The Sunne now left the great and goodly Lake,
And to the firme heav'n bright ascent did make,
To shine as well upon the mortall birth
Inhabiting the plowd life-giving earth
As on the ever-tredders upon Death.
And now to Pylos, that so garnisheth
Her selfe with buildings, old Neleus' towne,
The Prince and Goddesse come, had strange sights showne —
For on the Marine shore the people there
To Neptune, that the Azure lockes doth weare,
Beeves that were wholy blacke gave holy flame.
Nine seates of State they made to his high name,
And every Seate set with five hundred men,
And each five hundred was to furnish then
With nine blacke Oxen every sacred Seate.
These of the entrailes onely pleasd to eate,
And to the God enflam'd the fleshie thies.
By this time Pallas, with the sparkling eies,
And he she led within the haven bore,
Strooke saile, cast anchor, and trod both the shore,
She first, he after. Then said Pallas: " Now
No more befits thee the least bashfull brow;
T'embolden which this act is put on thee
To seeke thy Father, both at shore and sea,
And learne in what Clime he abides so close,
Or in the powre of what Fate doth repose.
" Come then; go right to Nestor; let us see,
If in his bosome any counsell be
That may informe us. Pray him not to trace
The common courtship and to speake in grace
Of the Demander, but to tell the truth —
Which will delight him — and commend thy youth
For such prevention, for he loves no lies,
Nor will report them, being truly wise."
He answerd: " Mentor! how alas shall I
Present my selfe, how greete his gravitie?
My youth by no meanes that ripe forme affords
That can digest my mind's instinct in words
Wise and beseeming th'eares of one so sage.
Youth of most hope blush to use words with Age."
She said: " Thy mind will some conceit impresse,
And something God will prompt thy towardnesse.
For I suppose thy birth and breeding too
Were not in spite of what the Gods could do."
This said, she swiftly went before, and he
Her steps made guides, and followd instantly.
When soone they reacht the Pylian throngs and seates,
Where Nestor with his sonnes sate, and the meates
That for the feast serv'd round about them were
Adherents dressing, all their sacred cheare
Being rost and boyld meates. When the Pylians saw
These strangers come, in thrust did all men draw
About their entrie, tooke their hands, and praid
They both would sit — their entrie first assaid
By Nestor's sonne, Pisistratus, in grace
Of whose repaire he gave them honor'd place
Betwixt his Sire and brother Thrasymed,
Who sate at feast on soft Fels that were spred
Along the sea sands, kerv'd, and reacht to them
Parts of the inwards, and did make a streame
Of spritely wine into a golden boule,
Which to Minerva, with a gentle soule
He gave, and thus spake: " Ere you eate, faire guest,
Invoke the Sea's King, of whose sacred feast
Your travell hither makes ye partners now;
When (sacrificing as becomes) bestow
This boule of sweete wine on your friend, that he
May likewise use these rites of pietie —
For I suppose his youth doth prayers use,
Since all men need the Gods. But you I chuse
First in this cup's disposure, since his yeares
Seeme short of yours, who more like me appeares."
Thus gave he her the cup of pleasant wine;
And since a wise and just man did designe
The golden boule first to her free receit,
Even to the Goddesse it did adde delight,
Who thus invokt: " Heare, thou whose vast embrace
Enspheres the whole earth, nor disdaine thy grace
To us that aske it in performing this.
To Nestor first, and these faire sonnes of his,
Vouchsafe all honor; and, next them, bestow
On all these Pylians, that have offerd now
This most renowmed Hecatomb to thee,
Remuneration fit for them, and free;
And lastly daigne Telemachus and me
(The worke performd for whose effect we came)
Our safe returne both with our ship and fame."
Thus praid she, and her selfe her selfe obaid,
In th'end performing all for which she praid.
And now to pray, and do as she had done,
She gave the faire round boule t'Ulysses' sonne.
The meate then drest and drawne, and serv'd t'each guest,
They celebrated a most sumptuous feast,
When (appetite to wine and food allaid)
Horse-taming Nestor then began, and said:
" Now life's desire is serv'd as farre as fare,
Time fits me to enquire what guests these are.
