The Whole Works of Homer :: :: University of Virginia Library

Ioue waking, and beholding Troy in flight,
Chides Iuno, and sends Iris to the fight,
To charge the sea-god, to forsake the field;
And Phœbus, to inuade it, with his shield,
Recouering Hectors broosde, and crased poures.
To field he goes, and makes new conquerours;
The Troians giuing now, the Grecians chace,
Euen to their fleete. Then Aiax turnes his face,
And feeds, with many Troian liues, his ire;
Who then brought brands to set the fleete on fire.

Another Argvment.

Ioue sees in, O, his ouersight,
Chides Iuno, Neptune cals from fight.

The Troians (beate past pale and dike, and numbers prostrate laide)
All got to chariot, feare-driuen all; and fear'd as men dismaide:
Then Ioue, on Idas top, awakt; rose from Saturnias side,
Stood vp, and lookt vpon the warre; and all inuerted, spide,
Since he had seene it, th' Ilians now, in rowt; the Greeks in fight:
King Neptune, with his long sword, Chiefe; great Hector put downe quite,
Laide flat in field, and with a crowne, of Princes compassed;
So stopt vp, that he scarce could breath; his minds sound habite fled,
And he still spitting blood. Indeed, his hurt was not set on
By one that was the weakest Greeke. But him Ioue lookt vpon
With eyes of pittie: on his wife, with horrible aspect;
To whom he said: O thou in ill, most cunning Architect

Iupiters wrath against Iuno.

All Arts, and comments that exceedst! not onely to enforce
Hector from fight; but with his men, to shew the Greeks a course.
I feare (as formerly) so now, these ils haue with thy hands,
Their first fruits sowne, and therefore could, lode all thy lims with bands.
Forgetst thou, when I hangd thee vp; how to thy feete I tyed
Two Anuils; golden manacles, on thy false wrists implied,
And let thee mercilesly hang, from our refined heauen
Euen to earths vapors; all the gods, in great Olympus, giuen
To mutinies about thee; yet, (though all stood staring on)
None durst dissolue thee; for these hands (had they but seisd vpon
Thy friend) had headlong throwne him off, from our star-bearing round,
Till he had tumbl'd out his breath; and peecemeale dasht the ground.

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Nor was my angry spirit calm'd, so soone, for those foule seas,
On which (inducing Northerne flawes) thou shipwrack'dst Hercules,
And tost him to the Coon shore; that thou shouldst tempt againe
My wraths importance, when thou seest (besides) how grosly vaine,
My powres can make thy policies: for from their vtmost force,
I freed my sonne, and set him safe, in Argos, nurse of horse.
These I remember to thy thoughts, that thou mayst shun these sleights,
And know how badly bed-sports thriue, procur'd by base deceits.

This frighted the offending Queene, who, with this state, excusde

Iunoes oath in clearing her self to Iupiter.

Her kind vnkindnesse: Witnesse earth, and heauen, so farre diffusde:
Thou Flood, whose silent-gliding waues, the vnder ground doth beare,
(Which is the great'st, and grauest oath, that any god can sweare)
Thy sacred head; those secret ioyes, that our yong bed gaue forth,
(By which I neuer rashly swore) that he who shakes the earth,
Not by my counsell did this wrong, to Hector and his host;
But (pittying th' oppressed Greekes, their fleete being neerly lost)
Relieu'd their hard condition; yet vtterly impeld
By his free mind: which since I see, is so offensiue held,
To thy high pleasure, I will now, aduise him not to tread,
But where thy tempest-raising feete, (O Iupiter) shall leade.

Ioue laught to heare her so submisse; and said: My faire-eyd loue,

Iupiters charge to Iuno, and reconciliation.

If still thus thou and I were one, (in counsels held aboue)
Neptune would still, in word and fact, be ours, if not in heart;
If then thy tongue and heart agree, from hence to heauen depart,
To call the excellent in bowes; the Raine-bow, and the Sunne,
That both may visite both the hosts; the Grecian armie, one;
And that is Iris; let her haste, and make the sea-god cease,
T'assist the Greekes; and to his court, retire from warre, in peace.
Let Phœbus (on the Troian part) inspire with wonted powre
Great Hectors spirits: make his thoughts, forget the late sterne houre,
And all his anguish; setting on, his whole recouer'd man
To make good his late grace in fight, and hold in constant wane
The Grecian glories, till they fall, in flight before the fleete
Of vext Achilles; which extreme, will proue the meane to greete
Thee with thy wish: for then the eyes, of great Æacides,
(Made witnesse of the generall ill, that doth so neare him prease)
Will make his owne particular, looke out; and by degrees
Abate his wrath, that though himselfe, for no extremities
Will seeme reflected; yet his friend, may get of him the grace,
To helpe his countrey, in his Armes; and he shall make fit place,
For his full presence, with his death; which shall be well forerunne:
For I will first renowne his life, with slaughter of my sonne,
(Diuine Sarpedon) and his death, great Hectors powre shall wreake,
Ending his ends. Then at once, out shall the furie breake
Of fierce Achilles: and with that, the flight now felt, shall turne;
And then last, till in wrathfull flames, the long-sieg'd Ilion burne.
Mineruaes counsell shall become, graue meane, to this my will;
Which no god shall neglect, before, Achilles take his fill

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Of slaughter, for his slaughterd friend: euen Hectors slaughter, throwne
Vnder his anger; that these facts, may then make fully knowne
My vowes performance, made of late: and with my bowed head,
Confirm'd to Thetis, when her armes, embrac't my knees, and praid
That to her citie-racing sonne, I would all honour shew.

