THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS

From The Iliads of Homer prince of poets (as typeset by Early English Books Online)

Neuer before in any languag truely translated. With a co[m]ment vppon some of his chiefe places; donne according to the Greeke by Geo: Chapman.

Homer., Chapman, George, 1559?-1634., Hole, William, d. 1624, engraver.

THE ELEVENTH BOOK OF HOMERS ILIADS.

THE ARGVMENT.

ATrides and his other Peeres of name,
Leade forth their men; whom Eris doth inflame.
Hector (by Iris charge) takes deedlesse breath,
Whiles Agamemnon plies the worke of death:
Who with the first beares his imperiall head.
Himselfe, Vlysses, and King Diomed,
Euripylus, and Aesculapius sonne,
(Enforc’t with wounds) the furious skirmish shun.
Which martiall sight, when great Achilles viewes,
A little his desire of fight renewes:
And forth he sends his friend, to bring him word
From old Neleides, what wounded Lord
He in his chariot from the skirmish brought:
Which was Machaon. Nestor then besought
He would perswade his friend to wreake their harmes,
Or come himselfe, deckt in his dreadfull armes.

Another Argument.

Lambda presents the Generall,
In fight the worthiest man of all.

AVrora, out of restfull bed, did from bright Tython rise,
To bring each deathlesse essence light, and vse, to mortall eyes;
When Ioue sent Eris to the Greekes, sustaining in her hand
Sterne signes of her designes for warre: she tooke her horrid stand
Vpon Vlysses huge blacke Barke, that did at anchor ride,
Amidst the fleet; from whence her sounds, might ring on euery side;
Both to the tents of Telamon, and th’authors of their smarts;
Who held, for fortitude and force, the nauies vtmost parts.

The red-eyd Goddesse seated there, thunderd th’Orthian song,*
High, and with horror, through the eares, of all the Grecian throng;
Her verse with spirits inuincible, did all their breasts inspire;
Blew out all darknesse from their lims, and set their hearts on fire;
And presently was bitter warre, more sweet a thousand times
Then any choice in hollow keeles, to greet their natiu climes.

Atrides summon’d all to armes; to armes himselfe disposde:*
First on his legs he put bright Greaues, with siluer buttons closde;
Then with rich Curace arm’d his breast, which Cyniras bestow’d
To gratifie his royall guest; for euen to Cyprus flow’d

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Th’vnbounded fame of those designes, the Greeks proposde for Troy;
And therefore gaue he him those armes, and wisht his purpose ioy.
Ten rowes of azure mixt with blacke: twelue golden like the Sunne:
Twise ten of tin, in beaten paths, did through this armour runne.
Three serpents to the gorget crept, that like three rain-bowes shin’d,
Such as by Ioue are fixt in clouds, when wonders are diuin’d.
About his shoulders hung his sword; whereof the hollow hilt
Was fashion’d all with shining barres, exceeding richly gilt:
The scaberd was of siluer plate, with golden hangers grac’t:
Then tooke he vp his weightie shield, that round about him cast
Defensiue shadowes: ten bright zones, of gold-affecting brasse
Were driuen about it; and of tin (as full of glosse as glasse)
Sweld twentie bosses out of it: in center of them all,
One of blacke mettall had engrauen (full of extreme appall)
An vgly Gorgon, compassed, with Terror and with Feare:
At it, a siluer Bawdricke hung, with which he vsde to beare
(Wound on his arme) his ample shield; and in it there was wouen
An azure Dragon, curl’d in folds; from whose one necke, was clouen
Three heads contorted in an orbe: then plac’t he on his head
His foure-plum’d caske; and in his hands, two darts he managed,
Arm’d with bright steele, that blaz’d to heauen: then Iuno and the maide
That conquers Empires; trumpets seru’d, to summon out their aide,
In honor of the Generall: and on a sable cloud
(To bring them furious to the field) sate thundring out aloud.
Then all enioyn’d their charioteers, to ranke their chariot horse
Close to the dike: forth marcht the foot; whose front they did r’enforce
With some horse troupes: the battell then, was all of Charioteers,
Lin’d with light horse: but Iupiter, disturb’d this forme with feares;
And from aires vpper region, did bloudie vapors raine;
For sad ostent, much noble life, should ere their times be slaine.
The Troian hoast, at Ilus tombe, was in Battalia led
By Hector and Polydamas, and old Anchises seed,
Who God-like was esteem’d in Troy; by graue Antenors race,
Diuine Agenor, Polybus, vnmaried Acamas,
Proportion’d like the states of heauen: in front of all the field,
Troyes great Priamides did beare, his al▪wayes-equall shield,
Still plying th’ordering of his power. And as amids the skie *
We sometimes see an ominous starre, blaze cleare and dreadfully,
Then run his golden head in clouds, and straight appeare againe:
So Hector otherwhiles did grace, the vaunt-guard, shining plaine;
Then in the rere-guard hid himselfe, and labour’d euery where,
To order and encourage all: his armor was so cleare,
And he applide each place so fast; that like a lightning throwne
Out of the shield of Iupiter, in euery eye he shone.
And as vpon a rich mans crop, of barley or of wheate,*
(Opposde for swiftnesse at their worke,) a sort of reapers sweate,
Beare downe the furrowes speedily, and thicke their handfuls fall:
So at the ioyning of the hoasts, ran Slaughter through them all;

