Book II

The Gods, and Princes of the Argive Hoast
Slept all night long. Jove only waking lay,
And many projects in his mind he tost,
To grace Achilles, and the Greeks annoy.
At last a Dream he call'd. False Dream, said he,
Go, hye to Agamemnons Tent, and say,
Distinctly as you bidden are by me.
Bid him bring up his Army now to Troy;
For now the time is come he shall it take.
The Gods no more thereon deliberate,
But all consented have for Juno's sake,
No longer to delay the Trojan Fate.
Then with his errand went the Dream away,
And quickly was at Agamemnons Tent.
And finding him as fast asleep he lay,
Up presently unto his head he went.
And in the shape of Nestor to him spake.
Sleep you, said he, Atrides? 'Tis not fit
For him from whom the people counsel take,
That sleep all night upon his eyes should sit.
But Jove looks to you. Listen then to me.
For 'tis from Jove that I am to you come.
He bids you lead the Army presently
Up every man to th' Walls of Ilium.
For now the time is come you shall it take.
The Gods no more thereon deliberate.
But all consented have for Juno's sake,
No longer to delay the Trojan Fate.
And therefore when you wake forget it not.
This said, the Dream departed. And the King
Believ'd it as an Oracle, and thought
To take Troy now as sure as any thing;
Vain man presuming from a Dream Jove's will,
Who meant to th' Greeks and Trojans yet much wo,
And with their carcasses the field to fill
Before the Greeks should back to Argos go.
The King awak't, and sat upon his Bed,
Puts on his Coat and a great Cloak upon,
Handsome and new; his Dream still in his head;
And then his Silver-studded Sword puts on.
And then he took his Scepter in his hand
Which formerly his Ancestors had born,
And went to th' Ships whereof he had command.
And to the Gods with light then came the Morn.
Then Agamemnon bids to Counsel call.
The Cryers call'd, the Greeks together went.
But first he had with the old Captains all
Consulted what to do at Nestors Tent,
And said he dream'd that one like Nestor spake
To him and said, Atrides 'tis not fit
For one of whom the People Counsel take
That sleep upon his eyes all night should sit.
But Jove secures you. Listen then to me,
For 'tis from him that I unto you come.
He bids you lead the Army presently
Up every man to th' Walls of Ilium.
For now the time is come you shall it take.
The Gods thereon no more deliberate,
But all consented have for Juno's sake,
No longer to delay the Trojan Fate.
And therefore when you wake forget it not.
This said, the Dream went off again, and I
How to th'assault the Army may be brought
As far as we can safely fain would try.
I'le first give them advice to go away,
As if there were no hope to gain the Town[…]
But you must then be sure to make them stay.
This said, King Agamemnon sate him down,
And Nestor rose. Captains of th'Hoast, said he,
This Dream had it been told b' another man,
Feigned and foolish would have seem'd to me.
But since the King is th'Author (if we […])
Let us perswade the people to take Arms.
And having said, began to lead away.
And now the People coming were in swarms.
For as the Bees in a fair Summers day
Come out in clusters from the hollow rock,
And light upon the flow'rs that honey yield;
So to th'Assembly did the People flock,
And bristling stood with expectation fill'd
When they sat down, it made the ground to sigh.
The Lords nine Cryers then amongst them sent
To make them silent, or to drown their cry,
And from the press their chairs to defend.
With much ado at last they silent were.
Then Agamemnon took into his hand
His Scepter (which was made by Mulciber
For Jove to carry when he did command.
Jove gave it afterward to Mercury;
And Mercury to Pelops gave the same.
From Pelops it went down successively
To Atreus, and to Thyestes came.
From him it came to Agamemnons hand,
Who many Islands and all Argos sway'd.)
And leaning now upon it with his hand,
Unto the Princes of the Army said.
Servants of Mars, Commanders of the Greeks,
O what great trouble Jove involves me in!
Disgracefully to send me home he seeks,
Although he told me I the Town should win,
And now (when I have lost so many men)
It seems to play with men he takes delight.
What Towns has he destroy'd, and will agen
Destroy still more to exercise his might?
For both to us and our posterity
'Twill be a great disgrace to go to Troy
With so great multitudes, and baffled be,
And nothing done again to come away.
