Part 21

THE END OF THE TENTH BOOK.

[1] These are the lightnings before snow, etc. that Scaliger’s Criticus so unworthily taxeth; citing the place falsely, as in the third book’s annotations, etc.

[2] _᾽Επὶ ξυρου̑ ἵσταται ἀκμη̑ς_. This went into a proverb, used by Theocritus, _in Dioscuris_, out of Homer.

THE ELEVENTH BOOK OF HOMER’S ILIADS

THE ARGUMENT

Atrides and his other peers of name Lead forth their men; whom Eris oath enflame. Hector (by Iris’ charge) takes deedless breath, Whiles Agamemnon plies the work of death, Who with the first bears his imperial head. Himself, Ulysses, and King Diomed, Eurypylus, and Æsculapius’ son, (Enforc’d with wounds) the furious skirmish shun. Which martial sight when great Achilles views, A little his desire of fight renews; 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 persuade his friend to wreak their harms, Or come himself, deck’d in his dreadful arms.

ANOTHER ARGUMENT

Lambda presents the General, In fight the worthiest man of all,