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Th' Atrides watching, wake the other Peeres:
And (in the Fort, consulting of their feares)
Two kings they send, most stout, and honord most,
For royall skowts, into the Troian host:
Who meeting Dolon (Hectors bribed Spie)
Take him; and learne, how all the Quarters lie.
He told them, in the Thracian regiment
Of rich king Rhesus, and his royall Tent;
Striuing for safetie; but they end his strife,
And rid poore Dolon, of a dangerous life.
Then with digressiue wyles, they vse their force
On Rhesus life, and take his sworne horse.

Another Argument.

Kappa the Night exploits applies;
Rhesus and Dolons tragedies.

The other Princes at their ships, soft fingerd sleepe did bind,
But not the Generall; Somnus silkes, bound not his laboring mind,

Agamemnons cares. These are the lightnings before snow, &c. that Scalligers Criticus so vnworthily taxeth; citing the place falsly, as in the 3. bookes annotations, &c.

That turnd, and returnd, many thoughts. And as quicke lightnings flie
From well-deckt-Iunos soueraigne, out of the thickned skie,
Preparing some exceeding raine, or haile, the fruite of cold:
Or downe-like Snow, that sodainly, makes all the fields looke old;
Or opes the gulfie mouth of warre, with his ensulphur'd hand
In dazling flashes, pour'd from clouds, on any punisht land:
So from Atrides troubled heart, through his darke sorowes, flew
Redoubled sighes: his intrailes shooke, as often as his view
Admir'd the multitude of fires, that gilt the Phrygian shade,
And heard the sounds of fifes, and shawmes, and tumults souldiers made.
But when he saw his fleet and host, kneele to his care and loue,
He rent his haire vp by the roots, as sacrifice to Ioue:
Burnt in his firie sighes, still breath'd, out of his royall heart;
And first thought good, to Nestors care, his sorowes to impart:
To trie if royall diligence, with his approu'd aduise,
Might fashion counsels, to preuent, their threatned miseries.

So vp he rose, attir'd himselfe, and to his strong feet tide

Agamemnons habite rising in the night. He wearing a Lions hide.

Rich shoes, and cast vpon his backe, a ruddie Lions hide,
So ample, it his ankles reacht: then tooke his royall speare.

Like him was Menelaus pierc't, with an industrious feare,

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Not sat sweet slumber on his eyes; lest bitter Fates should quite

Menelaus a Leopards.

The Greekes high fauours, that for him, resolu'd such endlesse fight.
And first a freckled Panthers hide, hid his brode backe athwart:
His head, his brasen helme did arme; his able hand his dart;
Then made he all his haste to raise, his brothers head as rare,
That he who most exceld in rule, might helpe t'effect his care.
He found him at his ships crookt-sterne, adorning him with armes;
Who ioyd to see his brothers spirits, awak't without alarmes:
Well weighing th' importance of the time. And first the yonger spake:

Why brother, are ye arming thus? is it to vndertake

Menelaus to Agamemnon.

The sending of some ventrous Greeke, t'explore the foes intent?
Alas I greatly feare, not one, will giue that worke consent,
Exposd alone to all the feares, that flow in gloomie night:
He that doth this, must know death well; in which ends euerie fright.

Brother (said he) in these affaires, we both must vse aduice;

Agamemnon to Menelaus.

Ioue is against vs, and accepts, great Hectors sacrifice;
For I haue neuer seene, nor heard, in one day, and by one,
So many high attempts well vrg'd, as Hectors power hath done
Against the haplesse sons of Greece: being chiefly deare to Ioue;
And without cause; being neither fruite, of any Godesse loue,
Nor helpfull God: and yet I feare, the deepnesse of his hand
Ere it be rac't out of our thoughts, will many yeares withstand.
But brother, hie thee to thy ships, and Idomen disease
With warklike Aiax: I will haste, to graue Nelcides;
Exhorting him to rise, and giue, the sacred watch command;
For they will specially embrace, incitement at his hand;
And now his sonne, their captaine is; and Idomens good friend
Bold Merion; to whose discharge, we did that charge commend.

