnon be
The man in question, that doth boast, the mightiest Emperie,
Of all our armie. Then tooke heart, the Prophet vnreprou'd,
And said: They are not vnpaid vowes; nor Hecatombs, that mou'd,
The God against vs: his offence, is for his Priest, empaird,
By Agamemnon; that refusd, the present he preferd,
And kept his daughter. This is cause, why heauens farre-darter darts,
These plagues amongst vs; and this still, will emptie in our hearts
His deathfull quiuer, vncontaind; till to her loued sire,
The blacke-eyd damsell be resign'd; no redemptorie hire,
Tooke for her freedome; not a gift; but all the ransome quit;
And she conuaide, with sacrifice; till her enfranchisd feete,
Treade Chrysa vnder: then the God (so pleasd) perhaps we may
Moue to remission. Thus he sate; and vp, the great in sway,
Heroique Agamemnon rose; eagerly bearing all:
His minds seate ouercast with fumes: an anger generall,
Fill'd all his faculties; his eyes, sparckl'd like kindling fire;
Which, sternly cast vpon the Priest, thus vented he, his ire;
Prophet of ill? For neuer good, came from thee towards me;
Not to a words worth: euermore, thou tookst delight to be
Offensiue in thy Auguries; which thou continuest still;
Now casting thy prophetique gall, and vouching all our ill
(Shot from Apollo,) is imposd; since I refusd the prise
Of faire Chryseis libertie; which would in no worth rise,
To my rate of her selfe; which moues, my vowes to haue her home;
Past Clytemnestra louing her; that grac't my nuptiall roome,
With her virginitie, and flowre. Nor aske her merits lesse,
For person, disposition, wit, and skill in housewiferie
And yet, for all this, she shall go; if more conducible
That course be, then her holding here. I rather wish the weale
Of my lou'd armie, then the death. Prouide yet, instantly,
Supplie for her, that I alone, of all our royaltie,
Lose not my winnings: tis not fit, ye see all, I lose mine
Forc't by another: see as well, some other may resigne,
His Prise to me. To this, replied, the swift-foote God-like sonne
Of Thetis, thus: King of vs all, in all ambition;
Most couetouse of all that breath; why should the great-soul'd Greekes
Supply thy lost prise, out of theirs? not what thy auarice seekes,
Our common treasurie can find; so little it doth guard
Of what our rac'd towns, yeelded vs; of all which, most is shar'd,
And giuen our souldiers; which againe, to take into our hands
Were ignominious, and base. Now then, since God commands,
Part with thy most-lou'd prise to him: not any one of vs,
Exacts it of thee: yet we all, all losse thou sufferst thus,
Will treble; quadruple in gaine, when Iupiter bestowes
The sacke of well-wall'd Troy on vs; which by his word, he owes.
Not to a words worth: euermore, thou tookst delight to be
Offensiue in thy Auguries; which thou continuest still;
Now casting thy prophetique gall, and vouching all our ill
(Shot from Apollo,) is imposd; since I refusd the prise
Of faire Chryseis libertie; which would in no worth rise,
To my rate of her selfe; which moues, my vowes to haue her home;
Past Clytemnestra louing her; that grac't my nuptiall roome,
With her virginitie, and flowre. Nor aske her merits lesse,
For person, disposition, wit, and skill in housewiferie
And yet, for all this, she shall go; if more conducible
4
Of my lou'd armie, then the death. Prouide yet, instantly,
Supplie for her, that I alone, of all our royaltie,
Lose not my winnings: tis not fit, ye see all, I lose mine
Forc't by another: see as well, some other may resigne,
His Prise to me. To this, replied, the swift-foote God-like sonne
Of Thetis, thus: King of vs all, in all ambition;
Most couetouse of all that breath; why should the great-soul'd Greekes
Supply thy lost prise, out of theirs? not what thy auarice seekes,
Our common treasurie can find; so little it doth guard
Of what our rac'd towns, yeelded vs; of all which, most is shar'd,
And giuen our souldiers; which againe, to take into our hands
Were ignominious, and base. Now then, since God commands,
Part with thy most-lou'd prise to him: not any one of vs,
Exacts it of thee: yet we all, all losse thou sufferst thus,
Will treble; quadruple in gaine, when Iupiter bestowes
The sacke of well-wall'd Troy on vs; which by his word, he owes.
Do not deceiue your selfe with wit, (he answerd) God-like man;
Though your good name may colour it; tis not your swift foote can
Out runne me here; nor shall the glosse, set on it, with the God,
Perswade me to my wrong. Woulst thou, maintaine in sure abode
Thine owne prise, and sleight me of mine? Resolue this: if our friends
(As fits in equitie, my worth) will right me with amends,
So rest it; otherwise my selfe, will enter personally
On thy prise; that of Ithacus, or Aiax, for supply;
Let him, on whom I enter, rage. But come we'le order these,
Hereafter, and in other place. Now put to sacred seas
Our blacke saile; in it rowers put, in it fit sacrifise;
And to these, I will make ascend, my so much enuied prise,
Bright-cheekt Chryseis. For conduct, of all which, we must chuse
A chiefe out of our counsellors; thy seruice we must vse,
Idomeneus; Aiax, thine, or thine, wise Ithacus;
Or thine, thou terriblest of men, thou sonne of Peleus;
Which fittest were, that thou mightst see, these holy acts performd,
For which thy cunning zeale so pleades; and he whose bow thus stormd
For our offences, may be calmd. Achilles, with a frowne,
Thus answerd: O thou impudent! of no good but thine owne,
Euer respectfull; but of that, with all craft, couetous;
With what heart can a man attempt, a seruice dangerous,
Or at thy voice be spirited, to flie vpon a foe,
Thy mind thus wretched? For my selfe, I was not iniur'd so,
By any Troian, that my powers, should bid them any blowes;
In nothing beare they blame of me. Phthia, whose bosome flowes
With corne and people, neuer felt, empaire of her increase,
By their inuasion: hils enow, and farre-resounding seas,
Powre out their shades, and deepes, betweene: but thee thou frontlesse man,
We follow, and thy triumphs make, with bonfires of our bane:
Thine, and thy brothers vengeance sought (thou dogs eyes) of this Troy
By our exposd liues; whose deserts, thou neither dost employ,
With honour, nor with care. And now, thou threatst to force from me,
The fruite of my sweate, which the Greekes, gaue all; and though it be
(Compar'd with thy part, then snatcht vp) nothing: nor euer is,
At any sackt towne: but of fight, (the fetcher in of this)
My hands haue most share: in whose toyles, when I haue emptied me
Of all my forces; my amends, in liberalitie
(Though it be little) I accept, and turne pleasd to my tent:
And yet that little, thou esteemst, too great a continent
In thy incontinent auarice. For Phthya therefore now
My course is; since tis better farre, then here endure, that thou
Shouldst still be rauishing my right, draw my whole treasure drie;
Though your good name may colour it; tis not your swift foote can
Out runne me here; nor shall the glosse, set on it, with the God,
Perswade me to my wrong. Woulst thou, maintaine in sure abode
Thine owne prise, and sleight me of mine? Resolue this: if our friends
(As fits in equitie, my worth) will right me with amends,
So rest it; otherwise my selfe, will enter personally
On thy prise; that of Ithacus, or Aiax, for supply;
Let him, on whom I enter, rage. But come we'le order these,
