ABSTRACT
Contending thus in wordes opposde they rose, the counsaile brake. Pelides to his tents and ships his friend and men did take. Atrides lancht the swiftsayld shippe into the brackish seas, And put therein the Hecatombe that should the God appease. Twise ten selected rowers then, then Chrysys foorth he brings, Made her ascend the sacred shippe; with her the grace of kings, Wise Ithacus ascended too: All shipt together then, Neptunes moist wildernes they plow, the king chargde all his men Should hallowed Lustrations use, which done, into the floud They threw the Off all, and the barke purgde from polluted blood. Thus sweet and due solemnities they to Apollo keepe, Of Buls and Goates, neere to the shore of the unfruitefull deep. The savor, wrapt in cloudes of smoake, ascended to the skies, And thus they sanctified the Campe with generall sacrifice. Yet Agamemnons froward thoughts did not from discord cease, But cald to him Talthibius and grave EUTibates, Herralds and carefull ministers, of all his high commandes, And this injurious Ambasie committed to their hands. Goe to Achilles tent and take the bright-cheekt Brysys thence. If he denie, tell him my selfe with more extreame offence Will come and force her from his armes, with unresisted bandes. The Herralds all unwilling went along the barren sands: The tentes and fleet of Mirmodons they reatcht and found the king In his blacke shippe and tent, his lookes markt with his angers sting, Greeting their entrie, which amazde and made them reverend stand Not daring to salute his moode, nor what they sought demande. He seeing them loath th'injurious cause of his offence to be, Welcome ye Herraldes, messengers of gods and men (said he) Come neare: I blame not you, but him that gainst your wils doth
send
1I9 To have the lovelie Brysis brought. Patroclus, princelie frend, Bring foorth the dame and render her; pleasd be their soveraign
then! But here before the blessed gods, before the eyes of men, Before your ignominious king, be faithfull witnesses Of what I beare: if ever worke in future bitternes Of anie plague to be remoovde from your unhappy host, Be needeful of my friendlie hand, wrong hath your refuge lost. Your king not present harmes conceives, much lesse succeeding woes, But led by envious counsell, raves and knowes not what he does: Nor how to winne his name renowne, being carefull to foretell How with lest death his men might fight, and have them bulwarkt
well. This said Patroclus, well allow'd the patience of his frend,
Brought Bryrys forth, and to her guides her comforts did commend With utmost kindenesse, which his frend could not for anguish use; Shee wept and lookt upon her love; he sight and did refuse 0, how his wisdome with his power did mightilie contend, His love incouraging his power, and spirite that durst descend As far as Hercules for her; yet wisedome all subdude. Wherein a high exploite he showd, and sacred fortitude. Bryrys without her soule did move and went to th' Achive tents; Achilles, severd from his frendes, melts anger in lamentes Upon the shore of th'aged deepe vewing the purple seas, And lifting his broade hands to heaven he did with utterance ease His manlie bosome, and his wrongs, to Thetis thus relate: ... [He begged his mother Thetis to ask Jove to let the Trojans defeat the Greeks. She agreed, but the gods were divided in their sympathies. Ulysses delivered Chryseis to her father.]
BOOK II [Agamemnon tested his troops by urging them to leave Troy. Many of them made for the ships, and the chiefs had to persuade them to return.]
Ulisses met the king, from whome he was so bold To take the scepter never staind held in his line of old, With which he went amongst he troupes to stay them from the fleete: And with what prince or gentleman, his royal steps did meete, In these faire termes he willed him, pretended flight forbeare: Sir, t'is not fit for such as you to flye as checkt with feare, But rather stay, and with bold wordes, make others so enclinde: For you as yet not rightlie know king Agamemnons minde:
He makes but try all of such spirites as he may most renowne, And hee will quicklie punish such as flying humors drowne: All we in counsel heard not all comprisde in his command, Nor durst wee prease too neare for feare of his offended hand. The anger of a king is death; his honor springs from Jove. His person is in spight of hate protected in his love. But if he saw the vulgar sorte, or if in crie hee tooke A souldier with exclaimes for flight: him with his mace hee stroke, And usde these speeches of reproofe: wretch keepe thy place and
heare Others besides thy Generall that place above thee beare: Thou art unfit to rule and base without a name in war Or state of counsaile: nor must Greekes be so irregular To live as every man may take the scepter from the king: The rule of many is absurd, one Lord must leade the ring Of far resounding government: one king whome Saturnes sonne, Hath given a scepter and sound lawes, to beare dominion.1 Thus ruling, governd hee the host: againe to counsayle then: From ships and tents in tumults swarmde these base disordred men, With such a blustring as against, the Ponticke shore reboundes, A storme driven-billow, with whose rage, the sea it selfe resoundes.