This heard, his charge she seem'd t'intend, and to Olympus flew.
But, as the mind of such a man, that hath a great way gone,

Simile.

And either knowing not his way; or then would let alone
His purposde iourney, is distract; and in his vexed mind
Resolues now not to go; now goes, still many wayes inclin'd:
So reuerend Iuno headlong flew, and 'gainst her stomacke striu'd.
For (being amongst th' immortall gods, in high heauen, soone arriu'd,
All rising, welcoming with cups, her litle absence thence)
She all their courtships ouerpast, with solemne negligence,
Saue that which faire-cheekt Themis shewd; and her kind cup she tooke:
For first, she ranne and met with her, and askt; What troubled looke

Themis to Iuno.

She brought to heauen? She thought (for truth) that Ioue had terrified
Her spirits strangely, since she went. The faire arm'd Queene replide:

That truth may easily be supposde, you (goddesse Themis) know

Iunoes reply.

His old seueritie and pride; but you bear't out with show,
And like the banquets arbiter, amongst th' Immortals fare,
Though well you heare amongst them all, how bad his actions are;
Nor are all here, nor any where, mortals, nor gods (I feare)
Entirely pleasd with what he does, though thus ye banquet here.

Thus tooke she place, displeasedly; the feast in generall,
Bewraying priuie splenes at Ioue; and then (to colour all)
She laught, but meerly from her lips: for, ouer her blacke browes
Her still-bent forehead was not cleer'd; yet this her passions throwes,
Brought forth in spight, being lately school'd; alas, what fooles are we?
That enuie Ioue? or that by act, word, thought, can fantasie,
Any resistance to his will? he sits farre off, nor cares,
Nor moues, but sayes he knowes his strength, to all degrees compares
His greatnesse, past all other gods: and that in fortitude,
And euery other godlike powre; he reignes, past all indude.
For which great eminence, all you Gods, what euer ill he does
Sustaine with patience: here is Mars, I thinke, not free from woes;
And yet he beares them like himselfe. The great God had a sonne,

Iunoes speech of purpose to incēse Mars Scopticé.

Whom he himselfe yet iustifies, one that from all men wonne,
Iust surname of their best belou'd, Ascalaphus; yet he
(By Ioues high grace to Troy) is slaine. Mars started horribly
(As Iuno knew he would) at this; beate, with his hurld out hands,
His brawnie thighes; cried out, and said: O you that haue commands
In these high temples, beare with me, if I reuenge the death
Of such a sonne; Ile to the fleete; and though I sinke beneath
The fate of being shot to hell, by Ioues fell thunder stone:
And lie all grim'd amongst the dead, with dust and bloud; my sonne,
Reuenge shall honour. Then he charg'd, Feare and Dismay to ioyne
His horse and chariot: he got armes, that ouer heauen did shine:

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And then a wrath, more great and graue, in Ioue had bene prepar'd
Against the gods, then Iuno causde; if Pallas had not car'd
More for the peace of heauen then Mars; who leapt out of her throne,
Rapt vp her helmet, lance, and shield, and made her Phanes porch grone,
With her egression to his stay: and thus his rage defers:

Pallas to Mars.

Furious, and foolish? th' art vndone; hast thou, for nought, thine eares?
Heard'st thou not Iuno, being arriu'd, from heauens great king but now?
Or wouldst thou he himselfe should rise (forc't with thy rage) to show,
The dreadfull powre she vrg'd in him, so iustly being stird?
Know (thou most impudent and mad) thy wrath had not inferd
Mischiefe to thee; but to vs all: his spirit had instantly
Left both the hosts, and turn'd his hands, to vprores in the skie.
Guiltie and guiltlesse, both to wracke, in his high rage had gone;
And therefore (as thou louest thy selfe) ceasse furie for thy sonne.
Another, farre exceeding him, in heart and strength of hand,
Or is, or will be shortly slaine. It were a worke would stand
Ioue in much trouble, to free all, from death, that would not die.

This threat, euen nail'd him to his throne, when heauens chiefe Maiestie,
Cald bright Apollo from his Phane; and Iris that had place
Of Internunciesse from the Gods; to whom she did the grace

Iuno to Apollo and Iris.

Of Iupiter, to this effect: It is Saturnius will,
That both, with vtmost speed, should stoope, to the Idalian hill,
To know his further pleasure, there. And this let me aduise,
When you arriue, and are in reach, of his refulgent eyes:
His pleasure heard, performe it all, of whatsoeuer kind.

Thus mou'd she backe, and vsde her throne. Those two outstript the wind,
And Ida (all enchac't with springs) they soone attaind, and found
Where farre-discerning Iupiter, in his repose, had crown'd
The browes of Gargarus, and wrapt, an odoriferous cloud
About his bosome. Coming neare, they stood; nor now he showd'
His angry countenance, since so soone, he saw they made th' accesse
That his lou'd wife enioyn'd. But first, the faire Ambassadresse,

Ioue to Iris.

He thus commanded; Iris, Go, to Neptune, and relate
Our pleasure truly, and at large; command him from the Fate
Of humane warre; and either greete, the gods societie,
Or the diuine sea, make his seate. If proudly he denie,
Let better counsels be his guides, then such as bid me warre,
And tempt my charge, though he be strong; for I am stronger farre,
And elder borne: nor let him dare, to boast euen state with me,
Whom all Gods else preferre in feare. This said: downe hasted she
From Idaes top to Ilion; and like a mightie snow,
Or gelide haile, that from the clouds, the Northerne spirit doth blow;
So fell the windie-footed Dame; and found with quicke repaire

Iris to Neptune.