Hereafter, and in other place. Now put to sacred seas
Our blacke saile; in it rowers put, in it fit sacrifise;
And to these, I will make ascend, my so much enuied prise,
Bright-cheekt Chryseis. For conduct, of all which, we must chuse
A chiefe out of our counsellors; thy seruice we must vse,
Idomeneus; Aiax, thine, or thine, wise Ithacus;
Or thine, thou terriblest of men, thou sonne of Peleus;
Which fittest were, that thou mightst see, these holy acts performd,
For which thy cunning zeale so pleades; and he whose bow thus stormd
For our offences, may be calmd. Achilles, with a frowne,
Thus answerd: O thou impudent! of no good but thine owne,
Euer respectfull; but of that, with all craft, couetous;
With what heart can a man attempt, a seruice dangerous,
Or at thy voice be spirited, to flie vpon a foe,
Thy mind thus wretched? For my selfe, I was not iniur'd so,
By any Troian, that my powers, should bid them any blowes;
In nothing beare they blame of me. Phthia, whose bosome flowes
With corne and people, neuer felt, empaire of her increase,
By their inuasion: hils enow, and farre-resounding seas,
Powre out their shades, and deepes, betweene: but thee thou frontlesse man,
We follow, and thy triumphs make, with bonfires of our bane:
Thine, and thy brothers vengeance sought (thou dogs eyes) of this Troy
5
With honour, nor with care. And now, thou threatst to force from me,
The fruite of my sweate, which the Greekes, gaue all; and though it be
(Compar'd with thy part, then snatcht vp) nothing: nor euer is,
At any sackt towne: but of fight, (the fetcher in of this)
My hands haue most share: in whose toyles, when I haue emptied me
Of all my forces; my amends, in liberalitie
(Though it be little) I accept, and turne pleasd to my tent:
And yet that little, thou esteemst, too great a continent
In thy incontinent auarice. For Phthya therefore now
My course is; since tis better farre, then here endure, that thou
Shouldst still be rauishing my right, draw my whole treasure drie;
And adde dishonor. He replied: If thy heart serue thee, flie:
Stay not for my cause; others here, will aid, and honor me;
If not, yet Ioue I know, is sure; that counsellor is he
That I depend on: as for thee, of all our Ioue-kept kings,
Thou still art most my enemie: strifes, battels, bloodie things,
Make thy blood feasts still. But if strength, that these moods build vpon,
Flow in thy nerues; God gaue thee it; and so tis not thine owne,
But in his hands still: what then lifts, thy pride in this, so hie?
Home with thy fleete, and Myrmidons; vse there their Emperie,
Command not here: I weigh thee not; nor meane to magnifie
Thy rough hewne rages; but in stead, I thus farre threaten thee:
Since Phœbus needs will force from me, Chryseis; she shall go;
My ships, and friends, shall waft her home: but I will imitate so,
His pleasure; that mine owne shall take, in person, from thy tent
Bright-cheekt Briseis; and so tell, thy strength-how eminent
My powre is, being compar'd with thine: all other, making feare
To vaunt equalitie with me; or in this proud kind beare
Their beards against me. Thetis sonne, at this stood vext; his heart
Bristled his bosome, and two waies, drew his discursiue part;
If from his thigh, his sharpe sword drawne, he should make roome about
Atrides, person slaughtring him; or sit his anger out
And curb his spirit. While these thoughts, striu'd in his bloud and mind,
And he his sword drew: downe from heauen, Athenia stoopt, and shind
About his temples; being sent, by th' Iuorie-wristed queene
Saturnia; who, out of her heart, had euer louing bene,
And carefull for the good of both. She stood behind, and tooke
Achilles by the yellow curles; and onely gaue her looke
To him apparance: not a man, of all the rest could see.
He, turning backe his eye; amaze, strooke euerie facultie;
Yet straight, he knew her, by her eyes; so terrible they were
Sparkling with ardor, and thus spake: Thou seed of Iupiter,
Why com'st thou? to behold his pride, that bosts our Emperie?
Then witnesse, with it, my reuenge; and see that insolence die,
That liues to wrong me. She replied, I come from heauen to see
Thy anger settled: if thy soule, will vse her soueraigntie,
In fit reflection. I am sent, from Iuno, whose affects,
Stand heartily inclind to both: Come, giue vs both respects,
And ceasse contention: draw no sword; vse words, and such as may
Be bitter to his pride, but iust; for trust in what I say,
A time shall come, when thrice the worth, of that he forceth now,
He shall propose for recompence, of these wrongs: therefore throw
Reines on thy passions, and serue vs. He answerd: Though my heart
Burne in iust anger; yet my soule, must conquer th' angrie part,
And yeeld you conquest. Who subdues, his earthly part for heauen,
Heauen to his prayres subdues his wish. This said, her charge was giuen,
Fit honor: in his siluer hilt, he held his able hand,
And forc't his broad sword vp; and vp, to heauen did reascend
Minerua, who in Ioues high roofe, that beares the rough shield, tooke
Her place with other deities. She gone, againe forsooke,
Patience his passion; and no more, his silence could confine
His wrath, that this broad language gaue: Thou euer steep't in wine,
Dogs face? with heart, but of a Hart? that nor in th' open eye
Of fight, dar'st thrust into a prease; nor with our noblest, lie
In secret ambush. These works seeme, too full of death for thee;
Tis safer farre, in th' open host, to dare an iniurie,
To any crosser of thy lust. Thou subiect-eating king,
Base spirits thou gouernst; or this wrong, had bene the last fowle thing
Thou euer author'dst: yet I vow, and by a great oath sweare,
Euen by this scepter; that as this, neuer againe shall beare
Greene leaues, or branches, nor increase, with any growth, his sise;
Nor did, since first it left the hils, and had his faculties
And ornaments bereft, with iron; which now to other end
Iudges of Greece beare; and their lawes, receiu'd from Ioue, defend;
(For which, my oath to thee is great.) So whensoeuer need
Shall burne with thirst of me, thy bost, no prayres shall euer breed
Affection in me, to their aid; though well deserued woes
Afflict thee for them; when to death, man-slaughtring Hector throwes
Whole troopes of them; and thou torment'st, thy vext mind with conceit
Of thy rude rage now: and his wrong, that most deseru'd the right
Of all thy armie. Thus he threw, his scepter gainst the ground,
With golden studs stucke; and tooke seate. Atrides breast was drownd
In rising choler. Vp to both, sweet-spoken Nestor stood,
The cunning Pylian Orator; whose tongue powrd foorth a flood
Of more-then-hony-sweet discourse: two ages were increast
Of diuerse-languag'd men; all borne, in his time, and deceast
In sacred Pylos, where he reignd, amongst the third-ag'd men:
He (well seene in the world) aduisd, and thus exprest it then.
Stay not for my cause; others here, will aid, and honor me;
If not, yet Ioue I know, is sure; that counsellor is he
That I depend on: as for thee, of all our Ioue-kept kings,
Thou still art most my enemie: strifes, battels, bloodie things,
Make thy blood feasts still. But if strength, that these moods build vpon,
Flow in thy nerues; God gaue thee it; and so tis not thine owne,
But in his hands still: what then lifts, thy pride in this, so hie?