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None stoopt to any fainting thought, of foule inglorious flight,
But equall bore they vp their heads, and far’d like wolues in fight:
Sterne Eris, with such weeping sights, reioyc’t to feed her eies;
Who onely shew’d her selfe in field, of all the Deities.
The other in Olympus tops, sate silent, and repin’d,
That Ioue to do the Troians grace, should beare so fixt a mind.
He car’d not, but (enthron’d apart) triumphant sat in sway
Of his free power; and from his seate, tooke pleasure to display *
The citie so adorn’d with towres, the sea with vessels fild;
The splendor of refulgent armes, the killer and the kild.
As long as bright Aurora rul’d, and sacred day increast,
So long their darts made mutuall wounds, and neither had the best:
But when in hill-enuiron’d vales, the timber-feller takes *
A sharpe set stomacke to his meate, and dinner ready makes,
His sinewes fainting, and his spirits, become surcharg’d and dull;
Time of accustom’d ease arriu’d; his hands with labour full:
Then by their valours Greeks brake through, the Troian rankes, and chear’d
Their generall Squadrons through the hoast: then first of all appear’d
The person of the King himselfe; and then the Troians lost
Byanor, by his royall charge, a leader in the host:*
Who being slaine, his chariotere (Oileus) did alight,
And stood in skirmish with the king; the king did deadly smite
His forehead with his eager lance, and through his helme it ranne,
Enforcing passage to his braine, quite through the hardned pan;
His braine mixt with his clotterd bloud, his body strewd the ground.
There left he them; and presently he other obiects found;
Isus and Antiphus, two sonnes, king Priam did beget,
One lawfull, th’other wantonly; both in one chariot met
Their royall foe; the baser borne, Isus was chariotere,
And famous Antiphus did fight: both which, king Peleus heire,*
(Whilome in Ida keeping flocks) did deprehend and bind
With pliant Osiers; and for prize, them to their Sire resign’d.
Atrides with his well aim’d lance, smote Isus on the brest
Aboue the nipple; and his sword, a mortall wound imprest
Beneath the eare of Antiphus: downe from their horse they fell.
The king had seene the youths before, and now did know them well,
Remembring them the prisoners, of swift Aeacides,
Who brought them to the sable fleet, from Idas foodie leas.

And as a Lion hauing found, the furrow of a Hind,*
Where she hath calu’d two little twins; at will and ease doth grind
Their ioynts snatcht in his sollide iawes; and crusheth into mist
Their tender liues; their dam (though neare) not able to resist;
But shooke with vehement feare her selfe, flies through the Oaken chace
From that fell sauage, drown’d in sweat; and seekes some couert place:
So when with most vnmatched strength, the Grecian Generall bent
Gainst these two Princes, none durst ayd, their natiue kings descent;
But fled themselues before the Greeks: and where these two were slaine,
Pysander and Hypolocbus, (not able to restraine

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Their head-strong horse, the silken teines, being from their hands let fall)
Were brought by their vnruly guides, before the Generall.
Antimachus begat them both; Antimachus that tooke
Rich guifts, and gold of Hellens loue; and would by no meanes brooke
Iust restitution should be made, of Menelaus wealth,
Bereft him, with his rauisht Queene, by *Alexanders stealth.
Atrides, Lion-like did charge, his sonnes; who on their knees
Fell from their chariot, and besought, regard to their degrees;
Who, being Antimachus his sonnes, their father would affoord
A worthie ransome for their liues; who in his house did hoord
Much hidden treasure; brasse, and gold, and steele, wrought wondrous choise.
Thus wept they, vsing smoothing terms; and heard this rugged voice *
Breath’ from the vnrelenting king: If you be of the breed
Of stout Antimachus, that staid, the honorable deed
The other Peeres of Ilion, in counsell had decreed,
To render Hellen, and her wealth; and would haue basely slaine
My brother and wise Ithacus, Ambassadors, t’attaine
The most due motion: now receiue, wreake for his shamefull part.
This said, in poore Pysanders breast, he fixt his wreakfull dart;
Who vpward spread th’oppressed earth: his brother croucht for dread,
And as he lay, the angrie king, cut off his armes and head,
And let him like a football lie, for euerie man to spurne.
Then to th’extremest heate of fight, he did his valour turne,
And led a multitude of Greeks; where foote did foote subdue,
Horse slaughterd horse, Need featherd flight, the batterd center flew
In clouds of dust about their eares, raisd from the horses hooues,
That beat a thunder out of earth, as horrible as Ioues.
The king (perswading speedie chace) gaue his perswasions way
With his owne valour, slaughtring still: As in a stormie day,
In thicke-set woods a rauenous fire, wraps in his fierce repaire
The shaken trees, and by the rootes, doth tosse them into aire:
Euen so beneath Atrides sword, flew vp Troyes flying heeles:
Their horse drew emptie chariots, and sought their thundring wheeles
Some fresh directors through the field, where least the pursuite driues:
Thicke fell the Troians, much more sweet, to Vultures, then their wiues.
Then Ioue drew Hector from the darts, from dust, from death and blood,
And from the tumult: still the king, firme to the pursuite stood;
Till at old Ilus monument, in midst of all the field,
They reacht the wild Figtree, and long’d, to make their towne their shield.
Yet there they rested not; the king, still cride; Pursue, pursue,
And all his vnreproued hands, did blood and dust embrue.
But when they came to Sceas ports, and to the Beech of Ioue,
There made they stand; there euerie eye, fixt on each other, stroue
Who should outlooke his mate amaz’d: through all the field they fled.
And as a Lion, when the night, becomes most deafe and dead,*
Inuades Oxe heards, affrighting all, that he of one may wreake
His dreadfull hunger; and his necke, he first of all doth breake;
Then laps his blood and entrailes vp: so Agamemnon plide

