University of Virginia Library

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361

THE XXIIII. BOOKE OF Homers ODYSSES.

The Argvment.

Another.

Cyllenian Hermes with his golden rod,
The wooers soules (that yet retain'd abod
Amids their bodies) call'd in dreadfull rout
Forth to th' Infernals; who came murmuring out.
And as amids the desolate retreate
Of some vaste Cauerne (made the sacred seate
Of austere spirits) Bats, with Brests, and wings
Claspe fast the wals; and each to other clings:
But, swept off from their couerts, vp they rise
And flye with murmures, in amazefull guise
About the cauerne: So these (grumbling) rose
And flockt together. Downe before them goes
None-hurting Mercury, to hels broad waies;
And straight to those streights, where the Ocean staies
His lofty current in calme deepes, they flew.
Then to the snowy rocke, they next withdrew;
And to the close of Phœbus orient gates:
The Nation then of Dreames; and then the states
Of those soules Idols, that the weary dead
Gaue vp in earth: which, in a flowry Mead
Had habitable situation.
And there they saw the soule of Thetis son;
Of good Patroclus; braue Antilochus,
And Aiax; the supremely strenuous
Of all the Greeke hoast, next Plebeian:
All which assembled about Maias son.

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And to them (after) came the mournfull Ghost
Of Agamemnon; with all those, he lost
In false Ægysthus Court. Achilles then
Beholding there, that mighty King of men:
Deplor'd his plight, and said: O Atreus Son!
Of all Heroes; all Opinion
Gaue thee, for Ioues most lou'd; since most command
Of all the Greekes, he gaue thy eminent hand
At siedge of Ilion, where we suffer'd so:
And is the issue this? That first in wo,
Sterne Fate did therefore set thy sequell downe?
None borne past others Fates, can passe his owne.
I wish to heauen, that in the heighth of all
Our pompe at Ilion, Fate had sign'd thy fall;
That all the Greekes might haue aduanc't to thee,
A famous Sepulcher; and Fame might see
Thy Son giuen honor, in thy honour'd end;
But now, a wretched death did Fate extend
To thy confusion, and thy Issues shame.

O Thetis Son (said he) the vitall flame
Extinct at Ilion, far from th' Argiue fields;
The stile of blessed, to thy vertue yields.
About thy fall, the best of Greece and Troy
VVere sacrific'd to slaughter: Thy iust ioy
Conceiu'd in battell, with some worth forgot,
In such a death, as great Apollo shot
At thy encounters: Thy braue person lay
Hid in a dusty whirlewinde, that made way
VVith humane breaths; spent in thy ruines state;
Thou great, wert greatly valew'd, in thy Fate.
All day we fought about thee; nor at all
Had ceast our conflict, had not Ioue let fall
A storme, that forc't off our vnwilling feete.
But, hauing brought thee from the fight, to fleete
Thy glorious person (bath'd and balm'd) we laide
Aloft a bed; and round about thee, paide
The Greekes warme teares, to thy deplor'd decease;
Quite danted, cutting all their curles increase.
Thy death draue a diuine voice through the Seas,
That started vp thy Mother from the waues;
And all the Marine Godheads, left their caues,
Consorting to our fleet, her rapt repaire:
The Greekes stood frighted, to see Sea, and Aire,
And Earth, combine so, in thy losses sence;
Had taken ship, and fled for euer thence,
If old-much-knowing-Nestor had not staide
Their rushing off: His counsailes hauing swaide
In all times former, with such cause, their courses;