If we and they should on a Truce agree,
And one by one they muster up their men;
And we should count how many t[…]ns we be,
And make one Trojan fill out wine for ten,
Many a Ten would want a man to skink.
So much in number we the Town exceed.
But when upon their many A[…]ds I think,
I wonder less that we no better speed.
Nine Years are gone; our Cordage spoil'd with rain;
Our Ships are rotted, and our wives at home,
And Children dear expect us back again.
Nor know we of the War what will become.
Come then and all[…]agree on what I say,
Let's put to Sea, and back t'Achaea flie.
We shall not win the Town although we stay.
This said, the Army with applauses high
Consented all (save those that had been by
In Counsel of the Princes of Achaea)
And moved were like to the billows high
That rolled are by some great Wind at Sea.
Or as, when in a field of well-grown Wheat.
The Ears encline by a sharp wind opprest;
So bow'd the heads in this Assembly great
When their consent they to the King exprest.
Then going to the Ships cry'd Ha la la.
Great dust they raised, and encouraged
Each other to the Sea his Ship to draw,
And cleans'd the way to th' water from each bed;
And streight unpropt their Ships; and to the skie
Went up the noise. Then Juno sent away
Pallas. Pallas (quoth she) the Greeks will flie,
And Helen leave behind, for whom at Troy
So many of the Greeks their lives have lost,
And stay'd so long in vain before the Town.
And then will Priam and the Trojans boast,
Unless you quickly to the Ships go down.
Go qu[…]ckly then, try if you can prevail,
With hopeful words to stay them yet ashore,
And take away their sudden list to sail
And let the Ships lye as they did before.
This said, the Goddess leapt down to the ground,
From high Olympus, and stood on the sand
Where lay the Greeks. Ulysses there she found
Angry to see the people go from Land.
Ulysses, said she, do you mean to fly,
And here leave Helen after so much cost
Of time and blood, and shew your vanity;
And leave the Trojans of their Rape to boast?
Speak to each one, try if you can prevail
With hopeful words to stay them on the shore,
And take away this sudden list to sail,
And let the Ships lye where they lay before.
Ulysses then ran t' Agamemnons Tent,
And took his staff (the mark of chief command)
And laying by his Cloak to th' Ships he went
Amongst th' Acheans with that staff in's hand.
And when he met with any Prince or Peer,
He gently said, Fear does not you become.
You should not only you your self stay here,
But also others keep from flying home.
Atrides now did but the Argives try,
And those he see[…] most forward to be gone
Shall find perhaps least favour in his eye.
For of the Secret Counsel you were none.
Deep rooted is the Anger of a King,
To whom high Jove committed has the Law,
And Justice left to his distributing.
But when a common man he bawling saw,
He bang'd him with his staff, and roughly spake.
Be silent, and hear what your betters say.
For who of you doth any notice take
In Counsel or in Martial Array?
Let one be King (we cannot all be Kings)
To whom Jove gave the Scepter and the Laws
To rule for him. Thus he the people brings
Off from their purpose, and to counsel draws.
Then to th' Assembly back again they pass'd,
With noise like that the Sea makes when it breaks
Against the Shore, and quiet were at last.
Thersites only standeth up and speaks.
One that to little purpose could say much,
And what he thought would make men laugh, would say.
And for an ugly fellow none was such
'Mongst all the Argives that besieged Troy.
Lame of one leg he was; and lookt asquint;
His shoulders at his breast together came;
His head went tapering up into a point,
With stragling and short hair upon the same.
Ulysses and Achilles most him ha[…]ed,
For these two Princes he us'd most to chide;
And Agamemnon now aloud he rated,
And thereby anger'd all the Greeks beside.
What is't Atrides (said he) stays you here?
Your Tent is full of Brass; Women you have
The best of all that by us taken were,
For alwaies unto you the choice we gave.
Or look you for more Gold that yet may come
For ransome of some prisoner whom I
Or other Greek shall take at Ilium,
Or for some young maid to keep privately?
But Kings ought not their private ease to buy
With publick danger and a common woe.
Come women of Achaia, let us fly,
And let him spend his gettings on the Foe.
