Classic Poem

The other Gods and knights at armes all night slept. Onely Jove
Sweet slumber seisd not: he discourst how best he might approve
His vow made for Achilles' grace and make the Grecians find
His misse in much death. Al waies cast, this counsel serv'd his mind
With most allowance—to dispatch a harmefull dreame to greet
The king of men, and gave this charge: ‘Go to the Achive fleet,
Pernicious dreame, and, being arriv'd in Agamemnon's tent,
Deliver truly all this charge. Command him to convent
His whole hoast arm'd before these towres, for now Troy's broad-waid towne
He shall take in: the heaven-housd Gods are now indifferent growne;
Juno's request hath wonne them; Troy, now under imminent ils,
At all parts labours.’ This charge heard, the vision straight fulfils,
The ships reacht and Atrides' tent, in which he found him laid,
Divine sleepe powrd about his powres. He stood above his head
Like Nestor (grac'd of old men most) and this did intimate:
 ‘Sleepes the wise Atreus’ tame-horse sonne? A counsellour of State
Must not the whole night spend in sleepe, to whom the people are
For guard committed and whose life stands bound to so much care.
Now heare me then, Jove's messenger, who, though farre off from thee,
Is neare thee yet in ruth and care, and gives command by me
To arme thy whole hoast. Thy strong hand the broad-waid towne of Troy
Shall now take in. No more the Gods dissentiously imploy
Their high-housd powers; Juno's suite hath wonne them all to her,
And ill fates over-hang these towres, addrest by Jupiter.
Fixe in thy mind this, nor forget to give it action when
Sweet sleepe shall leave thee.’ Thus he fled and left the king of men
Repeating in discourse his dreame and dreaming still, awake,
Of powre not readie yet for act. O foole, he thought to take
In that next day old Priam's towne, not knowing what affaires
Jove had in purpose, who prepar'd (by strong fight) sighes and cares
For Greekes and Troyans. The dreame gone, his voice still murmured
About the king's eares, who sate up, put on him in his bed
His silken inner weed, faire, new, and then in hast arose,
Cast on his ample mantle, tied to his soft feet faire shoes;
His silver-hilted sword he hung about his shoulders, tooke
His father's scepter, never staind, which then abroad he shooke
And went to fleete. And now great heaven Goddesse Aurora scall'd,
To Jove and all Gods bringing light, when Agamemnon call'd
His heralds, charging them aloud to call to instant Court
The thicke-haird Greekes. The heralds call'd, the Greekes made quicke resort.
The Councell chiefly he composd of old great-minded men
At Nestor's ships, the Pylian king. All there assembled then,
Thus Atreus' sonne begunne the Court: ‘Heare, friends, a dreame divine
Amids the calme night in my sleepe did through my shut eyes shine
Within my fantasie. His forme did passing naturally
Resemble Nestor: such attire, a stature just as hie.
He stood above my head and words thus fashiond did relate:
 “Sleepes the wise Atreus' tame-horse sonne? A counsellor of state
Must not the whole night spend in sleepe, to whom the people are
For guard committed and whose life stands bound to so much care.
Now heare me then, Jove's messenger, who, though farre off from thee,
Is neare thee yet in love and care, and gives command by me
To arme thy whole hoast. Thy strong hand the broad-waid towne of Troy
Shall now take in. No more the Gods dissentiously imploy
Their high-housd powres; Saturnia's suite hath wonne them all to her
And ill fates over-hang these towres, addrest by Jupiter.
Fixe in thy mind this.” This exprest, he tooke wing and away,
And sweet sleepe left me. Let us then by all our meanes assay
To arme our armie. I will first (as farre as fits our right)
Trie their addictions and command with full-sail'd ships our flight,
Which if they yeeld to, oppose you.’ He sate, and up arose
Nestor, of sandy Pylos king, who (willing to dispose
Their counsell to the publicke good) proposd this to the State:
 ‘Princes and Counsellors of Greece, if any should relate
This vision but the king himselfe, it might be held a tale
And move the rather our retraite; but since our Generall
Affirmes he saw it, hold it true and our best meanes make
To arme our armie.’ This speech usde, he first the Councell brake.
The other scepter-bearing States arose too, and obeyd
The people's Rector. Being abroad, the earth was overlaid
With flockers to them that came forth. As when of frequent Bees
Swarmes rise out of a hollow rocke, repairing the degrees
Of their egression endlesly with ever rising new
From forth their sweet nest, as their store, still as it faded, grew
And never would ceasse, sending forth her clusters to the spring
They still crowd out so—this flocke here, that there, belabouring
The loaded flowres: so from the ships and tents the armie's store
Troopt to these Princes and the Court along th'unmeasur'd shore—
Amongst whom Jove's Ambassadresse, Fame, in her vertue shin'd
Exciting greedinesse to heare. The rabble, thus inclin'd,
Hurried together. Uprore seisd the high Court; earth did grone
Beneath the setling multitude; tumult was there alone.
Thrice three voiciferous heralds rose to check the rout and get
Eare to their Jove-kept Governors, and instantly was set
That huge confusion: every man set fast, and clamor ceast.
Then stood divine Atrides up and in his hand comprest
His scepter, th'elaborate worke of fierie Mulciber,
Who gave it to Saturnian Jove, Jove to his messenger,
His messenger (Argicides) to Pelops, skild in horse,
Pelops to Atreus, chiefe of men; he, dying, gave it course
To Prince Thyestes, rich in heards, Thyestes to the hand
Of Agamemnon renderd it and, with it, the command
Of many Iles and Argos all. On this he, leaning, said:
 ‘O friends, great sonnes of Danaus, servants of Mars, Jove laid
A heavie curse on me, to vow, and binde it with the bent
Of his high forehead, that (this Troy of all her people spent)
I should returne, yet now to mocke our hopes built on his vow
And charge ingloriously my flight, when such an overthrow
Of brave friends I have authored. But to his mightiest will
We must submit us, that hath raz't, and will be razing still,
Men's footsteps from so many townes; because his power is most,
He will destroy most. But how vile such and so great an hoast
Will shew to future times, that, matcht with lesser numbers farre,
We flie, not putting on the crowne of our so long-held warre—
Of which there yet appeares no end! Yet should our foes and we
Strike truce and number both our powers—Troy taking all that be
Her arm'd inhabitants, and we in tens should all sit downe
At our truce banquet, everie ten allow'd one of the towne
To fill his feast-cup, many tens would their attendant want—
So much I must affirme our power exceeds th'inhabitant.
