s: To that tall grove she led and left him there,


s: Seeking her grot again. Then slept not He,


s: But, swinging with both hands the ax, his task


s: Soon finish'd; trees full twenty to the ground


s: He cast, which, dext'rous, with his adze he smooth'd,


s: Sharp augres brought, with which he bored the beams,


s: Then, side by side placing them, fitted each


s: To other, and with long cramps join'd them all.


s: Broad as an artist, skill'd in naval works,


s: The bottom of a ship of burthen spreads,


s: Such breadth Ulysses to his raft assign'd.


s: He deck'd her over with long planks, upborne


s: On massy beams; He made the mast, to which


s: With wicker-work he border'd all her length


s: For safety, and much ballast stow'd within.


s: Meantime, Calypso brought him for a sail


s: Fittest materials, which he also shaped,


s: Of cordage strong, foot-ropes, and ropes aloft,


s: Then heav'd her down with levers to the Deep.


s: He finish'd all his work on the fourth day,


s: And on the fifth, Calypso, nymph divine,


s: Dismiss'd him from her isle, but laved him first,


s: And cloath'd him in sweet-scented garments new.


s: Two skins the Goddess also placed on board,


s: One charg'd with crimson wine, and ampler one


s: Forgot, nutritious, grateful to the taste,


s: Beside the helm he sat, steering expert,


s: Nor sleep fell ever on his eyes that watch'd


s: Bootes, and the Bear, call'd else the Wain,


s: Which, in his polar prison circling, looks


s: That star the lovely Goddess bade him hold


s: Continual on his left through all his course.


s: Ten days and sev'n, he, navigating, cleav'd


s: The brine, and on the eighteenth day, at length,


s: Descried, where nearest to his course it lay


s: Like a broad buckler on the waves afloat.


s: But Neptune, now returning from the land


s: Skimming the billows, from the mountain-tops


s: Inflamed that sight he view'd, his brows he shook,


s: And thus within himself, indignant, spake.


s: So then--new counsels in the skies, it seems,


s: He sees Phæacia nigh, where he must leap


s: The bound'ry of his woes; but ere that hour


s: So saying, he grasp'd his trident, gather'd dense


s: The clouds and troubled ocean; ev'ry storm


s: From ev'ry point he summon'd, earth and sea


s: Darkening, and the night fell black from heav'n.


s: The East, the South, the heavy-blowing West,


s: And the cold North-wind clear, assail'd at once


s: His raft, and heaved on high the billowy flood.


s: All hope, all courage, in that moment, lost,


s: The Hero thus within himself complain'd.


s: Attends me! much I fear the Goddess' words


s: All true, which threaten'd me with num'rous ills


s: On the wide sea, ere I should reach my home.


s: Behold them all fulfill'd! with what a storm


s: Jove hangs the heav'ns, and agitates the Deep!


s: The winds combined beat on me. Now I sink!


s: Thrice blest, and more than thrice, Achaia's sons


s: Ah, would to heav'n that, dying, I had felt


s: That day the stroke of fate, when me the dead


s: Achilles guarding, with a thousand spears


s: Troy's furious host assail'd! Funereal rites


s: I then had shared, and praise from ev'ry Greek,


s: Whom now the most inglorious death awaits.


s: While thus he spake, a billow on his head


s: Bursting impetuous, whirl'd the raft around,


s: And, dashing from his grasp the helm, himself


s: Plunged far remote. Then came a sudden gust


s: Of mingling winds, that in the middle snapp'd


s: His mast, and, hurried o'er the waves afar,


s: Both sail and sail-yard fell into the flood.


s: Long time submerged he lay, nor could with ease


s: The violence of that dread shock surmount,


s: His drench'd apparel proved; but, at the last,


s: He rose, and, rising, sputter'd from his lips


s: The brine that trickled copious from his brows.


s: Nor, harass'd as he was, resign'd he yet


s: His raft, but buffetting the waves aside


s: With desp'rate efforts, seized it, and again


s: Fast seated on the middle deck, escaped.


s: Then roll'd the raft at random in the flood,


s: Wallowing unwieldy, toss'd from wave to wave.


s: As when in autumn, Boreas o'er the plain


s: They, tangled, to each other close adhere,


s: So her the winds drove wild about the Deep.


s: By turns the South consign'd her to be sport


s: For the rude North-wind, and, by turns, the East


s: Yielded her to the worrying West a prey.


s: But Cadmus' beauteous daughter (Ino once,


s: Now named Leucothea) saw him; mortal erst


s: Was she, and trod the earth, but nymph become


s: Of Ocean since, in honours shares divine.


s: She mark'd his anguish, and, while toss'd he roam'd,


s: Close-corded perching, thus the Chief address'd.


s: That he pursues thee with such num'rous ills?


s: Thy garments putting off, let drive thy raft


s: As the winds will, then, swimming, strive to reach


s: Take this. This ribbon bind beneath thy breast,


s: Celestial texture. Thenceforth ev'ry fear


s: Of death dismiss, and, laying once thy hands


s: Which thou shalt cast far distant from the shore


s: So saying, the Goddess gave into his hand


s: The wond'rous zone, and, cormorant in form,


s: Headlong, was hidden by the closing flood.


s: But still Ulysses sat perplex'd, and thus


s: T' ensnare me yet, bidding me quit the raft.


s: Too soon that precept, for I saw the land


s: Thus, therefore, will I do, for such appears


s: My wiser course. So long as yet the planks


s: But when the waves shall shatter it, I will swim,


s: My sole resource then left. While thus he mused,


s: On high up-heaving, smote him. As the wind


s: Tempestuous, falling on some stubble-heap,


s: Bestriding, oar'd it onward with his feet,


s: As he had urged an horse. His raiment, then,


s: With wide-spread palms prepar'd for swimming, fell.


s: Shore-shaker Neptune noted him; he shook


s: His awful brows, and in his heart he said,


s: Thus, suff'ring many mis'ries roam the flood,


s: Till thou shalt mingle with a race of men


s: Heav'n's special favourites; yet even there


s: Fear not that thou shalt feel thy sorrows light.


s: He said, and scourging his bright steeds, arrived


s: At Ægæ, where his glorious palace stands.


s: But other thoughts Minerva's mind employ'd


s: Jove's daughter; ev'ry wind binding beside,


s: She lull'd them, and enjoin'd them all to sleep,


s: But roused swift Boreas, and the billows broke


s: From a dire death, the noble Chief might mix


s: Two nights he wander'd, and two days, the flood


s: Tempestuous, death expecting ev'ry hour;


s: But when Aurora, radiant-hair'd, had brought


s: The third day to a close, then ceas'd the wind,


s: And breathless came a calm; he, nigh at hand


s: The shore beheld, darting acute his sight


s: Toward it, from a billow's tow'ring top.


s: Precious as to his children seems the life


s: Of some fond father through disease long time


s: And pain stretch'd languid on his couch, the prey


s: Of some vindictive Pow'r, but now, at last,


s: By gracious heav'n to ease and health restored,


s: Forests and hills. Impatient with his feet


s: To press the shore, he swam; but when within


s: Such distance as a shout may fly, he came,


s: The thunder of the sea against the rocks


s: Then smote his ear; for hoarse the billows roar'd


s: On the firm land, belch'd horrible abroad,


s: And the salt spray dimm'd all things to his view.


s: For neither port for ships nor shelt'ring cove


s: Was there, but the rude coast a headland bluff


s: Presented, rocks and craggy masses huge.


s: Then, hope and strength exhausted both, deep-groan'd


s: The Chief, and in his noble heart complain'd.


s: Alas! though Jove hath given me to behold,


s: Unhoped, the land again, and I have pass'd,


s: Furrowing my way, these num'rous waves, there seems


s: Sharp stones hem in the waters; wild the surge


s: Raves ev'ry where; and smooth the rocks arise;


s: Deep also is the shore, on which my feet


s: No standing gain, or chance of safe escape.


s: What if some billow catch me from the Deep


s: Dash me conflicting with its force in vain?


s: But should I, swimming, trace the coast in search


s: Of sloping beach, haven or shelter'd creek,


s: I fear lest, groaning, I be snatch'd again


s: Or lest some monster of the flood receive


s: For that the mighty Shaker of the shores


s: While such discourse within himself he held,


s: A huge wave heav'd him on the rugged coast,


s: Where flay'd his flesh had been, and all his bones


s: With both hands suddenly he seized the rock,


s: And, groaning, clench'd it till the billow pass'd.


s: The refluent flood rush'd on him, and with force


s: So he, the rough rocks clasping, stripp'd his hands


s: Raw, and the billows now whelm'd him again.


s: By Pallas azure-eyed. Forth from the waves


s: Emerging, where the surf burst on the rocks,


s: He coasted (looking landward as he swam)


s: The shore, with hope of port or level beach.


s: But when, still swimming, to the mouth he came


s: Of a smooth-sliding river, there he deem'd


s: Safest th' ascent, for it was undeform'd


s: By rocks, and shelter'd close from ev'ry wind.


s: He felt the current, and thus, ardent, pray'd.


s: O hear, whate'er thy name, Sov'reign, who rul'st


s: This river! at whose mouth, from all the threats


s: Of Neptune 'scap'd, with rapture I arrive.


s: Even the Immortal Gods the wand'rer's pray'r


s: Respect, and such am I, who reach, at length,


s: Thy stream, and clasp thy knees, after long toil.


s: He said; the river God at once repress'd


s: His current, and it ceas'd; smooth he prepared


s: Vouchsafed him easy at his channel's mouth.


s: There, once again he bent for ease his limbs


s: Both arms and knees, in conflict with the floods


s: And from his mouth and nostrils stream'd the brine.


s: Breathless and speechless, and of life well nigh


s: Bereft he lay, through dreadful toil immense.


s: But when, revived, his dissipated pow'rs


s: His breast the zone divine, he cast it far


s: Into the brackish stream, and a huge wave


s: Where Ino caught it. Then, the river's brink


s: He lay, kiss'd oft the soil, and sighing, said,


s: Ah me! what suff'rings must I now sustain,


s: What doom, at last, awaits me? If I watch


s: This woeful night, here, at the river's side,


s: What hope but that the frost and copious dews,


s: Shall quite extinguish, and the chilly air


s: Breath'd from the river at the dawn of day?


s: I gain the woods, and in some thicket sleep,


s: And cold-benumb'd) then I have cause to fear


s: Lest I be torn by wild beasts, and devour'd.


s: Long time he mused, but, at the last, his course


s: Bent to the woods, which not remote he saw


s: From the sea-brink, conspicuous on a hill.


s: Arrived, between two neighbour shrubs he crept,


s: Both olives, this the fruitful, that the wild;


s: A covert, which nor rough winds blowing moist


s: Could penetrate, nor could the noon-day sun


s: Smite through it, or unceasing show'rs pervade,


s: So thick a roof the ample branches form'd


s: Collected broad of leaves, which there he found


s: Abundant strew'd, such store as had sufficed


s: Two travellers or three for cov'ring warm,


s: Though winter's roughest blasts had rag'd the while.


s: That bed with joy the suff'ring Chief renown'd


s: The middle space, hillock'd it high with leaves.


s: As when some swain hath hidden deep his torch


s: Beneath the embers, at the verge extreme


s: Of all his farm, where, having neighbours none,


s: Alive, doom'd else to fetch it from afar,


s: The balm of sleep copious, that he might taste


s: There then the noble suff'rer lay, by sleep


s: Oppress'd and labour; meantime, Pallas sought


s: The spacious, neighbours of a giant race


s: The haughty Cyclops, who, endued with pow'r


s: Superior, troubled them with frequent wrongs.


s: Godlike Nausithoüs then arose, who thence


s: To Scheria led them, from all nations versed


s: With bulwarks strong their city he enclosed,


s: Built houses for them, temples to the Gods,


s: Had journey'd to the shades, and in his stead


s: Alcinoüs, by the Gods instructed, reign'd.


s: Repair'd, neglecting nought which might advance


s: She sought the sumptuous chamber where, in form


s: And feature perfect as the Gods, the young


s: Nausicaa, daughter of the King, reposed.