The watrie God; to whom she said: God, with the sable haire,
I came from Ægis-bearing Ioue, to bid thee ceasse from fight,
And visite heauen, or th' ample seas; which, if in his despight,
Or disobedience, thou deniest; he threatens thee to come
(In opposite fight) to field himselfe: and therefore warnes thee home,

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His hands eschewing; since his powre, is farre superiour;
His birth before thee; and affirmes, thy lou'd heart should abhorre
To vaunt equalitie with him, whom euery deitie feares.

He answerd, O vnworthy thing! though he be great, he beares

Neptune to Iris, being incenst with Iupiter.

His tongue too proudly; that our selfe, borne to an equall share
Of state and freedome, he would force. Three brothers borne, we are,
To Saturne; Rhea brought vs forth: this Iupiter, and I,
And Pluto, god of vnder-grounds. The world indifferently

The rule proper to Iupiter.

Disposde betwixt vs; euery one his kingdome; I, the seas;
Pluto the blacke lot; Iupiter, the principalities

Neptune and Pluto being three brothers.

Of broad heauen; all the skie and clouds, was sorted out: the earth
And high Olympus, common are, and due to eithers birth.
Why then should I be aw'd by him? Content he his great heart,
With his third portion; and not thinke, to amplifie his part
With terrors of his stronger hands, on me, as if I were
The most ignoble of vs all: let him containe in feare,
His daughters and his sonnes, begot, by his owne person: this
Holds more conuenience: they must heare, these violent threats of his.

Shall I (said Iris) beare from thee, an answer so austere?
Or wilt thou change it? Changing minds, all noble natures beare:

Iris to Neptune:

And well thou know'st, these greatest borne, the Furies follow still.

He answerd: Iris, thy reply, keepes time, and shewes thy skill:

Neptune againe to Iris

O tis a most praise-worthy thing, when messengers can tell
(Besides their messages) such things, as fit th' occasion well.
But this much grieues my heart and soule, that being in powre and state
All wayes his equall, and so fixt, by one decree in fate,
He should to me, as vnder him, ill language giue, and chide;
Yet now (though still incenst) I yeeld, affirming this beside:
And I enforce it with a threat, that if without consent
Of me, Minerua, Mercurie; the Queene of regiment,
And Vulcan; he will either spare, high Ilion, or not race
Her turrets to the lowest stone; and (with both these) not grace
The Greekes, as victors absolute: informe him this from me;
His pride and my contempt shall liue, at endlesse enmitie.

This said, he left the Greeks, and rusht, into his watrie throne;
Much mist of all the th' heroicke host. When Ioue discern'd him gone,
Apolloes seruice he employd, and said: Lou'd Phœbus, go
To Hector: now th' earth-shaking god, hath taken sea, and so

Iupiter to Apollo

Shrunke from the horrors I denounc't; which standing, he, and all
The vnder-feated deities, that circle Saturnes fall,
Had heard of me in such a fight, as had gone hard for them.
But both for them and me, tis best, that thus they flie th' extreme,
That had not past vs without sweate. Now then, in thy hands take
My Adder-fring'd affrighting shield, which, with such terror shake,
That Feare may shake the Greekes to flight: besides this, adde thy care
(O Phœbus farre-off-shooting god) that this so sickly fare,
Of famous Hector be recur'd; and quickly so excite
His amplest powres, that all the Greeks, may grace him with their flight,

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Euen to their ships, and Hellespont; and then will I deuise
All words and facts againe for Greece, that largely may suffice,
To breathe them from their instant toiles. Thus from th' Idean height,
(Like ayres swift-pigeon-killer, stoupt, the far-shot God of light,

Apollo visits Hector.

And found great Hector, sitting vp, not stretcht vpon his bed;
Not wheasing with a stopt-vp spirit; not in cold sweates; but fed
With fresh and comfortable veines: but his mind, all his owne;
But round about him, all his friends, as well as euer knowne.
And this was with the mind of Ioue, that flew to him before
Apollo came; who (as he saw, no signe of any sore)
Askt (like a chearfull visitant) why in this sickly kind
(Great Hector) sitst thou so apart? can any griefe of mind,

Hector to Apollo

Inuade thy fortitude? He spake; but with a feeble voice:
O thou, the best of deities! why (since I thus reioyce
By thy so serious benefite) demandst thou (as in mirth,
And to my face) if I were ill? for (more then what thy worth
Must needs take note of) doth not Fame, from all mouthes fill thine eares;
That (as my hand at th' Achiue fleete, was making massacres
Of men, whom valiant Aiax led) his strength, strooke with a stone,
All powre of more hurt from my brest? my very soule was gone:
And once to day, I thought to see, the house of Dis and Death.

Apollo to Hector

Be strong (said he) for such a spirit, now sends the god of breath
From airie Ida, as shall runne, through, all Greeke spirits in thee;
Apollo with the golden sword, the cleare farre-seer, see,
Him, who betwixt death and thy life; twixt ruine and those towres,
Ere this day, oft hath held his shield. Come then, be all thy powres,
In wonted vigour: let thy knights, with all their horse assay
The Grecian fleete; my selfe will leade, and scoure so cleare the way,
That Flight shall leaue no Greeke a Rub. Thus instantly inspir'd
Were all his nerues with matchlesse strength; and then his friends he fir'd
Against their foes; when (to his eyes) his eares confirm'd the god.

Simile.

