That they are wish'd of many knights, but

are such precious things,

That they are kept for horse that draw the chariots of kings,

Which horse, so deck'd, the charioteer esteems a grace to him;

Like these, in grace, the blood upon thy solid thighs did swim,

O Menelaus, down thy calves and ankles to the ground; [honour'd wound. For nothing decks a soldier so, as doth an Yet, fearing he had fared much worse, the

hair stood up on end

On Agamemnon, when he saw so much black blood descend.

And stiffen'd with the like dismay was Menelaus too,

But seeing th' arrow's stale without, and that the head did go

No further than it might be seen, he call'd his spirits again;

Which Agamemnon marking not, but thinking he was slain,

He gript his brother by the hand, and sigh'd as he would break, Which sigh the whole host took from him, who thus at last did speak: "O dearest brother, is't for this, that thy death must be wrought, Wrought I this truce? For this hast thou

the single combat fought

For all the army of the Greeks? For this hath Ilion sworn,

And trod all faith beneath their feet? Yet all this hath not worn

The right we challenged, out of force; this cannot render vain

Our stricken right hands; sacred wine; nor all our offerings slain.

For though Olympius be not quick in making good our ill,

He will be sure, as he is slow; and sharplier prove his will.

Their own hands shall be ministers of

those plagues they despise, Which shall their wives and children reach, and all their progenies.

For both in mind and soul I know, that there shall come a day When Ilion, Priam, all his power, shall quite be worn away; When heaven-inhabiting Jove shall shake his fiery shield at all,

For this one mischief. This, I know, the world cannot recall.

But be all this, all my grief still for thee

will be the same,

Dear brother. If thy life must here put out his royal flame,

I shall to sandy Argos turn with infamy my face;

And all the Greeks will call for home; old Priam and his race

Will flame in glory; Helena, untouch'd, be still their prey;

And thy bones in our enemies' earth our cursed fates shall lay;

Thy sepulchre be trodden down; the pride of Troy desire Insulting on it, Thus, O thus, let Agamemnon's ire

In all his acts be expiate, as now he carries home [overcome His idle army, empty ships, and leaves here Good Menelaus.' When this brave breaks in their hated breath,

Then let the broad earth swallow me, and take me quick to death."

"Nor shall this ever chance," said he, "and therefore be of cheer,

Lest all the army, led by you, your passions put in fear.

The arrow fell in no such place as death could enter at,

My girdle, curets doubled here, and my most trusted plate,

Objected all 'twixt me and death, the shaft scarce piercing one."

"Good brother," said the king, "I wish it were no further gone,

For then our best in medicines skill'd shall ope and search the wound, Applying balms to ease thy pains, and soon restore thee sound."

This said, divine Talthybius he call'd, and bade him haste

Machaon (Esculapius' son, who most of men was graced

With physic's sovereign remedies) to come and lend his hand

To Menelaus, shot by one well-skill'd in the command

Of bow and arrows, one of Troy, or of the Lycian aid,

Who much hath glorified our foe, and us as much dismay'd.

He heard, and hasted instantly, and cast his eyes about

The thickest squadrons of the Greeks, to find Machaon out.

He found him standing guarded well with well-arm'd men of Thrace; With whom he quickly join'd, and said: "Man of Apollo's race,

Haste, for the king of men commands, to see a wound impress'd Menelaus, great in arms, by one in

In

structed best

In th' art of archery, of Troy, or of the Lycian bands,

That them with much renown adorns, us

with dishonour brands."

Machaon much was moved with this,

who with the herald flew From troop to troop alongst the host; and soon they came in view

Of hurt Atrides, circled round with all the Grecian kings;

Who all gave way; and straight he draws

the shaft, which forth he brings Without the forks; the girdle then, plate, curets, off he plucks,

And views the wound; when first from it the clotter'd blood he sucks; Then medicines, wondrously composed, the skilful leech applied, Which loving Chiron taught his sire, he from his sire had tried.