Home with thy fleete, and Myrmidons; vse there their Emperie,
Command not here: I weigh thee not; nor meane to magnifie
Thy rough hewne rages; but in stead, I thus farre threaten thee:
Since Phœbus needs will force from me, Chryseis; she shall go;
My ships, and friends, shall waft her home: but I will imitate so,
His pleasure; that mine owne shall take, in person, from thy tent
Bright-cheekt Briseis; and so tell, thy strength-how eminent
My powre is, being compar'd with thine: all other, making feare
To vaunt equalitie with me; or in this proud kind beare
Their beards against me. Thetis sonne, at this stood vext; his heart
Bristled his bosome, and two waies, drew his discursiue part;
If from his thigh, his sharpe sword drawne, he should make roome about
Atrides, person slaughtring him; or sit his anger out
And curb his spirit. While these thoughts, striu'd in his bloud and mind,
And he his sword drew: downe from heauen, Athenia stoopt, and shind
About his temples; being sent, by th' Iuorie-wristed queene
Saturnia; who, out of her heart, had euer louing bene,
And carefull for the good of both. She stood behind, and tooke
Achilles by the yellow curles; and onely gaue her looke
To him apparance: not a man, of all the rest could see.
He, turning backe his eye; amaze, strooke euerie facultie;
Yet straight, he knew her, by her eyes; so terrible they were
Sparkling with ardor, and thus spake: Thou seed of Iupiter,
Why com'st thou? to behold his pride, that bosts our Emperie?
Then witnesse, with it, my reuenge; and see that insolence die,
That liues to wrong me. She replied, I come from heauen to see
Thy anger settled: if thy soule, will vse her soueraigntie,
In fit reflection. I am sent, from Iuno, whose affects,
6
And ceasse contention: draw no sword; vse words, and such as may
Be bitter to his pride, but iust; for trust in what I say,
A time shall come, when thrice the worth, of that he forceth now,
He shall propose for recompence, of these wrongs: therefore throw
Reines on thy passions, and serue vs. He answerd: Though my heart
Burne in iust anger; yet my soule, must conquer th' angrie part,
And yeeld you conquest. Who subdues, his earthly part for heauen,
Heauen to his prayres subdues his wish. This said, her charge was giuen,
Fit honor: in his siluer hilt, he held his able hand,
And forc't his broad sword vp; and vp, to heauen did reascend
Minerua, who in Ioues high roofe, that beares the rough shield, tooke
Her place with other deities. She gone, againe forsooke,
Patience his passion; and no more, his silence could confine
His wrath, that this broad language gaue: Thou euer steep't in wine,
Dogs face? with heart, but of a Hart? that nor in th' open eye
Of fight, dar'st thrust into a prease; nor with our noblest, lie
In secret ambush. These works seeme, too full of death for thee;
Tis safer farre, in th' open host, to dare an iniurie,
To any crosser of thy lust. Thou subiect-eating king,
Base spirits thou gouernst; or this wrong, had bene the last fowle thing
Thou euer author'dst: yet I vow, and by a great oath sweare,
Euen by this scepter; that as this, neuer againe shall beare
Greene leaues, or branches, nor increase, with any growth, his sise;
Nor did, since first it left the hils, and had his faculties
And ornaments bereft, with iron; which now to other end
Iudges of Greece beare; and their lawes, receiu'd from Ioue, defend;
(For which, my oath to thee is great.) So whensoeuer need
Shall burne with thirst of me, thy bost, no prayres shall euer breed
Affection in me, to their aid; though well deserued woes
Afflict thee for them; when to death, man-slaughtring Hector throwes
Whole troopes of them; and thou torment'st, thy vext mind with conceit
Of thy rude rage now: and his wrong, that most deseru'd the right
Of all thy armie. Thus he threw, his scepter gainst the ground,
With golden studs stucke; and tooke seate. Atrides breast was drownd
In rising choler. Vp to both, sweet-spoken Nestor stood,
The cunning Pylian Orator; whose tongue powrd foorth a flood
Of more-then-hony-sweet discourse: two ages were increast
Of diuerse-languag'd men; all borne, in his time, and deceast
In sacred Pylos, where he reignd, amongst the third-ag'd men:
He (well seene in the world) aduisd, and thus exprest it then.
O Gods, our Greeke earth will be drownd, in iust teares; rapefull Troy,
Her king, and all his sonnes, will make, as iust a mocke, and ioy
Of these disiunctions; if of you, that all our host excell,
In counsell, and in skill of fight, they heare this: Come, repell
These yong mens passions: y'are not both, (put both your yeares in one)
So old as I: I liu'd long since, and was companion
With men superior to you both: who yet would euer heare,
My counsels with respect. My eyes, yet neuer witnesse were,
Nor euer will be, of such men, as then delighted them;
Perithous, Exadius, and god-like Polypheme;
Ceneus, and Dryas, prince of men; Ægean Theseus.
A man, like heauens immortals formd; all, all most vigorous,
Of all men, that euen those daies bred; most vigorous men, and fought
With beasts most vigorous; mountain beasts, (for mē in strength were nought
Matcht with their forces) fought with them; and brauely fought them downe;
Yet euen with these men, I conuerst, being cald to the renowne
Of their societies, by their suites, from Pylos farre, to fight
In th' Asian kingdome; and I fought, to a degree of might
That helpt euen their mights; against such, as no man now would dare,
To meete in conflict; yet euen these, my counsels still would heare,
And with obedience, crowne my words. Giue you such palme to them;
Tis better, then to wreath your wraths. Atrides? giue not streame
To all thy powre, nor force his prise; but yeeld her still his owne,
As all men else do. Nor do thou, encounter with thy crowne
(Great sonne of Peleus) since no king, that euer Ioue allowd
Grace of a scepter, equals him. Suppose thy nerues endowd
With strength superior, and thy birth, a verie Goddesse gaue;
Yet he of force, is mightier; since, what his owne nerues haue
Is amplified, with iust command, of many other. King of men
Command thou then thy selfe; and I, with my prayres will obtaine,
Grace of Achilles, to subdue, his furie; whose parts are
Worth our intreatie; being chiefe checke, to all our ill in warre.
Her king, and all his sonnes, will make, as iust a mocke, and ioy
Of these disiunctions; if of you, that all our host excell,
In counsell, and in skill of fight, they heare this: Come, repell
These yong mens passions: y'are not both, (put both your yeares in one)
So old as I: I liu'd long since, and was companion
With men superior to you both: who yet would euer heare,
7
Nor euer will be, of such men, as then delighted them;
Perithous, Exadius, and god-like Polypheme;
Ceneus, and Dryas, prince of men; Ægean Theseus.
A man, like heauens immortals formd; all, all most vigorous,
Of all men, that euen those daies bred; most vigorous men, and fought
With beasts most vigorous; mountain beasts, (for mē in strength were nought
Matcht with their forces) fought with them; and brauely fought them downe;
Yet euen with these men, I conuerst, being cald to the renowne
Of their societies, by their suites, from Pylos farre, to fight
In th' Asian kingdome; and I fought, to a degree of might
That helpt euen their mights; against such, as no man now would dare,
To meete in conflict; yet euen these, my counsels still would heare,
And with obedience, crowne my words. Giue you such palme to them;
Tis better, then to wreath your wraths. Atrides? giue not streame
To all thy powre, nor force his prise; but yeeld her still his owne,
As all men else do. Nor do thou, encounter with thy crowne
(Great sonne of Peleus) since no king, that euer Ioue allowd
Grace of a scepter, equals him. Suppose thy nerues endowd
With strength superior, and thy birth, a verie Goddesse gaue;
Yet he of force, is mightier; since, what his owne nerues haue
Is amplified, with iust command, of many other. King of men
Command thou then thy selfe; and I, with my prayres will obtaine,
Grace of Achilles, to subdue, his furie; whose parts are
Worth our intreatie; being chiefe checke, to all our ill in warre.