For then how much we help him he will know,
That has a better than himself disgrac'd.
But that Achilles is to anger slow,
That injury of his had been his last.
This said, Ulysses straightway to him went,
And with sour look, and bitter language said,
Prater, that to thy self seems eloquent,
How darest thou alone the King t'upbraid?
A greater Coward than thou art there's none
'Mongst all the Greeks that came with us to Troy.
Else 'gainst the King thy tongue would not so run.
Thou seek'st but an excuse to run away.
Because we know not how we shall come off
As yet from Troy, must you the King upbraid,
And at the Princes of the Army scoff,
As if they too much honour to him paid?
But I will tell you one thing, and will do't.
If here again I find you fooling thus,
Then from my Shoulders let my Head be cut,
Or let me loose my Son Telemachus,
If I not strip you naked to the skin,
And send you soundly beaten to the Ships
With many stripes and ugly to be seen.
This said, he basted him both back and hips.
Thersites shrug'd, and wept, sat down, and had
His shoulders black and blew, dy'd by the staff.
Look'd scurvily. The people that were sad
But just before, now could not chuse but laugh.
And, Oh said one t'another standing near;
Ulysses many handsome thing has done,
When we in Councel or in Battle were,
A better deed than this is he did none,
That has so silenced this railing knave,
And of his peevish humour stay'd the flood,
As he no more will dare the King to brave.
And then to speak Ulysses ready stood.
Where Pallas like a Crier did appear,
And standing by him silence did command,
That also they that sat far off might hear.
Then spake he, with the Scepter in his hand.
The people, O Atrides, go about
To put you on an act will be your shame,
Forgetting what they promis'd setting out,
Not to return till Troy they overcame.
But now like Widow-women they complain,
Or little Children longing to go home.
To be from home a month, it is a pain
To them that to their loving Wives would come.
To Sea they'ld go though certain to be tost
By many a sturdy wind upon the same.
But they have now lyen here Nine Years almost;
I cannot therefore say they are to blame.
But certainly after so long a stay
'Tis very shameful empty back to go.
Let us at least abide till know we may
Whether what Chalchas said be true or no.
For this we all know and are witnesses
(Excepting only those that since are dead)
When we from Aulis went to pass the Seas,
And by contrary winds were hindered,
That there we to the Gods did sacrifice
Upon an Altar close unto a Spring,
That of a Plane-tree at the root did rise;
And how we saw there a prodigious thing.
A mighty Serpent with a back blood-red
From out the Spring glided up to the Tree,
The boughs whereof were ev'ry way far spread.
On th'utmost chanc'd a Sparrows nest to be.
Young ones were in it eight, with th'old one nine;
The old one near the Nest stay'd fluttering,
And grievously the while did cry and whine.
At last the Serpent catcht her by the wing.
And when the Serpent had devour'd all nine,
He presently was turn'd into a stone;
That we might see from Jove it was a Signe
Of what should afterward at Troy be done.
We were amaz'd so strange a thing to see,
Till Chalchas rose and did the same explain.
This is a certain Sign from Jove, said he,
That he intends to do the like again.
For as the Snake devour'd nine birds in all;
So nine years long we shall make war at Troy,
And after nine years Ilium shall fall.
But in the tenth year we shall come away.
This then said Chalchas; and all hitherto
Is come to pass. Therefore Achaeans stay,
Since nothing here remaineth now to do,
But overcoming the old Town of Troy.
This said, the people made a mighty noise
(Which bounding from the Ships was twice as great)
Sounding of nothing but Ulysses praise.
And up then rose old Nestor from his Seat.
Fie, Fie, (said he) why sit we talking here?
Where are your Promises, and whither gone
Our Oaths and Vows? To what end did we swear?
Where be the hands that we rely'd upon?
What good will't do to sit upon the Shore,
How long soever be our time to stay?
Hold fast, Atrides, as you did before
The power you have; and lead us up to Troy.
A man or two you safely may neglect,
Though they dissent and secret counsel take.
For they'l be able nothing to effect,
Before to Argos our retreat we make,
And know if Jove have spoken true or no.
For when we went aboard to go for Troy,
Jove light'ned to the right hand, which all know
A sign of granting is for what we pray.
