Book XV

When flying they had past the Ditch and Wall,
They at the Horses and the Charrets stay'd
With loss of many men, and looking pale.
And Jove awakt stood and the Field survay'd;
And saw the Greeks pursue, and Trojans fly,
And Neptune with the Greeks, and Hector laid
Upon the Plain, his Friends there sitting by,
And not a little of his Life affraid.
For gasping he scarce able was to draw
His breath, and blood abundance vomited,
Nor knew his friends. When Jupiter him saw,
Offended his condition pityed.
And then on Juno fiercely lookt and said,
Juno, I see all this is done by you;
And if you for it with a whip were paid,
'Twould be no more than for your work is due.
Have you forgot how once you swung i'th' Air,
And had two Anvils hanging at your feet,
Your hand with a Gold Chain ty'd to my Chair?
Though sorry were the other Gods to see't,
Yet had I any seen but go about
Your Manacles or Shackles to untye,
I from the Sill of Heav'n had thrown him out,
And strength'ess made him on the earth to lye.
I was not so much griev'd for Hercules
When Boreas set on by you, arose
As he went off from Troy, enrag'd the Seas,
And at the last threw him ashore at Coos.
But I to Argos brought him safe again.
And this I now repeat that you may try
Whether you likely are to lose or gain,
Abusing our familiarity.
This said, the Goddess Juno struck with fear,
By Earth, said she, and Heaven about i[…] spread,
By Styx (which is our greatest Oath) I swear,
And by your Life, and by our Nuptial Bed,
I never did to Neptune speak a word,
To hurt the Trojans, or the Greeks to aid;
But all he did was of his own accord,
By pity only and compassion sway'd.
And from henceforward I will him advise,
Seeing what way you lead, the same to take.
Then Jupiter with favourable eyes
On Juno lookt, and thus unto her spake.
Juno, if we were both one way inclin'd,
Neptune would quickly with us both comply.
Now if your words dissent not from your mind,
Go 'mongst the other Gods, and presently
Bid Iris and Apollo to me come.
For Iris unto Neptune I will send
To bid him leave the Battle and go home.
To Hector and the Trojans I intend
To send Apollo, to give Hector might,
And cure him of his pain, that he may lead
The Trojans on, and put the Greeks to flight,
That Th[…]tis Son may see them scattered;
And he shall send Patroclus to the Field,
Who shall the Trojans rout and kill my Son
Sarpedon, and himself shall then be kill'd
By Hector's Spear. And after that is done
Achilles in revenge again shall fight,
And by his hand stout Hector shall be kill'd
Under the Walls of Troy, i'th' Trojans sight,
And beaten be the Trojans from the Field,
Till Troy by Pallas counsel taken be.
Nor till I have performed all I said
To Thetis supplicating at my knee,
Let any God presume the Greeks to aid.
This said, went Juno to Olympus high.
As when a man looks ore an ample Plain,
To any distance quickly goes his eye;
So swiftly Juno went with little-pain,
And found the Gods at Wine together set.
And at her coming in they all stood up.
But Themis forward went and Juno met,
And to her hand delivered the Cup,
And said, You look as if you frighted were
By Jupiter for something. But what is't?
You know, said Juno, that he is severe;
And you shall hear the matter if you list
Together with the other Gods, though bad.
They will not all contented with it be;
But some of them will troubled be and sad.
And griev'd was she, though speaking smilingly.
Then Juno went up to her Throne, and sat;
And unto all the Gods spake angerly,
How! mad (said she) or foolish are we, that
Are thinking how agen Jove's hands to tye,
Who careless and unmov'd on Ida Hill
Knows his own strength and does our Plots despise.
And therefore what he sends, be't good or ill,
We'll take it patiently if we be wise.
Nor must the God of War on Jove complain,
Or in Rebellion against him rise
Because his Son Ascalaphus is slain.
