Their chariots and their darts, to death with his three summons call’d. And then the Grecians spritefully drew from the darts the corse, And hears’d it, bearing it to fleet; his friends with all remorse Marching about it. His great friend dissolving then in tears To see his truly-lov’d return’d, so hors’d upon an hearse, Whom with such horse and chariot he set out safe and whole, Now wounded with unpitying steel, now sent without a soul, Never again to be restor’d, never receiv’d but so, He follow’d mourning bitterly. The sun (yet far to go) Juno commanded to go down; who, in his pow’r’s despite, Sunk to the ocean, over earth dispersing sudden night. And then the Greeks and Trojans both gave up their horse and darts. The Trojans all to council call’d, ere they refresh’d their hearts With any supper, nor would sit; they grew so stiff with fear To see, so long from heavy fight, Æacides appear. Polydamas began to speak, who only could discern Things future by things past, and was vow’d friend to Hector, born In one night both. He thus advis’d: “Consider well, my friends, In this so great and sudden change, that now itself extends, What change is best for us t’ oppose. To this stands my command: Make now the town our strength, not here abide light’s rosy hand, Our wall being far off, and our foe, much greater, still as near. Till this foe came, I well was pleas’d to keep our watches here, My fit hope of the fleet’s surprise inclin’d me so; but now ’Tis stronglier guarded, and, their strength increas’d, we must allow Our own proportionate amends. I doubt exceedingly That this indiff’rency of fight ’twixt us and th’ enemy, And these bounds we prefix to them, will nothing so confine Th’ uncurb’d mind of Æacides. The height of his design Aims at our city and our wives; and all bars in his way (Being back’d with less than walls) his pow’r will scorn to make his stay, And over-run, as over-seen and not his object. Then Let Troy be freely our retreat; lest, being enforc’d, our men ‘Twixt this and that be taken up by vultures, who by night May safe come off, it being a time untimely for his might To spend at random; that being sure. If next light show us here To his assaults, each man will wish, that Troy his refuge were, And then feel what he hears not now. I would to heav’n mine ear Were free ev’n now of those complaints, that you must after hear If ye remove not! If ye yield, though wearied with a fight So late and long, we shall have strength in council and the night. And (where we here have no more force, than need will force us to, And which must rise out of our nerves) high ports, tow’rs, walls will do What wants in us; and in the morn, all arm’d upon our tow’rs, We all will stand out to our foe. ’Twill trouble all his pow’rs, To come from fleet and give us charge, when his high-crested horse His rage shall satiate with the toil of this and that way’s course, Vain entry seeking underneath our well-defended walls,