The Troyans braue they placed thus, their watch with carefull heede:
For losse of field and fellowes slaine for griefe the Greekes they bleede.
For flight the feere, and fellow mate of chilling feare that nippes,
Had dastardlike with shame enough them driuen to their shippes.
And een as we full often see the pontique sea to growe,
When Boreas blasts or westerne gales fro Thracian moutaines 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 Greekish 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 ye kings the sommon heard, from him no whit they stayed.
Ech one set after his degree, 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
Bedewe the plaines, these were his words with sighes & doleful mone.
To deepely Ioue he doth me deere O all the Greekish Dukes,
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 illsuccesse commaundes me from it backe,
And bids me leaue the enterprise and home to hast to Greece,
My honour lost, my fame forlorne, and host the greatest peece.
So pleaseth it the mightie Gods all force and might to mate,
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
Unto thy words to aunswere now, thy speeches 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 thee truely tell,
When hast thou seene this campe afraide or weakely so to mell
In charge, assault, or els Alarmes, as best it should now seeme
Our weapons for to leaue? dost thou so yll their heartes esteeme?
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 thee a coward counted I, and meeter for to scold,
Than in the daunger of the warres to venture in the same,
Occasion sith I haue to speake, I speake it to thy shame.
The heauenly Gods haue made thee chiefe, & sceptre for to beare,
And rule this host, stout manly minde in thee 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 heede hence forth to braule or iniurie the Greekes:
And if to flie, and hie thee hence it so thy fansie leekes,
Get thee 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 Greekes 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,
Nor leaue me till the end of all, assurde our comming hether
Unto the coastes directed was by Gods yea altogether.
This speech the Greeks 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
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 thee, 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 unworthy for to liue, than ciuill warre who loues.
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 Troya 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 seeke.
For why, the enmy lyes at hand, it is a heauie thing
(God knowes) their fires to see, and heare them by our noses ring,
Loe here the night which wil vs saue, if prudent men we be,
But if we sleepe, then shal we fall, in handes of th'enimie.
When he had sayed, and they had heard, his wil it was obayde,
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, three knights right hard to daunt,
And wights not betterde like to be, where men come in their haunt.
These with their souldiors armed ful, with dartes and armor bright,
Tween wal and trench they set themselues, & tend the watch al night.
They fires make, some eate, some walke, no one of them doth sleepe,
With eyes they looke for them that come, and eares attentiue keepe.
On th'other side Agamemn he to supper brings the Lords,
They neyther thirst nor hunger feele, so wel he them afordes.
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,
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 proceedeth ill?
An other thing to counsaile you it moueth me againe,
Which ful to followe is your best, not contrary to faine
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 rich,
Or else by meanes of curteous speech and by entreatie miche.
Agamemnon thus answerd straight: O aged sire, no lesse
Where of 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 Greekes 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 will bestow in guerdon for the facte
Great gallant gifts of loftie price out of my treasures pacte,
Which I wil name vnto you here, esteeme their price who can:
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 beene in Greece ful dearly payed.
If so much wealth and coine he had, he shou'd not thinke he needs
As I haue got and gained eke by trauel of these steedes.
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 yeelde
His Bryseis floure of Damsels al, as pure and vndefeeld,
As when the 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 agree 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 esteeme the man with honor vnbeguilde,
As I mine owne Orestes do, my deare and louing childe.
And if he mariage lifte to minde, I gladly wil him knowe
My sonne in lawe, on him I wil a daughter mine bestowe:
Take where he please, I three nowe haue which meeke & modest are,
Chrisoteme 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 enclosd with goodly fruitful trees,
Pedasos, whose fat fertile earth with Uineyards wel agrees,
Egea with hir gallant seate, and Anthia so commended
For fruitful meades 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 agreement doe,
(Would Gods O valiant Achilles) our strifes were brought vnto
A quietnesse: let Pluto to thy deede 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 heeding wel his tale, his speeche againe doth vse,
Sir Atreus sonne these presents told Achill ought not refuse,
For great they are: wherefore prouide Embassadors to goe,
Three 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 deede,
To wash our hands: you Heraults hie, and water fetch with speede,
And you ye Greekes, (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 speeche to make the way,
So graue that is, and he therewith his courage to delay.
Thus went the pointed Princes forth, with care to be wel heard,
And lowly to the Marine God their prayers they prefarde,
That of the valiant Greeke the wrath so deepe 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.