Let none of you long therefore to be gone,
Till of some Trojans wife he hath his will,
And ta'ne a not unfit revenge upon
The Trojans that have Helen us'd as ill.
But he that for all this is fiercely bent
On going home, and thinks that counsel best,
And laies hand on his Ship, let him be sent
Down into Erebus before the rest.
But you, O King, think well, and take advice
First into Tribes the Army to divide,
And Tribes again into Fraternities,
That Tribe may Tribe, and Fellow Fellow aid.
The Leaders and the Souldiers then you'll know
Which of them merits praise, and which is naught.
And if the Town you do not overthrow,
Whether on us or Jove to lay the fault.
To this Atrides answer made and said,
O Nestor, Father, you exceed all men
In giving Counsel. Would the Gods me aid
With Counsellors such as you are but ten,
The Town of Priam we should quickly win.
Nor had we now so long about it staid,
If Jupiter had not engag'd me in
A quarrel with Achilles for a Maid.
But if we come but once more to agree,
The evil day from Troy will not be far.
Now take your food that we may ready be,
And able to endure the toil of war.
Let ev'ry man now sharpen well his Spear,
His Buckler mend, and give his Horses meat,
And look well to his Chariot every where,
That we may fight all day without retreat.
For we shall fight I doubt not all day long,
And never cease as long as we can see.
Of many a Shield sweaty will be the Thong,
And Spear upon the hand lye heavily;
And many Horses at the Charret sweat.
But he that willingly to avoid the fight
Shall stay behind, or to the Ships retreat,
His body shall be food for Dog and Kite.
This said, the People pleas'd with what was spoken,
Approv'd the same with Shouts, as loud as when
Betwixt great waves and rocks the Sea is broken.
Then from the Assembly they return agen.
And at their Ships they sacrifice and pray
Each one to th' God in whom he trusted most,
That he might by his favour come away
Alive, with whole Limbs from the Trojan Hoast.
But Agamemnon sacrific'd a Steer
To Jove, of five years old, and to the Feast
Call'd such as in the Army Princes were,
Or held to be for Chivalry the best,
Nestor, Idomeneus, two Ajaces,
And the Son of Tydeus Diomed,
The sixth Ulysses Laertiades,
And Menelaus thither came unbid.
For well he knew his brother would be sad.
About the Victim then the Assembly stands,
And in their hands they Salt and Barley had.
Then pray'd Atrides holding up his hands;
Great, glorious Jove, that dwellest in the Sky,
O let not Phoebus carry hence the day
Till Priam's Palace proud in ashes lye,
And Hector sprawling in the dust of Troy,
And many Trojans with him. So pray'd he.
And Jove was with his Sacrifice content.
But unto all his Pray'r did not agree,
Intending still his labour to augment.
When all had pray'd, they Salt and Barley threw
Upon the Victim which they kill'd and slay'd.
But from the Altar they it first withdrew.
The Thighs they slit, and […] upon them la[…]d.
And burnt them in a fire of cloven wood;
The Entrails ore the fire they broyled eat,
The rest they rost on Spits that by them stood;
And when they rosted were, sell to their meat.
When the desire of meat and drink was gone,
Nestor stood up, and to Atrides said,
Let us no longer leave the work undone,
Which Jupiter himself has on us laid.
Let's call the Greeks together out of hand,
That we may make them ready for the War.
Atrides then to th' Cryers gave command
T'assemble them. They soon assembled are.
And then the Princes went into the field,
And them in Tribes and in Fraternities
Distinguished. And Pallas with her Shield,
(An undecaying Shield and of great price,
Rais'd at the brim with orbs of beaten Gold
An hundred, worth an hundred Cows at least.)
With this the Goddess went, to make them bold,
Courage inspiring into ev'ry breast.
And now their hearts are all on fire to sight,
And vanisht is the thought of their returning.
And such as of a Mountain is the sight
Upon whose top a large thick Wood stands burning;
Such (as they marching were) the splendor was,
And seemed to reach up unto the Sky,
Reflected from so many Arms of Brass
Bright and new polished unto the eye.