But their auxiliarie bands, those brandishers of speares
(From many cities drawne), are they that are our hinderers,
Not suffering well-raisd Troy to fall. Nine yeares are ended now
Since Jove our conquest vow'd, and now our vessels rotten grow,
Our tackling failes, our wives, yong sonnes, sit in their doores and long
For our arrivall, yet the worke that should have wreakt our wrong
And made us welcome lies unwrought. Come then, as I bid, all
Obey and flie to our lov'd home, for now, nor ever, shall
Our utmost take in broad-waid Troy.’ This said, the multitude
Was all for home, and all men else that what this would conclude
Had not discoverd. All the crowd was shov'd about the shore,
In sway like rude and raging waves rowsd with the fervent blore
Of th'East and South winds when they breake from Jove's clouds and are borne
On rough backs of th'Icarian seas, or like a field of corne
High growne that Zephyr's vehement gusts bring easily underneath
And make the stiffe-upbristl'd eares do homage to his breath—
For even so easily with the breath Atrides' usde was swaid
The violent multitude. To fleet, with showts and disaraid,
All rusht, and with a fogge of dust their rude feete dimd the day.
Each cried to other: ‘Cleanse our ships! Come, lanch, aboord, away!’
The clamor of the runners home reacht heaven, and then, past fate,
The Greekes had left Troy had not then the Goddesse of estate
Thus spoke to Pallas: ‘O foule shame, thou untam'd seed of Jove,
Shall thus the sea's broad backe be charg'd with these our friends' remove,
Thus leaving Argive Helen here, thus Priam grac't, thus Troy,
In whose fields farre from their lov'd owne (for Helen's sake) the joy
And life of so much Grecian birth is vanisht? Take thy way
T'our brasse-arm'd people, speake them faire, let not a man obey
The charge now given, nor lanch one ship.’ She said, and Pallas did
As she commanded. From the tops of heaven's steepe hill she slid
And straight the Greekes' swift ships she reacht. Ulysses (like to Jove
In gifts of counsell) she found out, who to that base remove
Stird not a foote nor toucht a ship, but griev'd at heart to see
That fault in others. To him close the blue-eyd deitie
Made way and said: ‘Thou wisest Greeke, divine Laertes' sonne,
Thus flie ye homewards to your ships? Shall all thus headlong runne?
Glorie to Priam thus ye leave, glorie to all his friends,
If thus ye leave her here for whom so many violent ends
Have closd your Greeke eyes and so farre from their so loved home!
Go to these people; use no stay; with faire termes overcome
Their foule endevour; not a man a flying saile let hoice.’
 Thus spake she, and Ulysses knew twas Pallas by her voice,
Ranne to the runners, cast from him his mantle, which his man
And Herald, grave Eurybates the Ithacensian,
That followd him tooke up. Himselfe to Agamemnon went,
His incorrupted scepter tooke, his scepter of descent,
And with it went about the fleete. What Prince or man of name
He found flight-given he would restraine with words of gentlest blame:
 ‘Good sir, it fits not you to flie or fare as one afraid.
You should not onely stay your selfe but see the people staid.
You know not clearely (though you heard the king's words) yet his mind.
He onely tries men's spirits now, and whom his trials find
Apt to this course he will chastise. Nor you, nor I, heard all
He spake in councell, nor durst preasse too neare our Generall
Lest we incenst him to our hurt. The anger of a king
Is mightie; he is kept of Jove and from Jove likewise spring
His honors, which, out of the love of wise Jove, he enjoyes.’
Thus he the best sort usd; the worst, whose spirits brake out in noise,
He cudgeld with his scepter, chid, and said: ‘Stay, wretch, be still
And heare thy betters. Thou art base, and both in powre and skill
Poore and unworthie, without name in counsell or in warre.
We must not all be kings. The rule is most irregularre
Where many rule. One Lord, one king propose to thee; and he
To whom wise Saturn's sonne hath given both law and Emperie
To rule the publicke is that king.’ Thus, ruling, he restrain'd
The hoast from flight, and then againe the Councell was maintain'd
With such a concourse that the shore rung with the tumult made,
As when the farre-resounding sea doth in his rage invade
His sandie confines, whose sides grone with his involved wave
And make his owne breast eccho sighes. All sate and audience gave.
Thersites onely would speake all. A most disordered store
Of words he foolishly powrd out, of which his mind held more
Than it could manage—anything with which he could procure
Laughter he never could containe. He should have yet bene sure
To touch no kings. T'oppose their states becomes not jesters' parts.
But he the filthiest fellow was of all that had deserts
In Troy's brave siege: he was squint-eyd and lame of either foote,
So crooke-backt that he had no breast, sharpe-headed, where did shoote
(Here and there sperst) thin mossie haire. He most of all envide
Ulysses and Æacides, whom still his splene would chide,
Nor could the sacred king himselfe avoid his saucie vaine—
Against whom—since he knew the Greekes did vehement hates sustaine
(Being angrie for Achilles' wrong)—he cried out, railing thus:
 ‘Atrides, why complainst thou now? What wouldst thou more of us?