While these were thus employ'd to ease

the Atrean martialist,

The Trojans arm'd, and charged the Greeks; the Greeks arm and resist. Then not asleep, nor mazed with fear, nor shifting off the blows,

You could behold the king of men; but in full speed he goes

To set a glorious fight on foot: and he examples this

With toiling, like the worst, on foot; who

therefore did dismiss

His brass-arm'd chariot, and his steeds,

with Ptolemeus' son, [Eurymedon; Son of Piraides, their guide, the good "Yet," said the king, "attend with them,

lest weariness should seize My limbs, surcharged with ordering troops so thick and vast as these." Eurymedon then rein'd his horse, that trotted neighing by ;

The king a footman, and so scours the squadrons orderly.

Those of his swiftly-mounted Greeks, that in their arms were fit, Those he put on with cheerful words, and bad them not remit

The least spark of their forward spirits, because the Trojans durst

Take these abhorr'd advantages, but let them do their worst;

For they might be assured that Jove would patronize no lies,

And that who, with the breach of truce,

would hurt their enemies,

With vultures should be torn themselves;

that they should raze their town, Their wives, and children at their breast, led vassals to their own.

But such as he beheld hang off from that increasing fight,

Such would he bitterly rebuke, and with disgrace excite :

Base Argives, blush ye not to stand as made for butts to darts?

Why are ye thus discomfited, like hinds that have no hearts,

Who, wearied with a long-run field, are instantly emboss'd,

Stand still, and in their beastly breasts is all their courage lost?

And so stand you strook with amaze, nor dare to strike a stroke.

Would ye the foe should nearer yet your dastard spleens provoke,

Even where on Neptune's foamy shore our navies lie in sight,

To see if Jove will hold your hands, and teach ye how to fight?"

Thus he, commanding, ranged the host, and passing many a band,

He came to the Cretensian troops, where all did armed stand

About the martial Idomen; who bravely

stood before

In vantguard of his troops, and match'd for strength a savage boar; Meriones, his charioteer, the rearguard bringing on. [a sight alone, Which seen to Atreus' son, to him it was And Idomen's confirmed mind with these kind words he seeks :

"O Idomen! I ever loved thyself past all the Greeks,

In war, or any work of peace, at table, everywhere;

For when the best of Greece besides mix ever, at our cheer,

My good old ardent wine with small, and our inferior mates

Drink even that mix'd wine measured too,
thou drink'st, without those rates,
Our old wine neat; and evermore thy bowl
stands full like mine,

To drink still, when and what thou wilt.
Then rouse that heart of thine;
And, whatsoever heretofore thou hast

(Since Troy first brake the holy truce) and not endure these braves,

To take wrong first, and then be dared to the revenge it craves;

Assuring them that Troy in fate must have the worse at last,

Since first, and 'gainst a truce, they hurt, where they should have embraced." This comfort and advice did fit Atriles' heart indeed,

Who still through new-raised swarms of men held his laborious speed, And came where both th' Ajaces stood; whom like the last he found Arm'd, casqued, and ready for the fight. Behind them, hid the ground

A cloud of foot, that seem'd to smoke. And as a goat-herd spies,

On some hill's top, out of the sea, a rainy vapour rise,

Driven by the breath of Zephyrus, which,

though far off he rest.

Comes on as black as pitch, and brings a

tempest in his breast,

Whereat he, frighted, drives his herds apace into a den;

So, darkening earth with darts and shields, shew'd these with all their men.

This sight with like joy fired the king, who thus let forth the flame

In crying out to both the dukes: "O you of equal name,

I must not cheer; nay, I disclaim all my command of you,

Yourselves command with such free minds, and make your soldiers show,

As you nor I led, but themselves. O would our father Jove,

Minerva, and the God of light, would all

His horse troops with their chariots; his foot (of which he choosed

Many, the best and ablest men, and which he ever used

As rampire to his general power) he in the rear disposed. [the midst enclosed, The slothful, and the least of spirit, he in That, such as wanted noble wills, base need might force to stand.