At this, with both his hands Mars clapt his Thighs,
And to the Gods above complaining said,
Pardon me Gods, I will revenge my Son,
And 'mongst the Argives go and give them aid,
Though I should lye amongst the dead. Then on
He puts his Armour, and gives order to
Terror and Flight his Charret to prepare,
And then there had been twice as much ado
T'appease Jove anger ere it came to war,
If Pallas had not (for the Gods afraid)
Pluckt off his Helmet, and set up his Spear,
And pull'd his Buckler off, and to him said,
Fool, Bedlam, What have you no Ears to hear?
You hear what news now Juno brings from Jove.
And if you care not though your self be lost,
Yet let the danger of us all you move.
For Jove will leave both Greek and Trojan Host,
And coming hither seize us one by one,
And never ask who guilty is or not.
Therefore give over vexing for your Son,
For better men than he, by Gods begot,
Already here have been and shall be slain.
The Gods cannot preserve their Children all.
This said, she brought Mars to his place again.
And Juno to their houses went to call
Iris and Phoebus. You must go, said she,
To Jove on Ida. What you are to do,
You will by Jove himself informed be
Assoon as you his Presence come into.
Her message done, Juno resumes her place,
Iris and Phoebus down to Ida fly,
And finding Jove, stood still before his face.
Nor lookt he on them with an angry Eye;
For soon they did his Wives command obey.
Then speaking first to Iris, Go, said he,
To Neptune quickly, tell him what I say.
Bid him no longer at the Battle be,
But either go t'Olympus to the Gods,
Or to the Sea. If he will neither do,
Bid him consider if there be no odds
As well in strength as age between us two.
He knows that all the other Gods me fear,
And for my coming dareth not to stay,
As strong as to himself he doth appear.
This said, swift-footed Iris went her way
From Ida hill, and Jove without delay
And swift as any Cloud before the Winds,
Came down unto the Battle before Troy,
And there amongst the Argives Neptune finds,
And going to his side, I came, said she,
To speak with you a word or two from Jove.
You must not in the War a Party be.
He bids you go up to the Gods above,
Or down to th' Sea, where lies your own command.
If you refuse, he threatens you with War,
And bids you have a care […] his hand;
And th'Elder is, he saies, and stronger far,
Which you your self he thinks will not deny,
Since th'other Gods of him stand all in awe.
Neptune to this replying first spake high.
Good as he is, said he, it is not Law,
Thus to usurp upon my liberty.
For Sons and Heirs of Saturn we were three
Begot on Rhea. Pluto, Jove, and I.
By lot the Rule o'th' Waters came to me.
To Jove the Government of Heaven fell,
And of the Clouds, and the Ethereal Sky.
To Pluto Darkness, and the rule of Hell.
Earth and Olympus did as Common lye.
Let Jove then with his share contented be,
And not encroach on me. For well 'tis known
I hold not any thing of him in Fee,
But live as he should do, upon my own.
He should not unto me such language use,
But to his Children that will be affraid,
And dare not what he bids them, to refuse.
Thus Neptune spake. Again then Iris said,
Neptune, shall I this haughty answer carry
To Jove? And will you that I with it go
As 'tis? The Wise their minds oft vary;
And Fury on the Eldest wait you know.
So she to him. Then Neptune thus to her.
Iris, this word was spoken in good season.
Much worth, I see, is a wise Messenger.
But I was vext, because thus without reason
(When I his equal am by Birth and Lot)
Jove uses me as if I were his slave.
Well. For the present, cross him I will not
Though I be vext. That answer let him have.
And further, That if he without consent
Of me, Athena, Juno, Mercurie,
And Vulcan, Troy shall spare, our discontent
For th'Argives wrong, implacable will be.
And when he this had said, he Fight forbears,
Nor any longer 'mongst the Argives staid,
But div'd into the Sea ore head and ears.
Then Jove unto Apollo spake, and said,
To Hector go; for Neptune now is gone
For fear of my displeasure; had he stay'd,
The Sons of Saturn of our War had known.
'Twas wisely done of him my hand t'avoid.
And better both for him and me; but go,
And shaking your great Shield the Greeks affright,
And strengthen Hector and incourage so
That he the Argive Lords may put to flight.