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The manage of the Troian chace, and still the last man di’d;
The other fled; a number fell, by his imperiall hand:
Some groueling downwards from their horse: some vpwards strew’d the sand.
High was the furie of his lance: but hauing beat them close
Beneath their walls, the both worlds Sire, did now againe repose
On fountaine-flowing Idas tops, being newly slid from heauen,
And held a lightning in his hand: from thence this charge was giuen
To Iris with the golden wings: Thaumantia, flie (said he)*
And tell Troys Hector, that as long, as he enrag’d shall see
The souldier-louing Atreus sonne, amongst the formost fight,
Depopulating troopes of men: so long he must excite
Some other to resist the foe, and he no armes aduance:
But when he wounded takes his horse, attain’d with shaft or lance:
Then will I fill his arme with death, euen till he reach the Fleet,
And peacefull night treads busie day, beneath her sacred feet.
The wind-foot swift Thaumantia, obeyd, and vsd her wings
To famous Ilion, from the mount, enchaste with siluer springs:
And found in his bright chariot, the hardie Troian knight:
To whom she spake the words of Ioue, and vanisht from his sight.
He leapt vpon the sounding earth, and shooke his lengthfull dart,
And euerie where he breath’d exhorts, and stird vp euerie heart:
A dreadfull fight he set on foote, his souldiers straight turnd head:
The Greekes stood firme, in both the hoasts, the field was perfected.
But Agamemnon formost still, did all his side exceed:
And would not be the first in name, vnlesse the first in deed.
Now sing faire Presidents of verse, that in the heauens embowre,
Who first encountred with the king, of all the aduerse powre:
Iphydamas, Antenors sonne, ample and bigly set,
Brought vp in pasture-springing-Thrace, that doth soft sheepe beget:
In graue Cissaeus noble house, that was his mothers Sire;
(Faire Theano) and when his breast, was heightned with the fire
Of gaisome youth; his grand-Sire gaue, his daughter to his loue:
Who straight his bridall chamber left; Fame, with affection stroue,
And made him furnish twelue faire ships, to lend faire Troy his hand.
His ships he in Percope left, and came to Troy by land:
And now he tried the fame of Greece, encountring with the king,
Who threw his royall lance and mist: Iphydamas did fling,
And strooke him on the arming waste, beneath his coate of brasse,
Which forc’t him stay vpon his arme, so violent it was:
Yet pierc’t it not his wel-wrought zone; but when the lazie head
Tried hardnesse with his siluer waste, it turnd againe like lead.
He follow’d, grasping the ground end: but with a Lions wile,
That wrests away a hunters staffe; he caught it by the pile,
And pluckt it from the casters hand; whom with his sword he strooke *
Beneath the eare, and with his wound, his timelesse death he tooke:
He fell and slept an iron sleepe; wretched young man, he dide
Farre from his newly-married wife, in aide of forreine pride;
And saw no pleasure of his loue; yet was her ioynture great:

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An hundred Oxen gaue he her, and vow’d in his retreate
Two thousand head of sheepe and Goates, of which he store did leaue:
Much gaue he of his loues first fruits, and nothing did receiue.
When Coon (one that for his forme, might feast an amorous eye,
And elder brother of the slaine) beheld this tragedie:
Deepe sorrow sate vpon his eyes; and (standing laterally,
And to the Generall vndiscernd) his Iauelin he let flie:
That twixt his elbow and his wrist, transfixt his armelesse arme:
The bright head shin’d on th’other side. The vnexpected harme
Imprest some horror in the king: yet so he ceast not fight,
But rushton Coon with his lance, who made what haste he might
(Seising his slaughterd brothers foote) to draw him from the field,
And cald the ablest to his aide; when vnder his round shield
The kings brasse Iauelin, as he drew, did strike him helplesse dead:
Who made Iphydamas the blocke, and cut off Coons head.
Thus vnder great Atrides arme, Antenors issue thriu’d,
And to suffise precisest fate▪ to Plutos mansion diu’d.
He with his lance, sword, mightie stones, pour’d his Heroicke wreake
On other Squadrons of the foe, whiles yet warme blood did breake
Through his cleft veines: but when the wound, was quite exhaust and crude;
The eager anguish did approue, his Princely fortitude.
As when most sharpe and bitter pangs, distract a labouring Dame;
Which the diuine Ilithiae, that rule the painefull frame
Of humane chid-birth poure on her: th’Ilithiae that are
The daughters of Saturnia: with whose extreme repaire
The woman in her trauell striues, to take the worst it giues:
With thought it must be, tis loues fruite, the end for which she liues;
The meane to make her selfe new borne: what comforts will redound:
So Agamemnon did sustaine, the torment of his wound.
Then tooke he chariot, and to Fleet, bad haste his chariotere;
But first pour’d out his highest voice, to purchase euerie eare:

Princes and Leaders of the Greekes, braue friends, now from our fleet *
Do you expell this bostrous sway: Ioue will not let me meet
Illustrate Hector, nor giue leaue, that I shall end the day
In fight against the Ilian power: my wound is in my way.
This said, his readie chariotere, did scourge his spritefull horse,
That freely to the sable fleet, performd their fierie course:
To beare their wounded Soueraigne, apart the Martiall thrust,
Sprinkling their powerfull breasts with foame, and snowing on the dust.

When Hector heard of his retreate, thus he for fame contends:*
Troians, Dardanians, Lycians, all my close-fighting friends,
Thinke what it is to be renownd: be souldiers all of name:
Our strongest enemie is gone; Ioue vowes to do vs fame:
Then in the Grecian faces driue, your one-hou’d violent steeds,
And fare aboue their best, be best, and glorifie your deeds.
Thus as a dog-giuen Hunter sets, vpon a brace of Bores,
His white-toothd hounds: pufs, showts, breaths terms, & on his emprese pores,
All his wild art to make them pinch: so Hector vrg’d his host

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To charge the Greeks, and he himselfe, most bold, and actiue most:
He brake into the heate of fight: as when a tempest raues,
Stoops from the clouds, and all on heapes, doth cuffe the purple waues.
Who then was first, and last, he kild, when Ioue did grace his deed?
Asseus, and Autonous; Opys, and Clytus seed:*
Prince Dolops, and the honord Sire, of sweet Euryalus:
(Opheltes) Agelaus next; and strong Hipponous:
Orus, Essymnus, all of name. The common souldiers fell,
As when the hollow flood of aire, in Zephires cheeks doth swell,*
And sparseth all the gatherd clouds, white Notus power did draw;
VVraps waues in waues, hurls vp the froath, beat with a vehement flaw:
So were the common souldiers wrackt, in troops, by Hectors hand.
Then ruine had enforc’t such works, as no Greeks could withstand:
Then in their fleete they had bene housd, had not Laertes sonne
Stird vp the spirit of Diomed, with this impression.