As when of many sorts the long-neckt Fowls
Unto the large and flow'ry Plain repair
Through which Caysters water gently rolls
In multitudes high flying in the Air,
Then here and there fly priding in their wing,
And by and by at once light on the ground,
And with great clamour make the Air to ring,
And th'Earth whereon they settle to resound;
So when th'Acheans went up from the Fleet,
And on their march were to the Town of Troy,
The Earth resounded loud with hoofs and feet.
But at Scamander's flow'ry bank they stay,
In number like the flowers of the field,
Or leaves in Spring, or multitude of Flies
In some great Dairy 'bout the vessels fill'd,
Delighted with the milk, dance, fall and rise.
The Leaders then amongst them went, and brought
Them quickly into Tribes and Companies,
As ev'ry Goat herd quickly knows his Goat
Whether it be another mans or his.
And Agamemnon there amongst the rest
Was eminent. Like Jove in head and face;
Belted like Mars; like Neptune's was his breast.
Such beauty Jove upon the man did place.

Now, Muses, ye that in Olympus dwell,
(For Goddesses you are, and present were,
And all that pass'd at Troy can truely tell,
And we can nothing know but what we hear.)
Who of the Greeks at Troy commanded men?
The common Souldiers you need not name.
For I should never say them ore agen,
Although I had as many tongues as Fame.
Boetia, wherein contained be
Eteonus, and Schoenus, and Scolus,
Aulis, Thespeia, Graea, Hyrie,
Harma, Eilesius, and Mycalessus,
Erythrae, Elion, Ocaliae,
Hylae, Eutresis, Thisbe, Peleon,
Plataea, Aliareus, and Copae,
Coronia, Glisse, Thebe, Medeon,
Onchestus Neptune's Town, Nissa divine,
And Midias, and utmost Anthedon,
And Arne that great plenty has of Wine.
The which in all made fifty Ships. And those
Commanded were by Archesilaus,
And Prothoenor and Peneleos,
And Leitus, and with them Clonius.
The Seamen in each one to sixscore rose.
Aspledon and Orchomenus besides
Did set forth twenty good black Ships to Sea.
Ascalaphus and Ialmenus were guides,
Begot by Mars upon Aslyoche.
The Towns of Phocis, Crissa, Panopea,
And Cyparissus, Python, and Daulis,
And on the brook of Cephisus Lilaea,
And Anemoria, and Hyampolis,
And other Towns o'th' bank of Cephisus,
Made ready forty good Ships for the Seas,
Ruled by Schedius and Epistraphus
The Sons of Iphitus Naubolides.
The Locrians the lesser Ajax led,
Of King Oileus the valiant Son.
(For he was lower more than by the head
Than th'other Ajax Son of Telamon)
A linnen Armour he wore on his Breast.
But understood as well to use a Spear,
Or better, than could any of the rest
That in the Army of th' Achaeans were.
There went with him from Cynus and Opus,
From Bessa, Scarphe, Thronius, Aygiae,
Tarphe, Calliarus, Boagrius,
Forty good Ships well fitted for the Sea.
Th'Euboeans were by Elephenor led,
That dwell in Chalcis and Eretriae,
Cerinthus, Dion (that holds high her head)
Carystus, Styra, and in Istiaea.
And by the name Abantes they all go,
Goodmen, and that in battle use the Spear,
And love to pierce the Armour of a foe.
And these on forty Ships embarqued were.
From Athens (who Erectheus people were)
Aurora's Son, by Pallas nourished
In her own Temple, in which ev'ry year
Many good Bulls and Lambs are offered,
Under Menesteus fifty Ships did pass,
Who for the ord'ring of a battle well
Of Horse or Foot the best of all men was,
Save Nestor, who in age did him excel.
From Salamis came to the Trojan Shore,
And by the greater Ajax govern'd were,
The Son of Telamon, twelve good ships more,
And lay at anchor to th'Athenians near.
Argos, Tyrinthe, Troezen, Asme,
And Epidaurus, and Hermione,
Mases and Aegina, and Eione,
Amongst them all put fourscore Ships to Sea.
Of which there were three Captains, Diomed,
Euryalus, and Sthenelus. But they
By Diomed were chiefly governed.