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Who bad containe themselues, and trust their forces;
For all they saw, was Thetis come from Sea,
VVith others of the watry progenie,
To see and mourne for her deceased Son.
VVhich staid the feares, that all to flight had won;
And round about thee stood th' old Sea-gods seedes,
VVretchedly mourning: their immortall weeds
Spreading vpon thee: all the sacred Nine
Of deathlesse Muses, paid thee dues diuine;
By varied turnes their heauenly voyces venting;
All in deepe passion for thy death consenting.
And then, of all our Army, not an eye
You could haue seene, vndrown'd in misery;
The mouing Muse, so rul'd in euery minde.
Full seuenteene dayes and nights, our teares confin'd
To celebration of thy mourned end;
Both men, and Gods, did in thy moane contend.
The eighteenth day, we spent about thy heape
Of dying fire: Blacke Oxen, fattest Sheepe
VVe slew, past number. Then the precious spoile
(Thy Corse) wee tooke vp, which with floods of oile
And pleasant Hony we embalm'd; and then
VVrapt thee in those Robes, that the Gods did raine:
In which, we gaue thee to the hallowed flame;
To which, a number of heroicall name,
All arm'd, came rushing in, in desperate plight;
As prest to sacrifice their vitall right
To thy dead ruines, while so bright they burn'd:
Both foote & horse brake in; and fought, & mourn'd
In infinite tumult. But when all the night
The rich flame lasted; and that wasted quite
Thy body was with the enamor'd fire;
VVe came in early Morne, and an entire
Collection made, of euery Iuorie bone;
VVhich washt in wine, and giuen fit vnction,
A two-ear'd Bolle of Gold thy Mother gaue,
By Bacchus giuen her; and did forme receaue
From Vulcans famous hand; which (O renown'd
Great Thetis Son) with thy faire bones, we crown'd;
Mixt with the Bones of

Patroclus

Mænetiades,
And braue Antilochus; who, in decease
Of thy Patroclus, was thy fauours Deere.
About thee then, a matchlesse Sepulchere,
The sacred hoast of the Achaians raisd
Vpon the Hellespont; where most it seisd
(For height, and conspicuity) the eies
Of liuing men, and their posterities.
Thy Mother then obtain'd the Gods consent

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To institute an honor'd game, that spent
The best approuement of our Grecian Fames;
In whose praise, I must say, that many games
About Heroes Sepulchers, mine eyes
Haue seene perform'd: But these, bore off the prize
VVith myracles to me, from all before.
In which, thy Siluer-footed Mother, bore
The Institutions name; but thy desarts
(Being great with heauen) caus'd al the eminent parts.
And thus, through all the worst effects of Fate,
Achilles Fame, euen Death shall propagate:
VVhile any one, shall lend the light an eye,
Diuine Æacides shal neuer dye.
But wherein can these comforts be conceiu'd
As rights to me? when hauing quite atchieu'd
An end with safety, and with Conquest too
Of so vnmatcht a warre; what none could do
Of all our enemies there, at home, a Friend,
And VVife, haue giuen me inglorious end.

Amphimedon: what sufferance hath bene laide
On your aliue parts, that hath made you make
This land of darknesse, the retreat you take?
So all together? All being like in yeeres?
Nor would a man haue choosd, of all the Peeres
A City honors, men to make a part
More strong for any obiect? Hath your smart
Bene felt from Neptune, being at Sea? His wrath,
The winds, and waues, exciting to your scath?
Or haue offensiue men imposd this Fate?
Your Oxen driuing; or your flockes estate?
Or for your City fighting, and your wiues,
Haue deaths vntimely, seiz'd your best-tim'd liues?
Informe me truly: I was once your Guest;
VVhen I, and Menelaus had profest
First armes for Ilion; and were come ashore
On Ithaca, with purpose to implore
Vlysses aide; that City-racing man,
In wreake of the adulterous Phrygian.
Retaine not you the time? A whole months date

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365

We spent at Sea, in hope to instigate
In our arriuall, old Laertes Son;
VVhom (hardly yet) to our designe we won.

