The Greekish kings did drawe aborde, and downe to rest they lie,
But Agamemn for carefull griefe no sleepe came in his eye.
As oft is seene the stormes of haile great showres and thunder blowes,
The boistrous blasts, the lightning flames, when Ioue his flashes throwes,
Or when great bankes of snowe he sendes in countrey low that lies:
So out the Greekish Chieftaines breast the grones and sighings flies.
His heart doth quake, his dolefull sprite doth stand in heauie plight,
And chiefly, when on Troyans campe hard by he castes his sight:
Where he beholdes huge fires to flame, great cries, vnwonted noyce,
And round the quarters to resound, with flutes and hie Hawboixe.
Againe, when he doth turne his eye vnto his beaten bandes,
A sleepe, fordone, at point to fall into their enemies handes,
For griefe from head his haire he pulles, and armes he heaues aloft,
Intreating Ioue to pitie some his Godhead may be brought.
In this so sore conflict of minde what meetest is to take,
He thinkes it best to goe in hast the Nestor olde to wake,
His counsellour graue with him t'aduise, and councell good to seeke,
To thwart this daunger from his folke, which happen them is leeke.
He vp his wonted robes doth take, his shooes on feete he tide,
And from his shoulders downe doth hang a mightie Lions hyde,
A large and beautifull to see, on ground it trailes behinde,
A dart he tooke, and to his side his faulchon he doth binde.
The while this king doth beare himselfe lesse carefull not a whit,
Was Menelau, for feare and grief his eies he could not shit,
Calling to minde the perill great of such a masse of men,
In his reuenge who paste the sea to warre with the Troyen,
A nation stout and fierce in fight, in hope to gaine renowne,
His goodly Curets on he puts and Helmet on his crowne,
His backe a Lyberds skinne doth hap, and launce in hand he haes,
He straight doth goe right to the shippes Agamemnon to raase,
He founde him newly full attirde, he ioyes at Menelawes,
Who to him doth aduaunce himselfe, and thus his tale he drawes:
You brother mine and eldest borne, what meane you thus to thrust
Your selfe in armes? the Troyan campe this night abroade you must
Send out a spie to viewe it well, to get such one I doubt
To serue the turne, the charge belongs to one right bold and stout.
Him answerde Agamemnon thus: both you and I good brother
Doe greatly neede good sound aduise our people for to further,
And eke our nauie for to saue from Troyan sworde and fiers,
And most sith Ioue doth friend our foes, and leaues vs in the briers.
I neuer sawe, ne yet haue heard one man such partes to play
Of valiancie, as Hector hath vpon the Greekes this day.
He comes not of the Gods their line, yet flie we from his rage,
I leeue the Greekes will nere forget this fright in after age.
I thinke it best you straight doe goe vnto the Greekish nauie
To Aiax and the king of Creete, and tell them that now craue I
They will with speede to councell come, and I on th'other side
Procure will Nestor to the watch, for our state to prouide.
His sonne is captaine of the same ioynde with Meryon,
They both will doe what Nestor shall commaund for to be done.
Your minde performde quoth Menelau shall I returne againe,
Or will you that till they doe come, I doe with them remaine?
Doe you with them abide quoth he, least they doe misse the way,
The campe it is so full of crookes they likely are to straie.
I further thus doe counsaile you, when you the princes call,
Doe gently vse your wordes and soft, and name their names withall,
Their state recite and eke their race, and doe not stuntly talke,
Still with a lowe and courteous grace let there the speeches walke.
We both must yeelde our selues thereto, and arme vs to abide
Things much vnmeete, sith Ioue that God of vs doth so decide.
When Agamemnon well had schoold his brother, soft he hies,
And quickly comes into the Tent whereas king Nestor lies,
Unto the good olde man he comes, in bed he founde him laied,
His harneys bright, his helmet braue, his shield that waightie waied,
Two dartes withall lay hard him by, and eke his gorgeous belt,
Wherwith he girdes, when Greekes he leades, as on that age not felt.
Nestor hearing Agamemnon with stealing step to stalke
So nie his bed, liftes vp himselfe, and thus beginnes his talke
Leaning vpon his elbowe moovde: a gods name what art thou
That in the night thus romes in campe? to our ships who brings you?
