COncerning the Greekes, they tasted as much miserie as they had brought vpon the Troians. For 〈◊〉〈◊〉 notes, that by reason of their long abode at the siege, they found many alterations when they returned: so that many were driuen by their borderers from their ancient seats: many were expelled their Countries by faction: some were slaine anon after their arriuall: others were debarred from the Soueraigntie among their people, by such as had stayed at home. The cause of all which may seeme to haue beene the dispersion of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which weakened much by the ca∣lamitics of that long warre, was of little force to repelliniuries, being diuided into [unspec 30] so many pieces vnder seuerall Commaunders, not very well agreeing. For (besides other quarrels arising vpon the diuision of the bootie, and the like occasions) at the time when they should haue set saile, Agamemnon and his brother fell out, the one being desirous to depart immediatly, the other to stay and performe some sacrifices to Minerua. Hereupon they fell to hot wordes, halfe the fleet remaining with Aga∣memnon, the rest of them sailing to the Ile of Tenedos; where when they arriued, they could not agree among themselues, but some returned backe to Agamemnon; o∣thers were dispersed, each holding his owne course. But the whole Fleet was sore vexed with tempests: for Pallas (as Homer saith) would not bee perswaded in haste. [unspec 40]
They who returned safe were Nestor, and Pyrrhus, whom Orestes afterward slew: also Idomeneus, and Philoctetes, who neuerthelesse, as Virgill tels, were drinen soone after to seeke new seats: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 among the Salentines, and Philoctetes at Petilia in Italie. Agamemnon like wise returned home, but was foorth with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by his wife and by the adulterer Aegysthus, who for a while after vsurped his Kingdome. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wandring long vpon the Seas, came into Aegypt, either with Helen, or (as may rather seeme) to fetch her. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, after ten yeeres, hauing lost all his company, got home in poore estate, with much adoe recouering the mastership of his owne house. All the rest either perished by the way, or were driuen into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and faine to seeke out new habitations. [unspec 50]
Aiax the sonne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was drowned; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fled into Cyprus; Diomedes to King 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who was Lord of the Iapyges in Apulia; some of the Locrians were driuen into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, others into Italie, all the East part whereof was called Magna 〈◊〉〈◊〉, by reason of so many townes which the Greekes were driuen to 〈◊〉〈◊〉