And that (as thou pretend’st) these cares do so affect thee still, The father of Telemachus (whom I esteem so dear, And to whom, as a legacy, I’ll leave my deeds done here) Ev’n with the foremost band of Troy hath his encounter dar’d, And therefore are thy speeches vain, and had been better spar’d.” He, smiling, since he saw him mov’d, recall’d his words, and said: “Most generous Laertes’ son, most wise of all our aid, I neither do accuse thy worth, more than thyself may hold Fit, (that inferiors think not much, being slack, to be controll’d) Nor take I on me thy command; for well I know thy mind Knows how sweet gentle counsels are, and that thou stand’st inclin’d, As I myself, for all our good. On then; if now we spake What hath displeas’d, another time we full amends will make; And Gods grant that thy virtue ere may prove so free and brave, That my reproofs may still be vain, and thy deservings grave.” Thus parted they; and forth he went, when he did leaning find, Against his chariot, near his horse, him with the mighty mind, Great Diomedes, Tydeus’ son, and Sthenelus, the seed Of Capaneius; whom the king seeing likewise out of deed, Thus cried he out on Diomed: “O me! In what a fear The wise great warrior, Tydeus’ son, stands gazing ev’rywhere For others to begin the fight! It was not Tydeus’ use To be so daunted, whom his spirit would evermore produce Before the foremost of his friends in these affairs of fright, As they report that have beheld him labour in a fight. For me, I never knew the man, nor in his presence came, But excellent, above the rest, he was in gen’ral fame; And one renown’d exploit of his, I am assur’d, is true. He came to the Mycenian court, without arms, and did sue, At godlike Polynices’ hands, to have some worthy aid To their designs that ’gainst the walls of sacred Thebes were laid. He was great Polynices’ guest, and nobly entertain’d, And of the kind Mycenian state what he requested gain’d, In mere consent; but when they should the same in act approve, By some sinister prodigies, held out to them by Jove, They were discourag’d. Thence he went, and safely had his pass Back to Asopus’ flood, renown’d for bulrushes and grass. Yet, once more, their ambassador, the Grecian peers address Lord Tydeus to Eteocles; to whom being giv’n access, He found him feasting with a crew of Cadmeans in his hall; Amongst whom, though an enemy, and only one to all; To all yet he his challenge made at ev’ry martial feat, And eas’ly foil’d all, since with him Minerva was so great. The rank-rode Cadmeans, much incens’d with their so foul disgrace, Lodg’d ambuscadoes for their foe, in some well-chosen place By which he was to make return. Twice five-and-twenty men, And two of them great captains too, the ambush did contain. The names of those two men of rule were Mæon, Hæmon’s son, And Lycophontes, Keep-field call’d, the heir of Autophon, By all men honour’d like the Gods; yet these and all their friends