Our brother of the war, by whom are borne Alcides’ arrows, pent in narrow bounds, With cold and hunger pinch’d, and pain’d with wounds, To find him food and clothing, must employ Against the birds the shafts due to the fate of Troy. Yet still he lives, and lives from treason free, Because he left Ulysses’ company: Poor Palamede might wish, so void of aid Rather to have been left, than so to death betray’d. The coward bore the man immortal spite, Who shamed him out of madness into fight; Nor daring otherwise to vent his hate, Accused him first of treason to the state, And then, for proof, produced the golden store Himself had hidden in his tent before: Thus of two champions he deprived our host, By exile one, and one by treason lost. Thus fights Ulysses, thus his fame extends, A formidable man but to his friends: Great, for what greatness is in words and sound; Ev’n faithful Nestor less in both is found. But that he might without a rival reign, He left his faithful Nestor on the plain: Forsook his friend ev’n at his utmost need,

“The gods with equal eyes on mortals look, He justly was forsaken who forsook: Wanted that succour he refused to lend, Found every fellow such another friend: No wonder if he roar’d that all might hear; His elocution was increased by fear: I heard, I ran; I found him out of breath, Pale, trembling, and half dead with fear of death. Though he had judged himself by his own laws, And stood condemn’d, I help’d the common cause; With my broad buckler hid him from the foe: (Ev’n the shield trembled as he lay below:) And from impending fate the coward freed: Good Heaven forgive me for so bad a deed! If still he will persist, and urge the strife, First let him give me back his forfeit life: Let him return to that opprobrious field; Again creep under my protecting shield: Let him lie wounded; let the foe be near; And let his quivering heart confess his fear: There put him in the very jaws of fate; And let him plead his cause in that estate. And yet when snatch’d from death, when from below My lifted shield I loosed, and let him go,

Good heavens, how light he rose, with what a bound He sprung from earth, forgetful of his wound; How fresh, how eager then his feet to ply: Who had not strength to stand, had speed to fly!

“Hector came on, and brought the gods along: Fear seized alike the feeble and the strong: Each Greek was an Ulysses; such a dread The approach, and ev’n the sound, of Hector bred: Him, flesh’d with slaughter, and with conquest crown’d, I met, and overturn’d him to the ground; When after, matchless as he deemed in might, He challenged all our host to single fight: All eyes were fixed on me: the lots were thrown; But for your champion I was wish’d alone. Your vows were heard: we fought, and neither yield; Yet I return’d unvanquish’d from the field. With Jove to friend, the insulting Trojan came, And menaced us with force, our fleet with flame. Was it the strength of this tongue-valiant lord, In that black hour, that saved you from the sword? Or was my breast exposed alone, to brave A thousand swords, a thousand ships to save? The hopes of your return! And can you yield, For a saved fleet, less than a single shield? Think it no boast, oh Grecians, if I deem These arms want Ajax, more than Ajax them: Or, I with them an equal honour share; They honour’d to be worn, and I to wear.

He said: a murmur from a multitude, Or somewhat like a stifled shout ensued; Till from his seat arose Laertes’ son, Look’d down a while, and paused ere he begun; Then to the expecting audience raised his look, And not without prepared attention spoke: Soft was his tone, and sober was his face; Action his words, and words his action grace.