And follow them down to the Hellespont,
And make them for their hollow Ships to fight.
What then is to be done? I'll think upon't.
For I intend not to destroy them quite.
This said, Apollo left his Father Jove,
And down he came to Troy from Ida hill
Swift as a Falcon flying at a Dove,
And Hector on the ground found sitting still,
Not laid, but to his Senses come anew,
And freely breathing, although very weak,
And very well his friends about him knew.
There Phoebus standing nigh did to him speak.
Hector, said he, why sit you here alone?
O kindest of the Gods, said he, you know
That Ajax wounded has me with a Stone,
So that I am disabled with the blow,
And once to day I thought I should have gone
To Erebus with other shadows dim;
With such a force he threw the mighty stone.
Then thus again Apollo answered him.
Hector, I Phoebus am, and hither come
From Jove, against the Greeks to give you aid,
And ever have wisht well to Ilium.
Lead to the Ships your Troops. Be not afraid.
Hector at this encourag'd was again,
And as a Horse at Rack and Manger fed
Breaking his Headstal scudds upon the Plain,
And high into the Air he holds his head,
His Mane upon his shoulders plays with th'Air
And proud is in his Freedom to behold
The pleasant River and the Pastures fair,
To which he had accustom'd been of old,
And swiftly to the same is carried;
So swiftly now went Hector to each part,
And in the Field his Troops enc[…]raged,
After Apollo once had giv'n […] heart.
But as when Swains with Curs to chase a Ro
Go forth into the Field, and with their cry
Rouse a fierce Lion, they the Prey let go
To save it self i'th'Woods or Rochers high,
And both the men and dogs are forc'd to fly;
Just so the Greeks whilst they in Bodies fight,
They save themselves; but seeing Hector nigh
They troubled were, and lost their courage quite.
Then to them spake Thoas Andraemon's Son,
Well skill'd at distance or at hand to fight
Amongst th'Aetolians better there was none,
And few compare with him for Counsel might.
O strange, said he, what wondrous sight is this!
I verily thought Hector had been slain
By Ajax hand. But see he risen is.
Some God or other rais'd him has again,
He kill'd us has already many men,
And many more is likely now to slay.
For Jupiter defends him now as then.
But come, let's all my Counsel now obey.
Let us that most pretend to Fortitude
Stay here imbattl'd to receive the Fo,
And to the Ships send back the multitude.
For thither, I think, Hector dares not go:
This Counsel was approv'd, and then stood out
Ajax, Idomeneus, Meriones,
Teucer, Meges, and such as were most stout,
And one Battalion was made of these
Th'impression of Hector to sustain
Till to the Ships the rest retreated were.
And Hector with his Troops came on amain,
Himself the foremost shaking his long Spear.
Apollo march'd before him to the field
Concealing in a Cloud his glorious Head,
And carri'd in his hand a shining Shield
Which whosoever laid his eyes on […]
'Twas made at first by Mulciber, and then
Given to Jove when he came down to fight
Against the Squadrons of rebellious men,
To make them fly the Field at the first sight.
Expecting Hector close the Argives stand,
And loud and sharp on both sides was the cry,
And many a Spear from every lusty hand,
And in the Air Arrows abundance fly,
And Spears; whereof some flying home did kill,
And others would have done but short they fell.
As long as Phoebus did his Shield hold still,
Many a Soul on both sides flew to Hell.
When shaking it he made the Argives see it,
They stricken were with fear, and suddenly
Their heavie hearts fell down into their feet,
And then they made all haste they could to fly.
And as a Herd or Flock is frighted when
A Wolf or Lion coming on they see,
And no assistance have of Dogs or Men;
So th'Argives scatter'd before Hector flee.
Then slain by Hector was Arcestlaus,
And Stichius who the Boeotians led.
The other a good friend of Mnesteus was;
Both killed were by Hector as they fled;
Aeneas Medon slew and Iäsus.
