Ten books of Homers Iliades, translated out of French, by Arthur Hall Esquire

¶ The ninth Booke. (Book 9)

THe Troyans braue they placed thus, their watch with carefull héede: For losse of field and fellowes slaine for griefe the Gréekes they bléede. For flight the féere, and fellow mate of chilling feare that nippes, * 1.1 Had dastardlike with shame enough them driuen to their shippes. And éen as we full often sée the pontique sea to growe, * 1.2 When Boreas blasts or westerne gales frō Thracian moūtaines blow.

And make the bellowe so to bolne, as oft the brownish waues From bottome of sir Neptunes sea aloft full hiely braues: So were the Gréekish princes sprites all troubled and to tost, Yet of them all Agamemnon he, he was tormented most. He willes the princes to entreate the Heraults all and some (Not loude with Proclamations out) vnto his tent to come, To them his purpose to declare. The Heraults they obayed, And when y^e kings the sommon heard, from him no whit they stayed.

Ech one set after his degrée, with sad and ruthfull grace Agamemn standeth vp, the teares fast trickling downe his face: Euen as the fountaine water doth out springing from the stone * 1.3 Bedewe the plaines, these were his words with sighes & doleful mone.

To déepely Ioue he doth me déere O all the Gréekish Dukes, * 1.4 And staies not yet, with sorowe more he further me rebukes. He promisde me in fire and bloud this Troy I should it sacke, (I maruaile much) my ill successe commaundes me from it backe, And bids me leaue the enterprise and home to hast to Gréece, My honour lost, my fame forlorne, and host the greatest péece. So pleaseth it the mightie Gods all force and might to mate, * 1.5 Downe throwing strength of walles & men all heights he doth abate. Sith so it be, I wish it not that we against him striue, Lets get vs home, our paine we loose, here sure we cannot thriue. Their chieftaine when the councell heard, long still they muet sat, Till big and doughtie Diomede this matter aunsweres flat: Thy want of skill O Atreus heire (quoth he) perswades me much * 1.6 Unto thy words to aunswere now, thy spéeches being such, And to gainsay the same: therfore against me rage not nowe, Nor any else, iust councell law the priuiledge doth allowe That eche in councell shew his minde: I pray thée truely tell, When hast thou séene this campe afraide or weakely so to mell In charge, assault, or els Alarmes, as best it should now séeme Our weapons for to leaue? dost thou so yll their heartes estéeme? * 1.7 So small hope hast thou in their force, as for thy simple tong The Troyan conquest we should leaue? it is too great a wrong. These warlike bands so to despise. It skilleth not a flie, It is thy want, my selfe the first I haue it suffred, I,

Thy thought of me of all this host well knoweth young and old, With thée a coward counted I, and méeter for to scold, Than in the daunger of the warres to venture in the same, Dccasion sith I haue to speake, I speake it to thy shame. The heauenly Gods haue made thée chiefe, & sceptre for to beare, And rule this host, stout manly minde in thée it is not there, Nor counsaile sound, in warlike feats, which are the gifts of gaine, Unto those points thou canst not come, nor thereto once attaine. Wherfore take héede hence forth to braule or iniurie the Gréekes: And if to flie, and hie thée hence it so thy fansie léekes, Get thée to sea, thy stuffe it lies right readie on the shore, Soone to thy towne thou shalt be brought out trouble any more. The other Gréekes will here abide and willingly attend The wished day, wherin we shall surprise Troy in the end. And if that home likewise they will, not forcing any whyt This high exployt, Esthenelus with me will tarie yet, * 1.8 Nor leaue me till the end of all, assurde our comming hether Unto the coastes directed was by Gods yea altogether. This spéech the Gréeks they greatly praise of Tydees sonne the wise, They doe commend his good aduise, wherwith doth Nestor rise That prudent knight, & answers thus: O Diomede thy part * 1.9 In bloudie warre right stout thou playst, in councell good thou art, I must confesse of all the kings thou art the oddest, thou, Of those thy yeares. Of al the campe I thinke no souldior now Doth wish, or will a harmefull truce, yet all thou dost not touch, Concerning this our question here more must be sayed much. I, olde who am, and may be sire to all these mightie kings, And eke to thée, will end the rest I hope to their likings, And euen so, as none reproue my councell good and sound. No viler or vnhappie man, or wicked can be found, Nor more vnworthy for to liue, than ciuill warre who Ioues. * 1.10 To supper let vs get vs nowe, sith night so farre on shoues, And stillie for to set the watch with bandes of youngest yeares, Twene wall & trench to place them so, when Troyā crues appeares To charge vs, they may notice giue: Agamemnon you ought That all the Princes vnto you they be to supper brought:

(As I do thinke) you nothing want to feast them as you wul, With pleasaunt wine of Thracian soile your tent is stuffed ful, And as we sup discourse wil hap, and serue for councell eke And helpe, in this so waightie cause we al our wits muste séeke. For why, the enmy lyes at hand, it is a heauie thing (God knowes) their fires to sée, and heare them by our noses ring. Loe here the night which wil vs saue, if prudent men we be, But if we sléepe, then shal we fall, in handes of th'enimie.

When he had sayed, and they had heard, his wil it was obayd•…•…, * 1.11 And Princes seauen vnto the watche do go right well arayde, And souldiours they seuen hundred take, the first was Thrasimede Duke Nestors sonne, and Creons heire, another Lacomede, Ascalaphe was the thirde, the fourth was willing Merion, Aphareus, Ialmen, and Deyphire, they forward passed on, And made the number seauen vp, thrée knights right hard to daunt, And wights not better•…•…e like to be, where men come in their haunt. These with their souldiors armed ful, with dartes and armor bright, Twéen wal and trench they set themselues, & tend the watch al night. They fires make, some eate, some walke, no one of them doth sléepe, With eyes they looke for them that come, and eares attentiue kéepe.