Commandst thou then (his brother askt) that I shall tarrie here
Attending thy resolu'd approach, or else the message beare

Directions for commmand in wars extremity.

And quickly make returne to thee? He answerd: Rather stay,
Lest otherwise we faile to meete: for many a different way
Lies through our labyrinthian host; speake euer as you go;
Command strong watch; from Sire to sonne, vrge all t'obserue the foe;
Familiarly, and with their praise, exciting euerie eye;
Not with vnseason'd violence, or prowd authoritie.
We must our patience exercise, and worke, our selues with them,
Ioue in our births combin'd such care, to eithers Diadem.

Thus he dismist him, knowing well, his charge before he went,
Himselfe to Nestor, whom he found, in bed within his tent:

Nestors armes, and readinesse to vse them.

By him, his damaske curets hung, his shield, a paire of darts;
His shining

caske

, his arming waste: in these he led the hearts
Of his apt souldiers to sharpe warre, not yeelding to his yeares.
He quickly started from his bed, when to his watchfull eares
Vntimely feet told some approach: he tooke his lance in hand,
And spake to him; Ho, what art thou? that walk'st at midnight? stand;
Is any wanting at the guards? or lack'st thou any Peere?
Speake, come not silent towards me: say what intendst thou heare?

133

He answerd, O Neleides, graue honour of our host:

Agamemnon to Nestor.

T'is Agamemnon thou maist know, whom Ioue afflicteth most
Of all the wretched men that liue; and will, whilst any breath
Giues motion to my toiled lims, and beares me vp from death.
I walke the round thus, since sweet sleepe, cannot inclose mine eyes,
Nor shut those Organs care breaks ope, for our calamities.
My feare is vehement for the Greeks: my heart (the fount of heate)
With his extreme affects, made cold; without my breast doth beate;
And therefore are my sinewes strooke, with trembling: euerie part
Of what my friends may feele, hath act, in my dispersed heart.
But if thou thinkst of any course, may to our good redound,
(Since neither thou thy selfe canst sleepe) come, walke with me the round;
In way whereof we may confer, and looke to euerie guard:
Lest watching long, and wearinesse, with labouring so hard,
Drowne their oppressed memories, of what they haue in charge.
The libertie we giue the foe, (alas) is ouer large;
Their campe is almost mixt with ours; and we haue forth no spies,
To learne their drifts; who may perchance, this night intend surprise.

Graue Nestor answerd: Worthie king, let good hearts beare our ill:

Nestor to Agamemnon

Ioue is not bound to perfect all, this busie Hectors will;
But I am confidently giuen, his thoughts are much dismaid
With feare, lest our distresse incite, Achilles to our aide:
And therefore will not tempt his fate, nor ours with further pride.
But I will gladly follow thee, and stirre vp more beside:
Tydides, famous for his lance; Vlysses, Telamon,
And bold Phyleus valiant heire: or else if any one
Would haste to call king Idomen, and Aiax, since their saile
Lie so remou'd; with much good speed, it might our haste auaile.
But (though he be our honord friend,) thy brother I will blame,
Not fearing if I anger thee: it is his vtter shame
He should commit all paines to thee, that should himselfe imploy,
Past all our Princes, in the care, and cure of our annoy;
And be so farre from needing spurres, to these his due respects,
He should apply our spirits himselfe, with pray'rs, and vrg'd affects.
Necessitie (a law to lawes, and not to be endur'd)
Makes proofe of all his faculties; not sound, if not inur'd.

Good father (said the king) sometimes, you know I haue desir'd

Agamemnons excuse of his brother.

You would improue his negligence, too oft to ease retir'd:
Nor is it for defect of spirit, or compasse of his braine,
But with obseruing my estate, he thinks, he should abstaine
Till I commanded, knowing my place: vnwilling to assume,
For being my brother, any thing, might proue he did presume.
But now he rose before me farre, and came, t'auoid delaies:
And I haue sent him for the man, your selfe desir'd to raise,
Come, we shall find them at the guards, we plac't before the fort:
For thither my direction was, they should with speed resort.

