Book XIV

Now Nestor with Macaon drinking sat
And heard the Greeks and Trojans fighting roar,
And to him said, Macaon, hear you that?
The noise is greater much than 'twas before
Let Hecamede ore the fire set water,
And wash away the blood from off your sore,
While I go hence and see what is the matter.
But at the Wine sit you still as before.
This said, he took up Thrasymedes Shield,
And Thrasymedes (his Son) took up his,
And with a good sharp Spear went to the Field,
And going forth a shameful sight he sees.
The Trojans chasing while the Argives flie,
And down unto the ground was torn their Wall.
And then as when a Wave is raised high
By secret Gales, on neither side can fall,
Until some certain and prevailing Wind
Comandeth in the Air; So Nestor stood,
And with two thoughts distracted was his mind
Sometimes to go t'Atrides he thought good,
And sometimes to the Battle. But at last
Resolved unto Agamemnon goes,
Whilst Shields and Helmets, all the way he past
Resounded in his ears with frequent blows.
And as he went the wounded Chiefs he met,
Ulysses, Agamemnon, Diomed.
For far off from the Fight the Ships were set,
And close unto the Shore lay at a head.
Only the foremost hawl'd were to the Plain,
And close astern of those was built the Wall.
For with so many Ships they crost the Main,
That near the Field they could not place them all.
But side by side along the Shore they lay,
And took up all the compass of the Bay.
The wounded men, to look upon the Fray
Helpt by their Spears went softly on the way,
Griev'd at the heart, and met with Nestor there,
Who with his coming made them more afraid.
And when unto them Nestor was come near
Then Agamemnon spake, and to him said,
O Nestor, Glory of the Argive Nation,
I am affraid that Hector will make good
That which he promis'd once in his Oration
Before the Trojans when he boasting stood.
I never will to Troy come back, said he,
Till I have slain these Greeks, and set on fire
Their Ships And now performed it will be.
O strange! Do all the other Greeks conspire
Against me with Achilles Thetis Son,
And therefore are resolved not to fight?
'Tis plain, said Nestor, some such thing is done,
Else Jove himself could not with all his might
Have made such work. The Wall is broken down
In which to save our selves we did confide;
And at the Ships they fight, nor was it known,
Nor could it be observed on which side
The Greeks that fighting were, were most distrest,
So thick to th' ground in ev'ry part they fall.
But let's consult what course to take were best,
If counsel can do any thing at all.
But that we all should fight I'll not advise.
For what can wounded men in Battle do?
To Nestor Agamemnon then replies,
Nestor, since now the War is brought unto
Our Ships, and that nor Wall nor Trench does good,
And much the Argives suffer'd have who thought
Their Wall for all the Trojans would have stood,
And all our hopes built on it come to nought.
(For though I know Jove once was to us kind,
Yet now I see our ruine he designes,
And pleasure takes in changing of his mind,
And aids the Trojans whilst our hands he binds.)
Let's all to what I saying am agree.
The Ships that nearest lye to the Sea-side,
Drawn down into the water let them be,
And there till Night let them at Anchor ride.
And if the Trojans then give over fight,
We'll fetch away the rest. For 'tis less shame
A danger to eschew, although by night,
Than needlesly to perish in the same.
Ulysses frowning on him then reply'd,
Atrides, what a word have you let fall?
You ought of Cowards to have been the guide,
And not of us Achaeans General.
For we by Jove are fram'd for actions high,
And to atchieve the Wars we undertake
How dangerous soever, or to dye.
And must we now the Siege of Troy forsake,
And after so much labour lost go hence?
Peace, let no other Greek hear what you say.
Who would have said this that had common sense,
And whom so great an Army did obey?
Nor is, in how to fly, your counsel right.
Must we our Ships draw down from off the Shore,
And at the same time with the Trojans fight,
Who now rejoice, but would do then much more?
And we that fight be utterly destroy'd?
For they that were at Anchor on the Main
Would go their way the danger to avoid.