On th'other side Agamemn he to supper brings the Lords, They neyther thirst nor hunger féele, so wel he them afordes. * 1.12 They supte, Nestor (whose councel graue of eche was knowne right wel Unto the chieftaine of the warre he thus his tale did tell.

O worthy Prince, of none but you I am here for to say, * 1.13 Sith you are poynted of these folke to beare the rule and sway: Sith that the Gods haue gyuen you powre of all the Grecians here, More counsaile and more stoutly minde in you there shoulde appeare Than any other, which should enforce it selfe to giue good eare, And counsaile take, and after good to execute it were. And chiefly, when you are aduisde a thing that profite wil, And honest is, then who can say by you procéedeth ill? An other thing to counsaile you it moueth me againe, Which ful to followe is your best, not contrary to saine As erst you did, when raging wood in furie you did fret Against Achill, and worse than that into youre shippes did fet

To his despite out of his tent the Bryse in gift he had, A fauourite of al the Gods, the wrong it was too bad To stirre a personage so greate. Wherefore we ought to studie, If helpe may be, how to repayre this facte outragious moodie, And quietly it to appease with presents gay and ri•…•…h, Or else by meanes of curteous spéech and by entreatie miche.

Agamemnon thus answerd straight: O aged sire, no lesse * 1.14 Whereof thou hast accused me the fault I do confesse. I can vouch no excuse at all, I fowlie fell and faild, I do perceiue by the outrage the Gréekes haue greatly quaild. Ioue loues the man, and whom God loues, in camp where men are full, Such one is worth a multitude of the vnbrideled scull, Who hardly wil be rulde at al, but as I am the man Uniustly who hath onely done, Ile proue all meanes I can To mend the fault, I wil bestow in guerdon for the facte Great gallant gifts of loftie price out of my treasures pacte, Which I wil name vnto you here, estéeme their price who can: * 1.15 First seuen goodly Triuets large, which neuer were set an The fire, ten talents eke right pure and fine of golden masse, And twentie Caudrons burnishte braue of gloring shining brasse: Twelue Coursers with their gorgeous barbs and furniture arayed, Whose swiftnesse hath in wager béene in Greece ful dearly payed. If so much wealth and coine he had, he should not thinke he néeds As I haue got and gained eke by trauel of these stéedes. Eke seuen dames, whose femine race surpasse for countnaunce rare, Right cunning in Embroderie: which fell vnto my share, When Achill conquerd Lesbos Ile, and with them wil I yéelde His Bryseis floure of Damsels al, as pure and vndeféeld, As when she first was giuen me, I by my royal state And sceptre which I holde, I sweare, I in no manner rate Haue priuately dealt with the maide, she neuer in my couch Did rest hir selfe, I neuer neare approchte hir once to touch, As men are wont, when they alone themselues with women finde: Lo here the wealthy gift to him by me is now assignde. And if that fauoure do the Gods this enterprise begonne, And that this Troy it may be tane, and it to sacke be done,

I do agrée that of the spoile, top ful with brasse and golde A mightie shippe he lade, and eke towne dames out twentie tolde The fairest of the Troyans al (saue Helene) shall be his: And to my country when I come, I truly wil not misse So dearly to estéeme the man with honor vnbeguilde, As I mine owne Orestes do, my deare and louing childe. And if he mariage liste to minde, I gladly wil him knowe My sonne in lawe, on him I wil a daughter mine bestowe: Take where he please, I thrée nowe haue which méeke & modest are, * 1.16 Chriso•…•…eme faire, wise Laodice, and she of honest care Iphianas: wel, take he one, for dower it shall not skill, I hope right wel she shal not blame my fatherly good wil, (How great the match and princely is) for dower I haue prepard: I seuen Cities wil bestow with walles right round reparde, Wel stufte with wealth and people eke, fast by the sea of Pile, That is to say, Enopa one, the second Cardamile, Pheres diuine, Hira enclose with goodly fruitful trées, Ped•…•…sos, whose fat fertile earth with Uineyards wel agrées, Egea with hir gallant seate, and Anthia so commended For fruitful •…•…eades and pasture ground whiche cannot be amended. And in these seuen so good townes such ciuil people liue, As like a God they wil him hold, and presents to him giue Of such their wealth they do possesse, with goods and body prest T'obey his sceptre and his wil, as he is pleased best. These gifts and these good turnes are his, if this agréement doe, (Would Gods O valiant Achilles) our strifes were brought vnto A quietnesse: let Pluto to thy déede suche fauour send, That thou thy selfe no way refuse, but peace may haue the end, Let Pluto graunt me so much grace, in yeares and wealth as I Far passe Achill, so in like case my sute he not deny.

Then Nestor▪ héeding wel his tale, his spéeche againe doth vse, * 1.17 Sir Atreus sonne these presents told Achill ought not refuse, For great they are: wherefore prouide Embassadors to goe, Thrée men sufficient I can choose, if they be pleased so. The Phoenix good shal be the first, Schoolemaister his that was Of late of the Embassade chiefe, and Aiax he shal passe

The second man, and eloquent Vlysses third shal be, Whome Heraults two shal followe fast, Odius Eurybatee, Two loyall wights: and fit it is for to confirme the déede, To wash our hands: you Heraults hie, and water fetch with spéede, And you ye Gréekes, (eche one aparte) doe Iupiter require, That this legation come to passe, as we do all desire. The heraults two to Princes handes the water out they skinke, Who to the Gods their prayers make, & then the wine they drinke. Therewith wel filld the Legates parte, whome Nestor plyeth still, To set themselues to purchase home good answeare from Achill, Ere they returne Vlysses chiefe his spéeche to make the way, So graue that is, and he there with his courage to delay.

