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Atrides, to behold the skirmish, brings
Old Nestor, and the other wounded kings.
Iuno (receiuing of the Cyprian Dame
Her Ceston, whence her sweet enticements came)
Descends to Somnus, and gets him to bind
The powres of Ioue with sleepe, to free her mind.
Neptune assists the Greeks, and of the foe,
Slaughter inflicts a mightie ouerthrow.
Aiax, so sore, strikes Hector with a stone,
It makes him spit blood, and his sensesets gone.

Another Argument.

In X with sleepe, and bed, heauens Queene,
Euen Ioue himselfe, makes ouerseene.

Not wine, nor feasts, could lay their soft chaines on old Nestors eare

This first verse (after the first foure syllables) is to be read as one of our Tens.

To this high Clamor; who requir'd, Machaons thoughts to beare
His care in part, about the cause; for me thinke still (said he)
The crie increases. I must needs, the watch towre mount to see
Which way the flood of warre doth driue. Still drinke thou wine, and eate
Till faire-hair'd Hecamed hath giuen, a little water heate,
To cleanse the quitture from thy wound. This said, the goodly shield
Of war-like Thrasimed, his sonne, (who had his owne in field)
He tooke; snatcht vp a mightie lance; and so stept forth to view
Cause of that Clamor. Instantly, th' vnworthy cause he knew,
The Grecians wholly put in rout; the Troians rowting still,
Close at the Greeks backs, their wall rac't: the old man mournd this ill;
And as when, with vnwieldie waues, the great Sea forefeeles winds,

Simile.

That both waies murmure, and no way, her certaine current finds,
But pants and swels confusedly; here goes, and there will stay,
Till on it, aire casts one firme winde, and then it rolles away:
So stood old Nestor in debate, two thoughts at once on wing
In his discourse; if first to take, direct course to the King,
Or to the multitude in fight. At last, he did conclude
To visite Agamemnon first: meane time both hosts imbrewd
Their steele in one anothers blood, nought wrought their healths but harmes:
Swords, huge stones, double-headed darts, still thumping on their armes.
And now the Ioue-kept Kings, whose wounds, were yet in cure, did meet
Old Nestor, Diomed, Ithacus, and Atreus sonne, from fleet,

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Agamemnon, Vlysses, and Diomed wounded, go towards the field.

Bent for the fight, which was farre off, the ships being drawne to shore
On heapes at first, till all theire sterns, a wall was raisd before;
Which (though not great) it yet suffisd, to hide them, though their men
Were something streighted; for whose scope, in forme of battel then,
They drew them through the spacious shore, one by another still;
Till all the bosome of the Strand, their sable bulks did fill:
Euen till they tooke vp all the space, twixt both the Promontories.
These kings (like Nestor) in desire, to know for what those cries
Became so violent; came along (all leaning on their darts)
To see, though not of powre to fight; sad, and suspicious hearts

Agamemnon to Nestor.

Distempring them, and (meeting now, Nestor) the king in feare
Cried out, O Nestor our renowne? why shewes thy presence here?
The harmefull fight abandoned? now Hector will make good,
The threatning vow he made, (I feare) that till he had our blood,
And fir'd our fleet, he neuer more, would turne to Ilion.
Nor is it long, I see, before, his whole will, will be done.
O Gods, I now see all the Greeks, put on Achilles ire,
Against my honour; no meane left, to keepe our fleet from fire.

Nestor to Agamemnon.

He answerd; Tis an euident truth, not Ioue himselfe can now,
(With all the thunder in his hands) preuent our ouerthrow.
The wall we thought inuincible, and trusted more then Ioue;
Is scal'd, rac't, enterd, and our powres, (driuen vp) past breathing, proue
A most ineuitable fight: both slaughters so commixt,
That for your life, you cannot put, your diligent'st thought betwixt
The Greeks and Troians; and as close, their throates cleaue to the skie.
Consult we then (if that will serue;) for fight, aduise not I;
It fits not wounded men to fight. Atrides answerd him,
If such a wall, as cost the Greeks, so many a tired lim,

Agamemnons replie to Nestor, vrging flight.