Tydides, what do we sustaine, forgetting what we are?*
Stand by me (dearest in my loue:) twere horrible impaire
For our two valours to endure, a customarie flight,
To leaue our nauie still ingag’d, and but by fits to fight.
He answerd; I am bent to stay, and any thing sustaine:
But our delight to proue vs men, will proue but short and vaine;*
For Ioue makes Troians instruments; and virtually then,
Wields arms himselfe: our crosse affaires, are not twixt men and men.
This said, Thimbraeus with his lance, he tumbled from his horse;
Neare his left nipple wounding him: Vlysses did enforce
Faire Molion, minion to this king, that Diomed subdude:
Both sent they thence, till they returnd: who now the king pursude
And furrowed through the thickned troopes. As when two chaced Bores
Turne head gainst kennels of bold hounds, and race way through their gores:
So (turnd from flight) the forward kings, shew’d Troians backward death:
Nor fled the Greeks but by their wils, to get great Hector breath.

Then tooke they horse and chariot, from two bold citie foes,*
Merops Percosius mightie sonnes: their father could disclose,
Beyond all men, hid Auguries; and would not giue consent
To their egression to these wars: yet wilfully they went;
For Fates, that order sable death, enforc’t their tragedies:
Tydides slue them with his lance, and made their armes his prise.
Hypporochus, and Hyppodus, Vlysses reft of light:
But Ioue, that out of Ida lookt, then equallisde the fight;
A Grecian for a Troian then, paide tribute to the Fates:
Yet royall Diomed slue one, euen in those euen debates,
That was of name more then the rest; Paeons renowned sonne,
The Prince Agastrophus: his lance, into his hip did run:
His Squire detaind his horse apart, that hindred him to flie;
Which he repented at his heart: yet did his feet applie
His scape with all the speed they had, alongst the formost bands;
And there his loued life dissolu’d. This, Hector vnderstands,
And rusht with clamor on the king; right soundly seconded

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With troupes of Troians: which perceiu’d, by famous Diomed;
The deepe conceit of Ioues high will, stifned his royall haire;
Who spake to neare-fought Ithachus; The fate of this affaire *
Is bent to vs: come let vs stand, and bound his violence.
Thus threw he his long Iauelin forth; which smote his heads defence
Full on the top, yet pierc’t no skin; brasse, tooke repulse with brasse;
His helme (with three folds made, and sharpe,) the gift of Phoebus was.
The blow made Hector take the troupe; sunke him vpon his hand,
And strooke him blind: the king pursude, before the formost band,
His darts recouerie: which he found, laid on the purple plaine▪
By which time, Hector was reuiu’d, and taking horse againe,
Was farre commixt within his strength, and fled his darksome graue.
He followd with his thirstie lance, and this elusiue Braue:

Once more be thankfull to thy heeles, (proud dog) for thy escape:*
Mischiefe sate neare thy bosome now; and now another rape
Hath thy Apollo made of thee, to whom thou well maist pray,
When through the singing of our darts, thou findst such guarded way:
But I shall meet with thee at length, and bring thy latest houre,
If with like fauour any God, be fautor of my powre:
Meane while, some other shall repay, what I suspend in thee.
This said, he set the wretched soule, of Paeons issue free;
Whom his late wound, not fully slue: but Priams amorous birth,*
Against Tydides bent his bow, hid with a hill of earth;
Part of the ruinated tombe, for honor’d Ilus built:
And as the Curace of the slaine (engrauen and richly gilt)
Tydides from his breast had spoild, and from his shoulders raft,
His target and his solide helme, he shot; and his keene shaft
(That neuer flew from him in vaine) did naile vnto the ground
The kings right foot: the spleenfull knight, laught sweetly at the wound,
Crept from his couert, and triumpht: Now art thou maimd, said he,*
And would to God my happie hand, had so much honor’d me,
To haue infixt it in thy breast, as deepe as in thy foote,
Euen to th’expulsure of thy soule: then blest had bene my shoote
Of all the Troians: who had then, breath’d from their long vnrests,
Who feare thee as the braying Goates, abhorre the king of beasts.

Vndanted Diomed replide: You Brauer, with your bow,*
You slick-hair’d louer: you that hunt, and fleere at wenches so:
Durst thou but stand in armes with me, thy silly archerie
Would giue thee little cause to vaunt: as little suffer I
In this same tall exploit of thine, perform’d when thou wert hid:
As if a woman or a child, that knew not what it did,
Had toucht my foote: a cowards steele, hath neuer any edge:
But mine (t’assure it sharpe) still layes, dead carkasses in pledge;
Touch it: it renders liuelesse straight: it strikes the fingers ends
Of haplesse widowes in their cheeks; and children blind of friends:
The subiect of it makes earth red; and aire with sighes inflames:
And leaues lims more embrac’t with birds, then with enamour’d Dames.
Lance-fam’d Vlysses now came in, and stept before the king;