Thus went the pointed Princes forth, with care to be wel heard, * 1.18 And lowly to the Marine God their prayers they prefarde, That of the valiant Gréeke the wrath so déepe and deadly placed, To end the charge they now are in, more calmed be and raced. Unto the vessels straight they come, and tents of Myrmidons, In compasse wide and gay to sight, Achilles where he runnes, And on the Uiole Ditties sings, in Musicke so delights Of those the hie and loftie Gods, and worthy mortall wights. * 1.19 This Uioles swéetnesse matchlesse was with beautie rare to sée, Wel painted ore with siluer head, was fine as fine might be, The which was by Achilles wonne, when Thebes he did race, I meane Thebes where Aetion did rule with princely •…•…ace, Which Thebes was by hi•…•… destroyde, no one there was that markie His musicke there, saue Patroclus, his harmonie who harkte.

These Princes when Achilles sawe, who long his friends had bin, He would not faile to raise himself, and wondring doth beginne To bid them welcome as he scoulde, Patroclus also rose, And to receiue them •…•…ut & himselfe: to spéeche Achilles goes, * 1.20 Right welcome •…•…e those my good friends •…•…d Lords, who with good heart, Do in my shippes come visite me; I take in most good part The same, and though my wrath be great, you are no cause I say; I you estéeme, I lovde, I loue, and loue you wil for ay.

Thus said, with •…•…eons 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…re he, doth bring them on to sit One after one in sumptuous seats, be hangde with vellet fit:

The hugest cup he had, to bring Patroclus he did wil To make them drinke, and wel the same with purest wine to fil, For these (quoth he) here visite me, are knightes of valiaunt bréede, And more than that, my wishers wel, and very friends in déede. His friends minde when Patroclus heard, he doth obey the same, And more a raldron he doth take, it round about with flame He doth beset, and in he puts of goate and mutton fat The vmbles whole, with goodly chine of tender swine with that Ofone yeare fed, Antomedon and Achil they do cut * 1.21 And brotch the rest, Patroclus while he to the fire doth put Al smokelesse for to make it burne, the wood he couched fit, Aptly to rost, the coales he spreades, and down he layes the spit, Wheron the strokes of flesh were brotcht, and salt on them doth cast, The meate to season, and to make it méeter for the tast. Already thus, Patroclus bread out of a basket layde He had in hand, and servde the borde, and sir Achilles prayd When he had plast the Gréekish Lords, y^t they would fal to meate, And to Vlisses face to fa•…•…e himself he chose his seate. He bids Patroclus sacrifice eke to the gods their right, Which done, they eate, they drink, and do with leasure great delight.

The good Phenix chiefe messenger, a silent noyse began To warne Vlisses hauing supt, who knew what ment the man, He takes the cup, and prayes Achil vnto him for to drinke, O thou of Gréekes the choice (quoth he) I now ful méete it thinke * 1.22 The cause of our Embassade here (now we so wel haue farde) Be open layde before your selfe, and by vs plaine declarde. Though you with plentie haue vs fed, Agamemnon before Hath feasted vs, but al this cheare, it cannot heale our sore, Nor vs content, the present time some other thing requires Than stil to féede, and on our meate to set our whole desires. Our care it is vnto our case al careful to prouide, And wisely to in•…•… some way the Troyan force t'abide, And kéepe our vessels from the fire, that we in heapes not dy, Which no way we can shun at al, if haply you deny To put in vre your mighty fist, and eke your selfe to decke With minde and force from vs to hold the harme lyes on our neck.

So hard at hand our foes they be incamped by our side, They ly vs by, they merry make, their fiers burning bide. They vow they wil not enter Troy til al the Gréekes bestaine, And by their force defeated quite, yea in the ships. Againe, And more their pride to set a gog, séene hath bin in their campe A token sure of their great good, the lightning for to rampe On the right hand. And Hector stoute now puffed vp aloft, For victorie of yesterday, and in a suretie brought Of Ioue his aide, doth nothing wish, but that the dawning come, And then he meanes to burne our ships, and armie al and some To ouerthrow, he is so braue, so furious, and so fel, He réekes no whit of God or man, with smoke he wil vs quel. This threate hath troubled'much our sprites w^t fear & chilling dréed, In doubt that fate wil haue it so, and gods they haue agréed That after long abode this host must wholy haue the gelpe, And in this Country leaue our liues. Though you haue spaerd their helpe Til now (and that although to late) now vp your forces pul, Eft cal your hart for to protect this host of dolour ful. Else, when we al shal haue the losse, your selfe wil grow right sad To sée your friends so many quailde, and that no care you had, When néede there'was, to saue their falles, it better were t'avoyde This error great, now in their aide your selfe you soone imployde, And also st•…•…yde this vtter ruine, which neuer can be holpen, Friend mine, I wel do cal to minde what Pelcus did open To you, and gaue for sound aduice (movde by a fathers care And tender loue) when to these parts you in your voyage ware. And as I should and best I may, his words I wel remember, That the performance of the same your minde it may wel tender: Minerue the goddesse, (son quoth he) and Iuno both at once Shal giue thée valiaunt heart ynough, with big and brawnie bones, But thou with loue and modest port those gifts must beautifie, And kepe thée from dissembling faulte, and filthy fraude defye, Yéelde not thy minde vnto reuenge, and so ofyong and old You shal be much and hie estéemde, and loued as you would. These were his words, thus in precept the good old man he gaue, When you he sent, of this gay spéech now little minde you haue.