Who sends you forth while others sleepe? some mulet doe you misse?
Or fellowes lost doe you enquire? what ho, say what it is,
Tell me what chaunce you hether sends at time so out of season,
If nought you lacke, say on your case out speech, else stay with reason.
O worthy king, O noble fame, of Greekes the glory odde,
I am vnhappie Agamemn in griefe and sorowe sodde,
Agamemnon, whom cruell Ioue orechargeth so with shame,
And vile reproche, that nought I hope but mischiefe to my name.
I to you come, for that I cannot rest in this estate,
The tender care of Greekes I haue makes me my bed to hate:
Such dread & shame take hold of me, my heart doth trembling quake,
My soule despaire doth whole assault, my feeble legges doe shake:
For griefe my wearie minde sustaines, this is the chiefest cause,
And eke you rest no more thon I: wherfore now let vs pause,
I you beseeche this folke to shield, let vs some way deuise
From wasting hand of Troyan foes, and therefore (friend) arise,
And if you please we will repaire whereas the watch they keepe,
And viewe if souldiors ouerhaeld with toile doe wearie sleepe.
Alas our enimies be at hand, and little doe we ken
Whether this night they will vs charge, what safetie haue we then?
King Nestor thus to him replies, thinke you that Ioue he will
So Hector friend, what Hector list that Ioue will it fulfill?
No, no I thinke that he himselfe is deerd and gallde at full,
He doubts Achill will leaue his pottes, and ioyne with you he wull.
But vp I will and follow you, eke you to be about
Call vp the cunning Vlysses, and Diomede the stout,
The curteous Meges, and Aiax the second Oilee cald,
In whom the prowesse of Grecian land so deepe and hie is stald.
O would to God some one did bid the Aiax great to sturre,
And Idomene, whose side large tents from vs are distaunt furre.
Why is not Menelaus here? hath he so little care,
He who should waite continually, and watching to repaire
With humble suite vnto the best, his eyes what can he close,
And of this warre leaue you the toile, which to such daunger groes?
For the good will I beare the man I bitterly must braule,
And with him chide, though him you loue, yea fall what will befall.
Thus answerd him Agamemnon, you worthy aged sire,
His slacknesse you to reprehend, you know is my desire.
No slouth or ignoraunce him holdes, him his assuraunce staies,
Sometimes which in my Actes he hath; the charge on me he laies.
In this he doth deserue no blame, but rather worthy praise,
To be imployde, well armde at full he first came me to raise,
To Aiax and our other friends I sent him out erst while,
Lets goe, they surely tarie vs, hard by the watch Bastile.
He hath them sayd they should not faile but to attend vs there:
If brother yours quoth Nestor tho so kindely doe him beare,
And carefull be as you doe tell, and if he bid and pray
With modestie, the Grecians all him serue will and obay,
As much as you, who is their chiefe, herewith his bed he leaues
Full soft, and on his royall weede and richly robes he heaues.
Fine shooes of picked leather out his foote he tieth vnder,
A scarlet mantell on he throwes, for cost to see, a wonder,
Of Lemster wooll the best it was, the workmanship was much,
A golden buckle made it fast, he in apparell such
In right hand takes his stubborne launce, to the pauilion
Of Vlysses forthwith he comes, him loude he calleth on,
And bids him rise, hearing the voyce of the good aged man,
He starteth out his sleepe, and vp to them he thus began:
Alone why goe you vp and downe in time so darke and still?
What lacke or daunger are you in? what is it that you will?
Laertes heire so wise (quoth he) of vs no maruaile thinke,
For verie plaine necessitie hath brought vs to hir brinke:
Come, let vs raise some other prince, and what is to be done,
Let vs consult, as howe to fight, or else away to runne.
When Vlysses had Nestor heard, on shoulder straight he throwes,
And hanges his target at his backe, and after them he goes:
There right against the tent they finde of Diomede the Greeke,
That mightie man, out which he stepte, his armor not to seeke,
For on it was, a mightie hyde of beefe him vnderlay,
For pillow to his head he had a Carpet new and gay.