For him they all commanded were t'obey.
And from Mycenae, Corinth, Cleonoe,
And Orthe, and Hyperesiae,
From Sicyon, and Araethuree,
And Gonoessa, and from Helice,
Pellenae, Aegium, and all that Shore,
An hundred Ships were laid upon the Seas;
And with King Agamemnon passed ore,
And his peculiar command were these.
Amongst them he puts on his Armour then,
Proud that he was of all the Hero's best.
For of his own he thither brought most men,
And chief Commander was of all the rest.
From Sparta, Pharae, Messa, Brysiae,
From about Otylus, with those from Laus,
Helos, Amyclae, and from Aygiae,
Went thirty good black Ships with Menelaus.
Which from his Brothers forces stood apart,
And he amongst them heart'ning them to fight,
And breathing courage into every heart.
For to the Trojans he bare greatest spight.
Pylus, Arene, Cyparisseis,
Amphigenia, Aepy, and Thryus,
(Whereat a Ford i'th' stream Alpheus is)
Elos, and Pteleus, and Dorius.
(Here 'twas the Muses met with Thamyris
The Thracian Fidler which their Art did slight,
And said their Skill was not so good as his,
And they depriv'd him both of Art and Sight)
The number of the Ships those Towns set forth,
In all amounted to fourscore and ten;
And led were by a Captain of great worth.
'Twas Nestor the command had of these men.
From Phene, Ripe, and Orchomenus,
And from Enispe, and from Stratiae,
Tegea, Mantinea, Stymphalus,
And those that dwelled in Parrhasia,
(Arcadians all, and in sharp War well skill'd)
Came sixty Ships by Agapenor led,
And ev'ry Ship sufficiently fill'd.
But then the Ships Atrides furnished.
The men of Helis, and Buprasium,
And all the ground enclos'd by Hyrmine,
Myrsinus, Olene, Alisium,
Amongst them all put forty Ships to Sea,
Led by Amphimachus and Thalpius,
Diores, and Polyxenus the Son
Of martial Agasthenes, and then
Ten good Ships were commanded by each one.
Dulichium, and th'Isles Echinades,
Sent forty Ships. Meses Commander went
The Son of Phyleus, who for his ease
Liv'd from his Father there in discontent.
Ulysses also brought out twelve good Ships
From Ithaca, Neritus, Ceph'lonia,
From Same, and from Zant, and Aegylips,
And from Epirus, and Croaeylia.
Th' Aetolians with Thoas Andraemon's Son
Sent from Pylene, and from Chalcis, and
From Olenus, Pleuron, and Calydon
Sent forty Ships, whereof the sole command
In Thoas was. For Oeneus was dead,
And Meleager; all the Royal race.
Andraemon's Son their men to Troy to lead
By suffrage of the Cities chosen was.
From C[…]ossus, Gortys (in the Isle of Creet)
Lictus, Miletus, Phaestus, Rycius,
Lycastus, and some others went a Fleet
Of eighty Ships with King Idomenus.
And valiant as Mars M[…]riones.
And nine good Ships went with Tlepolemus
(That was the Son of mighty Hercules)
From Lindus, Camirus, Ialissus.
For Hercules Tlepolemus begat
On Astyochia whom in war he won,
And for her many Cities had laid flat.
But after Hercules was dead and gone,
Tlepolemus now grown a man, and bold,
Licymnius (his Fathers Uncle) slew
By th'Mothers side, a branch of Mars, but old.
Then cuts down Trees, and rigs a Navy new,
And many men together gathered,
And wandred till to Rhodes he came at last,
And there dwelt in three Tribes distributed.
Fear of his Kindred made him go in haste.
And mightily in little time they throve,
And ev'ry day in wealth and power grew,
And favour'd were continually by Jove.
For dayly he unto them riches threw.
From Syme went with Nireus Ships three,
Nireus that was the fairest man of all
(Achilles alwaies must excepted be)
But weak was Nireus, and his number small.
From Casus, Carpathus, and Nisyrus,
Calydnae Islands, and the Isle of Cous
Went thirty Ships. Two Sons of Thessalus
The Son of Hercules commanded those.