Good friend (alas) do cancel cleane these discords and these iars, Ful eft in friendship with the chiefe and captaine of these wars, Who séeking now for thy good wil, by vs doth offer thée (Which here I count) such goodly giftes, as rich and gorgeous be. First seauen triuets new and round, ten talents next of golde, * 1.23 And twentie caudrons bright of hue, twelue coursers fully told, Who by their swiftnesse conquerde haue right many princes rich, And as for golde and wealthy ware if one man had as much As they haue purchast to their Lord, and gayned by their spéede, He might wel vaunt he were not poore, nor worldly muck to néede. And further seuen ladies braue right od in néedels skil And beautie rare, which then he had, when Lesboes thou didst pill With thy strong hand, thy Bryseis eke thou shalt againe receiue, For whom he déepely sweares, vntoucht he doth hir person leaue. And that she neuer saw his bed, nor he the mayde hath knowne In pleasure, as the male and fem. Al this shal be your own, These goodly gifts here shal you haue, this gréement if you strike, And if to sacke this mightie Troy the loftie gods it like, And that we share the welthy spoyles, he wil that you lay on And lade your largest ship with plate and gold, for you alone, With twentie townish dames of choice, wel worthy such a Lord, And when this war shal ended be, if so you list accord To haunt his home and dwel with him you loue he shal as deare As Orestes his only son, and if in minde you weare To take a wife, of al his house, the choise yours fréely is: He daughters there doth thrée possesse, the first Chrisotenis With yealow lockes, sage Laodice the second hath to name, Iphianas the third is hight, who haue so great a fame For vertues theirs, the fairst of thrée at pleasure choose you may, And leade hir to their sire his home, and nothing for hir pay. For he himselfe for dower wil of riches giue such store, As neuer father daughter gaue such portion heretofore: He means to put vnder your rule seuen great and goodly townes Hard by the sea, which ful of folke with wealthy ware abownes. Ciuile Enopa shal be one, and Cardamile so hight, Pheres diuine, fruiteful Hira, Epea great of might,

With Anthia for pasture fat of all that beares the bel, And Pedases for goodly vines is spoken of so wel. You honorde in these townes shal be, and servde in euery case Most like a God, where people wil vnder your loyal mace And kingly iustice willing liue, lo, these the giftes they are, That is the mends in lieu of fault you shal haue for your share. If you these offers not regard, nor him that giues the same, Haue you no pitie of your friends, nor nation here that came Out your own land? haue you no wil these silly Gréeks to ayde, And helpe that quite they perish not? of whom if wil be sayde, As to the gods, so are they bound Achilles vnto thée, When they shal know that by thy meanes they are deliuerd frée, An act of praise, immortal fame for you to gaine therby. Th'occasion eke it brings, that you with Hector now may trie, Who doth so gayly vaunt and boast, (he puft is with such pride) No Gréeke in Campe to be his match that may him once abide.

When he the prudent Gréeke had hearde, to answere thus he start, Vlisses, that, I answere plaine I thinke it is my part, * 1.24 That thou, nor any other else your selues hereafter set By motions for to trouble me, more of me so to get. What in my minde I haue set down most surely shal be done, Who sayes one thing, and in his heart another course doth run, As gates of Hel I do him hate, with all the might I may: What I concluded haue to do here hearken what I say.

Unpossible the matter is, that Agamemnon king For yée the Gréekes or princes great, he may or can me bring But once on heade my helmet set, sith who doth most desire With al his force to ayde you al, I sée to bad his hire, And of a souldiour no more count, whose valure hie doth raigne, Than of an hedgehog hid in tent or dastard coward swaine: Who for his part shal more possesse of great and worthy spoyles, And higher place, than who deserues most best with al his toyles. I speake this for my selfe, who haue such toyle and trauel bid, And many a night in war haue wakt, and neuer haue bin hid From daunger great what so it were, and al for your behouse, * 1.25 With semblant care, as pretie birde doth busie flye aloofe

To séeke out meate to féede hir yong vnfeatherde who do ly, And nakt in nest, who haue no power the champaine ayre to try, And far vnméete to meate themselues: who doth not vnderstand The sackes and fals of Cities great, and Ilands of this land My nauale forces conquerde haue? twice sixe the chiefest thought Eleauen in firme my sword hath spoyld, and in subiection broughte: Of al the which the booties whole you al ful wel do know Out saued none, your chiefe he had, which stil he did bestow Where best he pleasde, and skild he was the greater part to hold, But mine and other princes parts were minste and wel controlde. Yet with our sharing pleased wel, and none more pleasd than I, Nathlesse by cruel iniustice, malice and tirannie Agamemnon hath spoyled me of that my pittaunce smal Was giuen me, which yet I say, to me did wel befal: The same estéeming very much only I lovde it deare, Bryseis it was, wel his be she, and with hir let him cheare, Answere me you, what cause hath fetcht so many Princes hither Of Greece? And Agamemnon who he callde hath here togither Such furniture of souldiours good? are they not in the field The rauish: Heleine to regaine, & force them hir to yéeld? Doth he and eke his brother wéene of all that lead here liues, That they in earth the od men are, which only loue their wiues. Haue they a dome so blind and bad, to déeme ech worthy minde Not to estéeme and honor much his loue or wife assignde? For, as for me, I fride in loue of Bryseis worthy dame, And hir regarded as my spouse a prisner though she came. But now peruerting iustice al, your chiefetaine holds the lady, And now I haue this wrong receivde, and fouly made a babie: With sugred spéech and fained words séekes he all meanes he may To swaddle vp the festred wound? it wil not be, nay, nay, With you and other of the Gréekes (if so he thinketh good,) Let him go Counsel to forsée how now may be withstoode This daunger déepe, wherin he is Lord, in what wretched plight He hath you brought, loke you your selues by his own leud dispight. What, shal his fort, his wal, his dikes, his pales, and trenches all Defend you so, as Hector stoute shal not vpon you fal?