s: Two damsels, one on either side, adorn'd


s: By all the Graces, and the doors were shut.


s: Soft as a breathing air, she stole toward


s: The royal virgin's couch, and at her head


s: Standing, address'd her. Daughter she appear'd


s: Nausicaa! wherefore hath thy mother borne


s: A child so negligent? Thy garments share,


s: Thy most magnificent, no thought of thine.


s: Yet thou must marry soon, and must provide


s: Robes for thyself, and for thy nuptial train.


s: Thy fame, on these concerns, and honour stand;


s: These managed well, thy parents shall rejoice.


s: Of washing, where thy work-mate I will be


s: For speedier riddance of thy task, since soon


s: Thy royal father, that he send thee forth


s: With mules and carriage for conveyance hence


s: Of thy best robes, thy mantles and thy zones.


s: Thus, more commodiously thou shalt perform


s: The journey, for the cisterns lie remote.


s: Disturb, rains drench, or snow invades, but calm


s: The expanse and cloudless shines with purest day.


s: Now came Aurora bright-enthroned, whose rays


s: Remember'd wond'ring, and her parents sought


s: Anxious to tell them. Them she found within.


s: Spinning soft fleeces with sea-purple dyed


s: The illustrious Chiefs in council. At his side


s: She stood, and thus her filial suit preferr'd.


s: Sir! wilt thou lend me of the royal wains


s: It is but seemly that thou should'st repair


s: And my own brothers five, who dwell at home,


s: Are all desirous, when they dance, to wear


s: Raiment new bleach'd; all which is my concern.


s: So spake Nausicaa; for she dared not name


s: Her own glad nuptials to her father's ear,


s: Who, conscious yet of all her drift, replied.


s: I grudge thee neither mules, my child, nor aught


s: That thou canst ask beside. Go, and my train


s: Shall furnish thee a sumpter-carriage forth


s: High-built, strong-wheel'd, and of capacious size.


s: So saying, he issued his command, whom quick


s: His grooms obey'd. They in the court prepared


s: The sumpter-carriage, and adjoin'd the mules.


s: And now the virgin from her chamber, charged


s: With raiment, came, which on the car she placed,


s: And in the carriage-chest, meantime, the Queen,


s: Her mother, viands of all kinds disposed,


s: And fill'd a skin with wine. Nausicaa rose


s: Into her seat; but, ere she went, received


s: A golden cruse of oil from the Queen's hand


s: For unction of herself, and of her maids.


s: Then, seizing scourge and reins, she lash'd the mules.


s: They trampled loud the soil, straining to draw


s: She went, but follow'd by her virgin train.


s: Where those perennial cisterns were prepared


s: Profuse, sufficient for the deepest stains,


s: Loosing the mules, they drove them forth to browze


s: On the sweet herb beside the dimpled flood.


s: The carriage, next, light'ning, they bore in hand


s: The garments down to the unsullied wave,


s: And thrust them heap'd into the pools, their task


s: Dispatching brisk, and with an emulous haste.


s: Could now be seen, or blemish more, they spread


s: Where dashing tides had cleansed the pebbles most,


s: And laving, next, and smoothing o'er with oil


s: Their limbs, all seated on the river's bank,


s: They took repast, leaving the garments, stretch'd


s: The mistress and her train, and putting off


s: Their head-attire, play'd wanton with the ball,


s: The princess singing to her maids the while.


s: Such as shaft-arm'd Diana roams the hills,


s: The wild boar chasing, or fleet-footed hind,


s: All joy; the rural nymphs, daughters of Jove,


s: Sport with her, and Latona's heart exults;


s: She high her graceful head above the rest


s: And features lifts divine, though all be fair,


s: With ease distinguishable from them all;


s: So, all her train, she, virgin pure, surpass'd.


s: But when the hour of her departure thence


s: Approach'd (the mules now yoked again, and all


s: Virgin, his destin'd guide into the town.


s: The Princess, then, casting the ball toward


s: And plunged it deep into the dimpling stream.


s: All shrieked; Ulysses at the sound awoke,


s: So shrill the cry and feminine of nymphs


s: Fills all the air around, such as frequent


s: The hills, clear fountains, and herbaceous meads.


s: His thicket crept, and from the leafy wood


s: A spreading branch pluck'd forcibly, design'd


s: So forth he went, as goes the lion forth,


s: The mountain-lion, conscious of his strength,


s: Whom winds have vex'd and rains; fire fills his eyes,


s: And whether herds or flocks, or woodland deer


s: He find, he rends them, and, adust for blood,


s: Abstains not even from the guarded fold,


s: Such sure to seem in virgin eyes, the Chief,


s: Him foul with sea foam horror-struck they view'd,


s: And o'er the jutting shores fled all dispersed.


s: Pallas courageous made, and from her limbs,


s: Firm she expected him; he doubtful stood,


s: Or to implore the lovely maid, her knees


s: In gentle terms discrete the gift of cloaths,


s: And guidance to the city where she dwelt.


s: This counsel pleas'd; in suppliant terms aloof


s: To sue to her, lest if he clasp'd her knees,


s: The virgin should that bolder course resent.


s: Then gentle, thus, and well-advised he spake.


s: Oh Queen! thy earnest suppliant I approach.


s: Art thou some Goddess, or of mortal race?


s: For if some Goddess, and from heaven arrived,


s: I deem thee most, for such as hers appear


s: Thy form, thy stature, and thy air divine.


s: But if, of mortal race, thou dwell below,


s: Thrice happy then, thy parents I account,


s: And happy thrice thy brethren. Ah! the joy


s: Which always for thy sake, their bosoms fill,


s: When thee they view, all lovely as thou art,


s: Ent'ring majestic on the graceful dance.


s: The youth, who, wealthier than his rich compeers,


s: Shall win and lead thee to his honour'd home.


s: And growing still; (for thither too I sail'd,


s: And num'rous were my followers in a voyage


s: That palm long time amazed, for never grew


s: So strait a shaft, so lovely from the ground,


s: So, Princess! thee with wonder I behold,


s: For I am one on whom much woe hath fall'n.


s: For, all those days, the waves and rapid storms


s: Ogygia; till at length the will of heav'n


s: Affliction on your shore; for rest, I think,


s: Have much to accomplish ere that day arrive.


s: Thee first approach, nor mortal know beside


s: Shew me your city; give me, although coarse,


s: Some cov'ring (if coarse cov'ring _thou_ canst give)


s: And may the Gods thy largest wishes grant,


s: House, husband, concord! for of all the gifts


s: Of heav'n, more precious none I deem, than peace


s: 'Twixt wedded pair, and union undissolved;


s: Fills ev'ry virtuous breast, and most their own.


s: Since, stranger! neither base by birth thou seem'st,


s: And grief to thee, which thou must patient bear,)


s: Now, therefore, at our land and city arrived,


s: Nor garment thou shalt want, nor aught beside


s: Due to a suppliant guest like thee forlorn.


s: I will both show thee where our city stands,


s: And who dwell here. Phæacia's sons possess


s: This land; but I am daughter of their King


s: The brave Alcinoüs, on whose sway depends


s: For strength and wealth the whole Phæacian race.


s: She said, and to her beauteous maidens gave


s: Instant commandment--My attendants, stay!


s: Why flee ye thus, and whither, from the sight


s: Some enemy of ours? The heart beats not,


s: Nor shall it beat hereafter, which shall come


s: And free from mixture with a foreign race.


s: Whom we are bound to cherish, for the poor


s: And stranger are from Jove, and trivial gifts


s: To such are welcome. Bring ye therefore food


s: And wine, my maidens, for the guest's regale,


s: And lave him where the stream is shelter'd most.


s: She spake; they stood, and by each other's words


s: Encouraged, placed Ulysses where the bank


s: O'erhung the stream, as fair Nausicaa bade,


s: Mantle and vest, and, next, the limpid oil


s: Exhorted him to bathe in the clear stream.


s: Ye maidens, stand apart, that I may cleanse,


s: Myself, my shoulders from the briny surf,


s: And give them oil which they have wanted long.


s: But in your presence I bathe not, ashamed


s: To show myself uncloath'd to female eyes.


s: He said; they went, and to Nausicaa told


s: His shoulders laved, and loins incrusted rough


s: With the salt spray, and with his hands the scum


s: Of the wild ocean from his locks express'd.


s: Thus wash'd all over, and refresh'd with oil,


s: He put the garments on, Nausicaa's gift.


s: Dilated more, and from his head diffused


s: His curling locks like hyacinthine flowers.


s: Bright silver, finishes a graceful work,


s: Such grace the Goddess o'er his ample chest


s: Copious diffused, and o'er his manly brows.


s: Retiring, on the beach he sat, with grace


s: And dignity illumed, where, viewing him,


s: The virgin Princess, with amazement mark'd


s: His beauty, and her damsels thus bespake.


s: My white-arm'd maidens, listen to my voice!


s: Ah! would to heaven it were my lot to call


s: Husband, some native of our land like him


s: Accomplish'd, and content to inhabit here!


s: Give him, my maidens, food, and give him wine.


s: Both wine and food, dispatchful, placed, and glad,


s: Toil-suff'ring Chief, and drank, for he had lived


s: From taste of aliment long time estranged.


s: On other thoughts meantime intent, her charge


s: Of folded vestments neat the Princess placed


s: Within the royal wain, then yoked the mules,


s: And to her seat herself ascending, call'd


s: Up, stranger! seek the city. I will lead


s: Thy steps toward my royal Father's house,


s: Where all Phæacia's Nobles thou shalt see.


s: But thou (for I account thee not unwise)


s: This course pursue. While through the fields we pass,


s: With my attendants follow fast the mules


s: And sumpter-carriage. I will be thy guide.


s: But, once the summit gain'd, on which is built


s: Our city with proud bulwarks fenced around,


s: And laved on both sides by its pleasant port


s: Of narrow entrance, where our gallant barks


s: Line all the road, each station'd in her place,


s: And where, adjoining close the splendid fane


s: Of Neptune, stands the forum with huge stones


s: From quarries thither drawn, constructed strong,


s: In which the rigging of their barks they keep,


s: Sail-cloth and cordage, and make smooth their oars;


s: Heed not, but masts and oars, and ships well-poised,


s: With which exulting they divide the flood)


s: Then, cautious, I would shun their bitter taunts


s: Disgustful, lest they mock me as I pass;


s: For of the meaner people some are coarse


s: In the extreme, and it may chance that one,


s: The basest there seeing us shall exclaim--


s: Attends the Princess? Where had she the chance


s: To find him? We shall see them wedded soon.


s: Either she hath received some vagrant guest


s: From distant lands, (for no land neighbours ours)


s: Or by her pray'rs incessant won, some God


s: Hath left the heav'ns to be for ever hers.


s: 'Tis well if she have found, by her own search,


s: An husband for herself, since she accounts


s: Solicit num'rous, worthy to be scorn'd--


s: Thus will they speak, injurious. I should blame


s: Myself, who reckless of her parents' will,


s: But mark me, stranger! following my advice,


s: Thou shalt the sooner at my father's hands


s: Obtain safe conduct and conveyance home.


s: Of poplars skirts the road, which we shall reach


s: Ere long; within that grove a fountain flows,


s: Is there, and his luxuriant garden plot;


s: A shout might reach it from the city-walls.


s: There wait, till in the town arrived, we gain


s: My father's palace, and when reason bids


s: Suppose us there, then ent'ring thou the town,


s: Ask where Alcinoüs dwells, my valiant Sire.


s: Well known is his abode, so that with ease


s: A child might lead thee to it, for in nought


s: Resemble, in which dwells the Hero, King


s: Alcinoüs. Once within the court received


s: Pause not, but, with swift pace advancing, seek


s: In the hearth's blaze, twirling her fleecy threads


s: Tinged with sea-purple, bright, magnificent!


s: There also stands my father's throne, on which


s: Seated, he drinks and banquets like a God.


s: Pass that; then suppliant clasp my mother's knees,


s: Her favour, once, and her kind aid secured,


s: Thenceforth thou may'st expect thy friends to see,


s: Thy dwelling, and thy native soil again.