And such a dike be past, and rac't, that (as your selfe said well)
We all esteemd inuincible, and would, past doubt repell
The world, from both our fleete and vs: it doth directly show,
That here Ioue vowes our shames, and deaths. I euermore did know
His hand from ours, when he helpt vs: and now I see as cleare
That (like the blessed Gods) he holds, our hated enemies deare;
Supports their armes, and pinnions ours. Conclude then, tis in vaine
To striue with him. Our ships drawne vp, now let vs lanch againe,
And keepe at anchor, till calme Night; that then (perhaps) our foes
May calme their stormes, and in that time, our scape we may dispose:
“It is not any shame to flie, from ill, although by night:
“Knowne ill, he better does that flies, then he it takes in fight.

Vlysses bitter answer to Agamemnon.

Vlysses frown'd on him, and said; Accurst, why talk'st thou thus?
Would thou hadst led some babarous host, and not commanded vs
Whom Ioue made souldiers from our youth, that age might scorne to flie
From any charge it vndertakes; and euery dazeled eye
The honord hand of warre might close. Thus wouldst thou leaue this towne
For which our many miseries felt, entitle it our owne?
Peace, lest some other Greeke giue eare, and heare a sentence such
As no mans pallate should prophane; at least, that knew how much

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His owne right weigh'd, and being a Prince, and such a Prince as beares
Rule of so many Greeks as thou. This counsell lothes mine eares;
Let others toyle in fight and cries, and we so light of heeles
Vpon their verie noise, and grones, to hoise away our keeeles.
Thus we should fit the wish of Troy, that being something neare
The victorie, we giue it cleare: and we were sure to beare
A slaughter to the vtmost man: for no man will sustaine
A stroke, the fleete gone; but at that, looke still, and wish him slaine:
And therefore (Prince of men) be sure, thy censure is vnfit.

O Ithacus (replied the King) thy bitter termes haue smit
My heart in sunder. At no hand, gainst any Princes will
Do I command this; would to God, that any man of skill,

Agamemnon to Vlysses.

To giue a better counsell would; or old, or younger man:
My voice should gladly go with his. Then Diomed began.

The man not farre is, nor shall aske, much labour to bring in,

Diomed to Agamemnon and the rest.

That willingly would speake his thoughts, if spoken, they might win
Fit eare; and suffer no empaire, that I discouer them,
Being yongest of you: since, my Sire, that heir'd a Diadem,
May make my speech to Diadems, decent enough, though he
Lies in his sepulcher at Thebes. I bost this pedigree,

Diomeds pedigree.

Portheus, three famous sonnes begot, that in high Calidon,
And Pleuron kept, with state of kings, their habitation.
Agrius, Melas, and the third, the horseman Oeneus,
My fathers father, that exceld, in actions generous,
The other two: but these kept home, my father being driuen
With wandring, and aduentrous spirits; for so the king of heauen,
And th' other Gods, set downe their willes: and he to Argos came,
Where he begun the world, and dwelt; there marying a dame,
One of Adrastus femall race. He kept a royall house,
For he had great demeanes, good land, and (being industrious)
He planted many orchard grounds, about his house; and bred
Great store of sheepe. Besides all this, he was well qualited,
And past all Argiues for his speare: and these digressiue things
Are such as you may well endure; since (being deriu'd from kings,
And kings not poore, nor vertulesse) you cannot hold me base,
Nor scorne my words: which oft (though true) in meane men, meet disgrace.
How euer; they are these in short. Let vs be seene at fight,
And yeeld to strong Necessitie, though wounded; that our sight
May set those men on, that of late, haue to Achilles spleene
Bene too indulgent, and left blowes: but be we onely seene
Not come within the reach of darts; lest wound, on wound we lay:
(Which reuerend Nestors speech implide) and so farre him obay.

This counsell gladly all obseru'd; went on, Atrides led;
Nor Neptune this aduantage lost, but closely followed;
And like an aged man appear'd, t'Atrides; whose right hand

Neptune appears like an aged man to Agamemnon.

He seisd, and said; Atrides, this, doth passing fitly stand
With sterne Achilles wreakfull spirit; that he can stand a sterne
His ship; and both in fight and death, the Grecian bane discerne:

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Since, not in his breast glowes one sparke, of any humane mind;

Neptune to Agamemnon.