Thy tents are full of brasse and dames: the choice of all are thine—
With whom we must present thee first when any townes resigne
To our invasion. Wantst thou then (besides all this) more gold
From Troy's knights to redeeme their sonnes, whom to be dearely sold
I or some other Greeke must take? Or wouldst thou yet againe
Force from some other Lord his prise to sooth the lusts that raigne
In thy encroching appetite? It fits no Prince to be
A Prince of ill and governe us, or leade our progenie
By rape to ruine. O base Greekes, deserving infamie
And ils eternall! Greekish girls, not Greekes ye are! Come, flie
Home with our ships. Leave this man here to perish with his preys
And trie if we helpt him or not. He wrong'd a man that weys
Farre more than he himselfe in worth. He forc't from Thetis' sonne
And keepes his prise still. Nor think I that mightie man hath wonne
The stile of wrathfull worthily. He's soft, he's too remisse,
Or else, Atrides, his had bene thy last of injuries.’
 Thus he the people's Pastor chid; but straight stood up to him
Divine Ulysses, who with lookes exceeding grave and grim
This bitter checke gave: ‘Ceasse, vaine foole, to vent thy railing vaine
On kings thus, though it serve thee well. Nor thinke thou canst restraine
With that thy railing facultie their wils in least degree—
For not a worse of all this hoast came with our king than thee
To Troy's great siege. Then do not take into that mouth of thine
The names of kings, much lesse revile the dignities that shine
In their supreme states, wresting thus this motion for our home
To sooth thy cowardise, since our selves yet know not what will come
Of these designments—if it be our good to stay or go.
Nor is it that thou standst on: thou revil'st our Generall so
Onely because he hath so much, not given by such as thou
But our Heroes. Therefore this thy rude veine makes me vow
(Which shall be curiously observ'd) if ever I shall heare
This madnesse from thy mouth againe, let not Ulysses beare
This head nor be the father cald of yong Telemachus
If to thy nakednesse I take and strip thee not, and thus
Whip thee to fleete from Councell—send with sharpe stripes weeping hence
This glory thou affectst to raile.’ This said, his insolence
He setl'd with his scepter, strocke his backe and shoulders so
That bloody wales rose. He shrunke round and from his eyes did flow
Moist teares, and, looking filthily, he sate, feard, smarted, dried
His blubberd cheekes, and all the preasse (though griev'd to be denied
Their wisht retrait for home) yet laught delightsomely, and spake
Either to other: ‘O ye Gods, how infinitely take
Ulysses' vertues in our good! Author of Counsels, great
In ordering armies, how most well this act became his heate
To beate from Councell this rude foole! I thinke his sawcie spirit
Hereafter will not let his tongue abuse the soveraigne merit,
Exempt from such base tongues as his.’ Thus spake the people. Then
The citie-razer Ithacus stood up to speake againe,
Holding his Scepter. Close to him gray-eyd Minerva stood,
And like a herald silence causd, that all the Achive brood
(From first to last) might heare and know the counsell, when (inclind
To all their good) Ulysses said: ‘Atrides, now I find
These men would render thee the shame of all men, nor would pay
Their owne vowes to thee when they tooke their free and honord way
From Argos hither, that till Troy were by their brave hands rac't
They would not turne home—yet like babes and widowes now they hast
To that base refuge. Tis a spite to see men melted so
In womanish changes—though tis true that if a man do go
Onely a moneth to sea and leave his wife farre off and he,
Tortur'd with winter's stormes and tost with a tumultuous sea,
Growes heavy and would home. Us then, to whom the thrice-three yeare
Hath fild his revoluble orbe since our arrivall here
I blame not to wish home much more. Yet all this time to stay
(Out of our judgements) for our end, and now to take our way
Without it were absurd and vile. Sustaine then, friends, abide
The time set to our object, trie if Calchas prophecied
True of the time or not. We know ye all can witnesse well
(Whom these late death-conferring fates have faild to send to hell)
That when in Aulis all our fleet assembl'd with a freight
Of ils to Ilion and her friends, beneath the faire growne height
A Platane bore, about a fount whence christall water flow'd
And neare our holy altar, we upon the Gods bestow'd
Accomplisht Hecatombs, and there appear'd a huge portent—
A Dragon with a bloody skale, horride to sight, and sent
To light by great Olympius, which, crawling from beneath
The Altar, to the Platane climbd and ruthlesse crasht to death
A Sparrowe's yong, in number eight, that in a top-bow lay
Hid under leaves; the dam the ninth, that hoverd every way
Mourning her lov'd birth, till at length the Serpent, watching her,
Her wing caught and devourd her too. This dragon, Jupiter
(That brought him forth) turnd to a stone; and made a powrefull meane
To stirre our zeales up, that admir'd when of a fact so cleane
Of all ill as our sacrifice so fearfull an ostent
Should be the issue. Calchas then thus prophecied the event:
“Why are ye dumbe strooke, faire-haird Greekes? Wise Jove is he hath showne
This strange ostent to us. Twas late, and passing lately done,
But that grace it foregoes to us for suffering all the state
Of his apparence (being so slow) nor time shall end, nor fate.
As these eight Sparrowes and the dam (that made the ninth) were eate
By this sterne Serpent, so nine yeares we are t'endure the heate
Of ravenous warre and in the tenth take in this broad-waid towne.”
 Thus he interpreted this signe, and all things have their crowne
As he interpreted till now. The rest then to succeed
Beleeve as certaine. Stay we all till that most glorious deed
Of taking this rich towne our hands are honord with.’ This said,
The Greekes gave an unmeasur'd shout, which backe the ships repaid
With terrible ecchoes, in applause of that perswasion
Divine Ulysses usd—which yet held no comparison
With Nestor's next speech, which was this: ‘O shamefull thing! Ye talke
Like children all, that know not warre. In what aire's region walke
Our oathes and covenants? Now I see the fit respects of men
Are vanisht quite, our right hands given, our faiths, our counsels vaine,
Our sacrifice with wine—all fled in that prophaned flame
We made to bind all. For thus still we vaine perswasions frame
And strive to worke our end with words, not joyning stratagemes
And hands together, though thus long the powre of our extremes
Hath urg'd us to them. Atreus' sonne, firme as at first howre stand!