Why now (said Nestor) none will grudge, nor his iust rule withstand;
Examples make excitements strong, and sweeten a command.

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Thus put he on his arming trusse, faire shoes vpon his feet,
About him a mandilion, that did with buttons meet,
Of purple, large, and full of folds; curld with a warmefull nap;
A garment that gainst cold in nights, did souldiers vse to wrap:
Then tooke he his strong lance in hand; made sharpe with proued steele,
And went along the Grecian fleet. First at Vlysses keele,
He cald; to breake the silken fumes, that did his sences bind:
The voice through th' Organs of his eares, straight rung about his mind.

Vlysses to Agamemnon and Nestor. Nestor to Vlysses.

Forth came Vlysses, asking him; Why stirre ye thus so late?
Sustaine we such enforciue cause? He answerd, Our estate
Doth force this perturbation; vouchsafe it worthie friend,
And come, let vs excite one more, to counsell of some end
To our extremes, by fight, or flight. He, backe, and tooke his shield,

The manner of Diomeds lodging.

And both tooke course to Diomed; they found him laid in field
Farre from his tent: his armour by; about him was dispread
A ring of souldiers; euerie man, his shield beneath his head:
His speare fixt by him as he slept, the great end in the ground:
The point, that brisled the darke earth, cast a reflection round,
Like pallid lightnings throwne from Ioue; thus this Heroe lay,
And vnder him a big Oxe hide: his royall head had stay
On Arras hangings, rolled vp: whereon he slept so fast,

Nestor chideth Diomed.

That Nestor stird him with his foote, and chid to see him cast
In such deepe sleepe, in such deepe woes: and askt him why he spent
All night in sleepe, or did not heare, the Troians neare his tent?
Their Campe drawne close vpon their dike, small space twixt foes and foes?

Diomed to Nestor.

He, starting vp, said, Strange old man, that neuer tak'st repose;
Thou art too patient of our toile; haue we not men more yong,
To be imploid from king to king? thine age hath too much wrong.

Nestor to him. Note the life of these representations. επι ξυρου ιστατας ακμης. This went into a Prouerbe, vsed by Theocritus, in Dioscaris out of Homer.

Said like a king, replied the Sire: for I haue sonnes renownd;
And there are many other men, might go this toilesome round:
But you must see, imperious Need, hath all at her command:
Now on the eager razors edge, for life or death we stand.
Then go (thou art the yonger man,) and if thou loue my ease,
Call swift-foot Aiax vp thy selfe, and young Phyleides.

This said, he on his shoulders cast, a yellow Lions hide,
Big, and reacht earth; then tooke his speare; and Nestors will applide:
Raisd the Heroes, brought them both. All met, the round they went,
And found not any captaine there, asleepe or negligent:
But waking, and in armes, gaue eare, to euerie lowest sound.

Simile.

And as keene dogs, keepe sheepe in Cotes, or folds, of Hurdles bound:
And grin at euerie breach of aire, enuious of all that moues:
Still listning when the rauenous beast, stalks through the hilly groues.
Then men and dogs stand on their guards, and mightie tumults make,
Sleepe wanting weight to close one winke: so did the Captaines wake,
That kept the watch the whole sad night: all with intentiue eare
Conuerted to the enemies tents, that they might timely heare
If they were stirring to surprise: which Nestor ioyd to see.

Why so (deare sons) maintaine your watch; sleepe not a winke (said he)

135

Rather then make your fames, the scorne, of Troian periurie.

Nestor to the Guards.

