Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/340

 His madnesse which sir Palamed by wisdome out did fynd, Appeached him of treason that he practysde to betray The Greekish hoste. And for to vouch the fact, he shewd streyght way A masse of goold that he himself had hidden in his tent, And forged Letters which he feynd from Priam to bee sent. Thus eyther by his murthring men or else by banishment Abateth hee the Greekish strength. This is Ulysses fyght. This is the feare he puttes men in. But though he had more might Than Nestor hath, in eloquence he shal not compasse mee To think his leawd abandoning of Nestor for to bee No fault: who beeing cast behynd by wounding of his horse, And slowe with age, with calling on Ulysses waxing hoarce, Was nerethelesse betrayd by him. Sir Diomed knowes this cryme Is unsurmysde. For he himselfe did at that present tyme Rebuke him oftentymes by name, and feercely him upbrayd With flying from his fellowe so who stood in neede of ayd. With ryghtfull eyes dooth God behold the deedes of mortall men. Lo, he that helped not his freend wants help himself agen. And as he did forsake his freend in tyme of neede: so hee Did in the selfsame perrill fall forsaken for to bee. He made a rod to beat himself. He calld and cryed out Uppon his fellowes. Streight I came: and there I saw the lout Bothe quake and shake for feare of death, and looke as pale as clout. I set my sheeld betweene him and his foes, and him bestrid: And savde the dastards lyfe. Small prayse redoundes of that I did. But if thou wilt contend with mee, lets to the selfesame place Agein: bee wounded as thou wart: and in the foresayd case Of feare, beset about with foes: cowch underneath my sheeld: And then contend thou with mee there amid the open feeld. Howbee't, I had no sooner rid this champion of his foes, But where for woundes he scarce before could totter on his toes, He ran away apace, as though he nought at all did ayle. Anon commes Hector to the feeld and bringeth at his tayle The Goddes. Not only thy hart there (Ulysses) did thee fayle, But even the stowtest courages and stomacks gan to quayle. So great a terrour brought he in. Yit in the midds of all His bloody ruffe, I coapt with him, and with a foyling fall