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Kneeld opposite, and drew the shaft: the eager paine did sting
Through all his bodie; straight he tooke, his royall chariot there,
And with direction to the fleete, did charge his chariotere.
Now was Vlysses desolate, feare made no friend remaine:
He thus spake to his mightie mind: What doth my state sustaine?*
If I should flie this ods in feare, that thus comes clustring on,
Twere high dishonour: yet twere worse, to be surprisd alone:
Tis Ioue that driues the rest to flight: but thats a faint excuse;
Why do I tempt my mind so much? pale cowards fight refuse.
He that affects renowne in warre, must like a rocke be fixt;
Wound, or be wounded: valours truth, puts no respect betwixt.
In this contention with himselfe, in flew the shadie bands
Of targateres, who sieg’d him round, with mischiefe-filled hands.
As when a crew of gallants watch, the wild muse of a Bore;
Their dogs put after in full crie, he rusheth on before:
Whets, with his lather-making iawes, his crooked tuskes for blood:
And (holding firme his vsuall haunts) breakes through the deepned wood:
They charging, though his hote approch, be neuer so abhord:
So, to assaile the Ioue-lou’d Greeke, the Ilians did accord,
And he made through them: first he hurt, vpon his shoulder blade,
Deiops a blamelesse man at armes: then sent to endlesse shade
Thoon and Eunomus: and strooke, the strong Chersidamas,*
As from his chariot he leapt downe, beneath his targe of brasse:
Who fell, and crawld vpon the earth, with his sustaining palmes,
And left the fight: nor yet his lance, left dealing Martiall almes:
But Socus brother by both sides, yong Carops did impresse:
Then Princely Socus to his aide, made brotherly accesse,
And (coming neare) spake in his charge; O great Laertes sonne,
Insatiate in slie stratagems, and labours neuer done:
This houre, or thou shalt boast to kill, the two Hypasides,
And prize their armes, or fall thy selfe, in my resolu’d accesse.
This said, he threw quite through his shield, his fell and well-driuen lance:
Which held way through his curaces, and on his ribs did glance:
Plowing the flesh alongst his sides: but Pallas did repell
All inward passage to his life. Vlysses knowing well
The wound vndeadly; (setting backe, his foote to forme his stand)
Thus spake to Socus: O thou wretch, thy death is in this hand:
That stay’st my victorie on Troy: and where thy charge was made
In doubtfull terms (or this or that) this shall thy life inuade.
This frighted Socus to retreate; and in his faint reuerse,
The lance betwixt his shoulders fell, and through his breast did perse:
Downe fell he sounding, and the king, thus playd with his misease:

O Socus, you that make by birth, the two Hypasides:*
Now may your house and you perceiue, death can outflie the flier:
Ah wretch, thou canst not scape my vowes: old Hypasus thy sire,
Nor thy well honord mothers hands; in both which lies thy worth,
Shall close thy wretched eyes in death; but Vultures dig them forth,
And hide them with their darksome wings: but when Vlysses dies,

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Diuinest Greeks shall tombe my corse, with all their obsequies.
Now from his bodie and his shield, the violent lance he drew,
That Princely Socus had infixt: which drawne, a crimson dew
Fell from his bosome on the earth: the wound did dare him sore.
And when the furious Troians saw, Vlysses forced gore:
(Encouraging themselues in grosse) all his destruction vowd;
Then he retir’d, and summond aide: thrise showted he allowd,
(As did denote a man ingag’d:) thrise Menelaus eare
Obseru’d his aid-suggesting voice: and Aiax being neare,
He told him of Vlysses showts, as if he were enclosd
From all assistance: and aduisd, their aids might be disposd
Against the Ring that circled him: lest, charg’d with troopes alone
(Though valiant) he might be opprest, whom Greece so built vpon.
He led, and Aiax seconded: they found their Ioue-lou’d king
Circled with foes. As when a den, of bloodie Lucerns cling
About a goodly palmed Hart, hurt with a hunters bow,
Whose scape, his nimble feet inforce, whilst his warme blood doth flow,
And his light knees haue power to moue: but (maistred of his wound,
Embost within a shadie hill) the Lucerns charge him round,
And teare his flesh; when instantly, fortune sends in the powres
Of some sterne Lion, with whose sight, they flie, and he deuours:
So charg’d the Ilians Ithacus, many and mightie men:
But then made Menelaus in, and horrid Aiax then,*
Bearing a target like a tower: close was his violent stand,
And euerie way the foe disperst; when, by the royall hand,
Kind Menelaus led away, the hurt Laertes sonne,
Till his faire squire had brought his horse: victorious Telamon
Still plied the foe, and put to sword, a young Priamides;
Doriclus, Priams bastard sonne: then did his lance impresse
Pandocus, and strong Pyrasus; Lysander and Palertes,
As when a torrent from the hils, swolne with Saturnian showres,
Fals on the fields; beares blasted Oakes, and witherd rosine flowres,
Loose weeds, and all dispersed filth, into the Oceans force:
So, matchlesse Aiax beat the field, and slaughterd men and horse.
Yet had not Hector heard of this, who fought on the left wing
Of all the host, neare those sweet herbs, Scamanders flood doth spring:
Where many foreheads trode the ground, and where the skirmish burnd
Neare Nestor, and king Idomen; where Hector ouerturnd
The Grecian squadrons; authoring, high seruice with his lance,
And skilfull manadge of his horse: nor yet the discrepance
He made in death betwixt the hosts, had made the Greeks retire,
If faire-haird Hellens second spouse, had not represt the fire
Of bold Machaons fortitude, who with a three-forkt head
In his right shoulder wounded him: then had the Grecians dread,
Lest in his strength declin’d, the foe, should slaughter their hurt friend:
Then Cretes king vrg’d Neleides, his chariot to ascend,
And getting neare him, take him in, and beare him to their tents;
A Surgeon is to be preferd, with physicke ornaments,

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Before a multitude: his life, giues hurt liues natiue bounds,
With sweet inspersion of fit balmes, and perfect search of wounds.
Thus spake the royall Idomen: Neleides obeyd,
And to his chariot presently, the wounded Greeke conuaid
The sonne of Esculapius, the great Phisition:
To fleet they flew. Cebriones, perceiu’d the slaughter done
By Aiax on the other troopes, and spake to Hector thus:

Whiles we encounter Grecians here, sterne Telamonius
Is yonder raging, turning vp, in heapes our horse and men:
I know him by his spacious shield: let vs turne chariot then
Where both of horse and foote the fight, most hotely is proposde,
In mutuall slaughters: harke, their throats, from cries are neuer closd.
This said, with his shrill scourge he strooke, the horse that fast ensude,
Stung with his lashes, tossing shields, and carkasses imbrude:
The chariot tree was drownd in blood, and th’arches by the seate,
Disperpled from the horses houes, and from the wheelebands beate.
Great Hector long’d to breake the rankes, and startle their close fight:
Who horribly amaz’d the Greeks, and plyed their suddaine fright
With busie weapons, euer wingd: his lance, sword, weightie stones:
Yet charg’d he other Leaders bands, not dreadfull Telamons,
With whom he wisely shund foule blowes: but Ioue (that weighs aboue
All humane pow’rs) to Aiax breast, diuine repressions droue,
And made him shun, who shund himselfe: he ceast from fight amaz’d:
Cast on his backe his seauen-fold shield, and round about him gaz’d,
Like one turnd wilde; lookt on himselfe, in his distract retreate:
Knee before knee did scarcely moue: as when from heards of Neate
Whole threaues of Bores and mungrils chace, a Lion skulking neare,
Loth he should taint the wel-prisd fat, of any stall-fed steere,
Consuming all the night in watch; he (greedie of his prey)
Oft thrusting on, is oft thrust off: fo thicke the Iauelins play
On his bold charges, and so hote, the burning fire brands shine,
Which he (though horrible) abhors, about his glowing eyne;
And early his great heart retires: so Aiax from the foe,
For feare their fleet should be inflam’d: gainst his swolne heart did go.

As when a dull mill Asse comes neare, a goodly field of corne *
Kept from the birds by childrens cries; the boyes are ouerborne
By his insensible approach, and simply he will eate:
About whom many wands are broke, and still the children beate;
And still the selfe-prouiding Asse, doth with their weaknesse beare,
Not stirring till his panch be full; and scarcely then will stere.
So the huge sonne of Telamon, amongst the Troians far’d;
Bore showers of darts vpon his shield, yet scornd to flie, as skar’d;
And so kept softlie on his way; nor would he mend his pace
For all their violent pursuits, that still did arme the chace
With singing lances: but at last, when their Cur-like presumes,
More vrg’d, the more forborne; his spirits, did rarifie their fumes,
And he reuokt his actiue strength; turnd head, and did repell
The horse troopes that were new made in: twixt whom the fight grew fell;

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And by degrees he stole retreate, yet with such puissant stay
That none could passe him to the fleet: in both the armies sway
He stood, and from strong hands receiu’d, sharpe Iauelins on his shield;
Where many stucke, throwne on before; many fell short in field,
Ere the white bodie they could reach; and stucke, as telling how
They purposd to haue pierc’t his flesh: his perill pierced now
The eyes of Prince Eurypilus, Euemons famous sonne;
Who came close on, and with his dart, strooke Duke Apisaon,
Whose surname was Phausiades; euen to the concrete blood
That makes the liuer: on the earth, out gusht his vitall blood.
Eurypilus made in, and easd, his shoulders of his armes:
Which Paris seeing, he drew his bow, and wreakt in part the harmes
Of his good friend Phausiades: his arrow he let flie,
That smote Eurypilus, and brake, in his attainted thie:
Then tooke he troope, to shun blacke death, and to the flyers cride;*

Princes, and Leaders of the Greeks, stand, and repulse the tide
Of this our honour-wracking chace; Aiax is drownd in darts,
I feare past scape: turne honord friends, helpe out his ventrous parts.
Thus spake the wounded Greeke; the sound, cast on their backs their shields,
And raisd their darts: to whose reliefe, Aiax his person wields:
Then stood he firmely with his friends, retiring their retire:
And thus both hosts indifferent ioynd, the fight grew hote as fire.
Now had Neleides sweating steeds, brought him and his hurt friend
Amongst their Fleet; Aeacides, that wishly did intend
(Standing asterne his tall neckt ship) how deepe the skirmish drew
Amongst the Greeks; and with what ruth, the insecution grew:
Saw Nestor bring Machaon hurt, and from within did call
His friend Patroclus: who like Mars, in forme celestiall *
Came forth with first sound of his voice (first spring of his decay)
And askt his Princely friends desire: Deare friend, said he, this day
I doubt not will enforce the Greeks, to swarme about my knees:
I see vnsufferd Need imployd, in their extremities.
Go sweet Patroclus and enquire, of old Neleides,
Whom he brought wounded from the fight: by his backe parts, I guesse
It is Machaon: but his face, I could not well descrie,
They past me in such earnest speed. Patroclus presently
Obeyd his friend, and ran to know. They now descended were,
And Nestors squire, Eurimidon, the horses did vngeare:
Themselues stood neare th’extremest shore, to let the gentle aire
Drie vp their sweat; then to the tent; where Hecamed the faire
Set chaires, and for the wounded Prince, a potion did prepare.
This Hecamed, by wars hard fate, fell to old Nestors share,
When Thetis sonne sackt Tenedos. She was the Princely seed
Of worthie king Arsynous, and by the Greeks decreed
The prize of Nestor: since all men, in counsell he surpast.
First, a faire table she apposd, of which, the feet were grac’t
With blewish mettall, mixt with blacke: and on the same she put
A brasse fruit dish, in which she seru’d, a holsome Onion cur,

Page 154

For pittance to the potion, and honey newly wrought;
And bread, the fruite of sacred meale: then to the boord she brought
A right faire cup, with gold studs driuen; which Nestor did transfer
From Pylos; on whose swelling sides, foure handles fixed were;
And vpon euerie handle sate, a paire of doues of gold;
Some billing, and some pecking meate. Two gilt feet did vphold
The antique body: and withall, so weightie was the cup,
That being proposd brim full of wine, one scarse could lift it vp:
Yet Nestor drunke in it with ease, spite of his yeares respect.
In this the Goddesse-like faire Dame, a potion did confect
With good old wine of Pramnius; and scrap’t into the wine
Cheese made of Goates milke; and on it, sperst flow’r exceeding fine:
In this sort for the wounded Lord, the potion she prepar’d,
And bad him drinke: for companie, with him old Nestor shar’d.
Thus physically quencht they thirst, and then their spirits reuiu’d
With pleasant conference. And now, Patroclus being arriu’d,
Made stay at th’entrie of the tent: old Nestor seeing it,
Rose, and receiu’d him by the hand, and faine would haue him sit.
He set that courtesie aside; excusing it with hast;
Since his much to be reuerenc’t friend, sent him to know who past
(Wounded with him in chariot) so swiftly through the shore;
Whom now, said he, I see and know, and now can stay no more:
You know good father, our great friend, is apt to take offence:
Whose fierie temper will inflame, sometimes with innocence.

