Classic Poem

The other Princes at their ships soft-fingerd sleepe did bind,
But not the Generall: Somnus' silkes bound not his laboring mind,
That turnd and returnd many thoughts. And as quicke lightnings flie
From well-deckt Juno's soveraigne, out of the thickned skie,
Preparing some exceeding raine, or haile, the fruite of cold,
Or downe-like Snow, that sodainly makes all the fields looke old,
Or opes the gulfie mouth of warre with his ensulphur'd hand,
In dazling flashes pour'd from clouds on any punisht land:
So from Atrides' troubled heart, through his darke sorowes, flew
Redoubled sighes: his intrailes shooke as often as his view
Admir'd the multitude of fires that gilt the Phrygian shade
And heard the sounds of fifes and shawmes and tumults souldiers made.
But, when he saw his fleet and host kneele to his care and love,
He rent his haire up by the roots as sacrifice to Jove,
Burnt in his firie sighes, still breath'd out of his royall heart;
And first thought good to Nestor's care his sorowes to impart,
To trie if royall diligence, with his approv'd advise,
Might fashion counsels to prevent their threatned miseries.
So up he rose, attir'd himselfe, and to his strong feet tide
Rich shoes, and cast upon his backe a ruddie Lion's hide,
So ample it his ankles reacht; then tooke his royall speare.
Like him was Menelaus pierc't with an industrious feare,
Nor sat sweet slumber on his eyes, lest bitter Fates should quite
The Greekes' high favours, that for him resolv'd such endlesse fight.
And first a freckled Panther's hide hid his brode backe athwart;
His head his brasen helme did arme, his able hand his dart.
Then made he all his haste to raise his brother's head as rare,
That he who most exceld in rule might helpe t' effect his care.
He found him at his ship's crookt sterne adorning him with armes,
Who joyd to see his brother's spirits awak't without alarmes,
Well weighing th' importance of the time. And first the yonger spake:
‘Why, brother, are ye arming thus? Is it to undertake
The sending of some ventrous Greeke t' explore the foe's intent?
Alas, I greatly feare not one will give that worke consent,
Exposd alone to all the feares that flow in gloomie night.
He that doth this must know death well, in which ends everie fright.’
‘Brother,’ said he, ‘in these affaires we both must use advice.
Jove is against us, and accepts great Hector's sacrifice.
For I have never seene nor heard in one day and by one
So many high attempts well urg'd as Hector's power hath done
Against the haplesse sons of Greece, being chiefly deare to Jove,
And without cause, being neither fruite of any Godesse' love
Nor helpfull God: and yet I feare the deepnesse of his hand,
Ere it be rac't out of our thoughts, will many yeares withstand.
But, brother, hie thee to thy ships and Idomen dis-ease
With warlike Ajax: I will haste to grave Neleides,
Exhorting him to rise and give the sacred watch command,
For they will specially embrace incitement at his hand,
And now his sonne their captaine is, and Idomen's good friend,
Bold Merion, to whose discharge we did that charge commend.’
‘Commandst thou then,’ his brother askt, ‘that I shall tarrie there
Attending thy resolv'd approach, or else the message beare
And quickly make returne to thee?’ He answerd: ‘Rather stay,
Lest otherwise we faile to meete; for many a different way
Lies through our labyrinthian host. Speake ever as you go;
Command strong watch; from Sire to sonne urge all t' observe the foe,
Familiarly, and with their praise, exciting everie eye,
Not with unseason'd violence of prowd authoritie.
We must our patience exercise and worke our selves with them,
Jove in our births combin'd such care to either's Diadem.’
Thus he dismist him, knowing well his charge before: he went
Himselfe to Nestor, whom he found in bed within his tent.
By him his damaske curets hung, his shield, a paire of darts,
His shining caske, his arming waste: in these he led the hearts
Of his apt souldiers to sharpe warre, not yeelding to his yeares.
He quickly started from his bed when to his watchfull eares
Untimely feet told some approach: he tooke his lance in hand
And spake to him: ‘Ho, what art thou that walk'st at midnight? Stand.
