Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/338



He Lordes and Capteynes being set toogither with the King, And all the souldiers standing round about them in a ring, The owner of the sevenfold sheeld, to theis did Ajax ryse. And (as he could not brydle wrath) he cast his frowning eyes Uppon the shore and on the fleete that there at Anchor lyes And throwing up his handes: God and must wee plead (quoth hee) Our case before our shippes? and must Vlysses stand with mee? But like a wretch he ran his way when Hector came with fyre, Which I defending from theis shippes did force him to retyre. It easyer is therefore with woordes in print to maynteine stryfe, Than for to fyght it out with fists. But neyther I am ryfe In woordes, nor hee in deedes. For looke how farre I him excell In battell and in feates of armes: so farre beares hee the bell From mee in talking. Neyther think I requisite to tell My actes among you. You your selves have seene them verry well. But let Vlysses tell you his doone all in hudther mudther, And wherunto the only nyght is privy and none other. The pryse is great (I doo confesse) for which wee stryve. But yit It is dishonour unto mee, for that in clayming it So bace a persone standeth in contention for the same. To think it myne already, ought to counted bee no shame Nor pryde in mee: although the thing of ryght great valew bee Of which Vlysses standes in hope. For now alreadye hee Hath wonne the honour of this pryse, in that when he shall sit Besydes the cuishon, he may brag he strave with mee for it. And though I wanted valiantnesse, yit should nobilitee Make with mee. I of Telamon am knowne the sonne to bee Who under valeant Hercules the walles of Troy did scale, And in the shippe of Pagasa to Colchos land did sayle. His father was that Aeacus whoo executeth ryght Among the ghostes where Sisyphus heaves up with all his myght The massye stone ay tumbling downe. The hyghest Jove of all Acknowledgeth this Aeäcus, and dooth his sonne him call. Thus am I Ajax third from Ioue. Yit let this Pedegree,