s: So saying, she with her splendid scourge the mules


s: Lash'd onward. They (the stream soon left behind)


s: With even footsteps graceful smote the ground;


s: But so she ruled them, managing with art


s: The scourge, as not to leave afar, although


s: Following on foot, Ulysses and her train.


s: The sun had now declined, when in that grove


s: Renown'd, to Pallas sacred, they arrived,


s: Sued to the daughter of Jove Ægis-arm'd.


s: Oh, hear me! Hear me now, because when erst


s: The mighty Shaker of the shores incensed


s: Toss'd me from wave to wave, thou heard'st me not.


s: He spake, whose pray'r well-pleas'd the Goddess heard,


s: But, rev'rencing the brother of her sire,


s: In the Original, she calls him, pappa! a more natural stile of


s: Such pray'r Ulysses, toil-worn Chief renown'd,


s: To Pallas made, meantime the virgin, drawn


s: By her stout mules, Phæacia's city reach'd,


s: And, at her father's house arrived, the car


s: Stay'd in the vestibule; her brothers five,


s: All godlike youths, assembling quick around,


s: Released the mules, and bore the raiment in.


s: Meantime, to her own chamber she return'd,


s: Where, soon as she arrived, an antient dame


s: Attendant on that service, kindled fire.


s: Long since, and to Alcinoüs she had fall'n


s: By public gift, for that he ruled, supreme,


s: Her fuel kindled, and her food prepared.


s: To seek the city, around whom, his guard


s: Lest, haply, some Phæacian should presume


s: T' insult the Chief, and question whence he came.


s: But ere he enter'd yet the pleasant town,


s: A blooming maid, bearing her pitcher forth.


s: She stood before him, and the noble Chief


s: Daughter! wilt thou direct me to the house


s: Of brave Alcinoüs, whom this land obeys?


s: For I have here arrived, after long toil,


s: The mansion of thy search, stranger revered!


s: Myself will shew thee; for not distant dwells


s: But hush! be silent--I will lead the way;


s: Mark no man; question no man; for the sight


s: The welcome by this people shown to such.


s: They, trusting in swift ships, by the free grant


s: Of Neptune traverse his wide waters, borne


s: As if on wings, or with the speed of thought.


s: So spake the Goddess, and with nimble pace


s: Led on, whose footsteps he, as quick, pursued.


s: But still the seaman-throng through whom he pass'd


s: Perceiv'd him not; Minerva, Goddess dread,


s: That sight forbidding them, whose eyes she dimm'd


s: Her fav'rite Chief. Ulysses, wond'ring, mark'd


s: Their port, their ships, their forum, the resort


s: Of Heroes, and their battlements sublime


s: Fenced with sharp stakes around, a glorious show!


s: But when the King's august abode he reach'd,


s: My father! thou behold'st the house to which


s: Thou bad'st me lead thee. Thou shalt find our Chiefs


s: And high-born Princes banqueting within.


s: But enter fearing nought, for boldest men


s: Speed ever best, come whencesoe'er they may.


s: First thou shalt find the Queen, known by her name


s: Who gave Alcinoüs birth, her royal spouse.


s: Who, losing all his impious people, shared


s: The same dread fate himself. Her Neptune lov'd,


s: To whom she bore a son, the mighty prince


s: Nausithoüs, in his day King of the land.


s: Who, father of no son, one daughter left,


s: And whom the Sov'reign in such honour holds,


s: Existing, subjects of an husband's pow'r.


s: Unfeign'd, from her own children, from himself


s: Shout when she moves in progress through the town.


s: For she no wisdom wants, but sits, herself,


s: Between her fav'rites, and decides aright.


s: Her count'nance once and her kind aid secured,


s: Thou may'st thenceforth expect thy friends to see,


s: Thy dwelling, and thy native soil again.


s: Departing, Scheria left, land of delight,


s: Whence reaching Marathon, and Athens next,


s: Of King Alcinoüs, but immers'd in thought


s: Stood, first, and paused, ere with his foot he press'd


s: The brazen threshold; for a light he saw


s: Walls plated bright with brass, on either side


s: Stretch'd from the portal to th' interior house,


s: With azure cornice crown'd; the doors were gold


s: Which shut the palace fast; silver the posts


s: Rear'd on a brazen threshold, and above,


s: The lintels, silver, architraved with gold.


s: Mastiffs, in gold and silver, lined the approach


s: Sheer from the threshold to the inner house


s: Fixt thrones the walls, through all their length, adorn'd,


s: With mantles overspread of subtlest warp


s: Transparent, work of many a female hand.


s: Holding perpetual feasts, while golden youths


s: On all the sumptuous altars stood, their hands


s: With burning torches charged, which, night by night,


s: Shed radiance over all the festive throng.


s: Full fifty female menials serv'd the King


s: These turning, pulverize the mellow'd grain,


s: Those, seated orderly, the purple fleece


s: Wind off, or ply the loom, restless as leaves


s: Of lofty poplars fluttering in the breeze;


s: Bright as with oil the new-wrought texture shone.


s: Surpass, the swift ship urging through the floods,


s: Without the court, and to the gates adjoin'd


s: A spacious garden lay, fenced all around


s: Pomegranate, pear, the apple blushing bright,


s: The honied fig, and unctuous olive smooth.


s: Those fruits, nor winter's cold nor summer's heat


s: Fear ever, fail not, wither not, but hang


s: Perennial, whose unceasing zephyr breathes


s: Gently on all, enlarging these, and those


s: Pears after pears to full dimensions swell,


s: Figs follow figs, grapes clust'ring grow again


s: Where clusters grew, and (ev'ry apple stript)


s: The boughs soon tempt the gath'rer as before.


s: There too, well-rooted, and of fruit profuse,


s: His vineyard grows; part, wide-extended, basks,


s: In the sun's beams; the arid level glows;


s: In part they gather, and in part they tread


s: The wine-press, while, before the eye, the grapes


s: Here put their blossom forth, there, gather fast


s: Their blackness. On the garden's verge extreme


s: Flow'rs of all hues smile all the year, arranged


s: The lovely scene two fountains welling forth,


s: The garden-ground, the other soft beneath


s: The threshold steals into the palace-court,


s: Such were the ample blessings on the house


s: Ulysses wond'ring stood, and when, at length,


s: Silent he had the whole fair scene admired,


s: Mercurius, whom with wine they worshipp'd last


s: Of all the Gods, and at the hour of rest.


s: Ulysses, toil-worn Hero, through the house


s: With darkness circumfus'd, till he arrived


s: The cloud all went, shed on him from above.


s: And wond'ring gazed. He thus his suit preferr'd.


s: Rhexenor! suppliant at thy knees I fall,


s: Thy royal spouse imploring, and thyself,


s: (After ten thousand toils) and these your guests,


s: To whom heav'n grant felicity, and to leave


s: Their treasures to their babes, with all the rights


s: And honours, by the people's suffrage, theirs!


s: But oh vouchsafe me, who have wanted long


s: And ardent wish'd my home, without delay


s: At the hearth-side; they mute long time remain'd,


s: Till, at the last, the antient Hero spake


s: Is such a sight, a stranger on the ground


s: At the hearth-side seated, and in the dust.


s: Meantime, thy guests, expecting thy command,


s: Move not; thou therefore raising by his hand


s: The stranger, lead him to a throne, and bid


s: The heralds mingle wine, that we may pour


s: To thunder-bearing Jove, the suppliant's friend.


s: Then let the cat'ress for thy guest produce


s: Soon as those words Alcinoüs heard, the King,


s: Ulysses from the hearth, he made him sit,


s: On a bright throne, displacing for his sake


s: Who sat beside him, and whom most he lov'd.


s: And now, a maiden charg'd with golden ew'r


s: And with an argent laver, pouring, first,


s: Pure water on his hands, supply'd him, next,


s: With a resplendent table, which the chaste


s: Directress of the stores furnish'd with bread


s: And dainties, remnants of the last regale.


s: Then ate the Hero toil-inured, and drank,


s: Pontonoüs! mingling wine, bear it around


s: To ev'ry guest in turn, that we may pour


s: To thunder-bearer Jove, the stranger's friend,


s: And guardian of the suppliant's sacred rights.


s: He said; Pontonoüs, as he bade, the wine


s: Mingled delicious, and the cups dispensed


s: When each had made libation, and had drunk


s: The dictates of my mind, therefore attend!


s: Ye all have feasted--To your homes and sleep.


s: More senior Chiefs, that we may entertain


s: The stranger here, and to the Gods perform


s: Shall next engage our thoughts, that free from pain


s: Ere his arrival; but, arrived, thenceforth


s: Spun for him in the moment of his birth.


s: But should he prove some Deity from heav'n


s: Descended, then the Immortals have in view


s: Have ever from of old reveal'd themselves


s: Sat with us evident, and shared the feast;


s: They lay aside; for with the Gods we boast


s: Alcinoüs! think not so. Resemblance none


s: But to the sons of earth; if ye have known


s: Importunate, unreas'nable, it constrains


s: His notice, more than all his woes beside.


s: So, I much sorrow feel, yet not the less


s: Due sustenance, and with a voice that drowns


s: E'en all my suff'rings, till itself be fill'd.


s: All that is mine, in my own lofty abode.


s: He spake, whom all applauded, and advised,


s: Who had so fitly spoken. When, at length,


s: All had libation made, and were sufficed,


s: Departing to his house, each sought repose.


s: Where, godlike King, Alcinoüs at his side


s: Meantime the board, and thus the Queen white-arm'd,


s: (Marking the vest and mantle, which he wore


s: And which her maidens and herself had made)


s: In accents wing'd with eager haste began.


s: Stranger! the first enquiry shall be mine;


s: Who art, and whence? From whom receiv'dst thou these?


s: Saidst not--I came a wand'rer o'er the Deep?


s: Oh Queen! the task were difficult to unfold


s: For I have num'rous from the Gods receiv'd;


s: Far distant in the Deep; there dwells, by man


s: Calypso, beauteous nymph, but deeply skill'd


s: My bark in the mid-sea. There perish'd all


s: My vessel's keel embracing day and night


s: With folded arms, nine days was borne along.


s: But on the tenth dark night, as pleas'd the Gods,


s: Calypso, beauteous nymph, dreadful in pow'r;


s: She rescued, cherish'd, fed me, and her wish


s: But me her offer'd boon sway'd not. Sev'n years


s: Calypso's gift divine; but when, at length,


s: (Sev'n years elaps'd) the circling eighth arrived,


s: She then, herself, my quick departure thence


s: Advised, by Jove's own mandate overaw'd,


s: Which even her had influenced to a change.


s: With num'rous presents; bread she put and wine


s: On board, and cloath'd me in immortal robes;


s: Fresh-blowing, but not dang'rous. Sev'nteen days


s: I sail'd the flood continual, and descried,


s: On the eighteenth, your shadowy mountains tall


s: When my exulting heart sprang at the sight,


s: All wretched as I was, and still ordain'd


s: To strive with difficulties many and hard


s: From adverse Neptune; he the stormy winds


s: Deep-groaning, of the raft, my only hope;


s: For her the tempest scatter'd, and myself


s: This ocean measur'd swimming, till the winds


s: And mighty waters cast me on your shore.


s: Me there emerging, the huge waves had dash'd


s: Full on the land, where, incommodious most,


s: The shore presented only roughest rocks,


s: Till now, at last, a river's gentle stream


s: Receiv'd me, by no rocks deform'd, and where


s: No violent winds the shelter'd bank annoy'd.


s: I flung myself on shore, exhausted, weak,


s: Needing repose; ambrosial night came on,


s: When from the Jove-descended stream withdrawn,


s: Which I had heap'd together, and the Gods


s: O'erwhelm'd my eye-lids with a flood of sleep.


s: There under wither'd leaves, forlorn, I slept


s: All the long night, the morning and the noon,


s: Broke from me; then, your daughter's train I heard


s: Sporting, with whom she also sported, fair


s: And graceful as the Gods. To her I kneel'd.