His horse troops, that the vantguard had, he strictly did command To ride their horses temperately, to keep their ranks, and shun

Confusion, lest their horsemanship and courage made them run

(Too much presumed on) much too far; and, charging so alone,

Engage themselves in th' enemy's strength, where many fight with one.

"Who his own chariot leaves to range, let him not freely go,

But straight unhorse him with a lance; for 'tis much better so.

still I wish that some young man, grown old in mind, might be

Put in proportion with thy years, and thy mind, young in age,

Be fitly answer'd with his youth; that still where conflicts rage,

And young men used to thrust for fame, thy brave exampling hand

Might double our young Grecian spirits, and grace our whole command.' The old knight answer'd: "I myself could wish, O Atreus' son,

I

were as young as when I slew brave Ereuthalion;

But Gods at all times give not all their gifts to mortal men.

If

then I had the strength of youth, I miss'd the counsels then

That years now give me; and now years want that main strength of youth; Yet still my mind retains her strength (as you now said the sooth)

And would be where that strength is used,

affording counsels sage

To stir youth's minds up; 'tis the grace and office of our age;

Let younger sinews, men sprung up whole ages after me,

And such as have strength, use it, and, as

strong in honour be."

The king, all this while comforted, arrived next where he found Well-rode Menestheus (Peteus' son) stand still, environ'd round

With his well-train'd Athenian troops; and next to him he spied [bands beside The wise Ulysses, deedless too, and all his Of strong Cephalians; for as yet th' alarm had not been heard

In all their quarters, Greece and Troy were then so newly stirr'd,

And then first moved, as they conceived, and they so look'd about

To see both hosts give proof of that they yet had cause to doubt.

Atrides seeing them stand so still, and spend their eyes at gaze, Began to chide: "And why," said he, "dissolved thus in amaze, Thou son of Peteus, Jove-nursed king, and thou in wicked sleight

A cunning soldier, stand ye off? Expect ye that the fight

Should be by other men begun?

'Tis fit

the foremost band Should show you there; you first should

front who first lifts up his hand. First you can hear, when I invite the princes

to a feast, [eat and drink the best; When first, most friendly, and at will, ye Yet in the fight, most willingly, ten troops

ye can behold,

Take place before ye." Ithacus at this his brows did fold,

And said: "How hath thy violent tongue

broke through thy set of teeth, To say that we are slack in fight, and to the

field of death [we were busied then, Look others should enforce our way, when Even when thou spakest, against the foe to cheer and lead our men?

But thy eyes shall be witnesses, if it content thy will, [do so affect thee still, And that (as thou pretend'st) these cares The father of Telemachus (whom I esteem so dear, [deeds done here) And to whom, as a legacy, I'll leave my Even with the foremost band of Troy hath his encounter dared, And therefore are thy speeches vain, and had been better spared."

"

He, smiling, since he saw him moved, recall'd his words, and said :

'Most generous Laertes' son, most wise of all our aid,

I neither do accuse thy worth, more than thyself may hold

Fit, (that inferiors think not much, being slack, to be controll'd)

Nor take I on me thy command; for well I know thy mind

Knows how sweet gentle counsels are; and that thou stand'st inclined, As I myself, for all our good. On then; if now we spake

What hath displeased, another time we full amends will make ;

And Gods grant that thy virtue here may prove so free and brave,

That my reproofs may still be vain, and thy deservings grave."

Thus parted they; and forth he went, when he did leaning find,

Against his chariot, near his horse, him with the mighty mind,

Great Diomedes, Tydeus' son, and Sthenelus, the seed

Of Capaneius; whom the king seeing likewise out of deed,

Thus cried he out on Diomed: "O me! in what a fear

The wise great warrior, Tydeus' son, stands gazing everywhere

For others to begin the fight! It was not Tydeus' use

To be so daunted, whom his spirit would evermore produce

Before the foremost of his friends in these affairs of fright,

As they report that have beheld him labour in a fight.