All this, good father (said the king) is comely, and good right;
But this man breakes all such bounds; he, affects past all men height.
All would in his powre hold, all make, his subiects, giue to all
His hote will for their temperate law: all which he neuer shall
Perswade at my hands. If the Gods, haue giuen him the great stile
Of ablest souldier; made they that, his licence to reuile
Men with vile language? Thetis soone, preuented him, and said:
But this man breakes all such bounds; he, affects past all men height.
All would in his powre hold, all make, his subiects, giue to all
His hote will for their temperate law: all which he neuer shall
Perswade at my hands. If the Gods, haue giuen him the great stile
Of ablest souldier; made they that, his licence to reuile
Men with vile language? Thetis soone, preuented him, and said:
Fearefull and vile I might be thought, if the exactions laid
By all meanes on me I should beare. Others command to this,
Thou shalt, not me; or if thou dost, farre my free spirit is
From seruing thy command. Beside, this I affirme (affoord
Impression of it in thy soule) I will not vse my sword
On thee, or any, for a wench: vniustly though thou tak'st
The thing thou gau'st; but all things else, that in my ship thou mak'st
Greedie suruey of, do not touch, without my leaue; or do
Adde that acts wrong to this; that these, may see that outrage too;
And then comes my part: then be sure, thy bloud vpon my lance,
Shall flow in vengeance. These high termes, these two at variance
Vsd to each other; left their seates, and after them arose
The whole court. To his tents and ships, with friends and souldiers, goes
Angrie Achilles. Atreus sonne, the swift ship lancht, and put
Within it twentie chosen row'rs: within it likewise shut
The Hecatomb, t'appease the God. Then causd to come abord
Faire checkt Chryseis. For the chiefe, he in whom Pallas pourd
Her store of counsels, (Ithacus) aboord went last, and then
The moist waies of the sea they saild. And now the king of men
Bad all the hoast to sacrifice. They sacrific'd and, cast
The offall of all to the deepes: the angrie God they grac't
With perfect Hecatombs; some buls, some goates along the shore
Of the vnfruitfull sea, inflam'd. To heauen the thicke fumes bore
Enwrapped sauours. Thus though all, the politique king made shew
Respects to heauen; yet he himselfe, all that time did pursue
His owne affections. The late iarre, in which he thunderd threats
Against Achilles, still he fed, and his affections heats
Thus vented to Talthybius, and graue Eurybates
Heralds, and ministers of trust, to all his messages.
By all meanes on me I should beare. Others command to this,
Thou shalt, not me; or if thou dost, farre my free spirit is
From seruing thy command. Beside, this I affirme (affoord
Impression of it in thy soule) I will not vse my sword
On thee, or any, for a wench: vniustly though thou tak'st
The thing thou gau'st; but all things else, that in my ship thou mak'st
Greedie suruey of, do not touch, without my leaue; or do
Adde that acts wrong to this; that these, may see that outrage too;
And then comes my part: then be sure, thy bloud vpon my lance,
Shall flow in vengeance. These high termes, these two at variance
Vsd to each other; left their seates, and after them arose
The whole court. To his tents and ships, with friends and souldiers, goes
Angrie Achilles. Atreus sonne, the swift ship lancht, and put
Within it twentie chosen row'rs: within it likewise shut
The Hecatomb, t'appease the God. Then causd to come abord
8
Her store of counsels, (Ithacus) aboord went last, and then
The moist waies of the sea they saild. And now the king of men
Bad all the hoast to sacrifice. They sacrific'd and, cast
The offall of all to the deepes: the angrie God they grac't
With perfect Hecatombs; some buls, some goates along the shore
Of the vnfruitfull sea, inflam'd. To heauen the thicke fumes bore
Enwrapped sauours. Thus though all, the politique king made shew
Respects to heauen; yet he himselfe, all that time did pursue
His owne affections. The late iarre, in which he thunderd threats
Against Achilles, still he fed, and his affections heats
Thus vented to Talthybius, and graue Eurybates
Heralds, and ministers of trust, to all his messages.
Haste to Achilles tent, where take, Briseis hand, and bring
Her beauties to vs; if he faile, to yeeld her; say your king
Will come himselfe with multitudes, that shall the horribler
Make both his presence and your charge, that so he dares deferre.
Her beauties to vs; if he faile, to yeeld her; say your king
Will come himselfe with multitudes, that shall the horribler
Make both his presence and your charge, that so he dares deferre.
This said, he sent them with a charge, of hard condition.
They went vnwillingly, and trod, the fruitlesse seas shore: soone
They reacht the nauie and the tents, in which the quarter lay
Of all the Myrmidons, and found, the chiefe Chiefe in their sway,
Set at his blacke barke in his tent. Nor was Achilles glad
To see their presence; nor themselues, in any glorie, had
Their message; but with reuerence stood, and fear'd th' offended king.
Askt not the dame; nor spake a word. He yet, well knowing the thing
That causd their coming; grac'd them thus: Heralds, ye men that beare
The messages of men and Gods; y'are welcome, come ye neare.
I nothing blame you, but your king; tis he, I know, doth send
You for Briseis; she is his. Patroclus? honourd friend,
Bring foorth the damsell; and these men, let leade her, to their Lord.
But, Heralds, be you witnesses, before the most ador'd;
Before vs mortals, and before, your most vngentle king,
Of what I suffer: that if warre, euer hereafter bring
My aide in question; to auert, any seuerest bane,
It brings on others; I am scusde, to keepe my aide in wane,
Since they mine honour. But your king, in tempting mischiefe, raues;
Nor sees at once, by present things, the future; how like waues,
Ils follow ils; iniustices, being neuer so secure
In present times; but after plagues, euen then, are seene as sure.
Which yet he sees not; and so sooths, his present lust; which checkt,
Would checke plagues future; and he might, in succouring right, protect
Such as fight for his right at fleete; they still in safetie fight,
That fight still iustly. This speech vsd, Patroclus did the rite
His friend commanded; and brought forth, Briseis from her tent;
Gaue her the heralds, and away, to th' Achiue ships they went:
She sad, and scarce for griefe, could go; her loue, all friends forsooke,
And wept for anger. To the shore, of th' old sea, he betooke
Himselfe alone; and casting forth, vpon the purple sea,
His wet eyes, and his hands to heauen, aduancing this sad plea,
Made to his mother: Mother, since, you brought me forth to breath,
So short a life: Olympius, had good right to bequeath
My short life, honor; yet that right, he doth in no degree:
But lets Atrides do me shame, and force that prise from me
That all the Greekes gaue: this with teares, he vtterd, and she heard;
Set with her old sire, in his deepes; and instantly appeard,
Vp, from the gray sea, like a cloud: sate by his side, and said;
They went vnwillingly, and trod, the fruitlesse seas shore: soone
They reacht the nauie and the tents, in which the quarter lay
Of all the Myrmidons, and found, the chiefe Chiefe in their sway,
Set at his blacke barke in his tent. Nor was Achilles glad
To see their presence; nor themselues, in any glorie, had
Their message; but with reuerence stood, and fear'd th' offended king.