When I with you did vse the fielde and fought for your auayle, He in his roades and skirmishes durst not so forward raile, By Scea Troyan gate he fought, my force him kept in awe, Once at the béech him with intent me to abide I saw, But straight I made him take his héeles and safe he thought him not Til vnto Troy he was arrivde, and therin safely got. Sith al wherein I then did ioy is turned now to griefe, * 1.26 And that my force with Hector his I wil not put in priefe, In morning next I hope depart if winds do happie blow, With sacrificeto Ioue performde, aborde when I do goe, That he do fauour my returne, and in the loftie sea Thou shalt Vlisses then behold my vessels tall in way, The which from rocke, and wracke of sea if Neptune please to guide, In thrée dayes space at Pthie coast my countrey I shal ride. Some balazde déepe with blazing brasse, and yron bright of blée And perfect gold, with other wealth and goods that pretious be: Forgetting not the virgins gay, which I alone in war Haue conquerd I, for Agamemn doth hold and me debar From bootie which fel vnto me. Wherfore friend tel you must In publike wise to all the Gréekes my quarel it is iust, And that they héede their chief not wrong them, as he hath done me, For which I here protest, henceforth I wil him neuer sée. I thinke eke shamelesse though he be, and vayde of vertue sure, Own conscience his should him forbid my presence to indure. And if that forward he would presse, and mind to speake me too, My furie maister should I not but mischiefe more him do. Suffice it him he hath me wrongde, and that his own vnright Doth hel him like a man forlorne, and out his sences quite, And for the presents he presents, I them abhorre in minde, * 1.27 The giftes and giuer I do hate as death in direst kind. Not ten times, no, not twentie times much more than he doth offer, If all he hath, with traffike whole he also ment to proffer Of these two Cities, Thebes one, and Orchemene to name, The Egiptian Thebes auntient town renoumde, I meane the same, With people ful so stufly filde, where passeth out and in Through gates an hundred of accompt, of diuerse sorts that bin

The ware and merchandise to sée, two hundred cartes a daye Out euery gate go loaden out, and forth are sent away. And to be short, if al the sande and earthly gritte were tolde, And offerd me, such masse of wealth content me surely nol•…•…: It cannot be I should content, my wrath it cannot coole, Til for his fault he iustly smart wherin •…•…e playde the foole. * 1.28

You also séemed now to touch another point me thought, That of his daughters one to spouse I should be therto brought, Who he sayes, milde and modest be, if she (as he doth vaunt) More faire than golden Venus were, and that it were to graunt Hir chastitie and honour past dame Pallas in degrée, He may not hope my father in law that he may named be. Let him in Greece of his own macke his daughter too to wed Some other finde. As for my part, if, as the gods haue sed, They do vouchsafe my comming home, by Peleus his ayde, My wife she shal prouided be, and I in wedlocke stayde. In Pthie and Achaia lands is many a wealthy king, Who virgins in their houses haue, of which to my liking And their contentment I may take, which course I follow wil, In peace I count it best to liue, and vse my pleasure stil, And not hereafter to my harme in weapons for to die In floure of mine age, the gems, the wealth, and riches hie In Troy that were, ere out of Greece with siege we girt it round, The sacred goods to Phoebus vowde, and in his church are found, May not suffise, if dead I were, my life for to restore, Shéepe, Oxen, coursers great, triuets, like stuffe and many more Once lost may eftsoone yet be had, but soule from body parted, Agayne into the bodie left shal neuer be insarted. My mother Thetis tolde me once, die, die that néedes I must, To double fate my life is tied, thereo she bad me trust. If I abide hir waging war, immortal fame I gaine, But die I shal, if home I go, and do at home remaine, Long life and happy dayes I haue, but spoylde of honour hie, The safer part I meane to take, and further not to try. I do suppose you shal do wel to follow me a righte, Sith nought you gaine, and Troy to take the hope is vaded quite:

And chiefely saeing the Gods and Ioue so sound in their defence, My friend Vlisse, and Aiax then away depart you hence, Go tel the Gréekes my answere now, and how I wil away, Some other course and what to do let aged heads assay, And so to féele since my offence what profit they do finde: Here aged Phoenix in my tent this night shal stay behinde, And in the morning home shal go with me, right chéeke by chéeke, I meane not maugre his good wil, but if himselfe so léeke.

At this refusal stoute and sterne the kings amazed stand And long abasht, but Phoenix graue the matter takes in hand, The present daunger he forsées, which al the campe is in, With trickling teare of earning minde this spéech he doth begin: * 1.29 Though you refuse oh noble prince the safetie of this host, And that your wrath is so confirmde you néedes wil leaue this cost, Good Lord (deare son) how can you leaue your gouernour and guide, My selfe who was appointed so when hither first you hide, With you my Peleus plast I was, when forth he let you go, T'instruct your youth, that you a prince of youth were gouernde so, As what was •…•…ttst, you should performe, yea both in word and déede, To make you a souldiour for the field and oratour at néede A perfect one. The pliant youth and yeares that tender are Can hardly reatch vnto those parts without a tutors care. Likewise such giftes plast in a prince do much adorne the man, Then I, who charge haue had of you, suppose you that I can (O son) thus leaue you? no, no, though (whose counsels ay are true) The hie and mighty gods should say they would againe renew To youth my worne corpse by yeares, and put it in such plight, When from my sire Amintors wrath perforce I toke my flight, * 1.30 And him forsoke, and all the wealth which is in Hellade his, Where then he raignde, for loue of one his anger grown is. A damosel thewde and he woe as wel, his wife he lovde not so, Wherat my mother spited much and eke did iealous grow: Who wel hir husbands loue perceivde, she dayly stil •…•…e prayde With hands held vp importunate, to practise with the mayde So far, that with hir I might l•…•…ge, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the matter spyed, My father would no more hir kepe, it cannot be denyed