And the Pelasgique Argives sent to Sea
From Trechis, and from Hellas, and Halus,
From Pthia, and the Port of Alope,
Commanded by the Son of Peleus,
Fifty good Ships of Myrmidons, which some
Acheans, others Hellens use to call.
But these would not to any Battle come.
For sullen sat ashore their General,
Because Briseis they had forc'd away,
Which when he won Lyrnessus, was his prize,
And did Epistrophus and Mynes slay.
There […]ate he then, but shall again arise.
From Inon, Phylace, and Pyrasus,
From Pteleus, and Antron on the Sea
Went forty Ships with Protesilaus,
Which he commanded while alive was he.
But he was dead. For as he leapt to land
From out his Ship, he was the first man slain
Of all th'Acheans by a Trojan hand,
And left his wife to tear her hair in vain,
His house at Phylace half finished.
His Souldiers chose Podarces in his place,
His younger Brother, who at Troy them led.
A Captain good; but th'Elder better was.
And they that dwelt about Bo[…]beis Lake
Iaolcus, Boebe, Pherae, Glaphyrae,
Put all together Ships eleven make.
Under Eumelus there were put to Sea.
From rugged Olizon and Meliboea,
The towns Methone and Thomacia sent
Seven Ships of fifty Oars apiece to Sea,
And Philoctetes their Commander went.
But him the Achaeans left in Lemnos Isle,
In cruel torment bitten by a Snake.
And of his Ships Medon took charge the while.
But better care of him the Greeks will take.
From Tricca then, and from Methone steep,
And from Oechalia (Seat of Earitus,)
Thirty good Ships to Troy went ore the Sea,
By Machaon led and Podalirius,
Two skilful Sons of Aesculapius.
From chalky Titanus Hyperia, and
Astirius, and from Ormenius,
Eurypilus did forty Ships command.
And from the Towns Argissa and Gy[…]tone,
From Olo[…]s[…]on, Orthe on the Hill,
With those that sent were from the Town Elone,
So many went as forty Ships did fill.
And had two Leaders. Polypoetes one,
Son of Perithous the son of Jove,
And gotten by him was the day whereon
He and the Lapiths 'gainst the Centaurs strove,
And drave them from the Mountain Pelion.
The other Leader was Leontius,
Whose Father was Capaneus, who the Son
Was of the valiant Lapith Coeneus.
The Aenians and Perrhiboeans bold
Did two and twenty good black Ships set out,
From hollow Cyphus, and Dodona cold,
And other habitations about.
The pleasant River Titaretius,
That into Peneus runs, but doth not mix,
But glides like Oyl at top of Peneus.
For Titaretius is a branch of Styx.
These Gouneus led. Then the Magnesians sent
From Towns upon the banks of Peneus,
And sides of Pelion mountain eminent,
Forty good Ships under swift Prothous.
These were the Leaders of th'Achean forces.
O Goddess tell me now who was the best
In Battle of the Leaders, and whose Horses
In swiftness and in force excell'd the rest.
Eumelus his two Horses did surpass
(Though they were females) all the rest for speed.
Their colour, age, and stature equal was,
Sprung in Pieria from Apollo's Breed.
That terrour drew about as swift as wind.)
'Mongst Greeks the greater Ajax had no Peer,
(For now Achilles had the War declin'd,
Whom none in Prowess equall'd or came near,
Nor other Horses could with his compare.)
But at his Ships he discontented staid,
And full of spight which he t'Atrides bare,
Whilst on the Beach idle his Soldiers plaid
At who can furthest throw a Dart or Stone.
The Horses loosly wandred here and there
Amongst the people, and had Riders none,
Or upon Lote and Cinque[…]oil feeding were.
But the Achaeans to Scamander march'd
Swiftly as when a fire runs ore a Plain
Which Phoebus had with a long Summer parch'd,
And going made the ground to groan again,
As when Jove angry lasheth Arimy,
Which men say of Typhaeus is the bed,
The earth therewith is made to groan and sigh,
So groan'd the ground when they to Troy were led.
Then Jove unto the Trojans Iris sent,
Who old and young were then at Priams gate
Assembled with the King in Parliament.
Over their heads stood Iris as they sate.