His mates, his bands, his men of war, they sleepe him round about,
Their armor hangs them by, and as the lightning breaking out
Doth shine far off, so do the same their darts and bucklers by.
The Nestor old with noise ynough doth draw the Grecian nye,
His heele he touchte, and therewithall fault finding thus sayes he:
What, dost thou sleepe O Diomede descended of Tydee?
Asleepe are you, knowing our foes at hande to keepe suche charme,
And loud to chaunt it in the plains, wherein so thicke they swarme?
So wakde, thus answerde Diomede: Nestor, I greatly muse
How that your yeares can bide and beare such trauaile as you vse.
Why yeelde you stil your selfe to toile? haue you no youthful lads
To send about to call the kings, but Nestor stil he gads?
Yes sure I am, but your quicke sprite is neuer dull nor ydle,
Sound friend (quoth Nestor) what you say, as true is as the Byble.
I doubtie children haue, with men and subiects not a few,
Who zealous for my quiet rest themselues wil try and tewe,
And do what I shall wishe them doe: but for this vrgent bracke
Wherein I see vs and our folke, my helpe I can not slacke,
Wel knowing, that if presently we make not head with heede,
But slacke the time, we cannot holde, but downe we al must bleede.
My yeares if that you pitie so, on fellowship call yee
Aiax Oilee, with Meges eke, who sonne is of Philee,
Straight Diomede him clad with skinne of boisteous Lyon weare,
And forth he goes, forgetting not his staffe and loftie speare,
To the two Greekes he hyed him fast, and soone he founde them out,
And them entreates to come to him who ruleth all the rout.
The Princes straight and al the kings here named, meete at watch,
They finde the watchmen all awake, and none with slumber latche,
By course they liuely stand and hark, like souldiors fierce they fare,
As mastiffes, who for mightie flockes keepers appointed are,
Do carefull heede, the Lyons leape downe whirling from the rocke,
From wood, or field, for to assault the sheepe within the flocke,
The shepeheards plaste in quarters round about their seemely folde,
Deep scath in night least they receiue, hie noise tweene them is trold,
And slumber none from their regard one whit can make the stoupe,
So careful more, if more may be, was al the Greekish troupe.
For sleepe was banishte from their eies, desire of watch augmented:
To whome did Nestor ioyfully, (when as he sawe thus tented
Their charge in hand) performe this speech: watch, watch my childre deere,
Sleep not least yt our hateful foes shold now surprise vs heere,
And wreak on vs their spitefull teene, vs taking at vnwares,
For want of looking to the watch, full great then were our cares.
The Kings with him, he past ye trench, whe he these words had said,
And commeth straight vnto the place, which ful of morts was layde,
Where Hector had the day before so highly done in fight,
And bloudie victorie had prolongde vnto the dreadfull night.
There downe the gallant Princes sit low placed on the grounde,
To talke they fall, and Meryon, (whose match may not be founde
For valiantnesse) to councel him, and Thrasymede they call
That doubtie knight, next to the kings commended most of all.
Nestor the flowre of Knighthood then thus al did speake the there,
Beloued friends of you who doth in mind the valor beare,
Whose hart and wisedom wil him serue the Troyan camp to view,
And seeke the meane to bring vs worde, that we may trust as true,
Whether they meane t'assaulte our ships, or fortifie the plaine,
And home to goe after they haue such Greekish number slaine?
Some captiue of the taile perhap the matter may him tell,
Or hearkning where they lye at rest, he may it heare ful wel.
And if to vs he safe returne, and do their purpose bring,
He wel may say he hath deservde, that we his fame do ring.
Beside in guerdon he shall haue rich gifts, and not a few,
Eche patrone of a ship shal giue a big blacke fatted Ewe
Yea with the Lambe, a gift in truth in price for to be had,
In banquets welcome shall he be, and al men of him glad.
He done, good space the hearers stayde, no answere they replyed,
Diomede loude before the kings thus to his tale he hied:
My burning heart doth bid me goe, and forth it prickes me on
In this hazarde to serue a spie, and doubtie champion,
And go I will, so I may haue with me a dreadlesse mate,
For in a case of so great waight the wit of one mans pate,
Is not so good as that of two, when one doth councel take
He forward feareth daunger none, him bolder doth it make.