Then, as a goodly headed Hart, or Goate, bred in the wood,
A rout of country huntsmen chase, with all their hounds in crie;
The beast yet, or the shadie woods, or rocks excessiue hie,
Keepe safe; or our vnwieldie fates (that euen in hunters sway)
Barre them, the poore beasts pulling downe; when straight the clamorous fray,
Cals out a Lion, hugely man'd; and his abhorred view
Turnes headlong in vnturning flight (though ventrous) all the crew:
So hitherto the chasing Greeks, their slaughter dealt by troupes;
But, after Hector was beheld, range here and there; then stoupes
The boldest courage; then their heeles, tooke in their dropping harts,
And then spake Andremonides, a man of farre-best parts
Of all th' Ætolians, skild in darts; strenuous in fights of stand;
And one of whom few of the Greekes, could get the better hand,
(For Rhetorique) when they fought with words; with all which, being wise,

Andremonides to the Greekes.

Thus spake he to his Grecian friends: O mischiefe! now mine eyes
Discerne no litle miracle; Hector escapt from death,
And all recouerd, when all thought, his soule had sunke beneath

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The hands of Aiax: but some God, hath sau'd and freed againe,
Him that but now dissolu'd the knees, of many a Grecian.
And now I feare will weaken more; for not without the hand
Of him that thunders, can his powres, thus still the forefights stand;
Thus still triumphant: heare me then; our troupes in quicke retreate,
Let's draw vp to our fleete, and we, that boast our selues, the Great,
Stand firme, and trie, if these that raise, so high their charging darts,
May be resisted: I beleeue, euen this great heart of harts,
Will feare, himselfe to be too bold, in charging thorow vs.

They easely heard him, and obeyd, when all the generous
They cald t'encounter Hectors charge, and turn'd the common men
Backe to the fleete: and these were they, that brauely furnisht then
The fierce forefight; th' Aiaces both; the worthy Cretan king;
The Mars-like Meges; Merion, and Teucer. Vp then, bring
The Troian chiefes, their men in heapes; before whom (amply pac't)
Marcht Hector; and in front of him, Apollo, who had cast
About his bright aspect, a cloud; and did before him beare
Ioues huge and each-where shaggie shield; which (to containe in feare
Offending men) the god-smith gaue, to Ioue; with this he led
The Troian forces. The Greeks stood; a feruent clamor spred
The aire on both sides as they ioyn'd; out flew the shafts and darts,
Some falling short, but othersome, found buts in brests and harts.
As long as Phœbus held but out, his horrid shield, so long

Apolloes sight discomfits the Grecians.

The darts flew raging either way, and death grew both wayes strong.
But when the Greeks had seene his face, and who it was that shooke
The bristled targe, knew by his voice; then all their strengths forsooke
Their nerues and minds; and then looke how, a goodly herd of Neate,

Simile.

Or wealthy flocke of sheepe, being close, and dreadlesse at their meate,
In some blacke midnight, sodainly (and not a keeper neere)
A brace of horrid Beares rush in, and then flie here and there
The poore affrighted flocks or herds; So euery way disperst
The heartlesse Grecians: so the Sunne, their headstrong chace reuerst
To headlong flight; and that day raisde, with all grace, Hectors head.

Arcesilaus then he slue, and Stichius; Stichius led
Bœotias brazen-coted men: the other was the friend
Of mightie-soul'd Menestheus. Æneas brought to end,
Medon, and Iasus; Medon was, the brother (though but base)
Of swift Oileades; and dwelt, farre from his breeding place,
In Phylaca; the other led, th' Athenian bands: his Sire
Was Spelus, Bucolus his sonne. Mecistheus did expire
Beneath Polydamas his hand. Polites, Echius slew
Iust at the ioyning of the hosts. Agenor ouerthrew
Clonius. Bold Deiochus, felt Alexanders lance;
It strooke his shoulders vpper part, and did his head aduance
Quite through his brest, as from the fight, he turn'd him for retreat.

While these stood spoiling of the slaine, the Greeks found time to get
Beyond the dike, and th' vndik't pales: all scapes they gladly gain'd,
Till all had past the vtmost wall; Necessitie so raign'd.

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Then Hector cried out: Take no spoile, but rush on to the fleete;

Hector to his souldiers.

From whose assault (for spoile, or flight) if any man I meete,
He meets his death: nor in the fire, of holy funerall,
His brothers or his sisters hands, shall cast (within our wall)
His lothed body; but without, the throtes of dogs shall graue
His manlesse lims. This said; the scourge, his forward horses draue
Through euery order; and with him, all whipt their chariots on;
All threatningly, out thundering shouts, as earth were ouerthrowne.

Apollo leades the Troians.

Before them marcht Apollo still; and, as he marcht, digd downe,
(Without all labour) with his feete, the dike; till, with his owne,
He fild it to the top; and made, way, both for man and horse,
As broade and long, as with a lance (cast out to trie ones force)
A man could measure. Into this, they powr'd whole troupes as fast,
As numerous: Phœbus still, before, for all their hast,
Still shaking Ioues vnualewed shield, and held it vp to all.
And then, as he had chok't their dike, he tumbl'd downe their wall.

A simile, from how low things it may be taken, to expresse the highest.

And looke how easely any boy, vpon the sea-ebd shore,
Makes with a litle sand a toy, and cares for it no more;
But as he raisd it childishly, so in his wanton vaine,
Both with his hands and feete, he puls, and spurnes it downe againe:
So sleight, O Phœbus, thy hands made, of that huge Grecian toile;
And their late stand, so well resolu'd, as easely mad'st recoile.

Thus stood they driuen vp at their fleete, where each heard others thought,
Exhorted: passing humbly prayd: all, all the gods besought,
(With hands held vp to heauen) for helpe; 'mongst all, the good old man,
Graue Nestor (for his counsels cald, the Argiues guardian)
Fell on his aged knees, and prayd; and to the starrie host,
Stretcht out his hands for ayd to theirs; of all, thus mouing most:

Nestors prayer to Iupiter.