Her voice was like to that of Priams Son
Polytes, that was watching at the Tomb
Of old Aesuites, there to wait upon
The coming of the Greeks to Ilium.
Old man (said he) you love to hear men preach
As in a time of Peace. But now 'tis War.
The Greeks no more lye idle on the Beach,
But at your Gates, and numberless they are,
As sands by the Sea-side, or leaves in Spring.
And to the City now they bring the War.
Hector to you this counsel now I bring.
Within the City many people are
To aid you come of divers Languages.
Let them that hither led them lead them here,
Arm, and command them each one as he please.
When she had done, dismist the people were.
Hector to open all the Gates commands,
And with great clamour Horse and Foot come out.
Before the City a high Pillar stands,
To which the field lyes open round about.
And Battiea called was by men;
Which 'mongst the Gods another name did bear,
Myrinna's Sepulcher. And there agen
The Trojans and their Succours muster'd were.
The Trojans were by Hector led. The best
In battle, and in number most were these,
With Spear in hand, and Brass on Back and Breast.
The Dardans were commanded by Aeneas,
(Anchises Son; but Venus was his Mother;
Amongst the Hills of Ida got he was)
And joint Commanders with him were two other,
Brave men, Archilochus and Acamas.
And of Zeleia the Inhabitants,
Which of Mount Ida lyeth at the foot,
And on the River of Aesopus stands,
Under command of Pandarus were put,
Son of Lycaon, and that well knew how
To make an Arrow in the Air fly true.
Phoebus himself had given him a Bow,
And how to use the same none better knew.
Th'Adrasteians and the men of Apaesus,
Of Pityeia and Tereia Hill.
Were by Adrastus led and Amphius,
Two Sons of Merops, that had mighty skill
In Prophecy, and both of them forbad
Themselves to venture in the War at Troy.
But Fate a greater power with them had,
And made them go, but brought them not away.
The People of Percosia, and they
That dwell upon the Banks of Practius,
Arisbe, Sestus, Abydus, obey
The orders of their Leader Asius
The Son of Hyrtacus, whose Chariot
By Horses great and black as any coal,
And on it he to Ilium was brought.
And of Selleis race each one a foal.
Larissa was Pelasgique by descent.
Under Pylaeus and Hyppothous,
Two stout Pelasgique Leaders these were sent,
Who both the Grandsons were of Teutomus.
The Thracians on this side Hellespont,
Were led by Piros and by Achamas.
O'th' Cycons who do these oppose in front
Troezenus Son Euphemus Leader was.
From Amydon that standeth on the side
Of Axius the fairest Stream that flows,
The Poeons came. Pyrechmus them did guide,
And arm'd they were with Arrows and with Bows.
The Enneti in Paphlagonia,
From whence proceedeth of wild Mules the race,
Parthenius Brook and the Town Coronia,
Cytorus, Sesamus, and the high place
Of th'Erithins, and of Aegyalus
The charge was given to Pylomenus,
And of the Halizons t'Epistrophus,
But not alone; joyn'd with him was Dius
Of Alybe, where is a Silver Mine.
The Leaders of the Mysians were Chromis,
And Enomus. Both of them could divine
By flight of Birds, though they foresaw not this
That in Scamander Stream they both should dye,
Slain by Achilles who there massacred
Many a Trojan, many a good Ally,
Which to the Sea the River carried.
The Phrygians from Ascania, far off,
Were led by Phorcys and Ascanius;
And Battle lov'd. But the Commanders of
The Maeones, Mesthles and Antiphus
The two Sons were of old Pylomenes,
Both of them born upon Gygaea Lake,
(At th' foot of Tmolus dwell the Maeones.)
Amphimachus and Nastes charge did take
Of those of Caria, people of rude tongue;
And of Miletus, and the Hill Phtheiron,
And of the Towns that seated are among
The windings of Maeander, and upon
Mount Mycale. And Nastes carry'd Gold
Unto the Battle, like a Child or Sot;
Wherewith his Life he did not buy but sold.
For slain he was; his Gold Achilles got,
And left him lying at the River dead.
The Succours by the Lycians sent to Troy,
By Glaucus were and King Sarpedon led.
Far off they dwelt, and a long march had they.