But, be that his owne bane; let God, by that losse make him find
How vile a thing he is: for know, the blest Gods haue not giuen
Thee euer ouer; but perhaps, the Troians may from heauen
Receiue that iustice. Nay tis sure, and thou shalt see their fals:
Your fleete soone freed; and for fights here, they glad to take their wals.
This said, he made knowne who he was, and parted with a crie,
As if ten thousand men had ioynd, in battaile then; so hie
His throate flew through the host: and so, this great earth-shaking God
Chear'd vp the Greeke hearts, that they wisht, their paines no period.

Saturnia from Olympus top, saw her great brother there,
And her great husbands brother too, exciting euery where
The glorious spirits of the Greeks; which, as she ioy'd to see:
So (on the fountfull Idas top) Ioues sight did disagree
With her contentment; since she fear'd, that his hand would descend,
And checke the sea-Gods practises. And this she did contend

Iuno prepares her selfe to deceiue Ioue.

How to preuent; which thus seem'd best: To decke her curiously,
And visite the Idalian hill, that so the Lightners eye
She might enamour with her lookes, and his high temples steepe
(Euen to his wisedome) in the kind, and golden iuyce of sleepe.
So tooke she chamber, which her sonne, the God of ferrary,
With firme doores made, being ioyned close, and with a priuie key,
That no God could command but Ioue; where (enterd) she made fast
The shining gates; and then vpon, her louely bodie cast
Ambrosia, that first made it cleare; and after, laid on it

Tethyomenon vnguentum.

An odorous, rich, and sacred oyle, that was so wondrous sweet,
That, euer, when it was but toucht, it sweetn'd heauen and earth.
Her body being cleansd with this, her Tresses she let forth,
And comb'd, (her combe dipt in the oyle) then wrapt them vp in curles:
And thus (her deathlesse head adornd) a heauenly veile she hurles
On her white shoulders; wrought by her, that rules in housewiferies,
Who woue it full of antique workes, of most diuine deuice.
And this, with goodly clasps of gold, she fastn'd to her breast:
Then with a girdle (whose rich sphere, a hunderd studs imprest)
She girt her small wast. In her eares (tenderly pierc't) she wore
Pearles, great, and orient: on her head, a wreath not worne before
Cast beames out like the Sunne. At last, she to her feete did tie
Faire shoes; and thus entire attir'd, she shin'd in open skie:
Cald the faire Paphian Queene apart, from th' other Gods, and said;

Iuno to Venus.

Lou'd daughter? should I aske a grace, should I, or be obeyd?
Or wouldst thou crosse me? being incenst, since I crosse thee, and take

Venus to Iuno.

The Greeks part, thy hand helping Troy? She answerd, That shall make
No difference in a different cause: aske (ancient Deitie)
What most contents thee; my mind stands, inclin'd as liberally,
To grant it, as thine owne to aske; prouided that it be
A fauour fit, and in my powre. She (giuen deceiptfully)
Thus said; Then giue me those two powres, with which both men and Gods
Thou vanquishest, Loue, and Desire. For now, the periods

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Of all the many-feeding earth, and the originall
Of all the gods, Oceanus; and Thetis, whom we call
Our mother, I am going to greet: they nurst me in their court,
And brought me vp; receiuing me, in most respectfull sort
From Phæa; when Ioue vnder earth, and the vnfruitfull seas
Cast Saturne. These I go to see, intending to appease
Iarres growne betwixt them, hauing long, abstaind from speech and bed;
Which iarres, could I so reconcile, that, in their angers stead
I could place loue; and so renew, their first societie;
I should their best lou'd be esteem'd, and honord endlesly.

She answerd, Tis not fit, nor iust, thy will should be denied,

Venus to Iuno.

Whom Ioue, in his embraces holds. This spoken, she vntied,
And from her odorous bosome tooke, her Ceston; in whose sphere
Were all enticements to delight, all Loues; all Longings were,
Kind conference; Faire speech, whose powre, the wisest doth enflame:
This, she resigning to her hands, thus vrg'd her by her name.