s: Which even ye could from an age like hers


s: Have hoped; for youth is ever indiscrete.


s: She gave me plenteous food, with richest wine


s: Refresh'd my spirit, taught me where to bathe,


s: And cloath'd me as thou seest; thus, though a prey


s: To many sorrows, I have told thee truth.


s: My daughter's conduct, I perceive, hath been


s: In this erroneous, that she led thee not


s: Hither, at once, with her attendant train,


s: For thy first suit was to herself alone.


s: Blame not, O Hero, for so slight a cause


s: Thy faultless child; she bade me follow them,


s: But I refused, by fear and awe restrain'd,


s: Lest thou should'st feel displeasure at that sight


s: Thyself; for we are all, in ev'ry clime,


s: Suspicious, and to worst constructions prone.


s: So spake Ulysses, to whom thus the King.


s: I bear not, stranger! in my breast an heart


s: And oh, I would to heav'n, that, being such


s: As now thou art, and of one mind with me,


s: Thou would'st accept my daughter, would'st become


s: My son-in-law, and dwell contented here!


s: House would I give thee, and possessions too,


s: Were such thy choice; else, if thou chuse it not,


s: For proof, I will appoint thee convoy hence


s: To-morrow; and while thou by sleep subdued


s: Shalt on thy bed repose, they with their oars


s: Shall brush the placid flood, till thou arrive


s: At home, or at what place soe'er thou would'st,


s: Though far more distant than Eubœa lies,


s: Of ours, who saw it when they thither bore


s: Golden-hair'd Rhadamanthus o'er the Deep,


s: To visit earth-born Tityus. To that isle


s: They went; they reach'd it, and they brought him thence


s: Thou also shalt be taught what ships I boast


s: Unmatch'd in swiftness, and how far my crews


s: Excel, upturning with their oars the brine.


s: He ceas'd; Ulysses toil-inur'd his words


s: Exulting heard, and, praying, thus replied.


s: His whole kind promise! grant him in all lands


s: Her fair attendants dress a fleecy couch


s: Resplendent, and with arras spread beneath,


s: And over all with cloaks of shaggy pile.


s: Forth went the maidens, bearing each a torch,


s: And, as she bade, prepared in haste a couch


s: Of depth commodious, then, returning, gave


s: Stranger! thy couch is spread. Hence to thy rest.


s: So they--Thrice grateful to his soul the thought


s: Seem'd of repose. There slept Ulysses, then,


s: On his carv'd couch, beneath the portico,


s: His place of rest, and hers with royal state


s: Prepared, the Queen his consort, at his side.


s: Καιροσέων δ' οθονεων ἀπολείβεται ὑγρον ἔλαιον.


s: The Scholiast explains the passage thus--We resemble the Gods in


s: Blush'd in the East, then from his bed arose


s: Led forth to council at the ships convened.


s: There, side by side, on polish'd stones they sat


s: Of King Alcinoüs' herald ranged the town,


s: And thus to ev'ry Chief the Goddess spake.


s: Haste all to council on the stranger held,


s: Our King arrived, a wand'rer o'er the Deep,


s: So saying, she roused the people, and at once


s: The seats of all the senate-court were fill'd


s: With fast-assembling throngs, no few of whom


s: Then, Pallas o'er his head and shoulders broad


s: Diffusing grace celestial, his whole form


s: Dilated, and to the statelier height advanced,


s: That worthier of all rev'rence he might seem


s: Atchieve, with which they should assay his force.


s: When, therefore, the assembly now was full,


s: The dictates of my mind, therefore attend.


s: This guest, unknown to me, hath, wand'ring, found


s: My palace, either from the East arrived,


s: Or from some nation on our western side.


s: Safe conduct home he asks, and our consent


s: Here wishes ratified, whose quick return


s: For at no time the stranger, from what coast


s: Hath long complain'd of his detention here.


s: Haste--draw ye down into the sacred Deep


s: A vessel of prime speed, and, from among


s: The people, fifty and two youths select,


s: Approved the best; then, lashing fast the oars,


s: Leave her, that at my palace ye may make


s: Short feast, for which myself will all provide.


s: Thus I enjoin the crew; but as for those


s: To my own board, that here we may regale


s: The stranger nobly, and let none refuse.


s: To share my banquet, whom the Gods have blest


s: With pow'rs of song delectable, unmatch'd


s: He ceas'd, and led the way, whom follow'd all


s: The sceptred senators, while to the house


s: The rest selected, to the coast repair'd,


s: And, from her station on the sea-bank, launched


s: They placed the canvas and the mast on board,


s: Arranged the oars, unfurl'd the shining sail,


s: And, leaving her in depth of water moor'd,


s: There, soon, the portico, the court, the hall


s: Were fill'd with multitudes of young and old,


s: For whose regale the mighty monarch slew


s: Two beeves, twelve sheep, and twice four fatted brawns.


s: They slay'd them first, then busily their task


s: Administ'ring, prepared the joyous feast.


s: And now the herald came, leading with care


s: The tuneful bard; dear to the muse was he,


s: Who yet appointed him both good and ill;


s: Took from him sight, but gave him strains divine.


s: For him, Pontonoüs in the midst disposed


s: An argent-studded throne, thrusting it close


s: To a tall column, where he hung his lyre


s: Above his head, and taught him where it hung.


s: He set before him, next, a polish'd board


s: And basket, and a goblet fill'd with wine


s: For his own use, and at his own command.


s: Then, all assail'd at once the ready feast,


s: And when nor hunger more nor thirst they felt,


s: Then came the muse, and roused the bard to sing


s: Exploits of men renown'd; it was a song,


s: In that day, to the highest heav'n extoll'd.


s: Both seated at a feast held to the Gods.


s: Hearing, rejoiced; for when in Pytho erst


s: He pass'd the marble threshold to consult


s: The voice divine had to his ear announced;


s: For then it was that, first, the storm of war


s: Came rolling on, ordain'd long time to afflict


s: Troy and the Greecians, by the will of Jove.


s: So sang the bard illustrious; then his robe


s: Of purple dye with both hands o'er his head


s: Veiling his face, through fear to be observed


s: He wiped his tears, and, drawing from his brows


s: The mantle, pour'd libation to the Gods.


s: But when the Chiefs (for they delighted heard


s: And he renew'd the strain, then cov'ring close


s: His count'nance, as before, Ulysses wept.


s: Thus, unperceiv'd by all, the Hero mourn'd,


s: (Beside him seated) mark'd, and his deep sighs


s: O'erhearing, the Phæacians thus bespake.


s: We have regaled sufficient, and the harp


s: That this our guest may to his friends report,


s: At home arriv'd, that none like us have learn'd


s: To leap, to box, to wrestle, and to run.


s: So saying, he led them forth, whose steps the guests


s: All follow'd, and the herald hanging high


s: The sprightly lyre, took by his hand the bard


s: Conducted forth, by which the Chiefs had gone


s: Themselves, for that great spectacle prepared.


s: They sought the forum; countless swarm'd the throng


s: Behind them as they went, and many a youth


s: Strong and courageous to the strife arose.


s: Of these, some started for the runner's prize.


s: They gave the race its limits. All at once


s: Along the dusty champaign swift they flew.


s: But Clytoneus, illustrious youth, outstripp'd


s: Victorious, where the throng'd spectators stood.


s: Some tried the wrestler's toil severe, in which


s: Elatreus most successful hurled the quoit,


s: When thus with contemplation of the games


s: Friends! ask we now the stranger, if he boast


s: Not ill; in thighs, and legs, and arms he shews


s: Much strength, and in his brawny neck; nor youth


s: Hath left him yet, though batter'd he appears


s: With num'rous troubles, and misfortune-flaw'd.


s: Nor know I hardships in the world so sure


s: To break the strongest down, as those by sea.


s: Approaching, speak to him, and call him forth.


s: Which when Alcinoüs' noble offspring heard,


s: Stand forth, oh guest, thou also; prove thy skill


s: (If any such thou hast) in games like ours,


s: Which, likeliest, thou hast learn'd; for greater praise


s: Hath no man, while he lives, than that he know


s: Come then; make trial; scatter wide thy cares,


s: We will not hold thee long; the ship is launch'd


s: Already, and the crew stand all prepared.


s: Wherefore, as in derision, have ye call'd


s: No games have I, but many a grief, at heart,


s: And with far other struggles worn, here sit


s: For which both King and people I implore.


s: I well believ'd it, friend! in thee the guise


s: Athletic, of which various are perform'd


s: In ev'ry land; thou rather seem'st with ships


s: Some crew of trading mariners; well-learn'd


s: In stowage, pilotage, and wealth acquired


s: To whom Ulysses, frowning dark, replied.


s: Thou hast ill spoken, sir, and like a man


s: Regardless whom he wrongs. Therefore the Gods


s: Give not endowments graceful in each kind,


s: Of body, mind, and utt'rance, all to one.


s: This man in figure less excels, yet Jove


s: Crowns him with eloquence; his hearers charm'd


s: Behold him, while with modest confidence


s: He bears the prize of fluent speech from all,


s: And in the streets is gazed on as a God!


s: Resembles, but no grace around his words


s: Hast excellence to boast; a God, employ'd


s: Could but produce proportions such as thine;


s: Thou much hast moved me; thy unhandsome phrase


s: Hath roused my wrath; I am not, as thou say'st,


s: A novice in these sports, but took the lead


s: In all, while youth and strength were on my side.


s: In war, and buffeting the boist'rous waves.


s: Yet, though with mis'ry worn, I will essay


s: My strength among you; for thy words had teeth


s: Whose bite hath pinch'd and pain'd me to the proof.


s: Upstarting, seized, in bulk and weight all those


s: Transcending far, by the Phæacians used.


s: Swiftly he swung, and from his vig'rous hand


s: Sent it. Loud sang the stone, and as it flew


s: Their heads beneath it; over all the marks,


s: And far beyond them, sped the flying rock.


s: Prodigious measur'd, and aloud exclaim'd.


s: Stranger! the blind himself might with his hands


s: Feel out the 'vantage here. Thy quoit disdains


s: Fellowship with a crowd, borne far beyond.


s: Will reach thy measure, much less overcast.


s: She ceased; Ulysses, hardy Chief, rejoiced


s: As less in wrath, the multitude address'd.


s: Young men, reach this, and I will quickly heave


s: Then, come the man whose courage prompts him forth


s: For ye have chafed me much, and I decline


s: No strife with any here, but challenge all


s: He is mine host. Who combats with his friend?


s: Who, so, would cripple his own interest there.


s: As for the rest, I none refuse, scorn none,


s: I handle well the polish'd bow, and first


s: Amid a thousand foes strike whom I mark,


s: Although a throng of warriors at my side


s: Imbattled, speed their shafts at the same time.


s: Drew bow, the sole who bore the prize from me


s: To none now nourish'd with the fruits of earth.


s: With men of antient times, with Hercules,


s: Soon, therefore, died huge Eurytus, ere yet


s: Old age he reach'd; him, angry to be call'd


s: But if ye name the spear, mine flies a length


s: By no man's arrow reach'd; I fear no foil


s: From the Phæacians, save in speed alone;


s: For I have suffer'd hardships, dash'd and drench'd


s: At all times, therefore I am much unstrung.


s: Since, stranger, not ungraceful is thy speech,


s: Thy question'd prowess, angry that this youth


s: Reproach'd thee in the presence of us all,


s: In public, might affront thy courage more;


s: Now mark me, therefore, that in time to come,


s: While feasting with thy children and thy spouse,


s: Thou may'st inform the Heroes of thy land


s: By Jove enjoin'd us in our father's days.


s: We boast not much the boxer's skill, nor yet


s: The wrestler's; but light-footed in the race


s: Our pleasures are the feast, the harp, the dance,


s: Garments for change; the tepid bath; the bed.


s: Come, ye Phæacians, beyond others skill'd


s: To tread the circus with harmonious steps,


s: Come, play before us; that our guest, arrived


s: In his own country, may inform his friends


s: In running, in the dance, and in the song.


s: Clear-toned, left somewhere in our hall at home.