But man alone, though stout and strong, yea resolute and wise,
At point sometime doth shrinke, to him doth feare and terror rise.
This offer great hearde of the kings so nobly by the Greeke,
The Aiax twaine wil followe him, they al wyl do the leek:
To liue and dye in all assayes with him wil Merion,
The gallant Thrasimede so craues, Menelau wil be one.
The wise Vlysses he doth sweare he wil the hazard proue,
Who far for wilie ingenie was all the Greekes aboue.
When Agamemnon from this cause did see they did not starte,
O friende quoth he as deare to me as is yea life or heart,
Sith now you see to followe you are ready al and some,
Choose one your self, who nearst wil stand, when you in dager come,
Let neither shame nor bashfulnesse cause you right iudgement misse,
Choose not for lignage great, but who most sage and hardie is.
No greater harme coulde be, than worst to haue, and best to loose.
So sayde Agamemnon for feare he Menelau woulde choose,
Bycause his parentage was great, which eke his wealth did fit.
Sith (quoth he doubtie Greeke) to me the choise you do remit,
Should I forget Vlysses here, whose wisedome is so famed,
Whose minde in dangers none so great could euer yet be tamed,
Of whome (yea) al the loftie Gods preserue a care and heede,
And chiefly to direct his factes Minerua is agreede?
I thinke I with this noble minde the fiercest flames to flye,
I knowe the prudence is so great which in the man doth lye.
Chaunt not I pray you (quoth Vlysse) my factes, ne yet me blame
Before these Kings, my want and skil they knowe ful wel the same.
Lets goe, the night it runnes away, the stars are far agate:
The dawning straight wil bring the day, it groweth very late.
With this the two renoumed Greeks were armed by the Kings,
His sword vnweeldy Thrasimede to the stout Greeke he brings,
Two edged with point of perfect trampe, for he to hast the more
His shield and faulchon in his tent he left behinde therefore,
And without crest or plume at all his morian on doth pull,
Of bullish hyde, a yong mans weare, men do it call a scul.
Meryon to Vlysses giues his quiuer and his bowe,
A massie sworde, and for his head doth tricke attire bestowe,
Within of lether fitly framde, and it of fensiue tanne,
So set with wilde swines teeth without, as cut it nothing can,
Howe keene so ere the weapon be, and notwithstanding that
So stiffe it were, yet might one put within it wel his hat.
Antilochus ful long agoe it founde, as he begonne
To ransacke quite Ormenus house who was Amyntors sonne,
In Eleon where then it stoode, the shape so proper was,
That long who helde it noted stoode, he hight Amphidamas,
To warlike Molus he it gaue, who left it to his heire,
He ay it bare, to the trimme Greeke, and lent it now to weare.
Thus armd as I haue sayd, right soone they from the others wet,
And to them in their way, Minerue a mightie Heron sent,
Who chanted loude his cries aloft, they wel might heare the voice,
But nothing see, bicause of might, yet greatly they reioice
At the good hap: Vlysses, who the Augure wel bewrayes,
Ful pleased is, to the Goddesse deuoutly thus he prayes.
Heare me dame Pallas breed of Ioue, who vouchsaues me to aide,
In daungers al, in toiles my guide, by whome I stil am stayed,
Graunt I returne with victorie, and that I glorie gaine,
That we two do atchieue some deede vnto the Troians paine.
Eke Diomede thus softly prayes, deuoutly as he may,
Bowe downe thine eare thou Goddesse milde, thou dame Tritonia,
Thou daughter deare belovde of Ioue, be thou my luckie guide,
As to my sire Tydee thou werte, when he in message hide
Embassador the Thebanes to, the Greekes and them t'agree,
At his returne he shewde himselfe right wel by meanes of thee.
O prudent Goddesse graunt to me such force and hardy hart,
As he then had, and so me guide, as out this cause I part,
My honor savde: In sacrifice I do thee here behight
Thy Altar on an Heiffer faire, on whome yoke neuer light,
I wil commaunde the hornes likewise shal be al ouer guilt,
And with good heart presented thee, if heare me now thou wilt.