Medon was little Ajax Bastard-Brother,
And lived from his Father Oileus,
By th'instigation of his Stepmother
Eriopis, whose Brother he had slain.
And Iäsus th'Athenian Leader was,
But back to Atheas led them not again.
His Father was Sphelus Bucalidas.
Mecestes slain was by Polydamas.
Polites Echius slew in the first fight,
And Clonius by Agenor killed was;
And Deiochus by Paris in the flight
Whilst from the Foe each one his Armour takes,
The flying Greeks into the Ditch leapt all,
And there encumber'd mightily with Stakes
Were forced to retire within the Wall.
Then Hector roared to the Trojans, saying,
On to the Ships, and let the dead men lie.
I'll be his death whom ever I find staying,
Nor shall he buri'd be or burned by
His friends and kin, but in the Fields of Troy
Be left for Dogs to tear and haul about.
This said, unto the Ships he drave away
By th'Trojans follow'd with a mighty shout.
Phoebus before them march'd, and with his foot
Into the Trench threw down the Earth again,
And made an easie and plain passage through it
As far as one a Spear can well hurl, when
He hurleth for a wager. To the Wall
The Trojans go, Apollo there again
Before them is, and eas'ly makes it fall,
As Children when themselves they entertain
With making pretty things upon the Sands,
Then comes into their heads another toy,
And down they push this with their feet or hands;
So easily Apollo did destroy
The Argives mighty work, and bring the fight
Again unto the Ships. Where now they pray'd,
And one anothers courage did excite.
Nestor to Heaven held up his hands and said,
O Jove, if you the Sacrifice accepted have
Of any Greek before he hither came,
And promis'd that the Army you would save,
O, at our Prayer now perform the same.
Let us not perish by the Trojans here.
Thus Nestor pray'd, and then Jove thundered,
Declaring that his Prayers granted were.
At this the Trojans were encouraged,
And by their hopes interpreting Jove's mind,
Upon the Greeks with greater fury fall.
As when a Wave is thrown by some great wind
Into a Ship, so pass'd they at the Wall
And to the Ships they went with Horse and Char.
The Greeks into their Ships went up to fight
And with long Spears made for a Naval War
And pointed well with Brass, and shining bright.
The Greeks and Trojans push at one another,
These mounted stood upon their Charrets high,
And higher on their black Ships stood the other.
Patroclus that till now sat quietly
(Because the fight was only at the Wall)
And to Eurypylus his care appli'd
And Med'cines fit to cure his wounds withal.
And sat discoursing with him by his side,
Now when he saw the Trojans were within,
And of the Argives heard the woful cries,
And saw the fear and danger they were in,
With both his hands then clapped he his Thighs.
Eurypylus, said he, I cannot stay;
For mightily encreased is th'affray.
Your wound be dressed by your Servant may.
But to Achilles I must go away.
Who knows but I may win him at the last
To help the Greeks? This said, away he went,
And left Eurypylus, and made what hast
He could to get unto Achilles Tent.
Mean while the Victory no way inclin'd.
Neither the Greeks could make the Trojans fly,
Nor yet the Trojans as they had design'd,
Back from the Ships could force the Enemy;
But level hung the wings of Victory
As when two Scales are charg'd with equal weight
Made by the Art of Pallas curiously,
The Beam lies level in the Air and straight.
And at one time at divers Ships they fought.
Directly unto Ajax Hector went,
And there sharp fighting was one Ship about.
Hector to burn, Ajax to save it meant.
Here Ajax with a long Spear in his hand
Killed Caletor, Hector's Brother's Son,
As he was coming with a flaming brand
To fire the Ship, and di'd before 'twas done.
This Hector saw, and to his fellows cri'd,
Trojans and friends defend the body dead
Of Clytius Son, and shrink not from my side.
And as he spake his long Spear from him fled,
Which (aim'd at Ajax) fell on Lycophron,
A man that was to Ajax very dear,
But born at Cythera, and Mastors Son,
That having kill'd a man durst not stay there,
But unto Ajax fled, and with him stay'd,
Till now by Hector's Spear struck through the head
He di'd. Then Ajax to his Brother said,
Teucer, our friend Mastorides is dead.