I did the thing, my mothers will, whereat Amyntor wonders, And fully fed with furious rage, his bitter curses thunders Upon my head, inuoking loud the damned furies fel, With hateful wordes bequeathing me the hatefull harmes of hel, Among the which he prayde I might no father be of heire, Or at the least no children haue, in bosome he to beare, Or which of nursing he should reake: I soundly did be léene, That Pluto graunted to his plaint, whereat I did so gréeue, When I his malediction knewe, that I then leaue him would, And not remaine within his house, happen what happen should. My mates, my friends, my neighbors all, the dearest of my kinne, My neare Allies when this they sawe, they séeke againe to winne Most carefully my home abode, which sooner to obtaine, To loftie Gods their vowes they make, to thē right down are slaine Shéepe, béeues, and porkets great of grease, whereof they rost-meate make, And féed therof, of pleasant wine their tipple in they take, Which in his house the old man had, and eke thrice thrée lōg nights The dores made faste, they kéepe the watche, they stand with waked sprites In order in the pallace court, and gates there out that goes: But al their fires so highly light, their watch and ward they lose. For stil the tenth night out I go, no watch nor maydes me hearde, No groome perceiues my stealing forth, nor tooke thereof regarde. Abroad I treade my country Bées, that large and fruitful be, Whereyour good father found me out, and then receiued me. And more, to shew his great good will which vnto me he bare, He gaue me rule of Dolopie, and goods that wealthy ware, Great store he trusted in my handes, with so muche fauour good, Honor, and grace, as I had bin an infant of his bloude, Euen then Achilles were you borne, wherfore I was desired By Pelëus, the care to take your infancie required, And it to gouerne, whych I did: your force whiche passeth all, Your corpse most like the heauenly powres, of bones and bodie fall, With me hath had the bringing vp, and grown to such an one. Bycause I lovde you, so I did? No, not for that alone, But you so dearly did me •…•…e, that nothing was to name, Which you woulde do at all, if I allowed not the same.

From me if you were cravde to sup, thereto you had no list, They lost their paines, you wold noteate but what came out my fist. To stil and please you when they woulde, they set you an my knée, If nothing I would haue you eate, I muste your taster bée. And ofte when you haue sipte the wine, y haue layd it on my breast, As doth the pretie babe, who in his nurses armes doth rest. I al these paines most willing bid your selfe when as I servde, I thought that I deprivde of childe, I was a sire reservde, For bringing vp at least of you, (and I right oldely yearde) A most sure stay I should haue bene, when féeblenesse appearde. This short discourse (mine owne deare sonne) is onely you to pray Your minde totemper, and to put this wreakful wrath away. Thimmortal ghosts, who nature haue more noble much than man, By men intreated to forgiue, they do both wil, and can, And graunt requests of mortall wights: no fault so great to wit, Which at the prayer of faultie folkes the Gods do not remit. What, know good sonne that prayers are the taughters true of Ioue, Who for to séeke sir Iniurie out, abroade about do roue, They follow him, a stronger much and harder mate than they, For Prayer is both halte and lame, and slowly riddeth way: But Wrong a mightie monster is, in toile he holdeth tacke He treades apace, and far behinde leaues Prayer at his backe: But féeble Prayer folowing him, with pace by pace doth passe, And if she come where as he is, and good accepting has Of person she is brought vnto, she Ioue intreateth full In his behalfe, and to his wish she doth him also pull. If aukwardle the partie do of this wrong more account, Ashamde eke she being denyde, to Gods aloft dothe mount, And tels to them the whole at large, and prayes that Iniurie May in his house a dweller be that did hir so deny.

Truly my sonne, your honor bids you to accept these Dames, These presents muster much thereto, whose price the value frames. If wilful so our chieftaine were, and madnesse suche him hent, He would by gifts not séeke your grace, nor yet himselfe relent. I ourst not for the Gréekes at al you councel or aduise How great so ere the businesse were: but when before mine eyes

His large and liberal offer standes, and suite in suche a rate For your good will, I thinke it good your furie did abate, And that you nothing did refuse: how should you moued be By prowesse here of these two kings, who in nobilitie Passe al of Greece, and now are come, and you the message bear? If nought to moue you here vnto but the demaunders were, Their dignitie it asketh much, for which much should be done Their good opinion to preserue, least that hereafter runne Of you bad spéeche, in terming you a proude disdainful one. The Heroes olde of antique age, in time far past and gone, If haply iarre with some they had, with time they were appeasd, And bid content: yea many times the foe he was releasde, And pardonde oft by gift and sute. Nowe to this purpose fit, I minde a storie olde and true, which (if you so permit) * 1.31 I will you tell, and you my friends. The Curetois they bended, And fought with them of Etolie, who Calidon defended: A sorer warre was neuer heard, they fought so stoutly well, That many of th'inuaders dyde: but more inuaded fell. The better that you knowe the cause of this the people slaine, A little higher I must beginne. In Calidon did raigne Onëus then a noble Prince, who of his fruits did giue Eche yeare the first in sacrifice to such immortall liue. * 1.32 And hap it did (it purposly, or he remembring not) Diana chast was set at nought, hir offering was forgot. Whereat hir indignation grewe, and so to punish him, A wild Beare to his fields she sent a gastful and a grimme, Which many mischiefes did him doe, his people downe he flewe, His grounde for frui•…•…s he fowlie spoild, and down his trées he threw: * 1.33 Gay appletrées, and many ful with fruit and flower packte, With whetted shearing pointed tuske, they torne lye and crackte, The corne and crooked Uines he marres. Meleager the sonne Of this good king, when as he sawe his countrey thus to runne To hauocke, and his people to, to call the hunters rounde To him he doth determine straight, with many a hunting hound The dreadful beast to chace and kil, great troupes togither storke, Their forces prouing with this beast, do reatch him many a knocke.

But in the end, the wicked swine downe dead doth lye along, His royall hand him felling downe, two nations great and strong Do for the spoiles now growe to strife: the Curets clai•…•…e it theirs, As both of duty and desert. Of Etolie the heires The same do chalenge to themselues: hereof doth grow the stur, For this the cruell bitter warre, procéeded is so fur.

Thus Calidon besieged tho by crues of Curete lande, A certaine time it is reléevde by Meleagers hand, And the besiegers durst not stirre: for al their number great, They drad his deadly sword, wherewith he did them hardly treat. But haply rage and furie (which do sharp the méekest minde, And natures good of constant wights) in him their places finde, They which did straight so swap him out, that he determines plaine To lay his armor downe aside, and not to fight againe. This warme and bitter wrath it grewe of strife, that so befell With Althea his dame, bycause he did his brother quell: She grievde, she howlde, she kist the earth, she prayde in Plutoes lap To plague the fault, that he hir sonne may reape like deadly hap.