Faire guests, what are ye, and for what Coast tries
Your ship the moist deepes? For fit merchandize?
Or rudely coast ye like our men of prize,
The rough seas tempting, desperatly erring,
The ill of others in their good conferring?"
The wise Prince now his boldnesse did begin,
For Pallas' selfe had hardned him within,
By this device of travell, to explore
His absent Father; which two Girlonds wore —
His good, by manage of his spirits, and then
To gaine him high grace, in th'accounts of men.
" O Nestor! still in whom Neleus lives,
And all the glorie of the Greeks survives!
You aske from whence we are, and I relate.
From Ithaca (whose seate is situate
Where Neius, the renowmed Mountaine, reares
His haughtie forehead and the honor beares
To be our Sea-marke) we assaid the waves.
The businesse, I must tell, our owne good craves,
And not the publicke. I am come t'enquire
If in the fame that best men doth inspire
Of my most-suffering Father I may heare
Some truth of his estate now, who did beare
The name (being joynd in fight with you alone)
To even with earth the height of Ilion.
Of all men else that any name did beare
And fought for Troy, the severall ends we heare;
But his death Jove keepes from the world unknowne,
The certaine fame thereof being told by none —
If on the Continent by enemies slaine,
Or with the waves eat of the ravenous Maine.
For his love tis that to your knees I sue,
That you would please out of your owne cleare view
T'assure his sad end, or say if your eare
Hath heard of the unhappie wanderer,
To too much sorrow whom his mother bore.
You, then, by all your bounties I implore
(If ever to you deed or word hath stood,
By my good Father promist, renderd good
Amongst the Troyans, where ye both have tried
The Grecian sufferance) that in nought applied
To my respect or pitie you will glose,
But unclothd Truth to my desires disclose."
" O my much lov'd," said he, " since you renew
Remembrance of the miseries that grew
Upon our still-in-strength-opposing Greece
Amongst Troy's people, I must touch a peece
Of all our woes there, either in the men
Achilles brought by sea and led to gaine
About the Country, or in us that fought.
About the Citie, where to death were brought
All our chiefe men, as many as were there.
There Mars-like Ajax lies; Achilles there;
There the in-counsell-like-the-Gods, his friend;
There my deare sonne Antilochus tooke end,
Past measure swift of foote, and staid in fight.
A number more that ils felt infinite:
Of which to reckon all, what mortall man
(If five or sixe yeares you should stay here) can
Serve such enquirie? You would backe againe,
Affected with unsufferable paine,
Before you heard it. Nine yeares siegd we them
With all the depth and sleight of stratagem
That could be thought. Ill knit to ill, past end:
Yet still they toild us, nor would yet Jove send
Rest to our labors — nor will scarcely yet.
But no man liv'd that would in publicke set
His wisedome by Ulysses' policie
(As thought his equall): so excessively
He stood superiour all wayes. If you be
His sonne indeed, mine eyes even ravish me
To admiration. And, in all consent,
Your speech puts on his speeche's ornament,
Nor would one say that one so yong could use
(Unlesse his sonne) a Rhetorique so profuse.
And while we liv'd together, he and I
Never in speech maintaind diversitie —
Nor set in counsell but (by one soule led)
With spirit and prudent counsell furnished
The Greeks at all houres that, with fairest course,
What best became them they might put in force.
But when Troy's high Towres we had leveld thus,
We put to sea, and God divided us.
And then did Jove our sad retreat devise;
For all the Greeks were neither just nor wise,
And therefore many felt so sharpe a fate,
Sent from Minerva's most pernicious hate,
Whose mightie Father can do fearfull things.
By whose helpe she betwixt the brother Kings
Let fall Contention; who in councell met
In vaine, and timelesse, when the Sunne was set,
And all the Greeks calld, that came chargd with wine.