This Uioles sweetnesse matchlesse was with beautie rare to see,
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 Ætion did rule with princely mace,
Which Thebes was by him destroyde, no one there was that markte
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 shoulde, Patroclus also rose,
And to receiue them puts himselfe: to speeche Achilles goes,
Right welcome be those my good friends, and 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 esteeme, I lovde, I loue, and loue you wil for ay.
Thus said, with curteous countnance 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 breede,
And more than that, my wishers wel, and very friends in deede.
His friends minde when Patroclus heard, he doth obey the same,
And more a caldron 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
Of one yeare fed, Antomedon and Achil they do cut
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 meeter 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 Greekish Lords, yt they would fal to meate,
And to Vlisses face to face 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 Greekes the choice (quoth he) I now ful meete it thinke
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,
For vs content, the present time some other thing requires
Than stil to feede, and on our meate to set our whole desires.
Our care it is vnto our case al careful to prouide,
And wisely to inuent some way the Troyan force t'abide,
And keepe 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 Greekes beslaine,
And by their force defeated quite, yea in the ships. Againe,
And more their pride to set a gog, seene 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 reekes no whit of God or man, with smoke he wil vs quel.
This threate hath troubled much our sprites wt fear & chilling dreed,
In doubt that fate wil haue it so, and gods they haue agreed
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 see your friends so many quailde, and that no care you had,
When neede 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 stayde this vtter ruine, which neuer can be holpen,
Friend mine, I wel do cal to minde what Peleus 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 thee valiaunt heart ynough, with big and brawnie bones,
But thou with loue and modest port those gifts must beautifie,
And kepe thee from dissembling faulte, and filthy fraude defye,
Yeelde not thy minde vnto reuenge, and so of yong and old
You shal be much and hie esteemde, 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 speech 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 seeking now for thy good wil, by vs doth offer thee
(Which here I count) such goodly giftes, as rich and gorgeous be.
First seauen triuets new and round, ten talents next of golde,
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 speede,
He might wel vaunt he were not poore, nor worldly muck to neede.
And further seuen ladies braue right od in needels 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 deepely sweares, vntoucht he doth hir person leaue,
And that the 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 greement 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 freely is:
He daughters there doth three 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 three 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 Greeks to ayde,
And helpe that quite they perish not? of whom it wil be sayde,
As to the gods; so are they bound Achilles vnto thee,
When they shal know that by thy meanes they are deliuerd free,
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 Greeke in Campe to be his match that may him once abide.
When he the prudent Greeke had hearde, to answere thus he start,
Vlisses, that, I answere plaine I thinke it is my part,
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 yee the Greekes 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 see 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 behoufe,
With semblant care, as pretie birde doth busie flye aloofe
To seeke out meate to feede hir yong unfeatherde who do ly,
And nakt in nest, who haue no power the champaine ayre to try,
And far vnmeete 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 esteeming 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 rauisht Heleine to regaine, & force them hir to yeeld?
Doth he and eke his brother weene 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 deeme ech worthy minde
Not to esteeme 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 speech and fained words seekes he all meanes he may
To swaddle up the festred wound? it wil not be, nay, nay,
With you and other of the Greekes (if so he thinketh good,)
Let him go Counsel to forsee how now may be withstoode
This daunger deepe, 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 beech him with intent me to abide I saw,
But straight I made him take his heeles and safe he thought him not
Til vnto Troy he was arrivde, and therein safely got.
Sith al wherein I then did ioy is turned now to griefe,
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 sacrifice to 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 three dayes space at Pthie coast my countrey I shal ride.
Some balazde deepe with blazing brasse, and yron bright of blee
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 Greekes my quarel it is iust,
And that they heede their chief not wrong them, as he hath done me,
For which I here protest, henceforth I wil him neuer see.
I thinke eke shamelesse though he be, and voyde 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,
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 those 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 see, 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 nold:
It cannot be I should content, my wrath it cannot coole,
Til for his fault he iustly smart wherein he playde the foole.
You also seemed 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 degree,
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,
Sheepe, Oxen, coursers great, triuets, like stuffe and many more
Once lost may eft soone 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 needes 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 seeing the Gods and Ioue so sound in their defence,
My friend Vlisse, and Aiax then away depart you hence,
Go tel the Greekes my answere now, and how I wil away,
Some other course and what to do let aged heads assay,
And so to feele 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 cheeke by cheeke,
I meane not maugre his good wil, but if himselfe so leeke.