You know how much we honour'd him at home.
'Tis Hector that has slain him. Where are now
Your deadly Arrows? And what is become
Of (Phoebus g[…]ft) your so egregious Bow?
Which Teucer hearing quickly with him was
With Bow and Quiver in his hand, and shot,
And slew the Servant of Polydamas,
That had the guiding of his Chariot
Clitus by name, who while in vain he sought
By driving to where hottest was the fight,
From Hector and the Trojans thanks t'have got,
The fatal Arrow on his Neck did light.
Then down he fell. The frighted Horses shook
The empty Charre. Then came Polydamas,
And by the heads the capring Horses took,
And sets Astynous in Clitus place;
And gave him a strict charge to hold them nigh,
But not to come with them into the Fight.
Then Teucer lets another Arrow fly
At Hector, which if it had hit him right,
He never at the Ships again had fought.
But Jupiter was pleas'd to save him now,
And brake the Bow-string. Then in vain flew out
The Arrow, and into the dust the Bow.
And Teucer to his Brother made his moan.
Ajax, said he, is't not a wondrous thing?
My Bow is started from my hand and gone,
Some God or other broken has the String.
Yet new 'twas made this morning purposely
To last all day. Teucer, said Ajax then,
Cannot you let your Bow and Quiver lie,
And fight with Spear in hand like other men,
And give unto the Greeks encouragement?
No. Though the Gods above should in their hate
To let the Trojans take our Ships be bent,
Yet let us sell them at a lusty rate.
Teucer then laid his Bow up in his Tent,
And arm'd himself with Helmet and with Shield,
And a good Spear, and back to Ajax went,
And found him where he left him in the Field.
When Hector saw that Teucer's noble Bow
Was useless now, he to his Squadrons cry'd,
Trojans and Lycians come on boldly now,
For Teucer now his Bow hath laid aside.
Jove brake the String. I saw it with these eyes.
For easily it may discerned be
To whom the hand of Jove intends the Prize,
And to whom he denies the Victory.
And now upon our side he is you see,
And from the Greeks their courage takes away.
Then to the Ships let's go couragiously,
And let the fear of death no man dismay.
For why should any of us fear to dye?
When for his Country 'tis, it is no shame.
And if we make the Enemy to fly,
Sav'd are his Wife and Children, Goods, and Name.
Whilst Hector thus the Trojans did excite,
Ajax unto the Argives spake, and said,
We must now either put our Foes to flight,
Or make account we shall be all destroy'd.
If Hector here to burn our Ships should chance,
Can you go home again (d'ye think) afoot?
He calleth on his men. 'Tis not to dance,
But fire our Ships if we will let him do't.
For us 'tis better in close Fight to die
Here all at once, or get the Victory
Than here, God knows how long consuming lie
And peck in vain at a weak Enemy.
Thus Ajax rais'd the courage of th'Achaeans.
Then Hector slew the Son of Perim[…]d,
Stichius that had command of the Phocoe[…]ns.
And Ajax slew Laoda[…]as that led
The Trojan Foot, and was Antenor's Son.
And Otus by Polydamas was slain,
Otus that led the bold Ep[…]ians on,
And was a friend of Meges. He again
A Spear threw at Polydamas, and mist.
For Phoebus kindness had for Panthus Son,
And with a present wit did him assist
To turn about and let the Spear go on.
And Croesmus there receiv'd it on his Brest,
And down he fell. Then Dolops Lampus Son
(Lampus that was of living men the best,
And Grandchild of the King Laomedon)
To be reveng'd at Meges threw his Spear,
Which pass'd his Shield, but in his Breastplate staid,
The Breastplate which his Father us'd to wear
With many Plyes of strong Mail overlaid,
And given was to Phyleus by his Guest
At Ephyre, wherewith in martial strife
From deadly stroaks of Spears to save his Brest.
And of his Son it now preserv'd the l[…]fe.