Yet then the Kings would utter their designe,
And why they summond. Menelaus, he
Put all in mind of home, and cried, " To sea! "
But Agamemnon stood on contraries,
Whose will was they should stay and sacrifise
Whole Hecatombs to Pallas, to forgo
Her high wrath to them. Foole, that did not know
She would not so be wonne — for not with ease
Th'eternall Gods are turnd from what they please.
So they (divided) on foule language stood.
The Greekes in huge rout rose, their wine-heate bloud
Two wayes affecting. And that night's sleepe too
We turnd to studying either other's wo —
When Jove besides made readie woes enow.
Morne came, we lancht, and in our ships did stow
Our goods, and faire-girt women. Halfe our men
The people's guide, Atrides, did containe,
And halfe (being now aboord) put forth to sea.
A most free gale gave all ships prosperous way.
God settld then the huge whale-bearing lake,
And Tenedos we reacht, where, for time's sake,
We did divine rites to the Gods. But Jove
(Inexorable still) bore yet no love
To our returne, but did againe excite
A second sad Contention, that turnd quite
A great part of us backe to sea againe —
Which were th'abundant-in-all-counsels men,
Your matchlesse Father, who (to gratifie
The great Atrides) backe to him did flie.
But I fled all, with all that followd me,
Because I knew God studied miserie
To hurle amongst us. With me likewise fled
Martiall Tydides. I the men he led
Gat to go with him. Winds our fleete did bring
To Lesbos, where the yellow-headed King,
Though late, yet found us, as we put to choise
A tedious voyage — if we saile should hoise
Above rough Chius (left on our left hand)
To th'Ile of Psyria, or that rugged land
Saile under, and for windie Mimas stere.
We askt of God that some ostent might cleare
Our cloudie businesse, who gave us signe
And charge that all should (in a middle line)
The sea cut for Eubaea, that with speed
Our long-sustaind infortune might be freed.
Then did a whistling wind begin to rise,
And swiftly flew we through the fishie skies
Till to Geraestus we in night were brought,
Where (through the broad sea since we safe had wrought)
At Neptune's altars many solid thies
Of slaughterd buls we burnd for sacrifise.
" The fourth day came, when Tydeus' sonne did greete
The haven of Argos with his complete Fleete.
But I for Pylos strait ster'd on my course,
Nor ever left the wind his fore-right force,
Since God fore-sent it first. And thus I came,
Deare sonne, to Pylos uninformd by fame,
Nor know one sav'd by Fate, or overcome,
Whom I have heard of since (set here at home)
As fits thou shalt be taught, nought left unshowne.
" The expert speare-men, every Myrmidon,
(Led by the brave heire of the mightie-soul'd
Unpeerd Achilles) safe of home got hold;
Safe Philoctetes, Paean's famous seed;
And safe Idomeneus his men led
To his home, Crete, who fled the armed field —
Of whom yet none the sea from him withheld.
" Atrides (you have both heard, though ye be
His farre off dwellers) what an end had he,
Done by Ægisthus to a bitter death —
Who miserably paid for forced breath,
Atrides leaving a good sonne, that dide
In bloud of that deceitfull parricide
His wreakfull sword. And thou my friend (as he
For this hath his fame) the like spirit in thee
Assume at all parts. Faire and great I see
Thou art in all hope; make it good to th'end,
That after-times as much may thee commend."
He answerd: " O thou greatest grace of Greece,
Orestes made that wreake his master peece,
And him the Greeks will give a master praise,
Verse finding him to last all after daies.
And would to God the Gods would favour me
With his performance — that my injurie
Done by my mother's wooers, being so foule,
I might revenge upon their every soule,
Who (pressing me with contumelies) dare
Such things as past the powre of utterance are!
But heaven's great Powres have grac't my destinie
With no such honor. Both my Sire and I
Are borne to suffer everlastingly."
" Because you name those wooers, Friend," said he,
" Report sayes many such, in spite of thee,
(Wooing thy mother) in thy house commit
The ils thou nam'st. But say: — proceedeth it
From will in thee to beare so foule a foile,
Or from thy subjects' hate, that wish thy spoile
And will not aide thee, since their spirits relie
(Against thy rule) on some grave Augurie?