Thus by your Counsel we should all be slain.
Atrides to him then this answer gave.
Ulysses your reproof is very smart;
Yet not command but counsel 'twas I gave,
And better I would hear with all my heart.
And so you shall, said Diomed, and though
Amongst you all the youngest man I be,
Be not offended with it. For you know
That born I am of a good family.
For Portheus three worthy Sons begat
(In Calydon and Pleuron they all dwelled)
Melas, and Agrius, and Oeneus that
The other two in deeds of Arms excelled.
Of him my Father Tydeus was the Son,
But in exile at Argos led his life,
And of Adrastus's Daughters marry'd one,
And great possessions had he with his Wife.
And there a rich and noble house did keep.
For Corn and Wine and Fruit he had much ground,
And in his Pastures had great store of Sheep,
And chiefly was for Chivalry renown'd.
Therefore my counsel, if you find it good,
You should not for my person take amiss,
Since I dare fight and am of noble blood.
The counsel I shall give you now is this.
Let ev'ry man unto the Battle go,
And place the wounded out o'th' reach o'th' shot,
That they encourage may against the Foe,
Those discontented men that fight would not.
This said, they went together to the Fight.
Which Neptune spying did not idle stand,
But like unto an aged man in sight
Came in and took Atrides by the hand.
Achilles heart (said he) now leaps to see
The slaughter of the Argives and the flight,
And joys therein, so little wit has he.
May death and shame upon him for it light.
Atrides, do not all the Gods mistrust.
For sure I am you'll aided be by some,
And see the Trojans fill the air with dust
As from your Ships they fly to Ilium.
This said, amongst the Greeks he went about,
And loud, as if nine or ten thousand men
Together on a Plain had made a Shout,
He shouted, and the Greeks took heart agen.
Now Juno standing on Olympus high
Her Brother 'mongst the Argives saw with joy
And Jove on Ida with an angry eye;
And in her mind consid'ring was which way
To cosen him. And was resolv'd at last
To go to Ida to him finely drest,
And after she had by him been embrac'd
To bind him fast, in gentle sleep to rest.
Then went she to her Chamber, which her Son
Vulcan had for her made with Door posts high,
And solid Doors, which of the Gods not one
Could open but her self, such mystery
Was in the Lock and Key. Then went she in,
And fast she lock'd the Door, and there alone
She with Ambrosia cleans'd her dainty skin,
Till not a speck unmeet was lest thereon.
Then 'noints her self with sweet Ambrosian oyl,
That as unto the House of Jove she went,
The scent thereof diffus'd was all the while
Throughout the space 'twixt th'Earth & Firmament.
Then comb'd and pleared she her Golden Hair,
And cloath'd her self with her Ambrosian Vest,
And many Figures on't embroid'red were,
And with Gold Buttons button'd at her Breast.
A hundred Tassels at her Girdle hung.
And wore a precious Pendant at her Ear
Of three rich Gems. And over all she flung
A dainty Scar[…] by which they cover'd were.
Then on her tender Feet she ty'd her Shoes.
And when her self she fully had array'd
From out her Chamber presently she goes,
And Venus took aside and to her said.
Sweet child I come a favour to request;
But tell me will you grant it, yea or nay.
I fear you bear me ill will in your Breast,
'Cause I for th'Argives am and you for Troy.
And Venus to her answer made and said,
Juno Jove's Sister, do not from me hide
Your mind, which to my pow'r shall be obey'd.
Juno to Venus then again reply'd.
Lend me Desire and Love by which you tame
Both mortal men and the Immortal Gods.
For to Oceanus I going am,
And Tethys (far from hence) that are at odds.
For when beneath the Earth Jove Saturn sent,
I was by them receiv'd and cherished.
But now with one another discontent
They will not come together in one bed.
If by this means I him can get within
Loves arms again, no jar shall them divide,
And I from both shall Love and Honour win.
And Venus then again to her reply'd,
Juno, Jove's Wife and Sister, your request
Cannot by me, nor ought to be deny'd.