O father Ioue, if euer man, of all our host did burne
Fat thighes of oxen or of sheepe (for grace of safe returne)
In fruitfull Argos; and obtaind, the bowing of thy head,
For promise of his humble prayers: O now remember him,
(Thou meerly heauenly) and cleare vp, the foule browes of this dim
And cruell day; do not destroy, our zeale for Troian pride.
He prayd, and heauens great Counsellor, with store of thunder tride
His former grace good; and so heard, the old mans heartie prayres.
The Troians tooke Ioues signe for them; and powr'd out their affaires
In much more violence on the Greeks; and thought on nought but fight.

Simile.

And as a huge waue of a sea, swolne to his rudest height,
Breakes ouer both sides of a ship; being all vrg'd by the wind;

Intending they were puft vp by Apollo.

For that's it makes the waue so proud: in such a borne-vp kind,
The Troians ouergat the wall; and getting in their horse,
Fought close at fleete; which now the Greeks, ascended for their force.
Then from their chariots, they with darts; the Greeks with bead-hooks fought,
(Kept still aboord for nauall fights) their heads with iron wrought,
In hookes and pikes. Achilles friend, still while he saw the wall
That stood without their fleete, affoord, employment for them all,
Was neuer absent from the tent, of that man-louing Greeke,

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Late-hurt Eurypilus; but sate, and euery way did seeke
To spend the sharpe time of his wound, with all the ease he could,
In medicines, and in kind discourse: but when he might behold
The Troians past the wall; the Greekes, flight driuen, and all in cries;
Then cride he out, Cast downe his hands, and beate with griefe his thighes:
Then, O Eurypilus, (he cride) now all thy need of me,

Patroclus to Eurypilus.

Must beare my absence: now a worke, of more necessitie,
Cals hence; and I must hast to call, Achilles to the field:
Who knowes, but (God assisting me) my words may make him yeeld?
The motion of a friend is strong. His feete thus tooke him thence.
The rest yet stood their enemies firme; but all their violence
(Though Troy fought there with fewer men) lackt vigor to repell
Those fewer from their Nauies charge; and so, that charge as well
Lackt force to spoile their fleete, or tents. And as a shipwrights line

A diuine simile.

(Disposde by such a hand, as learn'd, from th' Artizan diuine,
The perfect practise of his Art) directs or guards so well
The nauall timber then in frame; that all the layd-on steele,
Can hew no further then may serue, to giue the timber th' end,
Fore-purposde by the skilfull wright: so both hosts did contend,
With such a line, or law applide, to what their steele would gaine.

At other ships fought other men, but Hector did maintaine
His quarrell firme at Aiax ship; and so did both employ,
About one vessell, all their toyle: nor could the one destroy
The ship with fire; nor force the man, nor that man yet get gone
The other from so neare his ship, for God had brought him on.

But now did Aiax with a dart, wound deadly in the brest,
Caletor, sonne of Clytius, as he with fire addrest

Aiax slaughters Caletor.

To burne the vessell; as he fell, the brand fell from his hand.

When Hector saw his sisters sonne, lie slaughterd in the sand,
He cald to all his friends, and prayd, they would not in that streight
Forsake his nephew, but maintaine, about his corse the fight,
And saue it from the spoile of Greece. Then sent he out a lance

Hector at Aiax.

At Aiax, in his nephewes wreake; which mist, but made the chance
On Lycophron Mastorides, that was the houshold friend
Of Aiax, borne in Cythera, whom Aiax did defend,

Hector missing Aiax, slayes his friend.

(Being fled to his protection) for killing of a man
Amongst the god-like Cytherans: the vengefull Iauelin ran
Quite through his head, aboue his eare, as he was standing by
His Fautor, then asterne his ship, from whence his soule did slie,
And to the earth his body fell: the haire stood vp an end
On Aiax; who to Teucer cald, (his brother) saying: Friend,
Our loued consort, whom we brought, from Cythera; and grac't,
So like our father; Hectors hand, hath made him breathe his last.
Where then are all thy death-borne shafts? and that vnuallewed bow
Apollo gaue thee? Teucer strait, his brothers thoughts did know,
Stood neare him, and dispatcht a shaft, amongst the Troian fight:
It strooke Pysenors goodly sonne, yong Clytus, the delight
Of the renowm'd Polydamas; the bridle in his hand,

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As he was labouring his horse, to please the high command
Of Hector, and his Tioian friends; and bring him, where the fight
Made greatest tumult. But his strife, for honour in their sight,
Wrought not what sight or wishes helpt; for turning backe his looke,
The hollow of his necke, the shaft, came singing on, and strooke,
And downe he fell; his horses backe, and hurried through the field
The emptie chariot. Panthus sonne, made all haste, and withheld
Their loose carier; disposing them, to Protiaons sonne,
Astinous; with speciall charge, to keepe them euer on,
And in his sight: so he againe, amongst the foremost went.

Teucer at Hector.

At Hector then another shaft, incensed Teucer sent;
Which, had it hit him, sure had hurt; and had it hurt him, slaine;
And had it slaine him, it had driuen, all those to Troy againe.

But Ioues mind was not sleeping now; it wak't to Hectors fame,
And Teucers infamie; himselfe (in Teucers deadly aime)

Ioue breakes Teucers bow.

His well-wrought string disseuering, that seru'd his brauest bow;
His shaft flew quite another way; his bow the earth did strow.
At all which, Teucer stood amaz'd, and to his brother cride,

Teucer to Aiax.