What know they, but at length thy Father may
Come, and with violence their violence pay —
Or he alone, or all the Greeks with him?
But if Minerva now did so esteeme
Thee as thy Father in times past, whom, past
All measure, she with glorious favours grac't
Amongst the Troyans, where we suffered so —
(O! I did never see in such cleare show
The Gods so grace a man as she to him,
To all our eyes, appeard in all her trim) —
If so, I say, she would be pleasd to love,
And that her mind's care thou so much couldst move
As did thy Father, every man of these
Would lose in death their seeking mariages."
" O Father," answerd he, " you make amaze
Seise me throughout. Beyond the height of phrase
You raise expression; but twill never be
That I shall move in any Deitie
So blest an honour — not by any meanes,
If Hope should prompt me, or blind Confidence
(The God of Fooles), or every Deitie
Should will it, for tis past my destinie."
The burning-eyd Dame answerd: " What a speech
Hath past the teeth-guard Nature gave to teach
Fit question of thy words before they flie!
God easily can (when to a mortall eie
Hee's furthest off) a mortall satisfie:
And does, the more still. For thy car'd-for Sire,
I rather wish that I might home retire
After my sufferance of a world of woes
Farre off, and then my glad eyes might disclose
The day of my returne, than strait retire
And perish standing by my houshold fire —
As Agamemnon did, that lost his life
By false Ægisthus and his falser wife.
" For Death to come at length, tis due to all;
Nor can the Gods themselves, when Fate shall call
Their most lov'd man, extend his vitall breath
Beyond the fixt bounds of abhorred Death."
" Mentor!" said he, " let's dwell no more on this,
Although in us the sorrow pious is.
No such returne as we wish Fates bequeath
My erring Father, whom a present death
The deathlesse have decreed. I'le now use speech
That tends to other purpose, and beseech
Instruction of grave Nestor, since he flowes
Past shore in all experience, and knowes
The sleights and wisedomes to whose heights aspire
Others as well as my commended Sire,
Whom Fame reports to have commanded three
Ages of men and doth in sight to me
Shew like th'Immortals. Nestor! the renowne
Of old Neleius! make the cleare truth knowne
How the most great in Empire, Atreus' sonne,
Sustaind the act of his destruction.
Where then was Menelaus? How was it,
That false Ægisthus, being so farre unfit
A match for him, could his death so enforce?
Was he not then in Argos — or his course
With men so left, to let a coward breathe
Spirit enough to dare his brother's death?"
" I'le tell thee truth in all, faire sonne," said he.
" Right well was this event conceiv'd by thee.
If Menelaus in his brother's house
Had found the idle liver with his spouse
(Arriv'd from Troy), he had not liv'd, nor dead
Had the diggd heape powrd on his lustfull head,
But fowles and dogs had torne him in the fields
Farre off of Argos. Not a Dame it yeelds
Had given him any teare, so foule his fact
Shewd even to women. Us Troy's warres had rackt
To every sinewe's sufferance, while he
In Argos' uplands liv'd, from those workes free,
And Agamemnon's wife with force of word
Flatterd and softn'd, who, at first abhord
A fact so infamous. The heav'nly Dame
A good mind had, but was in blood to blame.
There was a Poet to whose care the King
His Queene committed, and in every thing
(When he for Troy went) charg'd him to apply
Himselfe in all guard to her dignitie.
But when strong Fate so wrapt-in her affects
That she resolv'd to leave her fit respects,
Into a desart Ile her Guardian led,
(There left) the rapine of the Vultures fed.
Then brought he willing home his will's wonne prize,
On sacred Altars offerd many Thies,
Hung in the Gods' Phanes many ornaments,
Garments and gold, that he the vast events
Of such a labor to his wish had brought
As neither fell into his hope nor thought.
" At last, from Troy saild Sparta's king and I,
Both holding her untoucht. And (that his eie
Might see no worse of her), when both were blowne
To sacred Sunium (of Minerva's towne
The goodlie Promontorie), with his shafts severe
Augur Apollo slue him that did stere
Atrides' ship, as he the sterne did guide,
And she the full speed of her saile applide.