Make good thy purpose. Talke no more in counsels but command
In active field. Let two or three that by themselves advise
Faint in their crowning: they are such as are not truly wise.
They will for Argos ere they know if that which Jove hath said
Be false or true. I tell them all that high Jove bowd his head
As first we went aboord our fleet, for signe we should confer
These Troyans their due fate and death—almightie Jupiter
All that day darting forth his flames in an unmeasur'd light
On our right hand. Let therefore none once dreame of coward flight
Till (for his owne) some wife of Troy he sleepes withall, the rape
Of Helen wreaking and our sighes enforc't for her escape.
If any yet dare dote on home, let his dishonor'd hast
His blacke and well-built barke but touch, that (as he first disgrac't
His countrie's spirit) fate and death may first his spirit let go.
But be thou wise, king; do not trust thy selfe but others. Know
I will not use an abject word: see all thy men arraid
In tribes and nations that tribes, tribes, nations may nations aid—
Which doing, thou shalt know what chiefs, what souldiers play the men
And what the cowards, for they all will fight in severall then,
Easie for note. And then shalt thou, if thou destroist not Troy,
Know if the prophecie's defect, or men thou dost employ
In their approv'd arts want in warre, or lacke of that brave heate
Fit for the ventrous spirits of Greece, was cause to thy defeate.’
 To this the king of men replied: ‘O father, all the sonnes
Of Greece thou conquerst in the strife of consultations.
I would to Jove, Athenia and Phœbus, I could make
(Of all) but ten such Counsellers! Then instantly would shake
King Priam's citie, by our hands laid hold on and laid wast.
But Jove hath orderd I should grieve, and to that end hath cast
My life into debates past end. My selfe and Thetis' sonne
(Like girles) in words fought for a girle, and I th'offence begunne.
But if we ever talke as friends, Troy's thus deferred fall
Shall never vexe us more one houre. Come then, to victles all
That strong Mars all may bring to field! Each man his lance's steele
See sharpned well, his shield well-lin'd, his horses meated well,
His chariot carefully made strong, that these affaires of death
We all day may hold fiercely out. No man must rest or breath.
The bosomes of our targatiers must all be steept in sweate;
The lancier's arme must fall dissolv'd; our chariot horse with heate
Must seeme to melt. But if I find one souldier take the chase,
Or stirre from fight, or fight not still fixt in his enemies' face,
Or hid a shipboord, all the world for force nor price shall save
His hated life—but fowles and dogs be his abhorred grave.’
 He said; and such a murmure rose as on a loftie shore
The waves make when the South wind comes and tumbles them before
Against a rocke growne neare the strand, which diversly beset
Is never free, but here and there with varied uprores beat.
 All rose then, rushing to the fleete, perfum'd their tents, and eate,
Each offring to th'immortall Gods and praying to scape th'heate
Of warre and death. The king of men an Oxe of five yeares' spring
T'almightie Jove slue, call'd the Peeres—first Nestor; then the king
Idomeneus; after them th'Ajaces and the sonne
Of Tydeus; Ithacus the sixth, in counsell Paragon
To Jove himselfe. All these he bad, but at-a-martiall-crie
Good Menelaus, since he saw his brother busily
Employd at that time, would not stand on invitation
But of himselfe came. All about the offring overthrowne
Stood round, tooke salt-cakes, and the king himselfe thus praid for all:
 ‘O Jove, most great, most glorious, that in that starrie hall
Sit'st drawing darke clouds up to aire, let not the Sunne go downe,
Darknesse supplying it, till my hands the Pallace and the towne
Of Priam overthrow and burne, the armes on Hector's brest
Dividing, spoiling with my sword thousands (in interest
Of his bad quarrell) laid by him in dust and eating earth.’
 He pray'd. Jove heard him not, but made more plentifull the birth
Of his sad toiles; yet tooke his gifts. Prayres past, cakes on they threw.
The Oxe then (to the altar drawne) they kill'd, and from him drew
His hide, then cut him up, his thighes (in two hewne) dubd with fat,
Prickt on the sweat-breads, and with wood, leavelesse and kindl'd at
Apposed fire, they burne the thighes; which done, the inwards, slit,
They broild on coales, and eate. The rest, in giggots cut, they spit,
Roast cunningly, draw, sit and feast. Nought lackt to leave alaid
Each temperate appetite. Which serv'd, Nestor began, and said:
 ‘Atrides, most grac't king of men, now no more words allow,
Nor more deferre the deed Jove vowes. Let heralds summon now
The brasen-coted Greekes, and us range everie where the host
To stirre a strong warre quickly up.’ This speech no sillable lost.
The high-voic't heralds instantly he charg'd to call to armes
The curld-head Greeks. They call'd. The Greeks straight answerd their alarmes.
The Jove-kept kings, about the king all gatherd, with their aide
Rang'd all in tribes and nations. With them the gray-eyd maide
Great Ægis (Jove's bright shield) sustain'd, that can be never old,
Never corrupted, fring'd about with serpents forg'd of gold—
As many as suffisde to make an hundred fringes worth
A hunderd oxen, everie snake, all sprawling, all set forth
With wondrous spirit. Through the host with this the Goddesse ranne
In furie, casting round her eyes, and furnisht everie man
With strength, exciting all to armes and fight incessant. None
Now lik't their lov'd homes like the warres. And as a fire upon
A huge wood on the heights of hils that farre off hurles his light,
So the divine brasse shin'd on these, thus thrusting on for fight.