Is any wanting at the guards, or lack'st thou any Peere?
Speake: come not silent towards me: say what intendst thou here.’
He answerd: ‘O Neleides, grave honour of our host,
Tis Agamemnon thou maist know, whom Jove afflicteth most
Of all the wretched men that live, and will whilst any breath
Gives motion to my toiled lims and beares me up from death.
I walke the round thus since sweet sleepe cannot inclose mine eyes,
Nor shut those Organs care breaks ope for our calamities.
My feare is vehement for the Greeks: my heart (the fount of heate)
With his extreme affects made cold, without my breast doth beate;
And therefore are my sinewes strooke with trembling: everie part
Of what my friends may feele hath act in my dispersed heart.
But if thou thinkst of any course may to our good redound
(Since neither thou thy selfe canst sleepe) come, walke with me the round,
In way whereof we may confer and looke to everie guard,
Lest watching long and wearinesse, with labouring so hard,
Drowne their oppressed memories of what they have in charge.
The libertie we give the foe, alas, is over large:
Their campe is almost mixt with ours, and we have forth no spies
To learne their drifts, who may perchance this night intend surprise.’
Grave Nestor answerd: ‘Worthie king, let good hearts beare our ill.
Jove is not bound to perfect all this busie Hector's will:
But I am confidently given, his thoughts are much dismaid
With feare lest our distresse incite Achilles to our aide,
And therefore will not tempt his fate nor ours with further pride.
But I will gladly follow thee and stirre up more beside—
Tydides, famous for his lance, Ulysses, Telamon
And bold Phyleus' valiant heire. Or else, if any one
Would haste to call king Idomen and Ajax, since their saile
Lie so remov'd, with much good speed it might our haste availe.
But, (though he be our honord friend) thy brother I will blame,
Not fearing if I anger thee: it is his utter shame
He should commit all paines to thee that should himselfe imploy,
Past all our Princes, in the care and cure of our annoy,
And be so farre from needing spurres to these his due respects,
He should apply our spirits himselfe with pray'rs and urg'd affects.
Necessitie (a law to lawes, and not to be endur'd)
Makes proofe of all his faculties not sound, if not inur'd.’
‘Good father,’ said the king, ‘sometimes you know I have desir'd
You would improve his negligence, too oft to ease retir'd;
Nor is it for defect of spirit or compasse of his braine,
But with observing my estate; he thinks he should abstaine
Till I commanded, knowing my place, unwilling to assume,
For being my brother, any thing might prove he did presume.
But now he rose before me farre and came, t' avoid delaies,
And I have sent him for the men your selfe desir'd to raise.
Come, we shall find them at the guards we plac't before the fort,
For thither my direction was they should with speed resort.’
‘Why now,’ said Nestor, ‘none will grudge, nor his just rule withstand.
Examples make excitements strong and sweeten a command.’
Thus put he on his arming trusse, faire shoes upon his feet,
About him a mandilion, that did with buttons meet,
Of purple, large and full of folds, curld with a warmefull nap,
A garment that gainst cold in nights did souldiers use to wrap.
Then tooke he his strong lance in hand, made sharpe with proved steele,
And went along the Grecian fleet. First at Ulysses' keele
He cald, to breake the silken fumes that did his sences bind:
The voice through th' Organs of his eares straight rung about his mind.
Forth came Ulysses, asking him: ‘Why stirre ye thus so late?
Sustaine we such enforcive cause?’ He answerd: ‘Our estate
Doth force this perturbation: vouchsafe it, worthie friend,
And come, let us excite one more to counsell of some end
To our extremes, by fight or flight.’ He backe and tooke his shield,
And both tooke course to Diomed. They found him laid in field
Farre from his tent, his armour by; about him was dispread
A ring of souldiers, everie man his shield beneath his head,
His speare fixt by him as he slept, the great end in the ground;
The point, that bristled the darke earth, cast a reflection round
Like pallid lightnings throwne from Jove. Thus this Heroe lay,
And under him a big Oxe hide: his royall head had stay
On Arras hangings, rolled up, whereon he slept so fast
That Nestor stird him with his foote and chid to see him cast
In such deepe sleepe, in such deepe woes, and askt him why he spent
All night in sleepe or did not heare the Troyans neare his tent—
Their Campe drawne close upon their dike, small space twixt foes and foes.
