Book I Poem by Arthur Hall

To the right VVorshipfull his very good friend
Sir Thomas Cicill Knight
A.H. wisheth all prosperitie.


I Thee beseech, O Goddesse milde, the hatefull hate to plaine,
Whereby Achilles was so wroong, and grewe in suche disdaine,
That thousandes of the Greekish Dukes, in hard and heauie plight,
To Plutoes Courte did yeelde their soules, and gaping lay vpright,
Those sencelesse trunckes of buriall voide, by them erst gaily borne,
By rauening curres, and carreine foules, in peeces to be torne.


Gainst Agamemn of Ioue his wrath, so kindled was the fire,
That he Achil to deere, and crosse so deepely did conspire.


O Lady shew what God beganne this hateful quarrell thus,
It was the heire of Latona, the gallant gay Phoebus,
Who had to sire that mighty God, who down his lightning throws,
With stormes of haile, and thunderclaps: the God in choller grows,
That Agamemn roughly a suite his Chryses Priest refusd,
In Greekish cap his plages he flings, their state which gretly brusd.


At that time Chryses did repayre vnto the shippes, that lay
At ancker before Troy besiegde, in the Porte of Sigay,
With verdant crown, wherewith Apoll his seemely head had clad,
With scepter eke, with things of price, which he for ransome had,
His daughter captiue helde by Greekes by worth hir home to buy,
To both Atrïdes and other kings, he breakes thus humbly:


O Princes greate, the loftie Gods adorde in earth belowe
Doe sende you lucke, this Priams towne to sacke and ouerthrowe,
And loden with the Troian wealth, yee safe to Greece retire:
If pitie in your heartes haue place, if willing yee desire
To reuerence the God I serue, if feeble aged dayes,
A worthy foe, Nobilitie may temper any wayes,
Let my mishap obtaine, I pray Chryses so deare to me,
O Kings accept these goodly giftes for raunsome here that be.


His sute was taken in that sorte, that al the Greekes did cry
To take his gifts, to yeelde Chryses, and vse him reuerently.
Agamemn was so far in loue with this so gentle maide,
Such sutes he coulde not he abide, to Chryses grimme hee saide,
Shaking alofte his sterne head: O hatefull dotard thou,
Henceforth in these quarters againe take heede I see not you.
For no scepter, not Apolloes, shal hold my hand from thee,
Thinke not eftsoone Chryseis to haue, she shall remaine with mee
In Country fur thy Country fro my wooll to spinne and dight,
And bed to make, till beautie faile, when hoarie age shal light.
Hence not out away, moue me no more, I reade thou take good heede,
If safe and sounde vnto your house you homward meane to speede.
The good olde man thus threatned here, giues place, doth not abide,
He hides his greife, while still he coastes hard by the marine side.
But now his galley far aloofe, he shewes his dolefulnesse,
With prayers to Apoll, and vowes, the Gods of gallaunt tresse.


Apollo thou hear my complaints, who rules the Isles diuine,
Cilla, Chrisa, Sminthe, Tenedos, with siluer bowe of thine,
O Phoebus heare thou my complaints, if so with Laurell greene
Thy Temple I haue crowned oft, if I haue beene the man
Thy holy aultar who hath fraught with hostes digne to thee
Of fatted Bulles and scorched Goates: reuenge thys iniurie
On these gay Greekes, who thy seruant poore sire haue layed so low,
To plague ye wrong, Loord make the feele the wounding of thy bow.
He prayd thus: Phoebus gaue eare, descending straight to grounde
Be girte with dored quiver and bowe, whiche gaue a dreadful sound
Leauing right darke his mansion cleare, to bad effects disposde,
He drawes the nauie to nigh, and in the campe a shafte he losde,
The noise was straunge, the loose was smarte, the shot so far it hit,
Tho franked Moiles they die, and Dogs for race and running fit.
But since the deadly steele he sent amid the Greekish host,
In numbers huge their bodies quaile, in heightie heapes they rost
Hard by the shippes (O horror great) the carcasses new dead,
Nine dayes Apollo bent, and shot, and them with wounding sped.