He was a man that nations of men
Exceld in safe guide of a vessell, when
A tempest rusht in on the ruffld seas:
His name was Phrontis Onetorides.
And thus was Menelaus held from home,
Whose way he thirsted so to overcome,
To give his friend the earth being his pursuite,
And all his exequies to execute.
But sailing still the wine-hewd seas, to reach
Some shore for fit performance, he did fetch
The steepe Mount of the Malians, and there
With open voice offended Jupiter
Proclaimd the voyage his repugnant mind,
And powr'd the puffes out of a shreeking wind
That nourisht billowes heightned like to hils;
And with the Fleet's division fulfils
His hate proclaimd, upon a part of Crete
Casting the Navie, where the sea-waves meete
Rough Jardanus, and where the Cydons live.
" There is a Rocke on which the Sea doth drive,
Bare and all broken, on the confines set
Of Gortys, that the darke seas likewise fret;
And hither sent the South a horrid drift
Of waves against the top, that was the left
Of that torne cliffe, as farre as Phaestus' Strand.
A litle stone the great sea's rage did stand.
The men here driven scapt hard the ships' sore shocks,
The ships themselves being wrackt against the rocks,
Save onely five, that blue fore-castles bore,
Which wind and water cast on Ægypt's shore —
When he (there victling well, and store of gold
Aboord his ships brought) his wilde way did hold,
And t'other languag'd men was forc't to rome.
Meane space Ægisthus made sad worke at home
And slue his brother, forcing to his sway
Atrides' subjects, and did seven yeares lay
His yoke upon the rich Mycenean State.
But in the eighth (to his affrighting fate)
Divine Orestes home from Athens came,
And what his royall Father felt, the same
He made the false Ægisthus grone beneath:
Death evermore is the reward of Death.
" Thus having slaine him, a sepulchrall feast
He made the Argives for his lustfull guest
And for his mother, whom he did detest.
The selfe-same day upon him stole the King
(Good-at-a-martiall-shout) and goods did bring
As many as his freighted Fleete could beare.
But thou, my sonne, too long by no meanes erre,
Thy goods left free for many a spoilfull guest,
Lest they consume some and divide the rest,
And thou (perhaps besides) thy voyage lose.
To Menelaus yet thy course dispose
I wish and charge thee, who but late arriv'd
From such a shore and men, as to have liv'd
In a returne from them he never thought,
And whom blacke whirlwinds violently brought
Within a sea so vast that in a yeare
Not any fowle could passe it any where,
So huge and horrid was it. But go thou
With ship and men (or, if thou pleasest now
To passe by land, there shall be brought for thee
Both horse and chariot, and thy guides shall be
My sonnes themselves) to Sparta the divine,
And to the King whose locks like Amber shine.
Intreate the truth of him; nor loves he lies;
Wisedome in truth is, and hee's passing wise."
This said, the Sunne went downe and up rose Night,
When Pallas spake: " O Father, all good right
Beare thy directions. But divide we now
The sacrifise's tongues, mixe wine, and vow
To Neptune and the other ever-blest,
That, having sacrifisd, we may to rest.
The fit houre runnes now; light dives out of date;
At sacred feasts we must not sit too late."
She said; they heard; the Herald water gave;
The youths crownd cups with wine, and let all have
Their equall shares, beginning from the cup
Their parting banquet. All the Tongues cut up,
The fire they gave them, sacrifisde, and rose,
Wine and divine rites usde to each dispose.
Minerva and Telemachus desirde
They might to ship be, with his leave, retirde.
He (mov'd with that) provokt thus their abodes:
" Now Jove forbid, and all the long-liv'd Gods,
Your leaving me to sleepe aboord a ship —
As I had drunke of poore Penia's whip,
Even to my nakednesse, and had nor sheete
Nor covering in my house, that warme nor sweete
A guest, nor I my selfe, had meanes to sleepe —
Where I both weeds and wealthy coverings keepe
For all my guests; nor shall Fame ever say
The deare sonne of the man Ulysses lay
All night a ship boord here while my dayes shine,
Or in my Court whiles any sonne of mine
Enjoyes survivall — who shall guests receive,
Whom ever my house hath a nooke to leave."