He, starting up, said: ‘Strange old man, that never tak'st repose,
Thou art too patient of our toile: have we not men more yong
To be imploid from king to king? Thine age hath too much wrong.’
‘Said like a king,’ replied the Sire, ‘for I have sonnes renownd,
And there are many other men might go this toilesome round.
But you must see imperious Need hath all at her command.
Now on the eager razor's edge for life or death we stand.
Then go (thou art the yonger man) and, if thou love my ease,
Call swift-foot Ajax up thy selfe, and young Phyleides.’
This said, he on his shoulders cast a yellow Lion's hide,
Big, and reacht earth; then tooke his speare and Nestor's will applide,
Raisd the Heroes, brought them both. All met, the round they went
And found not any captaine there asleepe or negligent,
But waking and in armes gave eare to everie lowest sound.
And as keene dogs keepe sheepe in Cotes, or folds, of Hurdles bound,
And grin at everie breach of aire, envious of all that moves,
Still listning when the ravenous beast stalks through the hilly groves,
Then men and dogs stand on their guards and mightie tumults make,
Sleepe wanting weight to close one winke: so did the Captaines wake
That kept the watch the whole sad night, all with intentive eare
Converted to the enemies' tents, that they might timely heare
If they were stirring to surprise—which Nestor joyd to see.
‘Why so, deare sons, maintaine your watch: sleepe not a winke,’ said he,
‘Rather than make your fames the scorne of Troyan perjurie.’
This said, he formost past the dike, the others seconded,
Even all the kings that had bene cald to counsell from the bed;
And with them went Meriones and Nestor's famous sonne,
For both were cald by all the kings to consultation.
Beyond the dike they chusde a place neare as they could from blood,
Where yet appear'd the fals of some and whence (the crimson flood
Of Grecian lives being pour'd on earth by Hector's furious chace)
He made retreate when night repour'd grim darknesse in his face.
There sate they downe, and Nestor spake: ‘O friends, remaines not one
That will relie on his bold mind and view the campe alone
Of the prowd Troyans, to approve if any stragling mate
He can surprise neare th' utmost tents, or learne the briefe estate
Of their intentions for the time, and mixe like one of them
With their outguards, expiscating if the renown'd extreme
They force on us will serve their turnes with glorie to retire,
Or still encampe thus farre from Troy? This may he well enquire
And make a brave retreate untoucht, and this would win him fame
Of all men canapied with heaven, and everie man of name
In all this host shall honor him with an enriching meed—
A blacke Ewe and her sucking Lambe (rewards that now exceed
All other best possessions in all men's choice requests),
And still be bidden by our kings to kind and royall feasts.’
All reverenc't one another's worth and none would silence breake,
Lest worst should take best place of speech. At last did Diomed speake:
‘Nestor, thou ask'st if no man here have heart so well inclin'd
To worke this stratageme on Troy. Yes, I have such a mind.
Yet, if some other Prince would joyne, more probable will be
The strengthned hope of our exploite: two may together see
(One going before another still) slie danger everie way;
One spirit upon another workes, and takes with firmer stay
The benefit of all his powers—for, though one knew his course,
Yet might he well distrust himselfe, which th' other might enforce.’
This offer everie man assum'd; all would with Diomed go,
The two Ajaces, Merion and Menelaus too;
But Nestor's sonne enforc't it much, and hardie Ithacus,
Who had to everie ventrous deed a mind as venturous.
Amongst all these, thus spake the king: ‘Tydides, most belov'd,
Chuse thy associate worthily, a man the most approv'd
For use and strength in these extremes. Many, thou seest, stand forth:
But chuse not thou by height of place, but by regard of worth,
Lest with thy nice respect of right to any man's degree
Thou wrongst thy venture, chusing one least fit to joyne with thee,
Although perhaps a greater king.’ This spake he with suspect
That Diomed (for honor's sake) his brother would select.