But puissant Iuno Goddesse then (of Greece a fautor true
During this war) of their hard state with pitie ganne to rue.
She puts in mind Achilles he, the councel whole to cal,
To seeke mine helpe to ease the harme which so doth deere them all


As much was done, in his estate when set was euery man,
Achilles putting forth himselfe this tale to them beganne:
O worthy Kings, abode is vaine, our hope it will not thee,
To Greece to Greece we must returne: For why it may not bee,
That we the Troians force do daunt, I dreade a matter more,
God graunt the weapons of our foes, doe not our bowels gore.
You see howe in this wretched warre our people doe decay,
And now this deadly morreine plague doth make the rest away,
Wherefore my Lordes, it needefull is to seeke and search about,
Of some Diuine, Augur, or Priest to trie the matter out,
What is the cause: For who that dreames, can true interprete wel
(Sith that from Ioue the dreames proceede) the why shal quickly tel.
He soone wil say whether Phoebus this direfull plague hath sent,
For that to do him sacrifice we haue beene negligent,
Or that vnto his holy house he worthy offrings craue,
Or sheepe and goats, whereby appeasd, some shielding we may haue.


Achilles had no sooner saide, he sate hym in his place,
Calchas arose, which from his youth Phoebus did yeelde suche grace,
The present times he knewe ful wel, the past he not forgot,
Of suche as were to come, he wist what was the secrete lot.
This onely was the Prophet he, for to direct their wayes,
The Greekes did choose in this exploite and sagely thus he sayes:


Achilles friend vnto the Gods, thou counselst I shoulde showe,
Unto the hearers here, from whence Apolloes wrath doth grow,
I wil it do, but sweare thou shalt, my safetie to defend
From such outragious iniuries, which some on me wil bend.
I much do doubt that chiefest one, who shall my speaches heare,
Yea he, whome all the campe obeyes, wil greatly seeme to deare
And much amaze. Oft mightie Lordes, although conceale they wul
A crosse receivde of simple wight, yet pay they at the ful:
The rancor ceaseth not, til they do yeeld their vengeance due,
Assure me then with your defence hereof what way ensue.
Say what thou wilt quoth Achilles, for by the God of might,
Whose secretes thou so well dost knowe, I wil defende thy right.
None of the Greekes, whereas I am, shal wrong or iniure thee,
No not the greatest of regarde, not Agamemnon hee.


Then Calchas thus assurde by worde, pronounst in open sight:
Ye Greekes, this plague continues not, ne for that cause did light,
It fel not in the campe (I say) for want of sacrifice
To Phoebus bright in Countrey far: this mischiefe whole doth rise,
For that you haue vnreuerently, the aged Chryses vsde,
His daughter shoulde haue beene restorde, and not his gifts refusde.
Til mends be made of this our fault, I thinke it wil not cease,
The blackenied Lady to hir home til she be brought in peace,
No raunsome had, in numbers tho our offerings let vs slay,
To purchase fauour of the God, and turne his wrath away.


Agamemnon forth standeth straite, with rage inflamed so,
As like a burning brand his eies did twinckle to and fro,
And thus he sayth, looking askance on Calchas furiously:
Unluckie Prophet that thou art, for neuer happily
Ought dost thou shewe, and badly bent, stil fortune bad dost tel,
And me to spite, now dost thou preach, forsooth a proper spel,
Auouching, that vnto the camp this plague is from aboue,
Bycause I Chryses do withholde, whome I so greatly loue.
Hir beautie gay, and gallant glee, hath conquerd so my wil,
As wel I hopde she in my house shoulde haue remayned stil
With Clytemnestra wife of mine, whome lesse I do regarde,
And iustly so, before hir she is muche to be prefarde,
For countnaunce good, for colour cleare, for sprite and body gay.
But sith I needes muste yeelde hir vp, to driue this sore away,
(Ah) take hir then, I do agree, hir want I rather craue,
Than that this people here, should not their health and safely haue:
But quickly looke in lieu of hir, for me some present out,
You wel shal know, of al these folke I wil not be the lout.