O prodigie! without all doubt, our Angell doth deride
The counsels of our fight; he brake, a string, my hands put on
This morning, and was newly made; and well might haue set gone
A hundred arrowes; and beside, he strooke out of my hand

Aiax to Teucer.

The bow Apollo gaue. He sayd, Then (good friend) do not stand
More on thy archerie, since God (preuenter of all grace,
Desir'd by Grecians) sleights it so. Take therefore in the place,
A good large lance; and on thy necke, a target cast, as bright;
With which, come fight thy selfe with some, and othersome excite,
That without labour at the least (though we proue worser men)
Troy may not brag it tooke our ships: come, mind our businesse then.

Teucer changeth his armes.

This said, he hasted to his tent; left there his shafts and bow,
And then his double, double shield, did on his shoulders throw;
Vpon his honor'd head he plac't, his helmet, thickly plum'd;
And then his strong, and well pilde lance, in his faire hand assum'd,
Return'd, and boldly tooke his place, by his great brothers side.

Hectors admiration of Ioues breaking Teucers bow.

When Hector saw his arrowes broke, out to his friends he cride,
O friends! be yet more comforted, I saw the hands of Ioue,
Breake the great Grecian archers shafts: tis easie to approue,
That Ioues powre is direct with men; as well in those set hie
Vpon the sodaine, as in those, deprest as sodainly:
And those not put in state at all: as now he takes away
Strength from the Greeks, and giues it vs; then vse it, and assay
With ioyn'd hands this approched fleete. If any brauely buy
His fame or fate, with wounds or death; in Ioues name let him die.
Who for his country suffers death, sustaines no shamefull thing:
His wife in honour shall suruiue, his progenie shall spring
In endlesse summers; and their roofes, with patrimonie swell;
And all this, though with all their freight, the Greeke ships we repell.

His friends thus cheer'd, on th' other part, strong Aiax stird his friends:

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O Greeks (said he) what shame is this, that no man more defends,

Aiax to the Greekes.

His fame and safetie; then to liue, and thus be forc't to shrinke:
Now either saue your fleet, or die; vnlesse ye vainly thinke,
That you can liue, and they destroy'd? perceiues not euery eare,
How Hector hartens vp his men? and hath his firebrands here,
Now ready to enflame our fleet? he doth not bid them dance;
That you may take your case, and see; but to the fight aduance.
No counsell can serue vs but this: to mixe both hands and harts
And beare vp close; tis better much, t'expose our vtmost parts
To one daies certaine life or death; then languish in a warre
So base as this; beate to our ships, by our inferiours farre.

Thus rowsd he vp their spirits and strengths: To work then, both sides went
When Hector, the Phocensian Dulce, to fields of darknesse sent;
Fierce Schedius, Perimedes sonne; which Aiax did requite,
With slaughter of Laodamas, that led the foote to fight,
And was Antenors famous sonne, Polydamas did end
Otus, surnam'd Cyllenius; whom Phydas made his friend;
Being chiefe of the Epeians Bands: whose fall, when Meges viewd,
He let flie at his fellers life; who (shrinking-in) eschew'd
The wel-aym'd lance: Apollos will, denied that Panthus sonne
Should fall amongst the foremost fights; the dart, the mid-brest wonne
Of Cræsmus; Meges wonne his armes. At Meges, Dolops then
Bestow'd his lance; he was the sonne, of Lampus, best of men:
And Lampus, of Laomedon, well skild in strength of mind;
He strooke Phylides shield quite through, whose curets, better lin'd
And hollow'd fitly, sau'd his life: Phyleus left him them,
Who from Epirus brought them home; on that part where the streme
Of famous Seléés doth runne; Euphetes did bestow
(Being guest with him) those wel-prou'd armes, to weare against the foe,
And now they sau'd his sonne from death. At Dolops, Meges threw
A speare well pilde; that strooke his

caske

, full in the height; off flew
His purple feather, newly made; and in the dust it fell.

While these thus striu'd for victorie; and eithers hope seru'd well;
Atrides came to Meges aide; and (hidden with his side)
Let loose a iauelin at his foe, that through his backe implied
His lustie head, euen past his breast; the ground receiu'd his weight.

While these made-in, to spoyle his armes; great Hector did excite,
All his allies to quicke reuenge; and first he wrought vpon
Strong Menalippus (that was sonne, to great Hycetaon)
With some reproofe. Before these warres, he in Percote fed
Clouen-footed Oxen; but did since, returne where he was bred;
Exceld amongst the Ilians, was much of Priam lou'd;
And in his court kept, as his sonne; him Hector thus reprou'd.

Thus Menalippus, shall our blood, accuse vs of neglect?

Hector to Menalippus.

Nor moues it thy lou'd heart (thus vrg'd) thy kinsman to protect?
Seest thou not, how they seeke his spoyle? Come, follow; now no more
Our fight must stand at length, but close: nor leaue the close, before
We close the latest eye of them; or they, the lowest stone

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Teare vp, and sacke the citizens, of loftie Ilion.
He led; he followd like a god: and then must Aiax needs
(As well as Hector) cheare his men; and thus their spirits he seeds:

Aiax to his souldiers, in imitation of Agamemnon, obserued by him before, vsing the same words.

Good friends bring but your selues to feele, the noble stings of shame,
For what ye suffer, and be men: respect each others fame;
For which, who striues, in shames fit feare; and puts on neare so farre,
Comes oftner off, then sticke engag'd: these fugitiues of warre,
Saue neither life, nor get renowne; nor beare more minds then sheepe.