Their splendor through the aire reacht heaven. And as about the flood
Cayster, in an Asian meade, flockes of the airie brood
(Cranes, Geese or long-neckt Swans) here, there, proud of their pinions flie
And in their fals lay out such throats that with their spiritfull crie
The meddow shrikes againe: so here these many-nation'd men
Flow'd over the Scamandrian field from tents and ships. The din
Was dreadfull that the feete of men and horse beate out of earth.
And in the florishing meade they stood thicke as the odorous birth
Of flowres or leaves bred in the spring, or thicke as swarmes of flies
Throng then to sheep-cotes when each swarme his erring wing applies
To milke deawd on the milke-maids' pailes—all eagerly disposd
To give to ruine th'Ilians. And as in rude heapes closd
Though huge Goate heards are at their food the Goate-heards easly yet
Sort into sundry heards, so here the Chiefes in battell set,
Here tribes, here nations, ordring all. Amongst whom shin'd the king,
With eyes like lightning-loving Jove, his forehead answering,
In breast like Neptune, Mars in waste; and as a goodly Bull
Most eminent of all a heard, most strong, most masterfull,
So Agamemnon Jove that day made overheighten clere
That heaven-bright armie and preferd to all th'Heroes there.
 Now tell me, Muses, you that dwell in heavenly roofes (for you
Are Goddesses, are present here, are wise and all things know—
We onely trust the voyce of fame, know nothing), who they were
That here were captains of the Greeks—Commanding Princes here?
The multitude exceed my song, though fitted to my choice
Ten tongues were, hardned pallats ten, a breast of brasse, a voyce
Infract and trump-like. That great worke, unlesse the seed of Jove
(The deathlesse Muses) undertake, maintaines a pitch above
All mortall powers. The Princes, then, and navie that did bring
Those so inenarrable troopes and all their soyles I sing.

T HE C ATALOGUE OF THE G REECIAN S HIPS AND C APTAINES .

Peneleus and Leitus, all that Bœotia bred,
Arcesilaus, Clonius and Prothoenor led;
Th'inhabitants of Hyria and stonie Aulida,
Schœne, Scole, the hilly Eteon and holy Thespia,
Of Græa and great Mycalesse that hath the ample plaine,
Of Harma and Ilesius, and all that did remaine
In Eryth and in Eleon, in Hylen, Peteona,
In faire Ocalea and the towne, well-builded, Medeona,
Copas, Eutresis, Thisbe that for Pigeons doth surpasse,
Of Coroneia, Haliart that hath such store of grasse—
All those that in Platæa dwelt, that Glisa did possesse
And Hypothebs whose wel-built wals are rare and fellowlesse,
In rich Onchestus' famous wood, to watrie Neptune vow'd
And Arne, where the vine-trees are with vigorous bunches bow'd—
With them that dwelt in Midea and Nisa most divine,
All those whom utmost Anthedon did wealthily confine.
From all these coasts in generall full fiftie saile were sent
And sixscore strong Bœotian youths in everie burthen went.
But those who in Aspledon dwelt, and Minyan Orchomen,
God Mars his sonnes did leade (Ascalaphus and Ialmen),
Who in Azidon Actor's house did of Astyoche come:
The bashfull Maide, as she went up into the higher roome,
The warre-god secretly comprest. In safe conduct of these
Did thirtie hollow-bottom'd barkes divide the wavie seas.
 Brave Schedius and Epistrophus the Phocian captaines were,
Naubolida Iphitus' sonnes, all-proofe gainst any feare.
With them the Cyparissians went, and bold Pythonians,
Men of religious Crisa's soyle, and fat Daulidians,
Panopæans, Anemores and fierce Hyampolists,
And those that dwell where Cephisus casts up his silken mists,
The men that faire Lilæa held neare the Cephisian spring—
All which did fortie sable barkes to that designement bring.
About th'entoyld Phocensian fleete had these their saile assignde
And neare to the sinister wing the arm'd Bœotians shinde.
 Ajax the lesse, Oileus' sonne, the Locrians led to warre—
Not like to Ajax Telamon, but lesser man by farre.
Little he was, and ever wore a breastplate made of linne,
But for the manage of his lance he generall praise did winne.
The dwellers of Calliarus, of Bessa, Opoen,
The youths of Cynus, Scarphis and Augias, lovely men
Of Tarphis and of Thronius, neare flood Boagrius' fall
Twise twentie martiall barkes of these lesse Ajax saild withall.
Who neare Eubœa's blessed soile their habitations had,
Strength-breathing Abants who their seats in sweet Eubœa made,
The Histiæans rich in grapes, the men of Chalcida,
The Cerinths bordring on the sea of rich Eretria,
Of Dion's highly-seated towne, Carystus, and of Styre,
All these the Duke Elphenor led, a flame of Mars his fire
Surnam'd Chalcodontiades, the mightie Abants' guide,
Swift men of foot whose broad-set backes their trailing haire did hide,
Well-seene in fight, and soone could pierce with farre extended darts
The breast-plates of their enemies and reach their dearest hearts.
Fortie blacke men of warre did saile in this Elphenor's charge.
 The souldiers that in Athens dwelt, a citie builded large,
The people of Erechtheus, whom Jove-sprung Pallas fed,
And plentious-feeding Tellus brought out of her flowrie bed.
Him Pallas plac't in her rich Fane, and everie ended yeare
Of Buls and Lambes th'Athenian youths please him with offrings there.
Mightie Menestheus, Peteus' sonne, had their devided care.
For horsemen and for targatiers none could with him compare,
Nor put them into better place, to hurt or to defend,
But Nestor (for he elder was) with him did sole contend.
With him came fiftie sable saile. And out of Salamine
Great Ajax brought twelve saile that with th'Athenians did combine.
 Who did in fruitfull Argos dwell or strong Tiryntha keepe,
Hermion, or in Asinen whose bosome is so deepe,
Trœzena, Eion, Epidaure, where Bacchus crownes his head.
