Yet after my confess’d offence, soothing my hum’rous spleen, I’ll sweeten his affects again with presents infinite, Which, to prove my firm intent, I’ll openly recite: Sev’n sacred tripods free from fire; ten talents of fine gold; Twenty bright cauldrons; twelve young horse, well-shap’d, and well-controll’d, And victors too, for they have won the prize at many a race, That man should not be poor that had but what their wingéd pace Hath added to my treasury, nor feel sweet gold’s defect. Sev’n Lesbian ladies he shall have, that were the most select, And in their needles rarely skill’d, whom, when he took the town Of famous Lesbos, I did choose; who won the chief renown For beauty from their whole fair sex; amongst whom I’ll resign Fair Brisis, and I deeply swear (for any fact of mine That may discourage her receipt) she is untouch’d, and rests As he resign’d her. To these gifts (if Jove to our requests Vouchsafe performance, and afford the work, for which we wait, Of winning Troy) with brass and gold he shall his navy freight; And, ent’ring when we be at spoil, that princely hand of his Shall choose him twenty Trojan dames, excepting Tyndaris, The fairest Pergamus enfolds; and, if we make retreat To Argos, call’d of all the world the Navel, or chief seat, He shall become my son-in-law, and I will honour him Ev’n as Orestes, my sole son, that cloth in honours swim. Three daughters in my well-built court unmarried are, and fair; Laodice, Chrysothemis that hath the golden hair, And Iphianassa; of all three the worthiest let him take All-jointureless to Peleus’ court; I will her jointure make, And that so great as never yet did any maid prefer, Sev’n cities right magnificent, I will bestow on her; Enope, and Cardamyle, Hira for herbs renown’d, The fair Æpea, Pedasus that doth with grapes abound, Anthæa girded with green meads, Phera surnam’d Divine; All whose bright turrets on the sea, in sandy Pylos, shine. Th’ inhabitants in flocks and herds are wondrous confluent, Who like a God will honour him, and him with gifts present, And to his throne will contribute what tribute he will rate. All this I gladly will perform, to pacify his hate. Let him be mild and tractable; ’tis for the God of ghosts To be unrul’d, implacable, and seek the blood of hosts, Whom therefore men do much abhor; then let him yield to me, I am his greater, being a king, and more in years than he.” “Brave king,” said Nestor, “these rich gifts must make him needs relent, Choose then fit legates instantly to greet him at his tent, But stay; admit my choice of them, and let them straight be gone. Jove-lovéd Phœnix shall be chief, then Ajax Telamon, And prince Ulysses; and on them let these two heralds wait, Grave Odius and Eurybates, Come, lords, take water straight, Make pure your hand, and with sweet words appease Achilles’ mind, Which we will pray the king of Gods may gently make inclin’d.” All lik’d his speech; and on their hands the heralds water shed,