Ulysses answer’d: “Honour’d sire, the willing Gods can give Horse much more worth than these men yield, since in more pow’r they live. These horse are of the Thracian breed; their king, Tydides slew, And twelve of his most trusted guard; and of that meaner crew A scout for thirteenth man we kill’d, whom Hector sent to spy The whole estate of our designs, if bent to fight or fly.” Thus, follow’d with whole troops of friends, they with applauses pass’d The spacious dike, and in the tent of Diomed they plac’d The horse without contention, as his deserving’s meed, Which, with his other horse set up, on yellow wheat did feed. Poor Dolon’s spoils Ulysses had; who shrin’d them on his stern, As trophies vow’d to her that sent the good-aboding hern. Then enter’d they the mere main sea, to cleanse their honour’d sweat From off their feet, their thighs and necks; and, when their vehement heat Was calm’d, and their swoln hearts refresh’d, more curious baths they us’d, Where od’rous and dissolving oils, they through their limbs diffus’d. Then, taking breakfast, a big bowl, fill’d with the purest wine, They offer’d to the Maiden Queen, that hath the azure eyne. 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,