Ægina, and Maseta's soyle, did follow Diomede
And Sthenelus, the deare-lov'd sonne of famous Capaneus,
Together with Euryalus, heire of Mecisteus,
The king of Talaeonides—past whom in deeds of warre
The famous souldier Diomed of all was held by farre.
Fourescore blacke ships did follow these. The men faire Mycene held,
The wealthy Corinth, Cleon that for beautious sight exceld,
Aræthyrea's lovely seate, and in Ornia's plaine,
And Sicyona, where at first did king Adrastus raigne
High-seated Gonoessa's towers, and Hyperesius,
That dwelt in fruitfull Pellenen, and in divine Ægius
With all the sea-side borderers, and wide Helice's friends,
To Agamemnon everie towne her native birth commends
In double fiftie sable barks. With him a world of men
Most strong and full of valure went, and he in triumph then
Put on his most resplendent armes, since he did overshine
The whole heroique host of Greece in power of that designe.
 Who did in Lacedæmon's rule th'unmeasur'd concave hold,
High Pharis', Sparta's, Messe's towers, for doves so much extold,
Bryseia's and Augia's grounds, strong Laa, OEtylon,
Amyclas, Helos' harbor-towne that Neptune beats upon,
All these did Menelaus leade (his brother that in cries
Of warre was famous). Sixtie ships convaid these enemies
To Troy in chiefe, because their king was chiefly injur'd there
In Helen's rape, and did his best to make them buy it deare.
 Who dwelt in Pylos' sandie soyle, and Arene the faire,
In Thryon, neare Alpheus' flood, and Æpy full of aire,
In Cyparisseus, Amphigen and little Pteleon,
The towne where all the Iliots dwelt, and famous Dorion,
Where all the Muses (opposite in strife of Poesie
To ancient Thamyris of Thrace) did use him cruelly—
He coming from Eurytus' court, the wise Oechalian king—
Because he proudly durst affirme he could more sweetly sing
Than that Pierean race of Jove, who (angry with his vant)
Bereft his eye-sight and his song that did the eare enchant
And of his skill to touch his Harpe disfurnished his hand.
All these in ninetie hollow keeles grave Nestor did command.
 The richly blest inhabitants of the Arcadian land
Below Cyllene's mount that by Æpytus' tombe did stand,
Where dwell the bold neare-fighting men who did in Pheneus live,
And Orchomen, where flockes of sheepe the shepheards clustering drive,
In Rhipe and in Stratie, the faire Mantinean towne,
And strong Enispe, that for height is ever weather-blowne,
Tegea, and in Stymphelus, Parrhasia strongly wall'd,
All these Ankæus' sonne to field, king Agapenor, call'd.
In sixtie barks he brought them on, and everie barke well-mand
With fierce Arcadians skild to use the utmost of a band.
King Agamemnon on these men did well-built ships bestow
To passe the gulfie purple sea, that did no sea rites know.
 They who in Hyrmin, Buprasis and Elis did remaine,
What Olen's Cliffes, Aleisius and Myrsin did containe,
Were led to warre by twise two Dukes and each ten ships did bring,
Which many venterous Epians did serve for burthening.
 Beneath Amphimachus his charge and valiant Thalpius,
Sonne of Eurytus Actor one, the other Cteatus';
Diores Amaryncides the other did imploy,
The fourth divine Polyxinus, Agasthenes his joy.
The king of faire Augeiades, who from Dulichius came
And from Echinaus' sweet Iles, which hold their holy frame
By ample Elis' region, Meges Phylides led,
Whom Duke Phyleus, Jove's belov'd, begat and whilome fled
To large Dulichius for the wrath that fir'd his father's breast.
Twise twentie ships with Ebon sailes were in his charge addrest.
 The war-like men of Cephale, and those of Ithaca,
Woody Neritus, and the men of wet Crocylia,
Sharpe Ægilipa, Samos' Ile, Zacynthus sea-enclosd,
Epirus, and the men that hold the Continent opposd,
All these did wise Ulysses leade, in counsell Peere to Jove.
Twelve ships he brought, which in their course vermilion sternes did move.
 Thoas, Andræmon's wel-spoke sonne, did guide th'Ætolians well,
Those that in Pleuron, Olenon and strong Pylene dwell,
Great Chalcis that by sea-side stands, and stony Calydon—
For now no more of OEneus' sonnes surviv'd; they all were gone;
No more his royall selfe did live, no more his noble sonne,
The golden Meleager; now their glasses all were run—
All things were left to him in charge, the Ætolians' Chiefe he was,
And fortie ships to Troyan warres the seas with him did passe.
 The royall souldier Idomen did leade the Cretans stout,
The men of Knossus and the towne Gortyna, wall'd about,
Of Lyctus' and Miletus' towres, of white Lycastus' state,
Of Phæstus and of Rhytius, the cities fortunate,
And all the rest inhabiting the hundred townes of Crete,
Whom warre-like Idomen did leade, copartner in the fleete
With kil-man Merion. Eightie ships with them did Troy invade.
 Tlepolemus Heraclides, right strong and bigly made,
Brought nine tall ships of warre from Rhodes, which hautie Rhodians mand
Who dwelt in three dissever'd parts of that most pleasant land;
Which Lindus and Ialysus were, and bright Camirus, cald.
Tlepolemus commanded these, in battell unappald,
Whom faire Astyoche brought forth, by force of Hercules
Led out of Ephyr with his hand, from river Sellees,
When many townes of princely youths he leveld with the ground.
Tlepolem (in his father's house, for building much renownd,
Brought up to head-strong state of youth) his mother's brother slue,
The flowre of armes, Licymnius, that somewhat aged grew,
Then straight he gathred him a fleete, assembling bands of men,
And fled by sea to shun the threats that were denounced then
By other sonnes and nephewes of th'Alciden fortitude.
He in his exile came to Rhodes, driven in with tempests rude.