This said, he formost past the dike, the others seconded;
Euen all the kings that had bene cald, to counsell, from the bed:
And with them went Meriones, and Nestors famous sonne:
For both were cald by all the kings, to consultation.
Beyond the dike they chusde a place, neare as they could from blood;
Where yet appear'd the fals of some, and whence (the crimson flood
Of Grecian liues being pour'd on earth, by Hectors furious chace)
He made retreate, when night repour'd, grim darknesse in his face.
There sate they downe, and Nestor spake: O friends remaines not one,

Nestor to the Grecian Princes

That will relie on his bold mind, and view the campe alone,
Of the prowd Troians? to approue, if any stragling mate
He can surprise neare th' vtmost tents; or learne the briefe estate
Of their intentions for the time, and mixe like one of them
With their outguards, expiscating, if the renown'd extreme,
They force on vs, will serue their turnes; with glorie to retire,
Or still encampe thus farre from Troy? This may he well enquire,
And make a braue retreate vntoucht; and this would win him fame
Of all men canapied with heauen; and euerie man of name
In all this host shall honor him, with an enriching meed;
A blacke Ewe and her sucking Lambe, (rewards that now exceed
All other best possessions, in all mens choice requests)
And still be bidden by our kings, to kind and royall feasts.

All reuerenc't one anothers worth; and none would silence breake,
Lest worst should take best place of speech: at last did Diomed speake:

Diomed to Nestor.

Nestor, thou ask'st if no man here, haue heart so well inclin'd
To worke this stratageme on Troy: yes, I haue such a mind:
Yet if some other Prince would ioyne; more probable will be
The strengthned hope of our exploite: two may together see
(One going before another still) slie danger euerie way;
One spirit vpon another workes; and takes with firmer stay
The benefit of all his powers: for though one knew his course,
Yet might he well distrust himselfe; which th' other might enforce.

This offer euerie man assum'd, all would with Diomed go:
The two Ataces, Merion, and Menelaus too:
But Nestors sonne enforc't it much, and hardie Ithacus,
Who had to euerie ventrous deed, a mind as venturous.

Amongst all these, thus spake the king; Tydides, most belou'd;

The graue counsell of Agamemnon to Diomed.

Chuse thy associate worthily; a man the most approu'd
For vse and strength in these extremes. Many thou seest stand forth:
But chuse not thou by height of place, but by regard of worth;
Lest with thy nice respect of right, to any mans degree,
Thou wrongst thy venture, chusing one, least fit to ioyne with thee,
Although perhaps a greater king: this spake he with suspect,
That Diomed (for honors sake) his brother would select.

Then said Tydides; Since thou giu'st, my iudgement leaue to chuse,
How can it so much truth forget, Vlysses to refuse?

Diomeds choice of Vlysses.

That beares a mind so most exempt, and vigorous in th' effect

136

Of all high labors, and a man, Pallas doth most respect?
We shall returne through burning fire, if I with him combine:
He sets strength in so true a course, with counsels so diuine.

Vlysses loth to be esteemd, a louer of his praise,

Vlysses modestie in accepting.

With such exceptions humbled him, as did him higher raise:
And said; Tydides praise me not, more then free truth will beare,
Nor yet empaire me: they are Greeks, that giue iudiciall eare.
But come, the morning hasts; the stars, are forward in their course,
Two parts of night are past; the third, is left t'imploy our force.

The explorators armed.

Now borrowed they, for haste, some armes: bold Thrasymedes lent
Aduentrous Diomed his sword, (his owne was at his tent)
His shield, and helme, tough and well tann'd, without or plume or crest,
And cald a murrion; archers heads, it vsed to inuest.
Meriones lent Ithacus, his quiuer and his bow;
His helmet fashiond of a hide: the workman did bestow
Much labour in it, quilting it, with bowstrings; and without,
With snowie tuskes of white-mouthd Bores, twas armed round about
Right cunningly: and in the midst, an arming cap was plac't,
That with the fixt ends of the tuskes, his head might not be rac't.
This (long since) by Antolycus, was brought from Eleon,
When he laid waste Amyntors house, that was Ormenus sonne.
In Scandia, to Cytherius, surnam'd Amphydamas,
Antolycus did giue this helme: he, when he feasted was
By honord Molus, gaue it him, as present of a guest:
Molus to his sonne Merion, did make it his bequest.