Achilles (gallantst of the Greekes) to him replyed thus,
In presence of the Princes al: Thou sonne of Atreus,
Thou pinching Prince, thou haughtie heart, thou loftie minded hee,
Where dost thou thinke the Greekes shal find another gifte for thee?
In guerdon nowe of al that warre, dost thou not knowe thy selfe
Long time agoe among vs all diuided is the pelfe?
Belike we must the spoiles amasse, which is not easely done,
And bring the camp to mutine to: let not thy minde so runne,
Obey the Gods, yeelde up the maide, and four times richer gaine
Thou shalt possesse, if Ioue vouchsafe that we the Troians raigne,
And Towers happe to lay ful lowe. Straight Agamemnon tho
Said: thou Achill thinke not (I reade) thy credite such, no, no,
Although thy force in shewe compare with suche to Gods belong,
Thinke not that I wil followe thee, or beare this open wrong.
Doth reason beare, that eche his part, haue of the wealthy prayes?
Thinkst thou it fit I leaue the maide, and emptie go my wayes
Unrecompenste. I hir forgoe, as reason so it would,
But see that I considered be, as fit it is I shoulde:
Else maugre thee and all thy might, that thine by thee possest,
Or Aiax, or Vlysses theirs, Ile haue as I think best.
And care who list, who then shall deere, that I his portion take
And here an end. I thinke it good to Sea we ready make
A vessell strong with skilfull guides, and eke that one of you
Accompany the Lady home vnto hir father now,
With honor due religiously the Aultars high to reare,
To sacrifice that Apollo, with fauour vs forbeare.
When Achilles had hearkned wel to Agamemnons tale,
Disdainfully he lookte at him, and blewe this bitter gale:
Thou impudent, thou iangler thou, what Greeke shall readye make
Himselfe to fight at thy commaund, thy party for to take?
I came not from my Countrey I, the Troians stout to scarre,
Or to reuenge my selfe on them: for in no broiles of warre,
They euer out my region fruites or cattaile tooke away,
Too large a sea, too mightie hilles, them deserts wilde do stay,
And champaines wide their forraies bar, tweene vs which are defece
But I am come, and al my traine, cutting the seas from thence
Under thy leading, not at al for any cause of ours,
But Menelaus wrong to venge, a brother he of yours:
Not minding thou the good we doe (thou face and dogshead thou)
In place of thankes I shoulde receiue, thou deepely threatens nowe,
To take away my good, my good, for so in truth it is:
For by my valor in the fielde I gained it ywis,
And whiche the Greekes in witnesse large did giue of my desarte,
Of all the spoile: I haue more cause than thou to take at harte
These actions aye. Of pillage stil I alwayes haue the worst,
The victorie of wont is mine, in front I am the firste,
Yet what they giue, I wil accepte. Sith home is peacer quiet
Better than with a tyrant warre, I warre no more wil trye it.
The working sea I wil goe seeke in point of morning gray,
With Saile and Ore to Pthie land my countrey taking way.
And making here thou thy abode, dishonor thou shalt gaine,
Thy substaunce great and massie wealth withall to waste in vaine.
And will you so: (quoth Agamemno) Amen, farewell, adue,
I list not your abode entreate, ne for your presence sue.
There are ynow will here abide, and tender my renowme,
Ne vnprouided mightie Ioue will leaue me in this rowme.
Of all these Kings and Princes here, thou dost delight Achill
To bite and sting me of the nonst, and alwayes bendes thy will,
Contentiously maintaining hate, presuming ouer much
Of force proceeding from the Gods: in thee there is none such.
Farewel, your godly Myrmidones, command the at your pleasure,
And your agoe and furie thus Ile care for at my leysure.
But herewith your audacitie that further I doe daunt,
Sith that Apolloes pleasure is, and ordaines vs to graunt
That I Chryses restore againe, with speede as much as may,
To olde Chryses my people shall the Lady soone conuay.
To thy Pauillion wil I send tricke Brysida to bring
Thy best beloued, that al men knowe how pusaunter a King
I am than thou, and that henceforth none be so hardie bolde
To put vp head to matche with me, by whom I be controlde.


Hereat Achilles greeueth much, a warre in him he found,
With mightie Falcon, whether he, should ding down on the ground
Agamemn dead, or to appease the wrong he did conceaue,
To holde him stil, to parte them fro, and company to leaue.
Yet rage in spite of reason rulde, his blade he out doth drawe.
But Iuno hearde from Welkin high this cruell iarre, and sawe:
The bickering thus so neare at hande: them both she will defend,
And Pallas straight from loftie skies she causeth to descend
Approching to Achill, softly she tooke him by the haire,
Who speedily retirde, knowing, the Goddesse to be there,
With twinckling eies vnceasingly, yet knowne to neuer a man,
But onely to himselfe, to whome his speache he thus beganne:
You heauenly daughter Pallas you, doe I your presence see?
Would you it know how Agamemn doth wrong and iniure mee?
Giue me some leaue, and for his pride you shall see by and by
Before you here vppon the grasse his headlesse truncke to ly.