And as she spake she from about her Breast
The fine enchanting Girdle streight unty'd.
Wherein embroyd'red were Love and Desire.
Soothing, and Comfort, that sufficient were
A Heart though very wise to set on fire.
And to her hands she puts it, and said, Here,
Take it. There's nothing wanting that you need
When you would have a man or God beguil'd.
Put it but in your Bosome, you will speed.
So Juno did, and as she did it smil'd.
And to the house of Jove then Venus goes.
But Juno ore Aemathia, and all
Pieria, and all the Thracian Snows,
And never on the ground her foot lets fall.
And from the mountain Athos ore the Deep,
And came to Lemnos where King Thoas swaid.
And there she met the gentle God of Sleep.
And took him by the hand, and to him said,
Sweet Sleep, to whom both men and Gods all bow,
If ever with my Will you did comply,
Deny not what I shall request you now.
Diffuse sound sleep a while upon Jove's eye
Assoon as he with Love is satisfy'd.
And I will thank you for it whilst I live.
And from my hand you shall receive beside,
A Chair of beaten Gold which I'll you give;
Vulcan my Son shall make it curiously,
Together with a Foot-stool for your Foot.
And Sleep to Juno then made such reply
As if he were affraid and durst not do't.
Juno, said he, if 'twere another God,
Though Ocean the great Sire of them all,
I durst upon his eyes have softly trod.
But not on Jove's, unless he for me call.
Your Order once (like this) I did obey
Before, when Hercules Jove's mighty Son
Went off to Sea after he conquer'd Troy.
Mean while the strong unruly Winds set on
By you, with mighty Blasts at Sea arose,
And from his best friends hurri'd him in pain,
And at the last threw him ashore at Coos.
But Jupiter, when he awakt again
The Gods at home he all tost up and down,
And chiefly would of me have had a sight.
Into the Sea then sure I had been thrown,
But that I fled, and was conceal'd by night,
Till of his anger blunted was the edge.
For night great power has with Gods and Men
And loth was Jove to break her priviledge.
T'encourage him then Juno said agen,
D'ye think Jove will as angry be for Troy
As he was then for Hercules his Son?
But go. Pasiphae you shall enjoy;
She's fair and young, and of my Graces one,
And with you as a wife shall always stay.
Content (said Sleep) but I will have you swear
By Styx. Come, on the Earth now one hand lay,
The other on the Sea, that witness bear
May all the Gods below, that Juno will
Give me the Grace Pasiphae to Wife,
And that as Wife she shall dwell with me still,
That love her dearly as I do my life.
Then Juno, as she was required sware
By all the Subtartarian Gods (by name
They Titans and the brood of Saturn are.)
And then together both from Lemnos came
To Lectos, at the foot of Ida Hill,
And ore the Woods upward their way they took.
But out of sight of Jove there Sleep stood still;
And as they went the wood below them shook.
Then Sleep went up into a high Fir-tree,
And there he sat in likeness of a Fowl
(All cover'd ore with Boughs and Leaves was he)
Call'd Chalcis by the Gods, by us an Owl.
Juno went on to Gargarus, where Jove
Saw her and met her with no le[…]s desire
Than when the first time to enjoy her love
Without their Parents knowledge he lay by her.
And Jove then standing by her very neer,
What made you from Olympus come, said he,
Neither your Charre nor Ho[…]ses have you here.
Deceitfully then to him answer'd she,
I going am upon a Visit now
To th'Father and the Mother of the Gods
Oceanus and Tethys; who you know
Did bring me up. For now they are at odds,
And angry he abstaineth from her bed.
But if I can, I reconcile them will.
The Horses that me brought unharnessed
Attend me at the foot of Ida Hill.
But that I from Olympus hither came,
Was that I would not such a journey take,
And not make you acquainted with the same.
This said, to Juno Jove again thus spake.
You may, said he, at any time do that,
But let us now with Love our selves delight.
For never yet upon my heart Love sat
For woman or for Goddess with such might.