" My much lov'd Father," said Minerva, " well
All this becomes thee. But perswade to dwell
This night with thee thy sonne Telemachus,
For more convenient is the course for us,
That he may follow to thy house and rest,
And I may boord our blacke saile, that addrest
At all parts I may make our men and cheare
All with my presence, since of all men there
I boast my selfe the senior; th'others are
Youths, that attend in free and friendly care
Great-soul'd Telemachus and are his peeres
In fresh similitude of forme and yeeres.
For their confirmance I will therefore now
Sleepe in our blacke Barke. But, when Light shall shew
Her silver forehead, I intend my way
Amongst the Caucons, men that are to pay
A debt to me, nor small, nor new. For this,
Take you him home — whom in the morne dismisse
With chariot and your sonnes, and give him horse
Ablest in strength and of the speediest course."
This said, away she flew, formd like the fowle
Men call the Ossifrage — when every soule
Amaze invaded; even th'old man admir'd,
The youth's hand tooke, and said: " O most desir'd,
My hope sayes thy proofe will no coward show,
Nor one unskild in warre, when Deities now
So yong attend thee and become thy guides —
Nor any of the heaven-housde States besides,
But Tritogenia's selfe, the seed of Jove,
The great in prey, that did in honor move
So much about thy Father amongst all
The Grecian armie. Fairest Queene, let fall
On me like favours: give me good renowne,
Which, as on me, on my lov'd wife let downe,
And all my children. I will burne to thee
An Oxe right bred, brode-headed and yoke-free,
To no man's hand yet humbled. Him will I
(His hornes in gold hid) give thy Deitie."
Thus praid he, and she heard; and home he led
His sonnes and all his heapes of kindered,
Who, entring his Court royall, every one
He marshald in his severall seate and throne.
And every one, so kindly come, he gave
His sweet-wine cup, which none was let to have
Before this leventh yeare landed him from Troy,
Which now the Butleresse had leave t'employ —
Who therefore pierst it and did give it vent.
Of this, the old Duke did a cup present
To every guest, made his maid many a praire
That weares the Shield fring'd with his nurse's haire,
And gave her sacrifise. With this rich wine
And food suffisde, Sleepe all eyes did decline,
And all for home went; but his Court alone
Telemachus, divine Ulysses' sonne,
Must make his lodging, or not please his heart.
A bed, all chequerd with elaborate Art,
Within a Portico that rung like brasse,
He brought his guest to; and his bedfere was
Pisistratus, the martiall guide of men,
That liv'd, of all his sonnes, unwed till then.
Himselfe lay in a by-roome, farre above,
His bed made by his barren wife, his love.
The rosie-fingerd morne no sooner shone
But up he rose, tooke aire, and sat upon
A seate of white and goodly polisht stone,
That such a glosse as richest ointments wore,
Before his high gates, where the Counsellor
That matcht the Gods (his Father) usde to sit —
Who now (by Fate forc't) stoopt as low as it.
And here sate Nestor, holding in his hand
A Scepter, and about him round did stand
(As early up) his sonnes' troope — Perseus,
The God-like Thrasymed, and Aretus,
Echephron, Stratius, the sixt and last
Pisistratus, and by him (halfe embrac't
Still as they came) divine Telemachus.
To these spake Nestor, old Gerenius:
" Haste, loved sonnes, and do me a desire,
That (first of all the Gods) I may aspire
To Pallas' favour, who vouchsaft to me
At Neptune's feast her sight so openly.
Let one to field go, and an Oxe with speed
Cause hither brought, which let the Heardsman leade.
Another to my deare guest's vessell go,
And all his souldiers bring, save onely two.
A third the Smith that works in gold command
(Laertius) to attend and lend his hand
To plate the both hornes round about with gold.
The rest remaine here close. But first, see told
The maids within, that they prepare a feast,
Set seates through all the Court, see strait addrest
The purest water, and get fuell feld."