Then said Tydides: ‘Since thou giv'st my judgement leave to chuse,
How can it so much truth forget, Ulysses to refuse—
That beares a mind so most exempt and vigorous in th' effect
Of all high labors, and a man Pallas doth most respect?
We shall returne through burning fire if I with him combine,
He sets strength in so true a course with counsels so divine.’
Ulysses, loth to be esteemd a lover of his praise,
With such exceptions humbled him as did him higher raise
And said: ‘Tydides, praise me not more than free truth will beare,
Nor yet empaire me: they are Greeks that give judiciall eare.
But come, the morning hasts; the stars are forward in their course;
Two parts of night are past, the third is left t' imploy our force.’
Now borrowed they for haste some armes: bold Thrasymedes lent
Adventrous Diomed his sword (his owne was at his tent),
His shield and helme, tough and well-tann'd, without or plume or crest,
And cald a murrion: archers' heads it used to invest.
Meriones lent Ithacus his quiver and his bow,
His helmet fashiond of a hide: the workman did bestow
Much labour in it, quilting it with bowstrings, and, without,
With snowie tuskes of white-mouthd Bores twas armed round about
Right cunningly, and in the midst an arming cap was plac't
That with the fixt ends of the tuskes his head might not be rac't.
This, long since, by Autolycus was brought from Eleon
When he laid waste Amyntor's house, that was Ormenus' sonne.
In Scandia, to Cytherius, surnam'd Amphidamas,
Autolycus did give this helme: he, when he feasted was
By honord Molus, gave it him as present of a guest:
Molus to his sonne Merion did make it his bequest.
With this Ulysses arm'd his head; and thus they (both addrest)
Tooke leave of all the other kings. To them a glad ostent
(As they were entring on their way) Minerva did present—
A Hernshaw consecrate to her, which they could ill discerne
Through sable night but by her clange they knew it was a Herne.
Ulysses joy'd, and thus invok't: ‘Heare me, great seed of Jove,
That ever dost my labors grace with presence of thy love
And all my motions dost attend, still love me, sacred Dame,
Especially in this exploit, and so protect our fame
We both may safely make retreate and thriftily imploy
Our boldnesse in some great affaire, banefull to them of Troy.’
Then praid illustrate Diomed: ‘Vouchsafe me likewise eare,
O thou unconquerd Queene of armes. Be with thy favors neare,
As to my royall father's steps thou wentst a bountious guide
When th' Achives and the Peeres of Thebes he would have pacifide,
Sent as the Greeks' Ambassador and left them at the flood
Of great Asopus, whose retreate thou mad'st to swim in blood
Of his enambush't enemies. And if thou so protect
My bold endevours, to thy name an Heiffer most select
That never yet was tam'd with yoke, brode-fronted, one yeare old,
I'le burne in zealous sacrifice and set the hornes in gold.’
The Goddesse heard, and both the kings their dreadlesse passage bore
Through slaughter, slaughterd carkasses, armes and discolord gore.
Nor Hector let his Princes sleepe, but all to counsell cald,
And askt: ‘What one is here will vow, and keep it unappald,
To have a gift fit for his deed—a chariot and two horse
That passe for speed the rest of Greece? What one dares take this course
For his renowne (besides his gifts) to mixe amongst the foe
And learne if still they hold their guards, or with this overthrow
Determine flight, as being too weake to hold us longer warre?’
All silent stood: at last stood forth one Dolon that did dare
This dangerous worke, Eumedes' heire, a Herald much renownd.
This Dolon did in gold and brasse exceedingly abound
But in his forme was quite deform'd, yet passing swift to run.
Amongst five sisters he was left Eumedes' onely son.
And he told Hector his free heart would undertake t' explore
The Greeks' intentions: ‘But,’ said he, ‘thou shalt be sworne before,
By this thy scepter, that the horse of great Æacides
And his strong chariot bound with brasse thou wilt (before all these)
Resigne me as my valour's prise; and so I rest unmov'd
To be thy spie and not returne before I have approv'd
(By venturing to Atrides' ship, where their consults are held)
If they resolve still to resist, or flie as quite expeld.’