Thus prayed both the noble Greekes, the goddesse bowde them to,
And graunted fully to them both what they wisht there to do.
Forth then they martch two Lios like the bleeding corpse they tread
So grieuous was the Gretians losse, ore al the plaine they spread.
His people Hector lets not sleepe, the wise and grauest sort
He sommons to his tent, to whom he doth his minde report.
Who here (quoth) wil promise me my hest for to fulfil,
He shal be sure of honor due, reward him wel I wil,
He shal receiue of me I say, to recompence his paine
A chariot guided with two steedes the best, of Greekish traine,
I aske no more but that he go vnto the enmies nauye
Whether they meane to tarie vs that therof knowledge haue I,
If in their ships their wonted watch they kepe, or (as I gesse)
Thus cowed, they thinke to run their ways, when we heede nothing lesse,
This was his speech, but none that heard did answere to the same,
A Troyan in this counsel was that Dolon had to name,
The only son of Herald good that Eumades was cleapt,
To whom great masse of wealthy store was in his treasure heapt,
This Dolon was of ougly shape, but fit to do his deede,
Belovde of sire, the last of sixe that left was of the breede.
He heeding much the promise great that doughtie Hector told,
Straight standeth vp and thus begins: Hector stoute courage bolde
Doth force my minde to take in hand this voyage, and to bring
Word, whether that the Greeks wil stad, or forth to flight wil fling.
As chieftaine iust sweare by your mace you beare by princely lawes,
To giue me braue Achilles chare, and coursers it that drawes.
Dread not your noble enterprise, by me it shal not quaile,
I straight wil to the Greekish barkes, and there I wil not faile
To enter in, yea of the hiest, their secrets there to leare.
Quoth Hector then with sceptre vp aloft into the ayre,
Sith go thou wilt where I haue sayde, by thundring Ioue I vow,
None mount shal on those goodly steedes but only Dolon thou,
Ful iustly thou them conquer shalt, do them possesse therfore
A guerdon iust for thy desart: thus noble Hector swore
This Troyan to, but he periurde, he bad him forth to gang.
An old woulfes skin doth Dolon take, it down his back doth hang.
His bow hung on his shoulder bent, his mantel was aloft,
A Sallet new vpon his head, of hide of geate not soft:
For made it was yea for the proofe, a dart, it braue and bright,
In hand he takes, and deemes himselfe right souldiour like to fight.
Thus being armde, not to returne in hast he forward hies,
To much beguilde, if hope he haue euer to set his eyes
On Hector, much lesse on his sire, such way he rides amaine
That soone he entred was ful far into the champion plaine.
Vlisse then minding nothing else, but what he had to do,
Aloufe perceiuing Dolon come, spake thus Diomede to:
From Troyan campe behold a foe, a spie he for our foes,
Or some to spoile in battel plaine I gesse he surely goes.
We shall do wel to let him passe til to our ships he drawes,
We following hard at heeles, on him shal easily lay our pawes.
Yet take good heede, if he do straine to flie or runne awaye,
That we to force him to our ships do do the best we may,
Him driuing from the Troyan campe, where he wil thinke to go,
Him follow with your reaching staffe, and do your valure show.
Here both the Greekes amongst the slayne out of the way they got,
And spie and hearke after the spie, who goes a speedie trot.
When as they saw him so far of as moyles coupled in twaine
In trauel of the Oxen slow do space before them gaine:
They quickly out their ambush start, and fast vpon him come.
Dolon hearing the noyse they made, supposd them Troyans some
Pertakers with him who would be, his iourney staying so.
This while the Greekes approch so nie, as one a dart may thro,
But when he founde what men they were, he forward runs apace,
And the two Greekes do part themselues, and follow fast the trace.
And as you see two Greyhoundes course in wood a Hinde or Hare,
And lay so hard vnto the beastes that they their conquests are:
Euen so these valiant Greekes do chase this Troyan badly hapt,
Who could not scape, but wel he found himself stil more intrapt.
So fast did Dolon scoure away, that nere vnto the scoute
Of the Greekes watch he draweth nie, to Diomede the stoute
The goddesse Pallas doth encrease his strength and swiftnesse both,
That other should the honour haue (him taking) she was loth.