For me, I never knew the man, nor in his presence came :

But excellent, above the rest, he was in general fame.

And one renown'd exploit of his, I am assured, is true;

He came to the Mycenian court, without arms, and did sue,

At godlike Polynices' hands, to have some worthy aid

To their designs that 'gainst the walls of sacred Thebes were laid.

He was great Polynices' guest, and nobly entertain'd, [requested gain'd And of the kind Mycenian state what he mere consent; but when they should the same in act approve

In

They were discouraged: thence he went,

and safely had his pass

Back to Asopus' flood, renown'd for bulrushes and grass.

Yet, once more, their ambassador, the Grecian peers address

Lord Tydeus to Eteocles; to whom being given access,

He found him feasting with a crew of

Cadmeans in his hall;

Amongst whom, though an enemy, and only one to all;

To all yet he his challenge made at every martial feat, [was so great. And easily foil'd all, since with him Minerva The rank-rode Cadmeans, much incensed with their so foul disgrace, Lodged ambuscadoes for their foe, in some well-chosen place

By which he was to make return.

five-and-twenty men,

Twice

And two of them great captains too, the

ambush did contain.

The names of those two men of rule were

Mæon, Hæmon's son,

And Lycophontes, Keep-field call'd, the heir of Autophon,

By all men honour'd like the Gods; yet these and all their friends

Were sent to hell by Tydeus' hand, and had untimely ends.

He trusting to the aid of Gods, reveal'd by augury;

Obeying which, one chief he saved, and did his life apply

To be the heavy messenger of all the others' deaths;

And that sad message, with his life, to Mæon he bequeathes.

So brave a knight was Tydeus: of whom a son is sprung,

Inferior far in martial deeds, though higher in his tongue."

All this Tydides silent heard, awed by the reverend king;

Which stung hot Sthenelus with wrath, who thus put forth his sting: "Atrides! when thou know'st the truth, speak what thy knowledge is, And do not lie so; for I know, and I will brag in this,

That we are far more able men than both

our fathers were ;

We took the seven-fold ported Thebes,

when yet we had not there

So great help as our fathers had; and fought beneath a wall, Sacred to Mars, by help of Jove, and trusting to the fall

Of happy signs from other Gods, by whom we took the town

Untouch'd; our fathers perishing there by follies of their own;

And therefore never more compare our father's worth with ours.'

Tydides frown'd at this, and said: "Suppress thine anger's powers,

Good friend, and hear why I refrain'd: thou seest I am not moved Against our General, since he did but what his place behoved,

Admonishing all Greeks to fight; for, if Troy prove our prize,

The honour and the joy is his. If here our ruin lies,

The shame and grief for that, as much, is his in greatest kinds.

As

he then his charge, weigh we ours; which is our dauntless minds." Thus, from his chariot, amply arm'd, he

jump'd down to the ground:

The armour of the angry king so horribly did sound,

It might have made his bravest foe let fear take down his braves.

And as when with the west-wind flaws, the sea thrusts up her waves,

One after other, thick and high, upon the groaning shores,

First in herself loud, but opposed with banks and rocks she roars,

And, all her back in bristles set, spits every [overcome

way her foam;

So, after Diomed, instantly the field was With thick impressions of the Greeks; and all the noise that grew

(Ordering and cheering up their men) from only leaders flew.

The rest went silently away, you could not hear a voice,

Nor would have thought, in all their breasts, they had one in their choice; Their silence uttering their awe of them that them controll'd; Which made each man keep bright his arms, march, fight still where he should. The Trojans (like a sort of ewes, penn'd in a rich man's fold,

Close at his door, till all be milk'd; and never baaing hold

Hearing the bleating of their lambs) did all their wide host fill

With shouts and clamours; nor observed one voice, one baaing still; But show'd mix'd tongues from many a land, of men call'd to their aid. Rude Mars had th' ordering of their spirits; of Greeks, the learned Maid.