He put his scepter in his hand and cald the thunder's God
(Saturnia's husband) to his oath those horse should not be rode
By any other man than he, but he for ever joy
(To his renowne) their services, for his good done to Troy.
Thus swore he, and forswore himselfe, yet made base Dolon bold,
Who on his shoulders hung his bow and did about him fold
A white wolve's hide and with a helme of weasels' skins did arme
His weasel's head; then tooke his dart; and never turnd to harme
The Greeks with their related drifts but, being past the troopes
Of horse and foote, he promptly runs and, as he runs, he stoopes
To undermine Achilles' horse. Ulysses straight did see
And said to Diomed: ‘This man makes footing towards thee
Out of the tents. I know not well if he be usde as spie
Bent to our fleet or come to rob the slaughterd enemie.
But let us suffer him to come a little further on
And then pursue him. If it chance that we be overgone
By his more swiftnesse, urge him still to run upon our fleet
And (lest he scape us to the towne) still let thy Javeline meet
With all his offers of retreate.’ Thus stept they from the plaine
Amongst the slaughterd carkasses. Dolon came on amaine,
Suspecting nothing; but once past as farre as Mules outdraw
Oxen at plough, being both put on, neither admitted law,
To plough a deepe-soild furrow forth, so farre was Dolon past;
Then they pursude—which he perceiv'd and staid his speedlesse hast,
Subtly supposing Hector sent to countermand his spie.
But in a Javelin's throw or lesse he knew them enemie.
Then laid he on his nimble knees, and they pursude like wind.
As when a brace of greyhounds are laid in with Hare or Hind,
Close-mouth'd and skild to make the best of their industrious course,
Serve either's turne, and, set on hard, lose neither ground nor force:
So constantly did Tydeus' sonne and his towne-razing Peere
Pursue this spie, still turning him as he was winding neare
His covert, till he almost mixt with their out-courts of guard.
Then Pallas prompted Diomed, lest his due worth's reward
Should be empair'd if any man did vant he first did sheath
His sword in him and he be cald but second in his death.
Then spake he (threatning with his lance): ‘Or stay, or this comes on,
And long thou canst not run before thou be by death out-gone.’
This said, he threw his Javeline forth, which mist (as Diomed would);
Above his right arme making way, the pile stucke in the mould.
He staid and trembled, and his teeth did chatter in his head.
They came in blowing, seisd him fast: he, weeping, offered
A wealthy ransome for his life, and told them he had brasse,
Much gold and iron that fit for use in many labours was;
From whose rich heapes his father would a wondrous portion give
If, at the great Achaian fleet, he heard his sonne did live.
Ulysses bad him cheare his heart: ‘Thinke not of death,’ said he,
‘But tell us true, why runst thou forth when others sleeping be?
Is it to spoile the carkasses? or art thou choicely sent
T' explore our drifts? or of thy selfe seek'st thou some wisht event?’
He, trembling, answerd: ‘Much reward did Hector's oth propose
And urg'd me much against my will t' indevour to disclose
If you determin'd still to stay, or bent your course for flight,
As all dismaid with your late foile and wearied with the fight:
For which exploite Pelides' horse and chariot he did sweare
I onely ever should enjoy.’ Ulysses smil'd to heare
So base a swaine have any hope so high a prise t' aspire,
And said his labors did affect a great and precious hire,
And that the horse Pelides rein'd no mortall hand could use
But he himselfe, whose matchlesse life a Goddesse did produce:
‘But tell us, and report but truth, where leftst thou Hector now?
Where are his armes? his famous horse? on whom doth he bestow
The watches' charge? where sleepe the Kings? intend they still to lie
Thus neare encampt? or turne suffisd with their late victorie?’
‘All this,’ said he, ‘I'le tell most true. At Ilus' monument
Hector with all our Princes sits t' advise of this event,
Who chuse that place remov'd to shun the rude confused sounds
The common souldiers throw about. But for our watch and rounds,
Whereof, brave Lord, thou mak'st demand, none orderly we keepe.