He with these words him ouertakes: I charge the for thy heade
No further passe for if thou do, my dart shal do thee deade.
And herewithal hard by his necke he made the same to fly,
And Dolon staide more colde than yee, he stoode so tremblingly,
That one full wel might heare his teeth togither so to shake:
The noble Greekes far out of breath do there the Troyan take,
Who letting fal whole flouds of teares doth open thus his voyce,
O warlike wights do saue my life, and at your proper choyce
I wil it buy, my sire with gold, with brasse and yron flowes,
And iewels great, which he wil giue, when he aliue me knowes,
And prisner in your handes to bee: Vlisse of wit so rare
Sayd, Troyan take you heart of grace, and put away this care,
And feare not death here of vs two, and tel me not to lye,
Deceiue me not in what I aske, nor in what know would I:
What enterprise haue you in hand, thus in the night to creepe
Unto our campe stil and alone when al men are asleepe?
Come you to seeke some carcase dead, that yesterday was slaine,
And it to spoyle, did Hector else bid you to take this paine?
Did he send you to spie his foes? by his commaundmente come yee
Or of your selfe? which of the two? the truth declare to me.
Quoth trembling dreadful Dolon tho, dead like in euery guise,
The hope that Hector put me in, it hath me made so wise,
That at his wil here come I am, wherof I finde I misse
To try the thing, he promist me, the chare of Achilles
And al that did belong thereto, so that I to him brought
From out your campe some certain newes, & whervpo you thought,
Whether you meant to take the sea, or to your tackle stand,
And chiefely if you kept your watch, and if your ships were mande
Quoth Vlisse with a smyling faint, by your own words I see
Your minde doth dreame on greater things than fit for your degree.
Those coursers are of nature such, no mortling may them guide
Their master, but, whom Ioue decreede should come out Thetis side.
Tel me I pray thee without guile, when Hector bad thee hie,
Where was the man? and he vnarmde where doth his armour lie
That is so famed ouer all? and also in what nooke
Do chariots his and coursers lodge, their trauel when they brooke?
What do his people lye a bed with toyle of battel tierd,
Or do they watch, and for to fight is it of them desirerd?
What wil they keepe the fields, and vs charge in the morning tide,
Or with their victorie to Troy wil they victorious ride?
Quoth Dolon I wil tel you true: when I came on my way,
The worthy Hector at the tombe of Ilus he did stay,
When with the greatst he did consult of matters meetest ware,
To ouerthrow his enimies it was his chiefest care.
As for the watch wherof you aske, sure Hector doth it wil,
But finally do his souldiours reack his minde for to fulfil,
They soundly sleepe. Some Troyans yet enforst are for their liues
The fires to light, for feare they lose their children, town, and wiues,
And nought but for pure neede they do. The strangers on them lay
The charge of al, their wiues far off, they sticke not so to say.
Vlisses further askes him thus: the forraines lodge they where,
The Troyans with, or by themselues? it would I gladly heare.
Unto this question which you aske, I truely wil you tel,
And where ech band is placed right: The Caries and Peones dwel,
The Caucons, Lelges, and Pelasges along the sea do ly,
On the other side to Thimbra hil the Lycians campe them by,
The Phrygians, Meons, Misians, but to what purpose now
Tel I by name the Troyans power? if thither go wil you,
Ful true you shal my speeches finde, the souldiours new from Thrace
Lye far vs off, their cariages and they do keepe their place:
Where Rhesus I their king did see and steedes of ferlie might,
In colour they do passe the snow his horses are so white,
As swift they are as is the winde, when Rhesus wil them ride,
His chare I saw of mettals two both fine and perfect tryde,
Composde of gold and siluer bright, his armor al of gold,
In al the earth is not the like, it straunge is to be told.
No liuing man I worthy thinke of worthy armour such,
For Ioue or for some other God I thinke of worthy armour much.
I hauing tolde you all you would, I humbly do you pray,
Leade me vnto your ships, or bound here let me ly I say,
And hastly go vnto our campe, and eyely do behold
If I in ought haue failed you, or not the truth haue told.