Augurium ex cantu Ardeæ.

With this Vlysses arm'd his head; and thus they (both addrest)
Tooke leaue of all the other kings: to them a glad ostent,
(As they were entring on their way) Minerua did present,
A Hernshaw consecrate to her; which they could ill discerne
Through sable night: but by her clange, they knew it was a Herne.

Vlysses inuoketh Pallas.

Vlysses ioy'd, and thus inuok't: Heare me great seed of Ioue,
That euer dost my labors grace, with presence of thy loue:
And all my motions dost attend; still loue me (sacred Dame)
Especially in this exploit, and so protect our fame,
We both may safely make retreate, and thriftily imploy
Out boldnesse in some great affaire, banefull to them of Troy.

Diomed to Pallas.

Then praid illustrate Diomed: Vouchsafe me likewise eare,
O thou vnconquerd Queene of armes: be with thy fauors neare,
As to my royall fathers steps, thou wentst a bountious guide,
When th' Achiues, and the Peeres of Thebes, he would haue pacifide,
Sent as the Greeks Ambassador, and left them at the flood
Of great Æsopus; whose retreat, thou mad'st to swim in blood
Of his enambusht enemies: and if thou so protect
My bold endeuours; to thy name, an Heiffer, most select,
That neuer yet was tam'd with yoke, brode fronted, one yeare old,
Ile burne in zealous sacrifice, and set the hornes in gold.

The Goddesse heard, and both the kings, their dreadlesse passage bore,
Through slaughter, slaughterd carkasses; armes; and discolord gore.

137

Nor Hector let his Princes sleepe, but all to counsell cald:
And askt, What one is here will vow, and keepe it vnappald,

Hector to the Troians.

To haue a gift fit for his deed; a chariot and two horse,
That passe for speed the rest of Greece? what one dares take take this course,
For his renowne (besides his gifts) to mixe amongst the foe,
And learne if still they hold their guards? or with this ouerthrow
Determine flight, as being too weake, to hold vs longer warre?

All silent stood, at last stood forth, one Dolon, that did dare

Dolon offers to be explorator.

This dangerous worke; Eumedes heire, a Herald much renownd:
This Dolon did in gold and brasse, exceedingly abound;
But in his forme was quite deform'd; yet passing swift to run:
Amongst fiue sisters he was left, Eumedes onely son;
And he told Hector, his free heart, would vndertake t'explore
The Greeks intentions; but (said he) thou shalt be sworne before,
By this thy scepter, that the horse, of great Æacides
And his strong chariot, bound with brasse, thou wilt (before all these)
Resigne me as my valours prise: and so I rest vnmou'd
To be thy spie, and not returne, before I haue approu'd
(By venturing to Atrides ship, where their consults are held)
If they resolue still to resist; or flie, as quite expeld.

He put his scepter in his hand, and cald the thunders God

Hector sweares to Dolon.

(Saturnias husband to his oath, those horse should not be rode
By any other man then he; but he for euer ioy
(To his renowne) their seruices, for his good done to Troy.
Thus swore he, and forswore himselfe; yet made base Dolon bold:

Dolon armes.

Who on his shoulders hung his bow, and did about him fold
A white wolues hide; and with a helme, of weasels skins did arme
His weasels head; then tooke his dart, and neuer turnd to harme
The Greeks with their related drifts: but being past the troopes
Of horse and foote, he promptly runs; and as he runs he stoopes
To vndermine Achilles horse; Vlysses straight did see,
And said to Diomed; this man, makes footing towards thee,
Out of the tents; I know not well, if he be vsde as spie

Vlysses to Diomed.

