Page 2318 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

But the mild glance that sly Ulysses lent
Show’d deep regard and smiling government. [1400]

There pleading might you see grave Nestor stand,
As ’twere encouraging the Greeks to fight,
Making such sober action with his hand

That it beguil’d attention, charm’d the sight;
In speech it seem’d his beard all silver white [1405]
Wagg’d up and down, and from his lips did fly

Thin winding breath which purl’d up to the sky.

About him were a press of gaping faces,

Which seem’d to swallow up his sound advice,
All jointly list’ning, but with several graces, [1410]
As if some mermaid did their ears entice, −

Some high, some low, the painter was so nice:
The scalps of many almost hid behind,
To jump up higher seem’d, to mock the mind.

Here one man’s hand lean’d on another’s head, [1415]
His nose being shadowed by his neighbour’s ear;

Here one being throng’d bears back, all boll’n and red;
Another smother’d seems to pelt and swear:
And in their rage such signs of rage they bear
As but for loss of Nestor’s golden words, [1420]

It seem’d they would debate with angry swords.

For much imaginary work was there, −
Conceit deceitful, so compact, so kind,
That for Achilles’ image stood his spear
Gripp’d in an armed hand; himself behind [1425]

Was left unseen, save to the eye of mind:
A hand, a foot, a face, a leg, a head
Stood for the whole to be imagined.

And from the walls of strong besieged Troy,
When their brave hope, bold Hector, march’d to field, [1430]