This speech Diomede (loking thwart) to the poore spie did giue,
Hope not to scape my hands I say, thou canst no longer liue,
Although of thee we learned haue some things for our behoofe,
I know if we should let thee go at libertie aloofe
Hereafter thou wouldst spie our campe, or else the same assault,
But as I may, if I thee kil, the Greekes thou shalt not fault.
Such were his words, but Dolon thought yet to entreate ye Greek,
And drew nie soft to touch his chin, and fauour to beseeke.
But in this thought he to his necke his sword so sowrely set,
That down he ouerthrew him dead, the cordes in pieces fet,
Wherwith the heade tumbles aside and murmurs in the fal:
His sallet then of geatish skin, his corslet fine withal
Of woluish heire, his bended bow and dart he taketh straight,
And to the welkin then Vlisse (heauing his hands on height)
The harneis held, to Pallas prayde with soft and silent voyce,
At this oblation here we bring oh goddesse do reioyce,
As worthyest of th'immortals all, and most of power and might,
To whom we ought al worthily vowes shape and aulters dight:
Offrings of due thy Godhead hie shal haue, graunt vs the grace
That we oh Lady, at this time may come where they of Thrace
Are sounde a sleepe, oh Ladie graunt that we those armours see,
Their goodly steedes and Chariot which, is of such golden blee.
His prayer when ended had the Greeke, eft vp his hands he holds,
Hie in the ayre, and on an heape the habites then he foldes,
And hangs them on a bow, and cuts a branch of Tamarin
A loftie arme, it sets for marke when they returned bin,
Their way the better for to finde, among the dead they passe,
And to the Thracians come at last as it determinde was,
In mightie rankes of numbers three them fast asleepe they found,
And by ech one his furniture lay closely on the ground.
Their stuffe, their harneis and theyr horse, were nere at hand to vse:
To sleepe in midst of all his men king Rhesus he did chuse,
His stout and startling steedes him by, and tyed to his chare
With strong and lasting geares at ful, they rich and chosen ware,
This order when Vlisses saw, sayd, loe the king (my mate)
And horsse wherof (when of the campe) our Dolon spake alate
Now more than euer must you striue, and put your force in vre,
Sallet on head, and sword in hand, for nought must not be sure.
Do one of two, vndo these steedes, and I these beastes wil kil,
Or take your sword and flye them too, and I vnloose them wil.
The goddesse Pallas did encrease the doughtie Greeke his sprites,
He slayes them dead on euery side, and them in pieces smites.
The place is purple with the bloud, the grunts and grones are harde
Of such as are in peeces cut, and by his weapon marde.
And as a raging Lion, who findes goats and sheepe at large,
Out hold and wandring vp and down (the shepheard fro his charge)
Doth fal the on, & with his pawes the teares, & takes theyr bloud:
Ene so the Greeke the Thracians slue, he nothing was withstoode.
Twice sixe his edged sword did passe, of morts the place is fillde,
The carcases Vlisse aside did draw as he them killde.
He made the way the wished steedes more willing that they wente,
Nor should not feare the dead to treade, nor doubt it what it ment.
The king for thirtenth Diomede out life to death doth swap
He sweetely slept, but (silly man) it was a deadly nap,
The which (assisted by Pallas) that night the Greeke him brought.
This while Vlisse t'vndo the steedes he on his office thought,
And hastly through the multitude he brings them as a riuer,
And with his boystrous stubborne bow he layes on many a sliuer,
For hast he had forgot the whip their way which makes them rid.
A little past, spying his friend, who by his businesse bid,
He whistled to him in his fiste, and wel the sound he knew,
Straight for to know what he should do Diomede to him drew.
As whether for to draw the chare which ful of armour lay,
It by the beame, or on his backe to bring it quite away,
Or else to tend to murder stil, or to returne him backe,
Of these three points the valiant Greeke did resolution lacke.
Wherwith his furthrer Pallas saide, the actes whiche done thou haste
Be pleased with, get thee away, that thou mayst come at last
Al dreadlesse safe vnto thy ships, thou mayst wel doubtsome stop.
And least some God the Troyan power should set vpon thy top.