Receiue this bridle, thus faire wrought; and put it twixt thy brests:
Where all things, to be done, are done; and whatsoeuer rests
In thy desire, returne with it. The great-eyd Iuno smild,
And put it twixt her brests. Loues Queene, thus cunningly beguild,
To Ioues court flew. Saturnia, (straight stooping from heauens height)
Pieria, and Emathia, (those countries of delight)
Soone reacht, and to the snowy mounts, where Thracian souldiers dwell,
(Approaching) past their tops vntoucht. From Athos then she fell,
Past all the brode sea; and arriu'd, in Lemnos, at the towres,
Of god-like Thoas; where she met, the Prince of all mens powres,
Deaths brother, Sleepe; whose hand she tooke, and said; Thou king of men,

Iuno to Somnus.

Prince of the Gods too: if before, thou heardst my suites: againe
Giue helpefull eare, and through all times, Ile offer thanks to thee.
Lay slumber on Ioues fierie eyes: that I may comfort me
With his embraces. For which grace, Ile grace thee with a throne
Incorruptible, all of gold, and elegantly done
By Mulciber: to which, he forg'd, a footestoole for the ease
Of thy soft feete; when wine, and feasts, thy golden humours please.

Sweet Sleepe replyed; Saturnia, there liues not any god

Somnus to Iuno.

(Besides Ioue) but I would becalme: I, if it were the flood
That fathers all the Deities, the great Oceanus.
But Ioue we dare not come more neare, then he commandeth vs.
Now you command me, as you did, when Ioues great minded sonne,
Alcides (hauing sackt the towne, of stubborne Ilion)
Tooke saile from thence; when by your charge; I pour'd about Ioues mind
A pleasing slumber; calming him, till thou drau'st vp the wind,
In all his cruelties, to sea; that set his sonne ashore,
In Cous, farre from all his friends; which (waking) vext so sore
The supreme godhead, that he cast, the gods about the skie,
And me (aboue them all) he sought: whom he had vtterly
Hurld from the sparkling firmament; if all-gods-taming Night,
(Whom, flying, I besought for aid) had sufferd his despight,

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And not preseru'd me: but his wrath, with my offence dispenc't,
For feare t'offend her; and so ceast, though neuer so incenst:
And now another such escape, you wish I should prepare.

Iuno to Somnus.

She answerd; What hath thy deepe rest, to do with his deepe care?
As though Ioues loue to Ilion, in all degrees were such,
As twas to Hercules, his sonne? and so would storme as much
For their displeasure, as for his? away, I will remoue
Thy feare, with giuing thee the dame, that thou didst euer loue;
One of the faire young Graces borne, diuine Pasithae.

This started Somnus into ioy; who answerd, Sweare to me,
By those inuiolable springs, that feed the Stygian lake:
With one hand touch the nourishing earth; and in the other, take
The marble sea; that all the gods, of the infernall state,
Which circle Saturne, may to vs, be witnesses; and rate
What thou hast vow'd: that with all truth, thou wilt bestow on me,
The dame (I grant) I euer lou'd, diuine Pasithae.

The oath of Iuno to Somnus.

She swore, as he enioyn'd in all, and strengthend all his ioyes,
By naming all th' infernall gods, surnam'd the Titanois.

The oath thus taken, both tooke way, and made their quicke repaire
To Ida, from the towne, and Ile, all hid in liquid aire.
At Lecton first, they left the sea; and there, the land they trod:
The fountfull nurse of sauages, with all her woods did nod,
Beneath their feete: there Somnus staid, lest Ioues bright eye should see;

Somnus climes a firre tree.

And yet (that he might see to Ioue) he climb'd the goodliest tree
That all th' Idalian mountaine bred, and crownd her progenie:
A firre it was, that shot past aire, and kist the burning skie.
There sate he hid in his darke armes, and in the shape, withall,
Of that continuall prating bird, whom all the Deities call
Chalcis; but men Cymmindis name. Saturnia tript apace
Vp to the top of Gargarus, and shewd her heauenly face
To Iupiter; who saw, and lou'd; and with as hote a fire,
(Being curious in her tempting view) as when with first desire
(The pleasure of it being stolne) they mixt, in loue and bed.
And (gazing on her still) he said: Saturnia, what hath bred

Iupiter to Iuno.