Bent to our fleet; or come to rob, the slaughterd enemie.
But let vs suffer him to come, a little further on,
And then pursue him. If it chance, that we be ouergone
By his more swiftnesse; vrge him still, to run vpon our fleet,
And (lest he scape vs to the towne) still let thy Iaueline meet
With all his offers of retreate. Thus stept they from the plaine
Amongst the slaughterd carkasses; Dolon came on amaine,
Suspecting nothing; but once past, as farre as Mules outdraw
Oxen at plough; being both put on, neither admitted law,
To plow a deepe soild furrow forth; so farre was Dolon past;
Then they pursude, which he perceiu'd, and staid his speedlesse hast;
Subtly supposing Hector sent, to countermand his spie:
But in a Iauelins throw or lesse, he knew them enemie.
Then laid he on his nimble knees; and they pursude like wind.
As when a brace of greyhounds are, laid in, with Hare or Hind;

Simile.

138

Close-mouth'd, and skild to make the best, of their industrious course;
Serue eithers turne, and set on hard; lose neither ground nor force:
So constantly did Tydeus sonne, and his towne-razing Peere,
Pursue this spie; still turning him, as he was winding neare
His couert: till he almost mixt, with their out-courts of guard.

Diomed to Dolon.

Then Pallas prompted Diomed, lest his due worths reward
Should be empaird, if any man, did vant he first did sheath
His sword in him, and he be cald, but second in his death:
Then spake he (threatning with his lance,) or stay, or this comes on,
And long thou canst not run, before, thou be by death out-gone.

This said, he threw his Iaueline forth: which mist, (as Diomed would)
Aboue his right arme making way; the pile stucke in the mould:
He staid and trembled, and his teeth, did chatter in his head.

Dolons surprise and offer.

They came in blowing, seisd him fast; he, weeping, offered
A wealthy ransome for his life, and told them he had brasse,
Much gold, and iron, that fit for vse, in many labours was;
From whose rich heapes his father would, a wondrous portion giue.
If, at the great Achaian fleet, he heard his sonne did liue.

Vlysses to Dolon.

Vlysses bad him cheare his heart. Thinke not of death, said he,
But tell vs true, why runst thou forth, when others sleeping be?
Is it to spoile the carkasses? or art thou choicely sent,
T'explore our drifts? or of thy selfe, seek'st thou some wisht euent?

Dolons answer.

He trembling answerd: Much reward, did Hectors oth propose,
And vrg'd me much against my will, t'indeuour to disclose,
If you determin'd still to stay, or bent your course for flight,
As all dismaid with your late foile, and wearied with the fight:
For which exploite, Pelides horse, and chariot, he did sweare
I onely euer should enioy. Vlysses smil'd to heare
So base a swaine haue any hope, so high a prise t'aspire;

Vlysses to Dolon.

And said, his labors did affect, a great and precious hire:
And that the horse Pelides rein'd, no mortall hand could vse
But he himselfe; whose matchlesse life, a Goddesse did produce.
But tell vs, and report but truth, where lefist thou Hector now?
Where are his armes? his famous horse? on whom doth he bestow
The watches charge? where sleepe the Kings? intend they still to lie
Thus neare encampt? or turne suffisd, with their late victorie?

Dolons relation.

All this, said he, Ile tell most true. At Ilos monument
Hector with all our Princes sits, t'aduise of this euent;
Who chuse that place remou'd, to shun, the rude confused sounds
The common souldiers throw about: but, for our watch, and rounds,
Whereof (braue Lord) thou mak'st demand; none orderly we keepe:
The Troians that haue roofes to saue, onely abandon sleepe,
And priuately without command, each other they exhort
To make preuention of the worst; and in this slender sort
Is watch, and guard maintaind with vs. Th' auxiliarie bands
Sleepe soundly, and commit their cares, into the Troians hands;
For they haue neither wiues with them, nor children to protect;
The lesse they need to care, the more, they succour dull neglect.

139

But tell me (said wise Ithacus,) are all these forreine powres

Ithacus.

Appointed quarters by themselues, or else commixt with yours?

And this (said Dolon) too (my Lords,) Ile seriously vnfold:

Dolon.