Askt not the dame; nor spake a word. He yet, well knowing the thing
That causd their coming; grac'd them thus: Heralds, ye men that beare
The messages of men and Gods; y'are welcome, come ye neare.
I nothing blame you, but your king; tis he, I know, doth send
You for Briseis; she is his. Patroclus? honourd friend,
Bring foorth the damsell; and these men, let leade her, to their Lord.
But, Heralds, be you witnesses, before the most ador'd;
Before vs mortals, and before, your most vngentle king,
Of what I suffer: that if warre, euer hereafter bring
My aide in question; to auert, any seuerest bane,
It brings on others; I am scusde, to keepe my aide in wane,
Since they mine honour. But your king, in tempting mischiefe, raues;
Nor sees at once, by present things, the future; how like waues,
Ils follow ils; iniustices, being neuer so secure
In present times; but after plagues, euen then, are seene as sure.
Which yet he sees not; and so sooths, his present lust; which checkt,
Would checke plagues future; and he might, in succouring right, protect
Such as fight for his right at fleete; they still in safetie fight,
That fight still iustly. This speech vsd, Patroclus did the rite
His friend commanded; and brought forth, Briseis from her tent;
Gaue her the heralds, and away, to th' Achiue ships they went:
She sad, and scarce for griefe, could go; her loue, all friends forsooke,
And wept for anger. To the shore, of th' old sea, he betooke
Himselfe alone; and casting forth, vpon the purple sea,
9
Made to his mother: Mother, since, you brought me forth to breath,
So short a life: Olympius, had good right to bequeath
My short life, honor; yet that right, he doth in no degree:
But lets Atrides do me shame, and force that prise from me
That all the Greekes gaue: this with teares, he vtterd, and she heard;
Set with her old sire, in his deepes; and instantly appeard,
Vp, from the gray sea, like a cloud: sate by his side, and said;
Why weepes my sonne? what grieues thee? speake; conceale not what hath laid
Such hard hand on thee: let both know. He (sighing like a storme)
Replied: Thou dost know; why should I, things knowne; againe informe?
We marcht to Thebs, the sacred towne, of king Eetion,
Sackt it, and brought to fleete the spoile, which euerie valiant sonne
Of Greece, indifferently shar'd. Atrides had for share,
Faire-cheekt Chryseis; after which, his priest, that shoots so farre,
Chryses, the faire Chryseis sire, arriu'd at th' Achiue fleete,
With infinite ransome; to redeeme, the deare imprison'd feete,
Of his faire daughter. In his hands, he held Apollos crowne,
And golden scepter; making suite, to euerie Grecian sonne,
But most, the sonnes of Atreus, (the others orderers)
Yet they least heard him; all the rest, receiu'd with reuerend eares,
The motion: both the Priest, and gifts, gracing; and holding worth
His wisht acceptance. Atreus sonne, yet (vext) commanded forth
With rude termes, Phœbus reuerend Priest: who, angrie, made retreat,
And prayd to Phœbus; in whose grace, he standing passing great,
Got his petition. The God, an ill shaft sent abrode,
That tumbl'd downe the Greekes in heapes. The host had no abode,
That was not visited; we askt, a Prophet that well knew
The cause of all; and from his lips, Apollos prophecies flew;
Telling his anger. First my selfe, exhorted to appease
The angerd God; which Atreus sonne, did at the heart displease.
And vp he stood, vsde threats, performd. The blacke-eyd Greeks sent home
Chryseis to her sire; and gaue, his God a Hecatome;
Then, for Briseis to my tents, Atrides Heralds came,
And tooke her, that the Greekes gaue, all. If then thy powres can frame
Wreake for thy sonne, affoord it; scale, Olympus, and implore
Ioue, (if by either word, or fact; thou euer didst restore
Ioy to his greeu'd heart) now to helpe. I oft haue heard thee vant
In court of Peleus; that alone, thy hand was conuersant,
In rescue from a cruell spoile, the blacke-clowd-gathering Ioue;
Whom other Godheads, would haue bound. (The powre whose pace doth moue
The round earth; heauens great Queene, and Pallas) to whose bands
Thou cam'st with rescue; bringing vp, him with the hundred hands,
To great Olympus; whom the Gods, call Briaræus; men
Ægæon; who, his sire surpast, and was as strong againe;
And in that grace, sat glad, by Ioue; th' immortals stood dismaid
At his ascension; and gaue, free passage to his aid.
Of all this, tell Ioue; kneele to him; embrace his knee, and pray
(If Trois aide he will euer deigne) that now their forces may
Beate home the Greeks to fleete, and sea; embruing their retreat
In slaughter: their pains paying the wreake, of their proud Soueraigns heart:
And that farre-ruling king may know, from his poore souldiers harms,
His owne harme fals: his owne, and all, in mine; his best in arms.
Such hard hand on thee: let both know. He (sighing like a storme)
Replied: Thou dost know; why should I, things knowne; againe informe?
We marcht to Thebs, the sacred towne, of king Eetion,
Sackt it, and brought to fleete the spoile, which euerie valiant sonne
Of Greece, indifferently shar'd. Atrides had for share,
Faire-cheekt Chryseis; after which, his priest, that shoots so farre,
Chryses, the faire Chryseis sire, arriu'd at th' Achiue fleete,
With infinite ransome; to redeeme, the deare imprison'd feete,
Of his faire daughter. In his hands, he held Apollos crowne,
And golden scepter; making suite, to euerie Grecian sonne,
But most, the sonnes of Atreus, (the others orderers)
Yet they least heard him; all the rest, receiu'd with reuerend eares,
The motion: both the Priest, and gifts, gracing; and holding worth
His wisht acceptance. Atreus sonne, yet (vext) commanded forth
With rude termes, Phœbus reuerend Priest: who, angrie, made retreat,
And prayd to Phœbus; in whose grace, he standing passing great,
Got his petition. The God, an ill shaft sent abrode,
That tumbl'd downe the Greekes in heapes. The host had no abode,
That was not visited; we askt, a Prophet that well knew
The cause of all; and from his lips, Apollos prophecies flew;
Telling his anger. First my selfe, exhorted to appease
The angerd God; which Atreus sonne, did at the heart displease.
And vp he stood, vsde threats, performd. The blacke-eyd Greeks sent home
Chryseis to her sire; and gaue, his God a Hecatome;
Then, for Briseis to my tents, Atrides Heralds came,
And tooke her, that the Greekes gaue, all. If then thy powres can frame
Wreake for thy sonne, affoord it; scale, Olympus, and implore
Ioue, (if by either word, or fact; thou euer didst restore
Ioy to his greeu'd heart) now to helpe. I oft haue heard thee vant
In court of Peleus; that alone, thy hand was conuersant,
In rescue from a cruell spoile, the blacke-clowd-gathering Ioue;
Whom other Godheads, would haue bound. (The powre whose pace doth moue
The round earth; heauens great Queene, and Pallas) to whose bands
Thou cam'st with rescue; bringing vp, him with the hundred hands,
To great Olympus; whom the Gods, call Briaræus; men
Ægæon; who, his sire surpast, and was as strong againe;
And in that grace, sat glad, by Ioue; th' immortals stood dismaid
At his ascension; and gaue, free passage to his aid.
