20114011401There pleading might you see grave Nestor stand,

14021402As 'twere encouraging the Greeks to fight,

14031403Making such sober action with his hand

14041404That it beguiled attention, charmed the sight.

14051405In speech, it seemed his beard, all sliver white,

14061406Waged up and down, and from his lips did fly

14071407Thin winding breath, which purled up to the sky.

20214081408About him were a press of gaping faces,

14091409Which seemed to swallow up his sound advice,

14101410All jointly list'ning, but with several graces,

14111411As if some mermaid did their ears entice;

14121412Some high, some low, the painter was so nice.

14131413The scalps of many, almost hid behind,

14141414To jump up higher seemed, to mock the mind.

20314151415Here one man's hand leaned on another's head,

14161416His nose being shadowed by his neighbor's ear;

14171417Here one, being thronged, bears back all boll'n and red;

14181418Another, smothered, seems to pelt and swear;

14191419And in their rage such signs of rage they bear

14201420As, but for loss of Nestor's golden words,

14211421It seemed they would debate with angry swords.

20414221422For much imaginary work was there,

14231423Conceit deceitful, so compact, so kind,

14241424That for Achilles' image stood his spear

14251425Gripped in an armèd hand; himself behind

14261426Was left unseen, save to the eye of mind.

14271427A hand, a foot, a face, a leg, a head,

14281428Stood for the whole to be imaginèd.

20514291429And from the walls of strong-besiegèd Troy,

14301430When their brave hope, bold Hector, marched to field,

14311431Stood many Trojan mothers, sharing joy

14321432To see their youthful sons bright weapons wield;

14331433And to their hope they such odd action yield

14341434That through their light joy seemèd to appear,

14351435 Like bright things stained, a kind of heavy fear.