This short speech fir'd them in his aide, his spirit toucht them deepe;
And turn'd them all before the fleet, into a wall of brasse:
To whose assault, Ioue stird their foes: and young Atrides was
Ioues instrument; who thus set on, the yong Antilochus:

Menelaus to Antilochus.

Antilochus, in all our host, there is not one of vs
More yong then thou; more swift of foote; nor (with both those) so strong.
O would thou wouldst then (for thou canst) one of this lustie throng,
That thus comes skipping out before, (whoeuer, any where)
Make sticke (for my sake) twixt both hosts, and leaue his bold blood there.

He said no sooner, and retir'd; but forth he rusht, before
The foremost fighters, yet his eye, did euery way explore
For doubt of ods; out flew his lance: the Troians did abstaine
While he was darting; yet his dart, he cast not off in vaine:

Antilochus slaughters Menalippus.

For Menalippus (that rare sonne) of great Hycetaon;
(As brauely he put foorth to fight) it fiercely flew vpon;
And, at the nipple of his breast, his breast, and life did part.

Simile.

And then, much like an eager hound, cast off at some yong Hart,
Hurt by the hunter; that had left, his couert then, but new,
The great-in-warre-Antilochus, (O Menalippus) flew
On thy torne bosome, for thy spoyle. But thy death could not lie
Hid to great Hector; who all haste, made to thee, and made flie
Antilochus; although in warre, he were at all parts skild:
But as some wild beast, hauing done, some shrewd turne, (either kild
The heardsman, or the heardsman dogge,) and skulks away before

A Simile suiting the other before to the life.

The gatherd multitude makes in: so Nestors sonne forbore,
But after him, with horrid cryes, both Hector and the rest
Showres of teare-thirstie lances powr'd; who hauing arm'd his brest
With all his friends, he turn'd it then. Then on the ships, all Troy,
Like raw-flesh-nourisht Lions rusht, and knew they did imploy
Their powres to perfect Ioues high will; who still their spirits enflam'd,
And quencht the Grecians; one, renownd; the other, often sham'd;
For Hectors glorie still he stood; and euer went about,
To make him cast the fleet such fire, as neuer should go out;
Heard Thetis foule petition; and wisht, in any wise,
The splendor of the burning ships, might satiate his eyes.
From him yet, the repulse was then, to be on Troy conferd,
The honor of it giuen the Greeks; which (thinking on) he stird
(With such addition of his spirit) the spirit Hector bore,
To burne the fleet; that of it selfe, was hote enough before.
But now he far'd like Mars himselfe, so brandishing his lance;

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As through the deepe shades of a wood, a raging fire should glance;
Held vp to all eyes by a wood; about his lips, a fome

Hectors horrible apparance.

Stood; as when th' Ocean is enrag'd; his eyes were ouercome
With feruour, and resembl'd flames; set off, by his darke browes:
And from his temples, his bright helme, abhorred lightnings throwes.
For Ioue, from foorth the sphere of starres, to his state, put his owne;
And all the blaze of both the hosts, confin'd, in him alone.
And all this was, since after this, he had not long to liue;
This lightning flew before his death: which Pallas was to giue,
(A small time thence, and now prepar'd) beneath the violence
Of great Pelides. In meane time, his present eminence,
Thought all things vnder it: and he, still where he saw the stands
Of greatest strength, and brauest arm'd, there he would proue his hands:
Or no where; offering to breake through But that past all his powre,
Although his will, were past all theirs; they stood him like a towre
Conioynd so firme: that as a rocke, exceeding high and great;
And standing neare the hoarie sea, beares many a boisterous threate
Of high-voic't winds, and billowes huge, belcht on it by the stormes;
So stood the Greeks great Hectors charge, nor stird their battellous formes.

He (guirt in fire, borne for the fleet) still rusht at euery troope;
And fell vpon it like a waue, high raisd, that then doth stoope

Simile.

Out from the clouds; grows as it stoops, with stormes; then downe doth come
And cuffe a ship; when all her sides, are hid in brackish fome;
Strong gales still raging in her sailes; her sailers minds dismaid,
Death being but little from their liues: so Ioue-like Hector fraid,
And plyde the Greeks; who knew not what, would chance, for all their guards.

And as the banefull king of beasts, leapt in to Oxen heards,

Simile.

Fed in the meddowes of a fenne, exceeding great; the beasts
In number infinite; mongst whom, (their heardsmen wanting breasts
To fight with Lions, for the price, of a blacke Oxes life,)
He here, and there iumps; first, and last, in his bloodthirstie strife,
Chac't and assaulted; and at length, downe in the midst goes one,
And all the rest, sperst through the fenne: so now, all Greece was gone.
So Hector (in a flight from heauen, vpon the Grecians cast)
Turnd all their backs; yet onely one, his deadly lance laid fast:
Braue Mycenæus Periphes, Cypræus dearest sonne;
Who, of the heauens Queene-lou'd-king, (great Eurysthæus) wonne
The grace, to greet in Ambassie, the strength of Hercules,
Was farre superiour to his sire; in feete, fight, noblenes
Of all the vertues; and all those, did such a wisedome guide,
As all Mycena could not match: and this man dignified,
(Stil making greater his renowne) the state of Priams sonne.
For his vnhappie hastie foote, as he addrest to runne,
Stucke in th' extreme ring of his shield, that to his ankles reacht;
And downe he vpwards fell, his fall, vp from the center fetcht
A huge sound, with his head, and helme; which Hector quickly spide;
Ranne in, and in his worthy breast, his lances head did hide;
And slue about him all his friends, who could not giue him aide:

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They grieu'd; and of his god-like foe, fled so extreme afraid.