The Pæons with the crooked bowes, and Cares, quarters hold
Next to the sea; the Leieges, and Caucons ioyn'd with them,
And braue Pelasgians; Thimbers meade, remou'd more from the streame,
Is quarter to the Licians; the loftie Mesian force;
The Phrygians and Meonians, that fight with armed horse.
But what need these particulars? if ye intend surprise
Of any in our Troian campe; the Thracian quarter lies
Vtmost of all, and vncommixt, with Troian regiments,
That keepe the voluntary watch: new pitcht are all their tents.
King Rhesus, Eioneus son, commands them; who hath steeds
More white then snow, huge, and well shap't; their firie pace exceeds

Virgilianum.

The winds in swiftnesse: these I saw: his Chariot is with gold
And pallid siluer richly fram'd, and wondrous to behold.
His great and golden armour is, not fit a man should weare;
But for immortall shoulders fram'd: come then, and quickly beare
Your happie prisoner to your fleet: or leaue him here fast bound
Till your well vrg'd and rich returne, proue my relation sound.

Tydides dreadfully replide: Thinke not of passage thus,

Diomeds sterne reply to Dolon.

Though of right acceptable newes, thou hast aduertisde vs;
Our hands are holds more strict then so: and should we set thee free
For offerd ransome; for this scape, thou still wouldst scouting be
About our ships; or do vs scathe, in plaine opposed armes;
But if I take thy life, no way, can we repent thy harmes.

With this, as Dolon reacht his hand, to vse a suppliants part,

Dolons slaughter by Diomed.

And stroke the beard of Diomed; he strooke his necke athwart,
With his forc't sword; and both the nerues, he did in sunder wound;
And suddenly his head, deceiu'd, fell speaking on the ground:
His wesels helme they tooke, his bow, his wolues skin, and his lance;
Which to Minerua, Ithacus, did zealously aduance
With lifted arme into the aire; and to her thus he spake;

Goddesse, triumph in thine owne spoiles: to thee we first will make

Vlysses offers Dolons armes to Pallas.

Our inuocations, of all powers, thron'd on th' Olympian hill;
Now to the Thracians, and their horse, and beds, conduct vs still.
With this, he hung them vp aloft, vpon a Tamricke bow,
As eyefull Trophies: and the sprigs, that did about it grow,
He proined from the leauie armes, to make it easier viewd,
When they should hastily retire, and be perhaps pursude.
Forth went they, through blacke bloud and armes; and presently aspir'd
The guardlesse Thracian regiment, fast bound with sleepe, and tir'd:
Their armes lay by, and triple rankes, they as they slept did keepe,
As they should watch and guard their king; who, in a fatall sleepe,
Lay in the midst; their charriot horse, as they coach fellowes were,
Fed by them; and the famous steeds, that did their Generall beare,
Stood next him, to the hinder part, of his rich chariot tied.
Vysses saw them first, and said: Tydides, I haue spied

Vlysses to Diomed.

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The horse that Dolon (whom we slue) assur'd vs we should see:
Now vse thy strength; now idle armes, are most vnfit for thee:
Prise thou the horse; or kill the guard; and leaue the horse to me.

Minerua with the Azure eyes, breath'd strength into her King,
Who fild the tent with mixed death: the soules, he set on wing,
Issued in grones, and made aire swell, into her stormie floud:
Horror, and slaughter had one power; the earth did blush with bloud.
As when a hungrie Lion flies, with purpose to deuoure
On flocks vnkept, and on their liues, doth freely vse his power:
So Tydeus sonne assaild the foe; twelue soules before him flew;
Vlysses waited on his sword; and euer as he slew,
He drew them by their strengthlesse heeles, out of the horses sight;
That when he was to leade them forth, they should not with affright
Bogle, nor snore, in treading on, the bloudie carkases;
For being new come, they were vnusde, to such sterne sights as these.
Through foure ranks now did Diomed, the king himselfe attaine;

Diomed slaughters Rhesus king of Thrace.

Who (snoring in his sweetest sleepe) was like his souldiers slaine.
An ill dreame by Minerua sent, that night, stood by his head,
Which was Oenides royall sonne, vnconquer'd Diomed.

