Be men, and, of your famous strength, think of the honour’d ends. I know benevolent Jupiter, did by his beck profess Conquest and high renown to me, and to the Greeks distress. O fools, to raise such silly forts, not worth the least account, Nor able to resist our force! With ease our horse may mount, Quite over all their hollow dike. But, when their fleet I reach, Let Memory to all the world a famous bonfire teach, For I will all their ships inflame, with whose infestive smoke, Fear-shrunk, and hidden near their keels, the conquer’d Greeks shall choke.” Then cherish’d he his famous horse: “O Xanthus, now,” said he, “And thou Podargus, Æthon too, and Lampus, dear to me, Make me some worthy recompense, for so much choice of meat, Giv’n you by fair Andromache; bread of the purest wheat, And with it, for your drink, mix’d wine, to make ye wishéd cheer, Still serving you before myself, her husband young and dear. Pursue, and use your swiftest speed, that we may take for prise The shield of old Neleides, which fame lifts to the skies, Ev’n to the handles telling it to be of massy gold. And from the shoulders let us take, of Diomed the bold, The royal curace Vulcan wrought, with art so exquisite, These if we make our sacred spoil, I doubt not, but this night, Ev’n to their navy to enforce the Greeks unturnéd flight.” This Juno took in high disdain, and made Olympus shake As she but stirr’d within her throne, and thus to Neptune spake: “O Neptune, what a spite is this! Thou God so huge in pow’r, Afflicts it not thy honour’d heart, to see rude spoil devour These Greeks that have in Helice, and Aege, offer’d thee So many and such wealthy gifts? Let them the victors be. If we, that are the aids of Greece, would beat home these of Troy, And hinder broad-ey’d Jove’s proud will, it would abate his joy.” He, angry, told her she was rash, and he would not be one Of all the rest, should strive with Jove, whose pow’r was match’d by none. Whiles they conferr’d thus, all the space the trench contain’d before (From that part of the fort that flank’d the navy-anchoring shore) Was filled with horse and targeteers, who there for refuge came, By Mars-swift Hector’s pow’r engaged; Jove gave his strength the fame; And he with spoilful fire had burn’d the fleet, if Juno’s grace Had not inspir’d the king himself, to run from place to place, And stir up ev’ry soldier’s pow’r, to some illustrious deed. First visiting their leaders’ tents, his ample purple weed He wore, to show all who he was, and did his station take At wise Ulysses’ sable barks, that did the battle make Of all the fleet; from whence his speech might with more ease be driv’n To Ajax’ and Achilles’ ships, to whose chief charge were giv’n The vantguard and the rearguard both, both for their force of hand, And trusty bosoms. There arriv’d, thus urg’d he to withstand Th’ insulting Trojans: “O what shame, ye empty-hearted lords, Is this to your admiréd forms! Where are your glorious words,