Thy griefe to ease quoth Pallas is this comming here of mine,
If to be rulde by heauenly sawe thy selfe thou canst encline.
Dame Iuno seeing this dangerous strife, who fauours both so much,
Did bid me downe, thee to aduise in no wise him to touch.
Put vp thy sworde it doth not wel, with words do wordes repay:
Assured be for his great fault thou shalt an other daye
And these thy harmes, haue gallant gifts, yea layed in thy lappe,
If to obey this counsaile mine thy mind and meaning happe.
Its more thau meete quoth Achilles, and reason so doth will,
That what the Gods commaunde vs men, we wholly do fulfill,
Though fury would vs thece withdraw: Of Gods ye puissant might
Obedience doth moste esteeme, in euery manner wight.
And from his best who doth not swarue, in fauour stil we see,
His massie falcon saying thus, in sheath of brightsome blee
Of siluer braue he putteth vp, Pallas away she weares,
She leaues the Greekes, to Gods aloft in Heauen she repaires.
The valiant Greeke in furie stil on Agamemn doth stare,
His rage abides, him thus in speech he raging wise forbare.
Thou tipled Knight, a snarring curre, to sight and shew thou arte,
Than Stagge beset at bay about more feareful yet of harte,
Among the Kings a cowarde vile, a slouthful shifting Oxe,
Assaults, alarms, and battels fought, thou fearst for dread of knockes.
And lesse thou darste ambushments lay, for doubt to quaile or dye,
Thou tyrant great, who dost deuoure the people cruelly.
Oppressor thou scourge of the pore, delighting to disgrace
All men vnto thine appetite consenting giues not place.
If I my courage folowed had, thou shouldst no more haue harmed,
Al gracelesse straight thy carcas here to death I wold haue charmde.
But hearke, for by this royall Mace, by whiche I now doe sweare,
A worthy ornament to shewe, in right hand which I beare,
Who hauing lost the sappe of wood, eft greenenesse cannot drawe,
True ornament for iudges all, who execute the lawe
Of Iupiter on mortall men: the day before thou wist,
Wil come, when to be shielded from sir Hectors murdering fist
(Who shal hacke down the Greeks in heapes) yt I shal be entreated,
And thou (thy lewdnesse fond confest) shal thorowly be heated,
To haue despised carelesly, who most deserueth loes.
Thus said, from him in fury great his scepter down he throwes,
He sittes him downe. Agamemnon, whome anger forward straines,
Minding faire Bryseis stil to haue, the quarrel he maintaines.


That speaker sweete delighting tong therewith duke Nestor rose,
From Heauen had, much pleasaunter than Hony from him flowes,
By grace diuine, of triple life the yeares he also bare,
He to th'assembly as they sate his knowledge doth declare.


O what mishap, what parant losse see I on Greece to fall?
What ioy and hope to Priamus his sonnes and subiects all,
When as shall come vnto their eares, that in this campe of ours
By kindled heate in quarrell thus our greatest Princes lours?
This discorde leaue, this fury fly, than yours my yeares are more,
Your greaters and your grauers to, I known haue heretofore,
Who haue my counsel ay obeyed: I neuer knewe nor knowe
More bolde and mightie mortall men, than these and Perithoe,
Dryas in Prudence thiefe of price, Exadius, Polipheme,
Ceneis equall with the Gods, who by their force extreme
The Giants and the Lapyths slewe, whereby their glorie fledde
To Heauen highe, I called I, with them I often yedde
To battailes great and dangerous, in bloudy martial marte,
Whose force no lustie liuing tho to frunt in fight had hearte,
They alwaies built so on my word, as none would crosse my speech,
Wel shal you doe, if you performe by counsaile what I teach.
And first to you Agamemnon, be not of so greate minde,
Thoughe chiefe thou be, perforce to take Bryseis, who is assignde
By all the Greekes his iust rewarde: Achill I thinke it good
You silence vse, with iarring wordes forbeare to crosse in moode.
Of al the sceptred Princes none so high is seated downe,
As ouer hiest Ioue appoints the scepter and the crowne:
In force if so you more auaile, from Thetis that it retches
Your mother she, but yet than yours his puissaunce further stretches,
For Nations more do him obey. And Agamemnon take it,
Appease your rage and your abuse, lette not your calling make it.


Achilles, for the loue of me, if true, I true reporte,
Forget this iarre, to Greekish campe in olde and wonted sorte
Shewe forth your selfe a bulwarke sure: Thou aged worthy sire,
Quoth Agamemn, what thou haste saide, beste reason doth require,
But here this mate by gallant heart triumphing Lorde will goe,
He will commaunde, he all will rule: but softe, he shall not so,
If I may choose: his force is greate, as sib to power diuine,
Hathe he then leaue all wrong to doe, as fancie shall encline?


Achilles straight ful restlesse yet, from him the speache he tooke,
I were (quoth he) a coward leude, if I agreed to brooke
Thy gouernaunce, after thy wil I rulde will be no more,
For no obedience looke of me, others commaunde therefore,
And build on this: For Bryseis faire, no quarrel I wil make
With any man, sith obstinate you bent are for to take
The gifte on me whiche was bestowed: but haue regarde to dare
(Yea for thy life) to touch the Gods in my possession are,
And be aboorde my vessels, thou a bootelesse worke shouldest haue.
And if thou beest so gallant set, or yet so beastly braue,
Aduaunce thy selfe, thy valor shewe, and al men shal beholde
Me with my Launce to shed thy bloud, and lay thy carcasse colde.
The case debated thus at length, the Councell al they rose,
Achilles with his companye to his Pauillion goes.