Meane while Vlysses loosd his horse; tooke all their raines in hand,
And led them forth: but Tydeus sonne, did in contention stand
With his great mind, to do some deed, of more audacitie;
If he should take the chariot, where his rich armes did lie,
And draw it by the beame away, or beare it on his backe;
Or if of more dull Thracian liues, he should their bosomes sacke.

In this contention with himselfe, Minerua did suggest,

Minerua to Diomed.

And bad him thinke of his retreate; lest from their tempted rest,
Some other God should stirre the foe, and send him backe dismaid.

He knew the voice; tooke horse, and fled; the Troians heauenly aid
(Apollo with the siluer bow) stood no blind sentinell
To their secure and drowsie hoast; but did discouer well
Minerua following Diomed; and angrie with his act,
The mightie hoast of Ilion, he entred; and awak't
The cousen germane of the king, a counsellor of Thrace,
Hopocoon; who when he rose; and saw the desert place
Where Rhesus horse did vse to stand, and th' other dismall harmes,

Alarmes amongest the Troians.

Men strugling with the pangs of death; he shriekt out thicke alarmes;
Cald Rhesus? Rhesus? but in vaine: then still, arme, arme, he cride:
The noise and tumult was extreme, on euery startled side
Of Troyes huge hoast; from whence in throngs, all gatherd and admir'd,
Who could performe such harmfull facts, and yet be safe retir'd.

Now, comming where they slue the scout, Vlysses stayd the steeds;
Tydides lighted, and the spoiles (hung on the Tamricke reeds)
He tooke and gaue to Ithacus; and vp he got againe;
Then flew they ioyfull to their fleet: Nestor did first attaine
The sounds the horse hoofes strooke through aire, and said; My royall Peeres?

Nestor to the Greeks.

Do I but dote? or say I true? me thinks about mine eares
The sounds of running horses beate. O would to God they were

141

Our friends thus soone returnd with spoiles: but I haue heartie feare,
Lest this high tumult of the foe, doth their distresse intend.
He scarce had spoke, when they were come: Both did from horse descend,
All, with embraces and sweet words, to heauen their worth did raise.
Then Nestor spake; Great Ithachus, euen heapt with Grecian praise;
How haue you made these horse your prise? pierc't you the dangerous host,
Where such gemmes stand? or did some God, your high attempts accost,
And honord you with this reward? why, they be like the Rayes
The Sunne effuseth. I haue mixt, with Troians all my daies;
And now, I hope you will not say, I alwaies lye abord
Though an old soldier I confesse: yet did all Troy afford
Neuer the like to any sence, that euer I possest;
But some good God, no doubt, hath met, and your high valours blest:
For he that shadowes heauen with clouds, loues both, as his delights:
And she that supples earth with blood, can not forbeare your sights.

Vlysses answerd, Honord Sire, the willing Gods can giue

Vlysses to Nestor.

Horse much more worth, then these men yeeld, since in more power they liue:
These horse are of the Thracian breed; their king Tydides slue,
And twelue of his most trusted guard: and of that meaner crew
A skowt for thirteenth man we kild, whom Hector sent to spie
The whole estate of our designes, if bent to fight or flie.

Thus (followed with whole troopes of friends,) they with applauses past
The spacious dike, and in the tent, of Diomed they plac't
The horse without contention, as his deseruings meed:
Which (with his other horse set vp) on yellow wheat did feed.
Poore Dolons spoiles Vlysses had; who shrin'd them on his sterne,
As trophies vow'd to her that sent, the good-aboding Herne.

Then entred they the meere maine sea, to cleanse their honord sweate
From off their feet, their thighes and neckes: and when their vehement heate
Was calm'd, and their swolne hearts refresht; more curious baths they vsd;
Where odorous and dissoluing Oyles, they through their lims diffusde.
Then, taking breakfast, a big boule, fild with the purest wine,
They offerd to the maiden Queene, that hath the azure eyne.

The end of the tenth Booke.