A wanton light before him still, it round about was deck’d With strong hoops of new-burnish’d gold. On this he lean’d, and said: “Hear me, my worthy friends of Troy, and you our honour’d aid. A little since, I had conceit we should have made retreat, By light of the inflaméd fleet, with all the Greeks’ escheat, But darkness hath prevented us; and saft, with special grace, These Achives and their shore-hal’d fleet. Let us then render place To sacred Night, our suppers dress, and from our chariot free Our fair-man’d horse, and meat them well. Then let there convoy’d be, From forth the city presently, oxen and well-fed sheep, Sweet wine, and bread; and fell much wood, that all night we may keep Plenty of fires, ev’n till the light bring forth the lovely morn, And let their brightness glaze the skies, that night may not suborn The Greeks’ escape, if they for flight the sea’s broad back would take; At least they may not part with ease, but, as retreat they make, Each man may bear a wound with him, to cure when he comes home, Made with a shaft or sharp’ned spear; and others fear to come, With charge of lamentable war, ’gainst soldiers bred in Troy. Then let our heralds through the town their offices employ To warn the youth, yet short of war, and time-white fathers, past, That in our god-built tow’rs they see strong courts of guard be plac’d, About the walls; and let our dames, yet flourishing in years, That, having beauties to keep pure, are most inclin’d to fears (Since darkness in distressful times more dreadful is than light) Make lofty fires in ev’ry house; and thus, the dang’rous night, Held with strong watch, if th’ enemy have ambuscadoes laid Near to our walls (and therefore seem in flight the more dismay’d, Intending a surprise, while we are all without the town) They ev’ry way shall be impugn’d, to, ev’ry man’s renown. Perform all this, brave Trojan friends. What now I have to say Is all express’d; the cheerful morn shall other things display. It is my glory (putting trust in Jove, and other Gods) That I shall now expulse these dogs Fates sent to our abodes, Who bring ostents of destiny, and black their threat’ning fleet. But this night let us hold strong guards; to-morrow we will meet (With fierce-made war) before their ships, and I’ll make known to all If strong Tydides from their ships can drive me to their wall, Or I can pierce him with my sword, and force his bloody spoil. The wishéd morn shall show his pow’r, if he can shun his foil I running on him with my lance. I think; when day ascends, He shall lie wounded with the first, and by him many friends. O that I were as sure to live immortal, and sustain No frailties with increasing years, but evermore remain Ador’d like Pallas, or the Sun, as all doubts die in me That heav’n’s next light shall be the last the Greeks shall ever see!” This speech all Trojans did applaud; who from their traces los’d Their sweating horse, which sev’rally with headstalls they repos’d,