He answerd, When will Peleus sonne, some royall pittie show *
On his thus wounded countrimen? Ah, is he yet to know
How much affliction tires our host? how our especiall aide
(Tainted with lances, at their tents) are miserably laide?
Vlysses, Diomed, our King, Euripylus, Machaon:
All hurt, and all our worthiest friends; yet no compassion
Can supple thy friends friendlesse breast. Doth he reserue his eye
Till our fleet burne, and we our selues, one after other die?
Alas, my forces are not now, as in my yonger life.
Oh would to God I had that strength, I vsed in the strife
Betwixt vs and the Elians, for Oxen to be driuen;
When Itumonius loftie soule, was by my valour giuen
As sacrifice to destinie; Hypporocus strong sonne,
That dwelt in Elis, and fought first, in our contention.
We forrag’d (as proclaimed foes) a wondrous wealthie boote;
And he, in rescue of his Herds, fell breathlesse at my foote.
All the Dorpe Bores with terror fled; our prey was rich and great,
Twise fiue and twentie flocks of sheepe; as many herds of neate;
As many goates, and nastie swine; a hundred fiftie mares
All sorrell, most with sucking foales; and these soone-monied wares,
We draue into Neileus towne, faire Pylos; all by night.
My fathers heart was glad to see, so much good fortune quite
The forward mind of his young sonne, that vsde my youth in deeds▪
And would not smother it in moods. Now drew the Suns bright steeds

Page 155

Light from the hils; our heralds now, accited all that were
Endamag’d by the Elians; our Princes did appeare;
Our boote was parted; many men, th’ Epeians much did owe,
That (being our neighbors) they did spoile; afflictions did so flow
On vs poore Pyleans though but few. In brake great Hereules
To our sad confines of late yeares, and wholly did suppresse
Our haplesse Princes: twice sixe sonnes, renownd Neleius bred;
Onely my selfe am left of all: the rest subdude and dead.
And this was it that made so proud, the base Epeian bands:
On their neare neighbors, being opprest, to lay iniurious hands,
A heard of Oxen for himselfe: a mightie flocke of sheepe,
My Syre selected; and made choice, of shepheards for their keep:
And from the generall spoyle, he culd, three hundred of the best:
The Elians ought him infinite, most plagu’d of all the rest.
Foure wager-winning horse he lost, and chariots interuented
Being led to an appointed race. The prize that was presented
Was a religious threefoote vrne: Augeas was the king,
That did detaine them, and dismist, their keeper sorrowing
For his lou’d charge, lost with foule words. Then both for words and deeds
My Sire being worthily incenst, thus iustly he proceeds
To satisfaction, in first choice, of all our wealthie prize:
And as he shar’d much, much he left, his subiects to suffise;
That none might be opprest with power, or want his portion due:
Thus for the publike good we shar’d. Then we to temples drue
Our complete citie: and to heauen, we thankfull rights did burne
For our rich conquest. The third day, ensuing our returne
The Elians flew on vs in heapes: their generall Leaders were
The two Moliones, two boyes, vntrained in the feare
Of horrid warre, or vse of strength. A certaine citie shines
Vpon a loftie Prominent; and in th’extreme confines
Of sandie Pylos, seated where, Alpheus flood doth run,
And cald Thryessa: this they sieg’d, and gladly would haue wun:
But (hauing past through all our fields) Minerua as our spie,
Fell from Olympus in the night, and arm’d vs instantly:
Nor mustred she vnwilling men, nor vnprepar’d for force.
My Sire yet, would not let me arme, but hid away my horse,
Esteeming me no souldier yet: yet shin’d I nothing lesse
Amongst our Gallants, though on foote; Mineruas mightinesse
Led me to fight, and made me beare, a souldiers worthie name.
There is a floud fals into sea, and his crookt course doth frame
Close to Arena, and is cald, bright Myniaeus streame:
There made we halt: and there the Sun, cast many a glorious beame
On our bright armours; horse and foote, insea’d together there:
Then marcht we on: By fierie noone, we saw the sacred cleare
Of great Alphaeus; where to Ioue, we did faire sacrifice:
And to the azure God that rules, the vnder-liquid skies:
We offerd vp a solemne Bull; a bull t’ Alpheus name,
And to the blew eyd maid we burnd, a heifer neuer tame.