And now, amongst the nearest ships, that first were drawne to shore,
The Greeks were driuen; beneath whose sides, behind them, and before;
And into them they powr'd themselues, and thence were driuen againe
Vp to their tents, and there they stood: not daring to maintaine
Their guards more outward; but betwixt, the bounds of Feare and Shame,
Chear'd still each other; when th' old man, that of the Grecian name,
Was cald the pillar; euery man, thus by his parents praid:

O friends, be men, and in your minds, let others shames be weigh'd;

Nestor to the Greekes.

Know you haue friends besides your selues; possessions, parents, wiues;
As well those that are dead to you, as those ye loue with liues;
All sharing still their good, or bad, with yours: by these I pray,
That are not present (and the more, should therefore make ye wey
Their misse of you, as yours of them) that you will brauely stand
And this forc't flight, you haue sustain'd, at length yet countermand.

Supplies of good words, thus supplide, the deeds and spirits of all;

Minerua cleares the darknes Ioue powred on the Grecian armie.

And so, at last Minerua clear'd, the cloud that Ioue let fall
Before their eyes: a mightie light, flew beaming euery way;
As well about their ships, as where, their darts did hotest play:
Then saw they Hector great in armes, and his associates;
As well all those, that then abstaind, as those that helpt the fates;
And all their owne fight at the fleete. Nor did it now content
Aiax, to keepe downe like the rest; he, vp the hatches went,
Stalkt here and there; and in his hand, a huge great beadhooke held,
Twelue cubits long, and full of Iron; And as a man well skild

A simile of Aiax managing the fight at the fleet.

In horse, made to the martiall race; when (of a number more)
He chuseth foure, and brings them foorth, to runne them all before
Swarmes of admiring citizens, amids their townes high-way;
And (in their full carier) he leapes, from one, to one; no stay
Enforc't on any; nor failes he, in either seate or leape:
So Aiax with his beadhooke leapt, nimbly from ship to ship,
As actiuely, commanding all; them in their men, as well
As men in them: most terribly, exhorting to repell;
To saue their nauie, and their tents. But Hector nothing needs
To stand on exhortations now, at home; he striues for deeds.

Simile of Hector

And looke how Ioues great Queene of birds, (sharpe set) lookes out for prey;
Knowes floods that nourish wild-wing'd fowles, and (from her airie way)
Beholds where Cranes, Swans, Cormorands, haue made their foody fall;
Darkens the riuer with her wings, and stoopes amongst them all:
So Hector flew amongst the Greekes, directing his command
(In chiefe) against one opposite ship; Ioue with a mightie hand
Still backing him, and all his men: and then againe there grew,
A bitter conflict at the fleet; you would haue said, none drew
A wearie breath, nor euer would; they layd so freshly on:
And this was it that fir'd them both; the Greeks did build vpon
No hope, but what the field would yeeld; flight, an impossible course.
The Troians all hope entertaind, that sword, and fire should force
Both ships, and liues, of all the Greekes; and thus, vnlike affects

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Bred like strenuitie in both. Great Hector still directs
His powres against the first neare ship. Twas that faire barke that brought
Protesilaus to those warres; and now, her selfe to nought,
With many Greeke and Troian liues; all spoyld about her spoyle:
One slue another desperately; and close the deadly toyle
Was pitcht on both parts: not a shaft, nor farre-of striking dart,
Was vsde through all: one fight fell out, of one despitefull hart;
Sharpe axes, twibils, two hand swords, and speares with two heads borne,
Were then the weapons; faire short swords, with sanguine hilts still worne,
Had vse in like sort; of which last, ye might haue numbers view'd,
Drop with dissolu'd armes from their hands; as many downright hew'd
From off their shoulders as they fought, their bawdricks cut in twaine:
And thus the blacke blood flow'd on earth, from souldiers hurt and slaine.

When Hector once had seisd the ship, he clapt his faire brode hand
Fast on the sterne, and held it there; and there gaue this command:

Hector seising Protesilaus ship, to the Troians.

Bring fire, and altogether showt; now Ioue hath drawne the veile
From such a day, as makes amends, for all his stormes of haile:
By whose blest light, we take those ships, that in despite of heauen
Tooke sea, and brought vs worlds of woe: all, since our Peeres were giuen
To such a lasinesse and feare; they would not let me end
Our lingring banes; and charge thus home; but keepe home, and defend.
And so they rul'd the men I led; but though Ioue then withheld
My naturall spirit: now by Ioue, tis freed; and thus impeld.

This more inflam'd them; in so much, that Aiax now, no more,

Aiax forced to withdraw himselfe from the fight.

Kept vp, he was so drownd in darts; a little he forbore
The hatches, to a seate beneath, of seuen foote long; but thought
It was impossible to scape; he sate yet, where he fought,
And hurld out lances thicke as haile, at all men that assaid
To fire the ship; with whom he found, his hands so ouerlaid,
That on his souldiers thus he cryed: O friends, fight I alone?
Expect ye more wals at your backes? townes rampir'd, here are none;
No citizens to take ye in; no helpe in any kind;
We are, I tell you, in Troys fields; haue nought but seas behind,
And foes before; farre, farre, from Greece; for shame, obey commands;
There is no mercie in the warres; your healthes lie in your hands.

Thus rag'd he, and powr'd out his darts: who euer he espied
Come neare the vessell, arm'd with fire, on his fierce dart he died;
All that pleasd Hector, made him mad: all, that his thanks would erne;
Of which twelue men, his most resolu'd, lay dead before his sterne.

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The end of the fifteenth Booke.