The Rhodians were distinct in tribes, and great with Jove did stand,
The king of men and Gods, who gave much treasure to their land.
 Nireus, out of Syma's haven three wel-built barkes did bring—
Nireus, faire Aglaia's sonne and Charopus' the king.
Nireus was the fairest man that to faire Ilion came
Of all the Greekes, save Peleus' sonne, who past for generall frame,
But weake this was, not fit for warre, and therefore few did guide.
 Who did in Casus, Nisyrus and Crapathus abide,
In Co, Eurypylus his towne, and in Calydna's soyles,
Phidippus and bold Antiphus did guide to Troyan toyles,
The sonnes of crowned Thessalus, deriv'd from Hercules,
Who went with thirtie hollow ships well ordred to the seas.
 Now will I sing the sackfull troopes Pelasgian Argos held,
That in deepe Alus, Alope and soft Trachina dweld,
In Phthia and in Hellade, where live the lovely dames,
The Myrmidons, Hellenians and Achives robd of Fames,
All which the great Æacides in fiftie ships did leade.
But these forgat warre's horride voice because they lackt their head
That would have brought them bravely foorth; but now at fleete did lie
That wind-like user of his feet, faire Thetis' progenie,
Wroth for bright-cheekt Briseis' losse, whom from Lyrnessus' spoiles
(His owne exploit) he brought away as trophee of his toiles
When that towne was depopulate. He sunke the Theban towres,
Myneta and Epistrophus; he sent to Pluto's bowres
Who came of great Euenus' race, great Selepiades.
Yet now he idely lives enrag'd, but soone must leave his ease.
 Of those that dwelt in Phylace and flowrie Pyrason,
The wood of Ceres, and the soyle that sheepe are fed upon,
Iton and Antron, built by sea, and Pteleus full of grasse,
Protesilaus, while he liv'd, the worthie captaine was,
Whom now the sable earth detaines. His teare-torne-faced spouse
He wofull left in Phylace, and his halfe-finisht house.
A fatall Dardane first his life of all the Greekes bereft
As he was leaping from his ship; yet were his men unleft
Without a Chiefe, for though they wisht to have no other man
But good Protesilay their guide, Podarces yet began
To governe them, Iphiclus' sonne, the sonne of Phylacus,
Most rich in sheepe, and brother to short-liv'd Protesilaus—
Of yonger birth, lesse, and lesse strong, yet serv'd he to direct
The companies, that still did more their ancient Duke affect.
Twise twentie jettie sailes with him the swelling streame did take.
 But those that did in Pheres dwell, at the Bœbeian lake,
In Bœbe and in Glaphyra, Iolcus builded faire,
In thrise sixe ships to Pergamus did through the seas repaire
With old Admetus' tender sonne, Eumelus, whom he bred
Of Alcest, Pelias' fairest child of all his femall seed.
 The souldiers that before the siege Methone's vales did hold,
Thaumacie, flowrie Melibœ and Olizon the cold,
Duke Philoctetes governed, in darts of finest sleight.
Seven vessels in his charge convaid their honorable freight,
By fiftie rowers in a barke, most expert in the bow.
But he in sacred Lemnos lay, brought miserably low
By torment of an ulcer growne with Hydra's poyson'd bloud,
Whose sting was such Greece left him there, in most impatient moode.
Yet thought they on him at his ship and chusde to leade his men
Medon, Oileus' bastard sonne, brought forth to him by Rhen.
 From Tricce, bleake Ithomen's cliffes and hapless OEchaly,
Eurytus' citie, rul'd by him in wilfull tyranny,
In charge of Æsculapius' sonnes, physition highly praisd,
Machaon, Podalirius, were thirtie vessels raisd.
 Who neare Hyperia's fountaine dwelt and in Ormenius,
The snowy tops of Titanus and in Asterius,
Euæmon's sonne Eurypylus did leade into the field,
Whose townes did fortie blacke-saild ships to that encounter yeeld.
 Who Gyrton and Argissa held, Orthen and Elon's seate,
And chalkie Oloossone, were led by Polypœte,
The issue of Perithous, the sonne of Jupiter.
Him the Athenian Theseus' friend Hippodamy did beare
When he the bristled savages did give Ramnusia
And drave them out of Pelius, as farre as Æthica.
He came not single, but with him Leonteus, Coron's sonne,
An arme of Mars, and Coron's life Cæneus' seed begunne.
 Twise twentie ships attended these. Guneus next did bring
From Cyphus twentie saile and two, the Enians following
And fierce Peræbi that about Dodona's frozen mold
Did plant their houses, and the men that did the medowes hold
Which Titaresius deckes with flowers and his sweet current leades
Into the bright Peneius, that hath the silver heads,
Yet with his admirable streame doth not his waves commixe
But glides aloft on it like oyle, for tis the floud of Styx,
By which th'immortall Gods do sweare. Tenthredon's honor'd birth,
Prothous, led the Magnets forth, who neare the shadie earth
Of Pelius and Peneion dwelt. Fortie revengefull saile
Did follow him. These were the Dukes and Princes of availe
That came from Greece. But now the man that overshin'd them all,
Sing Muse, and their most famous Steeds to my recitall call
That both th'Atrides followed. Faire Pheretiades
The bravest mares did bring by much. Eumelius manag'd these.
Swift of their feete as birds of wings, both of one haire did shine,
Both of an age, both of a height, as measur'd by a line,
Whom silver-bow'd Apollo bred in the Pierean meade,
Both slicke and daintie, yet were both in warre of wondrous dread.
 Great Ajax Telamon for strength past all the Peeres of warre
While vext Achilles was away, but he surpast him farre.
The horse that bore that faultlesse man were likewise past compare.
Yet lay he at the crookt-stern'd ships, and furie was his fare
For Atreus' sonne's ungracious deed. His men yet pleasd their hearts
With throwing of the holed stone, with hurling of their darts
And shooting fairely on the shore. Their horse at chariots fed
On greatest parsly and on sedge that in the fens is bred.