The Troyans that have roofes to save onely abandon sleepe
And privately, without command, each other they exhort
To make prevention of the worst; and in this slender sort
Is watch and guard maintaind with us. Th' auxiliarie bands
Sleepe soundly and commit their cares into the Troyans' hands,
For they have neither wives with them, nor children, to protect:
The lesse they need to care, the more they succour dull neglect.’
‘But tell me,’ said wise Ithacus, ‘are all these forreine powres
Appointed quarters by themselves, or else commixt with yours?’
‘And this,’ said Dolon, ‘too, my Lords, I'le seriously unfold.
The Pæons with the crooked bowes, and Cares, quarters hold
Next to the sea, the Leleges and Caucons joyn'd with them,
And brave Pelasgians; Thymber's meade, remov'd more from the streame,
Is quarter to the Lycians, the loftie Mysian force,
The Phrygians and Mæonians, that fight with armed horse.
But what need these particulars? If ye intend surprise
Of any in our Troyan campe, the Thracian quarter lies
Utmost of all, and uncommixt with Troyan regiments
That keepe the voluntary watch: new pitcht are all their tents.
King Rhesus, Eioneus' son, commands them; who hath steeds
More white than snow, huge and well-shap't; their firie pace exceeds
The winds in swiftnesse. These I saw: his Chariot is with gold
And pallid silver richly fram'd and wondrous to behold.
His great and golden armour is not fit a man should weare
But for immortall shoulders fram'd. Come then, and quickly beare
Your happie prisoner to your fleet, or leave him here fast bound
Till your well-urg'd and rich returne prove my relation sound.’
Tydides dreadfully replide: Thinke not of passage thus,
Though of right acceptable newes thou hast advertisde us.
Our hands are holds more strict than so, and should we set thee free
For offerd ransome, for this scape thou still wouldst scouting be
About our ships or do us scathe in plaine opposed armes;
But if I take thy life, no way can we repent thy harmes.’
With this, as Dolon reacht his hand to use a suppliant's part
And stroke the beard of Diomed, he strooke his necke athwart
With his forc't sword, and both the nerves he did in sunder wound,
And suddenly his head, deceiv'd, fell speaking on the ground.
His wesel's helme they tooke, his bow, his wolve's skin and his lance,
Which to Minerva Ithacus did zealously advance
With lifted arme into the aire, and to her thus he spake:
‘Goddesse, triumph in thine own spoiles: to thee we first will make
Our invocations, of all powers thron'd on th' Olympian hill.
Now to the Thracians and their horse and beds conduct us still.’
With this, he hung them up aloft upon a Tamricke bow
As eyefull Trophies, and the sprigs that did about it grow
He proined from the leavie armes, to make it easier viewd
When they should hastily retire and be perhaps pursude.
Forth went they through blacke bloud and armes, and presently aspir'd
The guardlesse Thracian regiment, fast bound with sleepe and tir'd.
Their armes lay by, and triple rankes they as they slept did keepe,
As they should watch and guard their king, who, in a fatall sleepe,
Lay in the midst; their charriot horse, as they coach fellowes were,
Fed by them, and the famous steeds that did their Generall beare
Stood next him, to the hinder part of his rich chariot tied.
Ulysses saw them first, and said: ‘Tydides, I have spied
The horse that Dolon (whom we slue) assur'd us we should see.
Now use thy strength; now idle armes are most unfit for thee.
Prise thou the horse, or kill the guard and leave the horse to me.’
Minerva with the Azure eyes breath'd strength into her King,
Who fild the tent with mixed death: the soules he set on wing
Issued in grones and made aire swell into her stormie floud.
Horror and slaughter had one power: the earth did blush with bloud.
As when a hungrie Lion flies, with purpose to devoure
On flocks unkept and on their lives doth freely use his power;
So Tydeus' sonne assaild the foe. Twelve soules before him flew.
Ulysses waited on his sword and ever as he slew
He drew them by their strengthlesse heeles out of the horses' sight,
That when he was to leade them forth they should not with affright
Bogle nor snore, in treading on the bloudie carkases—
For, being new come, they were unusde to such sterne sights as these.