Diomede to Vlisses comes, he hearing in this case
The counsaile good, ech mounts a steede right swift and fleete of pace,
Vlysses layde on with his bowe, he made them for to flie.
Againe Phoebus with siluer bow bestirres right carefullye
The Troyans for. For when he spide Minerua for to chat
With the stout Greeke, and folow him, he wroth did growe therat,
And at the damage lately done, to Troyans straight he hyes,
And wakes king Rhesus vncle there Hippocoon as he lyes,
His vncle and his counsellor greate, who when he vp did reare,
And did behold that (as before) the coursers were not there,
But couerd place with slaughtred men, he cries, he houles, he whines,
Condemne he doth the Thracian bands, for soone the losse he findes.
He Rhesus, Rhesus named oft, which was his nephewe deare,
And Prince so tenderly belovde. When as the campe did heare
His roarings loud, it moued all, and most of it did runne
Unto the place to view the news, and see what there was donne,
They maruel at the crueltie, and on the slaughter stare,
They say the Greekes for the exploite of too much courage ware.
When the two kings came to the place where they had slain ye spie,
Vlysses stopte, the other downe there lighted by and by
The bloudie habites him to reatch, which done, he mounts agen,
And shortly come vnto the shippes, where Greeks attend the men.
Among the Kings was Nestor first of al did heare a sound,
And knew they came, thus spake he them: Of folk of Greekish groud
Ye sheepeheards yee, and of this campe so great the guiders graue,
Shal I vnto you tell a lye, and what in dreame I haue?
My minde doth wil me to beleeue before I see the thing,
A galloping of certaine horse deepe in mine eare doth ring.
O would to God our champions two were of such cunning sight,
As scaping daungers they could bring two goodly coursers light,
But much I dread these noble men haue had some deadly hap.
Scarce had he said, but the two Kings downe from their horses flap
Amongst them al: Eche one them greetes, good words vse euery man,
And aged Nestor of them al thus to Vlysse began:
O thou the glorie of our Greece, of honor worthy king,
Declare vnto me I you pray, these horses which you bring
So straunge for whitenesse of their blee, and like the sunnie raies,
What, hath some God them giuen you, or haue you any wayes
Won the the Troians fro? long time with Troians I haue fought,
And of my valor shewde good proofe, for age I neuer sought
Me to withdrawe, nor yet to clime my shippes, me there to hide,
Yet in the war I neuer sawe two coursers of such hyde.
I thinke some of the lofty Gods right careful of your good
To you haue them a present sent: for Iupiter hath stoode
Wel knowne a friend vnto you both, and Pallas neuer quailing
Is forward alwayes at your hand, with fauour neuer failing.
O Nestor sage good Neleus sonne, such steeds and coursers od
Quoth Vlysses to mortall wight may easily giue some God,
When they rewarde wil any one their powre is more to giue,
Than man hath powre to aske and take, that here doth mortal liue.
King Rhesus dead not eft to fight them hither lately led,
This countrey to: As for the horse out Thracia they are bred.
His knife Diomedes hath thrust into king Rhesus throate,
And to twelue more him sleeping by: As for this bloudy coate
It was the garment of a spie, the which we did entrap,
He slaine when we had al he knewe, and thus you heare our hap.
The trenches deep the coursers passe, the kings come hard at heeles,
This happy gaine and voiage makes them al to ioy awheeles.
To the rich tent when Vlysse came of his companion mate,
He careful tyde his horses fast, and plaste them in such rate,
As placed were the gallaunt steedes of the stout Greeke in rancke,
And where with bread and foder both the Greek his own did frank,
He Dolons geare did on the poupe hie in his ship bestowe,
And mindes to Pallas sacrifice and seruice ay to owe.
And straight these two so valiant Greeks, through toile who soundly swet,
To wash and bath their wearie limmes into the sea they get,
And there so wel do rub their neckes, their backs, their legs, & thies,
As they are cleansed of the filth which on their bodies lies.
They neate and wel refreshed thus, to pleasant baines do goe,
And there with oile they nointed are without from top to toe.
They then to meate, and Pallas ayde they pray in humble wise,
And bolles of wine vpon the earth they powre in sacrifice.

Finis decimi Libri