When as Meleager this heard, in dumpes he falles to spite, He led at home an Hermites life, he would no more to fight: His louing wife Cleopatra, of beautie wondrous rare Accompanyed him, she daughter was of Marpyse Nimph so faire, Belovde, and wonne by Phoebus god, gainst whom Idee hir make (In sorrowe sowste and iealousie) did dare the combate take, With how in hand to cause him yéelde his spoile, but all in vaine His force it would not fodge, whereby his wife he might regaine. His kinred and the mother chiefe did many a teare let fall Their woe to witnesse: newe they name and doe Alcion call The rauishte fem. But for to come vnto my purpose first, * 1.34 Meleager he resting stil, the enimies they thrust When it they knewe vnto the sault, the Towres of Calidon They batter, and at gates they thump, they put their forces on To enter by all meanes they may, then of the wretched towne The chiefest Lordes (in danger great to be al beaten downe) Do throng and pray Meleagers helpe, but nothing could they do, The Cleargie come, and vnto him pray for their Maisters too.

And offer at his choise great part of all their goodly landes, His sire Oneus hopes to spéede, and at his doore he standes, He him intreats vpon his knées to let his anger passe, And saue the Citie all forlorne, his suite not heard, alas. With held vp handes his mother doth the like, his brethren eake, And all his friends, yet list he not their wretched woe to wreake. This while the foes past vp the walles, & forest the towne by fight, And crueltie none wanting was, that happes in such a sight. His wife the grunting hearing then, and cries of those did yell, The piteous fright, the flames, the folke and Citizens that fell: To him she hastes with haire abroade, and teares she letteth fall. Deare spouse (quoth she) this remnant saue (God knows) which is but small, Both yoūg & old they die y^e death, or weapons downe they lay, If women any doe suruiue, they slaues are led away. Meleager this hauing heard, his armour on he packt, And full of furie forth he goes, the enemies he hackt, Their crownes he pares, and citie saues, and yet was all his ayde No whit to them so worthy thankes, bicause so long he stayde, And for vnto the succour he of the Etoliens yed Not at their suite, but as the toy did take him in the hed.

Oh God thée shield Achilles now to thinke vs so to vse, * 1.35 And for to leaue vs in this brake, such meaning doe refuse. To you what corsée would it be to sée the enmies put Our nauie to the wasting flame, and vs in péeces cut? Then were your mightie strength to weake our cases to relieue, A better way it were (my sonne) your forces for to prieue To aide this wretched armie here, somewhat doth vrge the giftes, And also that so hie renowme, which men so hicly liftes. But if you doe forslowe the time to helpe in our defence, Your succour slowe shall honour want, eke méede and recompence.

The ruler Phoenix here did end: Achill doth thus replie, * 1.36 This honour now whereof you talke and bribes I néede not I, The praise and glory me contents from God the which ariseth, Who is reuenger of my wrong, his fauour me suffiseth. Wherefore I yéeld me to his will, and will in all degrées, As long as this my bodie here shall goe vppon my knées,

As long as life in limmes shall last the world whole shall knowe, To aide the Gréekes I will no foote out of my vessell goe. And as for you (good Phoenix mine) heare what I say and marke, Me thinke there is no reason you with all this stirre and carke So earnestly should me intreate being your friend at full, To please the mortalst foe I haue, and it to séeke you wull. More reason much it were for you, your selfe a friend to showe, To such I fauour, and therein your trauaile to bestowe: And chieflie, sith we equalles are, and doe in friendship sound Possesse as parteners all our goods, wherein we so abound. These princes two they shall returne to Gréekes my answer right, But you shall lodge with me, your host I will be for this night. The morning come, we will consult in iourney home to glyde, Or will perhap perswade our selues here longer to abyde.

Therwith Patroclus gaue a nodde that they a bed do dight, A trimme and swéete, wherein should rest the noble aged wight. The worthy Aiax Telamon this heard, right well he knewe * 1.37 They lost but time, it bootelesse was them further for to sewe. Unto Vlysses, friend (quoth he) enough is done, away, I sée this matter will not doe, the kings who for vs stay, Let vs goe tell our message here, least other they pretend: This man is madde, he shamelesse is, his senses he doth bend To pride, and recks no whit of friends, full set vpon his follie, There haue bene many worthy men of minde and manners follie, Who borne haue most hainous factes by filthy foemeus déede, Who children theirs and brethren néere haue deadly done to bléede, * 1.38 Yet by entreatie haue forgiuen, what so th'offence hath béene. Or else they haue accepted mendes, and willingly haue séene In time the men who murthrers were. Achill, th'immortall Gods Twéene you and those of courteous molde haue set a mightie oddes. Who hauing suffred no great wrong, great losse, or death of kinne, But onely one poore simple fem, and yet you lodge within Your hart such rage, the gifts are sent seuen times more worth in price The person selfe, such presents brings you for to please likewise, As many men would much request, Achilles, doe aduise Your selfe on this, I you beséech, and vs not so despise.

Of neighbourhood maintaine the right, which to vs all you owe, Thinke on the state of vs are sent, your good friends aye you knowe.

Achilles thus an answere shapes: diuine Aiax (quoth he) * 1.39 I doe allowe all that you say, and it of amitie Procéedes I know, but when I minde my wrong had in this warre, The choler grafted in my hart I can no way debarre, And chiefly, when some me account as of a base exile, Disdaining me, who of the whole is worthiest many a mile. Friends without more adoe procéede, goe tell them all therefore, I minded am not for the Gréekes to trauaile any more. At least, till by sir Hectors force, and Troyan souldiors I In tents and shippes of Mirmidons behold the fire to flie, And Gréekes slaine round about my tent, yet Hector doth not dare I thinke for feare so néere to come, his bane least thence he bare. This sayd, ech of the noble sort doe take a goblet rounde, And heaue it sipping to their heades, the wine they weakly sounde. On earth the rest they throwe, to Gods, to whom they them cōmend, Vlysse the wisest takes his leaue, and forth doth formost wend? A goodly bed they then prepare, a mattresse, linnen soft, * 1.40 Behong with curtines rounde about, a couerlet fine aloft. Of woollen weaue, where Phoenix doth alone right soundly sléepe, Straight after doth the valiaunt Gréeke to stately cabban créepe To take his rest: King Phorbas bréede did come with him to be * 1.41 In bed, (the King of Lesbos Ile) the faire Diomede His mate, also to sport himselfe lies downe betwéene his shéetes, With Iphis gaie the same to sléepe, Patroclus with hir méetes, The which Achilles did him giue when Scyros citie strong, Was by his force put to the spoile, downe raste, and laide along.