Not when upon the Wife of Ixion
The wise Perithous I did beget;
Nor when the fair maid Danae I won
That brought forth God-like Perseus; nor yet
(When by Uropa I two Children got,
Minos and Rhadamant both famous men)
For her; nor Semele, when I begot
Bacchus mans joy; nor for Alcmena, when
I Hercules begot my lusty boy;
Nor Ceres, Leto, nor your self till now.
So much I long your Beauty to enjoy.
Fierce Cronides (then answer'd Juno) How?
On Ida top, for some o'th'Gods to spy,
And tell it to the rest to make them sport?
Then so ashamed of it shall be I,
That I shall never after come to Court.
You have a Chamber without Chink or Hole
Made you by Mulciber my Son, whereat
Neither the Sun nor any living Soul
Can peep. Go thither if you will do that.
And Jove to Juno then again repli'd.
That Man or God shall see us do not fear;
With such a Cloud of Gold I will us hide,
As to the Sun himself we'll not appear.
This said, within his Arms his Wife he caught
Whilst under them the Earth made to arise
Great store of Saffron, Hyacinth, and Lote.
There pleased Jupiter with Juno lies,
Closely concealed in a Cloud of Gold.
Away went Sleep unto the Argive Fleet,
And speaking there to Neptune said, Be bold,
And help the Greeks a while. Jove cannot see't.
I clos'd his eyes as he by Juno lay.
He'll soon awake; but help the Greeks till then,
Who now before the Trojans dare not stay.
This said, Sleep went amongst the Tribes of Men,
And Neptune to the Argive Ranks, and cri'd,
Shall Hector think to get the Victory
Because Achilles is not on our side?
No. Of Achilles little need would be
If every man would his Companion chear.
But now the Counsel I shall give obey.
Arm every man himself with a good Spear,
And Shield, and Helmet strong, and come away,
And follow me. I'll lead you to the Field.
Hector (though bold) my coming will not stay.
But let the best man take the largest Shield,
And to a weaker put his own away.
This said, well pleased were the Argives all
The wounded Princes arm'd themselves each one;
King Agamemnon first the General.
Ulysses and Tydides then put on
Their Arms, and every way the Field they range,
Surveying Men and Arms; and all along
Make weak men with their betters Armours change,
And give their heavie Arms to men more strong.
Thus armed all and Neptune at the Head,
Who with a great and long Sword in his hand
[…]ent brandishing as if't had lightned
To th'Fight they go; no man durst him withstand.
And Hector with the Trojans well array'd
On th'other side came on. And then began
Betwixt the Greeks that had the God for aid,
And those of Troy led by a val[…]ant man
A cruel fight. And high the Sea arose
Up to the Ships and Tents. And presently
With Alalaes the mighty Armies close;
And up unto the Heavens went the cry.
So loud as now, the Sea did never rore
When beaten 'twas int' heaps by Boreas;
Nor Wind when in the Woods great Oaks it tore
Up by the roots; nor th'Wood when fir'd it was.
And here did Hector first begin the fight,
And at the greater Ajax threw his Spear,
Which hit him; but upon two Belts did light
Which one upon another lying were,
One of his Sword, the other of his Shield.
Hector was angry that in vain he flung
(For he was in great hope he had him kill'd)
And now retired backward to the throng.
Then Ajax in his hand took up a Stone,
Of those to which the Greeks their Ships did tye
(For there amongst their feet lay many a one)
And at him as he parted lets it fly.
And as a Top he made it flying spin.
It but a little ore his Buckler slew,
And hit him 'twixt his Buckler and his Chin
Upon the breast, and to the ground him threw.
As when an Oak is overthrown by Thunder
(Which known is eas'ly by the Brimstone-smell)
Men look upon't with horror and with wonder;
So gazed they at Hector when he fell.
And from his hands went out both Shield and Spear,
And Helmet from his head; and with great cry
The Greeks rush on, and in fair hope they were
To gain his body, and their Spears let fly.