A shippe well furnishte Agamemn on sea he causeth rise
With twentie Ores, forgetting not things meete for Sacrifice,
And pucell Chryseis fitly there he shipped honest well,
And Vlysses for patron put, who Greekes did all excell
In good aduise, and pleasaunte speache, the waues at will they slice,
With winde in poupe, they hope full soone to finde hir father Chryse.


Againe home offerings more to fitte, Agamemn hyeth faste,
To cleanse the campe, and in the sea the ordure for to caste.
Then to the Altars reared high on shoare right beautifull,
He biddeth bring the wanton Goate, the Sheepe and mightie Bull,
Deuoutly for the army all, on Phoebus to bestowe,
Whereof the smel and vapor thicke to heauen righte doth goe,
As burnt they were, the people eke in many sundry wise
Unto the Gods sent their demaunds, their prayers, and their cries,
But Agamemns wrath swageth not, he stil in rage doth roste,
Till he at pleasure Bryseis haue, for Chryseis he hathe loste.
Two Heraultes strayght he bids to come, he thought of best respect,
Talthybe, and Eurybate, to whome he spake to this effecte:
O Heraults here seeke out Achill, who in his tente nowe is,
Bring Bryse away, if he withstande, I present will not misse,
Spite of his teeth to fetche hir I, and wel vnto his paine.
Suche were his wordes, outragious, more fond and foolishe vaine.


To place the Heraultes quickly came, where lay ye valiant Greek,
They him no sooner sawe, but that their dreads were not to seeke,
Agast to touch so mightie a Prince, of whome when he did heare,
Although in grief he welcomde the, and shewde the pleasant cheere.


You Heraultes high, come on quoth he, no daunger dread at all,
For by youre disarde king, not you, this wrong on me doth fall,
Agamemn, who will me bereaue by force and tyranny
Of Bryseis liking presence, whyche so deare is in mine eye.
Petroclus mate and brother mine, of beautie fetche the dame,
Giue hir in handes to Heraults these: And here I doe proclaime
Before the Gods, ye Heraults eke, al people vnder Sunne,
This tyrant too, whose senses stil to worse and worse do runne:
To witnesse I do call you al, hereafter, if perhappes
The Greekes haue neede of my reliefe by meanes of afterclappes,
And peril comming to the campe, this doting dazeled Asse,
He knowes not good discourse, nor yet what ere good councel was.
He mindeth not, who hitherto hath bin the armies shield,
He knoweth not who hathe the power to saue the same in fielde.
Herewith Patroclus bringeth forth Bryseis the Damsel gay,
He giues hir in the Heraultes handes, who onwarde take their way
Apace to Agamemnons shippes to leade the Lady faire,
Who much againste hir wil, to him doth make hir new repaire.


By this farewel, the pleasures al of valiant Achill quailes,
He martirde so is with the griefe, with sheadding teares he wailes,
And from his people goes aparte. And better to abide
His bitter paine, vnto the shoare he stealeth there aside,
Thus to his mother Thetis ofte shewing his wofull case:


Sith in my birth by fate full harde fewe yeares I doe embrace
Of life, then Ioue (quoth he) who sees al things from Welkin hye,
Some honour shoulde haue giuen me, before the time I dye,
And not to suffer Agamemn my solace thus to sterue,
By power to take that noble gift, whyche well I did deserue.


From deapth of wide and hollowe sea, hir sonne complayning thus
With piteous noise, Thetis gaue eare, leauing Oceanus
The aged sire in Marine Courte, in likenesse of a cloude
With speede she comes to Achilles, in dolour where he stoode.
Kinde countenaunce and shewe she makes: Alas deare son quoth she,
What ayleth thee? whence commes thy griefe? Alas, what man is hee
That hathe thy minde disturbed thus? let me th'occasion see,
That of of thy doleful deering here, partaker I may be.