But Meges Dolops hit upon the Head,
And from his Crest struck off the goodly Main
Which he but newly then had dyed red.
But Dolops still the Fight did well maintain,
Till Menelaus stole unto his Side,
And struck him through the Shoulder with his Spear.
No longer stood he then, but fell and dy'd,
And both of them to strip him going were.
And Hector then call'd out to all his Kin,
And unto Menalippus specially,
Who while the Greeks were absent lived in
Percote, and took care of th'Husbandry.
But when the A[…]give Fleet to Troy was come,
He then return'd his Country to defend,
And liv'd in Priam's house at Ilium,
And proud the Trojans were of such a friend.
And lov'd he was by Priam as his Son,
And now unto him Hector spake and said,
Have we for Dolops no compassion,
Or to defend his body are affraid?
Come follow me. We must no longer play
At distance with the Greeks, but either they
Must utterly deface the Town of Troy,
And kill us all, or we them all destroy.
This said, away they both together went
To save the Body of their Cosen dead,
And A[…]ax with a contrary intent
His Argives to the Fight encouraged.
Argives, said he, to Honour have an eye,
And of your fellows Censures have a care.
For slain are alwaies more of those that fly
Than those that of base flight ashamed are.
This said, though of it no great need there was
Amongst the Greeks, they presently obey'd,
And at the Ships stood like an Hedg of Brass.
But on came Hector not at all afraid.
T'Antilochus then Menelaus said,
Amongst us there is none that better can
Both fight and run. Why should you be afraid
To leap unto the throng and kill your man?
This said, away again went Menelaus.
Antilochus leapt out before the rest
And threw his Spear at Menalippus, as
He coming was, and hit him on the Brest.
No sooner was he fallen to the ground,
Than to the Spoil Antilochus ran in.
As quick as when upon a Deer a Hound
Runs in, that by the Hunter kill'd had been.
But soon as he saw Hector coming on,
As valiant as he was he durst not stay;
But as some wild Beast that had mischief done
Ere people could assemble, run away.
The Trojans follow'd him with clamour loud,
And Spears abundance after him they threw.
But he ran on and got into the croud.
But they unto the Ships the Greeks pursue.
For Jupiter to make his promise good
To Thetis, hitherto the Greeks dismaid,
And in the Battle with the Trojans stood
Until he had performed all he said.
But meant to stay no longer with them, than
To see some Argive Ship with fire to shine,
And then to let the Greeks prevail agen.
From the beginning such was his designe
In aiding Hector, who now furiously
Went on like Mars, or like fire in a Wood,
With foam about his mouth, and fire in's eye.
And Jove himself came down and ore him stood
To save him when he was hem'd in by Foes,
And honour him, since 'twas his destiny
That not long after he his Life should lose,
And by none but Achilles hand should dye.
Now Hector looking where the best men stood
And armed best, try'd first to break in there.
Keen as he was he there could do no good;
So close they joyn'd to one another were,
And stuck like great stones in a Tow'r or Rock
That of the boyst'rous Winds and Billows high
Which break upon it still endures the shock.
Then Hector other places went to try,
And through he pass'd. Then as a Wave high grown,
When in foul weather forced by the wind
Under dark Clouds, into a Ship is thrown
The Mist and roaring Sails bring to the mind
Of the poor Seamen nothing but to dye;
So frighted were the Greeks. But forward he
Still went; And as when in the Meadows by
The Rivers side thousands of Kine there be,
And th'Herdsmen see a Lion to them come,
But with a wild Beast know not how to fight,
Some go before them, and behind them some,
The Lion falleth on them in their sight
Between both ends, and killeth only one,
The rest all fly; So th'Argives all before
He[…]tor and Jupiter dispersed run.
But only one was killed and no more.
And Periphetes 'twas the worthy Son
Of an unworthy Father Copreus, who,
When any labour great was to be done
By Hercules, did from Eurystheus go
As Messenger to carry the commands.
But Periphetes Vertue wanted none.