s: So spake the godlike King, at whose command


s: To seek the charming lyre. Meantime arose


s: The whole arrangement of the public games,


s: To smooth the circus floor, and give the ring


s: Its compass, widening the attentive throng.


s: Ere long the herald came, bearing the harp,


s: Stood blooming youths, all skilful in the dance.


s: With footsteps justly timed all smote at once


s: The ceaseless play of twinkling feet admired.


s: Then, tuning his sweet chords, Demodocus


s: A jocund strain began, his theme, the loves


s: How first, clandestine, they embraced beneath


s: Seduced, Mars won, and with adult'rous lust


s: The bed dishonour'd of the King of fire.


s: The sun, a witness of their amorous sport,


s: Bore swift the tale to Vulcan; he, apprized


s: Of that foul deed, at once his smithy sought,


s: Contriving vengeance; to the stock he heav'd


s: His anvil huge, on which he forged a snare


s: The net prepared, he bore it, fiery-wroth,


s: To his own chamber and his nuptial couch,


s: Where, stretching them from post to post, he wrapp'd


s: With those fine meshes all his bed around,


s: And hung them num'rous from the roof, diffused


s: Like spiders' filaments, which not the Gods


s: Themselves could see, so subtle were the toils.


s: On ev'ry side, he feign'd a journey thence


s: The earth, the city that he favours most.


s: Nor kept the God of the resplendent reins


s: Mars, drowsy watch, but seeing that the famed


s: Flew to the house of Vulcan, hot to enjoy


s: The Goddess with the wreath-encircled brows.


s: She, newly from her potent Sire return'd


s: The son of Saturn, sat. Mars, ent'ring, seiz'd


s: Her hand, hung on it, and thus urg'd his suit.


s: To bed, my fair, and let us love! for lo!


s: Thine husband is from home, to Lemnos gone,


s: And to the Sintians, men of barb'rous speech.


s: He spake, nor she was loth, but bedward too


s: Like him inclined; so then, to bed they went,


s: And as they lay'd them down, down stream'd the net


s: Small room they found, so prison'd; not a limb


s: Could either lift, or move, but felt at once


s: Had reach'd the Lemnian isle, limping, return'd


s: From his feign'd journey, for his spy the sun


s: Had told him all. With aching heart he sought


s: His home, and, standing in the vestibule,


s: Frantic with indignation roar'd to heav'n,


s: And roar'd again, summoning all the Gods.--


s: Oh Jove! and all ye Pow'rs for ever blest!


s: Here; hither look, that ye may view a sight


s: Ludicrous, yet too monstrous to be borne,


s: Her cripple spouse, doating on fiery Mars!


s: And wherefore? for that he is fair in form


s: And sound of foot, I ricket-boned and weak.


s: Whose fault is this? Their fault, and theirs alone


s: Who gave me being; ill-employ'd were they


s: Lascivious! ah, sight hateful to my eyes!


s: Yet cooler wishes will they feel, I ween,


s: To press my bed hereafter; here to sleep


s: Will little please them, fondly as they love.


s: But these my toils and tangles will suffice


s: To hold them here, till Jove shall yield me back


s: Complete, the sum of all my nuptial gifts


s: Paid to him for the shameless strumpet's sake


s: He said, and in the brazen-floor'd abode


s: Of Jove the Gods assembled. Neptune came


s: Earth-circling Pow'r; came Hermes friend of man,


s: The Gods, by whose beneficence all live,


s: The laugh of heav'n, all looking down intent


s: On that shrewd project of the smith divine,


s: And, turning to each other, thus they said.


s: Bad works speed ill. The slow o'ertakes the swift.


s: Hath outstript Mars, although the fleetest far


s: Of all who dwell in heav'n, and the light-heel'd


s: Must pay the adult'rer's forfeit to the lame.


s: So spake the Pow'rs immortal; then the King


s: Of radiant shafts thus question'd Mercury.


s: Jove's son, heaven's herald, Hermes, bounteous God!


s: Would'st _thou_ such stricture close of bands endure


s: Whom answer'd thus the messenger of heav'n


s: Archer divine! yea, and with all my heart;


s: And be the bands which wind us round about


s: The Gods and Goddesses in heav'n look on,


s: So I may clasp Vulcan's fair spouse the while.


s: He spake; then laugh'd the Immortal Pow'rs again.


s: But not so Neptune; he with earnest suit


s: The glorious artist urged to the release


s: Of Mars, and thus in accents wing'd he said.


s: Loose him; accept my promise; he shall pay


s: Then thus the limping smith far-famed replied.


s: Earth-circler Neptune, spare me that request.


s: Leaving both debt and durance, far behind?


s: Him answer'd then the Shaker of the shores.


s: I tell thee, Vulcan, that if Mars by flight


s: Shun payment, I will pay, myself, the fine.


s: To whom the glorious artist of the skies.


s: Thou must not, canst not, shalt not be refused.


s: So saying, the might of Vulcan loos'd the snare,


s: And they, detain'd by those coercive bands


s: No longer, from the couch upstarting, flew,


s: Mars into Thrace, and to her Paphian home


s: The Queen of smiles, where deep in myrtle groves


s: Her incense-breathing altar stands embow'r'd.


s: Her there, the Graces laved, and oils diffused


s: O'er all her form, ambrosial, such as add


s: Fresh beauty to the Gods for ever young,


s: And cloath'd her in the loveliest robes of heav'n.


s: Such was the theme of the illustrious bard.


s: Alcinoüs, then, (for in the dance they pass'd


s: All others) call'd his sons to dance alone,


s: The purple ball into their hands, the work


s: The other, springing into air, with ease


s: Received it, ere he sank to earth again.


s: When thus they oft had sported with the ball


s: Thrown upward, next, with nimble interchange


s: They pass'd it to each other many a time,


s: Footing the plain, while ev'ry youth of all


s: The circus clapp'd his hands, and from beneath


s: The din of stamping feet fill'd all the air.


s: Then, turning to Alcinoüs, thus the wise


s: Ev'n as thou said'st. Amazement-fixt I stand!


s: To his oar-skill'd Phæacians thus he spake.


s: In this our guest; good cause in my account,


s: For which we should present him with a pledge


s: Are twelve, who, highest in command, controul


s: The people, and the thirteenth Chief am I.


s: Well-bleach'd, and tunic; gratified with these,


s: The stranger to our banquet shall repair


s: Appease him, for his speech was unadvised.


s: He ceas'd, whom all applauded, and at once


s: Each sent his herald forth to bring the gifts,


s: I will appease our guest, as thou command'st.


s: This sword shall be his own, the blade all steel.


s: The hilt of silver, and the unsullied sheath


s: A gift like this he shall not need despise.


s: So saying, his silver-studded sword he gave


s: Into his grasp, and, courteous, thus began.


s: Hail, honour'd stranger! and if word of mine


s: Have harm'd thee, rashly spoken, let the winds


s: Thy wife, and to attain thy native shore,


s: Whence absent long, thou hast so much endured!


s: Hail also thou, and may the Gods, my friend,


s: Of this thy sword touch thee in time to come,


s: By whose kind phrase appeas'd my wrath subsides!


s: He ended, and athwart his shoulders threw


s: The weapon bright emboss'd. Now sank the sun,


s: And those rich gifts arrived, which to the house


s: Alcinoüs' sons receiv'd them, and beside


s: Their royal mother placed the precious charge.


s: The King then led the way, at whose abode


s: Arrived, again they press'd their lofty thrones,


s: Haste, bring a coffer; bring thy best, and store


s: Warm for him, next, a brazen bath, by which


s: Refresh'd, and viewing in fair order placed


s: Our banquet, and the bard's harmonious song.


s: Splendid, elaborate; that, while he lives


s: What time he pours libation forth to Jove


s: Her maidens with dispatch place o'er the fire


s: The flames encircling bright the bellied vase,


s: Warm'd soon the flood within. Meantime, the Queen


s: Producing from her chamber-stores a chest


s: And raiment, gifts of the Phæacian Chiefs,


s: With her own gifts, the mantle and the vest,


s: Now take, thyself, the coffer's lid in charge;


s: Girdle it quickly with a cord, lest loss


s: Befall thee on thy way, while thou perchance


s: Shalt sleep secure on board the sable bark.


s: Which when Ulysses heard, Hero renown'd,


s: He tied, by Circe taught him long before.


s: And now, the mistress of the household charge


s: Summon'd him to his bath; glad he beheld


s: The steaming vase, uncustom'd to its use


s: E'er since his voyage from the isle of fair


s: Calypso, although, while a guest with her,


s: Laved by attendant damsels, and with oil


s: Refresh'd, he put his sumptuous tunic on


s: And mantle, and proceeding from the bath


s: To the symposium, join'd the num'rous guests;


s: But, as he pass'd, the Princess all divine


s: Stood, and in accents wing'd him thus address'd.


s: Hail, stranger! at thy native home arrived


s: Alcinoüs! So may Jove, high-thund'ring mate


s: The Gods themselves, virgin, by whom I live!


s: He said, and on his throne beside the King


s: Alcinoüs sat. And now they portion'd out


s: The feast to all, and charg'd the cups with wine,


s: Then, carving forth a portion from the loins


s: Large part and delicate remain'd, thus spake


s: For his regale, whom I will soon embrace


s: From all mankind, for that the muse inspires


s: Herself his song, and loves the tuneful tribe.


s: He ended, and the herald bore his charge


s: That meed of honour at the bearer's hand.


s: Then, all, at once, assail'd the ready feast,


s: And hunger now, and thirst both satisfied,


s: All mortals, for that either thee the muse


s: Jove's daughter teaches, or the King, himself,


s: Apollo; since thou so record'st the fate,


s: With such clear method, of Achaia's host,


s: Their deeds heroic, and their num'rous toils,


s: As thou hadst present been thyself, or learnt


s: From others present there, the glorious tale.


s: Come, then, proceed; that rare invention sing,


s: The horse of wood, which by Minerva's aid


s: With warriors fill'd, who lay'd all Ilium waste.


s: These things rehearse regular, and myself


s: Will, instant, publish in the ears of all


s: What time the Greeks, first firing their own camp


s: Steer'd all their galleys from the shore of Troy.


s: Already, in the horse conceal'd, his band


s: And there the mischief stood. Then, strife arose


s: And threefold was the doubt; whether to cleave


s: Aloft, to cast it headlong from the rocks,


s: Entire, to stand an off'ring to the Gods,


s: Which was their destined course; for Fate had fix'd


s: Their ruin sure, when once they had received


s: Within their walls that engine huge, in which


s: Sat all the bravest Greecians with the fate


s: Of Ilium charged, and slaughter of her sons.


s: He sang, how, from the horse effused, the Greeks


s: Left their capacious ambush, and the town


s: He gave the praise of wasting all beside,


s: But told how, fierce as Mars, Ulysses join'd


s: In direst fight he sang, and through the aid


s: So sang the bard illustrious, at whose song


s: Fell on his cheeks. As when a woman weeps,


s: The gates; she, sinking, folds him in her arms


s: And, gazing on him as he pants and dies,


s: Shrieks at the sight; meantime, the enemy


s: Smiting her shoulders with the spear to toil


s: And her cheek fades with horror at the sound;


s: Ulysses, so, from his moist lids let fall,


s: The frequent tear. Unnoticed by the rest


s: Those drops, but not by King Alcinoüs, fell


s: Who, seated at his side, his heavy sighs


s: Remark'd, and the Phæacians thus bespake.


s: His music sounds; during our feast, and since


s: The stranger's sorrows, by remembrance caused


s: Of some great woe which wraps his soul around.


s: Then, let the bard suspend his song, that all


s: (As most befits th' occasion) may rejoice,


s: Both guest and hosts together; since we make


s: This voyage, and these gifts confer, in proof


s: Judging, with all wise men, the stranger-guest


s: And suppliant worthy of a brother's place.


s: And thou conceal not, artfully reserv'd,


s: What I shall ask, far better plain declared


s: Than smother'd close; who art thou? speak thy name,


s: The name by which thy father, mother, friends


s: Have known thee; for of all things human none


s: Ev'n in the moment of his birth, a name.