He sighing saide, muste I to you declare my martyring throwes?
The wrongs to me nowe lately done your selfe too too well knowes.
You knowe full wel howe for to harme King Priame and his kinne,
Many a subiect towne of his, and neighbors, quite haue bin
To ruine, sacke, and bootie brought, the walles of Ætion
The puissant king, by me were torne, whereof to euery one
The spoyles were parted equally: Chryseis of beautie moste
Was lefte to Agamemnons choice, who kept hir in the hoste.
Chryseis the sire shortly in campe his daughter faire he sought,
And for hir raunsome also due he gallant presents brought.
Unto vs all in humble wise he lowly made request,
And eke to him that had hir rule, with whome the Maide did rest.
Of Phoebus cleare, olde Chryses was, cladde with the worthye weed,
Thereby to purchase more regarde. By vs it was agreed,
That she in freedome shoulde be sette, and giftes had in exchaunge,
But here oure Chieftaine our aduise he tooke it very straunge:
And maugre al, with choller ful, the hoarie haires he chode;
His presents thus refusde, good Chryse, right sorrowfull abode.
To Phoebus cleare he prayed harde, who put him not abacke:
For shortly numbers greate, by plague are put to direfull lacke.
This wofull plight, when plaine I sawe of Greekes by death yspent,
Which Calchas wise saide from Apoll proceeded ill content,
I did persuade the people al, the God to pacifie,
Thereby displeasing Agamemn, himselfe so gloriously
And sterne who beares. With outrages and threats he eke began,
And sayde, his losse muste healed be of me, I was the man:
He failed not to execute his filthie minde so false.
Chryseis in Galley scarce was put, and haled vp the halse,
But that they Bryseis fetche away, whether she wil or no
Out of my Tent, King Agamemn to him wil haue hir goe.
I this way of the goodly gifte, which all the Campe me gaue
Defrauded am. But if that you suche might and puissaunce haue
(As well I know your force is great) then yeelde thou some reliefe
Unto your wofull sonne, whose soule is paulde with inward griefe.
Ascend, and licence craue of Ioue that I reuenge may take,
For once from danger you him drew, for mends let him this make.
I minde it well, I ofte haue heard you largely vaunt and boste,
That, but for you and for your helpe, he life and laude had loste.
For Neptune ioyned with Pallas, and Iuno Dame that shrowe,
Had enterprisde to bind his hands, & down the heauens him throwe.
But their malitious harde deuise preuented was in time:
For you descending, to the Heauen you caused for to clime
Briareus callde Ægeon, the hundred handed Giant,
The fiercest of all mortall wights, who fiercely there resiant,
Did so agast the Seaish God, and other Goddish powers,
That Ioue as soueraigne stil remaines, & none against him stoures.
Goe get you to him mother mine, and lowly on your knees
Minde him of this your seruice done, demaunding for your fees,
That he vouchsafe the Troyans sende suche courage to embrace,
That slaine or burnt, the Greekes to shore do fearefully giue place.
This mischiefe byding by their King, who then his faulte shal spie,
And loftie liking of himselfe, so little care, looselie
Minding his prowesse, who of all in valor beares the Bell.
Thetis againe Achill hir sonne thus answers very wel,
With heauy hearte and weeping eyes: Alas (she said) my sonne,
Haue I thee hither thus brought vp? thy life hast thou begonne
(Sith in a trice it is cutte off) Why blisfull is it not?
Haue I conceiued shee deare sonne, to this vnhappy lot?
What, is thy fate so hard, to giue thee short and doleful dayes?
Wel, thee to please, I wil to Ioue, perswading diuerse wayes,
In telling this, that to thy losse he be a setter an,
But two dayes past he with the Gods is gone th'ocean,
Wheras the Æthiopes do inuite the auntient Gods to cheere,
Eleauen dayes it wil be ful, ere he returne I heere.
But then a suter will I be, til when I wish (my child)
You from the battayle do absteine, and not your weapons wield.
Disport your selfe vpon the waues, a ship-boorde take no care,
That it be wist vnto the Greekes how great your dolours are.
With this she leaues hir sonne Achil. A boorde he keepes in paine
For Brisies gone, he feeles the smart, that thrils through euery vayne.
That while Vlisse with winde in poupe, and trauaile of the Ore,
Of fertile Chrise he with the dame approcheth to the shore
And pleasant port: downe come the sayles, & round they roll the fast,
Upon the deck haeled adowne is layde the mightie Mast.
And then from Poupe with Cables harde the toothed Ancres fling
Their holde to take, and lay alande prouision which they bring
For sacrifice: Vlisses doth the mayde with careful charge
Upon hir saddle sette, conduct to Phoebus temple large,
With minde ful milde, where-to hir sier he giues hir in his handes,
And with these words: Thou Christs Priest, so happy thou ye stands,
Agamemn, who commaunds the Greeks, to thee hath sent me hither
To bring thee home thy daughter here, and with hir eke togither
Such vowes to offer to Apol, to pacifie his anger,
That Greekes therby so deeply pinde, be therewith plagde no lager.
The good olde man did ioye apace his daughter to possesse,
And forthwith bad to sacrifice they all things readie dresse.
And Barly cakes he cals to bring, and fingers washed faire,
Aloude he lifteth vp his voyce, and ioyned hands doth reare.
Oh puissat Phoebus (thus he prayes) whose darts do al things teare,
Thou Phoebus cleare, Apollo God who siluer bow doth beare,
And Cyl, Chrysa, and Tenedos doth rule vnto thy liking,
If any time thou hast vouchsafte to graunt at my besiking
To shew the working of thy wrath on Greekes afflicted sore,
Who wholely yeelde vnto thy wil, O Phoebus graunt therefore
To chaunge thy minde, & fro this Cape this bitter plague do banish,
No sooner prayde, but Phoebus hearde, & plague it straight did vanish.