His Princes' tents their chariots held, that richly coverd were.
His Princes, amorous of their Chiefe, walkt storming here and there
About the host and scorn'd to fight: their breaths as they did passe
Before them flew as if a fire fed on the trembling grasse.
Earth under-gron'd their high-raisd feet, as when offended Jove,
In Arime, Typhoeus with ratling thunder drove
Beneath the earth. In Arime men say the grave is still
Where thunder tomb'd Typhoeus, and is a monstrous hill.
And as that thunder made earth grone, so gron'd it as they past,
They trode with such hard-set-downe steps, and so exceeding fast.
 To Troy the rainbow-girded dame right heavie newes relates
From Jove (as all to Councell drew in Priam's Pallace gates),
Resembling Priam's sonne in voice, Polites swift of feet—
In trust whereof (as Sentinell to see when from the fleet
The Grecians sallied) he was set upon the loftie brow
Of aged Æsyetes' tombe; and this did Iris show:
 ‘O Priam, thou art alwaies pleasd with indiscreet advise,
And fram'st thy life to times of peace, when such a warre doth rise
As threats inevitable spoyle. I never did behold
Such and so mightie troupes of men, who trample on the mold
In number like Autumnus' leaves, or like the marine sand,
All ready round about the walles to use a ruining hand.
Hector, I therefore charge thee most this charge to undertake.
A multitude remaine in Troy will fight for Priam's sake
Of other lands and languages. Let everie leader then
Bring forth, well arm'd into the field, his severall bands of men.’
 Strong Hector knew a deitie gave charge to this assay.
Dismist the Councell straight, like waves clusters to armes do sway.
The ports are all wide open set. Out rusht the troopes in swarmes,
Both horse and foote. The citie rung with suddaine-cryed alarmes.
 A Columne stands without the towne that high his head doth raise,
A little distant in a plaine trod downe with divers waies,
Which men do Batieia call but the immortals name
Myrine's famous sepulcher, the wondrous active dame.
Here were th'Auxiliarie bands that came in Troy's defence,
Distinguisht under severall guides of speciall excellence.
 The Duke of all the Troyan power great helme-deckt Hector was,
Which stood of many mightie men well-skild in darts of brasse.
Æneas of commixed seed (a goddesse with a man—
Anchises with the Queene of love) the troopes Dardanian
Led to the field. His lovely Sire in Ida's lower shade
Begat him of sweet Cyprides. He solely was not made
Chiefe leader of the Dardan powers: Antenor's valiant sonnes,
Archelochus and Acamas, were joyn'd companions.
 Who in Zelia dwelt beneath the sacred foote of Ide,
That drinke of blacke Æsepus' streame, and wealth made full of pride,
The Aphnii, Lycaon's sonne, whom Phœbus gave his bow,
Prince Pandarus did leade to field. Who Adrestinus owe
(Apæsus' citie, Pityæ and mount Tereies)
Adrestus and stout Amphius led, who did their Sire displease—
Merops Percotius, that exceld all Troy in heavenly skill
Of futures-searching prophesie—for much against his will
His sonnes were agents in those armes: whom since they disobeyd
The Fates, in letting slip their threds, their hastie valures staid.
 Who in Percotes, Practius, Arisbe did abide,
Who Sestus and Abydus bred, Hyrtacides did guide—
Prince Asius Hyrtacides that through great Selees' force
Brought from Arisbe to that fight the great and fierie horse.
 Pylæus and Hippothous the stout Pelasgians led.
Of them Larisa's fruitfull soyle before had nourished.
These were Pelasgian Lethus' sonnes, sonne of Teutamidas.
 The Thracian guides were Pirous and valiant Acamas
Of all that the impetuous flood of Hellespont enclosd,
Euphemus the Ciconian troopes in his command disposd,
Who from Trœzenius Ceades right nobly did descend.
 Pyræchmes did the Pæons rule that crooked bowes do bend;
From Axius out of Amydon he had them in command—
From Axius whose most beautious streame still overflowes the land.
 Pylæmen with the well-arm'd heart the Paphlagonians led,
From Enes, where the race of mules fit for the plough is bred.
The men that broad Cytorus' bounds and Sesamus enfold,
About Parthenius' loftie floud, in houses much extold,
From Cromna and Ægialus, the men that armes did beare,
And Erythinus situate high, Pylæmen's soldiers were.
 Epistrophus and Dius did the Halizonians guide,
Far-fetcht from Alybe, where first the silver mines were tride.
 Chromis and Augur Ennomus the Mysians did command,
Who could not with his auguries the strength of death withstand,
But suffred it beneath the stroke of great Æacides
In Xanthus, where he made more soules dive to the Stygian seas.
 Phorcys and faire Ascanius the Phrygians brought to warre,
Well-train'd for battell, and were come out of Ascania farre.
With Mesthles and with Antiphus, Talæmen's sonnes, did fight
The men of Mæon whom the fenne Gygæa brought to light
And those Mæonians that beneath the mountaine Tmolus sprong.
 The rude unletterd Caribæ that barbarous were of tongue
Did under Nastes' colours march, and young Amphimachus',
Nomion's famous sonnes, to whom the mountaine Phthirorus
That with the famous wood is crown'd, Miletus, Mycales
That hath so many loftie markes for men that love the seas,
The crooked-armd Meander, bow'd with his so snakie flood,
Resign'd for conduct the choice youth of all their martiall brood.
The foole Amphimachus to field brought gold to be his wracke,
Proude-girle-like that doth ever beare her dowre upon her backe—
Which wise Achilles markt, slue him and tooke his gold in strife
At Xanthus' floud. So little death did feare his golden life.
 Sarpedon led the Lycians, and Glaucus unreprov'd,
From Lycia and the gulfie flood of Xanthus farre remov'd.