His Feet were swift, and valiant were his Hands,
A wiser man Mycena had not one.
But slain he was. For as he turn'd to fly,
He trod upon the edge of his own Shield,
And overthrown upon his Back did lye;
And with a stab of Hector's Spear was kill'd.
His friends, though many standing by him were,
And griev'd to see him fall, did him no good.
For ev'ry one now for himself did fear,
And out of Hector's way kept all he cou'd.
The Greeks retreated were no further yet
Than to between the first and second Row
Of th'Argive Ships; but forc'd that place to quit,
Near to their Tents themselves they rally now.
Where Nestor them encouraged agen.
Argives, my friends, be valiant now (said he)
And if at any time now play the men.
Of one anothers Censures fearful be.
Besides, by what you should be moved most,
Your Parents, Children, Wives, and Goods and Land,
Whether you have them still or have them lost.
I you conjure against the Foe to stand.
This Nestor said, the Argives to exite:
And Pallas from them took the Mist again,
That they might see who did, who did not fight
Both at the Ships and elswhere on the Plain.
But Ajax Telamonius thought not good
To stay with other Argives in the throng,
But up into a Ship he went and stood
With a Ship spear twenty two Cubits long.
As when a man that taught has been to guide
Four Horses at a time, and in his hand
Holdeth their Reins while they go side by side,
And people on the way admiring stand,
He from one Horse unto another skips,
And makes them run together to the Town;
So Ajax ore the Argives ranged Ships
To save them, and the Tents ran up and down.
And terribly unto the Argives cry'd
To play the men. Nor Hector 'mongst his Troops
Could be perswaded longer to abide;
But suddenly as a black Eagle stoops
At a great Flock of Geese, or Cranes, or Swans;
So Hector of the Argive Ships to one
Flew down, and Jove with his puissant hands
Behind him marching alwaies pusht him on.
Then at the Ships the Fight began again,
More cruel than before. You would have said
They had no sense of weariness or pain,
So mightily they all about them laid.
The Greeks were in despair of their return.
The Trojans thought the Argive Lords to rout,
And all the Ships that brought them thither burn.
Thus minded on each side they fiercely fought.
Upon a Shi[…] then Hector laid his hand,
Which brought Protesilaus unto Troy,
But never back unto his native Land.
For this good Ship they one another slay.
Arrows and Darts no longer slew about;
But now with Battle-axes of great strength
In one anothers reach they stood and fought,
And with great Spears and of a mighty length,
And great keen Swords, whereof from dying hands
Abundance fell on either side to th' ground;
And covered were with streaming bloud the Sands,
That gushed out from many a ghastly wound.
But Hector on the Ship his hand held fast,
And to his Trojans call'd aloud for Fire.
This day, said he, requites our ill days past.
To burn these Ships. Jove with us doth conspire.
And set on fire they had been long ago
(For I would gladly at the Ships have fought)
But that the Senate would not have it so,
And kept both you and me from going out.
But though by Jove then smitten were their hearts,
Yet boldly now himself he leads us on.
This said, the Trojans bravely play their parts,
And with more vigour fought than they had done.
Then on the Deck no longer Ajax stay'd,
So many Spears went singing by his head.
For if he there had stood he was afraid
That some unlucky Spear would strike him dead;
And to the far side of the Ship retreats,
Leaving the Deck which fenceless was and high,
And sat upon one of the Rowers seats,
And still upon the Trojans kept his eye.
And thence he from the fire the Ship defends,
And terribly on th'Argive Heroes calls
To do their best. We have, said he, no friends
Behinde to save our lives, nor better Walls
Than those we made; nor any City nigh,
That can or willing are our part to take.
But far from home in hostile ground we lie,
And hemmed in are by the briny lake;
And nothing can redeem us but our hands.
This said, he lookt about him furiously
To see if any durst approach with Brands,
Resolv'd to kill him that with Fire came nigh.
And many to the Ship with Fire were sent
By Hector; but when they approached near,
Ajax continually did them prevent,
And twelve he killed with his Naval Spear.