VVe woo'd the wife of that long absent King;
VVho (though her second marriage, were a thing
Of most hate to her) she would yet deny
At no part our affections; nor comply
With any in performance: but decreed
In her delayes, the cruell Fates, we feed.
Her craft was this: She vndertooke to weaue
A Funerall garment, destin'd to receaue
The corse of old Laertes; being a taske
Of infinite labour, and which Time would aske.
In midst of whose attempt, she causd our stay
VVith this attraction: Youths! that come in way
Of honor'd Nuptials to me: Though my Lord
Abide amongst the dead; yet cease to bord
My choise for present Nuptials; and sustaine
(Lest what is past me, of this web, be vaine)
Till all receiue perfection: 'Tis a weede
Dispos'd, to wrap in, at his Funerall neede
The old Laertes: who (possessing much)
Would (in his want of rites as fitting) touch
My honor highly, with each vulgar Dame.
Thus spake she, and perswaded; and her Frame
All day she labour'd; her dayes worke not small;
But euery night time, she vnwrought it all.
Three yeares continuing this imperfect taske;
But when the fourth year came, her slights could mask
In no more couert; since her trusted Maid
Her whole deceite, to our true note betraid.
VVith which, surpriz'd, she could no more protract
Her workes perfection: but gaue end exact
To what remain'd: washt vp, and set thereon
A glosse so bright, that like the Sun and Moon
The whole worke shew'd together. And when now
Of meere necessity, her honour'd vow
She must make good to vs: ill fortune brought
Vlysses home; who yet, gaue none one thought
Of his arriuall; but far-off at field
Liu'd with his Herdsman: Nor his trust would yield
Note of his person; but liu'd there, as Guest;
Ragg'd as a begger, in that life profest.
At length, Telemachus left Pylos sank;

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And with a Ship, fetcht soone his natiue Land.
When yet, not home he went: but laid his way
Vp to his Herdsman, where his Father lay;
And where, both laide our deaths. To town then bore
The Swine-herd, and his King; the Swaine before.
Telemachus, in other wayes, bestow'd
His course home first, t'associate vs that woo'd.
The Swaine, the King led after; who came on
Ragged and wretched, and still lean'd vpon
A borrow'd staffe. At length, he reacht his home;
VVhere (on the sodaine, and so wretched, come)
Nor we, nor much our elders, once did dreame
Of his returne there: but did wrongs extreame
Of words, and blowes to him: all which, he bore
VVith that old patience he had learn'd before.
But when the minde of Ioue had rais'd his owne;
His son and he, fetcht all their Armour downe;
Fast lockt the doores; and (to prepare their vse)
He will'd his wife (for first meane) to produce
His Bow to vs, to draw; of which, no one
Could stir the string: Himselfe yet, set vpon
The deadly strength it held; Drew all, with ease;
Shot through the steeles, and then began to sease
Our armelesse bosomes; striking first, the brest
Of King Antinous, and then the rest
In heapes turn'd ouer: hopefull of his end,
Because some God (he knew) stood firme his frend.
Nor prou'd it worse with him; but all in flood,
The Pauement straight, blusht with our vitall blood:
And thus our soules came heere; our bodies laid
Neglected in his roofes: no word conuaid
To any friend, to take vs home and giue
Our wounds fit balming; nor let such as liue
Entombe our deaths: and for our fortunes, shed
Those teares, and dead rites, that renowne the dead.

Atrides Ghost gaue answere; O blest Son
Of old Laertes, thou at length, hast won
With mighty vertue, thy vnmatched wife.
How good a knowledge: how vntoucht a life
Hath wife Penelope? How well she laide
Her husbands rights vp! whom she lou'd a Maid?
For which, her vertues shall extend applause
Beyond the circles fraile mortality drawes;
The deathlesse in this vale of death, comprising,
Her praise, in numbers, into infinites rising.
The daughter, Tyndarus begat, begot
No such chaste thoughts; but cut the virgin knot
That knit her spouse & her, with murtherous swords.

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For which, posterities shall put hatefull words
To notes of her: that all her Sex defam'd,
And for her ill, shall euen the good be blam'd.