s: Thy country, people, city, tell; the mark


s: At which my ships, intelligent, shall aim,


s: That they may bear thee thither; for our ships


s: No pilot need or helm, as ships are wont,


s: But know, themselves, our purpose; know beside


s: All cities, and all fruitful regions well


s: Of all the earth, and with dark clouds involv'd


s: Plough rapid the rough Deep, fearless of harm,


s: (Whate'er betide) and of disast'rous wreck.


s: Yet thus, long since, my father I have heard


s: Nausithoüs speaking; Neptune, he would say,


s: Strangers of ev'ry nation to their home;


s: And he foretold a time when he would smite


s: And fix her in the sable flood, transform'd


s: So spake my hoary Sire, which let the God


s: At his own pleasure do, or leave undone.


s: But tell me truth, and plainly. Where have been


s: Thy wand'rings? in what regions of the earth


s: Hast thou arrived? what nations hast thou seen,


s: What cities? say, how many hast thou found


s: Harsh, savage and unjust? how many, kind


s: To strangers, and disposed to fear the Gods?


s: Say also, from what secret grief of heart


s: Thy sorrows flow, oft as thou hear'st the fate


s: That fate the Gods prepared; they spin the thread


s: Of man's destruction, that in after days


s: The bard may make the sad event his theme.


s: Perish'd thy father or thy brother there?


s: Who share our own descent; or was the dead


s: Thy bosom-friend, whose heart was as thy own?


s: The constant friend and the discrete I deem.


s: Τοισι δ' απο νυσοης τετατο δρομος--This expression is by the


s: language. See the Ode on the Progress of Poetry.


s: Then answer, thus, Ulysses wise return'd.


s: A bard like this, sweet as the Gods in song.


s: The world, in my account, no sight affords


s: With cheerfulness and peace, a palace throng'd


s: With guests in order ranged, list'ning to sounds


s: Melodious, and the steaming tables spread


s: With plenteous viands, while the cups, with wine


s: From brimming beakers fill'd, pass brisk around.


s: No lovelier sight know I. But thou, it seems,


s: Thy thoughts hast turn'd to ask me whence my groans


s: And tears, that I may sorrow still the more.


s: What first, what next, what last shall I rehearse,


s: On whom the Gods have show'r'd such various woes?


s: Learn first my name, that even in this land


s: For subtlest wisdom, and renown'd to heaven,


s: Is sun-burnt Ithaca; there waving stands


s: The mountain Neritus his num'rous boughs,


s: And it is neighbour'd close by clust'ring isles


s: Flat on the Deep she lies, farthest removed


s: Rugged she is, but fruitful nurse of sons


s: Magnanimous; nor shall these eyes behold,


s: Elsewhere, an object dear and sweet as she.


s: Detain'd me, wishing me her own espoused;


s: But never could they warp my constant mind.


s: Be fair and plenteous in a foreign land.


s: But come--my painful voyage, such as Jove


s: And laid their city waste; whence bringing forth


s: Much spoil with all their wives, I portion'd it


s: With equal hand, and each received a share.


s: My people; but in vain; they madly scorn'd


s: My sober counsel, and much wine they drank,


s: And sheep and beeves slew num'rous on the shore.


s: Meantime, Ciconians to Ciconians call'd,


s: Their neighbours summoning, a mightier host


s: Fierce fight, or if occasion bade, on foot.


s: Num'rous they came as leaves, or vernal flow'rs


s: At day-spring. Then, by the decree of Jove,


s: Misfortune found us. At the ships we stood


s: Piercing each other with the brazen spear,


s: And till the morning brighten'd into noon,


s: Few as we were, we yet withstood them all;


s: But, when the sun verged westward, then the Greeks


s: Fell back, and the Ciconian host prevail'd.


s: Six warlike Greecians from each galley's crew


s: Perish'd in that dread field; the rest escaped.


s: Our course, yet, difficult as was our flight,


s: Went not till first we had invoked by name


s: Our friends, whom the Ciconians had destroy'd.


s: But cloud-assembler Jove assail'd us soon


s: With a tempestuous North-wind; earth alike


s: And sea with storms he overhung, and night


s: Fell fast from heav'n. Their heads deep-plunging oft


s: Our gallies flew, and rent, and rent again


s: Our tatter'd sail-cloth crackled in the wind.


s: We, fearing instant death, within the barks


s: Our canvas lodg'd, and, toiling strenuous, reach'd


s: At length the continent. Two nights we lay


s: Continual there, and two long days, consumed


s: With toil and grief; but when the beauteous morn


s: Bright-hair'd, had brought the third day to a close,


s: (Our masts erected, and white sails unfurl'd)


s: Again we sat on board; meantime, the winds


s: Well managed by the steersman, urged us on.


s: And now, all danger pass'd, I had attain'd


s: My native shore, but, doubling in my course


s: Malea, waves and currents and North-winds


s: Constrain'd me devious to Cythera's isle.


s: Nine days by cruel storms thence was I borne


s: Athwart the fishy Deep, but on the tenth


s: On sweetest fruit alone. There quitting ship,


s: Beside the vessels took their ev'ning cheer.


s: When, hasty, we had thus our strength renew'd,


s: (Two I selected from the rest, with whom


s: I join'd an herald, third) what race of men


s: Might there inhabit. They, departing, mix'd


s: Against our friends, but offer'd to their taste


s: The lotus; of which fruit what man soe'er


s: With tidings back, or seek his country more,


s: But rather wish'd to feed on lotus still


s: All thoughts of home. Them, therefore, I constrain'd


s: Weeping on board, and dragging each beneath


s: The benches, bound him there. Then, all in haste,


s: Their hollow barks, lest others also, fed


s: With fruit of lotus, should forget their home.


s: They quick embark'd, and on the benches ranged


s: In order, thresh'd with oars the foamy flood.


s: Thence, o'er the Deep proceeding sad, we reach'd


s: The land at length, where, giant-sized and free


s: From all constraint of law, the Cyclops dwell.


s: They, trusting to the Gods, plant not, or plough,


s: But earth unsow'd, untill'd, brings forth for them


s: All fruits, wheat, barley, and the vinous grape


s: Large cluster'd, nourish'd by the show'rs of Jove.


s: No councils they convene, no laws contrive,


s: But in deep caverns dwell, found on the heads


s: Of lofty mountains, judging each supreme


s: His wife and children, heedless of the rest.


s: Their land, nor yet remote, woody and rude.


s: There, wild goats breed numberless, by no foot


s: Inured to winter's cold and hunger, roams


s: The dreary woods, or mountain-tops sublime;


s: No fleecy flocks dwell there, nor plough is known,


s: Untrodden, food for blatant goats supplies.


s: For no ships crimson-prow'd the Cyclops own,


s: Might furnish them with oary barks, by which


s: Subsists all distant commerce, and which bear


s: Who might improve the peopled isle, that seems


s: In their due season, fruits of ev'ry kind.


s: For stretch'd beside the hoary ocean lie


s: Green meadows moist, where vines would never fail;


s: Light is the land, and they might yearly reap


s: The tallest crops, so unctuous is the glebe.


s: Till rising gales should tempt him forth again.


s: At bottom of the bay runs a clear stream


s: With poplars; down into that bay we steer'd


s: Amid the darkness of the night, some God


s: Such gloom involved the fleet, nor shone the moon


s: From heav'n to light us, veil'd by pitchy clouds.


s: Hence, none the isle descried, nor any saw


s: The lofty surge roll'd on the strand, or ere


s: Our vessels struck the ground; but when they struck,


s: Then, low'ring all our sails, we disembark'd,


s: And on the sea-beach slept till dawn appear'd.


s: Look'd rosy forth, we with admiring eyes


s: The isle survey'd, roaming it wide around.


s: Meantime, the nymphs, Jove's daughters, roused the goats


s: Bred on the mountains, to supply with food


s: The partners of my toils; then, bringing forth


s: Bows and long-pointed javelins from the ships,


s: We struck them, and the Gods gave us much prey.


s: Twelve ships attended me, and ev'ry ship


s: Nine goats received by lot; myself alone


s: We eating sat goat's flesh, and drinking wine


s: Delicious, without stint; for dearth was none


s: Of ruddy wine on board, but much remain'd,


s: With which my people had their jars supplied


s: Thence looking forth toward the neighbour-land


s: Where dwell the Cyclops, rising smoke we saw,


s: And voices heard, their own, and of their flocks.


s: Now sank the sun, and (night o'ershadowing all)


s: We slept along the shore; but when again


s: Look'd forth, my crews convened, I thus began.


s: Companions of my course! here rest ye all,


s: Save my own crew, with whom I will explore


s: This people, whether wild, they be, unjust,


s: And to contention giv'n, or well-disposed


s: To strangers, and a race who fear the Gods.


s: So speaking, I embark'd, and bade embark


s: My followers, throwing, quick, the hawsers loose.


s: They, ent'ring at my word, the benches fill'd


s: Well-ranged, and thresh'd with oars the foamy flood.


s: Attaining soon that neighbour-land, we found


s: With laurels; in that cavern slumb'ring lay


s: Much cattle, sheep and goats, and a broad court


s: Enclosed it, fenced with stones from quarries hewn,


s: With spiry firs, and oaks of ample bough.


s: Monster, in truth, he was, hideous in form,


s: Sustain'd, than some aspiring mountain-crag


s: Tufted with wood, and standing all alone.


s: Fast by the ship which they should closely guard,


s: I went, but not without a goat-skin fill'd


s: With sable wine which I had erst received


s: From Maron, offspring of Evanthes, priest


s: Because, through rev'rence of him, we had saved


s: Himself, his wife and children; for he dwelt


s: He gave me, therefore, noble gifts; from him


s: Sev'n talents I received of beaten gold,


s: No fewer than twelve jars with wine replete,


s: Rich, unadult'rate, drink for Gods; nor knew


s: One servant, male or female, of that wine


s: In all his house; none knew it, save himself,


s: His wife, and the intendant of his stores.


s: Oft as they drank that luscious juice, he slaked


s: A single cup with twenty from the stream,


s: And, even then, the beaker breath'd abroad


s: Thenceforth no pleasure found it to abstain.


s: Charged with an ample goat-skin of this wine


s: I went, and with a wallet well supplied,


s: That, haply, with terrific force endued,


s: Some savage would appear, strange to the laws


s: Few steps convey'd us to his den, but him


s: We found not; he his flocks pastur'd abroad.


s: His cavern ent'ring, we with wonder gazed


s: Around on all; his strainers hung with cheese


s: Distended wide; with lambs and kids his penns


s: Close-throng'd we saw, and folded separate


s: The various charge; the eldest all apart,


s: Apart the middle-aged, and the new-yean'd


s: Also apart. His pails and bowls with whey


s: Swam all, neat vessels into which he milk'd.


s: Me then my friends first importuned to take


s: Forth from the sheep-cotes to the rapid bark


s: His kids and lambs, and plow the brine again.


s: But me they moved not, happier had they moved!


s: I wish'd to see him, and to gain, perchance,


s: Some pledge of hospitality at his hands,


s: Whose form was such, as should not much bespeak


s: When he appear'd, our confidence or love.


s: Then, kindling fire, we offer'd to the Gods,


s: Till home he trudged from pasture. Charged he came


s: Fuel by which to sup. Loud crash'd the thorns


s: Which down he cast before the cavern's mouth,


s: To whose interior nooks we trembling flew.


s: His batten'd flock, all those which gave him milk,


s: But all the males, both rams and goats, he left


s: To his cave's mouth, he thrust it home. That weight


s: Not all the oxen from its place had moved


s: Of twenty and two wains; with such a rock


s: Immense his den he closed. Then down he sat,


s: And as he milk'd his ewes and bleating goats


s: All in their turns, her yeanling gave to each;


s: The half of his new milk, he thrust the curd


s: Into his wicker sieves, but stored the rest


s: His labours thus perform'd, he kindled, last,


s: His fuel, and discerning _us_, enquired,


s: Who are ye, strangers? from what distant shore


s: Roam ye the waters? traffic ye? or bound


s: At large the Deep, exposing life themselves,


s: He ceased; we, dash'd with terrour, heard the growl


s: Of his big voice, and view'd his form uncouth,


s: To whom, though sore appall'd, I thus replied.