Of all this, tell Ioue; kneele to him; embrace his knee, and pray
10
Beate home the Greeks to fleete, and sea; embruing their retreat
In slaughter: their pains paying the wreake, of their proud Soueraigns heart:
And that farre-ruling king may know, from his poore souldiers harms,
His owne harme fals: his owne, and all, in mine; his best in arms.
Her answer she powr'd out in teares: O me, my sonne (said she)
Why brought I vp, thy being at all; that brought thee forth to be
Sad subiect of so hard a fate? O would to heauen, that since,
Thy fate is little, and not long; thou mightst without offence,
And teares performe it. But to liue, thrall to so sterne a fate
As grants thee least life; and that least, so most vnfortunate,
Grieues me t'haue giuen thee any life. But what thou wishest now
(If Ioue will grant) ile vp, and aske. Olympus crownd with snow
Ile clime: but sit thou fast at fleete: renounce all warre, and feed
Thy heart with wrath, and hope of wreake: till which come, thou shalt need,
A little patience: Iupiter, went yesterday to feast
Amongst the blamelesse Æthiops, in th' Oceans deepned breast;
All Gods attending him: the twelfth, high heauen againe he sees,
And then his brasse-pau'd court Ile skale; cling to his powrefull knees,
And doubt not, but to winne thy wish. Thus made she her remoue,
And left wrath tyring on her sonne, for his enforced loue.
Why brought I vp, thy being at all; that brought thee forth to be
Sad subiect of so hard a fate? O would to heauen, that since,
Thy fate is little, and not long; thou mightst without offence,
And teares performe it. But to liue, thrall to so sterne a fate
As grants thee least life; and that least, so most vnfortunate,
Grieues me t'haue giuen thee any life. But what thou wishest now
(If Ioue will grant) ile vp, and aske. Olympus crownd with snow
Ile clime: but sit thou fast at fleete: renounce all warre, and feed
Thy heart with wrath, and hope of wreake: till which come, thou shalt need,
A little patience: Iupiter, went yesterday to feast
Amongst the blamelesse Æthiops, in th' Oceans deepned breast;
All Gods attending him: the twelfth, high heauen againe he sees,
And then his brasse-pau'd court Ile skale; cling to his powrefull knees,
And doubt not, but to winne thy wish. Thus made she her remoue,
And left wrath tyring on her sonne, for his enforced loue.
Vlysses, with the Hecatomb, arriu'd at Chrysas shore:
And when, amids the hauens deepe mouth, they came to vse the oare,
They straite stroke saile, then rold them vp, and on the hatches threw.
The top mast, to the kelsine then, with haleyards downe they drew;
Then brought the ship to Port with oares, then forked anchor cast,
And gainst the violence of stormes, for drifting made her fast.
And when, amids the hauens deepe mouth, they came to vse the oare,
They straite stroke saile, then rold them vp, and on the hatches threw.
The top mast, to the kelsine then, with haleyards downe they drew;
Then brought the ship to Port with oares, then forked anchor cast,
And gainst the violence of stormes, for drifting made her fast.
All come ashore, they all expos'd, the holy Hecatomb
To angrie Phœbus; and with it, Chryseis welcomd home:
Whom, to her sire, wise Ithacus, that did at th' altar stand,
For honour, led; and (spoken thus) resignd her to his hand:
Chryses, the mightie king of men (great Agamemnon) sends
Thy lou'd seed, by my hands, to thine; and to thy God commends
A Hecatomb, which my charge is, to sacrifice, and seeke
Our much-sigh-mixt-woe, his recure, inuokt by euerie Greeke.
To angrie Phœbus; and with it, Chryseis welcomd home:
Whom, to her sire, wise Ithacus, that did at th' altar stand,
For honour, led; and (spoken thus) resignd her to his hand:
Chryses, the mightie king of men (great Agamemnon) sends
Thy lou'd seed, by my hands, to thine; and to thy God commends
A Hecatomb, which my charge is, to sacrifice, and seeke
Our much-sigh-mixt-woe, his recure, inuokt by euerie Greeke.
Thus he resignd her, and her sire, receiu'd her, highly ioyd.
About the well-built altar then, they orderly emploide
The sacred offring. Washt their hands, tooke salt cakes, and the Priest
(With hands held vp to heauen) thus praid: O thou that all things seest,
Fautour of Chrysa, whose faire hand, doth guardfully dispose
Celestiall Cilla: gouerning, in all powre, Tenedos:
O heare thy Priest, and as thy hand, in free grace to my prayers
Shot feruent plague-shafts through the Greekes: now hearten their affaires,
With health renewd, and quite remoue, th' infection from their blood.
About the well-built altar then, they orderly emploide
The sacred offring. Washt their hands, tooke salt cakes, and the Priest
(With hands held vp to heauen) thus praid: O thou that all things seest,
Fautour of Chrysa, whose faire hand, doth guardfully dispose
Celestiall Cilla: gouerning, in all powre, Tenedos:
O heare thy Priest, and as thy hand, in free grace to my prayers
Shot feruent plague-shafts through the Greekes: now hearten their affaires,
With health renewd, and quite remoue, th' infection from their blood.
He praid; and to his prairs againe, the God propitious stood.
All, after prayre, cast on salt cakes; drew backe, kild, slaid the beeues,
Cut out, and dubd with fat their thighes, faire drest with doubled leaues;
And on them, all the sweet-breads prickt. The Priest, with small sere wood
Did sacrifice; powr'd on red wine, by whom the yong men stood,
And turnd (in fiue ranks) spits; on which, (the legs enough) they eate
The inwards; then in giggots cut, the other fit for meate;
And put to fire; which (rosted well) they drew; the labour done,
They seru'd the feast in; that fed all, to satisfaction.
All, after prayre, cast on salt cakes; drew backe, kild, slaid the beeues,
Cut out, and dubd with fat their thighes, faire drest with doubled leaues;
And on them, all the sweet-breads prickt. The Priest, with small sere wood
11
And turnd (in fiue ranks) spits; on which, (the legs enough) they eate
The inwards; then in giggots cut, the other fit for meate;
And put to fire; which (rosted well) they drew; the labour done,
They seru'd the feast in; that fed all, to satisfaction.
Desire of meate, and wine, thus quencht, the youths crownd cups of wine
Drunke off, and fild againe to all. That day was held diuine;
And spent in Pæans to the Sunne; who heard with pleased eare;
When whose bright chariot stoopt to sea, and twilight hid the cleare;
All, soundly on their cables slept, euen till the night was worne:
And when the Lady of the light, the rosie fingerd morne
Rose from the hils: all fresh arose, and to the campe retir'd.
Apollo with a fore-right wind, their swelling barke inspir'd.
The top-mast hoisted; milke-white sailes, on his round breast they put;
The Misens strooted with the gale; the ship her course did cut,
So swiftly, that the parted waues, against her ribs did rore,
Which coming to the campe, they drew, aloft the sandie shore:
Where, laid on stocks, each souldier kept, his quarter, as before.
Drunke off, and fild againe to all. That day was held diuine;
And spent in Pæans to the Sunne; who heard with pleased eare;
When whose bright chariot stoopt to sea, and twilight hid the cleare;
All, soundly on their cables slept, euen till the night was worne:
And when the Lady of the light, the rosie fingerd morne
Rose from the hils: all fresh arose, and to the campe retir'd.
Apollo with a fore-right wind, their swelling barke inspir'd.