This haste in thee, from our high court? and whither tends thy gate?
That voide of horse and chariot, fit for thy soueraigne state,

Iunos answer.

Thou lackiest here? Her studied fraude, replyed; My iourney now
Leaues state, and labours to do good. And where, in right I owe
All kindnesse to the Sire of gods; and our good mother Queene,
That nurst, and kept me curiously, in court, (since both haue bene
Long time at discord) my desire, is to attone their hearts;
And therefore go I now to see, those earths extremest parts;
For whose farre-seate, I spar'd my horse, the skaking of this hill,
And left them at the foote of it: for they must taste their fill
Of trauaile with me; that must draw, my coach, through earth and seas;
Whose farre-intended reach, respect, and care not to displease
Thy graces: made me not attempt, without thy gracious leaue.

The cloud-compelling god, her guile, in this sort did receiue;

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Iuno, thou shalt haue after leaue, but ere so farre thou stray,

Ioue inflamed with his loue to Iuno.

Conuert we our kind thoughts to loue; that now, doth euery way
Circle, with victorie, my powers: nor yet with any dame,
(Woman, or goddesse) did his fires, my bosome so enflame
As now, with thee: not when it lou'd, the parts so generous
Ixions wife had, that brought foorth, the wise Pyrithous;
Nor when the louely dame, Acrisius daughter stird
My amorous powres, that Perseus bote, to all men else preferd;
Nor when the dame that Phenix got, surprisd me with her sight;
Who, the diuine-soul'd Rhadamanth, and Minos brought to light;
Nor Semele, that bore to me, the ioy of mortall men,
The sprightly Bacchus; Nor the dame, that Thebes renowned then,
Alcmena, that bore Hercules; Latona, so renownd;
Queene Ceres, with the golden haire; nor thy faire eyes did wound,
My entrailes to such depth as now, with thirst of amorous ease.

The cunning dame seem'd much incenst, and said, what words are these,

Iunos modesty to Ioue in satisfying his loue.

Vnsufferable Saturns sonne? What? here? in Idas height?
Desir'st thou this? how fits it vs? or what if in the sight
Of any god, thy will were pleasd? that he, the rest might bring
To witnesse thy incontinence; t'were a dishonourd thing.
I would not shew my face in heauen, and rise from such a bed.
But if loue be so deare to thee, thou hast a chamber sted,
Which Vulcan purposely contriu'd, with all fit secrecie:
There sleepe at pleasure. He replyed; I feare not if the eye

Iupiter to Iuno.

Of either god, or man obserue; so thicke a cloude of gold
Ile cast about vs, that the Sunne, (who furthest can behold)
Shall neuer find vs. This resolu'd, into his kind embrace,
He tooke his wife: beneath them both, faire Tellus strewd the place

The bed of Iupiter and Iuno.

With fresh-sprung herbes, so soft, and thicke, that vp aloft it bore
Their heauenly bodies: with his leaues, did deawy Latus store
Th' Elysian mountaine; Saffron flowres, and Hyacinths helpt make
The sacred bed; and there they slept: when sodainly there brake,
A golden vapour out of aire, whence shining dewes did fall;
In which they wrapt them close, and slept, till Ioue was tam'd withall.

Meane space flew Somnus to the ships, found Neptune out, and said,

Somnus to Neptune.

Now, chearfully assist the Greeks, and giue them glorious head;
At least, a little, while Ioue sleepes; of whom through euery limme,
I pour'd darke sleepe; Saturnias loue, hath so illuded him.

This newes made Neptune more secure, in giuing Grecians heart;
And through the first fights, thus he stird, the men of most desert.

Yet, Grecians: shall we put our ships, and conquest in the hands,

Neptune to the Greekes.