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 forsees, which al the campe is in,
With trickling teare of earning minde this speech he doth begin:
Though you refuse oh noble prince the safetie of this host,
And that your wrath is so confirmde you needes 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 fittst, you should performe, yea both in word and deede,
To make you a souldiour for the field and oratour at neede
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,
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 hewde 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 me prayde
With hands held vp importunate, to practise with the mayde
So far, that with hir I might lodge, that once the matter spyed,
My father would no more hir keepe, 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 beleeue,
That Pluto graunted to his plaint, whereat I did so greeue,
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 seeke againe to winne
Most carefully my home abode, which sooner to obtaine,
To loftie Gods their vowes they make, to the right down are slaine
Sheepe, beeues, and porkets great of grease, whereof they rost-meate make,
And feed therof, of pleasant wine their tipple in they take,
Which in his house the old man had, and eke thrice three log nights
The dores made faste, they keepe 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 Bees, that large and fruitful be,
Where your 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 tall,
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 loue, 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 not eate but what came out my fist.
To stil and please you when they woulde, they set you on my knee,
If nothing I would haue you eate, I muste your taster bee.
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 feeblenesse appearde.
This short discourse (mine owne deare sonne) is onely you to pray
Your minde to temper, and to put this wreakful wrath away.
Th'immortal 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 daughters true of Ioue,
Who for to seeke 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 feeble 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 seeke your grace, nor yet himselfe relent.
I durst not for the Greekes 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 herevnto 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 speeche, 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)
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.
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 Boare to his fields she sent a gastful and a grimme,
Which many mischiefes did him doe, his people downe he slewe,
His grounde for fruicts he fowlie spoild, and down his trees he threw:
Gay appletrees, 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 stocke,
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 claime 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, proceeded is so fur.
Thus Calidon besieged tho by crues of Curete lande,
A certaine time it is releevde 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 meekest 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 bow in hand to cause him yeelde 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,
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 speede, and at his doore he standes,
He him intreats vpon his knees 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, & forcst 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 youg & old they die ye 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 thee shield Achilles now to thinke vs so to vse,
And for to leaue vs in this brake, such meaning doe refuse.
To you what corsee would it be to see the enmies put
Our nauie to the wasting flame, and vs in peeces 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 hiely liftes.
But if you doe forslowe the time to helpe in our defence,
Your succour slowe shall honour want, eke meede and recompence.
The ruler Phoenix here did end: Achill doth thus replie,
This honour now whereof you talke and bribes I neede 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 yeeld me to his will, and will in all degrees,
As long as this my bodie here shall goe vppon my knees,
As long as life in limmes shall last the world whole shall knowe,
To aide the Greekes 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 seeke 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 Greekes 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 sweete, wherein should rest the noble aged wight.
The worthy Aiax Telamon this heard, right well he knewe
They lost but time, it bootelesse was them further for to sewe.
Unto Vlysses, friend (quoth he) enough is done, away,
I see 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 iollie,
Who borne haue most hainous factes by filthy foemeus deede,
Who children theirs and brethren neere haue deadly done to bleede,
Yet by entreatie haue forgiuen, what so th'offence hath beene.
Or else they haue accepted mendes, and willingly haue seene
In time the men who murthrers were. Achill, th'immortall Gods
Tweene 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 beseech, 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)
I doe allowe all that you say, and it of amitie
Proceedes 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 proceede, goe tell them all therefore,
I minded am not for the Greekes 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 Greekes slaine round about my tent, yet Hector doth not dare
I thinke for feare so neere 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 comend,
Vlysse the wisest takes his leaue, and forth doth formost wend?
A goodly bed they then prepare, a mattresse, linnen soft,
Behong with curtines rounde about, a couerlet fine aloft.
Of woollen weaue, where Phoenix doth alone right soundly sleepe,
Straight after doth the valiaunt Greeke to stately cabban creepe
To take his rest: King Phorbas breede did come with him to be
In bed, (the King of Lesbos Ile) the faire Diomede
His mate, also to sport himselfe lies downe betweene his sheetes,
With Iphis gaie the same to sleepe, Patroclus with hir meetes,
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 Greekes 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 Greece that are,
Vlysses O thou noble he, a Gods name vs declare
Whether Achill our giftes will haue, what hope or comfort tell yee
Of our reliefe? doth he relent, or be in rage still will hee?
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 Greekish land, the whole assemblie quaild,
They stoode abasht whe this they heard, long while their speech it faild,
Not holding vp their heads they sat, till Diomede the Greeke
Of them so worthy of accompt the solempne silence breeke.
You must the marke Agamemnon, when legates you sent out
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 sees 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 see Troyans to ouerthrowe,
This speech and councell well allowde the princes euerie one,
And to his Tent or ship to leape they all departed gone.

Finis noni Libri