Then saide Vlysses to his Son, and Swaines;
Go you to Towne, and for your dinner kill
The best Swine ye can choose; my selfe will still
Stay with my father, and assay his eye,
If my acknowledg'd truth, it can descry;
Or that my long times trauaile, doth so change
My sight to him, that I appeare as strange.
Thus gaue he armes to them, and home he hied:
Vlysses to the fruitfull field, applied
His present place: nor found he Dolius there,
His sonnes, or any seruant, anywhere
In all that spacious ground; all gone from thence,
Were dragging bushes, to repaire a fence,
Old Dolius leading all. Vlysses found
His father farre aboue, in that faire ground,
Employd in proyning of a Plant: his weeds
All torne and tatter'd; fit for homely deeds,
But not for him. Vpon his legs he wore
Patcht boots, to guard him from the brambles gore:
His hands, had thorne-proofe hedging Mittens on,
His head a Goats-skin Caske: through all which shone
His heart giuen ouer, to abiectest mone.
Him, when Vlysses saw, consum'd with age,
And all the Ensignes on him, that the rage
Of griefe presented: he brake out in teares:
And (taking stand then, where a tree of Peares
Shot high his forehead ouer him) his minde
Had much contention. If to yeeld to kinde,
Make straight way to his father; kisse, embrace,
Tell his returne, and put on all the face

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And fashion of his instant told returne,
Or stay th' impulsion; and the long day burne
Of his quite losse giuen, in his Fathers feare,
A little longer: trying first his cheare
With some free dalliance; th' earnest being so neare.

But vtter truth, and tell; what Lord is he,
That rates your labour, and your liberty?
VVhose Orchard is it, that you husband thus?
Or quit me this doubt; For if Ithacus
This kingdome claimes for his: the man I found
At first arriuall heere, is hardly sound
Of braine, or ciuill; not induring stay,
To tell, nor heare me, my enquiry out
Of that my friend; if stil he bore about
His life and Being; or were diu'd to Death,
And in the house of him that harboureth
The soules of men. For once he liu'd my guest;
My Land and house retaining interest
In his abode there; where there soiourn'd none,
As guest, from any forreigne Region
Of more price with me. He deriu'd his race

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From Ithaca; and said, his Father was
Laertes, surnam'd Arcesiades.
I had him home; and all the offices
Perform'd to him, that fitted any friend;
Whose proofe I did to wealthy gifts extend:
Seuen Talents, Gold; a Bolle all siluer, set
With pots of flowers: twelue robes, that had no pleat:
Twelue cloakes (or mantles) of delicious dye:
Twelue inner weeds: Twelue sutes of Tapistry
I gaue him likewise: women skill'd in vse
Of Loome, and Needle; freeing him to chuse
Foure the most faire. His Father (weeping) saide,

I am of Alybande, where I hold
My names chiefe house, to much renowne extold.
My Father Aphidantes; fam'd to spring
From Polypemon; the Molossian King:
My name, Eperitus. My taking land
On this faire Isle, was rul'd by the command
Of God, or Fortune: quite against consent

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Of my free purpose; that, in course was bent
For th' Isle Sicania. My Ship is held
Farre from the City, neere an ample field.
And for (Vlysses) since his passe from me
'Tis now fiue yeares. Vnblest by Destiny,
That all this time, hath had the Fate to erre:
Though, at his parting, good Birds did augure
His putting off, and on his right hand flew;
VVhich, to his passage, my affection drew:
His spirit ioyfull, and my hope was now
To guest with him, and see his hand bestow
Rights of our friendship. This, a cloud of griefe
Cast ouer all the forces of his life.
VVith both his hands, the burning dust he swept
Vp from the earth, which on his head he heapt,
And fetcht a sigh, as in it, life were broke:
VVhich greeu'd his Son, and gaue so smart a stroke
Vpon his nosethrils, with the inward stripe,
That vp the Veine rose there; and weeping ripe
He was, to see his Sire feele such woe
For his dissembl'd ioy; which now (let goe)
He sprung from earth, embrac't and kist his Sire:
And said; O Father: he, of whom y'enquire
Am I my selfe, that (from you, twenty yeares)
Is now return'd. But do not breake in teares;
For now, we must not formes of kinde maintaine,
But haste and guard the substance. I haue slaine
All my wiues wooers; so, reuenging now
Their wrong so long time suffer'd. Take not you
The comfort of my comming then, to heart
At this glad instant; but, in prou'd desert
Of your graue iudgement; giue mone, glad suspence,
And, on the sodaine, put this consequence
In act as absolute, as all time went
To ripening of your resolute assent.

