Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/341

 Did overthrowe him to the ground. Another tyme, when hee Did make a chalendge, you my Lordes by lot did choose out mee, And I did match him hand to hand. Your wisshes were not vayne. For if you aske mee what successe our combate did obteine, I came away unvanquished. Behold the men of Troy Brought fyre and swoord, and all the feendes our navye to destroy. And where was slye Ulysses then with all his talk so smooth? This brest of myne was fayne to fence your thousand shippes forsooth, The hope of your returning home. For saving that same day So many shippes, this armour give. But (if that I shall say The truth) the greater honour now this armour beares away. And our renownes togither link. For (as of reason ought) An Ajax for this armour, not an armour now is sought For Ajax. Let Dulychius match with theis, the horses whyght Of Rhesus, dastard Dolon, and the coward carpetknyght King Priams Helen, and the stelth of Palladye by nyght. Of all theis things was nothing doone by day nor nothing wrought Without the helpe of Diomed. And therefore if yee thought To give them to so small deserts, devyde the same, and let Sir Diomed have the greater part. But what should Ithacus get And if he had them, who dooth all his matters in the dark, Who never weareth armour, who shootes ay at his owne mark To trappe his fo by stelth unwares? The very headpeece may With brightnesse of the glistring gold his privie feates bewray And shew him lurking. Neyther well of force Dulychius were The weyght of great Achilles helme uppon his pate to weare. It cannot but a burthen bee (and that ryght great) to beare (With those same shrimpish armes of his) Achilles myghty speare. Agen his target graven with the whole huge world theron Agrees not with a fearefull hand, and cheefly such a one As taketh filching even by kynd. Thou Lozell, thou doost seeke A gift that will but weaken thee, which if the folk of Greeke Shall give thee through theyr oversyght, it will be unto thee Occasion, of thyne emnyes spoyld not feared for to bee, And flyght (wherein thou, coward, thou all others mayst outbrag) Will hindred bee when after thee such masses thou shalt drag. Moreover this thy sheeld that feeles so seeld the force of fyght