Through foure ranks now did Diomed the king himselfe attaine,
Who (snoring in his sweetest sleepe) was like his souldiers slaine.
An ill dreame, by Minerva sent, that night stood by his head,
Which was OEnides' royall sonne, unconquer'd Diomed.
Meane while Ulysses loosd his horse, tooke all their raines in hand,
And led them forth; but Tydeus' sonne did in contention stand
With his great mind, to do some deed of more audacitie—
If he should take the chariot where his rich armes did lie
And draw it by the beame away, or beare it on his backe,
Or if of more dull Thracian lives he should their bosomes sacke.
In this contention with himselfe, Minerva did suggest
And bad him thinke of his retreate, lest from their tempted rest
Some other God should stirre the foe and send him backe dismaid.
He knew the voice, tooke horse and fled. The Troyans' heavenly aid
(Apollo with the silver bow) stood no blind sentinell
To their secure and drowsie hoast, but did discover well
Minerva following Diomed; and, angrie with his act,
The mightie hoast of Ilion he entred and awak't
The cousen germane of the king, a counsellor of Thrace,
Hippocoon, who, when he rose and saw the desert place
Where Rhesus' horse did use to stand and th' other dismall harmes,
Men strugling with the pangs of death, he shriekt out thicke alarmes,
Cald: ‘Rhesus! Rhesus!’ but in vaine: then still ‘Arme, arme!’ he cride.
The noise and tumult was extreme on every startled side
Of Troy's huge hoast, from whence in throngs all gatherd and admir'd
Who could performe such harmfull facts and yet be safe retir'd.
Now, comming where they slue the scout, Ulysses stayd the steeds.
Tydides lighted, and the spoiles (hung on the Tamricke reeds)
He tooke and gave to Ithacus, and up he got againe.
Then flew they joyfull to their fleet. Nestor did first attaine
The sounds the horse hoofes strooke through aire, and said: ‘My royall Peeres,
Do I but dote? or say I true? Me thinkes about mine eares
The sounds of running horses beate. O would to God they were
Our friends thus soone returnd with spoiles! But I have heartie feare
Lest this high tumult of the foe doth their distresse intend.’
He scarce had spoke when they were come. Both did from horse descend.
All, with embraces and sweet words, to heaven their worth did raise.
Then Nestor spake: ‘Great Ithacus, even heapt with Grecian praise,
How have you made these horse your prise? pierc't you the dangerous host,
Where such gemmes stand? or did some God your high attempts accost
And honord you with this reward? Why, they be like the Rayes
The Sunne effuseth. I have mixt with Troyans all my daies,
And now I hope you will not say I alwaies lye abord,
Though an old soldier, I confesse: yet did all Troy afford
Never the like to any sence that ever I possest.
But some good God, no doubt, hath met and your high valours blest—
For he that shadowes heaven with clouds loves both as his delights
And she that supples earth with blood can not forbeare your sights.’
Ulysses answerd: ‘Honord Sire, the willing Gods can give
Horse much more worth than these men yeeld, since in more power they live.
These horse are of the Thracian breed: their King Tydides slue
And twelve of his most trusted guard; and of that meaner crew
A skowt for thirteenth man we kild, whom Hector sent to spie
The whole estate of our designes, if bent to fight or flie.’
Thus (followed with whole troopes of friends) they with applauses past
The spacious dike, and in the tent of Diomed they plac't
The horse without contention, as his deservings' meed;
Which (with his other horse set up) on yellow wheat did feed.
Poore Dolon's spoiles Ulysses had, who shrin'd them on his sterne
As trophies vow'd to her that sent the good-aboding Herne.
Then entred they the meere maine sea to cleanse their honord sweate
From off their feet, their thighes and neckes; and, when their vehement heate
Was calm'd and their swolne hearts refresht, more curious baths they usd,
Where odorous and dissolving Oyles they through their lims diffusde.
Then, taking breakfast, a big boule fild with the purest wine
They offerd to the maiden Queene that hath the azure eyne.