s: Of Greece are we, and, bound from Ilium home,


s: Have wander'd wide the expanse of ocean, sport


s: For ev'ry wind, and driven from our course,


s: Have here arrived; so stood the will of Jove.


s: We boast ourselves of Agamemnon's train,


s: The son of Atreus, at this hour the Chief


s: Beyond all others under heav'n renown'd,


s: So great a city he hath sack'd and slain


s: Such num'rous foes; but since we reach, at last,


s: Or other gift, as guests are wont to obtain.


s: Illustrious lord! respect the Gods, and us


s: Thy suitors; suppliants are the care of Jove


s: And where the stranger sojourns, there is he.


s: I ceas'd, when answer thus he, fierce, return'd.


s: Friend! either thou art fool, or hast arrived


s: Indeed from far, who bidd'st me fear the Gods


s: Lest they be wroth. The Cyclops little heeds


s: Jove Ægis-arm'd, or all the Pow'rs of heav'n.


s: Our race is mightier far; nor shall myself,


s: Through fear of Jove's hostility, abstain


s: From thee or thine, unless my choice be such.


s: But tell me now. Where touch'd thy gallant bark


s: Remote or nigh? for I would learn the truth.


s: So spake he, tempting me; but, artful, thus


s: My vessel, Neptune, Shaker of the shores,


s: In pieces, hurling her against the rocks


s: With winds that blew right thither from the sea,


s: He deign'd, but, with his arms extended, sprang


s: At once, like whelps against his cavern-floor


s: He dash'd them, and their brains spread on the ground.


s: These, piece-meal hewn, for supper he prepared,


s: And, like a mountain-lion, neither flesh


s: Nor entrails left, nor yet their marrowy bones.


s: We, viewing that tremendous sight, upraised


s: Our hands to Jove, all hope and courage lost.


s: When thus the Cyclops had with human flesh


s: Fill'd his capacious belly, and had quaff'd


s: Out-stretch'd immense, he press'd his cavern-floor.


s: Me, then, my courage prompted to approach


s: The monster with my sword drawn from the sheath,


s: And to transfix him where the vitals wrap


s: Tremendous, wanting pow'r to thrust aside


s: The rocky mass that closed his cavern-mouth


s: By force of hand alone. Thus many a sigh


s: Heaving, we watch'd the dawn. But when, at length,


s: Aurora, day-spring's daughter rosy-palm'd


s: Look'd forth, then, kindling fire, his flocks he milk'd


s: Thrust under each. When thus he had perform'd


s: His wonted task, two seizing, as before,


s: He slew them for his next obscene regale.


s: His dinner ended, from the cave he drove


s: His fatted flocks abroad, moving with ease


s: That pond'rous barrier, and replacing it


s: Then, hissing them along, he drove his flocks


s: Toward the mountain, and me left, the while,


s: Deathless renown. This counsel pleas'd me most.


s: Hewn by the Cyclops from an olive stock,


s: Green, but which dried, should serve him for a staff.


s: To us consid'ring it, that staff appear'd


s: Tall as the mast of a huge trading bark,


s: Impell'd by twenty rowers o'er the Deep.


s: Such seem'd its length to us, and such its bulk.


s: Part amputating, (an whole fathom's length)


s: I gave my men that portion, with command


s: To shave it smooth. They smooth'd it, and myself,


s: Season'd it in the fire; then cov'ring close


s: The weapon, hid it under litter'd straw,


s: For much lay scatter'd on the cavern-floor.


s: Who of us all should take the pointed brand,


s: And grind it in his eye when next he slept.


s: The lots were cast, and four were chosen, those


s: Whom most I wish'd, and I was chosen fifth.


s: Pasturing homeward, and compell'd them all


s: Either through some surmise, or so inclined


s: By influence, haply, of the Gods themselves.


s: The huge rock pull'd into its place again


s: At the cave's mouth, he, sitting, milk'd his sheep


s: Thrust under each; thus, all his work dispatch'd,


s: Two more he seiz'd, and to his supper fell.


s: I then, approaching to him, thus address'd


s: Of ivy-wood, well-charg'd with ruddy wine.


s: Lo, Cyclops! this is wine. Take this and drink


s: After thy meal of man's flesh. Taste and learn


s: What precious liquor our lost vessel bore.


s: Thou would'st dismiss us home. But, ah, thy rage


s: Who, thinkest thou, of all mankind, henceforth


s: Will visit _thee_, guilty of such excess?


s: I ceas'd. He took and drank, and hugely pleas'd


s: With that delicious bev'rage, thus enquir'd.


s: Give me again, and spare not. Tell me, too,


s: With somewhat to thy taste. We Cyclops own


s: A bounteous soil, which yields _us_ also wine


s: From clusters large, nourish'd by show'rs from Jove;


s: He ended, and received a second draught,


s: Like measure. Thrice I bore it to his hand,


s: And, foolish, thrice he drank. But when the fumes


s: Began to play around the Cyclops' brain,


s: Cyclops! thou hast my noble name enquired,


s: Which I will tell thee. Give me, in return,


s: The promised boon, some hospitable pledge.


s: Outis, when I have eaten all his friends,


s: Shall be my last regale. Be that thy boon.


s: He spake, and, downward sway'd, fell resupine,


s: With his huge neck aslant. All-conqu'ring sleep


s: Soon seized him. From his gullet gush'd the wine


s: With human morsels mingled, many a blast


s: Then, thrusting far the spike of olive-wood


s: I heated it, and cheer'd my friends, the while,


s: Lest any should, through fear, shrink from his part.


s: But when that stake of olive-wood, though green,


s: Should soon have flamed, for it was glowing hot,


s: Around me gather'd, and the Gods infused


s: They, seizing the hot stake rasp'd to a point,


s: Bored his eye with it, and myself, advanced


s: As when a shipwright with his wimble bores


s: Tough oaken timber, placed on either side


s: Below, his fellow-artists strain the thong


s: So, grasping hard the stake pointed with fire,


s: We twirl'd it in his eye; the bubbling blood


s: Boil'd round about the brand; his pupil sent


s: A scalding vapour forth that sing'd his brow,


s: And all his eye-roots crackled in the flame.


s: As when the smith an hatchet or large axe


s: Temp'ring with skill, plunges the hissing blade


s: Deep in cold water, (whence the strength of steel)


s: So hiss'd his eye around the olive-wood.


s: The howling monster with his outcry fill'd


s: The hollow rock, and I, with all my aids,


s: Fled terrified. He, plucking forth the spike


s: From his burnt socket, mad with anguish, cast


s: Then, bellowing, he sounded forth the name


s: Around him, on the wind-swept mountain-tops;


s: They, at his cry flocking from ev'ry part,


s: Circled his den, and of his ail enquired.


s: What grievous hurt hath caused thee, Polypheme!


s: Of night, and break our slumbers? Fear'st thou lest


s: Some mortal man drive off thy flocks? or fear'st


s: Them answer'd, then, Polypheme from his cave.


s: Oh, friends! I die! and Outis gives the blow.


s: To whom with accents wing'd his friends without.


s: If no man harm thee, but thou art alone,


s: And sickness feel'st, it is the stroke of Jove,


s: And thou must bear it; yet invoke for aid


s: Thy father Neptune, Sovereign of the floods.


s: So saying, they went, and in my heart I laugh'd


s: Slight stratagem! I had deceived them all.


s: Then groan'd the Cyclops wrung with pain and grief,


s: And, fumbling, with stretch'd hands, removed the rock


s: From his cave's mouth, which done, he sat him down


s: Spreading his arms athwart the pass, to stop


s: Our egress with his flocks abroad; so dull,


s: It seems, he held me, and so ill-advised.


s: I, pondering what means might fittest prove


s: To save from instant death, (if save I might)


s: Inclined, and various counsels framed, as one


s: Who strove for life, conscious of woe at hand.


s: The likeliest course. The rams well-thriven were,


s: Thick-fleeced, full-sized, with wool of sable hue.


s: These, silently, with osier twigs on which


s: The Cyclops, hideous monster, slept, I bound,


s: Three in one leash; the intermediate rams


s: Preserved, concealing him on either side.


s: Thus each was borne by three, and I, at last,


s: The curl'd back seizing of a ram, (for one


s: I had reserv'd far stateliest of them all)


s: Slipp'd underneath his belly, and both hands


s: We, thus disposed, waited with many a sigh


s: The sacred dawn; but when, at length, aris'n,


s: Aurora, day-spring's daughter rosy-palm'd


s: Again appear'd, the males of all his flocks


s: Rush'd forth to pasture, and, meantime, unmilk'd,


s: The wethers bleated, by the load distress'd


s: Of udders overcharged. Their master, rack'd


s: The backs of all, inquisitive, as they stood,


s: Conceiv'd of men beneath their bodies bound.


s: And now (none left beside) the ram approach'd


s: With his own wool burthen'd, and with myself,


s: The giant stroak'd him as he sat, and said,


s: Com'st thou, whom never, heretofore, my sheep


s: Could leave behind, but stalking at their head,


s: Thou first was wont to crop the tender grass,


s: First to arrive at the clear stream, and first


s: With ready will to seek my sheep-cote here


s: At evening; but, thy practice chang'd, thou com'st,


s: Now last of all. Feel'st thou regret, my ram!


s: Of thy poor master's eye, by a vile wretch


s: Bored out, who overcame me first with wine,


s: Followers of Outis, whose escape from death


s: Shall not be made to-day? Ah! that thy heart


s: Thou could'st articulate, so should'st thou tell,


s: Where hidden, he eludes my furious wrath.


s: Then, dash'd against the floor his spatter'd brain


s: Should fly, and I should lighter feel my harm


s: From Outis, wretch base-named and nothing-worth.


s: So saying, he left him to pursue the flock.


s: When, thus drawn forth, we had, at length, escaped


s: Few paces from the cavern and the court,


s: First, quitting my own ram, I loos'd my friends,


s: Then, turning seaward many a thriven ewe


s: Sharp-hoof'd, we drove them swiftly to the ship.


s: Thrice welcome to our faithful friends we came


s: From death escaped, but much they mourn'd the dead.


s: I suffer'd not their tears, but silent shook


s: My brows, by signs commanding them to lift


s: The sheep on board, and instant plow the main.


s: They, quick embarking, on the benches sat


s: Well ranged, and thresh'd with oars the foamy flood;


s: But distant now such length as a loud voice


s: May reach, I hail'd with taunts the Cyclops' ear.


s: Cyclops! when thou devouredst in thy cave


s: With brutal force my followers, thou devour'dst


s: The followers of no timid Chief, or base,


s: Vengeance was sure to recompense that deed


s: To eat the guest shelter'd beneath thy roof!


s: Therefore the Gods have well requited thee.


s: I ended; he, exasp'rate, raged the more,


s: And rending from its hold a mountain-top,


s: Hurl'd it toward us; at our vessel's stern


s: Down came the mass, nigh sweeping in its fall


s: The rudder's head. The ocean at the plunge


s: Of that huge rock, high on its refluent flood


s: I seizing, quick, our longest pole on board,


s: Back thrust her from the coast and by a nod


s: In silence given, bade my companions ply


s: Strenuous their oars, that so we might escape.


s: Procumbent, each obey'd, and when, the flood


s: Cleaving, we twice that distance had obtain'd,


s: Again I hail'd the Cyclops; but my friends


s: Ah, rash Ulysses! why with taunts provoke


s: The savage more, who hath this moment hurl'd


s: To land, where death seem'd certain to us all?


s: For had he heard a cry, or but the voice


s: Of one man speaking, he had all our heads


s: With some sharp rock, and all our timbers crush'd


s: Together, such vast force is in his arm.


s: So they, but my courageous heart remain'd


s: Unmoved, and thus again, incensed, I spake.


s: To whom thy shameful loss of sight thou ow'st,


s: I ceas'd, and with a groan thus he replied.