Page 156

Now was it night, we supt, and slept, about the flood in armes;
The foe laide hard siege to our towne, and shooke it with alarmes:
But for preuention of their splenes, a mightie worke of warre
Appeard behind them. For as soone, as Phoebus fierie Carre
Cast nights foule darknes from his wheeles (inuoking reuerend Ioue,
And the vnconquerd maide (his birth) we did th’euent approue,
And gaue them battell: first of all, I slue (the armie saw)
The mightie souldier Mulius, Augeus sonne in law;
And spoyld him of his one-hou’d horse: his eldest daughter was
Bright Agamede, that for skill, in simples did surpasse:
And knew as many kind of drugs, as earths brode center bred:
Him charg’d I with my brasse arm’d lance, the dust receiu’d him dead.
I (leaping to his chariot) amongst the formost prest:
And the great hearted Elyans, fled frighted, seeing their best
And lofti’st souldier taken downe, the Generall of their horse.
I follow’d like a blacke whirlwind, and did for prize enforce
Full fiftie chariots, euerie one, furnisht with two arm’d men;
Who eate the earth, slaine with my lance; and I had slaughterd then
The two young boyes, Moliones, if their world circling Sire,
(Great Neptune) had not saft their liues; and couered their retire
With vnpierc’t clouds: then Ioue bestow’d a haughtie victorie
Vpon vs Pyleans. For so long, we did the chase apply,
Slaughtring and making spoile of armes; till sweet Buprasius soile,
Alesius, and Olenia, were fam’d with our recoile.
For there Minerua turnd our power: and there the last I slew;
As when our battell ioyn’d, the first: the Peleans then withdrew
To Pylos from Buprasius. Of all the Immortals then,
They most thankt Ioue for victorie; Nestor, the most of men.
Such was I euer, if I were, employd with other Peeres,
And I had honour of my youth, which dies not in my yeares.
But Great Achilles onely ioyes, habilitie of act
In his braue Prime, and doth not daine, t’impart it where tis lackt.
No doubt he will extremely mourne, long after that blacke howre,
Wherein our ruine shall be wrought, and rue his ruthlesse powre.
O friend, my memorie reuiues, the charge Menetius gaue
Thy towardnesse; when thou setst forth, to keepe out of the graue
Our wounded honour; I my selfe, and wise Vlysses were
Within the roome, where euerie word, then spoken we did heare:
For we were come to Peleus Court, as we did mustering passe
Through rich Achaia; where thy Sire, renownd Menetius was,
Thy selfe and great Aeacides; when Peleus the King
To thunder-louing Ioue did burne, an Oxe for offering,
In his Court-yard: a cup of gold, crownd with red wine he held
On th’holy Incensorie pour’d. You, when the Oxe was feld,
Were dressing his diuided lims; we in the Portall stood.
Achilles seeing vs come so neare; his honorable blood,
Was strooke with a respectiue shame, rose, tooke vs by the hands,
Brought vs both in, and made vs sit, and vsde his kind commands,

Page 157

For seemely hospitable rights; which quickly were apposd.
Then (after needfulnesse of foode) I first of all disclosd
The royall cause of our repaire; mou’d you and your great friend,
To consort our renown’d designes: both straight did condescend;
Your fathers knew it, gaue consent, and graue instruction
To both your valours. Peleus charg’d, his most vnequald sonne,
To gouerne his victorious strength, and shine past all the rest
In honour, as in meere maine force. Then were thy partings blest
With deare aduices from thy Sire. My loued sonne, said he,
Achilles by his grace of birth, superiour is to thee,
And for his force more excellent; yet thou more ripe in yeares:
Then with sound counsels (ages fruits) imploy his honord yeares,
Command and ouerrule his moodes; his nature will obay
In any charge discreetly giuen, that doth his good assay.
Thus charg’d thy Sire, which thou forgetst; yet now at last approue
(With forced reference of these) th’attraction of his loue.
Who knowes if sacred influence, may blesse thy good intent,
And enter with thy gracious words, euen to his full consent?
The admonition of a friend, is sweet and vehement.
If any Oracle he shun, or if his mother Queene
Hath brought him some instinct from Ioue, that fortifies his spleerie;
Let him resigne command to thee, of all his Myrmidons,
And yeeld by that meanes some repulse, to our confusions;
Adorning thee in his bright armes, that his resembled forme
May haply make thee thought himselfe, and calme his hostile storme:
That so a little we may ease, our ouercharged hands;
Draw some breath, not expire it all: the foe but faintly stands
Beneath his labours; and your charge, being fierce, and freshly giuen,
They easly from our tents and fleet, may to their walls be driuen.
This mou’d the good Patroclus mind, who made his vtmost haste,
T’informe his friend; and at the fleet, of Ithacus he past,
(At which there markets were disposd, counsels and martiall courts,
And where to th’Altars of the Gods, they made diuineresorts)
He met renownd Eurypilus, Euemons noble sonne
Halting; his thigh hurt with a shaft: the liquid sweate did run
Downe from his shoulders, and his browes: and from his raging wound
Forth flow’d his melancholy blood, yet still his mind was sound.
His sight, in kinde Patroclus breast, to sacred pittie turnd,
And (nothing more immartiall, for true ruth) thus he mournd;
Ah wretched progenie of Greece, Princes, deiected kings:
Was it your fates to nourish beasts, and serue the outcast wings
Of sauage Vultures here in Troy? Tell me, Euemons fame,
Do yet the Greeks withstand his force, whom yet no force can tame?
Or are they hopelesse throwne to death, by his resistlesse lance?
Diuine Patroclus (he replide) no more can Greece aduance
Defensiue weapons; but to fleet, they headlong must retire:
For those that to this howre haue held, our fleet from hostile fire,
And are the bulwarks of our host, lie wounded at their tents;

Page 158

And Troys vnuanquishable powre, still as it toiles augments.
But take me to thy blacke sternd ship, saue me, and from my thie
Cut out this arrow; and the blood, that is ingor’d and drie,
Wash with warme water from the wound: then gentle salues apply,
Which thou knowest best; thy Princely friend, hath taught thee surgerie;
Whom (of all Centaures the most iust) Chyron did institute:
Thus to thy honorable hands, my ease I prosecute,
Since our Physitians cannot helpe: Machaon at his tent
Needs a Physitian himselfe, being Leach and patient:
And Podalirius in the field, the sharpe conflict sustaines.
Strong Menetiades replide; How shall I ease thy paines?
What shall we do Eurypilus? I am to vse all haste,
To signifie to Thetis sonne, occurrents that haue past
At Nestors honorable suite: but be that worke atchieu’d,
When this is done, I will not leaue, thy torments vnrelieu’d.
This said, athwart his backe he cast, beneath his breast, his arme,
And nobly helpt him to his tent: his seruants seeing his harme,
Dispread Ox-hides vpon the earth, whereon Machaon lay:
Patroclus cut out the sharpe shaft, and clearely washt away
With luke-warme water the blacke blood: then twixt his hands he brusde
A sharpe and mitigatorie roote: which when he had infusde
Into the greene well-cleansed wound, the paines he felt before
Were well, and instantly allaid, the wound did bleed no more.

The end of the eleuenth Boooke.

Line 253: in “Ioue” the initial letter was “l” (ell).

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THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS

THE ELEVENTH BOOK OF HOMERS ILIADS.

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THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF HOMERS ILIADS

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