Of Priams Hector, by our sloth? he thinks so, and commands,
With pride according; all because, Achilles keepes away.
Alas, as we were nought but him? we little need to stay
On his assistance, if we would, our owne strengths call to field,
And mutually maintaine repulse. Come on then, all men yeeld
To what I order; we that beare, best armes in all our host;
Whose heads sustaine the brightest helms; whose hands are bristl'd most

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With longest lances, let vs on: But stay, Ile leade you all;
Nor thinke I, but great Hectors spirits, will suffer some apall,
Though they be neuer so inspir'd: the ablest of vs then,
That on our shoulders worst shields beare, exchange with worser men
That fight with better. This proposd, all heard it, and obeyd:
The kings (euen those that sufferd wounds, Vlysses, Diomed,
And Agamemnon) heplt t'instruct, the complete army thus;
To good, gaue good armes; worse, to worse; yet none were mutinous.

Thus (arm'd with order) forth they flew, the great Earth-shaker led;
A long sword in his sinowy hand, which when he brandished,

Neptune leades the Greeks.

It lighten'd still: there was no law, for him, and it; poore men
Must quake before them. These thus man'd, illustrous Hector then
His hoast brought vp. The blew-hair'd god, and he, stretcht through the prease
A greiuous fight: when to the ships, and tents of Greece, the seas
Brake loose, and rag'd. But when they ioynd, the dreadfull Clamor rose
To such a height; as not the sea, when vp, the North-spirit blowes
Her raging billowes, bellowes so, against the beaten shore:
Nor such a rustling keeps a fire, driuen with violent blore,
Through woods that grow against a hill: nor so feruent strokes

Hector at Aiax.

Of almost-bursting winds resound, against a groue of Okes;
As did the clamor of these hoasts, when both the battels closd.
Of all which, noble Hector first, at Aiax breast disposd
His iauelin, since so right on him, the great-soul'd souldier bore;
Nor mist it, but the bawdricks both, that his brode bosome wore,
To hang his shield and sword, it strooke; both which, his flesh preseru'd:
Hector (disdaining that his lance, had thus, as good as sweru'd)

Aiax at Hector.

Trode to his strength; but going off, great Aiax with a stone,
(One, of the many props for ships, that there lay trampl'd on)
Strooke his brode breast, aboue his shield, iust vnderneath his throte;
And shooke him peecemeale. When the stone, sprung backe againe & smote
(Earth, like a whirlewind gathering dust, with whirring fiercely round,
For feruour of his vnspent strength, in setling on the ground:

Simile.

And, as when Ioues bolt, by the rootes, rends from the earth an Oke;
His sulphure casting with the blow, a strong, vnsauoury smoke;
And on the falne plant none dare looke, but with amazed eyes,

Hector ouerthrowne.

(Ioues thunder being no laughing game) so bowd strong Hectors thyes;
And so, with tost-vp heeles he fell: away, his lance he flung,
His round shield followd; then his helme; and out his armour rung.

The Greeks then showted, and ran in, and hop't to hale him off;
And therefore powr'd on darts, in stormes, to keepe his aide aloofe;
But none could hurt the peoples guide; nor stirre him from his ground:

Hector rescued.

Sarpedon, prince of Lycia; and Glaucus, so renownd,
Diuine Agenor, Venus sonne, and wise Polydamas
Rusht to his rescue, and the rest: no one, neglectiue was
Of Hectors safetie; all their shields, they coucht about him close;
Raisd him from earth, and (giuing him, in their kind armes repose)
From off the labour, caried him, to his rich chariot,
And bore him mourning towards Troy: but when the flood they got

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Of gulphy Xanthus, that was got, by deathlesse Iupiter;
There tooke they him from chariot, and all besprinkled there
His temples with the streame; he breath'd, lookt vp, assaid to rise,
And on his knees staid, spitting blood: againe then, closd his eyes,
And backs againe his body fell; the maine blow had not done
Yet with his spirit. When the Greeks, saw worthy Hector gone;
Then thought they of their worke; then charg'd, with much more chere the foe
And then (farre first) Oileades, began the ouerthrow;
He darted Satnius, Enops sonne, whom famous Nau bore,
(As she was keeping Enops flocks) on Satnius riuers shore:
And strooke him in his bellies rimme; who vpwards fell, and raisd
A mightie skirmish with his fall: and then Panthædes seisd
Prothenor Arcilicides, with his reuend'gfull speare,
On his right shoulder; strooke it through, and laid him breathlesse there.
For which he insolently bragd, and cryed out; Not a dart

Polydamas his insultation.