All this haste made not his staide faith, so free
To trust his words; who said, If you are he,
Approue it by some signe. This scar then see
(Replied Vlysses) giuen me by the Bore
Slaine in Parnassus; I being sent before
By yours, and by my honour'd Mothers will,
To see your Sire Autolycus fulfill
The gifts he vow'd, at giuing of my Name.
Ile tel you too, the Trees (in goodly frame
Of this faire Orchard) that I askt of you
Being yet a childe; and follow'd, for your show
And name of euery Tree. You gaue me then
Of Figge-trees, forty; Apple-bearers, ten;
Peare-trees, thirteene; and fifty rankes of Vine;

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Each one of which, a season did confine
For his best eating. Not a Grape did grow,
That grew not there, and had his heauy brow
When Ioues faire daughters (the all-ripening how'rs)
Gaue timely date to it. This charg'd the pow'rs
Both of his knees and heart, with such impression
Of sodaine comfort, that it gaue possession
Of all, to Trance: The signes were all so true;
And did the loue, that gaue them, so renue.
His cast his armes about his sonne, and sunke;
The circle, slipping to his feete. So shrunke
VVere all his ages forces, with the fire
Of his yong loue rekindl'd. The old Sire,
The Son tooke vp, quite liuelesse: But his breath
Againe respiring; and his soule from death
His bodies pow'rs recouering: Out he cried,
And said; O Iupiter! I now haue tried,
That still there liue in heauen, remembring Gods,
Of men that serue them; though the periods
They set to their apparances, are long
In best mens sufferings; yet, as sure, as strong
They are in comforts: be their strange delayes
Extended neuer so, from dayes to dayes.
Yet see the short ioyes, or the soone-mixt feares
Of helpes with-held by them, so many yeares:
For, if the wooers now, haue paide the paine
Due to their impious pleasures; Now, againe
Extreame feare takes me, lest we straight shall see
Th' Ithacensians here, in mutinie;
Their Messengers dispatcht, to win to friend
The Cephalenian Cities. Do not spend
Your thoughts on these cares (saide his suffering son)
But be of comfort; and see that course ron
That best, may shun the worst: Our house is nere;
Telemachus, and both his Herdsmen, there
To dresse our supper with their vtmost hast;
And thither haste we. This saide; Forth they past;
Came home, and found Telemachus, at feast
With both his Swaines: while who had done, all drest
VVith Baths, and Balmes, and royally arraid
The old King was, by his Sicilian Maid.
By whose side, Pallas stood; his crookt-age streitning;
His flesh more plumping; and his looks enlightning:
VVho yssuing then to view, his son admir'd
The Gods Aspects, into his forme inspir'd:
And said; O Father: certainly some God
By your addression in this state, hath stood;
More great, more reuerend, rendring you by farre,

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At all your parts, then of your selfe, you are.

Then came the Sonnes of Dolius; and againe
VVent ouer with their Fathers entertaine;
VVelcom'd, shooke hands; & then to feast sate down;
About which, while they sate; about the Towne
Fame flew, and shriek't about, the cruell death
And Fate, the wooers had sustain'd beneath
Vlysses roofes. All heard; together all,
From hence, and thence met, in Vlysses Hall,
Short-breath'd, and noisefull: Bore out all the dead
To instant buriall: while their deaths were spread
To other Neighbor-Cities, where they liu'd:

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From whence, in swiftest Fisher-boats, arriu'd
Men to transfer them home. In meane space, here
The heauy Nobles, all in counsaile were;
Where (met in much heape) vp to all arose
Extremely-greeu'd Eupitheus; so to lose
His Son Antinous; who, first of all
By great Vlysses hand, had slaughtrous fall.
VVhose Father (weeping for him) saide; O Friends,
This man hath author'd workes of dismall ends;
Long since, conueying in his guide to Troy,
Good men, and many, that did ships employ:
All which are lost, and all their Souldiers dead;
And now, the best men Cephalenia bred
His hand hath slaughter'd. Go we then (before
His scape to Pylos, or the Elean Shore
VVhere rule the Epeans) 'gainst his horrid hand:
For we shall grieue, and infamy will brand
Our Fames for euer; if we see our Sons
And Brothers end in these confusions,
Reuenge left vninflicted. Nor will I
Enioy one dayes life more; But greeue, and die
VVith instant onset. Nor should you suruiue
To keepe a base, and beastly name aliue.
Haste then, let flight preuent vs. This with teares
His griefes aduisd, and made all sufferers
In his affliction. But by this, was come
Vp to the Counsaile, from Vlysses home
(VVhen sleep had left thē, which the slaughters there
And their selfe dangers, from their eyes, in feare
Had two nights intercepted) those two men,
That iust Vlysses sau'd out of the slaine;
VVhich Medon, and the sacred Singer were.
These stood amidst the Counsaile; and the feare
The slaughter had imprest, in eithers looke
Stucke stil so gastly; that amaze it strooke
Through euery there beholder: To whose eares
One thus enforc't, in his fright, cause of theirs:

Attend me Ithacensians; This sterne fact
Done by Vlysses, was not put in act
VVithout the Gods assistance; These selfe eies
Saw one of the immortall Deities
Close by Vlysses; Mentors forme put on
At euery part: and this sure Deity, shone
Now neere Vlysses, setting on his bold
And slaughterous spirit: Now, the points controll'd
Of all the wooers weapons; round about
The arm'd house whisking; in continuall rout
Their party putting, till in heapes they fell.

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This newes, new fears did through their spirits impel:
When Halitherses (honor'd Mastors sonne,
VVho of them all, saw onely what was done
Present, and future) the much-knowing man
And aged Heroe, this plaine course ran
Amongst their counsailes: Giue me likewise eare;
And let me tell ye, Friends; that these ils beare
On your malignant spleenes, their sad effects;
VVho, not what I perswaded, gaue respects:
Nor what the peoples Pastor (Mentor) saide;
That you should see your issues follies staid
In those soule courses; by their petulant life
The goods deuouring, scandaling the wife
Of no meane person; who (they still would say)
Could neuer more see his returning day:
VVhich yet, appearing now: now giue it trust,
And yeeld to my free counsailes: Do not thrust
Your owne safe persons, on the acts, your Sons
So deerely bought, lest their confusions
On your lou'd heads, your like addictions draw.

This stood so farre, from force of any Law
To curbe their loose attempts, that much the more
They rusht to wreake, and made rude tumult rore.
The greater part of all the Court arose:
Good counsaile could not ill defignes dispose.
Eupitheus was perswader of the course;
VVhich (compleate arm'd) they put in present force:
The rest, sate still in counsaile. These men met
Before the broad Towne, in a place they set
All girt in armes; Eupitheus choosing Chiefe
To all their follies, who put griefe to griefe;
And in his slaughter'd sons reuenge did burne.
But Fate gaue neuer feete to his returne;
Ordaining there his death. Then Pallas spake
To Ioue, her Father, with intent to make
His will, high Arbiter, of th' act design'd;
And askt of him, what his vnsearched mind
Held vndiscouer'd; If with Armes, and ill,
And graue encounter, he would first fulfill
His sacred purpose; or both parts combine
In peacefull friendship? He askt, why incline
These doubts, thy counsailes? Hast not thou decreed
That Ithacus should come, and giue his deed
The glory of reuenge, on these and theirs?
Performe thy will; the frame of these affaires
Haue this fit issue. When Vlysses hand
Hath reacht full wreake; his then renown'd command
Shall reigne for euer: Faithfull Truces strooke