This said, not one but in the service held
Officious hand. The Oxe came led from field;
The Souldiers troopt from ship; the Smith he came
And those tooles brought that serv'd the actuall frame
His Art conceiv'd, brought Anvile, hammers brought,
Faire tongs, and all with which the gold was wrought.
Minerva likewise came to set the Crowne
On that kind sacrifice and mak't her owne.
Then th'old Knight Nestor gave the Smith the gold,
With which he strait did both the hornes infold,
And trimm'd the Offering so, the Goddesse joyd.
About which thus were Nestor's sonnes employd:
Divine Echephron and faire Stratius
Held both the hornes: the water odorous
In which they washt what to the rites was vowd
Aretus (in a caldron all bestrowd
With herbes and flowres) serv'd in from th'holy roome
Where all were drest and whence the rites must come.
And after him a hallowd virgin came,
That brought the barlet cake, and blew the flame.
The axe with which the Oxe should both be feld
And cut forth, Thrasymed stood by and held.
Perseus the vessell held that should retaine
The purple licour of the offering slaine.
Then washt the pious Father, then the Cake
(Of barley, salt and oile made) tooke, and brake,
Askt many a boone of Pallas, and the state
Of all the offering did initiate,
In three parts cutting off the haire, and cast
Amidst the flame. All th'invocation past
And all the Cake broke, manly Thrasymed
Stood neare and sure, and such a blow he laid
Aloft the offring that to earth he sunke,
His neck-nerves sunderd and his spirits shrunke.
Out shriekt the daughters, daughter in lawes and wife
Of three-ag'd Nestor (who had eldest life
Of Clymen's daughters) — chast Eurydice.
The Oxe on broad earth then layd laterally
They held, while Duke Pisistratus the throte
Dissolv'd and set the sable blood afflote,
And then the life the bones left. Instantly
They cut him up; apart flew either Thie,
That with the fat they dubd, with art alone,
The throte-briske and the sweet-bread pricking on.
Then Nestor broild them on the cole-turnd wood,
Powr'd blacke wine on, and by him yong men stood,
That spits five-pointed held, on which (when burnd
The solid Thies were) they transfixt and turnd
The inwards, cut in cantles — which (the meate
Vowd to the Gods consum'd) they rost and eate.
In meane space, Polycaste (calld the faire,
Nestor's yongst daughter) bath'd Ulysses' heire,
Whom having cleansd and with rich balmes bespred,
She cast a white shirt quickly o're his head,
And then his weeds put on, when forth he went
And did the person of a God present,
Came, and by Nestor tooke his honourd seate,
This pastor of the people. Then, the meate
Of all the spare parts rosted, off they drew,
Sate, and fell to. But soone the temperate few
Rose, and in golden bolles filld others wine,
Till, when the rest felt thirst of feast decline,
Nestor his sonnes bad fetch his high-man'd horse
And them in chariot joyne, to runne the course
The Prince resolv'd. Obaid as soone as heard
Was Nestor by his sonnes, who strait prepar'd
Both horse and chariot. She that kept the store,
Both bread and wine, and all such viands more
As should the feast of Jove-fed Kings compose,
Pourvaid the voyage. To the rich Coach rose
Ulysses' sonne, and close to him ascended
The Duke Pisistratus, the reines intended,
And scourg'd, to force to field who freely flew,
And left the Towne, that farre her splendor threw —
Both holding yoke, and shooke it all the day.
But now the Sunne set, darkning every way,
When they to Pheris came, and in the house
Of Diocles (the sonne t'Ortilochus,
Whom flood Alpheus got) slept all that night —
Who gave them each due hospitable rite.
But when the rosie-fingerd morne arose,
They went to Coach and did their horse inclose,
Drave forth the fore-court and the porch that yeelds
Each breath a sound, and to the fruitfull fields
Rode scourging still their willing flying Steeds,
Who strenuously performd their wonted speeds,
Their journey ending just when Sunne went downe,
And shadowes all wayes through the earth were throwne.