The youths crown’d cups of sacred wine to all distributed. But having sacrific’d, and drunk to ev’ry man’s content, With many notes by Nestor giv’n, the legates forward went. With courtship in fit gestures us’d he did prepare them well, But most Ulysses, for his grace did not so much excel. Such rites beseem ambassadors; and Nestor urgéd these, That their most honours might reflect enrag’d Æacides. They went along the shore, and pray’d the God, that earth doth bind In brackish chains, they might not fail, but bow his mighty mind. The quarter of the Myrmidons they reach’d, and found him set Delighted with his solemn harp, which curiously was fret With works conceited, through the verge; the bawdrick that embrac’d His lofty neck was silver twist; this, when his hand laid waste Aëtion’s city, he did choose as his especial prise, And, loving sacred music well, made it his exercise. To it he sung the glorious deeds of great heroës dead, And his true mind, that practice fail’d, sweet contemplation fed. With him alone, and opposite, all silent sat his friend, Attentive, and beholding him, who now his song did end. Th’ ambassadors did forwards press, renown’d Ulysses led, And stood in view. Their sudden sight his admiration bred, Who with his harp and all arose; so did Menœtius’ son When he beheld them. Their receipt Achilles thus begun: “Health to my lords! Right welcome men, assure yourselves you be, Though some necessity, I know, doth make you visit me, Incens’d with just cause ’gainst the Greeks.” This said, a sev’ral seat With purple cushions he set forth, and did their ease intreat, And said: “Now, friend, our greatest bowl, with wine unmix’d and neat, Appose these lords, and of the depth let every man make proof, These are my best esteeméd friends, and underneath my roof.” Patroclus did his dear friend’s will; and he that did desire To cheer the lords, come faint from fight, set on a blazing fire A great brass pot, and into it a chine of mutton put, And fat goat’s flesh. Automedon held, while he pieces cut, To roast and boil, right cunningly; then of a well-fed swine A huge fat shoulder he cuts out, and spits it wondrous fine. His good friend made a goodly fire; of which the force once past, He laid the spit low, near the coals, to make it brown at last, Then sprinkled it with sacred salt, and took it from the racks. This roasted and on dresser set, his friend Patroclus takes Bread in fair baskets; which set on, Achilles brought the meat, And to divinest Ithacus took his opposéd seat Upon the bench. Then did he will his friend to sacrifice, Who cast sweet incense in the fire to all the Deities. Thus fell they to their ready food. Hunger and thirst allay’d, Ajax to Phœnix made a sign, as if too long they stay’d Before they told their legacy. Ulysses saw him wink, And, filling the great bowl with wine, did to Achilles drink: “Health to Achilles! But our plights stand not in need of meat, Who late supp’d at Atrides’ tent, though for thy love we eat