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'Twixt him, and all; For euery man shall brooke
His Sons and Brothers slaughters,;by our meane
To send Obliuion in; expugning cleane
The Character of enmity in all,
As in best Leagues before. Peace, Feastiuall,
“And Riches in abundance, be the state,
“That crownes the close of Wise Vlysses Fate.
This spurr'd the Free; who, from heauens Continent
To th' Ithacensian Isle, made straight descent.
Where (dinner past) Vlysses said; Some one
Looke out to see their neerenesse. Dolius sonne
Made present speed abroad, and saw them nie;
Ran backe, and told; Bad Arme; and instantlie
Were all in armes. Vlysses part, was foure;
And sixe more sons of Dolius: All his powre
Two onely more, which were his aged Sire,
And like-year'd Dolius, whose liues slaked fire;
All white had left their heads: yet, driuen by Neede,
Made Souldiers both, of necessary deede.
And now, all girt in armes; the Ports, set wide,
They sallied forth, Vlysses being their guide.
And to them, in the instant, Pallas came,
Informe and voice, like Mentor; who, a flame
Inspir'd of comfort in Vlysses hart
VVith her seene presence. To his Son, apart
He thus then spake; Now Son, your eyes shall see
(Expos'd in slaughterous fight) the enemy;
Against whom, who shall best serue, will be seene:
Disgrace not then your race, that yet hath beene
For force, and fortitude, the formost tried,
Of all earths off-springs. His true Son replied;
Your selfe shall see (lou'd Father) if you please,
That my deseruings shall in nought digresse
From best fame of our Races formost merit.
The old King sprung for ioy, to heare his spirit:
And said; O lou'd Immortals, what a day
Do your cleere bounties to my life display?
I ioy, past measure, to behold my Son
And Nephew, close in such contention
Of vertues martiall. Pallas (standing neere)
Said, O my Friend! Of all, supreamly deere
Seed of Arcesius; Pray to Ioue, and her
That rules in Armes, (his daughter) and a dart
(Spritefully brandisht) hurle at th' aduerse part.

This said, He pray'd; and she, a mighty force
Inspir'd within him; who gaue instant course
To his braue-brandisht Lance, which strook the brasse
That cheek't Eupitheus Caske; and thrust his passe

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Quite through his head; who fell, & sounded falling;
His Armes, the sound againe, from earth recalling.

The End of the XXIIII. and last Booke of Homers Odysses.

So wrought diuine Vlysses through his woes:
So, croun'd the Light with him; His Mothers Throes;
As through his great Renowner, I haue wrought;
And my safe saile, to sacred Anchor brought.
Nor did the Argiue ship, more burthen feele,
That bore the Care of all men, in her Keele;
Then my aduenturous Barke: The Colchean Fleece,
Not halfe so precious, as this soule of Greece.
In whose songs I haue made our shores reioyce,
And Greeke it selfe veile, to our English voyce.
Yet this inestimable Pearle, wil all
Our Dunghil Chanticheres, but obuious call;
Each Moderne scraper, this Gem scratching by;

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His Oate preferring far. Let such, let ly:
So scorne the stars the clouds; as true-soul'd men
Despise Deceiuers. For, as Clouds would faine
Obscure the Stars yet (Regions left below
With all their enuies) bar them but of show;
For they shine euer, and wil shine, when they
Dissolue in sinckes, make Mire, and temper Clay:
So puft Impostors (our Muse-vapours) striue,
With their selfe-blowne additions, to depriue
Men solid, of their full; though infinite short
They come in their compare; and false report
Of leuelling, or touching, at their light,
That still retaine their radiance, and cleere right;
And shal shine euer When, alas, one blast
Of least disgrace, teares downe th' Impostors Mast;
His Tops, and Tacklings; His whole Freight, and He
Confiscate to the Fishy Monarchy;
His trash, by foolish Fame bought now, from hence,
Giuen to serue Mackarell forth, and Frankincence.

To the Ruines of Troy, and Greece.

Ad Deum.

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