The top-mast hoisted; milke-white sailes, on his round breast they put;
The Misens strooted with the gale; the ship her course did cut,
So swiftly, that the parted waues, against her ribs did rore,
Which coming to the campe, they drew, aloft the sandie shore:
Where, laid on stocks, each souldier kept, his quarter, as before.
But Pelius sonne, swift-foote Achilles, at his swift ships sate,
Burning in wrath, nor euer came, to Councels of estate,
That make men honord: neuer trod, the fierce embattaild field,
But kept close, and his lou'd heart pin'd: what fight and cries could yeeld,
Thirsting, at all parts, to the hoast. And now since first he told
His wrongs to Thetis: twelue faire mornes, their ensignes did vnfold.
And then the euerliuing Gods, mounted Olympus; Ioue
First in ascension. Thetis then, remembred well to moue
Achilles motion: rose from sea, and by the mornes first light,
The great heauen, and Olympus climbd; where, in supremest height
Of all that many-headed hill, she saw the farre-seene sonne
Of Saturne, set from all the rest, in his free seate alone:
Before whom (on her owne knees falne) the knees of Iupiter
Her left hand held, her right his chinne; and thus she did prefer
Her sonnes petition: Father Ioue, if euer I haue stood
Aidfull to thee in word or worke: with this implored good
Requite my aide: renowne my sonne, since in so short a race,
(Past others) thou confin'st his life: an insolent disgrace
Is done him by the king of men: he forc't from him, a prise
Wonne with his sword. But thou, O Ioue, that art most strong, most wise,
Honour my sonne, for my sake; adde, strength to the Troians side
By his sides weaknesse, in his want: and see Troy amplifide
In conquest, so much, and so long, till Greece may giue againe
The glorie reft him; and the more, illustrate the free raigne
Of his wrongd honour. Ioue, at this, sate silent; not a word
In long space past him: Thetis still, hung on his knee; implor'd
The second time, his helpe, and said: Grant, or denie my suite,
Be free in what thou doest; I know, thou canst not sit thus mute,
For feare of any: speake, denie, that so I may be sure
Of all heauens Goddesses, tis I, that onely must endure.
Dishonor by thee. Iupiter, the great cloud-gatherer, grieu'd
With thought of what a world of griefes, this suite askt, being atchieu'd;
Sweld, sigh'd, and answerd: Works of death, thou vrgest; O at this
Iuno will storme, and all my powers, inflame with contumelies.
Euer she wrangles, charging me, in eare of all the Gods,
That I am partiall still; that I, adde the displeasing oddes
Of my aide to the Ilians. Be gone then, lest she see:
Leaue thy request to my care: yet, that trust may hearten thee
With thy desires grant, and my powre, to giue it act, approue
How vaine her strife is: to thy praire, my eminent head shall moue,
Which is the great signe of my will, with all th' immortall states:
Irreuocable; neuer failes; neuer without the rates
Of all powers else: when my head bowes, all heads bow with it still;
As their first mouer; and giues powre, to any worke I will.
Burning in wrath, nor euer came, to Councels of estate,
That make men honord: neuer trod, the fierce embattaild field,
But kept close, and his lou'd heart pin'd: what fight and cries could yeeld,
Thirsting, at all parts, to the hoast. And now since first he told
His wrongs to Thetis: twelue faire mornes, their ensignes did vnfold.
And then the euerliuing Gods, mounted Olympus; Ioue
First in ascension. Thetis then, remembred well to moue
Achilles motion: rose from sea, and by the mornes first light,
The great heauen, and Olympus climbd; where, in supremest height
Of all that many-headed hill, she saw the farre-seene sonne
Of Saturne, set from all the rest, in his free seate alone:
Before whom (on her owne knees falne) the knees of Iupiter
Her left hand held, her right his chinne; and thus she did prefer
Her sonnes petition: Father Ioue, if euer I haue stood
Aidfull to thee in word or worke: with this implored good
Requite my aide: renowne my sonne, since in so short a race,
(Past others) thou confin'st his life: an insolent disgrace
Is done him by the king of men: he forc't from him, a prise
Wonne with his sword. But thou, O Ioue, that art most strong, most wise,
Honour my sonne, for my sake; adde, strength to the Troians side
By his sides weaknesse, in his want: and see Troy amplifide
In conquest, so much, and so long, till Greece may giue againe
The glorie reft him; and the more, illustrate the free raigne
Of his wrongd honour. Ioue, at this, sate silent; not a word
In long space past him: Thetis still, hung on his knee; implor'd
The second time, his helpe, and said: Grant, or denie my suite,
Be free in what thou doest; I know, thou canst not sit thus mute,
For feare of any: speake, denie, that so I may be sure
Of all heauens Goddesses, tis I, that onely must endure.
12
With thought of what a world of griefes, this suite askt, being atchieu'd;
Sweld, sigh'd, and answerd: Works of death, thou vrgest; O at this
Iuno will storme, and all my powers, inflame with contumelies.
Euer she wrangles, charging me, in eare of all the Gods,
That I am partiall still; that I, adde the displeasing oddes
Of my aide to the Ilians. Be gone then, lest she see:
Leaue thy request to my care: yet, that trust may hearten thee
With thy desires grant, and my powre, to giue it act, approue
How vaine her strife is: to thy praire, my eminent head shall moue,
Which is the great signe of my will, with all th' immortall states:
Irreuocable; neuer failes; neuer without the rates
Of all powers else: when my head bowes, all heads bow with it still;
As their first mouer; and giues powre, to any worke I will.
He said; and his blacke-ey-brows bent; aboue his deathlesse head,
Th' Ambrosian curls flowed; great heauen shooke, and both were seuered,
Their counsels broken. To the depth, of Neptunes kingdome, diu'd,
Thetis; from heauens height: Ioue arose; and all the Gods receiu'd,
(All rising from their thrones) their sire; attending to his court;
None sate, when he rose; none delaid, the furnishing his port,
Till he came neare: all met with him, and brought him to his throne.
Th' Ambrosian curls flowed; great heauen shooke, and both were seuered,
Their counsels broken. To the depth, of Neptunes kingdome, diu'd,
Thetis; from heauens height: Ioue arose; and all the Gods receiu'd,
(All rising from their thrones) their sire; attending to his court;
None sate, when he rose; none delaid, the furnishing his port,
Till he came neare: all met with him, and brought him to his throne.
Nor sate great Iuno ignorant, when she beheld, alone,
Old Nereus siluer-footed seed, with Ioue; that she had brought
Counsels to heauen; and straight her tongue, had teeth in it, that wrought
This sharpe inuectiue: Who was that, (thou craftiest counsellor
Of all the Gods) that so apart, some secret did implore?
Euer apart from me, thou lou'st, to counsell and decree,
Things of more close trust then thou thinkst, are fit t'impart to me:
What euer thou determin'st, I, must euer be denied
The knowledge of it, by thy will. To her speech, thus replied;
The Father, both of men, and Gods: Haue neuer hope to know,
My whole intentions; though my wife: it fits not, nor would show,
Well to thine owne thoughts: but what fits, thy womans eare to heare;
Woman, nor man, nor God, shall know, before it grace thine eare.