s: Accomplish'd. Here abode a prophet erst,


s: I therefore watch'd for the arrival here,


s: Always, of some great Chief, for stature, bulk


s: And beauty prais'd, and cloath'd with wond'rous might.


s: Then quench'd my sight. Come hither, O my guest!


s: Awaits thee, and my pray'rs I will prefer


s: To glorious Neptune for thy prosp'rous course;


s: For I am Neptune's offspring, and the God


s: Is proud to be my Sire; he, if he please,


s: He spake, to whom I answer thus return'd.


s: I would that of thy life and soul amerced,


s: I could as sure dismiss thee down to Hell,


s: As none shall heal thine eye--not even He.


s: So I; then pray'd the Cyclops to his Sire


s: With hands uprais'd towards the starry heav'n.


s: Hear, Earth-encircler Neptune, azure-hair'd!


s: Thyself my father, grant that never more


s: Decree him yet to see his friends, his house,


s: His native country, let him deep distress'd


s: Return and late, all his companions lost,


s: And let affliction meet him at his door.


s: He spake, and Ocean's sov'reign heard his pray'r.


s: Then lifting from the shore a stone of size


s: Far more enormous, o'er his head he whirl'd


s: Exerting all, dismiss'd it. Close behind


s: The ship, nor distant from the rudder's head,


s: Down came the mass. The ocean at the plunge


s: Of such a weight, high on its refluent flood


s: Tumultuous, heaved the bark well nigh to land.


s: But when we reach'd the isle where we had left


s: Our num'rous barks, and where my people sat


s: Watching with ceaseless sorrow our return,


s: We thrust our vessel to the sandy shore,


s: Then disembark'd, and of the Cyclops' sheep


s: Him, therefore, to cloud-girt Saturnian Jove


s: I offer'd on the shore, burning his thighs


s: In sacrifice; but Jove my hallow'd rites


s: Reck'd not, destruction purposing to all


s: My barks, and all my followers o'er the Deep.


s: Thus, feasting largely, on the shore we sat


s: Till even-tide, and quaffing gen'rous wine;


s: But when day fail'd, and night o'ershadow'd all,


s: Then, on the shore we slept; and when again


s: Look'd forth, my people, anxious, I enjoin'd


s: To climb their barks, and cast the hawsers loose.


s: They all obedient, took their seats on board


s: Well-ranged, and thresh'd with oars the foamy flood.


s: Thus, 'scaping narrowly, we roam'd the Deep


s: With aching hearts and with diminish'd crews.


s: So the Scholium interprets in this place, the word ὑπερθιαλος.


s: Clarke, who has preserved this name in his marginal version,


s: Outis, as a _name_ could only denote him who bore it; but as a


s: extraordinary manner on this second occasion. See Clarke.


s: We came to the Æolian isle; there dwells


s: Girds it, and smooth its rocky coast ascends.


s: His children, in his own fair palace born,


s: Are twelve; six daughters, and six blooming sons.


s: He gave his daughters to his sons to wife;


s: They with their father hold perpetual feast


s: And with their royal mother, still supplied


s: With dainties numberless; the sounding dome


s: Is fill'd with sav'ry odours all the day,


s: And with their consorts chaste at night they sleep


s: On stateliest couches with rich arras spread.


s: Their city and their splendid courts we reach'd.


s: A month complete he, friendly, at his board


s: And of our voyage thence. I told him all.


s: I ask'd dismission home, which he approved,


s: And well provided for my prosp'rous course.


s: He gave me, furnish'd by a bullock slay'd


s: In his ninth year, a bag; ev'ry rude blast


s: Which from its bottom turns the Deep, that bag


s: To rouse their force or calm them, at his will.


s: He gave me them on board my bark, so bound


s: With silver twine that not a breath escaped,


s: So fatal proved the folly of my friends.


s: Nine days continual, night and day we sail'd,


s: And on the tenth my native land appear'd.


s: Fires kindling on the coast; but me with toil


s: Worn, and with watching, gentle sleep subdued;


s: For constant I had ruled the helm, nor giv'n


s: Then, in close conference combined, my crew


s: Each other thus bespake--He carries home


s: Offspring of Hippotas, illustrious Chief--


s: By all, and honour'd! many precious spoils


s: He homeward bears from Troy; but we return,


s: (We who the self-same voyage have perform'd)


s: With empty hands. Now also he hath gain'd


s: This pledge of friendship from the King of winds.


s: But come--be quick--search we the bag, and learn


s: What stores of gold and silver it contains.


s: So he, whose mischievous advice prevailed.


s: They loos'd the bag; forth issued all the winds,


s: And, caught by tempests o'er the billowy waste,


s: Weeping they flew, far, far from Ithaca.


s: Stood doubtful, whether from my vessel's side


s: Immersed to perish in the flood, or calm


s: To endure my sorrows, and content to live.


s: While adverse blasts bore all my fleet again


s: To the Æolian isle; then groan'd my people.


s: We disembark'd and drew fresh water there,


s: And my companions, at their galley's sides


s: All seated, took repast; short meal we made,


s: When, with an herald and a chosen friend,


s: Him banqueting with all his sons we found,


s: And with his spouse; we ent'ring, on the floor


s: Of his wide portal sat, whom they amazed


s: Beheld, and of our coming thus enquired.


s: Return'd? Ulysses! by what adverse Pow'r


s: Repuls'd hast thou arrived? we sent thee hence


s: Well-fitted forth to reach thy native isle,


s: Thy palace, or what place soe'er thou would'st.


s: So they--to whom, heart-broken, I replied.


s: My worthless crew have wrong'd me, nor alone


s: My worthless crew, but sleep ill-timed, as much.


s: Yet heal, O friends, my hurt; the pow'r is yours!


s: So I their favour woo'd. Mute sat the sons,


s: But thus their father answer'd. Hence--be gone--


s: Leave this our isle, thou most obnoxious wretch


s: Of all mankind. I should, myself, transgress,


s: Receiving here, and giving conduct hence


s: Away--for hated by the Gods thou com'st.


s: So saying, he sent me from his palace forth,


s: Groaning profound; thence, therefore, o'er the Deep


s: Exhausting ceaseless at the toilsome oar,


s: And, through our own imprudence, hopeless now


s: Of other furth'rance to our native isle.


s: The briny flood, and on the seventh reach'd


s: Proud Læstrygonia, with the distant gates.


s: The herdsman, there, driving his cattle home,


s: Summons the shepherd with his flocks abroad.


s: The sleepless there might double wages earn,


s: Attending, now, the herds, now, tending sheep,


s: For the night-pastures, and the pastures grazed


s: By day, close border, both, the city-walls.


s: To that illustrious port we came, by rocks


s: Of tow'ring height, while prominent the shores


s: And bold, converging at the haven's mouth


s: Leave narrow pass. We push'd our galleys in,


s: Then moor'd them side by side; for never surge


s: There lifts its head, or great or small, but clear


s: We found, and motionless, the shelter'd flood.


s: At the land's point, then climb'd the rugged steep,


s: And spying stood the country. Labours none


s: Nor aught beside saw we, but from the earth


s: Smoke rising; therefore of my friends I sent


s: To learn what race of men that country fed.


s: Made by the waggons bringing timber down


s: From the high mountains to the town below.


s: Her ew'r they met, daughter of him who ruled


s: Descending from the gate, she sought the fount


s: From that pure fountain for the city's use.


s: Approaching they accosted her, and ask'd


s: What King reign'd there, and over whom he reign'd.


s: She gave them soon to know where stood sublime


s: The palace enter'd, than within they found,


s: In size resembling an huge mountain-top,


s: She forth from council summon'd quick her spouse


s: Antiphatas, who teeming came with thoughts


s: Of carnage, and, arriving, seized at once


s: A Greecian, whom, next moment, he devoured.


s: His voice through all the town, and on all sides,


s: Hearing that cry, the Læstrygonians flock'd


s: The giants than mankind. They from the rocks


s: Cast down into our fleet enormous stones,


s: A strong man's burthen each; dire din arose


s: Whom spear'd like fishes to their home they bore,


s: A loathsome prey. While them within the port


s: They slaughter'd, I, (the faulchion at my side


s: Drawn forth) cut loose the hawser of my ship,


s: And all my crew enjoin'd with bosoms laid


s: Prone on their oars, to fly the threaten'd woe.


s: They, dreading instant death tugg'd resupine


s: Shot gladly; but the rest all perish'd there.


s: Proceeding thence, we sigh'd, and roamed the waves,


s: Glad that we lived, but sorrowing for the slain.


s: Deep-skill'd in magic song, sister by birth


s: Our vessel there, noiseless, we push'd to land


s: By some celestial Pow'r. We disembark'd,


s: And on the coast two days and nights entire


s: Extended lay, worn with long toil, and each


s: Then, with my spear and with my faulchion arm'd,


s: I left the ship to climb with hasty steps


s: Some works of man, or hear, perchance, a voice.


s: I stood, and on the distant plain, beheld


s: Smoke which from Circe's palace through the gloom


s: Of trees and thickets rose. That smoke discern'd,


s: I ponder'd next if thither I should haste,


s: Seeking intelligence. Long time I mused,


s: But chose at last, as my discreter course,


s: To seek the sea-beach and my bark again,


s: And, when my crew had eaten, to dispatch


s: Before me, others, who should first enquire.


s: But, ere I yet had reach'd my gallant bark,


s: An antler'd stag, full-sized, into my path.


s: His woodland pastures left, he sought the stream,


s: By the sun's heat. Him issuing from his haunt,


s: Sheer through the back beneath his middle spine,


s: I wounded, and the lance sprang forth beyond.


s: Moaning he fell, and in the dust expired.


s: Then, treading on his breathless trunk, I pluck'd


s: My weapon forth, which leaving there reclined,


s: And fallows green, and to a fathom's length


s: Twisting the gather'd twigs into a band,


s: Bound fast the feet of my enormous prey,


s: And, flinging him athwart my neck, repair'd


s: Toward my sable bark, propp'd on my lance,


s: Surpass'd my pow'r, so bulky was the load.


s: My burthen, and with pleasant speech and kind,


s: Man after man addressing, cheer'd my crew.


s: My friends! we suffer much, but shall not seek


s: The shades, ere yet our destined hour arrive.


s: Behold a feast! and we have wine on board--


s: Pine not with needless famine! rise and eat.


s: At length, their eyes gratified to the full


s: With that glad spectacle, they laved their hands,


s: That day complete, till set of sun, we spent


s: And quaffing generous wine; but when the sun


s: Went down, and darkness overshadow'd all,


s: Look'd rosy forth, convening all my crew


s: With num'rous hardships, hear! for neither West


s: Know ye, nor East, where rises, or where sets


s: The all-enlight'ning sun. But let us think,


s: If thought perchance may profit us, of which


s: Small hope I see; for when I lately climb'd


s: Yon craggy rock, plainly I could discern


s: The land encompass'd by the boundless Deep.


s: The isle is flat, and in the midst I saw


s: Dun smoke ascending from an oaken bow'r.


s: So I, whom hearing, they all courage lost,


s: The Læstrygonian, and the Cyclops' deeds,


s: Mourn'd loud and wept, but tears could nought avail.


s: Then numb'ring man by man, I parted them


s: To either band, myself to these, to those


s: Forth sprang the lot of bold Eurylochus.


s: He went, and with him of my people march'd


s: Twenty and two, all weeping; nor ourselves


s: Wept less, at separation from our friends.


s: They found the splendid house of Circe, built


s: With hewn and polish'd stones; compass'd she dwelt


s: By lions on all sides and mountain-wolves


s: Tamed by herself with drugs of noxious pow'rs.


s: Nor were they mischievous, but as my friends


s: Approach'd, arising on their hinder feet,


s: Paw'd them in blandishment, and wagg'd the tail.


s: As, when from feast he rises, dogs around


s: Their master fawn, accustom'd to receive


s: Around my people, so, those talon'd wolves


s: And lions fawn'd. They, terrified, that troop


s: And now, before the Goddess' gates arrived,


s: They heard the voice of Circe singing sweet


s: Within, while, busied at the loom, she wove