May choose his man to imitate my exercise upon.” Ulysses answer’d: “Do not yet, thou man made like the Gods, Take fasting men to field. Suppose, that whatsoever odds It brings against them with full men, thy boundless eminence Can amply answer, yet refrain to tempt a violence. The conflict wearing out our men was late, and held as long, Wherein, though most Jove stood for Troy, he yet made our part strong To bear that most. But ’twas to bear, and that breeds little heart. Let wine and bread then add to it; they help the twofold part, The soul and body, in a man, both force and fortitude. All day men cannot fight and fast, though never so indued With minds to fight, for, that suppos’d, there lurks yet secretly Thirst, hunger, in th’ oppresséd joints, which no mind can supply. They take away a marcher’s knees. Men’s bodies throughly fed, Their minds share with them in their strength; and, all day combated, One stirs not, till you call off all. Dismiss them then to meat, And let Atrides tender here, in sight of all this seat, The gifts he promis’d. Let him swear before us all, and rise To that oath, that he never touch’d in any wanton wise The lady he enforc’d. Besides, that he remains in mind As chastely satisfied; not touch’d, or privily inclin’d With future vantages. And last, ’tis fit he should approve All these rites at a solemn feast in honour of your love, That so you take no mangled law for merits absolute. And thus the honours you receive, resolving the pursuit Of your friend’s quarrel, well will quit your sorrow for your friend. And thou, Atrides, in the taste of so severe an end, Hereafter may on others hold a juster government; Nor will it aught impair a king, to give a sound content To any subject soundly wrong’d.” “I joy,” replied the king, “O Laertiades, to hear thy lib’ral counselling; In which is all decorum kept, nor any point lacks touch That might be thought on to conclude a reconcilement such As fits example, and us two. My mind yet makes me swear, Not your impulsion; and that mind shall rest so kind and clear, That I will not forswear to God. Let then Achilles stay, Though never so inflam’d for fight, and all men here I pray To stay, till from my tents these gifts be brought here, and the truce At all parts finish’d before all. And thou of all I choose, Divine Ulysses, and command to choose of all your host Youths of most honour, to present, to him we honour most, The gifts we late vow’d, and the dames. Mean space about our tents Talthybius shall provide a boar, to crown these kind events With thankful sacrifice to Jove, and to the God of Light.” Achilles answer’d: “These affairs will show more requisite, Great king of men, some other time, when our more free estates Yield fit cessation from the war, and when my spleen abates; But now, to all our shames besides, our friends by Hector slain (And Jove to friend) lie unfetch’d off. Haste, then, and meat your men; Though, I must still say, my command would lead them fasting forth,