Yet, what apart from men and Gods, I please to know; forbeare
T'examine, or enquire of that. She with the cowes faire eyes
(Respected Iuno) this returnd: Austere king of the skies,
What hast thou vtterd? when did I, before this time, enquire,
Or sift thy counsels? passing close, you are still; your desire,
Is seru'd with such care, that I feare, you can scarce vouch the deed
That makes it publike; being seduc't, by this old sea-Gods seed,
That could so early vse her knees, embracing thine. I doubt,
The late act of thy bowed head, was for the working out,
Of some boone she askt; that her sonne, thy partiall hand would please
With plaguing others. Wretch (said he) thy subtle ielousies,
Are still exploring: my designes, can neuer scape thine eye;
Which yet thou neuer canst preuent. Thy curiositie
Makes thee lesse car'd for, at my hands; and horrible the end
Shall make thy humor. If it be, what thy suspects intend,
What then? tis my free will it should: to which, let way be giuen,
With silence; curbe your tongue in time, lest all the Gods in heauen
Too few be, and too weake to helpe, thy punisht insolence,
When my inaccessible hands, shall fall on thee. The sence
Of this high threatning, made her feare; and silent she sate downe,
Humbling her great heart. All the Gods, in court of Ioue, did frowne
At this offence giuen: amongst whom, heauens famous Artizan,
Ephaistus, in his mothers care, this comely speech began:
Old Nereus siluer-footed seed, with Ioue; that she had brought
Counsels to heauen; and straight her tongue, had teeth in it, that wrought
This sharpe inuectiue: Who was that, (thou craftiest counsellor
Of all the Gods) that so apart, some secret did implore?
Euer apart from me, thou lou'st, to counsell and decree,
Things of more close trust then thou thinkst, are fit t'impart to me:
What euer thou determin'st, I, must euer be denied
The knowledge of it, by thy will. To her speech, thus replied;
The Father, both of men, and Gods: Haue neuer hope to know,
My whole intentions; though my wife: it fits not, nor would show,
Well to thine owne thoughts: but what fits, thy womans eare to heare;
Woman, nor man, nor God, shall know, before it grace thine eare.
Yet, what apart from men and Gods, I please to know; forbeare
T'examine, or enquire of that. She with the cowes faire eyes
(Respected Iuno) this returnd: Austere king of the skies,
What hast thou vtterd? when did I, before this time, enquire,
Or sift thy counsels? passing close, you are still; your desire,
Is seru'd with such care, that I feare, you can scarce vouch the deed
That makes it publike; being seduc't, by this old sea-Gods seed,
That could so early vse her knees, embracing thine. I doubt,
The late act of thy bowed head, was for the working out,
Of some boone she askt; that her sonne, thy partiall hand would please
With plaguing others. Wretch (said he) thy subtle ielousies,
Are still exploring: my designes, can neuer scape thine eye;
Which yet thou neuer canst preuent. Thy curiositie
Makes thee lesse car'd for, at my hands; and horrible the end
13
What then? tis my free will it should: to which, let way be giuen,
With silence; curbe your tongue in time, lest all the Gods in heauen
Too few be, and too weake to helpe, thy punisht insolence,
When my inaccessible hands, shall fall on thee. The sence
Of this high threatning, made her feare; and silent she sate downe,
Humbling her great heart. All the Gods, in court of Ioue, did frowne
At this offence giuen: amongst whom, heauens famous Artizan,
Ephaistus, in his mothers care, this comely speech began:
Beleeue it, these words will breed wounds, beyond our powres to beare,
If thus for mortals ye fall out. Ye make a tumult here
That spoiles our banquet. Euermore, worst matters put downe best.
But mother, though your selfe be wise, yet let your sonne request
His wisdome audience. Giue good termes, to our lou'd father Ioue,
For feare he take offence againe; and our kind banquet proue
A wrathfull battell. If he will, the heauenly lightner can
Take you, and tosse you from your throne; his power Olympian
Is so surpassing. Soften then, with gentle speech his splene,
And drinke to him; I know his heart, will quickly downe againe.
If thus for mortals ye fall out. Ye make a tumult here
That spoiles our banquet. Euermore, worst matters put downe best.
But mother, though your selfe be wise, yet let your sonne request
His wisdome audience. Giue good termes, to our lou'd father Ioue,
For feare he take offence againe; and our kind banquet proue
A wrathfull battell. If he will, the heauenly lightner can
Take you, and tosse you from your throne; his power Olympian
Is so surpassing. Soften then, with gentle speech his splene,
And drinke to him; I know his heart, will quickly downe againe.
This said, arising from his throne, in his lou'd mothers hand
He put the double handeld cup, and said: Come, do not stand
On these crosse humors: suffer, beare, though your great bosome grieue,
And lest blowes force you: all my aide, not able to relieue
Your hard condition; though these eyes, behold it, and this heart
Sorrow to thinke it; tis a taske, too dangerous to take part
Against Olympius. I my selfe, the proofe of this still feele;
When other Gods would faine haue helpt, he tooke me by the heele
And hurld me out of heauen: all day, I was in falling downe,
At length in Lemnos I strooke earth; the likewise falling Sunne,
And I, together set: my life, almost set too; yet there
The Sintij cheard, and tooke me vp. This did to laughter cheare
White-wristed Iuno; who now tooke, the cup of him and smil'd.
The sweete-peace-making-draught went round; and lame Ephaistus fild
Nectar, to all the other Gods. A laughter neuer left,
Shooke all the blessed deities, to see the lame so deft
At that cup seruice. All that day, euen till the Sunne went downe,
They banqueted, and had such cheere, as did their wishes crowne.
Nor had they musicke lesse diuine, Apollo there did touch
His most sweete harpe; to which, with voice, the Muses pleasd as much.
But when the Suns faire light was set, each Godhead to his house
Addrest for sleepe, where euerie one, with art most curious
(By heauens great both-foote halting God) a seuerall roofe had built;
Euen he to sleepe went, by whose hand, heauen is with lightning guilt.
(High Ioue) where he had vsd to rest, when sweet sleepe seisd his eyes:
By him the golden-thron'd Queene slept: the Queene of deities.
He put the double handeld cup, and said: Come, do not stand
On these crosse humors: suffer, beare, though your great bosome grieue,
And lest blowes force you: all my aide, not able to relieue
Your hard condition; though these eyes, behold it, and this heart
Sorrow to thinke it; tis a taske, too dangerous to take part
Against Olympius. I my selfe, the proofe of this still feele;
When other Gods would faine haue helpt, he tooke me by the heele
And hurld me out of heauen: all day, I was in falling downe,
At length in Lemnos I strooke earth; the likewise falling Sunne,
And I, together set: my life, almost set too; yet there
The Sintij cheard, and tooke me vp. This did to laughter cheare
White-wristed Iuno; who now tooke, the cup of him and smil'd.
The sweete-peace-making-draught went round; and lame Ephaistus fild
Nectar, to all the other Gods. A laughter neuer left,
Shooke all the blessed deities, to see the lame so deft
At that cup seruice. All that day, euen till the Sunne went downe,
They banqueted, and had such cheere, as did their wishes crowne.
Nor had they musicke lesse diuine, Apollo there did touch
His most sweete harpe; to which, with voice, the Muses pleasd as much.
But when the Suns faire light was set, each Godhead to his house
Addrest for sleepe, where euerie one, with art most curious
(By heauens great both-foote halting God) a seuerall roofe had built;
Euen he to sleepe went, by whose hand, heauen is with lightning guilt.
(High Ioue) where he had vsd to rest, when sweet sleepe seisd his eyes:
By him the golden-thron'd Queene slept: the Queene of deities.
16
The end of the first Booke.
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