The Princes soone to campe are come of Gréekes from whence they went, The councell they together finde still in the royall tent: At their arriuall, eche presents in many a gorgeous cup The wines to drinke, they welcomde are, and then they rising vp, Doe offer place for them to sit, they long the whole to heare, And of the substance of the cause they wishe they priuie were. The chiefe then spake Vlysses thus: you glory of Gréece that are, Vlysses O thou noble he, a Gods name vs declare * 1.42

Whether Achill our giftes will haue, what hope or comfort tell yée Of our reliefe? doth he relent, or be in rage still will hée? * 1.43 Sith truth you will (quoth Vlysses) his furie nothing dies, But dayly growes to more and more, your presents he defies, For your alliaunce he cares not, and last of all the rest He bad vs bid you flie this worst, if so you thought it best, And that the dawning next he would depart this countrey fro, With like perswasion vnto vs that likewise we doe so, Sith of this warre no end wil be, now brought to wretched plight, And that the Gods to Phrigians aide, to vs haue death behight. The Aiax hie and Heraults eke can witnesse well his minde, If so they list, they heard the talke, Phoenix is staide behinde By Achilles, he lodgeth there, and home with him he may, Not by constraint, but if he please, so doth Achilles say. The princes all of Gréekish land, the whole assemblie quaild, They stoode abasht whē this they heard, long while their spéech it faild, Not holding vp their heads they sat, till Diomede the Gréeke Of them so worthy of accompt the solempne silence bréeke. You mist the marke Agamemnon, when legates you sent out * 1.44 To offer giftes, and him intreate, he is too proude and stout, And you haue set him more a gog with message sent to him, He thinkes himselfe a iolly man, a goodly and a trimme. Forget him sirs, let him goe home, or as it please him tarie, And when the Gods haue heald his rage, which raging him doth carie, He warre will when he sées his time, end we this cause in talke, And to our meate and wonted rest a good lucke let vs walke, In morning we in armour all will stand before our sailes, Our horsemen and our chariots all, our footemen in their railes. Your valure there Agamemnon force you your selfe to showe, In former ranke let men you sée Troyans to ouerthrowe, This spéech and councell well allowde the princes euerie one, And to his Tent or ship to leape they all departed gone.

Finis noni Libri.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Flight the companion of feare.
• * 1.2

  Compari∣son.
• * 1.3

  Compari∣son.
• * 1.4

  Agamēnon to the Greekes.
• * 1.5

  Sentence vvhich is in the se∣cōd booke.
• * 1.6

  Diomedes' •…•…hsvvers to Agamēnon
• * 1.7

  Diomedes confesse•…•… Agamēno•…•… the gretest of honou•…•… but the vvorst s•…•… diour.
• * 1.8

  Esthenelus for Sthene∣lus.
• * 1.9

  Nestor al∣lovves Di∣omedes counsell.
• * 1.10

  Nestor Counsells vvhat is to be done.
• * 1.11

  Th•…•…se vvho 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chosen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and for scou•…•….
• * 1.12

  Agamēnon suppes the Greekish Princes.
• * 1.13

  Nestor to Agamemn
• * 1.14

  Agamemnō to Nestor.
• * 1.15

  The giftes vvhiche A∣gamemnon vvil offer Achilles.
• * 1.16

  Agamēnon•…•… three daugh ters.
• * 1.17

  Nestor coū sels Agamē∣non to offer the gifts to Achilles, & to send him Embassa∣doures,
• * 1.18

  Vlysses, Phoenix, & Aiax Em∣bassadors to Achilles
• * 1.19

  The Viole or Harp of Achilles.
• * 1.20

  Achilles speaketh curteously, receyuing the Embas∣sadors.
• * 1.21

  The pri•…•…∣ces 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.22

  Vlisse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Achilles.
• * 1.23

  Vli•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ag•…•… to A•…•…
• * 1.24

  Achilles an∣svvers Vli.
• * 1.25

  Comparisō.
• * 1.26

  Achilles threatens to go his vvayes.
• * 1.27

  Ac. refuseth the giftes.
• * 1.28

  Ac. refuseth the aliance of mariage.
• * 1.29

  Phoenix to Achilles.
• * 1.30

  Amyntor father of Phoenix. Phoenix ob Iernes the custome of old men, vvho vvillingly speake of matters pas sed in theyr youthes.
• * 1.31

  The quared betvvene the Cure∣tois and E∣toliens.
• * 1.32

  Oeneus king of Calidon.
• * 1.33

  The vvild Boare of Calidon.
• * 1.34

  Alcion.
• * 1.35

  Epil•…•….
• * 1.36

  Achi•…•… aunsvver•…•… to Phoenix
• * 1.37

  Aiax to Vlysses.
• * 1.38

  Aiax di∣rectes his speeche to Achilles.
• * 1.39

  Achilles to Aiax.
• * 1.40

  Phoenix lodg•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Achilles Tent.
• * 1.41

  Diomede Achilles svveete hart. Ipius the svveete hart of Patroclus.
• * 1.42

  Agamēnon to Vlysses.
• * 1.43

  Vlysses an∣svvers to Agamem∣non.
• * 1.44

  Diomedes to Agamem∣non.