From great-soul'd Panthus sonne, I thinke, shall euer vainlier part;
But some Greeke bosome it shall take, and make him giue his ghost.
This bragge the Grecians stomackt much, but Telamonius most,
Who stood most neare Prothenors fall: and out he sent a lance,
Which Panthus sonne (declining) scap't, yeet tooke it to sad chance,
Archelochus, Antenors sonne, whom heauen did destinate
To that sterne end, twixt necke, and head, the iauelin wrought his fate,
And ran in at the vpper ioint, of all the backe long bone,
Cut both the nerues, and such a lode, of strength, laid Aiax on,
As, that small part, he seisd, outwaid, all th' vnder lims; and strooke
His heeles vp so, that head, and face, the earths possession tooke,
When all the low parts sprung in aire; and thus did Aiax quit
Panthædes Braue; Now, Panthus sonne, let thy prophetique wit,

Aiax insults in requitall of Polydamas.

Consider, and disclose a truth, if this man do not wey
Euen with Prothænor? I conceiue, no one of you will say,
That either he was base himselfe, or sprung of any base;
Antenors brother, or his sonne, he should be, by his face;
One of his race, past question, his likenesse shewes he is.

This spake he, knowing it well enough. The Troians storm'd at this,
And then slue Acamas (to saue, his brother yet ingag'd)
Bœotius, dragging him to spoile; and thus the Greeks enrag'd.

O Greeks? euen borne to beare our darts, yet euer breathing threats;
Not alwayes vnder teares, and toyles, ye see our fortune sweats;
But sometimes you drop vnder death: see now, your quicke among
Our dead, intranc't with my weake lance; to proue I haue, ere long
Reueng'd my brother: tis the wish, of euery honest man,
His brother slaine in Mars his field, may rest wreakt in his Phane.

This stird fresh enuie in the Greeks, but vrg'd Peneleus most,
Who hurld his lance at Acamas; he scap't: nor yet it lost
The force he gaue it, for it found, the flocke-rich Phorbas sonne,
Ilioneus, whose deare Sire, (past all in Ilion)
Was lou'd of Hermes, and enricht; and to him onely bore
His mother, this now slaughterd man. The dart did vndergore

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His eye-lid, by his eyes deare rootes; and out the apple fell,
The eye pierc't through: nor could the nerue, that staies the necke, repell
His strong-wing'd lance; but necke and all, gaue way, and downe he dropt.
Peneleus then vnsheath'd his sword, and from the shoulders chopt
His lucklesse head; which downe he threw; the helme still sticking on:
And still the lance, fixt in his eye; which, not to see, alone,
Contented him; but vp againe, he snatcht, and shewd it all;
With this sterne Braue; Ilians, relate, braue Ilioneus fall,
To his kind parents; that their roofes, their reares may ouerrunne;
For so the house of Promachus, and Alegenors sonne,
Must with his wiues eyes, ouerflow: she neuer seeing more
Her deare Lord, though we tell his death; when to our natiue shore,
We bring from ruin'd Troy our fleete, and men so long forgone.
This said, and seene, pale Feare possest, all those of Ilion:
And eu'ry man cast round his eye, to see, where Death was not,
That he might flie him. Let not then, his grac't hand be forgot,
(O Muses you that dwell in heauen) that first embrude the field,
With Troian spoile; when Neptune thus, had made their irons yeeld.

First Aiax Telamonius, the Mysian Captaine slew
Great Hyrtius Gyrtiades. Antilochus o'rethew
Phalces and Mermer, to their spoyle. Meriones gaue end,
To Moru and Hippotion. Teucer, to Fate did send,
Prothoon and Periphetes. Atrides Iauelin chac't
Duke Hyperenor; wounding him, in that part that is plac't
Betwixt the short ribs and the bones, that to the triple gut
Haue pertinence. The Iauelins head, did out his entrailes cut,
His forc't soule breaking through the wound: nights black hand closde his eies.

Aiax Oileus vertue for swiftnesse.

Then Aiax, great Oileus sonne, had diuers victories:
For when Saturnius sufferd flight; of all the Grecian race,
Not one with swiftnesse of his feete, could so enrich a chace.

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The end of the fourteenth Booke of Homers Iliads.