But all in vain. For by Polydamas,
Divine Aeneas, and Agenor, and
Sarpedon, and by Glaucus sav'd he was,
Who all before him with their Bucklers stand.
His friends then from the Battle him convey'd
Unto his Chariot and Charioteer
That close behide the Squadrons for h[…]m stay'd,
And in his Charre tow'rds Ilium they him bear.
But at the ford of Xanthus by the way
They poured water on his face, and then
In little time, as on the ground he lay,
He breath'd and came unto himself agen.
Then sitting on his knees he cast up blood;
And backward fell unto the ground again;
Upon his eyes again the darkness stood,
For of the stroke remained still the pain.
The Greeks assoon as they saw Hector gone,
Took heart, and on the Trojans fiercer were.
Then Ajax (of Oileus the Son)
Slew Satnius Son of Enops with his spear.
His Mother Nëis was a very fine
Nymph of the River Satnius. Of the same,
Enops upon the Bank sat keeping Kine,
And on her got a Son call'd by that name.
Him Ajax now struck through the Flank and slew.
Then for the Body there was much ado.
At him Polydamas a Spear then threw,
Which Prothoenors shoulder pierced through.
And on his hands into the dust he fell.
To th' Greeks then boasting said Polydamas,
I have not thrown in vain. I know full well
That one Greek or another taken't has
To lean on as a Staff i'th' way to Hell.
At this the Greeks were griev'd, but especially
The heart of Telamonius did swell.
(For Prothoenor slain did neer him lie;)
And with his Spear threw at Polydama[…],
Who nimbly leapt aside and it declin'd.
But by Archelochus receiv'd it was
Antenors Son, whose death the Fates design'd,
Who having on his Neck receiv'd the wound,
His Forehead and his Eyes, and Lips, and Nose
Before his Legs or Knees came to the ground.
Then Ajax took his turn, and at it crows.
Polydamas, said he, was Prothoenor
As good a man in your own estimation,
As this man that was Brother to Antenor,
Or Son? For he is not unlike that Generation.
This said he, though he well knew who it was.
Then Promachus, as he drew off the dead
Was killed by a Spear from Acamas.
And in it Acamas then gloried.
Argives, said he, great threat'ners as you are
You vulnerable are as well as we,
And no less subject to the chance of Warre.
How quiet Promachus now lies you see,
And so I hope ere long you all shall lie.
My Brother not long unrevenged lay.
Tis good you see to have a Brother nigh.
And when he this had said he went away.
Peneleus then went to throw his Spear
At Acamas, but Acamas was gone.
But yet he threw and kill'd another there,
Iliones of Phorbas th' onely Son,
A man much favoured by Mercury.
The Spear beneath his Eye-brow enter'd in,
And to the ground fell down the bloody eye.
The Spear went on unto the Brain within,
Then sitting down with both his hands outspread
The deadly Spear yet sticking in his eye,
Peneleus with his Sword cuts of[…] his head
Which to the ground with Helmet on did fly.
Then looking up, he to the Trojans said,
Tell this in Troy. And let his Parents mourn.
For Promochus's Wife will not be joy'd,
When we without her Husband shall return.
This said, the Trojans striken were with fear,
And lookt about each one which way to fly.
Now tell me, Muse, Who and by whom slain were
When they pursu'd the flying Enemy.
Great Ajax first the Son of Telamon
Killed the Mysian Leader Hyrtius
Of Gyrtias the strong and valiant Son.
Antilochus then killed Mermerus
And Phalces. By Meriones were slain
Hippotion and Morys. Teucer slew
Prothon and Periphetes, good men twain.
At Hyperenor then Atrides threw,
And gave him on the Flank a cruel wound,
And where the Spear went in, his Life went out,
And suddenly he fell unto the ground,
And on his eyes sate darkness all about.
But he that far the greater number slew,
The lesser Ajax was, Oîleus Son.
'Twas hard to scape when Ajax did pursue;
For of the Argives all he best could run.