Full furnishte were the offerings, when ended was to pray,
The sheepe are slaine, their skinnes of pluckt, & to the fire they lay
The gigots plumbe, and cut off legges: good Chrise with wine so red
The Aulter throughly doth perfume: himselfe he careful sped
About the seruice of the God, and fier great doth kindle,
The loynes of the oblations dead, and other flesh they mingle,
And roundly rost on broches fiue, and gridorne on the Coales,
And euery one prepares himselfe vnto his cheare and boales.
A seemely sight it was to see the seamen plye their teeth,
Wherewith the Cups apace they walke, they wel content therwith.
Refreshed thus, Vlisses and the Greekes they do not spend
Idle the day, they Himnes do chaunt, and ferly songs do send
Apollos prayse to herrie hie, wherof the pleasaunt tunes
Resounding in the God his eares, he pleasure great resumes.


At night Vlisses coucheth him within his galley lowe,
At peepe of day eche one prepares to plucke, to bale, to rowe.
To loftie seas the Maste they hoyse, Gods ayde they do not lacke,
For shortly with ye winde he gaue (which made their sayles to crack)
In port of safetie they ariue, where bloudie war doth rore,
And taking land, their vessel they do draw vpon the shore.
To his pauilion eche retires, or hieth him abrode.


This while Achilles keepes his tent, for matters of the sworde
He neither makes nor medles with, nor yet to counsel comes,
In minde with trouble ouerchargde, he grieued sits, and glomes,
Pyning away his valiaunt corps, a patterne odde produced.
Unto the world of worthy shape: when as should be induced
Alarme among the Greeks, he gapes, whom Troyans should assaile,
Good proofe to shew his helpe, to them to be of great auaile.


The day now come of Ioues returne from th'Occean solemn feast,
One morning Thetis from the sea to heauen hir selfe doth prest.
The God aside she sitting saw, approching to him nie,
His knees hir left hand doth embrace, with countnaunce curteouslye
Hyr right to chin she moued soft, and humbly thus she prayde:


If any time (redoubted sire) that I haue with mine ayde
Thy high and mightie maiestie releeued in thy want,
I thee besech this my request O father do it graunt,
Sith life is short, his honor to touchte, yeelde thou vnto my sonne,
Let Agamemnon shortly know what wrong he hath him done,
Yeelding the Greekes a thorough feare, the Troyans courage hie,
So that the wracked Campe restore his credite worthilie.


To this the Goddesses milde speech, the great God answerd nat,
But sadly musing with himselfe he stil, in silence sat.
The Goddesse eftsoone wearie now, this silence long that spies,
In humble sort vpon hir knees intreateth in this wise:
Say yea, or no, Oh Iupiter, ende both my hope and feare,
For you of whom to stand in dread, I know none life doth beare:
Say on therfore, that I may see, in fauour how I stand,
How smal regarded or esteemde, I craue it at your hand.


With fetched sigh Ioue aunsweres thus: Oh harde and heauy case,
Sith my wife Iuno I must stirre, and haue hir froward grace.
T'is she, t'is she of all the Gods with me that most doth iarre,
Alleaging that I Priams part support do in this warre.
That she do not our meaning finde, down straight desced your ways,
And your demaunde I wil fulfil, assurde without delayes.
And that you know my promise sound, I wil you shew a signe
To ease your doubt, this shal it be, to vow my heade diuine,
A token aye that neuer fayles, when any thing of waight
Unto the Gods I do behight. His head he shaketh straight,
And bended browes so raiseth he, that of his holy heare
By only shake, Olympus large doth tremble fast for feare.
Thetis to depth of sea descendes, the God his mansion keepes,
In Welkin Countrey he remaines, with other Gods he meetes,
In troupe, not missing no not one, themselues they humbly show,
Amid them all right glorionsly on throne he sitteth tho.
Then Iuno chased at the full, now found the secrete tricke
Of Ioue, to wracke of Greekish Campe, which touchte hir at ye quick.
With hart audatious thus she says: thou God with malice frought,
What subtile toy, what pretie prake, haue you (I pray you) wrought
With that my maisters Mariner? from whence now doth it grow
That I with you must not conferre, nor must your counsels know?
Delighting that your dealings close to other knowen be,
I fur aloufe a straunger I. Hope not then aunsweared he
My secrets I acquaint you with, your gaine it would be lesse,
Although my wife and sister both, you are, I do confesse.
In Counsayles which are fitte for you, you full shal haue your right,
None calde so soone, no not the God, that greatest is of might.
If, what I haue determined plaine, none is shall know the matter,
Then let me rest, to search it out you ought not thus to patter.
Out cried the Goddesse loude, alas, O crabbed rusticke Ioue,
So like an Asse or vndiscrete, when did I euer roue,
To seeke the things of secrecie, but still I am excluded,
You crabbed you, your secrete deedes without me are concluded.
Which made me careful, when I saw Thetis that spiteful peate
Thys morning here so perting sitte at elbow by your seate.
I greatly dread hir sonne to venge, obtainde some suite she hath,
Wherby to danger down the Greekes, & worke their harme & scath.


To this the God did cal hir hag, (quoth he) I cannot shift,
But thy suspitious iealous heade aye findeth out my drift.
But how much more (I smel) you thinke to alter what I meane,
I so much more in spite of you do stil contrarie cleane,
The rather for your kicking thus. If I vnto Thetis
Haue promist anye thing at all, sith so my pleasure is,
And you it knowe, why should not you agree as wel as I?
Go sit you downe, and talke no more so fonde and foolishly,
Least moued I, with both my fistes I giue you hanging lawes,
And in such sort, as no God here can saue you from my clawes.


By this so great and dreadful threat, dame Iuno more she feares,
She quiet growes, she goes hir wayes, & visage downe she beares,
Among the Gods she takes hir place: this while the heauenly route,
By this contention greeued are, and troubled thorow out.


Whereby with pitie Vulcane bare to Iuno, which he had,
With doubt this snarling would proceed to worse, which was to bad:
With curteous speech he did his best, to comfort hir, as thus:
My mother deare, if this despite remaine, and that with vs
Immortal Gods we quarrel haue, for mortal peoples case,
I surely see decay to fal vpon this goddish race.
The banquets shal be brought to nought, and quailed with disquiet,
Wherat we all are stil refresht, and reason why, for royot
In mischiefe like makes better head, than better can attaine.
You must more kind and louing be: oh noble dame refraine
Your choller now vnto my sire, how, best your selfe doth know,
Else by this rigour of debate the case wil fall out so,
As all the Gods, both you and I, shal finde no little griefe,
If once he grow into a rage. He mightie is and chiefe,
He from the heauens will vs hunte, wherby our iunkets gay,
Our sport, our chat of louing toyes shal cleane be tane away,
And porte of this our mansion hie, all counsels ended quite.
I you beseech to haue some care this daunger do not light,
Agree your selfe vnto his wil, with wordes of milde allay,
And what you list, you shal obtaine, he can you not denay.
With this a boule of Nectar ful, in hand sir Vulcane tooke,
And to his mother did present it with a comely looke.
Beare mother mine, (quoth he to hir) refuse not to obay
To Ioue, though care doth maister you, and wils you answere nay,
Least greater shame you hap to haue, he laying you on the Hide,
And though I would, no help at all I could for you prouide,
Nor yet resist his power diuine: haue you forgot so soone,
How you to rescue from his hand, he had me almost done
To death? when so his furie woxe, from skies he did me thro
Down by the foote, where in the ayre I tumbled too and fro,
A whole day through, and fel at last with bones and body burst,
In Lemnos Ile, in manner dead, wheras I fel at furst.
Wheras I was wel entertainde there by the Lemnos dweller,
With bountie great. When Iuno heard thus Vulcane for to tel hir,
She was appeasde, and gan to smile, the cup to lips she set,
With Nectar sweete, celestial iuyce, hir mouth and hart she wet
It was a pastime to behold the pleasaunt Vulcane God,
In taking say to al the rest, with halting haunches plod.
Whereat the Gods do laugh apace, much liking of the iest.
And then prepared is forthwith, the high and heauenly feast,
From morning cleare which vnto night was drawen out along,
With great and glorious aray, the Muses with their song
Concording stil, and Phoebus he his doulced Harpe doth strike
Agreeing in sweet Harmonie, wherwith they greatly like
The worthy route: the sun gone downe, ech one with heauie eyes
Retires vnto his seuerall home, in buildings which do rise
By skil of lymping Artysane: Ioue to his Chamber hies,
And down he coucheth on his bed, and Iuno by him lyes.

Finis Libri primi